I was sitting on the bed, turning the throwing star over in my hand. Mike had found the clothes of the woman he met in the bar. My mind began to wander.
*beep* *beep* *beep*
That sound. It was like a metronome set on 60. Perfect beep, every second. *beep* One. *beep* Two. *beep* Three. *beep* Four.
Every second.
*beep* One.
*beep* Two.
*beep* Three.
*beep* Four.
Something too familiar about that.
My vision clouded a moment. I saw a big fireball blossoming out of the apartment. I jumped up. "We've got to get out of here."
I heard Josh say something to me, but I didn't really hear him. "Everyone out. NOW!" I began herding them towards the door, sliding the shiruken into my pocket as I did so.
Once everyone was out, I turned around and faced the doorway. You can do this. It isn't that hard. I put my hands out in front of me as I gathered the Force around me. Project the shield. Keep the explosion away from us.
And then it happened.
*WHOOM*
Shit. This is much more powerful than I expected. I can feel the heat and the pressure. It's like a Coke bottle you drop down a flight of stairs. The force pushed me back, my feet sliding across the floor. Keep up the shield! I tried keeping it in the doorway. The wall stopped me from going back any further. I could feel the Force draining from me.
Finally, the pressure relaxed. I dropped the shield, exhausted. I looked around me. Josh, Mike and Becki were fine. Becki asked if I was ok. "Perfect," I said as the blackness enveloped me.
Dizziness. Am I being flung around? I hear voices, speaking French. Français, la langue d'amour. Rich. I love you. Damn, I forgot to send you email this morning.
A wall is suddenly before me. I swear I felt someone in pain before... My eyes open to an odd sight. A little green creature sitting on a hoverchair. "Yoda?"
"Of course. Expect someone else did you?" Yoda cackled as he floated in the air before me.
"Why are you here?" I found myself sitting on a floor, my back against a wall.
"Show you I will. Yes, show you." He nodded and cackled again.
"Show me what? Why are you in my mind?"
"Enough with your questions," he said sternly. "Listen you will."
His sudden change in demeanor startled me. I sat back and looked at him with wide eyes.
"Debating are you with the Dark side, yes?"
I found myself nodding, agreeing with the Jedi Master. How did he know this?
Yoda cackled again. "Jedi Master am I. One with the Force."
Super bombad is da Force, I quoted to myself. "Much more than I am, Master Yoda."
He nodded curtly. "Remember that, young one. Save you it will." Something distracted him. He looked to the side in annoyance and waved his hand. After a moment, he smiled in triumph.
Turning his attention back to me he asked, "Why are you here, hm?"
My brow furrowed in confusion. "You mean you don't know? I used my Force shield to protect my friends and it drained me."
"Oh. Protect your friends you did. Not enough."
"What do you mean 'not enough'?" I tried to stand, but found I couldn't. And what did he mean? Everyone was fine before I passed out.
"They protect you now." With a wave of his hand, he showed me what was happening.
I saw Mike carrying me awkwardly through the streets of Paris. Up ahead was this... walking pile of fur. "Ew, what is that?"
Mike did a stutter step as he attempted to find a way around the obesity before him. He flattened himself to the building beside her and slipped past.
That's when I saw them. Seven multicolored poodles. "Good grief, woman! I don't like yippy dogs, but damn. Did you have to go and make them even worse to look at?"
That's when the woman spoke, yelling at Mike and talking soothingly to her "babies". I snorted. "Yeah right. Tell her what you think, Michael."
And he did. In French. And expertly to boot. I couldn't help but laugh. He said exactly what I was thinking. The huge woman was offended and somehow swung her purse, hitting Mike square in the chin.
I blinked. My chin suddenly hurt along with my head. Looking up at Yoda, I saw the Jedi Master chuckling.
"What's so funny," I asked.
"Some of the Force he once had. Still, the Force can use him, yes?"
"What?" I turned to look at Mike, but found the wall behind me again.
"Your colleagues. Of them tell me."
I looked confused at the Jedi Master. "They are my friends. Each strong in his or her own way."
"Tell me."
With a shrug, I began. "Josh, my fellow Jedi. He's... smart, proud. Has so much hope, but..."
"What?"
"I'm afraid... afraid to lose him to the Dark side."
"Control your fear. Leads to the Dark side it does. Fear leads to..."
"Can it, Yoda. Let me see Episodes 2 and 3 before you spout that crap at me." I pulled my legs up to my chest and rested my chin on my knees before continuing. "Josh... the Aussie. He's a Wraith in Rogue clothing. Loyal, brave, adventurous. I'm really glad to call him friend.
"And Becki. She is so smart, yet afraid." I spoke quietly about the younger woman. "She can be so much, if she will allow it to happen."
Yoda sighed. "Speak so highly you do, yet what of this?"
I was in Llessur Atner's room. A figure was standing before the Queen Mother as she spoke. I knew exactly what was being said. I remembered it clearly. "You cannot think that..."
He raised a hand to interrupt me. "Trust you they do. Break this trust you will."
"Wait a minute. You're the one who said 'always in motion is the future.' How can you be so sure I'm going to break this trust?"
"Still within you the Dark side is. Learn to control it you must." Another wave of his small green hand and he showed me what he meant.
Corran, being stern, keeping me from what I want to do. I am strong, I know it. The power is within me. I can take control and have all that I want. Pash... Kelly doesn't deserve him. He loves me. He told me so. I could have him. I can have him.
My breath caught in my chest. I couldn't breathe. My chest felt like there was a weight on it.
"Strong the Dark side is. But stronger is the Light."
Becki, saddened that she and Thayer had argued. Thayer, also saddened. I can bring them together. Like I finally brought Kelly and Pash together. I must sacrifice what I hold dearest.
The Light side. But I'm distracted. Mike is in trouble. I tried looking through his eyes, but he pushed me back.
"Do not use the power in that way," Yoda chided.
I sighed and leaned back against the wall. A moment later, I felt Mike yield, letting me in. Wanting my help. I assisted him in getting past the gendarme. We make quite a good team.
I felt Yoda's eyes on me and looked up. "Be patient," he said. "Change the future you can."
I watched as the Jedi Master faded from my conscious. Mike was close, pulling on my powers. I could feel it. But now was not the time to worry about that. I need rest. Yes, rest. To regain my strength. The blackness enveloped me once again.