"Tenel Ka!" Jacen cursed to himself as he walked through the woods. After finding out what had happened between him mother and Tenel Ka, Jacen wasn't sure she wanted to be found. He reached out to her, trying to determine where she was hiding. After a few more meters he found her curled up under a huge coniferous tree. Jacen sat down beside her, letting her head rest on his lap. He couldn't think of anything to say so he just rubbed her back and head. He knew how great her pain was and he wished he could somehow transfer all of it onto himself.
"I will never be able to forgive myself for what I have done to you," she finally said.
"There is nothing to forgive yourself for, Tenel Ka."
"I kept you from your own child." She paused. "I am not very different from those that are keeping Allana from us now."
"We both know that's not true. We've both made mistakes. My absence in Allana's life is as much my fault as it is yours."
Tenel Ka sat up and rested her back against the tree. "I am afraid that your mother will never forgive me."
"My mother loves you. It's just a lot for her to digest. If there wasn't so much going on right now, I'm sure everything would have gone better. My dad will talk to her and everything will be better in the morning."
They sat together in the dark silence. Finally, Tenel Ka spoke up. "What shall we do now?"
"There's a meeting in the hall tomorrow and the masters …"
"No, Jacen. Now that I am no longer the ruler of Hapes we are free to pursue a relationship."
Jacen was surprised by her frankness even though experience told him he shouldn't be. "I've been thinking about that since we got here." He sighed. "You know how I feel about you, Tenel Ka. I've been in love with you since the day we met. I'm just afraid that maybe it's too late now. I'm afraid that our past will prove to be an indicator of our future."
"I am not sure I understand. You speak of the past but I have loved you in the past. As for the future, though nothing is certain, I am certain I will love you then as well."
"I feel like we should take it slow, let things progress naturally. If you are so sure about our future then there is no need to rush." Tenel Ka nodded. That was not what she wanted to hear but she would have to accept it. "So what's she like?"
Tenel Ka smiled sadly. "She is very much like you. She's so curious about everything. I have already caught her trying to deconstruct my lightsaber. She has your love of animals, also. She has been begging me to take her to Dathomir to see the rancors. She has your hair, your eyes. She smiles the same way you do. She has the same humor that you had when we were much younger."
Jacen chuckled. "I was such a nerd back then."
"Why do you speak in the past tense, Jacen? Are you not still a nerd?"
"Oh? And when did you become the comic relief of our little duo?"
Tenel Ka took his hand in hers. "At this time I am afraid that if I do not laugh I will cry."
"She's going to be alright."
"I know."
"Let's get back home. My parents should be asleep by now." He stood and offered Tenel Ka his hand.
Jacen and Tenel Ka walked swiftly along the stone path. It was unlike both of them to oversleep and yet it had happened. "My daughter gets kidnapped and I decide that it's a good time to start sleeping in. I must be the worst father in the galaxy."
"You are being too hard on yourself. It is important to be well rested so we can work hard to find her."
Jacen smiled at her. "I'm glad one of us can be so optimistic." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders as they approached the main building of the academy. A large crowd was gathered near the entrance. "I wonder what this is all about. Everyone should already be inside."
They made their way over to where Jacen's parents were standing. A loud roar split the crowd. Lowbacca came bounding toward them. He scooped Tenel Ka up in his embrace, barking excitedly. Tahiri and Tessik ran to catch up to their big, furry friend. After they exchanged greetings, Jacen asked them what was going on.
"Master Skywalker canceled the meeting," Tahiri said.
"What was the reason?" Tenel Ka asked.
"That'z what we're trying to find out," Tessik answered.
"Hey, everybody," Han Solo said as he approached the group. "Jacen, Tenel Ka, you need to come with me. Luke, uh, Master Skywalker needs to see us."
"I received a personal message very early this morning," Luke said. He was standing at the pulpit at the front of the hall as he addressed an assembly of his most trusted colleagues. "I am pleased to say we now have a major lead in finding the missing children." Jacen glanced at Tenel Ka and squeezed her hand. "Jaina's message gave me some excellent visuals."
Leia stood. "Is she alright?"
"Yes, she's fine. I would show all of you her message but it automatically erased after I viewed it. Jaina gave us a lot of information, the most important of which is the planet she is being held on." A hologram of a large green planet filled the room. Tenel Ka gasped. She looked at Jacen, eyes wide. "The children are being held on Dathomir. The praxeum that was founded after the Yuuzon Vong war has been taken over by a new clan of Nightsisters. I have been concerned the teaching methods used by the masters there but I hoped that they would ultimately turn away from the dark side. I was wrong."
"How could we have not known about this?" Zekk asked.
"I'm not sure. Those that executed this crime are very strong. They were able to shield their darkness from all of us."
"But why do they want our children? If they had kept to themselves we would be unaware of this."
"They may intend on training all of the Jedi children in the dark side of the Force. Children of Jedi families often inherit their parents' abilities," Mara Jade Skywalker added.
"So when do we leave?" Jacen asked. He knew the seductiveness of the dark side all to well. Knowing that his daughter would be exposed to such evil at a very young age was terrifying.
"We should not act hastily. Any indication that we intend to retaliate may result in violence against their captives," Luke answered.
"Do you expect them to just bring our kids back? We need to go rescue them." Jacen was growing anxious.
"Do not forget that I also have a child involved in this, Jedi Solo. If these women are able to hide their activity from us they may be able to sense our location and motive. Rushing into anything may put the children in even more danger."
"A small team will be deployed later today. They will be responsible for scouting the location and gathering information. A rescue team will then be sent out once everything is secure." Mara walked up to the podium and stood next to her husband.
"We will be contacting those that have been selected for this initial mission. Thank you." The two Jedi masters walked off the stage and exited through a back door.
"Jacen, we need to be included in that mission," Tenel Ka said.
"I know. I'm sure Master Skywalker will understand."
"Maybe we should go talk to him," Zekk suggested.
Luke was trying to collect his thoughts when there was a knock at his door. "Please come in." He knew who was behind the door. Tenel Ka, Jacen, and Zekk walked into their Master's private quarters. "Ah, just the people I wanted to see. Come, have a seat." The trio walked into the seating area and sat down. "I understand that you are all very eager to go to Dathomir. However, I have some objections. I am afraid you are all too emotionally involved to be able to work covertly."
"Master Skywalker, of course we're emotionally involved, as are you," Zekk objected.
"Please, let me finish. But then I thought of whom I would want watching over my child before we could complete the mission and rescue the children. I need these people to be competent and strong." He looked into Tenel Ka's eyes. "I need someone who knows the planet and the people. And the only person I could think of was you, Tenel Ka. Would you be willing to take charge of this mission?"
"Of course, Master Skywalker. I would be honored."
"Fantastic. I would like you to keep this as discreet as possible. I'm sure the two of you will be joining her?" He glanced at Jacen and Zekk. They both nodded. "Great. Perhaps Lowbacca would like to join you?"
"Yes, he will make a great addition." Tenel Ka nodded.
"Good luck. I expect to hear from you once you arrive." He stood and smiled at them.