Mos Espa

Darth Strife:

He hugged the thrashing boy tight to his chest and whisked him off the main road at the same time, drawing deeper into the nearby shadows. He wouldn't humiliate the boy for having a breakdown. Losing a decade of life plus memories was more than someone should have to bare. Drawing closer to the hot baked brick of the nearest building, he kept his back to the crowd and looked Adonias in the eye as he spoke. "You need to remember because you need to be you." He knew that was cryptic and nonsensical to the boy but it was all he could put forth into the noisy air. So instead of trying to explain, he just hugged the boy like the world would break apart if he let go. And for a moment it was as though he was hugging his own son, long dead, who'd never had the chance to grow up. In his heart, he resolved to ensure this boy had a different future. This boy would have the chance he never gave to his own son.

Blinking rapidly to erase the moisture in his eyes, he pulled back and avoided eye contact with the boy. "Let's go grow up, shall we?" His tone was gentle, far gentler than any words he'd used before with Adonias.

Darth Strife:

Pride in the child washed over him. He had that same indomitable sprit that Crystal possessed. As the boy straightened his spine and wiped away all trace of tears, Strife felt himself doing the same on the inside. It was time to be strong and fix this. He wasn't quite sure how to do it but it was time to rely on the force. He had quite a group of strong force users to aid him. A wry grin moved onto his face, he'd never expected to ask children for help but it felt like the right thing to do in this case.

"I'm not sure," he answered Adonias honestly. "But I will be there every step of the way, that I can promise." He nodded at the boy and then offered a hand to him so they could walk together back to the ship hand in hand. He had a theory and had decided to try it to reverse this process even if he wasn't certain it was correct. Chances were worth taking sometimes. The thought flitted through his brain as he stared down at Adonias.

Darth Strife:

Every step down the dusty path felt as if it was in slow motion. He knew it was silly but every moment felt like one more second of time with his son from decades ago. He could remember it as though it was yesterday. The patter of feet in the morning and his son's soft body launching onto him, pulling him from sleep so suddenly. The beaming smile always greeting him as he walked through the door after a long mission. The smudges of dirt adorning his son after helping his mother in the garden all day. He held the memories close, they would never leave him and he would always hate himself for erasing any possibility of future memories. But as he walked, it was as though his son was alive again. For a moment, he looked down at Adonias' calm face and saw his son. And then he realized that this boy really did look like his son and he was hit by a stunning realization. It struck him dumb so he just nodded awkwardly as Adonias regained his memories. Could it be? Could this really be his son? He stared hard at the boy as he walked towards Crystal. His son had perished when he was three after the fire that killed his family and destroyed the farm. He thought he had found his body, he'd held the ashes in his hands. His thoughts became frantic and he analyzed the way that the boy walked, tilted his head, and even spoke. He was certain after a long moment. He had no idea how or when but this was his son, in the flesh, somehow living and breathing. Emotion hit him like a speeder and a tear rolled down his cheek.

Crystal:

She'd collected herself after her master had run off the path down Adonias, slowly pulling herself together through sheer will power. She almost wished she could go back to that unshakable fifteen year old attitude and insight. She'd been so confident and unshakable at that age. What had happened? She'd adored Strife and those feelings mixed up with her bitterness from today left her a mess that she tried to hide on the inside as Adonias walked up to her. "Hey, did your memories come back? Guess you were right..." She looked away, slightly ashamed of the rant she'd shouted before everything came back to her.

Darth Strife:

He half choked on a sob, surprised to find himself crying. "Son!" He snatched the boy before him up and pulled him tightly against him again for another hug. Through the force, he could feel his son, his essence and knew it was truly him. There was no disguising who he was, but how was it even possible? Pushing those thoughts out of his mind, he set his son down after the long hug and a bit out of breath said, "You have been missed greatly. We have a lot to talk about but right now I think it's time to get you all back to your actual ages." Beckoning to his son and Crystal, he walked back up the ramp and entered the ship next to them.

Crystal:

For a long moment she just watched as the scene unfolded in front of her. Adonias was actually Strife's son? She blinked, once, then twice. She felt the storm of swirling emotions in the pit of her stomach and she wasn't sure how to tell what each of those emotions were so she swallowed them all down. Only one question remained. What did that mean for her? She followed wordlessly when Strife entered the ship.

Crystal:

She stiffened in Adonias' arms before shrugging him off. She wasn't angry. Or at least she didn't think she was. She was definitely bitter though. "My home was slaughtered before me when I was nine. I don't think that's ever magically coming back." She softened her glare though, sensing his happiness. Whispering softly before continuing into the ship she said, "I am glad you got your father back though. I really am." She put her head down and didn't look up again even when she was standing in the ship's cargo area, waiting for her master to reveal his plan.

Darth Strife:

He waited until his apprentices were in the ship, then retrieved the relic from his cabin. "I am fairly certain I can reverse the effects of the relic though it will take a tremendous amount of force usage in which I will need you two to lend a hand by joining with me through the force." He offered a weak smile. "I think I calculated correctly." Weakness tugged at him already. He worried he wouldn't be strong enough even with their help and that this would not go well. Either way he would need to retreat to his cabin for a day to heal himself through the force. "Shall we begin?" He moved into the cell and stood by the baby's head, extending both hands so that if the children took them, they would be standing in a circle around the sleeping child.

Crystal:

She took Master Strife's hand and Adonias' hand with her other, then stood silently waiting. She wasn't sure what she would do when she was back in her own body. She technically wasn't even Strife's apprentice anymore. He had just batted her and knocked her out. She didn't have any fight left in her though and couldn't bring herself to care. She still hadn't found and wiped out the rogues who slaughtered her family, or at least she didn't think she had. She knew the last few years were lost to her in terms of memories. She still had so much left to accomplish but didn't know how to get it all done. She sighed heavily then focused on the feel of the hands in hers. It grounded her which was what she needed right now.

Darth Strife:

He took a deep breath as his apprentices completed the circle and then reaching deep within himself, he connected to the force. The relic floated from the floor to a position above them all and began to pulse with a reddish glow. He closed his eyes, blocking out all distraction. "No matter what you hear or see, don't let go of each other's hands!" He shouted the words to be heard above the increasing high pitched whine that filled the air. He wasn't sure how complicated this process would be or what kinds of visions or dangers could accompany it. All he knew is that if the circle broke while they were in the middle of this process, those affected may well stay children forever.

Crystal:

With her eyes closed tightly against the gale force winds that whipped up, Crystal wasn't sure what was going on. Her body felt as though it was being ripped apart and put back together. She couldn't hold back her screams. It was more pain than she'd ever felt and all she could do was hold on tightly to the two hands keeping her from collapsing. Visions floated in her mind, those of past, present, and future events. She couldn't make sense of them while enduring the pain but she stored it all away for the future. She could feel her new body taking shape, thought she felt herself growing and becoming an adult. She thought she heard Adonias' voice. But then it all seemed to go wrong. The wind increased; the noise was so shrill it hurt her ears and she felt liquid drip from her left ear. Her body stopped growing but the pain was still there. "What's happening? Strife?!" She called out blindly.

Darth Strife:

Drawing on his strength more fully than ever before, he opened himself completely to the force and the promptings of the relic. He began the delicate manipulations necessary to use the force to rewire the intricate innerworkings of the relic. Technically this shouldn't be possible by himself but with three strong force users, perhaps it would be enough. He drew on the strength of the two children holding his hands, their connection to the force bolstering his own. Visions of his wife flashed before his eyes, her on their wedding day, her face as she gave birth to the twins, the love she shined everytime he looked her way. He smiled as he worked furiously through the force. His wife, was she alive too? He knew that she must be dead. If she had been alive, she would have found him. Their bond would last forever.

For a minute, while the sound of the wind and noise of the relic raged around him, he thought his plan was working. The children were all aging before him, years being added onto their bodies as he watched. But then the pain began in his chest and his head. His grasp of the force slipped. It wasn't enough. Maybe if he'd waited a day and rested. Or maybe if the children were a bit older. But they didn't have enough power. "No!" He shouted in frustration. The aging process reverted before his eyes and the storm in the ship died down even as the pain and pressure in his chest increased. With a loud crash, the relic hit the floor and silence came over the cargo area. Only Strife's harsh breathing could be heard. He wavered on his feet, then fell to his knees. Darkness flashed before his eyes and he started coughing, flecks of blood staining the durasteel floor.

Crystal:

As the wind abruptly stopped, crystal collapsed bonelessly to the ground. In defeat, she stared at her hands that were still child sized. Would she be stuck in this form for forever? She couldn't stomach the idea of reliving her childhood again though she knew it could have advantages. She took deep breaths as the pain subsided finally then looked around herself, finally aware of what was going on around her. The sight of Strife in such a weakened state surprised and scared her slightly. She'd never seen him this weak. There had been moments in which he had pushed his limits as she grew up but never anything like this. She felt a tinge of guilt, Strife had nearly killed himself to help them. Why? She knew he cared deeply for Adonias especially with the discovery that he was his lost son, but why try to help her and Eimhin?

Darth Strife:

He struggled to breath through the coughing, not able to acknowledge when Adonias came to his side. Finally the fit was over and he used the offered rag to wipe bloody spit from his lips. Offering a wry grin to the boy he said, "It will take a lot more than this to kill someone as ill-tempered as I." He stopped talking as another coughing fit over took him. The agony that swept over him during the coughing made him wonder if he was indeed dying. All he knew was that he needed to rest. "Help me back to my cabin?" He offered a hand to Adonias, letting him decide if he wanted to aid him. Strife wasn't sure he could stand even with the help and closed his eyes briefly as fatigue set in.

Crystal:

She rushed over and took a place under Strife's other arm, taking half his weight. She winced as she did so, still feeling incredibly sore and battered. It took quite a while for Strife to hobble back to his cabin with their help but finally he slid his weight onto his bed. As soon as his head touched the pillow, he was asleep. Or unconscious. She hoped it wasn't the later. She wasn't sure how they could help if he was injured critically. They had a med pack and bacta tank but no medical droid. She hesitated, "Should we have put him in the bacta tank?" She looked at Adonias questioningly. Strife hadn't asked for that so she assumed he was okay but what if he had a brain injury or something?