______Déjà vu.
______Aeon opened her eyes, and stared at the ceiling of one of the temple's stone chambers.
______There was a moment of nothingness, and then it all flooded back to her: the crystal, the dream, everything. She sat up quickly. Being her father's daughter, years of residual training had taught her to first ascertain the situation, and she regretted it immediately. Aeon grimaced as pain lanced through her head, and she pressed her fingers to her temples in an effort to subdue it.
______She met with limited success.
______You're awake, a feminine mechanical voice stated the obvious. Aeon looked up, and saw a medical droid observing her chart with its head tilted slightly. Please do not exert yourself. You were unconscious for some time, the droid informed her.
______She looked around the room, and saw familiar settings: synthetic furniture, artificial light. She was definitely back in the Alliance headquarters-the med-lab, from the looks of it.
______What happened? she inquired.
______That is not certain. The droid was walking away from her as it spoke; looking at several monitors that she assumed displayed her status. You were brought here unconscious. At the time, you were experiencing a high degree of unusual brain activity, but that has since subsided. It looked at one of the monitors closely. All functions seem normal, now.
______Finally it addressed her: How do you feel?
______Aeon shrugged, All right, I guess. I have a bit of a headache.
______That is to be expected. Your father mentioned a power surge from an artifact found in one of the other buildings. Judging by the abnormal brain activity, it would appear this artifact caused a seizure. I would recommend avoiding it in the future.
______Was that the droid's advice, or her father's? Probably both.
______If you feel those symptoms again, the droid added, please report here immediately for further scanning.
______She nodded to the droid in acknowledgement, and it went about its way.
______So her father had found out? Well, that was to be expected, especially if she was brought here. He wouldn't be happy-but then, when was he?
______Still, this would result in more than just the 'talk' that the Prince had received from his father, the King.
______She thought back on the dream. The one thing she couldn't shake was the strange character of the surroundings-or was it the lack of strangeness? It was so exact, so detailed. None of the images were distorted-at least any that she could remember.
______And her memories were as vivid as ever. She hardly ever remembered her dreams, and yet...
______There were so many unanswered questions. With her natural curiosity, her first impulse was to go back to the temple and examine the crystal thoroughly. Unfortunately, that would be the last thing her father would allow her to do.
______She brushed her hair from her forehead, and was struck momentarily by how tiny her own hand seemed to her. She jerked reflexively away from it, as if it belonged to a stranger. She held it at a safe distance, and stared at it for a moment. But the sensation passed as quickly as it had come, leaving her feeling a bit odd to be examining her own hand.
______She thought about Vail's hand, and how it felt alien, and yet, familiar at the same time. She remembered the ring with the royal emblem emblazoned upon it.
______She remembered, now, seeing the King and Queen wearing identical rings. But she hadn't paid much attention to that at the time. Only now, in retrospect, did smaller details like that present themselves.
______But in retrospect to what? She thought back to the dream, and it almost seemed like--
______Aeon? she heard. Startled, she looked around the empty room. Even the droid had left when she wasn't paying attention.
______It sounded like Cammie's voice, but she was nowhere to be found. What now, Aeon thought to herself? The disembodied voice called out again: Aeon.
______Cammie? she said a bit hesitantly.
______Up here, Cammie said. Aeon looked up, and could see her through a grate in the ceiling. Cammie grinned as she waved to her.
______What are you doing up there? Aeon laughed.
______You're father wouldn't let us in to see you, she began as she tugged on the grate. I wanted to make sure you were okay. Finally, the gate unhinged.
______Cammie produced a small comm-link cylinder, and spoke into it. I found her guys. Double back and follow my passage.
______That figures, she heard Tam reply. What did he mean by that?
______They must have had to split up without her to navigate, Aeon realized. Well, they had found her, and that's the important thing. She watched as Cammie lowered her feet through the hole first, and dropped down.
______Careful... Aeon said. Cammie got to her feet, and immediately rushed over to Aeon. She hugged her impulsively, taking Aeon a bit by surprise.
______When you passed out, I thought you were... she seemed unable to say the words.
______Thanks for coming back for me, Aeon told her. They separated, and Cammie's eyes were glistening.
______Sorry, she said, a bit embarrassed. She wiped her eyes with her sleeve.
______It's okay. I'm fine, Aeon assured her. You know me, she smiled. Cammie frowned a bit skeptically at that remark.
______Okay, maybe she did know her, after all.
______Once she collected herself, Cammie fished in her pocket, producing a small pendant. Here, she said, offering it to Aeon.
______What is it? Aeon examined it. It was made from carved stone, and had several markings arranged in a pattern of circular lines. Aeon guessed that it was something indigenous to Cammie's homeworld, wherever that was, and it was very pretty.
______It belonged to my older sister... Cammie told her. Aeon stared at her for the moment, a bit surprised. She didn't even know Cammie had a sister. Cammie struggled to continue: She was with my Mom when--
______Again Cammie was unable to find the words. Aeon nodded slightly, acknowledging that she understood. Cammie placed the pendant in her hand. I want you to have it, she said.
______She didn't know what to say-rendered speechless by her friend's touching gesture. Her vision became misty as she searched for the right words, but all she could come up with was thank you.
______Those words hardly seemed adequate.
______She hugged Cammie, reminded yet again that she was the true orphan of their group. This girl had suffered so much loss in her lifetime.
______When she thought about it, everyone she knew had lost someone close to them. There were hundreds of people in the Alliance who, like Cammie, had no family left at all. Their only family was the people they worked and fought beside day after day. Unfortunately, they ran the risk of losing them as well. That was the terrible cost of this war against the Empire.
______For Cammie, their little group was her family, and it always had been. Now it was just a little more official. Aeon would be the best big sister that she could be.
______Aeon smiled: Well, I promise I won't--
______No, Cammie said abruptly. You can't promise that. Aeon's smile faded, realizing she had said the wrong thing.
______You shouldn't make promises you can't keep, Cammie added grimly, and her eyes drifted elsewhere. No one should...
______How thoughtless, Aeon realized. She had meant to reassure her friend, and instead she had trivialized her tragedy.
______Cammie, I'm so--
______We're here! She looked over, and saw a pair of legs dangling from the hole in the ceiling. A moment later, Tam dropped down. A few moments later, Gates dropped down right behind him.
______Tam looked at Cammie, and frowned a bit.
______What was with him? Aeon wondered. She didn't have time to ask him.
______I thought I told you kids you could see her later, her father's voice boomed reprovingly across the med-lab.
______They looked around, and Revel Quatorz marched slowly into the room. It amazed Aeon how sometimes he looked even taller that he actually was. Taller, and made of stone.
______I'm sorry, sir, Cammie spoke up bravely.
______Its okay, Dad. They were just checking up on me.
______Her father frowned. Cammie-all of you-can I speak with my daughter alone for a few moments?
______Yes, sir, Tam replied.
______Cammie smiled at Aeon, and said a quiet bye as she rose from the side of the bed. Tam and Gates both waved to her nervously as they passed the bed.
______She watched them exit the med-lab. They all kept her eyes averted from the General as they passed him.
______It irritated Aeon, the way he treated her friends. She frowned, ready for a fight, and armed with enough ammunition to counter whatever she may have done to deserve a lecture.
______Her father sat down on the side of the bed. Are you all right? he asked gently, and it totally deflated her.
______Yeah... she said. I'm okay. She couldn't maintain eye contact with him. Even when compassionate, his gaze was so piercing.
______She looked down at her hands, fidgeting. Sometimes, without realizing, he made her feel like a child again, and she didn't know what to say.
______She mustered her courage, and prepared to tell him about her amazing dream. Her excitement grew as she looked forward to sharing it with him.
______Dad, I had the most incredible--
______Why do you insist on disobeying me?
______What...? She was caught totally off guard.
______No excuses, young lady, the General said sternly. You know you're not allowed in a restricted area. Over and over it seems I'm telling you the same thing...
______But, Dad-- What was she saying before...? She couldn't quite remember now.
______Her father was a tactician, first and foremost, and that had unconsciously permeated every facet of his being.
______It was classic combat strategy to attempt to draw out your opponent with a feint. And when they exposed themselves, move in for the kill. Probably the first thing the General taught the new cadets.
______She felt an aching in her chest and a lump rose in her throat. The corners of her mouth began to quiver, but she pulled them taut.
______Not now, Aeon. Not here. She swallowed the lump in her throat, and pressed her feelings down deep until she could no longer feel them-until it no longer hurt.
______And somewhere inside of her, something hardened.
______You never said not to go to that temple, she countered.
______Don't get technical with me, young lady, he said. Don't tell me the surveillance cameras went down by accident.
______No, she admitted. She had forgotten about that.
______Here's a good rule of thumb, Aeon: if you have to deactivate any security devices to enter, you're not allowed inside. Oh great, so now he was developing a sense of humor.
______That area's off limits for a reason. We have no idea what that artifact is, or where it came from.
______So you knew about it? she asked excitedly. You know what it does?
______No, we don't know what it does-if anything. All it's done so far is give you a seizure. You could have been seriously injured.
______But I wasn't, she pointed out feebly.
______Her father frowned. Look, I imagine you're probably bored here, but just try to manage a bit longer.
______It amazed her just how little he really knew her. She had never felt more at home anywhere in her entire life than on Yavin IV.
______A realization came to her, extrapolated from her father's words: The council has decided when to leave, she said.
______How did you--? her father inquired sharply.
______I was listening. How long-until we leave?
______Her father looked up at the unhinged grate in the ceiling, and made the connection. You're using those damn tunnels, he said accusingly.
______Yes, she said impatiently. You can yell at me for that later.
______How long? she commanded, surprised at the authority in her own voice.
______So was her father, it seemed. Twelve days, he replied.
______Twelve days. Aeon folded her knees against her chest, and rested her head upon them. That wasn't much time. Well, she knew it was coming, but she couldn't guess it would be that soon.
______I support the move, but it's too soon. We're not ready for a full-scale evac. There isn't enough time for planning, and I'm afraid it's going to show in the execution.
______How did she know he was going to say that?
______With any luck, the next planet will be a little more exciting for you.
______She looked up at him, having no idea what to say. How could he be so intuitive about the actions of strangers commanding legions of soldiers, and yet know so little about his own daughter?
______Because those things are important to him, came her answer.
______I hope so, she replied, masking the emotion from her voice. Her vision blurred slightly as she felt her eyes water. She blinked back her tears, and looked up at her father.
______He was smiling a bit, probably thinking that everything was all right.
______I'll let you get your rest, he said, excusing himself. He started toward the door, and then stopped.
______Aeon, he began, was that Gates Lighter with Tam?
______Yeah, she answered. Why?
______He walked back toward her, taking a quick peek over his shoulder. He looked up at the unhinged grate, peering inside to make sure no one was there.
______What was going on?
______I need to ask you something, and this has to stay between you and me. Can you promise me that?
______What about?
______I need you to promise me, he said. And this isn't one of those promises that you break, you get in a bit of trouble, and then it goes away. This is serious. He was starting to pique her curiosity.
______Promise me, he demanded. She hadn't noticed him getting closer and closer to her. Suddenly he was sitting just a short distance from her, capturing her with his powerful gaze.
______She nodded slightly, which was as much of a gesture as she could muster. She may have mumbled the word okay, but she couldn't be sure. She felt like an Imperial spy.
______Has Gates ever mentioned his father? he asked.
______No, Aeon offered immediately. She thought for a moment, recollecting to see if what she had reported was accurate. I don't think so, but he's more Tam's friend than mine. I haven't known him very long.
______I need you to promise me something: if Gates talks about his father, or mentions his father trying to get in contact with him, I need you to tell me immediately.
______But, Dad, why-- she questioned.
______Just promise me, Aeon, he said. Don't ask why, because I can't tell you. You have to just trust me on this.
______Trust? She didn't mention that trust had to be earned, and that it went both ways.
______Dad, I-- she stammered, and then shrugged: Yeah, sure. I guess.
______No, he said, apparently unsatisfied with her level of commitment. Swear to me. Swear to me on the soul of your mother, he asked.
______No! How can you even-- she said, angered by his words. And then she saw the look on his face, the shame he felt in even saying such a thing.
______If Aeon knew one thing to be a certainty in this universe, it was that Revel Quatorz had loved his wife-her mother-more than anything in the entire galaxy. She realized, then, the severity of what her father was asking, even if she didn't understand why.
______I promise, she said, her face softening. Her father met her gaze, and nodded. It seemed he was smiling a bit, and there was something in his eyes: an acknowledgment.
______Was she mistaken? Could that possibly have been...pride?
______He put a hand on hers, and paused for a moment. He hesitated, seemingly unsure of himself.
______Get some rest, he said, and got up from the bed.
______When she was young, he used to kiss her on the cheek every night before putting her to bed. She had thought, just for a moment, that he might...
______She watched him exit the med-lab, and the door slid shut behind him.
______A moment after it closed, it opened again, and Tam, Cammie and Gates filed into the room, smiling brightly.
______Your father said we could see you, Tam announced. Aeon smiled as they sat down around her. She bent her knees up toward her to give them as much room as possible, and allow them to be close.
______Cammie wasn't the only one who considered her friends to be family, and right now she wanted them as close as possible.
______Aeon stared at Gates for a moment, wondering what her father had been so curious about. She had never met Gate's father, and she couldn't recall him ever mentioning him. Gates didn't talk about much of anything personal.
______Still, she couldn't help but be curious.
______Gates caught her staring, and looked at her curiously. She smiled, and that seemed to be enough to satisfy him. He returned her smile, and she purposely looked elsewhere.
______They had always said that the four of them could take on the Empire alone if they had to. It probably wasn't true, but it was times like this that she had that feeling.
______As they snuggled in around her, they bombarded her with questions about what had happened. They wanted to know the whole story, and Aeon was more than happy to oblige.
______Starting from the very beginning, she related the details of the dream as well as she could remember them. As she talked, things began to clarify for her-little differences that she hadn't noticed when she was actually dreaming: like how metal cylinders emitting a faint orange glow illuminated the corridors.
______As she expected, they all laughed a bit when she told them that she was a prince. But it wasn't mean laughter. They were as amazed as she was.
______She told them about Morgan, and about the King and Queen. She told them about the conspiracy against the King, and about the deceitful advisor whom she wouldn't turn her back upon. And there was a—
______That was it, Cammie said, interrupting her. Aeon frowned. She was on a roll, and didn't like to be interrupted while she was holding court.
______What was what? Aeon asked, but Cammie was oblivious. She was looking off at nothing in particular, forming her thoughts into a coherent whole.
______When I snuck back into the room, you were standing in front of the crystal with your arms out. You made a face like you were angry, and I heard you say a word...
______At the time, I thought it was just gibberish, but that was definitely it. Cammie looked off, and her brow knitted in concentration as she unraveled the problem. Right after that you passed out, she said to herself absentmindedly.
______What word...? Aeon asked.
______Yeah, that must have been it. It had to be, Cammie mused to herself
______Cammie, Aeon said as patiently as she could. What word?
______Sahaar... Cammie replied.
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