Editing Parent's Worst Nightmare
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That was what we were dealing with here. That was what Commander Wise was going through. Two years ago, I would not have been able to see past his uniform or the politics it represented, but now I was moved to pity. I did not believe Joshua was his son but rather that Joshua had Borrowed his son on Blue Sun’s orders. The fact that his son did not later reappear of his own volition made me think he was either still a Blue Sun captive or a victim of Blue Sun’s Janitorial Services. Either scenario was not something I wanted to present to Commander Wise. Not without proof. And since I had no way of obtaining it, I decided it would be best to say nothing about it. There was no way I could justify adding to the man’s uncertainty and pain, and there was little I could do to ease it, short of throwing over the truth for a lie and telling the man that Joshua was his son.<br><br> | That was what we were dealing with here. That was what Commander Wise was going through. Two years ago, I would not have been able to see past his uniform or the politics it represented, but now I was moved to pity. I did not believe Joshua was his son but rather that Joshua had Borrowed his son on Blue Sun’s orders. The fact that his son did not later reappear of his own volition made me think he was either still a Blue Sun captive or a victim of Blue Sun’s Janitorial Services. Either scenario was not something I wanted to present to Commander Wise. Not without proof. And since I had no way of obtaining it, I decided it would be best to say nothing about it. There was no way I could justify adding to the man’s uncertainty and pain, and there was little I could do to ease it, short of throwing over the truth for a lie and telling the man that Joshua was his son.<br><br> | ||
| − | And for moment I entertained the idea that Joshua ''was'' … but if that were the case, then Joshua’s history as a Borrower was the lie and the Commander’s son was the truth. It didn’t wash—I’d seen Joshua Borrow and do it more than once. It was not something just anyone could do. That and Joshua’s gut-deep aversion to firearms argued strongly against a military background. So while I did | + | And for moment I entertained the idea that Joshua ''was'' … but if that were the case, then Joshua’s history as a Borrower was the lie and the Commander’s son was the truth. It didn’t wash—I’d seen Joshua Borrow and do it more than once. It was not something just anyone could do. That and Joshua’s gut-deep aversion to firearms argued strongly against a military background. So while I did know who Joshua ultimately was, I could eliminate Lt. Cmdr. Wise as a candidate. Could the father do the same? ''Not without more proof'', whispered the mother in me. ''Not until I’d eliminated all other options''. The specter of not having done enough, of having missed that one vital detail that would have explained everything … it would have haunted me. I gazed at the doorway Wise had walked through, his head up and his shoulders back, refusing to give in the doubts that must have plagued him, the horror that what he suspected might be true. What would those inner demons make him do?<br><br> |
There was no telling, not until it came. However, if there was one thing of which I was absolutely certain, it was this: no matter who Joshua ultimately was, Joshua had the sole right to decide who he’d be. No one, not I or a Commander grieving for his lost son, could take that away from him, no matter how compelling the evidence or how much our hearts wished otherwise. When it was my turn to be interrogated, I would have to remember it, tell the truth as I knew it, and let the consequences fall on my head as they may. <br><br> | There was no telling, not until it came. However, if there was one thing of which I was absolutely certain, it was this: no matter who Joshua ultimately was, Joshua had the sole right to decide who he’d be. No one, not I or a Commander grieving for his lost son, could take that away from him, no matter how compelling the evidence or how much our hearts wished otherwise. When it was my turn to be interrogated, I would have to remember it, tell the truth as I knew it, and let the consequences fall on my head as they may. <br><br> | ||
