Sorry for the terribly long delay. This chapter took months to figure out! :( It was a beast of a chapter to write and rewrite. Not only that, I went through an entire healing/isolation process, which led to much fear and whether or not I would write again. Thankfully, I finally buckled down and worked on this chapter. Now that it's done, hopefully, it'll be all right. :) Also, Frodo and me went through a whole soul switching/merging process, too, which is why you'll probably notice the different writing styles and how they're combining in this chapter, as well as the break that occurred as I wrote this chapter.

Hopefully, this chapter turned out well. I also rewatched the Whills' scene and discovered a revelation about them, too, which is shown at the beginning of this chapter.

That said, enjoy! :)

An ominous feeling of dread loomed as Janus made her way off the ship's ramp and inside the spaceport's hangar bay. Janus couldn't recall the last time she felt this uneasy. A chill ran up her spine, fearing the worst should happen if she dared to enter this region.

The Valley of the Whills was known for its alien creatures, dressed in jet-black robes and wearing white masks, reflecting off their emotions. These creatures, known as the Whills, floated and glided in the air, vanishing and reappearing as glowing golden balls of light to anyone that so dared to enter their presence and meet up with them.

Janus had the funny feeling that she wasn't welcomed in this region, but any guess was as good as hers what became of her and her crew, who were now departing down the ship's ramp after her.

Janus looked on at the hangar bay they had just entered. Towards their Jedi starship, the Defender, Janus could see an open ceiling from which, above hers and her crew's heads, golden-grey cloud banks formed, gliding across the skies, as it were. Surrounding the hangar bay were metallic grey walls, from which cargo could be found in piles throughout the area.

Inside the hangar bay, past the ship was an interior area, where control panels were kept against the walls and where control towers surrounded the hangar bay. Janus wondered what made this hangar bay so special, but then she saw the reason for it when the mechanics got to work on repairing hers and her crew's ship.

Perseus spoke up to Janus, Ellvara, Helen, and Jock at once, informing them immediately, "I think I'll stay with the mechanics, see to the repairs. Surely, you will do fine without me. And good luck with the Whills! They're a tricky bunch, aren't they?"

Janus waved to Perseus, smiling at him, "Quite. Although, I would be careful around them. We're not welcome here."

"Why is that?" Ellvara asked Janus, contemplating their next move.

Janus shrugged. "Just a funny feeling that I have about this place."

Ellvara nodded, saying to Helen and Jock, "Well, I think I'll stay, too. Keep an eye on things. After all, this isn't my mission. I'm not even supposed to be here."

Helen sighed. "Yes, but you were calling us nevertheless. Don't worry. It'll all be explained soon enough." She added, informing Ellvara, "Keep watch of Perseus, won't you?"

Ellvara nodded, patting her against the arm, as she departed after Perseus inside theirs and their crew's ship.

Helen sighed, shaking her head. She knew she was meant to be here, and Jock knew it, too. Only when Janus saw Helen and Jock approach her, did Janus wonder what was going on.

"What? They're not coming?" Janus asked Helen, cautious now.

Helen shook her head. "No, they're not. Perseus and Ellvara are keeping watch of our ship. Hopefully, everything will be all right."

An engine revved up, startling Janus in her wake. It wasn't enough that she was out here, observing everything this hangar had to offer. It was the fact that an engine sound sounded awful close behind her.

She turned her head, observing the Defender, as its thrusters were turned on. The exhaust vent blew out smoke and steam. The turbolifts did their jobs.

At first, Janus thought, for a split second—a horrific! split second—that the ship would take off, abandoning her, Helen, and Jock to the reddish-brown landscape, belonging to the Valley of the Whills! Little did Janus realize, as she returned her gaze to reality, that the ship was blowing off steam, literally, as the engines were prepped, but the ship remained immobile inside the hangar.

As soon as the engines turned off and the ship relaxed, Janus watched Perseus and Ellvara climb down the ship's ramp, much to Janus' delight.

Perseus chuckled, as he stated, "There! The engines needed to blow off some steam for a time. I'll get to work with more repairs. Ellvara, can you get supplies and repairs. We'll need more food, if we're to work on the ship."

Ellvara nodded. "I've got it!" She smirked at him, as well as their crew, darting off to the nearest shop owner inside the hangar who carried supplies and parts for hers and her crew's ship, the Defender.

Janus chuckled. She was going to enjoy this, enjoy herself anyway. "I'll be right back, too! Um… I need to check on something!" She started making a beeline for the first door out of the hangar. It didn't last long though—

"—Janus, wait!" Helen cried, stopping Janus, before the female Dalmatian could take off again. Janus sighed, closing her eyes for a moment, as Helen advanced towards her. She stopped in her tracks as Helen approached her, realizing the nightmare that was about to take over her, should Helen give Janus a chance to speak to her.

"Helen, what is it?" Janus asked, her words heavy from the exhilaration from almost losing their ship to Perseus and Ellvara. Janus turned and faced Helen, knowing that something was up. She huffed, saying to her, "Helen, excuse me, but I'll just—" Janus started towards the hangar door, not realizing Helen blocked her path. "Let me go! Let me leave, Helen, please? I've got to—"

"—run away," Helen said, pointedly. She sighed, admitting to Janus, "Janus, you may be known for running away when your crew needs you, but things are changing. You must understand you cannot abandon anyone! Do you understand? We need you. We simply do."

Janus sighed, aggravated over what was going on. She closed her eyes, opening them as she ducked under Helen's scaly, purple arm. "Excuse me, Helen. I know it's not your place to be the leader of this crew, but I know what I'm doing! Now, if you'll pardon me, I'll take my leave." Janus bowed to Helen, darting out of the hangar bay before another word was spoken.

Jock sighed, admitting to Helen for all to hear, including Janus, "I'll go after her! She may get lost."

"Good luck, Jock," Helen stated, not stopping him. "From what I understand, God appointed you, Jock, you to be Janus' new Master. Even though you're a Sith—I don't know why the Lord planned it to be this way." She looked down the doorway's hallway, seeing Janus stop in her tracks.

Helen snickered, admitting to Jock, as she let him go after Janus, "She's all yours! Go! Find the Angelic feathers on this region. Then, head to Shapeshifter's Haven. This ship is yours now. I'm taking my leave. And I won't be coming back to you all."

Ellvara nodded, saying to Helen, as Janus faced them from down the hallway, "Good luck, Helen. We'll miss you."

Helen cocked her head to the side, admitting to her, as she embraced Ellvara, "Good luck with Janus and Jock. They're in your hands now. I must go. This valley needs me and I need this valley and the Whills, if I can help it." She returned to their ship, grabbing her pack, as she climbed out of their ship again. She looked on at Janus, as she passed by her, knowing then everything was going to be okay.

Helen sighed, clasping Janus' furry, spotted paw, "Janus, good luck. May Jock protect you."

Janus nodded, "I will." Janus hugged Helen. For a moment, they stayed there, lost in the embrace, shortly before Helen released her. Helen patted her on the back, wishing the female Dalmatian luck, before darting down the dark grey stone and metallic hallway, knowing then things would be all right.

~o~

"Janus," Jock called out to Janus, gesturing her back to him, "come on! As your new Master, I think it's high time I teach you about the Force in a different way." Janus joined him over by a wooden workbench, knowing then things were different now. Jock smirked in the best way possible, "You know how the Light Side of the Force is, always brimming with hope, while the Dark Side of the Force is filled with rage and darkness. Well, there's a line between the two. You do get to learn how to be a Sith, and at the same time to be a Jedi. That is, if you're willing to take this road: the path in-between the Light Side and the Dark Side of the Force." Jock smirked, knowing he had her attention.

Janus' ears perked up. She looked at Jock now with intrigue, "What exactly is this alignment. I don't even know what it is—"

"—shh!" Jock shushed her. "Calm down. This new alignment is more in the grey area, the neutral area. Some would call it the place where the Grey Jedi lurk. It's rather intriguing compared to absolute Light Side and Dark Side." He quickly kissed her temple, frightening her a little bit, but allowing her to smirk at him in delight.

Janus sighed, nodding her approval, "All right. I think I'll wander the path of the Grey Jedi, see what they're like."

Jock smirked, patting her on the shoulders, "That's my girl, always in alignment with grey area, the neutral area between the Light and the Dark. I knew you had it in you!"

Janus smiled, loving this gesture, "When do we start?"

Jock smirked, knowing then all was well, "Now, if you like. Let's do this!" He clasped her shoulder, loving that they were in sync.

Janus grinned, enjoying herself, "Yes. Let's do this!"

~o~

Helen was only a couple of feet out of the Valley of the Whills' spaceport, when she was bombarded by the Whills. Upon getting a glimpse at their Shaman, a rather tall Whill wearing elegant jet-black robes with gold vigor sewn into the fabric, as well as a white mask carrying with it an ancient, wise expression, Helen found herself collapsing across the spaceport's floor.

Just merely looking at the Shaman of the Whills was a sight to behold. As Helen stared up at the Shaman, he spoke at once to the other Whills, in a deep, yet ancient voice, "Take this one to my hut. We'll discuss more on what to do with her there. And, do find her companions. They'll want to know what has become of their former Jedi Master."

"Yes, Shaman. At once," the Whills stated, stretching forth their hands, as they carried Helen away from the spaceport and directly into the Shaman of the Whills' hut, where Helen's fate awaited her there.

~o~

Janus, Jock, Ellvara, and Perseus were met by the Whills, too, taking in their features: for the Whills wore jet-black robes and had their faces covered in white masks, resembling each of their expressions, one at a time.

Ellvara and Perseus bowed before the Whills, Jock smirked at the Whills, while Janus looked in amusement and astonishment at them.

"Where's Helen? Helen the Shapeshifter? She was supposed to be here—" Janus was cut off by the Whills' murmurs. Something was up. "Where is she?"

One of the Whills giggled. She politely told her, "You're all coming with us, Janus, or did you think we wouldn't know who you were? Helen's fine."

"But you lot will have better accommodations," spoke another Whills, whose voice was gruff and hoarse. He gestured to Janus and her crew to follow them, "This way. Hurry up! Let's go!"

"Hurry up! Now!" a second Whill, a sentry, pointed out to them.

Jock looked at Janus, telling her, "Come on, let's go. Before they try anything against us."

Janus whispered in his ear, as they were led out of the hangar bay, "What do you mean? I thought they were friendly."

Jock whispered back, "Not as well as you think. This place is mysterious."

"Huh?" Janus asked, confused, as a Whill sentry pushed her forward, carrying her out of the hangar bay and directly out of the spaceport, from which a nearby village awaited them.

Ooh, this chapter sure got interesting. :)

What do you think will happen next? What will happen to Helen, Janus, Jock, Ellvara, and Perseus, while they encounter the Whills? What is the relationship between the Shaman of the Whills and Helen the Shapeshifter? And what will become of Janus' training?

Thanks for reading. More to come. :)

~Aria Breuer