The Present

Jaina rushed into the nearest cantina she could find, making her way to the bathroom, hugging her cloak around her tightly. As soon as she entered the restroom, she shut the door quickly behind her and took off the cloak, hanging it upon the door. Underneath were her blood-stained clothes.

She went to the sink, feeling repulsive for the first time since she had killed the doctor in the Jedi Temple. Desperately, she attemped to clean the stains from her shirt and scrubbed at her face as well, the wound from Naboo. She looked up at herself in the mirror. She looked every bit of her thirty-six years, if not a bit older. This wasn't how she had looked even a week ago, but everything was finally weighing down on her now.

By this time, as she left the bathroom, she realized that it had become early morning and light was streaming through the windows. She sat at the bar and got a little to eat in order to keep up some sort of strength, though it tasted awful in her mouth. She also got a glass of water, then stood to leave after she finished her meal.

She walked the long way down the streets, becoming more awake as she did so. She had missed nights of sleep before, and there was no way she could sleep right now. She had a location in mind, walking quickly towards it tirelessly. At last she stood in front of the Jedi Temple that loomed before her. Surprisingly, no one recognized her well enough from twelve years ago, and she walked straight into it, trying to blend in and not be noticed.

At last, she found who she wished to see, still on the first level, glad she had not had to go further. Her son. She slid behind a pillar, blocking herself from his view...as though he would recognize her anyways. Deep lines of emotion formed on her face, a longing to finally meet the young boy whom she hadn't seen since he was a baby in her arms.

She felt a hand grab her arm gently. She spun around quickly to see Mace Windu standing behind her. "I think you need to go now," he said quietly.

She wiped a tear from her eye, turning back to glance at him again. "I-I can't. I want to see him. I just want to see...my son."

"Jaina," he said firmly, yet with a touch of kindness, "you don't need to be here. I can't let you see him. You know it's not just you, kids aren't allowed to be visited by their parents. It's the sacrifice."

"I didn't bring him here. It wasn't my choice for this sacrifice," she said desperately, trying to break away from him, tears streaming once more down her face. "Please, I beg you."

Mace sighed. "Look at him once more. See? Now, you must go. I'll escort you to the door. There's nothing further you or I can do about this. Please just try to go on."

The Past

"I'm sorry, Jaina. The Council has decided to expel you from the Jedi Order. Your brush with the Dark Side has become too real in the murder of one of the doctors here at the Temple. You have also let your emotions get the better of you and have deliberately gone against the Code by getting married. You will not let anyone help you, and now it has gone too far and is too late."

Jaina fell to the floor on her knees, pain flowing through her body. She buried her face in her hands as she cried. She looked up to see Mace Windu standing over her, the Council behind him with sorrowful faces. She stood, knowing what she had to do next. She pulled the lightsaber from her belt and handed it quietly to Mace.

"You're dismissed." Yet Jaina stood still, not yet able to move. "Go home, Jaina. Go to your husband. Move on with the life that you had to live. Raise your child well, and may the Force be with you."

Jaina turned and walked sorrowfully from the Council Room at last, feeling the faces of everyone upon her as she left the Jedi Temple. She got a ride to her apartment and found herself standing just inside the door. Geist looked up at her, surprised she was home. She walked to the couch and fell upon it, into Geist's arms.

He kissed her forward and held her tight. "What's wrong?" he whispered at last. She looked up to him with a tear-stained face.

"I killed a man today. The doctor at the Jedi Temple. They all know now, Geist. And I was expelled from the Jedi." He held her tighter, kissing her on the head once more. Then finally, he asked the question he had been wondering.

"Why did you kill the doctor, Jaina?"

"I'm pregnant."