ataraxionlogs | EVENT: MELPOMENE ▒ HOME

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EVENT: MELPOMENE ▒ HOME

CHARACTERS: Ensemble production!
LOCATION: Corridors in the belly of the Tranquility
WARNINGS: Creepiness, disturbing imagery, violence, etc.
SUMMARY: Characters discover slices of sanctuary deep in the maze.
NOTES: Open to all! Covers Stage Four of the plot & Escape.

You've been running and fighting for what feels like weeks now. Exhausted and desperate, you find another door, stumbling through into—

You're home, finally, far away and safe from monsters or spaceships. You're not alone, someone here who's been waiting for you, and they're so happy to see you. Relief overcomes you; you just want to rest, and there's no reason to believe anything here isn't what it seems, is there?

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How could this be the ship? How could anything that they had gone through have involved the ship?! Biggs wants to understand, but his attention is pulled away at last from Luke when Kandji rests her head against his arm. He can't ignore an action like that - something she had only done once before, but to great effect. Even now, it twists the knife. Her words are airy and soft, like a confession of love.

'Come and see, Biggs. Just a look...'

Biggs passes one last, repentant glance at Luke. He's right (and if it had actually happened), that was something Kandji would never have done. And none of this is fair to him, who on all counts knows more about this place than Biggs does. After all they had been through and survived, the best way to trap them would be to lull them into a false sense of security, first...

And yet... there is only one way to know for sure, and whatever it is that 'Kandji' has to show him, Biggs is unafraid. He is with Luke, and they will meet it together.

He does believe Luke. He does not mean for it to be an act of betrayal when Biggs takes a deep breath, and turns to Kandji with a smile. "Show me," he decides.

She obliges, moving only a distance that spans the reach of their arms, to find a door. What should have been behind it is replaced by a bright, soothing light. What stretched beyond may yet be a good place, and one that almost felt familiar to him...

He feels it again, that awful, wrenching feeling deep inside, and he knows what it is now. It's the feeling that used to run circles in his head, making bad choices for him and causing him to say dumb things and wear his heart on his sleeve and he didn't care because Biggs was near, and that's all that mattered to him. Now Biggs is looking at Kandji with such care and trust and... love. It feels like there's a spike being hammered deeper and deeper into his gut and Luke wants to tear his eyes away but he can't.

No, he has to save Biggs and he needs to stay focused to make that happen.

As Kandji moves-- no, as the illusion moves to show them whatever it is behind that door, Luke thinks desperately for something to say, some proof for Biggs to convince him beyond a doubt that this was all fabricated to toy with him. Luke can see it clear as day but that's probably because none of this was made for him. This isn't his supposed sanctuary.

Then the door is opened and with the blinding light comes an overwhelming wave of negative aura in the Force. Luke can feel that nagging feeling that something terrible is about to happen, that extrasensory perception that he still can't control and comes and goes without rhyme or reason, and it's suddenly stronger than it's ever been before.

It seems to be creating a halo with the light around Biggs, showing Luke, pinpointing where the danger is. There's a shadow in the back of his mind, a memory suddenly brought to the forefront, of Biggs being burned and shredded into dust and not leaving even a body behind to bury. Luke's never had a clearer Force vision in his life.

"Biggs, don't!" He takes a step forward but is wary of getting too close, unsure of what the Kandji illusion will do if he closes the gap too much. Perhaps they can get out of here without inciting the wrath of the illusion. Luke is staring hard at the light through the door with fear in his eyes, as if he can see something terrifying inside. "There's nothing for you in there. I can feel it. There's nothing but... endings." It might not make sense, but that's what it feels like to him. An end.

"I can't feel anything in the Force beyond that door, Biggs. You can't go in there; I don't care what Kandji says, you have to trust me!" Luke edges forward again and looks like he wants to reach out to Biggs, grab him and pull him back but his eyes dart to Kandji. He's afraid of what she might do and it shows in his expression.

"Please... Biggs, we'll find a way out of here, I promise, but I'm not letting you go in there."

Endings. At once a sobering realization crashes about Biggs; he understands what she meant, now, by missing him. It's because what lies beyond the door is where they both should be, and if he is to refuse, Kandji would meet her death as she had before: entirely alone, her trust in him betrayed.

While Biggs' focus is occupied by the abyss, 'Kandji' must deal with the interruption. She does not need to look to Luke to get her message across, now... she does not need even to turn her head. Her eyes narrow, like the clinching of a trap, and her intended target is clear - if Luke intervenes, she will take it out on Biggs with all of her wrathful fury.

But by the time Biggs has turned to look at her, her face has warped into loneliness and sorrow, eyebrows furrowed in desperation. A silence passes between them- then, with a gentle tug on Biggs' arm, she proceeds towards the threshold. Considering Luke's words, Biggs does not move, but he is unwilling to recoil from her hand - still connected to the girl, he casts a glance over his shoulder at Luke, light casting shadow over his face, blackening out the hesitation written there.

He has realized that no matter how this was to end, one of the people he loves will be left behind again.

The true nature of the illusion isn't lost on Luke, not for a minute. He sees that look and he knows what it means. Still, he doesn't know what the illusion is capable of exactly. Will it just throw more monsters at them or is it planning something more? Luke's not sure he's willing to take that chance, especially not if Biggs is the target. But then what can he do? Will the illusion do the same thing if Biggs makes the decision to back out on his own? There's so much that Luke isn't sure about and he doesn't know what he can do without risking Biggs' life.

Perhaps he can't do anything.

As he watches Biggs exchange a look with the Kandji illusion Luke gets a very bad feeling. "Don't believe her for a second, you hear me? She's not real and if you go through that door she's not going to be there." Luke's running out of things to say and his desperation is starting to become evident in his voice, on his face.

Finally Biggs looks back at him, his face obscured in shadow. He isn't moving away from the door.

All the breath leaves Luke's lungs and he starts shaking his head. "Don't." Emotion is starting to take over, as much as Luke tries to hold it back, trying to trust in the Force, remain calm, keep his composure... he simply can't. He's not strong enough yet and there's too much at stake. Biggs is--... well, his best friend, sure, but so much more. Luke won't let this happen. He can't. But Biggs still hasn't moved and Luke doesn't know what to do.

"Biggs, no." He's obviously losing control now. "Biggs, please. We still have time. We could still have time here!" His voice cracks and wavers and he's desperate for anything, any kind of response, any flicker or hint that this is getting through to Biggs.

There's no more confidence in him, nor convincing or explaining. Luke's letting it all out, everything he has left, because he's run out of ideas and run out of time.

He takes in a ragged breath. "Biggs, please! Don't leave. I can't--" Luke's voice cuts out and he ducks his head down, chin against his chest in an attempt to gather composure. After a moment he lifts his head to look at Biggs again, all the pain and fear and devastation that he's been holding back now evident. "I can't lose you again!"

In one last attempt to get through to him Luke reaches out and grasps Biggs' wrist. He's not letting go. The illusion can do all she wants. She'd probably do it anyway, whether Biggs was making the decision or not.

It's Luke's begging that finally shifts the balance. The decision is clear, now, and Biggs knows there had only been one option from the start: he can't go back there, and if it were the Kandji he knew, she would agree. She would understand he has his chance to live, and he's not going to let what awaits them slip through his fingers. And what of Luke? To leave him here to navigate his way out alone would be no different than abandoning Kandji to the Sand People, and that was something Biggs would never accept. This wasn't the end for either of them.

His voice is soft, yet resolved. "...I know, Luke."

Biggs holds his gaze to calm him; he hadn't meant to drive him so far. As his friend reaches out, Biggs takes his hand firmly, accepting the lifeline and taking a step away from the door. Planning to say his goodbyes at last, an opportunity he had never been given, Biggs pulls himself gently away from Kandji's spirit, lifting himself away from her grasp-

The moment he does, even as he turns back to meet her eyes, there is a terrible scream - a human voice with demonic madness, the spectre losing its mind with rage. It leaps towards Biggs with uncharacteristic strength, ripping at whatever it can seize, its goal too close at hand to give up, now.

As Biggs responds and returns the grip on Luke's hand, such a wave of relief washes over him. He can breathe again and his fears are calmed. Luke takes another step forward and grabs onto Biggs' arm with his other hand. Biggs may not be prepared for what's next but Luke is. He knows what's coming and he's getting ready to drag Biggs out of here.

That's when the Kandji illusion screams in rage and lunges for them. Without thinking Luke yanks Biggs away and shields him with his own body, glaring straight at the illusion and just daring her to try anything. He's had enough of this and hell if he's going to let her so much as touch his best friend.

"You stay away from him!"

He's released one hand from Biggs and he's going for his lightsaber. If the illusion pauses even for a moment he might be able to get it unclipped in time to use it.

As Luke starts forward to shield him, Biggs feels a great, crushing concern overpower him, superseding all of what he had felt for Kandji. The spectre raises her arms to strike, perhaps to take his friend in his place- It isn't right, he shouldn't be the one who needs protecting, and the hand that Luke has left holding instinctively tightens.

"Wait!"

His other unflinchingly unholsters the handgun at his side.

It's beyond difficult to stare down a barrel at Kandji, but it isn't her anymore, if it had ever been her - his sights trained on her approaching Luke, it is far easier to pull the trigger. More than ever, Biggs is grateful for his impeccable aim - the bullet finds her between the eyes and while a shot to the head cannot kill an illusion, her imitation flinches long enough to give Luke an opening.

Luke starts slightly at the gunshot that comes from behind him, but his reflexes are sharp and he doesn't waste the time that Biggs bought him. Still, he only manages to move back a step or two and barely gets his lightsaber in-hand before the Kandji illusion reaches out for him. He's not close enough to grab but her nails are suddenly like claws and they tear gashes in his shirt as she swipes at him. Luke gasps in pain and flinches back even further, just about backing right into Biggs.

Well, that's certainly a very good illusion. It may not be the real Kandji, but it's definitely a very real thing capable of injuring them. Luke ignites his lightsaber and makes a quick, one-handed slice through the illusion's torso. She shrieks and crumples to the floor, her body splitting neatly into two pieces.

Luke watches her warily. That was a bit too easy and he gets the feeling that their troubles aren't over yet. Vaguely, somewhere in the back of his mind he realizes that he and Biggs are still holding hands with a death grip. He turns to Biggs with a weak, half-smile and finally releases his grip. "You alright?"

The words are barely out of his mouth when the floor begins to tremble. Within seconds it becomes a roar and the world around them begins to split at the seams, starting at the glowing white doorway. On the floor the illusion's body seems to liquidize and seal itself back together again as she slowly climbs to her feet.

Luke's eyes widen and he begins pushing at Biggs. "Run. We need to run!"

Heart hammering in his chest, seconds pass like minutes as Luke and Kandji fight. She's too close to Luke for Biggs to take another shot - he can only watch and hope, reeling as his friend is injured. Then Luke strikes her down, and Biggs releases a breath he hadn't been aware he'd been holding. He thinks that this could have been avoided, if not for his soft heart.

Reassuring himself he hasn't gotten Luke killed, Biggs keeps his hold for a second longer than the other. He doesn't have time to reply. Once the world begins to fall around them, he finds no arguments with Luke's suggestion, now.

Biggs doesn't so much as take a second glance back at Kandji before he's in a dead sprint back the way they came. All the while, he ensures Luke is never more than an arm's reach away.

fast-forward to escaping the maze into the ship's hallways;

They've been running for what seems like hours, trying to re-trace their steps and remember the way back to where they came from. Luke's not sure what they'll do once they get there since the very reason they made their way in here in the first place is because they couldn't seem to escape the hallways. Still, he'd rather be lost than sucked into a giant, glowing, white nothingness. The halls are definitely a lesser evil.

Yet another door that Luke throws himself through and he finds himself in a corridor that's decidedly not falling apart at the seams and appears to hold true to the typical design of the ship. He collapses in an exhausted heap against the wall and slides to the floor, sweating, bleeding, and desperate to get air in his lungs.

Before he can relax, however, Luke watches the doorway to make sure that Biggs makes it through, too. Since they got away from the Kandji illusion he's hardly let Biggs out of his sight. The experience was traumatic to say the least.

Biggs passes through the door at last, unable to believe his eyes. He slows to a stop long enough to survey the hall and conclude that they're safe, that the illusions have come to an end - then he's on his knees, energy spent, before he's realized he's fallen. Their rescue mission had failed, but Biggs was thankful they had at least escaped with their lives. That was not something they could have prepared themselves for.

Arms bracing him upright, it takes him a minute to catch his breath, to stop his heart from reverberating into his throat. His guilty conscience reminds him of something he hasn't allowed to slip his mind: Luke is injured. With barely enough time to rest himself, Biggs forces himself up from the floor and approaches him.

The memory of the illusion's claws ripping into Luke flashbulbs in Biggs' brain and the injury leaves a visceral sting in his own chest. They don't have adequate supplies to treat it presently, and will have to return to the populated area of the ship. Biggs knows well that they shouldn't waste any more time, and yet...

He doesn't wish to move until he's made it up to Luke. He'd never expected the scenario to escalate so far out of control, and now at Luke's side, Biggs draws his arms around his neck. Minding the wound, he slips wordlessly into a hug. He feels heavy with responsibility, struggling with the reality that he'd made a serious mistake. The sting of near-loss is strong, and he recognizes it as the very same he'd felt when he'd heard Kandji had been abducted, when he still had hope for her left. When she'd died, all of his affection for her had been overshadowed by anguish, and in time those feelings had slipped away. But the possibility of reuniting with her had dredged them from below the surface and he slowly comes to realize that how he felt for Kandji and Luke perhaps weren't as different as he had thought. It's an alarming idea... but not entirely unpleasant.

Keeping this to himself for now, he focuses on the present. "I'm sorry, kid," he sighs. There's more to say and in a sense, it's a lie of omission; but what he withholds is something he must come to terms with himself, first.

Luke watches Biggs survey the halls and then finally collapse on the floor. He watches him because maybe there's a part of him that still can't believe he has his best friend back... and then nearly lost him again. The emotional exhaustion is overwhelming and his eyes well up with moisture even though he can't find the energy to cry at the moment. It's the pain, both inside and out.

Now that he's no longer running for his life Luke remembers why his chest is stinging. He peers down at the wounds that the illusion left and gingerly begins peeling away his ripped shirt which is stuck to his skin with dried blood. There are three gashes, two of which went deep enough to possibly scar, but none of them are bad. Luke lets his head rest against the wall and tries to ignore the pain. He'll live and they can deal with it when they get back. When they get back.

He hears some movement to the side of him and Luke looks up just in time to see Biggs reaching for him. The hug brings about some turmoil inside. He wants to be angry with Biggs, to blame him for what happened and scream about the pain of watching him with Kandji. His eyes well up again and his brows furrow but he simply can't be angry. He doesn't have the energy and he just can't bring himself to be anyway. Biggs is alive and he's here. Luke would be an idiot not to appreciate that and just forgive him.

Slowly he circles an arm around Biggs, pressing his hand into his back and pulling him closer. His head comes to rest against Biggs' and he closes his eyes. Luke just wants to forget about this and focus on being alive and being here, both of them, together. When the stinging in his chest settles down enough to move his other arm he reaches over and grasps onto Biggs' sleeve like an anchor.

"You just stay right here and we'll call it even."

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EVENT: MELPOMENE ▒ HOME

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