A Fate Unseen (A sneak preview)
The stronger you become in the Force, the more you can do, the more that's expected of you, and the less your life belongs to you. A Jedi trusts the Force and at first seeks other ways to resolve problems…But there are times when a Jedi must fight, and I fear those times will come all too often for us.
-Luke Skywalker
SP(I)SP
Zonama Sekot
Night had fallen over Zonama Sekot, the twin suns finally dipping below the horizon as they had done every night for the past seven years. In the great tampasi of the living planet, bioluminescent plants, insects, and animals, all came to life lighting up the world in soft hues of blue, green, and pink. Despite the hour, the tampasi was bustling with much life, a new chorus of many animals and insects taking the place of those turning in for the night. The creatures the Yuuzhan Vong imported had settled peaceably among the native lifeforms and were thriving, adding to the diversity of an already strange and unique world.
In the settlements, Yuuzhan Vong glow-bugs illuminated lamps and buildings. Unlike most populated worlds, there was no harsh artificial lighting bleeding up into the sky, no giant holo-signs advertising one product or another, or lines of noisy speeders still present in the sky. As night fell, the streets slowly emptied, workers returning home after a hard day's labor.
And as the daylight faded away, those on the planet were treated with a truly marvelous sight. Replacing the warm glow of the suns, was not a dazzling array of stars and planets, but a vast galaxy that filled the night's sky. For both safety and practicality, Zonama Sekot had settled in an exo-system that existed far outside the boundaries of the galaxy the Yuuzhan Vong had tried to invade. Every night, the inhabitants of the planet could see that galaxy above them; enthralling spirals of blues, whites, yellows, and purples amidst a field of the darkest of black. They could see every star system, every nebula and quasar.
They were on the outside looking in.
"Are we ever going to go there?" Five year old Cassa Solo asked softly, innocently reaching a small hand up to the distant galaxy. She was tucked once more between her parents, staring through the open skylight of their home at the night's sky.
"One day," Tahiri said softly, lightly resting her head against the top of Cassa's. "One day, Cassa. We'll go to Tatooine, to Mon Calamari, to Yavin Four, and all those other places your daddy and I tell you about in our stories."
"And see Ewoks and fish-people, and people with three eyes?" Cassa tilted her head up towards her mother, her emerald green eyes so like Tahiri's.
"Yeah," Tahiri nodded.
"And I'll get to see daddy's brother and sister, and grandma and grandpa?"
"They'd definitely love you," Anakin smiled supportively. "I know it."
Cassa smiled shyly, turning her gaze back up at the spiral galaxy in the sky in wonder. "It's so big. Have you ever visited all of it, daddy?"
"No," Anakin laughed softly. "I don't think anyone has."
"Oh," Cassa blinked. She then brightened, her curly blond hair framing her young face as she beamed. "Then we can go exploring together when we go back! Like how we did with Zonama when you took me to map the planet."
"We can definitely do that," Anakin shared a loving smile with his wife.
Cassa yawned a big yawn, rubbing at her eyes again. "Can you tell me a story, mommy?"
"Which one do you want to hear this time?"
"The one where daddy asked you to marry him," Cassa murmured, clinging to her mother's shirt. "I like that one."
"I do too," Tahiri said, running a hand through her daughter's hair. "Alright then, do you remember how it starts?"
"Uh huh," Cass nodded tiredly. "You and daddy, and Uncle Jacen and Auntie Jaina and Auntie Tennie just finished beating Shimrra. Auntie Jaina took a shuttle to the Chiss, and Uncle Jacen and Auntie Tennie went back to the Hapes people. Mommy, when we go to that galaxy are we going to go to Hapes?"
"Definitely," Tahiri laughed. "So the others went to their shuttles. And me and daddy?"
"Well, you and daddy…"
Anakin supposed he had been in worse shape before. Then again, having his leg skewered by a lightsaber and shattered with the Force wasn't exactly something he would want to repeat in the future. Bruised, battered, covered in grime, and exhausted; his battle with Onimi had taken a lot out of him, emotionally, physically, and through the Force. He was still amazed at the raw power his older brother had produced to quite literally vaporize the insane Shamed One.
Anakin had grown up with people telling him that he was one of the strongest Jedi out there, that no one had as much Force potential since his uncle. And then to nearly fall to Onimi, see his brother save him and wipe the floor with Onimi with seemingly little effort, it was a definite eye-opener. It was also a relief. Sure he wanted to win the war, beat Shimrra and Onimi and go on to live in peace. But he could already imagine the furor it would cause, the pressure it would create, had he been the one to land that killing blow. It was far better for Jacen to have that honor, to have the attention he deserved.
Call him a coward, but he had had enough of galactic politics and galaxy saving. Enough of people looking to him to make decisions that would probably get others killed. He himself was quite content to fade away, to have a normal life for once after all the pressure.
"Credit for your thoughts?" Tahiri asked, her head resting on his shoulder. She still had a nasty concussion from being kicked in the head by Shimrra, and she had only applied the barest of medical aid to the cuts and gashes that covered her.
They were lying next to each other atop the remains of Shimrra's citadel, waiting for the Veila to finish operations and pick them up. Jaina, Jacen, and Tenel Ka had all departed only moments earlier, leaving the two of them alone. In the meantime, they simply continued to support themselves using their bond; fingers interlaced and breathing almost synchronized.
"Just thinking about the future," Anakin answered.
"The future?"
"Well, now that the war's finally over, I think it's safe to start planning for it."
"So tell me about it."
"Hmmm?"
"What's in this future you have in mind, Solo?" Tahiri murmured, her eyes closed as she just focused on the warmth of his body and Force presence.
"You, mostly. Us," Anakin said honestly, giving her hand a small squeeze. He gestured with his head up towards the looming shadow in the sky. "Living there on Zonama Sekot. Relaxed, helping the Yuuzhan Vong recover from centuries of warring."
"Sounds nice," Tahiri sighed. "But won't you miss the rest of your family?"
"You are my family," Anakin turned slightly to kiss the top of her head. "Jaya will be with the military or wherever else she'll end up. Jacen will be going on his galactic sight-seeing of Force sensitive cultures, and mom and dad will still be mired with politics no matter how badly they want to retire. Nothing much will change."
"And us?" Tahiri's voice was filled with the same exhaustion he felt; both their bodies having been pushed too and over their limits during the fighting for Coruscant. "In this future of yours, you mentioned an 'us'."
"You, me," Anakin paused, a small rush of embarrassment heating his cheeks. "Any kids we might have."
"Oh?" Tahiri grinned slyly.
"Yeah," Anakin managed. His heart was beating quite rapidly from the emotions bouncing back and forth in their bond. "Tahiri."
"Hmmm?"
"What would you say if I asked you to marry me?"
Tahiri's eyes flew open as her sluggish mind registered his question. The words 'of course I will, dummy' were on the tip of her tongue. But then, when she went over his words again and realized what her dummy was actually asking, she raised an eyebrow at her boyfriend. Some part of her enjoyed the grimace on his face as he too reflected on his ill-chosen words.
"What are you looking for, prior approval?"
Anakin groaned. "That came out wrong."
"Try it again?"
"Yeah."
"On the bright side, you did have the sense to ask after everything life-threatening was finished."
"I was planning to ask you on the elevator ride to the top of Shimrra's tower, but Onimi kind of ruined the mood."
"You're going to make me be thankful of an insane Yuuzhan Vong who manipulated Shimrra into bringing their entire race to this galaxy?" Despite her words, the swooping feeling in her stomach made her quiver in silent anticipation.
"Would you rather I slipped a ring on your finger while you were sleeping?"
"Would you rather be kicked where you really don't want to be?" Tahiri mock-glowered.
"Can I start over, please?"
"Waiting."
"Tahiri."
"Mhm?
Anakin swallowed nervously, not sure why asking such a thing was so hard. They'd already become lovers, were best friends, and yet the words he wanted to say continued to get tied up on his tongue.
He closed his eyes, his heart and mind awhirl with emotions and memories. He could recall every moment he had with her. The first time they met—her strangely bare feet pattering on the ground and rapid-fire introduction—their adventures from dark side corrupted temples to Yuuzhan Vong controlled planets. The first time he saw her as more than just 'a friend', their first kiss, the first time they made love. She was his partner, his friend, the one who somehow banished is negatude with her cheerily chatty and barefoot ways, and had supported him no matter what. He owed so much to her, wanted to somehow put into words how he felt, but his normally brilliant mind failed him.
He hadn't realized that he had been thinking out loud, but a surge of emotion from Tahiri caused him to open his own eyes with a calmness that surprised even him. Looking into her wide and watery green eyes, Anakin smiled gently.
"Tahiri Kwaad, my best friend, will you please marry…"
Anakin was cut off as Tahiri crushed his lips to hers, kissing him fiercely and rolling on top of him in the process. His arms reflexively went around her and they held each other as the kiss slowly ended. He gazed up at her in giddy awe.
"…Me."
Eyes shining with happiness, Tahiri squeezed his hands and nodded once. "Yes!"
"And I haven't regretted that decision ever since," Tahiri finished softly, gazing mostly at her husband as she said it. Their daughter was fast asleep, wrapped up in physical blankets, but also in Force-created layers of their love for each other.
"I love you," Anakin whispered fondly, reaching over to squeeze her hand, the lambent gemstone of her ring glowing softly in the night.
"You too, Hero Boy. I love you too."
SP(II)SP
Ossus
The Jedi Praxeum on Ossus was truly an artistic wonder—its architectural style borrowing heavily from the curvy and wave-like influences seen in Mon Calamari structures, and the more utilitarian building-styles of pre-war Coruscant. The most interesting aspect of the Jedi Order's central academy was that the architecture was also influenced by Yuuzhan Vong building styles as well. The layout of the sprawling compound was very reminiscent of the spiral-galaxy arrangements utilized by the Yuuzhan Vong buildings and fleets, which oddly complimented the Mon Calamari nautical architectural features. Glinting brightly as they caught the sunlight, beautiful white panels curved upwards and outwards like sails sitting atop spiraling, undulating waves. Ridged archways rose up in an intricate pattern amid these white waves, spanning between specific points in the galaxy-shaped structure; the archways symbolically tying together systems that had historical significance to the Jedi Order.
And all around this gleaming white palace was a vast array of forests, caves, and mountains, as well as ruins of ages past. A group of Yuuzhan Vong shapers been heavily involved in the academy's founding, even staying on to help the natural flora and fauna, still stunted even after several millennia, thrive. Their presence, coupled with the talents of Jacen, Jedi Master T'ra Saa, and the other nature-inclined Jedi, made the planet a far cry from the desolate wasteland it had once been and more similar to the paradise it had been in ages past. Like the Ossus of the bygone era of the Old Republic, the planet once again playing an active role in the accumulation of knowledge and teaching of the next generation of galactic protectors.
As the morning light washed over the flowing white arches of the Ossus Praxeum, a small group of students were already deeply immersed in their studies.
"That's it," Jedi Master Tallisibeth Enwandung-Esterhazy, or Scout to her students, coached. Now entering the seventieth year of her life, Scout had remained with the Jedi Order despite having a home back on Mandalore. She, like many other Jedi of the previous Order, wanted to dedicate the last of her years teaching the next generation what she knew, sharing with them the secrets of the old order so that they wouldn't be lost forever. "Focus not on what your partner is already doing, but on what they will do."
Ben Skywalker, with the 'older' students, focused his sharp blue eyes on the ten-year old girl across from him. Kani Asari, his best friend and greatest source of distress. They tended to work well together on many assignments. That is, unless they were getting on each other's nerves and angering the other to no end; which seemed to happen just as often as them getting along. Whenever their instructors paired them together, they could only hold their breaths and pray for the best.
Unfortunately, Scout happened to not be as lucky. Kani had been angry with him since last night's meal, and he was still trying to figure out why.
"Ouch!" Ben yelped, shaking his arm off as Kani backed away from her lightning-fast kick.
"Concentrate, Skywalker," Kani said, her voice just a note away from mocking.
Ben shook himself from his thoughts and narrowed his eyes. Recalling the instructions Scout had taught them, he called on the Force and focused on his currently not-so-best-friend. The Force allowed him to sense the air around her, the slight tightening of her muscles as she coiled them for a strike. All at once he could see possible movements, hundreds of ways she could attack him next. He breathed in, released his breath, and tried to determine which of those possibilities was about to occur. Suddenly, one of the images he was seeing darkened.
At the last moment, Ben blocked another spinning kick and tried to dump Kani to the ground. The blond girl, however, used her moment to gracefully launch herself into a series of flips. She landed on her feet, tilted her chin up at him and flipped her hair, before dropping back into her combat stance.
"What'd you do this time, Ben?" Fourteen year old Azil Rhees, a Gran student, said lightly.
"I have no idea," Ben muttered back. Being a Skywalker meant he had friends in all age groups, and Azil was among them.
Using a Gran's innate ability to read emotions, Azil tilted his head. "Whatever it is, you both angered and hurt her. You should probably apologize."
"For what?" Ben said in exasperation.
"I don't know, but I've always heard that apologizing solves a lot of problems. I have to get back to the exercise, now. Master Esterhazy is glaring at me."
"Some help you are!" Ben muttered. He glanced back to Kani, who was awaiting him with a challenging lift of her eyebrow.
Doing his best to conceal his intentions, he began his approach. Her own purple eyes seemed to follow his every step like a hawk, glimmering with anticipation. As a war orphan and someone who had been traumatized by all the deaths she had felt during the Yuuzhan Vong War, Kani normally shunned violence and usage of the Force. But she never seemed to have any problem using it to kick his butt. They had become friends two years earlier, bonding over the fact that they had both been scared to use the Force in any significant manner for fear of feeling more death. They had somehow both helped each other work through their mental hang-ups, and since then would almost always call on the other if they needed help.
If only he could call on their bond and figure out what he did wrong, Ben mentally sighed. He threw out a series of rapid punches, using the hand-to-hand combat techniques also taught by Scout. She dodged the first few and then lashed out with her foot once more.
Ben had never been more grateful for the protection provided by the protective sparring equipment than he had been at that moment.
"Sorry," he managed, quickly pedaling backwards and out of range.
The amethyst fire he saw in her eyes died down slightly as she sent him a pouting glare. "You should be."
He wracked through his mind, trying to find out what about last night's conversation had upset her. Evidently she wasn't as patient and her purple eyes seemed to glow a bit brighter in the morning sunlight. Suddenly Ben found himself watching the previous night's dinner—in the very same courtyard they were now sparring in. He and Kani had become almost ghost-like in appearance, obviously invisible to last night's crowd as the dinner went on all around them.
He wasn't surprised. She had done this several times before; pulled them into the past. The first time it had happened, it had stunned him, but he has since grown used to it. His cousin Jacen had told him that the ability was a form of Flow-Walking, and that Kani seemed to be able to do it intuitively.
She had just explained that it was something she had always been able to do. As a young orphan girl, frightened by the terrors of war, she had wanted her mommy and daddy and had instinctively used the Force to try and be with them. Since then, under Jacen's guidance via comm-calls, she had gained some amount of control over it. But apart from moments with her parents, she could only use her abilities to go back, at most, a few days at a time. She had also only recently gained the ability to take Ben with her when she did.
And now the two of them strode towards their past selves. watching the dinner from the previous night unfold all around them. It was before the Mandalorians had arrived, while everyone was waiting for the serving droids to finish bringing out the food from the kitchens.
"So, I'm going to be going with my mom, and dad, and Janek, along with my aunt and uncle to see the birth of my cousin's baby. Isn't that cool?"
"Yeah," last-night's Kani said with forced enthusiasm. Unlike the previous night, Ben could clearly feel her emotions this time. Bitterness and jealousy mingled with sadness and hurt as her last-night's self kept up a brave front.
"Not sure when we'll be back. But I'll have my entire family there so it won't really matter. I mean, I get to see my mom and dad practically every day, but it's nice to just be with them without having to share them with the dozens of other students. And I almost never see Jacen or Jaina. It's been ages since we've had a family outing."
"Have fun."
"I will," last-night's Ben nodded eagerly. He continued to go on about he looked forward to seeing Jacen again, how he couldn't wait for his uncle to let him fly the Falcon, unaware of the pain growing in last-night's Kani's chest.
"I'm sure it will be great," this time last-night's Kani was forced to look away to keep him from seeing a tear form.
All at once, Ben found himself back in the Ossus courtyard. The two suns continued to shine above them, and the students around them continued to train, but they seemed to fade away as he became keenly aware of just how much he had hurt her. Her eyes were shining again, both accusatory, but also full of hurt. And he suddenly felt like the lowest of the lowest scum. Here he had been, going on about his family, about spending time and enjoying the break away from the others, when she really had no family of her own. When she didn't have that luxury to be zipped away for the birth of a cousin's baby, or have that uncle who spoiled her rotten.
Forgetting the exercises, Ben quickly walked to her and hugged her. She stiffened at first, but then began to sniffle as she fiercely returned the hug. "Come back fast, please, Ben?"
"I promise," Ben muttered, using their Force bond to communicate just how sorry he was for unintentionally hurting her. "The moment we leave Hapes, I'll have Uncle Han take me and Janek and mom and dad back here."
Then, as if a switched was flipped, they both froze. Shyly, and with heat rushing to their cheeks, they quickly stepped apart and tried to look anywhere but at each other.
"Time to change partners!" Scout called out conveniently, her amusement-filled gaze lingering on two of her younger students.
"We'll go to our spot after this?" Ben asked.
Kani nodded, wringing her hands. "Yeah. I meant it though, have fun with your family."
"Want a souvenir from Hapes? I mean, Cousin Jacen is the dad of the Queen Mother's baby."
Kani nodded again. "I'll tell you later."
And just like that, the two were an unbeatable team again, even if they had just changed partners.
SP(III)SP
Csilla
The House Nuruodo palatial estate deep beneath one of Csilla's glaciers hadn't changed one bit from the last time she was there. Chiss adherence to military and tradition ensured that the frozen grounds and interior were well-cared for and immaculate. Shades of blue, gray, and silver were everywhere one looked, keeping with the disciplined and ordered theme of Chiss culture.
Stepping off the underground tram-cart and onto the adjacent platform, Jaina released a breath of visible air. "Here we are again."
"Indeed," Jag said, noting the 'Astronavigation' sign above the door before them.
"I still can't believe the Chiss turned the hole I made in the wall during the war into another doorway."
"Standard Chiss efficiency. You even saved them the demolition fees of creating the hole in the first place."
"Right," Jaina smirked.
The two entered the room, following the various directional signs in silence. As they grew close to the observatory, they could hear two familiar voices echo down the stairwell.
"No! No! Don't do it! Please!"
"You have no choice in the matter. I am the one holding the blaster."
"Why are you doing this? My family gave you everything!"
"You cannot be that naïve. Your father has been manipulating my life since the start. If you won't help me, then you'll die right here like the pathetic excuse for a woman you are."
Jaina and Jag glanced at each other in bewilderment, and then quickly ran up the spiral staircase. They burst into the top floor, Jag with blaster drawn and Jaina with a hand on her lightsaber, both breathing heavily. The sight drew the both of them short.
"Really James, if you're going to help me read lines, can you do it with more emotion?" A completely unharmed and vibrant Wynnsa Fel protested, waving a datapad in the air as she lay on the observatory floor in some sort of 'princess' costume. "And I know that the script says something a tad bit harsher than 'pathetic excuse for a woman'."
"I'm not the actor in this room, Wyn," the translucent-haired James, said in the same dry voice he normally spoke. Lying on the floor with his head opposite of Wyn's, he was stiffly holding a similar datapad above himself; as if it were some type of alien creature that would devour him whole. Somehow, Wyn had managed to convince him to wear a modified Imperial Colonel uniform, complete with the olive green hat and rank insignia. "Besides, I was taught that calling one's girlfriend a 'whore' was generally frowned upon in most civilized cultures."
"This from the guy who makes me open my own doors and pull out my own chairs," Wyn said in amusement. "Really, how do you expect me to respond like I'm some kind of damsel in distress if you sound as threatening as my brother does during his little lectures?"
"Your superior acting skills. And we have company."
"Oh, hey Jag!" Wyn called out, tilting her head back to give her an upside-down view of her brother and his girlfriend. "What's with the blasters and lightsword?"
"Your superior acting skills," Jag said drolly, holstering his blaster and shaking his head. "It's been a while, Wyn."
"No kidding." Wyn pulled herself to her feet and promptly hugged her big brother. "Missed you."
"The feeling is mutural."
"Good to see you too, Jaina. This big lug taking care of you?"
"You are the second person in our family to ask that," Jag said, clearing his throat. "Is it expected that I would not know how to treat the Jedi Ambassador properly?"
"Nah, we trust you with the Jedi Ambassador, it's the girlfriend part I've had doubts about," Wyn smiled impishly.
"He's doing just fine," Jaina laughed, accepting a hug from the younger woman. "Jag and I saw your last movie, you did great! I still can't believe that your character is based off of me, and that your writers didn't completely screw up the portrayal of the Yuuzhan Vong invasion of the Ascendancy."
"Tell me about it!" Wyn practically bubbled. "And thanks again for the crash-course in Jedi knowledge! I actually knew what I was talking about when the director told me to 'sound like a Jedi and impress the seven hells out of people' during the ad lib portions. And the fact you even lent me your lightsaber for the movie! The director knows he won't get a better connected actress for your role, so I'm currently in negotiations to do a whole HoloNet series!"
"I look forward to the 'Adventures of Jayna Solus,'" Jaina said fondly. She gestured over to the still prone form of James. "You and James been doing well in the meantime?"
"Better then well," Wyn nodded eagerly. "In fact…Jag would probably want me to spare him the details until he's out of hearing range though."
"I'd prefer it if there were no 'details' in the first place," Jag groaned, trying to glare at the clone. James, however, was utterly immune; much like Wyn was. He instead casually moved over to a computer console, paying the Assistant Syndic of the CEDF little notice. Jagged looked helplessly at Jaina, who was too busy trying to hide her laughter to help. "You discression is most appreciated, however, Wyn."
"No problem, big brother. Oh, by the way, James has some news for you. Right?"
"As Assistant Syndic of the Astronavigation branch, I've managed to stumble across some very interesting findings," the Force-senstive clone began, leaning against a nearby computer. "I've heard it recently that we've been having a bug problem, so I went back to look for known Killik sightings." He reached behind him and absently tapped a few keys. The domed ceiling went black and a holographic image of the Unknown Regions appeared all around them. Several systems and hyperspace lines were illuminated in different colors.
"The Killiks are there?"
"Not quite," James shook his head. "Long-range probes and survey teams only found evidence that the Killiks passed through those zones. But look at where they are in relation to other known cultures."
"That's prime Vagaari space," Jag frowned.
"And the path they took at the southern edge is through Ssi-ruuvi territory," Jaina gestured to a second set of colors.
"The trails continue until the Outer Rim, Bakura-side and Esfandia-side," Wyn continued in a subdued voice.
"I really don't like what I think you're saying," Jaina clenched a fist. "Are you telling me that we have Killiks in the galaxy already?"
"These surveys are at least five years old," James nodded. "So unless the Killiks doubled back, yes. And given that there are no signs of a return trip, they've probably been active for quite some time."
"And how has no one picked up on this?" Jag traced one of the paths through the air.
"Each of these sightings are literally six to seven months apart, all in separate surveys and in different parts of the unexplored territories," Wyn answered solemnly, showing a serious side she rarely let anyone see. "There was no clear pattern, no reason to believe that the Killiks were up to anything suspicious, at least until the recent attacks. The fact that the Killiks weren't threatening Chiss space, or encroaching on our colonies also meant that High Command probably didn't give them a second thought. I mean, what are bugs to their new and shiny Star Destroyers?"
"Any more recent surveys?"
James shook his head. "Still compiling the CEDF information coming in from the latest attacks, but all signs say that the attackers utilized unstable hyperspace lanes that lead deeper into the Unknown Regions."
"More evidence that the attackers were Killik."
"Yes."
"There's another question that needs asking," Jaina said, the tension in her voice attracting curious glances from the others. "What happened to the Ssi-ruuvi Imperium and Vagaari Empire? The Galactic Alliance and Bakurans both reported that the Imperium went quiet three years ago. And we haven't even seen a single Vagaari saucer in five years. If the Killik's path took them through those territories…"
"The Vagaari and Ssi-ruuvi were either wiped out or became Joiners," Wyn finished.
"For once, I hope wiped out," Jaina shuddered.
James agreed with a terse nod. "If the hive minds have absorbed Ssi-ruuvi and Vagaari thought processes, the Killiks will have become a threat unlike any we've seen before."
SP(IV)SP
Denon
Even though the fighting was over, the drama wasn't over yet. Denon security authorities had been on scene for all of ten minutes when a second group of individuals arrived, flashed a badge, and shooed the local officials away.
"Interesting," Trista noted, standing by Zekk and Taryn in front of one of the dining tables.
Though they had decided to stick around as witnesses, they were quite the sight themselves. With the way they were positioned, it was almost as if they were part of a fashion shoot for some holomagazine.
Seated at the table, Zekk was covered from head to toe in dust and debris, his dark hair a mess. He was shirtless, having used his Jedi robes as makeshift bandages for several of the injured victims of the attack, so the dust only seemed to emphasis every muscle of his lean torso. He was flanked by the lethally toned and beautiful Zel twins, standing on either side of him like bodyguards; their form-emphasizing Rancor-leather dresses and black, knee-high krayt dragon leather boots, equally debris-covered.
None of the three had a scratch on them, however, which couldn't be said for their charges kneeling before them.
"Galactic Alliance Intelligence?" Taryn guessed, eyeing the newcomers in the same analytical way her sister was doing.
"They got here rather quick," Zekk commented, absently accepting a new shirt handed to him by one of the relief workers with a nod of thanks.
"The former Supreme Commander of the Galactic Alliance fleets, Sien Sovv, was just killed in the attack," Trista offered. "And the mercenaries, as poorly trained as they were, did have a strange amount of firepower."
"Well, we'll get our answers soon. They're heading straight for us," Taryn murmured.
A dark-skinned woman, her hair tied back in a professional bun, approached with a small entourage of formal-wear wearing individuals behind her. "Jedi Knight Zekk, Ladies Taryn and Trista Zel, I am Director Belindi Kalenda, head of Galactic Alliance Intelligence."
"What can we do for you, Director?" Zekk asked, standing.
"I merely wish to ensure your cooperation in investigating this tragic speeder accident that touched off a gas explosion," Belindi said directly, as if she herself was a Jedi impressing upon them the version of events.
"Speeder accident," Taryn repeated slowly.
"Yes," Belindi raised an eyebrow.
"Politics," Zekk said softly. "Cal Omas' cabinet is already in hot water for the Tion Hegemony and all the other problems. The capital can't be made to look vulnerable to those problems or he'd lose all credibility."
"Correct, Jedi Zekk," Belindi replied. "So does that mean I have your support in this matter?"
"Our new friends?" Zekk gestured to the apprehended thugs.
"We'll take care of them."
"Do you know who hired them?"
"We'll take care of it."
"That's a no," Taryn said, rising from her chair, her entire body seemingly coiling for a proverbial strike. Growing up in a society where lies and deceit were the norm, she despised cover-ups and purposeful misleading of the public. "What's to stop more of these 'speeder accidents' from happening, Director?"
"She does have a point," Zekk said mildly.
"Jedi involve themselves in investigations of local speeder crashes now?" Belindi challenged. "I would imagine your order is in just as much trouble as Cal Omas is. I don't tell you and your order how to become galactic pariahs and you don't tell me how to do my job."
"Then we're free to go?" Trista said, placing a restraining hand on her more excitable twin.
"So long as you know that if you say that this was anything other than a speeder accident you'll be arrested for treason, yes."
"We'll leave you to it, then," Zekk said. "You know our comm-frequency if you need to get in touch."
The trio turned around and calmly walked to the turbolift of the now ruined restaurant. Once the doors had closed, Taryn glowered at the plastisteel wall, seething. "A speeder crash? A speeder crash! Zekk, don't tell me that the Jedi Order's picked up a habit of lying to the general public now? I get enough lies on Hapes. If we don't tell someone and another attack happens…"
"Taryn," Trista said with patient amusement.
"What!" The red-head rounded on her sister.
"Has it crossed your mind that Zekk is a Jedi."
"I know he's one. What of it?"
"And Jedi can take information from people's heads if the safety of the general public relies on it?"
Taryn blinked. "Oh."
"Surely you wouldn't have let that pathetic excuse for a woman bully you, right?" Trista arched an eyebrow at their male companion; her words were every much a warning as they were a threat.
"You two have been a bad influence on me," Zekk sighed, nodding wearily.
"So," Taryn perked up. "Where are we heading to next?"
"Don't the two of you have a Queen Mother to protect?" Zekk reminded.
Taryn and Trista looked at each other, and then Trista pulled out a comlink. "Your Majesty, this is Trista."
"Go ahead. Is something wrong?"
"Jedi Knight Zekk has conscripted myself and Taryn on a mission of great importance. The safety and wellbeing of the people of Denon rely on it. Requesting permission to temporarily work in concert with the Jedi Order on such a matter."
"You have my permission to assist Jedi Knight Zekk on such a mission. I will be at the Jedi Temple after the Senate meeting, so you can find me there when it is time for us to depart."
"Understood," Trista said professionally.
Zekk simply hung his head, unable to keep himself from smiling in amusement. "Thanks Tenel Ka, I could use the backup."
"Will you be needing further assistance? Trista is not one to exaggerate the importance of a mission."
"Possibly, we're heading to the Old City," Zekk said into Trista's comlink. "Think the Jedi Order can spare a guide or two?"
"One moment…Jedi Master Klin-Fa Gi informs me that Jedi Padawan Rali Xici and Siare Amah are experts in the area. Where would you like to meet them?"
"Warehouse district, third ward," Zekk answered. "Thanks again."
"It is no trouble. Taryn, Trista, please see to it that Zekk survives this mission more or less the way you found him. He is a dear friend of mine and I would hate to have anything happen to him."
"You can count on us, Your Majesty," Trista said. "We'll contact you with the results when we're finished. Trista Zel out."
"You were saying?" Taryn said with a mischievous grin.
"Let's just find out where those attackers came from," Zekk replied drolly, the turbolift doors opening once more. He knew he should have known better than to try to win an argument with both of them. "We're fortunate that the Jedi Order doesn't have to take orders from GA Intelligence."
"We're not that fortunate," Taryn said, glaring back at the upper floors of the building. "If GA Intelligence was any good, we wouldn't have to be doing this."
"So you would rather our meeting for the first time in several months end at lunch?" Zekk said innocently, well aware of Taryn's feelings for him. It was something that had developed during his stay on Hapes those two years ago, and it surprised and flattered him to say the least.
But it hadn't always started out like that.
After the less than friendly meeting, the first in five years, the trip back to his ship was made in complete silence; the floor-to-ceiling windows offering him faint glimpses of the planet outside as a small reprieve. If Zekk didn't know any better, he could swear that he was feeling both shame and anger irradiate out from his guide, both aimed towards different targets. He didn't say anything though, and neither did she. In fact, it appeared as if the last thing she wanted to do was be anywhere near him.
"Five years. In that time, you could have at least left a holo-message, you know," Taryn said unexpectedly.
"Huh?"
"After we parted ways on Tatooine. I checked my message box almost daily hoping to hear from you. At first I blamed the downed HoloNet for the reason why I didn't even get a 'hey, how are you doing after getting your head kicked in' message. But when the HoloNet was restored, and still nothing?" There was a biting accusation in her voice, but her gaze remained locked firmly on some point ahead of them. "I eventually understood. I was being a foolish little girl. I was just a little girl to your eyes, a bother. One of the many forgettable faces you met as you zipped around the stars doing your Jedi business. Not like you had the time to let me know how you were doing. That you had survived the final battle when nearly three-quarters of your Order was killed."
"Taryn, it wasn't like that…"
"Did you know, I had to hear it from the media channels that you had survived the war? I needed to eavesdrop on an intel brief to the Queen Mother to learn that you were dating a fellow Jedi? Jedi Knight Marek was it? I don't know what Trista or the Queen Mother are thinking, but don't expect me to just spill my heart out to you because we've finally met again. We're not friends, probably never were."
The surge of bitterness and self-loathing took Zekk completely off-guard, almost as much as her words. As Taryn's rant echoed off the walls of the empty hallway, he could almost see the ball of hurt and anguish at the core of her being.
"Taryn," he tried.
"We're almost to your ship, Jedi Knight Zekk. You should be able to find your way back from here."
Before Zekk could take another step, things went from hostilely awkward to worse. A young Hapan nobleman appeared at the other end of the hallway and made his way towards them, his very aura projecting confidence and strength.
"Taryn," he smiled, blue eyes glittering charmingly.
"Zee," Taryn stammered. She seemed to freeze in her spot, her eyes darting back and forth between Zekk and the new arrival.
"I thought I heard your voice," 'Zee's' smile was every bit as attractive as the rest of him. Dark hair, sparkling eyes, he was physically fit and looked dashing in the deep blue clothing of a Hapan noble. Zekk didn't know much about this man, but ' Zee' already seemed to stand out from the usual Hapans he had met. "The Queen Mother told me I'd find you here. Are you having any trouble?"
"No, no trouble at all," Taryn said quickly.
"Okay. It's been three months, have you made up your mind yet? I know your sister doesn't approve, but…"
"I still need more time," Taryn blurted out. "Sorry. Now if you could leave…"
"Taryn?" Zekk blinked.
"Where are my manners?" the Hapan noble held out a hand towards Zekk. "Greetings. The name's Zedal AlGray, fourth in line to the Noble House of AlGray."
"Zekk, Jedi Knight," Zekk said, automatically shaking the outstretched hand.
"Pleasure, you know Lady Taryn Zel?"
"We've…met. You know her?"
"I should hope so, we're betrothed," Zedal said with a laugh. "Isn't that right, Taryn?"
"Of course not," Taryn laughed at Zekk, wrapping her arms around one of his in a playful manner, bringing him back to the present. "We barely get to spend enough time with you as it is."
"We have our duties, Taryn," Trista said dryly.
"Don't give me that, sister," Taryn shot back. "You're just as eager to spend time on a dangerous mission with Zekk as I am."
"Maybe not as eager as you," Trista muttered under her breath. "Some people shouldn't be mixing business and pleasure after all."
"You are such a Dug, Trista," Taryn rolled her eyes with a laugh.
Zekk just smiled. He offered his other arm to Trista, who raised an eyebrow but accepted it nonetheless."Come on, we have a planetary disaster in the making to stop."
"Just one of your usual Jedi missions, nothing special," Trista said glibly, the trio walking to a black, sleek Hapan speeder.
"You know, Jedi and 'disaster' aren't supposed to go together so easily," Zekk replied. "We're keepers of the peace, not the galaxy's saviors."
"Tell that to all the idiots who think launching a galaxy-destabilizing plan in the presence of the Jedi is a good thing," Taryn remarked brightly, inclining her head in acknowledgment as Zekk opened the speeder door for her, and then did the same for Trista. "Then again, you do manage to keep our lives interesting."
"I'll hold you to those remarks once we face whoever it is we're supposed to be facing," Zekk said.
"It can't be that bad," Taryn shrugged. "Don't worry, Zekk. You have me and Trista watching your back. Queen Mother's orders."
"Thanks," Zekk exhaled, settling into the driver's seat. "Well, let's see what the Force has in store for us this time."
SP(V)SP
Corellia
"Dad?" Jysella asked, she, her father, and her brother passing through the doors of her great-grandfather's estate. "Are we really doing this?"
Corran held up a hand, activating the estate's anti-surveillance network as the heavy wooden doors closed behind them. Releasing a breath, Corran made a sound of assent. "Yes."
"But Tenel Ka…"
"Jysella, you and Valin helped get the current Prime Minister elected, against my own wishes I might add," Corran said. They took their places around a dining table.
"Of the candidates for Prime Minister, she was the best option," Valin said defensively.
"Of the candidates for Prime Minister, she's still a politician, and a seasoned one at that," Corran corrected. "Both she and this Heritage Council of Hapes are taking a dangerous gamble, and she should know that. If it backfires, she could end up uniting the rest of the Galactic Alliance against the 'Corellian Aggressors' and breathe new life into Cal Omas' stint as Chief of State. Corellia has Adumar, Fondor, and countless other systems on their side. The Hapan Consortium has only just begun establishing firm ties with outside systems. Given how insular they are, I'm surprised at how successful their alliance with the Bothans has been. In any case, unless done right, this little coup the Heritage Council is planning might blow up into a full-scale galactic civil war."
"So why back Natua and Master Krahnn?" Valin frowned, alarm growing on his face.
"Because the coup is going to happen no matter what the Jedi say," Corran said sternly. "Both Jedi Knight Wan and Master Krahnn picked up on that in the meeting. Saxan and her Hapan allies are already in position to strike, going to us was just a formality."
Jysella felt the pieces click into place, her mind overclocking as she sought to condense all of the information of the past day. "It's better to remain in the loop than outside of it. If the Jedi are in a position to keep the conflict small by being a part of the conflict, we can steer events to avoid the bigger civil war this might trigger."
"Exactly," Corran said. "As unfortunate as it is, this situation will no doubt put us on opposite sides of the Jedi Council and our friends. But, apart from averting a civil war among the Galactic Alliance's allies, I sense something else at play."
"Something else?" Jysella blinked.
"Aidel Saxan, as skilled as she is, has been manipulated into this war without her realizing it. A war being driven by elements within the Hapan government. You heard the briefing, this Heritage Council tried to reach out to her predecessor four years ago, but he didn't accept their offer. A new leader, a new offer, and we have the situation we have now. Hapes is famous for their attempted coups, but they're also famous for keeping those coups in-house. They might hire one or two outside assassins, but they've never gotten a foreign government involved. Something in the Force is telling me that we're missing something, and only by participating in the events as they unfold will we discover what that is."
The sound of someone clapping above their heads startled all three Horns.
"Oooo, rebelling against the establishment. That sounds fun! Can I join?"
All three Horns immediately jerked in alarm, hands flying to their lightsabers as they turned their gaze to the rafters of the old estate. A single shadow was just barely visible in the twilight coming in from the nearby window.
The shadow was definitely female, and also definitely Twi'lek. The figure rolled off the side of the support beam and landed with a graceful flourish. The figure, despite showing obvious signs of dark-side corruption, wore a familiar black leather outfit and matching thigh-high boots.
Sunken yellow eyes gleamed as she delighted in their shocked expressions. "Tada, miss me?"
"Alema!" Jysella gasped.
"Alema!?" Valin blinked.
"Alema?" Corran was nonplussed.
"Yup, yup, and 'Hi, Master'."
"What are you doing here?" Jysella managed.
"What happened to your face?" Valin said, his brain still non-functional.
"Where have you been?" Corran said, faring no better than his children.
"Here to help, my job has really poor health benefits, and I've been around," Alema ticked off each question with a grin that stretched the lightning-scarred half of her face. The rest of her face was worse than gaunt, very skeletal in appearance, as if her skin was stretched over the very bones of her skull.
"You are a wanted criminal, you know that, right?" Jysella said, her shock giving way into disbelief and anger. "What in blazes are you…?"
"Hold that thought," Alema winked. A serious mask fell over her face as she bypassed Jysella and Valin. "Master Horn—you are a real Master now, right—anyways the people I currently work for are getting really concerned about the state of things. They don't like losing control of situations, so given my past ties to the Jedi Order, they felt that I would be better serving the cause if I went back. You Jedi are supposed to be high on forgiveness after all. I mean, Durron blew up a solar system but for a couple of years he was part of the galaxy's decision-making body. I would have gone to Anakin first, but he's kind of unavailable. I figured as my former Master, you'd at least give me some leeway."
"The people you work for?" Corran said suspiciously. "Alema, you bear all the signs of someone corrupted by the dark side."
"Uh huh," Alema glanced at one of her dark blue arms, the veins prominent. She then tilted her head back at Corran. "Yup. And?"
"Alema."
"Look, from what I hear, the Jedi are shorthanded as it is. You're going to need all the help you can get. Besides, given what you're planning, isn't it better for me to return and join you Corellians? It'll cement the 'we've gone rogue' angle you're looking for, and it allows me to stay out of prison, which is definitely a plus."
"You're going to have to do better than that, Alema," Corran said sternly, the shock of her appearance wearing off.
"I can always do my disappearing act and investigate whoever is behind this war by myself," Alema shrugged apathetically. "I'm only coming to you guys because I thought it'd be fun playing 'Jedi' for a little bit."
"'Playing Jedi?'" Corran repeated blankly.
"You said it yourself, Master Horn, I hardly look the image for goodness and all things Jedi," Alema did a little pirouette with her bony arms out above her head. "Come on, for old time's sake?"
"She is right," Valin said reluctantly. "I doubt Master Skywalker and the rest of the Jedi would fully believe that the Corran Horn has suddenly decided to go against the status quo. You were one of the first of this new Order, have a background in intelligence, even played the bad guys before when you were searching for mom. If the other Jedi don't believe it, then we're going to run out of room to maneuver real fast. She can give us that room."
"Always knew you were my favorite Horn. After Sella, and your mom, and your dad that is."
"Gee, thanks," Valin shot back.
"Anytime. So, Master. What will it be? Shall I slink away and you three forget you ever saw me?"
"No," Corran said automatically. He then took a moment to organize his thoughts. "No, you can stay."
"Goody!"
"But we do everything by the book," Corran said sternly.
"There's a book that tells you how to pretend to be renegade Jedi and launch a war where the other side is full of your friends?" Alema blinked owlishly. "I definitely have to read that one."
"You know what I mean."
"I'll be on my best behavior." Alema's face transformed into a wolfish grin. She spun around and whistled as she took in the rest of the estate. "Big place for Jedi. Do you really need eight bedrooms?"
"Just…" Corran rubbed at his face. "Just let me know before you blow something up or kill someone, or cause some sort of political disturbance or general mayhem."
Alema winked over her shoulder. "Hey, it's me."
"That's what I was afraid of," Corran sighed, his source of anguish now sauntering down the hallway, admiring the paints and other works of art along the way. "Do you have a place to stay at least? A legal place to stay?"
"Already unloaded all my gear in the guest room." The Twi'lek ran her hand along a wooden table, and then over a hanging tapestry, whistling a merry tune as she did. "Really nice house you guys have here. What're we having for eating?"
Valin cleared his throat. "That's up to Jysella's boyfriend."
"Friend," Jysella emphasized, shooting her brother a lethal glare. "He's just a friend."
"Again?"
"Val," Jysella growled warningly.
"Ooooo, you have a boyfriend!" Alema said eagerly, abandoning her perusal of the hallway and shooting an eager grin at the youngest Horn. "Is he a good…"
"He's a very good friend," Jysella turned her glare onto the Twi'lek, even as her cheeks reddened.
"Can't wait to meet him. It's been ages since I could just sit around a table and have a meal," Alema said perkily.
"Ages?" Jysella frowned in confusion.
"Last sit-down meal I had was before that mission to the Remnant on Mon Cal, with you guys."
"That was almost nine years ago!"
Alema's expression faltered for fractions of a second. It wasn't long, but the three sharp-eyed Horns picked up on it instantly.
"Alema?" Corran said, his voice gentle.
"It's nothing," Alema forced out an unconvincing smile, even as she hugged herself with one arm. "Can't believe it's been that long though. Now it makes me want to eat a meal with you guys even sooner. He going to be long?"
Jysella glanced at the nearest clock. "Tarc should be off-loading his last customers now, so in another half-hour or so."
"Well, if I've gone nine years without a home-cooked meal, I guess I can wait another half-hour."
"In the meantime, why don't you tell us where you've been?" Corran half-suggested. "You had a lot of people worried for you."
"Please, apart from you guys and Anakin and Tahiri, the rest of the galaxy couldn't give a bantha's hindquarters about me," Alema rolled her eyes. She softened the gesture with a faint smile and nodded once. "But I've definitely got some fun stories to share. Provided you guys tell me all about Sella's boyfriend. Sharing has to go both ways after all."
"Friend! And no deal!"
"Deal!" Valin said simultaneously.
Corran just held his head. "On a second thought, maybe we should eat first. Go on and finish settling in, Alema. I've got some unofficial calls to make."
"You used to be so much fun," Alema pouted at first, but then she shrugged, looking strangely guarded. "Let me know when Sella's friend arrives. I'll be in the guest room."
SP(VI)SP
Hapes
Jacen smiled tenderly at the sight of Tenel Ka cradling their newborn daughter against her. The peace and happiness coming off the normally stern Queen Mother of sixty-three systems was something he never thought he'd feel so openly from her. Never thought he'd feel himself. He used the Force to send both his daughter and his lover all of the love he felt for the two of them, and Tenel Ka looked up at him with affectionate gray eyes.
"Thank you, Jacen."
He leaned forward and kissed her sweat-slickened forehead. "Thank you, for giving us such a wonderful daughter. I can already see her as the future Queen Mother of Hapes. She's going to be amazing."
Tenel Ka gently looked at the sleeping form tucked protectively in her arm. The strongest of emotions were shining from her as she let her fingers caress the very soft skin of her daughter's cheek. "Yes, she is. Allana is so much like her father, strong in the Force."
"Like her mother too," Jacen kissed Tenel Ka once more.
"She comes from very strong families."
"Between Taryn, Trista, my apprentices, and our two families, she's going to have more than enough people spoiling her silly," Jacen chuckled softly. He looked to the healers who had helped with the birth. "Thank you, the two of you, for helping."
The Mon Calamari healer, Jedi Master Cilghal smiled gently. "It was no problem, Jacen Solo. The birth of a child is always a refreshing break from my usual duties. Especially when it is a child of two young Jedi I have had the pleasure of watching grow up into fine people they are today."
The second of the two medical professionals, Hapan doctor Lalu Morwan, bowed low. "Thank you for the honor, Jedi Solo, Your Highness. I am simply fortunate enough to be the first Hapan in the presence of the chume'da."
Tenel Ka and Jacen bowed their heads in turn, and Cilghal smiled warmly. "I will leave you to things, then. Your child is in perfect health, Queen Mother."
"And I will go let the media know that the line of succession is secure with the birth of your beautiful daughter. By your leave," the Hapan doctor bowed one last time, and then left the room on Tenel Ka's assenting nod.
At the mention of Allana, Jacen turned back to his daughter, lightly touching her seemingly impossibly tiny hand with one of his fingers. Allana reflexively gripped it and didn't let go. He swallowed heavily, his eyes flicking back up to her mother. "And you'll be fine caring for her?"
"It was what we agreed to, wasn't it?" Tenel Ka nodded hesitantly, using the Force to communicate her reassurance.
A night of passion within the privacy of the Queen Mother's quarters. A clear night's sky. A fresh breeze wafting in from the open balcony doors, cooling their sweat-slickened bodies. The room was dark save for the soft glow that emanated from the planet's seven moons and the dazzling aura of the Transitory Mists. Silent save for rustling of trees outside and the occasional call of a night bird.
"I could stay," Jacen whispered softly, hand stroking the toned stomach of the woman he loved. The life they had started together was extremely faint, but definitely present. "Stay here, on Hapes. Together we can raise our child together, be a family."
"We both know that would never work, my dear friend," Tenel Ka returned, her voice just as soft, but full of regret. "My duty is to Hapes, yours is to the galaxy as a whole. You deal with enough politics at the Senate, the last thing you need is to worry about Hapan politics, and the daily assassination attempts on top of that."
"Tiki…"
"Jacen, the galaxy needs you. You are meant for so much more than just one planet or cluster of systems. With your position, you can make the whole galaxy so much better than it is right now; do more for our child out there, than here on Hapes."
Jacen went quiet, staring up at the smooth stone ceiling of the royal chambers. It had been painted to resemble a Dathomiri night's sky, glittering stars peeking out against light wispy clouds.
"That's not to say I will not miss you," Tenel Ka whispered, giving his arm a hug. "I want our child to have her father in her life as much as possible. I want you to be in my life as much as possible. But if you stay too long on Hapes, you'll be dragged into the court intrigue and backstabbing that has become as much a culture on Hapes as it is its primary weakness. You don't need that distraction, not when your decisions affect things greater than Hapes. I will raise our daughter, and maybe by the time she takes the throne things will changed enough for her to actually be with the one she loves. To have that family we were denied because of our duties, because of politics."
"I know, but it doesn't mean I have to like that arrangement," Jacen sighed, continuing to touch his daughter both physically and through the Force. He had yet to lose that wonder-struck expression that had come over him ever since Allana's arrival into the world.
"The feeling is mutual. Were it possible I would rule Hapes with you at my side," Tenel Ka said, her voice catching slightly as she fought back a surge of emotion. "But the Force was kind enough to let us have this wonderful child. I do not wish to tempt fate any more than necessary."
Jacen swallowed heavily and nodded. "You're right. After everything we've gone through, I should be thankful just for being able to have the two of you. Are you ready for the others now?"
Tenel Ka tilted her head, somehow still looking regal despite being in a hospital gown. "I am."
Exhaling, Jacen reluctantly freed his finger from the tiny fist of his daughter and pushed away from the bedside. "Be back in a moment."
He strode across the room and the doors opened on his signal. Awaiting directly on the opposite side were Tenel Ka's loyal protectors and his apprentices. His two apprentices had been talking to Taryn and Trista in low voices, no doubt relaying what they were feeling in the Force. As they took note of him, four pairs of eyes looked up at him eagerly.
"Jedi Solo?"
"They're both okay," Jacen smiled reassuringly.
"Then we'll stand guard until you return with the former Queen Mother and the others," Trista said solemnly. "No one will get past us and harm your family; I swear it in the name of House Zel."
"Thanks. You don't have to be so serious though, Trista."
"Go get the others already," Taryn ordered, practically bouncing on the balls of her feet as she gestured to a room further down the hallway.
"Alright, alright."
Chuckling to himself, Jacen continued through the short hallway and to the nearby waiting room, a definite bounce in his step. The doors swooshed open, and expectant eyes all turned to him once more.
Smiling broadly he held out his hands at his family and friends. His parents, Isolder and Teneniel, Zekk, Lowbacca, Luke and Mara and their children, were all seated with equally wide grins. "They're both fine. Come on, let me introduce you to Allana."
"Allana?" Ten year old Ben Skywalker tilted his head questioningly. He was sitting with Jedi Initiate Kani Asari, one of his friends from the Ossus Praxeum, and they both hopped off their chairs to join the others.
"Yup, named after my little brother, and the founder of the Force Witches on Dathomir."
Jacen felt a small pang inside as he said it. He hadn't seen nor heard from his brother at all since the end of the war. Zonama Sekot was outside the range of any HoloNet buoys and the convoys that went to and from the planet were heavily guarded and top-secret due to the delicate nature of their presence within the galaxy. Added to the fact that his travels and his job as Jedi representative to the Senate had kept himself occupied, and he really didn't know anything about how his brother was doing outside of vague Force impressions. It was as if Anakin truly was dead to the rest of the galaxy.
As quick as the pang came, however, it disappeared as he forced those emotions away. Now was the time for celebrations of family present, not family lost.
"Jacen?" Janek Skywalker, Ben's younger brother, looked up at him with a small distressed crease on his forehead.
"Sorry about that," Jacen ruffled Janek's messy red hair. He sometimes forgot how empathic Force sensitive children could be to their surroundings. He made a note to remember that in the future. The last thing he wanted now was to hurt Allana with his troubled thoughts. He forced himself to smile again. "You're going to be an uncle now, Janek. Astral, isn't it?"
The seven-year old's eyes widened. "Wow, an uncle!"
"Yeah," Jacen chuckled as Janek ran off to tell his brother.
"Aren't they going to be second-cousins?" Zekk whispered.
"Shush, you try explaining complex kinship relations to a seven-year old," Jacen whispered back good-naturedly.
Reaching the door to the med-bay, the twins and two apprentices standing guard quickly bowed to the former Queen Mother and stepped back respectfully. Taryn activated the door panel for the small delegation, and the four waited until the group had entered before following them in.
Inside the med-room, a still glowing Tenel Ka sat with her daughter tucked against her, a tired but elated grin on her face.
"Mother, Father," Tenel Ka acknowledged her parents, unable to stop smiling despite the fatigue of childbirth. "Han, Leia."
"Daughter." Isolder stepped forward behind Teneniel. They were an interesting pair. Teneniel was once again wearing her standard Dathomiri leathers, but Isolder had on the proper dress of a Hapan noble. From the way they were holding hands, it was clear though that their absence from each other hadn't lessened the feelings the two had for each other one bit.
"Allana, these are your grandparents," Tenel Ka said gently to the sleeping child.
Teneniel rested a hand on the tiny bundle with the utmost of care, eyes briefly flickering close as she did. After a second, her eyes opened and she looked upon her daughter with kindness. "She will be a strong and wise ruler, Tenel Ka, like yourself. Always will she be surrounded by her friends and family, and be loved by her people."
Tenel Ka released a relieved breath. "Thank you, mother."
Teneniel smiled tenderly at her daughter embraced her and Allana in a hug. "You are everything I could have hoped for and more, Tenel Ka. I hope that your daughter will make you as proud as I am of you."
Tenel Ka couldn't help but shed tears of happiness as she nodded and whispered. "I love you."
"And I you," Teneniel and Isolder took a step back to allow Han and Leia to take their place. Both sets of parents exchanged smiles that were all excitement and joy.
"Congratulations," Han said with genuine happiness. "If Your Highness ever needs a royal babysitter, Leia and I would be happy to take over. We'll give the princess a ride or two in the Falcon."
Tenel Ka smiled broadly, laughing as soft as she could as to not wake the baby. "Hapes thanks you and will more than likely take you up on your offer."
As the grandparents continued to fuss and admire the newborn, the others gathered around a still bewildered Jacen.
"You're a dad," Zekk chuckled.
"Still trying to get my head around that," Jacen said, making a sound of amusement. "And don't forget, Zekk, you agreed to be Allana's godfather."
"Hard to forget that." Zekk slapped Jacen's back supportively. "Look a little happier, Jacen. This is the birth of your daughter here."
"My daughter," Jacen repeated with a silly grin, as if trying to get used to the words. "My daughter."
"[For someone used to handling living creatures and baby animals, you seem oddly conflicted by Allana's birth]," Lowbacca said good-naturedly.
Jacen rolled his eyes at his larger friend. "I know, but she's a bit more than a baby animal, Lowie. She's…well…a part of me. I can feel her in the Force, like a part of my heart. It's scary in many ways, and even though I told myself I was ready for it…it's just…wow."
"Welcome to parenthood," Mara Jade Skwalker said, her children now at Tenel Ka's bedside looking up at their 'niece' with amazed eyes. "You'll now spend the rest of your life either fearing for your children, wanting to wring their necks, or being so proud of them and being at awe that they came from you."
"Thanks Aunt Mara," Jacen shook his head ruefully.
"It's too bad Jaina couldn't be here," Zekk said. "Did she say why she couldn't make it?"
Jacen nodded. "Trouble between the Chiss and Imperials. According to her message, it sounded like the entire thing is a tinderbox ready for that one spark. She doesn't think she'll have any free time for the near future, but wished me luck and told me to send holos."
The doors to the med-room opened, and General Livette entered with a grim expression on her face, instantly casting a pall over the festive mood.
"General?" Jacen raised an eyebrow.
"I apologize for intruding on this happy occasion, but there has been an…incident."
Jacen quickly moved back to his wife and daughter's side to help shield the newborn from any negative impressions as the atmosphere grew grimmer.
"Proceed," Tenel Ka said with a curt nod of her head.
"Thank you, Your Highness. Just an hour ago, four Hapan Battle Dragons and their escorts were engaged and destroyed by a Corellian force of unknown size by the Relephon Moons. Details are still coming in, but the additional ships sent to the Relephon system report that the Corellians are no longer present."
"[Relephon, that's deep in Hapan space]," Lowbacca growled. "[What are the Corellians doing there?]"
"Unknown," Livette shook her head. "House AlGray, the house that controls the Relephon region, denies any knowledge and appears to be innocent in this matter. She has pledged her House's full cooperation. One of the Battle Dragons destroyed belong to her security forces. I am told that all hands were lost."
"And the Corellian ships? Were any destroyed?"
"From what the Ducha AlGray reports, only a few fighters," Livette replied. "The bulk of the Corellian force suffered relatively minor damage due to the surprise nature of their attack. We've sent word to Corellia demanding an explanation, and have received the usual stalling in response."
The thick tension in the air was felt by all as they all knew just how serious the situation had become. If Tenel Ka failed to retaliate, members of the nobility would jump on this as a moment of weakness and try and remove her from power. If Tenel Ka did retaliate, war with the Corellians was unavoidable. The timing of the attack, pretty much at the same moment she was giving birth to her daughter, was suspect, but there was little she could do about that now.
"General Livette, ready the Royal Navy and reinforce all outlying sectors. Let them know that deadly force is authorized should they encounter any Corellian military vessels. Let the Corellians know this as well, their provocations have gone on long enough."
SP(Sneak Peak End)SP
A\N: And there you go. Each part is a snippet from a different chapter of A Fate Unseen! As seen here, the chronological order of events will not match up to the order of the chapters. Each chapter will focus on advancing a storyline surrounding one place or character. Events will sometimes coincide with one and other, however, giving you a look at two different sides of the same conflict (Hapans and Corellians as an example). For the most part, there will be six small story/character arcs within three larger story arcs, in one central plot. Yes, I've finally lost it, just keep swimming, just keep swimming…
So, until November, this is An Origami Fish, thanking you all once more and signing off!