Author's Note: Dearest readers, thank you so much for tuning in today. I wish you all a most festive season and Happy New Year. After today's chapter, please be sure to read the note afterward for an IMPORTANT UPDATE.
Review shoutouts are in! Today, we send cuddly Tooka cats to Starpottergeek, CJG, CoconutColonoy and Soumia-oldms!
THE FROZEN FORCE HOLIDAY SPECIAL II
Chapter: 94 I'll Be Home For Life Day (Part II)
"Truly wonderful, the mind of a child is."
Life Day merriment! As celebrations begin across the galaxy, the Jedi Order is keen on upholding its noble reputation. Despite her broken arm, Knight Elsa Dellian has accompanied her former youngling clan to assist in a charity event. But as tensions rise with a particular student, a new mission begins offworld. Master Destin Mattias and Knight Anna Dellian are enroute to the snow planet of Kijimi for a special mission...
No matter how many missions she'd embarked on for the Republic, Anna never tired of lightspeed. The thrill of warping from one point in the galaxy to another was as surreal as it was empowering. Since the Ethereal's crash on Scarif, the youngest Dellian had taken great strides to better herself and work through her traumas. Over time, the wonders of hyperspace had become as exhilarating as they once were. As Anna observed the troopers and Jedi Master at her sides, she felt increasingly grateful. Being aboard the Legacy with them prompted memories of how they'd all grown together. In truth, it was why she'd requested for Mattias to tag along. His presence helped Anna feel grounded.
"We're coming out of lightspeed," Admiral Shang declared over comms. "Deathchasers...and Master Mattias. Are you prepped?"
"We're ready," Anna said while securing a buckle on her wrist. While the Deathchasers donned a sleek variant of cold assault gear, Anna and Mattias equipped form-fitting jackets. Their fur-lined cuffs connected to a series of buckles, all linked to complex backpacks.
"Not yet you're not," Mattias teased and tossed Anna a pair of goggles. "You're gonna want those. Unless you're okay with the literal gel of your eyes freezing over."
"No thank you," Anna huffed and hastily snapped the goggles on her face. She grinned at her old master and said, "It's nice to be teaming up with you again."
"Just like old times," Mattias reminisced and patted her back. "Are you ready for this jump?"
"I've jumped in worse conditions," Anna mumbled. "There's no turbolaser fire this time."
"Yet," Sparx muttered and caught Blazer's attention.
"Something on your mind, lieutenant?" the sergeant inquired.
"Apologies," Sparx lamented. "It's just that our latest missions haven't exactly gone the smoothest. It'd be nice for something to go according to plan for once."
"Hey," Blazer whispered and leaned towards his brother. "I get the unease you're going through right now, but we're all feeling it. Reel it in, brother. And no matter what happens, we'll get through this together."
Sparx nodded as Speedy gripped a handhold. "Here we go!" the trooper hollered while the Legacy rocketed out of hyperspace. With a thunderous boom, the Hammerhead spiraled towards Kijimi. Without a single moon to reflect the sun in its orbit, half of the mountainous world was shrouded in complete darkness. The Legacy soared above Kijimi's shadowy hemisphere and began a steady descent.
Turbulence was light in the upper atmosphere as Shang monitored the ship's stabilizers. The planet's surface was blanketed by a silver veil of storm clouds, forcing him to rely on the contact's coordinates. "We're over the drop zone," the admiral reported over comms. "Ventral hatch lowering."
Anna and her companions braced themselves as warning sirens blared. The hissing of durasteel piping heralded the lowering ramp. Mattias watched as Anna performed her pre-mission ritual with her men. "Let's go, Blazer," she asserted and knocked on his helmet. "Come on, Sparx!" she hollered before repeating the gesture. "Speedy!" she brayed and knocked his helmet twice. "You're the man!" He winced at her remark, but ultimately nodded.
Anna and Blazer clenched their overhanging handholds while observing the planet below. Although chilling gusts blasted against their bodies, their bulky gear kept them warm. "I can't even see the drop zone," Blazer remarked.
"Oh it's down there," Anna assured. She glanced back at Mattias and asked, "Can you handle a jump like this, master?"
"Can I?" Mattias chuckled while pulling up his face cowl. "We may be on a snow planet, but I don't have cold feet!"
Anna playfully sulked at his response while Speedy couldn't help but snicker. "Just try and keep up," his former apprentice teased before diving off of the ramp. Launching herself into the icy winds below, Anna began a frozen free fall. Mattias and the Deathchasers were quick to follow, launching themselves from the craft in a spearheaded formation. The group darted downward until the clouds turned each of their figures into blurs. Snow plastered against their respective goggles and visors.
"Hold formation!" Anna intoned. "We've got this!"
"Admiral," Mattias spoke over comms. "Can you be our eyes?"
"On it," Shang promptly responded. He monitored the team from his holotable. They appeared as several red blips descending towards Kijimi City. His eyes shifted between the approaching holograms as he prepared to give orders.
"Talk to me, Shang." Anna huffed. "We've gotta be close."
"Not yet," he answered. "Deploy too early and you'll truly be at the wind's mercy."
The team pierced every cloud imaginable and reached tremendous speeds. "Shang?" Anna questioned again.
"Wait," he replied.
A thin layer of frost formed against their goggles, making the surface an even greater blur. "Shang!" Anna shouted.
"Now!" Shang yelled just as the city came into view.
At the admiral's command, the team jabbed at their vambraces to deploy glide-pulsers. Upon activation, several flaps extended from each of their backpacks. The flaps emitted powerful waves of kinetic repulsor energy, slowing the teams' descent. Acting as invisible parachutes, these glide-pulsars allowed their users to maneuver themselves at a low altitude.
"Haha!" Speedy cheered while soaring through the air. "That was so wizard!"
"Who the hell says 'wizard'?" Blazer grumbled while scrubbing the frost from his visor.
"Get with the times, Sarge." Speedy insisted. "It's what all of the kids are saying these days."
"Where'd you even learn that?" Sparx asked.
"The HoloNet," Speedy explained. "It's great for staying updated on current happenings, but mostly everyone just yells at each other until someone logs off. Which usually just makes the person who stayed online think that they've won the argument."
"Sounds like torture," Blazer groused.
"Oh it is," Anna confirmed while leading them to the drop zone. "But Speedy's right. The kids do say 'wizard'."
"Back in my day, we said 'that was fun'," Mattias remarked. We didn't have to-" His sudden gasp had Anna peering back at him. "By the Force..."
"Are you okay?" she worried.
"I just started a 'Back in my day' rant. I sound like a grandpa!" Mattias' response coaxed a chuckle out of his team before they landed on a broad rooftop overlooking the city. Stabled animals whinnied and snorted within as their malodorous stench snuck through the boards.
"Well, this is it." Anna reported while dropping down from the alleged barn. With a thrust of her hand, she had the Deathchasers securing the perimeter while she and Mattias checked the doors. The Jedi subtly nodded to one another before pushing the doors open. The ensuing creak had several horse-like creatures turning. Their elongated, tusked snouts shifted towards the visitors. Fur-clad hooves stomped as each stabled steed grew restless. "What are those things?"
"Orbaks," Mattias defined. "Don't let their appearances fool you. These proud creatures serve as loyal mounts on frontiers across the galaxy."
Anna smiled beneath her cowl. "Believe it or not, I missed your lectures."
He playfully nudged her as they proceeded onward. Anna listened in as Blazer dropped a report. "Exterior is secure, general," he said. "What's the barn situation?"
"No sign of the contact yet," Anna called back. As she said so, her head immediately shot upward. Mattias raised a brow at her until she said, "People don't tend to check above them. It was worth a shot." In that instant, a minor creak in the boards had the Jedi igniting their lightsabers.
Anna and Mattias spun around and dipped their green blades towards a raised plank on the floor. "What about below?" the master quipped as their blades illuminated a hooded figure.
The stranger took her time to respond and slowly lifted her hands. Anna death-gripped her saber when the figure revealed a blaster rifle. "Relax," the hooded woman said. Although gravely in tone, her voice came off as rather welcoming. "It's just a precaution." She set the rifle down. "Just like the troopers you've got scurrying around outside."
"Our contact, I presume?" Mattias replied.
The woman nodded before removing her hood. A bob of short, curly hair fell from beneath it. And as she raised her head to meet the Jedi, her electric blue eyes rivaled their sabers' glow. "Keri Bliss," she said. "Kijimi Resistance. Thanks for answering my call."
Mattias was quick to deactivate his lightsaber while Anna slowly followed suit. "Boys," she called in over comms. "We've made contact. Rendezvous on me." It wasn't long before the Deathchasers were forming up near the barn's entrance. Speedy couldn't resist petting one of the docile orbaks.
With everyone accounted for, Keri pulled back the rest of her hidden plank and revealed a tunnel. "Follow me," she said. The team cautiously descended as she sealed the entrance behind them. Although they feared entering total darkness, they were surprised to find an accommodating tunnel system. Power cell lanterns dangled between corners, providing just enough light to see well-placed signage. Resistance members of various species trekked through the underground network, each politely nodding to the other.
"It looks like you've built quite the community down here," Anna said. As they embraced the tunnel's warmth, she and Mattias removed their hoods and cowls.
"It's a work in progress, anyway." Keri remarked. "Kijimi has never had a stable government, so any semblance of order is enough to get by."
"The question is, what type of order?" Mattias proposed.
Keri paused and snapped a finger at the master. "Precisely," she quipped. "The need for organization is what helped the Baron rise to power. Well...that and he murdered anyone who said otherwise. While he maintains a ruthless grip on the city, at least those living underground can be free."
"And although we are happy to help-" Mattias assured. "-I must remind you that the Republic is neutral in this foreign conflict."
"I get where you're coming from, but I have to ask..." Keri said while glancing at Mattias' saber hilt. "Why do the Jedi take orders from the Republic? Are you not the noblest of nobles? Shouldn't you just help whomever you please because it's right?"
"The Order serves the Republic," Mattias explained.
"So there's some favoritism here."
"Well...no-"
"But a Republic world should be saved while a Separatist world should be invaded," Keri considered. "When I was a little girl, my parents taught me that the Jedi were these mighty guardians. The kind sent to settle disputes across the entire galaxy. They didn't care who you were or where you came from. They helped everyone."
Mattias accepted her words but still considered their current situation. "The Republic is at war," he said.
"Sad that the war has turned you all into soldiers," Keri lamented. "But I didn't call for aid to debate the ways of old. I need your help. And if it means abiding by your rules, so be it."
Mattias bowed respectfully while Anna took in all of Keri's grievances. In certain aspects, she agreed with the resistance leader. Anna had found herself torn at times with whom she wanted to help, but her jurisdiction within the Republic had kept her limited. Whether she'd been chasing after Jee as a Padawan, or even finding a cure for the Halkavirus...most of Anna's deeds were done behind the Republic's back. But on the opposite side of the spectrum, following orders meant avoiding lost causes like Aren, a planet neither the Republic nor Jedi Order wanted any involvement with. Thinking about Aren only made Anna fret about Elsa, so she spoke up to set her mind elsewhere.
"As a contingent for the Republic-" Anna began. "-we are permitted to act as advisors and planners. We cannot, however, fight your battles for you. To do so could drag the Republic into another conflict when we haven't even finished our current one."
"Well luckily for you, there shouldn't be any fighting." Keri assured. "Not...directly anyway."
Mattias tilted his head and leaned closer. "What exactly are you planning down here?" he asked.
Keri beckoned everyone to a carved out quarters. Lanterns dangled over a wrinkled city map as she gestured to it. "Like every sleemo who's come before him, I don't plan on the Baron sticking around." Keri explained. "The people of Kijimi will always prevail, but they need hope to do so. And what better time to ignite the fires of hope than on Life Day itself?" Anna and Mattias exchanged curious glances as the resistance leader continued. "In an effort to break our people's spirits, the Baron has instilled a lockdown on the entire city. We never had order, but Life Day still brought people together." Keri stepped away from the table and led her guests into a second chamber. She stood before a colossal stockpile of colorfully-wrapped bags and boxed items. "To combat this, I've compiled-"
"Bombs?" Anna asked.
"No," Keri murmured.
"Untraceable blasters to arm the populace and launch an uprising?" Sparx added.
"Oddly specific, but also no. Presents."
Sergeant Blazer would be the first to break the awkward silence. "Poisonous presents for the Baron?"
"You really are Republic soldiers," Keri groaned. "No. They're present presents. Gifts! You know...toys? New clothes? Tiny treats to bring a smile to the most bitter of faces."
"Wait wait wait," Anna stammered. "So lemme get this straight...You contacted an elite Republic squad to combat a tyrannical baron...by delivering presents?"
"Now you're catching on," Keri said. "It's time to give the people of Kijimi something to believe in again." She valiantly placed her hands on her hips and observed the bountiful pile. "Tonight, we're sneaking into Kijimi City and delivering a gift to every home."
Charity activities at Naka Plaza had resumed as planned. The district's denizens were arriving and departing in satisfied droves while Padmé oversaw the event. Although the senator was pleased to have things back on schedule, she couldn't stop thinking about the cloaked stranger. "New life," she whispered to herself and recounted the experience. She'd seen her share of the supernatural during her wanderings and pondered the young man's significance. Like so many other instances where Padmé had felt troubled, she thought of her husband. She wondered where he was and how he was doing. It was an uncertain moment like this where she wished he was present. Just so he could hold her as he did long ago. Before the war had ignited to unspeakable proportions and life seemed simpler. As Padmé stared down at her bare ring finger, it reminded her of the aching secret she was forced to keep. And yet, the stranger's words stayed with her. And his two words...those two blissful words...raised as much hope as they did concern.
Her Jedi guests were hard at work once more. But as they returned to a flow of normalcy, one youngling remained paranoid. "I know what I saw," Stel Sovan whispered while fidgeting with wrapping paper. "There was someone there. Something. I just know it."
"Hey," one of the Theelin's peers clapped her hands in front of his face. "Snap out of it, Stel. Do you want to get in trouble again?"
Stel shook off his inner thoughts and looked at the young Zeltron. "Sorry Livia. I just can't get the Duck-Man out of my mind."
"Well you'd better," she intoned. "And hurry up with that package so I can pass it down. She's watching."
"She?" Stel questioned and peered over his shoulder.
"Don't look!" Livia whispered sharply. Her pink skin flushed into a dark red as Stel hung his head. He noticed Elsa in his peripherals as the Zeltron continued. "Knight Dellian, of course. Why else do you think she and the other grown-ups are here?"
"To help with the event?" Stel inquired.
"No, you fool." Livia huffed. "They're obviously here to look for Padawans." She gestured to Elsa while Tori stepped away to take a holocall. "And if I make the right impression, I know Knight Dellian will pick me." Livia tittered at the thought. "Just imagine it. Me, apprentice to the 'Hero of Hoth.' Padawan to the same Jedi who rooted out corruption and-" The Zeltron turned to see that Stel had long departed. And to make matters worse, he was heading straight for Elsa. "Are you utterly brainless?" Livia scoffed. "I'm not with him!" she hollered as Elsa remained confused.
"Please," Stel said while storming up to the knight. "You have to believe me. I saw something in the vent!"
Elsa observed her peers as Stel's outburst caught their attention. With a heavy sigh, she knelt down to the youngling and said, "Be mindful of your observations and your feelings."
"What the heck is that supposed to mean?" Stel blurted.
"It means-" Elsa began and pointed to her cast. "That if you aren't careful, your brashness and arrogance will take over. Without a proper plan and reasoning behind it, you could wind up in greater trouble."
"So...you do believe me?" Stel questioned.
Elsa bit her lip and let her gaze trail off. "I want to," she murmured. "I even tried using my senses to pick up on anything. But everything's seemed...clouded as of late."
Stel raised a brow and looked outside. "It seems kinda sunny to me."
"No that's not-" Elsa huffed and hung her head. Before she could explain her meaning, a sudden clatter sounded from beyond the atrium's upper doorway.
"The Duck-Man!" Stel gasped before Elsa hushed him. She and several other Jedi turned to the doors as Tori came storming out. The Pantoran brandished an unsettling, blank stare.
"Tori?" Elsa worried. "What's wrong-" She tried approaching her friend, but the Padawan kept moving. Tori didn't utter a word at first, even as the other masters questioned her wellbeing. "Tori?" Elsa reiterated and finally coaxed a response.
"I just-" Tori started to answer. Her voice was breathy and unstable. "-need some fresh air." As she exited the atrium, Elsa heard a distinct crackling from the back room.
The ongoing fizzle of a holocomm echoed beyond the doorway as Elsa peeked through. The robed figure projecting atop the fallen device was still composing himself. As Elsa stepped closer, she noticed the man's familiar beard and swept hairstyle. "M-Master Kenobi?" she whispered.
Obi-wan raised his tired visage to meet her. "Elsa," he answered somberly. "I-...it-" The master shut his eyes as Elsa recovered the holocomm.
"What's going on?" she asked. "Tori just rushed out of here."
Obi-wan pinched the bridge of his nose as if still coming to terms with something. He sighed deeply and said, "Her master, Adi Gallia, has fallen."
"What?" Elsa gasped and almost dropped the holocomm. "How?"
Grief festered within Obi-wan as he forced himself to remain steadfast. As Elsa further examined the hologram, she could make out faint cuts and bruises along his face. "We engaged Maul and his brother on Florrum." Elsa's blood ran cold at the Sith's mention. His horned silhouette still haunted her nightmares. "Master Gallia fought valiantly...but-" Obi-wan knitted his brows as he shook his head.
"By the Force," Elsa grieved. "Master Kenobi...I'm so sorry."
"No, I am. Whatever Maul is planning...is because of me. He's fueled by revenge-" Obi-wan's eyes listed towards Elsa's cast. "And those around me are paying the price."
"You can't blame yourself for the Sith's actions," Elsa told him.
"And yet I cannot help but ask...how many more will suffer in his wake?" Obi-wan wondered. "Who else will Maul try to take from me?" The master's eyes suddenly widened as he shook off his vulnerability. "Forgive me, Knight Dellian," he returned to formality. "For I cannot lose sight of our Jedi Code. All of our emotions are connected. And in grief, my attachment and fear of loss has been given a chance to flourish."
"But it's okay to feel, isn't it?" Elsa asked.
"Consider how it obscures our judgement," Obi-wan intoned. "We must trust in the Force instead." His holographic face looked beyond Elsa. "After the news I've delivered, Padawan Vica will need that trust more than ever."
Elsa had hoped that her next encounter with Obi-wan would've been one of joy. Instead, she'd felt nothing but uncertainty. It didn't even feel right to wish him or anyone a Happy Life Day after receiving such news. Instead, she simply wished him peace and ended the call. Clasping Tori's holocomm, Elsa jogged out of the atrium in an effort to find her friend.
"Tori?" she called while stepping out onto the landing platform. "Tori!" Yet no matter how many times Elsa shouted across the plaza, Tori had disappeared.
In his own sense, Stel had also taken it upon himself to disappear. Since everyone was distracted with charity duties and Tori's absence, no one noticed an air vent's hatch clicking back into place. "Be mindful of my observations and feelings?" Stel repeated to himself while crawling through the vent. "Perfect. I observed a Duck-Man, and I feel like he's in here! Once I find proof, everyone will understand. And then-" Stel became so excited with his plan, that he energetically raised his head and smacked it on a pipe. "Okay," the Theelin groaned while rubbing his forehead. "More crawling, less talking."
Stel followed the rattling pipe as it twisted deeper into the vent. On his way down, he noticed a network of power junctions bolted into an expansive chamber. The vent's chill sent a shiver down Stel's spine as he dropped behind one of the junctions. Its flashing, cyan readouts displayed the overall temperature and power levels to the entire building. Contrary to the repeated, cyan flickers, Stel noticed a red glow several feet ahead. Hoping for some kind of warmth, he inched his way over and reached out towards it. Any hope for a heating system faded when the light source beeped.
It was enough to have Stel flinching and ducking behind a thick pipe. "Armed and ready," a gargled voice declared. Stel's body stiffened as he nervously poked his head out from cover. As he did so, he glimpsed the very being he'd described to his fellow Jedi. Its claws, red eye, and horrendous bill drew nearer as a Patrolian examined his handiwork. A cluster of explosives had been fastened to the opposite side of Stel's pipe.
As if it wasn't daunting enough, Stel suddenly heard a set of clunky footsteps. He held his breath as a second aquatic being emerged from the shadows. An armored Selkath raised a handheld apparatus and flipped one of its switches. With each repeated flip, the Selkath grew even more frustrated. "Robonino," he grumbled. "It's not linking!"
The tiny Patrolian groaned and hobbled over to him. "Gimme that," he growled and snatched the device from his partner. "For the last time, Chata. You have to press and hold to link." The detonator buzzed in response to Robonino's technique. "There," he boasted and handed it back to Chata.
"That's the last of the bombs," Chata said while Stel looked around. Horror gripped the youngling as he noticed cluster upon cluster of stacked explosives. "Let's get clear before the 'light show' begins," he cackled while waving the detonator. "Senator Amidala won't know what hit her."
"Or any of those Jedi for that matter," Robonino added.
He trudged after Chata as they pried open a lower hatch. While the Selkath was heaving the grate, he suddenly felt the detonator loosen in his hand. Any thought of it simply falling was dismissed as it darted through the air. "What the?" Chata stammered when the unseen power took hold. He and Robonino watched as the detonator spiraled across the chamber...and into Stel's hands.
"Woah," was all the boy could say while he clutched the device.
"It's one of those Jedi brats!" Chata roared. Without even thinking, the Selkath aimed his wrist blasters.
"Are you crazy?" Robonino screeched and smacked his arms down. "One wrong shot and this whole building blows with us in it!" As they bickered, Stel made a run for it. "Grab him!" the Patrolian hissed. Using his lumbering cohort as a springboard, Robonino launched towards Stel with claws extended. The youngling ducked just in time for his assailant to slam against a pipe.
Moving quickly, Stel scrambled towards the shaft he'd dropped from and began his ascent. His heart sank when Chata's webbed digits wrapped around his boot. "C'mere you little-" the Selkath snarled until Stel kicked him in the mouth.
The strike sent Chata tumbling, but he managed to pull Stel down with him. The youngling rolled against the grated floor as an unusual clanging sounded. By the time he rose to his feet, Chata and Robonino were already closing in. "Stay back!" Stel warned. While clutching the detonator in one hand, he reached for his utility belt with the other. "Or else I'll...I'll-" Terror gripped the boy as his palm patted a bare section of his belt.
"Looking for this?" the Patrolian taunted and raised a unique lightsaber hilt. In that instant, the previous clanging had made sense. Stel's lightsaber had unclipped during his fall. No doubt a result of improperly fastening it.
"Not good," the Theelin gulped and eyed the lower hatch. Chata lunched at him just as he slid into it. Once inside, Stel slammed the lid on Chata's hands.
The Selkath screeched in pain before angrily reopening the hatch. "I'll wring his little neck!" he brayed and glared into the lower level. He paid little mind to the pitch black darkness as he leapt down. Robonino was quick to follow and the hunters bumped heads in the darkness. "Get off of me!" he grumbled and shoved the Patrolian away. "I can't see a bloody thing down here."
Robonino regained his webbed footing and shined a miniature flashlight. The faint beam traveled across a set of decrepit halls. "It looks like this wing's been closed for renovations."
"I don't care if its been closed for flesh-eating parasites," Chata scolded. "That kid has our detonator and the plan's a bust without it."
"He couldn't have gone far," Robonino added. "Especially without his lightsaber." Stel held his breath amidst the darkness. As he ducked into a nearby room, the hunters began their search for him.
Snowfall bombarded a ramshackle home in the heart of Kijimi City. Icicles extended from its window sills as an odd reflection formed across them. A distant blur was shifting the snow below. Within seconds, a hidden hatch emerged and parted the fresh flakes. Keri poked her head out from the tunnel first and examined her surroundings. "The guards just swapped to the next sector," she whispered. "Now's our chance. Move!" On Keri's orders, Anna and her team poured out of the tunnel. Their boots made the snow crunch as their group bunched. "This is our big scene," Keri whispered and handed Anna one of the wrapped gifts. She then blankly stared at the snow-covered home as if expecting Anna to know what to do. "Well go on," Keri intoned. "Deliver the present."
"Can't we just leave it on their doorstep?" Anna mumbled.
"So the Baron's men can just confiscate it?" Keri scoffed. "It has to go inside the home."
Mattias squinted towards the dwelling as an idea formed in his head. Thinking quickly, he reached out with the Force and gently unlatched the window. Keri slowly smiled, observing the Jedi's supernatural handiwork. As the latch came undone, he slowly lifted the window and asked, "Does that work?"
"Breaking and entering-" Anna quipped. "Okay on Life Day." She shuffled towards the home and gestured to her squad. "Speedy, give us a boost." The trooper's uncharacteristic pause had Anna raising a brow. "Speeds?"
"Um," the trooper murmured. "I think Sarge could give you a stronger lift."
Although Anna was suspicious, time was limited with the opened window. "Blazer?" she beckoned and the sergeant got into position.
While Blazer hoisted Anna and Mattias into the home, Sparx approached Speedy. "Hey," the lieutenant inquired. "You've never been one to shy away from helping. Are you alright, trooper?"
"Yeah," Speedy nervously laughed off any concern. "I'm solid."
The Jedi vaulted into the dwelling and observed their warm surroundings. Although it was teeming with cramped and rickety rooms, the home was humble. Its inhabitants were fast asleep in a bed much too small for three. And yet, the family appeared blissful even as they slumbered. Mother and father cradled their sniffling child. A mop of dirty blonde hair shrouded all but her reddened nose.
"Poor dear," Mattias whispered. "She probably has a cold. We shouldn't leave that window open any longer than we have to."
"I'm gonna catch a cold just being on this planet," Anna groaned while glaring at the family. Despite her ill temper, Mattias watched her brows relax as she placed the gift on their nightstand. Anna's gaze lingered on the sleeping child as she lay nestled in her parents' loving arms. With pursed lips and flared nostrils, Anna fled the scene.
Mattias hurried after her as they sealed the window behind. "One down," the youngest Dellian sighed. "One too many to go."
"Anna," her old master beckoned before they returned to the tunnel. "A word if I may."
Merely hearing his tone had Keri and the clones giving them some space. "What is it?" Anna griped. "Did I not put the present in the right spot?"
"That's not it," Mattias assured. "I want to know what's going on with you. We have a chance to do something truly special here."
"I'm just annoyed that this is what we were called out here for," Anna answered. "I thought we'd be fighting tyranny. Not giving presents to...to-" Anna shut her eyes and barely spat out the rest of her sentence. "-perfect families."
Mattias smiled sympathetically and placed a hand on her shoulder. Although she was wearing armor, she still embraced his nurturing touch. "You wish you had one," he deduced. "Don't you?"
Anna winced at the thought. "We don't always get what we want," she said. "Not everything can just be delivered in a present."
"Even now, I'm still sorry about your parents, Anna-"
"Can we not do this?" she snapped, yet Mattias persisted.
"Nothing will ever replace them. Even if you have moved on, a part of them shall always remain with you." Anna hung her head as Mattias continued. "You'll see them in other's families. See yourself in every joyous child."
"If you're trying to make me feel better, it isn't working." Anna uttered. "I never really knew my parents, and yet I feel them missing from my life. How kriffed up is that? To miss people I didn't even know?" She raised her head to Mattias. Chilled tears rolled down her cheeks while snow fell around her. "Yeah, I see myself in families like that one. And I think to myself 'Why the hell did my parents have to get themselves killed?' At least Elsa has some memories, but did they ever stop to consider what kind of parentless world their newborn was going to grow up in?" Mattias was ready as Anna threw herself into his arms. "Didn't they care about me?" Her fingers curled into fists as her tears drenched his robes.
"I think all they did was care about you," Mattias answered. "And they wanted nothing more than to give you a life free of Aren's turmoil." Hugging Anna tighter only made her grit her teeth. "They gave their lives so that you and Elsa could truly live."
"Truly live," Anna sniffled. "This pain feels like some kind of crackling fire, burning whenever it feels like it. I can't even control it."
"So don't," Mattias asserted and looked into her eyes. "Anna, all of us have suffered in ways that others can only try to comprehend. And sometimes the pain within cannot be controlled." Anna grew concerned about where Mattias' thoughts were headed. "But your pain can make you stronger. Because if you can endure this, you can endure anything. You can show others that it's possible to not only survive, but actually live." While keeping his arm around her, he gestured to the house they'd just visited. "You can bring joy to those who are facing the greatest of hardships. Because even in your moments of weakness, you are strong."
Anna scrubbed the tears from her freckled cheeks and took a deep breath. "I can't change the past," she replied. "But I can make a difference now."
"That's the spirit," Mattias grinned and patted her back.
"Did you really not rehearse any of that speech?" Anna questioned.
"Nope," he chuckled and pointed at his heart. "You'll never have to rehearse if you talk from here."
"You're so cheesy," Anna snickered. "Thank you," she told him in the sincerest of tones. "Now if you excuse me, I think it's time for some more festive home invasions."
"Yeah let's not call them that." Mattias teased as they returned to the tunnel.
"She just...left?" Master Kalia asked. The elderly Ithorian twiddled her elongated fingers while the other masters congregated.
Master Beetra nodded. "And since Tori left her communicator here, we have no way of reaching her. Where would she go?"
"We must consider the news she's just received," Master Adersen concluded. "The Padawan has lost two masters in her life and is probably distraught."
"Respectfully, that isn't an excuse for her to vanish." Beetra continued. "Think of all the additional concern she's causing. Many Jedi have endured traumatic events before. But they don't just up and leave."
"I agree with Master Adersen," Elsa said. "Tori probably needs some time to herself. I trust that she'll return once she's processed this concerning news."
"Master?" a youngling called from behind Adersen. He turned to see a Zeltron nervously looking around.
"What is it, Livia?" the elder asked.
"I can't find Stel anywhere," she said. "He was supposed to keep passing me packages, but was gone when I returned for more."
The youngling's information had Adersen looking at his peers with wild eyes. "How could he just disappear?" he asked and looked over his clan. "Filz! Keruu!" he shouted towards his Karkaradon students. "Where's Stel?"
"How should we know?" Filz muttered.
Adersen's stern glare had Keruu blurting, "We don't know where he went! Honest!"
"This is getting out of hand," Adersen whispered to his older companions. "Now there are two Jedi missing. Beetra, you and I will watch over Brith Clan and make sure the event finishes smoothly. Kalia and Elsa, start checking the plaza for our 'misplaced' friends. But do so quietly. We don't want to cause any more of a panic." At Adersen's command, the Jedi spread out to perform their duties. Padmé kept a close eye on the discreet turn of events and noticed Elsa's concerned appearance.
While Robonino's slender feet flopped against the carpeting, Chata's heavy boots struck with monumental thuds. "Come out, come out," the Patrolian hissed.
Catching his breath, Stel nervously felt around the room he'd hidden in. What remained of its torn wallpaper revealed bright rainbows and smiley tooka cats. Although bewildered at first, Stel deduced that the room was some sort of abandoned nursery. While most of its furniture had been removed during the renovation, a dusty box was one of the remaining few. Acting swiftly, Stel dropped and flipped open the box. He fought to conceal a cough as a thick cloud of dust puffed towards his face. As Stel scrubbed his eyes and cleared his throat, he observed a collection of intricacies within. "Toys?" he whispered to himself.
"C'mon, kid." Chata snarled. "Just hand over the detonator and I promise we won't kill you," he said while charging up his wrist blasters. The duo crept down the hall as a sudden rattling caught their attention. Chata was already aiming his blasters when Robonino raised a hand.
"It came from that corner room," his smaller partner said as a smirk formed on his bill. "One way in..."
"Only one way out," Chata concluded. The Selkath readied his blasters as they inched themselves closer to the door. "Ready?"
"Now!" Robonino squawked as they rushed into the room. As soon as they did so, the duo instantly slipped on a fleet of toy vehicles. Starfighters and speeder bikes had been strategically placed to form the perfect trap. Once the hunters lost their footing, nothing could stop them from colliding with each other and collapsing against the carpet. Dizzied and dazed, they barely glimpsed Stel as he fled towards the door. The duo had been reduced to a pair of doormats for him to stomp over.
Stel couldn't help but snicker at his blundering pursuers until a scorching laser came darting towards him. "Yikes!" he yelped and rolled out into the hall. Chata and Robonino shoved at each other to continue their chase. They nearly lost sight of the youngling until he tripped over a stack of rope.
"There he is!" Chata bellowed.
Stel rushed upstairs with the rope still tangled around his ankle. As he rounded the upper level, he bumped into a stack of paint cans. The boy glanced at the rope beneath him while the hunters closed in.
"Stupid little horn-headed-" was all Chata could say before a paint can came swinging downward. Tied to Stel's rope, the makeshift pendulum clunked Chata on his helmet and sent him tumbling back. The lumbering Selkath nearly squashed Robonino as they collapsed at the bottom of the stairs. "I...hate that kid," he groaned.
The night in Kijimi City seemed eternal. Yet with each passing home and delivered gift, the stockpile wasn't the only thing feeling lighter. There was a distinct sense of accomplishment emanating from Anna's conscience. Spreading cheer amidst such turmoil had produced a subtle effect on her. The kind she credited Mattias for as they emerged from the tunnel once more.
"This is it," Keri whispered and handed Anna a gift. "Last house and it's nearly sunup."
The Jedi cradled the tightly-wrapped present and eyed an oddly-shaped home. Her brows furrowed at the lack of light glowing from such a structure. "The heck kinda of a house is this?" she muttered while sneaking over to it. "No windows? A barricaded door?"
"The Baron has been known to place some citizens under house arrest," Keri explained. "It's mostly done to torment them psychologically, cutting them off from the outside world."
"Well that changes today," Anna asserted while peering around. "Come on, there's gotta be another way."
"I...might see one," Mattias whispered. Anna followed her elder's gaze to a bricked stack just above the roof.
She turned with an astonished glare. "The chimney?" Anna blurted.
"Do you have a better idea?" Mattias asked. "And you could be just thin enough to squeeze through."
Anna pensively bit her lip while staring at the chimney. "These people are lucky it's Life Day," she said. "Okay. I'll do it."
"I can give you a lift," Mattias insisted and raised his hands to call on the Force.
"Thanks but..." Anna glanced at her squad. "I'd like Speedy to boost me this time."
The trooper stiffened again. "General, I think you'd be better off with someone else's-"
"I'm not asking for anyone else's help," Anna specified. "I want you, Speedy. What's going on, brother?"
All eyes fell on him as he sighed heavily. "I just feel like I can't trust myself," he confessed. "I was the last line of defense with those Krykna-Man movie tickets. You were all counting on me and I still couldn't get them."
"Speedy," Sparx spoke up. "The server crashed for all of us. That's not your fault."
"But the responsibility fell to me," Speedy lamented. "What will you all count on me for next? What if I mess that up to? I saw how disappointed you got about those tickets, general."
Anna sighed and approached Speedy. "Sure, I was upset. But I never blamed you for that, Speeds. No matter what your future responsibilities are, I trust that you'll always do your best. And even if you fail, we'll always have your back." Anna smiled and looked back at Mattias. "Like a wise man here once said, we take our wins and our losses together."
Speedy slowly nodded and raised his head. "Thanks, general." he answered.
"Now I need your help, buddy. Can you give Mattias and I one heck of a boost to that rooftop?"
Feeling supported by his team, Speedy's spirits were reinvigorated. He offered Anna a stern salute and declared, "Yes ma'am!" While Keri kept an eye on the dim horizon, Speedy got into position. He firmly planted his cybernetic legs into the snow and knelt down. Cupping his hands, he looked at Anna and said, "Ready."
"Let's do this," Anna declared and leapt towards Speedy. As he caught her boot, he used his enhanced legs to propel her upward. Anna soared like a rocket through the icy air and landed atop the roof. Relief poured over Speedy as she stuck her landing and gave him a thumbs up. Within moments, Speedy launched Mattias up to follow the general. Being out of touch with his acrobatics, the master landed face first into a thick sheet of snow.
Anna tried concealing her giggles as snow clumped around Mattias' face. Having his own sense of humor, Mattias laughed off his own crash and joined Anna at the chimney. "Here goes everything," she huffed before holding her breath. With a mighty leap, Anna slipped into the chimney's flue.
Not a creature seemed to be stirring in the quiet and locked down home. Anna's shuffling reverberated across the silent walls as sooty puffs fled the chimney. Anna's blackened boots met the doused fireplace as she coughed for fresh air. Although warm, the home's cramped space made Anna feel trapped after coming down the chimney. Despite Anna's best efforts to quell her coughing, the soot was ravaging her throat. Her tired eyes swayed to a nearby conservator. Kriff it, Anna thought. They're getting a present from me. The least they can do is help clear my throat.
Anna set the gift on the kitchen counter and cracked open the family's conservator. The appliance's light nearly blinded Anna as she rummaged for beverages. I'm sure Keri wouldn't mind a quick detour, Anna told herself. Snatching a jug of green milk, she poured herself a glass and chugged it.
"Much better," Anna grumbled before shutting the conservator door.
"Who are you?" a child's voice made Anna flinch and ignite her lightsaber. She swayed her green blade across the shadows to see a little boy in baggy pajamas. Clutching his stuffed tooka doll, he rubbed his drowsy eyes and observed Anna's glowing weapon. "And why are you drinking our milk?" he asked. "Why?"
"I-" Anna gulped as a green milk mustache trickled from her lips. "...am..." Her eyes darted to her lightsaber before she declared, "-the Life Day Fairy!"
"Life Day Fairy?" the child questioned. He could hardly keep his hazel eyes open. "Am I...dreaming?"
Anna forced a smirk and played along. "I don't know. Are you?"
"I hope I'm not," the boy admitted. "Because a fairy would be pretty cool. Is that your magic wand?" he asked and pointed at her lightsaber.
"As a matter of fact, it is." She cautiously hovered the saber over the boy's head. "This magic wand shows me all of the good children in Kijimi City. And you-..." Anna aggressively gestured to his face.
"Domadi?" the boy introduced himself.
"Domadi, of course." Anna intoned. "I knew that. You've been a very good boy."
A sudden rumbling echoed outside, prompting Mattias to holler down the chimney. "Hurry!"
"So here's your present!" Anna blurted and tossed the gift into Domadi's arms. "Happy Life Day!"
"Wait," the boy asked as Anna dashed for the chimney. "If you're a fairy, where are your wings?"
"Overrated," Anna replied.
"But then why'd you drink our milk?"
"To recharge my...erhm...magic wand!" Once Anna answered his final question, she hurriedly ascended into the chimney.
The ruckus caused Domadi's family to stir while he ran to see for himself. But as the boy stared up into his chimney's flue, all he could see was Anna's boot slipping out of view. He barely caught a glimpse of Mattias peeking over, as the snow coating his face gave him a thick white beard. "Woah," Domadi gasped while clutching his present.
"What took you so long?" Mattias asked while scrubbing snow from his beard. "And is that...milk on your lips?"
"Long story," Anna replied. "Now what's-"
"Hey!" a stern voice growled from the nearby street. Several of the Baron's guards had arrived to investigate a noise complaint. "Get down from there, now!" one of them yelled and aimed his blaster.
"General!" Blazer worried from below.
"Get back to the tunnel!" Anna hollered down to him. "We'll meet you on the other side!"
"But-"
"Just go!" Anna shouted. Keri led the reluctant clones back into the tunnel. Meanwhile, Anna and Mattias leapt from rooftop to rooftop. Realizing they wouldn't stop, the Baron's men opened fire. A cacophony of scarlet laser blasts lit up the night as the Jedi sprinted away. During their next leap, Mattias grunted and buckled forward. As Anna watched him clutch his back, she realized he'd overexerted his spinal cybernetic.
"I can't keep jumping," Mattias moaned. "Go and I'll find a way to-"
"Not a chance," Anna interrupted and dashed back for him. She wrapped her arm around Mattias and pulled them both towards a lower porch. They descended to street level as Anna searched for an alternative means of escape. In that instant, she heard a snort similar to those in the barn. Anna peered around the corner to see an orbak tethered to a post. "You thinking what I'm thinking?" she asked.
"You know how to ride?" Mattias sputtered.
"...nope," Anna confessed as her master mounted the beast.
"Get on," he jested and clutched the steed's reins. "And hold tight."
Anna clung to Mattias' waist as he untethered and spurred the orbak. Its proud hooves clacked against cobblestone as they dashed through the snow. Over the streets the guards went...blasting all the way. Anna ducked under a laser and said, "We're gonna run out of road soon. Any ideas?"
"Just one," Mattias considered while riding towards a sealed gate. "But I'm gonna need your help." She tilted her head as he continued. "The guards will likely form up at the approaching gate. At the last second, I'm gonna turn us left."
"Into the wall?" Anna worried.
"Yes. But if we time our Force connection just right, we can lift this orbak over the wall."
"Mattias, I might be a knight...but I'm not that strong in the-"
"You're only as strong in the Force as you say you are!" Mattias shouted while spurring their mount. "As strong as you'll let yourself be! Now I know you can do this with me, Anna. Just as you always have. Concentrate on the orbak and push up when I tell you."
Anna swallowed hard and struggled to tune out the laserfire overhead. And amid such rising turmoil, Anna heard her sister's words as she closed her eyes.
"See past all of the noise, even if it's present."
Anna ran her hands along the orbak's thick hide and breathed deeply. In doing so, she felt a deeper connection with the mighty beast. She briefly experienced its accelerated heart rate before the blasterfire loudened.
"Here comes the turn!" Mattias warned as they approached the barricade.
"You know how to Force push," Elsa's wisdom returned. "Just direct that same energy towards what you're visualizing."
"Now!" Mattias yelled and pulled the orbak leftward. Thinking they had Mattias and Anna cornered, the guards laughed at his maneuver. Their eyes widened and jaws dropped at a sudden surge of energy. Weapons clattered to the floor in alarm as snow shifted across the ground. Cobblestone slabs cracked under pressure as a tremendous Force push lifted the orbak over the wall.
Anna slowly opened her eyes to the rush of wind against her face. By concentrating her power alongside Mattias', they'd managed to lift the orbak just high enough to clear the wall. "Hahaaa!" she impulsively cheered. "We did it! We actually-"
Their majestic moment fell short to gravity as they collided with a tremendous snow mound. The bulky orbak emerged unscathed as Anna and Mattias still clung to its back. "I knew you had it in you!" he cheered and glanced back at her.
Still riding the high of her endeavor, Anna raised her hands as they rode across the snowy plains. "Happy Life Day, Kijimi City!" she shouted.
With each shadowy flight that Stel had climbed, he realized just how far he'd dropped through the air vents. "He-help!" he shouted, almost out of breath. His knees were starting to ache as he reached the next level. "Master Adersen! Someone? Anyone!"
Despite the Theelin's progress, exhaustion was catching up to him. His pace slowed as he tripped against a toppled tool box. The ear-splitting clatter had him gasping as he struck the floor. He suddenly felt a thick cord grip his thigh. Unlike the rope from downstairs, this hook increased pressure until Stel couldn't move. He wriggled and looked down at a dreadful grappling hook. Its cord extended beyond the stairs and down to one of Chata's gauntlets.
"Gotcha," the Selkath laughed while observing the open tool box. "You know, I was going to shoot you. But after everything you've put us through...I think you've earned so much worse." Stel gulped as Chata scavenged a power drill from the box. "Care to do the honors?" he said and handed the drill to Robonino.
"With pleasure," the Patrolian sneered. "Hold him steady. Or let him wriggle. I don't mind a mess."
True horror gripped Stel as he struggled in the Selkath's binding. Like a roped and cornered animal, he scratched at the floor while Robonino closed in. The very whir of the power drill was enough to have him flinching.
Speaking out of sheer fear, Stel blurted, "Just take it!" He waved the detonator as sweat drenched his violet skin. "Please!"
"Oh we will," Robonino assured and aimed the drill downward. An immediate burst of energy wiped the smirk right off his bill. "What the?" he yelped as an unseen force pushed his gangly wrist upwards. This energy field moved against the drill's range of motion and created dents in its structure. Smoke billowed from the malfunctioning tool until Robonino was forced to let go. He, Chata and Stel turned to see two vibrant beams twirling as one. This double-bladed lightsaber spun through the air and didn't return until it severed Chata's grappling hook. The saber was then pulled back to a blue-robed figure emerging from the upper stairs.
Deactivating her weapon, Elsa Dellian raised her good arm and called upon the Force again. She pushed the tiny Patrolian with enough energy to slam him into the nearest wall. The impact knocked him out while Chata rushed into action. "You want some of this?" the Selkath snarled and aimed his wrist blasters. Stel was awestruck as Elsa made a fist. In doing so, she commanded the Force to crunch both of Chata's gauntlets. His blasters bent to her will like nothing more than feeble, plastic cans.
Elsa then lifted Chata off of his feet and demanded, "Yield!"
"Never!" the hunter growled. "It'd take a lot more than just your-" Master Kalia arrived at Elsa's side. The Ithorian ignited her blue lightsaber while Captain Typho and other members of Padmé's security detail aimed their blasters. Chata sulked while floating. "That'll do it."
Elsa dropped the defeated Selkath and told Typho, "Take him away."
"Gladly," the captain said. He squinted at the grimy duo as he got closer. "I've seen these men before. They tried to assassinate Senator Amidala!"
"I think they were going to try again," Stel said and raised the detonator. "The vents have bombs in them."
Typho recovered the detonator and looked to his men. "I want this building evacuated immediately. Contact the Coruscant Guard and get a bomb squad down here! As for this scum. They likely escaped during the mass breakout several months back. Let's make sure there's a new cell waiting for them."
As the guards dispersed, Elsa Force-pulled Stel's lightsaber off of Robonino's belt. Kalia deactivated her lightsaber. "I'll tell the other Jedi," she said.
Elsa nodded to the Ithorian and knelt before Stel. "Are you alright?" she asked him.
"I think so?" the youngling answered while checking over his body. "But I would've been a goner if you hadn't show up."
"How'd you even get down here?" Elsa asked.
"I crawled into the vents," Stel answered, much to her surprise. "You told me to be mindful of my observations and feelings. So I did just that. I observed my feelings and acted."
While Stel's endeavors were in no way what Elsa meant, she considered his results. "So you did," she whispered before changing the subject. "Let's get you back to your clan. I'm sure Master Adersen's worried sick." She handed him back his lightsaber and said, "And try to keep a better eye on this, please."
As Elsa guided Stel out of the dark corridor, he couldn't help but ask. "Knight Dellian..."
"Hm?" she inquired.
"Do you think I did what Knight Skywalker would've done?"
Elsa sighed, "Probably."
No matter how much Stel concealed his grin, nothing could suppress the victorious, "Yes!" he cheered under his breath. All Elsa could do was shake her head in befuddlement.
With Chata and Robonino's explosive plan foiled, Padmé's charity event came to a close. After all, no one else was going to come for free anything after a bomb threat had been spoken of. But even as the Jedi concluded their cooperative event, Tori Vica remained unheard from. Unbeknownst to the world, she'd returned to a place of familiarity. And unlike the Jedi Temple, Vica Manor actually brought her a sliver of peace for the time being.
Tori sat in her parent's lounged observed the Moon Goddess' illustrious fountain. Goddess' Gift, she thought on her name's meaning. What kind of gift? One of pain? Suffering?
"Sweetheart?" Datya beckoned from the doorway. While she wasn't Force sensitive, her motherly instincts drew her to the heartache Tori was facing. Just seeing her daughter turn with such somber eyes almost brought Datya to tears. "Dinner's ready," she said.
While the feast hadn't been as lively as the Vicas had hoped, they were just grateful to spend time with their daughter. Like Tori, neither parent could barely stomach anything. Hoff and Datya were too busy keeping an eye on her as she prodded meat with her fork. Minutes felt like hours and the pressure Tori experienced was insurmountable. With each jab at her food, she came one step closer to breaking down. All it took was a single scrape of her fork against the plate to change everything. That sound alone sparked a mental barrage as Tori saw Surk, Meliz, and Adi Gallia within.
Tori gasped and slammed her fork against the table. The clatter was loud enough to startle both parents as she buried her face in a napkin. Disheveled, purple strands fell with Tori's heavy whimpers as Datya left her seat. She came around the table and put a kind arm around her daughter. Meanwhile, Hoff reached to his child's side and took her hand. "I'm sorry," Tori sobbed.
"You have nothing to be sorry for," Datya insisted.
"But I do!" Tori shouted. She dropped her napkin and revealed how reddened her golden eyes had become. "Death follows me over and over and over again. First my friends and now my master. I wasn't strong enough. I couldn't even be there to help her!"
"You are strong enough," Hoff said.
"You don't get it, Dad." Tori wept and hung her head again. "What good am I to the Order if I can't even protect those around me? Who will I lose next?"
"Now hold on just a moment," Datya intoned and knelt by Tori's seat. "No one will ever be strong enough to carry every burden in the galaxy," she said while cupping her daughter's face. "Not even a Jedi." She used her thumbs to gently wipe away Tori's tears. "And I'm sorry to tell you this, but you don't owe the Jedi Order anything, either. You're there because you want to be. They need you. Not the other way around."
"What if-" Tori sniffled. "-I'm not meant to be a Jedi? That Master Gallia's passing is some kind of warning. That I should leave."
Datya took a moment before answering. She soothingly rubbed Tori's back and said, "That decision is yours to make."
"And no matter what you choose and when you choose it...we will always stand with you." Hoff asserted.
Tori dried her eyes and nodded. As their daughter sat in silence, Datya proposed an idea. "Tori," she said. "If you contact the Jedi, will you be forced to return to the temple?"
"Not necessarily," Tori murmured. "Why?"
"I think you should tell them that you're alright," Datya said. "That you're helping the Vica Foundation to get your mind off things. They should understand, given as the Order is trying to heal its reputation. When in actuality, I want you to spend the night here with us." She took her daughter's hands in hers. "We'll finish up dinner as a family. Or if you'd like, we can go straight to dessert. I don't care, as long as we're together. We'll even make a cider toast in honor of Master Gallia. But stay with us tonight. See what life is like beyond the Jedi Order. And then come tomorrow, see how you feel with an open mind."
Although she was still saddened by the day's events, Tori's heart briefly fluttered. And while she was nodding in agreement with her mother's plan, another response left her lips. One she'd suppressed since the day she'd been reunited with the Vicas. And as she found herself immersed in their kindness more than ever before, Tori said, "I love you." Those three words ignited momentous joy within Hoff and Datya's hearts.
"Oh Tori," her father rejoiced as they pulled her into a group embrace. "We love you too."
"We love you so much," Datya said while kissing Tori's forehead.
Another year, another Life Day in the service of the Republic. Exhausted from the day's events, Padmé was overjoyed to return to her apartment. "Shall I have your rooms checked, my lady?" Typho offered.
"That's quite alright, captain." Padmé replied. "Normal patrols are fine." Typho obliged as Padmé hurriedly shut the door behind her. The heavy silence of her suite took hold and she rushed to her refresher. Speeders soared across Coruscant's nighttime cityscape while her silhouette shifted across the windows. Once she reached the refresher, she withdrew an oblong pod from her counter. After pressing its centermost button, an AI voice spoke through the speakers. "Good evening, Senator Amidala. How may I be of service?"
"I need-" Padmé bit her lip and whispered as if they weren't the only ones there. "-a scan."
"Elaborate," the AI inquired.
"A full anatomical scan," Padmé clarified.
"At your service, senator," the AI responded. "I shall begin at once." Indigo waves reflected off of Padmé's windows as her device performed a thorough scan. Each wave projected out in gridded formations and scanned Padmé from head to toe. A merry chime signaled the scan's completion as Padmé braced herself.
"Full report please," she requested.
Her heart pounded with each of the healthcare AI's diagnostics. And as she stood in the darkness of her apartment, the final scan result left her with chills. Padmé had almost immediately powered down her digital companion before stumbling out to her living room. She'd been experiencing fatigue as of late, but her stress was reaching new heights. With a heavy sigh, Padmé sunk into her sofa. As she looked out at the passing speeders, she thought on the mysterious beggar's words to her.
The scan's results had Padmé even more astonished over the situation. Suddenly, the galaxy felt even bigger than it already was. While this concept was often humbling for Padmé, all she felt was nervous. How can I handle this? she asked herself. Who can I tell? Can I tell anyone? Padmé winced as a painful thought crossed her mind. How will Anakin react? Padmé brought her hands to her stomach and sighed. She spoke the words as if to claim power over them. Even if she was scared out of her mind. "I'm pregnant," Padmé whispered, still coming to terms with her situation.
Since her time as a Padawan, Elsa had grown accustom to compliments. She never sought them out, yet they'd found her since the Battle of Hoth. Sometimes she felt like compliments were more for those giving them, helping the speaker feel like they too were part of something. Either way, the majority of praise she received after returning to the temple hardly reached her. Whether she'd helped to catch a pair of criminals or not, she wouldn't let praise fuel her ego. The same ego that'd caused her to lower her guard while fighting Maul.
"You're all over the HoloNews again," an elder remarked as Elsa passed the gardens. "Well done, Knight Dellian."
"Thank you, Master Sinube." Elsa said.
"It looks like saving people on Life Day has become tradition for you," another said.
Her voice took a moment to register as Elsa blindly answered, "Thank you, Master Yel-" The knight stopped dead in her tracks. She turned to see her former mentor standing in the garden. Elsa's sigh was as tired as it was frustrated. "It's been a long day," she said.
"I trust that it has," Yelena agreed. "But I only need a moment of-"
"Trust," Elsa mumbled. "Bold of you to choose that word."
Yelena forced her smile to broaden. Her hands slightly trembled behind her back. "Elsa, I'm just saying that-"
"Like I said. It's been a long day and I'm tired. So-"
"Why everyone else?" Yelena snapped and immediately loathed herself for doing so.
"Excuse me?" Elsa asked.
Yelena took a deep breath to recompose herself. "You are always talking about redeeming those around you. Practicing patience and forgiveness. Why does everyone else get that treatment, but when it comes to me..." Yelena shook her head.
"This goes beyond your last lie to me," Elsa huffed. "That was just the final straw. When I look at you, I see the same master who was hardly present throughout my apprenticeship. Even if you were taking trips to Aren or wherever you were going, I wasn't with you. And I told myself it was fine. I reminded myself to believe in the Force's greater plan and that I was where I needed to be. But it didn't change the connection I was trying to form with you. The master and student bond crucial to the success of our Order. I thought we'd finally reached that point when you told me the truth about my past, but then you lied again about Master Kenobi."
"I'm sorry," Yelena spoke directly. "I'm sorry, Elsa. And I'll apologize as many times as I must because life is too short to have this friction between us. I'm not perfect," the elder lamented. "My master was perfect, and I've done my best to live right by her. Even then, it's never enough. With this new assignment from the council weighing down on me, I just-" Yelena hung her head. "-I can't be enemies with you. My heart can't handle it."
Elsa frowned at the master's words. "You're not my enemy, Yelena. It's just hard to trust you."
"I would never do anything to intentionally and maliciously hurt you," Yelena intoned. "And as a token of trust, I have something for you." Elsa squinted curiously as Yelena added, "It is still Life Day after all."
Before the elder could move any further, Elsa raised a hand to stop her. "Please," she politely insisted. "I don't need a gift."
"But I-"
"Yelena, I know you're trying to make amends and...I appreciate it." The master smiled faintly as Elsa continued. "But a present isn't what I need. There are less privileged people in this city who need something like that more than I do."
"I understand," Yelena replied and relaxed her hands.
"But thank you for coming to talk to me," Elsa said.
"Thank you for giving me the time. I hope this Life Day has been everything you've wanted it to be."
Elsa peered across the temple garden and observed a bushel of budding blueblossoms. "It's been very insightful," she answered.
"Oh?" Yelena queried.
"To best help our Order, I've decided to take my next step towards becoming a Jedi Master," Elsa said.
Yelena's eyes widened with joyful surprise. "You're going to take on a Padawan?"
Elsa nodded. "And if he'll have me, I'll be the most supportive mentor that I possibly can."
Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading this week's installment and my second ever Frozen Force Holiday Special. Your kindness and understanding is always appreciated. I've always been straightforward with you all about story updates and want to keep you informed. Due to unfortunate circumstances, I have tested positive for COVID-19. Being vaccinated, boosted, and extremely cautious, I never imagined that this would happen to me. However, it's just further proof that the pandemic is very real and these variants are still going around.
The reason that I am telling you this is because I have just been placed under quarantine while I recover. My immune system isn't strong so I have been getting wrecked by this thing. Mostly in the sense that I feel very weak and spend many hours sleeping. I don't know how long this will last, nor what's in store. Whether you're new to the "Frozen Force" or you're a veteran reader, I write each of these chapters weekly. Typically starting on Sundays or Mondays to prep for release on Friday. With how I'm feeling, I'm going to do everything I can to keep the schedule as is. So nothing should change. But in the event that next Friday's chapter is delayed by later in the day...or even pushed back to Saturday, just know that it's because I'm fighting COVID right now. You can also follow GoldenHeart Stories on Twitter for any updates if the chapter isn't up.
Entertaining you all keeps me sane. It is my love and passion to do so through a story that I adore so much. I have so many plans ahead and I genuinely appreciate your understanding during this difficult time. We can do this. We are one with the Force and the Force is with us.
~ Michael