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This fic was originally posted on theforce.net, where I go by the screenname of SaberBlade. If you recognize this, don't worry, it isn't plagiarized; I'm simply reposting it here also.
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General Disclaimer: Star Wars belongs to George Lucas and the characters belong to their respective authors. Anything you don't recognize is mine; please respect my muse. I don't intend any infringement with this fic; it was created because I have an abiding love for Star Wars and a wish to share my interpretation of it with the world.
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Details:
Name: Whole
Time Frame: Post-NJO
Pairing: Kyp Durron and Jaina Solo
Rating: PG to PG-13
Post: Chapter 10 of ?
Story Status: Work in Progress
Notes: There is a prequel, Broken, which can be found both on this site and on theforce.net. I recommend reading it before this fic, though it isn't technically needed. This story starts a few hours after Broken ends.
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As always, reviews are appreciated.
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It was something of a contradiction, Jaina thought as she absently tapped her datapad against the table. The best briefing rooms had huge transparisteel windows so that space could be visible to those within. She adored those conference rooms where she could see the stars or the swirling colors of hyperspace. She sought them out for her meditation; she did her best thinking in darkened briefing rooms, simply staring out of the stars.
But she disliked actually briefing her pilots in one of those coveted rooms. She loved the room when it was dark and cold and quiet, when the transparisteel was clear as crystal and she could see the darkness of space lit up by tiny pinpricks of stars. She didn't like the room when it was bright and warm and loud, when the faces of her pilots reflected back at her from the transparisteel and she had to turn her back on the view.
She was sure that there was an irony in that somewhere. Her brother would swear that it was symbolic of something.
She smiled at the thought of Jacen, and forced herself to relax and stop fiddling with her datapad. It was just another briefing. She couldn't count high enough to begin to list all the briefings she had lead, much less attended, within the past eight years. She had no reason to be nervous. And yet whenever she stood in front of a group of her pilots, waiting for the briefing to start, it seemed as though her stomach went through evasive maneuvers.
Kyp Durron shifted beside her, leaning against the same table she had propped herself against. "But you're always fine once the briefing starts," he said, voice too quiet to carry past the small stage where they stood.
She winced. "Damn it, Durron, stay out of my head." It took half a second for the sentence to sink in; once it had, she did her best not to wince again. "Sorry. I think I was channeling Aunt Mara for a minute."
But Kyp just chuckled. "You studied under her. I'm not surprised you picked up some of her habits." He paused, then added, "I wonder what you picked up from me?"
Her mouth twisted wryly. "Impatience, a dislike of authority figures, the ability to mess with people's minds, and a tendency to find dark corners where I can stand and brood."
His chuckle turned into an outright laugh, and a few of the pilots glanced up at them. "I don't know if I've been insulted or complimented."
"Take it for what you will." Her last two pilots slipped into the room, and Jaina felt the tension drain from her as she straightened up. Raising her voice so that it carried past the stage, she began. "Well, now that we're all here, we can begin. Welcome aboard the Mantellian Cruiser Nightfall. You've had six hours to get settled, so now the real work is going to start."
Jaina paused and looked around the room. "We are part of a Galactic Alliance task force created to neutralize the growing threat of the Insh'shilan pirates. The task force has been split-" against my better judgement, she mentally growled, but didn't say so aloud "-to increase our chances of engaging the pirates. The Nightfall is our primary base of operations, and we have flying with us as support the Last Chance. The Interceptor is the primary ship for the second half of our task force, and the Conquerer is providing her with backup. Green Squadron and Commander Eian's Trophy Squadron are flying from the Interceptor." She stepped back to the table and put the datapad down.
"Which means that the Tricksters and Kyp's Dozen are flying together from the Nightfall. I command the Tricksters, and Jedi Master Kyp Durron commands his Dozen. The Dozen are a voluntary unit, and in this case they have agreed to work with the Alliance Star Command at the request of the High Council and Admiral Kre'fey." She shooed Kyp off the table and turned on the display. The holoprojector hummed and a map of the star system appeared. Se turned back to the assembled pilots.
"The Insh'shilan pirates first appeared nearly a year ago. They lie in ambush for cargo runners carrying material to worlds that are rebuilding, disable the cargo ship, and unload her before jumping to hyperspace. Unless the cargo ship puts up a fight, there usually isn't much damage beyond that required to disable the ship. But some cargo lines have taken to sending escorts with their ships, and that's when things get messy." A stray wisp of hair fell from her braid as she turned back to the display; she tucked it absently away, and pressed the next projection.
"There isn't much known abut the pirates," she continued, as behind her flashed their symbol. She gestured at it. "This is emblazoned on all their ships: it's a stylized shila. Anyone from Corellia knows a shila's a small avian known for being nasty- they've got teeth and claws that are still used as knives today. The shila appears to be their mascot; their name, "Insh'shilan", is an old Corellian dialect which means basically "Children of the shila"." She pressed the button again, and the screen again displayed hundreds of stars, some now lit red. "They stage ambushes usually right when the cargo ship comes out of hyperspace- too far for the planet's defenses to help them. These are the worlds they've hit so far."
Jaina paused, letting the pilots connect the red worlds. After a moment, she continued. "As you can see, they're after materials that are being sent to rebuild planets heavily hit by the Vong. The Alliance estimates that they've pirated enough material to set back our rebuilding by at least a year, maybe more, and they don't show any signs of stopping soon. Because of their growing threat, this task force was created." She switched off the holoprojector. "Our mission is to stop the pirates. Questions?"
The first hand up was from one of her own pilots. "Lieutenant," she acknowledged.
Lieutenant Onatin Doss had spent as many years flying TIE fighters for the Imperial Remnant as she had spent flying X-wings for the Republic. He was one of the first Imperials to become certified in an X-wing, and was one of three remaining original Tricksters. He came to his feet with military precision. "What ships do the Insh'shilan have to send against us?"
"Intelligence has been able to prove that the pirates have three capital ships: two Marauders and a Nebulan-B Escort Frigate, plus a handful of other fighters. That means about four squadrons of snubfights."
"A handful of other fighters?" Onatin echoed, sounding severe. "General, was Intelligence more specific?"
Jaina frowned. "Unfortunately not. We're assuming that they have a few light freighters, maybe a Corellian transport or two."
"Thank you, General." The former Imperial regained his seat.
"Any more questions?"
"Uh, Master Durron?" The voice belonged to one of Kyp's pilots; the man stood nervously. "How's this going to work, us being voluntary and all?"
Kyp moved over to stand beside her. "We are nominally flying under General Solo's command. Nominally," he stressed, and Jaina had to fight back a grin. Kyp hadn't been too happy to learn that he would have to take orders from her, but she figured he had done it once before, so he could learn to do it again. "Any contact we have with the military goes through her. However, I am still in command of the Dozen, and she's still in command of the Tricksters."
"And Tricksters, listen up," Jaina added. "To simplify matters, treat Master Durron as a commander and the rest of his squad as flight officers or so. And remember whatever respect they show you they don't have to give you, so don't try to pull rank. Command asked for Jedi to help hunt down the pirates, and so Kyp agreed to bring in his Dozen. They're going to be living with you, flying with you, and dealing with you for the duration of the mission. I don't- repeat, don't- want to have to fill out an incident report." Her pilots settled. "Understood?"
Mumbled acquiescence came from around the room, and Jaina nodded. "Good."
Another hand went up; this one belonged to her. "Hivi," she named, and the pilot rose.
"Why does Command want Jedi?" she asked.
"The Insh'shilan are unpredictable," Kyp answered. "They thought Jedi hunches might offer us the best chance at catching them."
The silence stretched out. "Any more questions?" Jaina asked. No one moved. "All right. Get some rest. Dismissed."
The room emptied a bit slower than usual. Jaina dealt with Ferin and the usual concerns the Captain had about the ships and the sim schedule, and then, as he left, heaved a sigh and turned her back on the chairs, facing out to the swirling colors of hyperspace.
A few moments later, the two pilots that had been speaking with Kyp exited. Kyp came up behind her and pulled her close, crossing his arms over her chest and holding her against his. Jaina felt her tension drain out of her, and leaned back against him. It was comfortable to stand there with him, simply being held.
"That was interesting," Kyp said at last.
A faint smile came to her lips. "At least I survived it. The first briefing's always the worst. All that information– all I do is talk. I always expect to finish and look up and find my pilots sleeping."
She couldn't see his face, but the smile was in his voice. "I'm sure it'll happen someday."
"Mm." She shut her eyes, savored the moment, and then pulled away. "Well, at least it didn't happen today."
"No," he agreed. She could feel his eyes following her movements as she collected her datapad. "Where are you off to now?"
"Meeting with Captain Miersin," she said, moving to the door. Kyp followed her. "And then I finally get to sleep." She palmed off the lights and turned toward the door. "You should get some rest too."
"Yeah." But he reached out, swifter than she thought he could move, pulled her close, and kissed her.
As he raised his head, Jaina blinked. "What was that for?"
She saw his green eyes glint in the darkness, saw the quick flash of teeth that meant he was grinning. "I haven't kissed you since before dinner in the hanger bay," he informed her, stepping out into the lit corridor. She had been right; he was grinning. "I need something to dream about."
She kept herself from blushing through sheer strength of will, and managed to roll her eyes. "Good night, Durron," she said drily, moving past him to the lift.
He turned the opposite way. "Sweet dreams, Goddess," he called back to her, and she swore he was laughing at her.
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Thanks!
-Keth
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