A/n: this is the updated Chapter 1. Enjoy and don't forget to review...
~*~
Prologue
It had been a long fight, but the combined forces of the Galactic Alliance, Empire, and the Chiss were able to suppress those of the Yuzhong Vong. The defeated species had been relocated to Zonoma under the custody of the living planet's consciousness Sekot. The planet had finally settled in the Unknown Region with Alliance troopers, under the auspices of the CEDF, conducting periodic patrols of the hyperlanes to and from Zenoma to ensure the provisions of the surrender were observed and Alliance citizens on the planet remained safe. No one traveled in or out of the system without the Chiss knowing. The Integration Board consisting of the Yuzhong Vong representatives, representatives of the surrounding systems, and the Jedi council was formed to oversea matters concerning Alliance and Yuzhong Vong matters.
~*~
CHAPTER 1
The complex business of peace was nearing completion. The heroes of the war would finally get the chance to take a well-deserved break. There was just one final event – a ceremony on Denon to honor the efforts of the Jedi.
Master Skywalker had agreed to the pomp and pageantry in the hopes that it would enhance the public's view of the Jedi. The Jedi's force-meld had been crucial to the victories of key battles. Reminding the public of that might help to dispel whatever misgivings the people might still have of them.
"In the area of Leadership and Coordination we honor Jacen Solo..." Chief of State Cal Omas announced. As each name was called the individual approached to receive a medal.
~*~
"Has anyone seen Tahiri?" Jacen asked.
"Not since last week at the ceremony." Jaina answered.
Jacen's forehead knitted in concern. He had taken up the practice of periodically checking on the well being of his friends through the Force. He could still feel Tahiri, but she seemed distant and somewhat clouded. He tried again, this time stretching out with his Vongsense. This time he felt nothing – probably due to its limited range. "I don't think she's on Mon Cal. Maybe I should ask Master Skywalker."
"Ha, ha," Luke laughed as he entered the room. "We're on vacation. I should be 'Uncle Luke' instead of 'Master Skywalker'."
"Hi, Uncle Luke," Jaina greeted as she stood. "Excuse me, I think I'll go see my favorite cousin." She was gone before Luke could say "he's you're only cousin".
It was then that he saw his nephew's concerned expression. "What's wrong, Jacen?"
"It's Tahiri. She feels distant. Have you seen her lately?"
"No. Come to think of it, I don't believe I've seen her all week." Luke stretched out his sense in the Force. Jacen was right. After a longer than normal search, he was able to detect Tahiri's presence, but it was blurred and getting smaller.
"I think I'll ask Mom before I start to worry. Tahiri spends more time with her than anyone else."
~*~
In another end of the complex, Leia and Han were having a similar conversation. "Han, have you noticed anything different about Tahiri. She's been distant since she returned from Zenoma for the ceremony. I keep feeling something's wrong, but I can't seem to put my finger on it. I hope it's not Riina struggling for dominance again. Tahiri's two personalities seem to have come to a balance, but one can never underestimate the Yuzhong Vong." The creases in her forehead matched those of her son.
"Don't look at me. I'm not the one with Jedi powers. Though I don't think it has anything to do with her Riina personality." Han rubbed the back of his neck and shrugged. "Actually, I think you may be right about something being wrong. The other day Tahiri and I had this long talk about Anakin. You know, stuff he did as a kid, memories."
Leia sighed. "I wish she would open up more. I know she cared – cares – a lot for Anakin. Her love for him has been a comfort to me. Still I can't help feeling that she's keeping a lot of her grief to herself."
~*~
Tenel Ka felt a disquiet in the Force. She was close enough to immediately recognize it as a spill over from her Force connection with Jacen. He was worried about something.
Tenel Ka turned to her ever-present assistant who acknowledged the silent enquiry the Queen Mother was making. She quickly consulted the data pad in her hand before nodding.
Tenel Ka smiled inwardly as she dismissed Cho Del. It was not often she had a spare hour. Politics, both Hapan and Galactic, kept the young Queen Mother very occupied. Not wanting to lose any minute of this precious hour, Tenel Ka quickly shed her regal attire and donned the old comfort of her warrior's leather and Jedi robe.
As she made her way through the many levels of the Mon Calamarian city, she sent a notice to Jacen that she was coming. Tenel Ka knew it was not necessary, but she wanted to make sure he wasn't with the scientist Danni Quee. A part of her would always feel that the older woman had stolen Jacen from her even though she knew it had been Jacen's choice.
Jacen meet her at the entrance to his private chamber. Noting the attire, he greeted her accordingly, "Hello, Tenel Ka. It's so good to see you" He stepped forward to embrace her and kiss her cheek. Tenel Ka remained formal but allowed herself to be led into the room. Already she could feel him reaching out to her through the Force. They might not be lovers, but she knew this was something he could never share with Danni. The connection between two Jedi who had once truly loved each other.
"You would like to meditate, yes?"
"Yes," he replied as he pulled her down towards the floor. "I sense something is wrong with Tahiri. I would like your help in finding her. If she does not wish to be found, then I want to find out what is wrong. She's family."
Tenel Ka did not need an explanation for the concern she saw in Jacen's face. She would do all she could to help. "Tahiri Veila is my friend as well."
The two sat crossed-legged, facing each other. Their knees touching the others. Together they went into a deep Jedi meditation.
Where are you, Tahiri?
~*~ From halfway across the galaxy, a lone figure stood in the middle of an open space. Her blond hair was unbound and floated in the steady wind. She wore a loose white gown that billowed around her creating an air of fragility. Her bare feet wriggled into the soft sand of the desert moon. It reminded her of home. It reminded her of the love she had lost, the love she hoped to regain.
"Don't worry. I'm safe. For the first time in all these years I have hope."
~*~
Prologue
It had been a long fight, but the combined forces of the Galactic Alliance, Empire, and the Chiss were able to suppress those of the Yuzhong Vong. The defeated species had been relocated to Zonoma under the custody of the living planet's consciousness Sekot. The planet had finally settled in the Unknown Region with Alliance troopers, under the auspices of the CEDF, conducting periodic patrols of the hyperlanes to and from Zenoma to ensure the provisions of the surrender were observed and Alliance citizens on the planet remained safe. No one traveled in or out of the system without the Chiss knowing. The Integration Board consisting of the Yuzhong Vong representatives, representatives of the surrounding systems, and the Jedi council was formed to oversea matters concerning Alliance and Yuzhong Vong matters.
~*~
CHAPTER 1
The complex business of peace was nearing completion. The heroes of the war would finally get the chance to take a well-deserved break. There was just one final event – a ceremony on Denon to honor the efforts of the Jedi.
Master Skywalker had agreed to the pomp and pageantry in the hopes that it would enhance the public's view of the Jedi. The Jedi's force-meld had been crucial to the victories of key battles. Reminding the public of that might help to dispel whatever misgivings the people might still have of them.
"In the area of Leadership and Coordination we honor Jacen Solo..." Chief of State Cal Omas announced. As each name was called the individual approached to receive a medal.
~*~
"Has anyone seen Tahiri?" Jacen asked.
"Not since last week at the ceremony." Jaina answered.
Jacen's forehead knitted in concern. He had taken up the practice of periodically checking on the well being of his friends through the Force. He could still feel Tahiri, but she seemed distant and somewhat clouded. He tried again, this time stretching out with his Vongsense. This time he felt nothing – probably due to its limited range. "I don't think she's on Mon Cal. Maybe I should ask Master Skywalker."
"Ha, ha," Luke laughed as he entered the room. "We're on vacation. I should be 'Uncle Luke' instead of 'Master Skywalker'."
"Hi, Uncle Luke," Jaina greeted as she stood. "Excuse me, I think I'll go see my favorite cousin." She was gone before Luke could say "he's you're only cousin".
It was then that he saw his nephew's concerned expression. "What's wrong, Jacen?"
"It's Tahiri. She feels distant. Have you seen her lately?"
"No. Come to think of it, I don't believe I've seen her all week." Luke stretched out his sense in the Force. Jacen was right. After a longer than normal search, he was able to detect Tahiri's presence, but it was blurred and getting smaller.
"I think I'll ask Mom before I start to worry. Tahiri spends more time with her than anyone else."
~*~
In another end of the complex, Leia and Han were having a similar conversation. "Han, have you noticed anything different about Tahiri. She's been distant since she returned from Zenoma for the ceremony. I keep feeling something's wrong, but I can't seem to put my finger on it. I hope it's not Riina struggling for dominance again. Tahiri's two personalities seem to have come to a balance, but one can never underestimate the Yuzhong Vong." The creases in her forehead matched those of her son.
"Don't look at me. I'm not the one with Jedi powers. Though I don't think it has anything to do with her Riina personality." Han rubbed the back of his neck and shrugged. "Actually, I think you may be right about something being wrong. The other day Tahiri and I had this long talk about Anakin. You know, stuff he did as a kid, memories."
Leia sighed. "I wish she would open up more. I know she cared – cares – a lot for Anakin. Her love for him has been a comfort to me. Still I can't help feeling that she's keeping a lot of her grief to herself."
~*~
Tenel Ka felt a disquiet in the Force. She was close enough to immediately recognize it as a spill over from her Force connection with Jacen. He was worried about something.
Tenel Ka turned to her ever-present assistant who acknowledged the silent enquiry the Queen Mother was making. She quickly consulted the data pad in her hand before nodding.
Tenel Ka smiled inwardly as she dismissed Cho Del. It was not often she had a spare hour. Politics, both Hapan and Galactic, kept the young Queen Mother very occupied. Not wanting to lose any minute of this precious hour, Tenel Ka quickly shed her regal attire and donned the old comfort of her warrior's leather and Jedi robe.
As she made her way through the many levels of the Mon Calamarian city, she sent a notice to Jacen that she was coming. Tenel Ka knew it was not necessary, but she wanted to make sure he wasn't with the scientist Danni Quee. A part of her would always feel that the older woman had stolen Jacen from her even though she knew it had been Jacen's choice.
Jacen meet her at the entrance to his private chamber. Noting the attire, he greeted her accordingly, "Hello, Tenel Ka. It's so good to see you" He stepped forward to embrace her and kiss her cheek. Tenel Ka remained formal but allowed herself to be led into the room. Already she could feel him reaching out to her through the Force. They might not be lovers, but she knew this was something he could never share with Danni. The connection between two Jedi who had once truly loved each other.
"You would like to meditate, yes?"
"Yes," he replied as he pulled her down towards the floor. "I sense something is wrong with Tahiri. I would like your help in finding her. If she does not wish to be found, then I want to find out what is wrong. She's family."
Tenel Ka did not need an explanation for the concern she saw in Jacen's face. She would do all she could to help. "Tahiri Veila is my friend as well."
The two sat crossed-legged, facing each other. Their knees touching the others. Together they went into a deep Jedi meditation.
Where are you, Tahiri?
~*~ From halfway across the galaxy, a lone figure stood in the middle of an open space. Her blond hair was unbound and floated in the steady wind. She wore a loose white gown that billowed around her creating an air of fragility. Her bare feet wriggled into the soft sand of the desert moon. It reminded her of home. It reminded her of the love she had lost, the love she hoped to regain.
"Don't worry. I'm safe. For the first time in all these years I have hope."