Author's Note: The editors of the Star Wars books do a bang up job of interspersing story threads. For this medium, story threads are published all together. The story threads, happen, basically, concurrently.

Part Twelve, One Year Later

The Planet Dawn, Jedi Abbey

Dawn broke clean and crisp. High summer, but walking distance from the sandy shore, the wind and fog kept the people cool. To the east, rosy-fingered Dawn stretched out her hands. But no one noticed the scenery.

Four ships lay in landing field two, the one closest to the med bay; one was for the Horn family, the other for the Antilles family and the X-Wings for Grandmaster Luke Skywalker and his son, Ben.

Utep and Wight were waiting in the landing lights.

Valin and Jysella Horn walked forward. Behind them Mirax looked distraught. Corran's face could have carved of stone.

"What do you request?" Asked Utep.

Valin lifted his chin. "I ask for the Siren Lotus ceremony, the leaving of my Midichorians."

"What he said." Jysella nodded.

"Why? And each of you must answer." Wight rested her hand on her lightsaber though neither of the youths was armed.

"I can't live like this anymore." Jysella was in tears. "The meds…it's like I'm sleepwalking through life."

Valin's voice was flat, without emotion. "I'm just afraid I'll slip up and kill somebody. I can't do that. So a sacrifice must be made."

"NO!" Shouted Horn.

"Honey, we talked about this."

"We can't let them AMPUTATE our children from the Force."

"They won't be Corran." Ben added. "All life is one with the Force. The infected Midichorians are what's making them sick with the imposter psychosis…"

"They were fine with the medications!"

"No we weren't dad!" shouted Jysella. "Didn't you notice my blackout drinking? And any other thing would make me forget that one day, I just might wake up to find I killed a whole bunch of my friends who I thought were Vong or Sith or some other damn thing? Stop thinking about yourself for a change."

"Valin?"

"Good metaphor, dad. I wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice my arm to save lives. I'm not going to be dead, just…regular."

"Try to understand, Corran, they've been living in fear this whole time."

"I understand all right. This was your doing. You talked them in to this. You and them…" he pointed to the Antilles family, Wedge, Mirax's childhood friend, Iella her best friend and their daughter, Myri who was juggling her twin infant daughters.

Wedge raised his hands. "Hey, we're just here for support."

"They are adults, Corran. We didn't make them do anything."

Corran Horn looked down on his wife. "You go through with this and it's over between us."

"Corran. Iella's right. They are adults. This is their decision." Mira, the twin's old friend chimed in.

"I'm packing up. You can get a ride with them." Corran looked to his children then looked at their feet. "Fine."

"He'll change his mind." Said Wedge.

"No. He won't." Said Luke. "Valin and Jysella chose their paths, Corran can't choose for them. We'll be here, waiting."

"Will it hurt?" asked Jysella.

"Like you lost your best friend." Answered Wight. "But it's not all bad. There is much more to life than being a Jedi."

"We've learned. Sometimes the thing you think can't live without is the thing that's holding you back." Utep looked at the Horn transport taking off. "We wish your father understood."

"Come."

The Abbey Commons

Rolling hills "fed" into the acoustic dome. Families of both the students and the professional artists folded onto blankets with picnic baskets chock full of victuals of their choosing. The weather had cooperated. The Summer night was perfect. They were all focused on the brightly lit, acoustically perfect "clamshell" performance space snuggled in dell.

"You look pensive, Father. Valin and Jysella?"

"Yes. Not for the first time or his last, I'm reminded of the paradox of Life. In the morning, we supervised the removal of the Midichorians form two young Jedi. And if I'm honest, to prevent Corran from doing anything foolhardy."

"A terminus, an end and a beginning?"

"Nice one Ben. I'll make a grandmaster out of you yet."

"Catch if you can. "

"And here is another terminus. Ahsoka Tano's old life had ended and new one begun." Luke smiled. "Should have thought of music classes earlier. Might made you a rock star."

"Still might. It would mean much fewer girlfriends though." Ben reacted to his father. "Yeah. The music lessons have a success. Even the more grumpy gusses have to admit, the music has been good for the Jedi values of discipline, teamwork and concentration."

"I know. And they keep their grades up just to stay in music."

"How's this 'music camp' work thing again?"

"Like most music camps, except Ahsoka transports her entire orchestra here, the Pol's, short for the Poloon Memorial Orchestra, at her own expense. The past two weeks, the professionals teach the students, there are jam sessions, quartets. It looks like fun."

"What kind of music?"

"Popular, classic, folk, anything. And today is the climax. Families of the Jedi and the performers are all here, again, at Ahsoka's expense."

"Very generous."

"She showed me the numbers. Just the interest on what the crystals netted her pays for everything and to spare. That's her. Last violin. But she's practicing."

"She looks happy. I hope Valin and Jysella end up that happy."

"They will. Oh, OH! 'Rhythm in Motion!' I love this one! Come on. The conductor is a genius. And his brother, the lead percussionist, is a huuuuuge talent."