"Jena!"
Forgetting all about his dropped lightsaber and Mical, Atton ran over to Jena and, without pausing, gathered her up in his arms, and spun her around. Losing herself in the moment, she giggled uncontrollably.
"Atton," she purred ardently, clutching to him as though her life depended on it. The little boy in the forest took a few cautious steps into the clearing. Oblivious to the fact that anyone else was even alive, Atton stroked Jena's hair rapturously, and effusively kissed her cheek, her ear, her temple, and the top of her head alternately as he drew her close. He blissfully shut his eyes and held her as tightly as he could. It's over. Thank the Force, it's over! He inhaled deeply. Damn! She still smells good. He could sense a familiar fluttering in the pit of his stomach. He desperately yearned to kiss her lips, but was afraid to loosen his hold and move in case it was all really just an illusion. If it is, I just never want to snap out of it. Life will never get better than this.
"Atton, what are you doing here?" Her voice was muffled from her face being firmly pressed up against his chest. "Oh, I missed you so much! I was starting to think I'd never…"
Atton tightened his hold. "I know, Jens, I know…" he said gently, soothingly. She's here! She's really here! "Me too. I almost went crazy. I kept telling Revan—"
Jena let go of Atton and backed away from him so suddenly that he lost his balance and scrambled to remain standing. "Revan's with you?" she breathed. "Thank the Force! I was…" She stopped and looked as though she suddenly became aware of their surrounding. She tensed up, peering apprehensively first at Mical, then at the little boy, who was slowly making his way over to where she and Atton were standing. She adamantly grabbed hold of Atton's hand. "Atton, I want you to go back to the ship…" she said, glancing uneasily behind him at the Jedi in stasis. Signs of protest appeared on Atton's face and she lovingly cradled his cheek with the palm of her hand, but was inexorable. "Please, Atton… Mical's not going to be in any mood to see you when he snaps out of stasis, and I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who'll be able to talk some sense into him right now. Here," she added, not giving him the chance to say anything. Her hand dropped from his face, and she turned, took the boy by the arm, and put his hand in Atton's. "This is Daynn." She waited for a second as though she was looking sign of recognition on Atton's part, but immediately carried on when there was none. "Take him back with you. Take him to Revan. She'll know…" She glanced up at him imploringly. "Make sure nothing happens to him, I beg you. I'll… I'll deal with Mical."
What's going on? Atton frowned slightly. She wants me to leave her here? NOW? "But… Jena, NO! I just found you!" he cried out. No way am I leaving her alone with that schutta!
Jena smiled wistfully and gently caressed his cheek. "Please, Atton," she said beseechingly. "Just take him to Revan. Please do this for me. I'll be right along, I promise." The touch of her skin on his melted his heart. He lifted his free hand and put it on hers, shutting his eyes.
"All right," he said regretfully. "But you'd better make it quick!"
"I will," she vowed. Her hand slid down from Atton's face and she reached out in front of her to call Atton's lightsaber to her. She caught it and handed it to him. "You might need this. There could be vornskrs around. And with us being out of the forest…" She shook her head.
"Vornskrs?" Atton asked as he did his best to hook his lightsaber to his belt with only one hand, his left hand still holding the boy's.
"They're pack animals. There are a lot of them on Myrkr." Atton appeared puzzled. "Myrkr's the planet we're on," she added, reading his mind. "Didn't you know? The vornskrs hunt using the Force. Be very careful. Stay as close as possible to the trees." The trees? What the hell do trees have to do with any of this? She knelt down in front of Daynn. "Go with Atton, sweetie. You can trust him as much as you can trust me." She glanced upwards at Atton as she said those words. The latter smiled at the boy in what was meant to be a reassuring manner, but which mostly came off as awkward. "I'll be back with you shortly," Jena assured Daynn. She got up and tousled the child's hair as he nodded. "Be good," she told him as an afterthought, a faint note of apprehension in her voice. He smirked and nodded again. As Atton opened his mouth, Jena noticed that Mical was starting to show signs of recovering from his stasis. "Go," she hissed. "We can talk in a few minutes." She reached for her lightsaber and unhooked it from her belt. Atton gently ran his fingers across her cheek and obediently turned around and led Daynn away. Who is this kid? Why is he with Jena? What in the hell happened back there? This isn't exactly how I pictured my reunion with Jena. For one thing, there were two people too many, and way too many clothes. What's with that armor she's wearing? What happened to her robe? Though I'm not complaining… Maybe it's because it's been a year and a half, but I think she looked even hotter in that getup. He hanged his head and shook it. A bloody year and a half! Frack! He furtively glanced over his shoulder and saw Jena standing defensively in front of Mical. That bishwag had better not lay a finger on her. He suddenly became aware of a small pair of hazel eyes staring up at him curiously.
"What's a bishwag?" Daynn asked in a clear voice.
Atton suspiciously glanced down at him from the corner of his eye. "It means someone who's untrustworthy." What are the odds of him asking me this? He shook the thought away from his head. He felt compelled to elaborate. "Just don't… um… don't use that word around your mother. I used it around mine once. Bad idea. I'm Atton, by the way."
"Yeah, I know, Jena told me. What kind of a name is Atton, anyway?"
Atton arched an eyebrow. "What kind of a name is Daynn?"
"A better one than Atton," said Daynn, grinning triumphantly.
Atton peered at him suspiciously. This kid is creeping me out. There's something weird about him… It's almost as though…
"Jena likes you," stated Daynn.
I'm rather hoping she more than just likes me, kid… "Yeah, yeah, I guess she does…" Is he going to talk to me like this the entire trip back to the ship?
"And you like her!"
Gee, kid, whatever gave you that idea? Was it the hug, the kisses, or the fact that I was throwing a hissy fit over leaving her behind? "Yes. Yes, I like her." Atton couldn't resist grinning. "I like her a lot."
Atton suddenly heard a young mischievous voice in his head. "You love her!"
Atton stared at Daynn. "What the…?" Daynn exploded into peals of laughter. "How did you do that?" Atton asked incredulously.
The boy ignored his question. "You count cards," he stated. "In your head."
Atton glanced at Daynn even more mistrustfully. "I do. How do you know that?" he demanded.
"Why do you count cards?" Daynn asked innocently.
"So nosy people like you can't read my thoughts," Atton replied dryly. He's a Force adept. He's got to be. That's why he seems so weird.
Daynn laughed. "It's not a very good trick. It doesn't work very well."
Atton scoffed. "Not with you around, no, I guess not!" Who is this kid?
"Jena told you already!" piped the boy. "I'm Daynn!"
Atton narrowed his eyes. "Stop reading my thoughts, kid!" he snarled.
Daynn looked at him curiously. "Why do you say your name is Atton if it's really Jaq?"
"I told you to get out of my head!" Atton exclaimed violently, letting go of Daynn's hand and glaring at him.
"You killed a lot of people," continued Daynn, not in the least bit bothered. "Does Jena know this?"
"Yes," Atton answered shortly, slightly amused at the note of protectiveness in Daynn's voice. "Yes, Jena knows this… but did Jena never tell you it's rude to go through people's heads like this?"
Daynn's hazel eyes dropped down. "Yes. I tried to read her mind when I met her… but it was really hard. Not like you. It's easy with you." Easy? None of the fully trained Jedi I killed ever could do it. "But she could still tell I was trying. She counts cards in her head too, you know. She said a friend told her to do that. Is that you?"
"Yes." Atton pursed his lips. A 'friend'?
"Then she brought me here," Daynn continued. "So we could hide. She said I'd be safe on this planet." Hide? From what? Or whom? Daynn glanced at Atton, looked puzzled and frowned. "I don't know from who… she didn't tell me. She said they could sense me from far away and that I had to hide."
"You're reading my mind again, kid," Atton growled. Sense him from far away? Why do I have a bad feeling about this?
Daynn looked guilty. "Please don't tell Jena… There's so many things she told me not to do… I can't remember them all!" He pouted.
Atton laughed. "Tell you what, kid, I won't tell her if you promise not to tell anybody about these other thoughts you probably saw in there, but that you're way too young to be seeing."
Daynn's face lit up with an endearing, charming smile. "Deal," he said, grabbing Atton's hand again. Atton smiled clumsily. Daynn pointed at something ahead of them. "Is that your ship?" Atton looked at what he was designating.
"Yup, she's the one," he replied, smiling proudly. His smile faded quickly, and he added begrudgingly, "Well, not technically my ship, as my dear Lord Revan will be quick to correct, but the ship I came in on, yes."
Daynn wrinkled his nose. "It's old. And it's pretty busted up."
Atton smirked. "Yeah, that it is… That schut—" He quickly glanced down at Daynn. "Um… I mean… that ship's been through a lot."
"What's a schutta?" wondered Daynn.
"I didn't say schutta!" exclaimed Atton.
"No, but you were going to…" argued the boy.
"Dammit, kid! I don't need your parents, whoever they are, coming down on me for corrupting their offspring. First rule—stay out of my head. Permanently. Believe me, you don't want to know what's in there. Second rule—if I ever use a word you don't understand… don't ask. I don't use complicated words, unless it's words your little innocent ears shouldn't be hearing. Our good friend Mical will be the first one to tell you that."
"Why do you call him your friend if you don't like him?" Daynn queried.
Atton shut his eyes and shook his head. "Rule number one, kid. Rule number one. Out. Of. My. Head. Now come on… There are some people you need to meet."
Still holding Daynn's hand, he directed him toward the loading ramp. However, before he had the chance to set foot on it, Revan ran out of the ship, flanked by Carth, and walked right up to Atton. Daynn promptly hid behind his unwilling protector.
"Jaq!" Revan snapped. "I've been trying to reach you on your comlink! Why haven't you been answering?"
Atton glanced down to his chest and looked back up at Revan. "That's probably because I don't have it on me," he replied flippantly.
Revan rolled her eyes. "Of course you don't. How silly of me to assume that you'd wander out on your own into an unknown forest on a strange planet with your comlink. What…" She stopped talking and glanced down at Daynn, peering suspiciously at her from behind Atton. She raised an eyebrow. "Jaq, are you aware you have a kid hiding behind you?"
"Kid?" Atton asked lightly. He peeked over his shoulder. "Yeah, that sounds about right," he said casually.
"And to whom, pray tell, does this kid belong?" she continued. Atton shrugged. Revan sighed heavily. "All right… Let me spell it out for you: why is he with you?"
Atton looked at Daynn again and smiled furtively at him. The boy took a few hesitant steps sideways and stood next to him. Atton turned to Revan again. "That's a damn good question, Rev. Why don't you ask Jena when she comes back with Mical? I think she'll be in a better position to answer your questions."
Revan and Carth gasped. "Jena?" asked Revan. "Wait, wait, wait… are you telling me that you found Jena?"
"Well, not exactly… more like she found us, really. Right on time, too, because Mical was starting to go a bit crazy on me again." Revan stared at him accusingly. Atton lifted his hands in protest. "I swear I had nothing to do with it! …Well, not much, anyway. He started it. Daynn here could tell you what happened. He and Jena pretty much witnessed the whole thing. Didn't you, Daynn?"
Revan's head quickly jolted toward the boy. "Did you say… did you say Daynn?" she asked Atton quietly whilst staring at the child incredulously.
"Yeah, why?"
Revan put her hand to her mouth, and her widened eyes brimmed with tears. She grabbed Atton's arm with her left hand and squeezed a little too hard for his taste. "Ouch!" he protested. "What is wrong with y—" he began saying, but stopped as soon as Revan let go of him. He frowned and rubbed his arm where Revan had squeezed it, as he glared at her. Taking no notice of him, Revan took a few hesitant steps toward Daynn and stopped, looking at him intently. Daynn tilted his head slightly and looked up at her, wrinkling his brow slightly as though he was trying to figure something out. An understanding smile slowly developed on his face.
"Jena told me she'd take me to you," he said simply.
Revan knelt down in front of him. She studied his features closely as tears silently rolled down her face. She laughed quietly and bitter-sweetly before holding her hand out. Daynn willingly took it, grinning widely, and Revan drew him closer, wrapping her arms tightly around him. Atton and Carth looked confusedly at each other. Carth mouthed the words "What's going on?" and Atton shrugged in response.
"I can't believe I finally found you," whispered Revan, her eyes closed. Atton coughed a little. Revan opened her eyes and, getting back up, took Daynn's hand in hers and turned to face the two men with a half-defiant, half-guilty look in her eyes. She sniffled, wiped her tears away, and swallowed. "Carth… Jaq …" Her voice shook. "This is Daynn. My son."
Author's notes: Dun-dun-dunnnnnnn... (yes, I realize I said that last chapter)
Okayyyy… well, I got a veritable onslaught of reviews for my last chapter! Wow:) Thanks for all the reviews! That was awesome! I will now address some of the comments/questions some of you have made. (forgive me if I don't address a personal response to all 21 reviews I got for that chapter...)
First, well, to all the people who were starting to think out far-fetched conspiracy theories about the boy's lineage, I guess you've got your answer now. ;)
Second, about Kessel being an arid planet with no trees…That could be right. I never actually looked up Kessel's description… and that's because they're not on Kessel. :P They crash-landed on the way to Kessel. As I mentioned in this chapter, they're actually on Myrkr. And yes this planet does have trees. Iactually do quite a bit of research before putting stuff like that down on paper (so what I'll be mentioning about Myrkr's fauna over the next few chapters, as far-fetched as it sounds, is actually documented on several sites, including the Star Wars Databank.). I guess that answers the other planet-related question: yes, yes they are on an actual SW Universe planet. I wouldn't feel comfortable just making worlds up. I actually have a printout of the entire SW galaxy and I consult it religiously, as well as several online sources,as I write this fic. What can I say, I'm ana—ermm... I mean "thorough". ;)
To FeeZ: Yes, I'll admit, the comment Mical made was indeed inspired by what you told me (though not copied and pasted as you said ;) ). It did seem like the type of gentlemanly comment Mical would say, and I thought it fit in nicely. I hope you didn't mind. :) And I'll credit you right now for inspiring me with the Daynn idea… though I'm not sure he's exactly what you had in mind. :P
Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter, even though it was a bit on the short side…
SS
P.S.: I just started a Yahoo group because it seemed like a good idea at the time. Feel free to join and harrass me for fanfic updates there! I'll fire off notifications when I do updates. Check out my author page and click on "homepage".