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(2.10) Death and rebirth of Hope
Death and rebirth of Hope
Republic Light Cruiser Gaffspray
Orbit over Coruscant
It was only moments before she had to throw Daz off the bridge of her first command. Talon's aggravation over his continued disrespect and lack of trust in her was growing rapidly. She could not understand why he simply refused to understand her. She had even taken the time to learn more about him and his silly Jedi ways. Learning how to listen to Visst was more then enough testament of her willingness to learn more about Daz's ways. However, Daz had simply refused to understand her or what forces drove her. Of course she would give them time to find evidence to prove the Jedi Masters' innocents. She explained that to Visst clear enough. Well at least she thought she had. Maybe Visst hadn't understood her at all. Talon shook her head and laughed at the thought of the little creature. His presence around her normally caused mixed feeling within her.
On one side she could not deny his wisdom or logic. He had in recent months became more of a mentor then just a friend. He was really someone that she started to look up to. The sight of him and Captain Pryde talking about the Far Wanderer had caught her completely by surprise. It was something she had never thought a Jedi could do. Jedi to her had always been so arrogant and stubborn to all but their own beliefs. On the other hand, she was always left with a sense of hungry after conversations with the little bird like creature. She had even thought of making a joke where they pretended to get him ready for cooking. Then, something changed in her. She gained respect for the little warrior priest.
She turned towards her communication's officer to contact Visst and make sure that they knew she was going to give them the time they needed. Before she could request a channel be opened to Visst, she saw Zya walk on to the bridge. At first Talon had a smile on her face to see her new blood sister. It was just yesterday that they held the Blood Bond Ceremony and Zya gave up all that she was before to become blood kin to all Heartmans. The Blood Bond Ceremony is one of Azgard's most guarded secrets. Zya was one of only ten none Azgardian to ever be accepted as a Blood Bond. It took special requests of Talon, Captain Pryde and her uncle Admiral Heartman to even get the attention of the Family Warlords. This was not enough to win favor, it was Zya's own combat record with the Immortals and her knowledge of the Azgardian ways that earned her the right to be called Azgardian. It filled Talon with pride to see her sister, however in that moment as Talon watched her sister step on to the bridge she knew something was wrong.
Talon walked up to Zya and in a whisper she asked, “Whats wrong?”
Zya looked confused for a moment then looked deep in to Talon's eyes. “Do you remember when Visst would tell us that the force speaks to those who listen?” Zya said as Talon nodded, “I am not sure. No I am sure but I don't know why, there's a saboteur aboard our ship.”
Talon's eyes widened as if they would pop right out of their sockets but Zya continued, “We both have listened to Visst and know his beliefs. The Far Wanderer has sent warning before. I just know that the ship is in danger. I have this feeling that its a tech. Talon, The Force or the Far Wanderer has warned us. WE must listen.”
Talon knew all to well that while Visst believed in the force, she knew that by another name, the Far Wanderer and the other Deities of Valhalla do act in this realm. She understood that one needs only listen. On that note she turned to the com officer and barked “Get me Lefty! His in the landing bay.”
The com officer's hands flew over the controls and within moments Lefty's voice filled the bridge. “Go ahead Talon” he replied.
“Lefty, you have to stop all techs from leaving the ship.” she thought then nodded to Zya, “have them return to their quarters. Tell them it is by my orders” she added.
Lefty didn't need to question the order or reason it. Being Azgardian he knew that his orders had reason and he had a duty to fulfill them to the letter. “Aya Talon” he replied then closed the link.
Talon didn't wait, “Bridge to Security!” once the duty officer replied she continued, “Get everyone you can and start searching the entire ship. I am not sure what we are looking for. Anything that is out of place report it at once. This is not a drill!” Then she turned back to her Com Officer, “Get me Control!”
The Com Officer reported that the link was opened, “Coruscant Control, this is the Gaffspray. We have to report that we have a saboteur aboard the ship. We believe that this person is pretending to be a tech. We are currently detaining all of the techs till we can locate this saboteur and get to the bottom of what is going on.” Talon didn't have time to answer further questions. She motioned for the Com Officer to take over the conversation.
Talon looked at Zya who only shook her head. Zya still looked troubled as there was something written across her face. It was that look of pending doom. Talon wanted to rip the ship apart till she found the saboteur. Her thoughts were interrupted by the Tactical Officer, “Sir, we have a shuttle departure!”
Talon spun to see the shuttle departing the ship and already making its way down the the planet below them, “NO!” She turned to her chair and opened a channel, “Lefty who's on that shuttle!?” she barked then added, “Why did you let them leave!”
Lefty replied simply and naturally with, “They are leaving with Daz.”
Bridge door hiss open as the head Computer Programmer returned to her post from her tour with Ogon. Talon screamed in to her comlink, “DAMN YOU DAZ!” She turned to the Com Officer to bark a command as she heard over the channel. She knew in ever bone in her body that he had used, misused his Jedi Powers on Lefty. This was something she would never forgive him for.
“Coruscant Control, we are diverting from our current destination to Westport Spaceport. We are on a secret Jedi mission with Jedi Master Daz Murl!”
Talon almost screamed but then something caught her attention. Turning towards the rear of the bridge Talon saw something that she had never seen before in her life. For a moment she was baffled by the creatures appearance on her bridge. It was a large jet black creature that stood nearly two and a half meters tall. Its eight legs stretched out giving it a wide stance. Two arm like things bent before what must be some kind of chest. Talon looked right in to its nine bright red eyes and saw the fires of stars raging within them. Across its skin, seemed to glow like stars in space. She saw the stars on its body shift as it stood there. She could hear it moved as it shifted from side to side. There were moments in its motion that she could see right through it. Around the bridge some of the crew could see it while others couldn't. Those who could see the menacing black creature could only stair at it. Everyone else on the bridge seemed confused as to who or what some of the bridge crew were starring at.
For the first time in her entire life, Talon felt a fear that surged right down in to her core. This thing was nothing like she had even heard of or seen before. Only in Azgardian legend has anything so horrid been referred too. That was only legend and this was her ship! And Talon was an Azgardian Warrior! Azgardian Warriors did not allow fear to control their lives. Talon reached up and drew out her father's sword, “Get off my Ship!” she demanded while she leveled her sword at the creature.
The creature seemingly looked at Talon and then let out a sound that could only be described as what a horrific nightmare would sound like. Everyone on the bridge heard the horrific sound as everyone dropped to their knees or fell from their chairs. All of them on the bridge held their heads or ears while the sound ripped through the bridge. Drawing on pure will, Talon struggled to her feet while still holding her sword out. She leaped up to her command chair than jumped through the air at the creature. In a show of pure will she leaped across the bridge with her sword at ready. Screaming out her blood cry as she swung her sword right at the neck of the creature. It was a beautiful and graceful attack that would have made any holovid a nomination for originality. Talon flew across the bridge with all the grace and rage of a great bird of pray.
The creature made no attempt to dodge the attack. It just pulled back one of its arms and waited for Talon's attack. As she swung her sword at the creature, it passed through it as if she had missed. But she didn't miss it. The strike was prefect and would have surely been a critical hit against the foe. Before she could even land from the attack the creature swatted her with one of its arms. The blow hit Talon in the chest so hard that it knocked the sword right from her hands. She flew back across the bridge over nine meters. Talon smashed in to the large screens of one of the weapon stations sending sparks ripping in to the air. Talon fell down on to the console and then rolled off it as she fell to the deck with a thud. She was dazed from the brutal hit and winded from the landing.
Valkyrie who had been on the bridge checking the flight controls of the new ship was the next to act. She drew out her twin pistols as she dove to her side behind cover. She opened fire as two other security officers also fired. They didn't need to see the creature to know where to fire. They saw their Captain attack the invisible creature and so they knew where to fire. The three opened fire with their blasters and two other crew members from the bridge started firing as well. Just like with Talon's swords, the blaster fire ripped through the creature harmlessly. They still continued to fire hoping that they would score some kind of hit. The creature reached out with its arms. Valkyrie, the two security officers and the two other crew members rose up off the ground. Then as if a great hand held them, they all screamed out with such pain. Their screams were short lived as their bodies folded in on themselves while they were crushed. It was if they were made of clay and a great hand squeezed their bodies. The bodies continued to collapse till the size could no longer hold in the blood. With a splattering sound, the spray of blood shot across the bridge. The lifeless bodies fell to the ground.
Talon, now recovered from her hit slowly rose up. She wiped the blood from her mouth as she picked herself up once more. She screamed out again as she charged the creature once more. As the creature turned to face her charge. Talon dove between the creature's leg and slid to her command chair. She reached up and hit the control on the side of her chair. “Abandon ship!” she ordered over the open channel. Before she could do anything else she felt the creature stab her with one of its legs. The leg pierced her thigh and she let out a scream of pain. Kicking her up in to the air once more, Talon was tossed across the bridge. The techs on the bridge still not understanding what was going on had moved from their stations to the front of the bridge. They did see the creature but knew combat was taking place right before their eyes. On Talon's command they moved in to the escape pod at the front of the bridge.
Zya was already in action as her friend was landing on the deck by the escape hatch. Zya knew that her attack was going to be useless but she had to by time for the civilians to flee the ship. Zya hoped that maybe this might work, she pulled out a grenade and tossed it at the creature while Holiday opened fire with his light repeater. As Zya landed she saw the blast go off and watched helpless as the creature killed Holiday where he stood.
AT the escape pod, the Senior Programmer was the last to enter. She paused to turn around with a confused look on her face. She saw Talon land hard on the deck just at the opening of the pod. “I don't understand Captain. What is going on” she questioned as she saw the blood all over Talon's uniform.
Talon lifted herself up off the deck on all fours. She caught up blood as she looked at the Programmer, “Get out of here!” she said slamming the button that closed the hatch. The pod started the cycle to left the ship.
The programmer watched as Talon crawled from the window and disappear from sight. She followed her orders sure enough. She hit the command to fire the escape pod and within moments the pod rocketed away from the ship. She watched as the Gaffspray and her life's work rocket away from her. No one in the pod could understand what happened on the bridge just moments before they were ordered off of it.
Talon crawled up to the flight console where Zya was sitting with her back to the console. Zya was looking just as bad as Talon. Never before had the Immortals ever been so horrible out matched and out of their class. Nothing they did even caused the creature to try to defend itself let alone hurt it. They looked at each other. Zya smiled, “I love you...”
Talon nodded, “I know” and then received Zya as she moved in for a kiss. The pair kissed so tenderly then broke it. “Lola bye” She said nodding.
Zya nodded, “RIDE LIKE THE WIND!” she yelled leaping up from their hiding place and darted for a side console.
Talon leaped up and darted for the consoles on the other side of the bridge yelling, “FIGHT PROUD MY CHILD!”
Hitting the console Zya leaped up then sprung off the console at the creature still yelling, “YOU'RE THE DEFENDER...”
Talon matching the actions as she leaped at the creature from the other side of the bridge and finishing the child lola bye that Azgardian parents would say to their young children, “THAT THE GODS HAVE SENT!”
The two sprung through the air with all the training and grace of powerful warriors. Each of them let loose a pair of daggers that ripped through the air at the creature. The daggers flew through the air reflecting the lights of the bridge as they flew. With deadly accuracy the four dagger hit the creature in such a way that they as they passed through the creature they sparked against each other in the middle of the creature. While the double attack was prefect right down to the timing, it was for not. The daggers, like all other attacks, passed through the creature harmlessly.
A force hit Talon like a stock light freighter sending her across the bridge head first. She hit the screens of another console hard. She fell down once more and rolled down to the deck. Her neck broken as well as her arm. She lay there helpless and watched as Zya hung helpless in the air. Zya tried to stick the creature with two darts from her armor but they too passed through the creature. Zya's arms and legs were pulled outward tightly as she screamed in pain. Her cries grew louder as her armor groaned. Then in that moment, her armor was ripped from her body. As well as her uniform and anything she was wearing. Next her flesh was ripped away as Zya let out a cry of pain never heard before. The creature looked in to Zya's face as its eyes grew redder and brighter. Talon saw a blue light drawn from Zya's body and in to the creature's eyes. The lifeless body was tossed to the side as the creature walked toward her.
Talon prepared to die in that moment. She had failed everyone around her. She thought of looking away from the creature but she didn't want to give it the satisfaction of her fear. It will kill her this day but it WILL never defeat her. She starred in to the creature's eyes with defiance as she waited death. As the creature struck her, she felt her body being pulled in to the deck and then through the ship's hull. It was one of the Far Wanderer's Valkyries riding the most beautiful steads she had ever seen. Its armor radiated a soft blue everything around them. The Valkyrie was everything that her heart knew it would be. In that moment she wished that Daz could be here to see it also. She so much wanted to show him that he was wrong about faith, it was not a false belief. The majestic Valkyrie pulled her up on to the horse as she watched her body being ripped apart by the creature. It seemed angry at the Valkyrie's actions
She could see the creature in the center of her bridge. The creature yelled out in its nightmarish voice, “Save that one if you so wish! It no longer matters!” then it pulled itself inward in to a ball shape, “Where are your heroes now!” it yelled out as it sprung out releasing a massive energy pulse. Talon could see the creature still standing in the space left behind by the pulse as it ripped outward tearing her bridge to shreds. It still yelled out, “The fellowship has been broken!” Talon was carried by the Valkyrie and her horse away from this battle. In the distance Talon could see more death above Coruscant. Her heart actually felt heavy. She hoped that her friends had not suffered as they had. She hoped them peace and well. She hoped that Daz was not harmed. She couldn't help but close her eyes. She felt all the weight of her life fall free from her. She fought hard not to close her eyes but in the end lost the battle.
Fiolla slowly opened her eyes to see a bright light above her. She was laying on something very soft looking up at the ceiling. She let out a cry as she felt a pain in her foot. She looked around to see a strange man holding her foot. He smiled at her as she heard cheers around her. Her voice sounded strange but at the same time natural. Her mind was so fuzzy and confused. She could not comprehend what was going on. She could see her hands curled before her eyes as she tried to talk but only cries echoed around her. She looked around to see a group of people looking down at her. She felt a strange warmth from them as they all looked at her with smiles. She noticed that a few of them were shouting outside the door and their were cheers heard from beyond the door. Fiolla was picked up gently and rapped up in a fury blanket. She was carried softly over to a young woman laying on a bed. She was covered with sweat and breathing hard. Fiolla thought she had been in some kind of painful struggle or something.
The young woman smiled at Fiolla with all the kindness that Fiolla had seen before. She couldn't help but smile back at the woman. There was a great connection between her and this young woman. The woman's face was painted white and their was some kind of red make up over her eyes. There was a blanket covering her and a bucket of blood cloths near the bed. Fiolla looked around once more to see others dressed similar as the young woman on the bed. Some of them had their faces were painted similar to hers as well. But only this woman wore a strange golden head piece that seemed to be tied to her head with golden cord. The cord and head piece made a funny sparkle in the light of the windows. Fiolla made a sound and reached for the head piece. There were some laughs as she swatted one of the tassels of the cord. Fiolla was lowered down in to the waiting arms of the young woman. The young woman ran her hand over Fiolla's head softly and said something comforting. Fiolla heard something strange but familiar, she heard a name. The young woman lovingly said to Fiolla, “szervusz Mia.” There were applauds and cheers from outside as Fiolla heard the name repeated loudly outside.
Talon felt a great sense of comfort and peace in the arms of this young woman. She was cradled in the young woman's arms. Fiolla rested her head against the woman's chest. She heard a heart beat. It was comforting and she started to close her eyes. It was then she noticed the creature standing next to the bed. She recognized the armor it wore and the large sword on it's hip. It was the Valkyrie that had saved her from the nightmare creature. The Valkyrie's face was so lovely, yet as Fiolla gaze shifted to the young woman, for some reason not as welcoming and comforting as this woman's. The Valkyrie reached done with a smile and touched Fiolla's forehead. Deep in her mind Fiolla heard, “Your deeds have earned you this spirit, now sleep Mia.”
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Ogon flipped over from the bed he was sleeping on. He landed hard on the metal deck of the ship. His stomach rolled over and over as his mind spun before his own eyes. Despite being on all fours, he still felt as if he was spinning in circles. He closed his eyes once more only to endure more spinning. He snapped his eyes open just in time to watch the vomit splatter the deck. His body convulsed as he forced the vomit out of his system. He could not move while his body evacuated what ever meal he had the night before. Splattering vomit filled the space under him as he was forced to evacuate everything in his system for minutes.
These visions had been ongoing issue for him since they left Azgard heading to Baklid 6. Visst promised it would have gotten better but they didn't. He felt a great sense of urgency in these visions and had a hard time understanding all of their meanings. However this time, the vision was crystal clear. He could smell the smoke, hear the blasts. Oh he heard that horrible sound that the nightmare creature made. His hands were still shaking from the affects of its scream. Even knowing that it was only a vision brought no comfort. This one vision had been more clear than any other had been before. There was a message within it. Something horrible had happened that day above Coruscant. Something that affected not just Coruscant but the whole Galaxy. There had always been the saying of 'Be Mindful of the Force.' Now he couldn't help but wonder, 'what happens when we aren't?'
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Daz walked along the mist of his dream, through the mist he could see the image concealed just beyond his sight. He moved through the haze of the mist till he could just make out the image. It was Talon in her Marine uniform. He noticed her Azgardian sword on her back and her blaster on her hip. He knew she was a dangerous person.
“Why didn't you trust me?” she asked him standing in the mist. Her image distorted by the mist. Daz knew what he was looking at. He hated what he saw in her.
Daz just shook his head, “Because you are a monster. You murdered people. You killed Jedi! How could I trust you” said to the dream image of Talon.
Talon walked towards him in the mist but never once did her image ever become more clear. She was shrouded in the mist and the details of who she was, was hidden to his sight. “Why can't you see me?”
Daz laughed at the silly question, “I see enough of you. I know who you are and what you are. I know what you are capable of.”
Talon frowned deeply through the mist, “You only see what you want to see. Because of this, you let fear control your actions. You betrayed us.” He could see the mist around her growing thicker.
Daz stepped forward in the mist and still she was shrouded to his sight, “I do not fear. I know what you are. You are a Monster! I am sorry that you died, but I had no choice. You made me do it.”
Talon stepped back in to the mist till her image was completely shrouded by the mist, “You are becoming lost to us Daz. Face your fears and your guilt or else you will become lost in the mist for all time.”
Daz woke up as their was a chime at his comlink. It was the ship's captain, “We are nearing Baklid 6. When I drop you off, I don't ever want to hear from you or your friends again.”
Daz heard the Captain saying. It took a mind trick to get them passage to Baklid 6 and since then the Captain had been less then polite. Daz knew two things, the Captain would get them to Baklid 6 and that he couldn't trust the man. “Thank you, Captain. And I understand, you wont.” He laid back down trying to get some more rest before they landed. Daz let out a deep sigh and closed his eyes.
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