The "Project"

[MoreThanSane]

"You're all set?" Aelianus Atratinus, visitor and guest at the Tython Temple, slung his backpack over his shoulders and smiled at the stunning woman standing less than a meter away. Juno Armstrong, Jedi and the love of his life. Her young, beautiful face glowed as she smiled back at him--the most beautiful face he had ever seen. She was perfect, from the flowing black hair to her exquisite skin and full lips to the incredible blue eyes, deep and full of kindness and passion. Passion that he had tasted. Passion that would never grow old.

Aelianus had spent his last three weeks on Tython. Most of it with Juno, but occasionally she would be required to tend to some duty. That was fine, though, as it allowed him to work on what he had dubbed "the Project." The Project had taken him twenty-three days to complete, and he'd done so in complete secrecy. It had been difficult, as more often than not he and Juno spent every waking moment together, whether that was in her quarters or somewhere else. He didn't mind, of course. Aelianus could think of nothing more pleasurable or fulfilling than being with Juno Armstrong every moment for the rest of his existence. The rest of the galaxy could collectively suck a sarlaac for all he cared.

But now his hard, secretive work had come to fruition, and it was time to begin the journey there. A journey he had decided to take on foot. The Tythonian wilderness was dangerous to say the least, but he'd accounted for that. He estimated a two day hike there and a two day hike back. How long they would actually spend at the Project's location he couldn't be sure. Half a minute was a possibility, as was a week. All hinged on Juno's reaction, to Aelianus' anxiety.

Either way, they would enjoy the trip there. Juno loved the wilderness and Aelianus himself found it fascinating, though he suspected he would find even stick-figure doodles fascinating so long as she enjoyed them and was present. Whether they would enjoy the trip back, however, was another matter entirely.

He pushed that negativity from his mind and once again focused on Juno. "I'd hate to get nine hours out only to find you'd forgotten your toothbrush."

 

[Cassanova]

The smile crept across Juno's face as she slipped her rucksack onto her back. It wasn't a large pack by any imagination, just thirty litres. It's contents were simple. A few waterproof firelighters, a knife, a few packets of ration foot, some personal hygiene products and some emergency supplies. Her belt held a pair of brown military style pants on her hip, while serving as a storage place for her commlink and lightsaber. She wore a zip-down waterproof jacket which sported a hood over a white singlet. "I'd have a better idea of what I need if you told me where we were going, Lee..."

She smiled and let her hand fall to his forearm as she kissed him on the cheek, "I'm sure the Council would feel better too knowing where I'm going for four days."

Moving to the door, and waiting patiently Juno put her hands on her hips, "Waiting on you now, Mister Mystery."

 

[MoreThanSane]

"Four days is a rather hasty estimate. We could conceivably take quite a bit longer." He brushed past her and into the hall beyond, taking her hand as he passed and leading her along. They made their way through the maze of corridors--a maze that Aelianus now remembered perfectly--and exited the Temple, descending the ancient stone steps at its front. His black shirt and trousers soaked up the pre-noon sun's warming rays, giving rise to goosebumps along his arms.

Their path he had both memorized and marked. There were emergency supply caches located at fifteen points along the winding trail, all placed within the last three weeks. He'd made certain to arrange for suitable shelter at several points as well, insulated from hostile flora and fauna. Jungles were rumored throughout the galaxy's entirety as the most dangerous type of terrain, something Aelianus himself could attest to. But they were beautiful and Juno loved them; he saw no logic in not giving her the best experience possible, however dangerous. But with the provision he'd made to keep predators away from the plotted trail, they shouldn't have any problems. In the eventuality that they did, he had brought along--discreetly, of course--several items that would put even a rancor to rest.

They reached the treeline and paused. Aelianus looked at Juno, the sunlight illuminating her skin and dancing about her hair as it filtered through the canopy above. He smiled and kissed her on her forehead, then held a hand out toward the trailhead, marked by a small, old wooden post. "Shall we?"

 

[Cassanova]

"Come on, you," Juno stepped forward and grabbed Aelianus' hand dragging him along. Moving along the trail at a medium pace, Juno took in everything about the jungle. She'd been out here dozens of times. Spent weeks out here alone.

The jungles today, however, seemed fresher. As though someone had run through a hour or two before and sprayed fresh morning dew all over the plants, overturned moist soil to release that natural musky, mossy scent that rain forests give off. Juno relished a hike, admittedly, the first time she had had anything to do with Aelianus was in a jungle, not too dissimilar from this one.

"You know, Lee. Our first mission together was in a jungle like this..." she smiled and squeezed his hand, "I hope whatever you've got planned is nothing like what happened on Lorta..."

 

[MoreThanSane]

He chuckled and grabbed Juno's hand, pulling them to a stop. He slipped an arm around her legs and the other round her back, sweeping her completely off the ground. He smiled down at her and started back down the trail. "If I recall accurately," Aelianus said, "this is exactly how I held you for hours on that mission." She was light, warm against his chest and arms. "Thinking back, I have to say I think the pros outweigh the cons in regard to the Lorta op."

That mission had brought them together. He didn't care if the casualties had been in the thousands, it had given him Juno, and he would condemn the galaxy to a thousand years of torment before he would give her up. He dodged a small boulder as he rounded a corner and the trail began leading upward.

"Don't you think?"

 

[Cassanova]

Juno gave a chuckle, then shifted her weight drastically, swinging her right leg around Lee's waist, clamping down on him. She followed through by throwing her torso in a wide arc, throwing Aelianus off balance. The result was Aelianus flat on his back, with Juno straddling him in the dirt, holding his arms down. No matter how hard he tried, he would be unable to get up, as she was using the force to increase the efficacy of her muscles.

"I think you might be right, Lee," she leaned down and kissed him. When their lips parted Juno had a grin on her face which she carried with her when she gracefully slumped onto the ground next to Aelianus, sitting on the ground, her legs over his torso. "When are you going to tell me why you wanted to get me out and about?"

 

[MoreThanSane]

Aelianus rested a hand on her leg, smiling up at the green canopy and the birds and various animals leaping from branch to branch. The jungle floor was cool, the air moist and refreshing. It felt as if one was breathing life itself. It was a perfect place made more so by the perfection of the woman lying with him. He looked at her, wondering how he was going to manage to keep it all under wraps over the next two days. She obviously wanted to know the purpose for the outing.

He couldn't allow that, though. Too much sweat and care had been put into this trip to simply spoil the surprise. So he winked and pushed Juno's legs off of him before rolling over and placing himself atop her. He pressed his nose against hers. "The Jedi whose quarters are located next to yours were beginning to make complaints about the noise. I thought perhaps we could give them a respite and get some fresh air both."

He stood and pulled her to her feet, then pulled her along after him as he once again began following the trail's upward path. "I've heard Jedi have excellent hearing, though, so we must travel a sufficient distance from the Temple before the mission can be considered accomplished."

 

[Cassanova]

"You're a liar, Atratinus," she smiled as she kissed him softly, "The room next to mine is empty. And if anyonee else is complaining - its about your snoring!" She gave him a playful shove, and started walking along the trail.

The truth of the situation was that Juno while appreciated the gesture of a romantic getaway, she didn't quite understand the point of going so far, or for so long. As willing as Aelianus was shirk his responsibilities to spend time with Juno, she could not so easily do the same. As much as Juno loved Aelianus, she had devoted herself to a much greater cause than herself. Only when the galaxy gave her the time would she focus on personal pleasures with Aelianus. It saddened her to have to make such a distinction to herself, but it broke her heart knowing that one day she would be forced to vocalise that to Lee.

For the time being, however, Juno was enjoying the time spent with Aelianus, and didn't need to speak of such things.

 

[MoreThanSane]

Aelianus laughed openly, the deep sound echoing lightly off the surrounding trees. "Perhaps, then, I'm just such a romantic I felt that I simply must take you to the depths of the deepest jungle and prove myself to you. Or perhaps I want only to please the woman I love with a long walk, something I know she enjoys." He shrugged at the back of her head as she walked along before him. Reaching out, he stroked the side of her neck. "As long as you're enjoying yourself, does the reason matter? We're out here, alone, away from everything and everyone. I know we both have duties, and yours are very important to you, I understand, but the galaxy can get along without us for a while."

Though she hadn't spoken her mind, Aelianus knew Juno well enough to know what she was thinking. The trail crested, bringing them above the trees ever so slightly. It was a truly impressive view. He pulled her to the edge and wrapped her up in his arms, pressing her back against his chest. He began tenderly kissing her neck. "These few days are for us," he said, speaking softly between kisses. "Who knows when we'll be able to spend this much time together again, so let's make the most of it, okay?"

 

[Cassanova]

"Okay..." Juno barely believed her own words, and her guilt for leaving her duties was written plainly across her face. She loved this man, there was no denying the fact. The truth to her was also that there was nothing more important than the Will of the Force and her responsibility to the New Jedi Order.

Juno hooked her hand in with Aelianus' and continued walking along the path enjoying the sights and sounds. She did her best to keep her mind at rest regarding her absence from the Temple, but it was an ongoing struggle.

 

[MoreThanSane]

The icy grip of fear was there, that sinking feeling that always accompanied it shooting barbed hooks through his heart and pulling down slowly, relentlessly. She wasn't convinced, and Aelianus should have known. He should have known. Juno was a woman of duty, not like him. She loved the Jedi Order and she loved the beings it served, and that love was always going to come first.

He wasn't enough for her. He couldn't be enough for her. That was something he'd known academically for weeks, but now the knowledge seemed to take full effect, and it hurt. It hurt deep. But this wasn't about him, it was about her. He could give her everything, and he would--he'd determined that only shortly after they met.

The air--crisp and vibrant only moments before--seemed to lose its appeal, the noises of animals and insects and wind rustling through the trees no longer fascinating. The only thing that mattered even slightly was the troubled woman walking half a meter ahead of him, and putting her mind to rest.

"You remain unconvinced," he said to the back of her head. It wasn't a question. "I'm not stupid. Juno, I know you're dedicated to the Order, but why is taking a small vacation so difficult? Can't they get along without you for a week?"

 

[Cassanova]

Juno sighed, and turned back to him, "Lee... We're at war. At war. The attack on the Empress Teta Temple was started and finished in less than twelve hours. The attack on coruscant was less than thirty six hours before the Sith arrived and left a smoking pile of rubble with hundreds of Jedi under it," she scowled slightly, then took a deep breath, calming herself down.

"I'm sorry, Lee. I love you and you mean the world to me, but if we were to go back there in three days, and something happened..." a look Lee had never seen before crept across her face. True, deep, earnest fear, "... I don't know what I'd do..."

Juno frowned and tried to calm her self down. She knew she was being unnessecary, she knew that she was being a little irrational. All this aside, she also knew that what she said would be the truth.

 

[MoreThanSane]

Aelianus cocked his head, startled by the extend to which Juno's fear manifested in her face and body. He wanted to grab her, to hold her and stroke her hair and make her feel better, but he didn't. That wouldn't help, he knew. She had real worries, feelings that wouldn't simply disappear with physical comforting. So he just looked at her, studying the face that he'd come to love so intensely, the strands of hair that had drifted forward, obscuring only slightly certain details. She didn't meet his eyes, instead looking down and to one side.

"I understand," he said finally. "But there will always be danger in this galaxy. There is always the possibility that someone or something we love can be taken from us. At any moment, no matter where we are." He reached out and tilted her face toward him slightly, trying to get a view of her deep blue eyes. "I care for you more than any one or any thing in this universe. There is absolutely nothing I wouldn't give for you. But there are going to be times when we're apart, and I'm going to wish with all my heart that I was with you every moment of the day, yet I'll know that's impossible. You'll probably be off on some wild mission, risking your life at every turn. But I'm not going to think about that. I'm not going to think about all the things that could go wrong, because what kind of life would that be?"

He pulled back his hand and hooked it around the strap of his pack. "You have to let go, Juno. You can't always be present to protect the Temple--it's an impossibility--nor can you afford to be in a state of perpetual dread. To do so would be to cheat yourself out of life."

 

[Cassanova]

Juno was in a flux between anger and sadness now. She was frustrated with Aelianus, he couldn't understand that being a Jedi was her responsibility, her blood, her life since birth. Convincing him that this was the case would never be an easy task. "Lee. I love you, please understand that. I would do anything for you..." she sighed and looked to him with apologetic eyes, "But do not ask me to choose between my life as a Jedi, and you."

"I'm sorry, Lee," she kissed him, "I was a Jedi before I could walk. That is my life."

 

[MoreThanSane]

He blinked. "That's not what I meant," he shook his head. "I would never ask that of you. Ever. I know I..." he paused, trying to get the words out past the pain in his chest. "I know I can't be enough for you. I know that. It hurts, but I know it. But that has to be all right. It is all right."

He gulped audibly past the lump in his throat. If only he could get her to understand, then they could enjoy the rest of their trip and he wouldn't have to think about how little he actually meant to her. "I can't watch you go through life always scared of what could happen to the Order during the brief moments you're away, though. That's no way to live. Things will happen that are beyond your control."

 

[Cassanova]

Juno moved forward and wrapped her arms around Aelianus, "You are more than enough for me, Lee. Any woman would be so lucky to have someone as supportive as you," she kissed him passionately. "I love you. I don't love the Order. That is my responsibility, my lifestyle."

She sincerely wanted him to not feel bad about this, but she had to make her point clear. She was a Jedi, and that was not a choice. That wasn't an adjective describing a person's occupation, but it described the person themselves. "I'm sorry, Lee. I'm ruining this... You've gone to this trouble, and I'm being crazy..."

A deep sigh made it clear she was actually sorry about her attitude, but she would not concede her fears, nor would they be set to rest until she returned to her duties at the temple.

 

[MoreThanSane]

Aelianus held her tight. It still hurt, but their closeness seemed to temper the pain somewhat. He buried his face in Juno's thick hair, breathing in her scent and closing his eyes. Despite her words, he knew what would always come first in her life. But he didn't want to think about it. He'd come to terms with it all on an emotional level eventually, just as he had on an intellectual level. At the moment, however, he simply didn't want to think about it.

"Don't be sorry," he said finally, voice a hoarse whisper in Juno's ear. "We can go back, if you really need to. We're only a couple of hours out."

 

[Cassanova]

The gesture was appreciated, as Juno did want to go back - at least she would know what she was going then. Juno decided that Aelianus deserved at least a piece of his plan, "No. We'll stay out here for at least a night - but you better tell me why we're out here in the middle of the jungle, Lee!" She gave him a playful shove, and worked a smile onto her face.

She slipped her hand into Aelianus' and pulled him along the track towards the mystery destination. Once Aelianus matched Juno's pace, she looked to him and spoke softly, the sincerity almost tangible, "I love you."

 

[MoreThanSane]

Aelianus patted her hand. "I love you too," he said, but his mind was elsewhere, hurtling through incredible amounts of data and contingencies. His emotions were all but forgotten, but for his intense desire for the woman at his side, as he silently thanked his own foresight. He hadn't expected Juno's need to get back to the Temple, but he had set up many separate shelters at various points along the trail, both for emergency and for pleasure. They had already passed the first. He pictured each of them in his mind. The fourth would do well. Yes, definitely the fourth. His primary plan couldn't be completed, so he would make due.

"You'll know soon enough."

For the next two hours they walked in silence, each content in the other's presence, Aelianus despite the dull ache that never completely left. The sun had reached its peak and was beginning to descend by the time they reached the fourth shelter point. The other three they'd passed without his pointing them out to Juno, and to reach this one he had to lead her off the trail and through the dense foliage. After several minutes the sound of rushing water began to reach their ears, growing louder as they progressed. After several more, they emerged onto the bank of a shallow stream, fish clearly visible as they flitted to and fro beneath the water's surface. Aelianus smiled at Juno and pulled her along as they made their way upstream, the water on their right.

They passed through a thin veil of vines before the scene became completely visible. Dead ahead was a large cliff of black stone, a waterfall dropping parallel to its face and filling a deep pond at its foot, which led into the stream. The white chute of water led up and through the trees' canopy, which was thinner at that point and allowed more sunlight through than in the jungle proper. To the left of the shore was a small but lush clearing, covered with a pleasant grass and a few soft weeds.

Aelianus watched Juno's face, pleased. The fourth was definitely his favorite, its beauty and the effort he'd put into preparation far surpassing any of the other rest points along the trail. "Do you like it?" he asked.

 

[Cassanova]

Juno simply smiled as she moved forward, setting down her rucksack. Looking back to Aelianus with a smile Juno spoke softly, "Yes, sir... Yes I do."

Barely slowing she walked into the pool, fully clothed, and floated on her back, not fazed by the water splashing on her from the waterfall. She took a moment to swim to a nearby rock, and undid her boots, removing them and placing them upon a nearby rock. Sliding back into the water, Juno undid her belt and threw it next to her boots. Taking a moment underwater, she carefully removed her combat style pants and clumsily tossed them to the shore.

Swimming in her singlet and underwear, Juno dove down to the bottom of the pool. Being not only physically fit, but a Jedi, her ability to hold her breath was incredible - able to stay underwater for 10 minutes with ease, longer if she had to. Nonetheless, she went to the bottom, and sat down, looking upwards for a few moments. She didn't know exactly how much time had passed.