CHAPTER SEVENTEEN:  CLEANING UP

        He felt Tahiri panicking because it was taking forever to cut through the bonds on his hands, so he reached out to reassure her.  It might have worked better if there wasn't the chance that at any moment the altered creatures would stop arguing and realize what they were trying to do.

When she was finally able to cut through them completely, he saw her sigh in relief as he took blade from her so he could free her own hands.  Since his hands were no longer tied, it took him half the time to cut hers off.  He had cut through the restraints on his ankles and was handing her the blade so she could do the same when he felt a sharp pain in his spine and his face was pushed against the muddy earth.  The next minute he was hauled to his feet and shoved towards the fire.  Tahiri chose that moment to stick out her bound legs and the creature tripped over them.  The act earned her a smack in the face, but Anakin used the commotion to grab the fallen vibroblade and stab the creature towering over Tahiri.

        By that point, every remaining altered human had turned their attention to the two Jedi who were trying to escape and began advancing towards them.

        The situation was hopeless, but at least Anakin had his hands and feet free to fight.  Tahiri still had her legs bound together.  He carefully lobbed the vibroblade in the air towards her and Tahiri caught it with ease.  She had barely started cutting when Anakin took up a fighting stance to prepare himself for the creatures closing in on him.

        Before a bloody massacre could begin, something shot out from the trees and hit the creature in the chest.  It took Anakin a second to identify the object as a sort of dart.  The human stuttered and stumbled before collapsing to the ground in a heap.

        Before any of the other creatures could advance on Anakin, the forest seemed to rain with these darts, almost taking out a creature with every shot.  Some even needed to be hit twice before they dropped to the ground.

        When no one was left standing except Anakin, the Jedi could see movement from within the trees.  He watched as his brother and Tenal Ka emerged, followed by a dozen or so of Baxter's men.

        "Are they dead?"  Anakin asked them.  Tahiri had joined him then at his side, looking equally curious.

        "No, they're just knocked out," Jacen said.  "They were shot with enough tranquillizer to bring down a wampa,"

        "What are they going to do with them now?"  Tahiri asked.

        "Captain Baxter was able to convince the New Republic that it would be in their best interests to study these humans.  If it turns out they are able to help them, then there may be a chance for anyone else who the Yuuzhan Vong infect with this sickness," Tenal Ka explained.  "There is a ship coming first thing in the morning to take them,"

        They watched as Baxter's men placed stun cuffs and binders on each one of the unconscious humans before hauling them to the feet.        "Come on, let's get you two back to the village," Jacen said, looking his brother and Tahiri over.  "You two look like you could use a visit with Trentholm,"

        Neither Anakin nor Tahiri argued as Jacen and Tenal Ka lead them back to the settlement.  Now that it was all over, Anakin felt exhaustion and the pain of his injuries starting to set in.  There was nothing more he wanted then to go to sleep at that very moment.

        The next several days were spent helping the villagers clean up the mess that had once been their newly established village.  When the New Republic ship had arrived to pick up the creatures, they had left behind several architects that were redesigning the buildings lost in the explosion.  It was going to take time and a lot of work, but in the end at least the settlers of Trianna had not lost another home.  And with the altered humans gone, it was once again a safe place to send refugees.  Word had been sent that the first group was due to arrive at the end of the week.

        All in all, Jacen felt they had managed to do a pretty good job of their assignment there.  Lives had been lost, but nowhere near the numbers that could have been.

        They were scheduled to leave Trianna within the hour.  Jacen had packed the last of his things and was just entering the Falcon when he heard voices coming from the lounge area.  He stood in the doorway catching the tail end of Tenal Ka's conversation with her mother.  When she turned around and saw him, he said quickly, "I wasn't evesdropping, I promise,"

        "I know you weren't,"

        "Are you going to tell me what that was all about?"

        She chose her words carefully before speaking.  "I am going home to Hapes for awhile, Jacen.  My father is ill and instead of T'a C'hume taking over his duties, I will go in his place,"

        "Is he all right?"

        Tenal Ka shrugged.  "They think it might have something to do with his heart, which makes no sense because he has been in perfect health his entire life."  She sighed.  "They are still running tests of course.  My mother has called in the best doctor's from all over the Hapes Cluster,"

        "I'd offer to go with you, but I have a feeling you're going to turn me down,"

        "I would like nothing more then for you to come with me," she began, "but I think it is best for the both of us if I return home alone,"

        Jacen had figured she would say as much, so he simply nodded.  "How long are you going to be gone?"  He had been bracing himself for the answer since before he had asked the question.

        "I don't know," she answered honestly.

        "Just promise me one thing," he began.  "that you won't go and get married while you're there, okay?"  He was only half-joking when he said it.

        She gave him a small, but brief smile. "I will try not to,"

        "Anyways," he said, breaking the awkwardness that followed.  "We're going to be taking off soon, so I thought I'd let you know in case you have any last minute packing to do, even though I'm sure you've been packed for days now,"

        "That is correct, Jacen,"

        "Okay, well, I'll see you back here later,"

        "I will come with you to say good bye to Baxter and the others," she offered.

        He nodded and she followed him out of the ship.

        "Need a hand?"  Anakin asked, poking his head in Tahiri's room.

        "I think I have a handle on the situation," she said, forcing the zipper on her duffle bag closed.

        "We'll be leaving shortly," he said to her.

        "Is that a hint, Anakin?"  She said, coming around to face him.

        He shrugged, innocently.  "I'm just letting you know in case there's any good bye's you want to say,"

        "And by that you mean my dad?"

        So much for being subtle.  "Only if you want to,"

        "I didn't want to, but I did it anyways," she told him.  "We said our good byes earlier this afternoon,"

        "Tahiri, you don't have to come back to Courscant with us," Anakin started to say.  "If you wanted to stay here - "

        "I would tell you," she finished for him.  "Anakin, this place isn't my home anymore then it is yours or Jacen's or even Tenal Ka's.  And just because there's a guy here who happens to be my real dad, but hasn't bothered to be a father to me my whole life doesn't change that.  There's this whole other side of my life here that I'm not ready for yet.  When I am, I'll come back, but not before that.  I told Erik that, and I'm telling you that now,"

        He wasn't sure if he believed her, but it was her decision after all.  "As long as you're sure,"

        "I am.  Now, let's get out of here.  My real family is waiting for me on Courscant,"