| Author |
Topic:
Memories - A, T, Sannah, Jaina, TK, MJ -- Ch. 21 8/25/08
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Kidan
Title: TFN EU Staff
Registered:
Jul '03
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Date Posted:
5/27 6:44pm
Subject:
RE: Memories - A, T, Sannah, Jaina, TK, MJ -- Ch. 9 5/19/08
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As you may have noticed, I failed to update this story on Monday. That was due to me being out of town and without a dedicated internet connection. Plus I left the file at the house. Anyways, here it is a mere 24 hours or so late....
Darthrevan4ever
 I thought it was sad for sannah but it is going to be terrible for anakin to let her go.
aye...that it is...
this was sad but good 
thanks!
Draconarius
Poor Sannah!
aye!
You enjoy doing this to your characters, don't you?
 y'know it... it's fun for me 
Can't wait for more. Could you put me on the PM list, by any chance?
more in the next few minutes, and of ocurse!
Alkibiades
Yes, Kidan, poor Sannah. Good chapter, though. Once again, I really like your theory about the changing... It makes excellent sense. Is Sannah going to resist changing the way she did it in Jade Scion? Even though the backstory there was somewhat different? Ah, I guess not.
whenever you use Sannah as a character, the Changing has to play into things one way or another...*shrugs* Her resistance to the Changing is different here than in JS, additionally the EFFECTS of that resistance are different.
I really enjoyed this one.
thanks!
SWpants666
:( Aw poor Anakin
And poor Sannah
most definitely!
That's a good question. Yes, Kidan, why did he leave? 
*shrugs* wait an see?
Him getting her that bracelet was adorable.
And Sannah's love for food humors me.
heh.... it is amusing...
Awww she's remembering too. I feel so bad for her. I hope Anakin can help her and that she gets through the Changing safely.
*nods* she is remembering...a t least a little...
Ugh stupid Sith. The poor Melodies
that's true..
:( Poor, poor Anakin
Poor Sannah, my heart breaks for her
good, it's supposed to
Tahiri
LOL! Yes, well... I feel less behind!
Have I ever told you I hate math!  Too logical for me!
i think ye might've mentioned it once or twice in the past. Which is of course part-n-parcel of why I bring it up
Great chapter!!
But it really pulled on the heart strings!
thanks! an it was supposed to...
That just about killed me!
*nods
Jade_eyes
Superb update. Very moving... and I love the story of the Melodies.
thanks! And I like the melodies as well.
-----signature-----
You sadistic Yank!! - McEwok No Krakana - http://nokrakana.wrighton.org Believe in the Constitution? Ron Paul '08
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Kidan
Title: TFN EU Staff
Registered:
Jul '03
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Date Posted:
5/27 6:52pm
Subject:
RE: Memories - A, T, Sannah, Jaina, TK, MJ -- Ch. 10 5/27/08
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Anakin stepped out of his room, and turned back to look into it. Sannah sat on the floor, staring up at him, fear etched onto her face. Mara sat beside her, worry on her face as she watched the younger girl.
Anakin lowered his eyes for a moment, and then returned his attention back to Sannah. "Sannah, I'll be going out for a little bit, all right?"
She didn't reply, just continued to look at him with those needy eyes of hers.
He sighed. "What do you say when someone leaves?"
She just made a small whimpering sound.
"It'll be fine, Anakin." Mara said from her place on the floor. "I'll be right here playing with her."
Anakin nodded. "Are you sure, Aunt Mara? You're busy after all."
She shook her head. "I'm positive. After all I'm the one that wants to do this."
He nodded his head once, and turned away, leaving the room behind. From back there, he could hear the murmur of Mara's voice as she began to softly talk to Sannah. He paused at the edge of the hallway, resting his head against the jamb for a moment, squeezing his eyes shut tight. It had been two days since Sannah announced that she wanted to marry him.
And in those two days she had just regressed, her breathing becoming more and more labored, as she became more and more childlike.
He exhaled and slowly took in a deep breath and then left the apartment.
Fifteen minutes later, he was leaning against the gate that led into the Jedi Temple, watching as the trainees slowly filter through it. For a second, an amused thought flickered through his mind at the fact that this was where Sannah so often waited for him. A thought that was quickly chased by a lightning bolt of pain. He grimaced and noticed that Ganner was walking out of the gate.
Anakin straightened, and then called out, "Ganner."
Ganner stopped in his tracks, and glanced towards Anakin, his face hardening slightly as he looked towards the younger Jedi.
A short time later, the two had settled at a table of a local cantina. Anakin sat across the table from Ganner, staring down into the steaming cup of caf he had sitting in front of him. Without looking up, he began speaking. "She doesn't talk anymore. She doesn't laugh or get angry. She's on the verge of losing anything like human emotions."
He took a sip of the caf, grimacing slightly at the bitter aftertaste. Then he continued, "Mara and Jaina are helping to take care of her, but she only opens up to me. Can you meet her?"
Again, he paused for a moment, his eyes flickered up from the caf to look at Ganner for a second, and then they returned to the dark liquid. "I know it'll be painful for you, but I think you can understand, and maybe reach her."
Ganner grimaced and slowly nodded his head.
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Sannah followed Anakin onto the elevator. The doors shut, and he turned to look out the window-wall, watching the sun as it settled towards the horizon. They stepped off at the ground floor, and he led her towards a park on the far side of the shopping district. A massive fountain sat in the center of the park, the babble of the water as it splashed back down into the pool making a comforting background noise.
Taking her hand in his, he led her past the fountain to a small bench off to the side where Ganner stood waiting.
They stopped a few paces from them, and Ganner nodded his head, and then said, "It's nice to meet you. I'm Ganner Rhysode."
Sannah looked away from him, cuddling up against Anakin instead, pressing her face into his shoulder.
"What's your name?" Ganner asked.
He waited for a moment, and then asked again. "Your name? You do have a name right?"
In response, Sannah just whimpered, and clung tighter to Anakin's shirt.
"Come here," Ganner demanded.
Sannah looked up at him, and then up at Anakin. He nodded his head once, and said, "Go on, go."
She looked up at him for a moment longer, and then took a hesitant step towards Ganner. For his part, Ganner walked towards her as she did so, and took one of her hands in his.
"It's all right," Ganner said softly.
Then Anakin could feel the Force as it flowed through them, and then Ganner was speaking again.
"What's your name? Try to remember."
"S... Sa..." Sannah stuttered out.
Ganner nodded his head. "What comes after the 'Sa'?"
"Sa...nah," she replied.
Anakin could feel his eyes widen. Happy at hearing her speak again, even though it had only been a few days since she had last spoken a word.
"Sannah," Ganner said. "Such a nice name."
"Sann.. ah."
Ganner nodded his head, and then pointed towards Anakin. "What's his name?"
Sannah's head swiveled to face Anakin, and he could see her brow crease as she thought.
Ganner spoke again, "He's the person you've been waiting for."
She whimpered again, and Ganner said, "Do your best."
She lifted a knuckle to her lips and chewed on it for a moment. Then she whispered, "Ah... Anatin..." She looked away from him for a moment, and then caught his eyes with her. "Ann... a... kin... Ankin... Anakin!"
Her face brightened with a smile, and she spun in a circle as she called out Anakin's name. Then she launched herself at him, wrapping him in a hug, and nuzzling her face against his chest.
Anakin's hands went around her of their own accord, and he let out a breath he wasn't aware that he was holding. "Sannah, you remembered."
After a minute, he looked up from Sannah towards Ganner, and frowned at the sorrow he saw on his face.
"Ganner?"
He shook his head. "It's only temporary. The Changing can be pushed back by force of will, but biology will have its way sooner or later."
Anakin nodded his head. "I understand. Thank you."
Ganner looked away from them. "If she gets a fever again, then that will probably be it. If she had something she wished for; then please try and grant it."
Anakin looked away from Ganner, staring down at the top of Sannah's head. Softly, he said, "What she wished for..."
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Anakin sat on the floor of his room, with his back leaned up against his bed. Sannah was stretched out beside him, holding one of her arms up, the other hand playing with the bells tied around her wrist. Anakin took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as she continued to ring the small bells.
He looked down at her and said. "You should have asked for a better present that those."
She continued hitting the bells and Anakin sighed again.
A few moments later, he spoke once more. "Hey Sannah."
She looked up at him.
"What did you want to do? I know there's a lot of things you wanted to do, right?" He paused, hoping for her to speak again. "Anything you like, I'll do with you."
She just smiled at him and then returned her attention to the bells.
A few hours later, Anakin, Sannah, Mara and Jaina were walking down the street, heading towards the shopping district and one of the restaurants located there. Mara glanced over her shoulder, looking towards where Anakin and Sannah walked behind her. "Things like this are good for a change, you know."
Jaina's head bobbed in agreement. "Yeah, we've not gone out as a family for dinner in forever."
They went to one of the more upscale restaurants on Yavin. A small bistro that specialized in Commenorean food. The two hours they spent there flew past to Anakin. The warmth of family and Sannah's smiles helped his heavy heart. Seeing her active and smiling, made him happy.
As they left, Anakin nodded towards his aunt. "Thanks Aunt Mara."
She shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. "It's a pleasure."
He then glanced towards Sannah, saying, "That was fun, right Sannah?"
She nodded her head slowly, her eyes wide as she looked around the shopping district, as if this was the first time she had ever seen it.
Anakin looked around as well, and then pointed towards one of the holobooths. "Hey, let's do that next."
They crowded behind the curtain, Jaina muttering curses about having an image of her taken, and after a moment, he looked down and realized that Sannah was not in the booth with them. He stepped out, and looked around, finding her standing a few steps behind it, her hands clasped into fists tucked under her chin.
He held his hand out towards her. "Come on Sannah. You need to be in this picture as well. You don't have to just watch this time."
He noticed that Jaina had stepped out from behind the curtain, and that she nodded her head in agreement with him. "Hurry up, Sannah."
Mara ripped open the curtain, a scowl on her face. "Solo here has convinced me that I need a picture taken. So you better hurry up and get in here.
Anakin smiled as he watched Sannah's eyes flicker from one of them to the next, finally meeting his own gaze. He made a small "come here" gesture with his hand, and her face once more lightened with a smile and she rushed towards him.
They all then crowded in front of the camera, and with a few flashes of bright white light, the experience was over. A few minutes later, a small piece of flimsy slid into a pocket of the machine, displaying four still images of them. Anakin pulled it out and smiled at it for a moment, before showing it to Sannah.
He tucked the strip of pictures into a pocket and then they all began the walk home.
When they arrived, Mara grinned towards them, and said. "The night's still young, feel like doing something else?"
Jaina cocked an eyebrow at her. "What?"
Her grin grew larger, and she gestured towards the stairwell hidden at the opposite end of the hallway. "Take the stairs up to the roof. I'll be up in a few minutes."
Anakin glanced between his sister and Sannah as Mara went inside. Jaina shrugged her shoulders and walked towards the stairs. He took Sannah by the hand and followed her. They climbed the stairs and pushed open the heavy manual door and stepped out onto the roof.
Sannah rushed to the edge, grabbing hold of the chain link fence and looking out at the gas giant hanging large overhead, its glow giving a red-ember tinge to the black night sky, overawing the light of all but the brightest stars.
He followed her at a more sedate pace, and took up position behind her, his hands resting on her shoulders as she watched the clouds move across the face of Yavin.
The door behind them opened with a bang, and they all turned to see Mara stepping out carrying a bucket and around six metal rods about 30 centimeters in length. She walked over to them with a smile on her face and set the bucket down at their feet.
"I've been hiding these from Luke," she said. "He's such a Farmboy, and would use them all up within a day if I'd let him."
Anakin leaned closer to inspect one of the rods, noticing that he had been coated in something. "What is it?"
"It's a rod coated in aluminum and potassium nitrate. I picked them up on Agumar, they're called sparklers."
Jaina frowned. "What do they do?"
"Here, see." she replied as she picked one up, and pulled out a small lighter.
She flicked the lighter on, and touched the small flame to the sparkler. Sannah clapped and laughed as it ignited in a bright silver flame. Mara passed that one to Jaina and then pulled out another one, and held it to Sannah.
Sannah grinned as she took it from her.
Mara nodded her head. "If I'm reading that label right, this one contains strontium as well. Should give you a red flame."
She then touched the flame to the end, and the sparkler erupted into a bright red flame that spat and hissed. Sannah grinned and spun in a circle, twirling the sparkler around her, as her laughter reached up towards the heavens.
Anakin leaned back against the fence, and watched as Jaina and Sannah played with the sparklers, a happy smile on his face. After a while, he glanced towards his aunt. He caught her eyes, and smiled for her, mouthing the words, "Thank you," in her direction.
She nodded her head, and then turned her attention back to Sannah and Jaina.
As Anakin looked to Sannah, she paused in her twirling as her laughter suddenly died out. Frowning, he straightened up in his seat slightly, and his mouth dropped open in horror as her eyes rolled back up, until just the whites showed. He was moving before it even registered in his mind that she was falling, and arrived at her side just in time to catch her.
"Sannah!" he called out, hoping for, but not really expecting an answer.
He placed the back of his hand against her forehead, and felt the fever coursing through her skin.
--------------------------------------------------
Anakin knelt beside the bed, watching as Sannah slept. Her breath came in small labored gasps, a compress was laid across her forehead and her cheeks were flushed with the fever. From behind him, he could feel Mara's and Jaina's worry flooding the Force. He reached out and grasped her hand, the bells attached to her wrist tinkling as he did so.
He laid his head down for a moment, and when he raised it again the lights were out, and the other two girls had gone.
The first rays of the dawn could be seen streaming through his bedroom window: A clean light which held the promise of a new day and a new life.
Yet, Anakin felt cheated by the sun's cheerful rays. He felt that it was making promises that it could not really keep. That despite how beautiful the sunrise was; it would always be followed by a sunset.
He dropped his head down again, and a few moments later felt a weak push against his hair. He lifted his head once more to find Sannah staring at him, her eyes wide and filled with fear as she made a small, inarticulate sound.
He leaned closer to her, and said, "Sannah, you're awake. How're you feeling?"
A smile flickered across her face.
"You did well," Anakin said. "Is there anything you want? Anything I can get you?"
He paused as she continued to smile at him, then he pressed a hand against her forehead and could still feel the fever burn there. He closed his eyes for a moment.
Then he opened them again. "I could go get you a meatrolll. Or something else."
She made another inarticulate sound.
He sighed in reply and lowered his head for a moment. "I know. You just wanted to be with me. Isn't that right."
Her lips curled slightly into a grin, and Anakin smiled at her in return.
"All right," he said. "I'll read a book to you."
Anakin stood up, and walked to the desk, grabbing the holonovel on top of the stack of them. He glanced at the title, a small smile twisting his lips as he returned to her bedside. "It's your favorite book."
"Don't go to sleep now," he said as he sat down beside her. "I'm going to read it to you now."
He activated the device, and began. "So, the story begins, 'Love always comes suddenly.'"
As he read, he remembered things. The first time he saw Sannah after his return. Her standing there in the middle of the shopping district a scowl on her face as she prepared to attack him. Then when she went to throw her first punch she tripped instead, falling against his chest.
He continued the story, and Ganner's words came to his mind. If she wished for anything, please try and grant it.
He neared the last few lines of dialogue.
"Understood. I'll definitely come back for you. At that time, let's become one. Let's get married."
Anakin turned off the device without finishing the final sentences. His back straightening as he turned to face Sannah. Another memory came; this one from just a few nights ago, when he was lying beside Sannah on the bed, and had just finished reading this very same book. He remembered how she had turned to face him, and announce that she wanted to get married. That she had wanted to marry him.
He laid a hand on top of hers, and smiled at her. "Let's get married, Sannah."
----------------------
Anakin guided Sannah into the living room where Mara sat, bouncing Ben on her leg. She looked up at them as they entered, a smile appearing on her face as she saw Sannah up and about.
"Sannah, so you woke up finally."
Anakin nodded his head. "Yeah, she woke up. But now we're going out for a bit."
Mara's eyes narrowed for a moment. "Are you sure that's a wise idea?"
Anakin shrugged his shoulders. "Who knows what's a wise idea anymore. She's changing into a fish remember."
He took Sannah's hand in his and walked out the door, letting out a sigh. He knew he shouldn't take his frustration out on his aunt, but found that he couldn't help himself. As the door closed, he could hear his aunt as she called out, "Take care..."
Then the sharp pain of sorrow and grief radiated through the Force before it was savagely cut off by her shields. Anakin exhaled slowly, and led Sannah onto the elevator.
They left the apartment building, and found Ganner standing out in front of it, a frown etched onto his face.
Anakin turned and began walking towards the Temple.
"Skipping class?" he said. "We're such the naughty ones."
Ganner snorted in amusement. "This is the least I can do. Besides, I'm a friend."
"I'm thinking of stopping by the Temple for a moment and then heading out to Yavin 8."
"I see," Ganner replied. "I think that's probably a good idea. I'm amazed she's actually able to still walk."
They walked on in silence, until they were standing outside the Temple. Ganner nodded his head once sharply. "Then, this is as far as I go."
"Yeah," Anakin replied. "Could you also tell Jaina that I'm out here and need to see her."
Ganner nodded his head and then turned to Sannah. "Sannah, let's play together again someday." He began to turn away. "Good bye."
And then he was gone; disappeared into the depths of the Temple.
Anakin knelt on the steps that led to the viewing platform that was on top of the Temple, and Sannah nestled herself against him. They waited a short while until Jaina came running out of the Temple.
"Sannah," she called out when she saw her with him. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah," Anakin replied. "She wanted to play with you."
"Well, it's lunch break right now, so I have the time." Jaina stepped closer towards them, and took Sannah by the hand. "So, what do you want to do?"
Anakin smiled happily as he watched the two girls dug in the sand around the play equipment which the crèche used for the smaller children. While they played, he slipped away for a few moments, and went down to the shopping district to buy a few things, quickly returning before Sannah noticed him missing.
All too soon, Jaina's time was up and she stood up, and turning away from them took a few steps away. She paused, and hung her head for a moment. Then she lifted it again, and turned back to face Sannah. "Sannah, when I come back, let's play again. There's just so many things I want to talk about with you."
Sannah gave her a large smile, and Jaina returned it and then turned away again, heading towards the Temple.
"Jaina!" Anakin called out.
She stopped and looked back over her shoulder. "Yeah?"
"Thanks."
She shook her head, and then rubbed the palm of her hand against one eye. "Well, see you later."
Then she took off at a run into the temple itself.
He watched where she had disappeared for a moment and then headed towards the landing field. He grinned slightly as he saw the old Y-Wing settled onto the dirt patch. Artoo rolled up from the direction of the Temple, whistling a happy tune.
Anakin nodded his head, and patted the droid on the top of its dome. "Thanks, Artoo."
He climbed aboard, and then helped Sannah up, sitting her into the gunner's seat, making sure she was strapped in. He dropped into the pilot's seat and then activated the engines. A low thrum filled the cockpit as he fed power to the repulsors. Then the craft was lifting away, heading towards space.
And Yavin 8.
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Anakin broke through the atmosphere, the high clouds buffeting his ship with the turbulence of the thunderstorm he rode through. He piloted towards the Sistra Mountains on the strength of his memory alone, a small light in the darkness of his past.
The clouds finally parted, and he could make out the dim outline of the mountain home of the Melodie through the rain that still pelted the canopy of his ship, whipped almost vertically by the speed of his passage.
After what seemed forever, even the rain was left behind. Bright streams of sunshine beat down upon his ship and he banked slightly, heading towards the blue and green mountain in the distance. Flashes of the past assailed him, memories of coming here with Lyric, fighting the animals that tried to eat the Melodies, meeting and befriending Sannah.
A flash of blond hair and green eyes flickered across his mind, and he suddenly felt like he was suffocating. He could taste metallic river water in the back of his throat, could feel an almost overpowering urge to thrash about in his seat and escape the confines of the cockpit.
Sannah's small whimper of concern broke through his panic and his memories, dragging him back to the present and exactly what he was doing.
He gripped the control yoke tighter and banked the craft, heading towards the small clearing that he knew was just a few hundred meters from where the Changing took place. The landing went smoothly, and he popped the canopy, pushing it open and crawling out of the cockpit. Standing atop the craft he looked around, admiring the watery scent on the air. It took him a few minutes, but he finally recognized it as the same smell that always clung to Sannah. He reached back into the cockpit and grabbed the bag that sat next to the seat and then walked to the gunner's cockpit where Sannah sat.
He unhatched Sannah's canopy, and helped her out of the small space. With wide eyes, she looked around, a child-like expression of joy and wonder was affixed to her face. He smiled at her happily, content in the knowledge that she was happy to be home.
She tried to take a deep breath, but gagged on the air instead, doubling over with pain. Anakin quickly reached out and grabbed her and she leaned into his embrace. He brushed the hair away from the side of her face, and looked down to notice the bright red lines across her neck. They looked inflamed and infected and almost like the skin was about ready to break there on her neck.
Picking her up, he jumped down to the ground, and started carrying her towards the entrance of the shallow alcove cave he could see in the distance: the entrance to the Changing pool.
He finally sat her down onto her feet, and she took a few hesitant steps, until she was able to see the waters of the pool. She stared into the darkened waters, watching the algae as it floated across the water.
Then she turned and ran from it, going just a few meters until she fell, tripped by her legs as they tried to join.
Anakin rushed over to her side, and helped her to sit up. Tears ran down her face, and she looked up at Anakin. She then shook her head violently from side to side.
"You don't want to go into the pool," he asked. "But if you don't you'll die."
She opened her mouth and then closed it. She tried again to speak, but only a small squeak came out. Finally, she closed her eyes, and inhaled as deeply as she could and slowly let the breath out. She opened her eyes and then in a weak, hoarse voice, said, "Stay, Ankin."
Anakin nodded his head. "I know you want to stay with me, but I can't just let you die."
She turned her head away from him, as a sob shook her thin frame.
Anakin watched for a moment, and then opened the bag, pulling out a Corellian Bridal Veil. The flash of the white material attracted Sannah's attention and she turned towards him.
He smiled at her, and placed the veil atop her head, saying, "This is a Corellian Bridal Veil. I told you that we could get married, so that's what we're doing. Right here. Right now. I love you, Sannah. Will you love me in return?"
More tears ran down her face as she looked up at him and then slowly nodded her head. He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers, gently kissing her, trying to hold back his own tears, surprised at how hot and dry they felt.
He pulled back, and smiled down at her, just as her entire body convulsed. Then she went rigid, her back was arched, and her mouth snapped open into a silent scream.
"Sannah!" he called out, grabbing up her body, holding it close to his own.
Then just as fast as the attack came, it left, her body falling limp in his arms. He pushed her hair away from her neck, noticing that the gills on the side of her throat were fully opened now, and then he pressed two fingers against the artery that rain next to them.
"No!" he screamed as he could not feel a pulse.
He scooped her up, and ran towards the alcove and the Changing Pool. Around him, he could feel other Melodies watching him, but he ignored them. He arrived at the pool's edge and jumped in, submerging Sannah into the water.
"Sannah, please..." he said even as the tears streamed down his cheeks. "Please don't die."
Her body convulsed once again, snapping out of his arms and then sunk out of sight into the depths of the pool.
"No!" he screamed again, and dove under the water, kicking hard after her limp body. He swam deeper and deeper even as his lungs started to burn with the need to breathe.
Suddenly powerful arms grabbed him, and he could make out long, dark hair, bright eyes and the silver flash of a fish's tail. The tail pumped once in a powerful stroke, propelling them towards the surface.
The broke through the surface, and he sputtered a cough, as the Melodie helped him to shore.
He stood up and turned towards her, and recognized his old friend, Lyric.
"Why did you stop me?" He asked, a small part of him dismayed at the anger he could hear in his voice.
She shook her head sadly. "There is nothing down there for you, Anakin."
"Sannah's down there."
She dunked her head under the water for a moment, and then broke the surface once more. "That doesn't matter. The way she was sinking... Like I said, there is nothing down there for you. Go home."
Anakin watched his friend for a moment and then she dropped beneath the waters again. Turning from him, she quickly disappeared into its depths.
He dropped to his knees and slammed his fist against the rocky shore, even as the tears streamed down his face.
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Anakin walked into the apartment. Sitting on the couch were his aunt and sister. Their eyes rimmed with red, obviously crying. They looked up at him as he walked in, and he shook his head slowly.
Jaina looked away, breaking down into tears once more.
Mara started to get up and Anakin just turned away, he quickly went down the hall to his room.
Before he went into his own room, he looked down the hall towards the door to the room that Sannah had stayed in.
He stared at it for a moment, and then he opened his own door and felt a tear slice down his face as he walked into his empty room.
-----signature-----
You sadistic Yank!! - McEwok No Krakana - http://nokrakana.wrighton.org Believe in the Constitution? Ron Paul '08
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Draconarius
Registered:
Feb '05
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Date Posted:
5/27 8:04pm
Subject:
RE: Memories - A, T, Sannah, Jaina, TK, MJ -- Ch. 10 5/27/08
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SANNAH!!!
She can't be dead. You wouldn't...
Oh. Right. You would.
Can't wait to see how this ends. Please be nice to Anakin and Sannah! 
-----signature-----
Shattered Mirror - http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/28487856/p1/?1 Proudly A/T and J/J Knighted by the wonderful SilSolo  "Damned if I'm gonna lose to you!" "Then damned you shall be!" - my brother and I playing Smash Bros.
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Jade_eyes
Registered:
Aug '04
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Date Posted:
5/28 4:11am
Subject:
RE: Memories - A, T, Sannah, Jaina, TK, MJ -- Ch. 10 5/27/08
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Poor Sannah.... and Anakin!!!
-----signature-----
Luke/Mara, forever bound. I'd love to give them time in a bottle  Wootness--drabbles are coming!  Irish, Myriad, ginchy, diva--nummy as Dove chocolate  More addictive
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Tahi
Registered:
Jun '02
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Date Posted:
5/28 4:59am
Subject:
RE: Memories - A, T, Sannah, Jaina, TK, MJ -- Ch. 10 5/27/08
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I'm back.  Sorry about the long absence. I can't blame it on loss of memory - just loss of time. LOL
Wow - this is a real humdinger of a tale. You had me laughing for chapters with the various odd antics of Anakin and his girlies, and now suddenly we've hit the serious stuff. What a sweet boy Anakin is, though.
There are some absolutely beautiful descriptive passages in this, and I enjoy the dream sequences. I also like the way you have us kind of in Anakin's place in terms of confusion. Good ploy.
It's kind of a coming of age story with a twist, I guess. Very original and quite riveting. I've just read from page 2 to the end. The dog is now very annoyed with me because she wanted a walkie, and now it's too late and I'm tired. So I told her it's your fault.
PM me when you post next, okay?
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SWpants666
Registered:
Oct '04
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Date Posted:
5/28 6:24am
Subject:
RE: Memories - A, T, Sannah, Jaina, TK, MJ -- Ch. 10 5/27/08
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I am very glad Ganner agreed to go meet with Sannah. Too bad it didn't help an incredible bit, but I'm glad he went to her.
Ganner looked away from them. "If she gets a fever again, then that will probably be it. If she had something she wished for; then please try and grant it."
 Poor Sannah.
She flicked the lighter on, and touched the small flame to the sparkler. Sannah clapped and laughed as it ignited in a bright silver flame
It's so great to see (read) her laughing again
Then the craft was lifting away, heading towards space.
And Yavin 8.
Well it took him long enough!
She dunked her head under the water for a moment, and then broke the surface once more. "That doesn't matter. The way she was sinking... Like I said, there is nothing down there for you. Go home."
 Oh no! Please don't tell me she's dead! (though Draconarius had a very good point...and it's not like you'd tell me much that'll come up in the following chapters anyway )
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~MTFBWY~
****Holder of the Straw of Disaster****
All I want is to be in the light
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Darthrevan4ever
Registered:
May '08
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Date Posted:
5/28 7:54pm
Subject:
RE: Memories - A, T, Sannah, Jaina, TK, MJ -- Ch. 10 5/27/08
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This is good did not expect the ending
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Revan is the best
Anakin solo will return
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Kidan
Title: TFN EU Staff
Registered:
Jul '03
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Date Posted:
6/3 7:07pm
Subject:
RE: Memories - A, T, Sannah, Jaina, TK, MJ -- Ch. 10 5/27/08
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Sorry this is a bit late going out, unfortunately I left my thumbdrive at work last evening--which means that I left my manuscript at work last evening. But I've got it now, and without further ado, here's the responses, followed shortly by the next chapter!
Draconarius
SANNAH!!!
aye...
She can't be dead. You wouldn't...
Oh. Right. You would.
it's so good to be understood
Can't wait to see how this ends. Please be nice to Anakin and Sannah!
great! As for being nice....well, there's no promises...
Jade_eyes
:_| Poor Sannah.... and Anakin!!!
aye!
Tahi
I'm back. Sorry about the long absence. I can't blame it on loss of memory - just loss of time. LOL
welcome back! I can well understand loss of time *glances at backlog of fic*
Wow - this is a real humdinger of a tale. You had me laughing for chapters with the various odd antics of Anakin and his girlies, and now suddenly we've hit the serious stuff. What a sweet boy Anakin is, though.
*nods* Glad you're enjoying things so well And yeah, Anakin is kind of a sweet boy--when he wants to be
There are some absolutely beautiful descriptive passages in this, and I enjoy the dream sequences. I also like the way you have us kind of in Anakin's place in terms of confusion. Good ploy.
Thanks! I enjoyed the dream sequences as well. And that's part of the fun of having everything going through Anakin's POV. The reader gets to experience his confusion quite well
It's kind of a coming of age story with a twist, I guess. Very original and quite riveting. I've just read from page 2 to the end. The dog is now very annoyed with me because she wanted a walkie, and now it's too late and I'm tired. So I told her it's your fault.
yeah, it is something of a coming of age story...  Glad you enjoyed it-and as I've stated this is a crossover with an anime, so it's not fully an original story. And I'll take full blame for the dog not being walked
PM me when you post next, okay?
with pleasure!
SWpants666
I am very glad Ganner agreed to go meet with Sannah. Too bad it didn't help an incredible bit, but I'm glad he went to her.
nope, it didn't help that much....
:( Poor Sannah.
*nods*
:) It's so great to see (read) her laughing again
yeah, it is
Well it took him long enough!
:O Oh no! Please don't tell me she's dead! (though Draconarius had a very good point...and it's not like you'd tell me much that'll come up in the following chapters anyway )
*shrugs* I guess it'll have to be up to the reader...
Darthrevan4ever
This is good did not expect the ending
that's part of the fun
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You sadistic Yank!! - McEwok No Krakana - http://nokrakana.wrighton.org Believe in the Constitution? Ron Paul '08
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Kidan
Title: TFN EU Staff
Registered:
Jul '03
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Date Posted:
6/3 7:11pm
Subject:
RE: Memories - A, T, Sannah, Jaina, TK, MJ -- Ch. 11 6/3/08
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A Dream...
The day that the dream lost its end...
In the same way, at the same place, for so long, I can only wait. There is nothing else.
That's why... that's why I continue to wait.
----------------------------------------------------
Anakin placed the last book onto the shelf and then straightened up. He slowly surveyed the room: the closet door was slightly open with her clothes hanging there, the shelves which held the holonovels that she loved, and her bed which had been made for the first time since she had moved in.
A sharp pain lanced through his heart, and he inhaled through clenched teeth.
A small rustle drew his attention, and he turned to the doorway to find Mara and Jaina standing there. Both of them watched him, concern in their eyes.
He turned away from them again, to look at her room. "I think I'm going to leave this room like this for now."
"Are you sure tha-" Mara began but Jaina interrupted her.
"I think that's a great idea, Anakin."
A short while later, Anakin and Jaina were walking down the path, heading towards the Temple.
"Hey Anakin," she began. "Are you starting to remember the past?"
"Huh?"
"Well, you remembered Sannah, right?" she went on. "So maybe something else came back."
Anakin thought for a moment and then shook his head. "Nope. Everything I remembered was about her. Everything else is either fuzzy or just blank holes." They drew nearer the Temple gates, and he glanced over at her to ask, "Didn't you have practice this morning?"
She shook her head. "No, I took the day off. Everyone needs a break every now and then."
"Ah," he said, looking down at her. "So does that mean we can walk home together after school?"
"Sure," she replied with a smile.
Together they went the rest of the way to their classroom.
As they entered, Kiori and Raynar look up from a book on Kiori's desk.
"Good morning," Anakin called to them.
Raynar straightened up from where he was leaning over Kiori's desk and walked towards Anakin. "Ah, I see you've finally decided to rejoin us. And you're still wearing those shabby clothes of yours."
Anakin smiled at him and then laughed. "Well, I like my shabby clothes. They're comfortable. Though, I would prefer it if you wouldn't wear such bright things to class. The colors are distracting you know."
Raynar smirked at him. "I would, but these are the colors of the House of Thul. I've got to wear them and try to bring a bright spot to your otherwise dull existence."
Kiori looked towards Jaina. "Those two sure are weird when they're together."
Jaina giggled. "Yeah, they're almost made for each other."
---------------------------------------------
Anakin sat on the low wall that surrounded the meditation garden. Beside him sat Nelani, her customary shawl wrapped tightly around her shoulders.
"Is your cold all better?" she asked.
He nodded his head. "Yes. And just so you know, I didn't catch it from you."
Nelani giggled. "That's good to know."
"How about you? Are you staying home like you're supposed to?"
She giggled again and shook her head. "No. It was boring not being able to see you."
"Ah," Anakin said.
Suddenly, Nelani's stomach gurgled, and her cheeks flushed a bright red. "Uhm... it appears that I'm hungry."
"Well, if you're hungry you shoul-"
"No!" Nelani interrupted an obstinate look appearing on her face.
"I haven't said anything yet!"
"You want me to go home, don't you." she accused, her brows knitting together into a frown. "You want me to be good and try to get better, right?"
"Of course!" he replied. "You don't get better because you keep coming here."
She looked down, the expression on her face falling slightly. "I hate people who say stuff like that."
"I don't care," Anakin shot back. "Go home."
Her head snapped back up, the obstinacy once more shining brightly in her eyes.
Anakin sighed. "What am I going to do with you?"
"Sorry," she replied, allowing her chin to lower to her chest. "I'm pretty selfish, aren't I? Yet, you always seem to worry about me."
Anakin looked at her, noticing the slight flush still on her cheeks. Finally, he looked away. "So, is there something you'd like to eat?"
"Eh?" she said, looking up at him.
He turned to face her, a half-grin coming to his lips. "You're hungry right? I'll go buy you something to eat."
A smile instantly brightened her face. "Anakin!"
Feeling his own cheeks start to burn from a blush, he said. "Hurry up and tell me, before I run out of time."
"Okay! Then I'd like some ice cream."
Anakin nodded his head and darted inside. He headed towards the cafeteria and bought a small container of ice cream. Then he returned to her side, and handed it to her.
She smiled happily as she opened the container and took a bite.
"Shouldn't we at least go inside?" Anakin asked.
Nelani shook her head. "No, if one of the Masters saw me, I'd get in trouble."
She took another bite. Anakin watched as she ate happily and then turned to face the Temple again.
"That... and..."
He turned back towards her, wondering what she was going to say.
Instead she just shook her head, and turned her smile on him again. "Oh, never mind." She took another bite. "This is good."
----------------------------------------------------
"Anakin."
Jaina's voice cut through the darkness. Then he felt a finger pressed hard against the side of his head for a moment, before that sensation disappeared. He cracked open his eyes, to find Jaina leaning over him.
She grinned at him. "It's lunch time."
He stretched and straightened up in his seat. "Yeah, I know."
"So," Raynar began. "Are we all going to eat in the cafeteria or what?"
Anakin shook his head. "Sorry. I have something to do."
He walked out of the class, hearing his friends behind him wondering who he always ate lunch with. Smiling to himself, he went to the Grand Audience chamber, and then up the small stairs behind the stage, heading to the small landing where he had so often ate lunch with Tenel Ka and Eyrl. He frowned as neither of the girls was there yet, and the blanket they ate on was folded neatly in the desk where they stored it.
He looked around for a moment. "I wonder if they went somewhere else?"
Shrugging his shoulders, he went back down the stairs and began walking around the Temple looking for the two girls. He turned a corner, to find a group of older trainees looking at a large piece of board attached over a broken window.
Frowning, Anakin glanced up and down the hall, recognizing it as the one where he often found Tenel Ka in the middle of the night.
Snippets of conversation floated from the group of students.
"I heard she broke it again." "She's an odd one, that's for sure." "She should be expelled soon, how many times is Master Skywalker going to forgive her for doing this type of stuff?"
Anakin clenched his fist, angered by the gossipy nature of the other student's murmurings. He turned away, and continued on down the hall. Finally, he found Eyrl.
She was leaning against the wall, across from his uncle's office. Anakin walked over and stood beside her.
"Is Tenel Ka in there?" he asked, gesturing with one hand to his uncle's office.
She nodded her head.
"What happened?"
Eyrl looked down for a moment, and then back up at Anakin. "A few years ago, Tenel Ka returned to finish her training. On the first night she was here, she knocked down a wall and broke a window and tore up a classroom. Even when I asked, she wouldn't tell me why. Ever since then, whenever something gets broken, she gets blamed."
Anakin frowned again, and then asked, "Do you think she did it?"
Eyrl sighed. "I don't know. She didn't tell me that she did, and if she did do it, I'm sure that she has a good reason to do so. So..."
Then the door to Luke's office opened, and Tenel Ka stepped out. She closed the door behind her, as Eyrl took a step forward.
"Tenel Ka," she began. "How was it?"
Tenel Ka turned to face her. "I got reprimanded."
"That's all?" Eyrl said, sounding slightly amazed. "No suspension?"
"No."
Anakin let out a sigh of relief, releasing a breath he hadn't realized that he was holding.
"Eyrl?" Tenel Ka said.
"Hm? What is it?"
"I'm hungry."
Eyrl grinned at her. "Okay! Wait at the usual spot. I'll bring the food."
Then Eyrl turned away, running down the hall towards her classroom.
A few moments after Eyrl left, Anakin and Tenel Ka turned the other way and headed towards the Grand Audience chamber and the small ledge where they usually took their lunches.
They passed a couple of Jedi trainees, two human males that Anakin didn't recognize. As soon as they had passed, he could hear their conversation.
"Hey, she's the one."
"Oh her isn't it."
Then they were too far away for Anakin to hear anymore. After a few more steps, he glanced towards Tenel Ka. "You're pretty famous here, aren't you?" He thought for a couple more minutes. "If we don't do something, it could be pretty bad, right?"
-----------------
Anakin stared out the window of the classroom, one hand propping up his head as he watched the clouds pass by. He was not really paying attention to the view, merely lost in his own thoughts. Then Jaina leaned over his desk, and said, "Anakin, class is over."
"Right now," he replied. "That doesn't matter at all to me."
"Yes it does. We're going home together today."
"Who is?" He asked as he lifted his head from his palm, and turned to face his sister.
"Anakin is."
"With who?"
"With me."
"Why?"
"Because you promised."
"Who?"
"Anakin did."
"With who?"
"With me."
"Why?"
"Because you promised."
"Who did?"
"Who's going to deliver the punch line?" Raynar asked. Anakin leaned back in his seat as Jaina straightened. He looked up and found Raynar standing by his desk, his arms crossed over his chest as he watched the two of them.
Anakin smirked at him, and replied, "We were hoping you would."
Jaina tilted her head slightly. "You're not going home yet, Raynar?"
"Kiori has a club to attend," he replied, a smile flickering onto his face. "So I'm waiting for that to end."
Just then Kiori walked past the open door to the class, and waved in their direction. "Okay, I'm going home now. See you all tomorrow."
Shock registered on Raynar's face. "Hey! Wait up a second! Hey! Kiori!" Then he was running from the room, chasing after her.
Anakin watched him for a moment, the smirk still on his lips. Then he glanced towards Jaina, the smirk turning into a full fledged grin. "Let's go home, big sister."
---------------------------
Anakin and Jaina walked down the hallway side by side.
Movement along the wall up ahead, drew his attention, and he glanced that way to see a piece of plastic covering a hole in the window. The window Tenel Ka was accused of breaking. He frowned at it for a moment, and then turned towards Jaina.
"Hey Jaina, what do you think is the secret to being popular?"
"Secret?" she replied, turning to face him, a confused look on her face.
"Yeah, everyone's all over you, right?" he asked, a half-grin appearing on his face. "So teach me what someone has to do to be popular."
"I don't really know. I'm not really that popular at all."
Anakin sighed, and they walked a few more steps in silence as he watched his feet and chewed on his lower lip.
"Well then..." he began as he raised his head. "Is there a way to make a girl... well, look more like a girl?"
Jaina's frown deepened. "I... I don't think I understand what you're saying. Don't I look like a girl?"
"No! I'm not talking about you. Uh, I know, is there some way to make a Kowakian monkey-lizard look like a cute girl?"
"Does this girl really look like a monkey-lizard? If so, I kind of want to see her."
Anakin scratched at the top of his head. "Well, no... She doesn't look like a monkey lizard."
"Well then..." Jaina said, bringing her head to face Anakin fully, her lips twisted into a mischievous grin. "Is she cute?"
"Well..." Anakin replied, rubbing the top of his head slightly.
Then his shoulders slumped and he sighed.
Jaina suddenly stopped walking. After a few steps, Anakin stopped as well, and turned to find Jaina pointing to a flyer posted on one of the bulletin boards. He glanced at it, noticing that it had a base color of a bright pink, and was decorated with flowers and sweets.
"You could enter her in this," Jaina said.
"A poster about tooth decay?"
Jaina pushed against his shoulder, "Tooth decay? How? What are you talking about?"
Anakin looked closer at the flyer, this time making the effort to read the writing on its face. "Dance festival?"
"Oh no!" Jaina suddenly said as she straightened up. "I left something in the class. I'll catch up to you at the main entrance."
Then she turned from him and ran back down the hall. Anakin watched her for a moment, and then turned back and read the poster again.
"A dance huh..."
He then yanked the poster down from the wall, and took off at a run, heading deeper into the Temple, towards where Tenel Ka had her classes. He finally found Tenel Ka and Eyrl, and slid to a stop, shoving the poster into Tenel Ka's face.
"Tenel Ka, here! Look at this."
"Too close." she replied, calmly staring at the flimsie he continued to hold next to her nose.
Eyrl looked around Tenel Ka and saw the flyer. "Ah, the Dance Festival. The one that the Student Council is sponsoring."
"It is too close to see," Tenel Ka said again.
Anakin still ignored her, and turned his attention to Eyrl. "I'm making Tenel Ka participate in this."
Eyrl's mouth dropped open.
"It is too close to see," Tenel Ka said again.
"Oh," Anakin replied, and pulled his arm back slightly.
Tenel Ka took the flimsie from him, and began to read it.
"It's an effort to improve Tenel Ka's image," Anakin began. "If she dresses up and joins in on the fun, then more of the students will like her, and they won't say bad things about her."
Eyrl nodded her head slowly. "That might be a good idea." She then turned to Tenel Ka. "Tenel, let's try it!"
"I do not have a dress," Tenel Ka replied.
"You can just borrow that from someone," Anakin said happily. He then glanced over at Eyrl, asking, "Say, do you have one?"
Eryl shook her head. "I don't, but I'll ask someone I know. Could you help search as well?"
Anakin thought for a moment. "Aunt Mara might have something... anything Jaina has would probably be too small..."
Shock rolled through him. "Shavit!" he exclaimed as he suddenly remembered that he was supposed to meet up with Jaina at the main entrance.
A few minutes later, he pulls to a stop in front of her, his chest heaving with the exertion of running through the Jedi Temple.
She looked up at him with sad eyes. "Liar."
----------------------------------------------------
Anakin sat across the table from Jaina, watching as she happily ate the large desert in front of her. It came in a tall, wide cup. At the base was a chocolate cake, resting above that was various fruits. Topping the fruit was a scoop of ice cream, and then hot fudge was drizzled over it all.
"You feeling better now," he asked.
She nodded her head. "Yeah, I love these things."
He arched an eyebrow at her. "I'm surprised that you can eat so much of just that."
She grinned at him. "I think I'd be okay with three more." She then took another bite, closing her eyes as she savored the flavor.
Around an hour later, they step out of the cafe and onto the street of the business district. Anakin looked right and then left for a moment. Finally, he focused once more on Jaina. "Hey, do you or Aunt Mara have a fancy dress?"
"A dress?" she asked, confused.
"Yeah," he replied. "That girl I was talking about earlier, she signed up for the dance, but she needs a dress. And well, since it was your idea, I figured you could help her get one."
Jaina rolled her eyes. "Even if you do say that, I don't think Aunt Mara has one, and everything like that that I have is on Coruscant."
Anakin sighed, and shoved his thumbs into his belt. "Well then, in that case, where else can I look?"
Suddenly, someone slapped his shoulder from behind. He turned to see who it was, and finds himself looking at Tahiri as she smiled brightly up at him.
"Anakin!"
He frowned and shook his head. "I don't think so."
"What are you talking about," she asked.
"Just to be sure," Anakin replied. "You don't have a dress do you?"
"A dress? Why?"
Anakin frowned at her again. "Haven't you been listening? A dress for the dance festival."
Tahiri shook her head slowly. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"You're our last hope," Anakin said grabbing her hand in both of his. "And still, you're all like, 'I don-'"
"Anakin" Jaina interrupted, causing Anakin turned his attention from Tahiri to Jaina. "You're getting harder and harder to understand."
Tahiri pulled her hand from him, and moved from where she was standing to beside Jaina.
"That's right," Tahiri began. "I've not seen you in such a long time, and when we finally do meet, you start saying such weird things."
"Not to mention," said Jaina. "That that was a really rude way to speak to someone."
"That's right Dummy! You're so rude and mean."
Then both of the girls, turned to face one another and smiling, at the same time said, "Right?"
After a moment of smiling at each other, matching frowns appeared on their faces, as they once again spoke at the same time. "Who are you?"
Anakin could only hang his head and sigh.
------------------------------------------
They stepped into their shared apartment, Tahiri peering around them.
"Aunt Mara! Are you here?" Jaina called out. "Tahiri's came over to play with us!"
Mara comes strolling out of the kitchen, a bundle of white fur cradled in her arms. "Jaina, Anakin, look! Ikrit came back."
Jaina's face lit up, and she stretched her arms out, and began walking towards Mara, saying "Ikrit!"
Anakin jumped in front of her, checking her movement. "Idiot, don't forget you're allergic to him."
From behind him, he could hear Tahiri. "Ah, that's the animal that stole the canapés."
Anakin glanced over his shoulder at her, saying, "So, he's your accomplice."
She stomped her feet, and balled her hands into fists. "I don't have an accomplice!"
------------------------------------
Anakin was settled on one of the couches, Jaina beside him, glaring at Tahiri who sat across from them, petting Ikrit who was sleeping on her lap. He glanced at his sister, and stifled a laugh that he knew she wouldn't appreciate, and then turned back to Tahiri.
"You still haven't found what you're looking for?"
"No. But I'll find it one day. I know I will," Tahiri replied, a smile on her face.
From beside him, Jaina interjected, "I want to pet Ikrit..."
Anakin glanced at his sister again, and the turned his attention back to Tahiri. "Hey, you want to eat with us?"
Tahiri's eyes widened slightly. "Are you sure it's okay?"
"Of course, but if it'll make you feel better, you could always ask Aunt Mara."
The three went into the kitchen and make the request. In response, Mara arched one eyebrow and turned towards Anakin. "Does this mean you think I'm spending too much time over here?"
Anakin laughed, shaking his head. "Not at all, it's just that she wanted permission."
Mara turned back to Tahiri. "I don't have a problem with it, but you should probably com your parents. We don't want them getting upset when it gets too late."
Tahiri nodded her head once, and rushed over to the com unit built into the wall. She punched a code into the base quickly, and listened to the chime coming from the unit. After a few moments, she frowned. "That's odd, no one is answering."
"Maybe they're out doing something?" Jaina supplied.
Tahiri's back straightened in surprise. She glanced up at Mara who was standing beside her and then over towards Jaina.
"I just remembered, my family is off planet right now."
"Really?" Mara asked and Tahiri looked up at her.
"You can't forget something like that," Anakin said, drawing Tahiri's attention away from Mara.
"Really," Tahiri said, more to herself than to the others. "Why did I forget that?"
"Hey, I got a great idea, Tahiri," Jaina suddenly exclaimed. "Why don't you stay here with us until your family gets back?"
"Huh?" Tahiri replied.
"That's a good idea," said Anakin. "Especially for someone like you."
Jaina smacked him on the shoulder. "That was uncalled for."
"But..."
"It'll be all right," Mara interrupted. "There's plenty of room here."
Tahiri just kept glancing between them all, and Anakin smiled at her. "Just take the offer." Then his smile became more mischievous. "Or are you okay being all alone at night?"
Her eyes snapped open wider in fear. "I'm not okay!"
"Then it's decided," Jaina said with a smile on her face as she clapped her hands. "You'll be staying with us, starting today!"
Tahiri sighed and looked up at Mara. "Are you sure it's okay?"
Mara nodded her head.
Tahiri looked down, and Anakin could see a blush coloring her cheeks. Almost inaudibly, she whispered, "Thank you..."
----------------------------------------------------
Anakin sat in one of the conform chairs in the living room, staring at, but not reading, the datapad he held loosely in one hand.
"Hey Anakin?" Tahiri's soft voice seemed to float from behind him.
He stretched his neck, turning to glance at her, "Yeah?"
"What happened to Sannah? I thought she was staying with you."
Anakin frowned and then turned his attention back to the datapad. "She... she went home."
"To her house?"
Anakin closed his eyes for a minute. "Something like that. Just... she's gone. We'll never get to see her again."
"Oh," was the reply, her voice soft and introspective. "I had wanted to talk to her again."
Before he could think of something to say to that, he heard the soft sound of her feet as she padded away from him. With his free hand he scrubbed at his face for a moment, wondering once again just what Sannah's fate ultimately was.
Jaina came out from the kitchen, and dropped into the seat across from him. He looked up at her, and smirked as she smiled at him.
"Well," he began. "You seem happy that Tahiri's going to be staying with us for a bit?"
Jaina looked away, towards the corner of the room. "Yeah. Well, with Sannah not being here anymore, it was getting kind of lonely and well..."
Her voice drifted off, and he watched as she stared at the wall for a moment. "Aunt Mara may seem gruff, but she's happiest when she has someone to look over. She's actually a lot like Uncle Luke that way. Besides, the way you bring home girls... it's... it's almost like you're bringing home pets."
Something about the way Jaina said that last bit resonated through him. He looked closer at her, noticing the shine of a solitary tear as it tracked down her face.
Her lips twitched into a smile. "And I think I'll end up being good friends with Tahiri. She's lively."
Anakin snorted. "You've been thinking hard about this, haven't you? And here I thought you were all spaced out, and unaware of things."
Her eyes narrowed, and an angry flush came quickly to her cheeks. "That was uncalled for." She quickly stood up. "I'm going to bed."
Then she stormed from the room. He watched, a wry grin tugging at one side of his lips. After he heard the door to her room close, he tossed the datapad onto the small table beside the chair and stood up, glancing out the windows, looking out at the night.
"Well then," he said to himself. "I wonder if she's there."
-----------------------------------
He stepped out of the lift, and walked down the corridor. Turning a corner, he found Tenel Ka staring out into the night, her sword held loosely in one hand.
"You've not learned your lesson yet, huh?"
She continued to stare out at the night. Ignoring him.
"I've not come here in a while, I know. But... it can't be helped. I was with Sannah this whole time."
He noticed her eyes flickered towards him as he had said Sannah's name. Then she spoke. "How is she?"
He shook his head. "Long story." Then he reached into the bag that he carried, and pulled out a sandwich. "But first, let's eat."
He smiled at her, watching as she eat the sandwich. "You don't even let your guard down while you eat, huh? I know-why don't you fill me in on just why you're here, fighting all alone."
She swallowed hard. "Even if I say it, no one will believe me."
Anakin shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. "I don't think that's true. At the least, Eryl will listen to you."
Tenel Ka shook her head. "I don't want to make her worry."
"Well, I can understand that, but why do the demons always attack you? What's their purpose?"
"I... I do not know."
He frowned for a moment. "If you beat the demons, will you find out?"
"Perhaps."
Silence settled on them for a few moments, before Tenel Ka spoke again. "About that girl..."
"You mean Sannah?"
"Yes. You were nice to her?"
Anakin smiled. "Yeah. I was."
She turned back towards the night, and finished eating her sandwich. Anakin collected the trash, and then turned to go. "Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow then."
The next morning, he stepped into the kitchen, to have his nose assaulted by a burnt smell. He looked down at the table, to find a dozen plates, filled with blackened, unidentifiable foods. Tahiri sat at one of the chairs of the table, a perplexed look on her soot covered face. Jaina stepped up beside him, her nose twitching slightly at the smell.
"Did you do this?" he asked Tahiri.
She looked up at him for a moment, and then back towards the plates of food. "Yes. It was supposed to be a 'thank you' for letting me stay... but... I… I kind of messed things up."
Jaina picked up one of the plates, raising it so she could inspect it better. "Is this supposed to be sunny-side-up eggs?"
Tahiri's face lit up with a smile. "Exactly! You could tell!"
"This isn't the time to be impressed!" Anakin yelled at her.
She lowered her head again, saying, "Sorry."
A short time later, Anakin and Jaina were running through the streets, heading towards the temple.
Jaina glanced over at him. "Hurry it up, little brother, or we're going to be late."
"Well, it's your fault for making us help her clean up that mess."
"Idiot, she was trying to be nice to us."
Anakin just shook his head, and then turned the final corner, and ran through the gates of the Temple. Anakin leaned over, his chest heaving from the exertion, and he glanced at the chrono attached to his comlink. "Hey, we got ten minutes left."
"Really?" she replied. "That's a new record for us."
"Yeah, it's a miracle."
"Listen to the two of you. The way you talk, you would think that miracles are common place." Kiori said from behind them. They turned, finding her standing there, arms crossed over her chest, an odd expression on her face.
Anakin shrugged his shoulders. "We had to run here so having ten minutes to spare is a miracle."
"Miracles," Kiori said as her face darkened slightly. "They don't happen that easily."
"Huh?" Anakin said, confused.
"I'm going on ahead," Kiori said, pushing between them. "See you."
Anakin watched her storm away for a moment, and then turned to Jaina. "Is there something wrong with Kiori today?"
Jaina frowned for a moment, still watching her friend. "Looks like it."
Later, Master Horn was lecturing and writing on the board. Anakin glanced over to find Jaina sleeping at her desk. He looked behind her to find Kiori staring at the board, transfixed and ignoring everyone.
He sighed to himself, and then looked out the window. Out in the garden stood Nelani, wrapped in her customary shawl, staring up towards him. She seemed to notice his attention, as she suddenly waved at him.
He found himself grinning despite the tension pouring off Kiori, and he waved at her in return.
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At the first break, Anakin was seated next to Nelani in the small garden they always meet in. He glanced at her. "Do you have a dress?"
"A dress?"
"Yeah. If you have one, I need to borrow it."
She thought for a moment, and then shook her head. "Nope. Sorry. I don't know where to get one. And if I did, I don't think it would fit you..."
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Anakin stood next to Kiori, over Jaina's desk, as she slowly shook Jaina, trying to wake her up.
"Jaina," she said. "It's lunchtime."
Anakin shook his head. "It's no use, she's out cold."
A voice drifted from the doorway. "Is Anakin Solo here?"
Anakin looked up, to find Eryl standing there. As he straightened, Raynar grabbed his tunic, and pulled him around to face him. "Anakin! Explain to me just how it is you know such a pretty girl?"
He smirked, and brushed his arm off. "Sorry, I'm in a hurry. See ya."
Raynar sighed. "It's just not fair. Such a beautiful girl."
"So," Anakin heard Kiori say. "She's your type huh?"
"No," was Raynar's quick response. "I prefer you."
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They were all seated in their usual places, the food laid out on the mat between them.
"So, you were able to get a dress?" Anakin asked, slightly amazed.
Eryl nodded her head. "Yeah. I was able to borrow it from someone I know. I wanted to tell you as soon as possible."
"Yes!" Anakin exclaimed, a smile on his face. He then turned towards Tenel Ka. "Isn't that great?"
She continued eating; the only sign of emotion a small twitch to her lips.
Anakin frowned, and slipped around behind her. "Hey, now, you should be celebrating. Like this." He grabbed her arms, and raised them straight up and shouted. "Hurray!"
Eryl's smile grew larger. "And I was able to get a dress for me and some formal clothes for you."
"What?" Anakin said, lifting his head over Tenel's, so that he could see Eryl. "I'm going to the dance to?"
"Of course!" Eyrl said with a giggle. "Tomorrow night, all three of us will get to have fun. Together. Righ | |