The Wedding Night

As the headache began to subside, the random images of strangers offering congratulations, orchestral music paired with lovely flowers and that familiar voice that echoed my own 'I do's' flitted through my mind and I was unable to stop their assault. Casting my mind back, I tried and tried but could not figure out how I got from the meeting to here. I sit up, pushing the covers off of me towards the foot of the bed and look around the room, the moonlight casting a blue glow over everything.

I shiver slightly, the cold air raising bumps over my arms, as my head finishes the circuit of scanning the room I’m in. I finally recognize it as the room that I was assigned when we arrived on planet for our mission. Rubbing my eyes, it finally sinks in that the bed isn’t shifting properly, as if there’s an additional weight in it.

I look down and see Jysella, my partner for this mission, laying there, her naked back covered in the same bumps that adorn my chest. I find myself staring at her, as she reaches down trying to find the covers, and suddenly look away as she twists herself towards me, revealing herself to me fully.

I close my eyes, trying to push from my mind the thoughts of how she looked, so soft in the blue glow of moonlight. I force myself to not look at her, to not watch her, and most definitely to not worship her as she lays there beside me. A rustle of movement causes me to open my eyes and I turn back to her, my heart starts to slow down, as I realize that she is now once more fully covered. I frown as I realize that I want to uncover her again.

Then reality hits me, her dad is going to kill me.

Of course that is if, and only if, her grandfather doesn’t kill me first.

I sigh, wondering just how it is that I manage to find myself in these situations. I lay my head back down on the pillow, trying my best to figure out just what happened in those hours that I cannot account for. I raise my hands, and notice the small band of gold wrapped around my finger, I frown at it, hoping it doesn’t meant what I think it does.

I cast my mind back to when we first arrived, and remembered that some of the diplomats which greeted us wore them, while others didn’t. Then I grimace again, as a second memory, one of the state dinner later that night, revealed that those who wore them, all had wives, while those that did not wear them, didn’t.

I look at the ring once more, and then lift the covers, and pull Jysella’s hand out, frowning at the matching band on her finger. I gently lay her hand back down, and squeeze my eyes shut once more, wondering if I could wake up.

I wondered if I wanted to wake up.

Surprise hits me when I realize that when I laid her hand down, I didn’t let it go. Then I get yet another surprise, as she shifts, and presses herself against me. As she cuddles up against me, the smell of her hair, a clean, happy fragrance, fills my nose. I once more squeeze my eyes shut, but the sensation of her soft silky skin against mine is too much.

Even my dad would kill me at the thoughts I’m having about Jysella right now.

Wanting to see her again, I twist my head to look at her, and see her eyes open and staring at me, their blue hue catching the blue of the moonlight, which causes them to shine. They really are eyes to get lost in.

A flicker of confusion flies through her eyes. “Hi.”

I blink, unsure of how to respond, or what to do. After a second, I decide. “Hi yourself.”

Her eyes flow down, as she notices that what she can see of my body is uncovered; by both the blanket and any pajamas, yet a good portion of my body is covered by her. I watch as she swallows hard. “Uhm, what exactly happened?”

I minutely shake my head. “Not exactly sure, the last thing I remember was the banquet. Beyond that it’s just snatches of memories, more feelings and images than actual memories.”

I feel a slight tug in my hand, and realize that she’s trying to untangle her fingers from mine, I give her a sheepish smile and let go of her hand. I watch as she lifts it to stare at the gold band wrapped around her ring finger.

Her voice is a whisper. “Sithspit.”

I chuckle slightly, and realize my other hand is occupied by playing with her hair. She sits up suddenly pulling away the warmth that contact with her provides as well as the blankets. Then she moves over slightly due to the unbalanced way she was sitting, until she’s straddling my legs. The blankets fall away from revealing her body to me again, yet she doesn’t notice as she is still staring at her hand.

I can’t help it. I’m staring at her. I’m staring at it all, the graceful lines, the smooth curves, and just the overall femininity of everything about her.

“Oh Sithspit. My daddy’s going to kill me, and he’s going to kill you, and then he’s going to kill me. Did I mention he is going to kill you too?”

I drag my eyes away from her body and look into her eyes. I can see the fear and horror and happiness there. That gives me a pause and I stretch out with the Force, touching her mind, gauging her emotions, verifying that even through her fear and horror, she is happy at the situation.

I’m not sure to be happy about that, or even more terrified. Once again, her voice brings my attention back to the here and now and I focus again on her eyes, not trusting myself to look elsewhere.

“Sithspit, Sithspit, Sithspit. And what is momma going to say? Or will she just kill me too.”

I cringe, I had forgotten about Mirax in my earlier fears about her father and grandfather. Suddenly her head swings to the door, the fear in her eyes flashing brighter, moments before a hard pounding can be heard on it. Without waiting for a response, the door swings open, crashing against the wall and Corran Horn walks in. Jysella quickly pulls the blanket up and around herself, and I can recognize in his face and feel in the Force, the pure unadulterated rage coming off of him.

I swallow, and can hear my own voice, not realizing I had spoken. “Sithspit.”

At that same time, I can hear Jysella’s voice; it’s almost a squeal of embarrassment. “Daddy!”

His on the other hand is low and menacing. “What do you two think you are doing in that bed like that?”

Without thinking, I say the first thing that comes to mind. “Sleeping.”

It’s just enough to push Corran over the edge, and he yanks the saber off his belt, and rushes forward while igniting it. I reach out with the Force, drawing my saber to my hand.

Yet nothing happens. I look over, and see it, attached to my belt, with the belt stuck half in and half out of a dresser drawer. I close my eyes expecting Corran’s blade, and am surprised, when Jysella throws herself over me, covering my body with her own.

I open my eyes back up and see Jysella starring down her father. “You don’t want to kill my husband on our wedding night do you Daddy?”

I watch as he grinds his teeth, all of us knowing that he wants to answer with a resounding yes, but even though she’s twenty-two years old, he still has a hard time telling his little girl no. Not that I’m complaining, because her soft, warm form is the only thing keeping him from slicing me into two pieces with his lightsaber. Even with the oddness of the situation, I feel myself responding to Jysella being pressed against me.

I watch as her eyes flicker to me once, and then back to her dad. “Please daddy, go get a room, and we’ll all talk about this in the morning, okay?”

She watches as he seems to deflate, and turns from us, leaving the room and closing the door gently on the way out. Once he is gone, she turns those blue eyes on me again. She shifts her body against mine, a mischievous gleam appearing in her eyes. “So I take that to mean you enjoy having a Mrs. Skywalker to call your own?”

I look at her, forcing my mind to focus on the practical realities of the situation. “You know we’ll have to figure this all out, and what it means.”

“That’s what the morning is for husband mine, but tonight is our wedding night, the only one we’ll ever get, let us not waste it.”

I smile up at her, and pull her down to kiss her, savoring the smells and taste, enjoying the simple pleasure, the simple fact of my wife.

The Dance of Union

Zekk stands and watches the Killik nest planet from the observation bubble of the Chiss space station Koortiva. He frowns, feeling the longing to once more be down among the Kind, to be a part of it, a part of something greater than himself.

A flash of anger flows through him, as he considers once more the severing of his bond with Jaina. He knows that she doesn’t love him. He knows that there is no future for him in her life. Yet the Joining, that intimate bond, had given him the hope of it, the hope of a future where she would love him.

Sighing, he closes his eyes and lets the anger flow out into the Force, allowing the calm and serenity to fill him once more. Opening them he stares once more down at the green and blue planet as it slowly turns beneath him. He wonders once again, what he is doing in Chiss space on this space station. Why should he worry about helping the Chiss joiners regain their individuality? Especially when he himself wants to rejoin the meld so bad that it hurts.

As he stares out the viewport thinking these things, he misses the sound of the door opening and closing, but the sudden gasp does attract his attention. Blinking, he looks into the darkened room behind him, at first seeing just the dim glow of a Chiss’s eyes. As his eyes adjust to the darkness, he can finally start to make out her shape.

Her voice as it rises out of the darkness is soft and soothing on his ears. “I’m sorry. I thought I would be alone up here.”

He smiles at her, knowing full well that she would not be able to see the smile. “I’m sure you normally would be, I only just arrived on station today.”

After a second’s pause, she walks to the viewport, and looks down at the planet. He turns and watches her, admiring her form and body. She appears to be slightly taller than Jaina, and has the usual full-bodied black hair of the Chiss. After a second of watching her, he makes her an offer. “Do you wish me to leave and allow you to be alone?”

Her head shakes imperceptibly. “No, your presence is soothing. Even though you are a Jedi.”

He smiles at her, a ghostly flicker of the happy grin he wore so often a decade ago. She turns towards him, one side of her lips lifted slightly. “So Jedi, why exactly are you here?”

“I came here to assist the Joiners regain their individuality and sense of self. I guessed that because I was a Joiner myself I could help others overcome their own joinings.”

He watches as she lowers her head slightly. The red glow of her eyes seem to dim slightly. He reaches out and touches her shoulder. “Were you a Joiner?”

She nods her head slightly, and he sees a single tear escape her eye and quickly travel down her cheek. After a moment more Zekk speaks again. “What is your name?”

“Chaf'ees'aklaio, but you can call me Feesa.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you Feesa, my name is Zekk.”

Then he turns back to the planets and the two stand in silence as they watch it turn beneath them once more. After a while, Feesa looks once more towards Zekk. “What part of it do you miss the most?”

Startled Zekk looks at her, and then quirks an eyebrow as he considers the question. “That intimate knowledge that someone is there with you always. What about you? What do you miss the most?”

She is silent for a long while, and Zekk wonders if she will answer. He doesn’t press, just watches the planet slowly turn. When she does speak it startles him slightly. “The Dance of Union.”

Zekk turns towards her, quirking an eyebrow. She turns his way as well, a brief look of shame crossing her features. “I know it’s not a Chiss trait, it’s not appropriate, but the wave of emotions, that overwhelming ability to give in to what you’re feeling, to give into the desires of the body. It’s addictive…”

He watches her for a few more minutes, and thinks he likes her like this, a Chiss without their usual superiority complex. He finds it oddly compelling. A roguish grin slides onto his face, and he starts reacting on instinct as he steps closer to her, placing his hand against her chin. “Just because something’s not perfectly Chiss doesn’t mean it’s not good.”

She turns towards him, allowing him to lift her chin so she looks up towards him. A smile plays on her lips. “Why Jedi Zekk, are you propositioning me?”

He pauses for a moment, and considers this; then deciding that he has spent enough time pining after Jaina, nods his head. “Yes, I think that I am.”

She steps closer to him, and he can smell her clean scent. It is a scent, not of growing things, not of fruits and plants like perfumes in Alliance space, but it is a scent of cool, clean, frozen waters and ice. She smiles wider, the glow of her eyes brightening slightly as she leans up towards him, inviting a kiss. “I think I like that.”

Zekk lowers his head to kiss her. Right before he does, he stops, and his voice is a whisper. “Shall we retire to your quarters to remind ourselves, just how wonderful intimacy between two individuals can be?”

Then she leans up and claims his lips with her own. Sucking on his lower lip as she leans away, she gives him a coy smile. “I thought you would never ask.”

Senatorial Oversight

Kyp Durron flickers out of hyperspace into the Coruscant Controlled Zone. A frown crosses his features as he thinks about what has brought him here, as he remembers that having to come all this way means having to listen to Luke drone on about how wrong he is, how his actions are drawing him closer to the Dark Side.

He sighs as his fighter slides into a landing spot in the Jedi Temple’s hanger bay, and quickly goes through his shutdown checklist. His dark eyes scan the hanger looking for any sign of someone waiting for him.

He lets out a short growl of frustration as he sees who it is. Popping the hatch he propels himself from the cockpit, landing next to Corran Horn. “Is it over yet?”

Corran looks at him oddly. “Just waiting for you, I’ll let Master Skywalker know you’ve arrived.”

Kyp watches the older man walk away, and starts towards the meeting room, hoping that today is the day that Anakin Solo would start listening to what he has to say. As he nears the room, he notices Corran and Luke standing around talking in an office further down the hall and shaking his head enters the room, and takes a position near the front.

Hours later finds him in the quarters he keeps on Coruscant, rubbing the bridge of his nose trying to get rid of the tension headache caused by the Jedi meeting. A beeping noise on his console attracts his attention and he goes over to it and presses a button, pulling up the message. As his dark eyes scan the message, he frowns at it for a second and then as he reads who it’s from quirks an eyebrow, suddenly very, very intrigued. Typing a brief reply, confirming that he’ll show up, he sends it and then goes into the refresher to get cleaned up.

His flight to the Senate building is fast and reckless and he is out of the speeder as soon as he lands it. Walking as calmly as possible, he arrives at his destination, and knocks on the door. The melodious voice biding him enters attracts his ear, and as he walks in, he sees someone beautiful.

The woman behind the desk smiles at him, a bright charming smile, and though it moves Kyp on a physical level, in the Force he can feel just how fake it is. Bowing slightly at the waist, he straightens and returns the smile. “Good afternoon Senator Shesh.”

She stands and walks to a closed door, opening it and gesturing for Kyp to enter the second room. “Master Durron, how nice of you to join me.”

“It is my pleasure Milady.”

He walks into the second room, noting a couple more doors, and a small luncheon set up for two. Her voice is smoky from behind him. “I do hope you will be able to join me for a meal.”

He pulls a chair out for her, seating her and then takes the seat across from her. “Senator Shesh, I am not entirely clear why you asked me here.”

She smiles at him, and bats her eyelashes. “I want to hear of your exploits against the Vong, Master Jedi.”

Kyp smiles and tells her, of the missions they have done, the tactics they use, and even the new ideas for bypassing their defenses being bantered about among his squadron and similar units out on the Outer Rim.

As he finishes his tale, the senator smiles at him, and stands. Kyp being mindful of proper etiquette stands as well; his eyes narrow as he watches her walk around the table and close to him. Inhaling deeply, he can smell the woody scent that she wears.

She leans close to him, invading his personal space, her lips barely brushing his as she speaks. “Thank you for your time Master Jedi, but must you leave so soon?”

Then she is kissing him, drawing him forward into one of the other rooms, even as she shrugs out of her robes of state. Kyp knows that what he is about to do is not a wise move; it is not a smart move. It is merely the physical coupling of two animals, and as he was taught he is more than just an animal, but as the senator showers her kisses on him, he is unable to think of that, he is unable to care.

Later Viqi Shesh stands over the sleeping body of the Jedi. She smirks at him, as she thinks he is mildly attractive, the uncontrolled power he wields an unnatural attraction for her. She shakes her head, thinking he was a useful distraction, and smiles at the knowledge she has gained. She wonders to herself if she’ll ever get the chance to seduce him again. Then with a shrug of the shoulders decides it doesn’t matter.

Leaving the rooms where he still slept, she walks to her private quarters, and grabs the leathery ball, stroking it until the scarred visage of a Yuuzhan Vong appears. She hides the grimace of disgust she feels for how the Vong looks.

“Report, Infidel.”

Viqi smiles at the Vong and begins telling everything that she has learned from the Jedi.

Vengeance or Virtue

Valin Horn stands at the balcony, watching the sun as it sets, his eyes hard and cold. From behind him he can hear the harsh coughing and hacking of his parents as they are in the final throes of the sickness. He can feel the uncontrolled rage at the Diversity Alliance for releasing this plague on the galaxy, on his parents.

And for once, he doesn’t care.

After all, who is there to stop him?

As far as he knows, he and his dying parents and infant sister are the only Jedi left in the galaxy. As he turns to glance once more into the darkened room where his parents lay dying, he wonders if this is how Master Skywalker felt when his teachers died.

Then comes the realization that he has not heard a cough in the past few minutes, and he cautiously steps into the room, keeping himself closed off from the Force as he looks at each of the room’s occupants in turn. His mother, father, sister, all laying there on their sick beds, all still, all silent, their faces peaceful for the first time in weeks.

Time seems to stand still for him then, as he feels the setting sun against his back and the tears roll down his face. Wiping away the tears he finally opens himself to the Force and can feel her. He knows that she is sitting at the trunk of one of the trees right outside in the forest, and he wishes to judge her.

He stalks down to her, easily seeing her cinnamon fur standing out in contrast to the purple and blue bark of the tree she has chosen to lean against. For a moment he stands over her watching. The anguish rising up within him as she sits there her head bowed in contrition.

Finally he opens his mouth to speak; he can’t help but scream. “Why?”

He can feel her sorrow telegraphing off of her and she raises her head, her brown eyes have tears stuck in the fur around them. [I am sorry human-child. I was tricked.]

“Tricked? Tricked!? Is that what you’re calling releasing a disease upon the human population of the galaxy?”

[I am sorry.]

Then Valin does what he never considered doing before. He strikes out in anger, backhanding Raaba across the snout, drawing blood from the shocked wookie. “Sorry doesn’t begin to cut it Raaba.”

He watches as she heaves a heavy sigh, but does not attack, does not act like a wookie at all. [It is all I have to offer.]

Valin turns away from her to hide his tears. “No it’s not.” Wiping his eyes with one hand, he spins back towards her and pulls his lightsaber, igniting it, sending a silver-white shaft of energy into the darkening night. Valin watches the saber for a moment, transfixed by the slivers of blue and green that would occasionally writhe up the blade. Then the moment is passed and he focuses on Raaba again, his intent clear in his stance and his eyes.

“There is one other thing you can offer me. “

Raaba nods her head. [I won’t resist.]

A sneer of hate crosses Valin’s face as he lifts his blade and begins to swing it toward Raaba, who calmly sits there watching him, the sorrow of her actions still radiating off of her, her guilt pooling at his feet.

His blade stops centimeters from contact, singeing some of the wookie hair that sticks up from her shoulder, casting that noxious smell into the air. Valin’s arms quivers as he struggles against himself, trying his best to remain true to the teachings of his parents and still be able to give into his desire for vengeance for them. Finally he turns off the saber and drops it and himself to his knees as he cries out his grief and pain. As he kneels there in front of her, she leans forward and wraps one of her long arms around him, drawing him into a comforting embrace. Valin struggles against her embrace, crying out to be released, but Raaba continues to hold him.

Finally Valin stops struggling and once more gives into the pain. He begins to sob into the same shoulder that moments ago he tried to house his blade in. Taking comfort in the place he thought he would least likely find it, the female wookie who brought the disease here, who brought this doom to the Jedi and his parents. As he once more opens himself up to the Force, he can feel her sorrow and recognizes it as a reflection of his own.

As his tears finally finish, he looks up at her, and quickly stands up, beginning to walk back into the Jedi Temple.

[Valin, wait.]

Valin turns to see Raaba moving from the spot that she had occupied since bringing the disease here and she begins to walk towards him.

[May I come with you to honor your parents?]

Valin mutely nods his head, and as Raaba catches up to him, they walk back into the temple in silence.

To The End of Their Days

The two lovers were as happy as they could be, basking in each other’s warmth and embrace, enjoying the immense pleasure that only they could, when the speeder crashes through their wall. Startled, Anakin rolls Tahiri and himself off the bed, shielding her with his own form. As the dust and rubble settles, he stands up and carefully makes his way over to the speeder. Looking inside he is shocked, for he is staring at himself.

Frowning slightly, he opens the door, watching as the other tumbles out and falls to the floor. He is disheveled and his eyes are bloodshot. Looking up, a lopsided grin slides to his face. “Thank the Force, I made it.”

He reaches out and passes a small device to Anakin. “Here, take it, go back and stop all of this from happening.”

As soon as Anakin takes the device, the other disappears, not with the gentle fading of a Jedi Master dying, but with a soul wrenching scream, as his composite atoms were dissembled.

Tahiri comes up behind him, and places her hand on his shoulder. “What is it?”

Anakin looks at the box through half-lidded eyes, letting the Force tell him what it is, what it means, and how to activate it. Unfortunately, all he gets from the Force is how to activate it. Shrugging, he twists the box open, looking at the small buttons that he feels he should press to turn the device on. “I’m not sure, but you turn it on by doing this.”

Pressing the buttons, a bright light flashes out from the device, engulfing the two lovers. As the light fades, they drop to the floor, and Anakin feels an overwhelming urge to throw up. Instead he curses. “Kriff it!”

Tahiri looks scandalized. “I thought you weren’t going to use that type of language anymore.”

Then suddenly the lights in the building dim, as an explosion rocks it. Anakin stumbles over to the window, noticing the capital ships in orbit fighting it out, even as one of them rips through the atmosphere, leaving a burning trail of wreckage as it speeds on its way towards the industrial area, north of the Senate District.

Tahiri flips on the holonet, and starts listening to the news report about the battle, as Anakin comes over and joins her, wrapping his arms around her thin form. Together they listen to the report, each mirroring the confusion the other feels. “repeat, the Separatists have attacked the capital and kidnapped Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. The Senate District has numerous fires, and the Jedi District is in shambles. Though we are now starting to get reports that the Hero Without Fear, Anakin Skywalker, and the Negotiator, Obi-Wan Kenobi, are on General Grevious’ battleship in a daring rescue attempt.”

Anakin reaches out suddenly and turns off the holonet, a strange light in his eyes, as he turns towards Tahiri. “We’re in the past!”

Tahiri frowns, as she considers what the reporter had said, and then sadly nods her head, agreeing with Anakin’s thoughts on the matter. He gives her a large grin. “We could stop my grandfather from turning evil! We could stop Palpatine here and now, before he becomes the Emperor.”

Tahiri looks out the window, towards the Senate building. “I don’t know about that Anakin, I think it might be better to find some corner of the galaxy and hole up and try not to change anything.”

Anakin shakes his head. “No, we’re here, we’re Jedi, we have a duty to act to preserve life.” Then with a wave of his hand, he starts towards the door. “Come on!”

Tahiri stands there for a moment, biting her lower lip, deciding if she really wants to do this. Then shaking her head in defeat she calls out, “Wait up Heroboy.”

They arrive at the Senate landing area, dressed in their Jedi robes, and watch a public transport pull up. A group of dignitaries and Jedi walk over to the transport, as three people get off. Two of them are in Jedi robes, and the third in similar robes to the other senators.

Suddenly a reporter rushes past them, screaming out the Chancellor’s name. They watch as a Senate guard quickly rushes over and drags the reporter away. Staying in the shadows they watch the party as they talk amongst themselves. Anakin frowns and looks away from the party to the shadows of one of the many columns, noticing a young lady there, probing her with the Force, he can feel her pregnancy.

Finally the transport leaves, taking most of the Jedi with it. Then the dignitaries begin walking into the Senate, until the younger of the two Jedi from the transport is left standing there all alone. Looking around, he quickly rushes to the pregnant girl, and Anakin and Tahiri watch as they kiss.

As the girl calls out his name, Anakin realizes just who that young Jedi is. It’s his grandfather. Then Anakin receives another shock, as the girl tells his grandfather that she’s pregnant.

Anakin drags Tahiri back further into the shadows, and whispers into her ear. “I wonder why they’re sneaking around like that.”

Tahiri shakes her head. “Weren’t you ever listening during lessons? The Old Jedi Order didn’t allow Jedi to marry or fall in love or date or anything.”

Anakin frowns. “Oh. And no I wasn’t listening. I was always watching you.”

They turn back towards the other couple noticing that they have already disappeared. Anakin scowls. “What now!?”

Tahiri smirks at him. “Don’t worry, we’ll figure something out I’m sure.”


A few days later finds Anakin and Tahiri once more on the Senate landing platform, looking around, as a drop ship lands, and three Jedi get off. Anakin and Tahiri melt back into the shadows as the three Jedi march past, their faces and Force presences grim.

Anakin steps out from behind the column they were hiding behind, and glances down the hallway where the Jedi disappeared, he then looks at Tahiri. “I wonder what that’s about.”

Tahiri shakes her head, and then drags Anakin back into the shadows, as a small speeder comes in for a landing. The cockpit opening, even before the speeder has fully stopped, they watch as Anakin jumps from the speeder and takes off down the hallway after the other Jedi.

Anakin’s eyes follow after his grandfather, and then he turns back towards Tahiri. Tahiri looks towards him, then down the hallway and back to Anakin, an unknown fear settling into the pit of her stomach. “No! Anakin, I love you! But no!”

Anakin ignores her protests and starts down the hallway at a fast clip, and then starts running as the sensations of people fighting within the Force starts pooling out from the Senate building. Muttering curses under her breath, Tahiri starts to follow.

The slowly enter the Chancellor’s office, noticing Anakin’s grandfather watching as a dark-skinned Jedi catches Force lightning on his purple lightsaber blade. The Sith shooting the lightning, is looking at Anakin and pleading in a weak voice.

Anakin notices as his grandfather lifts his lightsaber, and begins its swing towards the Jedi. Anakin frowns as he takes in the dynamic, as he realizes just what is happening. He sees this as the shatter point, the point where Anakin Skywalker becomes Darth Vader. Where he stops being a Jedi, upholding justice and peace and became a Sith, working only for his own selfish needs and power.

Anakin, grips his saber tighter, and as his grandfather’s saber begins its arc downwards, he jumps, and places his saber in the way protecting the dark-skinned Jedi. With a flash of anger, he stares down his grandfather. “How could you? You’re a Jedi!”

Vader’s eyes flash, turning a pale sickly yellow, tinged in red. “I hate you!”

Then he attacks, his blue blade coming in a strong downward arc towards Anakin’s head. Anakin throws up his blade, catching the other, and quickly steps in, pushing his grandfather back, and causing him to trip over a low table. “I won’t let you fall to the Dark Side.”

Anakin spares a glance for Tahiri, and sees her standing there calmly watching everything that is unfolding. Then he glances at the dark-skinned Jedi, and notices that he to is watching the grandfather and grandson fight, and then to his horror, Palpatine blasts him with Force Lightning again, sending the Jedi flying out the broken window.

He hears the low cackling laughter coming from Palpatine, and dodges as his grandfather slams his lightsaber down towards him. Frowning slightly, he shifts his stance, and quickly steps in, slamming his lightsaber blade through his grandfather’s stomach.

Tahiri screams out. “Anakin, what have you done!? You killed your grandfather! How could you?”

Then Tahiri screams from the pain of Force Lightning as Palpatine stands to his feet, cackling loudly. Anakin scowls at the Sith Lord, and leaps into the path of the lightning, interposing his saber between himself and Palpatine. Then he pushes out with the Force against Palpatine, as the dark one throws up a push of his own, to block.

Then with a grim smile, Anakin reverses his Force grip, dragging the Sith Lord to him, and impales him on his blade. The explosive release of Dark Side energies, tosses him against a wall. Anakin looks around the destroyed office and then picks Tahiri up and carefully cares her out, intent upon taking her suggestion from now on and finding a small desolate corner of nowhere to live their lives.


- Five Years Later -

Anakin stands in the doorway, listening to the story as he watches Tahiri sit on the edge of the bed reading to their daughter. His smile grows larger as she reaches the climax, and together mother and daughter say the final line of the story, each of them wearing matching grins.

“And they all lived happily ever after, to the end of their days.”

Hunt The Moment

Saba clings to the side of the rock wall, her body still except for a slight tremor in her tail. Her tongue darts out, tasting, smelling. One thought drills through her brain, washing away years of Jedi training. Prey.

Above her, perched on a small ledge, is her companion in this hunt, she can’t smell him, as he’s downwind of her and her prey, but she knows he is there, his calm, cool collected mind a beacon in the Force, grounding her, reminding her that she is a Jedi and not just a barabel, not just the hunter.

Inching slightly lower, she is able to finally see the prey. A group of slavers, cackling over their latest haul of slaves. The thought is enough to send a shiver through her, for the thought of slavers sends little shocks of anger through her that is very un-Jedi.

Sending a nudge to her companion through the Force, she leaps into the midst of the slavers. Igniting her saber, she allows a grin to spread the lips, revealing rows of carnivorous teeth. “Pleaze do not runz, this one doez not wish to hurt you.”

The slavers all draw their blasters aiming them for Saba. Their leader glares at her. “I think we have you outnumbered.”

Saba hisses her laughter. “This one is a Jedi, she is never outnumbered.”

As she is speaking, she notices her companion has snuck up behind the leader, and then with a snap-hiss his orange blade is beneath the man’s throat. Saba starts hissing her laughter again. “And as you can see, this one brought company.”

Saba activates the signal, calling in the Federation Defense Force waiting to take this group into custody. She stands there calmly watching the slavers, her tail occasionally twitching her amusement. Finally the security forces the two Jedi are working with, take the slavers into custody, and lift their ship off.

Saba turns toward her companion, a smile once more pulling her lips away from her teeth. “This was fun Jedi Zekk.”

Zekk looks at her, an odd glance that she is not quite sure how to translate. So deciding upon a course of action, she begins to stalk him. She allows her dorsal scales to lift slightly, showing her willingness, the bright red coloring of the ridges a distinct offset from the green of her scales.

She sees Zekk notice the dorsal fin. “Master Sabatyne, I’ve never noticed how red those scales are. They’re kind of pretty.”

Saba shivers with anticipation. “You like this one?”

Zekk gives her another of those funny looks. “Yeah, sure. I mean.” He stops, his face screwed up in thought.

Saba takes a step closer. She enjoys the hunt, in all its various permutations. “This one is pleased.”

She can hear the huskiness in her voice, and wonders why Zekk is not performing the proper rites in response. Deciding it’s just a difference in human and barabel culture, Saba decides to take the next step. She steps close to Zekk, becoming aggressive, dominant. “Would Jedi Zekk like to continue this?” She darts her tongue out, and then leans close to Zekk, her grin turning feral. “In a more…private setting?”

Zekk takes a step back. Saba smile grows wider at the sign of submission. Then she leans in and kisses him. Zekk lets out a sound of surprise and Saba pulls back, a frown flickering across her face. “Calm yourself Jedi Zekk, hunt the moment.

Then she leans in once more, drawing him to her, kissing her hard. Zekk at first does not, cannot respond, and then to his own surprise he does.

Heaven's Tears

Once the bundle was placed into her arms, all the fears and doubts about motherhood faded and in their places settled an overwhelming love that she realized had been there since the discovery of the precious life inside her. Even the slight fear over what to tell the little girl she holds in her arms that her daddy will never be there fades away. She touches the small cheek, and allows the small fist to grasp her finger. A smile forms as the liquid blue eyes connect with hers, and the baby girl starts to make soft cooing noises.

Tahiri glances out the window, noticing the bright sunlight that is shining. It appears to be a beautiful, perfect day. She looks down at her daughter, thinking that the perfection of the day is translated into the perfection of the little angel in her arms. She lifts the girl so that they are nose to nose. “Your name will be Noelani. It means ‘Heaven’s rain’ in Ghorfa. That’s because the Ghorfa consider babies as precious as the rain, which they called the ‘Heaven’s tears.’”

Hearing a noise, Tahiri looks up, noticing those that have gathered around her, her green eyes traveling from Luke to Leia to Han and finally to Mara. Something in their stance, their Force presences, the way all of their smiles seem forced, causes Tahiri’s smile to drop from her lips, and a cold nugget of fear to awaken in her stomach.

As the baby makes another soft noise, a wisp of a smile crosses her sweat-stained face. Clutching the baby to her chest, she lifts one hand and brushes the sticky hair from her forehead and out of her eyes. Mara sits down on the bed next to her, laying her hand on Tahiri’s arm. “Have you decided what you’re going to do with her?”

Tahiri glances at Mara as if she has grown another head. “I’m going to keep her. She is my baby, the baby I made with Anakin.”

Han frowns slightly, his words drawing her attention. “Look kid, we know that, but aren’t you kind of young to be a mom? I mean you’re just fifteen.”

Tahiri tears her eyes away from Han, glancing out the window, noticing the clouds that have started rolling up from the horizon. “I guess.” Then before someone else can get a word in, she continues speaking. “But that doesn’t mean I’m not a mom now.”

She can feel the tears start to pool in her eyes. “This baby is all I have left of Anakin, it’s technically all the family I have in the galaxy.”

The four adults exchange glances and Leia inches closer to the bedside. “We know that Tahiri, but think of the baby, we can give her to someone that can provide a loving home for her.”

Anger flashes in Tahiri’s eyes. “No!”

“Tahiri, think about the baby.”

“I am thinking about my child. She needs to stay with me.” She turns to Luke, as the first tear escapes. “Please Master Skywalker, tell them, tell me, that my daughter needs to stay with me.”

Luke closes his eyes, and turns away from her. His voice is a low whisper which she has to strain to hear. “I’m sorry Tahiri.”

Another tear escapes, beginning its slow route down her cheek. Horror at what Luke is saying slowly sinks in. Luke just stands there, his eyes closed, his head bowed slightly. “I’m just so sorry that it has to be this way.”

“But it doesn’t have to be that way; I refuse to let it be that way!”

Mara shakes her head slightly. “This is for the best Tahiri.”

The crack of thunder causes Tahiri to jump, and she glances out the window, noting the rain is pouring. It is a hard harsh rain that drums loudly as it pelts the transparisteel of the window. Slowly she turns her attention back to Mara. “The best for who?”

“The best for the baby.”

Tahiri looks at Mara, her stare as hard as Mara’s own, her tears flowing freely. “How would you know that?”

Mara glances away, and Leia answers. “We just do Tahiri; you’re too young to be a mother.”

“Then why did the Force let me get pregnant?”

Tahiri once more, allows her gaze to flicker from one adult to the next. None of them returns her gaze. Mara finally looks up towards Tahiri, but still refuses to make eye contact. “It’s for the best.”

“Then why didn’t you give up Ben?”

The hard crack of flesh against flesh startles everyone, the red imprint on Tahiri’s cheek of Mara’s hand standing in sharp contrast to her tanned skin. Tahiri tenses, the instincts instilled in her by both her upbringing by the Ghorfa and shaping at the hands of the Yuuzhan Vong, scream at her to attack Mara. Tahiri speaks through clenched teeth, reigning in her emotions, and clutching her child to her breast. “Get out now.”

Mara looks down at her hand and then back at Tahiri. “Tahiri, I’m-“

“OUT!” The volume and vehemence in Tahiri’s voice startles them all. Mara slowly stands up from her spot on the bed, glancing around the adults again. Tahiri speaks again, this time her voice is low and dangerous. “Now. Get out now.”

A nod from Luke, Mara strides from the room. Tahiri looks around at the three adults that remain in the room. “If any of you think I should give Noelani up, you can join Mara in leaving me alone here.”

Leia, looks down at the floor, as another peal of thunder shakes the room. “Tahiri, it’s just-”

“Just what Leia? You want me to give away my daughter, this last thing of Anakin I have, that we both have.”

Luke finally looks up, glancing at his sister and brother-in-law. He asks his wife through the Force if his plan is a sound and good one. Closing his eyes again, he lowers his head. “Han, Leia, please go out to the hall.”

They both look at him startled, but it is Han that speaks. “Sure thing Kid.”

Luke watches as they both leave the room, softly closing the door behind them. He turns to face Tahiri. “Can I hold her?”

Tahiri looks at him, torn between distrust over his intentions and the desire to share her beautiful daughter with others. Finally she decides, and slowly passes the baby girl over to him. He smiles and looks down at the child, briefly touching her cheek. “She’s beautiful.”

Tahiri beams. “Isn’t she?”

Luke nods his head slowly. “Yes she is. What did you name her?”

“Noelani.”

Luke glances out at the storm. “The tears of Heaven. It’s fitting.”

Tahiri smiles once lights up her face, and she lowers her eyes. “Thanks.”

Then he turns his attention fully to Tahiri, a sad look crossing his face. “I’m sorry about this.”

Sudden fear grips Tahiri’s heart. “Sorry? For what?”

“This.” Luke reaches out with the Force, and reaches into Tahiri’s mind, yanking memories away, putting her to sleep, while Noelani begins to cry. He glances once at Tahiri’s sleeping form, and then down at the baby, gently rocking her until she settles down, his own tears falling silently.

----------------------------

Twelve years later

Luke smiles at Tahiri. “Knight Viella, do you know why I asked you here?”

“No Master.”

“I’d like you to choose a padawan from the more advanced trainees.”

Tahiri is shocked, and looks at Luke. “Are you sure? I mean, thank you Master.”

Quickly standing, she bows and rushes from the room as Luke chuckles to himself.

Tahiri walks down to the Skorch field, watching the trainees. Her eyes are constantly drawn back to a young girl about twelve years old, with blonde hair and blue eyes. She watches the girl, as she effortlessly solves the game’s problem, winning the situation. As the other players walk off the field, Tahiri notices the girl standing in the center, gazing towards the sky. Silently she walks over to the girl. “Is it that interesting?”

Startled, she spins, and then seeing a full-fledged Knight, quickly bows. Tahiri smiles at her. “What’s your name?”

The girl straightens and stares at Tahiri, her ice blue eyes reminding Tahiri so much of Anakin. The girl gives Tahiri a lopsided grin before answering.

“My name is Noelani.”

A Twist of Fate

Landing platform X779-b332, Coruscant

Han Solo frowns at the rain as it comes down all around him. Glancing back towards his beloved ship, he walks to the edge of the landing platform and stares down into the abyss beneath them. His eyes scan the open space below them, looking for any signs of the local constabulary, or worse, those blasted CorSec agents who have been hounding him throughout the Core and Colony regions.

He feels a feather light touch on his shoulder, and turns to look at his wife, giving her a rakish grin as he takes in her form. Even in the rain, she is beautiful. His eyes travel up her form, taking in first the form-fitting black pants, then the white tunic, which is quickly becoming transparent in the rain, and the black ship jacket which she is using to preserve her modesty, then finally her face, which hold her crystal blue eyes and is currently framed by her shoulder-length black hair, which is hanging straight and wet in the onslaught of water.

“Unloading is done, and don’t be so paranoid, Han. I’m sure we gave those Horn boys the slip on Kuat.”

She notices the way his eyes travel up her form and quirks an eyebrow at him. “Now, are you going to help me get these clothes off, or do I have to do it myself?”

He grins at her. “Well I can’t have you do everything all by yourself. Let’s go get those clothes off of you.”

As one they turn and head towards the Falcon, just as a police speeder comes to rest on the platform they currently are on. As Han turns to watch it, two Coruscant Security Officers step out of the front seats. He utters a curse as two more people get out of the back, both of them wearing the black and green uniforms of the Corellian Security Force.

The CorSec officers walk over to Han and Mirax, as the Cocurscant Security officers boards the Falcon. The smile on Corran Horn’s face is almost enough to get Han to punch him once in the nose. As Han thinks that, a gleam appears in Corran’s eyes, almost daring Han to try it.

The other officer places his hand on Corran’s arm. “That’s enough son.”

Corran glances at his father, and quickly nods his head, his features schooling themselves into the professional face worn by police throughout the galaxy. Hal turns his attention to the two smugglers. “So, I guess we finally caught you, huh?”

Mirax leans against Han, “Why officer, I don’t know what you are talking about, we’re just here for our honeymoon.”

Han smirks as Corran visibly tenses, and Han has to stifle the urge to laugh aloud. He knows that in the past Corran and Mirax were an item, until Mirax became a smuggler after Hal sent her father to Kessel. Mirax doesn’t miss the tensing either, as she reaches out to touch Corran’s chin, then she bats her eyelids, though Han is not sure if she’s clearing her eyes from the rain or being coy. “What’s the matter CorSec? Having doubts about some of your life choices?”

Corran is about to open his mouth to reply, when one of the Coruscant Security Officers calls out. “There’s no contraband on board anywhere.”

Hal turns towards the Coruscant Officers, shock evident on his face. “Nowhere? Are you sure?”

Han once more tries his best to not laugh aloud, as they are told by Coruscant Security that they can leave at any time. He thanks them and then turns back to Hal and Corran, tossing them a sloppy salute. “See the two of you on Corellia.”

Smirking, he once more winds his arm around Mirax and they start up the ramp. As soon as the ramp has closed, Mirax is laughing, and Han drops onto the couch near the dejarik table. As Mirax lies down across him to kiss him, they are interrupted by Chewbacca.

[Honor brother, there is a Jedi trying to get in touch with you.]

“A Jedi?”

[Yes, it is Kyp]

Kissing Mirax’s nose, he looks into her eyes. “Wait right there.”

“I’m not promising anything, Solo.”

Han slides into the seat in front of the communication station, flicking it on, he sees the young man he rescued from Kessel. “How’re you doing, Kid?”

Kyp smiles at him. “I’m doing all right, all things considered with the war and all. But I have a favor to ask of you.”

“What’s that?”

“Luke wants to know if you’d be willing to pick a few Jedi up on Corellia and bring them back to Yavin 4.”

“Sure thing kid, an next time, tell Luke that he could try calling me himself.”

Kyp smiles at Han, chuckling slightly. “Thanks Han, and will do. Yavin out.”

Han leans back in his chair, as Mirax wraps her arms around him. “So we’re transporting people again.”

“Hey it didn’t go that bad last time.”

Mirax snorts and starts prepping the Falcon for flight.

------------------

The Running Snake, Coronet, Corellia

Han and Mirax are sitting at a booth, in the back of the bar; waiting for the Jedi they’re supposed to pick up to appear. As Han scans the crowd of unsavory beings around him, he wonders once more why someone would choose a half-sunken Drallian bar for a meeting point. Without warning, a boy, barely old enough to gain entrance to the bar, slides into the seat opposite them. Han looks him over, noting the chiseled jaw, and ice blue stare. The boy glances around once. “Are you Captain Solo?”

Mirax nods her head. “You the package?”

The boy grits his teeth. “My name is Anakin Organa, as the Chume’da of Hapes, one would expect you to not refer to me as a package.”

Han stiffens slightly at the boy’s name, a memory of old love, of old possibilities flicker through his mind, and tosses a few coins onto the table. “Come’on Kid, let’s get you out of here.”

As they leave the cantina, a hotel a few store fronts down from the bar they had just exited, explodes, tossing the three off of their feet. Han glances at the boy, and then Mirax, ensuring himself that everyone is all right. “Wonder what that was all about.”

The boy grimaces. “That was my lodging.”

Han glances at Mirax as she rolls her eyes. “I know; you have a bad feeling about this.”

Han paints a pained expression on his face, and turns to Anakin. “Women!”

The boy just stares at them both. “Can the banter end and we go now? It will not be long before the Peace Brigade realizes that I was not within the building.”

Han and Mirax look at him, and stand, leading him on towards the Falcon. As they near the landing bay, they start to hear a howling noise. Han looks first to Mirax, and then to Anakin, noting the look of terror painted on the boy’s face. Turning to the east, the direction the noise comes from, they see a couple of CorSec officers running towards them. Behind them and closing is a wolf-like animal, its six legs allowing it to quickly gain on the pair of fleeing officers.

Han frowns and whips out his blaster and starts taking shots at the strange beast. A second later Mirax’s blaster is adding bolts of coherent light in the direction of the animal. Han nails the beast in one of the legs, noticing that it reaches backwards to bite at its hind quarters where the bolt had hit it.

Without really expecting an answer, he asks, “What the kriff is that thing?”

“A voxyn.”

“What?”

“A Vong Jedi hunter.”

“Great.”

Finally enough of the coherent light has struck the beast that it stops moving, Han inches closer to it, noticing the way its blood seems to eat into the ferocrete of the walkway, as if it’s an acid. Frowning, he turns towards the CorSec officers he had just saved. Upon looking at the two leaning against the wall, their chests heaving from their exertions, he utters the first thing that comes to his mind. “Sithspit.”

Corran’s green eyes look up upon hearing the curse. “Well Solo, you did say you’d see us on Corellia.”

“Jeedai!”

Everyone in the group looks towards the new voice, noticing the Vong warrior in his glistening, pulsing armor. Han reaches behind him, and pulls out a small round sphere. “Okay everyone; get on the Falcon if you’re coming with me.”

No one argues, and starts running towards the ship, Han smiles and fiddles with the silver ball and then rolls it towards the Vong warrior. He turns and runs, as the Vong comes running towards them, stopping at the tamp, he glances back, a smirk touching his lips as the Vong steps over the small sphere. The explosion that ensues is enough to tear the warrior to pieces, and Han’s smirk turns into a feral grin. “Feel the pain, scarhead.”

Moonlight Kisses

A glade on Hapes

I don’t often get to come out here, away from the fighting, away from the pressures, just to have a chance and sit here. Sit where my dreams, and hopes, and future and love went up in smoke and little glittering sparks of quickly fading embers.

I close my eyes, and can still see the funeral pyre as the flames lick and caress his face, the way I wanted to be doing, and have done to me. Even though we were both so young, we had already been through so much. Even before the Yuuzhan Vong came and destroyed our worlds, ultimately shattering mine into billions of pieces and once I had those pieces picked back up, once I almost had those pieces reassembled into something recognizable as myself, they went and shattered it again. I wonder how many times I can be broken before I am unable to put myself back together again.

I look up at the moons, Hapes has lots of moons, and two of them are currently full and shining, lending everything a blue glow. It appears so soft and gentle, causing the sand mound which is all that remains of his pyre to be the same color blue as his eyes. I find myself shivering even though it is a warm summer night. I pull my cloak tighter around me, hoping to fight the chill of my own thoughts with the warmth the robe provides.

I reached down, and pick up some of that blue-tinged sand, allowing it to slide through my fingers. It speeds out of my hands, which reminds me so very much, just how quickly he entered and then left my life. I knew him only six years, but it felt like forever, it changed me forever.

We never even got a chance to kiss in the moonlight.

As that last thought ricochets in my brain, I can feel a tear start to travel down my face. Every time I come out here, there are fewer and fewer tears, less and less which is able to stab to my innermost heart, breaking open the wound which is his memory.

People call it healing; I have to wonder if it’s really just me dying.

I pick at that emotional scab, dredging up all those memories I have of him, everything from when I first saw him sitting at a table when he was eleven, to his appearing in the damutek to save me. I let them all flow over me, wash over me, reminding me of everything about him.

I wish I could hold him once again, just once. Or even smell him. I sigh at that thought. All his clothes and possessions that I kept have long since stopped smelling like him. When that finally happened, it almost felt like he had died all over again.

Yet though sadness colors all my memories of him, all my emotions, they do not hurt anymore. I try to smile and frown at the same time. The Yuuzhan Vong part of me will miss the pain associated with those memories, but I must remember that I am human as well. I search my emotions, trying to find exactly the right one that I now associate with my memories of Anakin. Then it comes to me: bittersweet. They hurt like an old wound, yet they are comforting and comfortable and good like a well worn robe.

I close my eyes, and use the Force to pull a memory out, and revel in the sensations that I remember of our first kiss. I almost laugh at how fumbling it was, at how accidental it seemed. We were stuck in that locker, thinking that death was ready to take us.

A sharp pain lances through my heart at that thought, at the memory of the kiss that I denied him the day that death did take him.

I smile, somewhat glad to know that there are still things which can cause my heart to break when I think of Anakin, I was almost afraid that I had lost that ability. I wished that the Yuuzhan Vong had never come, that I had the time to kiss him in all the places that I have visited since his death, that I had the chance to kiss him just once, in the romantic blue glow of moonlight.

Unfortunately all the memories of kisses are either under the fluorescent glare of ship-board lighting, or the orange organic glow of Yuuzhan Vong biot lights. I can feel a whisper of movement, and I look around the glade, scanning the trees for any sign of anyone.

Tenel Ka, the Queen Mother, told me that no one comes out here anymore. That since the end of the war, since Jacen’s disappearance, no one has bothered this place. That makes me sad, that the place where someone as great, as wonderful as Anakin was laid to rest is just another forgotten empty glade.

I search through the Force, trying to find something appropriate, and with a smile, discover something that will work perfectly. Hiking a short way into the woods that surround the glade, I come across the large stone, that is almost as tall as myself, and twice again as wide. I probe it with the Force, tracing how it interacts with the ground and the life in the ground, and smile, happy at the height of it. I ignite my saber, and slice a small chunk off, happy at the sight of smooth Hapan marble. I put my saber away, and reach out with the Force, dragging the stone from the ground, I worry it a bit at first, loosening it from the grip of the soil. Then I yank with all my might, dragging the stone from the ground. I lay it down, and once more ignite my saber, slicing long chunks off of it, until I am left with a long spike, a stone pedestal adorned on top by a representation of Anakin’s lightsaber hilt.

I pick the stone up with the Force once more and walk back to the glade. Then I lift the stone as high as I can, and use the Force to drive it deep into the solid earth beneath me. I smile as the shock of it falling, almost knocks me off my feet, I am certain that it was probably felt at the capital. Releasing the Force I look at my handiwork and break out into a large grin. Working quickly I use my saber to put a short poem onto the blank spot of the pedestal.

Stepping back, I read it once more:

Heart, we will forget him,
You and I, tonight!
You must forget the warmth he gave,
I will forget the light.

When you have done pray tell me,
Then I, my thoughts, will dim.
Haste! ‘lest while you’re lagging
I may remember him!

The effort, the marking of this spot, just letting it be known that this is where I left him, I feel warm and happy. As I watch my monument, a single, last tear slides down my face, and in the still of the night I can feel a whisper brush of wind against my cheek, almost as if the moonlight had kissed me.

I press my hand on my cheek, and speak for the first time in hours. “I will always love you Anakin.”

Turning, I walk back to the skimmer, and begin the trip to the Hapan space port, on the way there, on the way back to my life and the Jedi, I decide that yes, I will take Valin up on his offer of a date.

----------------------------
The poem is Heart We Will Forget Him by Emily Dickinson

The Perfect Gift

I watch with glee from the refuge of my hiding place as the object of my affection comes across the mystery present, tears off the wrapping and gasps in surprise that I had finally managed to give her the perfect gift. I smile at the way her eyes widen, and her mouth drops open. It makes my heart soar. I feel my smile as it twists into a slight grin as she starts looking around, trying to find me. After all, she is a Jedi, and it is hard to hide from a Jedi, I should know, I am one as well. I glance over my shoulder to see the ysalamiri hanging on a feeder tube right above my head. As long as I’m here, Jaina won’t be able to see or feel me, of course it hampers my abilities as well, but that’s the price to be paid.

I look back towards her, admiring as I always do her smooth skin and cocoa colored hair. For just a second, I wish I was close enough to clearly see the brandy color of her eyes. They have always been so warm and inviting. I shake off my random thoughts and once more focus on my love. She is sitting now. Sitting in front of the box, just staring into it, and I suppress a giggle at how awed she is by my present. Oh it makes me so happy to be able to give her something that she would love so much.

I was able to give Jaina Solo something which would even render her speechless.

I’m not surprised I was able to find the perfect gift; after all as an urchin in the underbelly of this great city-planet, I was always able to find the best stuff. That particular skill helped Jaina herself a time or to, and did me immense good as a bounty hunter. Of course, that was before Jagged Fel turned Jaina away from me. That arrogant Imperial, it wasn’t bad enough that he stole her from me during the Vong war, but he had to do it again during the Swarm War. We were happy as JainaTaat, but that wasn’t good enough for Jagged. No, he had to insist that Jaina have her independence back.

I rejoiced when Leia shot down Jagged’s clawcraft, and felt so much sorrow when it was announced that he was found by the Ascendancy. When it was announced, I wanted nothing more than to run him through with my lightsaber. Of course here and now, I am glad that I stopped my primal urges, even if it meant that she went running back to him, leaving me behind, severing our connection.

Of course I got the last laugh; I got to give Jaina the perfect gift. I giggle again as I think about how wonderful she looked as she opened the gift. My mind’s eye replays the delight that flickered on her face when she first saw the package and how that amazement and awe grew as she opened the gift and lifted off its lid. Silently I wished I had remembered to bring a holocamera as I would have loved to have a recording of her opening the gift, a holocamera, a flatcam, just something which would allow us to share this moment with others.

Her movement once more pulls my attention away from my wayward thoughts. I see her pull out her comlink and call someone. I ask myself who? Then I realize that it doesn’t matter; she is sharing my gift with others. Letting all know that my gift is the best and most perfect gift anyone has ever given her. I smile at the fact that she is sharing the gift I gave her with others. My emotions bubble over at the thought of everyone finding out that I was able to give it to her. So that all will know that I was the one that was able to give her the perfect gift. Not Kyp, not that blasted Jagged, but me, the street rat. Me, the street rat knew her better than all the others, and soon all the Jedi, all of Coruscant and the galaxy itself will know that I loved her most of all.

I jump for joy when she reaches into the box with both hands to pull out her perfect gift. She is finally going to realize how much I love her and that she should be with me! The gift will see to that. I smile as I see the first of her tears of joy start to slide down her check. My eyes follow the shining tracks which represent her joy, and I am mesmerized slightly by the sight of how they sparkle in the sunlight.

Finally she has the gift out, and lifts it so that it is parallel to her head, so that she doesn’t have to bend her head to look it over, so that she can look the gift in the eyes with her own brandy ones. I smile as her body hitches due to the joyful tears that she is shedding even still. She lowers the gift to her lap, and closes her eyes; I can only assume she is trying to stop her tears of joy. My smile just grows larger as she is unable to. My gift has really touched and moved her.

Movement in her lap captures my attention and I watch as her hand traces Jag’s scar, and then runs through the white shock of Jag’s hair, while the other holds the rest of the gift still in her lap. All the while Jag’s green eyes stare lifelessly up at her.

Her eyes open once more and she looks down at the gift. I smile once again as her body hitches due to her tears of joy. I slap Jag on the chest where he sits beside me, and exclaim, “I told you that would be the perfect gift!”

Sunset

Though not one usually interested in the beauty of a simple sunset, she could not help but be mesmerized by the vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows that were mixing with the fading blue of daylight and coming black of night. How could she not be interested? The colors, the darkening, it all reminds her so much of herself, of her life. It reminds her of just how bright her life used to be, and just how dark her future is.

She thinks back and remembers the bright fields of day, of happier times. Of a time when there were no cares, no Yuuzhan Vong. Just her and her love getting into simple mischief, driving Master Skywalker crazy with their antics. She smiles as she thinks of the trips taken in the Lore Seeker, searching out various Jedi artifacts and history alongside Master Tionne, Irkrit and of course Anakin. Back then there were no troubles, no danger, just living and having fun.

You know it wasn’t that much fun.

She spins around dropping into a Yuuzhan Vong fighting stance, trying to find who had just spoken, but there is no one else around. Her eyes harden slightly as she scans the tree line. She is slightly disturbed by the fact that no one is there, yet the words she heard are still echoing in her head.

She turns back to the sunset and her thoughts. With the sky getting darker, her thoughts turn that way as well. The sky is now deep oranges and red, with purple and navy of nighttime quickly encroaching on them. Now she thinks about the war with the Yuuzhan Vong. Of the pain and suffering she went through during her shaping. The Yuuzhan Vong taught her a lot during that time, about pain, about love, and ultimately about growing up. It took her a long time to realize the lessons she learned, but the ones that she learned first are still the ones that give her the greatest troubles. Her mind skips and she thinks back to her rescue, of the pain and abject horror that went along that time, of learning to accept that pain, and when Anakin rescued her, wanting to fight and kill. Her mouth quirks into a smile at that memory, fighting and killing, the desire to taste blood stirs in her heart at the thought. She remembers the desire she felt as Anakin stood there in front of her, that desire to do deeds that were dark and terrible, that would have changed her irrevocably.

Not that terrible. Personally I think giving into those desires would have been grand fun. Definitely more fun than the antics you used to perform.

Once more she turns, twisting her body, making her profile smaller; she once again scans the trees and brush around her trying to find the speaker. Yet once more there is no one there, just the echo of that soft and silky voice.

Turning back once more to the setting sun, she notices that it has now fully set. There is only a slightly lighter coloring to the sky where it had been. An afterimage of the day, a false promise that the sun will shine again, a lie saying the light wins. This too sends shivers of self recognition through her. With the sun finally set, with darkness fully upon her, her thoughts plunge fully into the dark.

She starts to remember the mission to Myrkr. She remembers the bickering and fighting between the young Jedi, between Jacen and Anakin. She feels the first of her tears as she remembers the reckless abandon with which he threw himself into the protection of his sister. She wants to scream at the sense of sacrifice he had which caused him to constantly throw himself into danger. Then she feels even more tears, their salty taste tingling as they cross her lips, and she remembers that she refused him a final kiss. She knew even then, that he would not return to her, and she wanted to punish him for it.

That killed him you know.

Spinning, she has her blade ignited, her stance part Yuuzhan Vong, part Jedi and part Ghorfa, but all together dangerous and aggressive. She hears herself snarling. “Who’s there?”

Just you.

She stretches out with the Force, seeking whoever is toying with her. Yet in the glow of her blade, her eyes confirm what the Force tells her. There is no one there. She is all alone on the edge of this cliff. The deep black of the crevice to one side of her, the tree line and their shadows to the other, and even that last lie of light gone from the sky.

Extinguishing her blade, she sinks to the ground. The pain of her memories washes over her in waves, and she feels her saber slip from her grasp and can hear the soft sounds of metal against stone as it rolls away from her.

Accept the pain. Don’t hide from it.

Finally, she recognizes the voice. It is her voice, while at the same time it is not her voice. It is the voice of Riina. Riina the part of her that does not shy from pain and misery, the part of her who screams that vengeance and revenge are okay and something that should be dealt out as often as possible.

It is Riina’s voice, Riina whose voice whispers so many truths to her, truths that she normally would refuse to accept or even acknowledge the existence of, truths which are painful to learn and know.

He is dead, and none of those around you truly care. Not about him. Not about you.

“No! That’s not true. They loved him. I loved him!”

No, they used him, they killed him. They sent you all to Myrkr, knowing he would die. Hoping you would to.

She has no way to argue against that, for what Riina speaks is her own fears and dark thoughts. What Riina speaks is what her nightmares show her every night.

We can always avenge him? Destroy those who sent him to die. Make those who mock your pain, who rejoiced at his death suffer and bleed.

“No, I can’t. I’m, I’m a Jedi.”

So was he.

She has no argument against that. Here, where she is, with no sun, no light, she cannot refute the dark sway of her thoughts, spoken as they are in Riina’s voice, in her voice. And here in the dark, she is not entirely certain that she wishes to. Yet at the same time she wonders what would have happened if the sun had not set, if she still stood in the warm glow of the morning sun.

But deep down she does know.

If the sun had not set, she would have been able to ignore the voice. If the sun had not set, she could have been happy. If the sun had not set, she could have stayed a Jedi. If her sun had not set, she could have stayed in the light.

But Darkness has fallen, and the sun has set.

Pleasure & Pain: Epilogue

I awaken, and feel the confusion around me. I don't understand what I'm seeing. There are pipes and smoke and other noises. It confuses me because the last thing I remember was the fire and death, the world ship around Mrykr. I have memories of Nom Anor, of the thermal detonator, of Tahiri's pain and cries in the Force as I could feel the life blood draining from me, the Force slipping away from me, the Force slipping away from her. The vision of her pain-filled green eyes flashes before me.

I remember dying.

How did I come to be here? Where is here.

I sit up, and feel the jelly like substance still clinging to me. I shiver as I look down, noticing my nudity. I look around, still confused by my surroundings. Another vision of green eyes flashes through my mind, and some part of me hopes to see her.

Then I see someone, not the one I want to see, but someone else, someone cold and metallic, someone whose Force presence is a dark oily stain on my awareness. Her red hair is pulled up into a simple braid, there is a fading bruise on her cheek and she's wearing a shift not quite large enough to cover her modestly. In fact, it reveals more than it leaves to the imagination. "Where, what, who, who are you?"

She just smiles at me, which sends shivers up my spine. That smile does strange things to my stomach, it's cold, calculating and predatory, yet I find it oddly compelling.

She walks slightly closer to me. "I am Lumiya. Welcome back Anakin. Welcome back to the land of the living."

Pleasure & Pain: Chapter Fifteen

I notice some movement from the observation deck, and look up to see Lumiya looking down on us. I can feel her hate and anger from where I stand.

The door opposite us opens and I look that way and see a female Yuuzhan Vong warrior enter. I can hear Nethi's slight gasp and feel her fear of the new arrival.

I can feel the Vong in the Force. Her presence is dark and twisted. I look at her and see an abomination of the Force.

I remember her from when I awoke. I smile as the memory of me spitting on her crosses my mind.

I look her over, and she is dressed in the usual garb of high-ranking warriors. Her red cape is sinuously moving of its own accord. The talons erupt from her knuckles and a tsaisi is wrapped around her upper arm. A coufee is in a sheath on her leg. The customary bandolier of blast bugs across her chest. And she wears the vonduun crab armor; hers is a deep blackish red color.

She is glorious in her danger.

I ignite my saber.

She reaches around behind her and pulls out a creature I have never seen before.

As she squeezes it a red lightsaber blade erupts from it, I realize then that I have seen it before, in my vision of a dark human/vong hybrid of Tahiri.

Her frayed lips spread into a sinister grin. "Do-ro'ik vong pratte."

I look at her and laugh. Beside me I can hear Nethi as she says a Vong word, "brenzlit."

As the warrior rushes us, I can only assume that whatever Nethi said was a Vong insult. I step forward, swinging my blade in an upper cut. She parries my blow and swings her saber at me.

I dive under the blow and roll out of harms way. I swing my saber behind me, and she merely jumps up and out of the way.

I stand and assume a high guard, as the warrior rushes me again. Our sabers collide. She releases one of her hands from the saber and drives her fist into my face. I can feel the horns on her knuckles as they scratch down my jaw.

I can hear Nethi screaming my name.

I stand, as the warrior rushes once more, intent on impaling me on her blade. My head is still confused by the blow and I realize I have no way of getting my saber up in time to block.

Then Nethi is body checking the warrior, knocking her off course. I see a flash of saber where it should not be and can hear myself screaming Nethi's name.

I can feel Nethi's pain in the Force. They land and Nethi comes to a stop, while the warrior continues rolling away. I rush to Nethi's side and see the wound to her chest, probing with the Force I can tell that it's fatal.

I stand at the same time as the warrior, and jump at her. I land and use my hate to power my blows.

At first she is able to block and parry my blows. But a Skywalker's hate is a powerful thing. When a Skywalker is in the grip of their hate, they are a nigh unstoppable thing. She falls back away from me, attempting to get some room to maneuver, room so she can go on the offensive.

I follow, not letting up, my blade a blur and always seeking an opening in her defenses.

I finally get one, and slice away her off arm between the gauntlets and her shoulder armor. Her hiss of pain drives me forward, makes me attack even harder.

The pain she feels and broadcasts in the Force is not enough payment, not enough revenge, to sate my anger at what she did to Nethi.

I get my next opening and shove my blade into her throat. I shove harder, pushing it all the way through. I smile at the shocked expression that appears on her face.

I shut down my saber and turn from her, not caring if she actually dies or not.

I run over to Nethi and pull her onto my lap.

She looks up at me, tears in her eyes, I cradle her against me. I know I'm losing her, and it is killing me. "Anakin, I love you."

I smile at her, and can feel the tears in my own eyes. "I know."

I can feel her pain, as she coughs. I notice the blood on the side of her mouth is bright red. "I wasn't supposed to love you. I wasn't ever supposed to kiss you while you were in the cell. Lumiya forbade it. I. I just couldn't help myself."

"Shh, don't talk; everything's going to be all right."

She utters a broken laugh. "Dummy, I know I'm dying. I can feel that."

Suddenly Lumiya's voice fills the chamber over the intercom system. "Anakin, all is not lost. I can give you Nethi back. You can be forgiven. Your failure was a temporary setback. Please Anakin."

As she is speaking a half-dozen guards enter from each of the doors, taking up positions near the doors, protecting them, keeping us in the room, their carbines drawn and ready.

I look up at her, and for the first time see her for what she truly is, a dark, desperate old woman, who needs someone more powerful than her to do what she is unable to.

I look down at Nethi, and see the tears in her eyes, the sadness and pain. Her eyes flicker to the observation area where Lumiya stands and then back to me. Her voice is strained and weak. "I don't want to be a slave."

I reach behind me and pull out one of the thermal detonators from the carrying case on the back of my belt.

Once more Lumiya's voice is there, booming. "Anakin? Anakin! What are you doing?"

I look back up to Lumiya. "You wanted a Skywalker, because we are so powerful, especially in our hate. When we hate, we are as close to an unstoppable force as this galaxy has."

I arm the detonator, hold down the dead-man switch and slide backwards the priming mechanism. I put five seconds on the detonator.

I pull Nethi up and lower my head to kiss her again. "You never were to me, and I won't let Lumiya make you one."

I look at Lumiya again. "But you forget that there is always one thing stronger than a Skywalker's hate. And that is a Skywalker's love."

Dismissing Lumiya from my mind, I focus my attention on Nethi and kiss her once more. "I love you; I wish we had had time to grow old together."

Her smile is filled with pain. "I know."

I press my lips against hers again and throw the detonator into the air, releasing the dead-man's switch, which activates the timer.

I can feel Nethi's love for me, and I wrap her in my arms and my love. I am kissing her as the white overtakes us.

Pleasure & Pain: Chapter Fourteen

We are rushing through the halls, when I see the doors which Lumiya told me to never enter.

Deciding I had nothing else to lose, I take us that way.

I can feel Nethi's fears as we near the doors. "Lumiya told me to never go in there."

Without glancing back to her, I answer. "All the more reason to go in."

We rush down the hallway, one made of carved stone, as much cave as anything fashioned by sentient hands.

And come to another ornate doorway. Not seeing an obvious opening mechanism, I push with the Force knocking the doors down.

Then we enter what can only be described as a cathedral.

I look up and see high vaulted ceilings, on the ceilings, in bas relief sculptures are impressions of fire, and people writhing in torment.

I look around and see an audience area, an arena and a stage. On the stage there is an alter, one large enough for a grown Thakwaashi to lie upon comfortably. The sides of the alter are decorated with the same bas relief sculptures as the ceiling.

Behind the alter I can see a throne.

Sitting upon the throne is what I can only describe as a nexus of the Dark Side. Someone whose Force presence is so shrouded in the Dark Side that it reminds me of when I was touched by Palpatine when I was in my mom's womb.

Nethi and I slowly walk into the room, looking everywhere. Afraid to go in further, unable to not do so.

As we approach the throne, the person on it speaks. "Ah, so Lumiya's pets have freed themselves. How predictable this all is."

I can feel his humor as he continues. "Let me guess, she sent you to kill the blonde one, and you didn't, and then Lumiya had a hissy fit, and tried to take scarred girl here from you. Am I right Anakin?"

I look at him, unable to understand how he knows. "How? Who? What are you?"

He chuckles. "I am sorry; I forget my manners so easily in my old age. I am Kadann, the Supreme Prophet of the Dark Side, leader of the Prophets of the Dark Side. Lumiya came to us for the sole purpose of raising someone of the Skywalker line from the dead. She wants her own personal Vader. As for how I knew what was happening, well we do call ourselves prophets here."

"Are you going to stop us?"

Again his amusement rolls in the Force. "Stop you? I gave up my aspirations for galactic dominance many years ago. Besides, I consider what Lumiya is attempting as folly of the highest order. Our skills, our abilities at raising the dead work best with Dark Siders. Lumiya's goal was to get either you or your namesake, and then corrupt you."

I shiver at his smile.

I look around the room once more, and finally find another exit, and grabbing Nethi's hand rush that way.

We enter another long hallway and run down it, which gives us another doorway into another chamber.

This one is different than the cathedral though. It's newer, more scientific. The only word I can think of to describe it is laboratory.

On the opposite side of the room is another door, and along the walls are about two dozen cylinders. They remind me of sleep capsules, of cryogenic chambers. The ceiling is set high up, and along one wall there is an observation window.

I turn right and walk close to one of the capsules, absently noting that Nethi had turned left towards the capsules that started on that wall. I can see a small label on the top of the capsule and read it. It says "Aurek Senth 0005"

I rub the frost off the glass window and gasp as I see my face behind the transparisteel enclosure.

From the other side of the room, I feel Nethi's fear and confusion. "No, it's not possible."

I rush to her side, and see what has her so scared, so confused. Within the capsule is Nethi, except with blonde hair. In the next chamber is Nethi with black hair. In the chamber after that, there is a Nethi with brown hair. I look up at the label on that capsule and it is labeled "Trill Vev 0007."

My heart sinks.

We look in capsule after capsule, and they are all of us. Some so young, they are nothing more than what we consider memories of childhood. None of them are older than we are now.

I finally figure out the last piece of what had been confusing me. Why it was so easy for me to let my thoughts dwell on Nethi, why her pain angered me so, and Lumiya's offer of her was so appealing to me.

Why it was so easy for me to fall in love with her.

Even though I had seen that Tahiri's was just an older version of Nethi's face, I had not wanted to realize the answer.

The Tahiri on Dagobah might have been the original, but Nethi was MY Tahiri.

The Proposal

With a wink and a nod the signal passed between the lovers, letting each of them know that when the eyes of the planet were not upon them, they would meet at their special place. He spends a second watching her slip off into the crowd, her blonde head bobbing with every step, the golden curls of her hair, appearing and disappearing as she steps in and out of the crowd, as she reaches the edge, he notices her once more turn towards him, a look of amusement on her face. He knows that she finds the attention lavished upon him funny, especially since she knows his own personal feelings about the whole thing. Then she is gone, and his attention focuses once more on the politicians around him and reporters in front of him.

All of them trying to get something from him, trying to get information about him, wanting something. He hides his grimace behind the smile that he has plastered to his face.

“The Hero without Fear” is what they’ve taken to calling him now.

Sighing, he wishes for the simpler times, back when he was a mere apprentice, running around his troubles just mere mischief. Yet knowing that the people need heroes and the Jedi are the closest they have, he waves to the crowd that has gathered to see him, their hero. He is a Jedi, the son of heroes, and the people love him.

So of course he hates it all with a passion.

Not soon enough, the crowd begins to disperse, and the reporters and politicians leave, and he breathes a sigh of relief and thanks. Glad that that chore is over for the time being; glad that he can now have some time alone with her.

He slips away from the Senate landing platform, making his way to a small café overlooking one of Denon’s many beaches.

As he enters the maitre d smiles at him. “Master Jedi, your party is already here.”

He nods his thank and quickly goes to their usual table, finding her staring out at the ocean. He silently slides into the seat across from her, and looks at her, memorizing her features once more, the pert nose, full lips, and the three vertical scars on her forehead. He can see amusement flash in her green eyes. “It’s not nice to see down at a lady’s table without asking permission.”

He smiles at her. “But you looked so lonely I had to join you.”

“And what if I were waiting for someone?”

“Well, I showed up.”

She laughs and his smile increases, he enjoys this, the banter, the nonchalance. She makes him feel human and alive, rather than an object of deification. She reminds him that he is human and not the hero without fear. He quickly grabs her hand and kisses it, causing her to blush slightly.

Their dinner arrives and they quickly eat, paying their bill and going down to the beach to walk along the surf. He slips his arm around her as they walk, the surf lapping at their feet. Looking down he notices that she has forgone shoes once again, and that she wiggles her toes every time the water crosses over them.

He stops them, and turns to face her, wrapping his arms around her. He smiles as he looks down at her, remembering when he first saw her during the Swarm War so many years ago. He would have never dreamed that the pretty young blonde would be here with him tonight, in this way. He looks down into her eyes, noticing the joy and happiness that shines out from them, and then he kisses her, and is lost in the sensations and tastes.

They separate, and as he opens his eyes, he sees her face lifted up towards him, and is happy. Finally making up his mind about something, he takes a step back from her and grasping her hands in his, causing her eyes to open as well.

“Tahiri, there’s something I need to know.”

He watches as a confused expression crosses her face. “What’s that?”

“Will you marry me?”

He can see the expressions that war on her face, can feel the emotions vying for dominance. “But Ben, our age difference”

“Fourteen years is nothing, I’m happy with you, and I’d like to think you’re happy with me, why shouldn’t we marry?”

She takes a few steps, walking them out of the surf and drops to the sand; he sits beside her and once more picks up her hand, and begins to watch her profile as she thinks. Finally she turns fully towards him tears evident in her eyes. He can feel the pain coming off of her. “Ben, you know you’re not the first person that I loved.”

He nods his head. “Anakin.”

She sniffs, holding back her tears by sheer will power. “Yes, he was the one that I always though I would marry, that I could never marry someone besides him.”

Ben turns his attention to the water, watching the luminescent creatures which sparkle in the night time water. “And now?”

“Now I don’t know what to think.”

He turns towards her again. “He’s dead and you’re not. Don’t you think he would want you to be happy to be married and have lots of little Jedi running around?”

She laughs slightly, a pained laugh. “I know, but it’s a shock, even thinking these things feels like I’m betraying him all over again.”

“All over again?”

He notices her cheeks blush, and it is her turn to look towards the water. “When we first started dating, I felt like I was betraying him, betraying his memory.”

“I never knew.”

“No reason for you to, Jaina noticed it when I returned home from our date; remember we were sharing quarters back then. I came in after the date and cried because of our kiss. I was a mess of conflicting emotions that night, incredibly happy that someone was taking an interest in me, and devastated at what I consider a betrayal of Anakin’s love. Jaina walked in, and set me straight, basically threatening me unless I dealt with it. She is the one that made me realize just how much I enjoyed the date and the kiss.”

He chuckles slightly, recognizing his cousin in her description. “Remind me to thank her then.”

He turns and looks out at the water once more, and can feel her lay her head on his shoulder, can feel the way her body moves as she silently sighs and wraps the arm she is leaning against in a tight hug.

“Tahiri?”

“Hm?”

“I love you.”

“I know.”

He frowns, as that was not quite the response he was expecting. “Do you love me?”

He notices as her body slumps slightly, as her head lowers. Another silent sigh shakes her body where it is touching his. “I think I love the thought of you Ben, your kind, attentive, loving, fun to be with, but I’ll always be in love with Anakin.”

He reaches out and raises her face so that she is looking at him. “You know you can love twice in a lifetime. I realize that I may never be Anakin for you, and I don’t want to be, but I do want, I need you to love me. I want you to be my wife, to be with me forever.”

He watches as a tear silently glides down her face. Then she shakes her head fractionally. “No Ben, you don’t.”

In a smooth graceful movement, she stands and runs away from him, her Force enhanced speed has her out of eyesight before Ben is able to get up himself. As he finishes standing, he watches the spot where she had disappeared in the distance and can feel his pain well up within his chest. That sharp ache which tells the hero without fear, that his fears have been fully realized.

To the empty air around him he says, “Yes Tahiri, I do.”

A Piece of Japor

One month before the Myrkr Mission

He gently slips in and out of the crowds of people, briefly looking skywards; he can see Tatoo 1 nearing its zenith, with the second sun still halfway between the horizon and zenith. Satisfied that he still has time before Corran expects him back at the Pulsar Skate, he once more turns his attention to the various wares for sell in this open air market.

His dusty brown over cloak rendering him more like a native than an outlander, Anakin Solo is searching for just the right gift for his girlfriend. He is looking for something that she would appreciate and love, for something that would remind her of him every time she sees it, something which would help her to remember him.

He frowns at that thought, and pushes it from his mind.

Stopping at one booth, he notices the intricate glass puzzles made from sand from the Dune Sea. His ice blue eyes, tracing the intricate curves, he quickly solves the problems which it represents, and with a quick shake of his head goes in search for something that is more Tahiri than a puzzle.

He stops at a second booth, noticing pieces of wood laid out across the table. Keeping a frown from his face, he addresses the vendor. “What are these?”

The vendor smiles at him, “These are pieces of Japor. Once properly cured it is one of the strongest organic materials, it is one of the few trees that can live on Tatooine, and actually it cannot live anywhere else. Yet an interesting trait is that so long as it is uncured, it is also extremely malleable, and easily carved.”

Anakin nods his thanks and quickly walks away from the booth, searching for something else. The next booth he comes across is selling pieces of jewelry, some adorned with glass, others with pieces of krayt dragon pearls. Anakin’s quickly scans the pieces of jewelry, hoping to see something that catches his eye, but his mind drifts back to the pieces of Japor. He frowns as none of the jewelry seems like something she would wear, especially since the only piece of jewelry he had ever seen her wear was the pendant with her parents’ fingerprints on it, which she lost during her captivity.

Leaving that booth, he goes to the next in line which sells various strips of leather, adorned with beads and other trinkets. Looking at the sign, he notices that they are supposedly hand made Tusken bands and belts. Anakin frowns as he cannot remember the Tuskens wearing such things on his visit with them years ago. As his eyes trace the pattern in one of the leather bands for holding hair that is the same green as Tahiri’s eyes, Anakin thoughts once more direct him to the snippets of Japor.

A quick glance up at the sun reveals that both suns are almost at their zenith, and Anakin has to be back at the Skate very soon. Anakin’s mind is racing, weighing the possibilities, and then finally decides that he will have to go with one of the pieces of Japor.

Returning to that vendor, he quickly scans the available pieces and picks a piece that is about 50 centimeters long and wide, he graces the man with a smile. “I’ll take this piece and instructions on how to cure it properly please.”

The vendor smiles largely, and the transaction is carried out. Anakin almost balking at how much this small piece of wood costs, but with a quick glance at the sun convinced him that time was of the essence.

Ignoring the man’s thanks, Anakin slips his purchase into an inner pocket of his cloak and rushes back to the Pulsar Skate to meet up with Corran and Mirax.

They return to the Errant Venture in the middle of ship’s night, and Anakin quickly goes to his room and gets to work on his gift.

-----------------------

Three months after the Myrkr Mission.

Tahiri is walking through the empty corridors of the Errant Venture. This has become a common nighttime routine for her, especially since Anakin died.

Just the thought of his death still hurts and parts of her want to kneel right where she is walking and scream and cry in frustration and pain. Then there is the darker part of her, the part she shies away from, which tells her to embrace the pain, to let it comfort her.

Then she is before her destination. The place she comes every night at this time. Before her is the unassuming door into Anakin’s quarters when he lived here on the Venture. She comes here every night, yet she has never entered, at least not since he died.

Like all the other nights, she reaches out to the activator, her hand hovering over the plate, wanting to open it and go inside, afraid to do so.

A quick jab and the door opens with a soft swishing noise.

She stands there and stares into the darkened room, and almost feels like a trespasser or grave robber as she slowly steps into it. The door closes behind her plunging the room into darkness. She reaches out and turns on the lights, blinking in the harsh glare.

She looks around the room, trying her best to not break down and cry once more. Everything put in is place, everything set away properly. A smile tries to come to her face as she realizes just how meticulous her Anakin really is.

Turning towards the wardrobe, she runs her hand along the Jedi tunics and cloaks he has hanging there, and pulls one of the over cloaks off the hanger, wrapping it around her slim form, getting lost in it.

She sits down at his desk, looking over the odds and ends he left on it. The first of her tears escape now, falling to the desktop. She opens a drawer, poking around in the debris of life that drawers always seem to collect, and then does the same with the second drawer.

Sighing, she goes over to his bed, and throws herself on it, burying her head in his pillow. His smell surrounds her and she once more gives into the tears, crying on his bed for what feels like hours.

She is still sniffling lightly as sleep finally claims her.

Hours later she stirs, pressing her hand on the pillow, trying to make it softer. Frowning she lifts her head, and looks around Anakin’s room once more. She lifts the pillow and notices a small brown parcel, wrapped tightly with a string. She lifts it, and notices Anakin’s neat, precise hand writing on the wrapping, spelling her name.

She opens the package, and pulls out the folded note that lies on the top. A ghost of a smile graces her lips at the feel of the crisp paper, and she thinks that it is like him to find something as arcane as real paper for this note for her. Opening it, she notices the paper is filled with Anakin’s neat, precise script, with her name prominently at the top.

Looking back into the package, she pulls out the only other thing in there. Its silver chain sparkles slight in the room’s fluorescent lighting, and she looks at the pendent, a small piece of wood, with swirls and swooshes carefully etched and burned onto its surface. Flipping it over, she sees a single strand of hair embedded under a clear layer of sealant.

Fighting tears, she closes her eyes and does a quick calming exercise. Once more in control, she sets the necklace back into the box and lifts the note up to read it.

Tahiri,

On the last supply run with Corran and Mirax we stopped at Tatooine and I decided to get you a present. As I wondered the market looking for the perfect gift, I thought of everything that we’ve been through together, all the adventures, all the scary things, and all the laughter.

On Tatooine I find this piece of wood, it comes from the Japor tree, and the vendor described it as incredibly strong, yet incredibly soft at the same time. That description reminded me so much of you, that I knew I had to make you something from a piece of it.

As I tried to think of what to make, I remembered your pendent, the one that had your parents’ and Slivan’s finger prints. I remembered how much it meant to you, it was as much a part of you as the fact that you don’t wear shoes. It is one of the things that I wish we had had time to find on our escape from Yavin.

I know that I can’t replace it, and that I can’t replace your family, but I want to begin our own. Inside the box, you will find a necklace and pendant, and on that pendant is my fingerprint, and genetic print. I know that I can’t replace the one you lost, but I hope that this will allow you to start anew.

What I’m trying to say is that I want you to be my wife and my family.

I love you ‘Ri.

Tahiri silently folds the note back up, replacing the necklace with it. She then slips the necklace around her neck and once more falls onto the pillow, her tears and sobs overcoming her. The pain of what might have been compounding the pain for what was. And for once, even that dark part of her, the part that still thinks and acts Yuuzhan Vong, is overcome with a pain to great to simply embrace.