Upon seeing that the next four defoliators were escorted by a whole squadron of Chiss clawcraft, Jaina knew that the Ascendancy was getting serious; they really wanted the Killiks to leave their territory, even if they had to officially use military might to accomplish their goals. And as those vessels raced between Qoribu's moons of Ruu and Zvbo, where the nests of Saras and Alaala resided respectively, she opened herself to the battle-meld that she shared with her brother and their friends in preparation for the skirmish ahead.
Seated in her StealthX's cockpit, Jaina felt the thoughts of her fellow Knights and instinctively knew which among them wanted to approach this situation the careful way and which of them wanted to enter this battle with the intent of bloodying the Chiss' proverbial nose. Those in the former included Jacen, Zekk, and Lowie, who wanted to simply disable the defoliators without killing any Chiss, while Alema, Tahiri, and Tesar wanted to see the Ascendancy pilots, both defoliators and fighters, be blown out of the sky for their attempts at starving the Killik nests out. Had Tekli been in a StealthX herself—or a Sekotan skiff, as Tahiri had, or in the Solo Quest like Jacen—and been part of the battle-meld instead of standing by as a medic back on Jwlio, Jaina figured that the Chadra-Fan would have been in the former camp.
Jaina, however, felt very much like she and the Knights have been too soft on the Chiss lately.
She could feel Zekk reminding her that it was their duty as Jedi to remain dispassionate, to cut through the veil of obscuring emotion and find the core of a problem like the conflict between the Killiks and the Chiss. If the Jedi allowed themselves to seek retribution rather than peace, how could they bring a lasting solution to any conflict?
The Jedi in Jaina agreed. After all, this was a simple border conflict; turning it into a killing fight would irrevocably escalate it into an all-out war from which the carnage would be devastating on both sides.
But something in Jaina stopped her from agreeing with Zekk with her whole heart. It was that same nameless part of her that had lashed out to all of her friends on Jwlio over the thakitillo before Jacen arrived. Simply thinking about the tireless efforts that Taat, among other nests, had made for their homes, only for the Chiss to even try to starve them out like they didn't deserve basic sapient rights, was something that sickened her to the core of her being.
If Jaina had learned anything battling the Yuuzhan Vong, it was that any species that tried to oust another by rendering their worlds uninhabitable wasn't a species that deserved a light touch. Thinking about the arid soil on Jwlio brought to mind the devastation wrought on worlds like Ithor and Sernpidal, the very world where Chewbacca had died ten years ago.
And how long would it be before this simple border conflict erupted into all-out war anyway? What if, by simply disabling the defoliators rather than destroying them, Jaina, Jacen, and their friends were only delaying the inevitable? What if the Chiss were to attack them outright anyway? It wasn't unimaginable to Jaina that they would disregard their own honor system of never attacking first if it suited their interests.
In that, Jaina saw more of a comparison between the Chiss and the Vong. No doubt, at one point in their long history, the Vong were like the Chiss: peaceful, benevolent, and nonviolent. But they had ultimately become barbaric, war-obsessed, and stripped of the Force; to think that something like that couldn't happen to a people like the Chiss was a naive way of looking at things.
Soon, the Chiss vessels had entered the gap between Ruu and Zvbo, and when two of the defoliators branched away from the main body of the task force, those two were almost immediately swarmed by dartships piloted by Saras and Alaala. Jaina was painfully aware through the Force, and through the growing connection that she and the other Knights had with Taat and the rest of the Colony, of the nest lives being lost as they smashed against the defoliators' shields.
And all the while, the defoliators' pilots continued to live, with no regard for the units of existence that they were snuffing out by simply following their damned orders.
But even as these thoughts plagued Jaina, or maybe because they plagued her, a plan began to formulate in the more strategic part of her mind. As a result, Jacen and Tahiri's ships shot forward toward the defoliators and the Killik swarms around them.
Seconds after, Tahiri's voice appeared over the comm. She informed the Chiss Joiner of their group, ReyaTaat, to bring the Taat dartships with her and Jacen; although Tahiri didn't make it clear, it was to form a diversion for the Ascendancy ships while the Jedi StealthXs destroyed-
No, disabled. The StealthXs were to disable the defoliators. To destroy them was to invite all-out war upon the Killiks, and nobody wanted that.
Zekk's will was strong in that sentiment. Jaina blinked, wondering why that sensation had become so strong. And as Zekk's will faded into the background of the Jedi battle-meld, Jaina started to wonder why she had thought to destroy the defoliators in the first place.
She shook her head. Now was not the time to second-guess herself, especially in the middle of an active zone of conflict. Ahead, the Chiss clawcraft were diving in front of several Saras and Alaala dartships, keeping them at bay from the two defoliators as the latter ships were given time to refresh their shields. Knowing that it was now or never if she and the Knights were to pull off this plan, Jaina throttled her StealthX forward for Ruu just as Tesar made his way for Zvbo while the remaining Knights took their invisible ships in a high-arcing maneuver for the last two defoliators.
Yes, Jaina thought as the skirmish proceeded. She would disable the defoliator ahead. All it would take was a pair of proton torpedoes right behind the Chiss vessel's thrust nozzles—not upon them, but just meters behind them—and then it would be rendered useless, just like the other defoliators she had disabled over these past two months.
This thought persisted at the back of her mind, even as the forefront of her mind was preoccupied with surviving the attacks that the clawcraft inevitably laid upon her StealthX. Amidst her maneuvers, Jaina had to relieve her starfighter of two torps just to distract her enemies even as her efforts had her shields go down on her and fill her cockpit with the acrid smell of fused circuits. She didn't need to read her status displays to know that it wouldn't take much more to blow her into oblivion.
Nevertheless, the sacrificed torps served their function, and as their lights momentarily blinded the Ascendancy pilots, Jaina took that opportunity to climb above the tangle of the battle. Hundreds of meters above, as she became a completely invisible predator in her StealthX, she found a vantage point from which she could launch her next two torps and disable the defoliator intended for Ruu.
And when she launched them, they served their true purpose.
After that, everything went wrong.
. . .
Standing in the same hangar deck where they had parked their ships, the Jedi Knights didn't move from their positions as the Jade Shadow parked its landing gears upon the deck.
But Jaina did look around at her fellow Knights. Alema avoided eye contact with her, but even so, the Twi'lek had a look of defiance that betrayed her feelings of the battle that had passed. Tesar and Zekk both looked guilty while Tahiri bore a stoic expression that displayed no emotions; her Force-presence was as reserved as her facial and body languages.
In his attempt to mimic Tahiri's stoicism, Jacen, however, couldn't help but bleed some concern into his own minute physical expressions as soon as his eyes locked with Jaina's. She noticed that her brother was still guarding his Force-presence very closely to the point that she had to really probe him through their twin bond; in all the time that Jacen had been with them, Jaina hadn't thought to talk to him about that until now.
A part of her wondered why that was. It wasn't as if there wasn't downtime in between fending off the Chiss raids. But Jaina had been so preoccupied by... she had been so preoccupied by...
Defending the Colony. Being with the Colony. Defending and being with her friends. The sudden appearance of these thoughts washed away any doubt that Jaina had with Jacen; he would come around to them, open himself back up to her, and join the Colony in his own time because there would be time. There was no need to rush any of this.
Yes, yes, Jaina thought. Whatever Jacen's reasons for guarding his Force-presence would become irrelevant in due time. She had to trust in that; Jacen was a different breed of Jedi who didn't see things the same way others did, who didn't need to see things the same way others did; so an indirect approach would work for him.
Yes. Yes.
So with those thoughts out of the way, Jaina returned her attention to the Shadow and renewed the defiant expression that she realized she shared with Alema. As loathe as she was to share anything with the inane and annoying Twi'lek, what they did today was something they both found themselves to be proud of.
Jaina wasn't quite sure how much time had passed since the Shadow had touched down, but she had a feeling that her aunt and uncle were deliberately drawing this out. The Knights' elders wanted the suspense to build, as the Masters Skywalker were going to confront them and their friends over this as if they were unruly teenagers. Jaina didn't think she ever felt so patronized in her life, especially after all that she had proven during the Vong War.
Finally, the Shadow's boarding ramp lowered, and bolting down from it was little Ben Skywalker, who quickly wrapped Jaina in a hug.
"Nice to see you, too, Ben," Jaina said with a bittersweet smile. She stepped back to appraise him. "You've grown."
"It's been a whole year." Ben smiled mischievously, then added, "Boy, you guys are in trouble!" And by that point, Aunt Mara and a sallow-looking Uncle Luke were stepping off the ramp, and neither of them looked particularly happy.
So it appeared that their elders would need convincing, Jaina thought wearily. And to think they of all people would understand, what with Luke's history as a Rebel against the Empire and Mara's retroactive view on Palpatine. Still, she maintained a smile for Ben.
"I imagine we are," she said.
"Well, I hope they don't take your lightsabers or anything like that," Ben said.
Jaina's eyes flashed at that. There was no way that Uncle Luke or Aunt Mara would deign to think that; but then again...
Ben didn't seem to notice the newfound look of worry on Jaina's face as he turned to her brother and offered his hand.
"Hi," Ben said pleasantly. "You must be Jacen. I'm your cousin, Ben."
Jacen shook the boy's hand with an amused smile. "Yes, I know. Good to finally see you again; and quite tall since I last saw you."
"I was two, as Mom and Dad told me," Ben pointed out innocently. "Of course I'd be taller."
Jacen nodded as if he wondered how something so obvious could escape his notice. "Of course."
"You went off to study other orders of the Force," Ben stated. "Did you find what you were looking for?"
"Some of it," Jacen said.
Ben's face fell. "So you're going back?"
"No." Jacen's tone changed to that of a person addressing an equal. "And though I might keep searching in other ways, I doubt I'll ever find what I'm looking for."
"What does that mean?" Ben asked. "How can you search for something when you think it might all be pointless?"
Jacen shrugged. "It's what I feel I have to do."
Ben looked confused. "Okay then. Look, uh, I have to go, but we can talk later."
"Yes," Jacen said. "I'll look forward to that."
After Ben was escorted by his Yuuzhan Vong Hunter nanny droid Nanna toward the Shadow, an awkward silence fell between the Skywalkers and the Knights. While Uncle Luke remained behind his wife with as neutral an expression as can be expected from a Jedi Master of his years, Aunt Mara's cold, steely gaze washed over the Knights, no doubt trying to appraise them without having to draw on the Force to make her judgment.
"Okay, I'm going to say it," Jacen spoke up. "Uncle Luke, what happened to you?"
A flash of embarrassment overcame Jaina; she had noticed how sallow her uncle had appeared. Yet in the tension that was building up between the Knights and their elders even before the latter stepped off from their ships, she didn't even think to ask that question.
Then again, if he was willing to appear here, and Aunt Mara wasn't bringing it up, then perhaps the issue of Luke's physical appearance wasn't an important one, Jaina thought.
"I'm fine... just a little worn," Luke said. "We came to, um, talk about what's going on here."
"Your parents will be here fairly soon," Mara told Jaina and Jacen. "In the meantime, I have to ask where is Lowbacca?"
Jaina was caught off-guard by that, as it became an uncomfortable reminder of the Wookiee's capture by the Chiss. After Jaina had outright destroyed the defoliator intended for Ruu, the entire battle devolved into a killing match as Zekk had feared. Two more clawcraft squadrons were launched from one of the Ascendancy Star Destroyers. Alema had expressed glee in her kills as she shot the clawcraft to atoms. Tahiri allowed herself to get lost in the heat of combat as if she had the mind of a Yuuzhan Vong warrior rather than a Shaper. And Tesar allowed his natural Barabel instincts to take over as the battle went down.
Jaina supposed she acted just like Tesar had; though a part of her did take on some of the same mirth that Alema demonstrated through the battle-meld.
But for the other Knights, no such thrill was to be had; through the meld, Jaina had felt their desperation. Even Jacen's Force-presence became clear to her again, and above the fear that naturally came from trying to survive battling clawcraft in his own visible YT-2400, Jaina sensed from him a sort of confusion as to how all of this could have gone so wrong.
And it had gone wrong; many Killiks were lost that day, even if the Chiss lost a great deal, too, including an entire Star Destroyer. Had they not retreated with their capture of Lowie, who had to go extravehicular from his destroyed StealthX, Jaina had a feeling that the battle would have become a greater loss for the Colony than she could have realized.
She knew that Lowie was still alive. His presence in the Gyuel system was faint, but she could feel him through the connection they formed through the Force as children. And at times, she could even feel pain emanating from him. No doubt the Chiss were torturing him for information aboard one of their capital ships, which he was too strong to give in to. Just thinking about that added a layer upon Jaina's anger against them.
"Well, Jaina," Mara said, snapping her out of her reverie, "where is he?"
"I'm not quite sure," Jaina answered honestly. "Not after he went EV."
"He's still alive then," Mara gathered. "Which leads me to the conclusion that he's in the hands of the enemy, isn't he?"
"So you understand that the Chiss are in the wrong here?" Jaina asked.
"I didn't say that," Mara said. "What I'm saying is that the Chiss are the enemy because you made them the enemy."
"We didn't make them the enemy, Aunt Mara," Jaina replied defensively. "They made themselves the enemy when they decided they didn't want the Killiks to make a living for themselves."
"In the Chiss' rightful territory," Mara pointed out.
"As if they needed more room," Jaina said.
"That's not the point, Jaina," Mara said.
"No, it's not. It's about the Killiks. They don't deserve the way they're being treated. If you'd spend any time with them-"
"We've spent enough time with the Killiks as it is, Jaina," Mara interrupted. "And with what we've come to understand, the situation isn't as black and white as you claim."
"What do you mean?" Zekk was the one to ask.
Before Mara could answer, a chest-high Killik came over and brushed Jaina's arm with an antenna, then thrummed something with its chest.
"She says the StealthXs are fed and ready," C-3PO translated proudly.
"Fueled and armed," Jaina corrected. She ran her arm down the Killik's antenna, then said to it, "Thanks. We'll be leaving soon."
"With shadow bombs?" Mara asked. She pointed to the StealthXs, which had the propellant charges for their proton torpedoes removed and replaced with packed baradium. "That's not exactly rescue equipment."
"We might need to create a little diversion," Alema said.
"For the Chiss?" Mara asked.
"What else?" Jaina retorted.
Mara looked at her niece with bewilderment. "Nobody's going anywhere," she said with a firm, authoritative tone. "Not until we have some answers. Things are too far out of control."
Jaina's face grew hard. "Lowie is being tortured as we speak. If we don't help him as soon as-"
"Tortured?" Luke asked. "That can't be. I can feel his presence myself. He has gone into a Force-hibernation. I sense no pain from him."
Jaina looked at her uncle in disbelief. "He was captured by the Chiss. We all saw it happen!"
"That doesn't mean they're torturing him," Luke said.
"Then why would they be holding him?" Jaina asked. "And why can I feel his pain?"
"I... I don't know." Luke looked genuinely concerned. "But I know that if Lowbacca is in a Force-hibernation, then the Chiss wouldn't be torturing him. My guess is that they're holding him and are waiting for him to wake up if they aren't already trying to wake him up right now."
Jaina couldn't help but sneer. "You guess. I know Lowie better than you, Uncle Luke. As a friend, I made a connection with him through the Force that you couldn't possibly make as one of his teachers. I would know better than you what his current state would be."
"Jaina!" Mara snapped. "What has gotten into you?! Where has this disrespectful attitude come from?"
"From a place that won't sit idly by while one of my friends is being tortured, regardless of whatever your husband says," Jaina replied sharply. "Now if you won't help us, then-"
"What? Get out of the way?" Mara retorted. She allowed a moment to pass before she asked, "That's what you were going to say, wasn't it? That's a very disturbing line of thinking, Jaina."
"What are you implying, Aunt Mara?"
"I'm implying that you seem to have forgotten what it means to be a Jedi."
"We are doing what the Jedi were meant to do," Jaina said. "We're using our powers to help those who are wrongfully targeted by much more powerful entities, whether they be governmental or otherwise."
"There are limits to how far one goes with such power, Jaina," Leia finally spoke up. "Trust me. I know."
"Limits, huh?" Alema asked. "So we have a limit to how much we can help those who need help. I'm sure Lowie would appreciate that sentiment." Sarcasm dripped from her voice as she made it blatantly obvious how little respect she held for her elders.
"There are always limits, Alema," Luke said in spite of her tone. "We must follow them lest we lose ourselves to a darkness greater than any of you can imagine from even your own experiences. And right now, with what we know about Killiks and their Joiners, we think all of you may have lost your objectivity in how you carry out your actions."
"So what are you saying, Uncle Luke?" Jaina asked. "That we abandon the Killiks, that we abandon Lowie?"
"I'm not saying that," Luke said. "What I'm saying is that we all need to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. And with your parents going to speak to the Chiss before they come here, we may be able to get down to the bottom of this whole situation."
"Well, right now, I'm not interested in the bigger picture, Uncle Luke!" Jaina cried. "And do you really think Mom and Dad can save Lowie just by talking to the Chiss? If they were willing to talk, we wouldn't be here! And here you are, trying to lecture us about how we're to conduct ourselves when, honestly, we've been doing more good here these past two months than everything we've all done put together in the past five years!"
"You may feel that way, Jaina, but-"
"But nothing!" she exclaimed. "You're just mad that we abandoned our posts because we weren't good little obedient Jedi who did every little thing that the Galactic Alliance or any one of those greedy rehab conglomerates wanted us to do!"
"I'm not the one who's mad here, Jaina," Luke said sternly.
"Oh, no, of course, you're not! You can't be mad! You're Luke Skywalker, the man who brought the Jedi Order back from the dead! Getting mad is beneath you! But allowing a government or corporation to tell you what to do is all fine and dandy! Isn't that how Pal-"
"Don't say it!" Mara stepped toward her niece, drawing a rustle from the ceiling and walls as the Killik spectators shrank back. "It's bad enough to desert your posts and make us come here looking for you. Don't you dare make that comparison. There are some things I won't tolerate even from you, Jaina Solo."
Jaina's eyes widened in shock. She stared at Mara for a long time, clicking softly in her throat, hovering between an apology and an angry retort that everyone present knew would open a rift between the two women that could never be closed again. To his credit, Luke did not intervene. He simply stood quietly, patiently waiting to see what decision his niece would make.
When the time came for her response, Jaina sneered. "Sounds like how Palpatine took down the Jedi Order."
An icy silence fell over the gathering, and everyone stood frozen in response to what Jaina said. This lasted for several seconds.
At the end of those seconds, Mara slapped Jaina across the face, turned around, and marched back toward the Shadow's landing ramp.
When Jaina reeled from the strike, she looked at her uncle. The disappointment on his face was palpable before he turned away and followed his wife.
"Jaina," Jacen said once the Skywalkers were gone, "what have you done?"
She looked coldly at her brother. "What needed to be done; what needed to be said. Now, while our elders are busy, let's get back out there and save Lowie."