Previously on Tahiri's Secret...
Jaina used the Force to probe Tahiri's feelings. During her search she
detected another presence. One oddly familiar yet just beyond
recognition.
"Wh-what was that?" Jaina's puzzlement sought an answer but something
was holding her back. Understanding dawned. "That force signature.
It's almost exactly like ..."
"Anakin," they said together.
---------
CHAPTER 9
"How?"
Tahiri led Jaina to a nearby grassy patch. She sat down and waited for Jaina to do the same.
"After the fighting was over, I had nothing to distract me. I kept having these dreams of Anakin. As if he were alive. As if he had never died." Tahiri paused as she recalled the dreams. "He said he missed me." She gasped. "I miss him so much."
Jaina gave her friend an empathetic hug. "I know, we all do. But it was slightly different for you, wasn't it?" Tahiri nodded.
"Danni Quee and I became close while we were on Zenoma. Shortly before the Ceremony she visited me and said she had something that might interest me. The crew in charge of cataloging the Yuzhong Vong technology and data found a vial labeled 'Anakin Solo'. They later determined it was a sample of his DNA. She offered me the sample. Normally any such personal effects would be returned to the next of kin, but from what she had heard from Jacen, she thought it would give me greater comfort than yourself or your parents. She was right."
"The presence I felt. It's a clone?"
"Not entirely. The DNA was missing some genes. They used mine to complete the sequence."
Things were becoming clearer to Jaina. "It's not a clone. You're pregnant."
How? When? Where? Jaina's head was swarming with questions.
In contrast, Tahiri was the picture of serene. Jaina could just feel the easy smile her missing friend had lurking just beneath the surface.
"Don't start with the strong silent act. You've got a lot of explaining to do and I'm not letting you leave until I hear everything. And I do mean everything." To emphasize her point Jaina made herself comfortable on the grass and angled herself strategically so she could intercept Tahiri in case the girl considered bolting.
"Ok, I'm ready. Let's hear it."
Tahiri spent the next half hour giving her the highlights of the past three months.
----------
"Danni." Jacen prompted.
"What can I say. I made a decision and I stuck to it."
"That's it? That's all you have to say?" Jacen's voice was dead calm with no trace of hurt, condemnation, or sarcasm.
The lack of emotion troubled Danni but she stuck to her explanation. "Jacen, I'm a grown woman. I have my own life. I make my own choices. And I am responsible for the consequences of my choices."
Danni took a deep breath, took both of Jacen's hands in her own, and looked him straight in the eyes. "What is the consequence of my choice?" The question was spoken just above a whisper. There was fear and uncertainty in it as well as a hint of challenge.
"I don't know. I honestly don't know." As Jacen returned her gaze he felt the urge to probe, to take the answers he sought for himself, instead of waiting for Danni to volunteer them.
Danni saw the conflict, which gave her the confidence to go on the offensive. "What exactly do you know?"
"Not much really beyond what I've told you. Every time we talk about Tahiri, I can feel your discomfort. I know you've been hiding something, keeping a secret, but I don't know what it is. The only thing I do know is that the secret or part of it has to do with Tahiri."
"Your intuition is right as always. I had a part in Tahiri's disappearance, but the rest of the story is not mine to tell. I have been worried about her and am truly relieved that she's fine. Ultimately, though, she is her own person. She makes her own choices and has to live with their consequences."
"You know more than you're letting on."
"Maybe, but as I said before, it's not my story to tell."
Confusion and doubt began to creep into his thoughts of the woman before him. He needed time to sort through these feelings, decipher what they meant to him, his relationship with Danni, and his relationship with the Force. Something just wasn't right.
"I have to go. I'll be at the observatory or with my parents."
"Jacen." Her one word though said with little audible emotion was filled with much sentiment and unspoken questions.
"I'll let you know when we have more news."
With those parting words Danni found herself staring at an empty doorway.
----------
"I still can't believe it. You're pregnant!"
"You could always have a child of your own. I know a certain colonel who would be more than willing to help." Tahiri let her gaze wander towards the villa where she had heard the X-wing and clawcraft land.
Jaina followed the direction of her gaze and despite all her training, could not help the pink tinge that colored her cheeks. To hide the blush she changed the subject.
"Are you going to go back to Zenoma?"
Tahiri let out a sigh which was a mixture of wistfulness and contentment. "It's been wonderful, immersing myself in Yuzhong Vong culture, learning about that aspect of my roots. But the past few months have been wonderful as well, exploring memories of the Tahiri that was."
Tahiri wiggled her toes which caused sand to fall off. "I think I'll have to consider going barefoot more often. My feet are going to be sad when they have to go back into shoes."
Jaina laughed. Her friend's last comment sounded so much like the Tahiri before the war - the one who had to be forced to wear any form of footwear. The associated feelings overwhelmed Jaina.
"Tahiri, come here." Before she could respond, Jaina had her in a great bear hug. "You are definitely coming back to Mon Cal with me. No way am I going to let you and my little niece or nephew out of my sight for a week – no make that a month, months."
Now Tahiri was laughing as well.
"Family. Family is important in both my cultures. I look forward to spending the next year with family. My family." Tahiri squeezed Jaina's hand to emphasize who she meant by 'family'. Jaina looked down at their clasped hands, the famous Solo half-grin peeking out at the corner of her mouth.
"Mom is going to totally lose it when she finds out. If she hears you talking like that we had better break out the all-weather gear, cause mom will be crying a river of joy."
Jaina stood and started pulling Tahiri towards the villa.
"Jaina, can we keep this a secret a little while longer. I want to be the one to make the announcement in person."
Jaina stood silently as if contemplating Tahiri's request. "No problem," she waited a beat then added, "Sis."
----------
C3PO waddled into the common room of the Solo residence where the Solos and Skywalkers were passing time over a game of non violent holochess – though young Ben Skywalker was doing his best to compensate by attempting to eat the holographic pieces. "Captain Solo, you have an incoming transmission via the Hapan Royal Communication Center."
Immediately the room quieted. Leia looked hopeful, but her hand had Han's clenched in a death grip. Ever observant and prepared, Mara was the first to react.
"Han, they could have news about Jaina and Jag or about Tahiri. Leia, you should let go of Han so he can receive the transmission and find out what is going on over there."
Leia snapped out of her daze and released Han. "You're right Mara. I need to stop worrying. It doesn't do any good."
"You're right as well Leia, but I can empathize. Every time I'm away from Ben I worry, too." She caught her son up into a playful hug.
"Mama, you're squishing me," he giggled as he tried to squirm out of his mother's arms. The more he wriggled, the more Mara's clothes tickled his bare skin setting off greater fits of giggles. By the time he finally escaped Han was back.
"They found Tahiri. She's been on Hapes. Jaina said that they'll explain everything once they get back."
"Did you see them? Are they okay?" Leia asked anxiously.
Han shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "The signal was weak - no video just audio. But Jaina said they're fine. We just have to trust her until we can see for ourselves. They'll be here as soon as they can."
"Well, in the mean time someone has to find Jacen and let him known the good news," Mara said, once again keeping things moving while they waited.
----------
"Good evening, ladies," Jag greeted ceremoniously as he placed their meals in front of them. His formal behavior sounded out of place when they were eating from their laps in the comm center of villa, but then again, that was one of the things that made Jag so endearing.
"So who do you have to contact next?" Jag asked as he took the seat next to Jaina.
"Tenel Ka," Jaina replied around a mouthful of local meat prepared Chiss style. "Hmm, this fusion cuisine taste great. Why don't you ever cook for me, huh?" She took another big bite of her delicious meal. "How come Tahiri gets special treatment?" She asked teasingly.
"Because she asked. Besides, I thought you liked military rations and canteen food."
Jaina stuck out her tongue at him. Quite a feat considering the amount of food she had in her mouth.
"Why don't I make the call, so two of you can continue this little love fest," Tahiri offered. She set aside her plate and began to key in the transmission code for Tenel Ka's private link.
In the time she had been on this Hapan moon she had managed to avoid most of the machines in the villa, a lot of which were situated in the comm center. She no longer thought of them as abominations, but she still had a preference for using biological devices.
Her discomfort eased when Tenel Ka's holographic figure appeared before her.
"Queen Mother Tenel Ka." Her tone was appropriately formal, a result of the strict Yuzhong Vong hierarchy Riina was accustomed to, but there was a touch was levity, revealing the familiarity and friendship the two Jedi shared.
"Thank you for the sanctuary you have granted me. My time in Hapes is over. I hope you will accept my invitation to return with us to Mon Cal. I will explain everything then."
"Tahiri. Fact, as your friend I accept. Fact, as Queen Mother I must decline. There are duties to fulfill. I will send a cruiser to take you home."
"Thank you."
Tenel Ka nodded before ending the transmission.
"Tenel Ka sends her love and a cruiser. She's sorry she can't come but queenly duties call and I think she's avoiding Jacen."
Jag who had heard the earlier conversation seemed a little puzzled by Tahiri's paraphrase.
Noting the trouble Jag had matching the two versions of the conversation, Jaina took pity on him and explained. "Tenel Ka's a warrior first and foremost. Economy of words and all that. You have to fill in the emotions."
That was enough to settle Jag's need for structure and consistency. "Okay then, when do we leave."
Tahiri laughed. While Jag's words indicated he readiness to leave, his actions said otherwise. He had grabbed Jaina around the waist and pulled her to his side. They were now cuddled together, though Tahiri was sure both would deny it if told they were confronted with the fact.
That was what she had missed – live interaction, someone to love and be loved by. Her hands went to the life she held within her. In a few months she would have her own Anakin to cuddle. She would be able to see him, touch him, hold him, kiss him, love him.
Just a few more months...
----------
A/n: I think this is the longest chapter I have ever written. There's more to come so keep checking for the latest installment of Tahiri's Secret.
Thanks goes to Aragorn821 whose review got the creative juices following for this chapter.
The more reviews I get the faster I write so - Don't forget to R&R.
P/s: trying to rectify the paragraph break which doesn't seem to register when I submit the story to fanfiction, so bear with me. Apologies to those who had to read the chapter without section breaks.
Jaina used the Force to probe Tahiri's feelings. During her search she
detected another presence. One oddly familiar yet just beyond
recognition.
"Wh-what was that?" Jaina's puzzlement sought an answer but something
was holding her back. Understanding dawned. "That force signature.
It's almost exactly like ..."
"Anakin," they said together.
---------
CHAPTER 9
"How?"
Tahiri led Jaina to a nearby grassy patch. She sat down and waited for Jaina to do the same.
"After the fighting was over, I had nothing to distract me. I kept having these dreams of Anakin. As if he were alive. As if he had never died." Tahiri paused as she recalled the dreams. "He said he missed me." She gasped. "I miss him so much."
Jaina gave her friend an empathetic hug. "I know, we all do. But it was slightly different for you, wasn't it?" Tahiri nodded.
"Danni Quee and I became close while we were on Zenoma. Shortly before the Ceremony she visited me and said she had something that might interest me. The crew in charge of cataloging the Yuzhong Vong technology and data found a vial labeled 'Anakin Solo'. They later determined it was a sample of his DNA. She offered me the sample. Normally any such personal effects would be returned to the next of kin, but from what she had heard from Jacen, she thought it would give me greater comfort than yourself or your parents. She was right."
"The presence I felt. It's a clone?"
"Not entirely. The DNA was missing some genes. They used mine to complete the sequence."
Things were becoming clearer to Jaina. "It's not a clone. You're pregnant."
How? When? Where? Jaina's head was swarming with questions.
In contrast, Tahiri was the picture of serene. Jaina could just feel the easy smile her missing friend had lurking just beneath the surface.
"Don't start with the strong silent act. You've got a lot of explaining to do and I'm not letting you leave until I hear everything. And I do mean everything." To emphasize her point Jaina made herself comfortable on the grass and angled herself strategically so she could intercept Tahiri in case the girl considered bolting.
"Ok, I'm ready. Let's hear it."
Tahiri spent the next half hour giving her the highlights of the past three months.
----------
"Danni." Jacen prompted.
"What can I say. I made a decision and I stuck to it."
"That's it? That's all you have to say?" Jacen's voice was dead calm with no trace of hurt, condemnation, or sarcasm.
The lack of emotion troubled Danni but she stuck to her explanation. "Jacen, I'm a grown woman. I have my own life. I make my own choices. And I am responsible for the consequences of my choices."
Danni took a deep breath, took both of Jacen's hands in her own, and looked him straight in the eyes. "What is the consequence of my choice?" The question was spoken just above a whisper. There was fear and uncertainty in it as well as a hint of challenge.
"I don't know. I honestly don't know." As Jacen returned her gaze he felt the urge to probe, to take the answers he sought for himself, instead of waiting for Danni to volunteer them.
Danni saw the conflict, which gave her the confidence to go on the offensive. "What exactly do you know?"
"Not much really beyond what I've told you. Every time we talk about Tahiri, I can feel your discomfort. I know you've been hiding something, keeping a secret, but I don't know what it is. The only thing I do know is that the secret or part of it has to do with Tahiri."
"Your intuition is right as always. I had a part in Tahiri's disappearance, but the rest of the story is not mine to tell. I have been worried about her and am truly relieved that she's fine. Ultimately, though, she is her own person. She makes her own choices and has to live with their consequences."
"You know more than you're letting on."
"Maybe, but as I said before, it's not my story to tell."
Confusion and doubt began to creep into his thoughts of the woman before him. He needed time to sort through these feelings, decipher what they meant to him, his relationship with Danni, and his relationship with the Force. Something just wasn't right.
"I have to go. I'll be at the observatory or with my parents."
"Jacen." Her one word though said with little audible emotion was filled with much sentiment and unspoken questions.
"I'll let you know when we have more news."
With those parting words Danni found herself staring at an empty doorway.
----------
"I still can't believe it. You're pregnant!"
"You could always have a child of your own. I know a certain colonel who would be more than willing to help." Tahiri let her gaze wander towards the villa where she had heard the X-wing and clawcraft land.
Jaina followed the direction of her gaze and despite all her training, could not help the pink tinge that colored her cheeks. To hide the blush she changed the subject.
"Are you going to go back to Zenoma?"
Tahiri let out a sigh which was a mixture of wistfulness and contentment. "It's been wonderful, immersing myself in Yuzhong Vong culture, learning about that aspect of my roots. But the past few months have been wonderful as well, exploring memories of the Tahiri that was."
Tahiri wiggled her toes which caused sand to fall off. "I think I'll have to consider going barefoot more often. My feet are going to be sad when they have to go back into shoes."
Jaina laughed. Her friend's last comment sounded so much like the Tahiri before the war - the one who had to be forced to wear any form of footwear. The associated feelings overwhelmed Jaina.
"Tahiri, come here." Before she could respond, Jaina had her in a great bear hug. "You are definitely coming back to Mon Cal with me. No way am I going to let you and my little niece or nephew out of my sight for a week – no make that a month, months."
Now Tahiri was laughing as well.
"Family. Family is important in both my cultures. I look forward to spending the next year with family. My family." Tahiri squeezed Jaina's hand to emphasize who she meant by 'family'. Jaina looked down at their clasped hands, the famous Solo half-grin peeking out at the corner of her mouth.
"Mom is going to totally lose it when she finds out. If she hears you talking like that we had better break out the all-weather gear, cause mom will be crying a river of joy."
Jaina stood and started pulling Tahiri towards the villa.
"Jaina, can we keep this a secret a little while longer. I want to be the one to make the announcement in person."
Jaina stood silently as if contemplating Tahiri's request. "No problem," she waited a beat then added, "Sis."
----------
C3PO waddled into the common room of the Solo residence where the Solos and Skywalkers were passing time over a game of non violent holochess – though young Ben Skywalker was doing his best to compensate by attempting to eat the holographic pieces. "Captain Solo, you have an incoming transmission via the Hapan Royal Communication Center."
Immediately the room quieted. Leia looked hopeful, but her hand had Han's clenched in a death grip. Ever observant and prepared, Mara was the first to react.
"Han, they could have news about Jaina and Jag or about Tahiri. Leia, you should let go of Han so he can receive the transmission and find out what is going on over there."
Leia snapped out of her daze and released Han. "You're right Mara. I need to stop worrying. It doesn't do any good."
"You're right as well Leia, but I can empathize. Every time I'm away from Ben I worry, too." She caught her son up into a playful hug.
"Mama, you're squishing me," he giggled as he tried to squirm out of his mother's arms. The more he wriggled, the more Mara's clothes tickled his bare skin setting off greater fits of giggles. By the time he finally escaped Han was back.
"They found Tahiri. She's been on Hapes. Jaina said that they'll explain everything once they get back."
"Did you see them? Are they okay?" Leia asked anxiously.
Han shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "The signal was weak - no video just audio. But Jaina said they're fine. We just have to trust her until we can see for ourselves. They'll be here as soon as they can."
"Well, in the mean time someone has to find Jacen and let him known the good news," Mara said, once again keeping things moving while they waited.
----------
"Good evening, ladies," Jag greeted ceremoniously as he placed their meals in front of them. His formal behavior sounded out of place when they were eating from their laps in the comm center of villa, but then again, that was one of the things that made Jag so endearing.
"So who do you have to contact next?" Jag asked as he took the seat next to Jaina.
"Tenel Ka," Jaina replied around a mouthful of local meat prepared Chiss style. "Hmm, this fusion cuisine taste great. Why don't you ever cook for me, huh?" She took another big bite of her delicious meal. "How come Tahiri gets special treatment?" She asked teasingly.
"Because she asked. Besides, I thought you liked military rations and canteen food."
Jaina stuck out her tongue at him. Quite a feat considering the amount of food she had in her mouth.
"Why don't I make the call, so two of you can continue this little love fest," Tahiri offered. She set aside her plate and began to key in the transmission code for Tenel Ka's private link.
In the time she had been on this Hapan moon she had managed to avoid most of the machines in the villa, a lot of which were situated in the comm center. She no longer thought of them as abominations, but she still had a preference for using biological devices.
Her discomfort eased when Tenel Ka's holographic figure appeared before her.
"Queen Mother Tenel Ka." Her tone was appropriately formal, a result of the strict Yuzhong Vong hierarchy Riina was accustomed to, but there was a touch was levity, revealing the familiarity and friendship the two Jedi shared.
"Thank you for the sanctuary you have granted me. My time in Hapes is over. I hope you will accept my invitation to return with us to Mon Cal. I will explain everything then."
"Tahiri. Fact, as your friend I accept. Fact, as Queen Mother I must decline. There are duties to fulfill. I will send a cruiser to take you home."
"Thank you."
Tenel Ka nodded before ending the transmission.
"Tenel Ka sends her love and a cruiser. She's sorry she can't come but queenly duties call and I think she's avoiding Jacen."
Jag who had heard the earlier conversation seemed a little puzzled by Tahiri's paraphrase.
Noting the trouble Jag had matching the two versions of the conversation, Jaina took pity on him and explained. "Tenel Ka's a warrior first and foremost. Economy of words and all that. You have to fill in the emotions."
That was enough to settle Jag's need for structure and consistency. "Okay then, when do we leave."
Tahiri laughed. While Jag's words indicated he readiness to leave, his actions said otherwise. He had grabbed Jaina around the waist and pulled her to his side. They were now cuddled together, though Tahiri was sure both would deny it if told they were confronted with the fact.
That was what she had missed – live interaction, someone to love and be loved by. Her hands went to the life she held within her. In a few months she would have her own Anakin to cuddle. She would be able to see him, touch him, hold him, kiss him, love him.
Just a few more months...
----------
A/n: I think this is the longest chapter I have ever written. There's more to come so keep checking for the latest installment of Tahiri's Secret.
Thanks goes to Aragorn821 whose review got the creative juices following for this chapter.
The more reviews I get the faster I write so - Don't forget to R&R.
P/s: trying to rectify the paragraph break which doesn't seem to register when I submit the story to fanfiction, so bear with me. Apologies to those who had to read the chapter without section breaks.
