Binary Skies

Chapter 14: Progress

Nakari looked toward the cockpit. "You said Asajj got him over the right eye?"

Luke, catching where her gaze had traveled, hesitated, his gentle touch to her arm pausing for a moment. He decided to be honest; he didn't want to lie to Nakari, and Anakin and Luke planned on telling her eventually when they thought she wouldn't flip out and mark them as insane for it. He resumed his gentle strokes to her arm, nodding as he ran a thumb over the surface of the lightsaber. "Yes, she did. Two on the left cheek too, though those scars were much less noticeable."

Nakari sat up further, putting some pieces together, and yet...it wasn't possible.

"Luke..." Nakari began, but then she bit her lip, not wanting to sound crazy.

Anakin had the exact scar Luke was talking about. Also, if her suspicions were correct, then that would also explain Luke and Anakin's behavior toward each other.

But...

...it wasn't possible!

She opened her mouth again, looked to Luke, and then stood abruptly, walking toward the cockpit. Though what she planned to do when she arrived she hadn't quite figured out yet.

Luke rose to his feet as soon as Nakari had, a frown on his face as he tucked the lightsaber away yet again while he followed after her, prodding at his father's Force Presence as he followed after Nakari to give the older Skywalker a heads up. "Nakari..." he called, coming to walk just a step behind her.

Anakin noticed the elevated tension, and wondered what was happening now when Luke touched his mind with a somewhat worried warning.

Anakin frowned, turning toward the door as Nakari entered, Luke right behind her and trying unsuccessfully to stop her.

Anakin calmly met Nakari's intent gaze as she stopped and eyed his visage critically. Anakin held still for a moment before he had to wonder if he had something on his face from lunch.

"Is everything okay?" Anakin ventured mildly.

Nakari blinked as if coming out if a daze, and she glared at him, but Anakin could sense the fear behind the action. The woman looked between Luke and Anakin with mounting uncertainty.

"Who are you, Anakin? I mean, who are you really?" Nakari demanded to know.

Anakin flickered a glance toward Luke and sighed softly. "You should probably have a seat, Nakari."

She folded her arms defiantly. "I'll stand, thank you."

Anakin nodded once and then gave it to her straight. "My full name is Anakin Skywalker, and I am Luke's father."

Nakari's jaw dropped, and her mind flew back to the odd puzzle she had been piecing together. Her knees wobbled, threatening to drop her to the floor when she realized Anakin was completely serious.

Luke, concerned, stepped forward and gently took a hold of Nakari's arm to give her support, not wanting her to collapse or anything. He didn't say a word though, knowing she needed a moment to process everything. He waited anxiously for her response, hoping that they hadn't dropped this on her too early; the last thing he wanted was to scare her away just as their relationship was blooming.

Nakari hardly registered Luke's assistance. She was once more focused on Anakin, who was holding up rather well under her scrutiny.

Nakari allowed her gaze to slide to Luke, but then she looked back to Anakin.

"It's not..." she searched for words. "How can this be? You're practically the same age!" She finally exclaimed, unable to bear the taut silence anymore.