The Final Prophecy

by Bloody Murder

Chapter 7

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He was floating in a sea of yellow; hundreds of worm-like creatures were attached to his body. His whole body ached; he could feel each twitching nerve. He tried to swim to the surface but the worm-like creatures were holding him back, applying pressure to each of his wounds. He screamed, but the Gnullith in his throat, a Yuuzhan Vong creature used to breathe underwater, muffled the sound.

The meter long Gnullith filled his windpipe, moving and twitching, still it made air pass to his lungs and he was grateful for it.

He felt the worm-like creatures move away from his body, one by one. Each time one detached itself from him, it was like losing a limb. This painful process lasted what he thought were days. Each creature took its time to leave his body, but when they left, it relieved the pressure applied to his wounds. Slowly the pain subsided.

With only one of the worm-like creatures left, he felt an electric shock go through all his body. After it ended, the Gnullith started to move, twitching and rolling inside his windpipe. Apparently it decided to leave his body. Something grabbed the star-shaped head of the Gnullith, and pulled it. He started choking, facilitating the exit of the creature. A hand reached out and lifted him out of the yellow liquid; the same something that pulled the Gnullith took the worm from the gash across his thigh, when it left, a wave of relief crossed his body.

But that relief didn't last long. While he was getting used to the oxygen filled air, a tattooed and scarred hand shook him. He looked at it, surprised at the brusque movement. It took several seconds for him to understand that he wasn't in the medical bay of an unknown ship or military facility. He looked up the arm, following each colorful pattern, trying to find any sense in the swirls and lines. He looked higher still to find a muscled shoulder half-covered with a flowing cape made of an organic material. The same hand lifted his chin, and his eyes met the lidless terror in Shimrra's eyes.

"Look up, human," came the deep grumble," Look up and see Yun Yuuzhan," he looked up and saw the gruesome figure of the god. Standing threatening, as if about to strike some unseen enemy. He was pushed to floor as Shimrra threw his arms up." Bow before him, you filthy heretic. You should be killed for all of your blasphemies, but you have one more task before you stop staining the halls in this damutek." His arms returned to his sides. And his laugh broke the silence that had once again settled in the chamber," Yes, one more task, and you will die young Jeedai. You will help us turn your sister, Anakin Solo."

And the hysterical laugh haunted Anakin Solo until he surrendered to darkness, repeating in his head Shimrra's last words, and refusing to accept them.

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In some remote corner of hyperspace, Jaina Solo awakened sweating and gasping for air. She looked around, surprised; she wasn't in her quarters anymore. She tried reaching out with the Force, but she felt the distinctive emptiness of the Ysalamiri. Alarmed she observed with detail the space in which she was.

She was in some sort of cargo hold, held in a metal cage. Boxes stacked neatly to her right. To her left, a door. In front of her, shelves with all kind of cleaners. From personal hygiene to hull polisher. And beside her, on both sides, two cages like the one she was in. Vertical metal bars, cool to the touch, surrounded her.

Each of the cages held a human, a teenager and a young man, each on her left and right side respectively. They were both sleeping deeply; she could even hear soft snoring coming from the girl's mouth. She was dressed as any girl in Couruscant higher levels would, a long flowing skirt with changing patterns and colors and a tight sleeveless shirt with a high neck with slim strips of cloth hanging from each shoulder. She thought this fashion was terribly uncomfortable and with little practical uses. It was designed specially for snotty girls who thought of themselves too high and almighty that they used a fashion similar to an admiral's uniform to defy the Yuuzhan Vong. It is either too brave or too stupid, she thought in disapproving matter. Jaina turned to the young man he was dressed in a Couruscant lower level way, and wondered idly what this two characters were doing together.

Her nose itched, she reached her hand to her face and felt the gelatinous stickiness of a bacta patch. It stank with antiseptic, but she attributed that smell to the bacta patch in her brow. She didn't know how the cut had come to be, but she was grateful that microscopic organism where able to dull the pain, now that she didn't have the Force on her side. She wondered, also, what had happened. Memories of talking to a young mechanic were the last thing she remembered. Then darkness had overwhelmed her until she woke up.

Fleeting memories of a dream eluded her. She was sure it was important but she couldn't remember. And not for the last time, did she wish she had the Force with her. That unnerving emptiness left by the Force was taking its toll on her. She missed the harmonic flow and the bright colors she had grown up with weren't there, it gave the world a rather dull feeling she couldn't suppress.

Her musings were interrupted by, the silent shuffling of feet. The steps were coming closer. She could now hear them coming down a ladder of sorts. One by one, each resounding against the silence of hyperspace and the low hum of the hyperdrive. One by one, Jaina could feel sweat trickling down her neck. She pushed herself against the farthest corner of the cage as if protect herself with the shadows. The hatch door opened and a woman entered the cargo hold. This woman, a bounty hunter, was wearing a jump suit similar to her own but for the color and a few cut designs. A utility belt hung loosed at her waist; as did her blaster pistol form her leg holster. Long red hair was held tightly together in a high ponytail, and the rest of her head was bald. A delicate looking antenna protruded from her high forehead. Shadowy black eyes scanned the room for threats, and found none.

Finally Jaina decided that the shadows weren't going to be much of a safe place. So she moved toward the front of the cage with caution, resting all of her weight on her hands.

"Don't you think that scanning the rooms for threats while the three prisoners are harmless and sleeping is quite paranoiac?" she asked with a smirk as the bounty hunter sharply snapped her head toward her.

"I wouldn't call it paranoiac just cautious," the bounty hunter replied in a cold monotone voice. Then leered at her," beside, it would be foolish to think that you are harmless, Jaina Solo. After all, I know what Jedi are capable of and their limits."

A cold chill went down Jaina's spine, but she forced it away, suppressing a shiver, "Yeah? And why is that you know only what a Jedi knows?" She was sure she wasn't going to like the answer to that question.

The leer turned into a smirk, "Why, if I didn't know you better I would think you were afraid. But if you must know, then the answer is simple." And she turned around a little just so the black handle of a lightsaber was visible; "I'm a Jedi myself."

Jaina grimaced inwardly; yep, she didn't like that answer. It wasn't possible that a Jedi would turn into a bounty hunter, greed just wasn't in their characters. Beside, she had never seen this woman before in the Academy and she was sure she wasn't older than thirty. There was only one option, she was a Dark Jedi, either from Brakiss Academy, or the Emperor's last vestiges.

"You are Dark Jedi," she stated simply.

The bounty hunter's smirk turned into a mock condescending smile, "My! What a bright girl do we have here! You could figure it out. But I'm sure you are still having problems with my origins," she tsk-ed, " I guess I'll have to help you a little bit. I'm older than Fett up there." With that statement she left the cargo hold. The sealing hatch echoing.

Boba Fett, he was as old as her father maybe a little older, that wasn't good. That meant that the Dark Jedi was at least sixty years old. The Jedi Knights of the Old Republic trained her, she thought.

With that thought another realization raced through her mind. Boba Fett, here! Oh no! What have I gotten myself into this time, she sighed in anguish, this isn't good. Imagine Dad's reaction. There's going to be hell to pay. She curled against the wall, at least she was sure she was safe for the time being. Boba Fett wouldn't hurt his hard merchandise.

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While Jaina fell asleep in her cage, Aurra Sing sat down on the cockpit's floor. Fett's ship many modifications was taking the copilot seat, it only took valuable space.

"How is the merchandise doing?" that question was expected with Boba Fett everything was business. It wasn't like she was expecting a warm greeting.

"They're fine. Solo has woken up. We'll need to drug her. That bad-ass genes from her father were obviously inherited by his daughter."

Fett only nodded. After a few minutes he spoke," Strap yourself, we'll be leaving hyperspace in a few minutes.

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There! You like you don't, Review!

Sorry for my terrible lack of updates, no time, I forgot, school. But I managed to make a space.

I hope you like it.

The Mighty Bloody Murder