Master Solo: Um, no Jacen's not in the Embrace. If you look real close at the prologue, I changed some of those quotes and Jacen is on the Vong ship with Tenel Ka and the remaining members of the Jedi strike team as they get off of Myrkr. Sorry for the confusion.

AdraLoran: Thanks for your interest. I do plan to continue this. It'll definitely be a good length story by the time that I get through with it hopefully.

Chapter One

Her entire universe was pain. She could feel or think of nothing else. The sensation haunted her. Anakin's face floated in front of her. He was the only thing that she could focus on because he was a part of the pain. She had failed him. He was dead because of her. For a moment, she ceased her writhing struggles within the Embrace of Pain, and surrendered to it, wishing for death, for anything that would make her forget.

And then Anakin's shimmering form leaned in close to her and whispered one word into her ear. Jacen.

It sent a new and different kind of agony through Jaina. He was responsible. Anakin had put him in charge and he had left Anakin, his own brother, to die. Rage surged through Jaina, totally blocking out all of her recognition of the pain that she was in as her rage consumed her. It was the best, the most clear headed that Jaina had felt since before the mission to Myrkr. The Force flowed effortlessly through her.

"No."

It was gone in an abrupt instant. Pain flooded back into her consciousness, but it was less. Or maybe she was getting used to it again, but instead of getting worse as it had before, it remained as it was. A thin harsh clawed opposable digit stroked her face and Jaina tried in vain to jerk back from it.

The grip tightened from searching to forceful in an instant. "Any Force sensitive can use rage to access the Dark Side. You are not worthy of that power or any other. You are dead to it all, little one. Your family and friends all mourn your passing. No one will come to save you. What will you do now?"

Fear surged through Jaina. She had been in many deadly situations before, but none like this. The reality of her imminent death screamed in the front of her mind and a bitter smile curved over her lips. Good. Death would be welcome. She could see Anakin again and her failure would no longer hang over her, haunting her every moment. Her twin, the other half of her soul, had betrayed her by letting Anakin die. She had nothing left to live for.

Jaina jerked her wrists apart, causing the Embrace of Pain to tighten, and she screamed through her hoarse, raw throat as pain consumed her again in incomprehensible waves. Physical pain was a temporary oblivion from other more horrible pains. Oblivion was bliss.

Jacen Solo stood without a word, a tear sliding down his cheek as he gazed down at the body of his little brother. He alone of his siblings would return to his parents. He would be the one to tell them how their other two children had died, even if he couldn't even comprehend it himself. Alema's account of Jaina's actions in pursuit of Anakin's body had troubled him. All of that had fled from his mind, however, as he had felt Jaina's presence simply disappear from the Force. Only Tenel Ka's solid presence beside him had anchored him back to sanity.

Jacen stepped towards Anakin's body and knelt down, wrapping an arm around Tahiri's impossibly slender shoulders. He couldn't leave her here alone. Anakin had wanted him to take care of Tahiri and he wouldn't have let Anakin down again.

Tahiri didn't seem to even notice him as she reached a shaky hand out to brush a piece of Anakin's dark brown hair off of his forehead and let her fingers trail down him cheek. She leaned over slowly and hesitated for a long moment before she pressed a kiss to his cold, unresponsive lips. As she straightened back up, he started to lead her out of the chamber. A brief look of panic flickered over her face.

"I can't leave him here alone," she said, with a quick glance up to meet his eyes before her eyes settled back on Anakin's body.

It took Jacen a moment to find his voice. "We need to go find someone to get him out of here. He'll be okay," Jacen tried to reassure her, almost choking on the words. Anakin was certainly not okay and it seemed as if nothing would be okay for a very long time.

Tahiri, however, seemed to find something his words because she allowed him to lead her towards the exit to the small chamber. With one last lingering look at her dead love, Tahiri stepped out of the chamber in front of Jacen. Tenel Ka met them there. The signs of grief were equally visible on the face of the tall warrior princess—a grief for all of the missing friends—but there was also strength in the way that she stood.

Jacen was grateful for that strength. He had relied on Tenel Ka's strength so many times, and she would not let him down when he truly needed her the most. Tenel Ka moved to stand on the other side of Tahiri without a word, and together the three young Jedi walked towards the exit of the Vong ship.

Jacen flinched as they stepped out into the bright Hapan sunshine. It was only a matter of time before the first speeder had arrived on the scene to take away Anakin's body. His remains had just been brought out of the vessel when a second speeder stopped in front of them. Han and Leia stepped out of the airspeeder and Jacen almost crumpled.

Coming some time next week: Vergere continues to deal with Jacen and Jag is introduced.