"Just open your senses to the sound of the River and follow your instincts. It's easy if once you've done it for a while." Octavia gave a sly grin. "I'm still perfecting it, but learn to trust the living Force you'll discover so much." "I'll give it a try..." She closed her eyes slightly and reached out with the Force. After a few moments, she opened her eyes again. "Er .. I don't get it. You try." Octavia relaxed her breathing and thought of the waterfall then reached out to the Force, and let it surround her. "This way," she said after a while. Psylocke smile faltered for a moment. "I hate it when you can do things I can't," she said jokingly, as she started to walk in the direction indicated "Given time, you can do it." Octavia gave her friend an encouraging smile. "In time you can do anything." They walked on about five minutes later; Psylocke suddenly stopped and makes a motion for Octavia to do the same. "What's wrong?" Psylocke pointed almost straight ahead toward a cluster of Salm trees. "Look," she said breathlessly. A short distance away an Adobe fawn and its mother are grazing. "Isn't that beautiful?" "It's nature at its best. Psylocke glanced back at Octavia. "I'm going to circle around to the right and see if I can get a better look." "Psylocke, don't. We should proceed softly so we don't disturb them." "It'll be okay." Psylocke creeped off toward the right and crawled through the cluster of trees and out of Octavia's sight. Octavia tried to follow Psylocke with the Force, but found herself distracted by the animals. Suddenly, from off to her right, a scream disturbed the silence. Octavia turned toward the sound then took off in a run; a sinking feeling was causing her stomach to tighten. Octavia moved through the jungle, and stopped when she saw the pool of liquid before her. Her heart stopped as she saw Psylocke in the middle of the quicksand, which was rising quickly. "Psylocke DON'T struggle! It will pull you down quicker!" Octavia yelled looking for something she could use. "Octavia!" Psylocke yelled. "Help me!" "DON"T MOVE!" Octavia cautioned. "I'll get you out!" "Uh...It's a bit hard to move...anyway," she said, leaning her head back. "RELAX!" Octavia moved. She needed something strong and long enough to reach Psylocke. She could use the force to help aid her in pulling her out of the deadly trap. Psylocke could feel the quicksand start to creep up to her chin. She could barely keep her hands at the surface. After finding a very strong limb, Octavia went to the edge of the pool and reached the limb out to Psylocke. "Take hold, GRAB HOLD!" Psylocke lifted her arms to grab it, but the motion only caused her to sink another inch. "I can't..." "YOU can. YOU MUST!" Octavia moved forward, letting her feet touch the outer barrier. "USE the FORCE to reach for it!" Octavia felt her heart pound. This had to work; she had to save her! Psylocke reached out with the Force and tried to guide it toward her hand. The stick started to shake, then violently jerks out of Octavia's hands and into Psylocke's. Psylocke let out a moan of frustration and terror. Octavia stared in surprise for a moment, then reached out her hand for the limb pulling the Force around her. "Hang ON to the LIMB!" she yelled out to Psylocke. Octavia used the Force to pull the limb as well as Psylocke with it. Slowly Psylocke started to slide toward the edge and closer to Octavia. Octavia remained calmed, always reaching for the limb, and for Psylocke. "Octavia..." "You'll make it!" Octavia yelled, watching the distance close slow. Too slow, she was moving too slow! Bending down Octavia stretched out for Psylocke's hand. "ALMOST!" Psylocke clung to the stick. "If I let go, I'll sink!" "YOU have to reach out. I won't let you sink. Come on Psylocke just like at the top of the falls, WE can do this TOGETHER! Trust me as I trusted you." Psylocke clenched her teeth, then suddenly let go and grabbed at Octavia's hand. Octavia grasped Psylocke's hand in her. "GOT YOU!" She tightened her grip around Psylocke's wrist, and began to pull backward, ignoring the pounding of her own heart. Psylocke smiled in relief and adjusted her grip. She held on tightly. "Pull..." Her body suddenly jerked downward a few inches. She cried out, "Something just pulled on me!" Octavia moved forward. "REMAIN CALM!" she yelled. "I'VE got you!" Octavia felt the jerk and moved back again pulling on Psylocke's arm. Keeping her grip firm, she pulled the Force around her, and used its strength to aid her in saving her friend. Psylocke's heart was pounding even harder now as the fear started to overwhelm her. "Octavia..." She jerked down again, her grip slipping. "Don't let go!" "Think of the land Psylocke" Octavia used her other hand to grab hold. "I WON'T let go. I won't let you go!" Octavia's voice became strained from concern and fear. "By the Force!" Octavia cursed as she pulled on Psylocke's form, she had to get her out of there! Psylocke's mind was jumbled with fear and confusion, unable to concentrate. "I need..." She jerked again, this time, her head goes under and nearly yanked Octavia in with her. Octavia stopped her descent into the deadly pool. What was down there? What could be pulling on Psylocke? "PSYLOCKE?" Octavia pulled harder. "PSYLOCKE!" Octavia yelled Octavia froze momentary as she heard a voice in her mind; it was Psylocke's voice. It was weak and soft. "You can't save me...Octavia...you...never could." Slowly, Psylocke's grip starts to loosen. "NO!" Octavia screamed fighting to hang on to her. Inch by inch, Psylocke's hand slipped away and sunk into the quicksand. Octavia struggled vainly to keep hold of her, to gain some leverage. "BY the Force NO! I can't lose you! You have to be saved!" Her own hand began to sink into the deadly sand she felt Psylocke's hand slip from hers, she was gone. Octavia felt Psylocke's presence disappear, her force signature no where to be felt. Moving her hand in the quicksand Octavia vainly searched for some clue of Psylocke being there, ignoring what she already knew. Slowly pulling her hand out she sat on the side of the embankment. Psylocke's last words rang in her mind. "You can't save me...Octavia...you...never could." Octavia jumped to her feet and looked out over the waterfalls. She had come up here after her meeting with the council. She had reported about the new purge as well as the events that that both she and Medenna had faced and survived. Octavia only wanted to find a place to think and gather her thoughts to prepare for what the future held for her. She only had discovered another dream â^À¦ or a vision â^À¦ what did it all mean? Was there a chance she and Psylocke could be friends? Leaning her head against her the tree Octavia closed her eyes briefly. She needed to stop these visions or find out what was causing them; did they have a meaning? ~*~*~ Octavia said goodnight to Medenna and looked around her quarters, yet another meeting with the council. Most of the council were intimidating people though she found it comforting to see Master Du'Sau sitting there. One more meeting, one more session of questions and examination, but caution had to be taken. There was a chance that not only herself but also Medenna could have been reprogrammed to betray the Jedi or the Alliance at a later date. That could not happen. Sitting down Octavia began to meditate. She wanted to relax her mind before she turned in. She could only hope that Master Skywalker would return soon, somehow she doubted if her training would continue. And regardless of what the council decided, Octavia knew she had to be at peace and calm about it. To take life one step at a time and accept the will of the Force. Unnoticed, a blue light started to glow in front of her, silently taking the form of a woman. She stood there watching the young Jedi in her meditation. She looked around he room but remained silent not wanting to startled the apprentice. Octavia sensed she wasn't alone, and she opened her eyes then stared at the image before her. "Who are you?" Octavia asked softly. The woman before her bore an uncanny resemblance to Psylocke, but her face was rounder and the eyes weren't as hard. "My name is Larissa. You have no need to fear me, Octavia." Octavia studied the woman closely. "Do I know you? You seem familiar." Octavia paused. "At least your features do." "No. We have never met ... but you know my daughter Psylocke." Octavia's eyebrow went up. "Psylocke." The name was merely a whisper. "Octavia...I was the one who told Master Annan about Psylocke's abilities all those years ago. Everything he said to the council was true." Octavia nodded slowly. "I had a feeling it was, but we can't hunt her down. There's a chance she can be saved." The ghost looked down for just a moment before looking back up at Octavia. "I'm afraid she can't. For her own protection and for the protection of everyone else..." Her voice trailed off never finishing her sentence. Octavia rose to her feet. "Everyone keeps saying that. She isn't lost, just misguided." She hung onto that belief. "Her soul belongs to the darkness now. There was a chance to save her before. There was a young man in her life â^À¦ His name was Lon. He was showing her the light, though he may not have realized it. She needs love Octavia, but you can't give that to her." Octavia crossed her arms. "Lon? Lon who?" "I don't remember really. I just remember watching over her with him. She was so happy. She finally felt the joy of love that I could never give her. Even Master Annan resented her because of her father." There was pain and sorrow in her tone. It was a sorrow that spoke volumes of her caring for her daughter. "Then we just need to find him, he could still be the way to bring her back." "There is that chance. I want to see her happy...but..." She sighed. "There's something else you need to know." "What?" "I'm sure you heard about her attempted suicide at Port Lansing...?" "I was there." Octavia lowered her head. "It was another Jedi who helped her ... She was agitated when I tried to talk to her." "Why do you think she would want to kill herself?" she asked solemnly. Octavia shook her head. "I ... I don't know. Psylocke seems so sure of herself of her goals." "You couldn't know her motivation, because there was no motivation." "Then why try to kill herself?" Octavia questioned. "She didn't.... I'm the one who cut her." "'WHAT?" She couldn't believe it. "You mean â^À¦ you took possession of her?" "That's right. I didn't want her to suffer anymore. I didn't want her to be hunted down and lynched for crimes she has not done yet. And she is the sovereign on silence. She will destroy the Jedi ghosts if her powers fully develop." Octavia stared at her in horror. "You're ... but you're her mother." Memories of her own mother leaving her to survive on her own or to die. Were hers and Psylocke's situations that different? "And I may be the only one who loves her. Who loves her enough to protect her from herself. At least if she were dead...we could be together...she could experience the love she has always longed for. I'm not evil Octavia." Her tone was still sympathetic and full of sorrow. "I don't understand. I won't ... none of the Jedi will just kill her. It's not our way." "Then you must turn her to the light. It's the only alternative. Octavia, I came to you because I know you believe. I knew you would listen to me â^À¦ You believe in destiny...and you know that yours is linked with hers." Octavia let out a sigh. "Yes, I know that our destiny's are entwined. My grandfather told me as much." Octavia turned to the woman. "I will do anything I can to help Psylocke, but how do I get close to her?" "You'll have to find her, but be cautious. She can be very dangerous as can be those around her." "I can't make any false promises, I'm still learning myself but if I can help Psylocke I will." Larissa seemed to be fading slightly. "You have such an optimistic outlook, but wars can not always be won with peace talks. If you can't change her...you know what must be done." Octavia nodded she knew all too well what would happen if Psylocke couldn't be turned. "I know." her voice barely a whisper. "You'll need help. You won't be able to take her on by yourself." "This Lon?" "Yes?" "I will try to find him. Do you think he'll still help?" "I don't know. He might not want anything to do with her anymore ... but it's a good place to start." Octavia nodded. "As good a place as any." "May the Force be with you Octavia...please...help my daughter." The voice was one of pleading. "Help her anyway you can." Octavia watched as the image disappeared. Sitting down on the bed she leaned backward, and looked up at the ceiling. "Oh Force," she whispered.
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