Return

Connan plopped herself down at one of the chairs inside the white-walled conference room, crossing her arms and setting a look on her face as Carth sat beside her. Yoda lifted himself gracefully into one of the seats, while Senator Organa and Obi Wan took seats on either side of him.

“I have sent off Padmé’s body,” Senator Organa informed. “I will follow as soon as I can.”

“Give her to people you trust,” Carth instructed. “As far as most people know, she was still pregnant. Have them make her appear to still be. If the Emperor figures out that she’s given birth, he’ll be on the hunt for the children.”

Senator Organa nodded. “It will be done immediately.”

“You’ll give her our respects, right?” Connan asked.

“Of course I will.”

“Right now we must think of the twins,” Obi Wan interrupted. “What should we do?”

“Hidden, safe, the children must be kept.” Yoda rationalized.

“I’d offer to take one of them, if we planned on staying much longer.” Connan admitted.

“And we thank you for considering,” Obi Wan patted her hand. “But they should be given to more grounded people. We must take them somewhere where the Sith will not sense their presence.”

“They should be split up,” Connan interjected. When the men kept their gazes on her she continued. “It will be safer for them and harder for the Sith to find them both.”

“My wife and I will take the girl.” Organa offered. “We’ve always talked of adopting a baby girl.”

Connan nodded. “Leia Organa. I’ll remember that.”

“She will be loved with us.” The Senator continued. “We will raise her to know the faults of the Empire and how to stop them.”

Carth and Connan exchanged a look. Leia might come in handy some day.

“What of the boy?” Carth asked. “Where will he go?”

“To Tatooine.” Yoda instructed. “To his family send him.”

Obi Wan stared around the room for a moment before nodding. “I will take the child and watch over him.”

Connan slapped a hand against the table. “Great idea. We’ll go with you. I’m sure we can find our way home on Tatooine.”

Obi Wan and Senator Organa stood.

“Until the time is right, disappear we will.” Yoda said. Senator Organa left to retrieve his new daughter. Yoda held out a hand to keep Obi Wan from leaving. “Master Kenobi, wait a moment.”

Obi Wan sat down. Connan saw him hide the cringe and saw his shoulder twitch. He was still wearing his burned and tattered robes from his fight with Ana—Darth Vader. He hadn’t stopped once to change clothes or take a shower.

Not that Connan could gripe about it to him. She was still wearing the bloodied up robes she’d worn when Darth Vader cut her arm off.

“In your solitude on Tatooine, training I have for you.” Yoda continued, startling Connan out of her thinking.

“Training?” Carth repeated. “I thought he’d completed his training.”

“An old friend has learned the path to immortality.” At Obi Wan’s blank stare, Yoda continued. “One who has returned from the netherworld of the Force. Your old Master.”

Connan stiffened up as Obi Wan drew back in surprise.

“Qui-Gon?” They both exclaimed simultaneously.

Yoda nodded sadly. “How to commune with him, I will teach you.”

Connan stood up, stretching. “Well, this is where Carth and I head out.”

“Want to learn this ability, you do not?” Yoda asked. Connan shrugged.

“When the dead want to talk to me, they come of their own accord. If I ever have need to call on them I’ll ask for help, like I have from you in the past. Since I will probably never be on my own for years at a time, I will never have to rely on the dead to keep me company.” She shrugged her bag onto her shoulder. “And besides, I’ve got to go explain to my dog that we have to die to go home. It’s not exactly the easiest thing in the galaxy to do.” She bowed. “Yoda, I will see you again some day, I hope. Obi Wan, we’ll be waiting for you inside the shuttle.”

XXXXX

Connan walked stagnantly through the hallways. She was exhausted. She hadn’t slept a wink in days, even though she’d lied down and looked like it to please Carth. Her mind just wouldn’t stop running.

They were about to do something that she’d never thought she’d have to do. She would literally have to beat time.

They didn’t know when the Byssual would show up again. They didn’t know how to keep it away until they needed it, and they didn’t know how to make it stay away from them at all. As far as they were concerned, they had nothing to do but sit around and wait for the Dark Sided sentient to come pick them up.

Connan had never been one to wait.

She would beat the Byssual. She would make it to Telos and force Atris to hand over the right holocrons so they would know how to defeat it when it came along again.

Then, when the Byssual came for them, Connan and Carth would come willingly. They would start a rebellion (or if it’s already started, join the rebellion), and take down the Emperor.

No one messed with Connan’s Republic and got away with it.

Before Connan could seethe anymore about how things had turned out, she and Carth came across Senator Organa, leading C3PO and R2-D2 through the hallways. He was making his way toward a small, dark-haired man who was conversing with an ensign.

“Captain Antilles.” The Senator said as the captain turned around. The man saluted and bowed.

“Yes, Your Highness?”

“I’m placing these droids in your care.” The Senator instructed. “Treat them well, clean them up. And give the protocol droid a memory wipe.”

“What?” Came C3PO’s startled reply instantly. R2-D2 beeped in amusement. “Oh, no.”

XXXXX

Connan and Carth sat inside the shuttle. Carth cracked his knuckles and stretched his arms outward. Æliesha, who had followed them onto the shuttle, lay at Connan’s feet, her tail wagging contently.

“So remind me again of what we’re doing when we get home.” He started.

Connan sat up in her chair; she’d been slouching and staring at the ceiling, thinking of what they were to do next.

“First we have to get home.” Connan corrected. “That’s what I’m more worried about. It’s not exactly easy, trying to kill yourself.”

“So I’ve been told,” Carth replied darkly. “What do you suggest we do about this?”

“Since we’re going with Obi Wan to Tatooine, I figured we could look something up from there.”

“Oh really? Is there another Krayt Dragon that would be happy to gobble us up?”

Connan’s eyes flashed. “Your cynicism isn’t appreciated. Do you know how much I worried about getting home last time we were here? And apparently, if we do it wrong we can still die anyway, if my near-drowning experience says anything.”

Carth shrugged. “It’s not like we’re actually going to die, unless we do something stupid like drown.”

“I suppose we could use the Sand People. They have blasters, don’t they?”

“How should I know? I haven’t seen any Sand People from this era.” Carth shrugged. “They should though. If they have turrets in our time, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be using blasters in this one.”

Connan nodded, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. “All right. I suppose we’ll just have to make a Tuskan Raider mad enough to shoot at one of us.”

Carth blinked. “One of us?”

“Of course. We don’t all need to be near-death. Just hang on to the one dying and the Byssual should grab all of us.” Connan explained.

“Connan, if you deliberately get yourself shot because you don’t want me and your dog to get hurt, then—”

“Whoever is shot will be a complete chance.” Connan interrupted. “Since there are people here who have a problem with others taking shots for them on purpose, we’ll have to do it the old fashioned way.”

Carth growled. “There’s no need for sarcasm.” He crossed his arms. “I just don’t want you getting hurt any more than you already are.”

“I’m not so banged up.” Connan shrugged aimlessly, causing Carth to become angry.

“You have your arm cut off then put back on, you feel Anakin’s pain like it’s yours for hours on end, and you had two people force into your mind to destroy the bond that would have ultimately killed you. Not to mention the emotional distress you’ve gone through with all the betrayals and death.” He stressed. “You’ve been through far too much for your own good.”

Connan puffed. “I thank you for your concern, but—”

The door opened and Obi Wan walked in, his arms tucked around a sleeping Luke. He placed the child in Connan’s hands. Carth leaned over and studied the dozing child as Connan did. He seemed very tranquil.

“We’ll be on Tatooine in a few hours.” Obi Wan stated as he turned on the shuttle and gave the coordinates. “Until then, I would prefer it if there weren’t any arguments. This will be hard enough as it is.”

Connan closed her mouth and hugged Luke closer.

XXXXX

Connan slept most of the way to Tatooine. Carth made sure she and the baby were comfortable, with Connan lounging around on the bench in the back and the baby Luke on top of her. They both snoozed lightly, accommodating to the other. Connan’s arm draped around the newborn, stopping him from falling off of her. Carth laughed. Connan protected everyone even in her sleep.

“So,” Obi Wan asked as Carth returned to the co-pilot seat. Æliesha beside him growled at his presence but didn’t try to move him. “How are you two getting home?”

“Honestly?” Carth sighed and shook his head. “We have no idea. She thinks maybe using the Sand People would be the best way to go, and I’m inclined to believe her. But how we’re going to attract the Sand People and how we’re going to get them to shoot at us, I’ll never know until it happens.”

Obi Wan nodded thoughtfully. “And what are your plans for the rest of your lives?”

“Oh, we’re definitely coming back.” Carth answered quickly. He smirked at Obi Wan’s relieved face. “Connan thinks that the Emperor will still try and convert her to the Dark Side, but even if he doesn’t send the Byssual after us again, I think she might try and summon it herself.”

“That’s comforting,” Obi Wan admitted. “I was worrying about whether or not she would want to come back.”

“Of course she wants to come back.” Carth amended. “She wants to see the Republic safe and sound just like everyone else who’s now dead or on the run.” Carth ran a hand through his hair. “In fact, she wants to be deep inside the Rebellion, when one arises.”

“How does she know people will rebel?” Obi Wan inquired.

“If we come back and there is no talk of rebellion, we’ll start it ourselves.” Carth answered. “Connan is quite used to playing the bad guy; she’ll be fine with stirring up trouble with the government, so long as the Republic comes out alive in the end.”

For the rest of the way home, Carth and Obi Wan were silent. Quite a few times Carth would go back toward Connan and watch her sleeping, cradling the small child in her arms, as if anything outside of her own gentleness would shatter it. It was really quite endearing to him.

Then came the time when Obi Wan told him to wake Connan up, that they were twenty minutes away from Tatooine, and Carth’s nerves shook him again, even as he laid his hand on Connan’s shoulder and tugged to rouse her from sleep.

Her arms tightened around Luke instinctively, and she sat up halfway, opening her eyes and looking around.

“Hon, it’s almost time to go.” Carth explained. Connan nodded, readjusting the still-sleeping infant as she stood.

“I’ve already informed Owen and Beru Lars about their new addition to the family. They’ve agreed to take Luke and raise him for us.” Obi Wan stated as he started the landing process. “They know the basics of what is happening, and that they must raise the boy as if he was always with them, and to keep him secret. They will learn why when they hear news of the Galactic Empire.”

Connan nodded, sitting in the chair next to Carth’s, still holding the child.

“Stay seated,” Obi Wan informed. “Hopefully this won’t wake the child up.”

XXXXX

“Owen,” Connan nodded to him. He’d grown in the years. His beard had become more rugged, and his muscles had become more toned—due to the moisture farming, no doubt. She nodded to his wife, who had grown very little, though her hair was now long enough to be doubled back into a braided bun. “Beru.”

“Master Jedi,” Beru bowed. Owen turned his back from the Jedi and crossed his arms. Connan frowned, looking toward Beru for the answer. Beru simply took the child and smiled sadly. “He will be safe with us.”

Connan nodded, looking away before the sadness of it all could catch up with her. She’d grown quite attached to that child while she’d been holding him. Carth wrapped an arm around her shoulders and Æliesha rubbed her head into her knees.

“I thank you.” Obi Wan bowed his head. “If you need any assistance at any time, I will be very close by.”

“We will need nothing of the sort.” Owen snapped, keeping his back still turned. Obi Wan winced, but let the rude remark slide. He bowed and made his way back to his transportation.

Without another with, Beru brought Luke over to where Owen stood, watching the suns set on the other side of his small farm.

Connan turned and stood beside her own speeder. As she reached to turn it on, Obi Wan grasped her wrist.

“It’s cool now,” He stated. “Let’s take a walk and clear our heads.”

Connan frowned, but nodded. She motioned to Carth and Æliesha for them to follow and made her way around to Obi Wan, who stood fiddling with the buttons on his own speeder.

“Where are we going?” Carth asked as they walked around. Obi Wan shrugged.

“No where in particular.” He answered. “It’s easier to think when we’re out in the open, without the loud hum of the speeders, don’t you think?”

Connan agreed. “And it is cool out here; much cooler than it is in the daytime.”

“Yeah, at least we aren’t looking around for Sand Crawlers or captive siblings to one of our crew members.” Carth chuckled.

“But we are looking for Sand People,” Connan reminded.

They were silent for long moments again. Obi Wan sauntered with his hands clasped behind him, and he kept his gaze to the sky. When he spoke again, they were way out of seeing-distance to the Lars house.

“Connan,” Obi Wan started. “You would never fall to the Dark Side deliberately, would you?”

Connan stopped walking, suddenly aghast. “What a thing to ask!”

Obi Wan stared at her. “I’m serious. If you were given the chance like Anakin was given, would you become Revan, like he became Vader?”

Connan was too shocked to speak at first. Her mouth flittered open and shut again, and she was sure she looked like a fish. Obi Wan mistook the gesture.

“See! You don’t know, do you?” He asked. “If you’re going to lead a rebellion against the Empire one day, you’re going to need to be sure you’re pulling for the side you think is best.”

“Obi Wan, what are you—” Carth was interrupted by an angry Connan, who jabbed her index finger into Obi Wan’s chest each time she stressed a word.

“Let’s get something straight, Obi Wan, right now.” At the third intense jab Obi Wan retreated, rubbing his sore sternum. “I don’t give a flying gizka about Light Side and Dark Side; it’s all relative to me. You can be Dark Sided to do good, just as you can be Light Sided to do something bad. All I care about is the Republic. Don’t you dare go asking me dumb questions like knowing who I am.”

“It was just a question!” Obi Wan puffed up. “I was just making sure you weren’t going to change your mind halfway through.”

“Change my—” Connan couldn’t complete the thought. “We’ve known each other for eighteen years now, and now you choose to doubt me? Even in the beginning you trusted me, even if you didn’t like me. Are we to have a reversal of roles, now?”

Obi Wan’s features darkened. “Don’t get cute. It was a legitimate question.”

“No, it was a paranoid question.” Connan argued. “I’m sure that this whole ordeal has caused you to doubt who your friends are, but I assure you I’ve been through these kinds of things before. I am not going to betray the Republic just because there’s an extremely old, creepy, insane Emperor who thinks I would be a lot better if I was Dark Sided!”

“Ah, but would you betray the Republic if there wasn’t any sort of danger to it?”

“So, what? Now you’re asking me if I would take over the Republic for power’s sake? That even if I had no chance of hurting the Republic, would I vie for power?”

“That’s right.”

“No!” Connan screeched. “Now you’re comparing me to Palpatine? Have you gone insane? Are you even Obi Wan?” She tugged sharply at her hair. “Force, now you’ve gotten me paranoid! What’s your problem? What are you playing at? What is with all of these stupid questions?!”

Then a loud, startling cry overtook Obi Wan’s retort, and the three of them and Æliesha glanced around to see what made the sound.

Five Tuskan Raiders advanced upon them, wielding their blasters menacingly. Connan blinked, looking from the Sand People to Carth and then to Obi Wan.

And then she figured it out.

“You wanted to draw out the Sand People for us, didn’t you?” She asked quietly. Obi Wan nodded.

“My last act of kindness for the decade, since I’m about to be completely alone.”

Connan hugged Obi Wan tightly, having forgotten the advancing Sand People for a moment. “Thank you.” She whispered. She pulled back and stared him in the face. “I suppose you could always call me up, too, since I’m supposed to be dead in this era anyway.”

Obi Wan smirked. “I never thought of that.”

“Of course you didn’t.” Connan answered. She turned to face the Sand People and balled her hands into fists. “We’ll be back.”

The Sand People were now in range for their blasters to hit them. Connan and Carth stood regally straight, in front of Obi Wan so he wouldn’t accidentally get hit. The Raiders were now setting up their blasters, getting ready to fire. Connan held her head high.

“They only need to hit one of us,” Connan whispered to Carth. “Which ever one of us it is, hold on as tightly as you can to the other. And make sure you have Æliesha in the other hand. I don’t want to leave her here.”

Carth nodded. “All right.”

The Sand People were ready. The first one raised its blaster and fired.

Connan closed her eyes and braced herself. She’d seen the way the blaster had been held; she knew it was aimed at her. She hoped Carth didn’t realize it too and stand in the way.

But the shot never hit her, and she was suddenly scared that Carth had in fact done what she feared. She opened her eyes.

Æliesha lay at her feet, breathing heavily.

Connan cried out, kneeling down to her Kath Hound and inspecting the wound. “Come on, girl. I never expected you to try and take a shot for me!”

She shook Æliesha gently as the dog reared its head around and licked her hand weakly. Connan was too preoccupied with her dying Kath Hound to realize that Carth had grasped her shoulders.

She distinctly heard Obi Wan cry out in amazement as the all-too-familiar-and-welcome purring sound invaded her ears and she was overtaken by the extreme coldness before her vision blacked out on her.

XXXXX

When the Sand People stopped to get their blasters ready, Obi Wan clicked the button on the remote he’d been holding. When the first Raider finished held up his blaster, Obi Wan could see Connan tense and figured that it was aimed at her. Thought he wanted to avert his eyes, he couldn’t look away.

That was when he saw Æliesha look up at Connan, then back at the Sand People. He was extremely shocked when he saw her leap up into the air and catch the blaster shot before it could hit Connan.

He saw Connan hit the ground beside her dog and cry out something about not even thinking her Kath Hound would do that. That’s stupid, he thought. That dog would go to the ends of the Earth for her, so why should taking a shot for her come as a surprise?

Then he noticed the large, purple swirl of color racing toward them, no doubt to pick up the dying dog. He cried out, making Carth turn and look. He had just enough time to grab onto Connan’s shoulders before all three of them were engulfed inside and disappeared.

The feat left the Sand People stunned for a moment. They stared—in shock, Obi Wan thought, if they could feel such things—where the people they were going to kill used to be. It gave Obi Wan enough time to back up without them noticing.

But then they did notice him, and all five blasters were trained on him. He could hear the one in the middle—the leader, most likely—calling out, as if counting down to his execution.

He wasn’t about to let that happen.

Before they could get to their destined number, Obi Wan leapt into the air and landed on his speeder as it whizzed past. He swerved in different directions to avoid blaster shots from the angry Sand People and made his way farther into the desert.

Good thing he had the insight to program his speeder to follow him when he turned it on, or he would have been toast, and there would have been no going back for him.

In the back of his mind, while he wasn’t thinking of where he would live and what he would do with himself in the years coming until the child grew up enough to take an open part in the rebellion that would definitely form, he was thinking about how much he would miss Connan, and he was planning on staving off that feeling by using his newfound ability to talk to her and Qui-Gon over the years.

So, as he rode off into the distance to find a quiet spot to call home for the next several years, instead of feeling the immense sense of dread and loneliness he envisioned, he was eager to see what the future held for them all.

XXXXX

Connan hit the hard cold ground, and before she could remember much of what happened, she wondered why she was lying on metal and not sand.

Then she remembered and was up in an instant, checking on her Kath Hound. As expected, the wound had closed up nicely enough, and the dog in question was busy licking Bastila’s face.

“That’s quite enough, thank you.” Bastila shoved the dog away and dragged Connan up, followed by a disoriented Carth.

“How did we end up in the same place?” Connan asked as she hugged Bastila tightly. Bastila reciprocated eagerly.

“I guess it decided to do something nice for us, for once.” She replied. Then she tugged her head to one side behind her. “Donella and Jolee are over there.” Connan nodded and rushed to them.

“Do you ever get used to that?” Donella called from Jolee’s side.

“Get used to what?” Connan asked as she ran a finger along Jolee’s still-wounded side.

“That incredibly unsettling feeling that you’re being ripped apart from the universe and being put back somewhere else.” Donella replied.

Connan smiled and shook her head. “Of course not.” She closed her eyes and sent a wave of healing Force through the old man, and his wound closed up quickly.

“Humph,” Jolee griped. “I suppose I’m more thankful for that than I would have been eight months ago.”

Connan grinned. “What are you talking about? We’ve only been gone for a few seconds, if that.”

Jolee glared. “Don’t you go pulling that time junk on me, missy. We may have been away from this moment for a few flashes, but the fact still remains that we feel at least eight months older.”

“Uhh, guys?” Carth rubbed the back of his head, swaying on his feet. “Why do I feel like we’re missing something?”

Connan frowned, counting heads. “All of us are here, Carth.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about.” Carth answered. “Wasn’t there something important we were doing before we left?”

“Well, sure, we were… talking about that scepter in the Jek’Jek Tar. Then we left and told Carth what we were talking about.” Donella gasped. “Then we were attacked by the Exchange!”

Connan slapped her forehead. They’d been gone for too long; they hadn’t even remembered they’d been in danger before they left.

“Sabers out!” She called. Her own lightsabers were in her hands before she finished speaking and her whirled them around dangerously.

As the other finished fishing theirs out, three Gammoreans and five Duros barged in. Before they could register that they’d cornered their prey, the Jedi attacked.

Æliesha flew into the air just as the others did, and she landed on the Duros closest to her, ripping out its throat. For good measure, Carth shot at him before moving on to the Gammorean attacking Connan.

Connan slashed through the Gammorean’s arm, cutting a rather shallow wound before the arm retracted. It swung around and before Connan could move, a huge hand swiped her across the chest, sending her flying backward.

Oh, that was it.

She’d spent the last week fighting people she didn’t want to fight, and she’d spent the last eight or so months on edge about Palpatine being the Sith Lord. She had had enough of the constant worry, and she was going to take it out on the Gammoreans.

Bastila seemed to sense what she was feeling, because before Connan lost interest in the others she heard her friend scream “Move!” And saw her drag Carth away from the angry Jedi.

Connan wrapped her arms around herself, using the Force to feel everything around her. She grabbed on to whatever she could with her mind, clinging to the ceiling and the crates behind her and the shards of glass that were always on the ground, and even the enemies themselves. She could feel herself being lifted into the air by her own powers, and she drew her legs up into herself, symbolically tightening her strong hold on the objects around her, both inanimate and sentient.

Then in one movement, she flung her arms and legs to the sides, and arched her back, and everything exploded.

The debris of crates and the parts of ceiling that broke off were thrown at the people trying to kill them, who stayed suspended in the air until something collided with them, where they were thrown against the wall.

Connan set herself back onto her feet and looked at the results. The light fixture above her was now swaying back and forth, barely holding onto the wires allowing it to shed light. Sparks flew out of the crates that held electronic things, with crushed bodies lying behind them. The walls were scorched and in some places the metal was peeled back to reveal another hallway.

In short, she had obliterated the hallway.

Bastila and the others eased from around the corner and surveyed the damage. Jolee whistled.

“You know, if you’d done that in the first place, we wouldn’t have been lost so deeply in the middle of this maze.”

Connan laughed, glad that everyone wasn’t suddenly scared of her. She hated showing her power off like that. Most everyone became either scared of her or greedy for her power. But maybe these guys were the other side if “most”.

“What can I say?” She shrugged. “I wanted to give you guys a chance at first.”

“And now?” Carth asked.

“Now I’m just tired of fighting.”

Æliesha barked, making Connan bring her lightsabers up again. Atton, Visas, and Mira bolted through the entrance and skidded to a halt in front of the destroyed room.

Atton stared. “How—what—” Before he could finish a sentence he was faced with an armful of Donella.

“Atton! I missed you!” She cried, wringing his neck with her tight grip.

“Huh? What are you talking about, babe? I’ve been gone for maybe ten minutes.” Atton tried to pull Donella back enough to breathe.

“Yeah, what’s the big idea?” Mira asked. “We took care of most of the Exchange people after you, but a few of them got through. I’m guessing Little Miss Revan took care of them, judging by the look of the hallway.”

Visas looked around. “It must have taken a lot of Force to create this kind of destruction. I can see where the Force burned marks into the walls.”

Connan nodded. “I got tired of being messed with.”

“So what happened?” Mira asked.

“We were dragged rather forcefully into the future,” Bastila explained. “And only just got back.”

“And for the ten minutes you were there you were battered around? What a lovely future.” Mira remarked with a smirk.

“No, no.” Connan amended. “We were there for nearly eight and a half months.”

There was silence from the three as they expected everyone to burst into laughter at the joke, but when none came Atton pried Donella away from him and stared at her.

“You’re serious?” He asked. Donella nodded.

“It was the strangest thing I’ve ever experienced.” She remarked. “And I’ve got so much to tell you!”

“Like what?” Atton asked, suddenly suspicious.

“Like the fact that we’re going to follow Connan to wherever she’s going.” Donella turned to a surprised Connan. “We’re not leaving you until you’ve resolved whatever you need to resolve back there.”

Connan frowned. “You mean you’re going to stay until the Byssual comes back and we kill the Emperor?”

“That’s right!” Donella said. “So we’ll be heading back to our own ship, right now. I want to sleep. Come find us tomorrow and we’ll discuss what needs to be done.”

“All right,” Connan replied as Donella dragged the three completely confused crew members off while explaining to them what they were to do.

“We should be heading back, too.” Jolee said. “Canderous and the others will be wondering where we are.”

Connan nodded, taking a step before her knees locked and she nearly toppled over. Carth grabbed for her and carried her out of the charred hallway.

“Why do these adventures always end with me carrying you?” He asked. She shrugged.

“It’s a rather nice way to end.”

XXXXX

They lay practically on top of each other, like they used to do before this happened, holding the other so close that they seemed to be melded together.

She was asleep, sound asleep, snoring softly as she moved to hook their legs together more securely. Every now and again her fist in front of him would open and close reflexively, and often through the night he would wonder if it would lash out at him. Her other arm wrapped tightly around his shoulders, and tightened up if he even thought about moving away, though it would loosen up slightly if he wanted to change positions to get more comfortable.

He wouldn’t have moved if someone held a blaster to his head and ordered him to.

She might have been deep in sleep, but nothing could ever convince him to do so at this time. He kept her head tucked neatly into his chest, so he could rest his head on hers if he wanted, but he mostly kept his head buried into her neck, where her scent surrounded him and all he could do was think about her.

He had his arms wrapped lazily around her waist, but the leisure of it was simply an illusion. The slightest noise would have him tense up, and two or three times in the night he would simply tighten his hold just to have her closer.

He knew he should probably get some sleep. After all, he’d been through a lot of the same trauma she had. But when he looked at the clock and saw that it was nearly morning anyway, he pushed the thought away.

Besides, this night was about making her as comfortable as possible.

She’d been the one to get her arm cut off, she’d been the one who had to suffer through Anakin’s pain before they severed the bond, she was the one who needed the rest more. And after all the work she’d put into making the future a better place for everyone, she deserved a little time to let down her guard and sleep how she wanted.

She shifted again, and he let her go long enough for her to find another position to feel secure in. He was used to this part; she usually never stopped moving, even in her sleep. When she settled down and he could feel her muscles relax again, he returned to his hold around her.

They stayed in this position until he could hear the sounds of the others left on the ship waking up—the people in their side of the dorms had vacated to Donella’s ship for the night to “give them space”—and he decided it was time for them to rise, too.

Carth stared down at Connan’s face, completely relaxed, completely at ease, and suddenly felt the same endearment he’d felt since she saved his son crash into him. He smirked, and pressed his lips against hers.

She returned the kiss for many moments before she actually woke up. Carth restrained a laugh as she mechanically opened her mouth for him, and ever made soft little noises when he did something she liked.

Finally she took in a breath and opened her eyes, and before she knew what she was doing, she pulled Carth closer.

“Well,” she said when they broke apart. “I could get used to that.”

Carth laughed breathily, keeping his arms still wrapped tightly around her. She looked him over, running a hand through his hair.

“You didn’t sleep at all, did you?” She asked incredulously. He stared into her beautiful eyes and pecked her on the lips once more.

“How could I? There was someone beautiful sleeping this close to me and I couldn’t have fallen asleep even if I wanted to. I was too distracted.”

At Connan’s suddenly red face, Carth laughed, tugging her closer so they were practically flush against each other. But she recovered quickly enough; a few years under Carth’s smooth talking got her used to such comments rather quickly. She turned her eyes up to look at him with that smirk Carth adored (which could have been any smirk, so long as it was Connan who was doing the smirking), and whispered so Carth had to listen carefully.

“Well, it’s not like all we did was sleep last night.”

Carth knew that too, but reminding him of it made him want to do it again. He rolled over so she was lying on top of him and grinned.

“You’re going to have to remind me of that part.” He replied. She returned his grin and kissed him savagely.

Yes, they had things to worry about. Technically, they were in a race against time and the Byssual to see how much information they could gather before they were taken again to the future, since the one who keeps dragging them there is still alive. Technically, they should have punched in the coordinates for Telos last night before they went to sleep, but Carth wanted Connan to wake up on a planet for once, whether or not the planet was a dirty, rotten, smuggler’s planet like Nar Shadaa.

They still had to find Atris. They still had to find a way to kill the Byssual to make it stop chasing them. They still had to plan a rebellion four-thousand years before it actually happened. And Connan would be the one, in the end, to make them do all of those things. It was her job.

But Carth would stop time itself for Connan, and for a while—even if it was just for one night—Connan was going to feel like a normal human being before the reality of her world, her duty, and what she had to do for her Republic came back to her.

By the glazed look over Connan’s eyes, she didn’t object at all.

XXXXX

The End!

Finally I’m done! I don’t know why this chapter took me so long to type! It’s nearly 7:30!

Anyway, that was the last of Revenge of the Sith join me in the next few weeks for our next installment:

A New Hope

I’ll be trying something new, there, using sayings from Greek tragedies, which I have been enthralled with for months now.

And for those of you who haven’t, can you please check out Defying Gravityfor me? Thanks a lot!

I want to thank everyone who reviewed me. I have nearly two hundred reviews; that’s more than I ever thought possible! I’m glad you guys like my writing so much.

So I’ll see you when I update again; be on the lookout for my new story!

Amme Moto

! Update ! 7/13/08: I changed the ending because I didn’t like how it ended the first time. I’m much more at ease with this one.