Disclaimer:
I don't own any of the characters; I'm not using this for money, yatsa, yatsa, and yatsa.
Claimer:
I do however own the characters of Padme Amidala Skywalker (I don't own the names, just the character), Gaeity Solo, Tanner-Jules Solo, Jennelle Solo, and Carime Liepti. (I know I'm not that inventive.)
New Characters:
Padme Amidala Skywalker (Ali-Lyn)–the only surviving child of Luke Skywalker. She's 17 yrs old.
Gaeity Solo – the eldest child of Han Solo and Princess Leia Solo. She's 15 yrs old.
Tanner-Jules Solo – Gaeity's twin brother. He's 15 yrs old, too (duh!).
Jennelle Solo – Han & Leia's youngest child. She's 2 yrs old.
Master Carime Liepti – Padme (Ali-Lyn)'s master/teacher.
Etc:
This takes place about two monthes after the ending of ST: BA. In case anyone's wondering – Ali-Lyn's evaluation never took place at Ali-Lyn's request.
***
Ali-Lyn
Part One
***
The training yard of the Jedi Temple
Ali-Lyn Skywalker advanced against her master with her lightsabre. The pink sabre collided with Master Carime Liepti's yellow, and the padawan's was knock from her hands.
"You must pay attention, Ali-Lyn." Carime reprimanded.
Ali-Lyn looked at Carime, "Yes, Master."
Carime felt the tiredness in Ali-Lyn, then retrived the youth's lightsabre, "Return to our quarters'. I'll be along shortly."
Ali-Lyn graciously took her weapon, and walked toward the Temple. She was tired from the day and something she couldn't figure out. She looked behind her shoulder to see Carime talking to someone via the training yard computer screen. Ali-Lyn quickly identified the person as her father. 'What did I do?' Ali-Lyn sent to Carime.
'I thought I said to return to our quarters'.' Carime sent back.
Ali-Lyn sighed then resumed her walking. She was in trouble. She hated being in trouble – that meant punishment.
Carime watched Ali-Lyn from down the hall. After a moment, Carime turned her attention back to the screen. Luke's serious face looked back at her.
"If she looks worse tomorrow, take her to one of the healers. Gaeity had the same symtoms according to Leia, but Gaeity was making herself sick because she was worried about something. Hopefully, Ali-Lyn's justed worried over the results of her Republic History test." Luke said.
Carime sighed, "Hopefully. Good night, Master."
"Good night, Master Liepti." Luke replied, shutting off his screen.
Liepti/Skywalker residence
Ali-Lyn had already showered and changed into her nightclothes when Carime had entered the residence, which was on the other end of the temple from the training yard.
The teenage girl had put out the dinner, which was quickly becoming cold. However, Ali-Lyn had seated herself on the small couch and was writing in the soft leather bound notebook her mother had given her shortly before Padme Elo-Aura's death. Ali-Lyn had kept a record of everything she'd done that had signifigantic in that notebook – which was the one thing Carime was not allowed to touch.
Carime took in the sight, and then motioned for Ali-Lyn to join her at the table.
"No thank you, Master. I'm not hungry." Ali-Lyn said, returning her attention to her notebook.
Ali-Lyn never had a ravenous appetite, but she always ate something to keep Carime happy. "Are you feeling alright?"
"Yes, Master. I'm just too tired to be hungry."
Carime made a mental note to meditate an extra hour before bed.
After dinner
Liepti/Skywalker residence
Carime watched her padawan for a moment before standing up, and walking into the room to sit next to Ali-Lyn.
Ali-Lyn looked at Carime, "Sorry. I'll get the plates." Ali-Lyn stood up and began to walk to the table.
"Padawan." Carime said. Ali-Lyn returned to the couch and sat down. The elder Jedi continued, "Is there a reason you aren't hungry? You already said because you were tired, but I doubt that Ali-Lyn."
Ali-Lyn watched her master, and then carefully anwsered Carime, "I'm too tired and I haven't been sleeping very well."
Carime shook her head, "Okay. We'll go see one of the healers tomorrow afternoon."
Ali-Lyn looked at Carime with a shocked expression on her face, "I'm okay, Carime."
"I want a medical opinion on that, Ali-Lyn." Carime said.
Ali-Lyn grumbled, "I can't go anyway. I have classes until late."
"I can call your procters and tell them you won't be in class."
Ali-Lyn realized that Carime wouldn't give this up, and gave in, "Fine."
Carime sensed the anger and annoyance in her padawan. Ali-Lyn was never one for classes, but she usually never begged to go to them.
"May I go to bed now, Master?" Ali-Lyn asked, thinking Carime was probably going to make her meditate.
"Yes, Padawan." Carime said. There was no way Ali-Lyn would be able to concentrate.
Ali-Lyn made her way to her room, laid down under her blanket, and shut her eyes. She hoped she would be able to sleep tonight, but doubted that.
1:16 in the morning
'You are the reason Mom's dead.' Anakin said to Ali-Lyn.
'No. It was an accident. I didn't mean for Mama to die!' Ali-Lyn cried.
'Ali-Lyn.' their mother's voice came out of her brother's mouth. 'Ali-Lyn.' All of a sudden, Anakin's skin melted away in a sea of orangey-red flames. Her mother's body stood there, beckoning Ali-Lyn to come to her. 'My baby girl, How I've missed you.'
Ali-Lyn ran to her mother, but tripped on something – A computer game. The one that T.J. had brought to the house the day her mother had been killed. The teen looked up – a mirror was in front of her. Ali-Lyn looked all of twelve years old.
Ali-Lyn shot up in bed. Sweat dripped of her face. Ali-Lyn rubbed her eyes and wiped her face on her sheets. She looked at the computer clock. 1:20 am. Ali-Lyn sighed, and swung her legs over the side of the bed. She stood up, and walked to her closet. She pulled out a pair of nightclothes that could pass for regular day clothes on Aldaaran, and dressed.
Ali-Lyn quietly tiptoed out of her room and into the living space. She peeked into Carime's room to make sure her master was asleep, then walked to the door quietly. She unlocked the door, opened it, and entered the hall. After the door shut, Ali-Lyn walked down the hall at her usual pace, headed toward the Jedi Spire.
Ali-Lyn watched her feet intently, knowing if she didn't, she'd probably trip on something because the hall lights were dim. She walked the ten minutes to the spire; hopeing Carime wouldn't reprimand her too badly for being up way past curfew. Without realizing it, Ali-Lyn had walked to the balcony door and she keyed in her entry code. The door opened with familiar whoos. She stepped onto balcony and looked around. No one else was there.
She walked to the edge, and looked over the banister. The city was bathed in the glow of the lights. Ali-Lyn sighed, and sat down on the floor. She watched the sky until she heard someone open the door and she jumped to find a place to hide, but Gaeity was who came through the doorway. Ali-Lyn relaxed and sat back in her spot.
"Can't sleep?" Gaeity asked, sitting down next to her cousin.
"Nope. Can you?"
"No." Gaeity put her head on Ali-Lyn's shoulder, "If anyone finds us up here, we're in major trouble."
Ali-Lyn shook her head, "I'll tell them it was my idea. I'm older, afterall, and Papa says I'm supposed to set an example."
"You already do. More then is needed. You should hear the way the younger children talk of you." Gaeity said, "You know Kestare-Rosset? The little girl who acts like a puesdo-mom to Jennelle?"
"Very well."
"Well, all she and her age-group talk about is you and Anakin and Naboo and everything pertaining to you. I'm amazed you haven't heard her."
Ali-Lyn smiled, "I'm not around her the way I'm around you, T.J., and Jennelle. You three are supposed to tell me everything, remember?"
Gaeity looked at her cousin, "Paddy," Gaeity turned back to Ali-Lyn's childhood nickname, "Why do you look so sad?"
Ali-Lyn watched her cousin for a moment, "I'm okay. I'm just tired and my training has seemed to just drag on lately."
"Oh. If you're tired, why are you up here?" The fifteen year old asked.
"I'm tired, but I'm not tired. It's hard to explain." Ali-Lyn anwsered.
Gaeity nodded, "I'm going back to bed."
"Good night, Gaeity. I'll see you in the morning." Ali-Lyn said, smiling.
"Night." Gaeity said, before opening the door and exiting the balcony.
Ali-Lyn sighed, pulled her knees to her chest, and rested her arms on her knees. She rested her chin in her hands and watched the sky.
5:32 am
Carime was sitting on the couch when Ali-Lyn walked into their residence. Ali-Lyn knew she was in trouble, and didn't even try to come up with an excuse – that would have only made her punishment worse.
"I thought my instructions were for you to go to bed and this afternoon we would go see a healer." Carime said, disappointment in her voice.
Ali-Lyn collected her courage and spoke, "I couldn't sleep, Master. I went up to the balcony."
"Padawan," Carime began, "You had another nightmare, and don't deny it. I felt your fear, and it hung in the air for a long time. What are you afraid of Ali-Lyn? What made you so scared, you had to retreat to your place?"
Ali-Lyn sat down on the couch. Carime watched the teen as words began to escape from Ali-Lyn's lips, "Anakin. It was a new nightmare about Anakin." Carime shook her head – Ali-Lyn had had nightmares about her brother since she was thirteen years old, but Carime wasn't expecting with Ali-Lyn said next, "And it was a nightmare my mother."
Carime was shocked – Ali-Lyn never dreamed about her mother. Ali-Lyn dreamed a lot in her sleep, but it was never including her mother. "Why your mother, Ali-Lyn?"
"I don't know. It started like usual – Anakin was blaming me for Mama's death. I tried to defend myself, and then Anakin started to melt in a fire. After Anak's skin burned away, mama's body was there. She told me to come to her, and so I ran. I tripped on video game, and came face-to-face with a mirror. I looked twelve years old. That's when I woke up." Ali-Lyn finished – that had taken more energy out of her. Ali-Lyn leaned against her master.
Carime drew in a deep breath. Ali-Lyn's nightmares were usually started with Anakin blaming her about Padme Elo-aura, then the two would duel, and at the point where one of them would have died – Ali-Lyn wakes up. This was something different – and Carime could feel how much that nightmare still scared the teen. "Padawan," Carime said, putting her hand on Ali-Lyn's hair – a way of telling the youth she was safe, "I would never let anyone hurt you. I would never hurt you. However, You are hurting yourself with this one nightmare. What happened with your mother – yes it was cruel and destroying, but you and your father lived through it. You both found hope. And I know being the one who fatally injured Anakin has to have seemed the cruelest thing in the world, but you saved him from the dark. You don't have to be doubtful of yourself and your skills – you will be a great Knight."
Ali-Lyn sighed – She was still, no matter what, doubtful of her future. She wanted to be a Knight more then anything, but she feared that she would fail her missions - she doubted her skills.
"You have beautiful skills, Ali-Lyn. I've never seen someone wield a lightsabre the way you do. You have the ability and the courage and everything else needed to be a Knight, but you lack the self-confidence required."
Ali-Lyn watched her master – this was leading to that lecture she'd been avoiding for a month and a half.
8:58 am
Ali-Lyn sat in her room desperatly trying to meditate, but she was bored and tired. In her own room, Carime sensed her padawan's boredom. The teenager had always had a level of doubt about her skills, but it had never affected her the way it was now. Carime stood up as the computer signified that their one and a half hours of meditation were up. Ali-Lyn stood up happily, and walked into the living space. She looked at the food on the table and dissmissed that it was even there. She wasn't hungry, but her head reminded her that Kim (Or Kimmie, as Ali-Lyn called him), Ali-Lyn's favorite healer, had told her that she had to eat whether she was hungry or not. Carime had thought Ali-Lyn's metabolism had slowed down in the last year – Ali-Lyn hadn't lost weight as rapidly as before – but it had remained the same. Only now, Ali-Lyn would vomit if she didn't eat within thirty-six hours.
Ali-Lyn watched the food for a second, and picked up one of the citrus fruits. She loved the taste of this fruit imparticular. It tasted like an orange, but it had the texture of vanilla frosting. Ali-Lyn began to peel the fruit, with little enthusaism.
Carime watched her padawan from her room. Ali-Lyn was seventeen years old, and knew to take care of herself, but she looked unhappy. Carime knew what was troubling Ali-Lyn now, but Ali-Lyn was still tired and her appetite was non-existant. Carime sighed, what was she supposed to do? Only Ali-Lyn needed faith in her abilities – everyone else already had faith in them. After the fight with Anakin, everyone had faith in her. Ali-Lyn even had faith in herself – in the last month, she had smiled and laughed more then ever before. Carime begin to think to herself. Kim had said that Ali-Lyn was a remarkable young woman – heathy in every way, but one - her chemical balances were slightly off. Kim had told Carime to expect some more chemical imbalances as Ali-Lyn grew and her body changed – but if anything relating to depression came along, call him. Even if she remotely suspected Ali-Lyn had depression, call him.
Carime sighed, and got up. She walked to the computer screen and dialed up Kim's office. A moment later, Kim's round human face was staring up at her politely.
"Good Morning, Carime." He said. Carime was his best friend, since they were children – and being trained in secret. He knew something was up by the look on her face. "Are you okay, Carime? You look kinda pale."
Carime shook her head, "It's Ali-Lyn."
"What's the matter with her?" He asked, his usual calm voice soothing Carime.
"She's acting bizare. She's tired, but she can't sleep. She has lost her self-confidence, and she has no appetite."
Kim looked at Carime, "She's got it. The early stages - before she starts to think everyone hates her. Her class reports haven't gotten poor, have they?"
"A little bit."
"I want to see her - ASAP." He said, "I'll see you in twenty minutes – that should be suffisicant for the fight she's going to have with you over this."
"Thanks, Kim." Carime said, shutting off her screen. This wasn't going to be good.
Carime stepped into the living space, and looked at Ali-Lyn. She was once again writing in her notebook. She was sitting on the couch, scribbling away, and didn't even realize Carime had walked into the room.
"Padawan."
Ali-Lyn put her book down, "Yes, master?"
"Kim wants to see you in twenty minutes. Get dressed." Carime told Ali-Lyn.
Ali-Lyn looked at her master, "I'm fine, Carime."
"Now, Ali-Lyn."
"No. I'm not going."
Carime was stunned – Ali-Lyn had never said no to her. "Yes. If I have to call your uncle and your father down here to drag you there, you're going."
"I said no." Ali-Lyn said, looking Carime in the eyes. The elder woman was stunned – this was outright defiance.
"And I said yes, Padme Amidala Skywalker." Carime replied.
"I hate you." Ali-Lyn said, standing up and going into her room.
Carime was stunned – Ali-Lyn had never defied her. Never. This was something Carime wasn't ready for.
Jedi Council
3:06 pm
Ali-Lyn watched Kim and Carime report on her condition from across the room. Her anger filled the air around her, and the members of the council nearest her edged away slightly. Her pain was penatrating them, and it hurt.
"This depression", Kim said, "was caused by stress, a chemical imbalance, and fatigue. My recommendation is that for the next week, Ali-Lyn's training be suspended and any mission that she and Carime would have done, be given to someone else." Kim paused, and then continued, "In one week's time, I will see if the medication has had any effect. If it has made some improvement in her attitude and her health, then she can return to training and missions with my consent."
Luke watched his miserable daughter. Ali-Lyn was seventeen years old, and she was the image of her mother, but she was unhappy and scared. He looked back at Kim, "What if it doesn't help?"
"Then I'll try a different medication and another week off."
"And if that doesn't help?"
"I'll only try this treatment twice, Master Skywalker. After that she'll have two days to clean the medicine out of her system, and Ali-Lyn will have to be entered into the medical building."
Luke processed this information. First week, first medicine --- if that doesn't work - second week, second medicine --- and if that doesn't work - two days and entry into the medical building. He sighed, "Okay, Kim. If that's what will work."
Kim nodded his head, bowed, and walked away.
Carime looked at the others, "I'm sorry for not realizing this was the source of her tiredness and weak show of her skills. I will make sure that she returns to her normal self."
Luke smiled, "There is no need to apologize, Master Liepti."
Carime bowed and walked over to Ali-Lyn. Carime guided Ali-Lyn out into the hall.
"So…" Ali-Lyn said, veering toward the door to the balcony.
Carime put Ali-Lyn back on the path to their residence, "You can't go up there alone, Ali-Lyn. I forbade it. Not until this treatment is over and you are back to normal."
Ali-Lyn stopped at looked at Carime, "What am I? A prisoner? I can't go on the balcony, I have to walk in front of you…"
Carime cut her off, "No. What you are is a seventeen-year old padawan learner, who needs extra protection and treatment for a medical condition that was caused by a few things that she could not control." Carime said, opening the door to their quarters'. She watched Ali-Lyn plop down on the couch, take out her notebook, and begin writing.
---
P.S. I have had clinical depression before. I know what it seemed like to me, so this story is based on what I felt happened during that time. If anyone doesn't agree with my stand on this, I'm very sorry.
End of part one.
Cassie Jamie