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Beyond - Legends [ updated 7/21 ] - Cruel Honor - mystery/romance - (19yr post-NJO)

Discussion in 'Fan Fiction- Before, Saga, and Beyond' started by Arin_Atona, Oct 4, 2004.

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  1. Arin_Atona

    Arin_Atona Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Jul 10, 2004
    : DRL hasn't been kind lately, and I don't know when things might change

    Ick. I think we all know how that goes.

    I was hoping you'd show back up. ;) Drop in a reply just whenever you can.

    : Ben is just so cute

    And completely inexperienced in this arena!

    : I really like Kaz

    Oh, good. I was dreading there being a "who's this gal?" response. I'm glad she's being well-received.

    : and Galvin . . . is, well, Galvin.

    Heehee. He's fun to write.
     
  2. Arin_Atona

    Arin_Atona Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Jul 10, 2004
    Part 1.12:

    * * *

    Chaperone.

    After being the smashball kingpin at the Academy, six years of meritorious service in the Alliance MedCorps, and eighteen years of training as a Jedi Knight... babysitting a couple of kids on their first date was dead-last on the list of things Galvin expected he would do with his life.

    No, it wasn't dead-last on the list... it wasn't even on the list.

    The only latinum-lining in this nebula was the fact that they were at least behaving themselves and not ogling and fawning over each other a couple of Kowakian monkey-lizards in heat. Quite the opposite, which was pleasantly surprising.

    Even from a distance away, it was painfully obvious by their repeated glances at one another that this wasn't just dinner, but both of them seemed uncertain of the other. Kaz was guarded and hesitant to accept Ben's kindness, and in turn, he was trying to maintain the image of a cool-headed gentleman while his own feelings raged in a surprising war of uncertainty - clearly divided between his duty to maintain the façade of Vel Pressio and his resentment of that duty which prevented him from being himself. Fortunately, both were overridden by his desire to simply take Kaz for face-value and just enjoy her company for the evening - something that allowed Galvin to relax enough to focus on tuning out Ben's tangled mess of feelings that bled out into the Force.

    Instead, Galvin took the opportunity to work on his own goals, keeping an eye on the two of them, while keeping his ears open around the station's inhabitants for any possible mention of the Nelomian female they were supposed to locate. The utter fruitlessness of that tactic, however, left him alone with his thoughts much of the time.

    Leaning against the wall just inside a small clothier's shop - an unexpected detour - he watched the two of them peruse through racks of clothing, Kaz irritating the shop's owner by her indecisiveness. Twice, she spotted something on the opposite side of the small store that piqued her interest and would abandon Ben's arm to race over to it. Not to be outdone, Ben would catch her by the hand and let her drag him along behind. The first time, she immediately returned her hand to the crook of her escort's arm. The second time, she allowed her hand to linger in his for a few moments longer.

    Galvin would have expected to be disgusted by the entire display, but disgust wasn't exactly the most accurate description of what he was feeling. It was about the time Ben grabbed a tiny, shimmering red party-dress off a nearby rack and extracted a fit of laughter from Kaz by holding it up to model it on himself that Galvin understood what he really felt.

    Of course, understanding wasn't the same thing as acknowledgement. He'd never admit to anyone, especially not himself, that he felt a pang of envy watching Kaz steal unnoticed glances at Ben when the kid wasn't looking. Sure, it was a childish, and at times, sickening sight watching two kids half his age engaging in such antics - but it succeeded in making Galvin remember the loneliness he'd been saddled with his entire life. At least for the evening, Ben had found something Galvin envied: Someone he cared about could look on him, not as the son of Skywalker, or as a Jedi Knight... but just as a man.

    Fortunately, he was able to simply brush aside the feeling and return to his duty, turning around to survey the streams of various peoples that were passing by the shop's entrance. It wouldn't serve anyone for him to dwell on the fact that the only person he truly cared about would never see his hands as anything other than something to wield a lightsaber, or his face as anything other than the stern visage of a guardian. Nor, did it seem, that she would ever allow him to see beyond those things in her. Nori was from a very different galaxy, and such was her way.

    "Scoozemee," squeaked a tiny voice.

    Galvin turned his head to regard a dirty little boy, barely tall e
     
  3. RebelMom

    RebelMom Jedi Knight star 6

    Registered:
    Apr 20, 2000
    That's got to be tough to see. Starving children and not being able to help all of them. I like that Ben can make friends without having to worry about his name. She can sort of get to know the real him, though it isn't him. 8-} I think I confused myself.
     
  4. padawan lunetta

    padawan lunetta Jedi Grand Master star 6

    Registered:
    May 15, 1999
    Galvin was cute with the kids, liked how helped them out there. It WOULD be hard to see starving kids like that. :( Yeah that's good for Ben to make friends without his name being known too. :)
     
  5. DarthIshtar

    DarthIshtar Chosen One star 10

    Registered:
    Mar 26, 2001
    You know how much I liked the perspective of Galvin on the developing semi-romance of K/B, since I was doing that early this morning, but I'll just say "well-done" and remind you.
     
  6. Arin_Atona

    Arin_Atona Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Jul 10, 2004
    RebelMom: That's got to be tough to see. Starving children and not being able to help all of them.

    If there's one hot-button Galvin has that will really irritate him, it's miscarriage of justice.

    : She can sort of get to know the real him, though it isn't him.

    Yeah... He'd rather it be "Ben" she's getting to know, the real him will be coming through... especially in the next post :D

    Luney: Galvin was cute with the kids, liked how helped them out there. It WOULD be hard to see starving kids like that.

    Somehow, I doubt he's going to be satisfied just to give them a little money.

    Ishy: You know how much I liked the perspective of Galvin on the developing semi-romance of K/B

    I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out, trying to show the continuing chemistry between them with *zero* dialogue and from someone else's PoV. I'm happy someone besides myself liked it. Galvin's, umm... insightfulness... helped it along, I think.
     
  7. Arin_Atona

    Arin_Atona Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Jul 10, 2004
    Meanwhile...

    Part 1.13:

    * * *

    Terrified nearly out of her mind, Syal scrambled along the floor through the living area, clawing at the wood-finished floors with her fingernails for any last bit of traction she could possibly get while she tried to get her feet under her so that she could run. She had quickly lost track of whether the wretched hissing noise that followed her through her own home was being made by the dark menace that stalked her, or by the glowing red blade of energy it wielded.

    Whichever it was, the thing was content to humor her in allowing her flail in the hopeless, vain effort of trying to escape to safety with the child she carried in her womb. Even her repeated shrieks for help were of no concern to the hideous yellow-eyed monster that looked as though it had once been human. The doors had been sealed, and being protective Senatorial chambers, the combined effort of those on the other side would not be able to cut their way through in time to aid her.

    Finally struggling to her feet, Syal made a dash toward her bedchambers for the only defense she knew, for all the good it would do her.

    Illuminated only by the light of Mon Calamari's moon shining through the open balcony doors where the thing had entered, Syal struggled to move with any speed at all with the weight of her unborn child holding her back. Terror alone drove her on, not wanting to succumb to the thing before at least putting up some kind of a fight... or buy time at the very least.

    Despite being in the room with her, the thing showed no sense of fear or concept of time, but instead chose to toy with her like a predator batting around its prey.

    As Syal approached the corner nightstand, something she could only describe as a hammer of air slammed into her back and threw her against the wall where she slid down amidst her cries and pleas for help. She had no abilities as a Jedi, but yet she pleaded with the Force to spare her and her baby boy.

    "VALIN!" she screamed desperately as she sunk to the floor, barely able to focus on the darkened shape that loomed over her through the hot tears of terror that slid from her eyes and down her face.

    She managed to find the release for the nightstand's drawer and she drove her hand in blindly, the Fates smiling on her for one brief moment to allow her hand to wrap around the one object in the drawer she wanted.

    Syal didn't bother to check which direction the odd thing made of an old speederbike handle was facing when she pressed the stud, but simply credited it to the Force when the bright silver lightsaber blade sprang to life with a crackling hiss and she thrashed wildly with it to get her attacker to back off for a moment.

    With an evil cackle, the darkened menace raised its own red blade to just out of her reach. "It wants to play, does it? Lord Malevol will be pleased that you didn't come without a fight."

    "Get away from me!" Syal screamed, lashing out at the hideous thing with a jab.

    The thrum of the thing's blade pitched up loudly as it countered her attack viciously, parrying the jab and then slinging the blade around wide to collide with her own with such force that it tore the hilt clean out of Syal's hands and sent it spinning deactivated across the floor just out of reach.

    Still on the floor and leaning against the wall, Syal dove sideways to try and retrieve it, but was once again hit with another hammer of air that lay her completely on the floor. Her fingertips struggled for the handlebar-hilt, grazing against it only just enough to move it further away as a new invisible weapon unleashed itself, pinching her windpipe closed and leaving her gasping fruitlessly for breath.

    Sweet Force, please help me!

    For an instant, it seemed her prayer was answered and the lightsaber hilt leapt from the floor. She clawed the air for it as it sailed by edges of her fingertips, but cruelty took it away and across the room where it reignited with a sharp snap-hiss.

    And then cru
     
  8. DarthIshtar

    DarthIshtar Chosen One star 10

    Registered:
    Mar 26, 2001
    Heehee, short and intense. Can't say it's been my favorite post of the story (I still love Galvin to death), but I like seeing Syal/Valin, and Jacen's entrance made me grin.
     
  9. padawan lunetta

    padawan lunetta Jedi Grand Master star 6

    Registered:
    May 15, 1999
    Ooh nice action post there, loved Jacen's entrance too, and that you put Valin and Syal together. :) Can't wait for more!
     
  10. karebear214

    karebear214 Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Sep 7, 2002
  11. RebelMom

    RebelMom Jedi Knight star 6

    Registered:
    Apr 20, 2000
    That would be a frightening thing to face. So glad help came for her.
     
  12. Arin_Atona

    Arin_Atona Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Jul 10, 2004
    Ishy: Heehee, short and intense.

    That was the idea ;)

    : (I still love Galvin to death)

    :D

    : I like seeing Syal/Valin

    I think it's a plausible 'ship.

    : Jacen's entrance made me grin.

    I had a few ideas for that bit... but it ended up being Jacen (just for Luney!)

    Luney: Ooh nice action post there

    Thanks!

    : loved Jacen's entrance too

    I figured you would ;)

    : and that you put Valin and Syal together.

    Just adding the Horns to the Skywalker/Solo/Fel/Antilles clan 8-}

    karebear214: Nice.

    Thanks!

    RebelMom: That would be a frightening thing to face.

    Indeed!

    : So glad help came for her.

    That's what heroes are for ;)
     
  13. Arin_Atona

    Arin_Atona Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Jul 10, 2004
    Part 1.14:

    * * *

    "You okay?" Ben asked, hardly needing an answer since he clearly sensed the anger simmering just underneath Galvin's calm exterior.

    "Fine," Galvin said in a rather short tone, not bothering to turn around to face Ben. His emotions were suddenly as hard as stone, complimenting his stern face. Despite the short temper, Ben had to credit him for the extremely high degree of control the elder Jedi had over his emotions... or at least his ability to render them hidden from others.

    "Who were you just talking to?" Ben asked as he came to Galvin's side.

    "Nobody," he mumbled, looking down at a strange, dirty yellow rag he held in his hands. "Just a couple of hungry kids."

    Ben smiled smugly to himself and looked out the transparisteel viewport across the corridor from them. "You helped them," he guessed. "Didn't you?"

    From his periphery, he saw Galvin turn his head to glare at him.

    "See," Ben said with a grin, "I told you there was a nice guy in there somewhere." He then flinched in surprise when Galvin turned his entire body and leaned in toward him rather menacingly.

    "I don't know who endowed you with such great insight," he growled at Ben in a tone caustic enough to degrease an X-Wing engine, "and I'm not sure what part of 'I don't want to be your friend' you can't seem to understand... nor do I give a gundark-eyeball's worth of care. So, jettison the psychoanalysis, go back to your little girlfriend, and let me concentrate on doing my job."

    Ben stood there dumbstruck for a moment, once again shot down in flames in his attempt to develop anything beyond a strictly-professional rapport with this impossible man. Certainly, he would do his job well - Galvin was the epitome of soldiery in that regard and Ben had no doubt that he could trust the older man with his life. While that was all well and good, Ben couldn't understand why he resisted any attempt to befriend him.

    Many warriors resist making friends with people they may lose in combat, but with Galvin, this seemed more like he had no respect for Ben, and it felt rather personal. He'd certainly been kind enough to Kaz the night before - far kinder than he'd been to Ben since they'd met.

    Shoving his thoughts aside, Ben turned to walk toward the back of the clothier's shop. Figuring out how to earn Galvin's respect would have to wait for another time.

    As he reached the back of the shop, Kaz emerged from the fitting room, eliciting a smile from him with her shy grin.

    "How's this?" she asked.

    Ben took an extra moment before breaking his gaze at her sparkling blue eyes to let his own drift down the soft features of her face and beyond her cute grin to where her brown curls disappeared behind the shoulders of the white blouse she wore. With no sunlight at all aboard the station, her complexion was light enough that he really wouldn't have noticed that the neckline went all the way up to the base of her jawline without the shiny black buttons on the blouse. She had also rather stylishly tied the arms of her red sweater around the waistline of her black pants.

    "It looks great."

    Kaz' uncertain grin turned to a smile at his approval.

    But you make it look amazing.

    He was then dragged out of his thoughts by a single-wheel balanced retail droid motoring over to him. "Mmmwill that be all, sir?" it asked in an electronic voice.

    "Yes," he replied, pulling out his credit chip. "You take Alliance credits?"

    "Mmmof course, sir," the droid responded. "Mmmthe blouse is four-seventy-two in Alliance credits."

    Ben glanced at the credit-chip to make sure he was using the one designated for his personal use, then handed it over to the retail droid. As the droid swiped the credit-chip in a slot along its arm, Ben allowed himself to crack a smile at the thought of his father arching an eyebrow when women's clothing appeared on his son's expense report.

    "Mmmthank you," the droid noted, handing the credit-chip back and gently lifting Kaz' arm to
     
  14. DarthIshtar

    DarthIshtar Chosen One star 10

    Registered:
    Mar 26, 2001
    *snrk* Kaz is quite the fawner. Love his inexperienced flirting, especially since I got to see the revisions it went through. He's definitely Luke's son trying to have the Solo charm.
     
  15. RebelMom

    RebelMom Jedi Knight star 6

    Registered:
    Apr 20, 2000
    Poor Ben. I think his parents forgot to tell him that you aren't supposed to get your date shot ... uh, oops, forgot who his parents are for a moment. Ben is doomed.
     
  16. Arin_Atona

    Arin_Atona Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Jul 10, 2004
    Ishy: Kaz is quite the fawner.

    I wouldn't say she's "fawning"... Someone she thinks is one of the galaxy's most eligible bachelors is trying to court her and he's turning out to be a pretty nice guy from her point of view. She just really doesn't know how else to behave.

    : Love his inexperienced flirting, especially since I got to see the revisions it went through.

    I'm glad it came out okay, but don't remind me of those revisions.

    : He's definitely Luke's son trying to have the Solo charm.

    Yeah, Ben would rather have been born a Solo.

    RebelMom: uh, oops, forgot who his parents are for a moment. Ben is doomed.

    LOL! Indeed he is.
     
  17. karebear214

    karebear214 Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Sep 7, 2002
    I must say, the chapter title "Ben's worst date. Ever." had me intrigued from the beginning.

    I love the way you play with the relationships between all of the characters here. It was also nice of you to bring the kids Galvin helped back in and his attempt to help as a spark for the riot. More proof that nothing exists in a vacuum, and sure to result in some soul-searching later. I also enjoy seeing Ben's inexperience - everything from almost letting his true identity slip to his utter hoplessness in the romantic arena. Fantastic job.
     
  18. padawan lunetta

    padawan lunetta Jedi Grand Master star 6

    Registered:
    May 15, 1999
    Awww only you and Mommy could do such things to Skywalker men on dates. ;) Love it....Ben buying womens clothing, lol! Ooh nice action though, and *I* can't blame her for *fawning* ;). Can't wait for more!
     
  19. DarthIshtar

    DarthIshtar Chosen One star 10

    Registered:
    Mar 26, 2001
    And she's young. They're both somewhat dopey, so we'll chalk it up to high school drama...
     
  20. Arin_Atona

    Arin_Atona Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Jul 10, 2004
    karebear: I love the way you play with the relationships between all of the characters here.

    I like making characters interact with one another, and given that none of the characters have an established background, I think it's important to make their current relationships clear before I start changing them (sepcifically Ben and Galvin).

    : It was also nice of you to bring the kids Galvin helped back in and his attempt to help as a spark for the riot.

    We haven't seen the last of Maia and Junee.

    : More proof that nothing exists in a vacuum, and sure to result in some soul-searching later.

    Quite right, on both counts.

    : I also enjoy seeing Ben's inexperience - everything from almost letting his true identity slip

    It's hard to keep up a fake identity when you're not used to doing it.

    : to his utter hoplessness in the romantic arena.

    I was just, umm... writing what I know... :p

    Luney: Awww only you and Mommy could do such things to Skywalker men on dates.

    Nah, it's to be expected. The love-lives of Skywalkers seem to revolve around chaos. Come to think of it, so do all the other aspects of their lives.

    : Love it....Ben buying womens clothing, lol!

    Yes... daddy will probably do a double-take on that one.

    : Ooh nice action though, and *I* can't blame her for *fawning*

    Thanks, and... uhh... thanks!

    Ishy: They're both somewhat dopey, so we'll chalk it up to high school drama...

    Whatever works :D
     
  21. Arin_Atona

    Arin_Atona Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Jul 10, 2004
    Mush Alert Level: WE'RE DOOMED!

    Part 1.15:

    "I just spoke with security," Jysella Horn announced while walking back into Syal and Valin's bedroom. "They're keeping the press at bay for the time being, but there's not much that can be done about nosy Senators poking their... what's wrong, Master?"

    "We have other problems," Jacen muttered in reply while he and Valin gingerly helped Syal off the bed.

    "Too much excitement, I guess," Syal said sheepishly toward Jysella. "Looks like you're going to be an aunt a little earlier than expected."

    "Oh sweet light," Jysella cursed, then fixed Valin with an evil glare.

    "What did I do?" he asked innocently.

    "This is all your fault," Syal informed him through clenched teeth, gripping his arm tightly.

    "My fault?"

    "You and your pheromone planet," Jysella noted, shaking her head.

    "Oh," he sighed in understanding. "And I suppose we should have done nothing on our honeymoon but play sabbac?"

    "Shut up," Syal groaned as they hobbled her toward the doorway. "As soon as our little girl is born I'll love you to death, but right now I get to hate you."

    "Well that makes sense," he grumbled.

    "When you're having a baby, it doesn't have to make sense," Syal snorted.

    "And what's your excuse?" he asked Jysella accusingly.

    "I'm your sister," she said matter-of-factly. "I get to hate you whenever I want."

    "Less hating, more walking," Jacen commanded. "Jysella, please contact Myri and let her know we'll be needing our transport expedited."

    * * *

    Though usually predictable in its drudgery, life never ceased to come up with interesting surprises. Glitches, he liked to call them. Some borne of honor, some borne of cruelty, they never failed to amaze. This was especially true of those glitches borne of one that inevitably seemed to result in the other.

    Galvin had witnessed on numerous occasions the strange affinity Fate seemed to have for making certain that the people that most deserved to live almost always had a far more difficult time of it than those that didn't. One could certainly argue, as Master da-Boda had on many occasions, that no man or woman could possess the wisdom to make such determinations, but raw fact seldom left room for interpretation.

    Even the kindest of blessings could be twisted by Fate's sadistic malevolence.

    An act of generosity to feed two hungry children, molten like ice before her fiery villainy and misshapen into prejudice that spawned a riot - simple charity that claimed the lives of nine people.

    "How's the ankle?" he asked, glancing down at Ben's foot.

    "A little sore," Ben replied, wincing slightly as he tested his weight on it, "but I can walk."

    "What you did out there," Galvin noted, looking Ben in the eye, "that was..."

    "Stupid, I know," Ben interjected, scowling at him. "You can chastise me for nearly getting myself killed later."

    Galvin sighed. "I was going to say admirable."

    Ben's scowl vanished, replaced by confused blinking.

    "What did the security people say?" Kaz asked in a worried tone.

    "They were rather annoyed with me for vaporizing their Captain," Galvin answered, "but the moment I mentioned Vel's name, they apologized profusely for the inconvenience. Repeatedly. Station security will open the blast doors as soon as they're convinced the crowd is settled down."

    "Have any crowd-calming ideas?" Ben asked.

    Galvin shook his head, then glanced down to find the owner of a small hand that suddenly grasped his own.

    "Looks like you have a fan," Ben teased.

    Galvin knelt beside the little girl. "Did you get anything to eat, Maia?"

    She shook her head. "The food-man took the money you gave us, and won't give it back. He says I stole it."

    "Let's go see if we can change his mind," Galvin grumbled as he stood to his feet and glanced at Ben. "I'll be right back."

    Galvin turned to walk into the corridor and nearly tripped over Maia's brother, Junee, a
     
  22. Arin_Atona

    Arin_Atona Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Jul 10, 2004
    Sheesh... just a few hours and it's down on page two :p
     
  23. padawan lunetta

    padawan lunetta Jedi Grand Master star 6

    Registered:
    May 15, 1999
    Ooh love the part where Galvin says he wants to be his friend, very nicely done. :) And the mush...*swoons* Excellent...:-D
     
  24. Arin_Atona

    Arin_Atona Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Jul 10, 2004
    Thanks, Luney.
     
  25. DarthIshtar

    DarthIshtar Chosen One star 10

    Registered:
    Mar 26, 2001
    Oh, you're killing me. I ate pancakes with syrup, made cookies, and read this post and I'm about to go into sugar-overdose! Even Galvin was adorable!
     
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