Subject: [OTL]: (alt. Betsy/Star Wars) Fanged Butterfly 2: Knightcross 29/? (R) From: Phil Hartman Date: Fri, 4 Apr 2008 05:41:21 +0000 will1@earthling.net Fanged Butterfly Vol. 2: Knightcross Chapter 29 by Phil Hartman DISCLAIMER: Marvel's are Marvel's. LFL's are LFL's. Any original characters are mine. The rest belong to their owners/creators. No money is being made off of this. Please don't sue. WARNING: Graphic imagery, violence, and mature themes. ------------------------------------------------- "Dreams pass in time." - Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars: Attack of the Clones ------------------------------------------------- 40 ABY: Jedi Encampment, Endor, Outer Rim, Galactic West: 20 days after the Battle of Corellia: ------------------------------------------------- "You've finally lost it," Raynar Thul accused. Coming from Raynar, the words weren't particularly stinging. In fact, they were ridiculously ironic. But in any other circumstance besides the rapidly approaching doom of the entire galaxy, Betsy might agree. "If we had any other ship fast enough to get us all the way to Vjun, I'd take it. But we don't, and frankly, I think Mara would understand," Betsy replied, watching Artoo decrypt the security on the Jade Shadow. Even WITH the experimental dovin basal hyperdrive booster aboard the Shadow, they'd do well to make Vjun within a day ... if Betsy was just relying on the dovin basal. "As loath as I am to agree with Raynar - not just because of our weird ... connection - you CAN'T seriously be thinking about slingshotting around the Deep Core," Ganner insisted - now with a yellow lightsaber and clean robes. "If Artoo could get Mara and I to Coruscant in time to keep Caedus from seizing the Senate, then he can get us to Vjun. And Ben is in more danger - we ALL are - than from even anything Jacen can throw at us," Betsy warned. The little droid toodled warily, and the Shadow's hatch finally opened - to reveal a rainbow haired young woman and a disheveled Ewok sitting on one of the acceleration couches, looking embarrassed. "HOW -" Ganner and Raynar gasped, as Myri Antilles and Kettch the Jedi Ewok composed themselves. "I do not WANT, or care, to know. Stay; you two might yet prove useful - Artoo, plug in; Ganner, weapons; Raynar ... burble something up-tempo," Betsy said, taking the pilot's seat as the hatch sealed and everyone strapped in. "You're HOTWIRING the Shadow!? ASTRAL! The most I did was get in through the torpedo bay tubes!" Myri exclaimed, as Betsy hit the repulsors. "Don't get too happy yet, Myri. You may not like what you find where we're going," Betsy warned. Raynar hummed some odd little tune, and the Shadow punched out of Endor's atmosphere, toward the jumppoint. "I still can't imagine HOW you're going to do this. The hyperlanes are twisted the closer you get to the Deep Core," Ganner insisted. Betsy grinned and replied - feeling a little saucy: "Well, we DO have an Antilles with us ..." Myri gulped, as Kettch added, "Yub-uh-oh." ------------------------------------------------- Bast Castle, Vjun, Outer Rim, Galactic East: 21 days after the Battle of Corellia: ------------------------------------------------- He stirred ... And Ben Skywalker shivered, beneath the vorazh membrane on his bed ... and stopped lying to himself. He'd CHOSEN Paxis. He could claim mind control, genetic warping, emotional manipulation ... but Ben had given in to the dark dream Jacen/Caedus had woven. Even if elements of that dream were positive, a few good parts didn't make a good whole. He sobbed, relieved when he felt his REAL parents reaching for him with understanding and - they projected that he'd done nothing wrong, that he didn't need to feel guilty, when he begged forgiveness. It was Dathomir, all over again, except that Ben had almost fallen. More than once. ALMOST, he realized ... still wary, meditating in the Force; he couldn't risk letting the ... feral joy he still felt become dark. #I have to ask Jacen to turn me back, now that Tace's cured. The twins'll be sad, but we'll still be cousins ... I just need to go HOME,# Ben realized, pulling off the membrane and standing. Bast Castle, this Vong life ... it wasn't evil. But it wasn't Ben Skywalker, either. Not after he'd faced the truth ... after he'd almost given in to making one of his friends become a slave. If Ben truly wanted to not hurt others, he had to be wary of the dark side. And the Vongforming made that difficult. He'd miss Senna and Korol, but Ben wasn't able to play at being Paxis anymore. Paxis HAD been a mask ... but when midnight had come, Ben had stayed behind the mask. Worse, he'd stayed behind the mask at dawn, too. He felt tears running down his face, and looked in the mirror. But Ben was able to smile, too. Because if he was thinking this clearly, he could CHOOSE again. That was the problem, Ben accepted. He hadn't had a CHOICE in his Shaping. But he didn't want to hate Jacen, either ... and not just over the dark side risk. If people made mistakes, even as awful ones as Jasa had made, they usually had a reason they told themselves the lies they did in order to choose incorrectly. Ben had wanted to belong; had wanted to try and heal HIS family. Jacen had given him one ... The problem was, Ben'd found one that was TOO close. The yammosk effect was smothering, even for Force sensitives who were Shaped. But Jasa hadn't started out evil. He loved Tenel Ka, Tace and Allana, really did care about the Shaped Ones, wanted to help the victims of Vong poisoning ... and when he wasn't acting crazy, was Ben's cousin and figurative brother. His big brother just needed help. Ben had just failed to face Jacen with the other people they both needed. Well, that was about to change. Ben strapped on his combat belt, wiped his eyes, and headed for the door, a kind but determined look on his face. He CHOSE to be Ben Skywalker ... maybe not Jedi, again, yet. He wasn't sure he deserved that. But Ben WAS Luke and Mara Skywalker's son, and he was stanging well gonna try to do what they'd do: Help others. Especially family and friends. The mask shattered. Permanently. And that was when Ben realized ... Jacen was missing from the Force. Ben ran down the hall, sensing Tenel Ka's surprise and ... relief? ... before knocking on her and Jacen's door. She opened it, tilting her head and concentrating - and asked, slowly smiling, "Ben ... you're not ..." "I'm sorry, but I can't be Paxis anymore. He wasn't real - and you're really nice, Tenel Ka, but you're not ..." Ben stammered, unsure how not to hurt his friend - his figurative big sister. She just smiled, hugging him gently, and sent, /I know. And I am glad you are my friend - my brother, NOT my son - again, also. Are we all right, then?/ /YEAH! Thanks - but Jacen, I can't sense him in the Force .../ Ben asked, and Tenel Ka released him to let him walk into the room. And then Ben saw the two-meter-long grey cocoon in the path to the balcony, and asked, "... JACEN?" "Apparently. He was up quite late last night, and when I awoke this morning, that was lying there where I last saw him standing. He is not anywhere else within my Force sense range," Tenel Ka said, as the door opened again and Tace and Allana peeked inside. Ben smiled at that - ALLANA, NOT Lahna - and said, "Hey, guys. Jacen's ... kind of busy right now ..." "You're not Paxis anymore," Tace asked, and Ben knelt down to let the kids see him more closely, to try and reassure them that he meant no harm. "But he's still Ben. Ben's nice," Allana said, and Ben returned his cousins' hugs, relieved that they were OK with him - were OK, period - and then a Force call brought a big, real smile to Ben's face, as he stood. "They're here," he said, running for the landing pad. ------------------------------------------------- Whatever feral ... Vongness had gripped Ben before, had seemed to ... well, not LEAVE him, but Ben was BEN again. And he was overjoyed that his - real? - parents had found him. Luke allowed himself tears of relief as the Shawnkyr landed, and he smiled as the Falcon parked beside the freighter - Leia was blazing with joy, and wariness, but he couldn't blame her. Vjun had been ... a shock from orbit. It was beautiful, where before it'd been a hellish wasteland tainted by the dark side. Now, the acid clouds were gone, the land was rich and green, the seas blue and alive. If Vongforming could at least push back dark taint, maybe it wasn't necessarily something to fear, Luke allowed. He certainly wasn't going to prejudge anything Vong, if he had any right to call himself Ben's father. Mara beat him down the ramp, laughing as she caught Ben as he ran to them - bald, now, but that was easy to ignore, given the extent of the shaping they'd already seen in him. But it was the sight of a similarly ... Shaped woman, and two small children - a boy and a girl, Luke could see and sense through the Force - that troubled him and Leia, as she, Han, Threepio, and Chewie left the Falcon. Anakin, Tahiri, Jaina and Jag left the Shawnkyr - Corran would stay and watch over Kyle, Kyp and Saba - and tried not to look ... discomforted at the Vong landscape surrounding Bast Castle. Or the ... MANY ... Shaped people walking around, unashamedly. Mara looked and felt uneasy, but she WAS relieved that Ben was Ben - the poor kid was crying and feeling guilty, and Luke went to his wife and son, and Ben hugged him. And radiated images and feelings through their Force bond ... and Luke had to FIGHT to keep a sudden rush of FURY down. Not at Ben; his boy held onto him, knew Luke wasn't mad at HIM. But that Jacen had been ... DOING this, for Force knew how long ... /Dad, please - you saw why he did what he did. He's sick, not evil. You forgave me .../ Ben pleaded. /But you were just looking for someplace to belong. I know you didn't FAIL to tell us you were alive. I ... I went dark, and I didn't listen. Like I didn't listen before,/ Luke replied, looking in Ben's eyes with guilt. /But you did on Dathomir, and you CAME. You're here, and we can help Jasa ... please, trust me?/ Ben asked, opening fully to Luke's Force senses. And Luke sobbed with joy; his son wasn't gone. Different; but in the same way that Luke had been after Endor. Ben's world had been shaken, he'd looked into the face of the dark ... and he'd chosen the light. Ben had come back from his masked identity, after trying to protect Lekauf, to help his ... "CousinS? Jacen and Tenel Ka had a SON, AND a daughter... ?!" Luke gasped, as Leia and Han walked to ... Tenel Ka, Allana, and ... "You'll like Tace. He's a great kid, and a lot healthier, now," Ben said, and Luke threw an arm around his son as they walked to the rest of their family. Tace, Luke thought with relief, wasn't the only one a lot healthier. And he realized he didn't mean just Ben when he thought that. Because if Jacen had cared enough for his OWN son, these people, to build a sanctuary for the victims of Vong poisons ... Luke finally, slowly, managed to start forgiving his nephew for Shaping Ben. Because if Ben could come through this and not loathe Jacen, then Luke had to do the same. Doing, not trying. In the light. Ben leaned against him, and they shared a smile. Father and son, together again, against the galaxy ... but not against their family. Now, Luke worried for Leia ... ------------------------------------------------- She hugged Tenel Ka; knelt before Allana and let the girl throw her arms around her ... and met brown eyes, in a young male face, looking at her. And Leia Organa-Solo ... let herself smile in the first time for far, FAR too long. "You're Daddy's Mommy. He talks 'bout you. He misses you," the little boy ... Tace ... said, smiling shyly. And Leia was thrown back half a lifetime, to a giggling pair of twins and a tousle-haired toddler, driving Threepio crazy as Winter laughed behind her hands and Han grinned ... "I miss him, too. I'm also Allana's grandmother ... and yours," Leia said, as Han knelt down, still stunned. Tace smiled, while Allana hugged Han, and the boy said, "I'm glad you came. You're really nice. Even with hair." And Leia burst into tearful laughter, hugged her grandchildren, and ... giggled with them. Chewie complained, and THAT set Han off, and the Solos laughed a LOT of their hurt and fear away, as Tenel Ka beamed in relief. Tace hugged Han, then, and let his grandfather pick him up, as Leia picked up Allana and asked, "Sweetie, did ... you want to be ... ?" "I slept, an' when I woke up, I was like Mommy an' Daddy an' Tace an' Ben. It didn't hurt, Gramma," Allana explained ... and Leia let tears flow again. In a degree of relief ... and the start of forgiveness. Her son hadn't done this out of cruelty. There was still some part of Jacen in ... whatever waited for them. /Leia ... I would NEVER have let Jacen Shape us had I thought there was any safer alternative. The Hapes Consortium is no safe haven, anymore. He used anaesthesia; there was no pain. This is not ... what I would have preferred; but I truly believed it was our only option,/ Tenel Ka sent. /And now?/ Leia asked, not judging; she'd hidden her children as little ones ... and she started to understand WHY Tace had never been mentioned, and felt a little hypocritical. Not SO hypocritical that she'd accept Shaping as a means to an end. But Jacen had been acting from a parent's primal instinct. Leia had had her own viciously furious moments toward all sorts of people who'd come for her kids. /Now ... depends a great deal on whomever comes out of the cocoon upstairs,/ Tenel Ka sent, and Leia and Han - who hadn't heard the Force projection, but could tell when Leia wanted him to follow her lead - shared a Look. They followed the Lady of Bast Castle into the courtyard. Their son ... and his wider family ... awaited them. ------------------------------------------------- She SHOULD be slaveringly furious. But Ben ... as disturbing as his Vongformed body had been when Mara had first seen it ... was still Ben. He'd explained everything through their Force bond; was now leaning his head on Mara's shoulder, grateful for her understanding about why he'd so eagerly given in to that Paxis identity. But he'd come back. And Mara was NOT going to blindly condemn devotion to a Sith Lord, especially not in another person who'd come back from the brink. Especially not her own kid. /Thanks,/ Ben sent, sharing a smile with his Mom as she rubbed his ... bald head. /You've got nothing to apologize for. If you want ... I left the skinning knives back on the Shawnkyr,/ she half-joked. Her vintage vibroblade was in her wrist sheath; holdout pistol at the base of her spine; half a dozen other weapons distributed. Ben looked at her with a suddenly ... familiar ... grin, and Mara ... felt a gush of pride and connection. Her boy was a HUNTER, like her, she realized. /Well, I could be. Maybe, one time, before I get turned back ... you'd be GREAT at hunting yanskacs,/ Ben offered, and Mara ... giggled!? It was NOT normal mother-son bonding. But it was true, and so utterly ... right. Her baby was still inside this lean, clawed and taloned package of killing machine, still ... Ben. And he let her rub her cheek against his bare scalp, as she decided: Solo didn't need skinning. And if he did need killing ... she had a rancor beside her whom deserved the first shot more. Or maybe ... a raptor ... ? For some reason, the comparison felt truer, and Mara looked around the courtyard as the party headed for the main tower. The Shaped Ones were ... oddly ... not disturbing, she admitted, watching children play and teens and adults train. They had a feral sense in the Force, but unlike some of the opinions these people had of the other guests ... they accorded Mara respect. Hunters recognizing one of their own, not just because she was Ben's mother - because they knew what Mara had been. Was. She nodded back, with respect. Jacen might still be twisted, but he had created something here that shouldn't be blindly torn apart. Ben was STILL getting turned back to full human, though, Mara insisted, and Ben radiated anxious desire for it. But she wouldn't mind letting him visit Vjun, in the future. That was when one of the teenaged girls looked at the visiting Skywalkers and Solos, poured panic into the Force, and ran to ... Ben? Mara got a truly evil ... and slightly exasperated ... look on her face, as Ben gulped and sent, /I SWEAR, I didn't -/ /Kidding, sweetie. Mom has to assess potential daughters-in-law,/ Mara teased, almost enjoying the shades of red Ben turned as the girl stopped and asked Tenel Ka something. For some odd reason, the girl looked ... familiar. Or as familiar as a teenaged girl with a bald head, claws and talons, who appeared to be wearing a flesh-colored bodysuit that turned different colors every few seconds COULD look. "You're leaving," the girl ... accused Ben, who slipped out from Mara's arm and sighed, taking the hurt and ... fearful? ... girl's hands in his. "Senna, you're the one who told me not to forget Ben Skywalker. Paxis wasn't real. You'll always be special to me, but ... this isn't my home," Ben tried to explain .... Senna? Mara was both grateful to and a little bothered by the girl, but the teen sighed, wiping away tears before she kissed Ben's cheek. "If my parents came for me ... I guess I'd have a tough time deciding whether stay, too. Take care, OK? I ..." Senna said ... and a sudden shocked noise, and a radiated wave of horror, mingled with disbelief, then joy, and icy anger in the Force, prompted Mara to look at ... JAG? And Mara suddenly knew who Senna reminded her of ... ------------------------------------------------- Jaina had been marveling at Tace - she had a NEPHEW - even as she worried about Tenel Ka and Allana, and had thanked the Force Ben was as OK as he was ... and she debated whether Jacen might JUST be able to be salvaged ... And then Jag went ... pale ... and his emotions went through a VERY un-Fel spectrum ... "Ysanna ... ?!?!" he ... wheezed ... and the girl who had been talking to Ben tilted her head, as if trying to remember ... "JAGGY!?" the girl - Ysanna ... FEL!? - shrieked, and she and Jag hugged ... JAGGY? Really ... that was just SO not ... Jag. Worse, he hadn't told Jaina, his own WIFE, that he'd had another shadow sibling besides Cem. But that was Jag, Jaina allowed. Jag gave Jaina an apologetic look, and Mara grinned wickedly at Ben, who turned a few interesting colors. "Another Fel in the family ...?" Mara teased, but Ben just made an embarrassed noise, as Luke rubbed his head. "What did they DO to you?" Jag asked, and ... Ysanna sighed, leaning back and looking at Jag as she greeted the Solos and Tace made introductions. The little guy was a sweet kid, Jaina sensed; like Allana, just ... male. And actually less wild. He reminded her a lot of a more innocent ... oh, SHAVIT. Jaina groaned; she was losing that furious desire to strangle her twin. Why that was a BAD thing to lose, she worried ... and checked her own emotions carefully. Yes, Jacen had Shaped Tenel Ka and Allana, but he hadn't tortured them in the process. If Luke and Mara were willing to give Jacen a chance after what he did to Ben, then why couldn't Jaina? She was feeling ... protective, but of Ben and the twins, or... ? And Jaina felt a NEW Force presence respond, and she gasped ... "Jag ...?" Jaina slowly breathed ... oh, she could NOT have missed this ... unless she'd been too focused on the kill. The Sword ... was carrying a little dagger. And realization swept her mother, then Mara, and then the other Force users ... and Jaina laughed and cried and rejoiced, as Jag caught on and gaped and ran to hug her. They kissed, and Jaina Solo-Fel held onto her man. Jacen could wait. This moment was Jaya's, not the Sword's. And laughter wasn't such an uncomfortable thing. A peal of joy, shot through with a plea for forgiveness and a wave of agonized guilt, rang back through a too-long-silent twin bond, and Jaina warily responded back ... wanting to try. And Jacen Solo finally appeared, atop the stairs. ------------------------------------------------- Han was still crying and laughing at the news - he was going to be a grandpa AGAIN! - when he looked up, seeing ... Well, he was in a castle full of naked people with extra skin and claws and chameleon colors. Why Jacen should be the same, yet surprise Han, was a little odd even to the bitter Solo patriarch. "Jaya ... I won't come any closer if you want. Not until I ... try to begin to explain," the ... being said, REAL remorse and tears pouring from him. Jaina just nodded, trying to smile, as Leia looked both shocked and ... WANTING to believe. Chewie rumbled something in Shryiiwook about mixing depil cream with shampoo, but Jacen ... chuckled, sadly, and the Wookie shrugged. Anakin was wary, but managed not to frown; Tahiri ... arched an eyebrow, and Luke and Mara stood by Ben. Jag almost HISSED, until ... Ysanna? ... put her arm through his, and he quieted, scowling. Han wanted to ... he wasn't sure. Stangit, Jacen had TORTURED Ben. But his boy had also protected his own little guy, had sheltered Tenel Ka and Allana ... had made a place for people whom Han could actually relate to. The Shaped Ones had been ordinary people before the Vong. They might be ... odd, now, but no moreso than other near humans who couldn't breed true with humans. Well, almost not breed true, Han granted, smiling down at Tace, who laughed and ran to Jacen, as Allana did the same ... And if his grandchildren could love Jacen Solo ... Jacen scooped his kids up, rubbing their noses with his, smiling weakly, and walked to the ground floor, where Tenel Ka beamed and joined her family. What was odd ... was that the Shaped Ones WEREN'T bowing and scraping, like Han thought they might, given what Luke had whispered to him as they'd walked inside. They gave Jacen looks or calls of respect, but these people weren't ... acting mindkriffed. Something had changed in Bast Castle, and Han was both wary and suddenly ... hopeful. Jacen set his kids down, letting them cling to his legs, and he took a deep breath ... And Han decided he'd listen to the guy he'd disowned. ------------------------------------------------- Byss System, Deep Core: ------------------------------------------------- "BLOODY KARK! I THOUGHT YOU COULD FLY!?" "Syal's the pilot! I'm the cute crazy one with the Ewok! YOU decided to slingshot around the Deep Core, then said fly through the Byss Asteroid Field for a shortcut, Betsy!!" "If I COULD have relied on the Force to help me pilot, Myri, I WOULD. But the entire bloody system is STILL filled with dark side energy after Byss was blown apart - WATCH THAT ONE!!" "It's official: Betsy, we're through. You're insane." "This from the man with the insectoid -" "NOT in front of the children!" "I'm dating an Ewok, Thul. Not much scares me - AKK! BIG ROCK! BIG ROCK!!" "What was that saying, Betsy ... too much information?" "Not NOW, Ganner - AH! SPACE SLUG!" "Yub .... BWORF ..." "KETTCH!? What did you EAT?!" "Or is who a better question?" "He's a CITY Ewok, Thul! - ah. Hyperspace." "You do realize whoever tells Mara there's Ewok vomit on her upholstery is going to DIE." "We film a holo blaming it on Kyp." "Rweooooo twoot dwooo blort." "Bloody HELL. Artoo says Luke already tried that after spilling hot chocolate one night, and it didn't work." "Shavit. We ARE dead." ------------------------------------------------- Vjun: Castle Bast Courtyard: ------------------------------------------------- He'd emerged from the cocoon physically unchanged. Shaped as before. But ... JACEN was whole, for the first time in years. He abandoned any pretense, and dropped to one knee before Luke; either he was going to win his uncle and parents and the others over with honesty ... or not. The metaphysical battle in Jacen's mind had left him with the brutal, needed reality that CAEDUS WAS HIM. But Jacen Solo didn't have to be Caedus anymore. "Grand Master ... Uncle," Jacen began, sincere tears in his eyes as he looked up at Luke. Mara was beside Ben, who looked down at Jacen with honest forgiveness and hope; Tace and Allana ran to Jacen, afraid but happy to see him; Tenel Ka walked to behind Jacen and put her hands on his shoulders. And Mother, Father, Jaina, Anakin, Tahiri and Jag looked on, waiting. Hoping. OK, Jag was twitching, but Ysanna WAS among the victims here. Jacen was through lying. "Jacen, you can stand ..." Uncle Luke offered, but Jacen only did so to hold his twins' hands. He would die to protect them ... and understanding flickered between him and Luke, and Mara, as Ben smiled a little. "I fell. Whatever reasons for it ... are no excuse. I ... tortured Ben ... Shaped him ... dominated these people for my own emotional comfort, even BEFORE Bimmiel ..." Jacen confessed, letting the tears come. "You healed us," Ysanna insisted, of her free will - Jacen would NOT allow his powers to taint any more Shaped Ones, even if he was one of them. He was their equal, NOT their Dark Lord. Not anymore. "Most of you. And I ask that they be allowed to keep Vjun, as a sanctuary. Most of the rest of the galaxy still hates the Vong, and I promised these people the safety that was stolen from them," Jacen pleaded. "I promise. And you're ..." Luke said, looking at Tace and Allana, before smiling at Ben, and adding: "A very wise young man on Vulpter once said he wouldn't kill someone's father." And Jacen bit back a sob, as his family hugged him. /I don't deserve this .../ Jacen pleaded. /We're not saying there won't be consequences. But you came BACK, Jacen. Your remorse is real; I KNOW that. And your actions, while dark ... you started out from compassion. We can build on THAT, fix this, find a place for you,/ Uncle Luke insisted. They released him, and Jacen sighed; there was still one last sin he needed to confess. "I still have to answer for the asteroid near Bimmiel. For listening to Lumiya," Jacen breathed. "For killing Nelani Dinn." The Force suddenly swirled - and Ben gasped, Jacen feared for his cousin/little brother - Who SNARLED, "*YOU!?*" ---------------------------------------------- He'd loved Jacen; given himself over to his cousin as an apprentice, laughed with him as a brother ... even looked up to him as a surrogate dad. But the reality that Jacen had just ... MURDERED ... Nelani - a young woman who'd looked up to Jacen, who'd tried to be a Jedi in a dark place ... kicked Ben. He sobbed, as Jacen breathed, "Bennie ... I was wrong -" "WRONG!? Vel was trying to kill your folks! My Shaped stem cells saved Tace! THOSE .... were bad, but you had SOME reason!" Ben snapped - "NELANI WAS *TOTALLY* INNOCENT!!!" But so were Tace and Allana - Ben couldn't kill their dad - and it was still Jasa - Then, Ben felt ... feverish. And he gazed into fire, and life incarnate. ---------------------------------------------- tbc ...