Part VIII
"Today, we gather here to mourn the losses of great leaders, sons and soldiers of the Republic." A soothing breeze whipped past the funeral processions. A calm Naboo sun shined on the guests. Holoprojections of the deceased rose on the platform next to the podium. Jacen and Anakin's projection lit up the stage. Han took a deep breath, he hugged a sobbing Leia. He looked around for Jaina, she was no where to be seen. "These two Jedi, these two… very young Jedi fought off swarms of Vong soldiers in an attempt to secure the senate building, their memory will never be forgotten. May the force be with them." Cal Omas said. He was the speaker for the funeral. "Now we come to our Chief of State; Borsk Fey'la, he sacrificed himself to destroy a garrison of Vong soldiers. May you rest now Chancellor." He continued. Ben got up from his seat and walked out of the royal garden. I can't believe it. He's, he's dead. Ben thought. Ben heard the somber playing of instruments as the procession marched from the gardens to the main street of Theed. Ben buried his hand into his pocket and pulled out a small blue crystal. He thought about him and Jacen on Illum, constructing their lightsabers, how Jacen snuck a blue saber crystal from the cave and gave it to Ben for "good luck." Ben gripped the crystal until his hand turned white and red.
Luke marched alongside the procession, his face was pale white and blank. He felt such anger and sadness through the force, his mind became clouded. He saw on-lookers sobbing and reaching to touch the great Jedi. When the procession started to arrive at Theed palace, rows of new Jedi raised and ignited their lightsabers as they continued to march. Mara Jade clutched Luke's arm and started to tear. He touched her arm in reassurance. They continued into Theed Palace, the parade goers circled around Luke and Mara in the royal hall. The Senator of Naboo stepped forward, "Master Skywalker, the Galactic Alliance is behind you 100 percent, we're ready to fight behind the Jedi." He reached his hand out in acceptance. Luke looked at his hand, then at Mara and back to his hand. "If war must happen, the Jedi are ready." Luke said as he grasped the senator's hand. The night proceeded with the mourning of the lost ones. Luke found himself alone on a balcony overlooking the entire city of Theed. Ben, I can't let another war happen. Luke reached through the force. "Luke, this war is not in your control. War has happened already, you must lead them, guide them as Yoda did during the Clone Wars." Ben replied through the force. A blue light shined behind Luke, he turned to see his father's force apparition. "Father, help me. I can't carry them, I need help." Luke pleaded to his father. The procession now exited the castle, Luke watched them march, torches in hand, lightsabers raised. "Luke, this burden is not just your own my son, these people, your friends… they are here for you, we cannot interfere, you know that. But you must understand, they may be there for you, but you mustn't rely on them alone." Anakin said. "These aliens aren't anything like I've ever faced before. They're ruthless, more than the Empire, they act as if they're programmed to commit genocide." Luke responded. "I understand Luke, but you and the Jedi are stronger than they will ever be, I must go now, they call me." Anakin said as he vanished. Luke felt cold, The force is clouded by the darkside, we live in a bad time… Luke thought.
Jaina was curled up in the cargo bay of the Millennium Falcon, thoughts rushed through her head, she felt a pounding pain in her forehead, tears slid down her face, she yelled in sadness. "JACEN! ANAKIN, I NEED YOU!" She yelled. She felt the aura of the force leave her, emptiness…
She muttered to herself in anger, "How could you just leave him? What's wrong with you... " Her sadness engulfed her speech. She rocked back and forth in a corner. She gripped her lightsaber and threw it across the cargo bay, she heard something shatter. Jaina got up and investigated the shattering noise, her lightsaber hit a fragile crate, the box was open, there was numerous items in the crate. She reached into the packaging foam, she started to feel cold, colder than she'd ever felt. She grabbed the first thing she touched, it was rough in some parts and sleek in others. She removed the item from the crate. It was a half-melted mask, a rebreather of some sorts. Jaina felt the force through the mask. Suddenly she heard heavy, raspy, electronic breathing behind her. "You don't know the power of the dark side." A deep brooding voice said, Jaina turned to see the dark brute standing in the dim light. She summoned her saber and ignited it, he in turn ignited his. They clashed sabers in the tight space, she sent crates flying toward the Sith lord, he cut and slashed through them. "Impressive, most impressive." The Sith lord said as they continued to battle, Jaina sent another crate toward the Sith lord, it hit him in the head, she leaped and decapitated him. The lifeless mass fell to the floor as the head rolled into the light. The mask disappeared to show Jacen's face in the suit. "No! Jacen!" Jaina said as she dropped to the decapitated head, she started to run her fingers through his hair, the head and the body slowly vanished into the force. "I will find you Jacen." Jaina said. She started to cry again, but she felt compelled to continue through the crate she opened. Through her tears she shuffled through the box, she pulled out a small data card labeled: "Death Star Plans: Princess Leia's Eyes only!" Jaina threw that away as she continued. She then pulled out a gold encrusted slave outfit, ruffled and old, she threw it behind her. She dug through the crate, the force entered her as she came to the bottom of the crate, she felt something metallic. She gripped it and pulled it out of the box. A lightsaber, it was rusty and bloody. She ignited it, a blue saber shot through the hilt. Jaina felt a connection through the force to this lightsaber. Suddenly, she heard the boarding ramp lower, she tucked the lightsaber into her jacket and exited the cargo bay.
Darth Krayt kneeled before the Lord of Hunger. "My lord, I sense the girl is weak. She believes our target is dead. Is this true my lord?" Krayt asked. "No my apprentice, the boy is very much alive, but incredibly weak, the girl however, I feel the darkness in her. I want her Krayt. Bring her to me." Darth Nihilus said. "It will be done my lord."