20It all started like normal…
Blaster fire raged, they're ears rang, everything was chaotic.
It was a simple mission, get in get out.
They ran through the battle field as they're hearts beat to the drum of the blaster fire.
They had been asked to help a village be released from separatist control, what they didn't know was that the village, was a lie…..
Echo was scared, he hated to admit it but he had never been this scared, not since Rishi.
Fives is just as scared. Yet refuses to show it as he guards his last batchmate.
Rex looked at all his men, they all had fear in their eyes as they waited to steal a ship. They had never experienced such an event in their lives. Their general looked angrier than he had ever seen working with them as he glared out at the ships waiting to steel one.
Echo stayed close to Fives, he was afraid to be too far away from him. Not only for his own comfort but for the fear of losing him.
Fives rubs his brother's shoulder to make sure he knows he's there. Nothing is going to happen to Echo. Not while he was still breathing.
Echo took comfort in his brother's small gesture. As clones on the battle field that was all they could give, even off it. But it was enough to help remind him he was there.
"What's the plan general?" Fives whispers.
Anakin then said "Here's the plan, as soon as the guards switch, we move. Our target is that large one so all of us can get off. We are not losing any more men today."
Anakin looked over his men, he knew each of them; Hardcase, Kix, Jessie, Fives, Echo, and of course Rex. He had been with ten other men on this mission, now all are gone. He was not about to lose anyone else. For now they had to wait though.
In a galaxy far, far, away.
On a planet unknown to all of them, they would soon find themselves on that very planet and find a secret that will help them in their war to come.
For us to know this secret our story begins with two young women on a car ride towards the ocean. A bobbed brown-haired women with brown eyes took a breath of the sea air as they got close to they're destination.
"Thanks for bringing me along Ariel. I've always been curious about the place you grew up." The women smiled happily.
"It's good to have you with me Nora." Ariel's light ginger hair flows in the wind. "So how did your parents react to this?" she quickly looks over at her with her mixed sapphire blue and emerald green eyes before turning back to the road.
"My parents were a bit hard to convince to let me go but when they heard I'd be helping out at an orphanage they couldn't say no. By the way I have a few things for the kids that me and my family helped bundle up together; toys and cloths no longer needed. Hope they help." Nora smiles sadly.
"That'll help a lot, thanks." Ariel smiles as they turn on to the dirt road.
"So tell me more about this place. It's really only run by four people?" Nora looked on wide eyed and impressed.
"I've told you about them, haven't I?" Ariel looks forward, a bit of a sharpness to her tone.
"Yeah you told me a bit about each of them but not a lot. Why so secretive?" Nora raises a brow.
"I just… I owe them a lot. Okay?" She touches her dark violet gem necklace with her fingertips as her other hand holds the wheal.
Nora shrugs, her friend has always been this way since they met at art school. She knew she liked her care takers but for some reason she never said much on them. Well all families had they're secrets she guessed.
"So while we're there, will there be any cute boys?" Nora chuckles.
"Only snot noses and maybe a few brothers back to help a bit. Why looking for a date? I warn you these guys are a handful." Ariel teases.
"Don't worry don't think I'm ready for a relationship just yet but who knows. Maybe we'll both find someone." Nora winks.
"Yeah right, these lot are my siblings." Ariel laughs as they turn up to a dirt hill.
They soon get to the large wooden beach home, it wasn't anything fancy or expensive but it was beautiful as it was nicely made. Certain walls were painted by children, and then there were other parts completely covered by plants and flowers. Stairs and walkways ran about the small hill it stood on.
"Wow this place is great." Nora looked on happily.
"Welcome to Nova Hill." Ariel smiles at the only home she's known.
"Well it definably looks like a good environment for the kids. They could make a resort here." Nora chuckles as she grabs some bags.
"Don't let Uncle Tanner here that. He just might put us to work." Ariel laughs grabbing a few others.
"Ariel you have finally arrived. We have missed you youngling." They looked up to find two people walking down the steps, one man with ginger curly hair, and a dark skinned women with long braided hair.
"Uncle Lock. Aunty Tammy." Ariel hugs them.
"It's been so long." Lock pats her head with a smile.
"Let me look at you." Tammy takes her turn for the hug then moves her back to look her over. "Are you getting enough to eat at that New York school? Maybe you should move back to New Orleans." The local sounding woman looks at her older babe worriedly.
"Aunty I'm fine." Ariel laughs a bit. "And let me introduce my college friend. This is Nora Harper. Nora this is Aunty Tammy Neto and Uncle Lock Lalo." She walks over to her friend.
"Nice to finally meet you Ms. Neto, and Mr. Lalo." Nora puts a hand out to shake, smiling.
"Call me Aunty Tammy. Everyone here does." Tammy hugs the girl instead of shaking her hand. "You're looking pretty thin too. That's it I'm making my famous gumbo and beignets for dinner." She releases her heading back up.
"Uncle Lock will do for me as well." Lock shakes her hand. "I'll bring these to your room. Why don't you head to the beach for your tackle?" he winks motioning over to a gate.
"Tackle?" Nora asks confused.
"You'll see." Ariel chuckles as they head over.
As soon as the gate opens…
"Sis! Welcome home!" A giant group of kids pounce on Ariel tackling her into the sand.
"Is collage fun? Is that your friend? Did you miss us? Do you have presents?" They all spout at once with twinkling eyes.
"Alright. Alright. I'll tell you everything. Just let me up." Ariel laughs.
"Welcome back. It's been too long." Some of the olders hug her as she gets up, many of them having crystals around their necks or on bracelets.
Ariel answers all their questions to the best of her ability and introduces her friend. Then they head off being pulled into a game by the kids.
'Wow they really do all see each other as family. It's nice.' Nora smiles as she looks at all of them interact.
Soon they all head up for dinner.
"Oh rolls." A few try to steal the warm croissants.
"Aye!" A Scottish sounding woman shouts stopping them. "You know the rules, wash up first. Go on now." she claps sending them off.
"Light and fluffy as always Aunty Mal." Ariel snacks on one she had stolen off a tray.
"You're the same as always as well." The gray eyed woman crosses her arms. "Go wash up you Selke." The graying red haired woman motions for her to go.
"Yes ma'am." Ariel laughs heading off to her room with Nora.
"Where do you think the presents are? They have to be in here somewhere." Some little boys look around the room.
"Alright Musketeers, out." Ariel points with a lifted brow.
The boys scattering past her.
"Sorry. I wish I could say this wasn't normal but…" Ariel closes the door sighing but smiling.
"Chuckle. Are you kidding this place is a hoot. Good food, great company, and lots of cute kids. It's lively. Not used to that." Nora smiles slightly.
"By the time we leave you won't be able to stand the quiet." Ariel chuckles.
"So what's with the glowing necklaces and bracelets you and the other older kids have, some sort of tradition?" Nora points at the crystal.
"Yeah. When we turn twelve, we're given one of these." Ariel taps hers with a fond smile. "It's a sort of coming of age thing."
"Sounds nice to have something like that." Nora nods and then says "Well better get these things to the kids before they decide to storm in here." Nora chuckles.
"On ward to the war zone." Ariel laughs taking one of the boxes.
They two laugh as they head out with the bag of presents.
Back in space…
The team had been able to get the ship as they planned, the bad news is they were being chased by several other ships.
"Sir we're losing power. This hunk of junk hasn't been refueled in a while." Jessie barks as he looks at the low fuel tanks.
"We're not going to make it!" Fives shouts as the side guns die.
"Maybe there's a way to help keep it running and possibly get us into warp speed." Echo says as he tries to hold on.
"What's your plan trooper?" Rex looks over at him.
"Well it's a bit unorthodox but the general's saber, it has a power source and…" Echo stars.
"Echo we can't do that to the general's saber!" Rex barks.
"There has to be another way." Fives shakes his head a bit.
"Take it." Anakin throws the saber to Echo.
Echo looks up shocked, they all do, "Sir…" They knew what a saber meant to a Jedi and to be told he could dismantle it…
"Won't do me any good if we're dead. And I meant what I said about losing no more men today. Get to work!" Anakin orders.
"Sir yes sir!" They salute and do as he says.
"What do you need?" Fives heads over to help.
"Get me access to the power relays." Echo instructs.
"Got it." Fives helps him over as the ship rocks with every blast they take.
"Kix I need help opening this up." Echo gulped at what he was about to do.
Kix nodded and came up to open the saber.
"You sure this is going to work?" Fives whispers a bit worried.
Echo nodded as he came up and grabbed some wires and then took the crystal out, the glow beating warmly and almost live like.
'Here goes nothing.' Fives crosses his fingers and closes his eyes as he waits for a miracle.
Echo sighed and then inserted the crystal, at that the ship glowed blue. They all jumped at that but Anakin, knowing that signature and energy, he got to work on the hyper drive and soon they were shot off faster than ever before.
So fast that they missed they're target and they all felt the world go black as the energy around them swallowed them and soon, they were no longer in a familiar galaxy.
On Earth…
The girls sat down with some gumbo and beignets as they saw the kids play with their new toys or show off their new cloths.
"Thanks so much for all of that. They've never been so spoiled." Ariel looks at all of them with their new things.
To these kids it didn't matter the stuff was used or handed down. Their used to that. But these things were like new and barely warn. This was like Christmas and birthdays rolled into one for them.
"It's no issue; a lot of them are a bunch of old toys and clothes from my nephews. We tend to spoil them a lot since they're the only kids and the other stuff my family was more than happy to help with. My mom just made me promise to take pictures with the kids in their new outfits." Nora chuckles as she saw some of the girls twirl in their new dresses.
"Guess she's going to demand to see the photos when you get back huh?" Ariel chuckles at that.
"Oh the first thing she'll do when I get back is beg me to get a guy and have kids. Trust me she wants lots of grandkids." Nora shakes her head with a chuckle.
"Well I have a few cute brothers if you're interested." Ariel winks looking at a few doing the dishes.
"Don't even think of setting me up with one of your brothers. The idea of being related in some way is cool but it might be a bit weird and also, if I have issues with him you can't take sides and I won't do that to you." Nora shakes her head.
"Thanks. But know I'd take your side over the whirl winds." Ariel winks again a bit playfully.
"Nora, Ariel! Come play tea party with us." Two little girls come up.
"Please." The others beg.
Nora laughs and says "You two don't play fair."
"The eyes. The adorable eyes." Ariel acts as if she was hypnotized walking over to the table.
The girls giggle and pull them away. As they do the two women look on at this.
Tammy says "You can sense it?"
"I can, but it's distorted, as if someone tried to suppress it." Mal looks on angrily.
"We can't be certain of that." Tammy tries to calm her.
"Can't we? If we are here, how are we certain one of them isn't? We should warn Ariel about keeping an eye on her friend. Make sure she doesn't see anything off." Mal raises a brow.
"They are here to help and relax. We'll keep an eye out. For now, let them be." Tammy pats her back.
Mal sighs but nods looking over worriedly at the girls before leaving herself.
Nora felt something, as if she was being watched. She then looked over to see Mal walking off.
'Probably just checking on the kids.' Nora shrugs.
'They're worried about something. Wonder what.' Ariel ponders.
After playing with the girls for a bit and a number of photos, it was time for bed. The girls helping to get them all to bed.
"Sorry to leave you with clean up." Mal sits in a seat.
"Hey, how many times did you do this for all of us? We can handle this." Ariel smiles at her tiring caretaker.
"And we did come to help, might as well be useful." Nora chuckles.
"Oh yeah where's Uncle Tanner? Did he go off to find new kids again?" Ariel finishes placing things in a toy box.
"Actually… Oliver got into some trouble and he went to go get him." Mal sighs looking worried.
"That boy, he's always been a troublemaker." Tammy sighs herself only she looks a bit annoyed.
"I'm sorry, he started acting up because I…" Ariel looks down sadly.
"No. No sweetie. You had every right to say you didn't feel the same." Mal shakes her head looking at her with a small smile.
"Wait, who's Oliver and what's going on?" Nora interrupts a bit confused.
"You remember the guy that kept hanging around campus? Basketball player tall and really pale?" Ariel still looks sad.
"Wait the guy that kept brining you flowers and teasing you?" Nora raises a brow.
"That was Oliver. He was studying psychology but transferred out after I explained I wasn't interested in him that way. He's been having trouble since then." Ariel rubs her arm feeling responsible.
"Don't even start that. That boy has been picking fights for a long time, he just stopped because if he didn't he'd have to face you Selke." Tammy points with a little princess wand.
"There was also the fact you threatened to run back to the sea if he didn't behave." Mal smiles at the young woman in front of her.
"Aunties~" Ariel looks at them red in the face.
The two laugh motioning for them to go get some rest.
"Really those two…" Ariel is still a bit red as they get ready for bed.
"Why do they call you selke and what do they mean you run back to the sea?" Nora asks as she checks her bed.
"You'll think it sounds ridiculous." Ariel sighs brushing her unbraided long wavy hair.
"No I won't, try me. Come on Ariel you know me better than that." Nora comes to stand next to her.
"I was found in a basket floating in the water." Ariel looks out at the water. "No note. No name. No sign of having been on a shipwreck. I was just there." She watches the waves crash from the window.
"Oh Ariel, I'm so sorry…." Nora looks on sadly and shocked.
"Well I got my name because of it." Ariel has a small sad smile. "As a kid I would watch the water and toss bottles into it telling my merparents where I am for them to find me. But no one ever came." She recalls her past a few tears falling.
"I'm sorry to hear that, it was there lost though. And hey, if they had come back for you, I would have never met my best friend." Nora hugs her.
"Thanks." Ariel places her hands on top of hers, leaning back against her friend. "I guess that's part of why talking about this place is hard. I was almost pulled out to sea from that beach. If Aunty Mal hadn't been out for a morning walk…" she reflects.
"I can understand the name now…" Nora stopped as she noticed something outside.
"What's that?" Ariel looks out seeing what looks like a falling star.
"Is that a falling satellite?" Nora looks shocked at the strange looking device.
'No. There are people on that.' Ariel watches it as she can sense the fear and worry.
Then CRASH! SPLASH! It hits the water steaming as it starts to sink.
Ariel jumps out of bed rushing out with other olders as they shout at the awake kids to stay in bed.
"Please. Help. M-my men." Anakin coughs as a few help him to shore.
"Our younger brothers are stuck. Please help them." Kix looks at them pleadingly.
"I'll go." Ariel takes off her slippers diving in her t-shirt and booty shorts pjs.
"Not without me you're not!" Nora calls, right behinds her.
Ariel was happy that it was a full moon night. It made it easier to see. That along with the fact the ship was still warm from impact and traveling so fast.
Swimming inside she sees a young man with a goatee stuck in a seat with a hit to his head and out cold. The other is pinned by some beams as he struggles to try and get free, looking at the other worried.
Nora struggled against the water, not the best swimmer, but seeing the two struggling made her worry. 'How are we going to get them out?' She looks worriedly at Ariel.
'I have no choice. Please don't hate me after this.' Ariel thinks as she turns from her friend stretching out her hand looking at the beams. Making them float off one of the young men.
Soon Echo is free. His leg bleeding, yet he tries to swim over to his brother. Ariel stopping him shaking her head. She hands him to Nora motioning for them to go out and up.
Nora's eyes had widened, and she had almost lost her breath in shock, but she grabbed the young man and started pulling him up. 'Got to get him out fast.' As she noticed the blood.
As they got get up panting Echo calls "My brother I have to go back I…"
"She'll get your brother. But we have to get on land now!" Nora warned, with it being night and the man's blood in the water they could attract sharks.
Others came to help them and soon they were on the beach. Echo just looked on shocked as he looked at the water, worried before finally fainting. As he was taken away Nora took in as many breaths as she could.
Then Mal put a blanket over her and said "It will be okay."
"Ariel she…" Nora didn't know what to say but Mal nodded, she knew.
Meanwhile…
Ariel heads over to Fives. Checking to make sure he's alive before doing anything else.
'Thank goodness.' Ariel feels a bit of relief at that.
Realizing he wouldn't make it up without some air, she gives him some of hers by kissing him.
'What is that? It's warm.' Fives looks at her hazed as he comes to a bit, as she moves to kiss him again.
Getting him free she gets both of them out. Both gasping for air as they break to the surface.
"Take it easy. We got you." A few come out to help them back to shore.
They get him and the others inside to treat them. Though the unusual guests weren't the only thing they'd have to think about. Which is made clear by a very confused Nora sitting with a blanket wrapped around her.
"Ariel, go with Mal and the others to treat the wounded. Tammy and I will explain things to her." Lock pats his dripping daughter's shoulder.
"Right." Ariel heads off dripping on the floor, stopping for a moment to look at her friend with a mix of fear and hope.
Nora just sits there still in shock as Tammy and Lock come up to her. When she sees them come up she asks "You all know?"
They nod.
"How? Are you all telekinetic or something?" Nora shakes with a few unsteady breaths as well.
"No, not exactly. You see our people are not from earth." Tammy starts.
"What?" Nora looks on wide eyed.
"Please calm down, we are no threat to any of you. You see a long time ago we crashed on your planet when we got pulled into a sort of blackhole. When we crashed, we couldn't leave, but when we found that this planet had children like us we decided to stay and help them." Lock explains.
"What do you mean like you, what are you exactly?" Nora shouts. She was angry, she had seen plenty of sci if but she was mad because her friend hid this from her. And yet 'Can you blame her?'
"Please we know you are upset but listen to us. We are called jedi where we come from, people with abilities called the force, a type of energy that lets us do incredible things. One of them is as you said a telekinetic ability." Tammy explains.
"And we could never tell anyone for fear of how they would react, that is why Ariel…" Lock starts.
"Never said anything." Nora looked down.
"You understand then." Tammy smiles.
"I do but I just, it hurts she hid this form me and…I just need a little time." Nora explains.
"You should get some sleep tomorrow…" Lock tries.
"No, I'll sleep in the bungalow tonight. I just. I can't be near anyone right now." Nora looks away as she heads to get cleaned up.
"Sigh, I better tell Ariel to talk to her." Tammy frowns as she goes to find her.
"She hates me. She totally hates me." Ariel runs her arms shaking from the cold and fear.
"No. No Selke. I don't think she ever can." Tammy shakes her head rubbing her arms. "She's just confused and hurt."
"I should have told her. I should have…" Ariel cries a bit.
"YOU were following the rules you were taught. For your and our safety." Tammy cuts her off lifting her head up with a small chin tilt. "She'll understand that. Just talk to your friend. Okay?" she pecks her forehead.
Ariel nods rubbing her red eyes.
In the girls' room…
Nora was cleaned up and packing a few things to take to the bungalow when…
"H-hi. How are you feeling?" Ariel leans in the doorway a bit worried.
"I'm… I just… I understand I do. I know how people can be, you know I know." Nora feels tears fall from her eyes.
Nora had autism so it made certain thing difficult, especially in the social aspect. Even if she could be chatty sometimes, she just couldn't handle a lot at times.
"Yeah. Having these skills does make us really different." Ariel nods, still scared she'd lose her friend.
"It's not just that. I would think you would trust me. You know me better than anyone. You know I would never judge you on that. I would have actually fan girled over it. I'm a huge sci-fi geek remember?! And I also know that people can be judgmental and get scared and, man I'm freaking out right now." Nora holds her head.
"This is an overload isn't it?" Ariel looks at her worried.
"I wouldn't be as much if you had told me!" Nora cries. "I know you lived a hard life, I know this is a big secret not just for you but for everyone here I just; I thought I was trustworthy enough. I guess not." Nora looks down sadly at her bag.
"Do you… do you hate me know?" Ariel rubs her arm worried.
"I don't hate you, never. I just felt angry that's all." Nora starts to wipe her tears. "Maybe it was a bad idea for me to come, maybe it's best I leave. I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable here." Nora closes her bag.
"Why? You don't have to leave." Ariel looks at her really worried now.
"Are you kidding? If I stayed I'd be asking a million questions, asking to see these powers, and I probably ask if I had them. Chuckle lightly. I'd drive everyone insane and you know it." Nora sobs a bit.
"No you wouldn't." Ariel takes a hold of her hands. "You have no idea how many times I wanted to share this with you. Please. Please let me now." She looks at her pleadingly.
"You mean it?" Nora hics.
"Yes." Ariel hugs her. "I have a large family. But I only have one best friend." She pats her back as she holds her close.
Nora hugs back "Thanks Ariel." Nora shakes a bit trying to take it all in.
"I really am sorry. I would have told you everything but…" Ariel whispers as they continue to hug.
"I know, it was to protect yourself and everyone. I do get it." Nora dries her tears.
"Come on, let's unpack and I can fill you in on whatever comes to mind." Ariel dries her own tears.
Nora smiles and unpacks her bag as Ariel helps her. The two talking a bit Ariel helping her understand anything she still needed help with.
The girls talked for so long they fell asleep on the same bed. Mal and Tammy covering them with blankets as they see them. Happy their little mermaid finally had someone she trusted so much.
