Ch: 2 Jedi Alkfalian Warrior
Later That Night
The midnight air blew softly upon Luke's face as he stood at the top of the Massasi Temple. Tonight would be an excellent night for flight. Spreading his arms he plummeted head first towards the ground below. Just before hitting the rich soil pearl opalescent wings shot from his back lifting him effortlessly into the chilly night air as wind would lift a feather.
As the transformation progressed his longish golden blond hair lengthened and streamed out behind him. This was the true form of the Skywalker. This was the form for which he and his father were both named. A celestial being, Not quite though still magnificent in their own rights.
Diving swooping and gliding on the wind currents Luke Skywalker had never felt so free or alive. Perhaps he would enter light speed tonight. Unfortunately Luke had a nightly observer. Mara Jade was just climbing the stairs to the top of the Massasi Temple when she saw Luke dive off of the balcony. Thinking the worst Mara hastened her steps to the top when the most amazing sight zipped passed her vision. It couldn't be could it? She could hardly believe her eyes, Skywalker an Angel, no way.
Why would he so badly wish to hide such a thing from her? Thoroughly confused and transfixed she sat upon the roof and watched him perform his Ariel ballet. Hitting another strong thermal Luke catapulted himself straight up into the air. Life couldn't have been sweeter for the stressed Jedi. He'd been avoiding the call of the skies for far too long. He sighed contentedly as the winds icy fingers wove its way through his hair. How he wished this moment could last forever yet all good things come to an end. Reluctantly folding his wings Luke Skywalker plummeted once again to the earth. Mara looking on watched as the wings disappeared entirely. Unable to maintain her silence Mara notified Luke of her presence.
" So Skywalker when were you going to tell me about your umm shall we say nightly excursions hmm," Mara inquired. Luke froze. Turning swiftly around he spotted Mara perched lazily atop the Balcony of the Massasi Temple.
"How much did you see," Luke asked carefully gauging her reaction with both his senses and the force.
"Oh somewhere between everything and nothing," Mara teased.
" Sith," Luke wore.
"Awwww, come now Skywalker it's not that bad. You're lucky I wasn't Kirana Ti. She would wish to tell the whole world you know. Besides its not every day I figure out my friends an Angel.," she joked. Luke on the other hand wasn't taking his exposure so well.
"No one can ever know Mara. Please! You must understand.," Luke reasoned.
"And the problem with people knowing would be," said Mara . " Y.yo.. You just wouldn't understand. Just don't tell okay. This is well was one secret I would have liked to keep for myself," Luke mumbled.
"Question though, if you keep on flying through the air in the dead of night someone besides myself is going to catch you. So if you're so concerned why do it? One person could bust your secret wide open.," Mara said.
"Well the skies kind of call to me. Much in the same way as the Force calls to you. I can resist it for a while but eventually I must once again take to the skies. It's just as important to my survival and sanity as breathing is. The skies never judge only comfort and caress. I must fly to get away from the stress of my days here. By the way, I am not an Angel I'm an Alkfalian warrior if you must know. You could look it up if you must know the specifics. Though Leia and I are Twins she has no knowledge of this power for she does not possess this trait. Why I'm not quite sure. Now if you'll excuse me I'm going in to bed." w/ that Luke turned and strode into the Massasi Temple.
Next Morning
Mara blearily opened her eyes wondering deep down inside if all she had seen had been in fact a dream. Skywalker actually "walking the skies?" too bizarre, thought Mara as she dressed and walked out into the morning sunshine.
Wonder why he wouldn't want anyone to know he's an Alkfalian warrior. She wondered.
"Morning Jade. Hope you slept well," Luke casually greeted.
Mara froze for there stood Luke Skywalker in nothing but a towel slung across his shoulders and a black pair of sweatpants. His toned torso gleamed at her and she suddenly found herself at a loss for words.
"Uhhh.. Mara are you okay?" Luke asked concerned at his unusually unresponsive friend.
"Oh, yes I'm fine. Why shouldn't I be? Though I bet I slept lots better then you did last night.," Mara spat regaining her composure.
"Well you know I've had many things on my mind. Couldn't very well fall asleep with all those thoughts flying through my head.," Luke replied.
"Yes I suppose not," Mara replied.
"Credit for your thoughts," Mara inquired seeing the distant look in Luke's eyes. "I don't think so these are pretty heavy thoughts," Luke teased absent-mindedly. " Come on Skywalker. I already know your deep dark secret. What's the big deal anyway? You have wings so what big whoop," Mara replied.
" You just don't get it do you? Being Alkfalian is more then just flying around. We have a certain amount of abilities. Much like I as a Jedi do. As an Alkfalian I possess certain abilities. Like when I fly I can enter into lightspeed. There's also the fact that my wings in and of themselves are weapons depending upon my mood and intentions. The big deal is if Palpatine finds out he could harness my power as he knows my Alkfalian name," Luke explained.
"But, uh, Skywalker Palpatines, dead. You were there remember, I was even trying to kill you because he was dead. ," Mara replied.
"He's back isn't he," Mara said seeing the blank look on Luke's face.
"Yes, I don't know how or even why he is but yes he's somehow returned. He speaks to me on a constant bases. Another strange thing about we Alkfalian's is when you speak our native name in our natural tongue we become bound to whomever spoke it whether we want to be or not.," Luke answered.
" Palpatine heard of my name through my father yet before he could utter it within the throne room my father Vader in an insane and lethal act of disobedience threw him down the reactor shaft. He not only saved my life but my soul as well that day. Now he's returned to claim what he believes is rightfully his.," Luke further elaborated.
" So why don't you just tell someone you trust your name. Then you can be bonded to them instead of to Palpatine," Mara suggested.
"It isn't that simple. You see my true Alkfalian name cannot be told to anyone it can only be given them through the will of the force. You see only the Alkfalian's mate and father are to know the true name. It is orchestrated this way so our power could not be abused. Yet no one had Palpatine in mind in the beginning.," Luke sighed.
" I really must be going classes start in a half hour," Luke excused turning to jog off down the hallway once again leaving Mara with more questions then she had answers to.
Emperors' Palace Byss
" Hmmm, so the Alkfalian has found a confident eh? No matter soon his power like his fathers will be mine.," Palpatine reasoned.
"Jervis? Travel to Yavin IV I want my Alkfalian now. Do not provoke him too much, you of all people should know the penalty for incurring their wrath.," Palpatine said.
"Yes, but Master how exactly am I to capture a being of such power when I am barely a Sith at that," Jervis nervously asked hunching his shoulders anxiously awaiting the possible repercussions his doubtful reply may have arisen.
"Ah, as to that end I have dioxsisentalin. A potent poisonous gas only effecting Jedi Alkfalian Warriors in particular, he won't even notice it until it's too late. Once he falls from consciousness capture him and bring him before me," Palpatine instructed.
"It will be as you say Master," Jervis smiled.
Massasi Temple Yavin IV
Jervis strode out of the forest and began scanning the area for his target. It didn't take long there in the midst of his students sat Luke Skywalker. It seemed he was currently teaching them to trust the force instead of their eyes.
Luke sat still in the middle of the students slowly lifting objects in front of each student's blinded eyes.
"A leaf," piped one student.
"How do you know this is a leaf," Luke questioned.
"I 'see' the veins and the chloroplast flowing through them," the student readily replied.
"Very good," Luke answered. The lesson had been going on for a while now when Luke suddenly began to feel woozy. Calling on the force to clear his head Luke felt himself only become all the more disoriented. To the alarm of his students he slumped over onto the ground in a dead faint.
Emperors Palace Byss
"Arise my Young Warrior. It's now time to fulfill your destiny.," Palpatine purred to the awakening Alkfalian.
"Palpatine, what how did I get here," Luke questioned afraid.
"Ahh, you are fearful. Good you should be soon I'll make you an extension of my will. Together we shall rule the entire universe. Like the sound of that, No? Well that's too bad," Palpatine sneered.
"Jervis bring forth the antidote. Let us see what power the unwilling alliance of a Jedi Alkfalian will award us," Palpatine ordered.
The moment the syringe pierced his skin Luke felt his power and force awareness shoot once again through his body. Though his relief was short lived.
"Now I shall speak your name binding you to me for eternity," Palpatine hissed. Methodically an eerie musically mournful note sounded through the room.
"I call thee to my side Ralicifemirian, he who rules the warriors of the skies, to be my allay for life," Palpatine chanted raising his arms far above his head in sick and twisted pleasure.
Fortunately Palpatine lacked one essential piece, the blood of the deceased mate.
"Sorry didn't work. Did you honestly believe it would this easy for you? Honestly the Alkfalian are wiser then you believe. There is yet still one thing you lack," Luke mocked the seething Sith Lord.
" Ah, yes I remember now, the blood of your deceased mate. Yes I see how that could prove to be a..," Palpatine was abruptly interrupted by a quick blinding flash of light. Suddenly he became engulfed in whit blue lightening flames barring him from any action. Luke, loosing no time, spread wide his pearly opalescent wings and vaulted from the window.
"JERVIS TRAVEL THROUGH THE NEW REPUBLIC AND FIND HER," Palpatine roared.
"Find who master," Jervis asked.
"The mate of the Alkfalian," Palpatine hissed.
"Once found I want her killed on sight then brought before me," Palpatine huffed.
" Yes but how am I to know if it is she or not," Jervis questioned.
"You will know her by the simple fact that she will know the Alkfalian's secret," Palpatine instructed.