Chapter 10-
"Here we are!" Jacen announced after gliding the water speeder softly into the docking bay. He unclipped his safety restraint and then glanced over at his passenger. All of the color had drained from her face and her knuckles were white from gripping the side of the speeder with all of her might.
"Tahiri?" he asked in concern. "Are you okay?"
A tiny groan escaped her lips. "I think I'm going to be sick," she stated plainly. She quickly struggled with one hand to unclip her restraint, while the other hand shot up to cover her mouth. Jacen watched in confusion, not sure what he should do. As soon as the click of her restraint sounded, she threw her head over the side and proceeded to ease the churning that had been rumbling in her stomach since the start of the trip.
Jacen winced and then stifled a chuckle. He was just becoming acquainted with Tahiri's temper and knew laughing at her in her present condition would not be a wise choice. Instead, he fished around in his pack and came up with a bottle of water and a small cloth.
In a moment, Tahiri settled back into her seat with another groan.
"Here," Jacen said as he offered the two items to her. She glanced at the bottle and then up at him.
"Oh goody. More water. Just what I wanted."
Jacen couldn't help but laugh out loud this time. "Just take a few sips. It will help settle your stomach."
She stared at him for a minute before he nudged the bottle into her hand. With a defeated sigh, Tahiri took a few drinks and then wiped her mouth. "Sorry about that," she apologized sheepishly, returning the water and cloth to Jacen.
"Don't be. I guess I shouldn't have assumed you'd like water travel. Anyway, are you able to keep going, or should I take you back home?"
Tahiri shot him a look to kill. "You mean go back the way we came? Right now? No way, buster! I'll keep going. Maybe by the time we're finished doing whatever you have planned, I will have worked up the courage to get back in this boat."
Jacen helped her out of the speeder and onto the pier. She tried to take a few steps, but her legs felt like jelly and she stumbled. Luckily, Jacen was right there. He slipped one hand around her back and grabbed her arm with his other.
"Whoa there! It might take you a few minutes to get your land legs back. Let me hold onto you until you can walk without looking drunk."
Tahiri glanced up at him and was ready with a snide comeback but the words lodged in her throat. Jacen was grinning at her, devilment dancing in his rich, brown eyes, the sun splaying across his rugged tan face making him appear heart-meltingly handsome. Why hadn't she ever noticed how attractive he was before today? While Anakin had been tall and lean, Jacen was broader in the shoulders, his body more filled out.
'I wonder what Anakin would have looked like at Jacen's age?' she thought suddenly, and it sobered her wayward ponderings. She quickly pulled away from Jacen and steadied herself, refusing to have any more such thoughts about Jacen Solo. He was Anakin's brother, for Force sake! Anakin. the only one she loved and would ever love.
Jacen's expression was quizzical, but he didn't push his assistance on her. He was learning that Tahiri was a very independent personality, and he'd get nowhere by forcing her to accept his help. No, he was going to have to take a softer, sneakier, cleverer approach. He intended to help her before she even realized what he had done.
"I'm-I'm okay now," she insisted, a little more weakly than she'd wanted. Fighting against the dizziness spinning in her head, she took a few more steps on her own. She began to stumble again and Jacen fought the urge to catch her. She'd never go for that, so instead he used the Force to right her this time. Pausing only to straighten her shirt, she soon started walking again.
Jacen watched her from behind and had to admit, he rather admired her. Even after being dealt blows in her life that would have caused others to pack it in and call it quits, she remained tough and determined. Yes, the more he got to know Tahiri Veila, the more he understood Anakin's attraction to her. She was kind of cute when that fire flashed in her twinkling, green eyes.
'Take her, Jacen.'
The voice came out of nowhere and froze him in place.
"Are you coming?" she asked over her shoulder, wondering what was taking him so long.
Jacen snapped himself out of his thoughts and caught up to her in just a few strides. A nagging feeling at the back of his mind warned him that maybe he was in over his head on this one, but being a Solo, he was never one to worry about the odds. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What is this place?" Tahiri asked apprehensively as she surveyed the myriad tents and protable shelters constructed as far as the eye could see. Jacen watched the expression on her face and could feel her hesitancy pulsating in the Force.
"It's a refugee camp," he explained. "One of several here on Mon Calamari. Unfortunately, there are thousands more like it across the galaxy. So many people have been displaced throughout the war, forced to leave their homes, their way of life, and- in many cases- their families. This camp may not look like much, but to all of these people it's the only hope they have right now."
Tahiri looked to her left and saw a gathering of disheveled humans seated in a circle in front of a tent, a cook fire in their midst burning steadily. To her right she saw a similar scene, only these people were a race she could not identify. All around her, people from all walks of life were engaged in the tasks of everyday survival, some young, some old, some in between. It was a sobering experience and she instantly felt guilty for wasting so much time wallowing in her own self-pity while all of these people were just trying to survive another day.
"Ah, you must be Jacen Solo. I can see your father in you."
Tahiri halted her observations of the camp and turned her attention to the person who had just greeted them. It was a female Mon Cal, shorter than both she and Jacen, her rubbery skin a beautiful shade of coral and violet. She thrust her hand toward Jacen in a welcome, and he shook it warmly.
"I am Tanghal. Your mother told me you would be coming."
"You know my mother?" Jacen asked, sincerely interested in her story. He was forever finding out new things about his parents-most of it not too terribly disturbing.
"Yes," Tanghal said with a blink of her large, bulbous eyes and a hint of amusement in her gravelly voice. "I worked in the Senate back before she was made Chief of State. Mon Mothma was still in charge then."
"You said I looked like my father. You know him as well?" Jacen inquired.
What passed for a chuckle wiggled the tendrils on Tanghal's chin. "Yes. I don't think Han Solo is a man easily forgotten. I was on Coruscant when he kidnapped Leia to keep her from marrying that Hapan prince. It caused quite the scandal, you know."
"My father, cause a scandal? Surely you jest," Jacen replied with a feigned look of disbelief. "Remind me to ask you about that later. It would be interesting to hear an objective version of that story." He glanced at Tahiri and cast her a quick wink, causing her stomach to do a strange little flip. "But, I'm afraid that is not why we are here today, Tanghal." He moved closer to Tahiri and placed a reassuring hand on her back. "Allow me to introduce my good friend, Tahiri Veila. She and I are here to assist you in any way we can."
Tahiri didn't even pay attention as she greeted the Mon Cal and shook her hand. She was too busy replaying Jacen's voice over and over in her mind.
Friend. My good friend, he had said to be exact. She smiled at the warmth those simple words intoned and admitted to herself that she liked being Jacen's friend. very much. Right now a friend was exactly what she needed in her life.
Tanghal, who was apparently in charge of the camp's operations, continued to chat with Jacen as Tahiri tagged along behind. She showed him the headquarters building, the medical tent, and other important locations he might need to know and also introduced him to the heads of the various work teams. Finally, Tanghal finished her introductions and left to pursue her other duties.
Jacen took a deep breath and then turned to face Tahiri. "So, where do you want to start?"
Tahiri stumbled over her words. While she should have been listening to Tanghal's explanation of the camp's needs, she had been thinking about her newfound friendship with Jacen. Scolding herself for being so silly, she tried to cover her blunder.
"Oh, I don't know. What do you think we should do first?"
He ran a hand through his typically mussed hair and sighed. "Well, Tanghal mentioned several things. We could start with the construction crew, or go help out at the food distribution tent, or the med tent, or the-"
"Okay! Okay! I get the point!" Tahiri interrupted with a smirk. "Food sounds easy enough. Let's start there."
Jacen offered her a smile that warmed her from the inside out. She was finding his limitless compassion and sense of humor to be a balm for her wounded spirit. Being around him was soothing and comforting. He radiated safety and kindness unlike any other person she had ever known. even Anakin, she admitted, surprising even herself.
She instantly recalled the talks she'd had with Anakin about the disagreements he and Jacen had concerning the use of the Force. Both were men of action, but in entirely different ways. Anakin had cared for others, only he wanted to use the Force to eliminate those who would cause harm. To a girl of fourteen, his had seemed the best, most effective method. However, Jacen, she was discovering, was also a man of action, but only after weighing the odds and determining that action was truly needed. He preferred to help and to heal in order to cause change. Maybe it was disrespectful to Anakin's memory, but part of her was beginning to agree with Jacen's perspective. If people kept lashing out in an attempt to exact revenge or justice, then when would it ever stop? It would become an endless cycle of violence and hurt. She'd had enough of both.
She looked over to Jacen walking beside her. He felt her gaze upon him and turned to look at her, smiling once again, totally oblivious to the fact that he was knocking down her carefully constructed walls with each grin. Yes, Tahiri admitted, she was ready to heal.
"Here we are!" Jacen announced after gliding the water speeder softly into the docking bay. He unclipped his safety restraint and then glanced over at his passenger. All of the color had drained from her face and her knuckles were white from gripping the side of the speeder with all of her might.
"Tahiri?" he asked in concern. "Are you okay?"
A tiny groan escaped her lips. "I think I'm going to be sick," she stated plainly. She quickly struggled with one hand to unclip her restraint, while the other hand shot up to cover her mouth. Jacen watched in confusion, not sure what he should do. As soon as the click of her restraint sounded, she threw her head over the side and proceeded to ease the churning that had been rumbling in her stomach since the start of the trip.
Jacen winced and then stifled a chuckle. He was just becoming acquainted with Tahiri's temper and knew laughing at her in her present condition would not be a wise choice. Instead, he fished around in his pack and came up with a bottle of water and a small cloth.
In a moment, Tahiri settled back into her seat with another groan.
"Here," Jacen said as he offered the two items to her. She glanced at the bottle and then up at him.
"Oh goody. More water. Just what I wanted."
Jacen couldn't help but laugh out loud this time. "Just take a few sips. It will help settle your stomach."
She stared at him for a minute before he nudged the bottle into her hand. With a defeated sigh, Tahiri took a few drinks and then wiped her mouth. "Sorry about that," she apologized sheepishly, returning the water and cloth to Jacen.
"Don't be. I guess I shouldn't have assumed you'd like water travel. Anyway, are you able to keep going, or should I take you back home?"
Tahiri shot him a look to kill. "You mean go back the way we came? Right now? No way, buster! I'll keep going. Maybe by the time we're finished doing whatever you have planned, I will have worked up the courage to get back in this boat."
Jacen helped her out of the speeder and onto the pier. She tried to take a few steps, but her legs felt like jelly and she stumbled. Luckily, Jacen was right there. He slipped one hand around her back and grabbed her arm with his other.
"Whoa there! It might take you a few minutes to get your land legs back. Let me hold onto you until you can walk without looking drunk."
Tahiri glanced up at him and was ready with a snide comeback but the words lodged in her throat. Jacen was grinning at her, devilment dancing in his rich, brown eyes, the sun splaying across his rugged tan face making him appear heart-meltingly handsome. Why hadn't she ever noticed how attractive he was before today? While Anakin had been tall and lean, Jacen was broader in the shoulders, his body more filled out.
'I wonder what Anakin would have looked like at Jacen's age?' she thought suddenly, and it sobered her wayward ponderings. She quickly pulled away from Jacen and steadied herself, refusing to have any more such thoughts about Jacen Solo. He was Anakin's brother, for Force sake! Anakin. the only one she loved and would ever love.
Jacen's expression was quizzical, but he didn't push his assistance on her. He was learning that Tahiri was a very independent personality, and he'd get nowhere by forcing her to accept his help. No, he was going to have to take a softer, sneakier, cleverer approach. He intended to help her before she even realized what he had done.
"I'm-I'm okay now," she insisted, a little more weakly than she'd wanted. Fighting against the dizziness spinning in her head, she took a few more steps on her own. She began to stumble again and Jacen fought the urge to catch her. She'd never go for that, so instead he used the Force to right her this time. Pausing only to straighten her shirt, she soon started walking again.
Jacen watched her from behind and had to admit, he rather admired her. Even after being dealt blows in her life that would have caused others to pack it in and call it quits, she remained tough and determined. Yes, the more he got to know Tahiri Veila, the more he understood Anakin's attraction to her. She was kind of cute when that fire flashed in her twinkling, green eyes.
'Take her, Jacen.'
The voice came out of nowhere and froze him in place.
"Are you coming?" she asked over her shoulder, wondering what was taking him so long.
Jacen snapped himself out of his thoughts and caught up to her in just a few strides. A nagging feeling at the back of his mind warned him that maybe he was in over his head on this one, but being a Solo, he was never one to worry about the odds. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What is this place?" Tahiri asked apprehensively as she surveyed the myriad tents and protable shelters constructed as far as the eye could see. Jacen watched the expression on her face and could feel her hesitancy pulsating in the Force.
"It's a refugee camp," he explained. "One of several here on Mon Calamari. Unfortunately, there are thousands more like it across the galaxy. So many people have been displaced throughout the war, forced to leave their homes, their way of life, and- in many cases- their families. This camp may not look like much, but to all of these people it's the only hope they have right now."
Tahiri looked to her left and saw a gathering of disheveled humans seated in a circle in front of a tent, a cook fire in their midst burning steadily. To her right she saw a similar scene, only these people were a race she could not identify. All around her, people from all walks of life were engaged in the tasks of everyday survival, some young, some old, some in between. It was a sobering experience and she instantly felt guilty for wasting so much time wallowing in her own self-pity while all of these people were just trying to survive another day.
"Ah, you must be Jacen Solo. I can see your father in you."
Tahiri halted her observations of the camp and turned her attention to the person who had just greeted them. It was a female Mon Cal, shorter than both she and Jacen, her rubbery skin a beautiful shade of coral and violet. She thrust her hand toward Jacen in a welcome, and he shook it warmly.
"I am Tanghal. Your mother told me you would be coming."
"You know my mother?" Jacen asked, sincerely interested in her story. He was forever finding out new things about his parents-most of it not too terribly disturbing.
"Yes," Tanghal said with a blink of her large, bulbous eyes and a hint of amusement in her gravelly voice. "I worked in the Senate back before she was made Chief of State. Mon Mothma was still in charge then."
"You said I looked like my father. You know him as well?" Jacen inquired.
What passed for a chuckle wiggled the tendrils on Tanghal's chin. "Yes. I don't think Han Solo is a man easily forgotten. I was on Coruscant when he kidnapped Leia to keep her from marrying that Hapan prince. It caused quite the scandal, you know."
"My father, cause a scandal? Surely you jest," Jacen replied with a feigned look of disbelief. "Remind me to ask you about that later. It would be interesting to hear an objective version of that story." He glanced at Tahiri and cast her a quick wink, causing her stomach to do a strange little flip. "But, I'm afraid that is not why we are here today, Tanghal." He moved closer to Tahiri and placed a reassuring hand on her back. "Allow me to introduce my good friend, Tahiri Veila. She and I are here to assist you in any way we can."
Tahiri didn't even pay attention as she greeted the Mon Cal and shook her hand. She was too busy replaying Jacen's voice over and over in her mind.
Friend. My good friend, he had said to be exact. She smiled at the warmth those simple words intoned and admitted to herself that she liked being Jacen's friend. very much. Right now a friend was exactly what she needed in her life.
Tanghal, who was apparently in charge of the camp's operations, continued to chat with Jacen as Tahiri tagged along behind. She showed him the headquarters building, the medical tent, and other important locations he might need to know and also introduced him to the heads of the various work teams. Finally, Tanghal finished her introductions and left to pursue her other duties.
Jacen took a deep breath and then turned to face Tahiri. "So, where do you want to start?"
Tahiri stumbled over her words. While she should have been listening to Tanghal's explanation of the camp's needs, she had been thinking about her newfound friendship with Jacen. Scolding herself for being so silly, she tried to cover her blunder.
"Oh, I don't know. What do you think we should do first?"
He ran a hand through his typically mussed hair and sighed. "Well, Tanghal mentioned several things. We could start with the construction crew, or go help out at the food distribution tent, or the med tent, or the-"
"Okay! Okay! I get the point!" Tahiri interrupted with a smirk. "Food sounds easy enough. Let's start there."
Jacen offered her a smile that warmed her from the inside out. She was finding his limitless compassion and sense of humor to be a balm for her wounded spirit. Being around him was soothing and comforting. He radiated safety and kindness unlike any other person she had ever known. even Anakin, she admitted, surprising even herself.
She instantly recalled the talks she'd had with Anakin about the disagreements he and Jacen had concerning the use of the Force. Both were men of action, but in entirely different ways. Anakin had cared for others, only he wanted to use the Force to eliminate those who would cause harm. To a girl of fourteen, his had seemed the best, most effective method. However, Jacen, she was discovering, was also a man of action, but only after weighing the odds and determining that action was truly needed. He preferred to help and to heal in order to cause change. Maybe it was disrespectful to Anakin's memory, but part of her was beginning to agree with Jacen's perspective. If people kept lashing out in an attempt to exact revenge or justice, then when would it ever stop? It would become an endless cycle of violence and hurt. She'd had enough of both.
She looked over to Jacen walking beside her. He felt her gaze upon him and turned to look at her, smiling once again, totally oblivious to the fact that he was knocking down her carefully constructed walls with each grin. Yes, Tahiri admitted, she was ready to heal.