Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: Aftermath

23: The Mural

Lalo drifted calmly between the tall blades of grass in every direction. The house was already a pinprick in the distance, and he was aware that if he was ambushed out here, no one would hear his cries.
He didn't know exactly where he was going. He just walked peacefully, searching for a break in the horizon that would catch his attention. After a long while, he stumbled upon a cave. There was a rubble pathway leading up to it, and beside the entrance were murals of two large, wolf like creatures. He knew these were Loth wolves, from Amaliea and Jacen's stories.
He brushed a small hand against one of the wolves eyes, tilting his head at the careful attention to its design.
Inside the cave was interesting, too. Right inside there was another huge mural. Loth Wolves were present here too, but they weren't the centrepiece. No, it was a family. Quite a diverse one, he might add. Right in the center was a boy who reminded Lalo of someone very much, maybe of eighteen, with a Loth Cat curled around his shoulders. More were at the feet of a Mandolorian whose armour and eyes looked strikingly familiar.
Oh, I see now. Lalo thought. These are the original Spectres. The boy is Amaliea's father, and that girl is her mother.
His gaze shifted to the green Twi'lek and the brown-haired human.
Well, those are definitely Jacen's parents.
He stifled a laugh and squinted at the purple creature at the very back.
"Hmm, i've never seen someone like you before," Lalo remarked out loud.
"That's because Lasat haven't been very common for a while." an unfamiliar voice with a sharp accent clarified. Lalo didn't even flinch.
"Oh, really?" he asked, peering over his shoulder. A very old human man, standing straight with his hands tucked neatly behind his back, approached the mural. He stood beside Lalo, who looked up at him with interest.
"Who are you?"
"Alexsandr Kallus, at your service." the old man didn't return the child's gaze but continued looking at the purple creature behind Kanan.
Lalo smiled at the familiar greeting. "You know, I say that too, when I introduce myself."
Kallus's cold expression cracked a bit, allowing a small amount of warmth to slip through his demeanour.
"You seem to be a very perceptive child, from the way you were examining this mural." the human said.
Lalo returned to the painting. "Yes, it's very good, isn't it? Did you know the Spectres?"
Kallus scoffed. "Did I? I married one of them."
"This one, I assume?" Lalo tapped the face of the purple creature. Kallus nodded.
"Yes. Garazeb Orrellios. He was.. quite the character."
Lalo tilted his head. "You seem like someone who's lived multiple lifetimes." he mused. The old man ignored him. He turned away from the mural and walked to the corner of the room, producing a large stone and setting it down amongst dozens of others. Lalo watched him with interest.
"How long has it been since he died?" the boy asked with interest. Kallus sat down cross-legged in front of the mound of stones for a minute. He closed his eyes.
"Six years, eight months, four weeks." he replied heavily.
"And why did you put a rock, there?" the Mirialan pointed to the neat stacks. The old man got to his feet again with a small groan.
"I place one down every year on our anniversary." he said flatly, making his way to the mouth of the cave. Lalo's gaze flitted between Kallus and the stones. He waited a few moments, then jogged to the man's side. Kallus didn't acknowledge the boy. He continued staring straight ahead as he walked down the pathway, away from the cave.
"Who are you?" he asked Lalo after a long moment of silence. Lalo sighed. "I'm.. a friend." he said truthfully. "Jacen Syndulla and Amaliea Bridger are taking care of me."
Kallus's eyebrows raised but he didn't look down. "Interesting. You're Force-sensitive, I'm guessing."
"I am." Lalo replied simply. Kallus shook his head and exhaled sharply. "An idea was planted in that boys head by Ahsoka to start a new Jedi Order. I can't believe he actually went through with it. He really is Kanan and Hera's son." he added, although it sounded as though he was mostly speaking to himself.
Lalo glanced up at him. "Where are you going?"
Kallus finally met the boy's eyes.
"Me? I am going home. You? You're going somewhere a little more meaningful, I imagine."
"Home is plenty meaningful. Trust me, I know. I've never had one."
"You misinterpreted my words, then. Home is meaningful to individuals. The place where you are going is meaningful in the matters of the Force."
"And where is it I'm going?" Lalo asked calmly.
Kallus withdrew a paper from his coat and scribbled something on it. He tucked it into Lalo's pocket and patted the Mirialan's shoulder.
"Good luck." he said. The old man looked Lalo up and down for a moment and seemed to decide on something. He scoffed very lightly and nodded, patting Lalo on the shoulder again. Then he put his hands in his pockets and turned around, heading in the other direction, leaving Lalo standing there on the rubble path. Kallus walked off into the distance humming something indistinct but beautiful.
Lalo reached into his pocket once the old man had completely faded from view. On the paper was a crudely drawn map. It led away from the field and around a nearby village. Lalo squinted at it.
"Alright," he said brightly. He rubbed his hands together and set off.
——
Zarli sat in the tall grass for a long time after Lalo had left. She sighed and fell back, training her gaze on the clouded sky. A face appeared, blocking out the sun.
"Oh, hi, Amaliea," Zarli said. The Mandolorian plopped down beside her with a small grunt, taking a sip from a cup.
"Shouldn't you be helping with the girl?" Zarli asked her teacher, squinting. Amaliea shrugged. "Evie's got it. She's stable now. Hopefully there won't be lasting damage and she wakes up soon."
Zarli pushed herself back into a sitting position. "You should propose to her."
Amaliea spat out whatever she was drinking and began coughing violently. She took a few minutes to compose herself before glaring at her student through tears. She cleared her throat.
"Um," Amaliea said loudly. Zarli broke down into giggles.
"Evie and I already have a plan to get married. I don't think I need to propose?" Amaliea rubbed her chest. Zarli flopped into her teachers lap.
"But it would be romaaaaaaaantic," the Twi'lek drawled with a grin. Amaliea rolled her eyes. "What has gotten into you?" she exclaimed. Zarli punched the dark haired girl in the shoulder playfully. "I'm serious!"
Amaliea shot her a skeptical look. "Alright, Doeda."
Zarli got to her feet and dragged the other one up too.
"Think about it!" the girl said brightly before walking off. However, as soon as Amaliea couldn't see her anymore, her smile faded.
——
"She's stable, Jacen. I'm gonna go clean up." Evie laid a hand on the man's shoulder before leaving the room. Jacen stared at the stranger on the bed through concerned eyes. Cass moved her chair around to the other side of the bed, next to him. Ahsoka's daughter, Xielle, checked the girls temperature.
"No fever, so, that's good." she told the room as a whole. Then she bustled her daughters out of the bedroom and down to the kitchen to give Jacen and Cass some privacy.
"Why do you care so much?" Cass asked the hybrid. She peered at the stranger's peaceful face curiously. Jacen leaned back in his chair and sighed. "I don't know, kid." he admitted, his eyes still trained on the unconscious girl.
Cass's gaze flitted between her caretaker and the sleeping body. Then she shrugged.
"I haven't been sleeping very well, so, I'm gonna go back to the ship and do that. I don't really like all these people, anyway. I can barely handle you guys," she quipped, earning herself a playful glare from Jacen. She smiled lightly and left the room as well.
Jacen cocked his head and took the girls hand in his own.
"I, uh, I don't know who you are, but, uh, I don't know, I feel like I know you?" he mumbled. He dropped his head into his hands with a sigh and rubbed his temples, confused.
There was a small groan from beside his ear and Jacen raised his head, furrowing his brows. The strangers hand squeezed his own and she slowly opened her eyes. Jacen watched her silently.
She looked around groggily.
"Where.. am.. I?" she managed. Jacen didn't reply. He was mesmerized by her eyes. They were strange. One was blue with undertones of purple, and the other was gray. Both of them glinted with hints of bright yellow.
The stranger frowned at him and wrenched her hand out of his grasp. Suddenly she was wide awake and sitting up.
"What the hell?!" she cried, holding her head in pain. Her strange eyes jumped all over the room. Jacen was instantly on his feet as well. He held his hands out and frantically tried to calm her down.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" he shouted, grabbing her wrists as she flailed around. As soon as he touched her she froze and stared at him. Her untrusting gaze pierced him but she said nothing. She frowned deeply but held his eyes. She slipped out of his grasp, hands all soft and gentle.
Then she whacked him across the face.
"What the hell?!" Jacen yelled, falling backwards off of the bed. The stranger leaped up and to the door like a small nimble creature. She ran as fast as she could across the threshold and down the stairs, looking for a way out. A window caught her eye and she scrambled to it, grabbing someone's shoe along the way. She raised a hand, ready to smash the glass. Thankfully Tam had just been walking by. She jumped at the stranger, pinning her arms behind her back and making her drop the shoe.
"What the hell is this?!" shouted the stranger, kicking her legs out.
"Stop struggling, please. You're going to hurt yourself and someone else." Tam commanded. She pulled her into the kitchen where Lorai and Evie were standing.
"Oh!" Lorai yelped in surprise. Evie firmly took the stranger from Tam. She kicked and flailed wildly, but Evie held her steadily with a strength that didn't fit her small frame and thin limbs.
"Calm down. No one here is going to hurt you." Evie soothed the stranger.
Eventually the girl tired out and she relaxed against the healer's grip, whimpering slightly. Evie stroked her wild hair calmly and led her to a seat. The stranger curled up in a ball on the chair. Her brown hair stuck out at odd angles and her strange eyes were once again flitting all over the room. Evie crouched in front of her.
"Hey, there. Can you tell me your name?" she asked. The stranger swallowed hard and her gaze slowly centred on the Twi'lek.
"M-my name?" she whispered. Evie nodded.
"Do you remember it?" the healer prompted. The stranger nodded shallowly. Tam and Lorai exchanged impressed looks from behind the counter.
"M-my name i-is.." the girl trailed off again with a frown, as if trying to determine if these people were truly hostile or not. She smoothed down her wild hair and narrowed her eyes, not with distrust, but with calculation.
The stranger swallowed again, as if deciding.
"My n-name is.. Tanna-Ara." she whispered.