Here's a double post for you guys today. I hope you enjoys it. ;)
K-Rock – Ich spreche ein bischen Deutsch. Somehow I have managed to retain some of it from my high school days. Go figure. I wouldn't say Mys 'fell over' this time. Just feelin' under the weathers all. ;) LOL. Just hold tight. Tomorrow's the exciting conclusion! ]:) Mwahahahahaha!
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"W-where - are – you – t-tak-king me?" he forced the question out of him. He never realized how hard it could be to talk. His unstable footing hindered his trek and received another shove for his inability to maintain a steady pace. Grasping for the wall with bound hands, he feebly tried to keep upright. It was no use, he slid down the length of the wall for what must have been the tenth time. She hauled him back up and they started their walk again. He wondered to himself what the purpose was to bind him, he was too exhausted and in debilitating pain, that it already took all of his concentration to place one foot in front of the other. There was not chance at all for him to escape. I guess they don't want to take any chances. He would have laughed at the thought if he wasn't in agony.
He was forever thankful when they finally stopped at a pair of doors. Wavering on his feet, he waited for them to open. He only hoped that once inside, he would be able to collapse. Tired. So tired. When they didn't open, he started to worry. A voice from behind startled him, "I see Ona has spent some quality time with you. I hope you enjoyed her company." She walked up beside him, staring at his battered form for a moment. "It's a good thing she's skilled enough to know when to stop. Or else the work put into this last test would have been for nothing."
"What – test?"
"Over the course of the years, I have conducted many experiments. Created many toxins and anti-toxins of various forms. But I have wondered if it was possible to heal without medications or inoculations. Your Master used the Force to heal his wounds gradually. And I have often pondered its potential. Now, I offer you a choice. Would you choose to use your power to heal yourself or those who have been stricken by illness? And more importantly, how far would you go? I want to know the breaking point of the Force. And you will provide the answer."
"W-what - makes you - think - I'll he-elp you?" He wasn't about to sacrifice himself for her lackies, if she even had them. And all he really wanted to do right now was fall back into oblivion.
"Oh, I think you'll see reason." She accessed the panel and the doors opened. From behind the Bounty Hunter expertly pushed him in, disrupting his precarious balance and causing him to land hard in the entrance of the room. Slowly, he managed to lean back on his haunches and focus on the world around him. He could hear soft moans from all sides. Looking down the lengths of the room his heart skipped a beat. Lying in medcouches that were crammed into the large infirmary were children.
*
"We're entering Balesco's atmosphere. We should be landing at Arbor's compound in the next few minutes," Anakin reported.
"Good." MysAri said, staring out the viewport, an intensity in her emerald gaze. Her discomfort had grown considerably over the past few hours, but she concentrated on other things to cope to with it. Namely, the man she sought. There was a growing sense of urgency from the moment they entered the system. When they came out of hyperspace the feeling increased tenfold. Now the trio sat in a palpable silence at the edge of their seats. Barely able to contain their worries they kept their eye out for their goal.
Bant sat just behind them, but her view alternated between their destination and the people she was with. Looking at MysAri, the sheen of perspiration glistened on the Knight's skin. "You're still not well, Mys." She cautioned uselessly.
The crimson and raven haired Jedi did not turn. Her jawline tightening even further. Softly, her response conveyed an ever growing emotion, "Don't you feel it? Can't you sense it?"
Almost successfully keeping her tears at bay, the Healer muttered, "yes."
Joining the conversation as he piloted them through the lower atmosphere, Anakin added, "It's fear."
"Yes, but it's not like I've ever felt before." Mys' green eyes darkened a shade more.
"No," the Padawan replied sounding somewhat further away than in reality, "It's the Force that's afraid. Afraid to lose…."
"Afraid to lose one of her children." Silence swept through the cabin, but they all knew of whom the Force was afraid for. MysAri urged, "Hurry, Ani, before it's too late." He needed no more prompting and the craft began to shake around them from the pressure.
*
"Monster." It was the only thing he had the strength to utter.
"One might call me that, but I prefer visionary." The scientist casually took a position in front of him, her back exposed to an attack, if only he had the strength. "I hate to see a child suffer needlessly you know. I'll bet you don't like to either."
Taking a deep breath, he focused his energy, "What have you done to them?"
"I thought you would never ask." Smirking her satisfaction, she continued her mocking monologue, "They were orphans mostly. I took them in, gave them shelter and food. In exchange I asked for the acceptance and unquestioning loyalty."
"And their lives," bubbling rage churned in him.
Regarding him, she shrugged, "Well, it was a possibility, afterall there must be some sacrifices made in the name of science."
"But innocent children?" His anger seething just beneath the surface.
Circling her victim with growing agitation, the scientist bickered, "Nature never cared whether or not those she claimed were innocent." A dark edge entered the sultry voice. "Young old, adult child, male female. It never mattered to her, so why should it matter to me?"
"Nature is uncontrollable." His profound sense of injustice fueled his weak body, adding strength to his words, "You can't always know when a storm will hit, a volcano erupt, an earthquake strike. She may not be selective in her claims but she is random."
"As am I," she snapped, "The children were lost, I gave them purpose."
Shaking his head, he knew that what she did was outright wrong. "By experimenting on them?"
Arbor glared down at the man, folding her arms across her chest. A defiant stance that only made her look like a spoiled child who hadn't got her way. "You can't create without tools. They needed a purpose, I needed test subjects."
"You create death." He spoke through clenched teeth, barely containing his rage.
Countering easily, she shrugged again, "I have made cures."
"At the cost of how many lives?" The thoughts and speculation of her cruelty were beyond his capacity for reasoning.
She stood quietly considering her answer. Finally, she knelt down close to him, "More that you ever want to know." Suddenly she felt hands constricting her throat. Panicking for a moment, she fumbled for the controller in her pocket. As soon as her fingers lighted on it, she began searching for the correct button and pressed it. The results were instantaneous. With a cry, the hands fell away, allowing her to breathe again.
Desperately, he had lunged for her. Hoping he had the strength and conviction to take the beast's life. Vile creatures like Arbor should never be allowed to exist, yet here she was. And she was not the first, nor would she be the last of her kind. Still he had to try and wipe the galaxy clean of this one. Not even concerned about the consequences he reached out for her when she was close enough. Mostly using his good hand, he squeezed. Wondering if he could kill a woman in cold blood, his mind was suddenly aflame with new pain. His already weakened condition could not fend off the attack and he easily succumbed.
He could just hear her through the torment, "That was a foolish thing to do. For that alone, I should leave you to languish here. Let you listen to their misery, but that would only defeat the purpose of bringing you here."
Gradually, the white-hot blaze tapered off. Gasping, he remained lying on the cool tiled floor peering up at his tormentor. He heard a raspy voice speak that only later he realized was his own, "What purpose?"
"A choice. You can either use that precious Force of yours to heal yourself or cure them. Their ailments and illnesses are minor at this point, but if left untreated, they will more than likely die a miserable death. And from the looks of you, you don't have much time left. So I give you the choice, their lives or yours."
With great care and deliberation, he scratchily responded, "You should know by now what my answer will be." His murky sea-washed eyes stared daggers at her. But they didn't faze the psychotic woman, an evil smirk began to form.
"I do, which is what makes this so enjoyable. Don't worry, for the Force is your ally, isn't that right? And I will make sure you can tap it, and then some. Now we'll see just how much you can do before you finally join it." Jenna Zan Abor glared down at her prey. Bringing up her control device she hit a few buttons.
At first, there was no change. Slowly but surely, he began to feel it. Or rather his senses began to pick up a little more of his world. And as it continued to expand, his body became more aware of his own extensive injuries. And as much as it worried him nothing could persuade his heart more than the whispered thoughts of the children on every side of him. Whispers of pain and regret and sadness. He knew what he had to do.
*
They could see the compound now. Anxious to set down and find their quarry, Anakin set the controls to land automatically as they rushed to the hatch. While they were touching down, a shuddering tremble could be felt through the Force. "Something's happening," the young man said, fear gripping his throat.
"There's no time to waste. We have to find Obi-Wan now!" MysAri commanded as the ramp slid out. The trio sprinted down the ramp and into the doorway to the complex, lightsabre's in hand. All the while hoping that they weren't too late.
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Next chap coming right up!! :D
