Sorry for the delay. I got caught in spiritual stuff, while this chapter was written. I ended up integrating with LOTR's Frodo Baggins. It feels like I'm back to being me, Frodo could be hanging out in the background, but life just seems so different. It's hard to explain, or maybe not. Either way, this chapter did finally get written and revised.
Granted, my writing voice may have come through within the second scene of this chapter. Then, this chapter picked up its pacing by the last scene. So, it's been interesting.
That said, enjoy! :)
The creatures began grazing out in the warzone arena, where Janus had just finished her combat session with Jock, Perseus, Ellvara, their other five teammates, and the opposing team. The opposing team needed medical attention, after Ellvara's rage mode began. The creatures were removed from the warzone arena, by the time Janus took the first shuttle, alongside Jock and Perseus, out of the warzone arena, heading back to Kyber Grove region. It hadn't been that long, since Jock and Janus had been away from the Jedi Temple. No more than an hour or two. And yet, so much happened within a short time that Janus thought it necessary to head to the Jedi Temple, accompanied by Jock and Perseus.
Janus looked around, as the shuttle departed, heading back for Kyber Grove region. "Where's Helen? You'd think she'd show up by now."
Jock chuckled. He looked at her, telling her, "Now, you think of Helen?" he nodded, giggling, "Gee, you weren't so keen on thinking about her before, Janus." He raised a sharp eyebrow at her, laughing to himself even more.
Still, Janus put her paw upon Jock's paw, smirking at him. She rested her head against Jock's shoulder, from where he patted her head and took a deep breath. "Yeah, I think we'll do all right, won't we Janus?" He smirked in her direction, kissing her forehead, and then her lips.
They stayed that way for a good minute, before letting go and embracing each other with such passion. Even Janus could see they were a couple! This much was clear, even as the shuttle landed on its landing pad, outside the Jedi Temple.
Janus stood up, with Jock taking her paw in his and not letting her go. Janus looked at Jock, and then at Perseus, with such wonder. "Come on. It's time to find Ellvara, get her to seek us out, and then convince her to join us."
Jock grimaced at the thought of a Dark Side Ellvara Suns, but that was what they had to put up with. Still, he rested his Dalmatian paw against his knee, asking Janus, "Oh yeah. And what if she doesn't budge?"
Janus looked down at him, courteously confused, "What?"
Jock shrugged, telling her, "I mean, it's Ellvara. Normally, when I've tasted the Dark Side, it's impossible to resist. And Ellvara's headstrong and proud. I don't think she'll go down easily. But I do feel that she will talk with me. I know the Dark Side. I can relate to her." He stood up, reminding Janus, as he placed his paws against her shoulders. "I know what I'm doing. Let me talk some sense into her."
"I'm going with you. The Jedi will let me in there, but we're not separating, Jock," Janus stated, bravely. She shook her head reminding him, "At least, not now."
As Perseus cleared his throat, as the shuttle door opened, and Janus and Jock were heading out of the shuttle with him, he placed his hands behind his back, instructing the two, "If it's any consolation, I'd like to accompany you both. I take it, since Ellvara is a fan of mine, she would like to talk with me as well. Maybe it will snap her out of her lulling."
Janus nodded, as did Jock.
Quickly, Jock rounded on Perseus, reminding him, "Then stay close to us. The Jedi may be good, but I still question their ways. But then, I am no Sith. At least, not anymore. But still, Janus has come a long way from where she started. She's got heart! A good heart. Maybe we should all go, reason with Ellvara, and get her to join our team after all."
"Oh, so you agree with me?" Janus chuckled, as she, Jock, and Perseus climbed up the steps leading into the grand entrance to the Jedi Temple.
.
Ellvara's room, inside the Jedi Temple, had a sitting room adjacent to her bedroom. The aisle frame was wide and open, with the ceiling tall and the drywall painted in a yellowish-orange tint. The floor was tiled and covered in wide red rugs. Ellvara's bed was queen-sized and elegant, with lush, green leafy plants fitted inside huge, rounded, ceramic vases with flower etchings crafted and painted on the vases.
Her wardrobe could be found within her bedroom, while in her sitting room there was a wide cabinet, fitted with all her lightsabers and other equipment and supplies, which Ellvara kept tucked inside the cabinet. Couches, decked out with red cushions, could be found scattered about the room. As for Ellvara's bed, it was seated atop a wide platform, fit with three steps on either side of the platform.
To be honest, the second Janus, Jock, and Perseus entered Ellvara's room, they noticed Ellvara was seated on the floor, tapping into her Jedi Force Powers to calm her down. Her aura she emitted off was golden with red mist seeping out from it. She looked wounded, but okay. Two Jedi had been stationed outside Ellvara's room. So, Janus took care to inform them she could assist Ellvara.
The two Jedi Guards were not impressed. "Be careful. We don't know how dangerous Ellvara is."
Janus nodded to them, saying to them, "Thank you. We won't be long." Janus rushed inside Ellvara's room first, stunning Jock.
Jock nodded to the Jedi Guards, as Janus made her way into Ellvara's room. Jock followed Janus, with Perseus joining them in moments. It was here Ellvara kept her eyes closed, tapping into the Force as best she could, not knowing what she could find there.
From within her mind, Ellvara could hear voices coming from all directions. Her path, she could see it for herself. It was clouded, it was dark and difficult. Then she saw Janus.
Ellvara opened her eyes, confronting Janus with a hot temper. "You know, the Jedi are keeping me prisoner here. Why?"
Janus shrugged. She simply stated, "They don't want you causing trouble. What happened to you back there, at the warzone arena? You lost yourself."
Ellvara hissed. She stood up, purple lightning emitting from her fingertips. "Ahhh! Don't you see what I've become? Don't you see…?" She paused, the lightning vanishing from her fingertips. She sighed, lowering her head in shame, admitting to Janus, "I thought you'd left me. I thought everyone abandoned me. I overreacted. I tapped into the Dark Side. I didn't think, I didn't know I had that power." She looked at Janus. She could sense Janus had some Darkness inside her. This intrigued Ellvara. Quietly, Ellvara asked Janus, "How do you do it? How do you keep in the Light?"
Janus shrugged. "Well, you're not the only one who feels forgotten. I've felt forgotten on multiple occasions, by the Jedi, by my companions, my crew. I know how the Dark Side is. I even wanted to become a Sith. I'm not sure if I'll get that chance. The Jedi… it's still not for me. I don't know how we keep to the Light. It's impossible without the Darkness. So, I know how you feel."
Ellvara sighed. She calmed down, the Light Side restoring in her. She quietly told Janus, with a whisper, "Maybe we'll both have that chance. The Jedi would rather keep me prisoner here, wouldn't they? Unless I become one of them. But since you want to become Sith, it makes things easier on me. So yes, I will join you. I'm sorry back there, earlier at the arena. It wasn't my smartest move."
"You're smart. You just need to see it first," Janus stated, comforting Ellvara.
Ellvara smiled, saying to her, "Thanks Janus."
Janus whispered, "You're welcome. Now, let's leave and continue our mission."
"If Ellvara is all right, then I suggest you leave," Master Yuvon stated, creeping up on Janus.
Ellvara bowed to Master Yuvon, saying, "Master Yuvon, forgive me. I don't understand…"
"…Nonsense! Not everyone is fit to be a Jedi. I just hope you know what you are doing. The both of you," Master Yuvon stated, making it too easy for Janus and Ellvara to walk away from the Jedi Temple. Master Yuvon did warn them, "But know, should you return, you will be put on trial, Janus. For it is the Jedi Trials that will test you, to make you become a Knight, a Jedi Knight."
Master Yuvon bowed to them. "Good luck. Do know, we are watching you diligently." He left Ellvara's room, cackling behind his teeth.
Ellvara eyed Janus suspiciously. "Is there more to Master Yuvon than we know?"
Janus shrugged, saying to her, "Honestly, I don't know. This is all too easy." She paused, telling Ellvara, Jock, and Perseus, "Let's go. It seems our journey continues."
Perseus stopped the trio, saying to them, "Well, if you're ready for one more match, we can do the starfighter arena matches. If that's all right? I'd like to test my hand at it."
Ellvara laughed. She looked at Perseus, smiling at him with genuine joy, "I think we can handle that."
Perseus smirked. "I'm glad you think so. Shall we go?"
Ellvara looked at Janus, saying to her, "I still want him, Perseus."
Janus laughed. "Maybe. We'll see."
Jock sighed. "Come on. We better move. I wonder what became of Helen." He asked, as he and their crew left Ellvara's room.
~o~
Helen awoke with a sore headache. She couldn't believe Pan spelled her. She'd get him back for this! That was for sure! Now, what could she do? She grabbed the ramp's post, doing her best to sit up, only to tumble down the ramp.
"Ugh!" Helen groaned, doing her best to sit up. She stood up on wobbly lizard-like legs, wondering what had become of her, right as Janus returned with Jock, Ellvara, and Perseus, who assisted Helen and brought her back on her feet.
"I see the Defender is doing well!" Janus stated with smirked lips. "Are you alright?"
Helen snarled, admitting to her, "Yeah, I'll be fine. But Pan… ooh! I'm going to get him for this! He spelled me with his panpipes! You do not spell a dragonoid! Honestly!" She sneered, asking her in calm, rational voice, "Where have you been? Jock and I… we were looking for you. And oh! Who's this? Perseus I know, but… you're new," Helen stated, pointing out Ellvara.
Ellvara smirked, saying to her, "I'm Ellvara Suns, the new Jedi Knight. I nearly fell to the Dark Side, but maybe I can use it to my advantage."
Helen grunted, saying to her, "Then you're with the right group. Janus knows the Dark Side. She wanted to become a Sith."
"I know! Janus told me earlier," Ellvara stated, pointing out Janus.
Helen smirked at her, turning her attention to Janus, as she stated, "Well, Janus, I believe you're in good hands. I know the Dark Side. It's not a pretty story, but… maybe I can tell it at some point."
Janus smirked, saying to her, "I can't wait."
Helen looked around, asking their crew, "So, what are we doing now? I see Janus has another Angelic feather. I hear there's one more feather over by the Starfighter Arena. At least one of them. We should go…" Helen turned to Jock, who was typing in his datapad, "…look for it. What are you doing?"
"I'm signing us up for a starfighter match. I hear the starfighter matches might have an Angelic feather…" Jock looked up at Helen, who snarled at him. Jock chuckled lightly, saying to her, "…but no need to tell you that. You already told us."
Helen giggled, saying to him, "Oh Jock, you are a wonder."
"There! We're in! The Angelic feather should be in there. I should point out, when these two mourning dove feathers, the one we found in the warzone arena, and now in the starfighter arena, are combined, it'll give us more information about the past, the Rebellion in Heaven, and maybe our pasts as well during our time in the Heavens," Jock explained, leaving Ellvara nodding, Perseus interested, Janus smirking, and Helen sighing.
Helen looked at Jock, telling him, "Then lead on."
Jock smirked. He bowed, putting his datapad away, as he neared his Rendili Watchman speederbike. "Come on. Time to go!" He started up the engine, and made his way out of their ship's hangar bay.
Helen, Janus, Perseus, and Ellvara soon mounted their speederbikes, taking off after Jock in search of the starfighter hangar bay. They did not want to be late.
~o~
Within the starfighter hangar bay, there was an assortment of starfighter ships, in many different shapes, sizes, and patterns. The moment Janus entered this hangar bay, she was amazed at how she got her chance to choose which starfighter she wanted to fly. The question remained was whether she could pilot a starfighter.
Did she have the skills? That remained to be seen, even as she decided which starfighter to fly.
"Janus, come on!" Helen called out, as they neared a starfighter that had two jet-black cushioned seats, nestled in the starfighter's cockpit. This starfighter had two pairs of metallic wings, with a long nose, and a set of thrusters. The gun turrets were located at the ends of the wings.
It truly was a unique starfighter. Janus wondered how she was ever going to be able to pilot it.
Helen chuckled, admitting, "You're new to piloting ships. Don't worry. That's why we're going to pilot this two-man ship together. I'll pilot it, though. You can be my co-pilot. I'll teach you everything I know."
Janus shrugged, saying to her, "If you say so. Hey!" She looked at Helen, as the purple dragonoid boarded their starfighter. Janus followed her up the starfighter's golden ladder, ascending the ladder until Janus sat in the back of the cockpit, with Helen seated up front.
Helen looked at Jock and Perseus teaming up in their own two-man starfighter ship, with Ellvara looking around for a ship of her own to pilot. Soon, Ellvara landed on a Jedi starfighter ship, with red metallic plating, fit for one pilot. She ascended the ladder, taking her stop inside its cockpit, before starting up the engine.
The moment they were ready, Helen put on her helmet, speaking through the comm at hers and Janus' crew, "Everyone strapped in? Right. Let's go!"
"Yippee!" Ellvara stated, sarcastically, readying her starfighter ship for takeoff. "Let's do this!"
"Come on. Give us a chance!" Jock called out to Helen from the comm.
Helen sneered at the comm, pressing the button, and telling Jock, "Just hold on. We're supposed to find that feather? It can't be that hard."
"And win the game! Come on. How bad can it be?" Jock stated, as he, Perseus, Ellvara, Helen, and Janus flew out of the hangar bay and towards the starfighter arena match they were meant to go to.
"Right! Let's go this way!" Helen said, turning hers and Janus' starfighter towards another direction.
"Wait!" Janus cried, gazing out around her at their ship, watching helplessly as Helen barrel rolled away from an enemy fighter. "What are you doing? Helen! Oh, I'm going to be sick!" Janus' stomach quivered. She felt like she could vomit at any moment.
"Hang on!" Helen cried, pushing the starfighter into another area, as the enemy fighter crashed into an asteroid.
Janus panted, her stomach churning, but she could handle it. Janus complained harshly to Helen, whose laughter didn't help the Jedi Dalmatian, "Please don't do that again!"
Helen chuckled, giddily, anticipating Janus' fury. "What? You need to relax!" Helen looked on, watching Jock spot the mourning dove feather, located somewhere near an arena at the top of a large asteroid. The asteroid was cloaked in a forcefield.
"I'm going after the feather," Jock stated, feeling Ellvara's raw fury.
"What? Don't do that!" Ellvara cried, annoyed. "I just recovered! You can't possibly…"
"…Ellvara, relax!" Jock cried, laughing. "We have other teammates, remember? But while the rest of our teammates help us win the game, we go after the feather! We do this, we'll have another piece to our puzzle."
Ellvara huffed over the comm. "I still don't understand, why are these feathers so important?"
Janus huffed. She spoke over the comm, "Do you want to find out about the past, our Heavenly Days? Don't you want to know what that's like?"
"I don't know," Ellvara stated, alarmed.
Janus looked at the comm in confusion. "What don't you know?"
Ellvara shook her head. She paused, saying to her, "I don't remember my Heavenly Days. I'm a new soul, newly created. The First World is my home. I mean, maybe the Heavens are my home, but all I remember is being born on this world. I know that doesn't make sense…"
Helen stated over the comms. "You're a new soul? I thought you were new to this whole experience. Welcome aboard, Ellvara."
Ellvara smirked, saying over the comm, "Thanks Helen."
"Now, let's go get that feather!" Jock cried, heading right for the asteroid arena.
Jock made a nosedive for the asteroid arena, before the others had their chance to reach it. Helen halted hers and Janus' starfighter, just as Ellvara slid next to them. Ellvara huffed, watching from a distance at Jock and Perseus, as they landed inside the forcefield.
From all the commotion, Janus could make out Perseus complaining to Jock, just as Jock dismounted from the starfighter and started to head towards a control panel, atop an orangish-brownstone platform, nestled at one end of the arena. Janus looked on at Jock and Perseus' dispute, right as an enemy fighter tried to go through the force field, but bounced off it. Other fighters attempted to go through the force field, some blasted away and careening down into space.
However, an enemy fighter found the way through the force field, landing on the opposite landing pad. An enemy Sith launched at Jock, only for Perseus to leap into the air to face off against the Sith, vibrosword in hand.
"Hurry up, Jock! Now!" Perseus said, feeling pressure from the Sith enemy to slow him down. Perseus suffered a cut to the arm. He collapsed on the ground, aching in pain.
"Yaaahh!" The Sith advanced on him. Perseus launched his vibrosword in the air, moments into Zeus floating down and mending Perseus' arm via lightning bolts. Perseus shook awake, finding renewed strength… only a moment too soon.
Jock ran across a narrow walkway, leaping into the air, and hoisting himself upon the Angelic feather's forcefield. Jock worked the number pad, from which the Angelic feather's forcefield kept it from flying away. Jock laughed, as the Angelic feather's forcefield orb vanished, leaving behind some bruises all over Jock's robes and his arms.
"Yes! Uh oh!" Jock cried, falling towards the asteroid arena's floor in a mad dash to grab the Angelic feather. With a great leap, he held the feather in his paw, before it flew away from him. Jock stretched out his neck, hoisted himself forward, and reached for the feather. Only for the feather to fly right towards Perseus and the Sith enemy.
Perseus smiled, clutching the feather, right as the Sith enemy got blown away, landing back on his ship in anguish.
The Sith enemy cried out in fury to Perseus and Jock, as Jock landed on the asteroid's surface, "This isn't over! I'll get you both for this! You'll see I will, Jedi." The Sith enemy sneered, his iron armor clanking as he pulled his Sith fighter's cockpit's lid down and flew away.
Perseus laughed. He opened his hand, handing the feather to Jock. "It looks like we make a good team."
Jock smirked. "Don't push it. I've got to get this back to Janus. Let's go." Jock stated, joining Perseus at their starfighter and flying out of the forcefield, heading back to their crew. It wasn't until their crew made it back to the starfighter hangar bay, finding out they won the match, thanks to their other teammates holding off the station they guarded, before Jock handed to Janus the feather. "All right. Let's see what these Angelic feathers can do."
Janus looked at the smooshed Angelic mourning dove feather in anguish. She complained, "It's ruined. The feather."
Jock nodded. "Perseus grabbed it. He clung to it. I'm sorry it's damaged, but maybe the other mourning dove feather can repair it."
"Let's see," Janus said, trying out both mourning dove feathers for herself.
To hers and their crew's surprise, the two mourning dove feathers repaired themselves. They moved in circles, joining, and creating one big mourning dove feather. Janus laughed, placing the Hawk's feather with the combined Mourning Dove feather, to see more of the puzzle.
"What can you see?" Helen asked, right as Janus collapsed on the floor, lost in her own thoughts.
Janus saw herself sitting on a pearly white bench with the Lord. Janus knew what she wanted to be, but she also felt, from the green glow of her Angelic hands, that she was a healer. A healer.
Janus smirked, saying to Him, "If I ever find more of those feathers, I will address these issues that we have in the Heavens."
God laughed, saying to her, "Don't fear. There's more to this puzzle than meets the eye. Find the other feathers. You will know where the next piece of the puzzle is. Until then…" God placed a hand against Janus' forehead.
Janus could remember the look on Lucifer's face, his eyes changing to red, and his skin becoming charcoal. Janus shivered, watching Lucifer transform into Satan. She had been there, in the hallway, working with the Divine Council on creating the first peoples. It was a long slow process.
Soon, Janus couldn't resist. She looked at Lucifer with a smirk. She would join him, wouldn't she?
Janus came awake. She was back in her female Dalmatian form, shaking. The feathers dropped from her paws. Her paws emitted a green glow, the likes of which Helen couldn't understand. It was only when Janus came to, that Helen stated, "You're a healer? Or at least you were in your Heavenly Days."
"What?" Janus asked, remembering the memories she gained from the feathers. The green glow disappeared. She sat up, unsure what had happened. All she knew was that she needed to figure out what to do next. And it wasn't here. "We need to get to Shapeshifter's Haven. Now. I have this feeling we'll need another feather."
"We have three feathers. Let's find the other four," Helen stated, pleased with their journey so far.
Jock shook his head. "No, we only have two. We still need to find the other five."
"Four," Helen said, knowing she was correct.
"Five, Helen!" Jock said, not wanting to start an argument with her. "Don't question this. You know we have five more feathers to find. When the feathers are in pairs, they're going to combine into one feather. We must find five more feathers."
"Okay! Okay. I was just thinking…"
"…that you know this quest, this mission. But this is the Lord's mission, given to Janus. Now, please. Let's take care of this," Jock said, giving Janus the feathers and helping her on her feet.
Helen sneered at Perseus, Ellvara, Janus, and Jock. They seemed to have found comradery with each other. Helen looked away, unsure what to make of this group of heroes. Helen walked away, unsure what else to do. Janus looked at her, knowing she would have to talk with her.
Maybe another time. For now, they needed to leave.
Ooh, more excitement! :) So, what do you think will happen next? Will Janus and her crew reach Shapeshifter's Haven? Or will more trouble arise for them?
Thanks for reading. :) More to come! :)
~Aria Breuer