Thanks Katie Ladmoore and DragonRider2000 for your reviews!

Congratulations to DragonRider2000 for guessing the quote in the last chapter correctly! I'll announce your character in the next update. For all of my other wonderful readers, the quote was by CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl: "Not without my effects."

The theme for the movie "Castaway" goes with scenes 2-4 and Evanescence's "Hello" is for 7-8…

Friction

At last they had reached the hangar! The only thing which stood in their way now was the mass of troopers between them and the ship: a big problem in Elaina's eye, though the clones seemed to be occasionally distracted by something. If they could use that to their advantage, perhaps getting out of the space prison would not be such an arduous chore.

If that plan failed, two heavily wounded women versus about a dozen trained, heavily armored and equipped soldiers would hardly be fair for a ship-threatening shootout…even if Kelly's 'companions' showed up. Besides, who was this supposedly annoying 'captain' her sister occasionally referred to with a dependable roll of the eyes? According to the hardly certifiable, scant description, the only problem with the man was that his morals were a bit loose from a times-matched, hard life. Thousands, even millions of people throughout the galaxy had been reduced to lives of brigands. Elaina had seen it far too often.

Between scanning the room for a viable diversion and checking her twin's injury, as she didn't have a mirror to study her own bumps and bruises, the girl's eye caught sight of two separate points of movement aside from the clones. To the left was a momentary flicker of gold which turned out to be 3PO, vainly attempting, but shockingly succeeding to stay hidden and waiting for orders of some sort…something that was of no concern to Elaina compared to the alternate sight…something that was impossible for Kelly to miss in a lifetime. Across the room, through an open door, in the hall was Vader…and Obi-Wan.

--

"You can't win, Darth," Obi-Wan stated firmly, with the usual twinkle in his eye that appeared when he knew something no one else did. "If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine."

The dual continued; however, the old man knew of the inevitable. His only comfort was that he would never again have to be separated from Kelly by distance, as distance did not matter where he was going. He had prepared himself for this moment for nearly twenty years with the starting advice from Yoda, Qui-Gon's (senior) coaching, his own hours of meditation and study, and, most importantly, Kelly's patient, tolerating encouragement…up until the time when both knew that their paths would once again separate them to a certain extent.

The stormtroopers were coming his direction to watch the show, making the perfect cover for his fleeing beloved. Fate would have its turn.

--

Upon seeing both alternate segments of her group running towards the ship, Kelly urged her sister forward, determined that reaching the ship would mean a chance to save Ben. As the two women limped along, trying and primarily failing to help each other, she spotted a different bit of action, the one which had cleared the way for the retreat. Now she knew why Elaina had been so reluctant to leave the doorway…and so eager to get to the ship without the brunette caring about anything else.

She put on the brakes as soon as they had neared the craft's entrance, flashed a glance at Darth Vader, and locked eyes with her husband, though she could feel the wrath of the Sith's stare upon her for a short time. Ben's gaze was a mix of sorrow, fear, joy, and peace. She knew that this was the day he had been preparing for all this time, but she still found herself confused and terrified.

It all happened in a matter of seconds.

With a nod from Ben that the younger twin completely overlooked, Elaina's grip tightened on her arm slightly. Vader's lightsaber came around in a deadly blow that was calmly taken by his opponent, who disappeared the moment it hit him. Kelly's murderous, agonizing scream of fury and sorrow mingled, as she would much later become aware of, with Luke's; however, Luke had the wits about him to remain in the present.

Kelly, on the other hand, frantically bolted in the direction of what remained of her husband while Elaina indifferently gripped onto her, yanking her towards the ship, whispering words of comfort that the girl would never care to comprehend.

His smile had been so gentle and calming, his eyes had held the fire of her love, his arms had been the only real comfort she had ever known to truly console her in hard times, his voice had been the only thing she cared to close her eyes to, and his presence was her cornerstone of life, her foundation and strength. Now, he had left her forever.

--

Finally shoving the weeping woman up the ramp, dragging her further into the ship, and plopping her into a seat in the corner, Elaina practically had to sit on her sister to keep her from rushing back out of the ship…getting herself captured or killed in the process. She couldn't let that happen. Even if it had just been a shared nod of approval between her and the man she had once loved, she had promised to keep Kelly safe…at least as safe as possible.

After a moment, as the ship proceeded to escape the cage of the station, Kelly's crazed babbling and scratching turned into pure sobbing and clinging; Elaina then sank down to her knees, knowing that her soothing embrace, something that had helped Leia through every nightmare, grammar exam, and family difficulty since the Queen of Alderaan's death, would be nothing next to the comfort of the man over whom they had once nearly become sworn enemies.

Slowly but surely, the sobs became sniffles of exhaustion and realized pain, followed promptly by the taller girl's passing out. Since everyone else was preoccupied with the oncoming fighters, including Leia, which left Elaina a tad bit miffed, she was left to dragging the passed out woman to the back of the ship, even through its jolting of avoidance. Either Kelly had gained a whole lot of weight, or she just seemed much heavier at a dead weight.

Reaching her goal and setting her sister on the stiff cot, she began digging through the nearby containers that should have held such things as pain relievers, sedatives, maybe even a good tranquilizer as long-time payback (those things left one big bloody headache when they wore off)…but none of those things were to be found in those normal places.

Instead, a drawer under the cot possessed the sought-for condiments. Armed with a nearly outdated pain reliever, a half-used sedative, and rather primitive bandaging, Elaina set to work, giving herself something for pain as well just for good measure.

She really did feel sorry for Kelly's loss and sad for Obi-Wan's death, but endless torture and exhaustive interrogation had left her befuddled and dispassionate.

--

Five minutes later, she was rather pleased with the outcome of her labor. Kelly's wound was cleaned and wrapped and she wouldn't wake up needing a shoulder to cry on again for at least an hour. Content, the woman covered Kelly with a blanket, grabbed a wet rag, and made her way back towards the forward section while gingerly dabbing at her face as she went.

The bumping around had thankfully ceased and everything seemed in order…except that one of the last links to her past was dead…along with all of the knowledge he could have shared to future generations.

At least she knew that this was real.

"Your ship is not perfect, whatever you may think, Captain," Leia was saying as Elaina neared the interior room. She cringed at the princess' tone. Her charge's moods could rival Kelly's when it came to frightening. "They are tracking us; I just know it."

"And I just know that this conversation isn't worth mentioning again, Princess," a charming man with a crooked smirk, thoughtful eyes, and calm demeanor replied, sitting down at one of the benches in the compartment. He was good-looking by any standard. No wonder Kelly had been so perturbed! "I suppose you're our second extra passenger," he continued, the first to notice the newcomer. Hmm, he was deceivingly observant.

"Aylana!" the princess instantly exclaimed, racing to hug her protector. Elaina's slightly pained, if muffled, grunt alerted Leia of a problem. "Are you alright? What happened?"

"The usual," she answered generally, avoiding any details of her stay in that horrible place, slowly taking the rag away from her face, and placing her eyes back on the apparent captain. "I suppose I have you and your worthy craft to thank for our wonderfully accurate, if rough-drawn escape."

"Han Solo," he introduced sociably, leaning forward from his seat, extending his hand in an offered greeting, which Elaina graciously accepted, gently shaking the man's hand.

"Aylana Jinn." The lie stung, but not nearly as much as before. She next vaguely noticed the giant Wookie as it entered.

"Oh, and this is my copilot Chewie."

"What?!" she abruptly cried, turning her gaze fully upon the huge fur ball. "Chewbacca of Kashyyyk?!"

The creature's whiny greeting was the most welcoming thing she could have ever wanted as he loped towards her, gathering the girl in his hairy arms in a familiar cuddle that she hadn't experienced since before the Clone Wars.

--

Han watched his old friend embrace the complete stranger, utterly perplexed. Where could Chewie have possibly met this woman who was no more than thirty? She was too refined and commanding to have known the Wookie on his homeworld, and Chewie had hardly spent any time between his life on the planet he was from and that of a smuggler with Han. Chewie wouldn't even raise his voice loud enough for anyone but the girl to hear, as if she was just that close to him.

Suddenly, he was brought back to reality as copilot made another muttered comment which brought Aylana's gaze back to him. Though being unsuccessful in smothering an unexpectedly girlish laugh, the woman was quick to regain her shattered composure and point at the captain.

"I apologize for that," she stated, trying to suppress a grin, "but Chewie just pointed out the similarity between our belts."

Looking at her and then his torso, Han did find it rather interesting that their holsters were almost exactly the same, though he couldn't find the reason for her outburst of humor; therefore, his laugh was a bit forced.

"So," Han began awkwardly, though he didn't know why, "where do you know each other from?"

"From where do we know each other, you mean?" she queried mischievously.

"What?"

"You ended your sentence with a preposition. Just because you're a pirate does not mean that you can't speak properly." Han gave a flat stare. The prestigious accent did nothing to her advantage at the moment. "Fine…when I was young, my teacher brought me on a visit to Kashyyyk. Chewie was quite well-known as a leader even then."

The Wookie's clucking agreement caused Han to doubt that claim.

"Uh-huh, sure…" Changing the subject… "Chewie, we should check our coordinates."

--

Groggily (and grouchily) sitting on the small transport which Elaina had dumped her on, Kelly studied the stone and metal surroundings of the Rebel base on Yavin something-or-other as her entourage was greeted by a quite elated commander who seemed almost overly familiar with the supposed Leia.

"You're safe! We had feared the worst," he said, hugging the princess before backing off and taking a more formal air. Several statements were exchanged, but one of the last truly caught the Jedi's ear. "Indeed…when Commander Qui-Gon returned with Aylana's ship and reported that you hadn't met him at the assembly point, we were all quite worried."

Qui-Gon?!

"Thank you, Commander," Leia replied, beginning to walk away from the transport, which Kelly was still sitting on, with Elaina and several others. "We need to get Aylana and Kelly, the girl over there, to the infirmary."

"Right away, Princess."

Sadly, Kelly hadn't had any time to really introduce herself to the princess, but, so far, she seemed nice, if a bit uptight…hmm, familiar?

"Leia," Elaina promptly cut in, losing all outward formality, "I would like to see the state of my ship before…"

"No, General," the superior of all present interrupted, "…I need you back on duty as soon as possible; that means going to the infirmary now."

Kelly gaped through the returning throb in her side. Not even Queen Amidala had dared tell 'Elaina Kalonya' what to do. Sparks seemed to be on the verge of igniting for a moment as the princess/senator and former Jedi Master stared at each other for a moment. Looking at Leia made Kelly feel as if she were watching herself when she and Elaina had not agreed on something.

At last, the tension broke with the bodyguard's tight words.

"As you wish, Your Highness." Before alighting the transport for the trip to the medical center, however, the blond stopped a passing boy who couldn't have been more than fourteen or fifteen. "Jeneth, see to it that my commander reports to me in the infirmary within the hour."

"Yes, General," the boy replied, giving a sloppy salute that was instantly corrected by his leader before he went skittering off. Elaina seemed to have influence and power here greater than anyone here but the princess. It almost made Kelly uncomfortable as they sat side-by-side during the ride to their destination.

"How are you feeling?" the other woman queried, keeping her head high though her hand discreetly death-gripped the seat. Kelly was nearly surprised, though for no reason. She was still in shock over recent events, but she answered anyway.

"I'm completely out of my element. I've hardly had any experience with civilization lately aside from the rough-house desert towns. This…" Her sweeping gesture encompassed the entire, huge room. "…there's so many people…so much, believe-it-or-not, disorderly order. How did the Rebellion gain so much support?"

"More people, planets, and star systems oppose the Empire than it allows for its subordinates to see. But, though they are smaller, they are more powerful. We only possess a mere handful of fighters in comparison, plus a mediocre collection of alternate firepower. But…what the enemy prides itself in weaponry, we have in courage, morality, and purpose.

"That doesn't answer my question." Elaina almost seemed reluctant.

"We…we have agents on many Empire-controlled planets and ships. We even have a spy in the ranks of the station's crew, though he could be dead by now, for all I know. If locals on the respective planets show a genuine interest in the Rebellion, either an agent approaches them or we are sought out. It's risky, but effective."

"You even recruit innocent young boys from their peaceful homes and force them into service if they happen to wish for the Empire's end. I'm sure all boys throughout the galaxy have at least a short moment of that sometime in their lives." Her point held bite, as she meant it to.

"What do you mean? We don't recruit anyone unless they are perfectly capable, responsibly willing, and ready to give their lives for a just cause."

"Even children?"

Elaina coolly met Kelly's ferocious stare. Whoever this 'Commander Qui-Gon' was, his name had set her suspicions running. What if the only reason her son had left to join the Rebellion before he was even eighteen was that one of their agents had approached him with stretched propaganda? Her son would be smart enough to see through any deception quickly enough, but what if they wouldn't let him go for secrecy's sake?

"What are you talking about?"

"Do you use deception to twist their pliable minds for your 'cause'?" Her eyes had long been studying the men and, here and there, women. She had seen boys even as young as thirteen or fourteen. "Or has some need from the Council left its stink on you?" Confusion appeared in Elaina's eyes. "Do you use Yoda's lovely saying of 'too old' for youths as a daily motto in choosing your victims for your 'cause'?"

The confusion turned to a solid, unreadable emotion that could have been anger, hurt, or both.

"Master Yoda's 'saying' has never affected the ranks of the Rebellion…"

"Then why all the children?" The competition was just reaching its high point. "You have no right to yank a child from its parents…"

"They are orphans!" the woman exclaimed with a hiss, though clearly trying to keep herself under control. Kelly blankly stared. "We consider the age of self-decision for the volunteers the age of seventeen and older. The others are either orphans or simply the children of volunteers. The children here are only given menial tasks such as cleaning and fetching. If danger comes even somewhat close, they are all instantly moved to safety. We take no risk when it comes to future generations and we force no one, Raina."

Raina…she had been called Raina. That kicked in the realization that her rash conclusions had just ruined the first real conversation she and her sister had shared since…she couldn't even remember, though she knew it had been some time before her interest in the Sith had even somewhat unfolded, during the Clone Wars.

"El…" The subtle glare stopped her once. "Aylana…" Twice… Without another look, the general of the Rebellion stepped off the transport at the coaxing of a medic. Kelly brokenly stared at her twin's back until another physician came to escort her. Elaina seemed so different.

--

Forty-five minutes later, give or take, Elaina sat on a cot in the infirmary waiting for the doctor to finish with her as she waited for 'test results'. It was all absurdity to the woman, but that was only for herself. She had personally seen to it that the medical center was efficient, mobile, and comfortable. It was the jewel of the Rebellion. The Empire's best medical senior doctor could not even hope to compete with their surgeon.

Surprisingly, the only real physical problems with Elaina had been a mild concussion and a bruised rib, something she seemed to have a habit of gaining.

As soon as the doctor backed off, her most trusted officer came around the corner confidently…a least he looked confident. Upon his arrival at the Rebel base about a year earlier, Elaina had instantly seen the spark of strength in Qui-Gon. Of course, the fact that he possessed the name of her father, little did he know, may have helped in nudging her to the point of taking the lad under her wing.

Even when he had first arrived, Elaina had noted his strength of character, boldness, honesty, sense of honor, and knowledge of tactical strategy, weaponry, and technology, even though he had supposedly come from a poor district. Not only that, but Qui-Gon reminded the woman heavily of Obi-Wan in appearance. Seeing the boy frequently sent her down memory lane. She tried avoiding thinking of the fact that he had potential for great power regarding the Force.

"Ma'am," he addressed her formally, a rarity, "you sent for me." Elaina smiled at the fact that he never called her 'General' when speaking officially, only 'Ma'am'.

"It's alright, Qui-Gon. You're not in trouble for anything."

He instantly took advantage of the opening, giving his superior an enveloping hug. The Rebellion did require a certain amount order and the sense of the chain of command; however, their general closeness of ranks helped everyone worked together more efficiently. The Rebellion was more of a giant family than a plain, drilling army.

"Aylana, thank the stars you're safe! We were all so worried. I didn't know what to do when you didn't meet us, so I came here and reported."

He would have continued babbling, but she held up hand in interruption.

"You did the right thing, Qui-Gon. In fact, you did wonderfully!" He looked unbelievingly. "Really! I would have done the same thing myself."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes! You were brilliant. In fact, I couldn't have done better given an entire day of planning. Qui-Gon, you have listened and learned well. You're hard work has paid off. Now," she continued to a different subject behind the young man, "aren't you supposed to be resting?"

"Nah, the shot hardly hit more than the surface," Kelly said, forcibly casual. "It looked worse than it was. I was…Qui-Gon?!" she suddenly squeaked, having approached the cot and catching a glimpse of the boy.

Qui-Gon similarly appeared dumbfounded as he gaped.

Elaina simply sat between the two, confused and observant.

Qui-Gon was the first to speak, croaking,

"Mother?!"

"Mother?!" Elaina echoed. Not even an hour before, she could have sworn that Kelly's eyes were black, hence calling her Raina, due to her wayward mind (it seemed that the hallucinations were taking a queer, new turn). From Raina to 'Mother' of her most trusted officer in an hour…Elaina had a lot to relearn about her sister.

Poor Kelly. She had just lost her beloved husband…if Qui-Gon…oh, the boy would be heartbroken!

"You're his mother?" she asked again.

"Yes," was Kelly's plain, staggered reply.

The shock was insurmountable as no one seemed to be able to speak for a long period of time…until the younger twin decided to pipe up, slowly.

"Qui-Gon, I have something…to tell about today's events…"

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