Chapter 3: Into the Storm
The wind whipped around her hair, catching the thick brown tresses in a swirl. Behind her, she could feel the calm, soothing presence of her husband, Jag. In front of her, she saw two small children, both with the thick chestnut hair of their mother and as they turned to face her the intense pale green eyes of their father. She stretched out with the Force, feeling the two small children as blazing presences.
"Hanna Cherith Fel, what do you think you're doing?" she heard Jag yell teasingly.
"I'm following Kin-kin!" the small girl yelled as she chased after her brother.
"Anakin Soontir! Stop running and get back here! There's a storm coming!" But the two children kept running. She wanted to run after them, but a strong hand held her back.
"Jaya, you're not going out into this weather, not like that."
Jaina looked at herself, trying to understand Jag's words as her pushed past her and ran after the children. With a gasp, she understood. As she looked at herself, she found that she could not see her feet over the significant swell of her stomach. She was pregnant, again, with her and Jag's third child. She stretched out with the Force once more, finding the small life inside her. Then a cold chill seized her. She looked up to see the spectral form of her long-dead brother Anakin standing in front of her. He pointed to her stomach.
"This is the new generation. This is the hope of the Jedi. She will do more for the Jedi than I ever would have."
Jaina looked on her brother in wonder. He continued to speak.
"And as for you, dear sister, if you do not venture into the storm, you will lose all you have fought to build. Go, now! Bring them to safety, but know that the Journey is not over yet."
Jaina opened her mouth to say something, anything, but her voice would not allow it. She turned from her brother and began to walk into the approaching storm.
Jaina awoke with a start. Anakin's words still echoed in her ears. She stretched her arms over her, finding that she could move, but the movements brought much pain. She could feel her joints grinding in their sockets, but she was free; from what, though, she could not remember. She swung her head around, looking for someone, anyone she knew, but all she saw was unfamiliar lush vegetation. And then she saw him.
Jacen.
He was hanging in a strange looking plant. It had a hold on all his limbs and she could see that it was pulling on him. Jaina's face went slack as she realized what was holding Jacen.
It was an Embrace of Pain. And they were on Yuuzhan'tar.
The door to the chamber opened, revealing a human female. Jaina tried to reach out with the Force, finding that she had a limited access. But even with her limited access, she knew who it was. Danni Quee had betrayed them. And now, she was here to gloat.
"Well Jaina, I'll bet you're wondering why Jacen is in the Embrace and you are here."
Jaina said nothing. Her face betrayed no emotions. She simply sat and listened, all the while formulating a plan to escape in the back of her mind. She may not have full access to the Force, but she still knew how to think on her feet. All that time as a squadron leader was certainly not for her health. She forced herself to concentrate on what Danni was saying.
"…and so he traded places with you. You see, he knew what you were going through, and he also knew that your body could not handle the pain and protect the twins. So he convinced the creature to let you go and accept him in you place. Now, your dear brother hangs on the Embrace and you are left utterly defenseless"
So you think, Danni, Jaina thought. "Why are you doing this?" she finally asked.
Danni said nothing this time, but flashed a poisonous smile and walked out of the chamber, leaving Jaina lying on the floor and Jacen in the Embrace.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Tenel Ka paced the length of the throne room. Occasionally, she would pause and stretch out with her Force-sense, just to see if she could find any spark of her two dearest friends. When she could find them, they were not the blazing stars-going-novas they usually were in the Force, but rather, the size of their presences was almost immeasurable. And from one of the Force pinpricks she identified as Jacen and Jaina, she felt a constant white-hot pain.
The doors to the throne room opened, revealing Jag and Kyp. Both men rushed into the room and skidded to a halt in front of the Queen Mother. They both bowed very crisply and snapped back up. Jag spoke first.
"I wish I could say that I was pleased to see you, Queen Mother, but given the circumstances, I think you can understand why this is not a meeting I'd like to be in right now."
"You are forgiven, Colonel." Tenel Ka waved a hand, signaling to Jag to continue.
"What can we do to help you, Queen Mother?"
Tenel Ka faced the two men, her lips set in a grim line of determination. "You can help me plan the assault on Yuuzhan'tar."
The men looked stunned. "Do you really think this is the best course of action?" Kyp asked. He wanted nothing more than to get Jacen and Jaina back, but launching an attack was treading dangerously close to the Dark side. He had fallen to the Dark once before, and he had watched Jaina fall to the Dark. He was not going to allow Tenel Ka to fall too.
But Tenel Ka's steel-hued eyes would not allow for any arguments. "It is if you want to get Jacen and Jaina back, for they are on Yuuzhan'tar."
Both Jag and Kyp went ashen. "You're sure of this?" Jag asked.
"I am positive. The Solo twins are on Yuuzhan'tar and if we do not reach them in time, they will die."
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A/N: Just some responses to the reviews I've been getting. I do it for the people over at tF.net, so why not for you guys too?
Jedidanny- He's not really Force-sensitive, he just has a bond with Jaina. He can sense her and she can sense him. They can communicate this way too. In the books, they say that Jag has a very strong Force presence, so why wouldn't he be able to bond with someone who is Force-sensitive? The story is a little AU, so anything's possible! Also, I can't seem to figure out how to transfer the story from Word to ff.net and keep the italics and stuff. I'll figure it out eventually, but if you know how, let me know! And I hope this chapter satisfies your need for more for the time being! Thanks!!
Master Yoda- I plan to keep writing! Thanks for the encouragement!
Movielover03- Good to see you back! Keep reading and you'll find out!
Blackwings- Thanks!!
Flute- Yay!! You're back too!! Keep reading for more!!
Master Jacen- Ah, my beloved co-author. You got the first review, lol. I guess it seems only fitting.
That's all for now. More to come later!