AN: The survivors are my own creation, everything else belongs to Lucasfilm...
From Scratch
Chapter 26
The rain was still falling when Tenel Ka woke the next morning. She was comfortable, cozy, wrapped loosely in her husband's arms as he still slept. She didn't bother to move at first, simply enjoyed the sensations. His breathing was deep and even, though his hands clenched at random intervals, as if trying to grasp something that wasn't there. She turned her head towards Jacen, sitting up sharply when she saw the look on his face. His eyes were closed but his brow was drawn, as if he was seeing something unpleasant. His lips were moving in a silent denial of something only he could see. She reached out, shaking him. "Jacen. Jacen!"
He didn't respond except to moan as if in pain. "Jacen!" she slid him onto his back, grasping his shoulder tightly and shaking again. His head thrashed back and forth, as if in silent denial, a soft moan escaping his lips.
"Jacen! Wake up!" Her plea became urgent but fell on deaf ears as he began to thrash in his sleep. At a loss, she pinned him to the ground and slanted her mouth across his. It wasn't a soft kiss by any means. It was more desperate, a forcefully demanding kiss designed to get a response. And gain a response it did.
Tenel Ka felt his awareness spark, felt his sudden presence in the Force where there'd been a blank spot before. His mouth opened under hers and she gentled her kiss, slowly pulling away. She hadn't thought when she'd pinned him and was now sprawled across his chest. Not that she minded.
His eyes slowly opened, "Wow."
She looked at him seriously. "I could not wake you. Were you dreaming?"
He frowned, blinking. "I... don't know. I felt trapped almost like something was attacking me from several sides. Like I was being forced into a mold I didn't fit into. And then nothing. Like being thrown into a deep pit and being unable to get out."
She smoothed his bangs back from his forehead. "I will not let you fall."
His arms came around her, "I know. You're what brought me back. Thank you."
She inclined her head, dipping it to hover just over his lips. "Do not thank me, I have a vested interest in keeping you alive."
"You're insatiable." He whispered, leaning in to kiss her again.
She returned his kiss before pulling away, her hands sliding from his hair down his chest as she sat up, straddling his hips. "It is time to wake," she told him seriously.
Jacen grabbed her, drawing a surprised gasp from her lips as he rolled her onto her back. "Indeed." He murmured, brushing her hair gently off her cheek as he pinned her beneath him. "But we can't really go anywhere until Vola and Flynn get here, can we?"
She blinked. "I do not see why. We can leave them a note."
Jacen sighed. "You need to learn a little romance, wife." He ducked his head, nuzzling her neck. "We can't go anywhere yet; I have a problem with letting you up."
"Why?"
He lifted his head to find her eyes sparkling, her lips twitching as she fought not to smile. He began to laugh. "You're making fun of me!"
She nodded and he shook his head. "Who'd have thought I'd see the day when you would tease me," he marveled. He kissed her again before pulling back reluctantly. "But you do have a point. We should be getting up."
"You will not," she tugged him back down and, laughing, he went to her.
They didn't rise from their bed for the next few hours until the dampness of the morning finally penetrated. Dressed to face the day, they quickly stirred up the remainders of their dinner the night before and ate. Together they broke camp and packed up their things and then sat next to the fire. Tenel Ka lead Jacen through a series of rigorous calisthenics, showing him the stretches and exercises she'd been doing each morning for as long as she could remember.
Jacen, content to let her occupy their time, gamely followed, though he didn't have nearly the same level of flexibility, it was a good work out. Of course, he kept interrupting her rhythm with the occasional touch, kiss, or caress whenever she began to position his arms or legs. She took it in stride, returning it in kind when he least expected it.
They were going through a sparring match of punches and kicks when Flynn and Vola stumbled onto their camp. The Vuuzhan Vong looked decidedly uncomfortable as she watched Tenel Ka aim a roundhouse kick at Jacen's head. "Woah, man, what'd you do to piss her off?" Flynn demanded, falling back as Jacen deflected the kick, only to get a follow up to his chest. He caught her leg, sending her into a back flip and Tenel Ka landed in a crouch.
They turned, Jacen breathing slightly harder than normal, Tenel Ka not seeming to be fazed at all. "Flynn, you made it!"
Flynn looked from one to the other, Vola hanging back to the side. "Well yeah, Tenel Ka said it was urgent, I couldn't just stay away." He grinned cockily, "Couldn't stand to travel without us, eh?"
Jacen chuckled. "Actually we're headed for the Well of the World Brain. We're going to need Vola's language talents. And from the look of it you both came prepared for a fight if need be."
Vola sported two heavy blasters, Flynn a repeating blaster and hold out. Flynn grinned. "More than you know. So yeah, why the Well, man? I mean, couldn't you pick some other sight seeing spot?"
Jacen chuckled. "It's not a sight seeing expedition, Flynn. I've been called."
Vola sucked in a sharp breath. "It's true then? You can communicate with the planet as the stories say?"
Jacen nodded. "Yes, Vola, I can. I was the one who chose the Brain of Yuuzhan'tar. I have a connection to it that your people could never understand."
Vola dropped to her knees, bowing her head. "It is true. You are the one who will free my people!"
Jacen exchanged glances with Tenel Ka before kneeling in front of the Yuuzhan Vong. Flynn was looking at his girlfriend incredulously. "Vola. Look at me. I'm still Jacen Solo, the same man as before."
Vola slowly lifted her head. "You will free the shamed ones from their slavery? Defeat the warriors and shapers that would threaten our very existence?"
Jacen shook his head. "I haven't come to free them, I haven't come to stop the oppression. I came to convince Tenel Ka to take me as her husband." He glanced back at his wife and smiled. "That's been accomplished, but I've now been called. The World Brain is in need of my assistance and I can't turn my back on it."
Vola bit her lip. "You won't help them?"
Jacen ran a hand through his hair. "It's not my place. If your people want freedom, they'll have to earn it for themselves. I can't help you."
"You mean you won't." she said angrily, anger creeping for the first time into her voice. She'd never displayed anything but caution and friendship and the sharp notes had Jacen pulling back in surprise. Whatever he'd expected it wasn't that. "You have the power, Jeedai," she spat, "and you would do nothing to help us. Why should I help you?"
"Vola!" Flynn's shock was almost palatable. He knelt beside her, wrapping his hands around her shoulders and shaking her. "Vola, snap out of it! This is Jacen and Tenel Ka, they're friends!"
"Friends?" she spat. "Friends help one another and he would do nothing to stop our oppression!"
"Our?" Flynn spun her around. "Who's? Ours? Yours and mine? We're not oppressed! Some of the shamed ones and slaves are, yes, but they choose to be! You can't blame Jacen for something they're not willing to try and fix themselves!"
Her head bowed and came forward, resting on his chest, as she seemed to deflate, tears glittering in her exotic eyes. "I know," she said softly, "I know, I'm sorry, I don't... I don't know what came over me."
Flynn enfolded her in a tight hug, meeting Jacen's gaze over the top of her head. "I'm sorry, man, it happens sometimes."
"Can I help?"
Flynn shook his head. "I don't think anyone can." He ducked his head as he gently stroked her back.
Jacen stood; a little shaken by the blinding hatred he'd felt emanating from Vola. Only it wasn't aimed at him. He frowned as Flynn comforted Vola with softly whispered words, Tenel Ka stepping to his side. "Will she be alright?"
Jacen nodded thoughtfully. "I think so. I just hope we can count on her when the times comes."
Flynn looked up, meeting Jacen's gaze again. "She'll help you, man, I promise. Just give her a minute."
Jacen nodded and settled back, waiting for Vola to compose herself. Slowly, ever so slowly, she seemed to snap out of the slump she'd encountered and straightened. She wiped her eyes, clinging to Flynn as if she'd never let him go before taking a deep breath and stepping away. She turned to face Jacen. "My apologies. I will help you."
Jacen offered his hand, which she took in a shy grasp. "No hard feelings, Vola?"
She shook her head. "No. Thank you for understanding."
Jacen chuckled. "Well, I promise if I can find some way to help both the World Brain and your people, I will. But the World Brain is my first priority. If it dies, the planet dies."
"I understand."
"Let's move out, then," Jacen dropped her hand and went to collect his pack. "Shall we? We have to be there before dark."
Flynn and Vola nodded, standing as one, Tenel Ka collecting her pack before turning to meet Jacen's gaze. Jacen, nodding to each of them, turned and started out into the rain. Their pace was quick, decisive, and almost a run as they set out for the distant destination. Jacen, plagued by a sense of urgency that bordered on desperation, pushed them to their limits. They had to get there and soon. If they didn't, there might not be anything left to save.
From Scratch
Chapter 26
The rain was still falling when Tenel Ka woke the next morning. She was comfortable, cozy, wrapped loosely in her husband's arms as he still slept. She didn't bother to move at first, simply enjoyed the sensations. His breathing was deep and even, though his hands clenched at random intervals, as if trying to grasp something that wasn't there. She turned her head towards Jacen, sitting up sharply when she saw the look on his face. His eyes were closed but his brow was drawn, as if he was seeing something unpleasant. His lips were moving in a silent denial of something only he could see. She reached out, shaking him. "Jacen. Jacen!"
He didn't respond except to moan as if in pain. "Jacen!" she slid him onto his back, grasping his shoulder tightly and shaking again. His head thrashed back and forth, as if in silent denial, a soft moan escaping his lips.
"Jacen! Wake up!" Her plea became urgent but fell on deaf ears as he began to thrash in his sleep. At a loss, she pinned him to the ground and slanted her mouth across his. It wasn't a soft kiss by any means. It was more desperate, a forcefully demanding kiss designed to get a response. And gain a response it did.
Tenel Ka felt his awareness spark, felt his sudden presence in the Force where there'd been a blank spot before. His mouth opened under hers and she gentled her kiss, slowly pulling away. She hadn't thought when she'd pinned him and was now sprawled across his chest. Not that she minded.
His eyes slowly opened, "Wow."
She looked at him seriously. "I could not wake you. Were you dreaming?"
He frowned, blinking. "I... don't know. I felt trapped almost like something was attacking me from several sides. Like I was being forced into a mold I didn't fit into. And then nothing. Like being thrown into a deep pit and being unable to get out."
She smoothed his bangs back from his forehead. "I will not let you fall."
His arms came around her, "I know. You're what brought me back. Thank you."
She inclined her head, dipping it to hover just over his lips. "Do not thank me, I have a vested interest in keeping you alive."
"You're insatiable." He whispered, leaning in to kiss her again.
She returned his kiss before pulling away, her hands sliding from his hair down his chest as she sat up, straddling his hips. "It is time to wake," she told him seriously.
Jacen grabbed her, drawing a surprised gasp from her lips as he rolled her onto her back. "Indeed." He murmured, brushing her hair gently off her cheek as he pinned her beneath him. "But we can't really go anywhere until Vola and Flynn get here, can we?"
She blinked. "I do not see why. We can leave them a note."
Jacen sighed. "You need to learn a little romance, wife." He ducked his head, nuzzling her neck. "We can't go anywhere yet; I have a problem with letting you up."
"Why?"
He lifted his head to find her eyes sparkling, her lips twitching as she fought not to smile. He began to laugh. "You're making fun of me!"
She nodded and he shook his head. "Who'd have thought I'd see the day when you would tease me," he marveled. He kissed her again before pulling back reluctantly. "But you do have a point. We should be getting up."
"You will not," she tugged him back down and, laughing, he went to her.
They didn't rise from their bed for the next few hours until the dampness of the morning finally penetrated. Dressed to face the day, they quickly stirred up the remainders of their dinner the night before and ate. Together they broke camp and packed up their things and then sat next to the fire. Tenel Ka lead Jacen through a series of rigorous calisthenics, showing him the stretches and exercises she'd been doing each morning for as long as she could remember.
Jacen, content to let her occupy their time, gamely followed, though he didn't have nearly the same level of flexibility, it was a good work out. Of course, he kept interrupting her rhythm with the occasional touch, kiss, or caress whenever she began to position his arms or legs. She took it in stride, returning it in kind when he least expected it.
They were going through a sparring match of punches and kicks when Flynn and Vola stumbled onto their camp. The Vuuzhan Vong looked decidedly uncomfortable as she watched Tenel Ka aim a roundhouse kick at Jacen's head. "Woah, man, what'd you do to piss her off?" Flynn demanded, falling back as Jacen deflected the kick, only to get a follow up to his chest. He caught her leg, sending her into a back flip and Tenel Ka landed in a crouch.
They turned, Jacen breathing slightly harder than normal, Tenel Ka not seeming to be fazed at all. "Flynn, you made it!"
Flynn looked from one to the other, Vola hanging back to the side. "Well yeah, Tenel Ka said it was urgent, I couldn't just stay away." He grinned cockily, "Couldn't stand to travel without us, eh?"
Jacen chuckled. "Actually we're headed for the Well of the World Brain. We're going to need Vola's language talents. And from the look of it you both came prepared for a fight if need be."
Vola sported two heavy blasters, Flynn a repeating blaster and hold out. Flynn grinned. "More than you know. So yeah, why the Well, man? I mean, couldn't you pick some other sight seeing spot?"
Jacen chuckled. "It's not a sight seeing expedition, Flynn. I've been called."
Vola sucked in a sharp breath. "It's true then? You can communicate with the planet as the stories say?"
Jacen nodded. "Yes, Vola, I can. I was the one who chose the Brain of Yuuzhan'tar. I have a connection to it that your people could never understand."
Vola dropped to her knees, bowing her head. "It is true. You are the one who will free my people!"
Jacen exchanged glances with Tenel Ka before kneeling in front of the Yuuzhan Vong. Flynn was looking at his girlfriend incredulously. "Vola. Look at me. I'm still Jacen Solo, the same man as before."
Vola slowly lifted her head. "You will free the shamed ones from their slavery? Defeat the warriors and shapers that would threaten our very existence?"
Jacen shook his head. "I haven't come to free them, I haven't come to stop the oppression. I came to convince Tenel Ka to take me as her husband." He glanced back at his wife and smiled. "That's been accomplished, but I've now been called. The World Brain is in need of my assistance and I can't turn my back on it."
Vola bit her lip. "You won't help them?"
Jacen ran a hand through his hair. "It's not my place. If your people want freedom, they'll have to earn it for themselves. I can't help you."
"You mean you won't." she said angrily, anger creeping for the first time into her voice. She'd never displayed anything but caution and friendship and the sharp notes had Jacen pulling back in surprise. Whatever he'd expected it wasn't that. "You have the power, Jeedai," she spat, "and you would do nothing to help us. Why should I help you?"
"Vola!" Flynn's shock was almost palatable. He knelt beside her, wrapping his hands around her shoulders and shaking her. "Vola, snap out of it! This is Jacen and Tenel Ka, they're friends!"
"Friends?" she spat. "Friends help one another and he would do nothing to stop our oppression!"
"Our?" Flynn spun her around. "Who's? Ours? Yours and mine? We're not oppressed! Some of the shamed ones and slaves are, yes, but they choose to be! You can't blame Jacen for something they're not willing to try and fix themselves!"
Her head bowed and came forward, resting on his chest, as she seemed to deflate, tears glittering in her exotic eyes. "I know," she said softly, "I know, I'm sorry, I don't... I don't know what came over me."
Flynn enfolded her in a tight hug, meeting Jacen's gaze over the top of her head. "I'm sorry, man, it happens sometimes."
"Can I help?"
Flynn shook his head. "I don't think anyone can." He ducked his head as he gently stroked her back.
Jacen stood; a little shaken by the blinding hatred he'd felt emanating from Vola. Only it wasn't aimed at him. He frowned as Flynn comforted Vola with softly whispered words, Tenel Ka stepping to his side. "Will she be alright?"
Jacen nodded thoughtfully. "I think so. I just hope we can count on her when the times comes."
Flynn looked up, meeting Jacen's gaze again. "She'll help you, man, I promise. Just give her a minute."
Jacen nodded and settled back, waiting for Vola to compose herself. Slowly, ever so slowly, she seemed to snap out of the slump she'd encountered and straightened. She wiped her eyes, clinging to Flynn as if she'd never let him go before taking a deep breath and stepping away. She turned to face Jacen. "My apologies. I will help you."
Jacen offered his hand, which she took in a shy grasp. "No hard feelings, Vola?"
She shook her head. "No. Thank you for understanding."
Jacen chuckled. "Well, I promise if I can find some way to help both the World Brain and your people, I will. But the World Brain is my first priority. If it dies, the planet dies."
"I understand."
"Let's move out, then," Jacen dropped her hand and went to collect his pack. "Shall we? We have to be there before dark."
Flynn and Vola nodded, standing as one, Tenel Ka collecting her pack before turning to meet Jacen's gaze. Jacen, nodding to each of them, turned and started out into the rain. Their pace was quick, decisive, and almost a run as they set out for the distant destination. Jacen, plagued by a sense of urgency that bordered on desperation, pushed them to their limits. They had to get there and soon. If they didn't, there might not be anything left to save.