Title: Hidden Shadows Seeking Light
Rating: I wish I knew. I am putting it at PG-13 just because I don't know any better and would rather err on the safe side.
Genre: Drama/Mild Angst
Feedback: I would love to get feedback on this story. I would appreciate it if everyone would put down their flame throwers though because this is only my second time out and I know I made mistakes on the first story and have no doubt I will make many on this one. I need constructive criticism so that I will get better not mean comments that will only serve to make me cry. I thank each and every one of the readers who take the time to review this story. I love fan fiction and hope to write stories that can entertain others as much as their stories have entertained me.
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters in this story. They are, were and will always belong to Mr. George Lucas creator of an amazing universe. Not only does this story contain elements of the universe that Mr. Lucas created but also the Alternate Universe (AU) found in a wonderful story called An Untimely Frost by CYNICAL21.
Just to a little guide as to what things mean:
/-/ Bond thought //-// Private thought "-" Speaking aloud
************************************************************
Mirilent, Bant and Garin had just reached the lifts when the explosion rocked up through the structure. They had all felt the subtle tremor beneath their feet that caused each to look to one another with confusion and alarm. To have felt the impact of a blast so far from the surface was indicative of its magnitude. Absorbing the reality of the situation they knew now that they were out of time and wasted none of it in order to reach the Knight.
"Do you think that they will be safe?" Bant asked as they all hesitated before entering the small car.
"We'll soon see." Garin replied entering the level they desired hoping silently that the lift would indeed still reach it in spite of the damage. The car immediately began its rapid dissent. He felt certain that the women in the car were holding their breath concentrating not on the precariousness of their own situation but instead on the ones that were no doubt fighting to survive beneath them.
"I'm sure that they were out of the blast path." Bant spoke to no one in particular.
"I wish I held your optimism." Mira said her voice tight with concern. She was already assessing the medical supplies that she had stowed in her pack deciding which to administer and reaching out to the Force to center herself so that she would be able to set her emotions aside and serve the fallen Jedi.
The doors opened and a wave of black smoke engulfed the small car. All three fell immediately to the floor and quickly exited reaching for the respirators as they did so. Staying in close contact they began making their way down the corridor. As they drew closer they found that the smoke began to diminish. Mira held her breath unsure if this was a good or bad sign. Obviously the blast hac been of such a magnitude that it managed to extinguish the flames before their surroundings would ignite fully. This would decrease the chance of burns but the violence of such a blast would reek much more severe damage physical injury to those in close proximity.
After two turns down blast scarred corridors, the three were able to once again proceed on foot. They continued to use the respirators just to protect themselves from any possible toxic fumes released into the air. As they drew closer to the area where they had left their friends Bant and Garin drew increasingly anxious. The blast had scarred and leveled portions of the structure. The continued evident devastating violence of the impact slowly eroded the hope they had each secretly clung to.
"How much further?" Mira asked. Reaching out Garin recognized Siri's presence a short distance ahead of them. Using it as his beacon, he led the other two towards what was left of the dark lord's chamber. He released the overwhelming despair he felt creeping up his spine as he realized that the presence he had sensed with Siri had been that of Qui- Gon. He had not felt Obi-Wan. He forced himself not to reach further. He wasn't sure how he would react if such a probe came up lacking.
The sound of the Master and Knight desperately moving rubble sobered the party further.
"Where is he?" Bant cried racing past Garin and into the pile that must have been the center of the blast.
"He's in here somewhere. He and Master Galia!" Siri cried. It was obvious that she was struggling to remain calm as Garin noted that her hands were shaking as she manipulated the Force to remove a large piece of rubble. He threw a glance in Qui-Gon's direction and found the man oblivious to their arrival, so intent was his focus on locating the lost Knight and Master. Something about his determination struck the Knight as more heart wrenching than his friend's obvious desperation.
Diving into the task, the three set about reaching out with the Force. Seeking out any sign that their friends had survived the blast, they each tried to find a way to pinpoint the victims' locations to better narrow their search field.
Mira made a point to move in the direction of Qui-Gon. She was fully aware that if anyone, standing in the ruins of what was left of this room, had a chance in the universe of locating the Knight it was this man. She had often chastised his indifferent treatment of the Knight over the years but knowing now that the man had willingly faced down a sith in order to protect the young man, Mira found herself reassessing her earlier assumptions. He loved Obi-Wan. It was a love that was as real as the moons of Karmina but sometimes as hard to see. There were nights when they shone as bright as suns causing the planet's surface to glow as the sands of Tatooine, then there were nights when even using the strongest telescope they was only evident by a soft shimmer against the ebony heavens. This Master's love for his ex-padawan was like these moons. Even on those dark nights the moons were not any less real than on the other nights, merely harder for the unfamiliar eye to discern.
"I can't feel him." Qui-Gon muttered softly the sob caught in his throat. Mira immediately pulled herself together mustering the strength for both of them.
"He is here. We will find him. He WILL survive this. I'll have it no other way." She declared moving up along side the Master and joining her Force touch with his. She felt the whisper embrace of gratitude from the Master at her side before descending into her center and preparing to join in what could be a lengthy search.
*******************************
Pratell walked about the small garden within the Healer's Wing in silence as she stopped from time to time to consider the various types of flora and fauna surrounding here. She particularly enjoyed the natural bright light now shining in through a huge skylight from up above. Having spent the last several years of her life shrouded in darkness, she found herself basking in the joys of being in the light once more.
"It feels warm doesn't it?" She was startled by the young voice at her side. Looking down she met Anakin's gaze then nodded.
"It reminds me of the light of my home word. I'm from Tatooine." He explained. Pratell searched her memory. She had heard of that planet. She had been required to study the topography, population and other planetary statistics as part of her sith training.
"Land of two suns." She stated remembering. Anakin raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"How'd you know that?" He was delighted but curious.
"I studied your home once." She said absently turning her attention back to the skylight as she turned her face up into the beams.
"It's not my home any longer." He announced sounding slightly sad and defensive. Pratell paused and considered the young boy for a moment.
"Your heart is still there." She surmised. Anakin didn't respond. "If your heart is there then it is your home."
"My mother is there." He announced looking down and then up.
"I've been on this planet for years now." She paused the weariness in her voice causing he boy to furrow his brow in confusion. "But never has this been my home. My heart still lives on the planet of my birth in the home of my family." She whispered feeling the emotions she had long suppressed welling up within her once more.
"My Mother is coming here." Anakin announced his joy shining brighter than the Coruscant sun. Pratell couldn't help but smile at the boy. She was reminded of something she had long forgotten. There was something disarming about the exuberant elation of youth.
"I'm glad for your sake. Has it been long since you have seen her?" She asked politely falling back onto manners schooled at her mother's knee.
"Over a year." He muttered.
"That is a long time." She said softly.
"How long since you have seen your family?" He asked absently plucking at a bloom on a nearby bush. Pratell felt anguish grip her heart as she began assessing the answer to Anakin's innocent question. Sensing the Twi'leks rising sorrow Anakin quickly moved on to another area.
"So are you glad you are here among the Jedi now?" He asked studying her closely for a reaction. The young female reached out carefully brushing gently against the boy's shields attempting to gauge his intentions. It was then that she realized that his shields had been damaged. She recognized the faint taint of her master intermingled with the boy's signature and cringed wondering what had occurred to cause such devastation to the boy's defenses. Feeling her gentle touch Anakin blushed and pulled back feeling exposed and ashamed. Sensing this suddenly reaction Pratell spoke reaching out touching the boy gently on the arm.
"He is a very cruel being. I am sorry for the pain he inflicted upon you. He has treated each of his students with the same cruel intent I sense he used on you. You mustn't forget his treachery but you must release your shame. Holding to the shame leads you down his path." She paused waiting for Anakin to find the confidence to meet her gaze. Once his bright blue eyes locked with her own she continued. "Trust me in this young Anakin. I know this from personal experience.' He nodded solemnly the gravity of her words taking root in his heart resting along side those that Yoda had instilled in him earlier.
"Turned from that path you have?" Yoda's voice startled both Pratell and Anakin. Pratell took a calming breath before leveling her gaze on the small green Master.
"Turned?" She asked. "I don't feel turned I feel saved. I feel released from the prison I have been forced to occupy now for years." She declared fiercely.
"Make our own prisons we do." Yoda replied. Pratell considered his words. There was truth there but it was a half truth in her circumstances. She had never willingly walked into the dark side. She had been deceived. She had tried to escape even to the point to attempting to take her own life. She could have persisted in her attempts for she knew with enough determination she would have eventually succeeded. The truth was that she had never been able to completely abandon the hope that one day she would find another escape. Hope is a hard thing to cling to and yet it is also a hard entity to completely purge yourself of. Though barely perceivable she had always known that it was there buried deep within her, residing with the distant memories of her family and home world.
"So what is to become of me now Jedi?" She asked bravely.
"Much you have to learn and much you have to teach." The Master confessed glancing thoughtfully in the direction of Anakin.
"And your Council they will allow me to teach?" She laughed at the ridiculous nature of his suggestion.
"Know not what the council will or will not allow you to do. Much examination and observation you must endure. If found worthy then help our Order to better understand the sith you will." He replied calmly. She felt buoyed by his tranquil response. She had had no contact with a master who used anything but cruelty or ridicule in dealing with students. She had assumed that the Jedi would employ the same methods. She was beginning to realize that all her presumptions of the Jedi had been incorrect and skewed by her anger over the order's rejection.
"Have you seen the interior stream?" Anakin asked innocently. He felt the need to reach out to this woman now. He somehow felt that she had extended to him a hand in friendship. She was new to the Temple and had been touched by the darkness as well. They seemed to have so many things in common. It seemed natural that he should be the one to make her feel welcome. Pratell smiled and silently asked the Master watching her if it would be acceptable for her to go with the boy. Yoda gave a nod of approval then watched as the two made their way down the narrow path.
*******************************
Thankfully the heat had dissipated. Obi-Wan realized that the Force had worked as furiously as he had to protect Adi and himself from the consequences of the blast. He knew now that they were cradled within an air pocket located beneath the layers of surface debris. He used the Force to assess both of their injuries. Adi had a badly damaged shoulder, energy burns randomly disbursed across her flesh, and a fair amount of neural tissue damage.
Obi-Wan released his anger into the Force choosing to use his energy to work to sustain his love until help could arrive. His mind lingered over doubts concerning Siri and Qui-Gon. He hoped that they had managed to find some sort of shelter. The thought that they were lost threatened to send him over the edge of despair, so instead he forced himself to remain convinced that they had indeed survived and were in the process of searching for he and Adi at that very moment.
He had contemplated releasing he and Adi from the Force bubble but then felt it was too risky. He wasn't sure how much of their protection the bubble was perpetuating, so he chose to hold it in place for as long as his strength allowed. His injuries were minor for once. He knew that his back was slightly burned as he had sheltered Adi beneath him taking the heat of the blast which had penetrated the bubble only slightly. He could feel the sting even now but was able to keep it at bay. He had a sprained ankle but luckily it was not broken. He guessed that it had occurred during his leap which had prevented Adi from impacting the floor. His head ached where he had impacted the far wall curling around the Master. He felt a twisting of his stomach that was oddly familiar and knew that the blow had resulted in at the very least a mild concussion.
Adi's life force was becoming fainter by the moment. He tightened his grip on her body somehow giving in to some childhood believe that she could not slip away as long as he held her. He tightened his grip further and whispered soothing nonsense into the soft dark hair he found pressed to his lips. He gently touched the young Master's mind and found her shield's decimated. Swallowing the overwhelming feeling that he was somehow trespassing he lowered his Force sense into her body moving to heal what he could. He felt her body immediately response clinging to his presence with a fierce desperation.
He worked to ease her fears and take the searing pain racing through her body into his own. He winced as he felt it wash over and into his nerves. He feared for a moment that he had overtaxed himself but then once again his new connection flared and embraced the pain, accepting and dissipating it throughout his body so he would be better able to endure it.
Using this same new ability he watched himself in his mind's eye gathering the healing energy of the Force into a bright ball of light. He formed and molded it before easing it into the young Master at his side. He watched as the light began unraveling moving out with a purpose. He felt comforted further when he sensed the young Master's life force buoyed by the energy.
He knew it was a stop gap measure but it was all he had to offer the woman he held in his arms.
"Adi." He whispered. "Don't leave me." His voice was full of emotion as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "Stay here with me." He felt the sting of unshed tears. He worked to maintain his composure but one look at; the beautiful face beneath him and he lost the battle as the tears one by one poured over his eyelids and traced a path down his dirt smudged cheeks.
"Tell you what?" He smiled swallowing hard. "We'll make a bet okay?" He paused as though waiting for her to respond. After a moment of silence he continued. "Good okay here's the bet. The person who is able to get out of the bacta tank in less than a week wins." He smiled through his tears. He could just hear her giving him grief over the fact that her injuries were more serious and the injustice of the terms. Shaking his head he refused to give in to the building sense of grief he felt welling within his heart. "Nope that's the deal take it or leave it." He smiled. "Good. The wager? Is that what you want to know now? What is the wager?" He paused pulling her close once more whispering the answer into her soft dark hair. "A kiss my love." He sighed thinking about the playful lilt he loved in her voice. " A simply miraculous kiss."
************************************************************************
Until next week. Hope you guys liked it. Jesse
Rating: I wish I knew. I am putting it at PG-13 just because I don't know any better and would rather err on the safe side.
Genre: Drama/Mild Angst
Feedback: I would love to get feedback on this story. I would appreciate it if everyone would put down their flame throwers though because this is only my second time out and I know I made mistakes on the first story and have no doubt I will make many on this one. I need constructive criticism so that I will get better not mean comments that will only serve to make me cry. I thank each and every one of the readers who take the time to review this story. I love fan fiction and hope to write stories that can entertain others as much as their stories have entertained me.
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters in this story. They are, were and will always belong to Mr. George Lucas creator of an amazing universe. Not only does this story contain elements of the universe that Mr. Lucas created but also the Alternate Universe (AU) found in a wonderful story called An Untimely Frost by CYNICAL21.
Just to a little guide as to what things mean:
/-/ Bond thought //-// Private thought "-" Speaking aloud
************************************************************
Mirilent, Bant and Garin had just reached the lifts when the explosion rocked up through the structure. They had all felt the subtle tremor beneath their feet that caused each to look to one another with confusion and alarm. To have felt the impact of a blast so far from the surface was indicative of its magnitude. Absorbing the reality of the situation they knew now that they were out of time and wasted none of it in order to reach the Knight.
"Do you think that they will be safe?" Bant asked as they all hesitated before entering the small car.
"We'll soon see." Garin replied entering the level they desired hoping silently that the lift would indeed still reach it in spite of the damage. The car immediately began its rapid dissent. He felt certain that the women in the car were holding their breath concentrating not on the precariousness of their own situation but instead on the ones that were no doubt fighting to survive beneath them.
"I'm sure that they were out of the blast path." Bant spoke to no one in particular.
"I wish I held your optimism." Mira said her voice tight with concern. She was already assessing the medical supplies that she had stowed in her pack deciding which to administer and reaching out to the Force to center herself so that she would be able to set her emotions aside and serve the fallen Jedi.
The doors opened and a wave of black smoke engulfed the small car. All three fell immediately to the floor and quickly exited reaching for the respirators as they did so. Staying in close contact they began making their way down the corridor. As they drew closer they found that the smoke began to diminish. Mira held her breath unsure if this was a good or bad sign. Obviously the blast hac been of such a magnitude that it managed to extinguish the flames before their surroundings would ignite fully. This would decrease the chance of burns but the violence of such a blast would reek much more severe damage physical injury to those in close proximity.
After two turns down blast scarred corridors, the three were able to once again proceed on foot. They continued to use the respirators just to protect themselves from any possible toxic fumes released into the air. As they drew closer to the area where they had left their friends Bant and Garin drew increasingly anxious. The blast had scarred and leveled portions of the structure. The continued evident devastating violence of the impact slowly eroded the hope they had each secretly clung to.
"How much further?" Mira asked. Reaching out Garin recognized Siri's presence a short distance ahead of them. Using it as his beacon, he led the other two towards what was left of the dark lord's chamber. He released the overwhelming despair he felt creeping up his spine as he realized that the presence he had sensed with Siri had been that of Qui- Gon. He had not felt Obi-Wan. He forced himself not to reach further. He wasn't sure how he would react if such a probe came up lacking.
The sound of the Master and Knight desperately moving rubble sobered the party further.
"Where is he?" Bant cried racing past Garin and into the pile that must have been the center of the blast.
"He's in here somewhere. He and Master Galia!" Siri cried. It was obvious that she was struggling to remain calm as Garin noted that her hands were shaking as she manipulated the Force to remove a large piece of rubble. He threw a glance in Qui-Gon's direction and found the man oblivious to their arrival, so intent was his focus on locating the lost Knight and Master. Something about his determination struck the Knight as more heart wrenching than his friend's obvious desperation.
Diving into the task, the three set about reaching out with the Force. Seeking out any sign that their friends had survived the blast, they each tried to find a way to pinpoint the victims' locations to better narrow their search field.
Mira made a point to move in the direction of Qui-Gon. She was fully aware that if anyone, standing in the ruins of what was left of this room, had a chance in the universe of locating the Knight it was this man. She had often chastised his indifferent treatment of the Knight over the years but knowing now that the man had willingly faced down a sith in order to protect the young man, Mira found herself reassessing her earlier assumptions. He loved Obi-Wan. It was a love that was as real as the moons of Karmina but sometimes as hard to see. There were nights when they shone as bright as suns causing the planet's surface to glow as the sands of Tatooine, then there were nights when even using the strongest telescope they was only evident by a soft shimmer against the ebony heavens. This Master's love for his ex-padawan was like these moons. Even on those dark nights the moons were not any less real than on the other nights, merely harder for the unfamiliar eye to discern.
"I can't feel him." Qui-Gon muttered softly the sob caught in his throat. Mira immediately pulled herself together mustering the strength for both of them.
"He is here. We will find him. He WILL survive this. I'll have it no other way." She declared moving up along side the Master and joining her Force touch with his. She felt the whisper embrace of gratitude from the Master at her side before descending into her center and preparing to join in what could be a lengthy search.
*******************************
Pratell walked about the small garden within the Healer's Wing in silence as she stopped from time to time to consider the various types of flora and fauna surrounding here. She particularly enjoyed the natural bright light now shining in through a huge skylight from up above. Having spent the last several years of her life shrouded in darkness, she found herself basking in the joys of being in the light once more.
"It feels warm doesn't it?" She was startled by the young voice at her side. Looking down she met Anakin's gaze then nodded.
"It reminds me of the light of my home word. I'm from Tatooine." He explained. Pratell searched her memory. She had heard of that planet. She had been required to study the topography, population and other planetary statistics as part of her sith training.
"Land of two suns." She stated remembering. Anakin raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"How'd you know that?" He was delighted but curious.
"I studied your home once." She said absently turning her attention back to the skylight as she turned her face up into the beams.
"It's not my home any longer." He announced sounding slightly sad and defensive. Pratell paused and considered the young boy for a moment.
"Your heart is still there." She surmised. Anakin didn't respond. "If your heart is there then it is your home."
"My mother is there." He announced looking down and then up.
"I've been on this planet for years now." She paused the weariness in her voice causing he boy to furrow his brow in confusion. "But never has this been my home. My heart still lives on the planet of my birth in the home of my family." She whispered feeling the emotions she had long suppressed welling up within her once more.
"My Mother is coming here." Anakin announced his joy shining brighter than the Coruscant sun. Pratell couldn't help but smile at the boy. She was reminded of something she had long forgotten. There was something disarming about the exuberant elation of youth.
"I'm glad for your sake. Has it been long since you have seen her?" She asked politely falling back onto manners schooled at her mother's knee.
"Over a year." He muttered.
"That is a long time." She said softly.
"How long since you have seen your family?" He asked absently plucking at a bloom on a nearby bush. Pratell felt anguish grip her heart as she began assessing the answer to Anakin's innocent question. Sensing the Twi'leks rising sorrow Anakin quickly moved on to another area.
"So are you glad you are here among the Jedi now?" He asked studying her closely for a reaction. The young female reached out carefully brushing gently against the boy's shields attempting to gauge his intentions. It was then that she realized that his shields had been damaged. She recognized the faint taint of her master intermingled with the boy's signature and cringed wondering what had occurred to cause such devastation to the boy's defenses. Feeling her gentle touch Anakin blushed and pulled back feeling exposed and ashamed. Sensing this suddenly reaction Pratell spoke reaching out touching the boy gently on the arm.
"He is a very cruel being. I am sorry for the pain he inflicted upon you. He has treated each of his students with the same cruel intent I sense he used on you. You mustn't forget his treachery but you must release your shame. Holding to the shame leads you down his path." She paused waiting for Anakin to find the confidence to meet her gaze. Once his bright blue eyes locked with her own she continued. "Trust me in this young Anakin. I know this from personal experience.' He nodded solemnly the gravity of her words taking root in his heart resting along side those that Yoda had instilled in him earlier.
"Turned from that path you have?" Yoda's voice startled both Pratell and Anakin. Pratell took a calming breath before leveling her gaze on the small green Master.
"Turned?" She asked. "I don't feel turned I feel saved. I feel released from the prison I have been forced to occupy now for years." She declared fiercely.
"Make our own prisons we do." Yoda replied. Pratell considered his words. There was truth there but it was a half truth in her circumstances. She had never willingly walked into the dark side. She had been deceived. She had tried to escape even to the point to attempting to take her own life. She could have persisted in her attempts for she knew with enough determination she would have eventually succeeded. The truth was that she had never been able to completely abandon the hope that one day she would find another escape. Hope is a hard thing to cling to and yet it is also a hard entity to completely purge yourself of. Though barely perceivable she had always known that it was there buried deep within her, residing with the distant memories of her family and home world.
"So what is to become of me now Jedi?" She asked bravely.
"Much you have to learn and much you have to teach." The Master confessed glancing thoughtfully in the direction of Anakin.
"And your Council they will allow me to teach?" She laughed at the ridiculous nature of his suggestion.
"Know not what the council will or will not allow you to do. Much examination and observation you must endure. If found worthy then help our Order to better understand the sith you will." He replied calmly. She felt buoyed by his tranquil response. She had had no contact with a master who used anything but cruelty or ridicule in dealing with students. She had assumed that the Jedi would employ the same methods. She was beginning to realize that all her presumptions of the Jedi had been incorrect and skewed by her anger over the order's rejection.
"Have you seen the interior stream?" Anakin asked innocently. He felt the need to reach out to this woman now. He somehow felt that she had extended to him a hand in friendship. She was new to the Temple and had been touched by the darkness as well. They seemed to have so many things in common. It seemed natural that he should be the one to make her feel welcome. Pratell smiled and silently asked the Master watching her if it would be acceptable for her to go with the boy. Yoda gave a nod of approval then watched as the two made their way down the narrow path.
*******************************
Thankfully the heat had dissipated. Obi-Wan realized that the Force had worked as furiously as he had to protect Adi and himself from the consequences of the blast. He knew now that they were cradled within an air pocket located beneath the layers of surface debris. He used the Force to assess both of their injuries. Adi had a badly damaged shoulder, energy burns randomly disbursed across her flesh, and a fair amount of neural tissue damage.
Obi-Wan released his anger into the Force choosing to use his energy to work to sustain his love until help could arrive. His mind lingered over doubts concerning Siri and Qui-Gon. He hoped that they had managed to find some sort of shelter. The thought that they were lost threatened to send him over the edge of despair, so instead he forced himself to remain convinced that they had indeed survived and were in the process of searching for he and Adi at that very moment.
He had contemplated releasing he and Adi from the Force bubble but then felt it was too risky. He wasn't sure how much of their protection the bubble was perpetuating, so he chose to hold it in place for as long as his strength allowed. His injuries were minor for once. He knew that his back was slightly burned as he had sheltered Adi beneath him taking the heat of the blast which had penetrated the bubble only slightly. He could feel the sting even now but was able to keep it at bay. He had a sprained ankle but luckily it was not broken. He guessed that it had occurred during his leap which had prevented Adi from impacting the floor. His head ached where he had impacted the far wall curling around the Master. He felt a twisting of his stomach that was oddly familiar and knew that the blow had resulted in at the very least a mild concussion.
Adi's life force was becoming fainter by the moment. He tightened his grip on her body somehow giving in to some childhood believe that she could not slip away as long as he held her. He tightened his grip further and whispered soothing nonsense into the soft dark hair he found pressed to his lips. He gently touched the young Master's mind and found her shield's decimated. Swallowing the overwhelming feeling that he was somehow trespassing he lowered his Force sense into her body moving to heal what he could. He felt her body immediately response clinging to his presence with a fierce desperation.
He worked to ease her fears and take the searing pain racing through her body into his own. He winced as he felt it wash over and into his nerves. He feared for a moment that he had overtaxed himself but then once again his new connection flared and embraced the pain, accepting and dissipating it throughout his body so he would be better able to endure it.
Using this same new ability he watched himself in his mind's eye gathering the healing energy of the Force into a bright ball of light. He formed and molded it before easing it into the young Master at his side. He watched as the light began unraveling moving out with a purpose. He felt comforted further when he sensed the young Master's life force buoyed by the energy.
He knew it was a stop gap measure but it was all he had to offer the woman he held in his arms.
"Adi." He whispered. "Don't leave me." His voice was full of emotion as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "Stay here with me." He felt the sting of unshed tears. He worked to maintain his composure but one look at; the beautiful face beneath him and he lost the battle as the tears one by one poured over his eyelids and traced a path down his dirt smudged cheeks.
"Tell you what?" He smiled swallowing hard. "We'll make a bet okay?" He paused as though waiting for her to respond. After a moment of silence he continued. "Good okay here's the bet. The person who is able to get out of the bacta tank in less than a week wins." He smiled through his tears. He could just hear her giving him grief over the fact that her injuries were more serious and the injustice of the terms. Shaking his head he refused to give in to the building sense of grief he felt welling within his heart. "Nope that's the deal take it or leave it." He smiled. "Good. The wager? Is that what you want to know now? What is the wager?" He paused pulling her close once more whispering the answer into her soft dark hair. "A kiss my love." He sighed thinking about the playful lilt he loved in her voice. " A simply miraculous kiss."
************************************************************************
Until next week. Hope you guys liked it. Jesse
