Author Topic: Blood Trail (Post-LotF: Jaina, Tahiri, Ben, Jag, Han, Leia, Luke) Updated 9/30/08!
YodaKenobi 
Title: TFN EU Staff
Registered: May '03
23685_Anakin
Date Posted: 6/24 4:17pm Subject: Blood Trail (Post-LotF: Jaina, Tahiri, Ben, Jag, Han, Leia, Luke) Updated 9/30/08! - Date Edited: 9/30 4:05pm (17 edits total) Edited By: YodaKenobi
Title: Blood Trail
Author: YodaKenobi
Timeframe: Post-LotF, 42 ABY
Characters: Jaina, Tahiri, Ben, Jag, Han, Leia, Luke, Allana
Genre: Adventure, Mystery
Keywords: Intergalactic Rorschach Test
Summary: I don't want to spoil it
Notes:


This is just the result of a fifteen minute conversation with jagsredlady about the possibilities for post-LotF EU. It will probably be a trilogy.



*cover art by Maggy*

Dramatis Personae

Allana (Amelia); Heir to the Throne of the Hapes Consortium (female human)
Ben Skywalker; Jedi Knight (male human)
Boba Fett; Mandalorian bounty hunter, Mandalore (male human)
C-3PO; protocol droid
Daala; Chief of State of the Galactic Alliance (female human)
Dif Scaur; intelligence director (male human)
Han Solo; captain, Millennium Falcon (male human)
Jae Juun; intelligence operative (male Sullustan)
Jagged Fel; Grand Moff of the Imperial Remnant (male human)
Jaina Solo; former Jedi Knight (female human)
Leia Organa Solo; Jedi Knight (female human)
Luke Skywalker; Jedi Grand Master (male human)
Mirta Gev; Mandalorian bounty hunter (female human)
R2-D2; astromech droid
Tahiri Veila; former Jedi Knight (female human)
Tarfang; master spy (male Ewok)
Tenel Ka Djo; Queen Mother of the Hapes Consortium (female human)
Vak Rive; senator (male Blood Carver)
Wobbler; modified children's droid


Special thanks to jagsredlady for her beta work and all her other help and inspiration.

 

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FADA Therapist
The Lands of the Dead: http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/28522077/p1/
Blood Trail: http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/28636429/p1
"We're Jedi, not assassins."— Anakin Solo
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YodaKenobi 
Title: TFN EU Staff
Registered: May '03
23685_Anakin
Date Posted: 6/24 4:18pm Subject: RE: Blood Trail (Post-LotF: Jaina, Tahiri, Ben, Jag, Han, Leia, Luke) Posted 6/24/08!
Prologue: Blood Trail

There was an intruder.

No matter how much she cut herself off from the Force, she couldn't stop the prickles of impending danger from needling her spine or the icy ball of fear that formed between her shoulder blades. There was someone out there, and she couldn't think of any innocent reason for that.

Jaina Solo rolled out of bed and crouched, palming shapes in the darkness until she felt the leg of the trousers she'd tossed on the floor a few hours earlier next to a sleeveless undershirt made stiff by sweat and dried swamp water. She quickly dressed, pulling the shirt over her head and buttoned the waist of her pants, only to reach for the utility belt draped across the small table in her hut— there was a moment there where she expected to feel the weight of her lightsaber dangling from the synthleather loop, but it wasn't there, of course.

Making sure her blaster was, Jaina cinched her belt around her waist and fastened its buckle before creeping towards the door. Her hut was small, not much larger than the one that existed there decades earlier, and it took the lithe woman only a few strides to reach the door after ducking the low-arching passages.

She palmed the toggle control for the door and crawled through the narrow passage into the fog-blanketed mud outside the home she'd built here two years ago. The stench of Dagobah's sweltering bogs mingled in the cold night air, and Jaina could tell from the musty aroma and faint hint of electricity in the shadows that it was going to rain. She unclipped a glowrod from her belt to help light her way and snapped the device on, casting a beam of golden light through the roving mists.

There was no sign of him.

Starting forward, she tried to think of who it would be. If it was anyone with good intentions— Uncle Luke or her parents— they would have just knocked. This person had come to kill her.

Jaina's boots squashed against the sucking mud of the marshlands as she passed the bubbling swamps and serpentine branches of Dagobah's gray trees. She paused when a vine snake dropped down and glided across the ground, as if being stalked by a predator.

Instinctively she reached for her lightsaber and again felt silly. She'd dismantled the weapon when she left the Jedi Order and came to Dagobah to live in solitude. In order to defeat Darth Caedus— to kill her twin brother, Jacen Solo— Jaina had chosen to become something other than a Jedi. When it was over, there was no going back for her, and she was wise enough to know that if she continued, she would only be following her brother's path. She could feel that he had made a similar choice once, deciding that the Jedi way just wasn't enough, and that the ends justified the means to secure galactic peace...

There would never be peace for her, she knew, but she needed to be alone. It didn't matter where, Dagobah was simply the first planet that came to mind.

She left everything behind.

Jaina pulled her blaster from its holster and started forward into the murky grove ahead, her legs drowning in fog. To her surprise, she came to the dark mouth of a cave covered by tangles of coiled vines and gnarled tree roots— something about it sent a chill up her spine, and she knew that her intruder was waiting for her inside.

Suddenly she felt afraid in a way she never thought she would again.

Taking a deep breath, Jaina pushed her apprehension away and wrapped herself in the battle-calm that she'd worn through too many wars, the armor of the Sword of the Jedi, and she crept inside, dropping into the darkness. She hit the soft ground and her glowrod seemed to dim, as if it couldn't peel the shadows from the cave walls of stone, mud, and frayed roots. It defied logic, but Jaina could feel from the energy radiating from this place that logic just didn't matter here.

She continued ahead slowly, as creatures she could not make out crawled and slithered across her boots with far more legs than anything should have. Eventually, she came to a dark shape in the center of the cave which the light of her glowrod would not illuminate. She dropped her shoulder and raised her blaster, pointing it squarely at the wraith.

"You," she said. "Who are you?"

There was no answer.

For a moment she wondered if there was anything there at all, but she was beginning to see the outline of a man.

"Turn around," she ordered. "Slowly."

Again, there was no response, and the shape did not move.

But before she could repeat herself more forcefully, the glowrod was ripped from her grasp and sent sailing through the cavern, bouncing off the cave floor. She squeezed the trigger of her blaster only to see the stranger whip around in a fan of dark robes and catch the flare of red brilliance in the palm of his hand. Jaina's blaster was similarly wrenched from her grip and pinned against the cave wall before she could even think to fire another salvo, and suddenly, she found she could no longer move.

In a single bound, her attacker reached her and placed his gloved hand over her mouth— that was when his dark form was revealed. His body was twisted, so mangled by scorches he'd become slanted, and he moved with a limp, as if one leg was hanging on by mere fibers somewhere in the flood of his cloak. He had just one arm, the other having been cleaved off at the bicep, and his abdomen and chest still glowed amber in the darkness where he'd been stabbed with a lightsaber.

Jaina's eyes widened when they traveled up the man's body and found a face more familiar to her than her own.

Jacen.

His visage was a nightmarish maze of bruises and puncture wounds, the way she had left him when he died on the Anakin Solo, and his eyes were a frightening yellow wreathed in scarlet, like some feral animal.

She wanted to scream, but his hand tightened around her mouth.

Finally, he opened up his bloodied mouth and spoke, his eyes burning into hers.

"You have to save him, Jaina."





Jaina woke with a start to find her sheets pushed down and tangled around her sweat-slickened legs. She tried to catch her breath, her eyes frantically darting around the inside of her darkened hut to find she was as alone as when she'd gone to sleep. There was nothing there, save the growl of Dagobah's rain drumming against the swamp and mud outside.

She activated one of the wall crystals and made her way to the basin of bath water she had balanced in front of the fireplace. Dunking her hands in the water, she splashed some on her face and ran her hands through her hair, trying to wash away the horror of her nightmare. Looking up, she caught sight of something in the mirror hanging on the wall beside her.

Her heart seemed frozen in her chest, but somehow her legs moved, and she peered closely into her own reflection. Jaina's face was pale and dripping, but it was her neck that drew her attention. She tilted her head to see it clearly, and found the horrifying red stains blistered across her neck that she thought had vanished when she killed Darth Caedus two years ago.

But as she looked closely, she could see that they were not a random spatter of her brother's blood. She pulled her skin tighter to see clearly and gasped.

Burned into Jaina's skin were two words.

"Save him."

 

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FADA Therapist
The Lands of the Dead: http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/28522077/p1/
Blood Trail: http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/28636429/p1
"We're Jedi, not assassins."— Anakin Solo
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Jedi-Ant 
Registered: Jan '07
Date Posted: 6/24 4:22pm Subject: RE: Blood Trail (Post-LotF: Jaina, Tahiri, Ben, Jag, Han, Leia, Luke) Posted 6/24/08! - Date Edited: 6/24 7:39pm (3 edits total) Edited By: Jedi-Ant
First!


EDIT:

Holy moly! shock Another YodaKenobi ‘fic!! *does a happy, somewhat crazy little dance* dancing I’m so on board with this!!!

This is just the result of a fifteen minute conversation with jagsredlady about the possibilities for post-LotF EU. It will probably be a trilogy.

Awesome! cool Even better! I’m glad to hear it.

Now onto the ‘fic…

Prologue: Blood Trail

Fabulous title.

There was an intruder.

No matter how much she cut herself off from the Force, she couldn't stop the prickles of impending danger from needling her spine or the icy ball of fear that formed between her shoulder blades. There was someone out there, and she couldn't think of any innocent reason for that.


And a fabulous beginning!! applause The descriptions of (looks below for name) Jaina’s reaction to the realisation of the intruder are spot on, just fantastic!!

Jaina Solo rolled out of bed and crouched, palming shapes in the darkness until she felt the leg of the trousers she'd tossed on the floor a few hours earlier next to a sleeveless undershirt made stiff by sweat and dried swamp water. She quickly dressed, pulling the shirt over her head and buttoned the waist of her pants, only to reach for the utility belt draped across the small table in her hut— there was a moment there where she expected to feel the weight of her lightsaber dangling from the synthleather loop, but it wasn't there, of course.

More great descriptions here! grin I especially love the part about Jaina’s sweat-logged shirt -- the girl’s been busy training, obviously.

And an interesting fact that leapt out at me – “there was a moment where she expected to feel the weight of her lightsaber”… so, she obviously isn’t carrying it with her thinking I wonder why?

(And if this is should be obvious, sorry.. I’m not exactly up on my Legacy books… I’m still waiting for Sacrifice to hit the bookstores here in Oz. plain )

Her hut was small, not much larger than the one that existed there decades earlier, and it took the lithe woman only a few strides to reach the door after ducking the low-arching passages.

Ah. idea Dagobah. Interesting. thinking Self-imposed exile?

Starting forward, she tried to think of who it would be. If it was anyone with good intentions— Uncle Luke or her parents— they would have just knocked. This person had come to kill her.

Not necessarily. It could be Zekk, come to steal her away to a caged bedroom on a faraway island, ala Days of our Lives tongue silly (Sorry, couldn’t resist!)

She'd dismantled the weapon when she left the Jedi Order and came to Dagobah to live in solitude.

Ah. So my line of thinking was correct.

She could feel that he had made a similar choice once, deciding that the Jedi way just wasn't enough, and that the ends justified the means to secure galactic peace...

Ouch. Glad she decided on exile then. We didn’t need another Caedus. plain

She left everything behind.

Jag, too? *lip wobble*

To her surprise, she came to the dark mouth of a cave covered by tangles of coiled vines and gnarled tree roots— something about it sent a chill up her spine, and she knew that her intruder was waiting for her inside.

Suddenly she felt afraid in a way she never thought she would again.


Uh-oh… worried That cave has never been good for the Skywalker family… I don’t like the sound of this…

idea

Wait a minute… she’s not going to go in there and see herself in Caedus’ clothing, is she? shock wink

But before she could repeat herself more forcefully, the glowrod was ripped from her grasp and sent sailing through the cavern, bouncing off the cave floor. She squeezed the trigger of her blaster only to see the stranger whip around in a fan of dark robes and catch the flare of red brilliance in the palm of his hand. Jaina's blaster was similarly wrenched from her grip and pinned against the cave wall before she could even think to fire another salvo, and suddenly, she found she could no longer move.

Gah!! shock See!! I told you that cave was bad news!!

In a single bound, her attacker reached her and placed his gloved hand over her mouth— that was when his dark form was revealed. His body was twisted, so mangled by scorches he'd become slanted, and he moved with a limp, as if one leg was hanging on by mere fibers somewhere in the flood of his cloak. He had just one arm, the other having been cleaved off at the bicep, and his abdomen and chest still glowed amber in the darkness where he'd been stabbed with a lightsaber.

Ok, wonderful descriptions here again. applause I have a feeling this has something to do with the last Legacy book (if my suspicions of who the dark character is are correct), so I’m ignorant to what this implies.

Still, this is amazing!

Jaina's eyes widened when they traveled up the man's body and found a face more familiar to her than her own.

Jacen.


Now that’s gotta be a shock to the system! tongue But at least I was thinking in the right direction for once… I so seldom do that. silly

His visage was a nightmarish maze of bruises and puncture wounds, the way she had left him when he died on the Anakin Solo, and his eyes were a frightening yellow wreathed in scarlet, like some feral animal.

Co-ool! cool More amazing descriptions -- this is fabulous!! grin

"You have to save him, Jaina."

The real Jacen, or someone else? thinking

idea shock LUKE?!?

Jaina woke with a start to find her sheets pushed down and tangled around her sweat-slickened legs. She tried to catch her breath, her eyes frantically darting around the inside of her darkened hut to find she was as alone as when she'd gone to sleep. There was nothing there, save the growl of Dagobah's rain drumming against the swamp and mud outside.

Phew! It was just a hideously scary nightmare! That was lucky.

thinking Or was it?

But as she looked closely, she could see that they were not a random spatter of her brother's blood. She pulled her skin tighter to see clearly and gasped.

Burned into Jaina's skin were two words.

"Save him."


shock shock

Whoa!! Ok, so that’s one really creepy nightmare!! worried Jacen burning Jaina from beyond the grave? I love it!! applause grin


This was a fantastic start, Yoda! I always love your work, but this was particularly enjoyable, even though I’ve not actually read more than a dozen pages of the Legacy books in total. tongue

I’m looking forward to finding out more, you have me intrigued. thinking At the moment, I’m betting its Luke she has to save, but like I said before, I’m seldom right. tongue

Anyway, it a fabulous read!!

Ant.



EDIT x 2:

Oh.. and Maggy's cover... how do you say awesome in six different languages? grin grin It's fabulous, like all her work. Compliments the story well. rose

*takes hat off to Maggy*


EDIT x 3:

I highlighted my speculation in case others didn't want to see it. tongue

 

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brodiew 
Registered: Oct '05
6593_Luke Skywalker
Date Posted: 6/24 4:30pm Subject: RE: Blood Trail (Post-LotF: Jaina, Tahiri, Ben, Jag, Han, Leia, Luke) Posted 6/24/08!
2nd! I'm finally on the ground floor of a YodaKenobi story! I'll return tonight with a review.

 

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Jag4Me 
Title: Bet Your Knowledge and Man Bites Dog Hostess
Registered: Jan '08
17766_Fel & Wynessa
Date Posted: 6/24 4:34pm Subject: RE: Blood Trail (Post-LotF: Jaina, Tahiri, Ben, Jag, Han, Leia, Luke) Posted 6/24/08!
Amazing start! Your descriptions of Degobah are wonderful and I felt like I could hear the squishy mud. tongue
I'll be watching to see where you take this. hypnotized

 

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corran2 
Registered: May '06
44344_Jorus C'baoth
Date Posted: 6/24 4:41pm Subject: RE: Blood Trail (Post-LotF: Jaina, Tahiri, Ben, Jag, Han, Leia, Luke) Posted 6/24/08!
New Story!!! dancing dancing dancing And a trilogy at that! shock First I'll compliment Maggy on yet another wonderful cover! She never fails! Second, what a terrific opening chapter! I got serious Lost vibes when Jacen tells Jaina she has to save him. Reminds me of Boone leading Locke through a vision quest in Further Instructions. Looks like this is going to be a mystery as well. I'm quite surprised by such a short DP. Does this mean this story won't be as epic as your other stories?

Yoda, I have to say this has seriously got my attention. Can't wiat for a new post!

 

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jadesabre75 
Registered: Nov '07
40329_Jedi
Date Posted: 6/24 4:51pm Subject: RE: Blood Trail (Post-LotF: Jaina, Tahiri, Ben, Jag, Han, Leia, Luke) Posted 6/24/08!
Oh yeah, this is gonna be a fun one. grin Excellent painting of the scene here. Very well done! Can't wait to see more!

 

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star_writer24 
Registered: Aug '06
19058_Tahiri
Date Posted: 6/24 5:31pm Subject: RE: Blood Trail (Post-LotF: Jaina, Tahiri, Ben, Jag, Han, Leia, Luke) Posted 6/24/08!
Looks awesome!

 

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Lola64 
Registered: Mar '05
23699_ANH Title
Date Posted: 6/24 6:14pm Subject: RE: Blood Trail (Post-LotF: Jaina, Tahiri, Ben, Jag, Han, Leia, Luke) Posted 6/24/08!
"Save him."

Ok, who does Jaina need to save and why? Inquiring minds want to know.

You're going to tell me I have to read the story to find out aren't you?

So will Tuesday be the day you'll be posting updates? You usually have a routine right? Just want to make sure I note my calendar so I don't miss anything.

And btw, loved the Prologue and look forward to the next chapter.

 

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Jaina_and_Jag 
Registered: Apr '03
23040_R2-D2 Blueprint
Date Posted: 6/24 7:34pm Subject: RE: Blood Trail (Post-LotF: Jaina, Tahiri, Ben, Jag, Han, Leia, Luke) Posted 6/24/08!
Woah! Awesome. grin You've already got me hooked. I wonder who this 'he' is that she has to save... thinking Can't wait to see more. grin

 

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Draconarius 
Registered: Feb '05
18917_Luke Manga
Date Posted: 6/24 7:50pm Subject: RE: Blood Trail (Post-LotF: Jaina, Tahiri, Ben, Jag, Han, Leia, Luke) Posted 6/24/08!
Yes! Finally, a YodaKenobi story I can catch from the beginning. I always seem to have to marathon read to catch up with your fics... I still haven't caught up with the others.

That was one freaky nightmare. Can't wait to see where you take this. If you're PMing for updates, could you throw me on the list?

Draco.

 

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THE_PIED_PIPER 
Title: Chapter Rep
Knoxville, TN

Registered: Jun '06
43247_Marasiah Fel
Date Posted: 6/24 8:01pm Subject: RE: Blood Trail (Post-LotF: Jaina, Tahiri, Ben, Jag, Han, Leia, Luke) Posted 6/24/08! - Date Edited: 6/24 8:08pm (1 edits total) Edited By: THE_PIED_PIPER
Wes, this is greatness, not that I'm surprised at all considering the source. wink

The way you capture Jaina's mood and the dreams is......compelling? I guess, is all I can really come up with.

Your writing is always so pure and perfect, you write the characters how they are as human beings...no more and no less.

I can't wait for more. hugs


Kick happy

 

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zonzo 
Registered: Dec '07
7744_Kyle Katarn
Date Posted: 6/24 8:26pm Subject: RE: Blood Trail (Post-LotF: Jaina, Tahiri, Ben, Jag, Han, Leia, Luke) Posted 6/24/08!
No PM? Thanks much. rolling_eyes

Very good, though. I hope Jaina can save this mysterious person.

 

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Making a Life (Legacy-era, 132 ABY)- http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/28526177/p1
To Venture the Dark Places- Dark Luke AU- http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/28652606/p1/?9
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TheOnlyJediPrincess 
Registered: Jul '06
40101_Jedi Temple
Date Posted: 6/24 8:59pm Subject: RE: Blood Trail (Post-LotF: Jaina, Tahiri, Ben, Jag, Han, Leia, Luke) Posted 6/24/08!
Wow! What a great beginging! It gave me chills down my spin. I can't wait to read more! If you have one, Please add me to the PM list!

 

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canadianjedimama 
Registered: Jan '08
43871_Stormtrooper Loser
Date Posted: 6/24 9:21pm Subject: RE: Blood Trail (Post-LotF: Jaina, Tahiri, Ben, Jag, Han, Leia, Luke) Posted 6/24/08!
Nice to see this up Wes!

wink

thinking Most intriguing....I wonder who it is that Jaina has to save. Will she get there in time? Does Victor still love Nikki?

Sorry about that last part...I'm a bit punchy right now. grin

Can't wait to see where this goes.

cool Cyn

 

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Stroja 
Registered: May '08
42746_Obi-Wan Kenobi
Date Posted: 6/24 9:27pm Subject: RE: Blood Trail (Post-LotF: Jaina, Tahiri, Ben, Jag, Han, Leia, Luke) Posted 6/24/08!
Great start! Dagobah has so much potential for spooky stuff like that. I'm very interested in this story.

I'll be curious to see who it is she has to save.

 

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