I returned my uncle's smirk, and said, "Yes actually, you happen to be interrupting something very important."
They laughed as they walked into the room. They all gathered around me, saying the nonsense things that people say to you when you are in the med center. From the corner of my eye I saw Jysella heading out of the room, and I sent to her over our bond that I wanted her to stay. She ignored me, and continued heading towards the door.
Finally, I sat up, hissing at the slight pain that the movement caused me and said "Jys, please."
It was at this point that everyone in the room came to the conclusion that I was only paying attention to one of them, the one that was still trying to get out of the room without anyone noticing.
With the realization that everyone had noticed her attempts at escape, she finally stopped, and looked at me. I noticed that she was once again biting her lower lip. I could feel her fear and nervousness through our bond. I held my hand out to her, and put what I hoped to be a pleading look on my face. Then Aunt Leia came to the rescue. She walked over to Jysella, placed her arms around her, and guided her back to my bedside, placing Jysella's hand in mine. Smiling at Jysella, she said "I think Ben wants you here."
I could still feel Jysella's nervousness in the Force, and I sent her reassurance and acceptance through our bond.
I spent the rest of the week in the med center, about three of those days in Bacta.
I really don't like the taste of Bacta.
The day after I was finally released, I asked Jysella to go on a stroll with me.
For hours we walked hand in hand throughout the Temple grounds, no real destination in mind or sight. Every now and then, we stopped to steal a kiss or two, but in general we just enjoyed each others company chatting, talking about inconsequential things.
It was nearly dark when we arrived at the Skorch ball field. I pulled Jysella close to me to give her another kiss, and as we parted, I caught some movement on the fields, the fields that at this hour should have been empty.
Frowning, I motioned for Jysella to follow silently, and went to see what it was. As we slipped around one of the field's low walls, I noticed a dark form, hanging a body up on one of the walls.
I could feel my anger begin to surge, and could feel Jysella's fear climb as she felt my anger through our bond. I did a quick breathing exercise to bring my anger back under control and stepped out from around the wall that hid us.
My voice was loud and menacing. "Stop!"
The sound of my saber as it ignited cut the deathly still of the night.
The dark one turned towards me, dropping the body as if it was nothing more than an empty litter bag, and I could see the white hair and brown eyes of Master Solusar.
The dark one pulled out a saber, and with a snap hiss, a silver blade appeared. From behind me I could hear a sharp intake from Jysella as she recognized the blade and hilt. I could feel her anger through our bond, as she screamed "That's my father's blade. You're not even worthy to look at it."
Jysella's blade shot into life as she charged the dark one.
A slight warning in the Force and I yelled "No!" as the dark one used Force Lightning to throw Jysella against the wall we had been hiding behind.
Any control I may have had, vanished.
I attacked hard and fast. I quickly fought my way into the first ring of defense. A sneer on my face, hate in my eyes.
And that is when the second one appeared.
This one was stronger and faster, and dressed in the same dark robes, hiding all hopes of identification.
My mind made a connection. We had two dark ones and we had two male Jedi missing. "Jacen was right; you should have been left on Dagobah!"
Slash, parry. My world consisted of those two concepts. Attack, defend.
My goals were simple, protect Jysella and make the dark ones hurt.
Unfortunately, I was tired. I had spent the entire day roaming the grounds, and the past two weeks in the medical center. Saying I was tired was kind of a gross understatement actually.
I could not keep up the pace. One of the dark ones kicked me in the stomach, and then used the force to flip me over. I landed on the ground hard, and felt my saber skitter away from my hand and shut off, the wind knocked out of me.
When I was finally able to stand and look around, the dark ones had fled.
Pushing down my frustration, I ran over to Jysella and carefully turned her over. Smoke rose from the burned patches of her robe where the lightning had struck her. Blood matted her hair where she had been thrown against the wall. I held her close, and used my meager skills at Force Healing in an attempt to help her.
Finally, I could feel her start to stir.
She opened her eyes, and my heart skipped a beat. I helped her to her feet, and we made the slow walk to the medical center. As we reached it, I finally remembered to comm my dad about Master Solusar.
She was given a six hour dip in the Bacta tank.
As I took up my vigil outside of her tank, I felt my mom walk up behind me. I looked at her in the reflection of the tank. "It hurts for me to see her in there mom."
My mom simply replied, "I know. I've watched your father, and you now, float in one of these things enough. "
I felt the tears as they sprung to my eyes, clouding my vision. I heard myself say "Why are they doing this mom?"
"They?"
Realization that I had forgotten to tell my dad that there were two of them hit me. I turned and faced my mother. "I'm sorry mom, I was so worried about getting Jysella here, I forgot to tell dad. There are two of them. Two of the dark ones are out there. I think, I think its Tesar and Lowbacca."
I sat in a chair near the Bacta Tank, and for a while mom sat with me. I was thankful at her attempts at comforting me, but let's face it; my mother has never been real strong on the ability to comfort others. After awhile, she got a comm from dad and went to talk to him.
As I sat I dozed. As I dozed, I dreamed.
I found myself in an open area. A dark fog was all around me.
I looked left and saw Jysella walk up. I looked right and saw Tahiri walk up. I looked behind me, and saw one of the dark ones walk up. Then I faced ahead and saw the other dark one walk up.
As one, they said the word "Choose."
I looked towards Tahiri, and she said "I am the Unifying Force. I focus on the past, present and future as a whole. Destiny is more important than the moment. I help shape things to make them stronger."
I looked towards Jysella. "I am the Living Force. I focus on the moment. Instincts and sensitivity to living things are more important than destiny.
I looked towards the dark one in front of me. A hoarse whisper came from its mouth as it said "I am the Chaotic Force. I focus on the moment, and how I can bring myself the greatest power. Emotions rule me."
I turned to the dark one behind me. Again, the voice that came out was a hoarse whisper. "I am the Dominating Force. I focus on the past, present and future as a whole. I shape my destiny through my foreknowledge of it, such that I can control all."
As one, they said the word "Choose" and all extended their sabers hilts out to me.
Then with a gasp I awoke.