Memories Ch. 22

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Anakin sat in the rear seat of the Jedi ground car; Jaina beside him, staring out the window watching the pedestrians as they traveled along. They followed the defined path from the Temple to the medical center, moving at an almost sedate pace through the shopping district. Their pace slowed even further as they neared a large crowd. Anakin shifted his attention so that he was looking out Jaina's window.

He saw the twisted, smoking wreckage of the transport, and he blinked his eyes a few times, not quite certain if he believed what he was seeing. That's what hurt Aunt Mara.

Jaina gasped, and slammed her hands against the window. He leaned forward slightly, to see exactly what had caught her attention.

Frowning, he saw it on the ground; the crumpled remains of a strawberry cake.

Jaina dropped her hands from the window, and seemed to shrink in on herself. Her shoulders began to shake, and tears slashed down her face.

Jaina, he thought as he worried about her; wondered how he could help her.

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Side-by-side, they stood at the observation window, looking into the small medward where Mara lay on the cot unconscious. Bandages were wrapped around the top of her head, a bright bruise marred her right cheek and eye, and through the oxygen mask strapped to her face, he could make out a thin cut at the edge of her mouth.

After they had stood there silently watching her for a few moments, the Jedi Healer Cilghal stepped up. "We'll do what we can," she began telling us. "But if she remains in this state... I won't lie to either of you, as long as she remains this way, her life remains in jeopardy."

He felt Jaina's emotions twinge. Her pain was a gaping wound in the Force and turned to look at her, seeing the hurt, fear, and tears in her eyes.

Cilghal retreated, and in silence they stood watching Mara's unconscious form. Shortly, he took Jaina by the elbow and led her down the hall to one of the small, comfortable waiting rooms. Making sure she was comfortable, he walked down the hall to the holonet, and quickly placed a call to his parents, making sure that they knew Aunt Mara had been injured.

After getting off the holonet, he rubbed his face, and then returned to the waiting room.

Kam stood there, watching Jaina, a frown on his face. As Anakin entered the room, he turned to face him.

Anakin bowed, and said, "I commed our parents. They said they would be here as soon as they could get here."

Kam nodded his head. "Is there anyone else we should try to contact?"

He shook his head. "Jaina?"

Anakin frowned as he watched the back of Jaina's head. She didn't respond, didn't move, just continued to stare down towards her hands. He sighed, and turned to find Kam watching her again. "Jaina... be strong, all right. The Force will work its will. If you need anything, you can contact either me or Tionne." When Jaina still didn't move, Kam turned and started to leave. He paused by Anakin. "Contact me if anything changes."

Anakin nodded his head. "Will do, Master."

Then he was gone, leaving Anakin and Jaina alone. He turned away from the closed door, and watched Jaina where she sat on a couch, her head bowed, as she watched the floor.

"Jaina?"

No response.

"Don't worry, Jaya. I'm sure she'll be fine."

Later that night, the door to the waiting room opened, and a nurse stepped into the room. Anakin bolted out of his seat. "Did something happen?"

The nurse blushed slightly, and then shook her head, holding out a couple of blankets. "No. There's been no change. I just thought you two would like to have some blankets."

Sighing, Anakin walked to the nurse and took the blankets. He returned to the couches, and unfurled one of them to wrap around Jaina's shoulders.

Jaina still did not move or respond. She just watched the floor.

Anakin sighed again, and returned to his place.

The next morning, the doctor stepped into the room, a frown on his face. He was an elderly human, at least 50 standard years old, with iron grey hair and dark eyes. As he walked around to the chairs and couches, Jaina reacted for the first time in hours. She lifted her head to watch the doctor.

The doctor dropped onto one of the chairs, and allowed his eyes to flicker between them. "There still hasn't been a change in Master Skywalker's condition. Likewise, we think that her condition will remain unchanged for the foreseeable future. We'll contact you the moment something changes, so why don't you two go home and get some rest?"

Anakin nodded his head. "Thank you, Doctor."

The older man stood up, and started from the room. He paused as he passed Jaina. "Just make sure to keep your comlinks on you and on at all times."

Anakin nodded again. "All right."

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They got to the apartment, and Anakin opened the door. Jaina walked in, her movements stiff and unnatural. Without looking around, she walked into the kitchen and sat at her place at the dining room table.

Anakin closed the door, and followed her. He settled into the chair beside her. Silence hung heavy around them; a weight pressing down on his shoulders.

Interrupted by a bright cheerful, "Ikrit!"

He looked down, and saw the white creature sitting a few paces from him, its head cocked to the side, intelligent blue eyes boring holes into him.

Anakin grinned at the creature. "Ah, we left you all alone didn't we? You must be starved." He stood up, and placed a hand on Jaina's shoulder. "And we should eat something also."

She continued to look at the top of the table, ignoring him.

He sighed, and went to the kitchen. First he laid out something for Ikrit to eat, and then he went and made his and Jaina's breakfast.

A short while later, he placed the food in front of her. "Here you go Jaina. Hope you like it, but it's the only breakfast food I know how to fix. And you need to eat, aft-"

"It's my fault," she interrupted him, speaking for the first time since the trip to the hospital the day before.

Startled, he almost dropped his plate of food. Carefully, he set the plate down, and then looked at Jaina.

"It's... it's because I wanted strawberry cake. That's why.... that's..."

"Idiot!" Anakin interjected. "What are you saying?"

Jaina jumped, and then pushed back away from the table. In one smooth movement, she was up and running for her room.

"Jaina!" he called after her, even though he didn't expect her to stop.

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Anakin stopped in front of Jaina's door. He stared at the simple barrier, and then looked down at the plate he held in his hands. Gently, he rapped on the door three times. He waited, hoping that she would respond. Some part of him, knowing better.

"Jaina?"

There was no response.

"I'm going to the Temple," he told the door. "I need to tell the Masters, and pick up our bags."

There was still no answer, and he looked down at Ikrit, where the creature was calmly sitting near his feet. Sighing, he knelt down and placed the plate on the floor.

"I'm leaving your food here. Make sure you eat."

Then he left and went to the Temple.

Once he had finished talking to the Masters concerning Mara's conditions, Anakin went and retrieved his and Jaina's school bags from their classroom. Then he wandered back towards the front of the Temple, intending on going home to Jaina. As he neared the stairwell leading to the ground floor, someone called out, "Anakin!"

He turned and tossed a glance over his shoulder to see Raynar running towards him. He forced a grin to his lips, and replied, "Hey."

Raynar stumbled to a stop in front of Anakin. "Uhm... so how is she?"

"She's still getting treated."

"I see," Rayner replied. "How's Jaina?"

Anakin looked away, not really wanting to tell Raynar how Jaina was behaving.

After a moment, Raynar blurted out, "I see." Then he dropped his hands onto Anakin's shoulders. "Hang in there! If there's anything I can do, then I'll do it."

Anakin watched his friend for a moment, and then nodded his head. "Yeah... thanks."

As he left the Temple, and began the walk towards the apartment, he saw a smattering of hulls on the ground. He stopped in his tracks, recognizing the hulls as being the shells of vweliu nuts.

Suddenly, images flashed across his mind once again. Him, knocking away the rhyscate that Jaina had made him, even as he raised his hand to strike his sister. Pain and sorrow gripped his heart, as his shoulders slumped under the weight of the memories, and the emotions they unlocked.

Once he arrived back at the apartment, he went to Jaina's room. The plate of food he had left her still sat in the hallway, and Ikrit sat beside it, staring intently at the closed door to Jaina's room.

He rapped on the door twice. "Jaina, I've come back. I... I stopped by the medcenter, but there's not been a change so far." No response came to him, and he frowned. "You're in there, aren't you? I'm coming in."

He grabbed the handle, but it refused to turn.

Frowning at the handle, he continued speaking. "Hey, I've got your books and bag from school, so open the door already."

Jaina finally responded, her voice quiet and weak. "Just leave it there."

"Jaina! I want to talk to you," he said as he began to beat heavily on the door.

"Stop it," the quiet voice replied.

Anakin ignored her, and continued to beat on the door. "Jaina!"

"Stop it!" she screamed at him. Startled, he took a step backwards, and a moment later she continued speaking, once more in the quiet, weak voice. "Please. Just stop it. I'm sorry, Anakin."

He dropped her bag beside the uneaten plate of food, and then went to his room. Throwing his own bag onto his bed, he sat at the desk. On top of it sat the small winged doll, Tahiri's lost item. He sighed, and opened one of the drawers, and picked up a thin flimsie with a still image on it. A still image showing, himself, Jaina, Mara and Sannah.

He stared at Sannah's smiling face, struggling to keep the tears from coming.

If she were around, he thought. If she were around right now, would she have brightened the mood?

The latch of his door shifted, and his head snapped that way as it began to swing open. His breath caught in his throat, as he watched it.

Then he sighed, as Ikrit came strolling through, his large blue eyes watching Anakin. Anakin dropped his head onto his desk, allowing it to thump hard against the wood. Squeezing his eyes shut, he was once again granted an image of memories. Specifically, the memory of him raising his hand to hit Jaina. Of him, knocking the rhyscate she had made him to the ground.

Then another memory came to him. A newer one. Jaina in the kitchen helping Sannah prepare a rhyscate, an odd, sad look in her eyes. Noticing him, she turned towards him and had asked, "Anakin, does the smell of this rhyscate remind you of anything?"

He felt a tear escape, and slice its way down his cheek. "So she remembered that all these years," he muttered to himself. "But... why was I crying that day?"

He lifted his head, and looked out the window. I remembered Sannah, and Tenel-Ka and even Jaina... but I'm still forgetting something. Something.... And I know that it's very important.

The next morning, Anakin once more knocked on Jaina's door. "Jaina, I'm going to the medcenter. I'll just leave your food here."

No answer came, and he sighed, and left the apartment.

Once he arrived at the medcenter he spoke shortly with the doctor and then sat with Mara for a while. Once the silence began to eat at his mind, he went to the Temple and spoke with Master Horn, explaining that they would still be out for a few more days. Then he went and bought some more food. As he walked through the produce section of the market, he noticed a container of wveliu nuts. He sighed, and quickly made his purchases and returned to the apartment.

When he opened the door, he found Ikrit waiting for him, sitting, watching; his blue eyes as piercing as always. As soon as Anakin had entered the apartment, Ikrit turned and darted into its depths, heading towards the hallway where the bedrooms were.

Anakin dropped his bags, and followed Ikrit into the hall and noticed that Jaina had eaten some of her food.

He knocked on the door again. "Hey Jaina? Have you calmed down now?"

Ikrit weaved through his feet, and butted the back of his legs. Then he darted forward and started scratching at Jaina's door. Hesitantly, Anakin reached out and gripped the handle, and twisted. Surprise shot through him as the door unlatched.

Pushing it open, he called out, "I'm coming in."

Slowly, the door swung open. The lights were out, the room itself neater than he could ever remember seeing it before. Sitting on the floor, in the darkest corner, near one of the windows was Jaina. She was huddled into a ball, her arms wrapped tightly around her legs with her back facing him.

"Anakin," she said. "Get out."

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Jaina's voice was cold, harsh and filled with grief and pain as she said, "Get out Anakin. I don't want to talk to or see anybody right now. I... I want to just be alone."

Anakin frowned at his sister for a moment. "It's been a while, Jaina." He laughed nervously, as he continued. "Was my cooking good? Of course compared to Aunt Mara's it'd be-"

At the mention of Mara's name, Jaina's back tensed, her whole presence seemed to deflate ever so slightly.

Anakin sighed, and watched her for a minute before continuing. "Do you plan to continue blaming yourself? Mara will be all right. Do you think that she'd let something so small keep her from us?"

"Anakin... Can you make a miracle happen?"

Anakin's mouth dropped open, as he wondered what he could say to her.

"For the past few years, I've lived here with Aunt Mara. Ever since... Jacen... You remember Jacen now, don't you Anakin? I know you two never got along all that well, but he loved you. He was my twin, I know it. I, I felt it. Yet, when he died, I couldn't do anything. I couldn't breathe, or eat or even sleep. Mom and Dad fought so often, and when they weren't fighting, they were treating me with kid gloves. Trying to make sure that I didn't break or cry. Yet that was what I needed. Finally, I couldn't stand being there, in the house where we all lived, any more and I fled. Aunt Mara found me two weeks later on Azbrian.

Jaina paused for a moment, sniffling back tears. "She asked me to be her apprentice, and I came to Yavin IV with her, and we've been here ever since, save for the occasional mission which Uncle Luke would send us on. She... she saved me. She told me that it was okay to cry; to rage against the universe. That I could be angry and miss Jacen, but that I couldn't let it control me. She taught me how. I was hurting, missing the bond with my other half--with Jacen. And the training bond saved me. It gave me an anchor on which I could rebuild my life. But here I am, once again alone. Only... only this time it's my fault that my anchor is gone. It's my fault that I'm all alone."

"You're not alone," he replied. "You've got a lot of friends up at the Academy: Kiori, Raynar, and your teammates. And I'm here as well."

"You?"

"Yeah. I'm right here by you, aren't I?"

"Six years. After forgetting about me for six years?"

Anakin felt the pain of her accusation stabbing deep into him.

Then she spoke another word, one he could just barely make out through her tear strained voice. "Liar."

She started crying in earnest, and after a few minutes, looked up at him. He could see the tears shining brightly on her cheeks. "You never took any of my calls, never replied to any of the messages I sent you."

"But I did view them all."

"When I never heard anything back from you, I wondered if you had even forgotten me. I..." she paused, and exhaled. "When I went to pick you up at the landing field that day... I was scared. Scared that you would have forgotten my name. Scared that you had forgotten me."

He squeezed his hand into a tight fist, and started walking towards her. "I remembered what happened at the landing field that day six years ago. What I did." He knelt down beside her. "I... I'm sorry about the ryshcate. Won't you forgive me?"

She lowered her head, and once more refused to look at him. "It's in the past."

"Can't... Can't I at least sit in here with you?"

Her shoulders started to shake again. "You can't. You... can't... "

The clouds outside her window parted, and brilliant light from Yavin flooded the room. Jaina lifted her head towards the gas giant, and started crying even harder. "I... I can't smile anymore... I'm alone again..."

"Jai-"

"Get out!" she yelled at him.

Startled by the vehemence of her reaction, he jerked backwards, slamming his head against her desk. He heard something rolling, and watched as the red marble he had bought her rolled of the desk, and dropped to the floor. It bounced once, and then came to a rest in front of Jaina.

He reached his hand out towards her, and she yelled once again, "Get out!"

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Anakin lay on his bed, his arms crossed beneath his head as he stared up at the ceiling. Ikrit was curled in a ball beside him, softly snoring as he slept.

Miracle, huh? he thought to himself as once more the image of him knocking the rhyscate from her hands flickered through his mind. How callous of me to say that "I'm here" after forgetting about that for all these years... Frowning, he shifted his head slightly until he could see the small winged doll on his desk. But something like that happened years ago.

The world began to waver, as he started to drift off to sleep. Someone got hurt... and hurt badly... and I couldn't do anything about it.

The next thing he knew, he was once more dreaming. Running through the Academy, heading to the temple where he knew she would be waiting. He raced down a flight of stairs, jumping off the last five. For a moment, a grin slashed across his face. He knew that his uncle wouldn't have approved of that.

Then he was running once more. He turned a final corner, and then darted out into the open field in front of the Jedi Temple. Turning to the north-east, he raced into the woods, dodging low hanging branches, and pushing aside the vines that tried to cling to him. Finally, he arrived at their temple and found her sitting on a log, her arms crossed over her chest, and a scowl on her face. She looked up at him, and declared, "You're late."

He chuckled. "But you said I could show up whenever I wanted to."

"Even still, you're late."

Raising the bag he held in his hand, he replied, "Well, I brought a snack to make up for it."

Her eyes lit up with joy as her lips twisted into a smile. "Canapés?"

He laughed as he pulled out the pastry and handed it over to her. "Would I bring you anything else?"

"No," she muttered between mouthfuls.

Silence hung over them while they ate. Once she had finished, she looked over at him, her face falling slightly. "So, have you gotten all packed up yet?"

"Nope. Besides, you don't have to worry about it, because today's our last day."

She stomped her foot onto the stone floor hard. "It can't be our last! You promised we would get to meet again."

"Right," Anakin replied as he popped his last bit of canapé into his mouth.

She looked up at him, her green eyes wavering, her eyebrows upturned slightly. "You promised we would come here again."

"I know; it's a promise."

"Yeah," she replied sullenly. "A promise..."

"Tell you what; the next time I come I'll introduce you to my sister. I'm sure the two of you will get along great."

She chewed on her lower lip for a moment, and then nodded her head. "All right... I guess."

He stood up and held his hand out towards her. "Come on; let's get back to the Jedi Temple."

She grasped his hand, and together they raced through the woods until they arrived at the clearing. Anakin looked around and stopped in his tracks. Over near the large river was a silver raft. It glimmered in the brilliant light of the afternoon sun. He swallowed hard, knowing that he had seen that raft before in a dream. As if he were on autopilot, he walked towards it, Tahiri following closely behind him. Together they climbed aboard, and pushed the raft out into the river.

It wobbled slightly, and they both gripped the sides, then they were in the current, being pulled downstream by the powerful river. Anakin looked over his shoulder and saw the Jedi Temple shrinking in the distance. Then he focused on Tahiri who had a look of utter terror on her face.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

She shook her head viciously, causing her hair to whip from side to side. "I... Nothing... It's just I've never been on water like this before..."

Anakin nodded his head, and then looked up at the sky. "This is the raft from our dreams, but the sky is blue and clear."

Tahiri lifted her head to look up at the sky, and slowly nodded.

In silence they traveled further down the river. Suddenly the sky darkened, and with a crack of thunder rain began to pelt them. Tahiri screamed in surprise as the first fat drop of water struck her nose.

The river, barely calm at the best of times, developed a chop, and began to rock the boat hard.

Lightning struck a tree on the back, and it crashed into the river. The wave from the tree's collapse slammed into the side of the boat, capsizing it. Tahiri's scream was cut off when she struck the water.

Anakin hit the water hard, and the breath exploded from him. He broke the surface a moment later, and frantically began looking around for her.

A splash sounded close by his ear, and he looked up just in time to see another fist-sized piece of hail slam into the water.

"Tahiri! Tahiri!" he called out, growing more and more scared as she did not appear.

Finally she broke the surface about two dozen meters from him. He began swimming over to her as fast as he could. Ten meters from her, was when it happened. It was another chunk of fist-sized hail. It was a hard, hollow sound, and she went under almost immediately.

He screamed her name once again and taking a deep breath, he dove in after her. Following the trail of red left in the water, he swam deeper and deeper. His lungs began to scream with the need to breath, but he pushed on. He touched the bottom, and found her. He pulled her to him, and then pushed off the river bed as hard as he could. Pain etched at his sides as he kicked towards the surface, the need to breathe a painful burn in his throat, chest and even tracing around to his back.

Finally he broke the surface, and sucked in a deep breath. He looked down at Tahiri, and saw how pale she was, almost a blue color, and began swimming as hard as he could towards the shore. His arms and legs burned with the exertion, and he felt hot tears mingled with the freezing rain and river. Finally, he made it to the shore, and he drug Tahiri out of the river and up into the forest.

He laid her as close to one of the massive trees as he could; used it to shelter them from the worst of the hail and rain. He shook her slightly, and with a start realized that she wasn't breathing. Squeezing his eyes shut, he struggled to remember the CPR lessons that all the Jedi trainees were forced to take. Uncertainty tugged at him, as he tilted her head back, and then took a deep breath, and pressed his lips to hers, exhaling forcefully.

Pulling away slightly, she still did not respond, so he repeated the process.

She coughed, spitting out a mouthful of water in the process.

He barked a laugh through his tears, as she opened her eyes.

"An... Ana...kin..."

"Don't talk," he cried out. "I'll get Uncle Luke and Master Cilghal."

"I...it...."

Anakin reached out and grasped her hand. As he lifted it, he noticed the blood that had pooled beneath her, and his body hitched. "It's... it'll be all right."

"I... fell in..." she replied as a tremor raced through her body. "I knew I had nev...er swam before.... but I..." She blinked her eyes, and gasped. "I... I can't feel the pain anymore."

"That's good, isn't it?" Anakin responded, scared somehow at how dim her eyes had gotten.

Those green eyes, which usually were so bright with life and laughter, shifted towards him. "Anakin, what's going to happen to me?"

"I... You're not hurting, so it'll be fine."

"I can't move, Anakin. Why can't I move?"

He squeezed her hand tighter. "It's all right if you can't move. I'll carry you back to the Temple."

He watched as tears flowed down her cheeks. "If I can't move, how can we... have more adventures? How can we play... again?"

Anakin felt his own eyes burn with tears, and he scrubbed his face with his free hand.

"Anakin?" Her voice was weaker now, barely a whisper. "Will you... play with me... again?"

"O-of course."

Her lips twitched into a smile, as her eyes began to shut. "Th-then it's... it's a prom...promise..."

Her body convulsed once and then went limp, and she shifted slightly. Anakin tilted his head back, and screamed "Tahiri!"

With a start, Anakin bolted upright. Tahiri's name still echoing around his room, and Ikrit was sitting at the foot of the bed, his blue eyes watching him. Anakin covered his face with his hand, his entire body shaking from the dream. He looked up, and saw the small doll sitting on his desk.

Without really thinking about it, he jumped out of bed and snatched up the doll, and then he raced out of the apartment. As he was leaving the building, he ran into someone. Stumbling, he twisted around to look at who it was, and found Raynar standing there.

"Raynar."

Raynar turned around, and looked at him, a frown on his face. "I came to check on you and Jaina." He lifted a bag of food. "And I brought something for dinner. Is something wrong?"

"Raynar... I... I remember. Now I remember."

Confusion was evident on his face. "Huh? Remember what?"

"Tahiri's.... Tahiri's...."

"Uhm, what's wrong with Tahiri?"

Anakin shook his head, and began running again. "Take care of Jaina for me."

"Hey! Anakin!"

But Anakin ignored him, and raced towards the river, and the Temple just beyond it.

As fast as he could, he ran up the path, dodging branches and fallen logs. Finally, he arrived at the melted temple, and stood there clutching the small doll, as he turned in a circle. "Tahiri!"

Frowning when she didn't respond, he raced deeper into the woods. All the time, calling out Tahiri's name.

He crested a ridge, and looked down into a dry creek bed. Suddenly, a large rain drop hit him in the head. He lifted his face to the sky, as the rain began in earnest. Instantly, he was drenched. He turned to the right, intending to follow the creek bed for a ways, when the ground suddenly gave out from beneath him. His ankle twisted, and he could hear a snap even over the sound of the pounding rain, and pain flared to life in his ankle.

Then he hit the creek bed. The wind whooshed out of him, and he struggled to regain his breath. Finally, he was able to sit up. He looked around, and saw Tahiri's doll. Snatching it back up, he stood, and instantly fell back to the creek bed. His head cracked against a rock which jutted up out of the ground.

He lay there on the creek bed as the water began to flow around him.

If I just lay here like this, he thought. Will I be able to go where she is? I'm sorry everyone....

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Memories: Ch. 15

Previous Post

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Anakin stood with his back to Tenel Ka's. On either side of them were two of the demons, one at each end of the hallway, blocking any hopes of escape. Waves of dark emotions rolled off of them, crashing against Anakin's shields. Pain. Misery. Fear. Loneliness. Despair. Suffering. Guilt. Hate. Sadness.

It was almost as if every dark emotion a human could have was given substance, and sent out into the world.

"Anakin," Tenel Ka said; her voice calm and collected. "Remember what we practiced."

"What?"

"Our practice. Your body should remember how to move."

Then he felt her move away from him, the warmth of her back suddenly disappearing from his. Her steps faded down the hallway, and he was about to turn to look at her when he noticed the demon advancing towards him. The flickering distortion of movement rushed forward.

Anakin snarled and raised his blade, beginning a downwards slice towards the main body of the distortion. Suddenly a pseudopod rippled out from the demon, coming in from beneath him, striking him squarely on the chest. Pain flared across his sternum, as what felt like a huge piston collided with his chest. His eyes bulged as he flew backwards, and slammed to the ground hard, the air rushing out of his lungs as he rolled to a stop. As he struggled to breath against the pain in his chest, the distortion made to move past him. In response, he struggled to his feet.

He watched it as it shimmered in the dim light. Deciding if it wanted to go after Tenel Ka or deal with him. Making up its mind, it struck.

Anakin lifted his blade, and could see tendrils of the distortion wrap around his weapon. Light seem to appear from nowhere, as the demon attempted to pull his blade from his hands. His lips pulled away from his teeth, as he shifted his weight, and spun, bringing his blade down and around his body, slamming the point into the wall behind him.

The demon flowed with his movements, and slammed full force into the wall behind Anakin.

A shock wave from the demon's impact tossed Anakin through the air and he rolled to a stop, panting slightly. The dust slowly settled, and Anakin could just make out an impression in the stone of the wall.

That's it, he thought to himself as he once more got to his feet. I just have to fend it off long enough for Tenel Ka to take care of that first one. Then she'll come and help.

He glanced down the hall and saw Tenel Ka rolling and jumping, her blade a blur as she probed the other demon's defenses.

Then she slashed hard, and rainbow light flickered into existence and then exploded outward, signaling the end of one of the demons.

Then Anakin's opponent reappeared in front of him, slowly advancing towards him. Anakin darted forward, and slammed his blade down at the distortion. He struck one of the pseudopods, and with a flash of rainbow colored light, part of the distortion fell away.

A wave of shock and anger flashed through the Force, buffeting his senses as another pseudopod snapped out from the thing's main body, knocking Anakin from his feet.

He landed on his back hard, once more struggling to catch his breath. Lifting his head, he saw Tenel Ka running down the hallway towards him. A hard expression on her face, and her sword, pulled back, ready for her attack.

A flicker of light, and a pseudopod snaked out towards Tenel Ka. She jumped over the appendage, heading towards the wall. In mid-air her body twisted, and her feet landed against the wall. Her body compressed into a crouch, but before she started sliding towards the floor, she pushed forward with her legs, kicking herself off the wall and up towards the ceiling.

Then she fell, her blade sliding home through the center of the distortion. Where her blade sliced through, rainbow light spilled out. Then it exploded in the shower of rainbow motes.

Tenel Ka dropped to a knee, a pained expression flashing across her face, as she exhaled slowly.

Anakin lowered his sword. "What happened with the other one? Did you destroy it?"

She nodded her head once, as she gulped at the air. "That is a fact."

"I see," Anakin responded. "So, that means there's only one left."

Tenel Ka stood, and then winced. Anakin frowned and took a step forward.

"What's wrong?" he asked. "Are you hurt anywhere?"

She glanced down and then away towards the wall. Anakin took another step forward, and looked down as well. On her leg was a deep purple and black bruise, running from her mid-thigh to her lower calf. Frowning, he closed the distance between them, and then knelt to get a better look at her leg.

"What's with that bruise?"

"I do not know," she replied. "I cannot move it."

Anakin scratched as his hair for a moment, and then looked up. "What's going on? A curse from the demons?"

"I do not know," she said, turning her head to look out the window. "I have been like this for a while, but it has gotten worse recently."

As she said these things, Anakin noticed another bruise coming from beneath the armor near her shoulder, slowly creeping down her arm, transforming the normally healthy-colored flesh into something dark and fetid.

Anakin stood up. "Let's go to the medcenter."

Tenel Ka frowned. "I shall fight."

He shook his head, saying, "No, that's enough for tonight. It's a big problem if you can't move. If we give it time, then it will probably just get worse."

Then she winced, and grasped at her stomach, her sword clattering to the ground.

"Tenel Ka!"

She sighed, and unsnapped the fastenings to her leather armor. Anakin stared in shock as she pulled the armor off, revealing her flat stomach and the peach colored halter she wore beneath the green leather. The flesh of her stomach, chest and shoulders was that same dark grey and purple as colored her leg. Then she turned so her back was facing him. It was blackened, the flesh cracked in some places, and as he stared at her in horror, another line appeared in her back. The flesh pulling away from itself, as if her body was fighting itself on some fundamental level.

She turned back towards him, finally looking at him again, fear and pain shining brightly in her eyes. "Anakin... please... help me..."

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

Anakin carried his burden up the flight of stairs, surprised at how light she really was. He could feel the heat radiating off her body where it was pressed against his back, where her arms were snaked around his neck, even from where his hands rested on her thighs, and he had to wonder if she normally gave off that much body heat or if whatever was wrong with her had given her a high fever.

He crested the stairs, coming to the small landing where he usually ate lunch with Tenel Ka and Eryl. "This spot should be okay, right?"

He sat her down, leaning her against the wall. "It's the first time we've come here at night," he said as he settled to the floor by her side. "So, what should I do now?"

"You do not have to do anything," she replied. "Just... just be by my side."

Anakin could feel his eyes open wider, not quite able to believe the words he was hearing from her.

Then she continued speaking. "If you stay with me... you will be good bait."

He dropped his head, looking at his hands. And just what did I expect her to be saying?

She turned to look up at him. "What is wrong?"

Anakin looked up from his hands. "How can you say that in this type of situation?" Then he shook his head quickly. "Fine, I get it. I'll be the bait... or their supper, or whatever. So, take it easy for a bit."

She nodded her head. "Thank you, Friend Anakin," she said, and then she leaned in towards him, laying her head against his shoulder, closing her eyes.

Surprised, he looked down at her, noticing how peaceful she looked. "This kind of reminds me of something, of playing Hide-and-Seek."

She opened her eyes, their grey tones still and peaceful once again. "Hide-and-Seek?"

He nodded his head. "Yeah. The game where you hide, and whoever is 'it' then has to come find you."

Tenel Ka frowned for a moment. "We had to do that here once, but it was because the Shadow Academy attacked the Temple," she said and then sighed. "That was so long ago, back before..."

"Before?"


She nodded her head. "Yes, before."

Then she slowly sat up straighter, staring down the stairs. After a moment, she stood.

"Is it here?" he asked.

"Stay here," she replied. Then grabbing onto the railing for support, she stepped of the landing.

"Don't be stupid," he shot back. "You can barely move in your condition."

"That is why I am using the distance above the floor to my advantage."

He looked at her, frowning, "Tenel Ka?"

Then he noticed movement on the floor below them. A shimmering distortion, as if water was walking around. It moved to the foot of the stairs, and before he could do anything, Tenel Ka had pushed herself off of the steps, her sword raised as she fell. The demon darted up the stairs towards them. Then the two collided. A brilliant flash of rainbow colored light.

Then she hit the ground, rolling a meter or two to a stop, lying perfectly still.

"Tenel Ka!" Anakin yelled as he rushed down the steps, taking them three at a time. "You idiot," he hissed as he dropped the final two steps, falling to his knees beside her. He touched her shoulder, and she started to stir. Letting out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, he grinned at her. "Don't overdo it."

She lifted her head, and looked at him. "I did not get it."

Startled, Anakin raised his blade and then twisted around, just in time for the distortion to slam a pseudopod into the ground where he had been kneeling. The force of the impact threw them both across the landing, slamming them against the wall.

Anakin stood up, even as Tenel Ka leveraged herself into a sitting position. He slowly moved his sword from side to side, scanning the room. "Where is it?"

He took a step away from Tenel Ka, putting her at his back, when she yelled out, "Behind you!"

He snapped his body around, bringing his blade up in an upwards slice. He felt the resistance as his blade struck home, and that shimmering rainbow light flooded his eyes.

The pressure backed away, and Anakin could see the distortion. He placed his sword in a mid-guard. "Come on, I'm the one you want. I'll take you on. Come and get me."

Then he started backing away. The demon advanced. After a few minutes of this, he turned and started running, leaving Tenel Ka alone, leading the demon away from her.

"Anakin!" she called out, "Go to the meditation garden!"

Meditation garden? What's so special about that place, he wondered as he darted through the double doors of the grand audience chamber. They closed with a soft sigh, and he turned heading towards the stairwell. A moment later, the doors blew off their hinges, slamming into the opposite wall. Anakin stumbled as wind slashed down the hallway.

He glanced over his shoulder, and saw the distortion still there following him.

He spun around, bringing his blade back up. A pseudopod slapped out, and struck at his blade. He shifted the weapon, and the creature slammed into the wall, the section where it hit, crumbling into rubble.

Kriff, we'll be lucky to just be expelled from the Order after this.

The demon shot out from the wall towards Anakin, but he ducked, and the demon over shot him, slamming into the floor. Anakin watched in horror as fault-lines appeared in the stonework, and then the floor collapsed.

He jumped backwards, watching as where he had just been standing fell into the darkness of the classrooms beneath his current level.

As his feet touched the ground, the fault-line traced through them, the floor he was standing on, opening up as well, throwing him into the darkness below.

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

Anakin landed hard on a student desk in the classroom on the floor below. The wooden top shattered as he slammed down on it, scattering someone's possessions on the floor around him. He groaned and tried to sit up, his back a mass of pain.

Then he saw the flickering distortion again.

He rolled to the left, just as a pseudopod slammed down into the ground where he had been laying. Struggling to his feet, he lifted his sword. "What do you want?"

There was no answer, nor had he been expecting one. The demon began to circle him, throwing chairs and desks against the walls, as it made its track around him. For his part, Anakin circled as well, his feet making small movements, trying to stay in the rough center of the demon's circle, movements designed to always keep his blade pointed towards the flickering distortion of the demon.

He felt something press against his mind, and frowned.

"Wha- you're trying to say something aren't you?"

The Force blasted at him, a wave of unfocused energy which slammed through him, tinged with the demon's ever present despair.

Anakin felt his knees try to buckle, and he struggled to stay upright, shaking his head. "I... I don't understand..."

Then a pseudopod snapped out, and caught Anakin under the chin. His teeth clicked together, and he flew through the air, crashing through the window. He landed on the ground, and rolled a few meters.

He raised a hand to his forehead, and pulled it away to see the blood clinging to his fingers. Then he lifted his head slightly to look around, recognizing one of the meditation gardens.

"The garden? What is so special about this place?"

Then another window exploded outward, and the demon came flying out the window, landing less than a meter from Anakin, creating an impression in the ground as it did so.

Anakin felt around for his sword, and then glanced to the left, seeing it laying there out of reach. "Shavit."

Then the demon jumped on him, and the breath exploded from his chest. His mouth snapped open in a silent scream. The distortion shifted shape, becoming denser and less transparent.

A flicker of motion, caught Anakin's eye and he looked up to see someone jumping off one of the ledges of the Temple. A flash of thin light revealed the presence of a sword, and Tenel Ka's blade connected with the central mass of the demon.

Rainbow light flared around them both, and then Force energy suddenly expelled from the body, driving Anakin deeper into the ground while throwing Tenel Ka through the air.

The demon reared back, lifting its bulk off of Anakin and then shattered into billions of rainbow shards. When one of the shards would touch his bare skin, he could feel a small flare in the Force, a nugget of misery pulling at the back of his mind.

He rolled over, and lifted his head, looking around for Tenel Ka. Finally, he saw her, catched up against a wall, curled into a small ball. Anakin struggled to his feet, and walked over to her, dropping to his knees beside her.

"Tenel Ka?"

Gingerly, he reached out to touch her shoulder as she lay unmoving on the ground. As soon as his fingers caressed her smooth flesh, her eyes snapped open, and she gasped for breath.

"Tenel Ka!" he yelled out, grabbing her into a hug.

He could feel a silly grin on his face as he squeezed her tight. Then she coughed, and he released her slightly, pulling away. She looked up at him with those calm grey eyes of hers. Then she said, "Anakin."

"Yes, Tenel Ka?"

"I am hungry," she responded, her voice even and calm, though softer than she usually spoke.

He barked a laugh, and then placed his forehead against hers for a moment.

"It's all over, and all you can say is 'I am hungry?'"

A flicker of amusement passed across her face, as she replied, "That is a fact."

"Kriff, Tenel Ka," he shot back. "Do you realize just how reckless you were?"

"I want to eat gyuudon."

"Fine," he said, as he chuckled slightly. Then he stood up, holding a hand out towards her, "Can you stand."

She nodded her head, and grasped his hand, using it as leverage to lift herself up. When she was almost in a standing position, she winced in pain and crumbled to the ground again.

Frowning, he lifted her from the ground, and walked her back into the Temple. He went to the second floor, taking her to his classroom there. As they arrived, she looked up at him again, saying, "I am hungry."

Anakin laughed, and set her on her feet, as he shook his head. "Wouldn't you rather go to the hospital and get checked out?"

Tenel Ka glanced down for a moment. She then settled into one of the chairs and then shook her head. "I am hungry."

He sighed, and straightened up. "Fine. You wait here, and I'll be back in a little while with some food. But after that, we're going to the hospital. Understand?"

She stared at him hard, and then her eyes flicked away from him as she sharply nodded her head.

Anakin walked towards the door; as he reached it he glanced back at her, finding her staring out the window once again. He watched her for a moment, and then left the room.

Calmly he walked through the hallways, heading towards the main entrance.

As he stepped out into the night air, a cold wind whipped at his hair, and he glanced up towards the stars. Tonight, he thought to himself. Tenel Ka will be able to go back to being a normal girl.

He grinned at the stars, and then ran down the path to the small shop where he usually purchased the foods he shared with her. Picking up some gyuudon, he ran back to the Temple, returning to the classroom where he had left Tenel Ka.

He pushed open the door to the classroom, and stepped in, calling out as he did so, "Hey Tenel Ka, I got the..."

His voice trailed off as he discovered that the room was empty. He stared at the empty chair where he had last seen her, a frown flickering onto his face.

"You've got to be kidding me," he muttered. "There was still one left."

Dropping the bag of food, he spun around and ran from the class, his feet pounding on the stone floors as he hurried to the hallway where he usually found Tenel Ka.

She was trying to make me leave. To escape, so she could deal with it all by herself.

Suddenly, pain lanced through his head, a lightning bolt of agony. His stride faltered, and he slammed into the floor. Lifting himself up to his hands and knees, he glared down the hallway, once more seeing the familiar distortions of a demon.

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

He glared down the hallway as the demon slowly advanced. The pain wavered in his mind, as if someone or something was screaming at him, just above the level that he could hear.

"Are... Are you trying to tell me something?" he ground out between clenched teeth. "S-say it so I can understand."

Finally, his vision wavered, distorting from the familiar hallway, seemingly melting into a swirl of colors. Nausea and vertigo warred against his senses.

Out of the maelstrom, a shadow strode forward. Through the glare of light and color, Anakin could see a feminine form, slight, diminutive, with a familiar walk.

He stood up, his hand instinctively reaching for the wall to steady himself. But when all he could see was the swirling reds and oranges, the sensation of the marble wall under his fingers caused the dizziness to strengthen.

He glared at the form for a moment. "Are you the last demon?"

Black specks flickered in front of his vision, and the silhouette continued forward. Finally, it got close enough to resolve, slowly fading from the darkness, into an almost familiar sight. Red hair. Grey eyes. Copper-toned skin. He blinked his eyes, and glanced up and down at the girl.

She was a few years younger than he himself was, and wore the same type of armor as Tenel Ka. One arm ended just below the elbow in a cauterized stump.

He swallowed, as he recognized her. His mouth opened. Then closed. Finally, it opened again, and words spilled out: "Tenel Ka?"

Suddenly, the swirls of color were gone. He found himself just outside the Temple. Brilliant sunlight poured down upon him, and he glanced up at the yellow-white ball of the sun. Above the horizon, Yavin was rising up into the sky, swirled with orange storms.

He frowned, as he spun in a circle. There was the Temple, but the town that surrounded it was gone. There were no apartment complexes or modern hospital facilities. Just the ancient Massassi structure where he had originally trained.

As he watched, a group of students gathered near the edge of the forest, and his uncle stood among them, passing out helmets. Anakin walked closer, frowning as they seemed to either ignore him or not see him. Two of the students he recognized immediately. One was his sister Jaina and the other was Tenel Ka. They both appeared younger, in the early teens at the latest. The final two students were a tall, lanky Wookiee and a boy with brown hair and the same color eyes as Jaina. This boy looked familiar but Anakin could not place him.

He silently watched as the fought against the remotes. Frowning slightly, as Uncle Luke called a halt to the training when Tenel Ka destroyed one.

Then they separated into pairs, and prepared to spar one with the other. Jaina and the Wookiee went first. There battle was intense and furious, and over all too soon. He frowned as he scratched at the top of his head, trying to figure out just what he was seeing.

Then Tenel Ka and the boy were facing one another. It was almost with a touch of awe that he watched their fight. The boy was cocky, and fought with a flourish and a grin that would do Anakin's dad proud. Tenel Ka was as stone-faced as ever. Her movements precise and controlled.

He felt a presence beside him, and glanced down to see the one-armed Tenel Ka quietly standing beside him. An air of sadness etched onto her face as she watched her other self battle the boy.

Before he could ask her what was wrong, he felt a twinge in the Force, which caused his head to snap back towards the sparing match. He watched in horror as time seemed to slow to a crawl. Tenel Ka began an upward cut with her blade, the boy moving his own in a vertical slice to block. As Anakin watched, Tenel Ka's blade flickered from its turquoise color to a light orange, and then the blade flickered and died. The boy's saber sliced through the flesh of her arm.

The boy's mouth dropped open, and her arm continued the movement it had originally started, Tenel Ka's saber still firmly grasped in that hand. Both hand and emitter continued upward towards the boy's chin.

Anakin quickly glanced down at the Tenel Ka beside him and saw her pain clearly in her eyes and the way she held her hand against the stump of her arm. Then he returned his attention back to the students. As he watched, the emitter of the saber, a tooth of some kind he noted, slammed into the bottom of the boy's jaw. His head snapped back, the emitter turning slightly as it began to fall away.

Then a spark spat out of a crevice of the tooth, and with the familiar snap-hiss the saber flickered into life once again. The meter long shaft of energy emerged out the top of the boy's head.

Jaina screamed and the Wookiee roared. Uncle Luke began to rush forward as Tenel Ka collapsed in shock.

The saber's blade flickered away into nothingness once more, a grey stream of smoke coming from the crevice which had emitted the spark. The hand and the hilt began a journey towards the ground, followed by the dead boy. Then the saber exploded, causing the top third of the boy, the hand and the hilt to flash from existence.

Uncle Luke stumbled to a stop, and stared at the remains of the boy. Jaina had dropped to her knees and was wailing, the Wookiee trying his best to comfort her.

Then the scene was ripped away, the world suddenly replaced by swirling colors, except this time they were purple and black and blue. Dark and filled with despair and melancholy. Lightning flashed within the swirls, and Anakin looked down at the Tenel Ka beside him, noticing her pain. Instinctively, he slipped an arm around her, and the swirls slowly smoothed out, lightening as they did so.

Finally, they resolved themselves into a scene once again. Anakin found himself standing once more on Yavin 4 in front of the Temple.

The shattered remains of the Temple.

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

Anakin stared at the shattered remains of the Jedi Temple. The massive base of the Temple still stood, and what he could only guess was the supporting structures. Everywhere else, walls were gone, and what stone remained in place was blackened. The stench of fire and explosives hung heavily on the air. For a moment, he wondered what had happened to the Temple.

Then his guide started walking forward, leading him through the rubble, until they found Tenel Ka pushing at a huge block of stone with her shoulder. He frowned, noting that she was alone as she worked, though the other students he had seen were working in groups of two or three. She was once again dressed in her leather armor, though her hair was left unbraided, instead of the normal braid mixed with beads that would hang down her back, her hair flowed wild and free. Unrestrained. Anakin was not entirely certain which he liked better.

Then he saw himself.

Or at least a younger version of himself, one that was at least five years younger than he was now.

The young Anakin walked up to her, and stared at her back for a moment, chewing at his lower lip. Finally, he spoke, "Hey, Tenel Ka."

She glanced over her shoulder at him, and blinked her eyes a few times. Then without saying a word, she turned away and returned to her task.

In silence, the young Anakin walked up and began to help her. As the younger him helped her push, Anakin noticed that her shoulders were shaking.

Finally, she collapsed to the ground, giving into her tears and grief. Both Anakins stood there in shock, watching as she slowly recovered from her breakdown.

Once she had gained control of her emotions again, she glanced up towards him, and asked, "Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why do you not hate me?"

He shook his head, frowning. "Why would I hate you?"

"For the same reason your sister now hates me," she replied. "I killed your brother. I killed Friend Jacen."

The older Anakin's mouthed dropped open, as he listened. He turned towards his guide. "Brother? I have a brother?"

The Tenel Ka by his side stood as emotionless and quiet as ever. Finally, Anakin turned back to the scene in front of him as he heard his younger self speak again.

"Wasn't it an accident?"

"Yes..." she said her voice weak and hesitant. "But it was still my fault. I rushed through building my lightsaber. I did not check to ensure that everything was proper and flawless. I thought the warrior holding the weapon more important than the parts that made up that weapon. My pride killed him."

The younger Anakin shrugged his shoulders, and looked towards the block of stone that they had been pushing. "That may be..." he began. "But you were Jasa's friend. He always wanted to make you laugh. I don't think he would want you to be this sad over an accident."

Tenel Ka just looked at him, not saying anything. The young Anakin turned from the stone, to stare once more at Tenel Ka. After a second, he spoke up again. "Besides, you're my friend, and you always will be. Oh, yeah, since I heard you weren't going to take a prosthetic, frankly, I think that's kind of silly, but I figured out a way for you to still braid your hair with only one hand."

He pulled out a datapad and a long strand of green ribbon, holding both out towards her, saying. "It's all recorded on here, and I brought you a new ribbon to tie into your hair as well."

Hesitantly, Tenel Ka took the datapad and ribbon from him, and her body hitched slightly as she fought against her sobs. "Th-thank you, Friend Anakin." She sat there for a few minutes, looking down at his gifts to her. Then she glanced back up at him. "I... I am going home in a few days. I think I may need some time away from the Jedi. Away from the memories. There are too many demons here for me to stay. Do you understand this?"

Anakin thought for a moment, and then nodded his head. "Yeah, I understand. But don't worry, I'll be here waiting to help you when you come back. That's what friends do for each other, right?"

Then a smile flickered across her face for a split second. A scene which flashed through Anakin's memories. Anakin looked down at the Tenel Ka who stood beside him. Staring at her, as he slowly began to remember Tenel Ka and Jacen and their Wookiee friend, Lowbacca. He remembered their visits to Coruscant. The terrible time in his house after Jacen's death as his father and mother broke down. And finally, he remembered watching her ship as it lifted off, his Uncle standing silently beside him. He remembered telling his Uncle that she thought there were too many demons here for her to stay here.

And he remembered his Uncle's reply: Death is a tragedy... but only for the living. Those who have died go on to other things.

Anakin remembered at the time not quite understanding what his uncle meant. Now, he thinks he does.

As suddenly as the visions appeared, they ended, and Anakin was once more leaning against the wall of the Temple. It was the Temple as he had seen it since returning to finish his training. Frowning slightly, he returned to his classroom, and went to his desk, pulling out the package that Jaina had given to him a few days earlier. He opened it and looked into it for a moment, and then closed the bag, running from the room.

A few minutes of searching and he found Tenel Ka standing in a hallway as she stared out the windows into the night. At the sound of his approach reached her, her head snapped towards him, and she lifted her sword.

Anakin stared at her. The leather armor which exposed the tanned skin of her legs, arms and shoulders. Red hair pulled into a tight braid. Grey eyes that flashed with concern as she saw him. Then he noticed that she had two arms, and for a moment, wondered if the demon had lied to him. Then he noticed that one hand had the skin pulled away, revealing the subtle gleam of a prosthetic.

"Friend Anakin," she said, her voice soft, barely carrying the short distance between them. "Please go away. I cannot protect you as weakened as I am."

"Tenel Ka," he said, shaking his head slightly. "The demons aren't real. They never were. You gave rise to them. You created them. They're a manifestation of yourself. Of your memories from the first time you were here for training."

She looked away from him. "I... I do not understand what you are saying..."

He gestured towards the bruises, and cracked flesh on her body. "That's why it hurts you when you defeat one of them. You're destroying pieces of yourself." He paused and inhaled a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. Then he slowly exhaled before continuing to speak. "The demons... No... You wanted to tell me something. You were trying to make me remember. But I was too hard-headed, you were pouring too much power through them, and I couldn't understand. Until there was only the one left."

A small hand touched his elbow, and he glanced down to see the younger, one-armed Tenel Ka standing there, staring.

The older Tenel Ka stared in shock at her, and slowly lifted one arm, looking down at her hand. At the prosthetic machinery visible through the tear in her skin.

Anakin continued speaking. "Years ago, you were training here with your friends. You were happy and proud. And then something terrible happened. A horrible tragedy. A senseless accident. A pointless death. It was something that haunted you, tortured you. And you ran away. You went home to heal."

"Jacen..." she whispered silently, as she lowered her sword.

"I promised you that I would be here to help you when you came back. Then I lost my memories, so I wasn't here when you did return. So all that time, you were here at the Temple fighting those demons. Fighting yourself and your memories."

"I... I do not know..."

"It's all true," Anakin shot back. He then reached into his bag and pulled out a ribbon. "Here, do you remember this? Today, you will go back to being your old self. Accept your guilt, your sorrow and your pain. Work through it. Acknowledge it, stop fighting it, stop letting it be the ruling factor of your life. If you accept it, then the fighting will end."

He stepped forward, and loosened her hair. Then with a few quick, deft movements, he braided the ribbon into it. He stepped back away from her. "I saw you smile once, just before you left for Hapes. Can you do it again? Throw away your sword, and smile. Be free from your demons."

She frowned, and looked down at her weapon. Then she shook her head. "I cannot throw my sword away, Friend Anakin. I have depended on it for so many years."

"You have to let it go. All of it."

"Without my sword..." she replied, a lone tear slicing down her face. "I am weak. I am a useless warrior. This is a fact. I would just cause problems for my friends. For Anakin and Eryl."

Anakin shrugged his shoulders. "So? That doesn't matter. It's what friends are for. To help you through the problems that you cause. To help you through your problems."

He silently watched her as she considered his words. Emotions flared to life in her eyes, warring with one another. Suddenly, another tear sliced its way down her face.

"Thank you, Friend Anakin," she said, and then she looked up at him. Tears lined both of her eyes, and sorrow and grief and a look of contentment stood out in them, shining brightly. "Thank you... so much."

A smile started to form on his face as she lifted the sword. Then she spun it around, grabbing hold of the blade, pressing its tip to her chest. With a simple drop, she fell down onto the sword, sending it through her chest.

He stared in shock at her for a second, and then dropped to his knees, pulling the blade from her chest and tossing it away behind him. "Tenel Ka! Don't die!"

He grabbed her up, and pulled her into a hug.

Then a soft voice spoke, "Friend Anakin."

He looked up, and through his tears saw the younger Tenel Ka standing there. Sniffing back a tear, he told the shade, "I'm sorry I took so long."

As the room dissolved around them, reverting back to the training fields under the bright morning sun, she shook her head, and said, "It is all right, Friend Anakin. You came back to help me. This time... you will not leave me alone?"

Anakin shook his head. "Of course I won't. I'm your friend."

"You will be my friend, even after everything you learned? Even after... Jacen?"

"I promise," he replied.

She smiled, and behind her, another form took shape. A male shape stepped into sight. Tussled brown hair, brandy-colored eyes, and a soft blue shine surrounding him. He gently touched the younger Tenel Ka's shoulder and smiled at her. Then he looked towards Anakin, and said, "Hello, Little Brother. Still getting into trouble I see."

Anakin stared silently, his mouth opened in shock. Jacen just grinned at him, a lopsided slash of the mouth, and stepped around the demon, kneeling down beside Tenel Ka. He brushed a strand of hair from her face, and then placed a hand on her chest, and one on Anakin's forehead.

Anakin could feel the Force flowing through him, and looked down to see Tenel Ka's wounds slowly healing. He watched as the flesh began to knit itself before his eyes. He glanced up at Jacen's ghost. "Are you healing her?"

Jacen chuckled and gave a quick shake of his head. "No. I'm dead. I can't do anything like that. I'm just helping you direct your abilities."

Finally, he stood up, and tossed a wave to Anakin. "See you, Little Brother. And tell Jaya that Lowie and I say hi."

Anakin could only gape as Jacen dropped an arm around the shoulders of the one-armed Tenel Ka, and turned her around, leading her away from him. As they walked away, the field disappeared, slowly being replaced by the classroom.

As it finally faded from view, he blinked his eyes against the bright morning sun streaming through the windows. He looked down at the sleeping form of Tenel Ka in his arms, and pulled her into a slightly tighter hug. He could feel her vitality and health in the Force, and he sighed.

"Tenel Ka," he said softly. "It's time to wake up, Tenel Ka. Time to wake up from your dream."

---

Next Post

us-hrok

Jaina stepped to the side, and blinked sweat from her eyes. Her saber throbbed in her hands, a deep rumbling she felt to the very core of her being as she faced her opponent. Her opponent's blade was a brilliant blue at the edges, deepening to a purple towards the hilt. Almost as if the very nature of the girl's conversion to the Dark Side of the Force was tinging the weapon she held.

As Jaina focused on the girl's green eyes, she had to blink again. This time it was tears she had to get out of her eyes.

Once upon a time, she had looked upon the girl as a sister. For a while during the Vong War she had been certain that Tahiri Veila would end up being her sister--that she'd finally have one. Then her younger brother had upped and died on them all. Jaina knew that Tahiri sometimes suffered bouts of depression and grief, yet she had never dreamed that the younger girl would fall under Jacen's sway.

Not like this.

She had to know.

"Why Tahiri? Why are you helping Jacen?"

Tahiri's lips twisted into a smile, one filled with maliciousness and hate. "Because he was able to show me Anakin..."

Jaina's world collapsed. Everything else in existence suddenly became a non-entity. There was just her, Tahiri and the overwhelming sense of betrayal that Jaina felt. Tahiri had seen her little brother; Jacen had shown him to her. "You... You've seen him? Alive?"

Tahiri laughed. "Of course."

Why wouldn't he have taken me or mom to see Anakin? Jaina though, even as the confusion flooded through her. She gave her head a quick shake. "That's not a very good reason to fall to the Dark Side."

Tahiri's amusement suddenly disappeared. All emotion seemed to disappear from the girl; all that was left was a hunger--a desperate need that gnawed at her.

"I didn't ask you," Tahiri finally replied.

Jaina nodded. "I know. But I told you anyways. Come back, please."

"It's too late for me Jaina. I'm happy here. I get to see my Anakin."

Jaina felt tears once more burn at the corners of her eyes. "It's never too late 'Ri. You're my sister, I love you."

The blond was about to respond, when a voice rang out, one that was cold, harsh and tinged with insanity, "That's enough out of you."

Jaina's gaze shifted from Tahiri to the source of the voice. Her brother, her twin, stood on an upper walkway. His black cloak fluttering in the thin breeze from the climate control systems.

Tahiri looked at him. "But Master, I ca-"

"Enough!" He cut her off. "I will deal with my one-time sister."

Jaina gripped her blade tighter in her hand, her mind flicking back and forth over all the things she had learned during her tutelage underBoba Fett.

Jacen jumped off the railing, landing heavily on the deck, then he sprang forward. His blade ignited as he moved--a flash of crimson which she barely managed to block. She pushed away his weapon, and swung hard at her brother.

Thoughts of Mirta Gev, Boba Fett and Goran Bevin warred with one another. Mirta's voice begging her not to kill her brother. Goran's telling her to not hold back, while Boba's just laughed.

He blocked her attack, and a wave of telekinetic energy washed out from him. She threw up her sheilds barely in time, and felt the first stirrings of the state tugging at her consciousness. She knew how to win, and she also knew that that was all that mattered.

She let go.

She fell into the state, what Bevin had called total war.

It wasn't enough.

Fire raced up and down her body as it acted as a conduit for the lightning that Jacen poured into her. Finally it stopped, and Jaina curled herself up into a ball, tears burning her eyes. Tears fueled not only by the pain of the lightning, but also by the shame and guilt at not being strong enough to defeat her brother.

She knew there was no one left now. If Luke or Ben did it, they'd both end up on the Dark Side. None of the other Jedi were strong enough.

It had been left up to her, and she had just not been good enough.

"Some sword, huh Tahiri." Jacen's voice taunted at her, let her know that he still knew what she was thinking.

"Yes, Master," came Tahiri's replied; oddly muted.

Jaina looked at the blond who had moved to stand immediately behind her Sith Master, and saw and felt the confusion and concern coming off of Tahiri. They were the first genuine emotions that she had felt from the girl since they had first faced off against one another. Jaina could feel Jacen turning his attention back towards her. "Now, sister, what do you say to joining me? Not as an apprentice mind you, I already have one, but I think you'd do nicely as a Hand."

Jaina shook her head. "You can go kriff yourself Jace. You should've stayed dead when you had the chance."

"Suit yourself," Jacen said as he shrugged his shoulders, and stretched out his right hand. The smell of ozone touched the air, and a bolt of lightning appeared and slashed through her. She screamed as every nerve in her body misfired, setting off her pain receptors.

The lightning continued.

Jaina glanced over at Tahiri, and managed to utter a single phrase through the pain. Two mere words.

"Us-hrok."

A snap hiss cut through the crackle of the lightning; and just as suddenly as the energy had appeared it disappeared. For a moment, the only sound in the room was the hum of alightsaber, and then even that disappeared.

Jaina opened her eyes, and saw Jacen's lifeless eyes staring at her. She noticed that they were no longer the red and yellow eyes of a Sith, but were once again the warm brown tones from their youth. Those were her brother's eyes.

A small hand brushed the hair from her face. "Jaina... oh Jaina, I'm so sorry, please be alive..."

Jaina rolled over to look up at Tahiri. "Thanks... sister..."

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

Two weeks later

Jaina sat in a hoverchair by the window watching the traffic as it streamed through the Coruscant skylanes. There was something hypnotic and soothing about the constant flow of lights. Her body still ached from the lightning and lightsaber wounds she had received at Jacen's hands.

She still didn't really know why Tahiri had turned on Jacen.

The door open, and Threepio winced into the room. "Mistress Jaina, Jedi Veila is here to see you."

Jaina nodded. "Please see her in."

Threepio nodded his head, and left the room. The door opened a moment later, and Tahiri walked in; heavy manacles around her wrists and ankles, and aYV-H droid a few paces behind her. She stopped a dozen paces from the chair that faced Jaina.

Jaina gestured towards the chair. "Come on, don't be shy, sit down."

Tahiri frowned for a moment, and glanced at the droid behind her. "He's carrying a ysalamiri, and you'd be in its effects."

She shook her head. "Doesn't matter, sit down."

A ghost of a smile flickered across the blond girl's face as she closed the distance. Jaina instantly felt when the ysalamiri field reached her. The world suddenly silenced itself and lost all colors and meanings.

Jaina barely noticed.

Tahiri fumbled with her hands for a moment, and then sighed before looking up. "Thank you, Jaina."

Jaina frowned. "For what?"

"You saved me. You reminded me of who I was, who I was meant to be."

"How?"

"Don't you remember what you said to me while he was electrocuting you?"

Jaina shook her head. "I was kind of busy at the time."

Tahiri laughed slightly. "Yeah. But you said, 'us'hrok.'"

"I did? What does it mean?"

Tahiri smiled, a small, sad smile. "It's a promise, one I made to you years and years ago, right after Tahiri and Riina merged into me. You were the one that helped me, and long before I allowed myself to fall under Jacen's sway, I promised you my loyalty and that I'd do anything to protect you. Even if that meant I'd have to give up the chance of seeing Anakin again."

Jaina winced as she leveraged herself out of her chair. Pain flared in her stomach for a second, but Jaina ignored it. She limped over to the blond girl and threw her arms around her. "I'm sorry you lost that chance, but I know that he'd be happier with you as a Jedi."

Tahiri's body shook with a sob. "Th-thanks..."

Jaina pulled away, and smiled. "No, 'Ri, I should be thanking you. You saved me. Now," she said as she gave a short tug on Tahiri's arm. "Let's see about getting you out of these shackles."

Tahiri frowned for a moment, but Jaina pulled on her arm once again; insisting the girl stand. After a few moments, she stood, and together they slowly walked out into the hallway.

Themed Drabbles Set 29

Family

I glance between the two men. They're arguing as usual, petty bickering in which one tries to garner my favor at the expense of the other. Yet, that's all right. I can accept it; actually a small bit of me finds it flattering. Of course I'd never tell them that.

At different times, I have loved both of these men. Still do. Probably always will. They're more than friends, more than ex-boyfriends. They're family. My family. The one I chose, rather than was born with.

Much more so than Jacen these days; especially after everything he's put our parents through.

---

Travel

We've traveled from one end of the galaxy to the other hunting Alema. Jag's put his little program onto hundreds of space stations, thousands of starports, and the virus version has probably infected over a million starships.

And we three poor souls were chosen by Uncle Luke to hunt down the most promising leads out of all that data.

I think I hate traveling now. When this is over, I think I'll settle down on Ossus, maybe teach lightsaber techniques or something. I mentioned such a thing to Jag, and am disturbed at the light that's appeared in his eyes.

---

Food

Meal times are my favorite part of the day anymore. Whether we're sitting in some dingy cantina, the Jedi Temple's cafeteria, or even the small kitchenette suite in my apartment, it's always a fun time. The two of them will show up for breakfast at the crack of dawn, neither wanting to get there before the other, while neither wanting the other to have any time alone with me.

Yet despite that, I enjoy the meals; the camaraderie. It almost feels like old times. It almost feels like life back before the galaxy went to kriff; back before the Vong.

---

Blessings

I stand on the flight deck, watching the battered old freighter slowly enter the hanger. One of her forward mandibles spit sparks from a graze by a turbolaser. The Falcon had seen better days, and survived worse. I have no fears at all that she'll be carting around any grandchildren I may have.

What amazed me was who my dad let fly her. Even from here I see him sitting in that pilot's seat with his back ramrod straight.

If my dad trusted Jag with the old girl, I had to wonder if he'd trust him with his little one.

---

Thanks

I stand over the funeral pyres, my mind blank as my hand absently rubs my stomach. Nine pyres send their flames into the black Ossosian night. Six Jedi. Two grizzled fighter pilots, and one Sith.

My jaw clenches for a moment as I once more consider just how much this war cost us. Just how much we lost. It seems that we've been losing things since Anakin died.

Yet I rub my hand across my stomach again, and I can't help but give thanks, that there are those willing to sacrifice all to save the galaxy. To save the unborn.

Themed Drabbles Set 7

Breakfast

She loves sleep, mainly due to its scarcity. Constant fighting has tired her, made her desire to sleep as much as possible.

So of course the door chimes.

She covers her head with the blanket. "Go away!"

The door slides open, and she frowns from within her cocoon. She hears a soft gentle foot step.

"Goddess?"

She lowers the blanket slightly, allowing one eye to peek out. He stands there. A tray held carefully in his hands, his uniform immaculate as always. The smile, a slight tug of the lips which crinkles the scar on his face.

"Breakfast is served."

---

Lunch

She sits at a table, surrounded by her squadron, her teammates, her Twin Suns. The twelve pilots situated carefully at a table designed to hold eight. Their lunches packed tightly against one another, an interesting array of foods from Jaina’s nerf steaks to Lowie’s k’savach slugs.

She grins at them, enjoying the company and the food.

The Ralroost lurches and an alarm goes off. A flash of red, a somber voice demanding battle stations. One of the pilot groans.

Jaina laughs and starts pulling her hair back into a simple knot. "Lunch is over boys, let’s go kill some Vong."

---

Dinner

She scrubs at a grease stain on her hand, hoping it will come off. She absently walks to her destination, looking at the door number for a second when she arrives. She briefly wonders why he called her to his quarters.

Giving up on her hand, she shoves the rag into a pocket of her battered orange flightsuit. She jabs the button by the door, and hears Jag’s muffled voice. "Come."
She steps in, and stares.

A darkened room. A table with lit candles. The smell of something appetizing hanging in the air.

She looks at Jag and slowly smiles.

---

Food

She glares at him. Anger grants her face a reddish tint. His superior smirk rests lightly on his lips. Her hands ball into tiny fists which she slams against the table on either side of her tray.

"Why you stinking, scruffy looking…" she pauses grinding her teeth. "Nerf herder!"

He laughs, further incising her.

"Now, Jaina I know you know better put downs than that."

Letting out a low growl, she scoops up a pile of her mashed tubers and flings them at Jag. She grins maliciously as they slap against his face with a satisfying smack.

"Take that flyboy!"

---

Drink

She lifts the bottle of Whyren’s Reserve, holding up the amber fluid to the light of her room, allowing it to cast a golden glow over her face as she stares at it.

It would be so simple to allow herself to lose control and her sadness in its contents.

She plucks a glass from the shelf and pours some of the whiskey into it. Setting the bottle aside, she allows the fluid to flow past her lips, burning as it slides down.

Why did Anakin have to die?

She takes another swallow, searching for answers.

But she finds none.

I Can Live Without It

Jaina Solo stumbles under the branch as she twists and turns, trying to find a safe way through the woods, a safe haven, or even better a path that would lead her back to her ship. She reaches down and touches the burn on her leg, a gift from the Sith following her.

In the distance she can hear his saber, and his mocking taunts hurled at her. He truly loves reminding her that she was named the sword of the Jedi. He takes great pleasure in that.

She stumbles again, her breath hitching in her chest as she falls into a low hanging branch. She rests there for a moment, allowing the Force to revitalize her, even as her thoughts cast back to just a few hours ago.

She walked into his castle, his throne room, expecting to find him. Yet what she found was beyond belief. His familiar features twisted by the Dark Side, his voice, un-haunted by the deprivations he had visited upon the Jedi, upon her.

She strides towards him, her saber gripped lightly in her hand as she stares at him.

He calmly stares back, his yellow eyes glistening with his amusement, even as his voice drips with contempt.

“So the Jedi has sent their sword to me,” he looks her over once or twice. “I have no need of you, you’re a dull blade.”

Anger flares in her chest as she ignites her blade.

His voice draws her mind out of the past and into the here and now.

“You’re weak.”

Her eyes narrow slightly, as she struggles to stand.

“You’re one to talk, Sith.”

He laughs. A sound once filled with life and goodness and hope, but now sends shivers and despair skittering down her back. It is a sound which seems to sap the strength from her. She leans back further into the tree, her body sagging slightly as she lowers her head, no longer willing or wanting to look at him.

He grabs her chin and brusquely pulls her face back towards his, lifting it so he can look into her eyes.

“You’re a disappointment to me Jaina. A poor excuse for a Jedi, and useless to me personally.”

He drops her chin, and lifts his saber, its green blade shining in the soft light of the woods. She lifts her head at the motion, her eyes narrowing slightly, as defiance erupts in her.

“I hate you.”
He grins, and shoves his blade into her stomach, quickly pulling it out. She gasps, as she crumples to her knees. Her hands find the saber wound, instinctively clutching at it, as tears slide down her face. He takes a step back from her, his grin twisting into a full-fledged smile.

He gestures idly with one hand. “At least your life will have some meaning; your rotting corpse will feed some carrion eater here in my woods.”

She allows herself a single sob. Wishing she had gotten to see Jag one last time. She curls around her stomach, as despair washes through her.

She probes her wound in the Force, feeling its depth, and severity. She lets out a near silent breath, as her body tells her that it is a ruptured intestine, maybe a nicked kidney, but he missed her womb. Internally she frowns at that, she had never really given her womb much thought before. She focuses the Force again, and feels it this time. A slight hardening, a tiny cluster of cells that are her, but at the same time, are not her.

Her eyes widen in surprise as understanding ignites within her. She is pregnant.

She looks up at the Sith, her eyes narrowing. “I’m not going to die here today.”

He laughs at her again. “You’re already dead; you’ve just not lain down yet.”

She reaches down to her belt, and unhooks her saber, even as she struggles to her feet. The Sith sneers at her. “You expect to win, you can barely stand. Plus I’ve always been the better swordsman.”

Jaina coughs, bright red blood flicking from her lips as she does. “I’m not going to die here today.”

With a snap-hiss her blade ignites. She lifts it into a mid guard and stands ready for his attack. He growls in outrage at her defiance, raising his own blade into an attack position.

Then he strikes, and she stumbles back, raising her blade in a weak defense. His blow knocks her blade wide and she struggles to get out of the reach of his return strike.

Coughing again, she steps forward, her blade swinging in at his left shoulder. He laughs and steps forward, stopping her attack, by placing his arm against her wrist. She tucks herself to the right, narrowly being missed by his saber.

Then with her free hand she strikes out, and slams her small fist into his throat.

He gags and takes a step back away from her. His face is a mask of outrage and hate. “You, you schutta!”

Her laughter is interrupted by another body-wracking cough. As she straightens, she feels the Force being pulled towards him, and as he waves his hand she is knocked up and away from him. She slams into one of the trees, and wraps her arms and the Force around her stomach, as she falls to the ground.

When she lands, she lets out another cry of pain, and struggles to her feet. Before she gains them, her opponent is there and tossing her away from him again.

She lands and slides a few meters on the leaves, coming to a rest in a small glade. Opening her eyes, she glances around and sees a tree log. Grinning, she reaches with the Force and yanks it from the ground, sending it flying towards him.

It strikes a Force wall, shattering into splinters as Jaina struggles to stand once more.

He walks into the glade, his head tilted to the side slightly.

“Why do you struggle? You’re beaten. Don’t make this harder than it already is.”

She calls her saber back to her hand where it had fallen when she landed in the glade, and turns a look of disgust upon the Sith Lord.

“I’m not beaten. As long as I draw breath, I am a Jedi. I protect life. You just serve yourself.”

He snarls and stretches out his hand, wrapping her in a crushing Force embrace, lifting her off of her feet and raising her a meter into the air. “Then I’ll just have to make sure you stop drawing breath.”

She struggles to break free of his Force grip. She pushes out with her considerable might and strength in the Force.

He laughs.

As he speaks he walks closer to her. “You’re weak Jaina! Don’t you understand that by now? I have more power than you. I’m stronger than you.” He stops less than a meter away from her. “You’re nothing Jaina. A speck. Useless. Unloved.”

“No!” Her voice rings out clearly, and his Force grip shatters. Released from it, she falls to the ground, and once more wearily stands up. She reignites her saber, and once more starts stalking towards him.

He looks at her, confusion flickering over his face. “Where did you get that power? What are you hiding from me?”

He reaches out with the Force once again, battering away her mental shields, probing her mind and her body. She feels the oily sensation of his Force presence, and throws an even stronger shield around her womb, protecting the life there from him. She feels his probe batter at her shield, feels it waver, and then screams when it breaks past it.

His Force presence pulls back in surprise, as a grin twists his face again. “A baby. Maybe your child won’t be the disappointment you are.”

“You won’t be here to find out!” Then she is there near him, her saber flying downwards in attack. He smiles, and his fist flies out, the armored gauntlet connecting solidly to the middle of her arm. The crack of the bone sounds loud in the still forest, and she drops her saber once more.

She looks up at him, tears once more slicking her face. “Why Jacen?”

He shakes his head. “That name has no meaning for me anymore.”

“Why?!”

He shrugs. “It was my destiny.” Then he grins once more. “As it will be yours.”

He leans down close to her, even as he can feel her pulling the Force to herself.

“I’m going to fry your brain, the same way I did Ta’Chume’s. Then I’ll keep you alive until you give birth to your child. Then I’m going to kill you, and raise your daughter as my apprentice.”

He places his hands on either side of her head. “When you do finally die, be sure to say ‘hello’ to Uncle Luke for me.”

He grins and pulls the Force to him, noticing her unbroken arm reaching up and touching his temple. She lifts her eyes towards him. “I still breathe.”

Then she pushes against his shields, slipping past them through their twin bond, and finding his connection to the Force.

As his yell of outrage and surprise reaches her ears, she pulls that connection, severing it. Severing him from the Force. His hands drops away from her head, and he starts to back away from her. He drops to his buttocks, and pushes back with his legs and hands, scrambling away in his confusion. She crawls after him, still able to feel him in the Force. She reaches him, and places both her hands on his head, blasting past the few weak shields he had managed to cobble together, and trying to burn away his lingering ability to touch the Force.

Yet she still feels him in it.

She closes her eyes, tracing the feeling, down through their twin bond, and into her. He chuckles slightly, his voice raspy and ragged. “That’s right Jaina, as long as you have the Force, so do I.”

She takes a step back, and places her hands against the side of her head. Her lips twitch in a grin. “I can live without it.”

Becoming An Adult

Jaina leaned against the bulkhead of the Jade Shadow, her eyes dark, and a scowl on her face, as she watches her Master and her little brother duel. The hum of the sabers, followed by the occasional crackle when they actually connect, soothes her nerves, calms her thoughts. Which is good, because everything else about the situation does the opposite to her thoughts and nerves.

She doesn’t want to see what she is seeing.

There are some things that should never be.

Of course, part of growing up, of becoming an adult, of becoming a Jedi Knight, is seeing those things which you never want to notice.

The first of those things for Jaina Solo is the fact that her Master, her mentor, her aunt, has replaced her.

With her brother.

A flip, a lunge, a parry, a thrust.

The blindingly fast movements of two Force empowered individuals. It is a mosaic of blurred lights and harsh sounds. Jaina’s eyes narrow slightly, as the duo’s sabers slam into each other, their bodies centimeters apart.

She feels like an intruder, an interloper. The tension in the room is worse than when she was around that pilot back on Ithor. It’s not the bad type of tension, such as when Master Horn and Master Durron show up at her father’s house on the same night. It’s the other type of tension, the one she felt with the pilot, the tension she felt from Jacen when Jacen rescued that scientist.

It is a tension that is equal parts lust and self-control.

That is the second of those things which Jaina wishes to never see, that tension between her Aunt Mara, and her little brother. It is an underlying aspect of everything the two of them do together.

And if Jaina is brutally honest with herself, if she would ever truly admit such a thing to herself, she wonders if her aunt has betrayed her uncle.

How can she not wonder that, when she feels as if her Master has replaced her with her brother? She has to wonder if she is not worthy enough to be Mara’s apprentice, or does Anakin just have something to offer Mara which Jaina herself cannot. She wonders if her Aunt could, would, replace her uncle with her brother.

The crackling of interlocked sabers once more intrudes on Jaina’s awareness, as she looks around, and finds the pair of them. She notes that Anakin is on one knee, with Mara standing over him, forcing him down at an odd angle, overpowering him.

She lets a small curl twist her lips, as the uncharitable thought of Mara accidentally wounding him slices through her brain.

Then Anakin is spinning, and Mara is on the ground. With flair, Anakin pounces, straddling her legs, and slipping his saber next to her throat.

“Kill point.”

Mara smiles and her eyes flash with amusement. “You expect me to be impressed?”

Jaina snorts at Anakin’s sudden discomfiture, attracting the pair’s attention. She can feel her annoyance flare, as Anakin suddenly jumps up, and turns away from her, barely acknowledging her presence. “Hey sis.”

Jaina walks over and helps Mara up, looking her up and down. “You know, we haven’t sparred in months. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you didn’t want me as your apprentice anymore.”

Mara quirks an eyebrow. “Then shall we?”

“But you just had a duel.”

Mara barks a laugh. “Afraid you’d lose to me?”

“No. Fine, we’ll duel.” Then Jaina slips out of her robe, throwing it to the side, and ignites her saber.

Mara steps forward, her blade held unlit and at her side and she starts to bow. Jaina doesn’t give her a chance; she just pushes forward, her blade slicing in towards Mara.

With the crackle of released energy, Jaina’s blade is halted against Mara’s. Mara smirks for a second, before speaking. “That’s not playing nice.”

Then Mara pushes the blade away and goes on the offensive. Jaina falls back under the onslaught, unable to find a way to turn the tide, unable to once more gain the upper hand.

Their blades lock, each struggling to overpower the other. Mara’s voice intrudes on Jaina’s single mindedness. “So, what is really bothering you?”

“You and Anakin.”

The quizzical look that crosses Mara’s face irks Jaina, and she slips out of the lock, dumping her aunt to the floor. Before she can get her saber over the older woman for the point, Mara is back on her feet, and once more attacking, pushing Jaina backwards.

“What about me and Anakin?”

Jaina takes a second to glance around, ensuring that Anakin has left the room. “You know!”

“No. I don’t know.”

“He loves you.”

“Of course he loves me, I’m his aunt.”

Jaina barks a harsh, bitter laugh. “No, Aunt Mara, he’s IN love with you.”

Mara’s jaw goes slack, her mouth forming a silent ‘O’ as she steps back and away from Jaina.

For her part, Jaina frowns at the older woman. “Don’t tell me you didn’t know. The tension in here could have been cut with a knife.”

Jaina watches as Mara’s mouth works, as her mind tries to wrap itself around the proton torpedo that Jaina just slammed into her. Jaina can feel her own mouth tighten down into a thin line as she extinguishes her saber.

Then without another word, she spins from Mara, and walks out. Her heart crushing, breaking at the fact that Mara never denies it.