The Ocean Elf was awakened by an alarm at Mission HQ. There was a strange presence on the property, possibly a security threat.
Sighing, she got up, hastily readied herself for the day, and without eating, exited the main building to do some checks.
"Brrrr!" She huddled inside her coat, the weather was bitterly cold, which always made it even more difficult for her to get going.
She found nothing strange directly on the property, but as she was just about to turn back to retreat inside the building and get away from the cold snowy conditions, she nearly lost her footing on a slippery patch of ice beneath some snow.
She soon regained it, but to her astonishment, the landscape suddenly changed.
Gone was the Mission HQ and its surroundings, to be replaced by a completely different setting.
She was now in a galaxy far far away. She hahad no idea how she got there, but she was pretty sure it was someone else's doing, and no accident. She had a keen sense of being watched, and probably by whoever was responsible for dragging her through some portal and into this strange land.
Sure enough, the elf's suspicions proved correct.
A man in black approached her. He was very ominous, but instead of intimidating her, it made her back go up. He must've been the one responsible for the disturbance back at HQ and summoning her through a sneaky portal, though how and why that was managed, she hadn't yet figured out.
But he seemed familiar. He reminded her of someone - some black-coated villain in the movies.
A further clue to his identity was that he breathed loudly, sounding exactly as if he was on a respirator.
Of course! There was only one person who looked and breathed this way, someone who stood out from the other black-suited bad guys in the movies.
This one had to be none other than Darth Vader himself.
The elf frowned and narrowed her eyes. Then she looked up to gaze intently at him. If he intended to amuse himself with her and then have her destroyed, she wasn't about to have any of it. But if he was going to have any pleasant dealings with her, he would have to have returned to the light. But she didn't yet know what his intentions were. Of all the people he could've sought out, why her? Had he learned of certain operations in her world that she had carried out? If so, how could he even be bothered with that information when surely there were other things going on in his own galaxy? But those questions would have to wait for now.
"Anakin Skywalker. You may refer to me by my birth name if you wish," he said, his voice a little bass tone through the mask.
The Elf grimaced and shook her head, but responded matter-of-factly, "I am Hanima - Of The Waves; you may refer to me as Ocean." She took a step closer, looking irritated. "Why have you brought me here, and what do you want with me? You have some nerve breaching the security system on my property, disturbing my rest, and zapping me into this strange place." she said coldly.
I am most apologetic, the figure in black replied. I only want you to help me to return to the light."
The Ocean Elf looked incredulous. "Excuse me?"
He continued.
"I am tired of being the emperors so-called Aaron boy, or his dark enforcer. he said with a dejected sigh.
The elf stared in disbelief for a moment, and then her expression became steely. "That won't erase what you've already done, you know. But if you really want to turn away from darkness, that's something only you can do, and you have to really want to do it - with all your might. Palpatine was the sort of person who needed to be kicked all the way down to Valhalla."
"Is," Lord Vader replied. "I tossed him down once before, but he cheated death by using the force. I could use your help, but be careful of the malign energy that shoots from his fingertips."
The elf put a hand to her forehead and mumbled, "I can't believe this." She straightened up a moment later and said, "Is that why you summoned me? You found out about the annihilation of a monstrous sadistic tentacled abomination and his realm and how it was done, and who was responsible. Well, I may be immune to the lightning I caused in that storm, but not to that caused by nature. I may or may not be immune to some degree from that caused by other beings, though."
The man in black nodded. "By the way, you may refer to me by my birth name. It is Anakin."
"I am aware of that, sir." said the elf coolly.
He continued. " If I were to talk to you without my mask, my voice would be a little more than a whisper, and it would be very difficult and painful for me to speak. The respirator helps me to breathe, because my lungs are so damaged. He explained..
"I am aware of that and I have no problem with the way you look or sound." Ocean replied matter-of-factly, so enough of that. I am only interested in ending this Palpatine if he's still kicking around as you say."
I am very glad, the former dark Lord replied. Now, you must be careful. The emperor is really a SITH Lord. Darth Sidious.."
"I have heard mention of Sidious, and sith, for that matter, though my knowledge is very limited yet." said the elf. "I know they mean nothing but bad news.
The man continued."Do be careful. If I have to, I will use the force and lift him over my head. I shall throw him over the balcony railing. He nearly killed my son Luke Skywalker. I shall vowed to seek my vengeance! I know it’s wrong, but if I want to return to the light, I have to do this myself."
"Well then, you don't need my help." the elf said coldly, then turned from him. But they were in a no-teleport zone, and she could not transport herself back home, though she tried. "You just kidnapped me for nothing." she glared at Vader.
He continued, apparently needing to get a great burden off his chest. "I am so tired of the pain I suffer in this wretched thing for the past 30 something years! With this, he showed Ocean the armor he wore. "It is heavy, cumbersome, and I can’t move!" He said. His bass voice near-shout resonated around the room.
Ocean put a finger to her lips. "I know," she raised her voice. "there is nothing I can do about that.. Startled by her own voice sounding more cross than she intended, she subsided with a sigh. "Look, when it comes down to it, if you really want to stop any more injustice and suffering caused by this so-called emperor, that's a start. But I'm no miracle-worker, and I don't know anyone who is. There are people back in my own world who have it even worse off, and our technology isn't nearly as advanced as what you have in your galaxy."
Suddenly, an idea came to the man. "By the way, he said, taking the elf's small hand in his cybernetic one, I will bring you to meet a very good friend of mine. His name is Ben, but he hasn’t gone by the name of Obi-Wan sense… Oh before Luke was born.
At this, Ocean's eyes lit up, and she showed him something he had not yet seen from her, a broad smile.
"I know of him!" But then she stopped herself and shrugged. "Wait...Your friends?"
"Yes," the old man replied. "We our friends. Are used to be his student, before that wicked old screw of an emperor influenced me. He is the one that lured me to the Dark side."
"You let him." said the elf unsympathetically.
"It was prophesied, but I would bring balance to the force."
The elf gave a muffled cough and grimaced.
"If you are unfamiliar with the force,"
"Everyone in first world countries on Earth knows about the force." said the elf.
"But you may ask Obi-Wan. You will meet someone else who is almost 900 years old. His name is Yoda."
"Oh!" Ocean impulsively squealed, then checked herself. "Well, it should be a pleasure to meet him." she said.
"He uses the light saber just like I do, and you will learn how to use one as well."
"That'll be interesting." she said. "Well, I'd like to get on with it."
He then said, "I can sense something of a force field around you," at the elf's sudden suspicious scowl, he asked, "Have you done any sword fighting dear?"
The elf shook her head. "As if that's any of your concern." she said, "I'll be learning from Yoda and Ben, not from you."
"Well," Anakin said, "I shall bring you to meet two friends of mine. We shall momentarily be entering a very Caverness chamber underground. Are you afraid of the dark?" He asked, very rare but kind smile showing through his mask.
"Of course not." replied the elf.
"Do not mind the sound of my respirator. He said. I hope to get this wretched thing fixed soon. I am so tired of the pain I suffer!
"Yes I know," she said abruptly.
"I am most apologetic for bringing this up again," Anakin said, almost crying.
"Ocean sighed impatiently. "All of a sudden you're just falling apart over this; and you never have before. We do have some footage of various things from your world that have made their way to ours."
"I wish I could just force choke the emperor, and defeat him that way. Of course, then he would suffer. He is almost 90 years old after all."
The elf scowled.
Anakin continued."Anyway, here we are. With this, the former SITH stopped before an oak door. Lifting a creaking latch, which echoed around the room, he pulled it open and lead the elf into a Cavernous room.
Ocean looked around incredulously.
Directly before her sat Master Yoda and Master Kenobi.
"This is BEN," Anakin said, introducing her to a man who is about 57 years of age.
This fellow was a kindly gentleman, with white hair, and a snowy white beard trailing down to his chest. His eyes were of a piercing blue color, and for a weaker-willed individual, they might seem to stare right through to one's soul. "It is Nice to meet you dear," the old man said, rising and shaking Ocean's hand.
The elf beamed and returned the hand-shake warmly.
Then, a raspy voice of the person next to Ben added, "Yes, nice to meet you it is."
Directly to the old man’s left, was another elderly man, small and green, sitting in the chair next to him. The elderly man, the small and green one, wore the same style robes as Obi-Wan.
"Likewise!" exulted the elf, extending a hand to Yoda as well. She checked herself again, it wouldn't do to let on she was as excited as anyone would be meeting a celebrity. She blinked and quietly took a deep breath. When she felt as if her voice would be steady and businesslike, she continued. "I am Hanima Of The Waves. You may call me Ocean. I still don't understand why I am here, but it is nice to make your acquaintance, gentlemen." she said cordially.
"Understand the in time you will," Yoda said. "Very difficult to explain it is." He continued.
"Now," Obi-Wan said, "sit down dear. I can sense through the force that you must be starving."
The elf looked warily back, wondering silently to herself if she might be starting to look a bit pale, but she only said, "Now that you mention it, you're right. But I can wait until - "
She was thinking maybe they would all just settle in and get something to eat later, though she had no idea if it would be cafeteria style or a sit-down meal.
She was definitely not expecting what happened next.
A plate of what looked like fish and rice magically floated through the air.
She stared in silent astonishment, then looked around at the others. "How is this happening?" she finally asked.
The force, he gently answered.
"The force can do that?" she asked, a look of wonder on her face.
"Indeed," he replied.
"Have questions do you?" Yoda asked. "Almost 900 years old I am," he said.
"I'll have quite a few," the elf said happily, "but for now I was just thinking that if we had this back where I come from, throwing parties would involve a lot less prep time, and any time you want a pizza, you could just use the force to get it. I could get used to this!" She trailed off in a quiet chuckle.
The plate gently landed on the table directly in front of Elf.
"Thank you." she said with a grateful smile at her hosts. But where is yours? I feel a little odd being the only one eating here." she said. "I'll wait until you have your meal and eat with you."
As she sat quietly waiting, two more plates magically floated through the air, landing in front of Yoda and Ben.
A look of concentration came over her face, then broke into a smile at the sight.
Ben’s plate contained something similar to hers, but the elderly Jedi Masters plate contained something different. Something from the swampy planet of DAGOBA.
Elf looked curiously at each one for only a moment then took another silent moment before starting on her meal.
"This is delicious," she said, "It tastes exactly like steelhead trout. And we all have something different." she observed, "I'm curious about it but won't ask a bunch of questions while we're eating." she grinned, and enjoyed the meal along with the others.
"You may ask us anything you wish," Obi-Wan kindly replied. "It is very easy to ask questions."
"If you are to ask about my suit, and what exactly happened to me," Anakin said, "I am willing to tell you my tail. It alas is a tale that is not to be told, but should you ask, I shall tell it. I do wish I could get out of this wretched thing."
The elf stopped eating and put her fork down, looking suddenly exasperated. "we already went through that back there."
He continued. "I have heard tales of an old sand person, who is a shaman."
"A healer?" Ocean asked. "Why not use the force to summon this person, instead of me?" for she had now theorized that was how her transport must've happened. She stared at the plate of food in front of her intently for a moment until it rose and floated away, presumably back from where it had come. The other plates of food remained where they were. She continued, not shouting by any means, but there was a stern edge in her tone. "And don't tell me you brought me here to go looking for this person and tell them all about you and your troublesome suit and somehow persuade them to come back here, because I will turn you down flat. If you could bring me here, you can bring them as well and tell them all about your problems yourself. I've heard enough about your suit to last a decade and have absolutely zero questions for you, Anakin Skywalker." Much as she wanted to excuse herself from the table, she didn't want to appear rude on top of reluctant, so hoped the meeting would just wrap up and she would be on her way, because bringing her here had to be a colossal mistake.
Ben shook his head and looked sadly at Anakin, who was crest-fallen.
It was Yoda who spoke up next. "Overwhelmed is our stranger in a strange land. Our motives, you mistrust, and understand, we do. But Ocean, an errand girl you are not. The problem Anakin faces, a catch22 it is. For he cannot heal until the emperor is vanquished. Yet the emperor cannot be vanquished by him until he gets some strength and help. The old sand person, a shaman healer he is, and a little temporary relief he might bring. Many other healers from different lands have tried, and heal Anakin, they could not. So in his desperation, many galaxies he probed, searching for someone who might ally with him against the emperor."
There was something about Yoda's patient, calm and friendly manner that helped the elf to subside and listen. Her expression, while still not smiling, showed she understood what Yoda was explaining to her. So, changing her mind about the food, she brought the plate back and resumed quietly eating.
Ben smiled slightly, and Yoda continued. "Much effort has drained him. All of his hopes, dashed, until the force probe discovered a raging sea storm in which a thoroughly evil entity was perishing at your hand. Many times before, had that evil entity been seen enslaving and terrorizing. Many conquests, he made, until the day he was taken down by the ocean waves. A new hope was discovered that day."
The elf tried to maintain a poker face, but could feel a grin trying to form on her face.
Yoda continued. "No more strength does Anakin have, not even enough to bring the old sand person here. Die he might, in the attempt."
"But you have demonstrated that you can use the force to some degree," Ben added.
"But then we get to another problem." said Ocean, returning to her original business-like but cordial composure, "Considering the bloody history, what is this sand person suffered losses of some of their friends and relatives to Anakin, who had previously lost his own mother to them in the worst way imaginable," she suddenly scowled, and her voice deepened, indicating loathing toward people who commit such sadistic acts.
"Yoda and Ben exchanged knowing glances with twinkling eyes. and continued with their meal while she spoke.
The elf's scowl was soon replaced by the straight-faced expression again, and she continued. "There is a chance this sand person may actually want to heal him, but what if not? There is nothing I can say to get this person to have anything to do with him. If I was any good at persuasion, I could've been a politician or working in sales, and even the best of these couldn't sort out this mess." She turned to Anakin next. "Much as I would love to rewind your life and erase the terrible things Mr. Insidious and those guilty sand people did to you and others, I cannot. I didn't mean to seem cruel earlier, and I will not bother anyone with the details of what makes me draw back. It's all Mickey Mouse stuff compared with the lot you've been dealt anyway." She gestured to show dismissal of the subject. "What I can tell you is Mr. Insidious needs to go down, and if you all think I'm qualified, I shall accept that mission. I only wish someone had contacted me first."
Defeated first the emperor must be. Yoda said. Only then, can anakin be helped."
The Elf shook her head in dismay. "He'd have a fighting chance if it was the other way around. But then I suppose Mr. Insidious planned it this way." she hissed.
"Well," ben said, "let us end the supper, and settle in. The twin suns are setting, and it is almost time for rest."
The elf nodded. "Appreciated." she said.
When they went their own way, Yoda showed Ocean to where she would be staying.
"Learn a great deal you will," Yoda said as he made sure Elf was comfortable. "Very cold it gets here on tatooine. A desert planet tatooine is, so one must be careful, and stay safe. Learn from Anakin you will. With this, Yoda left elf to get some rest.
"Thank you!" she called back. When he was out of earshot, she muttered miserably, "Learn 'from Anakin' indeed... I don't wanna learn anything from him, I'm sick of him!"
Soon, she tried Settling down to rest, or sleep. The transport had taken a lot out of her and so did the stress of the whole situation.
The elf recalled the days when she was a little girl, and used to have pleasant daydreams about going to Tatooine and meeting the people from Star Wars. She never in her wildest dreams thought she would ever actually go there, much less because of such a complicated and sad situation.
But what of her life back home? The idea that she might never be able to go back worried her terribly and made her feel sick.
Suddenly she let out a sharp gasp, and tears spilled from her eyes. Not wanting to dampen the pillow, she rolled from her side on to her back and furiously wiped away the tears with her hands. She didn't know how long she spent sobbing, tossing and turning, but eventually when she subsided, she sat up abruptly and swung her legs out from under the blanket to stand up.
For a few moments, she stood up and concentrated silently.
Then she took her phone out. Thank goodness it hadn't run out of battery and could connect to Tatooine internet here. Then, she did some searches about Anakin, and sure enough, found what she had suspected, now confirmed.
Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader had indeed committed kidnappings and torture under the power of the dark side that had seduced him.
The elf glowered in disgust and decided right there that if she was going to be able to help down Palpatine, she would make it clear she was not doing it for Anakin, but the citizens of Tatooine.
Then, relaxing, she crawled back into bed. From now on, no one was ever going to just spirit her away to somewhere else without her consent again. Anyone who tried would pay for it.
She heaved a sigh. Much as she wanted to return home, she was far too tired to attempt it, and she knew too much about the corruption and oppression being caused by the emperor, who apparently, was still around. She could not, in good conscience, up and leave. Back at home, her conscience would nag her endlessly about what horrible things might be happening on Tatooine and other places in this galaxy. She would be haunted by the fact she had let everyone down.
Homesickness, or guilt.
Ugh!
"Oh, why freaking me?" she asked herself in her head.
"You know why." her inner voice answered.
"That doesn't make it make any more sense."
"Use the force, and look to God for guidance, and those who invited you here to Tatooine to help them."
"It doesn't feel like an invite."
"Well, how about thinking of it that way. You didn't exactly barge in like some fangirls would love to do."
The elf chuckled quietly to herself, wondering how many fangirls had managed to come in through various portals and made obnoxious nuisances of themselves. On that thought, she drifted off to sleep.
In his quarters, Anakin Skywalker was dispirited. Sitting dejectedly on his bed, crying silently beneath his mask, he didn't even notice Ben quietly open the door and come up to him after shutting it again.
Ben put a hand out to lightly touch his arm to let him know he was there.
Anakin looked around and saw his mentor standing there.
"She is not really as cruel as she seems, Anakin."
"I tried to make her see, to understand." Anakin said haltingly.
"She does to a degree. More than she wishes to. We do not know her story. But she could be one who has seen or known of more suffering that she could not help or prevent. It is not callousness that is making her react this way, it is fear. I saw it in her face when she was becoming upset at you last night. Not fear of you, but perhaps being made to relive some past experiences she would like to forget. She is shielding herself from things that might make her become depressed or lose control. It is a common defence with people who need to be in control of themselves at all times. She might even be afraid of how she would react, or uncertain of how she should react. She will come around once she has rested, and worked it all out in her mind. I know this was not the reception you were expecting from her. But as we all know, things worth having are often hard won. Trust me, Anakin, she will become much kinder to you as she makes discoveries. She is not the sort to cry often. Tonight, she may shed a few tears of anxiety for being uprooted from her home. It will not be long before her tears fall for you."
Much as that idea may have given Anakin some comfort and hope, Ben himself was not sure about this idea, and he discussed it with Yoda. Both men had picked up on the Elf's decidedly frigid attitude toward Anakin, and it had only been what they had been warning him about ever since he came up with this idea to press her into his plans.