Chapter 6: Leave-taking
They docked with one of the twenty orbital cities that circled the polluted wasteland that was Duros, where Jaq's ship was stowed.
"Why not fly all the way to Abregado-rea?" Jaina asked Jaq.
"In case I was being followed," he replied.
Jaina nodded. "Then I think it's about time you paid us, Mr. Antilles."
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The eight of them descended to Duros on one of the port's regular, if infrequent, shuttle flights. Jaina, on a whim, brought the tube containing her blastsword. Jaq gave her a strange look, to which she replied with a shrug.
They proceeded through the entirely enclosed port complex to the hangar where Jaq's ship was docked.
It was an old yacht, a SubSoro if she wasn't mistaken.Jaq led the four rebels to the common room, which had obviously been prepared in advance with comfortable sleeping accommodations. Then he led Jaina and Tenel Ka back to the cargo bay.
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"I'm… not going with you, am I?" said Jacen, staring at the four cots.
"Probably not, Jacen," said Hal.
"You saved the girl's first mate," Booster explained, "not the boy's."
Jacen nodded. "You tried to warn me about this, but I just assumed… Sometimes I think you protected me too much, Hal. I'm not used to thinking in terms of being on my own."
"I know kid, I know."
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"Namana liquor," Jaina stated. Jaq hesitated for a minute, then nodded.
"Then I was right," she continued. You're a rebel. You're with the Bakurans." Jaq hesitated for a moment, then nodded again.
Jaina stared at him. "There's just one thing I want to know," she said, "before you leave."
"Yes?
"What's your real name?"
He thought for a moment, wondering if he should tell her, and then said, "It's Jag."
She grinned. "So that's how you came up with something so archaic," she said. "You just turned the last letter around."
He gave a small smile, then turned to leave. "The crate's got repulsor lifts. Getting it back to your ship should be easy." He started walking.
"Wait." Jag stopped, turned back to Jaina with a questioning look. "Tenel Ka, could we have a moment alone?" the captain asked. Tenel Ka nodded and left the room.
Jaina walked up to Jag. Closer, she could tell, than he was comfortable with.
And then she kissed him.
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Jaina remained completely silent as she and Tenel Ka went through the Kestrel's power-up checklist, lost in her thoughts.
Jacen sat behind them, engrossed in his first chance to access the holonet.
"You are troubled," said Tenel Ka as she fixed the coolant intake levels.
"I kissed him," said Jaina, quietly, so that Jacen wouldn't notice. Not that he would have; he was completely absorbed in what he was doing.
Tenel Ka nodded. "You have been attracted to him since the beginning."
"Yeah, but I'm attracted to a lot of guys, Tenel Ka. I don't kiss them, though."
"You are unusual for a smuggler in this way."
"I know. But even though it's been a year, it feels like I'm betraying Kev." Jaina leaned back in the pilot's seat, fighting tears as the memories came rushing forth.
End Part I