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Author Topic: Fate of the Aether  (Read 72804 times)
Karmack
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Light side points please.


« Reply #270 on: April 11, 2019, 05:11:44 PM »

I have to say, I am humbled that LSG drew on a very minor plot point, literally a passing mention somewhere in some fluff as I recall, and used it to integrate the Mak'Tor into his story.  It adds depth and richness to all of our tails to have them co-existing.   Thank you LSG for being willing to share!   My experiences on other FanFic boards have not been nearly as open and collaborative as what we have here.  Kudos to everyone for that spirit!  :-)

That being said...   The echoes of Vyth continue to reverberate ... and cause aftershocks ... even to the time of Karmack and Zearic.  Perhaps even into the far future....

Oh, wait.  Forget I said anything...  ;-)
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TheDutchman
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« Reply #271 on: April 11, 2019, 06:56:48 PM »

I have to say, I am humbled that LSG drew on a very minor plot point, literally a passing mention somewhere in some fluff as I recall, and used it to integrate the Mak'Tor into his story.  It adds depth and richness to all of our tails to have them co-existing.   Thank you LSG for being willing to share!   My experiences on other FanFic boards have not been nearly as open and collaborative as what we have here.  Kudos to everyone for that spirit!  :-)

That being said...   The echoes of Vyth continue to reverberate ... and cause aftershocks ... even to the time of Karmack and Zearic.  Perhaps even into the far future....

Oh, wait.  Forget I said anything...  ;-)
Shocked

OK now I REALLY want to know what is going to happen in (AND I QUOTE!): "...the time of Karmack and Zearic.  Perhaps even into the far future..."

 Grin

But on a more serious note: I agree that the willingness to have a shared continuity has made these fanfics an absolute treasure.  I remember when Karm, LSG, and I were doing "The Gray & the Unchained" and either Karm or LSG (or both!) would come up with a remarkable plot point/detail/surprise that would enrich what I had planned to write, resulting in a marked improvement; well, it is THAT kind of collaboration that I have to thank them (as well as TR and TDC) for  Smiley

Gentlemen, you're all awesome  Cool
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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
Forumverse Loremaster
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Force Alignment: 1152
Posts: 5602


Light side points please.


« Reply #272 on: April 11, 2019, 07:23:33 PM »

HA!  You're just going to have to wait.   Just know that the repercussions of Vyth are far from over.   :-)
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Lord_S_Gray
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« Reply #273 on: April 14, 2019, 09:51:19 PM »

Chapter 65 — Apotheosis — Twilight of the Gods

Part 1

 
Last Chances

The Hedonist like its Master fell straight down 60 stories to crash into its docking cradle – the impact shattering the underground store rooms plunging it further as though it sought the planets core to hide itself in. 

Already rent apart from within it was now ground to splinters by the impact. 

Tonnes of dust and rubble shot up and out forcing the Mando’s still on their jet packs to crash land best they could on ground that shook with a magnitude 5 equivalent earthquake – a number of Jedi, half asleep with exhaustion from the battle, still processing the sight of the last Nova Corps ripping their own bodies apart in mad convulsions – bonded to Lucovis by the Ancient arts of the Sith Battle Lord in the Almas fortress they could not remain sane without their Goddess and were easily forgiven for believing the entire planet was about to explode beneath them – for that was exactly what began to happen.

Support columns and gravity dispersal generators required to keep the innumerable underground warehouses from collapsing failed, vast cracks appeared on the ferrocrete as the Jedi rushed to their ships, bursts of yellow flame competed with the pre-dawn starlight as the under levels exploded.

The shipping companies of Ord Mirit had delved deeply and greedily into the crust of the planet for every square centimetre of space, the honeycomb they had made at minimum cost to charge maximum rent now began to buckle across the entire continental plate as the underground shockwaves and sheared frequently patched minimum standard walls completely apart.

As the blue flares erupted from the breaching Drive core of the Hedonist three blackened silhouettes came out of the plasma inferno.

Yoda crash rolled onto the blazing ferrocrete scrounging to keep himself from sliding down the 15 degree incline as he hurled the Morgukai to relative safety, Soryu landed heavily with the Aetharian on his back, Valens superior Vestibular system kept him effortlessly upright.

Heaving under the weight of three People Valens surveyed the situation up ahead.

Tnbu and his men pulled back from the shattering edge of the pit, now they formed a semi-circle around the Aetharian women, Sons of Kessel and their bizarre Extolled allies, they had them backed up against the slowing flaking ground. 

Mando Meteor transports came in low and tight behind Tnbu’s lines picking up the wounded with healers ready to take the rest at a moments notice.

“Throw down you weapons and submit to our custody!” Tnbu’s words were mere protocol he did not expect them to comply, a flick of his fingers behind his back signalled his commanders to prepare to open fire on them.

Yoda coughing up flecks of blood amidst the choking dust and blazing heat of the explosions behind him could feel Tnbu’s reasoning consistent with his own. 

Having fought beside the Jedi against the perverted Nova’s, whose corpses slid down the incline to be incinerated in the plasma fires  of the Hedonist, did not redeem Valens and his kind of their crimes on half a dozen other worlds. Yoda’s condemnation of their genocidal tribe stood, and Tnbu well understood there would never be a better chance to destroy them.

There was no situation in which they would submit, yet as Lyaea surveyed her options….resistance seemed futile.  The sullustan Jedi had nearly 50 Jedi, at least half of those were fresh reserves he had brought up, Valens was struggling up the fracturing ferrocrete toward her, Maynard was swinging back around to pick them up…the ground was quite literally about to collapse under them, thin splits sucking in the dust that swirled about.

“Surrender NOW!” Tnbu yelled as the first flickers of consciousness began to return to the unconscious Aetharians, Yoda becoming increasingly worried if they did not move soon their advantage would be lost…it was simply too dangerous to let them live….

“No accordance possible is…already damned by their actions they are, threat to Peace and Justice!” Yoda called boosting his voice with the force despite the hideous tabbing it caused behind his eyes.

Li backed closer to Mike and Zen, she hadn’t seen much of these Black creatures but what little she had gave her significant pause about the Jedi’s ability to beat them even with their numbers.

“Kage…perhaps we should make ourselves scarce…” Mike suggested

“Not sure which side we should be on anymore…” Zen added pointing out the fact the Black creatures were behind a line of Sons of Kessel who exuded a near fanatical devotion to them.

Li was no more clear on what was happening… until a figure carrying three bodies came up over a rise behind the surrounded super women…even battered, bleeding she recognised that face from an intelligence report Odjina had requested before…before…

“The murderer…” she whispered, Valens destroyer of Odjina, whom Jo had been so intent on destroying…in that instant her mind was made up - perhaps there was more spite than nobility in that choice – yet such conflicted motivations did not bother her – She was Grey.

Another flare turned the plasma blaze white, a metallic screech echoed as another forty storey cranes dropped into the conflagration, behind the sun of Ord Mirit rose red and gold at the fringes of the inferno.

Dozens of blades hummed in her ears as flickering thoughts returned to Sofa’s mind…she felt heavy, sluggish, something was pressing down on her while she was pressed painfully into some kind of oddly shaped metal bar…

As Sofa’s eyes opened on an apocalyptic vision she realised she was being carried on someone’s back toward a hedge made of Lightsabres, a sickening sensation she was being brought before some Final Judgement before the Jedi she had turned away from sunk her three stomachs.

The rumble of the flames was broken by the pulse of grav-drives as Maynard brought the Lyssia round as close as he could - stymied by the Mando Basilisks whose better manoeuvrability at low level made them a genuine threat to any escape attempt.

“Take one step toward that ship…” Tnbu boomed with all the righteous stubbornness of the Order, unyielding need to show strength and power in the face of chaos even as the ground fractured under his feet.

“…And we will use force…This is your last chance…”

The ultimatum echoed Kimar’s word what seemed a lifetime ago and hung in the air more threatening than the slowly sinking ground as Valens felt the others assessment of the situation…Lyaea and the others had burnt themselves out surviving the Nova’s, even he was barely lucid….even so a plan of sorts formed between them…Take the head and the body will follow…destroy Tnbu, Yoda and Yshrrk, leave them leaderless, scared and confused then break for it…

Time’s up Tnbu could delay no longer, flicking two finger forward in battle cant  he ordered the advance.

Twenty fresh knights feeling every inch the Sword of the Republic stepped forward across the ruined battlescape as Yoda rose and Soryu dipped beneath the weight of his charge and another failure of the Order to be Jedi.

“ENOUGH!”
Over the crackling of the broken Hedonist the voice boomed masking the approach of a fourth Black Dagger shaped ship overhead. 

A mind shattering blaze of Red fire fell to the ground slamming down between the Jedi and the Aethans.

Hair flowing up in defiance of gravity, body flickering with blood red lighting that shimmer a golden hue Milaea stood between the People who had birthed her and the Order that had raised her.

“There has been too much death already!” Her voice was powerful but not dominating, it retained a melodious cadence that seemed to calm and nurture every species that heard it as if it were their parents quiet soothing words.

She turned to her own People first, a curious crystal like pendant around her neck none of them had seen before, in the Triquetra to symbolize their Goddesses.

“Xithar is dead, all the babies and genetic material he stole are destroyed…”

Now she turned to the Jedi, Soryu and Yoda recognising the small wooden pendant around her neck that Soryu had given her as a Knighting gift, said to be carved from the wood of an ancient tree on Ahch-To.

“The Sith Master, the Alchemist that created the Nova’s is dead, his Criminal Empire broken…”

Now she spoke to them all,

“We all have new paths to walk from here, let us go if not with good will at least in peace…”

The sentiments were noble, but futile, so far as Tnbu and Yoda were concerned she was just the last of the Terrorists who had embarrassed and shamed the Jedi on Coruscant, Myrkr and spread chaos across the galaxy – she alone had destroyed an entire office tower killing thousands on Lexrul for no apparent reason! 

“Only in your surrender to Trial and Judgement is peace possible…” Yoda said quietly - knowing the outcome already, his pained hand touching the hilt of his sabre.

“They will die first…” Milaea confirmed his thoughts.

“Fire.” Tnbu finished

<<<<>>>>

Fall of the Goddess

Fingers brushed a half dozen triggers on high powered disruptor sniper rifles sending blazing yet lightless bolts designed for discretion straight at Milaea’s head. 

A flaming explosion of Golden Red light shattered the pulses and flew from Milaea briefly outshining both the plasma fire and the rising sun behind her.

Tendrils of her light struck every sentients eyes and mind at once – like a stun flare the Golden Red hit their vision and briefly filled the hundreds of minds of the Jedi and Mandalorians, disorienting them all for precious seconds while more concentrated arcs of shatterpoint healing energy with a Blood Red luminosity struck her People’s bodies in a mirror to her healing on Vulpter.

Wounds from Lucovis, Mental and Physical, exhaustion from fighting the Nova’s was all rapidly soothed if not fully restored.

Yoda could tell what she had done, revived her injured fellows…but was also horribly aware of the cost to her.

She was a blazing beacon of glowing energy, making herself the prominent and obvious target to protect her kin – and now suffered for it. 

A dozen fresh knights leaping across the distance were preceded by the snipers second effort – five shots were deflected by her air scrying amethyst blade – the sixth struck into her cheek just under her left eye shattering the bone.

Stumbling back a fraction she was exposed to fourteen blades, blue, green, yellow and orange and just as many telekinetic grips that overwhelmed her ability to counter all at once.

One blade struck under her right shoulder, another the inner thigh gap, more rained at her neck.

Milaea’s body burnt like a phoenix amidst the Jedi blades, hurling knight after knight away from her…but she wasn’t following up…she was trying to disable not kill…her compassion was going to get her killed.

The others all pushed toward her desperate to save the baby of the tribe.

But it was too late, she had poured out her all to heal them, to try and avoid more bloodshed…and now she was the victim of it.

Who took her head no one remembered, lost among dozens of blows that severed it and ended any chance of peace for all time.

 
<<<<>>>>
Logged

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."

Lord_S_Gray
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« Reply #274 on: April 14, 2019, 09:58:22 PM »

Chapter 65 — Apotheosis — Twilight of the Gods

Part 2

Yoda


Blinking out Milaea’s golden red blast Yoda cut ahead straight at his former apprentice, bedraggled and broken, as the Jedi pushed their attack with dozens of glowing blades bearing down upon the wretched creatures. 

Valens had eyes only to relieve Milaea – his hands outstretched his fists twisted to hurl half a dozen Knights off of her while also firing blasts of lighting into the air to prematurely detonate blaster bolts as if he had not sensed her death, or believed he could revive her…which Yoda had to admit for beings like Valens and Milaea may well be possible.

With a Forward slash Yoda struck toward the distracted depleted Valens neck mid-air, his step backward was sluggish, both were tired but Valens far more so putting them on even footing for once – more importantly he was unarmed, the sabre at his side beaten and non-functional his black sword so damaged by Lucovis it was useful only to hold off two of Yoda’s strike before he cast it aside.

Yoda continued the barrage, using the dregs of the Force to pull Valens closer denying him reach and escape, there would be no mercy this time, no holding back…for the Republic…for the Order…

Valens lit the gap between them with lighting for a second…but he hadn’t the power to sustain it – the sparks fizzled as Yoda struck his shoulder, the blade slow through the genetically enhanced dense flesh, unable to cut the extremely hard bone he pulled back and out, then in a graceful sweep relaunched up to swing his blade though Valens face, searing off his features and dropping him the ground.

Without regret, without doubt, Yoda knowing the neck bones were too strong to be cut by a mere energy blade blazed his sabre messily though the arteries in his failed apprentices neck.
<<<<>>>>

Yshrrk

Jarys roared with primal hate as his brother fell beside him…he was one leap from Yoda...but Milaea needed him more.

Like a mad animal Jarys feet drilled holes in the fracture ridden ground.

A mere five metres away he was smashed in the side by Yshrrks tackle.

As soon as he had shaken of the golden red pulse Yshrrk had made for him, he could feel the bestial desire to protect his offspring, he could empathize with it.

And that was the tragedy Yshrrk felt as his dug his paws in his enemies flesh as the wounded warrior responded with heavy fists to Yshrrks ribs.  Jarys was not ‘evil’ simply of a culture so myopically selfish he could not help but cause destruction for others.

The wookies claws digging deep into his unarmoured chest and back reopening Lucovis wound with ease, Jarys thrashed and clawed.

Yet Yshrrk would not be moved, his paw came down on Jarys neck, a burst of arterial blood flying into his snout, Yshrrk collapsed atop him – the duel they had begun on Myrkr – beast to beast – father to father finally done.

With a low growl Yshrrk honoured his fallen foe, promising he would carve a memorial for him when he returned to Kashyyyk

<Rest in peace with your child beneath the shade of the Wroshyr brave warrior>

<<<<>>>>

Nagasa

One day of great tragedy to prevent a thousand.  That was Yoda and Tnbu’s logic…and for all his love of Soryu…Nagasa could not fault it.  The warrior before him was staid and focused, but still greatly damaged. 

Nagasa’s sabres felt like lead weights in his hands, arms like rocks that he simply wanted to drop, still he pressed on, flourishes rapid and practiced against the wavering defence.

It was a sorry sight that Nagasa could feel in the force…for this old warrior…it was not the first time he felt he had failed his People…his mind unshielded awash with regrets at the end.

Nagasa did not wish to see him suffer more than necessary – A blink and he sent a Force Thorn deep into the unguarded mind, the old warrior buckled, fell and looked up with a blank face. 

Blades crossed Nagasa scissored through Melrons neck, only the hardened vertebrae refusing to yield.

<<<<>>>>

Vectivus

The balance was precarious at best, the bestial fury of the Demigods was unpredictable the Jedi would win of course…but the fact it took this much to bring them down proved the Demigods prowess beyond all doubt – not just the Sithspawn, the Terror Bomb and Mirror Orb attack, but also the weeks of battle leading up to it. 

The Galaxy was not worthy for such Gods to walk upon it…so they had to die.

He stalked the edge of the clash of the males to find the female huntress stalking the edges of the battle shadowed and vicious taking aim at those that had felled Milaea.  Before she could spring into her attack Vectivus intervened.  The sabre long secreted against his body snapping to life in crimson red that mirrored her snarling rage.

Her face was still shattered from Lucovis blow, arm covered in Xithar’s dried blood and other fluids…but she would not take a second Sith’s head.  He darted his stabs in a teasing manner that enraged her further, trying to bat them aside with feline scratches that only seared her naked arms with more wounds.

He felt the build-up of energy and swiftly dispelled it with micro-suppression – the flames that she wished to unleash died in her finger tips with painful frustration, she stepped back and he twirled forward with a rising cut, by some wounded neuron her hand raised to try and grasp him seized mid-air, his stroke aimed for the more modest target of her shoulder quickly adjusted sliced into the wrist.

Her scream was fast in coming, but slow in ending as he weaved in through the same twirl to ram his blade between her unarmoured ribs, the energy blade hissing and popping against the dense flesh and impenetrable bone, but sizzling the organs nonetheless.

Tightening his grip Vectivus flowed his own hate along the blade and into Kiraea’s body – the flames she was denied he unleashed to immolate her from within.

<<<<>>>>

Li’I’Mack

Golden Red light flashed across Li’s vision momentarily as she felt the tide turn and the Jedi resolve harden - these Dark creatures had to be destroyed – they might’ve fought beside them for a time but…seeing Valens was one of them….

Jo had been right they were simply too dangerous to let live, and if even Yoda had resolved that who was Li to doubt him. 

That Soryu stood with them was more evidence of their hideous manipulative power than Li could’ve imagined possible.

She rushed forward ahead of the Jedi re-enforcements a tune on her chapped lips to engage the female with the bow that seemed to have been their leader against the Nova’s, she struck back with said bow and used an arrow as a spear trying to stab Li in the eye.

Mike was having none of it hitting her on the flank with a barrage of blows, Zen rounded on her back and kicked her down, Li saw the joint and plunged her blade downward with all her strength.

The scream behind knocked Li over, but only deepened the cut into Lyaea’s spine.  A second female charged them frantic firing a sniper rifle point blank, but her body was shaking so much from rage and grief every shot went wide.

Li threw a telekinetic blast at her feet, but also micro tugged her hip disjointing the woman’s motion long enough for the three Mak’Tor to rise and cut Selaena down in swift blows that left their tired limbs numb.

<<<<>>>>

Meeda

No matter her concern about facing the Black witches, nor Soryu’s order to help them earlier on, Meeda was resigned to the fact that in the end it was the Jedi Order that was paying her bills not the outcast Soryu. With mercenary cool she directed the Basilisks to open up on their black dagger ships and the Sons and Extolled.

Before they could even hit cover at least half of them were wiped out allowing Tern and his upper commandos to get in behind them, executing them with cold heartless blaster fire.

In the skies the Basilisks unleashed on the Black dagger ships – in the dawn light mingling with the plasma fire their light sucking Oblivion plating made them easy to spot, pulse wave generators slammed into them a dozen at a time – the ships were tough but not inviable, one by one they were sent spiraling into the dep wreck of the Hedonist adding occasionally flares of heat to the inferno.

<<<<>>>>

Tnbu

Tnbu pushed out the ringing in his sensitive ears that sounded…Golden and red?.... the last of them were surrounded, the whole scene only now illuminated by the glow of sabres.

In the centre Soryu remained impassive staring at Milaea’s corpse as if the secrets of the galaxy rested within it proving beyond all doubt the danger of familial attachments, Tnbu glanced behind and issued swift signals with his hands, another six Knights moved to support as Yshrrk roared victory over the Sith of Cyrgrat beside them.

A large male tossed an unusually large rifle away before it was tugged, he lashed out with a dagger but found himself pinned by that telekinetic efforts of three knights – this one was obviously not on the level of Valens or Jarys, and with a quick flick of his Adegan silver blade Tnbu proved the point boring a hole in Maesons eye, the raw energy burning up the nerve into the brain

A shattering crack echoed in his hyper sensitive sullustan ears as the air whooshed with the barely diverted arrows launched from one of the last remaining females, like a machine she launched three more at the assembled Jedi as the cordon tightened – but in numbers such as this, and depleted as she was she could not last. 

A dozen Jedi boxed her in, physically, mentally and in the Force, then with cold serenity sliced Adaea down.

Behind him there continued a few hissing cracks of blaster fire against blade as the Aetharians allies were dealt with by the rear guard, over the in-ear comm he heard reports of ‘Force Dead’ warriors with queer weapons who fought determinedly but died all the same.

“Master Tnbu we have the body of the Sons of Kessel Leader Keison here, the other freaks are being mopped up” Meeda commed in flat tones, her mercenary wet work done without enthusiasm or honour, and confirming Tnbu's suspicion the Sons were long since corrupted by the Aetharians.

“Very good, form up take down the last,”

<<<<>>>>

Yoda

Even before Valens corpse had flopped heavily down, amidst the searing clash about him, Sofa was rushing forward.

Abandoning the relative safety of Soryu’s side she hurled herself at Yoda, guardian blue of her blade an insult to the Order that such a selfish, foolish pleasure seeking woman should wield it.

Unlike the others she was not physically drained – it seemed she had only been hit by the mental attacks giving her a serious advantage over Yoda even if her Niman style was not flawless.

He flipped back toes increasing pained and calloused after so much movement in one day on uneven broken ground, she pursued with quick thrusts and hammers of telekinetic energy forcing him to roll aside.

A huge furred hand split through the hovering dust to hit her shoulder round as she swung pushing her off balance, her inhuman reflexes in steadying confirming to Yoda she was completely lost to her carnal desires enough to merge her very genetic code to her master.

She struck out at Yshrrk who went to one knee under the strength of her first blow, her decapitating slash blocked with a halo of sparks by Nagasa’s blade. 

The strength of a fresh Aetherian was prodigious, and in two quick swipes Nagasa was on the ground one of his sabres flying from his hand after a pirouetting disarm.

Rising back up Yoda saw the very real possibility that Sofa, whilst she could not defeat the dozens of Jedi arrayed against her, could certainly kill him, Nagasa and Yshrrk before being brought down.

Despite the burn behind his eyes he hurled a blast at her before she could skewer Nagasa, whilst beaming out for Tnbu’s help.

Her dirty hair spun out a shower of dust as she rounded on Yoda intent on destroying the strongest first.  He lit his blade but his hands failed to respond, the gyroscopic fluxes barely controllable in his weakness.

She loomed over him blade spinning azure shadows over him about to fall. 

The gap in millimetres a purple blade thrust in front of Yoda’s eyes searing off his eye lashes.

Li Mack kicked out into Sofa’s thigh as her Honour guard and two of Tnbu’s knights surrounded her the Sullustan coming up behind with half a dozen more to finish the extermination of the Aetharians as Soryu stared heartbroken metres away.

Whether Soryu’s unwillingness to kill Jedi to protect his so called daughter was to his credit or detriment Yoda would never decide…either way he deserved better than a lustful wreck like Sofa.

Sofa hit back at Li Mack flames in her eyes

“You took EVERYTHING FROM ME!” With each word she hacked away at the Gray, the first two blows Li, then her honour guard intervening to protect her from the brutal prowess of an Aetherian.

Finally the fresh knights engaged from behind, the first taking on her blade the second buffeted by an invisible telekinetic shield after getting too close.  Yshrrk chanced another blow snapping at her leg from where he was crouched.  Nagasa hurled his sabre into her unarmoured back, eating into the flesh before she could shake it off.

“Killed my sister! Killed my babies!” Sofa raved like a mad woman as they began taking her apart cut by cut, force barriers stifling her movement, the Jedi force acting in careful co-ordination – no one wanted to be the last one to die.

As she bit and screeched defiance they sliced at her legs forcing her to the ground, from there it was yet another inelegant death, sliced to pieces methodically.

His ‘daughter’ dead Soryu crashed to the ground his sabre rolling away. The calm on his face not serene but resigned.

Yoda did not meet his gaze, there was too much else to be done.

<<<<>>>>

Vectivus

As if in response to the death of the Gods the jittering ground cracked completely, Meteor Transports spun in to pick up the Jedi as Vectivus sped back into the shadows and away from the plasma storm that ate in the Nova’s bodies.

A few of the Jedi tried to lift the unnaturally heavy forms of the Demi-Gods, but time was too tight and they were too heavy.  Abandoning the effort they leapt onto the hovering transports.

Tonnes of dirt and rubble along with the divine corpses Lucovis had given her all to obtain collapsed into the storm of the Hedonists blazing drive core, exploding out bursts of super-heated dust every few seconds as it was slowly smothered by the melange of glass the unintended combination of elements created.

It was a pyre of sorts, burning away the last of the Gods, oddly honouring their wish to not have their genetic potential exploited.

The Sun rose on a Day...a Galaxy...that seemed lesser for them not being in it.

<<<<>>>>
Logged

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."

Karmack
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Posts: 5602


Light side points please.


« Reply #275 on: April 15, 2019, 01:37:48 PM »

Okay...    I did NOT see that one coming. 

But it feels to final.  Like maybe ... a mind trick...  ;-)
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« Reply #276 on: April 19, 2019, 04:43:35 PM »

Okay...    I did NOT see that one coming. 

But it feels to final.  Like maybe ... a mind trick...  ;-)
SO TRUE Karm!

And on both counts...

OK, we know that the Aethans are tribal and xenophobic so...maybe this IS a trick to ensure that the Jedi will not just leave the alone but are indeed convinced that they are no longer even a consideration?  I have to admit: that's a fantastic tactic in order to all but guarantee that the Aethans are left alone but also perpetual anonymity.

Of course, it also paints out the roadmap for Future's past decisions of the Jedi Order and how they come to be in the "present time."  Again: great job tying in canon with your own writing LSG.

But I feel the worst for Soryu...regardless of the outcome, he'll be a pariah without a home...
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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
Forumverse Loremaster
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Light side points please.


« Reply #277 on: April 19, 2019, 10:56:55 AM »

Agreed about Soryu.   If we could "retcon" the EU I'd have him becoming top dog of the Order and setting them aright.   

Hmm.   I wonder how the Order would have handled Palpatine after being course-corrected by Soryu...   
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« Reply #278 on: April 20, 2019, 02:27:40 AM »

Agreed about Soryu.   If we could "retcon" the EU I'd have him becoming top dog of the Order and setting them aright.   

Hmm.   I wonder how the Order would have handled Palpatine after being course-corrected by Soryu...   

Interesting idea, I think the problem is Soryu's vision would not long outlive him, as Yoda's swinging back from action to reflection shows the competing priorities of the Jedi would still not be resolved, I think Soryu's Jedi would end up much more like the wandering watchmen of old following the force where it leads rather than a central organisation...but yeah that brings its own problems.  There are no perfect answers in the end and that struggle as I see it is never resolved from the First Jedi on Tython (or Ahch-To LOL) to the Clone Wars and beyond.
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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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Light side points please.


« Reply #279 on: April 20, 2019, 05:26:04 PM »

Interesting idea, I think the problem is Soryu's vision would not long outlive him, as Yoda's swinging back from action to reflection shows the competing priorities of the Jedi would still not be resolved, I think Soryu's Jedi would end up much more like the wandering watchmen of old following the force where it leads rather than a central organisation...but yeah that brings its own problems.  There are no perfect answers in the end and that struggle as I see it is never resolved from the First Jedi on Tython (or Ahch-To LOL) to the Clone Wars and beyond.

Yeah, an excellent point.   Centralizing the Jedi and linking them to the government gave them legitimacy ... but took away their heart. 

Sort of like Cap not wanting to sign the Sagovia accords and Tony pushing for them.   LOL   Avengers as Jedi.   See?  There are never any truly new stories!  LOL
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« Reply #280 on: April 22, 2019, 10:49:25 PM »

Chapter 66 — Apotheosis — The Goddess

Part 1

Embrace of the Goddess


She hoped she was doing this right…not that anyone would notice…

No that wasn’t true….She would know

It seemed silly in a way…superstitious…but it had a deep symbolism

“The goddesses may or may not be real in the way you think real is real,” Kiraea said somewhat confusingly,

“But either way you are,”

She sat off to the side of a tunnel covering herself in a special honey…it was left over from when Kiraea had come here years before, but in the cool of the caves was still perfectly good. 

The roar of water just behind her echoed through her skull.  The tunnel was cut off from the rest of the caves by a waterfall, the natural formation interpreted as a place of ‘transition’, to pass through the waters into a more sacred area.

That area beyond was called Aephrodaea’s womb…of course to get to the womb you had to go through the tunnel with a suitably anatomically correct name. 

It was the most sacred place on the planet, a fulcrum of birth and rebirth…

That was why she was sent here she supposed.

She slathered the last bit of honey across her brow, hair done up tightly…

If you’re going to penetrate a Goddess you should at least make yourself up a bit first…

Milaea leapt across the small gap the water flowed through, it was absolutely freezing…and it was not the only one she now realized…the dark made it impossible to see for all the water…there were multiple cuts in the cave and at least a dozen waterfalls…she cut across guided by the aether, each one washing away more and more of the honey, at some point her hair tie came off and let her locks loose.

The gaps between the falls became larger, the water from under mountain channels stronger until she final reached the end.  Here even the reflective light from the water seemed to vanish, she flicked her hand to create a small globe of purple aether light. 

The tunnel was roughly circular and blood red…fitting…deep shadows cast by her amethyst light played across her features.  The tunnel sloped down into the depths, run off from the falls trickling into an eroded groove that guided her way.

Halfway through she started to feel stupid…how could this possibly make a difference…wandering around a cave naked smelling like honey. Would that undo what she had done? Who’s life did that save?

She paused and considered turning back…no one would ever know…
...but she would

<<<<>>>>

Aephrodaea’s womb was a circular chamber, again made up of the blood red ultra-dense Bloodstone mineral. 

Inside the trail of water from the falls flowed into a pool in the centre of the room…she began to wonder how much of this was natural and how much was woman made…

Now what…

Kiraea hadn’t said what to do after reaching here…apparently she ‘would know what you need to do to be healed,’…

Was she meant to perform a Rite? Bathe in the pool…again it all seemed so silly.

She flopped down on the cold stone her hands close to her breast to keep them warm. 

Maybe she could see what Kiraea had done the aether…was strong here…written deep into the stone. 

She quartered and sent her globes about the room as she looked back in time…bodies shifted and flew past…she had gone too far…the powers that lay dormant here had reacted too strongly to her push…

Generations of women came and went, a place for meetings around the pool, teaching their Rites, blessing babies in the pool…also a place introspection and spiritual healing.

Hundreds of women, mostly young some older…few lived much longer than forty years back then…all reacted differently, some curled up and cried, others yelled and screamed, some bathed in the pool, others drank from it…one woman’s life story in miniature…she came here first worried she was infertile, then in thankfulness she was pregnant…later in mourning for her baby gone too young.

Eventually she found Kiraea…frantic, thrashing around like a mad woman in grief…she looked completely broken…afraid, worried, stressed…exhausted curling into the foetal position for what might’ve been days  before she finally seemed to rise up, dived into the pool and brought up a piece of stone which she slowly fashioned with the aether.

She stepped closer, peeling back the time and space to see what she was making…

“Don’t get too close…she might see you…” came a soft voice behind her,

Startled Milaea turned around…the cave was bright and a settee made of blood red stone that certainly hadn’t been there before was being lounged upon by a woman who definitely hadn’t been there before.

She was hard to look at…immaculately beautiful, hair that glowed deep golden red that matched her eyes and lips.  The thin white mist that covered specific areas of her unclothed figure were there not for modesty but to preserve Milaea’s sanity. 

Milaea couldn’t speak…she could only stare…she had heard other people found it hard to look at her due to her genetically engineered beauty…now she knew what that felt like…to be so entranced by a being so exquisitely perfect…this was not a woman this was a…

“Hush,” she was suddenly lying beside her on the impossibly expanded settee an ivory finger to her lips. 

Her hand was then cupping Milaea’s face…but then also holding her closely…but then cupping her face…it was in two places at once flickering between points of space time

“My troubled daughter…don’t be afraid…don’t be sad…we wouldn’t abandon any of our children,” Her face shifted…and remained static…both the underlying beauty and…two other faces…Shilea and Cilina…her aunt and her…her mother…they were all showing at once...they had always been there…she just hadn’t noticed it before.

Were they with her…part of her…both at once yet neither at all…

She felt herself shifted around, on their sides face to face the…Woman…God…Phantom…embraced her tenderly, pressing Milaea’s face to her breast much like Kiraea had just a day before…was she dreaming back to that moment? 

She held her like a Lover, a Mother, A Sister, A Daughter, An Equal all at once.

Milaea cried, laughed, wept, screamed, trembled, froze, shook and cowered in the embrace as a warm pleasure flowed all through her sweeping away pains she didn’t know she carried.


<<<<>>>>

She gasped as she woke up…

The cavern was completely dark, her superior eyes only slowly making out the most jagged features in four times reflected light from far above as her senses returned…

The other ‘Woman’ was gone…

She was wet and tingling...she could smell her pheromones in the air, splashes indicated either she or someone else had jumped into the pool. 

What had she seen…was that…had she actually spoken to a real Goddess…Aephrodaea herself?

Was it some kind of aether induced hallucination…a vision…have I finally gone insane?

A more rational part of her mind thought that perhaps…Aethena trapped in the Blackstone altar had not been quite as trapped as they thought…her essence bleeding out into the interconnected veins of ultra dense aether absorbent minerals  in the planets crust…

Coalescing into the Bloodstone it concentrated her personality and power then was infused by the emotions, memories, personalities and imagination of a thousand women forming them into some kind of tripartite consciousness based on their beliefs – a planet sized Holocron that had turned Aethena’s essence and a million aether powered tears, blessings and moments of pleasure into Sentient Aether based beings the likes of which Yoda had posited existed known as Celestials

It was a Goddess…and all those other women were what made that Goddess…and yet it was something more than that that defied further investigation.

As she slowly sat up she noticed an object in front of where she had been lying

A small but intricate Triquetra pendant made of the same Bloodstone as the rest of the cavern sensually curved and on the back in indented figures of each of the three Goddesses identical in a one sense but subtly different in their poses reflecting their natures.

A gift or memento of sorts perhaps.

She beathed in the slightly humid air of the cavern deeply, her lungs finally filling fully for the first time in…a long time…

Her pain, confusion, guilt was gone cleansed by the compassion and love of the Goddess…if she had to explain it logically perhaps she now believed what everyone had been trying to tell her, nothing was her fault, she wasn’t responsible for her past, nor everyone’s future.

Milaea had taken from this place and now had to give something back so the next woman who came here could benefit just as much as she had….

This was the womb of Aephrodaea…so there was only one thing she could think would be fitting to return the energy to the Goddess of Compassion and Love…

Lying back on the cool stone she began - letting all of her power flow out into the room, red lighting flicked off her skin sucked up by the stone around.

As much pleasure and power as she had been given she would give back tenfold, this was how every woman was the Goddess Aephrodaea – they made the Goddess through their pleasure empowering Her to soothe others pains.
 
<<<<>>>>

She left the womb hopefully as renewed and refreshed as the Goddess herself....finally feeling consoled that Shilea and Cilina were safe and loved with their Goddesses in some way she couldn’t explain.

Milaea would probably never understand what she had seen and felt in there…she doubted any attempt to analyse the place would be successful…and frankly it was too sacred to defile it in that way…the mystery was at the heart of it. 

She wondered if there were other shrines in the Valley for Aethenaea and Aertemisaea…most likely there would be somewhere…what would they be able to give a petitioner, and what would they ask for in exchange?

The only way she and the others would have the opportunity to investigate is if they were finally free…

And that could never happen while the Jedi, Sith and Goddess knew who else wanted them. 

Valens would lead well in her absence, but she knew his solutions would not be…effective…

He was a mere male who thought in terms of a war between tribes as was his role, he would sever the enemy chiefs and braves heads and put them on spikes for all to see, simultaneously crippling their ability to retaliate and sowing terror…but this would only keep the battle going...

If they killed Xithar, Vectivus, even Yoda…it would only make more and more people come looking for whoever was doing this…killing Kimar had attracted Xithar, who knew who killing Xithar in turn would attract. 

Everything that made them People…their culture, their Goddesses, their bodies, their aether…was a temptation too rich for Outsiders to ignore once they knew it existed. 

There might be other species physically stronger, intellectually more gifted, even some beings stronger in the aether.

None combined such superior qualities with such perfection that she knew of.

She needed…another way…had to be wise as Aethanaea to work it out…strong as Aertemisaea to Implement it…and compassionate as Aephrodaea to not kill every Outsider doing it….

One that would secure their future without guilt or blood on her hands. 

As she returned to the central cavern and picked through her clothes she found the small wooden necklace she had been given as a knighting present by Soryu…from the Tree of Ahch-To he had said.

She held it beside the new pendant created in her…experience…in the womb.

Two different by equally important parts of her…there was no reason they shouldn’t be able to sit side by side about her neck to remind her of who she was and where she was from, but that didn’t mean either one owned or forced her into any particular path.

She could, and would - she thought as she threaded the red stone star beside the small wooden circle with a sword coming from a star in the centre – find a way to combine them both.

<<<<>>>>

The Aethena cut through space time like a heated knife in soft flesh.  Her eyes forward Milaea added to the speed of hyperspace travel by…folding the Aether about her.

She needed to hurry, the battle was already underway, and if she was late…

No she wouldn’t think that way, the Fate of the others was not on her alone – she wasn’t the only actor or influence even in her own actions.

As she neared the ripples in the aether of what was happening on Ord Mirit began to gather in pace washing against her, a Doppler effect as she pushed toward the fulcrum of power.

Xithar…but in a different and disturbing form that tasted of Uvex had used some kind of horrific weapon and was millimetres from achieving his…no…Her desires…

Vectivus, Yoda, Yshrrk, even Valens and Kiraea were pushed to the edge.

She pushed her mind further forward adding even more speed, the streaking tunnel of stars of hyperspace lit a tinge of red as her power flowed out…

Ahead the confluence of shatterpoint lines was bulging with expectation, a primed and ready tinder box looking for her red spark to ignite it.

Warning lights blinked as the Aethena breached 150per cent safe hyperspace velocity…

Just a little further…

<<<<>>>>

Bursting back into real space the sensation of confusion, terror and death was overwhelming, Milaea had no choice but to wrap her aetheric presence around herself to avoid being swept away by it as she slid the ship toward the very centre of the conflagration.

Ord Mirit’s orbit was littered with broken, dented ships, it seemed casualties were few tanks to ships automatic collision avoidance systems as pilots flopped insnane and terrified on the ground reliving their worst nightmares over and over, but the Terror Bomb had still blocked up all traffic.

Reaching out just where she needed to she slid the ships blocking her path out of the way with nudges just before she zipped past, none even noticing her sleek ship.

Below it was hard to tell what was happening, the aether was raw and pained, a scar on the face of the energy field that connected all living things had been created and like on Coruscant would take a long time to heal.

That couldn’t concern her now, nor could the despairing voices of the workers of Ord Mirit as she approached. 

Finally breaking into atmosphere she dodged the floating buoys and amber blinking traffic control stations heading straight for where the smoke was billowing out the most among the blasted remains of a cargo facility and teetering gnashed cranes that stood like jagged broken teeth pointed skywards.

Sharp stabbing pains inflicted her body…in her stomach, her shoulder, the side of her face…empathic pains as she felt the raw bleed of her Peoples suffering…they were echoes of red against her own feeling driving her to restore and revenge…

She grasped her necklace pendants trying to channel that energy into something more useful…focus…serenity even…


She couldn’t get too close with the ship…that was hardly an issue given she could pilot it telekinetically.  Wandering to the ramp she hissed it open, ash and dust choked air pushing in as she leapt out a flaming Golden Red Angel.

<<<<>>>>
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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."

Lord_S_Gray
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« Reply #281 on: April 22, 2019, 10:52:01 PM »

Chapter 66 — Apotheosis — The Goddess

Part 2

Triumph of the Gods

“They will die first,” Milaea explained as Tnbu and Yoda remained resolute in their condemnation of the People. It was an answer she knew could only lead to more violence, yet it was the truth all the same.

“Fire” Tnbu ordered.

Closing her eyes Milaea tightened her mind around the movement of Time, the build-up of the aether within her exploding outward as a Golden Red light into the minds, eyes and ears of the Jedi and Mandalorians

The Jedi, Guardians of Peace and Justice had had their fill of the People they termed Aetherians, they were a xenophobic race who brought destruction to everyone they encountered.  It was not an unjustified condemnation, yet it was still one she could not permit.

Luminous being are we Yoda often said – yet it was the crude matter of superior Aethan muscle and nerve impulses that would beat him. 

Milaea could see the outcome if she did Not intervene – the Jedi had overestimated their ability, and underestimated their foe and Soryu’s healing of the Aethans on the Hedonist

As Nagasa, Tnbu, Yshrrk and Li charged forth with their fresh Jedi backed by the Mandalorian cover fire, they were met with a counter charge that defied their expectations. 

Valens threw off Jarys, Kiraea and Sofa and went straight for Yoda – blood red tendrils leached from the dying around him as he fed on their energies a so called ‘dark side’ technique that sickened the Jedi to see. Both master and apprentice weakened and injured – Valens biology was the critical factor that let him snap the Jedi masters neck with neither sadness nor regret.

His former Masters life energies sucked in along with the remnants of his memories Valens strode a renewed God of War toward the rest.

Lyaea, Adaea, and Selaena turned all their arrows and fired on Tnbu – he deflected three arrows and dodged one sniper shot, but the other four hit home the master body punctured and flopping.

The Jedi line around him paused  - the Extolled charged – the Jedi reserves utterly incapable of sensing them, and oblivious to Yuuzhan Vong techniques soon found themselves trapped in blorash jelly and staggered by thud bugs as amphistaff venom ate their faces off in hissing meaty vapours.  The remaining Vorynx leapt fanatically to defend the People, using the aether to drag Jedi into their slashing teeth and beneath vicious hyper-dense claws as the Sons ingenuity born of years of scraping for survival offset their lack of the aether to cut into the Jedi’s retreat.

Sprinting to the women Melron came across Nagasa, the Dantooine Jedi Masters Jar’Kai undermined by the Morgukai Djen’Sa Melron had absorbed, the noble masters legs flying off in bloody chunks he was left to bleed to death as Melron smashed into the Jedi’s flank.

Shocked by the sudden impact and blazing danger sense Sofa, Kiraea and Jarys finally woke fully into the hell of the battlefield.  Soyu rushed to Sofa’s side protecting her from the Mando’s half-hearted fire with his blade.

Yoda, Tnbu and Nagasa all down, Soryu fighting against the Jedi once more, Meeda was unwilling to get involved any more than she already had – better to cut her losses that get in deeper with the mad magical monks who were now fighting among themselves.

Her fighters called off as Maynard swung to provide the People with extraction Meeda pulled her men back to the transports, ordering them to bring the injured Jedi with them – those at least she could use as hostages to ensure she got paid – as Oma had always said - she was just another Mando Mercenary.

Li intent on finishing Valens rushed forward with her honour guard beside Yshrrk, while the other depleted Jedi simply stared in utter confusion as their greatest masters fell. 

Yshrrk’s attempt to rally the Jedi with a massive roar was cut off as Jarys smashed into his chest with a heavy tackle that burst open the wounds he had received from Lucovis – but it was worth it, the enormous wookie was down – and the battle damage sharpened I beam under Jarys arm during the tack lodged through the huge furry chest, a last look passed between them, Yshrrk feeling a wry appreciation for his killers ferocity and dedication to his family as he slipped away.


Kiraea, half her face purple with bruising from Lucovis incapacitating back hand but otherwise uninjured - if still tired - tore into Li’s honour guard, she was too fast, they were too tired – in a series of more than humanoid acrobatics she snapped their necks between the thighs then grasped Li’s head from behind, pulling it up with a twist to snap the neck.


The Jedi broke and ran as far and fast as they could carrying word to the Temple that fractured rudderless in hours.  In three months three Grand Masters, Yoda, Oma and Kimar had been killed, the High Sentinel Yshrrk, along with the most competent Masters on the Council Gurrlum, Yoren, Nagasa and Tnbu. Leaderless, and utterly terrified of the Aetharians they fractured. 

The ossifying Republic without its own police or army was rife for exploitation by the Hutts and new criminal factions that rose from the ruins of Xithar, Hondo and Jyx Black Sun empires.

Tidings made their way to M’Tzigon where the loss of two Kage’s in two months destroyed all unity of the Mak’Tor, a third would retreat into isolation, the rest forming into a militarized force that sought allies among the Vhal’Dan.

Carrying word to Galtea an eager Arbiter instigated a rapid coup to militarize – the only two speakers who might’ve opposed keeping silent to protect their adoptive daughter in the howling winds of overwhelming evidence of an imminent collapse of the Jedi Order.

Yet this was not the worst. 

As the Jedi fled from the battlefield Kiraea and Valens sensed the lurking presence of Vectivus and Jarys had not forgotten his promise to slay every the Sith that had tried to manipulate Milaea…He tried to escape into a half collapsed office tower where he had landed his hover car – his feet left the floor, his neck met Kiraea’s blade scoring her second Sith…what little knowledge Jarys hadn’t taken the first time was ripped out with his sentience.

With Vectivus and Xithar the Line of Bane died.  The Rule of Two that channelled a thousand dark siders ambitions by offering a mantle to seize was gone – instead of competing with each other for the glory of being the True Apprentice, a hundred twisted, ingenious and malevolent dark siders claimed the title for themselves.  Chaos rose as the Order collapsed. The ossifying Republic became open prey as the Black Sun reformed and Hutts expanded.

Lucovis plan to render the Jedi and Republic supine was enacted in spite of her death, and the People benefited retreating home and helping the Chiss take advantage as they rebuilt. 

The Gray Alliance of Vhal’Dan, Mak’Tor and a third of the former Jedi order found themselves de facto guardians of a collapsing Republic.

The Arbiter might’ve made a success of it…had not his most trusted Anzat friend’s adoptive daughter investigating the events that lead to the Jedi’s collapse with her adoptive Twi’leki mother found her True People still lived – and sought them out.

Reunited this young woman happily gave over everything she knew of the Vhal’Dan she had been living with to her lost kin in a shocking act of naivety that allowed Valens in league with the Chiss to dissect the Gray Alliance with three perfectly timed assassinations.

Shattered once more the People were free to rebuild as the Chiss expanded ever further and the Vhal’dan, once thousands strong were ground to pieces by the impossible demands to prop up a Republic that soon collapsed in a flurry of stronger systems declaring independence.

Such was the Fate of the Galaxy if Milaea did not intervene in this moment….

 Or so it seemed.

Always in motion is the Future Yoda’s words rang true in a way they had not when she faced a similar choice on Coruscant weeks ago.

Then she had felt the pressure to choose between being the Red Goddess and the White Jedi…she chose a middle path and it tore her heart to pieces with the stress of keeping to that narrow line.

Now she understood.  The Fate of the galaxy was NOT for her to decide alone – Goddess though She and every Woman of the People might be – the future was made of a million decisions constantly in flux, hers was no more nor less important than any others.

The Fate she saw now was just the most likely future at this point in time with all other variables held constant. 

ALL other variables never held constant, She was never held constant, her opinions, her beliefs of what was right and wrong changed with the situation and new experiences and knowledge – what had seemed right on Vyth at the time was now wrong, What had seemed wrong on Nar Shadda now seemed right.

To try and base her decisions on the foreseen Fate of the Galaxy in a year, a month, a day even, was a road to madness, to chase her own tail for eternity, she could only do what felt right in the moment each and every moment

The Future was not Her’s alone. 

But in this moment…

The Goddesses power Was.

It had been building in her since the Womb, the confluence of stored energies released to aid her in protecting the People in their moment of greatest need when the entire galaxy was to turn upon them.

The Power of the Goddesses was in her, through her – was her – and it reflected their natures…the plan befitting Aethenaea’s wisdom, the execution befitting Aertemisaea’s strength, the resolution befitting Aephrodaea’s compassion.

Eyes aflame with divine Gold and Red she hovered above the past and future battlefield, her hands open at her side -

Milaea as Goddess unleashed. 

<<<<>>>>
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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."

Lord_S_Gray
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« Reply #282 on: April 22, 2019, 10:58:06 PM »

Chapter 66 — Apotheosis — The Goddess

Part 3

Apotheosis


Aethenaea executed her plan with the blinding flash of Red and Gold that dazzled the assembled force of Outsiders.

Strength of Aertemisaea pinned the Jedi, Mak’tor and Mandalorians as if turned to fleshy stone frozen in time, electrical signals paused in the midst of Axons, dendrites tingling at the unresolved edge of activation. Blaster bolts, lighting and telekinetic blasts ceased and thawed back into the primordial energy of the universe, sabre blades dissolved leaving empty grips,

Compassion of Aephrodaea filled the Peoples mind, their Love for each other, their trust in Milaea kept them from taking advantage of their static opponents. 

Valens fingers closed before gripping Yoda’s throat. 

Kiraea’s knees relaxed from tensing from her leap

Jarys dropped the makeshift spear.

Adaea and Lyaea relaxed their bows string.

Melron lowered his blade as Nagasa paused mid stride

Maeson and Selaena lowered their repeater and rifle. 

Wisdom of Aethenaea blossomed like a spring Rose in their minds, telling them what she intended and why.

Aertemisaea held them, Aephrodaea spared them, and Aethenaea used them. 

The Goddesses power was Hers, flowing into her, flowing out from her, she was its source, its recipient, vessel and content.

Around the battlefield a shimmering golden veil was cast, a glamour in the old words of magic, to conceal all that took place, to prevent anyone not in her grip from sensing or seeing.

Machines burst apart, data streams sliced before lightspeed transmissions could flow down optic cables to offsite recording devices.  Nothing could escape.

Milaea was Power, she was a Goddess, the Goddess, all Three and One…the power of countless People flowing over centuries combined in her the perfect balance of Strength, Wisdom and Compassion.

It was not infinite.

It was not without restrictions – this was the Peoples powers, it could be used only to serve them, the Outsiders were an affront to it, her fingers tingled with blood ruby luminosity eager to obliterate them.

Wisdom though overrode Anger, it soothed it with the help of Compassion, and Anger and Strength agreed, the balance of the Goddesses was never broken.

In the infinite period between two moments in time a piece of theatre, an alternate reality was planted in the minds of the Outsiders, a manipulation that pleased the power that had overcome and yet was also outflowing from Milaea.

They would see the People slain by their own hands, Yoda would have his ‘justice’, Li her revenge, Vectivus his mantle, Yshrrk his resolution, Tnbu his pride.

This was their Victory over the People….a false reality. 

It was how she could spare their lives and save her People not just today but for decades if not centuries. 

The ‘Aetharians’ were all slain on this day, their bodies hurled into the plasma flames of the Hedonist leaving no trace. The minds of the three hundred eye witnesses all unanimously agreeing, Jedi Masters, Gray Kage’s and Sith Lords would drop exhausted but victorious, their truce ended with the threat they would go back to their homes content.

“Hurry!” she cried in the Now if such a moment could be termed such.

“On the Ships everyone!”

Without question they rushed to their transports, the Extolled occasionally pausing to marvel at the Avatar of Yun’Harla's trickery as the Sons bustled everyone on board.

The only being that did not immediately follow her orders strode up to her.

“Milaea…” Soryu didn’t even ask the how, knowing it would be beyond him, only the why was implicit.

“…It’s the only way I can think of to get a measure of peace…for a time at least.”

She glanced down to her pendants as the strain of pouring out such power began to bite in her flesh, the false memories slowly becoming coherent lived realities in the minds of the Jedi – or rather…The Order

“Come with us…” She said “They won’t ever trust you again, the Jedi you believed in are gone,”

“I know…” Soryu nodded, looking back to where Yoda stood staring into where he had been, sabre partially lit hovering in false time.

“…But I can’t just abandon them…I…still believe they can be something more…if I can touch just one Knight or Master to be the difference...perhaps something like this can be prevented.”

Milaea understood even if she disagreed

“You already touched me father,” she smiled “You can help the rest of the People too…”

He paused at that thought…her kind were just as in need of healing and support as anyone…

“They have you…and Sofa…perhaps one day…” he stepped toward her placing his hands on her shoulders, feeling the tremendous weight of power she was using, a golden red sun compared to his blinking star of energy, still he flowed in what help he could

“You’ve done the right thing Milaea…you always do with what you have at the time…try to remember and not to regret that…”

As a tear welled with the unspoken goodbye she nodded, lowering her hands for a brief moment she hugged him with a kiss to his cheek.

“Go with the Aether dad,” she whispered letting go, slowly backing toward the Aethena that hovered just behind her…

Levitating on the ramp she held Time, Space and Thought in her hands for as long as she could while the ship wound its way into the mess of the orbital traffic.

Finally at the edge of her ability she let go, the red glow about her vanishing in an instant as they left the chaos and threat of the Jedi, Sith, Gray and Republic to their Fates.

<<<<<<<<< FATE OF THE AETHER >>>>>>>>>

Credits

By Lord_S_Gray

With Contributions and Characters from Karmack and TheDutchman

2018-2019

Thanks to UltraSabers amazing products bringing people together with their passion for Sabres and Star Wars and the SaberForum where everyone can connect.

All My Readers Past Present and Future.

And my fellow Forumverse writers for unfailing support and encouragement and delving the depths of and developing new Lore together.
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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."

TheDutchman
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« Reply #283 on: April 23, 2019, 12:50:23 AM »

Back when I was a kid, sitting in the theater with my best friend, watching The Return of the Jedi, I remember going through the emotional gamut after seeing the saga that I'd (even as a kid) thought was among the best of entertainment, listening to the fanfare of the music that accompanied the end credits and thinking just how much I wanted MORE Star Wars... Well, after finishing Chapter 66 of LotA...

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I FEEL LIKE AGAIN Smiley

The truly epic battle that we've witnessed was followed by an excellent (and satisfying!) conclusion that had the best of both worlds: a rewarding solution to much of the drama of the narrative while also leaving a certain amount left unanswered, a hook for LSG's forthcoming work/sequel/story(ies)!

Mili's solution was definitely one of the better ones, the outcome certainly better than the other alternatives she witnessed through Time (BTW: that was one of my FAVORITE parts with the different Future's History shaping the galaxy towards a MUCH different setting, the Gray Alliance such a wonderful idea...hmm  Grin).

But even with the Goddess' Solution, we still are reminded that the ramifications of our actions have lasting effects, namely: Soryu.  Here's to hoping that his story isn't at an end...

LSG: my compliments my friend!  Fate of the Aether was all that we'd hoped for...and more!  I really, REALLY hope that we get to see more in the near (VERY NEAR  Wink) future!
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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
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Force Alignment: 1152
Posts: 5602


Light side points please.


« Reply #284 on: April 23, 2019, 09:06:48 AM »

Wow.   That's an ending...   :-)

What Dutchman said.   A satisfying conclusion, but with just enough of a loose end to make it interesting.  Now, though, I see why they would have been HIGHLY interested in the Holocron of Soryu. 

Well done, my friend.  Well done.


HEY!   DISNEY!   YOU WANT TO MAKE ANOTHER MOVIE (or several) YOU NEED TO CHECK THIS OUT!!!!!!
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Master Singer of the Mak'Tor

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