The Balance: Prologue
by Selinthia Avenchesca & Valerie Vancollie
Turning off the engines of the ship he was in, Anakin Solo sighed. Twenty years ago today his uncle had vanished without a trace and for the past year Anakin had been out looking for him. But it had proven to be a fruitless search; no one seemed to know anything about where his uncle might have gone to. Some of the Force sensitive people he had come across said that he had probably died, as Luke's presence in the Force had vanished, but Anakin didn't believe it. His uncle's presence hadn't vanished suddenly, the way it would have if he had died, it had happened slowly and gently, almost as if it had been hidden.
Shaking his head, Anakin stood up. He had returned to New Alderaan to visit his mother and his siblings, as he knew they would all be here to remember Luke. Picking up his bag, he exited his ship and locked it up before heading towards his mother's house. Making his way there along familiar streets as the sky slowly darkened he couldn't help but remember the days before the Droid Wars when he and his uncle had walked together along these same streets.
Anakin smiled as he reached the gate to his mother's home. After Leia had stepped down as President of the New Republic, she had decided to move here to New Alderaan. It was a beautiful planet, and didn't have the stress of the capitol. Making his way through the garden his smile broadened when he saw his mother waiting at the door.
"Anakin," Leia said as she embraced her forty-two year old son. "It's good to finally have you back. I was beginning to wonder if you'd ever return."
"Hey, mom," Anakin replied as he returned her embrace, pressing his face into her long gray-white hair, before stepping back. "How are you?"
"Fine," Leia responded as she turned around and let Anakin in the house. "Did you have any success locating Luke?"
"No," Anakin replied sadly, then brightened as he entered the living room and saw his older brother sitting on the couch along with his wife. "Jacen, Tenel Ka."
"Anakin," Jacen said as he got to his feet and engulfed his younger brother in a hug. "How are you?"
"Fine," Anakin replied before he reached over and shook Tenel Ka's left hand.
It was awkward, but Tenel Ka had lost her right arm while at the Academy. She and Jacen had been practicing with their lightsabers when her lightsaber, due to bad construction, had malfunction and deactivated. Jacen's lightsaber had shot forward and cut off her arm just above the elbow. Being the Princess of the Hapes Cluster, Tenel Ka had some of the best doctors at her service to give her one of the best prosthetic available. However, for reasons Anakin knew he would never understand, she had refused to accept any prosthetic; thus leaving her without a right arm.
"And how are you, Tenel Ka?" Anakin asked smiling at his brother's wife.
"I'm fine, Anakin."
"And the kids?" Anakin inquired. "How are they?"
"The children are fine. They're at home," Tenel Ka replied just as Jaina entered the room.
"Little brother," Jaina exclaimed before embracing Anakin. "You're finally back."
"Jaina," Anakin replied. "My favorite sister. Where's Rava Sevel and Chewie?"
"I'm your only sister," Jaina stated as she pulled back, laughing softly. "As to Rava and Chewie, they're off visiting their families. We decided that we'd all have a break since we've been out freeing slaves for the past year or so."
"Well I'm sure it pays to see their faces when you free them," Leia said as she moved towards the couch with a grace that clearly showed her royal upbringing. "Now come; sit. I think we all have a lot of catching up to do, it's been over a year since we've all been together. I had the kitchen help prepare us a nice dinner for later on."
Anakin smiled as he sat down on one of the couches; Jaina sitting next to him. It felt good to be home again, to be together with his family. The only person now missing, except his dead father, was Luke.
Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions? E-mail me at valeriev84@hotmail.com
