A/N: This is the sequel to An Informal Apprenticeship, part 2 of a 3 part series. This can be easily read on its own, but part one is good for some background. :-)
Setting: NJO after the 2nd battle of Sernpidal- this start within a couple of months of Jaina storming out on Kyp after the worldship incident.
Rating: T for- warning- mention (but no depiction) of rape
Disclaimer: Everything belongs to LucasFilms and such… sadly.
Betrayal, Forgiveness, Redemption
Part I
They had loved one another once.
At least, that's what they told each other.
What was love to a seventeen-year-old whose prior romantic life consisted of one, relatively chaste kiss with a childhood friend? When the man in question was nearly double her age, had known her since she was a small child?
He could use those things, of course; her inexperience made him the undeniable master. His age gave him authority, and accorded him respect, along with the attraction that he saw budding- and encouraged fervently.
They had loved one another- but she was unmistakably his.
Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene.
Her comlink beeped.
"Jaina? Kyp's gone."
Blink. Three slow beats. "And?"
An exasperated sigh. "And we're looking for him; do you know where he is?"
"Aunt Mara, we haven't spoken since…" Since I slapped him. "Why should I have any idea?"
Pause. "Wedge indicated that there might have been a more… personal… relationship between you."
"Of course; I was his apprentice for a few months."
"More personal than that."
Oh.
"I don't know where he's gone."
Sigh. "Alright. It was worth a shot. Oh, and you might want to pass over any calls from your father for a while."
"Why?"
"Wedge wasn't very, er… discreet… in is intimations."
Thanks, General Antilles.
Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene.
Two Months Later
"We found him," Corran Horn rushed into the room where a number of masters were gathered. "Kyp was on Corellia within the last few hours."
"Corellia?" Mara frowned. "What could he have wanted there?"
Corran's expression was grim. "Peace Brigade."
Luke sighed and rubbed at his eyes. "How many?"
"Sixteen. Found dead in a ship that was preparing to take off outside Coronet. Obvious lightsaber attack." A lengthy silence. "Master Skywalker?"
The silence continued for a full minute.
"Do we have any idea where he'll strike next?"
"We're still waiting on Corellian security to tell us anything. So… probably not." Corran was quiet for a moment. "Master Skywalker, I'd like to start pursuing him. It's time to get proactive about this."
Mara snorted. "Now you sound like Kyp. Are you sure this isn't just the side of you who has despised Kyp Durron for years talking?"
Corran spared her a sharp glance. "Durron thinks he's acting in the Jedi's interests; taking out Peace Brigaders who would be more than happy to turn any of us over for a hefty reward… but how long until he slips too far?"
"What would be too far, Corran?" Luke still did not look at him.
"Genocide against an alien race?"
Everyone in the room turned to eye the newcomer. Her eyes were sunken, jumpsuit baggier over her narrow frame than usual- the entire situation was taking its toll on Kyp's former apprentice and, by many unconfirmed accounts, lover.
"You're back." Mara's tone was even; an acknowledgement, more than a question.
There was no question of letting in her in the meeting of the masters, despite Jaina's youth; this topic concerned her- more than they yet knew, she thought.
"Commander Darklighter sent me back." That earned a ripple of surprise. "He thinks I'm pushing myself too hard." That was only a half-truth. The fact was, her pre-flight physical had been subpar; underweight, lack of adequate sleep… and Darklighter didn't want someone stepping into the exhaustive role who was already battle-fatigued.
"Well we're always happy to have your input, Jaina," Luke murmured quietly, ever the morale-booster. "Kyp just hit a ship-full of Peace Brigade on Corellia." Her face remained impassive, and he wondered if she hadn't somehow heard the news ahead of them. "We're trying to decide if it's the right time to act and if so… how to do it."
She frowned. "Can we afford to spare anyone? We have Vong accumulating in the mid-Rim, more rumors of these voxyn, and our own allies wondering if it wouldn't be best to turn over the Jedi."
"All the more reason to keep the Jedi united; if people see Jedi running around, killing people in cold-blood… even if they are Peace Brigade… they'll start to agree that being rid of us is best after all." Kenth Hamner's voice was cool and quiet.
"Corran, Kenth," Luke spoke softly, "what happens when the Jedi start chasing Kyp? He's clearly unbalanced already, to some degree," his eyes flickered to Jaina so fast that she thought it may have been imagined. "Will the Jedi become his enemies? Will he run, or stay and fight to the death? He knows where the younglings are… do we move them from the Maw?"
Corran's dismay was palpable through the Force; he had two children hiding at Shelter.
"He won't attack younglings," Jaina said quietly, and all eyes swiveled back to her. "He might resist an attempt to capture him, but he won't seek a confrontation with the Jedi. That's not what he's after."
"How can you be so sure?" Hamner sounded skeptical at best, condescending at worst.
She closed her eyes, trying to block out the pressure against her mind, the pressure that had started as a low buzz the night Mara told her that Kyp had left, and had gradually intensified until she could no longer sleep, concentration was difficult… "I just am."
"Reassuring as that is, I'd prefer not to trust my children's lives to your residual confidence in your old flame."
"Corran!" Mara bit. "That was uncalled for."
"No," Jaina held Corran's gaze steadily, "I think Master Horn is right; and I think, if it is the Council's will that Kyp be brought in, that I should be the one to do it."
Another faint ripple of surprise. "Jaina?" Mara asked carefully. "I thought you don't know where he is?"
"I don't," she admitted. "But it doesn't matter. He'll come to me."
The ensuing pause was tense and a bit uncomfortable, but Jaina did not back down. The room seemed to be waiting for Master Skywalker to respond to the claim. Finally, he steepled his fingertips and observed her carefully over them.
"I don't think it's a good idea," he said slowly. "I am concerned that your prior relationship with Kyp may impair your judgment. He's manipulated you once already."
Jaina wanted to be annoyed at his words, but suspected Luke was purposely ambiguous. Relationship could mean master and apprentice; but it could also mean intimate. Both would be apt, though the council could not be entirely sure of the latter; Jaina wasn't surrendering the information.
"Also," Luke interrupted her thoughts, "you will want to speak with Anakin. He's working up a scheme to get at the base of the Yuuzhan Vong's voxyn operations. He'll need your help."
Recognizing the dismissal, she left the chamber with a curt nod towards her aunt and uncle.
Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene.
Three Months Later
"Jaina…"
She sat up with a gasp, a faint tingling in her lips.
Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene.
The pressure was back, after she'd finally managed to block her mind off from it prior to the mission to Myrkr. For three nights, she sat awake, unable to relax with the knowledge that he was toying with her.
Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene. Scene.
"Jaina."
Her eyes opened reflexively; indeed, she hadn't been asleep. But she hadn't expected him to actually be there, standing right next to her bed. She started and sat up, self-conscious of her less-than-modest undergarments, but not showing it.
"I've missed you."
"I've missed you too." It was true; she missed the old Kyp, but not the one who had betrayed her trust so horribly.
"Then come with me. Tonight." Now that, she had not been expecting.
She smiled sadly. "You know I can't do that."
"Of course you can. We can find somewhere to be together, away from war, from death…"
"And when my parents, or my aunt and uncle come looking for me, will you deal with them like you did Corran Horn?"
His eyes flashed once. "I did not want to harm Horn. He was… persistent."
"Yeah, well he spent twelve days in bacta recovering."
He abruptly changed the topic. "I was terribly grieved to hear about your brothers."
"And yet you ask me to abandon everything, abandon my parents to run away with you?"
For a long time, the two sat staring at each other. "No," he finally sighed. "That would be unfair, wouldn't it?"
"Why are you here?"
He sat on the bed next to her and reached out, cupping her face with a hand and looking intently into her eyes. "I wanted- needed - to see you. To know if you'd choose me or the Council."
"What?" She didn't like the sound of that.
"Well," he said softly, stroking her cheek, "they've had two weeks to regroup since the Horn incident; surely it's about time for Master Skywalker to send someone else… Sebatyne and Hamner, perhaps?… to try to succeed where Corran failed."
She frowned. "They haven't sent anyone else; I think they're worried about getting any more Jedi killed than necessary. They're afraid of you, Kyp," she said sadly.
He just smiled at her and ran his fingers through her hair, making her shiver at his light touch. She did not resist as he drew her into his arms and placed a soft kiss at the base of her neck. "I love you, Goddess- my goddess," he whispered. Her mind was growing hazy, but she was a little surprised that he already knew the nickname that was used to begin building the psychological campaign. She tried to say something, anything, but she was just so… tired. As she struggled to keep her eyes open as the pressure intensified, she heard him whisper, "Someday soon, this war will be over and you'll be mine again, Jaina. I promise."
The world faded to black.
End Part I
A/N: This is an 11-part story. Expect a chapter or two a day. And by all means, tell me how you're liking it. ;-)
*~Lexi~*