Fairy Tale Chapter 2 by Vessela-Cordja Kaji
"She did what?!" Han yelled into the Comm. Computer at his brother-in-law. First, he was rudely awakened in the middle of the night from the call. Then, he found that his daughter had gone to some unknown planet in search for her friend Lusa. "Ok kid, I'm going to get Leia, Chewie, Goldenrod and the Falcon ready and I'll be there in a day or so.
~*~
The room was silent for the Jedi Master Luke Skywalker. He was deep in a Jedi relaxation technique, blocking out all the noises of life. He could hear nothing: not the small animals that searched for their next meal beneath his feet, not the footsteps from the hallways when Jedi students passed by, and certainly not the argument between Jacen and Zekk that had been going on in front of him for the past 20 minutes.
"So let me get this straight," Jacen said in an accusing tone. "You've been awfully close to my sister the past couple of weeks when she was vulnerable because of her pain. Then, when Lusa finally contacts us, Jaina and Raynar run to help with you hot on their heels, even though you don't know Lusa very well. But then, you weren't going because of Lusa." Jacen lets out a fake laugh and claps Zekk on the back. "Then," his hand dropped as the other rose to point his finger at the other boy, "you let Jaina and Raynar leave without getting any coordinates for the planet! You don't even remember the planet's name! Now I could have forgave and forgotten if you could actually produce some useful information!" Jacen's random change in expression and animated hand gestures were rather amusing during his speech. They would have raised a few laughs if it wasn't for the seriousness of the situation.
"Well what did you expect me to do?" Zekk shot back, he said his words patronizingly slow for the Jedi twin to understand "Your sister stunned me! I was unconscious! I was trying to help another person in need of assistance like a Jedi is supposed to do. How dare you imply that I was doing anything different! Besides, I wonder how you would have noticed when you were chasing after Tenel Ka's skirt!"
Jacen was almost fuming. He lifted his fist and was almost made contact with Zekk's face.
"Stop it!" Tenel Ka yelled, using the Force to enhance her voice. "You're acting like children! Listen; we are at the same place we were before except Lusa might now have more people to help her."
Both boys lowered their heads in shame. Tenel Ka was right:
they were acting like children. Zekk lifted his head and apologized
and Jacen was about to do the same when suddenly he was flooded
with the emotions of fear, loneliness, and heartache.
A light blinded him and he was suddenly in a large, extravagant
gold and white room. Guards lined the walls and banners hung from
overhead. The room was breathtaking and Jacen would have enjoyed
it if he wasn't so scared.
Jacen could hear Raynar and Lusa screaming Jaina's name as they were escorted out of the magnificent room. Jacen knew he was seeing what his twin was seeing at that exact moment. A young man not much older than Jacen and Jaina walked over and stood next to Jaina with a malicious grin on his face
Something heavy pushed Jacen down on his knees. With tears streaming down his face he buried his head in his open palms. Then it stopped. The majestic throne room was replaced with darkness. He could no longer hear or see anything.
~*~
Luke felt his nephew's disturbance through the force. He snapped his conscious self back to reality to see Jacen curled up and shaking. Luke rushed to his side and unraveled him. Jacen's body was limp in Luke's arms.
"Jacen!" Jacen could hear of his uncle's cries echo through the darkness that engulfed him. He opened his eyes and was back in his Uncle Luke's office with his friends gathered around him. Lowie growled Emteedee unnecessarily translated:
"Master Lowbacca questions the strength of your heath Master Jacen."
"I thought he said something along the lines of 'Are you
all right?' I'm fine, that was justweird!" Jacen tried
to explain what had happened to him, but couldn't. Luke lifted
his nephew up and helped him walk to his quarters.
"Maybe you should rest a while Jacen." he suggested
as he laid him down on the bed. Luke covered Jacen with a blanket
as Jacen drifted off to sleep.
~*~
Jaina was locked in a very small room and was extremely bored.
She had absolutely nothing to do. She was filled with many emotions: Loneliness, in the almost empty room. Sadness, knowing that she might not see her family and friends for a long time. She didn't even get to say goodbye to them, except Raynar and Lusa. This brought on the emotions of hatred and anger. Jaina tried unsuccessfully to hold back her laughter when she heard her uncle's voice echoing through her mind, reprimanding her for her loss of control. "These emotions can lead you on you path to the 'Dark Side'!" Even from millions of light-years away, her Uncle Luke was STILL teaching her. Or was it her teaching herself with her uncle's words?
This gave Jaina an idea. "Size matters not!" One
of the phrases that Luke had crammed into her and her brothers'
heads repeated itself over and over. Does that mean the reason
she couldn't contact her brother via their 'unique connection'
through the force was the thought that the distance was to great?
Jaina closed her eyes and imagined she was in her room back on
Yavin IV. Jacen was just in the next room, a few feet away. He
was probably asleep by now, but she could always wake him up
~*~
Jacen lay on his bed deep in sleep. The blanket that his uncle had draped over him was crumpled up on the floor and his body was sprawled over the small sleeping pad. Jacen jerked awake and sat up. Jaina's figure was standing in the doorway that joined both of their rooms together. She had a mysterious glow that clutched onto each curve of her bodyshe reminded Jacen of a ghost or a spirit. A thought then hit his mind, but he pushed it aside; he would know if Jaina was dead.
"Jacen" Jaina's voice was soft "Don't worry, I'm fine." Jaina gave her brother a lop-sided grin. Jacen looked at his twin and returned the grin. "Where are you? Who was that guy?"
"I'm on the planet of LarpenopAnd 'that guy' was Jeo Ket, the prince of Larpenop." Jaina made an obvious shudder as she spoke the name.
"Larpewhatsit? Where the heck is that?" Jacen asked confused.
"Lar-pen-op." Jaina explained calmly. "It's a big name at the Coruscant Holographic Zoo. I'd advise you to ask an expert on that someone who has been to that little Holo-vid show way too many times"
Both of the twins knew exactly who fit that description. "Threepio!" they exclaimed in unison. It was about time that his information banks were good for something.
Jaina looked disturbed as she looked back at Jacen. "I have to go now they have come for me."
"Who?" Jacen asked but Jaina supplied no answer. "Raynar and Lusa can explain more when they get back. I'll miss you!" Jaina continued "Tell everyone that I love them and I'll miss them too!" Jaina's figure disappeared as quickly as it had come. Jacen's room was dark once again.
Jacen shouted after his sister "Jaina wait come back! Jaya!" Luke heard the cry and came rushing from his room to find the source. He found Jacen sitting up in bed reaching out to nothing and calling out for 'Jaya'.
Luke sat on Jacen's bed and stroked his nephew's hair. Tears began streaming down Jacen's face again and he threw himself into Luke's arms
"It's ok Jacen." Luke said comfortingly. He realized that Jacen hadn't done this since he was the age of 8, a little over ten years ago. Had it been really that long? Had his niece and nephews grown up so much? He looked into Jacen's liquid brown eyes and no longer saw the strong figure of a 18 year old young man but the frightened demeanor of a timid 6 year old boy. Luke hugged Jacen again and rocked him back and forth. He found himself saying the words "Poor boy."
~*~
Jaina's connection with Jacen was interrupted by the sound of her cell door being unlocked and opened. She stared at the empty doorframe until it was filled by a droid that looked a lot like Threepio with red covering.
"Greetings Mistress Jaina Solo. I am 5D-ON." The droid said. "I am one of the royal families many servants."
"What does Jeo Ket want now?" Jaina asked, rolling her eyes.
"I am here to test your skills and to find the most appropriate job for you so that you can help Larpenop to the best of your ability. I must also ask questions to start us off. The first question is: Have you had any military training?"
"A little." Jaina said in a sarcastic tone. Because her father was the General of the New Republic's fleet Jaina had been in simulations since she was old enough to see over the control panel.
"Good. Follow me." 5D-ON said nonchalantly "We shall see how you do in the simulations."
Jaina laughed "Lead the way!" she said. This was going to be interesting.
~*~
Jacen was suddenly aroused from sleep for the second time that night. This time it wasn't anything through the force, it was a rather loud banging coming from his door. Jacen stood up and staggered to the door trying to adjust his eyes to the rising sun. Rising sun? It was way too early for visitors!
Jacen opened his door and found the culprit for his early morning wake was none other then his wookiee friend: Lowie. Jacen looked at Lowie with a sleepy/annoyed expression on his face "Go away." he croaked and turned to go back to bed. Lowie roared and Jacen quickly turned back around, wide-awake. "Blaster bolts! They're here already?" Jacen threw on his flight suit and followed Lowie to the Docking Bay.
The Millennium Falcon came into view as the sun continued to rise. It almost seemed to race against the suns light. Like it wanted to get there before the sun revealed it's full splendor to the ancient temples.
Jacen and Lowie stood there waiting for what seemed like hours while the Falcon went through the landing procedures. Jacen kept repeating the name that Jaina told him in his head.
Luke entered the Docking Bay accompanied by a tired Anakin. All four of the boys stood awaiting their families arrival. The boarding ramp opened with a *clunk* and Leia ran down the ramp followed by Threepio. Leia hugged Jacen and Anakin, before walking to her brother. They smiled at each other, then luke engulfed her in a brotherly embrace.
"Why do they have to be so much like us? Running off to help someone in need no matter how reckless it is." Leia asked.
Luke had to laugh at the comment. "Because we drilled those stories of how we saved the galaxy so many times into their heads when they were young."
"Threepio!" Jacen yelled with excitement, bombarding
the droid who stumbled back a few steps in alarm.
"What? you're more excited to see Goldenrod than your own
dad?" Han asked as he exited the ramp.
"Hi dad!" Jacen said greeting him a quick hug with, then he quickly turned back to Threepio. "Threepio, what do you know about the planet: Larpenop?"
"Ah yes, Larpenop is a neutral planet and the largest planet in the Enop system, even though Larpenop is significantly smaller than Coruscant. Actually the whole system of is rather small only composed of 6 other smaller planets. Larpenop itself is full of wildlife and countryside. The whole system is governed by King Makorion, much like the Hapes system with Tenel Ka's family. I am sorry to say that I do not know the exact coordinates for the planet. I have tried numerous times so I could send you children there on a fieldtrip."
"What's the fascination with Larpenop, kid?" Han asked.
"Jaina's there." Jacen explained. "It's ok Threepio, Jaina said that Raynar and Lusa would explain more when they get here. I'm assuming that they got away and are coming back" Before Jacen could finish his sentence the familiar sound of the Lightning Rod flooded the hollow Docking Bay. The battered ship landed shortly after.
Zekk entered the large room dressed in his usual attire. "My ship!" he exclaimed as everyone ran to the boarding ramp. Raynar and Lusa emerged and were greeted with many warm welcomes and questions.
"We'll explain everything," Lusa said. "but lets go into Master Skywalker's office first."
~*~
Jaina's X-wing was in the lead trying to take out the control towers: she had to protect her squadron while they disabled the Capital ships.
"TIE fighter's coming fast!" Jaina announced to her teammates.
"I can't shake him!" one of the other pilots yelled. Jaina checked her scanners for the X-wing in trouble and spotted Harrix's ship just a little off to the right. The TIE wouldn't leave his side and was shooting his laser cannons all the way. Jaina found that the closest pilot that could help the one in need was Jeo Ket.
"Jeo Ket, see if you can take care of Harrix's little friend over there." Jaina instructed him.
"But I'm not trying to go after a TIE fighter I want the to go after the Death's Head." Jeo Ket shot back.
Jaina sighed: of course the spoiled little prince would want to go after the one of best Star Destroyers in Thrwan's armada.
"But you're the closest to him. I don't want a casualty if we can prevent it." Jaina told him.
"Why don't you just do it." Jeo Ket asked defiantly. Jaina sighed again: she would have to if Harrix was to have any chance for survival in this battle. "Alright guys stay in the formation." Jaina said as she went after Harrix and his attacker.
She continued to instruct the others on the best way to destroy the capitol ships with as little deaths as possible. Before she could get the TIE in range, Harrix's X-wing exploded from the amount of hits. Jaina followed the attacking TIE and shot it down before returning back to her position in the formation.
The pilots destroyed the Capitol ships and save the planet
of Chandrila. Everyone
else cheered but Jaina leapt out of her chair and stormed at Jeo
Ket.
"You shouldn't have casualties if you can prevent it!" Jaina yelled at Jeo Ket the moment he stepped out of his own seat. "Because of your selfishness you deprived Harrix of his life! Because you wanted to go after gone after the 'Star Destroyer' and be the 'hero', he's dead! That's what's wrong with your military, you have no discipline!"
"Jaina calm down," Jeo Ket said in a flirtatious tone, "it was only a simulation. Look! Harrix is still alive and standing right over there."
"The way you perform in simulations is the way you will perform in battle!" Jaina retorted him in a commanding voice. The argument was disturbed by the sound of loud clapping. Both teenagers jerked their head towards the source finding it to be King Makorion, who had been watching the whole time.
"Good work Jaina. You are just what this ragtag military needs to strengthen itself! Such command, such valor!" King Makorion said with pride. "Tell me child, have you had much military training?"
"Well my father is the General of the New Republics military fleet, I learned from him." Jaina patiently explained
"The New Republic!" King Makorion said, with great excitement. "Jaina Solo, I hereby place you in charge of our military fleet! And I give you the title of 'General' to go with this great responsibility."
Jaina was stunned and speechless. Jeo Ket sneered at his father's proposition.
Noticing his son's expression King Makorion reprimanded "Jeo Ket if you wish to be in our military and become a 'hero' then I advise you to show your commanding officer more respect." Jaina couldn't help the smirk that stole onto her face as Jeo Ket marched, angrily out of the room.
~*~
"And that's what happened." Lusa finished
"So they arrested you without probable cause?" Luke's wife, Mara Jade asked curiously. Mara had left immediately when she heard the news of her niece's flight and her ship had landed only a few minutes after the Lightening Rod. Lusa nodded,
"And before we left they did something to get rid of the coordinates form the navicomputer.
"Lusa, Raynar" Jacen asked "Would the coordinates still be in the navicomputer's files?"
Raynar thought about it for a moment. "They should be. It takes more than the time they took to delete the file. They probably just hid it somewhere so we couldn't fly off while still possessing and having access to the coordinates."
Jacen and Han looked at each other, stood up, and ran out of the room toward the Lightening Rod. Zekk immediately followed because he hadn't examined his ship yet and this would be the perfect time to see if the Larpenop guards had done anything to his most precious possession.
Han reached the vessel first with Jacen hot on his heels. They both started searching through the data banks. Tenel Ka and Lowie entered not long after with Emteedee. Lowie pushed past the two Solos and started going through the computers; this was his specialty after all.
"I must admit that I'm not too sure how to connect Emteedee to the computers as much as Jaina does." Tenel Ka said. "I do not wish to break either the control panel or the little droid." Jacen smiled at his fiancé, "Do you want me to take care of that Tenel Ka?" he asked.
"This is a fact." Tenel Ka answered, handing the droid to Jacen.
Jacen had watched his sister do this a dozen times. "This wont hurt a bit Emteedee." He reassured the droid.
"Well I should hope not. Although I would feel more comfortable if Mistress Jaina or Master Lowbacca did this" The droid was interrupted by the sound of his back plating hitting the ground with a loud clank
"They're busy at the moment." Jacen stated simply and started hooking him up to the navicomputer. "Now I want you to find a set of hidden coordinates."
"Oohh these files are so big and there are just so many of them," Emteedee complained "I'm afraid that it might take weeks to find it."
"We can wait that long" Han informed him. The little droid was right. Weeks went by and they still couldn't find the concealed coordinates. Finally, late one night Lowie let out a victorious howl. Han, who was asleep on the small cot in the back of the old shuttle, woke with a start and ran toward the cockpit. Han also let out a yell as he patted Lowbacca on the back.
"Good job Lowie," he said with excitement. "You're turning into your uncle after all."
~*~
Jacen, Leia, Chewie, Threepio, Luke, Tenel Ka, Zekk, Anakin, and a few other students came running to the docking bay to find what the commotion was all about. Upon seeing that the disturbance had nothing to do with them, the other students went back to bed.
"Larpenop isn't that far away." Han informed the remaining group. "We could get there in a matter of 20 standard hours or less."
"Well then what are we waiting for?" Jacen asked as he headed up the ramp He was stopped by his father.
"Oh no." Han said "I'm not about to let you guys go there too."
"But dad," Jacen protested. "Larpenop is a neutral planet remember? It wouldn't be good if the Chief of State and General of the New Republic went there without just cause."
"This is a fact." Tenel Ka added. "It would be easier if we were on a mission from the Hapes cluster or just freelancers." Leia and Luke added in their comments: both were worried what would happen if Han lost his temper there. Finally Han agreed and let the kids go. They were divided into two groups: Zekk, Anakin, and Raynar in the Lightening Rod, with Jacen, Lowie, and Tenel Ka occupying the Rock Dragon. Lusa wanted to stay behind she had had enough of that planet.
Soon the two ships were off with the occupants ready to take on almost anything to save they're friend.
Before long, Jacen, Zekk, Tenel Ka, Lowie, Raynar, and Anakin
were on the planet presenting themselves to King Makorion and
his sons Jeo Ket, and Kristoffe.
The whole plan wasn't going very well. The second they mentioned
Jaina's name Jeo Ket got defensive. However, King Makorion refused
to speak anything but high praise about Jaina.
~*~
Jaina walked down the same halls that she had for weeks. Suddenly
she was bombarded with a mob of different beings bearing questions
and paperwork. Jaina sighed, this had turned into a regular event.
She was starting to find out what her mother went through daily.
But Jaina was just the head of the military fleet. Did her father
go through the same thing? Jaina was answering questions and signing
forms when she stopped abruptly. Her 'counselors' looked at her
strangely but Jaina didn't notice that; she had just felt a very
familiar presence. She broke free from the organized mob and ran
through doorways and slid around corners trying to make her way
toward the throne room and her friends
.
Jaina stopped short upon reaching the door. She quickly straightened
her uniform and regained her composure before walking calmly into
the room. The instruments sounded, announcing her entrance and
the small group that stood before king Makorion turned around.
Much to Jaina's relief it was Jacen, Lowie, Tenel Ka, Raynar,
Zekk, and Anakin.
Jaina lost her professional composure and ran toward the group. Jacen was the first to reach her and she fell into his embrace. Two furry arms broke them apart and Jaina was lifted into the air. Lowie roared with excitement. "I missed you too Lowie!" she laughed. "Now put me down you big oaf!"
When her feet touched the ground again she was greeted with warm hugs from Anakin, Tenel Ka, and Raynar. Jaina then looked up to see ZekkOh how she had missed Zekk. She ran into his arms and held onto him tightly, not wanting to let him go. Zekk felt the same way.
"I'm sorry I stunned you," she whispered in his ear still locking her arms around his waist.
"I didn't mind" Zekk assured her in the same volume she used.
The hug lasted several moments longer until Jaina broke the grasp and looked into Zekk's emerald green eyes. She smiled her father's famous lop-sided grin and fell back into Zekk's arms and their lips locked. Zekk, surprised, smiled which made Jaina laugh a little bit but they continued the kiss. She couldn't help but enjoy the thought of Jeo Ket's facial expression at that moment. Breaking away Jaina turned just in time to see Jeo Ket scowl at Zekk.
King Makorion cleared his throat and rose from his throne.
"General Solo" He said with a commanding voice. Jaina
stood at attention and saluted the king, which made her friends
star at her with confused expressions.
"Friends of yours?" he asked.
"Yes sir." Jaina replied. She could sense the astonishment emanating from her friends felt when she was addressed as 'General Solo'. It seemed as though she would have to do a little explaining.
"Well then," King Makorion said with a happier tone.
"We must make their stay here enjoyable!" The groups
were lead to their rooms, Jaina and Zekk walking hand-in-hand.
Jeo Ket sneered again; he would have to take care of this group
before they could take Jaina away from him.