With the Zillo…
Many troopers had blasters in hand as he's moved to the locker. Ariel staying near the trolley keeping a hand on him humming. The beast keeping an eye on her.
Then inside the ship locker he's placed in a laser pin. Ariel wasn't happy about that.
"You can't do this. It's so small, he's scared." Ariel glares at Boll.
"I'm sorry but…" Dr. Boll looks between her and the beast.
"This is needed for protection." The Chancellor walks in. "We have to be careful for the people's safety."
'This man is ice.' Ariel feels something cold off of him.
"Zillo won't hurt anyone. Not with someone here for him." Ariel stares down the man.
"I'm sorry but I have to think of the people on this planet." The Chancellor speaks calmly.
"If that's truly how you feel then why bring him here?" Ariel stares at him sharply.
The Chancellor stares at her. The two having a silent battle for a few minutes.
"Undo the shield." The Chancellor, not looking away from Ariel, orders.
"Sir?" Some troopers call.
"Tests will start tomorrow, but for now the beast-" The Chancellor starts.
"Zillo." Ariel corrects cutting him off.
"For now Zillo, should be allowed to rest." The Chancellor turns to leave with his guards.
Dr. Boll wastes no time letting him loose. Looking at him with remorse. It was clear she was JUST as unhappy about this as them.
"Dr. Boll give me your hand." Ariel looks at her softly.
Dr. Boll does so, a bit hesitant. Ariel places her hand on Zillo's snout. He leans in nuzzling it a bit.
"I'll stay with him. Feed him." Dr. Boll pats his nose lightly.
"Thanks." Ariel nods to her. "I'll see you tomorrow." She kisses his snout lightly before heading out.
At home…
Padme had a dinner plan with all of them. Wanting to catch up. Dinner starts out nice. But it's clear something happened they're not talking about.
Ariel plays with her food as she hums, not realizing it.
"That's a pretty new song." Padme smiles softly at her.
"What?" Ariel looks up coming out of her haze.
"The song you were humming. It's pretty but sad. Did you make it up?" Padme sips her drink.
"No. A… a new friend taught me it." Ariel looks down sadly.
"What's it about?" Padme looks curious.
"I think it's about his lost family." Ariel looks into her cup with a far-off look.
'Maybe that's why he reached out. He knew I'd understand.' Ariel ponders.
Nora was silent through the meal. She just couldn't seem to eat, she felt, lonely. 'But I'm around everyone.' Nora just stirs her soup with no appetite.
"Nora are you okay?" Padme asks worried.
"I don't feel so good." Nora leaves the spoon and says "I think I'm going to go back home."
"Want to lay down at my place?" Ariel looks at her worried.
"Anakin what's going on?" Padme looks over at her husband.
Anakin sighs and explains what's been going on to her.
"What, and the Chancellor didn't think to warn any of us?" Padme looks upset.
"I'm sure the Chancellor had his reasons Padme." Anakin starts.
Padme was about to rebuttal but…
Nora yelled holding the side of her neck.
"Nora what's wrong?!" Echo grabs her before she can fall.
"What's happening?" Fives looks worried.
Nora gasps as she says "My neck, it felt like a needle…" Nora's eyes widened as she headed to a mirror and looked at her neck. "They've started experimenting." Nora growls.
"What? That shouldn't be happening." Ariel goes pale at that.
"We're going there now." Padme stands determined.
"Wait Padme it's too dangerous…" Anakin tries.
"That creature and Nora are the ones who are in danger. We have to stop this now." Padme demands.
"I know where they are." Ariel looks ready for a fight.
Nora seemed to growl as she says "When I get my hands on them…" Then her eyes glowed.
"Nora. Nora what is it, what do you see?" Echo holds her worried.
Nora is breathing heavy as she says "Droids, Boll, and…The Chancellor?" Nora looks around confused and then "Wait they're saying something…" At that she paid close attention.
"What? What's going on?" Ariel looks worried.
Boll 'The facts remain that the beast is indestructible.'
Palpatine 'Nothing is truly indestructible, Doctor. Wasn't there something in Malastare's fuel that affected the beast?'
Boll 'It weakened the Zillo yes but…'
Palpatine 'Excellent. I suggest you start there. Doctor you need to find a way to kill the beast…'
At that Nora gasped and yelled "They're going to kill him!"
"What?!" At that they all gasped and headed off to a car to head there immediately.
Anakin calling the others to tell them of what they had found out. As they rushed by Nora held her neck a pale look on her face.
"Nora? Are they doing something else?" Ariel looks at Nora worried.
"The connection, if I feel Zillo's pain, what will happen if he dies?" Nora looks on with a haunted look.
At that they all paled.
"No, no that's not happening. We won't allow it, we won't." Echo holds her, trembling now.
"It won't happen." Ariel nods with worry and a fire in her eyes.
"We'll stop them." Fives nearly snarls.
"We'll make sure this doesn't happen, with your life on the line the Chancellor can't possibly do this." Padme frowns.
"I thought experimentation didn't start until tomorrow?" Anakin asked.
"Apparently your so-called leader couldn't wait." Nora growled.
"That guy is so cold and heartless. How did he become a leader?" Ariel growls.
Anakin glared saying "You two need to show more respect, he's in control of the government for a reason…"
"Not all who are in power are good people Anakin. You should know that. And many politicians wear masks. He may be your friend but to us he has so far only been a manipulative lair." Nora glares.
"He's so cold. Even his smiles have no warmth." Ariel shivers a bit remembering it.
Anakin seemed to frown at this but said nothing as he concentrated on flying.
The guys were shocked at the girls' tempers. They had never dared question the Chancellor before, but with what they were seeing and with the danger Nora was in now… 'How can we trust someone like that?'
The rest of the flight was in silence. Echo begging in his head that Nora would be okay as he held her close. 'I can't lose her, not again, not ever again.'
When they arrive things had already gotten out of hand. Zillo broke out of his prison and force blasted the troopers. He was roaring and fighting with those still standing.
As they get closer Ariel holds her ears. The roar echoing in her head.
"Ariel!" Fives holds her close.
"Load. So load." Ariel holds her hands over them in pain.
"What's going on why is she in so much pain?" Nora looks on worried.
"Echo location." Anakin connects.
"Sir?" The guys look confused.
"Ariel is a MERMAID. The b-Zillo is roaring a message. Ariel's hearing would be extra sensitive after her mermaid side woke up." Anakin explains.
'Ariel…' Fives looks at her worried as they arrive.
"We have to get her somewhere where she can't hear him." Echo replies worriedly.
"You need to stay here Ariel, get some earplugs on or something." Nora holds her shoulder.
"No. No I need to…" Ariel shakes her head wanting to help.
"You stay here. We'll be back soon." Fives pecks her lips getting out of the car.
Ariel wanted to argue but couldn't. Her ears hurt so bad.
At the airfield…
Zillo was on a rampage of pain. Unable to see clearly with a small dose of the gas having hurt him.
"Do not kill him! Simple stun!" Windu shouts.
"Are you crazy?! It's killed your men. Kill it! Kill it now!" Chancellor shouts with some troopers guarding him.
"Don't! If you do Nora could be killed!" Windu shouts.
At that the men stop, not wanting to hurt the generals great granddaughter.
"What, how is that possible." The Chancellor asks.
"We're still figuring that out." Windu sighs.
"Can't she control that monster then?" Palpatine shrills.
"The only monster I see here is you." At that they all turned to see Nora had been the one to say that.
"Nora…." Windu says shocked, but she ignores him as she passes by.
The Chancellor steams "You disrespectful child, I should have you…."
"Save it. Know that what I'm doing now is in no way to protect you but the people of this planet." Nora growls as she heads out.
"What are you going to do?" Fives lifts a brow at that.
"Stopping this once and for all." Nora activates her powers as she flies off.
"Nora wait!" Echo calls but Fives holds him back.
"Echo stop." Fives holds him back.
"No I can't lose her again. I can't!" Echo begs.
"Let her do this. She's strong, she'll be fine." Fives tries to calm him down.
Nora comes up to the Zillo's head and calls 'Calm. I am here, no one will hurt you.'
'Pain, why hurt, why kill.' Zillo calls betrayed.
'I don't know. I'm hurt too. I feel your pain.' Nora cries.
'Sorry, not want you to hurt. How escape?' Zillo asks worried.
'I, I feel something. I feel a planet, far away, away from danger. Away from others.' Nora feels her eyes become teal.
'Know this planet, legends I hear. We go there.' Zillo nods.
'I don't know how. I don't have a ship.' Nora feels her powers buzz.
'Need it not. You can. With help.' At that Zillo starts to glow orange.
'You can power up?' Nora is confused.
'Rare but yes. Only with Jedi that can.' Zillo replies.
'Then let's take you home.' Nora was worried but she knew it was the only way to stop all this.
Before they would leave though she sent out a message to Echo.
'Echo.'
Echo's eyes widened at that "Nora?"
"What's going on?" Fives looks worried.
"She's contacting me." Echo gulps.
"Really? How?" Fives looks confused.
"I don't know." Echo seems worried.
'Echo. I'm sorry.'
"Sorry, Nora why are you sorry?" Echo panics now.
The all looked panicked now.
'Please find me, this is where I'm going.' She shows him the picture of a far-off planet of large desserts and some lush ground.
"Nora where is there, how are you going to get there? Nora!" Echo calls trying to escape again but is held back.
"What's going? What's she saying?" Fives looks worried.
"She's saying to find her. She's saying goodbye." Echo panics.
"What?!" Fives turns to her worried.
"No!" Mace's eyes widened at this, figuring out what she might have meant.
'Goodbye, mi amour.' Nora finishes as she and the Zillo finally flow as one, they're powers fluctuating.
"What's going on? Sir what do we do. Everyone hit the deck!" Manny troopers call but there was no need.
Soon the glow was so bright they had to look away and then as it disappeared they looked to the spot the two once where, but they were gone.
"NORA!" Echo called in pain. 'No, not again, not again.' At that Echo fell to his knees.
"Echo." Fives bends down to his level.
"I lost her, I lost her again. Fives I…I can't." Echo began to have trouble breathing.
"Echo. Echo hang in there." Fives looks at him worried.
"Get him to the medbay." Windu orders. He may be in shock as well, but he knew if there was any chance to find Nora, they need Echo to help them.
With Ariel during all this…
"Nora?" Ariel feels her vanish along with the beast.
"Ariel are you okay?" Padme looks at her worried.
"Something happened." Ariel feels tears drip down feeling the loss.
"There you are." Tup comes up to the car.
"What's going on? What happened?" Ariel looks at him with tears in her eyes.
"Nora stopped the beast but…" Tup explains what happened.
Ariel gasps at that, more tears falling. Taking Tup with them they head for the nearest hospital to check on Echo.
On an unknown planet far away, Zillo roared in happiness to be free. He then settled his head on the ground putting Nora on a soft bed of grass and nuzzled her.
'Farewell, friend. Thank you.' And with that the Zillo dug into the ground. It would have stayed with her but it knew it could not as it sensed people coming towards the planet, good ones that would help her.
Nora felt week as she tried to open her eyes but all she could see was a fuzzy background and think 'Where am I….Who am I?'
Those where the last thoughts she had before a ship touched down and a few people came out in a hurry to see if they could help the unconscious girl.
At the temple medbay…
Fives looks in on his sleeping brother. Wondering if this is how Echo felt when he had his attack.
"We'll find her Echo. I swear to you we will." Fives whispers looking at him sadly.
"Hey, how's he doing?" Ariel whispers coming in.
"Tired. But they think he'll be okay." Fives keeps his eyes on his brother.
Ariel wraps her arms around Fives kissing his cheek. Fives rubs his thumb over her arm taking the comfort.
'Nora, Nora where are you….' Echo whines trying to connect with her but finds nothing, his heart breaking once more at this.
With Nora…
She heard voices, ones that sounded familiar yet not. 'Who are they?'
"Hey is she okay?" A really accented voice asked.
"She seems okay just tired." A more timid voice replies.
"What was she doing out there. No one goes to that planet. It's crawling with beasts." A much rougher voice huffs.
"She looks like what people call a jedi." The timid one says.
"A jedi way out here. No way. They don't care about anyone outside the outer rim." The accent voice huffs.
"Look whatever she's hurt. We'll keep her here till she's better, ask her where she came from and then send her….." Raugh starts to say when…
"Groan…. Where am I." Nora opened her eyes slightly as she saw three identical faces looking down at her. She blinked saying "Triplets?"
"That's our best guess." The rough voiced one shrugs, he had tattoos on both sides of his face.
"Don't mind him, he was just born grumpy." The bearded one smiles, he was the one with the heavy accent.
The tattoo one hits him over the head at that as bearded rubs his head and glares at tattoo.
The third one, who was sitting next to her and had a foreshadow, sighed as he said. "Sorry about them. How are you feeling?"
"I'm not sure. Tired I think." Nora tries to sit up.
"Hey lay back down. You went through a lot, at least that's what our scanners said." Foreshadow frowns sadly.
"Yeah there was a massive amount of energy where we found you. What happened?" Bearded asked.
Nora took that in but everything came back blank, she held her head as the image of some creature came up but said "I don't know."
Tattoo sighed and said "Okay then here's a simple question. What's your name?"
At that Nora looked up at them and looked on blanked and replied "I don't know that either."
At that the three looked on shocked. There was no way, no way.
With the others…
Ariel slept next to Fives curled up on a couch waiting for Echo to wake up. While sleeping she found herself in that water again. That endless blue and calm.
'Nora! Nora are you here?!' Ariel shouts through cuffed hands. 'Nora!'
'She's not here.' Calls a familiar voice.
'Mom.' Ariel turns to see her then shakes her head to chase that thought away.
'Then where? If you're here to help, then help. Where is she?' Ariel fights down her tears at seeing her.
'There.' Aqua points to a house shape that appears. 'Though she won't be the only lost one you'll find.'
'What do you m-' Ariel turns to find her gone. 'Mom? Mom!'
"Mom. Come back. Mom." Ariel cries in her sleep.
"Ariel. Ariel time to wake up." Fives shakes her gently.
"Fives." Ariel hugs him a bit as a few tears drip.
Meanwhile…..
Dooku was trying to figure out a new plan to gather more planets to his side when he suddenly felt a massive amount of pain. He bent down and growled as he said "Those fools. What have they done to her?" And with that he rushed off to his ship hoping to find his foundling.
With Nora….
The three brothers where in the other room talking in hushed tones as they're guest had fallen back asleep.
"This isn't possible. There's no way that, that girl went through the same thing we did." Tatoo grumbled.
"Hey what's not possible about it. We woke up after a strange energy surge and woke up without our memories a well." Bearded shrugged.
"And so far we've only been able to regain our names. I still don't know how we even got them. Droidbait, seriously?" Forshadow frowned.
"Maybe it's a nickname? But enough about that. We can't just boot her out. She's like us." Bearded said frowning sadly.
Tatoo sighed and said "Cutup, I know this is difficult but, you two do know we could be inviting trouble this way."
"We could also be passing up a chance to find out who we are Hevy." Bait frowns at his brother.
Hevy sighs and says "Fine. We'll help her."
The two cheer but then Hevy said "Only till she gets her memories back, then she's on her own."
The two nod, too happy to really care on their brother's rule.
The two then headed off to get the house ready for another person as Hevy sighed and thought 'What have I gotten us into.'
Back with the others….
Echo had finally woken up to the others around him.
"Guys, Nora…" Echo felt tears at this.
"She's gone." Ariel nods sadly.
"We'll find her Echo. We will." Fives pats his shoulder.
"I can't sense her. I don't know why." Echo shakes at this.
Mace then puts a hand to his shoulder and says "Because she's too far off. She used the ability warp to escape the conflict."
"But since when can she do that." Echo looks shocked.
"She can't, she was only able to do that with the Zillo lending his own abilities to her." Mace explains.
"He can do that?" Fives looks shocked.
"Powers can feed powers if there's a strong enough connection." Ariel nods.
"It seems to be. Echo can you tell us the planet Nora showed you?" Mace looks on pleadingly.
"Yes I can show you. I just need some paper and a pen." Echo nods.
"Here you go." Ariel hands it to him
Echo nods his thanks and begins to sketch.
As Echo drew the planet Mace noticed the far of look in Ariel's eyes "Is something on your mind?"
"You see…" Ariel explains her dream.
Mace listens intently. Twice in a row and her dreaming about the temple…
"I should have guessed you'd inherit it." Mace sighs a bit a picture of Aqua coming to mind.
"Sir?" Ariel and the others look confused.
"See with those of us that have a connection to both sides we can see and feel things clearer." Mace starts to explain.
"Is that why she's having those dreams?" Echo asks worried.
"No." Mace shakes his head slightly. "That comes from Aqua."
"Mom?" Ariel's eyes widen at that.
"Your mother had a unique ability where she could see things in her dreams; sometimes people or sounds. But they always helped her help others." Mace explains.
"S-so my mom could do this too?" Ariel had a crack in her voice.
"Yes." Mace nods.
"S-since she's always there does that mean… I mean could she be…" Ariel starts.
"No." Mace says sadly. "I believe your mother's memory is looking out for you in a way she couldn't when alive but…" he looks at her sadly.
"Ariel…" Fives reaches for her.
"We need to get going. We need to find Nora." Ariel heads out with a bit of a choke in her voice.
'Ariel…' Fives watches her go sadly.
"Go, she needs you." Echo looks determinedly at his brother.
"No. You…" Fives looks torn between the two.
"I'll live. Help your wife." Echo nods.
"I'll see you on ship." Fives heads off.
Looking around he finds her in Nora's room petting Angel. Fives leans in the doorway watching her.
"I know she can't be alive. I do." Ariel looks at the two pups sadly.
"But it feels real, right?" Fives sits next to her, Scamp jumping on to his lap.
"So real." Ariel leans against his chest sniffling a bit.
"I know. I know." Fives pats her head with his free hand.
After a liittle while they head off to the ship. Heading for the planet.
Mace, sadly, would be staying behind. He was needed for another mission.
"More than one lost? What does that mean?" Ahsoka looks confused.
"It could mean anything." Anakin sighs. "For now let's just get there." He looks at the map seeing how far they have to go.
With the guys…
They were trying to keep busy with a game of hover ball. Teaching Tup and Dogma a few tricks. Echo more into it this time.
"Come on Echo, you know you can't win." Fives smirks taking a jump shot.
"That's what you think vod." Echo tosses the ball to Tup.
"Just try it." Dogma smirks at his brother.
Tup fakes a pass getting past him. Getting a jump shot of his own.
"You boys are looking good." Ariel claps.
"Come to watch me mop the floor with them?" Fives, sweaty and shirtless, walks over pecking her lips.
"No. Just walking these two around." Ariel looks at the pups playing with one another.
"Sorry Padme couldn't watch them." Fives sighs.
"I think it works out. Seeing Angel might make Nora feel better when we find her, and I couldn't just leave them at the temple with everyone coming and going all the time." Ariel sighs looking down at them.
"You behave, or this'll be your last ship trip." Fives pets Scamp, him licking his daddy's fingers.
"They're so cute." Dogma pats Angel's head.
Angel leans into it liking the attention. She had been acting up with her mom missing.
She whimpers at night. Scamp often nuzzling her or giving little licks. Or slept next to her dad for comfort.
"I better get them to the cafeteria for lunch." Ariel motions for them to come with her.
"Bye." Fives smiles as she leaves.
Echo sighs at the sight 'I miss her too Angel. I promise we'll get her back. I miss you Nora…' Echo feels somewhat far off at this.
"Hey," Fives tosses him the ball. "Ready for the second round?" he smiles at him softly.
"Yeah, let's do this." Echo smiles going off with him.
Meanwhile…..
Nora had awoken after a few days of rest and was introduced to her hosts.
"Thank you for having me. And I'm sorry you all went through something similar." Nora looks down sadly at this.
"Not likes it's your fault." Cutup shrugs.
"Can you tell us anything else from this incident." Hevy raises a brow, wanting to get as much info as he can.
Bait glares at him for pushing her and says "If you can. Don't strain yourself." He smiles at her.
Nora smiles and nods as she tries to think "Big green eyes. A glow. And…huff. I'm sorry that's all I can remember." Nora frowns.
"Hey just take it easy, it's a rough trip." Cutup frowns remembering they're own incident.
"Yeah we still can't remember exactly what happened to us." Bait frowns.
Hevy sighs at this but nods. 'Green eyes. A glow. I remember a glow but no green eyes. Must of bean different circumstances.'
Heavy got up and said "Hey we all got work soon, you should stay here. Don't let anyone in if you see someone. Usually the neighbors are good people but sometimes we get a wacko or two prowling around."
"Maybe one of us should stay behind? Just in case." Bait says with worry.
"I volunteer." Cutup jumps but is grabbed by the scruff by Hevy.
"No way. We all have to go to work to pay this place off and with one more mouth around we can't afford to slack off." Hevy drags off a pouting Cutup.
"I'm sorry if I'm just trouble." Nora looks down sadly.
"No, you're not. We all woke up without our memories not long ago either. One of the neighbors took us in and helped us get on our feet." Bait smiles.
"Did you all get your memories back?" Nora looks hopeful.
Bait frowns at this "No, not all of them. We found our names our likes, our dislikes, and even a few talents, but never our life beforehand."
Nora looked down sadly at that, he jumped and said "But that doesn't mean you won't. Who knows, it could be different."
She looked up at him and smiles slightly as she nods. Bait sighed glad she was feeling better.
"Hey Bait time to go!" Hevy calls.
"Coming!" Bait calls and says "Well see you in a few hours. Stay safe." And with that he grabbed his jacket and left.
As they left Nora looked on sadly and a bit uncertain, what was she to do? She then looked outside the window and saw allot of wildflowers. 'Well the place could use some cheering up.'
Looking around she could tell the place was a regular bachelor pad. Cloths everywhere, take out for food, and bare walls.
'Maybe I can help with that.' She went out and grabbed the flowers, as she did she kept finding herself grabbing a specific kind of flower, colored yellow or white.
"They're really pretty. I wonder why I keep choosing them." She smelled them and then as she walked in to put them in vases as she thought 'Morning glories.'
She shook her head at this "That must be they're names. We'll they're pretty." She put them around on most of the table in the small house to brighten it up.
"Now what else can I do." She suddenly smelled the house and flinched "Yuck."
At that she started looking for something to help freshen up the house. "What are these."
She found some air fresheners for hovercrafts. 'Better than nothing.' She shrugged as she walked about hanging them around the room. As she put one up, she took a whiff. 'Hmm berries.'
Nora's eyes widened at that. 'He smells like berries.' She dropped the air freshener and sat down with tears "Berries, who smells like berries?" At that she covered her face. Who was she remembering?
On the ship…..
Echo was in his room looking over some photos and drawings he had of him and Nora. Angle on his lap as he looked over them. "Nora." He whimpered as he looked at the one of them at mardigras. She was holding her stuffed toy bat close as she leaned into him.
Angle whined as she sniffed the picture and then licked it.
Echo patted her head and said "I know girl I miss her too."
"Hey, how are you doing?" Fives looks in worried.
"Sigh, just worried. Angel won't leave my side and I can't help but just sit here and think." Echo looks down.
"Want to do something with all of us? We were going to try taking on the captain in a hover ball game." Fives motions for him to follow.
"I appreciate that Fives but I just can't get into hover ball right now." Echo looks far off at that.
"What do you want to do?" Fives sits next to him worried.
"If I could choose to do something right now, I'd go ring shopping. But right now, I don't think that's a possibility." Echo smiles shaking his head.
"We will get her back vod. I swear it." Fives pats his shoulder.
"After this I never want her out of my sight again." Echo feels tears on his face as Angel licks at them.
"I just wish we could get you a ring out here." Fives sighs patting the sweet Angel.
Echo then looked at his armor and had an idea "Maybe I can, but I'll need some help." Echo smiles looking at his brother.
"Let me know what to do." Fives smiles at that.
Echo then grabs his arm guard and begins to explain his plan.
With Nora…
Nora had ended up falling asleep after crying. As she woke up, she looked at the window to see that the time of day had changed "I must have been tired. The guys should be back soon."
She got up and was going to see if there was anything to eat. She had slept most of the day and was pretty hungry. As she opened the fridge though there was nothing.
'Typical.' She sighed.
Then the door opened. She looked over to find the guys shocked "Hello. Glad to see you guys are back."
"Um?" They all said a bit uncertain as they saw the flowers on the tables and the air fresheners all hung about. Okay maybe leaving her alone wasn't such a good idea.
A week later with the others…
Ariel pats Scamp looking at photos of Nora and her. She wanted her friend back and safe.
"Maybe I can at least make sure she's okay." Ariel ponders.
She places Scamp to the side confusing him as she crosses her legs holding a photo of them. She takes deep breaths trying to connect to her. Soon she found herself in the endless water again.
'Nora! Nora please you have to be here!' Ariel calls out with no reply.
Not giving up she swims around looking and calling out. She wasn't giving up. Not yet. Then she saw a wooden door with a large morning glory decorating the middle of it. But pulling on the door she finds it's locked.
'Nora. Nora open the door. Nora.' Ariel calls knocking on it.
As she does her friend opens it to see the endless water looking at the mermaid and that place confused.
'Nora!' Ariel goes to hug her but there's a force field over the door.
Ariel wakes up at that. Scamp licking her hand.
"We gotta tell him." Ariel jumps rushing off.
With the guys…
"That's looking pretty good." Fives smiles at the almost done project.
"Thanks, I hope she likes it." Echo smiles down at the silver ring they were making with a twist in the middle. A few small vine like carvings on the side that Fives taught him to make.
"Guys I-" Ariel runs in. "Is that a ring for Nora?" she gasps at that.
Scamp, who had trailed behind her, jump up to snuggle with Angel. Angel taking the comfort.
"Please don't tell her, also. Do you think she'll like it, it still needs some work and the stone but…." Echo flushes hoping it was right.
"She'll love it." Ariel smiles softly at him.
"Sigh, thanks." Echo looks on hopeful.
"What did you come to tell us?" Fives looks confused.
"Right!" Ariel recalls her reason for running. "I was meditating, trying to reach out to Nora since we were closer, and I found her. She's alright."
"You did, what did she say? How did she look?" Echo asked panicked yet excitedly.
"I didn't talk to her." Ariel shakes her head at that. "There was some barrier around the door. But she looked fine, a bit confused, but healthy and safe from what I could see of the house." She smiles at him softly.
Echo sighs again as he sits back down "Thanks goodness. At least we know she's safe." Echo holds his heart. Relieved to at least know that.
"You better have that ready. We'll be landing tomorrow." Fives pats his shoulder.
"Right." Echo nods happily, not able to wait to give this to her.
With the others…
It had been a week since Nora had awoken and started learning to live with the three men. She had at one point learned her name as the three men didn't just want to call her 'she' and had tried to give her a name or help her chose one. She ended up choosing Nora as she felt it fit her. So, they believe that might be her name.
As for the guys they decided to take Nora to work with them. But first they had to get her a new outfit, something not so jedi like.
Nora looked at the sunny colored dress they gave her and Cutup kicked his feat saying "Sorry if you don't like it but we can't have people think you're a jedi or they might get angry or suspicious."
Nora smiles saying "I love it."
She usually wore that dress with sandals as she went to work with them. They boys worked at a mine, Nora wasn't very good with this kind of work but they decided to keep her around when they found that the bats in the caves seemed to leave them alone to work when she was around. That shocked them, but they decided to not question it.
Another reason she was allowed to stay at the mines was that at one point she started singing, and it seemed to attract people, people who threw money for her singing. The boss at the factory was pleased with this and so let the guys bring her along whenever they wanted.
As for the guys, they felt Nora brought a new life into the house as she decorated it when she could, even drawing pictures for the wall. And with the extra money she made they were able to start properly getting food as Nora started complaining about the empty fridge. Let's just say things became different for the whole house.
She taught Cutup how to bake, she wasn't sure how she knew but she did and Cutup took to it like a pro. Bait was interested in medicine and somehow Nora understood what he was somewhat talking about which cheered him up as his brothers were never interested in this.
Today though was an off day from work. Nora had fallen asleep after running around in the fields. The guys had felt more comfortable letting her be on her own and such since they noticed she could defend herself.
They found this out when she punched a thief from taking they're credits bag. Let's just say Hevy ended up glad to have found a new sparring partner.
But as she slept, she felt something off. Someone was there, but who?
'Nora, Nora…'Nora heard her name being called out 'Hello who's there.' She called as she walked about then she heard the door being forced open and someone yelling at her to open.
'But I'm not supposed to open the door, but they know me. Who are they?' When Nora opened it she was shocked to see an underwater world and 'A mermaid.' The mermaid tried to ram into her, but a forcefield blocked her and in her shock she closed the door.
At that Nora woke up in shock gasping. At that the other rushed over from they're sabback game to check on her.
"Hey, hey, breath you okay?" Hevy asks patting her back.
"Door, door knocking. Someone, someone calling my name and then then…" Nora wasn't sure how to explain it.
"Hey it was just a dream, your safe with us." Cutup smiles patting her shoulder.
"We won't let anything happen to you Nora." Bait smiles.
Nora smiles at this glad and happy her friends cared for her so much. She owed them so much for taking her in and helping her. Then the door knocked, making Nora stiffen.
Hevy glared at this as he opened it and said "Can I help you?"
"I believe you have something that belongs to me." Dooku glared at them before looking at Nora.
At that they all jumped, the guys thinking 'Slaver!' They all grabbed they're weapons and shot at him, but he threw them against the wall.
Nora screamed at this and then she glowed. They all looked shocked at this and suddenly she forced her hands out and Dooku was shot off far away from the house.
At that the guys looked at Nora shocked, but before any could asked what that was, she fainted.
When she woke up later she didn't even remember using her powers. The guys decided to leave it for now, not wanting to stress her. Though they definably wouldn't be leaving her alone for a while.
On the ship…
They land on the planet near the hole Zillo dug. All of them looking around for clues.
"I can sense her. But not like before. It's different. I wonder if that's means she's okay." Echo looks around worried.
"I feel her too. But it's faint." Ariel feels off about that.
"It could be that she's still far off or the fact you two are trying this without just running on instinct." Anakin tries to assure them.
With a nod they head off to find them. Finding a woodsmen's home, they show a picture of Nora. The man explains he's the only one that lives there, but that he did see Nora taken to the neighboring planet and to where the three brothers lived.
'Nora, alone with three men while weak?' Echo felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand.
"Take it easy Echo. They've been helping her." Fives pats his shoulder as they head for their speeders.
"Sigh, your right, I just. I'm just still on edge." Echo sighs trying to calm down.
With that they head off to the next planet, once there they find many people staring with glares at them.
"You three go. We don't want to overwhelm these farmers." Anakin motions for them to go.
"Thank you sir." They salute, understanding he was doing this for them more than the comfort of others.
"And don't forget a certain thing." He whispers winking to Echo.
Echo smiles as he nods saying "I won't sir."
"Okay you two, stay in the seats." Ariel places the pups in a side car on Echo's speeder.
The two yip with wagging tails. They didn't understand but liked the idea of a ride. With that they head off.
At the cabin…
Angel, smelling her mom, jumps out of the car as soon as the bike stops. Running to the back yipping.
"What's that." Nora looks up at the sound.
Angel rushed up and then right into Nora as she began to kiss her face. "Oh, aren't you just the sweetest." Nora laughs as Angel kept happily licking her.
"Where did this pup come from?" Cutup rubs the back of his head.
"Seems to know Nora." Bait looks at the fluffy thing.
"You think, but where could she have come from?" Nora looks on surprised.
"Angel!" The others call running to the back.
The guys frozen in shock at what, or more like WHO, they saw.
"Y-you're alive?" Fives feels the air knocked out of him seeing the brothers.
"Alive?" The two say confused.
Then they hear a blaster turn on. Turning they see another familiar face at the back door.
"And WHY wouldn't we be?" Hevy points the barrel at them with a fire in his eyes.
"Wait calm down everyone, please calm down. We're here for Nora and…." Echo tries to explain.
"You're with that slaver!" Hevy growls ready to shoot.
"Slaver?" Ariel's eyes widen.
"What are you talking about?" Fives blocks her from the blaster, Scamp growling as he stands in front of his mom.
Bait and Cutup stand in front of a scared Nora as Cutup yells "Some slaver with a silver beard and hair came to our house last night. He said we had something of his and looked right at Nora. No one calls a person a thing and isn't a slaver." Cutup growls.
"If you're with him you're not getting her." Bait moves closer to her.
"Dooku was here?" Echo felt his heart lurch.
"So you do know him." Hevy growls.
"Not the way you think." Fives growls back.
"He's been after Nora for a while. It's hard to explain why, but we have to get her out of here if he's here." Echo tries to beg. Then looks at Nora and says "We've all been so worried about you."
Nora just feels stiff 'They look like the brothers but, they know the slaver, and yet… What's going on?' Nora shakes, uncertain of all this.
"We want to keep her safe." Ariel shouts looking worried.
"Wait!" Nora calls out.
They all looked at her as she stood up and came over to Ariel "I know you, I met you before, in a dream. I know that sounds weird but, are you a mermaid?" Nora looks on confused.
"Yes." Ariel hugs her. "Oh Nora, I've been so worried." She has a small hic to her voice.
"You were looking for me. You were worried. Why?" Nora looks on shocked, not hugging back the stranger in her eyes.
"We're friends and family." Ariel looks at her lovingly and worried.
"Then why don't I remember any of you?" Nora frowns.
At that Echo felt his heart break, he felt like his world was collapsing. She doesn't remember… She doesn't… Echo felt like he'd have another panic attack but Fives held him.
'Echo…' Fives pats his shoulder to help him.
They all just stood there silent for a bit when…
"Okay can someone please explain. How do you all know Nora and why do you two have our faces? I thought we were triplets!" Cutup throws his arms in the air.
"No." Fives shakes his head then reaches for a pocket.
"Freeze." Hevy growls.
"I'm just getting something." Fives stares him down.
Hevy motions for him to finish. Fives takes out an old graduation photo. He then hands it to Bait.
"This is… us?" Bait looks at it shocked.
"We're all brothers then?" Cutup looks at it shocked.
"Yes." Fives nods.
"We were separated about a year ago. It's a long story but…We won't mind telling you all." Echo gulps.
"What about me, do you all have proof you know me?" Nora looks on curios.
"I have a photo here." Ariel takes out one they took from her pocket.
Nora looks on at that photo with large eyes "This is us." Nora looks on shocked at the photo of all of them. It was of them all during mardigra.
"How do we know each other?" Nora looks on shocked.
"We've been friends since college." Ariel looks at her longingly.
"Collage. Where?" Nora looks even more confused "How come I don't remember."
Echo then spoke up "Don't worry we'll tell you all everything, we'll talk this all out." He tries to reassure them.
"But for now…" Fives rushes Hevy, pushing him down as he takes the gun from him. "THESE stay off." He turns it off and tosses it to the side.
"You could disarm me the whole time?" Hevy looks up at him with a glare.
"Yeah I could. I can even teach you how to do that if you want." Fives holds his hand out for his.
"No thanks." Hevy hits his hand away as he gets up.
After that they headed in. Hevy staying near a window in a huff.
Angel refused to leave her mom. She stays on her lap nuzzling and licking her and if she goes to move about Angel follows her around the house close to her heels.
Nora was sitting on a little couch as she petted the pup and said "She doesn't seem to want to be away from me." She smiles sadly.
"She's missed you." Ariel pats Scamp's head as he rests on her lap, nuzzling Angel.
"She must of if she's acting like this. But please I want to know, how did this all happen. Why can't I remember anything." Nora looks on confused.
"Same for us. Why are you two just coming to find us now?" Hevy glares.
"We thought you were dead." Fives glares a bit with hurt in his eyes.
"You see…" Echo then explains the war, cloning, being a batch, graduating, Rishi…
The three brothers looked on shocked.
"You're lying, we're not clones!" Hevy yells.
"Yes we are." Fives calls back sternly.
"How did we survive then?" Bait gulps.
"We're not certain. We're still trying to figure this all out. We thought you three were dead this whole time but… to find you all alive." Echo looks on misty eyed.
"But in the end we never had a chance, did we?" Cutup looks down.
"Yes you did and do." Fives tries to assure him.
"It doesn't sound like it. You two survived while the rest of us… We would have been dead if that incident hadn't of happened." Hevy looks away angry.
The brothers looked down saddened.
"It was our first mission, none of us were ready." Echo feels tears at this.
"Guys I may not know about any of this, but you are hard workers and good guys. If you survived it was for a reason. And I think you all could be just as good as any trooper. Especially now that you're older and wiser." Nora looks at them.
The three looked away a bit flushed at that.
Echo's eyes widened at that 'Are they, interested in her?' He felt his heart grow heavy at that.
'Hold it together Echo.' Fives pats his shoulder.
"I'm sorry but I've waited a while now and I… I want to know who I am. How did I get here?" Nora looks on pleadingly.
"You see…" Ariel then explains what happened.
At that all they're eyes widened.
"Wait so she is a Jedi?" Cutup points.
"That would explain her cloths." Bait said.
"And what she did last night." Hevy nodded.
"What happened last night? How did you all escape Dooku?" Echo looks worried.
Cutup explained last night, and Echo felt his heart clench thinking 'Oh Nora.'
"The thing is I can't remember the incident. Just the strange man and what he said." Nora frowns.
"Maybe you didn't want to remember." Ariel suggests sadly.
"But why wouldn't I want to remember?" Nora frowns.
"Maybe you're just tired from everything. What you did was really brave and took a lot out of you." Echo looks at her with shaking eyes.
Nora looked over at him and thought 'Why is he so sad?'
"I should tell the General about Dooku." Fives looks at his com.
"Wait there's more of you?" Hevy glares.
"This is a rescue mission." Fives adds with a small glare himself.
"We're only here to help." Ariel tries to assure.
"It would make sense to have help if this slaver is a Sith Hevy. Please let them stay." Nora looks on begging.
Hevy huffs as he sits down looking away not able to say no to that request, though not happy about it.
Anakin told them to stay there as guards while the rest of them look for Dooku. Rex congrats him on finding their brothers alive.
Fives sighs leaning against a tree feeling tired about all this. Scamp placing a stick down in front of him barking.
"Alright." Fives gives a small chuckle as he throws the stick and Scamp runs after it.
"That looks like fun." Cutup pops out to find him throwing it again for the pup.
"Keeps him out of trouble." Fives sighs but smiles at the stub wagging pup.
"Can I try?" Cutup picks up the stick.
"Go for it." Fives shrugs.
Cutup throws it and Scamp goes running. Bringing it back to the new player with a wagging tail yipping for him to do it again. Cutup chuckles doing just that. Him and Fives talking a bit as the pup seems to make things easier for them to talk.
'That's good to see.' Ariel smiles seeing them out there.
"Um… you brought a medic bag. Are you a doctor?" Bait pipes softly.
"Yes. Are you?" Ariel nods.
"Trying." Bait nods a bit red.
'Fives said he was good at that stuff.' Ariel smiles softly.
"I can show you a bit if you want." Ariel suggests.
"Yeah." Bait looks excited at that.
With that they go over a tablet. Ariel points out different key herbal medicines that will help with a few things.
Echo looked at a downcast Nora, as if she was having a hard time taking this all in. He comes up to her and says. "Hey Nora."
Nora looks up and asks "Oh hey Echo. Is there something you need?"
"Actually, I wanted to give you something. Possibly help you with your memories." Echo looks down flushed.
"Really what is it." Nora smiles excitedly.
Echo sat next to her and brought out a book, Zoro.
Nora looked on wide eyed and said "I, I remember this name, this character. But I don't remember the story exactly. Could I read it." Nora looks on excitedly.
Echo smiles glad to see a look of recognition in her face and said "Here, I'll read it to you." He opens it up and starts to read.
Nora was surprised by this and smiled as she sat next to him, something about this was familiar. His voice, being near him. What was this. She looked at him smiling as she was ingulfed by the tale.
Hevy just watches all this annoyed. Seeing a spark between Nora and Echo he heads out in a huff.
"Hevy, want to try? The pup is fun." Cutup pats Scamp's head as he licks his hand as they were playing tug a war.
"Why? Not like they're going to stick around." Hevy huffs.
"Hevy…" Cutup snaps a bit.
"What? According to him we're clones. And were made to fight, nothing else." Hevy glares at Fives.
"Being a clone doesn't mean we're weapons." Fives glares himself.
"Doesn't it?" Hevy glares at him.
"Hevy!" Cutup shouts.
"No. Go on, what else do you have to say?" Fives glares heading over to him.
"You're nothing but a moving weapon." Hevy shoves him lightly.
"And what does that make you?" Fives glares at him.
Hevy snaps at that tackling him down. With that the two start to wrestle in the dirt.
"Guys cut it out!" Cutup shouts holding the pup.
"Give up! No way!" The two tussle around.
"What's going on out here!" Echo shouts as he had heard the chaos.
"What are you two doing?" Ariel looks at them confused and worried.
"Hevy was picking a fight and then…" Cutup explains looking at them wrestling on the ground.
"Please both of you stop it!" Nora shouts scared.
The two didn't listen as they continued their sparring match. Ariel reaches out separating them with the force.
"That's enough." Ariel calls placing them down.
"Why weren't you there?!" Hevy shouts. "Why were we the ones to 'die?' Why weren't you there?" he glares.
"Hevy stop this." The other two shout.
"No! Tell us. Bait was shot. Cutup eaten. But me, I was in an explosion. Why weren't you there? Why was I alone?" Hevy glares.
"Hevy…" The others told him.
"Tell me." Hevy demands.
"Because I got it wrong!" Fives shouts. "I put the bomb together wrong." his voice cracks as he heads off.
"Fives!" Ariel calls about to head off but stops in front of Hevy first. "You're a jerk." she glares at him then runs off after him.
Fives fell to his knees crying. Ariel found him and hugged him as he lets out his tears. He found his brothers' and this happened. He felt the hurt of all of it all over again.
"I got you Fives. I got you." Ariel holds him close massaging his hand with her thumb.
"I… I was the reason…" Fives cries.
"You're not. You're not the cause of this." Ariel holds him close, kissing his cheek.
With the others….
"And you, what's your excuse?" Hevy glares at Echo.
Echo looks on pained and said "The bomb was my idea." As he runs off.
"Echo?" Nora calls after him but he doesn't listen.
As they saw him run Nora shouted "Hevy why did you do that!"
"Because they don't belong here!" Hevy shouts coming up to the others and said "Come on everyone back in side." He tries to grab Nora but she pulls away.
"No Hevy, I'm not going inside." Nora glares.
"What?" He looks shocked.
"You can't just lock us up expecting to keep us safe like this. Hevy if they don't belong then I don't think I belong here either." Nora rushes after Echo.
Hevy looks stung by that as his brothers looked on uncertain at him. He just huffed as he headed back in the house, not wanting to deal with any of them.
Nora ran to where she saw Echo going and found him under a tree crying. Nora ran up to him and said "Echo…."
"It's my fault. It's all my fault, if I hadn't of made that plan…." Echo shakes.
"But you didn't know this would happen. Did you?" Nora frowns.
Echo shakes his head and says "If I had known I would have taken his place." Tears stream down his eyes now.
Nora gasps and hugs him saying "Don't ever say that. Oh Echo…." At that she smelled it. 'Berries, he smells like berries.'
At that her eyes widened. 'I know that smell, I know him, but, but, how, why..?'
Then Nora looked up at him and asked "Echo?"
At that he looked into her eyes and saw something in them as she said "We were close weren't we?" Nora asks shocked.
At that Echo feels his heart swell and he gasps as he says "Nora…" he tries to touch her face but then "Argh!" Echo was soon lifted up in the air and choking.
"Echo!" Nora shouts.
"Now that's enough of that foundling." Dooku comes out of the shadows.
Nora gasps "Who are you, what do you want with me?"
Dooku smirked as he said "I simply want to speak to you. Nothing more."
"Nora…..No…" Echo chokes but Dooku holds him up more to make him stop.
"You're hurting him stop!" Nora shouts.
"I will let the clone go, if you come with me so we may talk in privet." Dooku smirks.
Nora looked at Echo, he looked at her shaking his head, begging for her not to go but she could see his eyes dulling and said "Okay I'll go but let him go first." Nora looks over saddened.
Dooku smiles at that and lets Echo fall to the ground gasping for breath. Before Nora can check on him or Echo can recover, Dooku grabs her and knocks her out as he disappears into the shadows.
"Nora No!" Echo shouts as he suddenly calls the others.