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Author	Topic: Freedom in Death (quasi-JA)
Maelisaandii Registered: Feb '00	Date Posted: 3/13/00 9:02pm Subject: Re: Freedom in Death (quasi-JA)
	The Escape slid through the purple-blue swirls of hyperspace, knifing though the tranquility with liquid ease. Aboard her, the Jedi Knight and his student spent the days in training and meditation. Even though she did not plan to continue her training, Qui-Gon Jinn knew that she would need every ounce of it she could get, especially in the area of emotional control. Qui-Gon used much of the time to perfect his student’s skill with the lightsaber, teach her new skills, and improve her healing skills. The majority of the time, however, Qui-Gon tried to penetrate the anger that hovered over Maelisaandii’s spirit. He tried to dissipate it, calm it, tame it, but nothing seemed to work. They spent hours in meditation, but not even she could really penetrate it. She was deeply scarred by her childhood experiences. Scarred past repair? Qui-Gon thought worriedly. On the third day of their journey, Maelisaandii hit a wall. She was training with her lightsaber, Qui-Gon watching with sharp, perceptive eyes. A small remote darted around the spacious room that was the common area, spraying stinging lasers in her direction. She was on a roll, deflecting bolt after bolt. Qui-Gon used a small control to raise the difficulty every few minutes. After a while, he brought in another remote, and another. As the difficulty rose, so did his student’s agitation. She gritted her teeth, focusing on the remotes with hard determination. Despite her best efforts, some bolts slipped through her defense and stung her on the leg, shoulder, arms. These small annoyances angered her further, but Qui-Gon just watched. He raised the difficulty again. He could feel Maelisaandii’s anger growing, and knew what would follow. The remotes continued to worry her, striking endlessly. Now many bolts were getting past her defenses. Her anger grew to a boiling point, and she exploded. A sharp cry of rage rang through the ship, and the Jedi student struck at the remotes with a ferocity born of frustration. Seconds later, the three remotes were nothing more than smoking piles of gray rubble. Power surged through her as she regained her breath, and Qui-Gon simply watched. Maelisaandii breathed in and out, her chest heaving, her mind a cacophony of different thoughts. Qui-Gon watched as the realization that she had destroyed those remotes in anger dawned on her. That was of the dark side. A look of horror crossed her face. Eyes wide, she turned to look at her teacher. “Wha - what have I done?” she gasped. Her master didn’t answer at first, staring at her complacently with his dark blue eyes. His gaze discomfited her. “Come, sit down, Maelisaandii,” Qui-Gon said quietly. He had expected this outburst, had engineered it to some degree, and his face showed no surprise. He waited as his student sat down beside him. “You acted in anger, Maelisaandii,” he began, echoing her own thoughts, “And, in some ways, I drove you to it. I wanted you to realize something. If you had come to the Jedi Temple at the normal time, when you were very young, this would not be a problem for you. As it is, you have experienced much of the galaxy, you have seen many injustices. I felt this anger from you when you first came, but I didn’t realize that you had kept it inside you for so long, or that it was so strong. You are at a disadvantage, for no other Padawan has the temptations to anger that you will have. I can feel that much of what you feel is righteous indignation, but a lot of it is hatred. Can you tell me why you have so much hate?” Maelisaandii sat, perplexed. So much hatred was inside her, and she was so used to its presence that she could no longer pin down the reason behind it. Possibilities flew through her mind, things that made her angry. There were so many things... but two people at the core of them all. “Sabine... my first mentor. She betrayed me. My mother,” she breathed, “I hate her... but I don’t know exactly why. I mean, she left me for the public to castigate, but I hate her more than that merits, I think. Maybe I have blamed all the bad things that have happened on her. She is the personification of Hapan society in my mind, that is why, perhaps. I just don’t know.” “Maelisaandii,” Qui-Gon chose his words carefully, watching his student’s reactions. “What you are feeling is of the dark side. You can’t allow this hate to continue. Your motivations are perfectly good, but you have allowed yourself to go too far into your anger. I should have noticed this earlier, but you have kept it well hidden for the simple reason that you didn’t realize what you were doing. You must let go of your anger, hate, and your fear too. You are afraid to face your hate, afraid to face your destiny.” “But, how can I do that?” The prospect frightened her, for she could not imagine her life not hating her mother. “You must forgive her,” Qui-Gon said simply, calmly, like this was the most normal thing in the world. The Hapan princess’s eyes opened wide. “I can’t,” she breathed, “I can’t... I can’t.” She repeated the words like a mantra, her voice getting softer and softer as she realized her own inability. Her head drifted down and she stared at her hands, still whispering. Reaching down, Qui-Gon caught her face in his hands, forcing her to look at him. His blue eyes pierced hers, looking right through her. His features changed from the look of a stern teacher to a concerned father. His voice was soft and gentle, bellying his harsh words. “You must, Maelisaandii. You can’t hold on to this hate. I am afraid for you. Without your training, without me to teach you, you can rely only on yourself to control your anger. If you do not forgive your mother, if you cannot face your hate, I fear that you will fall. To the dark side.”
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Maelisaandii Registered: Feb '00	Date Posted: 3/17/00 1:10pm Subject: Re: Freedom in Death (quasi-JA)
	Forgive. Forgive? FORGIVE?! I can’t forgive! Not her, not them… not Sabine. Not Mother. No. NO! She shook her head involuntarily. After what they did to me? I was only a child! I am afraid... Qui-Gon had said that. Afraid for you. For you. Me? He’s afraid because I might... I might... She couldn’t finish the thought. Too horrible. No... she wouldn’t do that. She would not get angry again. Anger is the path to the dark side. But... Her actions earlier had shown her that the part of her she never wanted to see again was still alive. So, what if she did? What if she needed Qui-Gon with her? What if she could not stay away from the dark side without him? What if I let him down? That thought frightened her more than anything. She wanted to make her Master proud. She had thought she could. Now, she wasn’t so sure. If something like that could happen... with only remotes! What would she do if faced with a real problem? What would happen?
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Maelisaandii Registered: Feb '00	Date Posted: 3/21/00 5:12pm Subject: Re: Freedom in Death (quasi-JA)
	Some more in hopes this thing'll get moved with the rest... Comments are still appreciated, but I understand if you're just speechless with awe. j/k ****************************************** Hapes was a world of beauty. From space, it was a delicate marbled mass of deep blue oceans and green land, swirled with the purest white clouds. Two starfightes emerged from hyperspace above the world, setting themselves into twin approach vectors. It sliced through the clouds, disappearing in the lovely whiteness. Its approach to the planet revealed cities matching their surroundings for beauty. The architecture was elegant and smooth, with towers and spires that seemed to swirl through the sky. Gardens dotted the landscapes, nestles inside spacious villas. Fountains were common. Qui-Gon saw it all with appreciative eyes, for it was beautiful. “Escape Leader to One,” came her voice over the comm. “Are you set?” ”Affirmative, lead,” he replied, checking his controls. It was a standard fighter, and Qui-Gon had learned to pilot many different types of ships over the years. Even if he had never owned one. The beauty of the world did not seem to affect his student. She was suspicious of her people, which is why they were traveling separately. Just in case one should need to leave before the other. And why she had not entered the hyperspace coordinates into either of the computers, keeping them instead in her memory. Qui-Gon could not see his Padawan, but from the troubled state of her Living Force, he guessed she was staring at their destination, deep in thought. The sprawling palace lay before them, representing their separation. A voice on their synchronized comm systems interrupted both their reveries. To Qui-Gon, it was a musical jumble. To the onboard translator, it was only a series of patterns, which it translated into Basic. “This is Hapes security. State your name and intentions.” “Maeli’Saandii. We intend to land.” Maelisaandii said this in the most acid of tones. The voice that came back was less authoritative. “Your voiceprint checks out. Welcome home, Your Highness.” The connections was cut, and they were allowed to continue on their way. Qui-Gon sent a mental probe across the atmosphere to his Padawan. Her anger was building, and he warned her silently of the danger she was in. ~Control your anger, Maelisaandii. Don’t let it rule you.~
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HealerLeona Registered: Jan '00	Date Posted: 3/21/00 9:10pm Subject: Re: Freedom in Death (quasi-JA)
	Wonderful story, Maelisaandii-I'm really enjoying this thread.
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Maelisaandii Registered: Feb '00	Date Posted: 3/21/00 9:52pm Subject: Re: Freedom in Death (quasi-JA)
	LOL... thanks, my ego is now resting contentedly. ******************************************* Flanked by two armed guards, the Jedi Master and his student approached the huge doors the Ta’a Chume’s audience chamber. The austere Jedi attire of Qui-Gon and Maelisaandii contrasted starkly with the colorful attire of the guards, the sumptuous décor of the palace. The doors swung open silently on a command from a guard and the Jedi were lead into the main foyer. It was a huge room, furnished with soft chairs in expensive-looking material. A large, white marble desk stood near the door to the throne room. The walls were draped in tapestries depicting, as Qui-Gon guessed, ancient myths and legends. Heroic men chasing enormous creatures was a popular motif, as was the occasional damsel in distress. One, however, did not depict the happy, valiant epics, but a frightening woman pulling a dark cloak over the planet of Hapes. The cloak was dotted with horrific images, and Qui-Gon wondered what such a work was doing in a public hall. It is a good thing children do not often come here, he thought. “It is a legend from ancient times,” came the voice of his student, who had noticed his interest, “Before the first Queen Mother. The tale is that a Force-user came to the Cluster. Not a Jedi, at least not a full Knight. She had fallen to the dark side. Legend has it that she took over the planet and became the first Ta’a Chume. It is said that the evil spirit of the Ka’a Daman roams the halls of the palace, giving its power to any Queen Mother who is strong enough.” Several heads turned at Maelisaandii’s flippant use of the spirit’s name. “Do you think to bring the Other’s wrath upon?” one woman hissed. Qui-Gon shuddered in spite of himself. The Force was a frightening thing, indeed, if used by untrained minds. He wondered exactly how much of this legend was based in fact. Quickly, he turned his thoughts elsewhere. The political scene was not unknown to Qui-Gon, and he knew what it was he saw. The foyer was filled with people. Men and women, old and young, of all sizes and colors. All of them seeking political favors, and all of them breathtakingly beautiful. The Hapans were a lovely race, and Qui-Gon at last understood what Maelisaandii had meant when she said she was “rather plain looking, actually”. His survey of the room finished, he turned to his student. As her long-time mentor, he had learned to read her emotions, and now they were telling him that she was afraid. Afraid and angry because she was so. He sighed. All he could do was send his own comfort and reassurance through the Force. All fear was carefully hidden behind a mask of imperial haughtiness. Maelisaandii strode up to the weary man behind the desk. “I will see the Ta’a Chume,” she said without preamble. The man didn’t even look up. “There are proper channels. I must put you on the waiting list. A lot of people ‘will see the Ta’a Chume.’” “How long is the waiting list?” The question was rhetorical. Qui-Gon could see his student had no intention of being put on a list. “A year. If you’ll just sign your name here, I will contact you when your turn comes.” A feral smile appeared on Maelisaandii’s face. She scrawled Maeli’Saandii on the paper in huge letters, obscuring all other print. Then she crumpled the paper in her hand and marched to the door. Opening it, she stepped in before the clerk could protest. Qui-Gon followed, his brow furrowed. “Control your anger, my Padawan,” he said, catching her attention, his face grave. An expression of sorrow crossed her face, disappearing quickly behind her mask of uncaring. Crossing the room quickly, she announced herself loudly enough to interrupt the Queen Mother’s current audience. “I have come, Mother. My duty is done,” she said with almost sardonic ease. The Queen of Hapes looked up, her face impenetrable beneath the veils that covered her face. No Hapan alive had yet been allowed to see her face uncovered. “There are proper channels, Maeli’Saandii,” she said, repeating the clerk’s words in the tone of a parent whose child never does anything right. “With all respect, my Queen,” Maelisaandii said blithely, “To the seven Hells of Charubah with your proper channels. I will not be kept for a year just to be deprived of the life I love.” “Let’s get this over and done with”, Qui-Gon thought. This dialogue was all in Hapan, but his Jedi training had not all been for naught. His connection to the Force enabled him to understand the meaning of what was being said, if not the exact words. The Queen Mother sighed, and waved a hand at her present petitioners. They bowed obsequiously and left the chamber, shooting venomous glances and Qui-Gon and his student as they passed. Meanwhile, the Queen Mother regarded Qui-Gon with the kind of look one gives a particularly unsightly insect. “Your companion,” she said to her daughter, “A consort of some kind?” “My master and teacher, Mother, and you will treat him as such. He is a Jedi Master.” Maelisaandii glared at her mother. Qui-Gon sighed, he had long ago learned to ignore words. He continued to watch the exchange, but with only half his attention. Something else occupied his mind, his instincts were screaming that there was something wrong. The Ta’a Chume certainly did not seem to like him. It was deeper than that, though. She hated him... but not Qui-Gon in particular, she couldn’t know him well enough to hate him. It was what he stood for... he felt it the minute he walked into the room, but could only put his feelings into coherent thoughts now. The Queen Mother hated Jedi, hated them beyond contempt, almost an ancestral hate. There was also something going on between mother and daughter, and it was not a bonding experience. Qui-Gon found it odd that the Queen Mother, who quite obviously did not love her daughter, would conduct such a extensive search for her. Certainly, she would have passed the crown on to a younger sibling. Maelisaandii has been gone for almost twenty years. She was publicly humiliated. She was a bounty-hunter! What would she have that her sisters do not? The answer came to him almost immediately, and it made him shudder visibly. Her Force talents. Maelisaandii was a Jedi student. So, the Queen Mother hated Jedi and she wanted Maelisaandii to be Ta’a Chume after her, presumably for her Force powers. Not a pleasant thought, that. The Queen Mother flicked her hand slightly, signaling that the conversation was over. She spoke to her daughter shortly, saying, basically, “We will speak further later.” Three guards appeared at a command from the Ta’a Chume, and escorted the duo to their quarters. Maelisaandii’s thoughts were still angry and agitated, but Qui-Gon thought she had contained herself rather well, considering. But still... ~You must work on your patience, my student~ ~I know, Master~ her thoughts came back, sounding tired ~I shall make greater efforts. It is so hard to control my anger~ ~I know, Maelisaandii, believe me. I know~ He placed his hand on her shoulder as a gesture of support. She would do fine, he tried to convince himself of this. [This message has been edited by Maelisaandii (edited 03-21-2000).]
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Maelisaandii Registered: Feb '00	Date Posted: 3/26/00 1:28am Subject: Re: Freedom in Death (quasi-JA)
	Qui-Gon gazed at the door with growing frustration. It had been three hours since he was shown here, and he had tried numerous times to go and have a look around. Numerous times also, a small steward had blocked his path and inquired, “Do you require anything, sir?” Do you require anything. Sir. Bah. There were guards, too. Not close enough to be excruciatingly obvious, only painfully so. So much for Hapan subtlety. He was a prisoner of a man two-thirds his size. It was infuriating, even for a Jedi. If there was one thing Qui-Gon couldn’t stand, it was inaction, being helpless. But he didn’t want to cause an incident by forcing his way out, so there he stayed. Damn. He folded his arms and glared at the door, worried about his student. A minute or so passed. He was still glaring at the door when it opened, revealing Maelisaandii. Her face matched his mood perfectly. She was dressed like Qui-Gon had never seen her. Abandoning her sandy Padawan garb and Jedi robe, she was now clothed in a long, flowing gown of silver and blue. It shimmered and shifted as she moved, catching the light and throwing it off in tiny rainbows. With her hair cascading down her shoulders in dark waves, she could have eclipsed the Hapan sun. But it wasn’t her beauty that struck Qui-Gon. She was a Hapan again, no longer his student. No longer a Jedi. In her hand, she clasped her lightsaber, which she held out to him. “I am going to the ceremony now, to be formally declared heiress.” In the hours they had been separated, her accent had gotten much thicker. She even sounds Hapan now. The anger melted away from her face, leaving only an aching sadness. “Our time together is over. I am no longer a Jedi.” Her voice showed no emotion as she held out the lightsaber. “I no longer have a right to carry this.” Qui-Gon took the weapon solemnly, his eyes locking on hers. “I understand what this will cost you, Maelisaandii. You people are fortunate to have you for their Queen Mother.” She nodded quickly. “I will conduct you back to Corescant tomorrow,” she said, “My mother could not convince me otherwise.” He reached out and took her hand, giving it a squeeze. It was a small gesture, such as a parent might give a child. “You will do well, Padawan,” he said, “I am so very proud of you.” Tears formed in her eyes, threatening to spill over. “I don’t want to go,” she whispered, eyes on the floor. She hesitated, the threw her arms around Qui-Gon, hugging him tightly. “I am so afraid, Master.” Her held her for a moment. “You will do well,” he repeated, “You will be a fine ruler, the best these people have known.” Pulling her away from him, he held her at arms length and brushed a fugitive tear from her cheek. “Go now,” he said, a note of pride and encouragement in his tone, “Remember what I taught you. There is no emotion, there is peace.” “There is no ignorance, there is knowledge,” she recited the Jedi Code, her voice steadying. “There is no passion, there is serenity.” “There is no death, there is the Force.” She finished with finality, all trace of weakness gone. Then she left him to his thoughts, her back straight and step confident.
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Maelisaandii Registered: Feb '00	Date Posted: 3/31/00 6:26pm Subject: Re: Freedom in Death (quasi-JA)
	It was over. The past eight years, gone like they had never occurred. Qui-Gon would go back to the Temple, perhaps take on another apprentice. He would not see Maelisaandii again. How unfair the galaxy was! He knew he would never forget his student. No, there was too much emotionally invested in the Master-student relationship for that. Most masters had a sense of fulfillment, when their Padawan attained the rank of Jedi Knight. A few had to go through their deaths. But not many Masters had their students leave in the middle of their training, and against their will at that. No, it wasn’t fair. The look in Maelisaandii’s eyes as she left tore Qui-Gon’s heart. Resignation Sadness. She would be the best Ta’a Chume that she could, but he knew she would never be happy. It took all of Qui-Gon’s training not to be furious at the Ta’a Chume for tearing Maelisaandii away from him. It won’t help to brood about it. He sighed. Tomorrow he would be back at the temple. Life would go on. Who am I fooling? Life would not go on, not the way he wanted. There would be a long time before he would be ready to take on another Padawan. Damn. Meditate. He should meditate, but his mind would not settle down enough for that. So he sat once again, staring at the closed door. Seconds ran into minutes, which gave way to hours, until he had been sitting for two hours. The room was silent except for the Jedi’s breathing, he could have heard a dust mite sneeze. Abruptly, he whirled around, disturbed by an unfamiliar presence in the Force. His lightsaber blazed to life, shattering the silence and piercing the air with the smell of ozone. “Who are you?!” he demanded of the figure entering the room. Entering the room through the wall. No, not through the wall, but through a door in the wall. A secret door. That had to mean there were tunnels leading to his room. For late night assassinations, probably. But Qui-Gon didn’t dwell on the tunnels long, instead focusing his attention of the young woman who had entered his room. She looked to be about eighteen or nineteen, but considering Hapan development, might have been as young as fourteen. Her hair was a flaming red and her eyes were such a dark brown that he could barely make out the pupils. Those eyes darted about the room furiously, glowing with worry and anger. “Maeli’Saandii!” she cried in Basic. “Where is she?” “Gone,” the Jedi Master replied warily, his lightsaber still held at ready. The newcomer didn’t seem to notice it. “Who are you?” he repeated. “I am her sister.” Her voice displayed her despair, as her shoulders sagged, defeated. “Please, I must find her. She is in danger!” ”Pallak?” “Yes... please, you must...” “Why?” the Jedi interrupted her. “The Ta’a Chume. She has taken the spirit of the Other. She will make Maeli accept it as well.” Qui-Gon’s heart fell to his knees. The Other. The Kaa’Daman, the demon queen. The woman with the dark cloak he had seen on the tapestry. So it wasn’t just legend. Oh, my Force. He kicked himself mentally. I knew there was something wrong here! Why didn’t I sense it right off? How could I let it elude me? The full meaning of what Yoda had once told him fell heavily on his shoulders. “Hard to see, the dark side is,” the wizened old master had said. Hard to see. Yoda would have seen it right away! He couldn’t think about that now. Later, there would be plenty of time for him to berate himself, but now he needed to help his Padawan. The secret door Pallak had entered through could be a whole network of tunnels. They could use them to get the throne room! Apparently, the young princess had been forming the same plan. “There is a series of passages through here,” she said, pointing to the door, “We can use them to get to the throne room.” “Lets go, then.” Pallak disappeared into the tunnel, Qui-Gon close at her heels. It was slightly more difficult for him to maneuver his broad frame into the door. Apparently, Hapan assassins were generally small people. Still, Qui-Gon moved with agility that surprised Pallak. He closed the door behind him, plunging them both into utter darkness. “Who is there?” A sharp, feminine voice sliced through the black. “Its alright, Kylra. He is a Jedi, here to help.” Pallak’s voice was placating. “Help me... or my sister?” The voice spat out the words like they left a foul taste in the speaker’s mouth. Qui-Gon folded his arms thoughtfully. Kylra? Curious. If this is who he thought it was... “For the moment, both.” As he finished, the owner of the voice lit a glow-lamp revealing another of the royal family. The haughtiness in her stance was obvious. Her eyes, the color of ice from the heart of an iceberg, tried to pierce his with their stare, the rigid pride in them demanded he look away. He didn’t, meeting her gaze calmly with his soft, blue eyes. “I am Kylra’Saandii,” she said, finally shifting her gaze away from the Jedi, “The true heiress to the throne.” Qui-Gon’s eyebrows shifted, but otherwise he was not disturbed by her proclamation. “The Kylra that died in the accident was a decoy. I have connections in the palace, and found out about the plot in advance.” “The plot?!” Kylra cut in angrily, “The plot was formed by my own mother!” “I know that, Kylra,” Pallak said wearily. “Do not worry, your rightful position will be restored, eventually. In the meantime, please do not harp on it.” The older woman’s mouth snapped shut and she glowered at her sister. The Jedi Master spoke mildly, but with underlying steel in his voice. “Lead the way, then, Pallak. We don’t have much time.”
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HealerLeona Registered: Jan '00	Date Posted: 3/31/00 11:24pm Subject: Re: Freedom in Death (quasi-JA)
	Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I'm really loving this story. Qui-Gon's my man.
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Maelisaandii Registered: Feb '00	Date Posted: 4/9/00 5:11pm Subject: Re: Freedom in Death (quasi-JA)
	Sorry I haven't been able to do anything this week. My ISP says my password is bogus for some reason. I had to sign up for a freebie just to get on. Anyways. Enough of my complaints. Thanks for your posts! I'm glad to know that somebody likes my writing.
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Short Round McFly Registered: Nov '99	Date Posted: 4/10/00 7:58pm Subject: Re: Digitally remastering
	Does anyone here know any techniques on that with Photoshop? I only know how to sharpen and add more color by using Color Range and then when they are all highlighted(Like let's say yellow) I go to Color Balance and add more to the color. I'm good at bringing out skyies, but I still need big time help! any tutorials? -----signature----- Violence is cool when it saves your life "History will look upon the act depriving a whole nation of arms as the blackest." -Gandhi "Kurds dream about being homeless in America." -Sam Kinison
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Maelisaandii Registered: Feb '00	Date Posted: 4/11/00 12:58am Subject: Re: Freedom in Death (quasi-JA)
	dances with joy I just got DSL! woo-hoo! No more getting kicked off the Internet! I celebrate! ******************************************* The veils covered her face now. Never again would she fly carefree among the stars. Never again would she train with Qui-Gon in the Jedi Temple. Now she was the Crowned Princess. Her head bowed with the weight of her future, a position everyone mistook for respect. There was something wrong with her mother as well. She seemed colder than usual, if that was at all possible. More heartless, but it wasn’t only that. There was something else, elusive and foreboding. Oppressive, like a dark fog. But whenever she tried to sense it through the Force, it disappeared. It was hiding, she thought irrationally. It was probably nothing, but the possibilities it invoked in her imagination made fear tickle the base of her spine. It was hard to keep still, an inexplicable urge to run was tugging at her. Understandable, however, and she refused to attribute it to something sinister. It was just nerves. The Ta’a Chume droned on about her responsibility, the great honor of her position. Maelisaandii could feel the eyes of the coutiers and honored guests on her. Their thoughts echoed through her head, she was unable to keep them away. What’s the Consortium coming to? She’s an exile, by the Mother! Gods, how plain she looks! No decoration at all... she looks like she’s in mourning. Her own thoughts tried to overpower the voices. I will not cry. There is no emotion, there is peace. “Now,” the Queen spoke in Hapan, “Do you accept this great honor, unworthy though your are?” She knew the words were routine... tradition. Spoken on the crowning of Queens for generations. But still her indignation rose. Unworthy?! Why did she drag me from my life if this was how she regards me? Resentment coiled in her stomach. Anger would be close... but she defeated it. There was only the Force. I will prove myself worthy. “I do accept it,” she said, her voice steady. “Then, receive the crown, and the responsibility.” Her eyes were closed, but she felt the white gold tiara being placed on her brow. It was set with the living gems that only grew on Gallinore. In her previous life, this tiara would have represented two years of work. That life was over. MY life is over. Goodbye, Master! She stood up to face her people, her face a cold mask showing nothing of her aching sorrow. I am Maeli’Saandii. “Go,” said the Queen to her audience. It was tradition for the ruler and her successor to be left along after the ceremony. They filed out respectfully, and the Ta’a Chume turned on her, contempt written all over her face. “I hope you haven’t been totally ruined by your Jedi training. There may be something I can still teach you.” “Like how to cheat and lie? How to stay in power at the expense of my subjects? Why did you take me from my Master if your confidence is so little?” Maeli’Saandii’s voice was soft, but her face showed her frustration. “The law is clear. I had no choice.” “What?!?! The law is most definitely not clear on that point. You didn’t have to look for me at all! You could have just declared me dead and put another of your daughters on the throne. One that would have been more to your taste.” The resentment doubled, augmented by frustration and despair. Why, oh why did you take me away from Qui-Gon??? In spite of all her efforts, anger piled on top of all the other emotions. What did Qui-Gon tell you? She forced the anger away... but the despair was harder, and her mother’s next statement blew her controls away. “No daughter of mine will be a Jedi.” The Queen spoke the word “Jedi” with such contempt that Maeli’Saandii’s insides twisted in outrage. “There are more useful ways to utilize your talents, my daughter!” “You will NOT speak of my Master in that way!” she shouted, quivering with fury. “A Jedi is the most noble profession in the galaxy.” “And you will never become one, Maeli. Look at you, pitiful girl. Didn’t your Master teach you about the dangers of anger?” Maeli’s cheeks flamed with shame. It was true. A horrible smile appeared on her face, an expression that, no matter what the occasion, had never crossed her mother’s face. She reached out with the Force and encountered the same darkness as before as one fact was thrown into stark relief. There was more going on here than she had realized. This was not her mother, this was something else. Something daker. But before she could try to regain control, something happened. A dark presence began to slide into her mind... You could kill her now... it would be so easy. That’s not me! That can’t be me! She looked up, horrified. Her mother was grinning like a specter. Pleasure. It was smiling. Power. Evil. “No! This isn’t mine! What is happening to me?!?” She screamed at the Queen Mother, who only smiled. Don’t you recognize me, my daughter? Haven’t you heard my call? The voice spoke to her seductively.. it was the Other!!!! “NO!! No no no no! Go away! I am not yours!!!” It is too late... to late... as long as you hate her, you are mine! All mine. Think of what I can give you! Power beyond anything the paltry Jedi could offer! Noooo... she tried to push it away, but it held onto her anger and wouldn’t leave. It was like a leech, sucking life from her. Calm, I must be calm. Please. It is impossible my daughter, came the tired voice of her mother, breaking through the dark presence of the Other, I have tried. You can’t, it laughed, not until you get rid of years of resentment! You can’t defeat me until you forgive her! She could feel herself falling. The self that Qui-Gon had taught was loosing the battle, beat by the selves she thought long gone. Yes! they shrieked. Goodbye, Maeli’Saandii. Her voice, her true voice was becoming weaker. She was falling apart, the good parts descending into oblivion. She was slipping away.
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Maelisaandii Registered: Feb '00	Date Posted: 4/11/00 1:01am Subject: Re: Freedom in Death (quasi-JA)
	heh. I hope that last one wasn't too weird. <g> I hadn't run across any demonic possession around here before... it was an interesting idea anyway.
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Short Round McFly Registered: Nov '99	Date Posted: 4/12/00 5:04pm Subject: Re: Digitally remastering
	TOP! -----signature----- Violence is cool when it saves your life "History will look upon the act depriving a whole nation of arms as the blackest." -Gandhi "Kurds dream about being homeless in America." -Sam Kinison
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Short Round McFly Registered: Nov '99	Date Posted: 4/16/00 10:34am Subject: Re: Digitally remastering
	UP! -----signature----- Violence is cool when it saves your life "History will look upon the act depriving a whole nation of arms as the blackest." -Gandhi "Kurds dream about being homeless in America." -Sam Kinison
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ash khotan Registered: Mar '00	Date Posted: 4/16/00 2:44pm Subject: Re: Digitally remastering
	well, what exactly are you wanting to do? The term "digitally remastered" is one of those vague and nebulous things that sounds cool and sells lots of video rereleases, but do you know what it is that you're trying to achieve?
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