From Scratch

Chapter 40

"Jana."

Jana looked up from the prison cell in which she'd been thrown soon after the Queen Mother's disappearance. They hadn't been able to prove her involvement, but suspicion was often enough to warrant arrest. She gasped. "Your majesty!" She scrambled to her feet, backing away from the blank visage of her monarch. "You're well?"

"I am alive."

Jana flinched. "I'm sorry about tricking you, your highness, I thought it would be for the best."

Tenel Ka's gaze stayed focused on hers. "Open the cell."

Jana cowered in the corner, unable to look away as Tenel Ka stepped in, stopping a couple of feet away. "You have done a service for the Solo family."

Jana swallowed hard. "I am ready for my execution." she said in a small voice, shaking violently.

"Your execution?" Tenel Ka offered her a hand. "We are here to promote you, Jana. You have done us a great service. We do not punish for a job well done."

Jana felt her mouth drop open. "W-what?"

Tenel Ka motioned for her to stand with a movement of her hand. "You have aided us in finding a mate of equal strength and ability. For that we are grateful."

Jana was pulled to her feet, her knees shaking violently as she tried to hold her own weight. Her head was spinning, her thoughts unable to form complete sentences as she was taken from the cell by two of Tenel Ka's guards. Tenel Ka led the way from the cell block to her personal chambers which would soon be shared with her husband. The rooms outside the Royal suite would belong to Jana. A position she'd previously held only in name with none of the respect. That was soon to change.

Tenel Ka ordered a bath drawn for her and left orders for Jana to be prepare when she returned. Jana watched as Tenel Ka turned on her heel and left, obviously in a hurry to be else where.

Tenel Ka made her way to the entrance of the building in which the Hapan contingent had taken up residence. And there she waited.

Jacen appeared several minutes later, his pace purposeful. She waited until he entered the building before falling into step beside him. The guards in the halls came to attention, the females throwing dirty looks at Jacen which brought an easy smile to his face. "They don't like me too much."

"They do not like change." Tenel Ka corrected. "They will adapt."

"And if they don't?"

"They will perish. They do not understand change and so do not expect it. They will be forced to learn."

Jacen took her hand and lifted it to his lips, pleasantly surprised when she allowed him to kiss the backs of her fingers. "They'll adapt. It's about time you stirred up the pot some more."

"My grandmother will not agree with you. Come, this confrontation will be easier now."

Jacen had his doubts, but held his tongue as he let go of her hand and let her step into the lead. He followed behind as she wove her way through the corridors, stopping before two female guards. "Open the door."

The guards complied immediately, and the two stepped inside. The door closed softly behind them. Ta'a Chume sat in the center of the room, two near naked men on the floor at her feet. One sat polishing her finger nails, the other massaging her feet as she read over something on a data pad.

Tenel Ka squared off against the still powerful woman. "Why have you returned?"

Ta'a Chume looked up, her veiled features hidden and showing nothing. "My dear granddaughter, someone had to run the consortium when this barbarian stole you from them. I must say, I expected a granddaughter of mine to put up enough of a fight that she could never be taken anywhere against her will."

"Jacen will never hurt me," Tenel Ka informed her grandmother. "No warrior wins every fight."

Ta'a Chume tsked softly. "Then you've failed."

"Never. I have won."

"I don't see how. One of those barbaric Solo men is now attached to our line."

"My father would get a good laugh out of your opinion of him." Jacen smiled. "And my mother, whom you'd chosen for your son's mate, I might add, would probably deck you. Or she might just laugh. We barbarians are such slave to our baser natures."

"Jacen." Tenel Ka's voice held a hint of a warning and he smiled.

"Sorry, my love, your grandmother loves to push my buttons."

Ta'a Chume rose to her feet. "You're making fun of me, slave. I will not allow this."

"Actually, I'm mocking you," he shrugged. "Same thing. Have you seen the marriage certificate we signed, Ta'a Chume?"

The old Queen froze for half a second. "Nothing you signed on any existing planet would be valid here."

"Good thing it's from Alderaan then." He dropped the bombshell in an off handed manner that had Ta'a Chume staring at him as if he'd lost his mind. "Bail Organa sure knew how to make things last."

"I demand to see it."

Jacen handed over a copy of their marriage certificate to Ta'a Chume, keeping his mouth shut. He'd chosen to inform her and now would likely face consequences. He was silent as the former queen read over the document, feeling Tenel Ka's gaze on his face. He knew he'd shocked her too, but if they had to fight dirty to get her grandmother to back off, he was willing to do so.

Ta'a Chume finally looked up. "This is a fake."

"Are you Alderaanian?"

"Of course not."

"My mother is. She almost went into shock when I showed that to her. No true Alderaanian can fake a reaction like that when presented with a piece of their planet."

Ta'a Chume passed the copy to her granddaughter. "Then you will be put through the tests of the Royal Consort."

"He has already passed them." Tenel Ka's tone left no room for discussion. "And I will have no consort. Hapes will have a King."

"Unthinkable!"

"Grandmother, you will accept my ruling. Or do you enjoy exile?"

Ta'a Chume cast what could only be a dirty look at Tenel Ka. "I don't like this. The slaves, the males, will rise up when they learn the Queen Mother thinks a male is her equal. You'll be the cause of for destruction of our way of life and you expect me to stand by and watch without saying a word?"

Tenel Ka advanced slowly until she was nose to nose with the grandmother and lifted the veil with a slow, purposeful movement. "Yes. You will accept this, or you will go back into exile."

"You don't have the courage to have me killed." Ta'a Chume's gaze held nothing but contempt. "Your cousin would have killed me. It's our way."

"Your way. Not mine. You will die when the Force decides to take you."

Jacen watched as the two women exchanged unspoken words, Ta'a Chume finally backing down. But only because she had no other alternative. Tenel Ka nodded once. "We will speak again."

Ta'a Chume said nothing as Tenel Ka pulled Jacen from the room, though they could hear her snapping orders at her guards and servants as the door closed behind them.

He turned to look at his wife and they shared a knowing look. That confrontation had been mild compared to the storm they would enter upon their arrival on Hapes. "That went rather well."

"You do not know my grandmother."

His smile was faint. "I don't really want to know your grandmother. I can't count the times she's managed to meddle in my life, or that of my family. If you had been weaker than you are, my love, you might have given in to her wishes."

"Then you must thank her." Tenel Ka met his gaze seriously. "For it is because of her expectations that I am who I am."

Jacen glanced back at the door and shook his head. "I know. I still have issues with her though."

She took his hand. "Come, we have had a long day."

"Is that a hint?"

She said nothing as she led him through the passageways towards their chambers. Finally, standing in front of their quarters, she turned to look at him. "I do not hint."

He didn't have a chance to say anything as she pulled him sharply inside and locked the door behind them.

Flynn and Vola were taken in by Anakin and Tahiri as if they were long lost family. Given individual rooms that were linked to a shared common area, the four quickly settled in to get to know each other better. Tahiri sat off to the side with Vola as Anakin tried to interest Flynn in the newness of the technology available to them.

Tahiri and Vola watched as Flynn was quickly captivated by the access to the holonet and the array of games that Anakin kept on hand for the times he was alone. Vola shook her head. "Do all men like war games?"

To the surprise of her guest, Tahiri replied in Yuuzhan Vong. "They seem to here. Do you object?"

Vola shook her head. "Your mastery of my language is exceptional." she replied, slipping back into her native tongue. "How is it a stranger to my people is so skilled?"

Tahiri shrugged. "I've had some experiences which have led to being captured by your people. Or rather, those who would have destroyed my own. I have been touched by your technology in a fashion that has left me this ability."

"Among others." Vola observed softly. "I apologize for any harm my people have done to you."

Tahiri's gaze went to where Anakin and Flynn were engaged in their game. "Tarc set straight their biggest offense." Her voice was soft with remembered pain, now fading.

Vola followed her gaze. "Anakin?"

Tahiri nodded. "A couple of years ago we struck at a place where they were shaping creature to hunt Jedi. Anakin... didn't make it. He sacrificed himself so that the rest of us could get away."

Vola listened quietly, hearing the raw pain, the despair, that the other woman had felt. "I'm sorry."

Tahiri smiled, forcing her way past the dark memories. "To make a long story short, there was a boy named Tarc who looked identical to Anakin. Tarc fell sick awhile ago, and offered his body to Anakin. Anakin came back for me."

"He understood your feelings?"

Tahiri made a face. "He understood my intentions. I was ready to kill myself because I couldn't live without him. I couldn't get past his death."

"That's horrible!"

Tahiri hung her head. "I know. I just..." she switched back to basic, her voice soft. "I loved him so much. He'd become an integral part of my life, so much so that I no longer had any friends without him. I didn't have an anchor to keep me grounded, to accept me as I was. Anakin knew that and because of me, his spirit couldn't rest in the Force. He came back, accepted life from Tarc, because he wouldn't let me harm myself. You have no idea what it feels like to know you're being watched by the person who means the most to you, but you can't reach out and touch them. To be completely alone, even when you're not."

Vola grasped Tahiri's hand. "I think I understand. I lost everyone important to me when I was a child. I was alone, completely alone, in a world that couldn't accept me as you see me. When I found Flynn..." she smiled softly. "I can't imagine being with anyone else. He's accepted me for who I am, not what. I know my people have hurt him badly, taken much, but he's looked beyond my heritage. I don't know what I'd do without him."

Tahiri grinned. "Ok, enough of this sappy talk about our guys. What else do you like to do?"

Vola smiled mischievously. "Scavenge."

Tahiri hid a laugh with her hand. "Is that how you found Flynn?"

The two shared a good natured laugh, already becoming fast friends.

"You'd think so to look at him."

Tahiri gasped, her eyes dancing. "You're awful! I think you and I are going to get along just fine."

Vola smiled, her eyes sparkling. "I hope so, Tahiri. I don't have many friends."

Anakin piped up from where he and Flynn were still playing the game. "If my brother and his wife consider you two friends, Vola, than any friend of Jacen's is a friend of the family's!"

Vola turned to look at Anakin, but met Flynn's gaze instead. They shared a look that was hopeful and cautious all at the same time. Most people who wanted to befriend them had wanted something in return. Hopefully the Skywalkers and Solos would prove to be different. Either way, they would accept the hospitality for the moment while Anakin and Tahiri helped them settle in.

Vola turned back to the impish young woman in front of her and impulsively, almost shyly, reached over to hug her. Tahiri returned it tightly. Both hoped they'd finally found another woman who could understand their origins and experiences. Neither knew how true that sentiment was just yet. But, with time, they would come to understand.