Twenty-one years have passed since the heroes of the Rebel Alliance destroyed the Death Star, breaking the power of the Emperor. Since then, the New Republic has valiantly struggled to maintain peace and prosperity among the peoples of the galaxy. But unrest has begun to spread and threatens to destroy the Republic's tenuous reign.
As the Jedi and the Republic focus on internal struggles, a new threat surfaces from beyond the farthest reaches of the Outer Rim--an enemy bearing weapons and technology unlike anything New Republic scientists have ever seen.
Suddenly, Luke Skywalker; his wife, Mara; Han Solo; Leia Organa Solo; and Chewbacca--along with the Solo children--are thrust again into battle, to defend the freedom so many have fought and died for. But this time, the power of the Force itself may not be enough...
There are still spots open for characters in the recruitment thread, so go there if you want new characters. Don't be fooled by the title, it has nothing to do with Pottsie's..
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A wild clash between sabers and a few well placed steps backwards gave distance between he and his brother Jacen. He twirled his purple lightsaber with a dull hum, coming in again at him, clashing and holding the saber's in mid-air.
He pushed away and jumped in the air, coming down at him vertically, holding the saber in both hands. The strike was blocked as he came down, but he quickly spun around to the right and struck at Jacen's left abdomen, Jacen bringing his saber to his side vertically to block it. Using this to his advantage, Anakin tripped him up, grabbing his lightsaber hand and wrenching it, grabbing the saber from his hands and turning it off, stepping lightly on Jacen's chest and putting the blade of his near his head.
He laughed playfully, "Come on Jacen, you can do better," he said, tossing the saber back to his brother. Jacen caught it and stood up, Anakin deactivated his saber and slipped it in his sash as Jacen did the same. They both walked out of the arena and into the main area of the house, into the kitchen.
It was a rather large kitchen, for a rather large house- er, mansion. His father, Luke had a Jedi Temple made on Yavin for training young padawans, which is where Jacen and Anakin were taught, as well as Jaina. But Jaina left before her training was complete to join the Rebellion as an X-Wing pilot.
Anakin walked to the side of the kitchen and pulled out a strange blue container filled with orange liquid. He grabbed a cup from a cabinet and poured the liquid into it, tossing a cup and the container to his brother. He downed the liquid that was in the cup in one gulp and sat down on a stool.
"You're good brother but overconfidence can be your downfall," Jacen spoke softly. He poured himself a drink and drank it little by little, stirring the contents.
"And you're so high and mighty yourself?" He said with a smirk, walking out of the kitchen and into a hallway, motioning for his brother to come. Once Jacen arrived, Anakin started talking. "You know.. you need to focus more on your physical abilities.. your.. lacking in that area.. you know?" He said, walking down the hallway to the rather large living room/den.
"The Force is not a tool to be wielded with such force. There are other ways to use our abilities," Jacen replied.
"Yeah, well you're more into the spiritual aspects, i'd rather have my blade speak for me," he said plopping down on a piece of cushioned furniture. (:))
"So.. any word on our sister Jaina? Heard she's gonna be back soon."
"She's back now," Jaina called from the doorway. She entered, a big smile on her face. "Oh, it's been too long. What'd I miss?"
She eyed her brothers. "Never mind that... you're both pretty worked up. Here, let me distract you..."
Looking around, she frowned. "Kriffing hell!" she murmured. "Where'd she go?"
Jumping to her feet, she ran out of the room, calling, "Alyssa?"
A few seconds later, she returned with another girl. The new girl resembled Jaina in height and form, but her eyes were bright blue and her blonde hair was about an inch longer.
"Guys," Jaina said, "this is Alyssa Renolin. Alyssa, these are my brothers, Jacen," she pointed, "and Anakin."
Turning again to her brothers, Jaina went on. "She's a little new here at the Academy, but she can already give me a run for my money when it comes to saber duelling. And she's piloting too!" Turning to Alyssa, she grinned. "We do seem to have a lot in common, don't we?"
"Though in space-fight sims, Jaina has no equal," Alyssa put in quickly. Jaina chuckled.
"No comment," she said, shrugging. "Anyway, how've things been going on here?"
Anakin 'pfft'd' silently to himself. "Doing alright, I guess. Jacen just lost to me in a duel, yet again," he looked to Alyssa. "I see you're a good pilot.. and a good duellist.."
He relaxed in the chair, swiping the bangs out of his eyes. "She a Padawan or a Knight?"
"So you two had a word war, too," Jaina frowned. "Figures..."
"I'm a near Knight," Alyssa answered. "It's actually why I'm here now. I've learned quickly under my Master."
((Alyssa's master is one of my characters, but as Alyssa is being Knighted soon, her master will not be a common sight in this thread... just once or twice. :) ))
He nodded. "Good, good." He looked around and then back at Jaina. "So, how are you doing back in the cockpit?" He said, raising an eyebrow.
Jaina was a little hesitant to respond. "It's..." she frowned thoughtfully. "Good... in a way. Still trying to readjust to things, I guess... get my old spark back."
"She flies like a maniac," Alyssa interrupted with a grin. "Don't let her hesitance fool you."
He grinned. "Oh, not fooled at all.. It must've been..enlightening.. to say the least.." He said, glancing between the two. "If I knew how to fly.. I would've helped.."
"I do not fly like a maniac," Jaina retorted, mock-glaring at Alyssa. She sheepishly added, "But we did race here. I won."
"Because you fly like a maniac," Alyssa was quick to say, her blue eyes sparkling with laughter.
"Oy!" Jaina exclaimed. "What are you, the older sister we never knew we had? Honestly, Alyssa, you pick at me more than these two combined!"
"It couldn't hurt that we share a bunk while on call with the Squadron," Alyssa chuckled.
"Right..." Jaina mumbled.
Anakin couldn't help but laugh at the two bickering. "You sound like me and Jacen some times.. geez," he said with a grin.
He stood up and started to walk around the room, stretching a little. "So.. Jaina.." He said with his arms behind his back, stretching. "Where'd you meet Alyssa?"
"When I..." Jaina answered, stammering. "I..."
"Got shot," Alyssa helped. Jaina nodded.
"You tell," she murmured.
"You heard of her being shot out, right?" Alyssa went on quietly. Jaina turned away. "It's done some psychological things, to her, as you can see. Anyway, I was the one sent to get her. Though she was unconscious, we formed a connection and I stayed with her while she was getting treatments."
"She's also one of the big reasons I'm back flying," Jaina said slowly. "The Squadron was a bit hesitant to put me back up there after... that..."
"I convinced them it would be a mistake not to, even after what she's been through," Alyssa finished.
"We should speak to Uncle Luke about this bonding," Jacen spoke softly. Concern and relief that his sister was safe filled the twin bond they shared.
"We'd considered that," Alyssa said, nodding. Jaina agreed.
"And we agree," she added quietly. "In fact, we were headed to find him when I heard your bickering and had to come surprise you... I know I wasn't expected back until tomorrow."
She smiled slightly.
"But let's find him now," Alyssa said. "He should know of this."
"Yes," and Jacen led the way. He was familiar as to where their uncle was and headed to the Grand Audience chamber at the Academy on Yavin IV.
((I read junior Jedi Knights and there was an academy at Yavin IV. If I'm wrong I could put it at Ossus because I believe that was another place but I think was after the Yuzghon Vong. Forgive my butchered spelling))
((No, no... you're fine. In Young Jedi Knights and the beginning of New Jedi Order, the Academy was on Yavin IV.))
((Alrighty then :D))
Luke was just where Jacen thought he would be. Luke was instructing another student in saber techniques. Waiting patiently until Luke stopped, Jacen spoke, "Master Skywalker, could I, we have a moment?"
He was trailing the three the whole time. He looked at Luke, nodded a few times. "Dad-err Master, they would like a little bit of time.. me on the other hand.. I'm thinking of exploring the jungle a little more.."
Luke put down his lightsaber. He motioned for the one he was training to stop. Luke was training a new recruit for hours and this one was getting nowhere. He had a tough day, just like most of the days ever since he became the new head of the Jedi Order. He sighed, and turned to them. "Jacen, Anakin. What is it that you want?"
He sighed a little, and spoke, "Jaina, Jacen, and I think Alyssa want to speak to you.. while I on the other hand, am going to go explore the jungle.. like I usually do.. "
He turned around and headed out of the academy, walking into the clearing before the eroded statue of a man, at the moment, he couldn't really care who it was of. He shivered a little and walked past it, into the light brush of the jungle. He slowly made his way into the woods, then into the first part of the jungle.
Taking note of the new recruit, Jaina decided to address her uncle formally. Bowing slightly, she said, "Master Skywalker."
There was a short pause before she went on. "I've just returned from flying with the Squadron... both Alyssa and I just got back. Remember about six months ago there was an... an accident in a training run... well, Alyssa was the one that picked me up from that..."
Alyssa took over from here. "She was dying and I kept her alive. During that time and later during her slow recovery, we formed a connection."
"We hear things that go through each others heads," Jaina added.
"All the time," Alyssa agreed. "It's like..."
"... we can't..." Jaina murmured.
"... block each other out," Alyssa finished the sentence. She smiled slightly and Jaina giggled. Neither of them explained what was funny.
"It helps us in the Squadron," Jaina said. "Our minds have become so connected..."
"... that it's becoming hard to tell one from the other," Alyssa finished. "Like we're..."
They continued in unison, "... two different parts of the same being. Two bodies, two minds. We have mental arguments..." here, each girl put her right hand to her forehead, "Those hurt. But we know what we're thinking, what we're doing, how we feel."
"No secrets," Alyssa said alone. Jaina nodded.
"We thought you should know," she said alone.
"What do you suggest Master?" Jacen asked.
He started to cut away at the bush and sticks as he headed into the jungle. He kicked a few large twigs out of the way before kicking a large one, stubbing his toe. He yelped quietly and stumbled over the log, only to trip on another one. He tumbled head over heels down the ravine, slamming into a rock at the end, his lightsaber tumbling away and landing in a pile of leaves.
He fell unconscious, due to loss of blood.
"This connection" Luke said. "Is a strong bond in the force. You two must help eachother out when needed. You two must show eachother the ways of the light side and make sure that you do not stray to the dark side. This tie that you share will come useful some day so train together, work together, and always help eachother out."
"We will do as you say," Alyssa said quietly, bowing and turning to go. Jaina followed immediately, but the girls paused at the door.
"It's good to see you again, Uncle Luke," Jaina said quietly. Then, she and Alyssa left the room.
He eyes slowly fluttered open to show him a cave, dripping with wetness and littered bones of animals. He was strung from the ceiling upside down by his feet, two large vines keeping him from falling on his face.
He struggled, looking around the cave for any sign of escape. So far, none. He wrenched himself up to see his feet. He grabbed the vines and started to loosen them. Within moments, a large claw came up and slammed into his side, swinging him to the side and snapping the vines.
He landed hard, knocking the wind out of him. He coughed a few times, slowly moving to all fours. He was slammed in the gut by another large claw and sent rolling to the side. He coughed roughly, vomiting a little from the force. He managed to turn around and see a large scaly creature, wearing what looked like a furry robe. He had a large club in his right hand. That was the claw..
He saw the club coming for him as he rolled backwards, dodging it as the blunt weapon crashed into the ground where he previously was. He rolled to the side and dodged another horizontal strike to his abdomen. He saw his lightsaber wedged between two stones on the other side of the room.
He quickly sprinted over there, but being stopped short by a strike to the chest with the club, sending him in the opposite direction, slamming into the cave wall. He coughed roughly, aiming his palm out towards the saber. The weapon leaped to his hand as he dived underneath the creature's legs and spinning up to his feet, igniting his saber as he was spinning, catching the creature's back, slicing it wide open diagonally, making the creature drop it's club and fall to the ground, writhing in pain.
He walked over to it, kicking it's side. As he kicked it, it's left hand reached out and grabbed his leg, making his lightsaber fall from his hand-still ignited, coming down and decapitating the creature, turning off before touching ground.
He grabbed the saber and scurried away, smacking off the cold dead hand of the creature. He stood up and backed out of the cave, taking off back towards the academy.
That was enough adventure for one day...
Jacen had left the Grand Audience chamber after Luke dismissed them. He stood outside turned to the direction that Anakin haad taken, waiting for him to return. He sensed pain, and a beast when Anakin was swiped with a claw. He kept watching until a rather disheveled Anakin came out of the forest caked with mud, blood and vines. He raised a brow and said, "I suggest you go to the medbay. Next time, try to be careful or you'll trip on another rock."
He grumbled past his brother and into the Academy, walking into a rather large circular opening, then turning left into a long, winding hallway. He finally reached a white, sterilized room filled with empty operating tables and a small waiting room. He walked into the waiting room and sat down, holding his bleeding abdomen, coughing a little.
It's strange. He thought of Luke as a father, yet, Luke didn't even sense he was in pain..
Jacen smiled at his brother but then took a determined step forward into the forest. He used the Force to backtrack where Anakin went, to the cave where he was captured. He saw the body of the creature and kneeled down to examine it. He looked about the cave and saw many caverns. He sensed something from the east and took off to investigate. He sent a reassurance to Jaina, that he was okay as he went through the tunnel.
"Hey.. watch it.. "He said as a medical doctor roughly wiped off some dried blood with a wet sponge. Watch out Jacen, we don't know what else is in that cave..
Jacen headed into the cave allowing his senses to guide him. He was cautious, aware that there were other creatures about the cave. He got Anakin's message and sent reassurance. At the end of the eastern tunnel was an open cave. From a distance Jacen could barely make out what it was.
"Alright, Anakin, You're good to go," a doctor said as Anakin jumped off the table. "Take it easy, you're not invincible," the doctor said with a smile.
"I only wish it were that easy."
Using caution, Jacen edged closer without trying to disturb the creature. The creature was long and sleek. It had a powerful tail and a rather long snout but it fit his body. He just sat and waited.
Luke decided to take a rest after the hard day. He lay down on his bed and got ready to sleep, when another Jedi MAster poked hi head in Luke's room. "It's training time for the padawan!" He said and Luke got back up tiredly.
With the bond that was formed between he and his brother, he felt the presence of the creature as if it was right next to him. Stay there, I don't want you to go any further without me Jacen, i'm good enough to go with you.
He ran out of the door and out of the academy, sliding around corners as he sprinted into the forest, sliding his way down the incline that he fell down last time and rounded a corner into the cave, walking up next to Jacen. (This all happened with a few minutes)
"Stop," Jacen said firmly. The creature woke up and saw them. Using the Force, Jacen was able to calm it so that it wouldn't attack him. He inched his way forward and saw that the creature was injured, more likely from the thing that Anakin had slain. He told his brothe, "Go back and grab a kit. The creature's wounded."
Anakin slid his saddle bag over in his front and brought out a small white medical kit, handing it to his brother. "Never leave home without it," he said smiling. He closed the bag and looked back to the creature, slowly inching his way towards it, his right hand resting loosely on his lightsaber, watching for any quick movements.
(He killed the creature he fought, the lightsaber decapitated it as it fell)
The creature laid there clamly though it was evident that it was in pain. Jacen did his best to keep it calm and applied salve. He had examined the kit and smiled for they finally accepted Master Starlighter's salves that he had brought from his homeworld. Some of them stank really bad but they had the desired effect. After applying the salves, Jacen patted and stroked the creature softly. It gave a rumble that meant gratefulness and he smiled. He packed the kit and handed it back to Anakin. He motioned Anankin to follow and they followed the tunnel back to the cave where the decapitated creature was. Once there he spoke softly to Anakin, "The creature looks familiar. I'm going to ask Master Starlighter."
Jacen set off at a quick pace back to the academy. He liked that creature and was determined to find out what it was.
Anakin stayed there, sitting on the ground near the wounded creature, watching it. I bet the same thing that attacked me, attacked you.. huh? He thought, projecting his thoughts into the creature's head.
The strange alien just shook a little bit.
((Did Anakin go back because Jacen left him where Anakin killed the one that attacked him))
Jacen found Master Starlighter on the temple summit in his usual spot gazing at the clouds. He always seemed so forlorn ever since he came back from Amshrey, wherever that was. He described the creature to him and he got the answer, "A draigon. One that I brought here. Strange he didn't contact me when in pain," and the master got up and asked Jacen to lead him to it. Jacen complied and showed him the way. They met up with Anakin and went to see the draigon.
He straightened up and nodded to the two, bowing before the master before speaking. "Master, this creature was wounded by another creature I had recently.. killed," he said that word with a lump in his throat.
"I didn't mean to.. it was self-defense. It looked like I came in at the right time. If I would not have been captured and fought the creature, this.. wounded alien would be dead already."
Master Starlighter didn't say anything but knelt next to the draigon and examined the work that Jacen did. He then stood up and first said to Anakin, "It is alright. That creature has been threatening the balance of the ecosystem." Then turning to Jacen he said, "You have a gift with creatures. I am surprised and grateful that Ji-san allowed you to touch him."
He turned to leave and return to his place but not before he said, "He will be there when you need him." He then walked away. Jacen was confused and yet pleased that he had done right in helping the draigon. Next to his uncle Luke, his uncle Andros was a Jedi he respected much. He then sat by the draigon and told Anakin, "I'm going to stay awhile. Can you tell Jaina where I am?"
He nodded. "Sure," he said, patting his brother's shoulder, then using him to stand, pushing down on his shoulder. "I'll tell her that you're down here, I doubt she'll come here anyway," he said, walking out of the cave. "Don't get lost on your way back!" He yelled, heading up the steep ravine carefully.
Jacen sat next to the draigon and stroked it. He had never seen one before except in holo images. The draigon looked at Jacen and placed his head on his knee and growled with pleasure at being pet.
Heading into the academy, he searched for his sister. Jaina, I need to speak with you. Meet me in the normal place. He said, turning a corner into a small room with pillows drawn about the floor, a rack of lightsabers adorning one wall and dust coated the ceiling.
Jaina and Alyssa entered together, both looking concerned.
"What is it, Anakin?" Jaina asked quickly, moving across the room to her brother.
"Well.. I was exploring through the forest before I fell and hit my head on a rock, knocking myself unconscious.." He said, fluffing up a few pillows and laying down to rest his weary bones.
"Afterwards, this creature tried to kill me. So I fought back and eventually killed it. Little did I know, that if I wasn't there in time, this.. wounded Draigon creature would have been it's dinner. Now that wounded creature is Jacen's pet, and Jacen's down by the cave, resting near the creature.." He said, plopping his head down on a pillow.
Thanks alot little brother Jacen sent. He was still petting the draigon who had fallen asleep.