Chapter 8

A.N. (Author's note) Pretty exciting huh? Oh okay, so I've lost some of my knack with fight scenes, but hopefully it kept you interested.

PART TWO

shadow

"BEWARE THE DARK SIDE OF THE FORCE, SOLO!"

Jaina winced in her sleep, as if the shouting voice in her dreams made her ears hurt.

"THE DARK SIDE WILL TAKE EVERYTHING YOU LOVE AWAY FROM YOU! DON'T LET IT RUIN YOUR LIFE!"

Lurching straight up, Jaina opened her eyes to a thick black curtain of darkness. It was as if she could hear the echoes of the shouting words even now- but she strained her ears and heard nothing. Taking in a deep breath she rubbed her head- feeling the knot from where she had been hit with the hilt of a lightsaber. She felt Zekk's presence, and knew he was somewhere close. She also reached out through the Force for someone else, someone who had been haunting her dreams– and she shook herself when she realized what she was doing. All she was looking for was a ghost, and she didn't believe it. "Zekk? You alive?"

"No." He was so close to her it almost made her jump.

Jaina stretched out her hand, feeling the side of his arm. "I sensed it when they stabbed you, can you move your arm at all?"

Zekk's reply didn't come too fast, and she heard the rustle of loose gravel as he moved about. "I can move it, but not very much."

Moving over, Jaina let Zekk rest his head in her lap. "We sure have a way with people, don't we."

"I went down fast, where are we?"

Jaina looked around, her eyes taking nothing in but blackness. "We're in the dark."

"Ha ha." Zekk replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Do you think these are the Jedi we've been looking for?"

"They sure don't act like it."

Pausing, Jaina could tell Zekk was thinking. "You know that we could be looking at this all wrong?"

"How do you mean?" To Jaina everything looked clear enough.

"I mean, Jaina, that they might not be the ones who are attacking."

"I don't understand."

"Think about it, how many visitors do you think these people get?" Zekk moved, probably trying to peer up through the darkness at her.

"What do you mean?"Jaina said defensibly, "They were trying to SHOOT us. Clearly they're on the offensive."

"To us." Zekk replied. "But perhaps they're merely on the defensive, and we're the ones attacking...in their point of view."

Jaina groaned. "Don't give me the 'point of view' poodo. I've heard it way too many times."

Zekk was silent for a moment, and then sat up slowly. "You know, Jaina, you used to actually listen to me. It seems like you've de-matured over the years."

"Sithspawn, Zekk." Jaina moved away and into the darkness. "Here we are in some Force-forsaken predicament and you want to get into a 'you're not mature enough' argument."

"This is serious, Jaina!" Zekk's voice became lower suddenly, with a command Jaina wasn't used to at all. "I feel you're dabbling in things you shouldn't whenever you're afraid you might not win."

"What do you mean?" Jaina barked, her temper flaring.

"You're slipping because you're afraid." Zekk answered, his own temper matching hers.

"I'm not afraid of anything!" Jaina shouted, her voice cracking like a little kid's. She suddenly felt very foolish, and she rubbed her face, letting out a long sigh.

This time Zekk's voice was softer when he replied to her. "I think you are afraid. But not of losing because you lost. You're afraid of losing someone."

"You are only afraid of losing someone after you have lost." Jaina whispered. "And I can't loose anyone else. If I do- I think it'd kill me." After a moment, Jaina felt Zekk's arm around her shoulders.

"I'm not going to be lost. So don't go to extremes to try and save me, okay?" Zekk leaned closer, his lips nearly touching her left ear. "I don't want you to feel the pain I've felt because of going down that path. It's hard to come back."

Silent, Jaina took his hand in her own.

"Promise me you'll control your emotions." Zekk whispered. "Give me your word as a Jedi Knight."

Still, Jaina was silent, and she could tell the unrest in Zekk. But still she couldn't make herself swear.

"Jaina Solo, do you love me?" Zekk whispered.

Jaina nodded.

"Than you'll swear to me that you wont ever use that power ever again. You'll swear if you love me." Now it wasn't a plea like earlier, but a question. "Do you love me, Jaina?"

After a moment, the words slipped out of Jaina's mouth slowly, but with certainty. "I love you..."She could feel him tense up beside her, and she knew she'd have to say all of it.

Just then, light filled the tiny room they were in, and both Jedi were blinded. Despite herself, Jaina was relieved that the moment had been broken.

"On your feet!" A rough voice barked.

Still blinded, Jaina got to her feet. "Got any ideas?" She whispered to Zekk.

Zekk grunted."You're the smart one, remember."

2b continued.

(sorry if there was something wrong with the last chapter, i hate the thing when my computer and the site don't agree. Hope everyone's having a good summer. I'll write more soon. -cali girl)