{{ simply being loved - chapter 01
The celebration was huge. Millions of people dancing and yelling, the streets of every planet, filled to the brim with people. People broadcasting congratulations over comms, families reunited --- it was an incredibly joyous occasion.
What was left of the Yuuzhan Vong, with the exception of the ones who wanted to settle and join society, had been driven out of the galaxy or killed, mostly by pieces of the Imperial Remnant, the New Republic Army and a large part of the Hapan fleet. Many of the slaves the Yuuzhan Vong had taken were saved, some were long gone.
On Corellia, the Galactic Alliance was having a celebration. There were many dignitaries present and many soldiers, along with the fleets and their families. There was drinking and dancing, eating and laughing. It was an all over exciting event. The formal event, that would recognize the heroes of the war was going to be held the next night on Hapes.
Not many people were looking forward to remembering the war, all the people that were lost, all the planets that were shattered forever... but it had to be done sometime. And the formal event, with it's medals and it's speeches, would be just the right amount of closure everyone was looking for.
Night fell and everyone crawled into bed, preparing for the ceremonies the next day.
All was quiet.
Jacen Solo watched as blood spilled from the Queen Mother's wound. Everything went in slow motion as she fell backwards, crashing to the ground in a blurry heap of green and black silk, copper hair and smooth red liquid. His calm visage twisted into a look of horror and panic as he started over to her prone body, going incredibly slow. His limbs felt heavy as he moved across the chamber, it was like he was running through a vat of bacta.
What have I done?
As he ran to her, he was having flashbacks to that duel, so many years ago. The accident which cost the Queen Mother her left arm. He always blamed himself for it, even though she told him time and time again that it was her own fault. He wouldn't let her keep all the blame to herself. But now... he knew this was all his fault.
In the duel at the academy, her arm was cauterized. No blood.
I couldn't stop it in time.
He crashed to his knees beside her body, the cloth of his pants soaking up her blood. Jacen pulled her into his lap and hugged the Hapan queen to his chest.
"I'm sorry... please..."
He searched for her through the Force.
She was gone.
Tenel Ka had died.
Pacing. Back and forth.
Jacen had woken up with a start, the same dream had played out in his sleep again. Tenel Ka, dying, bloody, dead. He woke up panting, sweating and shivering, slid himself out of his tangled sheets and began to pace.
Towards his bed, he turned around, back towards his mirror, continue.
He stopped and looked up at himself in the mirror.
Jacen Solo was twenty-three. Same brown disheveled hair, same deep brown eyes. He had gotten rid of his beard a couple months before, when his mother commented on how it started to look like a 'fuzzy ysalamiri crawling across his face.' He was clad in just the pants of his beige flight suit. Getting in late the night before, Jacen only had the energy to shuffle himself out of his shirt and shoes before collapsing onto his bed. His muscles were still toned and he was still in pretty good shape after his jaunt out of Yuuzhan'tar; where the New Republic lost Ganner Rhysode.
He spun around, letting his eyes close as he leaned back against the mirror, slowly letting himself slide to the ground.
What is with this dream? Or is it a vision...
His eyes shot open.
A vision. No...
Jacen pushed himself off of the ground and threw on a plain white shirt.
It can't be.
He slammed his fist onto the button, mounted on the wall, and the door slid open.
It was the middle of the night, but had anyone been in that hallway at that moment, they would've seen a lone, wide-eyed Solo kid dashing down the corridor like he was chasing after one of his escaped pet animals.
Jacen sat cross-legged on the ground in the middle of the garden, meditating.
In the Force, he found his sister, curled up with Jag Fel up on the rooftop under the stars, sleeping.
In the Force, he found his parents, fast asleep in their own bed... Han snoring.
In the Force, he found Tahiri and Lowbacca, feigning insomnia to play a few rounds of sabacc; Zekk watching them and keeping tabs on their bets.
In the Force, far away, he found a faint glimmer, a shard of someone he held faraway, but very close.
There you are.
He would check on her every once in awhile. But he didn't want to check too much, she would probably think he was trying to look after her. And she didn't like that. But as he sat there using the Force to sneak his way near her mind, he could feel her slumber, and toss and turn, and breathe.
Breathing fine...
She was breathing easily, but her emotions didn't portray the same amount of simplicity. Jacen sensed desperation and the feeling of being overworked and empty.
Tenel Ka...
Jacen opened his eyes and pulled back from her before she could wake up and scold him through their connection. He hadn't seen her in awhile... not since the Yuuzhan Vong invasion stopped, anyways. They would be leaving Corellia the next morning for Hapes. So he would have the chance to see her again.
He pulled himself up and started back to his room.
After waking up in the morning and after a long, warm shower and some clean clothes, Jacen showed up in the dining hall and sat down beside his sister, sleepily placing his tray on the tabletop.
"What's with the bags, Jasa?"
"Huh?"
"The bags under your eyes...? Didn't get any sleep last night?"
Jacen shook his head and chuckled, "No, I got some sleep."
Jaina shot a glance to her brother, a look of skepticism crossing her face, "You had that dream again didn't you? ...the one about Tenel Ka."
The spoon he almost had up to his mouth stopped as he turned his head to look his twin, "What do I do? It seems so real. Should I talk to Uncle Luke about it?"
"Uncle Luke will tell you the same thing he's always been telling you lately. You have to figure things out for yourself. You're twenty-three now, Jacen! Luke can't baby us in the Force like he's done for so many years," Jaina exclaimed, as she chewed on a piece of leftover ryshcate, from the night before.
A nod. "You're right."
"I know I am."
"Morning guys," Jag said as he seated himself across from Jaina.
"Hey there, Jaggy." Jaina lightly kicked the rigid pilot under the table, letting her pet name for him seethe through her teeth.
He winced, from the kick and the name-calling.
"Hey Jag," Jacen stared down into his bowl.
The pilot took a sip from his drink. "What's everyone up to today?"
"I have to pack for the trip. We're leaving soon... or so my dad says. You know how he is."
He eyed Jaina, "Oh. Yeah. 'We'll be leaving in 10 minutes.' And then an hour later it's time to go." His eyes continued on, trailing to Jacen, "What about you, Jace? Do you still have to pack?" He eyes motioned to Jaina as he added the last part, "Or were you smart enough to pack last night, unlike some people?"
Jaina gasped and kicked Jag even harder under the table, causing him to chuckle.
"If you will recall, Mr. Jagged Fel, SOMEBODY wanted to go out and grab something to eat. Then SOMEBODY wouldn't let me--- Jacen, be a good brother and kick this guy's--- Jacen?"
Jacen broke out of a trance and looked straight into Jag's eyes, then snapped them over to Jaina, as he stood up.
"I... I have to go get ready."
With that, Jacen Solo stood up, absently leaving his tray on the table, and made his way out of the dining hall.
Noting the sudden look of loss and confusion on Jacen's face, both Jag and Jaina stared at each other, dumbfounded.
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