Luke went straight from the hanger to the republic archives, or more accurately, what were left of them. They were housed in what used to be an Imperial training facility, with volumes of old records from the empire. The records of the Republic came from different sources: hidden caches of books and files on outer rim planets, personal journals of the generals that fought, and whatever the Emperor chose to spare from the republic libraries. The Jedi archives were almost nonexistent. After the purge, what remained came from journals, legends, and other hidden files that were merged with the ancient records. This made research difficult. His only clues to her identity came from the memory chips. Knowing this, Luke began to listen to the records, hoping for any additional clues to the mysterious Shara's identity. Using one of the old republic viewers, he chose one of the older looking chips, hoping for a better starting point:
"Hi Ben. Yeah I know, but I really like it. It sounds better than Obi-Wan. Not that I don't like Obi-Wan but I think I like Ben better. I tell you what; you can call me Shara if I can call you Ben. It'll be just between us." Satisfied, she continued. "How is Master Qui-Gon? Tell him I said hello?" She paused a moment. "What did you think of our last mission? Do you think our own parents cried that much when they took us? I wonder about it sometimes. I mean I still sort of keep in touch with my biological parents, but the Jedi are my family now. My master says it is unusual for parents to maintain contact with a child after he or she has been identified, but my parents insisted on it in my case. It's strange really, having two fathers. But don't tell my master that, he would tell me those feelings are inappropriate. Maybe afterward, after my training is done, I'll be able to meet them again."
Luke reviewed roster after roster of Jedi, but found no Shara listed in the ranks at all. Frustrated, he continued this process for several hours to no avail. Realizing that he needed a more focused approach to this research, he meditated, listening to another one of the chips:
"It happened Ben. We just received word today. I am to be tested in the next cycle. By the stars, if all goes well, I won't have to address you as master for much longer. I wish you could be there. I could use your support. As it is, I hope I will be in your thoughts, as you are in mine. I have to go, but I promise to send you a longer message later. I miss you love. Til then."
The voice faded out just as Luke felt Leia's hand on his shoulder. "When did you get back? Are you alright?" Her voice was laced with concern.
Luke touched her hand and replied, "I'm fine. Sorry, I was a bit preoccupied." He went back to the rosters, selecting another volume and resumed his search.
Leia took a seat across from him and sorted randomly through the chips. "What are you doing down here?" Then, noticing the viewer, she asked, "Who is she?"
"That's what I'm trying to find out." He slid the sheaf of paintings over to her. "I found these today in Ben's things, but when I asked him about them, he wouldn't answer me." He sighed and shifted in his chair, rolling his neck to stretch the tight muscles.
Leia studied the paintings, impressed by their quality. "Whoever did these was very talented." She smiled at the portrait of the two Jedi then shuffled through the rest, marveling at the differing landscapes from Coruscant, Yavin, Mandalor, and other worlds she'd yet to visit. Finally reaching the woman's portrait, she drew in a breath. "She's beautiful. Is this the same person?"
Luke nodded, not looking up from the pages. "Her name is Shara, she was a Jedi Knight, and from what I can tell, she was very important to Ben." He closed the roster in frustration. "But there's no Shara listed anywhere in these. Nothing." He ran his hand through his hair, regaining his composure. "I can't explain it. Something wants me to find out who she is. She must have meant something to Ben, or he wouldn't have kept all of this."
"I used to wonder why you spent so much time down here, Luke and now I know," Han Solo said, picking up the portrait. " It's where you hide your dirty pictures."
Luke stifled a chuckle while Leia shook her head. "You never change."
Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, he replied, "And you wouldn't have me any other way." He set the portrait down and said, "What's going on?"
"He's trying to find out who she is," Leia answered, picking up one of the books.
"Looking for that special someone," Han asked with a wink.
Luke smiled. " Yeah, but it's just a bit impossible, seeing she's been dead for a least 25 years."
Han deadpanned, "Not exactly what you would look for in a prospective mate."
Luke shook his head at his brother-in-law. He was as carefree as Leia was serious. They complimented each other well, and were truly happy together. He wondered about himself in that respect. Maybe someday, he mused.
Concentrating, he held a hand over the chips. He would let the Force guide him in the hopes of learning more than he already knew. He picked up one and carefully put it into the viewer. The three of them watched carefully as the image appeared:
"We just received word about Master Qui-Gon. By the stars Ben, what can I say? I wish I could be there for you now, though I doubt there would be anything I could do to take the hurt away. I cannot say I know what you are going through, but I know what I felt like when my master told me my mother had died. It was as if an emptiness was suddenly burned into me. I felt rage and pain, it was all I could do to keep from screaming about the unfairness to the skies". Tears began to fall and her voice broke for a moment. "I felt it Ben, I felt it here, your rage, your emptiness. I would bear it for you if I could, love." Her next words were spat out like venom. "But we can't break away from this dammed planet, not now. Master Yoda believes the situation here is too fragile for us to leave, not even for my master to attend the funeral of his closest friend. So Master Rees is in the hills, privately paying his own respects. I would be with you now if I could Ben." She cleared her throat as another sob escaped her. "I miss him too." She brushed her tears away hastily with the back of her hand. "I'm sorry, I know it isn't much, but I am sending a painting with this. I hope it will help you find peace. As soon as we can, we'll be out to see if I have to hijack a Corellian freighter to do it. I only hope I can offer you the same comfort you offered me when I needed you. Until then Love."
The image faded. Leia brushed a tear from her cheek while Luke blinked his own quickly away. Han cleared his throat. "So where do we start?"
* * *
Surprisingly it was Han who found the key. Searching for a Rees, he came up with a Rees Toth. He then studied an old training roster and asked Luke, "What did you say her name was?"
"Shara, why? Did you find something?" Luke asked quickly.
"I found a record of a Tal-Ishara Kender, who was enrolled at the Jedi academy about the same time as Ben. She was taken as a Padawan, whatever that is, by a Rees Toth." He looked up at the other two. "Think that's her?"
"It has to be," Luke said excitedly. He quickly grabbed an old volume from the table and flipped it open, flipping page after page frantically. "Here," he said pointing to a small entry. "Tal-Ishara Kender, promoted to Jedi Knight, promoted to Master. Disappeared during a reconnaissance mission to the Outer Rim. Found four years later by Obi-Wan Kenobi. Dismissed from the Jedi Order. Perished in the destruction of the Imperial cloning facility on Coruscant." Luke sat back hard into his chair, disturbed by this new information. "Dismissed from the order, for what?' he said to no one in particular. "If she turned to the Dark Side, why would she be in a cloning facility instead of out in the fleet." He lowered his head into his hands, attempting to center himself again. "It doesn't make sense. She was a Jedi Master. Why did she get dismissed from the order?"
Seeing his confusion, Leia chose another chip and inserted it into the viewer. This time, a much younger Tal-Ishara Kender appeared. She must have been 13, Leia thought. Her voice was higher, lighter; not the same husky tones from the previous chips:
"Hi Obi-Wan, It's me, Ishara. My master says I can send you a message
like
this, since he's sending one to Master Qui-Gon. And since it's either
this
or a five-kilometer run to the falls and back, I figured I'd say Hi and
tell
you what's been happening. I finally figured out how to install a
plasma
vent hatch. Master Rees said I should learn how to fix them seeing as
I
break them all the time. You know, he's not as bad as I thought he'd
be. We
do physical training in the morning for a several hours, then saber
drills.
Then I go through his armory and pick something to learn how to use. I
never
thought I'd say this, but it's great being padawan to a Weapons master.
Granted he can't swing a sword like Master Qui-Gon, but there's more
out
there than just lightsabers." She paused, as if she was gathering her
thoughts. "Oh yeah, Master Rees said that we would be accompanying you
on a
mission, so we'll get to see each other soon. I'll bring some
vid-chips from
our last mission if you bring some of yours. It should be pretty fun."
She
paused again, turning her head. Then turning back to the monitor, she
said,
"I have to go now, he's calling me. Send me a vid-chip sometime if you
can.
I'd like to hear from you. Talk to you later."
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