SULLUST

Kira's eyes remained shut as she rested in the bacta tank within the Sullustian hospital, her mouth connected to the tube that fed her oxygen during the procedure.

Her severed arm stuck out of a socket in the tank, allowing an MD-77 droid to connect the circuits of her new robotic hand to the equivalent veins and arteries in Kira's wrist. Her replacement hand mercifully resembled her old organic hand to a considerable extent.

Still unconscious from the physical and emotional turmoil, Kira twiddled the artificial fingers and thumbs on her replacement hand back and forth.

Inside the bacta tank, Kira's eyes snapped open as she awakened.

OUTER RIM

The Black Ring loomed through the vast emptiness of space, the officers below deck having no instructions to set a particular course. Worker droids and uniformed Republic soldiers prowled the corridors and elevators of the battle cruiser.

Inside his small, drab office, Vice Admiral Hoff Praxium recorded a message into the holoprojector on his desk, preparing to transmit the message:

"General Solo, we know where you and the Jedi are hiding. As of today, you are considered a traitor to the Republic, and an abettor to the deserting Jedi Order. However, just for today, I am willing to make a deal with you. Our search for your deserting party will be suspended if your former commander reports to my star cruiser by tomorrow. He will be pardoned and allowed to resume duty under my command. Then, you will be given ample time to scurry before our search resumes. Think it over, and pass it on to your former commander."

After finishing his recording, Praxium transmitted the message and turned to Vizier Omas in deference.

"With any luck, the commander will soon help us track down and apprehend the Jedi," Omas stated, "And with the new act passed in the Senate, we will have considerable expansion of our military into the Outer Rim, and enact the draft for the first time in New Republic history."

"I just hope he shows up," Praxium replied distantly.

"Either way, there's something in it for you," Omas replied, "I am appointing you as general in place of Han Solo. You will command our ground troops in combat against the Coalition. I hope you can keep their stench out of the free galaxy."

"I will try, Supreme Commander," Praxium replied with a nod. He stood at attention and saluted Omas, who prepared to place the new insignia on Praxium's uniform.

SULLUST

Inside the weaponry production factory's managerial center, Han, Leia, and Sam listened to the holographic message from Praxium silently, along with Chewbacca, Threepio, Artoo and Tionne.

As soon as Praxium finished with, "Think it over, and pass it on to your former commander," Leia looked over at her husband with her eyes still red from the crying.

"They might be watching us now," she said, her heart not entirely present.

"Let them," Han replied furiously, "I don't care anymore."

Sam couldn't bring himself to say anything to the Solos, but got up and left the room into the corridor.

As he turned the corner to climb up to the spare hangar where newly completed Interceptors were stationed, Sam heard footsteps stomping close behind him.

"Are you just going to leave, after everything?"

Sam turned around to find Han Solo glaring angrily at him, his eyes as puffy as his wife's.

Sam's spine shivered as he turned back to face his commanding officer.

"I've loved serving under you General," Sam replied sadly, his face burning hotter than the magma banks flowing through the obsidian underneath the factory floor, "And I have great respect for your family. But I made a commitment and an oath to the Republic army. I can't forget about it now."

"I would have thought you'd show more honor," Han growled, jabbing a finger at his junior officer, "And to think I almost thought of you like another son. You got my real son killed!"

Sam gasped in shock; he understood where Han's wave of anger was coming from, but the general's words rang too harshly.

"I'm sorry, General, but I don't understand," he replied weakly.

"If you'd just taken Kira back to me instead of flying off. none of this would have happened! Ben wouldn't have died, the Jedi wouldn't have been killed, and we wouldn't be in this mess now!"

There was no reasoning with Han, Sam realized. For the first time in his adult life, Sam found himself on the verge of tears.

"It's just as well that you're leaving," Han snapped, "You just have to show off your principles, don't you?"

His words meant the opposite of how they sounded, Sam knew. He couldn't bear to take General Solo's berating, however deep the older man was in his state of grief, and however much Sam agreed with him on some level.

"I don't know what else to do, General," Sam choked, spitting out his words with all of the emotion in his heart, "I'd like to do more for you, but I just can't do anything right. I hold myself responsible for what happened at the Academy, Kira risked everything just to save me! I'm sorry about everything that's happened, and if I could do anything, even give myself up to undo it all. Believe me, Ben was a great friend and ally, and I'd do anything to go back and fix what happened!

Han slightly calmed down and dipped his head.

"You're right, kid. There's nothing you can do. Take care of yourself, then."

Sam felt slightly comforted. "Thanks, General," he said, daring to salute and give a tiny, bittersweet smile.

Han wasn't letting him off that easily, however.

"That seems to be what you're best at."

Sam found his eyes watering again at the sting. He hurried up the staircase towards the vacant hangar, determined to leave everything on Sullust far behind.

Han turned around disgustedly and headed back towards Leia and the others in the managerial room.

After creating a wide enough gap between himself and Han, Sam continued his walk into the hangar, when he heard someone else climb up the stairs behind him.

He turned around as Tahiri approached cautiously, a torn expression on the Jedi Padawan's face.

"I guess you heard?" Sam asked sullenly.

"Heard what?" Tahiri asked, "I just wanted to let you know that Kira's awake."

Sam looked at her, and then into the amethyst sky with remorse.

"Give her my best," he replied, "I really hope she makes it through everything she's dealing with."

"You're not going to see her?" Tahiri asked.

Sam sighed, every passing second twisting his heart further.

"I have to report for duty," he said, "I'm still a Republic officer. I'm sorry, Tahiri. I tried to do right by everybody. I don't expect you to understand."

"I do," Tahiri said, with a sudden and unexpectedly soft voice, "I understand. And I owe you thanks too. For coming after me with Kira even when you didnt have to and you didn't know me."

"Listen, please tell Kira I'm sorry," Sam asked, "About leaving, about what happened on Had Abaddon, and what went on between us on Metacorn. And that goes for everybody else too. I'm sorry. I hope to see you both again soon, but things are going to be rough going forward."

"Everything is about to get much harder," Tahiri agreed knowingly, "Good luck with everything, Sam."

"You too, Tahiri," Sam said, the tenderness returning to him from Han's devastating impact, "May the Force be with you."

Tahiri smiled, although she was in nearly as much grief as Han had been.

Sam chose a fighter and hurried towards it before he could plunged into greater despair.

Tahiri gazed after him sadly as he climbed into the fighter and closed the cockpit over him.

She started back inside the factory, only listening to the sound of the Interceptor's engine firing and Sam taking off into the dusk.

Tahiri returned forlornly to the assembly of Jedi Masters seated around their consular ships in the main hangar, with Han and Leia continually embracing and silently consoling one another.

She looked desperately to Tionne and Luke, the latter of whom stood up from the circle and said, "We'd best go and see Kira now."

Kira sat dully on the cot in her room, having changed into new robes. Her lightsaber sat idly on the seat next to her, forgotten and irrelevant.

She stared into the nothingness of the matter in front of her, her eyes exploring the dark, lonely room. She could not bring herself to feel anything, or fill her mind with any thoughts that would fill up the aching, burning hole inside of her.

Slowly, Tahiri and Luke crept into her room, with Han and Leia standing a short distance away. They wanted to be there for their daughter, comfort her and make sure she was going to be all right, but their grief was still too powerful for any rational thinking. Han knew shamefully that he had just proven that.

"Hey," Tahiri whispered gently, "You okay?"

Kira couldn't pull herself out of the false reality of nothing she had created, but had to settle for nodding without looking at either of her two visitors.

"Everybody's here," Tahiri said, "Your parents and the Jedi who escaped the Academy."

"We're all here to support you, Kira," Luke added, making sure to keep his voice as quiet as Tahiri's.

Finally, Kira was able to muster up the nerve to speak, confirming that she still lived in the reality in which Ben had died and Ultor had destroyed her home.

"You should have let me finish him."

"Kira," Tahiri said, caressing her friend's back in a motherly way, "Please."

The rage Kira had felt was starting to return, and she was rising high out of her subdued manner.

She stood up and angrily confronted her uncle.

"He killed Ben and you let him go!"

"Kira," Luke began uneasily, taking a step back into the doorway, "You must understand..."

"There's nothing to understand!" Kira snapped, "Skyler killed Ben, and I'm just supposed to let him live! Why? He was right there and I had every chance for revenge, and you held me back!"

"The Jedi don't seek revenge," Luke replied sadly, the overwhelming sorrow from all the casualties reducing him numb, "even when facing the most terrible form of pain imaginable."

"I don't care what the Jedi do and don't do anymore!" Kira yelled, not even thinking about whether she would try to control herself, "My brother died and I want Ultor to die too! I want them all to die and pay for everything they've done!"

"Kira, please stop," Tahiri begged, trying to sit her friend back down.

Kira thrust her elbow back at the touch of Tahiri's hand, causing the other girl to cry out and fall onto the cot in response to the blow to her face.

"Kira!" Luke admonished, having been struck with horror at his niece's behavior.

Tahiri gaped in sheer terror at her best friend as she lay on the cot, her face bruised from Kira's strike.

Kira looked down at her friend with the horrified realization at what she had done. She couldn't stay here, she realized, not a minute longer. She needed to get away from Tahiri, from Luke, from everybody she knew.

Grabbing her lightsaber, Kira strode for the hospital room's exit, but Luke stood in front of her with his arms folded sternly.

"Let me go!" Kira snarled at her uncle, hating the sight of his calm, solemn face.

"Kira, you need to take a minute to calm down," Luke said.

"Out of my way!" Kira shouted, pushing her uncle aside. She refused to register the sound of Tahiri bursting into tears behind her.

Leia saw what had happened and collected enough will to confront her daughter.

"Kira," she said, stepping up to her daughter and grabbing her arm, "We need to talk right now."

"Get out of my way!" Kira repeated, glowering at her mother and causing her to recoil in fear.

"Kira!" Leia shouted as her daughter ran off into the distance, disappearing into the corridor.

Luke joined Han and Leia as they watched Kira flee.

"She needs to be alone," he told them, "She'll listen to us eventually, but she isn't ready yet."

CORUSCANT SYSTEM

Aboard the Black Ring, Grand Vizier and Supreme Commander Omas reviewed full-color holographic footage on the main projection table of new military recruits engaging in a marching drill, down at the Prime Station in the capital city.

He turned as the blast doors slid open to reveal the fully uniformed Sam Fel, who saluted with no emotion visible in his face.

"Supreme Commander."

"Ah, Commander Praxium, I'm glad you could join us," Omas said, producing a warm, fatherly voice that did not belong to him.

"Sir, with respect, my name is Commander Fel," Sam replied, not completely surprised at the way Omas had addressed him.

"Not anymore," said a firm voice from the side.

Sam turned towards the heavyset General standing before him.

"You report to me now, and if you're going to serve, you're going to serve using the name you were born with, is that understood?"

It took every muscle in Sam's face not to scowl at his father, but he knew that he could not afford any transgressions after being allowed to return from giving company to traitors and deserters.

"Yes, sir," Sam replied, keeping the tiniest hint of resentment without making it clear enough to General Praxium.

"Excellent," Omas said, "Father and son reunited once more. Now then, General and Commander Praxium, we'll all be needed down at Prime Station."

"Come along, son," Praxium ordered.

Sam followed his father and Omas, looking down hollowly at the command bridge. He closed his eyes, filled with regret, wishing he could escape from the reality that had befallen him.

SULLUST

It had been about two hours since Kira's outburst. She had been roaming the production line and the corridors since, trying to tell herself that she was supposed to stay. But she couldn't, not after everything that had happened.

She finally made her way out onto a small hangar, built at the end of the assembly line where shuttles were moved from the conveyor belt onto the floor sliding them into place.

Kira allowed her senses to be consumed by the noises of the factory and the scenery of Sullust, only pulling herself back when she sensed a shimmering presence visiting.

"Look, nobody understands what I'm going through," Kira said to Anakin before he could speak, "I know everybody else is upset about Ben too, but the Jedi way just doesn't cut it for me. I can't just let go of my hate like I'm supposed to."

Anakin drifted in front of his granddaughter and put a shimmering hand on her shoulder. She felt the weight despite his transparent form.

"Kira, every Jedi goes through a period where the dark side seems like the better option," Anakin said, "Some pull out of it early, others don't. I didn't until it was almost too late."

"I can't just go back now, after everything," Kira admitted, "I'm not ready to be the perfect Jedi, like Tahiri and Ben."

"And you shouldn't, not until you are ready," Anakin replied, "But questioning the Jedi path doesn't have to lead to the dark side. It all depends on what is inside your heart."

Kira began to respond, but the words were trapped behind her heavy guilt and lingering anger.

"I don't know," she replied, "I don't know what's in my heart. The light side, the dark side, it's all too confusing and blurred."

Anakin gazed sadly through his glowing visage at his granddaughter.

"You must follow your instincts," he said, "Nobody else can make you follow the right path. I'll always be here to guide you, and to do what I can to keep you safe."

"I'm sorry, Anakin," Kira said, the guilt inside her taking over, "I'm sorry I can't do the right thing, and I'm sorry for making everybody worry. I just wish I didn't have to be such a burden."

"Guiding and protecting you is my purpose," Anakin replied gently, his expression serene and his words coming with wisdom and experience, "As long as the Jedi can, we are here to guide you."

Kira managed a reluctant smile, gratefully regarding her grandfather without words.

Minutes later, a Republic attack shuttle was taking off from the shipyard factory, quickly disappearing into the night.

"Han, Han!" Leia said, shaking her husband awake as soon as she sensed Kira fleeing.

"What is it?" asked Han, rolling over in their shared sleeping bag.

"It's Kira!"

The two of them ran out of the Millennium Falcon, down the ramp into the main hangar of the shipyard, where the students were fast asleep in the shelter of their transports, but the Masters were wide awake with vigilance.

Luke appeared at Han and Leia's side at the same time that Tahiri came running in panic.

"Kira!" she cried, full of worry for her friend, "No!"

Tionne caught her Padawan by the arm as many of the younger students awoke.

"What's going on?"

"What happened?"

Saba Sebatyne gently put her scaly finger to her jaw and whispered, "Sssh."

"We mustn't worry, Tahiri," Tionne urged, although she herself was evidently troubled.

"I can't believe we didn't see this coming," Han lamented, "I don't know what we're going to do."

"She's going through a very difficult time," Leia said, "We all are."

Luke sighed and dipped his head, unable to say anything to do justice to his sister and best friend.

Quietly, Chewbacca emerged from the Falcon, followed by Threepio, Artoo, and the probe droid K3.

As they reached Han and Leia watching the point into which Kira's stolen ship had disappeared, Chewbacca let out a mournful cry and wrapped his arms around Han and Leia, giving them both a consoling embrace.

Luke turned from Han, Leia, and the others and walked away from the assembly of Jedi craft.

To the darkness of the hangar, he said, "I failed her. I should have guided her through, instead of letting her fall."

"No, Luke, Kira needed to feel free," Anakin said, appearing out of the void to his son, "Her period of conflict was inevitable, and her grief only makes it harder. But you did everything right as a Master. The rest was out of your hands.

"Anakin's right," Obi-Wan Kenobi said, appearing beside his former student, "A Master can only go so far in ensuring that their pupil stays on the right path. In the end, all beings are governed mainly by their own hearts."

"I thought I could raise the Jedi Order to its former strength," Luke said, "I hoped that after the Empire, there would be good times. Now, the galaxy is in chaos and the Republic is at war again."

"Peace is never eternal," Obi-Wan said, "even the Jedi cannot escape war and violence forever. But it is our job to contain it, and make sure the war does not spread."

By now, Leia had gone after her brother and now joined him and the spiritual apparitions.

"Leia," Anakin said softly, gazing at his daughter with sorrow.

"Father," Leia replied with a nod, "Has she spoken to you?"

Anakin replied, "She has. I promised that I would look after her and keep her from harm, just as I promise you now."

"Thank you," Leia said sullenly.

"And I promise this too," Anakin said to both his children, "Ben always be a part of you, and all of us. He'll never be gone as long as his spirit lives on in the Force."

"Thank you, Father," Leia replied, her voice cracking yet again.

"The Jedi have always faced setbacks, even when rebuilding from the ashes," Obi-Wan said, "But even after the darkest hour, hope will light the way. You'll remember this all too well, I trust. As long as the light side exists and the Jedi to carry it, the darkness will never be absolute."

"Yes, Master," Luke replied with a slight bow, "thank you for everything."

"I'm very proud of you both," Anakin said to Luke and Leia, "and even if we cannot join you in the physical realm, we'll always be here for you."

Luke and Leia both bowed this time, flowing with emotion and resolve.

Anakin smiled before closing his eyes and frowning with regret before both Jedi spirits faded into the fight.

Then, Luke and Leia went back to the cluster of ships and their friends camped outside.

Han wrapped an arm around both of them and they all held each other tightly, looking into the night. Chewie and the droids stood along side them watching the stars.

Then, Tahiri, Tionne, and the other Masters joined them, and finally, the rest of the Padawans and then children huddled together, forming a circle and keeping close to one another as they gazed up into the night sky.

In the orbit of Sullust, Kira Solo piloted her new craft ahead, into the glow of the sun that the system was centered around, before passing by it into the vacuum of space.

She kept her gaze and her mind ahead as she silently charted her next course. Kira was not yet certain of what waited ahead for her; where she was going, and what she would do next.

She also did not know when she would see her friends and family again; her parents, Luke, Tahiri, and even Sam.

Kira only knew that she had to go her own way first, and ultimately she realized that she could not return until she had finished what she had set out to achieve.

The lone shuttle continued into the black void of space, alone in the infinity of the universe.

TO BE CONTINUED...