Chapter Two

When Jedi enter a room, they often command the attention of the population, though they do not necessarily desire that attention. When Mat Lehada entered a room, he did so as though he not only wanted your full attention, but also wished that you would bow at his feet and worship his being.

Jaina simply rolled her eyes.

"Decided to join the crew," Rhysode said to the handsome young Jedi, trying not to smile at Jaina's eye movements.

"Must have gotten tired of looking in the mirror," Jaina mumbled.

"I was helping Kamik-Ir in the back," Lehada said, sweeping his hand backward and ignoring the young woman's remarks. "I'm finished now, so I came to see if you required my assistance."

"Solo's got it under control," Rhysode replied.

"As always," Lehada answered, glancing in her direction. He brushed a piece of his blond hair out of his eyes. 'He does have nice eyes,' Jaina thought. 'Big and blue. Have to remember not to poke them out if he pisses me off.'

"Ah, well," he continued. "I guess if I'm not needed..." He turned and walked towards the hall. "Oh, and Solo," he said, turning around. "I'll try not to piss you off."

Jaina started to say something but he was already gone. "Dammit!" she whispered under her breath.

"What's wrong?" Rhysode asked, scrunching up his eyebrows.

Jaina shook her head. "Nothing." 'Nothing except damn Lehada was reading my thoughts and I completely forgot to block him out!' she thought to herself.

"I'm going to go get something to eat," Ganner said after a moment. "Hungry?"

Jaina shook her head no. "I'm fine."

"Alright. I'll be back," he replied, and left the room.

Jaina turned her attention to the stars. Swirls of the white and blue of hyperspace filled her view. It was amazing, to stay the least. Jaina loved flying through space more than anything in the universe.

She especially loved flying through space with Rogue Squadron. She missed that, very much. Ever since an incident between her, the Squadron, and Kyp Durron about a year ago, Jaina had become less and less active with the group. Although she had been able to help out when needed, she no longer went everywhere they did and didn't feel as much a part of the squad as she had when she'd first joined them what seemed like forever ago.

Jaina's thoughts of Rogue Squadron shifted to the mission at hand. It seemed simple enough. But in her life, nothing had ever been simple. Ever. It seemed as if someone was always fighting someone, or someone needed rescuing. There never seemed to be a day of peace. With the Vong finally gone, Jaina prayed that she'd someday see the day when no one was running, no one was fighting, and no one was in need of help. She wasn't sure that it would ever come.

Jacen stirred in the seat next to her, but didn't wake. Jaina closed her eyes and tried to join her brother in dreamland but was unsuccessful. Her thoughts kept drifting away...

Mat Lehada was a piece of work, she thought. She had known him for a brief amount of time at the Academy before the Vong invasion. What she had known she didn't like. Mat was arrogant and obnoxious. He did what he wanted, when he wanted. However, he was a very talented Jedi, and to Jaina's dismay, could kick her ass at mind tricks in a half a second. He was definitely good looking; she'd give him that as well. But rumor had it, though she didn't know firsthand, Lehada had also gotten around at the Jedi Academy. Jaina herself had thought he was attractive, but that was all. She'd never gotten involved as some of the other females of Yavin IV had.

And then there was Kamik-Ir. The young alien kept to herself, and was now in back meditating, where Jaina assumed she'd be for the rest of the trip. Jaina had never met her before today. She rarely spoke, and knew very little Basic anyway, but she was a fairly good healer. Jaina assumed Luke had put her on this mission for that very reason--the Solo twins had been known to require more than a few healers in their time.

And what about Rhysode? Jaina's thoughts turned to the older, wiser Jedi she was traveling with. What was his story? Jaina hadn't heard much about him since the attack where he'd become disfigured. She didn't know what he had been up to, only that somewhere along the line he'd switched his alliances from Kyp to Luke. Jaina was thankful for that. Rhysode was an excellent Jedi.

Jaina sighed and looked up as her brother opened his eyes.

"Hey sis," he said, rubbing the sleep away from his eyes.

"Hey," she said, giving him a half-smile.

Jacen sat up in his seat. "What's going on?"

"Not much," she replied. "Just thinking."

"May I ask what?" he said.

"Just stuff, nothing important." She smiled. "Have a nice nap?"

Jacen stretched his arms above his head and gave his knuckles a crack. "Yeah."

Jaina leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. "Yeah, well now it's my turn."

She had finally begun to drift off when she heard a loud beeping from the console. Jaina snapped awake and brushed her hair out of her face.

The white blurs of stars in hyperspace abruptly changed to fine pinpoints of white starlight in normal space.

"What the--" Jaina said, looking out the window. "What pulled us out?"

"That," Jacen said, tapping a point on the console. "Some kind of ship..."

"Hail it," Jaina answered, already beginning to turn the ship around to get the other vessel into view.

Rhysode and Lehada strode quickly into the cockpit. "What is it?" one asked.

"Ship," Jaina mumbled, finally getting it into view.

"They're not answering," Jacen said. "And it looks like weapons are powering up," he added grimly.

"No markings," Jaina answered.

"Smugglers," Ganner whispered softly.

Jaina nodded, sitting up further in her seat and gripping the controls. "Let's see what this hunk of junk can do."