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Author	Topic: "Preservation" OCs, Yoda, Qui-Gon--Updated 7/7 Thanks for the Nominations!! [hugs]
jedidas3 Registered: Apr '07	Date Posted: 5/30 4:45am Subject: RE: "Preservation" OCs, Yoda, Qui-Gon--Updated 5/29
	Very nice update! I agree with Diane--I really liked the speech about love. Great job! -----signature----- The Past Revisited http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28440949 Lessons Learned http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28580784 Remembrance http://boards.theforce.net/before_the_saga/b10475/28009025 Padawan to dianethx
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Jedi_Perigrine Registered: Apr '08	Date Posted: 5/30 4:46pm Subject: RE: "Preservation" OCs, Yoda, Qui-Gon--Updated 5/29
	Diane: Thanks! It's hard to imagine what it would be like to not have the ability to love someone. I can kind of understand why Anakin Skywalker went nuts! Jedidas: Thank you too! Our heroes are in for a challenge, more so than they realize! Thanks for reading! -----signature----- TIS Rules. Check out: Soon to be continued: Choices-- http://boards.theforce.net/before_the_saga/b10475/28767048/p1 A Jedi must make a difficult choice when he runs into an old crush Odd Happenings: http://boards.theforce.net/Message.aspx?topic=29123443&
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Jedi_Perigrine Registered: Apr '08	Date Posted: 6/2 7:39am Subject: RE: "Preservation" OCs, Yoda, Qui-Gon--Updated 5/29
	Plort reached out with his senses and flipped the blast door switch. Screeching metal whined as it compressed the two halves of the door together, completely obliterating the last row of droids. With a Force twist, he made sure nobody would be able to get in without repairing the console first. That was when the shooting started. Dozens of rapid-fire red blaster bolts filled the room, many being reflected back by Wilch’s blue and Plort’s green blades. As they walked backwards after Matris and Vesuun, none of the shots penetrated the Jedi’s defensive screen, though only a few bolts bounced back into the attackers. Their primary concern was the safety of the non-Jedi. It seemed like it took minutes to secure them, but in reality only seconds had passed. As the Fire’s hatch closed, the two could finally concentrate on taking down the attackers. Without speaking in words, the two Jedi understood that the sentients behind the attack must be captured, but the droids could be slagged. As Wilch had his hands full repelling the deadly sizzling energy beams, Plort went about that destruction with glee. Droids were flung about like rag-dolls, smashing into walls and other droids. Some metal bodies collided with fleshy ones, trapping them underneath the heavy alloy frames. Two Nemoidians abandoned their guns and ran for the nearest starfighter, intending to escape the conflict that shouldn’t have been so one-sided against them. With as great of a leap as he could muster, Wilch landed behind the ship, facing one Nemoidian, as the other changed course, out of reach. A one-two punch combination with Force assistance dropped the first opponent like a stone, but the second made it into the ship. Before Wilch could leap towards the other sentient, the engines revved and a burst of hot exhaust aided the Jedi in his jump. Scorching plasma blasted him a dozen meters away from the craft. Wilch’s jumpsuit burst into flames. Burning pain seared him all over his torso as the fire-resistant material failed. Skin blistered instantly. Wilch couldn’t sense the Force at all through his agony. Plort came to his rescue finally, using the Force to yank the suit off with mental strength. With wide eyes, Wilch saw his blackening skin and lost consciousness. As the craft started to lift off, Plort regretted that he didn’t have the concentration to heal his friend, defend from the remaining attackers, and stop the escapee. Sparing as much concentration as he could from the battle, the Ithorian focused on his friend’s crusty tissue and cooled it as best he could. With the last of his concentration, he called the last few active blasters to him and sent the last half dozen droids flying exuberantly into walls where they shattered. Just before the droid fighter could clear the hangar, bright beams blasted from the Corellian Fire’s upper turret, turning the “U” shaped fighter into a molten fireball. The wreckage bounced off the deck once and then dribbled parts as it breached the environment shield into the microgravity of space. Suddenly lacking any thrust of its own, the ship floated very slowly away. Plort didn’t even hear the ramp lower, but Matris was hurtling towards the downed Jedi, her voice a panicked screech. “WILCH!” She dropped to his side and slid over a meter on the deck. The remaining conscious Nemoidians, despite appearing to have no weapons, weren’t ready to give up. They advanced in a semi-circle, all eight of them, not even stopping to help their three companions who were struggling beneath the weight of multiple droids. Many of the standing assailants reached for wickedly curved boot knives. “Wilch!” Matris’ sobs wracked the woman as she knelt beside him, cradling his head. “Focus, Matris.” Plort said as he stood, holding his lightsaber in front of him defensively. His ability with healing was fair, so he knew the damage of someone untrained in healing could cause. But Wilch’s burns were extremely severe and without immediate attention he would not make it anyway. He couldn’t afford to stop and help, though. He needed to make sure the remaining attackers didn’t reach them. The way they held themselves and their weapons suggested that they had a great deal of martial training. These sentients were expert killers, calm in the face of their potential destruction and willing to risk it all to be victorious. “Relax,” he ordered as they came closer. “Feel the words of the Jedi Code. 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.” He deliberately left off the last sentence for fear of destroying her concentration. There is no death; there is the Force. Matris’ breathing slowed and her eyes closed as she searched her soul. On a few occasions in the past she had managed to grasp onto something…tangible, yet intangible. She sought her inner focus. Despite need, or maybe because of it, she found the Force. An immense spring of life flooded into her, filling her with seemingly impossible energy. She knew she didn't have time to revel in the power, though. With her new senses, she scanned over Wilch’s injured body. Plort could only spare the slightest concentration to help guide her along. He didn’t know how far ahead of him she was already. “Sense his wounds. Feel the damaged tissue and feel the way the Force is trying to repair it. Follow the Force!” His instruction ceased suddenly when the eight attackers were within striking distance. With the flick of his wrist, an enemy hand hit the ground, severed from the forearm. Still the injured Nemoidian fought on, driving in with expert kicks. The Ithorian dodged and countered, jabbed and struck flesh, managing to grievously wound a few. His options were severely limited because he was trying to defend his two friends who were on the ground. Letting his concentration divide, he called for Wilch’s nearby lightsaber, springing the glowing blue blade to life and sending it flipping horizontally into the crowd dismembering yet more. The blade slapped neatly into the Ithorian’s hand and he went on the offensive, cutting down all but one last Nemoidian. With the glowing point of Wilch’s blue saber aimed at the hollow of the blue-gray throat, the assailant sank to his knees. Plort started to relax, but quick as a blasterbolt, the Nemoidian had found a knife and jabbed it into his own heart. Soundlessly the body toppled over. Using the Force for a quick scan, he found only a couple of attackers who were in any shape to answer any questions, and they were still struggling underneath fallen droids. Of the eight who had come at him, none had survived, despite his desire not to kill. The senseless violence saddened him. Exhausted after the effort, he dropped the hilts of the lightsabers and dove for Wilch’s prone body. He was so tired he couldn’t think straight, but he had to try and focus one last time. His arms were so rubbery that he almost fell on his face when he landed on the hard deck. Despite the Jedi Code, Plort couldn't help the spiking fear that rose within. Wilch! Please don’t die! -----signature----- TIS Rules. Check out: Soon to be continued: Choices-- http://boards.theforce.net/before_the_saga/b10475/28767048/p1 A Jedi must make a difficult choice when he runs into an old crush Odd Happenings: http://boards.theforce.net/Message.aspx?topic=29123443&
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dianethx Registered: Mar '02	Date Posted: 6/2 9:21am Subject: RE: "Preservation" OCs, Yoda, Qui-Gon--Updated 6/2
	Sounds like Wilch is in trouble. That kind of injury could easily lead to death if he doesn't get the right treatment. I just hope his friends will be able to help him out. Love that the blast from the ship caused him to catch fire. So often the movies and the books just kind of skip over that problem. Good job. -----signature----- Betrayal - http://boards.theforce.net/s/b1/10935143 updated 9/22/08 Fragments of Illusion- http://boards.theforce.net/bts/b10475/28456473 updated 8/16/08 Freeze frame - http://boards.theforce.net/s/b10476/27820434 Master to jedidas3 Impeach Bush!
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jedidas3 Registered: Apr '07	Date Posted: 6/2 12:20pm Subject: RE: "Preservation" OCs, Yoda, Qui-Gon--Updated 6/2
	Uh oh! Wilch is in trouble...update soon...I need to know what's going to happen next! -----signature----- The Past Revisited http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28440949 Lessons Learned http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28580784 Remembrance http://boards.theforce.net/before_the_saga/b10475/28009025 Padawan to dianethx
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Jedi_Perigrine Registered: Apr '08	Date Posted: 6/4 7:51am Subject: RE: "Preservation" OCs, Yoda, Qui-Gon--Updated 6/2
	Diane: Yeah, Jedi can only defy physics in so many ways. Wilch's life depends on an exhausted Plort and Matris, the complete Force novice. Things aren't looking good for him at the moment, are they? Jedidas3: I'm afraid you'll have to stay suspended until tomorrow! -----signature----- TIS Rules. Check out: Soon to be continued: Choices-- http://boards.theforce.net/before_the_saga/b10475/28767048/p1 A Jedi must make a difficult choice when he runs into an old crush Odd Happenings: http://boards.theforce.net/Message.aspx?topic=29123443&
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Jedi_Perigrine Registered: Apr '08	Date Posted: 6/5 8:37am Subject: RE: "Preservation" OCs, Yoda, Qui-Gon--Updated 6/2
	Matris saw none of the battle. Her concentration was completely on the Jedi as her newly-Force enhanced senses roamed his body. He was in shock and his organs were straining to their limit. One organ started to fail, and Matris knew that if she let that happen, the rest would cascade behind the first and it would be too late. She had only instinct to guide her, for she knew nothing about Healing. But she had the power of desperation and the power of her long-hidden love propelling her forward, giving her the strength to act. Must stabilize. She let her Force energy envelop that organ. Regrow the connections. Revitalize and replenish. His blood started flowing properly, but then another organ system started wavering. She needed to know more! She sensed she was going to fail. With a calming breath, she redoubled her efforts, taking her energies and directing them as the Force seemed to suggest. Matris had no idea how long she had been working on his injuries when a new consciousness joined hers. She felt Plort’s energy filling Wilch, though he seemed to be greatly weakened. With his last tidbits of focus, Plort showed her visions that the healers had once shown him. They were basic and simplistic, but they were the building blocks of Healing; the basics, from which all Healing stemmed. Plort had revitalized her with knowledge. Even though he lost consciousness immediately after, he had given Matris the key. Now if she could just find the right door to unlock before her own untrained strength gave out. This way? She focused. Almost. More subtle, like this. She stopped immediately as her latest try had the opposite effect. Stop! Go back. Try again. On and on it went. She was so close. But she feared it wouldn’t be enough. I won’t give up! If I give up, he dies. I won’t give up! I won’t— The strain of using that much of her energy in a brand new way for an extended time period was far too much for her body to take. Unconsciousness finally took her too. ******** She and Plort awakened at almost exactly the same time. Both sat up from sterile beds, flinging white covers off. They found each other quickly as their beds were close together. Neither one cared that they were clad only in underclothes. Their eyes jerked about wildly, searching for the bed that Wilch would be sleeping in. With a startled cry, Matris found him first. He was floating lifelessly in a bacta tank. The skin of his stomach and upper torso was blackened and looked…crispy. On his arms and hands, small sections of white bone were exposed. Fortunately, below the waist was decently clothed with shorts, and it seemed that none of his lower body had suffered any major burns. Both ran and pressed their hands against the glass, trying to sense the life of their friend. It was there, but it was so faint they both missed it on the first try. “He’s still alive,” Vesuun confirmed, coming to stand behind them. “I don’t know how.” The Nemoidian’s reddish eyes had dark rims around them as if he had been crying. “My physicians still don’t think he’ll make it.” “Damn it!” Matris yelled, pounding loudly on the cylinder, tears leaking from her eyes like a river. “I worked so hard!” Plort put his hand on her shoulder. “You did very, very well. I don’t think the best of the Jedi Healers could have done any better.” He was honest in his compliment. The fact that their friend’s nearly-dead body was alive enough to benefit from the bacta spoke volumes of the power of her attempt. “You could probably have a successful career in the Temple Hospital if you wanted.” He squeezed her shoulder affectionately. “You’ve both been out for over eight hours, we’re nearly at Bespin,” Vesuun told them. “I negotiated a very fair deal exchanging money for my ship. I should be able to buy whatever ships I want.” He looked back at his human friend. His voice held only sorrow and empathy. “We’ll have him transferred to their facilities, but I don’t know that their medical bay will be much better.” “Only time and the Force will tell, then.” Plort answered. “We must live up to our end of the deal. Matris and I will go to Corellia and negotiate there.” “I’m not leaving him! Not now! No way!” Matris pressed both of her hands against the clear barrier of the bacta tank. It took almost all his physical strength to gently haul her away. “He needs time. Unhindered time. There is nothing more you or I can do to help him. Having our emotions surrounding him will only hamper his body as it heals.” “What if he dies while we’re gone?” “He won’t. He’s made it this far. Come. The sooner we go, the sooner we can be back.” Plort hoped he sounded more sure of himself than he felt. ********* On the way out, Plort insisted they stop by the brig to question the prisoners. All of the surviving Nemoidians had apparent injuries, but Jedi ideals or not, Plort found it hard to care. “Matris, let me handle this, hmm?” He gave her a smile before his true face, a disgusted scowl, made its appearance. “Who’s in charge here?” Nobody stepped forward. “Who’s in charge, tell me or I’ll find out in a very unpleasant manner.” Whether or not they were familiar enough with Ithorian faces to be able to see his suppressed anger, it was palpable in his voice. Someone finally stepped forward. “Special Ops Lieutenant M’narg.” Plort tuned in fully to the Force to judge the truth of what the Nemoidian was saying. “Lieutenant, how many other spies does the Federation have on board?” “I don’t know. Each Spec Ops knew only four or five others.” It wasn’t a complete lie, but there was definitely not a full truth, either. “But you’re in command, therefore you knew everybody, correct?” No answer. “You can do it the easy way, or I can just extract your memories myself. I’d rather not, but don’t doubt my resolve.” Plort wasn’t sure he could actually do that, but the Nemoidian couldn’t know that. He pondered for a few more seconds before answering. “Four others.” That was a complete lie. Using the Force, the Ithorian started dragging the spy across the cramped brig and pushed him lightly against the electrical shield that made up his cell, giving him a rough jolt. He let his tension ease up a bit so the warrior could just barely scramble away from the tingling pain. “I don’t think you’ve figured out how much I can read into your thoughts. Now, try that again. How many more?” M’narg sputtered, trying to find any way out of the situation he could. To help motivate him, Plort started moving him back towards the shield. “Eighteen!” he cried, squirming, trying to get out of range. “I’ll give you their names and positions!” Finally he was getting somewhere. Plort stood by as the chief security droid took down each name. He kept his senses open for any deception, but thankfully there was no more. The Ithorian hated treading so close to the dark side, but their mission was very important and he didn’t want any untrustworthy leaks behind that could lead a trail to their door. Other than Vesuun, only these spies knew that Wilch and he were Jedi. He had to fix that. Into each mind he delved, erasing the Nemoidians’ memories of Jedi, supplementing droids and counter-spies for lightsabers. As he and Matris stormed out of the brig, Plort felt terribly unclean. They were aboard the Fire before he knew it, and the ship made the leap to hyperspace before he centered himself enough to speak. “I need to meditate...too much violence and subterfuge.” Matris nodded. Her equilibrium was off-kilter too. Finally finding out that she could possibly have a relationship with Wilch, only to have his life balancing on the edge of a vibroblade had shaken her deeply. Even the destruction of the Nemoidian trying to escape in the ship—the first sentient she had ever killed—was a very minor thought in the back of her head. She didn’t know whether to feel grateful for that or not. “Will you teach me to meditate?” Plort looked at her, deep in thought. It’s not like we’re going to make a Jedi out of her, he pondered. We’ll just teach her to use her birthright. Her age still bothered him. It might just be Jedi dogma, but she was greatly over the age where Jedi would accept initiates, and Plort found that a higher hurdle than he expected. The bigger worry was her temper. Lacking the control on her anger put her in a very dangerous position. Still, teaching her to meditate should only help to make her more stable. Finally, he nodded. “Very well. Let me be truthful with you first, Matris. I am going to teach you to bury your emotions. A Jedi must know peace at all times, especially the most stressful ones, but your temper worries me greatly. Once I—“ He paused, changing what he was going to say. “Once we are sure you’re ready, we will teach you to do more than sense the Force, not before. Is this acceptable?” She hadn’t really thought about the Jedi ideals before, especially not as applicable to her. “I can live with that,” she answered at last. -----signature----- TIS Rules. Check out: Soon to be continued: Choices-- http://boards.theforce.net/before_the_saga/b10475/28767048/p1 A Jedi must make a difficult choice when he runs into an old crush Odd Happenings: http://boards.theforce.net/Message.aspx?topic=29123443&
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dianethx Registered: Mar '02	Date Posted: 6/5 6:32pm Subject: RE: "Preservation" OCs, Yoda, Qui-Gon--Updated 6/2
	Poor Plort, having to go through the minds of the spies. It must have been hard and unpleasant! And Matris trying so hard to keep Wilch alive. It's a good thing they had bacta on hand in the ship. Otherwise, he might not have made it. Good job. -----signature----- Betrayal - http://boards.theforce.net/s/b1/10935143 updated 9/22/08 Fragments of Illusion- http://boards.theforce.net/bts/b10475/28456473 updated 8/16/08 Freeze frame - http://boards.theforce.net/s/b10476/27820434 Master to jedidas3 Impeach Bush!
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sidious618 Registered: Apr '03	Date Posted: 6/5 8:29pm Subject: RE: "Preservation" OCs, Yoda, Qui-Gon--Updated 6/2
	I haven't had a chance to get completely up to date yet, JP, but this is a great story you got going here. -----signature----- But in purple, I'm stunning!- Londo Mollari, Babylon 5 Obama '08
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Jedi_Perigrine Registered: Apr '08	Date Posted: 6/6 8:21am Subject: RE: "Preservation" OCs, Yoda, Qui-Gon--Updated 6/2
	Diane: Yeah, I'm glad it wasn't me who had to go through all that. I would have been tempted to off them all, just to be safe. Without Matris and the bacta tank, Wilch would have been a force ghost. No two ways about it. As it is, it's still not a guarantee that he's going to make it...[-o] Thanks for reading! Sidious: Thanks for stopping by and for the compliments! You're welcome here any time. -----signature----- TIS Rules. Check out: Soon to be continued: Choices-- http://boards.theforce.net/before_the_saga/b10475/28767048/p1 A Jedi must make a difficult choice when he runs into an old crush Odd Happenings: http://boards.theforce.net/Message.aspx?topic=29123443&
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jedidas3 Registered: Apr '07	Date Posted: 6/6 10:51am Subject: RE: "Preservation" OCs, Yoda, Qui-Gon--Updated 6/2
	Great update! I'm still worried about this whole situation. I'm looking forward to your next post! -----signature----- The Past Revisited http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28440949 Lessons Learned http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28580784 Remembrance http://boards.theforce.net/before_the_saga/b10475/28009025 Padawan to dianethx
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Jedi_Perigrine Registered: Apr '08	Date Posted: 6/6 8:09pm Subject: RE: "Preservation" OCs, Yoda, Qui-Gon--Updated 6/5
	Jedidas3: Yeah Wilch really got himself into a situation! We'll just have to see if his friends can get him out alive! Got a question for my readers... I've been doing somewhat short posts so far, but I could definitely do some longer ones. So far I've got almost a full two episodes waiting to carry on. Would anybody mind if I doubled my post length? -----signature----- TIS Rules. Check out: Soon to be continued: Choices-- http://boards.theforce.net/before_the_saga/b10475/28767048/p1 A Jedi must make a difficult choice when he runs into an old crush Odd Happenings: http://boards.theforce.net/Message.aspx?topic=29123443&
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VaderLVR64 Title: Fan Fic Manager in Combat Boots Registered: Feb '04	Date Posted: 6/7 4:25am Subject: RE: "Preservation" OCs, Yoda, Qui-Gon--Updated 6/5 (Quick poll added 6/6)
	Excellent post! You've created some WONDERFUL characters here, and you're great at writing action (I envy you that talent!). “You can do it the easy way, or I can just extract your memories myself. I’d rather not, but don’t doubt my resolve.” Plort wasn’t sure he could actually do that, but the Nemoidian couldn’t know that. He pondered for a few more seconds before answering. “Four others.” That was a complete lie. Using the Force, the Ithorian started dragging the spy across the cramped brig and pushed him lightly against the electrical shield that made up his cell, giving him a rough jolt. He let his tension ease up a bit so the warrior could just barely scramble away from the tingling pain. “I don’t think you’ve figured out how much I can read into your thoughts. Now, try that again. How many more?” M’narg sputtered, trying to find any way out of the situation he could. To help motivate him, Plort started moving him back towards the shield. “Eighteen!” he cried, squirming, trying to get out of range. “I’ll give you their names and positions!” I'm glad I got a little computer time in today. We're showing our house three times today and have movers coming, so online time will be precious today (my precious....) Anyway, great update! As always. -----signature----- If you have to choose between tears and laughter, remember that laughter burns more calories. Proud New Army Mom - off to bootcamp!
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dianethx Registered: Mar '02	Date Posted: 6/7 8:21am Subject: RE: "Preservation" OCs, Yoda, Qui-Gon--Updated 6/5 (Quick poll added 6/6)
	Doubling the post length would make it a little too long, imo. How about 1 1/2? But you should do what you think best! -----signature----- Betrayal - http://boards.theforce.net/s/b1/10935143 updated 9/22/08 Fragments of Illusion- http://boards.theforce.net/bts/b10475/28456473 updated 8/16/08 Freeze frame - http://boards.theforce.net/s/b10476/27820434 Master to jedidas3 Impeach Bush!
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Jedi_Perigrine Registered: Apr '08	Date Posted: 6/9 8:23am Subject: RE: "Preservation" OCs, Yoda, Qui-Gon--Updated 6/5 Beginning of the End
	Here it is, everybody; the beginning of the end. I hope you all enjoy reading it more than I liked writing it! _____________________ The only times she found at peace over the two week journey into Corellia was when she and Plort were meditating, and during the brief negotiations with CEC. Before they reached the manufacturing center, Vesuun had sent them a budget and a very specific wish list. As Matris negotiated, she used the mental exercise of outwitting a salesbeing to distract her. Coupled with the stare brought on by her dark mood and after reminding them of her deceased parents’ high positions within the company, she made good progress. In the end, CEC promised to send along all the ships Vesuun requested, and a few more as well, still coming a good twenty thousand credits under the Nemoidian’s budget. It started out as a joke from Matris, asking about a finder’s fee for being the middle man in the huge transaction. Surprisingly, the salesbeing agreed, insisting that he would throw in a nearly-new Corellian Corvette for Matris. She thought to refuse, but then decided that if she didn’t want it later, she could donate it to somebody. That’s what Wilch would have wanted her to do. CEC would deliver her Corvette along with the rest of Vesuun’s order, as quickly as they could assemble it. All in all, it was a good deal for both parties. CEC got an unexpected windfall of a huge ship order and several million credits profit, and Vesuun got all the ships he requested for a lower price than he expected. And Matris, despite getting a ship out of it, could have cared less. When she and Plort stopped meditating, the ache in her heart was so strong she thought the organ would flop out of her chest and beat its last thump at her feet. She found it extremely agitating that Wilch could find a way to sneak out of his agreement to spend some serious time with her. More annoying than that even was the way she had grown so attached to him, even before he realized she cared for him. It wasn’t like her to be so...clingy. Over the two-week trip, he felt that Matris had become more grounded and less prone to mood swings. Plort explained the ideals behind the Jedi and taught her how to empty her mind, how to touch the Force whenever she wanted. It was hard to hold her melancholy attitude against her, especially because he was feeling the same black emotions. Jedi could be defeated, of course he knew that. That didn’t make Plort feel any better when he considered the memory of Wilch’s severely burned body floating in the bacta tank, barely clinging to life. After they landed on Cloud City, they raced through customs leaving the human agent agitated as they completely ignored his well-rehearsed speech--the joys of working on Bespin. It took them almost two hours to hurry their way to the infirmary, even though they used high velocity speeders every chance they could. The Bith receptionist at the hospital was suspicious as the two sentients were out of breath and only slowed long enough to ask her where Wilch was. Despite the fortnight, Wilch was still in a bacta tank, apparently still the same one from Vesuun’s ship. Much to their relief, his condition seemed to be improved. The few burns that had been on his face were almost completely healed, leaving only a white, ocean wave-shaped scar on his right cheek. His torso was still very damaged from the burns, but here and there a swath of more normal-looking flesh was forcing the blistered, blackened skin to retreat. Synthetic skin-grafts had covered the exposed bone on his arms and hands, thankfully giving his appendages a more human appearance. “The doctors here say he has a fifty-fifty chance,” Vesuun’s familiar voice said from behind, catching them by surprise again. How the Nemoidian had managed to surprise them in the same way twice was unusual, but they were too distracted to care. “He looks much better, but his insides are still very damaged.” “Honestly we gave him a one in five hundred chance of survival, when he came in.” A Twi’lek physician joined them. His dark green eyes sparkled with intelligence and exhaustion at the same time. What they could see of his twin lekku were covered over in white cloth, matching the medical garb of his overcoat. The white clothing he wore made his very dark blue skin stand out all the more. “So in his case, a fifty-fifty outlook gives him a very good chance at survival. I don’t envy the man, though. He’s going to have some bombad painful rehab to go through if--uhh... when he awakens. Your friend here has taken care of all the medical bills, so that’s one worry off your chest, huh?” Plort looked over and gave Vesuun a thankful nod, to which the Nemoidian could only wave his hand and look embarrassed. The Ithorian’s estimation of the former Trade Federation rose slightly for his charitability. Plort didn’t like the stereoptypes the galaxy had placed on the Federation, yet so often it seemed they did their best to live up to their unpopular reputation. At least this one was turning the tides. The Ithorian also sensed the doctor had an agenda of his own. “Thank you, Doctor.” “You’re welcome! This case is a medical miracle, I was hoping you would permit me to do a case-study on it to show what good modern medicine can do, even on patients who, by all rights, shouldn’t survive...Even if he dies tomorrow, he's a case for the record books.” The Twi'lek had the grace to look abashed at his inappropriate statement. Medicine’s miracles. Hah! Plort thought. This was all the Force’s doing, from Matris’ Healing to the organic power of bacta. Still, he didn’t want to anger the physician. “We’ll see,” he answered firmly in a voice that pretty much meant ‘no’. The doctor was obviously disappointed, but he simply nodded. “Perhaps if he awakens, the patient will give me permission later. Maybe it was your friend’s presence responsible for the rapid healing. I don’t think there was a single day that he didn’t spend at least three hours here.” Despite his jest, he gave the gray-blue Nemoidian a nod of appreciation. “In any case, I have other patients to look after. You’re welcome to visit any time as long as you stay out of the staff’s way.” He nodded again and strode off to visit the next patient down the corridor. “Here,” Matris said, handing Vesuun a datapad containing his new ship inventory. “I think ye’ll be more than satisfied with what we managed to deal. I made the sale under me parents’ name, hopefully that will give ye a chance to cover yer trail. Payment and delivery information are on here as well. Shouldn’t be more than a month or two before it’s brought out here.” “Thank you,” the Nemoidian said sincerely. “I am very grateful.” “So are we,” Plort answered, waving at Wilch’s floating frame, indicating the high level of care he managed to secure. “He is my friend, and so are the two of you, I hope. You’ve saved my life,” he said simply. His emotions were so obvious. He regarded all of them with almost hero-worship, but he couldn’t find a real way to show his true appreciation. More than that, his sorrow for the injured Jedi was a guilt that he perhaps didn’t deserve, but still wasn’t able to put behind him easily. Plort understood the sentiments fully and was surprised by the other man’s empathy. “He was doing what the Fo-“ he broke off, reminding himself they didn’t want to bring attention to who they were. “What he wanted to do,” he finished lamely. Vesuun nodded. “I’m going to go back to my quarters and rest. I’ve spent too much time here, I need to get the hospital smell out of my nostrils.” He waved the data pad in front of them. “Thank you again for this, and everything. I’ll be in touch.” ****** It was a dark time, over the next few months. Wilch’s health followed an incomprehensible pattern of subtly improving and drastic declining. Vesuun spent a lot of time visiting Wilch with Matris and Plort. Matris in particular spent very little time away from the injured Jedi, taking only a few breaks a day to eat or shower or stretch her legs. Mostly she read the histories of the Jedi that had been downloaded into her ship’s computer. After the second night she tried to spend sleeping in a sitting position outside Wilch’s bacta tank, the nurses finally took pity on her and rolled a bed beside the tank. She was oblivious to the sympathetic looks the staff gave her, as they thought her a grieving woman close to tears over the broken body of her husband. On the few occasions she let herself notice their feelings, it only made her feel more depressed and more determined that Wilch would live, even if she had to beat life back into him with her fists. Plort spent a great deal of time in the hospital with her initially, but his need to be active was too strong and he found himself things to do. The first thing he did was find some foliage to meditate in. His somewhat secret place was primarily a food-producing garden, and seemed understaffed, giving him a large area to sit where he wouldn’t be disturbed by sentient or droid. Later, when he wordlessly started volunteering his services, the garden’s production started increasing noticeably. The farm administrator made some inquiries and before the Ithorian knew it, he was receiving a modest income as were the rest of the garden’s staff. He couldn’t pass it up, since he didn’t know when the money might come in handy. The other thing Plort did was take up an interest in the most life-threatening cases in the hospital. After hours when the staff was at its least active, Plort would allow himself to touch the Force and Heal the various sentients in the hospital while they slept, or struggled through incapacitating pain. Plort decided Matris would benefit as well, so eventually he insisted she help. At first she resisted, but the more they worked together, the more ‘terminal’ cases walked out of their rooms under their own power. The odds shifted away from death, towards life. Knowing she was making a difference to some bolstered her spirits, keeping her from sliding completely into depression and even provided a few days where smiles outweighed the anxious frowns at Wilch’s bacta tank. The medical staff was surprisingly oblivious. They credited the amazing recovery of so many patients to the Twi’lek doctor who always seemed to check on them after Plort and Matris had spent time with them last. If the physician had any idea that something mystical was happening, he didn’t let on. The two Force-sensitives were content to let him take the glory. Vesuun’s fleet arrived almost fifty days after Wilch's incapacitation, and after tearful farewells and promises to keep in touch, the Nemoidian left. He seemed thankful to finally be away from Cloud City, and in her saner moments, Matris couldn’t blame him. All she could do was to hope blindly and to look forward to when Wilch would be out of this blasted hospital so they could get on with their lives. Hopefully together. Too much uncertainty ran through her mind... If he survives. If he wakes up with his mental functions intact. If he would still love her... The more she worked with Plort in the hospital, the more she learned about the Force, both through his instruction and through her own intuition. She understood and accepted the Code’s strict stance on relationships after a time, but she couldn’t agree with the Council. The closeness of Master/Apprentice relationships was the source of her biggest objection. The bond that the two Jedi shared strengthened both of them, making them more effective and increasing the amount of good they could do, as a team. That relationship wasn’t evil, despite the trust and the…intense connection shared. When one half of a pairing suffered, the other half—much more often than not—was instrumental in repairing the damage caused. How was that any different from a healthy relationship? Matris didn’t know if she could get Wilch to see it in the same light, but as she formed arguments and counter-arguments in her mind, she decided it didn’t really matter. All that mattered was for him to finally rejoin the world of the living. **** It had to happen someday, Matris reasoned. She still couldn’t keep the tears from streaming down her face as the life support monitors were unhooked and bacta trickled slowly from Wilch’s tank. Plort seemed to share almost the same sentiment. He forced himself to smile through his jumble of emotions, glad that his Jedi training taught him to control his feelings well, otherwise he'd be a bawling mess like Matris. Plort draped a very long arm around her shoulders, pulling her in close for a crushingly tight, supportive hug. ______________ The hard part about empathizing with your characters so much is writing their agony and knowing when to let go. I have one more short post before this story is completed; I'll get that special edition up on Wednesday. Preservation will continue later this week with new allies and more exciting adventures! Make sure you check back for the tear-jerking conclusion! Peri -----signature----- TIS Rules. Check out: Soon to be continued: Choices-- http://boards.theforce.net/before_the_saga/b10475/28767048/p1 A Jedi must make a difficult choice when he runs into an old crush Odd Happenings: http://boards.theforce.net/Message.aspx?topic=29123443&
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