Shocking News

The week on Tatooine had passed quickly.
As promised, Nomi and Dash had visited Kustan and his family the night before they left. It was nice talking about the old days, but the young Jedi was glad that she and Kustan broke up back then.

The next morning they packed their things. Nomi looked around her old room and smiled. There were so many good memories.
"We can visit your parents again whenever you want, darling," Dash said, hugging his wife from behind.
Nomi leaned her head against his chest before turning and looking up at him.
"I'm glad I now know the truth."
Rendar leaned towards her and kissed her.
"It's always good to know the truth, even if it hurts."
Then he released her and closed the last bag.
When they left the room, Nomi's parents were waiting for them. Silya carried her youngest grandchild and the triplets stood next to their grandfather. Leebo took the bags and brought them aboard the family landspeeder.
"Your stay here was far too short," Silya Darklighter said, handing Tasherit to her mother.
"I know, but we'll visit you and Papa again as soon as possible, Mama," Nomi replied, smiling.
Dash Jr. and Biggs took their grandfather's hands while Corran took his grandmother's hand. Then they went outside to where the landspeeder was parked.
Shortly thereafter they were on their way to Mos Eisley.

On the drive everyone seemed to be lost in their own thoughts. Even the triplets were silent. Finally they had reached their destination and Jula Darklighter stopped the family landspeeder in front of the docking bay.
After they left the speeder, Silya hugged her daughter.
"Take care, Nomi," she said.
"I will, Mama," the young woman replied before kissing her mother's cheek.
It was difficult for Nomi to say goodbye.
"Have a good flight," her father said, patting Dash on the shoulder before kissing Tasherit who was in her father's arms.
"I'll take care of it, I promise, Jula," the former mercenary replied with a smile.
Dash's father-in-law returned the smile before leaning towards the triplets standing next to them.
"Be good boys and don't annoy your parents."
Dash Jr., Biggs and Corran giggled and made their way to the Outrider where Leebo was standing at the base of the ramp. There they turned and waved goodbye to their grandparents. Then the three boys walked up the ramp and entered the freighter, followed by Leebo.
"I love you, Papa," Nomi said as she hugged her father.
Hearing this, Jula Darklighter smiled and kissed his adopted daughter's cheek.
The young Jedi released her father, motioned to Dash and together they made their way to the Outrider, walked up the ramp and entered the ship.
After closing the hatch, Dash went into the cockpit after handing Tasherit over to his wife. There, he sat in the pilot's seat, plotting a course for Anoat before starting the engines and taking off.
Meanwhile, Nomi went to the children's bunk to put her daughter in the crib. After making sure the triplets were securely strapped in, she headed into the cockpit. There she sat in the copilot's seat and stared out the window until they jumped into hyperspace. As the stars turned into the eerie light of hyperspace, Nomi stood and walked to the bunk, followed by her husband, who had engaged the autopilot.

After a long and uneventful return trip, Dash and Nomi were woken up by the signal telling them they were about to reach their destination. Rendar smiled at his wife and kissed her.
"Thank you for the wonderful night, darling," he said, brushing a strand of hair away from Nomi's face.
The young woman smiled as she traced her husband's muscles with her fingertips.
"I have to thank you, Dash," she replied before getting out of bed and entering the small bathroom to take a shower, followed by Rendar.
It didn't take long for the couple to shower, dry off and get dressed.
They walked hand in hand into the cockpit, knowing full well that Leebo would take care of the children when they landed.
"Activate the deflector shields, honey," Dash said after strapping in and before pulling the lever that would deactivate the hyperdrive.
His wife did as she was asked, and shortly thereafter, they entered real space and saw Anoat in front of them. Nomi picked up the comm and activated it.
"Ground control, this is the Outrider requesting permission to land," she said, pushing the transponder button. "I'm sending the codes now."
It took a moment for the answer to come.
"Ground control to Outrider, you're cleared to land. Welcome back."
"Thank you, ground control."
Dash steered the freighter into the assigned approach sector and a few minutes later landed on an empty landing pad.
"Home sweet home," he said wryly as he turned off the engines.
"We've been in worse places, Dash," his wife said, laughing, unbuckling her seat belt and exiting the cockpit to pick up their children.
Minutes later, the whole family left the Outrider and went to their quarters.

As soon as they closed the door, Dash pulled a small case out of his pocket.
"Close your eyes, darling. I've a surprise for you."
After closing her eyes, Nomi heard a click before her husband took her hand and placed a ring on her finger. She opened her eyes and looked at the jewel.
In the setting of the ring was a Corusca gem, even more beautiful than the one she had used to build her lightsaber.
"I bought it in Bestine and I hope you like it," her husband said, hugging and kissing her.
"The ring looks wonderful. Thank you, darling."
"Only the best for my beloved wife," Dash Rendar said smiling before kissing Nomi deeply.

The next morning, Luke came over to hear about their trip to Tatooine.
"Good morning, Nomi and Dash," he said after Rendar let him in. Then he turned to the triplets playing on the floor. "Hello, you three."
As Luke looked at the boys and greeted them, Nomi, who was feeding Tasherit, felt a slight disturbance in the Force. It was envy and the young woman wondered why this was happening.
"What's the matter, Luke?" She asked her childhood friend in the Force.
Skywalker shook his head ever so slightly as he answered her in the Force as well.
"Ask me another time. You know your husband doesn't like it when we talk in the Force, Nomi."
Luke had regained his composure and the force was once again flowing in harmony.
"It's good that you're back," he said, smiling at his friends. "I hope you had a good trip and that your time in hyperspace wasn't too long for you."
"It was a lovely stay with my in-laws," Dash replied instead of his wife. "And our journey home was uneventful."
Realizing that Tasherit was full, Nomi rose and carried her to the crib and put her in it. She looked lovingly at her daughter, lost in thought.
Hopefully their children would grow up in a better universe without violence, hatred and wars. Unlike her, they also knew from the start who their father was.
Luke looked at her questioningly, sensing her conflicting feelings.
"What's on your mind, Nomi?"
The young woman saw no reason not to tell her friend.
"There was a reason we flew to Tatooine, Luke."
"I thought so," Skywalker nodded. "May I ask for the reason?"
"I've been thinking about what you said about my impatience and lack of control. And suddenly I was wondering where my Force sensitivity came from if my whole family isn't Force sensitive."
"I understand. And that's why you flew to your home planet. You learned something that confused you. Am I right?"
"Yes, Luke," Nomi replied.
"Do you want to tell me what it is?"
The young woman hesitated for a split second.
"It's... Jula Darklighter isn't my father, Luke."
Her childhood friend looked at her in astonishment after this revelation.
"You're not Jula's daughter? But then who's your father?"
"My father is, or rather was, a Jedi. His name was Ulic Bel-Baal. He was killed during the Clone Wars. Jula Darklighter was his friend and after my father died he married my mother who was pregnant with me. He adopted me right after I was born. I seem to have inherited my ability to use the Force from my biological father."
"Ulic Bel-Baal, you say?" Skywalker frowned. "I think I picked up a book from the Lost City of the Jedi that has something about your father. If you come to training in the afternoon I'll be able to tell you more, I think. I should go now. See you, Nomi. Goodbye, Dash."
He waved to the triplets and left.
Nomi looked after him and wondered what would be in the book about her father.

In the afternoon, Nomi went to see Luke after hooking her newly made lightsaber to her belt. She also took the lightsaber that the Jedi had given her because she wanted to give it back to him.
As always, Luke was waiting for her in front of his quarters. He pointed to the lightsaber dangling from her belt.
"I see you built your own lightsaber, Nomi. You did it in a surprisingly short amount of time."
He held out his hand and she handed him the weapon. Luke eyed it from all sides before hitting the switch to activate it. With a hiss, the crimson blade emerged from the hilt. He wielded the activated lightsaber to test it. Then he nodded contentedly.
"Well done, Nomi. Which crystal did you use? I ask because I've only ever seen a red blade like that on my father's lightsaber."
"It's a Corusca gem."
Luke deactivated the lightsaber and handed it back to Nomi. She hooked the weapon to her belt. Then she handed him the lightsaber he had given her.
"Please take it back, Luke. Now that I have my own lightsaber, I don't need it anymore."
The Jedi shook his head.
"No, please keep it and give it to Tasherit when she's old enough. But now come into the house. I found the book that contains your father's story," he hesitated before continuing. "You must be strong, Nomi. I have already read it and what I have learned isn't good."
He hesitated again.
"Your father's alive, Nomi."
Hearing that she wondered why this shouldn't be good. She followed her friend in, where he gave her the book.

After reading the story in the book Luke found in the Lost City of the Jedi, she understood what he meant. She understood all too well.
Ulic Bel-Baal, her father, wasn't killed during the Clone Wars. He had faked his death and become a Dark Jedi.
Vader had seduced him to the dark side of the Force. Together they have committed unimaginable atrocities. Other Jedi had banded together to put an end to Ulic Bel-Baal's and Vader's activities. They had actually managed to capture Nomi's father on Chandrila. Vader had escaped them. When they tried to perform the Force Blinding on him, they were attacked by Mandalorians allied with him. All but one Jedi who managed to hide were mercilessly slaughtered. Ameno Pacem, the surviving Jedi, wrote the story of the fallen Jedi in the book.
Luke stood behind her as she read.
"You know what that means, Nomi," he said with a sad undertone. "Your father will feel you and your children growing in the Force. As my father once felt it in my case. He will try to turn you or your children to the dark side. When that happens, you're going to face a life and death fight, Nomi."
The young Jedi turned to her childhood friend.
"I can't kill my own father."
Skywalker sighed.
"I gave the same answer to Obi-Wan on Dagobah when I learned that in order to become a full-fledged Jedi, I would have to face Darth Vader again."
"I can't do it, Luke."
The Jedi looked at her sympathetically, knowing from experience what she was going through.
"You'll have to do it, Nomi. You can't escape your fate. We'll continue training tomorrow. You are too excited today. Even the relaxation techniques probably wouldn't help you now."
Nomi Darklighter nodded her head and left.

As she entered their quarters, Dash gave her a horrified look.
"What's the matter with you, darling?" He asked. "You look awful."
He came to her and took her lovingly in his arms.
"Has it something to do with the book Luke was talking about? What was in it that had such an effect on you?"
She knew it would be pointless to keep it from her husband. He would find out sooner or later anyway. The words weighed heavily on her lips.
"My biological father is alive, Dash." Then she hesitated a second before continuing. "He's a Dark Jedi."
Her husband looked at her in horror. He too knew what that meant for them.
"We need to think about how to protect you and the children from him, Nomi."
His wife didn't want to frustrate him, but she was sure there would be no protection from a Dark Jedi.