PRELUDE

The Millennium Falcon drifted almost lazily in hyperspace, but those in the room knew that they weren't going as slow as it felt. The starlines were clearly visible, assuring any of their rising doubts. The mission on Galantos had been informative, yes, but if nothing else, a big nuisance. While good had, obviously, come of it, people had been injured too. Including Jaina Solo, though she didn't admit it, who was feigning a fever and quite convincingly at that.

No, Jaina was feigning a fever because her entirety felt as if she were pounding it against a durasteel wall. Her body had been beaten physically while on Galantos, but it held nothing in comparison to how her mind felt. If physically she felt like she was being smashed into a durasteel wall over and over again, Jaina thought dryly, then I don't even know how to tell people what my head feels like.

For all she could soundly piece together, she was on the Falcon in the middle of hyperspace and couldn't tell where the sith she was going. Not that it mattered to her anyway. So long as it was away from the vong and so long as her twin was safe. A smile, not nearly as big as the one she held inside, went to her face. Jacen had gone to Zenoma Sekot with Uncle Luke and they'd succeeded.

Jaina's head fell back on the cot as the Millennium Falcon continued her trek through the starlines. With a last simple look around the room, she closed her eyes, focusing inward instead of outward, unconsciously aware of herself falling back into the cushion that was the Force. It seemed to engulf her as if it were water surrounding her. But it was not suffocating her, as water might; rather, it was letting her breath with more clarity. The blissful silence and the Force surrounding her eased her off into sleep.

-+-

Once more Jaina found herself in the transparisteel box, her eyes locked on the two people fighting. The mirror images. Tahiri and Riina. The twin sets of green eyes locked on her and, though she couldn't hear the words, the tone announced quite plainly that they were speaking of her. For a moment, time hung in a standstill as Jaina watched the pair as Riina held her left arm and Tahiri held her right, both injured by the lightsabers. What one was doing to the other, was unwittingly being inflicted on herself. She watched as Tahiri and Riina started talking, their words a jumble that she couldn't distinguish.

As though from a great distance, she thought she heard Jag's voice calling to her.

"I love you, Jaina," the voice whispered over the darkened landscape. "Please come back to me..."

It was an illusion, she knew, a product of wishful thinking. Jag may have felt such sentiments, but he'd never actually say them. But just the thought of him saying such things gave her the strength she needed.

"Face your fears, Tahiri," she told the shadowy world around her

The dreamscape began to tremble, as though about to dissolve away.

"Krel os'a. Hmi va ta!"

The darkness faded this time around, however, and then the dream was gone.

-+-

Jaina woke up some time later. She quickly rubbed the sleep from her eyes, then looked at her chrono. O nine hundred by Coruscant's time. Coruscant. The thought struck a nerve as with it came the memories of the planet's loss to the Vong. Well, the Vong were going to get a very large wake-up call from Zonama Sekot, considering it had joined up with the forces fighting the Vong.

Her memories swam about inside her head as she sat up, at last resting on the time she had been 'in' Tahiri's head. What she had seen there had been, to say the least, strange. But somehow it was entirely normal all at the same time. Her dream began to come back to her, the few decypherable words in it somehow with absolute clarity. When she had 'woken' up from her stay in the trance, she had found Jag there, holding her hand. She had said something to the effect of the fact that she'd heard him... Or that's who she thought it was. It must've been him, mustn't it? After all, by the look of him when she came back to consciousness, he appeared to have been there for a long time.

A sigh eased its way past her lips as she looked around the room. Just the knowledge that she was safely in the Falcon with her parents was enough to calm her fidgety nerves. But in all truth, she wanted to know if she was right. It had been Jag who she'd heard in that dream-state, hadn't it?

She raised a hand to hit the release on the door, but found it opening before she'd even touched it. The knowledge that someone had managed to get that close to the door without her knowing of it through the Force made her a bit uneasy, but then again, she had been rather lost in her thoughts.

As the door finished opening, a smile appeared on Jaina's face. Jag was standing in front of the door, an anxious look on his face. A smile played on Jaina's and she looked up at him expectantly. When he remained silent, she just shook her head.

"What's wrong, Jag. And don't bother telling me that nothing's wrong because you're hardly a person to go around looking anxious," she said. Jaina didn't even bother being formal, didn't bother making him come in the room before she dropped titles. Everyone on board the Falcon knew of their feelings towards each other...even if her father was a bit 'iffy' about it.

Jag's expression lightened a bit as he took a step closer to where Jaina was standing. Through the Force she could easily detect the hints of concern that lingered there, though made no statement about them. Instead, she glanced down the way to where the door into the Falcon's cockpit was and, upon seeing it closed, she stepped back to let Jag enter.

He stepped past her, turning after he was inside the room. Jaina tapped the release on the door and waited for it to close before she turned to face Jag. A smiled played on her face again as she found herself immediately in Jag's strong embrase. She reached up with one hand to brush a bit of his hair out of his face, though it was hardly necessary as the black hair wasn't that long. Her other hand rested on his shoulder as she stood in the circle of his arms. A moment passed as they stood together, then Jag finally spoke.

"Jaina..." She looked at him, waiting for him to continue and was quickly gratified. "I don't even know how to say this...but I'm just so glad I didn't lose you too..."

Jaina smiled slightly as his voice trailed off, but said nothing. Her thoughts were returning to the words in her dream. She glanced up to find Jag looking at her, as if he were debating saying something more.

"I just want to make the most of the time we have before we get back to the hustle and bustle of being on base... Before you have to return to being your Goddess self," he said at last. Jaina nodded.

"Then why waste words?" Jaina questioned. Jag looked as if he was ready to reply, but was cut short by the kiss that followed Jaina's words. Her free hand moved around his neck to connect with her hand that was already on his shoulder. She felt Jag's hands break their circle, one of them coming to the small of her back to press her closer to him, the other around her waist.

It was only the sound of Han cursing a little too close to the door did they break apart. Jaina let out a small sigh, wondering why her father had to be so intrusive without realizing it.

* * * * *
Technically, Jaina didn't even think her father had 'intruded' without knowing it. Somehow he had an innate ability to know just what was going on, no matter if he had the Force or not. And more than half the time, his hunches were right. It had taken them nearly eight days of pleasure cruising to get to Borleias, in which time she and Jag had found plenty of time to get away from the rest on the ship. Jaina had to thank her aunt for bringing not only Jade Shadow, but also Widowmaker because that meant that they hadn't bothered worry about trifles like if her aunt and uncle happened to 'stop by'.

As the ramp on the Falcon lowered, Jaina quickly fixed her Goddess-face on. Inside she was sighing heavily. Outside, she displayed the appearance of a hardened warrior who was just 'a cut above the best'. That was what duty called Yun Harla the Trickster to be, so that's what she performed to.

Jaina! Kyp Durron's voice came through the Force. Glad to see you made it back in one piece, not that we should've expected anything less. While her face remained impassive, Jaina couldn't help smiling on the inside. It seemed that any emotion she had now was either interior or done with family and close friends behind closed doors. She had known that for a while now, but it still daunted her.

Good to see you too, Kyp. Glad to know that I won't have to carry my own bags anymore. She felt Kyp's fake-indigence at her words, but it quickly passed, as she knew it would. While Han and Leia walked off to see the rest of the family as it disembarked from Jade Shadow, Jaina went to see Wedge.

"Welcome back to Borleias, Goddess," he said, all seriousness. Jaina nodded, and wasn't surprised to see the twinkle of fun in his eye that she knew must be reflected in her own.

Semi-formal greetings were exchanged since there were still the mechanical personal that were to be worry about, but for the most part, it was all fine and good. Jaina, though seriously wishing to go and get settled in her room once more, couldn't help feeling a bit apprehensive about leaving Jag to the tender mercies of her father...that is, if he was going to say anything at all.

***

The Trickster was back in it's singled out spot in the docking bay of the 'Roost. Around the bay, entirety of Twin Suns squadron was undergoing mechanic work. Jaina was sitting on one of the wings of her own craft, working on some of the lasers. The carbon scoring the covered parts of her X-Wing wasn't sufficient enough to call off the Vong's knowing that her X-Wing held the Trickster. How could it, considering the craft was also named as much.

Cappie was in his place behind the cockpit, his whistling trills rising and falling as he worked at telling Jaina if she'd gotten the laser fixed properly. Though she didn't exactly need the R2 unit's help, she listened to it and responded just the same. The droid bleeped at her just as she finished her work.

"Excellent. Glad to know I've got your back-up on this that my mechanical skills are not lacking yet."

Cappie beeped again with amusement, if possible in a droid, high on his tone. Jaina smiled at him, patting his dome, then jumped down from the wing as the droid was lowered. Once Cappie was on the ground again, Jaina patted his dome fondly once more, then set off towards the barracks for some much-needed rest. Kyp fell into step next to her and she merely nodded with recognition to him.


******

Kyp stood against his own craft, his arms crossed across his chest as he watched Jaina work on her X-Wing. Something about the way she just commanded everything around here, even when she wasn't trying to, still held him enthralled. No, he was not in love with Jaina Solo. It was more like a respectful truce of equals: he admired her for what he'd watched her become, she respected him for what he already was.

As Jaina jumped down from the wing, talking to Cappie as she went, he straightened up from against his X-Wing, his eyes following her as she walked in his direction. True, Twin Suns had their little bout of 'downtime', but that didn't prevent the Goddess charade put on for the Vong and the Peace Brigade. Jaina walked past him, her glance not even falling his way, but he didn't mind. Quickly he nodded to the mechanic that was working on his ship and he fell into pace next to Jaina.

He could sense an agitation flowing from her through their bond in the Force but he didn't press the matter. If he did, he would be- no doubt- met with wrath of a very angry-at-being-questioned Yun Harla. So instead he just walked down the hall with her towards the barracks.

Kyp stopped in front of Jaina's door as she did, her fingers absently punching in the digits to the access panel. Jaina disappeared within seconds behind the door and Kyp heaved a sigh, continuing his now-solitary trek to his own rooms.

Jaina was in love with Jagged Fel; he knew that, Han and Leia knew that, everyone who was a family member- for the most part- knew that Jaina and Jag were actually to the point of what some would label 'a relationship'.

Why Kyp himself couldn't agree with it, couldn't place it, was a mystery to him. He wanted Jaina to be happy and he loved her like a sister, like she was part of his family. Fortunately he had gotten over his adoration and love for her a while ago and now he was contented to be her 'man at arms' for the charade and her guard, more or less.

Kyp deposited his brown robe to the back of a chair, running his fingers through his hair at the same moment. Then his strides carried him on to the kitchenette, his green eyes roaming through the area in something like amused uncertainty. He grabbed a ration bar, content to eat only that and a glass of water for a while, then quickly he devoured it. The water in the glass he hadn't even noticed he filled was downed at once, then he turned back to the living chambers of the area.

He lowered his frame to the ground and leaned his back against the couch. His lids fell over his eyes and almost instantly his mind and spirit fell deeply into the Force, his body the only bit left of him to the naked eye as to the fact he was in meditation.

It was hardly a minute past oh-two hundred when the alert on Borleias went off. Jaina was rolling out of bed at the first sound of the alarm, her feet touching the cold floor in nanoseconds. Not even bothering to make herself look half-decent in any form, she grabbed her flightsuit and pulled it on, zipping the zipper up to her throat. Her lightsaber came floating through the air via her call through the Force and Jaina quickly caught it, attaching it to her utility belt.

She hit the release on her door, and then quickly braided her hair, not caring how loose it came out just so long as it didn't get in her face. Her flight helmet sat on the nightstand, where she had put it the night before, having wanted to examine what she thought was a crack. The helmet zoomed to her waiting hand as she turned back to the hall. She was hardly shocked to find Kyp outside her door, his fingers just reaching to touch the control panel. With a quick nod from Kyp, the two set off to the hanger bay, while the quick fingers of Jaina's left hand tied the hair elastic.

The hanger bay was hardly chaotic, but it definitely wasn't in full order. The Twins Suns' X-Wings and lone clawcraft and the Rouge's X-Wings were sharing the docking bay and all the twenty-four pilots involved in flying within them were hurrying to their ships, some calling out to others. Jaina hardly noticed Wes and Gavin as they passed in front of her to their X-Wings. Wes seemed to then realize he needed to high-tail it to his own hanger and X-Wing because a moment later, he was out of sight. A group of varied mechanics were quickly finishing double checking crafts that they hadn't necessarily seen after the last skirmish two days previous.

As Jaina neared the Trickster, she donned her helmet and then started her frame up the ladder into the cockpit. Cappie was whistling from his position behind her as she ran through the pre-flight check. The droid's connections with the engines and computers was easily apparent as she received the on-screen message of greeting. Whoever had claimed droids had no feelings or emotions obviously hadn't interacted with them much. The canopy closed over Jaina's head and she double-checked her restraints, her eyes darting around the varied controls.

The comm. crackled away with the militarily stiff buzz of wingmates checking in with their partners or flight leaders. Then her squadron members' voices started coming over the comm. It was again the same chatter of wingmates checking in and then, as quickly as it had started, the chatter between her squadron had dimmed off.

"Twin Suns, Control. Launch at will."

Jaina double clicked her comm. for the officers to hear, and then settled herself in for the long haul.

"Alright Twins, break off into trios once we're clear."

"I copy, lead." Kyp's voice came over the comm., oddly serious.

Jag's voice was soon to follow and, in spite of herself, she felt her stomach flip flop. A few of her pilots chose to double click their comms rather than verbally reply, but she got solid groundings from most.

With the last person checking in, she raised her ship off the docking platform and maneuvered it easily through the opening into space. The skips spinning around were already engaged with Vanguard and even as she and her squadron pulled out from the 'Roost, she saw a group of TIEs depart from a hanger on the Right to Rule. Though she sped out and away from the Ralroost, Jaina couldn't help being a bit impressed. The Imperial Remnant was here, lead by Admiral Gilad Pellaeon.

Behind her, she could just make out the sudden appearance of another New Republic ship exiting hyperspace: the Errant Venture. General Garm bel Iblis and the Peregrine were already stationed a ways from the 'Roost and the Venture filled in the gap of space between them. Swooping in from above, Jaina caught sight of the Millennium Falcon's underside as her father rolled his beloved ship down in something like a greeting to Jaina. Almost as soon as the Venture had made her presence know, however, another Yuuzhan Vong worldship appeared from the depths of hyperspace.

"Shield trios now," Jaina commanded over her comm. Immediately she saw Jag and Kyp separate off the swarm of the squadron, each of them grabbing a position on one of her wings. On her tactical board she saw the rest of the formations come out of what had once been the embarking body of Twin Suns.

"Cappie, filter out anything that's not from Two or Three, will save our hides, or is a distress call," she barked to the droid. Her reply was a series of beeps and blats from the droid, all these noises coming onto her screen in text.

AND HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO KEEP YOU ALIVE OR NOT?

Jaina muttered a few of her trademark curses under her breath, reminding herself to discuss just who was in charge of who in this 'relationship' with her droid once they got through the battle.

"You've been telling me for a while now that you're not an idiotic droid with merely artificial intelligence. So now that I finally give you the means to use your so-called 'higher knowledge', you go around saying you're just what your makers said you were."

Cappie began to beep a reply, but abruptly Jaina rolled clear of fire aimed at her. The group of skips that they were now engaging had come from one of the four worldships now in the system, but Jaina paid them no immediate attention, as she knew the Supreme Warlord wasn't present on any of them.

"Alright boys, what's say we have ourselves some fun. I'm afraid these infidels might've forgotten why they don't enjoy engaging Yun Harla when I was out last time."

She heard laughter from Kyp's end of the conversation, but the laughter stopped quickly as the group of skips came back around, their target locks obviously aimed on the two X-Wings and clawcraft that occupied their views.

"Two, Three, roll port...now!" Jaina jerked her stick left, causing her X-Wing to drop into a perfectly controlled roll. Quickly she jammed the stick forward at the same time, shooting under the Vong. Kyp and Jag were right behind her, their rolling crafts just as completely controlled.

The scene before her was changed drastically as she target locked one of the skips ahead of her. Her finger jolted the trigger to the torpedoes, sending the first sizzling into the skip's shields. The craft ahead of her rocked and then exploded as the second torpedo met the hull of the craft and sent it hurling into the other one positioned just a bit too near. The explosion reaching from the first broke through the second's shields and the second skip exploded almost instantly.

"Nice shot, One," Jag's voice called over the comm. as his own target exploded in similar fashion. Kyp's target was the last one to turn to space dust, but little notice was given it as the trio jolted their ships into finding their next targets. More skips came pouring through as Jaina herself was recognized as the Goddess with each group thinking they were the match for Yun Harla and her wingmen, but each time they were greeted with the failure of being torn from the system.

****

Jag watched Jaina's X-Wing as it twirled around a skip in a deadly dance, her lasers eating up its shields and eventually drawing a line of death through its hull. The laser line hit what must've been an engine- Jag couldn't see from his position- and the craft blew. Beyond it, Jag could make out the forms of the Falcon and Jade Shadow whipping along, leaving mayhem in their wake. The lightning guns gleaming from the old smuggling ship glared at the Vong ships they were aimed for, giving them a great view of color just before they exploded. Of course, you couldn't always count on the Vong viewing the beams from the Falcon as beautiful as the only things they actually considered good was sacrifice and pain.

He quickly targeted more skips ahead of him, speeding his clawcraft past Jaina's X-Wing to get in for a closer attack. The skip dived seconds before it was hit, but Jag just dove after it, his focus locked. His concentration proved well used when the skip blew. The battle debris swirling around him did little to obstruct his view of his squadmates.

Rouge squadron was some ways away, dealing very nicely- as usual- with the attempts of the Vong. Blackmoon squadron was causing as much destruction as the Falcon was managing. Beyond that, TIEs were zooming through, their enhanced weaponry frying the Vong in their paths.

"One, we've got more company incoming fast," he said over the comm. None of his emotion leaked through his Chiss military calm; this is what he was trained to do. He was an officer and a pilot and he was here to do his job- and do it well.