"No..."
"Please..."
"Please no!"
Vaylin was engulfed in darkness, but it wasn't empty. It pulsed, it breathed, it watched. All around her, laughter echoed, rising and falling like a chorus of jackals circling their prey. She tried to move, to wrench herself free, but her limbs wouldn't obey. Something was holding her down, like invisible chains wound tight around her wrists and ankles. She twisted, thrashed, but there was no ground beneath her feet, no light, no direction. Only the pressure growing tighter and tighter.
"I'll do anything!" she screamed. "Please! Please, I'll do anything!"
The air around her thickened, choking the words from her throat. She couldn't see them, but she knew they were there.
Then she felt it. That same unbearable heat that always came before the agony. It rose from beneath, seeping through her skin like boiling oil. Her breath caught. Her nails clawed at nothing. There was nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide.
A whisper brushed her ear. "You belong to us."
"No—!" she shrieked, but the word cracked apart, breaking into jagged sobs. The laughter and pain surged toward her like a wave ready to swallow her whole.
She screamed.
And then she was upright, her eyes wide, her body coated in sweat. Her chest heaved as if she'd just broken the surface of deep water. For a second, she didn't move, didn't even blink. Her hands trembled in her lap. She looked around the room she was in, the place was unfamiliar—she looked down—as were the clothes she was wearing. 'The pain...' she wasn't in pain anymore, before she had fallen asleep she remembered being in such terrible pain.
'Was everything just a nightmare?' She thought to herself as she moved out of the bed she was in.
'Or am I just dreaming now?' That was more likely the case. She knew in her heart that the torture she'd experienced was real; she knew she could never have dreamt up something so awful. Sitting on the edge of the bed she was in she relished in how comfortable it was. "Hahahahahahahahha!" As strange a situation she was in Vaylin couldn't help but start to laugh. Though those laughs soon started to turn into sobs, and she moved her legs back onto the bed and tucked her knees into her chest as she started to weep.
Even if this was only a dream, it was such a sweet dream, such a reprieve from the horror she'd been experiencing. "Please never let me awaken..." she whispered to herself over and over again. She didn't even dare pinch herself, she wanted to stay in this world where pain was but a mere memory.
Vaylin lay back down her legs still tucked into her body as she cried. She didn't know how long she was in there for but eventually her stomach started to rumble. Eventually she had to get out of bed as the hunger pains were getting too much to deal with. She tentatively moved out of the bed and towards the exit of the room; as she approached she felt her heart start to beat faster. Numerous questions echoed throughout her mind as she took each step.
Where was she?
Is this really a dream?
Why was she brought here?
Did they want to hurt her?
Eventually she reached the door and had to make the decision on whether she would open it or not. She stood in front of the door for a long time, unmoving, her fingers hovering just above the panel. She hadn't even touched it yet, the fear of what might be behind that door scared her into not touching the panel. For a brief second, she considered going back to bed, curling into herself again and pretending she'd never even gotten up. But the hunger in her gut gnawed too hard, and the questions in her mind were growing too loud to ignore.
So she pressed her palm against the panel. The door slid open with a soft hiss and she stepped out into the corridor. The walls were white, but lined with lights that ran along the bottom and top of the wall like strips of paint. She didn't know what direction she should go; in the end she just picked one. Her legs moved slowly as she walked, her bare feet cold against the metal floor. She followed the hallway without thinking, keeping her arms close to her sides. Every few steps she glanced over her shoulder, unsure what she was looking for but unable to stop checking.
Eventually the hallway opened into a wider room. It looked like some kind of lounge. There were seats bolted to the floor and a large holotable built into the center. Across from it was a large viewing window that stretched from the floor to the ceiling.
Vaylin stopped.
She stepped closer to the glass.
Outside, she could see the skyline in perfect clarity. Massive towers reached into the clouds. Bright specks of speeders moved along high-altitude lanes. She always loved seeing Coruscant from so high up. She stared for a while. She didn't feel comforted by the view, though it did lift her spirits a little.
"Vaylin."
She froze.
The voice came from behind her.
Her breath caught in her throat as she turned sharply, her body tense, feet shifting instinctively as she backed away from the sound. Her eyes scanned the room quickly.
There was a man standing at the entrance of the lounge. He wore armour like a bounty hunter and had a hood and mask on. He wasn't armed. He wasn't moving toward her.
He just stood there, watching her.
Her body stayed rigid. She didn't know him. She didn't know what he wanted.
He knew her name.
"Don't come any closer," she said sharply, though she couldn't hide the fear that made its way into her voice.
"Vaylin... it's me," the man said as he walked closer and removed the hood and took off his mask.
Vaylin's eyes widened and started to water as she saw Jaden standing before her. She crossed the distance between them almost instantly—not noticing the way he moved a step back or reached towards his belt. She hugged him tightly as she began to weep. "Is this real?!" She sobbed as she pushed her head into his shoulder. She was terrified now, she was scared that seeing Jaden here meant all of this was merely just a dream. She held onto him tightly, tight enough that she hoped she would never be torn away from it.
"It's not a dream," Jaden said as he finally wrapped his arms around her and hugged her. "I broke you out of the republic prison, and you're currently on my ship," he explained.
Vaylin who was still sobbing looked up to Jaden. "T-Thank you..." she blubbered.
"Thank you."
"Thank you."
"Thank you."
Jaden looked down at Vaylin unsure of what to say. He believed he'd hardened his heart towards her after what she'd done, but seeing her now he couldn't help but pity her. If she was innocent then that same kindhearted girl that he knew had been unjustly taken into prison and tortured into near insanity. Even now as the rage flowed through him he found he could direct none of it towards her, so in the end he comforted her. He held her close and rubbed her back as she sobbed into his chest. "It's okay..." he whispered to her. "It's over..."
Despite the comforting words they only served to make her cry more. Vaylin had been broken in so many ways at that horrible place; to learn it was all over now was overwhelming and she found she could form no words, neither of relief or gratitude. Instead she just clung to Jaden and hoped that he would never disappear.
It took a while for Vaylin to calm down but eventually she did and Jaden led her over to the lounge area where he sat her down. He then told her he'd get her something to eat; before he could leave she grabbed his arm—reluctant to see him go. Eventually Jaden was able to convince her he wouldn't disappear and so he got her some food and sat down with her as she ate it. Despite it being pretty simple rations Vaylin devoured it like it was the finest cuisine. Jaden ended up giving her two more servings until she was satisfied. After that they just sat together, Vaylin holding his arm and gripping it tightly as she leaned against him.
Jaden sighed. He knew he couldn't keep putting this off forever, he turned to Vaylin who was rubbing her cheek against his shoulder for some reason. "Vaylin..." he said, startling her slightly as she moved away from his shoulder and looked at him.
"Yes?!" She replied.
"How much do you remember before you were arrested?" He asked.
Vaylin furrowed her brow and looked down, her fingers tightening slightly around his sleeve. "I... I remember the Eternal Horizon," she said slowly. "I was going towards Padmes suite. I remember hearing shouting... There were mercenaries—I think they forced their way into Padmé's room. I ran." Her voice trembled slightly. "I remember ending up in the lower levels. That's where I ran into you. I think I asked you for a comms device... I wanted to contact someone."
Jaden nodded slowly, while watching her. "Do you remember who you were trying to call?"
Vaylin frowned and tried to think. She stared at the floor, her eyes narrowing as she focused, but then she slowly shook her head. "No," she said quietly. "I don't. It's like it's right there, but I can't reach it."
Jaden let out a small breath through his nose and leaned back slightly. He could see the stress building in her again, the way her hands fidgeted nervously in her lap. He was about to say something else when she suddenly spoke again.
"They said such awful things in there..." Vaylin whispered. "They said I was a Sith Lord. That I attacked you on the Eternal Horizon. That I was going to be executed for terrorism." Her voice was shaking now, her breathing quickening. "Why would they say that? Why would they think that? I didn't do anything. I didn't even fight back when they came for me."
Jaden looked at her and exhaled slowly, his expression heavy. "Vaylin..." he said softly. "They said those things... because they were true."
She blinked.
Her face froze in shock. "W-What?" she stammered. "No. That's not—I wouldn't... Jaden, that's not possible. You must be mistaken. I would never do that."
Jaden didn't answer right away. Instead, he reached over to the small holotable in the center of the lounge. With a few inputs on his wrist console, the table lit up and projected a flickering blue recording. The image was unmistakable. Vaylin and Jaden stood in the reactor room of the Eternal Horizon, both of them igniting their sabers and engaging in a brutal duel.
Vaylin's hand slowly rose to her mouth as she stared at the projection. Her eyes filled with tears again. "No..." she whispered. "No, this can't be right... I wouldn't—I would never do this. Jaden, I swear..." But the truth was there. She couldn't deny what she was seeing. It was her.
She turned to him, her voice rising with panic. "What happened after that?! Is everyone okay?! Did I hurt anyone?!"
Jaden didn't speak for a moment. When he did, his voice was quiet. "Velea... she didn't make it."
Vaylin's mouth opened slightly. She looked like she was going to speak, but nothing came out. Her hands trembled in her lap. "Did I...?" she asked.
Jaden shook his head. "It wasn't you. Not directly. She was helping me try to stabilise the core. But I wasn't able to assist her in time, and she had to enter the containment chamber herself. Once she did, the door sealed behind her automatically. The radiation killed her before she could get out."
Vaylin sat there in silence, her throat tightening. Her lips quivered as she tried to form words. "I'm... I'm sorry," she finally managed, but it came out as a whisper, barely audible. "I'm so sorry..." she said again, her voice breaking.
Jaden reached out and placed his hand over hers. "If I thought you were guilty," he said gently, "then I wouldn't have broken you out of that prison."
She looked at him with wide eyes. "Then what happened to me?" she asked. "Why can't I remember any of this? Why would I attack you?"
"I don't know for sure," Jaden said, "but I think your mind may have been manipulated. Memories altered. Maybe even your behaviour. Can you think of anything strange that's happened over the last few months?"
Vaylin went quiet for a moment, thinking. Then her eyes widened. "I've... I've been having terrible dreams," she said. "But they don't feel like dreams. When I wake up from them, I'm sometimes injured. Bruises. Cuts. I never understood why."
Jaden hummed thoughtfully. "What did you dream of?" he asked.
"I was hurting people," she said with a stutter. "Killing them. Sometimes I saw you. But it felt wrong... like I wasn't myself."
"We've encountered each other a few times," Jaden said. "While you were... like that."
Vaylin's eyes widened again. "How long has this been going on?" she asked in a panic.
Jaden met her eyes directly. "Ever since the attack on the temple. A few days after that, you started hunting me."
Vaylin looked down, her shoulders trembling again. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice cracking. "I'm so sorry for everything."
"It's fine," Jaden said. "If you were manipulated, then none of this was your fault. What matters now is finding out what was done to you."
Vaylin looked up. "What should we do?" she asked.
Jaden scratched his cheek. "I have a medical droid in the medbay. It's equipped to run a full neurological scan. If something's been implanted or altered, it should be able to detect it."
Vaylin hesitated. The idea of letting anything near her brain made her nervous, but after everything she had seen, after what she had done without knowing it, she gave a small nod. "Okay..." she said quietly. "Let's do it." Jaden stood up and helped her to her feet. He led her out of the lounge and down a side corridor toward the medbay. The doors opened with a soft hiss and the medical droid inside lifted its head as they entered.
"Please sit," it said in a soft mechanical tone.
Vaylin sat on the examination table while Jaden stayed beside her. The droid moved behind her and attached a small scanning device to the side of her head. She flinched slightly but stayed still. The lights on the device flickered as the scan began. Jaden kept his eyes on her, watching her carefully. She was scared, but she didn't back away. she wanted to know the truth.
The scan took a while. Vaylin sat quietly, her hands clenched tightly in her lap as the medical droid worked behind her. Jaden remained nearby, arms folded, his foot tapping the floor as the minutes stretched on. Eventually, the scanner let out a soft beep and the droid retracted the instrument. "Scan complete," it said. "There are no physical devices, implants, or foreign neural stimulators detected in the cerebral cortex or surrounding cranial matter."
Vaylin let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. Jaden looked at the droid and raised a brow. "But?"
"There is an anomaly," the droid continued. "In a conscious human mind, certain regions of the brain display consistent synaptic activity across core processing centers—particularly in the frontal cortex, limbic system, and basal ganglia. In your companion's case, several of these regions are inactive or underperforming."
Jaden straightened slightly. "Meaning?"
The droid rotated its head. "There are several possible explanations. She could be experiencing long-term synaptic suppression due to advanced chemical conditioning or neurological trauma. Brain damage is also a possibility, although no structural abnormalities were found. Another explanation is induced compartmentalization—similar in presentation to dissociative identity disorder. There is also the possibility of a unique genetic divergence or rare mutation. In less probable but still valid cases, we must consider artificial cognitive repression, such as advanced Force-based mind manipulation."
Vaylin's eyes widened. "What... what does that mean?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Jaden didn't respond at first. He looked down at her, then turned back to the droid. "Can you check her midichlorian count?"
The droid paused. "Yes. Please remain still."
It moved toward a side tray and retrieved a small injector. It pressed the tip lightly against Vaylin's arm. A soft hiss sounded as the sample was taken. The droid examined the readout and turned back to Jaden.
"Midichlorian concentration... twenty-one thousand per cell."
Jaden's eyes widened. "That's... very high."
He stepped back slightly, arms still folded as he stared at the floor. He'd read plenty on midichlorian levels. Even Jedi Masters rarely reached that threshold. This was beyond exceptional.
"Is that good?" Vaylin asked.
Jaden nodded. "It's extremely high. You have the potential to be one of the most powerful Force users in the galaxy." He frowned. "But if that's true... then why can't you feel it? Why can't you sense the Force at all?"
He went quiet. A thought crept into his mind. A connection he hadn't considered until now. There was something nagging at him. He wondered now if whoever had void branded him had done something similar to her. Not the same method... but the same source. He was about to say more when an urgent beeping echoed from the intercom system.
Jaden turned sharply toward the door. "I'll be right back."
He strode out of the medbay, boots echoing against the metal floor as he moved quickly down the hall toward the cockpit. When he slid into the pilot's seat, the blinking red light on the console showed a distress signal was being broadcast nearby. He brought it up onto the main display, narrowing his eyes as the signal details scrolled across the screen.
His expression darkened.
The transponder code belonged to a vessel registered to Collan Eislo.
His hands clenched into fists on the controls. He didn't know why Collan's ship was broadcasting an emergency signal, but he wasn't going to ignore it.
Jaden traced the signal's path—it was faint, but unmistakable. It was coming from deep within the Unknown Regions.
He stared at the data for only a second longer before reaching for the flight controls. They had been cloaked since escaping the prison facility. He cursed under his breath. "Damn it..." he muttered. If he wanted to get the engines fully online, he'd have to drop the cloak. With a wuick motion, he deactivated the stealth systems. The ship's engines roared louder as full power surged back into them. Jaden immediately pulled the vessel into a vertical climb, punching through the sky.
Within moments, a warning blared across his console.
Incoming hail.
"Unidentified vessel, this is Coruscant Defense Command. Power down your engines and prepare to be boarded."
Jaden didn't respond.
Instead, he gritted his teeth and pulled the yoke hard to the left as a pair of security craft broke from orbit to intercept. Blaster fire lanced past the viewports. The ship shook violently. Jaden adjusted throttle output and rolled the ship into a sharp dive before cutting hard back upward, narrowly avoiding the next barrage.
The comms continued. "Power down immediately! This is your final warning!"
Vaylin stumbled into the cockpit, grabbing the wall for support. "What's happening?!"
"Strap in!" Jaden shouted. "We're leaving!"
Another volley rocked the ship. The shields held but the impact sent a shudder through the frame. Vaylin threw herself into the copilot's seat and pulled the harness over her shoulders. Jaden kept his eyes forward. They were breaking into the upper atmosphere now. Ahead of them, three Republic cruisers had moved into position.
"They're going to try to cut us off..." Jaden muttered, fingers racing across the controls. "But they won't be able to. Not this time."
He flicked the switch to prime the warp engine. The coordinates were already being fed in, locked onto the source of the distress call.
The countdown began.
Five seconds.
Four.
Three.
The Republic cruisers opened fire.
Two.
One.
The ship vanished as it launched into warp speed.
Aboard the lead cruiser, the admiral stepped forward with a scowl.
"Follow him into hyperspace!" he barked.
The officer seated at the station frowned. "Sir... we can't."
"What do you mean you can't?" the admiral snapped. "You saw the ship blast off, didn't you?"
"Yes, sir, but... he didn't enter hyperspace. At least... not any known lane. We didn't register a jump to lightspeed. And now... he's already moved past our long-range sensors."
The admiral's eyes narrowed. "What is going on...?"
Jaden leaned back slightly in the pilot seat, watching the stars streak past as the ship cruised through warp.
The sound of the engines was steady.
The cabin lights dimmed slightly.
He glanced toward the viewport, then allowed a small smile to tug at the corner of his lips.
"It works, Vel..." he whispered.
"It works."
___________________________
Master Fay exhaled softly as she leaned back in her chair, her fingers pinching the bridge of her nose. The Jedi Archives were quiet this late into the cycle, with only the buzzing of power conduits and the occasional shuffle of archivist droids filling the vast marble chamber. She had been here for while—longer than she cared to admit. Ever since the Senate had voted not to pursue Collan Eislo, she had felt a weight settle in her chest. Something wasn't right.
She couldn't tell if it was instinct or a whisper from the Force itself, but the sensation had only grown heavier with each passing day.
She knew Collan was hiding something. The pieces didn't add up. If his goal had been to kill Jaden, he'd had more than enough opportunity to do so aboard the Eternal Horizon. The holofootage proved that. But he hadn't. No, he'd been after something else.
The Holocron.
The very same one Jaden had come into possession of.
But why that Holocron? What secret could it possibly hold that would cause Collan Eislo—heir of one of the galaxy's largest tech conglomerates—to burn his own life to the ground? Master Fay rubbed her temples and turned her eyes back to the screen in front of her. Jaden had told her the Holocron belonged to Grandmaster Satele Shan, which had at least narrowed the time period. But that hadn't made things easy.
There were no official records of Satele creating a Holocron. Not in the Archives. Not in any Republic database she'd accessed. That in itself was suspicious. The long hours were beginning to wear on her. She sighed and closed her eyes for a moment, fingers massaging the fatigue from her forehead.
"You tire, do you?" came a familiar voice behind her.
She opened her eyes and turned with a soft smile. "Yes, Master Yoda. It's been quite a long night."
The ancient Jedi walked closer, his hands clasped behind his back. "Search for what, you do?" he asked as he looked at the open console and the half-scanned holorecords on the screen.
She gestured toward the data. "I'm trying to understand why Collan Eislo wanted that Holocron. I don't believe his only goal was to kill Jaden. He had the opportunity, and he didn't take it. What makes more sense is that he wanted the Holocron... and for him to go that far, to throw away his entire reputation... it must hold something incredibly dangerous."
"Mmm." Yoda tilted his head, his ears twitching. "An interesting theory, that is."
He hopped up onto the table beside the console, his feet dangling slightly over the edge. "Find what you hope to, you may not," he said. "If Grandmaster Shan created a Holocron and kept no record, then not to be found... she did not want it."
Master Fay nodded slowly. "You're probably right," she said. "But that means I'm at a loss."
"Not yet," Yoda said with a slight smile. He reached toward the console and tapped a few keys. A deeper system opened, and new files appeared, each one encrypted, marked with a restricted seal.
"What is this?" Fay asked.
"Grandmasters' personal logs," Yoda replied. "Maintained across generations. Guidance they offer, wisdom and warnings left behind. Perhaps... the answer you seek lies here."
Fay blinked. "Thank you, Master." She bowed her head briefly and then turned her attention to the newly unlocked files. She typed in a search. Satele Shan. A list of logs appeared, sorted by date. She opened the first one and began reading. The logs were detailed, most of them mundane. Observations about Jedi training, reflections on the galaxy's shifting politics, insights into the burdens of leadership. But then one entry caught her attention. The title mentioned the Eternal Empire.
She opened it.
Her eyes widened.
In the entry, Satele described a powerful Force-user... a woman named Vaylin. The log spoke of chaos, of unnatural strength, of a threat that defied conventional understanding. "It can't be the same person..." Fay whispered to herself. But then she saw the attached image, one taken from what must have been a thousand of years old archive.
The woman in the picture looked exactly like Padmé's clumsy assistant.
"How can that be?" she asked aloud.
Yoda hummed. "A descendent, possibly."
"She looks identical," Fay replied, still in disbelief. She stared at the image, stunned. It took a moment before she realized she had completely forgotten why she was there.
Yoda cleared his throat gently. "Forget you should not ... what you search for."
Fay blinked and turned back to the console. She continued reading the logs. She reached one of the final entries—her eyes scanning faster now.
Satele wrote:
Once again, I've stopped a Sith Lord attempting to harness the power of Darth Nihilus' mask. I wish I could destroy it, but I haven't found a way. Nor can I destroy the Holocron that tracks it. Even in death, Darth Nihilus wants to be found. Anyone who succeeds in channeling his essence will be subsumed by it. Fully incarnating Darth Nihilus. I've done the only thing I can. I've placed part of my spirit within the Holocron. I've hidden the mask and locked the Holocron. Only those with my blood will be able to open it. I apologise for locking away my knowledge. But this... was the only way. I can only hope it works.
The journal ended.
Master Fay sat still, her mouth slightly open. Even Yoda said nothing for a moment, his face unusually grave.
"She put her spirit into the Holocron," Fay whispered. "And only someone of her blood can open it. That means... Jaden is truly her descendant."
Yoda nodded once. "A secret well kept... and now, much danger."
"Master," Fay said quickly. "We can't afford not to get involved. If Nihilus is resurrected we won't be able to stop him. He could destroy entire worlds."
"Right you are," Yoda said. "Dangerous this is. To the Council I will take this."
"With respect, Master... we can't afford to deliberate. We need to act. You need to take control."
Yoda looked at her with soft, tired eyes. "Understand your frustrations, I do. But death we walk into... a choice, I have to give them."
Master Fay lowered her head. He was right. They couldn't force the Jedi into a war they didn't yet understand. But time was slipping away. Yoda stood from the table and turned toward the exit. "Worry not, Master Fay," he said with a rare smile. "The Force does not shout... but it always speaks. Listen carefully... and in the silence, truth you will find."
With that, he walked away, his small frame slowly vanishing into the corridor.
(AN: So Jaden is off to find that bitch and the council have now discovered what the mask truly does. What's going to happen now. Woooooooooo spooky. Anyway there shouldn't be that many more chapters till the end. I was thinking about Vaylins midichlorian count. I decided to make it high but not high enough that she has some chosen one shit, though tbf by modern standards 21,000 is ridiculous. Anyway I hope you enjoyed the chapter.)
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