Alright, so the last chapter is short and this one is rather long. Don't be afraid to tell me if there are any mistakes or stuff. Thank you to the ones who have. I'm gonna try and fix them. :)
Chapter Four
What Luke Found
Jaina and Anakin were sitting at a console in the comm. room. They were checking sensors for their father's ship. He was calculated to arrive any moment. They had to wait and see if their calculations had been correct. Plus, they were so anxious to see what Luke found that, this was the only thing to do to keep them occupied. Everyone was anxious to see Luke and Han again. The curiosity was killing them all.
"There's the Falcon. She just popped out of hyperspace!" Anakin cried.
A blip appeared on screen, showed a ship enroute to Yavin 4. The sensors recognized the ship as the Falcon, proving with out a doubt it was them. Something was odd though. Both felt a ripple in the Force. What could that be?
"The Falcon's going to fast. Look at her! She's kicking in the afterburners!" Jaina was utterly surprised.
"That's not Dad or Uncle Luke. They wouldn't do that," Anakin remarked.
"With that speed they'll be here in less than five minutes," Jaina predicted.
Anakin jumped up. "Let's get the others quick!"
They raced out of the comm. room and down the halls. They split up in two different directions to find the rest of their family. Minutes later they all met up on the landing field, breathless and hot from running. They looked up excitedly, waiting for the first glimpse of the Falcon over heard. They didn't have to wait long.
The Falcon streaked down from overhead. It soared down just over the trees, and then picked up altitude at an astonishing rate. It twirled into a barrel roll and flipped around into an end over end loop. It dove back down, just missing the trees, and did a half twist before straightening out for the landing. The Falcon's landing pads unfolded and hovered downward on their repulsors. The ship settled down with out even a bump.
"Whoa," Jaina breathed.
"That was defiantly not your Dad," Leia remarked.
The landing ramp hissed down. Luke came swiftly down with Kitster right behind him. Luke hugged and kissed everyone all around. Kitster greeted Pala and Dorn with a big smile. Chewie came roaring down with a hug grin on his face. He was shouting about how he'd never seen such flying in all his life.
"Uncle Luke, who was that flying?" Jacen asked.
"See for yourselves," Luke pointed at Han coming down the ramp, supporting a strange young man.
The young man was near six feet tall, strong looking, and well built. He had bright blue eyes that seemed oddly familiar. He had buzzed dirty blond hair, that was pulled back in a pony tail behind his head and braid fell down his right shoulder from behind his ear. He wore a roguish smile on his handsome face. He wore rough, homespun brown long sleeve shirt. His pants were the same color as his shirt. A deep brown leather vest fell over both shoulders and cinched under his belt, stopping just above his knees. He wore tall, calf high mahogany boot and a worn leather utility belt was buckled around his waist. Topping off this outfit was a long, rough dark brown jedi cloak. A lightsaber hung from his utility belt, making it quite clear that he was a jedi. A very handsome jedi.
"Kid, that was beautiful flying! I've never seen anyone that good. You can fly that old bird anytime!" Han was praising the young man.
"It was....great," the stranger said with difficulty.
The twins and Anakin looked at the young man very hard. He seemed so familiar to them. As though they'd met him before. Then, it dawned on them. They all exchanged startled looks.
"Uncle Luke, is that....?" Anakin let the question hang in the air.
Luke nodded with a smile.
"You flew the Falcon!?" Jaina gasped in amazement as Han and the young man came up to them.
The young man nodded with a big smile. His eyes were a light with happiness. He seemed to wear confidence like a well tailored suit.
"This is Ani everyone. He's what we brought home from Coruscant," Luke said, simply.
"Ani!" Pala nearly shouted.
Ani's face lit up even brighter. "Pala! Dorn!" He drew them into a big hug. Pala was in near tears with joy and what felt like a touch of sadness. Pala drew back from Ani with a smile.
"Oh, Ani, it's been so long," She murmured, wiping away her tears.
Dorn slapped Ani's back good naturally. "You used to be shorter then me."
Ani smiled, but it was plain that he was tired. Han took him by the arm gently and led him off to get some sleep. Luke ushered them all up to his office, so they could talk in private. He sat down behind his desk, taking a moment to organize his thoughts.
Luke looked at them all. "It's as simple as this. Ani is a clone of Anakin Skywalker."
They looked completely shocked. It took several moments for the news to sink in. Had they really just heard Luke correctly? Was he playing a joke on them?
"But how?" Leia managed to say.
Luke explained all that had taken place since he's left for Coruscant.
"Then what's wrong with him?" Mara asked.
"In the cloning tank the fluid he'd been in had a severe paralyzing agent. When we first found him he could hardly moved. It's taking it's time wearing off. He should be back to normal within two to three days. but he's still weak," Luke told them.
"That must have been some stuff," Anakin put in.
"It was actually banned just after the Clone Wars, because of that," Luke said, and then continued, "Be careful around him until this wears off. He hates being like this and he's pretty quick tempered with anyone who tries to help him. Above all do not show him any pity. He hates that too. Just be patient."
"Wait a minute how much does this clone know? Does he even know he's a clone?" Leia demanded to know.
Luke shrugged. "I don't know. There has been no evidence from Ani suggesting he does know that he is a clone. We know very little about him. He seems very well trained in the Jedi ways. He is far more advanced then most of our students here. His potential seems endless."
"If he doesn't know, someone has to tell him," Jacen pointed out.
"All in good time. I would like to be certain about this," Luke cautioned, then added, "In the mean time be careful what you tell him."
Mara sighed, "You are working with a virtual stranger we hardly know anything about. That's great."
"He's a heck of a sabacc player," Han laughed from the doorway. He'd just come back from helping Ani.
Chewie roared with laughter.
"I've never seen anyone beat Chewie that bad and pick his pocket clean too!" Han laughed even harder.
Anakin looked up at Chewie. "Why didn't you get him back? Wasn't he scared of getting his arm ripped off?"
Chewie grumbled something they could not make out.
"Are you kidding? Old Chewie was completely cowed by a half crippled jedi. That kid could stare down a krayt dragon." Han grinned.
"That's a first," Leia smiled.
"I'd like to see that," Jaina remarked.
Han smiled at his daughter. "Ask him to play sometime. He'll be glad to have a challenge."
Chewie looked indignant and rumbled something at Han. Han only shrugged in reply.
"Looks like we've got our work cut out for us," Luke sighed and sank even farther into his chair.
Luke watched everyone get up and begin to leave. He asked Leia if she would stay behind to talk with him. Leia gave him a perplexed look, but stayed. When they had all gone leaving Luke and Leia alone, Luke got up. He shut the door and leaned against it. Leia did not say anything, waiting for Luke to speak.
"Leia," Luke said, quietly. "I saw things in the clone's mind."
"What kind of things?" Leia asked.
Luke was silent for a moment. "I want to show you. Will you let me?"
"Of course, Luke. But what is this about?"
"You'd recognize our mother if you saw her, wouldn't you?" Luke inquired.
Leia nodded. Luke gestured for her to sit down on the couch and Luke sat beside her. He told Leia to relax and to open up to him in the Force. When they had established a connection to each other through the Force, Luke began to relay to her what he'd seen in the clone's mind. Leia watched in her mind's eye with wonder at the terrifying scene of Anakin's mother's death and the insueing carnage afterward. Then she gasped as she saw Anakin and the beautiful young woman together. She was in tears when the vision ended.
"That was her, Luke. Our mother. She was so beautiful and strong," Leia cried, softly.
"Anakin must have really found something special in her," Luke said.
Leia nodded, wiping her eyes. "I still remember all the stories my father, Bail, used to tell me about her. How smart, kind, and beautiful she was. She was so sad, yet she loved me so much. I was so young but I remember that."
"She must have loved Anakin with all her heart," Luke sighed.
"Thank you for sharing that with me, Luke," Leia smiled, faintly, and hugged her brother. "I know how much this all means to you."
Luke hugged her back. "I'm going to have the answers someday."
"I hope so, Luke, for your sake," she replied. With that she got up and left.
Luke sat back down at his desk. He opened up the case of holo clips and other such things that Kitster had given him and his family. He hadn't gotten to see many of them. His curiosity was aroused at just what these small bits of information contained of Anakin's life. His hand strayed across the rows of holo clips. He stopped at one and picked up. He slipped it into the holoprojector, and waited for it to begin to play.
Anakin burst out onto the floating screen in what was apparently a landing platform, his lightsaber already activated. He was just in time to catch a pirate hurrying toward his ship, trying escape. The pirate carried a blaster in one hand and vibro-ax in the other. Anakin raced from the opposite end of the platform, his lightsaber already activated. The pirate saw him and quickened his pace, but Anakin was quicker. With a leap, he landed in front of the pirate.
"It is time to pay for your crimes," Anakin said, his voice muted and almost picked up at all by the holocamm's mike.
"Not by the likes of you, boy," the pirate sneered.
Anakin attacked. His face showed no fear only an intense gaze that was frightening. He slashed out at the pirate, but the pirate appeared to be quicker than he'd expected. Blaster fire singed the sleeve of his tunic. Anakin reversed and kicked out, trying to dislodge the blaster from the pirate's meaty fist. But the pirate absorbed the blow and held on.
Blaster fire followed Anakin as somersaulted and landed to the pirate's left. The pirate dodged the first lightsaber pass and Anakin tossed the lightsaber to his other hand and came at him from a surprising new angle. The pirate bellowed as the lightsaber grazed him. He lifted the vibro-ax, and came at Anakin from below. Startled, Anakin twisted away, but not before the vibro-ax grazed his wrist. A centimeter or two closer and it would have taken off his hand. Anakin's face contorted into a look of pain and anger. He tossed the lightsaber to his good hand, leapt at around the pirate and attacked from behind. The pirate turned and aimed the blaster, firing rapidly. Anakin dodged it, moving forward and forcing the pirate to back up. Anakin seemed to be enjoying the fear that crept into the pirate's face.
"You will die at my hands, Krayn," Anakin said through his teeth. "You will die at the hands of a boy."
Krayn looked to tired to answer. His hair was matted and wet, and his arm shook as tried to raise to vibro-ax against Anakin. The vibro-ax fell from his hand and clattered to the ground. He lifted his face to his attacker.
"Anakin!" a voice shouted from beyond the view of the camera.
To Luke it sounded vaguely familiar. It was the voice of someone he had not seen in years. As he watched, a man ran into view, but Anakin neither heard or saw him. Luke knew it was Obi-Wan. He could feel it. Anakin raised his lightsaber to deliver the fatal blow.
"Don't!" Obi-Wan shouted.
The lightsaber slashed downward. Anakin sunk it into Krayn's chest. Krayn's mouth opened in a wordless scream. He locked eyes with Anakin, before toppling to the ground. Anakin turned to face Obi-Wan, his expression devoid of emotion. It held neither triumph or distress. Only blankness.
The clip winked out, finished in reading its contents. It spit it out for Luke to take out and put away. Luke looked up at the figure standing in the doorway. He'd been so absorbed in the clip that he hadn't noticed anyone there. It was Anakin Solo. He had watched nearly the entire clip. His eyes were sad and looked into Luke's for comfort. Luke beckoned him. He came and sat beside Luke in front of the holoprojector.
"Sometime I still have nightmares that I turn into Darth Vader," Anakin whispered. "It seems so real at times. Do you think I will end up like him?"
"No, Anakin," Luke reassured him. "You know what the dark side can do. You know to stay away from it. Your grandfather was brought into training late. He didn't understand the dangers of the dark side. You do and I'm sure he's very proud of you like I am."
Anakin smiled, gratefully. He picked up another holoclip and handed it to Luke. "Watch this one. It reminds me of some of the arguments we have."
Luke took it with a grin and put in the 'projector. A moment later the interior image of a night club, called the Outlander, came into view. Obi-Wan walked into the line of the security camera toward Anakin, who stood just on the threshold of the club entrance.
"Anakin!" Obi-wan snapped, catching his apprentice's attention. He held Anakin's lightsaber in his hand and wore a disapproving expression.
"She went into the club, Master!"
Obi-Wan patted his hand in the air to calm him.
"Patience," Obi-Wan said. "Use the Force. Think."
"Sorry, Master."
"He went in there to hide, not run," Obi-Wan reasoned.
"Yes, Master."
Obi-Wan held the lightsaber out to his student. "Next time try not to lose it."
"Sorry, Master."
Obi-Wan pulled it back as Anakin reached for it, holding the young Jedi's gaze with his own in a stern expression. "A Jedi's lightsaber is his most precious possession."
"Yes, Master." Again, Anakin reached for it, and again Obi-Wan pulled it away, never letting Anakin go from his gaze.
"He must keep it with him at all times."
"I know, Master," Anakin's voice held a note of exasperation,
"This weapon is your life."
Anakin seemed to break his submissive tone and attitude for just a moment. " I've heard this lesson before."
Obi-Wan finally relinquished the weapon back to Anakin, who took it and replaced it on his belt.
"But you haven't learned anything, Anakin," said Obi-Wan turning away.
"I try, Master," his submissive tone back in place.
The older Jedi led the way into the club, unaware of the holocam recording him and his apprentice. Obi-Wan continued the conversation, as they walked into the club.
"Why do I think that you're going to be the death of me?" Obi-Wan commented above the clamor of the club.
Luke winced at that bit of irony that he could not find at all humorous. He saw flash backs of Darth Vader's blade slashing through Ben.
"Don't say that, Master," Anakin's voice revealed the sincere, seriousness of his tone. "You're the closest thing I have to a father. I love you, and I don't want to cause you any pain."
Luke's eyebrows shot up. Could that really be the man that would cause so much pain later in his life? It was almost scary.
"Then why don't you listen to me?"
"I will," Anakin said eagerly. "I'll do better. I promise."
He sounded like a little kid trying to convince his parent not to be to hard him. Obi-Wan merely nodded, glancing all around. His eyes seemed to rest on the holocamm for a moment, before looking away. "Do you see him?"
"I think he's a she."
"Then be extra careful," Obi-Wan said, then gave a snort as if thinking that was impossible for Anakin to do.
"And I think she's a changeling," Anakin added.
Obi-Wan nodded to the crowd. "Go and find her." He started for the bar.
"Where are you going, Master?"
"To get a drink," Obi-Wan replied, then walked away, leaving a bewildered Anakin to shake his head in surprise before moving on.
Luke smiled, as he pulled out the holo clip. "That brings back wonderful memories of old training days with Master Yoda."
Anakin Solo grinned back. "One more, Uncle Luke?"
Luke pulled out another clip that was the next in line. It was dated to have been recorded only a few hours after the one they just watched. Curiosity peeked, Luke slid it into the 'projector to watch.
When it came on, it was rather obvious in this clip that this was the industrial sector of Coruscant. What would his father have been doing there? It was one of the many freight docks there, filled with aline of bulky transports coming in continually. The peasants of Coruscant were known to go there to get cheap rides on freighters outbound. After a moment of playing "Where's the Wookie", Luke spotted Anakin. He was blended into the throng of thousands of sentient beings pushing to get to the next ship. He walked beside a beautiful young woman clad in the simple gown of a Thousand Moon's young matron's dress. Anakin himself wore simple brown tunic and breeches with a vest embroidered in a common Thousand Moons pattern. It was quite evident that the two were in disguise, hiding from unwanted eyes.
The holocamm followed the flow of the crowd, watching for any suspected criminals or possible threats. It unwittingly kept the two in its sensor arc. The two walked side by side as they approached the dock. Anakin carried the luggage, and the closeness with which he walked to the woman spoke of more than words could. The way he kept his eyes on her and smiled at her added even more to the hidden story in the clip.
Luke paused the clip at a point where the 'camm had been able to, for a split second, capture the young woman's face. She was indeed beautiful with bright brown eyes, soft complexion, and pretty smile. Luke knew this was his mother. Her resemblance to Leia was unmistakable. The image also fit the one he'd seen in Ani's mind. Now he appreciated why Anakin had found her so beautiful. Luke pointed to the screen, enlarging the picture.
"There she is, Anakin. Your grandmother and my mother," Luke told him.
"She's very beautiful," Anakin murmured. "How do you know?"
Luke looked over at him. "I know."
*******
Ani made his way down the Temple corridors toward the cafeteria. He'd heard the dinner bell toll and was suddenly surprised at how hungry he was. He'd just followed where the Force told him the most people were gathered at. He walked with his hand against the wall for support. He sensed the Solo kids coming before they even reached him. He twisted around to face them, but still have the support of the wall. They came around the corner laughing and talking with their friends. They caught sight of him and froze for a moment. Ani's eyes studied each in turn, making them feel as if he was looking into their souls.
He bowed his head, formally. "Good evening."
They all glanced at one another, then with smiles they returned his greeting. They gathered around him, pulling him into the net of friendship. He smiled warmly, noticing that none of them brought up his paralyze problem or asked if he needed help walking. They walked with him, at his rate, down to the cafeteria and invited him to sit with them. He accepted the invitation gratefully. The Solos introduced their friends as Tenel Ka from Dathomir, Lowbacca from Kasyyak, and Tahiri Veila. He was very polite and kind to them, not bothered by all their questions. Of course, they'd be curious about the new guy. They asked him million in one things, which he did his best to answer in between bolting down every scrap of food put in front of him. Eating to him was like something new as well. When was the last time he had truly sat down for a dinner? With a smile, he remembered it had been with Padme.
"So where did you live before becoming a jedi, Ani?" Jaina asked him. They had all agreed with Luke that they should find out as much as possible from this clone. They were doing their part by seeing how much he knew.
"On Tatooine....with my...mother," He answered, slowly. He wanted not to talk about her. He felt the pain and the anger of losing her. He should have been able to save her. These thoughts in turn made him more irritated at his current condition. He hated talking like this. Why couldn't this dumb agent thing wear off? He was tired of the whole thing. His frustration was like a tangible thing, nearly thick enough to taste. He shook off the anger thoughts darting through his mind and focused back on those around him. They had sensed his frustration about it, but his anger they did not fully understand. They didn't bring it up. They treated him with respect, kindness, and equality. He was thoroughly enjoying their company.
"What was your mother's name?" Anakin inquired.
"Shmi....Skywalker," He replied.
The twins exchanged a secret look, which he caught but didn't understand.
"We were....slaves," Ani told them, though his difficulty saying this was not entirely do to his paralyze. His anger was intense for a brief moment. It flared like some bright torch. His eyes burned with such intensity that it frightened them.
Lowie growled something about the cruelty of slavery. Ani nodded in agreement, which made Lowie blink in surprise, then ask if Ani could understand him. Ani grinned and nodded, only to happy to turn away from the subject of his mother and Tatooine. Lowie smiled with approval and patted Ani's arm warmly.
"You....related to....Chewie?" Ani wanted to know.
Lowie nodded and asked how he knew.
Ani put his fingers to his lips in a sign he wouldn't tell. "Secret."
"So how did you get to be a jedi if you were a slave?" Anakin cut back to the previous conversation.
Ani sighed, looking pained as though warding off a deluge of unhappy thoughts,
"Long...story."
Ani looked around for the salt. He was notorious for loving salt. He saw it down at the other end of the table. Another group sat down at that end of the table talking together about something that seemed serious. Ani sighed to himself, then asked Tenel Ka to see if they'd pass the salt. They didn't appear to hear her. Ani rolled his eyes, impatiently, and touched into the Force. With a slight flick of his fingers the salt shaker rouse into the air smoothly. It floated down the length of the table towards him. A momentary lull fell over the conversation at the end of the table as the salt shaker floated by over their heads. Ani plucked the salt out of the air and smiled, disarmingly, down at the jedi at the end of the table. They looked surprised, then amused.
"That certainly got their attention." Tahiri laughed.
Ani grinned, broadly. "The...possessed....salt shaker."
Jacen chuckled at the small joke that Anakin had made. "You like jokes?"
Ani nodded.
"Jacen! Don't torture him!" Jaina cried.
Jacen looked offended. "They're not that bad!"
"No, they're worse," Anakin put in.
Lowie chuffed with laughter, while Jaina tried to hide her own. Ani's shoulders shook in silent testament of his mirth. Tenel Ka's face remained neutral, though he was almost certain he sensed a touch of amusement in her. He was really beginning to like these guys a lot. Strange how he'd been distanced before by most Jedi students and now to be pulled into a group of friends, it was very odd. It felt good though. The only friend he'd had besides Obi-Wan had been Bariss Offee. A human female padawan to Master Luminara Unduli. But he had not become friends with her until the mission on Ansion.
"What are you thinking about?" Tenel Ka asked him. She was truly interested.
"Never....had...many friends.....before." He replied.
Tenel Ka looked at him with curious eyes. "Why not?"
"I was.....special. ....They.....were scared....of.....me." Ani frowned, remembering how it had felt as though he had never fit in. To be left out of the others fun and companionship. He like anyone else craved friendship, but his power had unsettled them. He'd also been late in coming to the Temple, which caused problems as well. He'd been distanced most of his life from the other Jedi. He had however gotten to know the Jedi Counsel extremely well, he thought with a snort.
"Hey," Jacen spoke up suddenly. They had all felt Ani's darkening mood. "We heard you were a good sabacc player. Would you like to join us in a few games tonight?"
Ani's mood brightened instantly. "Didn't....know....you had......money.....to give.....me." He smiled, devilishly.
"Not if we can help it!" Jaina exclaimed.
Ani merely smiled.
*******
"Can I.....ask.....you.....something?" Ani asked all of them.
They were all in the middle of a sabacc game that was becoming more intense every moment. So far Ani had won three out of five games. Only Jaina and Anakin had beaten him before. Jaina looked up from her cards.
"Yeah sure, Ani," Jaina smiled, but the look in his eyes quickly wiped the smile from her face.
"I need....to.....know......something," Ani's eyes looked haunted, as he paused then went on. "Please.....don't lie.....about this."
Now they all sat uncomfortably, waiting for him to ask his question.
"What....happened to.....the......Temple on.....Coruscant?" Ani implored them.
They all exchanged pained looks. Could they tell him? Luke had told them to be careful what they said to the clone. They couldn't lie to him, but the truth would surely be to harsh. At their indecision Ani's face became like stone.
"Tell...me," He pressed, in a terrible voice that cut into their hearts.
Tenel Ka sighed, "He must know. He would find out eventually."
The others nodded in agreement.
"The Temple, Ani, was destroyed during the Clone Wars." Jacen told him gently.
He felt as though the air had just been knocked from his lungs. He felt sick inside thinking of the beautiful, old Temple reduced to rubble. That place had been his home for ten years of his life. What about all the old artifacts the Jedi had treasured, the data library, the Room of a Thousand Fountains, the vast hallways, and the hundreds of other things that had made that place special. Even though it had felt like a prison to him sometimes, it was still an important place to him. Now it was gone. A horrible sense of loss fell over him.
He stared down blankly at the table. How could this have happened? Did Dooku have something to do with it? Then something more terrible came to mind. Had Dooku killed Obi-Wan and gotten away? What had become of Master Kenobi and Padme? What had happened during that fight with Dooku? Just how long had he been stuck in that tank, if the Clone Wars were over? His failure stared him in the eyes like some ugly monster.
"Are you ok, Ani?" Jacen asked.
Ani looked up at them. His pain was obvious in his eyes. Through the Force it felt like a veil around him. It obscured their sense of him. Then it seemed to fade, as if being beaten back. The hurt and the pain was being locked into Ani's mind behind closed doors. His mind shields came up and his emotions were about as readable as a blank slate.
"Yes.....I'm....fine," He murmured.
With that he stood up and left. They watched his retreating form with anxiety.
"I hope we don't regret having told him that." Jaina sighed.
*******
Ani sat alone one the Great Temple's top, the highest spot on Yavin 4. He stared out at that sunset that streaked the sky in shades of brilliant color. The beauty only served to bring back forgotten memories of his past. Of sitting up with his mother watching the twin suns of Tatooine set in the sky back home. Of watching the sunset on Coruscant and dozens of others on other planets on his Jedi missions with Obi-Wan. A wave of homesickness washed over him. All he wanted at that moment was to talk to his mother, but she was dead. Killed by the sand people. He shuddered at the very thought of the revenge he'd exacted on them. He'd killed them all ,down to the last man, woman, and child. Killing them like so many bugs.
He sighed and listened to the Massassi jungle's night creatures come awake to hunt and be hunted. He pulled his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around his legs. He rested his chin on his knees with an even deeper sigh. He missed his Master. For his master would have found something comforting to say to him to make the homesickness go away. Obi-Wan had been the only father figure he'd ever known. He had a sinking feeling that like Padme, Obi-Wan was dead or he would have felt him otherwise. That was one lesson that seemed to keep haunting Ani that the people he loved most were not invincibly. Everyone could die, even the strongest people. What had happened while he was in the tank? That one question kept plaguing his mind.
His thoughts were interrupted by a young woman. He sensed her long before she reached the top of the Temple. Her presence was strong in the Force. Her face peeked up over the edge of the Temple wall. The two regarded each other for several long seconds, neither moved. The light slanting over the trees from the setting sun illuminated her face. It was a small, narrow face framed by rich brown hair braided around her head. Slender, perfectly built, luminous pale blue eyes, the sort of classic beauty that survived sun, wind, and hard times and never required the guise of make-up. He found himself thinking for a moment it was Padme, but Padme did not have blue eyes. That thought brought on another wave of homesickness. He turned away from her and rested his chin back on his knee. He expected her to retreat like most everyone else would have, but she did not. Much to his surprise she came up and sat down beside him.
"I did not know anyone else was up here." Her voice was quiet, but firm. By the look in her eyes she was waiting for him to challenge her.
He didn't say anything for a moment. He was trying to collect his thoughts. The accent with which she'd spoken had been familiar to him in many ways. He noticed that she had not bothered to apologize to him for intruding. In fact, as he searched her with the Force she seemed completely unafraid of him. That, also to his surprise, rankled him. Hadn't he more than a few hours ago been perturbed about the jedi being afraid of him at the old Temple?
A little annoyed with her, he asked for her name. "Who....are you?" He was painfully aware of his difficulty in speaking. Would she find that amusing or think him a cripple? What did he care what she thought!?
"My name is Gabe. And you are?" She seemed not to notice his speech problem.
He looked at her, intrigued. "Ani."
"You're the new Jedi from Coruscant?" She was curious.
He nodded a yes. "And....you are.....from.....Naboo."
It was her turn to look surprised. "Yes, I am."
"It is.....beautiful.....there." He sighed, bringing back a flood of memories about that lovely planet that had been Padme's home world.
Both were silent for a time.
"So why are you up here?" She asked.
"To...think." He answered, then looked at her expectantly.
"To meditate. It's very peaceful up here," Gabe replied.
He nodded in understanding.
"Not much of a conversationalist, are you?" She teased.
He smiled, slightly. He climbed to his feet awkwardly. "I'm...gonna go."
"Alright, it was nice to met you, Ani," She smiled.
He nodded his agreement, then took his leave.