Chapter 7

R2-D2 rolled over to the computer jack in the apartment. The other occupants, Threepio, Donald, and Goofy, were still asleep, and he did not want them to know what he was doing, especially Threepio. He had seen Sora leave with Jaina, though Sora probably thought he was still powered down.

Artoo did not entirely trust Sora; after all he did call him small. Though Artoo was told what Sora had said as well, he did not fully believe his story. Artoo had been around for many decades and been, like Han, from one side of the galaxy to the next, and had never seen creatures such as Sora's companions, Donald and Goofy, and he had never heard of any creatures called "Heartless."

As for Sora, Artoo knew that he was human. Sora had the same physiological and chemical make up as Luke, Han, and Leia, at it was definite that Sora was a human.

But what kind of human was he exactly? Artoo had information about every human civilization on every planet, but could find no familiarity with any of them with Sora. Sora mostly resembled the human population of Alderaan, but that was Leia's home planet, and she did not act all the way Sora did. And what kind of clothes did Sora wear? They were big and goofy, Artoo thought, with those big shoes and poofy pants.

But it was time to figure out exactly who this Sora character was. He had said he and his friends were from someplace "far away", and that they accidentally ended up here. But where were they from exactly?

Artoo plugged himself into the computer jack, and began searching for anything on Sora, Donald, Goofy, or the Heartless.

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"Sora!" Jaina exclaimed, bringing up her lightsaber in a more defensive position. "What are these things?"

"Heartless," Sora responded calmly. He looked around, and saw that without a doubt that they were surrounded on all sides.

"Well, then," Jaina said. "They messed with the wrong Jedi today. Let's go get them, Sora."

Almost on cue, the entire group of Heartless jumped up and attacked Sora and Jaina. Sora swung his Key Blade around, blocking the Heartless attacks and managing to attack one or two of the Heartless. He then jumped straight in the air, away from the Heartless attack, and lunged back down onto several unsuspecting Shadows. Their black bodies dissolved into nothing.

Jaina, on the other hand, had not moved from where should stood. Using her Jedi reflexives, she swung her lightsaber before any Heartless could reach her. The Heartless moved too simply, only jumping in the air and lunging at their victims. Jaina was easily able to deflect any Heartless attacks. But for some strange reason, for everyone she destroyed, two more took her place. She looked at Sora, seeing that his Heartless group was being beaten back, but hers was growing even larger. And in the cramped alley, soon Jaina and Sora would not have much more room to defend themselves.

"Sora," Jaina called out to Sora after slashing at another Shadow. "We have to pull back. There's too many of them.

Sora saw Jaina's point.

"You're right, Jaina," Sora said, destroying another Heartless. "But if we don't stop these now, they'll just come after us. Got any ideas?"

"Just one." Jaina said, and reached out into the Force. The air around them began to change; it swirled faster and faster, picking up with increased speed. The wind was in a frenzy, it swirled around them, with Jaina as the focal point. The wind picked up the Heartless as they jumped, or just swept them off the ground, and sent them all flying away into the atmosphere.

"That should buy us some time." Jaina said, sheathing her lightsaber.

"What did you do?" Sora asked, putting his Key Blade away as well.

"I used the Force to make a whirlwind, and I just blew the Heartless away." Jaina answered.

"Good job," Sora said. "But that won't hold them off for long. The only way to get rid off them for good is with the Key Blade."

"We better had back to the apartment to regroup, then." Jaina said. Sora was about to respond, but from the walkway behind them they heard someone shout. Together Sora and Jaina ran out of the alley, and into a maelstrom of confusion.

There were Heartless everywhere, and all kinds of them as well. There were Shadows jumping around, Darkballs, giant balloon like Heartless, were ramming into people, Invisibles, humanoid dark angel Heartless with wings and a wicked looking sword, were slashing at everyone that crossed their path, and Wyverns, red colored avian like Heartless, were attacking people from the sky by picking them up in their talons and letting them fall the ground. These Heartless, and many more, were everywhere, and those beings that the Heartless killed instantly became Shadows themselves.

An Ithorian, running for his life, was slashed by an Invisible, and, losing his own heart, became a Shadow of his former self. A Zabrak, trying to hold off a group of Shadow Heartless, was completely overpowered by them. They jumped and smothered him in a mass of darkness. When they removed themselves from the pile, the Zabrak was gone, but there was now one more Shadow. People were trying to stop the Heartless by any means necessary, but neither blasters nor punches were stopping the Heartless attack. Heartless flew through the air, ramming in building and causing as much destruction as possible. Many escaped, but many more were turned into Heartless.

Jaina and Sora were about to assist them, but by that time those who had not fled had turned into Heartless, and they all set their sight on the Jedi and Key Blade Master.