Post 7

*Things have a way of working themselves out. I'd say so. I finally met him. I can't explain how I felt. It was one of the most happiest moments of my life.*

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mara paced outside Anian's room while Cilghal and the other medics gave her a final once over. Across from her was Tristan, who was standing with his face tight, eyes glancing through the wall behind her. She turned her back to him and the hallway and started walking towards the room, only to jump in fright as someone tapped her on the shoulder..

"SHAVIT!" Twisting, Mara almost hit whoever it was in the face, but stopped just in time, wrenching her arm in the process.

Luke flattened against the wall and prepared for the blow he knew would come, flinching only as it flattened to a palm against his shoulder. He saw her expression twist in pain as she forced he arm to a stop.

"Are you all right?"

"Skywalker, don't you ever do that again." Mara realized as she said this that it wasn't really his fault. She was so stressed out about this meeting, and even though time with Luke had certainly helped...She smiled at the memory, not letting the thought finish. All she had to do was get through this meeting. *Anian* had to get through this meeting.

As she sensed a inner turmoil coming from the Luke place in her mind, Mara broke away from her thoughts. "Luke, what happened?"

He shook his head mutely, and walked her down the hall a little, " I'm leaving for Coruscant within the hour, to pick up the kids."

Mara blinked, and her eyes scanned the hallway briefly seeing Tristan's cautious reaction to them moving away. "What? They aren't due for another two weeks."

"Jaina and Lowie forced the Shadow Academy to remove its cloaking off over Coruscant. It took with them Zekk and a whole bunch of orphans who lived in the depths of the city, but after they stunned Jacen and Tenal Ka. They are all right now, but Leia says there is no way to start an inquiry, because no one has ever tried to count how many people lived below a certain level, therefore no legitimate count can be given as to how many of the kids have been taken. The New Republic is doing what it can from that end. " He pursed his lips, absently pushing a stray lock of Mara's hair behind her ear. "I have to think about what we're going to do, this is getting too dangerous."

Mara saw the absent look on his face, and flinched. "Luke, we need to talk. It's important." She stopped as Tristan stood from his spot on the wall, his eyes flashing towards her urgently.

Anian's door had opened.

Luke looked at Mara and breathed "I'm going to take the Shadow Chaser, just in case. I'll be back as soon as possible. Right now, This needs your immediate attention...Do you need me to stay?"

Mara shook her head, distracted. "No, go bring them back, but don't think I'll forget about talking."

He squeezed her hand, and placed a kiss on her forehead. "I won't." Sending one final glance towards the open door he whispered a quiet, "May the force be with you," and walked away.

~~~~

Anian opened her eyes and blinked. Once again, practically the whole Academy was standing around her bed. "Haven't we been through this already?"

Mara jumped back in surprise. "Do that again."

*Do What?* Anian thought. Then she heard it.

Her voice. A sound that had in the past two months become unfamiliar to her. Her face froze. "It sounds so strange." It wasn't more than a whisper, but she was talking.

Cilghal chuckled. "It will, for a little while. Your vocal cords just are tight because they have not been used in a while."

"How...did you do this?"

Cilghal blinked, "I didn't do anything, I think it was purely psychological. All I physically did to you was let the Force guide my senses in helping you." Her webbed hands clasped together, and she paused as she heard a soft knock on the door.

Corran strode in, with Mirax behind him.

"Hi guys." Corran looked at Anian. "Hey, how are you feeling?"

"Horrible. Strange. Excited? Pick one."

"That doesn't sound good." He turned to his wife. "Mirax stop looking so astonished."

Mirax ignored him. "Anian, since when have you been speaking?"

"Five minutes."

Corran turned away from their conversation and spoke so only the medic, Mara and Cilghal could hear. "Is this still happening? Her brother is getting very antsy."

Mara blanched. "Oh, no, I guess..." Taking charge, she glanced at Cilghal who nodded, and she interrupted Mirax and Anian. "Sorry guys, but I think we need to let Tristan in now." She turned to Anian.

"Can you do this?"

Anian released a breath and nodded.

~~~~~

Tristan walked in feeling apprehensive. The scene seemed almost like an interrogation room, and a circle of people surrounded her protectively. Like a curtain they parted, and he saw her clearly for the first time. Identical pairs of gray eyes locked, and she smiled.

Blinking away the tears of joy that came to his eyes, He stuck out his hand and introduced himself. "Hi, I'm Tristan. It's good to finally see you."

Anian let the smile turn into one of identical nervousness. Her voice caught, and she cleared it. "I'm Anian, your sister, I know that now"

Tristan leaned forward to hear her, she was whispering. "You can speak! Congratulations."

Her smile froze. "I remembered how, but I wonder if some of the things that came with it are worth it."

Almost afraid to ask he said. "Like what?"

"What they did to me." she paused her face twisted in inner turmoil. Then she burst out laughing. "But then again, some memories are good. Are you the one who I used to chase around with a papfruit calling you Stargazer fazer?"

His laughter mingled with hers "That's me, but that was one of your more endearing terms. There were worse ones."

"I remember those too." She sighed, and let her eyes glance over the tense faces of the other four people in the room. "I'm fine."

Mara closed her eyes briefly and then her face broke out into a ray of sunshine. "Yes you are. Yes you are."

Anian found herself crushed in an enormous hug, and her brother was whispering, "I've missed you little sister. I've missed you."

When they separated, the room was empty save the medic, and Tristan asked some of the questions that he really needed answers to.

"Do you remember that night?"

"Not clearly, I just remember being in a strange house, and them telling me I was sick. I want to ask you something."

He waited.

"When Bran held me captive, he called me Sora, and said I was his. Then when I was voiceless, I had a dream of standing in front of an alter...with a crimson band of cloth tying my hands to someone else's..." She struggled with the next part. "Then I had the same vision a few nights ago. And the other pair of hands belonged to Bran Morodin."

Her brother's face was pale, his eyes brimming with a brief flash of anger.

"I can't believe that they would do something so blasphemous. I can't, I don't know how to fix this. Finding you was easy...but this..." He got up and began to pace.

"Tristan, tell me now. "

His eyes flicked to the medic, who was watching Anian's vitals. "Not now. when you are stronger."

"When I am stronger? Stars of Alderaan, I'm finally better, and all you can say is when I'm stronger! Haven't I proven that I am?" Anian stopped her yelling as she saw the pain on her brother's face. "I'm sorry, Tristan, but tell me this much...Am I Anian Romani? Or Sora Morodin?"

He paused, and turned towards the glasteel window that overlooked the Academy. "You are Anian Romani." He hoped she could not see the lie in his face when he turned around.

~~~

A Few Days Later

Mara blinked as she saw the Knights gather inside the Grand Audience Chamber. She wished that she had spoken to Luke before he made his announcement. She had a feeling that he had needed her, but let her fulfill her needs before seeking help for his. Nodding to her niece and nephew who had returned earlier she braced herself.

Breathing low as she listened to his speech, her worry grew stronger with every word he spoke.

"In days long past," Luke said, walking from side to side on the stage so that he seemed to be talking to each student in turn, "a Jedi Master spent years searching for a single student to teach and guide along the path of the Jedi." Luke's voice became graver. "Now, though, our need is too great for such caution. The Empire nearly obliterated the Jedi Knights of the old, and we don't have the luxury of such patience. Instead, I'm going to have to ask you to learn a little faster, to grow strong a little sooner. I must accelerate your training because the New Republic needs more Jedi Knights."

Mara missed a few seconds of the speech as she ran what Luke had just said through her head. When she looked up, he was looking at her, and after she broke eye contact he turned to respond to a student, Rayner an Alderanian.

"I'm not asking you to fight for *me* Raynar." His voice was calm. "I need your help to fight for the New Republic, and against the evil ways we thought were behind us. Not for any one person." He continued to pace--a sign Mara had learned was associated, at least in her husband's case, with nervousness.

"Each of you must work individually to stretch your abilities. I'll help as I can. I want to meet in small groups with you to plan strategy, discuss ways to help each other. We must be strong, because I believe with all my heart that we face dark times ahead."

Mara knew then that his decision had been made, she had missed something big, and now she needed to stop him from making a bigger mistake.

~~~~~

The worried look on Corran's face prompted Mirax. "Corran, what's wrong?"

"Luke."

"What happened?"

"Something he said tonight seemed to be echoes of a younger Luke."

"You heard it too?" The couple turned to the new voice.

Corran took care with his words. Making sure he maintained eye contact with Mara. "It sounds familiar. Not entirely the Luke that had gotten his impatience under control."

"I agree. I came to ask if you saw where he went afterwards?"

"Towards the hanger bay."

Mara left the compound and walked towards side of the Temple that housed the hanger bay. She heard voices and slowed, allowing Luke to know she was there, but that she wouldn't interfere.

She allowed herself a smile as she heard Jacen ask, "But, Uncle Luke, I thought you said it was too dangerous for us?"

Luke's answer came through loud and clear, "It is dangerous. As I recall, I once caught you playing with my weapon because you wanted one so much. But I think you've learned an important lesson about taking lightsabers seriously."

Taking in the fading sun of Yavin, Mara sent a tendril of thought out to Luke. *Meet me at the top* She walked away, hearing Luke's admonishment before his voice faded away.

"This isn't a reward. It's an obligation, a difficult new set of lessons for you. Perhaps the work involved in building your own lightsaber will teach you to respect it as a tool, as you learn how the Jedi created their own personal weapons, each with their own characteristics."

Mostly to herself Mara whispered, "That is true, Luke, but respecting your weapon isn't the same as being ready to use it."

~~~~~

Anian had been walking from her quarters across the courtyard when she saw Mara scale the Giant Massai Temple. As dusk was approaching Master Skywalker did not see Anian either as he traced his wife's path up the massive structure; almost fifteen minutes later.

Making a split second decision Anian made her way to the outside entrance of the Hanger Bay, in the lower level of the Jedi Sanctuary. As she entered she heard a loud clanking noise, followed by the roar of Lowbacca the Wookie Jedi.

"Hey! Could someone hand me the hydrospanner?" Jaina's muffled voice was lost in the noisy bay, disembodied.

Noticing that the other three students had not heard Anian gingerly shifted the cane she used and picked up the tool. "Here" She shoved it into the girls hand.

Aware that it wasn't her brother that had given it to her, Jaina stuck her head out from the engine she was working on. Curious to know who had delivered it. "Hello Anian" She pulled her head and hands back under for a moment, and then hauled the rest of herself from under the Skyhopper.

Feeling her legs stiffen, Anian settled on a crate, followed seconds later by Jaina who was polishing the elusive hydrospanner. A silence fell over the hanger, as the T-23's engine was shut down, sensing a mutual need for quiet, neither girl spoke. A roar from behind accompanied by the squeak from Em-Teedee's servomoter's broke the stillness, and presently the Wookie lumbered into view and began cleaning the small droid, who was chattering away, at their feet.

"Master Lowbacca, I resent the implication that I don't understand. I am fluent in over---" The droid stopped as it heard soft laughter.

Anian explained. "You sound exactly like C-3PO."

"I must, he is my mentor. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Em-Teedee, Lowbacca's translator. You must be Mistress Anian."

She nodded. "I am."

"What brings you down to this filthy dump, if I may ask.?"

Anian shook her head ruefully. " I don't know. I just ended up here."

Jaina jumped in. "How are you feeling?"

"Better. The fact that I can talk again helps." She paused for a second. "Jaina, your aunt told me about your friend Zekk. I'm sorry."

The girls smile faded, and she spoke softly. "Yea, Jacen says Zekk has Force abilities. That we never noticed...I guess I feel like I betrayed him."

Anian spoke with a tone of hesitancy, and acknowledgment. "I thought as much. I can't claim to be an expert on this...but the most I can tell you without interfering is to tell you I understand.

I know Zekk spent his life like me. Jumping from ship to ship, until he met Peckhum and the Lightening Rod. Ennth is not a particularly easy planet to come from. The thing I can tell you and help you understand is that while he may feel betrayed, he will never hurt you. He's grown up taking care of himself. It is possible that this is his way of making himself feel adequate to be your friend. "

Jacen had come up behind her with Tenal Ka. "But we don't care about that" he said. "When we saw him with Tamith Kai, he was different. He claimed that the New Republic never gave him a chance. He listened to Tamith Kai telling him that they won't judge him based on who he is, but on what he does for them. I don't think he realized that what he will have to do involves hurting innocent people." How could he believe that we didn't care?" He wiped his hand through his hair.

Anian grew sadder. "You listen to what you want to hear, even if it is wrong. The truth hurts, but it is the truth."

The warrior girl Tenal Ka spoke. "That is a fact."

Jaina wiped her eyes. "What about you? We know you could not help what happened, now you have your family back. Can we hope that things will turn out right here?"

Anian smiled a small smile. "Yavin 4 is a magical place. I met your Aunt here, I lost a friend......" at that she closed here eyes briefly. "It brought back some of my family, and memories. IT will always be where things came together. I consider it my first home..of a new life. Despite some problems that still exist. What happened to me is different. I know though that when my time comes..." She stopped and shrugged. "Home is where I would want to be. And in the end Zekk will go to his home. Where the people who love him are."

Jaina's eyes were bright with tears. "I hope so."

~~~~

She was a shadow, a small dot behind the fury of a fading gas giant. A small part of his mind that was growing larger by the second. By the time Luke reached the top of the Great Temple the angry red-orange had given way to soft pinks fading into deep blue-purple.

He stood waiting for her to speak, not knowing what to say. The monotony was broken by a slow rustling of her robe, as she stood from her crouched position.

"Luke, I'm not angry."

"I know."

"I'm disappointed in myself for not being there for you." She put her hand up stopping him before he could speak. "I'm not taking any blame, but some of the things you said in the grand chamber spoke of impatience."

"Not impatience but urgency."

Her green eyes looked big in the starlight. "Urgency? Have you been feeling things?" She was asking, not mocking.

"I have, I've sensed a new leader, someone more evil then just another pretender." He voiced a thought he had earlier.

"I think he is a pretender. Palapatine's presence is one presence that can not be forgotten. One that I would feel, and I know I can never feel it again."

"Not Palaptine, Brakiss."

"Brakiss?" Mara was incredulous. "He's weak, and with that comes folly, you cannot be blamed for his failures. Like me, he is responsible for every mistake he made, every wrong step, from his involvement with Kueller, and his part in detonating the bombs in the New Republic Senate. He may believe that he is powerful, but he is really a man wearing shoes ten times too big for him."

"And the Red Guards?"

Mara seemed to mull that over. "I think they are the real brains...something they are doing is giving the Second Imperium confidence. Once that confidence is broken they'll be merely another rebel group." She paused. "Luke, my one worry is that the children aren't ready."

"For lightsabers?"

The snap-hiss of Mara opening hers was accentuated by the ethereal blue that cut through the final waking moments of the day. "Yes, Luke, lightsabers. I realize that your situation was more dire, and you were trained with the lightsaber within the day, but tell me-- were you ready for yours even after one year of training? They've been here for a few months, and while I agree that the situation may become dire, this is not something to be taken lightly."

His green blade met hers unexpectedly. "Mara, if you and Corran fear that I am slipping back into old ways, be assuaged. I am moving quickly out of need, but not so fast that I cannot put on the breaks if need be."

They stared over the hissing of the blades, a battle of wills and fears.

Giving in first, Mara shut the blade and began to put it away when Luke's hand shot out and grasped her wrist. "No Mara, wait." He shut and then clipped his own to his belt, and then glanced for Mara's permission before taking hers out of her hand. "This blade has so many memories. I want to teach the children respect for it, without making them have the same pain and suffering."

Mara walked to his side and took his hand in hers. "How else will they become adults? If we control everything for them, they will never learn."

He sighed, and his sad expression lifted a little. "I talked to Leia...She hesitated as well, but gave her permission. What she saw has her thinking about the danger of the Second Imperium." He went on. "You still don't agree with me, do you?"

"No, I don't, but I still support you. If you believe that the children are ready, despite the teaching they have had from Brakiss, then all you need to is be careful."

With one swift motion she stepped back off the edge of the temple and used the Force to slow her fall as she landed. She watched Luke fall to the ground beside her and hoped with all her heart that things would turn out all right.

End Post 7