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Star Wars

Genesis

By

obsidian Reaver

2012

DISCLAIMER: Any names or places used in this story are of my own creation. Any similarities with real people or places are mere coincidences and have no connection with anything written below. If you are offended by sex, masturbation, domination, women, bodily fluids, sexual fetishes, dirty imagery, ect, ect...you should not read or view this story. This story is meant for adults (Age 18+) and contains adult themes, and should not be viewed by minors. If you are a minor and you read this story, I am not responsible for any damages that may occur to you or those around you.

Furthermore, Star Wars is the intellectual property of George Lucas. I in no way, shape, or form am trying to commercially profit from Star Wars. Everything written below is purely fan fiction set in an alternate universe. I own nothing, including the picture above. Enjoy!

Luke held the villip in his palm and watched his niece's form warp and deform for what must have been the hundredth time. It'd been little over four months since Master Solo's fate had been revealed to them, and still the Jedi were no closer to finding her, let alone recovering her. All they had was this Yuuzhan Vong communication creature, a few captured victims from other events, and a single holo-recording of a dark figure taunting them.

In private, even Luke had to admit that the chances of recovering Jaina seemed slim.

His comlink chimed, and he removed it from his belt with a weary sigh. He knew all too well who was on the line.

"Skywalker here."

"Any leads?" Responded a feminine voice, exhausted and choked with desperation.

"Nothing new, Leia." Luke replied as he rubbed his forehead. Even here on Ossus, he could still feel the despair roiling from his twin sister on Coruscant, and it pierced his heart like an overcharged blaster bolt.

When no reply came after a moment of silence, Luke continued.

"We'll find her. You know we will." Luke said, conveying sympathy and comfort through the Force.

"What if she's..." Leia trailed off.

"She's not, Leia. We can still feel her presence, it's just-"

"I know, I know." Leia interrupted, sniffling a little. "Faint. Animalistic. Indistinguishable from every other beast in this galaxy."

"How's Han?" Luke said after a brief pause, although he was fairly certain of Leia's reply.

"He's worried, just as much as I am." Leia said. "He can't lose her, Luke. We can't lose her. Not after Anakin and Jacen.

"We won't. Luke replied calmly, though he stopped short of making any promises. He parted his lips to say more when he was interrupted by another chime, this one at his door.

"I'll let you know if we find anything else." Luke said at last, rising from his chair and heading toward the control panel near the door. "In the meantime,-"

"We'll keep looking."

"Skywalker, out." Luke terminated the channel, and slipped the comlink back onto his belt. Mechanically, he tapped the control panel, releasing the bolt locks. Immediately, the door hissed and parted, allowing a Mon Calamari to step over the threshold and into the chambers of the Grandmaster.

"Cilghal," Luke said respectfully, exchanging a bow with the Jedi Master. "I assume you have news?"

Luke could sense Cilghal's Force aura, radiating with confidence and subtle joy. The Jedi Grandmaster felt his shoulders sag with relief; at last, something positive.

"I'm pleased to say 'yes', Grandmaster." The Mon Calamari replied evenly, not one to express her feelings visibly. "My staff and I have unlocked the secrets behind this rather unique morphogenic toxin."

"Excellent work, Cilghal." Luke praised, genuinely pleased with the good news. What Cilghal said next gave the Grandmaster even more reason to rejoice.

"There's more." Cilghal added in her usual, gravelly tone. Crossing her arms in what Luke recognized as a very unusual human display of pride, Cilghal leveled a bulbeous eye at him. "We've managed to reverse its effects on some of the subjects."

"I knew I could count on you." Luke replied, a smile creasing his cheeks. It was his first true smile since Jaina had been taken from the Order, and it suffused his aging heart with warm optimism. "After they've been given time to rest and recover, we-"

"Grandmaster, pardon my interruption." Cilghal cut off Luke quickly. It was unlike the healer to interrupt, thus Luke knew whatever it was she had to add, it must be important. Nodding, he gave Cilghal his undivided attention.

Cilghal parted her rubbery lips, but made no sound for a moment. Though alien in her mannerisms, the expression of hesitation seemed to be a universal one, and it wasn't lost on Luke. He was about to question it when the Mon Calamari raised a flipper-like hand and pointed at the door.

"Perhaps it would be best if I simply showed you, Grandmaster."

Luke considered Cilghal's proposal for a moment, and then nodded, turning toward the door and activating the panel beside it. With a hiss, the door instantly opened once more and the two elder Jedi stepped out side by side.

***

Luke and Cilghal made their way down the damp halls of the Jedi Temple on Ossus, their earth-hued robes swirling silently around their feet. Neither had spoken a word since they'd left the Grandmaster's chamber. Though He couldn't speak for Cilghal, Luke's own mind was abuzz with speculation and hope, tinged with a bit of boyish curiousity. Whatever it was Cilghal had to show him, it was so unusual she'd found words to be an inadequate way to describe it. Only through 'perceiving' it could Luke fully comprehend what they were dealing with, and that thought sent a shiver down Luke's spine. Though he longed to see what is was his best Jedi healer had uncovered, his recent encounter with the terrible Force entity, Abeloth, had left the Grandmaster with little appetite for nasty surprises.

As the pair passed various members of the Order going about their respective duties, Luke sensed a familiar presence approaching. A warm smile crept over his lips as his only son, Ben Skywalker, turned the corner and came into view. The young man was walking briskly in their direction, a look of determination etched over his handsome features. Intercepting Luke and Cilghal, he immediately spun on his heels and took up position next to his father.

"What's the hurry?" Luke asked, still smiling as he tusseled his son's fiery red hair. The young man reminded Luke a lot of his late wife, Mara Jade. And though Mara had been gone for some time now, it still caused Luke's heart to ache whenever he saw her so clearly in Ben.

"Dad, I've been reassigned from Ebaq 9...to Corellia." Ben growled, either forgetting to observe protocol or ignoring it completely.

"Huh. I wonder who made the change?" Luke replied nonchalantly. Ben said nothing, electing instead to level a scathing glare at his father. It was the betrayal in Ben's Force aura, though, that prompted Luke to heave a heavy sigh and come clean.

"Alright, you got me."

"Why?!" Ben exclaimed, shaking his head in bewilderment. "Dad, Jaina's not on Corellia, not by a long shot. Ebaq 9, a former Yuuzhan-"

"I know, Ben." Luke cut off his son's logical explanation. Luke knew the odds of finding Jaina on Corellia were very slim. But he had his reasons nonetheless. And after reminding himself that Ben was essentially an adult these days, Luke decided his son had every right to know. "Look, we don't know Jaina's condition, and I-"

"She's a krayt dragon." Ben interrupted, stating the obvious.

"Yes, we're all aware of that, Ben." Luke replied coolly as the three turned another corner and entered a waiting elevator. As Luke pressed the panel and engaged the lift, he turned to his son and sighed. "And that's part of the problem. Ben, she's a wild card. We don't know what side she's on, or if she's even conscious enough to choose a side. I just didn't want to put you into a situation where you might..."

Luke trailed off and lowered his eyes as he sought for the easiest way to say the unthinkable. But Ben knew exactly what his father was thinking.

"Have to kill her." Ben finished his father's sentence, his voice soft. Luke said nothing else. The lift jarred to a halt and its twin doors slid open quietly. Cilghal, silent throughout the father-son argument, disembarked first and made her way toward the medical lab. Luke followed, with Ben right behind him.

"That's not going to happen." Ben declared from behind his father. "And I owe it to Jaina to keep searching for her. This is my fault, after all."

Luke and Cilghal both stopped and turned to face the young Jedi Knight. As a Mon Calamari, Cilghal's face betrayed no hint of what she might be feeling. Luke's, though, expressed a pensive calm as he studied his son, and both Master's aura's exuded curiosity.

"How so?" Luke asked simply, placing his hands on his hips. A nearby nurse tapped Cilghal for her attention, and the Mon Calamari excused herself. Luke remained starring at his son, wondering exactly how he'd played into Jaina's capture.

Ben drew in a long breath of air, and let it out slowly.

"If she hadn't been searching for Ves, she would have never come across that station, nor the sithspawn inside. Ves played me for a fool over and over again. Had I just recognized her as the Sith she was-"

"Ben, you know better than this." Luke admonished his son gently, wrapping his arms up in his robes as he crossed them. "Jaina, and all of us, could have done a dozen things differently, but that's no guarantee she would have evaded capture. Always in motion is the future."

"Yeah, I get it." Ben replied sullenly. "Spare me the remedial Yoda act, please."

Luke smiled, supressing a chuckle. Ben was ridden with unwarrented guilt, stemming from his infatuation with the Sith Lord, Vestara Khai. But, his sense of humor was intact, and Luke knew that was a good indicator his son would be alright.

Motioning for his son to follow, Luke resumed walking toward the lab.

"Dad?" Ben asked, worried.

"Yes, Ben?

"You're not actually contemplating killing Jaina, are you?"

Luke shook his head.

"No, I've never been 'contemplating' it." He replied, stepping through the threshold and into the sterile and white medical lab. "Honestly, Ben, if that scenario ever became a reality, Jaina as we know her would have already died."

"...so warped into a desert beast still counts as 'the Jaina we know'?" Ben retorted quizzically.

"Absolutely." Luke replied casually. To be perfectly honest, he wasn't sure if Jaina was still in control of her actions, or if she even possessed sentience still. But he held out hope that she could be found, and eventually restored. And that hope lay with Cilghal's promise of a cure.

Luke had no intentions of battling his niece to a deadly conclusion. If worst came to worse, he'd imprison her until a cure could be found...even if it took a lifetime. At the very least, she wouldn't be a danger to herself or others if she was contained.

Turning toward Cilghal, Luke noted that she seemed prepared to reveal her discovery.

Luke's miracle.

"Grandmaster Skywalker," Cilghal began, turning toward what looked to be a foul-tempered Nexu confined within a fluctuating stasis field, "Victim 8377. Formerly a human female, age twenty-two, standard galactic years."

Cilghal moved to tap the control console for the stasis field. Luke felt no sudden alarm from the medical staff present, so he figured the Mon Calamari healer had the situation well in hand. Luke was amused to see a droid arm dropping down from the ceiling within the shimmering field. Rather than an actual hand, the droid arm was equipped with what appeared to be a syringe attached to a vial of clear liquid. It descended on the hissing nexu noiselessly and, backed up against the stasis field, the threatened creature do little to escape its penetrating reach.

The water-like substance inside the vial slowly drained away into the beast, and the droid arm recoiled smoothly as it began gliding back up to its concealed position.

Ben nudged his dad.

"Now I see where the majority of our budget goes." he quipped under his breath.

Luke responded by placing a vertical finger over his lips, as if Ben were giving away a well-guarded secret. Both Skywalkers turned their attention back to the glaring nexu, and waited...for what seemed like an eternity. When almost a full minute had passed and the Nexu remained unaltered, though still just as irritable as before, Luke simply kept watching. The Jedi Code taught all Jedi to be patient, and to see with the Force rather than one's own eyes. And thus the Grandmaster, his trust in Cilghal unassailable, was content to wait.

Ben, however, was not

"Did it fail?" he asked, his aura growing disheartened.

"No, Jedi Skywalker." Cilghal replies cooly, checking the chrono on her belt loop. "The anti-virus needs a moment to fully infiltrate the victim's bodily systems."

"How long?" Ben piped in. "Minutes? Hours...days?"

"Be mindful, Ben." Luke reminded his brazen son. Ben sighed and rolled his eyes, clearly annoyed but resigned to suffer the lecture he was about to be given on basic Jedi philosophy. Before Luke could continue, however, the Mon Calamari raised her flipper-like hands and closed her eyes in concentration.

Both Ben and Luke felt the tidal wave of energy ripple through the Force. Son and father held their tongues and followed the disturbance as it traveled from Cilghal and into the twitching nexu. The glowering beast hissed, at first in irritation, and then in pain. Howling, it flung itself at the field of energy restraining it, still to no avail. Cilghal ignored it all, and simply sunk deeper and deeper into the Force.

Ben's eyes widened as he watched the nexu's rage-driven assault grow sluggish, until finally the beast collapsed under its own weight. Huddled on the ground, it heaved and whimpered. Luke sensed another flood of Force energy pouring from Cilghal's meditative form, and that's when both Jedi finally saw what it was the master healer was trying to accomplish.

The nexu's sleek form began to warp and shift. Its pearl-white fur immediately began to recede, while the claws on its mammoth paws shrank further and further in size. Bones cracked and popped all throughout its body, causing the beast's pink flesh to bulge and distort. The split, wamp rat-like tail regressed visibly, as if listlessly being tugged back into the creature's body.

Luke watched in rapt fascination. What Cilghal was doing, and how she was doing it, added a whole new dimension to thisvirus, this disease.

"It's tied to the Force, somehow." Luke murmured aloud, just as Victim 8377 hissed in agony as the large digits on its paws began to crack and divide into much smaller fingers and toes. "This is extraordinary, Cilghal..."

"Yeah, a real spectacle." Ben replied in lieu of the Jedi Master, his tone flat and his expression one of revulsion. "I'm not so sure...yeah, no, I really don't think I want to watch any more of this." He replied quickly, just as a pair of dark-hued teats began to form near the convulsing creature's chest. A loud snap echoed through the room as Ben made a hasty retreat, heralding the return of bipedal movement to Victim 8377.

Luke turned and watched his son exit the room. Though the Grandmaster considered the reason for his son's departure as somewhat irrational (this was a medical facility, after all), Luke nonetheless found himself agreeing to a certain degree. Figuring Cilghal had the situation under her complete control at this point, Luke signaled for the force field to be lowered. The clinic's personnel complied, though not without a moment of fleeting hesitation. The yellow field of static shimmered as its power was terminated, and finally disappeared altogether. Luke removed his robe and tossed it over the beast's form.

To call it a beast, however, was now not entirely accurate. Gone were the thick layers of white fur and its vorpal talons. In their place, deeply tanned skin and light-colored nails prevailed. The pinkish tail had long been pulled back into the victim's body, and even the growls rumbling up from the nexu's throat were slowly evolving into more human moans of distress.

Victim 8377 was well on her way to reclaiming her humanity.

And with it, Luke hoped to reclaim his fallen niece.

***

Ben stepped over the threshold and out of the medical ward, breathing a sigh of profound relief. Though he could still hear the surreal sounds of a transmogrifying creature, at least he didn't have to witness it. It wasn't that Ben was embarrassed by the sight of the naked female body. He was a Jedi, after all, and such concerns were beneath a guardian of Peace and Justice. It was, rather, the thought of his cousin, Jaina, going through that horrible process in reverse. The uncontrollable devolution, the loss of one's self; it had to be soul-shattering for Jaina...for every victim.

The further Ben retreated away from the scene, the calmer he felt, until at last he found he could focus without interruption. But that, too, brought its own collection of problems and difficulties. Guilt, a dark emotion Ben knew he shouldn't dwell on, consumed his consciousness. Why hadn't he just destroyed that receptacle of dark side poodoo the first moment he'd laid eyes on her? Why'd he let her infect his mind and cloud his normally clear judgment? Instead of behaving like a Jedi Knight, he'd played the part of fawning adolescent for Vestara Khai, and now Jaina had paid the price...perhaps the ultimate price...for his error.

"It's not your fault..." Ben whispered to himself, his voice echoing eerily through the barely populated corridor. Or, at least, Ben thought it was his voice. But, then again, shouldn't his lips have moved? And he was pretty sure air had to pass over his vocal cords in order to produce sound.

Ben had done neither.

The young man snapped open his sky-blue eyes, and instantly did a double-take.

"No way..." He muttered, this time certain it was his own voice.

Standing not five feet away was his lost cousin, Jedi Master Jaina Solo. And yet, she wasn't truly present. Her form was blurred and shimmered with an otherworldly glow. He'd read about this before, even seen it a time or two. It had something to do with powerful Force-users and-

Ben's stomach clenched and the bile in his gullet surged through his esophagus, nearly causing him to gag before he gained control over it.

"Oh no...oh, please no...DAD!" Ben shouted, sending a pulse of alarm through the Force. Instantly, he felt the signal of alarm returned from his father, and Ben knew the elder Skywalker was already clearing the threshold.

The few Jedi meandering through this particular hall seemed at first surprised by Ben's outburst, and then curious. He looked at them, and then back to Jaina, unsure of how they could remain so calm...almost clueless in the face of this, this...tragedy!

A rush of wind at Ben's back signaled the arrival of his father. Ben turned to alert his father, but found he did not need to do so. The expression on Luke's face seemed to confirm his own fears, and Ben wanted nothing more at the moment than to simply collapse to the floor and weep.

"Jaina..." His father whispered, Ben catching the faint tone of wistful sorrow in Luke's voice.

***

"Alliance cruiser Redoubt, this is Imperial Star Destroyer Adamant." Snarled what sounded like a foul-tempered Imperial officer, practically vomiting the term Alliance. "You are now entering Orinda airspace."

Captain Ceeda, a sharply dressed and strikingly handsome Twi'lek female, crooked an amused grin and signaled for the Comm Station to open a channel.

"We can see that, Adamant." She responded, her tone curt even though the lopsided grin never left her lips. "Our sensors are operating at peak efficiency, and hey, wouldn't you know it, our viewports must have been washed before entering hyperspace...no more sticking our heads out the nearest airlock to see where we're going!"

Only a few officers aboard the _Redoubt_risked a chuckle, and none of them possessed a rank over lieutenant; the majority of the crew simply remained focused on their stations in an impressive display of discipline. The comm channel crackled back to life in an instant.

"Don't get cute with me!" Ceeda's counterpart growled in return, his voice somewhat garbled as Ceeda suspected he was probably shouting directly into the comm unit. "You may have permission from the Head of State to launch a search sortie on Orinda, but this is still MY_planet, protected by _MY fleet. What I say is law here, and if I find even _one_spy on Orinda soil, or aboard that quaint game-hunting vessel you cal-"

"Understood, Supreme Moff-Captain Whatever-You-Call-Yourself." Ceeda interrupted casually. Though she faced a formidable imperial fleet just outside her viewport, the Twi'lek captain didn't show a hint of concern. The mere fact her ship was even near an Imperial world reassured Ceeda of her odds. "This is, of course, a bilateral search and possibly rescue operation, if you'll remember...sanctioned by _both_of our governments. So let's try to make the best of this, and avoid an unfortunate incident, huh?"

The comm sputtered and cracked, and then suddenly fell silent. Ceeda looked to her communications officer questioningly, unsure whether she should repeat her message. No sooner had she parted her lips to do so than the comm suddenly hissed in response.

"Redoubt..._you're clear to launch." The Imperial captain replied, dejection rather than disgust echoing through the comm. Immediately after, Ceeda watched with disinterest as the Imperial flotilla broke formation, allowing her _quaint game hunter safe passage to the blue and green world of Orinda.

"Well, I'd say we're off to a good start." Smiled a young Jedi Knight as she came to stand beside Redoubt's captain. "He was a little more aggressive than I anticipated, though."

"He's an Imp, dear." Ceeda smirked, signaling for the helm to take them through the breach. "I'd be worried if he wasn't behaving like a petulant nerf-herder."

***

Leia Solo stared at a set of tattered Jedi robes, even as she sank deeper into the plush cushions of her living quarter's couch. Nestled in a soft blanket, her locks of faded brown hair ruffled, Leia simply couldn't take her eyes off the ruined robes. She turned them over in her petite hands, and ran her fingers over each tear and gaping hole.

It was all that was left of her only daughter, and her only surviving child.

Though she had not witnessed their deaths, Leia had felt both of her son's perish in the Force. Her youngest, Anakin, had selflessly given his life to save the lives of others on Myrkr. Named after Leia's own father, Anakin had lived up in every way to his grandfather's legend as a Jedi Knight.

Leia's second son...Jaina's twin...had fallen to the dark side of the Force. Once a bright young man with an affinity for all things natural and pure, Jacen found himself plagued by visions of an unknown evil. What began as a quest to save the galaxy turned into a war of secession. It ultimately warped Jacen's mind, transforming him into the misguided Darth Caedus. In the end, Jaina herself had slain him.

And now, she too was gone.

Leia closed her eyes as new tears formed, blurring her vision. Sobbing, she lowered the robes into her lap and tried hard to push back the wave of grief that threatened to overwhelm her. After four months of holding out hope, Leia had never lost it. Her faith may have wavered at times, but she still maintained hope that she'd see her daughter, whole, once more. Still, at this particular moment, Leia's heart felt more constricted than normal, and her emotional state certainly more fragile.

The comlink on the desk beside her beeped for attention, but she didn't immediately reach for it. Each time she'd done so, the news she'd been desperately wanting to hear hadn't been forthcoming. Besides, it was probably either Luke or Han just checking in on her for the five millionth time. Or maybe one of her contacts in the GA Navy, just calling to report nothing new.

Again the comlink beeped, seeking her attention. Her cheeks burning and stained, Leia did her best to compose herself before finally reaching over and collecting the small metallic cylinder.

"This is Leia." She sniffed, drawing in a calming breath. Just as the words passed through her lips, a wave of apprehension crashed over her in the Force, and Leia immediately sat straight up.

"Luke!" Leia gasped, clutching at the comlink so tightly her knuckles were pale. Zeroing in on her brother's Force presence, she felt his apprehension once more, but also found something else entirely in his aura...something she hadn't felt in quite some time.

"Luke, what happened!?"

***

"We're planetside, Captain Ceeda." Jedi Knight Mira Thay spoke confidently into her comlink. "The rest of Solar Squad should be deploying soon. You're certain a Krayt Dragon signature was detected on _Redoubt'_s sensors?"

"Positive, Jedi Thay." Captain Ceeda replied coolly, her voice somewhat distorted by interference. "Don't...feel it,...a Jedi after all."

"I sense a multitude of Force energy, Captain." Mira replied, running her lithe fingers through the maroon curls blanketing her scalp as she scanned the surrounding hilltops. "Honestly, I think your sensors would be more accurate at the moment. Jedi Korim and I will search the area. Should we find Master Solo, we'll update you immediately. Thay out."

Mira returned the comlink to her belt and fastened it securely. Turning her pale green eyes toward the much taller Jedi knight beside her, the young Jedi ventured a grin.

"This is the best lead the Order's gotten so far." She stated warmly, her Force aura glowing bright with confidence. Jedi Korim's, however, seemed just the opposite.

"I don't disagree with you, Jedi Thay, and that's what worries me." The slender Jedi replied, his expression sour and apprehensive. Crossing his arms, he looked away from Mira's reproachful eyes and continued. "Krayt dragons aren't native to Orinda. So we've either found Master Solo or some trader is in a lot of trouble."

"And this worries you 'why', exactly?" Mira probed her companion quizzically, even as she turned her attention to her utility belt and began inventorying its equipment. "Either we rescue Master Solo and put an end to this plague nonsense, or, worst case scenario, we put an illegal beast trader behind a containment field for the next twenty or so years. Seems pretty win-win to me."

"There's so many things wrong with-"

"Oh?" Mira cut him off, knowing full well what her companion was thinking after hearing just the first few words out of his mouth. This wouldn't be the first time he'd launched into a series of what-if doom scenarios. "Care to enlighten me? And can we drop the whole 'Jedi' formality, please? We've known each other since before we knew anything, Brett. I can understand keeping up appearances in front of Captain Ceeda and her crew, but it's just us now, so give it a rest, eh?"

Brett stared at Mira for a moment, somewhat taken aback by her light scolding. She was right, of course. Brett had been Mira's best friend ever since he could remember, and he cherished that friendship...so much so, that he was loath to offend her, even though his brain sometimes made that somewhat unavoidable.

Clearing his throat, Brett nodded.

"Yeah, your right. Sorry."

"Sorry, what?" Mira pressed, a playful gleam in her eye. Rolling his eyes, Brett sighed.

"Sorry...Mira." He replied, trying to appear annoyed. Mira chuckled her approval, and for a moment, Brett forgot his misgivings. Mira always seemed to have that effect on him, a fact not lost on the perpetually cautious Jedi Knight.

"But seriously, Mira, this could really fall apart, and in a really bad way." Brett finally pressed his companion, unable to forget his worries for long. It was Mira's turn to roll her eyes now, but she decided to remain silent and allow Brett the opportunity to rant. Besides, it wasn't very Jedi-like to let someone twist in the wind for 'too' long.

"Let's say we find Master Solo." Brett held up his index finger.

"Yes?"

"I'd say we also have a pretty good chance of finding this Garr fellow, too."

"And?"

"Mira? We're two Jedi Knights. And fresh, I might add!" Brett practically exclaimed. "Garr defeated Jaina! Our Sword!"

Mira's smile vanished, and she once more leveled a critical eye at Brett.

"Have you forgotten the Jedi Code? Fear is every Jedi's enemy, Brett." Mira berated her companion as he shook his head. "You're being defeatist."

"And you're being reckless, Mira." Brett countered swiftly, a little more harshly than he had intended. "That's part of the same code, if I recall correctly. And what's more, even if we do manage to rescue Master Solo, if she's even here, that's not going to put an end to this plague nonsense! It's not tied to her, Mira, she's just a victim like everyone else."

"I wouldn't let her hear you say that if I were you." Mira responded calmly, attempting to lighten the conversation. "I understand the Sword of the Jedi isn't too fond of being labeled a victim."

"That's not what I mea-"

"Yeah, I know." Mira replied, turning toward the looming mountain range in the distance. "Come on, we're wasting time here. Let's move out."

"We don't even have a plan, Mira."

"YES, we do." The red-haired Jedi retorted through teeth barely clenched. "It's to find Master Solo and rescue her from enemy forces...not sit in a wide-open clearing, debating all the ways we might die trying pull off said plan. Look, Brett, either you can help me, or you can radio Captain Ceeda for evac. Your choice, okay?"

Mira drove home her point as she immediately set out toward the glowering mountains. Knowing the battle for reason and care was lost, and well aware that he'd just earned himself a week's worth of stony glares, Brett decided to cut his losses. Sighing, he glanced around the grassy clearing for a few more moments and then took his leave, trailing his silent partner as she began rapidly picking up speed.

***

Jaina stood before Luke and Ben, her body as insubstantial as the humid mist on Dagobah. Her expression was one Luke wasn't accustomed to seeing her wear; a mixture of worry and fear. The sight shook Luke to his core, and judging from his son's uncharacteristic silence, the younger Skywalker appeared equally shaken.

Jaina was dead.

Luke had failed.

Or so he had initially believed. When he realized the other Jedi in the corridor were staring at him the same way he and Ben were staring at Jaina's incorporeal ghost, the Grandmaster knew something more was amiss. The nagging fact that he hadn't felt Jaina's presence fade from the Force was yet another sign Luke might not have failed just yet.

"Jaina..." The elder Skywalker ventured again, this time taking a step forward. He alternated his gaze from Jaina to the mystified Jedi surrounding the three.

"I can't believe she's dead." Ben finally spoke, but remained motionless.

"Me either." Luke agreed, taking another step forward. "In fact, I don't believe it."

"What?" Ben asked, perking up but clearly confused. "Dad, she's right here in front of us!"

"Is she?" Luke pondered aloud. "Perhaps in a sense."

"Uncle Luke..." Jaina spoke at last, her voice weak and filled with pain. Ben looked incredulously at the other Jedi, as a few began stepping away with looks of concern etched across their features. Their murmurs, of the Grandmaster acting strangely and all the stress he's been under, reached Ben's ears, making his jaw drop."

"Yes, Jaina. We can hear you." Luke replied, coming face-to-face with Jaina's shimmering form.

"Help me..." She begged, choking.

"Have you all gone blind?!" Been shouted, as the last Jedi began retreating from the corridor, some calling for Master Cilghal.

"They can't see her, Ben." Luke said over his shoulder while keeping his eyes focused on Jaina. His heart ached for the obvious pain his niece was suffering, but he knew there was little he could do for her from within the Jedi Temple.

"But ho-"

"Because this is no ghost." Luke interrupted, reaching out a hand the moment Jaina extended her own. "She's sending us a message, through the Force...projecting her consciousness into our own."

Ben looked at his father as if the latter had just proclaimed his intention to leave the Jedi Order and become a pro Sabbac player.

"I'm sorry, say again?" Ben asked, seeking clarification as he came to stand beside Luke. "You're saying Jaina is alive?"

"As far as I'm aware, yes." Luke replied, his fingertips connecting with Jaina's, and then passing through them entirely. "This is a personal message, Ben. To us, and us alone."

"A private plea for help?" Ben mused, watching as Jaina's ethereal hand fell back to her side.

"From a very private individual." Luke added.

"Please, help mAARRGGHHH!" Jaina screamed, falling to her knees as she suddenly clutched at her skull with both hands.

"Jaina!" Ben shouted, starting to step forward before he realized the helpless situation he and his father were in. Grave concern darkened Luke's features as he kneeled down on one knee. Jaina's screams continued to echo through the corridor, though Luke knew that they were, in reality, only reverberating through his and Ben's minds.

"Dad, we have-"

"Wait." Luke cut off his son, closing his eyes and listening intently. Through Jaina's heart wrenching cries of anguish, Luke began zeroing in on what sounded like another voice...one that'd he grown very familiar with.

"you WILL SUBMIT TO ME!" The voice snarled, growing stronger the longer Luke concentrated. "NOW!"

"NOOOOOO!" Jaina wailed, her incorporeal form shuddering as she sobbed uncontrollably.

"The Force cannot save you." The voice mocked cruelly. "It is...your...ENEMY!"

Jaina's form began to grow hazier and indistinct, as if losing coherence.

"Dad!" Ben urged, not sure if Luke was aware of Jaina's dissipating condition. If the Grandmaster had heard his son, he made no outward sign of it.

"Where?" Luke whispered aloud, his eyes still sealed. Reaching out a hand, he allowed it to hover over Jaina's shoulder. He could feel the Force sizzling under his palm and fingertips, and found it pleasantly familiar. It was Jaina's Force presence he felt, and through it, he poured love and strength.

"SKYWALKER!" The voice roared in fury. Ben watched as Jaina's form seemed to stabilize, but her condition seemed just as tortured as before, even worse perhaps. And that's when the younger Skywalker realized that Jaina had just become the center of a spiritual tug-of-war.

"Where?" Luke repeated calmly.

"Sith!" Jaina strained to speak, trying in vain to restore her concentration. "TRIBE!"

"She is mine, FOREVER!"

"Where?" Luke persisted, though he could feel Jaina's essence slipping through his grasp. Again her form flickered and Ben watched in horror as she fell forward, wracked by resurgent pain.

Ben was about to speak when Cilghal came dashing up from behind. She fixed one bulbous eye on Ben, and the other on Luke's kneeling form.

"What's going on?" She asked in her specie's gravelly tone. "Why is Grandmaster Skywalker kneeling? Is he hurt?"

"No." Ben replied quickly, trying to think of some way, anyway, to help. "I mean, at least I don't think so. It's Jaina, Cilghal. She's here."

"What?" The Mon Calamari turned her head and searched the corridor. "What do you mean she's here? There's no one present besides you, Master Skywalker, and myself."

"Trust me, she's here." Ben shot back, frustrated.

"Where?" It was Luke that spoke this time, repeating once again his question to Jaina.

"Mid-aggh...mid!" Jaina struggled, twisting and convulsing. Luke opened his eyes, and not a moment after, Jaina's own eyes shot open. She appeared utterly exhausted and far worse for wear than she'd ever had in all the years Luke had known her. Still, Luke had no choice.

"Jaina," Luke repeated for the last time, "where?"

Gritting her teeth, Jaina appeared to muster what strength she had left.

"Orin..da..." She hissed, before collapsing to the ground. An instant later, her shimmering and transparent form dissolved, leaving a stunned trio of Jedi in her wake.

For long moments, none of them said anything. Luke's eyes remained fixed on the spot where Jaina had manifested; where she'd struggled against a powerful force user to relay a message in a desperate bid to save herself.

"Grandmaster Skywalker?" Cilghal ventured, breaking the silence as she cocked her head in concern. "Are you alright?"

"Summon the Masters for an emergency council meeting." Luke said at last, rising up as he took one last look at the ground in front of him. "And contact Han."

"And what shall I say?" The Mon Calamari replied instantly, dutiful as always. Luke turned and began making his way back toward the med center, motioning for Ben to follow.

"Tell him to load up the Falcon and get over here." Luke replied over his shoulder, before adding, "Cold start.

"Understood, Grandmaster." Cilghal nodded, reaching for her comlink just as it began chirping for attention. Activating it, she raised it to her ear and listened.

"The Orinda system." Luke mused aloud. "Looks like we have a bit of distance to cover."

"I can't believe...I mean, I know I should never have thought, but I honestly had my doubts." Ben shook his head, warring between being sullen and utterly thrilled.

"We all did." Luke replied. "Four months is a long time, even for a skilled Jedi such as Jaina."

"So, I guess our next step is mount a rescue mission, huh?"

"If I remember correctly, a team was already dispatched to Orinda some time ago." Luke observed, creasing his brow as he tried to recall the numerous deployments over the last four months. "But even so, they're going to need-"

"Grandmaster!" Cilghal called out just as Luke and Ben were prepared to turn the corner. Both stopped and turned in the Jedi Healer's direction.

"Yes, Clighal?" Luke replied, raising his voice to be heard.

"It's the Yuuzhan Vong." The Mon Calamari replied, reattaching her comlink. "They're inbound."

***

"Not much further." Mira panted, bowing her head as she fought to recover her breath. The hike had been a daunting one, even for two Jedi Knights in their physical prime. Brett wasn't far behind his companion, but each step exacted a hefty toll, and the young Jedi found himself calling on the Force once more to rejuvenate his exhausted form.

"How...how can you tell?" He gasped, taking a small rest. When Mira didn't reply, he raised his head and found her Force aura lit up like a glow rod. Realizing that she too was summoning the Force to unnaturally extend her endurance, Brett breathed deep and took stock of their surroundings.

The light of Orinda's star was dying fast, and it wouldn't be long before darkness overtook them. Brett was just about to mention this to Mira, and suggest making camp for the night, or even request an Evac from Redoubt, but the Jedi Knight never got the chance.

"Brett, I feel something." Mira called back to him, her eyes still closed. "We're close...very close."

"To what?" Brett replied dubiously, although he was thrilled Mira's tone no longer possessed its previously sharp edge. Perhaps she'd finally forgiven him for their earlier disagreement. "Mira, to what?"

"Something enormous...something...something powerful."

"You flatter me, Jedi." Growled a menacing voice from Mira's right flank. Both Knights turned in the direction of the voice, and found themselves staring down a narrow and rugged pathway. Not far in length, the path terminated abruptly, swallowed up by a pitch black cave.

Mira's eyes twitched as she peered into the cave, searching for any hint of the voice's owner. Brett reached out into the Force, and immediately felt the intense presence Mira had warned of only moments before. Whatever had eluded their senses thus far was _indeed_powerful...and certainly more powerful than either he or Mira.

Instinctively, Brett reached for his lightsaber. A _snap-hiss_brought his eyes to Mira, and he could see her features were already outlined by the cool-blue glow of her own blade.

Though Brett knew they were both in terrible danger, he could only think of one thing at that moment; Mira had never looked so beautiful to him at any other time in her life.

"And because you speak so highly of me, I will be generous..." Came the voice once more, louder and more aggressive this time despite the message it conveyed. A form began materializing near the mouth of the cave, given shape by the light of the fading star. The ground trembled with each step the stranger took, and Brett found himself backing up unconsciously. Mira gripped her blade tighter, and steadied herself into a defensive stance. Her resolve, however, faltered the very instant the ominous stranger became a stranger no more.

Garr stepped out into the wavering light and straightened his hulking form with a series of very audible *pops*.

"What in the name of..." Brett trailed off, shock overwhelming him.

Compared to the last time they'd seen Garr, in holo-recordings no less, the Sith Lord hadn't been anywhere near his current size, nor bulk. His furry chest was completely bare, and looked more solid that a Star Destroyer. His arms were dense with muscle, and about as thick as Brett's entire upper body. The gray Togorian towered a full meter over both of them, and was forced to stare down at them as he neared their position. A twisted sneer caused his onyx lips to curl up, baring his formidable fangs at the stunned Jedi.

Mira blinked away the fear she felt, and steeled herself once more. Catching sight of Garr's previously injured hand, she noticed that the wound was no longer present. In fact, even the stump itself was missing. In its place was what appeared to be a brand new limb, the fur fresh and white but no less imposing.

A disgusted smirk came over Mira's own lips.

"Yuuzhan Vong bio-engineering, no doubt." She spat, looking over Garr's improved physique once more.

"Astute." Garr rumbled, his eyes focused on Mira now. "There's fire in you...just like their used to be in the Sword. She would have been proud of that, I think."

"Where is she?" Mira demanded, not at all in the mood for games or pointless taunts.

"Mira, focus." Brett tried to remind his companion as he inched closer to her side, lightsaber still in hand but so far dormant. "He's trying-"

"I know what's he's trying." Mira snapped back. "But it isn't going to work. One more time...where is Master Solo, sithspawn?"

A low, echoing rumble reverberated from Garr's throat, and at first Brett mistook the noise as a simple growl. It didn't take him long, however, to recognize the response for what it was...a mocking chuckle.

"As I said, I will be generous." Garr replied at last, teasing the activation plate of his massive lightsaber. "Join me, Jedi, and I will show you everything, including you're the location of your precious Sword. Join with me...and know strength. Know POWER!"

Garr's voice thundered through the rocky valley, rebounding off rocks with unnatural intensity...an intensity Brett and Mira recognized as the Force.

"I'd sooner die." Mira scoffed, raising her blade.

"That...would be too easy." Garr replied thoughtfully, reaching something on his belt. Neither Jedi sensed an imminent attack from the Sith Lord, but that didn't mean one wasn't on the way. In perfect unison, both made the came to the same conclusion: Pre-emptive strike.

Just as Garr was retrieving a small, metallic cylinder, Mira jumped high while Brett surged low, together a beautifully coordinated attack aimed at unbalancing the Sith Lord. Garr thumbed his blade to life and mirrored Mira's lung. Brett sliced at the Sith Lord's legs, but found his blade passing through empty space. Mira's blade clashed violently against Garr's in midair, and the two exchanged briefly once more as they plummeted back to the ground below. Mira rolled as soon as she felt the dirt under her boots, while Brett Force-jumped on top of a nearby boulder. Garr's form touched down not far away, his considerable bulk causing the ground to shudder. Looking back at the two Jedi, he grinned and raised the cylinder to his lips.

"Commence." He uttered simply, before returning the comlink to its clip and directing his words to the Jedi once more. "You have no chance here, Jedi! The moment you stepped foot on this planet, you were doomed."

"You talk way too much!" Mira barked in reply, dashing forward as she renewed her assault. Mira's style was nimble and full of grace. She was clearly a student of Ataru, and that was exactly why Brett found himself overcome with concern. He himself locked in the classical Soresu stance, Brett called out to Mira in a bid to curb her aggression.

"Mira! He's too strong! You can't match him like this!"

Mira, either ignoring Brett's warning or unable to hear it, raced forward unabated. Her blade sizzled around her in a dazzling display of swordsmanship, eliciting a maniacal chuckle from Garr.

"Come on, Jedi!" He roared, pounding his chest with a monstrous fist. "CLOSE THE GAP!"

Mira launched herself airborne once more, a deadly whirlwind of azure plasma bearing down on the eager Sith Lord. Just as Garr was preparing his counterattack, alarm tingled down Brett's spine. Twisting around, he raised his pure white blade but found no assailant to parry. Confused, he searched, even as Mira's blade crackled and whined with strain from behind him.

It was only when his companion cried out for assistance that Brett finally pinpointed the source of his prescient warning.

Imperial-era TIE Bombers streaked overhead, their payload bays fully retracted. Tiny black dots trailed behind them, growing larger by the second. Brett's eyes widened in comprehension, and he whipped around to find Mira.

"Ordinance incoming!" Brett shouted, calling on the Force to accelerate his movement as he raced toward Mira and Garr. "Mira, take cover!" He called out again, just as he speared her from behind.

Mira's weapon, poised to block a fatal slash at her neck, flew from her grip and deactivated almost instantly. Garr's blade sliced through the air unimpeded, but found no flesh to char. Brett's momentum carried both Jedi clear of the Sith Lord's attack, though it had the unfortunate side effect of crashing them both into a nearby outcropping of stone.

Mira gasped as the impact knocked the air from her lungs, and Brett too found himself gasping for air.

"Are you out-" Mira began to admonish, between fits of coughing. Brett ignored her, however, and simply tried to cover as much of her as he could with his own body. Both could hear the whistling of something falling from the sky now, and Brett hunkered down in preparation for the inevitable shockwave that was surely imminent.

A dull thud shook the ground, followed by several more thuds shortly after. Brett and Mira tensed reflexively, expecting a detonation to shatter their bones at any moment. Aware that their death was only moments away, a sobering thought entered his mind. Figuring now was as good as a time as ever, Brett looked down at Mira and smiled the best he could.

"I love you."

Brett didn't take the time to see what reaction his words had caused. Instead, he simply closed his eyes and touched his lips to Mira's.

***

"Captain! Sensors detecting massive movement on the planet's surface!" Shouted a Redoubt crewman, his eyes enormous as they scanned the ship's numerous radar systems. "Multiple squadrons in atmosphere!"

"Signatures, ensign?" Captain Ceeda shot back, her lekku twitching in trepidation. "Lieutenant Bek'wes, hail Adamant, high priority."

"Yes, Captain!" Bek'wes, a native of Bothawui, saluted crisply.

"Imperial TIE Bombers, Captain." The ensign manning the radars replied. "Mostly SA-class, but a few Interdictor's are present as well."

"That's far heavier firepower than I'd expect to find here." Captain Ceeda huffed outloud, rising from her command chair as Lieutenant Bek'wes indicated an established channel. "This is Redoubt. We've detected a large number of starfighters in the air on Orinda, and we demand an explanation for this hostile gesture."

Captain Ceeda flipped her lekku over her shoulder as she waited for a response. For a few tense moments, only static buzzed over the comm. Finally, however, her counterpart deigned to respond...or rather, Captain Ceeda was expecting her counterpart to respond. Instead, a distinctly more chilling voice responded to her hail

"Adamant sees no reason to offer any elucidation on this matter. Adamant...out."

Captain Ceeda cocked a neatly trimmed eyebrow, perplexed.

"Who in the Unknown Regions was that?" She asked no one in particular. Many of her officers seemed just as confused as she was, and could only shrug their shoulders as they struggled to keep up with the situation as it unfolded. "Lieutenant, hail them aga-"

"Captain, life signs on the planet are fluctuating!" Commander Jydair, a normally soft-spoken woman in her middle years, stammered from the ship's tactical station. "The population is...it's...it's shrinking!"

"Casualties?" Captain Ceeda shot back, incredulous. "Why in the name of Palpatine would the Imps massacre their own citizens?!"

"Unknown, Captain." Commander Jydair replied, trying in vain to make sense of the tactical readouts. "The number of sentient life forms continues to plummet planet-wide, and the rate is only increasing!"

"But-" Captain Ceeda stopped abruptly, a truly horrific thought taking shape in her mind. "No, no that's not possible...there's no...it just-"

"Captain Ceeda," the ensign at the radar station called out, his tone one of shock and disbelief, "Captain...you're not going to believe this..."

"Try me." Ceeda whispered, her lips parting in dismay as she watched Orinda through the Redoubt's viewport grow ever darker.

***

"Operation Genesis successful, my lord." A silver-haired and purple-skinned woman intoned from the Adamant's sensor station, sitting near the corpse of the imperial serviceman who'd previously manned that particular station. "There are a few sectors scattered across the planet, but I predict that within two point five hours, 67% of the population will fall victim, possibly more."

The_lord_ she spoke to said nothing in reply. Like his subordinate, his skin was a deep shade of purple, and his frame was lithe. And aside from his piercing yellow eyes, his other features remained a mystery behind heavy black robes and a masked cowl. Sitting in the Adamant's command chair, he motioned to the ship's former captain.

"Moff...Duman." He called, enunciating the deposed captain's name with utter disdain. Moff Duman, a man nearing his fiftieth unkind year, shivered uncontrollably. The Sith Lord's voice was like ice, and it washed over the Moff like the frigid gales of Hoth.

"Y-y-yes, my-my lord?"

"Prepare the fleet for hyperspace...rendezvous at these coordinates."

"At o-once, my lord!" Moff Duman replied far too hastily, obliterating what remained of his dignity as he raced to the comm station like a green ensign.

***

"So that is where Yin cowers from our sight, the Orinda System!" Zas Rin mused, peering hesitantly at the translucent image of Orinda as it shimmered above the Council's round table. The emergency meeting of the Council had come and gone, with the Yuuzhan Vong in attendance, and the unanimous decision had been made to mount a rescue mission to Orinda.

"For how long, I cannot say, but yes, we strongly believe both Garr and Yin Kian are present on the planet." Luke Skywalker replied, staring at the same console, though with a decidedly less disgusted gaze than his Yuuzhan Vong ally. "Along with several victims, including a Master of our Order."

"Yes, this...Master Solo, is it?" Zas inquired, drawing his attention away from the holo-projector at last and turning to face the Jedi Grandmaster. "She was one of Yin's first victims, if I remember correctly."

"You do."

"I must apologize again for Yin's part in all of this." Zas replied, genuinely contrite it seemed, though Luke had difficulty in accurately deciphering the Yuuzhan Vong's facial expressions; Zas's features were so scarred and deformed from self-mutilation and years of warfare, Luke was certain he would never be able to tell the difference between a Zas grin and a Zas grimace. Still, Luke made it a personal policy to see the best in all species.

"You have nothing to apologize for, Warmaster Rin." Luke reassured, placing his hands behind his back. Keenly aware of the species' cultural infatuation with honor, Luke was quick to add, "However, I appreciate having a strong hand beside me in dealing with Yin."

"He_is_ a crafty Vong, that much can be said of him." Zas blurted abruptly as he turned away, taking Luke by total surprise. The use of the term Vong in Zas's culture was a tremendous insult, and almost never uttered by the Yuuzhan Vong themselves. For Zas to actually speak the term meant Yin's future was in serious doubt, at least among Zas and his clan of warriors.

Craning his neck to look at Luke once more, Zas added, "I trust our shapers have been significant in unraveling his misdeeds?"

"They were quite instrumental, yes." Luke affirmed. "Without your shapers, a cure might never have been found."

"Hmph." Zas replied, noncommittal and evasive. Luke's comlink chimed, and the Grandmaster excused himself. Zas motioned for a pair of warriors to conference with him while he waited.

"Master Skywalker here." Luke said, listening intently.

"Luke, the Falcon's primed and ready to launch." Han's replied, his voice gruff but lacking none of its usual charm, even in this difficult time. "Give the word, pal, and we'll scatter stars."

"Good." Luke nodded to himself. "Go ahead and get into orbit, we'll follow shortly."

"Who's_we_? The Vong?" Han exclaimed, joined by Leia's voice as she reprimanded her husband for his slur. "Luke, I told you, we're better off without 'em. The more time we waste-"

"Han, most of the Order is scattered across the Galaxy looking for victims of this plague." Luke interrupted gently. "We don't have time to recall a large enough force to mount a rescue mission, and the GA is only willing to commit so many ships. We needed the Yuuzhan Vong to help crack the viral code, and we need them again to rescue Jaina."

Silence permeated the link between the two men for several seconds. Han, at last, shattered the lull with a halting, yet terse reply.

"...Yeah, well, Han out."

The sudden cessation of static from his comlink told Luke enough, and he returned the device to his belt. Composing himself, he turned, and found himself staring at three stoic Yuuzhan Vong.

"Problem, Jeedai?" Zas asked, cocking his head to one side.

"No, not at all." Luke replied, smiling.

"Then why do we wait? My warriors are ready."

"Please, lead the way, Warmaster." Luke gestured to the door, where his son stood waiting.

Ben Skywalker watched as Zar Rin sidestepped the younger Jedi, and then glared as his father followed.

"I should be on this mission." The red-haired youth growled. Luke managed a smile, despite his son's combative, and hilariously insubordinate tone.

"Things are about to get very serious, Ben...and highly dangerous." Luke rebuked his son gently, laying hand on his shoulder. "You're a fine Jedi Knight, but this mission is beyond most of the Order, you included."

"It's my job, dad...literally!" Ben rejoined sharply, throwing his arms up in the air in exasperation. "Seriously, under the title of Jedi Knight, there's a description that reads 'Guardians of Peace and Justice in the Galaxy'! Those words mea-"

"I understand Cilghal could use some assistance in the med bay." Luke responded, a humorous smile on his lips as he rounded the corner; the Grandmaster couldn't help but see himself in that reckless and headstrong Jedi Knight, and it only reaffirmed the close bond he enjoyed with his son. Still, Luke was convinced of decision, and he stood by it. "I'm sure she'd appreciate your help, son."

Ben rolled his eyes as Luke strolled out of sight, but ventured no further protest.

What was the use?

***

Time seemed to cease flowing for both Mira and Brett. The crash of the shells falling around them faded into an ear-piercing silence, and even the world seemed to dissolve into darkness. The only thing either of them felt, even perceived, was the warmth of their lips as the two remained locked in a deep, sensual kiss.

It was only after they pull away from each other, and opened their eyes once again, did they realize they had not become one with Force.

Indeed, they were still very much alive, and under siege...a fact highlighted by Garr's hearty chuckle not far away.

"How touching..." The genetically-engineered Togorian growled, his smile mocking and predatory. "I really didn't the Jedi had it in them. Passion, that is."

Brett twisted his head, and was astonished to find the Sith Lord staying out in the open. The dark-sider was neither maimed or disfigured in any way by the high-altitude bombardment. And the more Brett took in his surroundings, the more he began to see the bombardment for what it really was.

No fires raged, and no blackened stone marred the cliffs. Instead of massive craters, Brett found that the ground around them had only suffered moderate levels of impact damage. And the shells that had threatened to end all three of them were hardly shells at all. Instead, they appeared to be nothing more than cylindrical canisters of some sort, scattered about the ground in total chaos.

"Wait..." Brett breathed, watching as the canisters began to shudder and small holes began to appear on their surface. "That's impossible."

"What?" Mira probed, pushing Brett away a bit as she struggled to stand. "Brett, what is it?"

Garr's shoulders jumped as he huffed in amusement, the enormous Togorian turning away and heading back toward the cave entrance.

"Too little," He grumbled, shaking his furry head, "too late."

Brett hopped to his feet, and quickly helped Mira to her own.

"Mira, it's air-" He tried to say, but the hiss of escaping gas drowned out warning. The sight of dozens of canisters releasing their contents into the atmosphere was enough warning for Mira, however, and both Jedi breathed in their last breath of pure oxygen.

Escape

Brett's emotion echoed through the Force as the virulent gas encompassed them, blurring their forms and Garr's retreating form. He tugged at Mira's sleeve, but she remained rooted.

Fight

Mira's own emotion suffused the Force, and she took a step in Garr's direction. Brett's eyes widened, and apprehension laced his Force aura.

Danger

Despite Brett's best efforts, he found his fear inadequate a force to persuade Mira. She was strong-willed, and quite obviously overconfident in her ability to both fight Garr and maintain her vital functions without precious oxygen. Brett tried one final time in desperation.

PAIN...Love...

Mira's emotional state flickered, but only for an instant.

RESOLUTION

Mira leapt into the air, drawing on the Force to enhance her lunge. Brett, torn between his instinctual desire to find safety and his loving loyalty to Mira, reluctantly chose the latter. Igniting his blade, he dashed deeper into the tainted gasses, prepared to end this battle as quickly as possible.

Garr never stopped. He merely kept walking, his footfalls heavy and measured, even as Mira bore down on him. Calmly, he thumbed his weapon to life. The green hue of his blade illuminated his form and the surrounding gasses, casting an eerie, emerald glow on his surroundings.

Deftly, he parried Mira's foolhardy strike, and in one fluid motion, planted his digitgraded foot squarely in her midsection.

Mira huffed as the air was forcefully expelled from her lungs, the young Knight plowing into the rough soil before rolling to a halt. Brett sensed her alarm in the Force, but couldn't tell whether she'd been injured or simply caught off guard. It wasn't until he came within a few meters of her that he could finally see that she'd been violently repelled by Garr once more. Rather than press the attack in a battle he knew was already lost, Brett skidded to a halt and dropped to Mira's side.

Her lips were pressed tight and her eyes were closed tight. Brett knew now that Garr's counterattack had robbed his companion of her final breath. Without hesitation, Brett scooped up Mira into his arms and summoned the Force like he'd never before.

With explosive power, he ran.

***

"I take it the Jedi threat has been eliminated, then?" the Shaper, Yin Kian, inquired as his Master reentered the subterranean chamber. "And by the looks of it, the enhancements to your physiology held up qui-"

"Still your tongue, wretch." Garr growled menacingly without making eye contact. "Though even their love cannot save them now, those Jedi will not be last we ever see." Garr sighed, resting a giant hand on a damp stalagmite. "Prepare for our departure."

"Master Garr?"

"I SAID PREPARE FOR OUR DEPARTURE!" Garr roared, causing bits of stone and dust to fall from the cave's ceiling. After a moment to regain his composure, Garr continued in a more subdued tone. "My encounter with Skywalker was not enough; the presence of Jedi on this world is. Between them and whatever else the Sword managed to blurt out during her ethereal jaunt, we must assume that the Order is fully aware of our location."

"Of course, Master Garr." Yin replied softly. Lowering his head in deference, he continued hesitantly. "Darth Siberis, however, anticipated such a contingency, particularly after your encounter with the Jedi Grandmaster. He's already recalled several of his warriors to the Adamant."

"And the Sword?" Garr asked quickly, not at all pleased with his newfound ally's sense of initiative and ambition. "Is she still here, or has he taken it upon himself to move her as well?"

"No, Jaina Solo remains with us." Yin replied, noting the flicker of fear that passed over Garr's eyes. "I do not believe Darth Siberis is very fond of the girl in her current form, if I may speak frankly."

Garr chuckled, taking his hand off of the stalagmite.

"No, of course not." He joked, heading toward his the chamber that held his greatest prize and conquest. "Siberis is utterly lacking in imagination. He prides himself on cold detachment, precision. I'd wager the Sword is nothing more than a reckless killing machine to Siberis."

"Yes, Master Garr."

"That's his failing, Yin, even if his vision's so frozen he's unable to see it." Garr mused, adding, "Siberis fails to see the advantage of...theatrics."

***

_ Run Run Run_

The thought raced through Brett's mind as he sped over dirt and stone, Mira securely in his arms. She was struggling, he could feel it, and she was drawing on the Force heavier with each passing second. Without air to sustain her, both Jedi knew it was only a matter of time before her biological need to breath would override her resistance to do so...Force or no Force. But breathing simply wasn't an option, not until they found a clearing. Until they did so, Brett merely continued to soothe Mira through the Force and offer her emotional strength.

Just over this hill...just over the hill, come on!

Brett's heart began to sink as he looked around him. No matter how far he ran, he just kept coming up on these damned canisters. It was like they were everywhere, maybe even planet wide!

That last thought shocked Brett's system as he suddenly wondered about its validity.

No, it couldn't be the entire planet. The logistics of such a plan were...were....

A sound, so mundane and yet at this moment absolutely terrifying, caught Brett's attention.

Mira gasped.

Nononononono!

Panic flooded Brett's mind as Mira began coughing. Still, he ran, trying to put the flurry of disastrous thoughts and revelations out of his mind. Mira was clutching at his robes now, her body shivering in spasms her coughing became more violent. At last, Brett crested the hill, hoping to see a countryside free of Garr's master plan.

Instead, the Jedi Knight was confronted with an entire community in the throes of the virus.

Men, women, and children. All of them were in the process of losing their grip on their former lives. It didn't even matter what species they hailed from. Each and every one of them were infected all the same.

Mira gripped Brett's robes tighter, and a soft tear echoed up to his ears. Looking down, he could see that the nails on Mira's own fingers were slowly growing into the sharp and dangerous claws of some unknown creature. The harder she tugged, the further her claws tore at his robe, and the sight simply broke Brett's heart.

Remorse filled his Force aura, and he sent waves of it at Mira to express just how badly he felt about failing them both. His hope to escape had been a futile fantasy, and he'd been utterly blind to just how dangerous this Sith Lord really was. And because of that, his best friend was now just another victim, and he wasn't far from being the same.

Mira twitched and shuddered as more of the gas filled her lungs, her gasps for air only fueling the horrible transformation overtaking her body. Brett squeezed his eyes shut as he felt her spine crack and grow under his hands, fully aware that his own lungs were burning for sweet oxygen.

Mira's back popped and snapped audibly, and she opened her mouth wide in a silent scream of pain. Brett grabbed one of her deforming hands and gripped it tightly, just her beautiful locks of ruby-red hair began falling out, strand by strand. Mira's chest began to heave violently, and Brett instantly recognized that his friend was suffocating.

But...but how? She's breathing! How is she suffocating!?

Brett searched urgently for some clue as to how this was happening. As he looked, however, his eyes focused on Mira's gaping maw. To his horror, he could see her lips widening and expanding. Indeed, her entire skull seemed to be reshaping, molding itself into a new configuration where her mouth seemed to be becoming the dominate feature.

A few high-pitched whines of pain and agony echoed up from the village below. Brett looked up to see several of the villagers, in a more advanced state of alteration, beginning to take flight on bat-like wings. The last vestiges of their clothes clung to their scaly hides as they soared up into their air. Brett could only shake his head in disbelief at the gut-wrenching realization.

Mynocks...they're becoming mynocks.

Another surge of growth assaulted Mira's body, and Brett felt her hand slipping from his grip. He watched in minor fascination as her fingers began to shrink and merge, while her arms rapidly lost any thickness they might have formerly possessed. Meanwhile, the Jedi's chest swelled, threatening her modesty, and her mouth continued to enlarge.

Forgive me, Mira, for what I'm about to do...

***

Klaxon alarms blared throughout the _Redoubt_as Captain Ceeda watched the _Adamant_break orbit, the rest of the Imperial fleet in tow.

"What the hell is going on?!" The Twi'lek demanded over the cacophony of alarms. "Helm, track their coordinates! Ensign, hail 'em again!"

"Captain! The planet!" The helmsman shouted back, pointing out past the main viewport.

Captain Ceeda followed his twitching finger, and her worst fears were instantly confirmed.

A shimmering, dark shadow had encompassed the entire planet, dimming its ambient light for several seconds. As Captain Ceeda continued to watch, she unconsciously took a step back and braced herself against a console.

"Commander, order all stations to full battle readiness!" Ceeda ordered, her voice more than a little shaky. "Power up the point-defense batteries, and prime the hyper-drive!"

"Captain, what about the Imps?!"

"Let 'em go!"

"Are...are those mynocks?!" Lieutenant Bek'wes breathed, leaning over a rail as he strained his eyes.

"Sensors confirm, Captain." The ensign replied. "Captain, the Jedi are still on the surface. Should we attempt a rescue?

Ceeda thought for a moment, but ultimately pushed the idea out the realm of reality.

"No, ensign." She replied heavily. "They can handle themselves."

"Captain, contact in fifteen."

"Input coordinates and prepare to jump." Captain Ceeda ordered, returning to her chair and flipping on the comm unit. "Point-defense gunners, prioritize targets. Main batteries, fire at will. We need some time, and you're going to buy it."

"Captain, we can't!" The ensign cried out. "Those are sentients out there! We can't vape 'em!"

"Not any more they're not." Captain Ceeda snapped in reply. "And when it comes down to us or them, I choose US!"

***

Kneeling beside his devolving friend, the girl that he loved without question, Brett closed his eyes in resignation. Fully aware of the virus's unique nature after countless debriefings, Brett raised his palm and centered in at Mira's abdomen.

Brett summoned the Force.

Mira writhed in anguish as the virus afflicting her surged through her body with newfound strength. Fed by Brett's Force energies, her body began to warp and deform rapidly. Mira's panic doubled, tearing at Brett's heart.

It's not happening fast enough...she'll die without my help.

Though Brett tried to justify what he was doing to Mira, his heart remained heavy. Any youngling could accurately describe what happens to a mynock inside atmosphere for an extended period of time, and the thought made Brett shudder with horror...far more than the thought of hastening Mira's newly acquired curse.

Mira's chest exploded with growth, tearing her robes to shreds and exposing her altering form. Her breasts were nearly non-existent at this point, and only shrank further into her body with time. Her eyes flashed open and for a brief moment, she and Brett gazed on each other one final time. Mira's eyes began to darken almost immediately, bulging and growing glossy as they began to push out atop of lengthening eyestalks. Though the change was swift, Brett still managed to see the sharp fear reflected in her eyes.

"I'm sorry." He said aloud, no longer able to hold his breath. "I love...*cough*...lo-love you so-so much..."

Mira's body lengthened dramatically, tearing her robes further. Her boots, however, slackened their snug hold on her feet. Just as her arms had done, Mira's legs began to thin and narrow. In the process, her feet (now ending in three, emaciated digits) slowly slid out from within her boots.

***

Aboard the Jhum'Kar, an illegal frigate personally grown by Warmaster Rin himself, Luke faltered.

"Master Skywalker?" Warmaster Rin inquired, rising from his organic chair as the Grandmaster leaned himself against what appeared to be a bulkhead (he couldn't be for sure). Eyes closed, Luke waited for the dizziness to pass before responding.

"I'm alright," He replied, breathing deep, "but I feel something terrible has taken place."

Even as Luke uttered the words, the memory of his old Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, saying something very similar came to his mind. More than forty years ago, when the first Death Star had annihilated the entire planet of Alderaan, Obi-Wan had suffered a similar disorienting experience aboard the Millennium Falcon. This particular disturbance in the Force, however, seemed different. Rather than the aftermath of mass genocide, the Force shivered as multiple auras seemed to twist and shift, becoming something entirely different.

Warmaster Rin grunted and returned to his seat.

"How much further until we reach the Orinda system?" The Warmaster demanded, one hand resting on something that resembled an armrest and the other gripping a deadly-looking amphistaff at his side.

"Jhum'Kar estimates no more than nine hours, standard galactic time." Replied a truly disgusting Yuuzhan Vong manning what could only be the ship's helm.

"Are there any ships in the system?" Luke posed the question as carefully as possible, so as not to impose on the Warmaster's authority. Zas gave Luke a mild glare, but waved for the helmsman to answer.

"No vessels detected, Warmaster." The helmsman replied after a brief consultation with the ship.

Luke's heart sank.

"None? Nothing at all?" Luke pressed, stepping closer.

"Is there an issue, Master Skywalker?" Zas interrupted, clearly irritated. Luke turned, his lips pressed tight.

"Orinda is an Imperial world, Warmaster. I would think that at least one military vessel would be in orbit." Luke replied, grim. Looking back at the helmsman, he added, "And what about the Redoubt? Are you saying you aren't picking up any Galactic Alliance vessels either?"

"The Redoubt?" Zas repeated, baffled.

"When we first learned that Orinda was our target, we attempted to reach any ships we might have stationed there." Luke replied, his tone cool. "It turns out that the Redoubt had been conducting a search operation on the planet just before Jaina contacted us. Efforts to establish communications have been unsuccessful."

"I'm apologize, Warmaster, but there are no ships present in the system." The helmsman confirmed once more, looking back at his superior.

"Then I fear we may be too late." Luke sighed, turning away from helm and reaching for his comlink.

***

"HE WHAT?!" Garr bellowed, rage coursing through his veins as he stared down his muzzle at a visibly shaken Yin.

"Darth Siberis has gone into hyperspace, along with most of the Imperial fleet." Yin repeated, certain the news would be no softer the second time around but bound to obey. "Two ships remain in orbit, but are suffering significant damage and power failures."

"Treachery..." Garr snarled, turning away from Yin and clenching his fist in clear agitation. "The foo-"

A series of beeps echoed through the cavernous chamber, and both Garr and Yin turned to look at the command console nearby. Pushing aside his subordinate, Garr stepped over to the console. A deep grumbled reverberated from his throat.

INCOMING COMMUNICATION:Adamant, Imperial II-class Star...

Garr wasted no further time, tapping the uplink button hard.

"Taking a little trip, I see." The Togorian barked, glaring at the masked form on the other side of the screen. "Coward."

"Master Garr, I am reactionary at this juncture." The shadowy figure replied, his voice methodical and cold. "You forced my hand."

"I-I forced YOUR HAND!?" Garr shouted, livid.

"Yes. You initiated Genesis sooner than we had discussed."

"So you turn tail, Siberis?"

"I prefer to call it a tactical retreat." The Sith Lord replied, his eyes like pools of hardened amber. "Even so, two Imperial vessels never made it into hyperspace. Damage to our cause, wouldn't you say?"

"How dare you treat me like this?" Garr snarled, his eyes flickering with rage. "As if I'm some junior partner in all of this!"

Siberis said nothing, and Yin took a step back as a result. Garr's eyes widened, and he bared every one of his wicked teeth.

"You ALLIED with ME, SIBERIS!" Garr fired off, pounding the console with his fist with enough force to crack the durasteel casing. "Now, Sith, return to the system and prepare for heavy transport."

"The system is, unfortunately, swarmed with hungry mynocks." Siberis replied nonchalantly. "I'm afraid no attempt at a rescue can be made at this point in time."

"You-"

"Fear not, we'll be in touch. For the time, take comfort in the knowledge that some of my best Sabers stand at your side, Garr. And if worse comes to worse, and Skywalker shows his face, you always have your beast to fight your battles...Siberis out."

"Oh dear." Yin sighed.

***

"Sporadic reports are coming in from Orinda, a small Imperial world inside the mid-rim, where the terrorist Garr has apparently struck again." Intoned the aging voice of Perre Needmo, as a scene of terrible destruction replayed on a monitor behind the Chevin. "New information suggests that Garr's virus has been weaponized and is now an airborne agent capable of infecting entire populations. Though unconfirmed, we here at the Perre NeedmoNews Hour can only shudder at the thought of such a scenario."

Luke terminated the holo-feed on his comlink, resuming his conversation with Han.

"The Redoubt's lost." Luke blew out a breath.

"We don't know that." Was Han's immediate reply.

"Han, we saw the wreckage." Came Leia's voice as she joined in.

"It could have been doctored, or-"

"Han."

"Alright, fine!" Han growled, exasperated. "So what do we now!?

"The system's crawling with mynocks." Luke began, feeling a little pang of guilt as he just referred to hundreds of millions of sentients as nothing more than mindless parasites. "I suggest we let place clear out for a bit, and then attempt a landing."

"So, in other words, wait?"

"Just for a bit longer, Han."

"And while we just wait, Garr could be skipping happily to the next unsuspecting planet-"

"Garr's not going anywhere, Han." Luke interrupted gently. "He's still on the planet's surface...and so is Jaina."

"What?!" Han's voice rose, both in confusion and sudden hope.

"He's right, Han." Leia breathed, her own voice rising with tempered joy. "I think...I...yes, I can feel her again. Han, she's close!"

"And the same thing hampering us from landing is likely holding up Garr's departure." Luke added, genuinely pleased to hear the optimism in Leia's voice. It'd been a long time since he'd felt her so happy and joyful, and it only made him more determined to stop Garr's machinations, here and now.

"We'll enter orbit in less than four hours." Han said, and from the detached tone of his voice, Luke knew he was checking the _Falcon'_s chronometer. "Think we'll have a clear shot then?"

"I wouldn't get my hopes up, but four hours should be long enough for the swarm to disperse."

"All those people..." Leia sighed, remorse and sadness dampening her aura once more.

"We'll stop him, Leia." Luke replied, seeking to reassure his sister and maintain her spirits. "No one else will suffer like..."

Luke allowed himself to trail off after he realized what he was about to say. Now wasn't the time to reminisce on Jaina's disappearance, nor the obvious torture she was enduring.

Now was the time to save her.