Chapter Fifty Two:
Unafraid, and trusting in his training, Ignis dove like a bird of prey from the sky, his limbs tucked tightly to his body to streamline it. The air whipped past his face at the speed of a swoop bike, and still Ignis did all he could to pour on more speed, but it seemed hopeless.
Still far below him he could see Ben, who was flailing as if that could slow him down. The younger boy's intermittent screaming reached Ignis' ears only when he drew close enough to hear it above the wind passing by him.
Ben had a solid head start on Ignis, and so Ignis was doing his best to catch up, but he had no other way to gain speed. Ignis gritted his teeth, trying to puzzle out how to make himself fall faster.
A single freight sleigh passed nearby and Ignis, trying one final time to gain more momentum, pushed against it with the Force. That did cause Ignis to fall a little faster, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
But Ben was still too far below Ignis for him to catch up in time. Ben would strike the ground well before Ignis got to him. Ignis raked his brain for inspiration. In truth, though Ignis could control himself in a fall such as this, he had never done this to save someone from a fall. Ignis was truly making this part up as he went.
Then an idea struck him, and he stretched forth his hand, reaching out toward Ben with the Force. Ignis would have to carefully grab Ben, because a sudden stop at this velocity would snap the boy's spine in two, killing him instantly.
Ignis gritted his teeth, using the Force to create a cushion of air beneath Ben in an effort to slow the boy's fall. Ignis only knew it was working when he began to gain ground on Ben. Feeling a touch of hope, Ignis continued to work on slowing Ben down. Ben eventually realized what was happening, and looked around in confusion.
Ignis finally grabbed for Ben himself in the Force, and began to pull at Ben from above. Ignis spied the first bit of ground below and mentally judged the distance, and how much time they had left.
Ignis dove for ten more seconds before he finally splayed his arms and legs like a skydiver would to slow and control their personal descent. When he zipped past Ben, the younger boy cried out in alarm. Then he did so again, but this time in respite.
"Ignis!"
Ignis, who was now below Ben, had to rely solely on the Force to tell him where to position himself so he could catch Ben on his back. Ignis could also sense how fast Ben was now falling, and he did his best to adjust his own descent to accommodate.
"Ignis, what are you doing?" Ben cried, his voice much louder now that they were closer.
"Ben, stay flat!" Ignis warned, shouting to be heard.
Moments later, Ben landed atop Ignis. Instinctively, the younger boy latched on, wrapping his arms about Ignis to grab his tunic in the front. He was shaking so heavily that it was disrupting Ignis' ability to control their fall.
"Ben, I need you to calm down!" Ignis instructed.
Ben, sensing the urgency in Ignis' warning, did his best to take deep breaths. To both their relief, it worked, and Ignis felt a stab of pride.
Ignis returned his full attention to controlling his fall, calculating the usual way, but having to account for the greater weight he now bore. Ignis slowed himself as much as he could, eventually pushing against the ground to slow himself further.
He spoke to Ben once more as the ground came to them rapidly. "I need you to jump off! Tuck and roll when you land! Can you do that?"
"What's a tuck and roll?" Ben cried, his hold on Ignis tightening somewhat.
"As soon as your feet touch the ground, bend your knees and do a forward summersault!" Ignis called back. "You can do this Ben! You must do this! It's the only way you will survive the landing!"
Ignis decided it would be best to leave out how painful this landing would be regardless.
Ben shuddered in fear, but to his credit nodded. "O-okay!"
Ignis counted in his head, bracing himself as well. "Now Ben!"
With a scream, Ben let go and plummeted the remainder of the way to the ground. Ignis did not see if Ben was able to follow Ignis' orders, because he himself had to land. Ignis tuck and rolled, the impact sending shooting pains up his legs. Ignis still rolled, though his momentum carried him several feet to crash into a stand of crates.
The entire pile collapsed on top of Ignis, who shielded his head and neck from them the best he could. Some of the crates were rather heavy, but most seemed empty. Ignis lay panting for a full thirty seconds before his ability to move returned. Ignis also then felt his body, which acutely protested the landing.
With a groan, Ignis worked his way free of the crates, struggling to his feet and looking around for Ben.
"Ben?!" Ignis called loudly. He could hardly see anything, but Ignis was used to operating in the dark too. When no immediate answer came, Ignis feared that his efforts had been for nothing.
Ignis opened himself to the Force and wilted with relief when he sensed Ben up ahead. Ignis pulled out a glowrod and activated it, finding Ben amidst a collection of garbage cans. The boy lay propped awkwardly against two of them, his eyes wide and his chest heaving as the terror of what had happened coursed through him.
When Ignis' light touched Ben's eyes, the boy flinched and focused on Ignis.
"Hey," Ignis said softly, offering a proud smile as he got closer, "you made it!"
Ben's face was white as a sheet, Ignis now saw as he got closer. "I-Ignis?"
The older boy knelt beside Ben, looking him over with a practiced eye. A few cuts and bruises on the face and arms... and an ankle that was swollen badly.
Ignis made to speak to Ben, but the other boy suddenly heaved himself into a sitting position and grabbed Ignis into a fierce hug. A terrified whimper escaped Ben as he clung to Ignis, the red-haired boy's arms holding so tightly that Ignis found it hard to breathe. Ben shook uncontrollably as he struggled to get over his near-death experience.
To his great surprise, Ignis' heart clenched for the other, and he found himself returning the embrace just as fervently. Finally, hesitantly, Ignis allowed himself to feel the brotherly love he'd known was growing for Ben.
"You're alright, Ben," Ignis murmured. "You're alright."
"I... I almost died!" Ben whimpered, and Ignis felt the boy crying even as Ben was trying to hide it.
Ignis pulled back and gently wiped at Bens' face. "But you didn't. Focus on that, okay?"
Ben didn't let Ignis go completely, maintaining a grasp on Ignis' forearms as if that would offer him solace. "H-How did you do what you did?"
Ignis looked down, sighing. "I have..."
Suddenly his danger sense tingled, and Ignis looked to the sky to see a pair of running lights fast approaching.
"Ben, get up!" Ignis ordered, already standing himself. "This isn't over!"
Ben, hearing the warning in Ignis' voice, obeyed, but as soon as he put weight on his injured ankle, he began to collapse with a cry of pain. Ignis, seeing this, wrapped an arm around Ben's shoulders.
"We need to get out of the open," Ignis said. "I know it hurts, but we need to walk."
Ben, determined to be strong like his father, sucked in a breath of air and nodded. "Okay."
Ignis smiled lightly and began to steer Ben along. Ben stumbled often, but though he did cry out a few times, he managed to keep going. A sweat broke out on Ben's forehead, and he trembled, but he did not ask to stop.
Ignis, for his part, was searching for any place to hide. He hadn't initially realized how far they'd fallen, but now that he was paying more attention, he cringed. They were so far below the upper levels of Coruscant where Ben's family lived, that they could not see the sunlight. Everything down here had to be illuminated artificially. The area they were in was so dim because no one was present, as this area seemed abandoned for some reason. And if no one used the area, why would they upkeep the lighting? Regardless, these deep underlevels were no place for a child like Ben, Ignis knew.
The older boy was determined that no harm would befall Ben down here. Not while Ignis still drew breath.
Ben was also looking around, Ignis realized, when he made an observation. "How far down are we, Ignis?"
"Far enough that even at midday, there is no sunlight here," Ignis replied, looking to Ben with complete seriousness. "Ben, you absolutely must stay with me, understood?"
Ben swallowed, but nodded. "I will do my best."
"I know you will," Ignis murmured. "You've already done a great job."
Ben actually cracked a smile, but then hissed as his ankle gave out on him again. "I'm slowing us down, aren't I?"
Ignis didn't have the heart to confirm that, but Ben saw it in his face anyway. "I am."
Ignis sighed, and then stopped. "Will you allow me to carry you?"
Ben nodded. "Go ahead."
Ignis picked him up and began to walk swiftly, hearing the speeder arrive at the place they had left behind. Ignis glanced behind them to see a dark figure exit, though to his surprise, there was only one person.
Well, that would simplify things, Ignis knew. Ignis tripped over something and cursed when he sensed the attention of their pursuer on them. Then the other was jogging to catch up, and Ignis again went onto acolyte mode. He came to a warehouse and spied a broken window high up.
"Hold on to my neck," Ignis instructed Ben, who did so immediately.
"The other guy is catching up fast, Ignis!" Ben warned.
"I know!" Ignis replied, leaping up to the awning above the garage door and then leaping again to reach the broken window. Ignis checked inside swiftly and then deposited Ben inside before he slipped in himself.
Ignis saw that they were in an office, and he looked out the window to see that the one hunting them was almost to the garage door.
And the enemy they spoke.
"Ignis!"
Ignis froze in shock... and then his mood darkened substantially. "Kavis..." he ground out.
Ben, sensing Ignis' anger, back-stepped once. "Ignis, what's wrong?"
Ignis turned to Ben, but a crashing sound from below grabbed his attention. "Come on!"
Ignis swept Ben up again and leapt from the room as Kavis shot a rocket at it. Ben screamed as the explosion's blast followed them out the door. Then Ignis was leaping over the railing that was just outside the office, and down into the cavernous room below. He landed atop a decrepit ship and had an idea.
He took Ben inside and set him down in a place that would protect the boy the best.
"Stay in this ship, Ben, do you understand?" Ignis said. "I need to take care of our... hunter."
Ben touched Ignis' face, surprising the older boy with the gentle gesture. "I feel your anger. Please don't use it... at least try not to."
Ignis gazed at Ben for a long minute, even as Kavis could be heard entering the warehouse proper. Then Ignis shook his head.
"Shmi was right, you know," Ignis murmured, smiling softly just for Ben, "you really are like your father. And Luke would be so proud of you."
Ignis stood. "I will do my best to not use my anger. But this is something I must handle... alone. Please stay here, where you will be safer."
Ben did not argue, or try again to stop Ignis, but he did position himself so he could better see... at least a little. But though the bulkhead blocked much of his vision, the young Skywalker could hear just fine.
Ignis stepped out of the ship and walked down the ramp, allowing Kavis to spot him from the other end of the room. Ignis' feet touched the floor and he walked to the center of the space. Silence reigned while Kavis walked purposefully toward him.
"It's not like you to attack an innocent family, Kavis," Ignis said, "but then again, I guess I should not be surprised. You had no honor before, and you have none now."
Kavis growled low in his throat. "The Skywalker kids were not my intended target, but the men who were with me didn't care."
"I guess you should pick your help with a little more care, then," Ignis remarked acerbically. "Or do you not realize that you crossed Mara Jade Skywalker?"
Kavis did pause at that. "I do realize that. But I am doing this for her and her family."
"Doing what?" Ignis spat.
"Protecting them from you!" Kavis snapped, whipping out a blaster and shooting at Ignis.
Ignis easily deflected the shots with his lightsaber, even redirecting them at Kavis, so that the other had to dodge his own blasterfire. Kavis tried his flamethrower next, and Ignis leapt high, but Kavis followed that with more blasterfire, cutting off Ignis' retreat. Ignis cursed when the hem of his pants caught fire, and grabbed at a loose sheet of metal. He flung it up to block the fire while he used his lightsaber to deflect the blaster's shots.
He then shoved the metal sheet toward Kavis, who cried out and dodged it, but barely. Ignis took care of the flames on his clothes while he landed, and then returned to the fight. Ignis did not give Kavis time to regroup: he came in with several blows from his lightsaber, which Kavis deflected with a small shield produced from his wrist.
Kavis grabbed up a small knife and attempted to stab Ignis with is, but Ignis released his lightsaber with one hand to grab at the dagger himself. He used that arm to push Kavis' own blade back toward him. Kavis swiped a foot at Ignis' closest leg, and Ignis lost his balance.
He fell, though he cart wheeled away in an effort to put distance between them. Kavis still got Ignis' bicep with the knife, slicing deeply. Ignis pushed past the pain and grabbed a length of chain from overhead. With a tug, it came free and Ignis whirled it about his head like the blades of some flying machine.
When he sent it sailing toward Kavis, the other had to duck behind another ship to avoid it. The chain crashed into a rack of tools, and Ignis next used the Force to hurl those loose items at Kavis in his hiding place.
Kavis ducked under the belly of the vessel he hid behind and raced for Ignis. He got in two good punches, one to Ignis' jaw, and one to his injured arm. Ignis jerked, and Kavis used the opportunity to slap Ignis' lightsaber away.
When he tried to follow through with a knee to Ignis' groin, Ignis instead elbowed him in the back, just above Kavis' armor. They ended up getting each other simultaneously, and both had to take a breather. Thanks to his extensive training, Ignis was able to recover first, and he called the lightsaber back to his hand, igniting it and stepping forward.
Kavis straightened. "Why don't you fight me without the Force, or your fancy laser sword?"
Ignis stopped, and then chuckled. "It would be my pleasure, Kavis. Why don't you fight without your precious armor? It's not like you deserve it anyway."
Kavis glared murder at Ignis. "I earned this armor!"
"I highly doubt that!" Ignis snapped back, dropping his lightsaber. "But I will fight you hand-to-hand. I've wanted to hit you for a very long time now."
Kavis breathed heavily, and then removed his helmet and other armor bits. "Very well. A fair fight it will be then."
Ignis waited patiently until Kavis' armor was in a pile beside him. Neither boy noticed that Ben had crept to a place where he could view what was going on, and thus had seen everything. Kavis purposely stepped clear of his little pile and lifted his hands to show he was unarmed. Ignis likewise removed his weapons belt and then the knife in his boot, tossing both to the ground.
Ignis stepped away from it all and waited for Kavis to make the first move. The other didn't disappoint. Kavis came forward with an enraged cry, leaping at Ignis and coming down with a strike that would have knocked Ignis to the ground if he hadn't blocked it. Ignis countered with two jabs to Kavis' middle.
Kavis took the hits and stomped on Ignis' foot. Ignis stumbled, and Kavis struck him across the face. Ignis rolled with it, whirling about to come in behind Kavis. He made to grab the other, but Kavis elbowed Ignis in the gut. Ignis grunted and fell back, but did block Kavis' round-house.
When Kavis again tried to kick Ignis, the black-haired teen caught Kavis' foot and twisted the limb. Kavis cried out initially, but managed to wind his body also so the ankle did not break. Ignis pushed at Kavis, who fell against a hovercart.
Ignis was on him before Kavis could think twice about it, raining blows upon the other boy. Ignis felt his anger mount as he pummeled Kavis, but then he recalled his promise to Ben... and he thought of how he had professed to not want to be like Vexa.
Ignis stopped hitting Kavis and took a step back. Kavis remained where he was, panting, and then a dangerous light entered Kavis' eyes.
Ignis prepared himself as he watched Kavis regain his feet. Kavis came in at Ignis now, feinting left but throwing a vicious right-hook when Ignis fell for it. Ignis saw stars, and Kavis took his turn hitting Ignis relentlessly now. Ignis felt each one, and finally got in a block, throwing both arms up in an X to stop Kavis.
He heaved with all his physical strength and shoved Kavis back. The other tripped over a length of tubing, and fell backwards into a second rack of tools. Kavis, still angry, grabbed up a few items, and started hurling them at Ignis.
Ignis cursed and manage to evade them, but finally he had to take cover as Kavis continued to throw things at him.
"What happened to your fair fight?" Ignis challenged.
"Your master murdered my father!" Kavis shouted furiously.
Ignis blinked. "And that is my fault?"
"You are the only way I can get vengeance on her!" Kavis raged, coming to his feet and beginning to throw things with greater force. "I hate you both!"
Ignis winced as the tools thrown too high left dents in the ship across from Ignis. He felt one barely miss his exposed leg and knew he had to get clear. Ignis hugged the hull of the ship he was beside, and rounded the back end. Kavis was lost to his tool-throwing... that is, until he noticed Ignis dart from one hiding place to the next.
Kavis instantly redirected his aim... and when the tools began to strike the ship that Ben was in, the younger boy cried out in fear, ducking inside the vessel.
Ignis stopped cold at the boy's cry, and something steeled within Ignis. Turning in place, Ignis drew on the Force and walked straight at Kavis. Nothing Kavis threw at Ignis made contact. Ignis redirected everything with ease until he was once more holding Kavis' wrists.
Kavis continued to glare at Ignis, and then head-butted Ignis, causing the black-haired boy to stumble backwards. Kavis followed this with a blow to Ignis' head from a tool grabbed up during Ignis' lapse. Ignis saw stars, though thanks to the Force's warning, he ducked what would have been a fatal blow. The tool still cut him badly, and Ignis felt a trickle of blood slip down his head behind his ear.
Kavis followed Ignis like a predator on the hunt, not letting up. Ignis was hit in the face twice, then the gut, and Kavis even stomp-kicked Ignis before Ignis could clear his head.
"IGNIS!"
Ben's voice caused Kavis to hesitate for a fraction of a second, and Ignis fell to the ground, trying to regroup. His head was clear enough to focus, but his strength was beginning to wane. He knew that both the medic and Luke had warned him about overexerting himself too soon.
Once he assessed that Ben wasn't a threat, Kavis turned his back on Ben, who stood just inside the doorway of the ship Ignis had left him in. The child's eyes were wide as he witnessed the brutal battle. Kavis bent down and grabbed Ignis by the shirt, hauling him up.
To Ignis' confusion, Kavis paused, and when Ignis focused on the other boy, he saw that Kavis' attention was on Ignis' chest. When Kavis reached down and lifted the crystal Ignis wore about his neck, Ignis stiffened. It must have slipped out in the skirmish.
"What is this?" Kavis murmured, eyeing it and seeing the strands of hair from Anya and Bo. "You never wear anything like this, Ignis. So what's so special about this? These look like hairs..."
Ignis glared at Kavis. "Leave it alone."
Kavis smirked. "You're awfully protective of a simple trinket, Ignis. Could this be from someone close to you?"
Ignis' anger returned to simmer dangerously. "I said... leave it alone."
"I think not. Perhaps I will turn this in to your master..."
In a fit of protective rage— never mind the knowledge that Vexa already knew of Anya and Bo— Ignis heaved and threw Kavis off of him. He hollered furiously and used the Force to hurl Kavis across the room to slam into the wall. Ignis raced to him, taking up his weapon once more and lifting it to strike.
Ignis leapt with the Force and came down from above... and in that second, the anger in Kavis vanished, to be replaced by fear. Ignis also glimpsed Ben from the corner of his eye, and instead of stabbing Kavis; Ignis buried his blade into the ground beside Kavis' thigh with an animal cry.
Utter silence reined for an unknown amount of time before Ignis stood. "I will not kill you. I will not be like her."
Kavis snorted, rising to his feet also. "Oh, sure, now you choose the noble path."
Unable to help the flow of emotions he had dammed for years now thanks to Kavis and Saul, Ignis opened his mouth.
"I did not choose this life!" he screamed at Kavis. "I was forced into it!"
Kavis straightened, but he narrowed suspicious eyes. "Sure you were."
"Do you think I enjoy what I do?" Ignis ground out, still furious. "I hate it!"
Kavis looked Ignis in the eye, seeing the honesty there behind the rage. "If you hate it so badly, why stay? Why did you not get away?"
Ignis' anger increased tenfold, and suddenly he hit Kavis full in the teeth, watching the other's head snap back. "I almost did! WITH YOU!"
Ignis hit him again, but this time his eyes flooded with tears of betrayal. "I trusted you Kavis!" he hollered, his voice cracking. "I trusted you and Saul! I believed your flattery and lies... and you left me to suffer with her!" He hit Kavis again. "And worst still, you lied to her and pinned it all on me to save your own hides! Do you have any idea what she did to me because of that lie?"
Ignis struck again, but this time Kavis caught his fist, though for once Kavis did not retaliate. When he spoke, his voice was soft and laced with guilt.
"What did she do to you?"
Ignis breathed heavily for a long minute before he found the strength to answer, his eyes spilling over further. "She sent me back to Doctor Giddalti, to be his... plaything for an entire week. A whole week, Kavis!"
Kavis' face drained of color. "Doctor Giddalti?! That mad scientist who experimented on you as a child?"
"The one and the same." Ignis spat. "And when I got back to her, she sent me directly into my training again, even though I could barely function."
Kavis backed away, hitting the wall again and staying there. "Ignis..."
"Save it." Ignis ground out. "I don't want your pity, or anything else from you."
He turned to walk away, but then whirled around again. "You know, at least I can be honest about what I am when it counts. And at least I have a sense of honor. And I do not discredit the Mandalorian creed by wearing armor when I do not have any business doing so."
Kavis looked away. "I truly did earn this armor, Ignis."
"Maybe so, but did you and your father have to lie to get it?" Ignis challenged. "Or did you omit to the others that you reneged on the code that says when you take a foundling under your wing, you have to take care of them or return them to their legal guardians?"
Ignis stepped closer. "I was ready to do anything with you Kavis. I would have gladly done anything your father asked of me, if it got me out of my living hell. I would have followed him into a black hole for freeing me." Ignis shook his head and started to walk away again.
"Stay away from me, Kavis. And don't ever come near the Skywalker family again, or I will finish what we started here today."
Ignis was almost back to Ben when Kavis spoke, just loud enough to be heard. "For what it's worth, I m sorry, Ignis."
Ignis paused, but did not turn. Was he ready to forgive the other yet? No.
"Thank you for that," Ignis murmured evenly. "Now, leave us."
Kavis sighed. "May I offer you a ride topside at least? For Ben's sake?"
Ignis looked to Ben, and knew that he should accept if it would get Ben out of the underlevels faster. "Fine. Ben, come on."
The younger boy accepted Ignis' help and they walked with Kavis back to where he'd left his speeder. But when they got there, it was nowhere in sight. Kavis did a double take and cursed.
"Where is it?" Kavis cried, running forward.
Ignis snorted derisively. "You left a fully functioning speeder unmanned down here, and in the open? It's long gone, Kavis. Looks like we all will need that ride now."
Kavis glared at Ignis. "Just my luck. Where is the nearest port?"
Ignis shook his head. "You really haven't been on your own before, have you? There are no ports in this area, Kavis. Take a look around. We have to find one of the vertical shafts that allows vehicle travel between the levels."
Kavis shook his head. "Forget it, I am not going anywhere else down here. I will call for backup."
"It's unwise to remain in the open for long down here, Kavis." Ignis warned.
"I can manage my own affairs, Ignis, thank you." Kavis remarked impatiently. "I'm calling my men."
Ignis backed away with Ben. "The same men that attacked Ben and his family for no reason, you mean? We will leave now."
Kavis only glanced his way. "Suit yourself."
Ignis continued to back up until he and Ben were well out of range of any of Kavis' weapons. Ben looked baffled by this.
"Why aren't we turning around?" he asked.
"You should never turn your back on the enemy," Ignis replied simply.
Ben looked between the teenage boys. "Are you and Kavis... enemies?"
Ignis sighed. "We used to be friends, before he betrayed me."
Ben waited until they had finally turned around to speak further. "I... heard."
Ignis cringed. "How much did you overhear?"
"All of it," Ben murmured.
Ignis was silent for a very long time as he and Ben searched for a place to lay low for a while. Ben needed his ankle wrapped, and Ignis needed a few minutes to just sit down. Finally, after three hours of searching, they located an empty, run-down home. By that time, both boys were running on fumes.
Ignis checked the establishment before he allowed Ben to relax.
"Sit here and let me see your ankle." Ignis instructed.
Ben followed his instructions, sitting down on a decrepit chair, and gingerly put his ankle up on the neighboring coffee table. Ignis knelt and looked it over, saw that it had swollen more heavily and looked around. Ignis did not see anything that could be used to wrap Ben's limb, so he removed his shirt. He was more accustomed to having people see him, and besides, Ignis knew that Ben needed his shirt more.
Ben stared, wide-eyed at Ignis' marred skin, some of which was freshly bruised or bloodied.
"Ignis..." Ben whispered in horror as Ignis wrapped his ankle.
"I know, Ben," Ignis said softly. "There is a lot about me you do not know."
Ben couldn't help but stare, and he even gingerly reached out to touch Ignis' arms. "Dad told me that you come from a negative background. I never guessed that this is what that meant."
Ignis sighed. "Unfortunately, this is my reality."
Ben looked to the ankle that Ignis was wrapping. "Thank you for saving my life, Ignis."
Ignis smiled gently. "You're welcome, Ben."
Once Ignis was finished with the limb, Ignis cast his gaze about, but there was no other usable furniture. Even the chair that Ben occupied looked about ready to give out at any moment. Ignis settled for propping himself up against the nearest wall, in the corner so he would have something to lean on.
Once he was settled, Ignis fell quiet, listening instinctively for any hints of danger. At some point, Ben left his rickety chair and settled down beside Ignis. Ignis glanced to him, wondering what he was doing, but then Ben gently leaned into Ignis, curling against the older boy. The need to feel secure was clear to Ignis, and his heart softened further toward Ben.
With another gentle smile, Ignis wrapped a comforting arm about Ben in turn. Ben snuggled more securely into Ignis' side, his eyes flitting about in a manner that Ignis recognized. Ben was not used to being in such dark conditions, and he was having trouble functioning as a result.
But Ignis also sensed that Ben was finding comfort in being with the older boy, so Ignis let Ben be.
"What do we do now, Ignis?" Ben murmured.
"We make our way back to the surface levels," Ignis replied calmly.
"How do you know where to go, though?" Ben asked.
"Honestly, I don't know the way to any of the shafts I mentioned before. However, I do know how to operate in conditions like this." Ignis tightened his hold on Ben momentarily. "I'll get you home, Ben, I promise."
Ben looked to him. "I trust you, Ignis."
That simple pronouncement warmed Ignis' heart even as it hurt him. Ignis managed a small smile, doing his best to hide his emotions from the other boy. Ignis closed his eyes and leaned his head against the wall again.
He would have to soon betray this boy... this child who had worked his way into Ignis' heart just like the rest of the Skywalker family had. But that was a problem for the future. Right now, Ignis needed to focus on getting Ben back to safety.
"You're still bleeding." Ben observed as he felt Ignis' arm. Ignis felt Ben touch his head too, where the tool had struck him.
"I'll be alright," Ignis assured Ben.
Ben thinned his lips, and then shifted away from Ignis. Ignis frowned lightly and watched in shock as, like Ignis had, Ben removed his tunic. He promptly tore the item into two halves. Ben then knelt beside Ignis and, without asking permission, Ben wrapped Ignis' arm first. It wasn't a perfect job, but Ignis was too touched by Ben's tender care to correct him.
Ben then stood awkwardly, and though he struggled to get it right, he did his best to wrap Ignis' head next. Ignis ended up helping Ben so that the head band was both tight enough but not restricting, and secured properly.
"Thank you Ben," Ignis whispered once Ben was done.
Ben nodded once and settled back down with Ignis. "I might not be able to do much to help, but I can do something for you."
Ignis smiled softly. "It's perfect."
00000
"Shmi!" Leia cried when Mara and her two daughters got to her home. Shmi was still in rough shape, as Mara hadn't yet had a chance to help clean her up.
Anya and Kodai were already there, though Kodai was crying when Mara entered the abode.
Shmi somehow managed to smile for her aunt, but it did not reach her eyes. Emry was completely silent, though her eyes had not stopped leaking since Mara had appeared.
As for Mara, she was doing her best to hold herself together, but it was difficult when she could not find her son in the Force. She hadn't felt him die, but nor could she locate him amidst the thousands of clustered presences in the underlevels.
Mara honestly did not know what to believe, and she was highly stressed. One thing was for certain, however: Mara was going to find her son... no matter what she discovered when she did. But where to start?
She mentally derided herself: she was a former Emperor's Hand for stars sake!
"Are you all alright?" Leia fretted, taking stock of the three who'd just entered her home. "What happened?"
"A group of Mandalorians attacked my children." Mara ground out. "I only have one alive and in custody. But my priority right now is finding out what happened," her voice hitched, "to Ben."
"And Ignis." Shmi added a little defensively.
Mara made a calming gesture. "Yes, Shmi. I know what Ignis did."
Shmi frowned. "What does that mean? Ignis jumped to his death!"
Anya gasped. "Ignis did what?!"
Mara glanced briefly to Anya, and then gave her daughter a stern look that the young woman had seen many times before during her training. "Do you really think an intelligent young man like Ignis would simply jump after a falling person? Did you or Emry do so?"
Shmi shook her head, and Mara went on.
"Exactly. Somehow, Ignis knew he could control his fall. That is why he jumped."
Leia gaped. "Control his fall? How is that possible, Mara?"
Mara blew out a breath. "It can be done, but it's usually not something many Jedi attempt, and for good reason. If you make any mistakes, you're dead."
Anya had paled, Mara noticed, though she was also turning contemplative.
"Do what?" Shmi pressed.
"A Jedi can jump— or fall— from a great height that would usually kill them. But they control their descent and land in a specific manner. Some of the Knights and Masters from the Old Jedi Order have spoken of such jumps. Apparently, Anakin Skywalker did one while chasing a bounty hunter that had attacked Senator Amidala." Mara's gaze hardened slightly. "It is not a common skill at all, and very difficult to master."
Shmi's mouth hung ajar. "And Ignis did this?"
"I am assuming he did." Mara corrected. "If we find Ignis and Ben alive, we will know for certain."
Emry approached Mara, the first vestiges of hope shining in her gaze. "Mom... do you think Ben is alive?"
Mara knelt before Emry, touching her face tenderly. "I... honestly can't say, Sweetie. But I will find out. What would help me is for you to keep trying to remain positive, okay?"
Emry sniffled. "I... I will try, Mom."
Mara smiled lovingly at her, then turned to Kodai, taking him up and working to soothe him. It took several minutes, but finally the baby calmed and fell into a deep sleep. Mara set him down in his carrier once more and turned to Leia, who already had a hand in the air.
"You don't even have to ask. Take as long as you need, Mara."
Mara hugged her sister-in-law. "Thank you."
Shmi approached. "I want to help you."
Mara shook her head. "Shmi, I will work much more efficiently alone."
"But I can help!" Shmi insisted, though in truth she was exhausted, as her quivering frame showed. Silently she cursed the betrayal.
Mara ushered her daughter to the couch. "Rest, Shmi. If you learn anything, contact me immediately, okay?"
Shmi sighed but acquiesced. "I will. Be safe."
Mara kissed Shmi's head and left. However, she'd hardly made it to the lift before her name was called out.
"Mara, wait!"
Mara turned to find that Anya had tailed her. Mara observed that Anya was surprisingly calm in the face of what she had learned.
"What is it, Anya?"
"Why don't you take Bo with you?" Anya offered.
Mara shook her head. "Thank you, but no. I can track just fine."
"But Bo..."
Mara placed a hand on Anya's shoulder. "I appreciate the desire to help, but my answer remains." She eyed Anya. "You don't seem especially upset about Ignis."
Anya offered a half-smile. "Honestly, I've heard of him doing crazy things before, and he always comes out of it. I trust him." Anya paused, and then placed a hand over Mara's on her shoulder. "Ignis will bring Ben home, Mara. I know he jumped to help Ben."
Mara closed her eyes. "Be that as it may, I will not just sit and wait."
Anya nodded. "You know, he's a lot like you."
When Mara offered a curious glance, Anya expounded. "Ignis, he is a lot like you. He doesn't give up on those he loves either. I know Ignis: I can see that he loves your family, even if he tries to deny it."
Mara looked down, a strange mixture of emotions having been conjured by that comment. "Thank you. I need to go now."
Anya didn't stop her this time, and Mara maintained her composure while Anya could see her.
Once she was alone, Mara closed her eyes and took a deep breath, working to center herself so she could function.
She walked from the turbolift with a determination to find Ben, asking the Force to guide her. On the way to Leia's, Shmi had shown Mara the general area where Ben had been thrown. It was a rather large space, Mara knew, and it would take time to search it. How far down had the boy fallen?
Had Ignis somehow gotten to Ben? If so, what had become of the duo?
Mara shook her head to clear it and began her search.
00000
Ignis woke with a start when a crashing sound came from nearby. He saw a figure standing over them, and instantly went on the defensive. Leaping to his feet, Ignis glared at the stranger.
"What do you want?" Ignis demanded, hearing Ben trying to stand up also.
"What do I want?" the man demanded, a scruffy-looking Sullustan with distrustful eyes. "I wanna know why you are invading my home!"
Ignis stared at him. "You live here?"
"'course I do!" the man snapped, watching as Ben finally struggled to his feet, though the boy had to lean on the wall for support. The man looked to the bandages and shook his head adamantly.
"I don't care what you two got yourselves into; I ain't harboring no gang people. I don' want that kind of trouble here. I got enough to worry about as it is." He grabbed for Ben, but Ignis snatched the man's wrist before he could make contact.
"Do not touch him." Ignis warned.
"Then get out of my house!" The other growled, showing a blaster at his side. "Or you ain't gonna live to run from whichever gang ya tussled with last night."
Ignis narrowed his eyes, but let go of the man and gestured to Ben. "We will leave."
The Sullustan watched keenly as Ignis and Ben left, with Ben hobbling along on his injured ankle. As soon as the pair was out the door it slammed behind them, and Ignis heard it lock from the other side.
Ignis took stock of the area, which he saw was better lit since it appeared to be residential. But even with the artificial lighting, these levels were depressingly gloomy. Ben, sensing this also, shuffled a step closer to Ignis.
"Which way do we go?" Ben asked.
Ignis gestured. "We continue in the same direction as last night. Come on."
Ignis slung his arm about Ben again, the shorter boy wrapping his arm about Ignis' torso in return. Both were still shirtless, and Ben squirmed self-consciously.
"What gangs was that man talking about?" Ben whispered when they passed by a few shady-looking characters.
"Places like these are excellent areas for crime to run rampant," Ignis replied in an even tone. "I doubt the authorities come down here, so there's really no one to stop those who commit the crimes."
"Why would people choose to live in a place like this?" Ben wondered.
"Some don't have a choice." Ignis informed him patiently. "And those who know they will be down here indefinitely do their best to make the most of it. That translates into different things depending on the person."
Ben eyed a mother and child sitting outside a home; one that looked even more run-down than the one they'd slept in had been. The mother was thin as a rail, and while her child wasn't faring much better, he did seem to have more meat on his bones. Ben knew which of the two ate more often, and it hurt him to see their suffering.
The way people lived down here, right under the feet of everyone above, was hard for Ben to swallow. Ignis, sensing that Ben was having such a hard time, sighed softly.
"I know it's hard to see things like this, but it's also a reality that we can't really change. The city of Coruscant has been continuously built one level atop another, with the upper levels uncaring if those below get less and less sunlight." Ignis snorted. "It's ironic really: Coruscant is the seat of government in the New Republic, yet it sits upon the highest levels of poverty in the inner regions of this galaxy."
Ben thought of the beautiful, lavish buildings he was used to seeing, and suddenly he felt guilty for living in them.
Ignis glanced to Ben. "Are you alright?"
"Why should I live in what could be considered the lap of luxury," Ben whispered, "when these people live... like this?"
Ignis looked down. "Do not judge yourself for things beyond your control. The best you can do is to know that these people live down here, and do not waste or begrudge what you have up there."
Ben nodded sullenly. "Okay. It's still sad to see all of this."
"I know. But believe me when I tell you there are far worse places to live than here." Ignis informed the child. "If you ever end up on Nal Hutta or— Force forbid— Nar Shaddaa, you will rethink what poverty is."
Ben shivered. "Those sound like rotten places."
"They absolutely are," Ignis replied.
Ben fell quiet then, focusing instead on walking. It was painful going, and Ben's leg was getting both heavy and tired, making it difficult to keep walking.
"Hey Ignis?"
"Yes?"
"Do you think Mom knows we are alive?"
Ignis thought that one over. "I honestly don't know; I'm sorry Ben."
Ben bit his lip. "What about Emry? Dad and Aunt Leia are twins, and they can always feel that the other is alive. They can even sense each other's stress and such when they allow it to be broadcasted in the Force."
Ignis pursed his lips. "Well, if they have such a connection, I'm pretty sure you and Emry would too."
"Can we try it?" Ben asked.
"Not in the open." Ignis cautioned. "Let's wait until we stop for the night, alright?"
"Okay," Ben murmured.
At one point Ben spied a group of kids his age playing some sort of game. When they saw Ben and Ignis, however, they ran away, racing to their homes and peeking out the windows.
"Do they also think we've tussled with the gangs?" Ben inquired uneasily.
"Probably." Ignis looked about them, alert for any danger. "I'm sure the gangs in question are a big deal down here."
Ben trembled. "What if we actually do run in to them? I can barely walk, and you're injured!"
Ignis tightened his grip on Ben's shoulders. "I promised I would protect you, Ben, and I meant it."
Ben nodded shakily. "But you are still one person against... however many there will be."
Ignis stopped and knelt before Ben. The boy's eyes were wide in a tell-tale manner, and Ignis could feel the fear radiating from Ben like heat from a campfire.
"Ben, listen to me," Ignis murmured. "You have already been so brave. You survived the landing of our fall... learning that in a single attempt. Do you understand how amazing that is?"
Ben shook his head, and Ignis gave him a pointed look. "Very few people could have done what you did. Not only that, buy you also took care of me at your own expense." Ignis indicated Ben's bare torso. "I felt you shivering last night."
Ben wrapped his arms about himself. "It's much colder down here."
"That it is," Ignis agreed. "But regardless, my point is that you have toughed it out thus far. Don't quit now, okay? Keep your chin up. If something happens, we will handle it then. But do not waste energy on what might happen." Ignis smiled conspiratorially. "Besides, if Mara even thinks you are alive, she will be looking for you."
Ben finally did perk up, if only a little. "Yeah. Mom won't stop until she knows what happened to me."
"Well then, there you go." Ignis stood again and they resumed their walk.
Ben and Ignis walked for a solid hour in silence before their surroundings shifted. When they got to a cantina at the edge of the neighborhood, Ignis had a thought and he led Ben toward the entrance. A trio of Rodians sat outside and looked to the two boys warily as they approached.
"Do you know where the nearest surface-access shaft is?" Ignis inquired.
One man pointed. "You need to go up two levels to get to that. Ain't one down here. Why do you wanna know?"
"That is our business," Ignis said firmly, turning away with Ben. "Thank you."
Ignis felt their eyes on them until a female Rodian walked by the group, shifting their attention elsewhere. Ignis felt Ben trembling, and he knew the boy needed to take a break. Ignis spied two barrels and led Ben over to sit on one.
Ben gratefully did so, looking around them. "How do we go up from here to that tunnel?"
"Well, there should be open spaces in which we can spy walkways above," Ignis said, looking up to survey what was there.
Ben followed Ignis' gaze. "How will we get up there if we find the walkway areas? Even you can't jump that high."
Ignis snorted, amused. "No, I can't. But we will just have to get creative."
Ben hummed. "Well, I know I'm tired, but the sooner we find our way out of here, the better. Let's keep going."
Ignis smiled at his charge, and they took up their walk once more. It wasn't until they had walked for a few more hours that their luck changed. They came to a hover sled that contained junk of all sorts, driven by a droid, but apparently managed by a Twilek.
Ignis hid with Ben near the sled, and listened to the Twilek.
"Remember, this stuff goes to Racha's place on the next level up. Don't screw it up this time, or I will find a replacement for you."
The droid tootled and wheeled away to the driver's slot. Ignis looked to Ben and leaned close to whisper.
"Let's hop a ride on the sled."
Ben bit his lip. "What if we get caught?"
Ignis peered around and did not see the Twilek. "We're going to have to risk it. Just keep low while you move for the sled; that way it's harder for you to be spotted."
Ben seemed unsure, but nor did he argue. "Alright."
Ignis heard the sled's repulsors fire up, and he motioned to Ben. The two boys rose and moved as quickly as they could for the sled. Ben stayed hunched as much as he could manage, but with his injured ankle, the boy couldn't walk well in that manner. He ended up tripping and falling, which knocked over a stack of crates... which in turn tumbled a pile of parts.
"Who's out there?" the Twilek shouted as he came running.
"I'm sorry!" Ben hissed, his face red.
Ignis grimaced, picked Ben up in his arms and raced for the sled, which was already a few feet off the ground. He leapt with the Force and landed on the sled just as the Twilek appeared. Ignis knelt to be below the top level of the junk, and listened to see if they'd been seen.
"Blasted droid," the Twilek shouted. "Can't you even fly straight? You knocked over my stuff!"
The droid whistled something back, but the Twilek only cursed and let the thing go.
Ignis relaxed and set Ben down. Ben was still embarrassed, and he wouldn't look up, instead staring at his hands.
"Hey, it's alright." Ignis spoke softly so the droid wouldn't know they were there.
"I messed it up! We could have been caught!" Ben griped.
"Ben, your ankle is injured." Ignis reminded him. "It was my fault for forgetting that."
Ben made to speak but the sled stopped gaining altitude and began to run in a straight line. Ignis peeked over the junk and saw that they were heading for a large chop-shop.
"Time to get off." Ignis told Ben, offering him a hand up.
Ben took the limb and tried to walk. Ignis helped him to the edge of the sled and looked below. It was a short hop to the ground, and Ignis turned to Ben.
"Want help getting off?" Ignis asked, trying to preserve some of Ben's pride.
"I can do it, thanks," Ben replied, his eyes narrowing in concentration.
Before Ignis could stop him, he leapt from the sled. Ignis followed, landing nimbly and rising to his feet. Ben's face was a paler hue when Ignis got to him, but the boy did not complain. He did allow Ignis to continue helping him to walk, however.
Ignis said nothing about Ben's apparent discomfort, instead focusing on where they needed to go next. Since it was impossible to tell what time of day it was through only the light, Ignis did not know how long it was until they were able to stop again. They ended up camping out in the back end of an alley, because they could find nowhere else to go.
Ben was clearly afraid, and he hunkered down as close to Ignis as he could get. Only then did he remember his request from earlier.
"Can I try to contact Emry now?" Ben asked Ignis.
"Sure," Ignis murmured.
Ben nodded and closed his eyes. Ignis felt Ben reach for the Force and then send out a tendril. Ignis, curious to see what would happen, also touched the Force so he could watch. Ben struggled to do what he needed to and finally turned to Ignis.
"Please help me; I can't do it alone. I don't have enough experience."
"What, exactly, are you trying to do?" Ignis clarified.
"I want to try and talk with her like Dad can sometimes do with Aunt Leia."
Ignis nodded. "I'll give you a boost then. All you need to do is find Emry and direct your thoughts to her, and her alone."
Ben indicated his understanding and returned to his task, this time with Ignis guiding and supporting his actions. As Ben sent his presence out along a specific conduit, Ignis saw that the end point was Emry's presence. Ignis blinked in surprise when Emry's spirit lit up like a tree on Fete day. First the two boys felt her astonishment at Ben's touch, and then utter excitement. Clearly the girl had thought that Ben was dead.
Ignis looked away once the twins began to communicate, offering the pair a moment of privacy. But as he made to settle down, Ignis suddenly realized that, while Ben's spirit had made a beeline for Emry, Ignis' spirit veered in a different direction... all on its own.
When he saw who reacted to it, Ignis' mind went blank in utter shock. The other person shared his alarm before Ignis' instincts fired to life.
He slammed his shields up to full, but his heart was now racing at a rate that he was certain was unhealthy. Ben, finished with his connection to Emry, looked to Ignis in concern.
"Are you alright?" Ben inquired.
Ignis could only nod, barely managing to keep his face neutral. Thankfully, Ben was too tired to notice, and it wasn't long before the red-haired boy succumbed to exhaustion.
Ignis sat stock still, his mind now on fire with what had just happened, and wondering how in space it could be.
00000
Mara finally located the level that Ben and Ignis had landed on, though it was only because she saw a speeder pull away with a familiar shape within.
Mara's anger simmered as the Mandalorian got away, but her focus was now on her son. But if that Mandalorian had killed Ben... nothing in the galaxy would stop Mara from finding the idiot who had dared attack her little ones.
Mara was now on the ground, her speeder secured in more than one way from anyone that might attempt to take it away. She spied a mess of broken crates, and also some disheveled garbage receptacles. Mara studied the dirty ground and found footprints that appeared to be three normal and one that dragged.
Mara deduced that one of the boys had a leg or foot injury. And as she looked closer, Mara noted that it was the smaller set that was dragging. That meant that Ben was injured. Mara started to follow the tracks, uncertain how long they would last.
Before she made it three steps, however, the Force shifted, and in the same moment her comlink went off.
Mara swiped it from her belt, and turned it on in one smooth motion.
"Skywalker."
"MOM!" Emry all but yelled, and Mara winced, moving the device a little father from her ear.
"Emry? What's..."
"Ben is alive Mom! He's alive! I felt him just now!" Emry cried, her excitement palpable, even over the comlink. "Shmi you felt it too! Tell her, tell Mom that..." Emry's voice shifted. "Shmi, are you okay?"
"I think I'm going to be sick," Mara heard Shmi mutter.
Mara, while her heart soared at the news on Ben, pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to focus. "Sweetie, please tell me about Ben."
"Sorry Mom." Emry apologized. "Ben just touched my mind in the Force. He couldn't send pictures or anything, but he clearly told me he's alive and with Ignis. But he doesn't know where they are."
Mara thanked the Force, her heart lightening to know Ben had survived his fall. "That is great news, Sweetie. Thank you for telling me."
"Mom, I think Shmi is sick," Emry said. "She just ran into the refresher and locked the door."
Mara blew out a breath. "I'm sorry Emry, but I can't focus on that right now. Aunt Leia can help her."
"Okay, I love you Mom," Emry said.
"I love you too," Mara said before she shut down the comlink.
Mara closed her eyes and once more thanked the Force, before she took several calming, centering breaths. She now knew for certain that Ben and Ignis were alive. Now she just had to find them. If Ben was indeed with Ignis, and the teen had the training she knew he did, then Ignis would know that the two could not just stay in the open. They especially could not do so in the underlevels of Coruscant.
The sounds of raised voices reached Mara, and she cautiously made her way over to a dumpster. She stayed low and listened to the people nearby.
"Blasted kids ruined our warehouse!" one man griped.
"They not only damaged the ships we were trying to repair," said another, "but they blew up our office!"
"Do we know who they were?" the third and final member asked.
"Not yet, but as soon as we find 'em, they're dead! I want out of this place!" said the second. "We do have a description on them, though. There was one older boy with black hair and a younger boy with red hair."
Mara's breath caught.
"What if the Slickers sent them to trash our stash?"
"Blasted fools, don't they know better than that?" the first growled. "How many times do we have to put the Slickers in their place?"
"There is no proof it was the Slickers, Ray." The third— a woman, Mara could now discern— pointed out. "Every other time they've hit us, they've left their gang's sign behind."
"She's right," the second man agreed.
"Well, fine, but the kids are gonna pay... and dearly," Ray said dangerously.
Not if I get to them first. Mara promised.
She snuck by the group with ease, following the nudge in the Force to move in that direction. She did catch whiffs of her son's presence in the Force, but they were overcrowded with the senses of others who had also passed this way.
Still, Mara had a general direction, and she knew how to track. Mara steeled her resolve and walked on, all senses on high alert for any sign of the boys.
00000
Luke walked in the front door of his home, Mara's name on the tip of his tongue. But it never left his mouth, since he was greeted with a darkened space and zero shouts of welcome from his children. Not even Ignis appeared to be there.
Frowning, Luke opened himself to the Force, and to his surprise, found his daughters and youngest son nearby. Setting his bag down, Luke left the house and made his way to Han and Leia's.
When he knocked, he could hear the sounds of kids on the other side. Leia opened the door and greeted him with a tired smile.
"Luke, welcome home."
Luke gave her a swift embrace, but his eyes were searching for his children. "What's going on?"
"Daddy!" Emry cried, appearing from the hallway and racing for him. "Daddy, Daddy!"
Luke knelt to receive her, and Emry threw her arms around him, her small frame shaking heavily. Deeply concerned, Luke pulled away, touching her forehead.
"Sweetie, what's wrong?"
Emry made to speak, but her asthma chose that moment to make an appearance. She paled, her mouth opening and closing in a tell-tale manner. Emry patted her pockets, searching for her inhaler. She found it, but the poor girl's hands were trembling so heavily that she couldn't dish it from the pocket.
Luke, unable to take it any longer, did the job for his daughter, helping her to take her medicine. Emry breathed as deeply as she could of the meds, and the two waited in anticipation until she was finally able to take in a full breath. Once she was breathing properly again, Luke was stressed to find that she was still quivering.
"Ben is alive, Dad!" Emry began to cry, and it was obvious to him that his daughter was overwhelmed. "Oh, he's alive!"
Luke's breath caught, and he took Emry by the shoulders. "Sweetie, why wouldn't Ben be alive?"
Leia placed a hand on his shoulder. "Luke, while you were away, the kids were attacked."
Luke stood up sharply. "By whom?"
"I don't know yet, but..." Leia began, only to be cut off by Emry.
"The Mandalorians threw Ben out of the speeder, Dad!" Emry's trembling increased. "Shmi and I thought he was d-dead! But then I felt him again! Dad, I felt Ben again!"
Luke closed his eyes and took a centering breath. "Okay. Where is everyone else?"
"Mom is out looking for Ben and Ignis," Emry said, her small frame still quivering. "Kodai is over there," she pointed to the baby on a play mat, "and Shmi is in the refresher. I think she might be sick."
Luke knelt before Emry once more, sensing that her trembling was due to more than one cause. "Emry, why don't you sit on the couch?"
Emry nodded and obeyed. "Dad, I don't know how to calm my body. So much has happened, and I... I don't know how I feel."
Luke touched her in the Force, sending her soothing vibes. To his relief she did stop trembling, and her eyes drooped.
"Rest, Emry. You are safe, and once things settle down, we can talk more." Luke promised. "The best thing you can do right now is rest."
Emry didn't fight him, and Luke held her hand until she fell asleep. He then kissed her forehead and stood, turning to Kodai, who was trying his best to crawl to Luke. Luke picked him up and held him while turning to see that Anya was standing in the hallway entrance.
"Master Skywalker," Anya greeted him.
"Anya." Luke addressed in return. "Were you there when the kids were attacked?"
"I was with Mara and Kodai. She asked me to stay with him while she helped the others." She glanced toward the refresher. "I don't know what's wrong with Shmi, though. She looked like she wanted to vomit, but I haven't heard a single sound since she locked the door. And she won't answer me when I call to her."
Luke's concern mounted, and he was torn between locating Ben and Mara, and helping Shmi. But the logical part of him recalled that Ben was alive, and Mara was looking for him. That comforted Luke enough to help him choose.
Luke put Kodai back with his toys and went to the refresher, where he knocked on the door.
"Shmi?"
There was no answer, and Luke tested the door, finding it indeed to be locked. Luke called again and still received no reply. Luke risked opening the door with the Force, and when he poked his head inside, it was to find Shmi curled against the wall. Her eyes were wide and blank, and she was rocking slightly.
Luke touched her gently in the Force and Shmi jumped, her gaze leaping to find Luke. Then she looked away just as quickly, much to Luke's confusion.
Luke shut the door and knelt before his eldest daughter. "Shmi?"
"Dad..." Her voice was rough, her sense in the Force disheveled. She grabbed his hand suddenly, taking Luke by surprise. "Please tell me, straight out, that Ignis and I are absolutely not related."
Luke blinked, unable to formulate a coherent sentence for a long, drawn out minute. When he found his voice, it was hesitant.
"Shmi... you were born alone, and I haven't had any other children than what I've had with Mara."
"Then why did Ignis and I just connect as if we were twins?" Shmi croaked. "I know what I felt, Dad, and I know Ignis felt it. It broadsided the both of is completely... but it was real!"
Luke had to sit down. "Shmi, what are you talking about?"
"Ben contacted Emry in the Force, and I think Ignis was helping him." Shmi explained. "I felt Ben's presence, but it went straight for Emry, and I felt Ignis back off. But then, suddenly, his spirit came at me— on its own— and mine reacted instantly. It was as if I'd known him all along."
Shmi looked to her hands, which were trembling. "It terrified me, Dad. It shook me to my core."
Luke had no answer for his daughter, and indeed, this news only deepened Luke's ever-growing confusion in regards to Ignis. Yes, Luke had said he would not fight his growing relationship with Ignis, but that did not mean he understood what was going on between Ignis, Shmi and himself. And that ignorance, combined with all these occurrences, was truly bothering Luke. It wasn't Ignis' fault, and Luke was not angry at the young man, but the Jedi Master truly wanted to know what was happening.
"What is going on, Dad?" Shmi whispered. "I... I can't shake the gut feeling that I know Ignis far more than I realize I do. And... I am growing to love him as deeply as if he was my brother. I can't help it. And... I realized the other day that I feel secure when Ignis holds me."
Luke shook his head, unable to give her an answer to her questions. "I don't know, Sweetheart. But it's something I plan to figure out. Somehow."
Shmi nodded. "Me too." She took a centering breath and stood. "Dad, you need to go help Mom. She's all alone down there and trying to find Ben and Ignis."
"Down where?" Luke asked, standing.
Shmi frowned. "You don't know?"
Luke was beginning to get a headache from the spotty information, and he sighed. "I guess I don't have the full story."
Shmi thinned her lips and proceeded to tell Luke everything.
Well, Luke thought, that explains the marks on Shmi's face and neck.
Luke's heart also felt fear for his oldest son. Ben was in the underlevels?
"I need you to help with your siblings," Luke asked Shmi as they exited the refresher.
"Master Skywalker," Anya said as she heard. "Please, I offered this to Mara, but she declined. Take Bo. He can track a lot faster than we can."
Luke opened his mouth to object but Anya held up a hand. "Please. Bo is an excellent tracker, and he can follow scents that are nearly gone. If you get him to ground, and then give him the scent, he will find Ben."
Luke sensed the Force shift with a new urgency, and he nodded. "Alright. Let's go get him, but you are not coming to the underlevels."
Anya shuddered. "I wouldn't dream of it. I've heard the horror stories. You will need something Ben has worn for Bo to smell."
"Alright." Luke detoured home to get one of Ben's shirts from the laundry basket. But upon heading for the lift, it occurred to him that he had no transportation now that Wedge was gone, and Mara already had their vehicle. Luke ran back to Leia's and got permission to borrow hers.
Luke and Anya went to the Jedi Temple to fetch Bo, and Luke turned to Anya. "Change of plans, if you don't mind. Drop me off and then come back to Leia's."
Anya nodded. "Okay."
As he flew, Luke stretched out in the Force and touched Mara in their bond. He felt her surprise, but then she opened fully to him, allowing Luke to get her location. He grimaced when he realized how far down she was.
Once he'd landed, Luke exited. Anya did so also, motioning to Bo, who seemed to understand what was going on. The anooba was utterly focused on Anya, and Luke was admittedly impressed.
"Alright, Bo," Anya said, kneeling before the anooba. "You need to find Ben. Find Ben and you will also find Ignis."
Bo whuffed and Anya indicated the shirt that Luke held. "Ben."
Bo sniffed intently at the shirt, and then he settled, looking to Anya once more.
"Luke will be taking over from here." Anya told the anooba. "You do what he says."
Bo looked to Luke, and then moved to sit beside him, his focus on the Jedi Master now.
Anya stood. "When you are ready, tell him to seek. When you want Bo to stop, call out heel."
"I understand," Luke said, gesturing to the speeder. He really didn't want her down here.
"Oh, and try to keep up." Anya smirked playfully. "Especially once he really gets going."
With that she left, and Luke made certain the young woman had no trouble setting off before he looked to Bo, who waited patiently.
Luke still held the shirt, and he had a fix on Mara, so he motioned, breaking into a jog. "Let's go."
Bo kept pace with Luke easily, though Luke took a few breathers to conserve his energy. Thus it was that it took Luke and the anooba quite a while to finally catch up with Mara. When they did, it was to find her talking with a mother and child.
"You don't know anything more than that?" Mara asked kindly of the mother.
"Only that they are both injured." The woman gestured. "They went that way, that's all I know."
Mara thinned her lips, but nodded politely. "Thanks."
She turned and spied Luke coming up behind her. Mara walked right into his arms, uncaring who saw them.
"Luke," Mara murmured, clinging to him needfully for a brief time. "I'm glad you are here."
"Shmi told me what happened," Luke said as Mara broke away. "Have you found any sign of them?"
"Nothing physical yet," Mara answered, already walking. "But we need to find them before one of the gangs down here does."
Luke flinched. "Why are they in their crosshairs?"
"Apparently Ben and Ignis supposedly wrecked their property... meaning that warehouse back where we both started."
Luke looked about them. "Those guys have the advantage of home turf."
"Yes, but I have the advantage of understanding how Ignis would think in a situation like this." Mara countered. "Ignis would work his way back toward the surface with Ben, and he would do so cautiously."
Mara only then noticed Bo, who had been silent the entire time. "Why is he here?"
"Anya offered his help," Luke answered. "And if the boys really are in the kind of trouble we think they're in, we could use the anooba's help."
Mara sighed, admitting defeat. "You're right."
Luke looked to Bo again and offered the shirt once more. "Seek."
Bo sniffed at the shirt briefly once more and then began to search the area with his nose. To Luke's surprise, Bo found something within moments and began to move off in the direction Mara had been aimed at by the mother.
Luke and Mara shared a look and followed the anooba, though both were using their own tracking skills as they did so.