Sorry about the over a month delay. I ended up facing criticism on all my stories, as well as ended up in a whole euphoria moment with LOTR's Samwise Gamgee, which lasted five days. After that, I ended up in a huge lull state throughout July 2023, which finally ended in August 2023, as I was able to write again. It's been a huge healing/transition phase I went through. My writing slowly came back once I made it through the healing process. Also, LOTR's Frodo Baggins and I went through our first initial soul switch, after our soul merge got done, and that left Frodo traumatized, which affected me. As far as soul switching goes, Frodo and me are, probably, still going through it. I feel like I me, and yet I may be Frodo, too. It's tricky to figure out. Anyway, I was able to complete this chapter and here we are! :) It's finally written and posted. :)
As far as this chapter goes, it was tricky to figure out. Also, I've been learning how to talk with God. So, that may have came through towards the end of this fanfic. I hope I got the Lord right! Otherwise, let me know how it goes. :)
That said, enjoy! :)
Helen leaned back against the rectangular, arched, dark grey metallic frame that appeared next to the elevator. The elevator passageway led back to the main floor of Eris Station, but Helen wasn't ready to leave yet. She crossed her scaly, purple, lizard-like arms, observing her companions, in a sharp blunder.
They seemed happy, chatting away at each other. Helen wanted more than anything to get away. Maybe someday, she would do that. In fact, she felt like doing exactly that! As she neared her speederbike and turned on the engine, something stopped her, tugging at her to reconsider.
It was the Lord tugging at her heart to stay here, inside the starfighter hangar bay, to wait on her companions as she should do. Helen snarled low, wanting more than anything to see that the Lord was right about this, that God was right about this! Oh dear, what was Helen to do?
Helen clasped her face with her scaly, purple hands, wanting more than anything to see that the Lord was right. Oh dear! Why did this have to happen to Helen? Helen glowered at her companions as they joined her. For a moment, Janus wanted to say something, but then she understood Helen's feelings.
Jock had pushed Helen to her limits. Even Perseus wanted to console Helen, tell her everything was all right, but Helen became suspicious of him, of Ellvara, of Janus, and especially with Jock. Jock was so rude to her! She couldn't believe…
…Jock sighed. He told Helen, firmly, but calmly, "Look, Helen, I get it. You're upset with me!" Jock calmed down the moment Helen glowered at him, turning away from him and turning on her speederbike. Jock told her, calmer, "I'm sorry. This mission is important, but you shouldn't have to feel forgotten. I'm sorry I made you feel that way. Can you forgive me?"
Helen clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. She glanced at Jock, saying to him, "I forgive you." She sighed, saying further to him, "I don't know. I nearly thought I could get away from you all, get some time to myself. I suppose I don't get that."
Janus looked at Helen in shock, saying to her, "What? You're not planning on leaving us, are you? You behaving like me right now?" Janus laughed, cheering Helen up a bit.
Helen laughed, finding joy in herself again. At least, for a moment. She couldn't bear the thought of sticking around Janus forever. Still, she looked on at Ellvara, who busied herself with speaking with Perseus. Perseus laughed, admiring her from this distance.
Perseus told Ellvara, in shock and in wonder, "You aren't really that bad. But weren't you and Janus saying that you wanted to join the Sith?" Perseus choked back some tears, leaving Helen confused and Jock smiling.
"You two want to join the Dark Side?" Helen asked Janus and Ellvara, shocked that they would say those things. "But you two are Jedi. It's where you belong."
Janus sneered at Helen. She looked at her and Jock, telling her, "You two want to keep me and Ellvara confined with the Jedi, don't you?" Janus shook her head. "You two are not the bosses of us, but I certainly don't want to stick with the Jedi forever! My path is set. I'd rather go and see the Sith, become one of them! Just like Jock did, before he joined the Jedi."
Jock sighed. He looked at Janus, saying to her, "But you're meant to be a Jedi. It's who you are."
"You don't know the first thing about me! I want to be a Sith, not a Jedi," Janus stated, annoyed at him and Helen. Janus looked at Helen, telling her, "Look, we forgive you, but I don't forgive you and Jock for making me a Jedi. It's not what I want. It's not…"
"…Janus, ask God about it," Jock said, snarling at her. "That's all you can do."
Helen snarled at him, telling Jock, "You're always stuck up! One day, you will see it. I don't blame Ellvara, Janus, and Perseus for their decisions. But you angered me. You're the one whose always got his foot in his mouth. You're the one causing all this chaos. You say you want to be a Jedi, then don't force decisions upon other people. You need to learn that!"
"I do not stick my foot in my mouth. That's disgusting!" Jock said, angered. Jock looked at his companions, seeing as they were in agreement with each other. "Well fine! If that's how you feel, then why would I bother trying to reason with you? Honestly! You're the ones who don't understand me." Jock shook his head, retracting his arguments to them, "I'm sorry. I don't mean…"
"…remind me when you come to your senses, Jock. Please do," Janus said, revving up her speederbike and driving away from the scene. Helen followed Janus, same as Ellvara and Perseus.
Jock huffed, deciding to take matters into his own hands… eh, his own paws. Jock raced after Janus. As soon as they and their crew entered, as well as left, the elevator, headed into the main floor, Jock raced towards Janus. He sped in front of her, stopping her from joining the others. Helen looked on at Jock, realizing she had become angry at her other companions, when it wasn't even their fault to begin with. Helen huffed, deciding that maybe she needed to get away from Jock. But how?
"Helen, you coming? We'll meet up with Janus and Jock at our ship," Ellvara stated, Helen gazing back at Ellvara and knowing what to do.
"Come with me. I want to discuss something with the Council, and I'll need your help, as well as Janus' help, to do this," Helen stated, leaving Ellvara confused.
Ellvara shrugged. "I don't know what you mean."
Helen nodded to her. "Oh, I think you do." Helen revved up her speederbike's engine once more, saying to Ellvara, "Come. It's time we talk."
Ellvara raised an eyebrow at her, saying to her, "All right. Whatever you say. Lead on."
Helen nodded a second time. "Then come. We have work to do." She drove her speederbike after Perseus, with Ellvara following behind them.
.
Janus and Jock, in the meantime, ended up in a squabble. Janus had enough of him, and Jock could sense it. But Jock was not one to give up easily. As they neared the fountain, filled with crystal clear water, from within a rectangular pool, they turned off their speederbikes and parked before the fountain. Janus and Jock approached the fountain and the pool of water, admiring it from nearby a silver, metallic bench.
It was then Jock spoke to Janus, "I know you want to become a Jedi. You're no Sith. I've seen Sith! You're not one of them, Janus! I know it to be true. God knows it. Trust me, Janus. This is right!"
Janus looked at the pool of water, unconvinced by Jock's words, "But I am a Sith! I'm no Jedi. Why did you want me to become a Jedi? It's not what I want. It's not all I want. Jock, please! Let me go! Let me do this!"
Jock wrapped his furry, spotted arms around her, comforting her as she wept before him. Jock shushed her, calming her down. It was enough they were here. Now, they could discuss what they needed to discuss, in private and away from their companions.
"Shh! I know, Janus. I know. But you didn't decide this. I didn't know what you would be. That wasn't my decision. It was God's decision. It was his choice that you become a Jedi, not me," Jock stated, calmly. "I get that you're angry. Helen's angry at me, too. In fact, she was angry at all of us! But I didn't choose your path. I'm just helping you stick to it. Please do this! You'll thank the Lord for this," Jock explained to her, wiping the tears from her eyes.
He sighed, explaining, "Look Janus, I know this seems wrong. That you should be with the Sith. I can feel it. But sometimes we don't get what we want. The Lord knows what's best for us." He paused, sighing a third time, as he explained, "I think it's time you listened to Him. He may reward you in time."
He added, finishing, "Now, come on. Let's find the others and get out of here. I have this feeling Helen won't take anything I say to a fault. She's stubborn. Are you okay now? Please tell me you're all right."
Janus sniffled, wiping her nose. She looked at Jock, saying to him, "So, you're following God's orders?"
Jock nodded. "I am."
Janus nodded in return. "Good. At least, I know it's not just you pushing me. It's the Lord's doing, too."
"See?" Jock smirked, pleased with her, "It's not just me. Now come. Let's go." Jock hopped on his speederbike, waiting for Janus to do the same.
Janus looked at Jock in silence. She returned to her speederbike and turned on the engine. At the sound of the engines humming, Janus and Jock sped off down the wide hallway, reaching their friends in time to find them heading towards their ship's hangar bay. In no time, all five companions arrived at the hangar bay, moving their speederbikes inside their ship's garage, before climbing aboard their ship, the Defender.
Janus took one last look at the hangar bay, before departing inside hers and her crew's ship, not knowing what dangers awaited them.
~o~
Janus strolled up the stairs, leading into the ship's upper-level corridor chamber. She had no idea that Helen and Ellvara were already deep in thought in the cockpit area, within the ship's interior. Janus looked at Helen and Ellvara, wondering what they were up to.
Janus looked at Helen and Ellvara as they finished their conversation. Helen returned to the captain's chair, while Ellvara took the co-pilot's seat. It was then Jock rubbed Janus' back, causing her to look at Jock in wonder, as he smiled at her.
"I'm going to speak with Helen. Set things straight," Jock stated, moseying into the cockpit, where Helen piloted their ship out of the hangar bay and back into the golden light atmosphere, where the Valley of the Whills lurked below.
Jock told Helen, "Look Helen, I get you're mad at me. It's just… things were moving so fast. There's no need for you to jump to conclusions. I was just explaining to you about our mission."
"It's Janus' mission. We're a part of it," Helen stated, agitated at him.
"Look, can you please understand? I don't know what you said to Ellvara, but… I want to help you. I want to help us all, before we do something reckless," Jock stated, gazing at Helen with wandering, puppy dog eyes. "Please understand. I didn't choose Janus' path. I didn't choose for her to become a Jedi. That was God's doing, not mine! I'm sorry you both feel a need to go to the Dark Side, but keep Janus out of it. You'll anger God if Janus heads straight to the Dark Side. It wouldn't be right for her, or for anyone."
"Please understand that, you two. I'll be Janus' Master. She trusts me and we need each other. Ellvara's still new to being a Jedi Knight, and I have years of experience working with the Sith and seeing the Jedi's perspective. I know what I'm doing," Jock said, exclaiming to them.
Ellvara's eyes darkened. She nodded to Helen, allowing the purple dragonoid to sail theirs and their crew's ship straight down into the golden light. Jock held onto the seats' backs, not knowing what was happening.
"Please, reconsider! If Janus goes down the Dark Path, who knows what would become of her. You two aren't fit to be her Masters!" Jock cried, hoping they would seek reason.
"Jock, what's happening?" Janus asked, rushing towards Jock and allowing him to wrap an arm around her.
Ellvara sneered at them. "You two are made for each other. This is ridiculous!"
"Jock, the Jedi Council won't allow this. It's wrong!" Helen cried in anguish. "The Council won't let you be Janus' Jedi Master. It's too risky."
Ellvara chuckled. She admitted to Helen, "You know, if the Council doesn't allow for Janus and Jock to be together, then I don't see a need for it. We'll train Janus. Now, what do you have to say for it?" Ellvara asked, standing up and towering over Jock and Janus.
Janus looked at Ellvara and Helen, as though the two were plotting against her and Jock, which in this case looked that way. Janus shook her head, admitting to them, "This whole Jedi Master business is annoying. You three want to be my Master and I don't get a say in this. Not that I did, but Jock is the only one making sense." Janus paused, concluding to them, "All right. We let God decide this. Then we find the Angelic feathers in the Valley of the Whills, and then we head for Shapeshifter's Haven. No more, no less. Got it?"
Helen raised her dragon-like head, as she told Janus, "Spoken like a true leader. You're progressing well. I'm surprised."
"Just get me off this ship alive," Janus stated, rushing off into one of the bedrooms to cool down. The second she was inside this room, she immediately felt God's presence. All at once, Janus spoke to Him about her concerns, her agitation towards her crew, and the whole decision over which of her companions was her new Jedi Master.
When Janus was done pouring her heart out to Him, Janus asked God, "Lord, what do you think I should do? Who is my new Jedi Master? Why is this matter still being discussed? It doesn't make any sense! I just—"
"Child! Please," the Lord spoke to her, getting Janus' attention, "yes, this matter is still discussed, but not in the way you think. I have faith your new Master will finally reveal himself. And then, this matter will be closed." The Lord shrugged, laughing, "Come. Did you think I'd leave you without a Master?"
"Jock told me it was your decision to make me a Jedi. Is this true? Did you decide this for me, Lord?" Janus asked God, wondering if He already knew this new dilemma, which she felt sure He did.
The Lord laughed again, merrily this time. "Janus, do you remember when you were inside the healer's tent, and you wanted to find out who made you a Jedi? Don't you remember? It was me who guided you through the Force. It was me who allowed you to see if you are a Jedi. And it would seem I was right! Don't worry. The Force showed you you're a Jedi, as I did. It seems I'm not wrong."
"But I wanted to be a Sith! Is that not possible?" Janus asked God, wondering why she wasn't a Sith yet.
The Lord shook His Head. He quickly said to her, "You're no Sith. That's not what's in your heart. Your heart is pure and you've come a long way from where you started. Now go. Find out what you can about the Valley of the Whills. But this place will change you. This much is clear. Now go. Go! I'll meet you soon."
"But Lord…" Janus froze, pausing to catch her breath.
The Lord merely laughed again. He said to her, "Don't worry! I'll be with you. Always. Now go! Go!"
"Janus, come," Helen said, calling out to her from the corridor chamber on the ship's upper level. Janus looked at the spot where the Lord had been. No way! He vanished, or so it seemed, as Janus stood up and made her way towards the corridor chamber. Helen asked her, suspicion growing on her face, "What kept you?"
Janus looked at her in wonder. "I was just speaking to the Lord. He seemed sassy. Maybe it's just me."
Jock laughed. He said to her, "The Lord can be whatever he likes. He's a good Lord, a good God."
Janus smiled. She said to him, "I know. Let's go." She waited until the ship landed on the reddish-brown landscape, before departing from the ship and walking down the ramp. She had no idea what awaited her, but she hoped it was good.
Well, it looks as though Janus and her crew are at another pit stop. So, what does everyone think is going to happen next? How will the Whills react to Janus and her crew? Will Helen experience something new? And what of Perseus, Ellvara, Jock, and Janus?
Thanks for reading this chapter. More to come! :)
~Aria Breuer