The next day it was finally time to leave.
"No~ don't go!" Kida hugs Ariel in front of the shuttle.
"We'll be back soon gran." Ariel tries to get out of her hold.
"We promise." Fives tries to get free, squished next to Ariel.
'She's strong.' Fives reflects.
"No. Stay and give me great grand guppies." Kida shakes her head.
"Mom, they have to go." Link pats her shoulder.
"Why should I? At the rate you're going Ariel will have to come back to be queen with heirs." Kida lectures with a mother's look.
"Mom." Link looks away a bit red.
"Hey that's right, Aqua was second in line to the throne and since Ariel is her daughter, she's technically second in line now." Nora looks shocked as she puts it together.
Echo whistles at that and says "A whole kingdome with Fives in charge. Now that be scary."
'K-king? Me?!' Fives inwardly explodes.
The guys had to laugh at that.
"Oh Rex will love this." Pond smirks.
"Should we start working on our curtsies your majesty?" Kelp jokes as he does one.
"Why you…" Fives starts chasing them.
Kelp and Ponds rush into the ship to get away from they're angry brother.
"T-that's not set in stone right? There's a way out of it. Right?" Ariel can feel her heart in her throat.
"Actually this is one tradition I can't change for you guppy. If something were to happen or if Link never has children, you and Fives will have to take over and hopefully start a new line. Cause I certainly don't see either of my sons doing so." Ceil sighs.
"Dad!" both guys say flushed.
"Your father has a point, Link your work obsessed and Milo you are a flirt. And I want some more grandkids to spoil!" Kida huffs.
The two men looked deep red now.
"Well better get started then." Ceil shrugs at the Dominos.
"Granpa/ Sir!" The two call flushed.
"No. I approved of them being married but I am not ready to be a grandfather yet!" Kit panics.
'Kids. Kids.' Fives has images of different looking kids popping up in his head.
'I'm not ready for that.' Ariel fidgets at that thought.
Nora and Echo had to hold in their laughter at this. The poor two were as red as lobsters.
"Stop laughing." Ariel says bright red.
"Sorry but I have to admit it's a lot like a romance comedy. Though we should go now before they make a declaration or something." Nora looks over at the still chatting family.
"R-right." Ariel nods playing with her hair.
The couples sneak onto the ship and Mace drags Kit away.
Once back on Curascant…
They were all so glad to be home. Fives was finally given leave for his honeymoon. Sadly, before the newlyweds could do that, there had to be a change in rooming.
"You really don't have to do this. We can split the place in half." Ariel suggests.
"Ariel I insist, I'm going to move into the Jedi temple. This place is far too small for all of us. Mace even made it so that I can have Angel live with me so she can start working with the troopers." Nora grabs a box to take out to a droid that she and Echo were using to help get things into a hover car.
"I don't want to kick you out of your home." Fives looks down sadly.
"You guys aren't kicking me out, I made this decision. Pluss it benefits me. I don't have to wake up as early to get ready for training, I'll have my own place, and I'll be closer to Echo so we can have more dates. And you two get the privacy you deserve after everything you've been through." Nora points out.
"But…" Ariel looks at her worried.
"Don't worry she'll be safe, general Windu and I will make sure of that." Echo smiles reassuring at Ariel.
"And General Windu will protect her from you." Fives chuckles thinking about the library again.
"Fives!" Echo shouts blushing.
"Be nice." Ariel hits his arm lightly, Fives chuckling.
"I'll see you guys in a week. You just enjoy your honeymoon. Oh, do you want me to take Scamp with me for the week?" Nora looks at the sad boy as he was curled around Angel who also didn't want to leave.
"It might help them when they do have to say goodbye." Ariel looks at her pup a bit sad to see him go.
"Yeah it would make it easier on the two once we have to separate them." Nora nods as she goes and picks up both pups.
Both look confused at this as she brings them up to Fives and Ariel "Say bye bye to mommy and daddy." Nora coos.
"Be a good boy for Nora and Echo." Ariel holds him nuzzling his face.
"We'll see you soon top-dog." Fives scratches behind his ears.
Scamp licks both of their faces. He didn't know what was going on but loves the attention.
With that they headed off, Nora and Echo saying they're own goodbyes.
The next two weeks would be a peaceful one for them all.
Ariel and Fives enjoyed their alone time. Setting up their room and wondering what to do with the now empty one. The thought of a nursery popping into both their heads. Shaking the idea out they decide to turn it into an art studio for them. At least for now.
When Scamp came back, he pulled on their pant legs whenever they tried to leave. Eventually they just started bringing him to the temple so he can play with the Younglings and Angel.
Ariel trained with her powers. Getting better with them. But Kit seems hesitant to train her in somethings. But they'd work that out when getting to that level.
Fives enjoys not hiding his love for Ariel. Kissing her when he can and holding her hand. He also starts strengthening his woodworking skills. Padme started helping him sell a few of his things at shops. It's good pocket money and helps show the Clones have more to offer then fighting.
Nora was finally back in training and Mace was starting to teach her how to finally learn to use a saber. She still had a ways to go, but he found himself impressed to find that she was most comfortable with two small blades.
Nora had also started wearing a Jedi like outfit for training and for hopefully future missions. She wore a teal shirt with no sleeves and a hood. It was fringed with darker teal.
She had a belt around her waist that was also dark teal with a silver belt in the middle for when she would finally get a saber. She wore brown leggings and black boots that came bellow her knees. Finally, she had on fingerless black gloves that ended a bit below her shoulders.
Echo had started working more on his art. He found himself getting really good and he wanted to nurture this new ability. He also found ways to get as much date time as he could with Nora. Now that everyone knew, they never had to worry about being seen.
Kit enjoys spending time with Ariel. Training her or spending free time together, it made his heart full every time. He wouldn't give up this time with her for anything in the world. Even if it meant sharing with Fives at times.
Mace had finally told the council about his own family connection and they were all shocked. He was given the same punishment as Kit but Mace took it with no issue. He was just glad he be able to have more time with Nora as the two were starting to hang around each other more and even had gone out on their own to get to know each other better.
A walk in the park, a talk in a café, and even an occasional show here and there. What was hardest though was when they talked to her family and explained about everything.
They were shocked about it all and about her relationship with Echo. It was a lot to take in, but they were all figuring it out.
By the end of the two weeks…
An army of brothers where chasing a fuzz ball out of a room just past Mace and Kit. The two looking into the locker room. It seemed as if a blaster ray had ricochet around the room.
"Get back here! You little pain!" Some brothers call chasing after Scamp.
Scamp had a helmet on his head as he ran down the halls confused as he tries to shake off the thing. The brothers trying to catch him.
With the girls…
"You're so snuggly." A little girl hugs Angel.
"She's so good with them." Ariel smiles at the scene.
"She has a calm temper and I've been using my powers to try out obedience training styles with her. So far it's helped her understand not to get to rowdy with the kids." Nora smiles, happy with her accomplishment.
"Lady Ariel, can Scamp play too?" A boy comes up with a hover ball, a bit red.
"If he's up from his nap." Ariel looks over to the spot he had been laying in. "Where did he go?" she looks around then sees an army running after something.
"Get back here! You little manse!" They shout.
"Scamp!" Ariel calls.
Scamp turned, running toward his mother. He trips over his paw ending up falling into her arms.
"What did you do now?" Ariel takes off the helmet only to be attacked with kisses.
"Gotcha!" They call glaring at the pup.
Scamp nuzzling into his mom for protection.
"She can't save you now." Jesse looks ready to attack.
"I'll be the judge of that." Ariel huffs holding her pup close glaring at them. "What did he do?" she demanded to know.
"He ATE my boots. Scratched up my art project. Tore a hole through my shirt. Just now broke my helmet." They name things off.
"And set off a blaster that almost hit us!" They shout.
Nora comes up to Scamp to connect with him. "It seems the blast was an accident and scared hm into the helmet. He found it in an open locker and chewed on it only to be startled and when it went off, he went running."
"That might have been an accident. But the rest of it was very naughty. Naughty boy." Ariel lectures with Scamp held out in front of her to see her disappointment, Scamp's ears drooped.
"Right." The guys huff with crossed arms.
"You guys are no better. You left the locker room open, a blaster in reach, and you chased a pup around like a pack of wolves." Nora glares at them huffing.
They all look down sadly at that.
"I think all of you could use a run." Ariel places a leash on Scamp.
"ALL?!" The guys and Scamp look shocked.
"All." Ariel nods handing the leash over to Jesse.
"Good idea, or would you all like to be the ones to explain to everyone what happened?" Nora raised a brow.
"Come on Trouble, you're with us." Jesse sighs tugging on the leash a bit.
Scamp looks at Angel pleadingly as he barked. He didn't want to go alone.
Angel rolls her eyes as if saying 'I'm working and you got yourself into this.'
Scamp whimpers as he's lead out.
The girls sigh as they see them walk out.
That's when Mace and Kit came in.
"What happened?" Mace raised a brow.
"What did that pup do now?" Kit looks at them curious.
"Well you see…" Nora then began to explain what happened.
"I'm sorry. Scamp really is a good boy at heart, he just has a wild side to him." Ariel flushes at all the mischief her little boy seems to get into.
Mace and Kit looked at each other shocked and then they began to laugh. The girls looked shocked at this.
"Those poor boys. All that because of a puppy." Kit chuckles at the thought.
"To think one pup could stir up a whole army. I wonder if we could use him to get back at Skywalker for a few of his jabs." Mace smirks.
"Now that would be something." Kit smirks.
"They're all just kids in armor, aren't they?" Ariel sighs.
"Sigh, it's true all men are children." Nora groans.
"We're sorry Nora. It's just not something we see every day and Skywalker can be a bit…" Mace wasn't sure how to put it.
"A pain." Kit answers honesty.
The girls had to laugh at that, it was true. Anakin could get under they're skin at times as well.
Suddenly an alarm went off on they're comes. Speaking of Skywalker.
"Master Windu and Fisto. We have a mission. You too padawans." Anakin called seriously.
They all looked worried at this and headed to the meeting room, they met up with Echo, Fives, Ponds, and Rex who were all waiting for orders as well.
"What's going on?" Nora asks worried.
"What happened?" Ariel is the same.
"The separatist have invaded the planet Malastare. The people there, the Dugs, mine a special fuel that is crucial to the Republic to help us with the war effort. If the Separatist win, we'll be dead in space in a matter of months. And the Dugs have asked us to keep the Separatists from enslaving they're home world. They say if we do, they will join the Republic." Anakin explains.
"Then we must stop them before they can take over Malastare and hopefully have the Dugs join us." Mace thinks on this.
Kit then said "I'll get the ships ready immediately." Kit nods as he heads off.
As he left Nora couldn't help but frown at all this.
"What's wrong?" Ariel looks over at her.
"I understand we can't let the Separatists take control of the planet or enslave these people, but is continuing a war the best way to do this? What about negotiation efforts?" Nora looks over curious.
Anakin then said "It's been forbidden for us to talk to the Separatist people. There's also another matter that keeps us from trying negotiations like usual."
Windu glares as he says "Count Dooku is the current leader of the Separatists."
"He's what?" The girls say shocked.
They nod at them and then Windu says "He and his so called master started this split on genanoses and soon a war broke out. We didn't see it coming and several Jedi died in the process." He sighs at this.
"That's foul!" Ariel gasps at this.
"Why would anyone fallow that monster?" Nora looks down in disgust.
"Power, selfishness, greed, while we have this in our own government the separatist take it to a new level aligning themselves with the Sith and promising them all these luxuries and more despicable actions and offers. Slavery being one of them." Mace frowns.
At this the girls could sense a fierce anger off of Anakin.
'Was Anakin…?' Ariel feels his pain and anger.
'Was he a slave? I don't know why anyone would…' Nora sighed, war destroy so many but what were they to do if the ones they fought would not listen. 'I wish there was another way.'
They soon headed out, they would be needed to help stop the army, but before they left a fish looking women scientist came with them.
"My name is Dr. Boll. The Chancellor has sent me to help in this matter. I have something that might be able to help us destroy the Separatist droid army." She explains.
"Thank you but we should be able to stop them with our men." Anakin smirks.
"You don't understand master Jedi." Dr. Boll begins to work on her tablet and then shows them the hologram of droid army, they all gasped.
"It's massive, how did they get so many there?" Nora looks shocked.
"I have no idea. But this is ridiculous." Ariel looks at it all with wide eyes.
Echo had never seen so many droids in his life and it seemed like they just kept coming. 'How, how are we going to stop that?' Echo pales slightly.
'I've never seen that many before.' Fives is the same, wishing Hevy or Cutup was there to make some joke about it all.
"We see your point doctor. Your weapon, is it with you." Mace tries to stay calm.
"It is on its way, but it will take time for it to reach the planet as it is very delicate." Dr. Boll explains.
"Delicate how?" Nora raises a brow worried about that.
"Yeah what does it do?" Ariel looks a bit worried.
Before Boll could answer though…
Kit rushed out and said "The droids have started attacking, we must leave!"
At that they all rushed up the ship, the troops already loaded up on the ship and ready to go.
They arrive in enough time to help the fighters with the droids.
Ariel lighting her saber ready for a fight. She rushes in leading the guys as she takes down a few droids. Do to the planets low gravity, and her love of swimming, she was able to push of the ground and flip as she takes out a number of droids.
"Wow. Anyone know she could do that? Nope." A few men call impressed.
"She's taken boys." Kelp calls to the shinies, as they run in blasters ready.
Nora still didn't have her sabers, but she could use her powers well enough. She was getting better at flying on command, not just on instinct. She began to swoop around, and force shove several droids away. The men were just as surprised to see Windu using the same ability. Just not as intense. He was still trying to get back into his old powers.
"How do they. Sir when did they….? How can they both do that?" Some say in shock.
Ponds replied with "She's the generals great granddaughter."
Manny troopers felt shock at that but were pulled out of it by the battle.
As the first wave backs off to regroup, they take the time to regroup themselves.
"Ma'ams what are you doing?" A trooper calls seeing them moving the dead.
"They… shouldn't… be left here." Ariel huffs moving a man, too tired to use her powers at the moment.
"We should at least burry them." Nora looks on sadly.
The men had heard they were different but didn't expect this. Anakin helps them, able to move more.
"The ground is too hard for digging, but we can take these with us." Anakin takes off their dog tags.
"Sir I didn't know you did this." Rex looks at him surprised.
"I do when I can." Anakin places them in his backpack.
"This weapon better get here soon. I don't know how much more they can all take." Kit looks out at the men and Ariel treating who she could.
"It seems it's arrived." Windu points up at the ship arriving.
The head Jedi head back to see what is happening next. Meanwhile the girls stay with the men to help where they can.
"This should help." Ariel finishes wrapping a trooper's head.
"Thank you ma'am." He nods.
"Ariel is fine Fidget." Ariel smiles at the almost red-haired man with two strips only.
"Y-you know my name?" Fidget looks at her with wide eyes.
"Of course. I know most of the men's names already." Ariel smiles getting up. "Now rest while you can. I'm going to look over the others Cap." She pats his shoulder heading off.
'She knows my rank too.' Fidget touches the wrappings smiling a bit at that.
Nora felt off about all the dead 'This is just horrible.' She had to find a way to get her mind off of it. She decided to keep busy by seeing if there were any friendly creature around to help.
Nora concentrated hard, trying to find anything out there. 'Nothing, they've all scattered…..' Then she felt something. 'What is that?' Something, something was out there, something ancient.
Before she could go to deeply into it, she heard someone crying. She looked up to see two clone brothers holding each other, one crying as the other stayed stone faced. Both where shinnies.
Nora came up and said "What happened."
The shaved haired one looked at her shocked and said "It's nothing ma'am he's okay."
Nora sensed the fear and said "I'm not going to get him in trouble. He should have the right to mourn." She frowns over at the one that was growing his hair out.
"How…" the longer haired one said shocked.
Nora held his shoulder and said "Why else would you be crying."
The buzz cut one said "We just lost another batchmate mam. We're all that's left."
Nora frowns sadly at this, 'Just like Fives and Echo.' She sat down with them and asked.
"What was his name. Maybe I have his tag." She shows them the dog tags, she could at least let them have it.
The both looked shocked at this, they were never allowed to keep the dog tags but….
"Chirper mam." The longer haired ones said.
Nora looked over the tags and smiled saying "Found him, and you can call me Nora." As she handed it over.
"Thank you ma…I mean Nora." Buzz cut said taking it.
"Can I know your names?" Nora smiles.
"I'm Tup and he's Dogma." The one with the growing hair wipes his tears.
"It's nice to meet you guys. I'm sorry for your lost, Echo and Fives know how it's like to be the last of they're batch. You can talk to them or Ariel and me." With that she walks off to go rest, the two younger men looking shocked to of been talked to a jedi like that.
"Hey." Fives taps Ariel's shoulder. "I brought you some water." He hands her a water bottle.
"Thanks." Ariel takes it finally sitting down.
"You seem out of it. Why not rest? I'll wake you up if something happens." Fives sits next to her.
"Maybe I'll close them… for a…" Ariel lays her head on his shoulder drifting off.
'Sleep well Ariel.' Fives smiles softly at her.
As she slept, she saw that endless water again. Only she heard something this time. A new song surrounded her. A low and sad song.
'Who's there?' Ariel calls out.
The song continued, and she felt someone or thing swimming around her. As she turns to where she felt the presence, she saw a large beast with glowing green eyes.
"Ah!" Ariel shouts waking up in a sweat.
"Ariel? You okay?" Fives holds her close to calm her.
"T-the water… there was a…" Ariel huffs leaning into his armor wanting to be closer to him.
"Shh, it was a dream. Just a dream." Fives strokes her hair as he holds her close with his other arm.
Ariel snuggles as close as she can. Taking in his comfort. Maybe the battle had taken more out of her than she thought.
Nora was sitting on a rock, trying to rest a bit before battle. But it was hard with how on edge she felt.
"Nora are you okay." Echo comes up to sit next to her.
"It's just….hard that's all. I had to be the one to give two batchmates they're last brothers dogtag." Nora looks on sadly.
"Oh Nora…" Echo holds her close at that.
"I told them they could talk to you guys, since you two know how it feels. Is that okay?" Nora looks up at him.
"Of course. Fives and I wouldn't want anyone suffering like we did. What are their names." Echo nods.
Nora told him what happened and Echo promised to help them out if they asked and that he tell Fives.
Nora pecked his lips at that, wondering how she ended up with such a sweat guy.
Then she felt something. "Echo do you sense that."
"No what is it?" Echo looks worried at her.
"I don't know. I felt it before. It was strange." Nora tried to concentrate on it, the feeling was returning and now she could see something, green eyes.
'What are you?' She tried to reach out but then….
"They're coming!" Someone shouted.
At that everyone scrambled into position, Nora, Echo, Ariel, and Fives all met behind some boulders for some cover fire.
"This is too much." Fives grumbles getting his blaster ready.
"I just hope this so called weapon works." Echo says worriedly.
"I won't be able to get to anyone from here." Ariel sees how spread out they are.
Suddenly Nora sensed something "Something's not right."
"What is it?" Ariel looks at her worried.
Before Nora could say they hear blaster fire start and they headed back into battle. They did what they could, taking out as many droids as they could as they waited for the weapon to drop.
That's when it happened. Suddenly there was a crash on the ground in the middle, dust flying over all of them.
"Get out of there!" Ariel shouts helping two men up; Dogma and Tup.
"Grab the wounded and get to shelter!" Nora shouted.
The men did as told, running as fast as they could. Nora helped to pick up some straggles on to the small ships so they could be carried back.
Then a large electric wave went through the land. The droids all dropped at this, but the troopers all were affected as well.
"Agh!" Echo shouts holding his bucket.
"A~h!" Fives throws his helmet.
"Our transmitters are busted." Echo groans.
"My ears." Fives places his hands over them.
"Are you okay?" Ariel looks at Nora worried.
When the shock hit Nora felt off, like something had hit her. "Argh!" and she fell to the ground as well. "What was that?" She shook her head feeling her powers dampen for the moment. Then she saw it again 'Green eyes, where are you, what are you?' Her eyes were teal at this, something…. something was around here, and it was mad.
Suddenly something else happened, something they didn't expect. The earth, it began to crack. Rex called for everyone to hustle. Everyone running for their lives as the sink whole started opening up.
"Nora! Run!" Ariel shouts to her.
"Nora can you hear me? Nora." Echo tries to call but can't reach her and can't see her.
"Nora!" Fives shouts to her.
"Nora! Nora move!" Ariel shouts with a crack in her voice.
Nora shook her head at this, finally realizing what was happening. The teal shook from her eyes as she saw the earth was starting to fall. She got up and started to run towards them.
"Nora!" They call as they try to go after her, but Kelp, Ponds, and Rex held them down.
"Nora!" Ariel shouts wanting to go after her.
"Ariel no!" Fives pulls her into his arms. "You wouldn't make it." He whispers holding her close.
"We have to get her!" Echo struggles the hardest.
"She's too far off." Ponds says.
"If you go over there you might not come back." Kelp replies.
"There's nothing we can do now but wait." Rex say regretfully.
At that they all looked over worried, hoping Nora would get to them.
She ran, she used what bit of her power she had left to hop from stone to stone. "Come on, come on, work." She tried to activate her powers, but nothing happened, why?
'Was it the bomb?' Nora felt dread at that.
As she was jumping from plate to plate though something happened, the one she landed on broke apart and she slipped. She looked over at her stricken friends and love, her eyes widened at this as she fell into the sink hole.
"NO!" Echo shouted in pain and fear as he saw her fall.
"NORA!" The Domino's shout.
They weren't the only ones to notice this…
Up on the terrace of the Dug's castle the other Jedi saw this, and Mace felt it.
"No… no!" He shouted as he jumped down from the castle.
"Mace wait!" Kit called but he didn't listen as he called some of his men "I want a ship down there now!" his men jumped at that and got things together. The problem would be that the so called weapon would not let them get any ships operable for at least three hours.
Mace ran to the edge of the sink hole and looked down to see only darkness, he looked around in a panic trying to sense her, but something was blocking it. "Come on, come on, where are you?" At feeling nothing, he fell to his knees and said "No." He closed his eyes and for the first time, Mace let himself cry in front of his men.
Echo grabbed his crystal trying to sense her "Come on, come on. Nora, Nora?" Echo begged as well trying to get something anything…
"I… I can't feel her." Ariel starts to tear up.
"Hey don't give up yet." Fives holds her hand, massaging it lightly.
Echo panted in a panic, afraid he'd find nothing, and then a small glow. "She's alive!" he calls.
"Oh thank goodness." Ariel's legs give way.
"Take it easy." Fives catches her, placing her on a rock to get her strength back.
At hearing this Windu looked over shocked 'She's alive, but for how long.'
Unknown to anyone that down below, Nora was indeed alive, and safe. Well as safe as anyone could be as she was stared down by the large green eyes of an unknown figure that encircled her in a protective manner.
With the others…
"We have to get down there." Ariel heads over to the edge but then stops.
'That feeling.' Ariel senses something familiar down there.
"Ariel?" Fives pats her shoulder.
"Somethings down there." Ariel says in an almost whisper.
"What is it?" Echo pales, worried for what might happen to Nora.
"I don't know. I just…I feel something." Ariel stares as if trying to find it.
"Why don't you stay here? We'll go down." Fives ankers down a repel system.
"What? No. I can't let you go by yourself." Ariel turns taking his arm.
"It'll be fine. You stay up here." Fives pecks her lips before strapping on the repel belt.
"Be safe, all of you." Ariel looks at the three sadly.
"We will, and with Nora." Echo nods determinedly.
"Be back soon." Fives winks before heading down.
"I'll keep them safe." Windu assures, heading down.
The three headed down, so far it seemed a mess, fallen debris and dust everywhere.
"Where is she?" Fives looks around the dust cloud.
"I can feel her, but it feels so weak." Echo feels his stomach churn.
"Is she… hurt?" Fives looks worried for her.
Windu then said "No, it's not that. Something is blocking our connections down here."
The two looked at each other shocked. What could be strong enough to do that? As they finally land on the ground the dust settles and they begin to move about.
"Which way?" Fives is unable to see five inches past his face.
Echo looks around a bit trying to find her and says "This way." Echo points, somewhat uncertain as they head off. 'Please be okay Nora, please.'
Windu was nervous himself, what would they find down there? 'Why couldn't you just use your powers to escape, was it the bomb, or something else.'
As they walked about, they all came to a large looking structure of land with strange marking.
"What is this?" Fives looks at the odd-looking rubble.
"I don't know, perhaps some ancient temple." Windu raises a brow.
Echo stepped forward and said "Nora, she's that way." Echo says with certainty.
"Tread lightly, that same thing I sensed before. It's here, somewhere." Mace warns.
The two nod as they walked on, preparing for whatever was to come. As they came closer and started climbing they heard the sound of something, a sort of buzzing sound. Then they noticed something between the cracks of the rocks, a teal glow.
"Nora!" Echo shouts as he jumps in.
"Is she okay?" Fives rushes with them.
Mace fallows, worry in his eyes.
Meanwhile…
Nora was curled up on the ground and thought 'What happened?' Suddenly images of her falling came. 'How am I still alive?' Suddenly an image of a large hand grabbing her and then green eyes appeared.
'You caught me. Why, who are you, what are you?' Nora stirs in her half-awake state, her eyes opening slightly with a bit of teal.
Suddenly she felt a rumble in her mind as images came to her, no, memories.
'Zillo, you're hurt, your home was disturbed. Why did you save me?' Nora feels her strength coming back as she starts glowing again.
Before more could be said "Nora!"
"Echo…" Nora says lowly as she sees him come down and then hold her.
"Nora I was so worried." Echo kisses the top of her face several times and holds her close.
"You had us all worried." Fives sighs with relief.
"Nora are you okay? Why didn't you use your powers to escape the sink hole?" Mace asked worried.
"Zillo…" Nora said but then she blacked out.
"Zillo?" Echo said confused.
"What does that mean?" Fives looks confused.
Before Mace could reply they heard a loud roar in front of them. That's when they finally saw what was around them.
"Move!" Mace shouts as he helps shove them out of the way of the beast's attack and then calls for an air lift.
"Skywalker get us out of here!" Windu called.
"On my way master!" Anakin shouts getting in his jet.
As they ran Nora was fidgeting 'No, don't run, please don't, he's just scared! Zillo stop!'
At that the creature did as told and stopped chasing them. The three where confused by this but didn't think on it much as they headed out for their escape, they started climbing.
As they climbed out though Anakin came in and began to fire at the creature.
Soon chaos starts. All of them shooting at the beast that seems unharmed by anything they did. Even sabers had no effect.
Ariel covers her ears hearing the beast cry out. It was as if its pain was her own. His hurt and loss flowing through her.
'Stop. Please stop.' Ariel thinks covering her ears.
"Ma'am!" Two call moving her from the blast zone.
"Ma'am are you okay?" Dogma looks at her holding her ears. "What do we do?" he looks over at his brother.
"Umm… Helmet! They can cancel noise." Tup takes his off hitting a few buttons on it. "Excuses me ma'am." He moves her hands placing it on.
Ariel passes out at that. Tup catching her. Dogma checks her vitals.
"She's okay." Dogma sighs with relief.
"Let's get her to the ship." Tup picks her up.
Hours later Fives rushes to check on her while the others try to keep the beast at bay.
"She okay?" Fives looks over at Kix.
"She'll be just fine. She just had a shock of some kind and before you ask, I don't know yet." Kix explains. "The two that brought her in said she was holding her ears and seemed out of it. But I couldn't find-"
"Two? What two?" Fives cuts him off looking curious.
"Those two." Kix motions to Dogma and Tup passed out back to back on a light couch just outside.
"She's okay?" Fives looks a bit worried.
"Yes." Kix nods. "I'll let you know when she wakes up."
Fives nods and heads out to the brothers.
"Hey, you'll be sore if you stay like that." Fives whispers gently shaking their shoulders.
"Sir!" The two jump up saluting.
"That's not needed." Fives shakes his head a bit. "I just wanted to say thank you for taking care of my wife." He smiles at them softly.
"Wife?" Dogma blinks trying to connect that word to something.
"Here?" Tup motions to the medbay.
"Yes." Fives nods. "I'm Fives. Fives Domino, Commander Ariel's husband. Who are you two?" he motions to himself.
"I'm Tup and this is Dogma." Tup motions to each of them.
'Tup and Dogma?' Fives recalls the names.
"Let's go get some food. Shall we?" Fives motions for them to follow.
"Sir." They nod, a bit thrilled to be eating with a marked trooper.
Meanwhile….
Nora had been taken to a separate room in the medbay, because since the beast started attacking she had started swiping at people and yelling.
"Nora please calm down." Echo looks on worried as some medical clones have to strap her down.
"Her heart rate is spiking. She's overstressed. We have to knock her out." The medics say as they try to get a needle in her, but she uses her powers to throw it against a wall.
"Nora you have to stop, what's the matter?" Mace comes up helping to dampen her powers so they can help calm her.
"Pain! Home! Help!" Nora shouts till she's struck with the needle.
"Sir what just happened." Echo looks worried at Windu.
"I don't know. But I'm going to find out." Windu came over to try and read her mind but he was pushed away.
"I thought she was out." A medic says as he looks at her chart.
"It seems not completely." Mace shakes his head and gets up.
"Sir, what do we do." Echo looks on worriedly.
Mace frowns but then the beast roars once more.
At this Nora glowed and suddenly the straps where broken as she lifted herself up and flew out.
"Nora!" Echo shouts as he and Mace run after her.
In the mess hall…
"So that's what happened." Tup looks sadly into his drink.
"I'm so sorry sir." Dogma stares at his almost gone food.
"Hey I didn't tell you that to make you feel bad." Fives looks at them a bit sadly. "I told you it so you could understand what happened and that we know how you feel."
"Sir." They nod still sad.
"How about after food we play hover ball? I can grab Echo and we can show you a few moves." Fives grins with pleading eyes.
"That would be fun, sir." They perk up then fall back a bit.
Fives wanted to say something but then saw something going by. They all looked to find Nora flying off and Echo and Mace running after her. With that they raced off as well.
At the other medbay…
'My head.' Ariel touches it feeling a bit dizzy.
Nora flew by and then Ariel saw the others racing after her.
"Nora!" Ariel jumps out of bed.
Nora then flew out into the battle dodging the blasts and even destroying some of the weapons.
"What in the…" Fives couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"She's, defending the creature." Mace looks on shocked.
"What, but why?" Echo looks on shocked.
"Cause their connected." Ariel calls coming out.
They looked over at her confused.
"You see…" Ariel then explained about the creature calling out and Nora's eyes changing color.
"How is this possible? Sir has this ever happened?" Echo looks shocked.
Windu begins to think and says "Sometimes those with animal connections can create such strong bonds with the creature that it can happen, but never to this extent."
"But why is it so strong then?" Fives looks confused.
"Because, I believe that creature is force sensitive. That's why we couldn't sense her and that's why she couldn't use her powers after the bomb. She felt the creature's pain and in doing so she could not activate them properly." Windu explains.
"Will it be hurtful to her?" Ariel looks worried.
"I don't know." Windu looks on out worried.
Nora finally reached the beast and then landed on its head. At that the creature roared and seemed to be complaining. Nora whispered, "I know." And then created a shield around them both.
They all gasped at this. How had Nora created such a shield?
"Sir how long can she keep that up?" Echo gulps.
"Not long. I have to get them all to stop firing!" Windu says as he heads off to tell the others.
"Is the commander going to be okay?" Tup looks on worried.
"Hopefully." Fives sighs.
"Oh I'm sorry I didn't notice you both. I'm Echo." Echo shakes hands with them.
They shake hands and introduce themselves.
"Are you commander Harper's husband?" Tup asks.
"What?" Echo flushes.
"Yeah are you?" Fives chuckles.
"Fives." Ariel hits his arm a bit. "They're not yet." She shakes her head a bit.
"So you're seeing each other. Do you know why she's protecting the enemy?" Dogma raises a brow.
"Because technically it's not." Echo frowns.
"I don't understand sir." Dogma's eyes widened.
"We invaded its home, disturbed its way of life, and attacked it. I think Nora understands this. That's why she's protecting it." Echo looks down sadly.
"You okay?" Fives looks at him a bit worried.
"I just… we all just got back to things being normal and then this. I can't help but worry on what will happen if, if they don't stop." Echo looks out there with fear.
As the shield went up the creature laid down, as if becoming passive. While the troopers and the Dugs kept firing.
"There has to be away to help." Ariel ponders.
Meanwhile…
"What do you mean you won't stop firing!?" Mace looked on with a look that could kill.
The troopers had obediently stopped and retreated, but the Dugs…
"This creature will be the end of us, we must destroy it." The dug leader growls.
"Why you…" Kit pats his shoulder reminding him why they were there with a head shake.
"What he means to say is, there has to be another way to handle this." Anakin suggests.
"No! That beast is a danger to us Dugs! Its kind nearly killed us generations ago." The leader snarls.
"So if we move it off the planet then all will be well?" Kit suggests.
"IF you can naturalize it without killing it then we'll even give you more gas." The leader huffs.
"I'll take that bet." Kit and Mace glare at the man a bit.
"So do I." Anakin scuffs a bit, never liking Dugs for most of them being slavers.
With the others…
"We have to do something." Dogma looks at the wavering force field.
"But what? She's getting so week." Echo grabbed his necklace feeling the wavering strength form Nora.
"What if we…" Fives suggests something.
The guys talking back and forth. Meanwhile Ariel had a song in her head. She could hear it clear as she plays with the dirt.
While humming she looks over to find the beast eyeing her. That gave her an idea.
"Guys your helmets, their sound can be amplified right?" Ariel looks at their coms and spot Nora's still on her.
"Yes?" They nod.
"Set them too…" Ariel explains the settings.
Ariel then started to sing the tune she heard in her dream into her com attached to the helmets to make sure the beast could hear it.
The beast soon started to fall asleep. Falling to the ground. The Dugs, as promised dropped their weapons.
Mace ran out at that to retrieve Nora, this time being careful not to disturb the creature. Then the troopers began to hold it down in place so if it got up it wouldn't hurt anyone.
"Is that necessary?" Ariel looks at the poor thing worried.
"We don't know if the creature will be hostile and with its large size it could still cause plenty of damage to us without meaning to." Kit explains, understanding they didn't like this.
Anakin was talking to the chancellor about the creature and about relocating it and such.
Meanwhile…
When Windu came back they all rushed up to check on Nora.
"Nora." Ariel looks at her worried.
"Nora, please, please let me hold her." Echo begged as he ran up.
"You can hold her after she's been looked over." Mace looks sternly as he rushed to the medical bay.
Echo looks on sadly at this but understands.
"You okay?" Fives pats his shoulder.
"I'll be fine, I'm... I'm just worried." Echo replies.
"Come on, we should go do something." Fives motions for them to go.
"Sir you suggested a hover ball game, would that help?" Tup asks, trying to be friendly.
"That sounds good, what do you say?" Fives looks at his brother softly.
Echo didn't look like he wanted to join and was going to refuse but…
"Yes, go and relax." Ariel motions for them to go.
"But Ariel I have to be with Nora." Echo looks on worried.
"You can't do anything until she wakes up." Ariel shakes her head.
"Come on, time to lose in a hover ball game." Fives grabs his brother to drag him off.
Echo still looked over to where the medical bay was, worried for his love.
"Have fun." Ariel waves heading to the medbay.
In the medical bay…
Nora was still out cold. But inside her mind, she could still sense it, sense it all. Memories, feelings. It was as if they became part of her. Mace looked down worried as the medics looked over her.
"How is she?" Ariel joins Mace.
"She is calm, but I can still sense something off of her." Mace looks on sadly.
"Like what?" Ariel looks at him confused.
"She calls it Zillo. It seems they have shared memories and emotions. I am worried about how this could affect her." Windu looked down sadly.
"Hey, she's strong. She'll make it out of this just fine." Ariel pats his shoulder with a small smile.
Windu smiles at her and nodded his thanks, grabbing Nora's hand, hoping to support her. 'Please wake up soon. It's all over now and lots of people here are worried about you.'
With the guys…
Fives, Tup, and Dogma were doing well in the game. As for Echo…
"Heads up sir." Dogma calls but Echo was so zonked out the ball accidently hit him in the face.
"Ow." Echo rubbed his head as he sat on the floor.
Dogma looked pale a he said "Sir I am so sorry I…"
"It's not your fault Dogma. I'm just not that into it today." Echo gets up to sit on the bench.
"You two practice. I'll talk with him." Fives throws the ball to them and heads over to his brother.
The two nod and start a one on one game. Fives decides to sit down next to his batchmate.
"Alright, talk to me." Fives pats his shoulder worried.
"It's just, I think today is the day I've been the most afraid in my life, even more then Rishi." Echo covers his face at that.
"Why? What's different?" Fives looks worried.
"I think it was because I saw it. The look on her face, her desperation to live, the realization she was falling. And through it all I felt so weak, unable to do a thing." Echo hits the bench at that.
"Echo…" Fives looks at him with shaking eyes feeling the same at times.
"Tell me, what good am I if I can't protect her. I can come to help save her, but I can't stop the bad stuff from happening no matter what! I'm just so frustrated!" Echo growls as he stands up.
"Hey take a breath. We can't control everything that happens." Fives tries to help him calm down.
"I just, I wish, I wish I could at least know that we had no regrets if anything did happen." Echo sits back down holding his head.
"Do you have regrets?" Fives looks at him worried.
"Just one, I know we said we wanted to wait but with all that happens, all that goes on. Should we really wait?" Echo looks at his brother broken hearted.
"Really? You want to marry her so soon?" Fives looks shocked and happy.
"I don't know. I don't want her to think that I'm only doing this for that reason but, it sure gave me a wake-up call." Echo sighs looking down with tears in his eyes.
"Whatever you choose, I'm here for you." Fives pats his brother's shoulder.
Outside…
The Dugs may have promised to not hurt the Zillo beast, but that didn't mean they'd actually keep it.
Several of the hand footed people came running up to the beast and smirked as they brought up sickingly yellow prods. Then they stabbed at it.
In the medbay…
"Ah!" Nora yells as she woke.
"Nora! Nora what's going on?" Ariel looks at her worried.
"They're killing it!" Nora curls into herself.
"What?" Mace yells as he rushed off to find out what happened.
"Nora stay with me. Stay here." Ariel holds her friend's hand trying to keep her grounded.
Nora was holding her head and growling when she opened her eyes, they were teal, and she was looking through the Zillo beast's eyes. 'Those monsters!'
At that she used her powers to force push them away and destroy they're weapons. At that the Zillo beast seemed to calm, but with ragged breath.
"You okay?" Ariel looks at her friend worried.
Nora's normal eyes came back and she was gasping as she said "I don't feel so good. Ow."
She held her side as she pulled up part of her shirt and then both they're eyes looked on wide. For on her side was a burn mark.
"How did…?" Ariel looks at it wide eyed.
"I..I don't know." Nora pales in shock and worry.
"Let's get some ice for that then talk." Ariel goes to get her an ice pack.
After takeoff…
"Can we come in?" Fives knocks on the door.
"Hi you." Ariel pecks his lips.
"How are you feeling." Echo comes in to hold Nora.
"Still weak and the connections make it hard to relax." Nora sighs as Echo snuggles her. He wished he could take this all away.
"I have the holo room for a while. I was thinking picnic on a beach during sunset." Fives smiles with a flirty look.
"That sounds amazing." Ariel pecks his lips. "But I have to check on Zillo to make sure he's okay. And with how big he is…" she looks at him a bit sadly.
"Fine." Fives sighs. "But once on Curascant you're mine for a day." He kisses her lightly.
"Why are we going to Curascant. I thought we were releasing him into the wild." Nora looks on confused.
"We were ordered to bring the Zillo back there by the Chancellor himself." Echo sighs not all that happy with the idea either.
"What? Why?" Ariel looks confused.
"The Chancellor wants the tough guy looked over before sending him off to the wild. Blood samples, x-ray, maybe a scale or two taken. If they can remove it that is." Fives explains.
"What, we can't do that. He's a wild animal not a science experiment." Nora glares.
"I don't like the idea of it either." Ariel huffs.
"Hey, we know what it's like to be treated like things too. But his scales, if duplicated, could save a lot of men as armor. And surviving all these years… there's a lot we could learn from him." Fives tries to calm them down.
"Someone should be there to make sure he's getting fair treatment." Nora looks on worried.
"I'll do that." Ariel volunteers.
"Ariel…" Fives shakes his head a bit.
"Fives, I have a connection with him same as Nora. Nora's is stronger, but I can at least keep him calm." Ariel explains.
"How did I end up with someone with such a large heart?" Fives smiles at her softly stroking her face with his thumb.
"Just lucky I guess." Ariel pecks his lips. "Come with me to check on him?"
"I don't know…" Fives looks unsure.
"It might help him to see you're not here to hurt him." Ariel looks a bit pleadingly.
"Okay." Fives gives in.
"I'm coming too." Nora tries to get up.
"Nora your still weak, you should rest." Echo tries to get her to lay back down.
"No I have to go." Nora begs.
"No, you should be resting." Ariel shakes her head a bit.
"Ariel you saw what happened when it was hurt. What if that happens again?" Nora looks worried.
"Wait what?" Fives looks at Ariel shocked and confused.
"What happened?" Echo looks worried.
Nora looks down sadly and shows them the burn mark as she explains "When the Dugs tried to kill the Zillo I was affected as well."
"What?" Fives eyes widen.
"How is this possible? How can your bond be this strong?" Echo looks mortified.
That's when Mace came in "We're still trying to figure that out. And Nora you should stay in bed. Perhaps keeping away from the creature would be best"
"Staying away doesn't exactly do anything." Nora glares.
"No but perhaps I can start finding a way to disconnect you two." Mace replies.
"Can you really do that?" Ariel looks a bit relieved at that.
"I could try." Mace nods.
"I want to check on Zillo first." Nora says determinedly.
Mace was going to argue but Echo said "Sir she's not going to back down. Might as well let her, it might help her feel calm that nothing is happening to it."
Mace sighs at that and nods. With that they head off, Nora was put in a wheelchair as to not strain herself. They soon went to the hanger where the creature was being held.
Nora looked on sick at this. It was tied down and it looked miserable. She rushed up from the others "Nora wait…" Echo tried but Ariel held him back.
"Let her do this." Ariel whispers trying to keep him relaxed.
Nora came up to put her hand to his nose and said "I'm sorry. I didn't know they'd do this." She looks sadly at him.
The creatures' eyes open and it whines as it tries to nuzzle back gently.
'So he IS gentle.' Fives ponders seeing this.
"I'm going to give you a checkup okay?" Ariel looks at Zillo sadly as she checks the burn first, treating it with some ice.
"Is Zillo okay?" Nora asks Ariel as she looks over him.
"Yes." Ariel nods. "A few injuries and he's scared."
Nora is saddened by this, of course he was scared. At that she closed her eyes and connected with him. 'Zillo, I'm sorry I never wanted this to happen.'
'I know.' Nora's eyes popped at that, did it just talk. She then frowned and thought 'Zillo, we are going to our home, they want to look at you maybe take some scales.'
'Why?' Zillo whines.
Nora frowns 'War. They want to help protect their men with your scales. I don't approve of it. But I have no say.' Nora feels tears.
Suddenly Zillo closed his eyes and said 'On the top of my head. A scale will fall.'
Nora looks on shocked at this but says 'Thank you.' She then looks at the others "On top of his head, a scale is going to fall."
"I'll go and get it." Mace nods as he comes up.
Zillo growled but Nora told him he was safe. At that Mace retrieved the scale, it was a good chunk and it would definably help in the lab.
"Well that's one thing they can scratch off the list." Mace sighs.
Nora smiles and says 'They still want to look at you. But my friend Ariel, she'll help make sure you get fair treatment.'
'Meet her?' Zillo asks.
Nora nods and says "He wants to meet you Ariel."
"Um okay." Ariel steps forward a bit nervous.
Nora puts her friend's hand on the creature and soon the creature had her scent and found her to be safe.
"He trusts you now." Nora smiles.
"Hi there, I swear I'll do everything I can to protect you." Ariel smiles softly patting his nose lightly.
Anakin then came in and said "We'll be landing soon."
'Stay?' Zillo ask.
'I have to go. To see why your pain becomes mine and how to stop it.' Nora says sadly.
'Sorry, so tiny, did not know how strong we attach.' Zillo whines.
'It's okay, we'll figure it out.' Nora smiles as she's takes her hand off.
At that Echo came ups to take her and Zillo is moved.
Mace came up and asked "What did you find out?"
"It turned out that he accidently bonded with us. He didn't realize my smaller size would affect the bond, and somehow it connected us in a much stronger way then he anticipated." Nora sighs.
"You think the same thing happened with me? Only on a smaller scale." Ariel looks surprised.
"I think so. Please keep an eye on him. He's scared." Nora begs.
"We should get going." Fives whispers taking Ariel's hand.
"I'm going to stay with him." Ariel shakes her head. "I don't want him to be moved without a friend."
"Alright." Fives pecks her lips heading out.
As the two head off Mace took Nora to the temple medbay to be looked over, Echo not far behind hoping to help her in some way.