Disclaimer: Same as always.
Notes: Wow, I'm really spoiling you now. Two updates in two days. Don't expect this all the time, though. I've just had no life lately. Anyways, enjoy as always!
Dedication: To all of my reviewers, especially Jennifer and Carii. Thanks for all of the positive feedback.
Kyp Durron had done many stupid things in his life. He had followed the teachings of the Sith Lord, Exar Kun. He had used the Sun Crusher to destroy Carida. He had stolen Qwi Xux's memory. He had chosen an aggressive and pro-active stance in the war against the Vong. And now, he was doing something just as stupid. He was going to visit someone who hated him more than the families of those killed on Carida.
The Jedi Master entered the small medical bay on the rock known as Shelter. Off to his left, there was an exam bad. A bacta tank was behind that, currently occupied by Jag Fel. To Kyp's other side, there was a private exam room. Right before him was a small open office with two small desks, the far wall covered with medical supplies.
"Master Durron, what can I do for you?" Telki asked, getting up from behind one of the desks. The little Chanda Fan healer moved around so that she was standing directly in front of Kyp. She was barely half as tall as he, and she craned her neck to look at his face.
"I was wondering if Taesa was here," Kyp answered, sitting down in a chair in front of the desks, so that Telki wouldn't strain her neck. "I need to speak with her."
"She's in the private room, giving Ben Skywalker his monthly checkup," Telki told him. "She should be done shortly. Can I help you with anything in the mean time?"
"No, no," Kyp said, holding up his hands, palms outward. "This is a purely personal matter. Unless Taesa gets mad, I won't need your services as a healer. I'm hoping it won't come to that."
Telki looked at Kyp, confusion clearly written all over her alien features. "Why would she have reason to be mad enough at you to inflict harm upon you?"
Kyp was saved from having to answer as the door to the private exam room opened. "He's a little small for his sage," Taesa was saying to Mara. The healer walked out of the room, holding Ben. "But his size comes from the fact that he's just taking after his parents. Just keep raising him the way you've been doing it, and he'll be just fine."
"Thanks," Mara said, following the healer from the room. She took the squirming child into her own arms and bounced him on her hip, trying to get him to settle down. "Ben, stop squirming," she told the child quietly, but firmly. The child almost immediately obeyed his mother.
"I'll see you next month, for his next checkup," Taesa said with a smile at the baby.
"We'll see you then," Mara said, leaving the small medical bay, humming to her son.
Taesa turned from the door to the small office that she and Telki shared. When she saw Kyp sitting there, her smile died, to be replaced by a stony frown. "Master Durron, it's quite a surprise to see you here," she said with barely concealed hostility. "Something I can do for you?"
"I think we need to speak," Kyp answered evenly. "Privately."
She turned to her fellow healer. "Telki, if you wouldn't mind..."
"No, of course no," the little Chanda Fan said. "Contact me on my comlink if anything comes up." Telki exited, leaving Kyp and Taesa alone in the small office.
The latter moved and sat behind her desk. She glared as Kyp as she asked, "Now, what do you want?"
"I was wondering how you've been doing," Kyp told her. "We haven't seen each other in fifteen years." He paused, but Taesa didn't say anything. "I was worried about you when Courscant fell."
"Sithspit!" Taesa exclaimed. "You've never worried about me, not even when we were in the mines on Kessel. You were always too busy thinking about yourself to worry about me."
"I've changed," Kyp said. "I've seen and done terrible things since then. I finally realized a few months ago how wrong I've been in my views. I'm not the same person you used to know. I've finally grown up."
"And why should I believe you?" she asked hostilely. "You've given me no real reason to."
"You still haven't forgiven me, have you?" Kyp asked, abruptly changing the subject. "You're still mad at me, aren't you?"
"And I shouldn't be?!" the healer asked, jumping to her feet. She glared down at Kyp. "You did nothing to stop Doole when he came and sold me to those slavers! You didn't try to rescue me after you were freed! You let me rot!"
"There was nothing I could do," Kyp told her. "After my brush with the Dark Side, no one trusted me. And to tell you the truth, I thought you were dead. You were--are--such a spit-fire. I thought you would have rebelled against your master, and that he wouldn't have had you killed."
The silence stretched for uncomfortable moments, Taesa glaring down at Kyp, while he just gazed at her, expressionless. The only sound that interrupted the tense silence was that of the air circulation system.
"You didn't even tell anyone of me," Taesa said quietly, taking her seat once more. "You acted as if you didn't even have a sister until I showed up at Yavin 4."
"Like I said, I thought you were dead," Kyp said, trying to justify himself. "It hurt too much to bring you up. Our brother's blood was on my hands. I thought yours was too."
"Why didn't you try to stop Doole?" she demanded. "You're my older brother; you were supposed to protect me!"
"And get myself killed?" Kyp asked incredulously.
"That's your problem!" the healer exclaimed. "If you really loved me, then you would have been willing to die to protect me!" She was now on her feet again, gesturing wildly with her hands. Kyp could see the tears pooling in her eyes.
"I couldn't have changed anything," Kyp told her quietly, getting his own feet beneath him and standing also. He looked steadily into his sisters green eyes, so much like his own. "You still would have been sold to those slavers. Everything would have happened the same, except I would have been killed."
"You didn't even try!" The tears were now coursing their way down Taesa's cheeks. He voice was harsh and low. She sat down heavily in her chair.
Kyp walked around the desk, and took her hands in his. He looked steadily into her eyes. "I know you'll never forget, but can you at least try to forgive me?"
"Do or do no. There is no try," Taesa quoted. "I won't try, but I won't do, either. I can never forgive you, Kyp. You ruined my life." She had stopped crying, and now her cheeks were mostly dry. She pulled her hands away from Kyp and stood. He followed suit, and towered almost half a meter over her. "Now, leave." I suppose living in close proximity will mean we will have to interact at time, but I won't go out of my way to talk to you. I would appreciate it if you did the same."
"Of course," Kyp answered stonily. He had come here to try to mend the rift between him and his sister. Instead, that rift had grown. I was evident that Taesa would never forgive him. Just another person to add to the list.
The Jedi Master turned and left the medical bay. As he stalked down the corridor, disappointment washed over him. I had hoped that she might have learned how to forgive me. Now, she hates me even more than she did before.
Kyp was so deep in thought that he almost ran into Luke Skywalker as the latter exited Jaina's quarters. "My apologies, Master. I wasn't watching where I was going."
"No apology necessary, Kyp," Luke told him. "You seem troubled. If you don't mind my asking, what's got your attention so riveted."
"I just had a talk with Taesa." And that explained everything. Luke knew of the animosity between the siblings, knew Taesa despised her brother. "And it didn't go well."
"I'm sorry," Luke said, and he meant it sincerely. He and Leia had never been estranged as Kyp and Taesa were. He didn't think he would be able to stand it if they were fighting like that. He didn't know how Kyp managed it.
"Thank you, but you don't need to be. It's not your fault, it's mine," Kyp said. "I probably should have left well enough alone, but I had to go and bring up the past. Now, she'll never forgive me."
Luke gazed at his former student sympathetically. Kyp could feel the sympathy in the other man's sense. He looked steadily at the senior Jedi Master.
"Anyway, I'm going to leave he alone," he continued. "No sense in bringing up painful memories anymore. It's like reopening a wound."
"Which is best to do if it's not healing properly," Luke countered. "The rift between you two is growing. It will never heal this way."
"Maybe it's not meant to heal," Kyp said. Before Luke could try to argue, the pilot walked the short distance to his door and entered his quarters. He kicked off his boots and settled down in a corner to meditate. Maybe, by immersing himself in the Force, he could pretend that things were alright.
Yeah right, Kyp thought cynically. Things'll never be alright again.
Yay!! Another chapter. I bet you didn't see that one coming, did you? I didn't think so. Anyways, leave me a comment or two, and I might be persuaded to get the next chapter out soon. Thanks!!
BTW--If you want to get an e-mail notice when I update, leave me a signed review, or leave your e-mail addy. Thanks!!
Notes: Wow, I'm really spoiling you now. Two updates in two days. Don't expect this all the time, though. I've just had no life lately. Anyways, enjoy as always!
Dedication: To all of my reviewers, especially Jennifer and Carii. Thanks for all of the positive feedback.
Kyp Durron had done many stupid things in his life. He had followed the teachings of the Sith Lord, Exar Kun. He had used the Sun Crusher to destroy Carida. He had stolen Qwi Xux's memory. He had chosen an aggressive and pro-active stance in the war against the Vong. And now, he was doing something just as stupid. He was going to visit someone who hated him more than the families of those killed on Carida.
The Jedi Master entered the small medical bay on the rock known as Shelter. Off to his left, there was an exam bad. A bacta tank was behind that, currently occupied by Jag Fel. To Kyp's other side, there was a private exam room. Right before him was a small open office with two small desks, the far wall covered with medical supplies.
"Master Durron, what can I do for you?" Telki asked, getting up from behind one of the desks. The little Chanda Fan healer moved around so that she was standing directly in front of Kyp. She was barely half as tall as he, and she craned her neck to look at his face.
"I was wondering if Taesa was here," Kyp answered, sitting down in a chair in front of the desks, so that Telki wouldn't strain her neck. "I need to speak with her."
"She's in the private room, giving Ben Skywalker his monthly checkup," Telki told him. "She should be done shortly. Can I help you with anything in the mean time?"
"No, no," Kyp said, holding up his hands, palms outward. "This is a purely personal matter. Unless Taesa gets mad, I won't need your services as a healer. I'm hoping it won't come to that."
Telki looked at Kyp, confusion clearly written all over her alien features. "Why would she have reason to be mad enough at you to inflict harm upon you?"
Kyp was saved from having to answer as the door to the private exam room opened. "He's a little small for his sage," Taesa was saying to Mara. The healer walked out of the room, holding Ben. "But his size comes from the fact that he's just taking after his parents. Just keep raising him the way you've been doing it, and he'll be just fine."
"Thanks," Mara said, following the healer from the room. She took the squirming child into her own arms and bounced him on her hip, trying to get him to settle down. "Ben, stop squirming," she told the child quietly, but firmly. The child almost immediately obeyed his mother.
"I'll see you next month, for his next checkup," Taesa said with a smile at the baby.
"We'll see you then," Mara said, leaving the small medical bay, humming to her son.
Taesa turned from the door to the small office that she and Telki shared. When she saw Kyp sitting there, her smile died, to be replaced by a stony frown. "Master Durron, it's quite a surprise to see you here," she said with barely concealed hostility. "Something I can do for you?"
"I think we need to speak," Kyp answered evenly. "Privately."
She turned to her fellow healer. "Telki, if you wouldn't mind..."
"No, of course no," the little Chanda Fan said. "Contact me on my comlink if anything comes up." Telki exited, leaving Kyp and Taesa alone in the small office.
The latter moved and sat behind her desk. She glared as Kyp as she asked, "Now, what do you want?"
"I was wondering how you've been doing," Kyp told her. "We haven't seen each other in fifteen years." He paused, but Taesa didn't say anything. "I was worried about you when Courscant fell."
"Sithspit!" Taesa exclaimed. "You've never worried about me, not even when we were in the mines on Kessel. You were always too busy thinking about yourself to worry about me."
"I've changed," Kyp said. "I've seen and done terrible things since then. I finally realized a few months ago how wrong I've been in my views. I'm not the same person you used to know. I've finally grown up."
"And why should I believe you?" she asked hostilely. "You've given me no real reason to."
"You still haven't forgiven me, have you?" Kyp asked, abruptly changing the subject. "You're still mad at me, aren't you?"
"And I shouldn't be?!" the healer asked, jumping to her feet. She glared down at Kyp. "You did nothing to stop Doole when he came and sold me to those slavers! You didn't try to rescue me after you were freed! You let me rot!"
"There was nothing I could do," Kyp told her. "After my brush with the Dark Side, no one trusted me. And to tell you the truth, I thought you were dead. You were--are--such a spit-fire. I thought you would have rebelled against your master, and that he wouldn't have had you killed."
The silence stretched for uncomfortable moments, Taesa glaring down at Kyp, while he just gazed at her, expressionless. The only sound that interrupted the tense silence was that of the air circulation system.
"You didn't even tell anyone of me," Taesa said quietly, taking her seat once more. "You acted as if you didn't even have a sister until I showed up at Yavin 4."
"Like I said, I thought you were dead," Kyp said, trying to justify himself. "It hurt too much to bring you up. Our brother's blood was on my hands. I thought yours was too."
"Why didn't you try to stop Doole?" she demanded. "You're my older brother; you were supposed to protect me!"
"And get myself killed?" Kyp asked incredulously.
"That's your problem!" the healer exclaimed. "If you really loved me, then you would have been willing to die to protect me!" She was now on her feet again, gesturing wildly with her hands. Kyp could see the tears pooling in her eyes.
"I couldn't have changed anything," Kyp told her quietly, getting his own feet beneath him and standing also. He looked steadily into his sisters green eyes, so much like his own. "You still would have been sold to those slavers. Everything would have happened the same, except I would have been killed."
"You didn't even try!" The tears were now coursing their way down Taesa's cheeks. He voice was harsh and low. She sat down heavily in her chair.
Kyp walked around the desk, and took her hands in his. He looked steadily into her eyes. "I know you'll never forget, but can you at least try to forgive me?"
"Do or do no. There is no try," Taesa quoted. "I won't try, but I won't do, either. I can never forgive you, Kyp. You ruined my life." She had stopped crying, and now her cheeks were mostly dry. She pulled her hands away from Kyp and stood. He followed suit, and towered almost half a meter over her. "Now, leave." I suppose living in close proximity will mean we will have to interact at time, but I won't go out of my way to talk to you. I would appreciate it if you did the same."
"Of course," Kyp answered stonily. He had come here to try to mend the rift between him and his sister. Instead, that rift had grown. I was evident that Taesa would never forgive him. Just another person to add to the list.
The Jedi Master turned and left the medical bay. As he stalked down the corridor, disappointment washed over him. I had hoped that she might have learned how to forgive me. Now, she hates me even more than she did before.
Kyp was so deep in thought that he almost ran into Luke Skywalker as the latter exited Jaina's quarters. "My apologies, Master. I wasn't watching where I was going."
"No apology necessary, Kyp," Luke told him. "You seem troubled. If you don't mind my asking, what's got your attention so riveted."
"I just had a talk with Taesa." And that explained everything. Luke knew of the animosity between the siblings, knew Taesa despised her brother. "And it didn't go well."
"I'm sorry," Luke said, and he meant it sincerely. He and Leia had never been estranged as Kyp and Taesa were. He didn't think he would be able to stand it if they were fighting like that. He didn't know how Kyp managed it.
"Thank you, but you don't need to be. It's not your fault, it's mine," Kyp said. "I probably should have left well enough alone, but I had to go and bring up the past. Now, she'll never forgive me."
Luke gazed at his former student sympathetically. Kyp could feel the sympathy in the other man's sense. He looked steadily at the senior Jedi Master.
"Anyway, I'm going to leave he alone," he continued. "No sense in bringing up painful memories anymore. It's like reopening a wound."
"Which is best to do if it's not healing properly," Luke countered. "The rift between you two is growing. It will never heal this way."
"Maybe it's not meant to heal," Kyp said. Before Luke could try to argue, the pilot walked the short distance to his door and entered his quarters. He kicked off his boots and settled down in a corner to meditate. Maybe, by immersing himself in the Force, he could pretend that things were alright.
Yeah right, Kyp thought cynically. Things'll never be alright again.
Yay!! Another chapter. I bet you didn't see that one coming, did you? I didn't think so. Anyways, leave me a comment or two, and I might be persuaded to get the next chapter out soon. Thanks!!
BTW--If you want to get an e-mail notice when I update, leave me a signed review, or leave your e-mail addy. Thanks!!