Chapter 2
Han walked to the cabin that Leia was sleeping in. He looked at her lovingly before he woke her up. He shook her lightly, and when she opened her eyes, Han thought she was the most beautiful woman in the universe.
"Leia, I have some bad news." Han said with a little anger in his voice.
"What's wrong? Wait let me guess, they forgot to book our rooms." Leia said, but deep inside she knew it was something else. She could feel that something was wrong.
"No, it's…" Han didn't get to finish the sentence. He was knocked to the ground. Something had hit them. Leia got up to help her husband up. "Battle." It wasn't a question.
******
Jaina and Jacen said on the bottom bunk of their bunk beds. Anakin sat in his bed that was next to the twins. They were playing a game they had made when they were children. Jaina laughed with delighted as she started to pull ahead. Jacen gave a grumble; he was in dead last. Anakin sat quietly and thought up a strategy to win. He was about to move when…BOOM! Jaina was knocked to the floor and she hit her head on the corner of Anakin's bed. Jacen held on to the supports of their bed and was able to stay on. Anakin was also knocked to the floor and he hit his back hard on the beam of the twin's bed. Jacen quickly got up and help Anakin and Jaina up. Jaina had a little bit of blood running down her face and Anakin knew he would have a bruise on his back.
"What was that?" Jaina asked, then headed out the door calling out for her parents. Jacen and Anakin followed right behind her.
"Mom! Dad! Uncle Luke! What's happening?" All three children asked. Leia turned from the cockpit and looked at Jaina.
"Are you alright?" Leia asked worried. She wiped some of the blood from Jaina's eye.
"I'm fine Mom, really. What's happening?" Jaina asked, looking out of the cockpit. All three children gasped as they saw ships coming straight at them. That answered their question.
"Jacen, Jaina, get to the gun wells, now!" Han yelled at them from the pilot seat. The twins dashed to the wells and Jaina took the top and Jacen the bottom. They strapped in and put on their headsets.
"Ready when you are Dad!" Jaina called out over the comlink. TIE fighters, Headhunters, and Uglies came their way. Jaina and Jacen were shocked to see so many ships that they forgot to start shooting.
"You two going to shoot or what?" Han called out to them.
Jaina saw her brother get an Ugly. She then saw TIE fighters coming straight at them. She used her quick reflexes and started shooting. Twisting and turning in their seats, Jaina and Jacen were able to take down the ships coming at them. Jaina watched as a TIE came in and shot down where Jacen was. Smoke filled the tunnel below Jaina.
"Jacen!" Jaina yelled. She heard her mother and father yell the same thing over the comlink. Jaina got up and went down to get her brother. The smoke was too thick to see through, so she used the Force. She reached her brother and was relieved to find that he was O.K. He had a cut on his cheek and burns on his hands, but they weren't bad.
"Comon'. We have to get out of here." Jaina said to her brother.
"No complaining coming from me." Jacen said looking at his sister. They made their way through the smoke and came out coughing. Leia reached out for them and hugged Jacen so hard that he thought he wouldn't be able to breathe. She let go and looked at Jaina and him. Both where cover with ash and smoke and now both had a cut on their faces. Jacen felt as if his hands were on fire and Leia took him to get it bandaged. Jaina and Anakin went to the cockpit to see if they were needed.
"Is he alright?" Han asked his daughter, but never taking his eyes from the battle.
"Yes, he has a cut on his cheek and he burned his hands." Jaina answered.
"Go get in a seat you two. I'm going to land on the planet and see what's going on here."
Jaina and Anakin strapped themselves in and then Jacen and Leia came in from the back. Jacen settled next to Jaina and Leia next to Anakin. The ship jostled when it came into the atmosphere. Finally after long moments, they landed. Han walked out of the ship and was greeted by the Senator of Munto Codru. Han went off on the senator going on about his family in danger, why he didn't warn them about the battle, and more. He yelled on until Leia stopped him and diplomatically addressed the senator. The senator went on that he didn't even know about the attack until an hour ago and apologized for the inconvenience. He gave them the most elaborate rooms and foods. Jaina, Jacen, and Anakin remembering their time here when they were toddlers went to the meadow where they had taught Anakin how to swim in, and where they had been kidnapped and where Chewie had almost died. Fear rose through them, but then they remembered the Jedi Calming Technique that their uncle had taught them. Han and Luke came and walked next to the three. They sat down and talked about that awful day they were kidnapped and then all the fun they had with what Anakin called "Woof" before they had been kidnapped. They talked about the trail they had walked on and what the trail was to them when they were children. They sat for hours talking when Leia came out.
"They want us to fight next to them. They don't have that many fighters and they need star pilots. The warships belong to the remnants of Thawn. The New Republic is bringing ships, but they need reinforcements now." Leia said looking at them.
"I knew it. Everytime we go somewhere, we have to save one thing or some one." Han said annoyingly. "It works everytime."
******
They all crowded into the conference room. Jaina, Jacen, and Anakin sat near the door with their uncle while Han and Leia sat with Senator Kialin. He was tall and strong looking. His hair/fur was dark with honey highlights through it. His four arms were muscular, but graceful. He sat talking to Leia and Han begging for their help.
"Please, I need you help. My people are dying up their and we have no reinforcements." He said begging and pleading. "I have more starfighters, but no pilots. Everyone on Munto Codru are getting ready for the battle on land and my starfighters that are up there are getting shot down like mynocks!"
Leia and Han sat their thinking. Luke got up and offered to fly up their to help. Han, after long moments thinking, also agreed to fly the Falcon.
Jaina, Jacen, and Anakin all shared the same idea though. All three were good pilots and they needed pilots and help. It should be enough until the reinforcements come. Jaina looked at Jacen who gave her a "You ask him, I'm not" look and she then looked at Anakin who turned his head. // I guess it's up to me. // She got up and walked towards her father who was strategizing with the general. Her two brothers walked behind her, ready to back her up.
"Um, Dad?" Jaina asked waiting for her father to look at her.
"What sweetheart?" He held a finger up to the General and then looked at his daughter.
"We can help by piloting the extra ships." Jaina said quickly. Before her father could answer, Jacen started talking to back up Jaina.
"We're all great pilots, and you even said that yourself!" Jacen said and then Jaina picked up where Jacen let off, "And they need our help! We're Jedi Knights and we can fly together. Jacen and I will take care of Anakin, we promise!" Jaina finished and Jacen continued, "We'll stay near the planet where the shields will protect us too!" Jacen finished then all three Solo children put in, "Please Dad!"
Han looked at them if they had gone nuts. Luke came up behind Han, pulled him away, and talked quietly to him and Leia. The three Solo children waiting anxiously for their answer. After what seemed like hours, Han, Leia, and Luke came forward.
"Your mother, uncle, and I have made our decision." Han said looking at them seriously. "You can go, but either stay near the Falcon or your uncle. You got that?" The decision was rippinng Han apart. Seeing all three of his children out in the battle scared him to the core. Jaina, Jacen, and Anakin all gave serious nods. "We'll be careful Dad, promise." Jaina said, trying to ease her Dad.
"Come then," said the senator. "We'll get you to your ships." Han and Leia watched as their children walked with their uncle into battle.
TBC