Bondmates and Soulmates

Chapter 2: Things Not So Secret

It is true that you may fool all of the people some of the time; you can even fool some of the people all of the time; but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.

Abraham Lincoln

Tahiri paced the floor in her room. Sleep eluded her this cycle. There was something wrong aboard but she was having trouble pinpointing it. The odd sense had only been with them since the last star port the passenger vessel had been at. The ship had taken on supplies but no new passengers. Yet it still seemed that there was a new presence aboard.

She paused in her pacing to look out the view port. Not much out there but the mottled blue of hyperspace. Still she found it kind of comforting. "Ugh, maybe I'm just over reacting. This is going to be a little intense once we arrive." She said to the darkness. She trudged over to her bunk. 'Might as well push myself to sleep. What ever this elusive bit is it will eventually come to light.'

Zekk turned as the shadow approached. "What are you doing here?"

"Just figured I'd get something to eat," came the almost flip reply.

"You have hardly changed." Zekk told the figure as it seeming melted from the wall.

"More than you know my friend." Jacen said as he turned he chair and sat.

"Haven't we all. But you are avoiding the answer. You know very well that I meant what are you doing on this ship. You are not allowed in Hapan space, remember?"

A half smile graced his lips for only a second. "All too well. But this is more to test her resolve. If I make it onto planet, well…" The serving droid came over to take his order and left.

"Be that as it may. If she senses you, this ship is as good as space dust."

"She wouldn't do that."

"I know that. Her consort however."

"Please, I don't think he'd risk an incident on that scale. Nor her wrath."

Zekk gave him a skeptical look. "Right, and he is not a part of the anti-Jedi movement in the cluster. You seem to forget that he wouldn't have to do the deed himself."

His soup arrived and he sipped it before going on. "No I'm just counting on the fact that if they take any action against this vessel, it may very well cause another war that no one is ready to face."

Coruscant

"He did what?" Jaina said with quiet menace.

Jag just handed her the cup of stim tea he had made for her. "He took a leave of absence from the new council."

She shook her head as she accepted the tea. "He has always been the rational one of us two, but this is completely…" She lowered her head to inhale the fragrance of the tea.

"You say that as if you know where he's gone."

"It is not a happenstance that he decided to leave as Tahiri went on a mission to Hapes." At his quizzical look she added, "Please do you think that Aunt Mara wouldn't tell me something like that. We are a little closer than that and with the problems that could arise she wanted me informed."

"Ah yes, wouldn't want the New Republic Defense Force's newest commanding general left in the dark of a possible threat to security." He said as 3-P0 entered the room. Seeing the freshly shined droid reminded him of why he had come in the first place. He smiled and offered her a hand up.

Just then the droid piped in. "Mistress Jaina it is time for the party."

Jaina accepted the hand. Her heart did a little flip flop as Jag brushed her knuckles with a kiss. "We were just headed that way 3-P0, thank you." Then they headed out. General Jaina Solo of the New Republic Defense Force and General Jagged Fel of the Cillan Home Fleet walked arm in arm to the formal party being thrown in her honor.

Hapes

"Mama, mama. They are coming. They are coming." The six year old danced around her mother's quarters.

"This is fact. Now settle down and come here." Tenel admonished. "You'll see them then. Until then you need to settle in where you are staying. They need not know you are the crown princess, is that clear?"

"Yes mama." The child sat to allow her mother to brush her hair. Then she was taken by one of the Queen Mother's attendants to stay with her.