From Scratch
Chapter 7
Tenel Ka blinked, shutting her mouth with an audible snap as Jacen's long legs ate up the distance to the door. Before she could react, they were through and in the middle of the courtyard. She elbowed him sharply in the gut, driving the air from his lungs and forcing him to pause in his walk. She twisted in his grasp, struggling to break it, only to find that his arms were like iron. The tension in his frame, the muscles she could feel, were obviously from hard work. She lashed out with the stump of her left, hitting him under the jaw and driving his head back as she kicked upwards with her knees.
Jacen staggered, dropping her as they neared the edge of the courtyard.
"Stop this." She commanded, landing on her feet and spinning away.
Jacen lunged for her, grabbing her around the waist and lifting her as she kicked back with one foot. The heel of her boot connected solidly with his thigh, a little to close for Jacen's peace of mind. Her arm came back and he ducked, placing his head in the middle of her shoulder blades. "Don't do this, Tenel Ka, don't make this harder than it is!"
She squirmed, lashing out at him with both legs and driving him to the ground, falling with him. Jacen rolled, keeping his hold on her, unable to spare a thought to the crowd that was rapidly forming as he shifted his hold on her, tangling his legs with hers as he grabbed her hand. He pinned her, holding her down. Her gray eyes blazed with indignation as she looked up at him, her chest heaving. "I will hurt you."
"Do you really want to?"
"No."
"Then why are you fighting me?"
"I must."
His eyes widened as she suddenly jerked her body and sent him flying off to the side. Her hair came loose, spilling about her shoulders as her crown hit the ground. She rolled to her feet, her hand going to her lightsaber as she faced him. Jacen was already standing, one sleeve torn, his white dress uniform stained with grass and dirt. He was still unarmed, but Tenel Ka knew this would come down to their Jedi abilities. Jacen was showing a determination she hadn't expected nor encountered with him before.
"Take up your blade."
"We can do this peacefully, Tenel Ka."
"You will allow me to return to the celebration." She commanded, tossing her head to the side to get her hair out of her face. Stupid length for a warrior anyway. This was the last time she went anywhere without braiding her hair properly.
"I won't. You'll have to kill me."
"I cannot."
He pulled his lightsaber from his belt but didn't ignite it. "Then why go through with this farce? I'll win in the end simply because if I want you, I have to."
"You will not."
"I will. Come then, my Dathomirian warrior, show me that women are indeed superior!"
Her blade ignited with the trademark snap-hiss and she saluted him. "You will not win."
He ignited his blade and grinned, settling into a defensive stance, stretching out to the Force with eager anticipation. If he had to fight her to win her, he would. This would be a quick fight, he vowed. The sooner he could get them both off planet and away so she could see his side of things the better. She wouldn't win and she wouldn't resist. Eventually she'd have to give in.
Tenel Ka's expressing was grim as she took a step and came in swinging.
Jacen blocked her attack with careful control. He'd long since lost the fear of hurting Tenel Ka in a sparing match. When they'd last parted, before his training under Vergere, they'd been almost equal in strength. With Vergere's teaching, Jacen knew he'd acquired a control and ability that rivaled his Uncle Luke's. There was no pride in that; it was simply fact.
Jacen circled her, meeting each of her blows with a parry, deciding to let her vent her annoyance before he went on the attack. She'd be easier to handle if she was thinking clearly. Then again, Tenel Ka always thought clearly and she had pulled her lightsaber on him. They exchanged blow after blow, their lightsabers ringing in a continuous crackle and hiss as they fought.
Tenel Ka used every opportunity to lash out at him with a kick to get him to back off. She didn't want to hurt him, she simply wanted to go back to the celebration and enjoy their one night together. Jacen knew it, but he wanted more. So did she, but she wasn't willing to fight for him. She was willing to let him go for the sake of her people. It was the dumbest thing she'd ever done, in his opinion.
"Jacen! What are you -doing-?!"
He didn't acknowledge the shout from across the court yard, but he knew immediately that time was running out. He'd have to attack her now. "I'm sorry, Tenel Ka." he told her.
She attacked him again, her lightsaber a blur of light as it struck high and then low, "For what?"
He lunged, jumping at her and knocking her lightsaber wide. It came back almost immediately, but his unexpected attack, shielded from her, was the advantage he needed. He body tackled her to the ground, rolling once and slamming the hilt of his lightsaber into her temple. She eyes crossed as she suddenly went limp beneath him. "For that." He hadn't wanted to do it, but he'd had no choice.
Jacen looked up, seeing his sister and Jag walking towards him. He stood, picking Tenel Ka up in his arms as he clipped his lightsaber back to his belt. Tenel Ka's was swept up and placed next to his as he looked back at his sister. Jaina paused in her steps, seeing the wild hair about his head, Tenel Ka's hair dangling almost to the ground as it fell over Jacen's arm. She arched an eyebrow but Jacen shook his head. With a half smile, he turned and began walking away.
Jaina's eyes widened as she suddenly understood what Jacen was doing. "Jacen, don't!"
She began to run, looking around her to find help, only to see that everyone who'd been in the courtyard was frozen in place. Jacen had somehow managed to control the fifty people around and convince them not to move. Jaina looked back at Jag before looking up once more. Her brother was in the process of putting Tenel Ka in the front of a speeder. Jaina's lips suddenly curved into a smile. Jacen was kidnapping the Queen Mother. He was signing his own death warrant and forcing Tenel Ka to choose him if she wanted to keep him alive. She nodded once before turning on her heel. She had to find her father. Perhaps, just perhaps, Jacen had taken a page from Han Solo's book about getting the woman you love. If Han had given Jacen any advice, Jaina was going to throttle him before she thanked him.
"Jaina?" Jag fell into step beside her. "What was that all about?"
"Oh, nothing much," she told him flippantly, pausing at the entry to the legislature building. She looked back and telekinetically called Tenel Ka's crown and hair piece to her hands. "Jacen just kidnapped Tenel Ka."
Jag stopped, his eyes widening. "He what?"
"Kidnapped her." Jaina grinned. "I'm going to give them until morning before I take this to the docking bay where her ship is."
"Is that wise?"
Jaina laughed. "What, kidnapping the most powerful monarch in the galaxy? Probably not but Jacen was never smart. I've got to find Anakin, he's going to love this!"
Jag shook his head. Solos. Who knew what they were going to do next?
Jacen stopped the speeder outside the docking bay with his personal ship. The one he'd requested on behalf of his service to the New Republic. Lifting Tenel Ka in his arms again, he went quickly to the docking bay doors and opened them before he got there. The ship inside was a small, two man freighter. It was built for long trip and had most of the amenities. Their trip wouldn't be all that long, but it would be round about. He stepped into the ship and towards the berths at the back. The ship had one bedroom with two bunks and he gently placed Tenel Ka on the bottom one. Checking her forehead he found a slight bruise where he'd had to hit her. Guilt ate at him, making him feel sick. He hadn't wanted to, he'd never wanted to hurt her, but it had been necessary. Why couldn't she just have been reasonable? He sighed, gently brushing her hair back from her face. She was going to be really angry when she woke up.
No help for it, he supposed. He left the cabin, locking it behind him, and went quickly to the cockpit. His clearance already given, he quickly started the ship just as a distant alarm could be heard. Tenel Ka's security force had discovered her absence. He checked his chrono. Five minutes. Not bad. He keyed the repulsolifts and blasted away from the space port. The ship cleared the atmosphere, the new engines working perfectly, and Jacen quickly keyed in their first hyperspace jump. He accelerated to jump speed and pulled back on the hyperspace levers, catapulting them away from Calamari and towards, he hoped, their destiny.
Chapter 7
Tenel Ka blinked, shutting her mouth with an audible snap as Jacen's long legs ate up the distance to the door. Before she could react, they were through and in the middle of the courtyard. She elbowed him sharply in the gut, driving the air from his lungs and forcing him to pause in his walk. She twisted in his grasp, struggling to break it, only to find that his arms were like iron. The tension in his frame, the muscles she could feel, were obviously from hard work. She lashed out with the stump of her left, hitting him under the jaw and driving his head back as she kicked upwards with her knees.
Jacen staggered, dropping her as they neared the edge of the courtyard.
"Stop this." She commanded, landing on her feet and spinning away.
Jacen lunged for her, grabbing her around the waist and lifting her as she kicked back with one foot. The heel of her boot connected solidly with his thigh, a little to close for Jacen's peace of mind. Her arm came back and he ducked, placing his head in the middle of her shoulder blades. "Don't do this, Tenel Ka, don't make this harder than it is!"
She squirmed, lashing out at him with both legs and driving him to the ground, falling with him. Jacen rolled, keeping his hold on her, unable to spare a thought to the crowd that was rapidly forming as he shifted his hold on her, tangling his legs with hers as he grabbed her hand. He pinned her, holding her down. Her gray eyes blazed with indignation as she looked up at him, her chest heaving. "I will hurt you."
"Do you really want to?"
"No."
"Then why are you fighting me?"
"I must."
His eyes widened as she suddenly jerked her body and sent him flying off to the side. Her hair came loose, spilling about her shoulders as her crown hit the ground. She rolled to her feet, her hand going to her lightsaber as she faced him. Jacen was already standing, one sleeve torn, his white dress uniform stained with grass and dirt. He was still unarmed, but Tenel Ka knew this would come down to their Jedi abilities. Jacen was showing a determination she hadn't expected nor encountered with him before.
"Take up your blade."
"We can do this peacefully, Tenel Ka."
"You will allow me to return to the celebration." She commanded, tossing her head to the side to get her hair out of her face. Stupid length for a warrior anyway. This was the last time she went anywhere without braiding her hair properly.
"I won't. You'll have to kill me."
"I cannot."
He pulled his lightsaber from his belt but didn't ignite it. "Then why go through with this farce? I'll win in the end simply because if I want you, I have to."
"You will not."
"I will. Come then, my Dathomirian warrior, show me that women are indeed superior!"
Her blade ignited with the trademark snap-hiss and she saluted him. "You will not win."
He ignited his blade and grinned, settling into a defensive stance, stretching out to the Force with eager anticipation. If he had to fight her to win her, he would. This would be a quick fight, he vowed. The sooner he could get them both off planet and away so she could see his side of things the better. She wouldn't win and she wouldn't resist. Eventually she'd have to give in.
Tenel Ka's expressing was grim as she took a step and came in swinging.
Jacen blocked her attack with careful control. He'd long since lost the fear of hurting Tenel Ka in a sparing match. When they'd last parted, before his training under Vergere, they'd been almost equal in strength. With Vergere's teaching, Jacen knew he'd acquired a control and ability that rivaled his Uncle Luke's. There was no pride in that; it was simply fact.
Jacen circled her, meeting each of her blows with a parry, deciding to let her vent her annoyance before he went on the attack. She'd be easier to handle if she was thinking clearly. Then again, Tenel Ka always thought clearly and she had pulled her lightsaber on him. They exchanged blow after blow, their lightsabers ringing in a continuous crackle and hiss as they fought.
Tenel Ka used every opportunity to lash out at him with a kick to get him to back off. She didn't want to hurt him, she simply wanted to go back to the celebration and enjoy their one night together. Jacen knew it, but he wanted more. So did she, but she wasn't willing to fight for him. She was willing to let him go for the sake of her people. It was the dumbest thing she'd ever done, in his opinion.
"Jacen! What are you -doing-?!"
He didn't acknowledge the shout from across the court yard, but he knew immediately that time was running out. He'd have to attack her now. "I'm sorry, Tenel Ka." he told her.
She attacked him again, her lightsaber a blur of light as it struck high and then low, "For what?"
He lunged, jumping at her and knocking her lightsaber wide. It came back almost immediately, but his unexpected attack, shielded from her, was the advantage he needed. He body tackled her to the ground, rolling once and slamming the hilt of his lightsaber into her temple. She eyes crossed as she suddenly went limp beneath him. "For that." He hadn't wanted to do it, but he'd had no choice.
Jacen looked up, seeing his sister and Jag walking towards him. He stood, picking Tenel Ka up in his arms as he clipped his lightsaber back to his belt. Tenel Ka's was swept up and placed next to his as he looked back at his sister. Jaina paused in her steps, seeing the wild hair about his head, Tenel Ka's hair dangling almost to the ground as it fell over Jacen's arm. She arched an eyebrow but Jacen shook his head. With a half smile, he turned and began walking away.
Jaina's eyes widened as she suddenly understood what Jacen was doing. "Jacen, don't!"
She began to run, looking around her to find help, only to see that everyone who'd been in the courtyard was frozen in place. Jacen had somehow managed to control the fifty people around and convince them not to move. Jaina looked back at Jag before looking up once more. Her brother was in the process of putting Tenel Ka in the front of a speeder. Jaina's lips suddenly curved into a smile. Jacen was kidnapping the Queen Mother. He was signing his own death warrant and forcing Tenel Ka to choose him if she wanted to keep him alive. She nodded once before turning on her heel. She had to find her father. Perhaps, just perhaps, Jacen had taken a page from Han Solo's book about getting the woman you love. If Han had given Jacen any advice, Jaina was going to throttle him before she thanked him.
"Jaina?" Jag fell into step beside her. "What was that all about?"
"Oh, nothing much," she told him flippantly, pausing at the entry to the legislature building. She looked back and telekinetically called Tenel Ka's crown and hair piece to her hands. "Jacen just kidnapped Tenel Ka."
Jag stopped, his eyes widening. "He what?"
"Kidnapped her." Jaina grinned. "I'm going to give them until morning before I take this to the docking bay where her ship is."
"Is that wise?"
Jaina laughed. "What, kidnapping the most powerful monarch in the galaxy? Probably not but Jacen was never smart. I've got to find Anakin, he's going to love this!"
Jag shook his head. Solos. Who knew what they were going to do next?
Jacen stopped the speeder outside the docking bay with his personal ship. The one he'd requested on behalf of his service to the New Republic. Lifting Tenel Ka in his arms again, he went quickly to the docking bay doors and opened them before he got there. The ship inside was a small, two man freighter. It was built for long trip and had most of the amenities. Their trip wouldn't be all that long, but it would be round about. He stepped into the ship and towards the berths at the back. The ship had one bedroom with two bunks and he gently placed Tenel Ka on the bottom one. Checking her forehead he found a slight bruise where he'd had to hit her. Guilt ate at him, making him feel sick. He hadn't wanted to, he'd never wanted to hurt her, but it had been necessary. Why couldn't she just have been reasonable? He sighed, gently brushing her hair back from her face. She was going to be really angry when she woke up.
No help for it, he supposed. He left the cabin, locking it behind him, and went quickly to the cockpit. His clearance already given, he quickly started the ship just as a distant alarm could be heard. Tenel Ka's security force had discovered her absence. He checked his chrono. Five minutes. Not bad. He keyed the repulsolifts and blasted away from the space port. The ship cleared the atmosphere, the new engines working perfectly, and Jacen quickly keyed in their first hyperspace jump. He accelerated to jump speed and pulled back on the hyperspace levers, catapulting them away from Calamari and towards, he hoped, their destiny.