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Author Topic: Hide and Seek  (Read 31568 times)
Karmack
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« Reply #30 on: September 29, 2017, 06:48:30 PM »

The song cascaded around me, over, under, through...  I was immersed in it.  I could see the beauty of the Singer in ways I had not before.  Flashes of pure color.  Pure energy. 

Pure Joy.

I was enthralled, carried away in the tide of harmonious praise sung to the Maker....


"Karm..."

I recognized the voice.   It was distant....  The Song surrounded me, bouyed my soul in ways I had never experienced before.  Contentment filled me, wrapped in that song....

"Karm!  Stay with me!"

The voice was distressed.  Watery with unshed tears...  I felt the song turning around me, and from the majestic chorus a four-part fugue emerged...  I studied it, listening, seeing it as if written down, feeling it within my very being.  Four parts ... but also two sets of two.  Destined to split.  One line had faltered but was winding back into the dance of the lines.   Another...

"Please, Karm...  Hang on.  We're almost there..."

One of the pairs was falling apart.  From where I stood I looked forward in the song, and I saw one of the lines suddenly cease.  That line fell away and merged with the massive, victorious chorus around it.  But the other...  The other drifted, recovered, faltered...  No details, but it was clear that without its partner, that line of song would not survive long, and would come to an end as well. 

A bad end.

Realization dawned.  "NO!"  I felt, longingly, one last time the utter beauty and contentment of the Song around me... and turned away.  "No.  Not yet..."


I gasped.  Pain filled me....  Pain. 

Only the living feel pain.

"Karm?"

The voice again.  I realized my head was cradled in someone's lap.  Arnor?  I struggled to open my eyes, to look.

Light blinded me for an instant and I saw a face.  Pretty.  Dark hair.  Blue eyes, streaked with tears...

Not Arnor.

Talia!

The realization jerked me fully back into the hear-and-now.  We were in a vehicle, all four of us apparently.  What I had thought was Arnor's lap was actually a pillowed cervical collar, keeping my head and neck still to prevent the worsening of any head or neck injuries.  I reached out, partially blinded by the pervasive pain, but I could feel Arnor alive beside me, and Illian nearby.  Illian's song was nearly as pain-soaked as mine was but Arnor...  "Ar...  Arnor?"

Talia's eyes flooded with relief at the words.  "Arnor is OK.  She's drifting in and out from the pain meds the paramedics gave her.  She's got some broken bones but nothing like the injuries you and Illian sustained."

Something shadowed her eyes.  "Master Karmack, I am so sorry!  I...  I don't know what exactly happened.  I can't explain it...."

I blinked hard to clear my eyes and then captured her gaze.  She flinched away, but then steeled herself and met my eyes steadily.  The contact let me contact her song directly... 

Pain.  Not physical, psychological.  Torturous...  Her song twisted and turned through gut-wrenching discord, consumed and subsumed in a powerful darkness....

The Emperor.  Forcing himself on her mind in a psychic parody of rape.  Embedding himself in her...   And then suddenly, inexplicably, gone.  I There was sorrow and the pain of knowing she had done something horrible now, but the Evil that had been hidden below the bright surface was gone. 

I withdrew, gasping a bit from the effort.  "s'ok.  We'll talk later..."  I marshalled my strength and met her eyes one more time.  "But missy, you got some 'slpainin' to do..."

I felt her tears wetting my chest as I faded out again.  I had no idea where we were headed, but the song was still and stable.  The four-part fugue again weaving its way through the harmony intact.

Enough.  I hummed the song of healing and descended back into the darkness.
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Master Singer of the Mak'Tor

Taegin Roan
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« Reply #31 on: September 29, 2017, 08:52:18 PM »

Oh dear. What happens next. When it first started, I thought I might have an idea of where you were going, and I was right sometimes, and wrong sometimes. Now I don't have any idea what to expect. Great job, can't wait for more. Cheesy
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"I am the Outcast's Shadow" - Taegin Roan
"Confronting fear is the Destiny of a Jedi" - Luke Skywalker
"So this is how liberty dies: with thunderous applause." - Padmé Amidala

TheDutchman
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« Reply #32 on: September 30, 2017, 01:20:36 AM »

Oh dear. What happens next. When it first started, I thought I might have an idea of where you were going, and I was right sometimes, and wrong sometimes. Now I don't have any idea what to expect. Great job, can't wait for more. Cheesy
Lol I was thinking just that TR  Cheesy. And here I thought I had Talia nailed down; GREAT misdirect Karm! 

You know, one constant that I REALLY appreciate is the presence of the Song.  As you (and TR) are musicians, I really get the impression of the import of music in life, even AS life^^  Long story short: the Song as a function/interpretation of the Force=genius  Wink

Until next installment friends  Smiley
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My sabers:Zearic's Aldrnari, Archon v3 (modded w/ activation box) w/Obsidian, AS; Zearic's shoto, Apprentice v4 w/Obsidian, AS; Graflex SE w/Obsidian, GB; Archon v3 (modded w/ activation box) w/Obsidian, CG; Dark Sentinel v4 w/Obsidian, BR; Sentinel LE v4 w/Obsidian, GB; Initiate v5 w/Obsidian, AS; Sentinel LE v4 stunt, EG; Aeon LE v4 stunt, FO; Dominix v4 stunt, BR; Aeon v3 stunt, SY

Karmack
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Light side points please.


« Reply #33 on: October 02, 2017, 05:02:43 PM »

"I hate bacta..."

I looked at Arnor and chuckled.  "But you look so good in it!"

My wife shot me a very level stare.  "Exactly.  That's why I hate it.  How would you feel, suspended in clear liquid, helpless and on display for all to see?"

I looked over at the tanks we had only recently evacuated.  "Well, first off, as you'll recall I was right there across from you the whole time.  Besides, I wouldn't say you were exactly helpless."

It was now Arnor's turn to chuckle.  "Well, ok, maybe not..."

Our eyes met and I felt my heart lurch just a bit at the twinkle I detected in her clear blue orbs.  Maker, I love her so... 

Nor had I been offended in the least when Arnor had used her force abilities to swath her bacta tank in layers of cloth every time the medical personnel had entered the room.  As much as I might tease her about it, her modesty was one of the things I loved about her.

Illian's entry into the room brought my focus back to our current situation.  All three of us had emerged from the tanks in the last hour, aided by a clutch of medical droids.  I wasn't exactly sure how long we'd been in the bacta, but my best guess was about 4 days.  A good long stretch, actually.  Most bacta treatments were far shorter.  The saber wounds on Illian's body had healed nicely, showing only surface scars that he would carry with him for the rest of his life.  The massive rip in my thigh had also closed nicely, leaving nothing but a thin white line across the skin in its wake.  The array of burns and cuts from the explosion were virtually gone without a trace, an after-effect of the long bacta exposure.   Unfortunately, with such an extensive tissue repair there was going to be some continuing pain.  I was maintaining a low-level meditative state, humming the songs of healing in the back of my mind to complete the healing and keep the pain itself under control.  But I couldn't help grimacing a little as I shucked the medical "gown" the droids had wrapped me in for the clothing left on my bed.

Illian and Arnor were also moving slowly as they dressed.  Arnor more so than either Illian or myself.  Despite the lack of outward injury, she had been in the worst shape of the three of us.  The brutal force attack that had thrown her into the room had broken several bones, ruptured her speen and caused massive internal bleeding.  Somehow she had maintained consciousness long enough to initiate a healing state before passing out, and the paramedics that had come to our aid had immediately inserted her into their mobile bacta tube.  It meant that Illian and I had been forced to wait until we reached the med center proper for immersion, but thanks to their efforts we all made.

Them ... and Talia.

Talia.  An engima.  I reached into the satchel she'd brought for me and withdrew the outer garment, a dark gray poncho that went over the rest of my all-black outfit and looked like the quasi-uniform worn by the myriad of off-duty storm troopers that seemed to be everywhere.  Perfect for blending in to the crowd.  But below it was something that definitely would NOT blend in: My light saber.

I lifted it and shot a quizzical look at Arnor, who was also hefting hers.  "How did she recover these?"

"I have no idea." I replied, clipping mine to my belt.  It went into perfect concealment below the poncho. 

"I do." Illian said.  "But I think she needs to tell you about it yourself."  He lifted his own saber out of his satchel ... or what was left of it, anyway.  "Looks like the crystal is intact, at least.  Hmm...."  He reached into the back and drew out the Sith weapon he'd held at the end.  It took him under a minute to open the hilt and swap the crystals.  "That will have to do for now..."

I nodded in approval.  While it was possible to pick up a discarded blade and use it, without the connection built between the crystal and the user a light saber was awkward, like a poorly balanced club rather than a precision instrument.  By swapping the crystals Illian restored virtually all of the functionality of his current weapon, despite the unfamiliar grip.  The crystal, as always, the heart of the saber.  "Well, I'd like to hear her story.  Where is she?"

"Here, Master Karmack." said a soft voice behind me.  I spun, startled, to see smiling blue eyes.  "We have some time now, the paperwork on your release won't process for a bit yet.  So ... let's talk?"

She said the last tentatively, anxiety and fear coloring her tone, and I realized I had my hand on my saber hilt.  I relaxed and removed it, looking an apology to her as I gestured to one of the chairs.  "Please, Talia."

She smiled and sat, pulling her chair close to Illian as I pulled another chair over and sat across from her, next to Arnor.  With a start I realized we were mirroring the younger couple: I had instinctively offered my hand to Arnor in a reassuring and protective gesture, and she had taken it immediately, holding my hand with both of hers, pressed into her thigh.  Illian's hand was likewise held by Talia.  The site made me relax further and a slight smile crept onto my face.  "Relax, Talia.  Just tell us what happened."

The girl sighed and suddenly looked very young.  "Ok..." she looked at Illian.  "As you already know, I was lured to Corscant about three years ago with the promise of a job and freedom from the debt-peonage my family was under on my home planet.  My Pa and Ma are poor farmers, children and grandchildren of poor farmers, and they were never going to be able to work their way out of the debt the Combine said they owed.  So when that agent made me his offer, I thought I saw a way to help everyone and get away.  Even though I knew, deep down, what was probably going to happen."  Talia looked down now, her cheeks flaming red.  "At least, I thought I knew what was coming..."

She took a deep, shuddering breath, and looked back up, her eyes bright with unshed tears.  "I was wrong.  The agent who hired me wasn't a front for an escort service or anything like that.  He was one of the Inquisitorious." 

I felt Arnor's reaction next to me: surprise and pity, tempered by suspicion and disbelief.  She wasn't totally sold.  I let the song flow in my mind and found Talia's trace in the melody, still in tight fugue with our own, and started tracing it backward in time.  The discrepancy appeared almost immediately.  The bright, golden notes were suddenly not as bright, almost ... false....  I concentrated, drawing closer, studying that one melody intently, and it started to come clear.  It was a false front, but forward by....

I recoiled from the malevolent counter-melody that suddenly touched me in the force.  For a second a cackling, gravelly voice echoed in my mind.  Fool. Pitiful little pretend Jedi...

I snapped back to the here-and-now with a start to find three pairs of eyes focused on me.  "Karm?"

I took my own ragged breath and steadied my heart-rate, dampening the adrenal reaction coursing through my body.  "I'm ... ok."  I looked at Talia.  "He took you to the Emperor."

The tears were falling freely now.  "Yes.  He ... did something to me.  Touched me with ... evil.  Controlled me..."  She was sobbing now.  "I didn't want to ...."

Illian's arm was around Talia's shoulders now, hugging her to his chest while he kissed her head and whispered comfort into her ear.  I took another deep breath, glanced at my wife again, and then back at the two.  "And you became his Hand."

No words now.  She just nodded, tears streaming down her face.

"And his spy."  More agreement.  "And when you met Illian?"

She swallowed and when she spoke her voice was very small.  "I could ... feel him ... in the force, and because of that so could .... he."  She turned to Illian.  "I am so sorry!  I didn't want to do it!  I just wanted to run away, but he wouldn't let me.  He put the words into my mouth, used my own story against me...." She broke down, sobbing, pressed her face into Illian's shoulder.

"So, he wanted us to find the girls." Arnor said.  "It was a trap."

"More than that."  I replied.  "From the time we arrived, our song has been distorted.  I've encountered many forms of evil, but never one so adept at insinuating itself into the song itself.  Usually its all just chaos, or straight overpowering drumbeat.  But this?"  I shook my head.  "But things are clearer now.  I couldn't see it before, but now I can."

Talia was nodding now.  "Yes.  That was the whole point.  Whatever that device was that you destroyed in the caverns, that was his objective all along.  He used me to get to you, and he used you to get to them."

"Us?  Why us?"  Arnor asked.  "Why not just send Vader or other Inquisitors in?"

"Vader is not here.  He's on his way to Endor." Talia replied.  Then looked puzzled.  "I'm not sure why I know that..."

"Because you've been in the mind of the Emperor, Talia.  You probably know a great deal.  That's why we were all supposed to be killed the other night."  I looked at Illian.  "Only a young man's love and dedication to preserving life if at all possible thwarted his plan, but I'm getting ahead of myself."

I turned to Arnor.  "It makes sense.  Palpatine knew about the data node, and he knew we were here looking for a sith enclave.  He's a "True Sith", the Great Master Sith, Darth Sidious, the Master in the Rule of Two.  These other sith must be an enclave of dark-side followers not dissimilar to our own Gray order.  They use their power for evil rather than good, but they're not really Sith anymore than we're part of the Jedi order."

"And that would make them a very real and present threat to Sidious and his rule."  Arnor replied.  "But with that dampening field up..."

"...he couldn't find them any better than the Jedi could find HIM when he was maneuvering against them." I finished her sentence.  "Oh, the tangled webs we weave..."

"Wait.  So you're saying that Palpatine ... set us up?  From the beginning?"  Illian asked, incredulous.

"It would seem so." I replied.  "In fact, I am starting to suspect that this dampener has been in place since before the fall of the Republic.  Either Palpatine put it in place himself, or it was already here to hide these sith and he took advantage of it.  Either way, once his own purposes were fulfilled, he decided to eliminate it.  I wonder how long he's been searching for it."

"Decades, if you're right." Arnor replied.  And it burns me that he's finally succeeded by duping us."

"Yes, that is ... annoying." I replied, bringing my attention back to Talia.  "But that still leaves a question.  When we fought, you ... were not yourself."

"No." Talia replied.  "That fight was horrible.  He was in control, fighting through me, using my body.  He ... forced me to wound Illian, then he killed several of the sith....  When Arnor noticed what was happeneing he hit her with a force push so powerful...."  The tears started again.  "I thought she was dead.  And then you...  You faced him and he was laughing.  He enjoyed your pain.  And then...nothing."  Talia sniffed and wiped her eyes again.  "I woke up with Illian lying next to me and he was ... gone.  And then the Storm Troopers came, and asked for orders, so I identified you three as allies and ordered him to evacuate all four of us to the nearest medical facility.  Thankfully they didn't take us to the Triad."

"Thankfully." I looked at Illian.  "So?"

"So...what?" Illian replied, but his cheeks colored slightly.

"So, explain to the Maenowan Master exactly what happened before your Silver Koawan mentor knocks your block off, Teidowan!" barked Arnor.  The invocation of titles, rare for her, added emphasis to her point. 

"Well..." Illian looked at Talia.  "I managed to get my feet under myself and block most of the pain.  Talia had surprised me early in the fight, she force-pulled my saber away and stabbed me with it, but didn't follow up, just left me there.  But I managed to block the pain enough to initiate some healing and slowly re-centered myself the way you've taught me.  I was just getting to my feet when I saw her ... him, rather, throw Arnor through the door, and I followed ..." Illian stopped.  "OK, I'm just going to say 'her', ok?  Understanding that Talia wasn't in control of herself at this point?"

I nodded.  "Understood, Illian.  Continue."

"Ok."  He looked at Talia again.  "I followed her in.  I heard what she said to you, Master Karmack, and realized she ... wasn't herself.  So when she went to the high-guard, totally focused on you, I called the sith saber to my hand and sliced the power pack in my saber, then slugged her hard in the head to knock her out."  He kissed the side of her head where he'd hit her tenderly.  "Then I, uh, that is..."

I felt my eyes go wide.  "You drove him out of her mind..."

"Um, yeah.  But not by myself.  Talia was ... there.  She helped.  It took both of us, and we were barely able to do it." 

"How?"  I asked.  "How did you do it?"

Illian looked at Talia again, and she nodded slightly.  Then he looked back at me.  "Well, we've both been listening to you a lot the last few weeks, so..."

Talia finished his sentence.  "We sang."
Logged

signature picture by DarthScrub

Master Singer of the Mak'Tor

Taegin Roan
Knight Commander
*

Force Alignment: 2066
Posts: 6245


Lord of the Force


« Reply #34 on: October 02, 2017, 06:42:46 PM »

Oh, nice. Perfect use of Shakespeare. Who'da thought that he would fit so well in SW. Roll Eyes I also really loved how you ended this one, fits the story, but also has a deeper meaning. A lot of dialogue, but it went really well in this stage of the story. Looking forward to what you do next.
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"I am the Outcast's Shadow" - Taegin Roan
"Confronting fear is the Destiny of a Jedi" - Luke Skywalker
"So this is how liberty dies: with thunderous applause." - Padmé Amidala

Karmack
Forumverse Loremaster
Master of Ceremonies
SaberForum.Com Moderator
Knight Commander
************

Force Alignment: 1152
Posts: 5602


Light side points please.


« Reply #35 on: October 02, 2017, 07:02:29 PM »

Oh, nice. Perfect use of Shakespeare. Who'da thought that he would fit so well in SW. Roll Eyes I also really loved how you ended this one, fits the story, but also has a deeper meaning. A lot of dialogue, but it went really well in this stage of the story. Looking forward to what you do next.

Um.....    Shakespeare?   LOL  It wasn't a conscious decision. 
What reference are you referring to?  Now I'm totally curious.  :-)
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signature picture by DarthScrub

Master Singer of the Mak'Tor

Taegin Roan
Knight Commander
*

Force Alignment: 2066
Posts: 6245


Lord of the Force


« Reply #36 on: October 02, 2017, 07:09:09 PM »

Um.....    Shakespeare?   LOL  It wasn't a conscious decision. 
What reference are you referring to?  Now I'm totally curious.  :-)


"Oh, the tangled webs we weave..."

Oops, my bad. It is Walter Scott, and still not exact at that. His is "O, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive!"
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"I am the Outcast's Shadow" - Taegin Roan
"Confronting fear is the Destiny of a Jedi" - Luke Skywalker
"So this is how liberty dies: with thunderous applause." - Padmé Amidala

Karmack
Forumverse Loremaster
Master of Ceremonies
SaberForum.Com Moderator
Knight Commander
************

Force Alignment: 1152
Posts: 5602


Light side points please.


« Reply #37 on: October 02, 2017, 07:33:41 PM »

Oops, my bad. It is Walter Scott, and still not exact at that. His is "O, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive!"

LOL  Oh, ok.  :-)  You had me worried there, I like to think I know Shakespeare pretty well, and I was utterly stumped! 
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Master Singer of the Mak'Tor

TheDutchman
Knight Commander
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Force Alignment: 1106
Posts: 4131


Avatar courtesy of For Tyeth


« Reply #38 on: October 03, 2017, 01:39:18 AM »

Oh HECK yes!

Karm this chapter was incredible my friend!  I am completely invested with these characters. Having said that, Talia's betrayal was anything BUT simple and prosaic!!  BRILLIANT writing!  I never expected her to be a Hand, MUCH less against her will  Shocked 

I also really get the sense of family with the conversation; this was so organic, so right, it is a pleasure to share in  Cheesy

Oh, and I know that I have said it before: I LOVE the "Song" as a framing device; its uniqueness within the narrative helps to illustrate the quality of writing, Karm. Well done sir, well done  Grin

Oh, and that ending is the best^^

Until next installment friends
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Sig courtesy of DarthScrub

Cataphract Triarch of the Vhal'Dan

My sabers:Zearic's Aldrnari, Archon v3 (modded w/ activation box) w/Obsidian, AS; Zearic's shoto, Apprentice v4 w/Obsidian, AS; Graflex SE w/Obsidian, GB; Archon v3 (modded w/ activation box) w/Obsidian, CG; Dark Sentinel v4 w/Obsidian, BR; Sentinel LE v4 w/Obsidian, GB; Initiate v5 w/Obsidian, AS; Sentinel LE v4 stunt, EG; Aeon LE v4 stunt, FO; Dominix v4 stunt, BR; Aeon v3 stunt, SY

Karmack
Forumverse Loremaster
Master of Ceremonies
SaberForum.Com Moderator
Knight Commander
************

Force Alignment: 1152
Posts: 5602


Light side points please.


« Reply #39 on: October 03, 2017, 02:20:52 AM »

The Song.  Always the Song...

Illian's announcement had stunned me.  While Arnor understood and even shared to some extent my view of the force, only Master Chillum had ever been able to sing it as I did.  It was a skill only the rare Sages in our order possessed.  It could not be learned, only refined.  Many Maenowan Masters had tried to learn it, some from Master Chillum himself.  Most had been stronger than even the great Sage himself in the ways of the force, but they didn't have the gift.  Like everyone, they had unique gifts.  We all, as a whole, were vital to the Order.  But the gift of the Sage...

Rare.  Very rare to one who could sing.  Arnor and I had been paired because to a greater or lesser extent we both had that gift.  It was hoped that our children would also display it, though none had done so to date.

"You sang?"  I had asked.  Stunned.  Paralyzed.  

Illian had bobbed his head.  "Yes, Master."  a pause.  "I'm sorry..."

I laughed at him.  It confused them both, but I couldn't help it.  He sang and he was sorry?!?

Arnor joined me, and then Talia and Illian last of all and hesitant at first.  "You sang!"

It was exhultation.  Joy!  

Always the Song!

But then it was time to go.  What had been placid stillness became a rush, and we were off again.  Talia's authority held long enough for us to exit the facility and disappear into the public transportation system, but going back to our previous location was out of the question.  Nor could we safely return to our ship, that would be staked out as well.  

"What about another Jedi safe house?"  Talia asked as we travelled through one of the endless districts of the planet-wide city.

I shook my head.  "No.  Think about it: Palpatine has been playing us since we landed.  He threw us a bone he knew we would chase and gave us the means to locate them.  I should have realized the Emperor would have eradicated all traces of the Jedi when he moved into the Temple and made it his Imperial Residence and headquarters."

"So, where are we headed?"  Illian asked.

My eyes twinkled.  "No place special."

It took us four hours and seven bus changes to get there, but at last we arrived at the tower.  A residential tower in the Rho quadrant, surrounded by technical workers and computer programmers.  A quick stop at the local Bank of the Core to tap into an account and then we were inside one of the towers.

I reached out and scanned the double-sized apartment quickly with the force: No surprises.  The door opened.  "Welcome home."

"Thanks." Illian said.  I could see he was reaching out himself, also scanning.  "Where are we?"

Arnor answered.  "This is called She'Val tower 88.  About half of the residential space is occupied by employees of TaggeCo's central planning teams.  Levels 9 thru 800 are taken up with semi-automated production facilities for Cybot Galactica.  900 thru 1400 are taken up by Industrial Automaton, R&D and production.  We're on level 3838, North quad, apartment C."

Talia was wide eyed.  "How did you know that?"

"Simple." I said, taking up the thread again.  "We spent the first three years of our marriage here."  I bent over and kissed Arnor.  "Welcome home, my love."

Illian swallowed and tried not to stare as I kissed Arnor again, with a bit more heat.  "I have a bad feeling about this...."

"Then get over it!" Laughed Talia, reaching up and planting her own kiss on his startled lips.

I felt the warmth of passion spread in the room and let it grow for a moement before breaking my embrace with Arnor and stepping back.  "Wait one."  I said, letting a stern note creep into my voice.

Illian and Talia, just getting into a very intimate embrace, parted quickly and awkwardly.  "Um. Ah..."

I stepped up to Illian and looked him in the eye.  I was open, listening to the Song.  Specifically to the melodies of Illian and Talia.  "Illian.  I perceive that you love this woman, Talia.  That she has become more important to you than even your own life.  Is this true?"

For a moement fear shadowed Illian's eyes, then he relaxed slightly, remembering that this was not an indictment or a failure in our Order.  Still, he never considered any answer but the one he gave.  "Yes, Maenowan Karmack.  This is true."

"Good."  I looked him in the eye.  "And are you willing to join your song to hers, no matter what may come?"

He nodded, despite the confusion I sensed in him.  "Yes, Master."

I turned my eyes to Talia, who had pulled herself up straighter, quicker than her companion to sense what was happening.  "And you, Talia.  Do you love this man?  Are you willing to join your song to his, no matter what may come?"

"Yes, Maenowan."

"Very good.  Illian," I turned my attention back to him, and he swallowed nervously as he realized what was happening.  "You have expressed your wish to join your songs as one.  You are a member of the Order.  We are Gray.  We seek balance in the force but we serve the Maker.  The path of light and love is our ideal, our goal, and our cause.  We seek to help those who need help.  We seek to preserve life, in the hopes that all will find light in the Maker.  However, sometimes evil must be confronted: when this is required, so we do.  Are you willing to join her song to yours, knowing that the path may be dangerous and deadly?  That the Maker may require your sacrifice, or hers, for the redemption of others?"

Illian's eyes were steady now.  "Yes."

I turned back to Talia.  "And you, Talia.  Do you understand that your songs, once joined, will be united in service to the Maker and his Song?  That the path may be dangerous and deadly?  Will you go with this man and join his song even if the path leads to death for the redemption of others?"

Talia's gaze was also steady.  "Yes, Maenowan"

"Very well."  I turned to Arnor.  "Koawan Arnor, you have observed Teidowan Illian and trained him.  Has he acquired the skills required for the rank of Knight of the Gray?"

Arnor pulled herself up straight.  "Yes, Master Maenowan.  His skills are complete."

"Very well."  I turned back to Illian.  "Illian, your Song is revealed: You have passed your test.  Rather than kill when it would have been justified and even deemed by many to be necessary, you spared life and then freed this woman from the grip of a powerful Sith Lord.  In so doing you not only saved her but yourself, your Mentor and myself.  Your Song continues with us, but not as a Teidowan.  I confer on you the rank of Koawan Knight of the Gray."  I bowed to Illian, who drew himself up and returned my bow.  

"And as for the two of you,"  I let my eyes twinkle now, and the smile that tugged at the corners of my mouth was allowed to show ever so slightly.  "I have seen for some time that your songs were as tightly bound as Arnor's and my own.  Indeed, they have become one song, as is ours.  In the presence of this witness you have declared your love and devotion to each other.  As a Seer of the Order of M'Actor I pronounce you Husband and Wife."

"Illian, you may kiss your bride."

Arnor slid into my arms again as Illian, now grinning ear-to-ear, reached out and embraced Talia, drawing her into a very passionate kiss.  We joined them.

This time, there were no flamed cheeks in the apartment.  An no one had a bad feeling about it.

Always the Song...
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TheDutchman
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« Reply #40 on: October 03, 2017, 04:14:34 AM »

You know that feeling when you come home, open the door, and are greeted warmly by family?  Well this chapter epitomizes that feeling for me  Cheesy

What a truly beautiful scene!  And Karm, your take on the doctrine of the Gray is exactly what I believe! 

Heh another anecdote: you know the joy and pride you get when you see a protege succeed?  This story was evocative of that^^
Now that's GOOD writing  Grin
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« Reply #41 on: October 03, 2017, 04:16:23 AM »

*blushes*

Well....  Time to get back on track...  What were we doing?  Oh yeah...

looking for crystals...  ;-)
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« Reply #42 on: October 03, 2017, 05:32:34 AM »

Almost sounds like a happy ending!  Surprising how trusting they are of Talia, I get her explanation but if I were Karmack I’d have her undergo some serious deconditioning at some stage. 

Anyway I like the manipulation Palpatine has used basically playing various force cults off against each other is a very high level Sith thing to do, not the brutish deployment of Vader but the subtle manoeuvring of agents and using their pre-existing goals to serve his own ends.  I think that is very believable and even though he’s not on stage his machinations permeate the story line looking back on it.  Question is are they truly out of it yet?
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Lord_S_Gray

Surik: "Kreia, what are you—are you a Jedi, a Sith?"
Kreia: "Does it matter? Of course it does, such titles allow you to break the galaxy into light and dark, categorize it. Perhaps I am neither, and I hold both as what they are, pieces of a whole."

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« Reply #43 on: October 03, 2017, 12:54:51 PM »

Almost sounds like a happy ending!  Surprising how trusting they are of Talia, I get her explanation but if I were Karmack I’d have her undergo some serious deconditioning at some stage. 

Anyway I like the manipulation Palpatine has used basically playing various force cults off against each other is a very high level Sith thing to do, not the brutish deployment of Vader but the subtle manoeuvring of agents and using their pre-existing goals to serve his own ends.  I think that is very believable and even though he’s not on stage his machinations permeate the story line looking back on it.  Question is are they truly out of it yet?
EXCELLENT points LSG.  I also like the presentation of Palpatine as the chess master, full of guile and ruthless subversion  Smiley
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My sabers:Zearic's Aldrnari, Archon v3 (modded w/ activation box) w/Obsidian, AS; Zearic's shoto, Apprentice v4 w/Obsidian, AS; Graflex SE w/Obsidian, GB; Archon v3 (modded w/ activation box) w/Obsidian, CG; Dark Sentinel v4 w/Obsidian, BR; Sentinel LE v4 w/Obsidian, GB; Initiate v5 w/Obsidian, AS; Sentinel LE v4 stunt, EG; Aeon LE v4 stunt, FO; Dominix v4 stunt, BR; Aeon v3 stunt, SY

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« Reply #44 on: October 03, 2017, 07:43:30 PM »

Almost sounds like a happy ending!  Surprising how trusting they are of Talia, I get her explanation but if I were Karmack I’d have her undergo some serious deconditioning at some stage. 

Anyway I like the manipulation Palpatine has used basically playing various force cults off against each other is a very high level Sith thing to do, not the brutish deployment of Vader but the subtle manoeuvring of agents and using their pre-existing goals to serve his own ends.  I think that is very believable and even though he’s not on stage his machinations permeate the story line looking back on it.  Question is are they truly out of it yet?

he he he.   In case it hasn't come through yet Karmack trusts his perception of the Song implicitly.
You could almost say it was a ... weakness ...

;-)

Or not...  he he he
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