Title: The Devil Takes His Dues
Fandom: Honor Harrington Series - David Weber
Rating: R
Length: ~ 800 words
Content notes: Spoilers through "A Rising Thunder". Allusions to a canon sexual assault becoming something worse. One day I might come back to this and expand it further, but for now it's done, lest it eat my brains.
Summary: 20 nightmares where Honor dies instead.
She wakes with a gasp, scrambling out of the latest nightmare to add itself to the cycle (almost wishing that Hamish was there). She used to think that everyone's nightmares worked the way hers did; that they sometimes felt more real than real life - she's lost count of how many times she's died …
Fandom: Honor Harrington Series - David Weber
Rating: R
Length: ~ 800 words
Content notes: Spoilers through "A Rising Thunder". Allusions to a canon sexual assault becoming something worse. One day I might come back to this and expand it further, but for now it's done, lest it eat my brains.
Summary: 20 nightmares where Honor dies instead.
She wakes with a gasp, scrambling out of the latest nightmare to add itself to the cycle (almost wishing that Hamish was there). She used to think that everyone's nightmares worked the way hers did; that they sometimes felt more real than real life - she's lost count of how many times she's died …
- The Academy - She was so tired and not paying attention to her environment. His assault left her bleeding, and his laughter followed her into the dark.
Do it over. And be more aware of your surroundings this time. - Silesia - She hesitated and the War Maiden splinters into wreckage.
Do it over. So what if you're only a midshipwoman. Last officer standing ... - Casimir (Silesia Again) - She let down her guard too soon. Who knew the Manpower "goons" had rigged a self-destruct?
Do it over. Keep up with the Ballroom's HQ staff. - Basilisk - She dropped ten points on the ATC final exam. Pavel Young lost Basilisk and she died trying to scout a system they shouldn't have lost.
Do it over. Third in your class. Really? - Yeltsin - She let Admiral Courvosier talk her into staying. Even with her in command and the entire Grayson "fleet" Fearless was no match for Saladin in Yu's hands.
Do it over. Go with the convoy. - Yeltsin (Again) - She spoke to Apollo's engineer. Asked him not to risk the squadron's wounded. He didn't.
Do it over. If Apollo drops the interlocks, Grayson won't get bombed. - Hancock - She did what the book said. Passed on command. The task force scattered and Nike was just too tempting.
Do it over. If you keep command, Hancock Station - Paul - will live. - The Field of Honor - Andrew's shout was just background noise; Pavel Young was a coward and a better shot than she gave him credit for.
Do it over. Trust him - one day you'll trust him with your son, but first you have to trust him with you. - Harrington Space Field - She was stronger and faster than her armsmen, even uninjured.
Do it over. They're trying to keep you safe for a reason. - The Conclave - The weight of the sword in her hands was all wrong.
Do it over. He's an athlete, not a killer. - Yeltsin (Third time) - She still thought like a Manticorian captain. Not a Grayson admiral.
Do it over. Sometimes war is fought be gentlemen - even if they're Peeps. - Selker Drift - The wreckage of the Wayfarer slid sideways into the shear and broke up.
Do it over. Give Scotty his head. - Adler - She hesitated a moment too long, heart-breaking as she had to order Alistair to surrender. The Peeps didn't accept.
Do it over. Sometimes surrender is the only option. - Hades - She broke in Tepes cells.
Do it over. There are living Grayson armsmen on the same ship as you. They'll come for you. - Sidemore - She didn't listen. She really should have done … she'd owed her old Captain that much.
Do it over. Yes, you do owe him that much. - Solon - She couldn't leave Mike behind. She couldn't. Mike had saved her too many times and she owed her too much.
Do it over. Mike needs to visit Haven. - Lovat - She made the mistake of following the bait.
Do it over. He's playing out of your own playbook. - Manticore - She couldn't bluff worth a damn, and Lester Tourville had spent more than a decade trying to survive Pierre.
Do it over. He's not used to honesty anymore. - Haven - Her instincts had wanted her to be in on the Paul Tankersley; she'd allowed Elizabeth to sway her.
Do it over. And you have instincts for a reason - Eloise will appreciate the gesture. - Manticore (Again) - The Sollies had just flushed their pods, and Honor held her position, allowed their defences to soak up the barrage, but even Sollie missiles get lucky.
Do it over. They FIRED first!
… at least in her head. And she never recognises the voice telling her to do it over.
- Music:The Alternatives Fade (But Some of Us Remember Remix)
- Mood:
creative - Location:The Otherside of Never
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chasethestars
chasethestars
Comments
I love how you gave us moments of Honor's life, moments when things could have gone either way, depending on what she'd decided to do.
A question: Does Honor have regrets? Or is she sad for a time and then moves on, probably because she can't do anything else?
Another question: What does she regret most?