Jaina smirked as she sensed Jag's sudden shock and alarm. 'General Fel-
here? This is about to get very, very interesting.' She thought, when
suddenly it hit her. 'Fel was here to talk to his son, and when he finds
attractive young woman in son's quarters, this would look bad for both of
them. Oh, Sithspit, Jag, couldn't you have just walked me to my quarters
instead?' She sighed, ran her hands through her hair, and closed her eyes,
bracing for the worst, when she heard Jag say, " Ah, this place is a
disaster…is there somewhere more private we can go to talk?"
The older Fel replied, "There's a conference room down the hall."
Jaina watched Jag nod, and say, "Perfect."
Jaina realized what he was doing. 'Ah, Jag, I see…you're going to save my reputation and yours, especially so that I don't come across as an naughty little Rebel to your father…thank you thank you thank you…' She watched the door hiss shut, and she sensed disappointment and slight irritation from Jag, but also joy and excitement from seeing his father again. She hit a glowrod on, and glanced around the room, which was not, in fact, a disaster, but a neat and orderly room. 'Jacen and Ana-, er, Jacen, he could learn a thing or two from Jag about keeping his room neat.' She ran a hand through her hair, sighing, and she dropped down in front of his comm unit. She typed in, 'Be back sooner or later. You know where to find me. Love you, Colonel.' Then she got up, and headed down the hall to try and find a simulator room or an equipment room.
* * *
Jag dropped down into a seat across from General Baron Soontir Fel, and allowed a small smile. "Your presence here surprised me. I was under the impression you and Mom had no wish to return to New Republic or Imperial space."
"Your mother still retains that wish. I came along because I had to see for myself just how bad it truly is. The house phalanx was extremely difficult to persuade, but once they agreed, it was a matter of time before the Parliament and everyone else approved. I assume you took stock of our fleet?" his father replied.
Jag nodded. "Quite impressive just to take a look."
The older Fel smiled slightly. "We don't seek trouble, but neither will we run from it."
Jag grinned. "I believe I told the same thing to Ambassador Solo when I was on Hapes, and look at me now,"
Amusement flashed across the older Fel's features. Jag cleared his throat. "So, now that the Chiss have shown up, ready for battle, am I expected to return to my two squadrons and lead them again?"
The General considered, and shrugged. "It probably would be best. But, I understand you have made commitments to this other squadron you are in. Twin Suns, correct, led by the Ambassador's daughter?"
"Correct. As a mater of fact, Lieutenant Solo is here on board right now. She was on leave, and was currently working with the Jedi during this offensive. I am unsure as to when she will return to the Suns again, or if she ever will reassume command. She was only given command for a short period of time, to play some sort of psychological game with the Yuuzhan Vong."
"I see. And are you well acquainted with her?" asked Fel, studying Jag's reaction carefully. Jag's green eyed glance flicked over to a spot on the wall, above his father's head. "I would go as far to say that we are friends." 'And a whole lot more, but that's later…' he added silently.
Baron Fel smiled. "I see. I would like to meet this friend of my son, sometime."
"It could be arranged, I'm sure." Jag replied, his stare still fixed above his dad's graying head.
"Why the sudden distraction, Colonel? Is there something of interest above my head that I am unaware of?" asked Fel, a wry lift to one corner of his lips.
Jag could feel his cheeks burn, and he locked stares with his father. "No, sir, I just like looking at the wall, sir."
The older Fel regarded him for a moment. "Very well, then, Colonel. Carry on." 'He did this when I brought up the subject of the Solo girl. I wonder…' thought the Baron.
Jag grinned. "Thank you, sir." He returned his gaze to the same spot on the wall.
"You haven't sent your mother a holo for awhile, Jag. She was getting worried. You shouldn't do that to her."
"I know, but, when one is saving the galaxy, one doesn't always have time to stop and send a holo, nor does one always have the equipment to send a holo." Jag replied. "Will you tell her I'm fine, or shall I send her a holo anyways?"
"A holo would be nice. You've been gone for months, saving the galaxy as you so candidly put it."
Jag nodded sharply. "I'll get on it. I was wondering am I also expected to return with you when you decide to return to Chiss space? Or, do I get to stay here?"
Fel frowned. "Who said I would be returning to Chiss space soon? We came here to offer our help, and we will not run away in desperate hours such as these."
Jag fought to control a sigh of relief. His father continued on, "If anything, we will send for reinforcements from the Chiss, but we will not leave, not even if there is no other option or way to assist."
Jag narrowed his green eyes. "So, what you are saying is, until you get pounded so badly that you've determined there's no stopping the Vong and decide to hole up in Chiss space, you'll stay here. Or, if everyone else gets pounded badly, and it's our turn, then we'll leave."
Fel frowned slightly, considering his son's words, and then shook his head. "If we get pounded so badly that we can't go on, then we will stay and accept our fate. If everyone else is beaten something terrible, and we're next in line, we'll stay and accept our fates, and fight, because if we cannot stop the Vong today, who knows when we will be able to stop them."
Jag flicked his gaze from the wall to his father's face. "Didn't know you had a death wish."
"I don't."
"Sure seems like it."
"I don't."
"Or are we just trying to play hero?"
"I don't need to play hero, I already am one."
"General, that's the cockiest thing I've ever heard you say."
"Get used to it. The Chiss are in town, and we plan on killing a lot of Vong before we leave."
"I like the way that sounds." Jag commented, smiling.
"You should. It's the truth."
* * *
I'll try to get more up soon! Thanx for all the great reviews! Hope you enjoyed the chapter! :D
The older Fel replied, "There's a conference room down the hall."
Jaina watched Jag nod, and say, "Perfect."
Jaina realized what he was doing. 'Ah, Jag, I see…you're going to save my reputation and yours, especially so that I don't come across as an naughty little Rebel to your father…thank you thank you thank you…' She watched the door hiss shut, and she sensed disappointment and slight irritation from Jag, but also joy and excitement from seeing his father again. She hit a glowrod on, and glanced around the room, which was not, in fact, a disaster, but a neat and orderly room. 'Jacen and Ana-, er, Jacen, he could learn a thing or two from Jag about keeping his room neat.' She ran a hand through her hair, sighing, and she dropped down in front of his comm unit. She typed in, 'Be back sooner or later. You know where to find me. Love you, Colonel.' Then she got up, and headed down the hall to try and find a simulator room or an equipment room.
* * *
Jag dropped down into a seat across from General Baron Soontir Fel, and allowed a small smile. "Your presence here surprised me. I was under the impression you and Mom had no wish to return to New Republic or Imperial space."
"Your mother still retains that wish. I came along because I had to see for myself just how bad it truly is. The house phalanx was extremely difficult to persuade, but once they agreed, it was a matter of time before the Parliament and everyone else approved. I assume you took stock of our fleet?" his father replied.
Jag nodded. "Quite impressive just to take a look."
The older Fel smiled slightly. "We don't seek trouble, but neither will we run from it."
Jag grinned. "I believe I told the same thing to Ambassador Solo when I was on Hapes, and look at me now,"
Amusement flashed across the older Fel's features. Jag cleared his throat. "So, now that the Chiss have shown up, ready for battle, am I expected to return to my two squadrons and lead them again?"
The General considered, and shrugged. "It probably would be best. But, I understand you have made commitments to this other squadron you are in. Twin Suns, correct, led by the Ambassador's daughter?"
"Correct. As a mater of fact, Lieutenant Solo is here on board right now. She was on leave, and was currently working with the Jedi during this offensive. I am unsure as to when she will return to the Suns again, or if she ever will reassume command. She was only given command for a short period of time, to play some sort of psychological game with the Yuuzhan Vong."
"I see. And are you well acquainted with her?" asked Fel, studying Jag's reaction carefully. Jag's green eyed glance flicked over to a spot on the wall, above his father's head. "I would go as far to say that we are friends." 'And a whole lot more, but that's later…' he added silently.
Baron Fel smiled. "I see. I would like to meet this friend of my son, sometime."
"It could be arranged, I'm sure." Jag replied, his stare still fixed above his dad's graying head.
"Why the sudden distraction, Colonel? Is there something of interest above my head that I am unaware of?" asked Fel, a wry lift to one corner of his lips.
Jag could feel his cheeks burn, and he locked stares with his father. "No, sir, I just like looking at the wall, sir."
The older Fel regarded him for a moment. "Very well, then, Colonel. Carry on." 'He did this when I brought up the subject of the Solo girl. I wonder…' thought the Baron.
Jag grinned. "Thank you, sir." He returned his gaze to the same spot on the wall.
"You haven't sent your mother a holo for awhile, Jag. She was getting worried. You shouldn't do that to her."
"I know, but, when one is saving the galaxy, one doesn't always have time to stop and send a holo, nor does one always have the equipment to send a holo." Jag replied. "Will you tell her I'm fine, or shall I send her a holo anyways?"
"A holo would be nice. You've been gone for months, saving the galaxy as you so candidly put it."
Jag nodded sharply. "I'll get on it. I was wondering am I also expected to return with you when you decide to return to Chiss space? Or, do I get to stay here?"
Fel frowned. "Who said I would be returning to Chiss space soon? We came here to offer our help, and we will not run away in desperate hours such as these."
Jag fought to control a sigh of relief. His father continued on, "If anything, we will send for reinforcements from the Chiss, but we will not leave, not even if there is no other option or way to assist."
Jag narrowed his green eyes. "So, what you are saying is, until you get pounded so badly that you've determined there's no stopping the Vong and decide to hole up in Chiss space, you'll stay here. Or, if everyone else gets pounded badly, and it's our turn, then we'll leave."
Fel frowned slightly, considering his son's words, and then shook his head. "If we get pounded so badly that we can't go on, then we will stay and accept our fate. If everyone else is beaten something terrible, and we're next in line, we'll stay and accept our fates, and fight, because if we cannot stop the Vong today, who knows when we will be able to stop them."
Jag flicked his gaze from the wall to his father's face. "Didn't know you had a death wish."
"I don't."
"Sure seems like it."
"I don't."
"Or are we just trying to play hero?"
"I don't need to play hero, I already am one."
"General, that's the cockiest thing I've ever heard you say."
"Get used to it. The Chiss are in town, and we plan on killing a lot of Vong before we leave."
"I like the way that sounds." Jag commented, smiling.
"You should. It's the truth."
* * *
I'll try to get more up soon! Thanx for all the great reviews! Hope you enjoyed the chapter! :D