I'd Miss You Still
Chapter 11
by obi's girl
Chapter 11, Post 1
Jaina fidgeted as she walked into Larissa's room. Jag was waiting outside with, well, she would say her luggage but she didn't really bring luggage with her. Jaina toyed with the blue ring on her finger, her wedding ring and then stopped, fingering her jappor snippet instead. This was her grandmother's necklace, she mused as she walked into the room.
She looked around for Padme, but no one was in the room. After determining no one was there, she turned to leave but stopped short when she faced Padme. Jaina wasn't sure what to say, staring at her. It was weird. Throughout the whole week, she'd been close to her grandmother but never once suspected her silent handmaiden was related to her. If she looked closely, Jaina could see her own mother in her grandmother's eyes.
Padme smiled, "You wanted to talk to me, Jaina?"
"Oh yes," she mused and laughed to herself, "Jag and I were talking, and we would love it if you would come back with us to Borealis,"
"Thank you, Jaina...I was afraid you weren't going to say anything. I'd actually been thinking about going with you, too,"
Jaina grinned, "Really? I know it's a dangerous time for my family..." After seeing the frown on her grandmother's face, Jaina stopped rambling, "They'd love to see you," she said simply.
Padme smiled and sat down on her bed, "I'd love to see them too," she mused, "When do you and Jag plan on leaving?"
She shrugged, "In awhile,"
Padme smiled and touched the jappor snippet around Jaina's neck, "I remember when he gave this to me. He was just a boy, and I was a simple handmaiden. Well, not exactly a simple handmaiden. I was Queen of Naboo at the time, but during the Trade Federation blockade, I slipped back into the role of Padme, the handmaiden." She stopped and looked at Jaina, who frowned, looking down at the floor. "Jaina, what is it?"
"I'd never realized before how much was lost about our family. I'm a part of one of the most legendary families in the galaxy, but I never knew about any of this,"
"I used to carry a big wardrobe with me whenever I'd travel, but that was when I was somebody important," Padme explained, "So, we can leave anytime." Jaina nodded, walking silently out of the room as her grandmother followed in tow.
~~
Sera fidgeted as she stood there, impatiently waiting for Kyp answer the door. She didn't really need to pack anything, just some food and some supplies. Fourteen hours and counting, this is how much time she was given to prepare for the mission to Coruscant. Finally, Kyp answered but when he did, he'd just woken up from sleep. Sera smiled a little when she saw he had no shirt but loose pants.
"Sera, what is it? It's late..."
"I know," she said, "But I needed to see you. Can I come in?"
He shrugged and moved aside as the Jedi Master went to grab a shirt from his dresser and sat down beside Sera. "What's this about? Why did you have the need to see me so late at night?"
Sera smiled, staring into his eyes, "You know I love you, right? That I'm deeply in love you, Kyp,"
"I know," he said, almost in a nonchalant way, "Is that why you came? To profess your undying love for me or is there another reason for this visit?"
She frowned and looked down at her hands, "I'm not supposed to tell you this, but I'm due to leave on a secret mission in another eleven hours. I'm going to Coruscant, Kyp,"
"Coruscant? Why? Are you going alone?" he demanded.
"I am going alone. The reason, well, the reason is classified. I just wanted to let you know in case you decided to stop my place and found it empty, and wandered where I was," she reasoned, leaning closer, "The other reason I stopped by is because I don't think this mission will be an 'in and out' job. I might be on Coruscant for along time, and I wanted to see you in case I..."
Kyp frowned and stopped her with a kiss, hugging her, "Don't say die, Sera. You're coming back."
She shrugged and whispered into his ear, "I don't know Kyp. I'm going in alone, no one to back me...I know I'm a Jedi Knight but I haven't been one for a long time and I don't know what will happen if they find me and I don't know how to fight them,"
He could sense the fear in her voice, in her touch but he still reassured her, "You'll be okay,"
Sera pulled away from Kyp and then leaned towards him again, kissing him passionately. Between kisses, she tugged at his shirt and Kyp threw it off, drawing her back onto the bed....
tbc
Chapter 11, Post 2
Cherith moaned, tossing to the right side of her bed as she checked the chrono on her table for the fifth time. Midnight still, she thought, I could have sworn it was a lot later now. She her parents were safe and on their way home, but she couldn't sleep. Finally, Cherith pushed her blankets aside and hopped out of bed, dressing into a shirt and pants and grabbed her boots.
She breathed quietly as she walked out of her room and into the main room and out of the apartment. Once she as in the hallway, Cherith breathed a lot easier and head for the gym. Too worried and anxious to sleep, a little exercise she was sure would help get her mind off her parents.
Very few pilots occupied the hallway, she noticed but that was mostly because everyone was asleep. She passed Horn quarters and for a minute, contemplated asking him to join her but decided not and continued walking. Or I could just walk around the base, she thought, walking is good exercise.
Not many places were open. The lounge which usually be filled with pilots during the day would be very empty now, but it was a 34 hour lounge so it was probably still open for business. Cherith paced herself as she rounded a corner and stopped seeing Sera Fey`lina leave Kyp's quarters. Sera looked at the door for a minute, checked her watch and turned to leave. It was then Cherith stepped forward.
"Cherith?! What are you doing up? Shouldn't you be sleeping?" Sera asked, alarmed at first to see her than not to surprised.
Cherith shrugged, "I was worried about my parents, so I decided to go for a walk to clear my head," she remembered Sera checked her watch earlier and smiled, "Where are you going?"
"Me? Just away for awhile," Sera said, "There's a small matter I have to take care of, but could do me a favor while I'm gone? You're friends with Kyp, could you watch him for me? Make sure he doesn't do anything stupid?"
Cherith wasn't sure how to respond as she was reading Sera's emotions at the same time. She was worried, fearful about something but she blocking as most Jedi do. "Sure, I can do that," she finally said and Sera relaxed.
"Thank you so much," Sera cried and checked her watch again, "I have to go now. Cherith, don't worry so much about your parents. They'll be home before you know it," she smiled and as she turned, Cherith caught her checking her watch again before she started to jog off. Once Sera was gone, Cherith continued on her trek.
She wasn't exactly sure how large the base was and it probably wasn't a good idea to wander too far from the apartment so she settled for the lounge, which was still open. The bartender was barely awake as she sat down on one the counter stool. "Kid, if you're gonna stay here awhile, I'm about ready to close," he said. He looked more closely at the girl and frowned, "Shouldn't you be in bed? It's late."
"Bartenders are good for talking," she said, "Can I ask you something?"
He shrugged, wiping the counter, "Go ahead but please make it short, I want to sleep,"
"There's this boy I met a week ago, and I'm best friends with him but things have changed between us. I asked my Master about what I should do --- ,"
"Master? You're a Jedi?"
Cherith nodded, "I asked him what I should do but I'm still confused. We're still good friends but now I have these weird feelings for him, not the kind of feelings a friend should have for a friend,"
He nodded, "How old are you, kid?"
"Fourteen. My friend's sixteen,"
"Then I think you should take your Master's advice and don't worry about it. Your time will come princess when you can worry about boyfriends. You're too young for that now. Now, that I've dispensed my advice I was supposed to give, I need to lock up and you need to go, well, whenever it is you need to go," he said and turned around, shutting off the kitchen lights.
~~
Once she was kicked out of the lounge, Cherith opted to go the gym and just relax there...maybe still morning. She found a nice spot on the mats and laid down, staring at the ceiling. It wasn't as comfy as her own bed, but there was a lot of equipment around so if she ever got bored, she could just grab something to do.
"My time will come," she mused, staring at the ceiling, "Damn you, Valin Horn, you've really screwed up my life!" Cherith cursed and sat up, not really looking for anything in particular and jumped when she saw Qui-Gon's ghostly form.
He smiled, Couldn't sleep?
She shrugged, "You were a Jedi Knight at one point... Can you give me advice about relationships?"
Qui-Gon laughed and paced around before settling down next to Cherith, They're never easy. I know I've been very quiet these last couple days, but I have been watching you and I do know about your dilemma,
"Good! You can help me then,"
In the Old Order, love was forbidden for a Jedi for obvious reasons. But the Old Order has been nonexistent for a long time now...
Cherith waved her hand, "No lecture please. Just solid advice is all I'm looking for,"
Don't rush in and to quote the bartender, your time will come princess, Qui- Gon said, Now, about your parents...There is something I must warn you about,
"Don't say they're dead. I would have known if something happened to them,"
They're dead, and I would have known too but it's something else. You've already met your other grandfather, Soontir Fel but your... Before he could finish, Cherith heard her grandmother Leia call her through the Force to get to the apartment and go to sleep.
"Sorry, grams wants me in bed," she cried and jumped up, "Actually, I am feeling more tired now...What was it you were going to say?"
He nodded, Don't worry about it. You need your sleep.
~~
Sera Fey`lina snuck stealthy into the bay, hoping Darklighter or Antilles weren't around. She was a half and hour late for departure, but Sera didn't really care. She needed to see Kyp before leaving...Sera stopped dead in her tracks, thinking about him.
When she saw him and left so suddenly, it felt she was saying goodbye for real and that she wouldn't be coming back. But Sera knew she would. Despite what she told him, she knew she'd come back. She always did.
"Sera?"
She twirled around, facing Gavin, "Wedge couldn't make it, so I'm the only one that will be giving you a debriefing."
"I'm sorry if I'm late, Colonel but I had to see Kyp before leaving..."
"Don't worry about it, Sera. I'm late too, but I'm just glad you didn't back down at the last minute. We need to know if the Vong know for certain if Jaina and Cherith are alive," he said and pulled out a small chip from his pocket, "There's an underground movement on Coruscant already..."
Sera took the chip in her hand and looked up at Gavin, "Underground movement? What does that mean?"
"Resistance, Sera. They'll be the ones that will be providing safety for you. You'll meet with their leader, code name, 'The Dark One.' He'll tell you what you need to know. They have a small network of spies, but they get the job done,"
"So, I won't actually encounter Vong on this trip, will I? I'll just be sneaking around this under ground?" Sera asked and smiled, "That makes me feel a lot better. For a moment, I thought I'd actually have to dig some information from a Vong warrior. My language is a little bit rusty,"
He shrugged, "Hopefully, you won't run into any Vong and just be in the underground. But since you're rusty on your language, you should work on some phrases -- just to be cautious,"
Sera grunted and smirked, "I'm always careful, Darklighter. In and out, I got it," she said before jumping onto her ladder and climbing up to her cockpit and starting up all systems.
"And Sera, may the Force be with you," Gavin said and smiled hopefully. She smiled back at him before prepping her controls. Gavin stood back as the x- wing, 'Wild Cat' rose from the ground and shot out from the bay.
Watching her leave, Gavin frowned and whispered, "Good luck too Fey`lina."
tbc
Chapter 11, Post 3
Kyp Durron stared at the empty space beside him as he laid in bed. He'd known Sera had left awhile ago, about two previous hours before -- he'd been awake. He felt empty without her. Before Sera, Kyp never really had a serious relationship with anyone. He just hoped...
Don't think like that, Durron, he scolded himself, you said it yourself. She'll be okay, she'll come home.
But what if she doesn't?
While they were at the academy together, he'd always known Sera to be reckless. He was the same way, same character and whit. The first time he met her, she was talking to Tahiri in Tuskan and Kyp asked if she was raised by Tuskans, and Sera laughed in his face. Tahiri explained that Sera wasn't raised by tuskans, but Tahiri was and familiar with the language and was shocked how well Sera could pick up that language and every other alien language in the galaxy. He joked that she should have become a linguist instead of a Jedi, but Sera quipped it was more fun to be a Jedi because there was never be a dull moment.
Kyp smiled, remembering that first encounter and then suddenly frowned. What if what just happened a few hours ago was the last time he'd ever see Sera again?
I need to stop thinking like that, he thought, raking a hand through his dark black hair and got up, grabbing his clothes and got dressed. On his way to the fresher, he checked the chrono. 0700. Morning. Kyp perked up and grunted.
"Jaina and Jag should be back now," he mused aloud, "If they didn't get back sometime last night. Computer, can you locate Jaina Solo -- Jaina Fel and Jagged Fel?"
"Jaina Solo and Jagged Fel are in their parents quarters,"
Kyp rolled his eyes as he put on a different shirt, "Could you send the Solo's a message and tell them I'll be there in 30 minutes?"
"Affirmative."
~~
Jaina smiled, snuggling closer to Jag as they both slept in. They'd gotten back late this morning, sneaking into the apartment and into the guestroom. It was still early and her parents and Cherith were still asleep, so there was no point in waking up just yet.
"But we will eventually have to leave the bed, Jaina," Jag added, smirking, "We both need to eat breakfast,"
She shrugged, "Why eat? I'd rather to stay here..."
He laughed, "With twins on the way, you need to eat!"
Jaina looked at him curiously and smiled, "You want me to get all fat? Jag, I've been pregnant once and even though Cherith is 14 years old, it's amazing I was able to get my figure back...I'm still not sure how they managed to pull that one off,"
"I don't know either...Are you sure Cherith is our daughter?" he joked.
Jaina punched his elbow and looked at the chrono, "Oh, I guess we better get up now. Besides breakfast, I have to check on Twin Suns and with Colonel Darklighter if there was anything I missed while I was gone for a week,"
"Unbelievable. I was able to get to relax for one week and now, you're back in full Goddess/work mode,"
"The war isn't over, Jag and until it is, there's no rest for us," Jaina said, "But seriously, I need to get up now and get ready," As she turned to grab some clothes, Jag slipped an arm around her waist and kissed her neck. "Delaying is not helping, ya know?"
"You realize we never really had a honeymoon after we got married?"
She shrugged and kissed his cheek, "Another time, honey. Promise," and Jaina kissed him one last time before slipping out of bed and started to get dressed.
~~
Cherith walked quietly into the main room, grabbing herself some breakfast, not really noticing the small woman resting on the couch. She pulled out some juice and fruit and sat down at the counter. Everyone else was still asleep, she knew, but it was way too quiet for the 14 year old. Cherith hopped off her stool and turned on some light music. As she reached for the radio, she heard a moan coming from the couch. Cherith hmm¡¯d and turned on the radio anyway.
Another moan.
This being the second time hearing a moan from the couch, she reached for her own lightsaber as she stalked quietly towards the couch. A small quilted blanket rested on a small woman. She was old, Cherith could tell but still looked young too. As Cherith stalked closer, she stepped on a crack and the woman awoke, staring back at Cherith before screaming. Cherith screamed too and Han and Leia rushed out of their room as Jag and Jaina darted out from the guestroom.
Finally, Cherith closed her mouth and put her lightsaber away as Padme sat there, trembling and muttering Nubian curses.
Jaina moaned and looked at Jag, "Maybe we should have at least have given them a warning,"
"A warning?" Jag echoed, "I think that would have helped a lot. She almost killed Padme,"
Cherith shrugged, "I'm sorry. I just didn't know anyone was in here,"
"I didn't know either," Leia said and looked up at her daughter and Jag, "And someone neglected to tell their parents they'd arrived late and with a visitor,"
Jaina moaned again, "Sorry," she cried, "This wasn't the way I wanted things to go. First meetings usually include, 'hello, my name,' but not this! Jag and I got in late this morning, we were tired and I offered Padme the couch,"
Han rolled his eyes, "That's very nice, princess but you don't just bring strangers into our home,"
"I'm not a stranger!" Padme cried, "I belong here. I always have, I just never made the trip because I was scared," she looked at Leia and smiled. For a moment, as the woman stared at her, Leia felt this really familiar connection to Padme but didn't know why. "For more formal introduction, I'm Padme Naberrie...your mother."
tbc
Chapter 11, Post 4
"Mother?" Leia questioned and then started to laugh to herself. "Sorry miss, but you are not my mother..." Jaina rushed to her mom's side, in case she started to lose it. "My mother died a long time on Alderaan. I don't know who you are, but you're not her."
Padme nodded, "I never died on Alderaan, but I understand how you might think I did."
Jaina turned, looked at Padme and frowned, "Padme explained to me while we were on the shuttle that it was her handmaiden that took her place as your mother," she said to her mother.
"...Leia, the white shawl you have, I gave it to you. You always told people it was supposed to remind them you were a refugee from Alderaan but that shawl wasn't made there, sweetheart. My mother gave it to me, so I gave it to you," Padme noted.
"This is crazy..." Leia started again, "Jaina, call your Uncle Luke and aunt Mara and tell them we'd like to have a family breakfast," she turned to Padme and Jaina, "We have a lot to talk about,"
Padme was silent as she and Jaina exchanged pained glances. For many years, Padme wanted this little reunion with her daughter to be a happy one of tears, but the pain, Padme felt was one of sadness and regret.
As the current Solo clan gathered around the table, Jaina jumped upon hearing the
door comlink buzz. She rolled her eyes and started for the door...she knew it couldn't have her Uncle Luke and aunt Mara, since she really didn't get to com'ing them yet. Everyone she knew that needed to be there, was already there so that only left...
"Kyp!" she cried, flinging her arms around his neck, "It's good to see you. We were just about to have breakfast. Wanna join us?"
"I'd love to, Jaina...Listen, I have to talk to you later about Cherith and Sera."
She shrugged, "Cherith's been behaving herself, hasn't she?"
"She's too much of a Solo, that's the problem," he smiled as the Goddess led him into the main room. Cherith smiled at him too as he sat down beside her, but Jaina didn't sit down so quickly and com'd Luke and Mara.
"Good to see you, kid," Han greeted from across the table. Kyp noticed Padme sitting next to Leia but didn't say anything, as he knew her appearance would be soon explained. A minute later, Jaina sat down next to Jag and smiled at him. As a friend and a good observer, Kyp noticed things were different between then two of them. Jaina, especially, there was something different about her...
Jaina stood up again, but this time to announce something. "Everyone, I have really big news. As you may or may have noticed, Jag and I have been missing for the past week," she glanced and Jag and smiled, "We spent a week together, and well, on our last day there, we got married! And, I'm pregnant with twins!"
Cherith gaped, "Twins, mom? So soon?"
Jag shrugged, "I caught me off guard too, Cherith."
"Twins," she repeated and mumbled, "And I almost killed my grandmother,"
Kyp looked again to the woman sitting next to Leia. He panned back and forth between the two woman. Of course, he thought. Why didn't I see it before. They look so much alike. Next, he turned his gaze to Jaina and Jag. He felt something was different about Jaina, but twins, was the last thing he suspected.
"Mrs. Skywalker..." Kyp asked, the question directed to the older woman, "You're Luke and Leia's mother?"
Padme smiled, "I'm not a ghost, Mr..."
"Durron. Kyp Durron, Jedi Master,"
"Master Durron. Kyp Durron. You used to be a slave on Kessel right? You were the one, with the Sun Crusher?" Padme asked, unaware the room had become deftly silent.
He shrugged, "Yes ma'm, but I'm one of the good guys now. Well, by most people's standards anyway. Some people still don't like me, but that's to be expected,"
The table was silent for a moment before Luke, Mara and little Ben arrived. Ben wiggled in Mara's arms, and she let him down as he walked over to Jaina and hugged his cousin. "Hello Leia," Mara greeted as she and Luke grabbed two extra chairs. "What's to eat?"
Luke noticed Jag and Jaina at the table too. He hadn't heard from either of them during the whole week, but whatever their differences, it looked like they'd already worked them out. He turned to Leia and smiled, "What's the occasion for this breakfast?"
Leia glanced at Padme beside her and sighed, "Jaina's pregnant with twins," she said.
He nodded and smiled at his niece, oblivious to the small cry from Padme, his mother.
~~
Sera Fey`lina lowered her brown hood, more so it covered her face as she was led to the resistance's hideout. She didn't land her x-wing anywhere, but kept it hidden above the planet. If the Vong ever discovered her x-wing and stole it, she'd be stuck on Coruscant for a long time. The guard stopped walking and gestured for Sera to walk on by herself. She turned suspiciously to her navigator, "Ladies first? Is that the idea?"
He didn't reply, Sera only rolled her eyes, entering the alcove anyway. She was awestruck, staring at the many young men and women, working on counter tactics to weaken the Vong regime. She smiled to herself. Sera hadn't been involved with the Rebel Alliance when it first started, but she imagined, what she was seeing right in front was, was a lot like what they went through.
"Fey`lina," a voice asked, and she turned around to the voice. A young man wearing a full dark suit, about her height with green eyes and jet black hair greeted her.
Sera held out her hand to him and smiled, "Dark One, I presume?"
The man smiled, "Welcome Knight Fey`lina. We were told not too long ago you were coming. I hope we can provide you with the information you need,"
Sera's smile lessoned and drew her hand back, "I hope so too. You've heard the rumors, is there anything you can tell me?"
He shrugged, "The Vong didn't think the rumors were credible, at first. But then, more and more slaves started to talk and the Vong began to question themselves," he looked at Sera, "You're friends with Jaina Solo? You've seen her?"
"I have," Sera whispered, "I've also met her daughter...she's the other I'm here. I also need to know if the Vong know about the existence of Cherith Solo-Fel,"
"Did the Vong know she was pregnant before they ganged up and shot down her x-wing? I don't think so. As the Trickster Goddess, it was the perfect opportunity to finally get rid of her. They didn't know about Cherith. If they did, that attack would have come a lot sooner and would have been more like a capture,"
Sera raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms beneath her cloak, "Capture? Why capture?"
"The same reason they captured Tahiri Veila and twisted her memories to make her believe she was a Vong. A Jedi on their side would give them more of an upper hand on things, and the fact that Jaina is the daughter of Leia Solo and niece of Luke Skywalker, makes her one..."
"Of the most powerful Jedi in the galaxy, and her daughter, even more powerful," Sera finished, "Do you have anything to show me, Dark One?"
He smiled and led her to a holo projection of a jail, "This is one of the make shift jails, the Vong use for their slaves. We plan to hit it next week and free the slaves inside,"
She grunted and laughed, "Is that all you do around here? Hit jail cells to annoy the Vong? 'Cause, I gotta say, that's not much. You're a resistance. I mean, I know you want your presence known but something as small of an operation like this, it's pathetic!"
"The prisoners in this jail know about Vong technology and that's something we need...We don't have the resources your resistance have,"
"So, you have something bigger to work with? Can you show me?" Sera asked.
~~
Sera stared in awe at the half-built Vong ship. She was even more shocked to find the workers were human, Twi'lek's and various engineers. Sera turned to the Dark One, "You're building a Vong ship from scratch?! Where did you get the parts?"
The Dark One shrugged, "Stolen. Every time there's a skirmish and a Vong skip gets shot down, the Vong themselves rarely retrieve the skip because they knew they can always grow more. So, we steal them and use the parts to make the beauty that is our leviathan,"
"I take it you have someone on your team that understands Vong technology, otherwise your leviathan wouldn't be possible,"
"Of course," he paused and smiled again, "Do you have to return to Borealis right away, or can you stay for a refreshment?"
Sera smiled, "Thank you, Dark One, but someone special is waiting for me back there..."
He shrugged, "I'm not surprised. Whoever he is, he's a very lucky man. Colonel Darklighter neglected to tell me you were a very beautiful woman."
Sera smiled and blushed, "Dark One, I..."
"Taken," he said, "I know. Just a refreshment, Knight Fey`lina. I'm not asking for dinner,"
"I'd like to hear about what else you have up your sleeve, besides your leviathan...We can talk about that over some refreshments." Sera said, and gestured for him to lead the way.
tbc
by obi's girl
Chapter 11, Post 1
Jaina fidgeted as she walked into Larissa's room. Jag was waiting outside with, well, she would say her luggage but she didn't really bring luggage with her. Jaina toyed with the blue ring on her finger, her wedding ring and then stopped, fingering her jappor snippet instead. This was her grandmother's necklace, she mused as she walked into the room.
She looked around for Padme, but no one was in the room. After determining no one was there, she turned to leave but stopped short when she faced Padme. Jaina wasn't sure what to say, staring at her. It was weird. Throughout the whole week, she'd been close to her grandmother but never once suspected her silent handmaiden was related to her. If she looked closely, Jaina could see her own mother in her grandmother's eyes.
Padme smiled, "You wanted to talk to me, Jaina?"
"Oh yes," she mused and laughed to herself, "Jag and I were talking, and we would love it if you would come back with us to Borealis,"
"Thank you, Jaina...I was afraid you weren't going to say anything. I'd actually been thinking about going with you, too,"
Jaina grinned, "Really? I know it's a dangerous time for my family..." After seeing the frown on her grandmother's face, Jaina stopped rambling, "They'd love to see you," she said simply.
Padme smiled and sat down on her bed, "I'd love to see them too," she mused, "When do you and Jag plan on leaving?"
She shrugged, "In awhile,"
Padme smiled and touched the jappor snippet around Jaina's neck, "I remember when he gave this to me. He was just a boy, and I was a simple handmaiden. Well, not exactly a simple handmaiden. I was Queen of Naboo at the time, but during the Trade Federation blockade, I slipped back into the role of Padme, the handmaiden." She stopped and looked at Jaina, who frowned, looking down at the floor. "Jaina, what is it?"
"I'd never realized before how much was lost about our family. I'm a part of one of the most legendary families in the galaxy, but I never knew about any of this,"
"I used to carry a big wardrobe with me whenever I'd travel, but that was when I was somebody important," Padme explained, "So, we can leave anytime." Jaina nodded, walking silently out of the room as her grandmother followed in tow.
~~
Sera fidgeted as she stood there, impatiently waiting for Kyp answer the door. She didn't really need to pack anything, just some food and some supplies. Fourteen hours and counting, this is how much time she was given to prepare for the mission to Coruscant. Finally, Kyp answered but when he did, he'd just woken up from sleep. Sera smiled a little when she saw he had no shirt but loose pants.
"Sera, what is it? It's late..."
"I know," she said, "But I needed to see you. Can I come in?"
He shrugged and moved aside as the Jedi Master went to grab a shirt from his dresser and sat down beside Sera. "What's this about? Why did you have the need to see me so late at night?"
Sera smiled, staring into his eyes, "You know I love you, right? That I'm deeply in love you, Kyp,"
"I know," he said, almost in a nonchalant way, "Is that why you came? To profess your undying love for me or is there another reason for this visit?"
She frowned and looked down at her hands, "I'm not supposed to tell you this, but I'm due to leave on a secret mission in another eleven hours. I'm going to Coruscant, Kyp,"
"Coruscant? Why? Are you going alone?" he demanded.
"I am going alone. The reason, well, the reason is classified. I just wanted to let you know in case you decided to stop my place and found it empty, and wandered where I was," she reasoned, leaning closer, "The other reason I stopped by is because I don't think this mission will be an 'in and out' job. I might be on Coruscant for along time, and I wanted to see you in case I..."
Kyp frowned and stopped her with a kiss, hugging her, "Don't say die, Sera. You're coming back."
She shrugged and whispered into his ear, "I don't know Kyp. I'm going in alone, no one to back me...I know I'm a Jedi Knight but I haven't been one for a long time and I don't know what will happen if they find me and I don't know how to fight them,"
He could sense the fear in her voice, in her touch but he still reassured her, "You'll be okay,"
Sera pulled away from Kyp and then leaned towards him again, kissing him passionately. Between kisses, she tugged at his shirt and Kyp threw it off, drawing her back onto the bed....
tbc
Chapter 11, Post 2
Cherith moaned, tossing to the right side of her bed as she checked the chrono on her table for the fifth time. Midnight still, she thought, I could have sworn it was a lot later now. She her parents were safe and on their way home, but she couldn't sleep. Finally, Cherith pushed her blankets aside and hopped out of bed, dressing into a shirt and pants and grabbed her boots.
She breathed quietly as she walked out of her room and into the main room and out of the apartment. Once she as in the hallway, Cherith breathed a lot easier and head for the gym. Too worried and anxious to sleep, a little exercise she was sure would help get her mind off her parents.
Very few pilots occupied the hallway, she noticed but that was mostly because everyone was asleep. She passed Horn quarters and for a minute, contemplated asking him to join her but decided not and continued walking. Or I could just walk around the base, she thought, walking is good exercise.
Not many places were open. The lounge which usually be filled with pilots during the day would be very empty now, but it was a 34 hour lounge so it was probably still open for business. Cherith paced herself as she rounded a corner and stopped seeing Sera Fey`lina leave Kyp's quarters. Sera looked at the door for a minute, checked her watch and turned to leave. It was then Cherith stepped forward.
"Cherith?! What are you doing up? Shouldn't you be sleeping?" Sera asked, alarmed at first to see her than not to surprised.
Cherith shrugged, "I was worried about my parents, so I decided to go for a walk to clear my head," she remembered Sera checked her watch earlier and smiled, "Where are you going?"
"Me? Just away for awhile," Sera said, "There's a small matter I have to take care of, but could do me a favor while I'm gone? You're friends with Kyp, could you watch him for me? Make sure he doesn't do anything stupid?"
Cherith wasn't sure how to respond as she was reading Sera's emotions at the same time. She was worried, fearful about something but she blocking as most Jedi do. "Sure, I can do that," she finally said and Sera relaxed.
"Thank you so much," Sera cried and checked her watch again, "I have to go now. Cherith, don't worry so much about your parents. They'll be home before you know it," she smiled and as she turned, Cherith caught her checking her watch again before she started to jog off. Once Sera was gone, Cherith continued on her trek.
She wasn't exactly sure how large the base was and it probably wasn't a good idea to wander too far from the apartment so she settled for the lounge, which was still open. The bartender was barely awake as she sat down on one the counter stool. "Kid, if you're gonna stay here awhile, I'm about ready to close," he said. He looked more closely at the girl and frowned, "Shouldn't you be in bed? It's late."
"Bartenders are good for talking," she said, "Can I ask you something?"
He shrugged, wiping the counter, "Go ahead but please make it short, I want to sleep,"
"There's this boy I met a week ago, and I'm best friends with him but things have changed between us. I asked my Master about what I should do --- ,"
"Master? You're a Jedi?"
Cherith nodded, "I asked him what I should do but I'm still confused. We're still good friends but now I have these weird feelings for him, not the kind of feelings a friend should have for a friend,"
He nodded, "How old are you, kid?"
"Fourteen. My friend's sixteen,"
"Then I think you should take your Master's advice and don't worry about it. Your time will come princess when you can worry about boyfriends. You're too young for that now. Now, that I've dispensed my advice I was supposed to give, I need to lock up and you need to go, well, whenever it is you need to go," he said and turned around, shutting off the kitchen lights.
~~
Once she was kicked out of the lounge, Cherith opted to go the gym and just relax there...maybe still morning. She found a nice spot on the mats and laid down, staring at the ceiling. It wasn't as comfy as her own bed, but there was a lot of equipment around so if she ever got bored, she could just grab something to do.
"My time will come," she mused, staring at the ceiling, "Damn you, Valin Horn, you've really screwed up my life!" Cherith cursed and sat up, not really looking for anything in particular and jumped when she saw Qui-Gon's ghostly form.
He smiled, Couldn't sleep?
She shrugged, "You were a Jedi Knight at one point... Can you give me advice about relationships?"
Qui-Gon laughed and paced around before settling down next to Cherith, They're never easy. I know I've been very quiet these last couple days, but I have been watching you and I do know about your dilemma,
"Good! You can help me then,"
In the Old Order, love was forbidden for a Jedi for obvious reasons. But the Old Order has been nonexistent for a long time now...
Cherith waved her hand, "No lecture please. Just solid advice is all I'm looking for,"
Don't rush in and to quote the bartender, your time will come princess, Qui- Gon said, Now, about your parents...There is something I must warn you about,
"Don't say they're dead. I would have known if something happened to them,"
They're dead, and I would have known too but it's something else. You've already met your other grandfather, Soontir Fel but your... Before he could finish, Cherith heard her grandmother Leia call her through the Force to get to the apartment and go to sleep.
"Sorry, grams wants me in bed," she cried and jumped up, "Actually, I am feeling more tired now...What was it you were going to say?"
He nodded, Don't worry about it. You need your sleep.
~~
Sera Fey`lina snuck stealthy into the bay, hoping Darklighter or Antilles weren't around. She was a half and hour late for departure, but Sera didn't really care. She needed to see Kyp before leaving...Sera stopped dead in her tracks, thinking about him.
When she saw him and left so suddenly, it felt she was saying goodbye for real and that she wouldn't be coming back. But Sera knew she would. Despite what she told him, she knew she'd come back. She always did.
"Sera?"
She twirled around, facing Gavin, "Wedge couldn't make it, so I'm the only one that will be giving you a debriefing."
"I'm sorry if I'm late, Colonel but I had to see Kyp before leaving..."
"Don't worry about it, Sera. I'm late too, but I'm just glad you didn't back down at the last minute. We need to know if the Vong know for certain if Jaina and Cherith are alive," he said and pulled out a small chip from his pocket, "There's an underground movement on Coruscant already..."
Sera took the chip in her hand and looked up at Gavin, "Underground movement? What does that mean?"
"Resistance, Sera. They'll be the ones that will be providing safety for you. You'll meet with their leader, code name, 'The Dark One.' He'll tell you what you need to know. They have a small network of spies, but they get the job done,"
"So, I won't actually encounter Vong on this trip, will I? I'll just be sneaking around this under ground?" Sera asked and smiled, "That makes me feel a lot better. For a moment, I thought I'd actually have to dig some information from a Vong warrior. My language is a little bit rusty,"
He shrugged, "Hopefully, you won't run into any Vong and just be in the underground. But since you're rusty on your language, you should work on some phrases -- just to be cautious,"
Sera grunted and smirked, "I'm always careful, Darklighter. In and out, I got it," she said before jumping onto her ladder and climbing up to her cockpit and starting up all systems.
"And Sera, may the Force be with you," Gavin said and smiled hopefully. She smiled back at him before prepping her controls. Gavin stood back as the x- wing, 'Wild Cat' rose from the ground and shot out from the bay.
Watching her leave, Gavin frowned and whispered, "Good luck too Fey`lina."
tbc
Chapter 11, Post 3
Kyp Durron stared at the empty space beside him as he laid in bed. He'd known Sera had left awhile ago, about two previous hours before -- he'd been awake. He felt empty without her. Before Sera, Kyp never really had a serious relationship with anyone. He just hoped...
Don't think like that, Durron, he scolded himself, you said it yourself. She'll be okay, she'll come home.
But what if she doesn't?
While they were at the academy together, he'd always known Sera to be reckless. He was the same way, same character and whit. The first time he met her, she was talking to Tahiri in Tuskan and Kyp asked if she was raised by Tuskans, and Sera laughed in his face. Tahiri explained that Sera wasn't raised by tuskans, but Tahiri was and familiar with the language and was shocked how well Sera could pick up that language and every other alien language in the galaxy. He joked that she should have become a linguist instead of a Jedi, but Sera quipped it was more fun to be a Jedi because there was never be a dull moment.
Kyp smiled, remembering that first encounter and then suddenly frowned. What if what just happened a few hours ago was the last time he'd ever see Sera again?
I need to stop thinking like that, he thought, raking a hand through his dark black hair and got up, grabbing his clothes and got dressed. On his way to the fresher, he checked the chrono. 0700. Morning. Kyp perked up and grunted.
"Jaina and Jag should be back now," he mused aloud, "If they didn't get back sometime last night. Computer, can you locate Jaina Solo -- Jaina Fel and Jagged Fel?"
"Jaina Solo and Jagged Fel are in their parents quarters,"
Kyp rolled his eyes as he put on a different shirt, "Could you send the Solo's a message and tell them I'll be there in 30 minutes?"
"Affirmative."
~~
Jaina smiled, snuggling closer to Jag as they both slept in. They'd gotten back late this morning, sneaking into the apartment and into the guestroom. It was still early and her parents and Cherith were still asleep, so there was no point in waking up just yet.
"But we will eventually have to leave the bed, Jaina," Jag added, smirking, "We both need to eat breakfast,"
She shrugged, "Why eat? I'd rather to stay here..."
He laughed, "With twins on the way, you need to eat!"
Jaina looked at him curiously and smiled, "You want me to get all fat? Jag, I've been pregnant once and even though Cherith is 14 years old, it's amazing I was able to get my figure back...I'm still not sure how they managed to pull that one off,"
"I don't know either...Are you sure Cherith is our daughter?" he joked.
Jaina punched his elbow and looked at the chrono, "Oh, I guess we better get up now. Besides breakfast, I have to check on Twin Suns and with Colonel Darklighter if there was anything I missed while I was gone for a week,"
"Unbelievable. I was able to get to relax for one week and now, you're back in full Goddess/work mode,"
"The war isn't over, Jag and until it is, there's no rest for us," Jaina said, "But seriously, I need to get up now and get ready," As she turned to grab some clothes, Jag slipped an arm around her waist and kissed her neck. "Delaying is not helping, ya know?"
"You realize we never really had a honeymoon after we got married?"
She shrugged and kissed his cheek, "Another time, honey. Promise," and Jaina kissed him one last time before slipping out of bed and started to get dressed.
~~
Cherith walked quietly into the main room, grabbing herself some breakfast, not really noticing the small woman resting on the couch. She pulled out some juice and fruit and sat down at the counter. Everyone else was still asleep, she knew, but it was way too quiet for the 14 year old. Cherith hopped off her stool and turned on some light music. As she reached for the radio, she heard a moan coming from the couch. Cherith hmm¡¯d and turned on the radio anyway.
Another moan.
This being the second time hearing a moan from the couch, she reached for her own lightsaber as she stalked quietly towards the couch. A small quilted blanket rested on a small woman. She was old, Cherith could tell but still looked young too. As Cherith stalked closer, she stepped on a crack and the woman awoke, staring back at Cherith before screaming. Cherith screamed too and Han and Leia rushed out of their room as Jag and Jaina darted out from the guestroom.
Finally, Cherith closed her mouth and put her lightsaber away as Padme sat there, trembling and muttering Nubian curses.
Jaina moaned and looked at Jag, "Maybe we should have at least have given them a warning,"
"A warning?" Jag echoed, "I think that would have helped a lot. She almost killed Padme,"
Cherith shrugged, "I'm sorry. I just didn't know anyone was in here,"
"I didn't know either," Leia said and looked up at her daughter and Jag, "And someone neglected to tell their parents they'd arrived late and with a visitor,"
Jaina moaned again, "Sorry," she cried, "This wasn't the way I wanted things to go. First meetings usually include, 'hello, my name,' but not this! Jag and I got in late this morning, we were tired and I offered Padme the couch,"
Han rolled his eyes, "That's very nice, princess but you don't just bring strangers into our home,"
"I'm not a stranger!" Padme cried, "I belong here. I always have, I just never made the trip because I was scared," she looked at Leia and smiled. For a moment, as the woman stared at her, Leia felt this really familiar connection to Padme but didn't know why. "For more formal introduction, I'm Padme Naberrie...your mother."
tbc
Chapter 11, Post 4
"Mother?" Leia questioned and then started to laugh to herself. "Sorry miss, but you are not my mother..." Jaina rushed to her mom's side, in case she started to lose it. "My mother died a long time on Alderaan. I don't know who you are, but you're not her."
Padme nodded, "I never died on Alderaan, but I understand how you might think I did."
Jaina turned, looked at Padme and frowned, "Padme explained to me while we were on the shuttle that it was her handmaiden that took her place as your mother," she said to her mother.
"...Leia, the white shawl you have, I gave it to you. You always told people it was supposed to remind them you were a refugee from Alderaan but that shawl wasn't made there, sweetheart. My mother gave it to me, so I gave it to you," Padme noted.
"This is crazy..." Leia started again, "Jaina, call your Uncle Luke and aunt Mara and tell them we'd like to have a family breakfast," she turned to Padme and Jaina, "We have a lot to talk about,"
Padme was silent as she and Jaina exchanged pained glances. For many years, Padme wanted this little reunion with her daughter to be a happy one of tears, but the pain, Padme felt was one of sadness and regret.
As the current Solo clan gathered around the table, Jaina jumped upon hearing the
door comlink buzz. She rolled her eyes and started for the door...she knew it couldn't have her Uncle Luke and aunt Mara, since she really didn't get to com'ing them yet. Everyone she knew that needed to be there, was already there so that only left...
"Kyp!" she cried, flinging her arms around his neck, "It's good to see you. We were just about to have breakfast. Wanna join us?"
"I'd love to, Jaina...Listen, I have to talk to you later about Cherith and Sera."
She shrugged, "Cherith's been behaving herself, hasn't she?"
"She's too much of a Solo, that's the problem," he smiled as the Goddess led him into the main room. Cherith smiled at him too as he sat down beside her, but Jaina didn't sit down so quickly and com'd Luke and Mara.
"Good to see you, kid," Han greeted from across the table. Kyp noticed Padme sitting next to Leia but didn't say anything, as he knew her appearance would be soon explained. A minute later, Jaina sat down next to Jag and smiled at him. As a friend and a good observer, Kyp noticed things were different between then two of them. Jaina, especially, there was something different about her...
Jaina stood up again, but this time to announce something. "Everyone, I have really big news. As you may or may have noticed, Jag and I have been missing for the past week," she glanced and Jag and smiled, "We spent a week together, and well, on our last day there, we got married! And, I'm pregnant with twins!"
Cherith gaped, "Twins, mom? So soon?"
Jag shrugged, "I caught me off guard too, Cherith."
"Twins," she repeated and mumbled, "And I almost killed my grandmother,"
Kyp looked again to the woman sitting next to Leia. He panned back and forth between the two woman. Of course, he thought. Why didn't I see it before. They look so much alike. Next, he turned his gaze to Jaina and Jag. He felt something was different about Jaina, but twins, was the last thing he suspected.
"Mrs. Skywalker..." Kyp asked, the question directed to the older woman, "You're Luke and Leia's mother?"
Padme smiled, "I'm not a ghost, Mr..."
"Durron. Kyp Durron, Jedi Master,"
"Master Durron. Kyp Durron. You used to be a slave on Kessel right? You were the one, with the Sun Crusher?" Padme asked, unaware the room had become deftly silent.
He shrugged, "Yes ma'm, but I'm one of the good guys now. Well, by most people's standards anyway. Some people still don't like me, but that's to be expected,"
The table was silent for a moment before Luke, Mara and little Ben arrived. Ben wiggled in Mara's arms, and she let him down as he walked over to Jaina and hugged his cousin. "Hello Leia," Mara greeted as she and Luke grabbed two extra chairs. "What's to eat?"
Luke noticed Jag and Jaina at the table too. He hadn't heard from either of them during the whole week, but whatever their differences, it looked like they'd already worked them out. He turned to Leia and smiled, "What's the occasion for this breakfast?"
Leia glanced at Padme beside her and sighed, "Jaina's pregnant with twins," she said.
He nodded and smiled at his niece, oblivious to the small cry from Padme, his mother.
~~
Sera Fey`lina lowered her brown hood, more so it covered her face as she was led to the resistance's hideout. She didn't land her x-wing anywhere, but kept it hidden above the planet. If the Vong ever discovered her x-wing and stole it, she'd be stuck on Coruscant for a long time. The guard stopped walking and gestured for Sera to walk on by herself. She turned suspiciously to her navigator, "Ladies first? Is that the idea?"
He didn't reply, Sera only rolled her eyes, entering the alcove anyway. She was awestruck, staring at the many young men and women, working on counter tactics to weaken the Vong regime. She smiled to herself. Sera hadn't been involved with the Rebel Alliance when it first started, but she imagined, what she was seeing right in front was, was a lot like what they went through.
"Fey`lina," a voice asked, and she turned around to the voice. A young man wearing a full dark suit, about her height with green eyes and jet black hair greeted her.
Sera held out her hand to him and smiled, "Dark One, I presume?"
The man smiled, "Welcome Knight Fey`lina. We were told not too long ago you were coming. I hope we can provide you with the information you need,"
Sera's smile lessoned and drew her hand back, "I hope so too. You've heard the rumors, is there anything you can tell me?"
He shrugged, "The Vong didn't think the rumors were credible, at first. But then, more and more slaves started to talk and the Vong began to question themselves," he looked at Sera, "You're friends with Jaina Solo? You've seen her?"
"I have," Sera whispered, "I've also met her daughter...she's the other I'm here. I also need to know if the Vong know about the existence of Cherith Solo-Fel,"
"Did the Vong know she was pregnant before they ganged up and shot down her x-wing? I don't think so. As the Trickster Goddess, it was the perfect opportunity to finally get rid of her. They didn't know about Cherith. If they did, that attack would have come a lot sooner and would have been more like a capture,"
Sera raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms beneath her cloak, "Capture? Why capture?"
"The same reason they captured Tahiri Veila and twisted her memories to make her believe she was a Vong. A Jedi on their side would give them more of an upper hand on things, and the fact that Jaina is the daughter of Leia Solo and niece of Luke Skywalker, makes her one..."
"Of the most powerful Jedi in the galaxy, and her daughter, even more powerful," Sera finished, "Do you have anything to show me, Dark One?"
He smiled and led her to a holo projection of a jail, "This is one of the make shift jails, the Vong use for their slaves. We plan to hit it next week and free the slaves inside,"
She grunted and laughed, "Is that all you do around here? Hit jail cells to annoy the Vong? 'Cause, I gotta say, that's not much. You're a resistance. I mean, I know you want your presence known but something as small of an operation like this, it's pathetic!"
"The prisoners in this jail know about Vong technology and that's something we need...We don't have the resources your resistance have,"
"So, you have something bigger to work with? Can you show me?" Sera asked.
~~
Sera stared in awe at the half-built Vong ship. She was even more shocked to find the workers were human, Twi'lek's and various engineers. Sera turned to the Dark One, "You're building a Vong ship from scratch?! Where did you get the parts?"
The Dark One shrugged, "Stolen. Every time there's a skirmish and a Vong skip gets shot down, the Vong themselves rarely retrieve the skip because they knew they can always grow more. So, we steal them and use the parts to make the beauty that is our leviathan,"
"I take it you have someone on your team that understands Vong technology, otherwise your leviathan wouldn't be possible,"
"Of course," he paused and smiled again, "Do you have to return to Borealis right away, or can you stay for a refreshment?"
Sera smiled, "Thank you, Dark One, but someone special is waiting for me back there..."
He shrugged, "I'm not surprised. Whoever he is, he's a very lucky man. Colonel Darklighter neglected to tell me you were a very beautiful woman."
Sera smiled and blushed, "Dark One, I..."
"Taken," he said, "I know. Just a refreshment, Knight Fey`lina. I'm not asking for dinner,"
"I'd like to hear about what else you have up your sleeve, besides your leviathan...We can talk about that over some refreshments." Sera said, and gestured for him to lead the way.
tbc
