AN: The survivors are my own creation, everything else belongs to Lucasfilm...

From Scratch
Chapter 21



Their first glimpse of the settlement was over the lip of a cleared area. An area that looked vaguely familiar to them both. Hadn't they been down in this area with Zekk oh-so-many years ago? What, four? Six? He wasn't sure, but the area certainly seemed familiar.

"Jacen?"

He cocked his head at Tenel Ka, "Something on your mind?"

"Is this not... We are near the ruins of the senate building, are we not?"

He stopped, dragging Vola and Flynn to a halt as well, getting strange looks as he turned to look at the redhead, "You think so too, huh?"

She nodded, eyeing Flynn. "Flynn, are we?"

Flynn couldn't meet her gaze. "Uh... yeah, actually we're closer to the ruins of the old Jedi Temple on this side. Or so the elders say. Nobody's actually been to the crater in a long time."

I have, Jacen thought. But that had been over two years ago and he'd been lead by a specter of his younger brother. Or so he'd thought. It had been Vergere leading him to the Force energy; and it wasn't someplace he wanted to take Tenel Ka. The well of the World Brain, sure, but not the Force pit. Even from here he could -feel- the alluring pull of its energy. Disciplined against it, he had no trouble resisting the siren's call. Tenel Ka, never one to crave power, didn't even seem to notice its presence. Jacen nodded towards the settlement stretched out below them. Light twinkled in fireplaces, smoke curling towards the upper levels to be dispersed among the thousands of corridors, nooks and crannies. He whistled softly. What he could make out was impressive.

"How many are there in your settlement?" Tenel Ka asked Vola, coming to stand beside the Yuuzhan Vong.

"Many of us," she admitted softly. "Normally those who are beaten near death and dragged out into the wilds are brought here. Shamed ones, slaves, survivors... there are few distinctions between us." She smiled faintly, "In a manner of speaking, we're all survivors."

Tenel Ka nodded solemnly. "I understand."

They were quiet as they watched several people exit what they'd turned into homes and mingle. Jacen felt the tension beginning to pull tighter across his shoulders. They only had to face the elders now. Nicha had been unconscious for most of the day thanks to his Force suggestion, but she was beginning to stir. "We should get the council together as quickly as possible so we can get this over with," Jacen told Flynn.

Flynn nodded. "Vola. Go assemble the elders and tell them we have an emergency to deal with. Two, actually."

Vola shot him a smile and a shy wink before disappearing over the edge of the cliff. Jacen looked over to find the amazing female scaling the inclined edge like a spider. He shook his head. He would never cease to be amazed. Flynn picked up his end of the travois and waited until Jacen had secured his before leading the way downwards. "We're being watched by guards, but so long as you're with me..." he frowned, pausing, and looked back over his shoulder. "Tenel Ka is going to be viewed as fair game if you don't do something to stake your claim on her right now."

Jacen froze. "Now?"

Flynn nodded, looking around the area and finding at least a dozen pairs of eyes focused on them. "Now. You have an audience so it doesn't have to be long, but something."

"Like what?"

Flynn rolled his eyes. "Kiss her or something, I don't care what." He slowly lowered the travois, forcing Jacen to do the same. "Look, if you don't, you'll be facing challenges, both of you, by the time we hit the floor. One kiss isn't going to kill you."

"It might," Jacen muttered. He held his hand out to Tenel Ka.

She stepped closer, glancing at Flynn. "This is necessary?"

He nodded.

She looked back to Jacen. "My apologies. I did not know."

He slid his arms around her waist, dragging her closer until their bodies were aligned and lowered his head. She met him half-way, tilting her head so that their lips slid together slowly. His kiss was carefully controlled, but the feel of his hands clenching in the long strands of her hair was thrilling. He was close. So very close. He pulled back and she slowly opened his eyes. His lips were moving. She focused on them and her lips almost twitched into a smile as she read what he was saying.

Jacen inhaled sharply, mouthing his thoughts without thinking. Think about something else, something that doesn't make you lose control. Grav-ball. Cold showers. Cold Lakes. Mynocks. X-Wings. A Mynock flying an X-Wing. He would have laughed at the image if not for the reason he was thinking of it in the first place. Slowly, he released her, unable to stop himself from brushing one of her braids off her face before turning away.

Flynn was grinning like an idiot. "Wow, it's a good thing you two are talking about getting married 'cause man, you're set to snap!"

Jacen laughed shortly. "Too late Flynn."

Flynn paused as he was about to pick up the handles and looked back at him. "What? You mean you and she...?"

"No. Why do you think I took a dip in the pool earlier, fully clothed?"

Flynn laughed. "Good point. I don't envy you and your strange code, Jacen my man, I really don't." With that he picked up the travois and began leading them down the slopes, Jacen having to move quickly to pick up his end lest Nicha fall off. Tenel Ka walked beside him, to his right, and he could feel her stretching out with the Force to scan the area. She shot him a knowing look as she confirmed Flynn's earlier assessment. There were many people watching them. And many of them were now disappointed by their display.

They were greeted at the bottom by a trio of people, Vola embracing Flynn in a rare show of affection. Jacen, starting to understand their strange rules, understood Vola was making her choice known in advance. It was a way of protecting herself from unwanted suitors. Flynn and Jacen handed their travois over to the man and woman Vola had brought with her and Nicha was quickly taken away. Vola smiled. "Your mother wants to meet our friends, Flynn."

Flynn rolled his eyes, slipping an arm around her shoulders. "I guess we'd better make mama happy then, right? Jacen, Tenel Ka, if you'll follow me I'll take you to my home."

Jacen and Tenel Ka exchanged looks. Flynn was actually semi-hugging Vola? That was strange; he hadn't so much as touched her on their trip from what they'd seen. Jacen shrugged and arched an eyebrow at her, asking her silently for permission. She glanced around before nodding once, and his arm slid around her shoulders. Jacen could feel the strange looks they were getting, Tenel Ka in particular. It was unusual for a human to have only one arm.

"I didn't realize your parents were still down here Flynn." Jacen said conversationally.

"She's not really my mother," he admitted, leading them down a side path. "She took me in when I was injured in the downfall. But Chellane has been more like a mother to me than my own ever was."

Jacen nodded thoughtfully. "So where do the elders gather for this trial?"

"Well, Nicha should be being revived as we speak, and Vola spread the word of a failed challenge, didn't you lovely?"

She nodded, smiling. "Of course. Everyone always shows up to see what happens after a failed challenge. They want to mark who it is they're not supposed to go after and see what kind of damage was done so they can avoid it if they choose to challenge. However, I think the elders will probably marry the two of you right after that if you want, which should end any kind of challenge."

Tenel Ka nodded thoughtfully. "How long will this trial take?"

Flynn shrugged, entering into a small 'yard' of stone and approaching the door. "It'll depend on how eloquent Tenel Ka is when she speaks to the elders. You'll be asked for a description of the challenge, how it was issued, and about the events before, during and after."

"Then we'll be done inside ten minutes," Jacen grinned, squeezing her shoulders. "Tenel Ka was never one for long speeches."

"Fact."

The three laughed as Flynn pushed the door open, "Mother!"

"Flynn!" a lean older woman, her face scarred on one side, one of her hands bio-mechanical, stepped into the entry way and pulled Flynn into a tight hug. She had a shock of black hair that was similar to Vola's, only it was cut short to her head. "You're back. I didn't expect you to be gone over night otherwise I would have sent another chaperone for Vola!"

"I'm intact," the young Yuuzhan Vong chimed in, "Flynn was the perfect gentleman, and he didn't touch me at all."

"I'll vouch for that," Jacen added.

Chellane released Flynn and swatted him, "You didn't tell me your were bringing guests either! Are they spoken for?"

Flynn chuckled. "Mother, these are Jacen Solo and Tenel Ka. And yes, they're spoken for; to each other."

Her smiled was wide. "Oh! Friends of yours in our home! She stepped forward, "And such distinguished guests! Jacen Solo, the hero of the new republic!"

Jacen winced. Ouch, that was laying it on a little thick. "You're too kind, m'lady."

"Oh, call me Chell." She smiled, winking at him. She turned to the redhead and dropped into a low curtsy. "Your majesty, you grace my home with your presence."

Tenel Ka didn't move. "Who are you?"

Flynn frowned. "Mother? It's just Tenel Ka, Jacen's fiancée."

Chell shot a glance at him. "You obviously don't know your politics. Before Jacen returned the-"

Tenel Ka stepped forward, cutting the other woman off. "Speak nothing of this."

"But, your highness..." sputtered Chell.

Tenel Ka's eyes flashed. "I am not here as a Queen, Chell. Please, address me as Tenel Ka."

"But that would be improper!" Chell looked aghast at the thought of using her given name.

"Well I'm lost," Flynn commented on the side to Vola, "Are you?"

Vola nodded, looking at their companions curiously. "I don't think they were entirely honest with us. What does she mean, she of flame? Are you really royalty?"

She nodded once. "I am. I ask you do not speak of it outside of this home."

"Well, sure, if I knew what I wasn't supposed to talk about," Flynn told her, scratching his head. "You're really Royalty?"

Jacen chuckled, "She is."

"From where?"

Chell shook her head. "And I thought I'd managed to educate you properly, Flynn. Can't you recognize your own cousin?"

"My what?!" he demanded.

Tenel Ka looked suspiciously at Chell. "Your name, your real name, before I demand more than just answers."

Jacen placed a hand on her shoulder, as baffled by the woman's claim as she.

Chell sighed. "My apologies your highness. I was a part of your mother's clan on Dathomir before it was destroyed. A few of us were sent here," she glanced at Flynn, "Flynn is my nephew, just as you're my niece."

Flynn stumbled back, into Vola, who caught him, and eased him into a chair. She looked at Chell. "You're scaring him!"

"I'm sorry dear." She went to the young man she treated like her son. "Flynn, it's about time you know the truth. You weren't injured here, you had your memory wiped."

His jaw worked. "But... I have memories."

Chell sighed. "It hard to explain, but it was a Force wipe and it was very precise. You couldn't know about your connection to the Hapan throne."

"The what?"

Chell looked at Tenel Ka. Jacen had his arm around her shoulders as they listened, just as hers was wrapped around his waist. Chell smiled faintly. "My real name is Chella Ne. It was wiser to combine them here should I ever be captured. Tenel Ka is the Queen of the Hapan empire."

Flynn sat back in the chair, closing his eyes. "Are you telling me I'll be related, by marriage, to the Solo clan when they go through with this?"

Chell grinned. "I suppose I am."

Tenel Ka stepped from Jacen's embrace and placed her hand on Chell's shoulder. "I must verify what you say."

Chell stood, "I know. Use your powers, your majesty, you'll see it's true."

Tenel Ka stretched out to the Force and began to probe the other woman's memories. Images of Dathomir, as she remembered it, entered her mind. The wild Rancors; the clan. She watched Chell grow into womanhood, watched as her mother, as a young woman, brought her chosen mate to the tribe. Her breath caught in her throat at the image, seen through this young woman's eyes. Tenel Ka explored the furthest reaches of Chell's memories, verifying, checking and double-checking before finally pulling back. She opened her eyes and nodded. "You are who you claim."

Chell smiled. "As are you, your majesty."

"Tenel Ka." She corrected firmly. "I will make it a command if you do not desist."

Chell laughed softly. "Very well, I'll do my best."

"Doesn't it just figure we'd run into the one person down here who knows you?" Jacen asked her grinning, "Of all the people..." he shook his head.

Tenel Ka didn't look at him, simply looked at Flynn. Her cousin, one she'd never even known had survived. For some strange reason it reassured her. She and Jacen wouldn't be marrying among strangers; she would at least have family. Albeit distant family, but family nonetheless. And that was very comforting.