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“I have to go,” she said.

“Now?”

“No, but soon. A few hours, a few days.”

“Where?”

“I don’t know.”

He grinned. “I recommend you figure that out before you leave.”

“That’s what I’m trying to do.” She shook her head. “Alema’s dead. Jacen’s next.”

“Just about everyone I know plans to be the one to confront Jacen Solo. Grand Master Skywalker, Ben Skywalker, half the Jedi Knights, all the Jedi Masters…every pilot I know plans to be there in a starfighter the next time he’s in one. So I suggest you get in line.”

“If it is someone else, I won’t complain. But if it has to be me, I want to be ready. You showed me I wasn’t.” She took a moment to consider her words. “I’m his twin. I have as much power as he does…potentially. But he’s had training I haven’t. I need to counter it with training he hasn’t had. And the sort of ingenuity you showed me.”

He watched her in the deepening shadows. “I’ll give you whatever help I can. But I think Alema was just about my match. Jacen…he’s far more dangerous.”

“I know. But I wanted you to understand that you have helped me. Helped me get this far. I just have to get farther. And that means going away.”

He nodded. “Just remember who you are. That should mean everything to you. And remember that it means nothing to Jacen anymore. He’s already shown that he cares nothing for the families of those he tortures and kills.”

“Those he tortures and kills.” Jaina froze as something occurred to her. “Those he tortures and kills…”

“What is it?”

“Oh, no.” She shook her head, almost unaware of Jag, as the thought took hold. “I can’t.”

“You can’t what?”

She looked at him, hoping that something in his expression or words might tell her why her idea was wrong, bad.

But it wasn’t. It was the only answer. It was inevitable.

She rose. “I have to go.”

“I know; you said that.”

“But now I know where. I need to make some preparations. Don’t worry: I’ll say good-bye before I leave.”

She turned away from his baffled expression and headed back to the outpost. Toward her mission. Toward an act of last resort.

Toward her teacher.

Read on for a preview of Karen Travisss

REVELATION

The eighth novel in the thrilling new Star Wars epic!

JEDI OUTPOST, ENDOR: TWELVE WEEKS AFTER THE DEATH OF MARA JADE SKYWALKER

My brother died in the Yuuzhan Vong War.

Not Anakin: Jacen.

It’s taken me years to work that out, but I should have seen it from the start. Jacen, the brother I loved, my twin, never came home. It just looked as if he did.

I think the core of Jacen probably died in the Embrace of Pain, at the hands of Vergere and the Yuuzhan Vong. Whatever came back was another person; a total stranger.

It’s the only explanation for what he’s become.

So that’s why I’ve reached the point of doing something utterly unthinkable, because the unthinkable is the last card we have left to play, the only way I can stop Jacen and his war from swallowing the whole galaxy. It was the Mandalorian crushgaunts that made up my mind. As Jag has proven, they certainly work. They’re nasty weapons. Mandalorian iron—beskar—is pretty well nearly lightsaber-proof.

I almost expected the things to detonate when Dad opened the package. Since when did Boba Fett ever send my father gifts?

Since his daughter was tortured to death by my brother, actually. We’ve been waiting for Fett’s revenge ever since, but so far…nothing. Just the gift of crushgaunts and armor plate, all made from Mandalorian iron.

So I’m packing for a journey I didn’t think I’d ever make. I’ll give Jag this much: he never said I told you so. He’s the one who said I needed to learn from someone who had a track record in bringing down Jedi.

If anyone can stop Jacen, then, it’s me. I’m his equal, and I’m the Sword of the Jedi. But I just don’t have his…training. I’ve no idea what he learned from Lumiya, let alone what he picked up on his travels during those five years. But he’ll make a mistake sooner or later. He’s way too cocky not to overestimate himself.