A/N - These seem to be coming out at a fairly even rate. Despite that, you cannot believe how hard it was to right this chapter! I'm not exactly sure why it was hard but it was. Perhaps the distraction of rewriting other chapters was one factor but—gahh Here's the chapter.
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Where the Light Ends




Keilana could not help but smile widely. She had done it. She had actually captured Luke Skywalker! She considered crowing her success, letting her triumph ring from wall to wall but figured it would be a bad idea in the end. The alert had probably been sounded by Luke's overly snoopy wife already. That meant she had little time to spare. So, in that case, Keilana looked at the Jedi Master and then out one of the windows. Right outside on the balcony was a speeder she had placed there earlier in the evening. She would have the drag the man across the floor to the door but it was a small price to pay in the grand scheme of things. Pursing her lips, Keilana grabbed Luke by the ankles and started dragging him across the floor. She left a trail in the dust as she went, but it did not bother her. She knew what to do.

After dragging Luke from the center of the room, pushing him into the back seat of the speeder, and binding his ankles and wrists together, Keilana walked back to the doors of the grand room and looked in. Drawing the Force to her and pushing out with her hand, Keilana filled the room with a Force wind. When the dust settled a few moments later, the trail had disappeared. Keilana nodded smugly to herself.

She was just about to turn around to return to the speeder when she caught sight of someone out of the corner of her eye. Turning her head that way, Keilana smiled. It was Mara.

The woman had simply stopped in her tracks, not quite sure of what to make of the situation. Cocking her head to one side and staring at Keilana, Mara's mouth hung ajar, her jade eyes wide. Keilana smiled wider, waggled her fingers at the Jedi and spun on her heel. Taking a running leap into the speeder, Keilana hit the accelerator and rocketed off the high balcony, dropping into the line of traffic below, and was instantly lost from sight. Risking a quick glance backward, she could just make out Mara skidding to a halt on the balcony and looking after her, but Keilana was lost around a corner a moment later.

Pulling the Force into herself once more, Keilana dropped to a level of traffic that was heading in the opposite direction, passed below the Temple once more and banked around another corner. She spared a glance up as she passed by and could see Mara still standing there. The woman's eyes were tracking her progress before she disappeared from the edge.

Cursing, Keilana hit the accelerator and sped around the speeders in front of her. Dropping below another speeder, Keilana glanced back, dismayed by the sight of a speeder matching her exact moves. How had that woman gotten a speeder so quickly? Shaking the thought from her head, Keilana had just enough time to rise above another speeder in front of her to avoid a collision. Sharp swearing in Trandoshan was lost in the wind as Keilana banked around a building. Because of this quick manoeuvre Keilana was no longer in a lane of traffic and had to fly at an angle to avoid scratching against the buildings to either side of her. Banking another corner, Keilana sped over an open pedestrian bridge at such a height that those on it had to jump out of her way. Again, sharp swearing was lost in the wind that whipped about her.

Dropping below another pedestrian bridge and flying around another corner, Keilana slowed and reached out through the Force behind her. The other speeder was still there. Swearing, Keilana did not notice that the presence in the speeder was not that of Mara. She simply hit the accelerator hard enough to push her back into the acceleration couch and flew through a space between two buildings so narrow that sparks flew from either side of the speeder. Pulling up and out of the gap, Keilana skimmed over the rooftops before diving through several lanes of traffic.

By now, the other speeder was quite far behind her. She had half a mind to park in some craig or another and shoot the pilot out of the sky with her long-range sniper rifle. She reached out once again through the Force to touch the pilot, this time realizing that it was not Mara. She must have commed down to the hanger for their top pilot. Bitch.

Sighing, she slowed her decent and joined a line of traffic. She travelled in this lane for a while longer, waiting for the opportune moment. It did not take long, for with a quick glance to the sky, Keilana could see the other speeder diving toward her. A smile curving her lips, Keilana pulled up hard and looped around behind whoever it was that was chasing her. She did not care that her speeder had an open cockpit nor did she care that her bounty could have fallen out had she not looped around quick enough. All she knew was that this could give her the opportunity she needed. Steadying the speeder with her knees, Keilana drew the sniper rifle from her back and steadied it against her shoulder. Placing her eye to the viewfinder, Keilana hit the button to zoom in on the other driver and let out a little gasp of surprise. It was the female alien she had knocked out in the hall. However, she could not let her mind wander to reasons or explanations of how she could have woken up and gotten a speeder. She had to concentrate on shooting her out of the sky and out of her life.

She had almost steadied the speeder enough to pull off a clean shot when someone shrieked, She's got a blaster!

The moment those words were said, the area around Keilana broke out into mayhem. Speeders were diving in and out of her viewfinder and there was no way she could possibly pull of a clean shot. Swearing and putting the rifle back into its sheath, Keilana grabbed the controls and accelerated, jinking and juking to avoid getting hit. Apparently the female alien who had been chasing her was having difficulty with the traffic as well. At least she did not have an exit vector either.

Smiling grimly to herself, Keilana drew her pistol and aimed at the back of the alien's speeder. She managed to hit it a few times as well as causing those around her to panic even more.

Fuck it! Keilana growled as she put the pistol back in it's shoulder holster. Growling in Mandalorian under her breath and pressing down on the throttle, Keilana sped around several speeders and managed to pull up next to the alien. Drawing her blaster once again, Keilana aimed across her body and fired once. A woman screamed, a man swore and the speeder next to her dropped suddenly out of the air. Keilana smiled and dropped as well. She followed the speeder's downward progress with a critical eye before she decided that she had indeed hit the alien.

Turning and accelerating back toward the political sector from whence she had come, Keilana dropped to the lowest level of traffic she could find. It would take more time way down here to reach her ship, she decided, but at least it would be harder to detect her. Looking back to make sure her precious cargo was still in the back seat and sleeping as peacefully as a stun bolt could render a man, Keilana turned back to watch where she was going, thrill pounding through her veins.




Jaina was jolted from her sleep as she fell from her bed to the floor. Swearing and rubbing her sore elbow, she looked around the small room, trying to figure out what had woken her so suddenly. It was then that she actually realized that she was on the floor and in a mess of sheets. Jaina's thoughts quickly shifted to what had caused her to fall from her bed as she stood. Untangling the sheets from around her legs and waist, Jaina suddenly became aware of a dull aching in her ribs and in the back of her head. Touching both areas, Jaina quickly discovered that neither were tender nor bruised. This raised still more questions.

Scowling and straightening out her bed by throwing the sheets haphazardly across it, Jaina rubbed at her knee, which was indeed bruised. Then, pulling a brown flightsuit on over her sleeping things, Jaina walked to her door and opened it, wondering if she had been startled out of her sleep by some noise in the hall. Though she certainly did expect at least one or two people to be up and about, she did not expect to see nearly the entire Academy awake. From each door in her hall there were sleep-ridden heads protruding forth. Each door except for one. The door to her right that should have held the frame of Jacen was empty. Hating him for being such a deep sleeper, Jaina stepped out into the hall and walked to his door. When he did not answer her pounding and knocking, Jaina crouched to break her way in.

She halted for only a moment, remembering how she had caught her brother the last time she had done this, but common sense quickly overruled. If he did not answer to all of her noise, something must be wrong. And indeed she was right. Jaina knew the moment her brother's door slid open. He was nowhere to be seen. His bed was empty, the refresher lights were off, and the only sound came from the cheeping and purring animals of his collection.

Spinning on her heel, Jaina ran smack into her brother. Not Jacen, but her younger brother, Anakin.

She asked, stepping back and rubbing her nose. Odd, she thought, he didn't used to be that tall. What are you doing here?

Probably the same reason you are, he answered, leaning against the door frame. Where's Jace?

Your guess is as good as mine, little brother. Jaina sighed and looked back into the room. The aching of her head and ribs pounded back and Jaina winced. But I think he's in some sort of trouble.

He's not the only one, Anakin said almost casually. There are rumors going around that a Yuuzhan Vong is loose in the Academy.

Jaina hissed. And you're not going after it?

Uncle Luke went, though, he hasn't come back and no one seems to be able to find him.

Like I said before, you're not going after it?

I figure he has everything under control. Besides, we should probably concentrate on looking for our brother rather than going after a capable Jedi Master. Especially since his equally capable wife went looking for him. If anyone can find Uncle Luke and get him out of trouble, it's Aunt Mara.

You have a point there, Jaina said, stepping around her brother.

Anakin straightened and started after his sister down the hall. Do you know where he is?

No, but I have an idea. Jaina nodded, her gaze locked forward.



Think of one thing Jacen has not been able to stop talking about.

His collection?

More recently.

That new student—what's her face?—you know the one I'm talking about, right?

Jaina smirked. Ding ding ding, you've won the lovely new speeder.

Anakin started to nod as if he understood, but the gesture quickly turned into a shake of his head. What does she have to do with this?

Rolling her eyes, Jaina turned to her brother while continuing her way down the hall. The whole time she's been here I've had this feeling that she's been up to something. First she gets stabbed, then she disappears, she comes back covered in blood, she has diplomats interested in her and, to top it all off, she appears out of nowhere. That's not to mention the fact that she has a shady background and her story has changed from being a merchant to being a swoop racer. She can pull the Force in on herself while still being able to use it so that no one can sense her but she can sense others. Do you follow where I'm going?

So you think this Yuuzhan Vong' is actually her in some ruse to lure Uncle Luke somewhere?

This time you get a cookie, Jaina said, turning her back once again to the younger Jedi.

But why would she do such a thing?

Think, little brother. She could be any number of things: a Dark Jedi from some other academy; a member of the Peace Brigade looking for a treat to feed their masters; an assassin; or even a bounty hunter looking for a sweet payoff. Jaina ticked off each of these on her fingers as she said them. Whatever she is, we can't trust her.

And you think she used Jacen to get closer to Uncle Luke?

Something like that.

By the time Anakin and Jaina made their way to the other side of the Academy where Keilana's room was, Jaina had explained to Anakin everything in detail that she had noticed about Keilana. She had talked about every little thing the older woman had done that seemed suspicious from changing her story to getting a Jedi to fall in love with her to her outstanding skills in combat. When they had reached the door, Anakin's head was swimming with the details and he was not sure he remembered half of what his sister had told him.

So what are we doing here?

Snooping, you know, seeing if there is anything that might help us find out where she went or where Jacen is, Jaina answered with a shrug of her shoulders. She hit the button to open the door, fully expecting it to be locked. However, the door slid open in front of her without so much as a whine. Jaina furrowed her brow and stepped inside. She could not see anything for a moment, but once her eyes had adjusted to the dark they widened in fright as she stared down at her twin's body.

She cried as she rushed to his side. Kneeling and pulling his head into her lap, Jaina looked over him. He was breathing and therefore alive but there was a browned patch on his tunic over his heart.

Looks like she got him with a stun beam, Anakin said almost disinterested. Jaina looked up at him, shocked, before catching real concern rolling off of him in waves. He must have that odd male fear of showing emotions, she decided. Pretty clean job of it, too, if you ask me. And you were right, she was only using him. Rendered him unconscious and left him there to sleep. Too many women are doing that these days, you know?

No, I wouldn't know, Jaina said, turning a look on her brother again. He put his hands up in defence and shrugged.

Hey, I didn't mean anything by it. Just making an observation, ya know? All I'm ever good for anyway being the youngest.

Jaina snorted her response and turned back to Jacen as he started to stir.

Must not have been too powerful, either, Anakin shrugged, stepping to his brother's side. He only got in her way, I'd say. At least there's a little honor in her. As an after thought, Anakin added in, She's not that different from the Jedi if you think about it.

Jaina hissed, careful not to raise her voice. She's a monster, Anakin! How could you say she has honor? H—How could you say she's like a Jedi? Like us?

Jaina was shaking with rage, both of her fists clenched and her teeth bared. For a split second, Anakin had second thoughts about continuing. But, as far as he figured, he had already condemned himself so he might as well walk the rest of the way to the hangman on his own free will.

he almost laughed, as if the answer were obvious, she didn't kill him.

I can see that. Do you have a point?

Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. But isn't the answer obvious to you? Since she didn't kill him it means that she does not believe in simply wasting a life when the opportunity presents itself. He got in the way, so she hit him with a stun beam rather than a blaster bolt. Once he's out of her way the problem is solved but at the same time he's not dead so senseless murder is not on her soul. Therefore, she has an honor for life. You see, she is very much like us Jedi who base our lives on honoring the lives of others.

That's a point?

The point is, Jaina, that she is not so different from you and me. Granted how she lives and how she sustains her own life are on the opposite end of the scale as us, but deep down we are all very similar.

Jaina growled and stroked Jacen's hair, partially for comfort and partially to see if he had fractured his skull. Though she did not like to admit it, and she would never do so out loud, her younger brother was right. There was not much more than a thin line separating the Jedi and Keilana. Separating herself and Keilana.

However, the thoughts were wiped from Jaina's mind as her brother stirred and opened his eyes. He blinked several times, obviously orienting himself, before locking his gaze on Jaina.

He said, trying to sit up. The movement made him grunt and he fell back, sighing. Well, maybe I can lay here for a little while longer. Where's Keilana?

After Uncle Luke, Anakin said. Jacen glanced that way, a smile flickering across his lips before he actually realized what his brother had said.

Sitting up quickly, Jacen put out a hand and swayed back and forth. The room was spinning around him and his dinner was not sitting pretty in his stomach. Putting his other hand over his mouth and closing his eyes, he simply nodded when Jaina asked him if he was all right.

So that's why she's here? Jacen asked after a moment longer.

Apparently so. Anakin nodded, his voice returning to that almost disinterested drone it had taken on earlier. Jacen arched one brow at his brother. A question was on the tip of his tongue when Jaina's comlink beeped.

Jaina Solo here.

Jaina, it's Mara. How close are you to the hanger?

Several floors up. Why?

Mara sighed. Keilana's just taken off with your uncle.

When these words echoed through the comlink, all three stopped anything they were doing or thinking to look at it in horror. The only thing that knocked them out of their shock was when Jacen lost control and retched all over the carpet next to him. Jaina jumped back up disgust as her brother heaved again and Anakin's face distorted. Mara asked if everything was okay and Jaina's answer came back in a shaky voice.

Jacen just puked all over the carpet in Keilana's room, but that's about it.

What are you doing in Keilana's room? Mara scolded, her voice hushed.

Looking for Jacen. I don't know what he was doing in here, you'll have to ask him about that when he's done getting sick. Jaina stepped back once more and almost lost her own dinner when Jacen heaved one last time. Turning around, Jaina spotted Anakin looking out the window, one hand over his mouth. Apparently he was having trouble keeping his food down as well.

Well, I'll send a droid up to clean that up. Meet me in the hanger as soon as you can. Jaina's comlink clicked as Mara shut hers off. Replacing the comlink on her belt, Jaina risked a glance back at her twin.

All right there, Jace?

Better. At least I don't feel like I'm going to be sick anymore.

I wonder why, came Anakin's half-choked response.

Just let me get some water to rinse out my mouth then I think I'll be ready to go.

Are you sure Jacen? Jaina asked, crossing her arms over her stomach. 'Cause me and Anakin can go and you can stick around here if you want.

And stay with my half-digested dinner while our Uncle gets further away by the minute? No, I'm not going to leave you two with all the fun. I'll be only a moment, I promise.

And Jacen did not lie. He only take a few minutes in the refresher. When he emerged he looked far better—besides the stubble covering his cheeks and chin, the stained tunic, and the pale skin.

Maybe we can find you a new tunic on the way, Anakin said, looking at Jacen's.

We don't have time, little brother. Jacen's face was set so that neither his twin nor his brother could see any emotion. He had trusted Keilana and now all that trust had been shattered and strewn across the floor. In other words, he had been hurt.

But not as bad as Ganner, I would imagine, Jaina thought as she watched her twin closely. Good thing that big lug lifted off hours ago. Doesn't have a clue.




Blaska! Get your fat ass out here or I'm gonna blow this door down! Keilana shouted. She was back at the docking bay in which her ship was docked, banging at the door for the Bothan owner. There was no one around except for an unconscious Luke Skywalker and Keilana.

After several more minutes of banging and threats, the Bothan owner came to the door, his cream fur in disarray from sleep. As he gazed upon Keilana with sleepy violet eyes, the fur on the back of his neck stood on end in irritation.

What are you doing here? He sneered, smoothing out the front of his tunic.

I have my ship docked here, remember?

Well, attracting Boba Fett here wasn't part of our deal. It's bad for business, ya know? People are afraid to dock their ships here now cause they're afraid he might be after them. Nobody knows anymore whether or not there is a bounty on their head with the invasion and all.

I didn't ask you to talk, Blaska, Keilana growled. She flexed the hand over her blaster, tempted to use it. But I did pay you to keep people out and away from my ship. Now letting Boba Fett in doesn't sound like it goes along with that, now does it?



No excuses, Blaska. Keilana's eyes narrowed and she took a step back. I need you to open up the docking bay my ship's in. I'm leaving.

Why don't you just walk through the halls to get there?

Cause I need to land a speeder in there.



No questions, Keilana drew her blaster and levelled it at Blaska's chest, and you won't get any unpleasant answers. Now will you open up the bay or will I have to do it myself?

No, no, I'll open it up right away, Miss. Just, please, put the blaster away. There's no need for violence or blood shed. The Bothan's mouth flickered back and forth in and out of a smile as he slowly backed away. Just bring the speeder around and you'll find it open for you.

And no tricks?

Of course not, Miss, no tricks from poor old Blaska.

Keilana holstered the blaster again and walked back to the speeder. Pulling it up and around, she flew it to the opening docking bay and set it down softly. Blaska was nowhere to be seen. Just to be on the safe side, Keilana shoved Luke down between the seats and jumped out of the speeder. She had just walked around the back of her ship when scuffling and a muffled gasp came from near the speeder. Drawing her blaster, Keilana crept back around and peeked out. There was the snoopy Bothan staring down at Luke's unconscious body, one hand over his mouth. His back was to Keilana, which suited her just fine. Levelling out the blaster once again, Keilana pulled off a single shot and Blaska spun toward her before falling to the duracrete floor, a hole blasted clear through his chest. Straightening and holstering the blaster once more, Keilana walked to the dead Bothan's side and smiled grimly down at him.

Wrong move, Blaska, wrong move. Stepping around the alien, Keilana advanced on the speeder and turned on the repulserlifts so that she could push it to the hatch.

It took longer than Keilana had hoped it would, but Luke was finally set up in the single cage she had for the Force-sensitive. Looking up at the ysalamiri sitting in a cage a good distance above Luke, she grimaced and advanced on the poor creature, shivering as she once again entered it's bubble. She finally understood why she had always felt so naked around the thin little creature.

Replacing the animal's water and giving it what nutrients it needed, Keilana stepped back and smiled at Luke.

If you can get through durasteel, transparisteel, and defeat an ysalamiri without any weapons, Skywalker, than maybe I just don't deserve to have you. Throwing her head back, Keilana laughed cruelly as she walked from the room, the lights flickering out behind her.

Walking to the cockpit and running through the start-up procedure as quick as possible, Keilana lifted off the ground and soared through the air to space. After a quick jog to the other side of the planet, Keilana dropped back into the atmosphere and toward the sector in which her employer was located.

It took some fancy flying, but Keilana was eventually able to land on a low enough level to make the trip to her employer's place quick and painless. She had to leave the speeder back in the docking bay but she hoped she could find something around here. Shutting down her ship, Keilana grabbed a long piece of fabric and wrapped it around her head so that only her eyes could be seen. Her helmet had been left at the Academy, along with much of her clothing, but they were easily replaceable. Checking her blasters, Keilana opened the hatch and started down it before it had completely lowered. As if luck were shining down upon her, Keilana spotted a swoopbike with a passenger compartment to the side. A smile crossed her hidden face and she jogged to it, looking around for the owner. The bike had been parked right outside a seedy dump of a bar and Keilana almost pitied the fool who had left his bike sitting idly—almost. She straddled the bike, started it up and rode it the ten meters or so back to her ship. Loading the still unconscious—though freshly blasted—Luke Skywalker into the passenger compartment, Keilana locked up her ship and set the automatic weapons just as a staggering figure exited the bar.

Where the fuck is my bike? The man said, looking around. He quickly spotted Keilana and started running after her just as she pressed down on the throttle and sped away. She took my bike! The man yelled, pointing after Keilana, just before a turbocannon screeched. The man did not say another word.

Keilana smiled and glanced down at Luke. Almost there, Master. No worries.

Just as Keilana banked a curve in the road, her comlink beeped at her. Slowing to a stop and pulling it from her belt, she set it to her lips.

We heard you got him.



No time for questions. Where are you?

Well, I'm somewhere in Lower Coruscant. I left the Nexu's Den about a quarter of an hour ago heading east. Don't know the street and I—

You're close, the man said, cutting Keilana off. Someone will be standing right outside waiting for you. Look for the flickering street lamp and a sign for a strip club by the name of Theraesa's. You can't miss it.

How do you know I haven't passed it?

I know the area quite well, bounty hunter. If you left the Nexu's Den fifteen minutes ago than you haven't passed it.



Someone will be waiting, bounty hunter. The comm clicked off and Keilana snarled at it. Acting far younger than her age, Keilana started to mimic the man as she put the comlink away. Scowling and pressing the throttle, Keilana sped off in search for the strip club and flickering light.

By the time she found Theraesa's, Keilana was sure she had passed a dozen strip clubs and hundreds of flickering lights and they had all looked the same to her. However, the man had been right and this one stood out from the rest with its blinding neon lights. And there was the street lamp. Slowing the swoop to a reasonable speed, Keilana spotted someone waiting for her, just as the man had promised. At that same moment, Luke started to stir. His eyes flickered open a moment later and he started to struggle against his bonds, the gag muffling any words he was trying to say. Parking the swoop and pulling out her blaster, she levelled it at Luke's head. His struggling stopped instantly and Keilana was actually surprised. Walking around to his side, however, she instantly knew why. Ysalamiri. Looking up at the man she was supposed to meet, he smiled and turned slightly so that she could see the creature on his back.

My, my, my, the man drawled, his smile widening. You surely didn't think that we'd let the both of you near us without a little precaution, now did you? The man laughed and grabbed at Keilana, his hand sliding over her buttocks. Keilana stiffened and glared at him.

I may not have the Force, but I can still shoot you where it really hurts, Keilana growled as she shoved the blaster toward his groin area. He stepped back but the smirk had not been wiped off his face.

Feisty little she-devil aren't you. No matter, the feistier the better I always say. However, there is no more time for fun and games. The boss's second wants to see you.

His second?

Let's just say the Crimelord is a little shy around bounty hunters, shall we? Doesn't like to be dirtied by the galaxies scum, you following me?

Keilana snarled. Keeping an eye on the man, she grabbed Luke's arm and pulled him out of the passenger compartment. He stumbled slightly as the shackles caught at his ankles, but quickly regained his balance.

Right this way, the man bowed slightly. The door opened to admit the three waiting outside, slamming shut behind them. The room into which they had entered was pitch black and silent except for the wind whistling up near the ceiling. And then a snickering started off to Keilana's left and rippled around the room like a wild fire. The lights flickered on a moment later to show an entire room filled with humans and non-humans alike, all glaring at her and snickering slightly. Ignoring them and turning her attention to the front of the room, Keilana's eyes fell upon two thrones, one occupied and one not. The unoccupied throne was as glorious as any ruler's should be with precious metals and prized woods twisting in an intricately beautiful design. Directly below it, one large step down, was another, plainer throne. In it sat the man Keilana had spoken to weeks ago, his greasy brown hair falling in his eyes and his fingers steepled in front of his mouth.

And so we meet again. He said, a smile crossing his face behind his fingers. Pulling his hands apart and lounging back in his chair, he crossed his legs and smiled wider. The men around her started snickering louder and a shiver ran down Keilana's spine. What had she gotten herself into?

The man picked up a piece of exotic fruit and tossed it into the air once before looking back at Keilana. Welcome to our humble little abode, Keilana Fett.