The Cold Embrace [Coci]

[Thurion Heavenshield]

There were over a dozen Sith in their way, and only two of them. This could get very hairy very quickly. At least they weren't left without a few tricks in their sleeves, one of which were the Force Flash Coci was about to set off. It should at least blind a few of the Sith closing in on them. Turning away from her to face those coming up behind them, the flash went off, lighting up the entire chamber in a split-second. With these Sith living in such a dark place beneath the ice, the sudden flash of light would be especially painful.

Eyeing the closest Sith creeping up on him, red lightsaber drawn and held aloft, Thurion met his strike with his own, parrying it. He and the nameless Sith locked into what he believed to be your standard lightsaber duel, but his opponent was soon joined by another, and then two more. Four against one, Thurion leaped into the air and landed some distance away from Coci to find the space necessary to fight them off.

Surrounded on all sides, Thurion's knowledge in Soresu came in handy as he blocked the relentless assault of lightsabers. Lunging forward he managed to pierce the shoulder of one of them, dropping the number of opponents down to three for the time being. A glance was shot towards Coci so see how she was doing.

[member="Coci Sinopi"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"]

Although her Force Flash had lessened the odds somewhat, it was not enough. They are out numbered and would have to try and get out of here. As the blinded Sith backed away stumbling around unable to see, they retreated into the darkness, some had the ability to use the force to sense their surrounds and simply ran, as the cowards do. Coci looked toward Thurion, as he jumped over the Sith to gain advantage of room to fight, even though she did not like the idea that they are separated. He would be overpowered soon if she did not help, but she had Sith moving in on her. They needed a distraction.

Her black eyes pierced the darkness, the light from all saber bleeding into the vast room aided her, her eye followed one of the tall columns upward and over the arch to the keystone. An idea entered her mind, if they could dislodge the keystone the archway would collapse giving the Sith something else to think about. However, before she could attempt this, three Sith moved close and but only one engaged her, the other two stood back waiting.

Immediately Coci took jedi stance, and engaged her blade using her more aggressive form of Ataru. She had plenty of space to use this form in this hideous chamber that the Sith favoured to be their tomb. But not yet, as the first of the Sith hit the hard marbled floor dead.

Allowing a moment to turn and look for Thurion, to see how he was. Four Sith set upon him and without hesitation, Coci raised her arm and sent a powerful force push toward two of the Sith sending them flying and crashing to the wall.

Through telepathy Coci spoked to her beloved. Thurion, the keystone above the archway we need to dislodge it, help me bring the house down.

However, they are relentless and more sith approached her to engage.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

He'd received the message about the keystone, but first they would have to fend off the Sith to give themself an opening in order to follow through with their plan. With her pushing two of his assailants out of the way, he in turn threw his lightsaber in an arc around her, protecting her from harm as she aided him before returning to him. The Sith did not remain lying down for long, however, and whenever one fell another took its place.

Again he lept into the air, landing right behind Coci as more Sith closed in on them both, surrounding them. Their backs met, and in a flurry of azure and violet the two lovers worked as one to ward off the ferocity of the Sith cult set against them. Still very conscious about not killing his opponents, Thurion would only cause wounds grievous enough that they could not rejoin the battle upon receiving them.

Deciding that time was fleeting, Thurion created an opening by pounding his fist against the floor, emitting a shockwave that sent most of the Sith flying into walls and pillars. "Coci, go!" he told her, grabbing hold of her to toss her up into the air so that she could work on dislodging the keystone.

[member="Coci Sinopi"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"]

Her eyes widened as suddenly she was flying through the air, after his more then effective shock wave. For the love of the force he is powerful! she grinned at her own thought, which was only for a brief moment as she now refocused. The keystone set in place in a time long forgotten, it will not be simple to move it let alone remove it, her mind raced as her eyes followed along the column supporting it. She found it was cracked in places, ions of the glacier pushing against the structure had fatigued the stone and that would be her first target.

Coci's left hand raised toward the column and sent a spear of the force toward the cracks, and another until she saw dust and bits of rubble begin to fall. Then another force pushed more powerful and the column gave way, crashing down around the room. As she reached the zenith of the toss, both her hands directed toward the keystone, her eyes focused on it completely and funneled her energy toward it. The force gathered in the hands and push from her palms, erupted and hit the stone square.

A loud rumbling filled the chamber, all sizes of stone began to cascade to the floor as the ceiling began to collapse. Coci began to fall back to the floor, using the force to soften her landing however, now they had a new problem. The Sith had backed way, confused and without direction and some began to run for their lives. Coci looked up into the ceiling as best she could, only to see their plan had worked, probably a little to well, as soon the entire ceiling would be down upon them.

"Thurion!", she yelled for him, now running back toward him. The fear in her voice was not for her own life but his.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Just as the Sith had managed to recuperate for another attack, the entire chamber began to shake and rumble. Whole pillars gave way, crashing down upon some of them to leave them buried beneath their own creation. The roof then started collapsing, large chunks of rock falling from the ceiling like massive raindrops. Watching Coci fall, he made his way to her through the piles of debris. She settled upon the floor with the aid of the Force, but they were far from safe. With her yelling his name, Thurion tore his eyes from her to the falling pillar aiming for him.

Deactivating his lightsaber, he set about easing the fall of the pillar using Telekinesis, but he could not fully stop it in time. Realising this, he braced himself with the aid of the Force as he physically caught the pillar with his body, remaining stood where he was as he kept the pillar from crushing him. Legs wide apart and back against the stone pillar pressing down on him with its many tonnes, he used every ounce of his great strength to keep it from burying him. His teeth gritted and beads of sweat formed upon his forehead accompanied by heavy breathing.

"Get out of here, Coci! I can't hold it for much longer...!" He glanced over at his beloved with a pained expression on his face.

[member="Coci Sinopi"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"]

No!

She ran toward him dodging falling rock as she went but not entirely escaping the smaller pieces as they hit her body and back. As she closed in closer to him, she stopped and raised both her arms, she had little energy left from the powerful use of the force to dislodge the keystone, but she would use whatever means left to her to aid him. If he is to die then so is she, never would she leave him.

The force wrapped around the pillar, and she began to move it, lifting it off his body a little ... enough for him to get out from under it and relieve the weight of it. Her mind blank of all thoughts, her concentration completely on the pillar, she had to in order to give what little she had left. A large piece of stone hit her arm, but she held it firm even though the pain was great. She could sense him moving out.

More and more pieces of stone fell around her, then she was struck on the head and fell to the floor, and everything went black.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

For a moment it seemed that their combined effort would work out, but they had both spent much of their energy fighting Sith and would have to work fast to get out of there. They both proved their devotion towards one another by refusing to leave the other to be buried alive beneath the crumbling temple. The remaining Sith had long-since scattered, fleeing their place of worship while many of their friends had fallen to either the two Jedi masters or the falling debris.

Then Coci was struck by a piece of rubble and fell to the floor before his eyes. "Coci! No!"

Eyes now burned bright with the Force as Thurion felt himself surge with newfound strength, enhancing his physical prowess further. His feet found new, better footing and his back pressed against the huge pillar, actually pushing it back gradually. A loud roar echoed through what was left of the chamber as he threw the pillar aside and watched it crash against the temple wall before turning his attention to Coci upon the ground. With one swift motion he sweeped her off the floor, and with his beloved in his arms he leapt from rubble to rubble as it came crashing down until they were both out the exit and safe from further harm.

Now on his knees with the crumbling temple at his back, he quickly examined Coci for signs of life. The impact had knocked her unconscious, but she yet lived, to his great relief. "Coci, honey - wake up!" he whispered, out of breath and close to succumbing to his own fatigue. "Don't leave me alone in this world, my love..." He cradled her head against his chest, kissing her forehead just before the entirety of the Sith temple collapsed, sending a cloud of dust their way. When the dust had settled, Thurion was on his back against the ground with Coci in his arms, both now passed out from the ordeal.

[member="Coci Sinopi"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"]

His voice stirred her from the unconscious state, her hand raised up to hold her head as her eyes opened. She felt the wetness of the blood on her hands which matted her hair and a trickle ran down the side of her face. "I will never leave you alone", she whispered.

The two are on the ground and covered in dust from the collapse of the Sith structure, she could taste the dust in her mouth making her parched and thirsty. But that was a minor discomfort compared to what they had both been through. She was just grateful they both made it in one piece, regardless of the attempts by the cultist to prove otherwise. It had been an interesting mission, a test of them both under circumstances that had pushed them both physically, mentally and spiritually. Coci and Thurion had remained true to the duty of a Jedi and to each other. The strength of their love pulling them through both. It was now that Coci realised that her emotions can do things to strengthen her resolve one had to be strong of character to do it, Thurion had taught her that, once more. A Master learning from a Master and she loves him for it.

"Are you alright my love?", she began to moved off him to see if that was so. "Are you injured? .. ouch my head hurts", she smiled. "Why is it always rocks and heads", she joked trying to break the tension and remembering their past ordeals.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Her voice broke the silence, angelic to his ears. There was no more rumbling and collapsing of pillars and walls, and for once the two were able to catch their breaths. Weary eyes gazed into hers, and on his lips a smile formed. "Knowing you're alright is all I need to live through anything", he spoke softly before kissing her forehead once more. The two remained holding eachother upon the ground for some time, until time dictated that they moved on. Night was approaching swiftly, and their duty to the Order had been upheld. "Teetoo... bring the ship to our coordinates. Our work here is done."

Making their way back to the platform which would take them back up to the icy surface, Thurion couldn't help but ponder on where the Sith leader, Calagar, had disappeared to. It was concerning how well he seemed to know their every secret, some of which dating decades back. Nevertheless, this hideout of his was done for, and he was on the run for now. That would have to do.

Once back on the surface, the cold weather actually felt refreshing from the intense fight they'd just been through. Luckily, however, they wouldn't have to wait long for the ship to arrive, and they hurried aboard before it took off into space. Thurion immediately fell over onto the floor of the ship right after they took off, panting heavily as his body caught up with the strenuous effort he'd been through. Never before had his armor felt this heavy, but he was glad to be safely aboard alongside his fiancée.

[member="Coci Sinopi"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"]


Once the two of them were safely back on board the ship, it was only then that Coci allowed the relief to wash over her body and mind. She had no strength left, and was unable to prevent Thurion from collapsing to the floor. She joined him there on her knees which landed hard on the surface of the main entrance. She listened to his hard breathing and sensed his fatigue. His armour weight heavy on his body depleting further of strength.

Her hand moved to him, and began to removed parts of his armour, it was a slow process as she worked taking off piece by piece and laying it aside. She did not speak, words not necessary at this point and she lacked the ability to form a word. This story was not over, they had in part succeeded in the mission but the leader most likely had escaped, to live another day and cause more pain and suffering to others. So too was concerned just how far this Calagar had known of them and had infiltrated all parts of the galaxy and possibly the Silver Order. And why is Thurion and her the choosen ones?

As Thurion's armour came away under her care, she leaned down and kissed him lips gently. The ships environment systems removed the cold and she had no need for her arctic suit. Coci unzipped it and peeled it away from her body, only remaining in her thermals. So too collapsed to the floor beside him, as her hand found his and she held it firmly.