Calm After The Storm

[Will]

Huang waved a goodbye to Adrian and Ilessa. He'd managed to keep Raziel and Emi from bothering Val while she discussed whatever it was with Adrian.

He leaned over kissing her briefly, stopping with the vomiting sounds of his children.

''I've missed you all too.''

He smiled as he hugged his family with his long arms.

''Business never stops for the Karasu family, eh? I've been ushering in the new knights, you're solving the problems of our masters, quite a team, eh?''

He let Val lead into her story.

''But still no good at storytelling. Now, how about... The time the brave swordsmaster fought the vile, disgusting Taen despot and his dark minions?''

 

[Sreeya]

"What's a Taen?"

Val cut in before Huang could rant about them.

"Very nice people that use the Force differently than we do."

Val returned the kiss when Huang leaned in, still hit with a wave of euphoria every time they did. Their moments together made their time apart worth bearing. She pulled back, laughing as their children voiced their disgust at seeing the show of affection. Val leaned into the hug. This time, even Raziel didn't protest. Val had to shake her head. She had to wrestle him to hug him and yet he never complained when Huang was around. Damn favoritism..

"Speaking of masters..they keep bugging me to take up the title."

Val grimaced, her expression revealing everything she felt about titles. Huang had worked for decades for his title, and Val in turn wanted nothing above Knight as a title. She preferred simply performing her duties and being able to be free to do whatever she pleased. Val casually leaned her head against Huang's shoulder.

"They're worse now, you know...Bogan. They're out in the open, no longer in hiding. It's unsettling.."

Emi, oblivious to the conversation, walked over and promptly laid down across both Huang and Val's laps. Val smiled and absentmindedly ran her fingers through the little girl's hair while speaking to Huang still.

"And what about that Ando Prime hearing? You never told me what happened there. I heard that caused quite a stir.."

Raziel looked impatient instantly as Val broke into what he described as 'boring grown up talk'. He tolerated it for now, laying down on the grass and absentmindedly looking up at the sky.

 

[Will]

''I've heard. They keep pressuring me to pressure you. They think I have some sort of persuasive power.''

He shrugged.

''They must forget how strong-willed and insubordinate you are.''

He kept Val close as she leant on him. He cherished every moment he shared with her and the family, those brief, shining moments breaking up the drain of war.

He smiled down at Emi, perfectly masking negative emotion as Val discussed the Bogan. They had surged forth, establishing an empire.

The hearing. That whole mess.

''Ah, the inquest. They brought me forward, to try and scapegoat the whole of the Jedi for their Supreme Commander's benefit. Trying to blame my leadership for the mistakes that occurred. I told them what I told the news crews, deflected their barbed, ignorant comments, and shared a ride with a rather distasteful senator, after that whole shooting thing. Then, one Adham Bac tried to convince me to make a public apology. He was convinced the council would side with the Republic over their own order. I think I managed to convince him otherwise.''

He sighed, ruminating.

''A huge mess.''

He never liked thinking about Ando Prime, the only black stain on his flawless career, a downfall brought upon by others.

 

[Sreeya]

Raziel rolled his eyes and wandered off halfway through Huang's recollection of the hearing. After a moment, Emi followed in tow, both scampering off towards the lake. The two children often got along when their parents were in the middle of 'boring grown up talk'. Val paid no heed to them for now, simply appalled at what Huang was saying.

"They wanted you to apologize for honesty?"

Then again, these were politicians they were dealing with. Val sighed, looking over to her children in the distance. Emi wanted help getting up on an elevated area and Raziel simply laughed at her. However, a moment later he jumped down to help. It was a touching moment, though one Val often did not catch. Perhaps this was how they were together when the parents weren't around.

Val glanced over at Huang, finally being left with a moment alone. She playfully shoved him with the Force, enough to make him topple over. Val followed in suit, pinning him down to the grass and laughing down at him. It was something she had often done to him, always at the most inopportune times when he was being serious. Val had to grin at him.

"I can think of a few ways you can persuade me!"

She leaned down and kissed him, but it wasn't a quick kiss. She had intended to playfully kiss him and pull back, but found herself giving into it. She deepened it, tugging at his pierced bottom lip before she finally pulled back, smiling at him.

"So how long before you leave for battle?..And please tell me you're not taking that ridiculous bike thing.."

They had an arrangement. Val went on a battle, then Huang went on the next one, and it alternated. It was a harsh reality, but the two took it in stride. Val shifted till she laid back against him, her head on his chest. Thankfully their kids were too busy playing to come whine about it. Val thoughtfully looked up at the sky, sighing.

"Life would have been so much easier if we didn't have to hide. If we could just be a family and not have it be questioned. I think having something to fight for makes me a better warrior in the long run."

 

[Will]

''Apparently, when I tell the truth, and the senators don't like it, it's wrong, and I should apologise for inflammatory comments.''

Huang's eyes tracked the children as they played, happy in the moment.

Huang's thoughts were broken as he was knocked unexpectedly to the floor, Val on top of him. He pushed up slightly as she kissed him, savouring the feeling as she pulled away.

''I don't think even my skills would make you budge.''

He swept up to a sitting position, kissing her again, quick, but passionate.

''I could try though.''

He leant back as Val talked about the difficulties of family. It had been difficult, sneaking them around. It had become more tricky as they got older. They wanted to see the temples, live the stories they told.

''There's no changing the order's mind. We need to keep it like this. I certainly have more determination fighting for something, rather than simply the order. Something for my own.''

 

[Sreeya]

For a while, Val remained silent, simply relishing the moment of peace she had with her husband. It had been four years since they had officially become a family and she still felt as if she were constantly watching her back. The sun disappeared behind a few clouds and Val found herself almost dozing off. However, she was awakened when Emi walked over to her. Val glanced up, confused, as the little girl looked unhappy.

"What's wrong?"

Emi plopped down between Val and Huang.

"Why don't I have a..Thus-ra necklace?"

"A wha?"

She pointed impatiently at her brother.

"Razzy has one!!! Why don't I have one?! He says you and daddy love him more.."

Val had to scowl at the older child, who immediately looked away, pretending not to have heard anything. She shook her head and pulled Emi into her lap, kissing her on the face.

"Razzy was born on Thustra while I was on business there. The senator gave him a necklace. It's not because we love him more, because we love you both the same!"

"I WANT A PENDEDANT!"

"A pendant. And uhh.. I don't know where to get one.."

She looked over at Huang helplessly. Val hadn't thought about this, never realizing that Emi was bothered by her brother having the necklace. He was extremely proud of it and often appeared to flaunt it, which probably didn't help matters. Val hugged the little girl to herself, though she looked even more annoyed. The Jedi had to glance over at Huang, a curious look on her face.

"You know.. it has been a while since I've been there. And you have yet to go there yourself. Remember we talked about paying Thustra a visit years ago and it never ended up happening?"

 

[Will]

''Well, no battles on the horizon... for once. I've never seen Thustra, though I've heard I'm quite a hit there. I'm sure I could find family.''

Huang had never had time to visit the world of his people, tirelessly working his way up the Jedi ladder, and then war had, fortunately never taken him there. Thankfully, his parents had moved to Corellia, so the world held no bad memories for him. They could all use a true break. Away from the Jedi for a while.

''I'll go on a 'finding mission' for the Grandmaster. We'll all go!''

He smiled at Emi.

''Maybe the king himself will get you a necklace!'' He ruffled her hair.

Yes, a break would do them all good.

 

[Sreeya]

---​

"Mommy are we there yet?"

"No."

"Mommy are we there now?"

"No."

"Mommy are we-"

"Emi, please, you're making mommy's head hurt."

There was a moment of silence.

"Daddy are we there yet?"

Val sighed. Raziel snickered. Val had wanted a nice, relaxing journey to Thustra, but it was filled with incessant questions from her children. To her dismay, she found that Huang was utterly useless when it came to explaining to the children about Thustra, even though he was a Sephi. Val had to go as far as making up stories to appease their endless supply of questions that she simply did not know the answers to. By the end of the trip, Val was exhausted and had them direct their questions to Huang. Unfortunately, after another interrogating session, the questions died down to simply asking about the duration of the flight every few minutes. It drove Val crazy, but she was thankful they were finally entering the Thustran space.

As the ship began to descend, both kids jumped out of their seats, despite warnings from Val and ran over to plaster themselves against the windows. They were both fascinated by the rolling hills and mountains below. It was a vastly different kind of scenery than what they were used to, having lived on the industrial planet of Coruscant for the most part. Val gave up on telling them to sit down, focusing on landing the ship. As they rolled into the landing bay, Val could see a congregation of people surrounding where she was cleared to land. Val had to look over at Huang.

"What the hell's going on?"

The ship finally descended to the ground and the engines began to die down. However, Val simply blinked at the small mob surrounding them. There were camera flashes and people fighting over one another to get to the exit of the ship.

"Why the hell do they have cameras!!"

Val groaned in displeasure, though Emi was positively delighted. Raziel was a bit more shy around strangers, and he quickly walked closer to his parents. Val shot Huang an accusatory glance.

"They're here for you, aren't they?"

 

[Will]

Huang simply watched the back and forth, letting Emi wind Val up. It was amusing to him, a classic image everyone had of a 'family holiday.'

As the ship descended on a tripod of fire, landing gracefully on the platform, Huang rose to congratulate Val for actually flying well for once.

Before he noticed the throng. Val paled. This would make life tricky.

''Apparently so. Never been a celebrity before... Cover story ready? We're taking the 'younglings' to experience the galaxy they're protecting. A new Jedi initiative.''

He breathed deeply, closing his eyes.

His eyes opened as the door opened.

They bombarded from every angle, a thousand voices, a thousand questions.

''Why have you come to...''

''Who are these...''

''Can you sign...''

''Tell me about the battle...''

Huang tried to shut them out, pushing forward. The noise they made! The chatter of the masses! He stopped at the base of the ramp, affecting the cool exterior of the Sword Master of the order. To Val, his discomfort would be painfully obvious.

''I am here on a simple mission from the order. With my fellow Jedi here,
we are showing these younglings some of the planets of the galaxy they will live to defend. And where better than the home of my own people, verdant Thustra?''

His final comment drew a cheer from the throng. How easy it was to manipulate them.

''I shall gladly take any questions from you all. It has been too long for me not to visit the home of my ancestors.''

Huang made a lightning quick motion with his hand. A signal for Val to make her escape. They had a meeting spot. He would see her there. He would take the attention off his wife and children.

''Hmm? Ah, no, I don't know any of my Thustran relatives, and, I haven't come here in so long because the role of a Sword Master in war time has kept me very busy. I wish I had come earlier.''

 

[Sreeya]

Val glanced down at Emi and Raziel.

"You know what to do."

They both nodded, looking extremely serious. This only made them even cuter. Val ushered them out, her demeanor one of an usual Jedi detached from emotions. Raziel and Emi marched obediently behind her, very much fitting into the role of younglings. Fortunately for her, the media did not care about Val. She slunk off to the side with the two children.

Meanwhile, not only did the media unleash itself upon Huang, but also the local civilians. There were some humans and other species vacationing on Thustra, and they immediately joined in on the mob, taking pictures and muscling their way past the crowd. Three women practically threw themselves at him.

"HIS TATTOOS ARE EVEN HOTTER IN PERSON!"

"OH MY GOSH WILL YOU SIGN MY BOOBS?!"

Val was out in the clear now, glancing back at the mob. She had to suppress laughter, shaking her head. The three arrived at a hotel out of the way. Val was relaxed, quietly checking in and having absolutely no problem. She worried about Huang, wondering when he would catch up with them. Oh well, it was his own damn fault for popping up on Holonet all the time!

"Can we call you mommy again?"

Val smiled warmly at Raziel.

"Yes, we're good now."

She leaned in to kiss him on the cheek, a spot he promptly rubbed off afterwards. Val made her way up to their room, glancing out at the ocean view they were provided. She wondered if Huang gracefully misused the Force to get them such a room..

While Val and the kids settled in, Huang was swarmed even more. There was a channel crew on the site. There were children surrounding him asking to do some tricks with the Force and of course, the massive amounts of women that all wanted a piece of him. The reporters began fighting over one another to get to him, and about a million pictures were taken of him. The local authorities had been called to suppress the riot, but it would be some time before Huang found a means of weaseling out.

 

[Will]

Huang kept them at bay with subtle force pushes. Women...

Why did they bother him so? It vexed him.

''I...I must decline from...signing there... It's... not the Jedi way.'' He replied, trying to remain measured in front of the mob. It was difficult with a large pair of breasts almost in his face...jiggling...

A child tugged at his red-trimmed robe.

''C-can you make this float...sir Jedi?'' The Sephi boy must have been no older than 10, very young for a Sephi indeed. The crowd paused, and Huang squatted down. The child thrust a small teddy into his hands.

''Why don't I make him dance?''

Huang held his hands out, the bear floating between them. Suddenly, the bear's limbs moved, the bear seeming to dance in the air, flipping and pirouetting gracefully. The crowd clapped. The ladies swooned. The child giggled. Children were simpler to please. As he handed the bear back to the child, the crowd pressed forward expectantly. More and more seemed to try and get up the ramp. Finally, a news crew got through, the reporter bearing a microphone.

''RBC news here! Do you have any other plans while you are here?!''

Huang paused. A deep, personal question. Hardly surprising from a news crew. He had hoped to find family, but he didn't want to let that slip.

''I am here simply for the order, i'm afraid. Maybe another time.''

The crowd pressed forward again, snaps of cams, combining with the flashes. A huge throng formed, making it impossible to escape, unable even to peer over his fellow Sephi, who were closer to his own height than the humans. Sephi women thrust themselves forward, entwining themselves around him for a photo. One thrust her hand into his crotch. It was all he could to to not throw her forcibly off him. He almost sputtered. The area around his eyes tightened, a tiny fleck of emotion breaking past his barrier as she giggled.

''That, will do for now. I must adjourn. Tend to the younglings.''

He gently pushed the women off him, extricating himself from the quagmire of people. As he moved, his form flickered.

Before he disappeared, he found something thrust into his hand. A dataslate, the royal sigil emblazoned upon it.

Yet more unwanted attention he mused as he disappeared, using the cloak of the force to scale the building, slipping in the window. He flashed into existence in the middle of the room.

''Sephi love a celebrity, don't they?'' He said, flashing the dataslate.

 

[Sreeya]

"When is daddy coming baaack?"

"He's on Holonet!"

Raziel pointed at the Holonet and sure enough, Huang was on a local live channel. He looked extremely uncomfortable, but to an outsider he would simply look calm and collected. Val almost laughed as he looked completely bewildered at the women approaching him and attempting to be in pictures with him. Raziel looked angrily at the screen.

"What are they doing?!"

"They're just stupid tourists, don't worry."

Val walked away from the Holonet, arriving at the balcony. She slid the doors open and stepped outside, met with a nice breeze and the salty air surrounding the beach. Already people were out on the sand, many laying out to tan. Val snickered at the thought of Huang being out in the sun. She stared out at the waves, leaning against the railing.

"DADDY!"

Emi's voice rang out in her trademark greeting whenever Huang arrived. Val had completely missed his arrival, glancing back and looking confused. She glanced back at the window and then back at Huang.

"Do you ever use the front door?"

She grinned and walked back into the room.

"That's why I avoid the media. They don't know who I am. I wouldn't be surprised if they find out we're staying here.."

Val looked down at the dataslate he flashed, raising an eyebrow.

"What's that?"

 

[Will]

Huang hugged his little girl. ''Don't let me do that again.''

Emi nodded putting on a serious face, pouting.

''If I used the door, they'd know where we're staying. And I'm not letting that frenzy here. Besides, it's more suave.''

He looked at the slate he brandished.

''Looks like a royal summons. His highness Ivan I certainly moves quickly. We can wait, I think.''

He sat down, taking the load from his legs. Being famous was tiring.

 

[Sreeya]

Val was surprised, walking over and taking the dataslate. She sat down next to Huang, confused.

"How did he know already..."

She grimaced as she remembered how he had taken the throne.

"He sounds kind of scary. Just you would go, right?"

Val groaned at the realization, putting the slate aside.

"This means you'll be gone half the time we're here!"

"Nooooo!"

Emi, having overheard, immediately hugged Huang tightly, refusing to let go. Raziel was busy scoping out the room, walking outside to stand on the balcony. It wasn't often that he could wander around outside as he pleased, and to be on a whole different planet away from Jedi. He peered longingly at the ocean.

Thankfully, there was a whole other area within the resort for children to be entertained while the parents had time to themselves. Val had made the arrangements while Huang was still being bombarded by paparazzi. She glanced down at a list of things to do, ticking off each one.

"Not doing that...too scary...terrifying..I'll pee myself...hell no..."

She finally lit up, pointing excitedly.

"Look, Huang, they have a tea cup ride!"

 

[Will]

''Relax, I'm sure it will be one cordial meeting.'' He placed the dataslate on the table, and the hologram of the royal sigil projected upward, rotating slowly.

''A tea cup ride? Interesting...'' Huang swiped the brochure out of her hand, scanning it quickly.

''I have it. You'll love it.''

* * *
​

''Knew you'd love it.'' Huang said as he strapped in the harness. The platform hovered almost a hundred feet above the ocean, the great blue waves stretching out before them, the wind whipping around them. A long rope, made of thousands of elastic filaments, wrapped tightly together, drooping down below them, from their impossible height.

''Ready?''

 

[Sreeya]

Val hadn't heard him. She was too busy talking to the man in charge of the operations.

"So it's not too late to back out, you say?"

"Um.."

She already had the harness on and was ready to go, but naturally had no intention of going at all. Val was fully convinced that she could get out of it. She only had to glance over the edge just once to tell herself that Huang would be doing this alone. If he wanted to do something this stupid, he was more than welcome to. Val, however, liked her feet firmly planted to the ground and not hurtling down to her death. The man in front of her shifted uncomfortably.

"I mean..you already paid for it. You might as well-"

"Oh, no. I don't feel like dying, thanks."

 

[Will]

Huang sighed. ''Too late.''

He grabbed her, leaping off the side of the platform.

First, the initial rush as you felt the freefall. For eight long seconds, it was as if they had jumped off the platform without a harness. The wind lashed at them as the plummeted towards the roiling sea. Val gripped him tightly as they fell together.

Then, they began to slow, the cord stretching out as they continued to fall. The cord was too long to keep them above the water.

Together, they plunged into the sea, the water soaking them to their ankles. Rudely, they were yanked from the sea, and were rushing up again, higher and higher. Huang laughed, flicking his head back to get water out of his eyes. At the apex, the uncomfortable sensation of near weightlessness made itself known, the falling feeling coming back with force as they plummeted again, this time their heads only getting dunked in the salty water. They bounced again and again, until, eventually, they stopped, hanging in the air. Slowly, the rope was lowered, and they were set onto the small boat below.

 

[Sreeya]

"Okay, so a full refund?"

"Yeah I supp-"

The man looked up behind her, a knowing grin on his face. Val looked confused, turning in time just to be yanked away by Huang. Not unlike the time they went base jumping, he hadn't even bothered to ask her opinion on it. He had no regard for her feelings! What a- Val's thoughts were suppressed as she screamed her head off, clinging onto him with a vice grip. Unlike last time, she had no intention of letting him slip away. The worst part about this was that she was upside down, something that made the experience ten times worse. Val's fingernails practically dug into his skin, hard enough to draw blood as she was hit with that awful feeling of weightlessless.

A second later, Val was submerged into the ocean. Salt water went up her nose and into her mouth. She felt the full effect of this when they were pulled back out, causing her to cough and sputter. It was obvious she was terrified, oblivious to Huang's laughter. Val clung onto him desperately, once again dunked into the water. When they came out, she realized her top had curled up above her chest. She hastily attempted to roll it down, which was futile while they were hanging upside down. Once the cord relaxed and they hung upside down, Val glared at Huang, her soaked hair hanging below her.

"I...hate you so much.."

She was visibly shaking as they were lowered to the boat. Val finally rolled her top down. She would never admit that it was an exhilarating experience. No, first order of business was letting her anger be known. With that, she applied a powerful push with the Force to knock Huang off the boat and into the water. Val laughed out loud, much to the confusion of the individual manning the boat.

 

[Will]

He kissed her as they hung there, upside down, silencing her words of protest.

Huang began to laugh, before he was bodily thrown into the water, an invisible hand pushing him off the little RIB.

He clambered back in. ''Are you done being a child?'' A mock look of condescension on his face as the RIB moved off, taking them closer to dry land.

''I like this, just being us again. It's been a long time.''

He hugged her shivering body to him, trying to keep her warm as the boat sped through the waters, leaping over the waves, and slamming into the troughs. The impacts made it feel like Huang's whole skeleton was shifting in his skin

''We can do your teacup ride now, if you want.''

He leant in, hugging her tighter.

 

[Sreeya]

---​

Val was almost half asleep. As punishment for making her go bungee jumping, she made Huang come out to soak up some sun. She handed him a bottle of tanning lotion. She was lying face down, her top undone. Val could hear the waves behind her, and the sound of people laughing and enjoying themselves on the beach. She knew Huang hated this, but this was her idea of fun. Val impatiently waved at Huang.

"Come on! Stop staring at nothing and put some on my back."

She was already slightly tan, but she wanted to be a few shades darker. Val had to grin at Huang, who stood out like a sore thumb among a sea of bronze folk. Even the Sephi here were more brown in color. Val lazily grabbed the margarita beside her and took a sip before setting her head back down to relax.