Chapter 11. Safe
Mahatma and his two companions came to where the path split and stopped.
Nyjel pointed down the right trail, "that path will take us to Palpatine's mansion. The other one will take us deeper into the forest."
Mahatma analyzed their options before he spoke. "Let's split up you guys go left while I take the right."
Terom nodded his head. "That sounds good. We'll contact you every two hours."
"Alright then. Let's get going." Mahatma replied and began walking down the path while the others went the other way.
A few hours later Athanasius and Ashia finally exited the woods and within a few minutes pinpointed where they were. "Were finally home, almost." She commented.
Athanasius nodded his head and gave her a smile, "I guess were not sleeping in the woods tonight after all." He joked.
Ashia rolled her eyes at him, "while we're here talking, people are probably searching for us. Now we better get moving before total darkness is upon us."
Athanasius shook his head in amusement as they parted ways to their respective homes. Athanasius however decided to head to his brother's house knowing that his brother would most likely be worried sick.
A couple of minutes later after jogging part of the way he stood in front of his brother's house and knocked on the door.
Rosalind opened the door and sighed in relief that Athanasius was safe. "Where were you? We were worried about you." She asked as she let him inside.
"Well I'm back now. Where's Mahatma?" He answered, avoiding the question.
"You mean he's not with you? He went looking for you and Ashia hours ago?" she asked as it dawned on her that Mahatma had not come back yet.
Athanasius gave a slight frown, "I had bumped into Terom and Nyjel a few minutes ago, and they said that he had gone back home an hour ago."
An uneasy feeling settled in the pit of her stomach at this news as she sat down on one of the dining room chairs. "Are you sure?"
"That's what they told me." Athanasius replied.
Rosalind stood back up and walked towards him before she said anything she collapsed.
Athanasius caught her before she hit the floor and laid her on the floor gently. A worried frown creased his face. "Are you all right?" he asked as she moaned slightly.
Rosalind's eyelids flickered open, her face had gone slightly pale. "I…don't know." She groaned, her hand going automatically for her abdomen.
Mahatma felt disoriented as he continued to listen to Deserus. Everything seemed to swim before his eyes as he sinked into unconsciousness.
"Danger, danger." A voice whispered. "Learn you must, from the Jedi Temple." The voice faded as Mahatma woke up.
Blinking his eyes to adjust to the light he found himself in familiar surroundings. He was on the couch in their living room. He sat up carefully and rubbed his pounding head with his fingers. His mind still dazed he tried to figure out how he had gotten back home.
Athanasius came into the room with a relieved look on his face. "You're awake." He stated as he sat next to his brother.
"What happened?" Mahatma asked.
"I was hoping you could tell me. Deserus Palpatine brought you back home about eight hours ago and told me that he had found you lying unconscious in the woods."
Mahatma shook his head, "I don't remember. I knew that we had split up to cover more ground but beyond that I don't recall anything." He gave a small smile, "however, at least your safe."
"Mahatma, there's something you should know." Athanasius began, "an hour before Deserus Palpatine brought you home, Rosalind gave birth to a healthy boy. You're a Dad." Athanasius proclaimed and gave Mahatma a hug in congratulations.
Mahatma sat stunned for a minute before he came to his senses. He got up and followed Athanasius into the bedroom where Rosalind was waiting for him. In her arms she held their son wrapped in a blue blanket.
Rosalind smiled when she saw Mahatma enter the room, "come meet your son." She told him as he stood beside her.
Mahatma gently picked up his son and cradled him in his arms. "Hello Owen." He said softly so as to not wake him up. He sat next to Rosalind on the bed and gave her a kiss. "He's beautiful."
Anthanasius watched them from the doorway and smiled, it wasn't a bad day after all.
