Authors blog: Ok I am finally posting this…you know I have had it sitting on my computer for months completely written. I feel so horrible. I must keep posting or I forever will have this just sitting here….uggg..
Anyways, enjoy the chapter. Things are starting to get interesting.
Thunder crashed outside of the Skywalkers apartment building. The shutters were drawn and the fire pit was alit providing the only light in the living room. Lightning streaked across the sky lighting the room showing red hair falling over the back of the rocking chair across from the fire. Luke winced as he walked towards his exhausted wife rocking their newborn as she wailed louder with each thundering burst.
"Let me take her Mara. You need to sleep."
"I can't sleep. Not with her crying like this. She will keep me up in bed until she stops. She's frightened."
"Mommy, is Baby Ana alright?" Ben whimpered walking out of his room, dragging his blanket, and teddy in the other arm.
Luke walked over to his son, and picked him up. Ben dropped his blanket and teddy and instead wrapped his arms around his father's neck snuggling close.
"She is scared of the thunder. She will stop crying when the storm passes."
"Thunder is scary mommy, but the lighting scares me…it sounds close." Ben spoke into his father's neck.
"Lightning doesn't make any sound, that's thunder." His father smiled and rubbed the back of his son's head.
"Thunder crashes and then you count to see how close lighting is. The thunder made a sound, and then I counted four seconds. Then lighting makes the room light up. That means that the storm is four…four miles away." He yawned and snuggled himself closer to become more comfortable in his father's arms.
The baby let out a sudden scream as another round of thunder crashed and lightning streaked the sky moments later. Mara stuck Ana's head into her neck.
"Shhhh…honey…shhhh."
Her hands flailed as she smacked her mother's neck.
Mara though she just didn't want to be held that way. However when she cradled her in her arms again, Ana flailed harder and Mara almost dropped her.
Luke suddenly almost dropped Ben, his danger sense pricking the back of his neck.
Mara's eyes met his, and suddenly they were both running for the door, cloaks forgotten on the backs of chairs. They ran down the stairs pulling fire alarms on the walls as they passed them. Many different intergalactic beings started running down the stairs with them, and together, they streamed into the basement under cover from the outside world.
"Master Skywalker's what's wrong?" rang out in chorus as they held their children close.
When Luke felt that the final members of the building were inside the room, he slammed the door shut with the force, the locking mechanism clicking monotonously into place.
Suddenly a loud howl wrung outside the room and everyone huddled away from the door. A few terrified screams could be heard through the crowd.
Baby Ana fell silent and still, closing her eyes and falling asleep for the first time in days.
The howling continued for nearly a minute before the sound slowly faded with all the whimpers of terror fading with it.
The room remained silent for nearly ten minutes before Luke put Ben down, who instantly clamped onto his mother leg, before walking to the door. He placed his hands on the locking mechanism and felt with the force what was outside. Outside he felt no danger, but inside the room he felt panic, and a strange single small presence projecting a calm spirit. He felt for that lone presence and found it projecting from the bundle in his wife's arms. It made him start and look further into the force presence of their newborn. What surprised him was that her force presence almost…hugged…him in reassurance. It was strange, and unnerving.
Promising himself to meditate on it later, he slowly opened the door wide and gasped.
The rest of the crowd slowly followed him outside, his wife handing off their son, whom Luke picked up immediately, flanking his right side.
Agonized whimpers and gasps filled the air and distant thunder could be heard in the distance.
Mara brushed up against her husband. "A tornado…on Courescant? How is this possible?"
Three buildings on their block were left as rubble, and the air traffic tunnel at the end was torn in half, the center break showing wires wiggling in the air sparking brightly.
Police droids and law inforcement officials were soon checking them for injuries, a few Jedi Masters putting their hands on Luke and Mara's shoulders.
"Master Skywalker's…you were saved. All of them…the other two buildings inhabitants are all dead. It was horrible, all their souls crying out suddenly. We feared the worst for your family."
"Your female offspring seems calm in demeanor. I would have expected in human nature for her to be screaming?"
"She did scream, and then fell silent as the tornado passed over the buildings…" Mara passed her fingers over her daughter's cheek, as she slept peacefully for the first time in days.
"Yes…when I felt everyone panicking inside the shelter, she was surprisingly calm." Luke stroked his index finger against the baby's hand that stuck out of the blanket before tucking it back inside.
"Thank the Force you are all safe."
"Yes…" Luke gazed again at the destruction before returning his attention his daughter. She still slept peacefully in her Mother's arms. He promised himself he would meditate on this new development, no matter how long it took.