The Force Wars (IC)

[Angelus]

As Alain walked towards the library he could hear the whispered voices of the people around him, could feel the throughts that permeated the air but knew that it was better than to worry about it. He knew that he would hear and feel more with the more time that he was here, that they would still fear him but he knew that they had nothing to fear from him. He had changed his ways and turned his back on his former life but knew they would still fear him.

He entered the library slowly and took one of the volumes from one of the cases, moving to a table to read it. As he sat down the hood of his cloak slipped from his face and he heard a gasp. When he looked up he saw a young female jedi getting up from the other side of the table quickly. She took another look at his eyes before she moved quickly away from the table. With a sigh Alain pulled the hood of the cloak back down and began to read the volume, hoping that he could get lost in it.

It was then that the first words came to him and he was surprised when it was the name of his previous self, Darth Victus. He instantly recognized the picture of himself and wished that he could forget about it but knew that to forget about things was to make it happen all over again. He sat down and began to read the volume, knowing one thing. The volume that was in his hands would more than likely show him what he had done.

After a while he closed his eyes and swore one thing to himself, that he would never let this happen again to anyone. If he was allowed to he would teach students around here that there was only one way to do things, that was with hard work and time. He would let nobody else turn into him.

 

[AmenRa]

Tal Varsus moved his head towards Lalena as she reached up to kiss his cheek, and brushed his lips across hers. He closed his eyes and felt all of Coruscant come to a sudden stop as he kissed her.

"I am not your master," he whispered to her, "so I would never give you council on matters of the Force." He brushed his fingertips lightly across the top of her forehead, touching her lekku ever-so-slightly with a caress. "But if you ask me this because we are two halves of the same heart," he continued with his half-smile, "then I gladly welcome the respect." He kissed her forehead quickly then turned to walk away.

He stopped, then half turned.

"Lalena Kar," he said, "I have always loved you. And I am sure I forever shall."

And then he walked away towards the lift that would lead to the hangar.

 

[rengadeirishman]

"Very well, Knight Talan'vor will be allowed to join you all." Thorror said.

"May the force be with you." he said as they left.

He then went to his chamber and meditated, his mind would need to be clear in the time to come.

 

[rengadeirishman]

Reyn followed Varsus and Kar to the lift, his mind focused on the mission ahead. What would they find on Hoth? For good or for ill, it had to be done. He wasn't sure if it was a good idea to bring Talan'Vor along, but who was he to question the wisdom of a Grandmaster? Especially if the grandmaster is Thorror, probably the greatest jedi since the refounding of the order? No one at all, he was a simple warrior and would follow his orders.

They were near the hangar now, soon they would be off to Hoth, better grab a coat.

 

[Wolfsister]

"I am not your master," he whispered to her, "so I would never give you council on matters of the Force." He brushed his fingertips lightly across the top of her forehead, touching her lekku ever-so-slightly with a caress. "But if you ask me this because we are two halves of the same heart," he continued with his half-smile, "then I gladly welcome the respect."

Lalena smiled, a beautific smile that radiated like the sun. He had understood her need for his approval, even though she felt so strongly about this matter. She gripped his hand in a passionate grasp before letting him go, the love and gratitude in her eyes shining as she watched him turn away.

"Lalena Kar, I have always loved you. And I am sure I forever shall."

The love she bore him shone through her entire being once more and she smiled, her whisper carrying clearly to his ears, "I love you more than life itself, I always will." She knew she was echoing his sentiments, but that didn't make it mean any less.

Then she herself turned brisquely, nodding to Reyn as he followed Varsus to the hanger bay. She needed to collect a certain young knight before she could join the others again.

She walked quickly towards her destination, knowing where the former Sith was, once having made a few enquiries. She encountered him in a similar chamber to where she had first met him, though in a different location.

"Alain Talan'vor..." she gave him a hard edged look, "I am to continue your tutelage..." she paused, "On Hoth."

 

[Angelus]

Alain raised his head to look at the Twi'lek with wide eyes. It was the last thing that he expected to hear from her but here she was saying that he was going with her to Hoth to continue his tutelage under her. He knew that the only way she would ever get permission to do so would be if his master said she could do so but even that came as a surprise. He let his head shrink into the folds of his hood so that he could mask his expression but continued to look at her, trying to read her thoughts by the expressions on her face.

"I will go with you to Hoth to continue my..... tutelage. I just hope that you are prepared for anything."

He knew what he said was ominous and would put her on guard but knew that if would be the only way she would watch him, to make sure that he would not stray into his old ways. He could feel the disturbance in the force from here, could feel the foreboding darkness that called to him even now. He knew just how easy it would be to listen to it but he had told himself that he was a Jedi now and always would be. He would not let anything happen to people of this galaxy by his hand ever again.

Very slowly he stood up, his hand falling to the hilt of his lightsaber and looked at the master's eyes.

"I know that you are probably pressed for time but I need to do something first. There is someone I must say goodbye to. I will be back at the hangar bay though, you have my word."

With that he walked from the library and went to the lifts. He wanted to talk to the one master who meant everything to him, the one person who had made him who he was now and always would be.

As he stepped from the lifts he was surprised by the two Jedi that stood by the door. He knew by the look in their eyes that they were not going to let him get past them, especially when their lightsabers flew into their hands.

"I am here to see Master Van. Can you please tell him that Alain Talan'vor is here to speak with him."

One of the Jedi took a look at him before turning and walking into the council chamber. A minute later he came back with Master Van following him.

"I am sorry that I disturbed you master but I wish to say goodbye to you. As you know I am going to Hoth with my new master. I wish to thank you for everything you have done for me, for bringing me back from the darkness that ruled my life. You will always be my true master Illus Van and I know that I will strive to make you proud of me, to become the knight and hopefully Jedi Master that you have always seen in me."

"That is all that I have always wanted from you Alain. You have gone through trials I know nobody else in this temple will ever go through. I know that there will always be things that you will have to live with and I wish that I could always be around to help you. I know that I will not always be around and it is something that you have to deal with by yourself. I know that yours will not be an easy journey but I trust that you will go down the right path."

He then moved forward and took Alain's hand in his, which surprised Alain. When he moved his hand away Alain was surprised to see the crystal that Illus had placed in his hand.

"It was to be the crystal for your brother's new lightsaber. I know that he would have wanted you to have it."

Alain looked down at the floor and could not say a word. It was the one thing that he wished he was not holding at that moment. He raised his head to look at Illus.

"I know why you want me to have this and I thank you."

"I am not giving you this for the reason you think Alain. As you know, your brother had a lightsaber of his own but he wanted to make another one. He wanted to make a new lightsaber for you; for when you came back to us. Your brother never gave up on you and I know that I never will."

Alain looked down at the crystal in his hand.

"Thank you master. I will never forget this."

With that they both turned and walked away from each other, one of them going back to the council chambers and Alain walking to the hangar. The others were waiting for him and he was not going to make them wait any longer. As he walked along he held the crystal tighter in his right hand.

 

[AmenRa]

Tal Varsus stood with his hands on his hips in front of the old Imperial class shuttle. Patience had never been one of the Jedi Master's strongest virtues. He realized he was tapping his foot against the cold floor of the hangar bay.

The Jedi Reyn Ordo stood by his side. Varsus felt a bit of impatience echoing from the Mandalorian Jedi. Varsus took a few deep breaths to calm himself.

"I suppose we could warm the engines whilst we wait on the others to join us," he said to Reyn as he stepped up the boarding ramp. "And if they don't hurry, we'll go to Hoth without them," he added with a smile. He knew Reyn of course realized that Tal Varsus was not about go anywhere without the graceful beauty of the female Twi'lek that didn't exactly walk, but more closely glided like water across the floor.

 

[Wolfsister]

The Twi'lekkian was indeed the third Jedi to enter the hanger bay, her long graceful legs carrying her towards Varsus with a determined, yet graceful stride. Her newest aquisition - that is the student she couldn't quite call her first Padawan - was nowhere in sight, having been let off to say good bye to his old Master.

Master Kar was in no way delusional about her teaching abilities. She was a fine proctor, however, she was also aware of Darth Victus's bloody past and reputation. This was a man who had killed his own brother for mere power and created havoc on numerous worlds. He had many heads on his belt and she was going to make sure that every single one of them weighed deeply on his mind.

"He will be here shortly." She simply said as she glided past Varsus, a hard glint in her eyes, showing him the resolve and determination that was no doubt needed to tutor a person back from the Dark Side, and onto the ramp that led up into the bowls of the ship. She swept the Mandalorian with a formal inclination of her head and scrounged up every ounce of self possession she had as she passed threshold.

"He will be here," she muttered, her normal, easy and graceful complacency jangling with an unoften felt uneasiness and nervousness.

 

[AmenRa]

Jedi Master Tal Varsus stepped into the crew area, walking past the lithe form of Lalena Kar. He stepped to the cockpit and ran his fingertips across the main power switches.

"Of course he will," Varsus said to no one in particular, although he knew the Jedi Master standing in the aisle behind him knew she was being spoken to. He then turned and took her chin in his hand, raising her eyes to look into his.

His voice was stern when he spoke. It was not the whispered voice of her lover that she had heard within her ears, it was the voice of her master.

"This trepidation I sense in you, this uneasiness I feel seems very close to fear. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, and hate leads to suffering. Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny.

"Alain knows this. I know this. And I can assure you, he will test you. I can not walk this path for you, my beautiful Lalena, for it is yours alone to teach this one to be a true Jedi. To teach him love and compassion, righteousness, and faith. But to do this, you must be strong enough to embrace whatever darkness comes against you and turn it aside, for your ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is.

"And I will never leave your side," he finished, kissing her on her lips, lingering for an instant, and then turning to bring the ion engines online.

 

[rengadeirishman]

Reyn walked into the shuttle after the two masters. He noticed that Talan'Vor had not joined them.

"Shall i retrieve him?"

 

[Wolfsister]

"This trepidation I sense in you, this uneasiness I feel seems very close to fear. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, and hate leads to suffering. Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny.
Alain knows this. I know this. And I can assure you, he will test you. I can not walk this path for you, my beautiful Lalena, for it is yours alone to teach this one to be a true Jedi. To teach him love and compassion, righteousness, and faith. But to do this, you must be strong enough to embrace whatever darkness comes against you and turn it aside, for your ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is. And I will never leave your side,"

He could feel the tiny tremor of fear that fissured up her spine and made her tremble in his gentle grasp. His voice conjured up those early days when she was only beginning down the path of a Jedi and learning just how terrifyingly compassionate the Force truly was. She blinked slow, savouring his all too brief kiss and silently wondered at his more than public displays of affection in the early days of this quest. Was there something he could sense and she could not? Was the Force telling him something; urging him to love her in a way he had not been able to before?

She shook her head gently, her lekku twisting and jerking in reaction to her thoughts. No, he was right. Fear was how it started, fear was the ultimate marker for the path she did not wish to travel down.

She nodded then, a resolution coming to her eyes and she spoke back to him, as an equal, his pupil no longer; truly. "I am his Master now, and I am responsible for his achievements and failings -" she was interupted by Jedi Reyn suggesting he go fetch her already wayward pupil.

She paused and then, with a secretive smile on her lips, she answered in an even and calm tone, the courage in her eyes reflecting the courage in her voice, "He will come. If he makes us late, I will deal with him. But he will come."

She had stated it, and so it was to be.

She took a step towards Varsus and laid a hand onto his shoulder, her trembling having ceased, her grip firm yet utterely loving. "Thank you, my love. For your strength..." she continued through the Force, "And for mine."

 

[Angelus]

As he walked to the hangar bay Alain could feel the weight of the crystal that was in his hand and tightened his grip around it. He knew what it had meant for his master, his former master to have given him the crystal. He knew what feelings would have gone with it, how his brother would have had it when Alain had cut him down. He knew that there was no way he could ever bring his brother back but wished that he could ask him for his forgiveness.

He knew as soon as he entered the hangar bay that his new master and the one who had proposed the mission to Hoth had been talking about something, more than likely him but it was something he was not going to let bother him. In his former life he would have demanded to have known what they had been talking about but he knew that if it was something that he should know his master would tell him when it was appropriate. He stood there for a moment or two to collect his thoughts and let his gaze fall to the floor of the hangar as he held onto the crystal even harder.

He slowly raised it again, letting out a deep breath as he did and walked towards his new Twi'lek master.

"I am ready to leave now master. I am sorry that I have kept you all waiting."

He wanted to move past her, to show how ready he was but realized that there were better things in waiting for his fellow Jedi to go first.

"I know that this may be presumptuous of me and I ask for your forgiveness if it is but I have a request to make of you. I have recently been handed something of great importance to my former master and myself and would like to enquire if you know of a way to make a new lightsaber for myself while we on our way to Hoth?"

He knew that it was a strange request to make of his new master but knew that he needed to make himself a new lightsaber; he needed to make the first new step in the life that he wanted for himself, that of a Jedi Knight.

 

[AmenRa]

Your strength is your own, for it is yours that carries me, Tal Varsus responded through the Force. And yet it had been fear in truth that had driven him to openly declare his love for her, to touch her with his heart and let her know how much she meant to him. It had been fear, indeed. Fear of losing her. Losing her to another, to the Dark Side, or to death, but fear nonetheless.

But was fear the reason he now looked into her eyes with unbridled love? No, it was not from fear, although that may have opened his eyes to this thing before him. Instead it was truth. And Tal Varsus believed it was now sincerely the will of the Force.

Varsus listened as Alain spoke about building a new lightsaber. He sat down in the navigator's station, thinking the hangar was probably full of things suitable for a saber handle. Surely there were even power cells and focusing lenses floating about. Maybe even some were within the confines of the shuttle, perhaps in the spare parts bins or somewhere.

A new lightsaber? Not a Sith saber. No, indeed, the reformed, once-Sith would have to make a saber worthy of the Jedi Order. He would have to make a saber worthy of the tutelage of Jedi Master Lalena Kar. But most of all, Alain would have to make a saber worthy of himself. A reflection of truth, and a re-creation of a Jedi that once was.

Varsus turned to Jedi Ordo and indicated the pilot's chair. "If you would, Reyn," he said in his Coruscanti accent, "as I believe we are now all ready."

 

[Wolfsister]

Lalena was just about ready to send a communique - discreetly - to Alain as to his where abouts when he strolled into the shuttle. She blinked, her lekku twisting in both disappointment and agitation, though the others were sure not to be able to decipher her tiny movements.

"I know that this may be presumptuous of me and I ask for your forgiveness if it is but I have a request to make of you. I have recently been handed something of great importance to my former master and myself and would like to enquire if you know of a way to make a new lightsaber for myself while we on our way to Hoth?"

Lalena would have arched an eyebrow, had she had them. A new lightsaber, indeed. She paused, taking her time to think about her answer. She knew full well that though Alain was a Knight in name, he still had a long way before he could fully embrace the Force once more. Creating a new lightsaber would help towards that end, the meditation required to charge his chosen crystal was a sure way of attuning himself - and thusly his new lightsaber - into the intricacies of the Force.

She took a seat, sweeping her Jedi cloak to the side as she frowned with thought, staring at Alain as she pondered. She could not help her gaze falling to the handle of the black, twisted Sith Saber that hung from his waist. She closed her eyes briefly.

If she let him create yet another weapon, he would have very two powerful tools to use should he slip into the Dark Side again. Yet... in the same instance, if she allowed him this, it could prove to help put him on firmer ground with the Light Side of the Force. Something as instrumental as constructing one's own lightsaber was something that could not be undertaken lightly.

Yet... Council member Van had thought him worthy enough to try. It was, after all, a Trial. Perhaps, young Talan'vor was worthy of this challenge. But... only time would tell. For now, she had to take a calculated guess.

"I have not known you for long, yet I still trust the judgement of Master Illus Van. What Master Varsus says is true, you should have no problem finding the tools necessary to complete a construction of a lightsaber, however it is not the tools I am concerned about."

This was the beginning of his training. This was the beginning of Master and Pupil. She had decided she would hold nothing back from him.

"I am concerned about your mind. I do not believe that I can restrict you from using your own blade. However, I would caution that having both a Sith and a Jedi lightsaber could constrict and confuse you. I will not order you to relinquish your Sith blade. You have kept it for a reason and I will let you determine when that reason becomes invalid.

Before I allow you this, to undertake such a Trial I want you to understand that once on Hoth, we will not have enough time for you to finish construction. Should you start now, you will have to finish before we reach our destination." She trusted that Varsus would have the exact travel time logged away somewhere.

"Also... I wish for you to recite to me the Jedi Code. Show me that you both remember what the words are and what they mean. If you cannot satisfy this request, I am sorry but I cannot condone you creating your own lightsaber."

Then she stood and looked into his eyes, "Show me that you are ready, my student." She commanded softly, her voice a silken touch on the air.

 

[Angelus]

Alain looked at Lalena in surprise. He knew that he should not be but she had told him that she did not want him to have another lightsaber. It was one of the steps he had to take to be a Jedi but he could not help but wonder if his new master had any faith in him. He stood there for a second and closed his eyes to let the calm come over him then opened them again to look at her.

"There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no chaos, there is harmony. There is no death, there is the force."

He stood and looked at her, knowing that this was what she wanted to hear but he also knew that she wanted to know if he believed what he was saying. If he knew what those words meant.

"I know that any Jedi youngling should know the code with their heart and believe the words that they say. I will tell you the truth now Master and tell you that it is the one thing that holds me onto the path that I have taken, the path of the Jedi. It is the only thing that keeps me away from the darkness that has ruled my life up to this point. I know that you have doubts about me as my old master did before you but I have chose this path for myself and wish that you help me with it. I know that I cannot do it alone, as much as it pains me to say so but I know that I will always walk this line. All that I ask is that you help me choose the path of Light once more and one thing that can help me is the making of this new lightsaber. I will not do anything without your permission Master Lalena."

He looked towards the rear of the ship and hoped that she would give him permission but as he did his hand brushed against the hilt of the lightsaber that hung from his belt and he looked down at the twisted darkness of it as well as the hand that had brushed against it. He could see the Sith tattoos that now scarred the flesh of his hand and knew that they would remain with him as would the scars that were within him. He had lived most of his life in darkness and he feared that it would be too easy for him to go back there, to became the bane of this galaxy once more. He could sense it within him, calling out to him with the promise of power but knew that it was the life he did not want anymore. He had made his choice finally and closed his eyes to think about the path he knew he was going to take.

"Please master. I know what would happen if I was to hold onto my Sith blade and construct a new one. If I was to turn again I would have two powerful weapons in my hands."

He then took the hilt of his Sith lightsaber from his belt and held it out before him, looking into her eyes.

"Will you please take this lightsaber from me? I know how hard it will be to handle something a Sith made but I know that it is something I do not want to handle anymore."

 

[AmenRa]

To travel to the Hoth system from Coruscant meant a fairly straight hyperspace flight down the Perleimian Trade Route, past the Bespin system, and directly to Hoth. It was the sixth planet Tal Varsus was interested in the most. It was the sixth planet where he felt and heard the echoes of an ancient Jedi. It also happened to be the sixth planet that, many, many years ago, a small band of rebels staged a battle against the Galactic Empire from what was then called Echo Base.

 

[Wolfsister]

Master Lalena Kar looked up at him, not at all perturbed by his intimidating figure that loomed above her. She could see better into his eyes this way and they both knew it. She sat there for a moment, silently studying him. No misgivings were communicated by either her still lekku or her eyes. She was completely still, it seemed that she was a breathing statue by the way she did not move, the silence she seemed to somehow communicate with her stillness was louder than anything anybody could have heard in their lifetime.

Finally, as if coming from a deep sleep, she smiled. Her lips curved in her face and it seemed to break the impromptu spell of silence and stillness. Reaching up, her fingers curled around the Sith Blade handle and took a firm grip. Pulling it from his grasp, she delicately placed it on an extra loop on her own belt.

Finally standing, she kept on smiling. "Make your Lightsaber, Knight Talan'vor, and have my blessing. I shall keep an eye on this," she absently patted the Sith blade at her side, all her senses finely attuned to the Dark power that resonated from its crystal, "Until such time as it can be safely put away."

Her eyes communicated a changed warmth to Alain. It seemed that the moment of tenseness was past and she had accepted his word and his tutelage. As he had accepted hers. It was better that way.

She then turned to Tal Varsus and flashed him one of her special smiles, the ones that she reserved only for him. "How long do you estimate the journey to be?" she asked him, her eyes sparkling with renewed trust in herself and love for him.

 

[AmenRa]

Jedi Master Tal Varsus looked over his shoulder, restraining himself from rising from the navigator's couch and embracing Lalena. She smiled at him, and it wasn't the everyday Master Lalena Kar smile, it was that smile.

Varsus thought he was about to start sweating.

"Umm," he said, then glanced at the navicomputer, "we should be able to do this in two jumps, so about a day's journey."

Varsus casually scanned the Twi'lek from head to toe, and felt his mouth curl into a tiny smile, too. Hoth would melt when she stepped foot on its frozen wastes.

 

[rengadeirishman]

Reyn took the controls and entered in the necessary codes to begin lift off. The codes were accepted and they easily lifted off. Soon they had left the atmosphere and he began prepping the navicomputer for the jump into hyperspace. Within moments they disappeared, hurtling toward the Hoth system.
-------------
Thorror saw their shuttle leave the hangar and his eyes followed them until they were out of sight.
May the force be with you all he thought, May the force be with all of us

 

[Angelus]

Alain looked at Master Kar and bowed before he walked to the rear of the ship, all of his focus on the construction of his new lightsaber. He knew what it had meant for his new master to give him her blessing and he told himself that he was not going to let her down. He looked around the rear of the ship until he found a box of parts he knew were going to be perfect for a lightsaber; he was even surprised when he found two more crystals in there as well as a focusing one. As he looked at the box of parts a thought came to him but he immediately gave up on that idea. All that he would need was a simple lightsaber.

He took his cloak off and after placing in down on the floor behind him Alain closed his eyes, letting all his focus flow from him and into the box to find the parts that he would need. He knew that he wanted to find the perfect lightsaber for himself, that he wanted to find the perfect replacement for the one that he had willingly given up and set about finding every single piece.

As he searched the box for the right pieces he knew that he did not have long to make this new lightsaber for himself but he also knew that he could not rush it because if he did he would not only hurt himself but he would more than likely hurt the others around him. He reached out and as soon as his hands closed around the long tube of metal he wanted to smile as he had found the start to his new lightsaber but knew that it was only the beginning and that there was a lot more to do.

It was then that he felt the resonance coming from the crystal that he was still holding in his hand and opened his eyes, surprised that he was still holding onto it. He knew that he should focus on the crystal as well so that he could make it perfect for his lightsaber but when he closed his eyes again and focused on it he found to his surprise that there was nothing wrong with it. It was as though someone had already prepared the crystal so that it would go into a lightsaber and he knew who it must have been. He knew that he had to talk to his brother through the force as soon as he was finished but he knew that there was something that he had to do first and focused on the box again.

 

[Wolfsister]

As Reyn ably piloted the ship into a jump, Lalena touched Varsus on the shoulder briefly, "I have need to talk to you," she whispered into his ear and then moved away, intending their talk to be of a private nature.

Whether he came or not, which she was sure he would, she was suddenly reminded of the last time they had been alone together. She realised that it had been far too long a time since then and promised herself to allow some intimate time with him, at least, after this mission was seen to.

She moved into an empty space in the living area of the ship and turned around, smiling at the love of her life. "There is something I must say... At this time, at this age..." she shook her head, not willing to go on, but soon gathered her courage, "I know you are in the old ways... but... Master Rena just had a baby!" she blurted out suddenly.

Her cheeks reddened and her twin lekku twisted in an agitated and embarrassed way. Allura Rena was a close female friend of Lalena's and it was true, she had just been blessed with a little one of her own. Since meeting the child, it had been on Lalena's mind.

 

[AmenRa]

Tal Varsus had gotten up and followed Lalena Kar back into the ship. He said nothing, only listened.

When she blurted out that Master Rena had just given birth not long ago, which was no secret of course, Varsus only stood and stared at her, unblinking, not understanding.

Then it hit him like a slap from a rancor.

He blushed, visibly, then looked at the floor. He smiled, stifled a laugh, and then took the Twi'lek Jedi Master in his arms. He looked down at her and kissed her nose.

"Can it happen?" he asked. "I mean, biologically, of course. A human and a Twi'lek?"

 

[Wolfsister]

Lalena looked up at Varsus, feeling his warm, strong arms encircling her. Though she knew the reason he had been stonewalled, she also understood her own need for a child. She searched his face for any sign of derision or fear. She somehow instinctively knew that men usually didn't broach this subject, especially since it would probably mean that they would have to get married first.

"I'm not really sure. I've never heard of it happening... but... there are other options, Tal. Other ways we could.." she trailled off, not sure suddenly if this was the right time... or even the right subject to talk about between them. She knew that he loved her deeply, but she wasn't sure if he was ready for such a commitment. A Jedi's life was a difficult, yet serene one. For Tal Varsus, it could be difficult.

"I swept aside all thoughts of propriety and all the strings attached to falling in love with a human. I have never once regretted my choice Tal. Have you?" It really wasn't a question however, as she knew what the answer was. But there is was. She had asked.

She stared up at him and gave him a quavering smile, "What really is to become of us in the future Tal. The Force shows me nothing... there is just... an abyss where we are. And I'm..." she bit her lip, her lekku deathly still, "I'm afraid I will lose you."

Then she wrapped her arms around him and closed the small space between them with her slender, graceful body, resting her head on his shoulder.

 

[AmenRa]

Tal Varsus closed his eyes as he held Lalena Kar. He could feel her taught, lithe form against him. As he pressed her tighter to him still, he felt the rise and fall of her breasts against his chest. He could feel her heart beating against his own. He realized that they were breathing synchronistically now, and she truly was a part of him.

"Come with me," he whispered into her ear.

That was when he closed his eyes and reached out through the Force. There was a shimmering, as if the space/time around them was wavering, releasing. But their corporal bodies were standing still, holding each other, eyes closed. It was their essence that broke across space/time. It was their being that now rode the strands of the Force.

Tal couldn't touch Lalena in the Force right then because her presence was indistinguishable from his. His journey across the tendrils of the Force allowed him to feel the calm, reserved power of Reyn Ordo in the pilot's seat of the Lambda shuttle. When he touched the Jedi Alain Talan'vor, he felt the Jedi's focus on his present task, and a return of deep respect. Farther out, stretching through the galaxy came the bellowing laugh of Grandmaster Thorror. Even in this dark time, Thorror retained his good nature and sent happiness through the Force.

Master Varsus touched other Jedis through the Force, but soon he was beyond even them, and headed into the future. They saw the coming war, unclear and full of fear and darkness. Such were things of the Dark Side, and Tal told her this, to not fear this, but know that all would come to pass through this time. And then he pointed beyond the darkness of the coming war to a bright light in a dark abyss.

"Is this the abyss you have seen?" he asked her. "And this light is us, Lalena. Look at it, see how brightly it burns?"

In the future, they were together, and somehow, it felt they were more complete than even now. Tal did not know how long beyond the dark time ahead this would be...a few months, a few years, longer perhaps. But it would come to pass.

Within an instant, Master Varsus returned them to The Now. He reached up and traced the tips of his fingers along the exquisitely beautiful jawline of his beloved Lalena.

Attachment is dangerous. It can lead one to vanity, to jealously, to hate. And the fear of loss is the most dangerous of all. What would one do to prevent the loss of something he loves?

He knew all of this, yet he heard it again, spoken by Masters over the countless millenia of the Jedi. But he knew one thing also to be true: no matter how much he loved Lalena Kar, he would always serve the Force.

And the Force and Lalena Kar were both an inseperable part of him. Without either one, he was only half a man.

Jedi Master Tal Varsus made a decision in that instant, on that shuttle bound for Hoth, while in the arms of the most beautiful creature he had ever encountered. He looked into her eyes and blinked quickly as a tear found its way from his.

"When we are done with this," he said to her quietly, "we will have this conversation again." He shook his head, "and no, my only regret is that I didn't come to this conclusion sooner."

He took a deep breath....

...And looked into her eyes...

One could not escape one's destiny....

"Would you want me to ask Thorror to perform the ceremony? Or would a traditional wedding on Ryloth suit you better?"

 

[Wolfsister]

Lalena closed her eyes and soared into the Force with Tal Varsus. She opened up her mind, her heart and her soul to him until it was such that they were the one and the same. She felt everything he felt, touched everything he touched. All her senses were his, her mind melded with his. They were truly together in the brilliance of the Force.

Her cried out at the death, sadness and destruction that inevitably would come. It was unavoidable, such was life... but her soul still ached for all the loss and pain that she foresaw. This ability, this farseeing into future had always been Tal Varsus's gift. His special ability that she could only hope to scratch the surface on. Her own gifts lay in other directions.

She saw the abyss... saw the shining light. Something that had always been there, but something she had never been able to decipher. Time was not a reality here... it was fluid and there was no telling how much further into the future they were seeing. She was both relieved and fearful at the vision. Relieved that she would still have Tal by her side, fearful because of the abyss that clearly surrounded them.

Then they were back in the here and now. Lalena let out a pent up breath, her eyes starry with the aftermath of the vision as she looked up as Varsus spoke to her. He held her tighter, his eyes speaking of love and comfort.

And resolve.

"Would you want me to ask Thorror to perform the ceremony? Or would a traditional wedding on Ryloth suit you better?"

The question took its time to sink into her but when it did, she rocked back on her heels. Her inherent grace was ever there, but for once in her life, it looked as if she would topple over at any moment.

She quickly recovered but her heart refused from beating faster than it ever had before in her life. She looked up into his eyes, saw the honesty, the yearning in his very soul for her. She blinked, reaching out a slender, green tinged hand to gently cup his cheek.

Then she said something. It was completely incoherent and did not answer his question at all, but the beautific smile on her face was the only answer that he would need. All the details could be worked out later; for now, all that mattered was the fact that he had asked.

Then she kissed him.