. A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...
A few years have elapsed since the Rebel Alliance triumphed over the Empire, sparking widespread jubilation among civilians across the galaxy. The end of the Empire's reign, characterized by the ruthless torture of those seeking information about the enemy, allowed people to live without the constant fear of violence. Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, and Han Solo became legendary figures on every planet, hailed as the heroes of the war. Even in the absence of evil, the trio dedicated their lives to protecting the vulnerable. Luke, now a Jedi Master, attained his rank through the guidance of past Jedi Masters, notably his father, who aided him in realizing the potential he once aspired to before his fall. Commuting between Coruscant and Ossus, home to the Jedi temple, he trained the new generation, ultimately deciding to rebuild and rename it the New Jedi Order. Han and Leia, married in a private ceremony a month after the Battle of Yavin, enjoyed a mostly happy marriage in the initial years. Their busy schedules—Leia as a Galactic Senator and Han as a smuggler—strained their time together. Their union resulted in two children, Ben and Jaina, both strong in the Force. Concerns arose about the Solo children when a mysterious force began communicating with Ben, sowing seeds of doubt about his parents. Jaina, on the other hand, exhibited a unique force ability linked to her emotions.
The discovery of a mysterious, dark force communicating with the young Solo boy, Ben, remained an enigma even for Luke Skywalker. Despite the Jedi Master's efforts, the identity of this malevolent presence eluded him. Ben, plagued by nightmares featuring the frightened visage of an unknown man, endured the relentless attempts of the voice to sow discord in his mind. The insidious whispers peddled falsehoods about his parents, alleging a lack of love due to their busy schedules and favoritism toward his sister. Despite seeking reassurance from his parents, Ben found no solace in their consistent denials. The haunting voice persisted, casting a shadow over much of his childhood and beyond. In a subsequent event, Jaina, Ben's younger sister, experienced a different manifestation of the mysterious force. While aboard the Falcon on an annual journey to Han's home world of Corellia, the family encountered turbulence of an unusual intensity.
Unlike Ben, Jaina was not subjected to the voice's manipulations. Instead, she possessed a rare and mysterious force that manifested only when she experienced fear or anger. Falling asleep during the flight, Jaina abruptly awoke from a harrowing nightmare, releasing a scream that reverberated into the cockpit. As Leia rushed to her daughter's side, the Falcon trembled uncontrollably, threatening to throw everyone off balance. The unsettling incident added another layer of complexity to the mysteries surrounding the Solo siblings and their connection to the Force. "Dad? What's happening?" Ben inquired of his father, clutching his seat tightly as the shaking persisted. Fear gripped him just as it did the rest of the occupants. The cause of the turbulence remained a mystery, with the space around them devoid of asteroids or debris, and no impact registered on the Falcon. Seeking reassurance, the young boy turned to Han, desperately hoping his father could quell the unsettling situation. "Dad, I'm scared!" he exclaimed, his voice betraying the anxiety that had taken hold.
Han extended a soothing hand to rest on his son's shoulder, aiming to quell Ben's fear. Maintaining his own composure, the seasoned smuggler reassured the frightened boy. "Relax, son. Everything is going to be alright. No need to feel scared. I'll figure out the problem." Amid the turbulence, Han calmly pressed buttons and manipulated levers, attempting to restore the Falcon's equilibrium. "Go with your mother to check up on Jaina." Instructing Ben to join his mother in checking on Jaina, Han pondered the peculiar timing of the turbulence, coinciding with Jaina's distressing scream. A sense of unease lingered.
"O-Okay," With newfound courage, Ben vacated his seat and approached the bunk beds, where he found Leia consoling Jaina. The younger sibling, tears streaming down her face, had been deeply affected by a nightmarish vision. The turbulence had subsided, returning the Falcon to a state of calm. Concerned for Jaina's well-being, Ben queried, "Jaina, are you alright? What's the matter?"
"I...I had a...n-nightmare," Jaina stammered, her voice trembling between words. The distress was evident in her expression, indicating the profound impact of the dream on the young girl. While she had experienced similar nightmares before, none had escalated to the point of causing the entire ship to shake. Jaina had long sensed an underlying unease, separate from her Force sensitivity. Wondering if her parents were aware of her inner struggles, she pondered whether Luke had insights but chose not to share, possibly to shield his sister and Han from additional concerns. Amidst the mystery, Luke's attention seemed to be predominantly focused on the other Solo child, Ben.
Sitting beside his sister, Ben observed her unprecedented fear, a stark contrast to the previous nights he had comforted her during nightmares. Concerned, he wondered if the same ominous figure that haunted his dreams was now plaguing Jaina's thoughts. A fervent plea echoed in his mind, urging whoever or whatever it was to leave his sister undisturbed, allowing her a normal childhood. Tenderly placing a hand on Jaina's trembling one, Ben sought to offer comfort. "What... What was it about?" he inquired gently, feeling the weight of Jaina's fear.
Jaina, her bottom lip quivering, struggled to articulate the harrowing details of her nightmare. The tears continued to flow, wiped away by Leia's comforting touch. "I... I saw myself in the future," she began, her voice choked with emotion. "I was causing... so much destruction. I wasn't in control of myself. Like someone else was... taking over me." Pausing to catch her breath, she found it challenging to discuss the memory that still gripped her with fear. "I kept calling out for mommy, daddy... and Ben. But no one came to save me." The vulnerability in Jaina's words conveyed the profound impact of the nightmare, leaving both Ben and Leia deeply concerned for her well-being.
Leia, offering maternal comfort, wrapped both arms around Jaina, pulling her close to her chest. A gentle hand tenderly stroked the young girl's long, braided hair. Despite feeling helpless to provide more than a comforting embrace, Leia reassured her daughter, "Sweetheart, it's only a dream, my darling. You know that your father and I, Ben, and even Uncle Luke, will always come to your side when you need us. No matter how far apart we may be one day, our family comes to help each other. Never forget that."
Ben, having found solace in the midst of his sister's distress, echoed their mother's reassurance. "Mommy is right, Jaina. Our family is full of heroes, remember? They've always saved those in need of help. As your big brother," he added, managing a comforting smile, "I'll always protect you. Now and forever - that is a promise I made from the moment I... I saw you in Mom's arms for the first time." Recollecting the pivotal day with a mixture of sorrow and joy, he extended his pinky, a familiar gesture between them. "Understand?" he asked, hoping Jaina would reciprocate the promise, as she had done in the past. Jaina peered over her mother's arm, her eyes fixing on her older brother's hand. With a slow, deliberate motion, she raised her own hand, extending her pinky finger to hook it with Ben's. Despite her tear-stained face, a small but genuine smile broke through—the first since the unsettling episode began. In moments of sadness, Ben had consistently been the source of comfort, fostering a strong bond between them, one that Leia and Han had observed since the siblings' early days.
"You'll never leave me, right Ben? We will always be together?" Jaina inquired, seeking assurance from her steadfast brother.
"Of course. That should already be a given since the beginning," Ben affirmed, pulling Jaina into a warm embrace. "We're going to grow up to be Jedi and save the galaxy, just like Mom and Dad, and Uncle Luke, and Chewie. We'll train together at the academy and be the best there ever was. Can you picture it, Jaina?" he envisioned, sharing a vision of a united future filled with shared aspirations and adventures.
"I do," Jaina whispered, closing her still tearful eyes. A vivid image unfolded before her—colors of blue and, was that purple?—clashing against one another. The dream had been a recurring one, portraying her and Ben training with their uncle at the rebuilt Jedi Temple. It had been a constant topic of discussion since discovering her own Force powers. Though currently not a significant concern, she eagerly anticipated the day when she would be old enough to join her brother in their Jedi training. "I just can't wait to be old enough to join you. We're going to be the best ones there," she declared, wiping away the remaining tears with her sleeve while maintaining her embrace with Ben. Another fleeting image crossed her mind, this time the blue turning into an ominous red—the color associated with the dark side. Jaina dismissed it almost immediately, not dwelling on the sudden shift.
Han, stepping in to rejoin his family after inspecting for damage from the earlier turbulence, reassured them. "Well, everything seems to be in order. Nothing to worry about... But I can't really figure out what caused the sudden shaking," he admitted, unable to pinpoint the cause of the Falcon's violent shake. Speculating on the possibility of an unnoticed impact, he shifted his attention to the youngest in the family. "You alright, princess?" he inquired, met with a warm smile from Jaina, who enveloped him in a hug. "I'll take that as a yes," he added, finding comfort in the shared embrace.
"Yes. Everything is okay now, daddy. Mommy and Ben made me feel better after I told them why I was upset." Jaina looks up to connect eyes with her father, flashing a small smile along with a few sniffles. "Are we almost to Corellia? I'm..." A boisterous growl emanated from her belly, momentarily interrupting the scene and eliciting laughter from everyone. "Well, as you've just heard it," she remarked, prompting the entire family to gather for a joyous embrace.
"We have a few kilometers left before landing. Hang in there, kiddo," Han grinned at his family, still engrossed in their rare shared moment. With both parents usually occupied with work, these moments together were precious, and they were making the most of it before the demands of their jobs resumed. While Ben would soon embark on training at Luke's academy, leaving Jaina behind, the siblings found solace in each other's company during their parents' absence. As they neared the academy age, Ben at 10 and Jaina at 5, the parents had decided to send only the older child, believing Luke was their best hope to help Ben with his current situation. "Okay, daddy. I will try," Jaina pledged as the family embraced. Turning to her elder brother, she suggested, "Ben, wanna... wanna play some dejarik? Bet I will win this time!"
Amused, Ben chuckled and agreed, "I have a feeling you definitely will beat me. Come on then." They headed to the dejarik table, with Ben playfully warning, "Don't you go cheating like Uncle Lando now."
Han and Leia observed their children enjoying each other's company, but Leia couldn't shake the guilt about, one, not revealing to Jaina that only Ben would be leaving. Two - it was a secret carefully guarded, never discussed openly with Jaina. It was done as to protect her. As she sighed, she confided in Han, "I know she will not take the news lightly, Han. What are we going to do? Jaina has always wanted to be at the academy training together with him."
Han comforted Leia, wrapping his arm around her, "It will just have to take its course, Leia. Nothing we can do about it—Luke has agreed to receive Ben. He's in danger, and Luke really is the only person we can trust to help him." Despite his reassurance, Han couldn't ignore the anxiety about Jaina's impending reaction, acknowledging her unpredictability and the challenge of breaking the news to their emotionally charged daughter. "We'll be alright. You will see." In familiar fashion, he provided reassurance, a comforting presence in the face of challenging situations.
The family safely reached the planet of Corellia, seizing the opportunity to make the most of their time together over the next 24 hours...
Author Note: I hope you've enjoyed this first chapter. It was nearly a year in development as I have been lacking any inspiration and finally plucked up some recently looking back to my old Star Wars roleplay. You're in for a HUGE surprise! && also, this will be following the events of The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, and The Rise of Skywalker. Jaina will be replacing Rey as the main character. Thanks! :)