Chapter 20

A Forgotten Past

A/N- Um… yeah, long time no post. I justly deserve your frustration, but I assure you all that I have a good reason for my lack of postings. I just started work this week (yes, I had to get a job for college- I'm actually doing two part-time jobs so I get home at different times in the day on different days of the week). I'm working some Saturdays too, so I'll try to work around those time blocks to write for you guys.

Anyways, this chapter was written with the intention of shedding some more light on specific characters who may have taken a backseat in previous chapters. You'll see what I mean- I won't say too much because I don't like spoilers- they're evil.

Also, if you haven't already reviewed, it's never too late to let me know what you think! ;)

Oh, oh, oh! Yeah, I almost forgot! I just bought a guide to all the weapons of the Star Wars universe. So I can add more details!! Wooooo!!!!!

By the way, Happy Belated New Years!

Okee, done with rambling.

-Don =)

Kirk blinked his eyes twice only to see the blurry outline of a person in front of him. It was too difficult for him to know for sure, but he felt the presence of her.

"Nina." He muttered. The person seemed to smile from what Kirk could feel in the force.

"You've gotten older, Kirk."

"You haven't changed a bit." He said with a smile himself.

"Well, while you've been off saving the galaxy, I've been trying to keep myself the same."

Kirk groaned, "Aw, come on, I had to go."

"You did. But if you'd stayed, maybe things would have been different." She gave him a mournful smile before Kirk realized the presence he was feeling wasn't in the room. He felt a sharp jab in his abdomen and his eyes shot open. Nina was gone and in her place was the form of the heavily scarred man. He was seated in front of Kirk, who was lying on his side against the cold steel floor of what Kirk took to be a ship.

"Kirk Dekim. How nice of you to drop by. I was beginning to wonder if you'd died after you left last time." The man smiled ruefully.

"Mind your own business," Kirk said with a harsh glare in his captor's direction. The man raised an eyebrow.

"I could just kill you, you know," The steel gray eyes fixated on Kirk as he shifted himself into a cross-legged position. Kirk regarded the man with minor interest.

"I could care less."

"Now, now, Kirk. Is that really how you feel? You do have a future. Your antics ten years ago proved that. Don't throw away what you've got."

"Is that why you shot me?" Kirk asked sardonically. The man held out his hands.

"Come now, it was only a stun gun," The other replied with a sigh, "You wouldn't have listened to me otherwise." He paused as Kirk removed his cuffs using the force, "Kirk, you're a hard man to get a hold of," The man nodded approvingly, "And that's what I like about you. You're clean and quick at any job. Nothing gets past you or your senses. Skills like yours are hard to come by. Why don't you drop the whole Jedi act and come back to where you belong."

Kirk scowled deeply as he stood up. From the feel of the ship and the way it was set up, Kirk could tell it was still in docking bay mode. His captor had no intention of keeping Kirk for very long.

"Look, Terry," Kirk said with a short glance around him before returning his attention to the man now known as Terry. "I left that life a long time ago."

"With a bang I might add," Terry replied with some amusement in his tone. "I'd never seen someone with guts until you blew a hole in the hull of my ship and laid my crew to waste. It was an impressive sweep."

Kirk grimaced. That was a moment he had no intention of reliving in any way, shape, or form. The crew had all been innocent bystanders, but at the time Kirk hadn't cared all that much. He simply killed them to accomplish the mission within the time block of his employer. He'd gone back to being a thief and a killer because it was all that made sense. As a Jedi Master he was able to be anywhere and be trusted. Kirk didn't overlook his advantages and manipulated them to the point where no one he'd hurt in the process could look at him the same way.

"Miko wants you back." Terry said. Kirk hid his flash of anger at the mention of the man who had given Kirk missions that could only be accomplished through straight violence and brutality.

"Yeah, well, if he wants me he can look for me at my funeral." Kirk stated and called his lightsaber and blaster from Terry's belt without so much as a flick of his wrist.

"Kirk, you made a mistake," Terry said in a placating tone, "We all did. None of us want to repeat those mistakes. That's why I came here. I felt your presence for the first time in years. You've cut everyone out of your life, Kirk. It's hurting you more than it's helping you to just ignore what happened."

Kirk's head snapped around. "Ignore it? What the kriff have you been doing all these years, Terry? I've been trying to fix what I fucked up back then." His eyes lingered on Terry's twitching face for a moment. "You helped me to realize something, Terry."

Terry frowned. "What's that?"

Kirk started towards the ramp door and turned his head for a fraction of a second, "That no matter what you do, the past stays dead." Kirk hit the ramp door's button and as soon as it opened he was gone.

Terry sighed. Kirk was one of the hardest people to get a hold of, and even if one did manage to snag him, convincing him was a whole other issue. It was time to bring in more force. Terry clicked his comlink and after a second a cool voice crackled on the other end, "Miko."

"You were right, he didn't want to listen." Terry said in an irritated tone.

"I told you it wouldn't work, Terry. Kirk is a single directional person, he doesn't easily sway."

Terry grunted angrily. "I realized that. Don't berate me, Reglia."

Miko's tone relaxed, "I know you want to convince him quickly, Terry, but that just won't happen." He breathed a meditative sigh, "I learned a great deal from the man. Perhaps even more than my former master."

"Durron? That nut couldn't match any master, even Skywalker."

"Skywalker is quite talented despite his inactivity of late." Miko said thoughtfully. "Though I'd much rather fight someone of worthier blood."

"Is that what this is about, Reglia?" Terry demanded, "Fighting those worthy of killing?"

Miko laughed hollowly, "Hardly." His lips curled into a satisfactory smile. "In time, Terry, you will understand just how pointless killing a powerful Jedi is."

Terry hated how unperturbed and impassive Miko always was. The young man was barely thirty years old and managed to outwit the best smugglers, warriors, and even Jedi in the galaxy. Terry knew that Miko was a trained Jedi himself but the fact remained that Miko's training was unfinished. It was probably on Miko's agenda to find a master to complete that training, even if that meant destroying any and all previous lessons learned.

Terry remained perplexed as to why Miko spent ten years trying to track down Kirk Dekim of all people. Terry himself had been hired, as he was one of best trackers and also someone who knew Kirk well enough to find out the Jedi Master's location. Miko himself didn't rest once during the ten years they spent searching. That was what annoyed Terry. Miko was uncannily like Kirk in terms of Miko's undying determination to complete a task no matter how ridiculous or improbable the success might be.

"Call him back. I'll talk to him." Miko said. Terry swallowed. The hidden sharpness in Miko's smooth voice was probably the least of Kirk's worries.

"If he's not gone already." Terry answered uneasily.

Miko shook his head as he came around the corner from far side of the docking bay. "He's still here. He has a mission to complete." Miko lifted his eyes to focus on the ship, he ran his hand over the underside and then turned to Terry. "I don't have to remind you, Terry, what your part in this is."

Terry shivered again. Miko had once more used the neutral, yet quietly threatening, tone that was reserved for when Miko himself was about to take control of a failed project.

"Yes, Reglia, I do." Terry answered with a small growl in his voice. Miko arched his brow.

"Are you having reservations, Terry?" Miko's hand went to his belt without much motion on his part. He was a master of subtly and he never used force unless necessary. His tongue was his best weapon.

"Of course I am. You're chasing a ghost of a man that died a decade ago," Terry spat on the ground. "You're out of your bloody mind, Reglia, and it's about time I stopped listening to your jawa jabbering."

Miko raised a single eyebrow this time. He didn't move any other part of his body, even as his eyes rested on Terry they weren't even moving. He didn't blink or twitch either. Terry dug deep to find his last nerves to make his stand against Miko.

"I'm through, Reglia. You can keep your credits and your ghost hunt. I'm out of here." Terry then hit the button to close the ramp, and as he turned around, he looked into the now fiery almost teal colored green eyes of Miko and that was the last thing he saw before a flash of glowing sapphire and crimson plunged into Terry's unprotected back and then swiftly decapitated him.

Anakin swerved in a neck jerking figure eight before shooting right under his next target and then pulling around to shot the enemy fighter's engine. He then grimaced as a blast hit his own ship from behind. He flipped his ship around and fired a straight shot into the cockpit glass of his attacker. The glass revealed the crackling of wires and then it burst into flames. Anakin felt the pain of the pilot and frowned. He almost wished he could simply shoot Xillanor directly without going through all the other fighters. It would save time and lives.

"Kid, you alive?"

"Yeah," Anakin said in a low tone.

"Good, because our party is about to be crashed," Adrock's statement brought Anakin's head around to face the two dozen X-Wings that had just pulled out of hyperspace and were attacking the dark fighters.

Adrock's sharp intake of breath over the com channel started Anakin out of his brief moment of relief. "Adrock?"

Both their channels now had a third voice, "This is Rogue Leader, are you two alright?"

Anakin knew that voice. "I'm alright, Wedge."

"Anakin Solo? I'm surprised to run into you out here. Your parents are wondering what you've been doing." Wedge's voice was conspiratorial. "But since you're up to no good I think I can overlook our little meeting out here."

Anakin grinned. Wedge Antilles certainly hadn't changed much from the person Anakin's father and uncle had described him as. "X-Wing fighter, are you damaged?"

"No, I'm not." Adrock said coldly. Anakin felt Wedge twitch through the force.

"Adrock," Wedge's tone changed from light to being sharp and harsh. "Don't you think six years of avoiding your family is enough?"

"You wouldn't accept me even if I did." Adrock stated stiffly.

"You have no idea what I will and won't accept, Adrock. I was willing to accept your decision six years ago and I'm ready to accept it now." He sucked in his breath. "Adrock, you have to face what you did."

"What I did?" Adrock laughed hollowly. "All I did was deal with a problem and you kicked me off the squadron for it."

"You killed a fellow pilot!" Wedge practically yelled into the channel, his anger reverberating through the static, "I was willing to let you decide whether or not you wanted to remain in the New Republic's air force or to leave. But you just took off and haven't contacted myself or anyone else in six years."

"For good reason too. You wouldn't understand why I pulled the trigger. You're too old to understand the way the galaxy works now." Adrock flicked the off switch on his com channel and then flicked the switch to have a private channel with Anakin.

"Anakin, if you don't mind, I want to make the jump out of here." Adrock said, the chilliness was still evident in his tone but it had subsided somewhat.

"I'll send you the coordinates," Anakin said, then switched to a private channel with Wedge, "Wedge, tell my parents I'm alive and that I'll be traveling around a lot more so I won't be back any time soon."

"Well, I think they'll at least be happy to hear that you're breathing." Wedge said with a faint smile and a forced playful tone. Adrock's words had clearly cut deep.

"Solo out." Anakin said and then reopened his channel with Adrock. "Ready?"

"Let's go," Adrock said firmly. In seconds the stars turned to straight lines and Anakin and Adrock soon arrived at the second rendezvous location that Tahiri had sent to Anakin via their force bond.

They slowly lowered into the atmosphere of the small planet below them and onto the first landing site they saw below, which was just an open field with a few scattered bushes and a plethora of wildflowers.

As soon as Anakin's ship touched down he gave a long sigh. He removed his helmet and was halfway out of the ship when something hit him chest high and tackled him onto the ground below.

"Ouch, Tahiri, what-?" He stopped when he noticed that she wasn't smiling at him. Anakin moved so he was in a sitting position and put Tahiri at arm's length so he could look at her more clearly. "Tahiri, what's wrong?"

"You could have said something!" She said fiercely. He looked at her strangely.

"About what?" He glanced behind him as Adrock emerged from his own ship.

"You know what!" Tahiri growled and her emerald eyes bore into Anakin's blue. He remained completely perplexed.

"No, I really don't know," He said and began to frown.

"You cut off your mind bond! I couldn't feel you at all!" She said and glared at Anakin more intensely.

"What are you talking about?" Anakin asked, now more confused than he had been when she first started yelling at him. "I never cut you off. I just told you to go to the rendezvous point."

Tahiri blinked at him, "Then why didn't I feel you after that?"

Anakin thought for a moment and then remembered that for a brief moment during his fight against Xillanor that Anakin couldn't feel anything in the force at all. It was so brief that Anakin hadn't paid it any mind. But apparently Tahiri had noticed it. "I didn't even know that had happened."

"Then you didn't do it on purpose?" She asked. Anakin shook his head.

"I…" He felt a nauseating feeling filling his stomach and then his head throbbed violently. Anakin's vision went in and out of focus for a second before he could look at Tahiri fully again.

"Anakin?" Her concern at his lack of focus overturned her anger at his antics in the battle. She knew that Anakin's shifts in force power often caused problems, but she couldn't be sure when and how those shifts would happen.

What is going on? Anakin thought as his vision blurred again and then his entire head had earsplitting pain shoot through it and Anakin's head burned so badly that he shut his eyes. Without warning the pain shot straight into his chest and Anakin slumped to the ground.

"Anakin?" Tahiri pulled him up but he was already unconscious. Adrock looked the most confused of the entire group as James and Wyn approached.

"What happened?" James asked, kneeling next to Anakin.

"That's what I want to know." Adrock said, "Are you guys all Jedi or something?"

Tahiri looked at Adrock, only now noticing that he was there, "Who are you?"

"I'm the guy who saved Anakin's ass. Name's Adrock Antilles," Adrock stated plainly.

"Any relation to Wedge Antilles?" The question came from James. Adrock looked at James carefully.

"He's my pater, but that doesn't say anything." Adrock's statement diverted all attention from the subject. James nodded in understanding.

"I'm not a Jedi, but Tahiri is," He gestured to Tahiri. "Wyn's not one either."

"That right?" Adrock asked. "Looks like you guys have been through the wringer."

"You could say that," Wyn said with a shrug. James looked at her in surprise. "What?"

"We're on the run from a crazed bounty hunter and all you say is 'you could say that'?" James' voice was almost incredulous. Wyn arched her brow.

"Don't be dramatic, James. A little adventure won't kill you," Wyn pointed out.

"Actually it could," Adrock put in. Wyn and James looked at him. He threw up his hands, "I'm only sayin' it could."

James then returned his gaze to Anakin. "He needs medical attention," James could feel a little of Anakin's strain through the force but didn't know how to pinpoint the source. For all James knew the source could be anyone in the galaxy who had force potential.

"What's yer name?" Adrock asked James. He regarded Adrock mildly.

"James," James replied shortly. Adrock folded his arms across his chest.

"You guys aren't too fond of last names I take it." Adrock said with a cocked eyebrow.

"You aren't either." James countered. Adrock shrugged.

"I at least admitted where I was from."Adrock looked at James with interest. "What's in your past that you're running from."

"I'm from nowhere and that's all you need to know." James said firmly and with an edge. He then turned around and walked silently back to his ship. Wyn looked at Tahiri and Anakin and then followed James.

Adrock looked at Tahiri, "Is everyone in your little crew like that?"

Tahiri looked up, "What?"

"Abrupt and harsh."

Tahiri nodded, "Most of the time. Anakin and James more so than the rest of us, but there's only one of us who isn't, " She then turned as she felt the presence of the mentioned member approached. Adrock followed her gaze to the small form of Gi-Nego as he walked over.

"You're an Ewok." Adrock stated with awe.

Gi-Nego favored the young pilot with a smile, "Indeed, young one," He looked Adrock up and down, "But I daresay you are not much of an alien yourself." Adrock's stunned silence at the small joke in the Ewok's answer left time for Gi-Nego to make his way to Anakin's side and begin to use the force to examine him.

Gi-Nego closed his eyes and frowned as a few minutes had passed, "It seems as though Anakin's mind is being broken into."

Tahiri felt her hair rise at the mention of mind breaking, "By whom?"

Gi-Nego paused and then opened his eyes, "I cannot be sure," Gi-Nego answered slowly, "But the sooner Anakin can get his mental defenses back up the better."

Tahiri glanced down at Anakin, whose face was contorted and was beginning to pale as sweat trickled from his hair. "What if I helped him?"

Gi-Nego regarded Tahiri, "Tahiri, you do not have the ability to enter Anakin's mind fully without causing harm to him or to yourself. There is also the chance that whoever is trying to break into Anakin's mind will enter yours as well if you try to interrupt the breaking."

Tahiri's jaw clenched, "Then what am I supposed to do?" She demanded, "I'm not going to just sit here while he's suffering from something I can't even see!"

Gi-Nego held up a small paw, "Patience, young Jedi, Anakin will not die this, if I am not mistaken, this is not a fatal mind breaking technique."

"They aren't all fatal?" Tahiri asked, a little overwhelmed by all the information.

"No, in fact, the more control you have over your breaking technique, the less chance there is of your target dying. Unless of course you really want to kill them, then there is nothing that can stop you."

Tahiri twitched but continued to try to remain calm, "So whoever is attacking Anakin is deciding not to kill him?"

Gi-Nego inclined his head, "So it would seem. Though I am unsure as it why one would break another's mind unless they wished to kill them."

"Why?" Tahiri questioned, her eyes fixating on the furry Jedi Master.

"Well," Gi-Nego said with a frown, "If you bore deep enough into someone 's mind to the point where their most painful memories are brought up to the front, you can hurt them to the point where they no longer function normally," The Ewok looked sad, "Basically everything that makes that person who they are will be destroyed as a result and they will be an emotionless shell of their former self."

Tahiri's eyes immediately went to Anakin. "What about Anakin, will that happen to him?"

Gi-Nego shook his head, "Anakin's mind barriers are extremely powerful, so it is unlikely that there will be any permanent damage." The Jedi Master straightened, "But only if we move quickly."

Tahiri stared at Gi-Nego, "Move?"

"Anakin will not recover unless he is completely isolated," Gi-Nego stated. Tahiri was liking this situation less and less by the passing minutes but Gi-Nego's last statement did it.

"I'm not leaving him alone," She said firmly.

Gi-Nego looked at Tahiri with sympathy but hardened his gaze, "If you wish to help him, you have to let him stay out here for tonight." Tahiri blankly stared at the old Jedi Master as though he was out of his mind. Maybe the strange Ewok had finally cracked.

"Any force sensitive presence will disrupt Anakin's fight," Gi-Nego said with a glance at Adrock. Tahiri's green eyes rested on Adrock.

"You mean he can stay with Anakin but I can't?" Tahiri asked.

"One person and Adrock seems to be the best choice since he has the least connection to Anakin's mind." Gi-Nego watched as Tahiri's shoulders stiffened then dropped into a sagging position.

"Fine," She stared at Adrock with the harshest glare she could manage, "But the minute something happens I'm coming back out here."

Adrock smiled reassuringly, "I won't let anything happen."

Gi-Nego, "On the contrary, the reason you are the one staying is because you can do nothing to aid Anakin against the breaking."

Adrock paled a little and watched as Tahiri started away, her clear misgivings and fear apparent on her face. Gi-Nego nodded to Adrock before following the other Jedi back to James' ship. Adrock sighed and sat next to Anakin's form. It was going to be a long night.

Kirk's neck crawled as he felt Terry die. There was nothing on that ship except for Terry and the strange presence that Kirk felt earlier, which turned out to be a figment of Kirk's pained imagination.

He didn't understand why Miko would want Kirk to return, after all, Kirk had been the one who had backed out of an important mission that Miko was managing. It was the last one Kirk was involved in before he withdrew and disappeared off the radar again for three years.

Kirk continued down the corridors, masking his presence with a force block. He knew there were other force sensitive beings around, though who they were Kirk didn't know and if he could help finding out, he'd avoid it

"Kirk Dekim, a pleasant surprise as any." A voice said from behind. Kirk pivoted and his lightsaber was ignited right at the throat of the figure behind him.

"I'm not playing any of your games, Miko." Kirk growled. The other smiled.

"All the more reason to kill me then?" Miko suggested in an almost brightly oblivious tone. Kirk didn't even twitch at the comment. "I assure you, I have nothing up my sleeve."

Kirk's hand snapped like he was cracking a whip and a trickle of blood fell from Miko's forehead and a gash appeared on his neck. Despite this, Miko remained calm. "Must you be violent, Kirk? I only want to talk."

"You can talk about why you killed Terry but I'm through listening to your lies." Kirk snarled, "I was finished when I left your crew and I'm no more interested now than I was then."

Miko shrugged, "If you wish to blame me for your misfortune, be my guest."

Kirk's force push sent Miko into the nearest wall, and if Miko hadn't anticipated the attack, he'd had been crushed upon impact. Instead Miko used the force to cushion himself. Miko picked himself up, he felt the broken bone in his wrist and the dislocation in his shoulder but Miko was otherwise mostly just bruised.

"I'm telling you now, Miko, I'm done." Kirk stated and without another word he left the hallway for the lift to the next floor. Miko watched Kirk leave, and as the other disappeared into the lift a smile crossed Miko's features.

Mara woke and felt the small jab in her palm from the paper pressed into it. She unclenched her hand and opened the crumpled note:

Mara,

Kirk was in trouble so I felt I had to help him. It might have something to do with where he was for the past ten year so I don't know how long it'll take me to figure out what's going on.

I'll be back as soon as I know.

-Luke

Mara sighed and tossed the message into the wastebasket next to the bed. Luke seemed to find the most inopportune moments to go off on a wild ronto chase. Though it was like Luke to run off to help a friend, she got the feeling there was more to the mystery than even Luke was aware of. As far as Mara's intuition went, she was rarely ever wrong.

Luke, on the other hand, had some trouble being able to predict the worse case scenarios and often didn't know how to deal with them without causing more problems in the process or involving someone who didn't want anything to do with it. That was how Luke had met Mara after all. He'd dragged her into his escape from Talon Karrde and the imperials. As a result Mara became tangled in Luke's web of contacts and in the forming of the New Republic at the expense of the destruction of the remains of Mara's beloved Empire. It took her a long time to get over the bitterness she felt as a result of losing what had been the sole purpose and comfort in her life.

That all changed when she gave up trying to fight against the paths Luke inadvertently dragged her down. He was a strange young man from a desert planet and the son of one of the Empire's two most dreaded Sith Lords. The only other was the Emperor.

It was hard to believe that the man that she would now be devastated to lose was someone she had been determined to ruin and wipe his existence from the galaxy entirely. Luke was an irreplaceable piece of Mara's being.

A smile tugged at Mara's mouth as she thought about how pure hearted and somewhat naïve Luke was when they were struggling through the forest to get away from the imperials. He'd been weaponless and still he cared about Mara, someone he'd never actually met in his entire life, and someone who, at the time, had been hell-bent on killing him. It was ironic really. How the meaning in one's life could change so drastically and how alarmingly thin the line between loyalties was.

Mara had walked that line for a while before deciding that being neutral was better than joining with Thrawn or with the Rebellion completely. Karrde was that gray area.

Now Mara knew whose side she was on, yet there still seemed to be fading allies and with them emerging enemies. Whose decision was it then to determine when someone was no longer an ally and was now an enemy? Luke couldn't suddenly make someone into his enemy and kill them. The last time he'd been faced with that choice was when he'd stood before the Emperor and blatantly told the aging sith that Luke wasn't going to join the dark side or become like his father. The Emperor then decided to kill Luke and the only thing that saved Luke was Darth Vader's sudden return to being Anakin Skywalker, the loving father that never would see his daughter or the galaxy she would eventually help to form.

Anakin Solo was now one of those vague people. He was as pure heartedly loyal and loving as anyone, but Mara knew that Anakin tread a thin line between the dark side and the light. What was worse was that Anakin was well aware of this fact. He embraced it even. His namesake was beginning to become a reality rather than simply being a nightmare that would never come to pass.

Mara sighed as she wandered into Ben's room and watched the boy as he slept peacefully. He was blissfully unaware, as children often are, of the darkness that was surrounding his family and had surrounded it for years. The last name Skywalker had come to mean fear as well as hope in the eyes of the galaxy. It was the face of a man who had lost himself as well as the face of a man who had been destined to erase what he helped to build.

Mara could only hope that Anakin Solo wouldn't become that same fear stricken person that Anakin Skywalker was.

A/N- Da-dun!! Yoda says "Ta-da!!" Well, until the next chapter, I bid you, my lovely readers, a good day! =)