Post 4
Thyferra
"Dr. Stanton, I promise you that we will not let up our search. We have narrowed the field, and are reviewing the surveillance tapes in and outside the hospital. It will be all right. "
She tried to keep her voice patient when she answered. "Only four people know how to contact me on Tatooine, hopefully my disappearance will be a large enough deterrent. Will you send someone for the card I received today? Or do you want me to stop by the station?"
"I will send an officer by. Be careful. He has yet to contact you by comm, so you still have a shield that he is unwilling to penetrate. He enjoys his anonymity…"
There was a sudden knock on her door, and Keladry interrupted the investigator. "My next appointment is here. I have to go." She snapped the comm shut and looked down at her latest message. Like all the others it was a black square, on which was the same phrases:
We will be together always, I am always with you.
Recently the flimsy was augmented with a holo of Keladry in a public space. Often she was with friends, eating or leaving the hospital. In every picture she had an unguarded expression on her face.
There was another knock, and Keladry buzzed in her next patient, raising her head as the door slid open. She struggled to keep a welcoming expression on her face. "Hello Mr. Romani."
"Doctor." He was quiet, and Keladry silently appraised him before she motioned for him to sit down. His clothes were ragged and sweat stained revealing just how much weight the man had lost in the med center. It was only after he had dropped the crutch onto the floor and maneuvered his foot to a comfortable position that she stood and knelt beside him. The new doctor had already completed his examination, but she wanted to check for herself.
Noticing the slight flinch as she grasped his head to check his pupils, Keladry grew gentle. "How are you feeling?"
"Good."
She reached to take the pulse at his neck, then went back behind her desk to check it against his previous tests. "You look better. Are your ribs sore? Your leg?" He silently shook his head at both questions. "How is Nestor?"
"Fine." From the way Tristan held himself when answering the question, Keladry could tell that something was wrong, so she fell silent using the precept of recording down new data to observe him from the corner of her eye.
For a brief span of time, as she took note of his improvement, Tristan allowed himself the luxury of looking around the now empty office. Not only were the bookshelves stripped of medical journals, books and anything that depicted Dr. Stanton's personality, there was no evidence, save the name card on the door, which identified this as Dr. Keladry Stanton's office. All that remained was a shell, empty and hollow, but instead of seeing the potential, Tristan saw how he felt-a body devoid of a will to be. Her voice cut through his thoughts.
"Is he having trouble finding work?" She had forgotten that Tristan was not aware of the eavesdropping, but with the exception of the tightening around his eyes, he made no other comment other than his short reply.
"Yes."
For a moment her features grew strained, as if she was fighting some sort of internal struggle. Then just as quickly, almost abruptly, Keladry pulled out a sheaf of papers, determined not to change her mind. "As you know I am leaving the planet in a few days. I wanted all my regular patients to meet their new doctors before I left to see if you had any questions, and that you were comfortable. After thinking it over, though, I thought that I could provide you with another option." She pushed the packet towards the prone man.
After a moments hesitation he picked it up and glanced at the file on top. New Republic Emergency Medical Aide Team (NREMAT) Application Form.
Conversationally, she went on, "It will pay you to go from planet to planet for a period of two years, its not going to make you rich, but maybe it will help you gain some perspective, or at the very least get you off planet."
He looked at her with his gray eyes narrowing with suspicion. "Why?"
"I don't know. " And it was true; she didn't know why she was doing this. Force knew she had her own problems; it was not necessary for her to find solutions to the problems of others before solving her own. Especially for someone she disliked. Underneath the desk, her foot began tapping with nervous, contained energy. "I suppose it is for Nestor, who cares for you, and seems to want to help you. His devotion and duty seemed..." She trailed off knowing that while that answer may have been partially true, she was lying.
"Your intervention last week saved that child. " She searched for some reaction but while he sat up straighter, his emotionless features never changed. "If it had not been for your quick diagnosis, Hajshi probably would have been dead before anyone figured out the munitions plant connection. Under any other circumstances he would have been treated for..."
"The side effects to the Androxil only." Tristan interrupted, his voice bitter, sarcastic. "A common mistake, unless you've seen that sort of effect on other planets."
Surprised she blinked, "Yes." She pulled out another sheaf of papers. "I took the liberty of finding out about your medical history with this hospital. You appear to have received top marks for mass crisis management, and I read your paper on neo-bacta therapy. It was good. The recommendations on file will help you to enter the NREMAT without any problems." She was uncomfortable now, regretting her decision to push this. "This way you will be surrounded by doctors who can help you if your injuries take a turn for the worse…" Her voice dropped off.
He tucked the files into the bag he carried with him. "Thank you, have a nice trip." His voice was stiff, almost forced. "Where is the child now?"
She told him and then waited for a moment. "He's being discharged today, and I believe his mother has found another residence for them. She also exhibited signs of poisoning, though hers was less pronounced." He nodded in response and without another word walked out the door. Keladry released the breath she had been holding. Of all the ungrateful... Her inner rant was paused by a sharp rap upon the door.
She buzzed it open and recognized the local security officer who had come for the latest message. Looking down at the desk she looked for the envelope only to realize that it was nowhere to be found. Where could it have gone? I only moved things around to give Tristan the information…Her hand froze. "Shavit."
"Is something wrong ma'am?"
She shook her head. "I just need to catch up with someone. Please, follow me." She knew that Tristan Romani could not have gone far, as he was dependant on his crutch. Rushing to the staff lift she punched in the appropriate floor. Moments later they were standing outside the clear plate glass of the children's ward, the officer standing patiently behind her while she searched for Tristan. It took a few cursory sweeps of the lobby before she spotted him sitting in one of the hover chairs outside the ward frowning down at the pile of papers in his lap.
As she watched he lifted the card that lay loose from the envelope below, glancing casually at the picture. From her vantage point she could almost sense his frown growing deeper, and as if he knew she was standing there his head came up taking in her stance and the officer next to her. Sighing she wove her way through the waiting parents and patients until she was standing in front of him.
Her voice was soft, taking on that lilting quality it often had when she was tired, or frightened. She struggled to control her feelings. "I'm sorry Mr. Romani. That was given to you by mistake."
Tristan silently appraised her, unsure, before handing the square card and envelope to her outstretched hand. He watched, curious as she handed it to the man next to her who in turn slipped it into a plastic bag and placed it into his jacket pocket. He realized that while the man was in civilian dress, he was definitely an officer of some sort. Tristan watched Dr. Stanton walked a few paces back towards the elevator before turning back around to look at him, her eyes exhibiting, for the first time in his presence, some emotion other than annoyance. Her voice was still breathy, soft, a sound that dropped his blood pressure...
"Please, don't mention this to anyone, "she urged.
There was a strange prick in his chest, and for some reason, that he wasn't quite sure of he called out before she moved out of earshot. "Have a safe trip."
Surprised by the sentiment, Keladry turned, nodded, and disappeared into the elevator.
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It was lucky that he had been on the children's ward or he would have never known. As he watched her move across the floor, looking around frantically before stopping in front of a man at the far end of the lobby he could almost smell her hair.
Ripe elderberry, with a hint of valur vine. Second shelf underneath the refresher sink. See? It was almost as if he lived there already. They would be happy together. Looking down at his data pad he allowed a small smile to congratulate himself on his timing. Timing was everything.
And that was when he saw him. His first instinct was to run, but he kept his head down, remaining unobtrusive. She had a security forces man with her, and he was taking her letter. Taking his letter to her. She didn't care for him, she wasn't waiting for him.
She was... afraid of him.
He could feel the rage bubbling inside him, until he lost his breath, she never believed that they would work, never…she never gave him a chance. Why did he have to do all the work in the relationship?
He would make her afraid. Up until know he had been patient, even allowing her to get comfortable with the idea of his love, but now he would show her what fear truly was. The cripple called something out to her before she disappeared, and it took all of his will power to not walk onto the lift with her. The plan had to speed up, she had made him do this, and he would make sure she understood.
It was not until late the next day, as he woke up, his head pounding as it did each night after his work, that he heard what the lame man had said. Have a safe trip.
It took some time, but hours later, standing deep in the shadows on her hallway he knew she was gone. He took his anger out on a pickpocket, taking the man's blaster, leaving the body for the police to find, and then formulated a new plan.
She would have to come back, and he would be ready to watch and savor her pain.
He would wait forever.
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I could not stand the fact that Tristan knew something about me that even my closest friends did not know. In fact I think on some level I resented it.
I did not want to admit that I was running away, and that moment, when my secret spread beyond the investigating officer, the delivery manager and hospital security, I was truly afraid.
I was running away, but in my mind and in my heart I had no other choice.
A new life, one distant from those I loved, but one that would keep myself and them safe.
It was the right choice. Wasn't it?
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Danshitie
From the onset of the journey to the cave, Mara had insisted that the party remain small. Of the two Faience's Isabelita volunteered to remain behind, partially because they could not yet leave Alden behind with a caregiver, but also because she knew her whereabouts were being tracked. Consequently, the group traveling deep into the Al'lorians consisted of Iralian, the two former Royal Guards, Mara and the New Republic Observer.
They left at dusk with Isabelita dropping them off in front of a low lying pile of rubble at the base of one of the public paths. Iralian hung back as the other four moved forward, securing their packs for the almost three day journey ahead of them. While she waited for Isabelita and Iralian to say goodbye Mara headed towards the collapsed stone realizing in the dimming light that it was not the pile of rubble that she had initially expected, but rather an abstract memorial. Made out of some sort of polished stone the curves and lines resembled two birds in flight, their wings splayed out as if warding off an unseen danger. She turned as she sensed Iralian walking behind her, and asked quietly, "Is this Danshitie's memorial for the revolution?"
Iralian nodded, "Both planets erected their tributes quickly, but neither sculpture did little to strengthen memory of the past. Valdet chose a form that honored Anian and Illian's death, while we chose a warning against shifting tides and invisible foes. "His voice was slightly amused, "Rather appropriate considering."
Mara growled under her breath, "Yes, rather."
They started then, wading through green rushes and thickets of low lying trees and bushes. Every few miles they would hit a shallow marsh and walk around in order to keep themselves dry for the longest possible time. The two guards, Danel and Rian took point with the New Republic Observer, Haldin, walking slightly ahead of Mara and Iralian. For the first few hours they were quiet, everyone focused on the task ahead, while treading very carefully up the gently sloping mountain.
Finally, Iralian spoke quietly. "The mountain we are climbing is named for Din'sal, the matriarch of the Morodin dynasty. She is the tallest of all the peaks in the Al'lorian's and as the mother is the one who punishes her children and her children's children when they stray from the strength and wisdom she passed down. The second tallest mountain is Manadie, and is the one most visible from the Palace in the capital city."
Mara thought for a moment, turning this thought in her mind. "That is why Bran's ashes were spread across the Al'lorians, so that he would wander without a home, while being punished by his ancestors."
He grunted his appreciation for her observation, and for a few minutes they were quiet, trudging up the hill.
It was Mara who broke the silence. "What is Isabelita's father's part in this? "
The man took his time in replying, "Nestor Alluvia was best friends with Isa's father, another member of the Morodin royal guard, an elite group of soldiers constantly standing ready for some sort of attack. It was a paranoid time, and the family was bitter, angry and above all else wholly determined to best the Romani of Valdet for dominance in this system.
Both sides were volatile and dangerous, but I will be the first to admit that it was the Morodin who changed the rules. We, " Mara could feel his acceptance of his identity as a Morodin, "We planted those bombs on the villa on Valdet, effectively eliminating the entirety of the Romani family. At the time Tristan had been too young, too naïve having just returned from his medical studies in the galaxy; he was not able to deal with his elderly grand uncle's takeover of what was left of the family's assets. He stepped aside as the rest of the Romani, who incidentally, aside from Tristan and later Anian, were all over the age of ninety, used their might to assassinate Elder and Dorn Morodin." He interjected, ducking beneath a branch "Elbereth's Father and Grandfather. It was during the assassination that Isabelita's father got caught in the crossfire. That same night Isa's mother was on her way to identify the body, and in her grief missed a turn- driving her speeder into a steep ravine, leaving my Isa an orphan at the young age of twelve."
He paused, inhaling and exhaling, trying to catch his breath on the uphill climb.
"Nestor Alluvia, was only 23 years old when the assassinations occurred. He had been a protégé of Isa's father, and consequently was placed in charge of the protective detail of the teenage rulers of the Morodin family. Initially, he was in charge of Bran's detail, but as Bran's suspicion and anger at his sister's piety grew, he was transferred, bearing the incredible responsibility of watching the stranglehold on the family further destroy Danshitie's values.
It was amidst this that Nestor took Isabelita in, gave her a home and made sure that she wanted for nothing. Despite their relative closeness in age she saw him as her protector, taking the place of her father. He was her Da, and all that it entails."
Mara grimaced trying to keep track of her footing in the dark. "And now he is with Tristan, trying to find Iker Rafagr."
She thought Iralian shook his head. "No, now he's protecting Elbereth's husband, a man who she believed was the direct descendant of the Valdet half of the overclan that initially colonized this system. He's doing it for her, for Isa, and for Elbereth who became not only one of Isa's friends, but someone we respected with all our heart. He understands, as we all do that Tristan has to be the one to bring us together. No one else has the legitimacy he has. No one." The final phrase was harsh with a tinge of despair, almost as if he was unsure that Tristan would return.
They heard the three other members of their group come to a halt, indicating that they had reached the first checkpoint, and their resting place for the night. As she drifted off to a light sleep, Mara made sure her senses remained alert. Past experience told her to get as much rest as possible, but to remain on guard.
It was in that half slumber that she realized she still did not know what her objective was, what she was expected to bring back. Despite her clear concern for the bodily danger that it presented, she also held a certain amount of doubt regarding the risk. She found herself wincing, knowing that if Luke had been there he would have insisted she stay behind, a manifestation of his overprotective nature when it came to keeping her safe. She also knew he would have backed down when he felt the mandate of the Force, knowledge of which, while not entirely comforting, helped her be at peace with her choice.
Suddenly she sat up, startled glancing sharply towards the nearly extinguished fire. Danel, who sat facing her noticed the sudden movement. With a grim expression he queried "Is there something wrong?"
Mara stretched out for a moment searching, but could not pinpoint what it was that awakened her. "I'm not sure." Her voice was low, distracted. "I thought I felt…." Abruptly she stopped; there was no way she was going to identify the unique presence she had just felt amongst the trees surrounding them. "Nothing, just keep your eyes open."
The soldier straightened out and his wary eyes scanned the area.
Lying back onto her bedroll and into a plane of half-slumber Mara couldn't help but feel that they were being watched.
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Day two progressed quickly, with a more solid terrain, and a shift in direction towards the north-east, with Danshitie's main city now to their east rather than south of them. As they cut across rises and trenches, Mara found herself between the two guards, Danel to her right and Rian to her left. Because they had veered off the standard path, the group felt more comfortable moving in daylight, and consequently ended up a good deal closer to the cave when they stopped for some well needed rest. Their small fire glittered, and the hollows in the rock whistled eerily leaving the travelers shivering but entranced.
Mara, who had always been forthright, finally caught the guard's attention. "What exactly am I looking for when I am inside the cave?"
The two guards glanced at one another before looking at Iralian. When he nodded, Danel spoke carefully. "We believe it's a box, a pair to some existing piece of work that the Romani already have access to."
"So I'm looking for a carved box?"
Rian hung his head and mumbled. "We're not sure."
Mara arched an eyebrow in his direction. "Well, you better be sure, because I am not going to walk into a poisonous environment without some proof."
Iralian soothed her. "There are signs, Master Skywalker. Something I know you understand to some degree. We know that we have the right place."
Danel was more forceful. "You'll know when we get there. There is no way you cannot be moved."
There was such a level of conviction, coupled with a veiled plea for her faith, that Mara could only give each of them a level glaze, before nodding and turning in for the night. As she moved towards her bedroll, she could feel the Bith's eyes on her. She could sense that he was hiding something, and she knew that out of all the members, she knew he was avoiding their conversation the most.
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It was nearly dusk the next day when after thirteen hours of steep, uphill climbing, first Danel, then Rian scrambled onto a rock face jutting out about a hundred feet over the open descent of Din'sal. Mara pulled herself up next, and it was only after making sure Halden and Iralian successfully managed to follow that she used her keen senses to identify the next phase of their journey. She stood and looked while straightening up to stretch her tired muscles, but all she saw was more sheer rock. We must not be in the right place. The Force was telling her something else. Her green eyes pierced what was left of daylight for the others and found all four standing near the edge, not moving, almost frozen in time. Only the Bith turned and caught her eye with a look of astonishment.
As she approached the precipice she could feel the life teaming around her, and almost see the Force before her, like curling tendrils forming beckoning fingers. The sensation reminded her of an experience Luke had shared with her, when on the brink of death on Dathomir, the Force had healed him, bringing him back to life; it was similar, but yet so different. Standing toe to toe with her guides, Mara exhaled at the beauty before her, wondering why this tableaux was so important.
It was majestic, the sister peaks of Din'sal arrayed before them, their snow-tears bowing to the mother as the spring of the higher altitude melted their sorrow away. The warmth pushed through the open area below, mixing the golden rush fields with the green bi'el trees that were native to the planet, creating a pattern of opulence whose contrast was reminiscent of Danshitie from orbit.
Through all of this, in the hour before dusk, Mara saw the shadow seemingly created by a cloud drift from above, spider walking through the trees, black and ominous across glowing landscapes. For more than four minutes this natural personification of Danshitie's soul created a distortion in the air around them. Where everything surrounding the cliff face was iridescent with the sun's reflection, the air was heavy, urgent and perhaps, alive. This was the sign that the Danshitie natives had described, this weighty feeling of certainty. She felt no surprise from the two guards and Iralian who had obviously experienced this before, and at their urging their two companions turned around. Now, in this half day half night, here in the cliff-face, hidden by the glaring sun during the day, and the indwelling shadows by night, was the opening to a cave.
Mara looked back at them, taking in their expressions of open hope, and wonderment. Rian looked at her with slightly raised eyebrows, as if urging her forward. Without speaking, she shrugged off the larger pack and the climbing harness, clicked her lightsaber to her hip and walked in to the darkness.
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CloudCity
Tenel Ka felt terrible, her head was spinning, but her heart kept reminding her of how she was still alive.
And Jacen is not. Just minutes earlier they had been following an Ugnaught who, in his duplicity-most likely working for the Black Sun-had sent the three Young Jedi into a garbage shoot and to an almost certain end.
The events replayed themselves again and again and again and again.
The fall, Lowie's outstretched arm, anchored to a transmission antenna, Jacen's yell as he came flying after them,
His hand's griping her calf, tightening then slipping, pulling on her boots. And then the sight that she knew would haunt her….
His eyes,
Jacen'seyes. And then he was gone. Slowly, with a grappling hook the survivors pulled themselves up, and then her world went black.
When her eyes reopened, she realized that they were standing in front of Anja Gallandro's door, and then falling in to the room as it opened.
Tenel Ka heard her happy, not happy, what is joy, voice as Anja welcomed them into the room. From a distance, the Dathomir warrior heard a girl's reply, weak, weighted. "You were right not to come with us." The glittering droid exclaimed about traps, and about Tenel Ka needing medical attention. Tenel Ka? Me? Tenel Ka. I'm hurt? She whispered, an echo, "Trap"
Tenel Ka? She could still hear his voice, calling to her. Hey wanna hear a joke?
And she couldn't breathe. Tenel Ka felt herself being lowered to a soft pallet, but couldn't tell anything else beyond the pain.
Then Anja, after contacting the authorities, turned back to the injured, noticing Jacen's absence. Her words stabbed Tenel Ka to the core. "So where's Jacen? Torturing the Ugnaughts by telling them jokes?"
Jokes, I will never hear another one of his jokes…And Tenel Ka the warrior could not stop herself from crying. Lowbacca's wail reverberated through her mind, joining her mental anguish.
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Coruscant
Mon Mothma's life was intertwined with the birth of the New Republic. As a young senator from Chandrila she was a strong opponent of Chancellor Palpatine's rise to power, and spearheaded the rebellion through its early and darkest of days.
Seven years after the defeat of the Emperor her commitment was unwavering, when as the first Chief of State she had to choose between keeping the Republic strong, or allowing her weakened image to cripple its activity. While the Jedi healer Cilghal had purged her system of the Cardian minister's poison, she had felt older, and with time-unable to remain in the public life.
After the Corellian crisis, the brief period where Leia's whereabouts had been suspect, she had withdrawn back to her native Chandrila, realizing finally that the quiet solitude she had spoken of to Luke Skywalker had finally been medically prescribed.
Only a few knew of her frailty, a condition which was no where to be seen as Leia gazed at her image across vast distances of space.
Staring steadily at her former mentor, Leia Organa Solo was fully aware that she was looking at the only being who, besides Ponc Gavrisom, could fully understand her condition. "I'm terribly sorry about canceling, Mon Mothma"
The regal woman, whose brown hair had turned a distinguished silver, waved away her apology. "Leia, there are some things that a chief of state can not control. I know visiting was a long shot." She gazed at Leia, "Has Borsk made his bid for Chief of State yet?"
Astonished, Leia's mouth dropped open. Of course!
Knowingly, the former chief of state continued. "He will win of course, if you choose to step down."
Leia frowned, "How did you know?"
Mon Mothma smiled, "I may not be on Coruscant anymore, but I have friends who keep me appraised of important happenings. That and your refusal to defend yourself against his criticism of the Duro's shipping contract, and, the unmitigated fervor with which the Bothan's allies have been dropping his name in the same context as 'Fighting for a peaceful future'."
Leia shook her head, "In hindsight, it is fairly obvious."
"The Bothan's have never been subtle. They may work with subterfuge and hidden agenda's but when they want something as much as Borsk Fey'yla wants this…there is only so long that they can work quietly before stepping on someone's toes. There is the added benefit of being the last of the Rebellion leaders to be in office." Mon Mothma hesitated before continuing, her tone becoming respectful. "Chief of State Organa Solo. How long have you been in office?"
"Almost Thirteen years. Twelve, if you count the months where I was deemed either unfit or willingly stepped down right before the Caamas incident over Bothuwaii." Her answer was mechanical as the numbers that had been playing through her head for months took shape into words.
"How long was Emperor Palpatine in power?"
At that Leia hesitated, unsure of where Mon Mothma was going with this line of questioning. "Almost Twenty-five years, including the years where he was Supreme Chancellor." Anticipating the older woman's next question Leia continued, "Of which the Imperial Senate was a mere figurehead for almost twenty-one years if you count the period in which he held Emergency Powers during the Old Republic."
Sagely, Mon Mothma nodded. "Do you understand Leia?"
She was quiet for a moment, pondering the question. It was a thought that had been rattling around her head for over a year, of how despite the insulting comments describing her as a self made Empress, the accusations had rung true. "There are times Mon Mothma where you have to let the child go so that it can grow. "
Leia unconsciously straightened up before continuing. "If I were to stay, I would lose perspective-after thirteen years can I really claim to be one of the people? I may hear what the citizens have to say, I may still feel the ache of Alderaan as if I had stood on that Death Star last night-but I can only feel it when the weight of the office, and the responsibility are not there." Leia leaned forward with a level of urgency she didn't know she felt. There was a vague sensation of loosing her bearings, and in the back of her mind Jacen's inquisitive face flashed before her eyes-almost a mental reminder of why she was doing this.
She finally voiced her concern. "How can I step down, and not feel like I am abandoning them?"
Mon Mothma raised her hand palm up, as if stopping Leia's fears in their tracks. "Madame Chief of State, there is something I would like to tell you, but listen to it all and then take some time to think. Maybe it will quell your fears, maybe it will bring you clarity." She took a visible breath, steadying herself, and then continued.
"The Jedi of the Old Republic were arrogant. " She let that hang for a moment and then began to explain herself.
"They were arrogant, not in the traditional sense, not the typical arrogance and self-righteousness you see, and shall see from council members such as Pwoe and Borsk, but arrogant none the less." Mon Mothma could see the line of confusion across the Princess' face, and inwardly grimaced at dark shadows that lined the once, young features. It is time Leia, It is time. The inward mantra was repeated even as she resumed speaking.
"My brief experience with them before the purges showed how the council had become detached, almost omniscient in the eyes of the citizenry. They had become higher then those who they served.
In the realm of galactic politics that was the time when one man manipulated billions, and proved that he could bring them to their knees.
Leia-" Mon Mothma repeated her name, "Leia, in our time, in your time, it was to show that the Jedi should become one of the people, not removed from our world creating their own sheltered existence from the commonalities of civilized survival. They had lost their connection to life, by somehow placing themselves above life. "
"I met Jedi who I respected, and upon their deaths I grieved, but I understood that our war was about much bigger things. I know that I am not a Jedi, that I have no place, no right in judging their path, but I can not shut out what lasting use I can still be, despite my retreat."
In other words, Leia thought ruefully, you still exist within the realm of politics, even though you stepped down. I know that will be true, but the illustration is well worth it. Leia returned to conscious attention, taking note of the formal tone that Mon Mothma was continuing to use to underscore the sincerity of her advice, advice given to her equal.
"Madame President, you have a future as a Jedi. Where your brother has expanded his connection and has seen the necessity and continues to see the necessity of keeping that attitude from returning-I think that maybe its time you explored what you can do, to keep the Jedi and the government working together, without repeating the mistakes of the past."
Looking exhausted the former Chief of State leaned back in her chair before continuing. "This is almost the opposite of the conversation I had with your brother when Lando Calrissian was searching for a wife, but I hope you understand why I feel the need to articulate it. " She offered the younger woman a firm smile. "You are not abandoning the galaxy, you are giving them the power to choose, knowing that your guiding hand, your advice will always be there for them. But you have other gift's, and a life to live without politics. No one can begrudge you that." She offered a wan smile, before delivering her parting message.
"Borsk will win Leia, but we have to trust that he is worthy of that esteemed place of trust, that high mantle of power. The rest is up to the Force, which shall never leave us."
As the screen faded away Leia sat back in her chair, stunned. Almost mechanically she moved towards the office and finished her speech. As she hit the key she realized that it was time to take the next step. Hitting her commlink she called her aide,
"Get me Cal Omas and Ponc Gavrisom."
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Danshitie
Drip. Drip.
Drip. Drip.
If the lack of light was the first thing Mara noticed visually upon her entrance into the cave, the systematic echo of liquid bouncing off liquid was her first audible introduction to the task she had before her. Just steps inside the cave, the collapsing shadow of night obscured whatever clues that sunlight could have provided, creating a surreal atmosphere, perched on this moment as if waiting for her disturbance, with the sound of dripping water masking any effort she could make on discerning the depth of the cavern.
With short motion she flicked on the glowrod, set to give off the barest of beams. While her lightsaber would have done the trick, she understood that too much light may lure any unseen predators to the light, or even, as she recognized the isolation of this cavern, the possible destruction of the fragile ecosystem.
In the small harsh beam Mara was able to see an immediate environment pocketed with endless pits and stunning stalactites and stalagmites- to some extent identical to the caves on Nirauan. This cave, however had its own unique heartbeat, and Mara could feel the pulsing through her toes, echoing off her fingertips and radiating into the nothingness beyond.
Cautiously, she took a few steps forward, attempting to get a clearer understanding of her relative position within the cave while maintaining a sense of balance over the precarious topography. She blinked and watched as the low beam of the glowrod exposed the mouth of a seven foot high channel, which appeared to be at the end of the larger and wider opening that marked the entrance of the cave. For a moment Mara evaluated her situation, and with her internal sense of time took stock of the inky blackness of the pit to her left, and the shallower pit to her right. The narrow path she was on appeared to be sturdy enough, so she stretched out her senses, shut down the glow rod and hooked it to her belt. Not allowing herself to get used to the darkness, she pulled out her light saber, and with a snap-hiss activated it, realizing that her previous concerns were secondary to the primary one of survival.
Almost immediately, the cavern was flooded with an ethereal glow, deepening some shadows while banishing others. Rough walls, smoothened out, with ghastly nightmares turning into oddly shaped outcroppings. Mara examined the channel again, and after noting that it seemed to be wide enough for her to walk straight through nimbly crossed the distance, plunging herself, saber first into the narrow space. The first noticeable sensation was almost visceral making her feel like a caged animal, with invisible limitations behind her suddenly becoming a physical reality. Her shoulders were a good three inches away on either side, and remembering the warnings about the algae that had effected the ancient Morar clan, she took care to retain her distance.
Thirty minutes later she abruptly stopped, realizing that at some point it had dawned on her that if someone were to come up from behind, she was in a fairly precarious position. Standing there, alone, she shook her head in chagrin, because if she wanted to maintain her distance from either wall on this seemingly endless corridor, turning around in time to defend herself would be difficult; especially with the echo of her footsteps intermingled with the constant drip masking any sound or warnings.
You have the Force, Mara, get a grip. It was then, as Mara shook herself and set her shoulders to focus on the path before her, that a strange feeling of freefall invaded her senses.
JacenAutomatically, she reached out for his presence, and found herself, without forewarning, being pulled forward, her worry for Jacen's well being superseding her concern for herself. Not watching her step as she stretched out beyond Danshitie, Mara suddenly stumbled over a loose rock. She flailed, keeping her elbows tucked in and absently glanced down, Emperor's Black Bones!
Somewhere out there Jacen was in mortal danger, but her danger sense combined with all the combat training she had ever had told her that she, Mara Jade Skywalker was about to embark on the fight for her life.
She had not stumbled over a loose rock, rather there, on the floor of a long endless corridor, with only her lightsaber illuminating the way, was a skull.
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Outside the cave, Iralian paced quietly trying not to disturb the others. Before he and his wife had separated, they had talked about the dangers, about how they were sure that Koi Esperenza and Sian Arran had people following both members of the Faience family. The first night he was sure they had a tail, but had hoped he had had lost them when the group resumed travel the next day-off the common trail. His catch-22 was that as long as their tail followed them, the pressure on Isa would let up. Alternatively, if he was successful in losing this group, the Citizen Representative's stooges would focus on Isa and the baby.
The risks they were taking were enormous, and so he paced, trying to calm his nerves, and hoped that the Jedi would be successful.
"Is she in danger?" The voice of Halden made Iralian jump. It took him a moment to realize that the Bith was asking about Mara Jade Skywalker, not Isabelita.
He started to assure him, but then shrugged dropping his voice. "I don't know." He hesitated, "I hope not. Many of our companions have entered the cave, many did not return."
"What happened to those who did return?"
"Dead." His answer was succinct.
The observer made what seemed like a nod, his shadow barely visible through the dying fire. "There is a lot the Jedi have sacrificed for those they pledge to help. I trust, for your people's sake, that she is successful."
Both their heads turned to a scraping sound at the edge of the cliff, tensing as a gravelly voice behind them wheezed, followed by the unmistakable sound of a blaster being removed. "I hope for your sake, that she is too, or your deaths will be in her hands." Iralian and Halden watched with shock as four figures repelled down the side of the mountain, shooting two directed stun beams into the sleeping forms of Rian and Danel. Their bodies twitched before going still.
With feelings of suspicion and resignation they observed group of Fl'intil and heavyset humans came into focus, their blasters steady and sure. Slowly Halden stood up, his pin glinting in the firelight, his posture denoting an icy calmness. Warily, Iralian watched the leader, a Fl'intil with red eyes, settle himself in front of the fire, tucking the blaster under his arm while warming his hands.
Gradually after the silence and the ramifications of his control had sunk in he waved towards Iralian and Halden and conversationally murmured, "Sit down, Sit down. We're here to keep you company." His tone became volatile, "and if you're good and give us what we want, we'll make sure to shoot you before pushing you over the edge."
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After finding the skull, Mara found herself falling into a pattern. Mechanically making her way down the corridor, she stepped cautiously over bones and remains, shutting down her senses to the Force echo of their death in her minds eye. Something about the remains bothered her subconscious, and try as she might she could not figure it out. Every so often, Mara would crane her neck to check behind her, scanning for trouble as if she expected something to jump out from the gloom. This was followed by a few moments to secure her pack. When her internal sense told her to eat, she ate, and it was by keeping track of her ration bars that Mara knew she had been traveling for almost twenty-four hours.
She had, at her best, gone without sleep for days, so it was not sleep deprivation that came first to mind when her eyes detected an increase in the light level in the corridor. In fact, as she performed one of her security sweeps, she noticed that the light level was growing as she moved forward. She had the distinct feeling that she was entering a more sacred space, an older place, one which demanded and directed the lives of its visitors. Hesitantly Mara gently depressed the activation button on her lightsaber, and half expected to be plunged into darkness. Instead with the blue of her saber extinguished, she found the corridor patched with a mixture of ultraviolet green and violets, patches of algae growing through the fused rock transporting her into another world.
Mara paused for a moment to absorb this change, and her danger sense flared, urging her forward.Once again making sure her arms and shoulders were covered, Mara traveled on.
She had long since lost track of the minutia of time, aware of only the mesmerizing quality of the iridescent rock surrounding her and the passage of roughly another day. As she walked, she tried to keep her mind clear of emotion, to focus only on the task at hand, a tactic she had become skilled in when working under the service of the Emperor. Immersed deep in the Force, Mara stretched out her senses, trying to see through the endless turns and dips of the channel to find her unknown destination. It was in one of these periods of intense concentration, that she felt a jolt of pain in her shoulder.
Mutedly, staring at her side, she worked some moisture into her mouth, struggling to keep her breathing level. Somehow, the incandescent light of the tunnel had hidden the gradual now almost suffocating closure of the tunnel, and what had once been room enough for her to walk upright, now only allowed for measured steps. In her narrow field of view, her shoulder had finally slammed into the right hand wall, catching on a sharp edge and tearing not only the fabric of her multi-purpose jumpsuit, but creating a small, but deep cut along the rounded curve of Mara's shoulder blade.
"Shavit." It was the first word she had spoken aloud in days, and in a brief moment of uncertainty as she felt the poison, infecting her bloodstream-her palms sweaty, her pack slowly weighing her down adding to the ache in her muscles-she had a sudden urge to turn toward the entrance and run for safety.
Stand firm. In her mind's eye Mara saw the bodies she had stepped over to get to where she was, and she understood what bothered her. Every single of those lost souls had been running away, towards the certain exit, not realizing in their panic that it was too far away. Unbidden, her knees buckled and she slammed to the floor. Her breathing had grown haggard, and with one of her clammy palms she wiped sweat off her forehead. For a moment she propped herself, palms down into a crouching position, attempting to find some nodule of strength. Then, drawing on the Force, she pushed herself up to a sitting position and fumbled with the straps to the pack, shoving ration bars into her pockets before depositing it on the floor, a sacrifice to the dead.
Breathe Mara, Breathe. She wiped the sweat out of her eyes again, and pushed herself into a crawling position, and then up on her feet, grasping the walls, no longer caring about protecting her skin. With the support she continued to stumble along until finally just meters away the corridor finally widened again. There Mara fell to the ground against the textured walls, and directed her full sense to the poisons entering her system. This hibernation trance would not end with Luke's gentle "I love you," but she hoped, she would purge herself of this sickness and, be back on Yavin IV to hear it before their next anniversary. The Force was her ally, there was no way she would fail.
These are your trials….
That was perhaps, the last coherent thought Mara Jade Skywalker had before slipping into oblivion.
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Turn, Slash, Turn, Slash.
She was standing in a practice room, Luke's remote hovering above her.
Turn, Slash, Turn, Slash.
She was alone.
Turn, Slash, Turn, Slash.
The remote kept shooting, but no matter how many slashes with her lightsaber, the red bolt managed to slip through stinging her arms, her legs, her torso.
Mara grimaced to herself, and wondered aloud. "What in Sith is going on. I don't have to play by your rules." She charged the remote, a thought flashing in the back of her mind about how Luke was going to kill her for destroying his remote.
Parry, Reposte.
Turn, Turn, Turn.
She was on MountTantiss, Luuke stood before her in the moments before she cut him down…
"No. I've been here before. I know that Luke is not the enemy. I have left my past behind me." Her voice held an edge, worried. The back of her mind was aware of her other self, lying on the floor of a cave in the outer rim, feverish and dying.
Turn, Turn, Turn.
She was in the cave on Nirauan looking towards the Hand of Thrawn, partially aware of Luke's arm around her as the flames of the Jade's Fire's death throes. Her trials to becoming a Jedi Knight.
Her voice was bitter, but at peace with her decision. "My sacrifice, my decision."
Turn, Turn, Turn.
Another memory, of Chak Fel and Vader's Fist on the Outbound Flight. Mara's tickling memory of Survivor's guilt, seeing an Empire that she could have been proud of.
Survivor. Survivor. Survivor. The lone word tumbled through her head, like a ringing bell.
Mara felt herself become frustrated. She yelled out, into the vision. "There is no guilt. I know what I felt then. I've dealt with it."
Her voice bounced back at her, and suddenly the words were different. "What do you fear?"
Her fists squeezed together, her lightsaber suddenly at her belt. Releasing a breath she answered honestly, "Losing Luke, hurting those that I have just begun to love."
Survivor. Survivor. Survivor.
"What do YOU fear?"
Mara ignored her voice, her vision had become blurry. She was grasping for meaning, for some reason why she was here.
Turn. Turn. Turn.
She was standing in a practice room, Luke's remote hovering above her.
Turn, Slash, Turn, Slash.
She was alone.
It clicked, and Mara scoffed at the vision. "You're here to lecture me about being alone? I am NOT afraid of being alone."
She was holding Luke's saber again, staring at the droid just above her. She watched it turn mechanically to her its gears loud against the muted silence she had become used to. She raised her saber, lunged and performed a balestre, and in a move reminiscent of her lesson with Luke on Wayland stabbed the lightsaber point first through the droid.
It exploded, and she dropped the saber attempting to protect her face from the sparks and machine parts. The searing heat was burning through her, and in one last effort she flung into the Force, the bright, blinding, boundless pool of energy and wrapped it around herself for protection…Before it enclosed her, she saw one last image, her body, wasting away, deep inside Din'sal. She heard the echo of her other self, pleading for an answer. "What do you fear…" There was a roar of water, of suffocation and a flash of light….
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO," Mara sat up, finding herself at the end of the corridor, leaning against a wall on a cool smooth floor. She hoisted herself up onto her feet, unable to see beyond the red curtain of disarray that was her hair. Swinging her braid back, the room spun and immediately she grasped her stomach, retching and emptying the remaining poison onto the gray stone.
For a moment she inhaled, welcoming the sudden breeze that whispered to her like a sudden rain on humid Yavin IV. All she could focus on was the hazy, stony gray that composed the walls and floor of the cavernous endpoint in her journey. Mara could sense the spirituality here, the life, but while her danger sense had quieted down she could not banish the uneasiness that still troubled her subconscious. She could not bring herself to think about what she had just experienced…yet.
She slowly lifted her head to look straight into the open cavern and found herself reflected in a sheet of water that tumbled down into a lazy shallow river. For the briefest of seconds, she saw an older and wiser Mara, with graying temples looking back at her without expression, but the image melted away leaving behind a, red eyed, weak skinned woman with fiery red hair. Thirstily, she ran her fingers through the water, letting the moisture permeate her dried fingers dusty from the lengthy travel, then after drinking her fill and slipping through an opening on the side, stepped into the cavern.
It was a round room, with three more waterfalls similar to the one Mara had just ducked through. Together the four poured the elixir of life into a small river, five palm lengths wide, following the circumference of the room. Within this sacred circle were concentric rims bordered by trees and vegetation, that grew exponentially smaller in width, but exponentially higher every few paces, creating the impression of a hill inside a mountain. This vegetation, while not enough to be the jungle of the Morar legend, were recognizable as vestiges of greenery similar to the exterior of the Al'lorians. Near the top, the rings gave way to the rust-gray stone of the cave walls, as if this altar had been carved from the mountain herself, and flattened out to a single pinnacle.
Mara's passage through the vegetation was slow, but not entirely due to the complexities of navigating a possible minefield. Her body ached, and the elevation of the cavern made something as simple as breathing a concentrated effort. Like stepping stones, she gradually scrambled over each steppe until, balanced on a ledge not more than the size of her shoe, she was able to see and reach into the platform on top. The top of this structure, dipped into a concave deposit, a womb so to speak, for a treasured object. Her green eyes widened as she traced the outline of what was secreted there, taking in the hues, colors and the scripts, inhaling sharply with recognition. There, lying flat at the cusp of this pyramid, half submerged in fine grain sand was Isabelita and Iralian's proof, and with shock, Mara realized that she knew where the counterpart was.
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CloudCity
Jaina and Jacen sat on the scaffolding high on Cloud City, silently observing the shifting condensation and cloud cover as it moved around the glasteel enclosed arena. They had arrived a few moments before the others, hoping to talk.
Jaina peered at her twin, a funny expression on her face. "Do you find it odd, that I never heard you call for me?"
Jacen frowned, then shrugged. "Maybe it was the will of the Force that I was saved by a Thranta rider, who then was able to provide us the clues of what Czetheros and the Black Sun were doing here." His expression changed, and he tossed her a signature Solo grin. "I'm alright."
"Are you?" Jaina asked, arching her eyebrow. There was a strange undercurrent in his emotion.
Jacen nodded, then reached over to hug his sister. He couldn't help but grin as he remembered the hug Tenel Ka had given him, upon seeing him again. A sudden thought crossed his mind, taking away the relaxed, pleasant feeling. "You don't think anyone else felt anything do you?"
Jaina paused, then shook her head. "If I didn't? I don't know, it is possible, although Mom did not mention anything when we talked."
"And Uncle Luke would have contacted us through Lando." Jaina mused, then smiled as she spotted Lando and their friends making their way up. Anja was looking weary, almost struggling up the heights.
Jaina glanced back at her brother, whose eyes were fixated on the Hapan Princess making her way towards them. Sensing her attention he glanced back at his sister, blushed, then pushed her gently.
"Jaya."
She giggled, "Jace." More somberly she added quietly, "I would talk to Tenel Ka at some point, or do something nice. "She and I talked earlier, and I think that she may have heard you reach out, but was too delirious to comprehend anything. You know how she is, I think she needs reassurance that you're really all right. Lowie too."
Jacen nodded, and glanced back at the red head that was a few meter's below them. "I think I may have just the thing."
End Post 4
Credit: In the scene with Tenel Ka, following Jacen's supposed death on CloudCity the situation and events are from Trouble on CloudCityWhat I have done is to change the POV. Where in ToCC the scene was from Anja and some Lowie point of view, I shifted it so that it was now from TK's POV. Additionally, the last scene in this section is also based off of ToCC, but I've just added a'la I, Jedi some dialogue prior to where the book's scene.
