Chapter 43
Solo part 2
Warning scenes below could be triggering to some. Proceed with caution.
Sitting in the mouth of her tent Melissa elevated another bunch of branches onto her campfire. The night air was disturbed by the yowling of lothcats coordinating their hunts on local vermin. She was slowly being lulled to sleep by the chattering rumble of a small river through the edge of her campsite. Her campsite was inside one of the curious hillocks that dotted Lothal's landscape being open where she rode in and the river edge, her flanks covered by the fairly large sides of the hillocks.
Having shed her armour and having cooked a meal on an open fire, she was luxuriating in the relative peace of being alone for the first time in a long while. A shape was visible against the wall of her tent. Slowly she reached for her blaster as the shape came into view. The massive lothwolf gave her a condescending look before moving to the water and lapping up water. Another two came into view and rolled onto their sides in front of the fire. Melissa could feel no danger in the force and let go of the blaster, the first wolf dropped down by the other two on his side bellies pointed to the fire
"Just bark if I need to top up the fire." Melissa remarked
The lead wolf thumped his tail twice before giving a toothy yawn and dropping his head. Shrugging Melissa crawled into her bedroll and decided to crash as well, camp security well and truly established for the night.
She woke well into mid morning feeling refreshed, crawling from her tent she found her campfire dead and the wolves gone. Deciding to dawdle a bit longer she restarted her fire for brunch. With the fire going full she looked at the river before getting to her feet and undressing
A cold and refreshing bath later had her huddling in front of the fire drying of. A skillet being prepared for the fish she caught on stepping from the river. Technically Force pulling one should count as a succesfull catch. She decided to gut and fillet it before getting dressed, lest she needs to take another bath to get clean, she made a mental note to get a few more for Sukura should she come back this way. A bribe might distract her from her promise to finish singing all the yuki anthems she was missing out on.
Nightfall had her still not at her location. Gathering clouds were threatening rain. Setting up her tent under an overhang she decided to skip making a fire and settle for cold rations and an early night. Stepping away from her camp she dug a latrine pit and wound up using her lightsaber as a construction tool on hitting rock a few inches down. Returning she found that her tent had been invaded by a squatter.
"And just what do you think you are doing?" She demanded, hands on her hips
The lothwolf gave a toothy yawn and stretched out making it self comfortable, before chuffing at her, flicking its ear at the tent flap in a clear command to get in. Hearing the first raindrops spattering against her armour had her climbing in and closing the flap. Stripping of her armour she turned to the squatter
"Just to be clear, you stay on the left of the tent and away from my bedroll. And don't try wake me to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night."
The Lothwolf grumbled and lay its head on its paws. Moments later it started snoring deeply. Melissa got settled and switched off the camping light, sleep overcame her quickly as she listened to the patter of the falling rain.
Morning came with a crispy clear smell and a taste of dog in her mouth. During the night she had kicked of her bedroll and had snuggled up into the fur of the lothwolf. Her warm bed buddy was still snoring away as she opened the flap of the tent and stepped out, stretching. Her previously dug latrine pit had been flooded by the rain, requiring her to dig another and again misusing her lightsaber to get the required depth. Returning to camp had her noticing that squatter had vacated the premises. Leaving nothing but a shedding hair behind in the tent. Striking camp and a quick cold breakfast had her back on the road, after having to refuel the landspeeder.
She looked up at the very large hillock on reaching her destination, large enough to almost not count as a hillock any more. Having walked around it twice and having used her binoculars on the higher areas she has yet to find the entrance. Rechecking her coordinates she was at the correct location. About to start her third lap around she stopped as she realised what she was doing wrong.
"Di'Kut. Hidden Jedi temple, you have to use the force." She muttered
She sat down in a lotus position and started concentrating on her breathing as she started meditating and leaned into the force. She could sense a vast space below her and both dark light energies circling within. She extended her arms and made a lifting motion. The grating of rock assailed her ears but she did not open her eyes till the grating stopped and she felt a nudge to stop.
A narrow entrance showed in the face of the hillock. Getting to her feet she approached the entrance and stepped through. A torch flaring to life had her reaching for her lightsaber before she relaxed as a row of torches sputtered to life, the torches giving of blue, green and yellow lights as they lit. Following the path made by the torches she stepped into a atrium. Twelve pillars stood in line with a small pedestal before each pillar, six to each side of a central walkway. Two skeletons dressed in decaying robes were seated on two of the pedestals.
"Five minutes in and we already have dead people, great vacation spot." She remarked sarcastically.
A bit further ahead six larger pedestals were set in line in front of the twelve pillars. They seemed to be made of clear crystal. One lit up from within, a deep blue hue falling on the strangely dust free floor
"And that is my queue." Melissa stated
Naboo Halcoyn Hotel
Mission was sprawled across a large couch as the door to the main bedroom finally opened for a reason other than to push in or out a room service trolley. She looked up from where she was watching some holodrama on the biggest monitor she had ever come into contact with
"Was about to blow the door open to see if the two of you were still alive." She remarked
"Well, obviously we are. Where is everyone?" Bastila asked
" Carth, Canderous and Zaalbar are in the VIP Bar on the level below, Juhani is having a massage in her room, her second one for the day. The droids are over looking the repair work on the Hawk." Mission rattled off
Terri lifted an eyebrow on hearing the rundown
"Second massage?" She querried
"Juhani has been using the offered services, did you know that she actually purrs when she get massaged." Mission replied
" Just because the government is paying for the room does not mean we must be using the offered services frivolously." Bastila remarked
Mission sat up and stretched with a deep yawn
"So the five times a day room service calls was not for frivolous reasons then?" Mission remarked sarcastically
"Needed food for energy. This one was insatiable" Terri replied blandly, pointing to Bastila
Bastila blushed deeply and swatted at Terri's arm. Mission got a wicked grin on her face
"So tell me. Is she a screamer or a scratcher?" She asked innocently
"Both and a biter as well." Terri replied.
Bastila attained a new hue of red and redoubled her swatting attempts
"Hey innocent teenager in the room. Keep your kinky foreplay in your room." Mission remarked
"You, Innocent?" Bastila replied, before turning to Terri. "and you suck."
"Stop telling the innocent in the room all of your activities and fetishes. Do you want Naboo child protective service to come in here." Terri replied
Bastila huffed and pulled her dressing gown tighter around herself before sitting down in a chair, still blushing furiously. Terri sat down on her lap moment later
"Heard anything from Melissa?" She asked
"Just a com message from the Milk Runner that she is on planet and they are standing by. That was two days ago, I decided to wait till you eventually came out to relay it" Mission responded
She gave another wicked grin
"Was too scared actually to try and reach you two, did not want to disturb the mood."
"Your discretion was appreciated." Terri replied drily
Mission looked back to the program she was not watching. The other two sensed her unease. Terri got up from her seat and sat down next to the teenager and pulled her in for a hug
"Melissa, will be fine. She has been through worse and she will come through this with flying colours." She said soothingly
"I know, I am just worried still. Why did she have to go alone?"
Bastila and Terri shared a quick look, however Mission noticed this
"What are you two not telling us?" She demanded
Bastila ran her hand through her hair and sighed
" During the knighthood trails you are most vulnerable to the temptation of the dark side. I most certainly was. My theory was that my master and Berek send her alone as a precaution to safeguard our mission with the starmaps."
"What do you mean precaution? Safegaurd?" Mission demanded
"If she falls to the dark she will become a very dangerous enemy, and to be honest I do not think either myself of Terri would be able to act against her if she does. Normally the masters overseeing the trails will step in to stop the person taking it by any means necessary should they fall." Bastila explained
"This is Melissa we are talking about! She will not turn evil!" Mission protested
"I nearly fell during my trail. The temptation is overwhelming at times" Bastila admitted softly.
"The fact she went alone tell me that she will not fall, if her grandfather was really worried he would have sent her to Coruscant or Dantooine." Terri stated, forcing an upbeat tone
"Yeah, that is right," Mission declared
Terri gave her another deep hug
"Feeling better?" She asked
"I will be a lot better if you turn slightly to your right." Mission stated
Terri did so, before looking enquiringly at Mission
"Why did I have to move?" She asked
Mission pointed to Bastila.
"Well I can see clearly up Bastila's robe, but you were blocking my view looking in with how you were seated." She replied
"You little pervert." Bastila snapped, snapping her knees closer together.
Lothal Jedi Temple
Melissa was not sure how long she had been seated in meditation on the platform. From the stiffness of her limbs she would surmise it has been several hours. Where before the doors leading from the atrium had been closed, the centre one was now open.
She got to her feet and stepped towards the entrance. Stepping into another atrium she noticed the floor was covered in rolling mist. She had a barely a moment to duck as a lightsaber blade was ignited and swung in her direction. She heard a second set of blades ignite behind her, Lighting her blade she blocked a downward strike from behind. Kicking back behind her she made contact with a form that grunted as the kick landed. Melissa moved in a circle twirling her blade in a flurry to gain space and see her attackers.
Her heart sank when she saw the arrogant face of her brother and his consort Thalie Snager.
"Well met, Sister. We never got to finish our date." Arthur sneered
"As I have said before, incest is not my thing." Melissa replied.
"Time for us to dance, no one here is going to save you now." Thalie sneered
Melissa lifted her blade into a high block, tensing for the fight to come. Thalie leaned in and kissed her brother.
"Beat her down, then we will both break her in." Arthur ordered.
"As you command, my master." Thalie replied
"Sorry don't do groupy skank either." Melissa quipped.
Arthur stepped back and Thalie rushed in swinging her blades in a blistering attack. Melissa swung away doinga cartwheel over the scything blades. Landing she thrust forward in a makashi attack to break the attack pattern, she unleashed a force scream stamping a foot down on the ground. Thalie was caught in the scream and staggered back. Melissa capitalized on her opponents confusion and stepped in swinging her bladed in a flurry of attacks. Thalie desperately blocking the attacks.
Melissa's blade sheared through one the emitters of her opponents blade, rendering the weapon useless. Now it was single blade against single blade. The advantage Jar Krai users had being negated. Thalie settled in a shaky Soresu stance. Melissa gave her a grim smile
"Bitch, you picked the wrong style." She stated softly
Melissa attacked using her preferred Ataru, literally jumping circles around her opponent. Thalie started swinging her blade in desperation as her defences were being battered down. Melissa spun and dropped to a knee her arm extended.
Thalie dropped her saber onto the ground, before looking down, a stunned expression on her face as she saw the blade embedded in her chest.
Melissa stood up and pulled her blade loose before pointing it at her brother. She heard the soft thud as the body dropped to the ground behind her. Arthur's eye took on a deep yellow hue as he tapped his blade against Melissa's.
"You will watch as I break those you call sister, in fact you will deliver them to me for my entertainment." He snarled
Melissa felt the anger rise up in her like magma in a volcano tube. She felt the power of that anger filling her up, giving her new strength. This monster will die by her blade again, he will not touch those she loved. She will enjoy gutting him and hearing his screams will be like music to her ears. She stepped back, blade going to mid guard. She tensed for the moment of action
Melissa shook her head.
"No! This is wrong! You control your emotions, it does not control you." She thought
She suppressed her anger with extreme effort and closed her blade of, breathing deeply. The feeling of empowerment slipping away
"What surrendering? Going to drop to your knees and beg for my forgiveness before servicing me? It will only amuse me, not save your sisters from me" Arthur sneered
Melissa looked calmly at the figure before her
"You are not real. This is a test. I will not give in to my anger. " She stated.
"So you choose weakness instead of the strength you need to save your sisters." Arthur stated sneeringly
"They do not need me to save them, they can do so themselves. I control my emotions they do not control me." Melissa answered
"Not going to quote the code before you die. After all there is no emotion there is peace." Arthur mockingly stated
"Not my code." Melissa replied calmly
Arthur swung his blade at her, she stood there unflinchingly. The image shattered as she felt the heat next to her neck.
The mist receded and she was alone in the stone room. She bent forward and leaned her hands on her knees, breathing deeply. She felt a slight stinging in her neck from the close contact of the superheated plasma blade. She pulled her helmet off and reached for her canteen, mouth as dry as Tatooine on a mid summer day.
Behind her the door ground to a close , blocking her from stepping into the main atrium and ultimately out of the temple. For a moment she contemplated shoving her blade into the door and cutting her way through. Then her thoughts turned to her family and she felt new resolve flooding through her.
A slight breeze came from the left and she walked over to the now lifting door, slipping her helmet back. She blinked as a bright light erupted blinding her, the light overwhelming the helmets tinting.
She found herself in a place she wanted never to see again. The dingy grey walls of the hallway in the Alterra orphanage seemed to close in on her.
"Welcome back. Mellie." A voice spoke
The voice was familiar but the form was not. Melissa looked in shock at the force ghost of a barely eleven year old girl". In the background she heard a girl calling for help, begging for something to stop
" Ariana?" Melissa gasped
"Finally someone can see me. What brings you back?" Ariana asked
The ghost stepped closer.
"Finally come to see what happened after you ran away?" The girls asked
Melissa leaned against the wall
"What happened here? When did you die?"
Ariana pushed the sleeve of her shirt back. Finger like bruises covered her wrist, the bruises interrupted by a deep gash.
"When you disappeared they moved the older girls to another home as punishment for not telling them where you went." Ariana said stepping even closer.
She stood on tip toe and whispered in Melissa's ear.
"With our protection gone how long did you think it took Parker and his cronies to start having fun?" She asked
Melissa dropped to the ground, holding her head. The ghost went on relentlessly
"I took the easy way out when they were finished with me. I told myself this way things will be investigated and the other saved by my sacrifice. I told myself I was being noble as I cut my wrists open"
The ghost leaned closer
"The truth however. I did not want to live anymore. You promised you would protect us, like the older girls also promised. None of you kept your promise. I do not blame them though, they could no longer protect us when they were removed. You on the other hand I do blame."
The girl lifted Melissa's head and turned it.
"Go, see what your actions brought. You are right in time for shower hour."
Ariana pointed down the hall
"When the older girls were here they kept them from the room, now they get to pick their toy for the night when they are squeaky clean." Ariana said softly
Melissa felt as if she had been sucker punched in the stomach. She felt bile rising in her throat.
"Go see, what your selfishness has brought." Ariana insisted harshly
Melissa felt herself hyperventilating, she pulled her helmet off as she felt claustrophobic. The ghost put an ethereal hand on the helmet.
"Oh, that is right. You are now longer one of us. You have a family now. How proud they must be of the coward they took in." Ariana sneered
Melissa looked at the ghost
"I am sorry for what you went through. I am sorry that you died before you could really live. I am sorry for what the other girls are going through." Melissa whispered
Melissa swallowed before speaking again.
"Yes, I ran away. Yes, by running away I broke my promise to protect you and the other girls. Of that I am guilty and I will regret it always."
Melissa found the strength to stand, and she did so shakily
"As to what happened that is not my fault. The decision to move the older girls was not mine and I sure as the nine Corellian hells am not responsible for the actions of the administrators or Parker and his cronies. I am only accountable for my actions." She said in a trembling voice
"By staying none of this would have happened." Ariana insisted
Melissa paused before speaking
"That may be true, we will never know. Staying could have prevented this, or something else could have happened in stead."
"You went looking for a better life, selfishly ignoring those you left behind." Ariana accusingly said
"Yes. I was thinking of myself when I left. Yes, in that regard I was selfish. I am human, I am fallible." Melissa admitted
"Admitting you are fallible how can you be trusted with the power that you wield?" Ariana demanded
"With it or without it, it does not matter. All anyone, all I can do, is to do the best I can and hope it is enough. Yes, I will make mistakes and I will not always be the one to pay the price. The only thing I can do is to learn and accept from my failures and also my successes and try to do better with the next challenge."
There was another bright flash of light and she found herself standing on her knees in the middle of an empty pulled her canteen from her kitt and drained it, her hands shaking. She wiped her sweat stained face with one hand
"I do not know how much more of this I can take." She told herself truthfully.
She heard a drumming noise coming from a portal in front of her and she wearily got to her feet and walked into the murky light beyond. She followed a passage sloping downwards, heat slowly building up. She walked into a combat arena and a gate crashed down behind her blocking the exit. Two barely discernable figures stood in the murk.
"What new hell is this now?" She asked tiredly
"You have to choose a path." Two voices echoed
Melissa reared back on hearing her own voice coming from two other bodies. The figures stepped into the light. One was dressed in Jedi robes, the other in a perfect replica of her armour.
"You are conflicted." The Jedi spoke
"You need to decide where you stand." The Mandalorian spoke
"You can only be one or the other. You can use the Force."
"Or you can honour your heritage and your blood oaths."
Melissa kept both in view as they stepped closer, hands on their weapons
" And how do I choose?" She asked, playing for time
" By attacking the part you reject." The jedi spoke; igniting her blade
" Stalling for time will not help. A choice must be made." The mandalorian drew her blaster
"And if I do not choose?" Melissa asked
"We will kill you and then we will fight and the winner of our fight will take your husk as the price and live as we were supposed to from the start.."
"A loyal Jedi of the Order"
"A true child of Mandalore."
Melissa tightened her hand on her lightsaber
"So a form of suicide or possession. Those are the options?"
"Yes." The voices echoed
Melissa ignited her blade.
"Kriff this farce. I am who I am. I am a Force user and at est Mandalore. And no one will tell me otherwise. I do not deal in absolutes, I define myself. So come at me and die."
There was another bright flash and Melissa found herself standing in an empty room. A grinding noise marked yet another door opening. The room she stepped in easily was the largest room to point. Glittering lights filled the room. Looking up she saw what looked like the constellations set in the roof.
"Beautifull, that view is." A familiar voice spoke
Melissa spun around and saw a familiar figure seated on the ground. Vandar pointed to a spot in front of him
"Speak we must." He stated
Melissa sat down in front of the figure.
"Curious this is, a temple I do not know of." Vandar said musingly
"You are not realy here are you. Just another illusion" Melissa replied
"In the body, present I am not. In the force here I am." Vandar stated
He looked at her appraisingly.
"Your tale a curious one it will be." He finally stated
"As are all tales, from a certain point of view." Melissa replied
"A master you are not, cryptic answers not your forte yet." Vandar smiled at her
Melissa sat back and thought for a moment, swallowing her grin at that rejoinder
"I came here to find balance, to find myself again you could say." Melissa started
"Yet another lesson learned you did."
"I learned what I already knew. I am Mandalorian and yet I am Jedi too. I am Grey, my path is the thin line between two philosophies. My past helps to define me but my future is what I make myself, the force is my ally not my master."
Vandar nodded at that and lifted a hand. A light detached from the roof and drifted down. Lifting her own hand Melissa closed her hand on a pulsing blue crystal.
" Rise Knight Wren, child of Mandalore. First new knight of the Grey Jedi." Vandar intoned.
The form of the master began to fade at these words. A final door ground open and Melissa saw the first atrium. The implication was clear, her time here was done.