Chapter 12
Mind and Memory
A/N- Rar!!!!! (Don't ask me about that, because I have no idea why I said that). Anyhoo, I have to warn anyone who is reading this that there is about to be a major shift in tone for the next chapter (not this one, but definitely for the next one) and the action is going to jump up several notches.
As the author I only feel it's fair to warn my readers (without spoiling the story) when things are about to change and if there are those who did not read the warning I put in the introductory chapter, I suggest going back and doing so.
I hope you enjoyed the last chapter. The tone was rather downbeat, so I apologize if anyone was looking for something fluffier to read right now. I happen to be an adventure writer (which includes fluff at times) but my work has a lot of conflict and character development (psychologically) as its focus.
In this chapter in particular I'm going back and referencing NJO, the films, and other SW books, so there might be some spoilers if you haven't read any of the Pre- JJK, YJK, and NJO novels. I'm currently reading "Dark Force Rising," so that should give everyone an idea of the kinds of references I'll be making.
Sorry about the delay in posting, I had a few things going on this week that kept me pretty busy (and I was trying to finish my Young Wizards fan fic "Life's Song" which I did and now I am focusing on this story and my YJK fan fic "Remember).
Join me in yelling "May the force be with you! !!" (Or not if you're in a place that requires quiet).
Without further ado, here's the next chapter. Please enjoy and be sure to hit the button when you're done!
-Don ^_^
Jaina lifted her eyes as she crossed the mud cluttered jungle and stared with awe at the city she could see on the other side of the water. Jag had wanted to get a look at the jungle, and Jaina, despite her specialty not being nature, was more than willing to explore the planet she had never set foot on. In all her years of life she'd never quite experienced the atmosphere of a place like Naboo. It was something else entirely. The warm climate clung to her clothes and to her forehead in beads of sweat. But despite that she felt the planet's life through the force. It was so strong. This alone was enough to make Jaina more than curious to know who it was exactly that Uncle Luke had found on Naboo.
"Jaina," She turned to see Jag making his way through the jungle's vines and low hanging branches. "Are you ready to go?"
"Yeah." She said, amazed to find her voice barely audible. Jag nodded his agreement.
"It's an incredible place, Naboo." Jag cast a glance around.
"You've been here before?" Jaina questioned. Jag nodded silently and his green eyes showed something close to peaceful reminiscence before returning to their usual harsh and guarded texture.
"Once, when I was very young," He tread carefully as he neared where Jaina was standing. "My father had some business with the Naboo Government and as part of our education all of us children were made to go along."
Jaina wondered at his choice of wording, he'd said 'all of us children,' did that mean his older siblings had been here that last time? Jaina watched Jag's eyes as they surveyed the water, an extremely conflicted expression coming over his face. Not wanting to upset him, Jaina decided it was better not to ask about his past.
After all, Jag had left hers well alone. Not for the right reason at the beginning, but he was now respectful of the fact that she had her own skeletons in the closet that she didn't want to talk about.
"We should go to the city now." Jag said plainly and without any feeling. He was back in his shell of apathy. The shell Jaina had gotten used to seeing off. She briefly wondered if that was partially her fault since she'd dragged him to Naboo with her. Well, maybe not dragged, but ever since she'd brought it up he'd insisted on going with her and not only that he'd been subdued about the whole subject. It was hard to make sense of what Jag Fel was thinking right now, let alone what he was feeling.
After taking off, it only took fifteen minutes or so to reach the city and a landing zone. Naboo was heavily secured so an officer as well as armed soldiers in New Republic uniforms met them at the bottom of Jaina's ship's ramp. She showed them her ID and explained that she was a Jedi and who she was there to find. The officer's face turned curious as well as harsh.
"Naberrie?" He repeated, his tone was almost protective. "Are you someone trying to interrogate her about her sister?"
Jaina blinked and then recovered, keeping her tone diplomatic like her mother had taught her to. "I'm not here to interrogate anyone. I'm just trying to find out about my family."
The officer's eyes narrowed as he processed Jaina's response then widened. "Family? You mean that you're-?" Jaina nodded.
"That's what I'm here to find out." She replied calmly. The officer gestured for the soldiers to dismiss and they filed away.
"Then allow me to take you there myself," He smiled, his young face was one of around twenty, his rich brown hair gently fell across his face in tufts. "My grandmother has been looking for clues to her past for a long time."
Jaina paused, "Your grandmother?"
He nodded and then stepped off to the side to where a landspeeder was parked. "Sola Naberrie. We've all been wondering when the force would bring our family back to us. It's been a painful long time," He climbed into the driver's seat and motioned for Jaina and Jag to join him. "My name is Jobal," He said, indicating with his tone that he wanted to know both his passengers' names as well.
"Jaina Solo," Jaina replied, her own curiosity mounting by the minute about this man as well as his connection to Jaina's family.
"Jagged Fel," Jag replied. Jobal's eyes flicked back for a second before he turned the landspeeder around a corner.
"Fel? You must be the son of Baron Soontir Fel," Jobal observed. Jag's eyes went cold at that but Jobal couldn't see that. Jaina, however, could and she shot Jag a warning glance.
Jag's voice remained forcefully neutral. "I am."
"A good man, or so my grandmother always says," Jobal continued, "He helped Naboo through some rough spots over the years."
Jag's eyes seemed to grow wide at hearing that. "He did?"
Jobal arched his brow, "You never knew about that?"
Jag frowned, "My father doesn't like to talk about who he helps unless it has to do with war."
Jobal shook his head, "Well, what he did for us had nothing to do with war. In fact he prevented the possible outbreak of war between Naboo and another planet."
Jag opened his mouth then shut it. Jaina was beginning to wonder if she'd imagined him doing that because Jag was never, not in all the time that she'd known him, rendered speechless to the point where he'd shut his mouth after opening it. Jobal, as she and Jag found out, was a quick topic changer. He went through them like a hutt going through to spend all its money.
"Solo?" Jobal repeated out loud, looking up at the sky for a second before snagging what he wanted to say. "Ah! Solo, I knew that sounded familiar. You must be the daughter of Leia Organa Solo and Han Solo, right?"
"That's right," Jaina said, a tad warily. She was wondering what he had to say about her family now that Jobal was done talking about Jag's. Oh, joy, this should be fun.
"Anakin Solo's your younger brother, I've heard quite a bit about him," Jobal said, and from Jaina's look of surprise, it was clear he hadn't gone in the direction she'd expected him to.
"Yeah, he is," Jaina replied, still getting over her surprise. Jobal grinned. "An amazing Jedi like him is sure to go far," He waved his hand towards the palace as they passed it. "Our newest Queen has been after the Jedi Order to get Anakin to come here."
Jaina narrowed her eyes, "Here? Why here?"
Jobal made a face as though he wasn't sure if she was serious, "Why? Because Naboo hasn't seen Jedi since the Old Republic Days, and we'd like to have one live here to help us."
Jaina sighed, "I understand that, but why Anakin?"
Jobal raised an eyebrow, "He's your brother, isn't he?"
"I think we've established this fact," Jag put in firmly. Jobal decided to avoid asking more obvious questions due to the glare he received from Jag as Jobal glanced behind him.
"Well," Jobal began, licking his lips nervously, "Fact is that Naboo has been hiding Jedi since the Emperor killed the others off. Naboo was the prime target of criticism during the Yuuzhan Vong invasion. We would have been overrun if the Chiss military hadn't stepped in when they did," Jobal's dark blue eyes narrowed and a frown crossed his face, "All of us on Naboo believe that having a Master to teach the Jedi here would be most beneficial and crucial to Naboo's revival in the galaxy."
Jaina mulled over that. So that's what it was. Everyone seemed to think Anakin would become a Master and become one even earlier than Luke Skywalker had. In fact, Jaina knew Anakin had already taken on his first student, and though they hadn't officially begun training, it was clear that Anakin was now, at least in the eyes of one alien race, a Master.
"He has a student," Jaina decided to say. Jobal turned his head in surprise then returned his attention to driving as they reached the spaceport where a public shuttle waited. He stopped the landspeeder.
"Please follow me," He said and got out of the landspeeder. Jaina and Jag followed him onto the shuttle and he paid the driver before taking an unoccupied seat. Jaina and Jag sat across from Jobal.
" Please explain," Jobal said, "About this student." Jaina paused and considered what to say.
"Anakin found his student on a planet called Zenoma Sekot, and decided to become his teacher," Jaina said plainly, "There's not too much else I can tell you about it." Jaina's voice made it clear that she wasn't going to elaborate and Jobal abandoned the topic.
"You still haven't explained why Anakin's the one who has to teach and no someone else." Jaina pointed out. Jobal shook his head with a sigh.
"You would not understand. There are some, like my sister, who believe Anakin is to be the savior of Naboo."
"The what?" Jaina said with a sardonic tone and with a large amount of disbelief. This was crazy. Anakin was barely nineteen years old and they expected him to be their savior?
"Ah, here we are," Jobal pointed out the window. Jaina turned her head slightly to gaze out the window. Below them were fields of the greatest amount of green and an abundance of flowers. As the fields went on they turned to plains and then to hills and near the top of one of the hills was a vast house that spanned the entire hill. It was large enough house more than one family Jaina noted.
"That is where we'll be landing," Jobal pointed to the small gravel landing pad constructed right next to the house. Jaina was impressed. Not even in all her life had she seen such a beautiful house or location for a home in her entire life.
The shuttle settled down and after its passengers stepped out, it took off once more. "Come," Jobal said, motioning for Jag and Jaina to once again follow him. Jobal had barely reached the door when it swung open and a woman of about thirty with bright brown hair like Jobal's and eyes of a brilliant hazel that had more green than brown strode out.
"Jobal!" She growled as she went out and immediately grabbed his ear and tugged him to the side, "What are you doing bringing strangers here?"
"Ow, ow, they wanted to talk to Grandmother, Lily," Jobal managed to breath out before the woman released him with a rough push.
"Oh, is that right?" She sounded more amiable now. Jobal rubbed his ear as Lily walked over to Jaina.
Lily proffered her hand, "I'm Lily Veila," She smiled at Jaina's eyes as they went wide, "Jobal's my annoying little brother but he's a good guy," Lily frowned, "I'm sorry if he scared you, he tends to talk too much."
"No, it's just," Jaina looked carefully at Lily, "Your surname, it's the same as a friend of mine."
Lily took her turn to look surprised. "You know another Veila?"
"I think," Jobal interrupted, "Maybe we should go inside and continue this conversation, it might take a while." Lily took a moment to process what her brother and Jaina had said, then gestured.
"Let's get you two settled, you'll be staying the night?" She looked from Jag to Jaina.
"Jag?" Jaina asked. He stiffened a little before nodding his head. "I've got some questions of my own," Jaina said, "So I'd love to get started as soon as possible."
"We'll be happy to answer all your questions," Lily replied as they walked inside the front door and into a pristinely clean yet homey hallway. It had furniture cluttered with books, letters, notes, and all manner of items. Some toys lay on the floor.
"Oh, sorry about that," Lily said with a fond smile, "My kids are a little messy."
As if on cue a high pitched scream of delight sounded from the stairway at the end of the hall and just before the kitchen and started Jaina slightly, "Mommy!" a little girl of around five ran over to be scooped up by Lily.
"Padme, where's your brother?" She asked. The little girl made a pouting face.
"Noka wouldn't play with me so I left him in the fields," Padme, a girl with brownish gold hair and green eyes struck Jaina as bearing a strange resemblance to Tahiri Veila in her eye color and the golden tone in Padme's hair.
"Well, go find your brother, Padme, or you don't get any supper tonight," Lily said, letting Padme down on the floor.
"Okay," Padme droned and then scurried off down the hallway and out the backdoor in the far end of the hall. Now Jaina was completely confused. Padme definitely looked a lot like Tahiri Veila and the last name wasn't exactly common either.
"Are you sure it is okay to let such a small child wander around outside?" Jag inquired. Jaina soon realized Jag was right. Lily laughed.
"There's nothing out there except a few animals and none of them are dangerous. Besides, Padme can easily find Noka without looking," Lily turned and entered the living room, which was directly connected with the kitchen. Jag and Jaina took that as their cue to enter and Lily gestured for them to sit down.
"Wait," Jaina said as she sat down, "You said that Padme could find Noka without looking?"
Lily nodded as got up, went into the kitchen and returned swiftly with a tray of cups and pot of tea and one with coffee. "Oh, Jobal didn't mention this to you?" Lily cast a glance at her brother who shrugged.
"My husband, Mortimer, is one of the last survivors of the Veila Jedi clan on Naboo," Lily stated, "His ancestors have been hidden here since the Old Republic days," Lily then said, "Noka and Padme are force sensitive like Mortimer."
Anakin lifted his head slightly to watch Jesse as he piloted the ship.
"Anakin," Tahiri's voice sharply cut into his concentration, "Stop trying to burn a hole in Jesse's back with your eyes and get over here." Anakin sighed before turning around the corner to where Tahiri was.
"I don't get why you can't just trust him just this once,"
"Once is enough to get you killed," Anakin replied shortly. Tahiri poked him in the chest.
"You really need to lighten up, Anakin. Not everything is a life and death battle and not everyone is your enemy."
He sighed, "Look, I'm just trying to make sure we don't get killed." He gave her a worried look that, through their bond, Tahiri could feel his honest misgivings.
"Worst comes to worst, I'll be the one reacting first," Tahiri said, "I can sense Jesse's feelings more than you can."
Anakin frowned, "That's what worries me."
Tahiri arched her brow, clearly confused. Anakin frowned, his forehead forming deep creases. "I don't trust Jesse to know that any mind to mind contact could hurt you."
Tahiri gave a derisive snort, "Come on, Anakin," Tahiri folded her arms across her chest, "Since when could mind to mind contact hurt me?"
"Since I know that mind talk can kill someone," He replied with the fear and anger evident in his voice. Tahiri felt a shiver run down her spine. Where did that come from? She wondered. Anakin had been acting strange ever since he'd met Jesse.
"What do you mean 'since I know mind talk can kill someone'?" Tahiri questioned. More importantly, how in the force did Anakin know something like that?
"I have memories that aren't my own, remember?" Anakin said, as if sensing her train of thought. "Obi Wan had some memories of the Veila clan before they were exiled and some other facts that Qui Gon Jinn gave to Obi Wan too," Anakin's blue eyes expanded then shrunk quickly as he continued his sentence, "Maybe Jesse neglected to mention the real reasoning behind the exile."
"Real reasoning?" Tahiri repeated dubiously, "Anakin, that's just crazy talk," She scowled, "What could possibly be the real reasoning?"
He folded his own arms and his tone became icy to confront Tahiri's disbelief, "I'm not about to stick around to find out. The minute we find Aunt Mara we're leaving."
"Anakin, don't give me that bantha shit," Tahiri snapped, "There's something you're not telling me."
Anakin opened his mouth then shut it. "Never mind." He then turned the corner and entered one of the sleeping quarters, closing the door behind him.
Ugh, Tahiri moaned to herself, I hate it when he gets like this. Anakin was clearly hiding something and Tahiri couldn't get a feel for what it was. What worried her more was that it had something to do with her lost and now newly discovered family and moreover that it was bothering Anakin to the point where he didn't even want to be in the same room as Jesse.
Tahiri held her head in her palm. "Anakin still doesn't want to trust me, huh?" Jesse said, causing Tahiri to start to reach for her lightsaber.
"He has his own reasons and past experiences have given him enough reason to trust in them," Tahiri replied sullenly. Jesse smiled wryly.
"What do you think?"
"Me?" Tahiri considered for a moment then eyed Jesse suspiciously.
"Yes, I want to know what you think, not what Anakin thinks."
"You honestly expect me to tell you?" Tahiri asked with some edge in her tone to indicate that he wasn't going to be able convince her to go behind Anakin's back. She stepped forward for a second and then glared at Jesse then stared at the floor, "Listen, Jesse. I'd love to just trust you, but the fact of the matter is that I don't trust you any more than Anakin does," She lifted her gaze from the floor, "That said, if I were you I wouldn't try another backstabbing stunt or I'll be out of here faster than you can say 'may the force be with you." Tahiri then rounded the corner and without knocking, entered the room Anakin was in closing the door firmly behind her.
"Anakin?" She said then noticed that Anakin was asleep and had a strained expression on his face. He was as pale as he was when they were on Tatooine if not more so. She quietly made her way over and winced as Anakin's breathing became more ragged and raspy. It would have seemed to her like another one of his nightmares if he hadn't let out cry and then yelled, "Don't!" Anakin then threw himself towards the wall and would have hit his head on the metal if she hadn't grabbed him. His eyes snapped open at Tahiri's rough grasp.
"Tahiri?" He said, placing a hand on his head then looking up at her from his reclined position.
"What was that about, Anakin? I haven't seen you look this sick since Tatooine," She finally managed to voice exactly what her concerns were. Anakin averted his gaze but still responded.
"The visions are getting worse," He stated.
"What visions?" Tahiri asked, the confusion mounting in her voice.
"Remember how I told you that I'd gotten all the memories of the people I'd met in the void?" Tahiri nodded slowly, still not sure where Anakin was going with this. "Well, I'm now having visions about their pasts and visions of our future because of their memories."
Tahiri blinked back her confusion, "Wait, you mean that you're getting any of the visions that people like Obi-Wan might have had if they were alive?" Tahiri shook her head, "That's not possible, I mean you can't-"
Anakin nodded, "That's exactly what I'm saying," He said slowly and swallowed, "And they're getting worse, more eerily realistic."
Tahiri blanched to the point where she was almost as pale as Anakin was, "What did you see just now?"
He shook his head, "I can't tell you."
"Anakin, I need to know, we're in this together, remember?"
"Not this. I can't tell you." He said firmly, still not meeting her gaze. Tahiri tightened her grip on his shoulders.
"Anakin, whatever it is, I can handle it," She insisted and gently squeezed his shoulders to give him confidence. But she drew back as they started to shake and tremble along with Anakin's entire body.
Anakin looked at her, "I'm sorry, Tahiri," He choked out weakly, his voice barely above a whisper, "I'm so sorry,"
"What are you talking about?" She said, now more than just worried, he was scaring her. "Anakin, tell me what's going on!"
He then opened his mind and all the images from the vision flooded into her mind as well. Tahiri released her grip on his shoulders and then slumped onto the bed as she processed the information. It drained her. Nothing in the vision seemed to bring comfort or any form of reason.
"Is-is this what's going to happen?" She asked, her own voice almost failing her. Anakin shook his head over and over again.
"I don't know, Tahiri, I just-" He gritted his teeth, trying to keep back whatever emotion was trying to escape him and come into the open. "I'm sorry. I couldn't do anything for you." He then stood up and left the room. Tahiri reflected on the vision. No matter how many times she ran it through her head, she couldn't find another way for it to end. Now Tahiri knew what had bothered him and it was no wonder Anakin didn't want to tell her about it, now she knew that in the vision he was more helpless than she was and that he had to sit by and watch the events unfold.
"Force sensitive?" Jaina repeated then turned to look at Jobal, "So your niece and nephew were the ones you wanted Anakin to teach?"
Lily frowned at this, "What did you tell her, Jobal?"
"The truth, Lily," Jobal answered fiercely, "That the age where Naboo can just sit by and watch as our people are crushed is over. We need Jedi."
"My kids, Jobal," Lily said firmly, "Will not become Jedi. Or do you want to bring more pain to this family?"
Jaina looked from one to the other, thoroughly confused and feeling like she was listening to something she shouldn't be.
"Why not?!" Jobal yelled back, "Anyone would kill to have powers like theirs and you're just going to let it rot?"
"They're not your kids, Jobal!" Lily screamed back. He stepped back, as if stung.
"You're right, they're not," He answered frostily and then in a more calmly subdued voice said, "I'm not fit to decide, am I?"
"Enough," Another voice, this time from the doorway cut in. Jaina turned to look at the thinly built older woman hobbling into the room, leaning heavily on a cane. She looked from Jobal to Lily and back again. "I'll not have our guests frightened by your squabbles."
"But Grandmother Sola-" Lily began but the older woman waved her hand sharply.
"Sit down, Lily," She stated and simultaneously Lily and Jobal obeyed. Jaina gazed at the older woman.
"You'll be Jaina Solo, then?" She asked Jaina, who nodded.
"I have some questions for you if you won't mind this old lady's blabbering," Sola said, taking a seat next to Jaina.
"If you'll allow me to ask you some in return, I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have." Jaina replied.
"That," Sola said, "Should be no problem. I give lengthy answers so you'll excuse me if I go first."
Jaina inclined her head, "No, go ahead." Jaina was just as curious to know what Sola could possibly want to ask Jaina when there was the entire holo-net open for information and Jobal and Lily to find things out.
"What do you know of the name Kirk Dekim?"
A/N- Heh, heh, I'm evil, it's a cliffie. But you'll get more this weekend, I promise. I'm trying to not fall behind in postings but college is busy. Please review! =)