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