And Vega Lights my Way
Chapter 12
I'll walk in the rain by your
side,
I'll cling to the warmth of your tiny hand.
I'll do
anything to help you understand,
and I'll love you more than
anybody can.. – John Denver, For Bobbie (for Baby)
Back at the Representative apartments, Kampher, – the normally level headed Jedi Healer – was restlessly floating about from her son's bedroom back to the living room.
"Kam, the last thing we need to do is to panic," Schurke said, trying to keep calm himself. "He's probably over at the Healer's center…"
"I've already checked!" She tried to brush past him, moving to the door, but Schurke captured her into his arms, and in one fell stroke, encircled and held her there. "It's all right," he murmured soothingly. "Kam…"
But Kampher would not be soothed.."Schurke I'm worried, he could be anywhere."
"I'll have an attachment sent out to look for him, if you're really that worried, Kam." Schurke told her gently, holding her closer as she half heartedly struggled against his embrace. "But haven't you considered the possibility that our grown son might have found a lover of his own? Only the Gods know how many beings would give an appendage or two to have a Healer as a lover…"
"But he's not answering his com!"
A wry chuckle rumbled through his chest. "Would you?" He began rubbing slow, broad and soothing circles on her back. "I'm sure he's all right Kam, but as I said, if it will make you feel any better…"
"He should have been asleep…" Kampher started, a little more at ease. "He should have slept all night."
"Now Kam, you can't tell me that you have never caught a patient evading one of your ministrations in a quest for love? Or just plain love making?" Another laugh, heartier than the first. "Do you remember telling me how you had to keep trying to keep Toboo away from the Senator?"
Now it was Kam's turn to laugh. "I told him if he didn't stay put, I'd prescribe copious amounts of bacta-numb to be applied to his testicles on an hourly basis…"
"And it dampened his enthusiasm for what, two days?"
"Day and a half, actually." Kampher sighed, warming to his embrace. "Speaking of Anakin…"
"Kam," Schurke sighed. "Does it really matter? Anakin – and Vader – are both dead… but Anakin, the real Anakin, lives on in his son."
"And in his daughter."
"Yes, I saw more of him in her tonight than in that gentle boy." Another low chuckle. "She's a regular firebrand, she is."
Kampher rested her forehead on Schurke's chest. "Schurke, you've not spent more than five minutes around him," she admonished him gently. "How do you know he's a 'gentle boy'?"
He nuzzled the top of her head. "Simply the way he was tonight… and the way Aubé's eyes light up at the sound of his name."
"And…?"
"Annnnnd, All right, you got me." Schurke admitted. "For the last few days I've been searching for him in the Force. It does love him so…"
Kampher pulled away. "Speaking of our daughter…"
As she spoke, the door opened quietly and Aubé entered, still looking quite disheveled. When she saw her parents, her mouth fell open in a small 'o' of shock, and more than a little embarrassment. "Oh! Mother, Papa! I didn't expect to see you up…" Unconsciously, she smoothed the front of her blouse. "I'm very tired," she said airily. "I'll just be off to bed."
"Aubé, dearest," Kampher turned to her daughter. "Do you happen to know if your brother has taken a lover… or two?"
Aubé paused, considering. Then she nodded. "There were a couple people at the ball that first night," she said pulling a face. "He said that they were… interesting. Not completely attuned to the Force, but enough to have piqued his interest."
Schurke rolled his eyes and Kam laughed a little. "All right little one, that's all I wanted to know. Off to bed with you then."
Relieved to have got off so lightly, Aubé quickly kissed both her parents tenderly on the cheek and slipped into her room, once again leaving Kampher and Schurke alone in the room.
"Satisfied?" Schurke asked her, as he began caressing her back once more.
"Not really," Kampher sighed. "But we must accept that our children have grown, and have a life beyond the safety of the walls we give them."
"So philosophical…" Schurke kissed her softly. "Too philosophical for this time of night I think… I also think I want to collect on that one you owe me…"
"And by morning, if our wayward son is still gone…?"
"I'll go looking for him myself."
"Promise?"
"I promise, Kam…" he began to lead her to the bedroom, but Kampher stopped up short.
"Where will you start?"
"In the most likely place," Schurke said simply. "The Jedi Temple."
Luke left the impromptu meeting with the Representative Koeien – he alone as apparently his daughter had found more acceptable company – feeling more disenfranchised with the world of politics then ever. It felt as though his part in the Rebellion was finished, and it was time to move on.
He stared out the vast window, overlooking the city. A fire-ship cruised idly by, and his thoughts drifted to… her. .
Do you think there are more of us out there? Aubé had asked him. Are you going to try to find them?
I might… I should…
And then?
I guess we start over. One or two Jedi at a time.
One or two…
Himself… and perhaps Aubé?
I can't leave now, I've got work to do…
His own words, from what felt like an eternity ago, came back to haunt him.
I am a Jedi, like my father before me.
He was utterly alone in the empty apartment. Even the droids, R2 and Threepio, were mercifully absent, sent to assist Leia, going through reams of Imperial data.
And what about Aubé?"
Her presence in the Force, like a faint whiff of her perfume, lingered pleasantly around the room. Naboo wildflowers, she had told him, and the memory of the scent and of her… touch…
Luke flushed at the thought, then inwardly cursed himself for having answered the com.
We could have been lovers. Would have been…
Did he want this? Did he want any of this?
Unbidden, the image of Aubé writhing beneath him, lost in the throes of passion, entered his mind's eye. Although he had never taken a lover himself, the thought was almost enough to send him racing out the door and into the night.
Do I want this? Do I want her? Yes, yes I do…
Almost.
Luke was practically at the door when he caught site of the chrono on the sparsely decorated wall, and was shocked to see how late it actually was.
Tomorrow then, he thought to himself. Tomorrow, I'll speak to Aubé… and see if she'll come away with me, and if we can find that other place…
