Cursed Waters (A Junior Jedi Knights Epic)

[Courtney Solo]

You don't know your siri711 password? How about I change it for you and PM it to you (obi1roxmysox). Cuz I am stopping all my other accounts (save for the ones I started an index on) for it to not be so confusing. (I AM keeping some of them, tho!) ;D

[Courtney Solo]

Lola paced back and forth in front of the river bed, Master Skywalker was waiting patiently beside her.

"Master Skywalker, where do you think Anakin and Tahiri are? They promised they'd be here."

He looked down at the small child, the princess, who had more athourity than he did, although she wasn't as respected. "My nephew will be here soon, I can sense him dragging Tahiri behind him coming toward the river." He winked at Lola, but she didn't catch the joke.

"Tahiri's being dragged?" She asked concerned. "Is she alright?"

"It was meant as a joke, pay no heed to his ramblings." Mara Jade Skywalker patted Lola on the back gently. "Anakin and Tahiri both will be here in precisely three seconds."

Lola began to count. "One,two...three." She looked up as Anakin and Tahiri tumbled down the hill.

"Ahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!" They both laughed. Tahiri was the first to notice Lola.

"Sorry we're late, we were having an arguement on where to search first." Anakin looked over at her bewildered.

"We wer-"

"WEREN'T we,heh,Anakin?" She nudged him and hopped up. "We decided that the most logical thing to do would be to look for the raft, and his normal living quarters."

Lola nodded. "That sounds like an ingenious idea." She winked for the first time ever at Luke Skywalker. "Very good." He nodded.

"You have my permission to begin your search, but PLEASE be back 5 minutes before supper, your mother's would kill me if she knew you stayed out all day." Tahiri looked at the ground.

My mother couldn't have killed you... She thought, even though it seemed funny.

"Let the search begin."

[obi1roxmysox]

i love it!!!! rite moe. i say that 4 like every story u post, dont i?

[JediLeia]

Yea! More, please!

[Courtney Solo]

Will do, soon!

[JediLeia]

H'ray!!!

[Courtney Solo]

"Palvon's favorite spot to fish was just south of here." Lola... Princess Lola, pointed downstream. "He said the fish relaxed when they were past the rapids and then became hungry for worms." She giggled, then stopped short as if remembering that her friend was still missing.

Anakin put a comforting arm around her shoulders. "Don't worry, we'll find him." She gave him an appriciative smile, but it didn't last long when Tahiri screamed up ahead.

"Anakin! Lola!" Anakin raced on, but Lola reached Tahiri first, she (Tahiri) was kneeling beside a body.

"Palvon!" Lola screamed, then began sobbing and clutching at the old man's shirt. "No..."

Anakin stood beside Tahiri, who rose slowly and turned away, deathly pale.

"He doesn't show any signs of murder on the outside." She said loudly into the air, then turned to Anakin and whispered. "I feel the dark side hovering around his vitals, someone DID murder him, A Dark Jedi." Lola looked up.

"The Man Beneath the Hood." She whispered.

"What?" Tahiri asked, puzzled.

Princess Lola turned to her friends. "Once when Palvon had gone back to his cabin to get some 'shut-eye' and left me in charge of the raft. A Man with a hood came up to me and asked me if he could borrow the raft. I said it wasn't mine and he went away, but he felt angry, even though I could not see his face."

"How do we even know this person is a he?" Lola and Tahiri both raised their eyebrows at Anakin's remark. He held up his hands. "OK! OK! I think it was a man too!" They turned back to the mystery at Anakin's sheepish grin.

Lola stood up, then decided against it. "Do you think I could have some time alone with Palvon? I mean...his body? I should very much like it." She said softly. Anakin and Tahiri nodded and walked away, into Palvon's empty cabin.

Tahiri's face became pale again. "Oh,Anakin! Do you know how horrible I feel?!" He looked at her, he didn't know she could feel horrible, she was always perky.

"Why?"

"I was the one who found his body! What if someone decides to frame me!? I mean, even though I'm only Nine, they...could...or might... I don't want 'em to..." Anakin hugged her, and she sobbed into his shoulder, he was getting tired of hearing sobs, partly because he felt like sobbing himslef.

"No one's gonna frame you." he patted her back to comfort her, she pulled back and plopped on the cot.

"They'd better not, or else I'll become even more involved in this case than I already am." She exhaled noisily, then pounded the pillow. "Let's go. We're going to find the Man beneath the hood."

Anakin stared after her. "JUST us!" He whispered to himself. "Isn't that a little dangerous!?" He called after Tahiri, but she was already talking rapidly to Lola.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"This will work perfectly." Exar Kun pulled off his hood to get a better look at the intricate markings. "This will work very well." He put his ghostlike hand to touch the crumbling wall, but felt nothing. He drew his hand back in disgust, and turned to his prisoner.

Kyp Durron was watching him in amusement. "Is Mister Ghost feeling a bit monsterly?" He asked tauntingly. "And I thought you knew everything." Kyp shook his head.

"Silence Jedi. You will be the first to fall." He turned to the holo of three Jedi Padawans trudging along the riverbed. "-and my new Padawans will dance in your blood."

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

"We're lost! Let's turn back, Uncle Luke can guide us safely through the forest when he comes with a search party ad maybe he'll let us come with him. Then-"

"Anakin! We're not lost, we're temporarily confined in the situation." Princess Lola stated firmly. She smiled. "And you do not need to call me Princess Lola, just Lola, my friends." Tahiri smiled and Anakin rolled his eyes, a bit worriedly, would Lola take the place of Tahiri's best friend, only when he had just occupied that role? AND gotten used to her babbling?

"Your still my best friend,Anakin." Tahiri said over her shoulder. "Why are you saying these things out loud?"

"I'm not! I'm thinking it!" Lola grinned.

"I think that we are entering a magical part of the forest." Just then a blast of smoke and steam exploded in front of her.

"Or cursed." Anakin finished, wide eyed.

[JediLeia]

OOOH! The excitement rises!

[obi1roxmysox]

lol

[tahiriveilasolo]

Yes, it does! *posts cuz she feels like it*
---------------------------------------------------

Lola coughed and waved her hand in front of her face, Tahiri's eyes seemed to bug out, and Anakin sneezed.

"What the..."

"Hello, children." Lola gasped, it was the Hooded Man. "Welcome to your new home."

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

Ah! The look on their faces when I said that! They acted like the Galaxy was going to explode!

"Sir, you are under arrest." The red-haired girl stepped forward and her friends eyes grew more in size.

"You think you can surpase my powers?!" I exclaimed, a bit surprised at her boldness.

"I am Princess Lola Djo Chu'ume. You are under arrest for murder, by the power of Hapes AND the New Jedi Order." Gee, the kid even has a title.

"Well, princess... you'll hafta catch me first." I took off in the direction of my former prisoner Kyp Durron, pushing them to follow, it only worked on the small girl, Lola.

"Let's go!" It was working, I sensed deep inside of her, and found her weakest point. "He murdered Palvon!" She screamed and chased after me.

"Lola wait! This guy's dangerous, we need to get my Uncle!" The dark-haired boy called after her, but the princess didn't hear him, or comprehend his remark.

"Come on,Anakin...we can't let her go alone!" the blond haired girl exclaimed, and followed her friend. This was working better than I thought.

"Tahiri! Lola!" The boy yelled. "This is NOT a good idea!" The boy was the one I wanted the most, but he did not follow his friends, instead he turned back towards the temple. Kriff.

----------------------------------------------------

"Uncle Luke! Uncle Luke! Tahiri and Lola are in trouble! Big trouble! Dark Side kind of trouble! You've got to hurry and save them before he kills them both! Please hurry!" Luke turned to locate the sound of his nephews voice.

"Uncle Luke, hurry! Bring Aunt Mara! Come on!" Lukemotioned for Mara to follow him and took off in persute of his nephew, who had already turned back towards the woods.

"Who is this Dark Man?" Mara called after Anakin.

"I dunno! They call him the Hooded Man!"

Oooohhhhh..... great. Exar Kun used to use that name before he was killed, and from the looks of it-

-He was back.

[JediLeia]

Exar Kun?!? Noooooooo!!!!!

"Princess Lola Djo Chu'ume?" Woah!

[Courtney Solo]

Yup. ;D

[obi1roxmysox]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I NEED MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 0:)

[Courtney Solo]

Don't get attached to Lola, tho. Just warning you!

[JediLeia]

Aw, no! That doesn't sound too promising.

You know, Courtney, it's getting kind of hard to keep up with all the Lolas in your stories!

[Courtney Solo]

I only have two.

[obi1roxmysox]

lol

[JediLeia]

Really? Only two? I guess it seems like more.

[Courtney Solo]

Too true. ;D

[Courtney Solo]

Lola! Slow down! I may be someone who likes to go barefoot, but not THIS..oww...rough!" Tahiri shouted to her friend as she raced across the prickly forest floor.

"There is no time to lose! Either you keep up, or you follow Anakin back to the temple and get help, I'm going to keep him in my sights."

Sure hope you're not near-sighted... Tahiri thought grumpily as she turned around in the direction of the temple.

~About a Minute Later~

"OWW!"

"Anakin!"

"Tahiri!"

"Lola needs our help, she's.... Hello, master Skywalker,... following a Hooded Dude throught the forest, well, actually you knew that... but anyways, Hi, Mara... we need to help her soon! She's so angry at him I dunno how she'll take it!"

"If Lola is angry at someone I would normally hope they wouldn't walk away too bruised." Anakin mumbled as he took off after Tahiri.

"oww...oww...oww..." She yelled as she sped across the forest.

"Tahiri, Anakin, hold up!" Mara called after them, tahiri had to screech to a stop.

"We've found a different way!"

"Kyp!" Anakin yelled as he saw who his Uncle was talking to.

"Hey,Buddy!" Kyp ruffled Anakin's hair as Tahiri tip-toed her way over to them.

"Owwwwww....Owwwww.....OWW!" She screamed as she stepped on a thorn.

"Tahiri, try to use the force as knock the twigs out fo the way, it would be less painful, on your part." Mara said then leaned closer to Luke. "-And for my ears..."

"I resent that." Tahiri shook her fist mockingly at them. "But no time to play around, Lola is in trouble! Hoodie has her on a wild goose chase through the forest!" She looked up at Kyp. "Oh, Hi,Kyp. Can you lead us on a safe route to get to the Hooded Man?"

"Sure........" He picked Tahiri up and slung her over his shoulder and began to run up a steep path. "Follow me."

"My foot is bleeding." Tahiri grumbled as she bounced along on Kyp's shoulder. "My thigh hurts."

Anakin trudged up beside her. "You want me to bandage that?"

"If it will get me off this Kyp's pointy shoulder then what are you waiting for!?"

"Aunt Mara!" Anakin called. "Can I borrow your med-kit?"

"I thought you wanted to catch up to Lola, not play Doctor."

"Forget it, Mara." Tahiri called to her as Kyp set her down on a stump for a break. "Anakin and I can find something else to use." She hopped on one foot over to Kyp.

"What are you doing?" he asked as she fingered his robe.

"I hope you weren't too fond of this section." She ripped out about a foot of cloth. "There. See, Mara? Now we can go find Lola." She ran ahead, with Anakin on he heels, leaving Kyp to stare in shock at his ruined cape.

"Lola! LolaLolaLolaLolaLolaLolaLola!!!!" Tahiri called out. "Wait up! Loooooooolaaaaaa!"

Anakin covered his ears. "Tahiri, I think she can hear you. Heck, Ol' Palvon could hear you, that shout could wake the dead." He grumbled.

[Courtney Solo]

Lola was running as fast as she could when she came to a dead end.

I couldn't have lost him that easily! She thought.

"Show yourself!" She yelled into the black void, now there was nothing surrounding her, not even the forest. "Stop!" She heard a sinister laugh and the Hooded Man stepped out of the shadows.

"I am here. I don't suppose you recognize this place, do you Lola?" She peered at him suspiciously.

"You are the one who killed Palvon, so how do you know my name?"

"I know everything, my dear." She decided to stall him.

"Who's my mother?"

"Teleniel Djo Chu'ume."

"Who's my father?"

"Prince Isolder Chu'ume."

"Who's Anakin's Parents?"

"Han and Leia Organa Solo."

"Who's Anakin's Grandparents?"

"Anakin Skywalker and Padm'e Amidala Skywalker."

"The Senator from Naboo?" There was something to tell Master Skywalker when she got out... If she got out.

"Who's Tahiri's parents?" That should take him off guard, No One knew that.

"She has three. Two are biological, the other is her adoptive father, Slavin the Cheif of a Tribe of Sand People and Cassa and Tryst Veila." She gaped.

"How'd you know that?"

"I told you I know everything."

"If everything is just a few people's anscestors then it's going to take more than that to immpress me." She felt the Hooded Man raise his eyebrows.

"If you impress me then I will become your padawan, and if you don't impress me then you will let me out." She said in her best princess voice. He laughed and pulled back his hood.

"Master Durron!?"

---

"Master Durron?" Kyp mimiced. Lola placed her hands on her hips.

"Don't mock me." He put his hands on his hips.

"Don't mock me." Her face turned red with rage. "Ookay, I can't do that." He teased her.\

"You'll be sorry you ever messed with me, Master Durron." She said angrily. "I can't believe you killed poor innocent Palvon..."

"Heck, kid. You're a mini-Princess, I'm a Jedi Master, who's word are they gonna trust?" She raised her eyesbrows. He frowned. "Ookay, maybe they'll take your word for it, but I'm more mature."

She rolled her eyes and force-pulled his pants down. "Haha, you got pantsed," she looked closer. "Barbie boxers!?"

Kyp hitched his pants up. "Don't humiliate me! I thought they were cool." She smirked.

"Yeah, for little girls around 5." She teased. He raised his eyebrows.

"Are you implying that I am a five year old?" She grinned up at him.

"Yes. And I'm stalling." He looked around just as Luke Skywalker ignited his lightsaber and attacked.

"Ack!" Kyp barely had time to ignite his red one and step out of the way. Mara came out of hiding along with Tahiri and Anakin.

"Barbie Boxers, huh, Durron? Shame on you," Tahiri smirked and Anakin looked amused.

"Anakin! Tahiri!" Lola raced over to her friends, barely avoiding Kyp's blade as he took a wild slash at her, Mara, Anakin and Tahiri paled as they realized how close she had just come to death, but Lola didn't notice.

"Nice going on the stalling, Lola. I would've never thought to pull his pants down." Tahiri laughed, then paused. "Unless of course I was fishing for options, that would've been so funny do do in person, Dang! I shoulda come with you!" Mara smiled as Anakin smirked.

"I think we should head home, Aunt Mara and Uncle Luke can handle Darth Durron." Tahiri suggested, barely taking a breath. Lola nodded.

"Yes, that sounds logical... nice.. a nice plan."

"Get used to unfancy words, Lola." Anakin said. "We hardly know what they mean." She frowned.

"Really? My mother says some sort of 'Kriff' word when she gets mad.. what's 'Kriff', Master Skywalker?" Lola asked Mara. Mara shrugged, with a slight smile on her face.

"Something I'm almost sure your father would not like to hear you repeat in front of him." Lola grinned evily.

"Well in that case, I'm going to say it all the time until my training is complete." This time Mara smaked her head and didn't explain why.

"Oh, kriff."

[Courtney Solo]

Exar Kun watched Anakin,Tahiri and Lola as they inched closer and closer to his trap. They would not escape this time. Fortunately, Kyp (or his body) had been an acceptable distraction for the two Jedi Masters. And be then the children would be under his control.

Or else take the plunge into the Cursed Waters.

-------------------

"My feet hurt. When are we gonna get there? I'm hungry. This forest smells weird." Tahiri complained as they crossed the bridhe towards the Jedi temple.

"We are almost there. I'm sorry your feet hurt, my friend. I do not have anything to-"

"-Don't bother Lola. She'll just keep complaining." Anakin interupted.

"I won't keep complaining! Much." Tahiri objected, this only threw Anakin into a fit of laughter.

"It's not funny, Anakin." Tahiri rolled her eyes. But he kept laughing.

"Anakin?" Lola asked. "Why are you laughing?" Anakin stopped laughing suddenly and turned to look at his friends.

"Anakin is no longer available. You will follow me, or be-"

"WHOAREYOU! WHATHAVEYOUDONEWITHANAKIN!? THIS ISN'T FUNNY!" Tahiri shouted loudly.

"Tahiri? Anakin? You guys alright?" Luke's voice called out to them.

"NO! ANAKIN'SINHABITEDBYSOMETHINGCREEPYANDIT'STELLINGUSTOFOLLOWIT!" Tahiri yelled frantically. Anakin (or rather, Exar) looked like he wanted to murder her for speaking so loudly.

"You will follow me now." Suddenly the two girls found it impossible to resist the order, and had to follow Exar/Anakin into the horrible depths of the Cursed Forest.

---

"Anakin, what happened?" Tahiri asked. The real Anakin was back, for now. Anakin's eyes were beginning to water and Lola and Tahiri had to haul him to his feet.

"I dunno!" He rasped as if he had been punched in the stomach. "We need Uncle Luke and Aunt Mara's help quick!"

"What happened to you to make you act in like that, my friend?" Lola asked cautiously, not wanting to anger him.

"The whole time, my body was acting on its own! I tried to stop it, but it was like someone else was sharing my body with me." Anakin explained as he shook his feet to get the feeling back into them.

"So, we need Master Skywalker?" Tahiri asked, Lola and Anakin both nodded, expecting Tahiri to whip out a commlink or something. "MASTER S!" Apparently not. Anakin blinked.

"I think I just went deaf!" He wheezed.

"Yes, Tahiri?" Mara's voice floated through the dense forest air. "Are you all OK?" Lola looked up. She could see the temple! It was just over that bridge.

"We are alright, Master Skywalker, I can see a way to get to the temple!" Anakin and Tahiri strained their eyes as hard as they could, but could not see the temple, or a way to cross the river.

"Didn't you say Palvon told you the only way to cross the river was with a raft?" Tahiri supplied. "I thought you said that, but you could've meant- Hey! Where are you going, Lola?" Lola ran towards the bridge. If she made it across she would be one step closer to reaching the temple.

"I am going across the bridge! Come, follow, it is quite sturdy."

"I don't see anything, Lola, wait!" But she had already taken a step onto the bridge. The bridge that wasn't there. Then she was falling...down into the Cursed Waters.

"Help! The krakana will eat me! Tahiri!" Lola cried out franticly. Tahiri looked over to Anakin.

"My dream."

"Our dream." He corrected, they raced down beside the river to keep up with Lola.

"Anakin... I didn't want to tell you this 'cause I don't want you to think I'm a wimp... but I can't swim! How will we rescue Lola?" Then Anakin spotted a raft up ahead. Palvon's raft.

"Palvon's raft! Run ahead and paddle it out to the middle of the river and keep it there. I'll try to slow Lola down with the force!" For once, Tahiri only nodded. She ran downriver and hopped into the raft then gasped.

"Anakin, there are no oars!" Lola was coming downstream at a speedy rate and was no longer shouting for help, which was a bad sign. Lola was about to pass Tahiri and she didn't know what else to do.

So she jumped in. "Lola! Lola, wake up!" Tahiri yelled at her friend. Looking downstream, Anakin let out a frightened yelp.

"Waterfall!" Tahiri waved her arms franticly in a heroic attempt at keeping herself and Lola afloat. She finally grasped a rock. But her fingers were slipping and she was only one meter away from falling off the edge.

[Courtney Solo]

"Hang on, Tahiri!" Anakin shouted. "Don't let go!" Tahiri's deep green eyes looked up into his as he grew closer and he saw her desperation.

"I'm sorry, Anakin." She whispered, then her muscles gave out and she fell.

Anakin dived for her hand and grasped it, concentrating on her face and lifting his friend to saftey rather than looking at how far they would drop if he failed.
Then, it was as if someone had pushed him off the the cliff, for that's exactly what happened.
Anakin, Tahiri, and a barley concious Lola plunged headfirst down the waterfall.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Am I dead yet?" Tahiri asked herself and started when she got a response.

"No but I am," Anakin grumbled. "-or at least I feel like I am." Tahiri opened her eyes slowly and sighed. Her dream had not come true, she hadn't drowned. Because she was on land.

"Is Lola-"

"I am here. I think I'll save force-leaps for another day and work on my swimming lessons," Lola groaned and sat up. She was on top of Anakin's legs, so that movement made him gasp. Tahiri was splatted across Anakin's chest, her hair spilling onto his face.

"Ooh...my amrs!" She complained loudly.

"Ooh...my head!" Lola murmured.

"Ooh, my BODY!" Anakin shouted/shrieked. "I feel like a bantha just sat on me!"

"I feel like exploring," Tahiri got up off of Anakin and stretched. "Wait...how'd we get here?"

Someone brought you here, beware. A voice seemed to whisper into Anakin's whirl of thoughts. The Massassi temple is no place for play...

"Hey!" Tahiri raced over to a wall and traced her hands over the greens covering a part of the outer walls of the structure. "I recognize these markings! They were in my..." she looked over at Anakin. "-I saw them before I fell into the water in my...vision."

"Vision? What vision?" Lola asked suspicously.

"Ah..er...um... Oh look! A door!" Tahiri stuttered and ran to it.

"Careful, the Massassi temple is not a place for play," Anakin called. "Someone must have brought us here."

"Maybe it was that creepy man who killed Palvon." Lola suggested.

"Maybe it was Master Durron and his Barbie boxers." Tahiri giggled. It was Exar Kun.

"Maybe it was Exar Kun." Anakin whispered.

"What did you say, my friend?" Lola asked politely.

"Uh...maybe it was the Man on the 2nd Moon?" He supplied sheepishly.

"Ah, no I do not think that possible, my friend." Lola rolled her eyes.

"Look guys, maybe we should just head back to the temple." He gulped.

"Nonsense. What's the point of falling into a Massassi Ruin if you're not going to explore it?" The Dark Side of the force is strong here... "What was that?" Tahiri gasped, she had heard it also. Anakin decided he would not take a step further.

"I am going back to the Jedi temple and you two are coming with me!" He exclaimed, for once Tahiri didn't argue.

They left and made their way back to the temple, but there was always a nagging in the back of their minds to return, and to find out who was speaking to them.

[Courtney Solo]

~11 years Later~

"I can't believe they went to Myrkr without me!" Anakin exclaimed.

"I can't believe my BEST friend, besides you of course, got to go and I didn't!" Tahiri seconded his complaint. "How could Lola get so lucky?"

"Maybe Uncle Luke decided to give her something exciting to do before her sister's coronation," Anakin grumbled. "Either way, we're stuck here."

"Well, now would be a nice time to teach me how ro swim," Tahiri suggested playfully. "or you could play that new simulation game with me, we could set it to Myrkr profile, and then-"

"-How about we just swim? Even thinking about Myrkr makes me envious of my siblings." He interupted her.

"You mean Jacen." Tahiri said softly.

"I don't want to talk about my brother."

"Face it, Anakin, you're relationship with your brother needs mending. As much as I wish we hadn't been left behind... who knows, maybe some good will come out of it."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Tahiri woke from her dream with a start. She sat up slowly so she wouldn't disturb Anakin from his sleep and walked out to the veranda.
It had not been a vision, it couldn't have been, Myrkr had already happened. She and Anakin were now married and she was expecting. But the feeling inside of her was growing so strong she knew she couldn't NOT go.

"I have to go to the Cursed Waters." She determined aloud.

"Angel? What are you doing?" Anakin asked groggily. He was sitting up in bed. "Did you have a vision?"

"A dream," She corrected. "For some reason, in my dream, I wanted to learn how to swim. When I heard myself say that, an incredible urge came over me... it was telling to go back to the river," Anakin's eyes widened. "The feeling is never going to go away, Ani. Not until I find out what it is that's haunting me." She sighed and sat down on the couch. Anakin walked over to Tahiri.

"I know that there's no way to discourage you when you've made your mind up about something, and that's one of the things I love about you... but are you sure NOW is the right time for us to go?" Tahiri smiled, she should've guessed Anakin would insist on accompaning her. He lowered his gaze to his wife's pregnant figure. She placed a hand on her bulging stomach.

"I'll admit I don't exactly agree with the timing. Of course I'm worried for the baby's sake, but I have to confront whatever this is that's haunting me once and for all." She said softly. Anakin pulled Tahiri to him and held her close.

"From the moment we said 'I do' I knew my life would become more of a challenge because the enemy would have another soft spot to attack: my family," he gave his wife a fond look. "When you gave me the news about your pregnancy I could only fall more and more in love with you and our child. I troubled myself everynight with the thought that something might happen to you and the child, I resolved not to let anything happen. I promise I will not let you or the child out of my sight," Anakin rubbed her bulging spot with loving tenderness, then smiled. "Our baby just kicked," then he paused. "honey?"

"Yes?"

"I think we have twins."

Tahiri laughed. "It is fitting for your family line."

"Uncle Luke and Mom, Jacen and Jaina, and now ours," Anakin spoke softly then kissed her. "Do you think it will be two boys or two girls?"

"One boy, One girl," she answered. "It would break the cycle otherwise."

---

"Hang on, Tahiri! Don't let go!" Anakin looked down at his best friend, her deep green eyes filled with regret and exhaustion. But there was something different about his 9 year old friend. She looked older. Much older. And she was.... No! This couldn't be a vision, it has already happened. Anakin stretched out with the force as he ran towards her, Tahiri's best friend, Lola, was not with her as before. Instead, two more lifeforms were inside his wife. His wife. Not best friend.

"I'm sorry, Heroboy." She whispered, then closed her eyes and fell limply down the waterfall right as he was about to reach her.

"Tahiri!" Anakin screamed in agony, sitting on the edge of the waterfall. He reached out with the force, but he couldn't feel her or the twins. The fall must have killed them all.

"Angel..."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Anakin woke from his vision with a gasp. He didn't open his eyes, just studied his vision. He knew now that it hadn't been a dream. Anakin slowly opened his eyes and saw with relief that he and Tahiri were still on the couch. They had fallen asleep in eachother's arms. He peeked over at the chrono and saw that it was 2 minutes till' sunrise. Anakin lifted his wife from his chest and set her gently down on the couch. He walked out onto the veranda and stood with his arms behind his back, watching the sun peek over the mountaintops. Only when the reality of his vision and his love for Tahiri touched the inner core of his soul did he begin to cry.

There is a way you can save her...[/color] A voice spoke into his mind. A soft breeze was flowing and Anakin's tears were trickling onto his shirt, his hair reaching down and slapping him gently on the forehead.

Tell me how...[/color] He sent back to the voice. waiting for a response, but none came. Please, tell me how!

It would not be in order with the code. Anakin breathed a sigh of relief when he got a response, but tensed when he understood it.

I-I cannot let my vision come true.[/color] There was a pause.

Go to her now, she is waking. I will contact you when the time has come.[/color] Anakin sighed and turned back to Tahiri.

I won't tell her about my vision, she wouldn't back out of going to the Cursed Waters, and I won't force her. He decided.

"Anakin?" Tahiri yawned. "How long have I been sleeping?"

"Long enough, but you're pregnant. You deserve your rest." He smield fondly at his wife.

"How come your face is wet?" She asked in sleepy confusion. Anakin walked over to the couch and wrapped his arms around her.

"Bad dream," He buried his face in her hair so she couldn't see his pained expression. "I love you."

"I never get tired of hearing you say that."

[Courtney Solo]

"We'll pack provisions and plenty of milk, the twins can't seem to get enough of it, and take our lightsabers, of course, and datapads. How's that?" Tahiri asked her husband. "ummy, are you listening?"

He started. "Ah... no. I was thinking."

"What about?"

You should at least ASK her if she will quit.

"Should we tell anyone? I mean... they might worry-"

"-No. We tell no one! That would endanger our cause." She interupted. "I-I'm sorry, Anakin, that just slipped out." He shrugged.

"It's OK."

"Something else is bothering you, Heroboy." She spoke up after a few moments of silence and packing.

"If you can handle the packing, I think I might head down to Uncle Luke's... I need to ask him something."

"You're not going to tell him, are you?" Tahiri called after him.

"No, I promise to keep it our secret," He answered. "Be right back."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~

"So... someone you know is in danger of death?" Luke Skywalker questioned his nephew. "Is this person a close friend?"

"You couod say that. I don't want to mention names... for the person's privacy, but he doesn't know that he's in trouble, and I'd hate myself if he dies."

"I see. What lead you to suspect that this person is going to die? A vision?" Anakin nodded.

"What kind of death?"

"He falls of a waterfall."

"How do you know 'he' dies?"

"I couldn't sense he-him! Nrmally, that means they're dead, right?" Anakin exclaimed, admonsihing himself for almost saying 'her'.

Luke shook his head. "A while ago, Lola Jinzler*, a Jedi Knight, told me that Yoda used to say 'clouded the future is. You may never be certain where it will take you', these words I offer to you. There was a time when i thought Mara was dead because I could not sense her, but she obviously survived," Luke smiled warmly at his nephew. "She will survive the fall just as she, Lola* and you survived last time. It will not be the first time three people have fallen, nor the last."

Anakin gawked at his uncle. "H-How did you-"

"A Jedi Master gives and keeps many secrets. The way I knew about your vision is mine," Luke smiled slyly at Anakin. "both of you have leave to go to the cursed waters, on one condition,"

Here it comes...

"-You don't leave me or Mara behind. The cursed waters have also been calling us, and Mara is driving me banthas to go."

Anakin grinned. "Well, if you put it that way..."

"Good man." Luke patted his nephew on the shoulder and started to get up.

"Uncle Luke?" Luke turned back. "What about her?" Anakin's voice broke.

"Don't leave that woman's side. Those twins are precious." Then he left. Anakin's features darkened.

All he cares about are the twins.
He leapt to his feet and stormed off to the gardens clutching his lightsaber, a habit he enforced when he became angry. He doesn't care about Tahiri, he only cares abou the cycle continuing. Anakin sat on a bench and finered his lightsaber. he pulled his contemptful thoughts towards himself, forming an emotional sheild.

Uncle Luke does care about Tahiri, he just didn't voice his concern.
He knows I'm worried for Tahiri and the twins, but thinks of the twins as more significant.

"Master Solo," a voice penetrated his train of thought. "Your angry thoughts are killing my pet snarflak." A yound padawan whimpered. Anakin looked down at the kid. The padawan learner reminded him of Jacen.

"Sorry." Anakin tried to think happy thoughts so he wouldn't be called to a Council meeting for killing a kid's snarflak. But they did not remain that way.

(Warning: This next part contains 'Betrayed' spoilers!)

"Anakin Solo?! Is that you, my friend?" He looked up. A bloody Lola Chu'ume was walking towards him, a hole in her chest from where she had been peirced by an amphistaff while defending Hapes from an oncoming attack.

"Lola? You were on the deceased list months ago!"

"Master Solo, who are you talking to?" Anakin looked down at the bewildered padawan. he looked back towards Lola, she had disappeared.

"No one," he sat stunned for a moment. "I was talking to no one."

---

MAJOR BETRAYED SPOILERS

"Anakin to Tahiri: Come in! You there, Angel? Please respond!" None came. Tahiri was staring open-mouthed at Kiera Fett. Kiera's eye was missing, her arm gone. Her figure covered in blood, her chyest torn open by the voxyn attack, making it impossible for her voice box to work, yet it was.

"Tahiri Veila? How'd I get here? Where is here? Is Jaina OK?"

"J-Jaina is-is fine, she and... and Zekk are on their h-honeymoon." Tahiri stammered.

"Tahiri! Baby, are you Okay? Come back to me, Angel, you're seeing things..." Anakin's exclamations interupted the conversation. She came out of shock soon enough.

"Ani, I was... Kiera Fett! She..."

"I-I know, I know. Shhh..." Anakin pulled her close and caressed her cheek woith his hand. "I've got you."

"Don't leave me, Ani. Please." Tahiri whispered.

"I won't, I promise," Anakin walked his wife to their bed and laid her down in the middle of it. He sat next to her. "Try to relax." He stroked her face.

"How can I relax when... Ani, I was talking to a ghost! Do you think that this has anything to do with my being pregnant?"

Anakin smirked. "If so, then I'm pregnant, too," he sobered. "I saw Lola, Angel. I talked to her..." He stopped, overcome with confusement. "I think it has something to do with the Cursed Waters, their call is growing more and more stronger."

"So, until we go we're going to be continuously haunted by dead people?" Tahiri's voice wavered.
___________________________________________________________________

"Luke..." Luke Skywalker looked up from his meditation and gasped.

"Gaeriel!?"

"Who's this 'Gaeriel' person you're talking to, farmboy?" Mara Jade Skywalker asked suspiciously from beside him.

[hl=black]The call to the Cursed Waters grows ever stronger...[/color][/hl]

"Lola, sister?" Lola Jinzler Fel looked up from her datapad. She was now 71 years old, but she only appeared 30. (*see Ghosts of the Past)

It was her oldest sister, Lorana Jinzler, her body was mis-shapen from where the plasme shots had peirced her body so many years ago. Seeing her sister again brought tears to Lola's eyes.

"Lorana? How are you..." Lola reached out with the Force towards her sister and Lorana began to disappear. "No wait!"

(MAJOR GHOSTS OF THE PAST SPOILERS!)

"Lola? Honey, who are you talking to?" Chak Fel, her husband, asked loudly, interupting her train of thought. "Are you OK?" He wrapped his arms around her waist.

"I...I saw Lorana! She...talked to me." Lola gasped.

"Shhh.... it's all over now... you're Okay." He kissed her lips softly. "Shhh..." Lola sighed and leaned her head against her husband's shoudler.

"What's happening?"
_________________________________________________________

"Mara...." Mara Jade Skywalker stopped in her tracks.

"Who's there?" She asked.

"Charim Quavel..."

"Show yourself!." She ordered. A headless body walked around the corner. She stifled a scream.

"I loved you, Mara. I loved you, but your Jedi friend killed me." The body's voice box was moving and speaking somehow.

"In Luke's defense, he didn't know you were a friend, he had just overheard me call you a traitor and I was about to be shot. That qualifies as dead and gone.

"I still love you..."

"Luke and I are married and we have a child," The sight of a headless body she knew was Charim's began to make her stomach churn. Every time to body pronounced a sylable, blood oozed from the neck and dripped down the shirt, onto the floor. "Go away."

"Don't forget me..." Then the body vanished.

"Oh Force! Mara to Luke: I...I'm seeing haluncinations. Uh... we need to talk."

"Luke to Mara: Meet me in our room." Luke's voice ordered over the comlink She walked briskly to their room, breathing heavily.

"I'm here, Luke. I saw Charim and-"

"-We're going to the Cursed Waters TODAY. I can't keep seeing deceased people... we have to go now." Luke interupted.

"For once, I disagree. We shouldn't rush off on whim, we'll wait one more."
_____________________________________________________________________

Tahiri lay asleep beside him and everything was quiet, save for her soft breathing. Her face was burrowed into his chest and her bulging stomach was pressed against his side, making goosebumps travel up his spine. Anakin placed a hand on her enlarged belly and immediately got two responses. They loved their mother and father and couldn't wait to be born. Anakin felt his love for them grow stronger and two more places made their way into his heart.

"I promise, I will not let you die." He whispered to them.

Tahiri stirred and woke. She smiled when she saw the location of Anakin's hand and covered his with her own. "What do you think we should call them?"

"No idea." Anakin replied.

"We'll call the boy... Nakim." Tahiri grinned and laughed when Anakin made a face and poked her gently. (*see Death Defied) "Nah... how about... Charim?" Anakin shook his head thoughtfully. "Sky Mara Solo and Walker Luke Solo?" She suggested again.

He laughed. "There we go. Where'd you get those names?"

"Your family."
________________________________________________________________________

Exar Kun smiled. His plan was about to start, and he would finally get his apprentice. Anakin Solo would be the next Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Assalis. Then, once everything the old Anakin Solo treasures is ripped from him, the only choice will be death or the Dark Side. And for one moment he will doubt everything, and Exar Kun would be ready to strike at that moment.

[Courtney Solo]

The waterfall was approaching, there was no way for her to slow down, no way to call for help. Anakin watched helplessly as his wife was swept downstream. He tried to help her, but he couldn't move.

"Fight the current, Tahiri!" He tried to shout, but nothing came out.

"Don't leave that woman's side, those twins are precious," Luke's voice rang throughout Anakin's mind. Tahiri lost her grip on the boulder and fell down the cascading body of water.

"Your uncle only cared about the cycle continuing, he never REALLY cares about anything accept gaining the advantage. He'll sacrifice anything, even his nephew's wife, to be on the winning side," A deep, sharp, echoing voice seemed to whisper in Anakin's ear. "And now, everything you hold dear has been ripped from you. Your wife and children are dead..."[/color]

"No!" Anakin sat upright in bed. Tahiri opened her eyes at his esclamation. "No, not again... not again..."

"Anakin, what? What do you mean 'not again'? Are you alright?" She yawned.

"Everything is alright. Go back to sleep, my love. I have to go do some research," Anakin calmed her gently and rubbed her back. "Everything's alright." He had to assure her again when she gave him a doubtful look.

Tahiri rolled her eyes. "Being pregnant is so kriffin' weird. I wonder how many times I've woke up naturally since last night." She tossed herself underneath the covers and buried herself in them.

Anakin walked out of their dwelling and called his lightsaber to his hand. He was going to get the information he wanted about this mysterious voice and its owner.

Are you there? I need to talk to you... I had another vision,[/color] He waited for a few moments.

Your time has come. You should not tell your wife or anyone else you are coming. You shall meet me at the Massassi temple.

Which one?

Guess...[/color]

Oh, Anakin has sensed this answer coming, and dreaded it.
It meant his vision would come true if Tahiri followed him.
__________________________________________________________________________________

"Mara Jade-Skywalker to Tahiri Veila-Solo: Come in, repeat, come in, please," Tahiri looked up from her work.

"Threepio, can you answer that for me? Tell her I'll be right on," She asked the protocol droid, pushing away the datafiles in an attempt to clear her desk. "I have to finish these before tomorrow."

"Certainly, Mistress Veil-... Solo," C3PO responded. He was having a hard time remembering that her maiden name was no longer her title. Of course, a dirty look from Tahiri always helped him remember. "Mistress Skywalker, Mistress Veila-Solo will be right on, she has to finish-"

"Finished! Gimme that... Yes, Mrs. Skywalker?" She grabbed them comlink from the droid.

"Have you..er.. been visited late;y by anyone?" Tahiri got Mara's point.

"Well, Krista Fett's twin, Kiera, dropped by to say 'hello' yesterday. She didn't stay long, though,"

"Ah... I see. Tahiri... when were you and Anakin planning on leaving?" Mara asked hesitantly. Tahiri glanced at the chrono.

"Today at 1300," she supplied. "Why?"

"We just saw Anakin running towards the river,"

"That's nothing to worry about, he said he needed to take a little walk before we leave, I assume he went to check out the river to see if there's a safe crossing,"

"Then why was he fully armed?"
____________________________________________________________________________________

Anakin raced down the hillside to the ancient Massassi ruins. "Hello? What do you want with me?"

"It's what you want with me that brought you here, is it not?" The dark voice spoke slowly.

"Tell me how I can save her," Anakin demanded.

"To save your wife from death is not possible any longer. You did not put up a fight, so you shall recieve little mercy,"

"Anakin!" As if on cue, Tahiri came running down the hillside. "What the Force do you think-"

"Tahiri! Don't-" Suddenly, she was lifted into the air by some invisible force and dropped into a hole at the top of the temple ruins.

"However, mercy is being shown to you where you do not deserve. You must journey into the temple and find her, that is the next step to saving her,"

A new vision came to Anakin, this time more tragic.

Tahiri was being stabbed at. She was blocking speedily, but the force holding the vibroblade was faster.

"We have to save them, Ani!" She was shouting. "Save the children!" Then she missed blocking a thrust and was immediately killed.

The vision left him, Anakin lost his breath in sorrow and sank to the ground, breathing heavily. Save the children...

"No!" He shouted frantically to the setting sun. "I will not save the children, I'm going to save you!" He pounded the ground in anger and sorrow, his tears forming little patches of mud.

"Save the children, Ani... save them..."

[Courtney Solo]

Tahiri fell down, farther and farther, for what seemed like an eternity. She sensed Anakin's grief, and yet, there was something more there, hate, desperation, ... Love ...

"Choose wisely, Anakin. The path to the Dark Side is ever decietful," she whispered. Suddenly, she hit the bottom ... or something close to it. Fortunately, (for the twins), she had landed on her back and not on them. Tahiri sensed their fear and surprisingly she sensed that they understood the circumstance. "It's alright, Sky. I'll take care of you," she felt her son's wordless request and almost laughed aloud in the dark. "No, Walker, I don't have any milk with me," She sighed and rose to her feet slowly.

"I shoulda brought a glow rod," Tahiri grumbled. "Wait, I DID bring a glow rod! Where the kriff is it...?" She sat down in frustration and then yelped in surprise as she felt something, she cautiously reached under herself and fingered it.

It was her glow rod.

---

Anakin traced his hands frantically over the outer rim of the temple. He had to find the door and get Tahiri before something happened to her. But he couldn't find the entrance. Anakin sighed and sat down in frustration. He closed his eyes and concentrated on the visions.

"We have to save the children!" Tahiri misses and is instantly killed.

"No! I will not save the children, I'm going to save you!"

You did not put up a fight, so you shall recieve little mercy...

"Anakin!"

"Tahiri, don't-"

However, mercy is being shown where you do not deserve ... you must journey into the temple ... that is your next step to saving her ...


Anakin opened his eyes and looked to the sky, which was now dotted with stars.

"Why!?" he souted upwards. "Why do you always go for her? She's been running from death all her life, the chase needs to end!" Tears started to trickle down his cheeks. "I need mercy."

I hold the key to whether or not your wife dies. I did not kill her at the waterfall, now did I? Of course, that can all change. Do not think that because your wife didn't die one way, she won't another. Use what is given to you, use your emotions for your benefit, focus on what you want, and you will achieve.[/color]

"What can I do to save her from death?" Anakin asked firmly.

Become my apprentice, and the galaxy will finallt have peace, your wife will be spared, and everyone can prosper.[/color] Anakin reached out with the Force, he could feel the Dark Side surrounding the temple, ingulfing it.

It is the only way I can know she will be safe.[/color]

"I will do ... whatever you ask. Just help me save Tahiri."

[Courtney Solo]

Exar Kun smiled, he had won. He motioned with his hand towards the hidden door and it opened silently. Anakin appeared startled, looked around, then entered the ancient Massassi temple.

---

Tahiri stood up as fast as a pregnant woman could and lit the glow rod. “Ick.” Skeletons were surrounding her. She inspected them, and discovered they were not human, thank the Force. She could only assume that they were Massassi, perhaps the last remnants of that race.

---

Anakin lit his glow rod the minute he stepped inside. “Tahiri?” he called. There was a crunch, and when he looked down, he was stepping on bones . . . children’s bones. “Eei…” He jumped back.

Save the children, Ani!

“No,” He whispered. Save them… “No!” He exclaimed.

---

His heart is hardening; he is beginning to let his anger and emotions control his actions. He is becoming Darth Assalis. Exar thought smugly.

“Good, Anakin, good…” he congratulated his padawan. “I can feel your anger. It gives you focus, makes you stronger. You will soon have the power to save the children.”

“I don’t want to save the children, I want to save Tahiri!”

“And you will – in due time. I must see your willingness to serve me, and then I will consider it.”

“I will do anything you ask. Just help me save Tahiri . . . I-I can’t live without her,” Anakin knelt where he was and Exar emerged from the ever present darkness. “I pledge myself to your ways and your teachings.”

“Then rise, Darth Assalis,” I have waited long for this moment.[/color] “Go and find our wife. Know that you are saving her. In doing this, you have established peace and prosperity throughout the galaxy.” Exar pushed all the right ‘buttons’.

“Thank you, my Master,”

---

Tahiri tip toed through the bones. Suddenly, a wave of the Dark Side of the Force could be felt.

“Tahiri!” A distant voice called.

“Anakin?” She ran towards the voice. “What’s wront?”

“Where are you?”

“I don’t know!”

---

Luke and Mara raced down towards the Massassi temple as fast as they could.

“Whew! I’m beginning to feel my age,” Luke stopped to rest on a nearby rock.

“What? Your old bones can’t handle a little jog?” Mara teased.

“Yeah, c’mon, Dad!” Ben Skywalker exclaimed. “Cousin Anakin needs our help!”

”Anakin Solo no longer exists. Darth Assalis has . . . taken care of him.[/color]

Luke looked to Mara. “We’re too late.”

Mara set her jaw. “No, we are not.”

[Courtney Solo]

Anakin stumbled through the darkness towards Tahiri's voice, she had just called for help.

"Hang on, Angel!"

"I'm sorry, Heroboy ..."

"No! Hang on!" He ordered. "I will not let my vision come true!" Anakin ran/stumbled even faster.

You will not reach her in time. You wasted your mercy and it costs you your wife.

"You said I saved her! You told me that I'd brought peace and prosperity to the galaxy!" Anakin sank to the ground. "What have I done?"

"The right thing," Exar Kun emerged from the shadows. "You always do the right thing, Darth Assalis. Why should anything hinder your rise to power? Who can stand against you? Why shouldn't Tahiri be saved?" Exar lowered his voice to a growl. "Why have you failed?"

"I didn't faiL! She is still alive, I can feel her!"

"Can you, apprentice? Really?" Exar motioned to the temple behind him. "Search your feelings, you know it to be true. Your uncle prevented you, he hindered you; denied you! He doesn't care. Why should he live? He is the reason Tahiri is gone, isn't he?" Anakin nodded, believing the Dark Lord's lie.

"He ... shall not leave here ... alive," Anakin's head was beginning to hurt, as if the Force was causing an uprising inside of him. Darth Assalis looked back up to his Master, but Exar Kun had disappeared.

"Anakin!" Darth Assalis turned towards the source of the voice. Ben Skywalker was running towards him. "Are you alright? We've been looking everywhere for-" he stopped short. "The Dark Side of the Force is strong here. Anakin, we must leave!"

"Where is your father?" Darth Assalis asked the boy.

"I know that voice," Ben frowned. "It's the 'You're-in-so-much-trouble,-Ben,-but-I'm-not-telling-you-until-I-talk-with-your-father' voice."

"Where is he?" Darth Assalis growled.

"He-He's coming behind me. Anakin, why do you feel so ... sinister?"

Darth Assalis turned and ran swiftly down the darkened halls without responding.

"Anakin!" Luke exclaimed. "There you are, we've been looking everywhere for you! Mara took Tahiri to-"

"Mara's in this, too?" Darth Assalis ignited his lightsaber.

Luke's eyes widened. "So, it is true. You have turned to the Dark Side."

"You killed my wife, Jedi," Darth Assalis spat. "And now, I'm going to kill yours."

[Courtney Solo]

Mara helped Tahiri out of the temple. "Ack! The sunlight, it burns!" Tahiri shielded her eyes playfully.

"Tell me about it. Have we been in there all night?" Mara asked. Tahiri's eyes widened suddenly.

"Uh...Mara?"

"Yeah?"

"I think my sack just broke..." Suddenly, the side of the temple exploded and Darth Assalis emerged. "Ana-" Mara covered up Tahiri's mouth and shoved her behind a nearby bush. "Oww..."

"Shush," Mara whispered.

Anakin can't be a sith, Mara. I know him, he wouldn't![/color]

I think you need to get to know him a bit better.

Darth Assalis leapt towards Mara, lightsaber extended.

"A Jedi uses the Force for defense, never for attack," Tahiri whispered.

"You will go no further, Darth Assalis." A voice commanded loudly, Anakin halted.

"You will not keep me from my buisness!" Darth Assalis exclaimed, fixing Mara with an icy cold stare. "She will die."

No, Anakin! Don't do this![/color] Tahiri thought at him; he paid her no heed.

Mara blocked many of Darth Assalis' blows, but one nearly fatal one disarmed her. Her lightsaber fell to the ground several meters away, cut in two. Darth Assalis raised his fist to choke Mara, but Tahiri threw herself out of the bush and in front of Mara, allowing herself to be choked.

"Tahiri!" Mara exclaimed.

"Let her go, Anakin," Luke demanded. Anakin did not hear. "I said let her go!" Anakin released Tahiri from his grip, blinking wildly, realizing his foolishness. Concern for Tahiri flooded over him and he closed his eyes. "Is this what you wanted? Is this what you planned? You've let Exar Kun twist your mind until ... until now you're the very thing you swore to destroy."

"YOU! You did the exact opposite of what you promised!" This time Anakin was not talking to Luke. His eyes widened with rememberance. "I've been so blind! You used the very person I treasured the most and attacked, like I feared. You used her!" Anakin turned back towards Exar Kun. "You cannot take her from me again!"

Exar sneered. "Who are you to say so? The last time I checked, it was you who choked your wife, not I," Anakin ignited his lightsaber. "You stand alone, Jedi."

"Not alone," Luke corrected and ignited his lightsaber as well.

---

A huge cramp hit Tahiri and she groaned. Mara turned back to her. "Ben, help me get her back to the Temple." Ben Skywalker ran up to Tahiri and, along with his mother, picked her up. Tahiri was completely oblivious to anything else going on.

Luke, Tahiri's giving birth. Ben and I are taking her back to the temple, and I'll call in back-up.

Be careful, Jade. I love you.

"YOU! You did the exact opposite of what you promised!" Mara looked back. Anakin was focusing his anger on Exar Kun now. She grinned.

He was back.

---

STATUS ... Excellent
HEARTBEAT ... Normal
Heartbeat2 ... Normal
Heartbeat3 ... Normal
Bloodpressure ... ALL [3] ... Excellent

"You're doin' good, Tahiri, keep it up," Mara encouraged the young mother. Ben came over to his mom.

"Mom, I'm worried about Dad and Anakin. What if the bad dude hurts 'em?"

"Trust me, sweetie, if the plan is going like it's s'posed to, there's an army of friends on their way to their rescue."

---

Anakin was thrown into a wall, scraping his side as he came down. "Augh!" He shouted in pain.

"You cannot defeat me; you cannot kill me; There is no way to victory,"

"he's lying, Anakin," Kyp Durron stepped from the forest. "He has one weakness: he's greatly outnumbered." Corran, Mirax, Jaina, Zekk, Leia, Tenel Ka, Jacen, Tionne, Krista Fett, Lola Jinzler Fel, Chak, Boba Fett and Wyn fel stepped out from the forest as well. Three crafts suddenly swooped in from overhead; the Millenium Falcon, piloted by Han and Lando, and X-wing belonging to Wedge, and Jagged Fel's claw craft.

The Jedi among the group ignited their lightsabers, and everyone else drew their blasters. Krista and Boba cocked their grappling hooks and fingered their thermal detonators, waiting for the signal...

[hl=black]NEXT POST: THE OUTCOME[/hl][/color]