Arlan Vass Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 ”œLeave?” "Even if this land shall expire, thou may be able to prevent further corrosion. But even so, one day the flames will fade, and only Dark will remain. And even a legend such as thineself can do nothing to stop that." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chajiko Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 "I need to get my supplies together," she said in a weary voice, "Fit up a proper ship. The longer I stay here, the more time I lose." "Never mind how much I'd LIKE to stay..." she added mentally. She scooped up her robe and shrugged it on, starting towards the door. "Thank you again, Arlan." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arlan Vass Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 Her thoughts, whether they were meant to be heard or not were. The heaviness of guilt and grief shone through her presence still - it didn't take a mental probe in order to feel that. He watched her walk towards the door, and he merely nodded when she thanked him. He was still in a daze from all that had happened so far; things seemed to be going so well! And now... He stepped forward, peering through the window. It was still raining quite heavily, and the occasional crackle of lightning illuminated the sky in its sheer brilliance. He slipped on own robe as well, hesitated, but was unable to fight his curiosity away. Vega seemed like such a nice, warm-hearted woman - what did she have to hide? Whatever it was, it was gnawing away at her and making her very miserable. It wasn't his place to question it, but even though he'd only met her a couple hours ago, he felt quite close to her already. Something was on her mind. She seemed to be feeling an excruciating amount of guilt - perhaps he'd be able to help her? Before he could second-guess himself, he slipped on his robe and walked over to the hatch. He didn't see the harm in following her - if he did it discreetly, of course -; and, if he did, maybe he'd get a better idea of why she was so distressed... "Even if this land shall expire, thou may be able to prevent further corrosion. But even so, one day the flames will fade, and only Dark will remain. And even a legend such as thineself can do nothing to stop that." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chajiko Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 Le'Nin hurried down the hatch and closed it behind her, plunging into the storm without even bothering to put her hood up. SHe hurried along through the pouring rain with her head down, quickly becoming soaked. It took her about fifteen minutes to get back to the Antigony and she boarded quickly without glancing behind her--though she also didn't bother to lock down the hatch. She went directly to the stasis room and sat down at the machine that had been responsible for the slow, careful growing of the clone body she now inhabited. It would take another long while to make another--but she would do it. She couldn't afford to take the Antigony back to the Rim with her. For all she knew, she could have died after coming close to her goal--she couldn't afford to stop now, and she couldn't risk losing the ship and her only chance of staying alive. She began to enter a complex string of instructions, her attention wholly focused on her task. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arlan Vass Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 He made up his mind and decided to follow her. He threw his hood up and proceeded down the ramp, making sure to stay behind Vega as she went. Under any other circumstances, Arlan would have simply stayed back on the Breath. However, seeing how nervous and guilt-ridden she was... there had to be something that he could do to help her. If she didn't want his help, she could tell him - nothing gained, nothing lost. But, he secretly hoped that she did - or, at the very least, open up to him a smidgen. He was soaked by the time he reached her ship. Once he was there, he thumbed the panel beside the main hatch. He didn't expect it to open, but to his surprise, it did. It opened with a metallic hiss to follow. Peering into the small freighter - all he could see was a narrow corridor, which veered off to the right -, he did a double-take. Should he go in? For a moment, he considered going back to the Breath. This had to qualify for Breaking-and-Entering. He was sure of it. Then, Vega's emotions came back to him like a side-ways downpour - worse than the actual one he was standing under. He shivered, even though his outfit provided him with three layers of warmth. With a shred of apprehension, he made his decision and took three, careful strides, which in turn carried him over the threshold and into the Antigony... = = = = He found Vega in what looked like a miniature-sized version of a cloning facility. Confused, he glanced around the small room. Odd... what would a- He never finished that thought. Suddenly, everything made sense. Could it be true, though? Could the Vega who he'd been talking to not have been the young woman's original ”˜version'? His voice wafted softly from behind her. ”œAre you a clone?” "Even if this land shall expire, thou may be able to prevent further corrosion. But even so, one day the flames will fade, and only Dark will remain. And even a legend such as thineself can do nothing to stop that." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chajiko Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 Le'Nin froze. How--how could he have followed her without her noticing?! Hadn't she locked the hatch--?! She knew she hadn't, though, and she'd been so upset that a horde of Sith could have come down on her, howling for blood and she would have been flattened before even managing to be surprised at their presence. She turned very slowly in her chair, a stricken look on her face as she looked up at the young man. She swallowed hard. "...yes, I am. I'm nothing but a clone." Her tone came out slightly defiant and definitely defensive and she stared up at him, half fearing his response, half anticipating it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arlan Vass Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 Arlan stayed in the hatchway, torn between walking into the room or staying put. Intrusion had already been inflicted - he didn't want to overbear his welcome. If one could even call his ”˜welcome'. He hung back, ready to leave at a moment's notice if she told him to. ”œWhat happened?” "Even if this land shall expire, thou may be able to prevent further corrosion. But even so, one day the flames will fade, and only Dark will remain. And even a legend such as thineself can do nothing to stop that." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chajiko Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 She looked away from him, back to the computer screen and was silent for a long moment. "I died," she said simply. "I died before my work was done. Why--why did you follow me, Arlan?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arlan Vass Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 She died... that explained it. He wondered how, but he didn't dare ask; if what he had brought up earlier was too sensitive for her to talk about, her own death was certainly a hands-off subject. ”œI guess that the old ”˜my curiosity got the better of me' is the answer you don't want to hear,” "Even if this land shall expire, thou may be able to prevent further corrosion. But even so, one day the flames will fade, and only Dark will remain. And even a legend such as thineself can do nothing to stop that." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chajiko Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 She closed her eyes and smiled, the expression somewhere between amusement and pain. "That answer is a good one. Curiosity is one thing I've never been able to fault in another creature without turning myself into a terrible hypocrite. And--" she shook her head. "you're not pestering me. Not at all." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arlan Vass Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 Relieved by her response, Arlan walked from the hatchway and over to Vega. She was sitting in front of some type of machine - presumably the one that had nurtured and nourished her most recent clone. He'd seen her fiddling with it only minutes ago. ”œWhat does that do?” "Even if this land shall expire, thou may be able to prevent further corrosion. But even so, one day the flames will fade, and only Dark will remain. And even a legend such as thineself can do nothing to stop that." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chajiko Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 "I'm programming a new clone," she said, turning fully back to the screen. Her fingers resumed their dance on the keypad. "Just in case I need it. This machine--" she gestured at the equipment behind her, "will grow and sustain the cloned body until it's needed." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arlan Vass Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 Interesting... ”œHow did you create your clone?” "Even if this land shall expire, thou may be able to prevent further corrosion. But even so, one day the flames will fade, and only Dark will remain. And even a legend such as thineself can do nothing to stop that." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chajiko Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 "It's a simple matter of programming the right cells to reproduce in a specific way," Le'Nin said, then smiled in a self-deprecatory manner. "Well--I'm TOLD it's simple. I know how the machine works, but it still amazes me that it can grow and produce a living, breathing and fully functional body. It's kept in there--" she pointed at what appeared to be some kind of stasis tank, "until it's needed. Then the mental imprint is downloaded into the brain and the body is brought to consciousness." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arlan Vass Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 ”œWhat kind of information do you load onto the mental imprint?” "Even if this land shall expire, thou may be able to prevent further corrosion. But even so, one day the flames will fade, and only Dark will remain. And even a legend such as thineself can do nothing to stop that." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chajiko Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 "Everything," Le'Nin said, and then hesitated. "Well--everything up to a point. I, for example--" she grimaced. "--the last imprint I downloaded is over a month old. So..." Le'Nin shook her head. "For me it's like I blacked out for a month. Whatever happened to me in the meantime, I have no way of knowing it unless I find it out all over again." She sat back in the chair and sighed. "Even though this body is only a copy, I still am -ME-." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arlan Vass Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 ”œThat's strange,” "Even if this land shall expire, thou may be able to prevent further corrosion. But even so, one day the flames will fade, and only Dark will remain. And even a legend such as thineself can do nothing to stop that." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chajiko Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 "I can't remember it because the imprint that was downloaded into my brain had never experienced it. Whatever my other body did, felt and learned--it's lost. It died with the body." She finished with her programming and stood, walking to the machine and pulling open a panel to examine complex innards of wires and computer boards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arlan Vass Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 He watched her work, and he watched her analyze the inside of her machine. After a moment or so, he spoke again, curiosity reigning. ”œDid it lose anything besides that?” "Even if this land shall expire, thou may be able to prevent further corrosion. But even so, one day the flames will fade, and only Dark will remain. And even a legend such as thineself can do nothing to stop that." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chajiko Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 "As far as I know, I lost everything," she said, reaching in with a scowl and yanking a blue wire out of its insertion. She groped for a tool on the table at her left and began to carefully trim it. "My ship, my clothes--my lightsaber..." she sighed and carefully attached the wire again. "I don't even know how I died. I don't think I WANT to know." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arlan Vass Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 Arlan thought back over the course of the previous month. What had happened? He'd come to Dantooine to build his lightsaber - no, no, before that... Gala? Possibly. He watched as she trimmed a severed electrical wire. ”œDo you remember if you were in the battle above Gala?” "Even if this land shall expire, thou may be able to prevent further corrosion. But even so, one day the flames will fade, and only Dark will remain. And even a legend such as thineself can do nothing to stop that." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chajiko Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 She paused, her hands still on the plate as she pushed it back into place. "...I don't know. The last thing I remember--" she gave a frustrated sigh and scooped up a hydrospanner. Nimble as a monkey, she climbed up on top of the stasis tank and busied herself tightening and adjusting the bolts. "The last thing I remember was a message from the Temple--about an attack. Then I downloaded and sent the imprint--and that's it. That's where my life ended, as far as I know." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arlan Vass Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 A message from the Temple... that had to be it. That had to be one of the many distress calls that the Jedi had broadcasted. It latched onto dozens of frequencies, and from there, he figured it webbed to other comms. That certainly explained how Vega had intercepted it. ”œI wonder if there's a way we can find out for sure?” "Even if this land shall expire, thou may be able to prevent further corrosion. But even so, one day the flames will fade, and only Dark will remain. And even a legend such as thineself can do nothing to stop that." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chajiko Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 She gave a bolt a savage wrench, tightening it almost too far. "I don't think I want to know," she grimaced. "I...I have a bad feeling about it. I don't know why. But if I died over Gala, then at least I know I didn't get myself in too deep out in the Rim. I can pick up where I left off." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arlan Vass Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 He absent-mindedly brushed his hand against the side of his robe, which had all but dried thus far. He looked through the window behind her, and to his dismay, the rain wasn't letting up. The dark, gray clouds overhead remained. The sun was nowhere to be seen. ”œWhere did you leave off in the Rim?” "Even if this land shall expire, thou may be able to prevent further corrosion. But even so, one day the flames will fade, and only Dark will remain. And even a legend such as thineself can do nothing to stop that." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chajiko Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 She paused and looked down at Arlan. "...I had just left one system and was heading to another--to--" she frowned. "I'll have to give that some thought. It's a little fuzzy." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arlan Vass Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 He nodded. "It's all right, I understand." Apparently, memory loss was a hefty side effect that most clones had. That had to mean that there were certain things that Armiena's clone couldn't remember. Still, his curiosity was piqued; what had happened to Vega's other self? "Even if this land shall expire, thou may be able to prevent further corrosion. But even so, one day the flames will fade, and only Dark will remain. And even a legend such as thineself can do nothing to stop that." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chajiko Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 Le'Nin sighed and quickly finished adjusting the bolts, absentmindedly wiping her now slightly greasy hands on her trousers as she slid over the side of the tank to the deck. "I'll just have to pick up the pieces and see what I can figure out." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arlan Vass Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 He glanced over the machine again, observing the obvious time and effort that Vega had put into it to ensure the safety and nourishment of her clone. It would be safe, he was sure; called upon when and if she was needed. It must have been very reassuring for Vega to know that if anything ever happened to her, her second self would emerge from this tank and take her place. ”œI'd like to help you,” "Even if this land shall expire, thou may be able to prevent further corrosion. But even so, one day the flames will fade, and only Dark will remain. And even a legend such as thineself can do nothing to stop that." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chajiko Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 She stared up at the tank and then turned to look at Arlan, her face very serious. "...I--I haven't met anyone as kind as you are in a very long time, Arlan," she said at last. "And for that very reason I couldn't bear to drag you into my problems." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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