"Oidhche et Fàiredàn Trilogy I: Aftershock" Completed 11 July!

The sentencing.

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Luke Skywalker sighed, then looked at each face around the table, stopping on Zekk, who sat directly opposite the Jedi Master. "The Council has . . . discussed your crime against Jaina Solo. And we have come to a decision. We believe that the . . . punishment you received at the hands of Jaina's father is only part of what you . . . deserve."

There was a tense silence, then Luke looked down at his hands. "In the history of this new order, we have never done this. Only a few times was it done in the old order."

He looked back up, blue eyes piercing. "Zekk, please stand."

The young Jedi stood stiffly, awkwardly.

"From this moment on, you will no longer be recognized as a Knight of this Order. You are stripped of the right to call yourself a Jedi. We will not take your powers from you, though that was discussed. Instead, we will confiscate your lightsaber, and we declare you banished from Eclipse, and any safehaven the Jedi establish. You have twenty-four hours, with the escort of armed guards, to gather your things and leave this base. If you return, you will be met with suitable punishment."

Zekk sagged, and a murmur went around the room. Two guards took hold of his arms and led him from the room.

Master Skywalker turned to Kyp. "When he leaves Eclipse, I want you and Han to escort him away, as far as Corellia. Then I . . . I want you to erase the location of Eclipse from his mind. I'm sending Artoo with you. He'll remotely remove the coordinates and navigational information for Eclipse from the Lightning Rod."

Kyp nodded. "Understood, Master."

Luke turned back to the assemblage. "We're now adjourned. Dana, Katrael, Kyp, a moment?"

Minutes later, when the four of them were alone, Luke said, "I'd like it if you went to Naboo, as planned. Take Jaina. But make a stop at Dagobah first. I want all of you to face the test of the cave. And Kyp? When Jaina goes, go with her. Something tells me you need to face that trial together."

"Yes, Master Skywalker."

"Good. I want you to leave as soon as you get back from escorting Zekk away from Eclipse."

Dana nodded. "I'll make preparations."

She and Luke exchanged a long look, then he nodded. The others left Luke to face the emotional impact of the Council's decision.

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Dana

 

oh wow....That was really really good!

Is it too soon to ask for more?

 

Sorry, don't have anything to post just yet. I have to write the trip to Dagobah. I've got Naboo through Borleias, mostly, but not Dagobah.

I'll get that written today, and probably posted next week. I'm not usually on the 'net on Saturdays and Sundays. It's Friday right now.

Dana

 

uh no!!! [face_shocked] I'm on vacation next week



Poor me

 

Awww! No removal of... appendages. But a harsh punishment none the less due to the current situation in the galaxy.
We got thunder and lightning! The power went out in the middle of reading The Morning Will Come, which is a really good fic by the way.

 

Our power went out last night, and came back on in the middle of the night, and I'd forgotten to turn my lights off before I went to bed. So when the power came back on, the lights came back on, and woke me up. Then, this morning, the power went off again. But it's back on now, obviously. Otherwise, I wouldn't be posting.

I'm writing the Dagobah part right now. Hoepfully I can post it soon.

As for Zekk's punishment, that comes into play later, in the sequel, called "Moment of Weakness".

Dana

 

Good punishment. I'm going on vacation too. Ah well...it'll be here when I get back.

 

And here we are, at Dagobah. Please keep your appendages inside the vehicle until it has stopped moving, and thank you for flying TFN Airways.

Sorry. Random weirdness.

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Dagobah was not a place Katrael particularly cared for. It was dark, and dank, and there were bugs everywhere. The air itself was murky.

"Remind me again why we're here," she said to her mother.

"We're here to face the trial of the cave," Dana said. "The cave is strong with the dark side."

"I don't like it here. There are too many-" Kaeta slapped her arm "-bugs."

Kyp glanced over at her, holding Jaina's hand as they trudged through the swamp. He'd once used the dark side to keep insects at bay, but he wasn't about to suggest to Luke Skywalker's daughter that she do the same.

Suddenly, a chill shot washed over the entire group. Dana simpy froze, while Jaina gasped, and Kyp cringed. Katrael, on the other hand, just asked, "What was that?"

"We're close to the cave," Dantana murmured. "Very close. See? It's right there."

"Uh, you can go first," Katrael said.

Dana cast an amused glance at her daughter, then handed her lightsaber over. "I won't need this. Wait for me here, if you would."

"We will," Jaina said.

Squaring her shoulders, Dantana walked into the dark hole in the vegetation.

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It was very, very dark in the hole. Only a glimmer of light at the far end was visible. Other than that, it was pitch black.

Dana held her breath for a few moments, then relaxed. It was just a cave, she had to remind herself. Just a cave that happened to be strong in the dark side.

She wondered vaguely why that was, as she cautiously made her way forward. Certainly, all things--the Yuuzhan Vong excepting--had a presence in the Force, so why not this cave? If rocks were Force-sensitive, they most definitely could be dark side.

A snake slithered past her boot. She took a step back, then laughed at herself for being frightened of it. All she had to fear here was herself, afterall.

Then she heard it, just ahead, in the blackness. The sound of a lightsaber.

Mara Jade stepped into view, her blue blade in one hand, Ben held in the other arm. "My sister."

"You're not real," Dana said calmly. "This is just a test."

"A test of what?" Mara stepped forward.

Unbelievably, Dantana heard the sound of the other woman moving through the cave. Instinctively, she backed up.

"You know you want me out of your way. You want to be with Luke. But that will never happen as long as I'm alive, will it?" Mara sneered. "So you'll just have to kill me."

"No."

"You'll have to kill Ben, too, though. Because he'll be a reminder of me once I'm dead."

Dana shook her head. "No. No, that's not the way."

"Oh, but it is."

Mara waved the lightsaber at Dana, who stood her ground. "Go ahead. Kill me."

"Sorry, I didn't bring my lightsaber."

"Use mine."

"No."

Her sister's face suddenly twisted and she lunged at Dana. Dantana closed her eyes, breathed deeply.

"No," she said again, as she opened her eyes. "No. I won't kill you. If Luke chooses me, or if he chooses you, death is not the answer."

The apparition stopped, surprised. Then she grinned evilly again as Luke appeared through the back of the cave, the way Mara had come.

"Hello, Dantana," the thing that had Luke's face said, in an oily voice.

"You're not real," she breathed. "None of you are."

She tried to remain calm as the Luke-vision took the Mara-vision in his arms and kissed her. The sight hurt, but she forced herself to stand and face her fears.

"Try not," Dana reminded herself. "Do, or do not."

A moment passed. The figures had gone considerably beyond kissing, but she just watched impassively. It was difficult, and she was tempted to strike them both down, just for the sake of making it stop.

But she didn't. "If you choose Mara, I can face that," she said quietly. "It will hurt, but I faced it before. This is not a real t

 

Eek! Kyp is gonna errase his memroy. he he Kyp is kinda known for that isn't he. I wonder what trial Kyp and Jaina will face together.
And there is a sequal bout Zekk, sickening thought, but im sure it will be good.

Jez

 

A little foreshadowing for all of you. Last post until Monday, sorry, so it's a long one.

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Kyp and Jaina were next. She held his hand tightly as they stepped into the darkness.

"It's okay," Kyp said. "Just keep ahold of my hand."

"Don't worry. You're not likely to get your hand back without surgery," she joked.

They stood in the cave, waiting, but nothing happened. An eternity passed.

"Maybe we're not in the right place," she ventured.

"Okay."

They went further into the almost tangible black that surrounded them.

"Still nothing. Maybe the test for us is just to see how long we can stand boredom," Kyp said.

"I don't think so." Jaina took a step closer. "I don't know what's-"

"Hi, Jaina."

They both looked to see Zekk standing before them. Jaina whimpered and hid her face against Kyp's shoulder.

"It's okay. He isn't real." Kyp kept his eyes on Jaina, ignoring the spectre. "I'm here. I'll always be here."

When they looked up, Zekk was gone. Someone else stood in his place, wearing an Imperial-style uniform. His face was cloaked in shadow, and remained so even as he stepped forward.

The figure didn't speak, and didn't move around them. Instead, it simply grabbed Jaina's arm and tried to pull her away from Kyp.

"No!" she exclaimed, kicking at it. "Leave me alone."

Kyp himself felt like attacking the figure, but took several calming breaths. "Jaina. Jaina, ignore it. Don't fight it. Come closer to me."

When she moved to do just that, the figure let go of her and began tugging at their clasped hands. Jaina tightened her grip and looked into Kyp's eyes, realising that their test was to stay together. Something would threaten to separate them, and they had to stand fast.

Kyp realised the same as she looked at him, her eyes full of love. "I love you," he said.

"I love you, too," she breathed.

The spectre screamed and melted into the darkness.

"I think we passed," Kyp said after several moments.

"I think we did."

"Come on, let's go."

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Katrael looked around the dark cave and hefted her lightsaber in her hands. She didn't care that her mother and cousin had said she wouldn't need it; it was a comfort to her, so she'd brought it with her.

She got the feeling, gradually, that something was watching her.

"Who's there?" she called, timidly.

"Katrael," a voice called softly. "Katrael, come here."

The voice sounded male. Frowning, but curious, Kaeta walked deeper into the cave.

"Is anyone here?"

"I'm right here, Kaeta," the voice said, a little louder, a little closer.

"I know you're not real, but I'd like to see your face," she said, forcing bravado. In truth, she was almost petrified.

Something moved. Then a woman stepped out of the dark.

She was older, with shorter hair, and a hard face, dressed in clothing Katrael wouldn't even consider wearing. But the woman's eyes were her own.

"It's just you," the figure said.

"I- I don't- I don't understand. I'm supposed to be-"

The older version of Katrael smiled wickedly. "Fighting something from your own mind? Your fears, perhaps? Hardly. That's not what's in store for you."

Katrael raised her lightsaber and thumbed the activation switch. To her surprise, the older version of herself smiled.

"Good girl." The figure began approaching.

"Stay away from me," Katrael said, as she shakily backed up. "I don't know what you are, but-"

"I'm you, sweetie. Plain and simple. You can't fight your destiny."

After a moment, she asked, "And what is my destiny?"

"This."

Eldritch tendrils of electricity shot from the older woman's fingers and bathed Katrael in pain. She cried out and fell, dropping her lightsaber. The woman cackled.

Struggling against the mind-numbing agony, Katrael flailed for her lightsaber, and ignited it. Forcing herself to her knees, she swung the blade and sliced through the midsection of the older version of herself, cutting off th

 

Good posts. I'm glad that Zekk was punished.
More please!

 

Oh yeah, that were some great post

and just before I leave

See ya when I get back. I'm hoping I have a lot to read then

 

GGGAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH! I hit the refresh button and everything's blue now!!! Pretty! I love blue! Different shades of grey too!

 

Hi, I'm back. I've only got this one post for today, because, while I worked on all the other stories this weekend, I forgot to work on this one.

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Jaina set the Lhantlach na Skyerighean down in the same clearing Dantana had a few months previously, with expert precision.

"Tell me again what the name of the ship means," Kyp said.

"It means First Light of the Royal Sky," Katrael informed him.

"That's a really long name," Kyp said.

"We'll just call it the Light," Jaina said from her seat, as she powered down the ship. "If that's okay with you, Dana."

"That's fine," Dana murmured. She was reading through the information on the datapad Luke had sent with them.

"When you fill out forms, do you have to put down your entire name? I think Katrael Liana ni Uiletor clanna na Skyewali would be difficult to put down every single time." Kyp unbuckled his restraint net.

"No," Katrael laughed. "My name is just longer because I wasn't raised in my father's household. It's a cultural thing. If I'd been raised with my father, my name would be Katrael ni Skyewali, instead of Katrael ni Uiletor clanna na Skyewali. I have the option now of going by Katrael ni Uiletor, Katrael ni Skyewali, or Katrael Skywalker. But not Katrael Uiletor."

"Skywalker," Kyp said. "It's easier. What does your mother go by?"

"My name is Dantana ni Uiletor Skyewali," Dana said, as she put away the datapad. "Or, rather, Dantana Katrael ni Uiletor bhan na Skyewali, but as you said, it's difficult to give that name every time I meet someone. Married women, in taking on their husband's name, drop the 'ap' and affix the rest to the end of their maiden household name. I can't be called Dantana ni Uiletor na Skyewali, or ni Skyewali."

Jaina said, "I'm confused."

"'Na' means 'of' and 'ni' means 'daughter of'," Katrael said. "Mom isn't Dantana, daughter of the house of Uiletor, of Skywalker."

"Oh. Yeah, that sounds stupid," Jaina said. "But how do you know if a woman's married, if you don't have that indicator?"

"The presence of the husband's house name," Dantana said.

They reached the ramp. Kyp hit the control to lower the ramp and they exited the ship.

"You have a really complex culture," Jaina said. "I'm just Jaina Solo, not Jaina, daughter of the house of Solo."

"It works for us," Kaeta said. "But you can call me Kaeta Skywalker."

Dantana hid a smile. "Alright. First of all, we should check for any indigenous people. Zekk-" She stopped. At the mention of the Jedi, there had been a flare of pure panic from Jaina. "Uh. He said that I was the only one on the planet, but I find that a little hard to believe. Only human, maybe. I wonder what happened to the Naboo."

Kyp lightly touched the small of Jaina's back, trying to be reassuring. He'd felt her sudden panic, even though they were lightyears away from Zekk and Eclipse. It's okay, Jaina.

"The buildings are still standing, so it's not the Yuuzhan Vong," Katrael said.

I'm fine, Kyp. Jaina looked up at the Jedi Master and gave him a weak smile. I just wasn't prepared for that. But he was here, and Dana talked with him. People can't keep dancing around the subject.

Dana raised a red-gold eyebrow at the two lovers. She cleared her throat.

Jaina and Kyp both looked back to her. She continued. "Katrael will go with me. You two head off in that direction-" Dana pointed to one side of the clearing. "We'll go the other way. Signal if you find anything remotely interesting."

They split up and went off to their assigned tasks.

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Dana

 

Good post.

 

WOOHOOO an update!!!

I liked Dana. I like Mara.

I'm in a perplexing situation because
They both deserve to be happy. Lukes
a bucket head!

 

sith_lady17- "La seule vérité découverte à ce jour est qu'il suffit d'aimer et de l'être en retour" is "The greatest thing you'll ever learn, is just to love, and be loved in return," isn't it? I speak French, sort of, and while I love the language, and I've been told my pronunciation is perfect, I sincerely suck at putting words together. Basically, all I can say is, "I speak French very badly."

Dana

 

Dana, you're right . I love Moulin Rouge.

 

I love it, too! I have it on DVD. I'm sad, though, because my favourite song isn't on either of the soundtracks. It's the version of "Come What May" that they sing at the end of the movie. I adore that scene.

I've seen Moulin Rouge so many times, the first time I saw AOTC, I kept expecting Obi-Wan to burst into song . . .

Dana

 

Good post! Did ewan do his own singing? i've herd it both ways.

Jez

 

I'm writing this while reading, so don't be confused:

Write more, don't post less.

I don't know the reasons others want Zekk beat up, by I'd like to see him and Kyp fighting and Kyp winning for a change...

I loved the dark side energy! I'd actually love to read something about Jaina and Kyp going to the dark side...

Loved the part where Kyp found out what's happening to Jaina and wanted to kill Zekk. It was great how you put all those different characters in it and made them interact so well!

And it was so nice how they all cared for Jaina... awww... I can't wait till Kyp really gets his hands on Zekk...

Loved the part where Dana talked to Zekk, too...

Do you plan for Jaina to have Zekk's child?! I certainly hope it's Kyp's and the dizzy feeling before Zekk came to her was because of her pregnancy!

"You think I'm going to hit you?"

They just banned Zekk? They should've given him to the Vong! But on the other hand he's able to come back and stirr up some more trouble now...

"Still nothing. Maybe the test for us is just to see how long we can stand boredom,"

OK, though I just read several posts I still want more. So, Dana, would you please?

 

Sure he did his own singing! They both did... Ewan and Nicole...

 

I'm sorry. Instead of writing last night, I made a picture of Anakin and Tahiri . . . I'll see if I can find a way to post it, since it's not going on my website.

The dizziness Jaina experienced was Zekk reaching into her mind and messing with her head.

I can just see the look on Han's face when he says, "You think I'm going to hit you?"

More tomorrow, probably.

Dana

 

pictures are good too! I recently drew one of Kyp, anime style. YOu sould post your picture. (and the next part of the story)

Jez

 

Jez, you should post your Kyp pic in the Kyp Durron Fan Club in FanArt. I'd love to see it!

Jae Angel