Miriah stood face to face with Darth Malgus and could feel the force in her rise up and flare around her. Malgus' slightly widened eyes told her he was at least a little frightened, but he blathered on in typical Sith fashion about his intentions to obliterate her and her Alliance. Fat chance, she thought, and then was pushed back to the edge of the stone circle. She looked at their surroundings, committing them to memory. They stook spread around the perimeter of a large etched circle, Corso to her right, Aric to her left, then Lana and Mags to either side of the men. There were symbols on the ground and around the circle, stone pillars that had probably stood for thousands of years. Miriah had been using force power since they'd landed, but instead of being tired, she felt invigorated. Corso shifted where he stood, looking determined. She could see Mags out of the corner of her eye, and caught her brief nod. It's time, she thought, and pulled her blaster.
Mia had gotten home over an hour ago, but just now sat down with a tired sigh. She had forgotten the physical toll a new baby took, and vowed to rest more frequently during the day. Meaghan now slept peacefully, and Mia closed her eyes. Instantly she saw Miriah and Malgus in her mind and stood quickly. Devin told her through the force that yes, this was happening, and Mia only nodded. Her anxiety over the safety of her family, and the one she thought of as her mother, was such that instead of resting, she started cleaning the apartment, putting the rest of the nursery together and then cooking for them. Please keep them safe, she said, over and over again. Once the initial burst of fear was over, she finally sat beside the bassinet again, exhausted. The baby blinked at her, content in her blanket wrap, and Mia felt the pure force from the infant. I will always keep you safe and loved, she thought, and blinked back the tears that had been threatening all day.
Devin felt his wife's panic, but knew there was nothing he could do. The thought of his family, stuck on a windy outcropping of rock with Darth Malgus made him physically sick, and he pulled on the force for calm. He hoped Merida was engaged with her lessons and didn't notice, but he knew she would. I'm okay, Daddy. Mimi is stronger than she thinks, he heard distinctly and had to chuckle. The strong bond between his mother and daughter was a comfort to them both, and he was grateful for it. Maybe Mom is okay, he thought, and tried to concentrate on the latest conflicts they were involved with, and get on with his day.
Lana had felt a little rusty when they'd landed on Elom, but after all the droids they'd dispatched, her lightsaber felt like a natural extension of her arm. She could see that Darth Malgus was not as strong as he was before his extensive reconstruction, and they did have him outnumbered, after all. This should be easy, she thought, just before she saw the Commander go flying to the edge of the circle they stood in. She saw Miriah's blaster only a few seconds before Aric's cannon chattered loudly, echoing off the stone. She used force to leap to Malgus, swinging her lightsaber in an arc as she landed. It deflected and she swore under her breath at the shield covering the Sith. Corso's physical assault seemed to be having more of an effect and she took a few steps back. Suddenly Malgus sent out a wave of force, moving them back to the edge of the circle, and pulsing energy toward them. She deflected it with her saber, but saw that Corso and the others had scrambled behind the stone pillars. She felt triumphant until she realized how close to the edge she'd been pushed. Whoa, she thought, and moved around the perimeter to where a pillar stood. This will at least stop me from going over, she reasoned, and turned her thoughts back to the battle.
Mags saw Miriah draw her blaster and immediately put a force shield over her sister. She wasn't sure exactly what kind of attack Malgus would use, but he would surely use something. She tried to shield Corso, but it was quickly gone. When Malgus shoved them back, she ducked behind the pillar away from the pulse of lightning, but she could feel Aric was a little late to move, and had been injured. Not bad, she thought, but not good either. When they emerged, she rushed to Aric's side to put kolto on him, the burn not serious enough to warrant force healing. For now, at least. She had to keep her wits about her and protect Mir, she thought.
Calypso fell onto her bed, bone tired. She wanted to do some housework, but the exhaustion took over and she fell into a deep sleep. Torian was working overtime, because Aric was not on the planet, and she had gone to bed early the night before, too. Torian was worried, but she assured him that her research said it was normal. She slept for hours, the only sounds in the apartment the appliances humming. When he came in around midnight, she stirred only to change into her sleeping shirt and then tumble right back into bed, asleep in seconds. Torian wondered about this, but she had told him that the fatigue was normal. He pressed his lips to her forehead, and thought she felt hot, but not too hot. Sighing, he lay beside her, listening to her even breaths, and eventually followed her to sleep.
He's got to be getting tired, Miriah thought, as she felt the force sing in her blood. She knew he was starting to lose his temper from the nonsense he was spouting about learning how to take them all out, and almost laughed. On an impulse she rushed to him, hoping to get in a good kick, but just as she got close enough, she felt the swish of a lightsaber, and saw a large part of her hair lying on the ground. Then she felt herself flying through the air. She hit the ground and felt the air rush out of her body.
Mags saw Miriah fall and tried to rush to where her sister was lying, but the force lightning was everywhere, and she knew her shield would only absorb part of it. Miriah was stunned, she realized, but not injured. She relaxed against the pillar that kept the attack at bay, and felt the force flowing around her. It's Mir, she thought, and grinned to herself.
Lana was breathing hard, trying to pull force to her, but she was running on fumes. The fight had gone on longer than any of them had thought it would, and she was feeling her lack of workouts lately. Corso looked worse for wear too, she noticed, as he pulled an energy bar and some water out of his pack. It was on the next round that Miriah went flying, and Corso braved the lightning to get to her side, falling short as he reached the closest pillar.
Miriah was lying there, and she felt the force flowing around her with such intensity that it made her cry out. Time slowed, and she saw everyone as they were trying to figure out the next step. Corso was up now, staring at her, and she wondered how she would have to fix the hair situation. I wish I could just form a force dampening bubble around Malgus, she thought, and then he would be powerless. She heard Merida's voice in her head then. That's it, Mimi. You can do this, you have all of the force you need. She's right, Miriah realized, and began to visualize a dome, force resistant and transparent. She hadn't moved, content to just think about what she wanted to do, the force providing the peace and serenity she needed. She heard Corso gasp, and turned toward him, smiling, but he was looking at Malgus. Above the circle, she could see the formation of the dome she was thinking about and smiled. Slowly, she began to draw it smaller, and could hear the threats Malgus was thowing out, knowing he couldn't hurt them anymore. When the dome just covered the Darth and a small space around her, Miriah stood. "Call the orbiting forces to come and take this prisoner," she told Lana, just as Corso reached her and lifted her in the air.
Devin whooped in his office, and then took off running home. She's okay, he though, all of them are. And the threat is contained. He could barely restrain himself from shouting it all through the base, he was so excited. He exited the elevator on his floor, and for a brief moment felt a note of distress, but dismissed it as it wasn't very strong. He burst into the apartment to see his beaming wife waiting for him. "I'm so thankful," she whispered as he hugged her tightly.
"Merida is as well, I got a call from the school that she had gone into a force trance during playtime, and I'd bet anything she was talking to her Mimi," Devin said with a grin. Whatever it took, he thought.
Corso kissed his wife, and she almost dropped when the force started to setlle down around her, not realizing how taxing the fighting and force use would be. He caught her and helped her sit down. They were sitting there as the Republic forces landed to take Malgus into custody. As the aircraft was landing, Miriah saw the long strands of ebony hair scatter over the edge of the circle. Oh well, she thought, and raised her hand to her head for the first time. Mags had joined her and Miriah could see concern in her sister's eyes. "I'm fine," she said, and Mags opened her mouth but then her attention was drawn to Corso, who had lightning burns that had penetrated his armor and burned his back. She turned to healing then, all thoughts of Miriah's hair forgotten.
Once Malgus was secured, Miriah took a deep breath and felt Corso's arms around her. Lana was close, refueling on some cookies Mir had packed for them, and Aric was with her. "My gods, Mir, you are surely just as force connected as Devin," Aric said. "Maybe that's why your cookies are always so good." Miriah laughed then, and felt her whole being relax. He squinted at her then. "Got a little close to that lightsaber, huh?"
Miriah reached up to feel her head, and shrugged. "It's just hair," she replied, and started to gather her things, ready to get back to the ship. It was getting dusk, and she was tired. It was a shorter trek to the shuttle than when they came in, because they'd already dispatched all the droids, and they were shortly on the Dreamweaver. Miriah headed to their quarters, but was stopped by Corso's hand on her arm. "Wait, darlin," he implored, and she turned to see both Lana and Mags there, shocked looks on their faces.
"What? What's wrong?" she asked.
"Mir, come sit down," Mags said. With shaky legs, she complied. "Remember me, when I was a little girl? I always had golden blonde hair, right?"
Miriah nodded. "I remember that, yes."
"When I learned the shielding technique, it made it go to this silver color." Mags stopped and sat beside her sister. "You were pulling force like I've never seen before. Not even like Devin has demonstrated."
"Okay, so what does that have to do with your shielding technique?" Miriah was confused, and really just wanted a shower.
"When Devin channeled force through you, and turned on your capabilities, it made your very light eyes go almost translucent white. Somehow, great force use acts on pigments," Mags explained. "Honey," she sighed, "where Malgus cut your hair, it's white to the root. On the other side as well."
Miriah gasped and ran to their quarters. This can't be, she thought, and immediately sought Devin through the force. Dev, my hair is white, and Mags says it's force use. How come you and Merida have dark hair?
Devin sighed. He was afraid of this and knew his mother's dark hair was her trademark. Because we were born with this force ability. You were not, not until I channeled through you. I've seen it happen before, a couple of times. But it doesn't matter, Mom. You're still you.
Miriah's thoughts were whirling in her head, and she absently turned the shower on, undressing slowly. Corso joined her and helped her sit on the bench. He waited for her tears, but she didn't cry. Instead, she seemed to accept the change and shampooed what was left of her hair. When they made their way out to the galley, Aric had pulled some of their favorites from the frozen case and was working on thawing them. "Aric, could you please get the hair stylists from Odessen to the orbital station to meet me? I think I'm going to need some help before we land."
Aric paused and nodded. He hadn't wanted to point out the change to her, but he was glad she seemed to accept it. Corso caught his eye, and they both sighed. This day was historic, in more ways than one.
Caly rose and put her hand to her head, dizziness causing her to sway. Slowly she stood up and felt her way down the hall to the kitchen. Maybe some tea will help, she thought. I didn't eat last night either. She had put the water on to heat and turned, and the world went spotty, her vision greying out until she fell, everything dark.