NAR SHADDAA
Luke and Tionne had docked their StealthXs under the cover of the shadows of a dark alley, down in the depths of Nar Shaddaa's underbelly.
Here, innocent locals and honest smugglers often hid from the activities of the Hutt Cartel and their wide web of hired guns. It would suit the Jedi for a temporary rest stop.
As Tionne sat deep in meditation outside her fighter, Luke trailed off a short distance away, with Artoo following about ten meters back.
"I don't know how well I can lead, as the Grand Master," he said, "I'm supposed to be guiding the other Jedi, but I feel just as lost as they do."
As Luke had expected, a shimmering apparition of a deceased Jedi Master appeared, the short, wrinkled, green figure of Yoda.
"All knowing, the Grand Master is not," Yoda replied, "know everything, I did not, even as the leader of the Jedi Order. More knowledge, and wisdom too, there always is to acquire."
"This situation feels impossible, Master Yoda," he said, "I dare not lose hope, but the Jedi are in bad shape. The Republic is out to get us, and we still have the Coalition and its leaders on our trail."
"With the Republic or the Coalition, your real problem is not," Yoda replied, "A Jedi must only worry about what he can control. Elsewhere, your true worries lie."
Luke nodded, immediately knowing what Yoda was referring to.
"I let Kira down," he said, "She's gone because I failed to teach her as well as you and Ben would have. I couldn't instill the Jedi way within her, and it cost us all."
"Kira's not gone yet," Anakin Skywalker chimed in, appearing alongside Master Yoda, "She's just gone down the wrong path a little. But she is still motivated by good in her heart."
"She's shut me out, and everyone else too," Luke lamented, "I don't want to let Han and Leia down."
"Choose their own paths, all apprentices will," Yoda said, "to teach all the wisdom they have learned, a master's job is. But even with all the knowledge possible, our fate is determined by our character above all else."
"And it was you, son, who taught me that even in the murkiest depths, we can always turn back to the light," Anakin amended.
"Proved me wrong, you did," Yoda added.
Luke bowed his head humbly and gazed up into the night sky, where the air traffic seemed light.
"I do see the light, somewhere ahead," he said, "I just don't know how much closer we can get to it. Skyler is only getting more powerful, and he's turned the galaxy against the Jedi. I thought that once we destroyed the Empire, the Force would allow for peace."
"Peace is never a constant, Luke" a third voice said, and the shimmering visage of Obi-Wan Kenobi appeared in between his former Padawan and his old Master. "That is why the Jedi always needed. The dark side always seeks to expand its power, and that is why the Jedi must continue to resist it."
"The Jedi Order still has a good fighting spirit left," Luke replied, "I see it in the new generation of Knights as they take the field. But I don't know that I can lead us to victory."
"Finish the fight, you may not," Yoda conceded, his ghostly face forming a serene expression amid his deep wrinkles, "But ensure that the future of the Jedi and the galaxy is safe, you still can. Always possible, victory is, even if us Masters do not live to see it."
"You've raised the Jedi Order to become as strong as ever, Luke," Obi-Wan said, "Without your leadership, it would not have lasted this long. You've passed on as much as we've taught you, and your legacy will survive through the Jedi that you've taught, just as ours life's through you."
"I know, Master," Luke replied, "and I won't fail you. Any of you. I will make sure that the Jedi Order does not die. It will live on beyond me."
"And you remember the final secret that we've taught you, as well," Anakin said, "With the Jedi's greatest gift, our victory is certain."
Luke smiled knowingly, bowing once more to the Jedi spirits. The trio returned the gesture before fading away into the night.
Artoo nuzzled up his domed head against Luke's thigh, whistling softly.
"Don't worry, Artoo, we're not sticking around here any longer," the Grand Master declared, "We're going home."
HYPERSPACE
The Black Ring had arrived along the border between the Mid Rim systems and the Outer Rim at the same time that the rest of the fleet hopped out of lightspeed, effectively creating a blockade between the two Rims.
The incoming Coalition attack, however, was far from General Praxium's mind as he addressed the holographic images of the bounty hunters he was dispatching across the galaxy.
"You'll have no trouble finding the Jedi in the Outer Rim," he said, "There will be plenty for the lot of you to find, so the rewards will be considerable for each of you."
Once the bounty hunters had disappeared, Praxium switched his holotable's channel to address the fleet of officers who now appeared via hologram.
"For now, we will keep our units at the ready," Hoff explained, "The Coalition will not be expecting our counterattack. With luck, we will cripple the Hutt Cartel fleet enough to finish them off."
Throughout the corridors of every Republic cruiser, uniformed Brigadiers rushed to assume their positions and line up in assembly.
The Black Ring was especially busy with activity as troopers and officers rushed into the hangar, gunships and fighters stationed in preparation to launch at a moment's notice.
Major Sam Praxium was among the officers hurrying into the main hangar, preparing for the battle to come.
Sam was surprised by a blaster striking him in the back. As he stumbled forward in confusion, a stun baton whacked him in the back, causing him to feel an electrical current run through his arms and legs.
Sam could not cry out to match the pain his body was feeling as he fell onto the steel floor, several pairs of feet surrounding him.
"Look what I caught in the wild," Ailyn Fett sneered.
Sam could only let out a groan as his own comrades and soldiers grabbed him by the arms and hoisted him up.
Hoff waited as the Brigadiers brought Sam to him, Ailyn Fett following behind them smugly.
"What is going on?" Sam demanded.
"You tell me, son," Hoff replied, nodding to the woman behind Sam.
Ailyn pulled out a round holoprojector and flicked a small button.
Sam's hologram appeared from his earlier conversation with Tahiri, and he said the words, "My father has hired bounty hunters to go after the Jedi."
Sam raged on the inside as his father stooped furiously in front of his face.
"Openly conspiring against me with the Jedi," the general growled, "My own son committing treason against the Republic."
Sam was starting to lose the numbness affecting his limbs.
"The Jedi are not the enemy," he said sullenly, "They oppose the Coalition as strongly as we do."
"But they do not stand with us," Praxium replied, "There is no room for anything less than full support of any Republic military operation in times of war. Anything short of support is considered treason and should be dealt with accordingly. That is why the Jedi are to be punished, as are you."
"What are you going to do with me?" Sam challenged.
"You're going to Coruscant to be prosecuted," Hoff replied, "Just as any Jedi sympathizer should be. Supreme Commander Omas will not likely treat you with leniency."
To the Brigadiers who had captured Sam, Hoff Praxium said, "Get him out of here."
His eyes narrowed with disgust as the men dragged his son out of the hangar.
TATOOINE
Huttese Dor'bulla vessels began to appear in orbit of Tatooine in harmonic formation, surrounded by hundreds of Syck fighters and Hawk gunships.
Inside the lead ship, Rotta the Hutt spoke with the towering, full-color hologram of Durge.
"The Republic army has offered a price for the Jedi," Durge was saying, "But I am willing to hand them over to you for another amount."
"What use would a Jedi prisoner be to the Hutts?" Rotta asked in his native Huttese, "It is the Sith who are after the Jedi, and they are no longer allied with the Council."
In spite of Rotta being flanked by the blue-coated protocol droid D3-RS, Durge understood the young Hutt perfectly.
"There are several dozen Jedi on Tatooine, according to my readings," he replied, "Think of how valuable just one would be to the Republic, or to the Dark Master. The profit would be beyond compare from both sides."
Rotta used his tiny hand to rub his fat, slimy chin in contemplation.
"They will be more worth more alive, I suppose."
Many of the moisture farmers on Tatooine had formed communities from their common territorial locations. In spite of competitive seasons, the farming villages their own and one another for the most part, with Tusken Raiders and criminals alike to deal with.
It was much easier for citizens of Tatooine to live peacefully since the death of Jabba and the disbandment of his criminal empire. The moisture farmers had formed a militia and there was far more intra-planetary transportation between cities, including the speederbus and convoyex train.
Tusken Raiders still lurked in the dunes, looking for farms to raid and citizens to attack, however, their activity had long since decreased. The same was true of lone bounty hunters and assassins who sought out work.
A cluster of farmers in the streets of Mos Eisley looked up in horror at the arriving armada, gazing as the stream of Hawk gunships and Syck fighters flowed in the direction of Jabba's abandoned palace.
"It's the Hutt Cartel!" an old farmer exclaimed.
"The Hutts haven't been here since Jabba," a woman replied.
The roughly thirty Jedi Masters and Knights gathered outside the Lars homestead, watching the invasion.
"The Tatooine militia is still ill-equipped," Glut Nodlad observed, "They won't be able to resist the Coalition's attack without being crushed."
"This is most likely a trap," Saba Sebatyne pointed out, "The Coalition wants us to show ourselves."
"We should wait for Master Skywalker to return before making a move," Master Kol said.
"I don't think we'll have to wait much longer," Han said, looking up into the sky.
Two Jedi StealthXs had successfully penetrated the Coalition blockade and were flying down towards the Lars homestead and the gathering near the line of moisture vaporators.
"It's Luke!" Leia exclaimed.
"And Tionne!" added Tahiri.
Many of the gathered exiles ran down the stairs towards the secret hangar where Luke and Tionne were docking.
Chewie let out a loud Wookiee holler as Luke and Tionne exited their crafts, and Artoo flew out of the droid socket on Luke's fighter and landed smoothly on the ground
The two Jedi Masters were greeted by warm embraces from their friends and comrades.
After letting go of his brother-in-law, Han commented, "It took you long enough, kid."
"Had to make sure we weren't being followed," Luke replied.
"Have you seen the situation with the Coalition?" Kol asked, "The Hutts and their thugs are occupying Tatooine again."
Two swoop bikes flew from the depths of the Dune Sea towards the igloo that made up the outer entrance to the homestead.
Luke rushed up to greet the recently knighted Jedi who returned, Valin Halcyon and Ganner Rhysode.
"What's the status on the Coalition front?" he asked.
"They've taken both Mos Eisley and Anchorhead," Valin replied, "The militia is a little stronger in Mos Espa, but they aren't going to last much longer."
"As long as the Jedi are here, are we going to do anything about it?" Ganner asked the Grand Master.
Luke stared grimly into the horizon, viewing the Syck fighters and Hawk gunships in the distance making their way into the cities of Tatooine.
"We won't be idle for much longer," he promised, "The Jedi will rise against the corruption of the Coalition.
SOJOURN
A rickety yellow D-11 Speeder sailed over the ocean of Sojourn, heading quickly for the planet's South Pole.
Still donning his breathing apparatus, Hego Damask piloted the water-specialized speeder, with the revived Darth Malten sitting next to him.
"Where are we going?" Malten asked confusedly, looking around at the scenery coming from the isolated islands that they passed.
"We have an important mission, Lord Malten," Damask replied, "We are going to stop the challengers to the rightful position you are to reassume."
"I am the reigning Dark Lord," Malten growled savagely, not bothering to question the orders Damask was giving him.
A long, narrow, black command ship appeared in orbit of Sojourn, with two Herald-class ships appearing from the bottom hangar entrance.
Ultor's senses were hungrily detecting the magnitude of the Force power radiating from the planet.
Into the radio, he said, "Can you feel the power of darkness seeping through the vastness?"
"It calls to you, Master," Talon replied, "You were destined to become conquered of all dark side knowledge, and this is your chance to prove your greatness."
Ultor never failed to enjoy Talon's flattery and praise.
His yellow eyes scanned the planet as they both sailed closer to the surface.
"Follow my lead," he ordered, "He is calling to me like a beacon."
Damask and Malten finally reached an island on the South Pole- one that consisted of a light sheet of snow. The island looked odd next to the sunny ocean surrounding it, as did the tropical vegetation sprinkled with the snowfall that occasionally visited.
Damask brought the speeder to a halt on the lightly covered shore, urging Malten to exit along with him.
Malten was still slightly dazed as he staggered on the snowy sand.
"What are we doing here?" he asked.
Damask produced a lightsaber from the speeders side compartment and handed it to the green-skinned Twi'lek.
"This is our ultimate test, as Sith Lords," he said, "Once we dispose of the pretenders, there will be nobody to stand in our way."
Of course, Damask was purely manipulating Malten and his state of delirium. The revived Dark Lord, like the rest of Damask's experiments, would merely serve as a puppet in his grand scheme, thinking that he alone was special enough to reclaim his former glory in full.
Darth Plagueis began to feel the dark power flowing through his veins that he had long kept suppressed. He was the ultimate master over life and death, the most powerful Sith Lord of all time. Nothing would stand in his way, not this Ultor and not some Jedi spirit either.
As the two Sith vessels landed on the island, on the other side of the grove of tropical spiral-trunked trees, Plagueis withdrew his own lightsaber, his eyes glowing with eagerness. He could sense Ultor's raw power, yearning to exercise its abilities. Plagueis would ensure that Ultor more than met his match.
Two black-clad figures emerged from the shadows formed by the canopy trees, a human male and a Twi'lek female.
"I've been searching for you a long time, Darth Plagueis," Ultor said, drawing his own saber, "You have knowledge that I seek.
"You will never have my secrets, Sith pretender," Plagueis rasped, "You are nothing but a follower of an obsolete Order!"
Ultor let out a roar of fury, rushing at Ultor and Malten.
This was Talon's cue to ignite her twin sabers, charging after her master.
Damask activated his yellow blade, rushing to meet Ultor's attack.
Ultor suddenly stopped and extended a hand, using the Force to seize hold of Plagueis's breathing device. He pulled the entire machine from the elderly Munn's chest, crunching it into a ball of metal.
"You are helpless without this machine," Ultor gloated, "you are no better than the others I have bested."
Plagueis let out a cold, wizened chuckle. "Do you really think I, the master of death itself, need such a device to live?"
He dipped his lightsaber in Ultor's direction, gripping it with both hands.
Ultor lunged with fury, aiming at Plagueis's long head.
With strength that did not seem possible from his frail-looking body, Plagueis pushed hard against Ultor's lightsaber.
Meanwhile, Talon began to attack her fellow Twi'lek, bombarding Malten with a series of twirls from both her lightsaber.
Malten used his red blade to repel her strikes, rotating it very quickly between the left and right.
Talon pushed him back across the snowy beach, her unfamiliar style of combat forcing Malten to stay on the defensive in spite of his long years of experience.
Ultor was surprised by his elder opponent's skill. Plagueis pressed his advantage, advancing on the young Sith and forcing him to back away.
Ultor leapt backwards in the direction of a spiral tree, grabbing onto the trunk with one hand while holding onto his lightsaber with the other.
Plagueis did not charge after him, but opened his wrinkled hand to unleash a torrent of crackling lightning, sending it towards Ultor as he climbed onto his two feet.
Ultor was caught unprepared by the lightning, crying out in pain as his chest absorbed a few bolts.
He fell from the tree onto the ground floor, his back striking against the snow.
Plagueis shouted as he hurled another stream of energy at Ultor, even more intense than the first.
Ultor brought his red lightsaber horizontally in front of him, redirecting some of the bolts of lightning that rippled through him.
"I think it's safe to say you've met your match, blood of Palpatine," Plagueis snarled.
Ultor was quick to change tactics. "I didn't come here to kill you, Lord Plagueis," he said, "I came here to learn from you."
"Learn from me?" Plagueis laughed, "You- who obtained your knowledge from a Holocron?"
"Not all of it," Ultor snarled defensively, still sitting on the ground as he backed away from his foe, "and how do you know about me?"
"I've been watching you a long time, boy," Plagueis snarled, " I know how you've your little band of dark sisters in hopes of finishing the job that your great-grandfather failed to complete. Just as he failed to kill me, and he knew better than to try and finish me off. Now, you understand why."
Ultor slowly climbed to his feet, his bones still burning from the lightning directed at him. Finally, regaining his footing, Ultor let his red blade dip into the snow.
"Your unprecedented knowledge has become legend," Ultor said in an appeasing tone, "And I wish to share the greatness of success. If you'll hear me out, my Lord, I have a proposition for you. An alliance between us Masters of the dark side that will give the Sith total rule over the galaxy once again. Together, we will finish off the Jedi and make sure that they never return."
"Us Masters?" Plagueis repeated with a hint of scorn. Nonetheless, he considered the younger warrior's words. "You want to ally with me?"
On the coast, Talon continued to battle against the undead Malten. The old Twi'lek, born more than two hundred years before yet only displaying a shadow of his peak strength, was only able to send small jets of lightning from his outstretched palm.
Talon was able to absorb the electricity into her lightsabers, but the crackling bolts were enough to keep her lightsaber from getting too close to her opponent.
She lunged with frustrated impatience, swinging with her left blade while Malten's lightsaber kept back her other one.
"If you've been watching me from afar, then you'll know that I command a vast network of warriors," Ultor was saying. His lightsaber was still activated, ready to fight back if needed.
"Criminals, you mean," Plagueis replied scornfully.
"Yes, all ready to fight against the status quo of the Republic. I have managed to drive the Jedi into exile once more. They are a shadow of what they once were, even under Luke Skywalker's leadership. Together, you and I could lead the Coalition in its final victory over the Republic. We would have the chance to kill the Grand Master of the Order, a feat not even Darth Sidious achieved."
The two dark warriors cautiously circled around one another in the snow, which began to fall even harder.
"This alliance you propose- you wish for me to lead alongside you?" Plagueis asked.
"Indeed, and finish the grand plan of the Sith that has since been long forgotten. You will achieve the honor that was wrongfully taken from you."
"And in exchange, you wish for me to teach you my secrets?" Plagueis asked, "My mastery of the midichlorians?"
Ultor nodded, a smile forming across his face, which was illuminated by the red glow of his blade.
Plagueis switched off his yellow bladed lightsaber, prompting Ultor to finally do the same.
Inside Damask's laboratory under the vacation home, Kira continued to struggle reviving the Zabrak cadaver, straining as hard as she could.
She now felt the intense fury returning to her, as if she was in the burning Jedi Academy on Ossus.
"Answer me!" she shouted, now full of rage. Her face was bright red and the strands of her hair were messily spread around.
Kira hated Damask and his empty promises. She could feel the midichlorians mocking her, daring her to try and wake them up again.
Suddenly, Kira was seized by an energy beyond her control. It did not seem to come from her, but from an external agent possessing her, driving her to a state of animalistic fury previously beyond her.
Kira did not think about summoning her lightsaber from her belt to her hand, but it landed in her sweaty palm with a hard slap nonetheless.
Instinctively, Kira switched on her lightsaber as if about to confront a powerful enemy.
She pulled her weapon back and thrusted its blue bar of plasma into the glass that contained the dead body of the Nightbrother Zabrak.
The glass shattered and flew across the laboratory, striking the cases nearby and drilling holes that left cracks in the tanks of Savage's neighboring cadavers.
The yellow liquid encasing Savage began to spew from his tank and splatter on the floor of Damask's laboratory.
Kira paid no mind to the liquid entrenching her boots and pants.
Instead, she clamped her hand down on Savage's lightly-covered chest and squeezed as hard as she could.
She screamed out loud as she tapped into the lingering forces within Savage, snapping the midichlorians inside him awake. Finally, his missing decomposed flesh returned to him, and his organs and blood vessels began to activate once more.
Kira felt a heartbeat, and very faint breathing begin.
Regaining her senses, Kira stepped back, feeling a bit of shock as the Zabrak stirred.
"I did that," she said to no one in particular, "I brought him back. I can raise the dead."
The Zabrak's eyes fluttered as he remained in a dazed condition.
Kira glared into his yellow and black face with a smirk of satisfaction. She enjoyed the power that resulted from her rage, and she had no choice but to keep at it.
Kira looked over to another tank, one that had been cracked by the flying shards of glass.
As Savage began to slowly wake up, Kira turned to the other tank to the right, which contained the very same Bith whom Damask had revived with his powers; Darth Plagueis's former Sith Master.
Kira swung at the tank with her lightsaber, which split the top half of the glass case from the bottom, causing it to slide off and shatter into pieces on the laboratory floor.
Kira! Stop, you cannot let this rage consume you.
At first, Kira paid no mind to the far-off voice calling to her, but instead began to communicate forcefully with the midichlorians inside the Bith. There were many thousands more populated inside Tenebrous than there had been in Savage, who was now looking around the laboratory in bewilderment.
Tenebrous's midichlorians were far more resistant than Savage's were, causing Kira to feel like her arm was on fire and her hand was about to split open from the effort.
"Come...on!" she grunted, her face twisted with fury.
Kira! the familiar voice shouted.
Kira suddenly was no longer in the laboratory, but she saw an image from a scene many lightyears away- it was a nightmarish resort with distorted colors and blurred scenery- but she could make out her best friend Tahiri, fruitlessly fighting against the red blade of a Sith.
She saw Sam Fel, the Republic officer, being thrown roughly into a cell, after taking a beating from his captors.
Her mind flashed back to the siege of the Jedi Academy on Ossus, with the flames engulfing the ancient structure.
She saw her worst enemy of all, Darth Ultor, standing next to Damask, both of their eyes flashing bright yellow.
Leave, you must, or consumed, you will be, said the voice of an ancient Jedi Master from beyond the grave.
Kira screamed with a roar of fury before sprinting as fast as she could towards the passageway leading out of the laboratory.
Behind her, the Zabrak named Savage got up onto his feet and began to stumble around the laboratory, looking in confusion at the shattered glass and the tanks containing the bodies of the fallen Sith of the past.
"Brother..." Savage mumbled, "Where are you, brother?"
The two dueling Twilek's came to a stalemate, with Talon's twin lightsabers pushing against Malten's longer blade.
"That's enough," said the voice of Ultor, as he arrived with Damask onto the snow-covered shore.
"Master?" Talon asked in confusion, looking from Malten to Ultor as he and Plagueis approached.
"Lord Malten, you can stand down now," Plagueis ordered.
"Stand down? I must win this fight," Malten disagreed, "I must reclaim my mantle.
He struck again at Talon, who blocked his attack while retreating.
Plagueis extended a hand towards Malten, reaching into his brain. Then, the revived Sith Lord crumbled unconscious to the ground, striking the snowy sand with a hard blow.
Talon looked on at her opponent with confusion, then turned back to her Master and his new ally.
"There's a new arrangement in order," Ultor said, "Lord Plagueis is here to guide us to both victory over the Jedi and mastery over the most forbidden secrets of the Force."
"Together, we have a better chance of bringing the dark side back to its peak strength," Plagueis replied.
"First, I think we have a Jedi to eliminate," Ultor said, sensing the familiar presence several thousand miles away.
As Kira entered the retreat home's main sitting room, she ran into the protocol droid 11-4D.
"Mistress Solo, where are you going?" asked Fourdee.
Kira ignored him completely and raced towards the mansion's exit, using the Force to yank the doorway open.
As the young renegade hurried onto the sandy pathway leading back to her ship docked on the beach, Kira saw a shimmering presence waiting.
She sprinted down the pathway leading to the sandy, tropical shore, completely winded and out of breath by the time she reached her purchased spice freighter
"Anakin," she panted, stopping before the Force spirit and bending over to wheeze in exhaustion.
"You have been exposed to the most forbidden knowledge that the Force has to offer," Anakin stated, gazing in concern at his granddaughter, "Midichlorian manipulation is probably the most dangerous thing you could attempt."
"It...almost...turned me...into something else," Kira replied, slowly catching her breath, "I have..to..get out...of here."
"I think that's a wise decision," Anakin said, "There are a lot of other people who miss you and are worried about you."
"I know," Kira replied, a wave of guilt and shame coming over her, harder than the tidal wave enveloping the shoreline nearby. "I let them all down. Mom, Dad, Tahiri. I abandoned them after they tried to help me."
"When we hurt the people we love, that doesn't mean they stop loving us," Anakin said. Now, the Jedi spirit grew melancholy, as if he was reflecting on his own painful memories. "Or that they stop believing in us finding the right way again. We just have to turn away from the wrong path, even if it fulfills our own selfish desires."
"I don't want to hurt them any more, any of them. And I'm afraid that I'll be nothing but a danger if I stay here any longer. I'll be destroyed by my own knowledge, and become a monster, a totally different creature. I saw terrible things happening in my visions. Anakin. My friends and family. They were being attacked and killed, by an army of Sith. Like the Sith that Damask has in his lair."
"Damask may have had good intentions, but he is still surrounded by the dark side. Experimenting with the midichlorians can only corrupt one further. It is best that you stay away from such knowledge, even if it tempts you. I know this only too well."
"What do I do now, Anakin?" Kira asked, slumping onto the sand against the wing of her freighter, "I've isolated myself from everybody for so long now, and I have nobody else in the galaxy."
"You know that's not true, Kira," Anakin reassured her, "I've always been here for you, as have the other Jedi of the past. Your parents and your Uncle still love you; your family will never stop believing in you. And your family goes beyond blood too, as mine did."
Kira glanced up at the shimmering spirit gazing down at her with his sage wisdom. It had never failed her before.
"You know what you must do now," Anakin said.
"I do," Kira replied, "I have no more business here. I have friends and family to help, and a war to win."
"With the spirit of light in you, you won't lose," Anakin promised.
"Thank you, Anakin," Kira said, now finding herself choked with emotion, tears beginning to reach her eye sockets, "Your guidance and support has been everything to me."
"Now go, and don't look back," Anakin advised.
Kira boarded her ship, keeping her vision forward as Anakin faded into the beach.
Kira felt a wave of determination as she climbed into the cockpit of her freighter. She pulled the lever to activate the engine, which rang loudly over the sound of the waves crashing against the sand.
Kira began to steer her craft towards the bright blue sky as it lifted out of the sand, her eyes gazing out of the front window towards the infinity above.