AN: Wow, more fic in one day…
Chapter Two: The Go Ahead
Jaina stared at Jag for a few long hard seconds. The seconds grew close to a minute before Jaina regained the use of her mouth.
"Come with you?" she repeated in shock.
Her face saddened and she shook her head forlornly.
"I can't do that, you know I can't do that," she said, "I have responsibilities here that I can't get away from, General Antilles or Shar would kill me."
Really, Jaina thought, it was ironic, the same duty that prevented him from staying kept her a prisoner here as well. Essentially, it seemed neither could compromise and that responsibility would keep them apart. Something would have to bend.
Jag took a deep breath, " I know Jaina, I know. But I've been giving it careful thought, hours of careful thought, and I think it's possible. You need some leave, and you deserve some leave. I know flying to the Unknown regions isn't every pilot's idea of a vacation, but…"
She smiled wryly. "Jag, 'where' doesn't matter much as long as I'm with you."
She felt his sudden glowing pleasure through the Force and saw the faint blush that he tried to hide. It made her feel warm, in an appreciated kind of way, that she could make him feel happy with simple compliments like that. She resolved, as she had so many times since their first kiss, to encourage that personality that hid far beneath the surface.
"But," she continued, and becoming depressed again as she did so, "I can't Jag. I'm sorry, I just can't. I mean, what plausible excuse could there be for a Goddess to suddenly pick up and leave?"
Jag's eyes, the only part of his face that she could ever read without the Force, filled with a mischievous light at this last sentence.
"Oh, I had that part figured out," he said, his expression showing the barest, tiniest hint of a grin, "It's simple, really. The goddess needs her time off. Think about it. You're supposed to be granted certain privileges that are above and beyond the standard allowances given to pilots. In this time of war, practically no leave time is given. Wouldn't it follow then, that the goddess can do whatever she wants, whenever and to whoever she likes?"
A smile blossomed on Jaina's face while he was talking and it grew as he went on, as what he was saying became clear.
"Alright. I'll talk it over with Wedge. It wouldn't be too long, would it? A week and a half or so?" Jaina questioned, raising her eyebrow.
"Twelve days," Jag said without a pause. The Chiss-raised pilot seemed to transmit everything to memory and was able to recite it back without hesitation.
Jaina sighed and gave an expectant look. "Well, I guess I'll go now while I have the time."
A genuine smile came over his features as he held out a hand in the motion to stop.
"Wait."
"Yes?" Jaina asked, puzzled.
Jag reached out to give her a quick, tight embrace, briefly wrapping his arms around her and tilting his head down to tenderly kiss her on the lips. Jaina felt her whole self, body and mind, relax at this mild adoration and she tried to push away thoughts of the war, of the Jedi, and the reasons she felt this way, or what it was she felt. She didn't want anyone to see how confused she was about herself. She'd always been the confident one, right? Didn't everyone expect her to act that way?
Jag seemed to sense her inner dilemmas, but he didn't say anything, just rested his chin against her forehead and slowly ran his hand over her back. He couldn't have had much experience with romance, but he tried not to let it show.
"Jaina," he said softly in her ear.
"Mmm?" she murmured.
"I hope this all works out."
* * *
Wedge Antilles looked thoughtfully at the young Lieutenant seated across the desk from him, fidgeting in her chair but keeping her eyes on him and her gaze level.
Just like a Solo, he thought absentmindedly, reminded again of how much Jaina was like her father. In looks, from the creamy skin, soft fawn eyes and dark wavy hair, she was every centimeter her mother. Her attitude, her skill, her walk and her very stance were all traits inherited from her father.
And like her father, she had little respect for authority.
"Lieutenant Solo," he said carefully, "You believe that this ruse will be believable."
Jaina nodded once, precisely, "Yes General."
Wedge mused it over for a moment. In theory, it could work. The goddess goes away for a short time, to plan and to attend to her religious duties. She needed to have time to hatch new schemes and perhaps the mortals were interfering with her work.
Wedge suspected the reason might also have something to do with the feelings he sensed Jaina and Jag were developing for each other. Romance was a risky thing in war, but after all, he had met Iella during one of the most crucial battles of the Rebellion and it would be rather anal retentive of him to put a halt to their flirtations. A smile worked at his mouth.
Who am I to interfere with the course of true love?
Coming to his final decision with this thought, Wedge made eye contact with Jaina, who was struggling with the apprehensive look that kept creeping onto her face. He nodded once.
"I give you my consent. Sharr will work with intelligence operatives to spread misinformation, you can leave at a time when not many people are on patrol… Don't worry, I'm sure it will work."
He paused thoughtfully.
"I was talking to your mother the other day."
Jaina cringed slightly.
"She said that you looked tired," Wedge conceded kindly, "Jaina, I'm glad to give you a break. I hope you and Jag have a wonderful time."
I wonder exactly how close they are anyway?
At his last words, Jaina's face seemed to flood with fresh colour and life and her eyes became vibrant once more. Her smile packed enough energy to power a Super Star Destroyer.
Apparently, they are very close.
With a salute and a pleasant good-bye, Jaina walked speedily from the room.
* * *
Jag was just slipping on his jacket, preparing to exit his room and make his way to the flight simulators, when a distinct tone announced there was a visitor waiting outside his door.
Having some idea of just who was outside that door, Jag crossed the room quickly and opened it with a quick tap of his fingers. Jaina stood outside, grinning, a broad, glad smile.
"The Goddess commands you accompany her to the flight simulators and give her some good sport," Jaina said in a light, haughty manner. The snide lift of her chin completed the deception.
Jag let down the grim expression of his face to register delight for a few microseconds before placing the façade back in position.
"Granted that you stop talking in the third person, Great One, I think that can be arranged," Jag replied dryly.
Jaina laughed and the sound left Jag with a glowing feeling as they walked purposefully down the hallway. They came to an intersection in the corridors, and Jag found that Jaina was nudging him slightly with her shoulder to the right turn. Understanding, Jag moved in that direction.
The wing the hallway led to was seldom used, centimeters of thick grey dust coated the boxes, furniture and floor and the air had a still, stale taste. The irritating stray dirt particles clogged his nose and he struggled to contain a sneeze.
"I talked to your Uncle," Jaina said without preamble, seating herself on an old dusty box full of spare starfighter components.
Jag took a slightly deeper breath than average to control his tension. What if Wedge had said no? Jaina's tone gave away nothing.
"What's the verdict?" Jag asked, more calmly than he felt.
Jaina's face broke into a smile. "It's a go!"
Jag couldn't contain the grin that swept over his features, so instead of hiding his emotion, he scooped Jaina up from her sitting position, enveloping her in a tight hug.
"I'm glad," he said simply, not one for words when it came so close to his heart.
With Jaina's cheek against his, soft-skinned and comfortingly warm, he could feel her smile, "Me too. When do we leave?"
Jag, who had already planned out the trip in his head in the chance of approval, replied swiftly, "Tonight goddess, whenever you're ready."
* * *
Jaina stood in the deserted special operations hangar, the dim glow of her X-wing cockpit the only source of light in the cavernous bay. Beside her were a few bags of luggage and in her hand was a datapad with some documented cases of psychological warfare. She was reading, though in a skimming, unattentive manner, because her mind was busy keeping track of the minutes speeding by, the time that Jag was late.
She let her eyes drift up again, glancing around the hangar again for any sign of him, and finding none, let out a frustrated sigh and closed the datapad with an irritated smack.
She slipped it into one of the pockets on her flight suit, then stalked determinedly toward the exit of the hangar. She threaded her way through the maze of starfighters and nearly ran into Shawnkyr Nuruodo.
"Lieutenant Nuruodo," said Jaina respectfully, snapping off a salute, "I was just going to check on Jag's whereabouts. Have you seen him?"
Her impersonal red eyes drilled into Jaina, so to Jaina's momentarily accelerated imagination, the Chiss woman seemed almost threateningly. She struggled to keep from fidgeting or looking away from that steely crimson glare.
Shawnkyr shook her head, "He probably had last minute arrangements to make. He'll be here soon, I'm sure."
Jaina nodded, and struggled to quickly think of something to say to prevent an uncomfortable silence.
"I heard Vanguard Squadron was promoted to elite squadron status," Jaina said casually, "Congratulations on the promotion."
Shawnkyr nodded stiffly. "It was well-earned."
Once again Jaina was at a loss for what to say. Shawnkyr was possibly the most difficult person to have a conversation with she'd ever known. A suspicion nagged at her, presenting her with the idea that perhaps it was Shawnkyr's choice to make the situation uncomfortable. Maybe she was sending the message that she didn't like Jaina while at the same time not voicing it aloud so that Jag would remain amiable. The more Jaina thought about ways that Shawnkyr might be silently mocking her, the more frustrated she became, though, aware of the incredible powers of scrutiny in the Chiss, she was careful not to let her emotions show.
A decision was reached inside of Jaina, and she brushed past the Vanguard leader with a respectful bow and a murmur about going to look for Jag. She was storming mad inside and so unfocused that she was almost startled when the door she'd being reaching her hand out to access suddenly opened to reveal Jag. He gave her a nonchalant smile and stepped out.
"Forgive my tardiness, Great One," he said dryly, "Situations arose that needed tending."
Jaina allowed her annoyance to fade into a pleasant smile, "As long as you're here Colonel. We should leave immediately."
Jag nodded once, confidently.
The preparation and departure took place in record time and Jaina was cruising through hyperspace before she knew it.
It was a moment that gave way to reflection shortly, and Jaina sat in her cockpit, musing over the conversation, or lack thereof, with Shawnkyr.
Did Shawnkyr hate her or like her?
And why did Jaina care so much?