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Reconciliation
By : LexiLupin
Category: Star Wars (All) > AU - Alternate Universe
Views: 3594 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars; I make no money.
Chapter List
- 1-Reconciliation
- 2-Part 2
- 3-Part 3
- 4-Part 4
- 5-Part 5
- 6-Part 6
- 7-Part 7
- 8-Part 8
- 9-Part 9
- 10-Part 10
- 11-Part 11
- 12-Part 12
- 13-Epilogue
- 1
- 2
- 3
Part II

It hurt to even think, but she clawed her way through the endless tunnels of murky darkness, forced her way back into a vague but definite consciousness out of the sleep that threatened to overtake her.

Warm arms encircled her waist and she tensed before registering the bright presence of her twin. Allowing herself to relax in his embrace, she blinked once, twice, three times, before her eyes began to focus, though there was nothing to see from this position save the blank and monotonous durocrete wall.

“Jaina?”

She closed her eyes again and sucked in a deep breath; it felt like the first she’d had in weeks. “Yeah?” she asked, voice cracking and strained. “How… how long…?”

“Sh,” he urged. “You’re still healing. You’ve been unconscious for hours, I’m not sure how many… but two meals have been delivered, so…” he trailed away and loosened his grip, allowing her to turn around on the cot as he sat up to give her space. Groaning softly and shivering against the cold of the cell, Jaina drew the blanket tighter around her underdressed form and noticed that Jacen had also added the blanket from the other cot. “You were cold,” he sensed her thoughts. Then, almost an afterthought, he added softly, almost in a whisper, “You scared me.”

Her breath shuddered and pain lingered across her body. “I didn’t want you to… to feel everything…” Another deep breath cleared her head a little further. “Brakiss would have played your fear and anger so fast…”

“That was his plan,” Jacen admitted. “You outsmarted him.”

She attempted a smile, but it changed to a grimace as her cut lip erupted in new pain. “That’s what big sisters are for…”

Something tore painfully at Jacen’s heart. “I should have been here,” he blinked frustrated tears away. “This should never have happened…”

Closing her eyes, she breathed heavily, labouredly for a few moments, willing the Force to take away some of her residual pain. “Wouldn’t have mattered,” she muttered ruefully. “Zekk is… powerful.” A shudder ran down her body and she closed her eyes against the memory of his deadened, dark eyes. Jacen touched her shoulder hesitantly. “I’m alright,” she said quietly, more to herself than to him.

“Did… did you go into the trance intentionally?”

She frowned, pulling up the hazy memories and sensations of her terrifying encounter the day prior. “I don’t think so,” she finally admitted. “It was more of an unconscious reflex against my own horror,” her voice broke. “He’s so… dark,” she whispered, blinking away tears. “Before yesterday, I never would have dreamed that Zekk could think an evil thought, let alone hurt someone intentionally…”

“We have to get out of here,” Jacen muttered. “He’s as much a pawn of Brakiss as we are, and we’re only alive as long as Brakiss still thinks there’s a chance we’ll turn. After yesterday…” he glanced sadly down at his wounded sister. “I don’t know how much longer he’ll delude himself.”

Jaina looked away briefly before planting a brave smile on her face. “We’ll think of something. We always do.”

But Jacen was skeptical. “You’re in no condition to go anywhere any time soon,” he pointed out. “And we don’t even know where they’re keeping Lowie…”

“Jacen,” she sighed and laid her head heavily back against the uncomfortable cot, “let’s worry when the time comes. I think I need to go into a better healing trance for now,” she winced as she sat up again, regarding the blood stains on her shirt, and remembering Zekk’s liberal use of a knife while cutting her jumpsuit apart… “I don’t suppose anyone’s left me a change of clothing…?”

“Actually, yes,” he strode to the door and picked up a stack of cloth next to an untouched tray. Unfurling it, she cocked a brow at the dramatic black, hooded robe, but sighed in resignation and accepted it, slipping it over her dirtied undershirt and standing slowly to draw it down her body while Jacen turned away respectfully. “Stylish,” he muttered wryly when he turned back around.

“Yeah,” she grimaced, separating the two blankets and tossing one back across the room. “Wake me if anything exciting happens.” Without another word, she settled back down on the cot and curled up in a protective ball.

X---X---X---X

Jaina spent most of the next full day in a healing trance, emerging only once to eat and clean up in the small refresher off of their cell. The day after that, they came for them again.

She supposed, as she huddled against her brother’s tense form, that she should have been relieved that Brakiss accorded her even that much time to recover; then again, he did still seem interested in keeping them in relatively good condition and he certainly didn’t want them dead- yet. So perhaps he viewed it in his best interests to let her heal before giving Zekk another go at her.

Or, perhaps he had something else up his sleeve.

As soon as Brakiss entered the room, Zekk on his heels, Jaina’s eyes were drawn to what he held in his hands; they looked like binders but the two cuffs weren’t connected. Rather than fasten them both on one of their wrists, as Jaina half-expected, he approached her and seized her arm roughly, using the Force to easily counteract Jacen’s attempts at shielding her. With a snap, she found one of the metal bands secured around her left wrist, and then she was shoved roughly out of the way while Brakiss fastened the other to Jacen’s arm.

A small jolt made her start, and she frowned down at the contraption. Reaching out in the Force, trying to get a sense of what it was…

Another jolt threw her mind off balance.

Brakiss chuckled lowly. “You like them? New inventions of ours, actually. Can you guess what they do?”

Jacen scowled and looked at Jaina, trying to connect to her mind… but failed miserably. Neither answered Brakiss while their stomachs sank in realization.

“Yes, those small shocks you feel block your ability to concentrate long enough to utilize your powers in the Force- though whatever good they did you before, I haven’t yet understood,” he sneered. “More importantly though, your own abilities to communicate, to boost each other, assist one another’s strengths, their recovery…” he glanced at Jaina who had unconsciously backed as far away from Zekk as possible. “Those will be severely hindered as long as you wear these cuffs. You need not worry though,” he smiled grimly as he stepped away from Jacen and back towards Jaina, “they aren’t strong enough to cause any damage, you’ll barely notice it after the first hour or two…”

He seized her upper arm in a bruising grip, and Jacen started towards the pair with a growl of fury starting in his throat; he made it three steps before a shove from Zekk sent him stumbling backwards. He whirled on the dark teen even as Brakiss began to drag Jaina from the room. “The Zekk I knew would never have allowed himself to be controlled so easily,” Jacen bit. “He would never have let someone else tell him who is friends are.”

Zekk reached out a hand; Jacen’s throat constricted uncomfortably, but not completely, allowing him to still gasp for small breaths. Jaina whimpered from the doorway, resisting Brakiss as best as she could given her inability to tap into her powers and his superior physical strength. “I’ve learned who my real friends are,” Zekk hissed. “Don’t flatter yourself to assume that I can’t see through your game.”

“Game?” Jacen choked. “Was it a game when Jaina begged mom and dad not to make us go back to the academy yet, so she wouldn’t have to leave you behind? Was it a game when, after every visit to Coruscant, she cried on the way back to Yavin, wanting nothing more than to stay with you?”

Zekk snorted. “Jaina Solo doesn’t cry; not for anyone.”

Jacen’s eyes hardened as he struggled for breath. “What about two days ago, Zekk?” he spat. “Did she cry for you then?”

Something in Zekk’s emerald eyes flickered and the grip on Jacen’s throat loosened; then, the eyes darkened in outrage and a blast of lightning sent Jacen careening to the wall, slamming his head hard and sliding down, dazed. His body ached ten times worse than it usually did after such an attack, being unable to suppress his pain.

“Stop it!” Jaina shrieked; apparently, Brakiss had abandoned the attempt at removing her from the room to watch Jacen and Zekk’s altercation. She could feel Jacen’s pain through the Force but was just as helpless as he to do anything about it. “Just stop, leave him alone! It’s me you want anyway; isn’t it?”

“Jaina…” Jacen groaned, before Zekk launched another brief barrage of lightning that made Jaina heave a dry sob.

Brakiss gripped her face firmly and stared into her eyes. She forced herself not to look away from the dark depths, the hopeless void in his eyes. “Just what is it you offer, Jedi?” he asked softly. “What is your brother’s life worth?”

She steeled herself and cast an anxious glace at her writhing brother. “If you will leave him alone…” she took a shuddering breath. “Zekk can take me in his place.”

Her former friend whirled, eyes blazing, but Brakiss merely looked amused. “My darkest knight hardly needs your permission to do as he wishes.”

“Leave Jacen alone,” she repeated, “and remove his cuff; and I won’t fight. Zekk can finish what he started with me, he doesn’t need to use Jacen to get to me.”

A quick look was exchanged between Brakiss and his pupil. She closed her eyes, expecting one of them to lash out at her, but Brakiss’ smooth voice cut into her like a knife instead. “Very well,” he declared, and Jaina exhaled sharply, wondering what fate she had just sealed for herself. She was aware of Jacen trying to reach out to her but unable, and… oddly… a flicker of surprise, perhaps… or was it annoyance?... from Zekk.

“Master,” the young man murmured, “if you agree to release his cuff, he can use his own strength to bolster hers, even if she is unable to tap her own powers…”

“Of course,” Brakiss agreed. “But that only seems fair, doesn’t it? We concentrate all of our energy on one- willing- twin, and in turn, the other is left the burden of sensing everything she goes through, and attempting to counteract it without her own ability to help him. Might I remind you, Knight Zekk, that she will be unable to pull the stunt of two days ago and sever her connection with the boy?” He smiled cruelly. “No, our ends will be just as well served,” turning to Jaina, his look darkened as he glanced her over. “But I will point out to you, young Solo, that your promise not to fight is unlooked for- in fact, I think Zekk would prefer if you do.”

Jacen dragged himself from the floor, using the cot to support his weight as he pulled himself to his feet. “You… you’re monsters, both of you…” He sucked in a shuddering breath. “Jaina, don’t do this… it isn’t worth it…”

“Silence,” Brakiss commanded, striding forward. “Your sister’s fate is sealed; as per our arrangement, I release your bracelet,” with a click, it came apart and fell into Brakiss’ hand, “and for the duration of your sister’s… treatment… at Zekk’s hands, you shall remain here, alone and unharmed.”

“A… alone?” Jacen stammered.

The cruel smirk widened. “I think a little distance would be good for the two of you again. Knight Zekk,” he glanced back at the stoic young man, “I release the girl into your custody; use her well.”

Jaina started as Zekk wrenched her arm and dragged her back through the doorway. “Wait,” she muttered uselessly, throwing a desperate glance at her horrified brother. “Jacen…”

“Shut up!” Zekk hissed in her ear. “This was your idea, deal with it.”

Stumbling along, half-dragged down the corridor by the much-taller dark Jedi, Jaina heard Jacen call her name just once and then felt, rather than heard, as he fell and sobbed and allowed his grief and frustration to take control once he was left alone- as per their agreement.

X---X---X---X

He beat her that night, forgoing the use of the Force in favor of brute strength- or perhaps as a mockery of her lack of defense, though she doubted she’d have attempted to fight him anyway, much as she had chosen not to the first time. With every blow though, she could feel Jacen’s heartache as he attempted to soothe her pain.

She wouldn’t cry though.

Finally, after what felt like hours but she suspected was little more than ten or fifteen minutes, Zekk’s dark eyes finally took back some life and he stepped away from her curled body with a look of boredom tinged with… disgust? At her or himself? She couldn’t tell, especially with her complete inability to probe his thoughts and feelings, relying on his expression solely.

He gestured to a door as he turned away. “Clean yourself up,” he snapped listlessly.

Dragging herself painfully to her feet, she took a deep breath, willing her body to fight against the impulses still being sent at intervals through her. No luck. “Thanks,” she muttered sarcastically, “but if it’s all the same to you, I think I’ll wait.”

He didn’t turn to look at her as he shed his cloak and rummaged through a closet. “If that’s how you prefer to sleep then, be my guest.”

His meaning took a minute to sink in. “Excuse me?” she spluttered. Finally, he spun to face her, ire evident in his eyes.

“Should have made your little agreement with my master a little clearer, shouldn’t you?”

“I… I never said…”

“It doesn’t matter,” he barked. “You didn’t specify otherwise, and played right into Lord Brakiss’ hands, you stupid girl. Now I’m stuck with you until he decides that your brother has been tormented enough by your absence, and that means that you stay here, with me, until he says otherwise.”

Jaina was hardly able to wrap her mind around her own stupidity. In her moment of anguish, she thought she was saving Jacen, that by taking the torment Zekk meant to inflict onto herself, that he would be spared as much as possible. Instead, she’d put him right back in the situation from two days prior that she’d desperately avoided by breaking their connection, and this time, she didn’t have the ability to even do that- and she knew Jacen never would, not when leaving it open meant that he could funnel healing and pain-relieving vibes to her.

Growling deep in her throat, she stepped slowly towards the refresher, hoping that she wouldn’t be forced to ask the man who had just beaten her for towels or a fresh robe or jumpsuit, that they’d be waiting for her in there…

“Leave the door open.” She turned slowly, every movement causing flashes of pain from pulled muscles and bruised skin, eyeing him incredulously. “Don’t flatter yourself,” he snapped. “If you mess with that bracelet, it’ll sound an alarm and I want to be able to hear if you’re trying to tamper with it.”

Scowling, she continued onwards, wondering if it was worth disobeying… and then decided that it was a fight that could wait for another day. For now, she was tired, covered in bruises and blood, nerves frazzled from the electric cuff.

When she emerged from the sanisteam twenty minutes later, robe securely tightened, arms crossed over her body in an unconscious protectiveness, she stepped slowly back into the main room. Zekk was sitting upright on the bed in the far corner, dressed only in a pair of sleeping pants. His gaze flickered just a moment too long over her damp, robe-clad form, and she went red in anger and embarrassment before meeting his eyes and cocking a brow. Sneering lightly, he used the Force to send a stack of clothing her way and she took it forcefully, retreating into the far end of the refresher to change into the simple- and surprisingly comfortable- pants and shirt.

“Don’t think for a minute,” she warned as she reemerged, “that I’m sleeping in a bed with you.”

He smirked and she found herself inundated with strong reminders that they had slept in a bed together, her bed back on Coruscant when they were still just children and she and Jacen had snuck him into the apartment late at night. Sometimes, the three of them would fall asleep together while huddling beneath the blankets, whispering to avoid waking their parents and Anakin. “Sleep where you will,” he shrugged disinterestedly before tossing a light blanket her way. With a grimace, she settled herself in the further possible corner from him on the cold floor.

X---X---X---X

“Stop it,” she muttered, feeling warm hands brush against her face. “Jacen…”

Remembering, her eyes shot open, and an instant later, Zekk was flying across the room in a dark blur. She attempted to sit up, but found herself pressed against the bed- the bed?- by the other’s own insistent push as he pulled himself to his feet, scowling. In his hand was the impulse-emitting cuff that had encircled her wrist since the day prior. “What were you doing?” she demanded, gaining slight ground against his Force hold and sitting up slowly and painfully.

Silently, he crossed back to her and secured the cuff once more. “Pulling you out of a healing trance,” he snarled.

She frowned. “I never…” a flicker in his eyes caught her attention, but his face was an unreadable mask. “Fine; sorry,” she muttered, pulling herself gingerly to her feet and returning to the corner where she’d nested down the night prior, confused.

“What are you doing?” he barked, sounding exasperated.

“Going back to sleep,” she muttered. “I might avoid doing that again if you don’t enjoy being tossed across the room.”

He didn’t respond as she wrapped the blanket around her aching body and curled up in the corner once more, wondering what had happened. Had Jacen pushed her unconscious self into a trance? And if so, why hadn’t Zekk just left her on the floor to yank her out of it?

X---X---X---X

After nearly two days with no sign of his sister, Jacen agreed- for the first time in his captivity- to willingly attend one of Brakiss’ ‘lessons,’ in the hopes that Jaina would be forced along as well. She wasn’t, and he gritted his teeth for the duration of the twisted nonsense spouted by the dark Jedi. Lowie was present, flanked by two of Tamith Kai’s favorite students, and Jacen saw a cuff secured around his shaggy forearm as well. When he caught sight of Jacen though, the young wookiee gave a short, relieved greeting that quickly turned questioning, and Jacen sensed his friend’s confusion, wondering where Jaina was. With a tight grimace, he shook his head, but could offer no better explanation from across the room.

After two more nights of sensing little change in Jaina- she was still in pain from the first night of her absence- Jacen was desperate. And so, as two of Brakiss’ students led him back to his cell following the ‘morning lesson,’ Jacen found himself calling out to Zekk as he saw the stormy teen slipping into another corridor. With a spiteful glare, Zekk turned and crossed his arms, beckoning the trio forward.

“I’ll take him from here,” he said offhandedly to the other two. They silently and smoothly continued on their way. “Well, Solo? Come to beg for your sister back?”

“Where is she?” Jacen demanded quickly.

Zekk chuckled lowly. “I hardly see the relevance to you. Never fear though, she is close by and secure.”

“I want to see her.”

“That wasn’t the deal.”

“It was her deal, not mine,” Jacen snapped, allowing herself to be pulled quickly down towards his cell.

The older teen shot him a sideways glance. “And it was made with Lord Brakiss; take it up with him, then.”

Jacen pursed his lips and scowled. “You’re a fool, Zekk…” Zekk pressed the release pad and the door to the cell slid open. “Can’t you see that it’s you that Brakiss is playing here? Not me, not Jaina- you.”

“Ah,” Zekk shoved him forward, sending him stumbling. “But it is you who is begging to see your idiot sister.”

For a moment, he just stared, uncomprehendingly. Then, as Zekk turned to leave, he called out after him. “What do you think is going to happen, Zekk? Where do you think this ends?” Zekk stilled but did not turn. “Why do you think he agreed to hand Jaina over to you? Because she’s the one person you never would have hurt before, the one person you would have done anything for… the one person who you’ll never be able to forgive yourself for hurting now...”

Zekk whirled on him, and Jacen backed up involuntarily. “You presume far too much, Solo,” he hissed, backing Jacen into a wall. “Do not blame me for your sister’s poor decisions.”

“What happens when her use is at an end?” Jacen shouted. “He’ll push and push, you’ll hurt her more and more… until either you’re broken or she is.” Those emerald eyes darkened into burning pits of fury. “And if she breaks first, Brakiss will tell you to kill her- because if you kill Jaina, you will never be redeemed, your own soul will be so far shattered and you’ll become exactly what Brakiss wants from you- a deadly machine with no remorse… just an endless supply of regret and bitterness at the utter betrayal of your true self.”

A hand flew up, and Jacen braced himself for the blow… and then Zekk seemed to remember himself, or perhaps Brakiss was reminding him from afar that he had agreed not to harm him- for now. “Have a care, Solo,” he whispered. “You’re time will come soon enough- once I’m through with your sister, who will remain with me and alive until I desire otherwise.”

With a sudden strength as Zekk was leaving the room, Jacen reached out and yanked him back, gripping the arm of the surprised dark Jedi-in-training. “Just remember two things,” Jacen hissed, eyes flashing. “She’s fourteen years old- barely more than a child; and until a week ago, you meant the world to her.”

“You and your twin, Jacen Solo, are most certainly not children.”
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Reconciliation	By : LexiLupin Category: Star Wars (All) > AU - Alternate Universe Views: 3594 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars; I make no money.

Reconciliation