It has been several weeks since the incredible events which
shattered Darana's essence in two and combined her Dark side with
the life force of Rachel Summers. More and more, the woman in
Darana's body has been growing stronger in the ways of the Light,
exploring the mysteries of the Force. She remembers little to
nothing of her life as Darana, Lady of the Sith. Meanwhile, the
two entities in the body of Rachel Summers have merged to become
one, neither Darana nor Rachel, but a new, hybrid being bearing
certain knowledges and powers from both. As the portion of Darana
which infused Rachel's body was the darkest of her Dark side,
there was more identification with her true name, Gina, than
Darana. So the "hybrid" young woman took the name Regina,
combining the name of her vessel and fuller self with the name of
her stronger and Darker self. The two sides of Darana have been in
vague, intermittent contact with one another during this time,
occasional ghostly mental touches which melt away in a heartbeat.
It is near nightfall. Regina is lying down in her chambers,
preparing for sleep, when she feels that everlasting Presence
drift into her awareness once more. This time, the connection is a
more solid one. Latching onto it, Regina closes her eyes, safe in
the knowledge that none can bypass her loyal slave-guardians, and
releases her awareness into the astral plane.
Darana is standing amid the hazy, swirling whitish-grey
mists, looking as if she was meant to be there. She is dressed in
flowing white, looking very happy, and radiating a sense of peace.
Regina appears in the form of Rachel Summers, but with the
self-assured stance of a lord of the Sith. She is haloed by an
aura with the deep, dark glow of crimson embers. It contrasts
sharply with Darana's aura, which is so purely white that it has
light blue highlights.
The two of them circle each other warily, sizing one
another up. Darana's expression is calm but curious; she seems
uncertain as to what to do. Regina stalks her with the measured
pace of a top-rank assassin, her aura occasionally mantling about
her like a fierce bird of prey.
"You look well," Regina comments, her tone ironic. "The
color suits you."
Darana smiles, not recognizing the sarcasm. "You look
different...I think," she says. "It suits you." She can't quite
remember what Rachel looked like; but then, the person she sees
before her is partly herself, or used to be. All she knows is that
whatever it is that stands before her seems natural, content, and
at home.
"Yes, it does," Regina replies, almost purring, like a great
cat. "It feels very, very natural." Stopping her pacing, she
arches her back in an easy, sultry manner.
"Yes, it does," echoes Darana. "On that we agree." She
pauses, facing Regina, then cocks her head to one side, raising an
eyebrow, remembering the reason for her connection to this woman.
"I've been told that you have something of mine."
Regina throws back her head and laughs heartily. "So some
might say," she says, tossing her head. "_I_ do not agree. She who
used to be Darana is quite a
different creature than you are now."
"And she who used to be Rachel was quite a different
creature than you are
now," Darana says, uncertainty ringning in her voice. "From what I
can remember,
that is."
Regina smiles. "Oh yes, dear little Rachel. Such a sweet
child."
Darana looks at her steadily. "That part of her, that light
that was hers, is still there."
Ever so gently, the healer reaches her thoughts outward,
trying to call to Rachel to awaken the Light within. Regina
studies her a minute, then one corner of her mouth quirks up. A
distinct essence seems to pour out from Regina in scintillating
shards of psychic energy. The shards resolve into an image, until
Darana sees someone else looking back at her. Standing beside
Regina is that same pure Light side of Rachel that Darana can
almost remember from their first mind-merge over three years ago,
the eager young girl who always wanted to be a Jedi. Darana is
amazed to see her astral form manifest as two separate people--the
adult, Regina, and the child, Rachel.
"This darkess does not have to be," Darana says softly. She
does not push, but simply calls to the Light, encouraging it to
rise up and join within the darkly brooding young woman standing
before her. The child-image of Rachel, her eyes shining with hope,
reaches out and tries to grasp Regina's hand.
"Ah," Regina whispers, "but this darkness LIKES to be."
Regina draws her hand out of the child^Òs reach, then slaps
her with it. The Rachel-child staggers back and falls; and a cage
of fire shoots up around her. Regina gestures, and the bars close
in around the child, becoming solid walls of darkness. As the bars
widen, the child^Òs aura fades, and the Light is lost the mist.
Darana looks at Regina with confusion.
"What you had once is mine now," Regina says harshly, her
eyes flashing.
"I do not want what I once had back," Darana says. "Or what
I am told that I once had."
"Well, then," Regina hisses, "on that, too, we are agreed."
The pair are silent for a while, just watching each other.
At last, Darana breaks the silence. "You realize that they will
never let us be until we both are who we once were."
"Growth happens," Regina says simply. "Evolution occurs. If
they will not accept it, we will have to show them. Both of us are
much happier as we are now. If they care for us, they will support
our decision. If they don^Òt..." she pauses, and her eyes narrow.
"...*we* will support our decision." She meets Darana^Òs eyes
calmly. "It is not for them to decide."
"That does make sense," Darana says thoughtfully. "But are
you---well, I suppose we would both say that we are in our fullest
abilities and senses; but others disagree. Still, I have no desire
to remember the things that they tell me about."
"Pity, that," Regina says lightly, smiling. "They^Òre quite a
fascinating study..."
Darana stares at Regina as if seeing her for the first time.
It is only now that she truly realizes that the person before her
is darker than she herself had ever been, even from all she has
heard about her former self. "You are an evil creature."
"You, my dear, are most perceptive," Regina says sweetly.
"Incidentally," she
adds, her tone strengthening and twisting sadistically, "I am not
only in my _fullest_ abilities, but *more* than my fullest
abilities." She smiles cruelly.
Darana steps back instinctively. She is so innocent and pure
that she is quite incapable of defending herself: The thought
simply would not enter her mind. But a newborn chick does not need
to understand much to withdraw from a king cobra.
"Why can't you accept the light inside of you?" Darana asks,
yet unwilling to give up. "Why is it so difficult for you?"
Regina looks at her as she might an irritating but
inconsequential insect. "Difficult has nothing to do with it," she
replies. "I was there once. Unlike you," she smiles again, "*I*
remember it. And I do not choose to go back. It is that simple."
"The point remains that what you and I can agree upon,
others cannot."
It is an interesting conundrum. They are their own worst
enemies, and best
friends; because they need to work together to stay apart.
Darana is at odds with herself. On the one hand, she doesn^Òt
dare threaten Regina, as the old Darana would have done: This
Darana can't even imagine it. On the other hand, she isn't exactly
happy with the idea of letting a creature of such monumental evil
run around loose! For half a moment, she toys with the idea of
trying a suicidal attack on the woman, thinking that it would
snuff them both out at once; but she just doesnt have it in her to
attack anyone like that. Even if it would succeed.
"It's quite true," Regina says condescendingly, effortlesly
perceiving the Light-sider's train of thought. "You can't attack
me."
"And you can do nothing to me," Darana says.
Regina looks amused. "Why would I even bother?"
"Why were we drawn to one another, to meet?" Darana responds
immediately. "Why do we still sense one anothers presence even
though we are a galaxy apart?" There is a new intensity in these
words, as if she is only just discovering this question.
"Because we have a common goal," Regina says promptly.
"And that would be?"
"To remain as we are," Regina replies. Darana nods.
"Whatever they do to us, they must not be allowed to change us
back to the way we were before."
"And the more we remain apart, the more we become
ourselves," Darana agrees. "The more we grow..."
Regina nods. "And do we not deserve to be ourselves? As we
wish to be?"
"True," Darana says quietly. "But you...you will destroy.
You will destroy things in the Empire and the Alliance." She looks
troubled.
Regina shrugs. "Yes," she says matter-of-factly. "I will
destroy and you will save. It is the way of the Force." The mist
at their feet dances and swirls around them as if to emphasize
Regina's words. "We are both of us sisters in fate, one light and
one dark, each the mirror to ourselves."
Darana nods slowly, her eyes wide with understanding and
acceptance. "As I
become the light and you the dark, we each flow to the extreme and
back again, and the circle is complete."
Both say together: "It matters not who stands in which
place."
For just an instant, their deepest thoughts merge and become
one.
She is standing where I once was, thinks Regina, and I am
where she used to be; but it doesn't matter, for nothing has truly
changed. It is all one.
I am not actually releasing any vast new darkness into the
universe, Darana reflects, feeling relieved. Energy is never
destroyed; it merely changes form. Something light has filled the
void.
At once, the realization wells up both minds:
And the balance goes on.
~finis~
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