Chapter Ten

It took her some time to calm down. It was the first time in over 15 years had Leia been able to console her daughter like this. With Han's death, Jaina excepted it and bottled away her feelings. Everything was all coming out. Being alone, her father's death, her brother's betrayl and Luke's return. The emotions were overwhelming her. Now she was sleeping on her mother's lap.

"She looks like a little girl again. I remember her being like this when she was 8," whispered Leia, running her fingers through her daughter's dark hair. The comfort had sent the young woman to sleep. An old habit she had used on both her children to calm them down. "Han went away again."

"I remember." Luke sat opposite them both. They were still sitting inside Jaina's ship. "She tried to hide inside but Chewie found her sleeping."

Leia laughed softly, "yes. She was so angry when she woke up and Han was gone." Looking down at her daughter, who finally looked at peace. "I cannot lose her too, Luke."

With a heavy sigh, he gave a small nod. "I promise, she will come home to you."

Jaina had no idea she needed her sleep and the comfort of her mother until she woke up from her long sleep. "How long was I asleep for?" She yawned and stretched.

"A couple of hours. You needed it." Her mother smiled at her. "But there is no time to stop. Your Uncle is waiting for you to train."

She scoffed and stood up from her place. "No rest." Disappearing into her sleeping quarters. "Where am I training with him?" Calling from the small room, where she was dressing into more comfortable clothing: brown leggings and a cream shirt with a belt around the waist.

"I will take you there."

Jaina groaned as she walked back to her mother. "This is going to be interesting." Rolling her shoulders backward, loosening up her muscles from sleeping in such an awkward position. "It has been a long time since I trained." Slotting her lightsaber into her belt. Every image of a Jedi. Just without her cloak, which was packed away in a box on her ship. Somewhere.

"It has been a while since I have seen you like this." Smiling slightly. Heartache filled her. A reminder of her lost son and when she lost her daughter. "Are you ready?"

"As I ever will be." Tying her long hair behind her. Letting out one long breath. "I am ready."

Mother and daughter left the ship side-by-side. No word was said to the other. Leia was afraid to say the wrong thing to Jaina. Jaina was afraid to say anything at all. The walk was short. Leia led her to a large hanger, which stood alone and slightly away from other buildings. With every step Jaina wanted to turn back and hide in her ship. Hide from her responsibilities and wait for everything to finish around her.

A crowd stood around the entrance to the hanger. "Oh no. I don't want an audience."

"People aren't convinced. Some aren't convinced about Luke and you," sighing as they drew closer. "They want to see what you can do."

Jaina rolled her eyes. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. But then again, she could not blame them. Years ago, before her mother was even born, the Jedi were a peaceful organisation. Guardians of peace and justice. The Dark Side led them to near extinction. Sending the Jedis into stories. As if they never existed. Making them into fairy tales. When the Sith Empire was defeated by Luke. The New Jedi Order was created. To bring new Jedis into the light. Only for them to be taken away again because of the First Order rising in power. No wonder the galaxy did not believe in them. "Great(!)," she said sarcastically.

"Just focus on the task." Putting a hand on her daughter's back. "I will be there."

"Even better," her sarcasm still evident in her voice. Picking up her pace; to get the training over and done with and to get away from her mother.

"Jaina!" She scolded her daughter, who ignored her as she pushed through the crowds to get inside.

The observers soon parted for Jaina for her to enter the hanger. "Let's get this over with," sighed Jaina. In the middle of this large hanger, stood Luke and a young woman. "This must be your new Padawan." Addressing Luke and avoided looking at the young woman, who seemed to be nervous in Jaina's presence. "Jaina."

"I'm Rey." She was timid but she stood tall when talking. Trying to hide her fear of being here.

"Too old to be a Padawan." Skulking around them both. "Let's get started before I change my mind."

"Jaina," scolded Luke. "Behave."

She bit her tongue to stop herself from biting back with another response. "Fine." She took a quick glance around the hanger, it was filled with a lot of members of the Resistance. All curious about the powers of the Jedi. She felt the fear of failure, disappointment and rejection begin to creep into her. Failure of not being a good Jedi, disappointment from her uncle and rejection from those around her that she had come to call friends. Her eyes fell on Poe, who stood near the door to the hanger. He gave her a small nod and she turned to her uncle. "Let's get on with it." Withdrawing her single-hilt lightsaber from her belt and activating it. Ready to wield it.

As the training went on, there were less and less of the Resistance watching. Either found themselves bored with the training or they had better things to do on the base. Sweat trailed down her back as she swung her arm around to attack Rey. They were both exhausted. Luke was pushing them harder and harder. Jaina knew she was out of shape as Rey was very close to defeating her.

But Jaina had more skill. More training and older. Rey was soon disarmed. The two women stood three feet apart, heavily breathing. "I'm done," said Jaina, switching off her lightsaber.

"Jaina."

"No, Uncle. I'm done for today." Ignoring him and turning away from the centre.

"Jaina!" He was getting angry with her. "We are not finished."

She spun around to face him. "Stop it," she growled in frustration at him. "I'm tired. Rey is tired. You cannot make us fight until we fall. In a real fight, our adrenaline will keep us moving. This training is not what we need right now. We need food and rest." Storming away from him.

No word came from Luke or any who were left watching. Shocked to see someone stand up to the legend that is Luke Skywalker.

Sitting alone in the eating communal area, Jaina was allowed time to reflect on her thoughts. On her situation. On her past, present and uncertain future. Ripping the bread into pieces, staring at the nearly empty plate, she reflected on her past. Her past when it put her on the path that she was walking now. Ben. Luke. The temple.

That unexpected night.

It was just a normal night. Most of the students were asleep. Except those on night duty. Jaina was not one of those on duty. She had not been sleeping very well. She had noticed a disturbance in the force and it caused her loss of sleep. Luke was never at the temple for counsel. He must have felt the disturbance and it explained his constant absence from the temple.

Jaina was the highest ranking student. She had been trained since she was old enough to understand and when Luke was away, she was in charge. If there had been more Jedi, she would more than likely be a Padawan right now and not a student at the newly built Jedi Temple. Even a Jedi master if she committed to her studies. Her Uncle was not prepared to give her that status. He felt she was not ready. She felt she was ready.

A shift in the force brought her out of her thoughts. Something was not right. Jaina felt afraid. Never had she felt afraid in her own comfort zone. Her slow and cautious steps quickly changed to running when the first explosion shook the temple. "No..." Another explosion hit soon after. Making her run faster towards the danger. "GET OUT!" She screamed to anyone she passed. Those she past were servants. She never past any Jedi students. They must be at the source of the problem.

She reached the centre of the Temple. Her heart stopped at the destruction there. "No!" She gasped. The centre of the Temple and the north parts were destroyed.

"There is one!" A trooper had spotted her.

A voice in her head told her to run. She did. She turned on the spot and ran. Ran as fast as she could. Explosions were happening behind her. Happening very close to her. She ran and ran until she was out of the Temple. The largest explosion happened. The impact of it sending her flying briefly and hitting the ground hard. "No..." She whimpered, turning to see the destruction. "No!"

A face appeared in the smoke. A man dressed in black. "Join me. Join the dark side."

"No… No..." The face became clearer to Jaina. "Ben..."

"Come Jaina. Join me."

"No. Ben… Come back… Come back..." Pulling herself to her feet. Her unsteady legs barely able to hold her up. "Ben… Why?"

"It's where I am suppose to be." He stalked towards her, his arm stretched out to the side, lightsaber in his hand. Poised and ready. "It's where you are supposed to be. Our grandfather, he knew the power of the Dark Side. It is in our family blood. We cannot deny it. Come Jaina."

She shook her head. "No!" Screaming at him and turning as fast as she could. Sprinting away from her brother. Another explosion filled the air. She never stopped running. Never looking back. Running away from the life that she had grown accustomed to and loved. Gone in minutes.

"Jaina?" Rey's voice entered her subconsciousness.

Jaina turned and gave a groan. "Did Luke send you?"

"Yes. We… We need to finish the training."

"No," she scoffed, "he can wait. I'm eating." Turning away from the younger girl, who did not leave. "Get food. Sit down. Eat. You will fall if you don't. Like I said only adrenaline will keep you moving not food. Just remember that."

"Why are you like this? Cold and alone?"

"It's how I have lived. I've had to be. I've lived with parents who occasionally despised each other and forgot about me. I wasn't important. I have learnt to close off all feelings from those close to me. Only Luke was able to bring me out of that isolated shell of mine."

"How?" She sat opposite Jaina, curiosity got the better of her.

Jaina rolled her eyes. "The same with you. He taught you to be who you should be. With the Force."

"He has," spoke Rey softly. "He has shown me things I did not know I could do. I got off Jakku for the first time since I was a child. I was left behind by my family and I hoped they would come back for me. They never did."

"Jakku? That junkyard?"

Rey laughed, "your father said that. It was the Falcon that got me off that planet."

"What was it doing there?" Jaina laughed. It was the first genuine smile Rey had seen from her.

"I stole it from Unkar Plutt. He stole it from the Irving Boys, who stole it from Ducain. Ducain stole it from Han." Proud of her achievement to steal the Millennium Falcon.

"Ducain, that idiot. I told father to check the Western Reaches." Throwing the last of her bread on her plate. A sadness crept over her. "My father… Did you..."

"See it?" Rey nodded glumly. "I'm sorry. I wish I could have stopped it. He was a good man. He offered me a place on his crew."

Jaina gave a small smile. Just one side turning upwards slightly. "He was good like that. He knew potential in others. He was always offering me a place. But I'm too stubborn. I have a bounty on my head. Not as big as his but close." Pushing her plate away. "Go and rest. You deserve it. You are a good fighter, Rey. I wouldn't want to go up against you properly." Standing and leaving Rey alone. A slight friendship growing between the two of them. Rey could tell that Jaina was keeping herself locked away from that sort of thing. Both women were alike. Afraid to grow attached to something on the fear of losing that person or thing.