Disclaimer: I own neither Star Wars in general nor any of these characters in particular. All belong to the genius George Lucas/whichever writer created them. Hail Timothy Zahn for Mara Jade, right?

A/N: I have this evil thing called school that keeps me from updating as frequently as I should. It's annoying, and the problem with it is that it actually effects this thing I call real life, which is just annoying in and of itself. So I will update as fast as I possibly can under restrained conditions! Just remember that this I exist, please! (and check out my other fics, SW and otherwise. OMG, XME premiered! AHH! **insert girlish squeal**)

Chapter XI: Worldship

As Jaina and Uldir approached the almost-dead worldship, Jaina shuddered. "This place brings back bad memories, regardless of whether or not it's a different worldship. Somehow, this is so like Hethrir that I'm not even going to question it."

Sannah leaned over and pushed the internal comm unit, calling up the infirmary. "Tenel Ka, wake Jacen up, we're there."

The worldship was barren, with only one well-concealed dock. "There," Zekk pointed to Jaina. She pulled the Rock Dragon around and pulled in. Uldir's fingers flashed across the board, trying to communicate to the automated worldship who they were and what they needed. When the computers finally understood that they were here to "inspect" their progress on the clone it beamed at them, and instantly gave them access to almost everything. "I've got a map here, regardless of what Anakin says, I'd rather not run into any surprises left for anyone who disturbed Hethrir's slightly sick little factory. The computers like us for now, but I get the feeling that if we do anything without telling them, they'll suck the air out of the place."

Zekk stared at the other man. "Wonderful. We have to be careful about offending computers."

The team of eight made their way slowly through the darkened worldship, following the vague instructions Uldir had gotten from Anakin. It took them what seemed like years to reach the center of the worldship, where they would find the cloning chamber. They finally found a huge set of double-doors, behind which were another set of doors. Uldir moved wordlessly to a console right of the doors. The computers were already waiting for them, and let them into the chamber with very little persuasion.

It was an incredible, creepy sight. Slightly outdated cloning facilities . Everything needed to grow a healthy human clone. Lights still blinked in the dark, machines doing their forgotten jobs after fourteen years. Shadows shrouded everything else, including the cylinder of fluid that ruled over every aspect of the room.

There was a flick, and decade-old glowpanels began to brighten for the first time in fourteen years. "And there was light," Zekk remarked from behind the rest of the group, his hand on the master-switch.

The room lit up from the outside in, so the last thing to be revealed was the figure in the fluid.

"Sithspawn," Jacen whispered.

Anakin Solo hung suspended in the bacta-like fluid, eyes closed and motionless.

Jaina was the first to approach, pressing a trembling hand to the glass. "There's no one there," she hissed softly. "It lives – but does little else."

Anakin? Uldir thought, knowing he was there. What happened to the clone?

*He's alright. I explained things to him, and he offered before I could even ask. He's never lived, so he doesn't value his life or the lives of others. The Jedi actually don't mind – they ask him if they need a callous opinion. Besides, since he's never lived, the Masters can send him on to a body of his own. Might be interesting if he were born a Vong.*

You've developed a weird sense of humor since you died.

*I'm staring at myself of fourteen years through someone elses' eyes. I deserve the refuge of strange humor.*

Point taken.

"That really is Anakin. I recognize him. Though the long hair is a new look," Sannah remarked.

Lowie growled a question in Uldir's direction. "Master Uldir, Master Lowbacca wishes to inquire how we might begin the process of ensouling this clone?"

Jacen snorted. "Actually, it was more like 'What do we do first?'"