Jedi Reborn

Written by Ben Maxwell

Shortly after his brother's death, Jacen Solo is captured and held prisoner on the new Yuuzhan Vong base on Coruscant. Because of the pain of such a great lost, the pacifistic and indecisive Jacen Solo everyone knew is gone. After some motivation, Jacen becomes a type of Jedi Knight that he hasn't been since the war began.



PROLOGUE

Jacen had just been thrown into a cell and locked up. Not long after this, he sensed Jaina call out to him. We'll be back, Jacen. You hold on. We'll come for you.

No, you can't! But it was too late. Jacen felt Jaina suddenly shield herself from everything. He knew that she must be involved in a battle of some sort.

If she tries to come get me, she'll get herself killed. Mom and Dad already lost Anakin. They're going to lose me, but they won't lose Jaina, too. There has to be some way to make sure she gets back to the base, where it's safe.

After hours of planning, he got an idea. It'll be painful, in more ways than one, but it's the only way. I have to make them all think that I'm dead. None of them can know that I'm still alive. No matter what I hear calling, I have to remain silent. I know that this will cause pain. But it will be the lesser of two pains if they lose only me. I'm no great loss to the Jedi anyway. They need more Anakins. Not Jacens.

Jacen searched in his mind until he found the coral skipper Jaina and all the rest of their friends were flying in. He searched until he found the Falcon. He searched until he found the Jedi base with all the other Jedi. When he found them all, he projected a feeling of great pain to them. He projected a sound of himself screaming from it, and then cut himself away from them. He heard dozens of voices shout out to him.

The first voice he heard belonged to Tenel Ka. Jacen! My friend! Jacen! Then he felt her go into deep rage. Jacen shielded his next thought. I love you, Tenel.

For some reason, Jaina didn't feel the pain. But he knew that she would figure it out from sensing the others as they sensed his pain. She's shielding herself away from emotion. Obviously because of Anakin. Maybe she won't feel it firsthand, but hopefully feeling it from others will convince her enough.

Instantly after this, he felt his mother. Although he knew she felt his pain, somehow she knew that he wasn't dying. She may not be fooled, but if the others are convinced, maybe they can convince her… Somehow, Jacen doubted that.

Jacen's plan had been successful. He had fooled all the Jedi, except for his mother. He felt them all morn: Jaina, Tenel Ka, Uncle Luke, Aunt Mara. Even Kyp, who he knew didn't like him very much. He felt his mother morn for his pain, but not his death.

After he was finished, physically and emotionally exhausted from his work, Jacen fell back against a corner of his cell and slid down into a crouch. A single tear came down his cheek. Now…I really am alone.