One day after For the Republic: 2

Courtyard, Jedi Enclave, Dantooine

Master Vandar.

"Knight Revan, is there a problem? I feel...a disturbance around you. Alteration has occurred, I think?"

"Yes, Master, but it's nothing I can't handle. Thank you for your concern." Serena smiled, turned on her heel, and headed straight for the cafe. She was blocking her mind against something...Vandar watched her walk away, and he was reminded of the day he met her for the first time:

The room was filled with children. We had taken on thirty younglings and they crowded about the common area. Some were fearful, yes, but many radiated excitement. I was standing at the center, studying the way the Force swirled and darted around them. Each year, there was usually one student--at most two--in whom the Force shone most brightly, whose destiny was—potentially—integral to the future of the galaxy. This particular group seemed almost engulfed in Force-led destiny. I knew these children were special: the world movers, the myth makers. But what type of myth and legend would they inspire? Ah, destiny is a tricky thing and, oft times, knowing it only clouds our judgment. This group of children...would bear watching.

"Youngling apprentices, welcome to our Jedi Academy. Your academy...and your new home..."

The welcome speech went on for half an hour; I was weaving comfort through the Force among the children, helping them relax and release any lingering fears. Soon, all of the children were smiling and happily chatting amongst themselves. One small girl stood at the center of a large group, discussing something at length. When I approached to welcome them personally, she greeted me first: "Good morning, Master Vandar. My name is Serena Revan and I am very pleased to make your acquaintance." Many of the others had followed her lead: "Zana Dex" "Samosh Bakal" "Tren Dorn" "Vedrik Jast".

She had been so open and eager to learn, talkative and candid. Yet, she was always in control, a prime example of the Jedi Code in action. Today, he saw none of these qualities. The young woman before him was shadowed by a heavy swirling in the force, darker by far than when she arrived on Dantooine. As she walked across the courtyard, he wondered if her time of destiny was near. And if so, would the other "children" follow her?

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

Serena.

She entered the cafe slowly. Deliberately trying to blend in, she picked her way across the room to Tren and Zana's table and took a seat without a word. Tren jumped up and, to Serena's surprise, almost ran on his way to get more sodas. What did she tell him? Her friend tried to start up a conversation, "Good to see you out of your chambers. I was worried about you."

"He's not coming, is he?"

"Not that I know of." Serena visibly relaxed. "...I mean, I didn't ask. I don't want Tren to think I want him to invite--" But Zana never finished her sentence. Galen Malak had entered the cafe and claimed a seat at a corner table, facing away from Serena. Before sitting, he glanced at her, his face blank. Having stayed up all of the previous night preparing with Zana, she thought she would be ready to see him again--stoic, unmoved, neutral. But when she had told Zana that she didn't want to be able to undo the barriers they were erecting in her mind...she'd lied...she'd lied to herself. And now that she could reach him in ten steps, those barriers were practically crumbling. What is it about this particular man that gets under my skin? Gah! She closed her eyes and extended her Force-sense toward his unique signature in the Force, but she met a wall. Was it deliberate? Was he blocking her, too?

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

Zana.

She was observing the whole thing when she realized that Serena had closed her eyes to try to connect with him. Zana sighed, knowing that all of their hard work had been for naught. The barriers hadn't worked, and they had probably already fallen completely. It was something unfathomable and the only possibility was that Serena had wanted it--She chose to give in!. No one could make her do anything against her will. It occurred to Zana that Master Vandar might suggest that it was the overriding will of the Force. In either case, the path was set. My friend, I'm afraid you won't be able to deviate from the path you've chosen. Seeking him through the Force...You've committed to him, in a way...and I hope he's worth it.

She felt a slight shudder in the Force, and Serena smiled. She opened her eyes and looked at Zana, "You're right. I've committed to him. An unlikely friendship, I think, with me erecting barriers and him putting up mental Force shields--against one another." She was still smiling, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Look, Zana, I'll be back later. Tell Tren I'm sorry about the soda, it'll have to wait." She stood and left Zana sitting alone in the cafe before she could protest.

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

Serena.

As she left the cafe, Serena was careful not to look at Galen and focused on controlling each step, trying not to look too eager to leave. Zana watched her go; Serena could feel her friend's eyes on her back as she walked away. You've committed to him... She had--more than Zana could know.

When she reached out to Galen through the Force, Serena had lingered in her Force-sense, outside the shield Galen used to block her. And suddenly, she was actually standing there, next to the green glassy wall extending as high as she could see into a black sky. It was smooth and warm to the touch, glowing green with an inner light, and Serena felt she could stay there forever. She belonged there. Sensing someone nearby, she turned to look for him. He was standing nearby, watching her from behind the glass. They moved closer, face to face, separated by the thin green wall. "Galen."

"Why are you here?"

She swallowed, took a deep breath, and haltingly began: "I tried to avoid this...I tried to block my thoughts of you with internal barriers, and I tried simply staying in my room...I tried to follow the code, dismissing all emotion and passion for peace and serenity..." A tear rolled down her left cheek and Galen raised a hand as to wipe it away, but his hand met glass. He left it there, his palm flat against the warm, pulsing barrier. "I tried to avoid you." She put her own hand to the glass, palm-to-palm with Galen across the Force shield. "And I can't..." The tears were flowing freely now, and Serena didn't care if she appeared weak or desperate. She was weak and desperate, apparently. Galen continued to watch her, a pained look on his face, trying to make sense of the situation.

"What do you want me to do? We cannot be together. You know that; I know that. Everyone knows about your friends, Tren and..." He groped for the name. "...Zana? But, they aren't serious. There's nothing between them, only friendship and a mutual need for release. They are 'lovers' no more than any Jedi. But..." He paused to look Serena in the eye. "...that's something we can never have." And Serena knew it was true, even as he spoke it out loud. Despite having only met once before, they were already so much more than Zana and Tren, though she couldn't pinpoint why or how.

"Can I see you, Galen? Please, just for a minute…Meet me on the plains, by the ruins to the northeast. I'd like to talk."

He hesitated for only a moment: "Okay." The green glass shattered and fell all around them. Serena found herself palm-to-palm, face-to-face with Galen, who looked just as bewildered as she. Then--tentatively--he laced his fingers in hers and lowered their hands. His free hand reached up to move a stray lock out of her face and it lingered on her cheek. "I'll meet you there in two hours." He examined her face, burning it into his memory. And then it all faded to black and Serena felt a lurch as she returned to herself. When she opened her eyes, Zana was looking at her in the strangest way, but Serena could only smile at her friend.

"You're right. I've committed to him..." She excused herself from Zana's company and returned to her dormitory to meditate.

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

Galen.

She had been looking at him when he entered. And in the interest of fulfilling his promise to himself, Galen only took one look. Her hair was different, not sweaty and lopsided as he'd seen it before. She had left it down today, in curly black waves over her shoulders and down her back; a few loose curls framed her face. She looked like a finely crafted doll, but he knew the power in one flick of her lightsaber and pitied the man who ever decided to underestimate her. Thankful for the inner calm of meditation, Galen did not feel the well of emotions surge at her presence as they had the night before. He sat down with his back to her. One step at a time... He was confident that--eventually--he would be able to speak to her without losing his emotional calm. It would just take time and, for now, he needed to stay away from her.

This was harder said than done. Without warning, Galen could feel Serena in his mind. She was pushing against his mental defenses, making it very difficult not to think about her. When he was plunged into the Force-powered illusion, it was unexpected but not unwelcome. If she wanted to confront him, it was probably best to deal with it now. The transition was instantaneous and suddenly he was standing behind a green Force shield in an apparent illusion of his mind, watching her admire the craftsmanship of the green glowing wall. She really was beautiful and he fought a sudden urge to call out to her. She snapped her head in his direction and there was no denying that she had seen him. Reluctantly, Galen walked toward the glass. He wanted to ask her what she was doing in his fracking head! What right did she have? But, face-to-face across the glass, the only thing he could think of was how much he wanted to cross that barrier and hold her.

Then she spoke, and he returned to his senses, "Why are you here?" He hadn't meant to sound so harsh, but the words didn't seem to want to come out. She looked slightly hurt, and nervous.

"I tried to avoid this...I tried to follow the code...I tried to avoid you...And I can't..." With those words she had spoken his own heart and he reached up to comfort her by wiping away her tears. His hand met the glass instead, and the warm pulsing gave him a mental ground.

He used Tren and her friend as an example, desperately trying to convince her, and himself, that they could never be together in that half-way, empty, passionless way. He wanted to cross the barrier, kiss her, show her the only way they could be together; but, his Jedi training wouldn't allow it. He began mentally reciting the code while they stood silently watching one another across the green glass. When she finally spoke again, Galen knew he had to choose. He couldn't just continue denying it while admiring her from a far. It had to be all or nothing because if he gave her his heart, it was for keeps. The need arose in him, mirroring the night at the cafe, and he knew they must meet. That there really had been no choice, and, not for the first time, he wondered if the Force was guiding him or if that was simply a convenient excuse. In reply to her request, he managed to say, "Okay."

The glass crashed and whirled around them as it fell, reminding him of Master Vandar's lesson regarding swirling Force. What was done, was done; the barrier was down and his last defense again his feelings toward her had shattered. When everything faded to black, he was shocked to open his eyes onto the harsh light of the real world.

After Serena had been gone for a while, Galen Malak stood and quietly slipped out of the cafe. Zana watched him go, as well, and wondered exactly where this was going. Under her breath, she couldn't help but mutter, "He's committed to you, as well. May the Force be with you."