7.
The door chimed while Jaina was lying on her bed, reading the latest batch of news Emry had brought her. The situation in the galaxy seemed to be growing grimmer by the day, with the rebels stepping up their attacks and the Empire retaliating on worlds known to sympathize with them.

"It's open" she called, not bothering to look up from the datapad. The door slid open and she quickly sat up when she saw who it was.

"Ahsoka," she said, surprised. She hadn't seen her in weeks and was beginning to think Ahsoka had forgotten about her. "I wasn't expecting you."

"Sorry I haven't stopped by in a while," Ahsoka said, looking around the room. "I've been offworld, attending to some business." Jaina knew she had to be vague, but for some reason, it still irked her.

"It's okay," she replied, as nonchalantly as she could. Ahsoka owed her nothing and yet, Jaina still felt like she should've at least said something if she wasn't going to be around for a while. Especially since she was the only one Jaina could go to if she had questions about the Force. Which she did. A lot of them.

"How's everything going?" Ahsoka asked, eyeing her closely. Jaina shrugged.

"Fine," she replied. "I've been following their rules…and yours. It's annoying not being able to go anywhere alone, but other than that, it's fine."

"Well, perhaps that will change soon," Ahsoka said. "Let's take a walk."

"Gladly," Jaina said, tossing the datapad onto the bed and standing up. She eagerly followed Ahsoka out of the room and into the hall. Emry had been working long hours for the last week or so and Rex seemed to always be busy as well, so she hadn't gotten out of the room as much as she would've liked.

They wound their way through the maze of hallways, chatting about what Jaina had been up to while Ahsoka was gone. Ahsoka seemed pleased that she'd become friends with Emry, and wasn't completely hating her time here. It wasn't until they'd gotten halfway across one of the landing pads that Jaina figured out the real reason Ahsoka wanted to talk to her.

"Rex tells me you've been asking about the Jedi a lot," Ahsoka said, as they headed towards the forest. Jaina made a face. She should've assumed he'd tell Ahsoka what they talked about, but still.

"Yeah," she replied. She wasn't going to deny it. "I have. He enjoys telling war stories, and I like hearing them. Especially the ones about the Jedi he served with." She gave Ahsoka a knowing look and saw her purse her lips in response.

"Is that so?" Ahsoka said. "What kinds of things has he told you about?"

"Mainly their heroics," she replied. "How defeat would look certain, then somehow, they'd manage to eke out a victory." She smirked. "And that it would usually only happen when one of you would come up with some insane plan that should never have worked, but always did."

It was Ahsoka's turn to smirk; she'd caught what Jaina had said. "Yes, that did tend to happen."

They'd reached the forest and Jaina took them down one of her favorite paths. "I'll be honest," Jaina said, "it's fascinating listening to him describe what the Jedi could do. How they were able to use the Force. The things they could do because of it."

Ahsoka nodded slightly. "I can see why that would be of interest to you."

"It got me thinking," Jaina continued, "if the Jedi hadn't been wiped out, what would've happened to me?"

"I suppose you would've been identified as Force-sensitive," Ahsoka said, after a long moment, "most likely while you were still very young, and taken to the Temple on Coruscant to be trained."

Jaina slowly nodded. "Like you were?" She chanced a glance at Ahsoka and saw a ghost of a smile on her face.

"Yes," Ahsoka replied, "like I was."

"How old were you?" Jaina asked. "Do you remember?"

"Three," she replied, then quickly added, "I think." She gave Jaina a small smile.

Jaina thought about that for a moment while they walked. Three was awfully young to be taken away from your home. "What happened after that? After they came and got you?"

"The same thing that happened to all the younglings that were brought to there," Ahsoka replied. "We began our training immediately."

"Were you ever allowed to go back home?" Jaina asked. "Visit your family?"

Ahsoka shook her head. "No. The Order became our family." She sighed. "I don't really remember anything about my life before the Jedi. I was too young. The Order was the only thing I knew…for a very, very long time."

There was a hint of bitterness in her voice. Jaina couldn't help but wonder if she regretted being pulled away from her home, without having any say in the matter. Her mind drifted, and she found herself thinking about how different her life might have been, had the purge not happened. It was an interesting fantasy. It certainly couldn't have been any worse than her life was now. At least she would've been around others who were just like her. She wouldn't feel completely alone.

She was so lost in thought that she lost track of where they were. It wasn't until the trees began to thin and they emerged into a clearing, that she realized how far they'd walked. On the other side of the clearing was a sharp drop-off, and off in the distance, she could see the base.

They walked to the edge of the cliff, both of them admiring the view. The sun was setting, casting its evening light over everything. They were far enough away that the sound of the starfighters taking off and landing wasn't loud enough to drown out the sound of the forest, which was alive with all the creatures she couldn't see, but could feel through the Force. It was as beautiful as it was peaceful.

"What's wrong?" Ahsoka quietly asked. She saw Jaina's confused look and chided: "You might be able to fool the others, but not me. I know something's bothering you and I want to know what it is."

Jaina turned her attention back to the view and frowned, wondering how Ahsoka knew. She hadn't said anything to anyone, not even Emry. A sideways glance at Ahsoka told her she wasn't going to let it go, and she sighed.

"I feel…lost." She paused, trying to think of the best way she could explain it. "Like I don't know who I am anymore. I used to. I used to know exactly who I was…what I wanted…what my future was going to look like." She shook her head. "Then everything changed. Now, the people I thought I could trust want me dead. The people I used to think of as enemies, are friends. And to top it all off, I find out I have this special connection to a mystical energy source that I can't even begin to understand."

She sighed again and her voice got quieter. "Maybe on some level I've always known it was there. But now that I'm aware of it, I can't ignore it. I feel it everywhere, all the time. Around me…inside me. I have no idea what to do with it. And…it scares me."

There. She'd finally said it. Admitting she was afraid wasn't something she did very often, but the Force terrified her. And now that she finally admitted it, she felt much better. She hadn't realized how much it had been weighing her down. Ahsoka was watching her with the same impassive look she always had, which Jaina had come to realize meant she was thinking about something.

"You've been through quite a lot of changes in the last few months," Ahsoka said, finally breaking the silence. "Believe it or not, I understand how you feel. At least when it comes to that." Her face hardened. "I know what it's like to have your life turned upside down. To have everything you've ever known ripped away from you."

Jaina nodded. She assumed Ahsoka was talking about the purge, but she wasn't about to ask. "As for the Force," Ahsoka continued, "well, that's one of the reasons I wanted to talk to you today."

"What was the other reason?" Jaina asked.

"We've already discussed it," Ahsoka replied. "I wanted to see how you were doing. And I appreciate you being honest with me about it."

Jaina chuckled slightly. "You would've known if I was lying, so there was no point in even trying it." Ahsoka gave her a small smile in response. "So, what is it you want to talk about with the Force?"

"First, we need to discuss the Inquisitor," Ahsoka said, her voice now deadly serious. "I've dealt with them in the past, and I know from experience that she'll never stop searching for you. You're too valuable to her, and her master. That's why she let you live."

A million questions popped into her mind, but she held her tongue and listened quietly as Ahsoka continued: "There will come a time when she's going to catch up to you. You won't be able to hide from her forever. Eventually…you'll have to face her."

Jaina's heart sank. She'd already come to the same conclusion, but having it confirmed by Ahsoka did little to comfort her. "Then I might as well turn myself over to her right now," she mumbled. Ahsoka shot her a look and she shrugged. "It's true. I don't stand a chance against her, and you know it."

"No, you don't," Ahsoka agreed. "At least…not right now."

Jaina's shoulders slumped, but then Ahsoka's words finally registered and she looked up at her, slightly stunned. "You mean…?" She wasn't sure if Ahsoka was suggesting what she thought she was, and she didn't want to say it out loud, for fear she might be wrong.

Ahsoka nodded. "You shouldn't be fearful of your connection to the Force. I can help you to understand it, to learn how to use it…if you're willing."

"Yes!" Jaina said, a bit more enthusiastically than she intended. "Yes…I'm willing. And you'll help me be ready for when I have to face the Inquisitor?"

Ahsoka nodded again. "How ready you'll be, however, will be entirely up to you. I can teach you what I know, but it's up to you to learn and apply it. And it isn't going to be easy. You're going to be tested, in more ways than you can possibly imagine."

Jaina solemnly nodded. "I'm ready."

"We'll see," Ahsoka replied with a faint smile. "Now, I think I owe you an explanation. And it can serve as your first lesson." Jaina shot her a questioning look. "When I forbade you from using the ability you have, what was the reason I gave you?"

Jaina frowned. "You didn't give me a reason. You said I wouldn't understand it. Not yet."

"Would you like to understand it?" Ahsoka asked. Jaina nodded and listened closely as Ahsoka launched into a long lecture about the nature of the Force and the dueling sides of it, the light and the dark.

Usually, when she had to listen to someone lecture for a long time, she'd lose interest rather quickly; but that wasn't the case with Ahsoka. Ahsoka had a way of explaining things that made sense to her, and she allowed Jaina to ask as many questions as she wanted, patiently answering them all. The instructors at both academies she'd been to had never done that. It was refreshing to know Ahsoka cared enough to want her to understand what she was teaching her.

And by the time Ahsoka had finished, Jaina did, indeed, understand. She'd already promised Ahsoka she wouldn't use it, but knowing why she shouldn't made her more determined to actually keep that promise. They left the overlook long after darkness had fallen, and Jaina's head felt clearer than it had in months.

Ahsoka came and got her first thing the next morning. After a quick breakfast together, they walked to one of the training rooms that was tucked away deep in the bowels of the main structure of the base. Ahsoka didn't waste any time, and Jaina spent the rest of the day just trying to keep up with all the information Ahsoka threw at her. It was overwhelming, exhausting, and completely exhilarating, and she fell into bed excited for the next day.

The end of that first day also brought some good news: she was no longer required to have an escort with her whenever she left the room. She'd dreamt of what she would do first, once that restriction was lifted, but when it finally happened, all she could think about was her lessons. Her life felt like it had meaning again, a purpose; something she didn't think she'd ever get back.

The days blended together as Jaina fell into a routine. She'd get up, eat, meet Ahsoka for the day's lesson, and spend hours learning whatever Ahsoka wanted to teach her. Some days they'd spend in the training room, some they'd spend outside in the woods, and others were spent at the overlook they'd found. Ahsoka always seemed to sense when Jaina needed a change of scenery.

She also made sure the lessons kept Jaina engaged, and changed them up frequently. One day might be spent learning how to use the Force to enhance her strength, speed, and reflexes. Another might be spent in meditation, learning how to connect with it in deeper ways. And another she might spend sitting quietly on the floor of the training room, reaching out through the Force, trying to locate different objects Ahsoka had placed around the room.

No matter what the day's lesson entailed, the outcome was always the same. After they were finished, Jaina would head back to her room, mentally and physically exhausted, but happy. Even Emry noticed the change in her mood, although they were spending a lot less time together now that Ahsoka kept Jaina busy all day. They'd still make a point to go on a walk or a jog whenever they could, but it wasn't as often as either of them would've liked.

They had grown a lot closer over the last month, which wasn't exactly a bad thing; other than the fact that Jaina was beginning to find it difficult to focus on anything besides Emry whenever she was around. It had made trying to meditate in their room nearly impossible. Which was why, for the last week, she had begun meditating at the overlook.

She was on her way there, having just finished her lesson with Ahsoka, when she heard Emry call her name. She winced and pretended not to hear her, and quickened her pace a little. Ahsoka's lesson had left her head swimming and she just wanted to get up to the overlook and sit in peaceful solitude for a while.

"Hey Jaina, wait up!" Emry called again, more insistently this time. Jaina made a face and slowed to a stop, the urge to find out what Emry wanted having quickly overpowered the need to be alone. She turned and saw Emry jogging—well, more like running—towards her.

Emry slowed as she caught up to her, slightly out of breath. Jaina idly wondered how long she had been trying to catch her. "Where are you going?" Emry asked.

Jaina hesitated. She hadn't told anyone about the overlook. Only Ahsoka knew where it was and she preferred to keep it that way. "Into the forest," she finally said.

"To meditate?" Emry asked. Jaina frowned and Emry quickly explained: "I noticed you haven't been meditating in our room anymore, so I assumed you've been going to the woods." Jaina's frown deepened. She didn't think her avoidance of their room over the last week had been obvious, but apparently, it had.

"Yes, to meditate," she replied. "There's…fewer distractions there." She didn't want to tell Emry the real reason she no longer meditated in their room, but as soon as those words slipped out, she mentally cringed.

"I see," Emry said slowly, giving her a funny look. Jaina's face burned hot and she hoped Emry would change the subject. A smile tugged at the edge of Emry's lips as she noted Jaina's embarrassment. "Well, do you mind if I join you, just this once?"

Embarrassment quickly turned to surprise and Jaina stared at her. Emry had seen her in meditation numerous times, but she'd never expressed any interest in joining her. And—now that Jaina was thinking about it—she wasn't even sure if Emry could meditate the same way she did. As far as she knew, Emry wasn't Force-sensitive at all.

Still, Emry's intentions seemed to be genuine. And it might be good for her to see if she could successfully do it while Emry was with her.

"It's not going to be very exciting," she finally said with a shrug.

"I know," Emry said. She sighed. "I just can't be inside right now. Everyone is too on edge."

Jaina nodded. She had sensed a shift in the overall mood of the base in the last couple of days. She knew something big had happened—she and Ahsoka had been at the overlook two days ago and had watched as seemingly every last starfighter the rebels had, take off—and ever since then the base had been a hive of activity.

"I noticed," Jaina replied. She kept her tone nonchalant. She knew Emry couldn't and wouldn't tell her what was going on. "Well, I don't mind if you join me."

"Are you sure?" Emry asked as they started walking again. "I swear I won't be a distraction." Jaina shot her a look and saw she was grinning.

"That's not what I meant," she replied, rolling her eyes.

"Uh-huh," Emry said, grinning even wider, "sure." Jaina shook her head in mock frustration. "So, where are we going?" Emry asked.

"You'll see," Jaina simply replied. Emry's eyes narrowed.

"Oh, so is this where the ex-Imperial takes the rebel deep into the woods and kills her, finally exacting her revenge?" Jaina's eyebrows shot up and she looked at Emry, stunned.

"What?" she said in disbelief. "No! Where did you even—" she abruptly stopped as she saw Emry struggling to contain her laughter. "Oh." She scowled at her. "Not funny."

The laugh Emry had been holding in finally escaped. "You should've seen your face," she said. Jaina continued to scowl at her and she playfully nudged Jaina's arm. "Oh come on, it was just a joke. I know you'd never hurt me." She suddenly stopped walking. "At least…I don't think you would."

The amusement in her voice was instantly gone, replaced by fear. Jaina turned and looked her straight in the eye, putting as much conviction in her words as she could. "No. I wouldn't." Emry's eyes searched her face, and she could see the alarm behind them.

"Besides," she continued, as casually as she could, "it'd be the other way around. You have far more reason to kill me." She gave Emry a small smile. "Is that why you wanted to come with me today?"

It was Emry's turn to look shocked and she quickly shook her head. "No, of course not! I wouldn't hurt you either. I just—" She looked away, and Jaina could see her face turning red. "I've barely seen you all week and I just…wanted to spend some time with you."

Her last words had rushed out so fast that it took Jaina a moment to understand what she'd said. A smile lit up her face once she did. "Well, I'm sure watching me meditate wasn't exactly what you had in mind."

"Beats sitting in the room by myself," Emry replied. Her face was still red, but she was smiling. "Maybe you can teach me how you do it?"

Jaina chuckled and they started walking again. "I don't know about that. I feel like I still have no idea what I'm doing."

They chatted about what her last week of lessons had been like as they walked. She'd found out early on that the Force wasn't a foreign concept to Emry like it had been to her. Emry had told her that a lot of people in the Rebellion believed in it, and she had been taught of its existence when she was growing up.

Of course, she'd never believed it was real. She just assumed it was something religious zealots had made up to make themselves feel better about their lives. Until Akiva, that is. She'd told Jaina that Rex had pulled her aside after they'd gotten back, and explained what it was that she saw. After that, she said she couldn't deny its existence any longer, because she couldn't come up with another explanation for what Jaina had done.

The trees eventually began to thin, and as they emerged into the clearing, Emry let out a low whistle. "This is where you've been coming?" she asked. Jaina nodded. "It's beautiful."

"I know," Jaina replied. She walked closer to the edge of the cliff and Emry joined her. For a moment, neither of them spoke as they admired the view. "No one but Ahsoka knows about it, and I'd like to keep it that way."

"I won't tell anyone, I promise," Emry said, getting the hint. "Your secret is safe with me."

Jaina smiled at her then walked back from the edge a few meters. She wasn't a huge fan of heights in general, and Ahsoka had cautioned her about choosing where she meditated carefully. It hadn't taken her long to figure out why. Spending time deep in meditation left her exposed, vulnerable to almost any threat. Including an accidental fall.

She sat cross-legged on the ground, facing away from the forest, and motioned for Emry to join her. "Okay, so how do I do this?" Emry asked as she sat down next to her, mimicking Jaina's posture. Jaina quickly went over the basics of what Ahsoka had taught her, as best she could, hoping she was making sense. Judging by the look on Emry's face, she was being as clear as mud.

"So, basically, I just sit here and breathe deeply and try not to think about anything?" Emry said, after she was done explaining.

"Pretty much," Jaina said, chuckling. "I know it sounds weird. But, at least for me, it works."

"Yeah, but you can feel the Force and I can't," Emry replied. "That probably has something to do with it."

"True," Jaina said. "But it still flows through you, even though you can't feel it." Emry gave her a skeptical look. "Trust me, it does." She smiled at her and Emry shrugged.

"If you say so. I guess if it doesn't work I can always sit here and enjoy this view for a while." She smiled at Jaina. "Thanks again, for letting me tag along."

"You're welcome," Jaina replied cheerfully. "Are you ready?" Emry nodded and Jaina took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Having Emry so close to her was as much of a distraction as she thought it would be, but once she started to feel Emry relax, she did as well. The outside world slowly began to fade as she cleared her mind, and it wasn't long before it had faded entirely, leaving just her and the Force.

Lately, Ahsoka had been teaching her to reach deeper and deeper during her meditations. To completely open herself up to the Force, and allow it to show her anything it might wish to. Ahsoka had explained these insights would most likely come in the form of visions, but so far, she'd received none. She sank deeper and deeper into the energy around her. It was like a current, pulling her along, and she didn't try to resist its flow.

Without warning, a massive wave of fear crashed into her, interrupting the current. It was so strong it took her breath away and she gasped. The fear was quickly followed by a new, more awful sensation, one she'd never felt before. It felt as if a gaping wound had been opened in the Force; it was so powerful it completely overwhelmed her.

In response, her mind ripped itself out of meditation, and back to the present. Her body, unable to figure out what was going on, rebelled on her. Crippling nausea struck, and she collapsed onto her hands and knees and was violently sick. She heard Emry next to her, heard the panic in her voice as she asked her what was wrong.

"Ahsoka…" she said weakly. She needed Emry to get Ahsoka. "Get Ahs—" she started to say as she tried to stand up, but the world immediately spun and she fell.

The last thing she saw before she passed out, was Emry rushing to catch her, before she hit the ground.