The battered and bruised ship limped along in what, as far Jacen Solo, was the Vong equivalent of hyperspace. All he knew was that they weren't going nearly as fast as he would have preferred to go. The Jedi, as bruised as his ship, wearily surveyed the organic controls. He had no idea how to affect the ship's speed and wearily, he turned to leave the cockpit of the small ship.
As he walked down the glowing corridor he wondered how long he had been on this Sith-spawned ship. Days? Weeks? Perhaps even months? Honestly, he had next to no idea how long it had been since he had been captured on the world ship, still grief-stricken over the death of Anakin, reeling from Jaina's angry response. It could be years, and that was a depressing thought. He only knew one thing- the war was over. The Yuuzhan Vong's defeat had been made clear to him as the world ship he was held on had been thrown into disarray with the news. Only in the confusion had he been able to escape.
Jacen had not escaped alone. Upon the world ship he had made friends with many other slaves, all captured by the Vong- some as early as at Duro. Of his friends though, only two had made it to the modified coral skipper with him. He entered the ship's main living chamber and looked to his two compatriots.
Sarra looked up at the sound of his footsteps. The petite human woman smiled half heartedly at him. "Figure anything out?"
Jacen shook his head. "Naw. Daz- can you check it out? You might have better luck than me."
"Grawwwllll!"
Jacen shook his head at the black haired Wookie. "Fine. Forget I asked." He turned to Sarra. "I guess he doesn't want to get any of that gunk on his fur."
"Would you?" She raised one eyebrow at him. Her lighthearted mood dimmed slightly. "Did you atleast figure out if we're any closer to the Core?"
Jacen sighed, running a hand through his dirty hair. "Not even a clue. For all we know- we could be out here for years."
A beat throbbed through the crowded room, keeping time like the heartbeat of a Hutt. Bodies moved in time, but yet just out of sync. They moved both to the music, but their own. The ability to work together yet be independent was one of the things which set the pilots which mainly populated the room apart from the rest.
Jaina Solo-Fel had no idea how long she had been there, or what time it was. Frankly she didn't care. The only thing that existed was the music, the techno beat moving through her veins, her movement... and her husband. Her back was pressed up against him as they moved together to the music. They had been dancing a long time, based upon the sweat which glistened upon their bodies but their energy seemed boundless.
The club had been set up on the military frigate Restoration shortly before the end of the war, used a place for the pilots of the wings which were based on the ship to unwind. It had been a place of heady celebration after the war was one, and it was still used. The euphoria of victory spread through Jaina every time she came here, as she remembered how she and Jag had danced all night long during the victory celebration.
The tempo of the music sped up and so did the excitement in the room, pilots screaming approval as the music became more intense... Jaina barely noticed her comm she was so pulled in by the beat until she opened her eyes and saw the little light flashing at her. She pulled away from Jag and went out to the corridor, keying the comm.
"Solo here."
"Sorry to wake you Commander, but we have need of you and your husband here in the Command Centre." The crisp voice of the Communications officer came over and Jaina sighed.
"We'll be right there."
Jag was behind her, having followed her out and she turned to him. "Fun time's over." She told him.
"I heard. What time is it?"
Jaina checked her wrist chrono. "Holy Sith- 4 in the morning." She looked up at Jag, her eyes crinkling with laughter. "No wonder they thought we were sleeping."
"Well if we were back in our quarters- would we be sleeping?" Jag asked, sliding his arms around her waist and kissing the base of her neck.
"Mmmm. Probably not." The couple, married for barely a year, shared a brief but tender kiss before Jaina pulled away.
"They're expecting us. Come on, husband of mine."
In fifteen minutesthe commanders of all the flight squadrons based on the ship were assembled with General Antilles.
Jag had left the Twin Suns squadron after the end of the war to reclaim his own Spike Squadron but an agreement with the Chiss government had kept he and his pilots working with the New Republic.
Jaina and Jag took their seats, with Biggs Darklighter to Jaina's left and the commander of Wraith Squadron next to Jag.
Wedge wasted no time. "We might have a re-incursion."
Silence fell over those assembled as Wedge keyed up a holo. Of a coralskipper.
A ball tensed into Jaina's stomach, a kind of anxiety she hadn't felt in more than a year. She gulped in a deep breath, the image of the small ship bringing up so many memories...
coralskippers engaging.... we have to bring the battle to them... get the refugees out of here!... Chewie... they're attacking... Ani... Ithor is gone... I'm losing it- I'm EV!... back to Sernpidal... it's a worldship... we have to protect Eclispe... ANAKIN!... JACEN!...Trickster Goddess... Inner Circle... Victory...
.Jaina shook her head to push away all the images. Beside her Jag looked at her sympathetically, taking her cold hand in his. Jaina made herself focus on Wedge's words.
"We'll send out a squadron, make it a quick and clean kill. If they're sniffing around we'll show them no hesitation or mercy." The General was looking at the hologram with hard eyes, remembering the dark days of the war.
The knot within Jaina's stomach lurched and she latched onto the instinct. "We- we can't destroy it."
All eyes in the room turned to her. "Why exactly not, Commander?"
"I - I can't say, sir. Call it a hokey Jedi hunch or whatever. All I know is that we can't destroy it."
Wedge looked at her for a long moment and then seemed to make a decision. "Fine. We won't destroy it outright. I'll send Twin Suns out- see what happens." Jaina nodded mutely eyes on the ship. "But." Jaina looked back at him, the lines of his face carved in by the battles in his life, harsh and clear in the light. "Any aggressive move on their part, and you pulverize them. Any problem with that?"
Jaina shook her head. "No sir." She got out her commlink, keying it on. "Twin Suns Leader to all pilots, flight in fifteen. This is not a drill." She looked up at Wedge. "Thank you, sir."
He only nodded, wondering if this reliance on a 'hokey Jedi hunch' would leave a hole open for the Yuuzhan Vong to punch back into this galaxy.
Jaina rose and left, Jag silent behind her. She could guess the expression on his face, she didn't need to look back. But she did, and sure enough he was angry. They didn't speak as they marched down the short corridor to the lift. Once inside he turned on her.
"What in the Emperor's name are you doing?!" He demanded of her. "Don't destroy a Vong ship? I haven't heard bantha dung like that in years. Coming from you of all people! What are you thinking?!"
"I don't know," Jaina admitted softly. "All I know is that I won't destroy that ship until I know it's purpose."
"It's a Vong coralskipper- what other purpose could it have? They're here for a picnic?"
Jaina wrapped her arms around herself. "There is something about it in the Force. My head is screaming at me to destroy it- but something in me is saying no." She looked up at Jag. "I know you don't understand. But I have to trust my instincts on this one. And I need you to trust my instincts."
Jag looked at her soberly. "I don't know if I can. I expected some Jedi illogic when I married you but this..." His voice trailed off.
A smile quirked around Jaina's mouth. "Sometimes Jedi illogic is dead on. And I think this is. If I'm wrong I'll pay the price."
"We all will." Jag's shoulder's slumped and he pulled her to him, enclosing her in a tight hug. "I hate this."
"I know you do." Jaina fitted her head under his chin.
"Try to stay safe."
"I will."
Jag tilted her chin up with his fingers, looking her intently in the eyes. "I love you."
Jaina smiled at him, love in her eyes."I know."
Jacen woke up to the sound of a loud wailing, which he realized which was coming from the cockpit. Trust the Vong to have an organic version of a proximity alarm. He thought grimly to himself. Getting up off the floor, he stumbled into the cockpit and peered out into space, trying to figure out what had set the alarm off.
He didn't have to look far. From his right, 12 X-Wings screamed past in a tight manoeuver, circling the ship.
"Sithspawn." He spun to see Sarra, her eyes wide as she surveyed the ship. "We're dead."
"I wouldn't count on that." Jacen turned back to the control board and using the bits of knowledge he had picked up over the course of their ride, slowly turned the ship around.
"Well with evasive manouevers like that- no wonder you're so cocky." Sarra drawled.
"Give me a minute." Jacen said through gritted teeth.
"We don't have a minute. They're going to open fire any second! We're lucky they aren't already firing!"
Jacen stopped and then turned to look back at her. "Why aren't they firing?"
Sarra looked at him, puzzlement in her eyes. "I don't know. Why aren't they firing?"
Jacen closed his eyes and reached out with the Force. He went from ship to ship, seeing minds filled with turmoil as they... waited? What were they waiting for? He made his way from mind to mind as the ships circled the coralskipper, and then he got to....
Jaya!!!???
Jaina's mind went blank with shock, then realization. This was why she knew she couldn't destroy the ship! "Jacen!!!!"
Jasa? What the hell are you doing on a coralskipper?
It's a long story...
That doesn't matter! Where have you been?
Another long story, Jaya.
During this conversation Jaina didn't notice the Restoration comm officer talking to her.
"- Solo? What is your status? Repeat-"
Jaina snapped back. "Give me landing clearance! For the squadron and the coralskipper."
"For the coralskipper?!"The comm officer asked.
"Yes for the damn coralskipper- my brother's on it!"
"Jacen is on that ship?" Wedge cut onto the frequency.
"Yes. That's why I knew I couldn't destroy it!"
There was a silence as Jaina waited, a smile growing across her face as she realized Jacen was home! Home!
"Commander Solo- you have landing clearance- for all ships." The comm officer was back.
Jaina turned her ship around. "Twin Suns- prepare to return to Restoration." Her pilots dutifully did, even though they had no idea what had just happened.
Jasa? Just follow me- and you'll be home.
Right behind you.
Jacen nudged the controls into life, to follow the X-Wing he now knew as his sister's. Behind him Sarra cleared her throat impatiently.
"What's going on?" She asked.
Jacen turned around and swept her into a tight hug, lifting her into the air. "We're home!"