Disclaimer: Citadel Station isn't mine, either…
Chapter Forty-Eight
Admiral Forn Dadonna and Master Vandar came to the platform when Bastila and Juhani were just about ready to go. The navigational systems were already locked onto Kashyyyk, and all systems were go. Carth had only to put the Ebon Hawk into gear for them to leave Coruscant. But goodbyes remained to be said.
"Farewell, Rev…Aithne," Master Vandar said, correcting himself at Aithne's glare. "May the Force be with you on this last journey. The Jedi wish you well."
Aithne snorted. "They better. Listen. Vandar. You and the Jedi take care of Juhani and Bastila, okay? They'll serve you well. Better than I did, certainly. And as far as I'm concerned, much better than you deserve." Then she sighed, and extended her hand to the diminutive Jedi Master. He took it in his claw. "I'm sorry about Dantooine," she said quietly. "And I hope…I hope that the Jedi Order comes back from the war stronger than ever. May the Force be with you."
The corners of Vandar's mouth turned up, and he nodded. A hardness in Aithne seemed to soften a bit. It wasn't quite forgiveness, she thought, but it was a start.
Over a few feet, Mission and Canderous were talking earnestly to Juhani. Mission was crying. Jolee was gripping Bastila's shoulder. Aithne joined Carth in front of Admiral Dadonna. "Thanks for coming to see us off, Admiral," he said. He shook her hand.
"If you ever need anything, Carth, just let me know," she told him in return. "The Fleet is losing a fine soldier now you're leaving. Are you sure I can't convince you to stay?"
Carth smiled down at Aithne and put his arm around her shoulders. "I've done my time, Admiral. It's been my honor, ma'am."
"We'll be in touch, though," Aithne promised. "Admiral, you've done so much for me…for all of us. We'll never forget it."
Admiral Dadonna nodded. She clicked her heels together. "Aithne Morrigan," she said, shaking Aithne's hand in turn. "It has been a privilege and a pleasure. I trust one day we'll meet again. Until then, May the Force be with you."
Aithne smiled at her. "And you."
Together, she and Carth walked over to Juhani. Aithne looked up at Carth. He nodded and let her go. Aithne went to the younger woman. "You are a wonder, Juhani," she murmured. She gripped Juhani's shoulder. "Never forget that, okay? You're amazing. Always. The Force is with you, and you are going to do incredible things here. I'll see you around. Promise."
Juhani looked into her eyes and smiled. "You made possible my freedom, my happiness," she said. "Now you will have the same, in your own way. I think, in the end, it is all that I ever wanted. Farewell, my friend." She laid a hand over Aithne's on her shoulder, then released it. Aithne stepped back, and Juhani gave Carth a wave and a bow. Then the two of them walked over to Bastila as the rest of the remaining crew made for the ramp.
Carth walked forward and kissed Bastila's cheek. "You'll be alright," he told her. She was crying. "You'll be alright, Bastila. Thank you. For all you've done. And all you've tried to do. If we can ever do anything for you, if you ever need anything at all, you can come to us. Any time, our door's open to you."
Aithne nodded and stepped forward. "This isn't goodbye, though. We'll see you, or I'll come back here to yell at you and see you anyway."
Bastila laughed. She hugged Aithne tightly. Aithne hugged her back. "Love you, Bas," she whispered.
"Goodbye," Bastila said, releasing her. "I will see you soon. Goodbye, Carth. Safe flight. And may the Force be with you both."
"You take care," Carth replied. He and Aithne joined the others inside the Hawk. But even as Carth went to the cockpit and the ship came alive under Aithne's feet she ran to the garage window and watched the upright figures of Bastila and Juhani fade into the horizon of Coruscant.
And may the Force be with you, my friends.
It took two weeks for Carth to fly the Hawk from Coruscant to Kashyyyk. Aithne didn't think that Mission and Zaalbar were apart for more than an hour the entire time. Still, she reasoned, the two of them hadn't been apart for more than a couple of days in the last two or three years. And now they were preparing to more or less go their separate ways. She ran into them all over the Ebon Hawk, playing Pazaak, exploring the smuggling compartments, or just talking together in quiet corners about their adventures, and what the future had in store for each of them.
When Carth finally drew near the dock, at first Aithne was rather worried. Several Wookiees were there waiting with bowcasters. Belatedly, Aithne remembered that the last time she was here she had helped the Wookiees rid their planet of 'outsiders'. However, when the Wookiees identified the Ebon Hawk, she saw them raise their bowcasters and break into cheers. She smiled.
Zaalbar and the crew were escorted to Rwookrrorro amidst honor and rejoicing, and Freyyr insisted when they arrived that they stay the night and eat once more with the tribe.
There was music, and dancing, and Shyriiwook speeches. There was much ado about 'those that freed us from Czerka', 'bearer of Bacca's Blade', and 'the hairless one'. Jolee's expression was hilarious at that last one. Aithne and the others all got to sleep so late that it was early, and Aithne's hammock was very comfortable that night.
Aithne awoke around mid-morning. Canderous, Carth, and Jolee were moving around packing up, but Mission was still in her hammock. She wasn't sleeping, though. From the shadows under her eyes, Aithne gathered that she probably hadn't slept at all. Aithne didn't even bother tying her hair back or changing into the day's clothes. She went to Mission immediately and helped the girl up. "C'mon," she said quietly. "It'll be alright, Mish."
When they were brought before Zaalbar and Freyyr later, for a while, everyone just stood around awkwardly. No one wanted to be the first to say good-bye. Finally, Canderous strode forward. He stuck his hand out and shook Zaalbar's giant paw.
"It's been a good hunt," he grunted. "See you around." He made a jerky bow to Freyyr, and stepped back into line. Mission sobbed.
Aithne stepped forward and knelt. Addressing her words to both Wookiees at first, she said, /Your hospitality and friendship is my honor and joy./ Then she turned to Zaalbar. /My friend, it has been a good hunt. We will meet again, I know. But now it is time for me to go, and for you to begin the work that needs doing here./
Zaalbar reached down and pulled her to her feet. Then, to her surprise, he embraced her, much as he did Mission all the time. He then looked over her shoulder to Carth, and beckoned for him to come forward. Carth did so.
/You are good humans, and dear friends,/ Zaalbar said quietly. /I shall see you again, I know, but I want to tell you this now./
Carth nodded. Zaalbar looked at them both. His black gaze was deadly serious. /I know you love Mission, or I would never be letting her go with you,/ he said. /Promise me that you shall be her kin and her support so long as she needs you both./
For once, Mission did not protest the notion that she needed taking care of.
Carth spoke first. "I will be there for her until the day I die," he said.
Aithne looked over at Mission. /By the laws of the Republic, and by the laws of our hearts, she is ours to care for,/ she swore in the formal Wookiee style. /We shall do our duty, and it will be a joy and an adventure./
Zaalbar nodded, and released Aithne's hand. Aithne and Carth instinctively stepped back. Mission stepped forward, and flung herself at Zaalbar. He hugged her tightly.
"I'm gonna miss you, Big Z," she whispered into his fur.
He growled lowly. /I will see you again,/ he promised her. /This is not abandonment, but a transition. Just because you have new family and we will be apart now does not mean we are no longer family./
Freyyr looked at his son quizzically. Jolee looked at Freyyr. Freyyr looked at the Wookiee and Twi'lek, and shrugged.
Mission sniffed. "Alright," she said finally, releasing the big Wookiee. "I'm ready. But I'm not gonna say good-bye, you know? Just…see you later."
Zaalbar smiled with his eyes in that Wookiee way he had. /I will see you later, Mission,/ he replied.
He walked with them to the gates of Rwookrrorro, and stood there with his father, ready to start the life he should have had all along.
Carth squeezed Mission's shoulder at the gate, and Aithne put an arm around her. Carth led the remaining crew of the Ebon Hawk down the walkway. And Mission didn't look back.
Dreshdae was still crawling with Czerka and smuggling scum, but since Aithne and her friends had been to Korriban last, all the Sith had mysteriously vanished. Aithne was a little worried, really. Korriban wasn't Republic, after all. She'd expected to find a hornet's nest here before they got to the mask of Mandalore, but there wasn't a Sith to be seen in the streets. It made Aithne uneasy- she preferred to see her enemies. The entire city was of her mind, it seemed.
Instead of dancing in the streets, the inhabitants of Dreshdae were more nervous than ever. They skulked around corners and hid in the shadows. The cantina was mostly empty. But Aithne, Carth, and Canderous were finally able to find someone willing to talk- a Pazaak player named Jeena.
"What's going on?" Aithne asked, playing a plus four card to bring her total hand to twenty. Jeena scowled. She'd struck out on her turn, but they still had a couple hands to go before she'd have really lost. "Where are all the Sith? Why's everyone dodging around?"
Jeena snorted. "Where've you been, spacer? The war's over. The Sith lost. My guess is those that were left couldn't wait to get off this rock and head further out on the Rim. The Republic's just next door, you know." She shuffled the cards and dealt Aithne her first card of the new hand, a three. "I'd leave myself, but my luck's been pretty bad lately. And Czerka's not hiring, either. They've lost too much what with the revolt on Edean and all."
"But aren't there any Sith?" Carth pressed. "They had an Academy here, didn't they?"
Jeena shifted uncomfortably. "To tell the truth, no one's seen hide nor hair of anyone from the Academy for about six months. It's spooky-like. Something must've happened, but it's not like any of us are going to go knock on the door and check."
Aithne turned to Carth and Canderous. "Six months…Isn't that when we were here last?"
Carth checked the date on his chrono. "Yeah, that'd be about it."
Jeena laid down a minus five, taking the hand with nineteen. Aithne frowned and began to shuffle. "And no one's been down to check up on them? I mean, wouldn't you all feel a lot better if you knew they were dead? Or…um…gone?"
Jeena snorted. "What if they ain't, spacer? Those Sith kill people just for fun. Better to let dead dogs lie, if you ask me." She looked up at Aithne then. "You gotta be half-crazy to even suggest it. You say you were here six months back?" Her eyes narrowed, and she suddenly scooped up her cards. "Oh, hell, you get away from me, lady. You're Revan, ain't you? I saw you- all three of you on the broadcast last month!" Her hand twitched towards the blaster she carried and she began to back away.
Aithne held up her hands. "I'm not looking for any trouble, Jeena," she said.
Jeena snorted. "You don't have to be. You're the sort that carries it around with you. You wiped 'em out down there at the Academy last time, didn't you? Else why would you think they were dead? Listen, you stay away from me, Revan! You and your friends!"
Aithne sighed. She placed the hundred credits she had wagered on the Pazaak game on the table. "Buy passage to some planet that suits you, Jeena," she said quietly. "Thanks for the information, and good luck."
She turned away. It was going to be like this from now on, she realized. They weren't all like Jeena. The dock manager they'd run into earlier had begged for an autograph. But no matter what she did or where she went, Revan and her legacy would follow her around forever. She began walking away from the cantina. Carth caught up and grabbed her hand.
"It's alright, Aithne," he said. "You're fine. She was just an ignorant Pazaak addict."
"She was right, though," Aithne replied. "Carth, do you really think we wiped them out? All of them?"
Carth frowned. "I don't know," he said finally. "It was pretty hot in there when we left. Maybe we didn't. Maybe we just wiped enough out that those who were still alive afterwards just…left."
Canderous had caught up with them. "Don't we have to go through that Academy to get to the valley where you think you buried the mask of Mandalore?"
Aithne winced. "Yeah, but I don't like the idea of it if no one's been through there since we carved up the place six months ago."
Aithne almost passed out when she entered the Sith Academy. The stench was terrible. Even Canderous wrinkled his nose over his sneer. Bodies were strewn left and right, in the same places that Carth, Jolee, and Aithne had felled them months ago. But there were a few differences. Some of the bodies had been stripped. One had been hacked to pieces by the back door.
"There's been someone here since we left," she coughed. "At least once." She gestured towards the body. "They didn't really like the Sith much, either."
"They still haven't been here for months," Carth said. "Can we get out of here so we can find that mask and get off this planet? This smell…"
"Worse than thirty Gamorreans who haven't showered in decades in the Tarisian sewers, I know," Aithne agreed, holding her nose. "You're right. Let's go."
The Dark Side had been strong enough in the Academy. When Aithne and her companions passed out into the Valley of the Sith Lords the Darkness intensified. Aithne tensed, but stretching out with her senses, she felt no Sith at all. Only the odd tuk'ata. The valley was dead, and utterly silent.
"Force, Jeena was right, this is creepy," Aithne muttered to Carth.
He shrugged. "At least the smell's gone."
Aithne shuddered. "I'm going to try to meditate," she told Carth and Canderous. "I don't remember exactly where in this valley I buried that mask. Meditation might help me to remember."
Canderous nodded. Aithne sat on the hot rock floor of the valley, but before she started to meditate, she looked up at Carth. "Watch me, okay? This valley isn't exactly friendly."
Carth's jaw set. "I remember," he said. "I've got your back, beautiful."
Aithne closed her eyes and felt out with the Force. She delved deep for memories forgotten, even memories that might have been burned away. The Dark Side swirled around her. It was hauntingly beautiful amidst the crumbling columns and the emptiness of the ruined and looted tombs that riddled the barren rock surface of Korriban.
Aithne threw up walls around her mind and heart and clung with her spirit to Carth's Force-presence behind her. His aura was clean now from the hatred and bitterness that had tainted it for so long. The honesty and goodness that had always been there was clearer than ever, and made even stronger by his hope for the future. The Dark Side was strong, but it could not touch Carth. In fact Aithne felt it recoil back from him.
She used his presence as both shield and sword. With him by her side she could see clearly without fear of corruption. She struck out at the Dark with her mind, looking within and without. She called for Revan.
The hills of Korriban shivered in fearful recognition of the name. The tomb of Naga Sadow, the darkness that was the Star Map remembered Revan particularly well. The Force sang to Aithne that more recently there had been Revan, but not-Revan. She had gone all over these hills and brought both darkness and light. Aithne shunted those memories to the side-she knew all that- and delved deeper. Then, older, the hills recalled a fierce glee and determination. Aithne felt that a shovel had broken the ground, just over a tomb-mound, where the cliffs overlooked the wasteland. The memory caught Aithne like a tidal wave.
I'd done it. I'd defied the Order, sent thousands to their deaths, burned worlds, but I'd done it. The Mandalorians were broken. Never again would they raze worlds and demolish peoples. Never again would they unite under one banner. I'd made sure of it.
I looked out over the empty stone hills of Korriban and threw the last clump of dirt over the mask I'd taken from the dead face of Mandalore the Ultimate, with the tomb of Naga Sadow to my back. No one came here. The Sith weren't interested in the barren wasteland here. They had probed and fathomed the ancient tombs here over and over. Mostly they just ended up dying a lot. They rarely discovered anything of note at all. It was kind of funny, really, how stupid the Sith had become ever since Exar Kun had been defeated. Hiring the Mandalorians. Really. I'd put them to better use.
The Republic had been useless before. They were worse than that now. The Republic was scattered and in disrepair. They couldn't govern a group of tach if they tried. The people were hurting. Part of it was my fault. Of course I knew that. How could I not? But I would fix it. I would fix everything. I had the Dark Side as my ally and the strength to achieve my aim. And now I could find the Star Forge. I would rule the galaxy.
Aithne's eyes snapped open. She rose and turned. "Canderous. I know where it is."
Aithne led Carth and Canderous over the hill that contained the tomb of Naga Sadow. It was a rough climb. The rocks had a nasty habit of sliding underfoot, and more than once they had to steady one another. But finally Aithne, Carth, and Canderous got to the base of the hill. Aithne looked out over the barren wasteland. The sun was setting to her left.
She laughed humorlessly. "Amazing, how idiotic I was sometimes," she said quietly. "I mean, it was brilliant, to bury the mask here, outside of the Republic, in the middle of nowhere. To come here and pick up a lot of bored Sith. But apparently I knew about the Star Forge the first time I was here. But I didn't know about the Map right behind us." She laughed again. She looked at the ground, and blushed. "Er…Carth? Canderous? Either of you happen to have a shovel?"
Canderous laughed and clapped her shoulder. "You really haven't changed much, have you, Aithne? Brilliant, remembering you had the mask, tracking it all the way out here," he mocked. "And then to forget the damn shovel." He brought one out from his pack and handed it over. Ruefully, Aithne started to dig.
There were three other freighters in the small Telosian lunar docking bay, and Canderous was outbound on one of them. At least six other ships waited out in space to unload engineers and parts for the Citadel Space Station project, stage one of the Republic sponsored Telosian restoration. Things were moving fast here. Aithne knew she certainly wouldn't be bored, at least.
Still, moving on. It was going to be difficult. Carth had found Canderous a ship a couple days ago. A Sergeant Azle in charge here at the settlement had done a search at Carth's request when they'd radioed in to tell Dustil they'd be arriving. Canderous' ride was mid-fifties, recently retired from Republic military service, single, bored, and more tolerant than most as far as Mandalorians went. He'd been more than happy to hire on.
The last couple weeks Canderous had taken up standing behind Carth in the cockpit. It'd gotten on Carth's nerves. But now that it was time to say goodbye, Carth eyed Canderous' ship and pilot with envious eyes. The Ebon Hawk didn't look like leaving Telos for a long time. Aithne knew Carth would miss flying dearly.
She bumped him gently with her shoulder. "Cheer up, flyboy," she murmured. "I'm sure they'll have you towing scrap out for the engineers and construction workers to turn into station in no time. And then you'll be flying to and from restoration zones. You'll be doing so much flying you'll be sick of it. And at the end of every day you'll come home, and no one will be trying to kill you, even!" He turned to look at her.
"Is that so?" he asked. His eyes lit in amusement.
Aithne shrugged. "Well, there'll be angry bureaucrats you'll upset in those hoity-toity meetings," she said. "And I may not get Aytchkay completely fixed for months. There's your ex-Sith of a son that'll be around for a while, at least. And his cranky Jedi Master. There's your hormonal teenage adopted daughter. And then there's me. I have a bad reputation. And a horrible temper. Or so I've been told." She tapped her finger on her chin. "You know, flyboy, you might actually be safer if you mobbed that pilot right now and begged Canderous for his job."
Carth grinned. "I think I'll take my chances," he said. He caught her around the waist and kissed her. Aithne smiled against his lips, grateful he hadn't caught her seriousness. "Thanks," he murmured.
The others emerged from the Ebon Hawk. Somehow Mission had gotten Jolee to carry her bag as well as his own, judging from his long-suffering expression. Aytchkay was walking ahead of the small group, looking from side to side in irritation. Mission was shaking hands with Canderous, and Teethree was trailing behind her.
Aithne smiled sadly. Canderous' pilot was checking in the last load of his cargo. This was it, then. She looked at Canderous. He'd acquired a full set of armor on the Star Forge journey, but now that he had the mask of Mandalore, he never took off his helmet. He cut a rather alarming figure in all that thick metal plating. But she knew the Mandalorians would rally to it.
"Are you off, then?" she asked.
Canderous shrugged. "Yeah. I have to get a move on. The clans aren't staying still, you know. There's a lot of work to do." His voice sounded strange through the mask.
"You could stay for a few days," Carth said. "We'd love to have you."
Canderous shook his head. "Maybe I'll see you around again someday, Onasi, but for now, it's time to go."
"You do what you have to," Jolee said. "It's been…interesting, Canderous."
Canderous laughed. "Likewise, old man. Good luck with the kid. Hey, Vao?"
"Yeah?" Mission said.
"You take care, okay? Give 'em hell at that Academy."
Mission grinned. "Oh, you just bet I will. Good luck, Canderous, with the Mandalorians and all."
Aithne looked up at Canderous. "Take off that mask, you. I want to say good-bye to Canderous Ordo, not the mask of Mandalore."
She felt Carth stiffen in surprise when Canderous actually complied. Aithne smiled. Carth extended his hand. "Er…goodbye, Canderous."
Canderous shook it. "You're a good soldier, Onasi. See you in a few months. Take care of her."
Aithne sighed. "I can take care of myself, Ordo," she said, irritated. "Revan, remember? But it's nice to know you care." She searched his face for a moment. /May your sword stay sharp and may your foes flee before you,/ she said finally in Mandalorian.
Canderous took Aithne's hand. "Look, I still got that com-link," he said. "If you ever need anything, it'll be open. It's been my honor, Aithne Morrigan."
Aithne stepped up on tiptoe then and kissed Canderous on his scarred cheek. "See you around, Ordo," she muttered. Then she winked, and Canderous and T3-M4 made their way to the Ebon Hawk and its new pilot.
Mission saw him first, just outside the docking bay and just inside the settlement. She grabbed Carth's shoulder. "That's him, isn't it?" she hissed. "That kid there? That's Dustil!"
Carth, Aithne, and Jolee turned, and the three of them went quiet. There he was, sure enough, leaning up against the wall of the walkway. His eyes followed their movements. Aithne saw his jaw tighten. He was in civilian clothes, but they weren't loose enough to hide the lightsaber he was obviously still wearing beneath this tunic. When he saw that they'd seen him, he straightened and walked over.
He extended a hand for one of the two bags Jolee was carrying. Jolee handed it to him without comment. "I…uh…I wasn't expecting this many of you," Dustil said. "You're Jolee," he said to the same. "Nice to finally be able to say hello. It's been a while since Korriban."
"That it has, sonny, that it has," Jolee said.
Dustil jerked his head at Aytchkay. "He wasn't with you back then, but I saw him on the broadcasts. HK-47, isn't it?"
"Statement: Indeed. It is most pleasing to be recognized. You are the meatbag Dustil Onasi."
"Meatbag?" Dustil said, laughing a little.
Mission snorted. "Ignore him. He does that, you know? I'm Mission Vao, Dustil. It's great to meet you finally. I've heard a lot about you."
Dustil looked carefully at Mission. "Father told me about you, too," he said. "I'm sorry about Taris. It must've been awful."
Mission held his gaze. "No worse than here," she replied. "And you'd know all about that, right? But we're going to fix this place up."
"You are, are you? You're staying? All of you?" His eyes left Mission then, and drifted over to Aithne, and then to Carth. There were questions there, and a challenge, but behind them all was an incredible hope.
Carth caught it. "We're staying, Dustil. All of us."
Dustil's eyes flicked to Aithne. "Of course. Your sentence. You have to rebuild worlds the Sith destroyed. And where better than Telos?" His mouth quirked. "Well. There's more than enough work to do, I'll tell you that much."
"I can see that," Jolee said thoughtfully.
Aithne saw what he meant. Dustil definitely wasn't rolling out the red carpet. His aura was swirling with confusion, anger, and doubt, but even as she watched his mouth quirked up. "So. You saved the galaxy, huh? You brought down Malak. You crushed the Sith. Guess I'd better thank you for getting me out of the ranks. And now you're back here."
Aithne regarded him. There was humor in Dustil's gaze, and she suddenly smiled. "Dustil Onasi, I'm glad to see you again," she informed him. "And I think you're glad to see us, no matter what you say."
Dustil frowned and looked away, and adjusted the bag on his back. "You know," he said after a moment. "I think I am. Hmm." Then he looked at Aithne and his eyes began to dance. "For sure things are going to get a lot more interesting around here now my Lady of the Sith has come to stay," he jibed. He bowed mockingly, but Aithne could see he meant no harm by it, so she curtsied back to him. Mission laughed.
"They sure are," she said. "Your dad's as boring as can be, but me 'n' Aithne will shake things up around here good. You can help, Dustil!"
Dustil shook his head, smiling. "You know, you being Revan?" he said, speaking to Aithne still. "It makes sense, somehow, incredible as it seems."
Aithne looked at him thoughtfully. "That's almost exactly what I said." It made her a little sad, that Dustil didn't think it beyond her, but Carth caught her thoughts and grabbed her hand.
Dustil blinked. "It worked out, then?" he asked his father lightly. He didn't look angry. But he did look a little sad, Aithne thought, and a little lonely, too.
Carth nodded slowly. "It did, Dustil. C'mon, though. We're blocking up the hallway. Do you know a place we can talk? There's a lot of things we should discuss."
"I'll say," Jolee seconded.
Dustil nodded. "I'll take you around to my place," he said. "You can drop your stuff off there, for now. Then we'll go get something to eat at the cantina. I'll introduce you all to Yooba and Geri."
They followed Dustil through the Telosian lunar settlement, and the people bustled around them with the orders and instructions for the construction of Citadel Station, where Carth and Aithne would play vital roles in the reconstruction of the planetary surface. The lunar settlement was a ramshackle, temporary-type place. It wasn't too fancy, or even too comfortable. It would take years to transform it into a home.
As Carth, Aithne, Dustil, Mission, HK-47, and Dustil's future master Jolee Bindo walked through the settlement, all of them knew they weren't walking into paradise, or into some type of happily-ever-after. Just hammering out the issues among the six of them would take months. But there was good work to be done, and friends to make. There was family. And with the Force ever-present, they had embarked upon a good start.
A/N: If you're wondering about the change, I've removed the epilogue of this story to make it flow into my Defining the Jedi continuity. For anyone that wants the happy ending five years early, I've reposted the epilogue as a one-shot AU to my AU.
Thanks to everyone who has read, reviewed, and favorited this story. You've been a huge encouragement. To those of you that liked my story before; I hope you think I've made an improvement. I hope I did. To those of you that never knew me before, thanks for coming along for the ride. I hope I've given you a little entertainment, at least.
God Bless,
LMSharp