Chapter 29
"Can I play with your lightsaber?"
Jaina looked at the small girl, her brown eyes large with put-on innocence. Jaina grinned slyly. "Sure."
Syal Antilles' eyes widened with surprise. "Really?"
"Yeah," Jaina said, "if you can tell me the first person to ever build one."
Syal's lower lip formed in a practiced pout, and she folded her arms over her chest. "How am I supposed to know that? I'm not a Jedi."
"Then why do you need a Jedi weapon?"
Unable to form a suitable response, she turned from Jaina and went back to sit on her father's lap. Iella grinned at Jaina over a steaming cup of caf. "Very good, for someone with no children of their own."
Jaina shrugged, but smiled at the praise.
"By the way, who was the first person to build a lightsaber?" Wedge questioned wryly.
Jaina laughed. "I haven't the slightest idea."
Laughter rose suddenly from the other side of the room, where Myri had coaxed Jag into playing a game of Catwalks and Turbolifts. "I win, I win!" the dark-headed child squealed gleefully, sending Jag superior looks as she danced around his chair.
Jag stood, pulling a mock-crestfallen face. "I think you cheated."
Myri stopped dead, turning to plant her hands on her hips. "Did not!"
Syal giggled from her perch on Wedge's lap. "I bet she did."
Myri turned a horrified look on her older sister. "I did not!" She spun angrily on Jag. "And you know I didn't!"
"Maybe," Jag said mischievously.
Myri smiled. "See? I won fair and square."
"I bet I can beat you," Syal stated confidently.
"Can not!"
"Can too!"
And it was on again, this time the siblings engaging in a heated match by themselves. Jag came to sit by Jaina, who was barely containing her laughter. "What are you laughing at?" he said playfully, draping an arm over her shoulders.
"You," she said.
"Don't feel bad," Wedge said, "not everyone can win Catwalks and Turbolifts every time."
"Ha ha," Jag said as the the other three laughed hysterically at his expense. "I've beat whole squadrons of coralskippers by myself, I could have won that if I had wanted to. I was just being nice."
Jaina smiled placatingly and patted his shoulder comfortingly. "Of course you could."
Jag scowled at her humor, but not without a touch of his own amusement. Now free of the demands of their daughters, Wedge and Iella seemed a little more open with their conversation. "How does the Imperial government compare in standards to the Republic, Jaina?" Wedge asked.
Jaina raised a single eyebrow. "Are you asking me as a General in the Imperial Navy, or a family friend?"
Wedge smiled. "A friend."
"Well, as a friend and civilian, I am not privy to such information."
"And a general?"
"As a general I would be forced to question why I am being prodded for for intelligence I am not authorized to disclose without explicit permission."
Wedge gave no impression of being miffed at her put-off. "I expected as much."
"So do you all live on Bastion?" Iella asked.
Jag shook his head. "We have a place there, just like everyone else, but I haven't been there in weeks, and I don't think Jaina has either. We basically live on the Valorous and Roughshod."
"You like the TIE design?" Wedge asked Jaina.
She shrugged, noncommittal. "It's well-suited for certain battles, but I would still prefer an X-wing I think."
Wedge smiled triumphantly. "Good girl."
About then Jag's comm started chirping wildly, and he pulled it quickly from his jacket breast-pocket. "Fel," he said, standing.
"General, will you not be joining the rest of our envoy at the Embassy?"
"Sorry, Admiral, we're staying with family," Jag replied.
"That's fine, for tonight. But we're shipping off tomorrow, early, and I expect the both of you to be on the same schedule as everyone else."
"We'll be there," Jag promised.
"Checking up on us again?" Jaina asked as he sat back down.
"Yes. I think he's a little nervous, bringing us back here. Like we might decide to switch over again or something."
Jaina snorted. "Like that's going to happen. I can't imagine what he could do to us that would be worse than what Mother did."
Wedge shifted in his seat. "If you ever change your minds, we're ready for you."
"No offense, UncleWedge, but the Empire is so much more suited to our needs than the Chiss or the Republic it's ridiculous," Jag said.
Iella smiled easily, obviously trying to diffuse the situation. "Each for their own."
"How is Luke doing? I didn't see him at the ceremony," Wedge commented.
Jaina shifted apprehensively. "He's well. It's just that Mara's here."
"Oh. That's the second time this month. She was here a few weeks ago too, for a day or two I think. I only remember because the Holonet made a big deal about their relationship being on the rocks," Wedge explained.
Jaina rolled her eyes. "Anything but. They'll say anything to get a reaction out of people. Did you see the one about my affair with an Imperial colonel?"
Iella laughed lightly. "You mean there's no credence to that?"
"No more than my secret lover back in on Csilla," Jag joked.
"Don't worry about them," Iella said when the mirth died down, "one day you'll grow old like us and they'll realize you aren't going to break up after all."
Jaina smiled, but not without a touch of sadness. "We can only hope."
She had expected to see many surprising things while the Empire stayed on Coruscant, but none so as the presence of Luke and Mara Jade Skywalker standing next to Pellaeon on the shuttle boarding ramp. Jaina approached cautiously, not sure what to make of the exchange.
As they saw her coming the trio turned in greeting, all seemingly oblivious to the oddness about the gathering. "General Fel, I think you're acquainted with the Masters Skywalker?" Pellaeon smirked.
Jaina grinned tightly. "A little."
"They have put in a request to travel with the Chimaera on behalf of the new alliance and promoting good relations."
Jaina tried to keep the shock from her face, but failed miserably too keep it from the Force. "Oh," was all she could think to say.
"They said you could vouch for their trustworthiness."
Jaina shuffled from one foot to the other. "They are completely trustworthy, of course, but I wonder at the reason for their wish to be included," she said, keeping her eyes fixed on her uncle. It was he who spoke next.
"You have gained your worth because of your knowledge of the enemy, knowledge gained by time spent fighting them. We want to learn the same things first-hand, and help pass them on to the rest of the Jedi."
Jaina nodded slowly. There was something else though, some reason they weren't revealing. "Is that wise?" she asked, this time focusing her gaze on Mara. Her unspoken question was transferred easily between them, and Mara's only response was the slight hardening around her eyes. This illness wasn't going to keep her out of the fight, not by a long shot.
"Well, then, I have nothing but good things to say for their integrity," Jaina said to Pellaeon in truth.
"I expected as much. Well, then, I see no reason why you can't accompany us for a while. A short while, at least," Pellaeon said.
Luke bowed graciously, the hem of his Jedi robe sweeping the ground. "We are very thankful, Admiral."
"Well, I suggest you board the shuttle and strap in. And General, you need to be returning to the Roughshod."
Jaina didn't reply, just saluted smartly and marched back to her own shuttle, wondering what her aunt and uncle were up to.
Jaina had only just showered and laid down for her scheduled field nap when the buzzer to her apartment door rang. She didn't move, but stretched out in the Force to see who was intruding on her solitude. It was Mara. She gave her mental permission to enter, and the door swished open to reveal the tall red-head standing in the opening, dressed in training fatigues and a lightsaber on her belt. "Jaina," she said, stepping inside. "Quite a ship you're running here."
She expended the effort and sat up on the edge of her bed. "Thank you. I don't mean to be rude, Aunt Mara, but I'm really tired. If this isn't important..."
"Tired? Didn't you just wake up a few hours ago?"
"I've been unusually tired lately. I can't seem to get enough sleep."
"Hmm," Mara said. "Well, do you have any inclination to get over it?"
"Huh?"
Mara sighed. "Luke refuses to spar with me. He says it's not good for someone in my condition. But I'm dying here, with nothing to do. Come spar with me. Maybe you'll learn a thing or two," she smirked.
Jaina rolled her eyes. "I'd love to, any other time. Maybe this evening."
Mara's countenance seemed to grow a little more serious. "I really think we ought to go do it now."
Something in her voice gave Jaina the impression that there was going to be more than sparring going on in that training room. Mara had something on her mind, and she meant to speak to Jaina about it. So, reluctantly, she pulled herself from the sheets and stood, stretching. "Okay. Give me five minutes to get ready."
Mara winked, all solemnity gone from her features as she turned to leave. "I'll see you in five, then."
Jaina pulled her right arm up over her head and behind her back, tugging on the elbow in an attempt to loosen the constricted tricep. She rolled her neck from side to side, flexed her fingers, and dropped into a fighting stance.
Mara smiled, the muscles in her legs flexing as she shifted from foot to foot. "You seem tense, Jaina."
Jaina attacked experimentally, thrusting the heel of her hand upwards at the underside of Mara's jaw. Mara rolled with the punch, flipping onto her hands and kicking out at Jaina's chest. Jaina bent at the knees, leaning away from the attack. Mara's leg's sailed over her body, and then the older woman cartwheeled in the other direction.
Both Jedi came to their feet, again resuming defensive stances. "I get over it quick," Jaina grinned.
This time Mara moved first. Jaina saw the tensing in her left quad before the Force warned her, but she was too quick for Jaina to dodge. Her leg swung up in a high sweep, catching Jaina across the side of the head. She moved with blow, letting it roll her onto her side. Mara pounced on her, and Jaina blocked with her left forearm. With the other hand she grabbed her shoulder in a vice grip and attempted to roll her under her into a pin.
But Mara had after all been the Emperor's Hand, and such a move was no problem for her. Her legs wrapped around Jaina's knees and squeezed, holding them in a flex she couldn't get out of. Then it was just a matter of wrestling her onto her back and pinning her arms above her head.
By the time Jaina quit struggling both were panting, and Mara didn't look well. She released Jaina wordlessly, going to retrieve her water bottle and drinking ravenously. She proceeded to collapse against the wall, chest heaving.
Jaina sauntered tiredly to sit beside her. "You shouldn't push yourself, like that, Aunt Mara. It's not good for the baby."
Mara raised a red manicured eyebrow. "Someone sore over being beaten by a sick old lady?"
Jaina laughed. "You're hardly an old lady, and I think you just proved you're not too sick to kick my behind."
Mara grinned roguishly. "I would have been upset if I hadn't. What are you, sixteen now?"
"Seventeen," Jain replied a bit stiffly.
"Ah."
"So...how is the baby?"
Mara smiled. "I regret having it while I have this illness, but not having it period. I love it so much already sometimes it takes my breath away."
"How many weeks are you?"
"Just five. You?"
Jaina did a double-take. "What?"
Mara's emerald eyes twinkled with mischief. "How many weeks along are you?"
Jaina paused, not sure she was registering her words. Finally she laughed shortly, more out of confusion than humor. "Mara, I'm not pregnant."
Mara sighed. "I was hoping we wouldn't have to go through this. You can't hide it from me Jaina, you might as well tell me. I already know."
Jaina shook her head in incredulity. "Mara, I'm not pregnant."
The older Jedi narrowed her eyes at Jaina's statement. For a moment she just stared, and then her brows shot up with shock. "Oh gods. You don't know."
Jaina was really confused. "I don't know what you're talking about. What don't I know?"
Mara reached out to grasp Jaina's hand, then placed it over her abdomen. "Stretch out, honey, and feel your baby. It's growing inside you."
Still befuddled beyond words, Jaina reached out with confusion, touching her own organs. But inside was something she had never expected. A life, an entity separate from her own, yet so entangled within her own life force it would have been indiscernible had she not been looking for it. It was the thing she had felt in her dreams, the thing she had feared was somehow a hidden part of herself containing an evil she didn't want to see.
Her baby.
It made sense of a sudden, everything made sense. Why she had been so different lately. They were mood swings inherent to her changing hormones. Her body chemistry had been literally turned upside down. It was why she had been so prone to emotions and illness, vomiting in her nervousness. Morning sickness. It was why she had been so tired. It was why her muscles had ached and been stiff. It was why she had felt something growing in strength inside of her.
Because something was.
Her baby.
Jag's baby.
Jaina felt ill, too ill to hold the meager breakfast she had consumed earlier. And so she retched, right there on the training room floor. Mara held her hair back, whispering soft comforting words as Jaina felt tears forming in her eyes. When she sat back up Mara wiped her face with a towel, then sat in silence as Jaina contemplated this new information.
"How could this have happened?" she whispered finally.
Mara laughed lightly. "If you don't know, then we really do have a problem."
Jaina gave her aunt a look completely lacking in humor. "We were so damn careful," she whispered.
Mara smiled sadly. "I know, Jaina. Things just happen some times."
Jaina took a steadying breath. "But we're at war. I can't be having a baby now. I have to fight."
"You and I are in the same ship, Jaina. Only with me there's a chance either the baby or I or both of us won't make it to term." Mara's voice wavered as she spoke, and suddenly Jaina felt very selfish for being upset when Mara was in the state she was in.
She reached out to grip her aunt's hand. "You'll make it, Mara. You both will." She took ragged breath. "We'll help each other through this."
Mara smiled. "That's really what I wanted to talk to you about. I never dreamed you didn't know you were pregnant. I just wanted to offer you my support. And ask you something."
"Shoot," Jaina said.
"Luke an I were talking, and it's been a long while since you've had formal Jedi training. Your skills have to be getting rusty. He wanted to train you while on this trip, but I said I wanted to do it. I didn't tell him it was because you were pregnant."
Understanding dawned on Jaina. "This is what this whole thing is about, isn't it?"
"It was, for Luke anyway. But I knew from the moment I saw you you were pregnant."
"How?"
"Mainly because you look just how I felt a few weeks ago. And your Force signature is slightly different. Luke and your brothers are a little naive, and even if they noticed I'm sure they didn't think you were having a baby," she added at Jaina's alarmed look.
Jaina stretched out again, tentatively touching the place her child rested. It was warm and snug, full of life, even though it seemed terribly small. A feeling previously missing blossomed in Jaina's heart, a love so deep and fierce and protective she felt like curling into a ball around her center to keep it safe. Is this the feeling all mother's had? And how could she feel such deep emotion over something she only realized existed a few minutes before? It was baffling. The only things Jaina really gleaned from the experience, though, was an innate sense that it was a girl. It wasn't far enough along in its development to know for sure, but its spirit felt feminine to Jaina.
Jaina stood slowly, then extended a hand to Mara. The fact that she took it was a clear sign to her flagging health. "I need to tell Jag. But I want to wait till I can do it face-to-face. We should be reverting to realspace soon, and maybe I can coax him into coming over from the Valorous."
Mara wrapped a comforting arm around her niece's shoulders. "I'm sure he will. But you never answered my question about your Jedi training. Is it all right if we train together for a while?"
Jaina smiled genuinely. "I would love that, Aunt Mara."
