Well.

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Chapter Eighteen

Jaina and Jag were in a conference room. Unfortunately, so was the rest of the squadron, so they were forced to keep their hands to themselves. for a while, anyway. Jaina had called a squadron meeting. "Twin Suns," she began, "The inevitable has happened." She paused and composed her features into a mournful mask that Hobbie Klivian would have been proud of.

"We're being assigned to defend the moon base," Sharr guessed. At Jaina's nod, he frowned. "But what's so bad about that?"

Jaina closed her eyes. "We've been sent there along with two other squadrons," she said. "Wraith and the Taanabian Aces."

There was silence in the conference room. Finally, Sharr spoke. "So, what's the bad news?"

Jaina opened her eyes and glared at him. "Wes Janson is the leader of that squadron!"

"So, what's the bad news?" Sharr repeated, grinning. "Piggy and I were in need of some more instruction from the Master, anyway. Think of it as killing two mynocks with one shot."

"Yeah, you and Janson," Jaina shot back, a dangerous glint in her eye. "Believe you me, I am not my father's daughter for nothing."

Sharr's grin quickly disappeared. "I understand, G-Goddess," he said.

"Good." Jaina surveyed the rest of the pilots. "If there are no more questions from anyone other than the monkey-lizard and his cohort, meeting's dismissed. Oh, Kyp and Jag, may I speak with you?"

The other pilots rose and filed out of the conference room, chattering. Finally, Jaina was left alone with Jag and Kyp.

"First on the agenda." Jaina went over to Jag and kissed him deeply. Kyp, unsurprisingly, began to make gagging noises and look disgusted. Without breaking the kiss, Jaina used the Force to press a button on the holoprojector in the room. An image of Kyp and Lis kissing rather passionately suddenly appeared on the wall.

Jaina finally stopped kissing Jag and they both began laughing at Kyp's shocked expression. "You have no idea how long I've been waiting to use that," she giggled, sitting down on Jag's lap.

Kyp's mouth was still open. He shut it with a snap and turned to Jaina. "Is that why you wanted me in here?" His face was carefully neutral.

"No," Jaina responded. "Just wait."

The three sat in silence for a little while longer, and then the screen abruptly changed scenes to show a moon against a starry background.

"That's Basulen's moon," Jaina informed Kyp. "Now watch, and see what you make of this."

Kyp and Jag both carefully observed the tableau, waiting for something to happen. Suddenly, a ship resembling a coralskipper appeared on the very edge of the screen. It wove in and out of the holocam's view several times, flying slowly.

Jaina froze the recording. "So, what do you think?"

Kyp stroked his chin. "I'd say that was the Vong equivalent of a recon X- Wing," he said.

Jaina nodded. "That was my hunch, too."

"But I don't understand," Jag said, frowning. "Why didn't the ships up there go after it?"

"It was discovered only when Tycho was replaying the recordings yesterday," Jaina said. "That's why we're going up there with the Wraiths and the Aces. The Rogues, Blackmoons, and the other squads are up there already, and we're being sent too. Wedge is worried that this means a major attack will be mounted on the moon soon."

Jag nodded thoughtfully. "Is everyone else going to hear about this as well?"

"Yes," Jaina affirmed. "I just wanted to see your reactions first."

Kyp stood up and stretched. "Well, if you don't need me any more, Goddess, I think I'll go find. something else to do."

Jaina smothered a laugh. "Go find your girlfriend, then, Kyp," she said.

Didn't your parents ever teach you to be more discreet?

Jaina snorted. This is Han Solo we're talking about, Kyp, remember?

What about your mother?

She wasn't around a whole lot, always off saving the universe. Jaina sighed wistfully.

But she still loved you. Kyp sent the equivalent of a hug through their bond.

Thanks, Kyp. Jaina returned the hug.

Kyp left, closing the door behind him. Jaina turned her head to meet Jag's eyes. "Now, where were we?"

************************

Kyp walked to his quarters, whistling unconsciously. He suddenly realized what he was doing and stopped himself. I don't remember when I've ever been this happy, he thought. And it's all because of Lis. He allowed his thoughts to wander back to how they had spent last evening.

[Flashback]

"Kyp, it's so beautiful out here," Lis said, breathing in the fresh air. She and Kyp were seated on a rock next to a waterfall, a picnic spread out before them.

Kyp smiled wryly as he recalled the last "picnic" he had been to. Jaina had forced him to drink paint thinner with dirt, lighter fluid, and poison mixed in. Fortunately, our drinks are much better. He took a sip of his Corellian brandy.

Lis sighed as she leaned back on the rock to admire the stars above. Kyp leaned back next to her, propping himself on his elbow so he could see her. The breeze had blown a few strands of hair across her face, and he gently tucked them behind her ear. She rested her face against his hand and smiled at him. Kyp felt his heart rate speed up at merely the sight of her smile and smiled back. She really loves me. I don't know why, I don't know what miracle of the Force made her mine, but I know I'm never gong to let her go.

Lis shifted her eyes back up to the sky. "There's Agamar," she said softly.

"Where?" Kyp rolled over onto his back, wrapping an arm around her.

Lis picked up his arm and pointed with it to a blue star. "Agamar is the second planet in the system," she said softly. She unconsciously caressed his forearm with her fingers.

Kyp turned his head to look at her and wasn't surprised to find tears in her eyes. "There, there," he said softly. He bent down to kiss her softly. "I'm sure your parents made it off before the Vong got there." He kissed her again.

Lis wrapped both of her arms around him and returned his kiss. "Thank you, Kyp," she said softly.

"For what? The picnic? I didn't make the food, it-"

"No," Lis said softly, cutting him off. "For being there for me."

"I love you, Kyp." Her softly spoken words jolted Kyp to the core. He had known that she loved him, but knowing something and hearing it spoken aloud were two very different things.

Kyp felt a lump form in his throat. "I love you, Lis," he whispered. The words felt awkward coming out of his mouth. He had never uttered them to a living soul ever since his parents had died. But when they left his lips, he felt amazingly free.

Lis smiled and pulled his head down for a kiss. This is where I belong, Kyp thought. I'm finally home.

[/Flashback]

Kyp smiled to himself as he caught himself whistling once again. An old song his mother used to sing floated through his head. Let me call you sweetheart/ I'm in love with you.

I'm in love, Kyp thought to himself. I'm in love! It was an exhilarating feeling.

Okay, okay, Jaina sent grumpily. No need to announce it to the universe.

Sorry, Kyp sent back, not fazed in the least. It's just the first time I've ever felt like this, and-

Jaina cut him off. Comm the United Lovers' Association and stop bothering me! I'm kinda busy right now. And with that, she slammed their connection closed.

Kyp shrugged, and once again began whistling.

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