Year of Hell

Jaina Solo was only sixteen, too young to know suffering, too young to know pain, and too young to know so much death. Like it or not, she did know all of those things. That's what war did to a person. She had been so excited when she was asked to join Rogue Squadron, the most elite group of pilots in the New Republic. She knew that she was a good pilot, even if she was only sixteen. She was elated to think that they had asked her to join, even though she had a sneaking suspicion that her mother had had something to do with it. Then came the bad news: she had to fight. She had to watch her friends die as they were slaughtered in their X-wings by the enemy, the Yuuzhan Vong, invaders from another Galaxy who had destroyed everything. When she said everything, she meant everything... peace, stability, happiness, and everything else the Rebel Alliance had fought to establish. The Yuuzhan Vong had driven the Government of the New Republic to form new relationships with the Chiss, and with the remnants of the Empire. Many people had objected to the treaties, but the governments had to band together if they wanted to save their civilizations. Zekk had only just returned to Coruscant from a scouting mission in the Unknown Regions. Jaina had taken leave from the military when she heard that he was on his way back, and had been waiting for him as he had landed the Lightning Rod. "Zekk!" exclaimed Jaina as she rushed towards her friend. He was just exiting his ship. "Jaina!" he replied just as enthusiastically as he greeted her with an enormous hug. "How have you been since I saw you last?" At that question, Jaina's face fell, and Zekk knew instantly, instinctively, that he had asked the wrong question. "Alright I suppose," she replied quietly, as she reached for his hand. When she found it, she used it to pull Zekk back into the ship he had just exited. She then closed the ramp, to ensure their privacy. He watched as she took a few calming breaths before saying, "A lot has happened since you left." He smiled at her. "I knew that by the way your face fell when I asked. If at any point you want to talk, let me know." Zekk knew by now not to push Jaina into anything. She only pushed back. "Until then, it is good to see you again." "It's good to see you again, too," she replied sincerely. As Zekk watched her, she set her face in a mask, pushing away all emotions. "I might as well tell you what has happened now. If I don't, someone else will soon enough." Despite her efforts, there was a sadness in her voice that betrayed deeply buried emotions. Zekk simply nodded, not wanting to interrupt Jaina. She took some more deep, calming, breaths as though she were unsure of where to begin. When she did start, she started slowly and quietly. "We're at war, with a race called the Yuuzhan Vong." She began to pick up more speed and volume as she went along. "They came from another galaxy, and now they seem to think that our galaxy is their rightful home, and the rest of us are to be 'purged' or enslaved. We can't feel them through the Force. It's almost as though they exist outside of it. Since I've joined Rouge Squadron, I've had to kill my share of them, but their absence from the Force detaches me. It doesn't feel real." Zekk's eyebrows shot up at this pronouncement, but he remained silent as Jaina continued."They have been herding the entire population of the Galaxy towards the center. Many planets have been used for temporary refugee camps, but those planets are quickly filling up. Not to mention the fact that they also get attacked, creating even more refugees." She paused. "That about sums up what has been happening in the New Republic." Zekk looked at her, seeing what she didn't want to say, but needed to. "Yes, that may be what has happened in the New Republic, but what has happened to you?" He hesitated, then continued, "and your family?" There was an insistance in his voice, indicating that he knew something more had happened, and he knew that she needed to say what had happened. She looked away then took a deep breath before continuing. "It started when we discovered that Aunt Mara was infected by a disease. About one hundred others were also infected, but now, she is the only one left alive. She is managing to fight it with the Force, but it is still winning, and she won't accept help. Not even from Uncle Luke. That was the first indication of trouble. It was before the obvious invasion." "On top of that Anakin and Jacen are barely on speaking terms. I've had to intervene in more than one of their arguments. They're arguing about how to use the Force. Jacen thinks that it should be totally non-violent, and Anakin thinks that it is our duty to police the Galaxy. They both are so stubborn, that they don't even stop to think that neither one of them is right. Only a combination of the two extremes will ever succeed, and be truly effective." "Then, at one point Dad and Anakin were trying to save the people of Sernpidal before their moon collided with it. They succeeded in saving the people, but Chewie wasn't so lucky... He died saving Anakin's life. It took a falling moon to kill him." Jaina's voice faltered here. She swallowed, then continued, "It hit us all hard, but especially Dad and Anakin. Dad had known Chewie longer than he's known Mom or Uncle Luke, so we knew the death would hit him hard... We just didn't expect him to blame Anakin. That's what has made this past year so hard for Anakin." "Dad has been spending most of his time in bars on the lower levels of Coruscant. He and Mom have barely spoken to each other recently. I don't want them to fight. I want them to be happy together, despite the war." Jaina was rambling now, but she didn't care. "It's terrible." Jaina looked up at Zekk now, seeking his eyes, and holding them with her own. "My life has fallen apa Œrt," she whispered. In a single move, Zekk was by her side, holding her as she fell to her knees. "Life used to be perfect, and we were invincible. Nothing could ever truly hurt us... Now we can't stop these horrors as they kill the hope in our hearts." After pouring out her soul, Jaina cried... After a long time she suddenly became aware of Zekk's arms around her, it was he she had told everything to. He was the only one who had seen how this war had affected her. Not even Jacen, her twin brother, was fully aware of how it haunted Jaina. Now, Jaina could smile again. She felt a great relief from the pressure that had been building up in her mind. The pain she had felt over the year was still there, but no longer overwhelming. She smiled up at Zekk, who smiled back at her. Together, for a few hours, they forgot the war that raged elsewhere in the galaxy. Jaina had once again found peace.