Umm an other chapter of that pretty long story, as usual don't hesitate to
tell me what you think about it, good or bad, any suggestion or analysis is
welcome:)
~~~.~~~ stream of consciousness (First person narration)
*****
She tossed and turned on her bunk for what seemed to be hours, the images she had seen at the Temple would not let her rest that night. She hadn't said a word of them to Kenobi yet, it had been two days since they had talked but she was scared.
Practice, that was what she needed, a good session of saber practice to tire her nervous mind out, to cleanse her of the nightmares and the doubts. She noiselessly got dressed, grabbed her saber and left the quarters she shared with Gabrielle being the only women officers on the deck.
She crossed the almost desert bridge, the view they had of Nar Shaddaa from the cockpit was unsettling. The planet was the opposite twin of Coruscant. Once rich and powerful, the giant city had fallen over the decades into decay, looking now like a monstrous creature devouring itself. A sinister reminder of the Republic current fate.
She shifted her gaze on the little moon and the impression of threat tightened in her. 'A star of death.' The words echoed in her mind.
Deliberately turning her back to the ominous station and the poisoned planet, she went to lean on one elbow at the large panoramic window for a moment watching absently at the stars. When she caught a wave of the Force, she didn't have to turn around to see who it was.
"Let's face it Kenobi, the Jedi golden age is drawing to an end. Look at this war," she said with a fatalistic gesture, "We failed to protect the Republic."
" We are not politicians Alrahan, there is little we can do to purge a tainted system. The Republic is weak now."
" The Republic died long ago!" She pointed out firmly. "And with it falls the Order. The first harbingers were already there before I left, but our judgment has been biased by our confidence."
From the corner of her eyes she saw her CO's face harden slightly.
:: You know I am right, with the civil war we are scattered all around the Galaxy, the Order is more or less expelled from the Temple and the Senate hardly ever consults the Council anymore. We are barely more than an old myth, just like the plans we are to seek.:: She sent mentally.
The answer snapped back almost instantly.
:: I am grateful for the scholar cool appraisal of the situation. May I mention however, that it isn't the Punic Wars we are talking about but a far more intricate, wider, and above all, present conflict.::
"I happen to have a brain which enables me to be multifunction, therefore my job isn't my essence so I can think outside a library. QED." She countered aloud.
Kenobi stood his ground exceedingly unimpressed: " Your syllogism is lame."
"Consider it as an enthymeme then." She retorted with a sly smile. (NA: yes, it's a smartass scholar joke:))
She sensed that he was fighting back a smile. "You know it's not. Not with three statements."
"That's possible, I am not conservative either." She said using his own words.
"You will never yield, will you?" He asked looking straight in her eyes.
" Would you?"
He answered with a dry snort and shook his head as he would have done in front of an incorrigible child. "This is the sound of my victory!" She concluded with a grin, feeling her heart growing lighter: they were back to their old bantering. Perhaps she could still win his friendship after all.
"This is the sound that dismisses you to your bed and ends that absurd and frivolous conversation."
Noor smiled knowingly, he was enjoying that little competition between them. She glanced at the chrono, it was around one in the morning. She still needed to work out the tension. She turned back to the General with a scheming glint in her eyes.
"What?" Kenobi asked on his guards.
"What about giving me a good lesson with a saber sparring then?" The young woman held up her weapon. He examined her as if she was some vicious five years old definitely up to something.
" That's tempting but curiously, I am not sure that playing with a light saber at one in the morning is the most logical thing to do for two commanding officers. Or two adults. Let's not even mention the whining and moaning sessions that I had to go through to get you to practice during your formation. Go get some rest."
She started to protest but he cut her short.
"It wasn't a mere suggestion Commander." He warned back to his full General mode.
For once, Noor only nodded and left without further argument. Kenobi sighed thinking that she would positively cause him to age prematurely and started a mental count down as he headed to his own quarters.
~*~
'Screw him' She thought as she ignited her blade. She had chosen an empty meeting room far from the sleeping quarters.
~~~ As graceful and efficient as the saber was, I have always disliked its threatening sound. I was so used to quietness. Closing my physical eyes I opened my mind's ones. I spotted invisible opponents, they were advancing slowly, surrounding me in a tight circle. How many were they? I didn't know I felt their movements more than I saw them. I anticipated them retreating, lunging forwards in a quick coordinated attack accompanying my sword in the macabre fight dance. Always the same, always renewed.
Now warmed up my actions became swifter and more accurate.
However, the circle narrowed progressively, their gestures were more aggressive. Their cloudy faces peaked through the darkness sometimes, but none of their vague features was familiar to me. I kept them at bay with wide motions seeing my blade cutting in the ghostly crowd that stepped back only to return more numerous.
I was in danger, the space between them and me steadily reduced leaving little range to give a proper assault. I couldn't flip above them, their ranks were too tight. I was reduced to counter their attacks.
Suddenly an indistinct visage caught my attention. For a mere second I saw with horror my father's face among my shadowy foes. The parched hole of his mouth opened disproportionately and I heard the thousand shrills of pain that have been haunting my dreams. Gasping I backed away giving an ample sweep of my blade to my right side maintaining my adversaries at a distance.
I almost dropped my saber when it met at full speed an unrelenting obstacle. I tightened my grip on the hilt as a very familiar voice briefly commented~~~
"Obedient. As usual."
Her eyes flew open to meet the gaze of a mildly annoyed General.
Of course.
Before she had time to think of an excuse, he disengaged his blade from hers and launched into an unmerciful series of attacks. He was everywhere at the same time, testing her, always having her on the verge to make a mistake and open her line to his saber. She managed to block him, their blades crackling menacingly and casting strange shadows on the walls.
Blue against white.
It seemed that she was going to have her money's worth, fortunately this stuff had a training mode, otherwise. she felt a burn on her thigh, she hissed and recoiled a bit. Damn! It still hurt. She shielded herself, gathered the Force around her and flipped over him in order to get some more space and immediately attacked.
Each of his moves was easy, precise and deadly effective, his style was elegant. He was an experienced warrior and was by very far one of the best sword men of the Order. He knew her way to fight, her favorite techniques, her weaknesses. she calmly evaluated her chances. and sneered derisively at herself. She was no match.
But they both knew she would try all the same.
"Stubborn paddy," he muttered with a small smile.
"We loved to feel oppressed, it's in our genes." She answered brushing a loose lock of hair out of her face.
Kenobi was a darn demanding adversary, no surprise there, but this time he wasn't holding back or merely showing her a move as he did at the Temple. They were both knights now and Noor had to take deep in her energy to fight him back. The duel was a succession of parry, thrust and blocking going over and over with no time to think in between. A single fault and she would be defeated.
She had the aggravating sensation that he was leading her wherever he wanted.
::I do:: He taunted her through the link.
Her attention was flawed for a second, she dropped her shields long enough for him to send her to the floor with the Force. She landed flat on her back her breath momentarily knocked out of her lungs.
:: See? :: his smirk was almost palpable in her mind.
She barely had time to raise her blade to deflect his which was descending on her with an alarming speed. She wisely did not attempt to measure up with his strength and rolled on her side to get away from him.
:: You are not playing fair Kenobi! ::
He raised an eyebrow and she took advantage of it to shove him away with the Force.
:: Well, I'm not either.:: she sent with a smirk of her own as she promptly stood up.
From that moment on she avoided any type of situation which would expose her to close combat. Not a good idea with a man who was a good foot taller than you.
The battle resumed. She slashed in the direction of his upper body causing him to duck and then tried to catch his legs with the biting heat of her blade but he smoothly jumped away only to retaliate with a thrust which missed her shoulder by an inch. A thin strand of her hair fell to the ground. She was so caught up in the action that she didn't see it and thrust at him in turn as he bent down to pick it up.
Her aim was good and she caught him by surprise, but that was counting without his reflexes. He straighten up hastily and, accompanying her move, he pivoted until she found her right arm trapped between his upper arm and his side in one fluid motion. Carried along by her momentum, she collided in a wall of man, her saber meeting nothing but the void behind him when his blade was dangerously close to her neck. He switched it off ending the duel. She imitated him.
Noor could feel his chest heaving deeply against hers. A half smile appeared on her face. At least she had tired him out. She, on an other hand, was on the verge of collapsing.
"Are you trying to kill me Commander?"
There was a teasing edge in his tone. 'Smug bastard', she huffed inwardly.
"I seriously doubt it sir, for I'm quite dead myself." She said trying to focus on slowing down her breathing and not on the sensation of his own brushing against her brow. Her eyes followed distractedly a bead of sweat tracing lazily the curve of his neck.
His face was inches from hers.
'What if.'
She trailed off as she though she saw the echo of her muted question flicker in his eyes for a split second. They didn't move, assessing each other. Something tensed up between them.
She abruptly burst out laughing starting Kenobi who raised an eyebrow.
" You really come from another world Alrahan," he said with a patient smile. "I see that our nightly training is diverting you greatly."
"Indeed, I treasure our corny moments ." she retorted with a phlegm she did not quite possess at that minute. He let out a low chuckle.
"That laughter, does that mean the you forgive me?" Noor asked, turning serious. She did not have to specify, he knew exactly what was she talking about.
"Are you apologizing?" His asked with a mock shocked expression.
She gave him a look. He raised his free hand and gave her the hair he had sliced.
"There. I wasn't able to be there when they cut your braid, now you are a knight in my eyes too, it was a good fight. You are impossible but I think I forgave you before I even passed the door of the practice room."
"But I hurt you, right?"
His eyes were deep and calm. "Yes." He admitted simply.
She lowered her gaze to the ground. "Well, likewise."
He exhaled lightly. "Do you really think that maintaining on purpose a constant tension between us was pleasant to me?"
Noor glanced up at him, puzzled.
"You seemed so little convinced by the situation and your own skills. I knew from my memories of our padawan days that confrontation had always brought forth the best of you so I had to make you react." He smiled lightly. " Let's just say that it worked."
"Indeed." She approved tartly. If a part of her was furious to have been toyed with again, the other couldn't help but to feel relieved that it had no personal cause.
"Release me please?"
He loosened his grip but kept hold of her wrist as he undid her tight uniform sleeve.
Then he went for the first buttons of her shirt.
She froze.
"Um. I believe that you are undressing me General."
"I am." Came the serene reply.
She gulped and stiffened slightly when he slid the material of her blouse off her left shoulder and bent forward. She felt a burning sensation coursing in her upper arm.
Gazing down she saw a long cut running down the bared patch of skin. He took a little vial out of his utility belt and poured a few drops of a brownish liquid directly on the wound making her grit her teeth. She relaxed, the burning gave way to an impression of freshness.
"What an appalling dirty mind you do have. I am quite astonished." He stated visibly amused while he wiped the balm and the blood with a cloth, "How do you feel now?"
"Absolutely mortified."
"Excellent."
"Tease." She muttered under her breath.
"Here." He said rolling down her sleeve and gracefully ignoring her.
Without thinking he reached out to button up her shirt just as she rose her hand to do it. Their fingers bumped awkwardly. Realizing what he had done, he quickly withdrew his hand and stepped away clearing his throat to cover his embarrassment. "Now go before I lock you up in the hold for insubordination and disrespect towards a superior."
Noor laughed lightly. "You'd love that, wouldn't you?"
He only waggled his brows.
"That's what I thought." She confirmed and yawned
"You can barely stand. Go. To. Sleep. And this time, don't get lost on the way back to your quarters Commander."
"Ay, ay sir." She saluted unconvincingly and walked to the door.
"You should do that more often."
"What? Kick your sorry butt at saber practice?" He asked smugly.
"No. Smile."
The door slid closed behind her.
*****
~~~.~~~ stream of consciousness (First person narration)
*****
She tossed and turned on her bunk for what seemed to be hours, the images she had seen at the Temple would not let her rest that night. She hadn't said a word of them to Kenobi yet, it had been two days since they had talked but she was scared.
Practice, that was what she needed, a good session of saber practice to tire her nervous mind out, to cleanse her of the nightmares and the doubts. She noiselessly got dressed, grabbed her saber and left the quarters she shared with Gabrielle being the only women officers on the deck.
She crossed the almost desert bridge, the view they had of Nar Shaddaa from the cockpit was unsettling. The planet was the opposite twin of Coruscant. Once rich and powerful, the giant city had fallen over the decades into decay, looking now like a monstrous creature devouring itself. A sinister reminder of the Republic current fate.
She shifted her gaze on the little moon and the impression of threat tightened in her. 'A star of death.' The words echoed in her mind.
Deliberately turning her back to the ominous station and the poisoned planet, she went to lean on one elbow at the large panoramic window for a moment watching absently at the stars. When she caught a wave of the Force, she didn't have to turn around to see who it was.
"Let's face it Kenobi, the Jedi golden age is drawing to an end. Look at this war," she said with a fatalistic gesture, "We failed to protect the Republic."
" We are not politicians Alrahan, there is little we can do to purge a tainted system. The Republic is weak now."
" The Republic died long ago!" She pointed out firmly. "And with it falls the Order. The first harbingers were already there before I left, but our judgment has been biased by our confidence."
From the corner of her eyes she saw her CO's face harden slightly.
:: You know I am right, with the civil war we are scattered all around the Galaxy, the Order is more or less expelled from the Temple and the Senate hardly ever consults the Council anymore. We are barely more than an old myth, just like the plans we are to seek.:: She sent mentally.
The answer snapped back almost instantly.
:: I am grateful for the scholar cool appraisal of the situation. May I mention however, that it isn't the Punic Wars we are talking about but a far more intricate, wider, and above all, present conflict.::
"I happen to have a brain which enables me to be multifunction, therefore my job isn't my essence so I can think outside a library. QED." She countered aloud.
Kenobi stood his ground exceedingly unimpressed: " Your syllogism is lame."
"Consider it as an enthymeme then." She retorted with a sly smile. (NA: yes, it's a smartass scholar joke:))
She sensed that he was fighting back a smile. "You know it's not. Not with three statements."
"That's possible, I am not conservative either." She said using his own words.
"You will never yield, will you?" He asked looking straight in her eyes.
" Would you?"
He answered with a dry snort and shook his head as he would have done in front of an incorrigible child. "This is the sound of my victory!" She concluded with a grin, feeling her heart growing lighter: they were back to their old bantering. Perhaps she could still win his friendship after all.
"This is the sound that dismisses you to your bed and ends that absurd and frivolous conversation."
Noor smiled knowingly, he was enjoying that little competition between them. She glanced at the chrono, it was around one in the morning. She still needed to work out the tension. She turned back to the General with a scheming glint in her eyes.
"What?" Kenobi asked on his guards.
"What about giving me a good lesson with a saber sparring then?" The young woman held up her weapon. He examined her as if she was some vicious five years old definitely up to something.
" That's tempting but curiously, I am not sure that playing with a light saber at one in the morning is the most logical thing to do for two commanding officers. Or two adults. Let's not even mention the whining and moaning sessions that I had to go through to get you to practice during your formation. Go get some rest."
She started to protest but he cut her short.
"It wasn't a mere suggestion Commander." He warned back to his full General mode.
For once, Noor only nodded and left without further argument. Kenobi sighed thinking that she would positively cause him to age prematurely and started a mental count down as he headed to his own quarters.
~*~
'Screw him' She thought as she ignited her blade. She had chosen an empty meeting room far from the sleeping quarters.
~~~ As graceful and efficient as the saber was, I have always disliked its threatening sound. I was so used to quietness. Closing my physical eyes I opened my mind's ones. I spotted invisible opponents, they were advancing slowly, surrounding me in a tight circle. How many were they? I didn't know I felt their movements more than I saw them. I anticipated them retreating, lunging forwards in a quick coordinated attack accompanying my sword in the macabre fight dance. Always the same, always renewed.
Now warmed up my actions became swifter and more accurate.
However, the circle narrowed progressively, their gestures were more aggressive. Their cloudy faces peaked through the darkness sometimes, but none of their vague features was familiar to me. I kept them at bay with wide motions seeing my blade cutting in the ghostly crowd that stepped back only to return more numerous.
I was in danger, the space between them and me steadily reduced leaving little range to give a proper assault. I couldn't flip above them, their ranks were too tight. I was reduced to counter their attacks.
Suddenly an indistinct visage caught my attention. For a mere second I saw with horror my father's face among my shadowy foes. The parched hole of his mouth opened disproportionately and I heard the thousand shrills of pain that have been haunting my dreams. Gasping I backed away giving an ample sweep of my blade to my right side maintaining my adversaries at a distance.
I almost dropped my saber when it met at full speed an unrelenting obstacle. I tightened my grip on the hilt as a very familiar voice briefly commented~~~
"Obedient. As usual."
Her eyes flew open to meet the gaze of a mildly annoyed General.
Of course.
Before she had time to think of an excuse, he disengaged his blade from hers and launched into an unmerciful series of attacks. He was everywhere at the same time, testing her, always having her on the verge to make a mistake and open her line to his saber. She managed to block him, their blades crackling menacingly and casting strange shadows on the walls.
Blue against white.
It seemed that she was going to have her money's worth, fortunately this stuff had a training mode, otherwise. she felt a burn on her thigh, she hissed and recoiled a bit. Damn! It still hurt. She shielded herself, gathered the Force around her and flipped over him in order to get some more space and immediately attacked.
Each of his moves was easy, precise and deadly effective, his style was elegant. He was an experienced warrior and was by very far one of the best sword men of the Order. He knew her way to fight, her favorite techniques, her weaknesses. she calmly evaluated her chances. and sneered derisively at herself. She was no match.
But they both knew she would try all the same.
"Stubborn paddy," he muttered with a small smile.
"We loved to feel oppressed, it's in our genes." She answered brushing a loose lock of hair out of her face.
Kenobi was a darn demanding adversary, no surprise there, but this time he wasn't holding back or merely showing her a move as he did at the Temple. They were both knights now and Noor had to take deep in her energy to fight him back. The duel was a succession of parry, thrust and blocking going over and over with no time to think in between. A single fault and she would be defeated.
She had the aggravating sensation that he was leading her wherever he wanted.
::I do:: He taunted her through the link.
Her attention was flawed for a second, she dropped her shields long enough for him to send her to the floor with the Force. She landed flat on her back her breath momentarily knocked out of her lungs.
:: See? :: his smirk was almost palpable in her mind.
She barely had time to raise her blade to deflect his which was descending on her with an alarming speed. She wisely did not attempt to measure up with his strength and rolled on her side to get away from him.
:: You are not playing fair Kenobi! ::
He raised an eyebrow and she took advantage of it to shove him away with the Force.
:: Well, I'm not either.:: she sent with a smirk of her own as she promptly stood up.
From that moment on she avoided any type of situation which would expose her to close combat. Not a good idea with a man who was a good foot taller than you.
The battle resumed. She slashed in the direction of his upper body causing him to duck and then tried to catch his legs with the biting heat of her blade but he smoothly jumped away only to retaliate with a thrust which missed her shoulder by an inch. A thin strand of her hair fell to the ground. She was so caught up in the action that she didn't see it and thrust at him in turn as he bent down to pick it up.
Her aim was good and she caught him by surprise, but that was counting without his reflexes. He straighten up hastily and, accompanying her move, he pivoted until she found her right arm trapped between his upper arm and his side in one fluid motion. Carried along by her momentum, she collided in a wall of man, her saber meeting nothing but the void behind him when his blade was dangerously close to her neck. He switched it off ending the duel. She imitated him.
Noor could feel his chest heaving deeply against hers. A half smile appeared on her face. At least she had tired him out. She, on an other hand, was on the verge of collapsing.
"Are you trying to kill me Commander?"
There was a teasing edge in his tone. 'Smug bastard', she huffed inwardly.
"I seriously doubt it sir, for I'm quite dead myself." She said trying to focus on slowing down her breathing and not on the sensation of his own brushing against her brow. Her eyes followed distractedly a bead of sweat tracing lazily the curve of his neck.
His face was inches from hers.
'What if.'
She trailed off as she though she saw the echo of her muted question flicker in his eyes for a split second. They didn't move, assessing each other. Something tensed up between them.
She abruptly burst out laughing starting Kenobi who raised an eyebrow.
" You really come from another world Alrahan," he said with a patient smile. "I see that our nightly training is diverting you greatly."
"Indeed, I treasure our corny moments ." she retorted with a phlegm she did not quite possess at that minute. He let out a low chuckle.
"That laughter, does that mean the you forgive me?" Noor asked, turning serious. She did not have to specify, he knew exactly what was she talking about.
"Are you apologizing?" His asked with a mock shocked expression.
She gave him a look. He raised his free hand and gave her the hair he had sliced.
"There. I wasn't able to be there when they cut your braid, now you are a knight in my eyes too, it was a good fight. You are impossible but I think I forgave you before I even passed the door of the practice room."
"But I hurt you, right?"
His eyes were deep and calm. "Yes." He admitted simply.
She lowered her gaze to the ground. "Well, likewise."
He exhaled lightly. "Do you really think that maintaining on purpose a constant tension between us was pleasant to me?"
Noor glanced up at him, puzzled.
"You seemed so little convinced by the situation and your own skills. I knew from my memories of our padawan days that confrontation had always brought forth the best of you so I had to make you react." He smiled lightly. " Let's just say that it worked."
"Indeed." She approved tartly. If a part of her was furious to have been toyed with again, the other couldn't help but to feel relieved that it had no personal cause.
"Release me please?"
He loosened his grip but kept hold of her wrist as he undid her tight uniform sleeve.
Then he went for the first buttons of her shirt.
She froze.
"Um. I believe that you are undressing me General."
"I am." Came the serene reply.
She gulped and stiffened slightly when he slid the material of her blouse off her left shoulder and bent forward. She felt a burning sensation coursing in her upper arm.
Gazing down she saw a long cut running down the bared patch of skin. He took a little vial out of his utility belt and poured a few drops of a brownish liquid directly on the wound making her grit her teeth. She relaxed, the burning gave way to an impression of freshness.
"What an appalling dirty mind you do have. I am quite astonished." He stated visibly amused while he wiped the balm and the blood with a cloth, "How do you feel now?"
"Absolutely mortified."
"Excellent."
"Tease." She muttered under her breath.
"Here." He said rolling down her sleeve and gracefully ignoring her.
Without thinking he reached out to button up her shirt just as she rose her hand to do it. Their fingers bumped awkwardly. Realizing what he had done, he quickly withdrew his hand and stepped away clearing his throat to cover his embarrassment. "Now go before I lock you up in the hold for insubordination and disrespect towards a superior."
Noor laughed lightly. "You'd love that, wouldn't you?"
He only waggled his brows.
"That's what I thought." She confirmed and yawned
"You can barely stand. Go. To. Sleep. And this time, don't get lost on the way back to your quarters Commander."
"Ay, ay sir." She saluted unconvincingly and walked to the door.
"You should do that more often."
"What? Kick your sorry butt at saber practice?" He asked smugly.
"No. Smile."
The door slid closed behind her.
*****