Our Fallen Comrades

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25-30 ABY

(Set during "Balance Point" in the New Jedi Order series {war with Yuuzahn Vong} when Jaina returns with Mara after their encounter with Nom Anor. I'd like to think that the family members would have had a moment to themselves, and so here is this one-shot.)

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A/N: I do not own Star Wars

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Coruscant

Luke Skywalker jerked awake with a gasp, heart pounding. He glanced around quickly to get his bearings, and realized he was still in his apartment on Coruscant.

"What's the matter?" Mara Jade Skywalker asked groggily.

Luke glanced at her, and steadied his breathing.

"Luke?" Mara was awake now, and sitting up to peer at him.

Luke closed his eyes for a moment, trying to remember what had awakened him. Flashes of a battle, the cockpit of an X-wing… Jaina's voice.

And then pain, followed by nothing.

"Jaina's been hurt." Luke finally realized.

Mara's sharp intake of breath reminded him that she too cared for their niece.

"Where?" Mara asked. "Can you tell?"

Luke shut his eyes again, trying to find Jaina in the Force. He found her presence after a while: she was unconscious, but her mind reached for his when she felt his loving caress. Jaina sent him assurance that she was fine, followed by the image of a bacta tank, and then told him not to worry.

Luke sent her his love, and that of Mara's and broke from the connection.

"She's okay." Luke breathed with relief.

He gathered Mara into his arms and kissed her head.

"Thank the Force." Mara murmured.

Luke couldn't agree more.

00000

Duro

Luke looked up as Jaina approached. Anakin was lying in his cot across the room, taking a moment to relax. Mara was likewise resting in her bed before Anakin and Luke went on their recon mission.

"Uncle Luke?" Jaina approached almost nervously.

"Yes?"

She sat beside him on the couch, wringing her hands. Luke set his datapad down and turned to face her.

"Is something wrong?" He inquired. "You're not in pain are you?"

She glanced up at him, and through the darkened medical lenses of her hood, Luke could see her frustration.

"Hmm? Oh, no Uncle Luke." Jaina assured him. "I'm fine there. Well, physically at least."

Luke lifted an eyebrow, but waited for her to continue.

"Uncle Luke, when was the first time you crashed in a ship?" Jaina asked with a furtive glance at Anakin.

Luke chuckled. "Boy, I can tell you many times I've crashed a ship. But the first time?" He pursed his lips in thought. "Actually, it was when I was barely a teenager. My friend Windy and I were flying Beggars Canyon when we crashed. Ben Kenobi had to save us from the Sand People."

Jaina smirked, but nodded.

"Why do you ask?" Luke pressed gently.

She shrugged. "I… I guess I'm worried that I won't be able to fly again."

"Your eyesight will return in time, Jaina." Luke soothed.

But as he said it, he began to realize that she had probably meant something else.

"I'm not worried about that, so much." Jaina said, confirming Luke's thoughts. "It's more that I don't know if I will be… I don't know… wanting to fly again?"

Luke set a hand on her shoulder.

"I understand, believe me I do. Whenever a person crashes, there is always the doubt that they are a capable pilot after all." Luke squeezed her shoulder lightly. "But it does not mean that they aren't."

Jaina furrowed her brow at that, so he elaborated.

"Jaina, when you crashed, it was frightening. It's always the same for me, or for anyone. There is always that fear." Luke said softly. "And in some ways, it's harder to survive, because then we have to live with the pain and the memory. We are also required at some point to swallow that fear and move on.

"And for fighter pilots, it's even harder because of what we do." Luke continued. "Believe me when I tell you that even the veteran Rogues and the original squadron mates have all crashed a fair amount of times."

At Jaina's surprised start, Luke grinned momentarily. "Oh yes. It comes with the territory. Part of piloting is accepting the inevitable accidents. And if you cannot accept that accidents do happen- that means when, not if- then frankly you do not belong behind the controls of a starfighter."

Luke held up a hand to forestall Jaina's protest.

"I am not saying that you have to recover instantly, Jaina. These things take time. However, when we as pilots sit behind the controls of a fighter craft, we are taking not only our own lives into our hands, but those of our wingmates. Not to mention we are usually protecting larger transports, or evacuations and so forth."

Jaina seemed mollified by this. "What if I freeze when I get behind the controls of a new X-wing?"

Luke placed a hand under her chin, and lifted it gently so she was looking at him.

"You won't."

Jaina blinked back tears. "But how can you know?"

"Because I know you." Luke answered. "And the Jaina Solo I know is not a quitter. She fights for what she loves and believes in… though not always if it means she fights for herself."

This last reproach was met with a self-conscious smile from his niece.

"I guess you're right, Uncle Luke." She admitted. "It's just hard."

He nodded. "Yes, it is. But it is also worth it."

She smiled brighter at this. "I agree. Do you really think I can do it?"

"I know you can. And you will." Luke answered honestly. "And I believe in you. You love flying more than anything, and you have worked too hard to get to where you are to just throw it away after one incident."

"Thanks Uncle Luke." Jaina sniffed, and wrapped her arms around him.

Luke held her, and thanked the Force again that Jaina wasn't killed in that accident. He noticed she had started crying harder, and frowned.

"Jaina? Sweetheart, what's wrong?"

She clung to him. "I … I keep thinking of Annie Captison."

Luke thought he might recognize the name, but he couldn't put face to it.

"A friend of yours?"

"Yes. She died during the fight for Ithor." Jaina sat up again, wiping at her face. "I can't stop thinking that her death was my fault."

Luke shook his head. "No. You can't believe that."

Jaina looked at him. "How can I not? I was her wingman. I was supposed to watch her back."

Luke gently wiped away her tears with his thumb. "Because it will hinder you. Believe me; I know how much it hurts to lose squadron mates."

Luke felt tears of his own sting his eyes as he remembered the very first.

"You know, the first time I sat behind the controls of an X-wing was the battle over Yavin IV. I flew against the Death Star. The Alliance lost most of the pilots who flew that mission that day." Luke's throat closed for a moment. "And I lost my best friend. He was my wingman during the trench run."

"Who was it?" Jaina asked; she was all ears now.

"His name was Biggs Darklighter. He was my only real friend at the time. We grew up together on Tatooine, and we saw each other again just before we went up against the Death Star."

Jaina frowned. "Darklighter? As in Gavin Darklighter?"

Luke nodded. "His younger cousin."

"Oh." Jaina was quiet for a moment. "How did you go on?"

"I never forgot him, but I tried my best to honor him by continuing the fight against the Empire." Luke replied. "And you can do the same for your friend Annie. Remember her, and honor her along with all others we lose in the fight by carrying it on the best you can." He sighed. "That is all any of us can do."

Jaina suddenly realized that if anyone was familiar with losing comrades it was her uncle. Luke Skywalker was no stranger to death, whether it be friend, family, foe or student. Or even innocents caught up in the fight between two opposing sides.

Luke had commanded squadrons of fighters during the Rebellion Era, and had gone on to teach new Jedi and send them on missions.

Not all of them came home.

Jaina looked upon her uncle in a new light. She had known of course that he had experienced those things, but now that she had been through it herself, she understood it like she hadn't – couldn't – before.

She and her uncle were now brother and sister in arms.

Jaina hugged him again.

"I love you Uncle Luke."

He returned the embrace. "I love you too, Jaina. It is okay to mourn those we lose, but they would not want us to bog ourselves down by grief and guilt. Live for those who pass on, but don't forget to live for yourself as well."

She nodded against his chest, grateful for his gentle strength. She had missed this: just being in his comforting arms, knowing that for a brief moment in time all was right in the galaxy.

"This feels nice." Jaina murmured. "I wish there was more time to just spend as our family."

Luke kissed her head. "I agree. But for now, we will just have to take what we can get. And keep your chin up. Things usually get worse before they get better. But they do get better."

"I will, Uncle Luke."