Chapter 3, Part 4 (Emma)

*the scene opens in total darkness. Slowly, lights come on, but it's still quite dim. The scene is revealed to be a small, round room with a door on one side. Emma is unconscious in the middle of the room, but soon comes to and sits up. She blinks once, twice, then sits up, then stands.*

Emma: Ow. My head....

Emma, pulling herself together: Hey! Guys! Where'd ya go?!

Emma, annoyed: Men.

*she opens the door and leaves the room. The door leads to a corridor, and then to a large, circular room. It is lit by what seems like torchlight, and resembles a colosseum. The unseen torches suddenly flare up, and a figure is now visible in the center of the arena. It is a middle-aged human male, with graying hair*

Emma, shocked: No! It can't be! You're dead!

Mysterious Figure: Indeed he is, young Emma. I am a hologram of your father, dead for years.

Emma, shouting angrily: What is this?! What are you-

Figure, interrupting: Do you know what your sin is, Emma?

*Emma stares daggers at the figure*

Figure: It's wrath. You have learned to hide it well underneath a morbid sense of humor, but it is real, and it runs deep. I represent he who taught it to you, so you may be judged.

Emma, icily: He judged me enough in life. I don't need you doing it now.

Figure: You are wrong.

*two very sharp swords shimmer into existence on the ground, one near Emma, the other near the figure. He lifts his, and Emma picks hers up.*

Figure: Defend yourself!

*the figure charges at Emma, sword at the ready. Emma parries neatly, and they duel. After a while, Emma manages to get the upper hand, kicks the figure, and decapitates him.*

Emma, heatedly yet ironically: Freud would have a field day with this.

*the figure begins to stand up, and Emma looks back, startled*

Emma: What?!

*the figure grows two more arms and another head, and another sword materializes in one of its hands*

Emma: You're s****ing me....

*the duel continues, and Emma removes one sword arm, then the other. Finally, she removes both heads with one smooth swing. Almost immediately, the figure grows two more heads, four more arms, and two more swords*

Emma: Aw, come on! Don't you know how to die?

*Realizing she's somewhat outmatched, she moves towards the outside of the arena. The figure follows, but somewhat slowly, as it still has only two legs. Emma is operating almost entirely on instinct at this point, and looks it, too*

Emma, thinking to herself: How? How can this be? How can I kill him?

*she continues to circle the perimeter, staying far enough away from the figure to avoid more cuts. She begins to center herself, and collects her thoughts.*

Emma, still thinking: Wait. There was a story I heard once. An ancient fable about a monster with a whole lotta heads, and the warrior who killed it... by using fire on the stumps.

*as she remembers this, her sword begins to flame, and another, shorter sword, also flaming, appears beside her.

Emma, smiling: Now that's what I'm talkin' 'bout.

*she re-engages the Daddy-Monster, and this time, the limbs stay severed. She removes the sword arms, then the other arms, then finishes with a stab to the chest. It staggers backwards, and disintegrates*

Emma: *explosive sigh of relief and triumph*

*another figure shimmers into life, this time of a black male human. He is bald, and has an air of quiet dignity.*

Hologram: I am what remains of a Jedi Master once known as Mace Windu. Like you, I once had both light and darkness within me, and had to maintain a constant vigil to avoid succumbing to the darkness. One way I did this was to counter my wrath with patience, much as you did in the battle against the figure that represented that which you hate the most. In doing so, you realized the path to victory.

*a door opens on the floor of the room, and a ramp leads from it, down to a chamber*

Mace Windu: Go into this chamber, and receive my lightsabers, one with a Hurrikaine crystal, and the other a short saber for your off hand. You will also receive my holocron, from which you will learn many things, including the Vaapad. Vaapad is a form of lightsaber combat, that channels the light and darkness within, and brings them into focus. May the Force be with you.

*Windu shimmers out of existence*

Emma: Huh.

*Emma descends the ramp, and ends up in a small room, similar to the one she awoke in. There are three pedestals in the room, one with a pyramidal object, the other two with metallic cylinders. One cylinder is slightly shorter than the other, and the pyramidal object glows with a soft blue light. Emma shrugs, and places them carefully into her bag. The pedestals sink into the floor, and a platform much like the one from earlier rises from the ground. Emma steps onto it, and it carries her upward.*

*scene ends*