The Becoming [open]
Posts: 2558
  • Posted On: Feb 27 2007 12:16am
“ARETSUYA!” Irtar yelled as she shot out the door.

Irtar hurriedly made his way after her, a face of concern on his face. She was one moment hardly conscious or capable of walking and then all of a sudden she’s taking off. It was something about people coming to take her away that seemed to have set her off. At least that was the last thing she commented on before taking off.

He was surprised at her speed. Even after all his time training she managed to outpace him. Was it her knowledge of the city and the streets? Or was it some built in sense of self-preservation that pushed her?

So deep in thought and concern, focusing his sight on that hint of pink in the distance, Irtar didn’t notice a pack of boxes in his path. With a yelp Irtar went from full tilt to the pavement faster than his mind could process. Irtar groaned for a minute as he lay there, hurriedly forcing himself back on his feet. He made his way only more, with his clothes being a bit more wet and muddy than before.

He rushed to try and catch up with her but she couldn’t be found. Irtar grumbled and leaned against a nearby building in frustration. Why did people always have to be so difficult? He wasn’t clairvoyant enough to keep predicting these seemingly random things that keep setting people off.

Irtar couldn’t even recall the last time he had a conversation that didn’t involve business, end in fighting, or have him running. He took a moment of catching his breath and began walking down the street, casting his gaze into windows and down alleys. Slowly he made his way forward.

He probably wouldn’t have even noticed it if not for that feeling. Suddenly, the icey feeling on his spine came again. That sense of a creeping darkness. It was like a shadow, but one that hid in his. Irtar began to creep his way into the alley when he suddenly saw the whiff of pink. Irtar slowly just raised his hands as if in surrender. Or more accurately to show he meant no harm. The thought of that feeling suddenly just fell from his mind as he focused on Aretsuya who seemed even more haggard than before after her sprint.

“Please Aretsuya, I’m not going to hurt you.” Irtar said, trying to sound as caring and sincere as he could. “But you need to get to a hospital. You need medical care. You look like you’re ready to…”

Irtar couldn’t finish it, merely choked down the words and continued. “Now just calm down. I’m not going to take you anywhere you don’t want to go but you really need to see a doctor. An apothecary. Something that could that could help.”

Irtar slowly began to step forward, his hands not even moving as he tried to be as nonthreatening as possible. “I give you my word as an ambassador to the Coalition I’ll not hurt you. And if that doesn’t do it, I give you my word as a Jedi. I have the lightsaber if you want the proof of it. Just please, let me help you.”
Posts: 167
  • Posted On: Feb 28 2007 6:06pm
(OOC: not too great but my brain only functions on weekends so.. )

The cool, calming voice of the woman next to her stilled Aretsuya as she listened. She brushed off her hot tears with long, slender fingers and cooed some comforting words into her ears.

“Come with me my sister…”

Something in the girl’s body urged her to take the woman’s hand and string along with her, more out of trust than curiosity. But why she trusted her she did not know.
She reached out her hand…

“Aretsuya !”

She immediately snapped her head back and frowned. So he had found her. He looked rather tattered and she felt a bit sorry for him. She shuddered abruptly, an abrupt twisting of her back. The blonde woman was still in the shadows, watching her like a hawk. She was shivering, but resisted the urge to cover herself.

She was torn.

Not knowing which way to turn, Aretsuya began to giggle, rocking backwards and forwards and shaking her head.

“What do you want from me. Quite suddenly she seemed to be on the verge of tears, her strangely shifting moods confusing Irtar even more.

“If you want to help me, why do you want to take me away? They’ll only hurt me more.”

She stood up, dusted herself and leaned against the wall, then offered a hand in Irtar’s direction.

“I don’t know what to do…”

Then stepped back towards the woman and her knees buckled, hands grabbing the woman for support.

But inside she felt she had to follow the woman, it was more than just intuition.
Posts: 15
  • Posted On: Feb 28 2007 9:04pm
[FONT=Palatino Linotype]As the call came from down the alley, Amara backed further into the darkness as not to be seen by her pursuer.

She listened as he spoke…

“I give you my word as a Jedi.”

A Jedi, a damned Jedi. At least he was helpful enough to provide me with her name.

Amara now watched Aretsuya as she began to erratically laugh and rock in confusion. She again connected to Aretsuya’s mind as she talked to add to her confusion and became another one of the many voices tormenting Aretsuya…

“What do you want from me?”

“He wishes to betray you my sister. He wishes to cause you harm!”


“If you want to help me, why do you want to take me away?”

“He will take you far away to places you will fear.”


They’ll only hurt me more.”

“And hurt you they will Aretsuya, again and again.”


“I don’t know what to do…”

“Come with me my sister.”


Aretsuya grabbed towards Amara, not realizing she was standing far from her. Amara slipped quietly around the corner…

She would claim Aretsuya later when the opportune moment presents itself.

As Amara raced down the opposite alley, her dark laugh echoed loud enough for both to hear…

She spoke to Aretsuya one last time before breaking her spell of Mind Touch…


“You are my sister Aretsuya…”



“I will find you...”




Amara's sinister laughter still filled the air as she left...[/FONT]
Posts: 2558
  • Posted On: Mar 1 2007 3:14am
Irtar was confused, not quite knowing what to do or say as she began to break mentally. A pained look came to his face. He wanted to reach out and comfort her but the fear that she’d try to run again came to him. The fear that in her irrational state she’d up end destroying herself because of him.

He pushed that chill from him, focusing purely on Aretsuya.

“I won’t hurt you… I never would hurt anyone innocent…” Irtar said as she looked up at him with those tear filled eyes. He had to choke back joining her. The torn feelings in her spirit even obvious to one not in touch with the Force but to him… he was beginning to feel every quake and tremble. And it reverberated in his spirit.

And then she reached out and fell. Irtar immediately ran forward to catch her as she tried to grasp towards something that just wasn’t there. He sighed as she lay there limp for a second and then he heard that shrill laughter cut through the air. So there was a shadow in the dark.

Irtar would’ve gotten up to chase after the Sith if not for Aretsuya’s own sake. The sith was probably tailing him and toying with Aretsuya’s mind for her entertainment. He grit his teeth as he thought of their cruel sense of humour for but a moment then returned to Aretsuya who just looked up at him as if still trying to grasp hold of it all.

“Please… I just want to help….” Was all Irtar said as he pleaded with her. He wouldn’t take Aretsuya to the hospital unwillingly but he wouldn’t just leave her. He had to try and get her to see reason.

And so he prayed, just like the passing of the shadow from them right now, that this irrationality would pass from Aretsuya and that her health could be recovered.
Posts: 167
  • Posted On: Mar 2 2007 10:23pm
Aretsuya’s eyes were a brilliant blue, shining with the tears that streaked her face as she trembled, when Irtar reached out and grabbed her around her waist. She felt warmth on her skin, and cringed. She attempted to withdraw but his grasp was far too strong.

“I won’t hurt you, Aretsuya!”

Aretsuya felt her mouth dry up. Unable to speak, she had to give in and nodded.
Where was the strange blonde woman who comforted her so? And more over, where was her love?

“Don’t leave me alone with them...”

She knew he was about to argue with her as he opened and closed his mouth several times, but finally he resigned and sighed.

“Fine, if that’s what you like.”

Glumly, she allowed her body to rest on him and felt the familiar urge to push him away, yet decided against it as she knew she could run no more, and even if she could, where the hell would she go?
Posts: 15
  • Posted On: Mar 2 2007 10:54pm
[FONT=Palatino Linotype]Amara sensed the confusion within Aretsuya’s mind which was precisely what she needed. She needed to drive a wedge between Aretsuya and her Jedi companion to make it easier to coerse her away.

You will soon begin to doubt him my dear sister.

Very soon.

Aretsuya had already reached out to Amara with her hand and she would have capitalized on the moment had the medalsome Jedi not ran after her.

Amara continued to make her way through the crowd, following Aretsuya and the Jedi from a safe distance as not to arouse suspicion…

She then had an idea, to test this potential Learner’s abilities…

Once again, Amara invoked the power of Mind Touch with Aretsuya to speak directly to her mind…

“Aretsuya, I am close to you my sister. I can keep you safe.”

Amara paused briefly, trying to reach out and see if she could sense Aretsuya hearing her.

She then continued…

“Can you hear me my sister?”

Amara’s walk slowed as she waited to see if Aretsuya could channel the ability to answer her…[/FONT]
Posts: 167
  • Posted On: Mar 3 2007 4:07pm
Aretsuya flinched.

“Can you hear me my sister?”

Her eyes widened with shock and she pushed Irtar away slightly, just to have some space and see what was going on.

She’s here.
I know.

Aretsuya waited for another opportunity to “hear” that new voice again. She knew it wasn’t her mind just playing tricks on her. She focused and whispered
“I know you’re here, but where?”

It’s not working. Try harder.
I don’t understand. Why don’t I see her?

Even if the woman couldn’t talk back or help her, Aretsuya knew there must be a way to get in touch with her, albeit it wasn’t with words. She concentrated hard, droplets on perspiration forming on her already damp forehead…

She knew Irtar was pushing her, shaking her, trying to get her to stay awake. But she WAS awake. She was just trying to find a way to contact the other woman even though she could not see her. Eyebrows furrowed with concentration, she tried again.

Where are you?

She didn’t know if it would work, but she tried to connect to the blonde woman with her mind, just the way she did with her love…

Then Irtar grabbed her right wrist and she came to a sudden halt. Raging, she wrinkled her forehead in concentration…

What is going on?

A chill ran down Aretsuya’s spine. She knew she had somehow bonded with the woman there, and she felt confident that she wasn’t alone. She tightened her grasp of his hand.

“Ouch!”

But inside, she knew that she didn't want him gone, however much her love protested. He made her feel safe, as if nothing could harm her if she was with him. But her love kept telling her different.

Aretsuya was in a state of confusion now.
Posts: 2558
  • Posted On: Mar 4 2007 1:15am
Irtar tried to argue with her, about to speak a couple of times. To tell her that the doctors would mean her no harm. That he’d cover the expenses if nothing more than to help a person who reached out to him. To tell her that if she needed it, he’d stay nearby. After all, there was always something to be done on a planet split between the Commonwealth and the Coalition.

“If that’s what you want.” Irtar sighed in defeat. Her choice was made and there was no way to dissolve the fear that had mounted in her heart. She leaned into him, whether out of exhaustion or comfort he couldn’t tell.

He was about to lift her, and take her to the inn he was staying it. There’d be a lot of explaining to do about why he was bringing a semi-conscious girl back to his suite. But if she would only trust him, then it’d be up to him to try and nurse her back to health.

For but a moment, Irtar’s mind slipped back to another time that seemed ages ago.

It was a sunny day on Dantooine. One of the sensors on the south ridge had been acting up. His father thought it might have been some Kath Hounds chewing on the sensors again. For some odd reason, they always found the damn things as great chew toys. Irtar took the little swoop they had to go and do maintenance out to the damaged beacon.

And there he saw him.

The man was collapsed, mauled terribly by Kath Hounds by the look of it. A man Irtar would learn to be a Jedi. He nursed the Jedi back to health and the Jedi told Irtar of his gift and pointed him towards Naboo.

The event that changed the course of his life forever after that point.

Irtar’s mind snapped back after the slight reverie and he slowly lifted up Aretsuya, like one would lift a child. It was then he started carrying her towards the inn. It wasn’t too far away. Probably a fifteen, or twenty minute walk back. It would be a bit longer now that he was walking for two.

Though it was more distant, Irtar could still sense that bit of lingering chill on his spin. That Sith was still around.

The pair got a couple of odd looks as they made their way down the street. It probably wasn’t every day they saw a woman dressed up like a punk carried by a man dressed up in a business suit (even though the suit was slightly scuffed up). Irtar tried to keep up a strong pace, but keeping an eye out. He didn’t want the Sith to get a jump on him.

“I know you’re here, but where?” Aretsuya whispered. Irtar cocked his head to her a bit. The chill being what struck him before everything else.

“Arestsuya, stick with me. I’m right here. We’ll be getting you in a cozy bed soon enough with some food and drink. Your choice.” Irtar said with a bit of a forced smile to hide his growing concern. Was she becoming delirious? Or was that Sith toying with her mind again?

And then he began to feel his shoulder dampen, and he saw her head creased as if in pain. She didn’t feel warm enough to be feverish. What was wrong now?

“Aretsuya? Aretsuya? Come on….” Irtar muttered as he gave her a bit of a shake, trying to rattle her back into reality. She stayed unresponsive. Irtar with some deal of effort took a hand from trying to hold her up and took her hand in hand. He continued to try and wake her up or snap her out of whatever it was.

And then with a bit of a squeeze she yelped a bit in pain. Irtar’s face suddenly twisted, realizing he squeezed a bit too hard but now she was back with him at the very least.

“I’m sorry…” Irtar muttered in apology, not really having wanted to hurt her but he panicked a bit. “I’ll have you somewhere safe soon where you can get some rest. It’ll be just you, and me. No one who’d want to hurt you or do anything bad to you. Just who want to see you healthy and well.”
Posts: 15
  • Posted On: Mar 4 2007 1:41pm
[FONT=Palatino Linotype]A smile came across Amara’s face as she heard the distant words…

"Where are you?"

This was what Amara had hoped for. Though low and barely heard, Aretsuya had the ability to answer her.

Excellent.


Amara kept a fast pace as she kept up with the Jedi who was carrying Aretsuya…

Damned Jedi, you’re going to make this difficult aren’t you.

This Jedi was persistent. She knew he could feel her presence in the same way se could feel his. The question in her mind now was how to deal with him.

Amara focused again in Aretsuya…

“I hear you my sister.”

Amara now thought it was time to give Aretsuya something to think about…

“I am Ama…”

The spell was broken for some unknown reason though she did notice from the distance Aretsuya did jump for a moment.

The Jedi, the damned Jedi must have done something to break Aretsuya’s bond to me. No matter, you shall soon be coming with me my dear sister…

And you will soon begin to feel doubts about your Jedi companion.



Gathering Aretsuya was proving to be difficult, but seeing where the Jedi had taken her proved interesting…

Amara watched them enter an inn and she broke off her pursuit.

She looked at the surroundings as a sinister smile came across her face…

A dark plan had just come to her mind…

One that could pose a challenge to the Jedi himself.
[/FONT]
Posts: 167
  • Posted On: Mar 5 2007 5:50pm
Deep within a dream, Aretsuya felt someone stroking her forehead. A gentle, soft touch, a cool hand upon her fevered skin. She felt herself smile, enjoying the touch. Then the dream shifted and her forehead wrinkled. The touch was no longer soft and loving, but rough and rasping. No longer cool, but hot, burning her –

She woke up. It took her a second to realize that she’d clawed the sheet away and had been lying face down on the coarsely woven mattress cover. It was wool and very scratchy. Her pillow lay on the floor, and she sensed a man coming closer, picking it up and fluffing it up next to her. She closed her eyes and listened –

“So you’re awake now? You should really eat something.”

Aretsuya scrunched her eyes together more tightly and tried to get back to sleep. She vaguely recalled this man – Irtar – carrying her off into this inn and laying her onto the rigid mattresses. He cooed her to sleep, though he didn’t really have to; her body was giving away from all the pressure of running and starving that she could sleep fine by herself. Immediately, she felt all her troubles wash away as if they never existed. That’s what she liked about sleep; she could just disappear and think of something completely different, as in a dream, though she had to admit not all her dreams were good. But then she remembered everything, her running from the handsome man that sat next to her, watching her with a concerned expression on his face. She felt sorry for him, he seemed to mean no harm really. And then, the woman, who asked Aretsuya to come with her, when she really had no idea how they communicated when she couldn’t see her. It was scary, overall. And she was glad she got it out of her mind for however long it was.

Once she thought of that, there was no hope for more sleep. She shuffled a bit under her blankets and then rose slowly, while Irtar directed his attention to cutting her an apple with a blunt knife and placing it beside her on a chipped china plate.

“Thank you.” She mumbled, as she did not know what else to say to the man she had been so uncouth to. Aretsuya blinked, but she saw nothing out of the ordinary. Her paranoia sunk as she thought that they were alone here, just the two of them but that love of hers would not leave her alone…

But no, it was just a simple room. Dark from the approaching twilight with an array of the colours of dusk patterned on the walls. She took a piece of apple and nibbled on it, the taste filling her mouth and she sighed. It felt so good to be eating something again, and she savored every mouthful.

“There’s more if you want. Should I get it for you?”

Aretsuya felt like hugging the man. After all she did, why was he being so nice? She wiped off hot tears of gratitude from her puffy, red eyes and smiled.

“It’s okay. I should be getting up now. I think my body is stiff from all the running!”

She laughed a little and smiled at him, and he looked a bit surprised. Perhaps he didn’t expect her to be laughing or smiling after the ordeal she just had. And especially at him.

Then she remembered how she threw away her chance of running away with the woman, and perhaps her last chance of freedom. She seemed so sincere that Aretsuya had no worries about her being someone trying to captivate her and punish her in any other way. It was a familiar litany. The familiar stab of sorrow in her stomach. It hurt, and she couldn’t leave it alone. The wound was a part of her now. But what if the woman kept her promise and did come back for her…?

She eased herself up and wobbled away to the bathroom. She knew Irtar’s eyes were on her back and she blushed slightly. But as she entered the dirty toilet, she tripped over the annoyingly misplaced tiles on the muddy floors. Irtar heard her yelp and offered his help, but she giggled in reply at such a thought. The lines of worry came back though, as Aretsuya combed her hair in the mirror next to the dirty tub of water. The mirror steamed as she turned on the hot taps, with its tarnished edges. She recalled the fact that this mirror was shared by many others, as well as the bed. The thought made her shudder a bit, as she sometimes couldn’t stand the thought of people, but she waved it away and washed her face water and it woke her up a bit more. She was very pale, she noticed, her hair covering most of her narrow face and she realized how scruffy she was just looking. She concentrated on combing her hair with her fingers.

After a while, she sauntered out of the bathroom and took a seat next to Irtar, finishing the remaining bits of apple. She saw him pouring her a glass of water and she hurriedly tried to take the jug away and pour it herself.

Their hands met, and she moved it back quickly, blushing furiously and looked outside the window, trying to keep her eyes on the buildings and the beautiful evening sky as her cheeks burned.