*disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars. all i might own are the original characters I have created :)


Avoidance and Remembrance
By Celtic Jedi

The air taxi slowed to approach the landing dock. The platform was vacant until a cloaked figure stepped out of the taxi. The figure handed a few credits to the driver and the taxi promptly sped away into the never-ending skylines above.

The figure moved a few paces onto the platform and shed the hood that covered their face. The face was one of a young woman. She was no older than nineteen. A dark rain of long, curly ringlets framed her fair face. Her face was one of understanding along with fierceness. Her blazing emerald eyes told more of her than one could learn in speaking with her.

The woman let out a sigh. The mist of her breath was held in the cool air for a brief moment. She looked upward at the towering structure. The memories it contained both guided and haunted her life.

She would often come here. Sometimes for the sake of memories and other times out of boredom. She would study the intricate patterns of the architecture and remember her days within its walls. No matter how she admired it, she had never set foot inside since the day when her life had changed.

Her life was much different now. Not particularly for the better. For she would have given all she possessed to change what had occurred. The thought of the event made her shudder. The only thing that dwelled in that building for her now was the past. For the past does not serve anything but the present. Certain memories are to be cherished, while others are to be forgotten.

* * * *

Ignoring the blinking light on her holoprojector was becoming easier for Jen Nyrala. The new messages winked out and went into storage along with her fifteen other unanswered holo messages. The desk on which the projector sat was covered with a mess of data cards. Next to the desk, an astromech droid was powered off. The droid served as her only companion in the small apartment.

Staring out at the sky lanes, Jen sighed and turned away from the window. Spending all her time alone here was starting to get to her. She had not been out for one reason or another in a few days. Nothing had happened.

Boredom. Inside she laughed. Something they would have not condoned. Her life was fast-paced outside of this place. Whenever she stepped inside she could take a breather and organize her thoughts. No one dared disturb. They knew how she was.

Her emerald gaze swept around the familiar room and settled on the locker in the far corner. She moved towards it and put her hand out to open it. Her fingers settled on the handle and she was about to yank it open, when an unconscious reaction made her pull back at the last second.

No! Her thoughts told her. Not those things! Anything but that!

Only she knew the contents of the locker. They were the only things she kept from her previous years. Relics of a past life she as she saw them. Nothing could keep her from them but her own will to forget.

Finally, settling on answering her messages, Jen sat down at her desk and tapped the play button.

The holo that appeared was of a man with dark hair highlighted by a streak of gray on one side. He had a professional, but kind look. “Jen, I don’t know where you are. But just contact me. I need to talk to you about your contract. And this thing about not answering is getting annoying, Jen. Look, you know where to find me.” The message winked out. The next message started to play, but Jen shut it off.

She looked at her wall chronometer. She knew exactly where he would be now. Why not drop in and surprise him?

She walked to the door and grabbed her cloak on the way out.

* * * *

Night was taking over the sky when Jen stepped out into the air. The hover lights above the walkway had just come on and their glow illuminated the duracrete path and cast shadows around the sides.

Jen started down the path to the landing platform. She had walked this way a million times. The neighborhood was not an overly wealthy one, but it was more than several steps up from the slums of the lower levels. Many asked her why she lived there, when she could certainly afford a more secure and prestigious place, but Jen had her reasons.

Besides, this place had some security measures. The walkway was more like a courtyard, since it was encompassed by the surrounding buildings. The only way into the small group of structures was through a security gate, which required a passcode.

Jen approached the gate. She punched her code into the key pad. The numbers cleared, but the door did not open. She was about to try again, when her instincts cried out.

She hit the ground in the shadows. A split second later a blaster bolt whizzed by where her head had been. It burned into the duracrete sidewalk. Another shot rang out breaking the security of her hiding place. She managed to roll away before it hit, but the next time she was not so lucky. Fire burned through her right side and darkness overcame her vision.

* * * *

When Jen came to she found she was in her own bed in her apartment. It was daylight outside. Her eyes shifted to the woman sitting in a chair next to the wall. The woman stood and walked up to the edge of the bed.

“Close one, Sis. Next time, well reserve the memorial site.” The woman said.

“Marana," Jen said. She studied her sister's face and could figure it out. "What exactly happened?"

Marana did not answer. She simply walked to the holoprojector and switched it on.

The image of the news anchor appeared. “This just in, there has been an assassination attempt on Jen Nyrala. The nineteen year-old singer was found outside her apartment building with a blaster wound. Sources report Nyrala is recovering and will be-”

Marana shut it off and turned back to Jen. “They’ve been running that since it happened.”

Jen started to sit up. She found that there was no wound where she had been hit. She looked at Marana in question.

“The medical droids wanted to put you in a bacta tank, but one of your old friends came through.” Marana smiled.

“Who would that be?” Jen asked. She did not have the least hint of surprise in her voice. “I haven’t spoken to any of them in years.”

“I’ll leave you to figure that out.” Marana said. “Whoever it was left before I arrived. Oh, and the police want to talk to you when you're ready."

* * * *

“You remember nothing more than hearing the shots?” The investigator asked Jen. He sat across the table from her.

Jen nodded and took a sip from her mug of caf. “Now what can you tell me?”

“Well, about all we have is that the suspect was firing from above. We found nothing on the roof, so they could have been in a speeder. The are no holocam records, alarms, or anything.” He explained. “But, Miss Nyrala, consider yourself lucky. If that young man hadn’t found you, you would probably be dead.”

“What young man?” Jen asked.

“Oh, some tall blonde kid, he was about your age.” The investigator stood from the table. “Well, I’ll keep you informed if we find anything. Take care.”

Jen stood and saw the man out. Turning from the door she thought. She knew exactly which ‘friend’ it had been.

Marana walked in and placed something on the table.

“What is that for?” Jen asked. She waited moment, then answered her own question. "Dad. Right?"

Marana ignored her sister’s question for the moment and picked up the blaster. “Jen, everyone knows you can defend yourself, armed or unarmed. But seeing as you don’t have any weapons, well at least weapons you'll carry, Father thought you should have this.” She held it out to Jen.

Jen blankly stared at it. Sighing, she took the blaster. “I suppose that is not the extent of Father’s ideas?”

“On target as always, Jen.” Marana commented. “He spoke with the Chancellor. Something about having a bodyguard assigned.”

At that Jen laughed. “Does he think I’m defenseless?” She glanced the locker and quickly turned away.

“Jen, the past is past.” Marana said. “Besides this can’t just be some disappointed fan who didn't get an autograph. Someone more is after you.”

“Where will the guard come from?” Jen asked. “Republic military?”

“It will probably be someone who shares your… skill.” Marana answered.

“No one can best me at singing.” Jen taunted.

“I thought pride was something forbidden by them?” Marana asked. “At least that’s what Mother said once.”

“Marana, I’m not serious.” Jen responded. “I know exactly what skill you speak of. But I do not look forward to meeting this ‘guard’.”

"Well, he should be here soon enough." Marana answered. "But, Jen why would someone go after you?"

Jen waited a moment. "It's probably because of Father's political views. You remember what happened to Senator Amidala?"

Marana nodded. "Only in this case, they're going after his family." A look of worry came over her face. "We should warn Rianna and Alin." She started for the holoprojector, but caught Jen's gaze. "What?"

Jen did not answer immediately. She was laughing to herself. "I was just thinking. If they really want to hurt Father, they went after the wrong child. I barely know him and he barely knows me."

"They don't know that." Marana answered. "But I'm not going to give them a chance to find out."

* * * *

Rain battered against the window. Jen stared out. Far along the horizon she could make out the shape of her past home. The clouds distorted its shape.

A knock came at the door. It was strange that the house computer had not beeped.

Jen stood and reached for the blaster that sat on the table. Holding it in front of her, she approached the door.

She stood to the side and hit the control panel. The door slid open and Jen pointed the blaster at the figure that stood waiting.

“Whoa! Jen, relax it’s me!” The young man had his hands up.

Jen lowered the blaster studied him for a moment before ushering him in and locking the door. She tossed the weapon back onto the table. She stared at the man. Three years. That was how long it had been. He was her elder by only a few months.

He looked around the room then turned to Jen. “Since when do you carry a blaster?”

“Since someone used one on me.” Jen answered.

“I thought you hated them.” The man said. “You were always so pacifist.”

Jen shook her head annoyed. “People change!”

He watched Jen turn away. “You haven’t.”

“I have.” Jen corrected. “I’ve given up more of my patience. If I was the same, I wouldn’t have been shot.” She turned back and her tone calmed. “And if you had not been there, I would be dead. That I want to thank you for.”

The man seemed to shake it off, as if embarrassed.

“Did you just come over to see how I am, or is there something else?” Jen asked.

“I came for that and for another reason." The man said. “I'm here to protect you."

“I’m not surprised.” Jen said. "But I can protect myself."

"Jen, we may have the same training, but your being shot proves that you need some help in defense. I'm here to provide that." He answered.

"Just as arrogant as always." Jen said. "Just the way I remember."

i wrote this about a year ago and I do plan to continue eventually.