Cophrigin: the untold version (part 3)

"How did you do that?...um..." He managed to say.

"Nyieria (N-eye-ee-rah)," She said.

He allowed her name to form clearly within his mind.

"Nyieria," He said quietly regretting his question which seemed to be as constant as her rejections.

          As quickly as the natural light had left the sitting room it returned, but he had not really noticed. His complete attention was devoted to her. Her eyes flicked in such a way that to an untrained eye she still appeared stoney. In swift response he catches her as she collapsed and gently guides her to rest upon the floor. Her burden was himself and the planet. She knew the risk of what she had just done, yet fearlessly did so. He kneeled beside her form. He brushed her arm as he had planned, satisfied in the thought of what he had expected. Since she was deeply asleep she rested in the subconscious unable to reject or flash though his mind. Taking her up in both arms, gently, he carried her to her room. Placing her in bed he found himself caring more deeply than he should again. Walking out a flick of light caught his eye. The crystal freshly cut in half laying neatly on the shelf. He had heard of these crystals. Although none have ever seen them. Taking the crystal he heads for the garden.
          Inside the cool, misty garden he finds the robot taking it's tasks of replanting with ease. Taking them out was easier than putting them back. He disintegrates the robot into parts leaving it's job half finished. Taking what he needed the parts hovered in unison around him as he walked back inside. Finding several more parts around the kitchen he constructs a device for the broken crystal. To fix this for her was a kind gesture of caring. Still, to his own surprise.

Placing it near a hologram deck it played out only two of her own words.

"This is....(cuts out in static)"

This task had distracted him while she was sleeping. He felt her walk up behind him but he did not want her to see his face.

"What are you doing? She asked.

Her first question was much different.

"I...fixed the crystal you broke but it's too damaged." He said wanting to truly crush it at that moment unable to finish the job.

Gratefully as he faced away she lost all composure.

"See?" He said.

It played out her few hushed words. He thought the hushed tones were a fault of the broken crystal.

"I need more rest," She said turning back.

         A hovering crystal neatly cut in half floated into her hands as she walked away to her room. Shutting the door behind her she leans against the shut door. A gasp of relief escapes her. Her thoughts spoke so quickly that the ghost of her conscious reached across her, never allowing her to grasp them. He made his way once again to his final seemingly infinite decision, the door. His thoughts were drawn into a picture of never finding answers and ultimately accepting that he never would find them though her. No matter which angle he appeared it she would do as she willed. His fingers wavered in front of the door as his hand traced across it. Both gasped at precisely the same time.
         As the last sound escaped past her lips he appeared before her. This time it's as if he had slowed time down. He came so close to her she barely had time to lean back onto the floor. He crouched above her thinking. He appeared calm. The calmness made her nervous. He had prepared to leave and still had his saber closely kept to his side. Careful not to touch her he pressed the force heavily upon her. He did this gently not knowing the depth of her true power nor test it.

"You stopped telling me to leave." He said.

His eyes stared as still as his form. With the grace of a cobra she mimicked him. Both Locked in a death gaze.

"You were sending messages." He said as his hand grasped above her open hand that held the broken crystal on the ground.

The stare was broken without striking. He stood away turning from her. The force fell.

"Yes." She said. As she stood she said, "The same reason as why you were."

Turning back to her he said, "Nyieria, I wanted to live here."

"I know," She said.

Moving towards the bed she sat down sighing. She suddenly realized it was out-loud. Her true character always in check he had not noticed deep in his own thoughts.

Breaking the silence she said, "Has that changed? You promised me."

He stared back into the question it's self.

"You stopped me again." He said.

"I stopped you?" She asked.

"Yes, and I need for you to help me keep my promise." He said.

"Help?" She said confused, "Why should I help you walk through the door?"

"I am keeping this body. I believe that there may be another way for both of us to achieve what we want," He said, "If I stay here I can keep my body and if I also leave you can be left as you are, alone."

She curved her eyes towards him thinking.

"You are talking about the garden? No," She said, "I don't care how you leave, but you are not destroying my garden."

He neared her almost shaking. Overwhelmed with emotion he felt strongly compelled to leave through the garden into the ocean.

"If you can even survive the ocean!" She said angerly,"I...I..."

She stood facing the corner of the room thinking. It would easier for me if he dies this way, she thought to herself, I can sacrifice the garden for his life. She turned to him appearing as cold and distance as he saw in himself sometimes.

"You will keep your promise." She said.

She lead him from her room and down the long hall towards the garden. Relief washed over her as she opened the garden door.


The End of Part 3. Continues to Part 4.