A/N: I just wanted to say I can kind of associate with Karva now. A really good friend of mine from Brasil went back yesterday, and I spent all day crying. Hopefully my writing will improve slightly now. Just to let you know, this is really going to be a filler chapter, bridging some main events. Sorry for the length not really meeting my usual standards.
He could hear her breathing. Slow and steady, like a heart beat, not fast and irregular like he had expected. He heard the rustling of fabric moving softly and pictured her rolling over or shifting slightly. Anakin could see her now in his minds eye.
Her eyes still red and puffy, as well as her lips. Her fingers tucked into her mouth, perhaps glistening slightly from the moisture of her saliva.
He reached out this time with the Force, grasping for her in the dark of the apartment. He reached her and probed lightly, surprised to find all her shields abandoned. He hesitated slightly before delving deeper into her mind, feeling as though he was intruding.
Anakin was shocked to find, well…nothing. He expected turmoil and raging emotions, even in sleep. Yet she was calm as the reflective surface of a pond.
Her mind was warm and inviting, Anakin wanted nothing more than to just reside within it. She had been loved, most deeply, and it showed. Her mind radiated love and happiness, as silly as it sounded. Only a person who knew much love could feel as she did. Then it dawned on Anakin, the reason she was so peaceful, she had forgotten. Forgotten where she was and why she was there, forgotten her Master no longer lived. He knew that when she awoke in this strange place it would all come rushing back to her, including the pain.
It was still early enough that the only light filling his room was artificial and Anakin had no intention of waking the girl, just to have her delve deeper into despair. So he reluctantly turned from his closed door and sat back down on his bed. He didn't even know what he was doing up. He had forced himself to rise and stand in front of his door. Anakin wasn't even an early riser, he normally slept in as often as he could, and today had been one such opportunity. He finally concluded that he was going mad and crawled back under his blankets, and not surprisingly he was fast asleep within a matter of minutes.
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There was a loud clang and Karvas eyes snapped open. Annoyed by the cloudiness of her vision she quickly rubbed at them then turned to seek out the cause of the noise. A feeling of dread began to grow in her stomach as she looked around and slowly began to realize that she was not in her apartment. Scared now, she whipped her head around to see Master Skywalker standing in the kitchen working with his back to her.
Then it all came rushing back.
The blaster shots, her Masters cold skin, the hollow footsteps on the hangar floor, the staring eyes, the emptiness, the nothing.
Shocked, Karva sank back down into the cushions of the sofa. She remembered now.
Skywalker glanced over at her and was shocked himself to see her awake and sitting up.
"Oh good, you're awake." He stated awkwardly as he abandoned what he had been doing to walk closer to the couch.
Karva just glanced up at him.
"Well," Skywalker blazed onwards uncomfortably. "I just got back from a Council Meeting and they would like to see you in a couple of hours. They have decided who your new Master shall be." Anakin offered her a weak smile. Karva just stared straight ahead of her.
"Oh." Was her only response.
"Well I guess now that you're awake, we should probably go get something to eat. I was going to make some tea, but I'm no good at it, and you must be starving for a real meal." He said good-naturedly.
It dawned on Karva just then how hungry she was, having eaten absolutely nothing in the past 36 hours. No wonder she had been so exhausted.
"I am." She said glancing up at him. She struggled to her feet and declined his offer of help. "I'm fine." She told him before exiting the apartment.
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The walk to the cafeteria had been a long and tedious one. Karva was weaker than she thought and each step was a struggle. However they eventually made it into the vast room.
Knights and Masters, Padawans and their Masters filled the room and the tables it contained. The murmur of conversation was deafening to Karva. It was around noon and the cafeteria was bustling at this extremely busy time of the day. She now regretted her decision of venturing outside Skywalkers quarters. However the smell of Bantha steak made her think twice about her previous statement.
"Here, why don't you sit down while I get us both some food?" Skywalker motioned towards a small vacant table and led her towards it. Karva had no objection to the idea and she sat down heavily on the chair he pulled out for her.
"I'll be right back." Skywalker assured her then set off towards the food.
Karva slumped forwards, folded her arms then rested her chin upon them. She vaguely recalled something Skywalker had said. They knew who her new Master was.
She didn't know why she felt no curiosity towards this particular subject. Sighing, she decided not to worry about it or think about it until she absolutely had to. Skywalker was probably wondering why she hadn't pressed him for the information, but Karva couldn't be bothered about his petty little thoughts at the moment.
Karva was pulled out of her musings as a shadow fell across her. She looked up to see the looming figure of Master Obi-Wan Kenobi standing over her. He gave her a small smile.
"Hello Karva. Might I join you?" He asked politely in his polished accented Basic.
Karva had no idea why he would want to sit with her, or how he knew her first name but nodded anyways.
"I'm not really surprised I'd find you here, you must be hungry." He said out of compassion or an attempt to stir up conversation, Karva couldn't tell. She didn't really feel like talking to anyone at the moment so she simply nodded then placed her head back on her arms.
If she had been in her right state of mind she would have been aghast with herself for being so outright rude to a Master, but she was not and could have cared less about what he thought at the moment. Luckily he was sparred from Karvas current impolite nature by the return of Skywalker.
"Oh hey Obi-Wan." He said cheerily as he placed a tray of food down in front of Karva. She perked up instantly at the sight of it. She snatched up her knife and fork and began shoveling some mushy Nubian potatoes into her mouth.
Obi-Wan and Anakin paid her antics no attention as they settled into a conversation of their own.
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"Does she know yet? Did you tell her?" Obi-Wan asked, his voice just above a whisper.
"Mow qwat?" Anakin asked, his mouth bursting with Bantha steak.
"Who her new Master is, obviously." Obi-Wan stated impatiently.
"Oh dat! Nah, I 'aven't 'old 'er yet, and she 'idn't even ask." Anakin replied, this time through spoonfuls of sliced shuura fruit.
"For goodness sake! Chew before you speak!" Obi-Wan scowled at his former Padawan. "You know, it would be a real tragedy for someone who's defeated a Sith Master and brought balance to the Force to choke to death on a mouthful of shuura fruit. It would be an untimely demise."
"Sobdy Master." Anakin muttered than swallowed.
"That's much better." Obi-Wan muttered. "Now tell me, you say she didn't even care to ask you who her new Master is?"
"Nope. All she said was 'oh', then looked at the floor." Anakin stated while trying to decide what to eat next.
"Hmm, that's odd." Obi-Wan leaned back slightly and rubbed his beard.
"I guess so." Anakin agreed and shrugged as he ferociously sawed off another piece of his Bantha steak.
"Honestly Anakin! Did I not teach you anything over the several very long years you were under my tutelage? You're a disgrace! Here give me that!" Obi-Wans scowl quickly returned as she motioned wildly for Anakin to hand over his plate of food.
Anakin snatched up his plate childishly and cradled it in his arms out of Obis reach. "I think I can cut my own meat, Obi-Wan!"
"Obviously not! Now hand it over before someone gets hurt!"
"I won't!" Anakin sniffled in a mock child voice.
"Come now! I won't have you slicing off a finger!"
"Oh, what's the bother anyway? I've only got five left!"
"That's besides the point!" Obi-Wan retorted.
"Oh is it now? How so?"
"That's no knife you're holding, it's a highly dangerous weapon when you wield it!"
"You didn't seem to have a problem with it when I was your Padawan."
"I never noticed."
"Or maybe it's because you were too busy shoving your face full to notice! Ha! What do you say to that Kenobi?"
"Nonsense!"
"Hmph! What about that time in Dexs' Diner…last week when you were shoveling it in so fast you started choking and I had to slap you on the back until you went blue! Huh? What about that!"
Obi-Wan simply gave up his attempts at trying to snatch away Anakin's plate and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Looks like I won!" Anakin gloated. Then he did something completely un-Jedi like, un-23-year-old like at that, he stuck out his tongue.
Gasps sounded throughout the entire cafeteria.
Startled, Obi-Wan and Anakin looked around to find that the entire occupancy of the vast area had been staring at them intently. It's not everyday you see two Jedi Masters of the High Council argue over how to cut meat then stick their tongues out.
Shocked and embarrassed, they could only shrug and blush equally violent shades of magenta.
The spectators just gave them both looks of stern disapproval, shook their heads and turned back to their meals.
Karva however, who had been watching disinterestedly for the past 15 minutes did something no one had expected her to. Some might say it was even more unexpected than Skywalker sticking his tongue out. Karva threw her head back and laughed.
It was a deep hearty laugh that came straight from her belly. She clutched onto her stomach as she doubled over, she emerged a few seconds later with tears streaming down her face. The color of her face matched Obi-Wans ears.
Her laughter died into light chuckles and she wiped off her face. She caught sight of Anakin and Obi-Wan once more then burst into laughter for the second time.
Her Master would have loved this.
Karva sobered up almost instantly at that thought.
"Hmm…" She hummed slightly to herself and gave the two Masters each a watery smile. They just stared at her with their mouths open until finally Kenobi tilted his head towards the exit.
Skywalker nodded then picked up his and Karvas trays. While Anakin went to put them in the proper receptacle, Karva and Obi-Wan started for the large double doors that led out of the cafeteria.
The walk was nowhere near as tough on Karva as the walk there had been. She felt much better now that she had eaten and had a good laugh. The two paused and were then joined by Skywalker, and then together the trio made their way back to Anakin's quarters.
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To say Karva was uncomfortable using Skywalkers spare shower was a huge understatement. All her life she had been surrounded by women, just being in the presence of a male made her uneasy, but to be naked within 20 feet of one made her want to vomit with nervousness. She wasn't comfortable being naked period, even when she was alone. So it was safe to say that at the moment Karvas mind was nowhere near thoughts of her Master.
Normally she would have taken time to enjoy her shower, to savor the feel of the warm water against her skin and just the sensation of being clean.
Today however, Karva showered as quickly as she could and then got dressed even faster, if it were possible. She had no hair brush and the thought of one made her choke on distant memories, so instead she ran her fingers through her damp hair then prepared for them to dry into tight ringlets.
She stepped into her boots and shrugged on her cloak before emerging from the 'fresher into the spare bedroom. She breathed in deeply to regain her composure then walked out into the living room.
Karva found both Obi-Wan and Anakin lounging around in a most un-Jedi like fashion watching a very tasteless show on the Holo-Vision.
Feeling much more like herself after a shower, a meal and a good laugh she didn't mind informing the two Masters on her thoughts of the show.
"That show is poodoo you know?" She snuffed as she sat down heavily next to Kenobi. It probably didn't help she was completely free of any inhibitions. Karva was still not entirely in her right mind, as okay as she felt.
"We know." Skywalker answered back, not taking his eyes off the screen. "But there's nothing else on."
So there they sat, the three of them on Skywalkers couch, watching a very tasteless program about a Smuggler and a Princess until it was time for Karva to appear before the council.