***
Part Six
Coruscant
Late into the night, Nejaa Halcyon had been awakened by a padawan, informing him that Valin had just contacted the temple. He and his wife Scerra had rushed to the communications center in the temple, getting there just in time to speak with their son. Apparently, Valin and Lainey had managed to build a lightsaber, and taken over the ship. Lainey wasn't there to speak with them because she'd taken a blaster hit to the shoulder, and was sitting with Taren who had a broken arm. Lanelle Caine's lips had tightened the moment she learned of her padawan's injury, and had grown even thinner at the fact that she was with her brother.
As soon as Valin was finished telling his story, and telling them when they should reach Coruscant, Scerra started lecturing him. Valin put up with her lectures on the dangers of the lower levels of Coruscant, and on being careful, but he claimed he was having problems with the holocom when she reminded him to brush his teeth and wash his hair. Nejaa smirked, then squeezed her shoulder when the communication ended. She leaned heavily against him and he held her tight, running his fingers through her hair.
Lanelle allowed them a few moments, but ever businesslike, she soon cleared her throat. "I think it would be prudent to inform Coruscant Security, as well as the Trilliums and Daelanis that Valin has commed us."
Nejaa nodded, slowly releasing his wife. "Yes, I will speak with the families."
"I thought you would wish to meet with the security officers," Lanelle said, surprised.
He raised an eyebrow, having assumed Lanelle would want as little contact with her padawan's family as possible. While he did have a lot of experience working with security officers, either one of them was qualified to deliver the news. *So, you want to meet your padawan's family, Lanelle. Very interesting.* He smiled slightly at the thought. "Of course, Master Caine."
Avoiding his gaze, Lanelle shrugged into her brown cloak. "Thank you, Master Halcyon."
Nejaa nodded, opened his mouth to say more, but stopped when he noticed Scerra's warning look. As soon as Lanelle had left the room, Nejaa turned to Scerra. "What was that look about?"
Scerra shrugged innocently. "What were you going to say?"
"Only that it would seem the Republic Jedi have some sense after all," Nejaa answered, and she elbowed him in the side. "What?"
"You're impossible," Scerra replied, turning away from him.
Nejaa stepped up behind her, pressing his chin to the bottom of her neck. "Would you have me any other way?" He asked, his breath teasing her hair.
Scerra scrunched her shoulders up, laughing slightly. "Maybe."
"Maybe?" Nejaa asked, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing the base of her neck.
She shivered as he moved his lips up to her jaw line. "No..." Scerra sighed, moving her head to give him more access. Suddenly, she stiffened, pulling back. "Nejaa, the security officers..."
Nejaa turned her around, kissing her lips. "They can get their own wives."
"You need to visit with them," Scerra reminded him, pushing against his chest.
"Right," Nejaa said, heaving a sigh. He pinched her thigh, winking at her when she jumped. "Keep my side of the bed warm for me?"
Scerra slapped his rump. "Keep your focus, Master Jedi."
***
Lanelle Caine neared Danae Trillium's hotel room, her thoughts far away from the brightly lit hallway. She had been very pleased to hear that Helaine and Valin had managed to take over the ship, but she had also been reminded that Helaine's brother was onboard. She closed her eyes for a moment, thinking out the consequences for a moment. There were few bonds stronger than family, which was whyJedi were never meant to see their families again, it created too many complications. The Jedi had taken every precaution against it, but apparently they could not prevent everything. Perhaps in allowing Helaine to meet her brother, the Force was reminding them of their own mortality, testing to see how they dealt with it.
How though, she wasn't certain. Naturally, Helaine should not be able to see him again, though it would not solve the problem that she had, and would it follow the Force's intentions? Was Helaine meant to forget and move on, or remember and still put the Force first?
Whatever it was, Lanelle had to trust her padawan to make the right decision.
Taking a deep breath, Lanelle knocked softly on Danae Trillium's hotel room door. After a few moments, she realized the woman was probably asleep, and knocked louder. Soon she heard footsteps, and briefly wondered if Helaine got her waking habits from her mother.
The door slid open, revealing a sleep tousled Danae. Her eyes widened at the sight of Lanelle. "Master Jedi, please come in."
` Lanelle entered the room as Danae stepped aside. Briefly taking in the small, neat room, Lanelle asked, "Has your husband not arrived yet?"
"He'll be here tomorrow," Danae answered, stepping into the kitchenette. "Would you like something to drink?"
"No, thank you, I won't intrude long," Lanelle replied, standing somewhat awkwardly in the entry way. For a moment, she questioned her own judgment on having come, after Nejaa had so graciously offered. She supposed it was her own curiosity at the type of woman her padawan could have emulated, if she hadn't come to the temple. A woman whose place she had taken in Helaine's life.
"Please, take a seat," Danae said, sitting down only when Lanelle did. She smoothed her hair back. "You have news, Master Caine?"
Lanelle nodded, noticing Danae setting her shoulders in preparation for it. "Valin has just contacted the temple, he and Helaine have taken control of the ship. They are expected back in about five days."
Danae sank down with relief in her chair, too shocked to speak. After a few moments, she finally found her voice. "Is everyone alright? Did Valin mention Taren at all?"
"Yes." Lanelle folded her hands on her lap. "It seems that Taren broke his arm when he was captured, and Valin and Helaine have been doing everything they could for him."
"And Helaine?" Danae asked, hesitantly. "How is she doing?"
Lanelle pursed her lips. "Her shoulder was injured, but Valin says it should be healed by the time they get back."
Danae smiled slightly. "I am glad she was not hurt seriously, but I meant in general, Master Caine."
"She is an excellent student, Madame Trillium," Lanelle replied, folding her hands on her lap. "You understand that you will be unable to meet with her?"
The woman's eyes flashed rebelliously for a moment, but she nodded. "I would not try to interfere, Master Jedi." Danae straightened her shoulders, meeting Lanelle's gaze. "Providing she is happy." She took a deep breath. "And I do not see how she could be."
Lanelle's head snapped up. "Why would you believe that?"
"The Jedi seem so...cold. You claim to have compassion, but do not believe in love," Danae replied her posture calm, though her voice shook slightly. "My husband and I love her more than anything, but it isn't enough because she cannot feel it."
"It is enough," Lanelle said softly. "She feels it because of you." She did not add that that was why they tried to get potential Jedi at the youngest age possible. Or that Helaine's knowledge of love made her meeting with Taren much worse.
Danae was surprised at her admission. It took her a moment to speak again. "Then all I can ask is if you love her."
Lanelle opened her mouth to speak, before quickly shutting it. Helaine had been attached to her since she had apprenticed her, though Lanelle had encouraged her to develop a deeper relationship with the Force instead of with her Master. Despite her best efforts, Helaine had come to love her as a padawan does a Master anyway, seeking to prevent Lanelle's early death over learning to deal with it. Lanelle had recently lost the heart to continue dissuading her padawan, and in doing so, she had come to love Helaine in return. As a master loves a padawan, like a mother loves a daughter. She found herself nodding to Danae, her mouth forming the words as quickly as she realized it. "Yes, I do."
"That is all I need to know," Danae said, a sad but genuine smile shaping her lips.
"Thank you," Lanelle said, getting to her feet. "I should go...now."
Danae rose to her feet as well. "Of course." She bowed her head. "Goodnight, Master Jedi."
Lanelle did not repeat the same wish, instead she met Danae's eyes. "Docking Bay thirteen is rather large, Madame Trillium. I would hardly know it if you were there, and caught a glimpse of your daughter." Danae raised an eyebrow, and Lanelle nodded slightly. "Goodnight, Madame Trillium." She quickly left the hotel room before reconsidering what she had done.
Coruscant
Late into the night, Nejaa Halcyon had been awakened by a padawan, informing him that Valin had just contacted the temple. He and his wife Scerra had rushed to the communications center in the temple, getting there just in time to speak with their son. Apparently, Valin and Lainey had managed to build a lightsaber, and taken over the ship. Lainey wasn't there to speak with them because she'd taken a blaster hit to the shoulder, and was sitting with Taren who had a broken arm. Lanelle Caine's lips had tightened the moment she learned of her padawan's injury, and had grown even thinner at the fact that she was with her brother.
As soon as Valin was finished telling his story, and telling them when they should reach Coruscant, Scerra started lecturing him. Valin put up with her lectures on the dangers of the lower levels of Coruscant, and on being careful, but he claimed he was having problems with the holocom when she reminded him to brush his teeth and wash his hair. Nejaa smirked, then squeezed her shoulder when the communication ended. She leaned heavily against him and he held her tight, running his fingers through her hair.
Lanelle allowed them a few moments, but ever businesslike, she soon cleared her throat. "I think it would be prudent to inform Coruscant Security, as well as the Trilliums and Daelanis that Valin has commed us."
Nejaa nodded, slowly releasing his wife. "Yes, I will speak with the families."
"I thought you would wish to meet with the security officers," Lanelle said, surprised.
He raised an eyebrow, having assumed Lanelle would want as little contact with her padawan's family as possible. While he did have a lot of experience working with security officers, either one of them was qualified to deliver the news. *So, you want to meet your padawan's family, Lanelle. Very interesting.* He smiled slightly at the thought. "Of course, Master Caine."
Avoiding his gaze, Lanelle shrugged into her brown cloak. "Thank you, Master Halcyon."
Nejaa nodded, opened his mouth to say more, but stopped when he noticed Scerra's warning look. As soon as Lanelle had left the room, Nejaa turned to Scerra. "What was that look about?"
Scerra shrugged innocently. "What were you going to say?"
"Only that it would seem the Republic Jedi have some sense after all," Nejaa answered, and she elbowed him in the side. "What?"
"You're impossible," Scerra replied, turning away from him.
Nejaa stepped up behind her, pressing his chin to the bottom of her neck. "Would you have me any other way?" He asked, his breath teasing her hair.
Scerra scrunched her shoulders up, laughing slightly. "Maybe."
"Maybe?" Nejaa asked, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing the base of her neck.
She shivered as he moved his lips up to her jaw line. "No..." Scerra sighed, moving her head to give him more access. Suddenly, she stiffened, pulling back. "Nejaa, the security officers..."
Nejaa turned her around, kissing her lips. "They can get their own wives."
"You need to visit with them," Scerra reminded him, pushing against his chest.
"Right," Nejaa said, heaving a sigh. He pinched her thigh, winking at her when she jumped. "Keep my side of the bed warm for me?"
Scerra slapped his rump. "Keep your focus, Master Jedi."
***
Lanelle Caine neared Danae Trillium's hotel room, her thoughts far away from the brightly lit hallway. She had been very pleased to hear that Helaine and Valin had managed to take over the ship, but she had also been reminded that Helaine's brother was onboard. She closed her eyes for a moment, thinking out the consequences for a moment. There were few bonds stronger than family, which was whyJedi were never meant to see their families again, it created too many complications. The Jedi had taken every precaution against it, but apparently they could not prevent everything. Perhaps in allowing Helaine to meet her brother, the Force was reminding them of their own mortality, testing to see how they dealt with it.
How though, she wasn't certain. Naturally, Helaine should not be able to see him again, though it would not solve the problem that she had, and would it follow the Force's intentions? Was Helaine meant to forget and move on, or remember and still put the Force first?
Whatever it was, Lanelle had to trust her padawan to make the right decision.
Taking a deep breath, Lanelle knocked softly on Danae Trillium's hotel room door. After a few moments, she realized the woman was probably asleep, and knocked louder. Soon she heard footsteps, and briefly wondered if Helaine got her waking habits from her mother.
The door slid open, revealing a sleep tousled Danae. Her eyes widened at the sight of Lanelle. "Master Jedi, please come in."
` Lanelle entered the room as Danae stepped aside. Briefly taking in the small, neat room, Lanelle asked, "Has your husband not arrived yet?"
"He'll be here tomorrow," Danae answered, stepping into the kitchenette. "Would you like something to drink?"
"No, thank you, I won't intrude long," Lanelle replied, standing somewhat awkwardly in the entry way. For a moment, she questioned her own judgment on having come, after Nejaa had so graciously offered. She supposed it was her own curiosity at the type of woman her padawan could have emulated, if she hadn't come to the temple. A woman whose place she had taken in Helaine's life.
"Please, take a seat," Danae said, sitting down only when Lanelle did. She smoothed her hair back. "You have news, Master Caine?"
Lanelle nodded, noticing Danae setting her shoulders in preparation for it. "Valin has just contacted the temple, he and Helaine have taken control of the ship. They are expected back in about five days."
Danae sank down with relief in her chair, too shocked to speak. After a few moments, she finally found her voice. "Is everyone alright? Did Valin mention Taren at all?"
"Yes." Lanelle folded her hands on her lap. "It seems that Taren broke his arm when he was captured, and Valin and Helaine have been doing everything they could for him."
"And Helaine?" Danae asked, hesitantly. "How is she doing?"
Lanelle pursed her lips. "Her shoulder was injured, but Valin says it should be healed by the time they get back."
Danae smiled slightly. "I am glad she was not hurt seriously, but I meant in general, Master Caine."
"She is an excellent student, Madame Trillium," Lanelle replied, folding her hands on her lap. "You understand that you will be unable to meet with her?"
The woman's eyes flashed rebelliously for a moment, but she nodded. "I would not try to interfere, Master Jedi." Danae straightened her shoulders, meeting Lanelle's gaze. "Providing she is happy." She took a deep breath. "And I do not see how she could be."
Lanelle's head snapped up. "Why would you believe that?"
"The Jedi seem so...cold. You claim to have compassion, but do not believe in love," Danae replied her posture calm, though her voice shook slightly. "My husband and I love her more than anything, but it isn't enough because she cannot feel it."
"It is enough," Lanelle said softly. "She feels it because of you." She did not add that that was why they tried to get potential Jedi at the youngest age possible. Or that Helaine's knowledge of love made her meeting with Taren much worse.
Danae was surprised at her admission. It took her a moment to speak again. "Then all I can ask is if you love her."
Lanelle opened her mouth to speak, before quickly shutting it. Helaine had been attached to her since she had apprenticed her, though Lanelle had encouraged her to develop a deeper relationship with the Force instead of with her Master. Despite her best efforts, Helaine had come to love her as a padawan does a Master anyway, seeking to prevent Lanelle's early death over learning to deal with it. Lanelle had recently lost the heart to continue dissuading her padawan, and in doing so, she had come to love Helaine in return. As a master loves a padawan, like a mother loves a daughter. She found herself nodding to Danae, her mouth forming the words as quickly as she realized it. "Yes, I do."
"That is all I need to know," Danae said, a sad but genuine smile shaping her lips.
"Thank you," Lanelle said, getting to her feet. "I should go...now."
Danae rose to her feet as well. "Of course." She bowed her head. "Goodnight, Master Jedi."
Lanelle did not repeat the same wish, instead she met Danae's eyes. "Docking Bay thirteen is rather large, Madame Trillium. I would hardly know it if you were there, and caught a glimpse of your daughter." Danae raised an eyebrow, and Lanelle nodded slightly. "Goodnight, Madame Trillium." She quickly left the hotel room before reconsidering what she had done.
