The eight souls watched as Jaina resisted the pull of her future nemesis.

"She cannot fight him alone," the First Said.

The Second nodded at their place by the First's side. "She will need her Edge."

"And her Shield," the Third added quietly, drawing the others' eyes. Their thoughts melded for a moment until they became nearly one. Finding the Third's thoughts and memories, Seeing what he Saw, all but the Fifth moved away from the Third again, their minds more settled.

"This is a fact," the Fifth agreed.

"But…her Edge," the Fourth started, before their Voice trailed off.

"He will have his own difficulties," the Sixth Said as he moved closer to the Fourth.

The Seventh barked softly. "He will not accept it easily."

"He must," the Third interrupted, his face grim. "If he does not accept, it is the end of them. It is his destiny. He cannot escape it."

"And if he tries?" the Second Asked bluntly.

The first being's face mirrored the grimness of the being that had been his brother when they were Dead. "Then her Shield must catch her. It is possible that, together, she and the Shield will have the strength to…"

"No," a soft voice interrupted. The Eight froze and cast their eyes about. Never had the Others attempted to reach them. The Others were complete; They had no need to watch those that were Dead as the Eight did. When they turned their Eyes to the newcomer, however, they understood. The newcomer was not complete either. Nor would the newcomer be for some time. The newcomer was a loner and they Accepted her the moment she moved into their group. The Ninth, the newcomer would be. The Ninth waited only for one being – one that had been given a fate worse than Death. When that being joined the Ninth, the two would become One and they would leave the Eight, but until then, she was one of them.

"No," the Ninth repeated. "The Shield's destiny will not truly entwine with the Sword's for some time. They have a long journey before they will be able to realize their fate."

The original Eight exchanged glances, their expressions grave at the memory of that future.

Finally, the Voice of the Third broke the silence. "We must trust in the Force, my friends…"

* * *

He giggled. "Pretty girls in pink dresses; little boys in pilot's garb; one and all came to welcome Johnny home…Oh, won't you come and play with me?" The nonsense ditty did not even rhyme but seemed to amuse him nonetheless. "Won't you come play, Master?" he whispered before clasping his hands over his mouth impishly as his shoulders shook with mirth. "Come, Master…"

* * *

Garik shifted in his chair and sighed, too wearied to move from his chair, two hour recess or no. Most of the senators that had been battering the Jedi were now gone, gratified for the break. Only a few remained in the hall, chatting quietly. If they had looked up, they might have wondered at Garik's outward show of unruffled dignity and confidence. They didn't, however, and so he was ignored; he did not find himself caring overmuch.

He had always been part of the political circle, first because of his father, and then through his own workings. He was not the youngest diplomat by far – he had started when he was nineteen, five years ago – but many looked down on him because of his age. He was promising and intelligent, though, and his determination was admirable. The less stubborn minds respected him and acknowledged his potential for power and influence, should he go about it correctly.

It was his very precociousness that made some wonder why he would permit himself to become entangled with the Jedi. It was not popular to do so; better senators, better beings had been scorned and turned to the side because of their devotion to the Jedi. The Klamaths and the Solos had known each other and often took the same side in political matters. Even so, the two families had not been so close that the son of Vuthar Klamath should feel the need to potentially sacrifice his political future.

Others, however, knew of Garik and Jaina's relationship and wondered why he had only begun to fight so fiercely for the young Jedi Knight now. The older, more experienced politicians especially knew of Garik and Jaina's "partnership," knew the havoc the Solo daughter and Klamath son had created as children. Some of them had even felt the sharp side of Jaina's tongue should a slight be made against Garik. Others' sons had come home with black eyes and eternal isolation should the poor boy have made the mistake of so much as looking at Jaina the wrong way in Garik's presence. The idea that time and growth had mellowed Garik's protectiveness of Jaina Solo was embarrassingly absurd.

So the Senate was divided in their opinions of Diplomat Klamath's savage defence of Jedi Knight Jaina Solo. Some were disgusted by it, could almost hear his career going down the drain. Others took notice of his continual lobbying for Jaina and admired his loyalty, as well his determination. Still others were objective enough in their thinking to know that this fight would either make or break Garik Klamath.

The man in question seemed unaware of the hundreds of eyes that rested on him, waiting for him to slip up and throw his career into the garbage chute, or win his case spectacularly. Outwardly, he projected confidence, as he had been taught to always do by his father. Inwardly, however, his mind was going into overdrive.

There was something wrong.

He could feel it, down to the very bottom of his shoes. He didn't know how he knew, or what was causing his mind and spirit to go into turmoil, but he knew that it had to do with Jaina. Something was happening, something terrible, and he helpless to stop it.

If there was one thing Garik Klamath hated, it was being helpless.

All his life, he had been something of a protector to Jaina. He had, in his own way, adopted her when they were children and made himself her champion. When she lit off, trying to find trouble, he would pull her back and go first, to make sure she wasn't hurt. She had never been able to use words to get out of trouble the way Garik had, and so she had instinctively stepped back and allowed him to talk their way out of sticky situations.

Of many of the things he had done in his life, his relationship with Jaina was one of the things he took the most pride in. Knowing that she trusted him, knowing that he could help her even if he wasn't a Jedi, was something that had gotten him through many things in his life. He might have felt insignificant next to others, might have been unable to stop his parents' divorce, but he had always been able to protect Jaina – from herself or anyone else.

And then…It had happened, and she had pushed him away. He understood why she had done it, even if she didn't. He always had known her better than anyone else – even Jacen commented on it. He was one of the few that could see past all the Bantha dung she might project, right to her very core and after the events of that day so long ago, she couldn't stand to be vulnerable.

The first time he saw her after the "tragedy" she had stared at him for a long period of time, her eyes searching for something in his. She seemed to find it, because she gave him a small smile and reached out to squeeze his hand. They had spoken for only a few moments – she was preparing to leave and he caught her while she was packing – and it had only been somewhat settling. For years, he had dedicated himself to defending her. When she cut loose, he was left flapping in the breeze, with no real cause. He had moved into politics the way his parents and Jaina (the latter had done so grudgingly and he sometimes wondered what his parents had told her) had encouraged him to. Unsurprisingly, a majority of his logic in doing so centred about his ability to help the Jedi, particularly the young woman who had allowed herself to cry only on his shoulder when they were children.

Perhaps he had not truly thrown himself into the fight because he was waiting for Jaina to need him again. But now that she did require help, he seemed to be able only to protect her from small potatoes. He was fighting in the Senate while something else attacked her and he had no doubt it was more dangerous than some squabbling senators.

But what was it? If he only knew, he might be able to help her. He might be able to fly off and hope to get there in time for a gallant rescue, or at least call for back up. As it was, he didn't even know if it was a physical threat. For all he knew, she could have obtained some poison that would take over her brain and make her fight for the 'Vong.

His fist clenched in his lap a moment as he thought. Then, coming to a decision, he grabbed his cloak and left the Senate hall. He wouldn't be able to help her from the Senate hall, but nor would he be doing her any good by leaving. She was on a military base. She was playing the part of a goddess in psychological warfare. He was going to have to entrust her safety to the military, for now.

But it was kriffing likely that he'd be entrusting her to the armed forces for long. He wouldn't be able to relax until he was able to see her with his own eyes; something that couldn't happen until he tied up the political end of her troubles.

He chuckled softly. The politicians wanted to stir up trouble? Fine; they could just bring it on. Garik might not have been as troublesome a child as Jaina, but he could start – and finish – a fight worthy of victory when he needed to. This was one of those times.

Hold on, Jaina…

* * *

The light's pull became more insistent and as Jaina's limbs leadened, she searched for an anchor. Someone – there had to be someone she could use to anchor herself with! Her mind moved sluggishly over people she had bonds with, no matter how tentative.

Wedge? No…that wouldn't work; not personal enough…

Sanar? She attempted to shake her head before realising she couldn't. No, she's dead…for years now…Kyp was – She mentally dislodged the thought and continued on.

Clayra? She reached out as far as she could. No…too far…

She reached back in her mind and noticed a wiry, defiant bond before blinking in astonishment. When did I bond with Jagged Fel?! Her memories of the Chiss colonel were foggy at best. Slightly shaken, an image of a tall man with dark hair and green eyes appeared in her mind before she pushed it aside. The colonel in question was too far to help her, she decided. She'd have to think about the implications of this later. That settled in her mind, she moved her focus back to her current situation.

Despite her struggles – or perhaps because of them – she continued to get closer to the light. The malicious Darkness was far from subtle and she felt her life Force begin to wane, as if it couldn't stand the feel of evil.

She felt hope stir within her as she realised that her life force was not trying to escape, but rather trying to pull her to something – or someone – else. Dragging her reluctant head to the side, she could just "see" three other lights out of the corner of her eye. The first two, she could not place, though they tickled at the back of her mind, entreating for recognition. The third flared brightly and outward, as if it were expanding to reach out to her.

It took her a moment to place the owner of the light, not because she didn't recognize its possessor, but because, seeing the new sparks of sentinel beings, the malicious light preyed even more frantically on her mind and spirit. The fact that she had not expected to see him here did not help either.

Garik?

~*~*~

In a panic he realized his attempts to bring Master to him were not working. Gasping, he flailed outward and opened himself even more to the life energy that surrounded him. Eyes rolling madly in head, he allowed his body to take in the power of the energy, the way a sponge might take in water. "Master!" The command barely got past his lips before he sent it through the Force.

Still Master resisted. He had to stop them from helping her! Those nasty, filthy thieves…

* * *

Tiran frowned as the cry in his mind grew. It was not frantic or uncertain, really; in fact it seemed almost…calm; a plea from a being to a trusted friend. Almost as if the owner of the cry trusted him. He started to stand, but fell to his knees as a Dark kind of power washed over him, pushing him away…




 

~TJF