Shattered Remembrance

Chapter Seven

Once more Leia, Han, and Mara were sitting in Dr. Panio's office, worriedly listening to a detailed account of Luke's condition. This time, Talon Karrde had joined them.

"Doctor Oro'duen is Coruscant's leading specialist in the area of brain injuries. He and I have concurred that Master Skywalker has what is known as retrograde amnesia," the medic pronounced, clasping his hands as he began. "Scans show injury to the area of his brain directly impacted by the accident, and also injury to the area opposite that at which the blow occurred. The opposing trauma causes a shifting of his brain, resulting in nerve cells breaking, along with swelling which compresses the brain in the skull."

"Can we cut to the chase, Doc?" Han said, watching as Leia's face grew paler and paler.

Doctor Panio nodded in understanding. "Simply put, the brain damage has caused Master Skywalker to lose his memory of events prior to the accident. In most cases, victims only forget the accident itself. However, in a few cases, such as Master Skywalker's, all memory is lost."

"Yeah, well, Luke always has defied the odds," Han said glumly.

"Surely there is a surgery that can repair the damage," Leia said, her expression struggling to be hopeful.

"I'm sorry," Doctor Panio replied. "As advanced as medical treatment is, even neural reconnection would not undo the damage that has occurred. Fortunately, this type of condition is rarely permanent," the doctor continued. "The human body can usually heal itself naturally, relying on other memory systems to compensate for what is lost. Master Skywalker was in excellent health beforehand, which works in his favor, and from what we've been able to determine so far, he is able to retain new knowledge as it is presented to him."

"But what can we do to hasten his recovery?" Leia asked.

Doctor Panio hesitated before answering. "I'm afraid there is no magic cure for amnesia, Councilor. But I do have recommendations for helping Master Skywalker adjust to his loss."

"You just said it wasn't permanent," Mara growled.

"I said it's rarely permanent," the medic said calmly. "But even if he eventually recovers, it could be months, and he may regain only part of his memory. There is no way to predict. Though I must remind you, Master Skywalker's head trauma was very severe."

"But he's a Jedi Master," Leia persisted. "There must be a way that the Force can help to heal him. Surely Cilghal can do something."

"I know of Master Cilghal's reputation," Doctor Panio said. "I regret that my knowledge of the Force is not extensive enough to know for certain whether she would be able to help or not. It is my judgment that it would be best not to attempt any Force treatment until Master Skywalker is stronger, and has been introduced to the concept of the Force."

"Perhaps we need to hear what we can do to help Skywalker adjust in his current condition," Talon spoke up, looking around at the group.

Leia nodded in reluctant agreement. "Yes, Talon's right." She looked at the medic. "What do you suggest, doctor?"

Doctor Panio rose and circled around to the front of his desk. "The most important thing is for all of you to be patient. Try to understand his point of view - to him, all of you are strangers." The doctor leaned back against his desktop. "In fact, I recommend that he be introduced to new people ― new to him, that is - very gradually. You and Captain Solo should talk to him first, of course, Councilor. When you do, take care not to overwhelm Master Skywalker with too much information at once."

"And just what are we allowed to tell him?" Han snapped.

"When he asks questions, answer him truthfully, but carefully. You'll need to earn his trust."

Han snorted. "That won't be hard. Luke is the most trusting person in the galaxy."

"Perhaps Luke was," Panio stated. "Captain, the sooner you accept that your brother-in-law is no longer the same person, the sooner he can begin to learn to accept you, his family." The medic's compassionate gaze encompassed Leia and Han both.

"So, just how much does he know? Are we going to have to teach him how to eat? How to dress himself?"

Talon couldn't help but notice the anguish that filled Mara's face at Han's harsh questions.

The doctor shook his head. "Master Skywalker does retain basic skills. He knows he's in a medcenter, but not that he'd been here before. He would recognize what a speeder is, but he wouldn't remember the names of the various models. He wouldn't remember his favorite foods, but most likely he would acquire the same likes and dislikes over time."

"Does he … does he remember anything from the time he was in the coma?" Mara spoke up.

"No, I'm sorry." Doctor Panio looked genuinely sympathetic. "He said the earliest thing he can remember is waking up and seeing a dark-haired woman standing near the window this morning." He glanced at Leia, smiling sadly.

"What about his physical injuries?"

The medic exhaled in apparent relief, indicating this would be a less controversial subject. "His wounds have been healing at a satisfactory rate, and he'll only require about a month of therapy for his leg. I've discussed with him the matter of attaching a new hand, and he is ready to have that happen as soon as possible."

"You didn't tell him how he lost his hand originally, did you?" Leia asked, a worried expression crossing her face.

"No, of course not," the doctor assured her. "I was including myself when I discussed releasing information to him gradually. As far as he knows right now, he lost his hand in an accident many years ago. He didn't ask yet about the nature of the accident, and I prefer those types of revelations to come from his family."

Leia nodded, satisfied. She looked up at Han, who shrugged. "When can we talk to him?" she asked.

Doctor Panio straightened, smiling. " I'd say now is as good a time as any. The med-droid was helping him clean up. Just let me go check if they're finished, and I'll be right back to get you."

After the medic left, Leia took a deep breath and seemed to center herself. She glanced around at the others. "We can't let this get out."

"Get out?" Han said, though Talon suspected Han knew exactly what she meant.

"We can't let Luke's … condition … become public knowledge." Leia rose and began pacing. "The holopress would have a field day. Luke wouldn't have a moment's peace, and that's the last thing he needs now. And he'd be vulnerable to every two-credit criminal and high-profile crimelord who thought he could use this opportunity to come after him."

"I agree, Leia," Han said, "but his friends have to be told the truth - Wedge, Lando, Corran … They've spent weeks sitting by his side while he was unconscious. They―"

"Of course we'll tell them," Leia interrupted. "It's the rest of the galaxy I'm worried about." She cast a calculating eye toward Talon. "I know your skills at retrieving information, Captain Karrde. How are you at hiding it?"

Karrde smiled wanly. "I'll put all my resources to work to ensure that no one learns of Master Skywalker's amnesia."

"Thank you." Leia looked at Mara. "I appreciate everything both of you have done to help us."

"It's the least we can do," Karrde said. "Luke came to my assistance in rescuing Mara. I can never do enough to repay him for that."

Mara remained silent, simply nodding her head in agreement. Karrde wondered if she would ever reveal exactly what that rescue entailed.

***

Leia's breath caught in her throat as she detected a small spark of recognition in Luke's blue eyes - until she realized it was recognition of her as the strange woman who had pounced on him the moment he had awoken.

"Luke," Doctor Panio said gently, "you've met your sister, Leia, and this is her husband Han."

"Hello," Luke murmured, his gaze going from Leia to Han, then back to Leia.

Leia moved forward to sit on the edge of Luke's bed, reaching out to touch his left hand and forcing back the cry of dismay as he flinched at her closeness. "Hello again, Luke," she said in a soothing voice. He reminded her of a wild songbird she'd tried to coax through her bedroom's window as a child. "I'm sorry I startled you earlier."

"I understand." Luke glanced at the doctor before looking back at her. "The doctor explained how an accident affected my memory."

"It's good to see ya awake, kid," Han spoke up, pulling up a plasteel chair. "Thought you were just tryin' to ignore us, sleeping away the days."

Luke's wary gaze shifted to his brother-in-law. "The doctor said I was in a coma."

Han could see the concern in Leia's expression, probably mirroring his own. If there had been any doubt before of the validity of Luke's amnesia, it was gone now. Luke didn't know them. He seemed to believe what the medic had told him, but it was the natural tendency of anyone to trust a medical professional. Could he learn to trust them as well?

"Yeah, kid, you were." Han plastered the most upbeat smile he could manage onto his face. "But, hey, it looks like you're on the road to recovery now."

Luke's attention fell to the stump at the end of his arm, and then to the outline of the bone knitter still encasing his right leg. His shoulders slumped in obvious depression, and Han could've kicked himself for his words. But what does one say in a situation like this? In no way did Luke look strong enough to pull the ears off a gundark.

"You'll get better, Luke, I know it," Leia put in, drawing her brother's gaze to herself. "And you'll get your memory back. We'll be right here to help you, and we won't give up until you're completely back to normal."

Han caught the look of consternation on the doctor's drawn face. They shouldn't be giving Luke false hope.

Luke turned aside, staring out the room's lone window. "Too bad I don't know what normal is."

Doctor Panio stood abruptly. "I believe we should let Luke rest now." He smiled at his famous patient. "The server-droid will be bringing you something to eat soon. Just broth, I'm afraid, for right now. Your system will have to adjust to solid food gradually."

"Thank you," Luke said, his voice near a whisper.

The doctor motioned Han and Leia toward the door. Han could tell that Leia wanted to hug Luke, kiss him on the cheek as she'd done so many times before, but she held back. It wasn't until they were out in the hallway that the tears rolled down her cheeks and she buried her face in Han's consoling embrace.

As they stood just outside the door, Han overheard Luke ask the doctor, "Why did he keep calling me 'kid'?"