Us Females

Posted on Sun Feb 17th, 2013 @ 1:00am by Morgo Le'Shaad & Berry

2,538 words; about a 13 minute read

Chapter: Chapter III: Relics
Location: Somewhere in the Ancient Temple, Tython
Timeline: Day Eleven

Berry's sandalled feet pushed and pushed off the gross temple floor as she dragged Shady Lady away. She paused to wipe some trickles of sweat/steam from her forehead, and she looked behind her with worried eyes. She wanted to know Bomoor and Thane were okay, but she couldn't risk Morgo here. So she shook her black bangs out of her yellow-green face and continued pulling.

Morgo stirred as she was dragged, her head pounding as the world around her came slowly into focus. Realizing she was being dragged, Morgo's eyes opened as she tentatively flexed her fingers, slightly numb on account of no blood getting past her wrist, from which she was being dragged.

"Unhand me." She ordered icily, voice deceptively calm.

Berry glanced down, her eyes widening in surprise and relief. "Hey, you're awake. Awesome!" And with that she dropped Morgo's hands and sat down. "Are you okay?? Do you feel weird?" She looked around with alert eyes. "We gotta be careful, there're some bad people around here....and Bomoor and Thane are fighting so we had to leave."

Morgo took a moment to pull her legs beneath her, straightening her back so that she knelt graceful-like, reclaiming what dignity she could from the disgrace of being dragged on the ground like a sack of heavy potatoes. Tamping down the urge to rub her freed wrist to soothe the ache there and stimulate blood flow, Morgo's eyes flicked down to meet Berry's large, dark eyes, staring up at her with such raw and sincere concern, Morgo had to stop herself from grimacing at the sight.

That couldn’t possibly be protectiveness, could it? Morgo wondered, puzzled. It was too early for Berry to be feeling that. Or was it? With a bleeding heart like that girl's, Morgo couldn't be sure.

"I'm fine." She finally answered, ignoring that annoying part of herself that insisted that it was bad manners not to reciprocate the concern, at least verbally. It seemed that as her brain started to come back online, the higher functions that demanded politeness were also coming back in full force, damn it all.

Morgo sighed irritably, closing her eyes, "How... are you?" she tacked on, belatedly.

Berry grinned at the sign of Morgogo regaining some brain functioning. "Not as bad as you!" Her brows knit. "Can you walk? I can carry you if you want. We need to get outta here, things aren't right here..." She gulped and looked around again, more alert than usual. Actually, more than any other time anyone on this planet had seen. There was a quickness in her eye-darting, and her muscles shook slightly as if ready to leap.

As soon as Morgo had closed her eyes, however, his face came back, the image of cold blue eyes, a smirk and a head of rich dark hair flashed behind her eyes. Morgo gasped aloud, jerking back automatically as her eyes flew open, stormy blue eyes melting back into darkness. Morgo bowed her head, displaced strands of her dark blonde hair drifting as she fought to get her breathing under control again, hating her own, weak reaction.

Berry quickly looked around in surprise as she bolted to her feet. "Is there someone there??" She widened her feet and raised her fists, peering down the hall they were in. "I...I don't feel anyone there." Then she glanced back at Morgo and frowned. "Hey, are you okay?"

Morgo grit her teeth silently, "Cornflower blue eyes, dark brown hair, pale skin, and a shit-eating grin." Morgo ground out, looking at Berry, "Have you seen him?"

Berry paused. "Umm....well..." Her brows knit, and her lips frowned as she thought and thought. "Uh...." Then her eyes brightened. "Sounds kinda like Pale Guy since he's pale and has water eyes!" But her smile faltered. "But...he doesn't smile."

As if on cue, maybe because of even thinking of the Human triggered the connection or it was just coincidence, Berry suddenly couldn't see. Well, she did, but she knew it wasn't her eyes. Her eyes felt like they were melting, so much chaos and energy pentup that it felt like it would burst out of her. She wasn't herself, and she briefly staggered, face confused. "He's...he's not smiling," she whimpered, yellow-green paling as her skin started to glimmer silver.

Morgo blinked. Berry was at least part Firrerreon, and that race was known to turn their skin silver when under emotional duress. Berry must've been feeling strong feelings indeed from the Force Bond if it was enough to stimulate such a reaction from the girl. With this new development, Morgo found it easier to focus on Berry rather than on herself. Reaching out, Morgo's hand shook lightly and she looked at it with distaste.

Look at me, I'm afraid. And at the mere idea of my mind being imprisoned.

Morgo sneered at the emotion. Pathetic really, and she was suddenly glad that Berry had turned from her and could not witness her body betraying her, trembling like a rabbit-hearted girl. Getting a grip, Morgo refocused on the girl before her, her skin steadily changing form golden-green to silver.

Resolve returning, her face was a mask of cool confidence as Morgo's hand found itself resting atop Berry's shoulder. She squeezed it lightly, simply because that was what people did when trying to be reassuring, and used her hand to turn the girl so that she was facing her.

"This has to stop." She said sternly, "This Force bond you have with Thane may one day kill you if you don't get it under control. That is, if you even want to control it." Morgo added dubiously, remembering having a conversation with Berry along the same lines before when they'd first met. Berry had been against shielding her mind for foolish reasons. But perhaps she could yet see reason.

Morgo considered the green girl, and after a moment, deftly drew a a hidden blade from her white boot. Holding it to Berry's small throat, Morgo lifted her chin slightly, eyes narrowing.

Berry's own dark eyes widened, nostrils slightly flaring as she exhaled through them like a bull in indignation at the nerve of the other woman. This highly unpleasant feeling and reaction was definitely not a natural characteristic, but it was Berry's own awareness of Morgo's lack of physical strength (and value of her words) that made her hold back. Just for a few seconds.

"See this?" Morgo said flatly, "With a flick of my wrist I could bleed you dead. And you'd let me. For just a moment you'd be distracted by feelings that have no business being in your mind—but a moment is all I'd need to kill you. All anyone would need to end you." Morgo said, eyes cold, leaning in so that their faces were only inches apart, "All because you couldn't defend your own mind when Thane has his next tantrum. It'll kill you one day, Berry. Or kill someone you care about." She added pointedly, finally drawing away, not once breaking eye contact with Berry. At length, Morgo finally drew her dagger back, once she thought Berry had enough time for the point to sink in.

"Why do you care??" Berry bit out, voice strained with emotion. The part-Firrerreon positively glared at the Human for the briefest of seconds, her skin almost all silver. The thought of losing her friends, being continuously threatened in this stupid temple and being yelled at for distractions only her grandpa and crew had the right to say--this was all seeming to get to her. But...it was those friends, those people that might need her...Berry's brows furrowed before she looked away, still frowning. "You have stupid emotions, too, or else why are you scared and annoyed at me?" She looked back at Morgo, eyes narrowing in a challenge.

Despite herself, Morgo was impressed. Sharp girl. Morgo had gotten her shaking under control, but as a warrior, Berry was sure to notice the other signs of fear in any opponent. Even from on as trained to hide emotions like Morgo.

Wordlessly, Morgo raised her hand so that it was eyelevel between the two of them. Looking closely, it still trembled ever so slightly. Silence stretched between them as Morgo studied her own slender fingers and manicured nails—the hands of one who’s never worked a day of their lives. Turning her wrist so that her hand was supine, as if she were offering something to Berry, Morgo locked eyes with the flustered girl.

“See this, Berry? My hand shakes because I am afraid. Afraid because I saw a man today that, in all logic, I should not have seen…because he’s on my home planet, in a bed, his mind dead. I’m afraid because I can no longer trust my senses, the very things I could always once rely on to give me the facts, the empirical evidence I needed to observe, control, and act. Now they betray me.” Morgo said, lowering her hand, eyes still watching Berry.

“He once tried to take everything away from me, you know, my betrothed Castinnius.He wanted to take my body, but more importantly he wanted to take my mind from me. To cage my mind.” Morgo said, tapping two fingertips to her temple, “I couldn’t let that happen. So I took his before he could take mine.”

Determination flickered across Morgo’s features, her gray eyes hardening, “You ask why I’m afraid? I am afraid because today, for the first time, the sanctity of my mind was violated and my mind was not my own. Things I only see in my dreams attacked me—memories I’ve buried so deep the fact that someone found them and used them against me, terrifies me.” Morgo admitted stonily, her hands resting on her lap, still, “And here before me is the fool of the century. A girl with the power to protect her mind from those who would harm it, but will not because she fears to cage her own precious heart.” Morgo said bitingly, disapproval heavy in her voice.

“And I care, ” Morgo hissed in a low voice, leaning closer “Because every time you whimper, whine or rage because of something Thane has done, it reminds me just how much you really don’t want to be protected—just how much you’d rather submit rather than take control. I care because I promised Sev Rezer I would do what little I could to protect you. But I ask you Berry,” Morgo said, gaze narrowing, “How can I protect someone who doesn’t even want to protect herself? I don't invest in the helpless."


Berry frowned down at the lady. "I can't protect myself because that's not my job. That's my friends' job..." Then she looked off, brows knitting at the memories. "But...they're not here now," she murmured softly, slowly. The realization of how different her situation was seemed to suddenly hit her, and Berry looked at Morgo in surprise, eyes wide. "So that means...I gotta start protecting myself? Huh."

She plopped down on the ground next to Morgo, frowning deeply as the cogs in her brain tried to turn. "I mean, the thing that sucks jellyfish stings is that I don't know anything about you guys! So...that water channel between me and Thane is the only thing that I know for sure." Then her face darkened as she looked around, her voice quieting. "I saw someone today, too, and he—no, it—is still alive. He might really be here, he might not. But that means you guys are in danger, and I can't filter any of Thane's water in case something happens..."

She then leaned toward Morgo in interest, eyebrows raising. "But you made a promise? Wow, you're really cool, Morgogo! Let's shake on it." She stuck out her hand and took Morgo's, pumping it gusto as she grinned. "You promised someone else to protect me, and I'll make sure it happens." Then she paused. "Wait...I'm supposed to make a promise with you since we're the ones shaking hands. Uh...oh, I know!" Berry beamed a smile at her. "I promise to make sure you're protected, too!" She laughed at how much amazing sense that made. "Which is why you should teach me how to shield."

Morgo extracted her hand from Berry's enthusiastic pumping with a grimace, "It requires a great deal of meditation, is all I really know, and communing with the Force itself to build your mind's defenses." Morgo looked around them, the darkness of the hall. Some part of Morgo wanted to stand and go find the others, but another part warned her that two dueling Jedi was something she probably did not want to stumble upon. Best to let them kill each other and the victor come to find Morgo and Berry. That is, after they were done crying over each other's limbless corpses. Morgo tilted her head in thought.

Then again, waiting would take too long, and letting whatever power had overthrown all their minds consolidate again wasn't in Morgo's best interest.

Looking back to Berry, Morgo blinked slowly, "Who ever survives the duel, be it Bomoor or Thane—or both, if it turns out the both of them are ineffectual against each other, which is likely—will teach you better than I ever could. But for now, perhaps we should go find them and the others, if they survived." Morgo said, dryly, standing and dusting the dust from her white jumpsuit.

Berry nodded, one of her braids coming undone. Her usual cheer, though, wasn't so loosely tied, and she grinned at Morgo with some of it. "Hopefully they didn't run into walls." Her eyes twinkled just a little before she walked off, following the trail of slightly cleaner gross temple floor that looked like a human mop had been dragged through it. Which it had.

Before Berry could waltz out of reach, however, Morgo reach out and snatched the braid that was coming undone. The hair tugged and Berry let out a surprised yelp as she turned around to investigate just what her undone braid had caught on.

Raising her eyebrow at Berry, vaguely disapproving, Morgo took the lock of hair between her fingers and expertly twined them together again into a tight braid. Using a strand of Berry's own hair, she knotted it off elegantly—more secure than even any sailor's knot or hair tie. It clashed with the messy loose style of Berry's other braid, but at least her's would not come undone so easily.

Answering Berry's questioning gaze, the corner of Morgo's mouth kicked up, "Now we can tell the others that we braided each other's hair and talked about misbehaving boys in our time away, and it wouldn't be a lie." And dropping the braid, Morgo chuckled lowly as she walked with Berry, "I'm sure they'll be properly annoyed with us females."

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