My e-mail address has changed. If you wish to write me about...well anything please send it to xengab01@hotmail.com. I promise that I'll respond.

Part 4

Chapter 10

Lester Patrickson was angry and so was Elizabeth Perry but they were angry for different reasons. Ever since Elena had walked out of their conference room they had been yelling at each other trying to force their reasoning upon each other. It had yet to work.

"Elizabeth you do not understand. Elena must be controlled. When we gave her the power to take over we did so with reservation." Lester told the short Hispanic looking woman who sat across from him. "She is my daughter and I would love to trust her with everything that we have worked for, but she is still Force. We can not forget that."

"Lester, I agree with you. We cannot forget that, but we also must not forget that if we try to bend her to our will she will do nothing but make our council completely obsolete. We gave her control and I don't see why we decided to do that if we don't trust her completely. I know that when I voted to put her in charge I did so with the absolute belief that Elena would be the best leader in our effort…I trusted that she would be the best leader."

"She is linked with a Force spy," Maggie Kingston an aristocratic middle-aged woman said from her spot next to Lester. "I'd say that that fact alone is enough to have my trust wavering."

"Do we even know what this link means?" Patrick Frawley the man sitting next to Elizabeth asked. "We've known that the Force Link exists, but that's it. There is no way we can judge Elena without knowing more information."

"Why don't you go chase her down and ask her?" Elizabeth asked sarcastically. "I'm sure she'd be very willing to tell you."

"It's not our place to judge her," Gloria Vescruz the youngest member of the council spoke. "We must accept who and what she is. We put in charge because she was part Force in the first place. If we didn't want her to have any power because of her heritage then why did we give it to her in the first place."

"That's my point exactly." Elizabeth waved her hand in Gloria's direction. "We have to trust her. We have to believe in her and trust that we did a good job in helping raise her."

"She's a loose cannon," Lester spoke furiously. "My influence in her life has been practically non-existent compared to the amount of time Kournva has spent with her."

"Kournva has done nothing to countermand the ideas you have forced upon your daughter." Gregory Tyler, Kournva's husband, spoke. "Kournva has supported you and this council through every single horrific test we've put Elena through," The tall dark-skinned man slapped his hand on the table, "She is the only reason Elena even gives you any respect at all."

"Kournva was the one who put the thought in my daughter's head to link with Devic when we had specifically asked for other arrangements to be made."

"You can not fault a mother for loving her daughter," Elizabeth spoke before Gregory got a chance. "Kournva wants what is best for Elena, and Devic, as far as we can gather about the Link, is a good match."

"We must evaluate this Link further and see what effect it has on Elena. No decisions can be made until then." Olivia Perez, the head scientist spoke.

"And how, pray tell, do you expect us to do that?" Maggie asked. "Have you already forgotten that Elena is leaving to go topside?"

"We must simply convince Ezra that it would be in Elena's best interest to be put in protective custody." Olivia replied. "Ezra has the authority which we no longer have and if we can make her believe that Elena needs to be tested, specifically for her own health, we will have the answers we desire."

"If we go about this the wrong way Ezra could turn against us and Melissa would be sure to follow," Lester cautioned. "Ezra isn't stupid and even though she hates the Force with a great passion, she's never been one to respect authority. We'd probably have a better chance at convincing Melissa."

"But Melissa isn't in charge now. We'd be creating a breaking in the ranks if we went to Melissa." Olivia responded evenly. "Just convince Ezra and Melissa will follow."

"Do you even hear what it is you're suggesting?" Gloria asked. "By turning Ezra against Elena we will create a break in our military that could easily never be repaired."

"Elena is on a higher plane of understanding than Ezra," Maggie explained. "She'd understand why Ezra did what she did and she would forgive her." She looked to Olivia, "It be would us that she came after and destroyed without even a second thought."

"We can't think that far ahead." Lester broke in. "We must take action now and Ezra is our only choice." Lester called for one of the guards standing outside their conference room and asked him to summon Ezra. "The information we gain about this Link will be invaluable data to our cause whether Elena harms us or not is not an issue."

"What about Devic?" Patrick asked.

"Elena and Devic are linked. Wherever one goes the other is sure to follow." Olivia answered. "She'll go into custody with Devic."

"You hope that she will, you mean." Patrick clarified. "I would love to know more about this Link, but I don't want the entire wraith of the Force to fall upon us before we are ready." Patrick stood up and looked into the eyes of every one of his fellow council members. "I will not support this action and would sooner the council break then put Elena through what it is you are all suggesting." With that the academic middle-aged man walked out of the conference room not paying attention to any of the council members who protested.

Elizabeth stood from her chair and motioned towards the exiting man. "What he said." She turned and followed Patrick's lead.

Gloria then stood from her seat. "This council will fall and it will be because of the actions you take. I will not be a part of it." Gloria followed her the lead of her previous two.

Gregory stood and looked at the those who remained seated and just shook his head solemnly then walked out. There were only six of the original ten council members seated. The three members who had not spoken looked at each other then all walked out. The council was broken and they hadn't even taken any actions yet.

Once she reached the council's doors, Elizabeth asked the same guard that Lester had asked to contact Ezra to get in touch with her again and tell her the council no longer needed her presence. She was sure that Olivia's plan to turn Ezra against Elena wouldn't have worked anyway. Elena was the type of person that incited the deepest kind of loyalty and no one beneath her would betray her. Lester and the others would just have to learn that.

*********

Ezra sat at her desk staring at the contents of the folder that had just been handed to her. She re-read what she had just finished wanting to make sure that her eyes weren't failing her. The council had broken and she was the only authority left. The Human council had broken and there would not be another. The only council that remained was the military one that she was now in charge of.

The council had broken. They gave her no reasons for it, only stating that their time had ended. The teenager couldn't decide whether this was a good occurence or not. The people who had planned her entire life's course were now dissolved into nothing. They had released all the control they had been hanging onto.

The council had broken. The ultimate authority had been washed away. Ezra couldn't wrap her mind around any other thought but that 'the council had broken'.

"Computer contact the second in command Melissa," Ezra ordered the computer still not taking her eyes away from the information in front of her. After a few moments the computer beeped and the soft voice of Melissa floated into the room. "What is it you need Commander?"

"Have you been informed as to the state of our council yet?"

"No," Melissa sounded puzzled. "I haven't gotten anything from the council today, but I haven't been in my office yet either. Is something wrong?"

"I'm not sure." Ezra answered truthfully. "Come to my office as soon as you can," She ordered knowing that Melissa may have a clue as to what to do with the information of a broken council.

"I'm on my way, Melissa out." Another beep was heard signaling the end of transmission and Ezra sat back in her chair contemplating whether she should even try to contact Elena or not. After a few moments consideration she just decided to talk it out with Melissa before she decided anything.

Ten minutes later Melissa walked into Ezra's office standing before her commanding officer at attention. Ezra only laughed. "What's with the formalities, Mel?"

"Ma'am we're on duty and you are my commanding officer." Melissa shrugged. "I'm just going by protocol."

Ezra sighed and shook her head. "Fine then." She waved her hand a Melissa. "Stand at ease."

Melissa relaxed her stance and took a seat across from Ezra and put her feet up on her commanding officer's desk. Ezra cocked her eyebrow. "I thought we were going by protocol?"

"Hey, I just saluted you for the first time…ever," Melissa smirked. "I didn't say we were going to go all out and go by the book. You've gotta let me ease into this stuff."

The dark haired teenager chuckled. "Well, I don't want to rush you."

"So," Melissa removed her feet from the desk and leaned forward in her chair. "What did you want to tell me about the council."

"There is no council." Ezra answered.

"Come again?"

Ezra lifted the folder that rested on her desk and threw it at Melissa who had no trouble catching it. "There is no council," Ezra repeated. "They've spontaneously decided to break."

Melissa opened the folder and perused its contents. "So what does that mean exactly?"

"I don't know. I was kind of hoping that we could figure that out together." Ezra said sheepishly studying the top of her desk intently.

"Are you going to inform Elena?" Melissa decided not to respond to Ezra's plea for help. There was no reason to exploit the fact that their current leader didn't know what to do without the council.

Ezra ran her long fingers through dark hair. "I don't know. She probably knows about it, but what can she really do about it? I'm the one who's in charge right now."

"I'd still talk to her about it, Ezra. The council wouldn't just break for no good reason."

Melissa had a point. "You're right, and her father is or at least was the chairman."

"Plus she was the last one to speak to the council before they broke apart." Melissa said returning her gaze to the folder in her hands.

"What?" Ezra hadn't been told this information. It was entirely conceivable that Elena had been the one to break up the council. She did have the authority. But why would she make such a big change without informing her first…could Devic have had something to do with it?

"Elena and Devic went to go see the council this morning after Elena met with Franklin and Erin. When she left the council's chambers she asked me to brief our fellow military leaders on their new duties." Melissa lifted her gaze and looked into the stormy blue eyes across from her. "She said that she wanted to meet with us again…I'm sure she was going to tell you about this before she left."

"Left?"

Before Melissa could answer the door chime sounded signifying someone was requesting entry. Ezra called for the person to enter and wasn't in the least surprised when she saw Elena enter with Devic close on her heels.

Melissa immediately stood from her chair out of respect to her leader as did Ezra, if not only a few steps behind. Elena raised her hands at them and motioned for them to retake their seats. "I'm not here in an official capacity."

Ezra and Melissa nodded and retook their seats. "I'm assuming that you're here about the council?" Ezra asked just a tad bit testily. She really would have liked Elena to tell her that she was going to break up the council before she did it.

"She thinks you broke up the council," Devic sent to Elena after feeling the indignation that came off of her linkmate's first in command.

Elena turned and faced Devic. "I did break up the council," she smirked, "I just didn't do it intentionally."

Devic nodded her head. "That is true." She looked around the office. "I can see why you want to leave this place."

"This office really doesn't have to be anything special." Elena explained. "I spent most of my time out of it."

"Where a leader should be."

Elena could feel the desicivness in Devic's thoughts. "Did you just actually approve of my leadership style?"

"Yeah well…don't read too much into that."

"Would you mind having your conversation out loud?" Ezra asked clearly agitated. "I was always taught that it was rude to use telepathy in front of people who could not understand what was being said."

"You can understand us perfectly." Devic grinned. "It's just that we block our conversations so that no other telepath can listen in."

"That can be done?" Melissa asked intrigued. Even though she was a high ranking telepath herself, there were still many things that she could not do and things that she was sure she could never do. Humans just couldn't handle the mental strain that telepaths went through. Most of the humans who were able to reach the level of telepathy that Melissa had reached would go crazy over time because they would constantly hear the thoughts of the people that surrounded them. They could never get the true mental disipline to block out all the other thoughts.

"Many things can be done that you are not aware of," Devic answered the blonde in her most academic voice. "But to learn such things you must be more disciplined than you can ever be. Some things you will learn over time and according to your most recent tests I would assume that you will eventually be able to block your telepathic conversations from other telepaths. The Force have been impressed with your progress."

Melissa looked at Devic awkwardly. "Um…thanks, I guess."

Elena crossed her arms in front of her and leaned back on her heels. "Is that more approval that I sense from you?"

Devic grinned. "Yeah well…don't read too much into that. Melissa was going to be my first target since she impressed our people so much."

With that statement the room filled with tension. Devic had clearly drawn her line making sure that everyone still understood that she was still indeed part of the Force and was their enemy. She would have had no second thoughts about killing Melissa and everyone in that room new that.

"Have they sent someone else to complete your mission?" Elena asked dispassionately much to Ezra's vexation.

"No." Devic answered honestly. Of course, she couldn't lie to Elena anyway. "We have not yet decided whether or not I should try and carry out my mission."

Ezra stood and rushed over to Devic. "If you're even thinking about completing your…mission, then you better be prepared to die."

Devic laughed. "I am always prepared to die, Ezra."

Ezra turned to face Elena who stood only slightly in front of Devic. They stood so close to each other that at first glance Ezra thought Devic was actually embracing Elena from behind. "She should be thrown in the brig."

"Probably," Elena readily agreed. "But she won't be."

"You're going to protect her over ensuring Melissa's own welfare?" Ezra asked incredulously.

"She wouldn't do that," Melissa spoke up. "Devic has no intention of killing me."

"And how do you know that?" Ezra asked.

"Because if I really wanted her dead she would be. The Force eliminate all their threats, Human, but we do not do so at the expense of one of our own." Devic spat out. "You should really learn more about the people you choose to hate."

"I do know about the Force," Ezra defended, "I know as much as any human can know. You people aren't exactly forthcoming when it comes to your history."

Devic twisted her head slightly and grinned. "Tell me, Ezra, why is it you think my people should teach such an inferior species about our history and yet you do not sit around reading to your own pets from your history books?"

Not able to contain her anger any longer, Ezra launched herself at Devic but was immediately intercepted by Elena.

"Stand down," Elena ordered evenly as Ezra was pushing against her trying to reach Devic.

Ezra stopped her struggling then peered slightly up into her superior's eyes. "You're going to stand here and defend that…that…"

"I would advise you to not finish that thought soldier," Elena cut in. "I wouldn't want you to say anything that would make me angry."

"What is wrong with you?" Ezra pushed herself away from her commanding officer's restraining hold. "How can you stand by that," she pointed to Devic, "and not have the violent urge to throw up?"

"Perhaps I deal with it in the same way I have had to deal with the human council," Elena said pointedly. "Or perhaps I deal with it like I have had to deal with every other thing that has come into my life that I wasn't particularly fond of by sitting by knowing that in the end, what I am doing is making a difference. My personal suffering is nothing close to how the people I work for suffer. Maybe," She looked at Ezra meaningfully, "maybe that's how I deal with it."

Devic took on a mock hurt expression and pointed to herself. "You are not fond of me? I think I'm hurt."

Elena smirked. "Don't be too surprised by the admission, Devic."

"Not surprised," Devic shook her head. "Just hurt."

"Can you two stop with the…whatever you two are doing?" Ezra asked irriatedly. "I'm not very fond of that."

"Can we return to the point of why you both are here," Melissa directed quietly. "I don't much care what Devic plans on doing with me one way or another. I do care, however, about why the council broke and what actions we should take to ensure that what has transpired doesn't harm our current efforts."

"A girl with focus," Devic walked over and stood by Melissa. "That is something the Force also admire. If you were not Human," She spoke to the shorter blond haired girl, "I would have you work for me."

"Thank you…again…I guess." Melissa muttered. "But what about the council?"

"Some members of the council wished for control that they no longer have. Elena responded. "Some of them are not big fans of mine and they especially do not like that I am taking a short trip above ground."

"I can see why," Ezra said through gritted teeth.

"I notice that you have problems with this," Elena said almost humoursly. "I don't know what to tell you and I don't really know how to explain myself. The simple fact of the matter is that I've been split in two my whole life and I can't stand the feeling any longer. My loyalties lie in the cause I have been raised to fight for…that can not change, but I need to know why I'm fighting the other half of who I am."

A contemplative silence fell upon the room and even Devic took in her linkmate's words with subtle curiousity. She could, surprisingly, relate to how Elena felt. She had often felt like she were two different individuals forced to fight the same battle even though one side didn't fully understand why she did the things she did. One late night, she was sitting in the labs hunched over some experiment the Center had been conducting making sure it didn't out the way the scientists had planned and she found herself hesitating. She knew what she was doing was important to the Force and she knew she was doing her job like she was supposed to, but, to her great dismay, she found out she didn't carry any ill will towards the Humans. The way the Force had treated the native peoples of the planet didn't quite seem to be fully logical. It did not go by the Force's creed. So, she hesitated that night in sabotaging another Center project, but she only hesitated. She didn't stop from doing it. She would complete any mission given to her out of love for her people and fear that the natives would once again be free to take over the light.

Picking up on some of the thoughts that had been going through her linkmate's mind, Elena turned a curious glance to Devic but decided to not comment on any of the things she had felt through their connection.

"You need to understand why you're fighting beings that took over our world, enslaved us, and kill us daily?" Ezra wasn't asking this to be mean, she really wanted to understand. She had always believed that the "why" of what they were doing was quite obvious. They had seen the reasons of "why" they were doing what they were their entire lives.

"No," Elena shook her head. "I need to understand the beings that crave a great light and won't kill any of their own kind. I need to understand the beings who have a great link that gives them life and makes them all connected on such a higher plain then any Human could ever understand."

"I think we all would like to understand those beings on some level," Melissa said. "And I'm glad that you, as our leader, has chosen to figure these things out. I, personally, am tired of just accepting that the Force act as they do because they can. If I'm going to spill their blood and loose any innocence I was given upon my birth to these people, then I'd like to know their reasons why."

Ezra turned a disbelieving stare to Melissa. "You support this?"

"No," Devic answered for her. "She only wishes to know the thing that all of us really want to know. She wishes to know why our lives have been sacrificed for a war that has not yet happened, but has been ruling our lives since the day we were born."

"I suppose you need answers as well then?" Ezra directed at Devic.

Before Devic could answer Melissa spoke up once more, this time her voice stronger. "I would hate to once again bring us to focus on the troubles at hand, but what of the council?"

"I didn't mean for them to break apart," Elena answered. "But I agree with what they have done. The time for the council has passed." She turned and looked at Ezra carefully. "That would mean that you're the ultimate authority here. I would hope that you can handle that job, otherwise I will not hesitate in putting Melissa in your place."

Ezra closed her eyes and bowed her head. Her body was tense and she wasn't sure she could face her superior much longer without trying to do something she would fully regret.

"Can you handle it?" Elena stepped closer to Ezra and smirked when she noticed her subordinate flinch slightly. "I need to know."

"Of course I can handle it." Ezra didn't open her eyes nor did she lift her head.

"I don't know if I believe you," Elena shot back immediately. "You've already lost your temper in such a way that if I wasn't here you'd be dead." The half Force woman got even closer to her subordinate. "Does that sound like a good leader to you?"

Slowly Ezra lifted her head and forced herself to face her commander's gaze. "I'm sure you were the perfect leader on the first day." It wasn't a statement nor was it really a question. It just kind of was. However Elena chose to interpret it was the only thing that mattered. What would it mean to her?

"These times will rip us apart, Ezra, if we are not careful. More importantly, however, is that these times will show us if our Hope in Freedom has been misplaced."

Elena backed away from Ezra, letting the meaning of her words float around aimlessly until they could actually be heard through the noise of so many thoughts.

"I will learn to do the job better." Ezra's body had deflated and once again her gaze turned to the floor. "I can not ever be perfect, but I will always strive to be. Today, because of my anger, I have learned a lesson." With a confidence she barely felt, Ezra raised her eyes and met Elena's strikingly gray ones. "It will not be a lesson that I must learn again."

Melissa let out a relieved sigh. She had been hoping Ezra would get herself back under control, because she just wasn't ready to take control of the entire Human effort just yet.

"Then you will be left in charge while I am gone," Elena walked over to where Devic stood quietly. "I shall return momentarily and upon my return will expect a full update."

"I'm assuming there will be no contact while you're above ground?" Ezra stood in attention taking her orders with well practiced ease.

"You're smart," Devic ended her record of silence.

This time when Ezra advanced upon Devic Elena made no move to stop her. The Force woman immediately raised her guard preparing for an attack that never came. Ezra had stopped just short of completely invading Devic's personal space.

"I am smart enough to know when to keep my mouth shut."

Devic lowered her guard. "Feisty too."

The fist that hit her jaw was entirely unexpected.


Chapter 11

The hit was so hard that she was knocked a few steps back. Devic rushed to regain her balance so that she could launch her counter attack, but before she had a chance formulate any plan of offensive strong arms encircled her waist restraining her from any forward movement.

"You should really let me go," she sent to Elena. "I would hate to have to fight you as well."

"Do you not remember who won the last time we did battle?" Elena strengthened her grip on the lithe form she was holding onto. "I'm sure you wouldn't want to repeat that particular experience."

Devic forced her body's tension to ease even though her instincts were yelling at her to respond to the attack. "I fully intend a rematch to put right what is so obviously wrong."

Melissa and Ezra looked at the Force woman oddly not understanding how her statement fit into the situation. There had been no real 'match' to speak of. Not sure if they should ask Devic what she meant, because it might be interrupted as a challenge Melissa chose to remain silent. Ezra, however, didn't mind the challenge. "What match?" She practically laughed at the thought. "I hit you and you looked like you'd been hit in the head by a rock shot out of a cannon."

Not even considering using the legendary self-control the Force had, Devic once again tried to free herself of her linkmate's grasp.

"Must you provoke her?" Elena gritted out having to use all her strength to hold back this fully blooded Force woman.

Ezra realized how much Devic was truly taxing her leader's strength and unconsciously took a step back. She knew how strong Elena was and if she had to fight so hard to keep Devic in her grip then there was no doubt in Ezra's mind that if Devic got loose and came after her there was a very real chance she could be seriously injured. It's not that Ezra was a coward or afraid to fight, because that is what she was trained for, but she had never truly faced a Force being in a fight. The idea of it was almost daunting.

"Relax!" Elena screamed into Devic's mind. "At least pretend like you have some sort of self-control. You're acting like a Human."

The last part got Devic's attention and she immediately relaxed. "Let me go." And surprisingly Elena did.

Ezra took another step back and Melissa flinched, not quite sure why; she wouldn't be the one Devic would go after.

"It seems I can not always trust for your leader," Devic glanced quickly behind her, "to restrain you. It is a mistake a won't make again."

"That's nice to hear," Ezra somehow was able to respond with a false bravado.

Elena sighed and shook her head. "I'm trusting you to offer some temperance when Ezra appears to be loosing her temper," she told Melissa. "If you really fear she's going to kill someone, force a link between you and herself and you will be able to offer her some of your peace."

"Hold on, she can do that?" Ezra pointed to Melissa. "And more importantly, isn't that dangerous. We are forbidden from trying to control other people with our minds, right?"

"Yep." Elena nodded and smiled. "Studies have shown that humans haven't quite reached the telepathic stage yet where they can successful control another person's mind directly."

"And you're giving me permission to do this?" Even though Melissa had faith in her abilities she knew that mind control wasn't something she was eager to start trying. She knew all about the studies that the Center had done on the subject, and none of the results seemed to really allay any of her fears on the matter. She'd only been taught to attempt mind control on the enemies and even then only do so as an absolute last resort, especially if it was against a Force member, because chances were she'd end up dead if she tried.

"It's not really mind control," Elena decided it probably wasn't a good idea to scare her subordinates like that, even though seeing their reactions could be somewhat entertaining.

"You do have a sinister side, you do know that." Devic offered knowing full well what Elena had done.

Elena ignored her linkmate and continued on with her explanation. "It's more of sharing of feelings. Imagine getting a very very small glimpse into the Force link, and that's what I'm asking you to do, Melissa."

"You want me to form a link with, Ezra?" Melissa didn't much like the sound of that. The link seemed to offer a level of intimacy Melissa wasn't at all ready for.

"Isn't that a bad idea?" Ezra added in her own two cents. "We need to sustain a certain amount of space between us because of our positions."

"I'm not even sure Human's can form a link," Elena wondered. "I think the mind's trying to form the link would, well, make them go crazy from the constant barrage of emotions and thoughts being forced into each other's minds." She turned to Devic. "What do you think?"

"They'd die." Devic answered succinctly. Elena looked at her for a more in-depth explanation. She sighed. "Human brains lack the portion of the brain that allow us to receive the thoughts through the Great Link. The highest form of a link that any humans have managed to obtain is what is essentially a semi-link, if you will. They can get images and thoughts of another but it never is on a constant level and is influenced greatly by emotion. If they're angry, especially at what we would call their linkmate, then almost all ability to receive any form of telepathic communication is shut down. Of course if the two individuals have an exceptionally close emotional bond then their own separate emotions don't hinder any type of telepathic communication, at least as much as it would with two humans who just decided they wanted to try to form a link. Keep in mind though, that even if they were very close emotionally, were strong telepaths, and had a remarkable amount of control the bond still could not be constant." Devic had recited her whole statement in monotone seeming to be not the least bit interested the Human Links.

"Thank you for your oh so great recitation," Elena wasn't fooled by her linkmate's seemingly bored attitude, she could feel the excitement Devic felt when she spoke of the Human Link. It seemed that at heart, Devic was a scientist eager to learn all that she could about the unknown.

Devic's smile had no sincerity. "You're welcome."

"Can we get back to Melissa trying to take over my mind?" Ezra asked irritated, truly having no great interest in the Links that could be formed amongst Humans. The idea of someone being that thoroughly in her head kind of freaked her out.

"I'm not going to try to take over your mind." Melissa snapped. "I'd be afraid of what I might find there."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Ezra was offended. "Do you not think my mind is worthy of being taken over? I'm second in command of this whole raging war thing. If you needed to take over anybody's mind it would be mine."

Melissa rolled her eyes. "I'm just saying I wouldn't want to take over your mind. I don't want to know about every little thing you think about, that's all. I don't know what's going through your head."

"Are you calling my thoughts dull now?"

The blonde rubbed her forehead. "I wouldn't know if your thoughts are dull or not, because I'm not in your head. For all know you could have the most entertaining thoughts I've never heard."

Ezra crossed her arms across her chest. "Are you now saying that you want to take over my mind to read my thoughts?"

"I don't want to read your thoughts or control your mind," Melissa practically yelled. "I don't even want to influence your emotions telepathically or whatever it is Elena is talking about." Melissa repeated Ezra's actions by crossing her arms. "Is there a particular reason you want me to keep out of your head? Is there something you fear I might find out?"

"Children!" Elena raised her arms to forestall any further comments. "Enough." Her gray eyes scanned the two faction leaders. "I have no idea how you both got on the tangent you just did, but it will end now. Understood?" Two heads nodded. "Okay so this is what will happen. You both will start the required training to strengthen your telepathic bond. It will be uncomfortable and you probably won't like it at first, but I don't really care. The benefits of you having such a bond far outweighs any reservations you may have. I will trust you to speak with Kournva on your own in order to get the proper training, since I will obviously be unavailable." Again two heads nodded. "I'm glad that's settled."

"We should leave now," Devic sent as she walked to the door and without a single glance back walked through it.

Elena watched her go then turned back to the two faction leaders when Devic had disappeared through the doorway. "It's time for me to go."

The three stood in the room looking at one another not quite sure what parting words would be appropriate for the occasion. When the silence had lengthened more then she could bare Melissa moved to stand in front of her superior officer and tentatively reached her arms out to grasp Elena in a not totally unsuspected hug. "Be careful."

Elena enveloped the blonde in her firm embrace glad Melissa felt comfortable enough to approach her in such a manner. "I'll be as careful as I can be." She pulled away as she spoke not wanting to get too comfortable in the embrace the younger girl offered. "You just make sure you take care of things here." This was said with a pointed look in Ezra's direction.

Ezra nodded her head once in acknowledgment then stepped forward as well to say her goodbyes. Melissa stepped out of her allowing the two older girls to do whatever they chose. Ezra stood shifting from one foot to another in front of Elena until the older girl took pity and pulled the slightly shorter girl to her for a quick hug. "If it makes any difference, I believe you can do this," she whispered softly so that Ezra could only hear her then pulled away appearing almost like the embrace had never happened. "Devic grows more impatient by the moment so before she kills someone out of boredom I'm going to leave." It wasn't the best goodbye she had ever come up with, but it would do. She turned her back on her two officers and walked out of her former office.

As expected Elena had expected Devic was waiting outside of the office. She was leaning against the wall opposite the door shifting from foot to foot impatiently.

"It's about time you showed up," Devic stood to her full height. "We need to leave if we are going to be allowed to the surface."

Elena took a fleeting look back at the door she had just exited from then turned her attention fully on her bondmate. "Let's go."

"You don't want to see your mother?" Devic was genuinely surprised. It was her understanding that Elena and Kournva were close.

"There's no reason for me to see her." Elena tilted her head to the side. "Plus didn't you just say we need to leave or we wouldn't be allowed to the surface?"

Dark eyes studied Elena. Devic wasn't sure what possible reason there would be why Elena wouldn't want to see her mother, but decided not to question her bondmate any further. This was obviously something Elena didn't want to discuss. She was hiding all her emotion towards the subject rather well making it hard for Devic to understand what thoughts she was receiving through their link. Devic was almost angered by the fact that Elena had already mastered a way to hide her emotions from her, especially since it was a skill she had yet to obtain.

"There's no point in being angry, Devic." Elena sighed. "It's my human side that allows me to deceive you."

Devic nodded. "Interesting."

"That's all you have to say about that, interesting?"

"What do you wish me to say?" The Force woman smirked. "Humans are deceitful beings who are obviously not capable of the link because of their flaws."

Elena shook her head. "Are we going to be standing here all day or are we actually going to go to the surface."

"We're already on our way."

Before Elena could respond she was encompassed by a blinding white light. Instinctively she closed squeezed her eyes shut and lifted her arm to block out the unexpected light. Moments later she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. She looked over at Devic and saw her bondmate being greeted by who she could only assume were the people who had transported them here, wherever here might be.

Elena turned away from Devic and focused her attention to the hand that was on her shoulder. It wasn't Devic, as she initially suspected, but instead an older dignified looking woman stood to her left. She reminded Elena very much of her mother and was very much unprepared for the possibility of actually meeting any person that might be a part of her mother's family.

"Welcome home Ziyi," The woman's thoughts were gentle and sincere. "We have missed you."

"Missed me?" Elena's thoughts were flustered, confused. "How can you miss me? I have never been here. I don't know you."

"You are one of our children, Ziyi we don't need your physical body to appear before us to know you."

Devic turned away from those who greeted her clearly feeling Elena's sudden fear. "Elena? Don't be afraid." She sent calming waves of emotion to her bondmate. "There is nothing to fear here. You will not be harmed. Your people only wish to welcome you home."

Elena's apprehension didn't fade. Being in what looked very much like someone's living quarters surrounded by Force beings she didn't know who called her by a name she had only heard once as a child, wasn't Elena's idea of fun. This was not the type of greeting she was prepared for. She had expected scrutiny and distrust. She had been prepared to answer questions demanding that she tell them what she was doing on the surface and why they should allow her to stay. But this..this open arms welcome was something almost entirely uncalled for.

"This isn't my home." Maybe she said the words louder than she thought because as soon as Elena had uttered the sentence all movement in the room stopped. There was a stillness that settled around them, entirely unpleasant, that made the half Force woman question voicing her frustration in a room of potential adversaries.

The aristocratic Force woman who had greeted Elena took a few steps away from her place beside the young woman and placed her hands behind her back. "Maybe we should all leave and allow Devic to ease some of the discomfort Ziyi is feeling."

All the beings that surrounded Elena and Devic nodded once to the woman and within moments walked to what Elena would assume was the door and disappeared. "Take care of your linkmate, Devic." The woman offered before she followed the path of those who had already left.

Continued in Part 5...