Crumbling Foundations

[Connor Harrison]

Pursing his lips, Connor nodded and looked back to the temple, finger absently twirling in her hair like a play-thing. They must have really ignored her for to be so welcoming to Connor's words.

"You have to think on your feet in this world. You can't stop and work out the best option because it will get you killed. The Jedi want you to talk and strive for peace and not raise your weapon, but to be honest the only language people understand in enforcing law and justice is violence and your commanding of the situation. Thinking fast will save your life."

Pushing up from the wall as the rain lashed down, spitting up on the ground outside the cave and thumping the foliage outisde, Connor swirled around behind Lucia and placed his hands on her shoulders.

With one hand he pointed to the Temple, moving her slightly to see.

"Think of what they've done to you. What they're doing to your future. Tell me what angers you. Tell me what frustrates you."

He squeezed her gently.

"If you could do anything to let them know how they've failed, what would you do. Tell me."

[member="Lucia Nox"]

 

[Lucia Nox]

When Connor rose, Lucia rose with him. She allowed him to lead her to the mouth of the cavern, where the rain crashed down in veritable sheets, nearly obscuring the silhouette of the Temple from view through the dusky squall. It was as if a thin veil had fallen between them and the rest of Voss. As Lucia gazed out onto the horizon, she felt like a distant spectator, somehow removed from the world beyond that which Connor had created for them, there in that little cave. The thought of leaving their world, and going back to her old one, precipitated a swell of emotion in her chest.

Panic. Anger. Fear.

From behind, Connor's hands fell on her shoulders. The ugliness that had reared its head inside of her chest retreated, quelled by his commanding touch. Lucia breathed, melting into his palms and feeling a surge of warm, electric energy course into her pale skin and travel out to every nerve ending in her body. She absorbed his words as he murmured them against the brush of her blonde hair, vivid blue eyes following as he pointed a finger out toward the Temple.

What angered her? What frustrated her?

" . . . each time they have doubted me, belittled my ideals. Each time they have dismissed my thoughts and shut down my goals before they could breathe life. I . . . I have good ideas. But their minds are closed. They don't listen. They only ridicule. They . . . they treat me like a disobedient child."

Lucia paused. "I'm not a child," She murmured, turning her head slightly to the side, both for her benefit and for Connor's. Adrenaline pulsed in her veins, and for a moment, her small body might have trembled. Lucia closed her eyes. Her voice fell to a vulnerable, dangerous whisper.

"I'm so angry I could scream. I feel as though I could explode into a thousand pieces."

Lashes lifted. Slowly, gently, Lucia turned over her shoulder to Connor. Her eyes glimmered up toward him in the moonlight.

"I want to do everything they have said I cannot do."


[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor looked down on the girl. She was spiking, and she wanted to release it. But there was so much to be careful about around her – to say the right things and influence her the right way. Words were cheap. Actions were defining.

He let his dominance and his sly manipulations swell, knowing full well her place before him.

"Then do it. Explode into a thousand pieces and destroy the shell they’ve put around you."

He placed his hand square between her heaving chest and closed his eyes, and started to play on the voices in her head.

She’s not ready.

She’s a child. She has much growing up to do.

"Listen to what they say about you, Lucia."

He pushed a little harder, feeling her open up to him, and a Force bond being opened. She would feel empowered, confident and alive as he connected with her.

Don’t let her arrogance bother you, it’s stupid.

Yeah, I know Lucia. She’ll bail out in months.

"Let me see you explode. Use the anger inside you and your power. Don’t hold back Show me."

He pushed once more.

Lucia Nox will not become Master.

He opened his eyes.

"Do it."

[member="Lucia Nox"]