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Post by Soleia Reiss on Feb 8, 2009 20:43:15 GMT -8
A planet once ruled by the sith.
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Post by Soleia Reiss on Feb 8, 2009 21:00:11 GMT -8
Soleia Reiss' ship, Voyager's Fable, set down in a valley near the abandoned Sith war base. She disembarked and walked toward the looming structure; beyond it the waves of a roaring ocean crash upon the rocky shoreline. It was evening time here, as the sun shone low in the sky. She wasn't sure what time it would be on Coruscant, but it didn't really matter since she'd hardly been there long enough to adjust to the change anyway. When she approached, she wasn't surprised to find the high door securely sealed and locked, but a little encouragement from the force and it soon slid obediently open. A dark corridor lay ahead, and she could see only as far as the sun's rays would reach, but once she stepped in, glow panels along the corridor flickered then lit and the door behind her re-sealed. The darkness she'd felt upon entereing the planets atmosphere intesified as she made her way along the corridor, but she was not in the core of it yet. She followed it down the familiar passages until she found the elevator. She boarded and it ascended to the upper level, the dark pull growing stronger every meter.
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Post by Soleia Reiss on Feb 8, 2009 21:42:03 GMT -8
She stepped off the elevator, her footsteps echoeing in the silence, but she didn't walk far before she paused. This room. It was simple, harsh, cold. She'd only been in here once, but the memory was forever etched into her mind. It came to her now, unbidden, unwanted. She remembered entering this room with her supposed Sith master, and seeing a man bound in magna cuffs hand and foot. He'd been on his knees. She'd asked who he was...
Your first test. He's a republic spy, and deserves death.
A sith must show no sign or willingness to grant mercy.
*looks at Sol* Kill him.
She'd looked from her master to the defenseless man in the center of the room. Her master said nothing more, he'd walked to the edge of the room, and waited. Waited for her to kill him.
"Please! Please have mercy..." tears had been in his eyes. "Let me go home to my family. I swear I will never harm another sith again, I just want to be with my wife and children again! Just once!"
She'd activated her lightsaber then. He'd looked into her eyes, cursed her, lunged at her, though she'd been the one holding the saber.
Soleia staggered at the pain of the memory and put her hand to her forehead.
She'd raised her saber, and it went directly through his heart. She'd looked into his eyes as he died.
Why? At the time it seemed her only choice, at the time the importance of the mission had been higher than the life of one man. But she had killed her own alley, a Republic spy! Couldn't she have done something to avoid it? She remembered the cold dark feeling that had swallowed her then.
She felt that darkness now, warpping her in it's cold emrbace, and a shiver ran down her spine.
She turned back to the elevator and left the room beneath her.
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Post by Soleia Reiss on Feb 8, 2009 22:13:55 GMT -8
That wasn't where she needed to be. Deep inside, she knew exactly where she would find the source of the dark bidding. She ascended all the way to the tower, and stepped out into a circular room. There was no ceiling, and orange strands of fading sunlight cast a dark shadow over half of the room. But an even darker shadow shrouded the entire room, a dark taint. In this room her sith master had been killed. Here, too, he had nearly killed her.
When Soleia was a young Jedi, her mind had been haunted by a dark voice that called her to the dark side. It'd tormented her day and night, and eventually she'd discovered the source to be Eyson Stanger, a Sith Lord who'd planned to train Soleia's sister in the ways of the dark side for many years. But when Soleia's twin sister had died, he'd mistaken Soleia for her, and focused on turning her away from the light. But she'd resisted, and Crie had taken advantage of the opportunity, instructing Soleia to pose as his Sith apparentice while supplying the Republic with valuable information about the sith army. When Eyson had learned of her deception, he'd faught and nearly killed her. She hadn't been strong enough to face him at the time, and probably would have died had not Crie and Jacinth arrived.
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Post by Soleia Reiss on Feb 8, 2009 22:23:42 GMT -8
She felt a draw to walk to the center of the room. She did so and stood still. The dark side was strong here, so strong she could almost taste it's foulness in her mouth. It taunted her, whispering in her air dark temptations, but it all disgusted her. She'd taken that path once. Never. Never again.
A strange feeling washed over her, a dark tiredness tugged at her, trying to pull her into a deep black void. She gathered the force within her and resisted it, and it vanished, only to return a moment later, stronger. She resisted it again, and her resistance was of considerable strength, but in the end the black abyss claimed her and she felt herself drowning in utter darkness.
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Post by Soleia Reiss on Feb 8, 2009 22:48:41 GMT -8
Soleia awoke to find herself lying on a hard cold floor of a small room. A prison cell? It seemed vaguly familiar, like something she'd seen in a dream. Or perhaps she was dreaming now. Her mind felt clouded. As she pulled herself up she felt coarse sand on the cold stone floor. Slowly her mind cleared, and she realized where she was. Korriban. Unlike Miispa-Phia where Soleia had been a spy, on Korriban, Soleia had truly been dark. She realized she was not alone in the room. She heard voices and looked over to see two people talking, a girl and a young man. She knew almost immidiately who they were. It was her, and her brother Kile. They'd both been captured and put in the same cell, but until she'd found him in that prison, she'd thought her brother to be dead. They didn't seem to notice her as she watched them... By the force... Kile! What are you doing here? How long have you been here. *Runs over to him and gets down on her knees beside him* I've lost track of time. *Looks up at her* You are a sight for sore eyes. *coughs* this stupid cell is making me sick.*tears in her eyes* Nevermind how I got here, I realize now that it was the will of the force. You need help. Is there any hope for me? *weak little laugh* I think I've been slowly dying for a long time now. [/color] *puts her hand on his cheek* Well, I'm going to put an end to that. You're my brother Kile- you're an Onlae, you're not going to die in a prison cell. I promise. Just relax. *sighs*  Kile, how did you get here? Since Ephratah.*knives stab through her heart* It's been almost four years... Yeah? I would have guessed 10. I just can't believe you're here. Everyday's the same, then suddenly my sister arrives. I guess they don't like our family. heh! *coughs**Looks at Kile with tears in her eyes* ::Why didn't they just kill him? They held onto him all this time because they knew they would have me and that they would use him to turn me? How could they have known?:: We have to get out of here. We can't. Even if you break the locks, there are hundreds of dark jedi out there. It's hopeless...and if it's not we need some time to think up a good plan. *looks at her* Sit down, you look tired. *Slowly lowers herself to the floor beside him* ::I failed worse than I thought, I could have saved Kile, all this time he was alive. But what about Jango? Is he in the same situation?:: *forces back tears* What's been happening in the outside world? Did anyone else survive, mom dad, Jaila...are they all dead?*Nods* It was too late when I got to Ephratah. *closes her eyes and can still see the burnt village clearly* *Puts his hand on her should* You didn't fail.*Looks at him* This isn't over yet. Tell me about you, Soleia. It's been so long. where's Jango?I don't know. I thought he was dead, but, well...I thought you were dead, too. I'm sorry. You don't have to be. It was no one's fault. They say he died saving another man's life, but I never actually knew for sure. So, I guess there's hope. *forces a little smile* I have a daughter, her name is Kistal. ::and I miss her to death:: A daughter? *smiles* Now that's something to be happy about. If we get out of her, you make sure I get a chance to meet my niece.You will. *smiles* She's the most adorable little girl in the world. I love her so much. She's two yeas old, has curly blonde hair and a face that you can't help but kiss. *a fresh flood of tears fills her eyes* ::And she's probably wondering where the heck her mom is:: *can almost hear Kistal's sweet little voice "mom-mom"* *smiles* I'm proud of you, Sol. I see that you've become a responsible adult. It's hard being on your own, but you've done it.*nods*[/quote] |
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Post by Soleia Reiss on Feb 8, 2009 22:56:35 GMT -8
The vision faded to darkness, but returend almost immidiately... <The next day> *Puts her hand on Kile's forhead* ::Blast, he has a fever:: *brushes his hair away from his face* *Opens her eyes* ::how did I let this happen?:: *Coughs* Sol...I'm...I'm happy you're with me for what could be...the end. I love you, sis.Kile, don't say that. ::Why can't I heal him?:: We'll get out. M-maybe so...you're smart, you'll find a way out. But if I *cough* don't make it...*a tear streams down her cheek* *Looks up* What's wrong?*Stands to her feet* This place is dead of the force. It's been slowly happening since I got here. Kile, I have a very bad feeling about this. *Hears a noise and the door opens* *Steps closer to Kile as if to protect him* *Two big, ugly guards walk in* You too, come with us!*They're dragged out of the cell and into a room where it is a bit warmer, but still void of the force* Soleia followed them, knowing what lie ahead. Her heart was pouding, she wondered, could she change the events that would follow? Somehow she knew she couldn't. They didn't see her, she could scream, and it wouldn't make any difference. All she could do is watch helplessly as the events of her past played out before her. *The guards drop them in the middle of the room and go stand by the door that is to Soleia's back* *Looks at Kile who's eyes are red and skin is very pale, his hair and beard tangled* ::This could be our chance for escape:: *but before she can think up a plan the only other door in the room opens and Feirce and Fury walk in accompanied by two other sith* Ah, the brother and sister, reunited at last. Have you enjoyed your stay?Immensely.You have me now, I am what you wanted. Let my brother go free. He is of no use to you. No use to us?[glow=red,2,300] What makes you think he is of no use to us?[/glow] He doesn't have the force, you can't turn him and he's too weak to even walk! *glares at them* Release him. Very well, if...you join us.Soleia, don't do it! *coughs really hard* don't- do it. I'm dying anyway. They won't let me go, they lie!*Looks at Kile then back to the two sith* You disgust me. You have no hearts- only a black void where a heard should be! Oh, I'm sooooo hurt.  Keep me for however long you like, but let him go. [glow=red,2,300] Hmmm...very well then.[/glow] |
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Post by Soleia Reiss on Feb 8, 2009 23:06:08 GMT -8
*The two strong guards take both of Soleia's arms holdng her so she can't move and one of the dark Jedi walks up and shoves Kile toward the door, then stops* *Looks at Fierce and Fury who nod, then looks at Sol and smiles*No! No wait! *fights to get free* Kile! *the dark jedi ignites his lightsaber* Soleia, promise me you won't join them!*Tears pour down her face as she fights for all she's worth to get free, but the second dark Jedi helps the gaurds hold her* *Still smiling at Sol* *raises his lightsaber over Kile who is to weak put up much of a fight* *kills him*KILE!!!!!!! Gah! *kicks one of the guards*Aarrrgg! *flips the dark Jedi over her back and does everything she can to get free* *gets to the lightsaber of the second dark Jedi and ignites it* *doesn't bother with them and runs at the jedi who killed Kile* *He raises his lightsaber to fight* *does a forward attack which is blocked but she kicks his stomach and knocks him off balance*  *Before he can regain his balance she elbows his face and knees his stomach* *Hits him some more until his lightsaber falls out of his hand* *Pins him against the wall, chocking him* *grips her lightsaber in her other hand* "Don't do it, Soleia...don't do it." Her words were not heard. *Glares hard into his eyes* ::If you kill him, it's the end of your Jedi life:: ::But there's nothing left for me now. Jango is gone, my family is gone, Jacinth has betrayed me:: ::Why didn't I see this before?:: *Remembers Kile's last words* *out of the corner of her eye she can see his body laying there* *shakes her head as she continues to choke the dark jedi* Curse you and curse your festering race. *is just about to kill him when she remembers something Jango said when she was on a spy mission with the sith* :: All I know is that you were once a caring and loving girl who loved life. If you have truly joined them...I would rather be dead than spend the rest of my days knowing you were a Sith.:: *A look on her face that shows no emotion except pure hate* Well, he is dead, isn't he? *Stabs the dark Jedi through the heart* Soleia could hear her past thoughts as clearly as if they were hers now, and it saddened her. "Oh...why this? I never wanted to face this again. Forgive me...oh forgive me." *Stands over the dead man with the red lightsaber in her hand* *Looks over to Fierce and Fury who are smiling, then to the guards and other Dark Jedi who are running away* *Feels the force again* ::What did I just do??!:: *Picks the other Dark Jedi up with the force before he gets out of the room* ::I know one thing, it wasn't enough:: *Smashes him into the wall, killing him* *uses the force to close the door just as the two guards run out, crushing them both* The vision fades and Soleia is alone in the room. The sun is mostly set now and the room almost completely dark, but she is not conscious of this fact. The room is utterly silent, so silent she can feel the pounding of her own heart in her chest. Though the vision is gone, the scene replays in her mind, vivid and clear, not allowing her to bury it, not allowing her to escape it, and she's overcome by all of the anguish she'd felt then. |
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Post by Soleia Reiss on Feb 8, 2009 23:31:47 GMT -8
For some time Soleia remained in agonizing darkness. Remembering. Time passed, but she didn't know how much.
She closed her eyes, holding her face in her hands. Why?? Why had she made so many stupid mistakes?
She opened her eyes to find herself standing amidst the ruins of a city. The room she'd been standing in seconds before was forgotten as she observed her surroundings. Buildings lay in heaps, fire eating at what remained, and smoke rose like a vapor from the rubble on the ground. She looked into the sky, no ships, nor did she hear the sounds of fighting. Whatever battle had taken place here, it seemed to be over now. She brought her gaze back to the surface. Nearby a speeder was consumed in vigorous flames; over their roaring she could hear a faint whimper. She followed the sound down a littered road and turned the corner at a building which was now little more than charred durocreet walls. She could make out a cry down the road and followed it to a trash bin that was laying on it’s side, the lid was partially opened and she peered in to see a small child huddled in the corner, hugging his knees. She stepped back so as not to frighten him when she spoke. “It’s alright, I’m a Jedi...I'm here to help.” She pulled back the door on the bin and the child looked up at her with wide eyes. His sooty face was streaked with tears. She spoke in a soft voice, “It’s okay. I think they’re gone. I can take you somewhere safe.” She reached her hand out to him.
“No, she’s coming,” he said as he pressed himself harder against plasteel wall.
“Who is?”
“Commander Reiss.”
Soleia was taken aback. Commander Reiss had been what she was referred to during the war, when she’d served in the Sith army, after her fall.
“It’s alright, Commander Reiss is dead. My name is Soleia. I can help you.”
Hesitantly, the boy reached for her hand and took it. She helped him up and out of the bin and saw that the boy’s forehead was cut and bleeding badly. She knelt and gently wiped some of the blood off with her sleeve, then put her hand on his forehead and used the force to purge the wound and knit the skin back together. “Now, come with me. We’ll try to find a way out of here.” She led him down the road, staying close to the sides of the buildings.
“She killed my parents.”
Soleia slowed and looked at him, “Commander Reiss did?” He nodded.
“I’m sorry...” the boy reminded her much of Neeson- he was tall and had light hair and blue eyes. Her heart twisted painfully as she imagined how she would feel if her own child were alone, hurt, and orphaned. She was filled with anger toward the person responsible for it all. Herself. She led him to a building that appeared to be in stable condition. From what she could sense, no one was inside. They were about to go in when a dark wave of emotion washed over her, a feeling that was eerily familiar. She turned around and saw a dark figure approaching.
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Post by Soleia Reiss on Feb 8, 2009 23:34:11 GMT -8
She moved herself in front of the child and said to him, “Go inside. It’s safe in there.”
She didn’t watch to see if he obeyed, but she could sense he had. She walked toward the dark figure, and they met in the street. The girl in front of her had short dark curly hair and pale skin, her deep blue eyes were cold and penetrating. Soleia straightened and stared into the eyes of Commander Reiss, her own eyes.
”I knew you would be here.”Reiss’ voice was strange, distant, almost wistful.
“What do you want, Reiss?”
Reiss held her gaze for a silent moment, then looked past her and smiled at something unseen. Her eyes returned to Soleia’s and she spoke, “What do I want... is that really what you meant to ask, or do you mean to ask what do you want?” She cocked her head to the side and one corner of her mouth raised. “Is it not the same thing?”
“No. We have nothing in common anymore.”
”Do you believe that?” She didn’t wait for an answer, but continued, “Soleia, I will always be a part of you. You can’t kill me like you killed Narijj and countless others to cover your tracks. They don’t haunt you, but I always will.”
Soleia clenched her fist.
”You know it’s true. Everyone knows it’s true.”
“I’ve changed. Instead of causing the pointless suffering of innocent beings, I help them.”
”Do you think that makes up for this?” Reiss lifted her arms to indicate their surroundings, then laughed softly and shook her head as she lowered them. “You can’t erase this. You remember. The galaxy remembers. You think if you help them, they’ll accept you and forget it? No, Soleia. They don’t want you back, not even the Jedi want you back. Even this test they arranged for you- it will only get harder and harder until it’s impossible for you to win. They set it up so that you would fail.” She took another step toward Soleia and smiled at her almost maternally. “But one good thing came from it. It has given me an opportunity to help you.”
“I don’t need your help.”
”Maybe you don’t think so, but inside you know better. I know you better than anyone, Soleia...better than Jango, better than Jacinth, better than Crie and the rest of the Jedi.” She came close and circled her as she spoke. “Because I have been everywhere you have been. They don’t understand what it feels like to lose yourself to the dark side. I know what drove you to be me, I know what it feels like to live daily with the knowledge that your hands have shed innocent blood, and to hate yourself for it more passionately than you have ever hated anyone. I know what it’s like to feel someone’s last heartbeat in my hands. I know what it feels like to rob their last breath from their body. I just don’t hide the fact, like you do.”
Reiss’ words penetrated Soleia to the core. She slowly shook her head to clear it, to find reason beyond the dark bog that had entrapped her mind. “I don’t hide it, but I keep it buried where it belongs.” She filled her mind with thoughts of the things that mattered most to her, the things that had drawn her back to the light, Jacinth, Jango, Kistal...
”You don’t deserve them.”
Soleia opened her eyes to see Reiss staring directly into them, reading her thoughts. A chill ran down her spine.
Reiss sat down on a broken chunk of durocreet. “Haven’t you seen that? That’s why you can’t continue on like this- as if nothing ever happened. Because it did, and you can never erase it.”
In a fluid motion Soleia ignited her lightsaber and held the point under Reiss’ chin. “Maybe I could kill you.”
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Post by Soleia Reiss on Feb 8, 2009 23:34:56 GMT -8
Reiss didn’t move her chin, but lowered her eyes to the glowing crimson blade and smiled meaningfully. “See? The darkness is still a part of you. It will always be a part of you. If you keep fighting it, it will kill you, Soleia. You are fighting a losing battle. I’ve merely accepted that there’s no use in fighting it. You have this illusion that you’re helping people, but don’t you see that destruction still follows wherever you go? Maybe it doesn’t look like this, but it’s certainly there. Look at Jacinth and Kalo, they had to leave because of you. The Chanellor’s decision to pardon you is going to cause division in the Republic, and among the Jedi, and right now of all times, when we’re on the brink of war. For those who don’t agree, it could be the difference between whose side they take. Your little game of trying to be good, will ultimately destroy the Republic. It will split and crumble, because of you- maybe not you alone, but you’ll play a part in it. Then there's your family....Jango, and your children, think of all they have endured, because of you.”
Soleia’s hand wavered and the blade lowered a fraction as it turned teal.
”That’s why I’m here. Better to remain this way forever and accept who I am, than to deny it and cause destruction anyway.”
Soleia lowered her lightsaber completely as Reiss’ words hit her like a physical blow. Her legs grew weak and she lowered to her knees. It was true. All of it was true. Tears blurred her view of the ground as she lowered her gaze.
”So you see, we’re not different Soleia. We’re just taking different paths to the same end.”
Soleia’s heart beat wildly, perspiration beaded on her forehead. She remained this way for some time. Then Crie’s words found their way through the confusion and chaos in her mind, “I have faith in you.”
She spoke, though her voice was weak and sounded childlike. “No.” She forced herself to her feet and shook her head. “No.” She stepped closer to Reiss. “You are weak. You’ve chosen your path because it’s easier than dealing with the grief. You make your messes then move on, leaving it for someone else to clean up. I might mess up too, but at least I have the courage to go back and make it right. There may be some truth to what you say, and I certainly don’t have all the answers. But I do have a choice. I chose my path because it’s the right one, not the easier one.” She hesitated. “Better to die for what’s right, than live for what isn’t.” Her words weren’t full of weight like Reiss’ had been, she wasn’t even sure they made sense, but she felt stronger once they’d been spoken. She looked down at her lightsaber, it was orange, and she knew she had failed. She was afraid, her heart still raced to prove it. Yet, within seconds, Commander Reiss faded like a holo along with the city around her, and she was standing alone in a cold dark room, the night sky overhead.
Just before she deactivated her lightsaber, the orange glow it cast on her face, turned to a deep green.
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Post by Soleia Reiss on Feb 11, 2009 16:37:07 GMT -8
The room was completely still once again, but it was not a peaceful stillness, and Soleia knew her trial wasn't over yet.
"Soleia," another voice from her past whispered. A voice that had once haunted Soleia.
Was it in her head this time as it had been so long ago, or was he here, hidden within the shadows? Perhaps Eyson's dark spirit resided in this tower room, the room where he'd died. Perhaps it was that which she now heard. Or perhaps it was merely part of her test arranged by the council. But then, had any of this been arranged by the council, or had they sent here her knowing what she might face? Her senses were clouded, nothing was clear. "Clear your mind of questions," bade a voice from the only peaceful place in the building- her own spirit. She did, and again the little pinpoint glow of peace within her expanded to envelope her.
"A have awaited your return for a long time," a sinister voice spoke from the darkness. "I have waited to finish the task I started that final day."
"You won't succeed. I will not turn again."
"It is not your fall I desire, Soleia Reiss." A human male clothed in dark robes stepped into the green glow cast by Soleia's lightsaber. "It is your death."
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Post by Soleia Reiss on Feb 11, 2009 16:42:27 GMT -8
Soleia stood face-to-face with Eyson, his gaze stabbing into her like ice cicles, chilling the warm glow within her. Eyson had plagued her life in many ways. First, he had invaded her mind, luring her to the dark side, haunting her dreams, speaking to her through the force though they'd been worlds apart. Later, in this very room, he had beaten her to within a cenimeter of her life. Even after Crie had healed her, her body had bourne the damage for some time, until through the force it had slowly mended itself. Sometimes, still, the old wounds would pain her until she entered a healing trance. She felt the pain now.
Eyson acrivated his lightsaber, the snap-hiss of his blade harsh and loud in the quiet chamber. "Today, at last, you will pay for your mistake."
Soleia called upon the force for the extra strength and endurance she knew she would need to defeat him- if a force ghost could be defeated. She raised her lightsaber to a defensive position and the color of her blade snapped to blue. "Justice be done." May the force guide me.
In a lightning fast motion, Eyson slashed powerfully forward and down.
Soleia blocked his lightsaber with her own, bending under the pressure, she used the force for a touch of added strengthe and shoved him back. Masterfully he corrected and rapidly attacked her with a series of well placed, well executed strikes. Soleia dodged and blocked, both sabers moving too quickly for the eye to completely comprehend. They continued like this for a long time.
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Post by Soleia Reiss on Feb 11, 2009 16:49:51 GMT -8
Eventually, Soleia felt herself weakening from the draining task of defending herself. She would have to make her move soon. But before she had the chance, she felt herself lunging back through the air and being slammed into the stone wall. She countered with a hard force shove of her own which broke the hold, and fell carefully to her feet, though her body throbbed with pain. As she rose, from across the room a blue burst of lightning shot in her direction. She raised her lightsaber, still on one knee, and it absorbed the attack. The lightning abated and she stood, only to face another strike, more powerful than the first. Her lightsaber absorbed the dark energy again, but it took too much of her own energy to keep it up. Her saber wavered and the lightning seared into her, sending excruciating pain through her entire body. She screamed out and fell to her knees. She raised her saber again and blocked the lightning. It stopped and Eyson approached her. As she looked up into his eyes Reiss' words returned to her, "It will only get harder and harder until it's impossible for you to win." Maybe she'd been telling the truth. Possibly Soleia was there now, at a point where she couldn't win. She was tired, her body screamed out for rest. She began to wonder if other things Reiss said had been true. Would she weaken the Republic? If it was true, what was the point in succeeding today? Perhaps she should surrender to her fate at last. She deserved to die for what she'd done, that was certainly true. Doubt flicked in her eyes, and her saber flashed to yellow.
Eyson's lips curled into an evil smile as he looked down at her. His face glowing red from the light of his sword. "It seems you don't die easily. I swear I won't make the mistake this time of leaving the job half done," he hissed icily.
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Post by Soleia Reiss on Feb 11, 2009 16:52:38 GMT -8
Soleia's gaze didn't flinch, and looking into his cold loveless eyes, she knew the truth, without doubt. She knew.
Her lightsaber flickered to light blue. "The oath of a dead man means little to me."
Before she'd completely finished speaking, she lunged back into the fight, and as she did so, into the will of the force, she allowed it to guide her every move, to flow through her very being. The blue of her saber darkened. She did a back flip, landing a kick under his chin while swatting away his lightsaber with hers. Her saber darkened more. She landed and used force speed to rush back at him, angling her saber to slash him at the side, and narrowly missing him. She jumped to evade an attack, and continued on, barely conscious of her actions until at last the blade of her lightsaber severed the hilt of his, extinguishing the red energy rod. She used the force to shove him to the ground and pointed the tip of her glowing blade at his face.
"So do it. Do what you were too weak to do before. Destroy me forever, and become what I trained you for- Mistress of the dark side of the Force. You will be more powerful than any Jedi could ever be."
Soleia's lightsaber flickered indecisively: from blue to green, to teal, to yellow, to pink, until finally it settled on light violet.
She shook her head. "I choose life. Turn from your anger, and become one with the force, Eyson. Don't be held in this torment. Repent for your transgressions, and let your spirit rest."
"I chose my fate. It is too late for me." His voice was quiet and hopeless. "But not for you..." He offered her a bleak smile. "The galaxy might hate you at first, but you'll prove yourself to them, just as you've proven yourself today. So live, and let them see who Soleia Reiss truly is. Live...for those like me, who never did."
Then he was gone, and Soleia was left to wonder whether it was all an illusion, or if it had been real. She deactivated her lightsaber and suddenly she felt exhausted, so very exhausted; and she knew some of it, at least, had been real.
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