With her legs crossed, Ethel remained seated on the ground between Ahsoka and Anakin, enjoying the silence of the council and sipping on a blood pack that she had requested earlier. "I don't know exactly what's going on. So far, what I've learned is that it's been a while since I was imprisoned inside a statue. Then there's the fact that an apparent war has been going on in my absence. An explanation would be nice, if you don't mind."
"Guarding the power crystal, you are. What proof have you do, hmm?" Raising her wrist, Ethel revealed a small crystal shard embedded into her skin, a minute, angel blue glow accompanied it.
"If this isn't proof enough, then I don't know what is."
"We'll have to discuss this, in private. Skywalker, if you will watch over our 'guest' now." He knew that Windu's suggestion was more of an order. Ethel had requested a tour of the temple, and seeing as how there was nothing else to do, they began their walk.
"So…what was being a statue like?" Anakin could tell that the awkward tension was growing, becoming so thick that you could slice it with just your hand.
"It was…ok, I guess. I mean, I wasn't exactly awake when I was trapped."
"Do you even remember anything?" She froze in place, her eyes dilating slightly. He could see how she trembled at the question, her fear began to show.
"I…I remember… Back home, the civil war… the plagues… fire….destruction… I wanted to help, but before I could…I…I…" Ethel began to wobble slightly before her legs gave out.
"Oh no you don't!" Pulling her sleeve, Anakin attempted to prevent her from falling. Yet the moment he grabbed her, he could feel it. The dark side within, being unleashed upon the universe. Everyone could feel it, force sensitive or not.
"No heartbeat…dark side…crystal…destroy…kill her…" Her consciousness was constantly drifting as she fought for control over her body. Memories that were long forgotten began to arise; Ethel's energy waned as she fell deeper into the darkness.
*Mela Ithil, fifty years before arrival on Mydonia*
"Ethel, we knew you were close to her…which is why we're breaking the news to you first. You see, Cecilia…something happened on the scouting mission, and…"
"Oh for the love of… Ethel, Cecilia's dead. She was bitten, and then she turned into one of those, those things. I know it's a lot to take in, but don't worry about it. We made sure that she didn't suffer."
*Mela ithil, twenty years before arrival on Mydonia*
"The crystal is the only thing keeping her alive at this point, and there's nothing more we can do. Everybody's dead, and I've been infected with the virus. To anybody watching this, Princess Ethel is our only hope left. If you find her, please, make sure you…take care of her memory. She holds the power to destroy us all, but only if given the chance. I know that she'll never forgive me for this, but as of right now… The princess is the only survivor of Mela Ithil. She must live if we're to survive, I don't know how long it'll be before she notices I'm gone. If anything, I hope that she never returns here. Which is why I'm sending her away before our planet is destroyed. I'm going to set the air on fire here in the bunker, after the bombs begin to go off, so as to prevent others from catching the virus. Please, wipe her memory, replace it, just don't kill her. As a sign of good will, please help her- Ethel? What are you doing? Honey, please, don't make this any harder than it is… I really hate to do this, honestly. You can't come back home, ever."
*Mydonia, 100 years before the clone wars*
"You're nothing more than a weapon! I made you who you are today! It's because of me that you're not on the street, selling your backside for even a loaf of bread! Surrender the crystal, now."
"By orders of the ancient council, we hereby sentence you, Star Child, to spend the rest of eternity frozen where you stand. May you be a lesson to the fool hardy that wish to become heroes, and may the force help you."
*Present*
"Master, she's waking up now!" Ethel's vision was slightly blurred, and after rubbing her eyes, she could tell where she was now. Well, kind of, she wasn't really sure.
"You gave us quite a scare back there, princess."
"Cut her some slack master, she's been through a lot."
She needed answers to questions that she knew they might not be able to answer. Yet, she at least had to give it a shot.
"How long have I been out?"
"You've been out for three days now, but that's the least of your problems." Ahsoka held onto her hand to comfort the lost princess.
"I don't like the sound of that."
"Well then, care to explain why you don't have a heartbeat, Ethel?" Anakin knew something was up, yet the mysterious energy burst was where he drew the line.
"I…I…"
"Master! She has an infection…right?"
"Yes, it's true. There was a plague on Mela Ithil, and I was one of the carriers. It was a virus that sends you into an animalistic rage, vampire-like symptons-"
"What kind of symptons?"
"You become light sensitive, develop a blood lust, some cases were shown that you go blind, but your other senses increase by about 400%, but at the price of turning you into a blood lusting war beast that never stops."
"That's…that's horrible. Who would create a virus like that?"
"Somebody that was bent on making us suffer for not allowing the Sith to take over." Ethel began stroking the crystal, seeking to gain some form of peace within it. "To be honest, I just wish I was smart enough to realize that destroying the crystal was the answer, but now I have to spend the rest of my existence, forced to bear the burden of the universe." She could barely feel the tears flow.
"It's ok; you're safe here, with the Jedi. I promise you, nothing is going to harm you." Holding her close, Ahsoka began to stroke Ethel's hair. Anakin only stood back, allowing to two to bond.
"I'll be back snips, just make sure she doesn't try and infect you." He didn't like Ethel, yet somehow he felt… empathy. Maybe it was the fact that she had lost those that were close to her, parallel to him losing his mother.
