Stand Tall; Face It All, Together...

[Connor Harrison]

Connor felt the Padawan in the Force coming before Nima even reacted, but what did he care. As he came by, seemingly minding his own business, Connor glanced over as Nima backed off.

"Don't worry. Probably one of her spies checking up on us. Shows how trusted we really are. Come."

He turned, taking her arm and leading them away to the path that would take them up to the Temple, looking around for others who were watching them.

"Padawan, you have to trust me. God knows no-one else does. Just...have faith in what I say and do. Any self doubt you feel no matter how small will be used against you."

They turned up a steep incline, crunching over rock and gravel, trampling a small row of flowers as they talked.

"Do as I say, and don't give them the satisfaction of your concerns and worries. Be strong, and believe in what you say if you find yourself before them."

- - - - - - - - - -​

Standing in the grand plaza of the Temple, Connor was a few steps in front of Nima, looking up at the entrance to the Council Chambers. The Temple was quiet, but still alive with the Force. A small fountain, feeble to the natural waterfall outside, trickled inside with some ornate fauna around the room, decorating pillars, statues and the grand staircase.

He had requested an audience with Grandmaster E'ron a good half an hour earlier and was told to await her response. Connor turned to face Nima, now she seemed to stand taller than before, robe over her crimson lekku, her eyes peering from underneath and looking nothing but confident and strong. Giving her one, slow nod, Connor returned to watch for any movement from the Chambers.


[member="Nima Tann"] [member="Iella E'ron"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Connor Harrison"] | [member="Nima Tann"]​

​

How life can change in the blink of an eye. One minute all plans are working nicely and progress continues and makes The Silver Order stronger, then the next an event that pushes all of this back. A test? yes it is, the force constantly test everything, not only Jedi, but everything in the galaxy. However, it is this where the Jedi excel, their training proving that with patience, they will pick up and move on or forward depending on situation. But when it comes to those dear to her, all the members of the Silver Jedi, that is different. The fine balance between emotion and obligation, the love of one not to be placed over the love of all.

Iella has read the reports of the events on the moon, Master Sinopi appeared to be recovering well enough and physically so too Knight Harrison and Padawan Tann. What concerned her more then the physical was the ramifications of the possession of Connor Harrison and they way he .. she had twisted Nima. He would not get over this easy, there would be some residue of it that was normal, the effect of all this on Padawan Tann however, another matter entirely and one that needed close watch, for her own good. But for Iella what is more important is for the good of the other members of the Order. She will not place one above the other, if there is a danger.

The chamber doors opened, and Iella entered the corridor seeking Connor Harrison and Nima Tann.

 

[Nima Tann]

She just followed his orders, as they were in danger and he was the more experienced one about this. She respected his calmness, they were in danger but he wasn't even scared about it as she was. What he said was true, there were eyes that are all watching them from the shadows, and they needed to be careful about this. His words calmed Nima down a little bit, he was right. Her doubts were her weaknesses and they could use it to their advantage, so she cleared her mind from this thoughts and just continued to move behind him, now stronger and with a self confidence. She looked at her back, back to waterfall. The calmness of it was giving her heart peace, the peace she needed for a long time.

"I understand." she talked as they continued to walk, slowly leaving the green and blue and arriving to grey and silver. "I will not let them defeat me that easily, don't worry about me. I trust you." She said, now with a confident tone. They continued to walk towards the Temple's entrance, between the disturbing looks of the others. She continued to walk normally, trying not to act strange. The decorating of the interior was cleverly designed. There was a small, cute fountain that was calmly continuing the flow. There were all signs of the Force here, and it was giving her a feeling that she was safe. But she wasn't. They weren't. Knight Harrison slowly moved in front of Master E'ron's chambers, talking with the guards.

She looked at her surroundings, there were eyes, everywhere. She could see a man taking notes, as they came eye to eye, he disappeared to the shadows. She disturbedly sat on one of the benches, waiting for Knight Harrison to come back. Ten minutes later, he came back with a big smile, she looked at him with strong, confident eyes that she could feel he was impressed. Then they started to wait, wait and wait. Time continued to flow, but she didn't open the council doors yet. And spies were everywhere so with he in front of her, they moved towards his chambers to wait for her. Minutes later, which was like hours to them, a guard came and knocked the door. "Master E'ron is ready to see you." She nodded to the guard, and as he left them alone once again, she winked and nodded to him slowly. "Let's not make her wait that much. Come on." Then she stood up from the sofa, preparing herself to play the innocent, naive Nima.

[member="Connor Harrison"] [member="Iella E'ron"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor nodded at the guard, and to Nima. He didn't say a word. He meant business. Walking past the Padawan, the Knight followed the decorative corridors out towards the lobby and up the grand staircase. Another good minutes walk in silence led them to the Chamber of the Grandmaster of the Silver Jedi Order - Iella E'ron.

Stretching his head out slightly to loosen the tense muscles in his neck, Connor glanced around. Nima was right there where she said she would be. A few moments passed and then the double doors opened slowly without anyone touching them. Inside, the chamber was high above in the Temple and looked out over Voss and the grounds itself. It reminded Connor of the observation tower on the moon of Shri-tal. A small shiver ran up his spine as he walked in calmly and steadily.

He hadn't spoken to Master E'ron in...it could have been a good year maybe? He couldn't remember. It was their first meeting that had been their last. Even his appointment to the Council as a Knight had come from Master Heavenshield, and he was busy with Coci, so it was more like a passing thought than a well bestowed place.

Walking in, he stopped and looked around - ornate décor, minimal but effective; a study area, a meditation chamber and enough small facilities to reside in comfortably for a good few days without even stepping outside. Master E'ron was in the chambers, Connor could feel her, but he couldn't see her. With respect, he lowered his head.

"Master E'ron. Knight Harrison, at your command."

He purposely ignored Nima - this wasn't her time to speak, at least not according to him.


[member="Nima Tann"] [member="Iella E'ron"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

Connor Harrison | Nima Tann​

​

Iella stood before Connor and Nima. Her eyes looking into their faces as she regarded both. She did not hide this fact and they would sense her presence strong and with purpose. Iella noted a sense of confusion, anger and a feeling of a lack of self worth. From both of them. Much 'interruption' the Taung had caused for them all. Master Sinopi was doing well and fighting fit once more, but on her report to Iella about the events and the effects of the possession, this made Iella worry for them all. Coci had not been possessed as long as Connor had, and still she feels the residue of it.

"Knight Harrison, Padawan Tann", she addressed them. "We need to talk". Iella turned to walk along the main corridor of the Temple and would lead them out and into the gardens. "I hope you both understand the need for your detainment after the events. I would be very disappointed if you did not, I am sure you can see that I needed to gather knowledge regarding this event and information on this possession so we can prevent this happening again. Also you DID pose a danger to all the members of the Silver Jedi, I could not simply have you both wandering about without knowing what the situation was".

She continued to walk and finally reached their destination, the Peach Orchard. The trees in bloom once more under Maya's deft touch which would always bring a smile to her face.

"I am pleased to see you are both doing well", she walked among the trees the aroma of the blossoms filling the senses. However, she turned to look at them knowing they are not, at least physically they are mending.

"I am going to have to ask you both to remain within the confines of the Temple for a little while yet, this is for your own good as I sense there is much turbulence within you both". She stopped and looked to them. "I am here to help you find your way back to your paths, now speak to me, I know you have questions, one does not go through something like this and come out unscathed .. I know you have doubts".

 

[Connor Harrison]

”Thank you, Master E’ron.”

With a small smile and bow of his head to the Grandmaster, Connor acknowledged her appearance and time given. He hadn’t really dealt with Iella very often, but he could feel how in control she was of the Order even if her presence wasn’t always visible. The fact she had granted an audience with them spoke volumes; either she was genuinely interested or genuinely afraid.

He followed Iella, side by side, as they walked out from the Temple into the rear gardens. Connor could feel Nima behind them, and that was enough, as long as she kept her mouth shut. This was his time with the Grandmaster, not hers.

Looking up at the beautiful gardens, the Silver Jedi certainly did know how to create spaces full of peace and serenity, and this was one. To his right, Connor saw the small lake that would run and lead into the mighty waterfall they were stood at an hour or so before, wrestling with their feelings and conscious.

Letting Iella move around the trees, almost like she was one amongst nature, Connor couldn’t help smile at her. She looked radiant amongst the muted colours of plants and blossom. Twisting his head slightly at the thought, he looked down at the ground and closed his eyes for a second. That wasn’t right. What was he doing? If anything, he was angry at the way she treated him. A moment passed and he slowly started to mirror her walking pattern along the garden.

”Of course I understand your approach to this. While I may not understand why it happened, I know that it did, and I hurt many of my family here. That Taung was a force I did not understand, and I was abused when I was acting to help expand the Order for you, not destroy it.”

He ran his hands over a large green hedge along the path as he walked.

”Master E’ron – I…I want to know if you trust me as a valued member of the Council I was informed I would be part of as a Knight. It strikes me after everything that has gone on, this is a move to enable you to keep a closer eye on me.”

Never meeting her eyes, he continued, Nima a few steps behind him.

”As for stating isolated in the grounds? I do not understand that choice, but I accept it. However I wish for you to grant me a request. Allow me to take Nima Tann as my Padawan. I know I am not a Master, but I feel I am the only one in the Order who can help bring her back in line with the Silver Jedi and focus her path to serving the light. I need to eradicate the doubt I instilled in her. And you.”

With that, he raised his eyes to look the Grandmaster.

”You know me, Iella. You know you can trust me. I am one of the most dedicated Jedi you have, and I would give my life to serve you. I would die for you.”

Why did he address her by her first name with such confidence? Behind him, he felt Nima steadily brew on the words he was saying, and Connor knew it would be winding her up. But he spoke the truth…to an extent.



[member="Iella E'ron"] [member="Nima Tann"]

 

[Nima Tann]

As she heard her caring, soft voice, she immediately shut her thoughts towards them, she wasn't going to let anyone enter her brain again, no matter how sweet they talked. She continued to slowly move behind them towards the gardens as they continued to speak. She stood silent, because she was bad at speaking, especially lying. And since Master E'ron was a master, she could understand something was wrong with her any second, so she stayed at the background, watching padawans and knights slowly walked past them, they finally arrived to the colorful gardens, wonderful... Simply wonderful. She could see the calmly flowing lake, going down towards the waterfall, and there were purple and blue flowers that were perfectly placed, they were one with the nature and their smells were making this place even more beautiful. She watched as Master E'ron slowly walked through the garden and looked towards Knight Harrison, seeing the evil grin on his face. As she listened his words carefully, she realized that there was something wrong in his tone.

So... caring... so... loving? She frowned, hoping that she misunderstood. But one sentence... that sentence made her burn with anger. I would die for you... What? What did he mean by that? Did he really mean that, he would just be acting to her, trying to make her believe, but his tone... Why did his tone change? She wanted to say something, but talking with this anger would cause some problems for both of them, so she just stood back and tried to calm herself down. Just calm down Nima, you probably misunderstood this, he was just acting. She repeated these words, and seconds later she could feel her anger was slowly fading away. But as their eyes met, she raised her right eyebrow, and he could understand the confusion and jealousy from her face.

[member="Connor Harrison"] [member="Iella E'ron"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

Connor Harrison | Nima Tann​

​

​

"It is precisely this lack of understanding that we need to keep you BOTH close to the Temple, Connor we don't know why it happened either or how. However, know that the hammers are secure and under investigation". She turned to look at him. She continued to listen to his words, as he went on, her brow knitted with his words. This did not seem like him at all. The promise of dying for her worried her greatly.

"I trusted you the day we met do you remember? when we first discovered Voss and began our plans for the future. You where so uncertain of yourself, full of doubts and fears and lost. Since that day you have become one of my most valued members of the Order. All members are and or will grow to be with time and training and show all members their sense of loyalty and determination. I see great things for you Connor and a Council member you will be. I still trust you if that is what you have doubts about", she turned to walk some more.

"But don't cloud your judgement with emotions of a more fundamental nature, you must remain open to all things all possibilities. The code is there for guidance not a set of rules that must be adhered to. The removal of emotion is not to deplete yourself of them, but simply to be mindful of them and not allow them to make the decision for you. Being fearful of something or angry with something or someone, is not enough to take you down a darker path, that would be ludicrous, heaven know Jedi face these emotions every single day, we are only beings and have the capacity it is our training and our control that sets us apart from the rest, it is much harder to be good then it is to be bad".

She then turned to regard Nima, standing looking into the girls eyes whether she met her or not. It was easy enough for Iella to sense her and her feelings and by the very fact she is trying to block her told Iella much more then Nima would wish. She had read the reports from both Master Sinopi and Master Heavenshield, knew well enough of the events that took place. Connor had physically assaulted her as well as mentally, and wonder what the motives are for the both of them to want this.

"I am incline not to agree for you to take Nima as Padawan, you will need to convince me of that", she did not take her eyes off Nima. "Padawan Nima you remain quiet, what are your thougths?". Iella would not brook silence from her.

 

[Nima Tann]

As she continued to listen as they spoke and watched their every movement, she was still thinking if his words were sincere or not. Even Master E'ron understood something was wrong with his words and reacted so. She watched her walk towards the garden, and she was looking really beautiful, almost like she was another flower in the garden. But she was a threat... Her beauty was a threat, and she wasn't going to let her... What was she thinking? She needed to remain calm, as Master E'ron could read her mind easily. She shook her head, and continued to listen.

She suddenly turn her eyes elsewhere as she realized she was looking towards her. Stay calm... Stay calm and stop thinking... Stop thinking... She filled her head with good memories, trainings, their meetings with her best friend Una, and the kiss... No... Not the kiss... She had to stop thinking about that. What if she read her mind... what if she learned? Stop thinking... She declined his offer, as Nima expected. She was jealous. She didn't want him take her as his padawan, because she knew. As she asked her a question, Nima was caught unprepared. She looked at her calm, but questioning eyes.

She quickly looked at Knight Harrison, and she met his cold gaze once more. What was happening? Was he mad at her because of what happened earlier? She didn't understand. But standing there without saying anything would cause some problems, so she cleared her throat, then started to talk, still thinking what should she say. "Umm... I was listening your words carefully, and I think you are right, Master E'ron. Because of my youth, I have done some bad things that I never should have. I thought... I thought that I loved him, I thought I was feeling strong. But I was wrong. My emotions made me let my guard down. My emotions have damaged the Order. Master E'ron you know me. I grew up here. After all those events I understood, and saw what have I done, and I am sincerely sorry for what I caused. I promise you to do what I can to erase the past." She smiled to her, two could play that game and she wasn't going to let her do all the wise talking.

"As for Knight Harrison, I know you still have doubts about... us. And I understand your concern. But I know that what I felt wasn't true. He was not himself and I couldn't see it. He will be a teacher for me and I will be his student. Nothing more..." Wow... She didn't even... How did she do that? How did she lie that good? Her voice tone didn't even change, as if like she was actually telling the truth. The thoughts of her taking him from Nima, was giving her the strength to do this. She was never good at speaking to people at first, and now she could lie without even thinking. What was he turning her into, and why was she allowing it?

[member="Connor Harrison"] [member="Iella E'ron"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Picking some green leaves form the low-lying bushes around the gardens, Connor listened as the Grandmaster spoke, feeling her anxiety and resolve in her voice; polar opposite to Nima's evident confusion and irritation via her Force signature. While what she said was true, it wasn’t exactly what Connor wanted to hear. Not yet anyway, not for him.

”Very well, Master E’ron. If that is your wish, who am I but to understand your reasons and obey. You are, of course, the Grandmaster of said Order. I do however challenge your decision to keep me secluded in the Temple. I can be no use to you or the Order here, my place is out there – searching for why, how and what drives our enemy and when they will strike next.”

He beckoned to Nima with his hand gently.

”Padawan Tann can stay here of course, she will benefit from more training, more exploration of the Force and a cleansing of her own mind, and I will help when – if – I can. She needs someone strong, mindful and focused to help bring her to the point where she is confident to stand alongside the Silver Jedi.”

Connor stopped and turned to Iella, a lower tone to his voice.

”Master E’ron, what you said about remaining open to all possibilities, that is something I am focused on more than ever. I have experienced both sides of a force that can be used for good and evil, light and dark – the positive and negative of the very essence of what creates the Force; life itself. Master E’ron, I need you to give me the chance to discover how far I can understand and control this balance. If I can do that, maybe I can help repair the damage I have done and help make the Order stronger and more powerful.”

Turning around a yellow rose bush, he drew his finger across some of the petals.

”I give you my word I will take this time to reflect and talk to the others about the current situation, but please don’t keep me locked up here too long. I’ve already been a prisoner long enough, and that is not something I can cope with again.”



[member="Nima Tann"] [member="Iella E'ron"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

Connor Harrison | Nima Tann​

​

She stood for a moment, listening to them both, contemplating their thoughts and words. Her main concern is the Padawan. Something hidden behind the veil of her words which set Iella's mind to alert. She could show it or they would not sense it through her.

"Firstly, I will not permit you taking Nima as Padawan, to much had that night in the tower that it would not help to inform on her training. There is much confusion in you Nima still... and I will address that personally, by taking you as my Padawan. I wont you to come to me when you have any questions or concerns about the Order, what it is to be Jedi and the darkside. Nima is sense you are having thoughts about equal to what Connor has voiced. Your thoughts betray you young one".

Iella moved to one of the peach trees, her senses reaching out around her until she found what she seeked. Her hand raised and plucked two ripe peaches from their branches and held one in each hand.

Firstly, she opened one, a fresh unspoilt peach with clear flesh and oozing with juice, the seed in the centre ready for germination. She extended her hand with the peach to Connor for him to take. The next peach again, she split the flesh, this time rotten to the core, with brown corrupt flesh and inside the grabs eating away at the remaining fresh flesh. She extended her hand toward Nima for her to take it.

"That is what the darkside will do to you, what Nima holds in her hand, illustrates it perfectly, it will over time eat away at your very core until there is nothing of you. Your body will live, but you will not longer be yourself .. only a dark being will remain in your stead".

"No I do not believe you can 'tap' into both sides of the force. You may use elements of it in certain areas .. but to be true light sider then remain away from that path".

"Connor, I will release you from your restrictions so you can work, the same for you Nima, but I would you to report to me tomorrow morning for training". She turned and bowed to them both as she prepared to leave them holding their respective peaches. She would allow Connor to find his own path to research his ideas, she would be there for him if needed. Her hand raised as the passed the last tree, a fresh ripe peach landed in her hand, which she sunk her teeth into as she went back to the Temple.

 

[Connor Harrison]

The Knight stood still and listened, hands behind his back, as the Grandmaster spoke her decision, thankfully aimed more at Nima by their side than to him.

Looking at the Padawan, crimson skin hidden beneath her robe, a small smile flickered on his lips as he noticed the peach handed to him; another one of Iella’s metaphors. Taking the soft fruit halves, Connor smiled at Iella, knowing what she was doing.

He watched Nima as the example of her rotten core was highlighted by something so simple, that it would speak more than words could – evidence how something tainted could eat away at something so pure and good and leave it rotten inside.

Connor lowered his head in acknowledgement of her decision, not wanting to question further as she moved away. The Grandmaster didn’t falter as she tucked into another fruit, casually walking back to the Temple.

After a moment, letting the words sink in, Connor looked at Nima, who met his gaze, and he raised his eyebrows.

”I expected nothing less.”

He took a bite from the juicy, soft fruit, sucking in the juices and savouring the taste just as nature intended.

”This decision will be the making of you, Nima. I suggest you make the wise choice.”

Connor didn’t wait for a reply as he turned, and walked away the opposite direction from Iella. The path was now placed before her; follow Connor and her dark thoughts of delusion that they would manipulate, or follow Iella and her offer of salvation and exploration of her potential.


[member="Iella E'ron"] [member="Nima Tann"]

 

[Nima Tann]

She listened her words that she understood that she couldn't conceal her thoughts that much, so Master E'ron realized that there were something wrong with her. Weak... she was weak... She couldn't even do a simple job and close herself to the world. As she was thinking about her stupidity and weakness, she got scared suddenly seeing the Master in front of her, with an ugly looking peach in her hands, then she slowly gave it to her, and another one was in Knight Harrison's hands, but that one was looking delicious. She was talking about the darkness and what it does to the core of one's heart which is tainted with it, and then she slowly walked towards the Temple. She thought about her words, with such a sincere and confident voice, maybe she was telling the truth. Maybe her heart was like that too, and it needed a cleaning. She didn't know.

She looked at the Knight's eyes, meeting his cold gaze once again. She didn't know what to do next, and as always she wanted to hear a word from him, a command that she didn't need to think twice about and just do it. He spoke, one more time and it was not what she wanted to hear. He told her to decide the way she wanted to go, and slowly started to walk in the opposite direction of Master E'ron, to the waterfall. She stood alone, once again trying to decide which way to go, the rotten peach still in her hands. With a reflex, she started to follow him, she still had questions to ask and she wouldn't let him go without finding the answers. "W...Wait!..." She shouted as the Knight continued to walk, ignoring her. She quickened her steps, trying to catch up with him. As she was just behind him, she reached to his shoulder, stopping him. "Will you just give up on me like this? What happened to you back there, huh? Did you mean that words, that you said to her?" The last words come louder, jealousy and confusion could be read from her face.

[member="Connor Harrison"] [member="Iella E'ron"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

As he heard Nima coming, he didn’t falter in his steps, but her boots crunched louder and faster over the gravel and her hand pulled him back, stopping him violently. More than he wanted. He turned sharply to her, as she poured her heart out with her demands for answers.

Connor raised his right hand, finger extended, to silence her, the peach still in his left.

”Ok. Stop!”

He shouted, and it silenced her; eyes narrowing to him, but his face was set in stone and his jaw muscles tensed as he bit his tongue.

”This has to end. Right now. Grow up, Nima. This is wrong – all of this. Taking on an Order? Come on – we have NOTHING to use against them, nothing. Us? What us? There is no us. I’m trying to save my sanity here and soul as a Jedi and you’re verging on becoming something unstable and dangerous.”

Connor shook his head and placed his hand on her arm.

”Follow Iella. Let her help you become something wonderful, because if we walk down this path, we will not be ourselves and we will learn to hate each other, which I know you don’t want.”

Bringing up the peach between them, Connor began to crush it in his hand, bursting the skin, pulping the flesh in his grip and letting the juices trickle down his hand to the floor.

”Otherwise, THIS will be me. I’ll destroy myself as quickly as I nearly did on Rhen Var.”

Looking at her, he dropped the mangled and crushed fruit on the floor, turning away and continuing to walk away.


[member="Nima Tann"] [member="Iella E'ron"]

 

[Nima Tann]

She stood quiet and listened his words as she met his cold gaze, colder than others but he still had some confusion in his head, she could sense it. His words were like lightsabers cutting her skin slowly, there is no us... But this time, he wasn't telling the truth, his tone was not cold, just broken... Broken from everything... Just like her... Like he was just saying those empty words because he didn't want her to follow him in this path. But walking on the path of darkness, one couldn't do that alone, no matter how strong he/she was. She knew it, because she was on the same path before, and maybe she still is. And looking to his confused look and shaking voice, she knew that he was already deep down in that path, and she didn't want to leave his side no matter what.

As she felt his hand on her arm, she felt how soft and caring his grip was. She felt happy as she felt his gentle touch, and hearing his soft voice, but at the same time, her heart hurt that seeing him like this, how much he tried to stay strong, there was a breaking point for everyone. As she watched him slowly crushing the peach in his hand, letting the juices drop to the ground from between his fingers. And then without waiting any answers, he continued to walk, dropping the peach to the ground. And as before she continued to follow him, and she continued to speak. "Yet you are here, as a valuable member of the Order. You didn't destroy yourself, what you lived in the past made you just stronger, made you the Knight that you are now."

One more time, she held his hand, this time more gently and looked at his eyes. Then she slowly placed the rotten peach at his hand. "When you think that you are losing yourself, you still have this, don't forget that." she smiled. "I believe in you. I believe you can control both sides of the Force. You did it before, and you can do it now." Her voice started to shake but she stood strong. "There is 'us', Connor... There will always be... I know it... You know it. Loving and trusting someone with all your heart isn't wrong, and doesn't make you unstable and dangerous, that's what makes you strong. I am strong because of you. I am strong because I love you. Nothing... nothing you say will change that. Push me... hurt me... as much as you want, I will still be here for you. I will still continue to love you. You don't need to run anymore, you don't need to walk this path alone. You don't need to try to endure all the pain all by yourself. Let me walk beside you on your path. Let me help you. Please..."

[member="Connor Harrison"] [member="Iella E'ron"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

He sighed as he heard the boots behind her, closing his eyes hoping she would give up, but again she spoke and was now pleading as if her whole world was simply fuelled by…Connor. He did enjoy the fact he meant so much to someone, but this was starting to spin them off the axis they were balanced on.

Ignoring her words, Connor couldn’t ignore the hand she placed on his and stopped him, facing him like someone clinging onto something that was falling from their grasp. He had never seen such devotion – such obsession – from anyone, about anything before. Part of him enjoyed it, but part of him knew it was more dangerous than she understood.

”Nima – “

The peach was placed in his hand, fresh orange skin with a sickly brown, yellow core. Connor sighed, closing his eyes as she spoke – words of unity, of love, of hope and compassion. When she finished, he exhaled and turned his hand, letting the peace drop to the floor. He brought his boot over and stepped on it, pulling back across the gravel to rip up and tear the fruit into a wet slime on the floor beneath them both.

He raised his head to look at her….and he snapped. Connor felt wave of anger surge over him, resentment to himself, Nima and Iella – a violent rage that he wanted to unleash. Lunging for her throat, he grabbed her and pulled her sideways into the cover of the garden wall and squeezed. His eyes flashed with that icy grey stare.

”Will you STOP saying that! You don’t love me! You loved the Taung that MADE me…this! Twisted, violent! I am not like this! I hate you for this!”

He gritted his teeth and pushed harder, forcing her back against the wall.

”You were better than this – Iella could save you. You are making me a monster, and I can’t let you do this to me….to the Order…to yourself….”

Knowing he had to stop as her eyes flickered and mouth fell to fight for breath, he let go and pushed his palm into the stone wall, not using the Force, but his own brute strength to let his anger out on the brick rather than Nima.

He span away, walking backwards and he pointed at her, his eyes glazed and venom to his voice.

”If you follow me again I will kill you. If you take the Order from me, I will kill you. If you destroy everything I am working to become…I will kill you.”

Looking at her, he shook his head and took off down the path way again in a firm, quick walk, brushing both hands over his head and exhaling deeply.

”Oh god…Coci…what have I become….“



[member="Nima Tann"] [member="Iella E'ron"]

 

[Nima Tann]

As she felt the anger inside of him growing, she knew what was coming. As the peach slowly fell to the ground from his hand, she saw the fire inside of his eyes. Then a second later, she felt his hand hardly squeezing her throat, making her breath stop. She coughed, coughed and coughed and struggled to breathe. But the smile on her face never disappeared. She didn't understand, but she was liking it. She was liking that he was killing her slowly. Then with the same quickness, he let her go, as always. It was like a routine for them. "Connor..." She only could say as she regained her breathing rhythm. "I LOVED you. Not that Taung... You stop saying me that!" She stopped for a moment and continued. "I am... not doing anything to you. I didn't use any tricks to make you do this. You are doing this to yourself. The way you conceal yourself... is making you a monster. I only wanted to help you."

She slowly stood up from the ground, as she saw him quickly going towards the waterfall, she shouted. "This is your fault! You can't control yourself, because this is what you are, you are a COWARD! A coward that is scared from his own being! A coward that thinks he can do everything on his own! News flash! You CAN'T! How do you expect to control both of the sides when you are scared to USE it? I LOVE YOU! Yes. Everyone can hear this. I am not scared like you! The big Knight Harrison is scared to talk with a girl?" She started to laugh. They were lucky because there was no one around, or else they would be in big trouble. She realized that his steps started to slow down, and then he stopped. "What? Finally found the strength to look at me? Or will you kill me again as you tried countless times before? "

[member="Connor Harrison"] [member="Iella E'ron"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Get out of my head, Nima!

Connor was close to tears; not out of upset, but frustration and anger. He felt like he was literally about to combust with such violent Force energy, he would bring down the whole Temple behind them. She was still shouting, louder and louder.

I will kill you…she’s destroying you!

There was those words again – love. Coward. Fault.

And then she laughed, and he slowed.

Show her. It’s ok. Let it out.

Connor turned to her, seeing that grin on her face that she was enjoying this confrontation. Even then her voice, child-like and fully of attitude taunted him, and he closed the distance between her. His eyes now devoid of that cool blue – now an empty sheer grey.

”I am no coward, Nima.”

He pulled back his left hand and backhanded Nima as hard as he could across the face, hearing the split of flesh as her head bolted sideways with the impact. Reaching out he pulled her robe to him, yanking her forward before him.

”You are poison to this Order.”

Twisting her arm behind her back, she let out a yelp of pain – or pleasure – as Connor drove her forward into the courtyard wall, pushing her into the stone. With a swift kick of his boot he took out her right leg from under her and as she fell, brought up his knee into her stomach, crushing the wind from her, and letting go of her robe to let her fall to his feet.

”Goodbye, Nima.”

His eyes coming back to blue, he turned and left Nima on the floor, seeing no-one around and holding the back of his head as he walked away, slightly unsteady on his feet.


[member="Nima Tann"]