Beyond - Legends ~ Lies and Deceptions~ (SbS AU A/T) One Step Ahead 2/3

I appreciate the help! I've sent choice #2 off. I'm going to be at the Lord of the Rings marathon all today and until the wee hours of tomorrow. I'll be sure to report back, after I've gotten caught up on my sleep, and tell you how Return of the King is.

 

Hi Lonewolf. I'm working on catching up with my fav fics.
I've loaded this one on the palm pilot and should be up to date shortly.

OH! And UP!

 

Thanks, Jade! I?m glad to see you around again!

I thought I?d let everyone know, with all cookie baking and last minute shopping I have left to do, I probably won?t be able to update again till after Christmas. But look for a post this weekend perhaps. Thanks for hanging in there with my long delays, guys.

 

Up!

 

Okie dokie
All caught up before the holidays

I loved the mush, Lonewolf.
There's nothing in the world like that kind of love

I loved Tenel Ka's line about Jacen's lack of manners.
Then again, I generally like any slam on Jacen.

Some of Joe's conversation reminded me of thos old Scooby Doo epsodes, with him talking about them as "kids."


Great story, Lonewolf, as usual.
You know, you are rather talented. And especially so for someone in your age group. Keep up the good work.

 

UP!!!

 

Why, thank you, Jade! I appreciate the complement. I?m hoping to continue my writing, even if it's only as an amateur.

Anakin and Tahiri are one of a kind. Their relationship is unique and always interesting. It?s amazing two people so different could make such a great team.

Jacen slamming is a hobby of mine. Every few chapters I like to get in a good jab.

Thanks for the ups, folks. I?ll have more posted soon.

 

Chapter 14: Admiring the Scenery

?I can?t believe they only had one room,? Tahiri grumbled as she and the rest of the team lugged their bags out of the turbo lift. ?And a single at that!?

?Just be glad they had a cancelation. Otherwise, we wouldn't have even gotten this,? Anakin replied.

?Fine, but this is the last time I come to Ord Mantell during the ship races," Tahiri replied under her breath.

Tenel-Ka raised an eyebrow. ?They seem to have a very large turn out for this event.?

?That is a fact,? Zekk added with a teasing grin.

The Jedi had been to ten hotels located in all parts of the city before finding this one. All the others had been full up. The team was only able to get a room here because someone had canceled at the last minute. Zekk had suggested that they sleep on the Lightning Rob, but Anakin had pointed out that if they were being followed, the ship was probably being watched. At least here they could have a certain degree of anonymity.

Shifting his bag to his other hand, Anakin pulled the key card out of his pocket as they approached their room. He swiped it through the scanner and the door slid back. Turning on an over head light, he revealed a scantily furnished hotel room. One bed was pushed against the far wall, with a window positioned above it. A night stand was shoved into a corner, and a door just left of the entrance lead into a simple refresher.

?You and Tenel-Ka can take the bed,? Anakin stated, stepping inside as he tossed his bag into the corner. ?Zekk and I will bunk on the floor.?

Despite his offer, he looked at the bed tiredly. It had been a long day, and the thought of spending the night on the floor didn?t appeal to him. Judging by the expression on Zekk?s face, he wasn?t the only one.

?Do you mind if we use the refresher first?? Tahiri asked, gesturing towards the door opposite them. Anakin looked over at her, noticing for the first time that she seemed to be just as exhausted as he was.

?Take your time,? he replied politely, waving the two young women away. ?I?m going on to sleep.?

Tahiri and Tenel-Ka turned to Zekk expectantly, and he nodded his agreement. ?I?m with Anakin. All I want right now is some rest.?

Happily, the girls disappeared into the next room, while Anakin and Zekk gathered up a few spare blankets. Anakin grabbed an extra pillow and placed it behind him as he tossing another one over to Zekk. Leaning back, he laced his fingers behind his head, trying to get comfortable.

?At least it?s a soft carpet,? he mused, shifting a couple more times before finally settling down.

?Oh yeah,? Zekk replied sarcastically. ?About as soft as durocret.?

Anakin laughed. ?Fortunately. I?m too tried to care right now.?

Zekk smirked, glancing over at him. ?What?s that? Anakin Solo actually admitting to fatigue? Wonders never cease.?

?Just don?t tell Tahiri. I?d never hear the end of it,? Anakin replied with a grin.

Zekk laughed as he rolled over onto his side. Ignoring the crick that was already beginning to form in his neck, Anakin closed his eyes, too. He heard Tahiri and Tenel-Ka emerge from the refresher a few minutes later, but it all seemed far away. Slowly, he began slipping into a dream. His mind had somehow drifted to the image of Laquar lying dead in his office. The rest of the night, he played the assassination over in his head. He never saw the killer?s face, and every time there were subtle differences. He wasn?t sure if it was a vision, but what ever it was, the images remained clear in his mind when he woke the next morning.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tahiri awoke to the sound of running water. Blinking, she carefully opened her eyes, shielding against the sunlight that was streaming in from the window above her. She looked around her, noting that Tenel-Ka was already up. Anakin was gone too, his blanket draped neatly across the bed.

Zekk, however, was still on the floor. He was awake, but groggy. Apparently, he hadn?t gotten up the energy to move quite yet.

At least I?m not the only one hav

 

That was lovely, Lonewolf. I had a smile on my face the whole time I was reading that. I liked the little bit of awkwardness when they were in the lift - you're giving us the tension of them "teetering on the edge" well.

Nice little flashback to the YJK books about how Anakin showed Tenel Ka how to braid her hair.

 

Thanks, Tahi! I had a lot of fun exploring that side of Anakin and Tahiri?s relationship. That awkwardness tends to flare up a lot in the books. I haven?t written much about it, though, and it?s nice to add something new to the mix every now and then.

I was trying to imagine Tenel-Ka?s daily routine when I remembered Anakin teaching her how to braid her hair one handed. As you know, I love making YJK and JJK references.

 

A very good job presenting A/T's relationship. In some stories, all the couples act the exact same when together, it takes a lot of skill and knowledge of the characters to make each distinctive. Very good work, Lonewolf.

 

Cute post, Lonewolf.

Loved the awkwardness between Anakin and Tahiri. I always enjoyed that in Greg Keyes's books and it's good to see that explored more here.

And sleeping on the floor? *shudders* That's something I never want to experience again.

 

Great post, Lonewolf89 Loved the interaction between Anakin and Tahiri. I think Tahiri might have a little crush on him You did a good job capturing the embarrassment and awkwardness between them. Girls using the refresher together? GAH!!! isn't star wars at least devoid of this? and Zekk might be having a vision.....

And sleeping on the floor? *shudders* That's something I never want to experience again.

You've never slept on the floor?????

 

YK, read that sentence again.

 

yeah....ummm......evidently, I don't know how to read.... don't tell anyone

 

Thank you, Jek! I really like to explore Anakin and Tahiri?s relationship, especially since they are both so complex. It?s interesting to focus on the different aspects of their interaction with each other. It helps me to understand where they?re coming from.

Whitey: Thanks! Yes Anakin and Zekk are learning that it?s a painful job to be chivalrous. They?ll just have to look at it as training for all those missions where they don?t have the comfort of a bed.

Yoda: I feel sorry for Anakin from time to time because Tahiri teases him so much. Who would think that one of the Jedi?s most powerful Knights could be picked on by a little blond girl.

Girls using the refresher together? GAH!!! isn't star wars at least devoid of this?

Hey now, no need to start reading things into that.

 

Awesome post!

 

You and Tenel-Ka can take the bed
Although judging from previous info on Tenel-Ka in the YJK series, she'e probably prefer the floor anyways.

?What?s that? Anakin Solo actually admitting to fatigue? Wonders never cease.?

Nice. Humor from Zekk.

Zekk, however, was still on the floor. He was awake, but groggy. Apparently, he hadn?t gotten up the energy to move quite yet.
LOL

Nice description of Anakin practicing.

?I?m never going to get you to use a brush, am I??


Fun post, Lonewolf.

 

Thanks, Obi-Solo!

Jade: You?re probably right about Tenel-Ka. I don?t think she?d mind sleeping on the floor one bit, much to her grandmother?s horror.

While the EU tends to portray Zekk as the serious voice of doom most of the time, some of us know that under that brooding exterior lurks humorous sarcasm.

 

Wow, great posts! I love how Tahiri's teasing him. Keep it up!

 

I hate messed up hard-drives and internet connections.

They mean you miss out on loads of updates.

Anyway, good work, and I apologise for my tardiness in commenting.

 

Thank you, Jaya!

No problem, Star-Lead. I?ve had my share of internet problems. My computer has a habit of crashing on me, too.

 

And a little up to put Anakin and Tahiri where they should be.

I agree about Zekk being witty.

 

Keep in mind that I wrote this post while still under the influence of my cold medicine, so pardon any errors or typos.

Chapter 15: Dead End

The Jedi arrived at the Security office later that morning. The agents had been less than enthusiastic about the investigation, and after only two hours of questioning, they were told they could leave.

?That didn?t take as long as I had expected,? Anakin stated as he led the team out to the street.

?I guess Joe was right about them not trying very hard to solve this case,? Zekk replied, waving down an air taxi.

?At least they didn?t get nosy about our mission,? Tahiri pointed out.

?That is a fact,? Tenel-Ka responded, raising an eyebrow curiously. ?They did not seem interested in our reasons for being here at all.?

?They probably think we?re here for the race,? Anakin asserted. A taxi came screeching to a halt beside him, and they all began to pile in. It was a small speeder, and a tight squeeze. It took a little rearranging before they were all able to find a place to sit. He ended up being pressed against Tahiri, a position he didn?t mind in the least. Zekk gave the driver directions to the dance club, and the taxi took off again.

?I?m glad I don?t live here,? Tahiri commented. She shifted slightly so that her hand slipped into Anakin?s just out of the other?s view. ?This planet is nothing but clubs and casinos.?

?Well, Dad used to say that was it's charm,? Anakin replied, smiling over at her.

She rolled her eyes. ?Your dad says that about Mos Eisley, too.?

?Which is a hive of scum and villainy,? Zekk and Tenel-Ka quoted in unison.

Anakin laughed. ?I?ve never been there, but from what Uncle Luke?s told me, that?s probably true.?

?I think we?re here,? Tahiri stated as they rounded a corner. Sure enough, the taxi came to a stop in front of the club. The Jedi filed out quickly and stepped onto the sidewalk. It looked different in the daylight... larger, but just as run down as it had appeared the night before.

Zekk pointed towards a narrow passageway on the side of the building. ?I guess we go down that way.?

Stepping into the front, Anakin led them forward. He reached out with the Force as he moved into the alleyway, probing into the darkness ahead. High durocret walls reached up to the sky on either side of him, blocking out most of the sunlight.

?I?m not sensing a presence. Joe?s or anyone else?s of that matter,? Anakin said over his shoulder as an uneasy feeling began to grip him. This didn't feel right.

?Neither do I,? Tenel-Ka replied, her gray eyes narrowed cautiously.

?Maybe he?s late,? Tahiri suggested as she tried to pick up something through the Force.

?Or maybe he?s not coming at all,? Zekk suggested dryly.

Anakin tried to bury his doubt and continued ahead. ?Well, we?re getting ready to find out,? he responded as he spotted the end of the alley up in front of him.

Stepping out into a small clearing that was boxed in by the backs of several buildings, Anakin looked around the space. Sunlight filtered through from above, shinning over the clutter of crates and trash bins. The other Jedi slowly came in around him. Their senses were stretched out across the seemingly empty area. Suddenly, Anakin?s attention was captured by a flashing light on the ground. As he moved closer, he realized it was a broken wrist crono. He picked it up gingerly and turned it over in his hand.

Joe was wearing one like this last night, he thought, running the previous evening?s meeting over in his head. Just as he had thought, he received a clear image of the crono on Joe?s left hand. He was here. That much was certain.

?Anakin!?

Anakin spun around to find Zekk hunched over a figure on the ground. He ran forward with Tenel-Ka and Tahiri close behind him. When they reached the black haired Knight, they saw the limp body of Joe sprawled face down in a pool of blood and stuffed behind a stack of crates.

?Someone most have followed him here,? Zekk stated as he reached out, rolling Joe onto his ba

 

aww, Joe died he seemed like a nice guy, too bad Still, at least the trail didn't go cold for the Jedi since they found Laquar's office building. Can't wait to see where this is all leading, Lonewolf89, another excellent post