#been observed as a cause for Bad among eye doctors

[alexanderpearce]

they should let me install a semaphore system in my car so i can tell the person behind me hey Cunt your lights are too bright i’m going to fucking Kill you

[translations-by-aiimee]

Mistakenly Saving the Villain - Chapter 2

Original Title: 论救错反派的下场

Genres: Drama, Romance, Xianxia, Yaoi

TW for this chapter: Brief description of suicide

This translation is based on multiple MTLs and my own limited knowledge of Chinese characters. If I have made any egregious mistakes, please let me know.

Chapter 2 - Problem-Solving by Elimination

Scholar-Tyrant Song sat in the examination room, his mind blank.

The types of questions at the Banquet of Beauties were more terrifying than Goldbach’s conjecture. At least he would not panic if being questioned by his professor on Goldbach's conjecture.

The Langgan Terrace of the Golden Pheonix Manor was extremely luxurious and beautiful. There are countless cultivators and beautiful women flying in the depths of the clouds. Every guest was more beautiful than the last, and carefree laughter and obscene words were thrown around.

Song Qingshi silently recited his lectures on the human body structure, physiological hygiene, mouse breeding and other courses twice in his heart, finally recovering the calmness of a high-ranking medical student. Thinking about the lab mice he had bred for three years dying off, the scene in front of him no longer meant much.

There are two kinds of divine fires in the original person's body. The first was the Red Lotus Fire used for refining his alchemy, and the other was the Underworld Ghost Fire used for killing people.

Song Qingshi's expression became one that could repel others from thousands of miles away. He released the Underworld Ghost Fire from the palms of his hands, causing the flames to continuously jump at his fingertips and change into different shapes.

Fen Shen and He Ti ancestors are the treasures of all the cultivation sects. They did not usually involve themselves with the mortal world. The Nascent Soul cultivators are all big shots walking carefree in the immortal world. Not to mention the danger of the cutivating path; no one could guarantee that they wouldn't need to ask a doctor for help. Neither righteous cultivators or demonic cultivators were not willing to offend the Medicine Master Xianzun easily, let alone mock his perverse character.

When the cultivators saw the Underworld Ghost Fire, they knew that he was in a bad mood and kept their distance.

Song Qingshi was able to keep a clear area around him. He cut off the cultivators who approached him to make friendships. Then he released the powerful spiritual thoughts of a Nascent Soul cultivator and quickly took in all the beauties at the banquet. He looked carefully and tried to find the protagonist in the crowd.

However, Yang Yuhuan was thicker, and Zhao Feiyan was slender. Everyone had different standards of beauty. Song Qingshi was of the kind of person that was not very reliable. His eyes were quickly dazzled, only able to think that all of them were beautiful during the dinner. Even the maid who poured the water was graceful and beautiful. She was more beautiful than the stars on TV. He couldn't tell who was better looking.

But this stubborn scholar will never admit defeat!

Song Qingshi tried to use the process of elimination to solve the problem. First, he determined that the protagonist was a man, excluded all the maidens during the banquet. Then he needed to make a list of key observations, verifying claims, making careful assumptions, and removing the beauties that did not meet the standards one by one.

The twin brothers brought by the Sect Master of the Blood Demon Sect were extremely beautiful. Jade-like skin, fragrant, and passionately devoted, just like two identical lotus flowers on one stalk.

There can't be two protagonists, cross it out.

The young man brought by the immortal master Longhu Sect is also super cute. He is so childish and adorable, holding his immortal master in his arms and acting like a baby. The immortal master loved him very much, doted on him, and he even hand-fed this junior immortal his food during the banquet. He kept calling him "baby".

The protagonist is supposed to suffer a miserable fate. Cross it out.

The foreign monk from Beizhou used a mysterious iron chain to lead along a handsome man covered in wounds. He stumbled and followed the foreign monk obediently. But underneath, his body revealed a rebellious aura, like being an eagle with his wings tied but still wanting to break free and fly away.

The protagonist is a beauty, so he wouldn't be so heartless, cross him out.

. . .

Into the depth of the night, the whistful music of the Banquet of Beauties had long been replaced by debauchery. Many people took the beauties away from the tables, and the scene became more and more unbearable.

Song Qingshi did not want to peep into other people's private affairs, for fear of seeing something provocative and getting an eye stye. He kept his thoughts away from extra events and kept it focused during the dinner. Then he heard the foreign monk show off the man he had brought with him to the young master of the Hidden Moon Sect: "He was even a famous general in the human world. After he was defeated and captured, he was sold to me. He's an arrogant person, who resists even under the threat of death. He is very exciting to play with."

The Young Master of the Hidden Moon Sect introduced a soft and coquettish young man, and smiled: "A proud person has the taste of being proud, but there is also the taste of being well-behaved. Let's switch and try it out?"

The foreign monk hesitated. The Young Master of the Hidden Moon Sect cast a wink at the slave.

The charming young man immediately snuggled up on the monk’s chest and begged coquettishly: "I truly like majestic bodies of strong masters, please love this slave well."

Fan Seng was ignited by the tender words of this young man, and he readily threw the chain in his hand to the Young Master of the Hidden Moon Sect, and took the young man to the side hall. The Young Master dragged the chain fiercely, and forced the gray-faced man toward the secluded part of the garden.

There were many scenes like this during the dinner, and no one had pity for these tragic beauties.

. . .

Song Qingshi had already learned from the memory of the original body that the spiritual energy of the human world was thin. The lifespan of mortals was short, and the spiritual roots were occasionally weak. Just having a base foundation was like reaching the heavens. Some kind-hearted cultivators will accept mortals as disciples and give them the opportunity to ascend to immortals. Ten thousand years ago, there was a mortal named Mo Yuan who was extremely talented. He just relied on swordsmanship to become a Nascent Soul cultivator. His techniques rivaled the Fen Shen ancestors, and was thus called the Sword Sovereign.

However, the road to immortality was to fight for one's life with the heavens. It had difficult steps and repeated failure was common. Killing someone for their treasures occured from time to time. It was difficult to restrain their behavior with morality.

Weakness is the original sin. Mortals were like ants.

Even if it was the Sword Master Mo Yuan who took care of him, he could only lay down the rules among the elites of the immortal world. He ensured that the mortals who successfully built a foundation base were treated as cultivators and no longer playthings and slaves. But demonic sects and cultivators never cared about the rules. Not even just the mortal cultivators, the immortal monks also suffered in their hands. Their evil deeds were too numerous to count.

Golden Phoenix Manor was regarded as a famous sect in the immortal world, and all the cultivation furnaces in the Manor are of made and purchased in the mortal world.

So even if Song Qingshi couldn't tolerate what happened here, he couldn't interfere. He was slightly grateful that the identity that the system arranged for him was not a mortal, otherwise he would never survive two chapters, let alone save the protagonist.

Fortunately, it was just a virtual world. . .

Novels were all evil works; textbooks were the righteous materials in the world! The professor was correct in confiscating the novels of all the girls in class! If he had the opportunity to become a professor, he will not allow students to read novels! Help them to avoid their Three Views being poisoned!

Song Qingshi sighed silently.

Suddenly, a curse came from the garden. It was the Young Master of Hidden Moon Sect who dragged the stubborn man's corpse and returned with a disappointed face. The man's shirt was torn open, revealing his bruised body. His body was riddled with scars. He had taken a stolen silver chopstick, pierced his throat deeply and killed himself.

The silver chopsticks were very blunt, and it would be extremely difficult to kill yourself with one of them. You couldn't stab yourself with one without exhausting all your energy, which shows his determination.

Seeing this, everyone in the banquet joked. They laughed that the Young Master couldn't even take care of a mortal.

Hearing the disturbance, the monk left the charming young man and hurried back out of the side hall. He saw that the person he had brought was dead. His brows furrowed and his face was full of anger. The young master of the Hidden Moon Sect was even more angry than him. He turned the dead man over, revealing his back covered with lashes, and questioned the monk: "Why didn't you mark this little slave of yours with an Acacia Seal? How could you let him die?"

The foreign monk was stunned by his question: "What is the Acacia Seal? Some new thing from the Central continent?"

Seeing his ignorance, the cultivators couldn't help but mumble that Beizhou must really be a barren land considering that they didn't even know that an Acacia Seal is a well-known thing in the world. The monk was lost during this whole conversation and the Young Master was discouraged. He pulled the monk, hating iron for not making seal, explained the beauty of the Acacia Seal: "The Acacia Seal is a method created by Huanxi Xianzun. The owner can print it on the back of the furnace, and the body and soul of the furnace transfer into the hands of the owner. No orders are needed and it cannot die without permission."

Song Qingshi had found important information. He swiftly concentrated on this discussion and listened carefully.

Hidden Moon Sect's Young Master took out a red bead from his space bag. An idea sparked in his mind. He turned the bead in his hand. The charming young man who was standing next to the monk immediately knelt down and started to bark.

The monk waved his hand, disgusted and said: "It's so obedient, even if you try something new once in a while. If I raise them like this, I would get tired after playing with it for a few days."

"There are a lot of usages in it. You would know if you had used them yourself. This Young Master isn't going to list them all for you." The Young Master withdrew from spiritual mind he had put into the bead, and the young man crouching on the ground stood up. He was used to being humiliated in front of a crowd and blushed. After a while, he faded from his shame and stood behind his master with his head down.

Seeing that the monk still didn’t understand, the young master of the Hidden Moon Sect still educates patiently: “The most important thing is that unless you let the cultivation furnace die, the cultivation furnace will never die against your will. If you brand this little slave with the Acacia Seal, wouldn't it be more fun to make him unable to kill himself and then slowly break down his pride?"

The foreign monk had an epiphany. He nodded and agreed.

The young master of the Hidden Moon Sect erased the spiritual mind of the cultivation furnace's bead in his hand. He threw it to the monk, and said graciously: "Since the young master killed your beauty, I will will compensate you for it. You can take it and study the beauty of the Acacia Seal. Once you start, you won't be able to start."

The monk was overjoyed, and even boasted: "The Central continent people are really bold, this Black Vulture has made you a friend!"

The charming young man's face instantly turned pale. He looked at the original master desperately, looking like he had something to say, as if he wanted to beg, but in the end he didn't say anything, and went with the monk in tears.

The jewels were corrupted and it was like broken jade.

This extravagant feast had finally reached its climax.

The disciples of Golden Phoenix Manor concealed the radiance of the luminous beads above the temple, and let the darkness envelop the entire Langgan Terrace.

The guests raised their heads in amazement. They saw fireworks from several spells across the darkness, blooming in the air into a radiant golden phoenix, dancing lightly, announcing that the performances of the feast were about to begin. Jin FeiRen raised his wine glass and invited guests to share in the festivities again.

Song Qingshi marveled at the beauty of the Phoenix Dance, and admired it for a long while. Then he discovered that a young man in white clothes appeared next to Jin FeiRen. The young man had very clean and beautiful features, like green bamboo in the mountains, a bright moon in the sky. A layer of cold frost covered in his low eyebrows, his hair falling like a waterfall around his face. It was tied back with a ribbon. There were no other notable features on his whole body, but he still easily retained everyone's lingering gazes.

The tall and handsome owner was smiling and gently scratching the young man's palm with his fingers, praising his treasure in a gentle and soft voice, trying to get him to smile.

The young man turned his head away, despite the teasing. He didn't even want to spare him a glance.

Jin FeiRen twisted his head forcefully, and forced his hands behind his back with only one hand. He held him close in an embrace and kissed his forehead and the bridge of his nose carefully. Then he bit his lips hard, as if to he wanted to swallow him whole. The teenager struggled with pain, Jin FeiRen smiled and released him, leaning close to the youth's ear, and asked softly: "Do you want to learn the rules again?"

The young man froze for a moment. He stopped struggling, and sat obediently into Jin FeiRen's arms.

Was this the protagonist?

Song Qingshi secretly watched for a long time. He finally suppressed his social anxiety, ready to speak, and then LingBao Xianzun who had a good relationship with Jin FeiRen walked over and asked with a smile: "This is the new treasure of the Manor Lord? Is he pure? Does he have a good Yin constitution, a single spirit root of the water system? How about giving him to me to taste tonight?

Jin FeiRen glanced at the embarrassed and angry expression of the youth in his arms, gave him a squeeze, and refused with a smile: "Although he is just a toy, he suits my heart and it would be inconvenient to give him to you. Later, I will give my friends some top-quality products, all of them newly branded with excellent physiques and very clean."

LingBao Xianzun carefully looked at him. "Is your furnace still a virgin?"

Jin FeiRen said: "I don't want to treat him like an ordinary furnace."

Song Qingshi had already heard more obscene words tonight than he had in his lifetime. He understood everything that should be understood or even things that shouldn't be understood. He also understood clearly what a furnace was.

He watched as Jin FeiRen was pouring wine for the young man during the banquet, and he was a little unsure whether this was the protagonist. Although the white-clothed boy seemed to be more attractive than the other beauties present, the system had explained that the protagonist needs to be rescued from his miserable fate. Now Jin FeiRen was quite fond of the boy, and every beauty in the Banquet of Beauties was many times worse off than him. . .

Song Qingshi was anxious pondering these questions. . .

At this time, the phoenix finished its dance in the air, and fell into the crowd with a stream of light.

The light faded away, and a huge golden, carved bird appeared on the Langgan Terrace. On this bird frame was a beauty beautiful enough to destroy a city.

The gold fetters inlaid with jewels encircled his pure white ankles, and were tied to both sides of the bird frame with long thin golden chains. His upper body was caged with almost transparent thin fabric, and he could vaguely see the magnificent scenery decorated with gold jewels and jade underneath. On his lower body was a long dress in the shape of phoenix tail feathers made of gold and red feathers. His hair was adorned with pearls resembling mermaid's tears, the enchanting Acacia Seal on his back hidden by his long hair, flowing in the breeze. It was as beautiful as a phoenix with rich colors, the human peony in the world.

He held a jade flute in his hand, his thin lips slightly open, his beauty almost unnatural. The dark golden phoenix eyes seemed to be smiling but held no emotion, and he greeted the audience. Song Qingshi sat up straight. He recognized that this was the beauty in red that he had seen by the river bank.

When the red beauty glanced over at Song Qingshi, his eyes stayed for a while, then slid over as if he didn't recognize him.

Song Qingshi looked at the young man in white clothes on the left, who looked like a bright moon, and the beauty in red clothes on the right, who looked like peony in his prime. He was panicking; he couldn't tell who was more beautiful and more like the main character!

The exam questions of the system teacher were too difficult. . .　

Is Scholar-Tyrant Song going to fail his course?

[vavuska]

This girl is right: Freud's mom was a hottie!

Sigmund Freud (aged 16) and his mother, Amalia, in 1872

More about Oedipus complex:

Who were Freud's parents?

Freud was born to Jewish parents in the Moravian town of Freiberg, in the Austrian Empire (now Příbor, Czech Republic), the first of eight children. Both of his parents were from Galicia, a historic province straddling modern-day West Ukraine and southeast Poland. His father, Jakob Freud (1815–1896), a wool merchant, had two sons, Emanuel (1833–1914) and Philipp (1836–1911), by his first marriage. Jakob's family were Hasidic Jews and, although Jakob himself had moved away from the tradition, he came to be known for his Torah study. He and Freud's mother, Amalia Nathansohn, who was 20 years younger and his third wife, were married by Rabbi Isaac Noah Mannheimer on 29 July 1855. They were struggling financially and living in a rented room, in a locksmith's house at Schlossergasse 117 when their son Sigmund was born. He was born with a caul, which his mother saw as a positive omen for the boy's future.

In 1859, the Freud family left Freiberg.

Jakob Freud took his wife and two children (Freud's sister, Anna, was born in 1858; a brother, Julius born in 1857, had died in infancy) firstly to Leipzig and then in 1860 to Vienna where four sisters and a brother were born: Rosa (b. 1860), Marie (b. 1861), Adolfine (b. 1862), Paula (b. 1864), Alexander (b. 1866).

How was Freud's relationship with his parents?

The answer to this question could be found in the letters from Freud to Wilhelm Fliess, a Berlin nose and throat doctor with whom Freud carried on a passionate 15-year friendship. The letters suggested a greater anguish by Freud over the abandonment of the seduction theory and several details about his auto-analysis.

Mothers and Nannies

Amalia was considered by her grandchildren to be an intelligent, strong-willed, quick-tempered but egotistical personality. She has been described as lively and humorous, with a strong attachment to her eldest son whom she called "mein goldener Sigi".

Just as Amalia idolised her eldest son, so there is evidence that the latter in turn idealised his mother, whose domineering hold over his life he never fully analysed.

However, nannies or nurses were always present in the Viennese's bourgeois households. The Freud-Fliess letters attracted attention to Freud's nanny and also to the role played by nannies in the ideal family of psychoanalytic theory. Included in the models that explained the bourgeois family since the nineteenth century, but excluded by analytic theory, the nanny, ever present in Austrian upper-class families, still poses a question to the father-mother-infant triangle. The relevance of the nanny's presence in children's development is fundamental and could introduce themes such as adultery, sexual harassment by the master, illegitimate children.

Freud's interest in nannies began, it seems, with the analysis of the cases that would be known in the analytical literature as those that were in the origin of the 'seduction theory' – and also with his auto-analysis. His interest, though, extended well beyond the time of this emergence, as we will see.

Almost all of his patients had a nanny or nurse – some of them had two, what would lead to a curious unfolding of this character, either in the duo good mother/ bad nanny, or, in a kind of duplication, as good nanny/bad nanny.

Freud's nanny, from whom even the name is disputed, could have been a Czech woman, a catholic, who took him to masses and reproved him for being good for nothing. He wrote:

"Today's dream has, under the strongest disguise, produced the following: she was my teacher in sexual matters and complained because I was clumsy and unable to do anything."

In the next letter (October, 15), Freud registers what his mother had told him about the nanny. Asking her if she remembered the nanny, he got the answer:

"Of course", she said, "an elderly person, very clever, she was always carrying you off to some church; when you returned home you preached and told us all about God Almighty. During my confinement with Anna (two and a half years younger) it was discovered that she was a thief, and all the shiny new kreuzers and zehners [coins] and all the toys that had been given to you were found in her possession. Your brother Philipp himself fetched the policeman; she then was given ten months in prison."

Telling that his nanny made him steal money to give her, Freud interpreted his dream as a reproach for asking money from his patients for his bad treatment of them, in the same way as "the old woman got money from me for her bad treatment." The fact that Freud used his mother's remembrance to strengthen the interpretation he made of the dream –in which he was the thief - doesn't matter here, neither his identification with the nanny, observed by some analysts of this famous dream ("I = She"), but it is relevant to consider that it seems that it was with his auto-analysis that the nanny figure began to be seen as a malignant one or, in the best hypothesis, as an ambiguous one.

What needs explanation is how the theory of the Oedipus complex accounts for the boy's guilty impulses toward his mother but ignores the boy's arousal at the hands of his nurse, especially in view of how much more attention his nurse gets from Freud than his mother does.

Discussing the possible interpretations of Freud's dreams along his auto-analysis, many authors saw the relevance of the nanny's presence in his development until his conclusion that "the remarkable circumstance" is that Freud, in effect, had two mothers, his actual mother – whose nakedness he can only mention in Latin – and his nanny whom he remembers in association with numerous disturbing sexual experiences. Having two such mothers, and the luck of having the 'bad' ugly mother banished from his life when he was only two and a half, allows Freud to maintain a secure split between the internalized good and bad mothers.

Unconsciously, Freud's nurse was his seductress and shamer, his mother the pure object of guilty desire.

Thus Freud's discovery of the Oedipus complex emerges not only from memories of a small boy's guilty, aggressive lust for his mother, but from memories of dependence on her, too – a dependence remembered, however as the seduction of a small bourgeois, Austrian boy by a Czech working-class woman in a province of the Austrian Empire still recovering from the Revolution of 1848.

Freud's father

To begin with the so-called 'seduction theory': in 1896 Freud published a polemic article in which he attributed the origin of hysteria to a sexual trauma suffered by his female – and some male - patients that ranged from sexual harassment to sexual abuse in the hands of a member of the family: uncles (some of whom were revealed as fathers in subsequent publications), brothers, guardians, school colleagues, or nannies. He said that this trauma was "unhappily" caused "too frequently, by a near kin."

In this article he said that in 18 cases of hysteria until then analyzed by him (six men and twelve women), all of them showed this etiology, or cause, of the condition.

By 1897, Freud was spending six days a week analyzing his patients, many of them suffering from hysteria. Increasingly, their problems resonated with his own. Freud began to suspect that he too was neurotic, suffering from what he described as "a little case hysteria." He became consumed by his own self-analysis.

In the spring of 1897, Freud wrote his friend Fliess about a new patient, a young woman with hysterical symptoms: "It turned out that her supposedly otherwise noble and respectable father regularly took her to bed when she was eight to twelve years old and misused her…"

It was Freud wrote, "fresh confirmation" that the prime cause of hysteria was the sexual abuse of an innocent child by an adult, most often, a father. But his theory had alarming implications. If he himself suffered from a form of hysteria, and if an abusive father caused hysteria, then Freud was forced to draw a distressing conclusion. He began to imagine that his own father might have abused him. Three months after Jacob's death, he wrote Fliess: "Unfortunately, my own father was one of these perverts, and is responsible for the hysteria of my brother… and those of several younger sisters."

Freud realized that he can not get further in understanding others unless he analyzes himself. That was another one of those great ideas. [But] The dreams that he analyzed are not really particularly well analyzed.

Freud interpreted the message "close the eyes" in his dream after his father's death to mean that there was something he was not meant to see, nor to know about, his father. To make his theory work, his father's secret had to be that he had sexually abused his children. But, when he could find no evidence of such behavior and no clear memory of abuse among his brothers and sisters, his seduction theory collapsed.

By the next year, he began doubting his proposition, and wrote to Fliess: "I don't believe in my neurotica [neurosis theory] any more." Even if he mentioned the seduction theory in other letters of this year (and also years after), he began, then, to treat these denounces of his patients as a fantasy.

[jedirhydon101st]

Jedi Master Katelyn Kenobi of the Jedi Order; Jedi General of the Republic Clone Army. Jedi General of ARC Commander Arthur and the 82nd Attack Battalion. Jedi commander of the 82nd Attack Fleet and Admiral Melissa Porter. Daughter of Obi-Wan and Siri Kenobi; Twin Sister of Rhydon Kenobi, and Eldest Sister of Miranda Kenobi. Stepdaughter of Duchess Satine Kryze, Eldest Half-Sister of Elisa Kenobi and Anya Kryze. Wife of Commander Daniel Klerk; Mother of Arthur Kenobi, Sierra Kenobi, and Jack Kenobi. Former apprentice of Siri Kenobi. Master of Sierra Kenobi.

Katelyn Kenobi is the daughter of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Siri Tachi, and the twin sister of Rhydon Kenobi; though she was born first by six minutes. The two twins were able to be born on their fathers birth planet of Stewjon, and immediately showed that they were Force-sensitive, encouraging their parents to bring them back to Coruscant to be trained in the ways of the Jedi Order. It would be later on in her life, that it was discovered that she had been born with a bipolar disorder, though her family supported her. Throughout her childhood, Katelyn exhibited moments of heightened excitement, but also depression, having trouble sleeping, often high levels of anger that made her family life difficult, all of which were signs of bipolar disorder (all of which Rhydon stood by her side through, forming a strong bond between the two siblings). Partly due to their unique birth, and their status as twins, Katelyn and Rhydon had a unique connection and bond with each other and the Force, proving to be more powerful than any other Jedi at their age. Like all other Jedi and their parents, Katelyn and her twin brother began their training as Jedi Younglings under Jedi Master Yoda’s supervision and tutelage. Once Katelyn was nine years old, she was chosen as her mother Siri’s Jedi apprentice, where Rhydon was chosen by their father Obi-Wan’s.

Katelyn’s first mission as a Jedi Padawan under her mother’s was to go to the planet Mandalore, to transport humanitarian supplies to the people of Mandalore. As Katelyn and Siri delivered the supplies they were requested by Duchess Satine Kryze, who wanted their help in dealing with some Death Watch activity. Katelyn and her mother teamed up with several Mandalorian warriors loyal to Satine and Mandalore, and began investigating the Death Watch activity. It would be here where the first signs of her bipolar disorder would begin to show, as she often showed moments of excitement, but also had moments of depression that her mother couldn't understand why. Fortunately it would be with the help of Duchess Satine's personal doctor, that Katelyn was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, revealing why she had mood swings the way she had been, throughout her life.

During this time, Katelyn and her mother would meet Jango Fett, a Mandalorian bounty hunter who was an ally of the Jedi Order, and was secretly hired by Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas to be the genetic template of a clone army. Katelyn would also meet a young female Mandalorian warrior, named Zarina who came along to help them fight Death Watch. Zarina explained that she was the former daughter of the Death Watch leader, Pre Vizsla, but didn’t believe in his ideals, and ran away from her home. Katelyn further learned from her observations, that the other Mandalorian warriors that were with them seemed to ostracized Zarina, due to the fact that she was related to the Death Watch leader. Fortunately for the girl, Jango was the only one to show the girl respect and inclusion, along with Katelyn herself.

Katelyn’s mother Siri listened well to Zarina as the girl explained the best way to defeat the Death Watch, and she followed the girls advice to the letter. Zarina’s plan worked perfectly, with Katelyn, Siri, and Jango witnessing Zarina successfully defeating her former father Pre Vizsla in single combat. Afterwards, the group returned to the Mandalorian capital city of Sundari, and reported what happened to Duchess Satine. Katelyn watched proudly as her mother even included Zarina, and explained how the young girl was able to defeat and shame the Death Watch leader, something that had finally earned the girl respect from the other Mandalorian warriors. As Katelyn and Siri began to get ready to leave Mandalore back to Coruscant, they would be able to witness Zarina be adopted by Jango Fett and his wife Zara. They were even allowed to watch as the young Mandalorian girl received the highest symbol of honor, as well as the most difficult to earn, among the Mandalorians: the famous Jaig Eyes.

Upon their return to Coruscant, Katelyn and her mother would be greeted by Sheev Palpatine, the former senator from Siri’s home planet of Naboo, and now the new Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic. Prior to the meeting, Katelyn shared her twin brother’s mistrust for Palpatine, and didn’t hold much credence to the man, and now after meeting him, and seeing the uncomfortable and perverted look in his eyes when he looked at her, Katelyn immediately despised the man further than she had before. As Katelyn’s mother met with Yoda and Mace Windu, she soon learned about what was going on in regards to the Trade Federation invasion of Naboo, and how Palpatine was elected as the new chancellor, after the previous Chancellor Valorum was impeached by the Republic Senate, after a unanimous vote of no confidence in the man.

Katelyn traveled to Naboo with her mother, the Jedi Council, and the new chancellor, who was constantly throwing inappropriate glances towards her, inadvertently causing Siri’s distrust in him to grow stronger. Upon arriving at Naboo, Katelyn watched as her mother quickly embraced Obi-Wan, and fussed over Rhydon, much to her amusement, though she too also embraced her father and twin brother, glad that they safe and alive. She would then learn of how her father and Qui-Gon battled a Zabrak Sith Lord named Darth Maul, her brother aiding Queen Amidala to take back her planet, and how Anakin Skywalker, a young boy from the desert planet Tatooine, destroyed the Trade Federation droid control ship. Katelyn would also learn that Queen Padmé Amidala and Anakin Skywalker were two of the four chosen ones; the four individuals who would one day bring balance to the Force, alongside with her and her twin brother Rhydon. Afterwards, a special ceremony to celebrate the Trade Federation’s defeat, and the peaceful union between the people of Naboo and Gungans.

Katelyn would then accept her new mission with her mother, which was to remain on Naboo to officially serve as Queen Amidala’s protectors and advisers, alongside with her father and brother. Secretly however, she was to train alongside with Padmé Amidala, as she was secretly a Jedi, and was believed to be one of the Chosen Four. During her training on Naboo, her family was surprisingly summoned by the king of the planet Stewjon; Katelyn’s home-planet, along with her twin brother Rhydon, and her father Obi-Wan Kenobi. Upon arriving at the planet Stewjon, Katelyn would learn that the king of Stewjon was in fact her grandfather: King Orion Kenobi. This in turn led her to meet her grandmother Queen Marion Kenobi, uncle Prince Owen Kenobi, and aunt Princess Helena Kenobi.

After meeting her family, Katelyn and Rhydon happily watched as their grandfather married their parents. Katelyn and Rhydon would even learn the history of their family, and how they were beloved by the people of Stewjon. The only member of their family that they didn’t like was their great Uncle Reuben Kenobi, who constantly belittled the Jedi, and showed nothing but disrespect and hatred to Katelyn and her family. Eventually they would return to Naboo, and resume their duties as Padmé’s protectors and advisors. Katelyn even found herself being judged harshly by her great uncle, when it was revealed that she had bipolar disorder, and Reuben looked at her as though she was infected with a disease, but was openly accepted by her grandparents and other family members.

Soon, Padmé’s tenure as queen ended, but tensions in the Galaxy had arisen when several planets and star systems defected from the Galactic Republic, and joined a movement known as the Confederacy of Independent Systems, otherwise known as the Separatist Alliance. The tensions were so bad, that there was a potential threat of war between the two government factions, and the Jedi and former queen learnt that the Republic Senate, now under the leadership of Sheev Palpatine as Supreme Chancellor, was voting for the creation of an army. Katelyn and Rhydon, while apprehensive about the idea of a war, were willing to accept that there would be a need for the Jedi to be involved. Katelyn herself felt that the Jedi, as protectors of the Galactic Republic, should do whatever it took to defend the Republic; even if it meant leading an army into battle.

Katelyn would witness Padmé take on the mantel of senator for Naboo, with Jar-Jar officially serving as the Gungan representative, while also secretly serving as Padmé’s protector in the Senate. Katelyn, her father, mother, and brother began to escort the newly nominated Naboo senator back to Coruscant, but when they arrived, an explosive was set off, destroying the ship they used to transport Senator Amidala. Fortunately, the Senator wasn’t really on the ship, but instead a decoy.

Afterwards, Katelyn and her family were given new assignments: with the war soon coming her father Obi-Wan, along with her brother Rhydon, had been tasked with finding out who attempted to assassinate Padmé, while Katelyn and her mother would go to Mandalore, to ensure that the alliance between the Jedi and the Mandalorians would remain strong. Siri and Katelyn accepted their duties, and immediately began making preparations for their voyage to Mandalore. As they made ready to leave, they learnt that a Duros bounty hunter named Cad Bane attempted to assassinate Padmé, but was stopped by Qui-Gon and his apprentice, Anakin Skywalker. They also learned that Obi-Wan and Rhydon interrogated the bounty hunter, and learnt that he was hired by a pair of Mandalorian warriors named the Borkus brothers.

Katelyn listened as her mother promised her father that they would ask Duchess Satine if she had heard of the Borkus brothers before, while he and Rhydon ventured to Kamino. Obi-Wan explained that there were two reasons for this: one was to speak with Jango Fett, and inquire if he had heard anything about the Borkus brothers, and the second was to learn how the clone army was progressing. Katelyn watched as Siri understood what her father was telling them, but cautioned her father to be careful, and gently kissed him before departing for Mandalore.

Upon arriving at Mandalore, Katelyn and her mother stood before Duchess Satine Kryze of Mandalore, and the two Jedi were greeted by the surrounding Mandalorian warriors with respect. After what Katelyn and Siri did during the Death Watch situation, it had earned the Kenobi women, and the entire Kenobi Family great respect amongst the Mandalorians. Katelyn watched and listened as her mother immediately began speaking with the Duchess, informing her of what was happening in the Galaxy and the rising tensions between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Katelyn could tell that Satine understood that what Siri was asking her was essentially Mandalore’s loyalty not only to the Republic, but also to the Jedi. Duchess Satine assured Katelyn's mother that while Mandalore would remain neutral in the coming war, the Mandalorian people would be loyal to the Jedi; and further assured Siri that if the Jedi ever needed the aid of the Mandalorians, the warriors of Mandalore would respond immediately.

Katelyn and her mother felt assured by Satine, and proceeded to ask her about the Borkus brothers, and if she had heard about them. To Katelyn’s interest, Duchess Satine’s body stiffened, and her facial muscles tightened, as though hearing the name of Borkus, was a bad thing. Interestingly, the same response was seen by the Mandalorian warriors who made up the Duchesses Royal Guard; some of them, including Duchess Satine’s sister Bo Katan Kryze who served as the captain of the Royal Guard, even clenched their fists. Satine explained that the Borkus brothers were Mandalorian warriors who were part of the Death Watch, a fact that was confirmed by Obi-Wan based on what he had learned from Zarina Fett, Jango Fett’s adopted daughter. As they finished up with their assignment on Mandalore, Katelyn watched as her mother Siri contacted Master Yoda to inform him of the Mandalorians answer, which not only pleased the old green master, but satisfied him as well.

After receiving her mother's report, Yoda then ordered Katelyn and Siri to travel to Stewjon, and see how the Stewjoni cloners were coming along in regards to the task that he hired them for. Curious as to what Yoda was doing on Stewjon, Katelyn smiled when Siri accepted her new task, and began to make preparations to leave Mandalore. As they were preparing to leave, Duchess Satine approached her mother Siri, and asked to speak with her before she left. Katelyn's mother agreed, and remained on the ship, as Siri and Satine walked along the landing platform.

Unaware of what her mother and Satine were talking about, Katelyn worked on preparing for takeoff, as she waited for her mother to finish talking with Satine. Finally Katelyn found herself rejoined by Siri, and fired up the ship to takeoff, and their ship left the planet atmosphere, and jumped into hyperspace for Stewjon. During their travel to her home planet, Katelyn asked her mother what she spoke about with Satine. She would find herself shocked when Siri revealed that her father Obi-Wan had been in love with the Mandalorian Duchess, before he reunited with her mother, and that Duchess Satine was still in love with her father. Hearing that another woman held her father’s heart at one point, and still had a place for him in hers, was certainly something that surprised Katelyn; she couldn’t picture her father with another woman, but she suspected her mother was up to something that would allow her father to be with Satine at the same time.

Eventually Katelyn and her mother arrived at Stewjon, and upon their landing, they were greeted by Queen Marion. Katelyn happily greeted her grandmother, and was inquired as to what they were doing on Stewjon. She listened as her mother explained that she and Katelyn were sent to Stewjon by Master Yoda, to check on the Stewjoni cloners. To Katelyn’s interest, Marion immediately understood, and began leading them to the secret Stewjoni cloning facility.

Upon arriving at the facility, Katelyn and Siri were met by a sight: female clone troopers of Jango Fett’s wife: Zara. Katelyn and Siri spoke with one of the Stewjoni cloners, and was informed that they used many of the Kaminoan cloners methods of making their clones, such as growth acceleration. However unlike the Kaminoans, the Stewjoni cloners had a way to deactivate the growth acceleration, and then initiated a special feature that they called the growth deceleration; meaning that the growth of the clones would be slowed down, making the clones lifespan slightly longer than the normal human as it is essentially slowed down.

As Katelyn continued to tour the facility, she noticed that her was being contacted by her father and twin brother from the planet Geonosis. After returning to their ship, Katelyn and Siri opened the communication, and learned that Obi-Wan was also trying to contact Qui-Gon, Anakin Skywalker, and Padmé Amidala who were on Tatooine. Obi-Wan explained that he needed a communication connection to the Jedi Council and Chancellor Palpatine on Coruscant, and the two separate groups immediately set to it. After doing so, Obi-Wan and Rhydon reported that they had found a massive droid army being built, and that Count Dooku was preparing to use it to attack the Republic. Then to the horror of Katelyn and her mother, Obi-Wan and Rhydon were attacked by Geonosian warriors and battle droids, and taken prisoner.

Katelyn and her mother immediately set to leave Stewjon for Geonosis to rescue the rest of their family, and also to contact their Mandalorian allies for their help. Upon arriving at Geonosis, Katelyn and Siri rendezvous with a Jedi task force led by Jedi Master Mace Windu, and proceeded to the planet surface; as well as learning that Qui-Gon Jinn, Anakin Skywalker, Padmé Amidala, and Jango and Zarina Fett were also captured. They then infiltrated the Geonosian Arena of Justice, coming across the confiscated lightsabers of their Jedi companions, and the blasters of Jango and Zarina. Katelyn and Siri took the lightsabers, while elected to take the blasters, in order to return them to their rightful owners. Afterwards, they continued to move into their positions, only to be met with quite a sight.

The arena was packed with Geonosians, all focusing on the center of the arena, where Obi-Wan, Rhydon, and the others were chained to several pillars, and were being approached by seven monstrous beasts: a Nexu, Reek, Acklay, Gundark, Krayt Dragon, Anooba, and a Rancor. Fortunately each of the prisoners managed to escape from their chains, but they still had to contend with a specific beast: Obi-Wan was faced with the Ackley, Anakin the Reek, Padmé the Nexu, Qui-Gon the Gundark, Jango the Krayt Dragon, Zarina the Anooba, and Rhydon ended up facing the Rancor. Katelyn and her mother watched with baited breath as Jango and Zarina had managed to take down the Krayt and Anooba, while Padmé, with help from Anakin who had managed to get control of the Reek, took out the Nexu. But Obi-Wan was struggling to stay ahead of the Ackley, while Qui-Gon was evading the Gundark, and Rhydon was just barely staying below the Rancor.

Fortunately for them, Windu gave the signal for the Jedi to reveal themselves, and Katelyn and Siri activated their respective lightsabers: Katelyn’s dual blue and green lightsabers alongside her mother’s purple bladed lightsaber joining with the multitude of lightsabers. Unfortunately for the Jedi, this didn’t stop a battalion of battle droids from rushing out into the arena, forcing them to go on the defensive. Despite the setback, Katelyn and her mother returned the recovered lightsabers to their respective owners, as Windu did with Jango and Zarina’s blasters. As her mother cut down multiple droids, carefully watching as Obi-Wan was also able to take down the Ackley, Katelyn stood alongside Rhydon, helping him in taking down the Rancor.

Unfortunately for the Jedi and two Mandalorians, they would eventually be surrounded by the army of droids, but stood their ground. Fortunately, they would all be saved when Master Yoda and Jar Jar Binks arrived with clone troopers aboard gunships, and many Mandalorian warriors, all of them arriving to aid and rescue the remaining survivors. Once Yoda, Jar Jar, the clones, and the Mandalorians arrived, the battle began to resume, with the Jedi boarding the gunships, while the clones and Mandalorians provided cover fire; though in the confusion of the evacuation, Katelyn observed that her twin brother Rhydon was separated from their father, but joined up with Twi’lek Jedi Knight Aayla Secura. As they escaped the arena, the cease fire would only last until they reached a large plain where the Droid Army engaged the Clone Army.

It would be during this time that Katelyn and her mother were separated from Obi-Wan again, along with Rhydon who ended up fighting besides the Twi’lek Jedi Knight Aayla Secura. Throughout the battle, Katelyn and Siri lead clones into the battle against the droid army, but she maintained focus on ensuring that many clones survived, all while maintaining a seriously calm demeanor as she swung and twirled her two lightsabers. When she saw Master Yoda fly overhead to where Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, Anakin, and Padmé followed Dooku, Katelyn heard her mother immediately called for a gunship, and she and Siri followed after Yoda with a contingent of clones, including Jango and Zarina who flew into the gunship. Along the way, they picked up Rhydon who was fighting the battle droids alongside Aayla Secura, as well as Padmé, Jar Jar Binks, and a single clone trooper who explained that the three of them had fallen out of the gunship that carried Katelyn’s father and the other two Jedi.

Upon arriving at Dooku’s personal landing platform, the fallen Jedi Master turned Sith Lord’s sailor barge took off, and Katelyn listened to her mother quickly order the clones to open fire, only for the shuttle-sized ship to fly out of range. Afterwards, Katelyn and her group ran into the hangar, quickly running over to her father, to help Obi-Wan up. After the battle, Katelyn would return to Coruscant, and witness the marriage of Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala, as well as her brother Rhydon and Jango’s daughter Zarina.

Obi-Wan and Jango constantly joked that Rhydon and Zarina’s newfound relationship was love at first sight, Siri, to her own personal chagrin, had to agree, whereas Katelyn found herself amused that her twin brother was marrying a girl who had become a good friend of hers. Katelyn was more than happy to welcome and accept Zarina as her sister-in-law, and she supported her brother getting married at his young age, given the hard times they found themselves in now. She easily saw that Rhydon deeply cared for Zarina, and she could sense through the Force that Rhydon and Zarina were meant to be with each other. For these reasons, Katelyn happily accept her brothers happiness, and welcome her new sister-in-law.

After the Battle of Geonosis, the Clone War began, and Katelyn became a Jedi Commander, and her mother was given command of her own clone battalion: the 414th Legion. Katelyn, along with Siri and her mother’s new clone commander: CC-414, Clone Commander Osiris, took the 414th and turned it into one of the Republics top clone units. As time went by, Katelyn began to wear the amethyst purple colors of the 414th Legion, to have a close connection with the clones that were under her and his mother’s command, and it proved to be successful.

Along with the 414th Attack Battalion, Katelyn’s mother was also given her own fleet and flagship: the 414th Fleet, with the Venator class cruiser Frost. With her new flagship, Siri also received a new fleet admiral named Admiral Cadmus Ordo from Mandalore. Like her mother, Katelyn appreciated and respected Admiral Ordo, due to the fact that he was a man who was not afraid to go head to head in a battle, and still be concerned about the safety of those under his command. This respect was returned by Ordo, as Katelyn and Siri both often asked him for advice in regards to space combat strategies. With Admiral Ordo, was a female officer named Captain Melissa Porter and a male officer Lieutenant Daniel Klerk, who Katelyn quickly became close friends with and formed romantic feelings for, respectively. When Katelyn became a Jedi Knight, and was given command of the 82nd Attack Fleet, her mother gave her permission to take Captain Porter as her own fleet admiral, and Lieutenant Klerk as a naval second-in-command (while also pursuing romantic relationship with him).

Katelyn worked closely with her mother and Commander Osiris, but there were a few times that Katelyn worked with other Jedi on separate missions. One such mission was with Jedi Master Ki-Adi Mundi to Hypori, a mission that nearly took Katelyn’s life, as well as her twin brother Rhydon. Katelyn, alongside Rhydon, went to Hypori to destroy a droid factory on the planet with Jedi Knights Aayla Secura and Tarr Seirr, Jedi Masters Ki-Adi Mundi, Shaak Ti, K’Kruhk, and Daakman Barrek, and Jedi Padawan Sha'a Gi, or as Katelyn and Rhydon liked to call him, Shaggy. Upon arriving at the planet however, their ship was caught in an orbital minefield, and were forced to crash land on the planet surface. In the duration of the crash, each Jedi were separated, but would regroup with each other, with the unfortunate exception of Master Barrek, as he was slain by the Separatist’s new general, a Sith Stalker named Grievous. Katelyn and the other Jedi were then attacked by the Sith Stalker, with Rhydon barely saving Sha’a Gi from getting crushed to death.

As the lightsaber battle began, Katelyn watched as Sha’a Gi was knocked out, and Aayla Secura was thrown up into the roof of the wrecked ship, but witnessed Tarr Seirr being killed, K'Kruhk slashed by Grievous. Katelyn would then witness Ki-Adi Mundi kicked down, and Shaak Ti get thrown into a wall, leaving her and her twin brother alone to fight the Sith Stalker. As Katelyn and Rhydon continued to duel with Grievous, Rhydon was knocked down and pinned by a piece of debris, forcing Katelyn to battle Grievous alone.

Katelyn matched Grievous' strikes blow for blow, she quickly proved herself a formidable opponent for the Sith Stalker, but it would still not be enough to keep herself from getting injured. Just as her twin brother got free from the rubble he was under, Grievous used the Force to bash Katelyn into a crumbled wall. As a result, Katelyn achieved a gash on the left side of her temple, and slumped to the ground, instantly feeling the affects of a concussion. As Grievous was about to use his sabers to kill Katelyn, she watched as Rhydon quickly used the Force to pull his lightsaber to him, along with one of her lightsaber, which turned out to be the red bladed lightsaber which she had taken from a Dark Jedi, and began clashing blades with Grievous. Though Rhydon was not as well trained in dual wielding lightsaber combat as Katelyn was, he was determined to protect his sister. Unfortunately for Rhydon, his inexperience of fighting with two sabers turned against him, as Grievous locked his blue bladed lightsaber, while destroying Katelyn's red lightsaber, and then cut off Rhydon's right arm at the elbow, before going further to slash his lightsaber across Rhydon's face.

Disoriented from losing his arm, and being slashed across his face, Katelyn watched as Rhydon was kicked down by Grievous, and fell near her, his left hand close enough for her to grip. Although she was struggling to remain conscious, Katelyn reached out and took hold of her twin's left hand, and held on as Rhydon lost consciousness. She then looked up, as Grievous towered over them, and prepared to strike down and kill them, but fortunately their lives would be saved by Jedi Master Ki-Adi Mundi, who intercepted Grievous' killing blow, and pushed him back away from Katelyn and Rhydon long enough for ARC Captain Fordo and the Muunilinst Ten to evacuate them, along with Shaak Ti, Aayla Secura, Sha'a Gi, and K'Kruhk, all of whom were still alive.

Katelyn would be transferred to a medical frigate named Bright Hope, where she would be treated for her concussion, and her brother placed into a Bacta Tank for healing. Because she received relatively minor injuries in their ordeals on Hypori, Katelyn was released pretty quickly, but she chose to stay on Bright Hope, refusing to leave her twin brother alone. One part of her reasons for staying with her twin, other than loyalty towards her family and close bond with her brother, also has to do with her bipolar disorder, as she wondered if her brother would blame her for him losing his arm. As she waited for Rhydon to recover from their ordeal, Katelyn worked on building a new second lightsaber, to replace the one destroyed by Grievous. She knew she would have to return to the secret planet Ilum, to find a new Kyber Crystal for the lightsaber. Eventually Rhydon would finally awaken in the Bacta Tank, and Katelyn made sure that she was the one to calm him down, so that the medical staff could help him. As she continued to help her brother recover, Katelyn's bipolar disorder caused her to discuss her difficulty with Rhydon, who to her personal disbelief, held no malice nor did he blame her for what happened to him, and held her in a hug to prove it.

After Rhydon was discharged and allowed to return to the field, Katelyn requested to leave for Ilum, and get a new Kyber crystal, and was allowed to do so. Dressed in cold gear, Katelyn entered the caves of Ilum, to find her crystal, and soon found it. After putting the crystal inside her second lightsaber, the blade that came out took on a purple hue, in which she often paired with her blue lightsaber; in many ways she often compared the blue and purple blades to her family, since her father and brother had blue lightsabers, and her mother had a purple one.

Eventually, after her father and mother were accepted onto the Jedi Council, Katelyn and her twin brother Rhydon were allowed to take the Jedi Trials, which they both had passed with flying colors. After becoming a Jedi Knight, Katelyn was allowed to take command of the 82nd Attack Battalion, which was a newly formed battalion, and selected ARC-82 "Arthur", who was also at Hypori as a part of Muunilinst Ten that rescued her, Rhydon (who took command of the 101st Legion), and the rest of the Jedi survivors, as her battalion commander; this would come to be doubly beneficial as Arthur became a sort of confidant for her, and he often consoled her whenever her bipolar disorder started acting up. Together, Katelyn and Arthur made the 82nd Attack Battalion into a formidable fighting force, alongside Arthur's two remaining batch mates Merlin and Lancelot; Katelyn also took the liberty with awarding Arthur with the prestigious Jaig Eyes, a revered award among the clones as it was seen ass mark for exceptionable honor, just as Rhydon awarded his own legion commander, ARC-101 "Zeus" with the same Jaig Eyes. Katelyn also took command of the 82nd Attack Fleet, and requested for Captain Melissa Porter be promoted to Fleet Admiral under her command, and Lieutenant Daniel Klerk to be promoted to Commander.

Katelyn would lead the 82nd Attack Battalion in many campaigns alongside Arthur, Merlin, and Lancelot throughout the Clone Wars, often teaming up with her mother's 414th Legion, her father's 212th Attack Battalion, the 501st Legion under Anakin Skywalker, or even Qui-Gon and the 12th Legion, but for the most part Katelyn's battalion would fight alongside her brother Rhydon and the 101st Legion. As the Clone Wars progressed, Katelyn and Rhydon grew stronger in the Force as they fought side by side, both of them being recognized as heroes of the Republic, and gained reputations and nicknames for their own. Because of her ability to bring calmness and mediate arguments between two individuals, Katelyn became known as the Peacekeeper, while her brother became known as the Protector, because of his innate desire to protect his own troops and innocent civilians in any battle.

Katelyn would soon receive word that her mother Siri and Jedi Master Ki-Adi Mundi had convinced the Jedi Council to agree in allowing the Jedi to practice polygamy, the practice of multiple marriages, in which a member of the Jedi Order could be married to at least three partners. This essentially allowed jedi to be married to any partner of their choosing, and Katelyn, while she respected her mother and her achievements, only had romantic feelings for Daniel Klerk. Unfortunately, she had to keep her feelings for Daniel to herself, as Palpatine was spearheading smear campaigns against any female Jedi falling in love with either their clones or military officers, but she opted to keep a secret relationship with Daniel. Their relationship was known only a trusted few; such as her twin brother Rhydon who supported her relationship, her mother and father, and ARC Commander Arthur.

On many occasions throughout the Clone Wars, Katelyn would encounter General Grievous, and remembering her first encounter on Hypori, Katelyn fought the Sith Stalker with wariness, learning the best way to fight the menace of the Jedi Order. on several occasions, Katelyn would encounter Darth Maul, Count Dooku, Asajj Ventress, and her father's arch nemesis: Darth Xanatos, a fallen Jedi that had at one point been apprenticed to Qui-Gon Jinn. Because Xanatos wanted to break Obi-Wan's spirit, he often tried to kill Katelyn and Rhydon, but liker her twin, Katelyn was always careful, and came out on top over Xanatos.

As the Clone Wars drew near to a close, Katelyn was preparing to go to Mandalore, which had been taken over by Darth Maul and the rogue Mandalorian warriors named Death Watch who had become loyal to him, alongside her father, brother, and Anakin Skywalker when word of a Separatist attack on Coruscant was attempted, where Supreme Chancellor Palpatine and Senator Padmé Amidala were captured, and Katelyn, Rhydon, Obi-Wan, and Anakin had to go in and rescue them, while Rhydon and Anakin’s respective padawans Zayla Secura and Ahsoka Tano took a respective half of the 101st Legion and 501st Legion to Mandalore. The space battle above the Republic capital planet was hectic, and Katelyn couldn't help but watch as her father Obi-Wan nearly lost his life to buzz droids at one point, had he not been rescued by Qui-Gon Jinn, who flying with his clone fighter group, Green Squadron. Upon successfully landing in the main hangar of General Grievous’ command ship, the Invisible Hand, the four Jedi realized that Palpatine and Padme were placed in two different parts of the warship. Padme was put up in the top of the ships observation tower, while Palpatine was in an observation room, near the ships bridge at the bow section. Choosing to split up, Katelyn and Rhydon went to get Padmé, while Obi-Wan and Anakin both ventured to the Chancellor’s location.

Fighting any droids they encountered, Katelyn and Rhydon reached the Invisible Hand's observation deck, Katelyn and Rhydon approached Padme as she was held in an observation chair, only to end up finding Dooku waiting for them. Katelyn and Rhydon reluctantly engaged the Count, not because of his formidable Form II Makashi lightsaber combat style, but because they both knew that he didn't really want to fight them, or any Jedi. They sensed, through their strong connection in the Force, that Dooku had had enough with fighting for the Dark Side and wanted to seek redemption, but was hesitant to do so. In the end, Katelyn and Rhydon overpowered Count Dooku, and offered him a chance to seek redemption; when Dooku still hesitated, they managed to contact Master Yoda, who reinforced their offer of redemption to Dooku.

To Katelyn and Rhydon’s great relief, Dooku accepted their offer of redemption, and helped release Padme. After that, the group of four began to make their way back to the hangar, where they rendezvoused with with Katelyn and Rhydon’s respective astromech droids: R3-D1 or Red as Katelyn named him, and B1-U3 or Blue as she was called. They learned from the droids that Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Chancellor Palpatine were captured, along with Obi-Wan and Anakin’s droids R4-P17 and R2-D2, and were taken to the bridge. Deciding to save their father, friend, and the Chancellor, Katelyn and Rhydon, along with Padme, Dooku, and the droids began to make their way to the bridge, cutting down any battle droids they met along the way.

Soon they reached the bridge where Obi-Wan and Anakin were battling with Grievous’ magnaguards, while the Sith Stalker and Xanatos watched. To their great interest, Grievous and Xanatos initially thought Dooku was on their side, but were instead surprised to see the Separatist leader use his red lightsaber against them, aiding the Jedi, and succeeded in killing Xanatos. Katelyn, Rhydon, Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Dooku proceeded to confront Grievous. Rather than be captured by the six opponents, Grievous surprised them by throwing an electro-staff of one of his destroyed magnaguards, and the Sith Stalker was sucked out into space, while the Jedi, astromech droids, politicians, and Dooku held onto different monitors to avoid being suck out into space with Grievous.

As Grievous managed to get back into the ship, only to jettison in one of the escape pods, Obi-Wan and Anakin realized that the Invisible Hand was disabled, and directed on a collision course to the planet surface. Immediately Katelyn, Rhydon, Obi-Wan, Anakin, Padme, Palpatine, and Dooku strapped themselves into different chairs while the astromech droids that they had with them magnetized to the floor. Katelyn watched as Rhydon aided Anakin fly the ship down to the planet surface, while the others strapped themselves into their seats, just in case anything went wrong. Eventually the ship crash lands onto the surface of Coruscant, coming to a stop on an airstrip.

After the Battle of Coruscant, a massive hunt for Grievous would begin, along with the other remaining Sith leading the Droid Army. While her brother immediately left for Mandalore, Katelyn remained on Coruscant, helping Dooku get reacquainted with the Jedi Order, as he was constantly escorted by clone troopers of the 157th Attack Battalion, a special division of clones assigned as a special security contingent to the Jedi Temple. She would often be seen speaking with Dooku, until she learned that Jedi Grandmaster Yoda was preparing to take the 41st Elite Corps, and leave for Kashyyk to help the Wookies. Katelyn would offer the assistance of the 82nd Attack Battalion to Yoda, who gratefully accepted the offer, and Katelyn prepped her flagship, the Jedi Cruiser Keeper, to leave for the jungle home planet of the Wookies, and soon left Coruscant once Yoda was onboard. As they traveled to Kashyyk, Katelyn spoke of her concerns about the growing darkness that existed in the Galaxy, prompting Yoda to console her, as he reminded her that the Jedi Order was prepared for whatever the Darkness has planned for them.

Katelyn and Yoda arrived at Kashyyyk, and rendezvoused with Qui-Gon Jinn and his clone unit the 12th Legion, Jedi Master Luminara Unduli, who was the Jedi General of the 41st Elite Corps, and Jedi Knight Quinlan Vos. Unfortunately, Katelyn also discovered that the 66th Regiment, a clone regiment that was heavily favored by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, and worked alongside in a couple of battles and didn’t enjoy it. The 66th Regiment was not like any of the other clone units in the Clone Army, specifically that they held no value for honor and loyalty like the rest of the clones had, and they had no respect for the Jedi Leadership. Because the 66th Regiment held no honor, and no value for loyalty, many of the clones in the other clone units did not get along with the 66th, especially those that were led by Jedi.

As the Battle of Kashyyyk raged on, Katelyn led her troops from the front as she always did, while Yoda watched and directed the battle with Clone Commander Gree of the 41st Elite Corps. She knew that Luminara Unduli was dealing with the droids in the jungle, and Quinlan Vos was taking care of the swamps, leaving her to lead the fight on the beaches. Fortunately she was accompanied by Qui-Gon and the 12th Legion. Katelyn and her 82nd clones managed to keep the droids from advancing up the beach, when she and her troopers started get fired on from every clone from the 66th Regiment and a few of the 41st Elite Corps and 12th Legion. This was the issuing of Order 66.

Katelyn found that none of her own clones from the 82nd Attack Battalion were trying to execute the order, and quickly discovered that Palpatine had somehow found out about her relationship with Daniel, as well as the deep loyalty that Arthur had to her, and chose to eliminate the 82nd Attack Battalion entirely. Finding herself and her men pinned in a crossfire between the droids and the clones of the 66th Regiment and the imperialist clones of the 41st Elite Corps and 12th Legion, Katelyn and Qui-Gon ordered their men to keep fighting to the last man, until rescue could be sent. She did try to contact Yoda, but found that he was busy fighting off imperialist 41st and 12th clones himself, alongside Commander Gree, and Wookies Chewbacca, and Tarfful and several 41st and 12th clone loyalists. Fortunately, rescue did come, in the form of gunships and shuttles carrying female clone troopers.

Katelyn and Qui-Gon jumped at the chance to order their troops and the 12th and 41st loyalist to get aboard the gunships and shuttles, so that they could escape from the 66th Regiment and imperial 12th and 41st. Katelyn did make sure that the gunship she and Qui-Gon were in picked up Yoda and Commander Gree, but she was sadly unable to save Luminara, as she, Qui-Gon, and Yoda learned that she was killed, while Quinlan's fate was unknown. Forced to leave Vos behind, Katelyn ordered the gunship pilot to leave Kashyyyk, and head for her flagship the Keeper.

As the gunships approached the Venator Star Destroyers that were waiting for them, Katelyn watched in shock as her command ship the Star Destroyer Keeper, blew up in flames from the other star destroyers that were trying to stop them. Fearing that her admiral and best friend Melissa Porter, and her lover Daniel, who were aboard the Keeper, was killed in the explosion, she would be relieved to know that Melissa and Daniel were able to escape the Keeper, and made their way to the Jedi Battleship Yamato. Once the gunships landed in the starboard hangar of the Yamato, Admiral Porter gave the order for the remaining ships to jump to hyperspace. Immediately after the ship jumped into the blue haze of hyperspace, Katelyn sought out her lover, and held him in her arms, thankful that he was alive, along with her best friend.

The remainders of the 82nd Attack Fleet and Battalion would proceed to the rendezvous coordinates given by Yoda, which were taking the ships to the planet of Dagobah. Once at Dagobah, Katelyn would learn of Yoda’s contingency plans, and make their way to the secret jedi planet of Ceresta, where the Jedi Order would go into exile in the Unknown Regions, hiding from the new Galactic Empire. After arriving at Ceresta, Katelyn would reunite with her family, who had all thankfully survived Order 66 (something that had bothered her immensely, especially as her bipolar disorder increased her concerns), thanks to their loyalist clone troopers. Katelyn, alongside her twin brother Rhydon, would eventually oversee the of the integrations of female clone troopers and male clone troopers, which turned out to be relatively quick and easy, as the female and male clones had already accepted and openly welcomed each other.

Katelyn would continue to serve as the general of the 82nd Attack Battalion, and to her surprise, she would be given a seat on the Jedi Council, along with her twin brother Rhydon, Anakin, and Padme. After that, Katelyn would eventually take a Varactyl of her own, and named it Thorn, and witness the birth of her newest sister Miranda from her mother and father. Katelyn would also go on to give birth to her firstborn son, Arthur Klerk-Kenobi (Who was named after Commander Arthur), who would be apprenticed to Jedi Master Shaak Ti, Sierra Klerk-Kenobi who she took on as her own apprentice, and Jack Klerk-Kenobi who would be apprenticed to Mace Windu who would help him to control his anger (especially as he inherited Katelyn's bipolar disorder). She would also witness the births of her many nephews and nieces from her twin brother and three sister-in-laws: Thomas, Sofia, and Jango Kenobi from Zarina, Kimberly, and Orion Kenobi II from Taylor; and Harry, Gwen, and Zoey Kenobi from Grace. Katelyn loved each of her three children, and it would be at his point in her life that she had a better management of her bipolar disorder, though she still had random bouts of depression and sadness.

As time went by Katelyn, along with her twin Rhydon, advocated for a modification to the military ranking system of the Jedi Loyalists Forces, and Jedi military ranks. Fortunately for her, the Council agreed, and the ranks were modified, as well as the military powers and ranks of the Jedi Order, with the addition of a special rank known as the Jedi Supreme General, who would hold all military power and decision. To Katelyn's surprise, her twin brother would be given this very rank, but she noted that he felt concerned that the power would be too much for him, and requested that she be given the same rank, to balance him out, and his request was granted. Katelyn would continue to lead the 82nd Attack Battalion, which like many the many other loyal clone units was now comprised of male and female clone troopers, in many battles against the Empire.

When Imperial Grand Admiral Thrawn, who Katelyn did have previous interactions and experience with, decided to defect from the Empire and join the Jedi, she, along with her twin brother Rhydon and father Obi-Wan advocated for the induction of Grand Admiral Thrawn, believing that the Jedi and their clones would benefit from the Chiss’ knowledge, which earned her and her family Thrawn’s respect and loyalty. With support from Thrawn and her brother, Katelyn advocated that the Jedi reorganize themselves, as they captured more territory form the Empire. When asked how the Jedi should reorganize, he controversially suggested that they make an empire of their own, but different from the Palpatine Empire that they were fighting against. Understandably the Jedi Council were concerned by this recommendation, and so both Katelyn and Rhydon came to Thrawn's aid. To ease her fellow Jedi, Katelyn and her brother recommended Padme to be the empress of the Jedi Empire, since she was extremely respected throughout the Galaxy. In the end, the Council agreed, but with some counter-arguments stating that the Jedi Order be slightly separate from the government of the new empire, and thus the Amidala Empire was born, with not only the planet of Naboo, but countless worlds and star systems flocking to the Amidala Empire for protection from the Palpatine Empire.

When it came time for the Jedi Order to consider an alliance between the Amidala Empire and the Rebel Alliance, Katelyn was as equally as wary as her brother was and feared that the Rebels wouldn't want to ally with one Empire, just to fight another, but fortunately the respect that Padme had in the Galaxy was more than enough for the Rebellion to ally with the Jedi. In the end, the Amidala Empire and Rebel Alliance came to work together quite well, though to both Katelyn and Rhydon's dismay, Senator Mon Mothma, who served as the executive leader of the Rebel Alliance, was not as fond with the idea of another Empire, or that former Palpatine Imperial Grand Admiral Thrawn was openly accepted and protected by the Jedi, but held her reserves to herself.

Katelyn continued to serve the Jedi, leading Commander Arthur, the 82nd Attack Battalion, and the clones through multiple engagements with the Empire. She would advocate for having Melissa promoted to the rank of Grand Admiral after the successes of Thrawn as a Jedi Starfleet Grand Admiral, and seeing her children grow up to be great Jedi or military leaders in their own rights.

Katelyn would participate in the Battle of Endor, where she would eventually go onto the Death Star alongside her twin brother Rhydon, Anakin and Padme Skywalker. They would engage in a lightsaber battle with Darth Grievous, Asajj Ventress, Darth Hunter, Sara Palpatine, and Grievous’ Sith Stalker guards, along with Palpatine himself, as Maul had already been killed by Qui-Gon nearly a year prior to Endor. The Sith Lords of Palpatine’s Order proved difficult for the four Jedi to fight, but fortunately, Katelyn’s daughter Sierra, Rhydon son Thomas, and Anakin and Padmé’s twins Luke and Leia came to their aid. With the additional aid from their respective kids, Katelyn and the others were able to take down the Sith Lords and stalkers, with Katelyn and Rhydon finally ending Grievous’ reign of terror on the Jedi, and avenging themselves for their humiliation on Hypori during the Clone Wars. With all the Sith taken care of, Katelyn recognized that Palpatine was the last threat, and watched as Anakin and Padme fought the Sith Emperor. With the assistance of Luke and Leia, Anakin and Padme defeated and killed Palpatine, and began to get off the battle station as it began to blow up.

The Jedi would successfully manage to escape from the dying battle station, and witness the Second Death Star be destroyed during the Battle of Endor. With the destruction of the Second Death Star, it officially ended the reign of Emperor Palpatine with his death, and his high ranking Sith Lords. To Katelyn’s happiness, from the dying embers of the Palpatine Empire, rose the new and better Amidala Empire, which guaranteed and protected peace, freedom, and justice for the people of the Galaxy, with Padme as the Empress, and Anakin as Emperor.

Phantom Menace:

Jedi Padawan.

Jedi Padawan (Cloak).

Jedi Padawan (Cloak; Hooded).

Lightsabers.

Attack of the Clones:

Jedi Padawan (Jedi Combat Armor).

Jedi Padawan (Jedi Combat Armor; Phase 1 Helmet).

Jedi Padawan (Jedi Combat Armor; Cloak).

Jedi Padawan (Jedi Combat Armor; Hooded).

Lightsabers.

The Clone Wars:

Jedi Padawan (Jedi Combat Armor; 414th Legion).

Jedi Padawan (Jedi Combat Armor; Phase 1 Helmet; 414th Legion).

Jedi Padawan (Jedi Combat Armor; Cloak; 414th Legion).

Jedi Padawan (Jedi Combat Armor; Cloak; Hooded; 414th Legion).

Lightsabers.

Jedi Padawan (Jedi Combat Armor; 414th Legion; Battle of Hypori).

Jedi Padawan (Jedi Combat Armor; Wounded; 414th Legion; Battle of Hypori).

Jedi Padawan (Jedi Combat Armor; 414th Legion; Medical Frigate Bright Hope).

Jedi Padawan (Medical Frigate Bright Hope; Healed).

Lightsabers.

Jedi Padawan (Jedi Combat Armor; 414th Legion; Scarred).

Jedi Padawan (Jedi Combat Armor; Phase 1 Helmet; 414th Legion; Scarred).

Jedi Padawan (Jedi Combat Armor; Cloak; 414th Legion; Scarred).

Jedi Padawan (Jedi Combat Armor; Cloak; Hooded; 414th Legion; Scarred).

Lightsabers.

Jedi Knight (Jedi Combat Armor; 82nd Attack Battalion).

Jedi Knight (Jedi Combat Armor; Phase 1 Helmet; 82nd Attack Battalion).

Jedi Knight (Jedi Combat Armor; Cloak; 82nd Attack Battalion).

Jedi Knight (Jedi Combat Armor; Cloak; Hooded; 82nd Attack Battalion).

Lightsabers.

Jedi Knight (Cold Weather Gear).

Jedi Knight (Cold Weather Gear; Goggles).

Jedi Knight (Cold Weather Gear; Goggles & Hood).

Lightsabers.

Jedi Knight (Jedi Combat Armor; 82nd Attack Battalion).

Jedi Knight (Jedi Combat Armor; Phase 2 Helmet; 82nd Attack Battalion).

Jedi Knight (Jedi Combat Armor; Cloak; 82nd Attack Battalion).

Jedi Knight (Jedi Combat Armor; Cloak; Hooded; 82nd Attack Battalion).

Lightsabers.

Jedi Robes.

Jedi Robes (Cloak).

Jedi Robes (Cloak; Hooded).

Lightsabers.

Revenge of The Sith:

Jedi Knight.

Jedi Knight (Cloak).

Jedi Knight (Cloak; Hooded).

Lightsabers.

Post-Order 66:

Jedi Master (Jedi Combat Robe).

Jedi Master (Jedi Combat Robes; Cloak).

Jedi Master Jedi Combat Robes (Hooded).

Lightsabers.

A New Hope/Empire Strikes Back/Return of The Jedi:

Jedi Master (Jedi Combat Armor; Supreme General).

Jedi Master (Jedi Combat Armor; Phase 3 Helmet; Supreme General).

Jedi Master (Jedi Combat Armor; Cape; Supreme General).

Jedi Master (Jedi Combat Armor; Phase 3 Helmet; Cape; Supreme General).

Lightsabers.

Family: King Orion Kenobi (Grandfather), Queen Marion Kenobi (Grandmother); Prince Owen Kenobi (Uncle), Princess Helena Kenobi (Aunt), Prince Samson Kenobi (Cousin), Princess Jessara Kenobi (Cousin), Sayuri Kenobi (Cousin); Obi-Wan Kenobi (Father), Siri Kenobi (Mother); Rhydon Kenobi (Brother), Zarina Kenobi (Sister-In-Law), Thomas Kenobi (Nephew), Sofia Kenobi (Niece), Jango Kenobi (Nephew); Taylor Smith (Sister-In-Law), Kimberly Kenobi (Niece), Orion Kenobi II (Nephew); Grace June (Sister-In-Law), Harry Kenobi (Nephew), Gwen Kenobi (Niece), Zoey Kenobi (Niece); Daniel Klerk (Husband, Arthur Klerk-Kenobi (Son), Sierra Klerk-Kenobi (Daughter), Jack Klerk-Kenobi (Son); Miranda Kenobi (Sister); Satine Kryze (Stepmother), Eliza Kenobi (Half-Sister), Anya Kryze (Half-Sister); Lord Tobias Kenobi (Granduncle), Lady Belle Kenobi (Grandaunt), Ellen Kenobi (First Cousin), Oliver Kenobi (First Cousin).

[voltage-vixen]

The Great Pumpkin Surprise

Fandom: Kissed by the Baddest Bidder Pairing:  Eisuke x MC (Female)  Notes: This fic was written for the server gift exchange in the Kings of Paradise discord, and my recipient was @eikouxd. I really hope you like this!

The gentle breeze was chilly on the crisp fall afternoon, and there was a bright mixture of orangish-red leaves that painted the ground. Decorative ghosts hung from the stripped trees in preparation for Halloween since the spooky holiday was nearly upon them. Today, MC had convinced her family to travel outside the bounds of the city to visit a farm known for their festive autumn attractions. Eito was quick to agree, and her husband Eisuke voiced how amusing this trip would probably be for him if he did accompany them. 

A few hours later they were deep into one of the rural suburbs, with a smirking Eisuke and a giddy MC bearing witness of a rare moment where Eito was racing around the farm and acting like a child his age would be expected to act. MC typically would fret over Eito being in such a rush to grow up, but today watching him radiate in childlike innocence while he lit up at the sights warmed her heart. It wasn’t often the three of them were able to escape from their daily routine given the demands of Eisuke’s work schedule, and these occasions were something she treasured when they presented themselves. Well, the three of them and…..

“Eito, come take a look at this gourd!” Ota cried out, holding up the large disfigured fruit for the boy to see. “Doesn’t it remind you of Baba’s face?”“Ota!” 

Baba pouted, feigning annoyance by dramatically crossing his arms over the front of his chest. “How cruel of you! I hardly look a day over twenty! I’m sure everyone here would feel inclined to agree.” Glancing around, the thief’s gaze locked onto Soryu’s, who also happened to be standing nearby. “Sor, don’t you think I have an eternally youthful looking face?”

The mobster rolled his eyes and uttered a loud sigh for once again being dragged into the childish antics of the group. “I don’t know anything about that stuff. Stop trying to get me involved in your shenanigans.”

“You’re pretty uptight for a criminal, aren’t you now?” Mamoru muttered under his breath. Lighting his cigarette, he surveyed the food and beverage stalls up by the entrance. “Do they sell booze at this joint? I need something to help me get through this day that I was coerced into spending with you lot.”

“Ugh, must you really insist on smoking that here?” Shuichi scolded, massaging his temples at the headache he felt oncoming. Seeing Luke nearby, he barked at the spaced-out doctor next to him. “Luke, you’re a medical professional. Inform him at once how neglectful of his health he’s being by smoking those like a chimney.”

“Oh, how I do despise the colder weather,” Luke groaned, ignoring the nagging ambassador. “I can’t even sneak a peek at Sexybones’s exquisite collar bones when she’s wearing this many layers of clothing.”

“Don’t be weird, Luke,” Hikaru murmured, shaking his head over the doctor’s odd obsession. Wanting to ease some of the innocent tension among the bidders, Hikaru decided it would be best to change the subject. “Hey, I promised Maddy I would bring him back some souvenirs. Why don’t we all pick out some together as a group? I bet Maddy would really appreciate that.”

“Good idea, Hikaru!” Baba cheered, immediately beginning to assist Hikaru in ushering the grumbling guys over to the souvenir shop. “Hurry up, everyone! Time’s a wasting!”

Yup, you guessed it! Somewhere along the way, what was intended to be a family trip, somehow escalated into the Ichinomiya family + the auction managers = chaotic group outing.

 Despite the crashers, Eito who had been wandering through the patch in search for the perfect pumpkin, spun around and burst into laughter at the familiar sight of the men he considered uncles causing the same old commotion he had grown to associate them with.

“Remind me why they are here again?” Eisuke scowled, though there was a softness in his face that didn’t align with the harshness of his words while he watched the group disappear into the front of the stop.

“Because they’re our friends,” MC giggled, while she rested her head onto his arm. “Besides, look how much fun Eito is having! Isn’t that what matters the most?” 

Eisuke leaned over to plant a soft kiss on the top of her head, and tenderly stroked her cheek. “That face you’re making now isn’t the worst,” the CEO teasingly mocked. “I suppose a trip like this isn’t half-bad if it means I get to see more of that ridiculous grin you’re wearing.”

“I can’t help the fact that spending time with you two reminds me of how blessed I am,” MC sighed, nuzzling her head against his shoulder. “These moments are precious. They’re the ones I’ll forever cherish from now until the end of my time.”

Eisuke’s heart skipped a beat at the adorableness of MC’s confession, and a rare shade of crimson faintly painted his cheeks. His past self would never have been able to envision that someone like him would ever be fortunate enough to be experiencing his very own version of family bliss. Yet here he stood today as a husband and a father. He used to believe success was measured by one’s professional accomplishments. While the value of business metrics was still one of importance, Eisuke now also factored in the prosperity and good fortune he was privileged to be immersed in from MC and Eito.

“Always honest to a fault,” Eisuke retorted, trusting MC failed to notice his blush. “That’s a quality that deserves a reward, and I don’t intend on making you wait for reimbursement any longer. Come here, baby.” 

Reaching around behind MC, Eisuke placed his hand on her back. Pulling her into his embrace, MC’s body stiffened in a bashfulness from how intimately they were standing in public. The familiar masculine scent of his cologne radiated from his body as her husband wiggled MC even more snugly against him. Eisuke’s hot breath tickled the front of her neck, and his expression softened as he cupped her chin, and MC’s nerves instantly melted away. She wanted to kiss him, and she wanted to kiss him now. Rising on her tip toes, MC inched closer, drawing herself to the part of Eisuke’s lips until-

“Mom, take a look at what I found!” Eito boasted, interrupting his parents by suddenly making his way over. “I found you the perfect pumpkin!”Eito was grinning from ear to ear, his cheeks puffed out in pride as he held up a large, bright orange pumpkin. 

Stepping away from Eisuke, MC crouched down and extended her arms to greet Eito.“Eito, what a wonderful find,” MC cheered, genuinely impressed by the amount of though Eito was putting into ensuring he found her such an impeccable pumpkin.

“If that’s what you consider a superb pumpkin, then you have very juvenile taste,” Eisuke jabbed, miffed that his MC’s attention was taken from him. “Don’t ever present your mother with less than she deserves.”

“Eisuke….,” MC began to interject, but was left unheard since Eisuke was already headed towards the fields. 

“Don’t make excuses for him,” Eisuke replied. “Come on, Eito. Allow me to remind you of what constitutes as an Ichnomiya standard.”

“I don’t need you to tell me anything!” Eito argued. Despite his protests, Eito set aside his pride and chased after his father. 

MC watched from a distance as the two thoroughly inspected the rows of pumpkins. She was able to gather they were quarreling back and forth based on Eito’s everchanging facial expressions, but she was also able to observe the look of admiration Eito often held for Eisuke. Eito was intently hanging onto every word Eisuke spoke, and even divulged his appreciation by offering the billionaire a small nod in approval when they reached an agreement on the ideal pumpkin. Eisuke signaled for one of the workers to come assist, and Eito held the pumpkin proudly to his chest.  

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A few weeks had passed since that fun day at the pumpkin patch. MC was about to leave their home and meet Eisuke in the lobby of the Tres Spades, when she caught a glimpse at the picture frame of the three of them on the coffee table. Her lips curled in a smile as she recollected that fond memory. Sparing one final peek at the happy photo, she eagerly stepped into the elevator.  

After riding down into the lobby, the doors to the elevator sprung open and MC gasped in awe at the marvelous scene decorating the entrance into the hotel. She could hardly believe that the entire face of the lobby was covered in pumpkins. Each was turned into a different type of jack-o-lantern; carved with intricate details, and brightly illuminating from the inside. The normal atmosphere was vastly transformed into a not-so-spooky Halloween theme.

 “Mom, you’re finally here!” Eito shouted as he ran across the room to greet her.

 “Conduct yourself more appropriately,” Eisuke scolded, frowning when Eito ignored him and continued to race towards his mother and tightly hug her.

“We had the farm deliver all of these pumpkins, and then dad and I asked Uncle Ota to design them since we thought it would make you happy! Did it work? Are you happy?” the little boy asked, his eyes widened in an impatient anticipation as he awaited his mom’s response.

“Of course, I’m happy! You two did an amazing job working together,” MC acknowledged in pride, also addressing Eisuke who had just finished walking over to join her and Eito. “What did I ever do to deserve to be spoiled like this by my two favorite men in the entire world?”

MC wrapped Eito up into a hug and reached out to grasp onto Eisuke’s hand. Knowing that Eisuke and Eito worked through their differences to come together as father and son and plan such an elaborate surprise for her was truly better than any physical gift they could present her with. 

“I love you, guys,” MC whispered, blinking back the tears of joy threatening to spill in elate of her excitement.

“Love you too, mom,” Eito murmured, blushing shyly at the direct confession.

Pressing a kiss on Eito’s forehead, MC captured Eisuke’s gaze with her own. Her eyes flashed in adoration when Eisuke lightly gave her hand a squeeze, and shared the sentimental smile he retained only for her.

I love you too, baby. I love you too.    

[deathonyourtongue]

Taste of Your Love

Summary: At his welcome home party, Ray realizes the best thing about the last ten years has been her.  Pairing: Ray Merrimen x Yvonne Levoux  Word Count: 4K Warnings: Smut, smut, smut, smut, but also FEEEEELINGGGGSSS.  A/N : This was commissioned by the amazing @livinglifeformemyselfandi​, and I can only hope I did justice to what she had in mind! Also, before you ask...Yes, there’s a sequel in the works. ;)

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She was the only one who’d written him while he was in. The only one who’d call just to shoot the shit. For all the emphasis he always placed on him and the boys being family, she was the one that showed up, time and time again. Yvonne may have been the younger of the Levoux siblings, but compared to Enson, she’d always been better at cultivating a true sense of family, even among those who weren’t blood. 

It was no surprise then, that when Ray walked into the cookout thrown in his honor, Yvonne was the first to reach him for a hug. In his time at Victorville, he’d watched her go from a shy, book-smart college kid, to a thriving psychiatrist with a Cornell doctorate under her belt and all the confidence in the world. Though Enson had done their folks proud by becoming a MARSOC specialist, Ray had no doubt that Yvonne was the crown jewel of the family with her success.

“Welcome home, big guy,” Yvonne whispered as she squeezed him tight, Ray holding on a little longer than he meant to, grateful to simply have human contact once again...And maybe just a little entranced by the scent of her perfume. 

“Good to be home, finally. Did you fly out just to visit everyone?” He asked as Yvonne led him over to the cooler, Ray noticing how graceful she was as she pulled two beers from the ice and popped the cap on both with ease. 

“Something like that,” she smiled, her answer purposely coy so as to not give away her surprise.

Raising her bottle, Yvonne’s eyes told Ray to look around, and for the first time since arriving, he realized that everyone he considered family was there, the small crowd all smiles as they waited for him to call the toast. 

He thought about it for a moment before raising his own bottle, Ray taking a deep breath and clearing his throat, knowing he’d have to speak a little louder than usual. 

“To freedom and to family. Thank you all for being here.”

“Music’s definitely changed. And the dancing. Christ,” Ray observed as Enson settled on the lounge chair beside his, two plates in hand. Passing one to Ray, Enson could only nod, his grin ear to ear. 

“Yeah, man. Can’t say I mind though,” Enson chuckled before digging into his food, his shoulders moving in time with the music even as he ate. 

Ray’s own head bobbed along to the hip-hop that was so different--yet just as catchy--as the stuff he’d grown up with. As he ate, he let his mind wander to all the things that had passed him by during his time on the inside. More than anything, Ray knew his chance at any meaningful relationship with a woman had long ago bit the dust. He had a few women he knew he could call at any time, who’d be ready and willing, but it wasn’t the same as someone to come home to.

Before he could think too much harder on it, his and Enson’s sunlit views were cut by two figures standing in front of them. Looking up, he couldn’t help but smile as he saw Yvonne and Jasmine standing there, both of them looking down expectantly. 

“Hello, ladies,” he said, one eyebrow raised in distrust, as both Yvonne and her sister-in-law looked like they were up to something. 

“Before y’all fall asleep, we figured we’d get y’all moving.” Jasmine explained, earning an immediate groan from Enson, his head shaking even before his wife could reach his hand. 

“C’mon, baby!” She begged, her hips swaying in time with the music. “Ray’ll get up, just you watch.” She challenged, Enson continuing to shake his head at the mere thought of having to dance.

Ray laughed warmly, his gaze turning to Yvonne. Something about the smile on her face made it clear she wouldn’t take no for an answer and so, setting his plate aside, he got up with a groan, looking over his shoulder at Enson as he took Yvonne’s hand.

“C’mon, bro. Let’s go.” Grinning, he couldn’t help but chuckle at Enson’s narrow-eyed gaze. 

“Don’t be touchin’ on my baby sister, man,” Enson warned with a smile, though Ray knew full well that if he so much as looked at Yvonne the wrong way, he’d have to contend with Enson and the rest of their crew, but both his and Enson’s eyebrows went up in surprise when Yvonne spoke up. 

“Your sister’s not a baby anymore, E.” Her gaze tender but confident, it was clear she was setting a boundary for her brother, one he knew better than to try and cross. As tough as he was, Enson was no dummy and knew full well his sister could, and would, kick his ass if necessary.

Leading Yvonne to the area of the backyard where everyone was dancing, Ray felt nervous for the first time ages. 

“I appreciate you writing all those years. Helped me feel less alone,” he spoke softly as they began to dance to the slow, rhythmic song. Holding her close, he could smell her perfume again, the scent just as intoxicating the second time around. 

“I knew my brother and your other friends wouldn’t do it, ‘cause it might make things...complicated for them, and you’ve always been...Well, you’re family, so it was a no-brainer.” It was the first time he’d ever heard her sound flustered, and Ray couldn’t help but find it cute. Without thinking, he reached out and stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. The smile he got in return, a mixture of giddy and shy, was worth any flack he’d catch from Enson. 

“You still went out of your way. Pretty sure I know why, but nevertheless, it made a huge difference.” 

“You know what, exactly?” She asked, playing coy, even though deep down Yvonne was nervous that he’d let her down gently, given how long they’d been family.

“That you’ve had a crush on me since you were in, what, high school? God, I’m old,” he chuckled, shaking his head at the realization that he’d known her far longer than just his time in Victorville.

Looking down, he could see Yvonne’s shock, her eyes showing just how ruffled she was, despite her attempts to keep it cool and return his gaze.

“E told you, I take it?” 

“Yeah, long time ago,” he assured her, Ray giving her a gentle squeeze, making it clear it wasn’t something that bothered him. 

“And?” Yvonne asked after taking a deep breath, lifting her chin and squaring her shoulders, ready for whatever answer Ray might give. 

“And, well...You’re stunning. Smart as hell and you’ve got a heart of gold. Any guy with half a brain would be an idiot to not see how amazing you are.” Leaning down, he continued, Ray’s words whispered against the shell of her ear, “I’d be lying if I said the feeling wasn’t mutual.”

He felt the shiver run through her, and couldn’t help but smile, Ray certain in that moment that her crush hadn’t ever gone away. What he wasn’t ready for, was to be tugged off the dance floor and towards Yvonne’s purse. 

“Where are we going?” He asked softly, Ray’s eyes glancing around, trying to spot Enson or anyone else who might give them grief. 

“My place. The things I wanna do to you? Aren’t meant for public consumption,”  Yvonne replied, her smile mischievous and confident. Licking his lips, Ray did his best to keep his expression neutral, knowing that if he looked too excited, he’d call more attention onto them both. 

“Meet me out front in five,” she whispered as she walked past him, Yvonne pretending like she was saying goodbye to him before making her rounds to the rest of their group. 

Waiting just a few minutes so that anyone listening for her car wouldn’t think she was sitting idle, Ray took a different route, going through the back door of Enson’s place before heading right out the front door. As close to the bathroom as it was, anyone looking for him would--at least initially--think he was merely using the facilities. 

Impressed by Yvonne’s choice of car, Ray got in and buckled up just in time to brace himself as she peeled the Audi away from the curb. 

“Not a bad ride for a year one therapist,” he smirked, smoothing a hand over the leather dash, his expression making it clear he approved of her choice. 

“She may be used, but she’s still better than Bosco’s Mustang,” Yvonne grinned, having heard all about the grief the other man got when he showed up to Enson’s place in his new ride. Ray laughed from deep in his gut, remembering when she’d told him the news. 

The drive was short but scenic, the silence punctuated by their held hands, Ray kissing the back of Yvonne’s whenever they stopped at a light. He couldn’t help but give her slender fingers a squeeze when she put the car in park in the driveway of a small but well-kempt ranch style home, shock coloring his expression. 

“You weren’t kidding when you said you were thinking of putting down roots down. Why didn’t tell me you’d moved back?” Ray asked, a little flabbergasted that she’d already settled in so quickly. 

“I wanted it to be a bit of a surprise. Do you like it?” Yvonne asked, her smile giddy. 

“It’s really nice. Away from the industrial part of town, so you won’t have to deal with all the air brakes and shit. I’m assuming close to anything you might need, and hopefully close to where you’re practicing out of. You did really well, Evie,” he nodded, Ray slipping his hand across the back of her neck and kissing her temple, proud of what she’d accomplished in his time away. 

“Thanks,” She murmured, her eyes soft and appreciative of the genuine reaction he’d given. Their gazes met for a moment, and with a gentle squeeze of her neck, Ray brought her close once more, this time kissing her properly, his free hand finding her cheek as their lips met. 

It was a kiss for the ages, one both were sure they’d never forget. Yvonne felt fireworks in her stomach, and was reaching for Ray even as they both came up for air, needing more of that connection. 

“We should probably...go...inside…” Ray smiled into the kisses he peppered her lips with, the elation they both felt strong enough to shake the earth if they let it. 

Nodding in agreement, Yvonne reluctantly let go, grabbing her purse and making quick work of hopping out, smiling when she found Ray already at her side of the car. Unable to help it, Ray pulled her close once more, giving her a far deeper kiss now that he wasn’t so cramped in the passenger seat. 

“Your brother’s gonna kill meeee,” he joked as Yvonne pulled away from the kiss, intent on getting them inside. Hugging her from behind, Ray didn’t dare slow her steps, as eager as she was for the freedom that lay behind closed doors. 

“He’ll have to get through me first, big boy,” Yvonne grinned, locking the door behind Ray before kicking off her shoes and stepping backwards into her living room. Ray’s Chucks made a home next to Yvonne’s sandals as he followed her into her space, admiring the fact that she’d already started decorating. 

“You move quick when you know what you want, huh?” He grinned, gesturing around to the framed prints and subtle touches that added a classic, yet lived-in feel to the home. 

“Why bother waiting when you know you want it?” She replied, her eyebrow quirked as she began to take off her dress, revealing a sheer matching set beneath. Ray’s eyes went wide, momentarily stunned by how gorgeous she was. 

“I didn’t plan on swimming,” she grinned, knowing full well that with the pool in the backyard, Ray was probably expecting a bikini. 

“Clearly,” Ray quipped, smiling ear to ear as he stepped forward, taking his shirt off as he went. 

Pulling her close yet again, Ray kissed her passionately, his hands slipping down the arch of her back to cup her ass and bring her flush against him. Yvonne moaned softly into his mouth as she felt his arousal clear as day; Any thoughts of him not liking her back dissolved in a flash, his kiss speaking volumes and putting her mind at ease.

Yvonne held onto Ray’s neck as she felt his hand slide under the thin material of her thong, his other hand sliding up her back to undo her bra one-handed. Prison hadn’t rusted his skills, and she couldn’t help the shiver that ran through her, the anticipation growing with every passing second. 

Panting, Ray grinned as she pushed him back just far enough to find his belt, Yvonne letting her lingerie slip off as she worked to get him in the same state of nudity. With his fly undone, she let her eyes move to where her hands held the waistband of his jeans and boxer briefs, Yvonne’s tongue inadvertently sticking out as she slowly revealed him. 

Her moan was instinctual when Ray’s cock sprang out, Yvonne pushing the fabric down just far enough for it to slide off his legs, knowing he’d take care of the rest while she focused on what she wanted. Taking him in both hands, Yvonne gave him a gentle squeeze, biting her lower lip when she found him hard as rock for her. 

Their lips crashed together again as they blindly moved towards the couch, wandering hands finding all the right spots with every step. When her calves hit the cushions, Yvonne smiled as she felt Ray lower her down. 

“Confession time,” Ray murmured against the shell of her ear before his kisses moved down her neck, carving a path down towards what he wanted most. “I may or may not have…” he looked up at her with intent, hoping she understood his meaning, “with the beach picture you sent me back in ‘09.” 

“Is that so?” She giggled, Yvonne’s hand smoothing over his buzz cut as she watched his mouth get closer and closer to where she was already a sopping mess. 

Nodding, Ray met her gaze as his lips finally kissed over her bare mound, his mouth opening to lick teasingly over her clit. Seeing the reaction he wanted, Ray let his own eyes close as he began to work her, slipping her legs over his shoulders as he did so.

“Oh, Ray,” Yvonne’s voice was breathy and needy as she watched him eat her out, her legs splaying as she felt his wet tongue sluice through her folds. 

“This all for me?” Ray murmured against her pussy, his eyes flicking up to her once more before his tongue pushed inside her, lapping up all her juices. 

“Uh huh,” she keened, Yvonne’s mouth falling open as she indulged in the sensations Ray was bringing her. 

“So wet, baby. Can’t wait to slide inside,” he growled, Ray pulling her hips up higher before sucking hard on her clit and making her squeak out a higher-pitched sound. Plunging his tongue back inside her, Ray groaned happily as he focused on her g-spot, wanting to feel that jolt shoot up her spine. 

“Fuck, Ray, that feels so fucking good!” Yvonne panted, hips swirling to meet his tongue. In all the years she’d fantasized about him, him eating her out had never crossed her mind, but reality was far better than any dream she could have had and Yvonne felt herself getting close to the edge far faster than she expected. 

“Need you inside me, Ray, please!” She whimpered, her hips starting to move of their own volition as his tongue worked all the right spots, Ray licking and sucking as though his life depended on it. 

It took a moment for him to realize that she was asking him to move past foreplay, Ray lost in his own pleasure between her legs, indulging in every little jolt of her thighs, every clench of her pussy, every lick that coated his tongue in her juices. He was a man possessed and had her tone not snapped him out of it, Ray was certain Yvonne would have had to tug his ears to get him to stop. Smiling breathlessly at her, Ray kissed up her stomach, finding her lips again as he let his cock slide through the mess of spit and slick he’d made. 

“C’mere, beautiful,” Ray whispered, pulling her up and shifting their positions so that she was straddling his lap. Hands slipping over every inch of skin they could, Ray kissed Yvonne passionately as he lined himself up at her entrance. Knowing his size was a lot for most women, he took hold of her hand, his other moving to her hip to steady her. 

“Nice and slow,” he coached, Ray’s gaze never once leaving Yvonne’s as she sunk down on him. “That’s it, fuck, you’re so tight, baby,” he said softly, watching her expression as it went from lust-filled to utterly shocked the lower she went. 

Yvonne gasped as Ray began to take up every bit of room she had to offer, her walls stretching well past what they were used to with her toys as, inch by inch, he filled her up. 

“Fuck, Ray, it’s so big. Holy shit! Oh fuck!” She panted, hips jerking upward every once in a while when she went too far, too fast. 

“Don’t rush, baby. We’ve got all night. I’m yours,” Ray murmured, smiling when he felt her hand squeeze his, his free hand stroking her back gently as she worked her all the way down. 

When she was finally flush, Yvonne couldn’t help but sag a little in his arms, her head resting on Ray’s muscular shoulder as she took in how full and stretched she felt. There was no doubt he was going to make her see stars, and though she might be waddling come morning, Yvonne didn’t want it any other way. 

Pressing soft, desperate kisses along the column of his neck, Yvonne moaned as she felt his hands slide over her ass, knowing he was getting ready to move. What she wasn’t prepared for was for him to stand up and start a slow, deep stroke that had her jaw on the floor in seconds. 

“Where’s your room, baby? Don’t wanna break your couch,” Ray murmured before his mouth found one of her nipples, sucking and nipping gently, a series of soft moans escaping him as he took a moment to enjoy how deep inside her he was. 

“Holy fuck, Ray! End of the hall!” Yvonne cried out, pointing frantically with one hand as she held onto his broad shoulders with her other. Though usually reserved in most areas of her life, Yvonne never held back when it came to being vocal with a partner, and as Ray began to walk, she couldn’t keep her moans from escaping if she tried. Each step was a thrust up with no pullout, Yvonne squeezing her legs around Ray’s hips to grind down as much as she could each time, the feeling mind-blowing. 

Her moans grew louder when, after a few purposely-small steps, Ray stopped dead in his tracks and began to bounce her on his cock, his own hips meeting hers with just as much momentum. Legs shaking from the intensity, all Yvonne could do was hold on and cry out his name, having never been taken the way Ray was taking her.

By the time they reached the bed, she couldn’t have told him what day of the week it was, and it wouldn’t have mattered because time stopped. Spreading her legs wide with two sweeps of his big hands, Ray found the perfect angle and set a demanding pace. It only took a few strokes for her to move from moans to squeals as each wet thrust hit her g-spot perfectly. Heat built low in her belly as Ray continued to ram into her core, Yvonne’s eyes rolling back in her head each time he bottomed out inside her. Reaching down, she held onto his ass, silently begging him to rut even harder, lost in her arousal and only able to focus on how good he was making her feel. 

“Fuck, Ray, just like that. Oh fuck, yes, yes, yes!” She called out when she finally found her words again, Yvonne’s eyes moving down to where they were joined, her desire growing even more as she watched him pump in and out of her. 

Ray switched the pace, slowing down and taking long, deep strokes as he found her lips again. Both of them moaning into the kiss, it was almost guaranteed that they were going to go all night, neither having to say it out loud to know it was true. Their eyes never lost contact as they came up for air, Ray unable to help himself as he kissed and sucked on her neck, bringing her hips up so that her bottom half was practically vertical. 

“You feel so fucking good, Evie. Can’t get enough,” he said through gritted teeth as he continued the same pace, Ray watching as his cock slid out wetter and wetter every time he pulled back to thrust. 

“Ray, please!” Yvonne begged, feeling like she was going out of her mind from everything he was making her feel. It wasn’t just a hookup and deep down they both knew it. It was far too intense for that, far too good to be just a one-night stand. 

“You close, baby? Gonna cum all over my cock?” Ray asked with a breathless grin, pulling nearly all the way out before thrusting back in hard, signaling another switch of the pace. 

Nodding feverishly, Yvonne stretched her arms over her head as she splayed her legs wide, ready for the rough pace she knew was coming. Ray didn’t disappoint, changing his position and letting some of his weight press her down into the mattress. The thrusts came hard, Ray rutting into her with all his power, his heavy sac smacking wetly against her ass, the sound only adding to the heat that threatened to overpower Yvonne. She thought about how thick his load would be, how much she’d have to take, and what a delicious mess round two would be. 

Gasping for air, Yvonne could only hold on tight as Ray rammed his cock against her cervix, making her see stars. Her whole body shaking, she couldn’t even find the strength to wrap her legs around him as she came. 

“RAY!!” She screamed, Yvonne pressing her face into the crook of his neck, her moans and whimpers muffled against his skin as he continued to thrust through her orgasm. She could feel Ray’s smile even as he moaned out his own pleasure, the tension in his muscles making it clear he was right behind her. 

“Fuck, baby, I’m gonna--” his own voice cut to silence as Ray stilled his hips then jolted them hard into her as he began to cum. Yvonne couldn’t help but squeeze him close when she noticed his own body trembling, realizing that after ten years, the experience had to be even more intense for him. Cocooning him in her arms, she crossed her ankles at his lower back and let her hands sweep up and down his spine. Involuntarily still clenching around him, she milked Ray through every pump, Yvonne sharing in the desperate, deep kisses he offered as he worked through his orgasm. 

Bodies still twitching, they held each other in silence, gazing deeply into each other’s eyes. Before long, Yvonne felt her vision blur and with an embarrassed laugh, wiped her eyes. Ray’s own gaze softened as he kissed away the remnants of her tears, confused as to why she was crying. 

“I thought I was never gonna see you again. Thought something bad was gonna happen while you were in there and that I’d never get to see that smile one more time,” she explained, her lower lip trembling despite her own grin. 

Cupping her face, Ray blinked back his tears, realizing in that moment how much he meant to her, and how much him going away had probably hurt and scared her.

“I’m sorry. When we’re out there...We never think of the people back home, about how much we could be hurting them. I understand that now. I’m sorry, Evie.” He whispered, pressing a reverent kiss over her heart.

While Yvonne knew he meant the words, she also knew how hard it was to just step away from the life he’d chosen after coming back from war. The two sides of her mind were constantly at odds on the subject, but it was her heart that drowned out both arguments, speaking even louder now that she was in his arms. 

All that mattered was that he was here, he was free, and he was with her. 

[starr-fall-knight-rise]

Humans Are Space Orcs “Preparations.”

I’m getting ready for an interesting new arc, I think, so we shall see. I never know what my brain is going  to want to write. 

“Lieutenant, command is yours. Keep the ship operational till I get back. I want low orbit just in case we have to bail out quickly.”

“Yes sir.”

Boots clattered on metal as Commander Vir clattered down the stairs and moved quickly down the hallway. A small entourage of figures walked at his back, “I’m not sure I like this commander.” One of them was saying, “It could more than easily be a trap.”

He sighed, “I know, but the GA wants it done.”

“I would much rather do reconnaissance for a while-”

“And so would I, but the chairwoman made it very clear that we needed to speak with them as soon as possible. I’ve already tried establishing radio contact, and nothing. The only way to go now is the old fashioned way.”

They took a sharp corner, “Tell the council to meet me down in the docking bay.”

“Yes sir,” They scampered off leaving another subordinate to fill their place.

Most of the council was already there when he reached the docking bay. Dr, Krill, Sunny, Dr. Adric, Ramirez Narobi etc. etc.” He paused before them, hands clasped behind his back.

“You shouldn’t go alone.” Came the first announcement.

“Wouldn’t dream of it, which means I want at least six marines, and a group from the diplomacy team. I know I’ve been taking lessons, but I don’t trust myself nearly as much as I trust them.”

“Are we sure it needs to be you at all?” Krill pointed out getting to the heart of the issue on first try, as was usual for him.

Commander Vir turned to look at the little doctor on the spot, “The Kree have demanded a high ranking representative.”

“Then lie to them, send down someone not important and pretend,” Krill said 

He crossed his arms, “We aren’t going to lie. Starting out diplomatic relations with a lie would destabilize the entire foundation of what we are trying to build, no we need proper protection is all.” He turned to look at the others, “Any objections? If so raise your concerns now?’”

Sunny raised a hand, “You're Not going unless you bring proper weapons, otherwise, I say we shouldn't meet them.”

“I agree….. And I have an idea.” The group looked nervously around at each other, “No, you are very much not going to like it, and you will probably argue with me.” He turned to Dr. Adric, and motioned hi to follow, “Ramirez get your marines and-”

“Already done commander.”

“Nice and fast of you.” He turned to look at Ramirez one last time placing a hand on his shoulder, “Are these the marines that have…. Uh…. trained with the new equipment?”

Ramirez  nodded enthusiastically, “Yes sir.”

“Good.” “New equipment?” Krill wondered rather suspiciously.

“Yep you're going to hate that too.” Commander Vir announced knowing that he was going to argue and knowing that people would assume his decision was poor. But he had talked it over -- seriously -- with Ramirez, and they had both agreed it was too good a strategic advantage not to. Ramirez had then talked with the requisitions officer and so on and so forth until the package had been loaded onto the ship not a few days before, but that he thought he might be able to get away with, it was this next thing, they were going to hate.

Floating at the back of the group Conn knew what he was thinking, “They’re going to lock you up.”

“Are you exaggerating, or is that seriously what they are going to do?”

The starborn kept silent  leaving hi on edge as he moved forward and into the equipment room. He knew where it was, they had hardly hidden it as well as they thought they had, and he could tell by the nervous movement of the rest of the crew that they knew too.

Ight as well not keep them waiting.

He walked over to one side of the room, pushed a rack of guns out of the way, reached down and dragged the large silver box onto the open floor.

Immediate uproar.

“No!”

“Not on your life!: “What are you thinking!”

Commander Vir crossed his arms, planting himself before the box with feet spread wide. He let them continue to rant, sunny even tried to pull hi away, but he ducked past both of her arms and stepped back, so he was now standing on the box.

“QUIET ALL OF YOU!”

That made them shut up, at least for the moment.

“Commander, we won’t let you.”

“I know.” 

“Than why even bother bringing it up.” Sunny demanded 

Even Ramirez was looking a little put off..

He turned to look at Dr. Adric, “That is why he is here. I know for a fact that I can do it, and not cause harm to myself. I’m healthy enough mentally to manage, but if the good doctor decides that I am wrong, than I will put it down and stp arguing.”

Below him, the Iron eye logo glinted in the yellowed overhead lights.

Dr. Adric looked on in concern, “What is this about?”

Krill and a few of the others turned to protest, but commander Vir stopped them with a raised hand turning to look at the doctor, “You are aware of my time in operation steel eye?”

He nodded.

“And were you aware that I put the armor back on for the burg war not some months ago?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know about the project.”

He laced his hands together before him, “I published a paper on it. I know that it was a volatile experimental pice of technology that the government attached  directly into the spinal columns and muscles of the forty surviving soldiers. Each machine was powered by the steel eye prosthetic which contained the suit’s power source. I know that they used drugs to stop the excruciating pain, and that they added amphetamines to cause aggression and allow the soldiers to stay up longer…. And I know that more than three fourths of those soldiers are dead now and only have of that fourth is….. Operating functionally as people.”

Commander Vir smiled, “Yes, than you do know. IT took me years to recover from the suit, than I went and put it on again, and that caused a relapse in y mental health to a degree that I almost got myself grounded and , likely, discharged. However, during that time I also spoke to a group of people who were working on a similar project, operation Iron eye.” There was a nervous shifting around the room, “ITs the same thing as stell eye, though it requires no drugs, and no pain. The Trade off is, I had to go in for surgery because the attachments are permanent.” 

He turned around and pulled down the collar of his shirt so Dr. Adric could see the first port just below the base of his skull, “I had these done at a time where I honestly shouldn't have, but I thought this was my only option.” He turned back around, “I am well aware that is not true, but what’s done is done. I have the implants, they cannot be removed, and I have the suit. I might as well use it to protect myself. That is the point? To protect myself and the rest of the crew?”

There was silence for a moment.

“We can’t let you do this.” Dr Katie was saying.

Narobi was shaking her head emphatically .

He turned to look at Dr. Adric, “I leave this decision up to you doc. If I’m not mentally healthy enough to handle it, than I will stop, but you are the expert here and the most unbiased among us.” Dr Adric shifted on the spot nervously. He could see where this was a problem. The unhealthy associations that soldiers were bound to make after an experience like that was…. Horrible to imagine, but the Commander seemed calm, so he supposed there was no issue with trying.

He was a bit nervous about all the eyes that his decision caused. Sunny looked like she was about to beat him to death with her spear, and Dr. Krill seemed intent on poisoning his drink the next time he had the chance.

They took the Iron eye box back to the medical bay, and The three doctors observed the process.

Commander Vir was feeling pretty good as he slid back into the box listening to the connections click into place. Were there some bad memories? Yeah, sure, but he could handle those well enough.

Dr Adric kept a close eye on him as he stood the whirring of hydraulics accompanying his movement. He flexed his fist inside the iron eye suit and turned to look at the others.

Krill was frowning. Sunny was glowering , Dr. Katie wouldn't even look at him. Ramirez looked very, very nervous.

Dr. Adric walked over and checked his pulse, asked a few questions, but finally decided there was no reason to tell him no. 

That pissed off almost everyone else in the room, but commander Vir pulled on the specially made iron eye gear, “You wanted me safe, and this is as safe as I can think of being, and I trust Dr. Adric’s judgement.” With each footstep, metal clattered against metal, and the soft hiss of the hydraulics accompanied him up the hall.

THe others followed in concern and anger.

The crew turned to look their eyes wide looking nervous.

They expected him to do something stupid.

What they didn’t know is that he actually had a practicing mental health professional on his side now, and truth be told, he didn’t feel anything really. Yes he could just as easily compare the experience to the steel-eye suit, but without the pain, the experiences were too different.

Reaching the docking bay for the second time. The marines were already waiting as were the diplomacy team.

Dr Krill cursed, “You arent serious.”

“Krill, I appreciate your opinion as a doctor, but in areas of equipping marines, I trust Ramirez more.”

The line of marines saluted as he drew nearer, their bodies covered by their combat ACUs, and each one wearing a matte black painted jetpack.

He turned, just in time for Ramirez to step forward with another, mounting it to the back plate on the Iron- eye suit, where it clicked satisfyingly into place.

Krill and Sunny both looked as if they were about  to have a conniption. 

He withdrew something from his pocket, “Don’t worry, I did my homework, and read the manual. I don’t plan on even using it if this all goes well.” he looked at the group of them seriously, “This isn’t for fun, everyone, this is for the safety and protection of myself and others. I have a panic button ready in case anything goes wrong, and I will have two more teams of marines on standby in low orbit in case something decides to happen. I have the diplomacy team to speak when I don’t know what to do, and I have the marines for a firefight if it comes to that. THe first sign of trouble and we fly out if we have to.”

He stepped forward a bit, looking around at the concerned and angry faces, “I understand you all are worried, but I have thought this through. I have taken your suggestions, and I am doing everything I can to stay safe.” He looked up at Sunny, “I will be equipped in the way that you suggested.” he turned to Krill and Katie, “We have the medical supplies that you ordered in the bags that were placed in the ready room.”

He turned to Narobi, “You sent in one of your best people to service all of the equipment days ago. I, and these men are as safe as we can be.” 

Maybe one day he wouldn't have to explain his actions to these people, but he understood that, in the past he had made a bunch of poor decisions. This time would not be that time. He had thought of everything, and he had talked to everyone else to consider things he hadn’t thought of. He was listening to his crew, and differing to the knowledge of experts. He didn’t pick the team, he didn’t pick the equipment, and he was going to allow the knowledge of others to carry through this time.

Yes, one day he would be able to make a decision without explaining everything, but today was not that day.

He looked around, “Are there any objections?” He held up a hand to cut Krill off, “On the basis of logic and not being angry at me?”

Krill shut his mouth.

One of the floor technicians jogged up, “The shuttle is ready commander.”

He nodded and turned to the marines, “Load up!” He then turned and ordered a second pilot onto the ship so as not to leave it unmanned when they were gone.

In the confusion, he turned to head towards the ship, but something caught his hand.

He turned and looked up to find Sunny’s golden eyes staring down at him. He could tell she was mad, displeased, and even a little hurt, though she didn’t say any of that.

The one day he thought he had made no mistakes…. And he had.

He looked around quickly, and seeing no one paying attention, he took one of her other hands.

The Iron eye armor impeded a good connection but it would have to do, “I’ll talk to you when I get back.”

SHe remained quiet.

“I know…. I should have told you, and you can kick my ass later, ok?”

His smile fell from his face as she continued to glower.

He squeezed her hands, “Back before you can say Adam is a dipshit.” He squeezed one more time and let go turning towards the shuttle and flexing his shoulders with a hydraulic hiss , the iron eye clattering hungrily with every movement

[oh-theres-a-woman]

I Only Wanted You; Part Four

A/N: I don’t think you were expecting this bad boy so soon. Sorry it was a little shotty. Not entirely confident with this part. Sooooo much going on. But, I’m happy to say that this story will be wrapping up in the next two parts. 

Requested By: @captivatedbycillianmurphy

Taglist: @hesagod-notyet​ @zodiyack​ @itsfrancisneptun​ @fandom-fucking-shit​ @amys-small-world​ @amirahiddleston​ @a-dorky-book-keeper​ @captivatedbycillianmurphy​ @rosiemaisworld​ @queencoraline3 @smallheathgangsters​ @theshelbyclan​ @haphazardhufflepuff​ @nemesis729​ @kiaoizz​ @sweatydragoncloudknight​ @nobodyscarebutandyou​ @peakascum​

Part: [ Prologue ], [ 1 ], [ 2 ], [ 3 ] 

Word Count: 1744

Y/N PoV:

Sitting there in the comfortable sitting room, nursing a cup of tea in her lap. Eyes drifted here and there and there taking in the intimate details of the room. Holding a great awkwardness about the situation the moment Esme excused herself to call the doctor. Y/N’s mind was drifting on and on. Lost in the cloud of her tired and overworked head. Weak and wary. She did not completely mind the heat felt from the freshly lit hearth since that day though sunny was especially chilly to.

That was mostly why she was thankful for the tea. The blend smoother than anything you’d ever tasted. A hint of peppermint that eased the creeping nausea and settled her forever restless stomach. Time ticked by before Esme arrived once more. Settling down in the couch just by her. “Sorry—one of the children is being extra fussy this afternoon, the doctor will be here in a hurry.” Esme said smoothly. Tommy had commented that he would grab the doctor on his way through—one he’d trust.

In the meantime, Esme spoke with Y/N trying to understand where the woman had been. What had been making her sick? Was she not eating enough? Or poorly. Could she have taken to the drink or Tokyo for the relief it gave? The equal Shelby outcast did not think that was the case though, after observing the behaviours for the shyer woman.

She had seen plenty of pregnant women before—Y/N was no exception.

“You didn’t have to get a Doctor Esme, I’ve no means to pay them. Nor you for that matter after the bill is bought forward,” Y/N finally spoke up. Leaning out placing the cup and saucer on the coffee table of polished mahogany. Another sign that the Shelbys were stepping up in the world; everything felt so rich. Compared to the modest living she preferred with Thomas. He did have other expensive housing choices, but she was simply content with the little home in Birmingham.

Not the estate where everything began for them. It felt wrong to step above her former colleagues. Since—in the beginning she had always come from a lower and smaller scene than them.

Like Esme she knew of an entirely different life away from the city of Small Heath. She knew the life in caravans and settlements with the Romani community. Y/N was a born farm girl that lost everything when her family died. Carrying on her life as a mother to her younger siblings—it was something that caused a great respect among the older Shelbys in the passing months. Esme, however, only needed to meet her once to know this woman often went without her own happiness for them. Something—she didn’t want to force anymore.

Y/N deserved happiness—just as much as anyone else.

Time passed gradually—she was tired and anxious. It looked as if sleep might very well hit her in this warmth. The Romani woman made no comment on it. “You should rest, don’t worry about payin’ the doctor. You need to see if yourself and the baby are alright,” Esme said was a nerve-wracking calm that suddenly made the nervous woman so much more awake than before. Looking at the Shelby wife noticing her swiftly cocked brow. “I’m not stupid as people might think I am, I’ve had two already with John. Don’t you think I would know the signs? Delivered plenty too.” She sounded disappointed for a moment there as Y/N looked down into her hands.

“You should sleep, there’s a room made upstairs for the new housekeeper. Might as well use it while waiting for the doctor,” she ushered Y/N out of the comfortable parlour into an equally comfortable bedroom with a single made bed. Offering something warmer to wear, and better suited for a sleep. It did not feel right taking someone else’s clothes and wearing them. So, she left them on the bedside table and just climbed under the covers as the Gyspy woman closed the door behind her. Disappearing downstairs to wait on Tommy’s arrival with the doctor.

Standing on the porch watching the car tear down the drive wildly. It was almost like they had John driving for once. A dangerous affair.

Tommy’s PoV:

“Where is she?” Tommy spoke with an undying urgency in his voice to see and hear that Y/N was alright and safe. But Esme looked to him for a moment, extending her arm outward blocking him. “What the fock—” he cursed but was cut off.

“No, don’t go rushin’ in there. Won’t do you any good—Tommy, she’ll panic, and it’ll do more harm than good at this stage.” Esme warned which caused the man to hold in his step. Pulse pounding in his temples. Nervous tension rising within himself. His mind automatically going to the worst. Had something bad happened to her? That is why it would make things worse seeing her.

A million thoughts ran through his head before noticing the doctor slipping away upstairs. Taking the led behind Esme, Tommy was sure to stay behind. Standing outside the bedroom where Y/N slept. Longing for a moment just to look in there and steal a glance of that beautiful peaceful facial expression. That expression that he would wake up some minutes before her only to watch her in peace. Where no worries or stresses tracked across her mind at all. When her soul seemed to be the apex of harmony.

Inside the doctor spoke in a low tone of voice, asking the questions Thomas needed just as much the answers. Before—his heart skipped, overhearing the conversation drift to something else.

Y/N was pregnant? He thought, tracing the palm of his hand over his face. Taking a shaking breath. Listening urgently trying to gage as much as he could from the conversation before something seemed to startle the woman inside. Out of the need to comfort her, Thomas stepped through the threshold spying her there standing tired and worn. In a state that broke his heart.

She looked like a lost lamb in the big bad world—the world he bought her into by knowing him and tarnished.

“Y/N, it’s alright your safe now. Just let the doctor take care of you. You’re look exhausted love.” Thomas spoke in the tone that was only reserved to her and her siblings—the people he loved so dearly. Stepping forward into the room his sky-blue eyes were not cold towards her, though they hardened towards the doctor. “Give us a moment please,” he ordered. Watching the man wander out of the room, hopefully to chew through a few cigarettes. Leaving him the chance to talk and speak with her. Find out what the hell happened that day.

“Tommy—what, did Esme call you?” Her voice was darty and anxious. It often got like that when she stressed, falling back into a seated position on the bed. Hands tightly balling into fists in her lap. Tears were falling as she began to sob, hands hurrying to her face. But Tommy was faster than her by a moment. Cupping her cheeks within his hands. Eyes filled with utter concern for her. She had lost so much weight in the last few months—not a good thing for a pregnant woman. Surely…

“Shhhhh… Shhhh…” He cooed to her tenderly, setting down on his kneels before her. Wiping the collection of tears away from her cheeks and ducts. “She did, but don’t be angry at her. We’ve all been looking for you for so long,” Thomas admitted his own eyes looking as if they were about to spring tears at the sight of her. Quickly pushing himself to his feet and engulfing her in the strongest and most tender hugs. Pressing his lips into her dry and messy hair.

“Please, let me fix this Y/N. We can go back to being a family. With this baby on the way.” He told her eyes happiest they had been in a long while since she had been missing.

“But—they think I’m no more than a gold-digger…” Her heartache apparent in those beautiful eyes he found himself lost in; even now.

“They were mistaken… I thought you had heard what they said. Love, I did defend you. But you know my family—speaking over them in the middle of something will not get a point across. I needed to wait.” He told her soothingly. Taking in the messy wisps of wave in her boyish crop of hair now. How it bought out something more insanely beautiful out of her features and face. Showed more the innocence still living beneath her anxious mask. “The baby—it’s ours isn’t it?” Thomas asked her in a light tone, afraid that there would be a moment where she would admit doing something in order to survive.

A lot of women sadly had to go there when in desperate times. However, one thing settled his heart was when she leant in and pressed her forehead against his own. “Yes. It’s ours, Tommy.” Y/N smiled weakly touching the small bump. A sight that would look even more beautiful when she had been dressed in some comfortable clothes, he had bought with him on the journey.

Thomas always kept a small bag packed for her of comfortable clothing and shoes. If he heard anything of her again. He would take it out there to meet her. Make sure that she was week and taken care of. If she never wanted to come home with him—it would be something he would part her with, yet, know that she is perfectly dressed and will not freeze with the chill drawing in.

He was so grateful this was not a goodbye, however. More a sound welcome home to the sweetheart maid that once walked into his dark estate and stole his heart like a theft in the night.

Noting the absence of her siblings, he looked around. Then looked back at Y/N. “How about after the doctor has been and done? We get you dressed in something nice and warm. I have clothes for the children, then we can go home.” Thomas proposed softly, offering that smitten smile that could make anyone weak in the knees. “Deal?” He asked.

Y/N only needed to smile a little. “Deal,” she whispered pressing the softest kiss to the back of his knuckles. Feeling once more secure with him.

[thelittlesttimelord]

The Littlest Timelord: The Fall of the Eleventh Chapter 44

TITLE: The Littlest Timelord: The Fall of the Eleventh Chapter 44 PAIRING: No Pairing RATING: T CHAPTER: 44/? SUMMARY: Elise Smith is now a teenaged Timelord. In addition to losing the Ponds, the fields of Trenzalore are calling. But first they have to figure out exactly who Clara Oswald is.

[A/N - I am having so much fun with this! We find out some more about Elise’s backstory and our little Timelord is starting to bond with the Tenth Doctor.]

They were shoved into the cell.

The Doctor and Ten started fussing over Elise and she pushed them away. “I’m fine!”

“Ow,” the older Doctor muttered.

Elise looked over at him.

“I’m okay, my dear.”

“Three of us in one cell? That's going to cause some nasty anomalies if we don't get out soon,” Ten said.

The Doctor picked up a piece of metal off the floor and started scratching at a stone pillar.

“What are you doing?” Ten asked him.

“Getting us out.”

The older Doctor tried sonicing the door.

“The sonic won't work on that, it's too primitive,” Ten said.

“Doesn’t do wood,” Elise explained.

“Shall we ask for a better quality of door so we can escape?” the Doctor asked.

“Okay, so the Queen of England is now a Zygon. But never mind that. Why are we all together? Why are we all here? Well, me and Chinny, we were surprised. Elle has no idea who you are, but you came looking for us. You knew it was going to happen. Who told you?” Ten asked the older Doctor.

“Oi, Chinny?” the Doctor snapped.

“Yeah, you do have a chin.”

Elle? The Doctor had never called her that, so why was his younger incarnation calling her that?

“In theory, I can trigger an isolated sonic shift among the molecules, and the door should disintegrate,” the older Doctor said.

“We'd have to calculate the exact harmonic resonance of the entire structure down to a sub-atomic level. Even the sonic would take years,” Ten explained.

“No, no, the sonic would take centuries. Oh, we might as well get started. Help to pass the timey-wimey. Do you have to talk like children? What is it that makes you so ashamed of being a grown up? Oh, the way you both look at me. What is that? I'm trying to think of a better word than dread.”

“It must be really recent for you.”

“Recent?”

“The Time War. The last day. The day you killed them all,” the Doctor said.

“The day we killed them all,” Ten corrected him.

“Same thing.”

“I don't talk about it,” the older Doctor told them.

“You never talk about it. I have been with you for hundreds of years and you’ve never once sat me down and explained what you did that day,” Elise said.

“Because you don’t need to know,” the Doctor said.

She rounded on him. “Who says I don’t need to know! I am an adult! I’m not a child anymore! Quit treating me like one!”

Ten couldn’t help but smile. He’d missed her sassy personality (even when it was directed at him). It reminded him of Donna.

“I killed you. I killed the one thing that means more to me than anything in the universe. And then you died again while you were under my watch,” the Doctor whispered.

“You didn’t know who I was,” Elise told him.

“Doesn’t change the fact that I did it.”

Ten turned to her. “Tell me.”

“Tell you what?”

“How did you escape the Timelock?”

Elise’s hearts froze in her chest. “How do you know about that?”

“It’s kinda obvious.”

“It’s complicated.”

“Ellie,” her father said softly.

If there was a time to come clean, now was it.

Elise looked at the three Doctors and sighed. “My father was on the High Council, so I knew what they were planning. I heard all the discussions and the arguments about what to do. I listened to them read off the number of causalities. Civilians and soldiers alike. They didn’t care. All they cared about was winning the war against the Daleks. They didn’t care who lived or died. Imagine being four years old and in all that time all you knew was death, destruction, and war? My father worked long hours. When he came home, all my mother and him did was fight. So what did I do? I quit talking. Why talk when no one will listen to you anyway?”

“But how did you get out of the Timelock?” Ten asked.

Elise knew it hadn’t happened for him yet, so she had to be careful what she said. “What my father didn’t know was that I was clever.”

“You ran?”

“I wanted off Gallifrey. I didn’t care how.”

“Sound familiar?” her father asked.

“Hey, if I knew what a TARDIS was, I would’ve stolen one of them. I was just working with what I had.”

“Did you ever count?” the older Doctor asked.

“Count what?” the Doctor asked.

“How many children were on Gallifrey that day?”

“I have absolutely no idea.”

“How old are you now?”

“Ah, I don't know. I lose track. Twelve hundred and something, I think, unless I'm lying. I can't remember if I'm lying about my age, that's how old I am.”

“Four hundred years older than me, and in all that time you've never even wondered how many there were? You never once counted?”

“Tell me, what would be the point?”

“2.47 billion,” Ten answered for him.

“You did count!” the older Doctor said, surprised.

Ten turned to his older incarnation with disgust. “You forgot? Four hundred years, is that all it takes?”

“I moved on.”

“Where? Where can you be now that you can forget something like that?”

The Doctor grabbed Elise and put her between them. “Because of this girl right here. She is the reason you move on. Because she’s the one you saved. After that, nothing else will ever matter again. Except her.”

Ten looked down at her wide emerald eyes and stalked away.

“I don't know who you are, either of you. I haven't got the faintest idea,” the older Doctor said, “No.”

“No?” Ten asked.

“Just, no.”

The Doctor started laughing.

“Is something funny? Did I miss a funny thing?” Ten asked him.

“Sorry. It just occurred to me. This is what I'm like when I'm alone.”

Ten started tossing his screwdriver in the air and the older Doctor pulled his out.

“Four hundred years,” the older Doctor muttered.

“I'm sorry?” Ten asked.

“At a software level, they're all the same device, aren't they? Same software, different case.”

“Yeah.”

“So….” The Doctor said, pulling out his own.

“So, it would take centuries for the screwdriver to calculate how to disintegrate the door. Scanning the door, implanting the calculation as a permanent subroutine in the software architecture and, if you really are me, with your sandshoes and your dickie bow, and that screwdriver is still mine, that calculation is still going on.”

The Doctor and Ten checked their screwdrivers.

“Yeah, still going,” Ten said.

“Calculation complete. Hey, four hundred years in four seconds. We may have had our differences, which is frankly odd in the circumstances, but, I tell you what, boys. We are incredibly clever,” the Doctor said, smiling.

The door suddenly swung open and Clara was standing there.

Elise had never been so happy to see Clara in her life.

“How did you do that?” the Doctor asked her.

“It wasn't locked.”

“Right.”

“So they're both you, then, yeah?”

“Yes. You've met them before. Don't you remember?”

“A bit.” Clara looked at Ten. “Nice suit.”

“Thanks.”

“Hang on. Three of you in one cell, and none of you thought to try the door?”

“It should have been locked,” the older Doctor said.

“Yes. Exactly. Why wasn't it locked?” the Doctor asked.

The door swung open a bit more and Elizabeth stood there. “Because I was fascinated to see what you would do upon escaping. I understand you're rather fond of this world. It's time I think you saw what's going to happen to it.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Elizabeth led them deeper into the Tower dungeons.

The walls were covered in red pods.

“The Zygons lost their own world. It burnt in the first days of the Time War. A new home is required.”

“So they want this one,” Clara asked.

“Not yet. It's far too primitive. Zygons are used to a certain level of comfort.”

A Zygon walked up to them and Elise jumped back into her father and Ten. They both put a comforting hand on her shoulder. She’d never seen one before, so it was quite off-putting.

“Commander, why are these creatures here?” the Zygon asked.

“Because I say they should be. It is time you too were translated. Observe this. I believe you will find it fascinating.”

The Zygon placed it’s hand on a glass cube and disappeared into the painting they saw earlier in the Under Gallery.

“That's him! That's the Zygon in the picture now,” Clara said.

“It's not a picture, it's a stasis cube. Time Lord art. Frozen instants in time, bigger on the inside, but could be deployed as…” the older Doctor started.

“Suspended animation. Oh, that's very good. The Zygons all pop inside the pictures, wait a few centuries till the planet's a bit more interesting, and then out they come,” Ten finished.

“You see, Clara, they're stored in the paintings in the Under Gallery, like cup-a-soups. Except you add time, if you can picture that. Nobody could picture that. Forget I said cup-a-soups,” the Doctor said.

“And now the world is worth conquering. So the Zygons are invading the future from the past,” Clara surmised.

“Exactly.”

“And do you know why I know that you're a fake? Because you're such a bad copy. It's not just the smell, or the unconvincing hair, or the atrocious teeth, or the eyes just a bit too close together, or the breath that could stun a horse. It's because my Elizabeth, the real Elizabeth, would never be stupid enough to reveal her own plan. Honestly, why would you do that?” Ten asked as Elizabeth narrowed her eyes at him.

“Because it's not my plan. And I am the real Elizabeth,” Elizabeth said.

“Smooth, Casanova,” Elise muttered.

“Yeah, shut-up. Okay. So, backtracking a moment just to lend context to my earlier remarks,” Ten said.

“My twin is dead in the forest. I am accustomed to taking precautions,” Elizabeth told him. She pulled out a dagger from underneath her skirts.

“That’s familiar,” Ten said, looking at Elise.

“These Zygon creatures never even considered that it was me who survived rather than their own commander. The arrogance that typifies their kind,” Elizabeth explained.

“Zygons?” Clara asked.

“Men.”

Elise snorted in amusement and then turned to her father. “You just love strong women don’t you?”

“Oh, shut-up.”

“And you actually killed one of them?” Clara asked.

“I may have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but at the time, so did the Zygon. The future of my kingdom is imperiled,” Elizabeth said, “Doctor, can I rely on your service?”

“Well, I'm going to need my TARDIS,” Ten told her.

“It has been procured already.”

“Ah.”

“But first, my love, you have a promise to keep.”

[timetraveller29]

Afraid of the Dark

A Doctor Who fanfiction for #WhouffleWeek2020

Day 5 - Phobia / Missing scene

Featuring the Twelfth Doctor and Clara

The dark. The tall and deep, the infinite dark. It waits, behind every corner, in every secluded nook, and every unseen cranny... It waits, and when the stars die, it will reign free and forever...

The Doctor held up a candle, looking around the TARDIS, wondering.

Clara was right. He was afraid of the dark. Or, more specifically, what lay hidden in the dark.

Count the shadows, he remembered, a warning from another life. Not every shadow. But any shadow...

He was right to be afraid. Fear of the dark is a logical reaction to the predator of all starlight-dwelling creatures of the universe. Clara didn't know that. Clara thought him a fool. A child, perhaps, with a phobia!

He pressed his lips together. There was no need to be so condescending. A lot of people had phobias.

He rolled his eyes.

It's just... It was hard to conquer a fear when you knew there was nothing you could physically do about it. Fear of the water? Learn to swim. It would be difficult for a while, but not impossible. Fear of being attacked? Learn martial arts! Venusian aikido had helped him out of several scrapes in the past. But how do you overcome a fear of the dark? You can't grapple with the dark, you can't get a foothold over it. There's nothing to protect you, nothing to see...

He glanced around the TARDIS. The lights were all off. It looked eerie in the dim and dancing light of the candle, setting off shadows in areas you wouldn't expect them to be... But he was alone. At least, he thought so.

He took a steadying breath...

And he blew out the candle.

His heartbeats quickened. Did he even exist? There was nothing, nothingness everywhere – pressing at his eyes, at his very lungs! Did he have arms, or legs – any agency at all?! The urge to whip out his sonic and power up its green bulb was unendurable, was all-powering, was impossibly absolute! He patted his coat pockets frantically and gripped the cold metal at last, revelling in the proof of its reality, in the touch of something that definitely existed, that at least painted some image into his sense of the world.

Holding it without lighting it did give him a sense of power. He could always light it if he needed to. But maybe he shouldn't. Not yet.

What was so scary about the dark? Nothing, really.

But that's just it! The dark was nothing! Darkness is nothingness in its most physical form. Darkness is the incomprehensible truth of everything... We were nothing before, and we will be nothing after, and the darkness behind the stars, under the earth, and behind our eyelids, reminds us of it every single moment.

He gulped. It wasn't working. He couldn't deal with it.

What if the biiiig, bad Time Lord... doesn't want to admit he's just afraid of the dark?

The words seemed to manifest themselves in that moment. Clara, teasing him, smirking at him from somewhere beyond. The Doctor licked his lips. Okay. Yes. Yes, I am afraid of the dark. I admit it.

“I admit it!” he said aloud, pointing his screwdriver at the TARDIS console and lighting it up to max at once.

He spun around. Oh, no.

The smirk. The smirk was the worst.

“Hello... Doctor,” Clara said, stepping inside slowly. She looked so evil in that moment that he had a sudden impulse to perform the Venusian move Shomen-uchi upon her...

“Whhhhat are you doing...?”

He deflated.

“Nothing,” he replied, moving to look at the screens pensively, head bowed.

Clara stood to the side, observing him with a huge smile.

Ugh, he thought. There's the condescending look again... He had lost a lot of his grandeur that day, he realised. Having to be saved from the horrors of the end of the universe, steered to safety only through Clara's intervention, whatever that had been... Possibly being panicky about a kid in a sheet... He sighed. Now, this.

But Clara was walking towards him now. He ignored her, knowing it could only be to tease him. The big, bad Time Lord... Not anymore.

His ego had taken a big blow, and he couldn't help but feel small and insignificant in front of her. He knew she was braver than him on many accounts, knew that she often ended up saving the day... But he was the one who'd dragged her into it, and he still ended up with nothing to show for it!

Clara had sneaked right up to him now. He looked at her sideways suspiciously. What would it be? A joke? A punch on the shoulder? A challenge to switch all the lights off again, see if he'd scream like a little girl?

He may be many things, but he would not be the one to scream like a little girl.

He pouted grumpily. What was he, though, if not that scared little girl?

Without warning, he was attacked.

“NO, NO, NOT THE HUGGING! I'M AGAINST THE HUGGING! PLEASE!”

But she wouldn't let him go! He tried to escape, but she clung tight to him, a dimple forming on her cheek...

Oh. She was smiling. She was smiling and she was hugging him.

The Doctor could hardly fathom why she was doing this, what she could mean by it. He struggled, and when she gripped him even tighter, he felt something.

Acceptance.

She... she was showing him her acceptance.

That it was okay if he was afraid, that she didn't think he was any lesser for it. His hearts beat faster again, for an entirely different reason.

She giggled at him when she saw his face, his blush, his complete bafflement at the whole situation. She didn't show any signs of wanting to tease him or bring him down because of what she'd seen.

He breathed out and looked at the floor pointedly. Okay. Maybe he wasn't completely a lost cause. At least, not to her.

“Are you going to let me go, now?”

She did, reluctantly, and punched him on the arm for asking it.

“Ow!” he said exaggeratedly, rubbing his arm with the other hand. Clara rolled her eyes and walked away to the upper landing, content to wander among the bookshelves for a while.

She wasn't even going to mention it again, he realised. Well. That was a relief.

Perhaps they could both safely forget about it then. The one day when the Doctor was too afraid to do anything.

And it was okay.

[arinaco]

Role of the Dark Entity in the VLD series

Translated and edited by @ Nadezhda932

This short meta focuses on a very important element of the VLD series, completely overlooked as a result of the changes in S8. It never received any explanation, although it appeared in S3 for the first time. Namely - the Dark Entity (hereinafter - DE). I thought about its importance when I analyzed the scenes with Allura in Clear Day episode (S8Ep8) and came to interesting conclusions. But ... let's start in order. The first time DE appears in flashbacks, in the story of Coran (S3Ep7). When Alfor comes to visit his friend Honerva, she tells him that only one creature has responded to the signal she sent to the Rift. The creature was a small floating ball that Honerva placed in a flask. Alfor already then felt that it wouldn't end well, but the cycle of events, alas, was launched, and the alchemist king turned into a passive observer of the impending tragedy. At that time, we learned only one thing: that in the Rift between realities, where there's an endless stream of the purest quintessence, such dark creatures live. That is, for them the quintessence is a natural habitat and a natural source of nutrition, since there's simply nothing else there. And this is very (!) Important. Because you need to remember that in the ordinary world, the quintessence is only inside living beings: planets, flora and fauna. Moreover, the concentration of the quintessence inside living bodies is several times less than in the Rift. Just compare. We got to know what the raw quintessence looks like in the episode where paladins get to an imperial staging post (S1Ep12), and Keith tries to steal a vessel with a purple quintessence. The Red paladin is wounded in the arm and crashes into a flask of yellow - raw - quintessence. And having already escaped from the kind, sweet druid, he looks in amazement as, thanks to this yellow liquid, the wound on his hand heals right before his eyes (however, at that moment he was more alarmed by the purple tint of his own blood than by the very fact of healing).

The yellow flask is as tall as Keith, and the resulting violet one fits in the hand... 

Quintessence is the energy of life. The yellow quintessence is the energy that is present in an ordinary living organism in normal natural concentration (someone has more of it, someone has less of it, I don’t know what the process of its extraction is). It's weak, but completely harmless. It healed Keith without harming him.

One large flask of yellow quintessence produces a small flask of purified violet quintessence. And I think that even less is the more powerful blue. And in the Rift, the quintessence was in an absolutely pure - white - form, completely intolerable for normal living beings. Yes, the quintessence is the energy of life itself and can't kill (that is, according to the logic of the series, Lotor just couldn't die in the Rift), but this doesn't mean that its overdose will lead to good consequences. The purple quintessence made the warden at Beta Traz (S2Ep10) swell like a balloon; with the help of blue quintessence they created a real monster (S5Ep5); the pure stream burned Honerva and Zarkon's brains in just a couple of minutes, and melted Lotor like cheese in the microwave.

Nothing from our universe has been able to survive the passage through the Rift.

Because they deformed so much that they ceased to be themselves.

In some way it was lucky, because next to it was a delicious Altean alchemist. As we know, even an ordinary Altean produces quintessence more than other races, and a powerful alchemist turns into a walking battery. In addition, Zarkon visited his wife periodically and became an excellent addition to the main course.

As a result, when Alfor came to check on his friend, he was surprised to notice that she had lost interest in him and was overly enthusiastic about research. And even Zarkon, who was initially wary of research, now also supported it.

This is because the quintessence diet wasn't the only feature of the entity. Remember how it got to Honerva in the first place: the entity responded to the signal sent to the Rift, sent to search for intelligent races, which means that DE is in a sense a kind of intelligent creatures (which "predates time itself", S8Ep8). And due to the lack of material organs, most likely, the entities communicated with each other through telepathy. The entity possessed mental abilities and, seeing a stable source of power in Honerva, tried to keep her close to itself, and also influenced Zarkon so that he fully supported his wife's aspirations.

I thought we've discussed this. We must exercise caution. 

Alfor, belatedly realizing that it's not very smart to investigate an incomprehensible thing, tries to urge his friends to be careful. And it seems that at that particular moment he could have succeeded, because the DE's reaction to this statement was comparable to the reaction of an indignant cat - it immediately released the needles and hissed. And then, almost immediately, a whole wave of the entities poured out of the Rift. I think, it didn't like the new living space in the flask, and feeling a threat to life, the entity used its mental abilities and called for help.

Yes, if you think about it, then a fairly clear logical chain is built: Alfor showed aggression towards the entity - the entity was frightened - a whole wave of its relatives poured out of the Rift. They didn't just attack Daibazaal - they responded to the call for help. The entities clearly had a mutual mental connection, and maybe something like a collective intelligence. They even knew how to merge into a single organism that works no less harmoniously than Voltron.

As a result, literally a stone's throw from the capital, the planet was invaded by an army of dark creatures. Yes, Alfor and Honerva managed to stop the main stream, but who said they were able to trap all entities? Zarkon later stated that if urgent measures weren't taken, his people would be exterminated, which means that the entities had a chance to demonstrate their abilities. Perhaps only the security of the complex suffered, or maybe some of the creatures escaped from its borders, because there was a large lively city nearby. Having lost their natural source of food, the DE infiltrated the first victims, and the Galra died from exhaustion, since they didn't have a high level of quintessence like the Alteans. They literally turned into mummies in front of the doctors. The only thing that saved from the general pandemic was that it seemed that the entity couldn't leave the host itself and died with them, otherwise the DE would have jumped between the victims until they completely exterminated the Galra people (I'll explain a little later what led me to this idea). But not only the Galra were among the victims. Honerva said that Kova suffered from the influence of DE, and she had to treat him with quintessence. It was thanks to this that she discovered that the quintessence is the energy of life, capable of even giving immortality, and after such processing, Kova himself was able to survive even in outer space (S8Ep2). At that moment, Honerva believed that the entity simply hurt/badly affected her pet. No one could have imagined that DE isn't just an intelligent species, but capable of inhabiting living beings and even influencing their minds.

He revealed the truth to us.

Kova became unexpectedly aggressive towards Alfor in the absence of any clear reason.

And that was very bad, because Honerva herself became a victim of the parasite. She was an Altean and also an alchemist, and therefore at the beginning didn't even notice the "tenant". It ate hearty, almost without harming its feeder, even helped in some way - for example, it suggested to Honerva that the quintessence could save Kova from "illness", otherwise why would she even think of treating her beloved cat with a source of energy for ships and equipment? But. Just because an entity found a stable host doesn't mean that it was content with its position. The entity wanted to go home back to the Rift and began to influence its host to help in this. And therefore, after the death of the monster, despite all the troubles that it had caused, Honerva suddenly announced that she wanted to continue research. And Zarkon's behavior looks absurd at all: first, he demanded from Alfor to urgently use Voltron to save his people, and then almost immediately didn't care of Daibazaal's well-being and supported Honerva in her desire to continue working on the Rift.

My planet, my people ...

You would risk your entire planet, the entire solar system? For what? 

And all because the entity tried to take control of him too. It no longer just sat in a flask, as happened with its predecessor. It had a feeder in the form of a powerful alchemist, and it was able to draw energy from her in sufficient quantities to spread its influence. And although the influence on Zarkon was weaker than on Honerva, it was still present enough for the Galra emperor to blindly agree with his wife.

Unfortunately, Alfor never understood what was happening. He thought that the prospect of owning the quintessence had simply overshadowed Zarkon's eyes, he didn't notice how dramatically his friend had changed. And even after whole years, the alchemist king realized that something bad was happening only after visiting Daibazaal years later. Apparently, away from his wife, Zarkon behaved quite adequately, because he got rid of the influence of the essence. But next to her he became blind and deaf, repeating the words of his wife like a dummy. As a result, the paladins continued their heroism, and the entity continued to eat Honerva and influence Zarkon. And at first no one noticed the changes. After all, the Alteans in S8 also didn't notice that the entities were harming them. When Honerva informed Zarkon that she was expecting a baby, she looked gray-haired but still as young as when she first appeared on screen. The body of the great alchemist more or less coped with one parasite. But when the fetus grew and began to draw all the juices from the mother, Honerva's health deteriorated. And the mind too, because the entity, sensing the critical state of the host, began to worry and increased its pressure.

A huge difference with a timeline of several months.

Remember what Lotor said about his mother's logs. According to him, at the very end, the recordings were made... as if by another person. Feverish, insane and disorderly. Fear and paranoia appeared in them.

She's frantic, paranoid, erratic, her reason and intellect have gone.

But what could Honerva be afraid of? Where did she get paranoia? She was expecting a child and was happy with the thought that she would give the empire her son, knowledge and a bright future. And all because it wasn't her emotions. The entity sensed that its host was dying and panicked. DE was afraid for its life and was afraid that it would be revealed when the host became very bad. It panicked and at times even subdued the body, trying to write something itself.

Therefore, when Alfor received disturbing news about Daibazal's condition and decided to visit a friend, he saw Honerva aged and... not quite in an adequate condition. Not realizing that Zarkon and his wife were under the influence of the DE, the alchemist king quarreled with them and left, slamming the door, although he was probably the only one who could help them in this situation.

After the conversation, Honerva faints as her condition reaches a critical point.

Remember what Honerva said when Zarkon desperately asked how to help her? She said she needed quintessence. Because the entity sensed that the host wasn't doing well and broadcast signals for help. Honerva asked to open the Rift not because of a clouding of her mind, but because DE really wanted to return home and save its life.

Quintessence is life.

For Honerva and DE - literally.

If we collect all the scraps of her phrases together, then we get this:

"We must... we must have it...we must have it... get back, get back, get back... quin... quintessence... quintessence is life... into the R... into the Rift. We must... we must have Voltron. Voltron! Voltron! This is the only way"

And it can be understood approximately like this:

"We must return to quintessence in the Rift. The quintessence is life. We need Voltron, only this can help"

And... who are "we"? Zarkon, of course, thought to himself, but who said that Honerva was talking about him?

If Alfor knew what was happening, if he tried to help Honerva, he might have saved both the mother and the child, as Allura saved Tavo (S8Ep8). In our situation, events developed in a sad direction: Zarkon deceived his friends in a desperate attempt to save his wife. And look: when Zarkon climbed out of the Lion with Honerva in his arms, they were immediately surrounded by entities. Because they were waiting to take one of their kind home. They didn't attack the paladins first, they were just going to take Honerva. 

But one way or another, the DE's plan fell through. It remained inside Honerva, while Zarkon returned from the Rift with a burnt-out brain and a parasite inside. Actually, then even Lotor got the DE. The doctor noted that the child had the same strange energy background as the parents, and expressed concern that it wouldn't be possible to save the empress. Now there were already two entities and a child sitting inside - no wonder Honerva was getting worse and worse. And the poor nurse Haggar died simply because even the charge received from the Rift wasn't enough to survive Honerva. No alchemical gift was enough to cope with such a burden.

She only seems to become aware when we administer her Quintessence. 

From this it's possible to draw conclusions about how the “illness” proceeded in other people, and it's weighty to assume that the entity couldn't leave the host of its own accord, dying with them. Otherwise, the DE would have left Honerva as soon as she began to fade.

Honerva only survived because Zarkon took care of a constant supply of the quintessence for his wife. Now he himself turned into a feeder and needed nourishment from the outside, since he was neither an Altean, nor an alchemist. The entity inside him, like all its relatives who fell into this world, wanted to return home, and therefore gradually a manic desire developed in Zarkon not only to get more quintessence, but also to return Voltron, as the only weapon capable of opening the Rift again. That's why he considered the creation of Alfor so special and necessary, despite the fact that the empire itself perfectly coped with the spread of its influence in the universe.

Moreover, in this situation, it's worthwhile to clearly distinguish between the change in character of Zarkon and his mania. Since the change in character was due to irradiation with pure concentrated quintessence, and mania appeared due to the presence of a parasite.

How the entity influenced Lotor remains questionable. The statement that it's DE who made him extract energy from the Alteans can be dismissed at once: first, as a prince of the Galra, he could receive the quintessence in the official way in any quantity and even take a bath of quintessence every day; secondly, even before birth he was irradiated with pure energy, which not only endowed him with immortality, but also awakened the sleeping gift of the alchemist. That is, Lotor didn't need personal consumption of the quintessence. On the other hand, his quest to end his mother's research may seem a little intrusive... but only slightly when compared to Honerva's obsessive research. Lotor was cold-blooded and non-fanatic about development, believing that research could solve the empire's energy issue. Therefore, the most stable theory is that, having settled in an unborn child, the entity simply fell asleep and slept peacefully for ten thousand years, signing with the energy of its immortal host.

But let's get back to Honerva, as her postpartum changes affected the future of the entire universe. Having given birth to a son, Honerva got rid of two parasites at once and, thanks to the influx of quintessence, gradually returned to normal. She didn't remember her past, but at some point she managed to realize that "a guest worker" was sitting in her body. Perhaps this knowledge came to her during a crisis, when the entity tried to contact everyone and asked for help. Being a great alchemist, Honerva no longer just put up with the intruder and obey it, but, on the contrary, set her own rules. From a parasite, the entity turned into a subordinate symbiont and shared its abilities with Honerva. It was from DE that Haggar received the gift of influencing other people's minds and drawing energy from living beings, which led to the creation of the Komar. Before her, none of the alchemists possessed such talents, and only Allura showed similar skills after a Clear Day episode. Haggar ceased to be just a feeder, she began to purposefully use the entity for her own purposes, and it had only to obey. As you can see, Haggar supported Zarkon in everything, but at the same time she was inclined to destroy Voltron rather than use it, and this is a consequence of the fact that the DE lost its control over her, turning into a humble servant.

One of the questions I asked myself while watching the show was who the druids of Haggar were and why they worship her so much. The druids had similar abilities, and I couldn't help thinking that Haggar was conducting experiments on the Alteans and turning them into her minions. But in the light of these considerations, everything turns out to be much simpler: Haggar gave dark entities to her subordinates/laboratory assistants and taught them to use them. For them, it became a revelation and a special gift, and therefore they treated their high priestess with such respect, and the needs of the essence were easily satisfied with the quintessence available to them.

And by the way, the real Lotor couldn't know about all this, since he was born much later than the events on Daibazaal. Lotor was aware that Haggar was able to read other people's minds and therefore became a real paranoid, but had no idea about the nature of this ability.

Entities like this gave Haggar the ability to conquer the worlds...

Lotor just couldn't know about it either.

What does Lotor's degree of falsity have to do with it? And here we need to move on to the events of Clear Day episode and the scenes with Allura, which made me think about the importance of the DE for the plot. And yes, on Clear Day we meet a different prince than the one who accompanied us throughout most of the series. Remember the moment Tavo was saved. Sam put the entity in a flask, and the first thing the entity tried to do was to take control of Allura. But the fact that Sam interrupted the process doesn't mean that DE stopped there. It's hungry, it lost her host - well, how can you resist a walking battery right in front of your nose?

And all of Allura's dreams, all visions didn't just appear out of thin air. DE really wanted a new host for itself, it aimed at Allura and wasn't going to stop. And note an interesting point: the longer Allura was near the entity, the closer she was to it, the larger the DE became. How small it was after being removed from the Tavo, and how huge it became by the end of the episode. First, the DE dug at the very top of her consciousness, and saw regret for her motherland and mother, because Allura just turned off the hologram with her parents before going to bed. Then it dug a little more and saw Lance. And then it dug in the very depths, saw Lotor and realized that yes - it would work. 

Look at this frame and remember the frame with Honerva that I inserted above.

They (who edited S8) tried to show us that the terrible ghost of Lotor inclines Allura to something bad, but in reality Lotor didn't send anyone or anything. Lotor doesn't know alchemy and doesn't know how to control entities. How does he even know what kind of creatures they are? After all, he's a very proud man and will never beg anyone for himself. Why would he come and ask for help a woman who actually betrayed him and left him to die? The entity just wanted to eat and get a new host. And this whole performance with visions had one specific goal - to get Allura to free the parasite. And in order to achieve what it wanted, the DE showed Allura what she wanted to see. With these scenes, we were actually shown to whom at a given moment Allura had the greatest trust and affection, whom she wanted to see, and therefore they tried to either cut out or alter the scenes, because they clearly showed that memories of her mother became the main hook for Allura, and most importantly - Lotor. ...however, they didn't succeed. The scenes still look like Allura chased Lance away and indulges in  erotic dreams of Lotor... 

And laughing Lotor at the very end of the episode is the joy of the very DE that it achieved its goal. And it said to Allura "Follow me!" because in some way it decided to fulfill the desire of the new host. Want to chat with Lotor? I'll deal with it - in the end, my relative is sitting in him, and we have a mental connection with each other. And it was the understanding that such a connection between entities exists that allowed Allura to then penetrate into Honerva's mind. But first, Allura had to figure out that yes - there was a connection. And she could only figure out, only realizing that it was thanks to the presence of the DE inside that she was able to connect with Lotor. Does it look logical? It is logical. And I can easily imagine the beginning of their conversation, when Lotor is surprised at the appearance of Allura in his mind/dream, and she exclaims in amazement that he himself called her. A situation will arise that requires a retelling of the events that have taken place, which will make Lotor understand that now Allura is ready to listen to him and is capable of a reasonable dialogue. 

On the other hand, Alfor's worries becomes more justified. He was frightened not just by the self-will of his daughter, who decided to play with an unknown force. Before his eyes the example of his own best friend, who suffered from a parasite, arose, and after all, Honerva was an experienced and powerful alchemist. He was afraid that Allura would also become a victim of the entity, and therefore began to persuade his daughter to abandon the dangerous idea. Yes, Alfor was prone to hyper-custody, but he wasn't as bad a father as they tried to show us in S8.

But at what cost?

And after all that has been described, only one question remains: how did the history of the DE come to an end - but alas, it's no longer possible to find out, since the end of this storyline was simply cut off. Perhaps the entities managed to somehow come to an agreement with Allura, and she helped them return home, because in the end this is exactly what they wanted most.

Personally, I'm simply glad that, despite the flair of alchemy aka magic, Voltron turned out to be much closer to science fiction than to a space opera, and the events have a more weighty explanation than just a magical plot twist that arose at the behest of the screenwriter. A parasite from another reality, a higher mind as the last stage in the evolution of an intelligent being - these are quite classic elements of this genre, very elegantly blended into the outline of the series.

[hypmic-info]

ARB Prologue Part 2: Introductions

The second part of the ARB Prologue introduces the main cast. This generally deals with the groups bickering among themselves, as well as introducing their styles at the end. Please click the read more to venture on!

VIEW PART 1 HERE 

[ FOOTSTEPS APPROACH ]

SAMATOKI What? Is there something wrong with my eyes? I'm seeing that bastard Ichiro over there.

ICHIRO Samatoki...!!

SAMATOKI That’s Samatoki-san, to you. Bastard.

JYUTO Wait, Samatoki We’re deep in Chuo. Try not to make a fuss. You’ll be eliminated before the match even starts.

SAMATOKI Shut up, damn bunny cop. When’d you turn from a vicious police officer into a fortune teller? Ya change jobs?

JYUTO You don’t need divine powers or clarivoyance to know that. Listen to my advice, Samatoki. If you cause a problem here and are disqualified, your hatred for Ichiro will have to wait another year. Anyways, if you act up here, you’ll only cause trouble for yourself.

SABURO Tch. If it was my way, these lot wouldn’t have to bother Ichi-nii That glasses guy... Making extra work for us.

RIO Oi, wait. Samatoki, Jyuto. You two seem to be in high spirits before the game. In such a case, I have this snake drink...

SAMATOKI Ah-.... R-Rio. I’m good, thanks. Oi, Jyuto. You should have some since Rio recommends it for ya. Drink up.

JYUTO

Ngh...!

RIO Is that so. Then, Jyuto, have Samatoki’s too

JYUTO No, it’s u-uh alright. Actually, I’m allergic to snakes...

ICHIRO What's this? Samatoki’s having trouble with his team?

SABURO Let’s leave them be, Ichi-nii They’re simply the same as Jiro - they’re bird brains that forget whatever’s happened even a second ago. They forgot that they were even talking to you, Ichi-nii

JIRO Saburo...! You don’t have to start bad mouthing me! You should only be dissing those guys!

SABURO I just called it how it is. Though, you really are just the best at getting angry, huh?

ICHIRO God, you guys...

JAKURAI ...Oh. It seems that today’s participants are all gathering here.

[ FOOTSTEPS: MATENROU ENTERS]

ICHIRO Jakurai-san!

JAKURAI It’s been a while, Ichiro-kun. You seem well.

HIFUMI Are you a friend of sensei’s?

DOPPO Look closely, Hifumi. Everyone’s gathered here is a contestant.

HIFUMI Hm? Ah. So it’s like that. It was rude of me not to greet them.

DOPPO Greeting them... Is it okay to be so flippant when they were just fighting now?

HIFUMI Doppo-kun. Greeting your opponent properly is important when we’ll be fighting soon. If you don’t even say hello, how are you supposed to give it your all in the future battle!

DOPPO Ugh... What a stressful situation... I’m such an awful man that I can’t even say hello... Nevertheless, this is my duty... It wouldn’t be surprising if you thought that I should quite because I’m not suited for this. So why does my balding manager always put up with me? I should just quit... I could quit already... I want to say so already... Ah, that’s why. It must be cause of that.... I’m full indebted to my company... Hahaha...I work so hard for the livelihood of the company...

[ DOPPO STARTS SHAKING ]

DOPPO It's because I'm insane... because I’m gloomy... because I’m miserable... I am I am I am I am .....

HIFUMI Doppo! You’re not the kind of person you think are! Even if you couldn’t greet them, my friendship with you will never change!

JYUTO With all that noise, it must be Kannonzaka... and Izanami.

SAMATOKI Well, with Sensei  around, things are always interesting. Well, those two are at least. Though, how the hell did an office worker, a host, and a doctor wind up together?

JYUTO The fact that they’ve come this far shows the skill of their rap... but it’s certainly an interesting combination.

RIO Hifumi Izanami and Doppo Kannonzaka are Jakurai Jinguji’s swords after all. Judging them by only their appearance and occupations is dangerous.

JAKURAI I look forward to a good match. I want you to see the strength of Shinjuku Division... ‘Matenrou’.

ICHIRO I’ll prove to you sensei that my ‘Buster Bros!!!’ are the strongest.

JAKURAI I’m looking forward to it. Seeing Ichiro’s determination, I’m sure this will be more interesting.

ICHIRO Look’s like sensei’s all fired up. With this battle, things are about to get crazy. There’s no backing down now.

??? Ah! Over here, here! Ichiro~~!

[ RUNNING: RAMUDA APPEARS AND HUGS ICHIRO ]

ICHIRO Uwah... You- Ramuda!

RAMUDA It’s been a long time Ichiro! I’m so glad to see you ★ ...ha... Jakurai’s here too.

JAKURAI ...Ramuda-kun. Did you say something?

RAMUDA It’s nothing ~~ ! It’s just that I don’t think I feel well after seeing your face~ ★

JAKURAI It’s useless trying to anger me.

RAMUDA

...Hmph.

GENTARO Oya oya. What’s this? It seems that we’ve already started on each other before the battle. But was this not inevitable?... All of us gathered together by fate, such is it’s unavoidable flow

DICE I have no idea what you’re saying Gentaro.

GENTARO It is but an observation of humans. It’s clear to me that some deep, dark secret lies between the two of them. Don’t you think so too, Dice?

DICE Right. I wouldn’t know. Whatever’s going on in their relationship is between them. We’ll be opponents in the upcoming match. It’s fine for them to have at it now.

GENTARO Well, you do have a point.

ICHIRO Oi, Ramuda. Give it a rest already.

RAMUDA Eh ~ That’s mean, Ichiro! Backing up Jakurai, but also scolding me! Boo hoo...

ICHIRO I'm not scolding you. But it doesn’t make sense to be wasting time here.

RAMUDA Well, it can't be helped. I just really despise Jakurai★

JAKURAI Ichiro, he doesn’t bother me.

RAMUDA Well well! Jakurai, you’re just really annoying★

MC CHOICE

A: All the teams are here...!

They have won their battles up until now with overwhelming lyrics and sophisticated rhymes. These four amazing divisions...　Everyone is here.　

The three brothers that are distinctly characterised by their co-ordination, producing clever words and expressing the eldest brother’s ideas with superior rhymes - Buster Bros!!!. The crazy yakuza group that controls the Yokohama area as both champions of justice and malice, destroying other teams with their fighting spirit the moment they’re faced with their lyrics - MAD TRIGGER CREW. Their many fans adore them due to their distinct characteristics of performances, overflowing with a pop-style charm and provoking their opponents - Fling Posse. Their mysterious atmosphere and unique rhythm attracts others with an outstanding flow. Representing Shinjuku, the city that never sleeps - Matenrou. These four teams will participate in the semi-finals for the Alternative Rap Battle.

ANNOUNCER The rap battles will commence in 30 minutes. Please may those who have completed admission procedures sit down as soon as possible.

ICHIRO ...It’s time.

MC NARRATION And eventually, everyone assembled here would come to know... that this day's encounter was the beginning of it all.

— — — — — — — — — — 

And that’s the prologue! The plots all start to branch off in their respective division stories, so we’ll get to translating those soon. Mod Thia will be taking her time though, since all her deadlines are approaching!

I had some help in the last sections from @/slugtranslation-hypmic - go follow them for manga translations!

[atlas-of-a-human-soul]

Fix Me (doctor/soulmate AU) {3}

Summary: When emotions run high, even soulmates fight. But, following his brother’s advice, Ethan finds a way to make up for it by including his soulmate in solving a conspiracy theory leading to events that would surely make them much closer than they first were. Plus, it shows what a dynamic duo they make.

Warnings: angst, fluff, sexual innuendos, swearing

Word count: 7.5k

Fix Me (doctor/soulmate AU) series Masterlist

A/N - heavily inspired by Grey’s anatomy, my own experiences and thoughts, but also by songs: Birdy - Not about angels, Bear’s den - Fortress, Matthew and the atlas - Out of the darkness, Harry Styles - Falling, Kodaline - Wherever you are.

I really hope you guys like it! Feedback is always wanted and appreciated, no matter how small or big it is!

If you want to be tagged for future parts, reply down below.

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Induratize – to make one’s own heart hardened or resistant to someone’s pleas or advances, or the idea of love

Pain. That's her first grasp on reality. It's not something she's unused to; just as she's used to the smell of the disinfectant, Y/N knew of pain in all varieties. However, for the first time ever, she had something different in a hospital setting - a hand to hold.

From time to time, Ethan’s eyes drop to the bed sheets, but mostly they are fixed on her ashen face in a soft stare so that whenever she opens her eyes he’d be the first thing she sees. And once he notices her fingers twitch in his hold, he holds his breath in anticipation of her reaction. He feared she might be unhappy with his presence, but he refused to let go, simply closing his eyes to hide his vigilance.

Opening her eyes in a flash, her neck cracked with the sudden movement for she had to see who the hand belonged to. For a moment she thought it might be one of her parents, the painkillers playing with her mind, making her forget. But she knew it couldn't be them. It was impossible unless there was a new drug that raises the dead.

"Grant?" She croaked, her throat scratchy and her voice hoarse, the consequences of her throat closing leaving her with something to remember for a few days. Who knew she'd manage to get a penicillin allergy after her...fiftieth time taking it? She always felt like a magnet for bad luck and that incident didn't dissuade her.

Ethan wasn't really asleep, not after the night he's had. She needed oxygen more than once and her blood pressure kept dropping even with his efforts to keep it up. It felt like she decided to leave him and no matter how badly he fought for her, she was slipping through his fingers like sand.

"Yes?" He murmured, eyes still closed, lips set in a frown as if hearing her call him Grant didn't make his heart jump. He wasn't a morning person and she just realized it. Three nights they've truly known each other, three nights spent together and only on the third did she stay long enough to learn that and the only reason why she stayed is because she was physically incapable of leaving.

"Do I have the fucking plague?" She cracked a smile, struggling to speak but for a reason she couldn't quite understand, Y/N wanted to speak to him, for him, to make him laugh. The frown on his face hurt her more than it should.

She didn't get a smile, but he did open one eye in uncertainty, allowing him to bask in her meek smile. It wasn't much to someone watching from the sidelines, but it meant the world to him. She wanted to cheer him up. She wanted to see him smile. Even with her know it all, sassy, fuck the world mask, Y/N cared for Ethan and he knew that now. Even if that part of her is small, it's a start. Her heart may be hardened to love and soulmates, but he was softening her up. It’s a slow, difficult process, but Ethan is nothing if not dedicated.

"No. Neither of us got the plague, but the man who did have it died." Ethan told her, deciding hiding it from her isn't wise. She'd ask about him anyway.

Clearing her throat, she pulled her hand out of his, wiping it on the sheets as if his touch is unwanted - as if he was the one who initiated the whole thing.

"Great, so when can I get back to work?" She propped herself up on her elbows, willing to get back on her feet. In her ambition to get back in the operating room, Y/N completely missed the dismissive shake of Ethan's head and the way he jumped to his feet to pull her back.

"You're not going anywhere. In fact, you're on leave for the next week." Ethan stated, a little harshly for his taste but she gets his blood boiling way too easily and he always falls for it. She's a beautiful woman, but it's not her beauty that drives him insane.

"What do you mean? I'm an intern! Interns don't take sick days!" She insisted, sitting right back up, the stress his words caused raised her cortisol and adrenaline levels up in an instant. In all his years, he had never met a woman as stubborn as she is. For Ethan, Y/N was either wildly naive or dangerously intelligent and it is the kindness of her heart and the sharpness of her mind that enriched her soul and drew his close.

"Well, they do when their boss says so and I'm saying so. I've talked to the chief and he agrees. So, you better not show up here before next week and when you do come back, you will be doing scut for a week." Eyebrows knit together, eyes hard, Ethan seemed like an unrelenting force she couldn't fight. Not now when sitting up made her woozy and she knew he was right.

Not that's she'd tell him that.

Ever.

"Why scut?! As if being home isn't punishment enough? What am I being punished for? Huh?" Lowering her voice, Y/N felt her heart skip as the thoughts formed in her head and her mouth was quick to follow. Sometimes she acted on impulse and it wasn't always for the better.

"For leaving the morning after? Because I'm not your hookup, Grant, I am your intern. You don't get to tear into me just because I fucked you once." Swallowing thickly as she stared at his impassive face, she knew she went too far and it wasn't the time nor place and far from the way she wanted to address that night. She was just angry, trying to get some control over the situation she had no way of controlling and it absolutely drove her mad. Perhaps she wanted to get a rise out of him too. So she fucked up. She could tell just by the way his shoulders tensed and his jaw clenched and the warm flames in his eyes were extinguished.

"You have your orders. I have nothing else to say to you." Ethan turned on his heel and before she had a chance to stop him, to apologize, to thank him for saving her life, Ethan was already gone and she was left with regret and guilt.

Too used to pushing people away to protect herself, Y/N now spent her time hating herself for being so quick to speak her mind. Maybe if she was softer, playing dumb like men expect girls to, Ethan would have let her come back to work. But no, she couldn't hold her tongue and she could never play dumb to get anyone's approval. She'd hate herself more if she did.

However, she could always annoy him for progress. What more could he do? He already put her in the corner for doing everything right and then he gave her the worst job for a week to keep punishing her! At least she could get some justice by getting on his nerves, texting him random facts about animals, sending him memes on mean bosses and even voicemails where she talks herself to death about how she was right and he wasn't. All she got was Seen and a daily delivery of chicken soup with bagels and a bottle of freshly squeezed orange juice. The Get Better basket never had a note, but she knew it was his doing. Ethan cared, even if it’s a little and she couldn’t hide the smile that appeared on her lips every morning she received his thoughtful gift.

But Ethan was worse off than her. After finally having her back in his life, he managed to make himself the enemy. And he knew what he was doing was for her own good so she wouldn't make the same mistakes again, so she could use the week off to get back on her feet because going into anaphylactic shock isn't a walk in the park like she pretended to be. If he didn't bench her she would have put her health at risk and he couldn't let her do it.

Eunoia – beautiful thinking, a well mind

"You sent her home?" Grayson whisper shouted, swiftly pulling Ethan into the on-call room.

"She almost died! What am I supposed to do? Put a scalpel in her hand and let her cut someone open when she's barely standing on her own two feet?!" Ethan wasn't quite as quiet as his brother, his emotions on the verge of spilling out like a river once the dam breaks. Ethan always went through the extremes – he either loved too much or didn’t care at all, the same could apply to his temper.

"No, but you could have let her do paperwork? To observe? To watch your department for you?" Grayson listed which made Ethan's eyes widen, realizing he might have been harder on her than he thought. She’s too good at pushing his buttons, he knew it, but this good? For him to think so irrationally he couldn’t understand his own choices or see beyond his emotions? Never did he realize her influence went so deep.

"Just look at it this way: if you got sent home for a week in your intern year, you'd hate the attendee who did it. And she's more than just an intern and you need to be more careful if you want her to see you as more than just her boss. You're acting like a soulmate not a professional." Grayson explained and his clarification had stumped Ethan. He really needs to think before he acts but she makes all rational thought go out the window.

"But I also gave her a week of scut." Ethan sucked in a deep breath, shaking his head. He couldn't take it back just like that because she'd see him as easily manipulated and he couldn't allow that to spread among the other interns. He had to be a little harder than he should if she wanted to know that everything she got was due to her hard work and not because she slept with him or because she is his soulmate.

"You're in big trouble. But I do recommend you to find a way to work with her on something. It doesn't have to be a surgery and it doesn't have to be in this hospital. Find something to connect over."

Thinking how his brother is now the one who has his shit together made Ethan smile but it also made him worry. Isn't Grayson the one who does things impulsively and fucks things up? Seems like that's no longer the case but at least the advice he gave Ethan was enough for him to get an idea.

It took him a couple of days but when inspiration struck, Ethan was so excited for the implementation of his plan for more than one reason – it was for the greater good and he’d get to see her again. Any excuse to do that was more than exhilarating.

He didn't wait after his shift was done, driving to her apartment with the sole intention of convincing her of a theory many would think was insane but he was sure it was a conspiracy she could help him with.

Knocking on her door, he exhaled loudly, shaking his hands vigorously to get the nerves out. It took everything in him to stop himself from running because his heart beating so loudly was driving him insane and quite literally making him panic.

When the door finally cracked open, Y/N peeking through, Ethan felt his heart calm down and his lips pressed together.

After the way she attacked him the last time they saw each other, Ethan didn't expect her to smile at him nor let him in so easily, however, she opened the door widely and gestured for him to come inside.

He was still angry about how she spoke to him, the crudeness of her words making his blood boil but he also missed her in the past five days she had been away and he desperately needed to see her.

"What can I do for you, boss?" She leaned against a wall, looking at him intently with a small smirk upon her lips. It fell odd having him in her private life, as if he was slowly infiltrating every part of her life, making it impossible for her to ignore how badly she wanted to rip his clothes off and ride him until they're both sweaty and tired with loopy, lazy smiles as they hold each other close even after they finish.

Blushing with her thoughts, Y/N cleared her throat as it seemed Ethan wasn't listening to her before and was too busy looking around. He wanted to see her life, the part of her he'd never know if she was just an intern.

He loves the flowery light scent of the room, even more so the colorful yellow walls and green couch. He loved the art hanging on the walls and the way her carpets were all flower themed. Her entire apartment, or at least what he saw so far, had a spring theme and Ethan felt at ease.

"I'm assuming you're here for a reason, not for decorating ideas?" She cocked an eyebrow, speaking louder this time around and it certainly got his attention even if him turning around had made her breath halt in her throat. It enraged her just how attractive he is.

'Why does he have to be so fucking sexy? Like, he’s just kinking his eyebrow and not even in the obvious, over the top way he usually does! He does it so casually, so unaware that it only makes it sexier and damn it, Ethan Grant Dolan, you are ruining men for me!'

But she doesn't say any of her thoughts out loud, only swallows thickly, reminding herself of the reasons why he's not right for her.

"I have a theory and I need your help to confirm it." Swiping his thumb under his bottom lip, Ethan stepped closer. "I had a patient a while ago with breast cancer and her heart was failing due to chemo. After two doses. So, I did some tests and found there were no signs of breast cancer." Ethan waited for her to realize where he's going with this, wanting to see how quick she is on her feet and not even a second later she stood up, no longer casually leaning on the wall.

"So they're giving chemo to earn more money to patients who don't need it? They're purposefully giving people fake cancer diagnosis? How are their stats?" She spoke quickly, passionately as if she was angry, wanting to start a war. And he liked it - the way she thinks, the way her mind works and how it perfectly matched him. What he lacked, she compensated for and what she lacked, he was more than capable to cover for her. They were, despite all odds, a very dynamic duo and Ethan would soon find out just how well they work together.

"They have a ninety percent success rate for breast cancer patients." Ethan noted and he knew she was on board by the way her fists clenched and her eyes hardened. It felt like she was fire and he would have to contain it - contain her, although he’d love to set her loose on the world and see just how extensive the ruin would be.

"Well, I assume you want me to go with you and act like I found a lump so they can misdiagnose me and order me to be on chemo? To see how it works before we burn them to the ground?" She crossed her arms, raising both eyebrows in expectation and even if he wanted to, Ethan would follow her - to the ends of the Earth if necessary.

Forelsket – the euphoria you experience when you’re first falling in love

"Welcome to Smooth Cat." Ethan exclaimed as the passenger door closed and she joined him inside. She didn't quite linger on the car, barely sparing it a glance at first and he knew right away no amount of expensive shiny things will win her over. She wanted something deeper than his pockets.

"You named your car Smooth cat?" She deadpanned, her determination for this case wavering as the amusement showed in her eyes. For once, Ethan managed to make her break the cold surface with just words. Although he didn't think it was as ridiculous as her tone made it out to be.

"Don't hate the kitty when it purrs so nicely and runs so smoothly." Ethan responds, his head high and his lips pursed and so dramatically that Y/N had to crack a smile. For a moment, she mistook him for a humorous person, one that she could imagine herself laughing beside her whole damn life and that thought alone made her heart erratic and her mind chaotic.

"So, you plan on letting me come back to work a bit earlier?" She questions, figuring it's worth a shot especially when they have nothing better to talk about and the awkward silence would drive her insane otherwise. She needed the distraction and he posed as the perfect one. Just as he did that first night.

"No. Not after you went into anaphylaxis and I nearly lost you." Attempting to keep his voice calm and his head leveled, Ethan felt like his heart couldn't follow that instruction. It was more than obvious he couldn't just go back on his word. A leader is consistent and in that hospital he is meant to be a leader, not her soulmate. But his words also showed her his feelings run deeper than he shows.

"Can you honestly tell me that this is how you'd treat the others? I'm not trying to start anything but would anyone else have to do scut? Or is this about our history?" Gnawing on her bottom lip, her tongue dancing along the inside of her teeth as she waited for him to respond. She noticed his eyes turning to the screen of his car instead of the road ahead, tapping something before he turned to her entirely, his hands off the wheel and it made her eyes widen. "And can you please not get us killed?!"

"It's a Tesla. Drives itself." Ethan spoke as if that meant anything to her, as if her anxiety didn't spike at the notion of a car driving her to safety on it's own. She didn't believe that would be a safe way of traveling at all, not that Ethan seemed any better.

"And you're right. I wouldn't treat any other intern like this. In fact, if it were any other intern talking back like you did? They would be suspended." And his eyes didn't waver, looking deep into her own without blinking. Ethan meant what he said with every atom of his being and she knew it too. She knew now that she was right; he did treat her differently, she just didn't know it was for the better.

"I was angry." She quipped, swallowing her pride she saw fit to apologize even if it went against everything she wanted to do. "I'm sorry for being an ass to you...in fact, I wanted to thank you for saving my life that night."

Ethan nods, tongue swiping his bottom lip as he opens his mouth to speak. "Which night? The first one felt like I was quite heroic too." Winking, he couldn't help but notice the way she plays with her fingers, fidgeting nervously, affected by the same memories that haunt him.

"It certainly wasn't heroic but it wasn't...anything less than enjoyable either." She remarked, raising an eyebrow at his statement as if she is unbothered when in fact she is very, very bothered and horny and he could probably tell by her shy smile, but she wouldn't give him the satisfaction just yet. Not until she knows where his soulmate is. Whoever it is, she needed to know if that person was in his life, to what extent and if he would be able to ignore that she has a soulmate too, wherever they may be...In a way she wondered if he was the one, but life would never serve her such luck. She's used to not getting favorable things...or men in this particular case.

"Oh, I think otherwise. I even have a certain pair of torn up lace panties and a bra to remember it by." Ethan raised his brow just the same, teasing her relentlessly, genuinely curious how red can her cheeks get. Because as much as he tried to, he couldn't forget the moans he evoked or the way her head would fall back with every dance his fingers played on her. She was and still is the muse for every dream, every fantasy and every lonely night he had to take care of himself.

"I -", Ethan leaned in, ready to hear what she has to say, thinking this might be the right time to tell her he's her forever, but Smooth Cat decided cock-blocking is acceptable and announced their arrival.

Clearing her throat, Y/N broke the eye contact, feeling the intensity of his earthly hues deep inside her heart - eyes that hooked her soul to attention only he could provide. "We should probably get in."

With a nod, Ethan opened the door and she followed his example, walking inside without turning back to look at him, determined to do this right. But for that, she had to swallow her pride once more and play the role.

Just as they enter the main hall, Y/N wrapped her arm around Ethan and his heart almost stopped with the sudden contact. She pulled him closer, glancing up at his poorly hidden shock and smiled meekly but her eyes were anything but - her eyes were hard and they were warning him to play along.

"Hi. Could you help us?" The way she asked felt so...polite? So sweet and innocent, too naively put for Ethan to ever buy the act but the sap on the other side seemed fooled.

"Of course, what can I do for you?" The guy smiles nicely, straightening his back ever so slightly to seem more confident.

"My name is Bailey Nolan and this is Grant Nolan, my husband. I, uh..I was doing a little checkup during shower and I think I felt a lump. In my breast." Shifting her voice to a smaller, fragile tone had surprised Ethan because for a moment he actually believed her too. She is all too convincing. Especially on the husband part and he can’t help but tense up when she calls him that, nor can he stop his heart from pounding uncontrollably with the notion. He imagined her calling him her soulmate and husband so many times since they first met, but to hear it felt divine. It felt better than he thought it would and he just wished she could have said it while gazing in his eyes, his arms around her as he holds her close.

Leaning in closer to the receptionist, Y/N glances left before she whispered softly: "I'm scared it might be cancer."

It didn't take long for the two to be accompanied to an examination room. With instructions to prepare for the exam, Ethan and Y/N found themselves alone for a little while.

"Expecting a free show?" Y/N narrowed her eyes at Ethan, her hands clinging to the gown left for her to change into so the examination would go quicker. She was more than willing to lose her clothes that night they met, but that was under the cloak of night and this? Being in a well-lit room with nothing to draw his attention from her body? It didn't make her as happy to strip down and flash her boobs.

"It's not like I haven't seen them before, ya know? I know exactly how they look." Ethan's cocky voice had caught her off guard just as the little step forward he made toward her. With a raised eyebrow and a vain smile Ethan tilts his head and Y/N wanted nothing more but to wipe that smirk off his face. But she couldn't. Not when his words are facts, not fiction and especially not when her body ached for his weight on top of hers.

"I kissed every inch, even the little mole nested right between -", stopping him before he finished his thought, Y/N wrapped her arms around herself, her eyes set aflame as she felt her face burning, her voice low and cold as she spoke. "I get it, but I'm asking you to stop. To not look at me now and not look at me during the ultrasound and please, for the love of God, bring me my bra back." She spoke fast and with uncertainty, mostly because she was more than lost in this new situation where she managed to not just stumble upon a one night stand but to work for him and the power balance is way off and she can’t help but feel very threatened by that.

Did she love how powerful and ambitious Ethan is? Absolutely. Did she enjoy him bossing her around? Not a chance. And she is right, the power balance in their relationship is way off, but not in the way she thinks.

She was completely unaware how whipped Ethan is for her and the way she leans a little closer to him when they talk but she doesn't do the same with anyone else. And he's absolutely crazy about the way she ties her hair in a braid so quickly while she's in the hospital, or how she seems to have fire in her soul, making her a force of nature. And yeah, she is making it hard for him not to move in and kiss her every chance he gets, but he needs to do this right. Her views on soulmates don't seem to match his and he wanted her to love him for who he is and what they've experienced together, not just a bond made by a single look as a gift from destiny. And while she changed behind the curtain, Ethan wanted her to know that too.

"I won't look. I wasn't going to. Just teasing you, darling. But the bra is mine to keep."

Necrophobia – fear of death and associated things

Before she gets a chance to retaliate, the doctor entered the room, introducing himself as Y/N laid on the table, her eyes glancing to Ethan who focused on the doctor instead of her breast as the man began a palpable examination first.

"I don't feel the lump, but I'd like to do an ultrasound too, just to be sure." Raising both eyebrows, Y/N wondered if the man had been wrongly accused by Ethan, making brief eye contact with Ethan who forgot himself and his promise for a moment in his own surprise.

"Oh." But then the doctor stopped, looking closer at the screen with his eyebrows furrowed and eyes narrowed and Y/N lifts her head.

"Oh? What do you mean by oh?" She demanded, Ethan leaning toward the screen to see better himself but even he wasn't the best in reading breast ultrasounds, that was more Grayson's specialty.

"I'm sorry to say, but I believe your worries were right."

Ringing in her ears, Y/N felt like someone hit her over the head with a rock, her mind stopping as her eyes moved to the screen the man turned for them to see.

"This", the doctor pointed at the screen and Ethan leaned in closer, his heart beating out his chest as his hand blindly searched for Y/N's to hold, wanting to give her comfort as well as seek some reassurance for himself.

"This is a solid mass and while we will need to do more tests when you're ready, my experience taught me this is often a malignancy. It's where most cancers show statistically, but you're young and I feel we caught it in time. We can set up an appointment for confirmation and more imaging, but I'm confident we will win this."

And the doctor spoke, explaining things Y/N could barely hear, feeling like she's under the water, dragged back into hell she barely escaped.

Not even realizing it, she found herself back in Ethan's Smooth Cat, her hand held tightly - no longer gingerly touched, but strongly feeling Ethan's presence. She was so thankful for that. So, so thankful.

With a growing lump inside her throat, Y/N couldn't speak, panic spreading through her as she felt Ethan's other hand touch her cheek, his thumb on her chin, tilting her head toward him.

"I called Grayson and he will meet us in an examination room at the breast unit as soon as we arrive. Remember we can't take anything he says as factual before we check. Okay? You're okay, darling. It's going to be okay." And while he tried to put up a brave front, she felt the tremors in his hands and she heard him swallow tears.

Nodding, she let out a heavy sigh of relief, his words reminding her why they were at the clinic and although she saw the lump on her ultrasound clearly, she prayed she wasn't that unlucky to get cancer. Again.

Rushing to the breast unit, Grayson is already at the door, waving the two inside. Upon entering, Ethan is basically helping Y/N rip her shirt and bra off, her breasts no longer off limits as both of them are out of their minds with worry.

"Wow, Ethan, stay the fuck outside!" Grayson shouted, throwing a sheet over an exposed Y/N, horrified by his brother and his disregard for her comfort and needs.

"We're way past that!" Ethan and Y/N scream in unison as she tosses the sheet off. Breathing uneven, her cheat rising with every shallow breath she takes, Y/N turned to Ethan who was ready to scream but stayed a few feet away. But then she outstretched her arm, her hand open with the palm turned up, her fingers wiggling to invite him closer.

Slightly reluctant, Ethan took her hand in his, fingers intertwining as he rests his elbows on the gurney, his eyes looking into hers only to find fear and unshed tears that disarmed him faster than he believed possible. It's not a secret she's been ruling his heart and mind since they met...since before that, but he never realized how willing he'd be to fall victim to her, to be her captive, to stand in the eye of the storm and admire it even when it threatens to destroy him.

Two hearts beating as one, their eyes speaking volumes about what they can't say just yet, it felt like the world faded and no one but them remained.

But the magic had been broken once Y/N felt the coldness of the gel on her breast, her hand tightened around his and her eyes closed shut. She couldn't handle seeing it again: her dreams all die and her journey to return to start - alone again, rotting in a clinic with nothing to hope for. She found medicine the first time, her graduation and desire to travel the world the second time, but third time? What will she have to look forward to? Eminent death and impending doom of finding a soulmate she never even knew about? Or Ethan?

But he has his soulmate, she reminds herself. He probably has someone waiting for him to come home, a beautiful woman, maybe a couple of kids? Who knows? He wouldn't be her saving grace this time around.

"Good news. The guy's a fraud. This ultrasound is clear. There's nothing malignant here." Grayson's smile is quick to spread, to lighten the somber atmosphere and while he probably should have stopped there, it wouldn't really be Grayson if he did, especially when Ethan and Y/N remained silent, processing the news a bit too long for Grayson's liking.

"Yeah, in fact, this is beautiful breast. It's truly phenomenal, like exquisite -", and that's when Ethan and Y/N finally tuned in, the looks on their faces saying just how far he went. Ethan covered her breasts so fast, pulling his body halfway over hers to protect her from view, his glare burning holes into his brother who raised his arms in mock surrender, defending his honor and quite frankly his life.

"I was just going to say it's like a perfect anatomy, nothing sexual."

"Bro, just go. Leave while you're still ahead." Ethan practically growled through gritted teeth and Grayson didn't plan on sticking around for those teeth to grab a hold of his throat. Because Ethan reminded him of a lion, king of the jungle and he looked ready to kill to protect his lioness.

Selenophile – a person who loves the moon

Scratching the back of his head, Ethan stepped away, releasing her hand reluctantly with a sigh. He wanted to keep this moment going, to have her so close and while he hated himself for it, he liked being needed that day. Every look she gave him, every touch no matter how small, it made him feel wanted like never before and for the first time in forever he just wanted to stay in the moment with her.

"Are you okay?" Ethan's voice is rough, his throat scratchy and his heart slowly calming down. Clearing his throat, he averted his gaze, allowing her to sit up and get dressed without having her yell at him for peeping.

"I...I guess. What are we going to do about this guy?" She changed the topic deliberately, scared she might say too much because this fright had brought her back to all those times she was stuck in the hospital, alone and terrified of what might become of her. It reminded her of the friends she saw die and of the days she thought she would too.

"Grayson? He didn't mean anything by that, he just word vomits whenever he's nervous and it got fairly awkward really fast." Ethan chuckled, capturing his bottom lip between his teeth, dragging them across the soft flesh before releasing it a shade darker.

"No. Not Grayson. I mean that quack of a doctor who told me I have cancer!" She raised her voice inadvertently, hoping Ethan wouldn't notice the raw emotion behind it nor the loss of common sense that washed over her.

"I have a solid amount of paperwork proving his scams. I just wanted to know for sure today. Grayson is already dealing with it. As you can tell, my brother is a boobie lover and he won't let this man get away for all the boob owners that were tricked into this." Ethan watched her back move with her shallow breaths, her inability to turn around and look him in the eye raising his anxiety levels with each passing second.

"You don't fuck with people like that. You just don't." She mutters quietly, her voice just above a whisper and Ethan can feel his heart break and he doesn't even know why.

Wrapping her arms around herself, Y/N stood up, meek and shaken and so clearly in need of distance because if she stays even just for a minute, Ethan will know one of the worst things she had to endure and she couldn't do that. She couldn't let him in. Not when he can't stay. So she did what she does best. She bolted out the room, ignoring Ethan's pleas for her to stop and talk to him.

She went to where she was the first time she met Ethan. She went to where her life was supposed to start and it did...In a way, that day was the best day of her life - she was free of the curse her body was under and she met Ethan.

So yes, she ended up in the Oncology ward, gowning up before entering the room where comatose patients struggled to survive. As weird as it is, it had always been her favorite and least favorite place to hide from the world, a place she could find peace and serenity but also reconcile her life might end in one of those rooms as well, so she always sat there and just reminded herself to breathe as long as she could, as fiercely as she could.

She sat by one of the patients, looking sadly down at their broken, beaten bodies and how it betrayed them in the worst possible way. As usual, most patients are older or have their grey hair as proof they found their soulmate, but then again, she saw two kids there too.

She was once a kid on these ventilators too. Her friends were on them too. Not all of them made it out.

Comas aren't romantic at all like in the movies, she knew it better than anyone. The person in that bed isn't flawlessly combed nor do they have make up to cover their flaws. They aren't comfortable nor is their spirit waiting by the bed as their loved ones come and go, confessing how much they love the unlucky bastard for years to come. No...coma is what takes the basic human pride and decency. It strips you of all that makes you human. Some survive and recover, going home with amnesia for the time they spent in their state, some don't survive it at all...but there is a third option for those who survive, but they aren't exactly alive. For them, coma means tubes being stuck into their nose for feeding, into their mouth for breathing, into their urethra for peeing and a diaper for shitting. It means eyes covered with gauze to help keep their eyes moist, their throat cut open to move the breathing tube if that state continues; wires, needles, medical students practicing on them because they aren't supposed to feel the pain. It means pressure ulcers that turn into huge gaping wounds because the nurses are understaffed, overworked and underpaid and can't possibly move every patient in time to prevent complications. And the worst part is that the longer they are comatose, less people come to see them. They're alone, abandoned in a room without any chance of recovery, robbed of their right of moving on, truly being liberated. They would welcome death doctors are forced to keep away.

And she had witnessed it happen far too often. She had seen many comatose patients in her time during her stays in the hospital because of her cancer. Some of them she'd visit at night because she felt bad for them, others were her cancer buddies who were losing the battle. Either way, there wasn't anything to romanticize. Coma isn't a pretty state, it's her worst nightmare.

"You're not okay."

Startled, Y/N looks back at the door, aware who it is before she sees the person the voice belongs to. And there he is, the man she wants to know more than anything but can't allow herself to care. If they were meant to be, if he is her soulmate, he'd tell her by now. Right?

"You're always running after me." She smiles weakly, the sadness in her eyes tearing into Ethan who, even now, saw her as the most beautiful creature to walk the Earth. In his hundred plus years, Ethan never saw a human as flawlessly beautiful as her.

"Someone's got to." With a slight shrug, Ethan sat on a chair beside her, his eyes fixed on her with a softness behind his hazel hues she rarely saw in anyone. He cares. She could see that now and no amount of fear that evoked would make her walk away. She wanted to stay. She wanted him to look at her as softly as he does now for the rest of her life.

Y/N no longer cared about whoever her soulmate is because she couldn't imagine caring about someone as much as she does for Grant, not ever.

"When I was nine I was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer with metastasis in surrounding lymph nodes. After surgery and chemotherapy they said I'd be fine. They said it would be like nothing ever happened. But it wasn't fine." Swallowing a growing lump in her throat, Y/N glanced at Ethan who looked distressed by her story, like his heart had fallen through the cracks and shattered on the ground. But it was too late and she could tell he was staring at her throat for signs of surgical scarring and she felt self-conscious just like she did when they first cut her open.

"I learned to hide the scar with either scarfs or make up. And I thought I could move on and be happy but I was fifteen when I was rushed into the emergency room because I collapsed in school. Turns out the metastasis were in my lungs and while they were unsure if it was truly related to the first cancer diagnosis or if it was a new sort, one thing was sure...I needed more chemotherapy...more pain, more hospitals, more lonely days and nights and I had no one. My parents were always too involved with each other and their jobs than me. I was alone. And scared. Studying medicine saved me." She sighed, looking over the patients.

"The chemotherapy ruined my bone marrow, a little something I found out in my last year of med school after which I had to wait almost a year while I got a transplant and my immune system normalized. It was the only good thing my dad ever did for me." She shrugged, daring to look back at Ethan who looked so frustrated with what she went through, horrified by the thought of her being alone all those years when the worst has happened to her. And he hated he wasn't there for her.

"The night we met? At the bar? I was here for a final checkup because my doctor moved. I got the all clear and I was depressed I had no one to celebrate the official news of my remission and my life getting back on track." She admitted sheepishly.

"But as great as it was, we can't go back to that. You are my boss and I'm your intern and while it's going to be hard, we have to let it go. So, can I please just get back to work?"

Shaking his head, Ethan chuckled in disbelief.

"You're with Grayson next week and every free moment you have you will deal with my paperwork. That's all I can give you. But you can't seriously expect me to forget that night. Or any of it since." His demeanor changed and the softest he had about him had disappeared.

"I appreciate you telling me all this and I wish I could have been there for you, I do! But I am here now and I don't plan on leaving anytime soon. I care for you. But you drive me so mad sometimes." Pinching the bridge of his nose, Ethan tried to calm down and actually be supportive because it was hard for her to open up to him like she did and he wanted to be understanding but every move forward ends up being two steps back with her and Ethan was stressed and tired and he needed her to realize she was stuck with him.

“You’re like a book! A big, strange book I barely understand.” He was slowly losing patience, she could tell. And a part of her hoped he’d let her go and give up. A part of her prayed for it to happen. But another part, one hidden deep inside, that part wanted Ethan more than the oxygen she needed to breathe. He was her oxygen, the air her soul needed. And he wasn't letting up, despite it all.

“Learn me slowly then. Please? Just be patient with my pages.”

And in that moment, they shared a silent agreement. In her darkness, he saw her light shine through. He is a selenophile and she his moon.

In that moment, Ethan saw fit to lean closer, his eyes glancing at her supple lips before focusing on her eyes again. He wanted to make sure she wanted it to happen as much as he did, even if it was completely inappropriate from the place it was happening down to their work relationship. It was all kinds of wrong, yet it felt right. It felt so, so right.

She didn't move away, she didn't make a sound. All she did was close her eyes and part her lips and in that fraction of a second, she allowed herself to get lost in the beauty of a lover's touch for when Ethan's lips brushed hers, nothing mattered anymore.

Just before letting go and surrendering himself to this gentle surprise, Ethan looked at his soulmate with a new hope in mind and a promise he would never let her demons drown her.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

Tags: @beinscorpio​ @peacedolantwins​ @heyits-claire​ @dolandolll​ @godlydolans​ @dolanstwintuesday​ @ethanhes​ @iwastornsincethestart @graydolan12​ @fxkthatdairy​ @zeusgrayson​ @libradolan​ @justordinaryjen​ @pineappledolan​ @graysavant​ @voguekristens @imayoutubere @livexdolan​  @shadowsndaisies​ @maybgrayson​

[questionsonislam]

Is it permissible to make tawassul while praying and asking the help of awliya of Allah?

Seeking assistance is something and wasila (tawassul) is something else. Seeking assistance means asking for help. Wasila (tawassul) is a means to the end.

It is not permissible to ask for help from non-living things or a creature without intelligence even if it has a lot of service like the sun or the moon, even if it is holy like the Kaaba and the Black Stone (Hajar al-Aswad).

As for asking for help from people with intelligence, if the person is not a believer and a person with good deeds, it is not permissible to ask for help from him whether he is present or not. However, if he is a person with good deeds it is permissible to ask for help from him in order to ask intercession (shafa’ah), whether in his presence or near his grave.

Although the dead person has gone to the world of barzakh (veil), he has a kind of life peculiar to him. Our Prophet (PBUH) stated the following: "Prophets are alive in their graves." (Ibn Majah, Janaiz 65) Another evidence that prophets are alive in their graves is that Hazrat Prophet (pbuh) met the spirits of all of the prophets in Masjid al-Aqsa and greeted every prophet he met and those prophets replied his greeting. He also said the following about the polytheists who died during the Battle of Badr: "You cannot hear more than those; but they cannot answer.”

According to the people of tariqah (religious order) today, the help of a wali (saint) with a rank, whether he is dead or far away, can be asked for. He has the authority to help. Especially the people of tasarruf (authorized to do extraordinary things) can help both when they are alive and after they die; their help goes on.

As for wasila, as we have just mentiond, it is something to be used as a means to reach the end. There are some kinds of wasila:

1- To use the names of Allah for tawassul: Ibn Majah narrated the following from Hazrat Aisha: ‘The Prophet said the following in a supplication, " O Allah, I ask from you for the sake of your clean, nice and holy name"’

2- To make the supplication of the person as a wasila for whom tawassul is asked.

3- To make tawassul by using the personality of a great man with good deeds as an intermediary. For instance, to say something like ‘O Allah! I make the Prophet or Hazrat Abu Bakr a wasila in order to realize this wish of mine. Hazrat Umar made Hazrat Abbas (the Prophet’s uncle) a wasila in the supplication for rain by saying: “O Allah! We make the Prophet’s uncle a wasila, send us rain." (Bukhari).

4- To make tawassul by using the good deeds as an intermediary: For instance, to say something like “O Allah! I make this hajj or worship that I performed for you a wasila; relieve me of this misfortune or trouble”.

The kinds of wasila we listed above are present in Islam. It is not possible to deny them. The person to be made a wasila does not necessarily have to be superior to the person making tawassul. The Prophet (PBUH) said to Hazrat Umar, who wanted permission to go and make umrah, “Brother! Do not forget to pray for us”. He also ordered Hazrat Umar to tell Uways al-Qarani to pray for him. However, to imagine the prophet or any person independently and ask his help may cause a person to become an unbeliever. One should be careful about it. That is, it is permissible to think and to know that that person is a beloved slave of Allah and he does those things by the permission of Allah and to ask.

According to Ahlu Sunnah scholars, it is permissible to make tawassul as long as one does not go beyond it.

Those who regard wasila as completely haram are kharijites and and those who imitate them.

The information that angels protect people is present in the Quran itself: “For each (such person) there are (angels) in succession, before and behind him: they guard him by command of Allah”(ar-Rad, 13/11). That truth is pointed out in the verse.

The protection of the angels is not polytheism, similarly, the help and protection of other creatures should not be polytheism. However, we should not raise them from the level of being a means, a cause to the level of creation. It is a necessity of our belief that “there is no real creator other than Allah in the universe.”

Is there mediation, wasila in religion?

Wisdom is one of the indispensable elements of life and success; it is also a leaven and an important law in the management and control of all of the beings.

Men make achievements and maintain them by observing that rule and principle called wisdom.

Wisdom makes cause, means, wasila necessary between the Creator and the creatures.

The loftiness and greatness of the creator, the relationship and the balance among the beings are related to wisdom. In addition, the fact that beings serve as proof to their creator, the fact that they are searched and studied like a book by qualified people, and the most important of all, the fact that men are tested and tried for their achievements in the world and in the hereafter, depend on wisdom and a serious relationship with wisdom.

Men who have been given wisdom are the most honorable and valuable beings.

Based on this principle, the general term denoting the phenomenon of relationship between beings, things, man and the creator is wisdom.

In the connections between non-living things and living things,

in the veils between being created and creating,

in the causes between illness and health,

in slavery and its consequences,

in the relationship between conveying the message and guidance.

in the consequences and relationships of agriculture, trade, art and worship, wisdom is essential; and the causes, wasilas and means are the prerequisites of wisdom and they will always be present naturally.

Here, although the existence of means is necessary in terms of wisdom due to divine power and greatness, the oneness and majesty of Allah eliminates their effects. Wisdom necessitates that they remain only as means.

So, means are an essential of creation due to Allah’s name, the Wise.

So, the means like those are existent and necessary in our religion naturally.

For instance, the means of hidayah (guidance) are prophets.

The means of Allah’s orders to His prophets are the angels.

The means of pre-eternal speech are the Books and Pages.

The means of manifestations are miracles and arts.

The means of forgiveness and reward are bounties and Paradise.

The means of suffering and punishment are measures and Hell.

The means of worshipping and slavery are worships.

The means of approaching Allah are knowledge and taqwa (piety).

So, there is no place, state and time without means.

The most important point of the things that we have mentioned so far is as follows: Those means should not be something more than a wasila; they should be transparent and decent; they should not hide and cover the realities; in particular, they should strengthen not break the relationship between the slave and Allah.

If the means that exist between the realities and the people as a necessity of wisdom become dense and break the connection, then wisdom disappears and obstacles emerge. The means loses its property of being a means.

For instance, if a teacher enters between a mathematics book and the students, he integrates the students with the book. He increases the love. He also strengthens knowledge. Teachers form a great amount as means.

Artists are means of transferring the skill between the apprentices and art. Otherwise the arts and skills would cease and die.

Similarly, great religious people are transparent means to ensure and maintain the relationship between Allah and the slave. If they stop acting as intermediaries, the slave will spoil the relationship and break the connection.

However, being an intermediary is not something easy. The most important thing is to be capable and qualified.

That is, a teacher should act as an intermediary between the mathematics book and the student. However, if the teacher is a music teacher, it won’t do any good.

A doctor, who is a transparent means, should act as an intermediary between the patient and the illness in terms of wisdom. However, if an engineer instead of a doctor acts as an intermediary, he will only serve the angel of death.

Glasses become intermediaries between the eyes and things. Hearing aids become intermediaries between the ears and the sounds. As intermediaries, they serve those with ordinary eyes and ears to see and hear better.

Similarly, if qualified and capable people become intermediaries between the realities and ordinary people, they increase those people’s knowledge and virtues. Their spiritual lives become orderly and tidy. Ordinary people cannot see the naked realities and cannot perceive them. They can understand the realities only through some means.

The similes, metaphor and usual examples in the Quran are holy and transparent means like eyeglasses or binoculars between men and the realities that are difficult to perceive.

Therefore, to deny the means (wasila) means to deny wisdom, help, benefit, order, goodness and affair. It is an attitude contrary to creation and reality.

However, as there are always exceptions and misuse, the means deteriorated and misused in time; and bad examples reached present time. While it is necessary to correct, put into order and change them, it will be consciencelessness to wear mediation down and to deny it wholly and radically.

It will be a great mistake to prefer its demolition although it is possible to correct it.

So, mediation is a divine approbation that establishes the connection with reality like transparent glass, and that puts the relationships in order.

As it is present everywhere, there is and will be mediation in our religion. However, intermediaries that are very dense like priesthood, that confine the interest and respect only to themselves and break the relationship with Allah are a kind of hidden polytheism. Mediation like that does not exist in man’s nature and creation; it does not and cannot exist in our religion.

To see the means from the point of view of the evaluations above will protect us from excessiveness and negligence in terms of thoughts and attitudes, will drive all of our feelings and thoughts to the medium way, will provide our life with direction, peace and happiness.

[fuckofffuckofffuckoffloveme]

Runaway - Part Ten

~Masterlist~

Concept: Hazel Richards is a twenty-year-old woman living in London. When she meets a mysterious time-travelling alien known only as the Hunter, she’s thrust into a world of wonder she could only have imagined.

Warnings: swearing, follows S1 of Doctor Who.

The TARDIS materialised on the observation deck of some space station, and the Hunter and Hazel stepped out, leaving Adam inside for the moment.

"So, it's two hundred thousand, and it's a spaceship. No, wait a minute, space station, and er, go and try that gate over there," the Hunter instructed, pointing. "Off you go."

"Two hundred thousand?" Hazel checked.

The Hunter nodded. "Two hundred thousand."

"Right." She opened the TARDIS door and called in, "Adam? Out you come."

The boy walked out tentatively, and his jaw dropped. "Oh my God."

"Don't worry, you'll get used to it," Hazel assured him.

"Where are we?" Adam wondered, his eyes wide.

"Good question," Hazel praised, doing her best to ignore the Hunter's amused smirk. "Let's see. So, er, judging by the architecture, I'd say we're around the year two hundred thousand. If you listen..."

"Yeah," Adam nodded eagerly.

"Engines," Hazel identified. "We're on some sort of space station. Yeah, definitely a space station. It's a bit warm in here." She tied her jacket around her waist, blowing out a breath. "They could turn the heating down. Tell you what - let's try that gate. Come on!" She bounded off towards the gate in question, and Adam and the Hunter followed, one bemused, one amused.

"Here we go!" Hazel cheered as they reached a massive viewing window. "And this is... I'll let the Hunter describe it."

"The Fourth Great and Bountiful Human Empire. And there it is, planet Earth at it's height," the Hunter pointed. "Covered with mega-cities, five moons, population ninety six billion. The hub of a galactic domain stretching across a million planets, a million species, with mankind right in the middle." She smirked as Adam fainted behind her. "He's your boyfriend."

Hazel snorted. "Not anymore."

***

Later, the three of them were walking through a corridor of the space station as the Hunter explained. "Come on, Adam. Open your mind. You're going to like this. Fantastic period of history. The human race at its most intelligent. Culture, art, politics. This era has got fine food, good manners..."

They walked through a door at the end of the corridor and were immediately hit with the loud sounds of a bustling canteen.

"Out of the way!" one man shouted as he barged past.

"Fine cuisine?" Hazel repeated, wrinkling her nose at something called a kronkburger.

"My watch must be fine," the Hunter frowned, checking it. "No, its fine. It's weird."

"That's what comes of showing off," Hazel teased. "Your history's not as good as you thought it was."

"My history's perfect," the Hunter retorted.

Hazel shrugged, gesturing to the scene that lay before them. "Well, obviously not."

"They're all human," Adam realised. "What about the millions of planets, the millions of species? Where are they?"

"Good question," the Hunter muttered absently, before blinking. "Actually, that is a good question. Adam, my good lad, you must be starving."

"No, I'm just a bit time sick," Adam tried, but the Hunter was having none of it.

"No, you just need a bit of food." She called over to one of the food trucks. "Oi, mate! How much is a kronkburger?"

"Two credits twenty, sweetheart," the chef yelled back. "Now join the queue."

"Money," the Hunter mused. "We need money. Let's use a cashpoint." She went over to the nearest one and buzzed it with her sonic screwdriver, producing a plastic card, which she then handed to Adam. "There you go. Pocket money. Don't spend it all on sweets."

"How does it work?" Adam asked.

The Hunter shrugged. "I don't know. Go and find out. Stop nagging me. The thing is, Adam, time travel's like visiting Paris. You can't just read the guide book, you've got to throw yourself in. Eat the food, use the wrong verbs, get charged double, and end up kissing complete strangers." She frowned. "Or is that just me? Stop asking questions, just go and do it." Adam started off, and she smirked at Hazel. "Off you go, then. Your very first date," she teased.

"You're going to get a smack, you are," Hazel promised, grinning cheekily, before skipping off after Adam.

Smirking, the Hunter approached a pair of smartly dressed young women, before putting on a slightly embarrassed but polite smile. "Excuse me?" The women turned to her. "Er, this is going to sound daft, but can you tell me where I am?"

The darker-haired woman raised an eyebrow scathingly. "Floor One Three Nine. Could they write it any bigger?"

The Hunter glanced up at where it was written on the wall and bit her lip. "Yeah, but Floor One Three Nine of what?"

"Must have been a hell of a party," the brunette remarked.

"You're on Satellite Five," the blonde said in a much kinder tone.

"What's Satellite Five?" the Hunter asked, clueless.

The brunette scoffed. "Come on, how could you get on board without knowing where you are?"

The Hunter shrugged, making a face. "Look at me, I'm stupid."

"Hold on, wait a minute." The blonde narrowed her eyes. "Are you a test? Some sort of management test kind of thing?"

The ginger woman grinned, spreading her arms. "You've got me. Well done. You're too clever for me." She held up her psychic paper, which seemed to convince the two women, who both stiffened slightly.

"We were warned about this in basic training," the blonde stated warily. "All workers have to be versed in company promotion."

"Right, fire away, ask your questions," the brunette nodded, waving her hands. "If it gets me to Floor Five Hundred I'll do anything."

The Hunter raised an eyebrow. "Why, what happens on Floor Five Hundred?"

"The walls are made of gold," the brunette replied. "And you should know, Miss Management. So, this is what we do." She lead them over to a monitor mounted on the wall among dozens. "Latest news, sandstorms on the new Venus archipelago. Two hundred dead. Glasgow water riots into their third day. Space lane seventy seven closed by sunspot activity. And over on the Bad Wolf channel, the Face of Boe has just announced he's pregnant."

After a brief moment of surprise that the Face of Boe was around this early, the Hunter nodded, shrugging. "I get it. You broadcast the news."

"We are the news," the brunette countered. "We're the journalists. We write it, package it and sell it. Six hundred channels all coming out of Satellite Five, broadcasting everywhere."

***

"All staff are reminded that the canteen area now operates a self-cleaning table system. Thank you."

Hazel joined Adam at a table, holding a cold drink she'd bought from the nearby serving station. "Try this," she suggested. "It's called Zaphic. It's nice, it's like a, er, a Slush Puppy."

"What flavour?" Adam inquired, raising an eyebrow.

She took a sip through the straw and giggled. "It's sort of... beef?"

Adam groaned. "Oh my God. It's like everything's gone - home, family, everything."

Hazel pulled out her phone. "This helps. The Hunter gave it a bit of a top-up. Who's back home, your mum and dad?"

"Yeah."

"Phone them up," she suggested, offering him her phone.

He frowned. "But that's one hundred and ninety eight thousand years ago."

"Honestly, try it," Hazel encouraged.

He went to dial, but hesitated. "Is there a code for planet Earth?"

She rolled her eyes. "Just dial!"

Adam nodded, and got on with it. After a moment, he began. "It's er... Hi. It's me. I've sort of gone travelling. I met these people and we've gone travelling together. But, er, I'm fine, and I'll call you later. Love you. Bye." He turned back to a grinning Hazel with wide eyes. "That is so -"

He was cut off by a loud alarm, causing everyone else in the area to pack up and leave.

"Oi!" a familiar voice called, and they looked around to see the Hunter beckoning. "Over here!"

Hazel ran over, grinning, and Adam shrugged and put her phone in his pocket before following.

***

The two women led the Hunter, Hazel, and Adam into a broadcast room, where seven people were seated at an octagonal desk around a central chair. The three time travellers stood to one side behind some railings to observe.

"Now, everybody behave," the brunette instructed. "We have a management inspection." She glanced over. "How do you want it, by the book?"

"Right from scratch, thanks," the Hunter requested, flashing a polite smile.

The brunette nodded. "Okay. So, ladies, gentlemen, multi-sex, undecided or robot - my name is Cathica Santini Khadeni." She turned back to the Hunter. "That's Cathica with a C, in case you want to write to Floor Five Hundred praising me, and please do." Hazel shared a look with her friend. "Now, please fell free to ask any questions. The process of news gathering must be open, hones, and beyond bias. That's company policy."

"Actually, it's the law," the blonde woman pointed out.

Cathica bristled. "Yes, thank you, Suki. Okay, keep it calm. Don't show off for the guests. Here we go." She settled herself into the central chair. "And engage safety." The seven around the desk held their hands over the palm prints in the table in front of them. Lights started to come on around the room, and Cathica clicked her fingers, opening a portal in her forehead. "And three, two, and spike." A beam of light from the machinery above her shone down into her portal.

The Hunter moved closer, Hazel following. "Compressed information, streaming into her. Reports from every city, every country, every planet, and they all get packaged inside her head. She becomes part of the software. Her brain is the computer."

"If it all goes through her, she must be a genius," Hazel frowned. Cathica hadn't had the same kind of 'intelligent and knows it' aura the Hunter had.

"Nah, she wouldn't remember any of it," the Hunter shook her head. "There's too much. Her head'd blow up. The brain's the processor. As soon as it closes, she forgets."

Hazel nodded in understanding, turning around. "So what about all these people round the edge?"

"They've all got tiny little chips in their head connecting them to her, and they transmit six hundred channels," the Hunter explained. "Every single fact in the Empire beams out of this place. Now that's what I call power."

"You all right?" Hazel asked. The Hunter glanced at her to see her talking to Adam, who was looking a bit green. She rolled her eyes.

"I can see her brain," Adam muttered, looking repulsed.

"Do you want to get out?" Hazel offered.

"No," he said hastily, then thought about it. "No, this technology, it's amazing."

The Hunter scoffed. "This technology's wrong."

"Trouble?" Hazel asked, grinning.

The ginger woman turned her head to look at her friend, flashing a brilliant smile, eyes only for Hazel. "Oh, yeah."

Suddenly, Suki pulled her hands away the desk as if she'd had an electric shock. The other six lifted their hands and the info-beam shut down. Cathica's portal closed, and she sat up, looking annoyed. "Come off it, Suki. I wasn't even halfway. What was that for?"

"Sorry," Suki mumbled. "It must've been a glitch."

"Oh." Cathica didn't sound convinced.

"Promotion," a tannoy stated. A wall lit up with the word, making everyone turn to it.

"Come on," Cathica begged, bouncing on the balls of her feet. "This is it. Come on. Oh, God, make it me! Come on, say my name, say my name, say my name!"

"Promotion for Suki Macrae Cantrell. Please proceed to Floor Five Hundred."

"I don't believe it," Suki gasped, standing up. "Floor Five Hundred."

"How the hell did you manage that?" Cathica demanded. "I'm above you."

"I don't know," Suki shrugged, starting to smile. "I just applied on the off chance, and they've said yes!"

"That's so not fair," Cathica scowled. "I've been applying to Floor Five Hundred for three years."

"What's Floor Five Hundred?" Hazel wondered, looking confused.

The Hunter shrugged, her hands plunged deep into her trenchcoat pockets. "The walls are made of gold."

***

A few minutes, they'd followed Cathica and Suki out to the lift where the latter was saying her goodbyes. "Cathica, I'm goping to miss you." She turned to the Hunter. "Floor Five Hundred, thank you."

The Hunter smiled, shaking her head in confusion. "I didn't do anything."

"Well, you're my lucky charm," Suki shrugged.

"All right," the Hunter grinned, accepting the woman's hug. "I'll hug anyone."

"Come on," Hazel rolled her eyes a little ways away. "It's not that bad."

"What, with the head thing?" Adam raised his eyebrows, incredulous.

"Yeah, well, she's closed it now," Hazel pointed out.

"Yeah, but..." Adam sighed. "It's everything. It freaks me out. And I just need to... If I could just cool down. Sort of acclimatise."

"How do you mean?" Hazel frowned.

"Maybe i could just go and sit on the observation deck," he suggested. "Would that be all right? Soak it in, you know. Pretend I'm a citizen of the year two hundred thousand."

"Do you want me to come with you?" she offered.

"No, no, you stick with the Hunter," Adam told her. "You'd rather be with her. It's going to take a better man than me to get between you two. Anyway I'll be on the deck."

She bit her lip, making a decision and taking the chain from around her neck. "Here you go. Take the TARDIS key. You know, just in case it gets a bit much."

He snorted. "Yeah, like it's not weird in there."

"All staff are reminded that the sixteen forty break session has been shortened by ten minutes. Thank you."

Adam left, and Hazel skipped over to the Hunter and Cathica as Suki went into the lift.

"Oh my God, I've got to go," Suki exclaimed, grinning. "I can't keep them waiting. I'm sorry. Say goodbye to Steve for me. Bye!"

The lift door closed, and Cathica snorted. "Good riddance."

The Hunter narrowed her eyes. "You're talking like you'll never see her again. She's only going upstairs."

"We won't," Cathica deadpanned. "Once you go to Floor Five Hundred you never come back."

They started walking back through the cafeteria, which was now empty. "Have you ever been up there?" Hazel asked curiously.

"I can't," Cathica told her. "You need a key for the lift, and you only get a key with promotion. No one gets to Five Hundred except for the chosen few."

***

Later, she'd let them back into the broadcast room. "Look, they only give us twenty minutes maintenance. Can't you give it a rest?"

"But you've never been to another floor?" the Hunter frowned, sitting in the central chair. "Not even one floor down?"

"I went to floor sixteen when I first arrived," Cathica admitted. "That's medical. That's when I got my head done, and then I came straight here. Satellite Five, you work, eat, and sleep on the same floor. That's it, that's all." She paused. "You're not management, are you."

"At last," Hazel grinned.

"She's clever," the Hunter laughed, sharing her friend's smile.

Cathica scowled. "Yeah, well, whatever it is, don't involve me. I don't know anything."

"Don't you even ask?" the Hunter shook her head, looking up at her.

"Well, why would I?" Cathica countered.

Hazel narrowed her eyes. "You're a journalist. Why's all the crew human?"

Cathica blinked. "What's that got to do with anything?"

"There's no aliens on board," the Hunter stated, fixing her with a strong gaze. "Why?"

"I don't know," Cathica shrugged. "No real reason. They're not banned or anything."

"Then where are they?" Hazel questioned, leaning her arms on the back of the chair.

"I suppose immigration's tightened up," Cathica tried. "It's had to, what with all the threats."

The Hunter's eyes narrowed. "What threats?"

"I don't know, all of them," Cathica shrugged. "Usual stuff. And the price of space warp doubled so that kept the visitors away. Oh, and the government on Chavic Five's collapsed, so that lot stopped coming, you see. Just lots of little reasons, that's all."

"All adding up to this one great big fact, and you didn't even notice," the Hunter pointed out astutely.

Cathica sighed, rolling her eyes. "Hunter, I think if there was any kind of conspiracy, Satellite Five would have seen it. We see everything."

"I can see better," the Hunter countered. "This society's the wrong shape, even the technology."

"It's cutting edge!" Cathica protested.

"It's backwards," the Hunter deadpanned. "There's a great big door in your head. You should've chucked this out years ago."

Hazel glanced down at her. "So what do you think's going on?"

"It's not just this space station, it's the whole attitude," the Hunter told her. "It's the way people think. The great and bountiful Human Empire's stunted. Something's holding it back."

"And how would you know?" Cathica raised her eyebrows.

The Hunter rolled her eyes. "Trust me, humanity's been set back about ninety years. When did Satellite Five start broadcasting?"

"Ninety one years ago," Cathica replied, biting her lip.

Hazel laughed as the Hunter spread her arms smugly.

***

Later, they were watching as the Hunter broke into a computer cupboard.

"We are so going to get in trouble," Cathica worried. "You're not allowed to touch the mainframe. You're going to get told off."

"Haze?" the Hunter asked.

"Shut up," Hazel advised, much politer than she could have been under the circumstances.

"You can't just vandalise the place," Cathica complained. "Someone's going to notice!" She shook her head as the Hunter made something spark in the cupboard. "This is nothing to do with me. I'm going back to work."

"Go on, then," the Hunter waved, then went back to the wiring. "See you!"

Cathica made to leave, but sighed. "I can't just leave you, can I!"

"If you want to be useful, get them to turn the heating down," Hazel suggested, fanning herself. "It's boiling. What's wrong with place? Can't they do something about it?"

"I don't know," Cathica shrugged. "We keep asking. Something to do with the turbine."

"Something to do with the turbine," the Hunter scoffed.

"Well, I don't know!"

"Exactly. I give up on you, Cathica," the Hunter shook her head, then pointed at Hazel. "Now, Hazel. Look at Hazel. Hazel is asking the right kind of question."

"Oh, thank you," Hazel grinned.

"Why is it so hot?" the Hunter added.

Cathica stared at them for a moment. "One minute you're worried about the Empire and the next it's the central heating!"

The Hunter shrugged, flashing a grin. "Well, never underestimate plumbing. Plumbing's very important." She managed to produce a monitor with the schematics of the station on it. "Here we go. Satellite Five, pipes and plumbing. Look at the layout."

"This is ridiculous," Cathica scoffed. "You've got access to the computer's core. You can look at the archive, the news, the stock exchange and you're looking at pipes?"

"But there's something wrong," the Hunter pointed out.

"I suppose," Cathica sighed.

"Why, what is it?" Hazel inquired, glancing between them and the screen.

"The ventilation system," Cathica replied. "Cooling ducts, ice filters, all working flat out channelling massive heat down."

"All the way from the top," the Hunter agreed.

"Floor Five Hundred," Hazel realised.

"Something up there is generating tons and tons of heat," the Hunter nodded.

"Well, I don't know about you, but I feel like I'm missing out on a party," Hazel decided. "It's all going on upstairs. Want a trip?"

"You can't. You need a key," Cathica pointed out.

The Hunter shook her head. "Keys are just codes, and I've got the codes right here. Here we go. Override two one five point nine."

Cathica blinked as the monitor showed the code. "How come it's given you the code?"

"Someone up there likes me," the Hunter pointed upwards, shrugging.

***

"Come on," Hazel tried to persuade Cathica. "Come with us."

"No way," Cathica shook her head.

"Bye!" The Hunter waved, stepping into the lift with Hazel at her heels.

Cathica blinked. "Well, don't mention my name. When you get in trouble, just don't involve me." She walked off, and the lift doors closed.

The Hunter sighed. "That's her gone. Adam's given up. Looks like it's just you and me."

"Yeah," Hazel nodded, smiling.

"Good," the Hunter grinned, nudging her.

"Yep," she agreed, laughing.

***

The Hunter narrowed her eyes as they walked out onto Floor Five Hundred, seeing the place full of icicles. Hazel put her jacket back on, shivering. "The walls are not made of gold," the Time Lady noted, biting her lip and glancing back at Hazel. "You should go back downstairs."

Hazel raised her eyebrows at her. "Tough."

She smiled, shaking her head, and they started to walk through the ice and cobwebs. Suddenly, they came across a white-haired man and several corpses sitting at what looked very similar to the broadcast room down on One Thirty Nine.

The man clapped when he saw them. "I started without you. This is fascinating. Satellite Five contains every piece of information within the Fourth Great and Bountiful Human Empire. Birth certificates, shopping habits, bank statements, but you two, you don't exist. Not a trace. No birth, no job, not the slightest kiss. How can you walk through the world and not leave a single footprint?"

"Suki," Hazel gasped, seeing the woman working at one of the consoles and running over to her. "Suki! Hello? Can you hear me? Suki?" She glared at the man. "What have you done to her?"

"I think she's dead," the Hunter told her.

Hazel gestured to the console. "She's working."

The Hunter bit her lip. "They've all got chips in their head, and the chips keep going, like puppets."

"Oh! You're full of information!" the man exclaimed. "But it's only fair we get some information back, because apparently, you're no one. It's so rare not to know something. Who are you?"

"It doesn't matter," the Hunter told him, "because we're off. Nice to meet you. Come on." Before they could move, Suki had grabbed Hazel's arm, and two other corpses had taken hold of the Hunter.

"Tell me who you are," the man ordered.

The Hunter rolled her eyes at him. "Since that information's keeping us alive, I'm hardly going to say, am I."

The man shrugged. "Well, perhaps my Editor in Chief can convince you otherwise."

"And who's that?" she sighed.

"It may interest you to know that this is not the Fourth Great and Bountiful Human Empire," the man told them. "In fact, it's not actually human at all. It's merely a place where humans happen to live." There was an angry growling and snarling from the ceiling, and the man blanched. "Yeah. Yeah, sorry. It's a place where humans are allowed to live by kind permission of my client."

Hazel's eyes widened as she saw a giant lump hanging from the ceiling with a large, nasty-looking set of teeth. "What is that?"

The Hunter looked at the man incredulously. "You mean that thing's in charge of Satellite Five?"

"That thing, as you put it, is in charge of the human race. For almost a hundred years, mankind has been shaped and guided, his knowledge and ambition strictly controlled by its broadcast news, edited by my superior, your master, and humanity's guiding light, the mighty Jagrafess of the Holy Hadrojassic Maxarodenfoe." The man shrugged a little at the girls as they stared. "I call him Max."

***

Later, the Hunter and Hazel had been locked into hefty sets of manacles, still having to listen to the Editor as he continued on. "Create a climate of fear and it's easy to keep the borders closed. It's just a matter of emphasis. The right word in the right broadcast repeated often enough can destabilise an economy, invent an enemy, change a vote."

"So all the people on Earth are like slaves?" Hazel asked.

The Editor blinked. "Well, now, there's an interesting point. Is a slave a slave if he doesn't know he's enslaved?"

"Yes," the Hunter stated bluntly.

"Oh. I was hoping for a philosophical debate," the Editor frowned. "Is that all I'm going to get? Yes?"

"Yes," she deadpanned.

He pouted. "You're no fun."

She narrowed her eyes slightly. "Let me out of these manacles, you'll find out how much fun i am."

"Oh, she's tough, isn't she?" the Editor grinned. "But, come on. Isn't it a great system? You've got to admire it, just a little bit."

"You can't hide something on this scale," Hazel pointed out. "Somebody must have noticed."

"From time to time, someone, yes," the Editor admitted, "but the computer chip system allows me to see inside their brains. I can see the smallest doubt and crush it. Then they just carry on, living the life, strutting about downstairs and all over the surface of the Earth like they're so individual, when of course, they're not. They're just cattle." He smirked. "In that respect, the Jagrafess hasn't changed a thing."

Hazel bit her lip, seeing Cathica behind his back. "What about you? You're not a Jagrafess. You're human."

He shrugged. "Yeah, well, simply being human doesn't pay very well."

"But you couldn't have done this all on your own," Hazel pointed.

"No," the Editor admitted. "I represent a consortium of banks. Money prefers a long-term investment. Also, the Jagrafess needed a little hand to install himself."

"No wonder, a creature that size," the Hunter raised her eyebrows. "What's his life span?"

"Three thousand years," the Editor was happy to answer.

"That's one hell of a metabolism generating all that heat," the Hunter blew out a breath. "That's why Satellite Five's so hot. You pump it out of the creature, channel it downstairs. Jagrafess stays cool, it stays alive. Satellite Five is one great big life support system."

"But that's why you're so dangerous," the Editor shook his head. "Knowledge is power, but you remain unknown. Who are you?" He snapped his fingers, and energy surged through the manacles, making Hazel gasp in pain.

"Leave her alone!" the Hunter growled. "I'm the Hunter, she's Hazel Norton. We're nothing, we're just wandering."

"Tell me who you are!" the Editor ordered.

"I just said!" the Time Lady protested.

"Yes, but who do you work for? Who sent you? Who knows about us? Who exactly -?" He stopped. The Jagrafess growled. "Time Lord."

"What?" the Hunter blanched, her eyes flickering up to the Jagrafess.

"Oh, yes!" the Editor cheered. "The last of the Time Lords in her travelling machine. Oh, with her little human girl from long ago."

"You don't know what you're talking about," the Hunter stated uneasily.

"Time travel," the Editor teased.

"Someone's been telling you lies," she tried.

"Young master Adam Mitchell?" the Editor asked, calling up a hologram screen showing Adam in the broadcast chair with information streaming out of his head.

"Oh my God!" Hazel exclaimed. "His head!"

"What the hell's he done?" the Hunter demanded, her eyes wide and angry. "What the hell's he gone and done? They're reading his mind. He's telling them everything."

"And through him, I know everything about you," the Editor smirked. "Every piece of information in his head is now mine. And you have infinite knowledge, Hunter. The Human Empire is tiny compared to what you've seen in your T A R D I S," he spelled it out. "TARDIS."

"Well, you'll never get your hands on it," the Hunter told him defiantly. "I'll die first."

"Die all you like," the Editor shrugged. "I don't need you. I've got the key." Onscreen, the TARDIS key rose from Adam's pocket.

"You and your bloody boyfriends," the Hunter cursed.

"I'm gay; he's not my boyfriend!" Hazel shot back.

"Today, we are the headlines," the Editor decided. "We can rewrite history. We could prevent mankind from ever developing."

"And no one's going to stop you because you've bred a human race that doesn't bother to ask questions," the Hunter spat. "Stupid little slaves, believing every lie. They'll just trot right into the slaughter house if they're told it's made of gold."

The Editor looked around as the computer shut down, the TARDIS key dropping to the floor onscreen. "What's happening?" The Jagrafess growled threateningly. "Someone's disengaged the safety. Who's that?" He called the image up on the hologram.

"It's Cathica!" Hazel cheered.

"And she's thinking," the Hunter grinned. "She's using what she knows."

"Terminate her access," the Editor ordered.

"Everything I told her about Satellite Five. The pipes, the filters, she's reversing it. Look at that!" The Hunter looked over at where the icicles were starting to melt, smiling. "It's getting hot."

"I said, terminate. Burn out her mind," the Editor ordered. Suddenly, the consoles exploded, and the dead operators collapsed.

"She's venting the heat up here," the Hunter continued, telekinetically getting her sonic screwdriver out of her pocket and using it to free Hazel from her manacles. "The Jagrafess needs to stay cool and now it's sitting on top of a volcano."

"Yes, I'm trying, sir, but I don't know how she did it," the Editor protested, looking upwards. "It's impossible. A member of staff with an idea." He took Suki's seat, shoving her corpse out of the way, while Hazel grabbed the sonic screwdriver out of the air.

"What do I do?" she asked.

"Flick the switch," the Hunter told her, before yelling up at the Jagrafess as she was released. "Oi, mate, want to bank on a certainty? Massive heat in a massive body, massive bang. See you in the headlines!"

"Actually, sir, if it's all the same to you, I think I'll resign," the Editor decided. "Bye, then!" Sui grabbed his ankle and he fell. "Let go of me!"

The Hunter and Hazel ran for the broadcast as chunks of ice fell from the ceiling. They closed Cathica's portal and helped her into the lifts, just in time to avoid being splattered with exploded Jagrafess.

***

"We're just going to go," the Hunter told Cathica amongst people bustling around on Floor One Thirty Nine. "I hate tidying up. Too many questions. You'll manage."

"You'll have to stay and explain it," Cathica pleaded. "No one's going to believe me."

"Oh, they might start believing a lot of things now," the Hunter assured her. "The human race should accelerate. All back to normal."

"What about your friend?" Cathica asked, sensing she wasn't going to win that one.

"He's not my friend," the Hunter said simply, glaring at him, before walking over to him.

"I'm all right now," he told her. "Much better. And I've got the key. Look, it's - It all worked out for the best, didn't it? You know, it's not actually my fault, because you were in charge."

Still with Cathica, Hazel bit her lip as the Hunter shoved Adam into the TARDIS, ignoring his arguments. "Welp. I'd better go," she excused. "I've got to see this!" The TARDIS dematerialised as soon as she was inside, and rematerialised in Adam's living room.

"It's my house," Adam gasped as he was shoved out. "I'm home! Oh my God, I'm home! Blimey." He turned around to see the Hunter and Hazel, neither looking very impressed by him. "I thought you were going to chuck me out of an airlock."

"Oh, it's still early," the Hunter chuckled humourlessly. "Is there anything else you want to tell us?"

"No," Adam said quickly. "What do you mean?"

The Hunter rolled her eyes. "The archive of Satellite Five. One second of that message could've changed the world." She used her metal hand to crush the answering machine, making Adam swallow hard. "Oh, and whilst we're on the topic of phones, why don't you give Hazel hers back?"

"Wait, what?" Hazel checked her back pocket, then glared at Adam, holding out her hand expectantly. Sullenly, he handed the device over.

"That's it then," the Hunter nodded, satisfied. "See you."

Adam blinked. "How do you mean, see you?"

The Hunter looked at him like he was an idiot - which, to be fair, was her current opinion of him. "As in goodbye."

"But what about me?" he protested. "You can't just go. I've got my head. I've got a chip type two. My head opens."

"What, like this?" She snapped her fingers, and his portal opened.

"Don't." He closed it.

The Hunter's lips twitched. "Don't do what?" She snapped her fingers again.

"Stop it!" He closed it again.

Hazel sighed. "All right now, Art, that's enough. Stop it." The Hunter held up her hands, smirking.

"Thank you," Adam sighed in relief. Hazel snapped her fingers. "Oi!"

She shrugged, grinning unashamedly. "Sorry. Couldn't resist."

Adam glared, closing his head again.

"The whole of history could have changed because of you," the Hunter stated heavily.

"I just wanted to help," Adam said, his voice small.

"You were helping yourself," she told him.

"And I'm sorry," Adam told her. "I've said I'm sorry, and I am, I really am, but you can't just leave me like this."

"Yes I can," the Hunter told him, not even raising her voice. "'Cause if you show that head to anyone, they'll dissect you in seconds. You'll have to live a very quiet life. Keep out of trouble. Be average, unseen. Good luck."

"But I want to come with you," Adam pleaded.

"I only take the best. I've got Hazel," the Hunter shrugged.

"Oh yeah, daddy issues supreme, yeah, she's the best," Adam muttered under his breath.

The Hunter narrowed her eyes, but it was Hazel who spoke. "What did you just say to me?!" she demanded sharply, stepping forwards. When Adam didn't reply, his eyes wide in shock and fear, she backed down. "Yeah, that's what I thought. You're just a sad, scared, little boy who's too weak to stand up for anything. I pity you. Let's go, Art." The pair of them stepped into the TARDIS and flew away just as Adam's mother got home.

~~~

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[mst3kproject]

The Manster

Who has two thumbs and is back on terra firma with working wifi?  This MSTie!

As for my chosen subject this week… I don’t think I have to justify this one.  It’s called The Manster, as in a portmanteau of man and monster.  It was directed by a guy who mostly made cheap-ass jungle movies, and stars a bunch of embarrassed actors who don’t know how they ended up here.  It’s old and it’s dumb and it’s often pretty funny though never on purpose, and the perfect stinger moment comes very early in the film… you’ll know it when you see it.

So we have Dr. Robert Suzuki, who lives on top of a volcano.  When people have ‘Dr’ in front of their names and live in isolation with a bunch of blinky light machines, that’s usually a pretty good clue that they’re mad scientists. Tragically our hero, Larry Stanford, is not that observant (Larry’s obliviousness would have been a constant target for Mike and the bots and he would have deserved all of it).  He’s a reporter who wants an interview about Suzuki’s theories on the causes of mutations, but too bad for him, he arrives just as the mad doctor has run out of family members to experiment on.  Under the influence of Suzuki’s injections he’s soon devolving into an animalistic frat-boy, drinking, carousing, and murdering… oh, and he’s growing a second head. Will that be a problem?

So basically this is a werewolf movie with a fake mustache on… or perhaps a Jekyll and Hyde movie of sorts, as discussed in the denouement.  It wants to explore the dichotomy of good and evil in every one of us, using the very silly device of a two-headed man.  I have to say, I understand the metaphor, but it wasn’t put to nearly good enough use.  The movie would have been ten times more fun if we’d gotten to see Larry and his second head arguing over whether or not they’re going to kill somebody.  Not better, mind you, just more fun.

As far as just being a movie goes, The Manster is better than a lot of things I’ve watched for this blog.  The characters have names and look different enough that you can tell them apart, the story makes sense on its own terms and everything that happens is relevant to the plot.  Photography is honestly pretty good and the actors are competent.  All this happens to be in the service of a really silly story with awful special effects (I love Larry’s rubbery second head bouncing as he runs) but it’s engaging enough that you want to keep watching.

What I really like about The Manster, however, is that it offers a lot to analyze.  I’m not sure much of it is intentional.  The Jekyll and Hyde side of the story is elucidated in an ending speech, as Larry’s friend Ian tries to reassure Mrs. Stanford.  He says there was good and evil in Larry, and they’ll just have to wait and see which side wins.  This is not a very satisfying ending, really.  We’ve just seen Larry’s evil side plummet to its death into a volcanic crater… and the surviving good side is under arrest as a serial killer.  Dr. Suzuki and his assistant, the only people who could testify that Larry was not responsible for his actions, are both dead.  This guy’s going to jail.

The really interesting thing in the movie, though, is one that comes up by accident.  Dr. Suzuki’s work is on evolution – his theory is that cosmic rays can induce mutations, producing new species more or less overnight (this is called ‘macromutation’ or ‘the hopeful monster theory’, and lurked on the edges of the mainstream in the 40’s and 50’s) and he hopes to induce the same effect chemically.  When he tries, however, his efforts invariably produce monsters.  Emiko, his wife and former research partner, turns into something resembling the closet monster from The Brain that Wouldn’t Die.  Kenji, his brother, turns into a yeti, and a similar fate awaits Larry.  These mutants cannot understand human speech, and their behaviour is irrational and violent.

This implies a couple of things.  We hear vague mentions of Dr. Suzuki experimenting on fungi, but his heart is mostly in his human experiments.  That tells us that his goal is to speed up the evolution of humanity, and one presumes that this is intended to improve us somehow. Of course, this is not how evolution works.  Evolution does not make things better – this is why biologists have mostly dropped the descriptions primitive and advanced in favour of the more neutral basal and derived.  Dr. Suzuki’s quest is therefore quite misguided, as illustrated by his monsters. In no way could they be considered ‘better’ than humans – in fact, they’re significantly worse at surviving and reproducing (the thing natural selection selects for) than ordinary people are.

There’s another layer here, though.  ‘Evolution makes things better’ is a misconception that’s been around since Darwin, and dates back to even earlier ways of organizing the natural world.  When Linnaeus created the classification system for living things that we’re still saddled with today, he did it under the believe in the Great Chain of Being – the idea that you can order everything that exists into a hierarchy with mold at the bottom and god at the top, and that after god and the angels humans are the best thing that exists (as proved by our being the only creatures able to create classification systems).  It’s an idea that appeals to human vanity and to our need to impose order on the natural world, and it isn’t likely to go away anytime soon.

With that in mind, perhaps there’s another reason Suzuki’s experiments fail.  If you believe that humans are the best living thing around, particularly if you believe we are the image of god on earth, then maybe it’s not possible to improve on us.  Any change you make to people that takes them away from humanity will automatically make them worse.  This idea does appear to be manifest in the fates of Emiko, Kenji, and Larry, all of whom become more apelike, less ‘advanced’, as they change.

In that case, what does The Manster think makes for a good human?  We see a little of Larry before he starts to mutate, so we can compare that with what he becomes.  Rather surprisingly for a movie of this vintage, the fact that Larry is white seems to be pretty incidental.  He is a foreigner in a faraway place, but this serves mostly to drive a wedge between him and his wife Linda.  Except for a couple of rather troubling moments, the film does not present Japan in an exotifying light.  We do see things like a bathhouse and a geisha bar, but these represent Larry’s personal slide into debauchery, rather than the country as a whole.  We also meet normal working people among both the Japanese and the American expat community – reporters, police officers, and even priests.

There’s a very nice bit, actually, where Larry comes upon a Buddhist priest praying, and when he realizes this man doesn’t speak English, Larry takes the opportunity to unburden himself.  It makes him feel better to talk about his moral quandaries aloud, and the fact that the priest doesn’t understand him means he cannot judge him.  This is a very relatable and human moment, one of the best in the movie.

Unfortunately, it also segues into a couple of the most distasteful things in the film.  As I’m sure you’ve guessed, Larry does murder the priest, but before he does, he stares at a particular statue in the shrine – a representation of a three-eyed, fanged being that I am in no position to identify, although it looks a bit like Vajrapani.  Before Larry grows a full second head he sprouts an extra eye in his shoulder, and the implication is that the three-eyed statue draws his attention to the monster within himself. I don’t know much about Buddhism but I do not like the idea of casting another culture’s religious figures as symbols of monstrosity.  The west has done plenty enough of that.

But back to the question of acceptable humanity. We watch Larry get drunk, violent, antisocial, lazy, and promiscuous, which tells us that the ‘good’ man is the opposite of these things: sober, peaceful, friendly, hardworking, and chaste. The film pays particular attention to how Larry relates to women.  The fact that he’s been faithful to his distant wife is established early on, and one of the first symptoms of his devolution is his willingness to discard her.  First he makes out with a couple of girls at the geisha bar, and later he takes Dr. Suzuki’s assistant Terra (who has a tragic backstory but we frustratingly never find out what it entails) as his mistress. On the phone with his wife Linda at the beginning of the film, Larry tells her he loves her and promises to be home soon.  Later, when she comes to Japan searching for him, he shouts at her and makes a show of preferring Terra.

One conversation he has with Linda is particularly revealing.  He tells her he has no desire to settle down in one place and wile away his time drinking coffee and playing bridge when there’s a big wide world out there.  She asks him what about her plans, and he declares he will ‘put her in her place’ and ‘slap her down’.  Since this is when Larry is the opposite of what a good man should be, we can take from it that a good man respects his wife and takes her opinions and needs into account.  For the late fifties, this is actually kind of surprising – I’ve seen films from a decade or two later that were far more backward about this.  So hey, points for that.

All things considered, The Manster is a pretty well-made movie.  It’s dumb and full of clichés, such as the man scientist destroyed by his own creation, the femme fatale who sacrifices herself for the hero because she’s fallen in love with him, theremin music to represent the monster’s appearance, etc etc etc… but it’s competently put together and whether intentionally or no, contains a lot of interesting material. It’s the sort of movie I can watch repeatedly and always find something new in.  Definitely recommended viewing for the 50’s Monster Flick fan, although with the caveat that there is a scene in which one character urges another to commit suicide.