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Jedi Headquarters, Imperial City, Coruscant
Corran Horn stepped quietly into the infirmary room, catching sight of Cilghal working on the mysterious girl. Luke Skywalker stood off to the side, trying not to hover. Jysella lay in a soft chair, curled up into a ball, still fast asleep.
Luke looked up at him as entered the room. "How'd it go with Space Port Security?"
"Not well. Apparently there was a bomb in Docking Bay 8, one big enough to recall all of the Security Personnel in the Space Port. They show up just as the bad guys got away, take possession of the stolen items, and demand the right to interrogate the victim," Corran said, straddling the cold metal chair next to the bed.
"They won't be doing any questioning if she doesn't wake up," Luke said, standing next to the diagnostic table. "Cilghal. Any clues as to what the problem might be?" he asked, focusing his attention back to the Mon Calamari.
"Well," Cilghal said, drawing a blood sample from the girl’s arm. "She doesn't have a concussion, or any other skull wounds. I'm checking her blood for the presence of drugs."
"Could it be weakness?" Corran asked. "She's pretty faint in the Force."
"You know, that's the strange thing," Cilghal said, studying the medisensor. "She's far stronger than the Force suggests."
Luke felt a cold chill run down his spine. "What do you mean?"
"According to the Force, she is practically knocking on death's door. But her pulse is strong, and her breathing regular. Even the vibroblade wounds aren't critical." Cilghal sighed, looking down at her young patient. "Either she is shielding herself, or is somehow blocked to it."
Corran rose to his feet, stepping over to the bed. "We'd better hope for the former," he said, studying the girl's pale face. Cilghal had placed bandages on her cheeks, but they were unable to hide her soft, pretty features. The Force stirred again in his breast. It was a strange sensation, nothing like he'd felt before. It was almost as if he was meant to find her. As to what end... he wasn't sure. Seeing her lay there, hurt and helpless, prodded his fatherly instinct, kicking it into high gear. He'd often felt it when helping young refugee children, or even back to the time he spent working for CorSec, when a child was injured or lost. But somehow, this girl was different. She reminded him of his daughter.
"If she's shielding, that suggests previous Jedi training." Luke rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I don't recognize her."
"Kyp's been taking on students," Corran reminded him.
"True," Luke mused. "It's really strange how strongly the Force guided us to her... perhaps she has reconsidered Kyp's teaching."
"Can't blame her for that," Corran said, though something told him that was not true. Exactly what was the Force's will here?
"We'll find out when she's awake." Luke answered Corran’s unspoken question. "You find anything, Cilghal?"
Cilghal nodded. "There's a strange chemical in her blood. The computer can't identify it. It could be what is holding her unconscious... or blocking the Force."
Luke folded his arms, studying Cilghal for a moment. "You really think that's possible." It wasn't a question.
"I do."
"Whoa," Corran held up his hands. "You know what we're discussing here?"
Luke sighed. "I'm afraid I do. Though I don't see how it's possible."
"Maybe ysalamiri blood?" Cilghal suggested.
"Perhaps." Luke ran his hand through his hair. "I guess we have decided, without proof, that she is Force sensitive?"
"When she wakes up, we'll have our proof," Corran said, touching the girl’s arm. "It's strange how the Force stirs around her."
Luke stared at him, as if he was missing something. "The Force flows between you and her."
Corran blinked. "I know," he said softly. "What do you think it means?"
Luke smiled and rested his hand on Corran's shoulder. "That you have a potential apprentice."
"I... what?" Corran asked incredulously. "How do you plot that course?"
"It's not uncommon," Luke replied. "The Force is letting its will be known."
Cilghal leaned over her patient, continuing her examination, when the girl’s eyes fluttered open, blinking in blind confusion.
***
Slowly, the girl fought her way to consciousness, blinking her dark blue eyes. She blinked them a few more times, swearing that her eyes were open. Panic raced through her heart, and she lifted her hands to scrub her eyes, hoping that would help.
"Master Skywalker, Corran..." A seemingly faraway voice was saying. "She's awake."
Skywalker... that name sounded vaguely familiar. Didn't it? The girl frantically searched her mind, finding... nothing. It didn't help matters that she couldn't see a thing. Had she been blind her whole life? Or was this new? Who were these people in the room with her? Was it a room? Where was she?
Distressed, she rose up onto her elbows, only to be pressed back down by strong hands on her shoulders. "Relax," a low male voice instructed her. "It's alright."
"No," the girl protested groggily. "I can't see."
"You have hibernation sickness," the female's voice informed her. "Your eyesight should return in time."
Hibernation sickness? The girl wondered to herself. "Who are you?"
"Healer Cilghal," the female responded. "How do you feel?"
"Tired," the girl responded, groping in the darkness for the other speaker. She thought she found an arm, and grasped it. "Who are you?"
A hand covered hers. "Corran Horn, and this," he moved her hand to rest on someone else’s arm. "Is Jedi Master Luke Skywalker."
Jedi rang familiar too, though she couldn't figure out why. She didn't even know what it was! Did she? "Have we met?" she asked.
"I don't think so," a new voice said. She looked towards where she thought the Jedi Luke was.
"What is your name?" he asked.
The girl frowned, again searching her mind and finding nothing. Her life was a complete blank. "I don't know."
Corran started at the words, catching Luke's eyes, then slowly asked, "What do you mean, you don't know?"
"I have no idea." The girl's sad unseeing eyes looked past him. "I'm sorry."
"No." Corran took her hand and gave it a squeeze. "It's OK." He leaned toward her. "Can you remember anything?"
She shook her head, obviously distressed. "No, nothing."
Cilghal ran the medisensor over the girl once again, paying special attention to her head. "Corran, Master Skywalker, can I talk to you for a moment?"
"Of course." Corran patted the girl's shoulder. Then he rose to his feet, following Cilghal to the far end of the room.
Once they were out of earshot, Cilghal let out a long breath. "I can find no evidence of her head being hit, or anything physical that would account for her amnesia."
"So it's mental?" Luke asked.
"I would think so." Cilghal frowned. "In many ways, I think that is far worse. Only severely traumatic experiences can erase someone’s memory."
"I've heard of that," Corran said, glancing at Luke. "Looks like our treasure hunters keep getting better and better."
Luke nodded. "I wish we could have caught them." He clasped his hands behind his back. "But the important thing for now is restoring the girl's memory. If she is willing, the Force could heal her mind."
Smirking, Corran stroked his graying goatee. "And if she isn't, you'll fly across the room."
***
The girl lay motionless on her bed, uncomfortable with the soft voices drifting in from the far end of the room. She knew they were talking about her, and it bothered her that she couldn’t hear what they were saying. Instead of concentrating on them, she focused on the one name she recognized -Skywalker. She closed her eyes, letting the name echo in her mind. Slowly, an almost face formed, covered in shadows that rivaled the deepest recesses of her mind. A sudden intense fear clutched her heart, pain was associated with that name, death.
The figure crept deeper into her awareness, accompanied by a soft, mechanical breathing. The girl could feel herself mentally stepping back, fear cutting off her ability to breathe. Or was it the Dark Lord doing it? She shuddered, and opened her eyes in hopes of escaping the vision.
The darkness stayed, as did the ominous figure. The girl started shaking, unable to escape this figure. It loomed nearer, reaching a mechanical limb out towards her. The girl curled up as if to protect herself, screaming as it nearly touched her.
***
Corran turned around at the sound of her scream, wondering what could possibly have provoked it. She was backing up against the bed a terrified expression twisting her features. Corran hurried over to her bedside, taking the thrashing girl into his arms. "Hey," he said softly. "What's wrong?"
She squirmed in his grasp, trying desperately to get away from him. "Let go..." She struggled harder. "The dark man..."
Corran just held her tighter, worry creasing his brow. Dark man? Cautiously, he touched her with the Force, trying to tweak the cold fear entrapping her. Whatever was attacking her, it came from within. A memory of who froze her? He sent calming waves of the Force into her, slowly feeling her relax against his chest.
The girl had thought the dark man had grabbed her, even after she heard... Corran's voice. The very familiar touch of... something, purged the dark figure from her mind, but she couldn't stop shaking. She clung to him, feeling his hand rub her back soothingly. She couldn't bring herself to say anything. What good is it in trying to explain a dark figure to a complete stranger. Everyone's a stranger to you, a voice in her head reminded her. Even yourself.
She heard Master Skywalker, not the not the dark one she reminded herself, (though how she knew that, she wasn't sure,) ask if she was alright. Corran mentioned he thought so, then asked if something was necessary. The female replied yes, that stress wasn't good on her. The girl frowned, wondering what was going on. She pulled slightly away from Corran, when something pricked her arm, and she slept once more.
***
Corran shook his head, gently lowering the girl down to a laying position. "She was calming down."
"Not quickly enough. Besides, she needs her rest," Cilghal said, clasping her fins. "As do you, and Master Skywalker."
Luke rubbed his eyes. "I'm not that tired."
"Neither am I," Corran agreed, stifling a yawn.
Cilghal rolled her eyes. "Maybe so Corran, but your daughter is." She held up her flippers and shooed the men out of the room. "Now both of you, go home. I'm sure wives would like to see you tonight."
Reminded that he hadn't seen Mirax in a couple of weeks, Corran straightened up with a sigh. "I'll be back in the morning." He then lifted the sleeping Jysella into his arms, and exited the infirmary.
***
Mirax was waiting for him when he entered the apartment's sitting room, fists on hips. "You kept my daughter up pretty late." She accused, crossing the room to him and straightening his shirt's collar. "Not to mention my husband."
Corran balanced Jysella in one arm, to free one hand up to press against his wife's cheek. "I'm sorry." He stared deep into her dark eyes, smiling at the love he still found burning in them. "We ran into something...interesting at the Spaceport."
Mirax raised a slender eyebrow at him. "Interesting is one of the few words I don't like to hear you say." She frowned. "It means trouble."
"Not too much this time." Corran assured her. "I'll explain in the morning. For now," he hefted Jysella back into both arms, "what do you say we put this kid to bed?"
Mirax studied his face for a few heartbeats, then nodded. "Sure," she rested her arm Corran's, "you've kept her up long enough."
"Hey!" Corran said defensively, leading the way to their daughter's room. "She's asleep, isn't she?"
"Yes," Mirax grinned. "You get one point."
They made it to Jysella's room, and Corran laid her on her soft yellow quilt. Mirax dug a nightgown out of her dresser, while Corran pulled Jysella's shoes off. He then lifted her up, allowing her to rest against his shoulder while he undid the buttons on her jumpsuit. Mirax found a white nightgown decorated with Ewoks and joined Corran on the bed. "Not that one again," he whispered, as Mirax eased Jysella into her arms and pulled the nightgown over her daughter's head.
"It's her favorite," Mirax reminded him, finishing putting the nightgown on Jysella.
"She's asleep," Corran said softly, affectionately smoothing a stray stand of hair behind Jysella's ear.
"Fast asleep," Mirax said, laying Jysella down and pulling the quilt over her body. "This kid could sleep through an Endor Day celebration."
"And not even stir," Corran said, leaning over to kiss daughter's soft rosy cheek.
Mirax kissed the top of her head, then got to her feet. "They're so angelic when they sleep."
"And devilish when they wake," Corran said, standing up.
Mirax smiled. "It's a shame night comes but once a day." She ran a hand through her short dark hair. "So, we have both kids in bed asleep... now what?"
Corran grinned slyly. "How about I put you to bed?" He asked, dropping an arm around Mirax's waist and lifting her into his arms.
Wrapping her arms around his neck, Mirax kissed his lips. "Sounds good to me."
Corran returned the kiss, carrying his wife to their room. He laid her gently on the bed, and kept his arm around her waist as he lay next to her.
"Aren't you going to tuck me in?" Mirax teased, running a finger down his cheek.
Corran leaned forward, raising an eyebrow at her. "I have to put you in your night clothes first," he said suggestively, pulling her close to him.
***
Luke Skywalker stood in the doorway of his room, mesmerized by the beautiful sight ahead of him. Mara lay asleep on the bed, her red-gold tresses catching the soft moonlight. His thumb in his mouth, Ben lay beside her, sound asleep. It was so peaceful. Luke thought he could stand there forever watching them. There hadn't been much peace in his life since he left the farm on Tatooine. It wasn't necessarily a bad thing, he had to admit to himself. He still liked the thrill of a great adventure, but even that could not compare to the moments he shared with his wife and son.
He practically tiptoed into his room, stepping by the bedside to gently kiss Mara's temple. He was leaning forward to kiss Ben, when Mara's hushed voice stopped him. "Wake him up and I'll reconsider killing you, Skywalker."
Luke blinked, and straightened up. "Tough night?"
"That's an understatement." Mara groaned softly, sitting up. "Your son cried non-stop after you left. He just barely fell asleep ten minutes ago."
Luke frowned. "That doesn't sound like him." He rested his hand on Ben's forehead. "Is he sick?"
Mara shook her head. "No. I think he gets worried when both of us aren't around at night.
"Then we'd better make sure it doesn't happen very often," Luke said, coming around the other side of the bed, and climbing in next to Mara.
"No complaints here." Mara gave him a small smile. "But it isn't realistic thinking."
Luke wrapped an arm around her shoulders, giving them a gentle squeeze. "We can always hope, can't we?"
Mara focused her emerald green eyes on him, touching the side of his face. "Yes, we can. Maybe." She nudged him with her hand. "Depending on your excuse for coming home so late."
Luke sighed. "We ran into a small problem at the Spaceport."
"Small problem?" Mara asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, actually, kind of..." Luke shook his head. "It's complicated."
"I see." Mara studied him for a moment. "Go on, husband dear, we've already stayed up half the night, what's a few more hours?"
"It won't take that long." Luke explained the situation as quickly as he could, then paused to let Mara think it over.
"Regarding the Force suppressant drug... I hope Cilghal is mistaken," Mara said finally.
"Me too." Luke sighed. "But I get the feeling she isn't."
"Well, it could only work efficiently on prisoners," Mara said. "And it sounds like it isn't permanent. How's the girl?"
Luke frowned. "Not good, but I think we will be able to help her." He hoped. He gently touched Ben's hand. "We really should put Ben in his own bed."
Mara studied him, recognizing his desire to change the subject; he was worried. "Sure," she said. "But if he wakes up..."
"You'll kill me, I know," Luke finished for her, slipping his hand beneath Ben's neck and legs, lifting him into his arms.
"After you put him back to sleep," Mara said sweetly.
Luke grinned and got out of bed. "You coming?"
"Of course." Mara slid out of bed.
Luke led the way to Ben's bedroom, thankful he wasn't even stirring. He entered the bedroom, stepping carefully to avoid tripping on toys. Very gently, he laid Ben in the cradle, feeling Mara come up behind him. Ben stretched, then his eyes fluttered open. He looked up at his parents, and grinned. He then rolled over, sucking noisily on his thumb. Luke let out a breath, and glanced at Mara. "I think he'll go back to sleep," he whispered to her, wrapping both arms around her waist.
Mara smiled at him. "I think so too," she whispered back, pulling a blanket up over Ben.
Luke rested his chin on her shoulder. "He's beautiful," Luke commented.
"He's perfect."
Luke kissed her cheek. "Let's have another."
Mara turned in his arms. "You want to carry him?"
"Her." Luke pressed his forehead to hers. "And I would if I could."
"I know." Mara brush kissed his lips. "How do we know it would be a girl?" She asked softly, removing one of his hands from her waist and holding it in her hand. "Maybe all you're able to give me is a flock of farmboys."
Luke allowed her to lead him out of the room. "There's no harm in trying."
"Until we're the parents of a whole fighter squadron," Mara teased him, as they stepped out into the dark hall.
"Sounds good to me, as long as they're yours..." he began, losing his balance as something sped beneath his foot. Mara landed first, with Luke falling on top of her with a whoosh. "Hey!" Luke called to a tiny maintenance droid which immediately whizzed away from him. He glanced down at Mara, and touched her cheek. "Are you alright?"
"Yes," Mara clipped.
"You sure?"
Mara glared at him. "Yes, now, are you going to get off of me, or were you just getting comfortable?" she said sarcastically, but her green eyes sparkled.
Luke grinned and leaned over to kiss her lips. "Just getting comfortable."
Copyright 2002 by Luney.
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