Chapter Two
Sixteen days later
The young girl eased the ventilation grill aside before silently lowering herself from the air duct. For a long moment, she crouched immobile atop the stacked shipping containers that lined one side of the maintenance hangar and listened. Retrieving a small device from an inside pocket, she stared intently at its miniature display before slipping it safely away. "Okay, the scanner says it is all clear, so get your ass down here K'vin. I don't want to get caught in here if someone decides today is the day to do maintenance."
Muffled cursing came from the ducting above her. "I'm coming, Lynny. I'm not exactly as small as you, you know." Smirking to herself she did not reply instead she peered around through the gloom once more.
This particular hangar was currently restricted and she like many others from the settlement wanted to know why. Unlike the others, she had allowed K'vin against her better judgement to persuade her that they should go together and find out. Working with the teenager K'vin was a pain for her, he was always suggesting they should get together and check out one place or another just so he could be alone with her. Unfortunately, he had been the only one of the older kids brave enough to help with this incursion. She was seriously regretting the decision now, if for no other reason than he was as quiet as a charging bantha.
For three days, they watched and observed the security patrols. Not once in all that time had she or K'vin seen, anyone enter or leave the building. However, having caught K'vin asleep one time, she doubted the veracity of his reports, but in the end, her curiosity won out.
For over three standard months now, this remote hanger had been restricted. No one permitted to approach or enter. Not one person she talked too admitted to knowing why though many hinted it had something to do with a strange ship that had visited the planet the day before the restrictions had gone into effect.
The entire colony knew about that a strange ship that had landed in the middle of night three months previously. They colony had its fair share of night workers and radio technicians after all. One had been listening to the radio chatter between the bored Port Authority and the ships in orbit as they chattered about the latest events out in the galaxy. The emergency signal had changed all that though as ships scrambled to change orbits following a slew orders from Orbital Control clearing the way for the unknown ship in distress. The colony's listening technician had woken a friend whom he knew possessed an astronomy telescope, the result was a dozen or so images of the unknown ship as it performed a very fast re-entry, but the images had been blurred by the glowing plasma corona surrounding the ship passing through the atmosphere overhead. Most of the colony awoke when the crashing sonic booms of the rapidly decelerating ship passed overhead.
In the morning, there was no ship found parked on the wide ceramcrete field of the spaceport, nor was there any sign in the distributed landing bays or open parking aprons. Most suspected that this remote maintenance hangar was where that ship now sat, assuming it had not left already.
The first question everyone at the colony had asked the morning afterwards was what emergency brought the ship here. Then they asked who had arrived aboard the ship before finally wondering why they had come here in the first place. In the months since the questions had turned to idle speculation and simple curiosity before fading from the memory of most.
K'vin was one who did not forget, he was convinced the ship was here in this hangar and he wanted to know what it was and maybe get inside for a look around, so had she. It had only taken him five days to persuade her to help him sneak in to look around, something she was planning to do anyway and only the thought of spending that much time with K'vin had made her argue against him going.
She was in the act of climbing down the side of the topmost container when the voice spoke from the shadows. "I think the pair of you had better come down from there at once. Better be careful though lass, your fat friend may knock you off when he finally pulls himself out of that air duct."
Without thinking, she twisted wildly around, ignoring the surprised squawking and scrambling sounds emanating from the inside of the air duct. The abrupt movement though and burst of fear caused her to slip. With a scream of terror, she felt herself falling backwards as hands and arms flailed desperately for purchase. She dropped nearly twenty meters before smashing against the protruding edge of one of the lower containers. Agony such as she had never known erupted throughout her body, her starting screams cut off abruptly as merciful blackness washed over her. She never knew she struck the floor with a heavy thud amid the dry cracking sound of breaking bones.
"Druk!" Two men sprinted from the nearby shadows.
"Paw'an contact medical immediately! Get a healer in here fast!" The older of the two men was already beside her crumpled body checking for her vital signs. "Druk, druk, druk! Tell them to haul ass I can't find a pulse." His hands moved quickly, checking delicately for further injuries. His years of experience on one battlefield or another had given him a decent firsthand knowledge of the far too many traumas the body can suffer; he was expecting the worst in this instance. "Tell them it's critical, damn it! Tell them she's dying and get some damned lights on in here." It was the last he said before shutting out his young partner, ripping open the small first aid kit he had carried through all his days in the Republic Army, he began fighting against time and his own guilt to keep the girl alive. His focus narrowed to become just her and anything he could do to keep her alive until the real medics arrived. He never felt the tears streaming down his cheeks or the continuous stream of obscenities he uttered. To him there was nothing but the contents of his first aid kit, his knowledge and the girl.
Siom Paw'an screamed, begged and pleaded with the voices of others on his communicator. The only time he stopped talking was to rip his own aid kit from his belt and lay it out beside his friend and mentor's. Only after doing all that, he could do to summon help and alert those who had to know did Paw'wan turn to practical matters. On went the main the lighting system before opening the large main doors wide enough to permit vehicular access for the medical teams already on their way and finally securing the scared boy out of the way after he had finally getting him out of the vent and down from the stacked containers. Paw'an had had to threaten to shoot him down off the containers to get him to surrender; something in his current state of mind he was not sure was an idle threat. Then and only then with nothing more to but stand and stare do did he start praying for the girl.
They were all walking back to the room assigned to their guest within the annex; Grand Master Shan and Gar'vin were deep into a discussion with Adriarnna about, of all things, the types and species of rose bush found throughout the Empire. Quite suddenly, she groaned loudly clutched at her head and staggered against the wall.
Gar'vin reacted instantly stepping forward to support her weight as she started to slide down the wall only to snatch his hands back as Adriarnna's head snapped up, eyes blazing with a red tinged golden glow. For a moment her head swivelled back and forth before her body surged up as moved off down the corridor in a series of small staggering steps which quickly steadied into a fast trot before breaking into a run, a run soon enhanced with a powerful burst of the Force behind it.
Both he and Satele heard her cry as she vanished around a bend at the far end of the corridor.
"Not again, NOOOOOooooooo, never again."
Satele grimaced at the pain expressed in that cry and stretched out with the force. It was easy to pick out Adriarnna among the myriad echoes of others; she blazed like an exploding sun at that moment within the Force. There was a rapidly rising tide of pain and panic within the woman. The pain though was odd fir it came from another through the ex-Sith. She sensed also a burning determination to protect whomever it was projecting that pain. Even as she called upon the living force to aid her steps to follow, she easily detected the many subtle manipulations that came from Adriarnna as she gently guides aside those who blocked her path.
Satisfied that the Twi'lik intended no harm she began trotting along, shouting instructions over her shoulder as she touched the force and increased her speed to ground devouring run.
"Gar'vin, contact Central Authority, Adriarnna is not to be stopped or interfered with unless she harms anyone. Tell them to broadcast a warning throughout the compound, clear everyone out of our way and then follow us." With that, she was gone, in a burst of force-assisted speed.
Gar'vin found himself stood for one brief moment in the middle of corridor while a small voice in the back of his mind told him, life was about to become very interesting. Snapping back to the present, he jogged to a communications panel set into the wall near nursing station on this floor. Seconds later, he passed the instructions to the duty officer in Central Authority; an officious young padawan who only stopped blustering when Grand Master Shan's name was cited as the origin of the orders authority.
Even before he shut the link, the overheard speakers were crackling to life. Gar'vin did not bother listening instead he was off running as fast as he could for the nearest exit from the building.
Satele rushed past many startled faces that turned from staring after the Twi'lik as she followed, mentally cursing herself for spending too much time behind a desk these days and promising to find more space in her schedule to exercise. She burst through a set of doors just in time to watch Adriarnna throw off her patient robe and break into a long legged run still enhanced by the force.
"Damn! That woman can move!"
There was movement to her left as she spotted one of the Knights of the Order settling behind the controls of a speeder, she did not hesitate but leapt in beside him.
"Knight Odur, no questions but follow that Twi'lek." She pointed at the distant figure. Odur looked startled at her sudden appearance but grinned happily, as the order penetrated his brain. Gunning the engine loudly he yelled in glee and took off in pursuit. Satele panted slightly beside him and hung on, muttering under her breath. "I hate flying!"
Adriarnna sensed the slowing pulse of a young life through the force. The pain had struck her with an almost physical blow at first. That first brief moment of confusion before the fear and terror came crashing down as that distant mind came to the numbing realization that they were dying. A corner of her mind that she feared to face, opened and the memories flooded out. She had felt this all before, many times before but this was just too fresh, too similar to the feelings of her daughter in those last few precious minutes of life.
She had failed once before she refused to fail again.
In the rapidly approaching distance rose the domes and towers of the spaceport, she reached out for that again for that one thread among many that she wanted and veered aside slightly. Ignoring the screeching tyres and blaring horn of a heavy ground transporter that slammed his brakes she vaulted over the vehicles cab. Onwards she ran heading for a single remote hangar just visible beyond a nearby cluster of buildings on this side of the landing field. The speeding vehicles heading for the same destinations she ignored just as she ignored the frantic waving and shouts of various ground crews as she sped directly across the active aerospace landing strip and the path of the committed shuttle that was touching down.
Ahead now several vehicles clustered with flashing lights before the great open doors of the hangar, doors that groaned as they opened further still to admit a pair of emergency vehicle as she raced towards them. A Jedi Knight talking with local security looked up in surprise as she ran past heading for the gap. Automatically he extended a hand to slow or stop her, his face registering shock as unexpectedly he flipped backwards to sprawl across the roof of another vehicle. Others found themselves gently lifted and moved rapidly out of the Twi'liks path.
Inside Knight Loo'kar was unaware of anything else going on around him, his entire attention stayed focused on doing everything he knew or could improvise that was keeping this girl alive but he was tired with fatigue and stress. So focused was he on his task that the first he knew of the Twi'lik was her red skinned hands appearing beside his on the girl's chest.
"What happened? How bad is she?"
He blinked as the voice penetrated his consciousness, its tone insistent and demanding yet compassionate at the same time. "Caught the pair sneaking in, challenged them, startled the girl, she fell, think she smashed against the edge of a container. Shock stopped her hearts, I got one going but too afraid to push the other with all the bone damage I can feel around it. Trying to keep her going long enough for a proper healer to get here, think she has two maybe three minutes left before I lose her altogether." He never stopped working, keeping the girl's heart beating as he spoke.
"I can help but you'll need to keep her steady, can do?"
"Sure, but what are..." He shut up as he felt the world around them grow dim. The Force acting in a way that was strange and unknown to him. Then suddenly he felt it. The force flowed into the stranger who carefully positioned her hands over both of the girl's hearts. He heard the soft whispers of an incantation and his eyes widened in shock as he recognised the ancient Sith language. Before he could react, before he could even say anything or grab the others hands a purple glow sprang into existence around those hands, slowly growing to spread across the girl's chest, spreading further and further to encompass the whole body. His hands and arms where they touched the girl tingled with a pleasant sensation as he felt the heart beneath begin beating stronger.
Looking up finally he stared in shock at the face just centimetres from his, recognising her for who she was and yet there were obvious differences. This woman was older, the skin a solid healthy red instead of the faded pale pink of a many years ago reconnaissance images he was once shown, the purple eyes were glowing a soft gold instead of the intense red he expected and the features taut with intense concentration. Most shocking of all was the openly shown concern instead of the remembered glacial indifference. The girl shuddered, starting to convulse and he felt forced to apply a Force Stasis skill upon the girl to stop her moving. He could definitely feel it now though, the flow of the living force through this Sith as it poured into the girl, seeking out the damage and repairing it, bones realigned themselves knitting together at an incredible rate, torn muscles and tissues groping for the ruptured ends to rejoin to. It was unlike anything he had ever witnessed before.
Grand Master Shan dashed through the doors to slide to a stop at the sight before her. Knight Odur almost colliding with her while seconds later Healer Gar'vin did run into his back. All three of them and the others just arriving stared with wide eyes as the bright purple glow coming from Adriarnna expanded to fully encase the crumpled body of the girl on the floor body, it pulsed and writhed angrily fighting against the needs that Adriarnna demanded of it. As they watched though, feeling the iron will that shaped and guided the force, the visible purple emission became smoother and the glow grew brighter until it shone steadily.
Master Tian walked over to Satele.
"I see it, I don't believe it but I see it. A full Sith healing trance! As I live and breathe I never thought I would..."
"She's dying! She's killing herself to save the girl." Gar'vin's announcement turned heads all around him.
"What?" Squeaked Satele.
"Good." Harrumphed Tian.
"Can you not feel it, sense it. She's pulling the Living Force from all around her to boost the effect but she's giving her life force to the girl, augmenting it with the Living Force to heal her injuries, but, but the Sith way requires the healer to freely give up some of their own life force, it's why they seldom do it. At least like this. It is a voluntary sacrifice, a life for a life. I have... I have to interrupt this trance or she will kill herself to save the child but I don't know enough about it to know if it will harm or kill either one or both."
Astonished faces turned back to the two kneeling over the girl. Adriarnna was slumping forward now, the colour fading from her skin as it grew paler with each passing second. Gar'vin made his decision, stepped forward to place both hands on the shoulders of Adriarnna, and gently pulled her upright.
"I need you to stop this Adriarnna. I need you to step aside and let me heal her."
"Lynny, Lynivere, her name is Lynivere and I dare not stop. The... the damage is too great. I'm afraid I'll lose her again if I do."
"You have to stop Adriarnna, you must. Do you not know what you are doing to yourself?"
"I know. I made the choice long before I arrived here but what better way to die than keeping another alive. To finally find the peace and redemption I seek in an act of sacrifice."
"NO! I will not allow you to do this, there is another way."
He placed one hand atop hers as a golden light sprang up to surrounded all four of them. As each second ticked by the glow grew brighter, becoming more and more intense.
"Stop it Gar'vin! You must stop it. What you're doing will kill you."
"Like what you're doing won't kill you? I am merely copying what you do. Please, Adriarnna let me show you another way. Learn what I do, what I know. Learn how a Jedi Healer uses the Force to heal. Watch how I draw upon the Force, shape it, and guide it to where it will do the most good. See how I replenish myself as I heal. Copy me. Don't bludgeon the Force into healing with this insane trance of the Sith, just guide it. Don't surrender your own life to save another. See what I do and modify what you do. Adjust, adapt and change."
Adriarnna felt tired, so very tired, she knew she could not keep the trance going much longer, her limbs shook from the strain and her every joint pained her. Reaching out she watched Gar'vin and gasped at how easily the Force responded to his coaxing. Slowly she drew back and copied some of his technique, the fatigue she felt lessened. She altered her approach again and felt the second heart thump beneath her hand.
To those watching, including the just arrived emergency medical team, the colours around the four on the floor changed, fading from green and purple to the brilliant golden hue of a familiar healing trance that they all knew.
Adriarnna slumped to the side, unconsciousness claiming her, her now pale pink skin slowly deepening back to its more natural red. The EMTs scooped her up.
While they tended to the older Twi'lik, the golden sphere slowly dissipated and the second EMTs moved in. Satele herself pulled Gar'vin to his feet his eyes glistening with tears as he turned to look at her.
"Gods, that was close. She would make a formidable healer if she were a trained to heal, as it is, her powers eclipse matched mine but she is so unsure of herself and uncomfortable healing. " He turned back around to look where they were laying Adriarnna upon a stretcher. His face changing as he became thoughtful. "The determination she had to save that kid, it was scary. She would have done it freely you know, She would have gladly sacrificed her life if that were what it took, she almost did anyway." He mused over the event for a few minutes while Masters Tian and Shan discussed the situation. Grand Master Shan taking the opportunity of informing the other of the Sith's strange behaviour since arriving.
The senior healer from the EMTs interrupted his thoughts. "Healer, who is that? I know who she looks like and that trance was unique but who is she?"
"Who do you think she is?"
"A Sith, a very experienced Sith I would say, but what she just did, how she behaved, it just doesn't make sense. I mean did you see just how quickly she adapted, modified her trance when you joined in?"
"Yes, she was learning from adapting it to fit with the ways she knows and then adapting it back again, though I admit it took a little doing to persuade her. She learned in seconds what it took me years to do."
Master Tian stepped forward just then, Ignoring Gar'vin she addressed the EMT healer. "Did that 'Sith' harm the child at all? Is there any signs she left her foul taint behind?" There was a world of hate behind the words. Those nearest narrowed their eyes before turning to glare at the unconscious Adriarnna in suspicion.
The senior EMT specialist just glared at the Jedi Master, he did not attempt at all to hide his disgust. "That woman you curse for being a 'Sith', 'Master' Tian, just saved that child's life almost at the expense of her own if Healer Gar'vin had not intervened. Hardly an act I would expect from a 'Sith'."
The openly listening Emergency Medical Team looked at each, then Adriarnna before turning to Gar'vin, who only nodded in confirmation. The change in attitude was instant as one by one the glared their disgust at the Jedi Master before turning their backs upon her, the senior making a point to sniff loudly as he turned as if some foul smell had arisen nearby before walking away.
Tian glared at his back a moment, her fingernail digging into the palms of her hands as her anger and indignation rose before switching her glare upon Gar'vin as he coughed to attract her attention.
"You are a Master of the Jedi Oder, Master Tian. A member of the Jedi Council even but your hate and arrogance will be your downfall. At this moment you act more like the Sith you accuse that woman of being than the Sith Lord she actually was at one time. Now if you will excuse me I have patients that urgently need me." Without waiting for dismissal, Gar'vin nodded to Grand Master Shan and walked over to the second stretcher.
Satele stared for a long moment; she had never seen Tian behave this way before. "There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge." She quoted softly. "I suggest Master Tian that you ask a few questions about a guest of the Order before insulting them, especially when that guest has done no deed or action to warrant such behaviour today. Oh, and I think you need to meditate upon the code, Master Tian." She too walked away.
Tian stood there, eyes fixed upon the emergency vehicle. Ignoring everyone else, she was completely oblivious that all within hearing had turned their backs upon her. Schooling her features into what she considered the proper look of a Master Jedi she walked slowly away and yet inside she seethed with hate and anger. She could not understand why that Sith scum had been allowed to move around the Temple grounds freely. "Do they not know how deadly that schutta is?" She asked herself silently.
Revised 14th February 2014
