Oct 2002
Disclaimer: I don't own any of this, all the characters (Except for Tasha) are property of Lucasfilm etc etc.
Hide Your Love Away
Chapter 32
Nothingness. She drifted in white, surrounded by warmth. White light encompassed her, beckoning, and she moved towards it. It promised freedom. Freedom from pain, from living; freedom from slavery. If she could have smiled, she would have. Moving cautiously towards the light, she felt a coldness invade her. The feeling of coming home slipped and she paused, uncertain if she wanted to go after all.
What was waiting for her beyond that rift? What awaited her child if she went through it? Would her child ever know her father, the man her mother admitted, only to herself, that she loved beyond life? What would happen to him without her? Would he survive? She felt his presence, his determination and desolation. He was afraid she'd leave him, taking away the one change he had at a family, at true happiness. Would she be truly happy with him if she fought to stay? Would she be able to admit to him that he mattered to her as much as he did?
The light beckoned, its pull growing stronger by the second, almost seeming to drag her towards it. She fought it, but her strength was waning. She was so tired. Tired of living a lie, or living for nothing beyond her next meal and the man she served. She didn't want to be a servant anymore. She moved towards the light again, quickly this time, stopping just out of its reach. His presence was growing fainter, less insisting. He wanted her to come back, to stay with him, to be with him and bond. Was she brave enough to face that? She had to be honest with herself. She wasn't. Almost apologetically, she turned towards the light...
The ceiling was white. Blue eyes opened slowly as they adjusted to the glare. One thought intruded. Pearl. His eyes widened and he sat up abruptly.
"Woah, easy there Master Kenobi, you're very weak."
He turned wide eyes to the tech that'd spoken. "Where's Pearl?" His desperate tone took the woman by surprise.
"Pardon me? Who is Pearl?"
"The young blonde woman I was with, what happened to her?"
Her face grew very still. "Tasha Jade, you mean?"
He nodded, his throat tightening. The woman's face was expressionless and he couldn't feel anything from her in the Force. "No, please no. Tell me she's alright, please, I can't loose..." he trailed off, his head dropping to his chest as he couldn't speak. Where was his control? Did it matter?
"She's in the bacta tank, Master Kenobi. She has been since she was brought in three days ago. The prognosis... isn't good."
His head came up with a snap. "There's a possibility of her being alright?"
The woman nodded. "There's a slim chance she'll live, but even if her body's healed... if her spirit doesn't want to, she may very well die."
"She can't die, you can't let her die!"
"It's out of our hands, Master Kenobi. The Jedi healers are with her now, but I'm afraid there is little they can do."
"I have to see her."
Her lips thinned. "You, Master Kenobi, are in no shape to see anyone. Jedi Skywalker and his wife were released yesterday, but Jedi Skywalker hasn't left the healer's side since they arrived. Your own Force powers, as I'm sure you've noticed, are either being dampened or blocked. You, sir, are under orders from the council to stay abed for the next two days!"
"I can't do that! Please, she might die while I lie here doing nothing, I can't let her do that! I can't just let Pearl die!"
The tech frowned at him. "Master Kenobi, you're showing a remarkable lack of control, a lot less than what I expect of a full fledged Jedi Knight."
"I'm sorry, but I can't... I can't just lie here while she might be dying!"
"You have no choice." The tech spun on her heel and closed the door.
Obi-Wan stared at the closed portal and lowered himself to the bed again. He'd heard the lock click into place. Without his Jedi skills, he'd never be able to open it from the other side. He swallowed hard. Dampening, blocking, whatever they were doing to him, he had to get through to Pearl!
Closing his eyes, Obi-Wan began to search within himself for his powers. Somehow, he had to help her find her way back.
Padmé watched the Jedi healers as they pulled Tasha from the bacta tank. Her body was almost completely healed, only small pink spots on her back and front showing where the lightsaber had entered her body. Somehow, they'd managed to heal the lightsaber wounds. From what she understood, the blades were made to cauterize when cutting through flesh and bone, normally irreversible. With Anakin's help, her interneal wounds had been healed. If nothing else, she was proud of her husband for that.
Tasha was laid out on one of the beds, bacta draining from her body before they washed the last remnants away. The Jedi Healers were surrounding the bed, their eyes closed, hands joined, as they used the Force to continue healing the body. Padmé had noticed a side effect of their healing in the way Tasha's lower belly had been expanding the last day. Whatever they were doing was causing the baby to grow at an accelerated rate.
Padmé pulled one of the techs aside, "Can they save her?"
The tech looked over at Tasha's still form before meeting her gaze. "I don't know, Lady Skywalker. Her body has been healed, even though we didn't think it could be done, but I'm afraid she's lost the will to live. We can't force her to live if she doesn't want to."
Padmé's eyes narrowed. "Where's Jedi Kenobi? I'm sure if he were here he could help."
"He's in isolation by order of the Jedi Council, Lady Skywalker. He's still very weak from his brush with death. His attempts to keep Ms. Jade alive almost cost him his own life."
"I know that, I've heard that already, but if anyone can keep Tasha alive it's him! Don't you understand, he needs to be here. She needs him to be here!"
The tech sighed. "I'm afraid that's impossible. We can't go against their orders and only one of the techs has access to him. He's to stay in seclusion until the effects of his immersion are gone."
Padmé got to her feet, startling the tech. "You may not be able to go against the council, but I'm going to damn well try!"
She stormed out of the sick room, careful not to disturb the healers, and left the medical wing. Her steps sure and steady, she made her way quickly towards the turbo lift that would take her to the council hall. Someone had a lot to answer for. She was waiting impatiently for the lift when the doors opened and Mace Windu stepped out, turning to face her immediately.
"Master Windu. Just the person I was looking for."
He didn't seem fazed by her sharp words, simply folded his hands and looked at her. "I know. Your mental outrage is quite clear, so instead of you coming to me, I came to you. How can I help?"
"I want you to lift the restrictions on Obi-Wan. Tasha is dying, her child along with her, and I believe it is because she can't feel his presence through the Force. Whatever you're doing to keep him where he is, is affecting her! For her to recover, and her child to have a chance, Obi-Wan has to help bring her back."
"Attachment is forbidden, Obi-Wan knows this. I'm sorry, my hands are tied."
Her eyes blazed as she placed her hands on her hips, glaring at him. "The hell with your code! He loves her, doesn't that mean anything to you?! Doesn't the fact that you could lose someone so Force sensitive as Tasha bother you?"
Mace was quiet for a moment. "Calm yourself, Lady Skywalker. Has he said as much?"
Padmé didn't so much as flinch. "I will not calm down while you and your blasted council do nothing to save the woman who saved his life! She saved Anakin's life and helped kill Palpatine! Yes, to answer your question, he has said as much. How could he not love her when he was desperate to save her, not only from the darkside but from herself? She's carrying his child, for Force's sake! A Force Sensitive child that could help revive the Jedi! Surely that means something to you?"
He held up his hand, slowly her angry words and smiled faintly. "You are a harsh negotiator, Lady Skywalker. I look forward to the day when you can I must match wits again. To answer your question, we are not without compassion. I will do as you ask and lift his restrictions, but only for the child's sake. She has grown much over the last 3 days, and we hope to save her. Tasha Jade's fate would be her own to decide if not for the child."
"Sometimes I wonder what exactly it is you're sworn to protect, Master Windu, when you won't even help save the life of a woman who helped bring around the destruction of your greatest foe. Thank you for your help." She turned on her heel and walked away. Hopefully her actions hadn't come too late.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of this, all the characters (Except for Tasha) are property of Lucasfilm etc etc.
Hide Your Love Away
Chapter 32
Nothingness. She drifted in white, surrounded by warmth. White light encompassed her, beckoning, and she moved towards it. It promised freedom. Freedom from pain, from living; freedom from slavery. If she could have smiled, she would have. Moving cautiously towards the light, she felt a coldness invade her. The feeling of coming home slipped and she paused, uncertain if she wanted to go after all.
What was waiting for her beyond that rift? What awaited her child if she went through it? Would her child ever know her father, the man her mother admitted, only to herself, that she loved beyond life? What would happen to him without her? Would he survive? She felt his presence, his determination and desolation. He was afraid she'd leave him, taking away the one change he had at a family, at true happiness. Would she be truly happy with him if she fought to stay? Would she be able to admit to him that he mattered to her as much as he did?
The light beckoned, its pull growing stronger by the second, almost seeming to drag her towards it. She fought it, but her strength was waning. She was so tired. Tired of living a lie, or living for nothing beyond her next meal and the man she served. She didn't want to be a servant anymore. She moved towards the light again, quickly this time, stopping just out of its reach. His presence was growing fainter, less insisting. He wanted her to come back, to stay with him, to be with him and bond. Was she brave enough to face that? She had to be honest with herself. She wasn't. Almost apologetically, she turned towards the light...
The ceiling was white. Blue eyes opened slowly as they adjusted to the glare. One thought intruded. Pearl. His eyes widened and he sat up abruptly.
"Woah, easy there Master Kenobi, you're very weak."
He turned wide eyes to the tech that'd spoken. "Where's Pearl?" His desperate tone took the woman by surprise.
"Pardon me? Who is Pearl?"
"The young blonde woman I was with, what happened to her?"
Her face grew very still. "Tasha Jade, you mean?"
He nodded, his throat tightening. The woman's face was expressionless and he couldn't feel anything from her in the Force. "No, please no. Tell me she's alright, please, I can't loose..." he trailed off, his head dropping to his chest as he couldn't speak. Where was his control? Did it matter?
"She's in the bacta tank, Master Kenobi. She has been since she was brought in three days ago. The prognosis... isn't good."
His head came up with a snap. "There's a possibility of her being alright?"
The woman nodded. "There's a slim chance she'll live, but even if her body's healed... if her spirit doesn't want to, she may very well die."
"She can't die, you can't let her die!"
"It's out of our hands, Master Kenobi. The Jedi healers are with her now, but I'm afraid there is little they can do."
"I have to see her."
Her lips thinned. "You, Master Kenobi, are in no shape to see anyone. Jedi Skywalker and his wife were released yesterday, but Jedi Skywalker hasn't left the healer's side since they arrived. Your own Force powers, as I'm sure you've noticed, are either being dampened or blocked. You, sir, are under orders from the council to stay abed for the next two days!"
"I can't do that! Please, she might die while I lie here doing nothing, I can't let her do that! I can't just let Pearl die!"
The tech frowned at him. "Master Kenobi, you're showing a remarkable lack of control, a lot less than what I expect of a full fledged Jedi Knight."
"I'm sorry, but I can't... I can't just lie here while she might be dying!"
"You have no choice." The tech spun on her heel and closed the door.
Obi-Wan stared at the closed portal and lowered himself to the bed again. He'd heard the lock click into place. Without his Jedi skills, he'd never be able to open it from the other side. He swallowed hard. Dampening, blocking, whatever they were doing to him, he had to get through to Pearl!
Closing his eyes, Obi-Wan began to search within himself for his powers. Somehow, he had to help her find her way back.
Padmé watched the Jedi healers as they pulled Tasha from the bacta tank. Her body was almost completely healed, only small pink spots on her back and front showing where the lightsaber had entered her body. Somehow, they'd managed to heal the lightsaber wounds. From what she understood, the blades were made to cauterize when cutting through flesh and bone, normally irreversible. With Anakin's help, her interneal wounds had been healed. If nothing else, she was proud of her husband for that.
Tasha was laid out on one of the beds, bacta draining from her body before they washed the last remnants away. The Jedi Healers were surrounding the bed, their eyes closed, hands joined, as they used the Force to continue healing the body. Padmé had noticed a side effect of their healing in the way Tasha's lower belly had been expanding the last day. Whatever they were doing was causing the baby to grow at an accelerated rate.
Padmé pulled one of the techs aside, "Can they save her?"
The tech looked over at Tasha's still form before meeting her gaze. "I don't know, Lady Skywalker. Her body has been healed, even though we didn't think it could be done, but I'm afraid she's lost the will to live. We can't force her to live if she doesn't want to."
Padmé's eyes narrowed. "Where's Jedi Kenobi? I'm sure if he were here he could help."
"He's in isolation by order of the Jedi Council, Lady Skywalker. He's still very weak from his brush with death. His attempts to keep Ms. Jade alive almost cost him his own life."
"I know that, I've heard that already, but if anyone can keep Tasha alive it's him! Don't you understand, he needs to be here. She needs him to be here!"
The tech sighed. "I'm afraid that's impossible. We can't go against their orders and only one of the techs has access to him. He's to stay in seclusion until the effects of his immersion are gone."
Padmé got to her feet, startling the tech. "You may not be able to go against the council, but I'm going to damn well try!"
She stormed out of the sick room, careful not to disturb the healers, and left the medical wing. Her steps sure and steady, she made her way quickly towards the turbo lift that would take her to the council hall. Someone had a lot to answer for. She was waiting impatiently for the lift when the doors opened and Mace Windu stepped out, turning to face her immediately.
"Master Windu. Just the person I was looking for."
He didn't seem fazed by her sharp words, simply folded his hands and looked at her. "I know. Your mental outrage is quite clear, so instead of you coming to me, I came to you. How can I help?"
"I want you to lift the restrictions on Obi-Wan. Tasha is dying, her child along with her, and I believe it is because she can't feel his presence through the Force. Whatever you're doing to keep him where he is, is affecting her! For her to recover, and her child to have a chance, Obi-Wan has to help bring her back."
"Attachment is forbidden, Obi-Wan knows this. I'm sorry, my hands are tied."
Her eyes blazed as she placed her hands on her hips, glaring at him. "The hell with your code! He loves her, doesn't that mean anything to you?! Doesn't the fact that you could lose someone so Force sensitive as Tasha bother you?"
Mace was quiet for a moment. "Calm yourself, Lady Skywalker. Has he said as much?"
Padmé didn't so much as flinch. "I will not calm down while you and your blasted council do nothing to save the woman who saved his life! She saved Anakin's life and helped kill Palpatine! Yes, to answer your question, he has said as much. How could he not love her when he was desperate to save her, not only from the darkside but from herself? She's carrying his child, for Force's sake! A Force Sensitive child that could help revive the Jedi! Surely that means something to you?"
He held up his hand, slowly her angry words and smiled faintly. "You are a harsh negotiator, Lady Skywalker. I look forward to the day when you can I must match wits again. To answer your question, we are not without compassion. I will do as you ask and lift his restrictions, but only for the child's sake. She has grown much over the last 3 days, and we hope to save her. Tasha Jade's fate would be her own to decide if not for the child."
"Sometimes I wonder what exactly it is you're sworn to protect, Master Windu, when you won't even help save the life of a woman who helped bring around the destruction of your greatest foe. Thank you for your help." She turned on her heel and walked away. Hopefully her actions hadn't come too late.