"So, the only one of us missing is Jaina." Jacen led Tenel Ka around the small lake that marked the north end of the river.
Tenel Ka walked beside him, characteristically quiet. "Everyone except Anakin."
Jacen nodded solemnly. "Except Anakin.
"It is still hard to believe that so many are gone." Tenel Ka watched the ground.
"Yeah." Jacen picked up a stick and began to peel the bark off with unusual concentration.
Tenel Ka eyed him curiously, wondering when he'd picked up nervous habits.
"You know," he began quietly, pocketing the smooth, barkless stick, "if someone had told me this was how it would turn out" he threw a small rock in his hand, skipping it across the lake, " I'm not sure I would've believed it.
"Nor I." Tenel Ka agreed.
"Makes you wonder if maybe we could've stopped it if we had known.
Tenel Ka remained silent for a moment. "I have often wondered this." She replied finally.
"I know one thing," Jacen laughed joylessly, "I never would have let Mom and Dad take us to Lando's little casino/spaceport." He ran one hand through his hair. "Chewie would still be alive, and who knows, if Chewie had been around, maybe Anakin never would've died."
They walked on in silence for a few moments.
"What about you?" Jacen asked finally, shoving his hands into his pockets. "What would you change?
Tenel Ka didn't answer right away. When she did, her voice was barely audible. "There are many things I would have done differently."
Jacen didn't press her further.
The Great Temple was now only half a click away, and they could see figures milling about, many of them robed masters returning from the Temple of Blue Leaf Cluster.
"I did not realize so many classes took place this early." Tenel Ka mused, watching the group of teachers talk amongst themselves as they entered the Great Temple.
"Actually," Jacen shook his head, "they have a master's duel before their classes start."
"Oh." Tenel Ka nodded in understanding.
"Trust me," Jacen laughed, "we couldn't drag most of the students out of bed this early."
Tenel Ka actually smiled at this. "So there are some things that have not changed."
Jacen grinned. "It's funny. That's the very thing Uncle Luke grumbles about: 'some things never change'."
Tenel Ka looked at him. "How is this?"
Jacen shrugged, pulling the temple's outer door open for her. "Oh, you know, when someone skips a class to go swimming."
Tenel Ka appeared incredulous. "We did this?"
Jacen nearly stopped in the hall. "Don't tell me you've forgotten. We used to cut Kam's class at least once a standard week."
Tenel Ka was astonished. "I had no part in this!"
"No," Jacen admitted, "it was usually just Jaina and Zekk, but I do recall getting you to come with us once."
Tenel Ka tilted her chin up imperiously. "I do not recall this."
Jacen shrugged. "Sure thing, your Majesty." He knew what kind of reaction that would get.
Tenel Ka disappointed him by simply glaring.
"Where are we going?" she finally asked.
Jacen stopped in front of his door. "Right here." He pressed his thumb to the bioscanner on the door.
"Do you intend to keep me in suspense all day?" Tenel Ka questioned.
Jacen didn't have to answer as the door swished open.
The figure on the other side of the door grinned at Jacen, her eyes sparkling at Jacen as she rattled something off in a language completely unfamiliar to Tenel Ka.
Tenel Ka took in the loose blonde curls and striated green-blue eyes, and looked back at Jacen.
Jacen was smiling at her, one arm resting warmly on the other girl's shoulders. "Mieca," he addressed the blonde on his right, "this is a friend of mine, Tenel Ka Djo." He looked back at Tenel Ka. "Tenel Ka, this is Sieren.
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After nearly thirty hours trapped, more or less by one's own doing, in a four-by-six unit cockpit, insanity, or at least a milder version of it, seemed less and less a thing of the distant imagination.
Jaina now knew the text-via-astromech transmission system inside and out, since she'd spent at least six hours sending herself messages.
She knew it had to have been more than six hours, but how much longer, was anyone's guess, since the chronometer had abruptly quit ten hours after departure.
Now she was infecting her companions with her insanity.
She hit the transmit control and grinned at the audio ping that came with a returning message.
EVER WONDERED HOW MANY ALDERAANIAN GUNDARKS WOULD FIT INTO YOUR COCKPIT? The typing signature was Kyp's.
Jaina rolled her eyes. NO, BUT I BET YOUR GONNA TELL ME. HOW MANY?
The reply was almost instantaneous. NONE. GUNDARKS AREN'T FROM ALDERAAN.
Jaina groaned.
FORGIVE MY RUDENESS, Jag broke in, BUT, MASTER DURRON, YOUR HUMOR IS LACKING.
AT LEAST I HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR TO LACK. Kyp shot back.
WHY, MASTER, I HAD NO IDEA YOU WERE SO ADEPT AT OXIMORONS. It was the snidest comment Jaina had ever heard him make.
ALL RIGHT, KIDS, Jaina chided, THAT'S ENOUGH.
KIDS? Jag questioned.
MOM, HE'S HITTING ME! Kyp continued.
HITTING YOU? I HARDLY THINK THAT'S POSSIBLE. Jag scoffed.
I MEANT YOU WERE ACTING CHILDISH. Jaina explained his previous query.
BUT WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH HIM ACCUSING ME OF HITTING HIM?
Jaina sighed and banged her head against the dashboard in exasperation. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ON A LONG TRIP WITH YOUR YOUNGER SIBLINGS, JAG? She typed the question.
There was a long pause. I CAN ASSURE YOU, WYN NEVER ACTED LIKE THAT. Came the indignant reply.
I give up. Jaina shook her head at the screen. this trip is going to be an utter disaster.
BUT YOU KNEW THAT ALREADY.
Jaina jerked at the words, sending a fierce mental shove Kyp's way along with an invective string of expressions that would have turned her brother's face purple.
Fine then. Came the reply.
ALL RIGHT. She typed. JUST LEAVE EACH OTHER AND ME ALONE!
THIS UNIT, Jaina frowned at eh new typing signature, then realized Cappie was joining the conversation, FINDS IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR YOUR COMMAND TO BE CARRIED OUT.
Jaina groaned. "Not you, too.
ME TOO, WHAT?
"Never mind." Jaina shook her head. I'm traveling with three imbecilic idiots, none of which I have any power to hurt. She wanted to scream at the sheer insanity of it all.
ARE WE THERE YET?
Jaina was ready to start pulling hair out in fistfuls, when a sudden change of view caught her eye.
"Actually," she spoke into her comm pickup, watching Yavin grow larger in her viewport, "as a matter of fact, we are.