After the Storm (for Kyp) Iella You wouldn't believe the storm we had yesterday. Scudding clouds turned ashen and were then consumed by great pillars of roiling indigo -- angry behemoths of the sky. The sea, mirror calm at noon, caught the wind's frenzy. Aquamarine glace topped with white frills gave way to a cauldron bubbling, fermenting, throwing up what detritus, what memory of storms past? By evening the wind had calmed. But the clouds, bruised and bleeding, leached their pain into the sky of Mon Calamari. We fell asleep with the ocean still heaving, retching in sympathy. Pain inflicted leaves scars. And the sea gods were weeping. This morning the sun woke us early. No grey nimbus edged with gore like raw meat clouded its perspective. Its face beamed up at us from the ocean and nothing was hidden by choppy waves. No busy breeze ruffled the polished green. "Storm's over," someone said. "It's amazing -- the power of nature." I nodded. Because it's true. But I know more. I know there's much that is hidden, beneath the innocent sheen of the ocean, beyond the simple geometry of the horizon. If I concentrated hard enough, I think I could see the last vestiges of wounded sky in the corner of my vision. Nature marking its territory, reminding us it thinks in cycles. It can ravage and raze, and then start again with impunity. But I can't. Even connected to nature through the Force I can't wipe the slate clean. My memories are like this ocean, are like this morning-after sky. My storm is like this one, always on the periphery. Always capable of making another sweep -- sweeping like a broom, and yet not leaving me clean. Guilty flotsam and jetsam in my soul. If I could see further into the ether beyond this morning dome of sunlight and peace, could I see Carida? And would I see it with telescope eyes? Carida as it was long before the storm. How far must I go to preserve that image? A lifetime in light years. A lifetime expended trying to redress the balance. A lifetime defined by a storm. Disclaimer: All content is made up, and no profit or lucre is expected, solicited, advocated or paid. This is all just for fun. Any comments, please e-mail the author or WOOKIEEhut directly. Flames will be ignored. Characters and situations are based on those which are the property of LucasFilms Ltd., Bantam Publishing, Random House, and their respective original owners and developers. The rest is this story's author's own fault. This story may not be posted anywhere without the author's knowledge, consent, and permission. This story is presented by Wookieehut.com.