Major writer's block the past couple of months, but tonight I was healed. I present the opening chapter to a new story I've been mulling over the past couple months. Enjoy!
Jaina sat crying in the incinerator chambers, cradling the body of her dead brother. Thousands of emotions were raging through her, but the only one she could feel was the power of their twin bond. Its energy surged through her, enveloped her, even though her brother was gone.
A certain rage passed as the hardening realization that she would never see her brother again hit her. Without realizing, Jaina gathered the force and let off a burst of Force energy so powerful the chambers rocked. Continuing to weep, Caedus let off a pained sigh. Eyes widened, Jaina held his body out and felt the difficult breathing taking place. Almost relieved, Jaina's tears turned to joy and she held her brother tighter. They did say capture was an option.
"Jaina?" He muttered, delirious. Rocking his body close, Jaina reached out to her mother, warning her of the odd turn of events.
Before Leia had a chance to respond, Jaina heard footsteps echo through the heated halls. Jag stepped out of the shadows and rushed to Jaina's side. Apparently, Jag did not hear the labored breathing of her brother and motioned to take him. This angered Jaina. She gathered the force once more and shoved Jag into a wall.
Carefully, he got back up and slowly approached Jaina. "It's fine Jaina. It's me, Jag. Everything is going to be okay now."
He laid his hand on her back and slowly gathered her in his arms. Physically and mentally fatigued, it took all she had to whisper the precious words. "Still alive." And then she was swallowed in the darkness.
Caedus sat bored in the grey durasteel room. His dark hair was the only thing that stood out among the small table and set of chairs. A blacked out window faced Caedus and the stun-cuffs bored into his wrists, but he embraced the pain. He sat, almost amused. The Jedi had healed him and locked him away for unknown weeks. This was the first time he had been taken somewhere besides his cell.
Though he was shut off from the force, the place in his heart that belonged to his estranged sister began to warm. The amused masked vanished into a look of puzzlement that was quickly hid. The familiar feeling, so long forgotten, was warming and strangely welcomed. Lost in the sensation, Caedus almost didn't realize his "interrogator" enter the room.
Jagged Fel, crisp, clean and Imperial, strode over to the table but did not sit. Caedus once again resumed his amused state. "You are the last person I expected to be interrogated by."
"You and me both. It seems all the Jedi lined up to interrogate you did not trust themselves alone in a room with you."
Caedus chuckled. "They should be afraid."
It was Jag's turn to be amused. "Oh no, you misunderstand me. The Jedi do not trust you, they don't trust themselves. They feared, if left alone with you, you would not live to see the light of another day."
Caedus's amused demeanor vanished. "Please hurry and proceed with this, Fel. I need time to plan my escape."
Jag seemed amused once again, but the serious Imperial masked any amusement. "Did you murder Mara Skywalker?"
Without hesitation, Caedus answered. "Yes." A flare of the force broke through his shield.
"You do realize behind that glass, you just confirmed nine people's suspicions." Jag stated.
"Indeed."
Jag nodded curtly. "Did you order the assassination of Galactic Alliance ex-head Cal Omas and the Imperial Grand Admiral Gilad Pelleaon?"
"Why don't you ask Ben Skywalker?" Caedus turned to the window and winked at where he felt his young cousin standing.
"Answer the question, Hutt Slime." Jag said with a deadpanned voice.
Caedus raised his brow. "I did."
Jag continued to pace the bland room. "How did you motivate Tahiri Veila? What did you offer her in exchange for her service?"
"Ah, now we're getting somewhere Fel. I offered her a chance at closure with my dearly departed brother. I offered an escape from her pain." The sneer on Caedus' face was as cocky as it was sinister. Jag didn't seem to notice.
"And did you-?"
"Let me ask you something, Jagged. Did you find my sister first? Did you comfort her when she needed someone? Please forgive my metaphors, but were you her rock when the rising tide swept her shallow shores?"
He saw a minuscule crack in Jag's statue, but Jag continued to pace. "How did Lumiya entice into her teaching?"
A sinking feeling caught in Caedus's stomach. Allana. He reached out to the Jedi in the viewing room and felt Tenel Ka. Betrayal echoed through the Force. Somewhere close, a bright presence shone into Caedus's heart. He tried to reach out towards his daughter, sending warm and comforting feelings but the girl recoiled in terror.
Dejected, Caedus turned back to Jag. "She offered me a chance at a peaceful galaxy and I took it."
Jag turned back to the viewing window and nodded. "One moment please." He left the debriefing room for mere seconds. When Jag returned everything seemed normal.
"And what chance did she offer?"
Tired of these pointless questions, Caedus's irritation grew like itching powder in and envirosuit. He glanced up at Jag, trying to hide the mask of hatred but purposefully failing. "Why are you questioning me, Jagged? You stated none of the other Jedi were up to the job, but why you? Was it for my sister?"
Jag stopped this time, glaring at Caedus. He had Jag's attention now. It was time to break the unbreakable.
"Did I ever tell you how my encounter with your sister went years ago? Searching for Zonama Sekot and finally coming to Csilla in hopes of answers, we found little Wyn Fel awestruck at the multiple Jedi who had landed on her home planet. She followed me everywhere, the little pest." He muttered under his breath. "She shared her hopes and aspirations for travelling to Coruscant with me.
"She also let slip how you had gone months without returning to your home, long after your designated time to the New Republic." Caedus glanced at his sister through the window, but continued to talk to Jag.
"How horrible it must feel, to sacrifice the love of one's family for the love of one rebel girl, who would no doubt betray you and your trust, resulting in exile. Who are you, Jagged Fel? Your family has abandoned you and only now do you mend the bonds broken with your teenage sweetheart."
Jag's full composure was shattered. He was now openly glaring with such a passion, his aura must have been radiating with hatred. Caedus was not the only one to see this. Obviously the Jedi, more specifically Jaina, had noticed this as well and they were ordering Jag back into the viewing area.
Jag obliged and turned for the doors. Before he exited, he turned back to Caedus. His broad arms crossed sternly over his chest in a manner, Caedus guessed, very much like Baron Fel. The shorter man was now looking down at the Sith sitting in the chair. Jag stooped so low, their noses were almost touching. "I hope you rot in the nine Corellian hells."
Without realizing what was happening, Jag reared back and slammed Caedus across the face. The stars swam across his vision, but the Chiss trained exile had dragged Caedus back to unconsciousness.
Thank you for reading! I hope you liked it. Please comment, favorite or follow! More chapters to follow.