Anakin sat on the bed, looking out the window towards the small grassy plain and the city beyond. He ignored the sounds of the medical suite, and instead focused on the sound of the Force. Any other day, it would have been soothing, but now it reminded him of all he had lost. Sadness threatened to overtake him again. He withdrew himself from the Force.

They had rescued him just before the Yuuzhan Vong cut off all hyperspace travel around the planet. He had been taken to the nearest unoccupied system for immediate medical treatment. The medical droids had healed his body, but his soul was beyond their help, weighed down by the loss of so many friends and family to the war. He closed his eyes and remembered.

Jacen had died in the first wave of the invasion, several years ago. While they had disagreed strongly with each other on their views of the Force and what it meant to be a Jedi, Anakin had always respected his brother, and felt sorrow at not having told him.

Then there was Chewbacca. The Wookie had been fiercely loyal to Han, and that loyalty extended to his family. He had fulfilled his life debt last year, dying to save Anakin and Leia from capture by the Vong. Anakin still felt guilty about Chewie's death, even though everyone tried to tell him it wasn't his fault.

Corran Horn was the next to die, along with Elegos A'Kla. Their mission to bring the New Empire into the war had succeeded, but not before the Vong managed to destroy their shuttle. Corran's death had driven his wife, Mirax Terrik, to turn her back on the New Republic. She and some friends had taken her Star Destroyer, the Errant Venture, and disappeared into the Unknown Regions. They was still out there, supposedly building a fleet with which to strike back at the Vong. Their children, Valin and Jysella, now Jedi Knights, had mourned deeply, but had decided not to seek vengeance.

Luke Skywalker had been struck down by the Yuuzhan Vong Warmaster, Tsavong Lah, during the failed defense of Ithor. He had escaped the fight, but not before being bitten and poisoned by an amphistaff. With his last words, he had passed leadership of the Jedi on to Anakin. The entire galaxy had mourned the passing of the great Jedi Master.

But the most recent loss was Anakin's sister, Jaina. She had been a strong fighter, both with Rogue Squadron and with the rest of the Jedi. She had been traveling from Coruscant to Corellia with Mara when their ship had been yanked out of hyperspace by a Yuuzhan Vong interdictor. They had been boarded, and in the ensuing fight, Jaina had been captured. Somewhere between the time she was taken and the time Mara escaped in her badly damaged ship, they had all felt Jaina's presence in the Force blink out. Mara had returned to Coruscant alone and informed Han and Leia. Leia had been devastated by the loss of two children. Han had become even more withdrawn, having lost two children and his best friend to the Vong, but had stayed with Leia. Anakin knew that beneath the sunken eyes and graying hair lay a thirst for revenge that would explode eventually. He didn't want to be around when it did. He himself had tried to remain strong in the face of such personal loss, but the mounting deaths had finally broken his spirit.

He opened his eyes when he heard someone behind him. He reached out with the Force, feeling Valin's presence. He did not turn around.

"They're saying that you've given up."

He could hear the bewilderment in the younger Jedi's voice. Anakin had been very active in fighting the Vong since the beginning of the war. He had slain more Yuuzhan Vong warriors than almost anyone, save Kyp Durron, who, with the help of his Dozen and Rogue Squadron, had attacked and destroyed a Vong worldship. Now, apparently, Anakin was walking away from the war. It made no sense to Valin.

"That's right. I'm through with fighting."

"If we don't fight them now, then they'll just take every system in the galaxy, star by star. Eventually, they'll take whatever planet you're on."

Anakin did not respond.

"Why, Anakin? You were so determined to stop them before. When we lost Yavin. What changed?"

"I've grown weary of the constant death. All the pain. The suffering. The misery. It's too much for me to bear alone."

"Anakin, you're not alone. We're all here to help. We miss Tahiri as much as you do. She was like a sister to all of us."

"It's more than just Tahiri! It's Jacen, and Chewbacca, and Corran, and Luke, and Jaina... "

Anakin's voice caught in his throat. Valin felt the intense sadness rolling off the Master.

"I saw her back on the planet. I saw Tahiri. When I was waiting for the ship. She looked just like I remembered her. She was so happy. I saw her, and I just wanted to be with her again."

"I feel the same way about my father, Anakin. We've all lost someone close to us. We're all just like you. Why can't you see that?"

But Anakin had retreated into himself. Valin turned and walked to the door. Before he left, he turned back to Anakin.

"They've taken Corellia and Duro. We think they're going to move on Bilbringi next. After that, they've got a clear path to Coruscant."

Anakin's son was lying in a medical facility on Coruscant, in a coma. If Anakin reacted any way to the news, he didn't show it.

"The Jedi look to you for leadership now, Anakin. What kind of example are you setting if you turn your back on them?"

He strode out of the room. Things were looking more and more hopeless all the time.

Anakin looked out the window. The Jedi needed him. But how could he help them if he couldn't even help himself?