Reflection Saga
Part 10
*****
Yaddle tried to push herself off of the floor, but her hands, cracked and worn, slipped. She fell face-first onto the stone tiles. Letting out a small sigh of pain, she didn't move at all. She no longer cared, really. The effort was just too exhausting, for both the body and mind.
She opened her eyes. The blood from her head had dried on her eyelids, and opening them hurt. How odd, she thought sluggishly, that only my eyelids should hurt. Very curious. Sho's tapping could be heard on the other side of the wall, but Yaddle was so tired that she didn't bother to answer or even listen.
Yaddle took in a deep breath, coughing when her expanding lungs collided with her broken ribs. She tried again to lift her body up off the ground, one hand on the floor and one clutching her torso and using the Force to ease her pain-racked muscles. When she had just gotten to her knees, she fell again. For a minute, she panted on the floor, unable to move. Her eyelids began to hurt again. Yaddle wondered why the rest of her body didn't hurt as badly as her untouched eyes.
Maybe it was because all the nerves on her back had been so damaged from the stings of Sidious' whip. She slowly set her head back on the ground, letting a single tear mix with the blood flowing from the now reopened scar on her head. That must be it, she thought before collapsing back into the blackness of unconsciousness.
*****
Yaro trudged through the forest, doing his very best to stay silent. Mace trudged uncertainly behind him, and Yaro could feel that even though the young boy was trying to be brave he was still afraid. To reassure his future Padawan, he grasped the boy's hand in his and squeezed it, sending confidence to the boy. Mace looked down at him and smiled back, greatly appreciating the gesture.
The Jedi Knight smiled back. He had to admire the boy's willingness to brave what most people would have run away from by now. If the Jedi Council allowed him to train Mace, Yaro was sure that the boy would become a wonderful Padawan, and an even better Jedi. He could feel it in his very bones.
Looking forward, he watched the Aeetosian battle group ahead of him march like professionals. All were smiling, and Yaro could feel their presences filled with hope for the freedom and the defeat of Sidious. He smiled, then turned his full attention to Yaddle's presence in the Force.
It was tired and hurt, too exhausted to even acknowledge Yaro's presence, but Yaro could still feel a burning, desire to live flickering there. Although he was glad that small fire still burned, he was terrified that at any given moment it would go out and her presence would be blown away with the wind like smoke.
I'm coming for you, he thought desperately at her and filled the message with hope and bravery, and even though he wasn't sure she could hear his message or take in his feelings. But it never hurt to try.
Suddenly, the dim shadows of the tree's tops were gone and white light exploded like firecrackers as the group walked out into a clearing. Blinking, Yaro held a hand to his eyes to shade them from the light and heat of the twin suns.
Ahead was a hangar with about ten different ships. The shelter was not built, but set into a cave in the side of a huge mountain. "That leads to the prison cells!" Mace whispered excitedly, and Yaro felt his heart almost soar. Soon, oh so soon, he would hold Yaddle in his arms again. He'd never let her out of his sight again, he swore in his mind.
Shaking his head, Yaro whistled gently for the Aeetosians to stop. Walking up to Aoife and Versalo, he said, "We shouldn't take in a huge group; I want you and your warriors to stay here." He pulled a small but harmless smoke bomb out his pocket. "When you hear this go off and/or see the smoke, then you come inside. Understand?"
Aoife translated the order back to her father, who nodded in agreement. Yaro nodded back at him, and then waved for Fulageo, Rentha, and Mace to follow him into the hangar. While the Aeetosians creeped back into the safe shadows of the forest, the raiders crept slowly into the hangar. Yaro put his sixth senses of the Force into full alert, groping every single corner for a presence. No one but he and his friends were near the ships or in the hall leading to the prisoners.
Pulling out his lightsaber, Yaro ignited it and signaled for Mace to do the same. The combination of their blades made the metal ships glow eerily. Fulageo and Rentha pulled out their blasters, ready to shoot anything that moved, with deadly accuracy and experience to back them up. The group of four moved forward with Yaro in the lead. Holding it in a stable, two-handed grip, Yaro walked slowly down the hall. "Where now Mace?" he whispered when they came to a fork in the path.
Mace pointed down the right lane. "That way; I'm sure of it." Yaro nodded and the group walked swiftly, but silently, down the corridor. Suddenly, at least four dozen doors came into view. Every single one was locked with at least three heavy locks. "Mace! How do we get in them!?" Fulageo growled softly.
Smirking cockily, Mace pulled out two small laser keys. Walking up to the front door, he slowly raised one laser over the security devices. As soon as the laser came into contact, the locks swung open. Pulling open the door, an old Sullustan male was revealed. His mouse-like eyes squinted in the light. Clearly terrified, the alien backed up against the wall.
Yaro waved towards him. "No, do not be afraid! We're here to save you all!" He whispered as Rentha and Fulageo guarded both sides of the hallway. Although astonished and near tears, the Sullustan picked himself up and ran stiffly to the door, embracing Yaro and Mace in a tight hug and muttering his thanks in his own language.
Pointing to the hangar, Mace said, "If you go that way, you'll meet our friends; they'll protect you if you say that you came from Yaro." Nodding furiously, tears streaming down his folded face, the prisoner raced down the corridor down the hangar with amazing speed. Tossing a key to Yaro and turning to the door behind him, Mace opened it and said to the prisoner, "You're free, the Jedi are here! Go now!"
Yaro did the same, opening the doors on his side of the hall. "This is your chance to escape! Leave and head out of the hangar!"
Not a single prisoner hesitated, bounding out of the door and to the hangar. Mace and Yaro made their ways down the hall, unlocking the doors and telling the captives the good news. Yaro's heart throbbed with pity; some had been as old as his grandfather, others had children Mace's age or less with them, and some of the children had no one at all. When he came to the second to last door, he swung it open, his heart filled with hope to find his love.
But instead, he found an elderly man of his own race sitting cross- legged on the floor. Yaro was reminded of Yoda during one of his meditations. The man stared back at him and said in a tired but strong voice, "Oh, you must be Yaro. I've heard a lot about you, young Jedi."
Yaro started. "How do you know my name?"
The old man picked himself up off the floor. "Yaddle, of course." His bronze eyes took on a brighter light. "And from other things..." He smiled crookedly, holding out his hand. "Nice to finally meet another Jedi."
"Jedi?" Although something was tugging at his mind, Yaro took his hand. "How do you know Yaddle?"
"We've been talking for a while by Morse code. I was there when she went into labor with your daughter, actually. You may call me Sho."
Yaro smiled just as crookedly. "Thank you for helping her, Sho. But where is she?" The old Jedi pointed to the next door. "In there. You'd best hurry; she's very weak." Yaro nodded and ran over to unlock the door. Swinging it open, he had to use all his strength not to collapse.
In the dark shadows lay Yaddle, her back to him. Her clothes, ripped, filthy, and stained with blood, hung on her wounded body. Her back, still bleeding on some parts, showed how horribly she had been abused and beaten. Crying out, Yaro ran over and fell to his knees. Cradling Yaddle in his arms, he shook her as gently as he possibly could. His fingers could feel the raspy raise and fall of her lungs, the slow, dull beat of her heart, and the fractures and splinters of her bones. Her eyelids, caked with blood, did not open to greet him and fill him with the warmth he needed so desperately. The aura that had always shone so brightly began to fade away.
Yaro pulled her rat's nest of a mane out of her face, peeling off some of the dried blood on her face. "Yaddle! Yaddle, please wake up! Please, don't die!" When she did not answer, he began to sob quietly, even though Sho, Fulageo, Rentha, and Mace were in the doorway. "Yaddle...please..." he whispered, desperate. He couldn't have made it this far, suffered through so much, just to find her dead! No! Yaro lifted her to his breast, rocking her and praying that by some miracle she would awaken, smiling the shy smile of hers that could light an entire room.
He tried to call her name again, but it came out a sob of rage and utter loss. His shoulders shook violently as he moaned. Rentha came forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't touch me!" Yaro screamed and shoved his friend's hand off of him, not caring if the entire planet heard him, and yet he wished it didn't. He wanted the entire universe to know how much pain filled him. But he wanted to hide it form everyone and drown silently in his despair and horror. "Don't touch me! Don't touch me..." Yaro's voice broke again, the words coming out a hoarse whisper. "Leave me alone...just go..."
Yaro felt Rentha back slowly out of the room. He heard the door creak as Fulageo closed it, heard Mace ask if they should leave him. He heard Sho tell Mace how hard it was to lose someone, as if the wizened Jedi knew what Yaro was going through. But that was impossible, Yaro thought. No one, no one, knows how I am feeling! "Just kill me...just make this pain end..." he whispered to no one in particular. His heart was being consumed by a black, bottomless hole where Yaddle's presence had once been. His boundless grief threatened to overwhelm him and destroy him. But if it ended this pain...so be it.
Suddenly, a cracked hand touched his tear-streaked face. "Yaro?" Yaddle's voice wheezed against her broken ribs. Shocked, Yaro opened his bronze-green eyes to meet her soft yellow ones. "Yaro?" Yaddle repeated, her voice hoarse from crying out. "Is that you? Or am I dreaming again?" Tears pushed themselves out of her swollen and blood-caked eyes.
Yaro tried his best not to cry himself. But he might as well pull both of the twin stars with his ship alone. "No, it isn't a dream, Yaddle!" Oh, how he had longed to say that name to her again! To grasp her tightly, smell her sweet hair, feel her delicate skin, touch her glimmering presence in the Force! "It's really me, I've come for you! I'm here, Yaddle, I'm here!"
Yaddle blinked slowly, and Yaro could feel that small flame in her aura begin to burn brighter like it once did. "You came for me...I knew you would...," she whispered softly, more to herself than him. Closing her eyes, she snuggled against his vest. "I missed you so, but I knew you would come for me. I just knew you would come."
Yaro held her tighter, kissing her forehead despite the blood and dirt. He wanted this moment to last forever; just the two of them, holding on to each other. After a few seconds passed, he came back to his sense. Shaking her lightly, he cooed, "Yaddle, we're going to leave now. You have to wake up, my love."
Yaddle eyes fluttered back open, gazing back up at him as he picked her up carefully. "Wait!" She grabbed his shirt ferociously, a desperate look on her face. "Where's Yiara, our child! Boy gave her to you, right?"
"Yes, Boy, or Mace now, gave her to me, no need to worry! She's safe and sound on the Playtoy. I'll take you to her soon."
Comforted with the knowledge she was in her hero's arms and her child was alright, Yaddle sighed and hugged Yaro tighter than she ever had. "I love you, Yaro."
"I know; how could I ever forget? Guys! Let me out, she's alive! Open the damned door!"
Yaddle chuckled softly. "You shouldn't swear, my love!" She scolded.
Yaro smiled impishly. "You, dear, are in no shape to be chewing me out!" The door opened to a very stunned foursome. On seeing Yaddle, Mace cried out, "She's alive!" and began to jump up and down. Sho smiled softly. "You two really love each other, don't ya?"
Blushing from embarrassment, Yaro nodded. Yaddle laughed and nestled closer to his body. "Yes, we do," she murmured. Looking back up at Yaro, she said, "Put me down. It's about time I give these legs a little more exercise!"
Yaro looked at her, general concern in his face. "You sure you're up to it?" He wasn't sure if she was well enough to stand or walk. He was sure they were going to have to run for it sooner or later.
"Yes! Put me down!" Yaro obediently her down and she winced as her feet came into contact with the hard floor and supported her weight. Taking a few steps, she said confidently, "Well, let's go!" Yaro smiled and held her hand as the group walked down the hall together to the hangar.
Yaddle winced as the harsh double suns' light blasted her eyes, blinking as she walked outside. Yaro noticed that one of the Aeetosians held Yiara. Not really caring how they had gotten inside his ship, Yaro was just glad that his little family was back together. The rest of the prisoners, young and old, healthy and sick, waved as the rescuers came outside. Yaro waved back and looked back at Yaddle. His heart was now happier than it had ever been. Her very presence filled him with a touch that he simply could not describe. "Wait a second. Rentha, Fulageo?"
The two bounty hunters looked curiously down at the elfin Jedi. "What?"
"Do have explosives?"
"Depends on what ya wanna blow up, Jedi!"
"How about this building. All of it. Every single rock."
Rentha and Fulageo looked at each other, then grinned cruelly. Each reached into their belts, pants pockets, and coats and pulled out at least a dozen thermal detonators. Yaro smirked. "That'll work." Taking them from his friends, he ran back into the hangar and placed them near a refueling station. Pressing all of them, he raced back down the valley to his friends, pointing to the trees. "Prepare for the biggest fireworks show any of you have ever seen!"
"Duck and cover!" Sho screamed as everyone ran into the trees, either dropping to the dirt or hiding behind the biggest tree they could find. Yaro grabbed his tiny daughter from the warrior who held her and held both his child and love to him, diving behind a ten-foot-wide tree. He clamped down on his ears, preparing for the aftershocks.
And then the whole world seemed to explode around him. The sound of the thermal detonators' explosions meeting the oil drowned out all sound for almost a full minute, followed by the violent series of aftershocks.
Then Yaro began to hear the panicked sound of his daughter shrieking in fear, the sound of the huge fortress of the last Sith Lord collapsing on top of itself, the sound of the prisoners and natives murmuring, then cheering when they saw the abomination fall. Yaro looked back at Yaddle, and smiled, giving their squalling child to her. Walking back out to the clearing, he addressed Versalo and Aoife. "Thank you so much for helping us rescue Yaddle. I'll never forget your kindness."
Aoife smiled. "It is the least we can do. If you simply tell the Senate about our race, the debt will be repaid."
"Then that's what I'll do! You might even become a Senator yourself, Aoife!"
"That could very well happen; it's a very strange universe, after all!" The two laughed. "I should be getting the prisoners to Coruscant then, I suppose," Yaro said. Aoife nodded in agreement. "Farewell, Jedi Knight Yaro. Fly well, and may your life be blessed."
Yaro bowed, and signaled for his friends and the prisoners to follow him to the Playtoy. As he marched to his ship, he looked back one more time to see the Aeetosians, all smiling and waving at him. He waved back, certain that he and Yaddle would see them again in the future.
When he had reached Yaro's Playtoy, Arthree-Denine bleeped and whistled happily, apparently glad to see Yaro again. "Open up, Arthree! We've got some friends along for the ride!" The hatch opened and Yaro hustled everyone inside. Once everyone was either seated on a bunk, seat, or the floor, he closed the hatch, walked over to the cockpit, and sat down in the pilot's seat, with Yaddle in the copilot's chair and Yiara sleeping once again in her arms. Spying a discarded blanket on the floor, he Force- pulled it to him and draped it around Yaddle's bruised and battered shoulders. Smiling, he took her hand in his, squeezing it tightly. "Are you ready to go home?"
"As long as I am with you, I am already home," she replied, returning the grip. Yaro smiled broader. This is where he belonged. Flipping on the switches, Yaro felt the starship come to life. "We're going to Coruscant, folks! Let's go!" All of the passengers cheered as the Playtoy broke through the atmosphere. Yaro set the coordinates for Coruscant and the stars metamorphosed from bright dots into streaking lights as the blasted into hyperspace. Yaro sighed, settling in his chair, taking Yaddle's hand in his once more. After an entire year of searching, he was going home.
*****
Far away from where the others were, a place called Wayland, something deep underground awakened. A clone, an exact replica of Darth Sidious, but with a small difference between the two; this clone had yellow eyes.
The moment that his fortress had collapsed on top of him, Sidious' memories had surged into this new clone's brain, forever fixing the Sith Lord's past into his mind and soul.
As he climbed out of the tank that had been holding him till Sidious' death, the new-and-improved Sidious reflected on his host's past, and smiled evilly. He would not make the same mistakes that the original Sidious had.
Oh no...He would by far do better.
*****
"Be one with the Force. Help you it will." Yoda was instructing a clan of younglings through their morning exercises of lifting small to medium objects with the Force. "Do not think. Feel."
Hearing a sigh, Yoda looked out of the corner of his eye to locate the sound. A young boy, a new one Yoda mused, quickly became frustrated when he was unable to lose himself in the Force and pick the small stone in front of him. But, obviously not satisfied with giving up, the youngling tried again. To his utter joy, he was successful; the rock began to rise a centimeter at a time into the air. Yoda could feel that the boy was really quite pleased with himself, nudging the girl next to him to show her his handiwork. Both smiled and giggled behind their hands. Yoda chuckled, amused with the innocent scene unfolding before him.
But the chuckle quickly became a sigh as he realized how much the two crèches were like Yaddle and Yaro, when they had first met. He frowned. It had been a full year now, if not more. Many Jedi were certain that Yaddle was dead, and that Yaro was also so or would keep looking for her till the ends of his days. He hated to say it, but sometimes Yoda agreed. He was worried that, like Yaro's father, he had lost his grandson and perhaps would never see him again.
"Master Yoda?" Yoda turned to face Jocasta Nu, who was standing in the doorway, a shocked and yet utterly thrilled expression on her face.
"Yes, Jocasta Nu?"
"Uh, you should come to the hangar, Master! Quickly!"
Yoda scowled at the teenager's impatience. "Why?"
"It's Yaro! HE'S BACK! And Yaddle is with him!"
Yoda's eyes popped out to their full extent. "What?" But Jocasta Nu had already left, running for the hangar bay. Yoda could see many other Jedi either trotting or full-out running for the hangar. Could it be true? To find out only one way, he decided. Reaching into the Force, he sought out both Yaddle and Yaro's auras in the Force. To his utter shock, there they were; coming into the hangar bay! But they weren't alone; almost five dozen other people were with him. One of the auras shined brightly, obviously very Force-sensitive. Yoda noted that one presence was very, very small...and yet it strongly reminded him of both Yaro and Yaddle. A second presence simply stunned him; it was rippling like water in the Force. He had not felt that aura since... "Younglings. Stay here, and practice until I return."
"Yes Master Yoda," was the reply. Yoda nodded, and then summoned his hoverchair to him. Sitting on it, Yoda quickly floated down the corridors down to the hangar bay.
When he arrived, Yoda was stunned to see Yaro's ship, the sleek, ovular Yaro's Playtoy, on the platform coming back inside the Temple. Almost fifty other Jedi awaited the arrival of Yaro, Yaddle, and whomever they had brought with them. The hatch opened and forty-eight disheveled people walked out. All of them looked very tired and filthy, but their presences shined with glee and sheer joy. Some of them looked like they would cry aloud from delight.
From behind them came a young Human boy and two scruffy looking adults, one a Twi'lek female and the other a Human male. Looking at the boy, Yoda could sense that he was very strong in the Force. But he forgot this as the last of the passengers emerged.
It was Yaro and Yaddle (who seemed to be cradling something), and with them an older looking man, the man who Yoda realized was the ripple in the Force he had felt earlier. His eyes widened to their full size. Could it be?
The instant they saw Yaddle and Yaro, all the Jedi applauded and cheered. Spying Yoda, the pair made their way through the crowd and stood in front of him. Yaro inhaled and bowed. "Master Yoda...I did what I said I would."
Yoda glanced at Yaddle. She was filthy, her clothes hanging off her undernourished, bruised, and bloody body. But she was still very much alive. "Yes, yes...you did, Yaro. Bring Yaddle home, you did." He noted a small bundle of cloth in Yaddle's home. "What is that?"
Yaro and Yaddle grinned impishly at each other, sharing a secret between them. "Why don't you look and see?" Yaro suggested, taking the bundle from Yaddle and placing it in Yoda's arms. Slightly confused, even curious, Yoda poked it gently. To his surprise, it moved, and a small grunt sounded from the bundle. The other Jedi and passengers gathered round; the passengers with smug, knowing looks on their faces and the Jedi with interested, questioning looks on theirs.
Yoda threw a confused glance at the young couple next to him, and pulled at the cloth, pulling it away from whatever was inside. It was a child; a newborn girl of Yoda's species. Some of the Jedi gasped and others wowed. Shocked, Yoda looked over at Yaddle and Yaro. Seeing the proud looks on their faces and their hands interlocked in the others, he suddenly understood. "Your child, this is?"
His face beginning to color, Yaro nodded. The old man walked over and put a hand on Yaro's shoulder. "You bet, Master Yoda! You're looking at your great-granddaughter, Yiara, there." The old man smiled. "And my first granddaughter, too."
Yoda scowled, mystified by the man's appearance, sound, and presence. And then it all made since. He smiled and said quietly, "Yosho?"
Yaro gasped, caught off guard. "M-m-my father? But how?"
Ignoring the question, Yosho said calmly to Yoda, "I wondered when you would figure it out, my father!"
Yoda smiled and took his adopted son in his free arm. "Yosho! Been so, so, so, long it has!" Looking Yosho over, he said, "Thought you dead, I did! Where have you been, all this time?"
Yosho chuckled and smiled lopsidedly, the grin that Yaro had inherited. "It's a very long and complicated tale..." he looked at Yaddle and the other prisoners, "But I think my fellow captives need medical attention; Yaddle especially."
*****
"And so, Sidious has kept me there for over two centuries after killing my wife." Turning to Yaro, Yosho said to his son, "You had been playing, away from camp, that day. I felt your presence cease to exist, and I was sure that you had been killed. But I never would have guessed you only suffered amnesia!" Clapping his son on the back, he said proudly, "You have no idea how pleased I am with you, my son."
Yaro smiled sadly, seeming like he was going to break. "Father..." He collapsed into Yosho's arms, clutching his sire tightly. "If I had known...I would have gone to look for you..."
Yosho smiled and hugged his son. "Yes, but you couldn't have known. It is not your fault." Looking into the medical room's windows, he said, "But right now, I think you need to go talk with Yaddle for a while."
Nodding, Yaro rose and walked into the infirmary. Yoda and Yosho stayed behind, Yoda still holding Yiara. Looking into the window, watching Yaro and Yaddle talking, Yoda said, "Conceived a child together, these two did? How?"
Yosho smiled puckishly. "The usual way, I hope!" Laughing, he said, "I guess they 'connected' before Yaddle's abduction! Though I do wonder how it got past your nose, Master Yoda!"
Yoda scowled. "Changed at all, you have not, Yosho!" Looking down at the sleeping baby in his arms, he said, "Have a child, and remain Jedi, they cannot. Know this you do, Yosho."
Nodding understandingly, Yosho said quietly, "The Force knows those two need each other. Hell, at first chance, they're going to get married. You know this as much as I do."
Yoda grimaced; the thought of losing both Yaro and Yaddle was disturbing. "To lose them hard it will be." Looking back into the window, he could feel the love radiating from them; a very powerful thing was true love. "Sit on the Jedi Council both of them could."
Yosho snorted and leaned back into his chair. "Then let them stay in the Order; they are powerful and wise Jedi, both of them. To lose them would be the most foolish thing I have heard of in my entire life!"
Yoda snorted right back at his son and said, "Forbids it, the Code does. Marry, they cannot."
"But they have already had a child, Yoda! And you can see as much as I can that they love each other." Yosho stood up. "And if you cannot, then you are no longer the Jedi Master you used to be." Then he walked down the hall, leaving Yoda alone, save for Yiara, who was now whining to be fed and spoken to. Forgetting his argument with Yosho, Yoda coaxed to his granddaughter, "It is alright, little one. No need to fuss."
Yiara evidently disagreed, and began to cry. But Yoda only smiled; where most Jedi Masters cringed, he specialized. He settled Yiara on his shoulder, rubbing her back gently. "Now, now. It is alright, Yiara," he cooed softly, sending comfort and reassurance to her.
Her crying reduced to tiny sniffles, Yiara nuzzled her nose into Yoda's cloak, and hiccupped. Startled by her own body's actions, she froze. Yoda chuckled and brought her down to rest in his arms. "Only a hiccup, it is, Yiara," he said gently. "Nothing to be afraid of."
Soothed by the soft words of her elder, Yiara sniffed again and reached up, trying to reach his face with her tiny fingers, only the size of a human's pinky toes. Patiently, Yoda bent his face downward and allowed Yiara to inspect his face by prodding his wrinkled skin, patting his cheeks, and pulling with all her might on his ears. Laughing softly, Yoda removed her strong little grip from his ear, finding it to be a challenge. "Ooh, going to be strong, you are, little one!"
Yoda sat back, relaxing into the chair. Swiveling his head around, he watched Yiara's parents speaking to each other. A medical droid swiveled over and gave Yaddle a shot to help her sleep. Within minutes, she slept and Yaro simply watched her, before he fell asleep face-first on the nightstand next to the bed. He smiled, then frowned as he thought of the two Jedi, together, as a couple. They would not be allowed to continue to be Jedi. They would leave to be together; he knew it. Closing his eyes and stroking Yiara's head, he let himself go into the Force to solve such a disturbing and perplexing problem.
*****
*****
Yaddle tried to push herself off of the floor, but her hands, cracked and worn, slipped. She fell face-first onto the stone tiles. Letting out a small sigh of pain, she didn't move at all. She no longer cared, really. The effort was just too exhausting, for both the body and mind.
She opened her eyes. The blood from her head had dried on her eyelids, and opening them hurt. How odd, she thought sluggishly, that only my eyelids should hurt. Very curious. Sho's tapping could be heard on the other side of the wall, but Yaddle was so tired that she didn't bother to answer or even listen.
Yaddle took in a deep breath, coughing when her expanding lungs collided with her broken ribs. She tried again to lift her body up off the ground, one hand on the floor and one clutching her torso and using the Force to ease her pain-racked muscles. When she had just gotten to her knees, she fell again. For a minute, she panted on the floor, unable to move. Her eyelids began to hurt again. Yaddle wondered why the rest of her body didn't hurt as badly as her untouched eyes.
Maybe it was because all the nerves on her back had been so damaged from the stings of Sidious' whip. She slowly set her head back on the ground, letting a single tear mix with the blood flowing from the now reopened scar on her head. That must be it, she thought before collapsing back into the blackness of unconsciousness.
*****
Yaro trudged through the forest, doing his very best to stay silent. Mace trudged uncertainly behind him, and Yaro could feel that even though the young boy was trying to be brave he was still afraid. To reassure his future Padawan, he grasped the boy's hand in his and squeezed it, sending confidence to the boy. Mace looked down at him and smiled back, greatly appreciating the gesture.
The Jedi Knight smiled back. He had to admire the boy's willingness to brave what most people would have run away from by now. If the Jedi Council allowed him to train Mace, Yaro was sure that the boy would become a wonderful Padawan, and an even better Jedi. He could feel it in his very bones.
Looking forward, he watched the Aeetosian battle group ahead of him march like professionals. All were smiling, and Yaro could feel their presences filled with hope for the freedom and the defeat of Sidious. He smiled, then turned his full attention to Yaddle's presence in the Force.
It was tired and hurt, too exhausted to even acknowledge Yaro's presence, but Yaro could still feel a burning, desire to live flickering there. Although he was glad that small fire still burned, he was terrified that at any given moment it would go out and her presence would be blown away with the wind like smoke.
I'm coming for you, he thought desperately at her and filled the message with hope and bravery, and even though he wasn't sure she could hear his message or take in his feelings. But it never hurt to try.
Suddenly, the dim shadows of the tree's tops were gone and white light exploded like firecrackers as the group walked out into a clearing. Blinking, Yaro held a hand to his eyes to shade them from the light and heat of the twin suns.
Ahead was a hangar with about ten different ships. The shelter was not built, but set into a cave in the side of a huge mountain. "That leads to the prison cells!" Mace whispered excitedly, and Yaro felt his heart almost soar. Soon, oh so soon, he would hold Yaddle in his arms again. He'd never let her out of his sight again, he swore in his mind.
Shaking his head, Yaro whistled gently for the Aeetosians to stop. Walking up to Aoife and Versalo, he said, "We shouldn't take in a huge group; I want you and your warriors to stay here." He pulled a small but harmless smoke bomb out his pocket. "When you hear this go off and/or see the smoke, then you come inside. Understand?"
Aoife translated the order back to her father, who nodded in agreement. Yaro nodded back at him, and then waved for Fulageo, Rentha, and Mace to follow him into the hangar. While the Aeetosians creeped back into the safe shadows of the forest, the raiders crept slowly into the hangar. Yaro put his sixth senses of the Force into full alert, groping every single corner for a presence. No one but he and his friends were near the ships or in the hall leading to the prisoners.
Pulling out his lightsaber, Yaro ignited it and signaled for Mace to do the same. The combination of their blades made the metal ships glow eerily. Fulageo and Rentha pulled out their blasters, ready to shoot anything that moved, with deadly accuracy and experience to back them up. The group of four moved forward with Yaro in the lead. Holding it in a stable, two-handed grip, Yaro walked slowly down the hall. "Where now Mace?" he whispered when they came to a fork in the path.
Mace pointed down the right lane. "That way; I'm sure of it." Yaro nodded and the group walked swiftly, but silently, down the corridor. Suddenly, at least four dozen doors came into view. Every single one was locked with at least three heavy locks. "Mace! How do we get in them!?" Fulageo growled softly.
Smirking cockily, Mace pulled out two small laser keys. Walking up to the front door, he slowly raised one laser over the security devices. As soon as the laser came into contact, the locks swung open. Pulling open the door, an old Sullustan male was revealed. His mouse-like eyes squinted in the light. Clearly terrified, the alien backed up against the wall.
Yaro waved towards him. "No, do not be afraid! We're here to save you all!" He whispered as Rentha and Fulageo guarded both sides of the hallway. Although astonished and near tears, the Sullustan picked himself up and ran stiffly to the door, embracing Yaro and Mace in a tight hug and muttering his thanks in his own language.
Pointing to the hangar, Mace said, "If you go that way, you'll meet our friends; they'll protect you if you say that you came from Yaro." Nodding furiously, tears streaming down his folded face, the prisoner raced down the corridor down the hangar with amazing speed. Tossing a key to Yaro and turning to the door behind him, Mace opened it and said to the prisoner, "You're free, the Jedi are here! Go now!"
Yaro did the same, opening the doors on his side of the hall. "This is your chance to escape! Leave and head out of the hangar!"
Not a single prisoner hesitated, bounding out of the door and to the hangar. Mace and Yaro made their ways down the hall, unlocking the doors and telling the captives the good news. Yaro's heart throbbed with pity; some had been as old as his grandfather, others had children Mace's age or less with them, and some of the children had no one at all. When he came to the second to last door, he swung it open, his heart filled with hope to find his love.
But instead, he found an elderly man of his own race sitting cross- legged on the floor. Yaro was reminded of Yoda during one of his meditations. The man stared back at him and said in a tired but strong voice, "Oh, you must be Yaro. I've heard a lot about you, young Jedi."
Yaro started. "How do you know my name?"
The old man picked himself up off the floor. "Yaddle, of course." His bronze eyes took on a brighter light. "And from other things..." He smiled crookedly, holding out his hand. "Nice to finally meet another Jedi."
"Jedi?" Although something was tugging at his mind, Yaro took his hand. "How do you know Yaddle?"
"We've been talking for a while by Morse code. I was there when she went into labor with your daughter, actually. You may call me Sho."
Yaro smiled just as crookedly. "Thank you for helping her, Sho. But where is she?" The old Jedi pointed to the next door. "In there. You'd best hurry; she's very weak." Yaro nodded and ran over to unlock the door. Swinging it open, he had to use all his strength not to collapse.
In the dark shadows lay Yaddle, her back to him. Her clothes, ripped, filthy, and stained with blood, hung on her wounded body. Her back, still bleeding on some parts, showed how horribly she had been abused and beaten. Crying out, Yaro ran over and fell to his knees. Cradling Yaddle in his arms, he shook her as gently as he possibly could. His fingers could feel the raspy raise and fall of her lungs, the slow, dull beat of her heart, and the fractures and splinters of her bones. Her eyelids, caked with blood, did not open to greet him and fill him with the warmth he needed so desperately. The aura that had always shone so brightly began to fade away.
Yaro pulled her rat's nest of a mane out of her face, peeling off some of the dried blood on her face. "Yaddle! Yaddle, please wake up! Please, don't die!" When she did not answer, he began to sob quietly, even though Sho, Fulageo, Rentha, and Mace were in the doorway. "Yaddle...please..." he whispered, desperate. He couldn't have made it this far, suffered through so much, just to find her dead! No! Yaro lifted her to his breast, rocking her and praying that by some miracle she would awaken, smiling the shy smile of hers that could light an entire room.
He tried to call her name again, but it came out a sob of rage and utter loss. His shoulders shook violently as he moaned. Rentha came forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't touch me!" Yaro screamed and shoved his friend's hand off of him, not caring if the entire planet heard him, and yet he wished it didn't. He wanted the entire universe to know how much pain filled him. But he wanted to hide it form everyone and drown silently in his despair and horror. "Don't touch me! Don't touch me..." Yaro's voice broke again, the words coming out a hoarse whisper. "Leave me alone...just go..."
Yaro felt Rentha back slowly out of the room. He heard the door creak as Fulageo closed it, heard Mace ask if they should leave him. He heard Sho tell Mace how hard it was to lose someone, as if the wizened Jedi knew what Yaro was going through. But that was impossible, Yaro thought. No one, no one, knows how I am feeling! "Just kill me...just make this pain end..." he whispered to no one in particular. His heart was being consumed by a black, bottomless hole where Yaddle's presence had once been. His boundless grief threatened to overwhelm him and destroy him. But if it ended this pain...so be it.
Suddenly, a cracked hand touched his tear-streaked face. "Yaro?" Yaddle's voice wheezed against her broken ribs. Shocked, Yaro opened his bronze-green eyes to meet her soft yellow ones. "Yaro?" Yaddle repeated, her voice hoarse from crying out. "Is that you? Or am I dreaming again?" Tears pushed themselves out of her swollen and blood-caked eyes.
Yaro tried his best not to cry himself. But he might as well pull both of the twin stars with his ship alone. "No, it isn't a dream, Yaddle!" Oh, how he had longed to say that name to her again! To grasp her tightly, smell her sweet hair, feel her delicate skin, touch her glimmering presence in the Force! "It's really me, I've come for you! I'm here, Yaddle, I'm here!"
Yaddle blinked slowly, and Yaro could feel that small flame in her aura begin to burn brighter like it once did. "You came for me...I knew you would...," she whispered softly, more to herself than him. Closing her eyes, she snuggled against his vest. "I missed you so, but I knew you would come for me. I just knew you would come."
Yaro held her tighter, kissing her forehead despite the blood and dirt. He wanted this moment to last forever; just the two of them, holding on to each other. After a few seconds passed, he came back to his sense. Shaking her lightly, he cooed, "Yaddle, we're going to leave now. You have to wake up, my love."
Yaddle eyes fluttered back open, gazing back up at him as he picked her up carefully. "Wait!" She grabbed his shirt ferociously, a desperate look on her face. "Where's Yiara, our child! Boy gave her to you, right?"
"Yes, Boy, or Mace now, gave her to me, no need to worry! She's safe and sound on the Playtoy. I'll take you to her soon."
Comforted with the knowledge she was in her hero's arms and her child was alright, Yaddle sighed and hugged Yaro tighter than she ever had. "I love you, Yaro."
"I know; how could I ever forget? Guys! Let me out, she's alive! Open the damned door!"
Yaddle chuckled softly. "You shouldn't swear, my love!" She scolded.
Yaro smiled impishly. "You, dear, are in no shape to be chewing me out!" The door opened to a very stunned foursome. On seeing Yaddle, Mace cried out, "She's alive!" and began to jump up and down. Sho smiled softly. "You two really love each other, don't ya?"
Blushing from embarrassment, Yaro nodded. Yaddle laughed and nestled closer to his body. "Yes, we do," she murmured. Looking back up at Yaro, she said, "Put me down. It's about time I give these legs a little more exercise!"
Yaro looked at her, general concern in his face. "You sure you're up to it?" He wasn't sure if she was well enough to stand or walk. He was sure they were going to have to run for it sooner or later.
"Yes! Put me down!" Yaro obediently her down and she winced as her feet came into contact with the hard floor and supported her weight. Taking a few steps, she said confidently, "Well, let's go!" Yaro smiled and held her hand as the group walked down the hall together to the hangar.
Yaddle winced as the harsh double suns' light blasted her eyes, blinking as she walked outside. Yaro noticed that one of the Aeetosians held Yiara. Not really caring how they had gotten inside his ship, Yaro was just glad that his little family was back together. The rest of the prisoners, young and old, healthy and sick, waved as the rescuers came outside. Yaro waved back and looked back at Yaddle. His heart was now happier than it had ever been. Her very presence filled him with a touch that he simply could not describe. "Wait a second. Rentha, Fulageo?"
The two bounty hunters looked curiously down at the elfin Jedi. "What?"
"Do have explosives?"
"Depends on what ya wanna blow up, Jedi!"
"How about this building. All of it. Every single rock."
Rentha and Fulageo looked at each other, then grinned cruelly. Each reached into their belts, pants pockets, and coats and pulled out at least a dozen thermal detonators. Yaro smirked. "That'll work." Taking them from his friends, he ran back into the hangar and placed them near a refueling station. Pressing all of them, he raced back down the valley to his friends, pointing to the trees. "Prepare for the biggest fireworks show any of you have ever seen!"
"Duck and cover!" Sho screamed as everyone ran into the trees, either dropping to the dirt or hiding behind the biggest tree they could find. Yaro grabbed his tiny daughter from the warrior who held her and held both his child and love to him, diving behind a ten-foot-wide tree. He clamped down on his ears, preparing for the aftershocks.
And then the whole world seemed to explode around him. The sound of the thermal detonators' explosions meeting the oil drowned out all sound for almost a full minute, followed by the violent series of aftershocks.
Then Yaro began to hear the panicked sound of his daughter shrieking in fear, the sound of the huge fortress of the last Sith Lord collapsing on top of itself, the sound of the prisoners and natives murmuring, then cheering when they saw the abomination fall. Yaro looked back at Yaddle, and smiled, giving their squalling child to her. Walking back out to the clearing, he addressed Versalo and Aoife. "Thank you so much for helping us rescue Yaddle. I'll never forget your kindness."
Aoife smiled. "It is the least we can do. If you simply tell the Senate about our race, the debt will be repaid."
"Then that's what I'll do! You might even become a Senator yourself, Aoife!"
"That could very well happen; it's a very strange universe, after all!" The two laughed. "I should be getting the prisoners to Coruscant then, I suppose," Yaro said. Aoife nodded in agreement. "Farewell, Jedi Knight Yaro. Fly well, and may your life be blessed."
Yaro bowed, and signaled for his friends and the prisoners to follow him to the Playtoy. As he marched to his ship, he looked back one more time to see the Aeetosians, all smiling and waving at him. He waved back, certain that he and Yaddle would see them again in the future.
When he had reached Yaro's Playtoy, Arthree-Denine bleeped and whistled happily, apparently glad to see Yaro again. "Open up, Arthree! We've got some friends along for the ride!" The hatch opened and Yaro hustled everyone inside. Once everyone was either seated on a bunk, seat, or the floor, he closed the hatch, walked over to the cockpit, and sat down in the pilot's seat, with Yaddle in the copilot's chair and Yiara sleeping once again in her arms. Spying a discarded blanket on the floor, he Force- pulled it to him and draped it around Yaddle's bruised and battered shoulders. Smiling, he took her hand in his, squeezing it tightly. "Are you ready to go home?"
"As long as I am with you, I am already home," she replied, returning the grip. Yaro smiled broader. This is where he belonged. Flipping on the switches, Yaro felt the starship come to life. "We're going to Coruscant, folks! Let's go!" All of the passengers cheered as the Playtoy broke through the atmosphere. Yaro set the coordinates for Coruscant and the stars metamorphosed from bright dots into streaking lights as the blasted into hyperspace. Yaro sighed, settling in his chair, taking Yaddle's hand in his once more. After an entire year of searching, he was going home.
*****
Far away from where the others were, a place called Wayland, something deep underground awakened. A clone, an exact replica of Darth Sidious, but with a small difference between the two; this clone had yellow eyes.
The moment that his fortress had collapsed on top of him, Sidious' memories had surged into this new clone's brain, forever fixing the Sith Lord's past into his mind and soul.
As he climbed out of the tank that had been holding him till Sidious' death, the new-and-improved Sidious reflected on his host's past, and smiled evilly. He would not make the same mistakes that the original Sidious had.
Oh no...He would by far do better.
*****
"Be one with the Force. Help you it will." Yoda was instructing a clan of younglings through their morning exercises of lifting small to medium objects with the Force. "Do not think. Feel."
Hearing a sigh, Yoda looked out of the corner of his eye to locate the sound. A young boy, a new one Yoda mused, quickly became frustrated when he was unable to lose himself in the Force and pick the small stone in front of him. But, obviously not satisfied with giving up, the youngling tried again. To his utter joy, he was successful; the rock began to rise a centimeter at a time into the air. Yoda could feel that the boy was really quite pleased with himself, nudging the girl next to him to show her his handiwork. Both smiled and giggled behind their hands. Yoda chuckled, amused with the innocent scene unfolding before him.
But the chuckle quickly became a sigh as he realized how much the two crèches were like Yaddle and Yaro, when they had first met. He frowned. It had been a full year now, if not more. Many Jedi were certain that Yaddle was dead, and that Yaro was also so or would keep looking for her till the ends of his days. He hated to say it, but sometimes Yoda agreed. He was worried that, like Yaro's father, he had lost his grandson and perhaps would never see him again.
"Master Yoda?" Yoda turned to face Jocasta Nu, who was standing in the doorway, a shocked and yet utterly thrilled expression on her face.
"Yes, Jocasta Nu?"
"Uh, you should come to the hangar, Master! Quickly!"
Yoda scowled at the teenager's impatience. "Why?"
"It's Yaro! HE'S BACK! And Yaddle is with him!"
Yoda's eyes popped out to their full extent. "What?" But Jocasta Nu had already left, running for the hangar bay. Yoda could see many other Jedi either trotting or full-out running for the hangar. Could it be true? To find out only one way, he decided. Reaching into the Force, he sought out both Yaddle and Yaro's auras in the Force. To his utter shock, there they were; coming into the hangar bay! But they weren't alone; almost five dozen other people were with him. One of the auras shined brightly, obviously very Force-sensitive. Yoda noted that one presence was very, very small...and yet it strongly reminded him of both Yaro and Yaddle. A second presence simply stunned him; it was rippling like water in the Force. He had not felt that aura since... "Younglings. Stay here, and practice until I return."
"Yes Master Yoda," was the reply. Yoda nodded, and then summoned his hoverchair to him. Sitting on it, Yoda quickly floated down the corridors down to the hangar bay.
When he arrived, Yoda was stunned to see Yaro's ship, the sleek, ovular Yaro's Playtoy, on the platform coming back inside the Temple. Almost fifty other Jedi awaited the arrival of Yaro, Yaddle, and whomever they had brought with them. The hatch opened and forty-eight disheveled people walked out. All of them looked very tired and filthy, but their presences shined with glee and sheer joy. Some of them looked like they would cry aloud from delight.
From behind them came a young Human boy and two scruffy looking adults, one a Twi'lek female and the other a Human male. Looking at the boy, Yoda could sense that he was very strong in the Force. But he forgot this as the last of the passengers emerged.
It was Yaro and Yaddle (who seemed to be cradling something), and with them an older looking man, the man who Yoda realized was the ripple in the Force he had felt earlier. His eyes widened to their full size. Could it be?
The instant they saw Yaddle and Yaro, all the Jedi applauded and cheered. Spying Yoda, the pair made their way through the crowd and stood in front of him. Yaro inhaled and bowed. "Master Yoda...I did what I said I would."
Yoda glanced at Yaddle. She was filthy, her clothes hanging off her undernourished, bruised, and bloody body. But she was still very much alive. "Yes, yes...you did, Yaro. Bring Yaddle home, you did." He noted a small bundle of cloth in Yaddle's home. "What is that?"
Yaro and Yaddle grinned impishly at each other, sharing a secret between them. "Why don't you look and see?" Yaro suggested, taking the bundle from Yaddle and placing it in Yoda's arms. Slightly confused, even curious, Yoda poked it gently. To his surprise, it moved, and a small grunt sounded from the bundle. The other Jedi and passengers gathered round; the passengers with smug, knowing looks on their faces and the Jedi with interested, questioning looks on theirs.
Yoda threw a confused glance at the young couple next to him, and pulled at the cloth, pulling it away from whatever was inside. It was a child; a newborn girl of Yoda's species. Some of the Jedi gasped and others wowed. Shocked, Yoda looked over at Yaddle and Yaro. Seeing the proud looks on their faces and their hands interlocked in the others, he suddenly understood. "Your child, this is?"
His face beginning to color, Yaro nodded. The old man walked over and put a hand on Yaro's shoulder. "You bet, Master Yoda! You're looking at your great-granddaughter, Yiara, there." The old man smiled. "And my first granddaughter, too."
Yoda scowled, mystified by the man's appearance, sound, and presence. And then it all made since. He smiled and said quietly, "Yosho?"
Yaro gasped, caught off guard. "M-m-my father? But how?"
Ignoring the question, Yosho said calmly to Yoda, "I wondered when you would figure it out, my father!"
Yoda smiled and took his adopted son in his free arm. "Yosho! Been so, so, so, long it has!" Looking Yosho over, he said, "Thought you dead, I did! Where have you been, all this time?"
Yosho chuckled and smiled lopsidedly, the grin that Yaro had inherited. "It's a very long and complicated tale..." he looked at Yaddle and the other prisoners, "But I think my fellow captives need medical attention; Yaddle especially."
*****
"And so, Sidious has kept me there for over two centuries after killing my wife." Turning to Yaro, Yosho said to his son, "You had been playing, away from camp, that day. I felt your presence cease to exist, and I was sure that you had been killed. But I never would have guessed you only suffered amnesia!" Clapping his son on the back, he said proudly, "You have no idea how pleased I am with you, my son."
Yaro smiled sadly, seeming like he was going to break. "Father..." He collapsed into Yosho's arms, clutching his sire tightly. "If I had known...I would have gone to look for you..."
Yosho smiled and hugged his son. "Yes, but you couldn't have known. It is not your fault." Looking into the medical room's windows, he said, "But right now, I think you need to go talk with Yaddle for a while."
Nodding, Yaro rose and walked into the infirmary. Yoda and Yosho stayed behind, Yoda still holding Yiara. Looking into the window, watching Yaro and Yaddle talking, Yoda said, "Conceived a child together, these two did? How?"
Yosho smiled puckishly. "The usual way, I hope!" Laughing, he said, "I guess they 'connected' before Yaddle's abduction! Though I do wonder how it got past your nose, Master Yoda!"
Yoda scowled. "Changed at all, you have not, Yosho!" Looking down at the sleeping baby in his arms, he said, "Have a child, and remain Jedi, they cannot. Know this you do, Yosho."
Nodding understandingly, Yosho said quietly, "The Force knows those two need each other. Hell, at first chance, they're going to get married. You know this as much as I do."
Yoda grimaced; the thought of losing both Yaro and Yaddle was disturbing. "To lose them hard it will be." Looking back into the window, he could feel the love radiating from them; a very powerful thing was true love. "Sit on the Jedi Council both of them could."
Yosho snorted and leaned back into his chair. "Then let them stay in the Order; they are powerful and wise Jedi, both of them. To lose them would be the most foolish thing I have heard of in my entire life!"
Yoda snorted right back at his son and said, "Forbids it, the Code does. Marry, they cannot."
"But they have already had a child, Yoda! And you can see as much as I can that they love each other." Yosho stood up. "And if you cannot, then you are no longer the Jedi Master you used to be." Then he walked down the hall, leaving Yoda alone, save for Yiara, who was now whining to be fed and spoken to. Forgetting his argument with Yosho, Yoda coaxed to his granddaughter, "It is alright, little one. No need to fuss."
Yiara evidently disagreed, and began to cry. But Yoda only smiled; where most Jedi Masters cringed, he specialized. He settled Yiara on his shoulder, rubbing her back gently. "Now, now. It is alright, Yiara," he cooed softly, sending comfort and reassurance to her.
Her crying reduced to tiny sniffles, Yiara nuzzled her nose into Yoda's cloak, and hiccupped. Startled by her own body's actions, she froze. Yoda chuckled and brought her down to rest in his arms. "Only a hiccup, it is, Yiara," he said gently. "Nothing to be afraid of."
Soothed by the soft words of her elder, Yiara sniffed again and reached up, trying to reach his face with her tiny fingers, only the size of a human's pinky toes. Patiently, Yoda bent his face downward and allowed Yiara to inspect his face by prodding his wrinkled skin, patting his cheeks, and pulling with all her might on his ears. Laughing softly, Yoda removed her strong little grip from his ear, finding it to be a challenge. "Ooh, going to be strong, you are, little one!"
Yoda sat back, relaxing into the chair. Swiveling his head around, he watched Yiara's parents speaking to each other. A medical droid swiveled over and gave Yaddle a shot to help her sleep. Within minutes, she slept and Yaro simply watched her, before he fell asleep face-first on the nightstand next to the bed. He smiled, then frowned as he thought of the two Jedi, together, as a couple. They would not be allowed to continue to be Jedi. They would leave to be together; he knew it. Closing his eyes and stroking Yiara's head, he let himself go into the Force to solve such a disturbing and perplexing problem.
*****