Friday, May 9, 2008
Memories Ch. 7-5
Silence hung heavily over the dinner table, interrupted only by the occasional toddler babble from Ben Skywalker. Anakin looked up from his nerf steak at his sister, who held a fork halfway between her plate and her mouth, forgotten as she stared at the empty place setting where Sannah usually sat.
Sighing, he lowered his head once again, and picked up his knife to cut a chunk of meat off.
He then heard Jaina set her fork back down, as she said, "I'm worried about her."
Mara's voice held that cool, calm, competence that Anakin always associated with her teaching Jaina some lesson. "Don't worry about her. She'll come home soon. After all, this is the only home she has."
Jaina made a small sound of acceptance.
Anakin placed the meat into his mouth and started chewing. For once, the food lacked taste. He chewed mechanically, watching his plate rather than the others at the table. Finally, he lifted his eyes. "Don't worry about someone who would just throw a life away."
He noticed Mara's eyes as they narrowed and turned away. He then looked down at his plate once more, suddenly, no longer hungry.
Jaina's voice was low and filled with pain. "I'm still worried."
Anakin pushed back from the table. "She'll either return or not. And if she gets her memory back, all the better for us."
He tossed the napkin from his lap onto the table beside his plate. "Thanks for dinner, Aunt Mara. I'll be back later."
Then he walked from the apartment and boarded the lift. As soon as the doors closed he slammed his head against them, and cried. A few minutes later, he straightened and scrubbed at his eyes with the palm of his hands. Then he jabbed the button for the ground floor and turned to face the night through the transparisteel viewport of the lift as it began to move down.
The first place he went was where he had last seen her, the bridge overlooking the fast flowing river. He stared at the black water as it rushed beneath him. Then he turned and walked to the shopping district, going to the various shops and vendors that he knew she liked.
He began to wander aimlessly, and before long found himself sitting on the bench near the landing field; the same one that he had sat on when he first came here. Propping his elbows on his knees, he hid his face in his hands.
I don't know where else to look, he thought. Come to think of it, I don't even know that much about her at all.
He sighed yet again, and then stood up, looking around. In the distance, the Jedi Temple stood. I wonder if Tenel Ka is there tonight.
Shrugging his shoulders, he started towards the Temple and within five minutes he was walking into the building. An eerie silence hung over everything, and he walked up the stairs to the second level, heading towards the outer wall. It was there that he found her, staring into the distance, the darkness making her armor almost appear black.
He stopped a few paces from her, watching silently. Knowing that she knew he was there.
Finally, he spoke. "Tenel Ka?"
She did not take her eyes away from the view from the window. "Yes?"
"Do you remember Sannah? The girl who tried to scare us with a curtain?"
Her head moved slightly, a short nod. "Yes."
"Do you happen to know where she's at?"
Tenel Ka's eyes drifted closed.
He waited.
Finally they opened. "It's just a feeling, but try the Temple of the Blueleaf Cluster."
Anakin watched her for a moment, and then nodded his head. "Thanks."
Without waiting for a response, he turned away and left the temple. He stood at the gates, and looked towards the north and the Temple of the Blueleaf Cluster. He could just make out the stone of its parapets from where he was standing.
He turned and looked the other way, looking out over the town and his apartment. Sighing, he faced the woods once again and began walking. He splashed through the frigid water of the small stream which separated the two temples, and then continued trudging up the nearly non-existent path.
Finally he reached the small clearing which held the temple. He ducked into the building through the doorway, and looked around. The main floor was a large open space and off to the side were thin stairs leading up. Carefully, he climbed those stairs and once he had reached the top could make out the thin outline of Sannah, highlighted by the blue glow from the crystal at the center of the room. The light wavered and pulsed, making Anakin feel as if he was standing on the bottom of a giant pool.
Her voice was soft and filled with sorrow, and though it was not directed at him, Anakin heard it as if she were sitting right beside him, rather than kneeling on the floor a dozen meters away.
"I like this room; it kind of reminds me of being underwater."
He noticed her pull a bag from one of her pockets and slowly unroll it. She then pulled out a meatroll and dropped the bag beside her. Breaking the meatroll in half, she set one piece down on the floor and Anakin wondered just what it was she was doing.
Then she spoke again. "That's your bit, but that's going to be the last of it. I'm all out of allowance. But I think I'll go to sleep now, searching for you all evening made me really tired."
She lay down onto the stone floor, stretching out. As she did so, she revealed the white animal from earlier. It sat on its haunches and was watching him.
Anakin walked the rest of the way into the room, and knelt down beside Sannah. He reached over and scratched the creature's head, and said, "Well, it looks like you were found."
Then he turned his attention to Sannah, brushing the strings of her hair, which were wet, from her face. "You're still an idiot, but you're family. Now it's time to come home."
She moved her head slightly, and Anakin noticed her that the three lines on her neck had grown slightly larger, and had taken on an inflamed look. He ran his finger down the middle one, and a sharp pain flared across the tip of the finger. He pulled back and looked at it, noticing the thin cut. As he watched it oozed a bubble of blood. He stuck the finger in his mouth and sucked on it while looking down at the girl, wondering what was wrong with her.
Pushing that from his mind, he slid his arms under her and picked her up, cradling her gently against his chest. He gently pressed his lips against her forehead and started back the way he had come. When he reached the stairs, he glanced back at where the white creature was still sitting in the middle of the floor.
"Are you coming?" he asked it, not entirely certain why he was addressing it as if it--no, he was intelligent.
To his surprise, the creature stood and began following him, the pads of his feet a quiet whisper against the stone.
---------------------------------
A scream shattered his dream and Anakin's eyes snapped open. Groggily he sat up in bed.
From the hallway, Sannah's voice was loud and scared. "Wh-what? Where? Where am I? How did I get here?
Then she let out a short yelp of pain followed by a loud crash. Anakin groaned as he pulled himself out of bed and stumbled to the door. He stepped out into the hall at the same time as Jaina. Together they turned and walked down to the living room. Anakin activated the lights and they find Sannah tumbled over one of the small decorative tables.
Jaina smiled brightly as she knelt down beside Sannah. "Are you all right?"
Sannah sat up, and looked around the room. "How did I get back here?"
Jaina giggled. "Anakin brought you back."
She turned her eyes onto him, and he could feel the blush as it cropped up on his cheeks. He glanced up towards the ceiling. "Well, I just didn't want you to come knocking on the door in the middle of the night, waking everyone up."
Jaina shook her head. "Don't believe him. He carried you home from wherever he found you." She then stood up, and held her hand out towards Sannah. "Now, it's time to get some sleep."
Sannah took the hand and allowed herself to be helped up. Together the three walked back down the hallway. Jaina said her goodnights and then returned to her room. Sannah stopped by Anakin, and looked at him for a moment, before dropping her attention to her hands.
"What happened to... well, whatever it is?"
"It's in your room," he replied.
"Oh," she said. She then turned from him and took a few steps. Just as Anakin was about to go into his room, she stopped again, and turned once more to look at him. "Just as I was about to go to sleep, I heard someone talking to me..."
Anakin nodded his head, saying, "That was me."
"What did you say?"
He grinned. "A eulogy."
Frustration flared to life on her face. "I knew you were trying to kill me."
Anakin laughed and she turned from him, stomping down the hall towards her room. When she had arrived, she paused once again. Then she looked at Anakin, and he noticed the tears that rimmed her eyes. "Thank you."
Then she darted into her room, leaving Anakin alone in the hallway. A smile on his face.
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Monday, May 5, 2008
Memories Ch. 7-4
Anakin and Sannah walked side by side through the shopping district, taking a long route to the apartment they shared with Jaina. As they turned yet another corner, Sannah suddenly yelped. Her hands flew into the air and she danced a few steps backwards - and Anakin saw her looking down at her feet.
"What is that?"
Anakin looked down and saw a large white creature with bright intelligent eyes watching the two of them. It rubbed itself up against Sannah's legs, an odd purring noise coming from deep in its throat.
Anakin shook his head. "I don't know what it is, but I've seen it around the Temple a couple times. It's harmless... I think."
"Can you make it go away?"
Anakin laughed. "I doubt it. It seems to have taken a liking to you. Go ahead, pet it."
"I... I don't think I want to."
He ignored her. "I would say you could take it home, but I'm not certain how Jaina would react to its fur."
The animal rubbed itself up against Sannah's leg again and she let out another little yelp. Anakin reached down and grabbed it, lifting it up close to Sannah.
"Come on, just pat its head."
She looked at it hesitantly.
Anakin arched an eyebrow at her, and then had an idea. Grinning, he said, "I'll buy you a meatroll if you do."
Her eyes flickered from the animal to Anakin and back. "Really?"
"I promise," he replied.
Her hand slowly reached out and she scratched at the top of the animals' head. Its long ears flattened and it jumped from Anakin's hands to Sannah's shoulders, wrapping itself around her neck.
"What!" she exclaimed as it did so.
"No helping it now," Anakin replied. "I think he likes you."
She glared at him. "You did this on purpose, didn't you."
Anakin laughed. "No, I wish I had, but no. Come on; let's go get that meatroll now."
She sighed and sullenly started walking beside him. Within a few minutes, they had arrived at the vendor who sold meatrolls and Anakin went and bought some. He returned to Sannah and opened the bag. "I got three, one for you, me and... well whatever it is."
A bright grin lit up her face as Anakin held one of the meatrolls out to her. She took it in her hands and started lifting it to her lips when a flash of white fur snatched it away from her. The animal landed on the ground, and held the meatroll in its mouth.
Sannah glared at the thing and then reached down to grab the meatroll. "Hey! That's mine!"
The animal took off at a run, circling around behind Anakin, with Sannah chasing after him. Anakin sighed, and scrubbed at his face with one hand while Sannah and the animal ran another large circle around him.
As she was passing in front of him for her next circuit, he stuck his arm out, and she ran into it, bending over at the waist around his hand.
She looked up at him, tears shining in her eyes. "What?"
"Let him have it."
"But... but it was my meatroll."
Anakin sighed and shook his head, holding out the bag towards her. "I told you I bought three, we still have two left, take one of these."
She blinked her yellow eyes a few times, and then reached into the bag to take out another meatroll, a blush cropping up once more on her cheeks. Anakin smiled at her, and then retrieved his and began to eat it.
A half hour later found them standing on the bridge, overlooking one of the many streams that stretched across the landscape. Anakin leaned his back against the guardrail, watching Sannah as she leaned her arms against the railing, holding the white furry animal in her arms, half propped on the railing, half dangling over the open space.
"You know... he's not from this planet." Sannah suddenly said, breaking the calm silence that had stretched out between them.
"Hmm?" Anakin replied.
"This white thing," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's not from Yavin IV. I can only guess one of the families that are in training here brought it and then tossed it away."
Anakin focused on her, noticing the far-away look in her eyes as she stared at the rushing, babbling water beneath them.
"That's a possibility," Anakin conceded.
She still did not look toward him. "We feed him, but now he's useless. We have no more food, so what should we do with him?"
Anakin shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not certain."
As he watched a tear sliced its way down the side of her cheek. "Can you imagine the pain of being brought somewhere new, of being taken away from your home, from everything and everyone you ever knew, and then just abandoned on a strange world filled with strange people and things?"
He didn't know what to say in response, he just frowned as he watched another tear slide down the side of her face. A glimmering jewel against the porcelain of her skin.
Moments passed inexorably slow. Finally, she spoke again. "I... I think its better this way."
Then she let the creature go.
It let out a sudden yelp as it fell into the river with a large splash. Anakin spun around, watching as the animal splashed and thrashed in the water. Fighting against the current. He turned on Sannah, anger flashing in his eyes.
"You idiot," he yelled at her. "Why did you do that?"
Sannah just watched it as it fought against the water. "This is for the best. If I hadn't let it go now--then it would have abandoned me later. It's not my fault that it got attached to me." Then her voice dropped, becoming softer. "That it trusted me."
"It might die out there! Maybe even drown. Did you think about that?"
She finally tore her gaze away from the white animal, but instead of looking at him, she just hung her head low. "We don't know what will happen. Maybe a child will find it in the morning and give it a nice peaceful home."
Anakin could feel the anger pooling around him, and he clenched his fist and ground his teeth together. "How could you just throw a life away like that?"
Sannah's shoulders shook and then she turned from him and ran. Disappearing into the darkness of the night.
"Sannah! Wait!" Anakin called as she ran off. His anger fled him, suddenly replaced by a cold despair.
"Please, Sannah. Don't go." He whispered, even though she had already disappeared.
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Friday, May 2, 2008
Memories Ch. 7-3
Anakin walked down the street, his hands in the pockets of his light jacket. A brisk wind sliced through the shops, pushing some of the dried leaves forward. His eyes flickered around the people walking past him and then up to the sun.
I guess Sannah should be getting off of work soon, he thought to himself.
Suddenly, he heard someone calling his name from behind him. "Anakin!"
Before he could react, a heavy weight slammed into his back, throwing him forward, causing him to fall to the ground. He banged his forehead against the ferocrete of the walkway and could feel the stinging sensation of a scrape as it flared to life on his right knee. The pressure of a body on his back constricted his breathing and he groaned slightly.
Tahiri's smiling voice came from somewhere near his ear. "You just fell over. That was rather... surprising." Then her voice took on a softer, apologetic tone. "Uhm... I'm sorry."
Anakin lifted his head and glanced over his shoulder to see her. Her green eyes were filled with sympathy and shimmered slightly with unshed tears. He blew out a short breath. "I understand. Now get off."
She scampered off of him. "It was my fault today, huh?"
Anakin stood up, brushing the dirt and leaves from his clothes. "Yes, it was. You came at me from behind; I had no way of dodging."
"I'm sorry," she said again, hanging her head slightly.
Anakin watched her for a moment. Then he closed his eyes and posed with his hands on his hips, saying, "But we look great huh?"
Her head snapped up, and then she glanced up and down his clothes. He knew that she was looking at the dirt on his shirt and the tear in the right knee of his pants.
Then she giggled, a light, bubbling sound. "Yes. Yes, we do."
Anakin resumed his walk, and Tahiri fell into step beside him. After a half dozen steps, he looked down at her. "Yesterday's movie was good."
A shiver raced through her body. "Don't make me remember that thing, please."
Anakin laughed. "So, what are you doing here today?"
"There's only one thing I come here for."
"Eat and run?" Anakin replied, a half grin forming on his lips.
"No!" Tahiri exclaimed sharply as an outraged expression appeared on her face.
He laughed again. "So, did you remember what you were looking for?"
The outrage flickered away, replaced by sadness. "No, not yet. But I know I will."
Anakin nodded his head and then glanced up at the darkening sky. He stopped walking and looked at her as she stopped as well. "I would help you look again today, but I've got to get home early tonight. I'm sorry."
"That's all right," she said, smiling up at him. "I was getting a little cold anyways so I thought I'd go home early myself."
Tahiri looked down at her feet for a moment. Then her head snapped up so that she could look at Anakin, and said, "Well, I guess I'll be going home then." She waved to him and then turned and ran off.
Anakin returned her wave and then watched her until she turned a corner and disappeared from sight.
I wonder if Sannah made it home, he thought to himself. Then he turned and heard laughter coming from nearby. Curious he walked down a side street and saw a holobooth, one of the ones that would print still flimsies of three different poses, or for an extra charge a cycling holographic cube of the three poses, of a group of people. Currently there were three of the younger trainees from the Jedi Temple crammed beneath the privacy curtain, giggling and laughing. Standing a few meters from them, in the shadows, was Sannah. An odd expression on her face. Anakin would almost describe it as longing.
He watched for a moment and then crossed over to her, walking up behind her silently.
"So you want to have your picture taken?" As he began to talk, she jumped and twisted around, horror filling her face.
"Ah... ah... an... Ana... Anakin..." She stammered in reply.
"If you do, you might want to ask Tahiri. I'm sure she's around here somewhere. I'm fairly certain she'd enjoy having her picture taken."
She straightened herself up to her full height and glared at him. "I don't want to do that!"
Anakin arched an eyebrow at her. "Then why were you staring?"
Sannah crossed her arms, and turned halfway from him, so that Anakin was able to watch her profile. After a moment, she answered. "I was just a little bit interested. But they're acting so childish over it."
Anakin shrugged. "It's kind of mean for you to be making fun of them."
She huffed and spun all the way around, and started marching towards the apartment. "I don't have anything to say to you, so I'm going home."
"Oh good," Anakin began, a smile forming on his lips as he fell into step beside her. "You're going home? So am I."
"No. You stay here. I'm going home." She called out and then started running.
"But we're going home together!" He replied with a laugh.
Then he felt a crawling sensation on the back of his neck, as if someone was watching him. He spun in a quick circle and noticed Jaina's teammate Ganner a short distance away. A haunted expression was on his face as he stared after Sannah.
Anakin stopped and watched him as a scowl appeared on his own face. After a moment, as if he sensed him, Ganner's stare shifted from Sannah to Anakin. Then he turned away and trudged deeper into the shopping district.
Anakin watched for a moment longer, until Sannah called out, "Aren't you coming?"
He frowned for a moment and then turned back to her, smiling once again. "Of course, we're going home."
They had walked a short distance in silence when Anakin looked at her once again.
"So," he began. "How was working in the crèche?"
Sannah just shrugged her shoulders. "It was all right I guess. All I had to do was yell and then pat them on the heads when they did something right."
Anakin was skeptical. "That sounds kind of hard to believe."
Anger flashed on Sannah's face again. "But it's true. I tried my best."
Then she tossed her hair over her shoulders and started walking faster.
"Hey!" Anakin called out. "Where are you going? Let's walk home together."
She spun around, a flush on her cheeks. "I don't want to go home together with you."
Then she stuck her tongue out at him and darted down one of the alleys between the shops.
"Hey Sannah!" he called out to her. He watched as she turned a corner, heading deeper into the shopping district; away from the apartment. She really is helpless, he thought to himself. He shrugged his shoulders and then scratched at his head. That's right. I need to buy a new datapad. He turned back towards the shopping district and began walking deeper into it.
After a few steps, he heard the soft, light steps which Sannah always used. An unconscious grin flickered across his face. Then he spun around and she darted behind the pole of one of the street lamps. Anakin stood there watching her for a moment as she pressed her face tightly against the pole.
He sighed and then turned around again and once more started walking. Within moments, he once more heard Sannah's footsteps.
For a second time, he spun around. Shock flickered onto her face as her head darted around, looking for a hiding place.
"Why are you following me?" he asked her.
"I'm not. I... I uh... I have something I have to do over here," she said pointing over his shoulder.
"What?"
She grimaced and then pointed down an alley to her left, saying, "I'm going this way."
She darted down the alley and Anakin sighed. He walked to the corner and hid there, waiting. His wait was short. Within seconds, her face peeked around the corner, hunting for him, and he stepped into full view. She yelped in surprise, jumping back from him.
"You're planning something mean, aren't you?" he accused.
"No!" she yelled. Then in a softer voice, said, "I just remembered that I have something I need to do over here."
Anakin watched her for a moment longer, noticing the anger that was prominent on her features and the hesitance and need that hid beneath it.
"Will you walk with me?"
Her eyes widened at his request. "Wh-what?"
He grinned. "Will you walk with me? I think it's silly that we live together, yet can't walk home with one another. Walk with me and let's talk."
If possible, her eyes widened even more and she silently nodded her head. Anakin smiled at her and began walking, noticing as she fell into step beside him, her chin tucked against her chest and a blush shining bright on her cheeks.
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Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Memories Ch. 7-2
Anakin and Jaina walked out of the apartment building together. They turned down the path, and side by side began the hike to the Jedi Temple. After they had gone a short distance, Jaina looked up at Anakin.
"I wonder if Sannah is okay."
"She definitely ate it all," Anakin replied. "She won't go against Aunt Mara."
Suddenly Jaina stopped and stared at something. Anakin continued for a couple steps before noticing that she had stopped. He then turned and looked at her. Glancing over his shoulder, he looked for what had caught her attention. On top of the wall surrounding the house they were walking next to, sat a white bundle of fur that was curled into a ball asleep.
"It's cute!" Jaina exclaimed.
"What is it?" was Anakin's reply.
"It's a whisperkit! It's a cute whisperkit!"
Anakin arched an eyebrow. "Doesn't look that cute to me."
She turned on him, stomping one foot as she did so. "That's not true! You're strange."
Then she turned back towards the sleeping animal. "I'm going."
She started walking towards it, and Anakin reached out and grabbed her arm. "I thought you were allergic to whisperkits."
She glanced over her shoulder at him. "That's true," she began. Then she turned to face the whisperkit again. "But... but it's cute!"
"Don't you remember--you touched one when we were younger and couldn't stop sneezing for two days?"
She nodded her head. "Yeah, but it's cute."
Then she started pulling against him, trying to free her arm from his grip. "Jaina!" he called out. "Listen to me!"
Finally she broke his grip and rushed forward, pulling the whisperkit off the wall and cuddling it to her chest.
Anakin dropped his head and sighed.
A short while later, Anakin and Jaina walked into their classroom. He had a scowl on his face. Hers was flushed and her eyes were slowly leaking tears. Then she sneezed.
Ignoring her, Anakin took his seat as Jaina took hers. A couple minutes after he had sat down, he noticed Raynar and Kiori walk into the room. They stopped by Jaina's desk, noticing the tears on her face.
"Was Anakin being mean to you again?" Raynar asked.
Jaina looked up at him. "He's always mean, but this..."
"Ah," Kiori said catching on to what must have happened. "Your dander allergies." She then looked over at Anakin. "You should have kept a closer eye on her."
Jaina spoke up in his defense. "He tried to stop me, but the whisperkit was just so cute."
A cough from the front of the room attracted their attention and they saw Master Horn standing there, staring at them sternly. "If the four of you are finished, I'd like to begin my lesson."
-------------------------------
Anakin stepped into the meditation garden. Nelani stood there with her back towards him, her shawl wrapped around her shoulders. A brisk autumn wind whipped through the garden, shaking the tree leaves-leaves which had already began their change, a mixture of reds and oranges and blues.
As if she sensed him, she turned to face him, a smile coming to her face. "Hello, Anakin," she said.
He continued forward, stopping a few steps away from her. "So you came here again today."
She nodded her head. "Obviously."
"If you have that much energy, why don't you start training?"
"Walking is fine," she began, quickly adverting her eyes from him. "But Master Cilghal said I can't begin training just yet."
"Why not rest at home then? If you get better, you'll be able to start right?"
She slowly nodded her head as she considered her words. "But I feel that if I stayed at home, then I would just get worse and worse."
Nelani began to slowly walk through the garden and Anakin fell into step beside her.
"Anakin? Do you remember the promise?"
"Promise?" he asked, confused slightly by her sudden change in topic.
"Yes, you promised that you would go swimming with me."
"Yes..." He replied. "I also remember saying I probably wouldn't go in very deep."
She stopped and turned towards him, smiling brightly. "I'm looking forward to it."
She watched him for a moment more and then waved at him, saying, "Bye."
He nodded his head in reply, and watched her walk away.
Once she had disappeared around the corner, he checked the time on his comlink and then rushed back inside, running through the temple until he arrived at the Great Room. He then slipped behind the stage and dashed up the stairs. Eryl and Tenel Ka were already sitting, and Eyrl was portioning out the boxes of food. She smiled at Anakin as he crested the stairs.
As he finally got to the top, Eyrl said, "Thank you for joining us today, Anakin."
He nodded his head and dropped onto his butt and crossing his legs across the blanket from Tenel Ka, while Eyrl sat to his right.
"Thank you," he said to Eyrl as she handed him a small plate. Then he glanced at Tenel Ka. "So, did they come out again after I left?"
Tenel Ka ignored him, focusing instead on eating.
He sighed. "You can answer, 'yes' or 'no'."
Her eyes flickered up at him for a second before returning back to the food laid out between them. "No."
Anakin thought for a moment. "So sometimes they don't come out?"
She nodded her head, popping a small piece of fruit in her mouth as she did so. From the corner of his eye, Anakin noticed the confused look on Eyrl's face at the arcane nature of his and Tenel Ka's conversation.
Finally her curiosity got the better of her, and she asked, "What are you two talking about?"
Anakin suppressed a grin as he replied. "Her constipation."
Eyrl's eyes snapped open as wide as they could go and her head slowly shifted so that she faced Tenel Ka.
Who was calmly and quietly eating a piece of cheese.
The silence stretched between them and Anakin finally hung his head. He lifted it, looking directly at Tenel Ka. "If you don't deny the things I say, she'll believe me."
Tenel Ka looked at Anakin, her grey eyes seeming to bore into him. Then she turned her attention to Eyrl. "That is not a fact."
Anakin sighed.
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Monday, April 28, 2008
Memories Ch. 7-1
Anakin's eyes snapped open. He looked up at the ceiling in the dark, wondering what woke him. Stretching out with the Force, he reached for his sister and found her in a deep sleep. About to roll over and go back to sleep himself, he reached for Sannah in the Force as well, and felt the mischievous tint of her thoughts approaching his room. Sighing, he slipped out of bed and folded his blankets so that in the darkness of his room it appeared he was still sleeping in the bed. Then he went and stood in the corner near the door.
A few moments later, the knob turned and the door opened a crack. He could hear her mischievous chuckle from the far side of it, and slowly shook his head. The door opened the rest of the way and she snuck in, heading straight for his bed.
As she reached for his covers, Anakin stepped out from his hiding place and slapped the lights control. The bright overhead lights flooded the room, and Sannah jumped backwards, yelping in surprise. She spun around to face him, and Anakin just watched her for a moment.
Finally, he asked, "What are you doing up this late?"
"Uhmm..." she began. "I came over to play!" Then she smiled brightly, tossing her hands into the air.
"You're lying," Anakin accused. A flash of metal attracted his attention, and he focused on the object she held in one hand.
"What's that?" he asked.
She dropped her hands, and looked at the pair of scissors she was holding. Her brow creased slightly, and then she smiled as she looked up at him. "I... I... I wanted to make paper dolls with you!"
Anakin looked at her for a moment. "You were going to cut my hair weren't you?"
She quickly began waving her hands. "No! Not at all." Then she started looking around the room. "Where's some flimsies..."
Then she glanced towards his desk, where he had a stack of flimsies in a neat orderly pile. "Ah! Found it," she exclaimed happily.
She turned her back on Anakin and rushed to the desk. He could hear the snips of the scissors.
"Hey!" he called out, uncertain of what she was doing.
Within moments, she turned back to him, and held out a string of human shapes cut from the flimsies, a bright smile lighting her face. She stepped towards him, and held out the dolls in his direction. On instinct he took it.
"This is such fun!" she said.
Anakin looked closer at the paper dolls, noticing some text on the paper. He then took a closer look, and groaned at what he saw. "This... this is my homework." His eyes snapped up from the cut up paper to Sannah. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Was it important?" She asked innocently.
Anakin sighed and covered his face with one hand. "I copied it from Jaina... and I know I can't turn it in like this..."
She just smiled happily at him, and danced from the room, calling out over her shoulder, "Good night!"
He watched her go, and then turned his attention back to his desk - and the small shards of his homework.
"Geez..."
------------------------------
The next morning, Anakin sat across from Jaina as she happily spread jam over her sliced toast. Under her breath, she kept repeating the phrase "strawberry jam," making a sort of song out of it.
Once she returned the knife to the jar of jam, Anakin asked her, "You've always liked strawberry jam, haven't you?"
She nodded her head. "Yeah. It used to be something special we'd get on vacation or when mom had some free time--but since Aunt Mara took up cooking, she's enjoyed making jams and jellies so she always makes sure that I have some."
Movement attracted Anakin's attention and he looked towards the doorway, noticing Mara leading Sannah into the kitchen. He watched as Sannah rubbed at her face and then dropped into the chair next to Jaina.
Jaina turned to her and said, "Good morning, Sannah. You're up early."
Sannah nodded her head. "Yeah, I was woken up..."
Mara snickered. "You have to work in the crèche today. You don't want to be late on your first day do you?"
Sannah sighed. "Work..."
Anakin arched an eyebrow as he looked at her. "If you don't work, you shouldn't eat. Try working hard."
Mara suddenly gasped. "That's right! Since she found a job, we should bring that out to celebrate!"
Anakin's eyes snapped to Jaina's and he found the fear he felt mirrored in her eyes.
Sannah turned to watch as Mara darted from the room. "What's 'that?'"
Mara returned to the kitchen within moments, carrying a jar filled with a honey colored substance. She proudly set it onto the table. "It's my special jam."
She then looked at Sannah. "You've not tried it yet? Right?"
Sannah leaned forward to get a closer look at the jam, and then nodded her head slowly. "Yeah, this is my first time seeing it."
Mara then turned to Anakin and Jaina. "Won't you eat too?"
Jaina quickly raised her hands. "Sorry, Aunt Mara, but I'm full now."
"Yeah, me too," Anakin said, nodding his head in agreement.
He then glanced at Sannah, noticing that she had removed the lid and was sniffing at the jam. She glanced towards Mara. "It smells weird."
Anakin watched in horror as Mara spread a large dollop of the jam onto a slice of toast. Jaina's thoughts flickered across the Force and into his mind. She sure is spreading a lot.
Anakin nodded his head and sent back to her, all we can do is watch.
Mara then handed the toast to Sannah and said, "Eat up and get ready for work."
Sannah grinned happily at Mara. "Then, thanks!"
She put the toast to her mouth and took a large bite. Her eyes suddenly widened, tears forming at their corners.
"How is it?" Mara asked. "Do you like it?"
Without removing the toast, Sannah glanced at Jaina who quickly averted her gaze. Then she looked up at Mara, who was still happily smiling down at her. "Make sure to eat it all."
Sannah made a small whimpering sound in the back of her throat.
Mara looked down at the jar, and said, "And don't forget, we have a lot of it left too."
Then Sannah made the small whimpering sound again, as she swallowed.
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Friday, April 25, 2008
Memories Ch. 6-5
Two hours later, Anakin was sitting across from Tahiri at a tapcafe. Her cheeks were still bright from a flush and her body hunched slightly over the table. She lifted her cup of tea to her lips to take a slow sip from it.
She glanced up at Anakin. "I... I think I'm calming down now."
"You're exaggerating."
She shook her head. "No-I've always been kind of scared of stories about ghosts and other things like that... the Tusken Raiders who raised me used to tell one about a demon who welded a flaming sword and would slaughter entire tribes."
"You get scared too easily..."
She sighed and lowered her head a bit more.
A short while later, they were wandering aimlessly through the shopping district. Anakin pulled out his comlink once again, glancing at the chrono. He stopped and looked down at Tahiri. "Well, I need to head home now."
Tahiri nodded her head, looking around at the darkened streets.
Anakin paused for a moment, wondering if he should admit to what he was feeling. Finally he decided to do so. "I had fun today. Thank you, Tahiri."
Her head snapped up so she could look at him, a smile brightening her face again even as a blush tinted her cheeks. "I had fun today as well."
Anakin turned from her, waving at her over his shoulder. "See you."
She waved back. "Bye!"
Anakin started walking away. Then he heard the shuffle of Tahiri's step from behind him. He paused and turned to look at her. She stood a few paces behind him, a smile on her face. "See you."
She waved again, saying, "Bye."
He turned away again, continuing his walk home. Once again, he heard her footsteps. He growled under his breath slightly, and turned to look at her.
"Why are you following me?"
She sighed, and lowered her head, the smile falling from her face. "I'm scared of dark streets."
Anakin sighed, and then started walking again, taking a longer route home; one that would take him towards the spot where she usually left him. When they came to that spot he stopped and looked at her. "Is this okay?"
Her voice was soft and weak as she replied. "Mmhmm."
"Was that a 'yes' or an 'okay?'"
Without lifting her head, she muttered, "They're both the same."
"If you keep following me, you won't be able to make it home." After a moment, he added, "Should I walk you home?"
She sighed, shaking her head. "No, I'm fine. I'll get myself home."
Anakin frowned for a moment. "Are you really okay?"
She slowly nodded her head.
"Then I'll see you later, Tahiri."
She looked up at him. "Bye, Anakin." Then she turned from him and ran down the street.
Anakin watched her disappear around a corner. Where is she living at anyways, he wondered to himself.
Pushing the thought from his mind, he turned away and went home. When he arrived he found Mara, Jaina and Sannah sitting on the various couches. He paused to listen, and felt the shock reverberate through him as Sannah talked to the other two girls. He dropped into one of the chairs.
"You feel asleep?" he said, sounding both confused and angry at the same time.
"Yeah, during my interview. I fell asleep." Sannah replied. "I was sitting there, and my head kind of drooped... and then they told me I could go home."
"I can understand that," Jaina said, nodding her head slowly. "It's hard to stay awake when people will just go on and on."
Anakin glared at his sister. "You shouldn't be sympathizing with her."
Mara leaned forward in her chair. "Why don't I see if I can get you a job at the Temple? Maybe something in the crèche?"
Anakin and the girls' heads darted to look at Mara who was smiling happily. "Yeah... A report came across the wire about how the Temple needed some extra people helping out with the younglings."
As they watched, Mara pulled out her comlink and began talking softly into it. When she finished the conversation, she returned the comlink to her pocket and smiled at Sannah. "It's all set up."
Sannah dropped her head again, sighing slightly. "Kids, huh?"
Anakin smirked at her. "If you're just playing with kids, it should be fine."
Sannah looked at him for a moment, and then dropped her head again. "I wonder if I can do it."
Mara smiled at her, placing a hand on her thigh. "You can do it, Sannah."
Sannah just sighed once again.
------------------------------
Anakin stepped into the foyer of the Jedi Temple. He opened the bag he carried, looking at the various snack foods it contained and then sighed. "What am I doing?" He asked no one in particular.
Suddenly a large crash echoed throughout the Temple. Anakin's head snapped up, and he started running, heading towards the source of the sound. He ran past one of the classrooms, and skidding to a stop, noticed the desks strewn about. Tenel Ka stood in the middle of the room dressed in her leather armor, her chest heaving from exertion. Carefully, he stepped into the room.
"Tenel Ka? Are you okay?"
Between pants, she replied, "I'm fine."
"Demons again?"
She nodded her head sharply. Then glanced to the left and the right. After another moment, her posture relaxed and she lowered her sword, straightening her back as she began to stare out the window. "It's gone now."
"I see," Anakin replied and started looking around at the mess.
"Anakin?"
He looked at her.
"You don't have to come here. In fact you should stay closer to her."
Anakin frowned for a moment. "Sannah?"
Tenel Ka nodded her head.
He thought for a moment, and then said. "Yesterday you told me to be nice to her. What do you mean about that? Do you know something about Sannah?"
Her chin lifted higher for a moment. "I don't know anything. Just..." Her voice trailed off and the silence between them deepened.
Finally, Anakin broke it. "Just?"
She sighed and turned to face him. "She'll need you soon. More than anyone else." Then she dropped her gaze from his face. "I have that feeling."
"Just a feeling?"
She nodded and Anakin looked down, a frown coming to his face.
------------------------------------
Anakin walked into the apartment, nearly bumping into Jaina as he did so.
She looked at him. "You left again?"
"Yeah."
"Where did you go?"
He gave her a mischievous smile. "Hunting demons."
A confused expression flickered across her face. "What are 'demons?'"
Anakin shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know."
"What?" The confused expression had settled firmly onto her face.
"How about, 'I'm searching for the answer to why I don't know?'"
Her eyebrows lifted. "That just makes it even more confusing."
"There are just things in this world that can't be understood," Anakin said with a grin as he walked past her towards his room. He dropped his jacket onto the bed, and grabbed his towel, heading towards the refresher. As he got closer, the door opened and Sannah stepped out. She paused and looked at him.
"Done already?" he asked her.
She nodded once quickly. "Yes, go ahead and hurry an get in."
Then she darted past him. He walked on into the refresher, an odd smell assaulting his nose. Sniffing, he stepped further into the refresher and glanced at the bathtub, finding it filled with Rycrit stew.
"Sannah!" He called out as loudly as he could.
He stormed from the refresher and found Sannah in her room, laying on her bed, her feet kicking as she read a holonovel. He picked her up and tossed her onto his shoulder. She began pounding on his back, screaming, "Let me down!"
Still stomping, he returned to the refresher and dropped Sannah to the tiled floor, pointing towards the tub. "What are you going to do with this much stew?"
Jaina appeared in the doorway, watching them. After a moment, she stepped around them and went to sit in front of the tub.
Sannah looked up at him, a defiant expression on her face. "Do you have proof it was me?"
"Who else would do something this stupid?" Anakin asked, knowing that his voice was rising.
Mara appeared in the doorway, watching Anakin and Sannah.
"I wouldn't do that," Sannah screamed back at him.
"I can't think of any other reason than your pranks," Anakin screamed.
Mara walked past them to stand beside Jaina, staring down at the tub filled with stew. Sannah replied, "I said, I wouldn't do that!"
"Sannah." Mara said her voice stern yet soft.
Anakin and Sannah stopped their yelling and both turned to face the Jedi Master. Once she had their attention, she continued. "You can't be wasting food like this."
Sannah's head dropped. "I'm sorry..."
Anakin straightened slightly. "Doing the same things over and over again. What are you thinking?"
"But..." she began and then her voice trailed off as she stared at the far wall, her eyes glazing over slightly.
Mara opened up the drain to the tub and then glanced over her shoulder. "It's got to drain, and then it needs to be cleaned."
Anakin looked at Mara for a moment, and then turned his attention back to Sannah. She knelt on the floor, her legs splayed out so that her butt rested firmly against the cold tiles. Her chin was tucked tight against her chest and tears lined her eyes. As he watched, one escaped and made a thin track down the side of her face.
In his mind, he could hear Tenel Ka's voice again, "She'll need you soon, more than anyone else."
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Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Memories Ch. 6-4
Anakin closed the distance between them, stopping a few steps away from Nelani. As he looked down at her, she continued to smile happily up at him. Finally, he said, "What are you doing here today?"
She lifted her chin a bit more, staring into his eyes. "Why are you here?"
"I just came to watch my sister practice," he replied.
Nelani frowned for a moment and then looked around the garden. "But there's no one practicing here."
Anakin's eyes narrowed for a moment, and then he looked over her head towards the fountain. "Well, truly, I was thinking of digging a trap. One designed for people walking around when they're sick and supposed to be in bed."
"Wah!" She replied, her eyes widening slightly. Then she half turned away from him, glancing towards him from the corner of her eyes. "I don't like it when people say things like that."
Anakin arched one of his eyebrows. "Nelani?"
"Yes?" She replied, turning to face him fully once again.
"Have you been waiting here since noon?"
Surprise flickered onto her face, and she smiled at him hesitantly. "Yes... yes I was."
He sighed, slowly shaking his head. "It's because you do things like this that you're not getting better." He painted a stern expression on his face. "What do you think you're doing?"
Her face dropped, and she glanced away from him. "It's kind of weird," she said. Then she turned from him fully, watching the fountain. "I know no one is here... but I'm standing here and no one comes. But I couldn't move away from here. Maybe being caught in that feeling... In the end, being alone until now..."
Her head lowered slightly as she paused in her speech. After a moment, she spun around towards him, a hesitant smile on her face, as she said, "It's kind of stupid, isn't it?"
She moved, so that one of her shoulders was facing Anakin, then a breeze snapped through the garden and she shivered. Anakin sighed and took off his jacket, draping it around her shoulders. "Yeah, it's stupid."
She paused, standing still as if she were a trapped animal. Finally she lowered her head, and twisting the edges of the jacket in her hands, murmured in a soft voice, "It's warm."
He stood there, his hands on her shoulders and then looked up at the sky. The sun was just beginning to touch the horizon, casting the normal blue hue of the sky into a symphony of reds and oranges.
"The sunset is amazing," he said with a touch of awe in his voice.
She turned, and leaned her back against him, looking at the sunset. "Yes," she replied.
"Nelani?" Anakin began. "Answer me something... honestly."
"If it's not my weight or my sizes... then I guess I can answer."
"Why do you come here everyday? Do you have a reason?"
She paused for a moment, and then replied, "I don't know myself. I guess I'm searching for the reason I don't know." Then her voice took on a mischievous tilt. "How was that as a response?" She glanced over her shoulder, looking up at him. "It was a wizard response, wasn't it?"
"Nope."
Her eyes widened and she stepped away from him so that she could turn to face him. As she moved, he dropped his hands from her shoulders. "That was mean," she said. "I thought so hard on the answer."
Anakin chuckled and then glanced towards the horizon again. "Shavit."
Nelani looked scandalized. "Such language. What's wrong?"
"I'm supposed to meet someone in the shopping district at sunset. I'm late. Not good."
He turned to go.
"Anakin!" Nelani called out. He paused and looked at her.
She held out his jacket towards him. "Your jacket."
He felt himself blush slightly as he took it from her. "You'll be okay getting home?"
She nodded her head.
"Then bye!" he called out as he ran from the garden.
A short while later, Anakin darted into the courtyard in front of the theater. He paused at the entrance, looking around for Tahiri.
Then he saw her. She was sitting on a wooden bench, her head bowed, an air of melancholy surrounding her. "Tahiri!" he called.
She lifted her head, looking towards him and instantly the expression on her face changed from one of near despair to a brilliant smile.
"Anakin!" she called back.
He ran the rest of the way over to her, and between pants, said, "Sorry I'm late, I had a lot to do."
"No," she replied. "I'm just glad you came."
Anakin looked down at her. "What? Didn't feel like dressing up today?"
He then turned and started walking towards the doors to the theater.
"I like this shirt." She said as she fell into step beside him. Then she started to giggle, a bright, happy smile lighting up her face.
"Are you that happy to see a movie?"
"Watching a movie is fun..." she began. "But what I really like is when the person I'm waiting for comes. Then I can be glad that I was waiting."
"Sounds like you're making things up."
"No! I wouldn't do that."
Anakin watched her as they walked; watched her smile. The way the joy seemed to shine through her eyes. And the way her hair seemed to bounce with her every step. "Waiting, huh..."
Something in the way she talked about waiting, reminded him of something. But like so many other things, he couldn't grasp the memory fully. He could only get the knowledge that there should be a connection there. He sighed and gave up trying to figure it out as he opened the door to the theater, holding it for Tahiri to enter.
Anakin stopped before a poster advertising one of the movies currently playing. Tahiri stopped beside him. "I wanted to see this," he began. "It's supposed to be really scary. Supposedly they banned it on Garqi because some old guy had a heart attack during it."
He looked down at her, and noticed that she was biting at her lower lip. He nodded his head towards the doors that led into the theater. "Come on, let's go inside."
He walked that way, hearing the shuffle of her steps behind him.
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