Hah... It's here when we all thought it would never come: the last chapter. It's not too eventful, but simply deals with the immediate aftermath of Gomika's actions. Thank you to all readers, especially my reviewer JediTwitch. ;)
Reflection
When looked upon from the fateful present, often the past seems too good to be true. One could never have been that secure and happy. When reflection upon happier times past is engrossing oneself, the present seems all the more dark and dire.
Reflections were taking up Sombal Beyul's day for now, as scenes from the past with her now gone twin sister continuously plagued her. Overhead, the Yavin System's sun was fading into darkness, just as it had been rising when Sombal took a seat atop the Great Temple.
Neither affected her.
No one had dared venture to the Great Temple's roof today in fear of disturbing the brooding Nssh girl. Not Master Skywalker, not Jedi Jade Skywalker, not her friends, for they all knew they could do nothing but harm.
Nothing but harm… Sombal thought as another memory presented itself in her mind.
-----
Sombal strode gallantly up to Gomika, holding in her hands a small, beautiful Nssh llyyyrtoa. It was a small fish of a very rare type in the seas where the Beyul family lived, worth large amounts as the rich kept them for pets. And amazingly, this was the second one that Sombal had found and caught today.
"Gomi, look!" she said, opening her webbed fingers ever so lightly to show her sister the prize. "I caught another one!"
Gomika only nodded. "That's great, Sombal."
"I'm going to put it in the dish with the other one."
"Don't," Gomika warned.
Frowning, Sombal glanced at her sister. "Why not?"
"Because two llyyyrtoa together are like you and me: different as air and water. They'll kill each other, because they're like all other living things: they can do nothing but harm to each other."
Not heeding Gomika's warning, Sombal put the two fish together. Within minutes, before she could stop it, both were dead.
-----
Gomika's words burned in Sombal's head.
Together they are like you and me: different as air and water. They'll kill each other, because they are like all other living things: they can do nothing but harm to each other.
She had never at any point in her life denied that she and Gomika were very different, but really, could they be so different that they were like a pair of llyyyrtoa? Were they destined to tear each other apart like that?
Gomika's actions were tearing at Sombal now, most certainly, but to the point of death?
Like all other living things…
One of Gomika's most stressed opinions upon Sombal was that living beings could never settle mutually on anything long enough to help one another in the long run. People were just too different, she said. And wars were started that way.
Sombal had always disagreed. People were different, yes, but at heart, were not most people the same? Couldn't they all feel pain, anger, joy, anxiety, comfort and so on? And if they all had the same feelings at heart, couldn't they find common ground?
But now she saw that she and Gomika had never quite managed to find common enough ground.
Yes, they'd made it through childhood together, up until these early teenage years, but truly, had it had any effect on what would become of the two's relationship in years to come?
Slowly, Sombal's mind drifted back to more memories sparked by these thoughts…
-----
"Oh, you two are just so cute!" exclaimed Aunt Rffeendyy at Sombal and Gomika's matching outfits.
Ten years old, Gomika scoffed angrily and folded her arms, while beside her Sombal smiled proudly.
"Thank you, Auntie Rff!" she said brightly.
"Oh, yeah, thanks for nothing," Gomika muttered beyond anyone but Sombal's hearing.
"You two will be so happy as twins through your later years," spoke up another, farther distant relative at the party. The one thing Sombal could recall about him was that he had an identical twin brother. "Always having someone like you to share experiences with."
Gomika muttered quietly, thinking even Sombal couldn't hear this time, though she was wrong. "Oh, yeah. Someone like me? Have you ever even talked with either one of us separately, you nerfherder?" She scoffed again. "And share experiences, yeah, right. We get old enough, I'm outta here."
Too young to realize the content behind the words, Sombal just went along smiling at the rest of the adults.
-----
Now she knew that Gomika had always been annoyed by her presence, on a very deep level. Sombal was even beginning to doubt that the sister she had always loved unconditionally even loved her in return.
No, Sombal firmly stopped herself.
No matter what Gomika had done, she couldn't question her sister's love. Gomika Beyul may have openly embraced the dark side, but regardless, she still had to love her family.
But Gomika had openly defied her family's deepest desire for her by losing the chance to become one of the New Republic's first Nssh Jedi…Did that mean something?
She was obviously unwilling to follow in the tracks of her namesake, the Old Republic's Jedi Master Nerca Beyul, so did that mean she was spitting on her heritage?
She'd left Sombal alone with the responsibility…
Once again inspired by her thoughts, Sombal's memory took flight.
-----
Sombal Beyul had been three years old and oblivious when the Empire had fallen and the New Republic started its rise. When the Empire's oppression had been lifted, Sombal had learned for the first time the reason that her first name was Nerca, and had seen secreted holovids of the original.
Time after time growing up, Sombal had seen the videos…
A sleek, silver starship pierced the clouds and settled expertly on an algae-covered landing pad…The landing ramp lowered, and down strode a wide-eyed, tall, muscular but thin stick of a woman…
Nerca Beyul had been one of the Jedi Order's greatest pilots, as her race was naturally adept, and beyond that, a powerful and wise Jedi beyond her years. Always surpassing her peers, Nerca Beyul had been not only wise, but knowledgeable almost to the point of fault…
She had always been the Nssh race's idol, even before she discovered that she was Nssh.
Even at three, Sombal knew that physically, she took very little resemblance to her great-aunt… She and Gomika had always been dark-haired, dark-eyed, delicate-featured girls, while the original Nerca had been a blonde-haired, dark-eyed, bold-featured, striking woman. But she hoped that as a Jedi, she could take after the legendary Nssh.
A lifetime of determination to live up to her name had caused Sombal to immediately accept Master Luke Skywalker's invitation to train at the Jedi Academy…
-----
Even though her partner was now gone, Sombal's determination had not in the least diminished. No, actually, it had grown. She was more determined than ever to succeed where Gomika had failed.
She sighed, looking skyward.
If Gomika had turned to the dark, could that mean that she would become one of the next generations of Sith? If not Sith, would she then be simply a Dark Jedi? If she were either one, did that mean it was Sombal's duty as a Jedi to rid the galaxy of Gomika one day?
Sombal doubted she had the strength.
With a deep sigh and the beginning of sobs, Sombal buried her face in her hands.
Oh, Gomika, she silently called. Why, oh, why did you have to do this? Sister, what in the galaxy possessed you to spite us all so harshly?
As expected, she received no reply from the probably distant Dark Jedi.
THE END
Hey, guys, it's been a total blast writing this story when I had the time... Sombal is such a cool little character, and Gomika is a fallen destiny, which is always helpful to look at.
Thank you so very, very much to you all who have read this, and especially to those kind enough to stop and leave reviews. You have made this experience all the more wonderful.
I am planning several sequels in the future, hopefully not too far away. After all, we have to see just what it is Gomika is up to out there, and how Sombal will cope long after! Also, I would suggest that you all go back and read of the first Nerca Beyul, from whom Sombal and Gomika take their name, in The Kindred Knights: Book One: The Dark Rivals and the short stories that will be up on this sight shortly after when I'm done with the editting.