2. Reunion
"CIARA!" Mission screamed, running up to me. Maybe things weren't so different after all. We threw our arms around each other.
"How are you holding up?" I looked at her closely. She looked older, somehow.
"I'm doing pretty good." Mission sighed. "We're all still waiting to see how the trial thing will go."
"Are you worried?" I furrowed my brow.
"A little." Mission admitted. "Don't tell anyone though."
"I won't." I grinned. I loved talking to Mission. She was like the teenager I never was.
"Guess what?"
"What?" I missed being excited about things that didn't involve removing wires from my person.
"They're having a party for us!" She exclaimed. "They're announcing the result of the trial there. It won't be huge, like the coming home tours, but it's still a party!"
"Does that mean we have to get dressed up?" Those beige Jedi dress robes with the ugly loincloth thing looked stupid. I wanted none of them.
"You bet!" She grinned. "You don't have to wear robes, though. You could get a dress!" Now this was uncharted territory. Me, dressing like a woman?
"Hey kid!" A gruff voice came from the boarding ramp. "Stop hogging her."
"Hide!" Mission half-whispered to me. "Hurry, or everyone will pile themselves on you. I know you don't think you'd mind, but just think of how much Big Z eats…" I laughed.
"You're forgetting Canderous."
"I don't know how well Carth would take him jumping on you…" Mission grinned mischievously. "You have to tell me what's happened…" She glanced at the ramp, "later when everyone's not here. I want to know!"
"You've got a deal, sister." My voice became muffled in Big Z's fur. "Whoa there, Z, don't break my ribs!"
"Sorry." He replied. "I was just afraid I'd have to break in there and…"
"Yeah, I was about to call you guys to do it, too." I felt so happy; I was on the verge of tears. "It's great to see you again. Did they hook you up to all these instruments?" I had wondered how Z would take the prodding.
"They had to sedate me first." Z replied. "I imagine you weren't too happy about it either. They treated me like an animal! They didn't understand Wookiee culture and my life-debt."
"I'm sorry to hear that, Z. They didn't understand much about me either." This was the most Big Z had talked to me since Kashyyyk. I didn't mind at all.
"Move it, Wookiee!" A big voice bellowed. I fought the tears from my eyes and smiled warmly.
"What do you want, Mandalorian?" I couldn't believe Canderous wasn't helping the fact that I was choking up. He hugged me hard.
"I want to talk to someone who doesn't discount the fact that I'm a superior warrior!" He declared, pulling away. We both looked pretty confused, having just hugged.
"Have you been talking to Bastila again?" I joked. Canderous tried to hide his reaction. I tried not to laugh at him. It was best to let him think he could get away with things like this.
"The Jedi princess? Hah!" He laughed. "Talking at her is more like it. No, I was talking about your lover boy. He treats me like I'm a barbarian or something."
"Speaking of Carth…" I started. My heart leapt with hope, only to be crushed by no one other than…
"Placation: Don't worry, Master, he's coming. The other Jedi have ensured that he goes last so he doesn't interrupt the 'flow' of your homecoming."
"Nice to see you, HK." I sighed. T3 beeped a greeting. "You too, T3."
"You've got to learn patience, kid." Jolee stepped forward and hugged me. "Good things come to those who wait."
"And sometimes old coots forget that people have been in solitary confinement with only a skeptical interrogator for the past two weeks or so." Jolee chuckled reassuringly.
"A few more minutes won't kill you." He smiled. "You know, I've missed having you around. No one else will listen to an old man…"
"It seems I'm the only one who listens around here." I laughed.
"You hadn't figured that out before?" Juhani asked. Jolee stepped aside.
"How have you been?" My tone turned to concern. She looked completely worn out.
"It has been difficult." She sighed. "The interrogation brought up many hard feelings. The interrogator was not too forgiving about my fall."
"If your interrogator was anything like mine, I say forget what he thinks." I reassured. "He probably has bantha manure for brains." She laughed.
"Such vindictive words lead to the dark side." A voice came from behind Juhani. Bastila stood, smiling. My mouth was agape. It wasn't that I hadn't expected a lecture, it was that—
"I'm joking." Bastila laughed.
"I know! I'm shocked!" I joined her. She, Juhani, and I stood in a small circle, looking at each other: the three prodigal knights. I had been at these women's sides every day since I had met them, but had never felt this close to them until we were all in the same boat: all fallen, all redeemed, and all interrogated until we thought we'd go mad. If they were wearing anything remotely as ugly as what I had on, I think we would've been bonded for life.
"Good thing you're laughing now, it may not happen again." Juhani's eyebrow rose. Bastila squealed in protest. I felt so at ease, so free. I was able to joke around with Bastila, of all people. I tried to hold back my desire to see Carth again. What's a few more minutes? Jolee's words echoed in my mind. I relaxed and enjoyed my time with my newfound sisters. Mission managed to sneak her way into our circle, but we didn't mind. She was a little sister to everyone.
"The Council told me their fear of my turning to the dark side is greatly lessened." Juhani stated, proud.
"You got to talk to them?" I asked, astonished.
"As did I. Apparently they wanted Juhani and I to be rehabilitated." Bastila explained. "If you were not sent to the Council, I think it's because they think you have done the job yourself."
"Not by myself." I said. I guess an element of unintended dreaminess crept into my voice, because Mission interjected:
"Aww, how cute."
"It was all of you." I blushed. You said you'd protect me, flyboy. Where are you now that I'm getting ruthlessly teased?
"So, what are you guys doing now?" Juhani asked me. I knew exactly what she was talking about.
"Get married, get an apartment with a couple droids and breed like gizka." Mission answered.
"I don't know." I answered, looking straight at Mission. "I don't know what I'm ready for. Besides, I haven't even seen Carth since…"
Bastila looked up at the ramp and patted my back quickly. "Okay, keep it quick. The party is in two hours and you have to get ready." I didn't waste any time asking her what she was talking about. Without looking, I ran toward the Hawk, stepping on Big Z's foot on the way. His yelp distracted me and I tripped over the ramp landing flat on my face.
Carth laughed. "Great entrance, beautiful."
"Shut up, monkey-lizard." I lifted myself off the ramp. My nose was bleeding. Great. Carth took out a handkerchief and pinched my nose with it. "You think you could've done any better?"
"Tilt your nose forward." He instructed. "Good thing it's not broken."
"Yeah." I said as best as I could. "How're you doing?"
"He's been irritatingly mopey." Canderous answered.
"I'm fine." Carth said firmly.
"I still believe him." I smiled.
"Look," he started, "maybe you shouldn't talk too much until your nose stops bleeding."
"I can talk just fine."
"I know. But this gives me a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to talk to you without interruption by annoying questions." His eyes gleamed.
"Dammit." I muttered.
He laughed. "I missed you." His head tilted toward mine and he began stroking my hair. "I haven't really talked to you since…"
"Break it up, lovers." Jolee shouted. "We have to make Ciara presentable and it could take awhile." I glared at him.
"We'll get a chance to talk later." Carth reassured. "I just wanted to tell you that having to tell this whole story made me realize a few things…"
"Come on!" Mission yelled.
"One second!" I yelled back. "We're at a good part!" Carth laughed. "Well?" I asked pryingly.
"I realized that you were the only one that had ever really listened to me. Thanks."
"That's it?" I was incredulous. My nose had stopped bleeding. "I'm the only one that's listened to anybody!"
"We have to go." He winked. "You have to get presentable and that could take awhile."
"I hate you." I smiled. He hugged me tight. I began to cry again.
"Go on, get ready before you mess up my favorite jacket."
"How could I mess up that thing?" I scoffed. "It's the ugliest thing I've ever seen!"
"Have you seen your underwear?" He retorted. I blushed.
"I'll get you for that one." I said under my breath.
"I'm counting on it." He smiled. He hadn't smiled through the entire voyage, except to tease me, but this smile was different. He hadn't been happy most of the time, I supposed. It was nice to see him actually smile.
I began to walk toward town with the girls, but I turned around. "Oh, I almost forgot to tell you." He looked curious. "I missed you too."
"All right, no more talking." Juhani yanked me back onto the road. "We have serious work to do."
(standard disclaimer goes here...) Thanks to all reviewers! You people light up my life!