This story is getting pretty long and I still haven't gotten close the climax. I know it seems to be creeping by slowly and that this injury has taking up a great deal of time, but be patient and stick with me. Once I hit anything near the climax the story's pace will quicken, I promise. Truths will be revealed and trust will go down the drain like water after a shower. Who's trust will die? Well, you'll just have to read on to see. And just what is this romance thing? I may have to remove that if that part of the story doesn't mature and have another story about Keilana and love. Anywho, here's another chapter I found time to write and, enjoy.
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This Light at Midnight Glows
Keilana muttered as her eyes snapped open. She was not sure what she had dreamed about, but she was less rested now than she had been before. After several attempts, Keilana managed to get herself upright. She looked around at the white sheets and, by both the lack of sound and the lack of light, Keilana figured it was late at night. She searched with her eyes for the small chrono that had been left by her bed and quickly found it. The little green lights glowed through the night and told Keilana that it was well past midnight. With pursed lips, Keilana looked around once again and then back up at the ceiling. Great. There is even less to do now than there was before I went to sleep. She sighed as she flopped back down.
The bounty hunter laid on her back and stared at the rather bland ceiling for a couple of minutes and was surprised, after he looked at the chrono, that several hours had not passed by. Sighing, Keilana pushed herself back up into the sitting position. With slow movements, Keilana tested her legs and found that they no longer hurt, nor were they hard to move. A great smile spread across her lips and, after giving her surroundings a quick glance, Keilana eased her legs over the side of the bed. Standing slowly, so as not to collapse, she eventually shifted all of her weight off the bed. Her grin turned smug as she removed the IV needle from the back of her hand and took her first step.
The ground was cold beneath her bare feet as she pushed the curtains apart to look into the medical ward. They was no one in sight, not even a medical droid. All of the lights were off and even the bacta tank no longer glowed. With a cautious step, Keilana exited her little room' and moved to find the door. With silent foot falls, Keilana stole across the tiled floor and came quickly to the door. She slipped through and stopped in the hallway.
Across the hall, and through the panoramic windows, the city was bathed in soft moonlight. The buildings were illuminated by the full moon and many appeared almost as clear as they did in the day. Every light in the sector, including those along ground level, was off and not a soul was in sight. Soft wind whistled around the buildings, but that sound was not heard inside the Jedi Temple. Within those walls it was silent. Not even Keilana's soft breathing made a sound in the still air. This was one of the rare instances on a planet such as Coruscant when everything seemed to be sleeping. It was the dead hour of the night, for this side of the planet at least, and all was calm.
Keilana walked slowly across the hall and leaned against the window sill. For the first time that night, Keilana saw another being awake, but from a great distance. Several buildings away, a speeder flew by and was only visible for half a second. Other than that one sole being, Keilana was the only person, or creature, around.
After several minutes of looking out over the cityscape, Keilana turned and walked silently down the expansive and otherwise abandoned hall. She moved at a slow pace with a single purpose in mind. Skywalker. At this hour of the night there would be no one else awake and it would be one of the few opportunities Keilana would receive to move at will around the grand Temple. The minor fact of actually locating Luke's chambers did not bother the bounty hunter in the least bit for, if she did not find the room tonight, she would explore the next night and the night after that until she did come upon the room for which she searched. This was also the opportunity she needed to become more aquatinted with the Temple as a whole. She needed to know every exit and entrance. Each corridor had to be searched and memorised and for this, she had a week and a half to do. Less than that if she actually planned on bringing her bounty in with little struggle.
Keilana quickly came to a drop shaft and a splitting of passages. With silent stealth, Keilana explored the beginnings of the two hallways in front of her only to decide on the drop shaft. Down was her best option at the moment and, if it meant searching the Jedi Temple from the ground up, so be it. Keilana slid forward as soon as she decided to use the drop shaft and lightly touched the button for the door to open. With a soft hiss, and one much to loud for Keilana's liking, she was able to step into the car and noted the level she was on before the car began it's rapid descent.
Once she reached the bottom floor, Keilana stepped out of the car and looked around at her surroundings. She did not recognise this portion of the Temple and could not place were she was exactly. The hall was dark, with no windows to allow the moonlight to flow in and the walls were bare of any decorations. The carpet beneath her feet was rough to walk upon and the covered floorboards squeaked far to often for Keilana's liking. After several steps down the hallway, the lights flickered on, forcing Keilana to stop in her tracks. Looking through squinted eyelids, for the lights were on maximum, Keilana spun around to see if she had been spotted. After several minutes of standing still, the lights died and the hall was once again bathed in darkness.
Lights that can detect motion, great, Keilana snorted. It's not enough that the floorboards squeak, eh Jedi? You have to have motion detectors too. Keilana pursed her lips and slowly moved her head to one side to see how much motion she could get away with. When the lights did not turn on, she took a single step forward. The lights remained dark. With two more slow steps forward, the lights remained off, so Keilana tried several faster steps. Sure enough, the lights flickered on and Keilana had to close her eyes against the sudden brightness.
Rather than giving up, Keilana moved at a slow pace through the hall and the lights eventually went back out. Thinking the motion sensors completely useless for not noticing her movements, but at the same time very thankful for the flaw, Keilana continued through the hall until it split in to three different passages. She stood where she was for several minutes before choosing the path on her far left. Much to her liking, Keilana was able to move at a quicker pace for this hallway did not have any motion detectors. Also to Keilana's liking, she had chosen the path that led to a very large and open room.
The room reached very far above Keilana's head and must have been at least five stories tall. The ceiling was domed and windows stretched the great expanse of the room and dome. Intricately designed columns created a walkway between the inner part of the room and the outer perimeter. The walls, which were bathed in the soft moonlight, appeared to be painted in rosy hues with soft gold leaf as highlights. The air in the room was stiff and stale and it was obvious this room had not been visited in quite awhile.
As Keilana stepped forward, a bolt of pain shot through her injured side, which she ignored. With another step into the room, a cloud of dust rose into the air and tickled Keilana's nose. Attempting to halt the sneeze that threatened to break the perfect silence, Keilana lifted her hand to her face and covered both her nose and her mouth. After another step that disrupted even more dust, Keilana looked to the ground to find the once dark rose and gold marble covered in a thick layer of dust. The dust expanded out into the very middle of the room and, upon closer inspection, it appeared to cover the columns and walls as well. Keilana furrowed her brows as she continued to stir up more dust with each further step. When she looked at the ground once more, Keilana was surprised to find another set of footsteps that appeared relatively fresh. They appeared to belong to a human male and were far larger than her own. Dust had not yet had time to form in the footprints and a sudden feeling that she was not alone hit Keilana. Internally damning herself for not carrying any weapons, Keilana spun around, but all she could see through the dusty air was the looming shapes of the columns that rose far above her head. Squinting to keep the dust from drying out her eyes, Keilana spotted a quick movement in the dust, which disappeared as quickly as it had come.
Keilana, unable to see well through the dust, could feel her muscles tense as if they knew a fight was coming. Another quick movement flashed through the dust and the sound of footfall echoed from the domed ceiling. Turning slowly to her left, Keilana followed the soft footfall with her eyes and ears until it disappeared. Standing still a little while longer, Keilana snorted the dust out of her nose and blinked her eyes free of dust. As if sensing something behind her, Keilana spun with a single smooth and swift round house kick and could feel her foot come in contact with flesh. The soft thud of a body hitting the floor bounced off the walls and a puff of dust rose into the air were the other person had landed. A grunt of pain escaped the fallen one's lips and Keilana grimaced as another bolt of pain raced through her side. Grasping her stomach, Keilana moved through the dust and looked at the man she had kicked.
The victim was more of a teenager or boy than a man and had dark brown hair that was covered in dust. He was wearing a pair of sleeping pants and a light tunic with bare feet. The boy was coughing because of the dust he had inhaled and did not expect Keilana's next action. Rubbing his jaw, which was actually covered in a very thin layer of stubble, the boy looked up at Keilana through squinted eyelids. He was handsome, she did admit that, but young. With an impossibly swift motion, Keilana grabbed the front of the boy's shirt and forced him to look at her while she crouch by his side.
Who are you, boy, she spat.
I belong in this Temple, he said with an incredibly calm voice. The real question is: who are you?
Keilana arched an eyebrow at the person she held and growled. Why do you think that I don't belong here either? And why were you following me?
Me? Following you? I would say you feel rather guilty, the boy smirked. Besides, your emotions are being broadcasted for any Jedi in this Temple to read, so you cannot be one of us.
In response, Keilana threw up her mental block, infuriated that she had let it down, and glared at the boy. You are a Jedi then, Keilana said in response to his first words. The boy nodded slowly. What's your name.
Tell me yours and I will tell you mine.
Keilana rolled her eyes and looked the boy up and down. You are all the same, you Jedi. You seem the have this name game going on where you will only give out your name if the other person gives out theirs first. The boy shrugged and Keilana let out a frustrated sigh. And I thought it was just Ganner being flirty. Can't expect to much out of a Jedi, I suppose. Keilana let go of the boy and rocked back on the balls of her feet.
You know Ganner? The boy sat up and crossed his legs. No more dust seemed to be floating around him, which irritated Keilana all the more for she was still gagging on it.
Yeah, I know him. He's the one who brought me here, Keilana sneered as she attempted to wave the dust out of her face. Saved my life too. Had it not been for him I would have bled out in a shower.
So you're this Key' everyone is talking about. The boy's eyes wandered up and down Keilana's body and then back to her eyes. I see rumours have even started up among the young ones on how you look. According to them you aren't human, are about seven feet tall and an incredibly beautiful creature, whatever species you may be. I'd have to say they were quite wrong about some of those assumptions.
Which ones? Keilana asked before thinking about it. She blinked once, realising what exactly she had said and growled to herself. I mean---uh---tell your name, now that you know mine, she stated.
Jacen. Jacen Solo, the boy shrugged as if it were no big deal. Keilana blinked once in her disbelief of who she was speaking with before shaking her head slightly and bringing herself back to reality.
So your one of the Solo kids. Jacen nodded in response and Keilana bit her lower lip. She was not nervous, just unsure of how to act around the son of the man her father hated above most. How's Solo's pet---er---how's your father after the whole Wookie thing on Serpindal?
If you see him why don't you ask, Jacen replied. He raised his brows as he put his hands on his knees. I'm surprised you haven't heard about him.
I've been out of the loop as far as your---the war goes. Keilana furrowed her brow in her anger at letting her speech slip.
So, what did you do before you came to the Temple? Jacen asked simply. Keilana did everything she could from allowing her jaw to drop and her eyes to widen in her horror.
Of all the questions he could have asked, it had to be the one I've been dreading, Keilana thought as she looked around the now settling dust.
Jacen guided her slightly. She could feel a slight tug in her mind and her eyes snapped back to the Jedi.
Stay out of my mind, Jedi, she growled lightly. You want to know what I did previously to coming here? I jumped here and there around the galaxy. I didn't do much, just bounced around taking on odd jobs.
A mercenary then?
You could say that. Keilana nodded. Jacen gave a look of slight surprise and Keilana grimaced. This is not good. I mean, I never really called myself a mercenary, because I did a bit of smuggling on the side, but yeah, I guess am a mercenary. Keilana flinched internally as she deepened the lie but hugged the truth at the same time.
So you are a freelance citizen?
Why the interview, Solo? Keilana hissed. Did your uncle put you up to it?
No, just interested in you. I mean, you do supposedly hold a great amount of power and potential in the Force and it would be nice to learn who you are, since you are a great source of mystery to us.
And you all are a great source of mystery to me and you don't see me prying into your personal life, do you? Don't argue that you live in the public eye, boy, Keilana held up her hand as Jacen opened his mouth to speak, because I am quite aware of that, but you do do things that the public doesn't see, don't you? Like your bedroom habits. The galaxy doesn't know what you do when you are alone at night, but we really don't want to know either. Well, not the normal ones at least. So you see, you are just as much of a mystery to me as I am to you.
Why are you fighting this so much, Key? Why do you fight friendly questions? Jacen put out a hand in question and furrowed his own brow slightly.
Because I grew up in a world that didn't allow friendly encounters. I lived with a father who didn't care about me and tried to make be be like him. I inherited his ability to disconnect myself from others and I learned from him how not to care about other people. You may see these as harmful questions, Keilana leaned forward and held Jacen's gaze with her eyes, but the man I grew up with would beat me if I asked about such things as the ones you inquire about. I learned quickly to keep my mouth shut and not to ask, or answer, things that pried too deeply into the life of another.
Jacen dropped his hand and pursed his lips. Wait, shouldn't you be in the medical ward?
I should be, but I couldn't stand just sitting there anymore. I had nothing to do and I couldn't sleep, so I decided to go for a little walk and, well, I ended up here. Keilana shrugged as she lowered herself into a cross-legged position. What are you doing awake in the middle of the night? You are defiantly not any older than me and I would have to say you aren't even out of your teenage years.
So are you accusing me of being to young to roam around my home at night? Jacen fought back in more of a playful tone than anything else. You can't be any older than me, I would have to say.
Oh really? Try me, Keilana's mouth widened in a grin and her eyes sparkled in the moonlight. How old am I, Jacen?
Why, is that how old you are? Keilana raised her brow slightly. When Jacen nodded, Keilana nodded in her surprise for she certainly did not think him that old. Nope. Go higher.
Jacen scooted a bit closer to Key and she could see his eyes sparkle in determination. Pointed up with one finger and Jacen looked surprised.
Higher still, Keilana grinned.
You can't be any older than twenty-one cause you certainly don't look that old, Jacen leaned back a little as Keilana touched her nose.
Twenty-one I am, Solo. Surprised? Do I look to young to be the age I truly am? Keilana laughed slightly as Jacen nodded. I guess that's what space travel does to someone.
What do you mean by that? Jacen turned his head slightly and looked out a window before looking back at Keilana.
I'm not exposed to the harmful fumes of city life or the rays of the sun as much as most beings are. I live my life out among the stars and prefer my ship far more than I do any planet, Keilana shrugged. She found herself comfortable giving this information out for it did not give away any of her private life or anything more about who she truly was. Leaning back, Keilana leaned on one hand as she looked down at the nails of the other. Her nails had grown longer than her preference and she made a mental note to ask about getting a nail clip. While I'm at it, she told herself, I might as well ask for some clothes or permission to go to my ship to receive some of my own.
What kind of ship do you fly? Jacen turned his body a little and straightened out his legs while he too leaned back on his hands.
A YT-1300, like your father's ship, Keilana shrugged. She figured that there were hundreds, if not thousands, flying around the galaxy, so she felt perfectly safe, once again, giving away this information. After thinking on it for a little while, however, Keilana figured her father would give her quiet a tongue lashing if he knew exactly what she was doing. Not only was she living in the same building as her bounty and gaining his trust, she was also conversing with his nephew as if she had nothing to hide. Keilana figured, rather, that if she beat around the bush, she would be safe.
Jacen eyes opened up wide in surprise. How did you ever manage to get hold of one of those? It is a vintage model and hard to come about these days.
I found her in a junkyard and fixed her up when I was about your age, Keilana shrugged. She was in bad shape when I bought her, but now she could give the Falcon a run for her money.
How'd you afford a YT-1300? Jacen was still obviously in disbelief and it made Keilana all the more happy.
Like I said, she was a junker. The owner would have paid me to get rid of her cause she was taking up to much damn room. She honestly was a piece of shit when I bought her and sometime I wonder if she's changed much, Keilana spoke about her ship in a way any parent would talk about their child. But I love her and wouldn't dream of sending her back to some junk yard.
You should talk to Dad. He loves the Falcon just as much as you love your ship, or so it sounds. Jacen nodded. He looked around the room and up at the domed ceiling for a little while before turning back to Keilana. So, how do you feel about becoming a Jedi?
I'm a little apprehensive about it, to say the least. I really haven't seen Jedi do what they do and I know even less than probably a five year old child does. I guess I'm not the best person to pick to become a Jedi, Keilana nodded as she turned to look out the window.
Nah, I'm sure you'll do just fine. Besides, it's better that you don't know much because you will able to absorb more quicker, Jacen shrugged as he crossed his legs once more. He pulled a small orb out of his pocket and set it on the ground in between the two of them. Keilana first looked at the boy in front of her and then the orb.
What's that? Keilana pointed at the orb.
This is actually a jewel I was giving and am considering putting in a lightsaber, but it will do for the purposes I'll be using, Jacen leaned forward and looked at Keilana. Would you like your first lesson in how to use the Force? Uncle Luke would absolutely kill me if he knew I was doing this, so can you keep it a secret?
Yeah, I can keep a secret, Keilana leaned forward also and looked at the jewel as it picked up the light of the moon. What are you going to show me how to do?
First, you have to be patient. That is a very important rule of being a Jedi.
And one I have learned quite well, Keilana cut in. Jacen leaned back a little an gave her a look. What? I know how to be patient. Keilana pointed at herself.
Calm down, Key, that's what you need to really do first. Calm down and be patient, Jacen leaned forward once again and broke eye contact with Keilana. The bounty hunter took in a deep breath and allowed her mind to clear. Jacen looked very pleased with what she had done and gave a little nod of approval. Keilana just shrugged and watch the Jedi as he put his hand over the orb. Okay, what I am going to attempt to teach you is how to call an object to your hand. Now remember, you have to keep this a secret and actually pretend that you don't know anything I have taught you when my uncle tries to teach you how to do this, understand? Keilana nodded her head slowly and pushed her hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ears. Okay, first thing you need to do is clear your mind of any thoughts that might be distracting and open yourself up to the Force. Once you do that, imagine the object in your hand. See whatever you want to call to you in your hand and it should come. After Jacen explained that to Keilana, she watched in amazement as the orb rose slowly from the ground and floated into Jacen's waiting hand. He curled his fingers around it and, turning his hand over, he showed Keilana.
Hmm, perhaps first you should teach me how to open up to the Force, Keilana suggested as she took the smooth jewel out of Jacen's hand.
Yes, I guess that could be a useful thing, Jacen laughed at his mistake.
After several hours of learning how to open herself up to the Force, and attempting to move something with her mind, Keilana sighed in her frustration.
You must have patience, Key, Jacen said, again. It doesn't come quite as quick as we might hope, especially for adults who are just learning to use their abilities.
Yes, I understand, Keilana nodded. She moved her aching neck and happened to look out the window. Her eyes opened up wide as she noticed that the sky had taken on a rosy hue and jumped up. she muttered as she held her side and doubled over in pain. Jacen stood up quickly and walked to her side.
Are you okay, Key? Jacen asked, putting a hand on her back. Keilana moaned once and started to straighten up.
Perhaps I should have gone back to bed hours ago, Keilana sighed as she turned to look out the window once again. The healers will be all over me if they knew I had snuck out in the middle of the night.
Not to mention Ganner and Uncle Luke, Jacen put in as he stepped back.
I can deal with whatever the fuck they come up with, but the wrath of a healer is what I'm afraid of, Keilana turned in time to see Jacen flinch at her language. I've never in my life been the ideal patient and have always done exactly what I wasn't supposed to do. I break my leg and I go walking around with out crutches or support. I break my arm and jump out of a two story window. I get stabbed so I go wandering around a Jedi temple and beat up a Jedi in the middle of the night, Keilana shrugged. I really should learn how to sit still, I guess.
Let's get you back to the hospital before any of the healers wake up, shall we? Jacen started walking away and Keilana followed, each step more painful that the last.
By the time they reach the medical ward, Keilana was barely able to walk from her pain, but she was able to hide her pain from Jacen. He opened the door for her and helped her to her bed. With a sigh of relief, Keilana slipped in between the sheets and looked at Jacen. Do you know how to put in an IV?
No buthere comes a healer. Jacen said just as the healer stuck his head through the curtain. It was Gil, the red head from the other day. He looked confused by Jacen's presence and looked at him for a moment. Ah, healer, can you help us for a moment?
Uh, sure, I guess, Gill answered as he stepped inside. He looked at the IV needle and was about the say something when Jacen cut him off.
Ah, I see you have identified the source of the problem. You see, I was helping Key here to the refresher unit and, well, the IV got bumped and came loose. I was unsure of how to put it back in and was just about to come looking for a healer when you happened by, Jacen explained quickly. The healer looked at Jacen and it was obvious her did not believe the story but, rather than asking any questions, Gil moved around the other side of Jacen. He found a fresh needle and, after some fiddling around, Gil slid the needle into Keilana's hand and she sighed.
Thank you, Gods, she muttered as her eyelids slid shut. Jacen smiled at Keilana after Gil left and patted the hand that did not have the needle in it. Keilana moved the hand away from Jacen's touch and laid both of them over her chest, her brow furrowing. With a final sigh, Keilana fell asleep and her body relaxed.
In the light of the new morning, Jacen noticed how dusty Keilana's hair was and he frowned. With a a slight movement of his hand, Jacen called on the Force to whisk away the dust that covered Keilana. With a last, and satisfied smile, Jacen left the medical ward and walked to his own room for a quick shower before a short period of meditation to make up for the rest he had lost the night before.
