The Wedding Night

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I wondered if I wanted to wake up.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Her voice is a whisper. “Sithspit.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Dance of Union

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Senatorial Oversight

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“It is my pleasure Milady.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Report, Infidel.”

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

Vengeance or Virtue

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

And for once, he doesn’t care.

After all, who is there to stop him?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[I am sorry.]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Valin, wait.]

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

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

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

To The End of Their Days

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


- Five Years Later -

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

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

Hunt The Moment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Heaven's Tears

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Anger flashes in Tahiri’s eyes. “No!”

“Tahiri, think about the baby.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

“The best for the baby.”

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

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

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

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

“Then why didn’t you give up Ben?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tahiri beams. “Isn’t she?”

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

“Noelani.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

Twelve years later

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

“No Master.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

“My name is Noelani.”