Time passed slowly on my visit to Cloud City. I found myself spending most of it with Morrigan. Every free moment we had, we were together. Sometimes we would wander the city, with Morrigan taking me places that only she, as head of security, could get into. She took me to where Master Skywalker had his showdown with Darth Vader. The galaxy changing event that took place there had left a strong humbling resonance in the force that felt as if it could have happened yesterday. As amazing as that was, it paled in comparison to where she took me next.

Entering a turbolift of the tallest spire of the city, Morrigan punched her security clearance into the control panel, and we road the lift all the way to the top. The lift doors opened to an open-air balcony. Because of the spire?s proximity to the edge of the city, all you could see were the majestic clouds of Bispin rolling all around you. "Anytime I need to be alone I come up here to think." Morrigan reveled.

"I can see why." I said, "From up here it's easy to forget about the city, and let all of you troubles roll away with the clouds."

In response to this Morrigan spread her wings wide and reached her hands out as if she were reaching for the tops of the clouds. "Sometimes," she said with a smile, "it just makes me want to fly away." I smiled inwardly and opened my self up to the Force. One by one the presence of all the people on Cloud City opened to me. As I stretched out further I was soon able to feel the people from all the other mining cities around the planet. Stretching my Force sense almost to the limit I was soon able to feel presence of the unique creatures that called Bispin home. Losing my self to the mystic dance of how life intertwined on the gas giant, I was almost knocked over as the life force closest my own flared and expanded like a sun going nova. Pulling my awareness back to where I was, I realized that the explosion of strength and peace had been from Morrigan as she drew on the strength that the view brought to her. Being in the presence of such a life brought a new conviction to the feelings I had for her. Flexing her wings back to their resting position, she turned to face me and caught me smiling at her. "How come you?re always smiling at me?" she asked.

"Because." I said with out missing a beat. She snorted a laugh, and the two of us turned to regard the view once more. After a few minutes of silence I moved closer to her and asked, "So tell me, what have you been up to all these years?"

"Well." She began, "I basically followed in my dad's footsteps." With that Morrigan started to tell me how, like her father before her, she got hired on as crew on a freighter that flew mainly in the Outer Rim. She told me about all the seedy people she meet and of all the run-ins with pirates and raiders. Between her fluid grace and strength, and her natural ability with a blaster and a vibrosword, she was well respected and advanced to the position of second in command in the matter of a few years. "It was funny," she said, "because of my looks I always drew a crowd, but because of my reputation, they always kept their distance." When I gave her a quizzical look she added, "Hip toss a few drunken would-be suitors across the bar and they tend to leave you alone." Chuckling at the memory, she added, "needless to say I worked up quite the repair tab in Mos Espa." At that we both burst out laughing.

As our laughter subsided she finished by telling me that, about four years ago, her father had told her about the job at Cloud City. Because of her experience on the freighter they promoted her with out hesitation when the position of head of security came open. As she finished and we stood there, she turned to me and said, "I'm sure being a Jedi you've had your fair share of adventures too?"

"I have." I said with a smile. "With my unique connection with the Force, my role is a bit different."

"The voice?" she asked, remembering what I called it when we were kids.

"Exactly." I said. "Basically I travel around and let it guide me where I'm needed most." I told her about how hard I worked to understand and strengthen my connection at the Jedi Academy. I described how through my meditations I can sometimes turn that whisper into a more distinct voice, and even sometimes vivid pictures. I described that in my role as a Jedi Knight I keep my subconscious connection to the Force open to guide me where I?m needed most. I told her how sometimes I stay places for days or for as long as months. "I've been every thing from negotiator, to spy, to teacher, to warrior. It can be pretty exciting, but most of the time it's just boring."

As I told her about some of the battles I was involved in, Morrigan pointed to my lightsaber and asked, "You any good with that thing?"

"I like to think so." I said with a grin. "I manage to hold my own in duels with Kip Durron and Corran Horn. Although," I added with mock disappointment, "the few times I've dueled Master Skywalker and Mara Jade Skywalker, things haven't turned out quite as well."

Smiling Morrigan said, "Beat you senseless?"

Blushing despite myself I added, "Let's just say they reminded me of the importance of practicing." Smiling at that, the two of us turned again to regard that orange and gold majesty that was floating among the clouds.

After a few more moments of enjoying the view, we decided to head back down so we could get some food. As we road the turbolift down I began to feel a torment of emotion coming from Morrigan. Reaching for her hand I asked, "What's wrong?"

Forcing a smile she said, "I'm worried about us."

"How do you mean?" I asked.

"These last few days have been wonderful Phifer, and there is no denying the feelings we have for each other." She paused to swallow back a lump in her throat and continued, "But what happens the next time the Force speaks to you and you have to leave. I'm afraid I'll never see you again." Seeing the tears welling up behind her eyes, I reached for her other hand so that I was holding both of hers in mine. Fixing her gaze with the most calming and reassuring look I could muster, I thought about what to say.

"I... I have been wandering the galaxy for a long time, and trust me; it's a very lonely existence." Seeing a smile begin to play at the corners of her lips, I continued. "It's probably about time I stay in one place for a while anyway." Now that the smile was fully on her face, I stepped closer. Gathering her hands together in mine and resting them on my chest I reassured her, "Even if the Force or my duty take me away, it would never be forever. I will always return to you." Feeling her doubt begin to melt away and the warmth of calm begin to replace it, I added, "And besides, I figured that you would come with me when you could." Even though she smiled, I felt her concern begin to rise again.

Taking her right hand from where I held them at my chest, she lightly brushed it across my check and asked, "What about the Jedi? Would they have a problem with us being together?"

Unable to suppress a smile, I reached for her hand and pressed it against my face. "I have a feeling that the happily married Master Skywalker would not have a problem with any of his Jedi being in a relationship, especially when the Force wills it so." Feeling Morrigan begin to warm, I leaned in the last few inches to kiss her deeply, and felt the last of her concern completely melt away.

The next few days after our evening at the spire were the best of my trip. Once our true feelings for each other finally reveled, my connection with Morrigan only deepened. Our days were spent talking and exploring, trading stories of our adventures and laughing. Our nights were spent with the warmth and passion seemingly only found in holovid dramas. Everything seemed perfect.

One evening, I was lying on my back in bed; Morrigan was lying on her side next to me with her arm around me. Opening myself up to the Force, I kissed Morrigan on the forehead and listened to her consciousness as she slowly fell asleep. As she fell into the deepest levels of sleep, I began to feel as if I was falling, with the edges of my vision beginning to darken.

Knowing that this was the start of a Force vision, I opened myself up completely. As more and more Force was drawn upon, I felt myself falling faster and faster. I felt myself hurdling towards the blue and green sphere of a planet. Closer and closer I fell until I could make out the tops of the trees, then nothing. Blackness engulfed me. The blackness dissolved it?s self into a forest at night. Then motion as if I was running. Off in the distance the whine of blaster fire. The snap-hiss of a lightsaber igniting. More blaster fire, this time right next to me. Off in the distance, but moving closer, the cry of more blasters opening up to return fire. A man yells. People start charging in from all around. Lights flash. The sounds of hand to hand combat now fills the air. The thud of a blunt object being thrown, connecting with flesh. The sound of a lightsaber cutting through steel muscles and bone. The hum of a vibro weapon joins the sickening chorus of life and death. Off in the distance growing closer, the buzz of sub light engines. A feeling as if I am floating, more blaster fire, this time from below. I hear a blood curdling scream, I feel as if fear it self has engulfed me.

Waking with a jolt, I sit upright in bed. Startling Morrigan awake she turned to face me, "Are you alright?"

Wiping sweat from my brow I nod my head, "Yeah, I'm fine. I just had a Force vision. Of the future I think."

"Our future?" she asked concerned.

Placing my hand on hers, "the future is always in motion." Closing my eyes against the vividness of the vision. "I don't really know what that was."

More to come soon.