Bondmates and Soulmates
Chapter 1: Denials
I have received no more than one or two letters that were worth the postage.
-Henry David Thoreau
He sat in the dark holding HER letter again. He and Tahiri had talked about the whole thing already. It's why she had recovered so quickly. He had shown her that there were people in much more pain than her. At least she had the comfort that she was going to be united with Anakin when she passed into the Force.
He had no such comfort. His soulmate was still alive. She was also in charge of the biggest political viper's nest in the Galaxy, The Hapes Star Cluster. He understood Tenel's point of view on the situation. But in his opinion, the Jedi fearing people under her rule needed to get over themselves. Their leader was a Jedi and there was a strong chance that any of her progeny would have the potential to be trained.
Jacen pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration as his entry chime sounded. He knew who it was already. "Come in Tahiri."
"Hey where's the surprise if you always do that?" She joked with him. It was more of a bit of running humor between them now. There wasn't a Jedi that didn't scan visitors with the force since the war.
She noted the creased flimsiplast that he held in his hand. "Not that old thing again. Geeze you torture yourself way too much with the past. How long has it been now?" Her green eyes hardened with a slight bit of anger.
"Five... no six years today." He turned his back. They both knew he wasn't referring to the end of the war either.
"And you still haven't gotten up the nerve to challenge her decree?" She came up behind him and began to rub his shoulders.
He turned and gave her an imploring look. "I must respect her wishes." He left the political points out of it this time. They both knew those too well. As the new head of the Council, Jacen couldn't very well do much to straiten out his love life. The Council was recognized as a part of the republic; more often than not considered just one step over from the Defense Force. With Jaina's involvement with them, and his mother's former involvement with the government proper, his hands were completely tied.
"You could always take a leave of absence." Came a familiar voice from the door.
"But they would see through that like the ploy it truly is Uncle Luke, and you know it." He discreetly backed away from the blonde woman.
"Still you could do it and they would have no ground to stand on."
"Or he could always just sneak in... like you so often do Master Skywalker." Tahiri put in for good measure. She had turned as she said it, arms akimbo, apparently irritated by the interruption.
"I never sneak Tahiri. I just know when it pays to be quiet." He watched as her eyes narrowed at the perceived insult then he continued. "Actually I came to get the both of you. Ben wants his time with you now Master Solo. I also have some pressing business to discuss with you Tahiri."
It was then that the rather impatient child darted from behind his father. "Gee dad, I could have sent Tahiri to see you. It's not like I can't go nowhere alone." Irritation was etched in every inch of the child's bearing.
"The way you're acting right now says that you may have trouble with that one." Jacen admonished his younger cousin. "Now apologize and show proper respect when you do."
The youth pursed his lips. It wasn't as if they were in public. Tahiri was practically family anyway. But the stern look from both his father and his Master made him quickly regret his outburst of temper. "I do beg pardon for my rude behavior Knight Veila, and to you father. I spoke before I thought a mistake that can cause great repercussions if I am in the wrong company."
Both the men looked pleased with the apology, but Tahiri was rather peeved. "Thank you, Ben. But I think we both agree that it was unnecessary and that your Master needs to pull his light saber handle out of his rear." With that she headed out of Jacen's quarters, Ben was somewhat surprised that she would say that to his cousin. Luke waited to chuckle until he was out of earshot of the boys.
It took little time for the elder Jedi to catch up with Tahiri. He came along side her and got down to business. "Tahiri I've received a communiqué from a former student of mine. She expressed interest in having a small committee of Jedi come to test some children. In specific, she requested that you be sent on the team."
Tahiri narrowed her eyes as she let the implications set in. Then she closed them and took a deep breath. Once she had cleared her conflicting emotions she reopened the clear green orbs. "I would ask why she did not just send the matter before the council, but that would be a bit obvious wouldn't it?"
Luke smiled at how quickly Tahiri caught on. It always made him miss his nephew Anakin. It amazed him how similar the pair had been. "Right in one."
"Who am I going with, besides Condra, and when do we leave?"
"Well, Condra won't be going with you for one, and two I'm going to discuss with Jacen about having someone else take over her one on one training." One look silenced her when she opened her mouth to protest. "The only stipulation that she made was that you have your trainee reassigned so you would be free to take another. As for the others, Zekk and Trenio will be going and that is the team. You will be leaving as soon as the next transport can be arranged."
"I will go prepare then, Master." She bowed her head in respect and headed off.
She wanted to argue the point about sending males on the trip. The Cluster was known to be a matriarchal society. The only thing the men were in charge of was the fighting. Even then they needed the absolute approval of the Queen Mother. Not a great place to be taking a man. Even if he were friends with the ruler and especially not when that person was a good friend to said ruler's ex-sweetheart.
"Did I do it right?" Ben asked again. He had noted that his cousin hadn't really been paying much attention this afternoon. He'd been doing the same form for hours and not gotten any feedback. So this time, when Jacen signaled him to begin again, he threw a piece of melon at the zoned out Master.
When it hit his cousin in the face and slid in a slimy, sticky trail down the man's face, Ben knew something was really bugging the older man.
The red-blonde boy walked over and sat by Jacen. "Hey cuz, what's botherin'' ya?" He asked while placing a hand on his shoulder. The actual human contact jolted Jacen out of his funk.
"You're still too young to understand." He stated.
He pulled his hand away. "You guys always say that. But I'm thinking that it has to do with that discussion me and dad walked in on. I say go for it. Take the leave and then disappear for a while. Then you drop in unexpectedly on her. 'Nuff said."
"It's not that simple."
"It is and we both know it. Even if it doesn't work at least you made an effort to get there. Shoot you'll even learn something if you don't."
"What's that?"
A smile lit across Ben's face. "Exactly how determined the Queen Mother is to make sure you don't end up like Anakin." With that he got back up to practice the form, noting that now his Master was paying attention to him. He might be gape mouthed in shock, but he was definitely paying attention.
