Truth and Lies

The next morning the Rendar/Darklighter family got up very early as there was still a lot to do before departure. Along with Leebo, Nomi packed everything they needed for their week-long stay on Tatooine.

As she packed her lightsaber components as well, Dash raised an eyebrow.
"I can't believe you want to take that with you too," he said while holstering his blaster.
His wife nodded. Perhaps, in the relative solitude of the Jundland Wastes, she would succeed in completing her final task.
Rendar knew that trying to talk his wife out of it would be pointless. So he didn't say anything else, took one of the many bags to bring to the Outrider.

After everything was stowed aboard the YT-2400, they headed to Luke's quarters to say goodbye.
The Jedi was already waiting for them.
"Good morning, Nomi and Dash. So, everything ready for the trip?"
Skywalker knew about the trip because Dash had told him about it the night before.
"Yes, Luke. Shall we say hello to your old home? Why don't you come with us?" Nomi asked her friend, smiling.
"Yes, give my regards to the most desolate planet in the entire Outer Rim," Luke replied, grinning widely. "I'd like to come with you, but I think I'd disturb you. Dash told me this is your second honeymoon."
Nomi sighed internally. She hadn't told her husband the real reason for the journey to her home planet.
"And I look forward to it, my friend," Dash said before kissing his wife.
"Nevertheless, Nomi shouldn't neglect her exercises, Dash." The Jedi winked at the older man.
"I'll see to it, Luke," Rendar replied, releasing Nomi and checking his chrono. "We have to go now. Our launch window will open soon."
"Then I wish you a safe flight. I'll see you in a standard week," the Jedi said, turning and entering his quarters.

A little later Nomi and Dash entered the hangar where Leebo was waiting for them at the Outrider.
"The children are already safely in their bunks," the droid said before walking up the ramp, followed by the couple.
Knowing she could rely on Leebo, Nomi entered the cockpit, sat in the copilot's seat and buckled up. Next to her, her husband dropped into the pilot's seat, strapped in and did the preflight check before plotting a course for Tatooine. The former mercenary was happy and humming a popular song while starting the engines.
Shortly thereafter, he received clearance from ground control and the YT-2400 launched into Anoat's orbit. Dash steered the freighter towards the next jump point. Once out of the planet's gravitational shadow, he pushed the lever and the stars turned into the streaks and whirls of hyperspace. After Nomi's husband switched to autopilot, he unbuckled his seat belt and got up.
"Our children are sleeping, darling," he said, before kissing Nomi deeply. "We should take the opportunity to have some alone time."
Nomi winked at her husband.
"I'll make sure we're not disturbed," she said, unbuckling and walking to the mid section where Leebo was standing.
Before the droid could say anything, she reached out and pulled a lever, deactivating Leebo.
"You're going to be called names when he comes back, honey," Dash said, following her with a grin.
"We'll see," his wife replied as she walked towards their bunk.
Once they entered the bunk, passion quickly arose.

A few standard hours later, Nomi and Dash were awakened by the signal announcing that they were about to re-enter real space.
Dash got out of bed, dressed and went into the cockpit. It wasn't long before his wife followed him, stopping at the motionless Leebo on the way. When she activated the droid, he aimed his photoreceptor at her.
"Was that really necessary, Nomi?" Leebo asked in his mechanical voice.
The young woman nodded and walked on, ignoring the wailing droid. She saw no reason to justify her actions to Leebo.
After entering the cockpit, she sat in the copilot's seat while Dash looked over at her.
"How did you like the start of our second honeymoon, darling?"
Nomi smiled at her husband before answering his question.
"It was incredibly satisfying, Dash."
Rendar leaned over and kissed her.
"That makes me happy."
Then he returned his attention to the nav computer display.
"Activate the deflector shields, Nomi," Dash said as he pulled the lever.
His wife complied just as the streaks and whirls of hyperspace turned into the blackness of space. Directly in front of them they saw Nomi's home planet, Tatooine, with its twin suns, Tatoo I and Tatoo II.
At the same moment they were hailed.
"Mos Eisley ground control for the Corellian freighter Outrider. Do you read me?"
Hearing the voice, Nomi raised an eyebrow at how familiar it sounded.
"Loud and clear, ground control," Dash replied.
"We have you on our monitors and will now transfer the coordinates for the approach into your nav computer," the voice continued. "You have been assigned docking bay 84."
Suddenly, Nomi was absolutely sure who was talking to them.
"Kustan? Are you that? What are you doing at ground control?"
There was silence, broken only by static.
"Nomi? Nomi Darklighter?" They heard the voice again. "After all these years! Why are you coming back to your home planet?"
"I want to visit my parents, Kustan. My husband and children are also on board."
"You got married, Nomi? Hey, how long will you stay? Come with your family and visit us. My wife Iri'Ena will be delighted to meet you all. Just call me."
"Yes, I will, Kustan."
Nomi could feel Dash's gaze and the unspoken question hidden behind it. She nodded.
"Yes, Dash, this time you are correct in your assumption. Kustan was once my boyfriend."
"I didn't say anything, Nomi."
"Yes, you didn't say anything, darling, but the looks you gave me spoke volumes."
Dash said nothing and steered the Outrider to the assigned docking bay.

Upon landing, Dash shut down the engines and opened the hatch. Together with Nomi he went to the children's bunk and picked up the triplets and Tasherit.
As they walked down the ramp, Nomi's parents were already waiting at the end of it.
Silya and Jula Darklighter were very happy to see the family again after such a long time.
"Welcome home," Jula said while his wife took Tasherit from Nomi's arms.
Silya tenderly rocked her youngest grandchild and smiled.
"So this is our youngest grandchild. You both can be really proud of your children. I can hardly believe my little girl is already a mother of four."
"Mother, your little girl is long gone. I'm a grown woman now," Nomi replied and kissed her mother's cheek.
Her mother looked at her.
"To me you will always be my little girl, Nomi."
Meanwhile, Jula Darklighter was talking to his son-in-law.
"And do you plan to populate the galaxy with more little Rendars?"
Dash shrugged.
"Your daughter doesn't want any more children, Jula. I have to accept that."
His father-in-law chuckled.
"I know only too well how stubborn my daughter can be. The chances of her changing her mind are very slim."
Nomi's mother suddenly stopped talking to her when she noticed the lightsaber dangling from her daughter's belt.
"You carry a Jedi Knight's weapon, Nomi?" She asked in astonishment.
"Yes, Mama. Luke gave me this lightsaber. I'm on my way to becoming a full-fledged Jedi and I'm currently building my own lightsaber."
Even if she didn't show it, Nomi sensed that her mother was shocked by what she had just told her.
"It's one of the reasons I'm here," Nomi continued. "But I think it's better if we go to the farm. We can continue talking there."

The ride on the family landspeeder took them through the Jundland Wastes. During their ride, the triplets stared wide-eyed at the endless sand.
As they passed a huge herd of wild Banthas, Biggs gave his mother a questioning look.
"Yes, Biggs, I know you've never seen anything like it before. These animals are called Banthas. They are very common here on Tatooine and are the Sand People's mounts."
Dash Jr. stretched out his small hands and wanted to sit on Nomi's lap.
"Sand People?" The little boy asked.
"Yes, Junior, Sand People. Sometimes they are also called Tusken Raiders because they attacked Fort Tusken a long time ago. If you like, I'll tell you the story tonight."
This announcement was met with cheers from all three boys.
Meanwhile, Nomi's parents sat silently in the front of the speeder. Occasionally, they exchanged worried looks. Their daughter reached out with the Force and felt their concern and great love for her. Finally they reached the farm. Nothing had changed there. Everything was still as it had been in Nomi's childhood and early youth.

After taking care of the children and putting them to bed, Nomi heard a knock on the door. When she opened the door, her father was standing in front of her.
"Please come with me to my study, sweetie," he said, leading the way as his daughter followed.
When they entered the study, Dash and Silya were already there. Jula closed the door and pointed to a chair.
"Please have a seat, Nomi."
The young woman followed her father's request. She had so many questions and now she didn't know where to start. Nomi took a deep breath. Finally she started.
"Why am I a Jedi? Neither you and Mama nor Gavin are Force sensitive. So why can I use the Force?"
She looked at her parents expectantly.
It seemed difficult for them to find a start. Finally, Jula plucked up courage and began to speak.
"Your mother and I were afraid of this moment, Nomi. But we always knew that one day it would come. Still, we hoped..." Jula swallowed hard before continuing. "Nomi, you aren't my daughter."
Shocked, Nomi looked at the man she had believed to be her father for decades.
Dash approached her and put his hand on her shoulder reassuringly.
"Please don't get upset, Nomi. You've turned deathly pale."
Nomi looked at her husband sadly. Her whole life so far has been a lie. How was she supposed to stay calm?
"Remember that your father always cared for you as if you were his own flesh and blood," Dash continued. "You always told me how loving he was to you. A biological father couldn't have been better."
His wife jumped up.
"Why did you two lie to me?" She asked, feeling tears welling up in her eyes.
Her mother came up to her and hugged her. Nomi let it happen.
"We wanted you to have a carefree childhood and youth, Nomi. You shouldn't be burdened with the past."
Nomi looked into her mother's eyes and saw all the love she felt for her.
"Please tell me the truth. Who was my father?"
Her mother looked pleadingly at her husband, who reluctantly began to speak.
"Your biological father was a Jedi, Nomi. His name was Ulic Bel-Baal. Your mother loved him very much. When she became pregnant by him, they wanted to get married. But then the Clone Wars began. Your father had the same troubled blood as you, Nomi. Ulic didn't want to stand idly by while others fought and died. He went to war after leaving Silya in my care. Your mother should never see him again because he was killed during a Mandalorian attack on a base on Chandrila. I don't know if he felt that he wouldn't survive this war." Jula Darklighter paused for a moment, waiting for his daughter to deal with what she was hearing before continuing. "When your mother heard the news of his death, she was devastated. I arrived just in time to prevent her from taking her own life."
He sighed.
"Secretly, I've loved her for a long time, but she was the woman my best friend loved with all his heart. That's why I never told her. But now she was alone, carrying Ulic's child who needed a father. I offered to marry her and, contrary to my expectations, Silya agreed. You were born six months after we were married and I adopted you, Nomi. You officially became my daughter. When the Emperor rose to power and the Jedi were hunted down, we thought it safer not to tell you about your biological father. In time your mother began to love me back and your half brother Gavin was born. Now you know what happened and why you are Force sensitive."
"Forgive us for hiding the truth for so long, Nomi. We only wanted what was best for you," said Silya Darklighter with tears in her eyes.
"There's nothing to forgive," Nomi replied, looking lovingly at her parents. "It's getting late and we should go to bed now. Good night, Mama. Good night, Papa."
The young woman kissed her parents before taking her husband's hand and going into her former children's room, which was to serve as their quarters during their stay.

A world had collapsed for Nomi as a result of the revelations of her adoptive father. It would take her quite a while to come to terms with it.
Nomi slowly undressed while Dash was already in bed. She slipped under the covers and her husband took her in his arms. It took a long time before she finally fell asleep.