Reader #624--Thank you very much, I'm glad you're enjoying it. While I don't want to completely blow the upcoming plot for Part IV, there is a chapter titled "The Battle of Vulcan" if that helps answer some of your questions. ;)
Snowfur--Two posts a week isn't fast enough?!? Hehe. Here's some more for you. Sorry to keep you waiting!
Darth Tic Tac--There are two primary theories for the lack of reviews. 1) A lot of readers came into this expecting it to be a direct continuation of Gods of Dark and Light. When they saw it was not, they grew frustrated and left before reading enough to realize it was a good story in and of itself; 2) It really isn't a good story in and of itself.
Unfortunately I'm biased--I honestly think it is a more intricate and well crafted story that GOD&L, but the reviews don't support my opinion. Either way, good or bad, it's done and I'll keep posting it for the enjoyment of those who do wish to read. And those who do review are especially welcome!
Thanks for reading and your reviews!!
Chapter Fifty: By The Force
Tacan, Peru, UEC Defense Force Mobile Hospital, Sunday, September 3, 2006 (4 CE), 2:18 a.m. Local Time
Max Evans lowered his hand and smiled as a blue sheen appeared where before there was only burned flesh on Siana's head. "We'll have you back and pretty as ever," he said.
"Thank you," she said. She took his hand. "The code of the Jedi frowns on pride. And yet I am so proud of you. You and Isabel both. Thank you for saving us."
"I wish I could take all the credit," Max said as he glanced up at the shadow hovering outside her door. "But I had a lot of help."
Siana turned and studied the figure for the longest time. "Come in, Delvin. Please."
Ostrael stepped into the room and took a folding seat beside the ailing Jedi's bed. The walls were made up of canvas, but nonetheless the UEC forces kept the hospital warm. "Are you well?"
"Max is a remarkable healer," she said. "Even before he had the Force, he could heal."
"And Michael and Tess need that healing," Max said. "If you will excuse me?"
When he was gone, the two sat in silence for a long time. Finally, Siana said, "I knew you were an Imperial Knight. When you were watching me, I realized."
"Did you? Why not tell the others?"
"Because I saw what you did on the bridge of the Dragon's Claw. I watched as you helped your people adjust to this world. I sensed no darkness in you. I believe you are a good man."
Ostrael smiled dryly. "A good man who fought on the opposite side of your master in our last war."
"Many good people fought for the Empire," Siana said. "The Empire was not our enemy—only the Sith."
"And now?"
She closed her eyes. "You saved my life."
"Yes."
When she opened them again, he was sitting just a little closer, staring intently at her. "Delvin, do you really think I am beautiful?"
He took a deep, shuddering breath. "Oh yes. More than I can say."
Suddenly Max rushed in. "I know what Green was talking about! Hybrids attacked Liz in Ruby Valley!"
Ostrael stood and Siana pushed herself up on her bed. "Is she all right?"
"She fought off over a dozen by herself. But just a few minutes later we started getting a signal from the other Volandra clone in Seattle. Dr. Stevens. I sense she's in danger as well."
"Then go," Siana said without hesitation. "Delvin, we'll talk again."
"We will," he promised. "Lead the way, Max."
Seattle Grace Hospital, Sunday, September 3, 2006 (4 AD Commonwealth Calendar), 3:30 a.m. PST
The police could do nothing. Four more officers had joined the fight and were unloading clip after clip into the three attackers, to no avail. As they drew closer, one of the three raised his silver weapon and fired at one of the police officers. The man screamed as white light burned through his chest. Two more officers quickly followed.
"Let's get out of here!" Bailey shouted. She grabbed the stretcher and ran back away from their attackers with Izzie, George and the two paramedics surrounding the stretcher.
The whole group of them came to a skidding halt when five more men in suits and sunglasses turned a corner into the hallway in front of them. All five carried the odd silver guns.
"Oh my God," Izzie whispered.
Suddenly odd, fluorescent blue smoke filled the hall between them and the five men, while behind them another police officer fell with a dull thud to the floor. When the odd smoke faded, three figures stood where no one had stood a moment before. Drs. Bailey and O'Malley both gasped and stared first at Izzie, then at the woman a few feet away who had Izzie's same exact face and figure. The man beside this new Izzie looked exactly like the unconscious man on the stretcher, while the third man appeared a decade older with short-cropped brown hair and a strong line to his chin. All three were dressed in an odd, glimmering black armor, and all three carried glowing laser swords—one silver, two blue.
"I'll take the three behind!" Ostrael said. He spun and, eliciting a squeal of shock from Bailey and one of the paramedics, leapt clear over the whole group to land in a perfectly executed roll. He lifted his hand and pulled back at the air, yet somehow the sole surviving officer flew back into his arms is if yanked by a giant string.
"We're here to help," Ostrael told the officer in heavily accented English. "Stay with the civilians!"
The initial three attackers continued without pause, firing their weapons rapidly. Ostrael deflected each one back to their source, forcing the hybrids to slow their rate of fire as they took wounds from their own weapons. All the while, he continued to close the gap on them until they were within sword's reach.
On the other side, Max formed a field to deflect the enemy shots while Isabel concentrated her native abilities and distilled those powers through the Force. White lightning exploded from her fingers, throwing all five men from their feet. The two padawans took advantage of the distraction and rushed forward faster than the stunned civilians could follow, slashing with deadly accuracy at the attackers with their lightsabers.
When the two Jedi stepped back and watched the severed bodies dissolve back into black oil, leaving only the stained suits, they turned to see Ostrael walking back to join them as well. That's when Max saw himself on the gurney. With a stunned look at his sister, and then his other sister, he stepped to the man's side.
To Izzie, he said, "Did you know he was alive?"
Izzie shook her head, her face flushed and her eyes moist. "This is the first time I've ever seen him. They said his name was Zane Peters. He was attacked by those…things."
Max put his hand over Zane's chest, and then let it drift down to the burn hole in the other man's side. As the doctors, paramedics and lone officer watched, Max's hand took on a bright white glow, and a moment later the wound was gone.
Zane Peters blinked, took a deep breath, and then shot upright. "What's happening!" he demanded.
Max put a hand on his clone's shoulders and smiled. "It's okay, Zane. You're safe, and among family."
Zane looked at the young man with his face, then at the two women on either side that looked like mirror images of each other. "I don't understand. I was attacked…"
"I'll explain everything," Max promised. He turned to Izzie. "Doctor Stevens, our offer is still open. Your daughter has already agreed to join us, and will be traveling to our headquarters this coming weekend."
"Daughter?" Bailey demanded.
"Headquarters?" George asked.
"Will someone tell me what is going on here?" Zane pleaded.
Ignoring everyone, Izzie nodded. "But there's someone I have to say goodbye to first."
Isabel nodded. "We understand. Max, you and Delvin head back with Zane there. I'll stay with her."
"Head back to where?" Zane demanded.
"To a land of heroes and spaceships the size of cities," Delvin Ostrael said lightly as he stepped beside the man. "For instance, did you know I was born on a planet twenty-eight galaxies away from here?"
Transport plasma enveloped all three men and the gurney as well, and when it cleared they were gone.
Dr. Miranda Bailey put a hand on George O'Malley's shoulder and took a step forward until she stood looking up at Izzie. "Izzie, what's happening here?"
Izzie wrapped the shorter woman in a tight hug. "I'm an alien, from another planet," she said, smiling brilliantly through a thin sheen of tears in her eyes. "I just found out, and for some reason, I just can't stop from saying that. An alien from another planet. And tonight, I finally realized where I belong. I'm going home. And I'm going to see a daughter I gave up twelve years ago. But before I go, there's something I want you to have."
She reached into her pocket and removed a large, rumpled cashier's check. She put it in Bailey's hand. "I want you to have this, and do something good with it. The Denny Duquette Memorial Clinic. If anyone can do it, it's you."
Miranda looked down at a check made out to the Denny Duquette Memorial Trust for 8.7 million dollars. "Izzie Stevens," she whispered.
"The bank has the trust documents. I signed them today before I came in. I guess I knew today was going to be the day. You and Dr. Grey are trustees. Make it mean something."
She hugged Miranda one last time, and then hugged George. "Don't let Callie get away," she whispered to him. Finally, she stepped back and nodded. "Well, sis, one more stop I need to make."
Isabel felt close to tears herself as she watched herself step away from a life that could have been. "Okay, sis."
Meredith Grey was having a rather racy dream.
It involved a handsome Dr. Derek Shepherd on her right, and a certain ruggedly handsome veterinarian named Finn on the other, and a large pile of whipped cream with a cherry on top piled over her navel.
The dream broke in half as it always did and she sat up, alone, in her bed. She put her head on her knees before she heard the knock at her bedroom door that woke her in the first place.
"Yes?"
The door opened, and Izzie stepped in. "Izzie, this isn't a good…oh."
Isabel Evans stepped in right behind her. Seeing the two women standing side by side, so perfectly even in features, posture height, build, appearance, it was almost enough to make her dizzy.
"I've decided," Izzie said as she sat on the edge of Meredith's bed. "I'm going home."
Meredith looked up at the other woman with Izzie's face and understood. "Are you sure this is what's right for you?"
"I am now," Izzie said. "I was going to give all the money to Miranda for that clinic she's been dreaming about no matter what, but then the hospital was attacked and…I'm sure." She smiled and shrugged as she wiped her nose. "I'm going to see Hannah. I'm going to get to see my daughter."
Meredith Grey had a wisdom beyond her years, and a mind to match. In that instance, seeing the awe, anticipation and fear in her friend's eyes, she knew beyond any doubt that Izzie Stevens was making the right choice.
"I love you, Izzie," Meredith said as she wrapped her friend in a long, tight hug. "Don't forget us."
"Never," Izzie promised. "Who knows, I might even come by some time."
She stood and stepped back to Isabel's side as she continued to wipe tears from her eyes. "Tell everyone how much I'll miss them, and how much I appreciated all the opportunities they gave me."
"I will," Meredith said.
A column of odd, glowing blue smoke rose up from the floor around them. When it cleared, Meredith Grey was once again alone in her room.
