Fear And Running

Chapter One

Flashbacks in italics

They never knew their true identities until Ben was 5 and Jaina was 3. They had been taken to Naboo. It had been the home of their maternal grandmother. The young Solo children had no idea about this fact. They had the fact that they were there with their mother and father. This was a rare opportunity.

For as long as they could remember, Ben and Jaina only remembered their parents arguing. They knew their parents were important to others but not to the extent that they truly were. They had been brought to some meadows high above the city. A normal day-to-day life for the two children consisted of being with their parents. Just being young and carefree.

Jaina was young and did not truly understand why they were there on this new planet. Ben knew. He knew that his parents were not truly happy together. He had heard them arguing at night. Arguing about each other, about him and Jaina, about Uncle Luke, about everything. He never expressed his knowledge to his younger sister as he wanted her to remain happy and knowing nothing.

"Come on Ben!" Jaina shouted as she ran to the top of the hill. Lifting her silk skirts as she ran. She had seen her parents disappear up the hill and Jaina wanted to be there with them. Ben would tease her by saying she was a Daddy's girl. Which she was. She loved her father and was the spitting image of him. She would follow him everywhere and demand that he teach her to be a mechanic, to teach her how to fly and to teach her to shoot a blaster.

She had not heard the loud voices but her brother had. The voices were not from arguing but from shouting. "Jaina, wait!" Running faster to try and catch her, especially when he heard the distance sounds of blasters. But Jaina had reached the top of the hill before he could catch her. She froze and saw the battle down the other side of the hill. Her parents in the midst of it. Fighting furiously. Something she had never seen. Han was hit in the shoulder and that terrified the youngest Solo.

"Papa!" She screamed in fear. Not knowing the real danger that she was in.

Ben reached her side and saw the fighting. He was intrigued but also afraid. Halfway up the hill were four burly men running towards them with blasters. "Run!" He grabbed his sister's hand and turned them back down the hill, where their protectors met them seconds later. They were lifted up and carried away from the fighting. Away from the danger.

Jaina held on tightly to her saviour and looked behind her. She realised the danger she had put her family in by shouting to her Papa. But her Papa was fighting. That night her mother and father explained to her and Ben why they were in such danger. Explaining why they needed to be careful and never leave their protectors. That was when their relationship changed with their parents. Ben became slightly more withdrawn from them and Jaina remained closer to her father.


Sat in a gloomy bar on Tatooine was Jaina Solo. Not one person knew who she truly was. Living the life of a smuggler for the past few years. Just like her father had. This was their meeting place whenever they could meet. Jaina was on the run from the First Order. She lay low to avoid being found. For years she had lived an ideal life with her mother, father and brother but a disaster hit the family and they all split from each other. It was the way Jaina lived now. Alone. It was how she liked it. Keeping her head down and out of trouble.

She was sitting at the bar, sipping on her fourth drink in the city port of Mos Espa. The planet was notorious for bandits and smugglers. The perfect hiding place for someone on the run from the First Order. "I'll have the same," the familiar voice sat next to her. "How many have you had, Maia?" Using her fake name.

"This is my fourth." Draining the last of the contents of her drink, gesturing to the barkeep for another. "How long are you here for?"

"Can't stay long." Downing his own drink. "Have you spoken to your mother?"

She shook her head and sipped her fresh drink. "No. Not for two years. They weren't friendly words."

Shouts came from outside, sending everyone in the bar on high alert. "Get out of here." He nudged her towards the door but they were too late. The room was filling with First Order troops demanding for people's identifications. But no one was showing. Tatooine was not a place for the First Order nor the rebels. "Separate."

Jaina nodded and slipped in between everyone, getting herself far away from her father. Her hand on the hilt of her blaster but her hand itched to reach for her other weapon. A weapon that would reveal her true identity. A last resort. She kept to the shadows, hiding behind the tallest creature. A hairy creature. "Hello Chewie," whispering as she hid behind her father's first mate. Ever the protector.

"Rrr," gently growling as he kept her behind him. Shielding her from view.

"I need to get out," whispering to him as she pressed herself against his soft, furry back. She slipped around him, aiming towards the door but her path was blocked. A man in black pushed her back inside.

The man stood tall, his jaw set as he moved into the bar. "We have heard of a rumour of resistance fighters in these parts." He pushed Jaina further into the room. Proceeding to move around, staring at each occupant of the room. His cold stare putting fear into each and every one of them. From where she stood, she could see her father. His eyes never leaving her. She could see the fear in his eyes. She was trapped and if she were discovered, it would be dangerous for her. For him too. "Now, if anyone has any information, step forward and you will be rewarded."

The occupants twitched uneasily. Wanting to say something for a reward but the First Order could double cross. "No rebels dare come here." Someone spoke up from the back. "Too scared to."

A fire shot and the one who spoke fell down dead. All hell broke loose. Shots fired from every direction. Aimed mainly at the troops of the First Order. Jaina, Han and Chewie were among those who shot at the troops. "STOP!" The loud voice of the general boomed across.

Everyone, oddly, froze. Blasters pointed at enemies. "That one there! The girl! She is a rebel!" A female pointed at Jaina.

Jaina froze. Her blaster pointing at a troop. Ready to fire at the next sign of a fight. "She is a liar," speaking through gritted teeth. Her eyes never leaving the troop in front of her, who was also ready to fire at her.

"Kill them all," the man spoke with not a care and turned to leave as the fight began again.

That was it for Jaina. She needed to act now. She holstered the blaster and reached to her left hip. On her left hip sat her most dangerous weapon. A weapon she built and was trained with. Her lightsabre. She released it and stood ready to fight. To protect herself. "No Jaina!" Her father shouted.

The man in black turned at that name and at the noise of the powering up lightsabre. "Ah! I want her alive!"

Jaina wasted no time. With skill and fluid movements, she deflected each shot that came towards her. She cut down every stormtrooper who attacked her with stunners. "Jaina, come on!" Her father shouted at her from the entrance way, shooting any attackers.

She fought hard. She knew she had to leave the planet fast. To avoid him. To avoid the real danger. She shouldered a stormtrooper to the ground and pushed hard to get outside, where there was complete panic. There was fighting everywhere. She sheathed her lightsabre to avoid any more attention brought to her.

A hand slipped around her wrist. She half expected the general to be there but it was her father. "Come on, girl. Where's your ship?"

"Hanger 8." Slipping into the backstreets of Mos Espa, running as fast as they could and stopping as they reached her ship. "Go Father! Leave me. It's too dangerous now."

"I'm not leaving you until you are safe!" Keeping his grip on her wrist.

"No Father. Go! He will be here. It's not safe for either of us." She kissed him on the cheek, wrenched her hand from his grip and ran from him. Running as fast as she could into her ship. Never looking back at the man she called Father. Her fear spurred her on. Her fear was the only thing that kept her alive. Running away from her fear.