trans_9 | A House Divided [Part 3]

Anakin took a step forward as if to threaten Luke with his saber, but he stopped. Something caused him to hesitate. Luke's words...

His family?

The same last name.

He was taken back by a sudden sense of surprise. He stared at Luke, looking him over. There was something so familiar, something that seemed to link them within the Force.

It couldn't be... could it? Padme did say...

The realization struck him like a thousand bullets. He didn't even have time to react when the wave in the force also washed over him. For a moment he thought he was drowning. He almost buckled under it all, but somehow he held his ground.

His eyes closed for a moment, before he opened them to look at Luke again, this time in a much different light.

His future was right before him. And in that moment he was suddenly uncertain of what to do.

"You -- We will talk later."

His thoughts of vengeance were momentarily lost on him. He needed to get back to his one link to reality. The one thing he had left to hold onto. The blade on his lightsaber disappeared and he started to move past Luke to head back to Obi-Wan.

In the wake of the unexpected crush of power Obi-Wan found himself breathless and wet-eyed. A part of him just wanted to lay there and pant, but the practical part that had always won out made him blink and turn his head to look at Arha and squeeze the hand still in his. Without the Jedi's concentration, the power diminished quickly, but the memory of it was more than enough to make him smile.

"Well, that was interesting," Ben murmured under his breath and felt with his free hand for his side. Smooth skin and swiftly knitting plantsuit. It too seemed to be revitalized, binding over the tear with preternatural speed, "Are you alright?"

Distantly, she heard Sheeana's voice and the edges of humor within it.

Arha blinked a few times, only the lock of her body keeping her upright as she stared down at him. Fatigue blurred her vision, though the Force itself was still eddying through her in soft lapping waves. She expected it to leave, but it did not. It stayed. She watched Obi-Wan's lips move and it took a moment before she forced herself to put it into words that made sense.

Are you alright?

That was an interesting question. She was fine. And shaken. Her blue-within-blue eyes locked with Obi-Wan's then. She had no words to answer him with. None at all. Nor did her Mothers-Within. This had been more than unexpected, more than unheard of, more than most things she might have considered. The breath she'd let out was a soft hiss of noise. She was.

Different.

Arha worked the tight muscles in her body, forcing them to ease fractionally, and caught herself on Sheeana, rigid control (mind over body, always, always) keeping her upright. She didn't look away from Obi-Wan and it kept her centered as she fell back onto her knees, wordless, her fingers loose against his.

Fifteen minutes and she would be forced to sleep. Five and she would need to eat or the cramps and hungry gnawing would begin. But yes...she was alright. It was not accurate for what she was. Arha simply blinked.

It may not have been handled with the kind of grace that a Jedi Master ought to have, but it was out, and by the Force, Luke felt as though an entire planet-sized mass had been lifted off his shoulders. With a bit of a smile, Luke clipped his lightsaber back onto his belt and followed Anakin back toward where Arha, Sheeana, and Obi-Wan were.

"I look forward to it," he murmured, just before he dropped to one knee beside Obi-Wan and peered at him. The cuts on Obi-Wan's side had been healed, as he knew they'd be, and the plantsuit was closing over the skin. Soon, it would appear as though nothing had happened.

They would know better, though. Luke smiled.

"Are you feeling better, Master?" he asked, resting his chin on his knee.

Sheeana recognized that look. Miles Teg had it after...Well. After his reawakening.

So it wasn't a surprise when Fremen practicality won out over sentiment.

"She needs food. Now."

Anakin was quiet. Hauntingly quiet. He approached Obi-Wan and stared down at his former Master, but he spoke no words. He desperately wanted to tell someone, especially Obi-Wan of his realization. Of everything that had went on. About what the future could possible hold. But he couldn't betray that secret. He couldn't tell anyone.

And suddenly he never felt more alone.

Was it true what he believed? If it was ...

A certain sense of panic swelled up. If Obi-Wan found out -- he could be thrown out of the Order. He could be exiled or whatever other punishment they could come up with. He had to do something. He had to stop Obi-Wan from finding out.

But tearing Luke away now would look suspicious.

He was lost. Confused. Unsure of what to do.

So he fell back to the basics.

"Master... I apologize. I acted foolishly." He recited the words as he had done a thousand times. He no longer had to follow Obi-Wan, but he still found himself doing so at times.

He struggled to keep his emotions from boiling over, but his internal conflict was in vain. He looked away. All he could do now was keep himself calm.

"If you stopped acting rash, I'd have to ask you to go in for psychiatric testing," Obi-Wan quipped automatically, falling easily into their old pattern. He could feel Anakin's conflict like the sound of a simmering pot, but made no comment. Vaguely, Ben felt he ought to feel something of the same, but the healing had left very little room for else but calm acceptance. It would all come out right, "And don't think I still won't. We're going to have a talk."

That stern look was familiar, and it promised a good lecture in the very near future. Obi-Wan was nonpartisan, and gave Luke a similar warning glare, "But not at the moment. For now, help me up, I'm not an invalid. And help Arha for goodness sake, she's about to fall over."

Arha reviewed herself carefully and then slowly, calmly licked her free hand clean of blood. It took her a long moment to move the other and she repeated the process before working herself standing, still silent. Food first to replenish the lost energy.

Oh food, even if it was glop.

She refused to wobble, not even a little, and then reached down to pull Obi-Wan to his feet. Arha would not fall over, and that was pure stubborn will. She lasted perfectly long enough after her Agony.

Three minutes until cramps, she thought. Limitations. They were annoying. So very, very annoying, especially now.

Concern flooding him, Luke looked over at Arha, who indeed looked like she was about to tip over. Standing himself, Luke stepped carefully around Obi-Wan and his father to put a hand on Arha's arm.

That wild energy surged up his hand, and startled, Luke felt as though a channel had been opened between them. Not surprising really--she'd just poured much of herself into Obi-Wan, and the other master had opened himself up to her. Still, things coming from Arha were more in focus than they had been before.

"Can you walk?" he asked, worry in his voice. "I can carry you if you can't."

Sheeana looked between Skywalker and Masaari several times. A mischevious thought grew within her.

"Luke, please help Sister Masaari to the mess hall or sensorium and be sure she eats enough. Arha, you will allow Luke Skywalker to assist you in doing so, by carrying you if need be, and will not attempt to walk by yourself. That is an order from Mother Superior. I will remain behind to ensure that no more of our companions have been wounded or killed." There was a tinge of Voice to the request and command.

Playing matchmaker, Sheeana? That's generally what retired seductresses do. Came the voice of Odrade-within with an amused tone.

I'm just testing them. And laying the foundation for future bonds that will be of use to the Sisterhood.

Be sure they don't use you. I'm a 'heretic' and I still advise caution there.

Anakin knew it was coming -- the lecture. He had acted brashly and it was no doubt that Obi-wan would want to have words with him about it. But another realization washed over him and it resulted in a feeling of pure panic.

Just how much did his former master know? Is it possible that Luke did not tell him anything, but Anakin would have to make sure to watch what he would say. He would also need to talk to Luke and make sure he didn't give anything away.

"Of course, Master ... I will go ... Meditate on my actions. I assume you won't mind."

He turned to leave. He just needed to get away for awhile and think. He wad sure it would be a good excuse to get away.

"Good, see that you do," Obi-Wan glowered, then sighed and ran a hand over his tired face. He felt as if a stampede of Wookies had been using him for a thoroughfare. Still, no rest for the righteous weary; Obi-Wan dusted himself off, gave a deep nodding half-bow to Sheeana and said to the room at large, "Well, I suppose I should...see what I can do about the rest of the wounded."

Allow. She would allow assistance and yet not walk on her own? Arha fixed Sheeana with an unholy apoplectic, strangled sort of look that completely flushed her features before she schooled her expression into something less...

Less whatever that was.

She swallowed down her pride, which had jerked her back straight to push her to her full height, and let out a slight annoyed sigh as her eyes swept over Anakin (he was boiling, still, and that would only continue), and stopped on Obi-Wan as her fingers touched Luke's hand.

"Obi-Wan," she forced out as clearly as she was able, "I will slap you upside. Your head. Should you overextend yourself. Do not assume," she paused, breathless for a moment in which the world faded just a little, "that you may jump about. Like a frog. Rest."

Arha blinked furiously to refocus and wobbled from the effort of getting the words out, solidly leaning into Luke. If they hadn't been important, she wouldn't have bothered. Her gaze needled Sheeana in a silent do not think I did not see that!

Edited 2009-09-13 02:08 (UTC)

That really did make Luke crack a smile. The idea of anyone smacking Obi-Wan Kenobi upside the head was too funny not to. "She sounds pretty serious, Ben," he said, blue eyes merry. "Better listen to her."

A thought occurred to him. "In fact, you'd better come with us. You might be healed but I don't think you're up to fighting capacity yet. I don't want to see you laid out like that again, and I doubt Anakin would either." He stretched out to his father for affirmation and was struck by the dark swirl of emotions in the man.

Luke sighed. Things weren't going to be easy between any of them. He sent his father a tendril of all those supportive emotions he wasn't sure the other man even wanted and held his arm out to Arha. "Besides, I'm sure she'd prefer to walk if she could, and I can't be on both sides of her at once."

It's really difficult to see when a Spice addict is rolling their eyes. The total blue-within-blue obscures the pupils. A diligent observer, however, might have been able to pick up Sheeana doing exactly that.

That and smirking. Blushing like a first year acolyte, Arha? Charming as that may be, we may have to go over the art of obscuration a bit more.

"Fine. I will carry Master Kenobi and Luke will carry Arha. We will get you to a safe resting place, where you will remain." One wouldn't think that with her small, slight frame Sheeana could carry Obi-Wan but she was dead serious.

A House Divided [Part 3]

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