I'm hoping to finish reposting this story before the end of 2005, but life is very hectic at times so please bare with me.
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The Last Defender
By Lyda Mae (RavenDove) Huff
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Chapter Eight: The World Without a Name
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Luke lie in the palace medical-wing; his leg in a calcification frame. Fenice had shut herself away with Threepio to translate the scroll, and do research on who would have a motive to rig the ledge on Dantooine. According to Leia she hadn't come out since yesterday when she'd shut herself in after her hasty departure from the medical bay.
Luke was lost in thought when he heard a familiar voice. He looked up to find Kyp Durron was standing in the doorway.
"Hope you don't mind a visitor," Kyp smiled, "I was in the neighborhood and stopped by to visit Han. When he told me you were here. I figured I better say hello."
"Did Han tell you how I ended up here?" Luke asked.
"Some of the story." Kyp admitted. "He said it had to do with a mission, or a quest that you were helping a student of yours with."
"Fenice Eamar Dayknight, the last Tein'kal Defender of Ansath." Luke stated. "She's on a mission to save her people from something that was done four-thousand years ago."
"Han told me about the scrolls." Kyp offered.
Fenice entered the room studying a pad. She looked up ready to speak, but paused on seeing Kyp. "I didn't know you had company." she turned to leave.
"Don't go I'd like you to meet Kyp Durron, Jedi Knight." Luke said to her. At this Fenice turned back around.
Kyp took her hand, "You must be Defender Fenice." he said before gently kissing her fingers.
Fenice blushed, "I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage, no doubt you've heard much about me, and all I know of you is stories."
"Stories are not to be believed." Kyp said letting go off her hand.
"They have truth, but after the twentieth person it is lost, or beyond recognition." Fenice admitted. She was at least eight years his senior, but still she found him handsome, and his manner charming.
Luke spoke of the silence that had developed, "You had something you wanted to tell me."
Fenice looked at him sheepishly, "I couldn't find record of anyone with a motive for rigging the ledge."
"But then neither of us expected to." Luke countered.
"Exactly." Fenice nodded. "As for translating the scroll; it wasn't easy there are a-lot of te-dien words in this one."
"te-dien?" Kyp asked.
"Words in Aras that are different from spoken when written." Fenice clarified. "I still managed to find the location of the next scroll. It's in Imperial held territory on a world without a name. The clue for the challenge is; where one with Aran eyes must come alone to face her own shadow."
"I think I know what that means." Luke pondered. "You still need a pilot to take you there."
"I know," Fenice admitted, "all my years planet bound."
"If a pilot is all you need," Kyp offered, "I volunteer."
Fenice looked at Luke, "I don't have time to debate this. The reckoning is at it's own pace not mine."
"By the time you get back I should be out of here." Luke smiled.
"I go arrange for the Markiea to lift off." Fenice nodded and left.
Kyp watched as she walked out the door. "She's carrying a lot off weight on her shoulders."
"Yes she is," Luke admitted to his former pupil, "and I don't know if Han told you she blames herself for my broken leg."
"Han didn't know all the details, but he told me as much." Kyp looked at Luke.
"Keep an eye on her for me," Luke said, "she's about to face a difficult test, and
she's unsure of herself."
"I promise." Kyp said saluting with an imaginary lightsaber, and turning to follow Fenice.
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Kyp set down on the nameless world; the Markiea handled like a dream. Fenice came up to the cockpit as she tied her cloak. Kyp admired her thin frame and delicate face, her three long braids tied together.
"Keep the Markiea ready to lift off," she told him she tied the last lace, "if there's the slightest sign of the neighborhood welcoming community call me." she gestured to the com-link on her belt.
"Gladly," Kyp said, "you just take care, and get back here." Kyp couldn't help thinking of the promise he'd made Master Skywalker.
"You take care too," Fenice said, "and thanks for volunteering. You didn't have to." She turned and left before Kyp could say another word.
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She was here. Gam'nead felt it. The reckoning was indeed at hand.
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Fenice walked along the cliffs of the desolate rock world holding a torch in the darkness. She held up a pad with the map; trying to discern where she was. The cavern was there ahead of her, and she felt an unnerving sensation of dread.
Inside the cave on the far wall was an old optical scanner. Fenice wondered if it would still work. She looked into the apparatus and was greeted by the light of the scanner. The cycle completed and a door Fenice had not seen before opened in the rock. Fenice stepped through and it closed behind her. Her torch went out, but there was still a faint illumination in the room. There came from the corner a female figure in the ancient Tein'kal Defender's armor. The figure ignited two red-purple saber blades casting a eerie glow on her orange hair and fair features. Her Aran eyes were red and seamed to be on fire from within. Fenice recognized Gam'nead, and though the woman made no move to attack Fenice ignited her own lightsaber swinging heavily at the Sith Queen. Gam'nead made no motion to stop her. The blow cut clean through the woman's side. As she fell her lightsabers disappeared and her form changed to the all too familiar form of Fenice's blue haired sister Enora. Fenice reached for Enora catching her just before she hit the floor.
"Why?" Enora gasped to Fenice in her dying breath.
The apparition disappeared leaving Fenice with only the blue glow of her lightsaber to see by.
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Luke awoke from sleep with a great despair ripping at his soul. He knew then that Fenice had failed.
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Kyp had felt a trembling in the Force as he waited for Fenice. He hadn't stayed with the Markiea as she had told him. He had followed her with a feeling of something evil lurking in the shadows. He felt such a thing before. He'd nearly lost his soul to it. He couldn't let Fenice lose hers. He'd only just met her, but Kyp felt tied to the half-Aran Defender.
Kyp watched the door Fenice had gone through. Waiting as patiently as he could for it to open again. Finally when he could stand it no more it opened. Fenice stumbled out shakily; on seeing Kyp she tried to recover.
It was too late for her to recover. Kyp had seen the look in her eyes. He took her in his arms, and she collapsed against him sobbing. In the process the scroll she had came for tumbled to the ground. Kyp and Fenice followed it holding tight for some time.
Finally Kyp spoke as he dried her cheeks with his fingers. "I don't know what just happened, and I haven't known you long, but I know you aren't going to let it stop you."
Fenice sighed having cried herself dry, "You're right there is too much left and too many lives at stake." He helped her back to her feet and picked up the scroll she had dropped. Then as they were headed back to the Markiea Fenice said softly, "Thank you for coming after me."
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As the Markiea lifted off a battered Victory-class Star Destroyer came into view circling the planet's largest moon. "Now we find out if a non-aligned freighter can pass for neutral." Fenice grimaced at the sensor display.
"They're hailing us." Kyp said as he turned on audio.
"Unidentified freighter state your business or you will be fired upon." the transmission was short and to the point. Very Imperial.
Fenice flicked a switch transmitting their ID code then began stating her intent. "This is the freighter Markiea of Ansath we set down on the planet to make repairs."
"You are in Imperial territory." the officer on the Star Destroyer countered.
"I am aware of that we are returning to Ansath from a delivery to Paducas Chorios."
The Imperial Officer sighed, "Be on your way then." At this the Star Destroyer ended the hail.
Fenice turned off the ID transmitter and the audio. "You got the course for Ansath programed?" she asked Kyp.
"Yes," he smiled having anticipated her plan, "It's wise to be prepared."
"Once we're out of Imperial territory we can stop and reorient for Coruscant." Fenice said.
Kyp looked up from the controls as they jumped to light-speed, "Easily."
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Fenice found herself in a cascade of images. Things that had taken place millennia before she was born and things that were yet to come. But the images of the future were dark and grim. It was her fault. The end would come because of her.
Through the kaleidoscope came a figure. It was Gam'nead. She reached out a hand taking Fenice by the hair, "You are mine. Don't you see you have failed them already."
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Fenice sat up in the bunk on the Markiea in a cold sweat. It was only a dream. She looked over at the chronometer her eyes falling on the scroll she had just found instead. Or was it just a dream she wondered as the same eerie feeling came over her.
They would be at Coruscant soon. She dressed and gathered the scrolls.
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Gam'nead smiled. This undeclared child had no clue as to how thoroughly she had failed. She has no idea what she had brought with her form that forsaken nameless world. She had carried Gam'nead from her prison and Gam'nead would be her end.
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Luke waited as the Markiea set down on the East platform. He'd been out of the medical bay since yesterday, Too-Onebee having finally be convinced his leg had healed properly. Kyp, Fenice and Threepio strolled down the freighter's ramp. Luke saw the haunted look on Fenice's face. He met her eyes with understanding. He too had failed such a test in the cave on Dagoba.
Fenice held up the fifth scroll as if in answer to an unspoken question. "I haven't finished translating it yet." a thousand things sticking in her throat. The test, the dream, it was all too much.
Luke put his arm over her shoulder, "We have much to talk about." He led her away.
Kyp knew what they had to talk about and held Threepio from following.
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Fenice sat with Threepio in the archive room the Chief of State had provided for her work. She had spent many hours talking with Master Skywalker about the events of her trip to the nameless world. She felt a little better for it, but her task was far from over.
Threepio said something she did not quite hear, "I'm sorry my mind was elsewhere."
"No apology necessary Mistress Fenice." Threepio replied in his customary tone. "We've been at this for several hours perhaps you require a rest." he suggested helpfully.
"Perhaps." Fenice said rubbing her eyes.
"You are mine."
Fenice looked up to find herself in the dream Gam'nead pointing at her. Fenice began to dance. She looked at her arms and legs to find them moving by string against her will. She found herself throwing Martina into a wall then running.
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Luke and Kyp had gone to look in on Fenice. The room was a shambles. The pads and data cards were shattered about the floor. But worst of all was Threepio, the droid was in a heap by the wall with both of his arms torn off.
"Master Luke I do believe that Mistress Fenice is suffering a violent malfunction." Threepio said weekly as Luke helped him to his feet.
"She did this?" Luke asked though without much surprise.
"I'm afraid so." Threepio answered. "Oh dear!" the droid exclaimed finally looking at himself.
"Don't worry Threepio," Kyp commented, "you'll be fixed in no time, but right now we need to find Fenice."
Just as Kyp had spoke Luke's com-link beeped. "I've got a bad feeling about this." the Jedi Master said as he activated the link.
"Luke you better get to the observation level above the East platform quick." Han's voice said hurriedly.
"Fenice?" Luke asked.
Han's voice came back, "I don't know what happened but she attacked Ambassador Kiben."
"We're on our way." Luke said shutting off the com-link.
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When Luke arrived he saw Fenice standing in the middle of chaos. The black gaberdine she had wore the first time she had arrived on Coruscant billowed behind her along with her braids. But there was something wrong with her eyes, they glowed red like the statue of Gam'nead.
An apparition took form in front of the Tein'kal. Luke recognized the woman from her statue. "Gam'nead," he asked, "what have you done to my student?"
"Only taken what is mine." the apparition replied with a venomous calm.
"She was never yours." Kyp called out with pain in his heart.
"And how would you know little Jedi. I smell Kun on your soul." Gam'nead laughed. "Oh yes I knew Kun. He was a lot more than my teacher." She glided slowly to the unconscious form of Andok Kiben.
Kyp looked at Fenice and saw the scroll fastened around her body. He pointed it out to Luke.
"If Exar Kun was tied to a temple could Gam'nead be tied to a scroll." Luke whispered.
"Thinking you can defeat me." Gam'nead laughed. With a gesture of the Sith-Queen's hand Fenice drew her lightsaber and ignited it with a snap-hiss.
Luke and Kyp drew their own lightsabers each nodding to the other knowing the plan was not to hurt Fenice but to destroy the scroll. She came at Luke first driving him back with a skill he did not expect.
Kyp forced his way between them calling out to Fenice, "If you can hear me fight her. Don't let her use you. You're stronger than that Fenice." And for a moment the glow in her eyes lessened.
"Don't give up Fenice your mission is far from over." Luke called seeing what Kyp was trying to do.
Gam'nead just laughed, but it was working. Fenice began struggling not to fight her friends. In one clear moment Fenice forced Luke and Kyp's sabers away then ripped the scroll case away from her throwing it into the air. Three lightsabers met. Gam'nead vanished choking on her laughter. A cry of agony escaped Fenice's lips and it was over.
"Some one get a medic." Kyp called cradling Fenice in his arms.
Han and Leia came rushing in with the med-unit that had been called for the ambassador. "Do you have any idea what just happened?" Leia asked her brother. "I thought I saw some one standing over there." she said pointing to the spot where Gam'nead had hovered over Kiben.
"You did see some one." Luke said comely examining Fenice's burned flesh. "That was the Aran that tor the link and just now tried to finish destroying the Tein'kal."
A medic came and took Fenice from Kyp's arms in the silence.
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Gen knocked on the Healers' door, but no one answered. He walked in only to find Terick leaning against the wall with a look of bewilderment. "Why aren't you at your shop?" he asked the mechanic, "It's past mid-day."
Terick looked at an expression of absolute fright and despair on his face. He started toward the back of the house and Gen followed with out a word.
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In a room carved from the caverns below the Healers' home was a room with a three tiered bench around a dias in the center of the room. Terick held a lantern out for Gen to see. On each tier one of the Healers lay as if sleeping. "I found them in the woods this morning lying in their nightdresses." Terick spoke in a reverent tone. "They don't breath, and yet somehow I do not think they are dead."
"We must get word to Fenice and Master Skywalker." Gen spoke choking back tears.
Martina waved a hand in front of Gen. He did not see her or her triplets as they stood in the room. "You do that Gen, perhaps they will know what to do." she whispered knowing it went unheard.
"What do you think happened Martina?" Enora asked.
"I honestly don't know." she replied shaking her noncorporeal head.
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