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Author	Topic: The Life You Left – 24 years post-NJO (Ben, K/J, J/TK, H/L, OC's) UPDATED 3/29 FINALLY!
JadenBlue07 Registered: Aug '04	Date Posted: 8/27/04 12:07pm Subject: The Life You Left – 24 years post-NJO (Ben, K/J, J/TK, H/L, OC's) UPDATED 3/29 FINALLY! - Date Edited: 3/29/05 6:42pm (6 edits total) Edited By: JadenBlue07
	Title: The Life You Left Author: JadenBlue07 (formerly Funk_Jazzer) Timeframe: 24 years post-NJO Characters: Ben Skywalker, J/K, J/TK, many others, OC’s Disclaimer: Star Wars belongs to George Lucas, I own nothing. Without him, none of this would exist. He’s the man! Summary: After ten years on the run from the Jedi Order his father created and a tragedy that took the lives of the two most important people in his life, Ben Skywalker is finally discovered by his cousins. Returning somewhat reluctantly to the life he left, Ben finds that the enemies who cost him everything so long ago is still after him. But he couldn't be more surprised at who they turned out to be. Notes: Special thanks to my beta reader, TahiriVeilaSolo69, who also adopted me as her padawan. This story was originally posted under my other username, Funk_Jazzer. CHAPTER ONE, Part 1 “In a Long, Long Time” A fierce battle ensued over a planet in an uncharted region of the Kathol Sector. A squadron of X-wings faced off with a varied group of small starfighters, most of them uglies (ships pieced together with various parts of other ships), in an intricate and deadly dance. It was a scene that had taken place over thousands of worlds thousands of times, but Jysella Horn had a feeling it was a battle she would never forget, however trivial it felt at the moment. The newest version of the X-wing, the MXJ, which Jysella flew now as she gunned down a ship that looked like a cross between and K-wing and a Headhunter, was slightly more compact and a lot sleeker than the X-wings flown during the Galactic Civil War. The design was the same, but the once hard and angular lines of the ship had been smoothed and curved to increase maneuverability. Twenty-four years had passed since the end of the Yuuzhan Vong war, and the glorified starfighters had undergone many other modifications and even retirement. However, like many of the Rogue Squadron pilots who had made them famous, the X-wings refused to stay out of the action and were brought back a few years later by popular demand. Jysella locked onto her target and sent bolts of laser energy lancing through space at its engines. The ship dived, avoiding her shots, but she followed, pelting it relentlessly. No matter how hard it tried to shake her, it was ultimately no match for her superior flying skills – or the Force. Pulling away from the explosion, she searched for another quarry. There was a burst of static from inside her helmet and she heard the voice of her squadron mate, Kylan Rosk. “Red Four to Red Leader, a group of the uglies are breaking away from the fight and heading groundside. Permission to follow requested.” Jysella checked her radar. It looked like a group of about five of the enemy were heading quickly back to the planet below. Red Squadron was a military squadron that had agreed to fly escort to a group of traders. Jysella had agreed to lead the squadron, also at the traders’ request. Now she saw it was a good thing they had come along. The traders and their Corellian Corvettes were racing away from the planet with three Red Squadron shield trios covering them. Any moment now they would be able to make the jump to hyperspace. “Negative, Red Four. Our job is to protect the traders, and at the moment that means getting them out of here safely. Chasing down those uglies would be a waste of time. If they’re retreating, let them go,” Jysella said. “Copy that, Red Leader,” Kylan replied. Jysella saw his X-wing streak past her to follow the traders. She turned to follow when suddenly she felt a warning through the Force and nosed up. Four laser bolts raced through the spot her ship had occupied only a second ago, followed by an X-wing. Jysella, surprised, watched as it made a tight turn to port. Then she dived toward it, hoping to catch it before it faced her. The other X-wing’s pilot was quick, though, and snapped into a roll only halfway into the turn so that he spun away. Jysella nosed slightly up, following him and squeezing the trigger hard. The X-wing was already pulling away and racing toward the last corvette. The other three, she noticed, had already jumped to hyperspace, which was unfortunate for this one because it looked as if the whole enemy squadron (minus the few that had retreated) was ganging up on it. “Red Squadron, cover that corvette!” Jysella said as she followed the enemy X-wing. She received affirmations from her squadron as they moved in to fend off the pirates. The X-wing launched into a simple set of evasive maneuvers, which Jysella followed easily. Even so, she still couldn’t manage to nail him. Clenching her jaw in frustration, Jysella pushed her own X-wing to the limits of its speed, trying to get in closer to her target. The other X-wing, she noticed, was moving at a faster velocity than most X-wings were capable of, probably due to a highly illegal modification. She managed to lock him in on her targeting reticule, but even as she sent bolts from all four laser cannons speeding toward him, he was already rolling away into the fray around the corvette. “This is Red Leader; Red Four, Red Five, form up on me. We’re going after this X-wing,” Jysella ordered. Her shielding partners got into formation beside her and the three of them went after the enemy X-wing, who had just managed to take out two of the corvette’s four remaining laser canons. As Jysella’s trio closed in for the kill the X-wing tipped so that the bottom of the starfighter hugged close to the side of the corvette and it strafed along the length of the starship. “Careful,” Jysella warned as they followed close behind. “He want’s you to hit the corvette.” Then the X-wing pulled slightly away from the corvette, straightened slightly, and dived around the underside of the much larger ship. It was a gut-wrenching maneuver and Jysella felt slightly sick just watching it. Then she felt a flicker in the Force. “Pull up!” she shouted frantically. She managed to spin away from the corvette but Red Five wasn’t as lucky. Two proton torpedoes and a salvage of laser fire from two pirate uglies caught Five’s X-wing head on and it exploded in a brilliant flash. Jysella winced and nosed her starfighter away. “Red Four, do you copy? You still there, Kylan?” “I’m here,” Kylan said quietly. “We lost Zetha.” “I know,” Jysella said, fighting back the sadness and remorse. Now was not the time. “Do you know where that X-wing went?” But her question was answered by the slight shudder of her X-wing as laser fire contacted with her shields. Jysella grimaced. She should have sensed that coming. “I’ll get him,” Kylan growled. Jysella could feel his need to avenge their friend’s death. “Thanks,” Jysella said, half-closing her eyes and allowing herself to fall into the Force. She launched her X-wing into a complicated set of evasive maneuvers, juking and jinking in a complicated web. The X-wing hung on though, and managed to stick to her like a Hoojib to a battery pack. Jysella gritted her teeth and sent her X-wing through some pretty nauseating rolls and even threw in some of her dad’s tricks, but nothing could shake the X-wing. Instead it followed her closely, spitting out a constant and damaging barrage of laser fire and seemingly anticipating her every move. Her X-wing gave another, more violent, shudder as she was caught by the enemy fighter again. A flicker on the computer display caught her eye. Hummer, her astromech droid, was giving her an update on the ship’s condition. SHIELDS DOWN TO 52%, she read. ONE ENGINE NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL. Jysella shook her head and snapped into a tight roll to her starboard side, narrowly avoiding a proton torpedo. So, she thought. He’s heading in for the kill. “Kylan,” she said into her headset, “could you kill him just a little bit faster?” “I’m trying,” he replied. It sounded as if his jaw was clenched in frustration. “He’s good. I just can’t get a lock on him; it’s almost as if he can tell what I’m going to do before I even do it.” “I know what you mean,” Jysella said. She made a sharp turn to port, dived, rolled starboard and brought her weapons to bear on two uglies chasing an X-wing as they streaked past. “The corvette just made the jump,” Kylan informed her. “I thought you were supposed to be focusing on the guy on my tail,” Jysella reminded him. She fell in behind one of the enemy starfighters. It tried to make a feint to port, but she sensed it and sent a proton torpedo into its engines. Another barrage of laserfire sent a shudder through her ship. SHIELDS AT 40%, Hummer declared. Jysella sighed. So much for multitasking. “You know, Kylan remarked. “This guy reminds me of the way you fly.” Jysella blinked, Kylan’s words running through her head. Reminds me of the way you fly. Of course! Why hadn’t she thought of it before? But it couldn’t, be could it? Reaching out with the Force, she stretched toward the presence in the X-wing chasing her –– and was brought to an abrupt stop by a wall so strong it physically shocked her back into her seat. But the wall had come up a moment too late, and Jysella had sensed the identity of the pilot; which shocked her just as much as the Force wall. It was a presence she had not felt since –– Her thoughts were cut off by another violent shake. She wrenched her ship around, but her mind was still reeling and she could barely concentrate. More laserfire pounded directly into her ship and an alarm went off inside her cockpit. SHIELDS DOWN! SHIELDS DOWN! “Reroute all power to rear deflector shields, Hummer,” Jysella ordered. “Forget about weapons. We have to get out of here. How long until we can make the jump?” A soft “ping!” from her computer, the signal that they were far enough away from the planet’s pull to jump, answered for the droid. “Never mind,” Jysella said. “Kylan, forget about the X-wing. We’re the only ones left in system. My shields are down. We have to jump.” “Copy that Red Leader.” “On my mark! Three . . . two . . . one!” And the two X-wings winked out of sight. -----signature----- "Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken bird that cannot fly." – Langston Hughes The Life You Left (A Ben Skywalker Fic) http://boards.theforce.net/Beyond_the_Saga/b10477/16796222/p1
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JadenBlue07 Registered: Aug '04	Date Posted: 8/27/04 12:09pm Subject: RE: The Life You Left (A Ben Skywalker Fic) – 24 years post-NJO (K/J, J/TK, H/L, OC's) - Date Edited: 3/29/05 6:50pm (1 edits total) Edited By: JadenBlue07
	Chapter 1, Part 2 Rylia Vrenjess sat at the desk of Yarbra’s main communications center. Before her on the holoscreen, was the head of a figure shrouded by a dark cloak. Previous experience had taught her that dealing with mysterious hooded figures was a bad idea that usually resulted in an untimely death, but this particular offer was too good to give up. “Two hundred thousand credits?” Rylia asked in disbelief. “Yes. The capture and delivery of the subject is of great importance to us,” the figure replied. “Is the subject . . . dangerous?” “I thought danger was your specialty.” “Well, yes,” Rylia said, frowning. “But we don’t just jump into things without knowing all the details.” “Then you are much more organized than I realized,” the hooded figure said tersely. “Yes, I suppose you could say the subject is dangerous. But I am sure it will not prove to be much of a problem. I understand you took care of Howlrunner-Vronskr incident quite easily.” Rlyea grimaced as she recalled the time that a group of ambitious scientists-turned-mercenaries created hybrids of the two vicious creatures and wreaked havoc on the Outer Rim under the payment of an upstart Hutt. “Yes,” she said to the figure, “Marec dealt with that.” “And quite efficiently, too.” The being under the hood was silent for a moment, then said quite suddenly, “Tell me, where do your allegiances lie?” ”Excuse me?” “Who do you work for, if anyone other than yourselves? Do you have any ties or allegiances with other groups?” ”We’re pirates,” Rylia replied sternly. “We work only for ourselves and the money.” “Pirates attack and plunder, Vrenjess. For your group, I understand, that is more of a pastime. From what I understand of your actions, it seems you are more of a group of heroes-for-hire.” “During the Howlrunner-Vronskr incident we didn’t work for anyone.” “Then perhaps you hold yourselves to a higher moral standard than you would like everyone else to believe, if you are willing to work just for the sake of justice.” Rylia scowled, realizing she had fallen into a trap. “So, what are you saying?” she bit out. “That we’re really just a bunch of do-gooders trying put on a tough act?” The shrouded figure gave what Rylia thought was a sigh. “We are straying too far from the subject of our conversation. I merely wanted to ensure your loyalty. I have found that working with people who work only for themselves and the money is best. When there are other allegiances involved, things tend to get . . . complicated.” “So you just want to make sure this is all kept a secret.” “Yes.” “I can assure you that Marec would never betray two hundred thousand credits.” “Thank you. Then may you please inform Marec that, for a reward of two hundred and fifty thousand credits we would have the capture of Ben Skywalker, alive, and his delivery to the coordinates I will send to when he accepts the mission.” “Ben Skywalker?” Rylia said incredulously. “Isn’t he dead?” “No. I can assure you, he is very much alive.” * * * Jysella stepped into the lounge area of one of the traders’ Corellian Corvettes where they had docked on Cythrul, a friendly planet on the edge of the Kathol Sector, for repairs. What remained of Red Squadron was also safely docked in the orbiting space station. Waiting for her on the luxurious couches of the lounge were the traders; four humans, two Bothans, and a Duros. None of them looked happy. Jysella sat down carefully across from them, keeping her features carefully expressionless. “I thought you said the planet was harmless,” one of the humans said accusingly. Jysella recognized him as Uliir Tysen, a serious man with an unnerving gray-eyed stare. “I thought wrong,” Jysella replied, brushing back a long lock of black hair. What else could she say? The planet was out in the middle of nowhere, there were very few records on it, and the last anyone knew, it was inhabited only by primitive natives. “Besides, we got you out of it, didn’t we? No one aboard these corvettes was harmed.” “But there was significant damage to the ships. This puts us almost six standard days behind schedule, Jedi Horn,” Uliir said tersely. “Better damaged than dead, Trader,” Jysella shot back. “But you must have known there would be trouble out here. Why else would you have hired us?” “Uncharted territory always presents a certain amount of danger. We wanted to expand our network to whatever inhabited planets exist in the Kathol Sector, but lacked the ability to defend ourselves from any possible peril. There’s no harm in a little precaution, is there?” “And yet you expect us to get you away from that peril without so much as a scratch? I’m sorry, Uliir, but you must be either extremely naive or terribly foolish to believe that.” The trader frowned, taken slightly aback by her harsh rebuttal. He looked to his colleagues for support. The Duros, whom Jysella had never known to speak much, leaned forward and looked at her with some semblance of kindness. “Perhaps you are being a bit too harsh, Uliir,” he said. “Jedi Horn and Red Squadron got us out alive, and that is what really matters, isn’t it?” Uliir raised his eyebrows in surprise but remained silent. He had expected the Duros to be on his side, not Jysella’s. The Duros pressed on. “The six-day delay will not matter. We are not on a time crunch, and Cythrul is not far away from out next destination. I think the most important thing to do is remember to add to the records that the planet Yarbra is hostile. We wouldn’t want anyone else to unwittingly fall victim to the pirates.” The female chestnut-furred Bothan named Skorsa nodded in agreement. “We should be spending this time to repair our ships, Uliir, not arguing.” She nodded at Jysella. “We thank you and Red Squadron for your efforts, Jedi Horn, and wish to express our condolences for your fallen. I can assure you that your payment will be in full.” Jysella tightly and shook her head. “I’m sorry Skorsa, but I won’t be joining you when you leave Cythrul. Something . . . personal has come up and I have to leave immediately for Ossus.” Uliir’s face darkened. “You realize that we will not be able to pay you if you leave, don’t you, Jedi Horn?” Jysella nodded. “I understand Uliir. But this is something that cannot wait. I must leave.” “And Red Squadron?” “They will continue to accompany you for the rest of your expedition.” Uliir glanced at his companions, and a few shrugged in resignation. There was nothing they could do, if the Jedi’s mind was made up. He stared hard at Jysella for a moment, and finally said, “Then you are free to go.” He seemed to want to add something more, but decided against it and dismissed her with a slight flick of her wrist. Jysella stood, gave a curt bow, and exited the way she had come, hoping that Hummer and Kylan had finished with repairs on her X-wing. -----signature----- "Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken bird that cannot fly." – Langston Hughes The Life You Left (A Ben Skywalker Fic) http://boards.theforce.net/Beyond_the_Saga/b10477/16796222/p1
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JadenBlue07 Registered: Aug '04	Date Posted: 8/27/04 12:11pm Subject: RE: The Life You Left (A Ben Skywalker Fic) – 24 years post-NJO (K/J, J/TK, H/L, OC's)
	All right then. I just really felt the need to change my username, so I did. Sorry for any inconvience, dear readers! As promised: Chapter 2, Part 1 “Not Forgotten” The cantina was dimly lit, with a circular bar in the center and booths along the walls. There was an unoccupied stage near the back. Rylia adjusted her black vest as she slid into the booth opposite Marec. She flipped her long auburn hair over her shoulder and leaned forward to rest her forearms on the table between them. “So,” she said, “What was that fight about yesterday?” The pilots had just arrived back from cleaning up after the fray. “Some traders stumbled in, that’s all,” the man replied without looking at her. “Traders don’t usually arrive with an entourage of MXJ X-wings,” Rylia pointed out. Marec shrugged, still watching the other patrons in the cantina, all of whom worked for him. A few of them waved, and he waved back. Then he turned and looked at Rylia with his startlingly blue eyes, which were a stark contrast to his shaggy, dyed black hair “This is uncharted territory, Rylia,” he said. “You can’t blame them for being cautious.” “I’d say it was a good thing they were.” He gave a her a small smile. “I just don’t like unexpected visitors.” Rylia frowned at Marec, flicking her eyes over the familiar contours of his face. He was looking more roguish than usual today, with three days growth of stubble on his chin. “The other pilots say you’ve been unusually quiet since the fight,” she said. “Something happen up there?” “No,” Marec replied, turning away. He studied the peeling paint of the wall beside him. Rylia pursed her lips. She sensed that he was lying but decided against pursuing the subject. Instead she said, “The guy with the cloak called again.” “Did he?” Marec seemed uninterested. “He’s willing to pay two hundred and fifty thousand credits.” Marec turned to look at her. That definitely got his attention. “For what?” Rylia leaned in to answer, but was stopped short by a beep from Marec’s comlink. Marec sighed. “Excuse me.” He pulled out his comlink and thumbed it on. “Marec here.” “Hey Marec, this is Bozza. We’re at Vaguszi Temple right now. Heard you just got back from some space battle, but we’ve got a peace treaty to negotiate here.” “Stang.” Marec slammed his fist against the table. “I’m sorry, Bozza. I forgot about that. I’ll be right there.” He stood and gave an apologetic nod to Rylia. “We’ll talk later,” he said, grabbing his light jacket. Then he was gone. * * * Rylia watched Marec leave, an odd mixture of anger and sadness on her face. He’d been growing strangely distant over the past few days and it bothered her. She was particularly distraught over his moodiness today. Marec was her closest friend in the organization, and sometimes she even fancied that they were something more. And there had been times when they were. Closing her eyes, Rylia thought back briefly to the passionate moments they had shared in the past. Her chrono beeped and Rylia opened her eyes. She sighed. It was time to go home. Pushing a few credits to the center of the table as a tip, Rylia slid from the booth. A few of the pilots waved to her as she left and she stepping out into the cool evening air. The planet never ceased to amaze her with its exotic beauty. Inhabited for the last thousand years only by primitive though often violent natives, Yarbra retained the lush forests, violent rivers, towering mountains, and crystal-clear lakes that so many other planets had lost long ago. As she walked toward her living quarters through the crude base Marec’s organization had set up, Rylia allowed her thoughts to wander back to the tall, handsome man. She felt at times that she might love him, but he made it so hard to be sure. It was clear, though, that whatever deep feelings she might have for him were not reciprocated. Marec was young, and at only twenty-six was very much the junior of most of those he presided over. They were all fiercely loyal to him, though, and he devoted all his time and energy to them and the organization. In the past year Rylia had become a distraction, especially with the ever growing infamy of the group. So he had gradually begun to move away from their more-than-friends relationship. She was hurt by this but she’d never had the courage to speak to him about it. Rylia stopped at the door of the durasteel, dome-shaped house she shared with Marec but hardly saw him in. She slid her keycard through the scanner and the door opened. She stepped through the doorway and saw Trina, the fifteen year-old girl they’d rescued from Bothawui security forces a year ago, sitting on the floor of the small living area. Seated in her lap was Rylia’s three year-old son, Andray. They were both deeply engrossed in an old child’s holovid Trina had put into the holoprojector. “I’m home,” Rylia announced, smiling fondly at the pair. Trina turned and gave her a bright smile, while Andray leapt up and ran into her waiting arms. Rylia lifted her son up and buried her face in his mop of dark hair, inhaling his sweet child’s scent. “How was your day, Andray?” she asked. She carried him over to where Trina stood and gave her a few credits as a baby-sitting fee. “Really fun, Mommy,” Andray replied. He pointed to the hologram projected in the middle of the living room. “We were watching Banthas in Space.” “Did you give Trina any trouble?” The question was directed to Andray, but Rylia looked to Trina. The girl shook her head. “No, he was just fine. I gave him his lunch and he ate it all.” Trina stepped forward to squeeze Andray’s shoulder affectionately and said, “I’ve got to get to flight training now, so I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?” Rylia and Andray waved goodbye as she left, then Rylia set the boy down and moved to the kitchen unit to prepare dinner. Andray picked up his stuffed dewback toy and followed along behind her. “Is Marec coming back today?” He asked innocently, looking up at her with his big brown eyes. Rylia paused, her hand resting against a cupboard door, and looked down at Andray. Then she turned away, opened the cupboard, and removed two plates. “No,” she said truthfully, with a hint of wistfulness in her voice, “Marec won’t be back tonight. In fact, I don’t think he’ll be back for a few days.” -----signature----- "Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken bird that cannot fly." – Langston Hughes The Life You Left (A Ben Skywalker Fic) http://boards.theforce.net/Beyond_the_Saga/b10477/16796222/p1
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AvenKiel Registered: Oct '03	Date Posted: 8/27/04 1:40pm Subject: RE: The Life You Left (A Ben Skywalker Fic) – 24 years post-NJO (K/J, J/TK, H/L, OC's) UPDATED 8/27
	Awwwww, how sad!! This brings to mind a situation where Andray looks up to Marec because he's the only father figure around and then Marec dissapoints him. Am I close? -----signature----- I'm a naughty little Kitty... Meow! Grilled Cheese..... mmmmmmmmm..... http://www.livejournal.com/~jediliz/ I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't dance , sing and hop around all day, I'd probably die. Death from fidgeting!
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Vongchild Registered: Apr '04	Date Posted: 8/27/04 2:45pm Subject: RE: The Life You Left (A Ben Skywalker Fic) – 24 years post-NJO (K/J, J/TK, H/L, OC's) UPDATED 8/27
	blink blink Mucho interesting!!!!!! keep it up, Jaden! -----signature----- "Oh," the other clerk said, as if it was nothing new, "You got one of the kid's drawings." http://boards.theforce.net/Beyond_the_Saga/b10477/21158399 - Mechanical Dreams Apprentice to Zonoma "I'd take a Yuuzhan Vong Warrior over Jacen Solo any day."
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Kahara Registered: Mar '01	Date Posted: 8/27/04 4:22pm Subject: RE: The Life You Left (A Ben Skywalker Fic) – 24 years post-NJO (K/J, J/TK, H/L, OC's) UPDATED 8/27
	I got your note about the username change. The new additions to the story are good, keep going. -----signature----- Chaos, confusion, disorder... my work here is done. Embers-- an AU (Anakin Solo, Tahiri, Qui Gon, Obi-Wan, Luke, Jaina, Jacen, OCs, and others) http://boards.theforce.net/message.asp?topic=15141665
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Ars_longa Registered: Mar '04	Date Posted: 8/27/04 4:48pm Subject: RE: The Life You Left (A Ben Skywalker Fic) – 24 years post-NJO (K/J, J/TK, H/L, OC's) UPDATED 8/27
	Marek is Ben and the boy is his son. Am I right? -----signature----- For me Star Wars without Kyp Durron do not exist. Hey, Lucas & Co! I'm serious! http://www.livejournal.com/community/kyp_durron_fic/ - the community for my fiction and all Kyp-related things at LJ. Come and join. We're a friendly bunch of fiends.
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JadenBlue07 Registered: Aug '04	Date Posted: 8/27/04 9:43pm Subject: RE: The Life You Left (A Ben Skywalker Fic) – 24 years post-NJO (K/J, J/TK, H/L, OC's) UPDATED 8/27
	Glad everyone's enjoying the story so far. I like how everyone's making guesses left and right. About what, I'm not sure. AvenKiel: Marec is a father figure for Andray, and well . . . let's just say that he tries hard but there are times when he just can't follow through. Vongchild: Thanks, I hope you keep reading! Kahara: Yeah, I felt I couldn't just switch everything and not tell my readers. Thanks for staying with the story! Ars_longa: Close! Marec is Ben, but Andray is not his son. -----signature----- "Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken bird that cannot fly." – Langston Hughes The Life You Left (A Ben Skywalker Fic) http://boards.theforce.net/Beyond_the_Saga/b10477/16796222/p1
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Vongchild Registered: Apr '04	Date Posted: 8/28/04 5:40am Subject: RE: The Life You Left (A Ben Skywalker Fic) – 24 years post-NJO (K/J, J/TK, H/L, OC's) UPDATED 8/27
	Marec is Ben? :o I had a feeling.... because Ben is the main character. He woulda show'd up... he's huntin himself! bound to get confuzlin. -----signature----- "Oh," the other clerk said, as if it was nothing new, "You got one of the kid's drawings." http://boards.theforce.net/Beyond_the_Saga/b10477/21158399 - Mechanical Dreams Apprentice to Zonoma "I'd take a Yuuzhan Vong Warrior over Jacen Solo any day."
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Sith_Lords Registered: May '04	Date Posted: 8/28/04 9:55am Subject: RE: The Life You Left (A Ben Skywalker Fic) – 24 years post-NJO (K/J, J/TK, H/L, OC's) UPDATED 8/27
	I love the story so far, i take it that ben was in tha x-wing. More soon? -----signature----- Rose Tyler: Look at you, beaming away like you're Father Christmas! The Doctor: Who says I'm not red-bicycle-when-you-were-twelve? Rose Tyler: What?
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jacen200015 Registered: Jan '02	Date Posted: 8/29/04 7:58pm Subject: RE: The Life You Left (A Ben Skywalker Fic) – 24 years post-NJO (K/J, J/TK, H/L, OC's) UPDATED 8/27
	Just book marking this to read later. -----signature----- If I review then PM me when you update. thanks so much. Send me your completed 'the saga' stories! Check out my new story Descent Into Darkness Don't quote me the odds. I shall do as I must. Do or do not, there is no try.
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JadenBlue07 Registered: Aug '04	Date Posted: 8/29/04 8:53pm Subject: RE: The Life You Left (A Ben Skywalker Fic) – 24 years post-NJO (K/J, J/TK, H/L, OC's) UPDATED 8/27
	Just wanted to let everyone know to look forward to the second part of chapter two on Tuesday. I think I will try to settle in on posting Tuesdays and Fridays, if that is all right with everyone. Vongchild: I thought you would all figure out fairly quickly that Marec is really Ben, so I didn't see any harm in admitting it. I hope that didn't spoil anything for you! Sith_Lords: Glad you like it! Yup, that was Ben in the X-wing. jacen200015: I hope you enjoy it! -----signature----- "Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken bird that cannot fly." – Langston Hughes The Life You Left (A Ben Skywalker Fic) http://boards.theforce.net/Beyond_the_Saga/b10477/16796222/p1
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HanSolo29 Title: Fan Art Manager Registered: Apr '01	Date Posted: 8/29/04 9:13pm Subject: RE: The Life You Left (A Ben Skywalker Fic) – 24 years post-NJO (K/J, J/TK, H/L, OC's) UPDATED 8/27
	Very nice post. It's nice to see some kind of relationship between Rylia and Marec. I'm very interested to see what Marec is up to. -----signature----- "One little spark of inspiration is at the heart of all creation." "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13 One of Hammer's Angels Fly casual
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Darth_Suzi Registered: Jun '04	Date Posted: 8/30/04 5:56am Subject: RE: The Life You Left (A Ben Skywalker Fic) – 24 years post-NJO (K/J, J/TK, H/L, OC's) UPDATED 8/27
	Very good fic! I think I read it under your other username, but didn't review. I like the premise of Ben being estranged from the Jedi. It makes things more interesting. Very nervous about Ben having to search for himself... -----signature----- "Our Germans are better than their Germans!"--von Braun, The Right Stuff Lifeline to the past (L/M go to Naboo) http://boards.theforce.net/Beyond_the_Saga/b10477/17230147/ Adopter of Ewyn
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JadenBlue07 Registered: Aug '04	Date Posted: 8/31/04 10:32am Subject: RE: The Life You Left (A Ben Skywalker Fic) – 24 years post-NJO (K/J, J/TK, H/L, OC's) UPDATED 8/31! - Date Edited: 8/31/04 5:17pm (1 edits total) Edited By: JadenBlue07
	HanSolo29: It's nice to see some kind of relationship between Rylia and Marec. Yes, even if it is a troubled relationship. Isn't that how they all are at the beginning? Darth_Suzi: I think I read it under your other username, but didn't review. That's okay! At least you're here now. I like the premise of Ben being estranged from the Jedi. It makes things more interesting. I thought so, too. But imagine the pain his family is feeling. And now for the second part of chapter two. As a special bonus, I'm going to post the little trailer I made after this. It's not very good, but it does the job. _______________________________________________ Chapter 2, Part 2 Jedi Master Kyp Durron ran through the halls of the Jedi Academy, his dark cloak billowing out like a stormy cloud behind him, racing to the main hangar. Someone had left a small box of extra power cells out in the middle of the hall, and he tripped over it in his haste, nearly falling on his face but catching himself just in time. With a little help from the Force, of course. He heard a giggle from behind him and looked over his shoulder, glaring. Two young students, a Bith and a Twi’lek, were watching him, hands pressed to their mouths to suppress peals of laughter. “Shouldn’t you be in the mess hall for lunch?” he asked them sternly. “Yes, Master Durron,” they replied dutifully, backing away. Then they quickly turned on their heels and ran off, laughing. Kyp frowned and continued on his way, though at as slightly slower pace. What happened to the discipline in this place? he asked himself. When I was a student . . . He let out a tired sigh. When he attended the praxeum things had been very different. Luke Skywalker had just set up his Jedi Academy on Yavin Four and Kyp was among his first students. Those had been days of trial-and-error for everyone, days that, for Kyp, had been filled with bad choices and a lot of regret. Now, the Academy was on Ossus and the teaching much more structured, with many instructors and over four times as many students. Kyp himself had aged quite a bit since his time at the Academy. He’d now been alive for over half a century and the lines on his angular face had deepened. His dark hair, which he had once worn long, was now short, streaked with silver, and had been thinning for the last few years. Altogether, Kyp thought, he was looking rather distinguished. The Jedi Master entered a code into the keypad at the door of the docking bay. He waited impatiently for it to slide open, then dashed through, heading for where he knew he would find his wife. He skidded to a halt in front of Jaina Solo Durron’s personal starship, the Jedi’s Luck, a modified Corellian Engineering Corporation YV-700 Light Freighter, a wedding present from her father fifteen years ago. For all her adventures since then, the Luck still managed to look almost as new as the day she was built. Based on the outdated YV-666, the 700 was slightly larger (30 meters long as opposed to only 23), and still maintained the “three-deck” design. Her elongated form had been outfitted with what seemed like all the weaponry Han Solo could muster. He had also personally fine-tuned the ion drives and reworked the hyperdrive engines to exceed the capabilities of even the Millennium Falcon. To top it all off, he had installed an advanced long-range sensor suite which provided port and starboard visual scanners, jamming devices, and false transponder codes, among other things. Only the best for his little girl, he’d said, showing off the ship with pride. At present, Jaina was busy loading crates of supplies into the Luck’s cargo hold with Jacen. She stopped when she saw Kyp and favored him with a bright smile. Kyp walked over to her and pulled her into a fierce embrace. She melted against his chest. “So, you were going to leave without saying goodbye?” Kyp asked quietly, stroking Jaina’s shoulder-length brown hair. She was in her early forties now, but he had yet to discover a single gray hair on her head. Jaina was still beautiful, even if her face was beginning to show the weight and stress of her years. She looked up at him, searching for understanding in his eyes. Her Force presence kissed against his, and she knew he wasn’t angry. Just hurt. “This is the first real lead we’ve had in years, Kyp. Do you know how long it’s been since I last saw him?” Kyp closed his eyes. “Ten years.” “Then you understand why we have to leave now?” “Yes.” He leaned down to kiss her. “At least I made it in time.” “Jaina?” Jacen’s voice called from the landing ramp. “She’s all set to go, preflight routine’s just finished.” “Okay, thanks Jacen,” Jaina called back. She beamed at her husband, her arms tightening around his waist. “This is it,” she said. “I know,” Kyp said. “You’ll find him, I know it.” “Tell the kids I love them.” “I will.” With that she was out of his arms and onto her beloved ship. Kyp stepped back to a safe distance and watched as it blasted out of the docking bay, heading for Ossus’ atmosphere. “Come back soon,” he whispered to the receding speck in the sky. Sensing a familiar presence in the Force, he turned and saw Valin Horn walking toward him. “They just left?” he asked, looking out at the stormy sky. His sister Jysella was still halfway across the galaxy, but had gotten a call through as soon as she’d left the Kathol Sector. “Yes,” Kyp said, studying the young man. Valin had been growing a goatee in recent weeks, and Kyp was struck by how closely he resembled his father, Corran, when Kyp had first met him. Valin returned Kyp’s gaze, then turned around and began walking out of the hangar. “Jysella’s on the holocomm again.” “Thanks, Valin. I’ll be right there.” Kyp glanced back up at the clouds and sought out Jaina’s place in his mind and heart. She returned his touch, sending him reassurance. Then he turned and made his way to the praxeum’s comm station. A small holographic image of Jysella was waiting for him. She gave a slight bow. “Master Durron. Have they left?” “Yes, a few minutes ago.” “I’m surprised you didn’t go with them.” Kyp smiled. He was a little surprised, himself. Years ago he probably would have insisted on making the journey with her, but he had been a different man then. “My place is here, with the students,” Kyp said. “After all, this is a very personal thing for Jaina and her brother.” “Well, they’ll be fine,” Jysella soothed, as if sensing his hidden worries. “Provided they get past the defense fleet.” Kyp raised his an eyebrow and felt a twinge of unease. Jaina had conveniently forgotten to relay to him that part of her earlier communication with Jysella. “Jaina’s an excellent pilot, Master, I’m sure they’ll get through okay,” Jysella assured him. Kyp relaxed and nodded. Jaina was and extraordinary pilot. After all these years he should have learned not to worry about her, but he cared for her too much. “Besides,” Jysella added, “I’m sure once he figures out who they are he’ll tell his pilots to lay off.” “I hope it’s him,” he said. “After all these years, and so many false leads. . .” “It’s him,” Jysella said firmly. “I know it.” -----signature----- "Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken bird that cannot fly." – Langston Hughes The Life You Left (A Ben Skywalker Fic) http://boards.theforce.net/Beyond_the_Saga/b10477/16796222/p1
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JadenBlue07 Registered: Aug '04	Date Posted: 8/31/04 10:39am Subject: RE: The Life You Left (A Ben Skywalker Fic) – 24 years post-NJO (K/J, J/TK, H/L, OC's) UPDATED 8/31! - Date Edited: 8/31/04 10:40am (1 edits total) Edited By: JadenBlue07
	The trailer is really short, so it's probably more of a teaser. Here it is: Twenty-four years since the Yuuzhan Vong war ravaged the galaxy, peace reigns. Images of various rebuilt worlds flash across the screen, stopping at a scene at the Jedi Academy on Ossus. Rows of Jedi Masters, Knights, and trainees stand in a bright auditorium, their lightsabers ignited and raised in salute. But in the heart of a certain Ben Skywalker there is only turmoil. A tall young man with pale red-gold hair is seen standing at the bridge of starship, staring out a wide viewport at the star-studded darkness beyond. His right hand is closed tightly around the hilt of a lightsaber. He turns suddenly, his blue eyes blazing with silent intensity. “I shouldn’t have come back.” He has been on the run from his past, a run that started before he was even a man. A teenage Ben appears on the screen, on his knees beside several dead bodies, his robes torn and bloody. The hum of lightsabers and the sound of firing blasters fills the air. Suddenly an explosion rocks the earth and the screen flashes white, yellow, and red. Somehow, a young voice manages to make itself heard over the tumult “DAD! MOM!” Because he told the truth . . . from a certain point of view. And it is the truth that has dogged his footsteps for ten years. On the screen is a glimpse of young Ben, strapped into a flight seat, his blood and sweat streaked face a mask of anger and pain. Then the scene fades to black. He thought it was over. Then he was found by his heroes. Jaina and Jacen are shown embracing the adult Ben. . . . and by his old enemies. Several figures, shrouded by heavy cloaks with the hoods pulled over their heads, turn as one to look at something off-screen. Jedi have long been viewed as protectors of the galaxy. Now, when the order his father created is threatened by surprisingly intimate foes, a young Skywalker must claim his birthright. Ben advances, his lightsaber held in both hands. Then the screen goes black. (Ben voiceover) “I’m a Skywalker. Do not underestimate me.” -----signature----- "Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken bird that cannot fly." – Langston Hughes The Life You Left (A Ben Skywalker Fic) http://boards.theforce.net/Beyond_the_Saga/b10477/16796222/p1
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