MisterTabi: I'm utterly addicted to character building. It's like crack when I write. And symbolism=fun, fun, fun!
xXx
"…it is just me or did Qui-Gon Jinn speak to thin air?"
"'I have said before that I serve only the Force'. I would be a fool if I thought he would say something like that to Dooku or any other spirit of the Force."
"It's not harmful in any way. It's just so…weird."
"Maybe it's a glitch, but I'll investigate later to make sure the reality isn't malfunctioning."
"Yet another thing that must be crammed into your busy schedule. Harlene's coming out in a few hours, right?"
"Yes. It's time for her training to take a step up."
"Bland understatement."
"Make sure to catch the six-o'clock news in eight days."
"I will. The bastards will never know what hit them."
"I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your information. I'll make sure the President knows so his old bones don't pop from stress."
"Your bones would be the ones popping if I didn't give you the information."
"Thank you for the reminder."
xXx
Harlene's footsteps echoed through the virtual dojo. Her eyes scanned the pale, cream-colored walls and the racks of various weapons propped up against them. She reached out with her senses. They told her she was completely alone.
Harlene lifted a hand to her neck and began to pull her cloak off. Her arm moved at casual speed which progressed to faster-than-the-eye could follow speed. As her cloak was spinning through the air, Harlene unleashed her sword, spun around and blocked the slash that would have decapitated her.
"That was a bit too slow, Harlene," Claire's voice was very calm even as she attempted to force her student back. "An intelligent opponent would have guessed you were on to them."
"I'll make sure to do better next time," Harlene said before turning her mentor's blade over, spin-jumping and snapping her leg out.
Claire back-rolled, landed on her feet in a crouched position and shot fire from her hand. It wasn't a straight blast, but hundreds upon hundreds of individual ones, like a barrage of bullets. Harlene knew if she tried to block them now, she was done for. She shot off to the right and ran up the wall. She swung her sword behind her when her psychic senses whispered a warning. A few of the fire-bullets vanished but not nearly enough. The ceiling was getting closer. From experience, she knew if she pushed off with her feet and flipped backwards, the bullets would collect near the ground to "catch" her fall. She changed her direction sharply to the left. As she ran she focused her power. From her right hand, a snake of electricity began to wind itself around her body in a protective shell. Harlene turned left again and once she was on the floor, near the middle of the arena she whirled around and focused. Her eyes glowed a brilliant blue with the effort. Nearly two-thirds of the bullets met their end from the electricity but she could feel a slight pain building up in her head with the effort to keep the electrical shield as strong as it was. If she continued like this, her brain would start bleeding.
Harlene dropped the shield and began a one-woman swords dance, moving her blade with lethal precision and cutting through the fire bullets. Each strike had to cause a wind strong enough to dissipate the fire. Harlene savored the power flowing through her body as she moved at speeds her normal body could never hope to reach but at the same time kept on red alert. Giving herself over to battle would be fatal to her, especially since her opponent was not the fire bullets, but the most dangerous one she could ever face.
There were less than one hundred left when Harlene sensed a different movement behind her. She flipped backwards just as Claire was about to run her sword through her spine. Harlene made certain her blade was right in front of her crouched body as she landed on her feet. She spun, took down ten more fire bullets and engaged her mentor in one-on-one combat. Skilled and powerful as she had become it took everything she had to keep both Claire and the fire bullets at bay. When the fire bullets had reduced to about twenty, one shot straight through her shoulder. If Harlene were still at Fledgling level she would have been done for, but with time and training, her virtual body had become far more resistant. She grimaced against the pain but continued to fight. Fifteen minutes after all the fire bullets were gone Claire leaped back and threw her sword aside. She took a Capoeira stance. Harlene threw her own sword aside and copied the movement.
But her mentor smiled.
"You may wish you hadn't done that."
Before Harlene could ask what she meant, fire engulfed Claire's hands. But it didn't look like her regular fire. It looked far more powerful. As if the fire was enhanced by Claire's internal psionic energy. The same exact flames exploded beneath Claire's heels.
Harlene was stunned. How could Claire hold her power in specific parts of her body for so long without hurting herself? If Harlene tried that, her own electricity would turn her hands and feet to ash!
Claire shot toward her like a bullet. Harlene couldn't think of doing anything except ducking when a flaming fist was sent her way. If she tried to physically block it, it would incinerate her arm. Claire stuck to traditional kung fu for a few moments but then switched to master-level Capoeira gymnastics that Harlene was only beginning to get the hang of.
Harlene still couldn't do anything except duck but she kept her eyes scanning for an opening. The first one she saw was a thin chance but beggars couldn't be choosers. Focusing electricity in her fist, she aimed the blow at Claire's knee.
Her eyes went wide went Claire's fist connected with Harlene's. The collision of power caused a loud cracking sound. Claire's fire engulfed Harlene's electricity as if it were nothing and then proceeded to devour her arm. Harlene screamed as agony ripped through the nerves of the limb. One telekinetic blast later, she was knocked on her back, gritting her teeth to fight unconsciousness. From a distance she felt a hand gently lift her upper body up. The pain began to lessen and five seconds later it was completely gone. Pale and breathing hard, Harlene looked down at her right arm which moments ago had been reduced to charred, bloody remains then up at Claire who was still supporting her.
"What the fuck was that?" her voice was weak but the sheer incredulity in it was audible.
Claire smiled ironically.
"Did you think only the Virus Creed experiments with the interface?" she helped Harlene to her feet. "I'm a scientist as well as a warrior, apprentice. I enjoy pushing things to the limit and discovering what results I'll get."
"Well, that's fine, but you're not answering my question," Harlene said.
Claire smiled again. "It's a weapon that I've been developing for years: a style of hand-to-hand-combat that only people highly experienced with the interface can learn. I combine the raw, psi energies that all of our powers come from and combine it with my chosen psi power. When I channel it to my hands and feet, my opponent whether they're fighting with their fists or their sword can't physically block me without being injured. And if they use their chosen psi power close range or long range, it can be absorbed or blocked quite easily."
Harlene was gobsmacked. With something like that, Claire would be unstoppable. No virtual warrior could ever hope to stand against her.
"Why haven't you told me of this before?"
"It was a hobby at first," Claire said. "It wouldn't be needed for an Error Corrector to do their job well. Besides, Harlene, the physical pain I went through to perfect it is beyond your wildest imagination. If I taught it to someone they wouldn't suffer as much since I was able to find milder routes through my experiments, but it would still be nothing short of hell."
"Power always comes at a price," Harlene muttered. "Is this what you're going to teach me?"
"First I'm going to ask if you want to learn it."
"If it will help me protect what I love, then yes," she responded fiercely.
Claire nodded. "Very well."
"What about the others?" Harlene asked. "Have you shared this with the Founders and the First Twenty-five?"
"I have," Claire said. "The Founders were understandably uncomfortable, but as long as we, the First made certain that learning it wouldn't cause emotional trauma, they gave us full permission to teach it to anyone who wanted to learn. Years ago I made training modules to document my progress and let members of the First have access to them. Nearly all of them have been practicing it since. None of them are at my level yet, but they know more than enough to teach their apprentices. You, Harlene, are going to be my first personal student."
Harlene shrugged. "That changes nothing. When do we start?"
"Right now," Claire said. "The first steps aren't painful. That comes later."
"Oh, joy," Harlene said unemotionally.
"Sit down," Claire said. "Take a meditative position."
Harlene obeyed.
"Close your eyes and concentrate on the raw psi energy in your body. Feel it flow through you. When you get a good sense of it, start calling it forth. When you feel you can, channel it into your hands and feet," she heard Claire turn away. "I'll leave you to it for a few hours. When I come back we're going to practice more advanced Capoeira moves and flexibility. The swordplay we did is enough since you're getting good practice and lessons from Maul. By the way before I go, how are things between the two of you?"
Harlene gave her a brief overview.
"He hasn't shown any signs of going crazy, thank God. And when I calm him down he makes a pretty good effort to act more mature," she smiled. "I think with time he'll be all right. He likes to hug me a lot so at least Sidious didn't turn him into a masochist or anything."
"He likes to hug you?" Claire said with a raised eyebrow.
"All the time. Although he prefers," she adopted a snooty exaggerated voice. "That I use the term 'embrace'."
Claire laughed and shook her head. "Well, just keep doing what you're doing, Harlene. If anyone can help him it's you."
xXx
Aurra Sing's eyes were narrowed with razor sharp scrutiny at the nervous bartender.
"And you're absolutely certain it was Q'lomid Parsh?"
"I'd be lying if I said absolutely," the man muttered. "But I'm pretty sure."
Aurra gave a loud sigh. "Well, I suppose it's the best lead I have now. Get me a Scarlett Dame if you please."
The bartender blinked at the nearly polite order but recovered quickly and brought Aurra her drink. She took a long sip and was contemplating how best to act on the information she had just received when she detected movement a few feet away from her right.
"Water," a joyfully familiar voice requested. "Mixed in with a shot of the red Nubian Wine."
The bartender nodded and made to get the drink when Aurra stopped him.
"Hey," she gestured to the pale Human beside her. "Anything she orders in on me. Just add it to my tab."
The bartender nodded again. When he was away Aurra looked to her left to make sure no one was paying direct attention to them before facing Harlene who grinned at her.
"Told you I wasn't going to be away for two weeks."
Her smile was nearly as addicting to her touch and it had always done funny things to Aurra's mind. Funny things that could never be labeled as unpleasant. Her hand slid across the underside of the bar to grip Harlene's. When the girl placed her other hand on top of Aurra's it was nearly her undoing. But she still had a public image to keep up and seizing Harlene in her arms would cause it considerable damage.
"You better be glad you kept your word," Aurra said. Her responding smile was wry and predatory. "Or else I would have found a way to keep you here for at least a month."
Harlene tilted her head, gentle amusement in her eyes.
"You make that sound like a punishment. My other friends would miss me, but it's not something I'd object to."
Aurra's hand gripped Harlene's tightly. Though rigid discipline had been drilled into her by both a Jedi Master and expert Anzati assassins, she could only apply it to her emotions when it came to hunting and battle. It was near impossible to do it here.
"You always tell me what I want to hear," she pitched her voice low so it wouldn't shake.
"Not always," Harlene said. "But when I do…it's just how I feel."
God, she wanted to hold her, smell her, press her face to her hair and neck. The girl was addictive, but apart from that, it was the only way to come close to assuring herself that this wasn't just some cruel dream taunting her about what she could never have.
"Hey," Harlene whispered soothingly. Her palm caressed her arm. "It's okay. Calm down."
Aurra ducked her head well aware that her face must be like an open book. Harlene had never laughed at her feelings. Save for their first unpleasant interactions, she had always taken them very seriously and treated them with the utmost respect. But that didn't stop the lingering terror that never seemed to go away.
"Aurra, are you alright?"
She looked up and found Harlene staring at her with concern. At first all she could do was stare back.
God, she's so beautiful…
"I'm fine," Aurra forced a smile and withdrew her hand. She turned back to the bar and took a sip from her drink. "How long are you staying?"
"I could stay for a couple of days," Harlene replied sipping her own drink. "But it looks like you're hunting someone now."
Aurra cursed herself. She shouldn't have looked for another job so quickly. But she had needed something to distract herself. Harlene may be the most important thing in her life, but once she started a hunt, she couldn't stop unless the objective was accomplished or her employer cancelled or double-crossed her. She just couldn't. Hunting was in her blood.
"I'd cancel if I could," she said out loud.
"Who is it?" Harlene asked.
"Q'lomid Parsh. He was under the direct employ of Ziro the Hutt. Jabba wants to know if there are any more of his late uncle's secrets that he hasn't uncovered yet."
Harlene's lip curled. Aurra sighed.
"You don't like it that I'm still taking jobs from Jabba," she said dully.
"Not exactly," Harlene said. "Jabba may be the lowest of low scum, but there's a ninety-nine point nine percent chance that any employee of any Hutt isn't much better. So I guess it all works out for the best. Though I'd kill Jabba if I could."
"So would I," Aurra admitted. "You know I loathe all Hutts, but they pay well."
"Jabba's the worst as far as I know," Harlene muttered. "I met him only once but the way he looked at me—"
"What?"
"Aurra, it was inevitable. I willingly went with Jango Fett to hunt Komari Vosa—"
"What did he say?" Aurra demanded. "What did he do?"
"Nothing horrible. Not that he could do anything horrible," Harlene shrugged.
"Harlene, what did he say?"
"Aurra, if you try to kill him I'll have no choice but to stop you. If you succeed, my superiors may never allow me to access this dimension again."
Muscle bulged at the corners of Aurra's jaw. With a furious grunt she turned away and took an abrupt swing from her glass. She slammed it down, gritting her teeth as she remembered the way Wallanooga had always looked at her. Those bulging, hideous, lust-filled eyes. But it wasn't lust for pleasures of the flesh. It was lust for her blood, her fear, her humiliation. The way he eyed her nearly naked body, her skin crawling from his gaze and the guard's gazes and from the ice-cold palace…
"Count Dooku's dead. Did you hear?"
Somehow Harlene always knew when to offer sympathy and when to offer distraction. Forcing the images from her mind Aurra nodded.
"And good riddance," she said. "Well…maybe not," she corrected herself as she gazed at Harlene's face.
"He manipulated the both of us," Harlene pointed out.
"For that alone I'd kill him," Aurra said. "But what happened because of it…I think I can forgive him."
To Aurra's delight a slight pink flush crept up Harlene's face. The atmosphere also began to feel very tight and uncomfortable. Aurra looked around to glare at the patrons. They were minding their own business but she wanted them gone. Summoning the bartender she paid the bill. Putting her arm around Harlene's shoulder, she led her out.
"Too stuffy?" Harlene asked.
"Too everything," Aurra said.
"But at least no one hit on either of us this time," Harlene said cheerfully. "That's always a plus."
Aurra glanced side-ways at Harlene's smiling face. Every so often the girl's leg brushed against hers which sent extra waves of warmth through Aurra's body.
"Has anything more happened?" she asked. "With the Virus Creed and that CAA organization?"
"Claire told me her spy has given us information that can thwart an attack from the CAA," Harlene answered. "All the President can do is secretly order more soldiers to lie in wait in the nearby sectors. Hopefully they can get there in time to back up the guards in the threatened sector."
"And the Virus Creed?"
Harlene shook her head. "No word. But Claire's taking my training to a whole new level so I'll be prepared when they come. I'm going to learn how to combine my raw power with my basic psionic powers."
"When I'm done with this job, we can begin our own strict training session," Aurra said. "I've still got plenty to teach you, especially when it comes to stealth techniques."
"That would be very helpful," Harlene said with gratitude. "Another of my…friends here is helping me too. He's teaching me Teras Kasi and Juyo lightsaber techniques. But don't worry, he's not a Jedi."
Aurra couldn't read Harlene's expression since she had turned her face away after hesitating at the word 'friends'. But the tone she had used, that soft nearly inaudible tone caused the blood to freeze in Aurra's veins.
Jealousy had become a second nature to her after her relationship with Harlene had improved, after she had seen that the girl had no harmful ulterior motives. Murder had clouded her vision when she had been informed of Harlene's friends and how much they meant to her. Harlene sometimes got frustrated and angry at Aurra's jealousy but most of the time showed patience and understanding. Aurra in turn tried to control it as best she could, but the terror was something that nestled in her soul and laughed at her faith in the only friend she ever had.
You're nothing to her it hissed. She stays because she has to, because you'll cause trouble that she'll be blamed for. She smiles at you and doesn't cringe at your touch in order to control you better.
And when the time is right…
Aurra gripped Harlene's shoulder.
…she'll leave you.
"Aurra?"
Her jaw clenched as she forced her fingers to loosen. "It's nothing."
"No, it's not," Harlene said, a grim knowing look in her eyes. She dropped her voice lower. "If it's happening again, we need to go back to the ship right away. We can hide behind something and I can teleport us there."
Aurra's eyes darted right and left. There were beings around them. A lot of beings. And several of them stared at Harlene while they passed with varying degrees of interest, curiosity and lust. Sometimes it pleased Aurra to fanaticize one of them approaching only to wind up on the pavement with a slashed throat. But other times, like this time, she wanted to unleash her fury and slaughter them all.
(look at her eye her touch her try to take her and I'll kill you every single one of you)
"Let's go over there," Aurra barely moved her mouth as she gestured over to an ally.
When they were back on the ship, Aurra leaned against the wall, a hand pressed to her forehead and breathing hard.
The blue Twi'lek Jedi standing with her lightsaber raised, her face a mask of that loathsome sanctimonious calm.
"You are not unique," she utters. "You are alone…"
With a snarl, Aurra lunges but is blasted away by the Force.
"…as you choose to be."
Aurra howls and leaps again, hands hooked like claws, wanting to tear the Jedi's face off.
"Lying Jedi witch!"
A burning pain on her face as the Twi'lek's blue blade slashes her cheek. Then the bio-computer implanted in her skull is cut and the emptiness that follows is immediate.
"What have you done…?" is all Aurra is able to mumble.
"I've given you a chance to live," the Twi'lek replies. A sweeping kick to the face knocks Aurra's already dazed form to the ground.
"Live Aurra Sing," the Twi'lek says as she stands over her defeated enemy. "Become what you could yet be."
Lying Jedi witch Aurra mouths as the edges of her vision turn dark. I'm not alone. I have—
Aurra's eyes snapped open as the memory passed. The hand on her forehead wrapped itself around what remained of the ruined bio-computer that enabled her to taste her victim's fear. When she took it away, her palm brushed the metal in a caress that contained no regret or melancholy. She turned around and saw Harlene staring at her with patience and concern.
I don't need it anymore. I have something other than the hunt. But I haven't become what you thought I should, you self-righteous schutta.
But she can leave you that cruel laughing voice said. You can replace the bio-computer. But once she's gone, then it's over.
You will be lost.
The Dark Woman, the other Jedi, her fellow Padawans, the Sennex pirates, Wallanooga, the Anzati, all of them clashing together and the impact was so loud and sporadic, she couldn't think, couldn't focus and that horrible horrible voice.
"Calm down," Harlene was suddenly in front of her with her hands on Aurra's face. "Everything's all right. Calm down."
You're lost you're lost you're lost you're lost you're lostyou'relostyou'relostyou'relost you'relostyou'relostyou'relost…
"Calm down."
Aurra gripped Harlene's forearms. Sweat beaded her brow.
"Can't," she groaned. "Call me one more time, hear the crashes, whistle some more, I don't want to hear it, kill the schuttas no Hutts in sight the rock and the Dark Woman…"
"Shhhh, shhhh," Harlene whispered. "You've beaten this before. I've seen you beat it. And you can keep on beating it," her fingertips gently massaged her temples. "Listen to my voice. Focus on me. Your name is Aurra Sing. My name is Harlene Ballantine. You're my companion, my friend. You trust me and I trust you. You believe I will always stay with you because it's the truth. I will never leave you," her lips touched Aurra's ear. "I will never leave you," her voice was the softest whisper. "Stay here with me. Forever."
The impact of the images grew less loud. Her mind began to stop screaming in pain. Her mouth moved to form mindless words, but she didn't say them out loud.
"Breathe," Harlene continued. "Just breathe."
The girl began to croon a haunting yet sweet melody in Aurra's ear. It deafened what remained of the crashes. The images began to die. Aurra's grip loosened on Harlene's arms and she stopped muttering. When the girl finished her song she began it over again. Aurra buried her face in her hair and allowed the music to soothe her now clear but exhausted mind. When she felt her strength return she drew back a bit. Harlene cupped her cheek.
"How do you feel?" she whispered.
Aurra pressed their foreheads together. "Better."
"That's good. Do you feel stronger?"
Long-fingered hands slid around Harlene's waist. "Yeah."
"That means it will go away someday. Permanently."
"I want it to," Aurra murmured. This wasn't the first time her mind had felt it would destroy itself. The instances were sporadic but they happened only once every few months over the past year and a half. And, thank God, they always happened when Harlene was with her. She laughed without mirth. "My Anzati teachers always said I was talented. Wonder what they'd say if they knew my own mind could drive me mad with no effort."
"You're not supposed to be able to," Harlene's eyes were slightly narrowed. "This isn't something you should have. You weren't born with it, and there are much worse cases—"
"Cases?"
The girl bit her lip and looked away. "Aurra…I don't think I need to tell you that you have a mental disorder."
"Harlene, I've known that before I hit my teenage years."
"I mean a real one," Harlene said ignoring Aurra's attempt at dry humor. "I've been doing some research over the past few months—"
"And you haven't told me?" Aurra half-snarled. "I'm not a kriffing medical experiment, Harlene!"
"Goddamn it, Aurra, I had to be sure!" Harlene shouted. "What the fuck did you expect me to do? Get you all worked up and then say 'oops, I was wrong'? Mental disorders aren't exactly a casual subject, you know."
Aurra fumed for a moment. "Fine. So, what did you find out?"
"From what you told me about your memories feeling like they're clashing and you can't focus them, not to mention your garbled speech…" Harlene looked pained. "Schizophrenia."
"Schizo-what?"
"Schizophrenia. It's a mental disorder that distorts a person's sense of reality, makes them hear voices and severely disorganizes their thoughts and speech. People that have it are nearly always born with it, but other times it develops due to continuous exposure to psychological stress."
"So the Dark Woman decided to give me a going-away present." Aurra's fist clenched against a wave of pain and fury. "That's another thing I have to thank her for when I see her again."
"But it seems to be a mild case, thank God," Harlene said. "Are you sure it only happens once every few months?"
"For the past year and a half," Aurra added. She frowned. "Why hasn't it happened earlier?"
Harlene avoided her eyes again. "Maybe…because of me."
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm not saying I caused it, but I think I'm the catalyst that woke it up," she took a deep breath. "Aurra, what's your greatest fear?"
"You know the answer to that," was the strained reply.
"I do. But I've noticed that your episodes always happen after that fear comes fully to the surface."
"And they've never happened when you're away," Aurra muttered. "Hey, don't," she gripped the girl's arms when a spasm of terrible guilt passed her features. "I think we both know something worse would have happened if it stayed buried longer. If you hadn't come along, if, when it surfaced by some other catalyst…I know I wouldn't have survived," she smiled and ran a hand down Harlene's hair. "So it looks like I owe you one."
The girl looked up and for some reason the sight of her face took Aurra's breath away.
"Maybe. But this marks one of those times where I wish logic were enough."
You care about me Aurra thought. You love me for me. Just keep doing that and I won't care what price I have to pay. Even if you're the cause of it.
"I can put off the hunt for a little while before I start aching for it again," Aurra said. She took Harlene's arm and led her to the living quarters.
"Do you get headaches too?" the girl asked when they were on the sofa and in each other's arms.
"Sometimes," Aurra said. "They're not pleasant but they're not migraine level," her hand slid behind Harlene's cloak to cup her waist. "Why didn't you tell me about…schizo-whatever sooner?"
"Schizophrenia," Harlene corrected. "Well, like I said, it's a very delicate subject. People who have it are often in deep denial. And can you blame them? If you can't trust your own sense of reality, what can you trust?"
"You were afraid I wouldn't believe you?"
"Not so much. Schizophrenia can be treated with various medications and therapy. Your episodes fade away when I touch you and talk to you. I was worried that you would get angry with me and wouldn't let me calm you down. Then you would suffer more. Our relationship may have improved a great deal, but even if you fully trust me, can you say you're completely comfortable with it?"
Aurra savored the feel of her fingers gliding through black hair. "No. I can't. But I'm comfortable with it enough. I would need solid evidence…and I would need to be looking in your eyes before I believe you would betray me."
She felt Harlene's arms tighten around her. "That means a lot."
You trust me too.
Sighing into her neck, Aurra's hands absently stroked Harlene's arms and back. So warm. So peaceful. But…it wasn't enough. There was something missing. This feeling wasn't new. It had manifested over the past couple of months or so, but she felt something was missing. Drawing back, she looked into Harlene's eyes. She had tried so hard not to do that at first. What she felt upon doing so had frightened her to death. But that had changed. Now she could let her guard down and lose herself in the emotions in Harlene's eyes. All for her. All for her…she moved closer in response to her now pounding heart.
It's not enough. I want more. Give me more.
Give me more…
"Aurra?"
Aurra's eyes widened when she saw how close Harlene's face was to hers. They weren't even an inch apart. The girl was staring at her in confusion and slight nervousness, but that wasn't what caused Aurra's heart to stop pounding so suddenly it was a physical shock.
(Harlene's face her hair her warmth her touch her lips)
Aurra scrambled back as a gasp was wrenched from her mouth.
I didn't…I didn't want…I couldn't want…
Harlene reached for her, genuine alarm on her face. "Aurra, what's wrong?"
Staggering to her feet, Aurra back away out of reach of Harlene's hand. The girl's touch had terrified her before. And that terror had been the most potent when she realized how much she wanted it.
But what she wanted then was so much more different that what she wanted…
No.
NO! Aurra screamed at herself. I don't want touch like that! There is nothing more painful than touch like that. NOTHING. I don't want it. I DON'T WANT IT!
"Aurra, please," Harlene beseeched. She made no attempt to move closer but her hand was still outstretched.
(Hands on her body hands scratching clawing tearing pinching squeezing pressure pressure soul-splitting pressure I want to die I WANT TO DIE!)
"It's just me. Aurra, its Harlene. What's wrong? Tell me what's wrong."
Aurra backed away until she felt the wall press against her. Her arms crossed over her breasts so tightly they shook from the pressure.
(the pressure the pressure burned in your skin your soul the pressure)
Harlene was offering reassurance. Comfort. But what would happen this time if Aurra accepted it? Would she still feel…? Would she still want…?
Terror stabbed through her.
"Go away," she whispered.
Harlene drew back as if she had been slapped.
"Go away," Aurra's voice grew hoarse with desperation. "Harlene, please go away."
"Aurra, don't—"
"Go away!"
She did. Aurra sagged against the wall still clutching her chest. Her shriek was still echoing through the ship.
"I didn't want…" she mumbled. "I couldn't want. No, no…"
She expected more memories to assault her. Memories of depraved moans vulgar words
(child whore schutta Huttspawn)
and fiery touches and pressure. But they remained where they usually stayed except when she went through one of her episodes. In fact, all she could see was Harlene. And while that wasn't a bad thing…
I wanted to kiss her.
Aurra shook her head and gritted her teeth. She had thought her cravings for the hunt wouldn't surface again for several more hours. But she needed the hunt. Now.
xXx
General Grievous was in a fairly optimistic mood upon exiting the transmission room. It was a stark change from a few hours prior. Not only had the capable leader of the Separatist movement been murdered by that slip of a Jedi brat, but upon returning to Utapau he had been ordered to move the leaders of the Separatist movement to the volcanic planet Mustafar. The task itself was not a hindrance since he did not have to personally carry it out. But he still had to endure Nute Gunray's incessant whining about the failed promise of security of Utapau as well as Grievous's failure to keep Chancellor Palpatine captive. While Grievous still privately fumed over that, he loathed to be reminded of it especially from one such as the Trade Federation Viceroy. But as Grievous suspected, Lord Sidious had generously forgiven him for his failure and even informed him that Dooku had been sacrificed not lost. Any anger over the Count's death had instantly vanished. So long as Lord Sidious still lived, the new galactic government would be in good hands.
He was on his way to his training room when he felt a surge of anger. It took him only a moment to realize why: Harlene had failed to meet him after she had finished tormenting the Chancellor. She was the only being who held any value that came close to Lord Sidious, but she had a tendency to ignore his summons. While she didn't do it often and never snubbed him when he was in the presence of others, it was highly irritating.
Grievous let out a hacking cough as he walked down the hall. The damage Mace Windu had done to his outer shell was not fatal but still caused considerable discomfort. He could have the Geonosian technicians take a look at him, but that would take long. And he wanted to practice his swordplay now.
"General?"
Grievous stopped. His posture went rigid.
"You have decided to grace me with your presence at last," sarcasm dripped off every syllable. "I cannot express how privileged I feel."
To his fury there was no reply. He whirled around and made a swiping gesture with his hand.
"Do not ignore me!"
"I'm not going to apologize, Grievous," Harlene's eyes were as hard as her voice. "I've told you time and time again that I have other duties that I need to attend. What's more, I don't follow orders from you."
She had mouthed off to him before. And every time he had to restrain himself from tearing her limb from limb. However, he knew it would satisfy him for only a few brief seconds. He walked up to her and cupped her face.
"You make me want to kill you at times like these," he uttered.
She didn't flinch. "Why don't you?"
So bold. So very, very bold.
"I would kill you, my ally," Grievous's voice dropped to a soft whisper as he put his face an inch from hers. "But I'm too fond of you. It would be like…killing a pet."
Her haired brow rose. "I'm your trusted ally yet I'm that inferior to you?"
"You are that infuriating," Grievous corrected. Before he could elaborate, pain rose in his gutsack. Turning his head away he gave a loud cough.
"Are you all right?" Harlene sounded concerned. Grievous glared at her.
"It is nothing save for another reason to repay the Jedi," he clenched his fist and glared at it. "They will all pay for what they—"
The words died in his voice box when Harlene started feeling along the edges of the artificial ribcage protecting his gutsack. Grievous blanched.
"What are you doing?"
"Checking the damage," her voice was distant as she slipped her hand between the ribs and began to very gently probe the gutsack. Grievous didn't stop her. For one thing, the sensations were quite pleasant. For another, if she could heal the damage right away he wouldn't have to waste time visiting the Geonosians. But before she had finished even assessing his injuries Grievous heard approaching sounds down the hall. His eyes narrowed in a scowl. If there was one thing he loathed more than the Jedi
(Huk)
it was having an unnecessary audience while he was being repaired. And if it was Gunray he knew he wouldn't be able to restrain himself from killing him.
"Cease," Grievous closed a hand around Harlene's arm gently but firmly. "I will allow you to examine me but not in the open," he turned away. "Follow me."
The medical chamber he led her to was deserted which was a good thing. It saved Grievous the trouble of forcefully removing any unfortunate inhabitants. He coughed and then settled himself on a chair designed specifically for him.
"Would it be easier if the outer shell was removed?" he asked.
"Yes, but I don't know how this technology works. I could—"
"You don't. I do," Grievous said in a shamelessly supercilious tone. He swiftly removed the outer shell and stared at Harlene expectantly. The girl circled around the chair and scanned the fully exposed gutsack. When her hands started to probe Grievous allowed himself to relax. His memories of his previous life were distant and vague, meaning they hardly mattered anymore, but he knew he had always appreciated a female's touch. Granted, Harlene was human and not Kaleesh, but her soft hands were not unwelcome.
"Bet you're glad to get rid of the Separatist leaders, huh?"
Grievous opened his eyes. "It is a relief. I hope Lord Sidious gives me the order to carry out their executions soon enough."
Harlene was silent for a moment. Her hands stilled. "The damage isn't extensive. It won't be truly threatening for at least a few more weeks. There are minor lacerations in the sack and a few of your organs are bruised. I won't be able to heal all the damage, but I can reduce your coughing."
"That is good enough," Grievous waved a dismissive hand. "The rest the Geonosians can take care of."
Harlene nodded and proceeded to heal him. It took less time than Grievous thought it would and when it was over Harlene started to remove her hands. Grievous grabbed her wrist.
"Do not cease your movements while we are still conversing."
It was an order. Harlene appeared stunned.
"General—"
"I am a creature of war but I am not ascetic," Grievous said. "I find your touch pleasing. You may cease after we have finished our discussion."
Nodding once, Harlene obeyed. Her hands gently glided across the artificial skin.
"This war's going to be over soon, though," she said.
"But it will end with vast amounts of bloodshed," Grievous countered. "Lord Sidious and his new apprentice will lead the new order, and I shall remain its military fist."
"New apprentice?"
"I do not know who he is. All I was told is that he is far younger and more powerful than Lord Tyranus himself."
Harlene gave no outward sign of emotion. "Are you afraid all the wars will end someday?"
"No."
"But if Sidious establishes this perfect order—"
"The wars will never end," Grievous glared at her as if she had uttered a blasphemy. "Bloodlust will always dwell in beings of flesh. They dwell in me more strongly, but the wars will never end. It is the way things are. It's what drives beings, what makes them truly function. Conflict is the order of nature."
She smiled slightly. "That last part is something we both agree on."
"Good. Withdraw your hands."
After she did Grievous refastened the outer shell. His departed without a word or a backward glance. Therefore he didn't see the flash of intense alarm on Harlene's face or the speed in which she teleported away.
xXx
It was second nature to Maul to become completely awake and alert upon detecting the slightest of anomalies in his surroundings while slumbering. Perhaps one would argue that the smell of ancient rock was not in the least threatening, but he had not survived his Master's training by betting his life on chance. When he was on his feet and in a fighter's stance he didn't waste time in being surprised that he was fully dressed and that the Force had summoned his blade from his belt rather than beside his cot. His attention was far more preoccupied with what lay ahead of him and the immensely dark and powerful currents writhing and shifting in the Force.
He had been here before. Even if Harlene had never brought him here he would have recognized where he was from ancient Sith texts and holocrons. But no true Sith would need a past reference to know that they were in the most scared of ancient Sith territory. Not when every air molecule was drenched in the dark side.
"Korriban," he murmured. His eyes followed the enormous stone statues glaring fiercely down at him, daring him to enter their tombs. "The Valley of the Dark Lords."
Was he dreaming? His nightmares had somewhat decreased over the past few days, but never in his life had he dreamed of Korriban. Not even after visiting it.
You aren't dreaming.
Realization coupled with anger dawned on him.
"What have you done?" he demanded.
If I told you it would ruin my whole purpose of doing it in the first place.
"Do not toy with me," Maul hissed. "Tell me what—"
"Maul!"
Harlene was several meters away. Before he could blink she was directly in front of him and appeared as stunned as he had been before.
"Apparently you were correct in that unstable bubbles can be fickle," Maul said sardonically.
"I sensed a shift happening," Harlene said. "Are you all right?"
"I am unharmed," he replied. "I retired several hours ago. Upon awakening I ended up here."
Harlene's brow rose. "And yet you appear to be fully dressed and you even have your lightsaber."
"I will not complain."
"Still…" Harlene closed her eyes and clenched her fists. Maul remained silent knowing she was attempting to reverse the shift. He was unsurprised when she couldn't. Her head darted right and left. Though she had no presence in the Force, he could feel her worry and frustration.
"This shift will not last long."
She practically glared at him. "How do you know?"
"Call it a highly accurate guess."
"Well, for both our sakes I hope so," she looked at her hand. Blue sparks erupted from her palm. "My powers seem to be in fine working order. I just pray it'll shift back by the time I need to leave."
"Why?"
She smiled. "Why do you ask questions that you already know the answer to?"
He could resist the temptation to touch her for now. First he needed to know what game the voice was playing.
"I suggest we do not remain in the middle the entire time," he holstered his weapon. "Perhaps if we discover an anomaly we can find a way to reverse the shift."
"It's worth a shot," Harlene agreed. "Though I have little to no knowledge on bubble shifts," she glanced around at the various tombs. "Where should we start?"
"A fair question," Maul said. "We went to Naga Sadow's tomb before did we not?"
"Well…" Harlene drawled out the word and didn't meet his eyes. "Not exactly."
Deciding to drop that line of conversation Maul said, "We may need to explore all of them if we are to discover an anomaly."
But Harlene wasn't paying attention to him. She had gone rigid and her gazed was locked on one of the tombs.
"Do you sense anything?" Maul asked immediately.
She pointed to the tomb. "We need to go there."
"So, you sense something?"
"Not exactly. But look at it. I know what Dark Lords are buried here. That one's unmarked meaning it doesn't belong here."
They were too far away for Maul to be absolutely certain the tomb had no inscriptions but he knew Harlene wouldn't lie.
"There is our anomaly then. We shall investigate what it holds."
"Together?"
He looked at her. There was no condemnation or accusation in her eyes. Just a plain serious question.
"Together," Maul responded. He considered demanding answers from the voice again but he didn't want to give it any satisfaction. If there was nothing that could be done he would play its wretched game so long as it didn't threaten Harlene.
What about you?
Get out of my head!
"Maul?"
"It is nothing," he said with very forced calm. Thankfully she dropped the subject.
They had barely set foot inside the tomb when a low rumbling sounded behind them. They both whirled around, weapons raised just in time to see the last crevice of outside light vanish due to a large door sealing the entrance.
Maul exchanged a grim look with Harlene.
"If my powers don't fuck up I can teleport us out of here," she said. "But maybe it's like a video game."
"Video game?"
"Yeah. Sometimes when you enter a room the door to it will mysteriously close and won't open again until you solve a puzzle, get an item," her lips pursed. "Or kill the enemy inside."
Maul turned around and began to walk down the corridor. "Then let us search for the true anomaly."
He deactivated his blade since light was not needed thanks to the various torches decorating the walls, but he kept it in his hand. Harlene did the same.
I will play whatever miserable game you want me to play he mentally growled. And you will pay for toying with the both of us.
There was no answer. It made him want to punch the wall.
"Do you sense anything?" Harlene asked.
Maul reached deeper into the Force but the dark currents remained familiar. "Nothing unusual. But I will inform you if I do."
Both of them remained silent during the journey down the corridor. Maul continued to immerse himself in the Force and felt some of his anger at the voice fade. He had thought he would never have been able to taste darkness such as this ever again. This second experience seemed more extraordinary than the first. He felt his connection to the Force become stronger and more focused. Darkness coursed through his limbs making him feel that physical weariness was but a myth for the weak. His natural senses became more attuned. Inhaling deeply he smelled something wonderful.
It took him only a moment to realize it was Harlene.
If they hadn't immediately emerged from the corridor to discover an immense room he would have touched her. But Sith were not careless. Maul probed the Force currents for a minute and found nothing.
"We are alone," he said.
Harlene nodded once before looking around. Maul did the same. The room was indeed very large and looked as if it belonged more in a temple than a tomb. There were carved pillars on the east and west sides but the feature that caught both his and Harlene's attention was the short pillar in the north section. It was intricately carved and housed an enormous flame that was enough to cast nearly the entire room in brilliant red and gold light.
"Is this familiar to you?" Harlene asked.
"No," Maul replied. "I have studied Sith Holocrons and text extensively but I have never seen a room such as this."
"Well, the Sith are excellent when it comes to secrecy," Harlene said. "I know for a fact not all their temples and hideaways have been discovered yet."
"As do I," Maul was about to say something else but Harlene began walking toward the flame. He followed but stayed a few steps behind. Her movements appeared unnaturally liquid and Maul briefly wondered if a skeleton lay beneath her flesh. She stopped when she was a few feet in front of the flame. Maul still lingered behind. He could only see her back but that had been all he could see when he had approached her at the Works during the second week he had started training her. Against his will he had found the way the light of the sunset reflected off her black hair to be
(mesmerizing)
appealing. He had wanted to touch it. He thought she would have protested loudly in response or shocked him with her electricity, but he did not fear her power. He knew he wanted her, this powerful, intelligent, infuriating child. She was his. He would do whatever he pleased with what was his.
He had put his gloved hand on her hair. And she hadn't moved or made a sound.
You always do the exact opposite of what I expect.
The memory faded. Maul found himself standing in a Sith-like temple that dwelled in a twisted version of Korriban formed by an unnamed god-like being, and Harlene was just up ahead, staring at an enormous dancing fire that bathed her in red-gold light as well as cast her in shadow. She turned around so she was fully facing him and gave him an amused look.
"Any reason why you're standing so far away?"
Maul didn't reply. Or rather, he couldn't reply. He had half expected to see the face of an eleven-year-old child once again. But he didn't. That image of her had still been lingering in his mind, but now it was utterly destroyed. He was truly seeing Harlene for what she was…what she had become only now. Despite the distance between them, her scent lingered in the air around him. It would grow stronger if he moved closer. He wanted to move closer. He wanted to touch her. Hold her. Such desires were more than familiar, but now they were coupled with a growing warmth in his blood that robbed them of any semblance of innocence.
He could ignore it no longer. It was undeniable.
He had felt these…urges before but to act on them merely because he felt them or worse, simply to experience physical pleasure was utterly demeaning to a Sith. Lord Sidious had taught him to embrace his passion, but true power lay in emotional passion not physical.
(At least she is not five years older than her current age)
Maul pushed down a wave of shame and straightened. He had no reason to feel shame now. What he desired was an intelligent, ruthless and powerful young woman who would one day become stronger than him. A young woman who would be the embodiment of the purpose his life would have in the future. This desire was not in the least shameful, and it should not be suppressed.
"Maul?"
Harlene was staring at him with confusion and a nervousness he had seen before. She was not unaware of his attraction, but she had yet to acknowledge it on a conscious level.
"Maul, why are you looking at me that way?"
He began to move toward her, eyes narrowed in determination. They belonged together. The Force had no involvement in their bond which made it all the more potent. Taking their relationship to a more intimate level would only serve to solidify it. Stopping in front of her, he put a hand on her cheek.
"The darkness here is truly wondrous," he said softly. "If I were able, I would transfer my connection to the Force to you for a short time. The taste of it is unlike anything you will ever experience."
"If that's true, then I may be reluctant to give it back to you."
Her smile was teasing. Almost coy. His blood began to feel warmer as he examined the features of her face. He had always found her coloring beautiful, but in the general sense she was a very physically appealing female. Though that was not the cause of his attraction he could not deny that it enhanced it.
"If it caused you to embrace the darkness and forsake the light, I would allow you to keep it for as long as you wished," he pitched his voice lower. "But it would leave me with yet another void. And in exchange, I would expect you to fill it."
She gave a small laugh. "Maul, I was only joking. I would never do that to you."
"I know you would not," slowly, his other hand came up to rest behind her waist. "But another void is unnecessary for the awareness I have now."
She went rigid in his arms. Her wide eyes searched his. Despite the glow of the flames she visibly paled.
"Maul, what--?"
"You know what," he had to hide some irritation at her reaction. "You cannot be surprised."
The shock melted from her face, but the expression it held now was almost grim.
"I shouldn't be," she said. "You've been looking at me differently. But I've never liked to presume in cases such as this."
Maul bared his teeth. "Other males have expressed intimate interest in you?"
She smiled sweetly. "Maul, would you like me to send twenty-thousand volts through your system?"
Forcing back rage and jealousy defied his very nature as it was but even that was nothing compared to the images forming in his mind. Images of males looking upon Harlene with desire, touching her…
Control he told himself. Control.
"The prospect of another male touching you for any reason has always been repellant to me," he said as evenly as he could. "Is that unreasonable with what you have been through in the past and with the desire I now have for you?"
Her face didn't soften. "How long?"
"In honesty, ever since you returned to me as a young woman rather than a little girl."
She looked down then back up again. Her eyes were narrowed and she pushed herself away from him.
"All right, Maul, what the hell is it you're trying to pull?"
Jaw clenching in anger he took a step toward her. "If you wish to accuse me of anything, then I suggest you do it outright."
"I said I want to know what you're really after. Someone like you would not seek out sexual interaction unless you had some ulterior motive," she said in a cutting tone. "I know Sith openly embrace their passion but anything used to enhance it would be only a tool to them. Including sex."
"We Sith are creatures of passion," he took another step toward her and she did not move back. "And seeking to fulfill only pleasure or bodily urges would be abhorrent," slowly, he reached for her again. "You are not a tool, Harlene. We can both feel the bond between us. It is deep. So deep it is as if the Force has enabled me to see the dark places of mystery certain areas of it are shrouded in. I wish to explore those places," his hands wrapped around her waist. "I wish to explore you."
She was pale no longer. The hardness in her face was melting away. Her bright eyes gazed unblinkingly into his own. Her lips parted slightly to accommodate her increasing breath. Maul wanted very much to do something right now. Something involving mouths…but he waited.
"Do you wish to explore the dark places of our bond?" his thumb came up to trail down her cheek. "Do you wish to explore me?"
Harlene shivered in response to his touch but her eyes still carried a steely glint. "We do have a bond. But I'm not Sith, Maul. To me sexual intimacy is the exact opposite of a tool."
"That is one of the rare beliefs you have that I have respect for despite our disagreements," he replied seriously. "Dishonoring your beliefs regarding intimacy would be no different than dishonoring your body. Do you fear I would?"
"I answered that when I was eleven," she said. "It hasn't changed."
"Do you fear my desire?" the far away anger and humiliation that she would reject him was coming close to the surface. His head felt unusually warm, as if he had a fever and he felt a building pressure around his horns. She couldn't reject him. He knew she desired him in return. They had to share this. They had to. His voice dropped to a hiss. "Does my desire disgust you?"
She lowered her head meaning she didn't see him bare his teeth or the slight sheen of perspiration on his forehead. But his hands on her waist were now trembling. Surely she felt that at least.
When she looked up, her face was unreadable. Before Maul's torment could worsen she said. "If you wanted to use me, then yes I would be disgusted. But I know you don't."
He relaxed a fraction. She wanted him. He just had to get her to admit it outright. Then she would realize how much they needed to share this. "You did not answer my first question," he said. After a beat, he corrected himself. A rare occurrence. "Actually you did. Your reaction to me spoke volumes," he smiled with amusement. "For someone who can supposedly control their emotions, you are remarkably expressive."
She sighed. "It doesn't work that way. Yes, I have the power to control my emotions…and my mentor made sure I trained myself to do so when absolutely necessary," Maul wondered about the spasm of pain that crossed her face. "But for something like this, I have to be willing to control myself."
"Meaning you do not wish to," he pulled her closer until she was pressed up against him and a very small part of him wondered if his actions were a result of his triumph or the heat that threatened to consume him. "Do not be like the Jedi, Harlene. Release the passion that is building up inside you. Come with me," he cupped her chin and bore his gaze into hers. "Let us explore each other's darkness."
One of Lord Sidious's greatest lessons had been single-mindedness. Perhaps Maul had taken it out of context and that valuable lesson had aided his ultimate failure, but now he savored it. There was nothing, nothing but Harlene in his arms, her delicious warmth, his desire for her and this agonizing, infuriating wait that she seemed so determined to drag on. Control. He needed control. Say you're mine, say you're mine, say everything you are belongs to me. Why resist? You know you are mine—
At first he didn't notice when her hand came up to rest on his cheek. But he moved closer when he did. Closer to her eyes…no they weren't eyes. They were blood red flames swimming in endless oceans of darkness. She was so warm. And she was moving closer as well. Their lips would touch so very, very soon…
Traitor.
The sheer malevolence in the whisper that rang through the chamber was enough for both of them to cease their movements, break apart and draw their blades.
Traitor.
Maul stood firmly beside Harlene, crimson blade arched and teeth bared in rage. Who dared to interrupt them? He reached out with the Force but was immediately met with a backlash so violent he staggered as a gasp burst from his lungs.
"Maul!" with her free hand Harlene reached out to steady him, her face very concerned but he shrugged her off.
"Keep alert," he snapped. "I sense something…something very powerful. It is of the dark side and it means us harm."
Traitor.
The whisper was louder this time. It wasn't the voice…
A loud roar erupted from the fire in front of them which was no longer red and gold but inky black and gray, bathing the room in darkness. Silver mist began to flow from the base of the pillar and swiftly made its way toward them. Harlene thrust out her hand and narrowed her eyes but the mist did not slow.
"I can't—stop it," she grated out.
Maul tried to summon the dark side again but he was met with yet another backlash, this time more violent.
Foolish heretic.
The voice was deep and dark and came from the silver mist. It reared in the air like a viper coiling to strike. But it did not touch them. Instead it swirled and took the form of a very tall and powerful male humanoid. A coral-like helmet covered his head but left most of his facial features exposed. Thick robes flowed around his form and living Orbalisk parasites covered his chest like armor. He was a solid shadow at the most, as far from flesh and blood as could be, but this only served to amplify his terrible power.
"Darth Bane," Harlene whispered.
Maul was not surprised that Harlene recognized the Dark Lord who has started the Rule of Two, but he was surprised that he did not drop to his knees in reverence. Why? Why would he hesitate? Why couldn't he…?
"You defile the sacred temple of the Sith and you expect the dark side to bow to your will?" Bane's furious smoky eyes burned holes into Maul as if he were the lowest thing in the galaxy.
Confusion momentarily forgotten, he raised his sword at the shadow before him. "I am a Dark Lord of the Sith, Lord Bane," he declared. "I am in the service of my Master no longer, but I always will be Sith."
"Your actions speak louder than your words," Bane's gaze fell on Harlene. "Passion is of the dark side, as is lust. This one has darkness, but it is weak, tainted, smeared and defiled by light. I suppose that is fitting since she is not even of the Force."
Bane raised his hand and before Maul could react, a black tendril shot from his palm and struck Harlene in the chest. She didn't even blink.
"You could not feel that, could you?" Bane whispered. "Your existence defiles the Force and the dark side. Your darkness could never join that of the Sith. Like the light, you are a blasphemy—"
"Silence!" Maul bellowed. "You are the fabled Sith'ari, Lord Bane, yet you dare to make such ignorant presumptions!? If you only knew—"
"Maul," he felt a hand touch his arm. "I can speak for myself."
Harlene's face was firm and resolute. Breathing hard, Maul forced himself to back down. He would not have reacted so strongly if he had not been shown that future vision of Harlene, but since he had…
You know nothing, Lord Bane. The one beside me will be an embodiment of the darkness, something no Sith could ever hope to achieve.
Harlene calmly stepped forward. She stared at the apparition of Darth Bane with cold contempt.
"You think you know me—Dessel?"
The shadow grew rigid. Maul stared at Harlene in confusion but she seemed satisfied by the response she got.
"You add to your blasphemy, little nothing," Lord Bane rumbled.
"The Force is not a religion, Dessel," Harlene said. "It's a philosophy, a way of life. By calling me a blasphemer, you've admitted outright that you perceive the Force in a distorted and twisted manner."
Maul felt the dark side surge through Lord Bane. His gray, smoky eyes turned a fierce, burning yellow.
"Twisted you say?" he hissed and raised his hand once again. "You who will never feel the Force, never be a part of it…you are a freak of nature."
But the blasts of darkness that shot from his palm were not aimed at Harlene. Maul felt a violent impact and screamed as the voice of Darth Bane roared in his mind.
Hear me, heretic. Her darkness is nothing, but her light will taint you. If you give into your lust, then she will destroy you. You will be ruined.
Forever.
"MAUL!? MAUL! WAKE UP! WAKE UP!"
Lord Bane's presence retreated and Maul was left with a clouded mind and vision blurred by splotches of darkness. He could hear Harlene screaming his name.
"I am well," his voice came out a hoarse growl. "Cease shouting."
She did. Breathing hard, Maul blinked rapidly and called on the Force again. This time the dark side did not elude him. When he was fully lucid he found himself lying on the floor, his upper body supported by a very concerned Harlene.
"Maul?"
"I said I am well," he growled again and though humiliated by the weakness he was displaying he allowed Harlene to help him stand. Looking right and left he saw that they were back at the Works.
"Looks like we've shifted back," Harlene said keeping a hand on his arm. "After Bane did…whatever to you, you screamed for a few seconds. I tried to kill him but we shifted back here."
Maul stared at her, then at the open viewport that bathed the room in white light. Not much time had passed. It was still night.
"He does not understand."
"What?"
"Lord Bane," Maul clarified. "He does not understand that despite your flaws you openly embrace your darkness."
"Yeah, but that's not all he said," Harlene responded dryly. "My darkness is nothing because I'm not of the Force."
"I thought much the same in the beginning," Maul said. Wanting to return where they had last left off, he put his hands around her waist. "I admired your darkness, but did not believe it could ever be compared to the Sith," one hand slid up to cup the back of her neck. "Later I decided that your lack of the Force is irrelevant."
"And what made you decide that?" Harlene asked quietly.
Maul moved closer.
"Because I can feel it without the Force," he whispered. "I can see it your eyes, the way you move, the way you fight, your anger, your hatred. Darkness radiates from you, Harlene," Maul was practically shaking with excitement and eagerness. He didn't merely feel warm, he was burning. To touch her, to bring their mouths together…"And I wish to explore the deepest depths of it."
Harlene moved closer, just the slightest centimeter, then she backed away.
"Maul, please let go of me."
He didn't. But freezing in disbelief and anger enabled her to free herself from his embrace. She stepped back and her expression was guarded. Though furious, Maul made no move toward her.
"You deny this?" he snarled through bared teeth. "You deny this now when you would have accepted me before? Why!? Are you succumbing to some meaningless fear or do you just wish to taunt me?"
She winced but not nearly as much as he wanted her to. "Back on Korriban…you wanted to kiss me. And you want to kiss me now too, right?"
Maul clenched his fists. The crack of his knuckles echoed through the silent room.
"Yes."
"I would have kissed you on Korriban if we hadn't been interrupted," she said. "I got caught up in the moment, because…no male has ever looked at me the way you have. No male has ever been so open with me."
If she expected that to mollify him, she got the opposite result.
"Then why?" he demanded harshly.
"I've always tried to be cautious about starting anything with you because to put it bluntly, you are without a doubt the most arrogant ass I have ever had the privilege of meeting throughout my entire fucking life," She ignored his growl of rage and continued. "I'll admit that our…attraction is mutual despite that. But our differences are deep enough so that I'll have to give it a bit of thought first."
"If you do that, then you are only wasting time," Maul stepped forward. "You will accept me, Harlene."
"You're an ass, Maul."
"Insulting me will not prolong the inevitable. Nor will your useless insistence on waiting."
"Call my need for time useless again, and I'll ram my fist into your balls until you lose consciousness."
In a single swift movement, Maul had Harlene pressed against him.
"I do not fear pain, and I do not fear you," he half-whispered half-hissed. "Practice what you preach, Observer. You begged me not to make the mistakes you made, yet you are dangerously close to making them again."
"That just goes to show how little you understand," she smiled scornfully. "You don't fear me, but you fear to be without me, and that's why you're rationalizing my 'flaws' away. Open your eyes Maul. The Sith would ostracize you if they knew of all the excuses you've made for me. I held a dagger at Sidious's throat. I would have plunged it into his jugular if not for my orders. You failed on Tatooine because I goaded you. I value compassion and love. I embrace the light as well as the darkness, and you know by now that won't change. Bane was right, Maul. No self-respecting Sith would ever rationalize that. No self-respecting Sith would want me," she grinned.
"No Sith would want me."
Shaking hands fisted into her cloak, Maul wanted to ravish her mouth with his own and rip her to pieces while he did so.
She thought he was not Sith.
She had to nerve to say he was not Sith.
"That is one insult, Harlene," he uttered in a voice vibrating with menace. "That I will never tolerate from you. Ever."
"Do you deny what I said before? The things I did? The things I believe?"
"You have the darkness of a Sith," Maul snarled. He yanked her so close they could kiss without needing to move. "You embrace it. You accept it. You do not regret it. That is all. Nothing else matters. I will never serve Lord Sidious again, but I am not betraying him or the Sith by desiring you, so long as neither of us forsakes the darkness."
"And if I did?"
"You would not."
"Are you so certain? I still have my emotional powers. If I wanted I could program myself to never feel things like anger or hatred again."
"You would not," Maul tried to ignore the desperation in his tone and that his hands were now shaking with terror as well. "Your darkness is intrinsic. You would go mad. You would die."
"No, I wouldn't," she said calmly. "Because I could make myself not care."
Feeling as if his jaw would crack under the pressure of his clenched teeth, Maul all but dug his fingers into her back.
"Why are you doing this?"
"Well, remember that you started it, what with you acting like an ass when I said I needed time to think about having a more intimate relationship with you," she said dryly. "But I'm glad it turned out this way so I can help you get over another of your delusions," her hands came up on either side of his face. "You are not Sith, Maul. You have a deep sense of honor and you stick to it no matter what. A Sith would see honor only as a tool. But you hold it in deep value. And Maul, please be realistic. No Sith would ever want me. You heard Darth Bane himself denounce me as a blasphemer."
"You are wrong," he said vehemently. "So long as I embrace the darkness and forsake the light, I will always be Sith."
She sighed. "Well, I can't say I was expecting anything. But at least you didn't go bonkers on me." Her eyes met his and she smiled. "You don't have to be Sith to embrace the darkness, you know."
"I am Sith," he hissed. "I will never touch the light. Never."
"I don't blame you. Darkness is all you've ever known. And we all fear what we don't understand," she smiled again. "If you want, we can stop this line of conversation."
It took everything he had not to let his relief show. "That is fortunate," he said coldly. "I loathe to suffer through inane prattle. But I am not the only one who must have 'delusions' corrected. If you do not believe I am Sith, then I will have no choice but to correct you."
"And how will you do that?" she asked.
His grip on her relaxed and grew suggestive.
"I will show you the depths of my passion, my darkness when you accept me," he said. "During your absences, I will focus my connection to the dark side. And when we meet, Harlene," he dropped his head to whisper in her ear. "You will know who I am."
Her responding shiver was utterly delicious, as was the flush that spread across her cheeks when he bore his gaze into her.
"Maul," her sudden seriousness drew his full attention. "Would you hurt me? That way?"
His eyes narrowed. "I swear on my life I would never hurt or dishonor you. Not that way. You have my word."
For the first time he found himself entranced by the softness in her smile.
"With my honor, Maul," she declared. "I will always trust you."
