Title: Changing Course
Chapter: Chapter Fifteen
Author: bactaqueen
Author's e-mail:
Category: New Jedi Order, Alternate Universe
Keywords: Kyp Durron, Jaina Solo, NJO
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: New Jedi Order up to Rebel Stand
Summary: Jaina Solo had a tough road back from the Dark Side after the death of her brother. In the process, according to canon, she earned Colonel Fel. But what if she hadn't? What if Kyp Durron was her redemption?
Disclaimer: "Star Wars" copyright George Lucas. Characters copyright respective owners. No profit is being made and no infringement is intended. Characters and situations inspired by the Enemy Lines duology, written by Aaron Allston, and in some cases, the situations have been modified for the purposes of this story. Again, here, no profit is being made and no infringement is intended.

Changing Course: Chapter Fifteen

Blinking white lights marked the edges of the landing field. In the midnight darkness, they burned. Heavy clouds obscured any of the stars that might have been visible otherwise. Though the night was humid, a breeze rustled the air and made it cool.

Jaina waited in the shadows cast by the biotics building. Most of the base was off-duty and asleep. In the distance, the docking bay was lit up; mechanics crews were working and Blackmoon Squadron was readying to take their patrol shift.

Han and Leia were due back tonight. That's why Jaina was waiting, searching the sky.

It had been less than a week since the mission to Shelter and the Starlancer test-fire. Mere days. But in that time, she'd changed.

Jaina glanced back over her shoulder, up the height of the biotics building. Her eyes searched the blue-tinted transparisteel, seeking the window that belonged to Kyp's quarters. He had a lot to do with that change.

Absently, she wrapped her arms around herself. The night had grown colder. She wanted to see her parents. She was ready.

'Wish granted.' First the running lights, then matte-black hull sliced through the clouds. The Falcon descended slowly and carefully, pulling up as repulsors came on. Jaina watched. The old freighter didn't even wobble-despite the number seven coil-as the pilot set her down with a gentleness only another pilot could appreciate.

The Falcon settled on her landing skids. The engines were cut first, then the repulsors died. When the running lights went off, the freighter was invisible in the darkness.

An outline of yellow light appeared in the hull, then grew as the boarding ramp was lowered. With a hiss and a clank, the ramp hit the charred ground.

Silhouettes appeared, backlit. One tall and lanky with a thickening midsection and tousled hair; the other shorter, smaller, curvier, with fine hair held in a strict bun.

Jaina watched them disembark, arm in arm. Her parents. At the moment, she forgot to think of them as people, individuals. They were her parents.

The Falcon's ramp went up. Jaina grinned. She waited until they'd made it halfway between the ship and the building before she burst from the shadows.

"Mom! Dad!"

She felt like a kid again, back at the Academy. She slammed into her mother and threw her arms around her, hugging her tightly in a way she hadn't since before the war.

"Jaina." Leia squeezed her eyes shut and hugged her daughter back, surprised and thrilled and ultimately relieved.

All of this Jaina felt through the Force. But she didn't need the Force to feel her mother's love. She would have cursed herself-it was her own foolish pride that had kept her from seeing this-but she knew that it simply wouldn't have been the same if she hadn't fought so hard to get to this point.

Jaina released her mother and turned to her father. She was immediately enfolded in a strong hug.

"Hey, kiddo," Han said quietly. He dropped a kiss on his daughter's head. "Some greeting."

When her father released her, Jaina stepped back to smile at her parents. "I'm glad you're back," she said.

Confusion flashed in Leia's deep eyes, and then it was gone. Her face softened. "Jaina..."

"Mom." A moment of understanding passed between mother and daughter. Then Jaina grabbed her mom's hand. "Come on. You guys hungry?"

At this hour, the cafeteria was virtually empty. The late-duty mess specialist brought out a snack for the Solo trio: breads, cold meats, fruit, and leftover dessert pastries. Instant stim-tea steamed in ceramic mugs.

Han and Leia sat on one bench, across the table from their daughter. Though both tried to hide it, they were confused about her behavior.

Jaina hid a smile. She'd expected this reaction. "How was your trip?"

Leia sipped her tea. "Fine. Mostly uneventful."

"I remember why I never carried slaves," Han grumbled. "And Jedi brats are worse."

"Hey, I happen to be a Jedi brat," Jaina said.

"I speak from experience." Han's smile was smug.

"Shelter is coming along nicely," Leia put in. "Kam and Tionne are turning it into a substitute Academy. I think Luke is considering using it permanently."

"At least until the war's over," Han added. "I think it's a good idea. Not many people can get in, and most think it's too damn crazy to try. Luke's finally done something right." Han gave his daughter a shrewd stare. "By the way, while we were there, a new route got dumped into the Falcon's nav computer. You and Kyp had some fun, did you?"

"It seemed like a waste of talent to take one of the plotted courses, with both of us in the same ship," Jaina remarked.

"Man's taking away all my privileges, isn't he?"

Jaina wasn't sure she liked what lay hidden in her father's words. "Nope. You'll always be daddy, and there's nothing he can do to change that."

Leia nudged her husband in the side. "Told you so."

"Yeah, yeah."

The last princess of a dead world turned concerned eyes on Jaina. "Luke told us what happened."

Jaina resisted the urge to wince. "What did he say?"

"First that you were fine, then that there was nothing that could have stopped you: whether we liked it or not, that was the way we'd raised you. How is Zekk?"

"He's fine," Jaina answered.

"What about Kyp?"

The young woman took a deep breath. "He wasn't okay. He used so much energy to kill that interdictor, he nearly killed himself. And I asked him to do it."

"We know," Leia said softly. "Luke contacted us."

"What did he tell you?"

"The facts," Han said, "about Starlancer and the Goddess thing." The old smuggler raised an eyebrow. "Never thought I'd see the day my only daughter would get herself grounded for pulling some damn fool stunt." Han gave that lopsided grin. "I'm proud of you, kiddo."

Jaina chuckled.

Leia glared at her husband. "Han." Her voice held a warning.

His face morphed. The cocky, pleased grin disappeared. In its place was an expression of feigned innocence. "What?"

Jaina watched the exchange. There was a tenderness in their interaction that made her heart constrict. For a while after Chewbacca's death, she'd been afraid that she'd never see this between them again. After the loss of Anakin, she'd expected worse. But they were sticking together. And she loved them for it.

"Uncle Luke's going to Coruscant."

Pain darkened Leia's pretty features. "Yes."

"He's taking Mara and Tahiri with him."

Han slid an arm around his wife's shoulders. "We already talked to him, Jaina."

"Luke has to be the one to go," Leia said softly. "He's the only one."

Jaina's gaze slid away from her parents, away from the pain and fear so raw in their eyes. Parents should be infallible. 'If they hurt, I hurt. And if the universe can hurt them, what will it do to me?' "I wanted to go with him."

Sudden, palpable fear flooded the Force, so strong it was almost a physical blow. Jaina gasped.

"Jaina-"

"No." While Leia's voice had been warm with that tinge of motherly panic, Han's voice was firm. When Jaina looked back at her father, she saw fierce resolve set in his features. "No," he repeated. "You are not going." He leveled a finger at his daughter. "And that's the end of the discussion."

Leia's brow furrowed. She laid a hand on her husband's arm. "Han-"

"Mom, it's okay. He's right." Jaina's smile was small, amused as she was by her father's protective nature. He'd never been able to stop her from doing something she really wanted to before. Did he think something had changed?

"Damn right I am. It's too dangerous."

"So is flying with Twin Suns."

Han set his jaw. She had him there, and he knew it. "That's different." Parental reasoning never failed.

"Of course it is." Jaina nodded her head, purposely patronizing. "Flying with the Twins is a whole other kind of dangerous."

"Don't distract me. You're not going to Coruscant."

Jaina gave a sigh. "I know. I talked to Uncle Luke. He discouraged me, too. So did Kyp. But Sharr-" Jaina smiled. "He threw a fit. He threatened to weld me to the bunk if I even thought of going."

"Smart man. I was going to stun you." Relaxed-maybe even relieved-Han slumped a little.

What Jaina said sank into her mother's befuddled mind. "You talked to Luke?"

The younger woman's nod was small.

Leia was quiet for several moments, trying to decide how to deal with this new information. She didn't have to make a decision.

Jaina began softly, "After Kyp did that for me and Wedge grounded us, I... had some time to think about the things I've done and the people closest to me. I talked to Uncle Luke and I worked some things out." She looked up. "I'm sorry, Mom."

"Oh, baby." Leia was around the table and had her daughter in her arms before she realized she was moving. She didn't ask what Jaina was sorry for-she just knew. "It's all right. It's all right."

Jaina let herself be comforted. She'd forgotten that this was what parents were for.

Han settled an arm around his wife, noting-not for the first time-how very small she'd gotten in the weeks since Coruscant's fall. Since the last time they'd seen all of their children alive, together.

Jaina had left them for bed. They both had been reunited with one of their lost children, and Leia believed that Jacen was still alive; there was another reunion to look forward to.

But one reunion would never happen. At least not in this lifetime. And there was nothing they could do about it.

He waited until they'd made it into their quarters with the door locked behind them. He wrapped both arms around Leia and pulled her close.

"I love you."

She gave him a slightly puzzled smile. "I know."

"Good." He lowered his head and kissed her. "Now, tell me what's wrong with my daughter."

"I don't know. I don't think it's what's wrong, Han, I think it's what she's decided is right." Leia withdrew from his embrace and moved away. She ordered the room lights up as she went to the closet.

"What has she decided is right?" Han went to the bed and flopped down, bending forward to unzip and yank off his boots.

Leia frowned at her clothing. "I'm not sure. But she's settled something in her mind. Maybe even in her heart."

'Heart.' Han's head snapped up. "Her heart?"

Absently, Leia nodded. She began to peel off her flight suit, readying for bed. Her mind was elsewhere. "She was more rested, more relaxed. It was like..." Leia paused. "It was like everything had pretty much lined back up. She was almost the girl I remember from before. But... Oh, I don't know. She seemed at ease."

As Leia shrugged into the long shift she wore as a nightgown and Han shed his vest and shirt, he thought. Yes, his daughter had seemed happier. And there were things that had taken place while he was away to affect the change in her. But what things? And who was responsible?

Kyp's name had cropped up often. Han frowned as he tugged down the bedcovers. Jaina's voice and face had changed whenever she mentioned the Jedi Master. What did it mean?

Han slid into bed first, followed closely by Leia. His wife snuggled close to him and rested a hand over his heart.

"All right, I know that look. What are you thinking?"

He ran a hand through her hair-longer now, growing out so nicely after Duro-and gave her a smile. "Who, me?"

She returned his smile. "Yes, you, you old scoundrel."

"I'm thinking I'm going to see Kyp tomorrow. He might have some insight on Jaina."

"What kind?"

'The wrong kind' "Hey, he's training her now, right? Maybe she's talking to him, too."

"If she's talked to Luke and us... probably."

Han squeezed Leia lightly. "Yeah. Good night, Princess."

"Good night. Scoundrel."

"Twin Suns," the mechanic said. He pushed his cap back on his head and scratched at his broad, brown forehead. "Sure, the Goddess. She's refusin' t' fly, so her ships are-" To finish his sentence, the man gestured to a quiet corner of the docking bay.

Han turned to follow the man's gesture and stifled a grimace. The thirteen ships of Twin Suns were not only mismatched by make and model and even class, but by design as well. They were hideously disorganized, and no two fighters shared a theme or even a color scheme.

"Thanks, buddy."

"Any time, General."

Why did these people insist on calling him General? Han shook his head. Twenty years since he'd held rank and even then, it had been a mistake.

Han picked his way across the docking bay, winding around and between ships of all make, model, class, size, shape, color... He stepped over fuel hoses and power cables, avoided rolling astromech units, and even had to jump out of the way of a hydraulic lift arm with a snapped cable.

The female Selonian operating the equipment called down a hasty, "Sorry, sir!" and paid no more attention to the nerf-herder who was wandering around where he didn't belong.

The first X-wing of Twin Suns belonged to the Goddess incarnate. It was painted a basic glossy white. Purple lightning raced along the fuselage, converging at the torpedo tubes. Running voxyn had been painted on the S-foils. The image of the Jedi-hunting animals sent a chill down Han's spine. He knew that the images had been designed to throw off the enemy, and though he was hardly the enemy, he was definitely thrown off.

The second was downright creepy. It belonged to Zekk, and like Jaina's, was intended to mystify the enemy. Each of the ships, in fact, had been painted with that goal in mind. Zekk's X-wing had been painted black, and each of the laser cannons looked like an oversized lightsaber. Along each side of the fuselage, Force lightning flared, just as on Jaina's. Han was beginning to see a pattern.

A trio of Darksiders. The third X-wing belonged to Kyp Durron and sported a paint job that was immensely unpleasant. Carida's star was burning out of life, exploding outward, and planets had been caught in its death throes.

A reminder of who each pilot was and what they were capable of. It was a reminder Han didn't need.

That's where Han found the younger man, in the shadow of his X-wing, near the stern. A panel of the hull had been removed and was laying on the deck at his feet. Kyp wore a greasy mechanic's jumpsuit that was currently receiving yet another stain.

"Stang," Kyp grumbled, pinching down the line that was squirting hydraulic fluid at his chest. "Vapin' sublight engines... fluid lines..."

Han chuckled and ducked under the starboard S-foil, coming around in view of the kid he'd rescued from Kessel nearly sixteen years before. "Trouble?"

"Not until my hand slipped," Kyp replied. He shot Han a look out of the corner of his eye. "Heard you came in last night. How was the trip?"

"All Jedi are brats," Han announced easily. "'Specially the older ones."

"Tell me about it." Kyp grunted as he locked down the leak, then dropped his hands. Without even glancing at Han, he crouched and began rummaging in a tool box.

"Heard you had some pretty eventful days yourself," the old smuggler remarked casually.

Kyp snorted. "Killed an interdictor corvette. Nearly killed myself. What's unusual about that?"

"Jaina told us about that stuff."

"Did she?" Kyp pushed himself up, a roll of engine tape in one hand and small clamps in another. "I guess she told you why I did it?"

"To save Zekk. She said it was her fault you nearly died."

Kyp gave a lopsided grin, the one he'd learned from Han. "It was. No offense, Han, but I think your daughter is trying to kill me."

Han chuckled. "Nah. If she wanted you dead, you'd be dead. Trust me."

"Thanks for boosting my confidence." Kyp shook his head, then pulled some engine tape off the roll. He stuck clamps between his teeth and buried his head in the hole in the side of his ship.

"I'm not here to boost your confidence, buddy."

"You're a wonderful friend, Han."

"So're you. Thanks for taking care of my daughter."

Kyp froze. He said, "Jaina takes care of herself. All I do is stick around."

Han saw the sudden tension in the younger man's shoulders. "Do you?"

"As long as she'll have me." There was a pause as Kyp moved, and the hissing of air being bled out of a hose. "We're partners." Satisfied, Kyp pulled his head out of the side of his ship and gave Han a wry grin. "Of course, I wasn't given much choice."

Han chuckled again. "She gets that from her mother, too."

"But your negotiation skills." Kyp raised the engine tape and leveled it as if it was a blaster. "'Agree or regret it. Your choice.'" He shook his head. "Sometimes I wonder if she's supposed to be a Jedi."

"Speaking of that." Han scratched absently at his chin. "When Luke pulled a stunt like you did, he had to go into a healing trance. Mara had to help him. How'd you manage?"

"I'm younger than Master Skywalker," Kyp pointed out.

"But still... you needed help, didn't you?"

Silent, Kyp nodded. Han couldn't read the younger man's face, but he didn't need to. He knew the answer. He decided to ask to confirm it.

"Jaina helped, huh?"

The grin Kyp gave was forced and wry. "Well, Zekk doesn't like me that much."

"And she does?"

"Sometimes." Kyp glanced away. He passed a hand through his hair. "I don't know."

"You don't know what?"

"Most of what's going on with her. It thought I understood. I thought I knew what she wanted-"

"Hello, boys."

The female voice startled both of them. Han and Kyp turned, and there stood the subject of their conversation. Jaina's hair had been tied back from her face. Her expression was one of amused curiosity. She wore a burgundy jumpsuit that was, for once, clean. That would change soon-in one hand, she carried a tool box.

"Good morning, Goddess."

"Hey, honey."

Jaina affected an air of superiority. "That's Your Honey-ness to you, Dad."

"Sorry, kiddo."

Jaina smiled. "So, what's up?"

Han gestured at Kyp. "Just wanted to have a chat with your Master here."

"Hmm. What about?"

"You."

Maybe it was a blush that turned her face that charming shade of pink. "Dad."

"What?" Han jerked a thumb at Kyp. "Don't even want me talkin' to my friends anymore?"

"Dad-" Jaina broke off, and her gaze slid to Kyp.

Han saw the way her eyes settled on him. He turned his attention to the younger man.

"Don't worry, Goddess. I haven't told him anything you said about old generals and stubborn ships."

"Kyp." Jaina's voice held a warning, and something else besides.

"Hey, what did she say about me?" Han demanded.

"I'll tell you when she leaves," Kyp stage-whispered.

Jaina looked between the two of them and groaned. "Insufferable nerf-herders." She turned away. "Try not to hurt yourselves being too witty, hmm?"

Han would have smiled at his daughter's back at she walked away, but his gaze settled on Kyp, and he watched the Jedi Master watch his daughter. And Han had all of the answers he'd come looking for.

It was a quiet, deserted wing of the biotics building. The walls were painted a soft, indefinable color, the floor made of sterile white tile. Han found his way to Leia without having to search each of the individual rooms. He knew where she'd be.

Flowers lined every shelf, sat on the floor along each wall, and surrounded the cluster of living rocks arranged artfully in one sunny corner of the room. A heady scent filled the air and assailed his senses; the heat in this room was moderate, but the humidity level was greater than in the jungle. All to keep the genetically engineered plants alive.

Leia sat on a plant stand near the living rocks, trailing her fingers over the smooth leaves of one plant with large white flowers.

Han stifled a gasp. She was beautiful.

She looked up, saw him, and smiled. "Hi."

"Hey. I was wrong."

Leia's smile warmed. "Am I supposed to be surprised?"

"Funny."

"Thank you." She reached out, slid her hand into his. "What were you wrong about?"

"I was right about Kyp." Han sighed. "He loves her, Leia, and he'll do anything for her. But I was wrong."

"Oh?" Her face and voice were carefully neutral.

Han reached out with his free hand and laid it along his wife's cheek. "Yeah. Jaina did it. She loves him, too. Your daughter," he added with a wry grin, "is just full of surprises."