Chapter 4

Allysia recovered from her miscarriage and two weeks later, she was back to her studies and duties full time in the Healer's wing. She was progressing so well that she was nearing the time of her trials to become a full-fledged Jedi Healer.

Six months after her ordeal with Xanatos, she was finally released from the care of the soul healers and allowed to take her trials, which included a lightsaber sparring duel to prove her agility in hostile situations, and a mock healing emergency to demonstrate her abilities of healing. She passed with flying colors and became the youngest Jedi Healer to be conferred a Knight. Elena took her trials two weeks later and joined the ranks as well.

The next three years passed so quickly that the two friends wondered where the time went. Since there were many disturbances and disputes that called for the Jedi Order's attention, it wasn't surprising that most of their time was taken up mending the Jedi Knights and Padawans returning from successful missions. In fact, because Master Tahl spent so much time in the Healer's wing, either for herself or for her Padawan, she became close to the two young healers.

Before long, it was time for Tahl to undergo a new mission, and she told her younger friends that she was being assigned to New Apsolon, a planet in the Outer Rim, and she had made it clear that she was to take this trip solo.

"You're not even taking Bant with you?" Elena asked in concern.

"No, I fear it may be too dangerous for her. New Apsolon's democratic system is still in its infancy. So I made a judgment call."

The two healers nodded. "Come by before you leave so we can say goodbye," Allysia pleaded. In the time she'd gotten to know the older Jedi, she'd become like a mother to her.

The older woman smiled. "You know I will." Patting Allysia's cheek, she turned and left. Once she was gone, Elena turned to Allysia, her face troubled.

"I have a bad feeling about this," she murmured.

"What do you mean?" Allysia asked.

"I just have this feeling that something bad is going to happen to her on this mission. Maybe we should talk to Master Jinn, see if he'll be able to convince the Council to let him accompany her this time." It was certainly no secret the two Jedi Masters were lovers and had been for a long time. It was only recently that attachments had begun to be allowed, and Qui-Gon and Tahl's relationship was one of the first to be approved by the Council.

Just then, sixteen-year-old Obi-Wan Kenobi came in, cradling his arm. "Have some problems sparring again?" Elena asked as she rolled up the sleeve to find a mild burn on the left forearm, her concerns for Tahl pushed to the backburner for the moment.

"You could say that," the youngster quipped. "It's more like the remote is getting smarter than me."

"You used the helmet that blocks your sight again, didn't you," Elena guessed.

"Of course; that's how we're trained." Obi-Wan looked at her, slightly insulted. "My master says that my eyes could betray me so I shouldn't trust them so much."

Elena grinned and applied a bacta patch to the burned area and wrapped it in bandages. "This should clear up in a day or so," she said softly and sent him on his way. It wasn't until he was long gone that she thought that she should have talked to him about seeing his master about Tahl. By then, however, she was too busy with other patients to think about it too much.

Two weeks later, Elena and Allysia were on a star cruiser heading to New Apsolon, Allysia accompanying Elena reluctantly in the desperate hopes to keep her friend out of trouble. "This is such a bad idea," she mumbled. "Master Jinn is already there with his apprentice. They'll find her and she'll be fine; you'll see."

"It's just that I had these visions about her being in trouble," Elena fretted. "What if he doesn't find her in time? What if she's already—?"

"Bite your tongue, Elena!" Allysia snapped. "She's going to be okay. Master Jinn's already on New Apsolon and chances are, if she's been hurt, he's taking good care of her." Her tone gentled at the stricken look on her friend's face. "Look, she'll be okay by the time we get there, and I will have wasted valuable time I could've spent with the newest addition to the Jedi and his mother." The last words were spoken in jest and with a chuckle to them. A month before Tahl's departure, a young woman from Tatooine had come to the Jedi Temple for sanctuary, and it was obvious that she was in the final trimester of her pregnancy. Shmi Skywalker's father threatened to sell her into slavery if she didn't tell him who'd fathered her unborn child, yet she was unable to give him what he sought because she was still a woman untouched. Because of her delicate condition, she was put in Allysia's care, and the young healer delighted in caring for the pregnant woman.

Just three days before, Shmi had delivered a healthy baby boy that she'd requested be named Anakin, which was Coruscanti for "warrior". The young woman had endured her labor and delivery with courage, and as part of the new amendment to the Code allowing attachments, she would be allowed to live at the Temple and raise her child. When Allysia had left with Elena on this unauthorized rescue mission, mother and baby were doing fine and little Anakin was content and eating well.

She was startled back into the present when the alarm on the console went off signaling that they were coming up on New Apsolon and it was time to come out of light speed.

"Okay, we're coming out of hyperspace," Elena murmured as she carefully brought the cruiser out of light speed. They saw the planet of New Apsolon ahead. "There's a settlement over on the far side, and that's where I can sense Master Jinn."

"Let's land near the outskirts," Allysia advised her friend. "We don't want to attract the attention of the rebels. Can you sense Tahl as well?"

Elena looked at her for a long time. "Yes and time's running out. She's in a bad way. We need to hurry."

The two healers could feel Qui-Gon's anguish through the Force and were able to track him down. Allysia's heart sank when she found the Jedi Master cradling a semi-conscious Tahl in his arms. She hurried over. "What happened?" she asked gently.

Qui-Gon couldn't speak; his throat was constricted with grief, so Obi-Wan spoke for him. "We were too late, Healer Kai," the teen told her sadly. "Balog, one of the Absolute rebels, had kidnapped and drugged her. It's some sort of slow acting poison. Master Qui-Gon tried to heal her through the Force. I'm almost afraid he might use his own life Force."

Suddenly Elena moved over to where Qui-Gon was cradling Tahl in his arms and took the dying Jedi's hands. She closed her eyes and began to concentrate.

"Elena, what are you doing?!" Allysia demanded in a low voice even though she knew what her best friend was doing. She could feel it through the Force. Elena was trying to save Tahl by giving her all of her own healing energy.

"No, Elena…" Tahl mumbled weakly. "It's too late, child." Elena neither heard her nor heeded her and continued to concentrate.

Qui-Gon finally pulled himself out of his grief-stricken trance when he saw what Elena was doing. If the connection wasn't broken, Elena would not only give Tahl her healing energy, but also her life Force. And he knew it would be all for nothing, for the drug that rebel had given Tahl was lethal and no amount of Force energy would expel it. Gently laying Tahl down on the ground, he reached over and broke the connection. Elena slumped backward and would've collapsed completely if Allysia and Obi-Wan hadn't been there. The young apprentice shucked off his Jedi robe and placed it beneath Elena's head so she could rest and regain the energy she'd lost. Allysia also removed her own robe and draped it over her friend's body in an effort to keep her warm.

"Allysia," Tahl said weakly, startling her back into the present. "Come here to me."

Allysia scrambled back to where Qui-Gon was once again cradling Tahl in his arms. "Give me your hand, Lysia," the dying Jedi Master whispered, her voice becoming weaker. Allysia placed her trembling hand in Tahl's and the older woman gently placed it in Qui-Gon's free hand. "Promise…me you two will look after each other…"

"I promise," Allysia said, her eyes shining with unshed tears. She wouldn't break down in front of Qui-Gon.

"And I promise the same," Qui-Gon added, giving Allysia's hand a gentle squeeze, his own eyes stinging with tears.

"Don't weep, Qui-Gon," Tahl whispered. "I knew my time with you was nearly over. But I'm happy that I'm leaving you with a beautiful, sweet, and kind woman. Love her, Qui-Gon, the same way you loved me."

He nodded. "I love you, Tahl." A tear finally broke free and rolled down his cheek, trickling into his beard.

She smiled. "As I love you, Qui-Gon Jinn, always…" Her sightless eyes closed and she let out a deep shuddering breath.

It was over. Tahl was gone.