Post 6

Yavin

Luke Skywalker glanced sideways at the man standing next to him, Tristan Romani. He was sure the man wasn't lying about his name and relationship to Anian, but there were some things that he was hiding that would need to come out before anything else, least of all before Anian Romani would get to see her brother again.

Anian, so close to recovery and now a minor relapse. When she had walked off the ship with Mara, Mirax, and Corran, one look at Tristan had turned her white as a sheet and gasping for air. Corran had picked her up quickly and taken her to the Med Center, even though she insisted that she was fine.

Now, he stood with Tristan Romani inside the bunker of the Yavin temple, showing him the place where he had stayed in that long night before the arrival of the first Death Star, thinking how it might be his last night in the galaxy. He was thinking that way a lot more recently, for the first time in his life Luke Skywalker was tired. Tired of the threats on his family, tired of the death, and the pain that other beings inflicted on each other. Mara had truly been right when she said his want to take on everyone's problems in a sort of self-sacrificial idea was going to break him. This he could overcome... this he could beat.

Unfortunately, once again his failure from before this realization had come to haunt him; Brakiss, a student from the opening class of the academy, an Imperial intruder, with potential. Potential that had turned him to the dark side. He had turned, and now spurned by a outside force, was twisting the minds of children who needed guidance, not fear and hatred. He was creating an army of the Dark Side. His thoughts returned to the bunker as Romani spoke.

"Master Skywalker, I was merely a child when the Empire died." Tristan breathed, his accent thick with sorrow. "I was coming of age with the death of Grand Admiral Thrawn. On the eve of the Grand Admiral's defeat, the eve of celebrating Anian's first dekia in the Galaxy, my family sent me out to receive the good wishes of a rival clan, the Morodin of Danshitie, controllers of half a sector in the outer rim." He clarified, " My family, Romani, controlled the other half." Tristan raised his hand, and began to brush it along the walls.

"There is so much history here, so much. How does it feel, Master Skywalker, to be a major part of that history?"

"I try not to think about it," Luke smiled. "Life is not about making history. Life is service to the Force and to the beings of the Galaxy. For me, at least."

Romani's head snapped up. "For me, life is tradition. Life is family... And there are rules to family. When a child of your opposition reaches his or her first dekia, you do not consider them a threat. When the child reaches his or her second dekia, that is when you worry. For the first dekia, you honor that child, and the families prosperity. To break the rules is death and dishonor.

"Morodin broke the rules. Morodin took his anger, and destroyed everything. While my family waited, my uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins, servants, waited for me to return with the goodwill of the Morodin's." He spat out the name."Which they gave whole-heartedly. My family lost their lives. Leina, Lorhe, Manda, Mama, Papa, Lak, Norn, and Rohon--all dead because of a bomb under the dining room table."

Luke looked at the young man in front of him, "How do you know it was them?"

"They took credit for it, laughing and spitting in my face. They told me that one day, I would experience true sorrow when one of my own came back to slap me in the face."

"Anian."

"Yes, Anian. My baby sister with the bright eyes and strong future. For years I thought she had died, then one of the gardeners of the Family Estate said he saw someone run off with a child in his arms. That informant was killed before my eyes right after I received the information, but by then Anian had been gone from the Morodin's clutches for three years. I have been tracking her ever since."

"What of this man. Bran Morodin?"

"There is a verse that is spoken of in the underlevels of Danshitie today:


The family of high.
The family of the lyre.
Eyes crystal clear
And blue like fire;
Purple iris,
Red cold heart.
When evil is born
To Morodin depart.

The Morodin have a physical uniqueness that allows identification to be easy, quick and simple. They all have blue-purple eyes. Cold and ruthless."

Luke examined the man's face quietly before answering. "Mr. Romani, I can't claim to say that I know the answer, but I know that when Anian sees you it is causing her pain that she can't control. If what you say is true, the Morodin kidnapped her and did something to her mind in the brief time she was with them. That causes her to fear you and to trust them. Right now the medics are taking care of her. But before we can have her see you, we need to fix what was done to her."

"Can the Jedi do that?"

"The Force can, if she is not too damaged or scared. But it takes time and patience."

He echoed, "Time and patience. Then may the winds of time be swift and hold me down, for patience is one virtue that I do not lack."

~~~~~

I know he's here, on this planet. My mind says to fear him, but my heart says to trust him. With Bran, it was the other way around. I'm remembering more. What I can't decide is if I am Sora or if I'm Anian. Maybe I just took a dead girl's name when I ran away from my family.

I remember a ceremony where I was engaged to Bran. A Danshitie ceremony involving a crimson band of cloth that would tie us together. I can feel that I was young.

When I sleep, I see flashes of fire and faces of people I recognize. I see my brothers, Lak and Rohon, my cousin, Norn. But to me they are just names. I can't feel the love.

To top it off, I still can't talk.

~~~~~

Mirax Terrik Horn gazed at her eldest with wonder. She tapped against the glass and waved, then used her finger to swipe a happy tear from her eye. The last time she had seen him, it had been only a few weeks after arriving at the Jedi Academy. There really hadn't been a lot of visible progress.

Now, she could see how well he interacted with kids with his ability, and how in unison they repeated the Jedi Code. Words to live by.

She turned from the window, and stepped into her husband's arms. "Corsec, how long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough to see you wipe your eyes."

"It was dust." Mirax smiled, and tightened the sash on the overcoat she was wearing.

"I'm pretty sure you were crying, but whatever you say." Corran Horn grinned, his eyes holding an agenda.

Mirax hit him across the shoulder. "I can't believe you...so what is Kieran Halcyon doing now? And please don't tell me you are going to die your hair green again. You know what happened last time."

He swatted her hand, "Now, now, the emerald wasn't that bad. Was it?"

"I wouldn't know, I never saw it, remember...?" She paused. "Although...those pictures Iella took of you were pretty amusing."

Corran gaped at his wife. "I don't believe it. It's a conspiracy to humiliate."

He grew serious, and started to play with a lock of Mirax's quickly growing hair. "Actually, I'm thinking of joining as Corran Horn. I'm no longer part of the Squadron, so I was hoping--"

"That I wouldn't mind using Yavin as my base of operations? Would Luke be all right with that?"

"I haven't asked yet, I thought you might want to."

"Thanks, hotshot. I will."

"Hotshot, eh?"


"Yes, you are the only one to be crazy enough to try and take on Jensaarai and run through the streets of a town naked. Thank God for Elgos." She thought for a second. "How is he anyway?"

"He's enjoying being a Senator. I haven't had much time to talk to him."

"Really." Mirax noticed all of a sudden that he was tugging her by the lock of hair towards the bed.

"Now, Horn, it's the middle of the day. And Jys is still sleeping."

He let go. "It was worth a try, wasn't it?" Taking a deep breath, Corran yanked her towards him, "No one said I couldn't get a kiss, right?"

"True."

"And with Jys asleep in the other room and Valin outside, there's no one to interrupt us if it's a long kiss, right?"

"True."

"So?"

Mirax's lips were curling up into a small smile. Pulling Corran's head towards hers, she whispered against his mouth, "So what?" And she kissed him, laughing at his expression of denial as she pulled away quickly.

"Short one's are better."

~~~~~

"I'm glad you four are enjoying your visit. Just don't forget to remember to practice what you learned, all right? And don't get into any trouble." Mara smiled as she said that. With Han Solo as their father, Jacen, Jaina, and Anakin shouldn't have any difficulty finding trouble. Their ability to get out of it was what worried her.

Jaina blinked, embarrassed. "We know." She hesitated before going on. " I hope we do find out where Zekk went; I miss him. He wouldn't just disappear without telling at least Peckhum."

"Jaina, don't worry. If we hear anything we'll let you know." Giving the girl one last smile she reached over and hit the cutoff switch, ending the communication. She also nearly jumped when Artoo whistled a greeting.

"Artoo! I didn't know you were here."

"Bleep bleee-blargh."

"You just got oiled, good for you. Was there something you wanted to tell me?" Mara picked up the translator again.

"Blip, blippty-blip, blip ...bliiiiiiiippp!"

"I hadn't realized that I turned it off. Sorry, Artoo, you had to come all the way out here to fetch me."

"Bleep."

"I know, you're welcome. Now where does that husband of mine want me?"

"Blipe bleep. "

~~~~~

One week later

Anian awoke to find Mara, Luke, and Corran Horn leaning over her bed trying to wake her.

For about he fiftieth time she started to talk, only to be reminded of her seclusion from verbal communication.

"Was it worse then before?" she scrawled onto the paper that remained perpetually by her bedside.

Mara nodded, "Yes, but it was also different; you weren't screaming, you actually spoke. About how you were confused about something."

"I spoke?!"

"Yes, you did, Anian. Do you want me to finish telling you what your brother told me?" That was Master Skywalker.

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I know already." Pausing a moment, she scribbled furiously for fifteen minutes on the pad before turning it over to Mara.

Mara looked at her before reading it, and shook her head vehemently. "No, you aren't going to see him, It is important that you are remembering more, but I don't think your mind will be able to tell the difference yet. I don't think your body can handle you going into shock again."

"Who made you the doctor?" Anian's look was one of frustration and anger.

"Well, if you would rather we all leave..." Mara stopped as her husband touched her hand, a signal not lost on Anian.

Anian turned her face away and closed her eyes, refusing to look at anyone. When she opened them finally, she noticed that everyone was gone. She was stricken. She pulled back the blankets, and got ready to walk, she didn't mean to make everyone mad.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." The voice made her jump. Standing in front of a seat next to her bed, almost out of her peripheral vision was Luke Skywalker. "Anian, the fundamental problem to sorting all of this out is that if we do not find the source of this fear, you may never recover."

She sat back down on the bed, letting the Jedi Master tuck her back in.

"Let me tell you a story." Luke took a deep breath, and shucked the cape he was wearing before sitting down. "I recently met a young man, one with no loyalties to the Empire or the New Republic. I met a young man with loyalties that lie with a much more personal cause.

"Today he sits in a room on a planet that, until a few weeks ago, he had only heard of on the Holonet. Day in and day out he stands outside another room, hoping for a glimpse of a patient, a patient whom he has searched for the better part of his life. Ten years to be exact.

"The only problem with this patient is that in those 10 years, people have effected her neural pathways, creating a central fear that, without help and friendship, she will die from. The doctors on Coruscant told one of her friends that."

Anian looked up. "That's insane, I'm not dying." She practically threw the pad at Skywalker.

"Then what has my wife been worried about? She feels for you Anian. Like you, she was taken from her family and taught to forget them. But, unlike her, you have a chance to have them back, in memory and in life."

Anian looked at him and thought. *What am I supposed to do?*

Luke looked at her with kindness in his eyes, not pity, which was what Anian expected. "Nothing, just let Mara, me, Corran and a Jedi named Cilghal try something on you. We believe that the Force can heal you if you are able to open yourself fully to it. You must heal, Anian, to restore the balance that was lost a long time ago."

Anian nodded, and Luke comfortingly squeezed her hand.

~~~~~

*It's a very weird feeling, having someone inside your head. Like fingers probing, but not completely uncomfortable. Luke, Mara, and Corran were all there, keeping me distracted, while the Jedi Healer and Calamarian Senator, Cilghal, searched my begotten head. For days she came and sat for four hours, then just got up and left the room. Then for two weeks, she spent the night, spreading her calming, rubbery and cool hands over my eyes. I don't remember much of those nights. I don't even feel like anything was fixed.

What I want to know is, 'What was so horrible inside my head that she had to leave?'

I never did ask. I don't think I'll ever find out. *

~~~~~

Mara lay silently on the bed in the suite she shared with Luke. For two weeks, Cilghal had been working on Anian, hoping to find some way to fix the damage she found inside.

The report yesterday had been worse then expected. Anian's mind had been assaulted, punched, and ripped apart. All her day to day functions were working normally, but in the part of her mind that dealt with family and memories there were mental traps waiting to be sprung. Each day Cilghal had to leave the room because the monstrosity of the assault weakened her hold on the Force.

Mara Jade knew that if there was any way to help Anian, she would tear herself apart to do it. The funny thing is that she didn't know when she had come to care for this wayward girl as much as she did now. Perhaps the doctor on Coruscant had scared her deeply, because Mara knew she felt just like after Endor--when she was alone in the world. But then there had been more anger than fear, anger which was directed to the very man she married. Here there was fear...fear that was becoming a deep, biting block of ice, freezing a part of her heart.

She turned away from the door and shifted so she was facing the holo's of her wedding on the wall. That was something else to think about. Something was bothering Luke, and it was causing him to take on the edge he had before she had loved him, he was missing pieces of guidance that he should be grasping easily.

So Mara lay silently and tried to think of what she could do.

~~~~~

Luke Skywalker glided silently through the door to the suite. He had waited for Mara to say something for a week now, but he knew he shouldn't have waited so long. He glanced towards the living area, and was surprised to see it empty; it was normal to find her there waiting for him to come home.

He strode past the kitchen, finding her presence in the bedroom, and breathed as he saw her asleep on the bed. Luke walked around the bed, and gazed at her face, in a state of peaceful repose, interrupted only by the movement of her chest rising and falling. He leaned over and kissed her lightly on the lips and walked carefully towards the door. The fact that she had gone to sleep in the middle of the day meant she needed it. Luke didn't want to bother her.

He was almost out the door when she moved in the bed. *Don't move another muscle, Skywalker.* With his back towards her, he grinned sheepishly. *And wipe that silly grin off your face.*

Luke turned back towards the bed and found her leaning against the headboard. "I didn't mean to wake you."

"Right, like kissing me was an act of selflessness."

"It worked before."

"I did find out eventually."

"After I told you."

"I still found out, besides I was in a Jedi trance."

They found themselves at an impasse. Both were quiet for a few moments. Then, together, almost in unison they both said, "We need to talk."

Luke continued, walking over to the bed, "But not in here."

"Luke, no, don't." *Too late. * Mara found herself airborne, and just as fast found herself in the living room with a cup of Caf in her hand.

"How did you..." *Never mind.* She shook her head as Luke sat across from her. "You first."

His breath came out with a loud whoosh. "I just came from Anian's room. Cilghal says she has done all she can and that some of the damage is irreparable." He held up his hand seeing the flash in Mara's eyes. "We think she can go and see Tristan now."

Mara sat up straight. "Ok..." She let the word hang there for a few moments. Her eyes seemed to go inward as she started to think about something. Luke's soft voice brought her out of the self-imposed reverie.

"Mara," his eyes searched her face. Their startling clarity caused her shrink into the chair, almost frightened. He reached forward and using the Force pulled the chair closer. Luke held her hand with both of his, before speaking again. "Mara, tell me why you're worried. I can feel you're upset, but I can't do anything to help you unless you tell me." Pressing his lips in worry, he paused. "You aren't alone anymore, I'm here."

Her sun burst hair fell in front of her as she removed her hands from his and quietly started to sob. Startled, Luke dropped to the floor and gathered his wife into his arms. *Mara.* She hadn't cried since the loss of the Fire all those years ago. As the tears subsided, he gathered her tresses and flipped them over her shoulder, wiping the wetness from her cheeks. *Tell me, show me.*

She began haltingly, and told him about her fears for Anian and how she had come to care for a girl who had started out as a stowaway. Her reaction to the doctor's prognosis, the deep aching pain in her heart from the fear of not having children.

"Mara, we will have kids one day. Listen to what Leia told you. The Force is with us."

She shook her head with a slight bit of wistfulness. "I wonder, sometimes, what it would have been like to know my family. I know we've tried and tried, I just wish I could remember a face or a name. Anian has that much. For all I know, Palpatine killed them when they took me from them...I wish..." Mara moved her face so it faced away from Luke.

"I wish that we could find them, too, but you have Jacen, Jaina, Anakin, Leia, Han, and you have me. You have people who care for you. We can't replace those you will always carry in your heart, but we love you. I love you."

Luke turned her face gently towards his own, and whispered against her mouth, "I love you, don't forget that." Then he kissed her, with all the feeling of belonging and heart to quell her fears.

She sighed as he pulled away, never moving her eyes from his. *Oh, Luke...I know.* Silently, she stood up, aware that she wouldn't be able to tell him about her other fears just yet. She pulled him into the other room.

End Post 6