Title: THE BOOK OF TEARS: Part Three
~PART THREE: COMPLETION~ ~Tears of Want~
“What?” “I went to Verlandus”, he explained. “The ambassador said she had left for home almost two months ago. She never made it back, Nova.” Tears shot into her and she rushed to him, throwing herself onto his chest, hugging him tightly. “Oh… Ben…” The siblings cried together, sobbing for their loss and for the loss of the other. They separated to wipe the tears from their eyes and to calm themselves against this grief. “Tell me you found something… tell me you aren’t done looking.” Nova shrugged, gasping a little. “I’ve been here since this morning, checking each level.” She turned and looked around her. “All I get are impressions. They had Jedi here. Or close by… I’m sure of it.” “But not Luke. And not Mara?” Nova shook her head. “I can’t say for sure, Jonald. The emotions that are left here are so distant. Like it was long ago… but it wasn’t.” Ben Jonald jumped when he heard a beep behind him. “Oh, it’s your droid.” “Yea. He’s been searching, too. Find anything?” A small whine was all she got. “Me, too, honey.” Ben walked to the closest wall and sat down, uncaring that his tan jump suit would get dirty against the grime that was on the floor. “What do we do?” “Eat and rest… then start searching again.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the swirling clouds of a stretch of forever, Luke stood infront of a beautiful light that flowed all around him…a sunset that shot an earthless sky with purples and reds. He stood there, bare to the light and smiling, the wing blowing through his hair, soft waves of dark blonde flagging across his loving face. Nova reached out, wanting to become apart of that world painted of yellows and reds and desire. But as she drew near, the sunset became the ink of unnatural night and Luke fell from the sky, his broken form laying in a mist that began to swallow him. He was bruised and pale and fading. Fading… Luke!
“LUKE!!!” Ben Jonald staggered up to his feet, eyes wide as he stared at his sister. She had screamed him out of his slumber and every hair on his body stood on end. She sat there, head bowed into her hands where she sat on a piece of discarded plastic she had used as a bed. “Nova… you okay?” He thought she was crying but when she raised her head, her eyes were dry. “Jonald?” “Yes?” “They’re here”, she whispered. “What?” “They’re here… under us. This abandoned area is just a front. Luke is here. There are levels beneath us. But I can’t feel them.” “Then… how-“ “A dream”, she continued to whisper. “Luke… he’s trying to call out to me… They’re here. And he knows I’m here… somehow…” Jonald stood, staring at her then at their surroundings. What was he suppose to say? Nova stood slowly, straightening her cloths. “Now that I know they’re here…” “What?” “I can trace to how ever they get inside.” Nova heard a click and she looked over at the tall male. “Jonald, where did you get that?” “It’s mine”, he growled, running his hand over the small, old-looking blaster. “I grew up in a war zone, remember?” She nodded. ‘They probably already know we’re here.’ Her brother’s head tilted back at the words spoken into his mind. He wanted to ask how they would know but he did not have enough force-knowledge to do so. Angered by that lack of know-how, he merely nodded and stepped back to let her lead. He watched as Nova made circles in the room, walking and staring ahead. As the moments passed, he felt her frustration grow. ‘I can’t find them. No trace.’ Ben Jonald watched her blue eyes cut to the door and she stepped by him. He and a softly beeping Artoo followed as they made their way outside and he remained silent as she walked, seeming to chose no path. He tried to form a thought and send it to her… She glanced behind her and he knew he’d atleast made contact. ‘I feel like I needed to go this way.’ And that was all she needed. Just the idea to leave the abandoned base behind and head into the dead forest beyond. She trusted that her footsteps, lead by her desire and the Force, would take her to an area that had the memory of beings headed under the surface. She kept herself open to any stray emotion, especially worry or arrogance. Two things that usually betrayed someone who was hiding a secret created for themselves. Ben almost slammed into Nova’s back when she stopped, having been looking at Artoo as the little droid struggled to keep up over the littered terrain. It was like a bug buzzing in her ear. She could almost see the after images of dozens of people performing hundreds of trips in this area then her mind opened up further. She could see the entry point and the sudden alarm that that sight produced. ‘There. But it’s booby trapped.’ A questioning sense came form her brother. ‘Stay here. Let me do it.’ Nova took a deep breath as she pulled her saber from her belt and stepped closer to the very usual-looking crop if trees. Her steps were slow and she worried about setting off whatever weapon lay here even though she knew she had to. Instead of jumping in fear, she used that exact same surge of surprise to kick her body into movement, swinging her saber and deflecting a bolt of fire coming from another tree. She swung up her lavender sword again then paused and grimaced when she heard another shot fired off. The gun in the tree lay silent and smoking as Ben stepped out of his hiding place. Nova said nothing about his shooting skill and the two continued to the stand of trees. The danger sense passed and they entered to find no trace of a doorway. But common sense showed them where it was. They both cleared away the leaves and twigs until they came to a fake area used to cover a hatch of metal. Ben bit his bottom lip as he looked at his sister. They both knew there was a combination or pass code written into the door to prevent any unwanted guests but they saw no area to enter such a code. Artoo finally managed to make his way in as well, his little photo sensor eyeing the hatch. Nova watched as Ben Jonald leaned forward, his graceful hands dusting away more of the cover. He tilted his chin and mouthed the word, ‘Imperial.’ The blonde frowned. He pointed at the side and he pulled out a knife, using it to lift a section of the door to reveal a computer panel. Appearing to be of Imperial issue only made them suspect that this place was once an Imperial base, as this world was now apart of the Hou’Sanni Dominion, far from Imperial Space. Nova used her Force sense in the same way as before, seeing another’s fingers type in a code that did not change. They both jumped reflexively when the hatch unsealed itself. Wasting no time, Ben lifted the lid and Nova gauged the distance and jumped in, using the Force to cushion her. Lightsaber out and ready, she was surprised to find no resistance, no one guarding the door. She looked up to see her brother’s blaster moving cautiously to and fro. Nova floated Artoo down, setting the droid down on the smooth metal she knew he approved of. Jonald climbed down the ladder, shutting the hatch on his way down. Where they had dropped into was only a long tunnel. One that made it easy to shoot down invaders as they tried to come in. Both held their weapons ready to make sure they would not end their lives that way. ‘Come on. We keep moving until we are made to stop’, she said, pointing down the long corridor and starting off. Only a few meters into a slightly declining walk, Nova stopped and stared ahead. Ben waited for her to speak but she said nothing. Being impatient, he tapped her on the shoulder and she turned, big eyes cutting to him then at the path they traveled. “I lost it”, she whispered. “The Force isn’t here. They have Ysalamiri or something...” He gripped his blaster tighter and set his jaw, nodding his head to keep them going. Mara was down there somewhere. And there was no way in hell he’d let her stay one moment longer than she had to. He heard Nova let out a breath and she moved on, descending then leveling out to where they could see a change in lighting. Killing her blade, she kept her weapon in her hand, moving cautiously. The tunnel came to an end and a wide room began, very much like the above ground base they had rested at. Except this one was not empty. The wall opposite them was lined with equipment and sections used for storage. But what really drew the attention, were six large tanks in the middle of the room, set in equal spacing. They looked oddly like square bacta tanks, each one made of pale white glass. “You see any one?” Ben asked in a harsh whispered. Nova shook her head, feeling lost without the Force at her side. She had not realized how much she depended on it these days. Artoo beeped loudly and Nova almost kicked him. She grabbed the small handheld out of her pocket that translated his language to get all the details of what he was saying. She could almost understand the droid completely but now was not the time to leave he own translation skills to chance. What he was saying was that his sensors were picking up no sentients in the outer room they were looking at, and much more exiting for the little droid, he was picking up a relay he could jack into. “Go for it.” The droid rolled out then stopped when Nova stamped her foot. “Do not set off any alarms.” Artoo seemed to stare at her as though that was the stupidest thing he’d ever heard her say. She shrugged and he rolled off quickly. Ben nudged her out of the way and crouched down so he could view the room. “Those are medical bio-containers. They are usually used to keep someone in stasis… but those seem to be off.” “They look like bacta tanks.” “Same design. Come on. They’re opaqued.” “Huh?” “They’re suppose to be clear. To see your patients.” Ben left without another word, sticking to the wall at first then walking out bravely, his blaster held tight. Nova followed, looking out for him, making sure no one stumbled on them or set off an attack. She worried that someone knew they were here already and were just waiting to spring the trap. Without preamble, Jonald tapped at the keyboard on the side of the massive tank and the opaque coloring faded to clear, revealing it’s contents. “Heavens…” “No…” Jonald looked at his sister who was shaking her head. “Thelmos…” Looking back, he had to keep from letting his anger get the better of him. The human male known as Thelmos Firelight, floated in the clear preservative, his body shaven and naked. A line of skin staples ran up his abdomen and chest and round about his head, his mouth and eyes like-wise kept unnaturally shut. The man had been autopsied… It was something Jonald had done quite a few times himself… but there was a wrongness to this. The Force was void here and, yet, he sensed great sadness from the corpse before them. Nova sobbed, face held tightly against her palm. “Nova. I’m so sorry…” She looked up slowly, eyes turning to the other tanks. Each opaque. And he understood. She knew Thelmos Firelight. Had probably taught him, counseled him. But those tanks held others… perhaps Luke. Perhaps Mara. Fear rose up in him like a wave, making him nauseous with its violence. His feet made loud noises as he ran to the next container and slapped the controls of the tank. “No!” He felt Nova grab his arm and he turned on her. “She can’t be here-“ Her eyes focused behind him and she turned away, stricken again by the revelation. This one was an apprentice. Too young to have the experience of a knight. Too young to be dead and on display. Artoo beeped and sang as he rode toward them, his little wheels stopping as his sensors picked up the cleared tanks. His voice wept then was silent as he rolled passed them, heading for deeper into the structure. “Artoo? What is it?” With no other choice set before them, they followed him. Nova eyed the other tanks but Ben paid them no more attention. She feared that Luke was inside one of those terrible things… her brother would not allow that option to exist. The larger anteroom let out into a smaller unit with four doors in the room, two for each sidewall. Yet another opening was at the end of the room, apparently leading deeper into the complex. All was grey in soft lights and cold with circulated air. Artoo began singing excitedly as he rolled to the first door on the right. Creeping forward, Ben and Nova followed behind, weapons at the ready. Artoo made a spiting noise and jacked into a tiny port at the side of the portal. The door shot back and Nova eased in, saber first. Movement in the corner made her jump, holding the light saber tighter. Ben Jonald had his blaster pointed directly at the spot where some one lay on a cot. “Ben?” The blaster lowered and he rushed by his sister, falling to a knee before his wife. “Mara! Are you okay?” She was silent except for her harsh breathing. Nova worried where she stood, trying to see into the dimness of the room. It was a sudden movement that caught Ben and sent him crushing into his wife’s chest. Her strong arms were wrapped around his neck and Mara Jade was sobbing. His arms curled around her back and shoulders and he lifted his head to see her eyes. “Get me out of here”, she whispered. He nodded, slowly at first, then more pronounced as he soaked in her pain. Ben stood and grabbed her up into his arms, walking toward the door. “I’ll take her to the ship. You look for Luke.” “Jonald-“ “I’ll come back.” “Mara, where’s Luke?” Ben stopped and turned, spearing her with a dark gaze. “I don’t know”, Mara croaked then coughed. “Put me down.” “Mara-“ “Down, Ben.” The male set her on her feet and she teetered for a moment then stood straight. Her green eyes rolled down to the blaster he held. “Got one for me?” He looked at it and shrugged. “Sorry, honey.” Mara leaned over, hands on her knees, looking as though she was trying to catch her breath. “I’ll fight-“ “You aren’t strong enough”, Ben told her. “You have to get to safety.” “Who are these people, Mara?” Glancing up, she shook her head. “Scientists. Doing experiments… something about trying to figure out how the Force works in the humanoid brain.” “Have you seen anyone else?” The red head straightened. “A few. But never more than just seeing them pass by. They’ve kept me apart.” “What for?” Mara sighed and pulled back the top jacket of her tan cloths. Her belly was well rounded despite her thin appearance. “Oh, my god…” Nova stared at Jonald who stared at his wife’s abdomen. “We-“ “I can only hope its okay. They’ve been pumping me with drugs since day one. They want the baby for some reason.” Ben’s hand reached out and rested on the swell he found. He pressed and a rounded movement replied. “Healthy reaction…” “Always the doctor. I need a gun…” Mara glanced around. “Dream… do not tell me that you, Ben and a droid is all you brought.” Nova blinked, tight-lipped. The other woman shook her head. “I’ll take you-“ “No. Go to the surface”, the blonde woman stated clearly. “The hell I will.” “Ben’s right, Mara. There’s no ammo here and you don’t look so good. Artoo knows the way.” Mara Jade gritted her teeth. Ofcourse she knew her sister-in-law was right. They’d fed her rations, limited her water and no sunlight came to this place. She knew they had no plans of keeping her alive any longer than it took for her to give birth. Nova watched them go, her nails digging into her palm. Artoo kept his place, his top rotating to her and back to the retreating Ben Jonald and the woman he supported. “He’ll come back”, she whispered to the little droid and to herself. “Now… where’s Luke?” He spat and rolled off, quick enough that Nova was forced to jog. The next room was not a room at all but an elevator shaft with no lift. “Great. If I had the Force-“ Artoo whistled and rolled to the wall beside the open door and jacked in to the lower terminal. Nova was confident that he would succeed and was surprised to hear him screech. “What?” She grabbed her hand-held again and her eyes grew wide. “ I thought I told you not to set off any alarms!” He made an apologetic noise that didn’t require a translator. The lift came up and Nova pulled her saber, ready for any guards that would be waiting for her. The roomy lift opened up and, surprisingly enough, noone was there. “Is there another way down?” Artoo beeped a question. “I may not have the Force but that’s fishy.” The little droid beeped and raced off. Nova saw it almost immediately. Air ducts. One close enough to the ground to supply fresh air for the individuals who needing it most. They were heavily built and would have been resistant to everything under the sun. Unless one had a light saber in their hand and knew how to use it, that is. “Sorry, friend. You’ll have to stay here. Tell me were I go.” The structure only had two levels. They were on the top and the bottom one under them was where the others were kept. Where Luke should be. Other than that he had little information on where to find what. The architectural records were sketchy at best. “Good. Anything else I need to know?” Artoo beeped and fussed and waited for Nova to translate. “Security, huh? See what you can do to knock out those walls then.” The ductwork laid in the structure was protected by several low-level force shields as a security measure. They would be enough to keep a person out but if Artoo could deactivate them as she went, she’d be able to make it to the lower level. Activating the saber, Nova cut a square hunk from the wall, cutting through snapping wires and laying open a wide area she could fit through. “Let Ben know which way I went.” With that, she ducked inside and crawled her way through the straight shaft. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dropping out into a small, white hall lined with doors, Nova found herself still alone. Artoo had told her of an active alarm and, yet, no one was alerted. She felt so lost without the Force, without that sense that had for so long, lead her way. Looking around with a hint of paranoia, she walked swiftly to the door closest to her and looked in. A figure slept on a cot much like Mara had been. He was a slender male but that was all she could make out with his face turned away from her. She knew it wasn’t Luke, though. She tried the door but it did not budge. She knocked on it to alert the one within but the person did not rouse. The next room held another and the next held another. All of them out cold. She checked each room, hoping that she would find her husband. He was nowhere in this section. She recognized a few of them from the academy and felt a small happiness that they were still, apparently, alive. Creeping out of the white hall, she came upon what looked like a lounge complete with a couch, table and chairs. Two tables, each with four chairs. Eight workers? Nova held her unlit saber out infront of her, looking infront and behind her. ‘Where is everyone?’ Every step felt like a trap. Exiting at the left side of the lounge, she moved into another hallway, which lead to a wide door that was closed to her. She wished she knew how big this base was because she had no clue where to look next. There was a door opposite her and another at the end of the hallway where her people were kept. Or, she could move forward. The wide, white door was too enticing to pass up. A panel lay at its side with a palm print pad but she knew, that beneath, there would be wires and triggers for the door mechanism itself. She set to work, hoping speed was on her side. Three minutes felt like an exceedingly long time but once the door slipped open, the thought disappeared. This room was enormous, lined with computer terminals and screens that were alive with lights and the occasional beep. In the center of the room was a bed shaped object, all white to view. Nova lit her saber and walked forward, the glowing streak of purple light held out before her like a magic wand. Blue eyes sought anything alive in the room, anything moving as she made her way to the room’s center. It became obvious what it was when she got closer. She had seen them before in Ben’s hospital. The device was a type of stasis chamber, used to care for heavily injured people without placing them in long-term comas. How she wished she’d paid more attention to the ones Ben had while she was there. But she knew the most important part… that you could open the device at anytime to gain access to the patient. Finding the information access pad for the contraption, she concentrated hard on what she was reading. It showed the vitals for heart, respiration and fluid control. Someone was alive inside. She stilled her racing mind. ‘It could be anyone. Don’t get your hopes up…’ Slipping her finger into a wide key, she turned the ring and the doors folded back, a warm mist rising from inside. Something inside her recognized who it was before her eyes could see. Her hand fell onto his naked chest, partial obstructed by a thin pipe there. She extinguished her saber and returned the hilt to her belt, waving vapor away. The male was laying flat, hands at his side, tubes coiled around him. A clear breath mask was held over his mouth and nose, his hair damp against his head. His skin was pale and if his monitors weren’t showing his vitals, she would worry he had already passed. The only real sign of health was the pink of his lips. “Luke?” Licking dry lips, she reached down and pulled the breath mask off, one eye on his stats. Angry lines were on his face where the mask had cupped his cheeks. He made no move. “Luke?” Nova shook him gently then cupped both cheeks. “Luke?” She gave a some-what gentle slap to his left cheek and his face grimaced. “Baby?” Her palm slapped against his chest and shoulder, sensing he needed to be reminded where his body lay. A masculine moan had her eyes filling with tears. “Wake up. Please… please…” She watched his eyes crack open and smiled when she saw his baby blues shining from between the lids. But the smile vanished when she heard the sharp click of a readied blaster behind her. She pulled back a little, showing her hands to whoever was behind her. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pain was everywhere, sipping in and out of his flesh. His body was a weight, a painful weight, holding his mind down. A sharp rap against his chest sent waves of agony threw him and a jolt to his shoulder made him want to scream. A loud noise assaulted his ears, barely recognizable. But it grew soft. Urgent. Familiar. He wanted to open his eyes and find out what made the sound. Harsh light stabbed at him even before he tried to open his eyes. And when he did manage, all he saw were blurs. His eyes shut again, squeezing painfully against the air and the light that seared him. Moments passed before he could relax them. His eyes opened more gently this time. But what he had seen earlier must have been a phantom because, now, he was alone.
~Tears of Victory~
“Turn around. Slowly, please.” Nova turned as she was told to do and studied the woman before her. She was dressed in a white coat, complete with white shoes and pants, all created to be germ and static free. Definitely the scientist sort. She was older, in her 50s atleast, with brown hair and colored skin bands on her face. Humanoid but not human. “Who are-“ “Quiet.” The older woman pulled a comm from her belt and stated, “I have her.” Lifting a brow when noone responded, Nova stood a little straighter. “I am Nova Dream Skywalker, Jedi Master and Representative of the New Repub-“ “I know who you are.” A chill ran up the Jedi’s back when she heard Luke moan again, louder and more centered. “What are you doing here? What are you doing to my people?” The woman lifted the gun when she saw the other female shift. It was obvious that she would shoot if she had to. Nova wondered if, without the Force, could she grab her saber fast enough to defend herself and keep any stray bolts from her husband. Only a moment’s thought revealed the folly of such intentions. She could not chance it. If she could move- “Stop.” Nova gritted her teeth. “As a sanction member of New Republic Defense, you and all your associates are under arrest.” The woman laughed. Laughed. “You won’t be laughing for long.” Looking to the door, Nahara Taeta wondered violently where her associates were. And that was all the blonde master needed. Rushing forward and igniting her saber, she plowed into the other woman, kicking her as she flew back. She saw the pistol whip her way and she arched her saber down, cutting it in half. The woman screamed in agony, rocking back. “Oops.” Cutting through her fingers was not apart of the plan but Nova was really not in a caring mood. The pistol no longer an issue, she backed up, eyeing the door and the woman equal. She didn’t get the words of her next question out before she was alerted to a sound outside the doors. And when those doors flew open, it was an actual surprise. Four massive droids rushed in with stun batons and blaster arms down at their sides. “Kill her if you have to!” a pained cry came from the corner of the room where the scientist had retreated. The machines surrounded her and one rushed forward. She turned to meet it but screamed when she realized it was a feint. Being grabbed from behind, she threw her legs high into the air, using her saber to slice into the legs of the droid who held her. The robot toppled with a mechanical roar and she rolled away, rising and swinging. One bolt seared her thigh, barely noticed in the heat of battle. Nova attacked, catching one by such surprise, it stood staring at the round hole in its chest plate where her lightsaber had entered before it fell over. But the move cost her much, she was grabbed in a bear hug and her saber was kicked from her hand and she watched it deactivate itself and clattered to the floor. Her legs kicked but made no contact, only drawing more pain from her torso and arms. She couldn’t breath! Her ribs ached beneath the strain and her lungs burned. The other guard rolled before her, its back against the chamber that held her husband. Nova heard the woman call something but her ears only rang. She saw through darkening vision that the droid was pulling its blaster arm to aim at her. Struggling anew, she could barely sense her body moving. What she saw next made her wonder if she dreamed now… An arm swiped from behind the droid and grabbed a hold of the wires in its neck joint, ripping the life out of it as the robot struggled against its attacker. The blaster arm swung down, useless… A sudden jolt released Nova from her prison and she felt herself falling. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ben Jonald walked forward, a fierce look on his handsome face. Smoking droids laid about, his downed sister in the middle of them. One droid arm moved and Ben shot it almost faster than he meant to. Movement from the corner alerted him to a woman crouching toward a computer terminal. “Sit the hell down!” he shouted, bringing his battered pistol her way. “Move and I’ll kill you. I promise.” The woman slumped and stared at the floor. He stepped to his sister and shook her shoulder. Moaning she rolled over and coughed, making a face as she struggled back up to reality. Knowing she was well enough to not die, he stepped over to the stasis chamber and pushed a darkened droid away. Ben peeped in, his sight and keen mind honed by years as a healer. Luke was breathing heavily, his arm on his chest, ice blue eyes peeking back at him. He was deathly pale, thin and in obvious pain. His sight ran along his body until he reached the older man’s legs, both obviously broken and blackened by weeks old contusions. But he was breathing steady and his eyes held the light of a man ready to be free. Ben smiled, his heart swelling with happiness at seeing his sister’s husband alive. Hearing a hassling noise, Ben looked over at the one making the sound. He saw Nova on all fours, scooping up her lightsaber. She ambled to her feet and looked around her, a little dazed. Catching him in her sights, her wide face brightened. “Jonald?” “Yea. Mara’s on the surface, contacting help. Artoo told me right were you were.” “Good droid”, she whispered, limping over to him and pushing him away. “Luke? Luke?” Ben Jonald stood back to leave the two some privacy, while keeping them protected from any one new who might come in. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tracing his lips with her fingers, she gazed at him, whispering anything that came to mind. Tears, embarrassing tears, pooled in her eyes and she apologized. He stared back at her and she wept harder, afraid there was something wrong with him. She bowed her head. They could have been doing anything to him here… Four months… Four months, he had been in this place. Held against his will. Experimented on. Made a prisoner… Dead to the universe, dead to only someone desperate enough to believe… A gentle weight fell on her head and she looked up slowly. His handsome face was smiling at her, a tear falling across his temple. His hand combed through her hair, catching on a tangle then smoothing over it. She stood on her tiptoes and folded herself against the chamber to kiss him. His lips, his cheeks, his forehead, each kissed with reverence. “I love you…” The words felt odd. Unable to back the phrase up with the Force, she could only speak the words and hope he imagined how she felt. The Force… Straightening but unwilling to pull her hands away, she called to Ben. “Did you see any Ysalamiri? We stand a better chance-“ “Enough said.” He stepped over the woman he had been keeping an eye on and asked softly, “Where are they? And don’t make me ask twice.” With that, he pulled her up and held her by the arm so she could lead the way. “Be careful, Ben.” He nodded. “Keep a look out. Better yet, just seal the door.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mara Jade sat beside the X-wing that belonged to Luke Skywalker. A distress beacon was making a pattern of lights as the little device called for help on a specific channel. Wrapped in a blanket that Ben had secured around her shoulders, she sat cross-legged on the ground, her back against one of the legs of the craft, her expression plain. Even when her baby turned, she merely pursed her lips. A blaster lay in her hand, a strong comfort against the weeks of uncertainty. The Force was a distant shadow but she was, atleast, aware of it now. She had hoped it would be daytime. But night had fallen and the air was cool, making the rescue seem less heroic somehow. A part of her had wanted to follow Ben back inside the compound to pay her imprisoners back for her confinement. Another part was just glad to be out and knew that she was too weak to do any good. The plain expression turned fierce. They would pay. She guaranteed it. At her feet, the device gave a deep tone and a voice came through. “Pro-Summit, do you read?” Mara picked up the receiver and cleared her throat. “Copy.” “Status?” “Ready to be picked up. We need medics and security. Over.” “Already on the way. Just hang tight.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Luke, is there anybody else here? Besides those droids and that woman?” The male was sitting up with his wife’s help but was slumped against the side, too weak to hold himself up. Nova kept her eyes away from his bare legs, which lay at odd angles in the coffin-like device. They looked like old wounds that had not been doctored and became reinjured with the slightest movement. She didn’t want to see what had been done to him and only guess. She wanted him to tell her the whole story so she wouldn’t make anything up on her own. He swallowed and seemed to prepare himself to talk. “Left. He left.” “He?” “Florus. Atleast that’s what she referred to him as… It was just him and his assistant. No one else that I’ve seen.” “Where did he go?” she asked softly. He frowned, looking much older than he had a few months ago. “No clue. I only heard that he was leaving for some reason.” Watching him struggle to stay seated, Nova gave him a gentle push. “Lay back down.” Luke let himself laid back but his body, his very skin protested at being back inside. He felt like he would die if he stayed any longer. “Let me up.” “No, you’re hurt!” she cried, seeing his hands gripping the sides of the metal casket. “Here…” Nova put her arms around his shoulder and head to keep his body at an incline. “Just… let me hold you.” His breath puffed against her neck and he inhaled her scent deeply. It had been so long… so very long since he had been held. He closed his eyes and let himself relax. It was a few seconds later before he heard her voice again. But, this time, she was singing to him. A soft, sweet lullaby that curled into his mind and promised to take away his hurt for alittle while. Despite the physical pain, he couldn’t help but smile. The lullaby stopped when Nova gasped. “Luke! Do you feel that?” He looked up tiredly. “What?” “The Force… can you feel it?” Ice blues blinked carefully. “No. Nothing.” “Oh… Well, that doesn’t mean anything. They probably have that drug in your system. That’s all. You’ll be fine in a little while.” He nodded slightly, refusing to leave his place in her arms. “Hey…” “What?” “You’re not pregnant anymore.” Nova laughed then giggled. “No… no, I’m not.” “Is she okay?” Kissing him on the forehead, she whispered. “Yes, husband. And she’s beautiful and you’ll get to see her soon.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Ben? Ben Jonald, come in.” The red haired man grinned. He loved her voice. He grabbed up the comm tied to his collar and responded, “Here, Mara.” “How goes it?” He looked to the corner of the room where he had the scientist laying on the floor with her hands on her head, despite her obvious lack of fingers. Four smoking Ysalamiri and the branches they were attached to lay in heaps on the floor. “Got a little fish. Big fish wasn’t even in the bowl. The woman says that those two were it.” “I only saw two.” “Good. Any luck with contact?” “New Republic is coming.” “About time. When will they be here?” “Less than an hour. Leia had them in wait.” “Remind me to give her a big kiss then!” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The hour seemed to last the night but the teams finally arrived and swarmed the area, on the surface and into the compound below. More droids were encountered but were quickly put down. All data was confiscated and Dr. Taeta was arrested promptly and held for questioning in the capitol ship that now hung above the planet. Along with the capitol ship, a medical frigate and a curious Hou’Sanni Dominion craft shared space as well. And, with those, a very small, very fast ship hurdling toward the surface, blasting passed the shuttles going to and from the site. The ‘Millennium Falcon’ touched down not too far from the X-wing and tiny transport Ben Jonald had used. And, moments later, two speeder bikes, each with two occupants tore away from the locked up ship. Leia, with hands gripping the handles of the bike, stared ahead, eyes moving from the stretch of land before her and the map between the stirring joint. Luke… was alive… alive… She had not really let herself believe it. Not even when she sent Nova on the mission did she allow herself to feel hope. Dealing with Luke’s absence had been nearly impossible. There was a part of her that was missing and, at times, she didn’t think she could go on… or lead a full life ever again. And to add hope to that would only bring more pain. She knew that from experience. But here they were… one man, one woman, a teenage girl and a Wookiee… riding as fast as their speeders could take them toward the secret base where they were told Luke was being looked after. And she still wouldn’t believe it. Not until he was smiling at her. Not until she could hold his warm hand in hers and- But there he was. A gentle flame in the force, trying to connect with her. It was as though he could only whisper as he tried to shout to her. He was there… Han grunted when Leia poured on the speed, holding her tighter around her slender waist. He smiled, his heart swelling in his chest… he knew, somehow, from his deep connection with his wife, that she had felt her twin and that Luke Skywalker lived. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They moved Luke carefully through the corridors on a hover stretcher, allowing Nova to hold his hand as they walked. He was so pale and his face was lined with pain. The Force was returning to him slowly and allowed him some small comfort, his thoughts scattered. Leia and Han were coming… So many hours, he had lay in that shell, trying to keep his sanity. Thoughts of his sister and wife, friends and children and students, keeping him grounded against the loneliness and pain. It was hard for him to acknowledge that he was finally free… not a dream, not a fantasy. Real… as real as the hand that held his. He looked to his wife and smiled. She was dirty. She smiled back at him and bent down to kiss him. He could feel her presence reach out to him, wrap around him. It was a gentle whisper but it was enough to allay his fears. It was real. He was free!
~Tears of Joy~
The sun shown down on the balcony where Luke Skywalker lay, a gentle breeze floating by. It was warm here and it was a pleasure to be outside. Instead of recuperating on Yavin Four, they had chosen to stay with Ben Jonald and Mara Jade on Therasii. The reasons were many, the least of which was that Nova was intent on having Ben close by to monitor him physically and herself to monitor him emotionally. No doubt, she figured he would not be able to keep himself from being the master if he was back home at Yavin. Taking a deep breath he relaxed even more than he already was. He was pretty much bed ridden. And he hated it. His legs were kept immobile to facilitate their healing and his muscles seemed to be slow to recover. They were weak and under developed from his months of captivity. Even now he had pulse cuffs on his arms and chest, building back his strength through electronic means. But what he would give to get up and run! “Stop fidgeting.” Letting out an annoyed breath, he glanced over to the woman coming through the balcony door. His wife had two, tall glasses of some fruity drink they had taken a liking to. He held out his hand for one and she gave it to him, taking a seat beside him, careful not to jostle him or the sleeping infant at his side. Leia Alekzondra was stretched out under the blanket that shaded her. Just because the doctor ordered him to get some sun didn’t mean it was good for her. He peeked under the blanket for the hundredth time, gazing at her small features. She was perfectly made, ten fingers and ten toes. Just as any good parent could hope for. “You like her?” Luke grinned. “Alittle bit. You?” “Ahh, can’t complain.” Looking up, she called out quietly, “Hey, you!” Obi-Jaden poked his head up and grinned. “You like your sister?” The little boy, a few months shy of two, ran up to his mother and gave her what he carrying in his hand. “Bug!” “Oh, look! A ‘dead’ bug! That’s something!” Nova cut her eyes to Luke, the hard, colorful shell held for him to see. “You want it, daddy?” Luke eyed the shell for a moment then looked his wife in the eye. “No, no. That’s yours, honey.” “Thanks so much, my dear!” Obi-Jaden plucked the shell from his mother’s palm, not caring that his parents were playing. He just brought it to show off anyway. He took off back to the corner of the balcony to continue his exploration of yet another awesome new world. Nova sat up and grabbed up a bottle that was at the end of the bed and wiggled it for Luke to see. He smiled and nodded and let his wife pull off the pulse cuffs on his chest. The crème that was in the bottle was the medicated kind, used to help his muscles and tissues respond better to the healing process. But Nova knew as well as he did that they both enjoyed a good massage. As of right now, he owed her eighteen payback massages. Luke laid back flat with his arms strtched out, grimacing when pain shot threw his legs. He closed his eyes when the pain receded and he let himself enjoy her touch. It wasn’t the damage done to his re-broken bones but the osteomalacia caused by a Vitamin-D deficiency. Four months without sunlight was a long time, an eternity, actually. Luckily, it was something that would be cured in a few weeks and Ben Jonald had promised the weakness and pain would fade with time. Luke knew, as a Jedi, that he could only force himself so much before he broke and that patience was a necessity. He wanted to be back to full health but knew he had to be tolerant with himself. Even if it included bed rest for the next month or so. He smiled. All was not so dreary. Yes, six students and potential students had been killed but the others, all eleven including himself and Mara were very much alive. There were quite a few people rescued that he had never met before. They were not Jedi, nor hopefuls… just normal people that had been found by Florus and his people to have a high aptitude for Force potential. He had already spoken to them and offered them a place at the academy if they choose to follow the path of a Jedi. Luke frowned. Florus… The man and his people had avoided capture and his assistant was saying little of anything, apparently content with her jail cell. They had managed to catch one deliverer of supplies but that did not make up for the damage done. He wanted Florus- Luke felt a kiss on his lips and smiled, opening his eyes to see her face haloed by hair glowing with sunlight. “Now, I said none of that!” Both Jedi turned to the door where Ben and Mara stood. Nova laughed and sat up, rubbing extra lotion into her hands. “I was just testing his reflexes. I am his nurse after all.” Ben made a face then laughed when Obi-Jaden ran into his legs and danced to be held. “How did it go, Mara?” Luke asked kindly. The red head pulled up a chair and sat, repositioning herself until she was comfortable. She was almost seven months along but both she and her fetus were under weight. “They sat he or she is moving around really well.” “Good, strong heartbeat”, Ben intoned proudly, holding Jaden tight. “We… we just aren’t sure about any effects the drug will have. They found heavy traces in the placenta and amniotic fluid even though it’s almost completely out of Mara’s system.” Mara snorted. “They pretty much told us to wait and see what happens.” Her words were nonchalant but everyone could sense the worry in her heart. Ben sighed as he put Jaden down to run off and do what he wanted to. “That’s all we can do. And monitor her carefully.” “Her?” The male shrugged, tucking a strand of his longish hair behind his ear. “He, she…? He aren’t sure yet…” Nova grinned. “Picking out names yet?” Ben pronounced quickly, “Luke Junior?” That made the blonde-haired master laugh. “Luke Kenobi! I like it.” “Luke ‘Jade’-Kenobi”, Mara clarified. Laughing, Nova sat up and stood as her brother came around to the bed to look over his patient. “Good color! Now, let’s open up those casts.” Luke groaned. “Yes, I know...” The casts made around Luke’s calves were made to be open to allow air and sun to get to the healing skin beneath. The real splints were inside, attached to the bone and, once healed, the thin internal splints would gradually disintegrate, leaving only strong bone behind. “There…” he said softly, laying the outer cast open on both sides. The droids had done a number on his brother-in-law’s legs. Luke had managed to almost escape captivity twice. The second time, they made it so he would never get away again. Ben smiled gently at the elder, feel sympathy for his patient. “Is any body else hungry?” Ben straightened and smiled as big as he could at his wife. “Yes! What do you want?” “Hot sauce.” Nova frowned. “You want anything on that hot sauce?” The red head laughed and shook her head. “Surprise me.” Ben Jonald grunted and walked by the others, glancing momentarily to Nova. It was an unspoken but loud invitation. “I’ll go help”, she said, mentioning, “I hate hot sauce.” Once deeper into the house where the kitchen was, Nova asked what her brother needed. She stood by the door and watched him move. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking”, he answered as he walked to the refrigerator unit. “About Luke?” “Huh? No. No, he’s fine.” Ben licked his lips as he brought out platters and packages of food stuffs. “It’s me, actually.” Nova walked in further and leaned on the counter. “What about?” Ben took a deep breath. “I keep thinking about the way we were while we searched for Luke… The way you could communicate with me through the Force… but I couldn’t with you.” Nova made a face. “You definitely have potential, sweetheart. You did well enough.” “But… I think… I think now is the time… to… maybe put forth the effort to…” The woman laughed, rolling her hand in the air. “You wanna be a Jedi?” “No!” Ben laughed at the sound of his shocked voice. “No… not… I just think I need to learn the Force better than I have. It seems to come in handy.” “’Come in handy’? You make it sound like a hammer or a hydrospanner.” Ben shrugged. “It’s a tool. I could use it to heal. Mara has taught me quite a bit but, frankly, we could both use a crash course.” Nova sighed and sagged alittle. “Boy. I know we are going to have some serious discussions about this in the future”, she warned, shaking her head then spoke emphatically, “The Force is a spiritual journey!” Ben’s strangely green eyes got big as he tossed meat onto bread and spurted hot sauce on it. “Lighten up, teacher.” “What did you call me?” He looked up. “Teach-er.” “What makes you think I wanna have anything to do with teaching you?” “Blah, blah, blah…” he chanted. “You wouldn’t have it any other way and you know it. You better fix Luke’s the way he likes it because I don’t know how.” Saying that, he walked out, leaving Nova with a pile of bread, meat, cheese and hot sauce.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ‘Nova woke with a start, her eyes wide as she stared up, trying to settle herself. Memories flooded back and her heart fell… She had dreamed Luke was still alive… that he had been rescued from somewhere… She was in her apartment on Coruscant, alone, in bed. Tears flooded her eyes and her throat constricted. She gasped and wept silently, hoping not to wake anyone. He was gone! He was gone…’ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Nova!” Luke shook his wife, alarmed. She woke slowly, wiping her eyes. “You okay?” He saw her silhouetted fingers rub her tears away. But she still gasped and sighed. He put his arm out to her, angered that he couldn’t even hold her properly because of his casts. She laid gently on his chest and wept quietly. Their daughter and son slept in the same crib beside their bed and she didn’t want to awaken either of them. “What’s wrong?” “I…I had a bad dream…” she explained, though she had only just closed her eyes. “Shh… It’s okay.” His hand ran along the smooth skin of her arm and felt her palm on his stomach. “What kind of dream?” “You were gone”, she whispered. “I dreamed I didn’t find you.” “Oh… I’m here, Nova. I’m here…” Reality was easy to see but the stress of these long months could not be undone in just a few, short weeks… Her eyes were shut tight. Luke suffered more than she and she need to be strong for him, for the children. She knew why she’d had the dream… Obi-Jaden kept asking his father if he was staying… And, just that night, when Luke made ready to leave the room in his repulser chair, the boy had demanded angrily in his fine, baby voice that Luke not leave. It would have been funny if not for the distress behind the jumbled sentence. The boy only knew a few words… but ‘don’t go’ and ‘leaving’ were ones he knew the best. Nova felt herself relax in the darkness. Luke’s mind laid a touch on hers in the Force, tenderly at first, then, feeling her desire for the touch, more solidly. He shared his mind with hers, letting her look inside him as he looked into her. Their essence curled about each other… Reaffirming the truth of the reality they held. Luke reached out in the Force and melded the bright presence of his son and daughter to their mental hug. The babies still slept, but, in their dreams, they were held… This was real. He was home. And they were truly together… They were, once more, a family. END
Chapter Eight "The final happy ending! And, by the way, I was proud to be a beta. I love how this ending was set up. Like Eriathwen said, there is potential for more, if you choose to explore it. Luke finding Florus. Ben beginning his training (HOOORAAAAYYYY!). Mara giving birth! Just... wow. I loved this entire saga. You take risks with you and Luke that I could hardly fathom doing to Obi and myself. lol. You make me brave! I wanna write a scary tragedy! "
~ERIATHWEN~
~VORQUELLYN~
~Let me know what you think! Send a comment of your own~~
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