Title: Crash
Author: DarthJaina Solo
Timeframe: Around LOTF, but this is an AU that breaks off after the Dark Nest trilogy
Genre: Drama, Action/Adventure, Angst
Characters: Jaina, Jag, Allana, Han, Leia, Luke
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Summary: Jaina rescues Jag, but that action has dire consequences
Rating: PG

Dramatis Personae

Alema Rar; Dark Jedi (female Twi'Lek)
Allana; child (female human)
Ben Skywalker; Jedi apprentice (male human)
Cal Omas; Chief of State, Galactic Alliance (male human)
Cha Niathal; Admiral, Galactic Alliance military (female Mon Calamari)
Cilghal; Jedi Master, Healer (female Mon Calamari)
Corran Horn; Jedi Master (male human)
Gilad Pallaeon; Supreme Commander, Galactic Alliance military (male human)
Han Solo; captain, Millenium Falcon (male human)
Jagged Fel; Chiss exile (male human)
Jaina Solo; Jedi Knight (female human)
Jorr Maltis; Dark Jedi; Teacher, Shadow Academy (male human)
Kyp Durron; Jedi Master (male human)
Leia Organa Solo; Jedi Knight (female human)
Lowbacca; Jedi Knight (male wookkie)
Luke Skywalker; Jedi Grand Master (male human)
Lumiya; Dark Jedi (female human)
Soontir Fel; Chiss Baron (male human)
Syal Fel; retired Imperial actress (female human)
Tahiri Veila; Jedi Knight (female human)
Thrackan Sal-Solo; Head of State, Corellia (male human)
Trevor Ferenfay; Healer (male human)
Wedge Antilles; retired General, Galactic Alliance (male human)
Zekk; Jedi Knight (male human)

Prologue

Jacen's dead.

Jaina Solo could hardly think of anything else. She had entered hyperspace an hour ago, and simply had nothing else to occupy her mind. Jag was still healing, and Allana was asleep.

Allana. Her niece. She was only two years old and already an orphan, her world completely destroyed, her mother and father both killed in the attack…both simply trying to protect her. Jaina had been too late to save them, but at least she could save her.

And now that she had, it was all that she could do not to fall apart. At least when Anakin had died, she knew who had killed him, who the enemy really was. With Jacen, she had no idea. Someone had attacked the Hapes Palace, but their motives were just as unclear as their faces. The Galactic Alliance was gathering as much intelligence as possible, but they were no closer to finding answers. It had been a week.

A week, and Jacen's still dead, Jag's still unconscious, and I have no idea where Mom and Dad are.

She could feel them in the Force. They were far away, but very much alive, and in as much emotional turmoil as she was. Jaina briefly sent her mother a wave of comfort, letting her know that she was all right, that she was safe. In return, she felt her mother's relief, her love, and her grief for her lost children.

Suddenly, she heard a whimper in the back of her stolen ship. Allana was awake. Jaina walked back there, reaching out as she did. She could feel the toddler's fear and wonder. Picking her up, she enveloped the child in her embrace, rocking her gently – and in doing so, assuaging both of their distress.

"Allana, baby, I'm here," she said. "I'm your Aunt Jaina, and I'll protect you. You'll be safe."

She felt her niece calming, and she laid her back down to sleep. She touched Allana's forehead, and allowed a smile to form on her face despite herself. She had nearly surrendered to her despair when her twin had died. Leave it to Jacen to give her a reason to keep going, even in death.

A Week Earlier

Tenupe was a dangerous place, even for a Jedi. Jaina didn't care. Jag was here, and he was alive – but only just. No one had heard anything from him in two years…but just yesterday, she had felt a cool flicker in the Force that she knew only too well. A part of her, she admitted, still loved him.

She had made it there; and now it was only a matter of finding him.

Follow the trail.

The thought came from out of nowhere, and was certainly not of her own mind. At first she thought it was Zekk; though they were unjoined and had been for months, there were still remnants left from the time they had shared a nest.

Whatever the voice was, it was correct. Jag had exuded a trail in the Force that was as clear as it was faint. It led her through tropical woodland with almost no path to follow at all. At times, the swampland was up to her knees.

And I don't even know what's living in these waters, she thought. I must really love Jag.

The trail, the echo, kept gradually growing stronger the farther she trekked. She knew that he had walked this very same ground, and that he was nearby.

Then she saw him. He was slumped up against a tree, waist deep in water. His head was hanging down. He was asleep.

Now that just wouldn't do. She had gone through a lot of trouble in getting to Tenupe, too much for him to be sleeping throughout her rescue. When she got to him, she shook him awake. He stared up at her, his mind clearly elsewhere.

Then he removed his hand from his stomach, and she could see the blood there. A stab wound. He had been slashed through the gut by either a sword or a vibroblade.

"Jag…what happened?" she asked.

His head started falling to one side. "I don'…know," he said, using up every spare bit of energy he had. Jaina felt guilty for asking him a question; he wasn't strong enough to talk. Her first priority was to keep him alive.

She put Jag's arm around her shoulder and started to lift him up when a terrible, overwhelming sensation overwhelmed her. She fell to the ground, taking Jag with her.

An attack? Where?

She didn't know, but her mind reeled with one single thought.

Jacen!