Wake Up

[Soliath Devin Talith]

He frowned.

“Fine in it of itself.” Soliael said with a shrug. “Apparently they negotiated to have near complete autonomy. The only One Sith presence is a very large fleet in the system.”

Aside from that the planet had mostly been alright. There were no more guards than usual, no riots, no enemy forces. It all seemed perfectly alright. There was an unease in the air however, at least around his Oma. Though he held zero doubt that she had the situation under control, he also realized that having a very large Sith Fleet over ones head was rather unpleasant.

“She bought the old Ceto Shipyards, which means she'll have a bit more freedom.” Soliael explained with the same face.

“And home?” Soliael asked his wife, watching as she slowly dug herself into the blankets around her. “Is everything holding up okay?”

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

Well that was a relief, Kira would think to herself giving a small nod. A brief puff of hot air would blow her bangs away from her face, giving her a much younger aura than her actual years. At times, her whimsical mannerisms along with her petite stature had the potential to confuse others at her true age; she just called it having a joy of life.

"Yeah, just been pretty hectic," kira would tell him, explaining how the last two days had gone. "Kaili has been a bit restless, so that's keeping her up. She finally managed to sleep through the night yesterday." Kaili was the more observant of their children, and while she was still barely growing into her language milestones, experience has taught Sol and Kira both that it would likely change soon. Especially if Maleah and Micah were any indication on how talkative their kids could be.

"She started to dress herself," an amused grin would light her face, remembering how that turned out. Her daughter had been stubborn, but she grunted and wiggled her way through putting on her own beast rider outfit; which was more of a dress with some ties around her waist.

Straightening a bit in her chair, Kira would take a small datapad. "I'll send you the holopictures." she told him. She would also send him more pictures of Micah and Maleah on the roof, playing with small geodes that they had found on the island.

"...I sense it." she told him, smiling faintly, "The Force in them... it is starting to awaken in them." Micah and Maleah were both beginning to show some signs of Force sensitivity in them.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

The news didn't surprise him.

The pictures made him smile, and he looked at them for a few seconds as he thought about the future of his children.

Aela had already begun her training. She knew small things and he was teaching her more as every day passed. Now Maleah and Micah would be doing the same, exhibiting small bits of the force. Telekinesis, speed, lightning? What would they show their talents in. Briefly Soliael looked over in the direction of his sleeping daughter.

“Any hints?” Soliael asked her, knowing she would understand.

Part of him still wished that one of his children would find their talents in something he knew. Aela certainly didn't fit that category, but he hoped that one of the four would.

 

[Kira Talith]

"Micah's showing an innate ability at getting that extra bit of omph with his jumps," she'd say a bit wryly, referencing the earlier excitement at jumping from the roof to the nearby tree. "He's fearless at that age; not quite getting it through his head that I rather he do it with us watching than on his own." Perhaps enhancing his body with the Force?

"I caught him playing with those rocks I showed you earlier; spinning them like tops. He kept spinning them with his fingers, and then as time passed, I saw his little face scrunch up. He was focusing on them, and for a brief instant, I caught the rocks floating in the air for just a bit longer."

A pause, then adding, "Maleah's ability with animals is growing; a bit faster than with Aela. " Kira would recall how Maleah had interacted with the pet Nexu she recently been gifted. Watching her daughter decide that it was a good idea to stick her entire head into a Nexu's mouth to show off was not the most relaxing of moments.

"Kaili's still a bit too young... but I can tell she is sensing things more. Her curiosity is growing with leaps and bounds." Kira told her husband.

A couple of thoughts came to mind. She had been seriously considering things, and now after seeing some of the signs...

"Maybe we should start training now -- for all of them." she offered a bit tentatively. "Officially that is. Maybe get Aela involved with it to help Maleah and Micah."

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

His children were growing up.

That was surprising to him, it struck him quickly. Of course he had known this would come, he had known this would happen, but it seemed to come too quickly. They were still young of course, only a few years old, but the idea of each of them growing and using the force already, the idea of having to teach them so soon.

It scared him.

Perhaps it was because of a realization that came to all force users eventually. They had power, strength that more than ninety percent of the galaxy didn't have. That strength would need to be used for something, either their own goals or others. The idea that his children would suffer through that, that they would have to face those decisions.

He frowned slightly, looking at his wife. He smiled at her, untensing. Whatever happened, they would be together. Thats what mattered.

“And you my love?” He said it with a smile.

 

[Kira Talith]

Kira caught the shift of uneasiness. A bit of fear. It waned as soon as he smiled at her, but it was there.

"I was about to ask the same thing," she said a bit curiously, searching his gaze through the holographic feed. "You're worried for the kids." she would add, narrowing down on the possibilities and the context of the sudden dip of concern. The ring had boons as much as cons; there was nothing that Soliael would be able to hide in terms of emotions. Not that he would; they had that honest relationship that would be the foundation of strength for their family. That trust in the other.

Slowly she began to nibble her lower lip, "I'm worried a bit too." she would admit, and a subtle shift of nervousness would flutter over her face. "Things seem to be getting more unstable now... word from the Academy worries me."

Kira brought the blanket up higher to her face, bringing it closer to her lips. "What do we do if the war reaches us here? How do we explain it to the kids?"

Jedi. Sith. The Lightside of the Force. The Dark. The One Sith and the Republic.

How does one explain war to their child?

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

For a second he froze.

“The truth.” It barely came from his lips, but he said it. “We tell them the truth Kira.”

His head shook from side to side for a few moments, frown settling on his lips. “We can't lie to them. They're young I know but...I can't lie to my children Kira. I can't tell them that everyone is always okay, I can't tell them that everyone in the galaxy is friendly. I can't do that to them.”

Soliael looked up at her, a slight bit of pain in his eyes. He hoped that she would understand.

“I love them.” His voice nearly broke. “I'll never lie to them.”

It was the same with Kira, he had never lied to her, would never lie to her.

That was it.

 

[Kira Talith]

Kira drank in bare open expression on her husband's face, saw the vulnerability as much as the fear and determination. It was a hard pill to swallow, knowing that there were certain aspects about the galaxy that would be difficult conversations to have with their children. But this was a path of hot coals both would have to tread.

Yes, there was a measure of trepidation and uneasiness at the potential of disclosing the darker bits of the galaxy to their children at such a young age, but the possibility of it happening with the length of the One Sith War as old as Aela... the conversation had to be brought up. At the very least, between her and Sol so that they stood united in what they would do.

This was a partnership, and Kira didn't want to do anything without disclosing her fears and concerns to her beloved.

"The truth," she would agree, aware that he was right on that. To lie would only complicate matters and end up twisted one way or another. If they were to teach the merits of honesty, they would have to practice it themselves.

Granted, this didn't mean that they would go looking for an excuse to explain to them what the war was about. If anything, Kira would prefer it to delay it as long as they could, keep them innocent for a bit longer. To simply enjoy life. Yet it was a conversation that Soliael and her were going to have sooner or later

"No... everyone in the galaxy isn't friendly nor is everything in the galaxy going to be okay. " she began, quietly tightening Maleah's blanket around her.

"But that doesn't mean that they can't make the 'verse a little bit more friendly and a little less cruel."

She gave him a soft smile, weary but the love in her eyes was there. She read his body like her own, adding "Get some rest... I can tell Aela tired you out."

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

“They will.” Soliael told her with a warm smile.

His children, their children were meant for great things.

He knew that. He could sense it within them. They might not save the galaxy, they might not liberate a star system, they might not even Master the force, but each of them, all four would go on to do something exceptional.

Perhaps every parent felt that way. Perhaps every mom and dad saw their child as something beyond what they were, but Soliael didn't care. When he looked at his children, Aela, the Twins, even the youngest of them, he could only grin and look towards their future. He knew that they would all do something magnificent, something he and Kira would be proud of.

“Get some rest.” He told her with that same smile, trying to reassure her. “I love you, we'll be home soon.”

Soliael would see to it.

 

[Kira Talith]

"I love you too." Kira would echo with a mirroring smile. "Be safe, " the corner of her mouth would perk and a glimmer of her mischievous nature would shine through.

"I better not hear of you and Aela running amuck off cliffs!" she gave a small shift and went leaning forward, giving a mock expressing of chiding. "Don't think I don't know what you are bribing the kids with, McSparky," the toss of the old nickname came in. A fond reminder of their past.

Scooting forward in a tangle of her blanket, one sleepy Kira would fondly lean closer to blow Sol a kiss and give a devilish wink.

"Night...and sweet dreams."

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

It was late.

Aela was already in bed, snuggled up under her blankets holding a small toy Krayt Dragon that Soliael had bought her. Her hair was tussled all about and the white streak on her face was nearly gone. He smiled as he looked down at her, turning about and letting the door slide closed behind him, leaving his daughter to rest.

They had just visited Utapau, a planet that Soliael held many friends on. Nearly a decade ago he had ventured there and aided one of the sinkhole cities in establishing new trade routes. That seemed like a lifetime ago now, when Moross had just been founded.

His daughter and him had been welcomed with open arms, the people still remembering him and greeting him with warmth and even a slight hint of adoration. Aela had enjoyed it, though most of all she had enjoyed the Varactyl's that they had found and played with there. He smiled slightly, remembering Aela riding one of the smaller lizard creatures.

Slowly he wandered over to the communicator, flipping up the screen and dialing his wife.

It was late on Borleias, later than it was here, the Kids would likely already be in bed...and maybe Kira too, but he hoped that his wife would be awoken by the sound of the call. He missed her.

 

[Kira Talith]

Three rings later, the sleep infused visage of Kira Talith would flicker in a cerulean blue display. She was laying on her side, from this angle it would show it to be their bed. She was using the handheld holocommunicator, setting it on top of the mattress beside her as she held a pillow close to her side.

"Hey there handsome," she'd breathe out in a drowsy smile, slowly waking up as she would shift on the bed to make herself comfortable. A bare shoulder would peek as the blanket would slide down, her palm coming up to cup her chin with one hand while the other would seem to draw closer. The holoprojector would shift a bit as she would adjust it so. Finally, it would stabilize, sharpening focus on Soliael's wife's face.

"You're a sight for sore eyes." she'd tease in lighthearted banter, drinking in the sight of him. "How was it?" she knew the exact journey of planet hopping Sol and Aela would chart. This time it would be Utapau.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Soliael smiled at her, that warm smile that he showed only to Kira and the kids.

A slight glow would touch his orange eyes, perhaps it was the force, or perhaps it was the stinging tears of missing his wife. Difficult to say. Soliael leaned forward, as if that would bring him closer. They had not been apart for this long in almost three years, and despite himself that fact seemed to dig into him more than any other.

“She rode a Varactyl.” Soliael relayed to his wife. “A baby one, and not up the cliffs or anything.”

His smile faded slightly. “I should have taken you, all of you.”

Kira, the Twins, Kaili, they should all have come along on this trip. They could have taken a bigger ship, Eleanin could have accompanied them further. It could have been worked out perfectly, but instead he had only taken Aela. Of course he was enjoying his time with his daughter, but he felt a part of him was missing.

 

[Kira Talith]

"Well we just have to plan a family outing then," Kira would reply, sensing the emotional turmoil of her beloved. He was torn to a degree; there was that knowledge that the time with Aela is important for her growth and her well being. But Kira could also feel the ache from being separated as they were right now. From her, from the rest of the kids.

She felt it just the same; so used to having him beside her in bed, his arms around her and nestled close to his chest. She might be a tangle of arms and legs upon the king sized bed they shared, but without him, it was just that much colder and not as fulfilling a sleep.

"How does that sound?" she'd suggest, attempting to cheer him up with a brighter thought. "Where could we go?" that would take some serious coordination, but she knew Sol would enjoy it just the same.

"Do you think Amore would like to join with? We can make it a big family thing." her face was starting to brighten a bit more, slumber waning in the growing energy the Lorrdian blonde would radiate.

She'd scoot up a bit, her free hand brushing her long bangs away from her face. Like this, with sleep still clinging her to cheeks and eyes, she had the appearance of a young girl. Funny how that worked considering how much older Soliael was to her.

"And then maybe Aela can teach Micah and Maleah the best way to ride a Varactyl."

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

He chuckled.

“Maybe not Utapau.” That was too far.

The Twins and Kaili were still a tad too young to take on long trips like that. Aela herself had squirmed nearly the entire time when they had been on the ship. No they would have to do something closer, something more nearby. Onderon might have been good, visit his mother. He was sure she might enjoy seeing Amorella and all the rest of them.

Even If she would never admit it.

“Maybe Onderon?" He mused. “Or something closer.”

“Just so the kids don't have to sit forever in the ship.” Micah and Maleah especially wouldn't like being cooped up for too long.

They liked to move.

 

[Kira Talith]

Yes, they liked to move -- alot.

It was trait from their mother, who was never able to sit still for too long. No her body had to always be in motion in some way or another. Amusement would dance in her blue eyes, a wry expression settling with certain mischief, "Oh I don't know... I'm sure you can keep them busy enough."

Yeah, Sol on a ship with all four of the kid's attention? That thought was enough to make her give a half snort of laugh. Her smirk would wane to a warm smile, and a small nod of agreement would follow. "Onderon sounds good. It's been a while since we've been there." Been a while since they really have done anything as a family, much the less have any time to themselves. Not that it was a complaint; just that four kids so close together certainly made it a bit more adventurous.

They were a bit more to handle and to keep reined in, but loved all the same.

"This time around they should be old enough to get more involved with the beast riders and all," granted... Sol may or may not have already done some cliff tossing, but we were not going to go there just yet. That also brought another thought to the fore, and she would visibly perk.

"How did Aela like Utapau?"

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

“Not as much as Hoth but more than Terminus.” Those were two planets that he had wanted to take Aela two. The former was famed for its Wampas and massive snow drifts, the latter was a trade hub that he himself had helped establish.

Though she had been amazed by what she has seen on Terminus, the icons of the gods of Moross and the massive cathedrals, she had quite honestly been more fascinated with the Tauntaun's of Hoth and the one Wampa that she and Soliael had tracked for half a day.

The element of danger probably helped that though.

“She's wild, Kira.” He smiled slightly. “But controlled.”

His lips turned into a grin at a sudden through. “I suspect when Maleah gets older she won't exactly have that same aspect of control.”

 

[Kira Talith]

There came a small grimace at that. Oh it wasn't in dislike as much as a bit of a memory. For comic relief, Kira's right hand would lightly start to massage over her right breast in remembrance.

Maleah, after all, had teeth. Rather sharp pointy teeth. Her middle daughter had taken to her husband's Garhan legacy a bit more eagerly than the rest. Teething for Maleah was a rather interesting bonding time for mother and child, leaving Kira a bit more tender after that.

"I blame your side of the family," she'd say with cheek an notable snark, "She clearly didn't get it from me," the smirk would dart her smile a bit wider, a pause in her massage.

"I am perfectly in control," she'd say with notable dramatic, giving a small yawn. Blinking rapidly, she'd add, "She was trying to chomp on Kai's fingers today. " she'd tell him, half amused and half exasperated. "Granted, Kai was the one who kept poking her finger into Maleah's mouth because she thought it was a fantastic game."

"I think you also are going to have to say goodbye to that fur cloak of yours," oh this was going to be grand, "Maleah has claimed it as her 'queenly' right."

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

He chuckled.

“I never liked that cloak much anyway, not since it got soaked.” He winked at her.

The reality was that children required sacrifice, and if that meant sacrificing a few pieces of his clothing every now and again? Well he was okay with that. It was just a cloak after all, a small article of clothing to make his little girl feel important.

“I'm sure she'll grow into it.” He wondered if that daunted Kira, the idea that their kids could grow up to be much larger than her. The idea made him smirk. “Or maybe not.”

Genes were a funny thing, and there was honestly no way to tell who the children took after. Right now they were all little chubby faced, save for Aela who had the clear markings of her mother in her. It was the way she moved mostly, the odd lithe grace, the smooth walk and the bright blonde hair. That one definitely took after her mom, no question.

 

[Kira Talith]

"You trying to say something there, kiddo?" Kira would quip back with a narrowing of her eyes, mock outrage bathing her expression. Well there was no denying that the Lorrdian Jedi Master was the one short stack in the family tree. At 1.54 meters with her boots on, Kira wasn't going to win any height contests; and standing next to Soliael made him dwarf her even more.

"Hey," she would roll onto her stomach, pushing her bangs away from her face as she would give a feint scowl to the holocamera. "I can still take you." came the amusing lighthearted taunt.

Her sham of a serious expression would fade and she'd return with a smile, " Mmm... speaking of, where are you going next?" she asked, grabbing the pillow under her as she lay on her belly.

"What's the plan?"