Dark Angel
By Serena
A/N: Thanks so much for the continual support, everyone! And welcome to new readers! I hope you enjoy the rest of the story. Actually, we're winding down to a close of this story, but if you'd like me to continue, please LET ME KNOW. I want to continue, but if I don't get enough feedback, then I'm not inclined to update very often because people aren't reading the story.
Elena froze instinctively as Jix's lips touched her own. But after a moment, her mouth melded with his, and her eyelids slid shut as the kiss depened. Her arms slid up around his neck as one hand moved to wind in her hair and the other moved to the small of her back.
Force… Elena thought dizzily.
And when Jix deepened the kiss further, she thought nothing at all.
Eventually, he had to pull back for lack of air, but he touched his forehead to hers, breathing heavily. "You're not marrying anyone, Elena," he breathed. "Not if I have somethin' to say about it."
"Clearly," she gasped, "you do."
A slow grin crept across his face, causing Elena to redden.
"Listen, Elena," Jix muttered, "Uncle Dee ain't against… us. Told me so himself."
Elena's eyes widened. "Are you serious?"
"Yeah. So… I guess now'd be as good a time as any to say that I don't wanna see you with another guy."
Elena grinned. "What are you saying, Wrenga Jixton?"
He shot her a look. "Stang, Skywalker, you're makin' this extra hard for me, aren't ya?"
"I do try."
Jix let out a deep breath of air and took her hands in his. "Elena… I want to see you."
"You do see me."
"On a regular basis."
"Jix, you practically live here. We see each other almost every day."
"Kriff, Skyler," Jix swore in a growl, "Give me a break, here. I don't do this mushy stuff every day, ya know. I haven't done this in… well, years. Since before I met you. And even then, not goin' steady with anyone."
Elena smiled. "Sorry. Please continue."
"Thanks. What I'm trying to say is… would you like to go to dinner with me tomorrow night?"
"Depends on where we're going." After Jix glared at her, she burst into laughter. "I'm sorry, Jix! You're just too easy to tease."
Jix's eyes darkened. "I'll show you a tease," he growled, and pulled her close again for another zealous kiss that left her breathless. When he pulled back, much to her displeasure, he grinned roguishly. "Is that a yes?"
Elena beamed.
Force, yes.
"Yes."
"Stang," Sarael breathed as she held a hand to shade her eyes. "And I thought where I lived before was bad. This has to be the planet that's farthest from… anything." When she waited for a comment from her companion, she got none. Glancing over at Zak, she saw him standing with a pensive frown on his face as his gaze swept over the barren landscape. "Zak? What's wrong?"
"I don't know," he muttered. "I think… I think I've been here before."
"You're remembering!"
"Not really. I just… there's something about this planet that's familiar." He bent over and picked up a handful of sand, letting it slip through his black and red fingers. "I remember feelings, really. Emotions…"
"What kind of emotions?" she wondered curiously.
He sighed and stared at the ground. His face drew into a pained scowl. "Not good ones."
Sarael reached up and put a white hand on his shoulder. "Hey, it'll be all right. Maybe you're still jittery from waking up after all these years. Kreth, if I'd woken up with no memory of who I was, I'd be pretty shaken up, too."
Zak threw her a small smile. "Yeah, maybe that's it." He didn't move.
Sarael squeezed his arm. "C'mon. We have a little money. Let's try to find something to eat."
Zak nodded and pulled his dark cloak over his eyes as they started for the Anchorhead. "Yes. But we should try to stick to the outskirts of the town. I look rather… conspicuous." He glanced down at his huge cybernetic legs and clawed feet. "I don't want to cause any trouble."
"Would you want me to go by myself?"
He scowled. "Absolutely not. In a place like this, you're not going to find good, honorable people here."
Sarael smiled and started towards Anchorhead. "All right." Taking his larger hand in her slim, delicate one, she urged him forward towards the small town. As they neared Anchorhead, Sarael said, "Look, there's a station. We should be able to get some supplies there. And it's out of the way."
Zak nodded. "Good. The sooner we leave this place the better." His jaw tightened.
The strange couple hurried up the steps into the sleepy station, where they found a couple relaxing lazily behind the front desk. In the back, they saw a few youths laughing and playing a hologame. Zak retreated to a shadowed part of the station while Sarael went up to the counter.
"Excuse me," she said, "I was wondering if I could get some ration packs here."
The man behind the desk opened his eyes and looked up at her. "We don't do that kinda stuff here. This is strictly a repair and power station. If you want food, you'll have to go into town."
Sarael shot a worried glance to Zak. "Are you sure?"
The man looked annoyed. "Yeah."
Sarael sighed. "Very well."
One of the young men in the adjoining room entered the main shop and stared curiously at Sarael. "Hello," he greeted cheerfully. Lanky and tall, he had short, dark hair and a mustache. "You from off-planet?"
Sarael nodded. "Yes. We're trying to get some supplies."
"Where you headed?"
"Um…" Sarael glanced at Zak. "Somewhere with more green than this," she said with a rueful smile.
The young man looked over to Zak. "You with him?"
"Yes," Sarael replied.
"Hello," the young man said amiably.
Zak merely nodded in return.
Smiling at Sarael, the young man held out a hand. "Biggs Darklighter. If you need anything, let me know."
"I'm Sarael," she replied, shaking his hand tentatively. "Perhaps you know where we can get some ration packs?"
"Sure. There are a few places in town."
"Well," Sarael said, "we really don't want to go into town. We'd rather not be around many people."
Biggs laughed. "Honey, in this place, there are hardly any people around. Mostly jawas. You in some kinda trouble?"
"No," Sarael denied. "We'd just rather not be around lots of people."
Biggs glanced at Zak carefully and nodded. "All right… well, I don't really know how you're going to do that. If you'd like me to go with you into town…"
"Hey, guys, you'll never guess what I - " a sandy-haired, handsome young man hurried into the station, his blue eyes sparkling with excitement. But he stopped short when he saw Sarael. The smile on his face faded, and his boyish expression grew more solemn and grown-up.
Sarael stared at him. There was something… different about him.
Then, the young man's gaze flickered to Zak. His eyes widened fractionally. Zak studied him closely but said nothing.
"What is it this time, Wormie?" The young woman resting behind the desk with the station manager rose to her feet, stretching languorously.
The young man's eyes darkened for a split second before that boyish grin returned to his face. "I just wanted to see if the rumor was true – if Biggs was back. And I guess I was right."
Biggs grinned and slapped his younger friend on the back. "Luke, how've you been? Stang, you're as tall as me, now. And have you been working out?"
Luke smiled. "Maybe."
"Hah," the young woman scoffed. "Wormie? Working out?"
Sarael didn't know why, but she had the sudden urge to blast the woman with hot energy. Luke, however, merely grinned.
"Stranger things have happened, Camie," he said, moving forward into the station. Turning to Sarael, he held out a hand. "Hello, I don't think we've met. I'm Luke Skywalker."
Sarael took the warm hand and shook it. "Sarael Sol," she replied with a smile. For some reason, she knew she could trust this young man. "It's nice to meet you."
"You, too," Luke said warmly. Moving over to Zak, he held out a hand and smiled up at him. "And you are?"
After a tense moment, Zak reached down and shook his hand. "Zak."
"Pleasure," Luke replied with a nod. "Is there something you're here for?"
"Food," Zak said. "But we'd rather not go into town."
Luke studied him thoughtfully. "Well, my uncle and aunt have a moisture farm that's pretty far from anywhere. If you want, I can get you some supplies."
Sarael's eyes widened. "You'd do that? We don't want to cause any trouble. And we have money."
"Absolutely," Luke said with a smile. "Come on. I have a landspeeder just outside."
Camie snorted. "You really are naïve, Wormie," she muttered.
Sarael whirled around, eyes blazing. Camie stepped back, alarmed. "He's been nicer to us that you have," the Arkanian hissed before following Luke and Zak out of the station.
Biggs, Fixer, and Camie stood still, stunned. "That was… interesting," Biggs managed to get out.
"You probably want to go to a planet with few people," Luke said in a deeper voice as the trio walked towards the landspeeder. His boyish aura had been wiped away, replaced with the firm, strong components of a man. "You really don't want to be around Imperials, I can tell you that much."
Sarael and Zak exchanged shocked glances.
"What do you mean?" Sarael demanded.
Luke turned to face them, halting. "You're mutants. Don't worry, I know. I am, too. But you definitely want to stay away from the Empire." He started to walk again. "We don't want them knowing about us. The consequences could be dire. Especially with your powers, Miss Sol."
"How do you know my powers?" Sarael demanded. "How do you know we're mutants?"
Luke paused with his hand on the landspeeder door. "One of my powers is being able to sense other mutants. I know that you are one." His eyes flickered to Zak. "But technically, he's not. He just has cybernetic systems." His blue eyes narrowed. "And you don't know who you are, do you?"
Zak could only stare at him. "No," he said finally. "I don't."
Luke sighed and entered the landspeeder. "Good."
"What are you talking about?" Zak snarled. "How is that good? Do you know something?"
Luke looked up at him. "Trust me. You don't want to remember."
The day after the night of Chewie's rescue, Elena found herself on the other side of Coruscant in a modest, high-rise apartment building, checking out an apartment for Keira. After talking to the landlord, who showed her around, she then looked around for herself. Elena found the apartment nice – it was clean, well kept, and had an affordable price. She knew Keira would like it. She glanced out the window to see the view, when –
A wave of pain hit her violently, tossing her against the wall. Elena gasped – was this another episode? How could it be? Her previous one had been but a month before!
The next wave sent her to her knees, and she clutched her head – her head! Her mind! What was going on! The pain in her brain increased, and she started screaming. Her thoughts were jumbled – her body was limp – she couldn't think! Clutching her head, Elena cried out again… and felt something happening… she saw a white – bluish light coming from somewhere… to her horror, she realized it was coming from her!
The light swirled around her, pulled at her mind – she cried out again – and as she struggled to keep her eyes open, she caught a glimpse of the light forming something in front of her. She gasped, panted, and shut her eyes tightly as another jolt of pain hit her. Everything was going dark now… the pain was too much… She opened her eyes slightly one last time to see a figure being formed by the light – a definitive figure now – and then everything went black.
Elena slumped to the floor, ashen.
A shadow passed over her unconscious body, and a warm hand touched itself to her forehead. There was a sigh, and then the cloaked figure carried her out of the apartment.
Elena frowned. Rolled over on her back. Rubbed her closed eyes, and then slowly opened them. She blinked. She was in a different room – not her own – and was currently lying in a bed. It seemed to be another apartment building, but she wasn't sure. Sitting slowly up, she rubbed her neck, trying to remember what had happened last.
And then she glanced to her left and saw him.
The figure sitting in the chair, reading a datapad, looked up, did a double take, and pulled back his hood slowly. He rose to his feet. "Ah, you're awake. How are you feeling?"
Elena stared at him, mouth hanging open, and then she shrieked and fell off the bed. Crawling away from him, she stuttered, "D-don't come near me!"
The man frowned thoughtfully. "I'm not going to hurt you, Milady."
Elena only gazed wide-eyed at him. "Stop talking! You're not real!"
"It seems that I am," he said dryly.
"No! You're dead!"
"Not anymore. You, I'm afraid to say, brought me back to life."
Elena bolted to her feet and seethed, "No! You're not real! Obi-Wan Kenobi is dead!"
Let me know what you think! :)
- Serena
