I don't own anything Star Wars...just my characters...
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CHAPTER 10
Maya had her face buried in Miri's shoulder, her eyes almost closed. She was so sleepy. She just wanted to go to sleep.
Miri stopped, leaning against the wall, and shifted Maya to a new position, taking some weight off her hip.
"What's the matter, Miri?" Maya mumbled. "Am I too heavy? Want me to walk?"
"No way, kiddo," Miri said with a slight grunt of exertion. "You can't walk. You're hurt. Besides, you aren't that heavy. Don't worry; as soon as we get to our little medbay, I'll get you all fixed up, good as new. Better, even. Okay?"
"Mmm…'Kay." Maya's eyes closed, and she let her head droop.
"Maya?" Miri stopped. "Maya!" She gave the girl a little shake, sending a jolt of pain through her arm but sufficiently waking her up. "I'm sorry, kiddo, but you can't go to sleep."
"Why not?" Maya asked, putting her good arm protectively around her injured one. Miri looked seriously into her pale little face.
"Because, Maya, if you have a concussion and you go to sleep, you might not wake up."
"You mean I can't go to sleep ever?" Maya asked. Miri smiled.
"No, not that long. I just have to watch your eyes for a little while. A few hours, okay? After that you can sleep for a week if you want. But not right now, okay?"
"Okay."
"You promise?"
"I promise."
Tenel Ka had laid Zekk down next to Jacen and was just re-bandaging him when Miri came in with Maya in her arms. She wished they had a bacta tank on board, but there was nothing to do about it. Nova sat, watching her, while her friends played some game on the other side of the room.
"Maya's arm is hurt," said Miri. "She may have a concussion, too. How are they?"
"Zekk has been shot in two places," Tenel Ka said without looking up from her work. "We should return to Dathomir before he is in any serious danger of dying, though I imagine he must be in a lot of pain. We don't have enough painkillers to last all the way back, so I gave them both small doses and let them stay in deep trance." She avoided directly mentioning Jacen, trying not to make Miri think of her own husband. She pulled the bandage tight across Zekk's stomach; he groaned softly, but his trance was too deep for him to react otherwise. Tenel Ka finally turned her eyes on the pair, speaking now to Maya. "We don't have any painkillers that will not put you to sleep, so you will have to endure your pain for now. Can you?" Looking a little sick, Maya nodded. She looked at Jacen and Zekk, on the table.
"Where's Anakin?" she asked softly.
Miri's breath caught sharply and she put Maya down as gently as she could, then turned away. Maya looked at her, curiosity mixed with alarm. Tenel Ka took the girl's hands.
"We were fighting the man who stole Jaina," she said in a voice no one but her daughters had ever heard. "We fought him as hard as we could. We thought we'd stopped him—maybe we did and maybe not. But in the process, Jacen and Anakin were injured."
"Was he hurt bad?" Maya whispered.
"He didn't make it," Tenel Ka said, knowing how her words hurt them all. "He died."
"But not really," Maya said quickly. "He couldn't really die. It's just like with Jaya, right?"
"Maya, we saw him die. We felt him."
"But—he couldn't really die!" She was crying again. "People don't really die. Why would you let him?"
At that, Miri's tears broke free, and she fled the room.
Miri leaned against the wall in her cabin, sobbing, letting out all the emotion she had been holding in since the fight.
People don't really die. If only eight-year-olds ran the universe.
Jaina opened her eyes slowly; the pain in her head sharpened, then faded to a dull throb. She tried to raise her hands to her head but couldn't. Her wrists were bound by a glowing blue cord that numbed her arms up to the shoulders. Her ankles were bound the same way.
She raised her head. She was inside a glass tube, suspended in midair, a few inches off the floor. She recognized the place. It belonged to Lord Elbakni.
Her thoughts seemed to conjure him.
"I know you were eager to come back to me, darling, but you didn't have to come in quite so fast," he smirked. If he had been closer Jaina would have tried spitting on him.
His right arm was heavily bandaged, and his lower half was encased in a metal hoversuit. His hair was wet with bacta.
"You've been injured," she said. "I hope it hurts."
He made a motion with his left hand, and the glass tube slid up into the ceiling. He lifted his hand, and she was pulled to him by the cord around her wrists. His hand closed around her throat, painful, but not quite choking her. Her legs wouldn't hold her weight.
"There is no need for such a brave front, my lady," he whispered. "No one is coming to rescue you. Everyone thinks you're dead. You saw to that yourself. Even if anyone does come for you, I will kill them, slowly, while you watch."
"Why?" Jaina asked. Why?
"Because you're mine." He kissed her, pressing her body against his with the Force. She wanted to throw up. That would teach him a lesson, wouldn't it?
He let her go suddenly, and she collapsed on the floor at his feet. Kanyen sneered at her again.
"You fall at my feet already?" The cord around her wrists jerked her to her feet. "It's a good start, but I hope I can teach you a few more tricks. And Jaina—" He curled his fingers, pulling her closer. "I'll see you later." He hit her, and she felt blood start to trickle from the corner of her mouth. Then he sent her back across the floor to her glass prison.
Anja paced back and forth across the room for the hundredth time, or so it seemed to her. She patted the screaming baby's back gently.
"Come on, Lei, darling, stop crying now," Anja pleaded. The baby felt like lead in her arms.
"Want me to take her for a while?" Anja glanced over to see Tahiri standing in the doorway.
"Sure," Anja agreed readily, handing Lei to her. "I think she likes you better, anyway." In Tahiri's arms, the baby's screams lessened in their intensity until she was just making small, whining, hiccupping sounds.
"That's because you're my buddy, aren't you, baby girl?" Tahiri said to the baby.
"No," Lei said mournfully. Tahiri raised her eyebrows.
"That's not what you said yesterday."
"She's very argumentative, isn't she?" Anja said. "Do you think she could have felt…well, what you did?"
"That would explain why she's suddenly not Miss Sunshine and Happiness anymore."
"No," Lei said again. Tahiri rubbed her back, rocking slowly back and forth.
"I know how you feel, baby," she whispered.
Miri returned to the medbay once she had gotten control of herself. Tenel Ka left to fly the ship, and the three children followed her. Miri checked on Jacen, then Zekk, then finally turned her attention to Maya.
"I'm sorry," Maya said. "I didn't mean to upset you."
"I'm not upset at you," Miri said. She checked the sling Tenel Ka had put Maya's arm in, and decided that she couldn't improve it any with what they had on hand. "I know you didn't mean it. Oh, Maya, please don't cry!" Tears were gathering in the little girl's eyes again.
"Why did he die?" she asked.
"I don't know," Miri whispered. "I don't know why anybody dies."
Kanyen came again, walking now, but with a severe limp. He was still heavily bandaged, and his hair was wet again.
Jaina Force-blasted him, and he turned it back on her, slamming her into the glass wall. It didn't crack. It was too thick.
"Naughty girl," he said, shaking his head. He placed his hand against the glass. "That wasn't a nice thing to do." His hand was shooting out sparks. Jaina braced herself for an attack, but for the moment none came.
"Are you going to kill me?" she asked when the silence had stretched on for a while. Kanyen smiled.
"Not unless you ask me to."
"Go ahead," she said. "Do it."
"That's telling, not asking." He curled one finger and she jerked forward, slamming into the glass again face first. Kanyen leaned forward, his breath clouding the glass. "You should learn some humility."
He released the energy he had collected in his hand. Black lightning coursed through Jaina's body, bouncing off the glass walls and back into her. He wanted to make her scream. She did.
It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining. Birds were singing. A soft wind made ripples in the grass. And Luc didn't care.
He was sitting with Anja—he had been with Tahiri, but she kept trying to cuddle him.
"You okay, kid?" Anja asked.
"I wish Mommy and Daddy would come back," he said. He started to say something else, but stopped when Corrie wandered over and plopped down at their feet.
He gave a deep sigh and lay back, spreading himself all over the ground. "Are they back yet?" he asked.
"Sorry, junior, not yet," Anja replied, tapping the top of his head with her bare foot. Corrie pretended she had hurt him, holding his head and rolling around dramatically on the ground.
Then he stopped.
"Look," he whispered, pointing up at the sky. "Look!" Luc looked.
"Daddy! Mama!" He recognised the Rock Dragon speeding toward them. "Where's the Lightning Rod? Where…where is it?"
Tenel Ka brought the ship down toward the planet. Nova and her friends, while not exactly being still and quiet as she had told them to be, were at least being calmer than she knew small children could be.
"We are about to land," Tenel Ka said. Her niece looked up at her, excitement lighting her face.
"Is Luc here?" she asked.
"He is. You will see him very soon."
"Can I get out of my seat now?" she asked.
"Wait until we have landed," Tenel Ka said. Impatient, Nova slumped down in her seat. "Only a few more minutes," Tenel Ka added, then turned her attention to the landing.
Corrie and Luc ran towards the landing pad. As they crossed the field, they saw Kirinna, Kassy, and Jad running from another direction, Tahiri following behind them with Lei. They reached their destination, out of breath, as the Rock Dragon set down on its repulsors.
They waited impatiently until the ramp lowered and the hatch opened. For a moment, no one moved. Then, Tenel Ka appeared in the doorway with a slight smile on her face.
"Mama!" Kirinna and Kassy cried and dashed up the ramp. Tenel Ka knelt and caught them as they flew into her arms.
"Hello, my darlings," she said, holding them close in a display of emotion that she rarely showed in public. Just then, someone else appeared behind them.
"Nova!" Luc ran up the ramp and pushed past his cousins and his aunt to get to his sister.
"Hi, Luc!" she said, grinning. They hugged each other.
"Is Mommy and Daddy here?" Luc asked. Nova lost her grin.
"Luc," she whispered, "do you know about them?" Luc nodded.
"I know it all."
"Well," she said solemnly, "Daddy's here, but he got hurt really bad. He's sleeping."
"Where's Mommy?" he asked, afraid of what she would answer.
"She stayed on the ship 'cause she was fighting stupid Lord Elbow-head."
"She's okay though…right?" No one answered.
The others had followed Luc up the ramp at a slightly slower pace. Tenel Ka stood, picking up both her daughters.
"Are my mom and dad here?" Corrie asked, wondering why they had yet to make an appearance.
"Your mother is in the back—" Without waiting to hear what else his aunt had to say, Corrie disappeared inside the ship, Jad trailing behind him. "Come along," Tenel Ka said to those who were left. "There is much you need to know."
Miri stood looking down at Maya. The little girl had drifted off to sleep, and she was so exhausted that Miri didn't have the heart to wake her up again, even though Maya would be disappointed at missing the reunion.
"Mom? Mama?" She raised her head. That sounded like Corrie's voice.
"Mama?" The second voice, quite a bit quieter and unsure, was unmistakably Jad's. Miri rushed out into the hall and saw them coming towards her.
"Corrie! Jad!" she exclaimed, pushing back sudden tears at how much she wished that Anakin was standing there with her to greet their children.
"Mama!" They slammed into her and she fell back against the wall, laughing. She slid down to the floor and wrapped her arms around them, holding them as tightly as possible.
"We missed you, Mommy," Jad said into her hair.
"Me too, sweetie. I missed you guys so much." She didn't realise she was crying until Jad reached up to touch her wet cheek.
"What's wrong, Mommy?" he asked worriedly.
"I'm just so glad to see both of you." She drew a deep breath to stop her tears. "Where's your sister?"
"She's with Tahiri, cause she won't let nobody else hold her without crying," Corrie said. "So Tahiri takes care of her."
"Oh…well…" Miri's stomach knotted. She hated the thought of anyone but her having to take care of her baby for so long.
"Where's Dad?" Corrie asked.
"I…"
"Hey, Miri, I've got someone here who might want to see you," Tahiri said, coming around the corner of the hallway. She held Lei in her arms. The baby had a smile on her face and looked happy to be where she was. Surprisingly, it did not anger Miri that her daughter felt so comfortable with someone who, in some ways, she considered her rival. Instead, she was grateful that someone had been there for Lei.
"Lei-Lei, look, there's your mommy," Tahiri told the baby when she stopped in front of Miri.
"Mama," Lei said knowingly. Miri smoothed the boys' hair and stood up slowly.
"Hey there, baby girl," Miri said, holding out her arms. Lei lunged toward her mother. Miri held her close. She looked at Tahiri for a moment, unsure of what to say. "Thank you," she murmured finally.
"For what?" Tahiri asked, confused.
"For everything. I was so worried about leaving her. We've never been apart so long." Miri gave a sad sigh and smiled. "I can see that I had no reason to worry. She was in good hands." Tahiri shrugged and looked uncomfortable with the praise.
"Listen, Miri—" she started.
"No, wait. I need to say this to you." She glanced down at the boys, who were staring up at them with wide eyes. Then she forced herself to look back at Tahiri. "I owe you an apology. A big one. I have been nothing but rude to you since we met. You didn't deserve that, and I'm sorry. If you don't totally hate me, I was hoping we could be friends." Tahiri smiled.
"I would like that," she said. "And I never hated you, I just stayed out of your way because you never seemed to like me very much." Now Miri had the grace to look embarrassed.
"Oh, well…it wasn't that I didn't like you, it was just that…oh, I don't know."
"You were afraid I was going to steal him?" she asked. A week ago, she would have laughed as she said it.
"I guess it was something like that, but not really. I trust Anakin. I guess I was just…jealous."
"Jealous? Of me?" Tahiri was shocked. "What could you possibly be jealous of? I mean, come on, you married the man. You share a child. He loved you, everyone could see that."
"He loved you, too. And you know him so much better than I do. There are so many moments of his life that I know nothing about, and you were there for all of them. So many memories you have that I don't." Miri sighed. "And you were together, once."
"Of course I know things that you don't. We grew up together. But you can't help it that you haven't known him as long. Besides, I'll bet there are thousands of things you know about him that I don't. You know what he looks like when he's sleeping. You know how long he cooks his eggs. You know how he acts with his children when there's no one else around. All I know is what he showed me, as his best friend. And trust me, it didn't take us long to figure out that we were nothing more than that."
"Acted," Miri whispered. "I know how he acted." They both seemed to stop breathing.
"Then it's true." Now that Miri had said it, she knew it had to be.
"Where is Daddy?" Jad asked.
"Yeah, I want to see Dad now," Corrie added. Miri studied the boys for a minute, considering.
"Miri," Tahiri said in a very low voice. "Please. What happened to him?"
"Da," said Lei. Miri put her face down against her daughter's shoulder, taking a moment to force back the tears that wanted to come. Then she lifted her head and spoke in an almost normal voice.
"We were fighting against Kanyen Elbakni. Your dad was very brave," she said, speaking to the boys now because they were easier to face than Tahiri. "He got hurt."
"Bad?" asked Corrie.
"Yes," said Miri. "It was very bad."
"Did he have bacta?" Jad asked in a small voice.
"No," Miri said, shaking her head. "We couldn't give him any bacta."
"Is he on the ship?" Corrie's reaction was the opposite of his little brother's; he was almost yelling at her.
"Dad isn't coming back," she whispered.
"He went away?" Jad asked.
"Why?" Corrie added. Miri tried to answer, but couldn't find any more words. Tahiri knelt down.
"Your daddy didn't want to leave you," she said. "He's one with the Force now, and he didn't have any control over when he had to go. You'll be with him someday, when it's your time to be one with the Force."
"I don't want to be one with the Force!" Corrie yelled. "I want my dad!"
"Daddy," Jad agreed, and burst into tears. Lei, startled, started to cry too, clinging to her mother. Miri sat down on the floor, and her boys rushed to hug her and the baby.
"Don't cry," Miri whispered to them, as their tears mingled with her own.