Message-ID: <22091asstr$946782602@assm.asstr-mirror.org> X-Original-Path: not-for-mail From: "João" Subject: {ASSM} Great Stories ---- My first post Lines: 7370 X-Original-Message-ID: <84m3ni$pca$1@duke.telepac.pt> X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V4.72.3110.3 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Date: Sat, 1 Jan 2000 22:10:02 -0500 Path: assm.asstr-mirror.org!not-for-mail Approved: Newsgroups: alt.sex.stories.moderated,alt.sex.stories Followup-To: alt.sex.stories.d X-Archived-At: X-Moderator-Contact: ASSTR ASSM moderation X-Story-Submission: X-Moderator-ID: dennyw, gill-bates From: 11:15 Subject: A story Star Wars--A New Generation of Jedi Knights Episode XIV--Dark Times at the Academy by Brent White It was two years after the untimely death of Luke Skywalker, Jedi Master and head of the Academy. His widow, the beautiful Mara Jade Skywalker, had agreed to take his place as Jedi Master. He had felt, while still alive, that she would be the best qualified. Unfortunately, the pain had become too much to handle for Mara. She had shut the Academy down for an indefinite period of time... Now, as she walked around in the cool jungle of Yavin IV, where the Academy was located, she was ready to restart. Fortunately, all of the Jedi Knights of the suspended class were still interested in training. One of her assistants, Tionne, was with her now. "Mara," she said, "are you okay?" "I don't feel good. The pain still lingers. I thought I would have been over this, but it just gets more and more unbearable. My poor daughters think I'm falling apart at the seams. Maybe they're right." Mara had twin daughters, Lenina and Lucinda, both now seven. Mara's eyes were watering up. "I thought this was supposed to pass." "Mara, no, that's not true." Tionne herself was widowed. Her husband, Kyp Durron, had been killed in action during a standoff with one of the greatest threats to the New Republic, the Dark Master's Alliance. Tionne was still in pain over that. Her daughter, Jianna, was also seven, born at the same time as Mara's twins. "I still wake up nights, crying my eyes out, even though Kyp died a lot longer ago than Luke. It doesn't pass easily." Mara started crying, unable to hold herself together. It was a wonder she even wanted to restart the Academy. Tionne embraced her. "Shh, just let yourself go. You'll feel better." Tionne's soft voice often soothed someone's pain. She lightly stroked Mara's back. "Don't do what I did," she said, remembering her attempted suicide just six months after Kyp's death. It had left her comatose and caused painful and frequent seizures due to the brain damage she had incurred. Finally, she had suffered a seizure that had nearly killed her and they had done surgery to repair the damage. Mara's current mood bothered Tionne, because she had been the same way before the suicide attempt. "I won't. I don't want to die." Mara cried in Tionne's arms for an hour. Soon, the pain passed for the moment. The two women walked into the Massassi Temple. Mara lay in her bed and let the tears fall. She was in a deep depression. Tionne soothed her pain by softly massaging her. It was something a lot of Jedi Knights did to each other at the Academy. Mara was most appreciative. "It just hurts so bad," she said as the tears fell. "I never thought it would." "Neither did I, but I know how it feels." Jacen and Tenel Ka Solo, two seventeen-year-olds who were married, lay in their room. Jacen had his arms around his wife's naked body. He was kissing her shoulders and massaging her. They had spent the time on hiatus on Coruscant and Hapes, their respective home planets. Jacen was a little shaken by the news he had learned just before their wedding. His wife was infertile. She had suffered massive ovarian damage from a poison used by a woman trying to kidnap Tenel Ka's closest friend, a Dathomirian woman by the name of Arian. Although the doctors had ruled out removing Tenel Ka's ovaries, it didn't seem likely that Tenel Ka could get pregnant. That was the problem, indeed. Both of them wanted children and tried often to conceive, but with no luck. They prayed for a miracle. But it seemed hopeless. It didn't matter too much, though. The two were deeply in love and enjoyed each other's company. Jacen looked into her gray eyes, which looked so good in the sunlight. She had her hand between her legs as she looked at him. Tenel Ka lay back. He parted her legs and pushed himself inside her. Her body jerked again, but soon warmed up as he continued pumping her. They had made love before, but something was really intensifying the situation. Soon, Tenel Ka's back arched and she cried out; more of that would follow. Jacen soon exploded in her and got off of her. It didn't matter if they had conceived a child or not. It just didn't. Jacen kept kissing her body, running over every inch of muscle she had. Her love for rock climbing had given her a tight, athletic body. "Honey," he said, "at this moment, I don't care if we conceived a child. Just making love to you is enough to make things okay." "I agree, but I hope we did. I think we're ready." Jacen was sure of it. "Do you want to go to breakfast?" He hoped not; he wanted to spend some time alone with her and eating in the dining hall just didn't appeal to him right now. "Maybe later." Tenel Ka gave him a quick smooch and went into the bathroom. Soaking in warm water was an everyday ritual for Tenel Ka. She normally would have chosen to sponge herself down, but she found the warmth of the water helped her relax. That was important. She had suffered a loss herself. In events that had led up to Luke's death, Tenel Ka's father, King Isolder of Hapes, had been brutally murdered by an alliance bent on restoring Imperial control of Hapes. Her mother, Teneniel Djo Chume, had fallen apart over Isolder's death. They had been in love and to see her husband die like that broke Teneniel's heart. It had also hurt Tenel Ka. Luke had been Jacen's uncle on his mother's side. Someone had poisoned him with a terrible substance that had withstood a heart transplant aimed at reversing the damage. Luke had lived for about a month after the transplant before the poison destroyed his new heart. Some of the Academy personnel and students had watched Luke slowly die, finally succumbing to a heart attack. Jacen was worried about his Aunt Mara. She still didn't look very good. It was odd, because Mara was one of few redheaded women that Jacen thought was prettier than his wife, another one being Teneniel herself. One of the greatest things Jacen found in his wife was her looks. She was incredibly beautiful, almost breathtaking, in his opinion. Her eyes were dark gray and her hair was a fiery red-gold color. Her body was long and muscular, with very strong legs. She was very warrior-like, but very attractive at the same time. It was no wonder Jacen was attracted to her. She often wore a simple tunic, not quite as revealing as the reptile hides other Dathomirians wore; Tenel Ka was part Dathomirian on her mother's side. Mara had asked her to wear something presentable but comfortable. The tunic she wore fit the bill perfectly. Jacen wondered if other people from Hapes thought Tenel Ka was even remotely attractive. He figured not, as they never thought Teneniel was. Though Teneniel was actually quite pretty, too, she was a little on the rough-looking side. But Jacen thought both Teneniel and Tenel Ka were gorgeous. Hapan standards for women just seemed too high if they didn't count them as beautiful. One thing was for darned sure. There wasn't an ounce of fat on her body. She kept in great shape and it showed. Tenel Ka slipped into the tub. She sighed as the warmth coursed through her body. Jacen leaned down and kissed her. "We'll keep trying. I know it's not easy, but we'll keep trying. I'm as much for this as you are. Maybe Dr. Gianna was wrong." Dr. Gianna, actually Lucille Wilson Gianna, a beautiful blond woman from the dying world of Sacorria--Mara's home planet as well--had told Tenel Ka that her ovaries were useless. Tenel Ka had hoped she would be wrong. "I can hope so. The great part is that we're not giving up." "You've got that right. I think I just enjoy holding you in my arms." As if the infertility weren't bad enough, Tenel Ka also only had an arm and a half. In an attack from a Dathomirian Nightsister, a dark side witch, Tenel Ka had defended herself with Mara's lightsaber, but the hag had extinguished the blade and sliced Tenel Ka's arm off with her own blade. Mara had been unable to help, as the Nightsister had fired Force lightning into Mara's chest, causing her heart to fail. Tenel Ka remembered looking into Luke's eyes as he had realized that he could lose Mara. Mara had recovered, but another seizure had scared the living daylights out of Mara. Then came the fateful attack by Jana Morrin, a Firerreon woman who shocked Mara again, but with more disastrous consequences that left Mara dependent on a pacemaker. Tenel Ka didn't mind having one arm anymore. It didn't bother her as much. She had learned to deal with the loss and get on with her life. That had been about the same time that she and Jacen had gotten very serious, though they had been moving in that direction from the start. "Aunt Mara's looking to go on another recruiting visit. She wanted us to come along. She's still not sure she wants to restart the Academy just yet. I can't blame her." Jacen knew Mara's pain was still great. "Why don't you go? She might need your company. I need to get back to Coruscant for a while." "That's not a bad idea. I think I will. Did I hear right in that your sister is here?" Jacen thought of the other beautiful woman in his life: his twin sister, Jaina. She was a senator in the New Republic, representing the Academy, where she had attained Knighthood. "Yes, that's correct. She's just making a visit for her reelection campaign, though I doubt she'll have much trouble being reelected. She wants to go with Mara as well. Mon Mothma has given her a leave of absence, since this would go a long way toward improving relations with distant worlds. It sounds like a fun trip. It's good that you're going with Mara. She needs the support." Tenel Ka got out of the tub and they made love on the floor as they lay there. Soon, the two went to breakfast. Mara was already there. "Tenel Ka, that's great that you're joining me on my trip. I thought it'd be a good time to show some of the personnel what I do when I recruit new candidates." "Are you feeling any better?" "No, and I don't expect to for a while. I'm not giving up, though. Luke's strong within me." "I was wondering if you were getting hard-hit by well-wishers trying to set you up." "A few have tried that. I don't appreciate it in any case. I may find someone later, could even be tomorrow, but it'll be on my own terms, not anybody else's." "Mom has had the same problems. She's still saddened by Dad's death. You can't avoid it. People just don't want you or Mom to be lonely. You two are very beautiful women in high-ranking positions who were hit hard by the tragic deaths of your husbands. I hope that never happens to Jacen, but I know it's always a possibility. I guess there's nothing we can do about fate." "No, we can't do a damned thing about it. We just have to roll with the punches and pray we don't get killed ourselves." Jaina walked into the landing where the shuttle they would be using sat. Mara had used some excess funds to buy her old ship, the Jade's Fire, from the New Republic, but it was getting old and the shuttle would serve as a backup if the ship failed. She walked over to the engine compartment and checked out the engines on the shuttle. All was working well. Jaina Solo was a mechanically-inclined woman. Just minutes older than Jacen, Jaina loved to take things apart and put them back together. She never messed with parts in current use. She didn't want to chance it. Lowie was working with Arian on board the Jade's Fire. Lowie had a knack for working with computers. He loved to run diagnostic checks on the main computer system on the Jade's Fire. It was complex and interesting. Arian was more interested in electronics. She had learned a lot about electronic components from her father, who had raised her after her mother, Kirana Ti, had left for the Academy to learn the ways of the Jedi. Unfortunately, he had succumbed to Quinnot's Disease when she had turned twelve, leaving her heart an empty space. Kirana Ti was always there, trying to make up for lost time. Arian appreciated that; she looked up to her mother constantly. Kirana Ti and Arian were very much alike in appearance, with soft green eyes, dark red hair and muscular builds, similar to Tenel Ka's. They were beautiful and charming women. All at the Academy liked them. Kirana Ti was one of the original members of a Jedi group from the Academy known as the Jedi Task Force. Arian was not part of the Jedi Task Force; her heart, like Mara's, was dependent on a pacemaker and she was not in physical shape to fight alongside her mother. Arian prayed her mother wouldn't die for a long time. She loved her mother. "Jaina," Arian called out, "how are you?" Like her brother, Jaina had dark brown eyes and matching hair. She was about medium height and had a slender body that looked great in her Senatorial attire. She had gotten propositions from several guys on the Senate, but they were either too old or already married, sometimes both. Jaina had a soft spot in her heart for one guy, though. His name was Zekk. He was from the underworld of Coruscant. They often met in the halls of the Imperial Palace. If it had been any other person from that area of Coruscant, Leia and Han probably would have forbidden Zekk from seeing Jaina. The people in the underworld were almost social rejects who lived horrible lives. But Zekk was charming and diplomatic. They were just friends, but Jaina held on to hopes that it would get more serious. Jaina had been heartbroken when she had found out Zekk had disappeared without a trace. She had suspected that he was a Jedi, but she wasn't sure of that. Perhaps it explained his disappearance. "I'm just fine, Arian. How are you holding up?" "The same as always. The Academy gets pretty dull when we're on hiatus. I hope Mara keeps up the job Luke started. Mom agrees." "Aunt Mara's not likely to get over Uncle Luke anytime soon. She's had trouble all her life." In fact, Mara had suffered a seizure during Luke's memorial service, requiring minor but incapacitating surgery. The pacemaker had failed, but it only required that a unit designed to block the Force away from the pacemaker be turned off. "How's she doing?" "She's okay. She's been lucky not to have seizures since her surgery. She just needs to take it easy, that's all. How's your Mom?" "Doing well. She's working harder than ever to keep peace in the galaxy." Leia Organa Solo, Jaina's mother and Luke's twin sister, was Chief of State of the New Republic. She had held that position for over ten years. She did well administering her duties. Her husband was Han Solo, a Corellian in his late forties and considerably older than Leia, who was Mara's age of forty. Han was a General. "It's not easy." "It never is. I'm glad you came along with us. Mara needs our company." "Hey, be careful with my ship." Mara was down below, yelling at Jaina. "Just making minor repairs. Aunt Mara, your ship is not ready for transport. The hyperdrive flux coil is fried. What happened?" "Some moron in the New Republic tried to enter hyperspace too close to Coruscant. The gravity fought the hyperdrive and won. Damn, that's not good. I guess we'll use the shuttle then. It's not too bad. It's a New Republic Ambassadorial Shuttle and it is very comfortable. Jaina, despite my criticizing you, I really appreciate the help you have given me. I'm not the galaxy's greatest mechanic. Is the shuttle all ready?" Lowie growled. Mara knew he meant yes. She had learned the Wookiee language and now could understand what Lowie was saying. "Good. Let's get the shuttle packed. We're leaving tonight." "Where are we going?" "Munto Codru. I know of a woman by the name of Xaverri who wants to train. Do you know her?" "Xaverri is an old friend of Dad's. They reunited while I was being held hostage on Crseih Station." That was over ten years ago. Jaina figured Xaverri to be probably about fifty by now. "She's supposedly a very nice lady." "I remember Xaverri," Rillao, a student came in. She knew Xaverri from the rescue mission at Crseih Station, where Rillao's ex-lover, Empire Reborn Lord Hethrir, had taken the Solo twins hostage along with their younger brother, Anakin. "Mara, I really think I should come with you." "You don't have to twist my arm. Why don't you?" Mara admired Rillao, a Firerreon woman in her early forties. She had black hair that had a patch of silver in it, black eyes, gold-brown skin, and a very nice figure. She was married to retired Admiral Drayson, and had a two-year-old daughter, Corinne Drayson. Rillao was pretty, though a little fierce-looking. Rillao was a practicing medical doctor on Coruscant, where she had spent the last two years waiting out the hiatus of the Academy. She understood Mara's pain and wanted Mara to take it easy. "Good, let's get moving," Rillao said. Mara had no idea just how good it would turn out to be to have Rillao along. The crew--Jaina, Tenel Ka, Arian, Rillao, and Shannia--strapped in and Mara piloted the shuttle out of the hangar into open space. Mara was kind of glad she didn't have the Jade's Fire. It was too large a ship to be carrying such a small load. Mara pulled the hyperspace lever back and the shuttle plunged into hyperspace, bound for Munto Codru. "Admiral, we are all set." Admiral Les Tarkin stood on board the Imperial Super Star Destroyer Galactic Peacemaker. It was a misnomer. Tarkin was the son of Grand Moff Tarkin, and he didn't believe in diplomacy to sway New Republic worlds to join back with the Empire. He used rule by fear instead, just like his father had. The New Republic was now recruiting Jedi from the planet of Munto Codru. Jornell Tai, a male Dathomirian "Nightsister," had his own agenda. He wanted to intercept the Academy shuttle and kill the teachers on board, then take the students on board and train them as Dark Side adepts. Beside him was Zekk. Zekk was a brunette man, seventeen standard years old. Jornell had kidnapped Zekk in the middle of the night from Coruscant. Zekk soon had learned of his powers and trained on the Dark Side already. He swore to kill anyone who stood in his or Jornell's way. No matter what. He had lost interest in Jaina. She was too proper for his tastes and made him feel like bantha dung when he was around her, though she had told him it hadn't been her intent. To hell with her, he figured. I have my own friends. But the women on board the ship were so ugly. Not one of them turned him on. He knew someone was out there that would be perfect for him. But not currently on board. The shuttle barrelled through hyperspace. Mara was looking forward to meeting Xaverri. She had seen pictures of her and was impressed. Xaverri was an attractive woman with black hair and soft eyes. No one at the Academy was sure of Xaverri's exact age; she may have been very much younger than Han. It wouldn't matter if Xaverri were a hundreds-year-old life-witch. At least she had the will to train. The shuttle came out of hyperspace. Mara opened a subspace radio link to Xaverri's home. "Xaverri?" "Oh, hey, Mara. I've cleared you-" The line went dead. Mara scanned the area and saw a Super Star Destroyer. She wasn't sure how the Empire went about making them. The planet in the Core Systems where such ships were made had been destroyed nearly fifteen years ago in a supernova explosion. Mara didn't want to open a subspace link to the ship to find out. She whisked the shuttle planetside and powered up the shields. That's when she saw sixteen blips on the radar screen. TIE Interceptors. The curved-wing starships were infinite amounts of trouble. Mara decided to elude them and get to the planet. She was a diplomat now and was not looking to start a battle that she could possibly lose. Then her mind went blank. She felt her pacemaker skip a beat, then quickly recover. She heard Arian gasp as well, so she figured that it wasn't just her. The shuttle rocked. "Oh, god, no. Hang on, everybody. Our shields are failing." Mara plunged at top speed toward the planet. Then she heard an explosion and an ear-piercing scream. It was the last thing she remembered. Brakiss cheered. "Got them! That ought to put a damper on the New Republic." Mara woke up. Her head was bleeding and her left leg felt like it was on fire. She checked to make sure the leg was still there. It was, but her kneecap had shifted from the impact. She covered herself up and limped to the back. She collapsed, her injured knee unable to handle the weight of her body. She used a levitation technique to get around. Perhaps Xaverri would-- Wait, Mara thought. We're not on Munto Codru. We're on some strange moon. Mara hit the subspace radio. But it was inactive. She had sent out a panic signal to the New Republic, but they would be looking for her on Munto Codru, not the moon. She heard coughing. "Tenel Ka?" Tenel Ka moaned. "What happened?" She screamed in pain. "Mara!" Her breathing was labored. "Oh, god, I can't breathe." "Lie still, your neck may be broken." Mara slid over to Tenel Ka. She did a quick scan of her injuries. "Tenel Ka, you have three broken ribs and a collapsed lung, which is causing the pain." Mara saw what had happened to Tenel Ka. She had hit a supply box on impact, hence the scream Mara had heard. "You hit a supply box." There was blood all over it. Tenel Ka's body shuddered as waves of pain coursed through her. Rillao woke up. She was uninjured. "Tenel Ka, are you alright?" Tenel Ka nervously shook her head as she cried out again. "She's got a collapsed lung," Mara said. "Damn. Tenel Ka, you're not going to like what I'm about to do to you. But I have no choice. I have to reinflate that lung. Mara, do you have an oxygen tank?" "Yes." She grabbed it. Rillao put a mask over Tenel Ka's face. "Tenel Ka lie perfectly still. If you want, I can knock you out, but this is going to hurt otherwise. I'm going to put a tube in your chest to draw out the air that's collapsing your lung and that will help you breathe more easily." Tenel Ka went against her nature and asked to be knocked out. Rillao injected a general anesthetic into her bloodstream. "Mara, keep an eye on her breathing. If she stops, use this valve." Rillao attached a bulb to the tubing to allow for artificial respiration. It was rare, but possible, for a patient to stop breathing during the procedure. Tenel Ka's eyes closed. Rillao looked in her medical kit. She had minimal stuff, but there was enough to make the repairs with a makeshift tubing. She swabbed the site for the needle and prepared to stick it in Tenel Ka's chest. First, she made an incision at the site to facilitate the procedure. She then rubbed Tenel Ka's chest and made sure the needle wouldn't pierce an artery, then pushed the needle into her chest. A whoosh of air could be heard as the lung reinflated. "Okay, there you go." Rillao was glad, as was Mara, that Tenel Ka had been asleep through the procedure. With no significant local anesthetic, the procedure would have been pure torture for Tenel Ka. "Okay, prepare a rib muslin. I have to immobilize her ribcage or she'll suffer that again." Rillao handed Mara a set of bandages. Mara helped prepare a wrap to set the broken ribs. "Rillao, I'm all set." Rillao sat the bones and Mara tightly wrapped the bandages around Tenel Ka's chest. Jaina moaned. She fixed her eyes on Tenel Ka. "Aunt Mara, what happened?" "Don't move. We crashed on some desolate planet. I have no idea where we are. It's not Munto Codru, I can tell you that. Our subspace radio is broken and I have no idea what condition the shuttle is in. "My head hurts." Rillao did a quick scan of Jaina's injuries. "It's just a mild concussion. Do you need a painkiller?" "That would be appreciated. Is Tenel Ka okay?" "She has a collapsed lung and three healing ribs. She'll do okay, but she's really hurting right now." Jaina looked at the pain-ridden form of her sister-in-law. She got up and kneeled at Tenel Ka's side. She rubbed her forehead. Tenel Ka woke up. She moaned in pain. "Jaina," she whispered. "Are you okay?" "Yes, I'm just fine. Just rest." Jaina felt something in the Force just then, but she couldn't place what. Something is very wrong here, she thought. Actually, for one of them, something was very right; she just didn't know it yet. "Shannia, you're lucky to be alive." Mara did a quick scan of Shannia's injuries. She had a gash in her right arm and was bleeding. Rillao took a gylocal patch and placed it on the wound. Shannia didn't even flinch. The gylocal patch usually stung like crazy, usually on a deep wound. Rillao sensed trouble. She looked under the patch. Gangrene! "Shannia, you're going to lose half of your left arm. I'm going to have to amputate it right below the elbow. You have a gangrenous infection that will kill you if we leave it." "Wonderful." Shannia winced. "Just make it quick." She had a very low threshold of pain. "Mara, do you have your lightsaber?" "No, I didn't bring it." Tenel Ka spoke up. "Look in my gear bag. I brought one. Shannia, I'm sorry." "Don't be. At least I'll live this way." Arian popped her head into the cockpit. She seemed largely uninjured. Perhaps she had been lucky. "Oh, god. What's wrong with her?" Arian gasped at Tenel Ka's pain-ridden form. "Tenel Ka's been badly injured. She's got broken ribs and a collapsed lung. Arian, are you okay?" "Yes. My head hurts, but I think I'm okay." Mara confirmed this. Not even a scratch, but there would be a bruise on her forehead that would take time to heal. "Here, Arian, take this cold pack and put it on your forehead. It'll ease the swelling a little bit." Rillao grabbed Tenel Ka's lightsaber and ignited it. "Mara, maybe you should do this." "Shannia, this is going to burn like hell," Tenel Ka said. "But it'll dissipate quickly if you can use the pain management technique Luke taught you." "Okay, Shannia," Mara said, "are you ready?" Shannia braced herself, then screamed as the blade cut through her arm. Rillao covered the stump with a gylocal patch and administered a painkiller. Shannia felt the pain quickly dissipating. "Oh, that hurt." "You'll feel some numbness in your arm for a while. But you'll be fine. We caught it in time before the infection spread. Maybe Tenel Ka can help you adjust." Rillao caught something out of the corner of her eye that made her blood run cold. "She's a tough woman, I'll give her that. I couldn't have endured the pain she just went through." "Rillao, Tenel Ka's having seizures." Mara was scared. Rillao looked at Tenel Ka and gasped in horror. Tenel Ka was convulsing. Rillao pulled off the mask and resuscitated her, then spray-injected an anti-convulsive into her bloodstream. Tenel Ka started breathing again. "Tenel Ka, are you alright?" "What happened?" Her body was trembling and she was drenched with sweat. "You suffered a seizure, but we don't know why. Look, I'm going to have to knock you out. That was dangerous." Rillao put Tenel Ka to sleep and did a quick rescan of her injuries. There was a mass in Tenel Ka's lower stomach. "Mara, get some blood from the compartment. I see the problem." Mara saw it, too. Tenel Ka was pregnant. "Well, I'll be damned." "She really wanted to conceive a child. I could tell. As far as I can tell, the baby is fine. But I definitely will have to keep that mask on her face. It's uncomfortable, but I have no choice." "I think she'll understand." Rillao knew Tenel Ka was a terrific patient anyway; when she had lost her arm, she had followed Rillao and Dr. Gianna's orders to the letter and spirit, despite the sometimes excruciating pain the treatments caused her. Tenel Ka had a very high threshold of pain, relatively speaking. Arian ran to Tenel Ka's side. "How is she?" "She is hypoxic. This blood transfusion should help. Arian, your friend is pregnant. The pure oxygen should help." Rillao opened a line and infused Tenel Ka with several pints of blood. "She's pregnant? That's wonderful." Tenel Ka slowly came to. She moaned. "Rillao, what-" "Tenel Ka, Dr. Gianna was wrong. You're pregnant. Looks like about a couple of weeks along." "No, that's impossible." "Even Dr. Gianna admitted it was a possibility. You suffered a seizure because of the depleted blood supply. I controlled it, but you have to take it easy." Tenel Ka lay back. Mara rubbed her stomach. Tenel Ka relaxed a little. Rillao covered her up. "My own child," Tenel Ka said. "I just can't believe it." Mara figured Tenel Ka would be thrilled about that. So would Jacen. She smiled at Tenel Ka, holding the young woman's hand. "You'll make the perfect mother, I can already tell." A smile flashed across Tenel Ka's face. Somehow she had to tell Jacen. But, for now, she was happy just to be pregnant, finally. Xaverri sat in her apartment. Her husband was with her. "Xaverri, what's wrong?" "Mara's last transmission was jammed and we haven't heard from them since. I can't feel them through the Force. Something's wrong." "What can we do?" "Contact the New Republic by holophone. They may not be jamming the holophone frequency and I'm worried about the crew." A successful link was established. Leia picked up. "Hey, Xaverri," Leia said, "what's wrong?" "I have some bad news. Your daughter, daughter-in-law, and sister-in-law are missing. They were supposed to be here on Munto Codru a day ago and we lost a subspace link with them. I fear the worst. Leia, I'm sorry." Leia wondered if she should send a sweep crew to comb the surrounding system. She decided against it. Mara was pretty resourceful. She'd do something. It would turn out to be a very questionable decision. Rillao administered an anesthetic to Mara's knee. "Brace yourself." She grabbed the kneecap in Mara's right leg and shifted it to the right position. Mara cried in pain, but was glad to have her knee back in joint. That had hurt, the dislocation injury. Rillao then checked on Tenel Ka. Tenel Ka was a little dizzy. That concerned Rillao; she used an anti-convulsive drug on Tenel Ka and it seemed to help. She probably was being weakened by microseizures caused by her injuries. Rillao checked her ribs; they were healing nicely. Then she noticed something. Tenel Ka blacked out and had a mild seizure. Rillao controlled it. She had a good amount of anti-convulsive drugs on her. That would be good. "Tenel Ka, you're in trouble." Tenel Ka had an air embolism. It was causing miniature strokes. Rillao concentrated on the air blockage and pushed the air out Tenel Ka's mouth. Tenel Ka woke up. Her head hurt. "Damned cheap medscanner," Rillao mumbled. "Tenel Ka, are you okay?" "Yeah, what happened?" "You had an embolism. The collapsed lung caused an air bubble to lodge in your brain. You seem to be okay, but you need to be on oxygen for a while. I'm going to recline your body to try to reverse the damage. It doesn't look severe." Rillao used a flat board and inclined Tenel Ka's body into what was called the Trendelenberg position, where the feet were higher than the head. Tenel Ka recovered quickly. Then she found something else in her kit. She removed the mask from Tenel Ka's face and used a breathing apparatus. It would be less confining and still give Tenel Ka the oxygen she needed. Tenel Ka fell asleep. Leia hailed Jacen on the holophone. "Mom, are you saying-?" "Xaverri isn't sure where the crew is. Or what condition your wife is in. Can you feel anything through the Force?" "There appears to be a massive blockage of the Force near Munto Codru. Could be them. I don't know. Mom, I hope Tenel Ka and Jaina are okay. Those two mean the world to me. You know that." "Yes, I do. We're not sure what to do. We'll keep searching." "Maybe we could push into the Force bubble and make a contact through the Force to Jacen." For a woman who had just suffered a mild stroke, Tenel Ka seemed okay. She had been very lucky. "No," Rillao said, "the bubble is too big." "Size matters not," Mara whispered. "What?" "Another saying by Yoda that Luke used. He said that it doesn't matter how big or small something is, one can manipulate it with the Force." "The other problem, though, is we apparently have a Jedi on board the attacking ship. How can we get in touch without the Jedi sensing it?" "That's a problem, all right. Let's work on getting at least the subspace radio working. We can contact Xaverri that way." Arian and Jaina worked feverishly on the subspace radio. It had been damaged on impact. No one was sure what they could do even if they got it working. There was the jamming still going on. Arian had used a high-frequency scanner that still detected the jamming. Then Jaina heard a rustling of leaves. She ran outside. She got about thirty meters from the ship when an unseen force knocked her to the ground. A stun bolt knocked her unconscious. Zekk stared at the girl who had broken his heart, in his opinion. He no longer cared for her. Arian watched as Zekk's shuttle took off, with Jaina on board. "Mara!" Mara nodded. "I know, I just received a transmission by radio." Jedi Knights: My name is Zekk. You have helped the New Republic take the galaxy from the Empire. That will stop right now. You must come up here and fight us or your beautiful apprentice will die. -Zekk "Who is Zekk?" "An old friend of Jacen's," Arian said. "At one time, he and Jaina were an item." Jaina regained consciousness. She was being held by two troopers. Jornell stood at Zekk's side. "She's nothing but trouble. Let's get rid of her." "Leave that to me." He dismissed Jaina with a wave. Jaina was horrified. "You son of a bitch, Zekk, who do you think you are?" Zekk wouldn't listen, but he felt her knowing glance on his back. Maybe this wasn't a good idea. "There was nothing you could do, Arian," Shannia said. "If you had been with Jaina, they would have taken you prisoner and probably tortured you. That pacemaker is not totally infallible, you know." "No," Rillao said, "but it is pretty strong. I checked it out. It is insulated against outside shock. When they replaced Mara's pacemaker, they used a similar one. The misfiring wasn't in the unit itself, but in the wires in Mara's heart. Arian, don't go with them if we decide to fight this out." "I won't. Mom would never forgive herself if I died like that." Mara piped up. "I think I know how to fix the radio. Jaina's lightsaber is still in the tool compartment. There is a crystal in there for an old subspace radio. It runs on a different frequency than the normal subspace radio. Han--you know Han, always messing with his ship--uses that frequency on the Millennium Falcon as a private channel. I happen to know that because I picked up a manual from the radio. In fact, Jaina's crystal is from the Falcon. That's also how I know. If we can send a transmission, we can alert the New Republic and we may be able to rescue Jaina." Tenel Ka sat up. "Good idea. Let's do it." Rillao shook her head. "You're staying right where you are, Tenel Ka. No telling what could happen if you move around." "Who said anything about getting up and moving around?" Tenel Ka was barely able to sit up. Rillao realized that the seizures she was having were weakening her. She fought the urge to just knock Tenel Ka out and let her rest until they got to Coruscant, but that wouldn't necessarily stop the seizures and Tenel Ka might not wake up again. "Arian, what did your cardiologist suggest when you were having seizures?" "I don't know if I ever had seizures like that; the frequency of the ones Tenel Ka is having worries me." "it does me, too. Still, though, was there any suggestions?" "Rest, a little relaxation, and the human touch is what Dad always told me would help me. Believe me, that's enough right there, just to put your mind at ease. Might work even with her having multiple seizures." Arian softly stroked Tenel Ka's chest, placing her hand over the baby. Arian started softly crying. "Arian, it's okay. Think how she feels." "I'm scared she'll die. I'm sorry, it's just that we've been friends for so long and I've never had to face the possibility she might die young." "For now, just keep a sense of optimism. She needs you to have it. I know her dying is a very real possibility, but that's not something she needs to hear right now." Rillao consoled Arian. Jaina was ready to rip Zekk's throat out. How could he have become so unfeeling? He had caused Tenel Ka's devastating injuries. She started crying. She was normally stronger than this, but she felt betrayed. "Zekk," she whispered, "I'll get you for this." The problem was, she still had feelings for him. It was not a pleasant thought. Mara completed the circuit using Jaina's lightsaber. "Hope this works." Leia was on the Falcon when the transceiver rang. She hit it. Static. She switched the frequency around and heard a voice. "Come in, Falcon...Come in..." "Copy, Falcon here. Is that you, Mara?" "Leia. Yes, it's me. We have a big mess on our hands. First off, we are not on Munto Codru. Xaverri probably told you that. Second off, we are not sure where we are. All I know is that there is an Imperial Super Star Destroyer out there guarding this planet. They may have found this frequency for all I know. "We have several severe injuries. Thanks to Rillao, they're all taken care of." "What happened?" "The ship shot us down and we crashed. I had the crash field on, but my repulsorlifts failed, so we had a hard impact. So far, we have Tenel Ka with a pneumothorax." Leia knew how serious an injury that was from watching Mara recover from one. "How is she?" "Not too well, I'm afraid. She had an air embolism that caused a seizure in her. She's okay and we fixed the damage, but there's something else I think your son needs to know about. She's pregnant. Don't ask me how she got that way with her reproductive system messed up, but she did. Rillao said the embolism didn't harm the baby much. Tenel Ka looks a lot better." "Tell her I wish her well. I'll send for a medevac shuttle when we get your location. Can you pinpoint your location?" "As far as I know we're in the system with Munto Codru. Leia, what is about this system?" "There are two small moons in the system. One is a desolate planet with mountains, the other is uninhabitable. Does the atmosphere smell like fuel?" "No, not unless we sprung a leak." "You're on Codru II-C. I'll get a shuttle out to you. Any suggestions?" "Yeah, use quantum armor and don't attack the ship. They have a hostage. Leia, I'm sorry. It's Jaina." "Mara, what the-" "Arian was with her. Jaina went by herself to check out a noise and was abducted. We suspect it may be Zekk, but we're not sure." That was a lie; Mara knew it definitely was Zekk, but she didn't want to say it. "Zekk? I thought he was dead." "I don't know. All I know is that Arian said he looked like Zekk. She met him one time while I was recuperating from that first implant surgery. Nice guy, but I'm afraid he's on the dark side now." "What are the other injuries." Mon Mothma had just left to send for a medevac shuttle. "Shannia was severely cut. She got gangrene and lost her arm. Rillao says that the infection didn't spread, so she should be okay. "I suffered a dislocated knee. They fixed that. Arian is unhurt, near as we can tell." "Mara, you'd better get going. We'll get you out of here somehow." Han Solo, Leia's husband, walked up behind her. "What's going on?" "There's been a shuttle crash. The Academy shuttle crashed on Codru II-C and there are some bad injuries. Han, I have some good news, though. Jacen doesn't know this yet, I don't think, but Tenel Ka's pregnant. The problem is she's having problems with a collapsed lung that's causing miniature strokes in her. Rillao says she got it under control, but I'm afraid for the baby." "Oh, no. I guess there's nothing we can do now." "Praying for Tenel Ka and her baby would be nice." Han and Leia both did that. The Medevac Shuttle Medic X-Q, with quantum armor, took off for Munto Codru. It was the closest one. It was the last anyone saw of the shuttle. Jaina appeared behind Zekk. "Zekk, if you're going to kill me, at least do it the Jedi way. Even on the Dark Side, that should mean something. Right?" "Very well. En garde." Zekk raised his lightsaber. Jaina ignited hers. She had grabbed Mara's old one by mistake. She prayed it wouldn't fail on her. The lightsabers clashed on the bridge as Zekk and Jaina engaged in a furious saber battle. Jornell came up behind Jaina and fired lightning into her back. Jaina screamed. She fell to the floor, momentarily stunned. Zekk walked up. Jaina had a look of hardened determination in her eyes, almost daring him to kill her. "What did you ever see in me, anyway," Zekk asked her. "You weren't like the other boys on the planet. You had a personality trait that no others had. You were fun-loving, cute, charming. Hey, my parents like you. That should say something." "Yes, it does. Jornell, put her back in her cell." "Zekk, you have got to be kidding me." "Put her back in her cell or I'll-" He raised his finger. Jornell started choking. "Zekk, stop it. Can't you see what you're doing?" Jaina glared at Zekk, who was using the Dark Side. "Using my Force powers. For the first time in a long time, I have been freed of my torment." "By using the Dark Side. Zekk, we have an Academy now-" That was what had bothered Zekk the most. "Run by a woman who had to quit her job for two years. Care to explain that?" "Yes. Her husband died two years ago. She's had heart problems and she had a seizure at his funeral. That 'woman' is my Aunt, Mara Skywalker. Can't you at least show a little compassion?" "Jaina, I don't know." "For one, why don't you release him?" Zekk did just that. "Now what?" "You have to make that choice. You must do what is right within your heart." "I'm sorry, I can't-" "You have to choose. It's never easy. Kyp Durron had to make that choice. So do you." "You're right." Zekk stunned Jornell and left. He and Jaina cloaked themselves with the Force and hopped into a shuttle, bound for Codru II-C. He used the Force to cloak the ship. "Zekk, how'd-" "I have just disabled the Force field generator. Don't worry; there was only one of those nuclear torpedoes on that ship. If they fire again, I have a backup plan." He pulled out a box. "See this button? With that button, I can set off the reactor. I don't think they want me to do that. Would be terrible." "No, dammit. Zekk, have you lost your mind?" "First, you want me to release you and then Jornell, and not attack. Am I missing something that says you are not secretly with the Empire?" "Zekk, don't you get it? It's not going against the New Republic that's given you Dark Side powers. It's your anger and hatred. You can't use that box." "I have to. For everyone's sake. That medevac shuttle they sent for was shot out of space." "That doesn't matter here. You have a choice. Make the right one." "I already have made a choice that I'm going to like." He put his arm around Jaina. "You." Jaina melted in his arms. "Same here." She smiled. She had done some good for all. How much, though, was up for vigorous debate. Jacen showed up on Coruscant in the Jade's Fire. Barukka had helped him pilot the ship there. Leia ran out to greet him. "Jacen, I have some fairly good news. Your wife is pregnant. She just found out a couple of days ago. Unfortunately, she's had some serious injuries. She's going to have to be put under for a while, but we hope they can save the baby." "Will she be okay?" "Rillao thinks so. She needs to rest, though." "Mom, this is great. We were looking forward to having kids and her condition seemed irreversible." "Medicine is never definite, Jacen. If it were, Mara would be dead." Mara was about to radio Leia when a shuttle landed. Jaina came out. Mara ran to greet her. "Jaina, how are you doing? Did they hurt you?" "They could have, but I have a savior. Zekk?" Zekk introduced himself to the rest of the crew. He leaned down to Tenel Ka. "So, you're Jacen's wife?" Tenel Ka nodded weakly. "Yes, I am," she whispered very weakly. "I've been wanting to meet you. I was unable to make the wedding. Tenel Ka?" "Yes, that's me." That was the last thing she remembered as her eyes rolled back into her head. "Tenel Ka!" Mara held her down as another series of convulsions racked Tenel Ka's body. She was able to control them with the anti-convulsive drugs Rillao had asked her to use, but Tenel Ka didn't regain consciousness. "Oh, my god, the drugs aren't working! Rillao!" Mara's mouth was wide open in horror as she looked at Tenel Ka. She wasn't breathing and her face was deathly pale. Rillao ran and did a medical scan on Tenel Ka. What she saw horrified her. "She's had another stroke." If they didn't get her to a medical center fast, she would die. "Damn, I was afraid of this. I'll have to bag her, since we don't have another medevac shuttle coming in." Rillao ran up and pumped Tenel Ka's lungs. She opened a radio transmission to Dr. Gianna. "Dr. Gianna," she hailed, "we've got serious trouble. Tenel Ka has had another seizure. She isn't breathing." Dr. Gianna answered. "Keep pumping her lungs. Has her heart stopped?" "No, her heart is working fine. She's had a couple of seizures. This was the most devastating." "Get here fast. I'm afraid we'll only save Tenel Ka at best." Dr. Gianna wasn't sure they would save Tenel Ka. There could possibly be some serious neural damage. Even if Tenel Ka lived, there would be no guarantee she wouldn't be in a vegetative state for the rest of her life. Mara glared at Zekk. "Look at what you did, damn you!" "Mara," Shannia said, "don't make this any harder than it already is." "It can't get any more difficult. My nephew's wife is dying and-" "Cool it, will you," Rillao snapped. "She's not going to just wake up to settle this." Rillao was glad for the medical equipment they had. With the mask on Tenel Ka's face, it would be easy to let her breathe on her own without removing any tubes. Once they got to Coruscant, assuming Tenel Ka was still alive, they would intubate her and hook her to a machine. If she was lucky, she might not even need that, but it didn't look promising. A condition like this was often terminal. "We lost our only way to get out of here. Zekk, your crew just blew up our medevac shuttle." "Use my shuttle. It's the last thing they would expect. I'll help you get out of here." Zekk would not let Tenel Ka die. Especially since he had caused this. "For her sake, use it. You'll have a cover that way." Mara nodded her head, but her anger didn't abate. "Okay." "Look, we'll settle this later. At least get Tenel Ka the help she needs." "Then what?" "Leave that to me. I will handle this myself, but don't drag a dying woman in the middle of this." Jaina's eyes watered up as she watched the inert form of her sister-in-law. Another embolism had caused a severe stroke. It was a wonder if Tenel Ka would live, let alone a normal life. Neural repair could be done, but it would mean that the baby would die. "Tenel Ka," Zekk whispered, "I'm sorry." Jaina glared at Zekk. He said what probably was the stupidest thing to say at that point. Such a brutal attack merited more than even a sincere apology. Tenel Ka was dying and Zekk had been part of the crew that had caused it. She started crying again. She really liked Tenel Ka. Mara couldn't even look at Zekk without snapping. She knew Zekk had just been following orders, but a woman was possibly about to die because of those orders. "Arian, go with them. We can take it from here. I want you with Tenel Ka in case she dies." The thought of that wrenched Mara's heart. "Jaina?" "I can't. You need me to fix that hyperdrive." Mara about forced her to go, but she couldn't do that. Besides, Jaina was right. "Zekk," Jaina whispered in his ear, "what you did was very brutal. I hope Tenel Ka lives." Zekk did, too. He ran off. "Zekk, wait," Jaina yelled. "Don't do this." "Let him go." "Mara, I can't. I love him." "I can't understand why, but go ahead." Mara couldn't even see straight. Her eyes teared up. "Tenel Ka, you are too young to die." Lowie put a paw on her shoulder. He growled in despair. Mara only prayed that Jacen would get a chance to say goodbye to Tenel Ka before she died. If nothing else, he could have that. But the baby was gone. She just knew it. Zekk ran out into the forest. The thought of losing his best friend's wife made him nauseous. The cruelest part was that he had also nearly killed the best friend of the woman he was in love with. He thought about using the box anyway, but Jaina had been right; what good would that do? Jaina caught up with Zekk in the forest. "Zekk, wait." "Jaina, how can I explain this without sounding shallow?" "You're not so sure of yourself now, are you?" "No. Jaina, I can't even face Mara right now. Your Mom is going to be upset." "You'll get no sympathy from me. Zekk, you brought this on yourself. You must face up to it." "I can't go back now." "Don't, then. But you'll have to face Mom and Mara sometime." Zekk knew she was right. He pulled her close as she burst into tears. "Zekk, what if she dies?" "I have to believe she won't. I could tell already from meeting her she's a strong fighter." Jaina wished she had Zekk's confidence. Jaina walked back to the shuttle. Mara was sitting down, checking the hyperdrive. "Jaina, is that-" Jaina saw that Mara had been crying, too. She still was, in fact; she was trying to get her mind off of it, but it wasn't possible. "Zekk is not my boyfriend, per se, but we are moving in that direction. I love him." "Even after this? Tenel Ka's your best friend." "Yeah; that's what hurts the most. Is she going to die?" "I hope not. But it doesn't look good. She could wake up with any amount of brain damage from that embolism. I have to believe that she's going to be alright." "What about her baby?" "I fear it's too late for the baby. It may be too late for Tenel Ka, too." "No," Jaina cried. "Tenel Ka, I'm sorry." "Don't blame yourself. You didn't fire that shot." "I don't think Zekk did, either. Look, he tried-" "To atone by helping us get Tenel Ka out of here? She could die." "She would have died if he hadn't let them use the shuttle." Jaina started crying again. Rillao shook her head. "I don't know how long I can keep this up." Arian took over, squeezing the bulb on Tenel Ka's mask to pump pure oxygenated air into her body. "Thank you. You're doing it just right." "I have to save her life, Rillao. She's saved mine a couple of times." As Rillao took over again, Arian slid to the ground and let tears fall. Shannia held her. "She's gone, isn't she?" "No, but I have a bad feeling we did lose a life." Arian nodded. "I felt the disturbance, too." Tenel Ka's baby was dead. Rillao had already suspected it. "Damn that Zekk," she muttered to herself. She used the Force to open a subspace channel to Dr. Gianna. "Dr. Gianna, we're en route. She's slipping away by the minute." "Copy, Rillao. I've got the neurological trauma unit ready. I see you on-screen now." Dr. Gianna hailed Leia. "Leia, get Jacen to the Medical Center quickly. Tenel Ka's had a stroke." Leia was horrified. She couldn't even speak. Jacen had been right behind her. Jacen stood, shaking as he heard the news. He ran out in a hurry. Leia stayed until they got Tenel Ka to the Medical Center. The shuttle landed on the rooftop moments later. Tenel Ka was brought out. Rillao was pumping her lungs and Shannia looked like she was about to rip someone's heart out. Probably because she felt like her own had been ripped out. "Rillao, take care of Shannia. I'll handle Tenel Ka. Her husband's on his way." Rillao escorted Shannia to the general care unit and bandaged the stump of her left arm. "Shannia, we discussed getting a prosthetic. Do you want one?" "Yes. I can't do without both arms." The trauma team rushed Tenel Ka into the trauma room. Dr. Gianna took one look at Tenel Ka and intubated her. Tenel Ka was barely breathing. They stabilized her, then Dr. Gianna took Tenel Ka into the Intensive Care Unit. Tenel Ka's heart was still beating, so she hadn't gotten any worse. "C'mon, honey, don't die on us." Arian was in the room. The despair was evident on her face. She simply buried her face in her hands, tears rolling down her cheeks. Jacen walked in and gasped. "Dr. Gianna, what's wrong with her?" "She's in a coma, Jacen. I don't know the extent of her injuries." Dr. Gianna used a medical scanner and was somewhat relieved. Tenel Ka wasn't as badly damaged as had been previously feared--another limitation of the medical scanner Rillao had been using. "She's okay, I think. There is some neural damage, but Rillao and Arian did a good job of keeping her alive. Nothing seems permanent." "But what about the baby." Fearing the worst, Dr. Gianna scanned Tenel Ka's abdomen. What she saw sickened her; she had been right. "Oh, Jacen, I'm so sorry." Jacen had suspected as much. Tenel Ka's baby was dead. "I'm afraid to ask. Will she-" "She will be healthy enough to have kids in the future, yes. I know she doesn't look good right now, but that's because she went into shock while on the planet and the baby sapped the oxygen. Finally, when she stopped breathing, the baby didn't have a chance. Jacen, you need to be with her. As Mara and Teneniel will tell you, this is a heartbreaking loss to have to endure. The fact that Tenel Ka's in a coma right now doesn't help." Jacen sunk to the ground, tears rolling down his cheeks. "Tenel Ka, don't die, please. You're the best thing to happen in my life. I don't want to lose you along with the baby." He was sickened by the sight of his wife. She was totally unconscious and had only very faint life Force energy. It was a wonder she was still alive after that. It was, no doubt, a cruel twist of fate, the injuries and the miscarriage she had suffered. "Jacen, we'll save her. I promise. The damage isn't bad and she won't even need surgery." Jacen couldn't speak. Dr. Gianna covered him up. He cried as he listened to the machine pump his wife's lungs. His heart felt empty. Just like Luke had after Rhonna Tho had attacked Mara. Arian just stared blankly at her best friend. "Jacen, she'll live." "I honestly wish I could believe that." But he knew Arian did as well. She meant well, but her foresight just didn't seem to hold water in this case. Even Jedi weren't right all the time. "Jacen, I'm going to touch base back at the Academy and tell the others of the situation." "Good idea." Tears were streaming down his cheeks. And he didn't care. She was his wife, for crying out loud. He had already lost one life, now possibly another could be lost as well. Leia came in. "Oh, Jacen, what happened?" "She had an embolism that caused her to slip into a coma. Rillao had thought Tenel Ka would be brain-dead by now, but she's okay. Mom, the baby died." Leia held her son. "Jacen, you need to tell Teneniel this. Don't wait for Tenel Ka to die to tell her. It'll break Teneniel's heart." "When my wife wakes up, she'll be devastated. Mom, we've been trying for days to conceive a baby. The time seemed right and she was ready to be a mother. I didn't want this to happen." Han came in. He didn't even ask. Jacen was crying and Leia was in shock. "Tenel Ka," Han whispered into his comatose daughter-in-law's ear, "you're too young to die." Han adored her. She was such a neat woman and a loving wife for Jacen. She couldn't die. "Dad," Jacen finally said, "Dr. Gianna says she'll be okay, but she needs her rest. She lost her baby." "Oh, Jacen, I'm sorry." Han slid to the ground and held his son. Jacen stayed at the hospital, but Han and Leia went home. There was nothing they could do. Mon Mothma ran into them. "I just heard about Tenel Ka. Is she okay?" "She had a stroke and fell into a coma, then lost her baby. Dr. Gianna says she'll survive, but this is going to tear her apart." That went without saying. "Can I help?" "Find who did this to her." Leia thought about the look in Jacen's eyes as he had watched Tenel Ka on the machine. "Because I want to kill them. Tenel Ka has been a sweetheart to the Academy and this family. To suffer like that is just unfair for her." Mon Mothma walked into Tenel Ka's room. Jacen and Arian were there. She could see the pain in both of them. She comforted Jacen. Arian walked out and hailed the Academy. Tionne answered. "Arian, what's wrong?" "I don't know where to start. We crashed on this desolate moon and Tenel Ka got injured. She's in critical condition at the Imperial City Medical Center." "Does her mother know about this?" "No. Jacen is going to call her after I finish talking to you. Tionne, she was pregnant." "I knew that. Jacen hailed us when he got to Coruscant. Wait, what do you mean she *was* pregnant?" "She lost the baby. She had a collapsed lung and it caused a stroke in her, then the baby died of a depleted oxygen supply." "Oh, god, no. How's Jacen taking it?" "He's in shock. Tenel Ka is on a respirator, Tionne. They say she'll live, but I can't see how." "That's what your mom was saying when you were on life-support after Jeanne attacked you." Arian nodded. "Tionne, this is hurting me and I'm just her best friend. Can you imagine what Jacen is feeling right now?" "Yes, I can. Kyp was the same way when my first baby died." Arian finally closed the connection. Tears streamed from her eyes as she slid against the wall. "Tenel Ka, it's just not fair. You saved my life so many times. I don't want you to die." Jacen came in and called Teneniel. How would he tell her the news? Arian walked out. Astarta picked up. She was Teneniel's bodyguard and closest friend. "Jacen, what's wrong?" "Get Teneniel on the phone, please." Astarta did so and Teneniel approached the phone. "Hey, Jacen." Jacen shook his head. What he told her hurt more than anything. He could see the horror in Teneniel's face as he told her Tenel Ka was in such bad shape. "Teneniel, I didn't know about her pregnancy until just before they brought her in." "No," she cried. Tears ran down her cheeks. Tionne stood in front of the Academy. "I have some very sad news. There was a shuttle crash with the Jedi Task Force. Tenel Ka, as many of you probably know, was pregnant. She suffered a collapsed lung and then had a stroke. The seizures killed her baby. Right now, there is a chance she won't survive. She's at the Imperial City Medical Center in critical condition. She's in a coma." Kirana Ti's blood ran cold. "Who the hell could have done this to her?" "I don't know, Kirana Ti, but I personally want to kill whoever did. I hope all of you say a prayer for her tonight. She's going to need it." Kirana Ti called her daughter. "Arian, how is she?" "She's not good right now. Not good at all. She's nonresponsive and there is little movement. That respirator is the only thing keeping her alive right now, I'm afraid. My best friend is dying, Mom." Arian just let her tears fall. Kirana Ti wished she could be on Coruscant to help her daughter out and to give Tenel Ka some moral support. "All of us at the Academy are praying for her. When she wakes up, tell her I'm sorry about the baby." Arian nodded. Teneniel rushed out to the landing pad with Astarta. Tears were streaming down her face. Her daughter was in a coma and had just lost her baby. "Tenel Ka, please don't leave me." Astarta held her as they left for space. "She'll be okay. I'm sure of it." "She's in a coma. I just lost my husband, now my daughter? Astarta, I wish I had your confidence." Dr. Gianna wheeled Tenel Ka into surgery. She prayed that Tenel Ka would survive the trauma. She really did. Tears were in her eyes. "Honey, just keep fighting." Surgeons delivered what was left of the baby by c-section. Dr. Gianna ran out, sick to her stomach. Rillao monitored Tenel Ka's organs. She was a strong woman, no doubt about it. None of her organs were even slightly dysfunctional. Normally, a patient in her condition would have already been brain-dead. The nurse looked up. "She's okay." Rillao wasn't so sure that would last. The worst would be when Tenel Ka woke up. Rillao found Dr. Gianna and helped her. "Hey, you okay?" "No, I just got sick. Rillao, never in my lifetime have I done a c-section on a comatose woman who has miscarried like that. How's Tenel Ka doing?" "She's back in intensive care. Jacen and Arian are with her. I think she's improving." "She's lucky. I wish I could find the person who shot that shuttle down. I want to kill them." "That's the worst part of it. It's a friend of Jacen and Jaina's. His name is Zekk." "I know him. He's a rough man, but he never would have done this. What the hell happened to him?" "Just like others. Fell to the Dark Side." "Where is he?" "Still on the moon. Last report is that they're still working on the shuttle." "Good plan. Does Jaina know?" "About the status of her sister-in-law? No, she doesn't. And there is no great way to tell her without blowing the cover. If it gets out that Tenel Ka survived, they could come and fix that really quickly. I don't want to lose Tenel Ka along with the baby." "Me, neither. Rillao, what did she do to deserve this? She looks awful." That question had no answer. But it was exactly the question Tenel Ka would probably be asking for a while. There was no excusing what Zekk had done. Jacen sat out in the waiting room. Dr. Gianna came out. "We delivered the baby. Jacen, I was right. The baby died. Tenel Ka seems to be holding strongly and will wake up soon." "She doesn't even know, does she?" "No, she doesn't. Don't use the Force to tell her, either. It'll be traumatic enough when she wakes up." Dr. Gianna held Jacen in her arms. "Jacen, she'll recover." That was of very little comfort to Jacen. Jacen, Han and Leia walked into Tenel Ka's room. "She's right," Jacen whispered. "My wife is recovering. Why do I not find that comforting?" "Because of the pain she'll soon be feeling," Leia said. "Mara's miscarriage tore her apart." "But she wasn't comatose." "They had her so full of sedatives, she might as well have been before she woke up. Luke had to hold her down to keep her from bolting after Pellaeon when she woke up." Jacen was glad Pellaeon was dead. Pellaeon would have come to finish the job. Leia continued. "Tenel Ka will be much worse off emotionally because of the circumstances." "Mom, she's made me so happy by accepting my proposal of marriage. Now, she looks so bad." "She'll get better. I can feel her life Force strengthening." "As I said before, that is of no comfort." "Where's Teneniel?" "En route. I told her as soon as I could muster the strength." Jacen broke down into tears. He rubbed Tenel Ka's forehead. Shannia got a prosthetic for her arm. She couldn't stand to be like Tenel Ka and just live life with one arm. Dr. Gianna attached the prosthetic and helped her adjust. "Is that okay?" "That's fine. Thank you. How's Tenel Ka?" "She's improving, but her baby died." Shannia nodded. She already had suspected as much. She went into Tenel Ka's room. "Jacen?" "Shannia." "I heard the news. We did our best to keep her from getting worse." "You did well, in that she's still alive and expected to come out of this. But now she has a new problem to deal with." Shannia nodded her head. She held Jacen in her arms, trying to make sense of it all. "I know," was all she could say at that point. Teneniel finally got to Coruscant. She walked into Tenel Ka's room. "Oh, honey, no." She watched the respirator pump her daughter's lungs. Jacen walked up behind her. "She's a lot better than she was before. Teneniel, I'm sorry you had to find out about her pregnancy this way. I didn't know, either." "It's okay, Jacen. You're married to her now. I can't tell you two when and when not to have children." "I know, but I still had hoped this would be under more uplifting circumstances. Instead, I found out because she started having seizures due to her injuries. She's so weak-looking. I've felt so empty without those beautiful gray eyes looking back at me in the morning." "Even now, she's still beautiful." "Yes. She is. I don't want to lose her." "Tenel Ka, if you can hear me, it's your Mom," she whispered in Tenel Ka's ear. She burst into tears. Her daughter had answered, but it did little to ease the pain. Rillao entered the room. "Teneniel, I'm glad you could make it when you did. Tenel Ka's going to be okay. We reversed the damage and delivered what was left of the baby." "How did this happen to her?" "She was in a bad accident during a visitation mission. She suffered a collapsed lung and an air bubble lodged in her brain vessels. She was okay, then she had another seizure and didn't wake up. The baby was dead before we got Tenel Ka to Coruscant. We did the best we could." "I know you did. Rillao, Tenel Ka is the only family I have now, excepting Augwynne, who doesn't get off Dathomir much. My daughter's been through so much in her life." "We'll do our best to help her heal. She's made great progress and should be out of the coma in a few days. Keep on praying for her." Jacen nodded his head, holding his mother-in-law in his arms. Both of them were in tears. Arian walked in. "Teneniel," she said. "Hey, Arian." Arian broke down in tears. "Teneniel, I-" She cut herself off and walked out. The pain was too great and she couldn't bear to see her best friend in such horrible shape. Leia walked in to Teneniel's room. "Teneniel, I'm so sorry about this." "My beautiful daughter is lying in a coma due to someone else's actions. You don't know a damn thing about sorry until you experience that. On top of that, she's lost her baby." Teneniel put her face in her hands and cried harder. "They killed my husband. Why didn't they stop there? Did they have to hurt my daughter, too?" Leia put her arm around Teneniel. "I don't think the same people did this. It just doesn't seem right." "Well, whoever did it is going to pay." Han came in. "Teneniel, I really wish I could tell you something different. She is improving, though. She just has to come out of that coma." "And then what? Do you have any idea what losing that baby will do to her?" "From seeing Mara after her miscarriage, yes, I do. Stay with Tenel Ka; having her mother and husband will be the best thing for her. It'll be all she has." "You two do understand, I guess. She looks terrible. There was no reason for her to suffer like that." Over the next week, Tenel Ka improved. She soon opened her eyes. She stared at Rillao, dazed from the neural damage she had suffered. Rillao extubated Tenel Ka. "Tenel Ka, can you hear me?" "Yes, I can." "Just relax. You're going to be fine." "Great." "Dr. Gianna, she's awake," Rillao called on the commlink. "Rillao," she moaned, "what happened? My head hurts and my throat is scratchy." "You had a seizure that caused you to go into a coma. We had to intubate you to keep you alive. There is some neural damage, but nothing severe." She prayed Tenel Ka wouldn't ask the next inevitable question for now. That was all Tenel Ka needed right now, to hear the truth about her baby. "I...can't seem to focus on..." Then it hit her. "What about my baby?" Rillao almost didn't want to answer. "I..." "Rillao, what's going on?" "It...didn't survive. The shock to your system killed it." "No." "I'm sorry, honey." "Oh, god, no," she cried, then burst into tears. Rillao drew her up into her arms. "There was nothing we could do. If it's any consolation, you are healthy enough to have kids in the future if you want. You're going to recover." Rillao put a mask on Tenel Ka's face. She would need to be put under for a while. Tenel Ka fought the mask as it sealed around her mouth and nose. "What are you doing?" "Dr. Gianna's orders. You need to be breathing in pure oxygen for a while, to help reduce the damage that stroke did to your brain. That was the cause of that seizure. Take deep breaths. I'm not putting you under simply to put off dealing with your pain; you need the rest." Rillao could understand why she was doing that; she was probably very disoriented and felt like she was being closed in. "I can either knock you out and put you back on the machine or I can sedate you, but you are going to have to trust in me." Tenel Ka stopped thrashing around, but her breathing got very shaky. Soon, though, she calmed down and breathed in the oxygen. She fell into the bed. "Listen, it's okay; I know you're dizzy right now, but you need to breathe in that stuff for a while. We'll take care of you." Tenel Ka lay there as she tried to fight back the tears, but there was no way she could. "We've tried for months to conceive a child. Now this?" She fell back in the bed, as Rillao softly stroked her face. "You were just unlucky." As Tenel Ka fell back in the bed, Rillao rubbed her chest and stomach. It didn't help and Rillao was wondering why she thought it would. But Tenel Ka did not resist her touch. Dr. Gianna came in. One look at Tenel Ka said it all. She nodded her head. "Tenel Ka?" "I know, Dr. Gianna." The look in Tenel Ka's eyes had made that very clear. "I really don't know what to say. We did the best we could, but that last seizure took the oxygen away from the baby as you strained to breathe." She let Tenel Ka rest her head on her shoulder, taking care not to choke the tubing providing the oxygen to her body. "If it's any consolation, you will be alright." "It's something, but it hurts." "I don't know how much I can do about the emotional pain, but I should be able to at least ease the physical pain of your injuries. Listen, though, I am going to have to put you under. That's why that mask is on your face. Ever breathed in a relaxant before?" "No, I've never spent much time in a hospital at all." "Okay, what we will do is lay you back and splice an auxiliary line into your oxygen line. You will smell what is very sweet--that's the relaxant--and soon black out. You will not feel any pain or anything. It will relax your muscles and allow your body to use the energy to heal your wounds and also reverse some of the neural damage that seizure caused." Dr. Gianna rubbed Tenel Ka's forehead. She knew that mask was atrociously uncomfortable and she wished she didn't have to use it. "Here, let me relax you a little bit. Are you breathing alright?" "Yeah, but I feel lightheaded." "That's normal. We'll knock you out shortly." Dr. Gianna got a special compound and spread it on Tenel Ka's chest. The motion of her hands on her chest, combined with the coolness of the compound, allowed her to cool off a little. She monitored Tenel Ka's heart. It was beating fine, but she wanted to make absolute sure of that. Rillao's heart broke for Tenel Ka. She lightly rubbed her chest as Dr. Gianna prepared to use a relaxant on the young woman. Tenel Ka was crying heavily now and she was slowly weakening. Dr. Gianna had the auxiliary valve ready. "Okay, just relax." She opened the auxiliary valve and waited until Tenel Ka's breathing relaxed to close it. She brushed the tears from Tenel Ka's face as Tenel Ka blacked out, breathing steadily. "Just hang on." Rillao covered Tenel Ka up. She shook her head. A life had been lost in a brutal ambush. A life no one had counted on. Tears came to Rillao's eyes. Dr. Gianna was in tears, too. She cried as she looked at Tenel Ka. She wasn't resting; they had just knocked her out to delay the pain she was feeling. That was the sad part about the relaxant gas; though necessary in this case, it put a grieving patient into a deep sleep. "Damn that stuff. It won't help her at all in the way she'll need the most." "Her body needs to heal." But Rillao and Dr. Gianna agreed that it wasn't fair. Dr. Gianna walked out. Jacen was with Teneniel. "She's off the respirator. I've done a medical scan and the neural damage seems to be minimal and nonpermanent. She'll recover for sure. She's on oxygen right now, but you might want to go see her. She knows about her baby, but I put her back to sleep." "Why did you do that?" "To allow her to heal. I had no choice, or I would have avoided it. Jacen, you know I care about my patients, especially ones I know as well as I do her. There is some residual neural damage from the stroke, but time and rest will heal that." "Damn those Imperials," Teneniel said. "I love Tenel Ka so much, Teneniel. You don't know how much this hurt." "I do, actually. Jacen, losing my second baby drew me closer to her. She was there to comfort me. Now she needs someone to comfort her. I think I'll do that, though you, of course, should help her out, too. You've been a terrific friend for Tenel Ka and I'm honestly glad you married her." "She's the love of my life." Dr. Gianna's heart broke for Tenel Ka and her family. At least Tenel Ka would survive. Dr. Gianna's own husband hadn't been so lucky after suffering similar injuries. Jacen and Teneniel stayed at Tenel Ka's bedside as the relaxant kept her unconscious. "I was going to be a father, Teneniel, but the Force took that away from me." "No, Jacen, it was the absence of the Force that hurt Tenel Ka. You should be thankful she's alive." Jacen started crying. He felt like someone had ripped his heart out. "I am." Teneniel consoled him. "So am I." She started crying, too. Arian walked in. "How is she?" "Getting better," Jacen said. "But she's in such pain. I can feel it. Rillao told her about the baby before putting her to sleep." Arian leaned down to Tenel Ka and brushed her hair away from her face. Tenel Ka woke up for a brief second and sighed, then went back to sleep. Arian shook her head. Jacen and Teneniel sat with Jacen's parents at dinner. "How is she," Leia asked. "Getting better," Jacen said, "but I don't know. What if she's worse off than expected?" Jacen had heard horror stories of people recovering from neural damage and having to learn how to walk and eat right again. Jacen knew he could support her and help her through it, but it would be pure hell on her. Rillao sat down. "The neural damage is gone. There is a little residual damage, but not like you've heard about. She'll feel sick for a while and she may have fainting spells, but she'll be okay otherwise." "Who did this to her?" "It was Zekk." "Oh, god, no, not him. Zekk and I have been good friends for too long." "I thought Mara was hiding something when I talked to her," Leia intervened. "Rillao, why?" "Zekk was under the command of Les Tarkin. He was on the Dark Side of the Force, but Jaina seems to have drawn him back. I could sense it." "And he expects us to just accept his apologies and forget what he has done," Han said, as Leia jabbed him in the ribs. "Han," Leia whispered, "cool it." She rarely did that to him, but he needed to tone his voice down. "No," Rillao said, "he doesn't. He doesn't even want forgiveness, because he knows he won't get it." Got that right, thought Leia. "I want his head for this." Tenel Ka woke up quite stronger. Rillao said she'd be okay. The confinement to the Medical Center had helped her quite a bit. Tubes were inserted in her nose. "Dr. Gianna." "Yes, it's me." Dr. Gianna rubbed Tenel Ka with a cool cloth. It was to keep her clean and cool, but it would also help soothe her pain. Tenel Ka broke into tears. Dr. Gianna held her, softly rocking her from side to side. "It's just not fair. Jacen and I were ready to be parents. We actually tried. Why did this happen?" "I don't know," came a voice from across the room. "But I can sympathize." "Mom." "It's okay, Dr. Gianna. I can help her out." "Do so. She needs someone closer to her right now." Dr. Gianna left. Teneniel held her daughter, tousling her hair. "I know what it feels like." "Mom, I didn't find out much sooner than you did. I'm sorry." "There's nothing to be sorry about. You'd have made an excellent mother. I want you to know you have my full support in your motherhood, if you decide to try again. Are you sure you would have been ready?" "Yes. Jacen and I have been working at conceiving a baby ever since Mara announced she would restart the Academy under her management. That was a month ago. I never thought we'd get lucky." "Tenel Ka, you can get pregnant without trying." "We were always careful. Mom, when we got married, I wasn't ready and neither was Jacen, but we soon decided that we were ready. I think taking care of Mara's and Tionne's children had something to do with it." "Tenel Ka, I want you to consider something. I know you didn't go for this in the past, but now I think you may need it. I want you to consider getting a biomechanical arm. If you don't want to, that's fine, but you may find you can't do without two arms." "Mom, why?" "Handling a baby is tough enough with two hands, should you decide to conceive another baby. You certainly weren't a wild baby, but you were definitely a handful. I don't want to press, but I think it would be for the better. If you don't like it, you can just have the thing removed and never have to worry about it. Please think about it. Even if you don't try to have another kid." "I'll think about it." Rillao came in. Tenel Ka decided, against her nature, to have the prosthetic attached. "Is it too late?" "Hardly. We can do it anytime. Are you sure about this?" "Yes. Yes, I am." Teneniel hoped Tenel Ka would be okay. She looked sick. Rillao left. Teneniel looked at Tenel Ka. "Honey, you made a good decision. It's for the better and you'll appreciate it." Tenel Ka nodded. Tears streamed from her eyes again. The pain of her loss was unbearable. Rillao made impressions for the prosthetic as Tenel Ka lay there. "This will only take a few minutes." Jacen stayed with Tenel Ka after Rillao left. He pulled her close. At least he had her. And she needed him, badly. Somehow they'd make it through this tough time together. Tenel Ka felt strange with the prosthetic. It would take some getting used to, but she figured it was worth a shot. Dr. Gianna helped her adjust to the new arm. "What do you think," Teneniel asked. "Not bad, to be honest. I guess it'll be weird for a while, but it'll grow on me. Mom, thank you for suggesting this." "Tenel Ka, you're getting much better," Dr. Gianna said. "I want you to rest for a few more days, then we'll release you. You got lucky; at least you're still alive. My own husband suffered an embolism and died before they could intubate him." "I know. It just doesn't help." "It's not going to. At least your mother's been through this. Does your arm feel alright?" "It's weird. I keep feeling jolts in my body." "That'll take some getting used to. But you'll be able to use the prosthetic as you would the real thing." "Thank you, Dr. Gianna. You, too, Rillao." Mara got a call on the holophone. Leia was on the other side. She was shaking her head. "No, Leia, don't tell me Tenel Ka died." "I won't. She's alive and doing fairly well, but there is some bad news. Her baby died." "Oh, no. Leia, I-" "You knew it was Zekk, didn't you?" "Yes." "Damn, that's Jacen's best friend. I know you didn't want to hurt me, with us knowing Zekk that well, but you probably should have said something." "I know." "If you see Zekk next time, wring his neck for me." "I will do no such thing. Leia, if you want to do that, you do it yourself. I know you're angry or worse, but I will not allow myself to be drawn into this." "At least tell him how I feel. He'll have to face me someday." "Leia, tell Tenel Ka I'm sorry. We didn't know this was going to happen." "Neither did she and she's in extreme pain." "I'll come visit her as soon as I can. Zekk will know to stay away from her, but I can't." "You've always given a damn about her." "She was the one who kept the Academy together through all that happened. She, Arian, and Jaina have always been there for us." Leia nodded. That was much appreciated. Mara finished up the repairs. Zekk and Jaina had done some incredible work on the shuttle. "Jaina? Can you get us ready to go? I want to talk to Zekk for a little while." Jaina was afraid to leave Zekk alone with Mara. She went with her. Mara didn't try to stop her. Mara walked out. She found Zekk and sat down with him. "I just received a transmission from Leia. Tenel Ka's okay. She is going to be released in a few days." "That's great." "No, it's not. Zekk, her baby died. Thanks to you." "I didn't-" "You did. Can't you see that you have done nothing but cause dire pain by joining the Dark Side?" "Yes, but-" "No 'buts' about it. This is why we have an academy. To prevent this. You have ripped a life from an expecting mother and--I can tell you from experience--that is not something to be taken lightly." "Jaina told me about your own miscarriage. Mara, I can't think of anything to say." "You'd better think of something en route. Leia is enraged about what happened." "I'll have to face her someday. Damn, Mara, I didn't mean to hurt her." "Are you sure? Did you even know Tenel Ka?" Mara already knew he hadn't. "No, but I knew Jacen had gotten married to a terrific young woman. I had no idea she was pregnant." "Neither did Jacen. He only found out when Tenel Ka showed up at the Medical Center in a coma." Jaina spoke up. "I want both of you to know right now that this is tearing me apart, too. I know we should be concentrating on Tenel Ka's pain, but do you realize what this means?" "Yes," Mara said. "I do. I can't stop you two from seeing each other, and I feel that no one else should, either, but tread carefully. Tenel Ka is apparently in a lot of pain now." Jacen hugged his wife. "It looks and feels natural." He touched her prosthetic. She reeled with the touch, the power supply sending a tingling sensation up her arm. "How does it feel to you?" "Just fine. Jacen, I-" she couldn't continue. Her heart was just an empty space and she was still dizzy from the injuries she had sustained. Jacen held her as she started crying. "It's okay." He rubbed her back and she melted in his arms. Tears came to his eyes, too. He knew how Luke and Kyp had felt like after the Imperial attack on the Academy had injured Mara and Tionne and then caused the deaths of both their babies. Tionne's firstborn had only been a couple of days old, born to a comatose Tionne, who had suffered a skull fracture in an explosion. Someone had injected the Knowt's virus into the baby's bloodstream; born without an immune system, the baby had died instantly. Mara's baby had been only two weeks after conception and had been instantly killed by the impact from the explosion; Mara's own injuries had been like Tenel Ka's, but the collapsed lung had been sealed off before it would have caused an embolism. They stayed in each other's arms for hours. At least they had each other. Jaina, Zekk, and Mara had gotten the shuttle back together and had just gotten home. Leia greeted the crew on the landing pad. Zekk came out. "Mrs. Solo, nice to see you again." He realized, too late, that it probably was a very stupid thing to say. He was right. "Enough with the pleasantries. I don't want to hear them. Zekk, you made a bad choice, joining that group. I'm not ready to forgive what you did to my daughter-in-law. Do you understand why that is?" "Unfortunately, yes. I saw her when she lapsed into that coma. Leia, I didn't shoot that shuttle down." "But you were there. You might as well have hit the firing button yourself. You must take responsibility for your actions." Zekk hung his head. He knew Leia was right. Leia stormed off. Mara shook her head. "Dammit, Leia, don't do this," Mara whispered into thin air. "Don't pull Jaina into the middle of this." Zekk went away as well. Mara couldn't blame him. Jaina and Zekk would soon have a lot of problems with this situation. Mara sat with Leia and Teneniel. "Leia, you should have seen her when she left the moon. Her face had no color and she was nonresponsive. The embolism really shocked her." "What gets me about this," Leia said, "is the smug expression on Zekk's face." "I don't think that was smugness. He and I had a talk. I wanted him to know exactly what he had done to Tenel Ka. If he was smiling, it was because he's been saved from the Dark Side. That doesn't excuse what he did, but it does explain a lot. Jaina is getting serious with him." "I thought that was the case. Mara, this is not right." "Jaina has probably been the biggest help to him. She knows what he did." "How she can forgive him escapes my comprehension. She, Tenel Ka, and Arian were like sisters at that Academy. You know that. How can she forgive what Zekk did to Tenel Ka." Arian came in. "She hasn't. Neither have I. I don't plan to, but keep in mind what Kyp Durron did to Luke. Even Tionne admits she wanted to give him a second chance. Leia, Jaina doesn't want to be torn between her best friend and her boyfriend, but this is the case. How would you feel if Han did something like that to Mon Mothma? Wouldn't you feel torn as well?" "I guess. Arian, for a woman who isn't even twenty, you sure have a lot of perspective." "Thanks. As Teneniel can tell you, Dathomirians mature very quickly." Mara went to visit Tenel Ka. She was looking much better. "Hey, sleepyhead, wake up." Tenel Ka turned her head. "Hey, Mara," she whispered. "I heard what happened to you. Look, I want you to rest. You still look bad." "This just isn't fair. First I was told that I couldn't have children and, when I get lucky, this happens." "I know it's not fair. I can't make the pain go away, but I want to help you. You won't admit it, but you're going to need help. Hey, you got a prosthetic." "Mom suggested it. It feels weird." "So does a pacemaker. But you'll adjust. At least you have a choice." Mara covered her up. "Was it this bad when you miscarried?" "Yes. They injured me badly before my miscarriage. I was crying for a long time after that as the implications of the loss hit me. But, there is a difference. You did not know you were pregnant when you got injured and you also did not place yourself in great danger after finding out. I was just the opposite." "That is of little consolation." "I know it's not, but it needed to be said. Listen, it's okay to break down. Let your emotions out as needed. No one is going to hurt you." "You always knew that was a problem for me." "Back then, it was for me, too. Now, after losing a baby, a mother, and a husband, and having numerous problems with my heart, that changed." Jaina walked in. "Tenel Ka, I'm so sorry." "That was your boyfriend that did this, wasn't it?" "Sort of. We have been dating for some time. At least we had been before he joined Brakiss' group." "Dammit, Jaina, why did he do this?" "The Dark Side. Just like with Kyp. Tenel Ka, I really like Zekk and want to help him." "I'm not going to tell you to do otherwise, but I want you to know right now that I am about to kill him." "I can't blame you." Jaina held Tenel Ka, who was crying again. "I'm so sorry." Mara sat there, not sure whether to kill Zekk or help him. Teneniel went out to find Zekk, unsure how to handle this. Zekk was outside. Tears were in his eyes. "Are you Zekk?" "Yeah, that's me." "My name is Teneniel Djo Chume. I am Tenel Ka's mother." "Great, first her mother-in-law, now her mother." "Can you blame Leia for being so angry wtih you?" "And you're not?" "Of course I am, but I want to talk to you. Listen, do you understand what you just inflicted on Tenel Ka?" "Yeah, dammit. People have been reminding me of it ever since I got back here." "Zekk, what are they supposed to think? According to Arian, you were with the group who shot the shuttle down. Whether or not you actually fired the shot, you are guilty by association. Now maybe you can't understand the pain of a miscarriage, but I can. An Imperial trooper shot me in the stomach when I was a month pregnant with my second child. The baby died instantly and I was forced to undergo a hysterectomy. I was in such excruciating pain that I would start crying in the middle of the day. That instability lasted for months after that. Tenel Ka was fortunate to be able to reproduce again, but that same instability is going to be with her for a long time. That's going to hurt her severely." Tenel Ka was finally released from the Medical Center. Mara helped her out. Mara explained that Zekk was seeking amnesty. "Is that okay by you?" "Sure, why not?" Mara sensed the sarcasm in Tenel Ka's voice. "Don't be like that. If you have a problem with that, you need to be up front about it." "Who's going to listen to a brain-damaged Dathomirian woman who can't even keep from falling apart?" Mara was shocked by the defeatist tone of her voice. "You're not brain-damaged, Tenel Ka; they fixed that. In the second place, you might be Dathomirian, but there are people on the Council who don't care about that. Dathomir has won some respect since your great-grandmother took over the planet." "I don't know how I feel at this point. Mara, I wish Zekk the best of luck getting to the New Republic, but I hate him dearly for what he did to me. Maybe that's the Dark Side speaking, but I just can't imagine holding out after his actions nearly killed me." Mara held her. Tenel Ka started crying. "It's okay to be that way. The Dark Side doesn't deal with how someone thinks. It deals with how someone acts. Look, go in front of the Council. If you can't talk about it, at least remind them of what damage he's done to us. Shannia lost her left arm, by the way." "I remember that. Mara, I feel sick." Mara helped her calm down and put her to bed after she fell asleep. Zekk took the detonator box and dismantled the firing circuitry. It was saying goodbye to his short past as a Dark Jedi. A potential Sith Lord. Someone else would have to take his place. "Zekk, it's okay to want revenge. You just shouldn't act on it." "Jaina, why is life so complicated?" "The Force makes it so. Luke taught what he could of it and left the rest to experience. I went through it, Jacen went through it, Tenel Ka went through it. The Force is something you feel within your heart and use with your mind. It's not easy. Poor Tenel Ka has lived with heartbreak all her life. But it is life and she's glad to have it." "I'm afraid right now. I love you, but this isn't the last we've seen of that group. Jaina, I'm so sorry. My heart breaks as I think of Tenel Ka lying there, convulsing. I know I sound shallow and insincere, but she's such a sweet woman. She's a lot like you are." Jaina considered that a compliment anymore. Tenel Ka was a charming woman. "Am I going to win your mother's trust?" "I doubt it. Not anytime soon anyway. She's right not to want to forgive you, Zekk. You nearly killed one of two in-laws Mom respects the most. The other is Mara. Tenel Ka has been a sweetheart to Mom and a loving wife for Jacen. Zekk, the only reason I'm forgiving you is that I know and understand the circumstances surrounding this attack. Also, it doesn't hurt that I love you to death." "I don't intend to capitalize on that extreme, Jaina. Thank you for caring enough about me to be straight with me." Zekk could see winning back the light side of the Force would not be easy. But, he had been told by Mara, Kyp had been under the same duress. Zekk stayed on Coruscant. He kept out of the way as the Council decided his fate. "He's just like Mara, Qwi, and Shannia," Mon Mothma said. "Just caught on the wrong side." Drayson wasn't so sure. "I think we need to seriously consider what we are possibly about to do here. He nearly killed several of the Jedi Task Force members and some of the nonmembers from the Academy. I like the kid, but this is not cut-and-dry. What do you think, Gaeriel?" Gaeriel was Ambassador to Bakura. "I don't like the concept of giving such a person amnesty, but I think he'd probably be okay. But we're going to have to keep a close eye on him. I don't trust him." "He doesn't want your trust," Mara said. "Just a second chance at life." Something Shannia had told Mara on board the Imperial Guard. "He's a nice kid. I'm not sure if I would trust Lenina or Lucinda with a guy like him, but that's not something I have to worry about. I say give him amnesty. If he turns out to be a traitor, Jaina will kill him first. She trusts him." Leia shook her head. Zekk seemed so nice. But why Jaina was so quick to cover for him was incomprehensible. Did she really love him that much? But, hadn't she forgiven Han for kidnapping her and taking her to Dathomir in the name of love? Leia made a note to discuss this with Jaina. Tenel Ka stood up. Her stride was unsteady, her body still reeling from the massive trauma she had suffered. She didn't say a word; the pain in her face made her sentiments clear. She sat down. She just didn't care at that point. She ran from the room. Mara spoke up. "This is why I'm uncertain myself. Tenel Ka Solo has been in a deep funk and I can't blame her. Jaina, talk to Zekk. Tenel Ka has said she'll support this, but she is bitter toward Zekk and will be for some time." "I plan to." Jaina felt sorry for her sister-in-law. She had looked downright terrible at the meeting." The vote was unanimous to give Zekk amnesty. Tenel Ka came back in and voiced her support. It was ironic, but she did feel that everyone deserved a second chance. "Fellow New Republicans, I just wanted to say thank you for the support you gave Jacen and me while I was recovering. I am happy for Zekk, believe it or not. He's a really nice guy, but it doesn't abate my anger toward him. I know it would be too late to say otherwise, but I support this." Leia looked at Tenel Ka and wondered if the embolism had impaired her judgement. Jaina showed up. "Zekk, they awarded you amnesty. Don't test their patience, though. Some of the Council wants you banished to a deserted planet for your actions against the Jedi Academy, even though it was a unanimous vote." "Jaina, thank you. Thank you for giving me a chance to redeem myself. At least one person in the New Republic believes in me." "But that's it. Mom and Dad don't think much of you right now and Tenel Ka is very close to inflicting her injuries on you. You're going to have to win their trust back." "Maybe eventually I will. But, for now, I'm just happy to be with the woman I love." He hugged Jaina. Tenel Ka soon recovered. She was still in dire pain, but she had friends around her to help her. She spent a lot of time in her room, though, and it concerned Arian. Arian walked in. "Tenel Ka?" "Arian, hey." "Tenel Ka, don't torture yourself. You couldn't have predicted this tragedy and you're staying to yourself too much. You have people who love you a lot." "I know, Arian, but I just can't shake the pain." "Think how Mara or your mother felt after their miscarriages. Tenel Ka, the birth process is very long and tedious. It's a wonder more people don't have problems like yours. Just be glad you can still have kids and get on with life. Get out and let yourself heal. With others." Tenel Ka agreed. She wrapped her arms around her legs. It felt odd, having both of her arms again, but it was great. Probably the second best thing to happen to her, second to meeting Jacen. He made her feel whole. That meant a lot. Jaina dropped by a little bit later. "Tenel Ka?" The look in Tenel Ka's eyes almost brought tears to Jaina's eyes. "Yes?" "I just wanted to know how you were feeling." "Hurt beyond belief. Jaina, I feel anger, hatred for Zekk right now. I hate to tell you that, but it's true." "Listen, I'm on your side. Don't think that, just because I have feelings for him, I don't hate what he did to you. You're my sister-in-law and best friend, and you always will be. Zekk understands that." "I'm sorry for avoiding you." "If that had been me, I wouldn't have done any differently. Are you feeling any better, physically?" "My head still hurts and I sometimes have unexpected blackouts. On top of that, I've been crying more recently than I have all my life previously." "I hate to sound insensitive, but are you and Jacen going to try again?" "If we get lucky. I'm still not sure the pregnancy was supposed to happen." "But it did. Someone's watching out for you. Women miscarry all the time, Tenel Ka. You should consider yourself lucky, if for nothing else, that you can still try to have children. Think how your mother felt when she found out she would not be able to after her miscarriage. I know it's faint consolation, but you have to keep that in mind. If you want kids, go for it again. It's all you can do." Jaina held Tenel Ka as tears ran from Tenel Ka's eyes. "As for Zekk, if you never forgive him, I'll understand, but I do love him and I want to get him on the good side of the battle again." "I understand." Jaina realized Tenel Ka was a very poor liar. Mara took the students and faculty back to Yavin in the Jade's Fire. Jacen hadn't left a scratch on the ship and it was in perfect working condition. Jacen and Tenel Ka sat in the sleeping compartment. Dr. Gianna had just given Tenel Ka a clean bill of health, but warned Jacen to bring Tenel Ka back to Coruscant if she got pregnant, or serious problems could go unchecked. Both of them agreed. Jacen didn't want to lose Tenel Ka and she didn't want to die. Damaya's heart broke as she saw Tenel Ka. Never in all the time of knowing her had Damaya seen an expression like that on her face. Probably, though, that had been Teneniel's state of mind after her own loss. Losing a baby had really hurt Teneniel; that much was known. Same with Tenel Ka. Tenel Ka went to her room, hiding her face. But Damaya could see what she was hiding. Zekk stayed on Coruscant for the time being. He didn't feel welcome at the Academy and the greatest person close to him was on Coruscant. He felt so lucky to be Jaina Solo's companion. She wasn't a snob; she was a very beautiful young woman who just wanted to help right what was wrong in the galaxy. But the implications of what he had done were getting unbearable. The look in Tenel Ka's eyes had said it all. "Tenel Ka, please don't hate me," he reached out. Teneniel went home with Astarta after that. She was stressed out and breaking out in tears. She knew that it was because she was reliving the terrible miscarriage she had suffered five years ago. Tears streamed from her eyes as they went to Hapes. Hapan Senator Lain Jensan and New Republic Ambassador Arianna Thai Lintona greeted Teneniel at the landing pad. Arianna nodded. "Mara told me about that. Is she okay?" Teneniel shook her head. "No. She's falling apart. Worse, that was Jacen's best friend that shot that shuttle down. That's tearing her heart out, but Jacen keeps insisting that he is on her side." "I hope she recovers." Arianna remembered meeting Tenel Ka for the first time. Ari had just been inducted as the Ambassador to the New Republic from Hapes when she had met her. Her warm personality and bright smile were really charming, to say the least. "She will, but I'm afraid for her." "Mom, what are you saying?" Leia looked Jaina straight in the eye. "You're lucky we don't keep you from seeing Zekk. The more we think about it, the more we are wondering what you see in him." "What he did was inexcusable," Han said. "Jaina, we trust your judgement, but keep in mind what he did. Like your mother told you, he may not have shot that shuttle down, but he was there and might as well have been the one to issue the command." Jaina stormed out. This was getting too much. Han looked at Leia. Jaina was eighteen and very mature. But she seemed to have poor judgement at the moment. "Let her go. She's upset and I can't blame her." Leia reluctantly agreed. Jaina was in love. That much was obvious, but why? "Han, why does Jaina want us to forgive Zekk? I can sense she hasn't done that herself." "Maybe she realizes it's not forgiveness Zekk deserves. Maybe it's something else. I can't excuse what he did, but you have to remember how Kyp was when he was on the Dark Side." Leia still remembered the news of the supernova explosion on Carida. Kyp had directly caused that while under the influence of the Dark Side. "Kyp paid a dear price, too. I remember the look in his eyes when Tionne was in that coma. That's what scares me. What if another Dr. Morrin comes along and does that to Jaina? She might not be as lucky as Tionne." "It wasn't luck that helped Tionne survive. It was inner strength, something both Tionne and Jaina have a lot of. Kyp just had bad luck." Leia shook her head. Her daughter's judgement was beginning to look a lot better. Maybe what Zekk needed was guidance. Kyp had gotten it from Luke, whom he had felled. Maybe someone could give it to Zekk as well. But who? Certainly not Tenel Ka, who Leia knew wanted revenge for her injuries and tragic loss. Then it occurred to her. It was Jaina. Tenel Ka slipped into the tub back on Yavin. The warm water helped her muscles relax as she lay back. Tears came to her eyes. She heard a voice. "It's not easy, is it?" "No, Mara, it's not. How did you ever cope?" "I just let myself go. I held a lot of pain in for so long that I just exploded. Tenel Ka, this is not something you can just shrug off. The pain lingers for quite some time. Don't fight it. If you need a shoulder to cry on or any assistance, swallow your pride and ask someone for help." "Like right now?" "Yes." Mara drew Tenel Ka into her arms. Tears ran down Tenel Ka's cheeks. "I just don't understand why this had to happen." "You're not supposed to understand. No one is. It's just the Forces of fate. Shh, don't talk anymore and just let it all out." Mara stroked her back. "It'll pass eventually." Tenel Ka cried herself to sleep. Mara carried her into the bedroom and covered her up. Jacen came in. "Aunt Mara, I've never seen her in such anguish. I can't blame her, but she's always had a tough exterior. I don't know what to do to help her." "Be with her. She needs someone very close to her right now." Mara left. Jacen lay down beside her. "It'll be okay, honey." He opened her robe and stroked her body. She tensed up under his touch as she woke up. "Oh, Jacen, that feels so good. How do you know how to relax me?" "Mom taught me how at an early age. She does that to Dad all the time." Tenel Ka tried it on Jacen. "Like that?" "Yes." He pulled her close. "Jacen, no offense, but you look terrible, too." "Nearly losing you didn't help. When Dr. Gianna told me you had miscarried, my heart broke. I had wanted that child as much as you did." "That's saying a lot. Thank you for being here for me." "It's my pleasure. It'll be okay. We'll survive this." "Yes." She held Jacen close. He had once again, used the power of love to ease her pain. That, above all, was why she loved him so much. He was to her like Luke had been to Mara. Someone to love. Zekk was on Coruscant in his new apartment. He was no longer in the underworld of Coruscant. He had a job in Imperial City and was on his own. It felt great. He had never felt so free in his life. He owed it all to Jaina Solo. Jaina loved him a lot. And he loved her. "Tenel Ka, what's wrong?" Jacen was very concerned for her. "I'm having nightmares. Jacen, maybe I'm going crazy, but I keep having visions of Armageddon on Coruscant. I don't know why, but it frightens me." "With that damned ship lurking around, I can see why. But what can we do?" "Nothing. I'm afraid to tell anybody or they'll think I'm just recuperating from my injuries." "But you're not doing that badly. That could have killed you, but you survived and now are doing quite well. That should stand for something. You're looking really good, by the way." "Thank you, Jacen. You, too." Jacen wrapped his arms around Tenel Ka and she turned her head around and kissed him. Mara sat in her office. She had experienced the same dreams that Tenel Ka had. She wondered if she were going crazy, but she didn't have a husband to tell her she wasn't. She felt all alone, but she had her friends at the Academy. That was important. One of her students, the Dathomirian Tamith Kai, came in. "Mara, what's wrong?" "I keep having horrible visions of Armageddon on Coruscant. I just wonder if I'm losing it." "No, you're not. Several of us have had the same vision. It's not crazy. With the Galactic Peacemaker lurking around, you'd better watch out. That vision may come true." That would mean horrible consequences for the people Mara knew almost as well as those at the Academy. Her sister-in-law, Leia Organa Solo, and her family lived on Coruscant, as did many of Mara's friends. "I hope not." "How's Tenel Ka? I heard about her loss." "Better than expected. She looks good, but she's still in pain. I can sense it. I want to console her, but I just fall apart every time I think of her, lying on the ground in a coma." "I'm glad she's okay, nonetheless. Are she and Jacen going to try to conceive another kid?" "That's what they're hoping, but Tenel Ka's not in any mood to try right now." "It's never easy." Mara agreed. "Wait, how do you know?" "I've been there myself." Zekk walked in. Jaina turned away. "Dammit, Jaina, don't be like that." "Zekk, go away." Zekk left. Jaina buried her head in her hands. She wasn't feeling very good. She was very confused and now was in tears. She had to wonder what she was thinking. Leia heard about the exchange. She wondered if maybe she should talk with Jaina. Han agreed. "She's confused right now and probably needs a little guidance. Though I still have my doubts about Zekk, I do ask that you see things from both perspectives. Jaina needs your help." Leia walked out, intending to provide it. Han wasn't sure how to take this, either. He couldn't imagine how Jaina felt. She ran into Zekk outside her door. "Zekk, c'mon. We need to talk." Zekk listened as Leia lectured him severely. She wanted to kill him, but at the same time she wanted to help him. "Jaina really loves you, Zekk, but you have to understand she and Tenel Ka are really good friends and your actions have really driven her out of her mind. Tenel Ka is in dire pain and it hurts more that someone close to her sister-in-law did it and no one seems to care." "I care, Mrs. Solo. That's why I'm here, talking to you and not running off." "I know I was harsh on you, but you need it. I like you--you're a good influence on my daughter--but you are a barbarian for what you did. The Dark Side of the Force is not to be laughed at. It is very serious. I almost lost Mara to a Nightsister using the Dark Side. Now, my daughter-in-law is grieving over her loss. By the way, Zekk, just call me Leia. Don't need to be so formal." "I just didn't think I deserved to use your first name." "When I saw you coming out of that shuttle, looking like nothing was wrong, I thought that, but I think otherwise now. Tenel Ka is not very happy with the New Republic awarding you amnesty." "Jaina told me that was the case. Leia, I feel awful. I don't know what to say." "Just stay away from Tenel Ka for a while if you can help it. Let her cool off, if she can. She will probably never forgive you, but at least she'll get to the point where she doesn't hate you anymore." "I won't rush that. I honestly can't blame her. Leia, can I be perfectly honest here?" "Sure." "I met Tenel Ka just before that last seizure hit her. She's such a charming young woman. I liked her a lot and, to be honest again, was really hit hard when she went into the coma." "Zekk, don't you see? That's what Jaina is trying to tell you. The Dark Side made you not care about who that was. Now that you know, you forsaked the Dark Side. But you can't do it just like that. I know you're feeling guilty, but it is not helping the situation at all. It'll get better." They said goodbye and Leia went on to Jaina's apartment. "Mom, why is love so complicated?" "Because it is. Jaina, why did you walk out on us, then throw Zekk out?" "I don't know. I just felt ill at the time. I love Zekk very much." "It's okay to love someone, but you have to set limits. If you really love him, you need to make sure he's really away from the Dark Side or he'll break your heart and you'll be in danger of falling to the Dark Side yourself. We trust your judgement, but please bear in mind that he did hurt your sister-in-law badly. Mara says Tenel Ka probably will never forgive Zekk for this." "She has every right to do that. But the choice is not so clear to me." "I guess so." As Leia left, Jaina got on the phone with Zekk. "Zekk, I'm sorry." Zekk came over and hugged her. "Jaina, you don't need to apologize. I was wrong." Han sat on the holophone with Jacen. "I can't abide by that. Dad, why is Jaina so adamant in defending him?" "She's in love. She wants to help him and I don't see anything wrong with that in particular." "I don't, either. Do I have to forgive Zekk, too?" "No. You don't. Neither does Tenel Ka. I don't agree that he should get off so easily, but what's done is done and Tenel Ka is still alive. That doesn't make it right, but it does put things in perspective." "It's not right, I'll give you that." "How is she?" "Falling apart at the seams. I've never seen her like this before and it scares me." "You'll have to accept that Tenel Ka won't always show that rough exterior of hers." "That's what bothers me. She's still trying to show it now." Jacen later got on the holophone with Zekk. He had no idea why. Zekk almost hung up, the look on Jacen's face making things worse, but he felt he deserved that. "Jacen, I don't know what to say." "Good, because I won't listen." Jacen hit the button and terminated the call. Jaina was shocked, having just seen the call. "Zekk-" "No, Jaina, don't say anything, please. He said in that little sentence all that could be said." "Zekk, please don't expect sympathy from me." "I'm not. You're good not to want to give it, either, but I have to resolve this with Jacen. If he hates me for life, it won't be because I didn't try." Mara kept it to herself, but she felt that Jacen had stepped out of line with that call. But this wasn't Jacen's problem. It was Zekk's. Finally, she spoke up. "Jacen, I won't even think of lecturing you on what you just did, but what is the problem here? Is it more than just your wife?" "And unborn child. Yes, it's more than that. That was a very close friend of mine--Zekk, that is--and he nearly killed the one woman who understands me nearly as much as Mom or Jaina does." Mara sighed. Jacen had a point. "You also know, then, that he's dating Jaina." "Doesn't help a bit. I don't know, though. Half of me wants to kill him and half wants to forgive him." "Go between the two. Talk to him. This time, more than one sentence." "Zekk, you don't understand how hurt Tenel Ka is right now. You probably never will." "That's right, but I can't keep apologizing to you and her. I don't feel that's in her best interest, sounding more like patronizing." "Good point. You have to face up to this, though. Especially with Jaina, who is very close friends with Tenel Ka. She's being pulled into the middle of this and she did nothing wrong." "I'm not trying to pit her against her best friend. If you believe nothing else, at least believe that. We have just gotten close. I went with her from Brakiss' ship because, deep down, I really cared for her. I had no inkling I had nearly killed a pregnant woman, nor did I know that the woman was your wife." Tenel Ka came in. She almost shut off the connection, but she didn't feel right doing it. She left, not wanting to break down again in front of Zekk. Secretly, she wasn't sure a grudge was the best thing to carry at this point. Jacen nodded. Zekk said goodbye. Nothing else needed to be said. Mara sat with Jacen. "Doesn't that feel so much better?" "Yeah, though I'm still angry." "I didn't mean for you to try to abate your anger. I just wanted you to discuss the situation with Zekk in a more calm manner than you did before." Leia sat with Zekk again. She actually felt sorry for him. Weird that it was that way. "Zekk, Jacen needed that." "I know." He buried his head in his hands. He had really messed up this time. Tionne sat with her guitar in hand as Mara sat with her. "Mara, how are you feeling?" "Just fine, Tionne. I'm feeling a lot better." "Probably better than Tenel Ka right now. How's she feeling?" "She won't show it, but she's in pain. All I can do is-" "Just bear with me," Tenel Ka said. She had just entered the room. "I know I seem down, and I am, but Jacen's helping me cope." "No offense, but you don't look so good." "I know, Tionne. The loss still hurts. I guess it's supposed to." "Don't be like that. You just got unlucky. Don't just shrug the pain off; you'll make it worse." "I guess I'm doing okay, though. It just sickens me that Jacen and I had conceived a baby and someone ripped it from me. Mara, I'm sure you know what that's like." "Yes, I do. I also know how much it hurts. You'll wake up nights, out of your mind with grief, but you can help it pass by using the relaxation technique Luke taught you. The pain will eventually pass." "Thanks. You two have been almost as much help as Jacen in helping me through this." "Don't mention it. You are my nephew's wife and a close friend. How's your head?" "Fine, actually. I still have trouble balancing sometimes, but Rillao's been keeping an eye on me. Though I'm sure she's afraid she may have inflated my lung the wrong way, I appreciate her concern for me. I don't honestly think she did anything wrong." "Rillao's a caring woman. She was horrified when you had that seizure. You really looked like you were already dead. I'm glad you're not." "I am, too. I don't know. Maybe we'll try again, but not anytime soon." "Don't rush. You probably should take some time to let your body heal. You're looking somewhat better, if it's any consolation." "Thanks. I just feel awful. I can't keep from crying at night, but Jacen's been there to help me. Why does it hurt so badly?" "You were carrying a life inside you. That's why, near as I can figure out from my own experience." "That makes all too much sense. I guess life sometimes isn't fair." "True. Don't worry about it too much. Just try to deal with your loss. It'll get easier, I promise." "Mara, not to change the subject, but have you been having dreams about Coruscant?" "If you mean total destruction, yes. Tenel Ka, are you having them, too?" "This is a fact. Mara, I thought I was going crazy. I'm not, am I?" "No, not unless several of us are going crazy as well. Oh, god, I wish I could dismiss the dreams as delusions. But this is serious." "What can we do?" "I don't know. We can't tell the New Republic. I don't want a preemptive strike against the Galactic Peacemaker. That's not diplomatic. Declaring war like that will undo all we have fought for, and some of us have died for. I just hope the visions are wrong." "Me, too. You're right; war is not an option." "I know you probably want revenge for your unborn child's sake." "Yes, but I know not to act on such wishes." "Good for you. It's not easy to have such strength. They'll get them somehow. Hopefully, before we lose someone else." Tenel Ka nodded. She walked out. Tionne shook her head. Tenel Ka was just hiding her feelings. She would later regret it. Someone already did. Jacen was beginning to see some severe strain in Tenel Ka. She seemed really moody and kept to herself. He wondered if he were about to see his marriage fall apart over this. Certainly not a trivial reason, but it still hurt. He had said nothing as he had walked out on her. Arian walked out. "Jacen, what's wrong?" Jacen really admired Arian. He could see very well why she was such good friends with Tenel Ka. "I don't know. Arian, losing that child has taken a toll on Tenel Ka. I can feel it. She seems distant and depressed. I can understand, but it scares me. What if we split up? I don't want to lose her." "She loves you. She told me that. Jacen, I remember talking with Teneniel after she lost her baby. She was the same way. Isolder was there for her. You should be, too." "She hides herself too much." "Then use the Force. Touch her mind. Let her know that you care." "I guess." Jacen walked away. He needed some time to himself. Arian walked in on Tenel Ka. Tenel Ka looked up. "Arian." "You can't just keep doing this. Jacen loves you. Can't you understand that?" "I know. But I just can't hold the tears in and I feel like I must in his company." "You don't have to do any such thing. Keeping your pain inside just makes it worse. That's how I was when Dad threw me out. I spent the rest of the days he was alive being bitter and spiteful. Mom probably told you that I didn't go to his funeral. I could never tell her why. Eventually, I did and now regret having kept away." "I guess." Tenel Ka broke down again. Arian held her, softly stroking her hair. "That's better. Just let it all out. That helped so many others out." Tenel Ka eventually fell asleep. Arian covered her up. Her heart broke for her best friend. No wonder Jacen kept away. Tenel Ka was holding her pain in and keeping to herself, quite the opposite from what she really needed to be. "Tenel Ka?" "Luke, is that you?" The spirit of Luke showed up. "Yes. It's me." "Well, it's obvious I need help. My own husband is away right now." "Can you honestly blame him? Tenel Ka, he loves you. He knows you're hurting and that you're not letting him do anything about it. You need someone right now." "I know that, but I just can't face him." "Don't want him to see you like this? How about after your father died. Wasn't he the one who comforted you? You were like this then." Tenel Ka nodded her head. Tears were falling from her eyes again. "Luke, this hurts." "Mara knows about that. At the very least, you should talk with her. Arian's right; you can't keep to yourself the rest of your life. And the pain won't go away even then if that keeps up." As Luke's spirit disappeared, Tenel Ka lay back and fell asleep. Mara came in and covered her up. A little while later, Tamith Kai walked in. "Tenel Ka, there's something I need to tell you. It might help." Jacen walked around outside, using the Force to talk to the creatures in the jungle. He wondered if doing some rock climbing would help. But, there were no mountains within easy reach of the area. Tenel Ka always used the Massassi Temple and just climbed that, but it was probably too short and, besides that, he didn't know how to do it. He was very alone. He kept having visions of his wife divorcing him, though he couldn't understand why. Damaya came out. "Jacen," she said, "care to talk about it?" "You might help indeed. Damaya, I'm worried about my marriage to Tenel Ka." "Afraid Tenel Ka will leave you?" "Yeah. Exactly." "I have never been married, but I know from talking with Teneniel how painful a miscarriage is." "What can I do? From talking to Mara and Tionne, one might think dealing with this is easy." Tionne appeared, shaking her head. "That's because you weren't at the Academy yet. Mara lost it during a speech to the Academy class that was here then. Luke sent her to Coruscant to seek counseling. It helped her out." "Was Aunt Mara ever in danger of leaving Luke?" "Yes, actually, she was. About midway through the pregnancy, she and Luke had a bad falling-out. Mara actually locked herself in the Alderaanian Consulate and wouldn't come out. She was really in pain and Luke had enough of it. I stayed with her, but had a mild seizure. They said it was nothing. Dr. Gianna attributed the seizure to strain from the pregnancy on my healing body. I was okay, but Kyp was scared." "He got over it, though, if I heard correctly." "Yes. He didn't even think about it until I went into labor, then into cardiac arrest." "Back to the subject, though. What can I do?" "Let Tenel Ka cool off. She was with Tamith Kai when I last saw her," Damaya said. "What can she do?" "She miscarried herself. She was in a bad rock-climbing accident and got the wind knocked out of her. The baby died immediately and Tamith Kai hadn't even known she was pregnant. Just like Tenel Ka." "She must've been devastated." "She was in such severe pain she tried to kill herself." "I didn't know." "Only a couple of people did." All of a sudden, Tenel Ka ran out and into his arms. "Jacen, I'm sorry," was all she said before melting in his arms. Damaya and Tionne left them alone. Tamith Kai remembered vividly what had happened. She, Barukka, and Damaya had decided to go rock climbing one cool day. There was a light breeze, but Tamith Kai had decided to do the climb anyway. There had been a mild snowfall on top. Tamith Kai had gotten geared up and started climbing. About halfway up, she had lost her footing. She had been feeling very dizzy of late and slipped. Damaya had tried to grab a hold of her, but to no avail. Tamith Kai had fallen to the ground and gotten the wind knocked out of her. She couldn't move, her back broken on impact. Barukka had climbed down and run to her fallen friend's side. Then she had noticed a streak of blood at the woman's waist. Medics had run up and immobilized her, then taken her to the hospital. Then they had determined she had been pregnant. As Tamith Kai had laid there with a mask on her face, she had concentrated on the Force and tried to break her neck. A nurse had found her, sedated her, and thrown her in the psychiatric area. Tamith Kai had been involuntarily committed. But her friends, not to mention her husband, had helped her heal. Tamith Kai remembered her husband. He had been a very nice man, with short red hair and dark green eyes. He had fallen instantly in love with her, seeing her deep violet eyes as the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen. Tears came to her eyes as she remembered lying there, during the recent Hapan uprising, shot in the stomach and looking at the body of her husband, shot in the heart. Now, she was a Jedi trainee, looking to turn her pathetic, in her opinion, life around. "What did you do to her," Damaya asked her friend. "I had a talk with her. She needed it." Tionne had a lot of respect for Tamith Kai, who had comforted Tionne after Kyp had died. "Good for you. Jacen was afraid for his marriage. Tenel Ka seemed so moody. I never knew about your miscarriage." "It was stupid. I should never have gone climbing that day. We caught a wind and I fell 10 meters to the ground. I broke my back and then found out I had been pregnant. It was a wonder I hadn't been higher up and broken more than my back. That's why I walk so stiffly now. I still do rock-climbing, but I can't ever do so without apprehension. Damaya probably told you I nearly committed suicide." "How?" "Tried to use the Force to break my neck. It didn't work well and I was remanded to therapy after that." "Ouch. Well, Tenel Ka really appreciates that." "She also has made peace with Zekk. She'll never forgive him for this, but at least she doesn't hate him, either. I made her promise not to make Jacen do likewise. She agreed." "Jacen, I've been a bitch lately and I'm sorry." "I just kept having these dreams of you and me getting a divorce over this. I couldn't stand it." "I doubt that would have really happened. Jacen, you're what I need right now. Maybe I couldn't express that, but it's true. I'm not used to having such tragedy occur like this. Mostly, right now, I need a shoulder to cry on." Jacen got the hint and held her. "I figured as much," was all he said. As she stood there in his arms, he softly stroked the front of her body. It always cooled her down. As she stopped crying, Jacen lay her down and massaged her. He longed to touch her naked body once again, to caress her. But not for now. "Jacen?" "Yes?" "At some point, do you really want to try again?" "I still would like to have children." "Now's not the time, of course, but I would, too. We're ready for parenthood. When Mom said it, I knew it was so. Oh, god, that feels so good." Tenel Ka moaned as he continued kneading her strong muscles. "I just feel so ill." Jacen softly stroked her legs. She stopped him, not ready for the next step. But she didn't quite say never to do it again. "Give me a little while to recover first and then we can do it," she said as she fell asleep. Admiral Tarkin sat on board the Galactic Peacemaker. He was furious at Zekk for turning on him. He would soon have his revenge. In the underworld of Coruscant, some of Zekk's old friends were walking around, living dirty lives. Some wished Zekk the best, others were envious of his rise to the top on Coruscant. All of a sudden, there were explosions all around. People ran in all directions as there were massive fires and total destruction. A whole squadron of troopers had infiltrated the underworld and started detonating suicide bombs all over the place. Soon there were no survivors. There had just been a holocaust. The tragic part was no one in the New Republic, for the most part, would care. Zekk was furious when he heard about the destruction. "Jaina, you mean no one noticed someone attacking the underworld?" "Unfortunately, yes. Zekk, I don't mean to sound insensitive, but much of the Council seems to not give a damn about the underworld." "I've known that for some time. It's sad it has to be that way. I guess now it doesn't matter." "It matters to you. I know those were your friends down there. Maybe you won't get much sympathy, but those were real people down there. To me, that matters just as much as if a holocaust occurred up here. Zekk, don't do something you're going to regret." "I won't. I've come too far to the Light Side of the Force to give it up now." He held Jaina. As usual, she felt so good to get close to. At least he had her. Leia shook her head. "Jaina, I'm afraid you're right. Oh, I wish it weren't true." Zekk spoke up. "Those people just never gave themselves a chance to leave their homes for nicer accommodations. It's unfortunate, but I'm afraid that there's nothing we can do." "As far as I'm concerned the Galactic Peacemaker just declared war." "The Council won't go for it, though," Jaina said. Leia wished her daughter weren't so cynical, but Jaina had a point. That's what hurt the most. One exception was the Ambassador to Bakura, the lovely Gaeriel Captison. "Zekk, I wish I could do something about this. Those were real people down there. Maybe the Council as a whole doesn't give a damn, but you should find comfort, however faint, that there are a few members of the Council who do." "Thank you, Gaeriel. At least a few people care." "Unfortunately, our hands are tied." "That's not very reassuring." "I wish I could do more. Something will come up, hopefully before this happens again." Mara shook her head. "Why does it have to be this way?" "Because the Council sees the underworld as a bunch of thugs who are nothing but trouble. No offense to Tenel Ka, but that's how many saw Dathomir when we first started diplomatic relations with them." Tenel Ka was part Dathomirian, from the side of her mother, Queen Teneniel Djo Chume of Hapes, who had been born and raised on Dathomir. "Some still see it that way." "There's nothing we can do about that," Tenel Ka said, having just entered the room with the holophone. "Dathomir is such a barren planet. I see why they have such a bad view of it, but that doesn't make their prejudices right. Jacen has always told me that meeting Mom and me for the first time diminished his prejudices against Dathomir." "Tenel Ka, you're looking better. Not to change the subject, but are you still hurting?" "Yes. I guess it's getting better, but I can't get over the pain very easily." "Your mother called here, on unrelated business, and was wondering about you." "Even after she lost her second baby, I couldn't imagine how much it hurt." An Imperial trooper had shot Teneniel in the stomach during her second pregnancy, causing a catastrophic miscarriage that required Teneniel to undergo a hysterectomy, leaving her infertile. "Leia, I feel awful." "I'll tell you the same thing I told Mara after her baby died. Don't try to keep that tough-woman image of yours to the point that you hide all your emotions. It'll come back and make you feel worse down the road. If you feel like crying, just do it. It'll do nothing more than to help you deal with the pain. Don't hold it in." "Thanks, Leia." She ran out. Mara said goodbye and ran after her. Leia could see Tenel Ka had already taken her advice. Tears had been running down her cheeks as fast as she could run out of the room. It almost brought tears to Leia's own eyes to see her daughter-in-law in such dire pain. Mara found her in the control room. "Tenel Ka, is there something I can do?" "Just your being here is good enough." Mara held her in her arms. "I can do that. You need someone." Finally, she calmed down a little bit. "What can I do?" "I wish I could tell you how to make it go away faster." "I feel like my heart has been torn out." "It's a sinking feeling, losing a child. Tenel Ka, it'll be okay." "I know." Tenel Ka stayed in Mara's arms for a while, then she decided to take a warm bath. Soaking in warm water was the best therapy she could think of. The warmth soothed her muscles and allowed her to relax. She slid into the tub and sighed. Jacen came in. He put his hands down the front of her body, stroking her stomach and chest. She moaned as he continued. "Jacen, you don't know how good that feels." Eventually, Tenel Ka slipped out of the tub. Jacen held her in his arms. Soon, she lay down on the ground and looked him in the eyes. He softly stroked her body, feeling the tension leaving her. Soon, he had his clothes off. "Tenel Ka, I think it's time to try again." "It's right, yes." Tenel Ka softly rubbed between her legs. "But please go easy. Just in case." "I will." Jacen ran his lips up the length of her body, softly kissing her breasts. Soon, he was on top of her and he pushed himself inside. She gasped as he entered her. He pushed on with his might. Her breathing quickened as her adrenaline started pumping. Jacen wasn't sure if she was having orgasms or seizures; her body was shaking so badly when he got off of her. "Hey, you okay?" "Yeah," she said, breathing heavily. "I'm fine." She could hear her own heart racing as she calmed down. "Just fine." Jacen ran his hands down her front. He soon felt her inner thighs. She reeled with his touch. Tenel Ka wasn't sure why now seemed right to try to conceive a baby again, but it was right. Maybe they'd get lucky. As he got off of her, she climbed on top of him and gave him a massage, but she soon stopped as he gritted his teeth in pain. "Tenel Ka, watch it. That really hurt." "Sorry, Jacen, I forget my own strength sometimes." "I do, too. But those muscles of yours really feel good to touch." Jacen showed her how to do it right. It was much better after that. "There you go." As she finished, she fell into the bed. They held each other tight, feeling a newfound bond. "You think we just-?" "Could be," Jacen said. "But does it really matter right now?" "No." She smiled with tears in her eyes. Soon, she started laughing and they made love again. Jacen could feel a world of tension leaving her body. Her leg muscles tightened and relaxed as they continued. They soon fell asleep in each other's arms. Tenel Ka woke up with Mara standing over her. Jacen was gone. Mara tousled her hair. "You look a lot better this morning. I came in to check on you." "Mara, I...think we may have gotten lucky again." "I hope you did." "Moreover, I have a newfound respect for him. He has held himself together pretty well, while I've been crying my eyes out. I shouldn't have stayed to myself; he can help me." A couple of weeks went by. Tenel Ka was walking around in the jungle, preparing to do a little climbing, when she suddenly passed out. Just like Tamith Kai, but at least she was on ground. Arian ran to her. "You okay?" Tenel Ka nodded her head. "I think so." Rillao came out and carried her back to the infirmary. She checked her out, then shook her head. "Tenel Ka, you probably already knew this." "You mean-" "You're pregnant again. Congratulations." "I hope I don't have to suffer what I did the last time." "Same here. Listen, you know what Dr. Gianna told you. I want you back to Coruscant now." "No need to," Dr. Gianna said. "I'm here on Yavin." She had come to visit her brother, Jaye Wilson. He and his wife, Lana, were on Yavin training as Jedi Knights. "The Imperial City Medical Center is in chaos right now. The holocaust in the underworld has caused a major shake-up there. Tenel Ka, I'm going to need to get you to another Medical Center. How does Hapes sound? It's your home planet." "Sounds really good. But why Hapes?" "It is where I can keep an eye on you and still make sure you receive top-notch medical care. I want you to live to raise your child. Growing up without a mother is something no child should have to do." Tenel Ka agreed. Jacen hugged Tenel Ka. "Mara, can you spare me?" "Jacen, it's not like you even had to ask. Of course I can. Go to Hapes. We won't need you two for a while anyway. The Academy is moving along at a slow pace and we won't pick it up anytime soon." Jacen, Tenel Ka and Dr. Gianna boarded a shuttle for Hapes. Dr. Gianna was happy for them. Teneniel greeted them at the main entrance. "Tenel Ka, that's great. Mara just told me." "There's more," Dr. Gianna said. "If I'm correct, your daughter is carrying twins." Jacen was shocked. Tenel Ka was, too. "Why didn't you tell us," Jacen asked. "I didn't know until I used a medical scanner en route. Sorry." "This twin thing is a Skywalker tradition. First, Mom and Uncle Luke are twins, Jaina and I are twins, then Aunt Mara gives birth to twins. Now, my wife is pregnant with twins. This is great. Tenel Ka, I hope you're up to it." "I am. I've never been more ready for this than I am now. This is exciting." "Teneniel, I'm staying with Tenel Ka," Dr. Gianna said. "I don't trust strange doctors with my patients. After Tionne's ordeal when Jianna was born, I feel it is my duty to take care of Tenel Ka." "Sounds good. I'm sure I can help convince the Medical Center to take you on temporarily." "I hope so, because I'm taking her elsewhere if they refuse. No sense in risking it." "I understand." Tenel Ka concurred. Dr. Gianna set up a temporary office in the Hapan Palace. She thought it would be easier to work from home. Would make Tenel Ka more comfortable and put Teneniel and Jacen at ease. Jacen called home. "Mom, we've done it again. Tenel Ka is pregnant again." "Oh, Jacen, that's wonderful." "Even stranger. She's carrying twins." "Just like I did. Tell her congratulations. Jacen, is she doing okay?" "She's still waking up nights in tears, but she's feeling a lot better. This really took a lot out of her." "I know it did. Jacen, not to take his side, but-" "I understand about Zekk. He has a good idea how much pain she was in. And he did really save her life; Mara said that, were it not for his quick action, Tenel Ka would probably have died on Codru II-C. And that would have been even worse than just losing the baby. I would have lost everything." "You really love her, don't you?" "Not a day goes by I don't think about her at some time. She's so beautiful now and I love her so much. Meeting her on Coruscant that first time made a difference in my life. I can only hope Zekk makes Jaina that happy. Tenel Ka and I agree that he doesn't deserve our forgiveness, but he doesn't deserve our hatred, either. It's time to at least put the bitterness behind and at least try to accept Zekk dating my sister." "Jacen, I'm glad of that. Han and I feel the same way." "Teneniel is not so sure, but that's her prerogative. I can't blame her either way." Jacen really admired Teneniel; she had been torn apart by her husband's death and her daughter's painful loss, but she held herself well. Tenel Ka lay in her bedroom. "Mom, this feels so good." "I can still sense your pain, honey." "It's hard to miss. But at least I have a second chance." "You're lucky; I didn't have that chance after the loss of my second child." Jornell looked at Admiral Tarkin like he had just lost his mind. "What the hell did you attack the underworld of Coruscant for? No one gives a damn about that place." "Zekk does. That's his home, or did that choke-hold fry your memory? Zekk won't be able to stay away; he'll come after us and we'll crush him. Hell, let's-" He had a great idea. Get Zekk where it would hurt the most. Jaina was in her apartment when there was a knock at the door. A cloaked Jedi shot her. She quickly lost consciousness. Zekk came in and saw her. "Jaina, no." He knew exactly who had done this to her. Jaina moaned and opened her eyes. "Zekk," she whispered before she blacked out. Zekk carried her to the Medical Center. A doctor examined Jaina and found no internal organ damage. That was good. They had not shot to kill. He put a mask on Jaina's face and submerged her in bacta. The burns healed quickly. Zekk called Leia. "Leia, your daughter's in the medical center." Leia gasped. "What happened?" "She was shot. They say she'll be okay." Leia ran to the Medical Center. "Zekk, do you know what happened?" A New Republic Police officer came up. "Yes, he does. Zekk, you're under arrest for the attempted murder of Jaina Solo." "No, dammit! I didn't do it." "Sure you didn't. I've got evidence that puts you at the scene of the crime." Leia was sure Zekk hadn't done it. He loved Jaina too much. Jaina woke up. "Mom, what happened?" "You got shot in the stomach. You'll be okay, but Zekk has been arrested for shooting you." "He didn't do it. I swear he didn't." "I was sure of that from the start. Jaina, just rest. We'll clear his name." Jaina fell asleep. Mon Mothma and Leia sat with Zekk in Zekk's holding cell. "Leia, I didn't do this." "Unlike that officer that arrested you, I believe you when you say that. Zekk, what happened?" "Jaina was supposed to show up for a date. I was going to treat her to dinner to celebrate my promotion in my job. Naturally, she offered to pay, but I talked her out of it. I waited for an hour, but she didn't show up. I called the Medical Center when I found her. Tell me she'll be alright." "She'll do just fine. She woke up a little while ago. I told her we're working to clear your name. There's something else. There is evidence against you. They found your prints on the gun that shot her. I wish I could say how they got there." "What kind of gun was it?" "A low-power stun ray. That's what's puzzling. Why did they want to just stun her?" "Wait a second. When I was on the Galactic Peacemaker, I used such a gun. I stunned Jornell with it when I helped Jaina escape. I left the gun on the bridge." "I might've known," Mon Mothma said. "Zekk, you were framed in revenge for aiding Jaina's escape." "Now what?" "Was anybody with you before you went to pick up Jaina?" "No. Damn, am I in trouble?" "Yes. We'll do our best to get you out of trouble, though." "Thank you." Zekk had a friend in Jaina once again. Jaina knew Zekk hadn't shot her. He had been at work all day long and she had been shot some time ago. The stun ray hadn't done much damage. She was his alibi and he loved her. The arresting officer was skeptical, though. He was sure Zekk had meant to kill Jaina to prove to the Empire what side he was on. Zekk walked into Jaina's room. "Jaina, hey." "Zekk," she said as a smile brightened her face. "You know who shot you, don't you?" "Yes. Thank goodness that person is not you." "Jaina, let's go to Yavin. For a while." "Tenel Ka and Jacen are there." Jaina had not been made aware of their situation, as the news had gotten lost in the shuffle. "Perhaps that's more reason to go." Leia thought it was a good idea. "Stay away until the heat wears down a little." "Yes." Zekk left the planet for Yavin. Jaina was with him. Han and Leia were uneasy, but they figured Mara would keep them out of trouble. Trouble such as that into which Jacen and Tenel Ka had gotten a year and a half before their marriage. Augwynne, Tenel Ka's great-grandmother, had caught the two in a serious embrace, close enough to having sex to cause concern. She had straightened them out. Now Tenel Ka was happily married to Jacen and pregnant with twins. The shuttle made it all the way to Yavin without interruption. That was good. Jaina remembered Tenel Ka's recount of the horrible torture session Jana Morrin had used on Mara after capturing her in space. The session had caused such devastating harm to Mara that she was now dependent on a pacemaker. Rhonna Tho had attacked her with Force lightning about two months prior to that incident. The barrage had damaged Mara's heart, leaving it susceptible to failing. Mara had almost died as a result of the torture session by Jana. She was okay now. The incident made the entire Jedi Academy group uneasy when traveling in space. They always did it in groups and kept oxygen lines in the main compartments of all Academy ships. That way, if someone gassed the occupants, like Jana had done, there would be less of a problem. "How could you let them go?" The arresting officer, a Quarren, glared at Leia. "Do you just not care what happens to your daughter?" "She's safe. Look, sir, I don't think you understand. Jaina has already said, without a doubt, that Zekk wasn't the one who shot her." "Sure. Did you ever think that she was covering up for him." "Stop it!" Gaeriel looked at the two warring sides. "Both of you need to cool off. Look, I was skeptical of Zekk, too. This incident didn't help that. But I do know that Zekk is probably more civilized than you would like to believe. "Leia, he's just concerned for your daughter. It doesn't make it right, but you shouldn't bite someone's head off, either." The officer stormed off. "Gaeriel, you're right. At least I'm willing to admit it." "I wish I had Force powers like you, Leia. Something doesn't sit right about that officer." "Do you think he's in on this attack?" "Maybe. Colonel Bremen sure tried to do that to Mara." Bremen had tried to frame Mara for the incident on Hapes. Twenty soldiers died in an ambush after Bremen alerted the Imperial Restoration Force to their arrival. Bremen had later been executed by a firing squad for treason and murder. "I hated Bremen for that. He indirectly caused Luke's death." Leia couldn't have asked for a better cohort than Gaeriel Captison. An attractive Bakuran woman about Mara's age, Gaeriel was tough and diplomatic. After nearly perishing in the Battle of Centerpoint about nine years before, Gaeriel had suffered spinal damage, paralyzing her below the waist; she used a repulsor chair to get around. Gaeriel was a widow; her husband, Pter Thanas, had died of Knowt's Disease not long before the Battle of Centerpoint. She had a daughter, Malinza, who was thirteen now. "I miss Luke. He was a good friend." Luke and Gaeriel had dated for a short time, but they had grown apart. They were from differing planets. Gaeriel had been Senator of Bakura, then Prime Minister. Just after Pter died, Gaeriel had lost her reelection bid. It had just added insult to injury. None of it showed on her. Her face was still as vibrant as when Leia had first met Gaeriel. She was about medium height, with a nice, slender figure, and had shoulder-length blond hair and unusual eyes; one of them was green, the other gray. She had a very serious, almost severe, expression on her face at all times, but she was a very striking woman. Some thought she was downright beautiful. She wasn't sure. "He was so nice to me when we were dating. I almost wish we had gotten married, but then I wouldn't have fallen in love with Pter. My husband was the greatest man I had ever met. He doted on Malinza. Oh, goodness, sorry, we got off subject. Just cool it for now, Leia. We'll find whoever did this to Jaina and make them pay. I have a feeling, just between the two of us, that Zekk is the best Imperial defector we've had since Mara." "You have a point. He's always been a gentleman to Jaina; that's why Han and I like him. Well, Gaeriel, I gotta go." "I probably ought to get going, too. See you later, Leia." Brakiss was incensed. "We just wasted our time. That plant of yours was a failure." Tarkin drew a gun. "Now I'll just kill you." Brakiss closed his eyes. A Force storm threw Tarkin across the room. Tarkin was okay. "No, you don't have the powers I do." "Your overconfidence is appalling." "So's yours. What's your point?" Mara sat with her legs crossed. "Zekk, I give a damn about your lost friends." "Thanks, Mara, but it doesn't help." "There's more. I'm from Sacorria." Zekk had heard about the holocaust on Sacorria. Multiple nuclear explosions on the planet had caused the planet to freeze over from the radiation fallout. "Jaina told me about that. That must've been hard for you to handle." "Dr. Gianna, who is also from there, had it worse. Her husband died quite some time ago after suffering injuries similar to Tenel Ka's; the embolism killed him instantly. She and I returned with another friend to there and she paid her last respects to him. That was the last time she would be able to visit his grave." "I like Dr. Gianna. She's probably one of the best doctors on Coruscant, Rillao being another one." "Definitely. She's saved the lives of practically all of us at the Academy at one time or another." "What is it about you, Mara? I heard very sketchy details from Jaina about your own problems." "My heart requires a pacemaker. About six years ago, a woman by the name of Rhonna Tho attacked me with Force lightning. That's the same attack that left Tenel Ka with half of her left arm shorn off. Anyway, the attack stopped my heart. They revived me and I was on life support for a week as my body slowly healed from the seizure it had caused. The day I was released, I went home on Coruscant and soon suffered another seizure, leaving me in the Medical Center overnight. Dr. Gianna and Rillao were both unsure the damage hadn't been more extensive, but I seemed okay and was released. "Then the Empire came back. A woman by the name of Jana Morrin captured several of the Academy members and tortured them. I was in that group. She used a series of high-voltage shocks right to my chest and caused a severe seizure, just after I helped ourselves escape. I was headed for Calamari when my heart felt like it was going to explode. I eventually stopped breathing and my heart stopped, but they revived me. There was no reversing the complications, so they planted a pacemaker in my chest. I was incapacitated for a month after that." "I wondered about that. I guess you guys are used to suffering." "Zekk, the people at the Academy came here because they have either been hurt by the Empire or are wanting to learn about their seemingly magical powers. I'm definitely in the former category." "I did hear about your stint as the Emperor's Hand. Leia told me it was a lesson in controlling one's anger more than anything else." "I originally hated Luke for killing the Emperor, not knowing that his father was the one who had done it. Turns out, it was the best thing to happen to me in that time of my life. Then Luke proposed to me after we got serious and conceived a baby, though that baby died. To be honest, I hope, if you and Jaina get married sometime, that you make her as happy as Luke made me. Luke was a special guy and I am happy to have been married to him, even though our marriage didn't last but about six years. His death hurt me." "Jaina told me about that. I couldn't figure out why you had closed down the Academy and Jaina explained to me your heartbreaking loss. Is it getting any easier?" "Not really, no. I guess it helps to talk about it, but Luke took care of me when I was lying in bed, having breathing problems and wondering if and when my heart was going to stop. Zekk, don't ever take your heart for granted. Luke had to take care of me while I was in extreme pain. That's why I was so glad to be married to him. I still fall apart at the seams at times. My daughters have been the greatest help to me. Luke doted on those two. I make sure those two never forget their father." "They won't. You've obviously done a good job with them in these past two years. They're adorable." "I was afraid they would have trouble getting along with the other two children." "Why?" "Have you ever seen Jianna?" "The brunette? Yes, what a beautiful girl." "I agree, but I was afraid they would not be able to get around Jianna's differences. I'm glad to say they have done so very well." "What is it about Jianna?" "Her mother, Tionne, is an Antarean woman, but her eyes are different because of a genetic aberration. Jianna has the same trait. Kyp always thought she was very beautiful, and he's got a point." "I agree. Sounds like you have a close family in the Academy members." "After all we've been through, it's a wonder we haven't completely fallen apart. Tenel Ka's near-death didn't help. Zekk, do you realize what you did was brutal?" "Yes, I do. I didn't know there was a pregnant woman on board. I just was following Brakiss' orders to shoot you guys down no matter what. Mara, I hope she's doing okay." "She's in pain, but there is some good news. She's pregnant again. With twins. Jacen joked that it was a Skywalker tradition for twins to be born. First are Luke and Leia, then Jacen and Jaina, then Lenina and Lucinda, and Tenel Ka's unborn children." "I wish her luck. Where is she?" "Hapes. Her second home planet, behind Dathomir. Dr. Gianna wants to take care of her and the Imperial City Medical Center is in chaos right now. Looks like the underworld destruction has reverberated throughout the New Republic." "That sounds like Les Tarkin for you." "Les Tarkin?" "Governor Tarkin's son by his wife. There are rumors that Governor Tarkin also had an illegitimate child by Admiral Daala." "That would make sense. I met John Daala. He was a member of the Sacorrian Triad who blew up a small part of Sacorria just to get me back for attacking one of their ships." "Apparently, Admiral Daala was very beautiful. Rumor has it that John Daala has a sister on Chad. But I'm not sure of that." "Luke dated a woman who lived on Chad. Ever hear of a woman by the name of Callista?" "Yes. Han told me about her. Very nice woman who was just a victim of circumstance. Luke apparently was torn by her death." "I was there when she died. I had to tell Luke myself. Then I found out we had a mutual attraction and we fell in love. The rest is history." Jianna walked in. "Zekk?" "Yes, Jianna." "Mom was wondering if you'd like to come listen to her sing." "Sing?" "Tionne's a musician," Mara said. "You might want to. She's really good." Zekk sat with Jaina as Tionne sat down with her guitar. He listened with awe as Tionne recounted the plight of the Jedi Task Force. Only one of the original members, Kirana Ti, was still a member. Luke, Streen, and Kyp had all died and Mara and Tionne retired after suffering debilitating injuries. Tionne told of the incident that had brought the group together, the attack on the Academy that had nearly killed Mara and Tionne. Then she recounted the death of Streen and the near-death of Mara. Zerron, a guy from Tionne's homeworld of Antare IV, was especially entranced as Tionne went on. He was falling for her. Maybe it wouldn't be a bad time to ask her out. The worst thing that could happen was for Tionne to say no. That wouldn't be too bad. He thought Tionne was incredibly beautiful, with her soft pearlescent eyes and silver hair. Her face, with a small nose and a square jaw, made her very exotic-looking. Jianna was much like Tionne, but had black hair, like that of her father, the late Kyp Durron. Zerron was very much Antarean, with short silvery hair and dark gray eyes. Tionne had always liked him since he had come to the Academy, but they both knew it wouldn't work out since Tionne had lost Kyp not too long before. Tionne smiled as she finished. "Thank you." Her confidence and spirits up, Tenel Ka decided to soak in cool water. She felt refreshed. Tamith Kai had done wonders for her and now she realized that her marriage to Jacen was not perfect, but it suited her just fine anyway. She moaned as the cool water massaged her body. Jacen came in. "Jacen, I love you." She just had to say it. It felt so good. "I love you, too. I'm sorry I walked out on you. I just felt our marriage get strained and I couldn't face it." "Losing that baby probably wasn't the most marriage-strengthening thing to happen, but I admit it has made me happy to have you for a husband." She smiled. Jacen put a hand on her chest and lightly stroked it. It always relaxed a person. Luke had done that for Mara when she had been having seizures. It relaxed Tenel Ka now. "Tenel Ka, I look at you and I feel like I'm looking at the sexiest woman in the New Republic. Don't ask me why, but it just seems that way." "Mom says that Dad saw the same in her during her second pregnancy. I don't know why; I certainly don't feel sexy." As it was, Tenel Ka was very modest about her beauty. "You don't normally, anyway. But you always have been since I've been old enough to notice." Jacen ran his hands down her body. Tenel Ka moaned as his touch perpetuated the relaxing effect of the water. "Maybe it's just the fact that you have kept in such good shape all your life." "Well, thank you. Rock climbing will do that to you. That's why my leg and back muscles are so well-toned. I used to climb in the mountains outside my home on Dathomir. I hope to continue that after my babies are born." "You will." Jacen didn't want to bring up the possibility of eclampsia, something Dr. Gianna was watching out for, especially since Tenel Ka had suffered seizures during her first pregnancy; although that had been long before the baby would have been due--and certainly caused by non-maternal complications--it still concerned them. Tenel Ka had promised to watch for any signs of dizziness. "How's your head?" "I think I've healed up. I hope I don't have to deliver by c-section. Dr. Gianna said it was a possibility, but I hope it doesn't come to that." "She cares about you. I think that, after Rillao's problems in labor, Dr. Gianna just wants to be able to say she helped a close friend such as you through a normal delivery." "I know. I just don't want to lose the twins or die. I'm only eighteen and have a long life ahead of me." "I concur. Tenel Ka, you are the best thing to happen to me in a long time." "You are the same for me, Jacen. I love you." "I love you, too." Jacen helped her out of the tub and lay her down on the ground on her stomach. He massaged her tired muscles. She finally fell asleep. He carried her to their bed and covered her up. She slept for a while. He slid in beside her and wrapped his arms around her. Her body was soft and warm, as usual. He kissed her shoulders. She looked so beautiful and enticing. As usual. A couple of weeks went by. The enemy had not struck recently and it seemed as if the threat had dissipated. Then tragedy struck hard. On Dathomir. Augwynne Djo opened the door and was shot twice in the stomach. An Imperial trooper turned around and hit a switch. The home of the Singing Mountain Clan, as well as the only Medical Center on Dathomir, vanished in a series of fiery explosions. As flames engulfed her, Augwynne reached out to Teneniel. "Keep on going without me, honey," she said with her last breath. Augwynne Djo was dead. The building collapsed, burying the bodies of twenty clansisters and their families for all eternity. Brakiss cheered in victory. "Now, let's strike the Academy again. Set a course for Yavin IV." Tarkin grinned malevolently. "Time for some fun." Mara, Kirana Ti, and Arian were outside when the sky flashed white. Mara called the Task Force out as the troops landed. Then she saw something she didn't really want to see. "Marina, go back inside, you're not ready for this." Marina was prepared to do battle, but Mara didn't want to risk her life. "You need all the help you can get. Mara, this is my battle, too." Mara prayed her sister wouldn't get killed. She ignited her lightsaber and blocked shots coming from everywhere. "Kirana Ti, is there anything you can do?" "Yes. Marina, cover me." Kirana Ti ran toward the troops and drew out a blaster. She opened fire. Marina covered her as a barrage of laser bolts came from everywhere. Marina figured there were fifty troops against a small squad of New Republics. Zekk aided in the attack, trying to diminish the threat to his friends of the Jedi Task Force. It would be in revenge for framing him for Jaina's injuries. The irony of it all. Another shuttle landed. "Marina, look out," Zekk called. Mara wished Zekk hadn't gotten involved, either, but she knew it was personal for him. Marina made the tragic mistake of turning around. She shot the troopers who had trained on her. She kept on firing. "Hey, what the hell?" She turned around just in time to see a trooper aim his blaster carefully, rather than fire randomly. Kirana Ti turned around and was thrown back by a blaster bolt. She felt an instant of pain and fell into blackness. She hadn't even had time to scream. Arian gasped in horror. "Mom!" She saw Kirana Ti take a blaster bolt to her head. Marina shot the trooper who had shot Kirana Ti, then ran to Kirana Ti's side. Arian was with her. "Rillao, get out here quick, Kirana Ti's been shot." Mara gasped. Kirana Ti's auburn hair was soaked in blood. Rillao ran out and saw the fallen Jedi Knight. The sight of Kirana Ti made Rillao queasy. Half of her face had burned away and she was in convulsions. Rillao grabbed an infuser and knocked Kirana Ti out. She pumped the woman's lungs as they carried her into the infirmary. But it was of no use. Mara watched the rest of the troops leave the planet; it had been a hit-and-fade attack. One shuttle remained. "Rillao, get her into a shuttle and we'll take her to Hapes." Using a handheld medical scanner to confirm her diagnosis, Rillao looked up and shook her head. "Mara, you don't understand. She's brain-dead." Mara reached out to Kirana Ti and realized Rillao was right. There was no Force in the woman and Kirana Ti's body had already shut down. She was dead. Period. "She probably died before she even hit the ground." Rillao's eyes watered up. Kirana Ti had been a good friend. "I can't do anything for her." And yet, she was still applying artificial respiration. She wanted to stop, but she just couldn't. "Rillao, don't further her suffering," Arian said, tears rolling down her cheeks. "She's gone. I can feel it." "I agree. I just can't stop." But, soon, her medical expertise took over and she pronounced Kirana Ti dead at the scene. She stopped pumping Kirana Ti's lungs and covered her with a sheet. Rillao shook her head. "I'm sorry. There was nothing I could do." The look in Arian's eyes said it all. Arian stood in shock, then her knees buckled. "Goodbye, my dear mother," she said. She buried her face in her hands. Jaina held her as she burst into tears. Zekk shook his head. He had never seen such a horrible sight since moving out of the underworld. "Rest in peace, Kirana Ti." Mara watched as Kirana Ti's body disappeared. Mara's eyes watered up. They had just lost a good friend. She had only been forty years old, Mara's age. Arian trembled as tears fell down her cheeks. Jaina had her close, but could not comfort her very well. "She was so beautiful. She was my mother, the most beautiful woman I knew." "Arian, I'm so sorry," Mara said through her own tears. "We did all we could." Arian's soft voice was unnerving. Mara wished Arian would just let it out, but she didn't care. "I know," Arian cried. "They killed her." Tionne ran out. "What happened?" "Kirana Ti's dead, Tionne. They killed her." Deliberately, thought Mara. It had to have been. "They shot her in the head." Arian was right; she had been a beautiful woman, in her own way. "Oh, god, Arian, I am so sorry." Tionne's own eyes watered up. Zerron pulled her close. The Jedi Knights and students involved sat on the ground for a while. Mara eulogized the fallen Jedi Knight and prayed she was at peace with the Force. Given Kirana Ti's personality, she probably was. Arian kneeled at the site. Like the ground where she was, her heart was just an empty, cold space. Tears ran down her cheeks. Jaye hung his head. "Now what?" "We get off Yavin. For the moment, the Academy is closed. I think it's time to pay Tenel Ka a visit. Assuming Teneniel will let us stay with her." "I don't see why not," Barukka said. "Teneniel did give us an open invitation." "Let's get off the planet. If she says no, we'll find another place." Marina had already left for Centerpoint Station. Zekk tried to stop her, but Mara told him to just let her go. Mara knew she'd need some time away from the Academy. Arian looked up at Mara. She looked back at the place where her mother had fallen and said goodbye, though it was to bare ground. Mara erected a memorial on the spot and said goodbye as well. Kirana Ti would be sorely missed. "Mara," Jaina said, "I can't come with you. Zekk and I need to get back. Tell Tenel Ka I wish her luck." She embraced Arian one more time and then walked off with Zekk. Jaina's shuttle lifted off from Yavin. "Zekk's avoiding the issue," Arian said. "I can sense his trepidation." "You may be right, but let it go. Zekk and Tenel Ka will even out their differences someday." Arian was right. Zekk was afraid to face up to this. A former Dark Jedi, afraid? Was he getting soft from the transition? He decided that was fine. Mara took the other shuttle and loaded up. She looked back at Kirana Ti's memorial site. She couldn't accept the death of a woman who had given so much to the Academy and the New Republic. Mara looked at Arian. She was speechless. Kirana Ti had died so needlessly. The pain in Arian's face was so severe. Mara finally gave Arian a shoulder to cry on. "Arian, are you feeling okay?" "My Mom died. How can you ask that?" "Your heart is racing. I'd better get you a tank, just in case." Arian nodded her head. "It figures." Mara stroked Arian's back, trying to calm her down. A seizure was all Arian needed at that moment. What concerned Mara was that she didn't even seem to care about that. "Arian, don't be so defeatist." "You read my mind." "You should care about your heart." "I do. I just can't see how much more pain I could feel right now." "Believe me, you'll find out if your heart goes haywire. Arian, you're a friend to me. I want to help you." Arian buried her head in Mara's arms. Mara tried to relax her a little bit. Zekk and Jaina headed back to Coruscant. Zekk could see the tension in Jaina's eyes. "Jaina, don't take this the wrong way, but I barely knew Kirana Ti. What was she like?" "She was a lot like Teneniel. Young, beautiful, and really easygoing, but determined. I understand your not knowing her that well, but she was a very nice woman. Poor Arian. I have a bad feeling that she's going to have some problems soon." "Like what?" "Her heart. I could see Arian shaking severely when they left. Mara says that's a sure sign of impending heart trouble in a pacemaker patient. She ought to know." "Mara told me what Arian went through. Will she be okay?" "Rillao says Dr. Gianna is on Hapes. She can help Arian." I hope, she thought. Tenel Ka wanted to rip someone's throat out when she found out about the attack on Dathomir. The destruction had hit way too close to home. But she calmed herself down. She walked into her mother's room. "Mom?" "I heard. Grandma reached out to me just as they killed her. Now, several people I knew are dead." Tears ran down her cheeks. "Why are they doing this?" "They're after the Academy. They want to hurt everyone there. They've already hurt Jacen and me. Now they've hurt half of the Academy personnel." "What now?" "Nothing. Our hands are tied. I'm afraid, Mom." "It seems like things are just getting worse and worse around here." Astarta came in. "Teneniel, Mara's on the holophone. I'm afraid she has some very bad news. Kirana Ti was killed in battle. She was shot in the head. They couldn't revive her." "Oh, my god, no. Kirana Ti..." Teneniel ran for the holophone. "Mara, say it isn't so." Mara nodded her head. Teneniel could see the tension in her. "What happened?" "We went into battle and Kirana Ti got into a gun battle. Next thing I know, Arian's screaming in horror and I see Kirana Ti fall. Teneniel, she didn't even die instantly. She went into convulsions and Rillao sedated her, but she was brain-dead before we could call for a medevac shuttle. Arian told us not to resuscitate her mother and Rillao agreed. Obviously, Arian is not in high spirits. Not to sound presumptuous, but could we stay with you for a few days?" "That'll be fine. I'm sure Tenel Ka would appreciate the company and Arian probably needs her support. Mara, my condolences." "Thanks. Kirana Ti was a good friend and a strong fighter. To lose her like that was heroic on her part, but it is still tragic. She gave her life to save ours." Teneniel sank to the ground. Kirana Ti had been a good friend. She remembered Kirana Ti keeping her from falling to the Dark Side after another Clan Sister, Ferra, was killed by Nightsisters who simply snapped her neck. Teneniel had been so angered by Ferra's death that she created a Force Storm that swept Nightsisters all around off the stairs where they were, killing them. Kirana Ti had told her she had burst a vessel, a warning of Dark Side power. Kirana Ti had died fighting for the New Republic, something she had always said she would want if she had to die. Tenel Ka held her. Kirana Ti was a good friend to her, too. Teneniel broke down and started crying, sickened now by both the loss of her grandmother, which had been certainly bad enough, and now the loss of the woman who had saved her soul from the Dark Side. Rillao, Jaye, Lana, Mara, Tionne, Barukka, Arian, and the children stayed at the Hapan Palace. There certainly was plenty of room. Arian walked in. Her reserves were drained as she looked at the crowd. Tears ran down her cheeks and she couldn't hold herself together. "Just because I feel like my heart has been ripped out doesn't mean I need any help." No one said a word as Arian sat down. She suddenly stood up and cried out in agony. "Arian," Mara said, "what's wrong?" "My heart. I can't breathe," Arian said as she collapsed. Tenel Ka ran in. "Arian!" She had already experienced this once before, after the implant surgery. Arian's eyes rolled back into her head. Her pacemaker was failing. "Mara, call the paramedics. She's having seizures." Rillao injected a powerful anticonvulsive into Arian's neck and Arian blacked out. But she was still breathing. "Arian, can you hear me? Mara, cancel that. She'd be better off if I did it myself." Arian didn't answer. Rillao rushed her to the Medical Center. Rillao ran into the emergency room. She yelled to the attendant, "get Lucille Gianna down here. This is another of her patients." She pointed at Arian's form. Arian was barely breathing now and her heart was skipping like crazy. Rillao was pumping her lungs to compensate for it. They ran and got her. Rillao waited, then saw Dr. Gianna. "Dr. Gianna, it's Arian, she's had a seizure." "Oh, Rillao, she looks awful." Dr. Gianna helped Mara and Rillao roll Arian onto an examination table. "What happened?" "You didn't hear?" "No." "Kirana Ti died of a blaster wound to the head." "Oh, poor Arian. She must've been in dire pain. Okay, it looks like a stress-induced attack." Dr. Gianna shook her head. "It's not too bad. She just strained her pacemaker and her heart skipped. I'm going to keep her in bed for a few days." She injected a drug into Arian's chest that would regulate her heartbeat, then put a mask on Arian's face. She was stable now. Arian woke up. "What happened?" "You had a mild seizure. Arian, I'm sorry about your mother." "She was the world to me. I had to watch her die. I didn't want to lose her, but I knew she would die in action one of these days." Arian started crying. Dr. Gianna rubbed her down with a cool cloth. Arian lay there, tears rolling down her cheeks. She hadn't been prepared for this. "Did it have to be now?" "Shh," Dr. Gianna said, "don't talk anymore. You need to rest." She adjusted the mask on Arian's face and lightly stroked her chest. She did that to help heart patients relax. "You don't want to be having more seizures and making yourself more miserable." Arian nodded. Tears were splashing down her cheeks. Rillao held her. Arian cried for a long time before falling asleep. Rillao covered her up and stayed with her. Her heart went out to Arian. Tenel Ka stayed at Arian's side. Arian was sobbing from behind her mask. Tenel Ka drew her into her arms. "It's okay. Just let it out; it'll help." "I wish I could believe that. I feel sick and now my heart is literally broken." No one said another word. Teneniel walked into the waiting room. "How is she?" "She's going to be here for a while. Her pacemaker misfired and she started having seizures again. I never realized how bad they were until now." "I did. Can I go see her?" "Yes." Teneniel walked into Arian's room. Tenel Ka looked up. "They think she'll be okay, but she's pale." "I hope she'll be all right. We all knew this would happen if Kirana Ti stayed in battle. She was a brave woman. I can't believe she's gone." "She helped me out when I was too afraid to construct a lightsaber. Both Kirana Ti and Shannia." Marina was back at Centerpoint Station. It was a place where she could stay under at least fair coverage of the Incom Technologies Spacecraft Center. Tears were in her eyes. Kirana Ti had been a friend. Marina's adoptive sister, Jenica Sonsen, came up behind her. "Marina, are you alright?" "Kirana Ti died yesterday. It's just frustrating. She was so nice to us. What really upsets me is that we could have prevented the tragedy." "How so?" "Kirana Ti told me to cover her while she fought, but someone distracted me and, the next thing I knew, I heard this horrified scream. I killed the trooper that shot Kirana Ti and ran to her side. Jenica, she was horribly disfigured and convulsing. Rillao tried to save her, but she knew it was hopeless." Hasti Troujow, Marina's co-supervisor, walked up. "Marina, Mara's on the holophone." "Hey, Mara, what's up?" "Not much. I just wondered how you were holding up." "I feel guilty. I could have-" "No, you couldn't have done anything. Marina, what you did was noble, but keep in mind that you still don't have control of your Jedi powers. Kirana Ti made a tragic mistake in asking you to cover her. Don't torture yourself over this. Someone capitalized on your inexperience. If you wish to continue your training, we'll make sure you understand the ways of the Force thoroughly before you go into battle. There was nothing you could have done. Just be thankful you're alive." "I don't know about my training. I've watched so many people suffer since I started. Would you be too disappointed if I didn't come back?" "No, but, for your own sake, I really hope you do. Listen, though, that's your own choice." "I'll think about it." Hasti sat beside Marina. "I just heard. Are you going to be okay?" "I don't know. I just feel like all this is my fault. Kirana Ti was a good person and determined warrior. I've never seen such dedication in my life." "Marina, I'm so sorry." Marina rested her head on Hasti's shoulder. Marina started crying. She knew she was responsible. Hasti wondered why she could see Marina's feelings so clearly. Something she needed to investigate at a much later time. After this mess cleared up. Dr. Gianna walked into Arian's room. Arian's forehead was covered with sweat and she was shaking. "Arian?" Then she heard Arian nearly stop breathing. She grabbed a bulb and pushed air into her lungs. "Arian, no." Arian was still breathing, but she didn't sound good. "C'mon, dammit, don't quit now." Soon, Arian was back to normal. But she was weakening. Dr. Gianna stayed with her. One of the nice things about being a doctor from somewhere else was that you could give special attention to your patients. Tenel Ka came in. "Dr. Gianna, what's wrong with her?" "I don't know." She felt like an idiot when the obvious solution came to her. "Let me use a medscanner." Arian's heart was not beating right. Dr. Gianna grabbed a spray injector and shot a drug into Arian's chest. Arian started breathing more normally now. "She doesn't look good at all. I hate to use a relaxant on her, but I almost have no choice." "It'll kill her." "That's why I'm not keen on using it. Damn, Tenel Ka, I wish there were a better way than that gas. She's weak enough as it is." "Let me try something. Maybe she just needs a little muscle stimulation." "Good idea, but go easy." Tenel Ka opened Arian's gown up and softly rubbed her stomach and chest. Arian lay there as her heartbeat and breathing quickened, but soon slowed down to a normal rhythm. Tenel Ka leaned down and listened to her respirations. They sounded normal. "There you go." Dr. Gianna checked her out. "Yeah, that's much better. The human touch is sometimes the best therapy around. I tend to forget that sometimes." "Your using it on me sure helped." Dr. Gianna closed Arian's gown. Arian woke up and started crying again. But at least she was strong enough for tears. Dr. Gianna removed her mask and gave her a glass of water. "Hey, it's alright." "No, it's not. My Mom's dead and I'm sitting here, barely able to go without an oxygen mask on. Dr. Gianna, am I dying?" "No, you're just weak from a rather severe arrhythmia. I can make you feel better. Just lay back and rest. You might want to thank Tenel Ka, though. She stimulated your muscles to allow you to relax more and leave you less stressed out." "That explains why I feel like my muscles are made of water right now. Tenel Ka, thank you very much." Arian was a little weary of being touched by Tenel Ka, but she was certain that it was okay. Dr. Gianna lay Arian back and put her mask back on. It would help her. Arian fell asleep. "Did I really help her heal? I've never done that before." "Well, she had a part in it. I've got to keep her here. She's in no shape to leave here." A doctor at the medical center let her do that. Mara and Tionne sat in the den. "I'm worried about Marina," Mara said. "She's feeling responsible for Kirana Ti's death?" "Yes. You saw her get shot. Would you have done anything differently?" "Yes, asked the students not to get involved. We made a mistake by not keeping them out." "Marina was so sure of herself in that battle. She's really handy with a blaster rifle. She just got distracted and a life was lost. I know she feels responsible, but I don't think there was much she could do." "She has Jenica and Hasti. They'll take care of her." "Good. Now what?" "Now, we just sit back. I just heard from Leia. They're yanking the Jedi Task Force out of this for a while. They've called another galactic emergency again. They're going to track down the Galactic Peacemaker and make them pay." "Why are we being immobilized?" "Some of the Council doesn't trust a group led by an emotionally unstable woman, no offense." "I can't figure the Council out. Tionne, have I done anything wrong?" "No, you haven't. Mara, you need to gain their trust. Some of them probably think of you as the ex-Emperor's Hand and someone not to be trusted. Plus, think about it. Who was the one Jedi they trusted the most?" "Luke. Oh, I get it. I just took over without notice. No wonder. Should I quit?" "Mara, you've got to be kidding. Quitting is something I've never seen you do. You're the reason I'm still alive. If it hadn't been for you, I would have committed suicide after trying a second time. You stayed with me. Now, I'm a stronger woman and a loving mother. That's something." "What about when I retired from the Jedi Task Force?" "You've had two implant surgeries," Dr. Gianna said. She had been listening to the conversation and had just walked in. "To be honest, we were about to force you to retire. Your heart is running fine, but you can't just expect us to save your life everytime someone causes your pacemaker to fail. You may die the next time and Luke wouldn't have wanted that. Mara, you're a very strong and determined woman. Your quitting after Luke's death would have caused the Academy to fall apart." "You inspired us to keep going after Luke died," Tionne said, agreeing. "For that, if not for anything else, you should not give up. Don't let Kirana Ti's death be in vain. Maybe you should speak to the Council when this is all over. Tell them that you're qualified to do your job, which is the absolute truth." "You're right. How's Arian?" "I'm keeping her in the hospital for a few more days. She's having microseizures and she's not very stable right now. I almost intubated her. Her breathing became very erratic last night." "Is her heart getting worse?" "I wouldn't think so. More than likely, it is just stress that is causing microseizures in her." The Jedi Knights present stood on the roof and held a memorial service for Kirana Ti. They joined lightsabers and swore to move on. Mara was sure she would have wanted it that way. Arian sat in a repulsorchair, breathing through tubes again. The pain was evident on her face. Teneniel comforted her. But there was not much she could do. Arian was crying uncontrollably. Tenel Ka looked at her friend. Would she have more problems? Arian fell asleep and they helped her back into the Medical Center. Leia sat with Han. Jaina and Zekk had just come home and were shaken by the death of a fellow Jedi Knight. Even Zekk, who had barely known the woman, was saddened. "Jaina, how are the other knights taking it?" "Better than expected, I guess, but Kirana Ti was an inspiration to us all, though there were others. She will be sorely missed from the Academy and the Jedi Task Force. How'd you convince the Council to start fighting this war?' "I didn't. Jaina, the Council is seriously considering shutting the Academy down. Permanently." "No, Mom, that can't be." "I don't know what to do. I've tried to talk to them, but their minds are set on it." "Mara needs to know this. She'll fight it, I'm sure." "I hope she can do some good. This is not what Luke would have wanted. But a lot of Council members think that Mara is not worthy of the title of Jedi Master. They don't know what side she's really on. Jaina, I'm sorry you had to find this out." "The Academy is my field of representation. Maybe it's time I gave it a shot." "Good luck." "No, Jaina. Our minds are set." "What is your problem with Mara?" Jaina didn't normally get so hot and bothered, but this was going to be a bad mistake, in her opinion. One they couldn't afford to make. "She's a former Imperial Agent who closed the Academy down for two years. Meanwhile," Sesfan said, "there is a war going on. How the hell are we supposed to support something run by her?" "She just lost her husband and had heart problems. Ever since she restarted the Academy now long ago, she's been vigorously teaching the students at the Academy. You're making a very big mistake by shutting down the Academy. There are aspiring Jedi Knights from all over the Galaxy who still want to train under Mara. They trust her, why can't you?" "I'm with Jaina," Gaeriel said. "Sesfan, I know you didn't like the New Republic giving amnesty to Mara, but she's been the best thing to happen to the Academy since the actual foundation of it. Mara's got more strength than I care to discuss. Close the Academy down and you'll lose support." "I don't know, Ambassador Captison. Mara just seems to be a ticking time bomb waiting to go off." "Then find another Jedi to take over. Mara said she would let someone else take over as Jedi Master if such a person existed, but Luke told her she was the best-qualified. Maybe someone in the current class can do it. You can't just crush the dreams of someone because you don't like the person in charge." "Why don't we give Mara a chance to speak for herself? I'd be willing to give her a chance," Mon Mothma said. Sesfan, an elder Calamarian, agreed. "I guess that wouldn't be too bad. Jaina, we're just concerned for the well-being of the New Republic's Jedi Task Force." "There's some bad news," Jaina replied. "Kirana Ti was killed in action. She was shot in the head and died at the scene. Her daughter is having problems again." "I knew that. Jaina, I hope you're right about Mara's determination." "I'm sure I am." Mara shook her head. "It's no surprise to me that they want that. I won't let them do it." "Now that's the Mara I know," Gaeriel told her. "Tough and determined. When can you come here?" "Anytime." Mara and Tionne left for Coruscant that day. Tionne was with Mara for support. The shuttle came out of hyperspace in the Munto Codru system. Far from Coruscant. It was another Gravity field. It had yanked the shuttle out of hyperspace. Mara opened a line to the New Republic. "Mara, you're not giving up, are you? Remember the last time you were captured." "Yes, I remember that. No, I'm staying and fighting." She raised the shields and armed the proton torpedoes. "Tionne, if we don't make it, it's been good knowing you." Tionne smiled with pride. "Good luck." Mara opened a line to the Galactic Peacemaker. "Hey, Jornell, did you say you were looking to fight?" "No, why?" "You just got one. Look outside your ship." Mara fired the laser cannons at the conn tower. The shields on the Super Star Destroyer went down. "Now, let's do battle," she whispered to Tionne. All of a sudden, a ray of light appeared from the ship. Zekk had been wrong; there were more nuclear torpedoes in the ship. Mara fired up the thrusters and dodged the weapon. It traveled harmlessly into space as Mara charged up the ion cannons. She disabled the torpedo launchers on the ship and then noticed something odd about the proton torpedo launchers on the shuttle. "Mara, are you going to use those things?" "If you mean the nuclear torpedoes we're carrying, yes. Sorry if that doesn't seem fair, but we're outgunned otherwise. Hang on, I've got to get us out of range or we'll blow up with the ship." Mara cloaked the ship with the Force and made a run for the edge of the kill zone. She then saw the Interdictor Cruiser, also cloaked. She was in safe range, but she wasn't sure it would be a good idea to fire them at the smaller cruiser, which she could take down herself. She decided not to. She turned the shuttle around and armed the launchers. "Goodbye." She hit the firing stud and a ray of light shot out of the ship. Mara turned the shuttle around and got even further out of range. The Super Star Destroyer vanished in a flood of white. "That was for Kirana Ti, you bastards!" Mara yelled in victory, but she saw a big problem. "Dammit!" Just out of the kill zone were five smaller Imperial Star Destroyers. Mara saw she was out of the range of the Interdictor Cruiser and went back into hyperspace. At least they had gotten away without injury. But, now what? The subspace transceiver rang. "Mara, it's Zekk." "Tell the New Republic we have found the Galactic Peacemaker and destroyed it." "Good." "No, Zekk, it's not good. Your friends have mobilized five more destroyers." "What? Brakiss never said anything about that." "Imperials don't play nice, Zekk. Also, I don't think Brakiss is dead." Mara was right, again. Brakiss was with Tarkin on the Interdictor Cruiser. Only Jornell had been on board the Super Star Destroyer. "Mara, I'll get you yet." He would soon find out he needed no effort to do that. Zekk slammed his fist on the desk in frustration. "Dammit, Jaina, this is getting worse all the time." "No kidding. Zekk, there's even worse news. They heard about Mara's attack. That's it for the Academy. They're now indefinitely shut down." Zekk wanted to bite something. He chose instead to walk outside and throw rocks at the wall. It helped sometimes. There was no reason for this. Mara landed on the pad on Coruscant. She ran out and was greeted by Gaeriel. "Sorry to have you come this way for nothing, but the Council has reconsidered your fate. Mara, the Academy has been shut down. They have refused to listen to you." Mara was enraged, but she kept her cool. "Excuse me?" Gaeriel shook her head. "Your Academy is closed down." "We just lost one of our own and now someone has decided to cut us off. Gaeriel, what can I do?" "I don't know. We'll think of something. It was Luke's Jedi powers that saved Bakura from the Ssi Rruk invasion. I hate to think that the New Republic isn't grateful for what you Knights have done for us. Mara, this is not to go outside the three of us, what I'm about to tell you. There is a possibility that there are some Imperial agents in the Council. Don't tell anybody or we all will be in trouble." "Don't worry, I won't tell. I have a bad feeling you're right." "I heard about Kirana Ti. Is her daughter alright?" "No, she suffered a bad series of seizures that just added to the pain. We had just gotten to Hapes when she collapsed. Dr. Gianna said it was serious; she's recommended a few days' rest for her anyway. She looks terrible." "Arian's a terrific woman. I hope she'll do okay in life." "Me, too. I think she's just like Tenel Ka." Arian was finally released. Dr. Gianna told her to get a few days' sleep. It would help tremendously. Gaeriel sat with Leia. "This is the worst moment in New Republic history," Leia said. "And we can't do a damn thing about it." "I didn't want to have to tell Mara the bad news. She's probably wishing she stayed on Hapes." "It gets worse," Mara said as she came in. "Leia, didn't you get the word?" "About the attack? Yes. Mara, I hate to tell you this, but that's why they shut you guys down. Why did you use that nuclear torpedo against the Super Star Destroyer?" "The shuttle Teneniel gave us has no proton torpedoes. That's what I was going to use. Actually, even just getting out of there would have been a better plan, but there was an Interdictor Cruiser in the area and I couldn't override the hyperdrive coil. That's how my ship back on Yavin was damaged. Leia, I don't understand why that had any effect. I've used those before under more pressing circumstances." "I know, but they don't see it that way. Mara, I'm sorry." "It's not your fault. I messed up." "It happens sometimes. How's Arian?" "The poor woman is heartbroken. She and her mother were very close and Arian's just about to go crazy. Tenel Ka's trying to console her. I wish Kirana Ti hadn't died. She helped us out time and again when the odds seemed impossible." "Just like Luke and Kyp. She gave her life to save others'." "In the most horrifying way possible." Arian lay in bed. Rillao was keeping an eye on her. Teneniel came in. "I've just heard some even worse news. Arian, the Jedi Academy has been shut down." "What? Why?" "Mara says it's because of her attack on the Galactic Peacemaker. It was destroyed in a nova explosion and Mara had used a nuclear torpedo on it. It just doesn't make sense." "No, actually it does. Teneniel, there are more than a few people on Coruscant who I suspect are Imperial agents. I hate to drum up a conspiracy theory, but I have a feeling we're doomed because of that. I'm sorry. It just seems that way." Teneniel's heart broke for Arian. Like Mara after Luke's death, Arian had suffered a seizure after her mother's death and she just seemed so sick. "I don't know what to say." "I don't, either. Right now, I'm just trying to find good in Mom's death. I had hoped her death wouldn't be in vain, but it appears to have been so. Especially now." Arian burst into tears. Teneniel held her in her arms. "Mom was the world to me. Now she's gone and I can't hold myself together." Arian cried for a while. Teneniel lay her down. "Rillao, I have a special compound that may help her." She went into her room and came out with a container of blue-green liquid. It looked odd, but it was supposed to relax the muscles of a person's body without knocking the person out. "Arian, this is a topical relaxant that we use on Hapes. It'll make you feel a lot better and you won't black out as bad as with the inhalant you were given on Leria Kerlsil." She rubbed it over Arian's stomach and chest. The cool compound soothed Arian's muscles. Arian felt much better. "Teneniel, that feels good." "You had a seizure that was caused by stress. We can't make your mother's death hurt any less, but we can at least help you cool down so you don't have complications." Teneniel closed Arian's tunic up and let her lie there. Arian relaxed and fell asleep. Rillao covered her up. "Where did you find that?" "Hapes exports this stuff. It's cheap to make and it really works well. Why?" "I've been looking for something like that for medicinal purposes. We use an inhalant, too, and it works well, but it causes nausea in cases where there is disorientation, like after neural surgery or brain damage from lack of oxygen. Plus most patients hate wearing a mask for three days as the stuff takes effect. We just wondered how to get it another way." "This ought to work. They used this on me when I was in the hospital after I was shot. It helped tremendously as my body healed from the surgery. It cools the body off and relaxes the muscles." Tenel Ka and Teneniel walked out. Rillao stayed with Arian. She slept for a couple of hours and called Mara. She had to tell someone. She explained her theory to Mara. "We have a traitor on the council, I'm sure of it." "Wouldn't surprise me in the least. I wonder about that, but they're holding my political position over my head. They wouldn't even listen to my appeal. Sesfan says the matter is closed." "We've got to put a stop to it. Before this gets worse." "I don't want to see what worse is. For now, Tionne and I are going to spend some time on Coruscant. Maybe something will turn up. Arian, are you okay?" Arian's eyes were watering up. "No, Mara, I'm not. Don't people realize how much Mom meant to me? All I hear are comments on how the pain will pass and how I should be grateful it wasn't me who got shot in the head, but the truth is I couldn't care less about such things. Mom and I had a special relationship and now she's gone." She burst into tears. "Oh, Mara, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap like that. I can't stand what happened; she died so suddenly. I've been in a deep depression ever since my release from the medical center." "Listen, I know you don't want to admit it, but that could have been you lying on the ground, brain-dead. It wasn't. That doesn't make up for it, but it's true. Right now, what you need is to get some rest and try to regain your strength. I want to ask you something. Do you want to keep going at the Academy?" "What kind of a question is that?" "My assumption was yes, but I have to ask anyway. Am I right?" "Mom gave her life to save mine, in part. Yes, I will continue. I want to." "That's all I wanted to know. I hated to lose you, but this is not my decision. Your Mom would have been proud of you. Listen, just let your feelings out. You're stifling back tears that will probably help cleanse you of some of that pain. You'll feel better. Okay? I'm coming back to Hapes very soon to stay until this mess clears." Arian nodded her head. Tears were splashing down her cheeks. She said goodbye. She was thankful to have a confidante like Mara. Tenel Ka walked in. "Arian?" Arian turned around and threw herself into Tenel Ka's arms. Tenel Ka didn't say a word as Arian cried hard on her shoulder. Finally, she was strong enough to let her pain out. Tenel Ka held her as she cried herself to sleep. Tenel Ka tucked her in and stayed with her. Teneniel came in. "Oh, honey, she looks terrible." She saw the tension and despair in her daughter's eyes. Kirana Ti had been kind of a mentor for Tenel Ka at the Academy and it was obvious that her death was taking a toll on her, too. "She really does. She's hurting badly and there's nothing we can do." "Except console her." Teneniel leaned down to Arian's sleeping form and tousled her hair. "Teneniel," she whispered. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up. Listen, I know you're in a lot of pain right now--believe me, I know how it feels--and I want you to promise me that you won't hide your pain. Okay? If you need help from any one of us, you need to just ask for it. Dr. Gianna said that you're taking a toll on your heart and may have problems. You are like a sister to Tenel Ka and I think highly of you, too." "Thank you," she said. Teneniel held Arian in her arms. Arian burst out crying again. Teneniel could see that Arian was just feeling awful about her mother's death. Arian stopped crying after a while and got out of bed. She decided to try what had helped Tenel Ka so much. She walked into the bathroom near her room and put cool water in the tub. She disrobed and slid into the water. She relaxed as the water massaged her. Tenel Ka was right. This really did help and it helped her cool down. Tenel Ka walked in. Arian had left the door unlocked. Besides, Dathomirian women were very immodest. It was no wonder why. Dathomir was such a barren area that it didn't really matter. "Tenel Ka, can I talk to you?" "Sure. What's up?" "How did you know that Jacen was the right man for you?" "In a way, I kind of always knew. He and I trained together at the Academy, of course, but at Han and Leia's reception for their wedding anniversary, I suddenly became attracted to him, but it felt like I had been that way all my life. Why?" "I'm not that way, but I just wonder if I'll ever feel that way about someone." "You won't think so until you actually do. There is someone out there for you. Arian, you have to go on without your mother. I know it's hard; when Dad died, I was the same way. But I managed. Do you want to talk about it?" "I can't. Tears come to my eyes every time I try to talk about it. I feel like I'm falling apart and can't recover. I looked up to her when I joined the Academy, but I never really knew Mom that well. Dad kept me going all these years until he died." "He loved you. I know he cheated on your mother, but he always loved you." "In a way, I couldn't blame him. Mom was such a loving wife and mother and he had to wonder if she'd ever come back. He just wanted a little loving. That's all." "You have a point. Arian, listen, Mara's probably worried sick about you." "I don't get it. Why is she being so nice to me?" "Because, when all is said and done, you're a lot like her." "But she's so beautiful." "You are, too. She doesn't want what happened to her to happen to anyone, but especially with you, being so much like her." "I guess that's okay. Tenel Ka, I just feel like all we have fought for as a Jedi class is gone. We were the class that helped the New Republic out even while training and, now, someone has expressed gratitude by shutting the Academy down. It doesn't make sense." "I'm afraid it does. I heard about your theory, but I fear that it's wrong." "I don't know whether to be relieved or offended. Explain." "Mara was the one who shut the Academy down for two years. True, it was because of Luke's death, but the New Republic just sees her as a ticking time bomb who will cause more trouble than she's worth at the expense of the New Republic. That's probably more why." "I wish it weren't true." "I'm hoping it isn't. That was just a theory. I hope it isn't true." "Me, too. That's a shot in the heart for us if it is." Tenel Ka left and Arian stepped out of the tub. She looked at herself in the mirror. Maybe Tenel Ka was right; maybe she really was a beautiful woman. Maybe not. She didn't know. She put her clothes on and walked to dinner. Teneniel saw a marked improvement in Arian. "Arian, you look so much better." "I feel horrible, but I guess that's an improvement. That bath really helped. Tenel Ka's right; it really helps to soak in cool water." Arian finished up dinner and walked back to her room. She read for a while and went to sleep. Teneniel came in and covered her up. She had fallen asleep on top of her bed. Teneniel wiped the tears from Arian's face. "Good night, Arian. Things'll get better tomorrow." In the middle of the night, Arian heard a voice behind her. Her mother's spirit. "Arian, baby, are you alright." "Mom, what are-?" "I came to see you. See how you were doing." "I feel like hell. I had a seizure when I got here and I've been in pain ever since." "I love you." "I love you, too." As Kirana Ti's spirit faded out, Arian cried herself to sleep. Astarta came in and covered her up. Astarta felt sorry for Arian. She really had not deserved to lose her mother like this. Mara stood on the roof of the Imperial Palace. "I'll get you, Brakiss. In Kirana Ti's memory. I swear." Tionne came out. "Mara, can I talk to you?" "What's up?" "I just wanted to tell you that I think you made the right decision in attacking that ship." "Thank you. At least someone agrees." "The New Republic is just afraid that this will ruin diplomatic ties." "It is terrible that it has to be that way. But they're right." "You don't really want to be an Ambassador elsewhere, do you?" "I don't know. I'm afraid that I'll not have anything to fall back on otherwise. I know I shouldn't give up, but if this stays like it is, I have to do something with my life. Why not?" "I can see you really aren't sure about that." "Join the club." To Be Concluded MINUS TWO but DOUBLE THE FUN On the way back to his office after lunch Eric decided to stop by his insurance agent to see what insurance coverage would cost for the new boat he was thinking of buying. Pulling into the parking lot he noticed an attractive girl crossing the lot toward one of the office buildings. She was tall, stylishly dressed, with shoulder length strawberry blonde hair. Her walk caught Eric's eye. As he pulled into a parking space he watched out the rear-view mirror to see which of the office suites she entered. Locking the car, he went over to the building she'd entered to check the occupant. Fortunately, in the complex all the business- es had individual suites with their own entrances. Whitman & Grad, Attorneys at Law, was what the sign on the door read. Eric proceeded to a suite two doors over where Tony Green had his insurance office. It's a small complex, Eric thought. Tony will probably know who she is. He entered Tony's office. "Hey, Tony, who's the good-looking blonde working a couple of doors over?" he asked. "The lawyer? That's Karen Grad. Only met her once, but Hal Whitman, her partner, is real high on her. You interested?" "Yeah, I might be," Eric said. "Can I use your name if I need legal services?" Tony grinned and nodded. Though Eric had a good lawyer, he thought of a couple of small real estate closings he could use as an excuse to visit Ms. Grad. Back at his office he called and made an appointment, specifically asking to see Karen Grad. Two days later, at 10 AM, Eric entered the office of Whitman & Grad. The reception area was nice... more like a living room than an office. "Hi, I'm Eric Masters. I've got an appointment with Ms. Grad." The secretary, an attractive, though slightly overweight middle-aged woman, smiled and buzzed. "Mr. Masters is here to see you." A pleasant female voice asked that he be directed in. Eric entered and was immediately impressed by her office. It was well done, very good taste. Businesslike, but comfortable. Karen Grad was seated at her desk, but rose to acknowledge Eric. She directed him to the couch, chairs and coffee table to one side of the room. Eric walked the direction indicated, and she came toward him offering her hand. "Hello, I'm Karen Grad." "Eric Masters." Shaking her hand, Eric took a seat on the couch. "Please have some coffee," Karen said, gesturing to the coffee service on the table. Eric watched her as she seated herself in the chair across from him. Karen was dressed in a fashionable business suit; gray straight skirt, below the knee length, and slightly fitted jacket. Underneath, a wine-colored long-sleeved silk blouse. Dark hose and black, low-heeled pumps added the finishing touches. As Karen greeted him and then seated herself, Eric noticed an unusual movement of her left leg. Her hair looked soft and full. She had green eyes and full, sensual lips. After some polite, get-to-know-each-other preliminaries, their discussion turned to the real estate deals. Karen took notes in a leather-bound folder which she held in her lap. The meeting went well. Eric liked Karen. She was friendly, pretty and obviously intelligent. Leaving the office Eric definitely knew he'd follow up socially as well as legally. A week later Eric was back in Karen's office to finalize matters for the real estate closing scheduled for the following day. Finishing up, Eric looked at his watch. "How about lunch?" he asked. Karen paused, then smiled, "I'd like that." They took his car. Eric opened the door for Karen, then moved around to the driver's side as she began to get in. Out of the corner of his eye he saw her use her right hand to lift her left leg as she entered the car. A mental image of her crossing the parking lot, and of her sitting down in her office, flashed through his mind. Once inside the car Eric, without being obvi- ous, took a closer look. He couldn't tell much from the way she was sitting. At the restaurant Karen was out of the car before Eric could get around to offer her a hand. During lunch Eric noticed that the left arm was moved, but never really did anything, and the hand was never even in sight. He had a feeling, but he couldn't confirm it. Opening the door Karen dropped her purse on the table. God, I'm tired, she thought to herself. The afternoon had been spent on her feet at the courthouse and had been exhausting. The first thing I need is a hot bath, she thought. In her bedroom Karen unbuttoned her blouse, slipped it down her arms and dropped it on the bed. Next she unzipped her skirt, letting it drop to her feet. The pile around her feet grew as next her black half slip fell. She began to pull her panty hose down over her hops, using both hands. It was awkward with the left one. The lack of feeling made it difficult to handle small or thin objects, even though the new myoelectric prosthesis had a functioning hand. Bionic Karen, she thought. She made a point of trying to use the hand when she was alone, but frequently found herself more or less hiding it when in the company of others. That's what I did with Eric Masters today, she told herself. She sat briefly on her bed and removed her panty hose. Standing again in just her black bra and panties, Karen looked at herself in the full-length mirrored closet doors. She still couldn't get used to what she saw, even after five years. She sat again and with her right hand loosened the suction plug in the socket of her artificial leg. Removing the prosthesis and placing it to one side she lifted the reddened six-inch stump of her amputated left leg. Briefly she inspected it. Next, off came the left arm, leaving a stump that ended just below the elbow. She flexed the elbow. Whenever the joint was bent, looking at the short little stump below the elbow reminded her of the pub face of a little bulldog. Karen fell back on the bed, hanging her one good leg over the edge. Even though her mobility was limited, she always felt a sense of relief to be out of her prosthesis. Their use, particularly the leg, took so much energy and concentration. Somehow she almost felt like she was enclosed in some sort of machine when she wore them. Sitting up again she undid the front hooks of her bra. Then she wiggled to slip down her bikini panties. Using her one hand to balance herself, Karen stood up. She looked at herself as she faced the mirrors. God, what a mess that car wreck had made, she thought. Karen was fairly tall, about 5'8". Before the accident she had weighed about 130 lbs. Now she was somewhere between 100 and 105. She had strawberry blonde hair, fair but unfreckled skin, and a trim figure. The sort of figure where a slight little valley ran down the middle of her flat tummy and abdomen. Her breasts were very large for such a trim figure. They stood out dramatically from her ribcage and had large, pinkish areolae that covered most of the ends of her breasts. Her pink nipples were unusually long, extending almost a full inch. Her right leg was also beautiful, with a full, tapered thigh, and a well propor- tioned calf. But Karen's left side showed the horrible results of the crash where another car had run a red light and smashed into the left side of the car she was driving. Not only did the crash crush her left leg, but the piece of steel that crushed and severed her arm had also lacerated her left breast. Looking in the mirror Karen's left breast, where the scar was, looked some- what like an apple out of which someone had taken a bite. Now, in addition to being scarred, it was noticeably smaller than the right one. The aureole and nipple were still intact, but the scar tissue had pulled taut so that the breast now pointed slightly to the side. Karen took her hand and her arm stump and placed them under her breasts, slowly lifting them from their normal slightly drooped position. Slowly she rubbed the nipples and they instant- ly became hard. Balancing in front of the mirrors she felt the warm sensation mount as she continued to caress herself. Moving her hand down across her stomach to her mons she began to massage herself with her hand, while she continued rubbing her breasts with her arm stump. She was fully wet now and began to wobble as the lightheadedness of excitement set in. Karen knew she couldn't continue to balance herself, so she sat down on the floor in front of the mirrors. Sitting on the floor, when she bent over she could reach her vagina and clitoris with the end of her arm stump. She felt the end of her stump become wet with her juices as she slowly moved it up and down between her now swollen lips. Her hand began to knead her breasts, pulling and tugging at her long nipples. Taking a nipple between her thumb and index finger and pulling, Karen felt a rush as the stretched nipple and breast extended out several inches from her chest. Reaching into a basket on top of the trunk located at the foot of her bed, Karen pulled out two wooden clothes pins... each of which had been carefully painted in a gloss black lacquer. She emitted a short little gasp as she felt the mixture of pain and pleasure when she clamped the clothes pins onto her erect nipples. The black of the pins stood out in contrast to the while skin of her breasts. She felt the continuing warm sensation in her nipples as the pins squeezed them. With her hand now free Karen was able to direct its attention to her swollen pussy. As her hand moved across her abdomen and through her bush, Karen began the uncontrolled upward thrusting of her hips. She felt the swollen lips and the wetness of what lay between them. Fingering herself, with her thumb she began to rub her clit. Totally excited now, Karen wondered if other girls were as turned on by such massage. Spreading her leg and stump apart, she could clearly see her swollen clit in the mirror. In its excited state it was as big around as her little finger, its head clearly visible. Karen began to work it between her thumb and forefinger. First, gently squeezing and rubbing, then squeezing harder and harder. She had now pulled her leg up against her torso so that it pressed against the right clothes pinned nipple. The same thing was automatically attempted with her leg stump, but obviously without the same success. Karen was on fire inside. She could feel the climax coming, and let out a long, low moan as her release came. Totally spent, she lay there on the floor for a long time, not moving. Finally, the pain of the clothespins brought her around. Slowly she removed them. Why do I do this, she thought. She knew her nipples would remain sore for a couple of days. She got up, using the trunk for support as she rose. She could feel her own wetness. Balancing on her one leg she quickly pivoted on her foot and began her short little hop-steps toward the bathroom. Sitting balanced on the cool porcelain of the tub, Karen started to swing her leg into the tub. Just then the phone rang. She thought about ignoring it, but after listening to a couple of rings, changed her mind. She hurriedly started hopping to the living room, her breasts bouncing wildly in her haste. She reached the phone slightly out of breath. "Hello...." "Karen? This is Eric Masters. Sorry to disturb you at home, but I was wondering if you'd like to have dinner with me tomorrow night." Karen smiled to herself. If he could see me now he wouldn't be asking. "Eric. I'd love to. Thanks for asking." Pulling up on front of Karen's townhouse, Eric felt like a kid on his first date. In a way it was a first date. He rang the bell. Karen opened the door, sort of half standing behind it as she did so. "Hi! Come on in." Eric entered. Karen asked, "Are we in a hurry, or can I fix you a drink first?" "I'd love a drink," Eric replied. "Got Tequila and Tonic?" "I think so. I love margaritas and I sometimes drink gin and tonic," Karen answered. Karen's townhouse living area was one large room. A U-shaped sectional couch was in front of a fireplace at the far end, a dining area at the near end. Karen moved past Eric to the kitchen, which was off to the left corner. A curved bar separated it from the rest of the living area. Eric wandered over to the couch, slowly looking around. The place was well done. An attractive combination of different styles was used, antiques as well as contemporary furnishings. "I like your place," Eric said. "Thanks. I'm still working at it. I add a little at a time." Eric moved to the kitchen bar, behind which she was fixing their drinks. She had the ice and lime in the glasses. He watched her pour the booze and tonic. It was all done with only the right hand. Stirring the drinks, she offered Eric his across the bar. "To a fun evening," Eric said, lifting his glass. Karen smiled, raising her own drink. She moved from the kitchen, around the bar. Eric watched with excited interest. She walks well, he thought, but there's still that slight limp. Meeting her in the dining area, he followed her to the couch. They sat talking casually as they finished their drinks. Eric was able to catch glimpses of Karen's hand. Without obvious- ly covering it, she did a good job limiting its visibility. Eric was impressed by the natural looking appearance. He stole quick glances at Karen's left leg. He couldn't really tell much. Her full cotton skirt covered her knees, and she was wearing a dark shade of hose. There was no difference in the shape of the lower leg, but the left foot didn't seem to drop down fully to the floor. Eric had picked a restaurant, not only for its outstanding Italian food, but also because he knew it was located a full flight of stairs below the street level. There was a handrail only on the left side when descending the stairs. Eric felt a tinge of excitement as they approached the stairs. He knew that negotiation them would create minor problems for Karen... if he was right. Karen paused as they reached the stairway. "Do you mind if I take your arm on these? I may have a little problem with them." Eric casually took her right arm and they started down. Playing the innocent, but noting Karen's unnatural steps as they descended, Eric asked, "Do you have a bad leg?" There was a pause on Karen's part. "You might say that... You didn't know I am an amputee?" Eric pretended total surprise. "My God, Karen! I'm sorry. No, I didn't know." They reached the bottom and entered the restaurant. Once seated, Eric said, "Karen, I'm really sorry. I would have picked someplace a lot easier for you." "It's not really a problem," Karen said. "I'm just sort of slow when it comes to stairs." Looking very concerned Eric said, "I guess I'm surprised... and more than a little curious. How did it happen?" Karen explained the accident and the subsequent loss of her arm and leg. Eric listened intently, but made an effort not to make a big deal out of what she said. Their conversation gradual- ly shifted to other subjects. They ordered, had some excellent veal, wine... and a generally good time. Eric noticed that now that she'd made him aware of her amputations Karen no longer made as much effort to conceal her artificial hand. He still didn't know exactly what the extent of her amputations were because she had only said that she'd lost her left arm and leg. She hadn't told him how much of each. Leaving the restaurant after dinner Eric automatically took Karen's right arm to assist her as she slowly climbed the stairs. "I'm sorry," she said. Eric didn't comment, but smiled and gently squeezed her arm. Back at her place she asked him in for coffee. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about myself before. I guess I just thought you'd realize." "I assure you it would have made no difference," Eric said. After Eric had left Karen was in her bedroom undressing. Pulling her blouse out of her skirt waist, she slowly began to unbutton it, unconsciously watching herself in the closet mirror. She thought about Eric and the evening. He hadn't seemed bothered by her telling him she was an amputee. She took her blouse off and let it drop onto the bed. Now glancing at her mirrored image she again thought he'd probably have second thoughts if he saw what I look like. She stood in front of the mirror wearing only her skirt and black bra. Her upper left arm was covered by the socket and harness that held the prosthesis on. Karen looked at it and moved the hand. When she was dressed it looked almost like the real thing. But undressed all its mechanicalness was evident. She unzipped her skirt and let it drop around her feet. The black garter belt she was wearing looked sexy against her skin, she thought. The hose she had on covered most of her artificial leg, except where the top portion of the socket extended above it. She turned side to side, admiring herself in the mirror. To herself she said, I look pretty good until all the parts start coming off. She thought about Eric and what it would be like to make love with him. How would I do it? Karen hadn't made love since her accident. Oh, she had dated some, but never to a point where there were more than a few goodnight kisses exchanged. But now she really was excited by the thought of making it with Eric. I used to love to do it on top, she thought. How do I do that now? She sat on the edge of the bed, then stretched out on her back across it. Closing her eyes she tried to imagine the tow of them together. Her artificial leg was raised off the floor by her position on the bed, contrasting oddly with the more normal position of her real leg. She sat up, undid the garter straps of her left leg, slid down the hose and released the suction plug on her leg. Slipping her stump out of the socket she let the leg slide to the carpet as she quickly turned around to the center of the bed. She rose onto her single knee. She tried to imagine herself above Eric, using both her real arm and the artificial one to three-point balance herself. She slowly moved her hips up and down, using her one leg. Watching her own action she thought, what do I do with my stump? She stopped, turning over and sitting in the middle of the bed. She was excited now and could feel the wetness in her panties. She brought her left hand up to the front clasp of her bra and tried to unhook it. The fingers worked, but without the feeling of touch she couldn't quite work the small hook apart. With the aid of her real hand she quickly released the bra. The bra snapped to either side as her large breasts were released. She looked down at them, capped by her huge nipples, and became even more excited. In high school Karen had been embarrassed, almost ashamed, as her breasts developed. In gym the other girls had teased her about her nipples. They were unusually long, even before her breasts became full size. "You won't need tits with nipples like that," they'd taunt. But as her breasts also grew their teasing turned into envy. Also, with the discovery of masturbation Karen learned how much she could enjoy them herself. Then in college now much the guys loved them. The only other girl she'd ever seen with nipples as long as hers was her older sister Carol, she thought. She reached up and touched them with her hands. She concentrated on the prosthetic hand as the fingers closed on her left nipple. It still amazed her how the nerves of her stump could make the mechanics of the hand operate. She continued to squeeze until she felt the warmth of slight pain in the nipple. She pulled the nipple outward, stretching it. Then she released it, watching it snap back. She did the same thing to her right nipple, rolling it between her fingers as she did. Letting go of her nipples, she began to remove the harness of her arm. She let the prosthesis slip off her stump onto the bed. It looked so strange, the detached arm and hand lying on the bed. Viewing herself in the mirror she began to massage her tits using her arm stump and one hand. The visual image excited her even more. Karen stopped and quickly scooted to the edge of the bed. Standing, she hopped a few short steps to the last closet door. Pressing on it to release the catch, she pulled it open. Main- taining her balance with her leg stump against the door, she reached into the rear corner. She pulled out the item for which she was looking... crutches she seldom used. The right one was a typical forearm type, but the left one was modified so that the upper portion had a socket to accommodate her left arm stump. Slipping them on, she began to crutch back and forth in front of the mirrors, watching herself as she did. After a couple of trips she moved over to her dresser. Opening the top drawer where she kept her bras, she searched briefly with her hand and stump until she located what she wanted. Standing, then moving to the bed, she sat down. She held a weird looking combination of loops and black cord in her hand. Placing it on the bed she began to straighten it out, untangling the twisted cords. There were two large metal rings and two much smaller ones, all painted black. The rings were connected with several pieces of black nylon cord. The rings also had an adjustable black strap. Karen placed her arms into the device and slipped it up over her head, then down over her shoulders. Then she slowly began to work each of her breasts through the larger metal rings. The rings were sufficiently smaller in diameter than her breasts so that it was necessary for her to slowly pull the rings on, until they were flush up against her chest. When she had both on, she adjusted the black strap. It ran around her back and held the rings tightly in place. Her tits now bulged out between the large rings, the connecting cords and the smaller rings. Blue veins showed beneath the taut white skin. The small rings were about an inch in diameter and Karen began to pull her nipples and as much of the surrounding areolae as possible through them. As she finished and looked in the mirrors, the effect was tremendously erotic. The large rings of her 'special bra' caused her already ample breasts to appear swollen. The cords pressed into the softness of her tits, while her pink nipples bulged out of their rings like pink buds of icing on a cake. Karen stood, then crutched to the foot of the bed and faced the mirrors. The sight of her bizarre bra constraining her breasts excited her terribly. Standing, she pulled her panties down and let it slip along her leg. The crotch of the panties was soaked and she could feel her own wetness as the material brushed against her leg. Using the socket crutch for balance she took the right forearm one and placed the bottom portion of it between her leg and stump, so that it rested on the trunk behind her. Taking the forearm cuff in her hand she slowly began to insert the handle shaft into her wet pussy. With it inserted, using the crutch as a fulcrum, she began to masturbate herself, all the while watching the scene in the mirrors. She started to moan as she felt the ribbed handle of the crutch move in and out against the walls of her vagina. As she felt the climax coming she let go of the crutch and dropped to the trunk, using her hand to grab and squeeze her swollen clit. Her climax was one that engulfed her whole body, causing her to jerk in sexual spasms. She lay there across the trunk, onto the bed, totally spent. Still for several minutes, she slowly crawled fully onto the bed and almost immediately fell asleep. She was still wearing her unique bra. Eric was thrilled with how the evening had gone. Karen's amputations were out in the open, but he didn't think he had appeared to press the issue. He really liked her, the added plus of her amputations aside. Over the next few weeks they saw a good deal of each other. Sometimes dinner, sometimes just a drink or a movie. They kissed goodnight, but Eric hadn't pressed any farth- er. He'd made up his mind to go slow on this one. Eric bought the boat he'd been thinking about. He asked Karen to go out with him on the first use of it. They planned a picnic at a local area lake, then dinner that evening at his place. Karen looked great when he arrived to pick her up. It was the first time he'd seen her in anything other than a skirt. She wore jeans, a pale blue jacquard cotton sweater and tennis shoes. He noticed the outline of the top of her artificial leg beneath her tight jeans. Also, as she sat next to him in the car the shape of her left knee appeared slightly different as it pressed against the material. Eric was pleased with the boat. It ran well, with plenty of power and speed. He let Karen drive a couple of times, but she was afraid to really open it up. Though the weather was warm for an early Spring day, the water was still a little cold. Still too early for comfortable water skiing, Eric thought. They had lunch anchored in a cove at the far end of the lake. They lay on the seats of the boat eating, talking and enjoying the warm sun, as the boat gently rocked them. Running back to the boat ramp later in the afternoon they ran into a heavy thunderstorm. Not too much wind, but it rained like hell. Without a top they were soaked by the time they reached the boat ramp. Eric let Karen out at the dock and watched her try and run with her limping gait as he pulled the boat around to the ramp area. It took only a few minutes to get the boat loaded onto the trailer; then they headed for his place, looking for all the world like two drowned rats. It rained all the way back to Eric's and was just letting up as he pulled in the driveway. Once inside Eric suggested to Karen that she take off her wet clothes and let him put them into the dryer. She paused, unsure of what to do. "Hey, no sweat. You can wear one of my robes until your things dry." He brought out a robe and showed Karen the extra bedroom and bath where she could change. Slipping off his own things Eric thought about Karen in the other room. He tried to imagine what she would look like un- dressed. The thought gave him an instant erection. Karen took off the wet jeans and sweater. She initially thought about leaving on her bra and panties, but they were too wet. She sat on the bed and removed the wet socks. The tennis shoes she'd been wearing had no real heel to them, so she'd have no problem walking barefoot, she thought. There's no reason to be uncomfortable, she told herself. She slipped off her bra and panties and included them in the pile of wet clothes. Putting on Eric's robe, she belted it tightly around the waist. Eric was about 6'1" so the robe came down well below her knees. Karen brushed her hair and freshened her makeup. "Where's the dryer?" she called as she entered the living room. Eric was out on the patio working to start the barbecue grill. "Through the kitchen," he yelled. "My stuff's already in. Just press the restart when you close the door." "My sweater's cotton. OK if I just hang it in the bathroom?" Karen asked. "Sure, no problem," Eric replied. A few moments later she appeared at the patio door. "How do I look? You know it's really not fair because you were able to change." Eric was wearing fresh white cotton slacks and a blue pullover t-shirt. "Hey, you look great!" He meant it. Karen's figure filled out the robe, even if it was too long. Coming back into the house, Eric noticed the impression of her nipples under the soft material of the robe. A quick glance at her feet revealed a prosthesis foot with toes, though there was a slight difference in skin tone when compared with her real foot. "I made us some margaritas," he said, moving toward the bar. He already had a fire going in the stone fireplace in front of the couch. "What's for dinner?" Karen asked. "Nothing fancy. I've got some chicken breasts marinating in Italian dressing. I thought we'd grill them and have a big salad. Okay?" "That's fine. Anything I can do?" Karen inquired. "Sit down with me and enjoy these margaritas," Eric answered. They walked to the couch and Eric flopped down first. The couch was a low, plush sectional. Karen, as she sat down, sort of lost her balance, falling back against the cushions. She gave a little squeal of surprise, and quickly tried to recover. The robe rode up well above her knees and Eric was able to see the socket plug on the inner thigh of her left leg. Eric handed her a drink as she pulled the robe down. He felt himself go hard again. Dinner went well and the margaritas gave them both a nice warm buzz. Getting up from the table, Eric suggested they move out to the couch again. Standing behind Karen's chair, he pulled it back as she got up. Standing, she turned to face him. Looking at her, Eric took her face in his hands and kissed her very tenderly. Immediately the dam broke and they began to kiss and embrace, their tongues entwining. A warmth of excitement ran through both of them. Eric's lips began to explore her ears and her neck. There was a wonderful, fresh smell about her. Karen felt her excitement swell. Her nipples were already rock hard. But she was afraid. God, what will he think when he sees me, she thought. Eric had moved his caresses to her throat and the soft depression at its base. Then slowly he began to move down to her chest. Her hands gripped his head. He could feel the harder artificial hand. "Eric, please stop! I'm not very pretty to look at." He simply went back to what he'd been doing and began to untie the robe. As the robe fell open Eric couldn't believe the beauty of what he saw. Karen's breasts were large and capped with the longest nipples he'd ever seen. He couldn't wait to get one in his mouth. As he took the right one and began to suck it, he felt Karen shiver. Looking to the left breast he noticed its unusual shape, then its scar tissue. Before taking its nipple in his mouth, he gently caressed the scar with his tongue. Karen, her eyes closed, was beside herself with pleasure. It had been so, so long. She felt the heat of her excitement build- ing, but at the same time she was afraid to open her eyes, to see the look on Eric's face when he saw her amputations. Eric dropped to his knees, moving from caressing the under- side of her tits, down her tummy. His tongue briefly explored her belly-button, then continued its slow movement south. He parted the open robe and took in the beautiful sight before him. Slowly he ran his hands up the inside of her right thigh. Reaching Karen's crotch area he used his other hand to caress the ring of thigh flesh that bulged out above the socket of her artificial leg. As he kissed her thigh he heard Karen's low, pleasureful moan. With his fingers he separated the wet lips of her pussy and got another treat. God! Look at the size of her clit, he thought. He'd never seen one that large. Immediately his tongue went out to it. He felt Karen's hands brace harder against his head for support. Sucking gently, he started to work the clit with his tongue, enjoying the warmth of her salty juices. Gradually he pulled his head back, glancing up as he did. Karen's head was thrown back so she appeared to be looking at the ceiling, or at heaven! Her tits looked magnificent, jutting out and topped by unbelievable nipples. Now's the time, he thought to himself. Eric quickly located and released the suction plug in Karen's artificial leg. With both hands he pulled the prosthesis out and down, exposing her stump for the first time. Karen was so lightheaded at this point that she could no longer remain standing, now balanced on her single leg. Sensing her problem, Eric quickly stood and scooped her up and carried her down the hall into the bedroom. Karen lay on his bed, eyes closed. The robe had fallen open exposing her beautiful nakedness. Eric stood by the bed and rapidly removed his clothes. He sat on the edge of the bed and pulled the robe off Karen's right arm. "Karen, how does the arm come off?" She opened her eyes and looked at him. "Are you sure you're ready for this?" she asked. Leaning over to kiss her leg stump, Eric looked up and smiled. "Positive!" Karen began to undo the arm and Eric pulled it from her stump, dropping it gently to the floor. Karen sat up and he helped her remove the robe from under her. Sardonically Karen said, "Now you see me in all my glory. What's left of me, anyway." Again Eric said nothing. Goosing to let his actions speak, he began to kiss her arm stump, while his hand rubbed her leg stump. He'd never been so hard! He took her left nipple in his mouth once more. Using his left hand he took his swollen prick and began to massage her leg stump with it. After a few moments he changed his position so he could touch her arm and tits with his penis. With measured slowness, he moved the head around the end of the arm. Then he traced the scar line on her left breast. "Oh, Eric! It's been so long. You don't know how good it feels," Karen moaned. She was on her back now and Eric lifted her leg stump up and began to knead it gently with his fingers. "Does that hurt?" he asked. She smiled, with a negative shake of her head. He loved the feel of the stump. Soft and fleshy, sort of like a breast, but he could feel the stub of bone buried inside. The scar ran across the bottom of the stump and about four inches up the outside. The scar was recessed in the stump's fleshiness, more so when it was lifted. He pressed the stump against her abdomen and took his hardness in his left hand and began to slowly rub it up and down between her exposed, wet pussy lips. First, up to caress her huge clit with the head. Then he creeped down again to her hole, watching the parting of her lips as they hid the head. He teased her by only allowing the head of his prick to enter her. Then out again, and the whole thing was repeated. Lying on his right side he was able to suck her nipples and her arm stump at the same time. After some time he put her right hand on his throbbing cock, and Karen continued to masturbate herself using him. With his left hand now free Eric started to squeeze and stretch Kar- en's beautiful tits. Unable to stand it any longer, Karen inserted them fully into her wet hole. Eric's fingers found her clit and he began to assert gentle pressure as he worked his cock inside her. Karen was making low, throaty moans almost continuously now. As she felt a massive climax begin, the moans became an almost gasping cry of pleasure. As she climaxed Eric pressed harder and harder against her swollen clit. He was thrilled by the twitching move- ment of her leg stump, almost like she didn't know what to do with it. What finally made him explode was watching Karen, in her heated frenzy, pull, squeeze and literally tug at her own nipples as she reached her peak. Right then Eric knew that sex with a 'straight' girl would never again measure up. Both of them were satisfied, and drifted off to sleep. Eric was awakened the following morning as he felt Karen get up from the bed. Glancing at her through half open eyes he was treated to a delightful sight. She sat naked, her back to him, on the edge of the bed. As she rose to her foot he saw her arm stump flail the air as she momentarily lost her balance. Quickly re- gaining it, she began to hop around the foot of the bed toward the bathroom. Eric felt himself go immediately hard as he watched her tits bounce with each hop, her arm stump spread for balance and her leg stump cocked forward at a 45 degree angle. All too soon she disappeared into the dressing area of the bathroom. A few moments later he heard the toilet flush, then the water start to run into the tub. Eric got up and headed for the other bathroom for a quick shower. Finished and dressed while Karen was still in the tub, he got her clothes, folded them and placed them on the bed. He reached down and picked up her arm, examining it. In doing so he thought how much more exciting she seemed without her prostheses. He wondered if he could convince her to go without them for awhile. He put the arm back on the floor and positioned it so most of it was under the bed. He arranged the bed covers so that they covered it. She'll find it, he thought. But she'll have to look for it a bit. He picked up her clothes and headed back to the kitchen. When she got out of the tub he'd wait for her to ask for them. Passing through the dining area he saw her leg on the floor. He picked it up and stood it up next to the bar. He got things in the kitchen ready for breakfast, then sat down at the dining table to read the paper. At the same time he listened for sounds of Karen from the bathroom. He heard the water run in one of the sinks, so he knew she was out of the tub. He got up and peeked around the corner into the bedroom. He'd timed it perfectly! Karen came out of the bath area holding a towel around her as she hopped. Her arm and arm stump were tight against her body holding the towel in place, with her full arm also supporting her bouncing breasts. She hopped to the side of the bed where her arm was. Not seeing it immediately, she sank to her knee and began searching for it. Bent over on her knee, the towel had ridden up exposing the cheeks of her beautiful ass and her leg stump. Feeling the time was right, Eric burst into the room with the announcement, "Karen, how about scrambled eggs and sausage... Oh, sorry!" A startled Karen quickly tried to stand. She lost her bal- ance and flopped down onto the bed, half dropping the towel. "Oh, your clothes! I'll get them," Eric said, turning and leaving the room. He returned in a flash with the clothes, just as a recovering Karen was lifting her arm up from the floor. "Sorry to bust in on you. I thought you were still in the tub. Hungry?" "I'm starved," she replied, still holding the arm. "Shall I get your leg?" Eric asked. "I guess so," Karen replied unenthusiastically. Eric was back quickly with the leg. Innocently he inquired, "Are they difficult to put on?" "No, not really. The leg's a little harder than the arm," Karen said. But she made no move to put them on. "Well, I'll leave you to dress," Eric said, turning to go. He took a couple of steps, stopped, turned, and asked, "Do you always wear them?" Karen looked at him and said nothing for a moment. "No. I frequently leave them off when I'm at home. They're sort of... uncomfortable, I guess." "Hey, then why use them here? I'm a great supporter of being as comfortable as possible." Eric turned again to leave, and on the way out called back, "Get dress and come make the O.J." He heard the hair dryer start. Ten minutes later Karen came hopping into the kitchen. She looked fantastic. The sleeves of her sweater were pushed up above the elbow so that the tip of her stump was visible. She was barefoot and the empty pant leg was tucked into the waist of her jeans. "You're sure you don't mind?" she said, as she hopped up alongside him. Giving her a quick kiss, Eric responded, "I like what I see." The morning was a fantasy come true for Eric. The sight of Karen hopping about was a constant turn-on for him. She was much more relaxed now, and frequently used her arm stump to assist whenever she needed it. Karen had to leave about noon because she had to prepare for a court case the next morning. When it came time to go Eric suggested he just carry her limbs. She quickly agreed, and with delight he watched her hop out to her car. The following week they had lunch a couple of times, but because of previous commitments, that was all. The next Saturday Karen asked Eric over for dinner. Arriving about 4 PM Eric tried to control his excitement as he approached the door. All day he'd been reliving their previous Saturday together. He rang the bell. After a few moments the door opened and Karen's beautiful face peeked from behind it. She said hi, and he entered, turning to look at her. He couldn't believe it! Karen was wearing a pair of blue, shirred shorts and a light blue tank top. She was using crutches, the left one of which had some sort of special adaptation for her arm stump. "Come on in. I've made us a pitcher of Margaritas," Karen announced as she crutched past him into the living room. Eric admired how nicely her hips and ass filled out the shorts. The shorts came to about mid-thigh, so her stump wasn't visible, but he watched it move slightly beneath the material as she walked. Karen reached the couch, removed her crutches, and using them for support, sat down. Eric remained standing and poured them each a drink. Leaning across the corner of the coffee table to hand her the glass he noticed the end of her leg stump poking its scarred face out of the open leg of her shorts. He fought hard against the erection he felt begin. After they had caught up on each other's week over drinks, they had dinner, a fantastic paella Karen had prepared. As they sat drinking coffee after dinner Eric had a suggestion. "It's early. Why don't we go to a movie?" "Great idea. Just give me a couple of minutes to change and put my equipment on," Karen replied. "Okay, I'll clear the table while you're changing." Eric paused briefly, but then continued, "Why don't you just forget the equipment?" Karen, who was in the process of getting up, turned to Eric. "Eric, I don't know. I've never gone out in public like this," she said, holding up her arm and lifting her leg stump simultane- ously. "There's always a first time," Eric said smiling, as he headed for the kitchen with a load of dishes. He looked back over his shoulder and watched Karen crutch off to the bedroom. She was back in a few minutes, still wearing the shorts, but having changed the tank top for a crepe de chine blouse with dropped armholes. "God, I'll certainly be the center of attention," she said. "Does that bother you?" Eric asked. "I'm not sure. I'll tell you when we get back," was Karen's answer. As they walked from the car to the theater Eric was excited by his first venture in public with Karen as an obvious amputee. The only drawback that occurred to him was that he couldn't hold her hand as they walked. Karen wasn't really sure how she felt. She knew she would never have done this alone. But somehow being with Eric changed things. Obviously, he didn't mind her being crippled. The theater was a multiple one and they had about a ten minute wait for their feature. Karen was sure half the people around them were talking about her. She tried to concentrate only on what she and Eric were talking about. The best part was they got to enter first because the theater had a policy allowing handicapped patrons to be seated first. Karen was touched by the fact that Eric held and gently caressed her arm stump during the movie. Eric thought it beat the hell out of simply holding hands. The film had a number of erotic scenes, so back at Karen's afterward they were both hot for each other. "Well, how was it, being on crutches?" Eric asked. "Not as bad as I'd imagined, but I did feel self-conscious," Karen replied. "Why do you want to see me on crutches? I'd think you'd want me to look like normal women," Karen asked. Eric thought about it. "I'm not sure. But I'll be honest. Somehow your amputations make you more exciting to me. The way you move on crutches is so smooth, so fluid and graceful. I don't know. It's hard for me to explain." He walked up to her and they embraced. He looked at her, smiled and said, "Race you to the bed!" Karen wheeled and was off, taking giant strides on her crutches. She reached the bed first. Eric stood at the trunk at the foot of the bed admiring her. Damn, she was beautiful! he thought. He happened to glance down and saw the two black lacquered clothes pins in the basket on the trunk. Picking one up he com- mented, "These sure are fancy." Looking at Karen he asked, "Are they used for anything special?" Karen turned several shades of red. "I... ah, I guess you could say that." Recovering, she said to Eric, holding out her arm and arm stump, "Come here." Walking to the edge of the bed Eric directed, "Undress me." Karen rose to her knee and slowly began to unbutton his shirt with her only hand. Eric quickly dropped it off his shoulders and let it slide to the floor. Slowly, Karen rubbed the tip of her arm stump down his chest to his belt. She unbuckled it using both her hand and the stump. Then, teasingly she unzipped his fly. His pants fell to his feet. He was rock hard, the tip of his prick already peeking out of the top of his briefs. Karen had a little trouble getting his briefs down, but finally made it. His swollen rod stood straight out in front of her. "Rub it with your stump," he said. Karen began to massage him with the stump. First rubbing the head with the soft end of her arm stump. Then she bent the stump at the elbow and began to masturbate Eric with the 'L' created by her stump. Not wanting to shoot his load too soon, Eric asked her to stop. He then began to remove Karen's blouse. "Do you ever masturbate?" Karen asked. "Sure. How about you?" Again she blushed as Eric removed her bra. "Would you be- lieve you're the first guy I've made it with since my accident? I've become rather proficient getting myself off," she said. Eric took each of her nipples in his fingers and began to gently squeeze them. "Is that what the clothes pins are for?" he asked. Karen's eyes were shut, a look of pleasure on her face. She nodded affirmatively. "How'd you know?" she asked softly. "Just a guess," Eric said. "Do you think I'm crazy?" "Not a bit. Just tell me if I go too far," he said, as he wrapped one of her long nipples around a finger and increased the pressure. Eric had never known a woman who enjoyed having her tits played with as much as Karen. She lay back on the bed, moaning with pleasure as he worked them over. He squeezed them til it seemed they'd pop. Pulled and sucked her nipples, then kneaded them like bread dough. Finally he straddled her, took her long nipples and overlapped them together, holding them together with one hand. Then he shoved his throbbing prick up between her tits. Again he brought himself almost to a climax, but backed off to cool down, and concentrate on another party of Karen's exciting body. He removed her shorts, noticing that her juices had soaked through them. Sliding off her panties he began to massage her leg stump with his prick. Bending over, he started to tongue her swollen clit. Karen was moaning uncontrollably now. Quickly he slid into her, gently thrusting in to the hilt, then withdrawing until just the head was between her swollen lips. Then he repeat- ed the whole cycle again. With one hand he kept pressure on her clit, while the other still played with her nipples. Karen reached the first of a building crescendo of orgasms. Eric held out until her fifth one, then exploded in her. Eric and Karen began seeing each other regularly. Lunches several times a week and dinners or evenings together, unless their work interrupted. On a Wednesday evening they agreed to meet for dinner at one of their favorite restaurants. Karen had a meeting with a client at 6 PM, so they settled on a nine o'clock date, and a late dinner. Karen's appointment was in a downtown office building. She finished with her client about 7:30 PM and took the elevator to her car in the building's underground garage. Exiting the eleva- tor she was surprised how empty the garage appeared. She'd had a hard time locating a vacant space when she arrived only a couple of hours before. She started across the dimly lighted garage toward her car. Passing one of the many large support columns Karen felt instant terror as from somewhere behind her a strong hand slammed across her mouth. Her scream was stifled in her throat. Before she could react another arm had grabbed her tightly around the waist, pinning her arms to her sides. A look of panic in her eyes, she felt herself half dragged toward a darkened area where equipment was stored. She was thrown down to the concrete and looked up to see a towering male figure standing above her. "You scream and I'll kill ya on da spot!" he said. His voice was muffled by the nylon stocking he was wearing over his head and face. Karen was terrified and began to try to crawl backward, away from him. It was strictly instinct, without any thought as to where she was going. "Where do ya think you're headed?" the man said, as he lunged for her. He grabbed her left arm to yank her to her feet. The force of his pull tore the prosthesis from Karen's arm stump. "What da hell? Jesus Christ, what's this?" he said, staring at the arm he held in his hand. He recovered from his surprise and quickly reached down and jerked Karen to her feet. She opened her mouth to scream. He saw it coming and slapped her hard across the face. "Didn't ya hear me? Don't make a sound!" He spun her around and Karen flinched with pain as he jerked her arm and stump behind her back. He began to tie them together. There was a warm, salty taste in her mouth from where he'd slapped her. It had all happened so quickly Karen was in a state of confused panic. She realized her life was threatened, but didn't know what to do about it. A wide piece of tape was slapped across her mouth. Standing in front of her, he tore her blouse and bra open with his hands. Then he grabbed her at the shoulders and kicked her legs out from under her, letting her drop to the dirty concrete floor. He bent over and took one of her legs in each hand. The minute he did he paused, dropped the good leg, and pushed her skirt up. Seeing the artificial leg, he said, "God damnit! What da hell are ya? Some kind of fuckin' robot?" His discovery seemed to make him even madder. He yanked the leg by the ankle, and Karen felt it torn from her stump. The leg was hanging loosely, attached only by her pantyhose. The fact it wouldn't separate infuriated her attacker. "Of all the dumb fuckin' luck! I got ta pick a Goddamn cripple," he yelled. He threw the limb to the floor and Karen heard a cracking sound as he broke the socket under his booted foot. "Lady, you're so fuckin' chopped up ya ain't worth screwin'!" He picked up her purse and turned to leave. His foot stumbled across her arm prosthesis. He grabbed it off the floor and threw it against a nearby support column, then stormed off into the darkness. Karen lay there trying to sort out what had happened. No more than a few minutes had passed since it all began. Tears came to her eyes. First tears of relief that he was gone, then of frustration at her situation. She lay there with her arms tied tightly behind her back. She struggled to get up to a sitting position. She tried to loosen her arms, but got nowhere. Slowly, she began to position herself to try to stand. She fell twice, landing on her side. The third time she managed to get up and balanced unsteadily on her one leg. She looked down over her bard breasts and saw her ruined leg hanging in the stretched panty- hose. She hopped a couple of steps, but almost fell again. The dragging prosthesis was throwing her off balance. If I can just get to my car, she thought. But then she realized the man had taken her purse-- with her car keys. Tears welled up in her eyes again. The elevator! If I can just get to it, she thought. She took a couple of short hops. The broken prosthesis stretched her pantyhose behind her and she felt it tug at her hips. She took another hop. This time the material was stretched to its limit and the prosthesis snapped back toward her, throwing her completely off balance. She fell hard to the ground. Lying on her right side, Karen tried to assess her situa- tion. Her knee was skinned and bleeding from her falls. Her shoulder hurt as well. She tried to loosen the cords again, but no luck. Then she realized she could reach her pantyhose with her hand. Slowly, she inched the material down off her hops. Them by contorting herself she was able to remove them from her full leg. Without the burden of the broken prosthesis she was able to hop to the elevator. Upon reaching it she found nothing happened when she pressed the button. She slumped down against the door, tears returning. He must have turned the power off, she thought. She tried to remember how many floors down she was. Two, she thought. In the dark she had trouble finding the door to the stairwell. Once she finally located it she let out a cry of anguish and frustration. With her arms tied behind her she could- n't seem to get it open. She turned around with her back to it, managing to open the latch with her hand. She took a short hop to pull it open a little. But by the time she could turn, regain her balance and hop back, the heavy spring would slam it shut again. On the third try she almost made it. In desperation she raised her leg stump to try and stop the closing door. The door was too heavy and slammed shut against her stump. She screamed in pain, the cry silenced only by the tape still across her mouth. She fell to the floor, sobbing in pain and frustration. Slowly she go up again and began to hop, following the auto ramps up and out of the garage. Hopping up the steep incline was difficult and tiring. She had to stop and rest every few steps. Twice she lost her balance and fell. The second time she felt a jabbing pain as she twisted her ankle. She got up once more, her ankle throbbing, and forced her- self to continue. Finally she reached the street level. A man in a passing car saw her and braked to a quick stop. He jumped out and ran back to her. "For God sakes, lady, what the hell happened to you?!" He pulled the tape from her mouth. "A man robbed me and tried to rape me," Karen sobbed. The man quickly untied her arm and stump. "Christ almighty! Who'd do something like this to a cripple?" he said. "Are you hurt bad?" "No, I don't think so," Karen answered, as he helped her hop to his car. He opened the passenger door and she sat down. As she did she noticed the man's expression. She looked down and real- ized her breasts were still exposed. Quickly she pulled her torn blouse together. The man recovered. "There's a phone booth on the corner. I'll call the cops," he said. The police came. Karen was taken to a hospital for a check- up. From the hospital she finally was able to phone Eric, who'd been worrying about her since by then it was after 10 o'clock. He came right over to the hospital to pick her up. She was sitting in a wheelchair when he arrived. All the abrasions from her falls had been cleaned and bandaged, but she looked like hell. Her lips were swollen and her clothes dirty from her falls. Eric couldn't believe there wasn't anything seriously wrong with her. Her ankle turned out to be the worst of her injuries. It was badly sprained and had been wrapped in an elastic bandage. On the way home to Karen's place she told him all about what had happened. "Now that it's over you know what makes me the maddest?" Karen said. "That bastard didn't even feel like I was worth raping, once he realized I was an amputee!" "Hey, if that's what it takes to turn off a rapist, don't knock it," Eric said, trying to lighten the situation. "There's probably plenty of guys like me who'd love to get into your pants." Karen tried to smile, but grimaced in pain and put her hand to her busted lip. Arriving at her place, Eric carried her into the house. She'd been given a sedative at the hospital and Eric could see she was about to crash. He took her to the bedroom, got whatever she wanted and placed it on the bed. "I'll leave you to catch some zees. You need them. I'll stop by early in the morning, and I'll rent a wheelchair for you on the way back." "Okay," came Karen's soft and sleepy reply. Karen awoke in the middle of the night, realizing that if she didn't get to the bathroom in a hurry she was going to wet the bed. She sat up on the edge of the bed and started to stand. The minute she put pressure on the ankle she let out a moan of pain and sat down again. She quickly remembered the doctor had told her to stay off her leg for at least a week. Not only her ankle, but her whole body seemed to be one big ache. She put her hand to the floor and slid off the bed. Leaning backward onto her elbows she began to drag herself backward on her fanny, using her arm stump and her elbow. It was slow going, but she finally made it and managed to lift herself onto the toilet. She breathed a sigh of relief as her stream of pee flood- ed into the bowl. Getting off the toilet and then up onto the soft bed was a little bit more difficult, but she made it after a couple of tries at the bed. I guess this is the way I'd have to get around part of the time if I had no legs, Karen thought. She'd often wondered what it would have been like if she'd lost both her legs. Her current situation brought the idea back to mind. She awoke the next morning to the sound of the doorbell ringing. She looked at the clock and saw that it was 9:30 AM. At first she thought it was Eric, but then realized he would let himself in with the key she'd given him. "Just a minute!" she yelled, sitting up and putting on the robe Eric had left on the bed. She got down off the bed and began to drag herself across the floor toward the front door. Halfway there she called out, "Who's there?" "Police," came the answer. "Just a minute," she said again, unconsciously trying to speed up the process. Reaching the door Karen opened it with the chain on. "Yes?" she inquired through the crack, from her sitting position on the floor. "Sorry to disturb you. I was told to drop these by to you," came the reply from the uniformed policeman, holding up her two damaged artificial limbs. Karen reached up and took the chain off and opened the door. "Come on in, but please excuse me. I injured my ankle in the incident last night, and this is the only way I can get around right now." The officer walked past her and Karen said, "Just put them on the dining room table, please." Karen stayed where she was on the floor by the front door. She was embarrassed enough by the fact that she was unable to stand. She certainly didn't want him to see the way she was forced to move about. "Could I get you to sign this property release form?" the policeman asked, bending over to hand her a form and a pen. Karen signed and the officer started out the door. As he left Karen saw Eric coming up the front walk pushing a wheelchair. "Hi. What was that all about?" Eric asked, motioning to the departing patrolman. Karen explained. "But how did you get out here from the bedroom?" Eric asked. "Like this," Karen answered, as she began her hitching, dragging movement into the dining room. The sight of Karen dragging her crippled body along gave Eric an instant erection. For some reason the more handicapped she appeared, the more sexy and erotic she seemed to him. "Well, this should make it a little easier for you," Eric said, pushing the wheelchair up to her. He lifted her into the chair. There was a single footrest on the right side and the chair was designed so it could be rolled with only one hand. "I guess I'm stuck with this for a week or so, huh? Look at the mess that bastard made of my limbs!" Karen said, pointing to the table. Eric moved to the table and examined the damage. "They're a mess, all right. If you want to get dressed I'll drive you over to the university so you can see what's going to be involved in fixing them." "Okay. I guess that should be my first order of business. God! They're going to think I was run over by a truck!" Eric wheeled Karen into the bedroom. There was a step up into the dressing area of the bathroom, so the chair wouldn't go. He helped her out onto the floor, then watched her scoot the rest of the way. "I'll try and be quick," she called back to him. During the period of time her ankle was healing and she was waiting for her artificial limbs to be repaired, Karen had Eric drive her to and from work. She'd cancelled her appointments with clients because she didn't feel like having to answer the hun- dreds of questions her appearance would initiate. The fact was that many of her clients didn't even realize she was an amputee. She went in a few hours each day just to keep up with things and keep the paperwork flowing. One morning just before lunch Karen's secretary came into her office. "Karen, there's a woman out front asking to see you. It's not one of your clients, but she says it's very important." Sitting in her wheelchair behind her desk, Karen's first reaction was to say she didn't want to see anyone. But she told herself it was stupid to continue to be self-conscious about her amputations. "Okay, I'll see her," Karen said. The secretary escorted in an attractive, well dressed woman somewhere in her mid-forties. She had dark hair and beautiful, large brown eyes. Her figure was what Karen had heard Jane Rus- sell describe in her TV bra ads as a 'full figure'. Though not particularly overweight, she had very large breasts and extremely broad, full hips. The woman came over to Karen's desk, smiling and offering her hand. "Thank you for seeing me. I'm Virginia Tyler. I'm sorry to trouble you without an appointment." Karen reached across her desk, rising slightly in her wheelchair, and shook her hand. "How can I help you?" "My daughter and I have just moved to town. I'm a buyer with Kaufman's. We are just getting settled and, of course, don't really know anyone yet. You see, my daughter, Chris, well... uh, she was involved in a motorcycle accident about six months ago. The accident left her a double amputee. Not the same as you, though." The woman seemed to be embarrassed by her reference to Karen's amputations. "I'm sorry," she apologized. "It's all right," Karen said, "I'm not sensitive." "She lost both legs," the woman continued. "I was in the parking lot yesterday when I happened to see you entering the building. I know it's somewhat presumptuous of me, but I thought perhaps meeting someone like yourself would ease Chris' adjustment." "How old is your daughter?" Karen asked, thinking she was probably a child. "She's 22. The same age I was when I had her," the woman answered. Karen thought to herself. She didn't know any other girls who were amputees. Before meeting Eric she probably wouldn't have bothered, but she was curious now. She knew Eric would enjoy meeting the girl. Karen smiled. "Look, why don't you and our daughter stop by my place tonight for dinner? We can talk and get to know each other." Virginia quickly accepted the offer. They settled on the time and Karen gave her directions. Karen called Eric and told him she was having company for dinner, and he was cooking. He inquired who. "A surprise," Karen replied. Karen was in her bedroom dressing. Eric was in the kitchen getting things ready. Karen had been off her leg a full week. She had followed the doctor's instructions to the letter. With only one leg left she wasn't about to take chances. She decided to- night she'd go back to crutches. Wrapping the ankle in an Ace bandage, she rose from the bed and put her weight on it. It felt okay. A little tender, but well enough to support her. There would be no hopping for awhile, though. She put on a pair of tan cotton walking shorts, a light blue blouse, and a hurache style sandal. She crutched out into the living room. "Oh, you're back on the sticks," Eric said, looking up at her across the kitchen bar. "How's your ankle feel?" "Seems okay. I've still got an elastic bandage on it, though." She leaned her crutches against the bar, lifted her leg stump and sat down on one of the stools. Eric sat a frozen marga- rita down in front of her. Karen was about half way through her drink when the doorbell rang. Karen said she'd get it and eased off the stool, putting her crutches in position. Eric admired her ass and the empty pant leg as he watched her crutch to the front door. He heard the door open and Karen say, "Hi! Come on in." Opening the door, Karen saw the face of a beautiful girl sitting in a wheelchair. Virginia was standing behind the chair. There was a close resemblance between the two, though the daugh- ter's face was prettier. She had the same beautiful eyes, but her features were better. As Virginia wheeled the chair past her, Karen noted that the daughter appeared to have inherited her mother's figure, also. She was wearing a white, cotton-gauze dress, with an elasticized topline that displayed ample cleavage. Following the two women in, Karen called to Eric, "Eric, I'd like you to meet a couple of new friends. Chris and Virginia Tyler." Eric came out of the kitchen, and Karen thought he did an excellent job of concealing his surprise and delight over seeing Chris. Introductions completed, Eric suggested they move out to the patio for margaritas and nachos. He quickly took Chris's chair and helped her out. It was difficult to tell where Chris's right leg had been amputated. Though she was wearing a dress with a double-tiered hem that covered it, it was evident that her left leg had been removed in the vicinity of the knee. At, or just above it. She had the same very broad hips that her mother had so it was diffi- cult to judge how long her right stump was. Very high up, Eric thought, because he could see no real sign of the stump beneath the folds of her dress. The evening and dinner went well. Chris was very reserved at first, but as the night wore on the drinks and wine began to loosen her up. It turned out that Chris was a first class secre- tary with a good bit of experience in automated office equipment. Eric was in the middle of automating his office, so it was agreed she'd come in the first part of the week for an interview. Though none of the conversation dealt directly with the fact that Karen or Chris were amputees, Eric was still in seventh heaven just taking in the view. He noted with interest that Chris frequently shifted her weight in the wheelchair, and several times he noticed her rubbing her longer stump through her dress. About 10 PM Virginia said she had to work the following day, even though it was Saturday. Eric agreed, saying he also had an early appointment in the morning. Looking at Chris, Karen said, "Why don't you spend the night? It'll be a good chance for you and I to get in some girl talk. What do you say?" "I don't know," Chris said hesitantly. "I didn't bring anything...." "Hey, that's no problem. I've got plenty of nighties. I think I've even got a new toothbrush somewhere," Karen replied. Chris finally agreed. After Eric and Virginia had gone, Karen and Chris sat talking over an Irish coffee Eric had made for them before he left. "Karen, I don't want to be too personal, but Mom said that when she met you, you were using a wheelchair. Now you're on crutches. Do you switch around much?" Karen explained what had happened recently and how she normally wore artificial limbs in public. They both talked about what had happened to them. Chris had been riding on the back of a friend's motorcycle when he lost control. The bike had slid into the oncoming traffic. The guy had gotten off with a broken arm and some other injuries, but both of Chris's legs had been crushed by a truck. "It's been six months, but I still can't believe it's really happened to me," Chris said, tears coming to her eyes. "How well I know the feeling," Karen said. "But believe me, time does help. But the most important thing is not to let this keep you from getting on with your life." It was late, so they decided to get ready for bed. "Karen, do you mind if I get a hot bath? I still have some discomfort and a bath seems to relax me." "No, of course not," Karen replied. "Come on, I'll show you where everything is." Karen got up and began to crutch toward the bedroom. Chris followed, wheeling her chair. Getting bath towels out of the linen closet, Karen said, "The bath area is raised and a little tight. I'm sorry, but I don't think your chair will fit. Mine won't." "It's no problem. I can make it without the chair," Chris answered. Karen moved into the bath area and placed the clean bath towels next to the tub. Coming back into the bedroom she moved to her dresser and took out her nightie. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Chris watching her. She looked up at Chris. "Can I help you? Ah... would you rather I left the room?" she inquired. "No... it's okay," Chris replied, embarrassed by the fact she was staring. She wheeled herself to the edge of the bath area and began to ease her legless body out of the chair and onto the floor. Watching from behind her, Karen saw Chris's long left stump appear from beneath her dress as she eased it down until it touched the floor. Then Chris lowered herself using the stump to support her descent. Even though Karen was an amputee herself, watching Chris facing a different set of problems made her curi- ous, and at the same time, kind of excited. Karen undressed and put her nightie on. It was tow piece and pale blue. The camisole top had spaghetti straps and a shirttail hem. The panties had an elastic waist and hip cut legs. She held her leg stump up to the mirrors on the closet doors. It as still slightly discolored from bruises, but all the abrasions had healed. Her long nipples pressed against the thin material. Her thoughts shifted to Chris as she heard the toilet flush and water begin to run into the tub. She found herself wondering how Chris went about getting herself up onto the toilet seat, or into the tub. I guess she would just swing over to the edge of the tub from the seat, she said to herself. Karen folded up her own clothes and put them away. Next she crutched into the bath area and picked up Chris' things off the floor. Coming back to the dresser, she folded the dress and placed it on top of the dresser. She placed Chris' bra and pan- ties on top. She noticed that the bra was even larger than hers. Double D. She thought maybe she should ask Chris what sort of nightie she preferred to wear. Most of hers were shorties similar to what she was wearing, but she did have a couple of old night shirts. Crutching back into the bath area she went to the door of the toilet/tub area. The door wasn't shut tight, so she pushed it open with her shoulder, expecting to see Chris sitting in the tub. "Oh, I'm sorry! I thought you'd still be in the tub." Karen apologized. when she opened the door, Chris was in the midst of her struggle to get out of the tub. She had lifted herself back- wards up onto the edge of the tub. Karen caught her as she was swinging her body around clockwise. Both girls were so surprised that they just sort of stared at each other. Chris was startled by the unexpected entry of Karen, and Karen by what she saw. As Chris' body turned, Karen was surprised initially by breasts even larger in appearance than what she had expected. But as her eyes automatically dripped, she could hardly believe it. As Chris pivoted her body and her long left stump came into view, Karen realized that Chris had no right stump at all. In fact, she had almost no hip on her right side. "My God, Chris, I'm really sorry to bust in on you like this. Ah... golly, I just thought maybe you had a stump like mine. Maybe a little shorter." "Ugly, huh?" Chris said, struggling to move herself over onto the toilet seat. "You're the first to see me like this... other than my doctor, I guess. Even Mom hasn't seen what I look like yet." Karen was still standing in the door. "Why did they take so much of your hip?" She had heard of a hip disarticulation, but what Chris had looked more severe. "It's called a hemipelvectomy," Chris said. "Long name, huh? Part of my pelvic bone was crushed and they had to remove it. Left me sort of half-assed, didn't it?" She was regaining her composure and smiled at her joke. Karen laughed. She handed Chris a towel. "I came in, believe it or not, to ask you what kind of nightie you wanted. You want a shirt, or something like what I've got on?" "Well, I guess I've been hiding myself long enough," Chris said. "Now that I've been exposed I might as well let it all hang out. I'll go with what you've got on." "Great," Karen said, turning to leave. She returned with the nightie. It was a pink version of what she was wearing. Chris was sitting on the floor, toweling her hair. Karen felt funny stand- ing over her, so she quickly sat down on the floor in front of Chris. Chris' long stump was stretched out directly in front of Karen. It appeared that Chris' leg had been amputated through the knee. It seemed even longer than it really was because the dramatic loss on the opposite side. Chris had obviously once had very wide hips, and her remaining thigh was also quite full. The stump tapered down to become very narrow just above the knee, but then flared out to a scarred, bulbous stump end at the knee. Chris' full patch of pubic hair gave way to folds of heavily scarred flesh where they'd put her right side back together. "Here," Karen said, handing Chris the nightie. "Need any help?" "No, I don't think so," Chris answered, pulling the top over her head. With both arms up she momentarily lost he balance and began to roll over toward her hipless side. She quickly brought her right arm down and caught her balance. "I sometimes forget I don't sit so well anymore," she said, slightly redfaced. The top fit her, but Chris filled it out a good bit more than Karen. She took the panties and pulled it up over her stump. Raising her bottom slightly off the floor, she jerked it over what was left of her hips. Even though Chris' hips would have originally been too big for the panties, her amputation now left them somewhat empty. "Come on, I'll race you to the bed," Karen said as she began to pull herself backwards on her bottom and elbow. "This is how I get around while my ankle is out of whack." Chris lifted herself on her hands and swung her torso forward. Karen watched with interest as Chris' breasts jiggled... and her weight resettled onto her half hip. With two hands Chris covered the distance to the bed much quicker than Karen's dragging movements. "No fair," Karen laughed. "You've got one more limb than I was using." Chris smiled. "What's it like not having an arm... at least a complete one? I know I can't walk, but it seems like we do so much more with our hands and arms." "You're right," Karen answered. "The loss of my arm is much more disabling than the leg. Of course, having the elbow is a big plus in using a prosthesis." "How about you?" Karen continued. "What's it like without legs? I guess I have a little idea, being laid up this past week with a bum ankle. But I'm sure it's not the same." "Well, at this point, only six months into it, it's the pits!" Chris stated emphatically. "It takes me so damn long to do everything. I think maybe it might be a little easier if this one stump wasn't so long. I don't know. It seems to just get in the way. I guess I'll eventually get used to it." They were both sitting on the floor at the foot of the bed. Karen rose on her one leg, balancing off Chris' head with her hand as she did so. Sitting on the edge of the bed she said, "Tell you what-- tomorrow morning we'll each pretend to have an additional amputation. I'll double my leg up... and we'll fix your arm some way. That way we'll be sort of equal... in the lost limb department. We can each get some idea what it's like for the other." "Okay," Chris said. "But we have to get up, get dressed, and fix breakfast that way. Deal?" "Deal," Karen answered. Chris placed both hands on the top of the bed, then raised herself up onto her stump. Karen saw a look of discomfort come to her face as she did so. "Does that hurt you?" she asked. "Yes, a little. The end of my stump is still tender, I guess," Chris responded. Karen held out her hand... and leaning her body slightly to the left, extended her arm stump. "Here, let me help you." Chris grabbed hold of her hand. She hesitated momentarily, then also took hold of Karen's stump. Karen threw her weight backwards and pulled. Chris pushed off her sore stump, rising up onto the bed. Karen fell over onto her back and felt the softness of Chris' huge breasts as she landed on top of her. They both giggled. Chris put her hands against he mattress to lift herself off Karen. In her fall backward, Karen's camisole top had ridden up, exposing both her breasts. "Golly, Karen! Where in the world did you get such super nipples?" Chris said, a look of surprise and admiration on her face. "Family trait, I guess," Karen replied. "My sister also has them." "Are they sensitive?" Chris inquired. "Very!" Karen answered. Almost without thinking Karen cradled her tits with her arm and stump, and began to pull on the left nipple with her hand. She felt a rush of warmth surge through her. "What happened here?" Chris asked, pointing to Karen's scarred left breast. "Same thing that got the rest of me," Karen replied, smil- ing. She touched her misshapen breast and doing so made Karen feel even hotter. Trying to continue a game started so innocently Karen asked, "What are your nipples like?" A look of embarrassment crossed Chris's face. "Ugly, like the rest of me." She took her hands and raised the top. In doing so she lost her balance on the soft bed and rolled over. Gig- gling at what had happened, she lay on her back with both of her huge tits exposed. Looking closely, Karen was surprised at what she saw. When she had seen Chris naked in the bathroom her attention had been focused on Chris' amputations. Now her attention centered on her tits. Chris had no nipples protruding from her dark brown aureole! Her nipples were inverted, notwithstanding the size of her breasts. "I can pull them out," Chris said, squeezing her left tit. "But I can't make them stay that way. Guys have always been interested in my boobs because of their size. But I've always been embarrassed about my nipples. Really, you know I've only let a couple of guys play with them." She paused a moment. "Dammit! I'd give anything to have nipples just half as long as yours." "Are yours sensitive?" Karen asked. "Oh yeah, sure. They just don't look very nice. You know, they're not sexy." Chris licked a couple of her fingers, and began to gently rub her aureola. It immediately began to draw up. "God, I'm so horny I could scream!" Chris said. "I haven't had sex since before the accident. Now, with this body, who'd want me?" she said, gesturing toward where her legs should have been. "Chris, I know just how you feel! Until I met Eric I hadn't had sex with anyone in years. I felt just like you do, and I really became a master at getting myself off." Karen paused and looked at Chris. "I still masturbate, even though now sex with Eric is fantastic. I... uh, I don't know. Somehow doing it myself is just a different feeling. Do you know what I mean? Hey, gosh! I'm sorry. I'm probably embarrassing you with all this." Chris was silent for a moment. "No, it's okay. I'm glad to have someone like you I can finally talk with. There's been no one but Mom since the accident. And some things I just can't discuss with her. I think she's having more trouble accepting what's happened to me than I am. How... uh... what sort of things do you do?" Karen blushed a little. "I probably shouldn't tell you. Some of it... I don't know, it's sort of kinky, I guess. Oh hell! All this talk is getting me hot! Want me to show you?" Karen scooted to the edge of the bed, and stood up. She leaned over to her dresser and opened the drawer. She pulled out her 'special bra,' turned back to the bed and sat down. "What's that?" Chris asked. "If you'll try it on, I'll show you," Karen answered. "Okay, I guess," Chris said, sounding puzzled. "Take off your top and sit up," Karen directed. Chris pulled her top off, then raised herself to a sitting position again. Her large breasts swayed back and forth as she twisted her body about. Karen had sorted out the maze of cords and rings. "Here. Slip this over your head and arms," she said, holding it out to Chris. With a little help from Karen, Chris got it in position. "Now pull each boob through the large ring. It's tight. Just work it a little bit at a time," Karen instructed. Chris began to twist and pull her right breast through the metal rings. Because she was using two hands she again had trou- ble sitting up on the softness of the bed. She kept having to drop her right hand back against the bed to maintain her balance. Karen moved closer and helped steady Chris as she worked to get the 'bra' on her tits. Once both the larger rings were on, Karen helped Chris tighten the strap around her back. "Now, pull your nipples through the smaller rings," Karen directed. Chris began to force the dark skin of her aureole through the rings. The bra had an even more dramatic appearance on Chris than it did on Karen. Because her tits were bigger the part pulled through the large rings seemed like two balloons ready to pop. The pressure of forcing her nipples through the smaller rings caused Chris' inverted nipples to pop out. "Does it hurt?" Karen inquired. "No, not at all," Chris replied. "The pressure feels kind of good." Chris' straining tits were an erotic sight to Karen and she could feel herself getting wet. Almost without thinking she took her arm stump and began to rub Chris' swollen nipples. Chris briefly looked down at what Karen was doing. Then she tilted her head back and closed her eyes. Softly, Karen whispered, "I'll be back in a second." She got off the bed onto the floor and pulled herself back into the bathroom to where she'd left her crutches. Crutching back to the bedroom she stopped at the trunk at the foot of the bed. She moved it out a foot or so away from the bed, so she could get between it and the end of the bed. She was facing Chris. Chris had moved her position so she was now propped up against the headboard. Removing her nightie top and panties, then putting her crutches down, Karen balanced on her one leg. She began playing with her own tits. Taking the two lacquered clothes pins from the bowel on the trunk, Karen clipped them onto her nipples. The squeezing of her nipples made her even hotter. She took a couple of lengths of nylon cord out of the same bowl. She quickly moved across the bed to Chris. "Here. Tie these tightly around each of my boobs," she said, handing the cords to Chris. With first one, then the other, Chris circled the cord around Karen's breasts. She pulled them as tight as she could, looping it around a second time, then knotting it. When she finished, the effect was much the same as the bra she was wearing. "Put the pins back on," Karen said. She had removed them as Chris tied her tits. Even though her tits now appeared swollen and ready to explode, the stretching wasn't enough to eliminate her extra long nipples. Karen moaned as Chris pulled each nipple out and placed the pin on it. Moving back to the foot of the bed Karen stood up again. With her arm stump extended out like a shortened wing for balance, she began to rub her now swollen clit with her hand. The sight of Chris' crippled body and bound tits made her even more excited. Quickly she took her crutch and placed it between her leg and stump, across the trunk behind her. Chris, her hand now rubbing her own pussy through her nightie panties, watched with fascination as Karen inserted the handle of the crutch into her wet cunt. Karen began a low moaning sound as she worked the ribbed handle in and out of her pussy. She worked the handle faster and faster as she felt her orgasm build. Chris watched and heard Karen cry, "Oh! Ohhh, Oh, Ohhh!!" Damn! Karen dropped the crutches and began to squeeze and pull at her clit as her climax came. No longer able to stand on her single leg, she collapsed on the end of the bed. The combination of her bound breasts and watching Karen had excited Chris to a frenzy. She had her hand inside the elastic waistband of her panties, working her pussy. Her head was back, eyes closed, enjoying the warm sensation of excitement running through her body. She felt Karen's hand on her knee stump. Opening her eyes she saw Karen lying on her left side, across the bed. Karen lifted Chris' knee stump slightly and began to massage her tits with it. The sight and feel of her stump pressing against Karen's swollen tits began to build her excitement even higher. Releasing the stump Karen shifted her position so she was sitting, her single leg doubled and tucked under her. She was also excited again. She could feel the juices from her pussy wetting her foot, as she sat with her leg doubled. She looked at Chris who was lying there with her eyes closed again. Her hand was in her panties. Karen could see Chris' scarred skin through the empty leg of the panties. She took her arm stump and slowly began to massage Chris' longer stump, working her way up the full and fleshy thigh. Chris began to moan, her free hand squeezing at her nipples. With her arm stump Karen caressed the inside of Chris' thigh. As she reached Chris' crotch she shifted the loca- tion of her attention, and began to massage the scarred area exposed through the empty panty opening. Chris' legless body began to twitch with pleasure. Pausing only briefly, Karen pulled the panties off Chris. Because she had no hip on the right side the panties offered no resistance, and slid easily down and off her stump. Karen's arm stump traced the still purple hue of the scars on Chris' pelvic amputation. Slowly, Karen worked her way to the dark, thick bush that concealed her pussy. Though neither girl had ever made love with another woman previously, there was no thought of stopping. The feel of Karen's arm stump against her was heaven to Chris. She could feel the soft tissue at the end of the stump, and the hardness of the bone stub moving beneath it. The next thing she knew she could feel the soft stump moving between the wetness of her pussy lips. There was a sucking sound as she moved the stump around in the soft wet tissue. Chris' clit was not nearly as large as her own, but in its excited state it was still big enough that she could feel it pressing against the end of her stump. Karen repositioned her body so that her own pussy was pressed against the end of Chris' knee stump. She began to hump her own body against the stump, and her arm stump did the same thing to Chris. Karen climaxed a second time, just before Chris exploded in her first orgasm since becoming an amputee over six months earli- er. The experience totally drained both girls. They lay still for several minutes. Then they helped each other undo their bound tits, then very quickly drifted off into a deep sleep. Karen awoke first the next morning. She immediately realized that her bladder was about to bust from all the wine and drinks the night before. She sat up, hanging her leg over the edge of the bed. God! I've really got to pee, she thought. She leaned toward the foot of the bed, reaching for her crutches. "No fair!" Karen turned to see Chris watching her. Chris continued. "The deal was we'd pretend each other's amputations. Remember?" "Gosh, Chris, I really have to pee bad!" Karen pleaded. "I do too," Chris said, propping herself up against the headboard. "But I can't simply crutch my way to the john." "Okay," Karen agreed. "But let's hurry or I'm going to wet the bed." She reached into her top dresser drawer and took out several rolls of elastic bandage. She had been using them to wrap her sore ankle. Two of the rolls were four inches in width, the rest two inches. Sitting on the bed she doubled her leg under her. Starting just above her knee with the elastic bandage, she began to wrap it snugly around her leg until she reached her crotch. When she finished she had only a long stump like Chris', ending at the knee. Turning to Chris and handing her a roll of the bandage, she said, "your turn. Here, double your arm and rest your hand on your shoulder." Chris doubled her left arm and began to wrap it from the elbow upward, stretching the elastic tight as she went. Using a second roll of the four inch bandage, with Karen's help she wrapped her hand down against her shoulder. Finishing, she rotat- ed her new stump, smiling at Karen. "Now what?" she asked. "We see if we can make it to the john before we both pee all over the place," Karen responded. Both girls proceeded to slip off the edge of the bed, rest- ing their weight initially on their single long stumps. Without both arms Chris could no longer hand walk. She copied Karen as Karen began to pull herself backwards into the bathroom. Karen reached the toilet first. She maneuvered her body between the toilet and the edge of the bathtub. Using her hand for support on the tub rim, she stood on her knee stump. Twisting slightly to the left she placed her short left leg stump on the toilet seat. With her stump and hand she lifted her body, and at the same time sliding her torso onto the seat. The foot of her doubled leg hung outside the edge of the seat. "Not bad, for a first time, huh?" she said, grinning at Chris. Chris' acknowledgment of her success was drowned out by the gush of pee Karen let loose. Wiping herself, Karen reversed her procedure and slipped back onto the floor. Now it was Chris' turn. It quickly became evident that things would not be as easy for her. If she positioned herself as Karen had done her long stump was next to the toilet bowl. Also, she had no short leg stump to help. Finally, she placed her body in front of the toilet. Using her hand and new arm stump to brace herself, she rose up onto the tip of her knee stump. Twisting to the left on her knee stump she pressed the soft flesh of her hip amputation area against the seat. Then holding on to the toilet tank with her right hand she lifted her knee stump and swung it up. Shifting her body, she found herself seated backward on the seat, facing the tank. "Whatever works," she said. Karen, watching from the floor, noted that because the right side of Chris' hip was missing she had to brace herself on the seat with her hand. Karen thought to herself that it would be interesting to pretend Chris' right arm was missing the next time. Finished with their toilet duties, both girls dragged their crippled bodies back into the bedroom. To avoid wetting the bandages they decided to postpone their baths until later. The next challenge, they decided, would be dressing. Karen realized that with her leg and elbow stumps she still had an advantage. She therefore took additional elastic bandage and wrapped her short leg stump tightly up against her abdomen. She then took out a girdle and proceeded to pull it on. The girdle did two things: it held her foot in place against her fanny, and it pressed her stump even closer to her abdomen. She also wrapped her arm stump so she no longer had use of the elbow joint. They began to try to dress themselves. Chris had the most trouble because of the unfamiliar loss of her hand. After consid- erable squirming she got her panties on. Her bra was another matter. Because it hooked in the rear she couldn't hook it. "Try turning it around backwards and hooking it first," Karen suggested. With much effort she finally got it hooked. Then slowly she pulled the bra around frontwards. Karen watched, with a feeling of delight, as Chris began to stuff her huge tits into the bra cups. Karen noted to herself that Chris' nipples had returned to their inverted position. Chris pulled her dress over her head and into position. Then raising up slightly on her stump, she let the material fall into place under her fanny. Getting a blouse on wasn't a big deal for Karen, but the buttons took a little time. She had more difficulty because she no longer was able to use the elbow of her stump. Karen decided to put on a pair of slacks, primarily because they offered the greatest challenge. Because of the added bulk of her doubled leg she dug out an old pair of slacks from a few years back, when she had weighed a bit more. Rolling onto her back, she struggled to pull the slacks on over her stump and hips. It took a couple of tries, but she finally made it. Then she pinned up the half empty right pant leg. The totally empty left leg she tucked into her waist. Both girls laughed a lot as they watched each other struggle with new problems. They decided that the additional loss of the third limb made a drastic difference for each of them. Later, after they'd ended their game, Karen drove Chris home. Neither said anything about the previous night's lovemaking, but as Chris got out of the car and into her wheelchair they agreed to spend the night together again... real soon. Eric called Karen about 3 PM Saturday afternoon. "Want to go out for a bite to eat tonight?" "Not really," Karen replied. "I'm feeling kind of lazy. Why don't you just come by here and I'll fix us some sandwiches. We can just lay around tonight." "Emphasis on the 'lay'!" Eric teased. "If you play your cards right," was Karen's retort. Eric showed up at Karen's about 7 PM. He rang the bell, then opened the door and entered. "Anyone home?" he called, not seeing Karen. "Hi, honey. Be with you in a minute," Karen called from the bedroom. Eric went over and sat on a bar stool. It was only a few seconds before he heard the muffled thumping of Karen hopping on the carpet. She appeared and paused briefly at the bedroom door, holding onto the doorframe. She said hi and resumed hopping toward him. As she came to him Eric thought how beautiful and erotic she was. She was wearing white, elastic waist boxer shorts and a pink tanktop. She wore no bra, so her ample breasts bounced happily as she hopped, her huge nipples poking out beneath the material. Eric stood and met her with an embrace as she reached him. "Miss me?" she asked, knowing the answer from the obvious bulge in his crotch. "You better believe it!" Eric answered, giving her a long kiss. Casual talk followed, each of them catching up on the other's day. Finally, their conversation turned to the previous evening. "What's Chris like?" Eric inquired. "Think she'll work out as an office manager for me?" "I really do, Eric," Karen said earnestly. "She's got an excellent background, but more important, she really wants to work and get her life back on track." "What did the two of you do after Virginia and I left?" "A lot of girl talk, just getting to know each other," Karen answered. She paused a minute, then continued, "God, Eric, you can't believe how much of her right leg is amputated. Most of her hip on the right side is missing." "You saw it?" Eric asked, trying to conceal his excitement. "Yes, but sort of by accident. I'm the first, according to her." Karen went on to explain to Eric how she'd first seen Chris in the tub. She didn't, however, tell him what had transpired later between the two of them. "This morning," Karen went on, "we pretended to have each other's amputation, in addition to our own." "Really! What was it like for you?" Eric inquired. He got a mental picture of Karen without legs. "It was much more limiting than I am now," she said, raising each of her stumps for emphasis. "But it was sort of... I don't know, fun. Sort of challenging." "How'd you do it?" Eric asked. "Want me to show you?" Karen asked, raising a single eye- brow, a knowing smile coming to her face. "Sure! Can I help?" was Eric's quick reply. "No. Just wait here. It will just take me a few minutes." Karen turned on her single foot and hopped back toward the bedroom. Eric went into the kitchen and fixed himself a drink. "Karen, you want anything to drink?" he called to her in the other room. "Yes, there's some cold beer in the fridge. Hold it till I get back out there, though," she replied. About fifteen minutes later Eric looked up to see Karen wheel herself into the living room in the wheelchair he'd rented for her. She was wearing a jade green pair of Bermuda shorts and a white silk blouse. The top three buttons of the blouse she'd left undone. Though the blouse had pockets at each breast, Eric noticed the impressions of her nipples pressing against the silk. Wheeling into the room, it looked as though Karen had no legs. Where her right leg should have been, a full knee-length stump protruded from her mid thigh length shorts. Her left stump was almost hidden beneath the collapsing material of the other pant leg. The longer stump was covered by the sheen of a deep tan nylon stocking. "Well, what do you think?" Karen asked, holding up her sole remaining limb in a form of introduction. "I can't believe it! It really looks like you have no legs. How'd you do it? What's it like?" Eric's questions were flying. "I'll show you how I do it when I undress," Karen said, winking at him. "Want me to stay this way for awhile?" "Yeah, sure. But how long can you do it?" "I don't really know. Until my foot falls asleep, I guess," Karen ventured a guess. "It doesn't hurt or anything." Eric walked over to her chair and bent over and kissed her. "You know how sexy you look sitting there?" He reached down and gently pinched each of her nipples through the material of her blouse. Karen tilted her head back and closed her eyes. Sighing, she said, "That's nice. You know you can really take advantage of me now... I'm so helpless!" "Hey, you know, that's true!" A devilish grin came across Eric's face. "Tell you what. You look so fabulous in that outfit that I'm taking you out for a drink." He quickly grabbed the handles of the chair and started for the door. "What? Eric wait! Eric, stop! I can't go out like this. Please, Eric!" They had reached the front door. Eric left the chair and opened it. Then he turned back to Karen, who was frantically trying to roll the chair backward with her single arm. Behind the chair again, Eric regained control and had her quickly out the door and to his car. "Oh, Eric, please! I beg you!" Karen was squirming in the chair, but realized she had nowhere to go, unaided. "What if someone I know sees me like this?" she pleaded. Eric paused a moment. "Yeah, OK, I suppose you're right. Tell you what: we'll just drive over to the Bar-B-Que place on Military Boulevard and get some take-out. You won't even have to get out of the car." Karen frowned, now sure she wanted to, but was unable to think of a reason to object. "Okay, I guess. This is crazy!" she commented. Eric opened the car door, then lifted Karen from the chair into the passenger seat. He folded the wheelchair and placed it in the back. He got in and started the car. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed Karen shifting her now legless body, trying to get comfortable in the bucket seat. The drive to the restaurant took only a few minutes. Eric pulled up in front, then got out and went in to order. There was a line, so he had to wait. He looked back toward the car and noticed he'd forgotten to turn off the headlights. Oh, well, I won't be in here that long, he thought to himself. Just then he saw a heavy-set, middle aged woman get up from an outdoor table and go over to his car. She went up to Karen's window. Karen saw the woman approaching the car. She had a flash of panic. Why is she coming over? Do I know her? "Hi, honey," the woman said, coming up to the window. "You know your lights are still on?" she said, leaning against the door of the car. "Oh, no. I didn't realize," Karen fumbled. "Thanks." "Better turn them off. They'll run down your battery in a hurry," she chatted, making no move to leave. Nervous because of the woman's unexpected presence, Karen found herself reaching for the light switch. Because her left arm stump wasn't long enough she had to twist her body so that she could reach across to the driver's side with her right arm. Unfortunately, the switch was on the far side of the steering column. In stretching to reach she suddenly felt herself slip off the front edge of the seat. Unable to brace herself, she rolled off the seat onto the floor. She looked up to see the woman staring in the window at her, her mouth open in a look of aston- ishment. "My God, honey! Why didn't ya tell me ya was such a cripple? I'd have helped ya," the woman said. Karen, embarrassed, was struggling trying to get back up into the seat. In the confined space she wasn't making quick progress. "Here, let me help ya," the woman said, opening the car door. "Yes, please! Grab my arm," Karen said sheepishly. The woman took hold of Karen's outstretched hand and helped pull her up. With Karen in the seat once again the woman asked Karen, "Lord, honey, what in the world ever happened to ya?" "I was in a car accident," Karen replied, recovering her composure. "I'm a triple amputee." "Well, you poor thing. I'm sorry I caused you so much trou- ble. I'll go around and get the lights for you." Just as the woman was leaving Eric returned with their take- out order. He nodded and said hello as he passed the woman. "Ya got a brave little lady there," the woman said. Getting in the car, Eric turned to Karen. "What was that all about?" Blushing, Karen explained what had happened. "You're kidding!" Eric grinned. "I leave you alone for a few minutes and look at the trouble you get yourself in!" On the way home Karen was quiet for a few minutes. Then she laughed. "You know," she said, "after I got over my initial shock and embarrassment I was sort of excited by the fact that the woman really thought I was a triple amputee. It's like... I don't know, sort of like playing dress-up when you were a kid. Pretend- ing to be something you're not. For some reason I got a kick out of it. Do you think I'm crazy?" "No, not at all," Eric responded. "As a matter of fact I kind of like this game. I find it a turn-on to see you pretend- ing. Perhaps if you observe more how Chris handles things, we can really have some fun with this." Back at Karen's Eric got the chair out and started to help Karen into it. "No, wait a minute. Let me see if I can do it by myself," Karen said. Eric stood back and watched... and enjoyed. Cautiously, Karen began to move herself out of the car and into the chair. Turning sideways in the car seat she inched over until her longer stump touched the edge of the wheelchair seat. Then, while Eric held the chair steady, she grabbed the frame of the car door with her right hand. Leaning forward and slightly out of the car, she braced against the car roof with her left arm stump. At the same time she pulled and rose, shifting her weight to the longer stump. Twisting, she plopped herself down into the wheelchair. Eric was excited by her exhibition. Karen was also excited by her accomplishment. She turned to Eric, a big smile on her face. "Not bad for a first try, huh?" "You bet! I'm impressed," Eric responded. "Let's go inside and eat, and see what else you can do." Back inside the house Eric said, "Let's eat at the coffee table and you can show me how you get around without a wheelchair." "Oh, ho! Now you're trying to make it really difficult for me. Okay, but don't make me start from too far away. I'm not used to all this." "How's this?" Eric said, placing the wheelchair about fifteen feet from the coffee table. He watched fascinated as Karen slowly slid out of the chair, resting her weight on the longer stump. Then she lowered herself onto the floor. Eric felt himself become hard as he watched her pull her legless body along using her elbows and ass. "This is the worst part," Karen said, smiling up at him. "Chris can move along frontward pretty well, using her hands. But with only one arm this is the only way I can think of to get around." She reached the table and heaved a sigh of relief. "I feel sort of like a snail," she said, laughing. While they ate, Eric asked her to tell him more about Chris. Karen described what Chris' amputation looked like. She also explained what other amputation Chris had pretended By the time they finished their meal they both knew they were ready to make love. "Carry me to the bedroom, and I'll show you how I became a triple amputee," Karen said suggestively. Eric carried her into the bedroom and placed her on the bed. Karen lay on her back and unzipped her shorts. "Here, help me get them off," she said, rolling up onto her back. Eric gave a couple of tugs at the pantlegs. Off they came. She was wearing pantyhose and what appeared to be a girdle under- neath. The pantyhose had been tied into a tight little knot at the end of each stump, and the excess cut away. He pulled down the pantyhose and saw that Karen had used elastic bandage to wrap her left leg into a stump. Next, he helped her remove the girdle, which he realized held her foot up tightly against her butt. Finally, he unwrapped the elastic bandage from her leg. "Oh, shit! It's stiff," Karen complained, slowly straighten- ing out her leg. She shook her foot. "It's asleep!" Eric took her foot and began to massage it. It was just a prelude to what was to come. TO BE CONTINUED  ------------------------------------------------------------------------ To Post a message, send it to: amputee-story@eGroups.com To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: amputee-story-unsubscribe@eGroups.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Want to send money instantly to anyone, anywhere, anytime? You can today at X.com - and we'll give you $20 to try it! Sign up today at X.com. It's quick, free, & there's no obligation! http://click.egroups.com/1/332/1/_/215865/_/946411848 eGroups.com Home: http://www.egroups.com/group/amputee-story/ http://www.egroups.com - Simplifying group communications A Day in the Life By ParaGirl This is just a short story about how I think my days would be if I were handicapped in the way I would like to be- DBK amputee and Paraplegic. I wake up with my alarm and hit snooze at least once. I do hate mornings, I really do. I sit up in bed and rub the sleep from my eyes, then pull my nightshirt off over my head, leaving me naked. I scoot to the edge of the bed and place one hand on my wheelchair and one hand on the bed, lifting myself and transferring over to my chair. Using my hands, I lift my legs and place them in front of me in the chair, stumps hanging over the edge of the chair. I unlock my Quickie and head into the bathroom. I wheel up to the counter and first brush my teeth, then try to brush some of the tangles out of my hair. The counter is low and the mirror is at the perfect angle for me at wheelchair height. Everything in my house is wheelchair accessible, from the toilet to the washing machine. You couldn’t believe how handy a front-loading washing machine is to a girl like me. I wheel next over to the shower and turn on the water, selecting the perfect temperature. There is a custom seat in the shower that I transfer onto by locking my chair alongside the tub, then using both the chair and the tub grab bar for support and half lifting, half sliding my crippled lower body into the seat. In the shower chair, I take the shower head from it’s hangar on the wall, easily within my reach, and turn the hot spray on. First I’ll rinse my body off all over, wetting my hair, then I grab my Lufa sponge and squirt some body wash onto it. I start with my stumps, lifting one and rubbing it down with the lufa, scrubbing it’s soft round end, then I do the same for the other, lifting it up and washing it. It’s so strange not to be able to feel anything from the waist down, seeing these little soft fleshy stumps and not feeling them. Sometimes I wish I could feel them, just to know what they would feel like. I continue to wash myself, first my unfeeling lower body, then my upper, scrubbing my stomach and arms and chest, then washing my back with my world-famous ‘Lufa-on-a-stick’. Next I wash my hair with a nice herbal shampoo. It smells like apricots, I think. Finally I take the shower head again and turn it back on, rinsing myself off completely. When I’m all rinsed off, I throw a big terry-cloth towel onto my wheelchair- I hate a wet wheelchair- and transfer back into it. I begin to dry myself off, first my little leg stumps and thighs, my stomach and arms and chest. I dry my hair a little with the towel and wrap the towel around my head, wheeling back into my bedroom. I toss the towel from my head into the laundry basket and wheel over to my dresser. I select some thong panties, some nylons, and a bra and lay them out at the foot of the bed. I then go to my closet, also modified for me, and get a gray skirt and matching blazer along with a white blouse. As a receptionist, I have to dress professionally, and as a woman I always like to dress nice, play up my assets. I wheel back to my bed and lay the clothes out on it. I then transfer back onto the bed, tossing the towel off my wheelchair, and grab my panties. I slide them over my stumps and pull them up to my thighs, then wiggle until I get them all the way up. Next comes the nylons. Because my legs are amputated, I wear knee-hi’s, which come all the way up on me. I lift one stump, then slide the soft nylon over the round end. I pull the stocking up almost to my crotch and smooth it out, putting my leg back down. I do the same for the other leg, pulling the stocking up high, then smoothing it out and straightening the seam. My stumps look cuter and firmer in the nylons, which is why I love to wear them. Next I put on my bra. My breasts aren’t huge, but they’re more than a mouthful, as the saying goes. I wear sport bras, usually, because they’re much more comfortable for me. I go through quite an upper-body workout every day, just getting around, so I try to stay comfortable. I put on my blouse and button it up, then grab my skirt. To put my skirt on, I pull it over my head and down to my waist, so my blouse is already tucked into it, then I fasten it with a zipper and a button on the side. I then scoot to the edge of the bed and transfer back into my wheelchair, straightening my skirt as I do so. not that difficult, when you get used to it. Before I put the blazer on, I wheel back into the bathroom to do my hair. I blow it dry, put a little mousse in it, make sure it looks just right. I put on a drop of ‘Navy’ perfume and a little color on my cheeks. I go mostly without makeup, but I wear a little blush now and then. I wheel back into the bedroom and put on the blazer, buttoning it and making sure it looks right. I put on a small pair of gold hoop earrings and a small gold chain to complete the outfit. I wheel out of the bedroom and down the hall. In the kitchen I drop a bagel into the toaster and pull some orange juice and sour cream out of the fridge. The bagel pops up and I have that and my OJ before heading out the door. I grab my purse and put it on my lap, grab my car keys and head out the door. The front door to my house has a ramp which follows a gentle slope to my driveway, where my Saturn is parked. I love my Saturn, it’s all hand-controlled and very easy for me to transfer in and out of, as well as drive. I open the door and hold onto the doorjam and my wheelchair and transfer into the seat. It’s easy because the seat is custom made, it swivels out so it faces the door when I transfer in or out of the car. I sit squarely in the seat, bringing my legs over and placing them right, then hit the switch and the seat swivels into driving position. I then tug on the strap on the back of my Quickie and the seat folds in on itself. I release the wheels from the chair and put them over me into the back seat, then I take the body of the chair and lift it into the seat beside me. It only weighs 12 pounds, so it’s not difficult for me to move around. My drive to work is about 25 minutes each day, not a bad commute, and I make it into my designated handicapped parking spot with plenty of time to spare. I pull my chair out of the car and put the wheels back on it, locking it together and then pivoting my car seat out. I love watching my stumps as I do this part, because they hang there and wiggle a little as the seat pivots. They look so cute like that. I transfer back into my wheelchair and lock the car, then wheel into my building. I love working here, because although most people don’t realize it, this place is almost as wheelchair-accessible as my house. All the doors and entrances have ramps and automatically open for me, all the restrooms have at least one handicapped accessible stall and sink/mirror, and the lunchroom has a lower counter with a microwave on it that I can use and reach. There are three other women in wheelchairs here, one amputee and two paraplegics, as well as one male paraplegic, two blind women, and several hearing impaired people. Oh, and Roxanne down in accounting, who wears a prosthetic arm. Al l in all a nice place to work for anyone, disabled or not. -Eight hours of boring secretary stuff go by, even my dream disability couldn’t make this job exciting to the reader- Back home at 5:30 from a day at work, I wheel back into my house and toss my purse onto the chair by the door. In my bedroom, I slip out of my blazer and shirt and transfer onto the bed. I take off my skirt and nylons and get back into my wheelchair wearing only bra and panties. I pull my sweatpants out of a drawer and a big Winnie the Pooh sweatshirt from the closet. I pull the sweatshirt over my head and start pulling the sweatpants over my stumps. The sweatpants are sewed up at the legs where my stumps end, but they aren’t tight or sexy or form-fitting. Of course, they are very comfortable and easy to put on, even while sitting in my chair. Like my panties, all I have to do is wiggle around a little and I can get them on allright. Now comfortably dressed, I call to order a pizza and turn on the TV to watch the news and whatever else is on. I love ‘Ellen’, ‘Mad About You’, and ‘Friends’, but ‘Seinfeld’ I never really got into. Oh, I also LOVE ‘The Simpsons’. Of course I wish there was at least ONE show on TV that featured a girl in a wheelchair, you know?? The pizza arrives. I love the look on the Pizza girls’ (Or guys, it was a girl tonight) face when I open the door. They never know what to make of it, it takes them by suprise to see me grab the pizza from my wheelchair, but I pay her and give her a tip and carry the pizza on my lap into the kitchen to eat it. -more time goes by, just watching TV and, of course, hanging out on-line- Finally ready for bed, I wheel into the bathroom to brush my teeth and do what I need to do there. I wheel into the bedroom and park the chair alongside the bed, transfer into bed, and strip all my clothes off. I put my nightshirt on and move myself into a comfortable position, lifting my stumps and putting them under the blanket. I set the alarm and turn out the light, falling right to sleep. -The End- -- Pursuant to the Berne Convention, this work is copyright with all rights reserved by its author unless explicitly indicated. +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | alt.sex.stories.moderated ----- send stories to: | | FAQ: Moderator: | +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Archive: Hosted by Alt.Sex.Stories Text Repository | |, an entity supported entirely by donations. | +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+