Chapter 15:
Isis sighed in relief when Anakin finally loosened his grip on her hand.
"There we go all done, if you want you can come back later an we can start on the scar removal" said the doctor.
Anakin sat up slowly and winched. That had hurt a lot more than he expected it to. Isis was rubbing her hand.
"Did I harm you?" he asked
She shook her head no
"I'm fine" she answered.
He climbed off of the table and headed for the door. Isis had been a lot quieter lately and it was beginning to worry them.
They walked into the lobby and Luke didn't even notice. He was so engrossed in the game he was playing. That he didn't notice anyone until Vader cleared his throat.
"Oh hi dad all done?" said the boy.
Looking appropriately embarrassed by his absent-minded behavior.
They walked out of the clinic together. Isis was moving a bit slower than usual.
"Perhaps we should get something to eat?" said Luke
"Excellent suggestion son, where should we go?" said Vader
"I don't know Isis what do you feel like eating?" said Luke
"I don't care I'm not hungry" she answered.
She sounded a bit listless and tired to them. They looked at each other, clearly worried about her.
"Isis is there something wrong?" said Luke
"No, I'm fine I'm just a little tired is all" said Isis
"Would you like to go back to the room and get some sleep?" said Anakin
"No I'll be fine, but I could really go for some caffeine," said Isis
. "One cup of caf coming right up" said Luke.
He promptly steered them into the first café they came to. They ordered her a huge cup of caf.
"Are you planning to share because this will keep me up all night" said Isis.
"You haven't been sleeping well lately," said Vader.
She was about to protest, when he abruptly cut her off.
"I sleep next to you remember?" said Vader.
His voice was soft and gentle.
"We're concerned bout you" said Luke
"Well then you can both relax, I've always been a bit of an insomniac" said Isis.
Luke frowned at her and looked at his dad.
"I know we just want you to know if you need us we are here" said Luke
"Thank you that's very sweet but I'm fine really" said Isis
"Well then cheer up we should be celebrating our new life" said Vader
"Speaking of which we really need to get you something else to wear" said Isis
"Ditto" said Vader
"Very funny, I'm serious why get all that work done if you intend to hide it all behind that hideous mask" said Isis
"Its not hideous and I really had no choice about wearing it" said Vader
"Well you do now" said Isis.
Luke started laughing until she included him in her plans for a new wardrobe. After she finished her caf they went shopping. They soon realized their mistake; never go shopping with a fashion designer.
When either Luke or Vader held up something she didn't like she took it out of their hands and one time she smacked them with the hanger. Vader insisted on paying for his own clothes and Isis argued with him. Vader lost mostly because she was faster with her cred chip than he was. He did however pay for one purchase that neither of them would let her see.
"It's a surprise," said Luke.
He stepped in front of her blocking her view. Vader had taken a few second longer in the store. She hadn't noticed until they were outside that he was still in the store.
"Sure wish we could have talked you into that red dress" said Luke.
He sounded a little too wistful.
"Down boy, I'm way too old for you" said Isis
"You don't show it, in fact you looked great in that concubine outfit wish you would have kept it" said Luke.
She reached over to smack the kid. He ducked out of the way.
"What concubine outfit?" said Vader. He crossed his arms over his chest.
"Oh it was just the costume I was wearing when we snuck into Jabba's to rescue Han," said Isis
Vader stiffened and glared at them both.
"You went into Jabba's dressed like that?" said Vader
"Yes I was sneaking in as one, can't exactly go in dressed like a nun" said Isis
"No one touched you right?" said Vader
"Of course not dad we were watching over her geez" said Luke
"Anakin I was fine no one even noticed me, Fett kept them away" said Isis
"Fett?" said Vader.
"Before you go all defensive he didn't get anywhere either" said Isis.
Vader looked at her, she could almost hear what he was thinking, and man he was so predictable.
"Now come along we have just enough time to drop these off before your appointment," said Isis
She walked forward ahead of them. Vader stopped Luke as he passed.
"How did she look in that outfit?" said Vader.
Luke sighed "wonderful, I think Han might still have it on his ship" said Luke
"Han saw her in it too?" said Vader
"No he was carbon blind at the time, poor guy" said Luke
"Lucky for him" said Vader.
Given the jealous feelings Luke was reading off his dad, he saw fit to leave out Lando in the statement.
Isis walked ahead of them, mostly because she wanted to be alone. Her thoughts disturbed her lately. She didn't know what she was feeling for Anakin and it scared her. The friendship was easy to accept but he seemed to want more from her. She wasn't ready for more yet. She wasn't even sure if she could even handle being his friend again.
Yes she had forgiven him but the pain he caused was still there. So was the pain obi wan had cause as well. She just need time to think about it all and sort out her feelings. Those damned dreams weren't helping either. A part of them was terrified they were true and if they were Palpatine was still alive out there. She just prayed that they weren't and that he didn't really clone himself. The thought that he could have was just too terrifying to think about.
They dropped off their purchases at the hotel and Isis grabbed two data jacks, one for her and Luke. Once again they took up positions in the lobby while Anakin went into the back room. Luke waited until he was gone to talk to her.
"What's wrong?" said Luke
"Nothing I told you I'm fine," said Isis
"No your not some things bothering you now what is it?" said Luke
"Nothings bothering me now drop it" said Isis
"No, stop lying to me please tell me what's got you so scared?" said Luke.
Isis sighed and then growled in frustration; stubbornness must be a Skywalker family trait.
"Is it us?" said Luke.
She set her data pad on her lap.
"Partially" she admitted.
"What part, please tell me" said Luke
She looked at her hands uncomfortably, the topic making her nervous.
"I'm still not sure about him, and I just don't know what to do about it," said Isis.
Luke sighed and moved closer to her.
"Your worried he's still on the dark side," said Luke
'Yeah actually I am, and worried he may be another Palpatine" said Isis
"He won't, he has something Palpatine never had, love" said Luke.
"I know I'm just worried is all, I want to believe he's changed but he still scares me" said Isis.
"You're afraid he'll hurt you again?" said Luke.
She nodded yes "and that he will hurt you too" said Isis.
Luke sighed "I can't convince you that he's not evil anymore only he can prove that to you" said Luke
"But I can feel he is changing, mostly because of us but it will take time" said Luke.
"I know but I just don't know if I can handle it, I need some time to deal, I'm going for a walk" said Isis
"Isis wait, please, please just give him some time that's all I ask?" said Luke.
She sighed and looked at the floor.
"I will, can I ask you something?" said Isis
"Yeah sure" said Luke
"Have you ever heard of a planet called Byss?" said Isis
"No why?' said Luke she frowned,
"no reason, I'll see you later kid" said Isis she turned and walked out the door.
"Take care of yourself Isis," said Luke softly.
She wandered down the street, with no set direction. She stopped once or twice to sit in a park and think. She had enough credits on her to go home if she wanted to. Somehow that felt wrong to her. Like she was running away. She had never liked to do that no matter how practical it sounded. She had hated even hiding for all these years. Maybe that's why she chose to hide in the open, she would have never made a good hermit.
She still hated to be alone. Even now when she just wanted to think. She went to a crowded park to think. She shook her head and stood up. She walked to the end of the park and got on a public transport. She rode it until it passed a beach.
That is where she got off of it. She picked her way over the rocky landscape to the sand below. She sat down on the ground and crossed her legs.
"What am I doing?" she asked out loud.
The sun was starting to set and for some reason it made her sad. Soon tears were streaming down her face.
"What do I do now, Obi, Petra Chani, Kira?" said Isis
"Are you listening, can you even listen, I feel so lost, help me?" said Isis.
The last words came out in a sob.
"Shush sweetheart you're not lost," said a familiar voice.
Isis looked up at the figure shimmering in the air. Kira's shade smiled at her warmly "surprised?" said the woman
"No actually glad, I missed you" said Isis
