Anxious, Elena met Mand outside Koril's door after she stepped out of the room...and almost wasn't fast enough to catch her friend as she sagged to the floor. Just beside them, the two Edgepoints stationed at the door, Daslen and Commander Cal Jax, also quickly helped ease Mand down, giving Elena the chance to assess her.

"I'm...tired," Mand managed to explain breathlessly, but Elena ignored her. She waved over a pair of nurses who knelt beside them, but even as Mand hardly kept herself sitting up against Elena behind her, she waved away their concern. "Just tired," she repeated more forcefully, and though still not convinced, Elena nodded her thanks to the nurses and sent them away.

Also kneeling at her side, Veon offered his help, as well, his face grim with concern.

"I told you, you needed rest, Mand."

"I'm fine," she protested again, but to Elena, it almost sounded as though Mand were still trying to convince herself. Elena fed her friend some energy through the Force, and with Veon's and the Edgepoints' help, she stood with Mand and slowly walked to a bench, supporting her as she lowered herself onto it.

Though she knew next to nothing about medicine or treating ailments, it did seem like Mand was telling the truth as far as she could tell; she simply looked exhausted, as though talking with Koril had completely drained her stamina. Feeling somewhat guilty for it, she remained at Mand's side, holding her hand supportively.

Interpreting the questions on Elena's face, Mand answered them quietly. "I don't know if I got through to him...but I did what I could."

Elena smiled sadly, squeezing her hand. "Thank you. I know it wasn't easy for you. It means a lot to me that you even tried." Though Elena did her best to keep her fatigue out of her expression, Mand easily picked up on it.

"Are you doing okay?"

Releasing a slow breath, Elena nodded. "I'm managing." She had a hard time believing it had already been almost three days since they had arrived on Coruscant, having spent nearly all of it at the med center, never far from Koril. While he was sleeping, she mingled with the Paneau who also kept a vigil in the nearby halls, hoping to raise their spirits as they waited. The crowd had thinned some, though, leaving only those closest to Koril and those sworn to protect him. She much preferred the company remaining, as they all were quickly becoming her close friends, as well. Even though she was still so worried about him, the presence of the Edgepoints and other Royals helped to calm her and remind her that she wasn't alone.

Bringing Elena back from her thoughts, Mand propped herself up on her elbows, apparently having regained her strength. "Elena," she began with worry in her voice, "you haven't slept." Elena could barely restrain herself from rolling her eyes at the irony of it.

"Yes, I have," she answered almost irritatedly. Though quiet, Commander Jax's voice from behind her startled her.

"Minimally," he added dryly, and despite her reproving glance at him, he maintained his concerned expression, making Elena sigh as she returned to Mand.

"I've meditated, I'm fine," she countered, instead leveling an anxious gaze at Mand. "I'm more worried about you. What's used you up so quickly?"

A strange look of apprehension rolled over Mand's face as she glanced at Veon standing behind Elena, but she quickly corrected it as she met Elena's gaze again, her voice hesitant. "Flashbacks. I'm having to...contain them...constantly..."

Feeling even more guilty, Elena hung her head briefly. "Mand, why didn't you tell me? I wouldn't have made you go in there if I had known..." But surprising her, Mand gave a small smile in return.

"It's okay, it needed to be done." Elena's expression remained the same, prompting Mand to continue. "I mean it, I'm alright. It's just taking a little more out of me than I anticipated, but I'm keeping them in check. Please, don't worry."

Though still reluctant to, Elena nodded and relaxed, looking over her friend with a light sigh. Again surprising her, Mand smiled after a few silent moments. "How's Derek?"

Elena finally had to smile, too. "He's fine. I sent him with his nannies, Kaydee, and some of the Edgepoints to the apartment to get some much needed rest." Turning back slightly, she glanced at Veon behind her. "Joshua and Ri are there, too, getting a few hours of sleep. You two are more than welcome to go if you need. The Edgepoints took over the living room, I'm told, but there are still plenty of bedrooms. It's very secure now, too. Thanks to the Consulate, the security's been overhauled and patrols have the entire building covered."

As she watched him, Veon nodded tiredly, accepting her offer, but Mand declined, as she expected. After giving her friend a half-amused, half-annoyed grin, Elena stood from her and turned to Commander Jax, who had resumed his post at the door.

"Commander," she addressed him as she approached, "are there Royal Guards available to escort His Highness to the Rys'tihn apartment?"

"Elena," Veon protested instantly, "that's not necessary--"

"Of course, M'lady," Commander Jax answered her. "They will be here in two minutes."

Nodding her thanks, she returned to Veon, smiling warmly at him to help ease his tension. He still seemed uneasy as he lowered his gaze to the floor, though, refusing to look back up even as Elena gently placed a hand on the side of his face.

"Veon," she said kindly, "you are still royalty." He finally met her eyes, though his expression remained the same. Again she smiled, hardly keeping herself from laughing. "And if I'm going to be treated this way, then so are you." His face lightened somewhat, but seeing his posture ease, she stood up on her toes and kissed him gently on the cheek. As she stepped back from him, she dropped her hand to his shoulder, squeezing it softly. "Get some rest."

Before he could answer or even move, the door to Koril's room opened behind them, and Jod Brader stepped out swiftly, almost immediately meeting her gaze. His expression was hard to read, quickening Elena's pulse as she nervously awaited what had brought him from his post inside.

"M'lady," he began with a respectful bow, "...he's asking for you."

Taking another moment to register what he had said, she blinked and took in a breath she had forgotten. Without thinking, she turned to Mand to find her already sitting up on the bench, facing her and smiling. Even Veon looked happier, his eyes sharp and alert. Although cautiously, Elena had to smile, too, as she returned to Jod and followed him back inside, eager but wary at the same time.

As Jod returned to his post beside the other two Edgepoints, Elena continued on further into the room, taking up her usual seat beside Koril. Looking him over, though, he appeared to be asleep; his eyes were closed, his breathing was slow and rhythmic, but in his lap, both of his hands slowly flexed and released repeatedly. It was the most she had seen him move voluntarily since his rescue, but to her it seemed odd. Was he dreaming...?

While one of his hands was open, she gripped it tightly, curling his fingers around hers as she watched him closely. He stirred and woke with her touch and instantly caught her gaze, forming a small smile on her face. His expression remained tired, though, and almost...confused?

"Hey," he breathed hoarsely, his eyes still firmly locked on hers. Despite being worried about how weak he sounded, her smile broadened, feeling a different kind of change in him. His mind seemed clearer, and his feelings seemed to be more hopeful.

"Hi," she returned happily, squeezing his hand as she felt his fingers tighten around her palm. He still looked confused, though what about, she wasn't sure. When he said nothing more in response, she spoke instead. "Are you feeling okay?"

With his brows furrowed in uncertainty, he remained silent for several moments, heightening Elena's concern as she waited. She leaned closer to him, her breath frozen in her chest as he finally spoke.

"...I don't know."

Confused herself, Elena looked up at the monitors behind his head, but none of the readings seemed to be out of his normal range, and none of the alarms were sounding. Even more worried, Elena returned to him and lightly brushed her fingers across his cheek, her voice soft. "What is it? What's wrong?"

Again, he struggled to formulate a response. His lips moved as though he were about to speak, but as if he couldn't form the right words, he stopped. Troubled by his hesitation, she squeezed his hand again, hoping to coax an answer from him. "...Koril?"

For the first time since he had woken up, his gaze drifted to the side and focused elsewhere. His words were quiet and distant, as though even he didn't believe them. "She...was here...in the room with me...then she was in my dream..."

Elena blinked. Mand had just talked to him... Had she instead done more damage to his fragile mind rather than help him come around?

But Koril continued, surprising her with an element she had least expected.

"It was the Queen...Queen Tascit..."

Stunned, Elena was sure her expression looked just as dumbfounded as his. Once her initial shock wore off, she smiled and let her head fall forward in relief, glad that was all that worried him. She knew what was fueling his apprehension.

"It's okay," she said as she lifted her head to smile at him, clarifying gently. "When most Jedi die, they become one with the Force. But some are able to stick around, at least for a little while longer. You did see her," she assured him softly, again lightly tracing his cheek with her fingers. "She must be especially worried about you. What did she say to you?"

Looking much more relaxed after her explanation, he closed his eyes briefly, reacting to her touch. He didn't move, though, and his expression remained the same, so unsure of whether he enjoyed it or if he was again trying to reject her, she retracted her hand while awaiting his answer.

"She didn't say much," he replied with a twinge of sadness in his voice, "just that she had something to show me." Raising his gaze to meet hers again, his expression, as well as his voice, seemed confused once more. "I think...I think she showed me...the future."

Curious, Elena sat forward, still clasping his hand and hanging on every word as he continued quietly.

"We were inside a ship, and...there were seven children running around within it. Three of them were older; two girls and a boy looked to be around nine, ten years old. The boy had brown hair...and bright green eyes. One of the girls had fire red hair, almost orange, and gray eyes. The other girl, though, had hazel eyes and pure white hair...whiter than the snow on Hoth."

Elena smiled, feeling her heart flutter with excitement at the seemingly good state of his mental faculties. They had only visited her home planet once before, and she was sure that it had been the first and only time he had traveled there. His memories were still intact, and he had brought one up in passing, feeding her hopes that he had a good chance of recovering well.

His description of the children piqued her interest, as well. The girl with red hair had to be Cordira Natiyr, the daughter of her best friends, and the boy could be her and Koril's son Derek. But what of the second girl with white hair, and the rest he hadn't yet mentioned?

"The other four were considerably younger," he continued, "maybe four or five. Two brown-haired, brown-eyed girls had to be identical twins. Another girl had dark brown hair and brown eyes, and the youngest, a boy, had the blackest hair and deep green eyes.

"They were all just...playing... Not a care in the galaxy. They were so...innocent...beautiful..." As he trailed off, Elena had to turn her head to blink away tears, moved by his words that were so very different from what he had last said to her, but he gently tugged at her hand to bring her back to him. Locking gazes with him again, she released a shaky breath as he went on, confirming what she had already realized.

"Elena... I think they're our children."

She smiled as she nodded. "Well," she amended, "not all of them." He understood what she meant.

"Cordira," he answered, and again, she nodded. Without another question, he turned his head from her, staring ahead as he mulled over his thoughts.

Elena had to process her thoughts, as well, nearly overwhelmed with emotion at seeing his change of heart. His voice had even gotten stronger as he had narrated his dream to her, and though she knew he still had a long way to go, she couldn't help but think that the worst was behind them. Both Mand's and Tascit's efforts seemed to have paid off; he was recovering.

Returning his gaze to her, a conflicted look rolled over his face, neutralizing hers. Something was still bothering him...

"Why didn't you leave me?"

Elena's heart sank at his question, scared she was losing him again. Did he still not believe himself worthy of the life he had before? Swallowing dryly, she thought carefully for a moment, almost afraid to hear his response.

"...do you think you did something deserving of me leaving you?"

He didn't even pause to consider his answer.

"I left you first."

It took her a few moments to realize what he meant: his decision to trade himself to the Huxnel for his Ghost Heir twin sister. His self-sacrifice earned him four months of torture and kept him away from Elena as she neared the later stages of her pregnancy with their son. But over those four months, she had never once gotten angry at him for his choice, nor had she resented him for not being with her. As she answered him, her expression softened into loving compassion.

"Koril, it was your duty, and I fully understand and respect that. I didn't want you to go, but I knew you had to. So listen to me," she asked as she leaned closer to him, her eyes intense. "We found you, we're together now, and that's all that matters."

"But I--"

"Koril," she interrupted quietly, shaking her head. "It will take a lot more than this to make me leave you."

Though her response only seemed to upset him more, he closed his eyes, releasing a shaky breath. She felt his hand tighten around hers again, and as she felt tears returning to her eyes, he looked back up at her, his own misty and sorrowful.

"I'm sorry for hurting you."

Elena smiled, shaking her head once more to dismiss his apology. She knew he still had to be there somewhere, covered up by the pain and trauma he had gone through. If only he were strong enough to talk through his experience so she could better understand...but she wouldn't subject him to that just yet. He was delicate enough as it was, and she wanted to keep him as long as she could.

Though she knew she was taking a risk, she reached her hand up to his face, watching his expression carefully as she lightly brushed her fingers over his cheek. He again closed his eyes with her touch, taking in a slow breath as she cupped her hand against his jaw. She had almost decided to drop her hand, but before she could, she released a shaky breath of her own as he turned his head into her palm, his cold, bony cheek fitting perfectly in it.

Feeling their connection slowly returning, tears flowed from her eyes freely, overjoyed at the renewal of his spirit. He may not have been conscious of it, but together they were reforging the bond they had shared before he had been taken away, and she could only restrain herself so much from intensifying it. She felt as though she could've permanently connected their minds, much like her friends Rech and Mand had, but still wary of his fragility, she withheld it. Though she found her legs suddenly unstable, she stood from her seat and leaned over him, gently kissing him on the forehead. Before she had lifted from him, she heard his quiet voice earnestly pleading to her, melting her heart even more.

"Don't leave me."

Smiling as she lightly rested her forehead against his, she answered just as quietly.

"I won't."

Though it hadn't been long since Veon had left with a handful of Royal Guards for the Rys'tihn apartment or since Elena had gone back inside the hospital room to Koril, Mand couldn't shake a strange restlessness that itched in her mind. She was keeping her flashbacks well at bay, but something else was eating at her. Unsure of how to counter it, she stood from the bench she had been sitting on and began pacing the hallway, curious if she were simply tired of having been in the same spot for half a standard hour.

But the hallway offered little comfort, instead only intensifying her desire to...leave? She didn't fully understand what she was feeling, but after a quick glance at the door to Koril's room, she was sure her friends wouldn't miss her for a few minutes. Anxious to get outside to some fresh air, she continued on down the hall to the turbolift, passing the few remaining Paneau and Royal Guards stationed nearby.

Once outside the busy medical complex, she found a small park only a few hundred meters from the main doors, full of beautiful blooming plants and flowers, and surprisingly, the area was mostly vacant. The plants represented only a small sampling of life from the surrounding systems, and though she thought the vividly colored flowers soothing and picturesque, her uneasiness remained. It was as though someone were calling to her...but who?

Still wandering the grounds, she came upon a darkened alley that extended deep into the skeleton-like decay of an older sector of the city-planet. It, too, was vacant, but she felt mysteriously drawn into its depths the closer she went. Was somebody she knew calling for her help? Or was she being lured into a trap?

She wasn't armed at all. No lightsaber, no blaster...the Force was her only weapon. She felt empowered by it, though, and perhaps made overconfident by it, she entered the alley, extremely curious about what had brought her there. In her right mind, she wouldn't have dared to follow the call, but somehow it lowered her defenses. Something about it was familiar, almost calming...

Only a dozen steps down the alley, she spotted a human figure ahead, standing in the middle of the street as though waiting for her. It had a masculine outline, and as she got closer, she realized it was a very familiar silhouette. Finally reaching him, she could hardly control her anger, leveling an intensely dark glare at him.

Horatio.

He returned her scathing glare, but just as he opened his mouth to speak, Mand released a powerful, rage-fueled Force Push on him, launching him backward, far down the alley. He landed hard on his back, sliding another few meters on decades old filth. Before he could even recover, she was already standing over him, prepared to level another attack on him.

His eyes were still dark, even though he made no effort to escape her. She would have expected more of a fight out of him, especially since he already knew her capabilities. What did he think she would do, after he had humiliated her and nearly killed her friend? Still powered by anger, she wrapped an invisible grip around his throat and began lifting him into the air from the floor, preparing to throw him again...

But a familiar snort broke her concentration, landing Horatio on the ground in front of her in a heap. He coughed with difficulty, but he quickly recovered and stood, massaging his throat as he watched her step back...

The beast that had attacked her in the Jedi Temple was striding up from the darkness behind Horatio, flicking its spiked tail back and forth in warning. She stared at it wide eyed, her muscles tense and her senses on edge, but she was unprepared for another blow Horatio dealt her.

"I see you two have already met," Horatio said roughly, glancing calmly behind himself at the beast that dwarfed him and breathed menacingly over his shoulder. "Mand Natiyr, meet Prophet."