Chapter 8

Dorin, Expansion region

Dorin, home to the species of Kel Dor. A humanoid species with orange, thick, leathery skin with large sensory organs on their heads that extended down around their face. Most of the universe only saw them with their mouth, and eyes covered as oxygen containing planets were deadly to them. They thrived more in their helium and Dorin gas rich environment. The planet was home to strong currents of ever changing weather. Random lightning storms were frequent as well as strong winds that churned up their oceans.

Ahsoka opened the control panel in the cockpit. Smoke came flying up from mysterious areas within the panel as the stench of burnt parts perfumed the air. She was able to successfully re-wire some circuits and bypass the blown fuses. This bought her about 50% control of the ship. When Ahsoka sent the transmission for their need to immediately land, she was given clearance and coordinates, but getting there in one piece was a whole other story. She could see the Dor'shan spaceport in front of them. Precariously flying over a turbulent ocean, she watched the aggravated waves claw at the sky, begging to engulf them. The winds thrashed the shuttle around like a helpless kite.

"I see the landing pad. We're almost there!" Obi Wan pointed to the distance structure, the landing lights faded in and out between the waves.

Ahsoka gripped the steering apparatus that refused to budge from its current direction.

"I don't think we're going to make it. The winds are too strong. We're going to crash into the ocean!"

A colossal wave emerged from the ocean ready to devour them. Ahsoka closed her eyes and said a prayer. Just when the wave was about to hit them, it calmed down. The ship shifted then suddenly stopped. Ahsoka and Obi Wan lost their balance from the sudden change and fell backward on the floor of the cockpit. They felt the ship stabilize and floating towards the landing pad. Quickly rising, they made their way over to the window.

Ahsoka pointed to a figure on the landing platform, "Look! Over there."

The figure, shrouded in a heavy cloak, had their hands stretched out towards them.

The ship rocked and rattled for the last time before hitting the solid ground of the spaceport with a heavy thump. Ahsoka and Obi Wan let out the breath they both were holding.

Obi Wan attempted to lighten the mood. "Well, another happy landing," as he brushed a stray hair out of his face.

Ahsoka only glared at Obi Wan.

He turned around and opened a cabinet in the back of the cockpit. "Don't forget your rebreather mask, Ahsoka." Obi Wan stated, as he handed her the mask, "The people are friendly but the environment is not to our liking."

Once fitted with their masks, they waited as the ramp lowered, then walked onto the ground below. The storm that had tempestuously encircled them had subsided, giving way to the clear, calm weather they now experienced.

Obi Wan let out a sigh of relief as his feet touched the solid ground. A broad smile crossed Ahsoka's face as she recognized the tall figure approaching them. Unusual. It was a surprise to see Master Plo Koon without his usual eye and face coverings. The tides have changed and, this time, it was Ahsoka and Obi Wan with the face masks. She quickly made her way towards him and gave him a hug. He knelt down from his towering height to joyfully return the pleasantries.

"Koh-to-yah, Master Plo," Ahsoka greeted happily.

"Koh-to-yah, Ahsoka," Plo Koon stated as he stood back up and observed her height. He bowed to Obi Wan in the customary greeting then tilted his head in amusement.

"Ahsoka, you have grown up since we last meet."

There was a hint of sadness in his voice. Much time had passed since she left the Jedi Order. Even though he wasn't her formal master, he often checked in with her.

"It seems that you have kept quite busy since we last saw each other."

"You heard about it?" Ahsoka was shocked and slightly embarrassed.

"Why, of course. Your capture of Maul was most impressive. You have grown into a powerful, young woman." Plo Koon remarked, like a proud father showering appraisal.

Ahsoka would feel proud except they were hunting Maul once again. Something else was on her mind. She added, "Did you help us land our ship?"

Plo Koon scanned around them thoughtfully, "Indeed, it appears that I have."

"I didn't know you could do that?" Ahsoka had never seen a Jedi do that before.

Stroking his chin with one of his capped fingers, "An ability to summon and calm the weather. It appears coming home has awakened some abilities within the Force. In all of my time, I have never felt the Force as free as it is now. It flows with new energy. I assume the two of you have felt it as well?"

Obi Wan and Ahsoka shared a glance. Ahsoka did feel a shift in the Force, but she wasn't sure what to make of it. Judging by Obi Wan's response, he probably felt it too. Maybe he even understood it better than she did. He had a penchant for meditation. If anything, it was his favorite past time. At least, that's what Anakin would tell her. Anakin would, exasperatedly, explain that Obi Wan could meditate endlessly if given the choice.

Plo Koon motioned to the shuttle that was barely holding together behind them, "So what brings you all the way out here to Dorin?"

He sensed from their attire that they weren't here for a social call and perhaps hadn't planned to be here at all.

Ahsoka replied, "We were in a situation and had some trouble with our ship."

She didn't feel like explaining how they botched up being spice runners, and from the looks of it, Obi Wan wasn't going to go into details either.

"I guess it was by the will of the Force that we are here. Perhaps we landed here for a reason?" She perked up, "Maybe you are meant to help us with our mission?"

Plo Koon eyed her carefully before responding, "I would like the two of you to come with me. There's something you should see."

They made their way over to a large multilevel, rectangular structure with massive white pillars and beautiful sculptures that lined the roof. The walls were well weathered from time. The black stone walls behind the pillars glared, imposingly, at them with its ancient wisdom. If Ahsoka had to guess, it must be a temple of some sort.

Plo Koon inquired, "Are you familiar with this structure?"

Obi Wan walking alongside them answered, "Is this the Baran Do temple?"

Ahsoka was surprised, "You've heard of it?"

Obi Wan added quietly, "Yes, the Baran Do Sages that inhabited the temple played an intricate role in the Kel Dor culture. Well, at least they use to."

Ahsoka asked curiously, "Use to?"

Plo Koon explained, "The Baran Do sages comprised of force sensitive Kel Dor. Prior to joining the Republic, they were tasked with using their force abilities to sense dangerous weather phenomena before it happened, thus saving countless Kel Dor lives. Many were gifted with future sight and served as advisors to the leaders of Dorin."

Ahsoka sensed the sadness in Obi Wan and Plo Koon's tones, "What happened after Dorin joined the Republic?"

Obi Wan and Plo Koon regarded each other sadly. Obi Wan answered, "Once part of the Republic, any Kel Dor that was shown to have force sensitivity was taken to Coruscant."

Ahsoka filled in the blank, "To become a Jedi." She stated somberly.

Plo Koon continued, "Yes, this caused the Baran Do numbers to fall to the point of near extinction. The strongest of our people were used to serve the Republic."

They walked into the temple. The ceiling was a beautiful dark blue studded with white impressions mimicking the evening sky. This was in contrast to the clay, brown flooring that represented Dorin's soil.

"For a time, I believed that serving the Republic would also help serve the people of Dorin. However, a Jedi's loyalty is to the Jedi Order. The people of Dorin still suffered under the Republic. Even with advanced weather systems, they could not predict the ever changing weather patterns fast enough to save people from disasters. This, along with a civil war, plagued Dorin. All because they were without the guidance of the Baran Do."

Obi Wan added, "These issues are considered minor, local problems. It was not significant enough to garner the attention of the Republic."

The three of them stopped under the beautiful evening sky ceiling taking in the essence of Dorin. The unity of their planet to the greater galaxy.

Master Plo continued, "I must admit that even I ignored the needs of my people that resonated through the Force. Being home now, I see the pain and suffering my people had gone through without the Baran Do. It is my hope that I can help to rebuild the order and once again provide wisdom and protection to the people of Dorin as was done so for centuries before they joined the Republic. So you see. I cannot accompany you on your mission."

Ahsoka nodded, " I understand. Your work here is important."

Obi Wan observed the apparent bond between Ahsoka and Master Plo. He assumed it was forged when Plo Koon had first found Ahsoka and brought her to the temple. He marveled at how such a bond was formed so strongly from such an early point. And yet, Ahsoka's relationship was even stronger with her former Master, Anakin. He smiled to himself. It might have been his idea to give Anakin a padawan but he didn't realize how similar Anakin and Ahsoka would be. They both wore their hearts on their sleeves. Something even now he was reluctant to do.

A female Kel Dor approached them, "Uncle, are these friends of yours?"

Plo Koon ushered her over, "Ahsoka. Obi Wan. Meet my niece, Sha Koon."

Obi Wan bowed as he recalled his memories, "You look familiar?"

Sha Koon replied, "Several of the Kel Dor Jedi followed Master Plo Koon back here. I, for one, am grateful to be home with my people and with family. This has been an enlightening experience," as she hugged her uncle.

Plo Koon returned the hug and asked Obi Wan, "Speaking of family. How is Skywalker and his family?"

"He's doing well on Naboo with his wife and…with his twin children." Obi Wan added with amusement.

After Anakin's abrupt departure from the Jedi order, Master Plo had not heard anything else about him. He did know that there was a child on the way. It was news to him that it turned out to be two children instead of one.

"Is that so? Twins? He must have his hands full. Skywalker had always been an unconventional Jedi, yet we cannot deny that he fulfilled the prophecy. Perhaps we were wrong to judge young Skywalker so critically. It appears that the Force has favored him."

Master Plo put his hands behind his back, staring up at the ceiling, "The Jedi always viewed the bonds of love as a dangerous distraction from a Jedi's work. I see now that there is a place for love. Compassion and empathy are bred from chords of love. In our quest to help the masses, we've forgotten the value of each individual life and the ripple effects it has on the universe. The Force has endowed each life with a purpose, a meaning, that we cannot understand. As Jedi, we had forgotten to value the singular life as well as the whole."

Plo Koon's eyes softened as he puts a hand on Ahsoka, "I remember when I first went to recruited you, Ahsoka. Do you remember?"

Ahsoka smiled at the memory even though much of the details had faded from that time, "You found me at 3 years old and brought me over to the temple to began my training."

Plo Koon nodded, "You were full of such life and I believe we created a strong bond, unintentionally. That bond would later lead you to find me drifting in space?"

Ahsoka frowned as the memory, "Yes, but only at the last second were we able to find you."

At the beginning of the Clone Wars, the Separatists had a dreadful, monstrous ship that destroyed everything in its path. The Malevolence. Plo Koon cruiser was assigned to hunt it down but unfortunately became another casualty to its ion canon. Through an unsanctioned rescue mission, Anakin and Ahsoka searched for them amongst the ship's remains floating in space. It was only through the bond Ashoka had with Master Plo that helped them to find him. From his direct experience with the Malevolence, they learned valuable information on how to defeat the deadly ship. Their search for one life had lead to the salvation of many other lives.

Plo Koon continued, "But you did find me and I do believe it was only because of the unique relationship we shared. I owe my life to you and to Skywalker. It was not my time to rejoin the Force and I see now, there's still much work left for me to do. It is time for us to truly listen to the Force and humble ourselves to its will. My role here, along with my niece, will help our people grow a brighter future."

Ahsoka smiled warmly, "It was so good to see you again."

Master Plo gave them both parting words of advice, "The Force guides all of us even if we are not part of an official Jedi order. We only have to listen to what the Force teaches us." He turned to the exit of the temple, "Now, let's find you a more suitable ship. Perhaps something better maintained?"

Obi Wan sighed in relief, "You have brightened my day, Master Plo."

Skywalker's residence on Theed, Naboo

Anakin never knew Padmé's love for decorating until they had moved into their home on Theed. She had meticulously planned and designed every room. He was impressed by her interior decorating skills and he was happy to step aside and watch her indulge in her creative outlet. She seemed so happy through the whole process that he just let her arrange everything.

He couldn't have created a more warm and welcoming home if he tried. She carved out an area for him to do his meditations. Half was indoors, and it opened out into a small courtyard with a grassy area, a percolating stream, and a lone mature tree to provide shade. Inside was lined with floor mats so he could comfortably sit on the ground, and a smooth rock path that led to the outdoors area. It was quiet and peaceful and most importantly….the children couldn't bother him here.

Anakin had meditated in the Force more so since leaving the Jedi. It started as a force of habit after all the years of training. It was more than that now. He actually enjoyed it. There was a calmness he enjoyed in meditation he never experienced before. A deeper connection, which he never appreciated. Although, he would never admit this to Obi Wan. It would confirm everything Obi Wan had been telling him for years about it giving him serenity and focus. Honestly, Anakin was pretty sure Obi Wan used meditating as an excuse for taking a nap most of the time. He was, after all, an old man.

Part of him wondered if the Force, whom he was so intimately connected with, would separate from him when he left the Jedi Order. It was one of the many reasons he stayed. One of his misunderstanding. He thought that the Jedi Order was the only way to serve the light side of the Force. Surprisingly, his connection to the Force remained the same. Sometimes he would think of the Force akin to a mistress, another master that he followed, but this master was more forgiving than the Jedi Order. It still followed him and spoke to him even though he had taken the seemingly less noble and more selfish path. He chose his own happiness over the pained existence he had as a Jedi. He decided to follow love and protect those closest to him and that required him to give up the Jedi Order. Both couldn't exist with each other and it was tearing him apart. He wasn't like the other Jedi. He couldn't harness his emotions and master them. He was one with his emotions like Qui Gon said. He never found peace in the stillness that the Jedi preached. He found his peace in accepting love and with it he had a deeper connection to the Force. Maybe that's what Qiu Gon was trying to tell him.

As he meditated, the Force felt different now that Sheev Palpatine was dead and the war over. The dark side was much weaker and he could almost see the light side of the Force growing more substantial like fireflies lighting the darkness of the night. He wouldn't call the Force balanced but it was headed in the right direction.

He dipped his Force signature into the Force and asked to show him what he needed to know. Was there conflict on the Rori moon of Naboo? Through the currents of the Force, images of faces appeared, hands moving boxes, and whispers in the dark. The deeper he probed into it, he felt drawn to something else. In a different direction. Emotions of anger and vengeance grew more influential in the Force. Anakin didn't hesitate as he pressed further into the darkness. He saw flashes of someone with their head turned, red and black entered his vision.

Anakin felt a tug in the Force as he felt his consciousness pulled back to Theed and to his home. There's a ripple in the Force of a warning. Not urgent as if an enemy was approaching but more of a subtle hint of an accident about to occur. Somewhere near him.

Then he heard it.

SMACK!

He heard the loud, high pitch crack echo from the living room and then the sound he dreaded to hear most in the world. The sound of one of his children crying. He shot up from his position and didn't register his feet moving underneath him.

In the living room, he found a couple books knocked over from the top level of the bookcase. His eyes traced the bookcase down and he found Leia on the ground holding the side of her head crying like there was no tomorrow. Spots of blood covered the ground where she apparently hit her head. He knelt beside her as Dormé ran over, holding a now distraught Luke seeing the blood on the ground and his twin sister in pain.

"I'm sorry Master Skywalker! I was helping Luke change. He got mud all over his clothes and she was right beside me. I don't know what happened!" She had tears in her eyes as guilt washed over her.

Not to be insensitive but Anakin's focus was on Leia. In his mind, if she's crying then she's not hurt enough to need immediate medical attention, but he needed to know how bad it was. "It's ok, Princess. Let me see."

He lifted her up into his lap, holding her in his right arm, and with his left hand he gently peeled away the hand she had covering her bloody forehead. She relaxed her grip on her head, trusting her father's touch. He winched with what he saw. There was a large gash down the right side of her forehead near her temple about 2 inches long. It looked as deep as he dreaded it would be. Although the bleeding had slowed down, it was still dripping a significant amount and needed to be taken care of.

Dormé gasped at the sight, coming to the same conclusion. "I'll get the medical kit!" With Luke in her arms, she ran off into the other room.

Leia looked up at her father with her tiny, precious eyes still dripping with giant tears. "Owwie, Daddy. Owwie."

Through the Force, he could feel how much pain she was in and it broke him deeply as if he was the one in pain. His sweet, little naughty Leia. With so much grief and love, he wanted to take her pain away.

"It's ok, Princess. Daddy will take care of you. I know it hurts." He rocked her in his right arm while he applied pressure with his left hand.

He had never known love until his children were born. Of course, he loved Padmé more than life itself, but the love for his children was different. They were so innocent and vulnerable. When they smiled and laughed, it brought an indescribable joy to his soul. When they first learned to walk he was so proud of them. More proud than any of his own accomplishments. Sometimes, he would think to himself, he was more proud of his children than if the Jedi Council had actually made him a Master. This feeling of love was beyond any feelings he had before. It was a selfless, unconditional love. Even if his children hated him one day he would continue to love them endlessly. So when his children were in pain he wanted to do whatever it takes to make that pain go away.

As he held pressure to Leia's forehead, he closed his eyes and poured out his love for her into her wound. The desire to make the pain go away and for her to be better. He felt the intimate currents of the Living Force flow through him and he combined that with his endless love for his daughter and the desire for her wellbeing. Slowly but surely, he felt a warming under his fingertips as he heard Leia stifled cries start to end.

"Daddy, good." Leia reached up to grab his left arm suddenly.

The delicate touch of his daughter's hand on his arm startled him as Anakin opened his eyes. Through the Force, he felt Leia's pain lifted as he searched her bright, shiny brown eyes; she grinned at him happily. Unsure of what happened, he hesitantly pulled his fingers away from her gash as she tugged at his arm in reassurance. Shock filled him. He did a double take, brushing the wound with his fingers. The crusted blood shifted to the side revealing pristine, intact soft skin. It was like she never cut her head open. He looked down at his fingers then back at her smiling face in awe.

What did I do?

Moving quickly, Dormé returned with the medical kit, dropping the kit loudly as she rushed to kneel down beside them, unaware of what just happened. After putting Luke down, he immediately stumbled over to his twin sister, feeling a change in the Force around her. Curiously, he inspected her forehead and, concluding there was only one person that could have done this, he turned and asked his Father. "Boo-boo gone?"

Slightly stunned by Luke's words, Dormé stopped rummaging through the medical box and quickly turned around. What she saw made her jaw drop. "Master Anakin, did you heal Leia?" She exclaimed loudly.

The situation unbelievable and for a moment, he doubted how nasty Leia's open wound was. Logically, his mind came up with reasonable explanations for her quick healing. Yet, with the crusted blood out of the way, the skin underneath was clean and beautiful-completely untainted. It was hard to believe she had even hit her head. Even though the lingering doubt seemed plausible, the tall tale signs of blood on her forehead and splattered on the ground were undeniable proof of the accident. Even more so, when Dormé and Luke came into the room, they affirm what miraculously happened, as they had originally bear witness to the accident. The evidence was all there and it wasn't all in his head. In a stunning use of the Force, he had completely healed Leia's forehead.

Still in disbelief, staring in awe at his hand, Anakin replied back, "Yeah, I guess I did."

Dormé smiled softly, not realizing how uncanny of a feat she just witnessed. "I didn't know you could do that."

"Neither did I."

A/N: I know there was Force healing in Rise of Skywalker and I'm not going to comment on my opinions about the sequels. There have been accounts of force healing Jedi in the past like when Balista healed Revan. So I'm pulling more from legend's lore. Anakin also healed Ahsoka back on Mortis. Although, that was a special situation. One thing I think is essential is that force healing comes at a cost. It's a way to maintain balance. Everything should have a reason like I believe in healing someone; it takes a great act of love. I know some of you aren't going to be comfortable with this but I hope you can keep an open mind.

As the Jedi are less restricted from the High Council Jedi Order's dogmatic practices, more of these abilities are going to come out from different Jedi in my stories. So if there hasn't been abilities seen in the clone wars or the movies episode 1-6 then it'll be new in my stories.