A/N: First of all: I don't expect anyone to read these things. I just want to put them somewhere. Second: these are just going to be one shots (or series of one shots) that take place during, after, or before the events of Jedi Academy. (To be honest, I usually write things like this when I'm facing writers block or I'm bored.) Third: this is following my head cannon (Jaden is a human female, and a family I had set up).
Anyway, this takes place after the events of Jedi Academy with the dark side ending. Let me know what you think, what I need to work on, etc. Thank you!
Jaden inhaled deeply, thinking of only the power encapsulated within the Scepter of Ragons. Her mind went back to the day she gained this power. From being in that dark tomb, back toward cutting down not only Tavion, but Alora and…
Jaden's mind seemed unsettled at the thought of the very person who set her on this path. That annoying little twit who tried to preach to her about power. He wasn't even worth mentioning, let alone dwelling on anymore. She sucked in another gasp of air and focused back on the power, the strength that pooled from the Dark Side of the Force.
It hadn't been that long since Jaden's fall, maybe close to a month or so. And under her reign of terror, the multitude of her men (which she took by force) were killed by her not too long after. She had adopted the habit of causing fear, gaining followers, only to cut them down not very far down the road. Somewhere in between she would be gathering more Force power for the scepter. The way it called to her, tempted her, was impossible to resist. And in a way, she didn't want to. Giving in was an exhilarating rush crawling under her skin; even when the feeling ended from taking all the power she could get a hold of, the remains leaving her fingertips was glorious! This was a beautiful addiction not worthy of breaking.
Making her way to answer the scepter's gnawing call, she never expected a faded face to appear to her once more after years of separation. Was it dumb luck, or the Force that spared such a reunion that left the fallen Jedi unprepared? A quick trip causing Jaden to drop her treasured scepter which ended up smacking the stranger in the back. A young man turned sharply to face who he thought was a new attacker. He stared long and hard at the young woman.
"Oh Force, I found you." He whispered.
Jaden was finally able to pick up her head to lock eyes with the stranger. It didn't take too long for Jaden to realize who it was. Jaden had never felt discomfort and fear like she did now. She slowly began to get up, unable to remove her eyes from him. "You look like hell, Jay." He said trying to take a step closer. Jaden flinched at his approach. The man retreated back in response. "How did you find me?" Jaden muttered.
The man dropped an 'are-you-serious' face. "You left a trail of chaos and death in your wake. You should be grateful I found you first instead of the Jedi."
Jaden only rolled her eyes, "They wouldn't dare raise a blade to one of their own."
"You mean, you were one of their own. Before you became hungry for power with an obsession for murder."
Jaden scoffed, "You really have no idea of the power I now have, do you?" The man only shook his head, "Last I checked, you were already powerful. Building a lightsaber before having any training, strange force powers out the wazoo, seems to me like you didn't need anything more."
"Spare me, Alex. You wouldn't understand." Jaden snarled. Alex crossed his arms, "Oh no, I think I understand perfectly. Still living in mommy and daddy's shadows, huh? I though we agreed we were good enough as we were without our parents' approval." Jaden's eyes grew cold, "Are you saying I agree with them?!"
Alex brushed off her threat, "Never did. But… I think you've let yourself believe what our parents used to say about us."
"I would never agree with them!"
"Then why are you stealing Force power, murdering people, and running from the Jedi and calling yourself more powerful?!" Jaden was so angry, she couldn't respond quickly enough. Alex continued, "If you want to defend yourself, then let's prove it like we used to." He began to crack his knuckles, "First one to give loses."
Jaden shot a skeptical glance, "You sure you want to face me with all that I'm capable now?"
"Yes," Alex said, "With how you are now, I don't have a thing to worry about."
That got Jaden angry. With the Force rushing through her, she dashed after him.
Their fist fight went on. Surprisingly enough, Alex kept up, even got the upper hand on her a multiple amount of times. It eventually reached the point where Alex was able to pin Jaden down by taking hold of Jaden's right arm straight behind her back with one of his knees digging into her. Jaden fought with all her might, but the more she struggled the more her arm began to ache. "Jaden…" Alex said calmly, "If you keep fighting me, you're going to break your arm."
Jaden made no response, she just kept fighting. "Jaden." He tried again, "If you surrender, I can let you go." She continued to fight. Alex's hold began to cause even more pain. "Don't make me do this to you." He said calmly, "You're supposed to be my sister, not my enemy. Just stop."
"I won't surrender ever!" She shouted. A great jolt of pain went through her arm causing her to cry out. Alex leaned over to talk into Jaden's ear, "You do realize every once in a while you have to know when to give in, to admit things aren't where they should be. Try it just this once, before you break your arm."
"I'm not giving in! I'm going to- GAHHH!" Before Alex could say another word, an uncomfortable crack noise was heard, followed by Jaden's screams in pain. Her arm curved a way it wasn't supposed to in Alex's grasp. He still wasn't getting off. He leaned over her to her ear again. "If you can't surrender to something as simple as this, you'll never be saved…"
"Excuse me?!" She snarled. He continued, "If you had surrendered, your arm wouldn't be broken. That would mean there's still some part of you that someone can reason with. A part of you that is still willing to do what is right, that doesn't want to get yourself hurt anymore. If that is shut off completely, no one can reach you anymore. The Jedi may spare you regardless, but I'm not so sure I can."
Anger and fear swelled up inside Jaden, trying to fight for her life. "See, like that." He said, "The Jedi would stop at nothing to capture you and keep you from causing any harm to the galaxy, as well as yourself. But for me… I could just turn you lose and let you cause your own downfall."
There was a pause, Jaden seemed to stop struggling.
"Do you not care?!" Alex went on, "Does your life even matter to you? Didn't you want to be a Jedi? Why have shut yourself off so much that you won't even let yourself be vulnerable!?" Jaden gridded her teeth. Sure there was a reason! But was she about to give a whole sob story to her brother. No thank you! "It's none of your business what happened." She muttered. "Wrong answer sis. I scoured the galaxy to find you not to let you close yourself off and destroy yourself. I came as your brother to try and help you."
"I don't need help!" She growled. "We both know that's not true. Even if you had turned without a leveled head, you would know something's wrong about what you're doing."
Everything stopped in Jaden's mind. Her brother's words were beginning to make rise in her. Maybe… maybe he's right. What was she doing? Why was everything this nonstop cycle of fear, control, and murder? That when Jaden noticed the absence of something. The very thing that kept her trapped in this cycle… her own will. The very thing she surrendered to the scepter all for its need for power. This wasn't freedom. She could lie to herself and give it a different name, but that could never change what it was… Jaden finally did something she never thought she was capable of:
She began to cry…
Oh wonderful! Now her brother could see her as a pathetic heap. But to her surprise, Alex made no comment. He just waited and listened. "Okay…" Jaden's voice was breaking, "I surrender…" Alex complied and got off Jaden's back. Jaden carefully sat up and cradled her arm. "Hold on." Alex said as he tore off part of his shirt and tied Jaden's arm in a make-shift sling. "Thanks." Jaden muttered, trying to wipe away the rest of her tears. Her brother looked back at her, his eyes unchanging in that cool demeanor of his. "So Jaden, do you know what's wrong?"
She nodded silently but refused to speak. Her brother wasn't going to have any of that. "What the hell happened to you at the Academy?" Jaden kept quiet for a while. She wasn't ready to share with her brother the pain she had experienced there, the choices she made… the people she killed. Then that one face flashed in her mind, the one that broke everything down, the one she blamed for everything…
His memory twisted up in her mind. It was impossible to describe him. Friend? Trader? A crush? An enemy? How to even begin with that guy…
Jaden released a heavy sigh and told her whole story… It was hard, the pain was still fresh to her; but in some aspects perhaps it was time to let go. But the tale of her self-destruction was still going up until now. Alex was patient, never interrupting and always doing his best to understand. By the time she was done, Alex got a chance to speak, "Wait… so you turned because of a boy?!" Jaden's cheeks colored a bit, "It wasn't like that…" She muttered. "Well of course, but still." He said running a hand through his hair. "Force Jaden! This is a fine mess you've made for yourself." Jaden didn't reply. Silence began to dominate the air around them.
"Are you still going down this path?" Alex finally asked. "You need to take that scepter away from me." His sister said without hesitation, "Give it to the Jedi. Let them handle it." Alex shook his head, "That still doesn't answer what happens to you." Jaden finally looked at her brother right in the eyes, "I'm not ready to turn myself in." She said, "I want… I want to find peace with myself first. I need… forgiveness. From myself and maybe even… Rosh." That name came as a whisper. Jaden quickly realized it was the first time in a long time his name was on her lips. Alex noticed the change in her voice. "Rosh? Was that the boy you…?" He didn't want to finish. Jaden turning away at the question was answer enough. It amazed Alex at how such a person could make such an impact on his headstrong and closed off sister.
"Tell the Jedi council, Jaden Korr surrenders her evil ways… but she'll turn herself in time." Jaden said softly. "What are you going to do until then?" He asked. "I don't know… I'll find some way to prepare myself for my enviable fate…"
A bitter feeling was left between the siblings. Alex leaned in to his sister to hug her, minding her broken arm. She hugged him back with her good arm. "I hope to see you again, Jaden… Find me if you need me. We're family and we do what's best to help." Jaden felt the tears coming back, "Thank you Alex… For freeing me. I hope to see you again too… the real me, not the person who you ran into today…"
When they released each other from their embrace, Alex went over to the scepter and picked it up. "It's heavier than I thought." He began to walk in the opposite direction as his sister. He made one last look over his shoulder as a breeze rushed though. But just like that breeze, Jaden was gone.