In
the deep recesses of his mind, the Jedi Master heard
his suite door chime but dismissed it as if it
didn’t exist. After all, how could he leave the
bright summer day that surrounded him, the sound of
joyous laughter filling his ears, the gentle breeze
brushing his face, and his wife taking hold of his
hands – guiding him along as peace filled his being?
Yes, come with me, my love. Together we can explore
the vast universe in our dream state. We can go
anywhere, do anything, and leave the cares of the
world behind. Come further into this world of grace
and beauty, explore the riches it possesses.
Obi-Wan visibly frowned in his trancelike state. The
voice, mannerisms, and appearance were all Sakoya,
but something wasn’t…quite right. He desperately
wanted to follow her beckon but something
unexplainable held him back. He didn’t understand
and fought against his invisible restraints, knowing
that he belonged at her side. Still, the barrier
held him and refused to let him pass.
Outside the durasteel door of the Celestial
Penthouse Cela’s face grew grim. She hesitated
to sound the chime a third time but she couldn’t
help feeling uneasy that Ben wasn’t responding.
Maybe he’s doing that Jedi trance thing or still
talking to whoever on the comm, she silently
considered as the lines of worry marred her
forehead. Maybe we should just burst through the
door?
“Don’t you have the code?” Xar’ek mockingly queried.
Cela
glared up at the man towering over her and sharply
replied, “Of course I do!” Because I watched it
being input and memorized it, she recalled but
kept that morsel of information to herself.
Xar’ek snorted at the teenager’s retort. “Testy,
aren’t we?”
Cela’s eyes narrowed and looked as if she were a
nexu waiting to pounce but instead turned her back
to the Corellian and input the code onto the
electronic keypad.
The
durasteel door slid open and Xar’ek bowed, gesturing
with his outstretched arm for Cela to enter first.
“After you,” he sweetly said.
Cela
rolled her eyes but failed to suppress her small
snicker.
“See,” he charmingly said, “I’m not so bad.”
Cela
hurried into the suite before Xar’ek could see her
reddened cheeks.
“Where are you going?”
Xar’ek quickly turned his head but kept walking and
said, “To check on the ladies. Why?”
“Oh,” Cela replied but said nothing more as Xar’ek
disappeared into the bedroom suite. She took a few
more steps and then turned her head toward the
bedroom. “He’s just worried I suppose,” she
commented with a shrug.
Xar’ek sidled up to the edge of the bed and bent
down onto one knee. Neither Sakoya nor Mara had
moved – their unconscious bodies still lay
outstretched on the bed, covered only by a blanket.
His gaze fell upon Sakoya and then drifted to Mara
only to fall back onto Sakoya again as he shook his
head at the similar features of mother and daughter.
“I don’t think there’s any dispute that the two of
you are related,” he commented, keeping his voice
low. His eyes fell to Sakoya’s hand as he gently
picked it up – her skin was cool to the touch but it
still held vitality – and brought it up to his cheek
as memories of frivolity simultaneously sprang into
his mind. He recalled the times when they were
together and life was adventurous and exciting. “I
should have treated you better,” he quietly
admitted. “And I should have never let you go. I
didn’t know how to handle our relationship – I’ve
never been good at commitments…” He paused, trying
to formulate his words in his mind. There was so
much he wanted to tell her. Even in her current
state he felt she could hear him.
“It
wasn’t until I lost both you and Mara that I finally
woke up…but by then it was too late.” Xar’ek laid
his head down on her stomach and closed his eyes.
“If I could turn back the years, I would,” he
solemnly avowed as he felt her rhythmic breathing.
He remained still only for a few minutes, knowing
that their privacy was measured. He lifted his head
and moved closer to her face, noting how peaceful
she appeared. He would have thought she were merely
asleep if he hadn’t known her true affliction. He
leaned in closer and brushed his lips against hers
and told her, “I’m sorry. Forgive me.”
His
lips lingered upon hers a moment more and then he
drew back, placed her hand on her stomach, and stood
up. “Don’t you leave me, Sakoya Jade!” he stated
with determination. Hesitating briefly, he quickly
turned and strode out of the room.
“How
are they?” Cela asked as Xar’ek emerged from the
bedroom.
“No
change,” he replied and then decided to change the
subject. “What about Obi-Wan?”
“I
think he’s in one of those Jedi trances. Should we
wake him?”
Xar’ek looked puzzled. “Why?”
Cela
looked at the Jedi from her seat on the divan.
“Well, he doesn’t look all that comfortable in that
desk chair and he just doesn’t look right.”
Even
in the dim light Xar’ek could clearly see that the
girl was perplexed. “You’ve never seen a Jedi
meditate before, have you?”
Cela
shook her head from side to side.
Xar’ek grinned and walked over to Obi-Wan. “He does
look…kinda jittery.”
“What happens if you wake a Jedi when they’re like
this?”
“I
don’t have an answer to that one, young lady.”
The
Jedi Master awoke suddenly only to find Cela and
Xar’ek hovering over him with quizzical looks on
their faces.
“What’s wrong?”
Cela
and Xar’ek exchanged glances. “That’s what we’d like
to know,” Xar’ek stated.
Now
it was the Jedi’s turn to look bemused.
The
teenager paused and then said, “You looked like you
were fighting something and why is it so dark in
here?”
“I
was in a meditative trance,” the Jedi honestly
replied.
“We
figured that out.” Cela nodded her head in
understanding.
“Excuse me?”
“We
had a hard time getting you to come around,” Xar’ek
added.
“I…see.”
Cela’s eyes expressed her concern and she laid her
hand on the Jedi’s shoulder. “Is something wrong,
Ben? Was it bad to wake you like that?”
“Like what?” he probed.
“Cela shook your shoulder. She was getting nervous
that you wouldn’t wake up.”
“I
thought maybe you were like Sakoya,” the girl added.
Was that the resistance I felt?
the Jedi Master asked himself. Did Cela pull me
away? I know I felt…what was it? Unease? Some kind
of trepidation? He continued his silent
exploration, oblivious to the others standing next
to him in confusion.
“Ben, you’re scaring me,” Cela nervously stated, her
hands twitching of their own accord.
“Obi-Wan, stop it! What’s going on?” Xar’ek
demanded.
“Possess. That’s the key.” Obi-Wan stood up, pushing
his chair backward. “That wasn’t my Sakoya, it
was…Palpatine trying to lure me, using my sorrow…as
a gate, an entry point…”
Xar’ek shrugged as he glanced at Cela who appeared
to know as little as he did and then back at the
Jedi again. “What are you babbling about?”
“Hmm?” Obi-Wan uttered as he looked over at the
Corellian. He took a deep breath and said, “I
apologize. I experienced an…interruption…during my
meditation. I was mulling it over audibly.”
“And?”
The
Jedi stroked his goatee thoughtfully and then said,
“And, Xar’ek, I’m beginning to believe that
Palpatine is trying to possess someone.”
“Huh? Why?” Cela wondered.
“To
live again, I presume.”
