AN: Okay peoples, just a quick note. The flashback in here takes off from the Jacen/Tenel Ka scene on page 247 in Star by Star, by Troy Denning. Sadge, I know he "killed" Anakin, but really, I just finished reading Destiny's Way, and SbS is loads better than it. Really, it was a great piece of work, dark, but incredibly well-done.
Chapter Six: Bloody Sunday
An insistent prodding roused Tenel Ka from sleep the next morning. In an instant, a small stealth blaster was in her hand, leveled at her possible attacker.
"Kriff!" hissed Tahiri, her hands flying up to her head, "Watch where you point that thing!"
"I apologize," said Tenel Ka, lowering the blaster and wiping the sleep out of her eyes, "Is there something the matter?"
"You people are so paranoid around here," Tahiri muttered peevishly.
"Call it habit," Tenel Ka replied with a note of irritation, "What is wrong?"
"We're going on a little trip. Get some stuff together, and take anything from this room that you really value," Tahiri directed tersely.
Tenel Ka was confused, but she rolled off the bed, still dressed in her lizard hide armour. Within moments, she'd thrown her other clothes in a bag, attached her utility belt around her waist, clipped her lightsaber on, and grabbed the pink crystal necklace that Jacen had given her after the Crystal Reef crisis from its place on her dresser.
Tahiri was shifting from foot to foot anxiously, looking around nervously. Tenel Ka briefly touched her violet cloak before throwing it and her crown inside the clothing bag, then wrapped herself up in her long black Jedi cloak. She sensed danger from all around, but she couldn't sense a direct cause.
Swiftly, she nodded to Tahiri and they moved together through the antechambers to the wide hallway outside.
Hustling inconspicuously down the corridor, both girls were suddenly thrown forward onto their stomachs as everything behind them erupted into flame.
BOOM!!!!!!!!!
Tenel Ka was the first to her feet, instantly alert and ready for any other dangers. She helped a coughing, sputtering Tahiri to her feet and picked up the luggage they had dropped. Both Jedi were covered in a fine gray dust, which filled the air around them, while debris littered the surrounding floor.
"That was my room," Tenel Ka stated matter-of-factly, as if some evidence had just been offered to her.
"Yes," Tahiri choked out, her eyes watering.
"Ah. Aha," Tenel Ka said, grabbing Tahiri's arm and pulling her along, "Out of here. Quick."
Tahiri didn't make any protests, only let herself be led along.
Tenel Ka didn't understand how Tahiri had been alerted to this threat on her life, and would make sure to thank her profusely later. Now, however, she had to take charge and get her friend out of any immediate danger.
"Where are we going?" Tahiri asked, recovered from the suffocating dust.
"You had an escape ship ready, yes?" Tenel Ka questioned, looking back at Tahiri's face.
"Yes…" Tahiri answered slowly.
"Whoever caused that explosion may have the means and the network to sabatoge the ship you prepared as well. You will take your X-wing. I will take my Hapan VX-10 Dragon fighter. When we are in space, I will send you the coordinates over a private channel. You will jump to them. Understood?" Tenel Ka asked.
Tahiri's face had slipped into the trained, calm demeanor of a soldier. She nodded resolutely.
"Got it. I'll see you up there."
"Check for bugs on your X-wing," Tenel Ka said with a worried glance.
They split up, Tahiri heading in the direction of her X-wing and Tenel Ka towards the secret hangar where her personal ship was kept.
The Hapan VX-10 Dragon was the latest in the ships being manufactured in the Transitory mists. Instead of being on the side, the wings of the VX-10 extended like claws over the cockpit and the beneath the fuselage. The engineers bragged that it made a harder target. The fuselage was a smooth, blunted-triangle shape, like a tongue sticking out between the jaws of a dragon's mouth. It was complemented by quad-laser cannons, three proton torpedo launchers with a six torpedo carrying capacity, and state of the art targeting, manuevering, and engine-speed system. It was fast, sleek and deadly, just the way Tenel Ka liked a ship.
She snapped open the storage hatch, threw her bag in, closed it with a swift click, then climbed the waiting ladder (it was made to escape quickly) to the cockpit. There wasn't an astromech droid required, because of the new systems installed, and Tenel Ka started the ship up easily on her own. There was no whining of the repulsor lift engines as she engaged them, and her ship lifted silently out of the hangar. A kilometer away from her, she saw Tahiri bring her ship around as well, and hailed her on the comlink.
"Transmitting the coordinates now," Tenel Ka said seriously, clicking rapidly on the rows of buttons in front of her. There was a beep of confirmation as the coordinates were relayed.
"Ready!" Tahiri announced.
They sped away from the gravity of the planet, two brilliant white streaks in the early dawn light. When they'd cleared the atmosphere and gravity well, both girls engaged at the same time, bursting away with a dazzling flash of white.
* * *
The planet of Dreena was mostly ocean, covered with scattered groupings of islands. Viewed from space, it seemed to be entirely made up a dark, navy ocean, like a blue sapphire jewel.
When they exited hyperspace, Tenel ka immediately contacted Tahiri on the com.
"The vacation cottage used by my family is on the other side of the planet," Tenel Ka said, "It's very lowtech, they will not detect us until we are within that hemisphere."
"Acknowledged," Tahiri said and shut off the communications device.
Tenel Ka's ship swung to starboard and streaked towards the planet. Tahiri nudged her control stick to send her X-wing into a barrel roll and followed closely on her tail.
The trip along the planet's surface to the other side was uneventful, but enjoyable.
The water sparkled in the early morning sunrise, glinting off in rainbow prisims. In places, the water was so clear and pure that Tahiri could see hundreds of meters underwater. There were fish of any shape, size, or colour, from neon pink to darkest black, from tiny euglena to lethal sharks.
In the first rays of the sun, Tahiri saw a huge island, it's sandy shores rising peacefully out of the waves. She saw dense jungle clustered beind the sand dunes, and on a large plateau overlooking the sea was a magnificent mansion. Great wooden doors made the front entrance, well-tended gardens sprawled on every side, and five spires of different heights rose high into the sky. It was a classic, haphazard looking building, with seemingly random placed windows, a tall, elegant structure, dark brick walls and brown trim.
"Reef Fortress?" Tahiri guessed, having heard a little about the place.
"No," Tenel Ka answered, "That is on Hapes itself. This is a completely secret vacation home, kept that way because this planet is uninhabited, except for the people who tend our house."
"Pretty," Tahiri commented.
"Yes," Tenel Ka agreed, "But more importantly, it is secluded."
"So we're still in the Hapes Cluster?" Tahiri asked.
"That is correct."
"Dreena Air Space Control, respectfully hailing Ta'a Chume," a voice cut in over the comlink.
It took Tahiri a panicked second to realize that they meant Tenel Ka. She must have a transpoder on her ship.
"Dreena, this is Queen Mother Tenel Ka D'jo, accompanied by Tahiri Veila, preparing to land on Sandy Isle."
"The landing pad is clear, Erenda," the voice came again.
Tenel Ka acknowledged with a double click. The two fighter craft sped toward the island, looped around the house, then killed their engine speed and settled gracefully to the landing pad without a bump.
Tahir opened the hatch and climbed out eagerly. Nearby, Tenel Ka was doing the same. At the edge of the landing pad was a tall, graying man in a formal suit. Tenel Ka and Tahiri approached and the man executed a deep, humble bow, mumuring softly, "Your Majesty."
When he raised his head, a jovial grin lit his face from ear to ear, as if he were in possession of some great secret.
"Welcome," he said with a dramatic pause, "to the Sandy Isle of Dreena."
* * *
The inside of the house was as beautiful as the outside, with mosaic tile, a deep, rich brown wood for the walls, which were hung with warm coloured tapestries, and supplemented with antique furniture. The edifice was five stories in most place, seven stories at it's heighest tower, and included a greenhouse, conservatory, library, dining hall, gymnasium, weapons room, and innumerable bedrooms boasting limitless comforts.
"Let me get this straight," Tahiri said to Tenel Ka as they followed the butler through the hallways, "This is a 'summer cottage'? You consider this a 'cabin'?"
"It is considered very small by my grandmother's standards. It was her father that built it, calling it Nesaliquas, which means 'silence' in Hapan. He wanted a quiet place for solitude and studying. That is why the library is so extensive."
"Gods I wish I was rich sometimes," Tahiri muttered.
Tenel Ka smiled slightly. Tahiri was so cute when she was impressed.
Nesaliquas had no turbolifts, only wide, carpeted staircases, and the butler led them up five of these, then down a hallway, and into a wing that Tenel Ka remembered well from the two or three vacations she had spent here as a child. She stopped walkway and peered into the room she remembered from her stays. Light lavender silks covered the double bed and framed the window, a light coloured wood made up the four poster bed,m vanity table, dresser and armoire. Tenel Ka sighed as she stepped through, remembering how much she'd loved it when she was six and seven.
"Tahiri, my friend," she beckoned, "Come here, I will show you something."
Tahiri followed Tenel Ka over to the window, and then gasped in awe as she swept the curtains aside to reveal the view from the window. It seemed that the ocean was directly below them, an effect of the height of the plateau and house. They could the waters stretch out below them, endless, sparkling, pure.
"Wow," Tahiri breathed.
"Here," Tenel Ka motioned to Tahiri, "I have the perfect room for you."
Tahiri followed obediently, treading behind Tenel Ka as she led the way out of the room and down the hall two doors. Through the door was the most spectacular room Tahiri had fever seen. There was a four poster bed made from a beautiful dark wood, with carved flowers and vines entwining themselves into the pattern. The plush covers were rich red and gold. Above the bed were two wide open skylights through which streamed brilliant sunshine onto the wall opposite. It was made this way because in long cylinder pots on the floor were thick green rose vines that trailed lazily up the wall. Budding spectacularily all over the stems were roses of every colour and size, fillling the air with a soft, unobtrusive scent.
"Oh…" was all that Tahiri said, her voice awed.
Tenel Ka smiled and replied, "Your bags should be brought up soon. Imust go contact my father."
Tenel Ka took a direct path through the winding staircases to the communications room on the first floor. She turned on the holoprojector and rapidly typed the coordinates for her father's quarters on Hapes.
There was a loud beeping noise as the connection went through. Her father's image appeared on the receiver.
"Tenel Ka?" her father asked in a concerned voice, "Tell me you're alive."
Tenel Ka stepped into the view so that her father would see her image.
Her father's relief was evident as he gave a deep sigh and massaged his temples with his hands.
"My daughter…" he murmured softly, then he brought himself under control, "Where are you now?"
"Sandy Isle," Tenel Ka answered curtly.
A slight look of pain crossed over his face, quickly followed by a forced smile.
"You'll be safe there. Stay on Dreena a while, please Tenel Ka."
"It is not the nature of my family to run from danger," she answered, frowning.
Isolder sighed again, in frustration this time. "Please Tenel Ka. Take a vacation for just two weeks, a week even. I don't want to see you get hurt."
Adversion to this advice rose foremost in Tenel Ka's mind, but at the same time, a picture of the ocean from her window, limitless unending, sparkling appeared. She nodded slowly. "I will stay for a week. Then I will return to my duties."
A brief flicker of surprise lit Isolder's face before he bowed and said solemnly, "Good-bye then, Ereneda."
"Good-bye father."
Tenel Ka turned off the holocomm unit feeling vaguely unsure. She stood still for a few seconds in the silence of the darkened room before turning abruptly and exiting, preparing to spur the household into making dinner.
* * *
Breezes streamed through the darkened room, billowing the curtains of the windows into unearthly contortions and causing the royal occupant to shiver underneath the down-filled duvet. The winds smelled like salt and flowers, like life held together in precious shapes, each sacrosanct and unique.
In the silence of the night, Tenel Ka slept.
And she dreamed of the past…
Tenel Ka gently rubbed the bacta lotion into Ulaha's skin, being careful not cause any damage with her ministrations. Jacen stood behind her, still deep in thought, brooding.
She finished and stood up from the bunk, Jacen thought he saw a flicker of indecision in her eyes, but then her lips quirked in a half-smile.
"My turn," she said, the smile spreading.
Jacen's jaw dropped, then he shook his head to clear it.
"Oh, I see, you're joking again."
Tenel Ka shook her head. "I think not."
Jacen was struggling to contain his disbelief. He stared as Tenel Ka brushed past him, returning to the bunk they'd just been talking in. His body turned and his eyes followed her, but he stood rooted to the spot, waiting for his illusions to be shattered.
Instead, she unzipped the top part of her jumpsuit, exposing the thin rags that they had been clothed in during their captivity. Jacen started walking towards her, still in a state of shock.
"Here," said Tenel Ka, giving him the lotion, "On my back."
She sat down on the edge of the bunk and Jacen sat down next to her, swallowing nervously. Tentatively, he poured some of the lotion into his hand, trying to remind himself that this was strictly for medical purposes.
He rubbed the lotion between his hand then reached out to Tenel Ka. He figured the least presumptuous place to start would be her shoulders, close to her neck. Delicately he smoothed the bacta solution against her smooth tanned skin, feeling the corded muscles of her shoulders and suddenly realizing how fast his heart was beating. He was gravitating closer to her without even noticing it. Slowly he flexed and relaxed his fingers, massaging her shoulders in a steady rhythm. As he forgot about concentrating on the lotion and grew more focused on the feeling of her skin underneath his hands, his fingers slid under the straps of her flimsy shirt. Breath-rate increasing and blood seeming to race through his veins, Jacen leaned forward so that his chin was almost resting on her shoulder. He dropped his head and softly placed a kiss on the slope between the shoulder and neck. Her skin was warm, he imagined his own was rising in temperature as well.
Tenel Ka sighed happily and slipped forward onto the bunk, resting her head on her arm. Jacen moved his hands to the bottom of the shirt and slowly applied more lotion to her lower back. His fingers ran lightly over her rib cage and traced a path up her spine. His hands ran over her skin tenderly, wary of the broken skin and devoted to taking the utmost care. Tenel Ka's eyes were closed but a peaceful smile worked its way across her face.
Jacen paused slightly, looking down at her with his brandy brown eyes. She was so beautiful when she was sleeping. It him weak all over, it brought him to tears. An ache formed in his chest, a prediction of the pain that he would feel if he were ever to lose her. A deep, profound sense of wonder settled over him brought on more quickly by his heightened heartbeat and rapid breathing. What had he ever done in his life to deserve her? Was he gathering the effects of his contributions in a past life? Did she realize how she made him feel?
Tenel Ka's eyes opened as his hands stopped moving. He swept his hand under her stomach to roll her onto her back, facing him. Then he moved propped himself up with one elbow, bringing his other hand up to cup her face. Her grey eyes had lost that mischievous look and regarded him with the only trace of nervousness or apprehension he had ever seen. Was she wondering what his intentions were? He brushed the red-gold hair back from her face and then brought his face so it was only centimeters from hers.
"Tenel Ka. You have to survive this mission," he said gravely, not sure how to say the words he wanted to say, but forcing them out as best he could, "Because I'm beginning to see that life wouldn't be worth it without you. Maybe the Vong are right about pain being the master. You're what keeps me from being overwhelmed by pain. You're what keeps back the darkness that tries to pull us under. You're my hope at the end of the war. Please don't leave me."
Tenel Ka's face was always only a shadow of her emotions, but now it was filled with a wistful sort of sadness. She arched her back, moving her arm to embrace him and her lips brushing his ear slightly as she whispered to him.
"Not now Jacen. Do not think about that now."
She kissed him fiercely then, moaning as he pulled her close to him and kissed her in response. It was the most incredible, exciting sound he'd ever heard and it made him shiver, he moved his lips to kiss her collarbone, up the curve of her neck and then her mouth.
"Jacen." Her voice was soft and powerful at the same time, causing the tiny hairs on his arm to stand on end. It was controlled and frenzied in parallel. It was scared and brave in the same instant.
It was only one word.
It was all she had to say.
