A Galaxy Freed (Book 4)

Chapter 7: To Lose Everything

"The last time I felt something this dark was the time when I felt Anakin fall to the Dark Side," mentioned Master Obi-Wan, a bead of sweat gliding down his left temple.

"I am unable to sense what just occurred," said Master Luminara. "I only see a dark, thick fog. But I hear...screams. So many screams"

"It feels like a void," commented Master Secura. "Like something was just ripped out of the Galaxy, ceasing to exist."

I still couldn't wrap my head around what I was feeling. Though there was silence in the Chamber, our minds have never been so loud. Screams of millions, possibly billions of innocent beings losing their lives instantaneously. However, what scared me the most, besides Vinera's haunting and devastating return, was that this feeling felt personal. "It can't be. She wouldn't," I said silently to myself. Though my mind was a cacophonous symphony of tragedy, it was still relatively quiet in the Chamber. They heard me.

"What are you sensing, Kane?", Master Luminara asked calmly.

I didn't want to speak my mind out loud in fear that it would become reality, but I looked at her, a mixture of sweat and tears on my face and said, "It's just that I think-" but before I could speak any further, Fives, along with Rex, Cody, Wolffe, and Bly bursted back into the room.

"Generals, I immediately went looking for Rex to see if he knew anything", Fives began. "Luckily, he was already with the other Commanders. Apparently, shortly after I left, they received reports of destruction at a massive scale in the Outer Rim."

"We followed the coordinates given to us, but it led...nowhere," said Rex. "Whatever was there, just wasn't there anymore."

"From the looks of it, it appeared an entire planet just disappeared," Fives explained.

"What planet?", asked Master Kenobi.

Fives looked at me. A chill ran down my spine and my hands began to slightly tremble. He noticed and looked as if he no longer wanted to answer the question.

"What planet, Fives", Master Kenobi asked again, with a more serious and slightly demanding tone.

"Lothal..."

I felt all eyes on me. I couldn't look at them. My mind was racing. My entire body felt weak. Short of breath. Heart pounding. Tears falling. "My home is gone?", I asked, stuttering my words. "The en-entire pl-planet is...gone?"

A hand touched my shoulder gently and with extreme care. I knew who it was without looking and put my hand on top of his. "I'm so sorry, Kane," he said. He seemed just as upset as me and he'd never stepped foot on the planet as far as I knew. "Whatever I can do to help I'll do it, I promise you."

I didn't reply. Didn't even look at him. How could I? I felt so hurt by what I had just found out that I couldn't form any words of significance. "Why would she do this?" I was speaking to myself mostly, but I was also wanting to see if an answer could be provided. "Of course, she wants me under her control again. Either that or killing me, but to go to such lengths. Only a coward, a vile, malignant monster would go this far."

"A word of caution if I may?", asked Master Luminara directed towards me. I look up at her and let her say what she needed. "I understand that what you are going through right now is no easy task. We Jedi are equipped with the skills to help us control our emotions so that they do not get in the way of our decisions; however, when such events such as this occur, events that affect one so personally, it is difficult to follow those principles."

"I understand, Master Luminara, but I can't help but feel anger, hatred, towards her. The only thing stopping me from going out of this room and facing her right now is that I know Fives would want to come with me and I just can't allow him to be put in so much danger for my sake. Also, I feel it's what she wants me to do, too."