Post 10
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*After that, there was only one way my life could go and that was down. So I refused to let it.
It was genius really. He thought he had me beaten. He thought I was brainwashed...
So pretended like I was...
It wasn't hard...but acting is very tiring...
And I really want to sleep now.*
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Danshitie
Illian woke from his sleep, feeling less than relaxed. He realized that he must have been tired, because he didn't even remember going to sleep. Then he remembered her kissing him, and he smiled. The happiest moment of his life, and it was tarnished by hearing the stun bolt ring in his ears. He moved, and moaned. Every inch of his body hurt, and the bed felt like a clapboard on his back.
Slowly, he opened his eyes to see someone standing over him. For a second the sounds seemed slowed down, as if he wasn't quite awake yet. And then it was all clear and a pounding of noise and sound.
"Illian. Illian....Its Elbereth. Are you all right?"
He made an attempt to speak, and found that there was no moisture in his throat. A second later a glass of water was forced to his lips. "Anian, where is she?"
A familiar face looked at him, "I was hoping you could let us know, kid. You gave us quite a scare."
"How long was I out?"
Solo scrunched his face thinking for a moment. "Well from the moment we realized you were missing, to when you woke up just now ...about half a day."
"Its almost evening. She must be with him now."
Elbereth looked at him sternly. "Illy what happened. We need to know right now."
"Can I at least get of this rock hard bed?"
Another voice spoke up, Tristan. "No-- Doctor's Orders-- we think that when you fell you did something to your neck. I need to asses you first, this table will keep your neck still. Illian realized that his neck was not moving, and that there really wasn't any reason to argue.
"I think she panicked, but in a lucid way. She seemed to think that she wasn't worth saving, that all our sacrifices were going to get us killed in the long run, to save someone who was ultimately crazy. She said..." He took another sip of water. "She said that she would sacrifice herself once she got word that we had escaped safely, that she would distract him."
There was a brief silence as they contemplated this. Then Corran spoke up. "How long did she say it would take her?"
Everyone looked at him shocked. "Corran, we aren't going to leave her."
He looked astonished, "No that isn't what I was saying, just that we can get an assault put together in that time, so that then he will be distracted enough for us to get on our ships and out of here. It seems that the underground here is ready to move against him, they are calling for a new leader.
Illian smiled, "I know, Congratulations dear sister, you have the support of the people. Use it."
Elbereth looked at him. "What?"
"Since I've been back, I've become involved with the local Insurgency front. They are prepared to be in contact with groups like theirs planet wide. There will be no violence, just sudden silent demonstrators."
"Dear brother, what about the guards?"
He laughed, a brief twinkle in his eye. About the answer, he was stopped as Tristan pulled the snap off the table, and allowed him to sit up.
"You will be sore for awhile, Illian. Now go on."
Illian smiled wanly. "A guard at the palace has sought out guards like him who are opposed to Bran's now autocratic rule. He realized his error when he saw Anian's last skydive off the tower." He grew somber. "Funny, how the jump that saved her life is also the one that will bring Bran down. In a way she will be the one to have saved Danshitie." Coming out of his brief self-interlude he spoke with quick tact. "Anyway, the guards are with us, we just have to send the word, and they will attack, and they have agreed to protect Anian with their lives if Bran tried to touch her."
"Now," he sighed, " If only we could get her back, I hope that she changes her mind about it." A small tear trickled down his cheek. "If we don't move, she will kill herself. All she needs is word that we are safe and at the next possible moment she will be ....one with the Force." He looked at the pair of people who had just entered the room as he said that.
"Master Skywalker, Mara Jade...She respects you and Jedi Horn for what you did for her. When I took care of her this last month, all she would say was that the safest she ever felt was the moment her mind was clear on Yavin four. The moment she held her brother for the first time. "
Master Skywalker squeezed his wife's hand for a moment. "Thank you Illian, that means a lot. Whatever happens in two days, know this and understand this. The Force is your ally, whether you can touch it or not. If you are calm, you are using the light, but if you seek revenge and vengeance, the dark side will consume you. "
Elbereth and Tristan looked at each other and then echoed simultaneously. "Two days?"
He nodded. "I feel things are coming to a head. You must move quickly but with caution."
"Let's get to work then." Illian hopped off the table, favoring his right leg. "After I get the doctor to check this out."
~~~~~~~
The House of the Morodin
Bran's eyes glinted as he saw the girl standing before him. How interesting was it that the same brainwashing that she thought was conquered by the Jedi, was the same thing that brought her back to him. She had come back while he had been on another business trip, trying to restore the damage that had occurred when he had walked out of the other meetings with the local imperial garrison, he had arrived a day later and was pleasantly surprised. He tried a tact to test her "Sora, my dear. What of your brother Tristan?"
The terror in her eyes was clear. "He is not my brother. The only family I have is the Morodin. If I go near them, they will kill me."
"And who am I Sora?"
"You are my husband. I am yours." She echoed the words he had spoken to her on Correlia.
He strode to her, and leaned forward to kiss her, and she turned away shyly. So instead he kissed her cheek. "Have you never been kissed before?"
"No, but could I have something to eat first? They wouldn't let me eat." Nodding he took her into the Kitchen. "I've never been here before?"
"No, you weren't cooperative before, I was afraid to bring you here." He leaned forward to kiss her again.
"Oh." Her answer seemed slurred, like some part of her was changing. She ate slowly, knowing what she must do next to prevent other atrocities. As she ate, her hand began to shake, and her face twisted. He was so intent on other things, that he didn't notice the change until he found her holding a knife to his neck.
"You are ....you are..." Her breathing had become heavy, and inside she was thanking those acting classes that Illian had given her when she was 13 years old so that they could eat. "You aren't my husband, I'm Anian. " Then she changed her voice again. "No, I'm Sora. " He tried to grab her fingers. So in response she quickly dropped the knife and hit him with a one two punch in the gut.
As fast as her legs could carry her she ran to a room that she had chosen earlier with this occasion in mind. Quickly she locked herself inside. Leaning against the door she breathed in relief. The balcony here had been barred off, so he couldn't get in that way. The door here was quantum locked, because it happened to be his study, only he had left it unlocked now because that was where she had been brought to him. At that moment, a loud boom, surprised her enough for her to look for shelter, in case the house caved in.
Voices at the door. It was Bran. "Let me in, That is my study, you can't keep me out."
The crisp voice of the guards, "True, but orders are orders. The head of the family says that she isn't to be near you. You are to leave the premises immediately, by order of the Danshi Insurgency forces for Elbereth. " There seemed to be a brief scuffle, followed by his loud voice directed towards Anian. "You aren't rid of me yet, my dear. Your mind will taunt you every moment of your life, because I have done things to you that the vaunted Jedi will never be able to fix." His laugh became high pitched, and it slowly faded away.
The voice of the guard now came through the keyhole. "Anian, If I may call you that, We have been told to tell you to keep yourself locked in here, when the time is right they will come for you, until then. We shall protect you till the death. No more violence shall come to you from Morodin."
Anian breathed in relief and slumped against the door. It was finally over.
~~~~
Hours later, the house had been secured, and Mara, Mirax and Corran had run inside, only to be met by Luke who looked at his wife with a grave face.
"Mara, will everything here be all right without me and Han?"
She looked at him and silently nodded. "The second Imperium is ready to strike, I fear you need to rush back. I'm getting feelings from the children, and not all of them are good." Luke kissed her.
"I'm going to tell Han."
A few moments later Han came over to her and gave her a hug. "Mara, be careful. You mean a lot to the kid, don't let anything happen to you."
She smiled wanly. "I know. Tell him I'll get there as soon as I can to help."
"Finish here first. I'm going to go to Coruscant and try and get help from Leia, as soon as I can. May the Force Be With You."
"And You Solo. And you." She turned, after sending a caress to Luke, and ran after Mirax and Corran who were standing outside a guarded and locked door.
"We waited for you." Mara nodded, and they opened the door. Collapsed on the bed, fast asleep was Anian. Someone rushed past Mara, and a split second later she saw that it was Illian.
He caressed her face, shook the girl lightly. "Anian wake up, please. Anian."
Her gray eyes opened, and flashed. "Illian, I was trying to sleep."
Illian started. Then he let a smile grow on his face as he said. "Ay, and I was trying to wake you for a reason."
"What reason was that?" Her last comment was cut off by him crushing her to his chest.
He whispered in her ear. "To tell you how much I love you."
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*I'm afraid its time.
My eyelids are closing on me. Maybe I'll see you someday, Mara, Mirax, Corran. I hope you come out of this alive.*
~~~~
He was waiting for them the next evening under the street light. There was nowhere he could go without seeing the signs for his arrest and death. If he kept his head down, no one would notice that his eyes were purple, and instead they saw the dark eyes of the Native Danshitie's.
They left as a group. The red hared Jedi, and a dark hared woman with the Jedi with the silver blade from the night before were flanked by Elbereth and that scum of man Tristan Romani. Anian was walking slowly supporting a limping Illian. Illian whose grin lighted even the darkest night. They were the last of the pack. As Elbereth and Tristan passed next to his huddled form next to the light he saw his now ex-wife kiss his younger brother. Her arms were tight, with a face full of hope. It made him sick. Without thinking he moved, knowing that he would be the ultimate winner.
~~~~
As Anian released him from the heart-wrenching kiss, Illian saw the man move, like lightening he jumped out from under the garments, and grabbed Elbereth's hair. She screamed in pain, but froze as she felt the butt of a blaster under her neck.
Tristan's hand stopped halfway to his blaster, and his throat contracted as he saw the terror on her face. "Let your sister go Bran."
The man's disheveled face, leered at him. "No. I have the satisfaction of knowing that we will all die together. " He heard the snap hiss of two lightsaber blades, and pulled his other hand out from under his cloak. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. A thermal detonator is faster than a lightsaber blade."
"Morodin, you won't get away with this." That was sliver sword.
He laughed, "Oh but I will. But I will." Before anyone could do anything about it he dropped the thermal detonator. Tristan lunged for Elbereth, but stopped midway when he realized that the bomb had not gone off.
Morodin's face froze. It was a dud. Realizing the hilarity of the situation he threw his head back and roared with maniacal glee. "So maybe I do get the last laugh after all. Now you will live with her death on your hands." Like lightening he pushed Elbereth towards Tristan simultaneously bringing the blaster in sights with her heart. As the Blaster went off, he heard a wail from behind, as a girl in a light silver coat jumped in the line of fire.
There was silence. On the ground on top of Elbereth was Anian, who was now a pale white gasping for air. Slowly Elbereth moved out from under her, and took the girls head in her lap. "Anya, No...." Her tear stained face looked up at Tristan, who was red in anger.
The red hared Jedi spoke. "Tristan, Not in anger. Let him be dealt with by the people."
"No." To her surprise, the voice came not from Tristan but from Illian, who was pointing his blaster at Bran. Bran whose now unsteady laughter was becoming higher and higher pitched as the irony of what he had done set in. He had killed her. He had fulfilled her wish to die, when all of these pathetic friends had let him hurt her. He told them so.
Calm Illian walked over to his brother. "There is no judiciary, and as the youngest family member, I make the lasting decision. I pronounce him guilty of conspiracy, murder, and destruction of the family name. The sentence: death."
Mara and Mirax were talking to Anya, and turned as he spoke these words. Corran's ability to move was hindered by his holding Tristan back. What happened next stunned them all.
In a quick motion the elder Morodin snapped off a shot towards the red-faced Tristan yelling "I will get rid of you all...." Like the lady on the floor, Tristan ducked, while Corran flashed his saber to stop the beam. In the next instant Bran shot to the man in front of him who was aiming for his heart. Both beams passed in mid air and hit both at the exact moment.
Illian knew it was coming, but he didn't fear it. As he landed on the ground his arm searched out Anya's hand, and waited for the pronouncement. Tristan knelt by him in what seemed like ages...."He's dead Illian. You killed him."
"It wasn't for vengeance. It was for her. It was to stop him ..." He coughed and tasted the blood on his mouth. "It was to stop him from hurting others."
"You stopped him Illian, you stopped him."
"Is Anya still...I can feel her hand...but I can't...I can't.." In a quick motion, Tristan had him facing her.
Anian was blinking hard, as if the faster she blinked, the faster her heart would beat. But the blue tinge of her lips, showed that whatever Mara was trying to do was not working. Anian shook her head and whispered. "No Mara, I want to sleep. I'm tired. So tired." Her eyes met Illian's and she used up the last of her strength to touch his face. "So Illian Dono Morodin we didn't get more, but I know what they will say at the funeral." She coughed. "Illian Dono Morodin, wander of the stars, head of the Danshitie Insurgency, and, " she smiled weakly "and head of the pirate orphans, the lost children who wander from planet to planet. Friend of many. ......"
Illian continued "Love of Anya Selana Romani, the heart of Valdet, the hope of her family. Her sacrifice shall be remembered always....." He stuttered for a moment, and blinked as he answered her last line. "Friend of many, Lover of few."
Elbereth reached over and kissed her brother, letting her tears mingle with hers. "You are never lost, and you are found, just in time to be free."
Tristan looked at his sister and pressed his cheek against her own. "You are the light of my life, I will cherish the moments I had with you on the Academy forever. Forgive me for what I have done to you, and be at peace."
Anian smiled, "I am at peace. It was not your fault. Mara, I...can't see you" Mara came to Anian's shoulder. "Thank you and Mirax for all that you have done...thank you...your children will be proud." The pain appeared to get more intense, and she returned her gaze to Illian. "Illian." It was a whisper. "Illian." Her eyes closed, just as the others noticed that Illian's breath had gotten heavier, and his face was tight with nervousness, within seconds he breathed his last.