Star Wars: The Jedi Chronicles:Enter The Shadows (Books 1-4)

Chapter 4 The Aftermath

Scene: Everyone is lying on the ground, groaning. Some are crying in pain. Katy, her calves and feet completely shattered, is in shock.

Shain : (in pain) Guys… can anyone get to my ship?

Eve: (getting to her hands and knees) I think I can... Why?

Shain: I left my healing crystal... in the cockpit. (cries out in pain, tries to turn it into a groan)

Eve manages to open the cockpit to Shain’s Eta 2 Actis Interceptor with the Force, then crawls up to the cockpit. Carefully, she reaches inside and grabs a pouch of healing crystals.

Quickly, she puts the crystal around her neck and focuses. A burst of light emanates from her hands, healing the group’s injuries. Even with their wounds repaired, everyone is still in pain. Katy tries to stand up but falls.

Katy: (wincing) Ouch!

Shain: (getting to his feet) I’m going to suggest staying off your feet for a while, Katy. The crystal healed the shattered bone, but your legs’ll still be weak for while.

Katy: Are you serious?

Shain: (nodding) Yeah.

The group hunt down their scattered lightsabers, then Willie and Cody carry Katy over to Eve’s ship for the ride home. It’s a pretty tight squeeze for the girls. The flight is long and silent; no laughing or teasing over the comlinks.

Scene change: a lounge room in the Temple. The five Jedi are relaxing, easing their still-stiff limbs before they report to the council. The rest of the team from planet earth is also present.

Willie: So... what do we do now? We just got whipped.

Cody: I’ll tell ya what we’re gonna do! We’re going to go straight to the council and tell them we weren't ready for that kinda mission.

Eve: (tears of fear and pain and fear in her eyes) I've never seen that kind of bloody power before... Shain's crystals have always taken all the pain away after healing. Sure, we may have a little discomfort, but nothing significant. Now, Katy can’t stand, much less walk! How could the council expect us to beat that kind of Sith? Even our whole bloody team together couldn't beat that guy!

Willie: (shaking his head) Not even Yoda could have.

Katy: Getting hit with that black Force... it felt like everything good was sucked right out of me: every smile, every laugh, my joy... it just died instantly.

Willie: I felt it, too.

Shain still looks distracted, and scared. Katy looks over at Shain and gives him a knowing glance.

Katy: (comfortingly) Shain, it’s ok. Everyone's fine. I’ll be able to walk again soon.

Eve: (nodding) We’re going to be ok.

The Jedi leader’s face is expressionless.

Shain: He could‘ve killed us. I couldn't save you guys. I was helpless and weak and... I should have died. Why didn't he kill us?

Willie: It’s not your fault, Shain. Quit being such a girl.

Katy: (under her breath) I resent that remark.

Cody: Honestly, Shain, you're honestly overreacting. The council was stupid, sending a bunch of kids on this mission. It’s their fault, so quit being a pansy and get over it.

Shain: (ignoring everything they said) I've got to go tell the council what happened.

Shain gets up and leaves the room.

Elena:Great. You hurt his feelings, you jerks! I don't see what everyone’s problems is. I mean, you guys have lost before.

Willie: (shaking his head) Not like that, we haven't.

Cody: We’ve always been able to help each other out. This time, we should’ve died.

Eve: (reproachfully) I don’t see why you guys always gang up on him like that. He’d die to save us; doesn’t matter who’s in trouble.

Sarah Austin: Eve’s right. Shain considers us family. It’s time you guys started treating him like family.

Willie: Oh, come on, Sarah! Shain knows we’re messing with him.

Katy: A very wise cucumber once said: “There’s a time to be silly, and there’s a time to be serious”.

Willie: Psht. Come on, Katy, really? Veggie Tales?

Katy: Oh yeah, I went there.

Cody: Come on, we’d better catch up with him.

Eve: (standing up) Elena, can you help Katy to her room?

Elena: Yep.