Disclaimer: I do not own any Star Wars characters. I made up the plot and Umber. And this is my favorite chapter! I had so much fun writing this chapter. Connections! Connections! The connections are mind-bogglingly groovy!
She had experienced physical pain. She knew the pain that came with being hit with stones or small lasers or pellets, even knives. She knew the pain that came hand in hand with fatigue the day after many push-ups. And she knew how to control it.
But Jaina was not ready, physically or psychologically, for this torture.
Umber dismissed the stormtroopers with a blunt wave of his hand. Jaina used her mind to unlatch a restraint around her wrist. Instantly, it was locked again, and Umber's mind pushed painfully against Jaina's. His lips played in a slight smile.
"Why are you doing this!?" Jaina cried.
"Why?" Umber repeated. "So you may understand. So you know why. So you see the reality of the Force. So you will see what has and will happen."
His answer was cryptic. Like a puzzle that wouldn't fit. Jaina's mind was being overpowered. Like it wasn't her's anymore. Then it went black.
She was in a hanger bay, a ship in front of her, but there were stormtroopers in the way. So many. They have to get to the ship. Now. But wait…
An old man with a neatly trimmed beard was engaged in a lightsaber duel with—no, could it be?—Darth Vader!
"Now's our chance! Go!" a familiar voice shouts.
Running to the ship—what's he doing? The old man raises his lightsaber, a serene look on his face. She can't believe it—he can't—he wouldn't—he would. Vader sweeps his lightsaber around, slicing the old man neatly in two.
The dead man's robes flutter empty to the ground. It can't be!
"No!" Jaina yells the syllable, but the voice coming out of her mouth was that of a boy.
Stormtroopers level their deadly blasters at her. She returns their fire with her own blaster as the familiar voice from before yells out again.
"Come on!" Run to the ship. She must get out.
Running, running.
Stop! A deadly laser wall springs up in front of her. No—those were banned years ago. But it is there. Through the red laser shield, Jaina sees another lightsaber fight. The ship and the hanger bay were gone. A hideous monster of a man, with a red and black tattoo and yellow eyes battles against a man with long hair and a beard. The tattooed man has a double bladed lightsaber!
Jaina is impatient. She must get past the laser wall to fight alongside the bearded man. She tries to quell the impatient mind, but it is too clouded with fear. Fear! Fear is the worst enemy.
The bearded man is tiring. The tattooed monster thrusts the handle of his lightsaber up and strikes his opponent in the chin. As the bearded man staggers back, the monster advances and stabs his lightsaber into the other man's stomach.
"No!" But it is not Jaina's voice. The laser wall is down at last, and she races forward to strike out with the blue blade of her lightsaber.
But the blade turns into her own red blade, and the tattooed man's face melts into Umber's. Umber's!? Umber has a black blade, like one Jaina has never seen. She clashes with it, and from the other side, Jacen attacks with his own ruby red saber. Wait! Jacen and Jaina are not allowed to have lightsabers yet. They are too young and not well enough trained.
Umber easily wards off Jacen's feeble blow in time to clash again with Jaina. What's wrong with Jacen? Umber's saber pushes against Jaina's—black on red. Then his booted foot kicks out and connects painfully with Jaina's shin. With a push from his lightsaber, Umber throws Jaina down. He spins to lock blades with Jacen tirelessly. He pushes Jacen back and turns to deal with Jaina.
Umber flips over behind Jaina. She climbs unsteadily to her feet. He kicks her again and she falls helplessly. He kicks her still again, this time in the head. She cries out. Her arm that was struck with the box aches. Maybe it's broken.
Jacen thrusts his blade at Umber again. They begin a full-fledged fight. Jaina reaches to her brother with the Force, but he is not there. It strikes Jaina instantly, Jacen cannot use the Force! Jaina wants to get up, to go to him, but she can't. Her head…
Jacen staggers back. Umber takes advantage of his momentary imbalance and knocks the lightsaber from his hand. Jacen is defenseless. There's something missing. Something will change. A missing person. Who is she forgetting? Jaina can't figure it out, but it's too late. Jacen!
Umber stabs Jacen through, and the boy crumples to the ground, lifeless.
"No!" Jaina shouts, and this time, the voice is hers. Umber turns maliciously and begins to stalk towards Jaina, but it doesn't matter. Jacen is dead. Jaina drifts into a welcome state of unconsciousness.