Chapter 05 - Transformations

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Shana locked gazes with the stranger in the doorway, shivering slightly at his expression. His armor was black and red, and seemed to mold itself to his body. In other circumstances, with his curly black hair and finely-boned face, she might have even called him handsome; but his cruel smile kept that thought from entering her mind. His eyes glowed red and his smile widened as he started to trace patterns in the air with his hand, leaving trails of fire that stayed where his finger had been. "I would have preferred a wolf to a rabbit, but I suppose you must take what you can," he said conversationally.

Shana shook her head at that. "You need to leave now," she said, trying to bluff him.

He threw back his head and laughed, a loud, clear sound. "Maybe there's a bit of fight left in you after all." He grinned widely at that, and the red parts of his armor started to glow. "Well, rabbit, if you're going to run, I'd suggest you do so. I'll give you a few minutes' head start."

"So you can be alone with Jacen? I don't think so." Shana's voice wavered as she spoke. She didn't know what she could do, but she couldn't leave her twin. She clenched both of her fists in desperation, and gasped in surprise when her left one started to burn. The pendant was still clutched tightly in her fist, and as she recalled it, something seemed to unlock inside of her. She stood up, her fear washing away, and glared at the young man. He paused, seeming a bit confused by her apparent change of heart.

"Did you decide to surrender peacefully?" he chided, looking faintly disappointed. "That's no fun, you know. You really should have more consideration for your opponents."

"I'm not going to surrender, especially not to you," she retorted, quickly pulling the pendant over her head. "If you want a fight, you've got it." With that, she laid her fingers on her pendant and closed her eyes, making a fervent wish that whatever power she was supposed to have would show up. She could see the air around her glowing through her eyelids; with a startled oath, she felt herself infused with power. Her body was briefly encased in light, and when the light faded, she felt much different. A part of her mind seemed to detach itself and take over, gently protecting her but giving her a wealth of memories and knowledge. She suddenly realized that Alida was right. She knew who Centuris was now; armed with that knowledge, she opened her eyes to find the young man looking at her in surprise. She glanced down and realized with a mild shock that she was wearing completely different clothes. She was now wearing a white bodysuit, similar to what Tegan had worn, but with a teal skirt and bow, and pointed sleeves. Her hair tumbled loosely down her back, a strange sensation to one accustomed to wearing it in a braid, and she found herself posing, trying to ignore the cool breeze on her legs. I hope I don't look as silly as I feel, she thought absently, as she turned her attention back to the young man. "You're a Keeper, aren't you?" she asked, not knowing where the word came from, but realizing it had to be correct.

The young man blinked in surprise as he nodded and smiled that same, cruel smile. "Ah, so you are a wolf! And here I was feeling slighted."

"Well, I wouldn't want you to be disappointed," she retorted. She could feel Jacen behind her starting to wake up, and realized she needed to lead this Keeper away from him. "But you'll have to catch me first!" She gathered her power and shoved him aside with it before he could react, then dashed out the door. "Come on, little Keeper! See if you can keep up with me!" she called back over her shoulder. The Keeper growled out an oath, then spun on his heels to chase her. She ran ahead to the beach, trying to figure out what to do next. She spun around at the water's edge and waited for the Keeper to close in, crossing her arms over her chest and taking a very casual stance.

"Is that all you have to show me, rabbit?" he asked, coming to a stop a few feet away from her. He still seemed amused, if a bit annoyed now.

"Oh, no, I've got more for you. I just didn't want to destroy my aunt's house." She hoped to irritate him into making a mistake, and continued to act as if he were nothing more than an inconvenience. Her heart pounded in fear, though, and she had to work to keep a tight control on it.

"Well then, rabbit, perhaps you should get ready to run again." The Keeper raised his hand again and sent a fireball shooting at her. Centuris dodged to the side, and came up in a ready pose. With a laugh, the Keeper started launching fireballs at her, keeping her dodging and unable to stand ready for more than a moment.

With a burst of inspiration, she raised her own hand and shouted 'Centuris Starlight Flash!' The resulting flash from her hand blinded the Keeper, knocking him back. She looked at her hand in startlement, then covered her lapse in control by holding it out to the side. Another piece of knowledge knocked loose, and she summoned a quarterstaff of pure teal light. She swung it in front of her and stood ready, waiting for him to get up. The part of her that was Shana was still rather shocked by the whole ordeal, but the part of her that was Centuris was ready for a fight. The Keeper rose to his feet, his face flushed in anger. No longer even pretending to be amused, he held both hands up in front of his face, and summoned a globe of fire. With a shout of his own, he launched it at her, his face a mask of determination. Centuris swung her staff in front of her, blocking the globe and shattering it. She felt the heat of the fire as the globe unwove around her, and brought her staff up to a vertical position in front of her. Another memory unlocked in the back of her mind, and she gathered in her power again, this time focusing on the staff. While the Keeper started weaving fire-etched designs in the air in front of him again, Centuris focused her mind on her staff and dredged up another command from her memories.

'Black Star Lightening!' The words released her power with a rush, and streaks of teal lightening leaped from her staff. Centuris focused all her concentration on controlling it, sending a large bolt shooting towards the Keeper. The lightening blew through his fire design and struck him in the chest, knocking him back onto the ground. She continued to direct the lightening at him, keeping him dodging out of the way. With a desperate look on his face and clutching his chest where she had struck him, the Keeper raised one hand and shouted again, suddenly fading from sight. Centuris lowered her staff, letting its energy dissipate. A startled exclamation made her turn her head, and she met her twin's gaze. She looked down at herself and back up to him, feeling a bit sheepish.

"I guess Alida was right," she said, tugging on the skirt.

"Apparently so," he replied, coming up to her slowly and rubbing his head where he hit it on the counter.

"'But why did it have to be a short skirt?" she complained, giving it another tug.

Jacen grinned at her, amused by her expression. "Maybe you should enter a beauty contest?" he teased her with a laugh.

Centuris punched him in the arm. "Very funny, kiesan." She placed her fingers on her pendant and concentrated, trying to figure out how to transform back. Just wanting to was apparently enough, and after being wreathed in light again, she was back to the shorts and shirt she had been wearing before. "Just one question, though," she said, looking at Jacen a bit sheepishly.

"What's that?" he asked, draping an arm around her shoulders.

"You couldn't see me naked in the light, could you?"

Jacen laughed at that and hastened to reassure her. "No, keisha, I couldn't see anything." He couldn't resist teasing her, just to coax a laugh out of her. "But remember, I was knocked out earlier, so I'm not focusing too well. Maybe I just wasn't looking hard enough..."

Shana dug her elbow into his side, but laughed along as they headed back to the house. Maybe I can do this after all, she thought to herself.

'I never doubted it, keisha,' he replied, hugging her shoulder tightly. 'Never doubted it at all!'