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©2001

Part 3

Outside the labs Ezra paced. She was upset with her superior for going in alone, but she was even more upset that she had been so easily cast aside. It was her duty to be in there apprehending whoever their offender was.

She glanced at her watch and looked noticed that Elena had been inside that lab for almost an hour. This fact made Ezra very worried. If Elena hadn't locked her out of the labs she would have gone charging in with armed soldiers a long time ago, but because Elena had locked her out she could do nothing but wait. Briefly she thought of contacting Melissa, but the only point of doing that would be for her to share her worry and wait with someone else.

Ezra so lost in her thoughts she almost didn't hear the doors to the labs hiss open. When she turned around to look Devic was carrying out a very pale looking Elena.

The faction leader rushed over to her commander and made a quick evaluation of the woman then turned accusing blue eyes to Devic. "What did you do to her?" She asked menacingly.

Devic was weak from her exchange with Elena but wasn't nearly as bad off as the Human's commander. It was probably because she was full Force while Elena was only part. "There was a harmful chemical spill in the laboratory. It affected her," She looked down to the body in her arms. "More then it affected me."

Ezra met Devic's gaze doubtfully. "Lt." She waved over an officer standing by. "Go check the lab out."

"Yes ma'am." The man snapped then turned and went into the laboratory with a few of his squadron following.

"I've already treated her," Devic told the faction leader knowing that her story would check out because she had personally seen to the chemical spill herself. "She just needs rest now. I should take her to her quarters." She tried to walk around Ezra but the other woman just stood solidly in her way.

"You're not going anywhere," Ezra said evenly.

Devic exhaled heavily and shifted the body in her arms to a more comfortable position. Holding Elena's body within her arms was now far from any burden.

Within moments the soldiers returned from the labs and confirmed Devic's story. Ezra, although she was far from believing any word Devic spoke, reluctantly let the young Force woman to pass. "I'll escort you to her quarters," She said and it was far from a generous offer.

Devic nodded her head and cradled Elena's body even closer to her own protectively. The long walk to the commander's quarters was made in total silence. When they arrived they were both equally surprised to find Kournva standing outside, seemingly waiting for them.

The older Force woman quickly made her way over to the bundle in Devic's arms and looked over her daughter in only a way a mother can look at her injured child. She cupped her hand over Elena's forehead and caressed it gently. "You did it then?" She asked Devic.

The young Force woman just nodded her head slightly not wanting Ezra to pick up on their conversation. "She's fine Kournva." Devic assured the other woman. "It was just a small chemical spill, nothing too serious. You should probably check her out though."

"I agree," Ezra added. She didn't trust Devic one bit when it came to Elena's health. Kournva she knew she could trust.

"Let's get her inside then," Kournva turned and opened the door to Elena's quarters and waited for Devic to step through with her precious cargo. She looked expectantly at Ezra but the faction leader held back.

"I'm going to go back to the labs," Ezra explained. "I need to make sure everything is ok there." Kournva nodded her head and turned to follow Devic further into Elena's quarters to the military commander's bedroom.

Ezra let the door shut and stared at it for a moment. She reached to her communicator that was attached to the side of her arm. "Ezra to Melissa," her voice echoed in the silent hallways of the living quarters.

"Yea, what do you want?" Melissa's groggy voice responded after a long moment.

"Meet me in the labs ASAP." Ezra ordered then immediately ended the communicator's link.

Five minutes Melissa was standing outside of the main labs waiting for Ezra to show up. She still was drowsy from being woken from her sound sleep, but she was sure that whatever reason Ezra had for calling her down here had to be important.

"I'm glad you here," she heard Ezra's deep voice say behind her. "I think we might have a problem."

"What happened?" Melissa asked immediately falling into her role as the third highest-ranking officer in the human's military force.

"I'm not sure," Ezra responded, "but I'm going to find out." She walked towards the labs entrance and walked carefully through knowing that Melissa would follow her.

"Right after I dropped you off at your quarters tonight, I was almost run down by a few soldiers who were on their way down here." Ezra began to explain. "They informed me that we had had another security breech and I followed them down. Elena showed up and ordered me not to follow her into the labs. She went inside alone and locked the entrance with her own codes to deny anyone else entrance. An hour later Devic comes out holding Elena in her arms passed out and looking pretty ill and she tells me there was a chemical spill." They had reached the lab and Ezra was now looking around. "Needless to say, I don't believe she was telling me the real story."

"But there was a chemical spill?" Melissa asked not noticing anything out of place in the lab. It had all apparently already been cleaned up. "You did send in someone to confirm it didn't you?"

Ezra looked almost offended. "Of course I sent someone to check it out," she replied bitingly.

Melissa raised her hands. "Just making sure."

"So what exactly do you have that can tell us what really happened?" She asked taking another look around the spotless laboratory.

"Nothing," Ezra answered flatly.

"Then we should probably wait until Elena wakes up so we can talk to her then." Melissa provided as she ran her hand through her blonde hair and let out a huge breath.

"What if she's been compromised?" Ezra asked seriously.

"Do you have any evidence at all that would support that?" Melissa asked taking on the voice of reason even though she understood Ezra's worries.

"That's what I'm going to find out," Ezra said walking over towards the wall where the security devices for the lab were hidden. She reached for the device and pulled out a small circular disk then moved over towards one of the view screens that littered the walls of the labs.

Melissa slid beside Ezra in front the screen and watched the disk after the other faction leader had inserted it.

They were only able to see Elena walk into the labs and hear her confirm that Devic was indeed the one that contacted the Force. Their commander had turned the security monitor off enabling Ezra and Melissa to only see two minutes of their conversation.

"We should arrest Devic," Ezra crossed her arms over her chest. "She confessed that she was the one contacting the Force."

"I don't agree," Melissa responded sharply. "Something happened in here that we know nothing about. We must wait until Elena is well again and can tell us." In the back of her mind Melissa just knew it had to have been something to do with their leader being part of the Force, but she didn't dare comment on that thought because she was sure Ezra knew nothing about Elena's full heritage.

Ezra looked down at her fellow faction leader knowing that she could easily arrest Devic without Melissa's consent. She was the higher ranking officer, but this time she would defer to Melissa's judgment. "Fine. We will wait, but I still think Devic should be put under surveillance."

Melissa nodded her head, "I agree with that." She didn't trust the young Force woman one iota. "Should we inform Franklin and Erin of this situation?"

Most of the time any complicated situation that arose would be taken care of by Elena, Ezra, and Melissa alone. The other two faction leaders were often left out of loop and were only informed of events after the fact. Franklin and Erin were hardly involved with the real planning that was going into the future war. They were given orders and they carried them out with no questions asked. Their factions weren't even close to being as large as Ezra's and Melissa's were.

However, this was the beginning. This was the first time their resistance movement had met any real threat from the Force. To not tell the other two faction leaders of this event would surely start off a bad trend.

"Do you think they should know?" Ezra asked Melissa not able to come up with an answer on her own.

"I think this a private matter between our leader and a Force private citizen," Melissa responded honestly. "I wonder if we should know."

The taller faction leader thought about her companion's words then nodded her head after having come to a decision. "So this never happened."

"Never." Melissa echoed.

"Do you think this is what Elena wants?"

Melissa sighed heavily. "We shall know when we ask her."

"Okay." Ezra reached out and took the security disc from the view screen and placed it back in the surveillance equipment. She turned to walk out of the lab and allowed Melissa to precede her. The doors locked automatically behind them sealing the lab off until either one of them, Elena or Devic came to open it back up. It seems all their questions would have to be answered later.

In Elena's quarters Kournva and Devic had settled the human's commander comfortably in her bed. She had not moved a muscle since Devic had carried her out of the lab. Her body was physically exhausted, as was her partially human mind.

"I'm guessing it was a successful link," Kournva stated mildly as she watched her only child sleep.

Devic nodded her head her own eyes watching Elena intently. "She is within my own mind now," she sent the older woman her thoughts. "We have much to discuss when she wakes."

Kournva sighed heavily and moved over next to where Devic to stand beside the bed. She placed a warm hand on the younger Force woman's shoulder and grasped it lightly. "I pray to the Great Light that you are strong enough to handle what it is she must endure." Kournva's breath caught as she allowed herself to think of what might happen to her child if this Force girl wasn't tough enough to handle what lay ahead. She maneuvered so that she was staring intently into the dark eyes that were so much like her own. "If you are not, then my child will die."

"And so will I," Devic whispered softly.

Kournva released Devic's shoulder stepped away from her. She brushed some imaginary dust off of her long dress and cleared her throat. "I'll leave you alone now." She turned towards the bedroom's door. "Don't hesitate to call me if you need help when she wakes."

Devic didn't respond. She just watched the older woman walk away standing still until she heard the front door to Elena's quarters open and shut. When she was positive she was alone she walked over to the adjoined bathroom and leaned heavily on metal sink that protruded from the Spartan facilities. Her head lifted and found her own eyes looking back to her in the mirror hanging above the sink.

She blinked a few times almost wishing that when she opened her eyes again the image would change. The young Force woman reached her hand out and turned the knob for the cold water and let the sink fill up with it. She reached down and cupped the cold water between her hands then splashed it liberally on her face.

The water did nothing to ease the twisting in her gut. Reaching out blindly she found a towel hanging by the sink and dried off her face. Looking once more in the mirror she studied her face intently noting the change that had overcome her in such a short time. Her eyes were lighter and were no longer black, but had turned to a very dark shade of blue. They seemed almost purple.

With a quick movement she turned her head away from the mirror not wanting to look at herself any longer. She drained the water from the sink and threw the towel back on its hanger then walked back into the bedroom. Elena was still lying on the bed in her body showing the signs of pure exhaustion.

Devic took in a long breath and slowly released it. She mentally shrugged then walked over to the unoccupied portion of the bed. She sat down on top of the covers then took off her shoes followed by her socks and pants. She also unbuttoned her shirt that identified her as one who worked in the labs and threw it on the floor haphazardly. The standard blue tank top that she was required to wear with her lab uniform she kept on then she gingerly slid under the covers and tried to rest. Her own body and mind's energy had been drained during her exchange with Elena.

After a few long moments Devic's mind finally quieted and she was able to rest.

Chapter 8

She was sitting in a grassy meadow above ground. The sun was shining brightly and she could feel her skin absorb its heat. Elena took a deep breath of the fresh air and her lungs rejoiced at being given this rare treat. It wasn't often that she was able to breath fresh air living underground where all humans were forced to live.

The young woman could never remember being above ground before and wondered briefly how she had gotten here to begin with but quickly decided to not pay it much attention because she simply wished to enjoy the time she was given with the Great Light.

The soft sound of the wind forcing to break its sturdy course alerted her to the approach of another. Elena refused to turn around though; because she was worried that turning would mean the end of her time above ground.

A soft hand rested itself on her shoulder and she was forced to turn. She looked up into the eyes of a person she now knew intimately. Her hand reached out on its own accord and grabbed the full Force girl's arm to pull her to the ground next to her.

"I have never been to this place before Devic," She said her voice calm and wondrous. "This is your memory of home. I am honored to be able to see it now."

"I came here once," Devic's deep voice explained "I had run away from my masters who were teaching me what I needed to know in order to become a spy for our people. Coming here was the only time I had ever felt free."

Elena chuckled softly. "Freedom," she shook her head ruefully, "what does that one word mean exactly?"

Knowing the question to be a rhetorical one, Devic just leaned back and looked up into the incredibly blue sky. They sat in a comfortable silence that was only broken by the birds calling out and grass being blown in the wind.

Elena's eyes slowly opened and adjusted to the soft light above her head that signified morning had finally arrived. Her hand rubbed her face gently. Beside her Devic also stirred and slowly opened her eyes to the new day.

Elena turned to the Force woman who lay in her bed and waited for Devic's eyes to meet her own. "Are my dreams not my own as well?" She asked plaintively.

Devic groaned and moved to where she was sitting up in the bed looking down at her companion. "Everything that was once our own has now become ours," she answered indicating herself then Elena.

"I feel you inside me," Elena chuckled. "I believe I am now more a part of the Force then I have ever been before."

"I guess you consider that a bad thing for you," Devic leaned over until her face was directly over Elena's.

"Not really," Elena shook her head. "It is simply something that has changed."

"I understand." Devic reached down and ran her hand through Elena's dark hair. "Because now I am more human then I ever was before," she paused. "It is a change."

It just happened to be the biggest change Devic had ever been through in her relatively short existence. She now had a small idea of what all the humans, she had once despised and in some ways still did despised, felt. The emotions that the humans felt were something that would always remain foreign to her. Devic could not understand them no better then she could understand why the Great Light decided to act in the way it chose. Still, Elena had these humans' emotions and by proxy she seemed to get part of them as well.

"What happens now?" Devic asked forcing her thoughts to break away from examining all that had now become new to her in the past hours.

Elena sat up in the bed and turned her back to Devic. She didn't quite know how to answer, because she didn't know what would happen. She was the one who needed to be taught about the ways of the Link. She was the one, in the situation, who was of less experience. There was so much she didn't understand, and so much that she didn't want to understand, that she didn't know how to proceed. Even though it was her choice on how their lives would continue. Whether she liked it or not, Elena was the leader of this underground force and she was the one that had to take some semblance of charge.

With a great sigh Elena answered Devic's question. "Ezra and Melissa will want to know what has happened. They will come and I must find something to tell them."

"You will not tell them the truth?" Devic asked surprised. It had always been her understanding that the three military leaders never withheld any type of information from each other.

Elena shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. I am torn between my loyalties to them and my…" she chuckled ruefully, "…my loyalties to the Force and you."

Devic nodded her head in understanding. "It is hard to serve more then one master."

"No," Elena shook her head and turned to face Devic. "It is hard to serve any master."

If Devic wished to respond she wasn't given the chance because the door chime rang indicating a visitor. Elena looked towards the door then turned pathetic eyes towards her bed companion. "I'll get it," Devic exhaled. "Just you get cleaned up quick, because you know as well as I do who's on the other side of that door."

Elena nodded her head then stood up and walked away from the bed and towards the bathroom. She closed the door behind her leaving Devic to get dressed so she could open the door without scandalizing the two people she knew to be standing there waiting.

Devic quickly got dressed deciding to forego her shoes and ambled over to the door and ordered the door to slid open. She was met with twin shock expressions from Ezra and Melissa. Neither had expected to find Devic still in their commander's quarters.

"Elena's just cleaning up a bit," Devic told them ignoring their surprise. "She'll be out momentarily," she stepped aside and motioned for the two faction leaders to step inside.

Ezra was the first to cross the threshold of the door followed closely by Melissa. They didn't step too far into the room being cautious of the Force woman who stood before them.

Not really caring what the two humans did, Devic turned her back to the two woman and took a seat on one of the few pieces of furniture in Elena's quarters. It was a black leather looking couch that faced the door.

Melissa watched Devic carefully not trusting the woman one iota. Part of her wished to check in the back room where she could feel Elena's presence to make sure the commander was all right. Tentatively she allowed her mind to scan the immediate area looking for any signs of danger. She could find none, but that didn't make her any less cautious.

"I hope your curiosity has been satisfied," Melissa felt Devic's voice invade her mind. She looked to Ezra to see if her companion had heard what she was sure Devic had told her, and Ezra only looked ignorant of anything that had been said. Even though humans were given telepathic skills they had never been able to talk to one mind directly without any high amount of preparation. It took only the strongest minds to accomplish such a task, and while Melissa was a high-ranking telepath she couldn't exactly reach to another mind so skillfully without another telepath catching on to at least part of what was said.

"My curiosity will not be satisfied until I have proof that Elena is well," Melissa finally responded to Devic choosing to just speak aloud not wanting to appear like she was hiding anything from Ezra.

Ezra turned and looked down to Melissa curious as what had brought her to say such a thing. She had been feeling the same thing, but she wasn't about to voice her concern. She looked over to Devic who only watched her with her diamond gray eyes; her lips were turned in what could only appear as a satisfied smirk.

"Stop playing with them Devic," Elena walked into the room and immediately chastised the Force woman. "They are most definitely not in the mood."

Elena's statement made Devic grin broadly. "They may not be, but I am." Devic could just hear her Link Mate groan at her response.

All that Ezra and Melissa were able to see or hear of the exchange was Devic's broad grin immediately after Elena had entered the room.

"Why don't you two have a seat?" Elena turned her attention to her two subordinates. "Let me say my piece then you can ask all the questions you'd like."

"I prefer to stand," Ezra replied straightening her posture.

"Sit," Elena responded shortly.

Taking the order as it was given Ezra quickly took a seat next to Devic on the couch. Melissa took position next to Ezra and awaited whatever explanation Elena was going to give.

Elena met Melissa's eyes briefly then turned away. She had wondered if Melissa had told Ezra of her heritage and instinctively knew she hadn't. Melissa's loyalty to Elena seemed to be absolute. Elena couldn't help but feel a tiny bit disappointed at the fact though. She had hoped that the bond between Ezra and Melissa would be a stronger one. Maybe it still just needed time to grow.

"I'm going to make this short," Elena began, "there's no explanation I can give you at this time that will satisfy all your curiosities but I will tell you what I am able." She took a deep breath and released it slowly. "I am half Force. My mother is full Force and her name is Kournva…I'm sure you know her," Elena looked at each set of eyes before her and so no humor so she quickly continued. "Because of certain biological traits that are part of the Force, Devic has become my…" she fished for the proper term that Ezra and Melissa would easily understand. "…she is the equivalent to what a life partner would be."

"Excuse me?" Ezra was sure there had to be a better euphemism to explain Devic's involvement in Elena's life.

"Another human flaw," Devic directed her thoughts to Elena. "Words, I mean…they never do anything justice. You hide behind words."

Elena turned sharply to look at the Force woman. "I hide behind nothing. It is hard to formulate words that describe what you are to me. Linkmate seems to sound too much like an endearing title."

"I was wondering where your dislike of me went." Devic chuckled and Ezra and Melissa just looked at her oddly. "You seemed too kind to me earlier."

"Do not mistake civility for kindness Devic," Elena warned then turned her attention back to the two officers that sat waiting for a further explanation. "Look," she sighed, "I really don't know how to explain this. What Devic and I are to each other now, her people…" Elena closed her ash colored eyes mentally chastising herself for her reluctance to admit that she was a part of the Force as well. "…I mean we are to each other what our people call Linkmates. We have bonded and to break us apart would either kill us both or drive us insane."

"What do you mean by bonded," Melissa asked both curious about this aspect about the Force culture and unsettled by the idea that her commander was now bonded with the one of the beings they would soon be at war with.

Ezra, on the other hand, was just worried about what all this meant to the future war effort.

"By bonded I mean we are joined…but not in a physical way. It's purely mental." Elena was quick to clarify. "Our minds are still separate but Devic is inside me now…if that makes any sense at all."

"What does this mean for our war efforts?" Ezra was quick to ask. "You pose a great security risk for obvious reasons." She gave Devic a narrowed eyed glare.

"You surely wouldn't want her taking over now would you? She's still a little too raw." Devic taunted Elena. "And you do pose a security risk, so what will you do?"

"Will you please find somewhere else to be?" Elena yelled at Devic frustrated. "I do not need your little snide remarks at everything being said. Why don't you lock yourself up in some small room and entertain yourself by studying all the intricacies of espionage? I'm sure that would make you feel right at home." As soon as her tirade was over Elena could feel how her words had affected Devic and she instantly regretted them. She could easily separate Devic's pain from her own anger.

Slightly shocked and hurt by Elena's words, Devic stood from her place on the couch. She knew she had deserved what Elena had given her, but she couldn't very well help what she was doing. It was her only defense in this uncomfortable situation. Devic took a quick look at each of the faces that watched her every move then walked over to the door of Elena's quarters. "I will see you later when it is time for you to meet with the council. They will no doubt want a full update on what has progressed." With those being her final words the doors hissed open and she stepped through them and immediately walked towards the direction of the labs.

Elena briefly considered chasing after Devic but quickly decided against it. She still had to finish explaining what she could to Ezra and Melissa, and besides, she didn't have the strength to apologize to Devic for her words. There would be time later to deal with her linkmate. She turned her attention back to her two officers and began answering the last question that was directed at her.

"Security is not an issue," She explained shortly though her angry tone was not intentional. "The Force no doubt now know of our link and will not accept Devic back into their world. We are a Link of our own. She has always been a part of this war, it's just that now she's fighting for our side."

"How is it that you accept her loyalty so readily?" Melissa asked even though she now, deep down, did not question Devic's loyalty in the least. She could tell that something in the young Force woman had changed dramatically since the last time they had spoken. The change was not an obvious one, but still, Melissa could tell that something had changed. Something inside Elena had changed as well, but Melissa couldn't quite tell what that was either.

"I accept her loyalty Melissa because she is my linkmate." Elena answered simply. "I can not help but trust her as I would trust myself. It is like I said before, she is inside me, which also means that I am inside her as well."

"I can not pretend to understand this," Ezra said warily, "but I do trust in your judgment and I believe you would not harm our cause, so I will accept Devic-if reluctantly-to our side. I can only assume that her security breaching days have come to an end." She looked pointedly at her commanding officer her eyebrow cocked slightly.

If Elena didn't know better, she would have thought that Ezra had almost given her an order. She found herself equally surprised and proud of that possibility. "I assure you that Devic is no longer a security threat, Ezra."

"When will you be returning to duty?" Melissa cut in. "From what I have been told it seems that last night you weren't as healthy as you normally are? I can even tell now that you aren't up to your normal strength."

Elena reached her hand up to cover her face, knowing she did show signs of fatigue. "I have a meeting to attend today, but that will be my only activity for awhile. There are some things that I must work out and I can't do that while being in charge of everything now." She looked to Ezra. "Which means you're now officially in charge. I'll meet with Erin and Franklin personally to tell them the circumstances of my absence."

"Are you going to tell them the truth?" Melissa couldn't help but ask. She trusted her fellow faction leaders implicitly but wasn't sure that informing anyone else of this circumstance was a wise idea.

Ezra had run the same question throw her mind but had decided not to voice her worries. She was thankful that Melissa did not hesitate as she did.

"What do you think it would mean if I tell you two and decide not to tell them? How would that prove that I trust all the faction leaders equally?" Elena snapped. "It is not fair for me to single you two out and then expect Erin and Franklin to understand."

"You're right," Melissa sounded properly chastised. "I'm sorry."

"So you're going to tell them everything?" Ezra asked to make everything clear.

Elena's head dropped and a great sigh escaped her body. "No." She answered softly.

Melissa's head snapped up from her shame, "What? I just thought you said…"

"It doesn't matter what I just said," Elena quickly interrupted her. "It would be the right and fair thing to do yes, but it isn't the wise thing to do. Everyone who knows about me and Devic are now targets for the Force." A smirk came to her face. "I believe you two can handle what they may do to you, but Erin and Franklin are not yet strong enough."

"What do you mean targets?" Ezra shifted in her seat to lean closer to her commander.

"I mean that people who know will be hunted down and killed."

"But why?" Melissa asked cautiously.

"What I am about to tell you doesn't leave this room," Elena looked at each of her officers carefully and waited for each of their separate nods. "The Force are joined by a great Bond. It is both physical and mental, every Force being is born into it because their mother is connected to the link when she gives birth." Flashes of guilt ran through Elena's body. She wasn't sure she should be telling the Force's enemies about their greatest strength and weakest link. Her mother certainly wouldn't approve and she was sure the council wouldn't either. Still Elena decided to forge ahead. "This Bond is what makes speech unnecessary to the Force. They are connected, each and every one of them. Each Force being feels each other's emotions and pains like they feel their own. They bring a whole new meaning to the word family."

"Are you a part of this Bond?" Melissa asked curiously fascinated by the fact that the Humans had never figured this important fact out about their oppressors.

"No," Elena shook her head. "I was born to it but I wasn't born in it. The Link they have to each other is what enables them to live for so long and is what makes them seem like they are so unstoppable. They give each other strength and life."

"Can the Bond be broken?" Ezra asked succinctly.

Elena's body flinched at the question. She had known that it would be asked but didn't want to answer. She knew that anything that could be built could be broken.

Ezra took Elena's flinch as her answer. "How can it be broken then? If the Bond or Link or whatever it's called can be broken then there doesn't really have to be a war. I'm assuming that the Force would be defenseless without it."

"They'd be fragmented that's for sure," Melissa added her own observation. "They wouldn't be able to mobilize nearly as well as they do now. Not to mention they'd be weaker and not as strong as before…physically they'd probably still be stronger then Humans but at least it wouldn't make us as inferior in hand to hand combat as we normally would be."

"Yeah that would allow us to change a lot of our attack strategies. Knowing that we have at least a chance in hand to hand makes us re-evaluate our whole hit and run plans." Ezra excitedly responded to Melissa.

"It'd be important to attack them immediately after the link is broken though," Melissa pointed out. "That would be when they would most likely be weakest."

"They most likely wouldn't just be weak," Elena's voice cut through Ezra and Melissa's excitement. "Most of them would be dead and dying. You'd only have to be there to clean up all the bodies from the above ground."

"What do you mean?" Melissa asked her mind switching from it military planning to refocus its attention on what her leader had to say.

"The Bond is as important to keeping the Force alive as your heart," Elena reached over and placed the palm of her relatively large hand over Melissa's heart, "is to keeping you alive." She pressed her hand harder into Melissa's chest. 'Without your heart you die and without the Bond, they die."

Melissa boldly reached out and grasped the hand over he heart. "Would you die?"

Elena allowed her hand to be taken and reveled in the feel of Melissa's warm flesh over her own. She shook her head, "No I wouldn't die. My Link only with Devic prevents that…but if Devic were to die I would soon follow. The Force know that and they would make sure that any threat brought to our union would be eliminated."

"Why?" Melissa whispered only aware of Elena's hand in hers and the gray eyes boring into her own green orbs.

"The Force will always protect their own." Elena whispered back. "And they will never allow another of them to be hurt."

"Does that mean you would not allow us to exploit this weakness?" Ezra asked harshly trying to ignore the uneasiness she felt from the display Elena and Melissa had just shown. "Even if it means that the humans would finally have a chance to survive whatever war is inevitably coming?"

Elena removed her hand from Melissa's grasp and turned her full attention to her first in command. "Are you suggesting that we go along with trying to destroy the Bond and commit genocide?"

"What do you think the force have been doing to us for the past few hundred years?" Ezra waved her hand in the air angrily. "They've slowly been killing Humans to eventual extinction. The Force kill us by the hundreds each day and we have a chance to stop them once and for all and you won't take that option?"

"No. I won't." Elena stated firmly. "And I hope that you learn very quickly what exactly is so wrong about your suggestion."

"It would prevent millions of lives from being lost in the war. It would even prevent a war. We would have our home back and then we could start again. This gives us a chance to win." Ezra pleaded her case.

"But at what price?" Melissa asked silently cursing the part of herself that agreed with Ezra. "Must we become them to destroy them?"

Elena reached back and rubbed the base of her neck where she could feel a headache coming on. "I've given you the Force's Achilles Heel Ezra, what you do with it is really your business. I just want you to realize that you're only sixteen years old. If you survive what you're really thinking about doing than you'll have many…many years to regret your decision."

"You should not regret decision made during a time of war," Ezra recited in a cool monotone. "You neither have the time for regret or too much pride. Focusing on these things either makes a failure turn to an absolute lose or a victory turn to absolute defeat." She focused her ice blue eyes on her commander. "It is from the book of 'Emotions in War'. I am sure you are familiar with it."

"There is a story I was told when I was just a young girl by one of the Force guards when I had been injured building their things." Elena moved over to the shrine of the sun that was in display in her living quarters and knelt before it. "I know guards usually aren't very kind to human's but this one was to me. He stayed with me while my wounds were being treated." Her gray eyes turned to see if she had her officers full attention. "I would like to tell you this story today. So that you remember, that the Force aren't just our oppressors but that they are beings that live and breath like we do."

Elena took a deep breath and said a quick prayer over the shrine before she started her story.

"It is the Force's belief…and it is my believe that when the Force were first created they lived in a dark world. There was no sun and no light to shine upon them and bring them life, except there was one mountain that at the very top the faintest of light could be seen. The Force craved a break from the darkness from below and each would eventually take a try a climbing the Great Mountain of Light. For centuries we lived below the mountain always straining to get to the top. It was thought that whoever possessed the light would be the one that would have all the power of the world."

"Did anyone ever reach the light?" Melissa asked fully entranced by the story.

Elena just grinned at her eagerness and continued with her story. "The mountain was great…it was taller then any here on Earth. Sharp jagged rocks covered the mountains base making it almost impossible to even begin the climb. The Force lived to capture the light and died trying to do it. Even some of the Force gave up on trying to reach the light and decided that living in the darkness of their world was better then losing their lives over an impossible task. It was a battle between the Great Mountain Light and the Force and the Force were quickly loosing.

"Then one day for some unknown reason the light began to shine brighter then it had ever shone before, and reached down to shine upon a woman giving birth. Just when the light was shining it's brightest a new daughter of the Force people was born. The moment her wails filled the sky the light began to fade again and once again their world was filled with darkness. The Force took the birth of this child as a sign and she was quickly referred to as the Child of Light. She had brought light to their dark earth if just for a brief moment.

"The Child of Light had brought the Force hope and they renewed their attack upon the Mountain of Light with vigor. Still no one succeeded in climbing the mountain to obtain the light and after years of trying they believed that the light now chose to taunt them by giving them false hope and they blamed the Child of Light for their harsh treatment. The girl lived alone in her world of darkness. No one wanted to befriend her because she was part of the light. So, the Child of Light lived a solemn existence and grew into a beautiful woman whom knew nothing of her people and cared nothing of the light.

"She left the base of the mountain, where the only light was on their world, and ventured out into the darkness. Some of the Force cared enough to warn her of the danger of the darkness that surrounded them, but most of the Force heralded her departure. Heedless of the warnings that she had been giving she set on a journey into the darkness where she could no longer bear witness to the lure of the light, and she started her journey in hopes to find meaning of the darkness. All through her existence she had heard of nothing but the talk of the light, but she had never heard of talk about the darkness. She had never seen a reason of why the darkness was to be feared and why the light was so greatly worshipped.

"The Child of Light walked around in the abyss of darkness for years and never found anything. She did not find life and could not find any other source of light. Heart stricken that her journey was such a failure and that she had no answers to any of her questions, she turned around and decided to go back to the light. Unfortunately, the darkness had swallowed her whole and she knew not where she was or which direction she should turn to find the Mountain of Light. Her quest had already been such a disappointment to her that she decided that it didn't matter what directions she turned…she would always be on her own.

"Without any place to go she just took a seat on the hard ground and closed her eyes. After the years of being alone she was used to the silence and darkness that surrounded her and was almost terrified when she began to hear voices. She bolted back up to her feet and looked around feeling out with her senses for the persons she had heard speaking, but there was no one there with her. She closed her eyes again and began to concentrate and again she started to hear the voices, but when she searched around herself there was still no one there.

"So once again she closes her eyes and concentrates and again she begins to hear the voices. This time she keeps her eyes shut and concentrates on what the voices are saying. 'Today Falike was lost to the mountain,' she heard the voice of a man say. 'Yeah, I expected him to go sooner then he did though. The young boy obviously was very determined to obtain the light,' the voice of a female responded. 'Do you ever think you're going to take on the Mountain of Light?' the female voice asked. 'I'm too old to try that now. The mountain would take me for sure.'

"The Child of Light ripped her eyes open realizing that she was hearing the voices of the people that lived at the base of the mountain. She frantically searched around looking for the mountain and looked for her people, but she could not find them. Out of breath from running around searching for her people, she returned to where she had laid down before and admitted to herself that she was just going crazy. She had expected to loose her mind sooner or later. It seemed to happen to anybody who had decided to venture away from the light. So, she resigned herself to the fact that she would soon probably die and laid down once again to rest her tired body.

"However, when she closed her eyes she began to hear voices again, but there were more of them then the two she had heard before. There were dozens of conversations going on through her head and she could hardly keep them straight. Knowing that her mind was too active for her body to rest she gathered her meager belongings and began walking. She quickly learned that if she headed in one direction that the voices grew stronger and she could hear more of them then she could before. So she continued in that direction and soon after, she found herself again at the base of the mountain. The Child of Light had returned to her mountain.

"Now among the Force this was unheard of. No person that went off into the darkness was supposed to return. It had never happened before so when the Child of Light had shown up again they didn't know what to think. They weren't sure if they should honor her for surviving or fear her for it. Curiosity eventually won out and soon the Child of Light was asked of what lay in the darkness." Elena paused in her story and stood up from her kneeling position, walked over to her two officers and sat before them instead.

"Now we all know that during her journey she had found nothing. There was no other light she could speak of and there was no other life she could speak of, but upon her return she realized that she had indeed found something. She told them that she had discovered the Forces soul. 'I have found no other light,' she had answered them, 'I have found no other life. If you walk into the darkness all you will find is darkness, but when you believe your journey is over and a failure you look within yourself, and you find our souls.' Some of the Force laughed at her while others urged her to continue, but no one walked away. 'We are many minds and many bodies that are forced apart by the Calling of the light.' She pointed to the mountaintop. 'We live to conquer that light and by doing so we have all missed what was given to us to survive the darkness. We believe that the darkness means that we are alone, apart, one. The light is supposed to give us what? Power? Prestige? Life? So far the only thing the light has offered us is death.'

"The people listened to her in apt attention. She spoke like no other Force being had dared speak before. 'I ask you all to just close your eyes and release those desires of the light, and your desires to find meaning…then tell me what it is you hear.' Each and every force member heard what she had her entire journey back…they heard each other. With all their minds concentrating on the same thoughts, the Child of Light created the Bond. Eventually each of their thoughts turned to the light and they could feel the loneliness they each felt fading away. When the Child of Light directed the people of the Force to open their eyes they were greeted by a great glowing heated sun.

"They were finally given the light because they embraced who they were and stopped wanting. They escaped their loneliness and they now had the world they had always dreamed of. The Child of Light showed them the Bond and their greatest strengths were finally realized. Eventually the Child of Light became the protector of that Bond and guardian to the Force people. She was the Sun Angel." Elena finished her story with a small smile and could tell both Ezra and Melissa were almost in awe of the story.

"And some Force guard just decided to tell you this one day?" Ezra asked skeptically.

Elena rubbed her chin and smirked. "Well," she drew out the word, "a guard did tell me the story and I was injured at the time, but I guess you could say he really told me because he knew who I was and felt that I should know my people's greatest story. Every child of the Force is told the same story so the Child of Light is never forgotten. It is actually even speculated that the Child of Light will return to the Force if they ever stray from their true path, and will lead them back home."

Melissa couldn't help but laugh at the comment. "The Force seem really lost right now, where is this Sun Angel you speak of that will lead them back to their true path?"

Elena simply shrugged her shoulders. "Who knows really? I'm certainly not going to hold my breath for their Sun Angel to come, but that wasn't the point of me telling you that story."

"Yeah I know," Ezra grunted. "You wanted to deliberately change our harsh perception of the Force."

"Did it work?" Elena quickly asked.

"If you're asking me if I'm still considering to use their Bond against them," Ezra sighed heavily, "then the answer is no."

Elena let out a mental sigh of relief. "Well that's good to know."

Ezra pointed her forefinger at Elena and waved it wildly in the air. "But don't you dare expect me to sit down with them anytime in the near or distant future and have tea."

Melissa waved her hand in Ezra's direction. "I'm with her on that one," she sternly told Elena. "They may have one really great story about a savior, but that doesn't mean that they are automatically exonerated for what they have done."

"I don't expect that." Elena said carefully. "I just thought it was high time you realized that you are dealing with real beings instead of unfeeling machines. I'm looking for them to not be held accountable for anything they have done. They deserve whatever punishment that we deem fit, but we can not go off yelling 'kill 'em all'."

"Well it seems, then, that it's a good thing you are here to remind of that," Ezra said lightly.

"Yeah I guess it is," The military leader responded thoughtfully. "But that's all we really have to talk about today," Elena stood from her seat. "I have a meeting to attend. I'll tell you when I've contacted Franklin and Erin about the current situation."

Melissa and Ezra both stood as well and nodded their understanding to their commander. They left Elena's quarters not knowing what they should really think about the situation that had just been presented to them. Thinking at this point was really necessary though. They each had a job to do and that's all they needed to be concerned with. Surely it didn't matter that now they had the Achilles Heel of the Force. Everything their commander had just told them had to be forgotten the minute they stepped through the door that took them out of Elena's quarters. Everything was just business as usual.

Chapter 9

Ezra stepped into her own private office that had just been given to her, due to her commander's unexpected leave of absence. It had been explained to her, by letter from the council, that she was to report to Section G of the Center and proceed to the secured wing where she would be shown to her new work area. The council had only told her that Elena was going to take a break from her duties so that she could rest as a precaution so that she didn't come under too much stress. There was no information given as to when Elena would be reporting to duty again, but until then Ezra was going to take over all projects that her commander was working on, except those of the highest sensitivity.

So now here Ezra was, inside a fancy Center office in charge of the entire human race's effort for freedom. It was an awesome responsibility and Ezra knew, without a doubt, that this was not a position she wished to hold for any long period of time. Her sixteen years of experience in life just didn't seem enough to have prepared her for the position she found herself in. It was much easier to make decisions for part of the resistance movement instead of the resistance movement.

Now, however, everything was left up to her…a sixteen-year-old child who had been playing military girl for a few months. What had the council been thinking? She needed more experience, she needed more time, she needed more education, she needed more…everything.

A panic started to come over her and she felt like her lungs were suddenly too small to take in the amount of air needed to keep her conscious. Her blue eyes frantically searched the office giving her the illusion that the walls had started to close in on her. It was all just too much.

Melissa looked at Ezra standing in the middle of what she suspected was Ezra's new office and watched the older girl's breathing increase dramatically. She quickly identified the anxiety attack and rushed over to her friend and lightly grasped Ezra's forearm.

Ezra violently turned and ripped Melissa's arm off of her. The blonde's touch had been unexpected and her body's first instinct of defense took over. Before she consciously realized what she was doing she held Melissa beneath her on the floor by the neck. Melissa didn't struggle knowing that if she did it might be perceived as an attack. She merely waited for Ezra's mind to catch up with her instinct all the while willing herself not to panic.

Once released from Ezra's grasp, Melissa rubbed her neck futilely trying to rub away some of the pain.

"God I'm sorry," Ezra instantly apologized.

"Don't even think about it," Melissa waved away Ezra's apology. "I'll just make my presence more known before I decide to reach out to you."

Ezra's shoulders sagged and her self-loathing was clearly etched into her features. "I am truly sorry Melissa," she apologized again. "You just caught me off guard. My thoughts were elsewhere."

"I know," Melissa took the hand that Ezra offered her and allowed the military leader to help her back to her feet. "It looked like you were having some sort of anxiety attack." The younger girl didn't know if she should bring up the subject, but she was worried about her friend. She could only imagine how she would react if the responsibility which belonged to Elena were turned to her.

Ezra turned her head away shamefully. "Yeah," was all she could think of to say.

Melissa reached out again to her friend and laid her warm hand lightly on the bicep of Ezra's arm. "Talk to me." It was a simple request, not an order.

With her eyes still turned away from the compassionate green orbs looking at her intently, Ezra released a tight breath in an effort to release some of her tension. "This is all my responsibility now," she whispered. "I'm the one that makes all the decisions."

"Elena had no qualms with taking the time to recuperate from her most recent ordeal. She just handed everything down to you…no worries." The blonde girl paused a moment and allowed Ezra to analyze what she had said. "She has faith that you will make the right decisions, Ezra, just like I do and just like everyone else does."

Cerulean eyes turned and made solid contact with green. "Have you ever stopped to realize that we are just children? What do I know of…anything?"

"We shall throw off the shackles of the Force through our children. They have the strength and they have the knowledge to set us free. Believe in them and make them believe in themselves because make no mistake about it…my fellow people…they are our future and they are the future." Melissa recited from the Book of Freedom. It was a common passage displayed in almost every persons living quarters. The book was part of the curriculum that made up the education of all humans. It spoke of what the goals of the society were and what ideals the humans should hold. It was the new bible of this era.

"Society can not be lead by a fool or an idiot. We should much rather fall under the charge of an intelligent evil, instead of the charge of a righteous fool. The evil will cause us to loose our focus momentarily, but the fool, the idiot, will cause us to loose any potential means of freedom." Ezra quoted from the same book with a smirk playing at the corners of her mouth.

Noticing her friend's mood had brightened slightly, Melissa crossed her arms in front of her and responded to the unspoken challenge Ezra had given her.

"There is no wrong way when we look towards the efforts of our freedom. The leaders that we choose will be chosen carefully, but we must remember that they are human. We must always remember that over the course of our journey there will be mistakes, but we will learn from them and will be the better for them. We shall not curse the person by which the mistake is made, because they must learn…we must all learn."

Ezra hesitated for a moment then responded. "We must not be too lenient in our ways. This is a war we prepare for. Those who are weak cannot be tolerated in our society. We must flush out the weak to make room for the strong."

Melissa looked at her companion oddly. "That's not in the Book of Freedom."

Ezra just smiled and shrugged her shoulders. "Yeah well, I couldn't think of anything else to say, so I made it up."

"Actually," the blonde smiled smugly, "I believe the passage that you were trying to quote goes something like; we must not be too lenient in our ways. We must be strong and we must be united. Those who are weak we must hold up and make sure they do not fall. Our war can only be fought in a united effort. The strong the weak, the young and the old, must all be one for us to even have a chance."

The dark haired girl couldn't help but laugh. Melissa had done an excellent job in easing her tension, much like she normally expected her friend to do. "Thanks," she said as her chuckles died down. "I think I was getting a little too serious there for a moment."

Melissa smirked. "It's understandable. You're actually handling this situation better then I think I would."

"Nah," Ezra waved the notion away with a flick of her hand. "You would handle it just fine. I have faith in you and so does Elena."

Green eyes held blue then looked away. Melissa cleared her throat, "Thanks," she said seriously. "That means a lot to me."

Ezra shifted awkwardly and rung her hands together in a decidedly juvenile fashion. "Yeah well…um…think nothing of it." She cleared her throat and forced herself to stop shifting. "Why don't we leave and get something to eat? I'm starving."

The younger girl allowed the abrupt change in subject, realizing their conversation had begun to get too serious once again. "Yeah, let's go." She motioned towards the door allowing Ezra to lead the way.

A dark haired teenage boy sat at the end of a long metallic conference table being careful not to slouch as his commanding officer addressed him. His dark brown eyes focused intently on his commander's face. Beside him, sat a girl about the same age as he. Her chestnut hair was in a tight braid that fell just below her shoulder blades. The girl's attention was watching the young woman who spoke before them just as intently as her dark-haired companion.

"So, Ezra will be in charge until I feel I am able to effectively return to duty," Elena said finishing her explanation of the events that had recently transpired in her life. This was one of the very few times she had actually dealt with Franklin and Erin without having Ezra or Melissa close by. It's not that she ignored her third and fourth faction leaders; she just didn't tend to socialize with them like she did her other two officers.

Actually, Franklin and Erin didn't play as vital as roles in the planning of the upcoming war as Ezra and Melissa did. Their jobs were to just inform Elena of any potential problems and keep her updated with how their factions were coming along. Neither officer was a true expert in anything, they had just tested high enough in the leadership tests that the Center had given them, that they were chosen as the last two faction leaders that would be needed. They were good enough fighters, and they each did have exceptional organizational skills, but they just didn't have the same talent that Ezra and Melissa had shown.

They each understood the role that they played in the planning of their war against the Force and accepted it with more grace then anyone could really have expected. The respect and loyalty to their commanding officers, especially Elena, far exceeded what anyone thought possible.

"Will all this also mean that we will be required to take on more responsibilities, ma'am?" Franklin's newly acquired deep voice asked as soon as Elena had stopped speaking.

"You will do whatever duties Ezra or Melissa deem necessary." Elena leaned forward in her chair and rested her arms on the hard cold surface of the table. "I want you to understand, without question, that Ezra is your leader from here on out until you are told differently. The only part I will be playing in the planning of this war is strictly on a need to know basis, and at this point, neither of you need to know anything."

"Yes ma'am." The two teenagers across from her immediately responded.

"Do either of you have anymore questions?" Elena asked cocking left eyebrow slightly.

Franklin and Erin looked at each other briefly, Erin nodded slightly then they each focused their attention once more to the young woman sitting before them.

"Will you be alright ma'am?" Erin asked cautiously her hazel eyes portraying her true concern.

Elena couldn't help but smile at her officers' obvious worry for her health. "Yes, I assure you both," her dark gray eyes bore into the worry gazes that faced her, "…that I was not harmed in anyway by what transpired between Devic and myself. I am in perfect health there are just a few things that I must learn to understand. Now, do you want to know anything else?"

Seemingly pacified by the answer they were given, Franklin and Erin shook their heads and sat patiently waiting to be dismissed. Elena looked them over one more time satisfied with how these fine young individuals had handled her shocking news. She made a conscious effort to allow her pride to flow to her two officers using her heightened telepathic ability. The two officers looked at her oddly waiting for Elena to explain to them whatever foreign, yet not uncomfortable, feeling that washed over them.

"Well if there are no more questions then you are dismissed." Elena said, choosing to ignore the strange looks she was receiving. She would allow her officers to decipher what was happening to them on their own.

They both stood up immediately nodded to her once then filed out of the conference room being met with Devic at the door, which willingly let them pass without comment. Her dark eyes followed the two officers briefly then her full attention turned to the half Force woman who still sat at the conference table before her.

"Have you completed all your duties yet?"

Elena was surprised that she could sense no malice in Devic had sent to her. "I still must meet with the council, but that we must do together." She swiveled her chair around and met Devic's dark eyed glare.

"Why are you surprised by the fact that I am not being…what is it you thought?? Malicious was it? Why are you surprised that I am not being Malicious?" Devic stepped further into the room and steadily made her way towards where Elena was seated.

Not completely used to someone being completely within her own mind, except herself, she shook her head almost in an effort to dispel all the emotions that were conveyed with each thought Devic had sent to her.

"I do understand that we did not part this morning on the best of terms," Elena could feel the genuine regret Devic felt as she sent, " and I should probably apologize for my behavior, but please do not always expect the worst from me."

"Devic, you wish for there to be an end to the entire human race and you are a Force spy who has sabotaged many promising scientific advances the Center's researchers have made," Elena paused for a moment and looked carefully at the young woman standing across from her. "And you want me to not expect the worst from you?" she asked incredulously.

"Do not judge me half-breed," Devic spit out. "You are in no position to do that. You who has family in the Force high councils whom you have contact with. You who has known about me since the moment I stepped foot into the Center. You…" she pointed accusingly at Elena's impassive face. "…you who is truly loyal to no one but yourself."

Elena clasped her hands together and stared down at them intently unsure of how she should respond to her linkmate. "Do you think you know me from only being in my head for one day?" she asked not taking her eyes away from her joined hands. "Do you think I could possibly know you after being in your head for one day?"

"There are things which we not need know, just things that we understand." Devic spoke cryptically. "I understand more about you then anyone else on this world or the next. You knew what would happen when you joined with me, so don't act surprised."

Elena shook her head and sighed heavily. "Fine." She stood from her seat. "Let us pretend like we are not surprised by anything and go speak to the council. I am sure they will particularly enjoy our little pretending game."

"The council is your concern, not mine Elena. It is your father who holds the seat as chairman."

Although she tried not to Elena shuttered at the reminder. "Yes, the council is of great concern to me, but if we do not convince them that what I did was best for the effort towards freedom then they will kill us both." Elena cocked her head to the side and looked at Devic inquisitively. "I would think that that concerns you."

Devic only smirked in response then turned and walked out of the conference room. Elena looked at her linkmates retreating figure contemplating what the smirk meant knowing that she could just open up her mind to read Devic's thoughts but deciding not to. There were some things that Elena wished to just guess about, she definitely didn't want to know if Devic had a death wish or not.

Elena caught up to Devic's retreating figure and neither spoke to each other. They just walked down the Center's halls and made their way towards the council's conference room where the council member were anxiously waiting for them.

As they approached the door that led to the waiting council they took a brief glance at one another then quickly retreated back into their own minds. The guards in front of the doors saluted Elena and completely ignored her companion. She nodded her head to them both and directed them to open the doors, which the guards gladly did.

The guards immediately closed and locked the doors behind the impressive pair and knew to turn a deaf ear to whatever they might overhear at their stations.

Lester Patrickson, the head of the Human Council stood from his seat and walked towards his only daughter with open arms. Elena looked at him warily and moved away from the man. She was notably surprised when Devic stepped in front of her and intercepted the man with her hand held out. "Hello Mr. Patrickson, I don't think we've been introduced yet. I'm your new daughter-in-law."

Lester's steps faltered only slightly but he quickly recovered and tentatively took Devic's offered hand. "Of course." His normally lyrically deep voice was more coarse, Elena realized, then is usually was. "Let me introduce you to the Human council. You know, the people whom you've tried to destroy on so many occasions."

"No need to introduce them, Mr. Patrickson. I've been briefed thoroughly on all of their backgrounds, you know with them being targets and all." Devic easily responded not missing a beat.

Elena closed her eyes and dropped her head. She clasped the bridge of her nose between the forefinger and thumb of her right hand and shook her head. "Surely you realize, Devic, that you are not gaining any friends."

"I could always lie and act like I believe them to be the Gods they perceive themselves to be, or I can just tell the truth and maintain what remains of my pride."

Completely oblivious to the conversation that was going on around him, Lester turned to his daughter and smiled wildly. "It has been a long time since we have spoken daughter." He again moved to grasp his daughter in a hug, but again found Devic to be in his way.

"Why don't we just clear the air and not waste each others time." Devic spoke past the man who in no way resembled his tall dark complexioned daughter. "What do you plan on doing with us?"

Lester, although an experienced politician, couldn't help but roll his eyes at this annoying Force woman. "We have no plans, at this time, for either one of you. Right now we only wish to hear what has transpired and once we have an understanding about the facts we will make decisions where we deem required."

"Then I suppose we should all take a seat and get started." Devic smiled wildly. Ironically not one in the room took the smile as genuine.

"As you wish." Lester pointed to the table at the only two chairs that were next to each other that were empty. "Why don't you both have a seat?" Giving up on his efforts to embrace his daughter Lester took his own seat at the head of the table.

The council's conference room was substantially more lavish than that of military leaders normal meeting place. Their table was not made of steel but instead was a fine oak and their chairs were padded with dark brown leather. Their people's flag hung on the wall along with various scriptures taking from the Book of Freedom. Devic couldn't help but snort in derisive humor. These humans were exactly as she was taught they were. They cared nothing for the suffering that went on around them as long as they were living a comfortable life.

"These are not the people I wish to help Devic." Elena sent her thoughts to Devic as she saw the venom that entered her linkmates's eyes. "They are only part of the whole. They are only ten people who are afforded such luxury, but believe me when I say that this circumstance will change."

"I believe only what I see Elena."

Once both women were seated Lester asked his daughter to explain what had happened between her and Devic within the last twenty-four hours.

Elena stood and looked down at every council member that sat before her. "I would first like each and every one of you to understand that the only reason I am here today is out of respect for the council. There is no law or protocol written that demands that I share with you what has gone on in my private life."

A few of the council members looked as if they were about to protest but Elena held up her hands and forestalled any comments. "You have released all your authority to me. You are powerless and everyone in this Center understands that. The only reason anyone follows a word you say is out of respect. The only decisions you are able to make are the decisions I allow you to."

Devic looked around the table at the shocked faces of the men and women who made up the great human council. "And you were worried about me gaining friends." Devic smiled wildly.

Elena flashed Devic and quick grin and gave her slight shrug of her shoulders then turned back to the council who maintained their shocked silence.

"What happened to me was simple. I was dying because I lacked the bond with my Force heritage." Elena cast a quick glance to Devic. "Devic helped me with that situation. The details of our bonding is information I don't trust you with, but needless to say, I'm better now."

"The council has maintained the right to take your authority away if we find that you have not performed your duty as leader or have in some way committed treason." An olive skin woman spoke from her place next to Lester. "We are not powerless to act against you."

Elena met the woman's eyes until the older woman's gaze wavered. "I will not bow to your authority and I wait to see who you talk into taking me into custody. Ezra will not do it. Melissa will not do it. Neither will Franklin or Erin for that matter. The council is powerless."

"I think we're all getting ahead of ourselves," Lester jumped in diplomatically. "We don't have to make this a power struggle, daughter. We only wish to do what is best for our effort. Surely you can understand that without trying to immediately pull rank on us." Lester softened his features and looked at his daughter. "This is not about whom outranks whom. We are not concerned with such matters. Our cause is bigger than rank."

"Is it hard for you to lie like that, or have you done it so often now that the words just come naturally." Devic asked. "I'm not being facetious, I really do want to know."

Lester looked crossly at the woman who sat next to his daughter. "I did not ask for you to speak. I suggest unless you wish to be put into custody then you will be quiet while I speak to my daughter."

"Can't you feel the hypocrisy that radiates off your body?" Devic snapped her fingers and looked as if a sudden thought struck her. "Oh that's right. I almost forgot. Humans can see nothing but what their eyes show them and can feel nothing but what goes on inside of them. They're blind to the world around them."

"I warn you to not utter another word." Lester told Devic clearly irritated by the woman's cross behavior. "We only allow you in here because Elena wishes you not be arrested, yet."

Devic shrugged. "Arrest me, kill me, it really doesn't matter to me. Either way your daughter suffers and I either live or die with the knowledge that I served my people with honor."

"Guard!" The olive skinned woman called.

Within seconds the two guards that stood outside of the conference room rushed inside and awaited their orders.

"Take that Force filth into custody." The guards looked at each other than glanced at Elena who gave a quick shake of her head. They nodded to her and exited the conference room. All the members watched what transpired their mouths agape.

Devic laughed aloud. "If that was the last thing I ever saw I would die happy."

Elena looked at Devic not amused. "Devic shut up. There's no need to pour salt on an open wound."

"I can already tell that I'll never have anymore fun now that we've bonded." Devic frowned. "I don't find this fair at all."

"Now that's something I really can't bring myself to care about. I hope you understand." Elena's voice was harsh, but Devic didn't miss the twinkle of amusement that quickly came and left Elena's dark diamond shaped gray eyes.

Elena turned her attention back to the still shocked council. "I have the power which means I make the decisions. It's that simple and now that you've gotten a quick lesson on that fact I'll tell you that I'm stepping down for an undetermined amount of time. Ezra will be left in charge while I go topside."

"Topside?!" Lester shrieked. "That's blatant treason. I won't allow it."

"What you will and will not allow is irrelevant. What you think is irrelevant. I have told you what will happen and you can do nothing but nod your head and accept it." Elena met all the eyes of the council and swore that she actually saw approval in some of the gazes that met hers. She did a mental shrug of her shoulders and decided she'd have to evaluate this new information later. "I believe this meeting is over." Her gray eyes looked inquiringly at Devic and Devic nodded her head then stood. "I'll be going topside as soon as tomorrow." Elena gave a bright smile to all the council members. "You all have a very nice day."

Devic shrugged her shoulders when the council looked at her and shook her head. "You guys are the ones that created her, she's just my linkmate."

Elena smirked at Devic then turned and walked out of the conference room completely ignoring any protests that she was getting from her father. Devic gave a small wave the council members and followed Elena out the doors. Once they were well enough away from the council Elena went to the nearest wall and leaned heavily against it. "I do not wish to ever go through that again."

Surprised that Elena was showing such emotion in front of her Devic stood stiffly next to her linkmate not sure what she should do. They really weren't that close, even though she had to admit that when they weren't fighting and forgot that they were supposed to be enemies they worked well together. "You won't have to. You proved to them that you're the one that is in charge here. You took your stance as their leader and now they must accept you as such."

Without really thinking about it, because she wouldn't have done it if she had, Devic reached out and embraced Elena in a soft non-obtrusive hug trying to offer the younger woman a bit of comfort. She could feel her linkmate's tension not only through their physical connection but also through their mental one and she didn't much like what she felt. It was disconcerting to Devic that she had to feel so many common human emotions that run through the human psyche because of her newfound connection Elena. She wanted Elena's pain to stop so that hers too would end.

Elena accepted Devic's embrace for what it was, just a small act of comfort and nothing more, but she was going to take her comfort where she could. Devic was probably one of the best people to provide it for her though, because through their connection she could take from Devic's calmness and use it to ease the turmoil of emotions that ran through her. She knew that Devic didn't understand her emotion, but she really couldn't help that. The Force only had two basic emotions, love and fear. That's all they really understood. No emotion that stemmed from those emotions was conceivable to them. Love was love and never just a deep appreciation and fear never turned into hate, and for the life of her Elena couldn't decide whether or not that made the Force just more efficient than Humans or put them on a higher plane of existence that offered them more of what life had to offer.

Their embrace didn't last long but Devic made sure to convey what support she could to her linkmate. When Elena had taken from the peace that was within her she gave it up willingly. "Now that we have gone through this…moment maybe you can tell me when you decided to go topside."

Elena moved away from Devic and began to walk down the hallway away from the Center's council once again. Devic followed knowing that Elena would answer her inquiry eventually.

"Devic, I can learn nothing more here. This place is stifling and does not allow me to grow. If I go topside I will be able to learn what I cannot here and I will be able to understand what has been hidden from me about the Force."

Devic looked at Elena incredulously. "Elena we may be linked but I will not allow you to gather information on my people so that you can kill them in a war that you insist on raging."

"You misunderstand me, Devic, I do not wish to gather information for war. I only wish to gather information as to why our people have done what they have."

Devic snorted. "I can answer that for you without going topside and so can you."

Elena stopped walking again and waited for Devic to do the same. "I don't just need to know the reasons Devic I need to understand them."

Devic cocked her head to the side and furrowed her brow evaluating what Elena had explained to her. "Fair enough." She nodded her head once. "We will go topside then and you will learn everything that you should have when you were just a small child."

"I do not wish to know everything Devic, I just want to know some things." Elena smiled. "To learn everything would take more time then I have."

"To learn some things you must first learn everything." Devic explained. "And that does take time."

Elena sighed heavily. "Let's just go topside and then when can figure out how much time I need."

Devic smirked. "Fair enough."

Continued in Part 4...