Chapter 35 Demonic spider crab

The wind buffeted gently against him as he clung to Talon's pillowy feathers, the terror bird's red apple eyes shone bright in the sunlight.

Together, they soared.

With him settled comfortably between the dip between the start of Talon's neck and those large angled white wings, together, they took a lazy flight around the buildings high and low alike. It was a rather laid back nonchalant cruise around, which was just what he needed. The sky was blue and fine with random fluffy white clouds spread about occasionally, taking one another's places in blocking out the sun whenever they got in the ray's ways. Added in was a nice refreshing gust of wind, which made it a truly wonderful day to go flying.

It was the perfect day.

"Hey, I just thought of something," he pondered aloud.

"And what would that be I suppose?" Talon hummed, content and free. Those vibrations from such an action ticked his skin, racing up his spine.

"Do you think Dooku was a pedophile?"

"What?!" Their flight suddenly faltered. "NO! Why would you think that?!" Talon was positively horrified.

"Well," he tapped his chin thoughtfully, "He was a bit too touchy for my liking" he remembered, thinking back to his brief scuffle with the man.

Talon rolled his eyes. "I assure you Luke, that he wasn't a pedophile."

"How would you know?" he countered.

"It would be unbecoming of him."

"So," What's that supposed to mean anyways. But- "this reminds me of something. A person once told me that people who talk about people have small minds, people who talk about situations have bigger minds, and people who talk of ideas have the biggest minds of all!"

"Then are you implying that we are pea-brained half-witted idiots for speaking of Dooku, who just so happens to be a person?" voiced Talon, looking to him knowingly, a soft light shone in those red apple eyes.

"No. I donno." Then he chuckled a bit to himself. This whole situation sounded a bit silly to him, and maybe it was uncouth of him to joke and laugh now but he did so. Afterwards, more calmly, he released a pleasant sigh, and breathed in the mostly fresh air around them. His nose twitched. His senses could still get hints of smog and other unorthodox smells.

It bothered him more than he could say.

Talon glided across the sky, as if he was meant to be there, and the terror bird was, while riding upon the updrafts of the winds. Below him, feeling the body below him, Luke could make out each and every movement, muscle, working in unison to coordinate those large white wings and steer them onward. It was quite fascinating. Talon seemed as buoyant in the air as other things were the same in hydrous liquid water. Beneath him, the terror bird hummed slightly, mellow. His hand and legs trembled a bit from holding on tighter as the massive stark white creature suddenly swooped down in a rush. It made him grin out of good spirits. If it could be expressed, it would be expressed that both of them felt as clear as the sky, as light as the air. This is why I love flying! And in doing this he couldn't really express how amazing it felt to soar without the need for wings of his own. But carefree up here, it was absolute bliss.

His heart fluttered in a synopsis of kindred agreement with his own mind.

Moving against the wind as playfully flowed and swirled around, he positioned his head to gaze aabout through blue cerulean eyes wide with joy. A smile overtook his face.

It is said that eyes are windows to the soul. Maybe if they are, then if one were to look into those blue eyes, they would see that in this moment there was peace on the inside, despite the daring endeavor that was up ahead, still waiting to be tackled upon and put to rest, but until then, until that fateful time when it seems like it's at world's end, until then, the only flawless path is to live in the moment, and cherish it however one wills.

Gazing animatedly beneath him, down below at all the sights, his gaze took current notice of the senate district underneath them; it was as if it just found its own way into their bird's eye view. Then there ahead lay that building, very familiar, but most certainly not in a good kind of way. The whole structure possessed a bad rap to it, reflecting that tiny dread into other's hearts, especially considering the events that happened there some days ago, not that he'd care to remember anything else that had happened on that day besides his mother.

Padme, he sighed.

It worried him that she worked there. Seriously, how could this have happened? he asked himself in a mental conversation.

Well, duh, a small voice answered, she want to help people, and becoming a senator is a great way to spread influence across broad expanses and do just that; help people. That's Padme all right. He sighed.

Then he felt within himself as they neared the structure, as if it was tainted somehow, a dark shade. Most likely there was more than one dark presence to be found there, as he had unwillingly discovered oh so drastically. More than one Sith he mused. What am I going to do? he griped. The joy he had previously felt when flying so up high with his companion of a creature was extinguished a bit. From before, when he had felt as light as a feather, he couldn't have felt heavier than a boulder now.

But still…

"I have an idea..."

Against his better wishes he asked Talon to get them closer.

"This is highly irrational," came a soft spoken statement.

He couldn't help but agree.

But Luke himself had that old Skywalker stubbornness, inherited from his father, and it occasionally showed itself, especially when pertaining to rash decisions. It had in the past, and it did now, surely. Talon knew that too.

Then they dove down, coming into the path of a skyscraper, Talon smoothly swooped to the left of it, beating those large white wings, they flew over and up, over it then, causing his stomach to drop; it was behind them. The wind whipped up. Up ahead lay the rounded senate structure. Being too curious for his own good, he glanced down, closer, peering, sneakily looking not too sneakily, attempting to make out all the little figures walking to and fro down below; until he could.

"Talon!" he called that name over the whirl of the winds.

"Yes Luke?"

"Is that who I think it is?" Down there… A fire was ignited in him then.

Talon happened to glance down as well with him. "It is Luke. But don't be surprised. It is in it's natural habitat after all."

His blood heated up.

He scoffed. "Yeah right. In a deep dark slimy hole would be it's natural habitat. Preferably away from the rest of existence so I don't have to ever lay eyes on it again." Everything would be so much easier then.

He scowled a dark deathly scowl.

Stupid Sidious. If only I could-

"Don't let your overwhelming hatred consume your soul Luke," the telepath suddenly voiced, soft spoken, and calm, but there was a quiet authority to the air around which it was said.

His eye twitched a margin.

"You're starting to sound like my old mentor, Ben, when you talk like that." But that old Jedi got himself killed on purpose. Seriously, how selfish. Why did he leave me? Now that I think on it, Ben/Obi-Wan could've escaped if he wanted to.

He growled under his breath.

"But he, your old mentor, and I could never be so different. To the Jedi, I am as real to them as the Sith they seek. What could one, I, ever hope from those who choose to be blind. They didn't hear me. Even me, one of the light of the force and the air and the land such as them, could not be reached nor heard. Neither peep nor sound. I'm still aghast at that. This reminds me of a long while ago, of what Dooku spoke of is true Luke, they are blind."

Luke huffed, but listened. "I figured." Then his blood began to boil. "Since how else could they be so stupid as to not see something that's right in front of their overgrown posh posh inflated arrogant heads!?" And in doing that they have willingly put my mother, MY mother, in danger!

There's only one thing to do...

"My my Luke. What a fascinating vocabulary you exuded-"

He could feel Talon's good humor and it almost lightened up his mood. Almost.

"-But I must agree with you still on that aspect of some of the Jedi; although, do take into account that not all Jedi are like that. Generalizing is harmful. But anyhow, now, what do you expect us to do in the present now that Sidous is out in the open down there in the senate grounds? Surely you do not intend to-"

"- attack. We attack," Luke hissed like a feline, blue eyes flashing. If Luke was a sandy blonde feline he surely would have puffed up all big and fluffy, for intimidation purposes of course, but he couldn't ever come off as intimidating, funnily enough.

TALON POV

For Talon though, he could feel his companion's force presence, it changed, if only for a moment, maybe it grew a little darker, but for all the terror bird's excelling senses he couldn't quite catch the shift. "What do you mean?" the creature cautiously voiced out.

"We attack! Maybe if we're lucking you'll be able to rip that bastard's head off."

Now that statement was unlike Luke.

"GO!" Luke shouted. "WE DIVE DOWN, NOW!"

He reluctantly complied.

RANDOM GUARD POV

It was a sunny fine day atop one of the many platforms that were attached to this particular building, the senate building.

The senate guard member, along with others more, escorted the Chancellor to one of the many rented shuttles/speeders that belonged to the said Senate building. One Jedi trailed behind them gazing about, affirming that nothing happened to the Chancellor that would put said man's life in peril.

Nothing unusual happened lately besides that so called terrorist attack a couple days ago; and an infiltration by an unknown.

The official reports stated the unknown perpetrator, who even dared to infiltrate the senate, had tried to harm Senator Amidala. Although that was hard to believe depending upon the fact that the senator herself had denied such claims rather vehemently that were brought and charged against the infiltrator, who happened to appear as a young man, species: human, with sandy blond hair, tanned skin, blue eyes, being around 5 in a half feet, looking to be in their early 20's, as concluded by professional estimate based off the security footage; the unknown wore a brown cloak as garments, and had great force powers as well. Such powers were clearly displayed by the perpetrator himself in front of a multitude of witnesses, senate guards and esteemed commandoes among them, therefore confirming this one to be strong in the force. Having the power of the force isn't highly unusual, but it truly is highly unusual as it is to possess it to such an extent that only a trained and skilled force user could provide; even he, a simple senate guard, was intelligent enough to figure that out. Still, it wasn't clear yet if the unknown was an enemy. The Chancellor had been adamant that the young man was in fact an enemy of the Republic. And anyways, it was concluded some days ago that it would be safe to assume so, and agree with the Chancellor Palpatine, just in case. One can never be too careful.

Weeks earlier, a similar incident had occurred in which they suspected the same young man had infiltrated another department and had completely trashed the good Chancellor's chambers and office for no apparent reason. It was suspected that it was some sort of vendetta.

How childish.

Of course there would be those out there who would oppose our leader's fair rule. Maybe the young man's a separatist. But then why did he leave senator Amidala alive if he had a clear opportunity that one time when he got up close to her?

The guard's speculations were cut short by a slight whiff of internal anger and hurt pride.

This is a disgrace. We guards should be able to perform a splendid job protecting the citizens and senators. It is our solemn duty. But still, we fail still! That's unacceptable! The guard himself inwardly seethed, being careful as to not show the emotional turmoil he felt on the inside.

I swear, I will not let anything happen to the Chancellor! My job depends on it!

With noticibly more determined grey eyes the guard gripped his weapon a bit tighter, although such an action was barely noticeable, and the guard locked his gaze on the aged wise Chancellor he and his fellow guardsmen were escorting to a protective shuttle.

I won't let the Chancellor out of my sight!

And the guard was determined to do just that.

Or so help me I will- !

A huge gust of wind blew over them all, raining and whipping up coats and jackets in a strong blast, the guard raised an arm to shield his eyes, squinting, as dust particles blew up in the air around them.

The wind died down.

Then it was quiet.

Lowing his arm, the guard looked to where the Chancellor Palpatine was, or rather, where he was supposed to be.

"Huh?!" Those grey eyes nearly popped from their sockets.

All the guards and everyone on the platform looked to and fro and around and above and up and down, but there was neither sign of head nor hair of the old aged chancellor.

The guard let out a noise of horror at the true realization.

Then they panicked!

LUKE POV

He howled in laughter, almost to the point of not being able to breath.

"Talon, we did it! Gwa haha haha!"

Wait- He stopped laughing. We did? he realized.

"It seems we did Luke, but what do you want us to do now?" Talon sounded very very uncomfortable, a the terror bird struggled to contain the thing that was held tightly in it's claws.

"Uh, I haven't thought that far."

"You mean you have no clue?"

"It was just an improvision."

"Now what?" Talon urged.

"How should I know?"

"It was your idea."

But I didn't think it would actually work! Oh Sithspit!

"I don't know! Just throw him somewhere! Anywhere! And you helped me with it. You're supposed to be the rational one out of the two of us!"

"Then are you saying you don't have a spec of rationality in that puny brain of yours."

"Hey, my brain is not puny!"

"Compared to mine, it might as well be."

"But I-"

"Luke!" Talon cawed out, alarmed.

His blood ran cold. Talon never screamed lightly.

"What?!"

"I can't feel him."

"What do you mean you can't feel him?!"

"I had him in my claws grasp and now he's just GONE!"

"What! That's insane."

He can't just disappear! Where would he go?

Beneath him, he could feel Talon's sides heaving, almost nearly hyperventilating. But he, Luke, could only imagine the horrors that Sidious had done to Talon during the creature's captivity.

Luke looked around in panic, his grip rather tight on Talon's feathers. His blue gaze quickly scanned, terrified, around Talon's back and the surrounding area. But there was no sign of Sidious. It was as if he vanished.

A moment passed.

He released a nervous chuckle. Maybe he fell off, he jokingly/half-heartedly suggested, turning to face back forward, and willing with all his heart for that to be true.

But only if it was.

Their flight began to get crazy, large white wings jerked shakily. Talons' head violently twisted back. "Luke behind you!"

Stunned, he twisted his upper body around, and there! There it was!I didn't even sense him.

A second later, he shrieked, petrified. WTF IS THAT THING!

Sidous's face was twisted in an unearthly rage.

Palpatine was like a demonic spider crab. Luke screamed, "OH shit; he's pissed. Someone call an exorcist!"

"Religion can't save you now" Palpatine eerily whispered, beginning to slowly, although it wasn't slow in the least at all, begin to sidle up Talon's feathered back, to where Luke himself was planted in fear.

"AAAAuuauaauaha! Talon, do something!" he screeched in terror at the expression on the Sith's face.

Palpatine wasn't amused.

Hold onto me! Talon voiced out.

Suddenly like a bull trying to throw off it's rider Talon's flight became erratic as his back rose up and down like that of a galloping horse trying to sway the enemy to fly off but Sidious's claw like fingers gripped deep. Talon cried out as those hand penetrated though flesh and blood began to soak those stark white feathers.

Luke saw what had happened.

"You bastard!" he screamed, enraged, blood boiling, making to get up and face the sith head on, but-!

They nearly collided with a building. Debris scattered around them as some of the structure was chipped away in the harsh impact. Talon's wings faintly sprang out again, a panic in those red apple eyes, the white creature's body twisting.

Do a barrel roll, and without warning, Talon did just that.

A yelped as he lost hold for a second of Talon's feathers, grasping and pulling rather harshly at the fluffy plumage, unintentionally ripping a few out; he felt bad for a second. The white feathers shone in the sun, floating away. He hauled himself up, limbs twitching and shaking, drawling breaths into his lungs in gasps.

Talon swerved to the side, dipping up and over a superstructure. The wind became strong as they rose into the air, it battered, clawing at cloaks and feathers, at Luke and Talon and Sidious alike.

He had never seen Talon like this. So out of control. His gaze caught that of those red eyes, and in them was a raw panic. Forcing himself through the newly born link he and Talon shared, only a searing pain was conveyed though. Well, no shit Talon's acting like that. That bastard Sith is attempting to tear his mind apart! Tears stung at his own eyes.

Sidious hurt Talon.

That sith hurt Talon, my friend.

Releasing his grip on Talon, he sprung up and charged at Sidious recklessly, intent on knocking the Sith wrinkly old Sith clean off the terror bird in one fell swoop, and getting them as far away as possible. But in a flash, despite his attempts, his opponent sidled scarily up to his side, kicking him in back, sending him sprawling, bouncing, and tumbling across Talon's backside till he almost fell completely off. He grunted, just managing to snag hold of one of those long white tail feathers in an iron grip with his only hand.

Sidious grinned sadistically and cackled, crawling near him against the blast of the wind. A dangerous glint shone in those horrid putrid yellow eyes.

In the back of his mind, he felt the terror bird nudge him in warning.

A moment later he understood why.

Suddenly, Talon dove.

It's an opening.

Here's my chance!

As Talon's body curved, spearing straight down, plummeting, he let go. He let go his grasp from Talon's tail feathers that he had previously clung to. He let go, the same moment as he channeled the force into his arm to strengthen the limb exponentially. So exponentially in fact, that he used Talon's momentum: of the sudden turn and the swift change in pressure, to drag himself forward by one hand and launch himself spearing straight down, over Sidious, flinging his small statured body forward at rapid speeds, till he found himself soaring alongside the terror bird straight down: at the same speed, degree, and angle, almost touching, flying. Stray white feathers tickled his face. But he felt utterly exhausted, sapped of energy. As he flew, shooting straight down, he reached out, stretching his one, only hand, straining till it hurt, to grab hold of the terror bird's large soft neck in a firm embrace. The twisting his other limbs around awkwardly amid the overwhelming gusts, he clung hold securely. His cloak trailed behind him, flapping and tugging wildly, whipping up a ruckus against the incoming relentless gales that beset against them.

He grit his teeth, narrowing his eyes.

Twisting his head back he spotted Sidious drawing ever closer, flecks of blood and feathers fell from Talon's body as the Sith clawed his way over, digging into flesh.

He swallowed thickly, barely able to open his eyes against the extreme wind pressure, as they plummeted downwards toward the cityscape below.

Snatching a breath in and shutting his eyes, he tried to clear his mind, and concentrate. I have to do this.

Once

His limbs hugged Talon's neck tighter for a second. This is my entire fault.

Twice

Deep inside, he reached for that one place. If I hadn't been so quick to act.

Thrice

His blue eyes flashed vividly. I'll make it right!

A whimper escaped him, as he called upon the light power of the force in an improvised move. The air expanded, and pulsed around them.

Then suddenly.

Time seemed to still around them for a moment, as if in zero gravity. But possibly it was just the air around them that stilled, and the time in which the act from the force that Luke performed was stilled because it happened in such a short timespan that it could only be possibly seen in the flash of a single blink. Or was it because of the force applied to it, the air, in an unknown way.

A great pressure crashed down upon them all, originating from him, Luke. He sent it out in a sudden catapulting thick wave. That stopped-

It happened so quickly and fast no one had time to prepare for the random release. Least of all Sidious.

He smirked. But that was the point.

The pressure crashed down upon them all, forcibly Talon's body was flung in an upwards motion, the muscles rippling and twisting, he tried to grip talon's neck, but his finger's slipped, and he was blown back.

But he needn't have the strength nor the energy to stop himself.

A gasp escaped him. Blue eyes widening as he was thrown, with nothing underneath him. Nothing underneath him but an emptiness.

But suddenly, his body was yanked forward, talons' beak snapping shut, that large white head twisting uncomfortably back, to grab the hem of his coat, jaws clamped shut with a snap.

The terror bird's breath was hot against his skin.

He caught sight of Talon's red apple eyes, locked onto his own.

"Talon," he gasped.

"What happens if I fly off?"

Talon's apple red eye rolled back to meet his, "I won't let that happen."

Of course you'd be there to catch me.

Then Talon glowed an unearthly white, a sphere of pale energy surrounding them, and they teleported away from there.

OOO

"Luke, I suggest any further actions we ever, or one's that you should ever wish, should be further thought out and contemplated over before exacted upon," Talon sighed out tiredly, sides heaving.

"Uh huh," he managed, lying out against the shiny glassy surface of a structure like a starfish, squinting up at the sun and partly clouds. "Uh huh," he repeated aimlessly.

He hacked out some coughs.

You can say that again.

He coughed again.

Then they both sighed in unison, and relief.

The sun began to beat down warm and steady. A whirling breeze adding to it to make a nice sunny partly cloudy semi-warm day.

It truly was: the perfect day.

"Good thing we were able to fling that salty old Sith away to who knows where, right?" a slight crooked smile came upon his face at the image that he just barely caught out of his peripheral vision of Sidious suddenly losing his grip on Talon's body when the terror bird was forced to drastically move and twist with such sudden and unexpected movements that it sent the Sith flying, shooting down and away to who knows where.

Hah! The look on his face was hilarious! I wish I could've recorded it somehow! He had looked sooo surprised!

Wheezes that were supposed to be laughs, but hardly sounded like it, escaped his fatigued body.

Hmph, serves him right though for being so salty all the time.

"Luke, are you choking!"

"Wha-," gasp "No!-" he wheezed. "But still, you have to admit, we sure did kick Sidious's butt!"

"For your information the most we accomplished was to infuriate him and-"

"Hah! That's even better!" he but in.

"First of all, I would think not, although that is just an opinion. However, dire consequences may result out of the rebellious insolent escapade. Next time we ever do anything drastic consult me thoroughly and do not push things upon your own peers, myself in this case, in the heat of the moment, to take action that is not the best thought out. Although don't you worry, I berate myself as well. I promised myself long ago since when I first laid my gaze on you that I would solemnly swear to help you in your endeavor to defeat the Sith, as long as I am around. That is the truth. However, when it puts our lives in danger, then that is when I must draw a line. It seems I have been lenient. Next time, we go on an escapade of my affirmation, although if you have ideas it will be considered. Do take into account that you are still young, and you have much to learn."

Luke had actually stopped listening halfway through Talon's little speech. I can't help that my attention span right now isn't that high!

He felt slightly offended as well. "I'm not a little child anymore. I'm a full-fledged adult. Just so you know: I'm 23 years old!"

"But do not misunderstand my intentions through my words; there is zilch wrong with being young. When one is young they have a certain passion about them, a great zeal, ardor, vigor, fieriness; a fire in them that never seems to die: that is what I see in you, although I couldn't descry or espy it at first glance. This world is much more exciting and dramatic for one so young, and the young thrive in it. Luke, what I see in you, I do sincerely hope that you retain that fire and willingness and uttermost determination to do what you believe to be right that I see right now in your strong eyes."

As talon voiced those words softly, but strongly, there was a faint hint of pride emanating from the terror bird.

"I'll try," he affirmed, feeling a bit touched. I won't let any old Sith break me down that easily.

"On another note, you do realize Sidious is far from dead. I doubt a fall or incursion like that could defeat him."

He sighed heavily. "I guess you're right bout' that. Stars, I'll be damned and reap a hundred miracles if something like that could kill that nasty old sith anyways. It would be too easy. Oh well." We can only hope. Hehehe. Imagine if Sidious choked on a fly and actually died because of it. How dumb. Stars, that would be wonderful. It'd solve all my problems, actually, not all, but most. Then he berated himself, I shouldn't wish death upon others, that's not nice. Slyly he thought, however, maybe I could make an exception for Sidious. He deserves it after all.

"On a lighter note," voiced Talon, interrupting his thoughts. "What you did back there was substantially impressive." He could feel Talon's approval.

He sat up, using one arm for support, twisting his body so he could face the creature, Talon, who lay upon the structure's roof close in a mass of uneven feathers, some tipped with blood. And upon the terror bird's head, a few feathers, rebellious in their wake, stuck up awkwardly. So out of place they usually would have looked. But not this time.

"You think so," he grinned himself silly.

"Of course I do. Without a doubt in my large red heart. But I can only theorize exactly it was that you did back there, so why don't you explain it to me in more prominent detail, so then I can appreciate the extent of your performance."

Luke rubbed his nose, feeling a bit miffed by the praise. Maybe a bit embarrassed as well.

"Er, well, Palpatine could read your movements, so the trick was to do something unexpected. But since you couldn't do a thing at the moment with Palpatine attacking your mind-" he grimaced, eyes catching sight of the sticky blood that still coated some of those stark fluffy white stark feathers. He continued, "-I took matters into my own hands, and used my force powers to alter your movements so drastically, curving your body back unexpectedly, that it would force that old hag to let go. Call it zero gravity; it's a bit like that at first. But then it just kinda- I don't know- got out of control a bit. And it took a lot of concentration, and energy out of me."

As if on cue, he hacked out another cough, and slumped back down. His legs felt a bit weak.

"It must have," responded the telepath, "being quite the impressive feat that it was."

"Hehe, yeah, I guess. But to do that, I needed to lift your mass of weight." He coughed. "Talon-" cough, cough. "-You weigh a ton."

"Are you calling me fat?" snapped the terror bird playfully.

"What-no! It's just-"

Then the creature's melodical laugh filled his head, thankfully interrupting his stuttering. "I'm just messing with you Luke."

He shot the terror bird a nervous smile. Swinging himself back up, he sat cross legged, and scratched at his shining sandy blonde hair.

"But in actuality Luke-" Talon started, rather serious.

"Yeah?"

"Don't get any ideas of taking Sidious on like that ever again."

"Don't worry. I won't."

I've learned my lesson.

And I may have been traumatized for life.

And he shuddered at the image of Sidious: as a horrid demonic spider crab.

Eww, scary.

BONUS SCENE

(Takes place somewhere from whence Luke and Talon escaped LiMerge Building, till now):

LUKE POV

It was later in the night. The sky was clear and bright. Up above could be seen were ships and stars and everything in between. But beware of what lies there. In the darkness's snags and flares. For there is something dangerous brewing deep in the dark black sky. But for now, it's illuminated, by the waning gibbous's glimmering light. (A/N: a waning gibbous is a moon phase)

Luke sprawled out like a starfish upon the top of a skyscraper.

A little ways away Talon lay down comfortably as well, grooming and preening his whitened feathers that appeared to give off an unearthly glow in the moonlight. And as that glow shone down it lit up and darkened those apple red hypnotic eyes.

He listened to the air around them, taking in the busy sounds of the city below, and above them, even more skyscrapers and superstructures still rose.

A sudden thought came to him.

It came as to how he had gotten to be there. To be here.

He phased back to think of all the way he came, reminiscing of ghosts of the past and his long lost friends.

He reminisced over what he did in that other future, feeling more and more depressed as he did so.

I'm a murderer.

I already knew that though, he thought, clenching his only fist and resting it upon his chest. It's an undeniable truth.

I've killed- NO- I've murdered hundreds of thousands of people!

He pushed himself up.

"I'm such a horrible person!"

"Luke, please refrain from screaming. I fear you'll bust my eardrums."

"Oh…" whoops. He felt his face heat up, and he was glad it was dark. He hadn't even realized he had screamed out loud to the world. "Sorry."

"It's okay, apology accepted. But Luke-," talon fixed those red eyes onto him, boring into him; "-you are not a horrible person. You must know that. A horrible person is someone who commits and continues to commit unorthodox inhumane and deplorable deeds that benefit no one, and are prepared with the merciless scheming intent to harm or severely kill and or torture another for pleasure or sick merriment in hopes for some desperate deranged goal. You are not like that Luke. I know you are not. You couldn't be farther from being something such as that. That is the truth of the matter."

"But Talon," he stressed, a bit crazed. "I'm a murderer!"

A crooked grin spread across his face as he said that, but his blue eyes were dipped in sadness, a painful sadness.

"I've senselessly murdered hundreds of thousands of people without a second thought."

The Death Star.

He unwittingly sent an image of what had occurred back then to Talon.

"That's not true Luke. You're thinking about it now. It has not been without a second thought. Surely it has never been without a second remorse."

"That doesn't count!" he yelled, throwing his arm out in a sort of desperation. "I only have felt remorse recently, when I came here. But before, before, I was too caught up in my own problems and the resistance against the empire. But that's no excuse to write off so many deaths!" He couldn't believe he felt the beginning of tears to prick at his azure eyes. Dammit. Why do I feel so emotional?

No. no, I'm not going to cry. I'm not going to cry.

He angrily wiped at his eyes.

"I'm a mass murderer!" he screamed to the heavens.

"No you are not Luke." Talons tone was deathly quiet.

"You're forgetting something," intoned the terror bird, catching his gaze and holding it. "That was in the future. You decimated hundreds of thousands of living breathing heart-beating living beings in the future. Don't you forget that. But this is the present. This is the now. It hasn't happened yet. And it never will. You conscience is clearer than ever before and I am certain you will strive to rectify your past-future wrongdoings.

Luke. You are not a mass murderer. You have only taken the lives of 2 dozen or so beings here, maybe a fraction more."

…

"Oh," was all he could say.

What could he say?

He's right. I-I'm not a mass murderer.

He eyes squeezed tight in a brief flighty moment of happiness. His stomach felt queasy. Breathily, he whispered, "You're right!"

I haven't decimated a Death Star! I haven't destroyed countless lives and families!

"Talon, you're right," he repeated, the realization dawning upon him just like the sunlight dawning upon the horizon, summoning a new day. Why have I never thought of that before!

And against the red painted sky of a multitude of softly and strongly awakening colors, he stood, screaming out in joy.

"I've only killed 30-something people in this timeline!"

"I'M NOT A MASS MURDERER!" he screamed to the world up and down below, out into the Coruscant cityscape, that living, breathing, cityscape, hoping it would hear, and his voice echoed back to him in response.

He couldn't help but smile himself silly.

The wind whipped about the clothes that clung to his figure, his body outlined by the rising sun. And there, a new day was born.

TALON POV

Maybe I should tell him. Actually, maybe not. It wouldn't be a wise thing to do, now would it?

Talon's red apple eyes crinkled in shared happiness with Luke as their connection pulsed with singing emotions.

I guess I shouldn't tell him that killing around 30 people is considered a mass murder.

But Luke, I guess now you are not considered a mass mass murderer.

And that is okay.

Talon's eyes twinkled.

Luke whooped loudly.

The sky rose silently.

And a new day began.

(Fanfir Note: Hello readers, thanks for reading. Sorry if this chapter had repetitive information and that it was mostly talking going on, but oh well. And just so you know, this story is going somewhere…. Hehe…. Actually, in about 7 chapters (depends), the major turning point in the fanfic will occur, not the climax, but the major major turning point. A tip in the scales, if one could say, but in whose favor will it go to? ….. hehehe….. But that's for you to find out… thx for reading… )