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Part 2

Mundane. Existence was mundane. It was a continuous loop that carried no end to the bitter existence of living on this Earth. It was the torture of the worst kind to be near the…humans. They thought themselves to be so intelligent and so important, Devic thought to herself.

For ten long years she had lived along the Humans pretending to be their friend and Force supporter. They were naïve to actually think the Force would let them plan an uprising and not have a single Force member infiltrate their ranks. It was as if they actually believed their simple devotion to such emotions of Love and Hope and that idiotic desire for Freedom would not go unchallenged.

Devic could smell the fear such words had put into her superiors, but for her, the words had no significance what so ever. It was her mission to monitor the Human's progress. It was also her curse. She was forced to be among the traitors of her kind and actually help the Humans advance their technologies. Of course, she was also supposed to sabotage their technologies too and she loved doing that.

The Human scientists would work so hard to just finish one project. Then all the sudden it would be gone and they wouldn't have a clue as to why. All their hard work had been for nothing. For Devic, that was one of the sweetest moments of being stuck with the Humans; to see their faces when they failed, to see their faces when they had lost a little of their precious Hope. That was a sight that almost made Devic feel as if her assignment wasn't a total loss.

Unfortunately, and to great annoyance to Devic, that hopelessness the Humans had, never lasted long. At least not long enough for her. If she were to have her way the Humans would be tortured and at this very minute would be suffering for their gross insubordination and disrespect. They obviously didn't know when they had a good thing going for them.

"You wanted to talk to me Devic?" Elena's voice brought the scientist out of her silent musings.

Devic turned her black diamond shaped eyes upon the figure that dared interrupt her thoughts. She wasn't a very patient person and had even less tolerance for the young woman. "Elena, I sent for you almost two hours ago. Your tardiness is unacceptable." Devic turned from the lab table she hovered over and walked toward the Supreme Leader of the Humans.

Elena studied the scientist carefully. It wasn't often she was graced with the presence of one of the very few Force members who lived and worked at the Center. Devic was a beautiful young woman. She had dark silky hair that flowed down past her shoulders and curled just slightly on the ends. Devic wasn't much older than Elena and her face showed no signs of stress. Her skin was unusually light compared to the Force's naturally dark skin tone, but it suited her nicely. Most people in the Center thought Devic was actually human…she carried many of their finer characteristics. Humans being as diversified as they were often thought she had come from one of the oriental continents of the unified Earth. Devic, of course shot down all of these claims immediately, never ever wanting to be confused with actually being anything less then a full Force being.

"I'm sorry for my tardiness, but it could not be helped." Elena said to the shorter woman. "I am here now, so why don't you tell me what you want."

Devic let out an exasperated sigh and once again cursed herself for getting this assignment. "It is once again time for you to get tested." Devic looked over Elena's muscled frame with a scientific eye. "We must see how much your skills have advanced."

"Kournva usually does that." Elena protested readying her defenses for a fight. Ever since she was a small child her mother had done all the testing that needed to be done. Not many people knew she was part Force, and those who administered the test would be let in on the secret; and Elena didn't trust Devic to hold her secret.

Devic spread her arms wide motioned for Elena to look around the room. "Do you see Kournva here?" Elena shook her head. "Well that's because she's not. So, that means I do the test O' Mighty Leader," She said with an overly false smile gracing her features. "You know the drill for the tests so go to the test room and get prepared."

Elena moved up to Devic in a very threatening manner. She usually didn't mind Devic's attitude because that was who Devic was. However, Elena now was the leader of every individual in the Human cause and that included Devic. She was still very uncomfortable asserting her control over others, but this time she would have no such reservations. "Devic, I'm going to assume that you've had a very long day and have just had sudden moment of insanity." Elena stepped closer to the smaller scientist and used her height to her advantage. "Firstly, I am the O' Mighty Leader and I believe you should show the respect that title deserves. Secondly, because of the position I hold if I want Kournva to administer my tests she will."

Devic took a slight step backward so she wouldn't have to strain her neck quite as much to look at the seemingly annoyed leader. She brushed off her own annoyance with much difficulty knowing that making Elena her enemy would not be a very good move to make. "I'm sorry." Devic's voice didn't sound very heartfelt, but she did try, honestly she did. "If you'd like Kournva to perform the test then I'm sure that can be arranged. Although, I do feel that I can do just as good a job as she."

"I'm sure you could Devic, but I'm just more comfortable with Kournva performing the tests."

"You can't always be comfortable." Devic was actually surprised she had said that aloud.

The gray-eyed teenager stared into Devic's brown eyes for a very long time. Devic was certain Elena was sure to suspect her for being a Force spy now, but Elena surprised her and just smiled. "You're right, but Kournva will still do the tests for me."

"Do as you wish ma'am," The scientists voice did nothing to hide her open hostility toward the tall commander.

The doors to the lab opened abruptly and in stepped a short green-eyed blond haired faction leader. Elena thanked her lucky stars for the interruption, because Devic, she was sure, would begin to ask questions soon and they would be questions Elena couldn't answer.

Melissa walked into the room completely oblivious to the situation she had stepped into. She had just come to the lab to retrieve some chemicals to finish an experiment she was working on. After noticing her leader and the Force scientist in the room she became quickly aware that she had most likely interrupted something.

"Commander Elena, Devic," She greeted in a voice heavily laced with uncertainty.

Elena suddenly realized what her escape would be. "Melissa have you gotten tested lately."

"Tested for what?"

"You know, the normal tests to see how much your abilities have progressed."

Melissa decided that Elena's smile could only be classified as evil. "No."

"Then today is your lucky day. Devic here," Elena put her hand lightly on the scientists shoulder and ignored the flinch she felt at the contact. "She was supposed to run some tests for me, but I have other things to attend to and I'd like to be updated on your progress."

"I'm in the middle of something."

"Can we talk for a minute?" Elena took Melissa's arm and led her to the far corner of the room. "I'm going to tell you something and I'm ordering you to not tell a soul." Elena whispered harshly. "That includes Ezra." Melissa shook her head in understanding and Elena stepped closer. "If Devic does those tests on me right now she'll find out that I'm part Force and I'm not prepared for her to know that." Elena ignored Melissa's obvious shock and just continued to speak. "You need to take my place and be tested. I do really want to know your results. Anything you're doing now can wait."

Elena took the vile of the chemical Melissa had needed from the faction leader and walked out of the lab not once looking back. Melissa tried her best to ignore the fact that she was just told their leader was part Force and simply turned to face Devic. You really owe me for this one Commander; she thought briefly to herself then stepped up to the scientist and said aloud, "I'm ready for the testing."

Devic studied the faction leader carefully knowing that whatever Elena had just told the young girl could potentially be very valuable to her cause. Anything that would so obviously surprise one of the main leaders of the Human resistance force was bound to be important. The time was coming she knew, for the Humans to make a move in trying to gain their freedom and for some reason she knew that Elena was a very real threat, but this…this…Melissa was inconsequential.

"I know that you're busy," Devic's smile was beyond insincere. "You can just finish what you were doing and we can do your tests at a more convenient time for you." One of the last things Devic wanted to do was waste her precious time testing the blond teenager, besides it was time for her to report to her superiors.

"Elena has ordered for me to take the tests now."

Devic barely stopped her utter annoyance from showing so plainly on her face. She smiled roughly instead. "Then we shall do the tests now. Why don't you go to the regular testing room and I'll go get Roark to assist with the tests." Devic didn't wait for Melissa to respond. She turned and walked out of the lab leaving Melissa standing in the middle of the lab cursing herself for choosing this particular moment to step into this particular lab.

Elena exited the lab trying not to second-guess her decision to tell Melissa she was part Force. This was not the way she envisioned telling the young faction leader about her heritage. Of course, she didn't really know how she pictured telling Melissa, but whatever way it was, it wasn't in the back corner of a lab with Devic nearby. It especially wasn't just supposed to be Melissa and her secret.

"Elena I've been looking for you." Elena lifted her head upon hearing her name. She was met with the face of her first in command.

"What is it Ezra?" Elena asked her voice heavy with stress.

Ezra looked carefully at her commander's face noticing the lines of tension that covered the usually calm features. "Are you ok?" She asked tentatively.

The military commander waved a dismissing hand in Ezra's direction. She bore her gray eyes deep into Ezra's blue. "What is it?" Her words were carefully pronounced.

The faction leader just decided to ignore Elena's unusual behavior, for now. "We may have a security issue."

"Do you care to elaborate?"

Ezra looked around the open hallway and even though they were the only one's that occupied it at the time, this was not the place to talk.

"Let's go to my office," Elena said upon seeing Ezra so uncomfortable. She turned and began walking down the hallway out of the lab area of the Center and towards her office.

Elena's office was in the direct center of the Center. It was in the area, which was the Center's heart. Not many people had access to this particular area, because all the sensitive material was housed within the circumference of Elena's office. It was set up to where Commander could access anything and everything about the Human Resistance.

Ezra followed Elena into her office having been in the large room only once before after Melissa and her had decided on taking a personal day. The memory brought a smile to the faction leaders face. It was the only time in a long time Ezra could remember just having fun. They hadn't even really been punished for it either. Elena had been very understanding and a little disappointed. Could that have only happened four months ago, Ezra thought.

"What is our security issue?" Elena's voice brought Ezra out of her musing and she unconsciously gave a slight salute to the military leader. "We might have a Force spy among us," She quickly responded.

Elena walked behind her desk and fell into her chair. She expelled a long frustrated breath. "Why is that?"

"We've intercepted a communication signal that was sent out to the Force stronghold."

"Do we know who sent it?"

"No ma'am."

"Who else knows about this?"

Ezra looked a bit puzzled by the question but answered immediately. "Just those who intercepted the signal, me and now you."

"I don't want anyone else to know about this. The more people who know the greater chance of our perpetrator might found out we know they're out there," Elena said.

"What about Melissa and the other faction leaders?"

Elena studied her first in command for a moment. "Tell Melissa but no one else. I want this to remain among us three." The commander leaned her arms on her desk and expelled a long breath. "Ezra, Melissa is taking some tests right now, but when she's done I want you both in my office so we can further discuss this matter. Go back to whoever found this and make sure they know it never existed." Ezra looked as if she was going to question her orders but wasn't able to get a word of protest in because Elena quickly raised her hand to forestall any comments. "We shall discuss this issue later. Until then you will do as I say and take a close look at why your security protocols didn't catch this earlier."

Ezra sharply nodded her head and stood waiting to be dismissed from the room. She would wait to discuss her opinion on the issue later. Now just wasn't the time, Elena seemed to be a little preoccupied.

"What's wrong?" Ezra wasn't expecting the words to come from her mouth but waited for an answer glad to have voiced her concern. She was suddenly met with angry gray eyes that made her further regret letting the question slip. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked that."

Elena rolled her shoulders in an effort to release some of the tension that made her muscles ache. Her first reaction to Ezra's question was anger, but she knew taking her frustrations out on her first in command would not do either of them any good. Besides, Ezra was her friend if nothing else and she had a right to be concerned.

"Don't apologize for being concerned about me," Elena said softening her gaze. "We'll talk later."

Knowing that Elena had tactfully acknowledged the question yet didn't answer; Ezra knew the discussion was well over, at least until later. She also acknowledged she had been dismissed in a rather subtle manner. "Until later then," She smiled and turned to walk out of the office.

On her way out, Kournva, the head of the research department, met her at the door. It wasn't often anyone could find the scientist anywhere but in the lab. Ezra briefly wondered what business Kournva would have with the commander, especially since Franklin, another of the four faction leaders, was in charge of that department. Kournva smiled at Ezra as she passed and for the first time Ezra noticed Kournva's eyes were very much like Elena's. Funny, she thought to herself.

Kournva passed by her daughter's first officer and stepped fully into the office. She caught a slight look of curiosity on the blue-eyed teenagers face, but didn't think much of it. Most people were naturally curious of her because she was Force. It was a thing she was very much used to by now. She closed the office door and turned around to face her daughter who looked rather stressed.

The scientist walked up behind her daughter and began to massage her shoulders. Elena gratefully fell into her mother's loving touch. Neither of them felt like communicating anything at the moment and chose silence as a peaceful retreat. By instinct and experience, Kournva knew her daughter would speak when she felt like it.

After a few minutes Elena opened her eyes, which had closed without her full knowledge. She looked up into her mother's eyes and smiled. Her day had just vastly improved, for at least the moment.

"I'm not complaining, but what exactly are you doing here?" Elena sent her thoughts to her mother.

"Would you believe me if I said I just wanted to see my daughter?" Kournva answered smiling broadly. "I guess not," she responded from seeing the disbelieving look on her daughter's face.

"I would believe you if I didn't know better," Elena responded.

"In that case, I'm here because I got a message from your father," Kournva answered her face growing very serious.

"Please, if what ever you're going to tell me is bad news, don't tell me." The woman responded.

The scientist stroked her daughter's forehead and instantly regretted choosing this time to talk with her daughter, even though she couldn't think of when an appropriate time would be. "I'm sorry Elena, but you need to know this."

Elena dropped her shoulders in utter defeat and waited for her mother to tell her whatever it was her so allusive father had to say to her. "Your father wants to speak with you tonight. There's a few things the council wishes to discuss with you," Kournva explained.

The council was group that consisted of scientists, warriors, elders, and anyone who held a significant role in the rebellion. They were the ones in charge of the entire operation before Elena took over. Actually, Elena wasn't very sure she had even taken over. The board still had an enormous amount of control over everything that went on at the Center, and often called upon Elena to coerce her into doing what they wished to be done.

The board knew everything there was to know about Elena, and often used her heritage to blackmail her into doing what they wished. That however, wasn't what upset Elena. What upset Elena was the fact that her father headed the damnable board and that for some reason he made her weak. She could not deny her father anything, even though he wasn't her favorite person in the world.

"Your father is awaiting a response from you," Kournva said after not receiving an immediate response from her daughter.

"Don't call him that," Elena snapped after allowing her thoughts of her father to anger her further.

"Very well then, Lester wishes for you to respond," Kournva corrected.

"I have a meeting with Ezra and Melissa tonight, it cannot be changed. They will have to wait until it is over or reschedule for another day."

"Don't tell me this, tell your fa…Lester."

"I'll do that. Is there something else you wanted?" Elena said irritated by the whole situation.

"I am not the one that should be taking your anger, daughter," Kournva sent. "It would do you well to remember that."

"You're right and I do apologize, but today has not been the best and dealing with that man is the last thing I want to do today," Elena explained.

Kournva looked on to her daughter waiting for a more detailed explanation of her daughter's day. Normally, Elena handled stress with ease, but lately the scientist had noticed her daughter wasn't doing so well. The last few weeks Elena seemed to lack the healthy exuberance that was a fundamental part of her personality.

After waiting for and not getting a further explanation from her daughter she decided to ask for one, "What is wrong? And I want a full explanation."

There was a moment's silence and Kournva began to think Elena wasn't going to answer, but she did eventually her voice barely above a whisper. "They call to me Mother, and I find myself wanting to answer."

Suddenly Elena's attitude made since to Kournva. She was surprised she had not noticed the effects of The Calling on her daughter. "This time is a very difficult time for most of us. I can't imagine how it would be for you."

"It's this burning desire that I can't shake. I'm irritable and today hasn't been the greatest day anyway, so everything has just been compounded," Elena said hurriedly sparing no pause for breath. "I've never felt anything like this before."

"Will you be going to them?" Kournva asked knowing her daughter would never consider such a solution.

Elena looked shock by the mere suggestion of going to the Force. "That's not even an option for me. I'm considered Human to their eyes anyway."

"Perhaps you're right," Kournva conceded. "There is however one person who can help you."

"Devic," Elena said as if the name were a curse.

"She's about your age and she is one of us. If you don't get her help, you'll have to deal with the Calling alone."

"Why can't you help me?" Elena's gray eyes narrowed into small slits.

"I am too old."

"No you're not."

"I am too fragile."

"No you're not."

"I am unwilling."

Elena threw her hands wildly into the air. "Finally," She said somewhat exasperated. "The truth. Of course, I do expect for you to elaborate as to why you choose to let me suffer."

Kournva shook her head solemnly. "I love you with all my heart Elena, but I can't handle what you might have up there." Kournva brought her hand up and lightly tapped her daughter's forehead with an elegant finger.

Elena face looked dejected. Her shoulders slumped and she moved her face away from her mother's gentle touch. "Exactly what is it you don't think you could handle?"

The pain in her daughter's voice almost made the scientist break her resolve and give into her daughter's silent request for help, but her mind knowing what was right kept her heart's desires silent.

"Trust me when I tell you Devic is the one you should seek help from."

"I don't seek help from traitors Mother."

"Do not let some idiotic sense of pride block your judgment daughter!!" Kournva screamed to her daughter's mind. "You are not above her. Never presume you are."

If it were possible for Elena to burn Kournva's skin with her eyes the scientist would have been but charred remains. Kournva even looked to her hand to check to see if it had been burnt. To her surprise, there was no mark. For the first time in Elena's young life, Kournva was afraid of what her daughter was.

No matter how much Kournva had adapted to living with the Humans, she was still Force. She was well aware she was helping her own people be possibly destroyed, for some greater good she had been preached to about since the day she was born. It was her families roll since the first marks of the Force's history, to make sure the Force maintained their true purpose. Since she was a child Kournva had but one goal, and that was to make the Force see what they had so long ago lost. But along the way she got lost.

Like many others Human and Force alike, Kournva had fallen under the harsh spell of obsession. It wasn't the kind of obsession that would make her more qualified to do the job she was assigned, but the kind of obsession that shut her out to all reality except that single desire to make things right again. By any means necessary.

Eventually the obsession became her curse. It drove her to mate with a man she cared nothing for simply because he was prominent in the Human community and bore good genes. It drove her to make her daughter highly 'efficient', the overly used term to describe the Force and their true concerns. But the worst thing her obsession drove her to do was to push her daughter too hard for too long to accomplish an almost impossible goal.

Now she bore the guilt of her curse every moment she looked into her daughter's smoky gray eyes that resembled her own. Kournva had been introduced as to why the Humans honored the emotion called love, and the pain, joy, sorrow, torture, rigid perfection, and ultimate sacrifice that came with it. Elena had become the scientist's saving grace. Kournva, instead of just fighting to return her people to the true path they were meant to follow, now also fought for the Humans own cause. She freely now offered her life and her daughter's life for that cause, but she was still tied to the Force as was her daughter. That fact could never be changed.

Elena felt her mother's voice screaming in her mind then suddenly felt it leaving a melancholy silence behind. Her mother's face showed regret at what she had let transpire. She could just ignore anything that just had been said, Elena knew, but she wouldn't let anyone accuse her of being a traitor.

"I am no better than Devic," Elena sent in a staccato pattern. "But we do not fight for the same side. We do not hold the same values. We do not have the same goals and we will never be on the same level. She is here to destroy. I am here to assemble."

Kournva looked as if she were to intercede but Elena quickly stopped her by holding her hand up palm out facing her mother's barely open mouth.

"The only thing that binds me to her is that damned Force blood that runs through my veins." Elena's eyes bore so deeply into Kournva's it was as if she was looking through her. "This damned Force blood I have pumping through my body, I would do anything at this moment to rid myself of it. Only I know trying to cleanse myself of the poison that courses through my body would be fruitless, because my heart would only pump more to fill my veins. I can only leave the Force when I die, and while I will never take my own life to rid myself of the cursed blood, I crave for when my heart does stop and I do die. For of that moment I will be free from my loathed enemy."

No blow, neither physical nor emotional, had ever hit Kournva so hard. To hear the words being spoken hurt more then having them deposited neatly into her mind ever could. Knowing the conviction with which her daughter spoke came from the very depth of her soul, pronounced a pain greater than a fall from the heavens would. Elena's voice carried the words with a noxious grace, that when deposited in the air in such a sequence broke the heart that had given of itself to create the body of the mouth that spoke them.

What she set out to accomplish was accomplished. Elena could see the grief settle upon her mother's finely chiseled features, and she didn't care. As callous and as harsh as it seemed, she couldn't bring herself to care. The only emotion that fit itself around the heart she cursed was indifference. It didn't matter she had hurt the woman who had given her life and whom loved very dearly. And she did love her mother dearly. Among all the chaos that had been her life, her mother had been her safe haven on more then one occasion. The warmth of her mother's touch had brought her back from many dark periods, but right this moment none of that mattered.

What was said was said. What damage had been done was done. What either of them could do to repair that damage was still elusive to them both, maybe because neither of them sought an answer at the moment. No matter how much they loved each other as mother and daughter, this particular confrontation had been unavoidable, due to pure circumstance.

An old cliché suddenly sprung itself into Kournva's aching mind, 'an accident just waiting to happen'. She willingly departed into the memories of when she first heard the expression. She was no older then her beloved daughter and was working in the lab still in training to be a scientist. Kournva could remember sticking two chemicals next to each other, that if mixed would cause an explosion. Her sister, Averla, had noticed her mistake.

"Now that's just an accident waiting to happen." Kournva could hear her sister say while she took one of the offending chemicals away.

Kournva not knowing what the expression meant looked to her older sister in bewilderment. "How can an accident wait to happen? An accident can feel no emotion."

Averla had laughed heartedly at her younger sister's naiveté. She had completely forgotten her sister had just come down to the Human's lair only recently. Kournva had lived all her childhood and most of her adolescence among the Force. She would not know the many sayings the Humans used in their language.

"I do not see what you find so humorous about the situation," Kournva said irritated at being laughed at by her dear sister.

"I apologize Kournva, but it's just that you're so precious," Averla reached out and gripped her sister's arm. "Please forgive me."

Kournva who could not deny her sister anything easily forgave Averla her minor transgression. "You of course have my forgiveness sister, but tell me what it was that was humorous."

"You will learn many new things here living among the Humans Kournva, and one such thing will be their many phrases. They have such a way of expressing themselves you can't help but use them yourself. Of course, their words are entirely inadequate to convey true emotion, but they are fun to use nonetheless." Averla smiled brightly at her younger sibling glad to finely have her sister with her in their struggle return their people to their true path.

"I am not sure I like their words," Kournva said with some disdain. "Accident waiting to happen…it is almost a complete waste…their words."

Averla looked to her sister very seriously. "Be careful to not fully underestimate their power of words Kournva. While their words are inadequate at times, they are very powerful. I've learned their words can evoke great joy and great sorrow. Not many things so simple carry such power."

Elena's words had been a grim reminder of what her sister had warned her against. They also reminded Kournva of just how much she had relied on her sisters comforting presence in the big Human world. Suddenly, Kournva missed her sister very much and wanted nothing more then to share all her problems with Averla, but she knew she couldn't do that. Averla was back with the Force where she belonged, serving on the high council doing her duty by trying to sway the Force back to their true path.

"I will speak to Devic," Elena said her voice strained with emotion.

Kournva looked to her daughter and gave a curt nod. "I'm sure she'll at least be able to help you a little." Her voice was no stronger than her daughter's had been.

"She will tell the high council of me."

"They most likely already know of you. That had always been an unavoidable issue. You are special and different then the Humans, they take great care in noticing that. Besides, they know those who carry their same blood."

Elena flinched slightly as if she had been slapped in the face. The sting didn't last long and Kournva wasn't sure if she had actually seen the reaction, but her daughter's eyes betrayed her. They conveyed the pain of a thousand slaps to the face.

"I need to get back to the lab. Everyone's probably going crazy looking for me. I'm already late for a meeting with Franklin."

"I'll contact father about the meeting tonight as well."

They both looked at each other for a moment more then turned away, confident they had each been sliced open from the inside. Kournva turned to leave but Elena found some inner strength she hardly knew existed and stopped her mother's departure. The scientist turned to face her daughter's foggy eyes and was greatly surprised when her daughter enveloped her in her strong arms.

Kournva fell into her daughter's embrace and let a lonely tear run down her cheek. The wounds were still painfully exposed and fresh, but her daughter's simple gesture had gone a long way to healing them.

"You are one of the most important things in my life my child. Please never forget that," Kournva whispered into her daughter's ear and followed it with a kiss to the cheek. She pulled away from the embrace to see her daughter's tears falling down from beautiful gray eyes.

Kournva reached out and dried away the tears as she had done to many times to her child before. "My life force has been given the light by your presence daughter," she sent to her daughter.

Elena couldn't recall many times when her mother would speak in the way of the Force, but when she did convert to it, it was the times when her soul was truest. She didn't know how to respond to the highest declaration one Force could give another, so Elena chose to remain silent. Which was fine by Kournva, it only meant to her she had succeeded in conveying exactly how she felt.

Kournva turned once again to leave and Elena made no attempt to stop her. They needed to be separate at the moment now. Many things had still been left unsaid, but another time and place would be more appropriate to finish what had unexpectedly started. Life still needed to happen, so Kournva left her daughter's office plagued ten times more so then before by her guilt.

Chapter 6

Melissa walked out of the laboratory thankful Devic had finally released her. Her body was slightly sore from the tests she had had to endure. Normally the tests weren't so demanding, but unfortunately Devic was. Her whole test method was to try to push her test subject to the point of breaking, maybe to surpass that breaking point. Whatever her method though, it was highly effective. Devic's results were always the best and from the test results she was able to make a training schedule that would be best to help her test subjects advance in their ratings.

Tiredly Melissa walked towards her quarter, but ran into the solid form of Ezra who had been waiting for her to finish her tests. Melissa lifted her head, which took considerable effort, to look into Ezra's eyes.

"I really hope you have a good reason to be standing in-between me and my bed." Melissa said her voice strained.

"We have a meeting with Elena now."

"Why? What could she possibly want to meet about at…" Melissa looked down at her watch and then looked back up to Ezra's blue eyes, "2340."

"We had a security breech earlier. She wanted to meet with the both of us after you were done." Ezra began walking towards Elena's office and Melissa walked tiredly behind her cursing Elena's name the whole way there.

Elena looked up when her door chimed and called for whomever it was to enter. Ezra entered the room followed closely by an exhausted looking Melissa. Ezra stood and waited to be put at ease while Melissa decided to forgo any formalities and plopped down one of the chairs across from Elena's desk.

"It's alright Ezra just sit down. It's been a long day and I'm sure we all just want to go to sleep. Let's just get this over with." Elena told the almost rigid officer.

Ezra took the seat next to Melissa and waited for Elena to say whatever it is she needed to say or ask.

"Melissa you know what's going on don't you?" Elena asked the barely awake teenager.

"Security breech." Melissa answered shortly.

"Ezra didn't debrief you?" That fact slightly surprised Elena. She looked to Ezra but Ezra's face didn't give any answer. "Why don't you tell her about what's going on. I have to go speak with Devic. When I return we can talk about the whole issue."

"Wait a minute." Melissa said suddenly very awake. "You're going back to speak to Devic? The same Devic you so cleverly escaped from when you told me to take your place in the testing?"

"I tell you what." Elena responded. "Why don't you two go back to your quarters and report back to me the moment you are relieved from your Force duties tomorrow. I'll just go to speak with Devic now."

"Yes ma'am." Ezra instantly replied.

"Sure." Melissa's tired voice answered only moment's after Ezra's.

Elena nodded her head at both her officers effectively dismissing them. Outside of their commander's office Ezra decided to escort her fellow faction leader to her quarters.

"I thought you weren't due for testing for another few weeks." The taller girl asked as they walked down the abandoned hallways of the Center.

"I wasn't." The blond answered shortly.

Ezra was going to ask another question, but decided against upon taking a closer look at her companion. They soon reached Melissa's quarters and the blond gave Ezra a quick hug goodbye then quickly entered her quarters.

The dark-haired girl turned and headed towards her own living quarters when a pair of guards brushed hurriedly by her. "Hey!" She called after them. "What's going on?"

The guards turned as if first noticing they were not alone in the hallway. They instantly turned and saluted their superior. "Ma'am, there's been a minor breach of security in the labs."

"Why wasn't I informed of this?" She asked pointedly to the guard who had spoken.

"Commander Elena didn't think you needed to be told, ma'am." He informed her eager to be dismissed so he could report to the labs.

Ezra shook her head angered by the fact Elena would keep such a thing from her. She was in charge of security and it was her right to know about all security problems no matter how minor they might be. "Let's go." She told the guards rushing by the two men in the direction of the laboratories.

Minutes later Ezra was standing outside of the labs not able to step inside. The security doors had locked in place effectively stopping anyone inside of the labs from exiting and also effectively stopping anyone of getting in who didn't have the codes. While the dark haired teenager did have the codes she saw it fit to wait for her superior officer until she opened the doors. Elena was supposedly on her way.

Ezra paced the outside of the doors looking at her watch every other second. Not more then a minute had gone by until Elena had arrived. Her gray eyes showed surprise at Ezra's presence. "What are you doing here?"

"I am the one in charge of security." Ezra responded icily.

Elena only shook her head and decided not to get into any discussion with her first officer at the moment. There many other fights she would already have to fight on this night and didn't want to begin another one. "Fine. Stay out here." She ordered.

Ezra looked as if she would protest but with steely look Elena forestalled any comment. "That's an order."

The tall dark haired girl had no choice but to lower her head and submit to her superiors will. Elena hardly gave orders in that fashion, but when she did there would be no questioning her.

Elena's gray eyes looked over Ezra once more then she stepped through the doorway to the labs sealing it behind her using her own personal codes to lock it. She knew Devic would be the one she found in the labs and didn't want to take the chance of having her first in command barging in on the conversation she was about to have with this Force being.

Devic leaned patiently against the cold metal walls of the laboratory waiting to be arrested. She knew her messages to her superiors had been intercepted and eagerly awaited her punishment. It was not ever her intention to get caught, but being caught meant that she had a good chance of being sent back to the surface. She would finally be free of all the ignorant humans.

The young woman was greatly surprised when the door opened and Elena was the only one to enter. There were no guards with her brandishing weapons yelling at her to raise her hands ready to arrest her. Of course, Elena could just arrest her herself, but that was hardly common practice. The Supreme Leader Elena would never bother to let one minor breach of security by some errant Force member to take any of her attention, would she?

"You surprise me Devic," Elena muttered as she stepped into the room. "I always thought you would be more careful when you contacted the Force. You've been caught twice today," she said as if she was extremely disappointed in Devic's ability to get caught.

"You must give your first officer credit," Devic responded. "She has done a fantastic job of making your security protocols very hard to bypass," she continued conversationally.

Elena looked around the room. "Yes, she has."

Devic remained silent and watched the tall woman walk around the room. She reached a control panel and entered something then turned her attention back to Devic. "We don't want her security to get in the way of our conversation, do we?" Elena raised her brow challenging Devic to say something.

The other woman simply shrugged her shoulders and waited for the Human's leader to say whatever it is she needed.

Elena lowered her head and shook it gravely. "You believe that being among the humans is rather stifling, do you not?"

Devic's light gray eyes quickly glanced around the room. She didn't believe for one moment that this human had the ability to touch her mind like only her kind could do.

Elena chuckled inside Devic's mind. "Your hatred has made you blind to so obvious a reality."

"You play with me," Devic said still searching the room for something to explain the other woman's thoughts that had clung themselves to her own. "Is this to be my punishment for betraying you?"

Elena walked slowly up to Devic and looked deep within the young woman's eyes that identified her as a being other then human. All Force members' eyes were a shade of gray and looked like brilliant diamonds shining on solid black backdrops. There was no shade of white in the Force's eyes. Some humans insisted that this showed part of the Force's true evil nature.

Elena's own eyes took the same diamond like gray form, but didn't carry the solid black. Instead, it was more of a very light gray that looked almost white. Her eyes didn't readily identify her as part Force, which was why no one suspected her heritage, but with her eyes now looking so intently into Devic's the other woman now knew her secret.

"It can't be," the woman whispered. "You can't be."

"I will not debate my realness with you," Elena turned away. "There are other things we must discuss."

Devic straightened. "You know I will tell the council of you."

"Yes," Elena nodded, "you will tell the council and they will do nothing because they all ready know."

Devic studied Elena carefully still trying to accept the fact that this human actually shared the sacred bond with her that only the Force shared. She was sure that if the council had known of the half-breed then they would surely have ended her life a long time ago.

"If they really know about you then why are you still alive?" the young Force girl finally asked.

"Have you forgotten," Elena reached to Devic's mind once more, "that the Force never betray their own kind?"

"You are not one of us!" Devic yelled angrily. "You are a threat to us which must be dealt with."

"And to think just a few hours ago you saw me as nothing but a worthless human," Elena accused. "Now you fear me."

"I have a right to be afraid," Devic responded with a surprising amount of calmness.

The taller girl nodded her head. "You do," she agreed, "because you know I will eventually hold your life in my hands and I do not carry the same loyalties to you as you are bound by blood to carry to me."

Slowly Devic made her way over to a lab table and took a seat upon it. She was well aware that Elena wanted something from her. She had sensed it the moment the young woman had entered the lab, but she was afraid what the request would be because she knew she could not deny it.

Although most humans believed that the Force live by no code and had no honor the Force in actuality had a very rigid moral code which they had to obey our would be faced with serious punishment. The Force were a highly evolved species who only saw the humans as so inferior to themselves because of the way humans treated each other.

They saw it as rather deplorable that humans would kill their own kind. They were appalled by the acts mankind did to each other. Mankind was nothing but petty and cruel to each other. It was easy to take such a race over because they were weak. In their absolute division mankind was inferior in every way to the Force, because the Force were united and strong.

Long ago the Force had united and become one. No Force member would raise a hand against the other in any way. Among the Force there was an absolute understanding that they were all equal. Together the Force only sought out one thing, the light.

"That is unfortunate," Devic murmured, "because then that means you are more human then you will ever be Force." The young woman stood slowly and made her way towards Elena who watched her carefully approach. "But it is also unfortunate that you have enough of us in you that you have undoubtedly come here to seek out my help."

Elena allowed her head to drop and closed her eyes trying to fend off the some of the pain that was tearing through the back of her mind. "I can feel it now," Devic said ominously. "You are going through the Calling." Devic's dark eyes intently studied Elena. "You must be in incredible pain."

"It hurts," Elena softly whispered. "But it is a pain that I can endure," she added quickly.

"If you could endure the pain then you wouldn't be standing here with me right now." Devic circled in behind Elena and held the taller woman in a soft grasp from behind. "Let's drop all this useless pretense," she whispered into the human leader's ear. "You need a link and I'm the only one that can give it to you without having to go to the surface."

Elena stepped quickly away from the other woman's grasp and turned quickly to face her. "In exchange for your services I will grant you your life," she responded brusquely trying to gather control of this confrontation once more.

Devic just laughed. She certainly was not afraid of death and there was no way this half-breed was going to kill her. The Force member was confident enough in the fact that Elena, whether she liked it or not, was part Force. The young woman just wouldn't have the ability to kill another Force member. It would cause her too much pain. "Your threats are useless against me half-breed." Devic managed to say through her laughter.

Before the young Force woman knew what had happened she was being pressed viciously against the wall of the laboratory. Her shoulder blades were protesting the pressure with which Elena was holding her. "Do not," Elena firmly yet maintaining a certain amount of calmness about her, "presume to know who I am and what I am capable of." She pressed Devic more firmly against the wall. "I do not know if I carry the ability to take my own kind's life like the human's do, but do you want to be the first one to find out?"

A deep anger started to flare in the pit of Devic's stomach and she pushed Elena away from her with all her strength. Elena stumbled back but quickly caught her footing again and was prepared to stop the fist that Devic recklessly threw at her. With a quick movement, Elena had Devic's fist firmly entrenched in her own hand. "Do you really want to fight me?" She spat in the other woman's face.

Devic made a conscious effort to release some of the tension in her body and lowered her head to show Elena she would no longer try to bring her harm. As soon as Elena had released her hand though, she swung around kicked Elena's feet from under her. "I am a spy for the Force Half-Breed," she rumbled out. "I am not just a simple scientist."

Quickly Elena rolled out of Devic's reach and jumped back to her feet just in time to block the quick kick that was aimed at her chest. She found herself on the defensive parrying all the kicks and punches that were intended to strike her.

Devic was an experienced fighter who had much training behind her. The Force would not just send a young woman down to the underground who only knew about science. Devic was a trained soldier first and foremost. Elena soon learned her lesson for underestimating the young woman when a roundhouse kick hit her square in the side. She had never been hit so hard before in her life. It was a quick reminder to her that the Force were stronger, quicker, and were a group of beings that could not be underestimated. It was also a reminder to her that she was, whether she liked it or not, a part of them.

It took a moment for Elena to catch her breath from the kick but when she did she immediately took the offensive and soon had Devic kneeling on the ground before her whimpering in pain because of the odd angle her arm was being forced into. "What is it you wish to accomplish from this Devic?" Elena growled. "You know you can not kill me because you have the link. You were born with it and you will die with it." She released Devic's arm and turned away disgusted.

Devic stood from her position on the floor and gingerly flexed her arm. Once she was sure it had not been broken she turned her gray gaze to Elena. "I was severed from the link when they brought me down here." She informed her companion. "I could kill you just as easily as you could probably kill me."

Elena's eyes widened in surprise. It was impossible to be severed from the Link without dying. Her own mother still had to make contact with the Force on occasion so she would not become ill from being apart from her own kind for too long. "That's impossible," she barked, "no one breaks from the Link."

"Like you, Half-Breed, I was born for one purpose," Devic responded holding up her index finger. "I am so serve the Force without question and despise the humans for making a being like me be necessary."

"I do not serve the humans without question." Elena quickly countered.

Devic smiled evilly. "But you hate the Force for making a being like you necessary."

Elena straightened and studied Devic for a long moment then turned towards the lab's doorway. "We have nothing left to discuss."

"You still hear them don't you?" Devic yelled after her. "You still have that burning desire to be with them."

Elena forced herself not to turn around and respond though she couldn't help her body's small flinch from the other woman's words, which Devic had seen and just gave her encouragement to continue. "You can not run from it, Half- Breed. You'll eventually die from it."

That forced Elena to stop and turn around. She knew her condition would only worsen and that she would eventually die, but to hear that fact said allowed scared her.

"That's right," Devic continued once Elena had turned, "you'll die. You'll go crazy first though," she added conversationally. "You'll hear the voices of all the mind's around you and you won't be able to block any of them out. Then, you'll slowly loose control of all that hard earned mental discipline that you are so proud of. Kournva won't even be able to help you then."

"How were you severed from the link?" Elena asked forcefully once again approaching Devic threateningly.

"I was never born to it." The Force woman answered smugly.

"Neither was I." Elena responded.

"Yes," Devic nodded her head, "but your mother was. She was joined to link at the moment she gave birth to you, as all Force mothers are. They felt your birth, and they will feel your death." Her gray eyes looked at Elena for a moment seeing her desire for more information…more knowledge about where she came from. "I was not born from a Force parent, but rather a Force tube," she walked over to one of the lab tables and picked up a testing tube. "I started out in something very similar to this," she held up the tube towards Elena. "I guess I should call this my parent and the all those scientists daddy." Devic looked at the test tube for a long moment then let it drop from her fingers.

To Elena it looked like the glass vial dropped in slow motion and she could see each the glass break apart piece-by-piece as it hit smashed against the hard tile floor of the laboratory. "No link," Elena could hear Devic's voice say gently to her mind.

"But you are capable of it." The human leader stated hastily. "We all are. We all crave it, and in the end we all need it."

"And that includes you…Elena."

The way Devic said her name made her spine tingle that was far from pleasant. "That is why you wish to return to the surface so badly. You wish to become part of the link?"

"No," Devic shook her head. "I want to escape humanity." She responded shortly. "Joining the link is just a small benefit of leaving this," her arms spread wide indicating her surroundings. "Deprivation."

"You do realize this 'deprivation' is caused by the Force, don't you?" Elena asked incredulously. "You do understand that there is a lack because of what your…our people have done?"

"It is taught amongst the Force that if there is a lack then there is a want, and if there is a want you can not receive, and you if can not receive then you can not give." Devic spoke as if she were the teacher telling her unworthy pupil the most important information she would ever hear in her lifetime.

"What," Elena spoke carefully, "in the Great Lights name is that supposed to mean?"

"It simply means that because the humans perceive themselves as lacking they close themselves off from receiving and from giving anything." Devic spread her hands out. "It makes them inferior."

"And the Force lack nothing?"

Devic tsked at her companion and shook her head. "I did not say that."

Elena groaned. "Then what are you saying?"

"You will never understand," Devic said solemnly. "You weren't raised as part of the Force, which in turn also means you will die apart from them and the link."

"You will not help me?"

"Even if I did want to help you I couldn't," Devic confessed. "I am apart from the Force as well. If we were to link it would only be a link of two, and the idea of allowing you in my head until I die isn't that appealing." Devic took a deep breath and released it. "Besides, no link of two has ever worked before."

Elena advanced upon the person who carried the only real chance of her survival and let her temper take control of her. "Do you think I want you in my head any more then you want me in yours?" She screamed. "Think again!" She reached to Devic's mind. "But you are my only chance and my only choice."

"And will you make me link with you?" Devic challenged.

Devic hardly even saw Elena lift her hand and place it upon her left temple the movement was so swift. Before she really knew what was happening she could feel her thoughts being penetrated by Elena's stronger mind. The other woman's mind was so powerful that Devic's own mind screamed for release from their hold. Her eyes closed tightly in reflex, squinting against the pain she now felt.

"If you do not wish for the link then it will fail," Devic could hear Elena's thoughts that played havoc with her own. "But here is a taste of what I've been going through. It is the Calling, something you will never experience, and something you'll never have to deal with. Do you feel it? Do you feel the desire and the need? It is pain, and every day it gets worse…I'll give to you… for free," The full Force woman tried desperately to free herself from Elena's steady grip but her body was already too weak to shift Elena's hold, so instead of trying to use her body to defend herself she tried to use her thoughts.

"I do not sympathize with you," Devic's thoughts were broken and fragmented but Elena was still able to make them out. "You deserve to suffer. This is your pain, not mine." With a great effort she was able to reject the feelings that Elena was sending to her and gained a small amount of solitude in her thoughts. However, Devic did sympathize with Elena and that sympathy confused her. She analyzed what Elena had sent her and realized that the woman wasn't only making her suffer the Calling but she was implanting her own human emotions with them. These feelings were somewhat disconcerting.

"I will ask you this only once," Elena's thoughts again penetrated Devic's mind with ease. "If you deny me then you will be sent to the surface and this conversation will never have happened." There was a long pause before Devic heard Elena's next thought. "Will you form a link with me?"

The refusal formed and died on Devic's lips. Whatever Elena had done to her made it difficult for her to deny this young woman peace. She didn't understand what was happening to her and she needed time regain her composure. Devic however, didn't have the time so she simply nodded her agreement and reached out to Elena. Her hands covered Elena's temples and Elena raised her own hands to clasp Devic's.

Each woman closed her eyes and looked deeply within their minds.

It did not take long for them to form a bond that would be so impenetrable that not even the greater Force link could break it.

To be continued in Part 3...