This is the second to last chapter, not including the epilogue. The last chapter and Epilogue will be posted next week. This chapter uses the song 'Monsters' by Hurricane Bells. The # will tell you when to start playing it.

Chapter Nineteen: Pools of Acid and Calling Caves

"You're sure you want to do this?" Jace asked as the ship was landing. Jaina nodded.

"I'm sure," She whispered. Jace squeezed her hand. He had been overprotective of her ever since the incident in the medward and refused to leave her side.

"You don't have to do this," Jace reminded her.

"No. No I don't," Jaina said. "But I both need and want to do it."

Jace said nothing, though he opened his mouth several times like he wanted to say something. He was very concerned for her. The first time he saw her after the accident in the medical ward, he barely recognized her. Her eyes had lost their vibrancy and twinkle. Her smile seemed to have gone on a permanent vacation. Her skin was pale from lack of sunlight and, by the way her clothes hung off her, she seemed to be losing weight. Her Force sense also seemed to be reacting to her psychological problems. She could only levitate the lightest of objects, and not even for very long. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan both felt disconnected from her, and their mind link was weak.

Jace had continued to be her constant companion until she was discharged. Her mind was always elsewhere, but he did his best to bring her back. He read to her or would play an instrument for her. Sometimes she spoke, often requesting a certain story or song, but otherwise she remained silent, lost in her own world. She had nightmares, even when she was under sedation medication; the only way she got peaceful sleep was when Obi-Wan or Qui-Gon held her.

Jace had expressed many times that he doubted that this trip would be good for Jaina, and Obi-Wan agreed with him. Jaina ignored him, though, and expressed no change of interest.

"Last call, Jaina," Obi-Wan said as he climbed out of the co-pilots seat.

"I'm here and I'm not turning back," Jaina said gruffly. "If nothing else, I just want to get this over with."

Everyone nodded. They all knew Jaina wouldn't force herself to do something she couldn't handle.

The first thing that struck Jaina about her father's homeworld was how green and beautiful it was. But the beauty was soon hard to see as they neared Park of Sacred Pools. All too soon, she was kneeling beside what once was a pool full of beautiful, pure water surrounded by volcanos. Because of her father, the water was polluted and was now thick, black acid. She breathed through her mouth so as to not smell the yellow vapors coming off the water.

"He died the instant he jumped in," Qui-Gon said in a whisper from where he knelt beside Jaina. He put a hand on her shoulder. "He did many horrible things, things I wish I had foreseen and been able to prevent. But I am glad that he died suddenly. Because no matter what a person does in their lifetime, no one deserves to suffer a long, painful death."

Jaina didn't respond. She stared at the bubbling water, or at least what used to be water.

"You remind me of him, in a few ways," Qui-Gon said. Jaina turned her head sharply to glare at her Master. "Do not be offended, please, my flower, for you only remind me of him in wonderful ways. You wish to control your own destiny. You do not want a code to live by. You have your own honor system, and you refuse to break it. Sadly, I saw this in Xanatos and felt pride. I did not know the true intentions behind it, and in many ways I wish I had. But, despite his many faults and misdeeds, there is one thing that I cannot truly regret that he did."

"What was that?" Jaina asked, turning away.

"He gave me a beautiful, wise goddaughter, one I would not trade for anything," Qui-Gon said, taking her chin in his hand so that she could look at him. "No one is perfect, my flower. And you can't choose your family. But you can choose what you do with your life. And no matter what you choose, I will always love you."

"Even if I turn to the Dark Side?" Jaina asked.

"I will love you more, even then, and use my love to bring you back to the light," Qui-Gon promised, kissing her forehead.

Jaina nodded, a small smile on her face as a tear rolled down her cheek.

As she and Qui-Gon were climbing to their feet, Jaina turned sharply to look over her shoulder at the entrance to the Mirror Caverns. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan both tensed. Denn and Jace looked at the Jedi.

"What is it?" Denn asked.

"There's something in there," Jaina whispered. "It's cold, but warm as well." She turned to Qui-Gon expectantly.

"It is both the Dark Side of the Force, and the Light," Qui-Gon looked down at Jaina. "You must go in there."

"What-" Jaina took a deep breath. "What's in there?"

"Only what you take with you," Qui-Gon said, laying a hand on Jaina's hand.

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Jaina nodded. She hesitantly ran a hand over her lightsaber, which Qui-Gon noticed.

"You will not need any weapons in there," Qui-Gon said. Jaina nodded and handed her Master her lightsaber.

Then, taking a deep breath and without looking back, she made her way towards the Caverns.

She felt uneasy as she walked past the reflective rocks. She saw millions of her own reflection, saw her own wide eyes and determined frown.

She turned sharply as she heard something from behind her. It almost sounded like a mixture of footsteps and the wind. She stretched out with the Force, but felt no danger.

So she continued.

She was still uneasy as she heard strange noises all around her: water dripping, rocks hitting the ground, bugs and small animals scurrying. And the footsteps/wind.

She was deep in the caverns, and didn't know what she was supposed to be looking for. It was getting darker and darker, and she had no light. She was about to turn back…

Laughter pealed throughout the cavern, proud and mocking.

"Hello?" Jaina called out, her blood chilling as she listened to her echo. "Hello? Who's there?"

She continued to listen to her echo, until it changed. It was her voice, but she wasn't speaking.

"'Bout time you showed up. Time to face your monsters."

She didn't know what was going on, but she didn't want to be here. She started to run, but her foot caught a crack on the cave floor. She remembered hearing the laughter again as she hit the ground.

All was black for a very long time. How long, she didn't know. It felt good, lying there, being still. Her own personal hiding place from the galaxy.

"Oi! Wake up! Nappy time's over!"

Jaina opened her eyes slowly. There were two figures standing in front of her. As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, Jaina saw who they were and gasped.

"Finally awake are you? Good. I've been yelling at you for Sith knows how long. Get up." It was a harsh version of her own voice. Cold and cruel. The speaker was just the same.

She looked exactly like Jaina. Almost. On her left cheek there was a tattooed blood red moon. Her long brown hair was loose and streaked with red dye. There were dark circles underneath her yellow eyes, the lids painted a dusky red, her pale skin accenting the eeriness. She wore a long-sleeved black shirt and a knee-length black and red skirt with artfully torn leggings underneath. Black boots with a low heel came up to her knees. Her lips, curled into a cruel smile, were painted black. A curved lightsaber was hooked onto her belt.

"Don't scare her, Obsidian." The girl beside her chided gently. She was the exact opposite of her counterpart. This girl had the same long brown hair and hazel eyes identical to Jaina's. She wore a white shirt and pants and bright white calf-length boots. Her lips, painted a delicate light pink, were curved in a mournful frown and she looked at Jaina almost pityingly. On her right cheek was a light blue sun. She, too, had a lightsaber on her hip.

"Shut up, Diamond," The dark girl—Obsidian—snapped. The light girl—Diamond—flinched at the harsh words. Obsidian turned to Jaina. "Get up. Now."

Jaina climbed to her feet shakily.

"Follow us," Diamond said, taking Jaina's hand.

"Where are you taking me?" Jaina asked, still in a slight daze.

"Deep into the cave," Obsidian said. She looked over her shoulder and gave Jaina a nasty grin. "You're going to meet our Daddy."