Carth woke to something crashing to the floor and he opened his eyes. He looked again to ensure he wasn't hallucinating and gasped. Three lightsabers circled the room. One yellow and one blue, Saleairy didn't smile. One deep blue and Dustil was just as grim.
"Sith spawn!" Saleairy's voice was pitch perfect and her snarl terrorized Carth.
"Jedi whore!" Dustil looked like an amateur theatre actor hurling insults at his mother but kept from laughing.
"Hey, what the hell is going on? No sparring inside, you Jedi dramatics." Carth said.
"He knows." Dustil said. He turned his lightsaber off and put his hand on his hip.
"Dammit. It could've been really funny." Saleairy turned her blades off and sighed.
"Yeah, real funny. My son and consort dueling it out Jedi style." Carth said.
"Consort? I am no such thing." She threw her lightsaber at him and the discharged cylinder smacked his stomach.
"Ouch. That things packs a punch even when it's off." Carth tossed it back to her.
"Father, I-" Carth got up and held Dustil to him.
"I know son. It's all right." He swallowed and Saleairy stood a few steps away.
"I just, can't stand by and watch innocent people suffer anymore." Dustil said.
"I said the same thing when I joined the fleet son. I understand." Saleairy blinked and wondered how often they really understood each as they did now.
"Saleairy, thank you. I should go see the Council soon." Dustil said.
"Me too. Carth, you have to come. I'm assuming you heard all our conversations so you know I'm dependent on you." Carth smiled at Saleairy.
"Would it help if I told you I felt the same way?" Carth asked.
"If you two are about to make up, I'll leave." Dustil said, rolling his eyes.
"We already made up." Carth said, winking. Saleairy threw her lightsaber again and it bounced off Carth's thigh. "Watch where you're aiming!"
"You watch what you say. By making up he means I didn't beat him up and we moved on." Saleairy said. Dustil chuckled and shook his head.
"So, we're all going to the Jedi Council together?" Dustil asked.
"Yeah, frightening, isn't it? We should meditate first. The Council is a bit unnerving." Saleairy said.
"Should I stick around for this?" Carth said, yawning.
"Sure. You need to be calm too. Come sit with us." Saleairy said.
"Do I have to sit all criss cross apple sauce style?" Carth asked.
"No. Just shut your eyes and clear your mind." Carth curled around Saleairy and pulled her back so she leaned on his stomach. "Eyes."
"Sorry." Carth closed his eyes. He felt Saleairy take his large, calloused hand in her delicate, small hands and he swallowed as the force ebbed into him from her. It followed from her but only came to him in trickles.
"Relax Carth." Saleairy said.
He kept his eyes closed and listened to their conversation. Their voices were faint and soft. Saleairy's was stronger and Dustil seemed a little hoarse. Something was off about the entire conversation; it felt like they were talking from a long ways away.
"Find some calm feelings. Use them to ease out of anger and hate." Saleairy said. Her voice seemed to float and hover, caressing whoever listened.
"I don't have any calm feelings right now." Dustil's voice was strained as if he could just speak.
"Then use the force. Let your emotions go. You have a very strong connection to the living force. The force that flows in all life is very strong in you. Use it to calm you." Saleairy said.
"That's a little vague." Carth said. His voice seemed to echo and travel through the darkness as he kept his eyes shut.
"Does he-" Dustil began.
"He'll figure it out. You do what you need to. Find some peace before we go to the Council. Show them you can find your own serenity." Saleairy said.
"That's a valued skill anywhere, Jedi or not." Carth said.
"I think I'm ready to go." Dustil said. His voice didn't shake any longer.
"Good. You feel at peace, don't you?" Saleairy asked.
"Yes. You're a very good teacher. I felt you guiding me through this even though you used few words."
"That's a first on being a women of few words." Carth said.
"All right. I suppose we should go back to the real world." Saleairy said.
"Are you going to tell him?" Dustil asked.
"Yeah, kept your eyes shut for a moment." Saleairy said.
"I'll consider myself warned." Dustil said.
Carth opened his eyes as Saleairy kissed him on the mouth.
"I love you." Saleairy's voice echoed in his mind as her lips met his.
Carth felt dizzy.
"How did you, should I even ask?" Carth asked.
"I was talking to you and Dustil through the force. You were speaking but you heard me in your mind." She kissed him again. "They say force sensitivity runs in the families. Or maybe you've just bonded to me." Her lips were caressing his as her voice flowed into his mind.
Carth brought his mouth away from hers, chuckling.
"Bonded through what?" Carth asked.
"The force. Love. Touch." She ran her hand through his hair and smiled at him. Dustil opened his eyes and blinked.
"Did I give you two enough time?" Dustil asked.
"Do you understand Carth?" Saleairy asked.
"I guess so. I don't know if I like the idea of you being in my head." Carth said. Saleairy laughed.
"I guess I won't have to face that dilemma with you unless you start mediating every day." Saleairy said.
"I could talk with you through that bond?" Carth asked.
"If you let me guide you through it. It might get confusing though because you have no perception of what we've said or what we haven't." Saleairy said.
"I didn't think I was capable at all of anything like that." Carth said.
"She's very strong. I've never felt as calm as I do now." Dustil said. Someone knocked at their door and Saleairy leaned against Carth.
"Come in." Saleairy started as the Shifter entered her room. She swallowed and stared.
"Hello Saleairy, Dustil, Commander Onasi." The Shifter had said his name was Daniel.
"What brings you here Daniel?" Saleairy asked. She was tempted to reach for Carth's blaster but her reaching for Carth's waist might be frowned upon in front of his son and a messenger from the Jedi Council.
"Oh, I have a message for you from the Council." Daniel smiled. She assumed this was his real form. Black hair and eyes and the traditional condescending Jedi messenger smirk.
"Oh?" Saleairy said.
"They would like me to escort you and Dustil to their temporary quarters for a brief meeting concerning your next appearance and the celebration for the beginning of new life here. They also wish to speak of your vision and Dustil. I assume you will be bringing Commander Onasi?"
"Yes." Dustil and Saleairy said.
"I'll wait outside." Daniel left still carrying his supercilious smirk and Saleairy sighed.
"Wonderful messenger." Carth said.
"Yeah. Are we ready to go?" Saleairy asked.
"I am. I'll be outside." Dustil said. He shut the door behind him and Saleairy still leaned into Carth.
"You really want me to go with you? After all this-"
"Carth, Dustil and I both need you." Saleairy said. Carth saw the same look in her eyes as he'd seen in his wife's so long ago. This time, he wouldn't turn away.