Chapter Seven

"So...does it look fixable?"

Jaina glanced sideways at Ganner and shook her head. "It doesn't take a mechanic to realize it's not." Jaina stood up, moving away from the engine. "We need a new part, or this thing will never make it out of the system. Not even sure how we made it to here..."

Ganner shook his head. "How the hell are we supposed to get a new part of a spaceship on a place like this!" he muttered, throwing his arms in the air. "I give up. We can just rot here."

Jaina tried not to laugh at Ganner's frustration. Ever since she'd stormed off a few hours ago, he'd been trying his best to fix the engine. When she'd returned, he'd been no farther along than when she'd left. And he'd revealed a new problem--one that was not easily fixed.

"We will not rot here, Rhysode. We will find a part. I just don't know where."

Ganner rolled his eyes. "Yeah. That's the problem."

Jaina crossed her arms thoughtfully. "There's got to be somewhere! This place can't be just full of forest. There's bound to be a city here or there...just not a marked one. And where there's a city...well...maybe there'll be a place to find what we need."

Ganner stared at the young woman, raising his eyebrows. "Any ideas how we find one?"

Jaina flashed her best roguish smile. "I just might have an idea."

* * * * *

The idea was simple in theory: the five Jedi would concentrate their powers to seek out strong presence in the Force--which was where the most life was. Jaina assumed that where the most life was concentrated, there could possibly be civilization or something resembling it. However, in practice, it didn't work quite so well. For one thing, Kamik-Ir seemed so nervous in the presence of the other Jedi that it took her a long period of time to get her concentration up. And then Lehada kept taking glances in Jaina's direction, which broke both his and her meditation.

At last, they accomplished what they needed to. The group detected two distinct concentrations in the force; one that seemed to be about twenty miles to the north, an another about seventeen miles to the southeast. The group decided on a plan--one team would set out towards the northern grouping, and the other towards the southeastern. The problem came in assigning the teams.

Since Jacen and Jaina both knew exactly what was needed in order to make repairs to the ship, the decided to split up. And Kamik-Ir happily volunteered to stay with the ship and attempt to contact the Jedi Council with the group's whereabouts. So the biggest difficulty was in deciding whether Ganner would go with Jaina or Jacen. If he went with Jacen, then that left Jaina with...

"I'll take Rhysode," Jaina said, sending thoughts of please, please don't stick me with Lehada towards her brother. He sent back a smile, then a why do you think I want him? to his sister. Jaina grimaced but breathed a silent sigh of relief when Ganner agreed, and Jacen said, "All right, Lehada, you're with me, I guess."

Lehada opened his mouth to protest, but Jacen's look of 'I don't even want to imagine you thinking of being with my sister" silenced the Jedi. "All right," he said, feigning acceptance.

* * * * *

Jaina was in her quarters packing her knapsack with necessities when she heard a knock on the door. "Come in," she said, not turning around, assuming it was her brother coming to say goodbye.

"Hey," Lehada said, causing Jaina to jump.

"Hey," she responded, her heart pounding. He closed the door behind him and came into the room. "What do you want?"

"What do I want?" Lehada asked. "I just came to say good luck. What makes you think I want something?"

'I just know you too well,' Jaina thought, but said nothing.

"You don't know me at all," he responded, smiling.

"Dammit Lehada! Stay out of my mind!" she yelled, throwing a boot at his head.

"Hey! Watch it!" he responded, handing her the boot back. "Sorry. You just think so loudly, it's hard to resist."

Jaina took the boot, but Lehada grabbed her wrist before she could put it down. "Listen," he said softly. "I came--"

"Let me go!" she said between clenched teeth. "I mean it Lehada!"

He wouldn't release her arm. "I came to tell you be careful. I don't want anything happening to you out there." His grip softened, but he still didn't let go.

Jaina looked at him, noticing the sparkle in his blue eyes and the look of genuine concern on his face. "I will be. You...you too."

Before Jaina realized what was happening, Lehada had moved closer still, his body pressing up against hers, the sound of her heart beating in her ears. Breathing heavily, he let her arm go, instead placing his hands on her shoulders. "I mean it," he whispered, his breath hot in her ear.

Jaina felt her knees go weak and her stomach flop. She couldn't respond, except with a tiny little sigh. Lehada looked into her eyes for a moment, and Jaina's heart leapt in anticipation. She wanted to pull away, but his eyes entranced her. It was as if they had a power over her, and she stayed put, staring deep into his blue eyes. Before she could think any more, Lehada's lips were touching hers, claiming her mouth in his. It was a short, but deep, kiss, filling every inch of her and making her tingle. She wanted him away from her, but at the same time, never wanted this moment to end. Her emotions flying from one end of the spectrum to the other, Jaina simply stood there as he pulled away.

"Bye," he whispered, smiling. Lehada turned on his heel and left the room quickly.

Jaina fell back onto her bed, more confused now than ever.