Thursday, August 30, 2007

Living History part 1

The heat was slowly stifling me. I laid in bed that night tossing and turning thanks to the stupid weather. Finally I gave up on trying to sleep and went to get a glass of ice water and watch the transports on the balcony for a few minutes. Finally when I was relaxed enough to go back to bed I saw Phobia was gone, the covers thrown back. She wasn't in the fresher.. I found out where she was.. down in the library. I didn't bother with any shoes but I did put on a shirt. Once again too hot.

She was seated on the couch, book balanced on her knees. She motioned for me to come over and I don't know what got into me but I pulled her to me and kissed her, almost pulling her all the way over the couch.I really don't know what got into me in those few moments.. Unless you've been there I eally don't think it's possible to describe. She was the one with enough sense to pull away bfore things got too far out of hand and we caused a" incident" but I'm not gong there..." Godfrey listen to this. I might have something here. ;"

I sat dow next to her on the couch ,wrapping an arm around her. The library was the most bearable place in the entire palace. She began to read the story of the Universal keystones aloud , her voice echoing off the walls at the late hour.

There were three sisters. One with hair of spun gold, one with hair of onyx and one with hair of fire. They were close, but they were also ambitious. One day while walking on a bridge they met Lady Death. Death said to them " I have come for you three. It is time to cross the gate" The flaxen haired one broke down weeping begging to be allowed to stay. the flame haired one stomped her foot in anger demanding" What right do you have to say when we must die?" But the onyx haired one said nothing but regarded death with a kind stare before she stepped past her sisters.

" I will make you a deal lady death. if I can answer three riddles you let us go free. " Death agreed then her first riddle was spoken.

"Time stands still but yet it runs on.Keepers of time reaching from dusk to dawn. "

The woman smiled" Simple. It is an hourglass"

Death looked a little suprised but then smiled" One riddle you have won but 2 more to come"

" Hidden both beauty and horror, a mask of many colors"

She titled her head and looked at death puzzledly then she grinned" Makeup"

Death was flabbergasted! No one had ever answered those riddles before ever! But her smile grew wicked. This one would not answer her last riddle.

"Wise beyond their years,these guardians possess no fears"

The ebony haired one stared at her"Jedi Knights"

Death let out a terrible shirek. Bested at her own game! But she sighed. " A deal is a deal" As the sisters made to cross the bridge she stopped them again" but I have a gift for the each of you, though your sister is the only one who deserves it."

She raised two glass balls from her hand" For you two. Theese are the power orbs of creation .Born from the stars at the creation of the galaxy.These orbs can strip powers from anyone, cause great pain. But they will only respond in need of justice and mercy. "

The sisters took them, greedy looks in their eyes.

The ebony haired one turned to death." I need no gift, the lives of my sisters are gift enough "

Death shook her head " You alone deserve a gift and a powerful one I bestow"

She took her aside " This key is the key to the library of knoweledge. Here you can find many many things. You are wise enough to use them when need arises. "

She waved to the three women" Farewell I take my leave of you"

The sisters took their leave of the bridge and went their seprate ways. The fire haired one went to a tavern . She got into a bar brawl and was killed for her orb.

The flaxen haired one went into town and met up with her lover. During the night he killed her as well and took her orb.

The ebony haired one upon hearing of the deaths of her sisters was sad but tracked down the orbs and locked them away in the library. Years passed and when lady death came for her again she was surrounded by her children, husband and her grandchildren. She embraced Lady Death as an equal and went unto her embrace.

They were reincarnated years later, their roles reversed. The flaxen haired and flame haired ones led good lives but the ebony haired one led a life of woe and misery. But when she died once before Death sent her back . This time with a promise of a good life but she must be patient and wait. She heard none and to this day death watches and waits to give the wise one what she deserves.

She turned to me, a questioning look in her eyes. "You don't think? the ebony haired woman..?" she glaced at the book and nearly drooped it in shock.Either someone had a cruel sense of irony or that was Catia staring out at us from the book.

I could see she was thinking about something.. I didn't like the look on her face.. It usually preceeded some crazy or half baed idea which usually get us into trouble or left her a death's gate more times than I'd care to really count.

TBC

Monday, August 27, 2007

A night out on the town and a preview



This was from a mission Pho and I went on where she had to dye her hair blonde and me brown.

and now a preview of my next post...

One day while walking on a bridge they met Lady Death. Death said to them " I have come for you three. It is time to cross the gate"

More later. chew on that for now if you want..

Godfrey

Monday, August 20, 2007

The trouble with clones

The hours seemed to pass slower than ever that day.I led Phobia down the gangplank of the ship, nodding to Bail as he and Breha welcoemd us to Alderann. Phobia was speaking with Breha when she suddenly crumbled to her knees. I caught her on one side as Bail caught her on the other." Catia's here , she's close" she muttered, biting her lips. I could see she wanted to scream in pain from the wound she carried in her back.

I hurried Bail and Breha inside. Sabers were clashing in the courtyard while I made sure they were safe inside before I rejoined Pho.

She and Marasha were locked in a ferocious duel, then it was all over in a hot blast of fire. Marasha was gone.. or so I thought. I ran towards Phobia and pratically yanked her onto the bench" Are you okay? What happened? Where's Marasha?" I searched her for any injuries. If she were hurt I'd never forgive myself....

"Marasha.. gone.. saved.. soul.. Catia.. still.. near.. " she panted. that was all I needed to hear. I lifted her off her feet despite being 5 months pregnant and carried her into the palace. I still can't understand why she hated herself as much as she did in her younger years. It took doing but I was able to make her like herself for her. It killed me sitting on the sidelines all the time. I had enough of this. It was high time I do something about it.

"You're going to rest. I will deal with Catia. No arguments you hear me?"

She was about to protest until I waved a sleep suggestion on her and she was out cold. I told Bail to make sure Pho and Breha stayed inside the palace.I met up with Catia in the front lawn. " You know I can't let you walk away from here!" I called flipping on my double bladed saber and dropping back waiting for her to make her first move.

Her red blade hit the air and she motioned with her hand" Well the same goes for me. You aren't going back to that whelp alive!"
Blades locked and I could feel the power pricking up my spine. If Fafnir wanted out I would let him out. Catia would have no mercy in my eyes..
******************** give or take 3 hours later lost count***********************

I stumbled back into the palace, shirt ripped to sith and back. I was bleeding but I could barely tell my body hurt so much. I saw her run towards me in the entrance hall . I winced anticipating a very bad lecture. I probably looked worse than I felt.

" Don't you EVER EVER EVER do that to me again!"She threw her arms around me carefully, trying to avoid my scrapes. This was minor but the tears streaming down her face made me want to kick myself. I shouldn't have let Fafnir play with the clone so much. It wasn't really Catia.. where she really was, I don't know. but the clone had fled. I stroked her back as I led her inside.

The heat was doing her no favors and a cold bath would be in order for her.. Maybe for both of us. It'd help clean up the blood so I wouldn't be scaring her as much. The wounds wern't deep but they were in vital points which made for a messy scene.I looked down at her, one arm pulling her close as we walked.

" she's gone.. "

" Dead?"

" No I chased her off planet.I think we're taking a small vacation Pho..I'm tired and I know so are you. Just a day or two.. Like it was before.. "I leaned very close" Just us"

Her eyes nearly popped out of her head at my statement. We had been so busy for the council we had no time to ourselves. The happiest she had been as of late was our weeklong honeymoon. And I had to admit. I missed her too..

She leaned against my shoulder smiling " Yeah.. just us.. no council, no Belda.. just you.. and me"

I grinned and was about to pull her into the other room before I heard Bail's statement " I'll see to it you're not disturbed . Dinner is at 7"

Could today possibly go any more perfect? Judging by the ear splitting grin on Phobia's face.. probably

Even the youngest of Jedi learns one very particular phrase. Feel , don't think. Live in the moment. The actual meaning of that doesn't sink in until your older. Wisdom comes with age.

That.. Well that was about the wisest piece of advice since the Dai Kekimoura wirrten some 3,000 years ago. And that says something.

I quit questioning a long time ago. So long as the force is willing, I will gladly do whatever I can to keep her safe and happy.

Friday, August 10, 2007

In between dark and light

I woke in a cold sweat that morning. I normally don't have nightmares but this had shaken me so badly I could barely breathe.

It was in the council room, three coffins were laid out. One normal sized one and two smaller ones, child like. I remember walking towards them. They were closed. I lifted the two smaller lids first. Inside there were two children. Sweet little angels, lips tinged blue in death. I felt sick as I lowered the lids closed again. My heart twisted as I approached the third. I had my thoughts who was here and I prayed feverently that I was wrong.

I didn't know how I knew I just did. When I lifted the third lid, I dropped to my knees. Phobia was lying there, dressed in her favroite set of robes. She looked so peaceful that I thought for a moment that maybe I had done something wrong and she was playing a pratical joke on me as payback. Then I turned around to look. There was the entire council, Anakin, DJK, Adana.. My head felt like it was going to split. And there just beyond the coffins stood Arialia. " Do you want to know why your wife and children lay dead ?" she asked me.

I couldn't speak I just nodded. I didn't want to loose it here in front of everyone.
" Because you stood back and let her do too much. She worked herself to death. Chasing down that demon and her apprentice.

You have the power to stop Catia once and for all. You can prevent this from happening"

Then everything dissapeared in a snap and that's when I woke. As I reached for my glasses I noticed one thing. I'd been crying.

I looked over where Phobia usually was and for a moment panic flooded me. She was gone and the other side of the bed was cold.She'd been gone for a while. just as I was about to call her I saw her note and breathed a sigh of relief. She was in the archives. She'd be there all day if I didn't go get her. After a quick shower and a drink I headed out the door and met Madam Nu at the archivist's desk.

" She's been there since 3 am .. I tried to make her go get some sleep but she was so insistant on tracking that demon.." she shook her head and moved away Her favroite place, a small couch in the back of the archives where she would work in semi comfort. As I started towards her I could ee the paleness in her skin, the haunted look in her eyes. She didn't even lift her head " I can't rest, not now.. She's shown me the path.. I can save Marasha. You know I would show the same devotion if it were Belda or one of my own children"

I grabbed her by her wirst. I might have hurt her if I hadn't have relaxed my grip. " You won't HAVE any children if you keep this pace up! Phobia you're wearing yourself thin! You've got to slow down, you're scaring me.. " I didn't mention the dream I had. She didn't need more worry.

She didn't want to look at me. I could feel her self hatred of her caring eating her alive.. Christ I need to watch my temper espically when it comes ot her.. I didn't want to scare her but.. I honestly doubted she'd listen otherwise. I forced her to look at me. Her eyes were shining with unshed tears. She said before caring sometimes is a curse. I can see how." I will help you Phobia, just ask me, you know I 'd do anything for you. But I'm begging you, slow down before you kill yourself, before you kill our children"

Something in her eyes snapped.. I could see it. She broke down crying in my arms. I let her rest against me as I steered her over back to the couch." I don't hate you for wanting to help. I couldn't. That's one of the many things that made me fall in love with you in th e first place. But listen, I can take your burden as well if I need to. I'll just find someone to teach my classes for a few days. We can do this, together. Don't shut me out Pho.. please.. Force I want to be here for you.. for them" I let one hand rest on her stomach while staring up at the map she had constructed with the other. Another five months and it would all be over. I hated myself for making her cry, it breaks my heart everytime she does.

" I know this symbol, its of the Royal House of Corellia.. The old Sith Repbulic, you know what it looks like today.. "

I was studying the map with a critical eye.. It was a good thing I forced myself to pay attention in history class .Her emotions surged and the next thing I knew she had almost tackled me to the couch in a fierce hug. " Now this means if there's three points left in the symbol, then.. "

She traced the route in midair with a finger " There's three places they haven't hit. Alderann and Naboo are in the path of the lineup. As is Geonosis.. " A lump in my throat as memories of that terrible day came flooding back to me.
It had been just after Ariala had died. Fafnir delighted in the slaughter.I had become a harbringer of destruction on the sepratists. In short I had pretty much become the Jedi's secret weapon. I had been warned not to transform unless I was in life threatening danger. I hadn't gotten a handle of the switch like I should have. I look back wondering if I had, how many could I have saved? Espically when the battle droids closed in on us?

I shook myself and guided her out of the archives. " Go back to the apartment and for force's sake get . some. sleep. I have to talk to Mace and Yoda. I will be back soon. And don't try fibbing on me. I'll know" She smiled and headed the oppisite way I did. I braced myself.. I only hoped this meeting would go well..

An hour later I was shaking her awake with the news. " I got clearence from Mace and Yoda. We're to check every planet in the sector that falls under the pinpoint line.. But we're posing as civillans.. or in our case.. Time to step back into the political ring.." Geez she's adorable with sleep hair.. " We just have to be careful.. and we 'll report to the council bi weekly. Hurry and get packed. Our transport leaves in a half hour."

I left her to pack while I made the arangements for Belda. Hopefully when we returned this time She wouldn't have to live in fear of Marasha attacking her.

We met up again down in the entrance hall and hurried ot the landing pad. Mace was there waiting for us "Go and find her quickly. We all know how dangerous Marasha is alone, coupled with her sith master .. I don't want to think on it.. May the force be with you both"

We boarded the ship and I comed Bail to let him know what was going on and Phobia set the coordinates for Alderann. Phobia was fast asleep the moment she hit the couch.I sat staring out the window as the space rushed by us. Three things were certain.

Two would become one .

Fafnir carried the power to defeat Catia and send her to her sith master.

And as soon as Obi Wan returned from his current mission and things settled down.,relitively speaking. I needed to talk to him.

TBC

Sunday, August 5, 2007

Catching Smoke

She was shivering badly as I helped her from the ship. She was pale and frigidly cold. The power was settling but it would take hours yet before it settled and cemented. Sort of like sculpting really. Her lips were almost tinged blue with cold. We finally got to the main hall whenever we had been cornered by an unwelcome source.

A consistant bane to those who were diffrent than the normal, Samantha Harris.

I supported Phobia as the two exchanged rather petty insults. Without actually realizing it, Fafnir and I melded minds. I removed a block in the force for Phobia. A simple thought sent Samantha crashing into the wall. A crater sized dent where her head and hit the solid stone. I couldn't believe what I had just done. I raced over to check her pulse. But there was no point. she had been killed with a single blow.

The power was too much. I ran to catch Phobia as she fell, almost in slow motion towards the floor. My mind raced. I had NEVER lost control of Fafnir like that before. I hurried to our apartment on the upper floors, carrying her like a limp marionette doll. The color was begining to return to her face a little but her lips were still startlingly blue.

Once we were inside I got her to bed and went to the kitchen to make a cup of tea for her whenever the doorbell rang. I hurried to answer it.Outside were Master Windu and Master Yoda.." Come in" I said stepping aisde and going back to the tea kettle . I poured out some orange black tea into one of her favroite cups. " Would either of you like tea? She's got a wide variety as I had found out before"

They shook their heads" where is she?" Master Windu asked.

" In bed. She is rather ill at the moment, hence the tea. Back here" I carried the tea back to her room and opened the door carefully. As soon as Mace, Yoda and I had settled around her bed she began to wake" here" I said pressing the cup into her hands" careful it's hot"

" Tell what happened you will" Yoda said looking from one of us to the other.
She took a long sip of her tea before recounting what happened on the Black Widow, how she came to have Catia trapped within her and the eventual release and return of a good deal of her power.

" Why did you not tell the council of what you had done?" he asked her, but my mind was elsewhere.

Mace pulled me aside" You care for her , greatly don't you?"

There wasn't a use lying to him. I'm a terrible liar . I nodded.

He looked from Phobia back to me. " I know of the provision your father instituted before you came to be a Jedi.. Should you use it.. Treat her right or you'll find yourself on the wrong end of a blade" he said half joking half deadly serious. " I might not agree with some of the things she does, or the company she keeps but she and Belda are the angels of this temple in my eyes. the only reason why this war is bearable is because they are here" he said quietly.

I nodded" I know, more than you realize"
We turned back to the others.

Then it was Yoda who cornered me. What was this the Inquisition?
" Just a freind she is?"

I debated on telling them everything then and there. I didn't think they would mind as much as we had feared, but I couldn't. Not with Pho in this condition.It would upset her too badly.

" Yes, just a freind. for now" I responded with a calm voice, but I think the blush around my ears betrayed me. Damn I have to stop doing that.
"Speak to Master Windu I will about this. Rest you both should now" He turned and let himself out of the apartment with a small sigh.

Once both the masters were gone I was going to strip out of my shirt and see if holding onto Pho for a while would help warm her up any.but naturally the com goes off again.
It was Bail, there was a meeting down in the gardens which I had to attend.. Typical..

" I'm so sorry hon but I have to meet Bail downstairsfor a meeting. I will be back as fast as I can okay?"
She nodded " Just make it quick.. maybe once you get back we can find out the good uses for these new powers.." she fixed me with the look that never fails to make my knees turn to jello.

" I'll be back before you can even say quicksilver" Okay I need to stop reading those comics from Earth.. I gave her a quick kiss and hurried off to my meeting, hoping she could be okay for about a half hour on her own.

About a half hour into the meeting I was listing to Mon Mothma with feigned intrest. All I wanted to do was hurry back to Pho's side. All of a sudden a splitting pain in my skull made me collapse off the bench clawing the ground. It wasn't my fingers, it was Fafnir's talons.

" Godfrey what's wrong? Bail asked me helping me to my feet. I was dizzy and felt slightly sick. I heard a scream from the temple and took off running. It was Pho.. something was terribly wrong.

I ran clear back up to the apartment, not pausing for a moment to even consider what I might find. Fafnir was pushing my power higher. A defense mechanisim should I need to protect her. I think he had been trying to warn me of something all morning.
A flicker of a dark force signature Catia.. must kill... Fafnir was enraged. I had to find a way to placate him but not now.

As I took the last set of steps to the upper floors my mind raced. Had Catia broken into the temple and hurt Phobia? What about the twins? was Belda okay? I reached the door of the apartment at last and stopped.

Phobia was sprawled out on the floor, unconcious. Inches from her left hand was the head of the woman whom I had just seen earlier that afternoon. I didn't bother with the head.. someone else could deal with it. I picked her up and hurried to the healers.

It was late that night before she finally woke. Mace, Yoda and Cin were all seated at her bedside. On the table was a small holo transmitter with the image of Anakin in his starfighter. Cin had thought it best to call him to inform him of these new devlopements" After all " he had said" He has the most experience in dealing with sith lords " Which really meant" He can handle the weird stuff. And besides Pho is his freind. He should know."

Belda was seated next to me. I hadn't left Phobia's side except to get her from her classes and deal with only nesscary things.
"Pho? Pho? you have to wake up.."I rubbed her hand in both of mine. I was the first person she saw, then belda, then Cin and MAce and yoda. She didn't even notice the hologram until he spoke.
" Took you long enough to wake up slowpoke"

That caught her attention, her head whipped around but the movement did nothing to help and she leaned back against the pillows.
" It's good to hear your voice again Anakin. I've missed you"

Mace cleared his throat" um.. as much as I hate to break up a reunion here. there are more important matters at hand. "
Anakin smiled apologetically through the holo. I saw he had his headset on for his fighter. He must've been en route.

"Phobia tell us what happened" Mace said quietly, eyes searching .
She retold her story bit by bit to the miniature crowd by her bed. then Cin spoke. I debated on strangling him

"How can we be sure she didn't have something to do with this? " Cin asked suddenly, the whole room fell silent.Tenshion was thick. I could tell this had been on everyone's minds. Well most everyone.

"Search the force Cin, Phobia would not do something like this. No matter how much she and Harris might not have gotten along. " Anakin snapped , glaring up at Cin from the holo.

" We need to let her rest. Godfrey will you stay with her?" I nodded. How could I not? She was my wife! But I wasn't about to tell them that.

Anakin smiled sadly" Bunch of nutters the lot of them. But I'm glad they aren't trying to pin this on you. I'll see you as soon as I can" With that the holo clicked off.
I turned to her as she posed the question I knew she would. Too smart for her own good at times.
.

" You know I wouldn't do this but you know who would?"she asked me in a quiet voice.

" Catia, no question" I said staring out the window. Where was she now? What evil was she planning?

She was more dangerous than Sidious. I would have to speak to grandfather. If the full power of the DaiShujo was put behind bringing Catia down as well as the power of the Jedi council there wasnt much place she could have left to hide.

But maybe I 'm underestimating her.
TBC