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Post by Force_Flow on Sept 4, 2007 20:54:16 GMT -4
Jaina knew what was coming. They had practiced this for days on end. Reaching into the Force, she muttered: "Into your positions."
They melted away as quickly as they grouped up, with Jaina walking up the crowded stairs to a more emptier and darker platform about fifty feet up; her lightsaber bounced off her hip, hidden inside the pocket of her jacket. Sticking her hands inside the pockets, Jaina continued her short climb up the stairs, and pressed her back to the circular wall hidden in shadow.
On a platform above her, a glowing red eye blinked as its' photorecepotors registered the human female, scanners shown carrying a high-focused energy weapon on her person relevant to the lightsaber, and sent this data back to the main base, waiting for permission to attack.
And Jaina felt nothing.
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Post by butter on Sept 4, 2007 21:06:28 GMT -4
Mike
I sighed softly, reaching up and scratching the back of my head, where the old scars where my lekku had once been sometimes itched. I grimaced slightly, and glanced around, trying to figure out where my sister and Tian were.
We were currently at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, and we were both trying to figure out where Tian had gone. I snorted softly. Somehow it just seemed so typical that, while everyone else was out where the action was, right in the middle of all the excitement, or actually doing something worthwhile, my sister and I were stuck here, babysitting a four-year-old girl.
One moment ago, we were in the room of a thousand fountains, and Electra and I had taken our eyes off of her for one moment, and she had disappeared. So after a few minutes of searching around the room, we decided to split up and try looking for her that way. Perhaps we would have better luck finding her that way.
I sighed softly under my breath, and for the one-hundreth time, thought about everyone else who was out doing something worthwhile to aide the galaxy... and here I was.
I frowned slightly, for a moment lost in thought. If things had worked out with Rachel... would I have been doing something very similar to this? For some reason, that thought made me pause. If I had married Rachel, and if we had had children, somehow I could totally picture myself doing something similar to what I was doing right now. But the way things were right now, I was aggitated and restless, because I was babysitting when I felt like I should be out there doing something more.
Well, you were the one who agreed to watch the kid, part of my mind told me snappishly. I snorted, and ignored it. Electra, I thought through the Bond I shared with my sister, have you found her yet?
Yes, I have, came the immediate reply. Head back to the room of fountains, I'll meet you there.
"Got it," I said. Only after the words left my mouth, did I realize that I had spoken aloud.
Electra
Patience, I told myself firmly, as I gripped the girl's hand tightly with my own hand. She's only a kid after all--she's not even five.
"Now," I said in a tone of voice that was one of exaggerated sweetness and patience, "care to tell me why you ran off, young lady?"
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Post by Force_Flow on Sept 4, 2007 21:14:44 GMT -4
Tian looked up innocently at Electra. "I didn't run off," she stated. "I wanted to see the fishes." And, sure enough, she had gotten a very close-up look at the 'fishes', which was actually shadows cast by the artificial lighting high in the ceiling. Once Tian had stepped into the pool and couldn't find the fish, she had dived under to check and see if they were still there. Then Aunt Lelly showed up. All fine and dandy for her. "You scared them away," Tian blamed. "They left because you were too noisy. Shh!" She brought a finger to her lips, glaring at Aunt Lelly, demanding she see it her way.
Kairi, Jaden's pet dog, started licking the side of Tian's head and apparently taking great pleasure in it. Tian giggled and squirmed beneath Aunt Lelly's legs, making a large dark spot on her pants. Soon, she and Kairi were playing a game of catch-the-kid around her legs. Tian's laugh bubbled from her throat in delight.
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Post by butter on Sept 4, 2007 21:25:25 GMT -4
Electra
Fishes, right, I thought, looking down at the girl as Kairi began licking the side of her face. Then she began squirming in and out of my legs, along with the dog. In spite of myself I grinned at them both, having released Tian's hand, and I allowed the game to go on for a couple of minutes.
"Alright," I said, gently but firmly, "that's enough." I was rather fond of Tian, but I still had to keep my temper in check. I just... at times, I didn't really have much patience for some things. Sometimes it was pets, sometimes it was little kids. And sometimes it was both. But, unfortunately, they sometimes required patience and understanding, more often than not.
Hell, sometimes I barely have enough patience with adults, I thought with a muted snort. Including my own brother.
"Come on, let's go and catch up with your Uncle Mikey,[/i] I told her, gently taking her hand into my own again. "I think he has a surprise for you."
I saw her face light up, and I immediately thought through the bond, Mike, you still got that candybar in your pocket?
Yes, came his puzzled reply. Why?
When we get to you, give it to Tian. Don't ask. I sighed inwardly. I just wanted this day to end as smoothly as possible, and if it meant making my brother give up his favorite snack... well, I would make it up to him another time, somehow.
Aw, Electra! he protested, as I knew he would.
Mike! I snapped back, in a no-nonsense tone.
Fine, he thought in resignation. I hope she's not alergic to peanuts.
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Post by Force_Flow on Sept 4, 2007 21:31:14 GMT -4
Tian giggled as they walked. "Aunt Lelly! Aunt Lelly!" she said. "I have a question, but Momma told me to ask Dad, but he told me to ask her." She shook her head in confusion. "What does diket mean? Mommy said only she's allowed to say it, but I wanna know."
Kairi nudged Tian foreword.
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Post by butter on Sept 4, 2007 21:39:24 GMT -4
Electra
I blinked, and my hand subconsciously tightened slightly around Tian's hand, but I eased my grip quickly. "Never you mind," I said, in a gentle but firm tone. I attempted to quicken the pace slightly. I knew that our destination was just up ahead. "If you're curious, I'm sure your Mommy will explain it to you when you are older."
I winced inwardly. I knew that that was exactly the statement that every child hated to hear.
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Post by Force_Flow on Sept 4, 2007 21:44:01 GMT -4
Tian glared at Electra. "I won't tell no one," she promised in a low voice. "Mommy says that keeping secrets from Daddy is fun. I wanna keep a secret from her. Pleeeeeease?" She stuck out her lower lip and rested her wet head against Electra's arm, looking straight ahead as she did it.
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Post by butter on Sept 4, 2007 21:55:01 GMT -4
Electra
I hated it when she did that!
However, I was quickly saved, because my brother came around the corner, and looked down at Tian. "Hey there, squirt," he said, and reached into his pocket, pulling out a candy bar. "I have this for you." He smiled, and handed it too her--then narrowed his eyes at me slightly.
Thank the Force, I thought, letting out a small sigh of relief. I'll pay you back, Mike, I promise.
You'd better, he replied. That was my last one.
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Post by Force_Flow on Sept 4, 2007 22:00:14 GMT -4
Tian screwed her face up in concentration as she felt the package with her hands. "Candy!" she cheered, ripping up the cover with sheer will of the Force. She popped the large candy bar--all of it--into her mouth so it looked swollen and puffy, and started chewing. She hugged Uncle Mikey. "Hmfts 'ood." As soon as she swallowed, she smiled, still wearing bits of chocolate and peanuts on her face and teeth.
"Let's go swimming," she said, and took off for the nearest pool, Kairi right behind her. She felt the strange feelings emitting from both Lelly and Mikey, like the same her momma and daddy felt when she interrupted one of those funny kisses they had in bed...
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Post by butter on Sept 4, 2007 22:10:06 GMT -4
Mike
My jaw dropped, and I shot a quick glance at Electra--but she was already moving. I could sense a flare of anger in her, and I just hoped she would be able to keep her temper in check when she caught the kid.
Electra moved quickly, and dived into the water right after Tian. My eyes bulged with astonishment and surprise--I honestly didn't think even she would do that. I made a quick look around, then shrugged, and jumped into the water after my sister.
Just get the kid, and get back out, I thought, swimming after her.
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