Dagobah's Open Terrain

Stop it!

Anna wasn't about to loose her grip on the young daughter of Aerandir. Her grip tightened protectively, even through Morgan's thrashing about. They never stopped running, even for a second. The echoing thuds of footfalls rang louder and louder within the Seer's ears. She felt the being swerve, leap, duck, running on all fours, she'd fancy to believe. She'd never seen a Demon of Iego, but she'd red what little data there was on them. None of it seemed pleasant. And to think, this girl had survived and vicious attack from one. It was astounding.

And Anna wasn't about to let the creature try its claws at it again.

The dark outline of a building loomed over them quicker than Anna had first thought. How fast was she running? It didn't matter. Clutching Morgan tighter to her person, ignoring the jabbing pain in her side from strain, and the burning sensation in her arms from incomplete healing, she spoke, clearly out of breath.

When we get inside, I'll find a way to close the doors, and you find one of your glowrods ok?

She paused, thinking it would be important to stress this fact above everything else.

And what...ever you do.... Don't.... leave ... my side.....

Morgan knew this place. Anna felt the recognition rolling off of her like the rain water. She wondered briefly, if her tainted blood was staining the girl's clothing. What kind of question was that? If they didn't hurry and get out of danger, Morgan's own blood would, once again, stain her garments. Anna forced the dark thoughts out of her mind and approached the building, still at a dead run.

Brace yourself....

Stooping, Anna released the girl as gently as she could on the ground, and tucked into a roll. Now crouched, facing the building, she flung out both her hands and clasped the fabric of the force in her hands. Focus, a technique that Anna had studied seriously for the years she had access to the Courscanti archives at the Jedi temple. There would be moments when she'd have very little time to summon great amounts of force energy. A statement of Yoda's came to mind then, 'There is do, or do not, there is no try'. With a cry which issued from her very core, the seer pulled back, bar and locks, metal and latch pulled away and the massive double doors burst opened, revealing the gaping maw of an entry way.

Go!

She shouted, taking a few moments to catch her miniscule breath. Her vision was blurry. The pain now seemed only a ripple in the vast torrent of fatigue she was not feeling. Without another second's hesitation, the seer picked herself off the rain soaked ground and darted for the doorway, the thudding of their assailant merging with the pounding of her overactive heart.

It felt familiar, slipping back under the dark, chill waterfall of Bogan's influence. But now, her understanding caused her to recoil slightly. Every injury on her person seemed ten times more painful, suddenly. It brought her to her knees, just within the doorway. Everything became so clear to her in that moment, the sensations almost overwhelmed her.

She felt the chemical charge in the glowrod as it was activated. She felt the smallest photon rocket through the air. Her vision enhanced everything in blinding contrast. Grunting in annoyed agony, she turned over onto her back and lifted a hand to the opened door, a torrent of rain bombarding the ground just beyond. With no shame, the Seer called out to the dark energy around her, verbally commanding it to do as she spoke. Her words weren't pleasant to listen to, especially in a place like this. Though, to the Seer, it almost was second nature. She only felt mild discomfort, unlike the scathing razors she'd felt before. Arks of powerful, purple tented lightening danced from her fingertips in an elegant, frightening cadence. They wrapped around the two massive doors, pulled them tight and knit them together, the once black metal turning a deep glowing orange as the two structures fuzed. The smell of ozone and molten metal lay thick in the air. Once the rise and fall of her voice had reached a crescendo, she fell silent, her arm dropping to her side. Her chest heaved out great quantities of air. Her arm trembled, twitching slightly, fingers still sparking with electricity.

Anna turned her gaze away from the dimming ribbon of melted steel and faced Morgan, a thin smile coming to her lips.

Don't try that at home.... ok?

The force was in balance now. The dagger was pleased, so, other than the likely traumatized girl next to her, Anna felt like everything was going pretty well.

I don't know what we're looking for, but I suppose that this place is abandoned.... this is where you wanted to go right?....

She suddenly added, almost forcefully. Her gaze snapped to Morgan again, a curious, hard line eteched into her face, shadowed by the glowrod in Morgan's grasp.

What do you think we're looking for? Take your time....we should be safe here for now---

And then the pounding started- furious, strong pounding.

The pounding, and screaming, and flashes of images, all played clearly within Anna's mind as she began to stand up. Her joints hurt. The cuts and slashes all over her body stung more pronounced than ever. She felt like shaking her head and walking away from it all, like finding a medical room and wrapping herself in bacta bandages and going to sleep. But too much had to be done right now. She was still a Seer, and she was still a protector of Fate's wishes.

And fate wanted this child alive...... Obviously, the creature outside, didn't.

Come on,

She said, walking over to Morgan, as nothing else was happening. Even the thrum of rhythmic pounding sound musical. She'd never seen one of the being's species, and now she was beginning to thank the force she hadn't. Even Anna was having trouble staying alert, her mind wishing to be lulled by the very real danger, which so musically made it's way into her hearing.

Kneeling down in front of Morgan, she scooped the girl up into her arms and stood again, looking around, as if she had eyes to see by. The darkness was so thick, even Anna had issues seeing. Though, with just that thought, the darkness parted for her, allowing her a perfect view of the halls and corridors of the base, even without taking a step.

And it was then, that she got her idea.

I don't think you have any emotional attachment to this place... I think I know how we can disable our guest...

Anna said, as she held Morgan closer to her. She began to walk away from the door, farther into the dark maze of hallways.

Don't worry about him Morgie. Even if he does get in, we'll make sure he doesn't enjoy his stay. Everything's going to be alright, ok? Just calm down...

But even as she spoke these words, Anna knew that it wasn't going to all be ok. She knew, for some reason, fate had purposed her here, far after Morgan left this world in safety. But there was no use in telling the little girl that. Morgan needed no reason to stay. She had to leave, she had to be safe. Fate told Anna that much.

But what about herself?

*The dull thud and clang of the doors falling inward met Morgan's ears, but just as she tensed up, she also heard his howl of pain. It was, like other noises he made, beautiful. But not sickeningly beautiful, as she now saw him, but truly beautiful; she knew it was bad of herself to revel in others' pain, but if there was one being in the galaxy she felt deserved it, it was him. The evil, evil beast.

And now he was speaking to her, through the air, through the Force. Taunting her. Telling her the darkness wouldn't "protect her," calling Anna a "sorcerer." Beckoning Morgan to him. Telling her to step into the light. He'd told her to come into the light before... right before he'd killed her. Or nearly had. The images were starting to creep back into her mind, and she started to freeze up again. But no. She couldn't. She didn't want to. If she did, she'd be an easy target! So she cried out, in the Eldalambë, in that language she and Psallo somehow shared...*
Alamernyë i mor varyan! ("I don't want the darkness to protect me!")
*She didn't know if Anna knew what she was saying, but she didn't care; it was for Psallo's ears only. Perhaps she shouldn't be speaking aloud anyway, lest she give Psallo a direction to follow. So when she spoke again, it was through the Force, only to him.*
Mernyes nancarel. ("I want it to destroy you.")
*No other being in the galaxy had ever elicited this much contempt from Morgan. She'd defended darksiders from her father's retribution before, but this was one being she could never defend. He was a truly grotesque monster, a beast of the darkness, one who'd deceived to her, lied to her, and tried to eat her! Had successfully sliced flesh from her chest and bitten off part of her shoulder! While she felt everyone deserved a chance to redeem themselves, she knew there was no redemption for this beast.*
There is no light here...
*This she whispered, so that only Anna could hear it, and then, even if she was paying attention. She whispered it even as she was being set down inside the room Anna had forced open. In fact, she hadn't even noticed until now that they'd entered a new room, so focused she'd been at spitting back curses at Psallo. But now Anna knelt down and revealed her plan: To place explosives at the base of the complex, and detonate them on Psallo.

Morgan turned toward the explosives pile. She had to focus her thoughts, prevent herself from being eager at the prospect. But she was determined. He was a monster and no one else deserved to be tortured at his hands. He deserved it. Instead of question, she nodded, walking toward the pile. She was tiny, but not weak; she carefully pried a few explosives off the pile and into her arms, then turned toward Anna.*
Just tell me where to put them.
*She wasn't scared anymore. She was steadfast, determined, ready to do anything if it meant the end of Psallo. That monster didn't deserve to live any longer. But was that for her to decide? Of course it was. She was a victim of his, and so were many others. So would be many others. For all their sakes, she had to make sure Psallo was stopped. If she had the opportunity now, she wasn't going to waste it.

Perhaps that was the Force's reason for bringing her to Dagobah.*

Yea... I know.

Anna said in response to Morgan's last statement. She wouldn't respond to the first, in a language Anna herself had studied. It wasn't important. Morgan was a frightened child of Ashla, and Anna knew all too well the torment working along side the darkness gave to those of the light. She use to be like that also.

Stooping down to pick up one of the square explosives, she nodded to the door with a firm expression.

We'll stick together. Getting separated will only give him a chance to pick us off one at a time. I think we can wire ten of thees explosives to one det switch.

She paused, scanning the room for linking wire and the switches she had already made mention off. Good, everything was here. She nodded in satisfaction.

And I think I red somewhere that you could link all the switches to one. That would set them all off at the same time. So let's get to it!

She tried to add a little cheer to her voice, at least for Morgan's sake. Anna knew the plan would work, but she also knew that something would go wrong, and she'd have to face this monster Morgan was so terror stricken over. Fate told her such terrible things some times. She almost shuttered at the thought, but forced herself to calm down.

And then a thought entered her mind...a soothing, comforting, melodious one. She took a few steps toward the door, her body's afterthought to her last spoken statement. But her eyeless gaze fell upon the explosive in her hand. With just a thought, she could trigger it...and every other explosive in this room. It could all be over. She could escape the pain and agony she knew Fate had in store for her. Hadn't it done enough to her already? Why must it torment her further? What had she done to anger it? Her grip tightened on the thing, longing to awaken it's inner power filled Anna's mind, seeping into her muscles and stirring the force within the Seer.

"Just tell me where to put them."

It all came rushing back like a rebounding wave. Anna almost dropped the explosive, and, with a gasp she caught it again. Realization hit her. She wasn't the only one here. The repercussions of her actions in ending her own life right here and now, would certainly destroy the one being she was trying to save, and innocent young child. The Dagger quavered in protest against her side, and Anna clinched her teeth. The dark hunter was targeting her now. She'd have to tread lightly.

The switches are more heavy. I'll take them. You can carry the explosives....but don't drop them.

She said, recovering rather quickly from her bout of insanity. Handing Morgan the explosive she herself had, she helped the girl gather at least ten, and then set about gathering a few det switches.

Alright, fallow me.

So, she traversed the halls, ever keeping sight on Morgan, and remaining near her. Along they way, she pointed out places to put one of the explosives, and then attached a trigger wire to each one, making sure they'd be linked. They would make three more trips back to the room for more of the bombs, but, if the creature didn't get in, they'd have time. And if he did....well they'd have to work a little faster. But Anna thought it safer if she let Morgan deal with the dangerous things. Anna didn't trust herself.

At least, not right now.

" I'm that ray of light" She had said.
Finally, Psallo had reached the top of the tower and now looked across the large octagonal expanse of glass to the other side. Below him was a long shaft, ending in another large octagonal expanse of black tilled flooring. His shadow cast juxtaposed itself in massive outline against the moon, throwing itself on the floor yards below him. A deep, malicious laughter rippled through his throat, within his mind, and into the girl's thoughts.

~Then I will devour you...~

His deep dark voice rolled forth into the force like a smooth ebbing wave of black ocean water, soothing, yet terrifying at the same time.

Then all tonal melody aside, Psallo threw back his head with a echoing howl and drove his claws into the thick clear glass beneath him. The crack rent the air like a gunshot, even as it splintered across the skylight's surface like a ravenous jagged serpent, to the other side. Then, branching out, the breach splintered, leaping and bounding over the once smooth glass surface. To Psallo, the odd geometry was beautiful, like an ever changing work of art, ever adding to it's elegance by shattering glass. And soon, the smaller pieces began to give way, deserting the skylight and crashing to the floor below. Thus, other pieces followed suite, and soon splinters of glass rained down, taking the golden carnivore with them.