Chapter 5: Family Reunion

"I won't stop 'til I get where you are,

I keep running, I keep running, I keep running"

"Dad? What? Jaina?!" Finn's surprise was palpable as he darted his gaze between father and daughter, realizing he wasn't the only one harboring secrets. However, he remained unsure of the man's identity beyond being Jaina's father. "What's happening here?"

Han eased the tension by lowering his weapon, his expression a blend of relief and concern. "Jaina, what are you doing here? Do you have any idea how worried your mother and I were when you left? Get out of there." He extended a hand to help her up, while Finn made his way out behind her. "Where have you been all these years, young lady?"

Jaina let out a scoff, crossing her arms in annoyance. "This is how you greet your daughter after all this time? Not even a hug? We're just going to pick up where we left off, I see." She turned towards Finn, who was still grappling with the situation. "This is my dad, Finn. Han Solo-"

"Wait. Han Solo? The war general and smuggler who made the Kessel Run in 14 parsecs?"

"12!" Han and Jaina interjected simultaneously.

Taken aback by the sudden correction, Finn raised his hands and took a few steps back. "So your real name is Jaina, not Mara Jade?"

"Obviously. I needed to safeguard my identity. You know, just in case word got out to my parents and they tracked me down. Sorry about that. You understand, right?" Jaina sought reassurance from Finn, who nodded in response.

"Where did you get the Falcon from?" Han inquired.

"Niima Outpost."

"Jakku?! In that scrapyard?"

"Yes, and yes. But here's an amusing question, Dad - what was it doing there in the first place? Did you wager the Falcon?" Jaina already knew he wouldn't risk his ship in any bet, regardless of how tempting the offer might have been.

Han scowled as he faced his partner in adventure. "Chewie, I knew we should've double-checked the western reaches. Had a gut feeling about it." Shaking his head, he turned back to answer his daughter's inquiry. "Ha! Jaina, you know I'd sooner perish than let anyone else lay a finger on this ship. And to set the record straight – it was stolen from me. We were ambushed, Chewie and I."

Jaina exchanged a glance with Chewie, greeting him with a warm hug. Their bond had always been strong, stemming from the moment Han introduced them when she was just a few hours old. "Hey, you old furball. How's it going?" She chuckled as Chewbacca roared with excitement at seeing his niece after a few years, enveloping her in his hairy arms. "Missed you too, Uncle Chewie."

"You can understand him?!" Finn's astonishment was evident as he observed Jaina conversing in Wookiee language. He had never encountered a Wookiee before, let alone someone who could communicate with them. "I mean, you can actually understand Wookiee talk?"

"Of course I can. And he can understand you too. But don't worry, despite his intimidating appearance, Chewie's actually a big softie."

"Hang tight. I'm going to check if everything's in order," Han announced, stepping away from the group and heading towards the cockpit. A grin spread across his face as he settled into the familiar surroundings. The Millennium Falcon was like a sanctuary to Han, a familiar refuge amidst the turmoil of life. His attachment to the ship was tinged with the bittersweet memory of the difficult times that followed Jaina's disappearance. Just months after she vanished, Han and Leia made the heartbreaking decision to part ways. Their relationship suffered greatly from the loss of their son, and they each dealt with their grief in their own way: Han returned to his old smuggling ways, while Leia threw herself into leading The Resistance. Han knew he had to eventually discuss these developments with Jaina. However, his moment of nostalgia was short-lived as he discovered a problem. "Hey!" He hurried back to the others, his expression now a scowl. "Someone rigged a compressor onto the ignition line."

"Oh, yeah, I did notice that, dad. But I swear to you, it was already on there when I stole the Falcon back. I know it puts too much stress on the hyperdrive. Trust me, I remember everything you've taught me," Jaina flashed her father a small grin, almost mirroring his own. Even after all these years and disobeying him, she knew he was proud of her.

Han couldn't help but sigh, shaking his head as he stepped towards his daughter and enveloped her in a warm embrace. Placing a kiss on the top of her head while stroking her hair, he said, "Jaina, I really missed you, princess. You have no idea how worried you had me. I thought I'd never see you again."

"I'm sorry, dad. You know I just couldn't stay and not help with bringing Ben back. I've not given up on him, not yet," Jaina responded, becoming emotional at their reunion. Six years without contact with either of her parents or any family had been difficult. It felt really nice to be back with them. "You should recognize the person I am by now. Where do you think I get my stubbornness from?"

"You got that right," the smuggler laughed, not surprised that he had raised a mini-me. "Not to mention, you can't go without an argument - now that you got from Leia."

Finn cleared his throat to catch their attention, feeling somewhat awkward in the midst of their warm reunion. He had never experienced such a moment, having been separated from his family as an infant. "Jaina, don't forget our task at hand here. BB-8, remember?"

"Who were you again, kid?" Han asked as he parted from Jaina and walked over to Finn.

"I'm, uh, Finn, sir."

"He's with The Resistance, dad."

"You? With The Resistance? Huh..." Han scrutinized him carefully, circling the now nervous Finn. He seriously doubted his truthfulness, but who was he to say anything? "Well?"

"This droid. He's carrying a map to Luke Skywalker. It must be delivered to the Resistance Base before the First Order finds us," Finn explained.

At the mention of Luke's name, Han's gaze shifted to Jaina, who nodded in confirmation. He let out a heavy sigh, his hands finding a resting spot on his waist. However, he couldn't find the words to speak.

"Uncle Luke wants us to find him, dad. Otherwise, I seriously doubt he'd have put this information into a droid." Jaina stepped forward once again, positioning herself between the two men. There was a hopeful gleam in her eyes as she spoke, "I think Mom should know. She could use Uncle Luke's help in this fight against the First Order, and... perhaps he could assist me with the training he never started. That way, I can..." She extended her hand, and with a gentle use of the Force, summoned BB-8 towards her. A smile spread across her lips, "... bring Ben home."

Han realized that Jaina was unwavering in her determination to find her brother, and he knew there was no changing her mind about it. Reluctantly, he agreed to her request, "Alright, princess. As much as I hate the idea of you putting yourself in danger, I can see that you're committed to this. You'll stop at nothing to save your brother." He let out another sigh, resigned to the situation. With a sense of urgency, Han made a decision, "Let's not waste any more time. We need to pay a visit to an old friend first. She'll help you and the droid get to the base safely. The First Order will be searching for the Falcon, so it's best to travel on an unidentified ship. Chewie, come with me. You kids stay put here. I'll let you know when we've landed."

With a resounding roar, Chewie followed Han as they made their way to the cockpit. Meanwhile, Jaina and Finn settled at the Dejarik table, engaging in conversation about their journey to an undisclosed destination, guided by Han's mysterious friend. Despite their uncertainty about the friend's identity, they trusted Han's judgment.

"So, earlier you mentioned your brother and bringing him home. What exactly happened to him, if I may ask?" Finn inquired, prompting Jaina to share more about her brother's story.

Jaina was taken aback by Finn's question, as thoughts of Ben flooded her mind. Every day, she grappled with the memory of her brother, regardless of his path. With a sigh, she began to recount Ben's journey. "My brother, his name is Ben, or it was at least. He went to train with our uncle Luke at his Jedi Academy. I thought I'd be joining him, but my parents insisted I stay behind. You see, ever since Ben was young, he had a voice in his head that plagued him with nightmares almost every night," Jaina explained, her voice tinged with sadness. She drew her legs in close, wrapping her arms around them for comfort. "The voice belonged to a man named Snoke, and he's the reason Ben turned to the dark side."

"Jaina, that's... that's absolutely devastating. I'm so sorry you've had to go through that," Finn expressed sympathetically, his voice filled with genuine concern. "But I can see why your parents were cautious to keep you behind. They were worried that you'd..."

"Turn to the dark side, too? Or even worse, be slaughtered along with all the other padawan? Yeah..." Jaina's voice trailed off, filled with a mixture of sorrow and bitterness at the thought of what her brother had become and the tragedy that befell the Jedi Academy. The realization hit her hard, stirring up a mix of emotions she hadn't fully processed until now. Jaina couldn't help but ponder the possibility: would Ben have truly gone so far as to harm her, his own sister? It was a chilling thought, one that left her feeling unsettled and uncertain about the extent of her brother's descent into darkness.

Finn extended his arm, offering a comforting embrace to Jaina. He empathized with the pain she carried, understanding the weight of her story. Expressing his gratitude, he acknowledged her bravery and the impact she had on his own journey, "I'm grateful for your presence, Jaina. You were my savior back on Jakku. Without you, I wouldn't have made it. Thank you."

Feeling the weight of Finn's words and the comfort of his embrace, Jaina allowed herself to surrender to the flood of emotions that had been building up inside her for years. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she released the pent-up emotions, finding solace in the shared moment of vulnerability and understanding. "No, thank you, Finn," Jaina said, her voice trembling with emotion. "If it wasn't for you, I don't think I'd have reunited with my dad. And..." She paused, pulling away slightly to wipe the tears from her face. "Finding a map to my uncle. Now I-I can achieve my dream of becoming a Jedi like him, and my grandfather before him."

"I know you'll be a great Jedi, Jaina. There's no doubt about that," Finn reassured her with a supportive smile. "I mean, you're already a skilled pilot. Like you said before, it's in your genes - your dad is Han freakin' Solo. And the legendary Luke Skywalker is your uncle."

The young Solo returned the smile, feeling a sense of gratitude for Finn's presence. Despite having known him for only a few hours, they had already been through so much together. It was comforting to have a friend like him by her side. "I'm going to save him, Finn. Nothing's going to stop me - there's good in him. I know there is." She turned her attention towards BB-8, who stood nearby. Kneeling to his level, Jaina made her request, "I need to see the map, BB-8. Please."

BB-8 beeped in response to her plea. Within seconds, he projected the map in front of them, revealing only a portion of it to Jaina and Finn. However, what they saw was perplexing. "It's incomplete. This is just a fragment. I should've expected my uncle wouldn't make it easy to find him. We'll have to locate the rest of it."

FF...

The flight to their destination lasted approximately half an hour, even with lightspeed. Han had to be cautious during this adventure to avoid detection by The First Order, who were likely alerted by now, especially since they were after BB-8 and the map to Luke he carried. Once landed and commanding Chewbacca to conduct an external check on the Falcon, Han went to retrieve his daughter and Finn from where he last saw them. His paternal instincts kicked in when he found them asleep, wrapped closely together in her childhood blanket, which was too close for his comfort, "Alright, alright. That's enough - time to get up, kiddos. Let's go," he said, reaching down for Jaina and pulling her toward him, startling her awake and causing Finn to collapse to the floor.

"Dad!" Jaina exclaimed, blinking rapidly as she adjusted to being suddenly awakened. She watched as Finn fell face first onto the grated floor.

"What the hell, Solo?! We were just keeping each other warm." Finn protested as he scrambled to get up. BB-8 and came over to see what the commotion was.

Han's face cringed into a scowl at Finn's lack of respect, "Did you just call me Solo?"

"Han, I mean Han.."

"That's what I thought."

"Dad, come on. It's freezing up here - I wasn't just gonna cover myself in a warm blanket and exclude Finn from it. Besides - we're just friends," Jaina protested, trying to deescalate the situation. She understood Han's protective instincts, but she didn't feel the need for them in this instance. "And not to mention I don't need you to protect me, especially from boys.. I'm not a little girl anymore."

"Well, I'm your father, and I'm always going to protect you. You can be 40 years old, and you bet your behind I will still be there. Anyways, now that that's settled," Han motioned for them to follow him towards the ramp, leading them outside. What awaited them was a beautiful sight of green. Just ahead stood a large fortress surrounded by a vast body of water and tall trees scattered behind it. "An old friend here can get you onto a clean ship and on your way to your mother. The First Order wouldn't know..." The seasoned smuggler informed them as they made their way towards the fortress.

"Can we trust them?" Finn questioned.

"I'd relax if I were you, kid. Maz is my friend - if you can trust me, you can trust her. They've been in the game a long time. Just one more piece of advice," Han continued to lead the way inside, "Don't stare."

Jaina and Finn exchanged confused looks at his last statement, their expressions mirroring each other's. Without another word, they found themselves inside what appeared to be a cantina. Music blared throughout the entire place. It was crowded as well - aliens and humans alike who gambled, drank, schemed, negotiated, and argued. No doubt they were made up of smugglers, criminals, and travelers. The young Solo felt a bit uncomfortable being here. How did her father get used to such places? She stayed close to Finn, her arm anchored with his, seeking comfort in his presence.

"Han Solo!" called the voice of a female alien, wearing large adjustable goggles. The mention of his name being called made all heads in the building turn to look, and a hush fell over the previously bustling cantina. "Oh boy." Han froze in his place, shyly raising a hand to wave at the source of his name being called. He grinned uncomfortably. "Hey Maz!" The music returned to the area as Maz walked over to the group, pushing away someone in her way.

Standing before them, Maz sensed that Han had something urgent to discuss. "Wait. Before you begin, let's take a seat. Follow me," she motioned them to a nearby empty table where they could speak privately. As they settled in, Maz cut to the chase. "Alright, out with it, Solo." Unbeknownst to some of the patrons, both the First Order and The Resistance had been alerted to their presence.

Jaina and Finn turned to Han, deferring to his familiarity with Maz. BB-8 remained by Jaina's side, a testament to his trust in her after she had cared for him and repaired him on Jakku. "Listen, Maz. This droid my daughter found... he's carrying a map to Luke. It needs to reach Leia immediately."

Maz stole a glance at Jade, recognizing her from years past. She marveled at how much she had grown. "My goodness. Is that... Jaina? Solo, I haven't seen her since she was just a baby. I remember scolding you for bringing her in here so young," she reminisced with a laugh, memories flooding back.

Jaina's eyes widened in disbelief at the revelation, and she turned to Han, a mix of shock and resignation in her expression. This sort of impulsive decision wasn't entirely unexpected from him. "Seriously, Dad? Where was Mom in all of this?" she asked, her tone a mixture of incredulity and amusement. She received only a shrug from Han, accompanied by a nervous grin. "Anyways, can we just get on with our business here?" she urged, eager to move the conversation along.

"Oh, right, right. A map to Skywalker, you say? Hmm," Maz shook her head, now fixated on Han once again. "Han, my boy. You've been running away from this fight for so long. Han, go home."

"I can't do that, Maz. And I really can't explain the situation right now."

"Please, Maz, we really need your help," Finn interjected urgently, his tone betraying his anxiety to depart and avoid further complications. Moreover, his guilty conscience weighed heavily on him, particularly now that he had grown closer to Jaina.

It took Jaina some moments to grasp the gravity of the situation being discussed by Han and Maz. She didn't quite understand what either of them meant about Han's situation. "What fight? Dad, what aren't you telling me about you and mom?" she asked, her worry evident. But she wouldn't receive an answer at that moment.

"Now's not the time for this, Jaina. We've got a more important matter here, alright?" Han reassured her, attempting to calm her nerves momentarily. He could see his answer bothered her. "I'll tell you soon, I promise. Just focus on the task at hand."

"The only fight present at the moment is against the First Order. Their shadow is spreading across the galaxy. We have to fight them - all of us," Maz declared solemnly.

Finn frowned upon hearing this, leaning forward on the table. "There's no fighting against them. Not when we can win. Take a look around us - I can bet you everything I have that we haven't been recognized. If anything, they could be on their way right now and we wouldn't -" He stopped mid-sentence as he noticed Maz adjusting her goggles, scrutinizing him. Her eyes grew twice their size as she focused harder on the former Stormtrooper. "Solo?" He began to back away as she hoisted herself onto the tabletop, crawling closer to him, "Solo, what is she doing?"

"Hmm... I don't know, but it doesn't look good," Han waved off Finn's concern. Even Jaina, still visibly upset from earlier, couldn't grasp what was unfolding before them.

Finally, Maz spoke, her tone grave, "I've been around for far too long. And let me tell you, boy - when you live as long as I have, you recognize the same eyes in different people. Right now, I am looking into the eyes of a man who wants to flee."

Finn's expression turned serious once more as he leaned in, "You think you know me? No - you don't know the first thing about me. Where I come from or what I've seen." His gaze remained fixed on Maz. "You have no idea what the First Order is capable of. I know them very well - they will kill anyone in their path. We all need to run."

Jaina was stunned by his statement, feeling a mixture of fear and concern for Finn. Maz, however, seemed less surprised. She returned to her original position in her chair before pointing towards a pair of pirates in the corner, "See those two over there? They'll be more than happy to trade work for transportation to the Outer Rim. If disappearing is what you want, they can make it happen."

"W-Wait...hold on, Finn? What are you...doing?" Jaina watched as Finn rose from his chair, reaching out to grab his hand to halt his movement. "Finn! What about BB-8? We have to get him back to our base. You can't just leave. I won't let you."

"Jaina, I can and I have to. I'm sorry," he pulled away from her grip, striding over to the pirates Maz had mentioned earlier. Finn sat down with them, negotiating for transportation off the planet. Moments later, Jaina interrupted their conversation, insisting on answers from Finn. "Wait for me here - don't leave," he urged, moving her away from his discussion.

As they moved out of earshot, Jaina confronted him, "Why are you doing this? I don't understand why you're so..."

"I'm not Resistance, Jaina." He paused, observing the shock on Jaina's face as he revealed his true identity. Gathering his courage to continue, he said, "Like every Stormtrooper, I was torn away from the only family I've ever known. Raised to serve their agenda against my will. But in my first battle, I made a choice. I refused to kill for them. So I ran. And then..." Finn took her hands in his, locking eyes with her. "Then I ran into you. And you looked at me like no one else ever had. You didn't judge me. I'm ashamed of who I was. But I promise you, Jaina - I'm finished with the First Order. I'm never going back."

"Please, don't go," Jaina pleaded emotionally, surprising them both as she threw herself into his arms, clinging tightly to Finn as if afraid to let him leave. He had become one of her closest friends.

They remained in their embrace for a full minute before Finn gently pulled away, his determination to leave evident in his eyes. "You have your dad here with you now. He'll help you get to YOUR base. You'll be safer with him than with me. Take care of yourself." He turned towards the pirates, signaling his intention to depart.

Jaina's heart sank as her father confirmed her suspicions. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she struggled to process the weight of his words. "He's gone, dad," she whispered, her voice heavy with grief. Han observed the anguish in her eyes, realizing the depth of her pain. "You knew, didn't you?" she asked, her voice trembling with emotion.

"Knew what?" Han replied, his tone tinged with confusion.

"That he wasn't who he said he was," Jaina clarified, her voice cracking with emotion.

Han's silence spoke volumes, confirming her suspicions. "I mean, from my point of view, it was very obvious a kid like him isn't one of ours. The moment Finn told me he was Resistance, I could tell it was all mumbo gumbo," he admitted, his gaze falling to the floor.

Jaina's tears flowed freely now, the weight of her emotions bearing down on her. But there was another question burning in her mind, one she couldn't ignore. "What else aren't you telling me, dad? You and mom are fighting or were...Just tell me for kriff sakes!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with anger and desperation. She knew she needed to hear the truth, no matter how painful it might be. "Please, dad!"

Ignoring the curious stares of the other patrons, Han focused solely on his daughter. With a heavy sigh, he braced himself to reveal the painful truth. "After you left, your mother and I were just constantly arguing with one another. The weight of your brother's fall to the dark side, then having our daughter run away from home - it took a huge toll on the both of us. We found our own ways to cope with all of it - our jobs. We've separated," he confessed, his voice filled with sorrow.

Jaina's heart shattered at his words, the reality of their situation hitting her like a freight train. Was it her fault that Han and Leia's marriage had ended? If she had stayed, would they have remained together? "Do you blame me, dad?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes pleading for reassurance.

"Don't be ridiculous, Jaina. None of this, your mother and I separating, is your fault. Even before any of this happened, we were always at odds with one another," Han reassured her, his words heavy with honesty. He couldn't deny the strain their marriage had endured long before their children's troubles began. The constant arguments, the distance between them - it had all taken its toll. "The important thing is that we love you, and we love your brother no matter what happened or has happened." Reaching out a hand to comfort her, Han watched as Jaina abruptly ran off towards a set of stairs leading to a basement corridor. Concern etched his features as he hesitated, torn between following her and giving her space.

Meanwhile, in the dimly lit basement, Jaina found herself at a dead end. Unbeknownst to her, BB-8 had followed her, his presence a source of comfort in the darkness. Suddenly, she heard a voice in her head, drawing her attention to a particular door. Curious and slightly apprehensive, she approached it and entered. Inside, a single ray of light illuminated an old wooden chest, casting eerie shadows across the room. Fear and anticipation mingled within her as she cautiously approached the chest. With trembling hands, she lifted the lid and uncovered a lightsaber - Luke's lightsaber. The sight took her breath away, her mind racing with questions. "What's this doing here?" she wondered aloud, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes wide with astonishment. Unable to resist the allure of the lightsaber, Jaina reached out and grasped the hilt. As her fingers closed around it, a sudden, piercing sound filled the air - the unmistakable hum of a lightsaber igniting. With a swift motion, she activated the blade, and in that moment, everything changed.

In an instant, the surroundings of the fortress faded away, replaced by a completely different environment. Jaina found herself transported to a distant, unknown location, her senses overwhelmed by the sudden shift.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

As she turned, the familiar voice of her uncle echoed through the chaos, sending shivers down her spine. Before her, a temple engulfed in flames stood as a grim testament to the events unfolding. It was a scene she had only heard about in whispers - the night Ben attacked and slew his fellow Padawans. The realization hit her like a thunderbolt.

Beside her, a hooded figure knelt in the mud, their mechanical hand outstretched toward an R2 unit. R2? The sight sent a chill down her spine. Dead bodies littered the ground, a haunting reminder of the carnage that had unfolded here. Jaina couldn't help but feel a surge of fear and dread wash over her, realizing just how close she had come to being among the fallen. As heavy rain poured from the darkened skies, day turned swiftly to night. Another scene unfolded before her eyes: the hooded figure and R2 unit vanished, replaced by a menacing warrior advancing toward her with clear intent to harm. But before he could close the distance, a fiery red lightsaber impaled him through the chest, halting his advance in an instant.

Behind the fallen warrior stood a masked figure, flanked by six other knights. With a swift motion, the masked figure withdrew his lightsaber, then turned to face her, his gaze piercing through the darkness with an intensity that made her fear for her life. In the blink of an eye, another scene unfolded, but this time the faces of the figures were blurred and their voices distorted. A woman cradled a newborn baby girl, her sobs echoing loudly in the room. An angry man, presumably the father, berated a medical droid, demanding answers.

"How did this happen?!" he shouted.

"The twin... he strangled on the umbilical cord! There was nothing we could do. It was too late," the droid responded mechanically.

The scene shifted to the inside of a womb, where a pair of twins held hands. But as the droid explained, one of them had the cord wrapped around his neck, leading to his demise. As she closed her eyes, Jaina found herself in one final location: a snowy forest enveloped by towering trees. Confounded and lost, she could see her breath in the frigid air. Suddenly, a voice called out her name. Perplexed, Jaina resolved to locate the source of the call. She sprinted through the woods, her heart racing in her chest. Eventually, she stumbled upon the masked figure she had encountered earlier, emerging from behind a tree with a ignited lightsaber. Startled, Jaina fell backward onto the ground, snapping back to reality once again. At that moment, Jaina noticed Maz standing just a short distance from her. "That...belongs to him, doesn't it? I never should have ventured in there..." Her voice quivered with each syllable.

"Indeed. That was Luke's lightsaber, passed down from his father - your grandfather, Anakin Skywalker," Maz began, extending her hand toward Jaina. Their eyes locked as Maz continued, "Now it calls to you, my dear child." Jaina wasted no time in reaching for it, lowering herself to Maz's level. "You must have many questions," Maz said softly. "About what you saw. I have no right to answer them. That is a conversation for your father, or even your mother, to have with you. Or perhaps..."

"Luke," Jaina whispered, tears streaming down her face.

"The saber. You must take it. I sense it will aid you on your journey," Maz said, aware of Jaina's intentions to find Ben, which Han had confided in her during Jaina's absence. But when Maz mentioned the lightsaber, Jaina recoiled, stepping back.

"After what I've just experienced, I want nothing to do with that thing. I'll find another way on my mission," Jaina declared, turning and hurrying past Maz, back up the stairs to the cantina. Ignoring her father's calls, she dashed out of the fortress and into the forest, seeking solitude. Running felt like an endless endeavor, each stride heavier than the last, until finally, Jaina collapsed, overwhelmed and drained. Lost and at her emotional breaking point, she found herself at a loss, unsure of where to turn or what to do next. Then, amidst her despair, she heard a familiar sound - the comforting beep of BB-8. Somehow, he had followed her to this desolate place. "BB-8, what are you doing here? Go back to my dad, now."

BB-8 beeped in response, his sounds carrying a sense of worry for Jaina. She shook her head gently, reassuring him, "I'm not going anywhere. I just need some time alone to sort through everything I experienced when I touched that lightsaber. But listen to me... At this moment, you're more important. You need to go back. He'll make sure you're safely delivered to my mom. She needs to know..."

A deafening roar from above tore Jaina's attention away from BB-8. It reverberated with formidable power, heralding the advance of a First Order fleet accompanied by menacing TIE fighters. Dread gripped her heart as she realized the imminent danger facing everyone, including Han. Acting swiftly, she dashed back toward Maz's castle alongside BB-8. Explosions thundered in the distance, underscoring the urgency of the situation.

Emerging from the cover of the forest, Jaina was greeted by a devastating sight: Maz's castle was under siege, crumbling under the relentless assault. Despite the chaos unfolding before her, Jaina's focus sharpened as she picked up filtered radio transmissions from nearby Stormtroopers. Taking cover to avoid detection, she swiftly drew her blaster pistol, her training kicking in. With precise aim, she dispatched the first Stormtrooper, but more soon followed, sprinting and firing in her direction. Yet, one by one, they met their demise in the ensuing combat. "BB-8, go! I'll try to fend them off. You need to keep our of their sight."

BB-8 emitted concerned beeps, almost as if questioning whether he would see her again. "I hope so. Now, please, get out of here," she pleaded with him one last time before watching him roll away toward safety. Left alone, Jaina braced herself to confront the looming threat, unknowingly facing one of the most significant and unexpected challenges of her life. Even the voice within her warned of the impending danger, yet she stood her ground, blaster at the ready, scanning her surroundings vigilantly.

Then, the dreaded sound of the lightsaber she had encountered during her Force vision pierced the air, causing Jaina to startle in fear. From behind a moss-covered tree emerged the masked figure she had encountered before, his presence sending a chill down her spine. He advanced towards her relentlessly as Jaina fired multiple shots in his direction, but each one was effortlessly deflected by his lightsaber. Despite her ferocious onslaught, he continued to approach. Then, his hand rose and extended toward her, and suddenly, Jaina found herself unable to move, frozen in the grip of the Force. Even the entity within her struggled in vain to break her free from this paralyzing hold.

"Huh?!"

"I never expected it to be you."