CHAPTER 24: FORGIVENESS OFFERED:
Tsavong Lah stood, raging on the worldship. Nom Anor was dead, at Jaina Solo's hand. Jacen Solo had escaped, with the help of his supposedly loyal Vergere. And now they were facing defeat at Nirauan. For the last day, his ships had been decimated. He wanted revenge. Walking to an aide, he ordered a legion of troops sent down to the planet. Grinning, he turned to see a human woman walk to him. "Viqi Shesh," he rumbled. "I trust you wish to join the landing party?"
The Kuati senator smiled evilly. "I want revenge on Leia Organa Solo. And I shall have it."
"Then go, and have your revenge."
********************************************************************
Jacen and Vergere saw the ship of warriors heading down and looked at each other, alarmed. Vergere slapped the comm. "Chimaera, we have unwanted company approaching the planet."
Pellaeon answered immediately. "We see it. Spike Squadron, intercept it."
*********************************************************************
Leia and Mara flew across the planet's surface in the Shadow, to meet with Jaina. Soontiir had given them a safe place to land, though it was a fair distance from the base where the young Jedi was currently.
There was an awkward silence between the two women, each one unwilling to speak their minds about the situation.
It was typically Mara who broke the tension. "Ok, lets hear it," she said.
Leia raised her head, to look quizzically at her sister in law. "What?"
"Whatever's on your mind. Its driving me nuts."
The blunt reply made Leia grin for a second, then she sobered. "Do you really think shes come back?"
Mara shrugged. "I dont know. I think she doesn't know herself."
They landed at the location given to them, and were met by a Chiss pilot, who led them to a speeder, and gave them directions to the base. Launching quickly, Mara muttered "Nothing like good service."
"There IS a battle going on, you know." Leia retorted.
"Wow, really? I never would have guessed." came the predicably sarcastic reply, but was quickly followed by a laugh. "Jaina certainly knows how to get into these situations."
"That's because she's Han's daughter."
"Ok, so when she's being insane and mad, she's Han's kid, but when she's all angelic, she's yours, right?" Mara asked, a knowing grin on her face.
"Of course! Mother's perogative." Leia shot back, returning the grin.
They reached the base, and saw another Chiss standing there. "Ambassador Organa Solo? There's a comm call for you from the Chimaera. Its urgent."
Leia looked at Mara. "Go," the Jedi Master said. "I'll go talk to her, and you can come brief us after Pellaeon's done."
Leia nodded and followed the officer, leaving Mara alone, looking for Jaina. No sign of her anywhere near here, so she decided on the other option and reached out through the Force to her. There was a faint presence about a kilometer away, and so Mara decided to walk there, Jedi senses investigating. The presence seemed to be coming out of a trance, which made the Jedi a little curious.
About 10 minutes later, Mara stopped as the presence vanished. She wasn't far from where she had sensed it, so unhooked the saber at her hip and walked forward. Seeing a hidden door in the wall, she used the Force to unlock it and walked through.
The room was empty, large enough to be a training room. Mara frowned, not knowing what in blazes was going on. Taking a few steps forward, she suddenly stopped as the presence came back again. Turning, she saw the door close, and a saber ignited, illuminating Jaina's features in the now darkened room.
For a long moment, neither spoke. Then Jaina deactivated the saber and said "Lights". The room was filled with bright light, momentarily dazzling the elder Jedi. When the stars had cleared, she saw that her apprentice was walking around the room, eyes closed, head bowed.
Mara simply decided to sit down and wait for her niece to talk, and so plopped down onto the floor in a meditation posture. Jaina stopped walking, sensing the action, and raised her head, looking in her Master's direction.
"New saber?" Mara asked, breaking the uncomfortable silence.
Jaina looked slowly at the hilt, then ignited it once more. The blade was a peculiar blue-violet hue, unique in the order. It was a blade she was proud of. "Yes. I...didn't feel comfortable with the old one."
Mara nodded, sensing a sudden regret. That saber had been used to kill allies. "Seems to be a better one. Can I?"
Jaina considered her for a moment, and Mara was slightly stung to see the cool demeanour on her face. Then, she extinguished the blade and walked over, offering the hilt. Taking it, Mara looked at it. She noted the design of it, so much like the one she had built herself, so long ago. "Nice design."
The cool facade vanished for an instant. "You would like it. It was based on yours."
Still gazing at the saber, Mara decided she was tired of skirting the issue. "So, what's going on?"
Jaina seemed confused by the question. "What do you mean? If you mean, about me joining the Remnant.."
"No, I was referring to this whole dark side thing. You DO know what Pwoe has planned for you?"
Raising her head, Mara saw Jaina turn away, but not before seeing the blood drain out of her face. "I heard stuff.
"Lucky for you that Fel and Pellaeon are ready to defend you." Mara added, as Jaina leaned against a wall, letting the tone cool slightly.
She saw her niece flinch at that. "I didn't want this to happen."
"Noone said you did."
"But they imply it." Her niece walked away from the wall, a sudden blazing fire in her eyes. "You know, from the day I was born, there was this huge expectation that I would do great things."
Mara knew. Everyone had talked about it. "Must be hard." she said.
"Hard." the word came out as a curse. "It was the reason we never got a real childhood, that we couldnt live the way we wanted to, the reason why Anakin died. He died because he had too much pressure on him, and he strove to prove that he was capable of fulfilling the expectations."
"The reason why you strike out?" Mara asked. Her niece's gaze settled on her for a moment, and for the first time in so long, the cold, calm mask was gone. In its place was a tormented soul, raging, in pain, and with desperate hopes that she knew could be destroyed by people she called allies.
"No." she said after a long moment. "I strike out against the Vong. I hate them." The emotion in the Jedi's voice was almost overwhelming. Pain, rage, hatred. "Is it so wrong of me to hate them? They took away something that they shouldn't have."
"In the end, hate solves nothing. It leaves nothing to live for." Mara replied, reaching out to her niece's mind. The barriers were still up, but not as much. Interesting.
Jaina sat down, five meters from her Master, and ran a hand through her hair wearily. For a long moment there was silence. "I'm sorry." she said. "For what happened in the duel."
Mara looked at her quizzically. "I don't think we could have stopped it."
"I didn't mean about the way it turned into a brawl, I meant the reaction I had when our presences joined."
Mara looked confused. "You know, I never knew actually what happened."
"Simple, you unconsciously found yourself in the one place noones allowed into." Jaina replied. "My mind."
"Those were your thoughts?" Mara asked. Jaina shook her head. "My nightmares. Visions. I'm still trying to figure out how we managed to get into that mess."
"So basically you freaked and threw me out, right?" Mara concluded.
"No, I didn't do anything. At least, I didnt do it consciously. I figured it might be a reflex reaction. To stop Jedi from getting at my thoughts." She winced slightly.
Mara sighed. "You're way too closed up, you know that? You need to let things out more. Maybe that's why you're so...I don't know. Only you know that one."
Jaina frowned, considering her words, then looked up again. "Is Mom here?"
"Yeah, she's taking a comm call. Figured if we started duelling again, she should get out of the way."
A look of intense agony flashed across the girl's face, surprising Mara. "I guess I've stuffed up big time. Must be a Solo trait," she managed, and Mara saw the tears that threatened to fall. She walked over to the Jedi and embraced her, forgiveness and support flowing from her into her niece.
From outside the door, Leia wiped away tears as she heard the two talking.
Tsavong Lah stood, raging on the worldship. Nom Anor was dead, at Jaina Solo's hand. Jacen Solo had escaped, with the help of his supposedly loyal Vergere. And now they were facing defeat at Nirauan. For the last day, his ships had been decimated. He wanted revenge. Walking to an aide, he ordered a legion of troops sent down to the planet. Grinning, he turned to see a human woman walk to him. "Viqi Shesh," he rumbled. "I trust you wish to join the landing party?"
The Kuati senator smiled evilly. "I want revenge on Leia Organa Solo. And I shall have it."
"Then go, and have your revenge."
********************************************************************
Jacen and Vergere saw the ship of warriors heading down and looked at each other, alarmed. Vergere slapped the comm. "Chimaera, we have unwanted company approaching the planet."
Pellaeon answered immediately. "We see it. Spike Squadron, intercept it."
*********************************************************************
Leia and Mara flew across the planet's surface in the Shadow, to meet with Jaina. Soontiir had given them a safe place to land, though it was a fair distance from the base where the young Jedi was currently.
There was an awkward silence between the two women, each one unwilling to speak their minds about the situation.
It was typically Mara who broke the tension. "Ok, lets hear it," she said.
Leia raised her head, to look quizzically at her sister in law. "What?"
"Whatever's on your mind. Its driving me nuts."
The blunt reply made Leia grin for a second, then she sobered. "Do you really think shes come back?"
Mara shrugged. "I dont know. I think she doesn't know herself."
They landed at the location given to them, and were met by a Chiss pilot, who led them to a speeder, and gave them directions to the base. Launching quickly, Mara muttered "Nothing like good service."
"There IS a battle going on, you know." Leia retorted.
"Wow, really? I never would have guessed." came the predicably sarcastic reply, but was quickly followed by a laugh. "Jaina certainly knows how to get into these situations."
"That's because she's Han's daughter."
"Ok, so when she's being insane and mad, she's Han's kid, but when she's all angelic, she's yours, right?" Mara asked, a knowing grin on her face.
"Of course! Mother's perogative." Leia shot back, returning the grin.
They reached the base, and saw another Chiss standing there. "Ambassador Organa Solo? There's a comm call for you from the Chimaera. Its urgent."
Leia looked at Mara. "Go," the Jedi Master said. "I'll go talk to her, and you can come brief us after Pellaeon's done."
Leia nodded and followed the officer, leaving Mara alone, looking for Jaina. No sign of her anywhere near here, so she decided on the other option and reached out through the Force to her. There was a faint presence about a kilometer away, and so Mara decided to walk there, Jedi senses investigating. The presence seemed to be coming out of a trance, which made the Jedi a little curious.
About 10 minutes later, Mara stopped as the presence vanished. She wasn't far from where she had sensed it, so unhooked the saber at her hip and walked forward. Seeing a hidden door in the wall, she used the Force to unlock it and walked through.
The room was empty, large enough to be a training room. Mara frowned, not knowing what in blazes was going on. Taking a few steps forward, she suddenly stopped as the presence came back again. Turning, she saw the door close, and a saber ignited, illuminating Jaina's features in the now darkened room.
For a long moment, neither spoke. Then Jaina deactivated the saber and said "Lights". The room was filled with bright light, momentarily dazzling the elder Jedi. When the stars had cleared, she saw that her apprentice was walking around the room, eyes closed, head bowed.
Mara simply decided to sit down and wait for her niece to talk, and so plopped down onto the floor in a meditation posture. Jaina stopped walking, sensing the action, and raised her head, looking in her Master's direction.
"New saber?" Mara asked, breaking the uncomfortable silence.
Jaina looked slowly at the hilt, then ignited it once more. The blade was a peculiar blue-violet hue, unique in the order. It was a blade she was proud of. "Yes. I...didn't feel comfortable with the old one."
Mara nodded, sensing a sudden regret. That saber had been used to kill allies. "Seems to be a better one. Can I?"
Jaina considered her for a moment, and Mara was slightly stung to see the cool demeanour on her face. Then, she extinguished the blade and walked over, offering the hilt. Taking it, Mara looked at it. She noted the design of it, so much like the one she had built herself, so long ago. "Nice design."
The cool facade vanished for an instant. "You would like it. It was based on yours."
Still gazing at the saber, Mara decided she was tired of skirting the issue. "So, what's going on?"
Jaina seemed confused by the question. "What do you mean? If you mean, about me joining the Remnant.."
"No, I was referring to this whole dark side thing. You DO know what Pwoe has planned for you?"
Raising her head, Mara saw Jaina turn away, but not before seeing the blood drain out of her face. "I heard stuff.
"Lucky for you that Fel and Pellaeon are ready to defend you." Mara added, as Jaina leaned against a wall, letting the tone cool slightly.
She saw her niece flinch at that. "I didn't want this to happen."
"Noone said you did."
"But they imply it." Her niece walked away from the wall, a sudden blazing fire in her eyes. "You know, from the day I was born, there was this huge expectation that I would do great things."
Mara knew. Everyone had talked about it. "Must be hard." she said.
"Hard." the word came out as a curse. "It was the reason we never got a real childhood, that we couldnt live the way we wanted to, the reason why Anakin died. He died because he had too much pressure on him, and he strove to prove that he was capable of fulfilling the expectations."
"The reason why you strike out?" Mara asked. Her niece's gaze settled on her for a moment, and for the first time in so long, the cold, calm mask was gone. In its place was a tormented soul, raging, in pain, and with desperate hopes that she knew could be destroyed by people she called allies.
"No." she said after a long moment. "I strike out against the Vong. I hate them." The emotion in the Jedi's voice was almost overwhelming. Pain, rage, hatred. "Is it so wrong of me to hate them? They took away something that they shouldn't have."
"In the end, hate solves nothing. It leaves nothing to live for." Mara replied, reaching out to her niece's mind. The barriers were still up, but not as much. Interesting.
Jaina sat down, five meters from her Master, and ran a hand through her hair wearily. For a long moment there was silence. "I'm sorry." she said. "For what happened in the duel."
Mara looked at her quizzically. "I don't think we could have stopped it."
"I didn't mean about the way it turned into a brawl, I meant the reaction I had when our presences joined."
Mara looked confused. "You know, I never knew actually what happened."
"Simple, you unconsciously found yourself in the one place noones allowed into." Jaina replied. "My mind."
"Those were your thoughts?" Mara asked. Jaina shook her head. "My nightmares. Visions. I'm still trying to figure out how we managed to get into that mess."
"So basically you freaked and threw me out, right?" Mara concluded.
"No, I didn't do anything. At least, I didnt do it consciously. I figured it might be a reflex reaction. To stop Jedi from getting at my thoughts." She winced slightly.
Mara sighed. "You're way too closed up, you know that? You need to let things out more. Maybe that's why you're so...I don't know. Only you know that one."
Jaina frowned, considering her words, then looked up again. "Is Mom here?"
"Yeah, she's taking a comm call. Figured if we started duelling again, she should get out of the way."
A look of intense agony flashed across the girl's face, surprising Mara. "I guess I've stuffed up big time. Must be a Solo trait," she managed, and Mara saw the tears that threatened to fall. She walked over to the Jedi and embraced her, forgiveness and support flowing from her into her niece.
From outside the door, Leia wiped away tears as she heard the two talking.