Amber: generation next Jessica's Tale

by brandier

[Dworkin] “What would another generation have been like?” He chuckled [ Corwin] “How can such a question be answered? I have no idea.” (Roger Zelazny’s Hand of Oberon) I am about to answer that question. ‘Many of the truths we cling to, depend gre

21. Chapter 21: Nightmares and Curses

Amber: generation next

Jessica's tale: The Age of Darkness 2403-2420 d'L

Chapter 21: Nightmares and Curses

We wandered the wasteland for hours in search of shelter, or water. I felt a Trump contact . . . without thinking I answered, it was Corsair, and I had just opened and closed the trap.

Several more hours of travel across the desert, this time at least in a Windjammer. We encountered a small city built within the rocks of the desert, much like the Anasazi ruins of Mesa Verde. The humans that dwelt there reminded me of the Fremen of Herbert's Dune.

Their High Priestess greeted us as their saviors and told us of their fate. A millennia ago, Prath had come to this shadow seeking the Kaiburr Crystal. He brought with him all his remaining Super Star Destroyers. A great war broke out between his forces and those of the Alliance of Worlds that had been here.

Prath found the crystal, but died before he could use it. He released a Force Scream and a curse damning all technology within this shadow with his bloody had on the Crystal. The electromagnetic pulse that rippled out destroyed all the high technology, magic, and influences of the Force throughout this shadow. However, it was Mary Bleyson's dreaded Amber blood curse that sealed our fate.

She and Jonathan would bring us here, with no way out but one. Trump contact was a one way trip, and anyone using one would be trapped here with us. The only way out was via a blood sacrifice on the Broken Pattern found somewhere within this shadow. Finally, if Anthony, also known as Titan, son of Julian entered this shadow with his armor it would be destroyed along with all his technology.

The Priestess knew of the Broken Pattern and led us to it. It lay at the center of a ruined temple, within the only area of the planet that sustained life, an oasis in the desert. Michael and Valian attempted to restore the Pattern by retracing the lines in blood. No effect.

Titan came up with the idea of a ritual sacrifice, possibly trumping one of our enemies and hurling them onto the Pattern. I suggested all of us cutting our wrists in a summoning ritual of a sort. It worked.

I heard Michael utter something to the effect of 'restoring the natural balance of this shadow, undoing Prath's curse.'

We were back in Amber. Titan was without his high technology, basically just another guy in a "tin suit." He said his good-byes and walked off into shadow, hoping to find a way to rebuild.

Michael departed to MageWorld and closed the doors behind him. Valian and Julia went Hellriding through shadow. Belle returned to her home shadow. Owen was still off in shadow somewhere . . . I went to my garden.

It seems Mary's curse took something from each of us. I could feel the Force flowing again, but the knowledge of the Sith Powers were gone. I knew the Dark Side would show them to me again someday, for better or worse. I should have been happy, but I felt alone. More lonely than I had ever felt before . . . It was then the nightmares began.

Mandor had awakened a clone of me Palpatine had made from my severed hand. During the time we were lost in the cursed world.

I sat naked in my garden, leaning against the sapling, that only a few months ago had been a mere sprig of the tree Ygg. I dreamed I was only a few inches tall and a sex slave to some unknown master. The nightmare continued and I became normal size, but still the sex toy of the same mysterious stranger.

I am unsure wether it was part of the dream, or if it was real, but as I began to clear my head of the visions, a twisted, long-haired and bearded old man walked up to me. He said in a kind compassionate voice, "Do not despair, my child, with the Force and Shadow all things are possible. You will meet your friends again, and confront your nightmares."

He knelt beside me, touched my shoulder and kissed my forehead . . . then he was gone. I woke to a Trump call from Belle, still naked against the tree. I could still smell the musky stench of the unwilling sex, I shrugged it off and answered Belle.

She, Julia, and Valian had found another lost daughter of the Unicorn. Her name was Jasmin, granddaughter of Fiona, and they were trying to explain her heritage to her. They insisted they needed my help. I grabbed my dress and other personal things and stepped through.