Chapter Fourteen – Fel Times Two
Han Solo walked into the Rogue lounge just in time to hear Sola's voice gleefully announcing the current people present.
"Seven Corellians in a room! Everyone duck!" Han was able to see immediately why Sola had said that. Cloud Ritril and Kell Tainer were hurriedly running behind a couch where most of the Wraith, Rogue, Saber and Wild Knights pilots were crouched. A loud bang went off and suddenly stars were littering the air above their heads, smoke raining down.
And then everyone was standing up and laughing insanely at Wes Janson's black face. Han himself couldn't keep the chuckles in as he watched Wes shake his head exuberantly, wiping it on his sleeve after a moment. Quickly, Han glanced around the room to count up the Corellians or part-Corellians present and grinned. "We outnumber 'em by a long shot."
Apparently nobody had noticed him come in, which was fine with him. "I mean, there are more than seven Solo or Skywalker descendents here, aren't there?" He motioned to Ari, Adra Amidala and both Anakins. He took in a breath to say something else, but Ari had run over and plowed into him, knocking all the air from his lungs as she joyously sang out 'Grandpa' over and over again.
The room laughed as a whole as Han hugged the only one of his grandchildren that he didn't get to see on a regular basis. Well, that wasn't really his fault though. When Jacen and Celtic's twins had been born, Wedge and he had struck a deal. They had a bet on that said that when the twins, Aurra and Ari, were eight years old they would be trained as fighter pilots. Han would teach Aurra and Wedge would teach Ari. When they were eighteen the twins would then get to go in the sims against each other and the winner would prove who could make a better pilot out of a Solo.
Adra Amidala had been carefully waiting her turn behind Ari and, as he released his granddaughter, Han couldn't help grinning. Knees bent slightly, so he was eye to eye with Adra, he pulled her into a hug. It was possibly the first time he'd ever done that, considering he'd only just met the daughter he didn't even know he had until a few months again. And then Luke had been so interested in getting to know his half-sister, half-niece that he hadn't let Han get to know the girl. It was a pleasant surprise that she was so willing to come up to him. As he stood up, releasing his youngest child, Han put a hand on her shoulder and led her towards where Wedge was watching with interest.
"You know, Wedge, that really isn't fair. It could be said that you have a shot with two Solo kids as to turning them into pilots."
Wedge grinned and ruffled Adra's hair before she jerked out of his reach. Airell Cece came over to retrieve her padawan but gave up as Anakin Skywalker came over to get a hug from his granddaughter. Han watched them for a minute as the two Jedi led their charge away. He turned back to Wedge and opened his mouth to speak, but a hurricane of laughter erupted behind him. Quickly he looked over his shoulder to see Adra grinning innocently and a very, very wet Wes Janson shaking the water out of his hair. He chuckled a bit as he looked back to Wedge, who was sipping a lomin ale.
"So, can we shoot Fel now?" Wedge asked tentatively.
Han hadn't even noticed that Jag Fel was sitting near them with Jaina. How he had failed to notice his oldest child snuggled against Fel's side, he didn't know, but his happy mood dropped a few notches at the thought. Jag was raising an eyebrow at his uncle. Jaina looked like she was debating leaving the scene or decapitating a few people first. So Han said the only thing that would make light of the situation.
"Shoot Fel? Can we?" He grinned as he saw Mirax nearly pushing Jaina towards the door. No doubt his oldest child had been cleaning out the sabacc tables, as that was where Mirax had come from. Han grinned as Jaina's face returned to its usual impassive façade and she seemed to plant herself in the couch.
Wedge was looking around, probably for Iella, hoping she wasn't around. Immediately Han understood why Wedge had thrown this little party. It was cover to make Iella disappear. And, at present, Iella didn't appear to be on location. "Let's go, now!" Wedge whispered hurriedly.
Unfortunately, Iella was ex-CorSec and Intelligence Director at that. She knew her husband too well, it seemed, for she was suddenly standing in the doorway of the lounge, hands on her hips.
"No you don't, Wedge Antilles."
Han looked around the room as the Wraiths and Rogues slipped, unnoticed, out the other door. Han waited until everyone from the two squads was clear before standing up. Jaina and Jag had also left with the group and he had no intention of letting those two away with only the Wraiths and Rogues as supervisors.
"Sith it; run for it guys!" And at Han's outburst, both he and Wedge ran out the other door.
* * * * *
Jaina watched as Wedge and her father ran off after the retreating Rogues and Wraiths. Jag was walking behind her as they went up to Iella. The appearance of Soontir Fel caused her to falter, however. He was speaking to Iella, so she opted to wait.
"Wonderful little foresight you have," the Baron was saying.
And behind him, the easily-hailed most beautiful woman in the galaxy stood. That would be Syal Fel, also known as Wynssa Starflare. Though a bit older than in her holovids, Jaina easily recognized the holostar.
"I swear, can't the two of you stop all of this sithin' fighting, Soontir?"
Jaina was shocked to find the Baron looking a bit guilty. Well, it seemed there was someone who could control the Baron after all. "I'm sorry, dear," the Baron muttered sheepishly.
Syal didn't appear to buy it, or so it seemed, by her next words. "Don't sorry me, Soontir Fel. Do something about it. And threatening one of Wedge's pilots was not a smart course of action."
Syal's words instantly brought confusion to Jaina's mind as she waited for the general's answer. She didn't have to wait long. "Which? Who did I threaten? Oh, that Tallon kid? Well... she deserved it." Jaina blinked in shock then realized that Baron Fel was now muttering about Rebel flyers who couldn't keep their inquiries to themselves. Syal Fel slapped her husband lightly. The Baron rubbed the spot, though Jaina was sure it probably hadn't hurt him, and he looked penitently at his wife before speaking. "What was that for?"
"For those comments on New Republic pilots," Syal Fel answered easily. Jaina immediately began to like the woman.
"Well, it's true. At least for the younger ones. Don't know the difference between leaving a craft alone or not."
At this point, Adra Tallon was now standing next to Jaina, an offended look on her face. Jaina was sure she had one of equal offense on her own. Through the Force, she found Jag was trying hard not to laugh. Stifling the urge to mutter curses under her breath, she elbowed him swiftly in the gut. Jag blew out the air softly through his teeth, no doubt clenched now. Iella and the Baron began walking off in the direction of the hanger and the rest of them followed as they entered it.
And then Wedge rounded a different corner of the docking bay, waving Han and the squads over. Jaina watched as they ducked behind an X-Wing, whispering between themselves. "Come on, Solo," could be picked up with help from the Force.
Jaina raised an eyebrow tentatively and began muttering softly about giving her father another reason to want to kill the Baron. She could see her father raising an eyebrow as Wedge flagged him over and she used the Force once more to hear what they were saying. "What's up now, Wedge?"
Soontir Fel had said something that made Syal slap him lightly once more, but by now Jaina was too immersed in what Wedge was saying. "Shooting Fel, that's what." Leia must've heard as well, for she called Iella over behind their husbands. Both women grabbed their husbands' ear, reverting to the old tactic of causing pain to get their ways.
Fel was shaking his head and sighing. Jaina went back to listening to him. "Alright, alright. I'll stop." And with that, Baron General Soontir Fel walked off, muttering rather loudly about the need for new simulator records. As the general left the hanger bay, Wedge was heard cursing violently.
* * * * *
Adra was standing by the wall of the hanger, near the door, debating going with the rest of the Corellians or going off to see if she could get into Fel's hanger bay to hijack that TIE stationed there. Apparently Nicola wasn't going to let the latter happen, as she began dragging Adra off towards the Corellian group. Adra gave in and allowed herself to be dragged over to the group. And so she stood there...for all of three seconds. Then she was off heading towards the other hanger, a very mischievous glint in her eye. As she passed Jaina, she saw the pilot look at Jag and heard what she was saying.
"Should we stop her or let your father find her?"
The reply 'Stop her' came from Jag just as Nicola grabbed her arm, keeping her from moving off any farther. Adra tried to twist out of the death-lock hold Nicola was keeping her with even as her friend spoke. "Face, a little help here?"
As Nicola said it, Adra got herself free. Seconds later, she was dashing off in the direction of the hanger. Face had come out from the Corellian group to go over to Nicola and Adra barely caught his words.
"What now, Afy- Sithspit." And with that, she became aware of more sets of footfalls behind her. With a curse at Nicola, she skidded to a halt, unable to move past Nicola's sudden Force hold. Nicola, Face, Jaina and Jag were now ten meters away, all four walking. Quickly, she used the Force to get past what Nicola put in place, but apparently wasn't quick enough. As she went to start off again, Face grabbed her arm and began to pull her back towards the hanger bay that was occupied by the Corellians.
"Not smart Adra, really not smart," he was saying.
Half-listening, Adra grabbed at one of the support beams and refused to let go. Face was left to try and pry her from the beam, if he could, while she replied. "I never said I was known for my intelligence, Face Loran."
Through the Force, she heard Jaina speaking to Nicola. And I always thought it was the other way around.
"Oh? That's new to me, Computer Girl," Face remarked as he readjusted his hold so that he now had his arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her away from the support beam that way.
Nicola was laughing a reply in the Force, trying to keep her face blank. Yeah, I'd agree with that one.
Adra muttered an indistinct phrase of curses before elbowing Face. He elbow connected with his ribcage and though she was sure it hurt him a bit, she knew her bone hurt more. The Force flared with Nicola and Jaina's talk once again.
Remind me again why he wants to marry her? That would be Jaina.
You're asking me? Nicola's reply was quick and to the point.
Good point. Come on.
Face, meanwhile, was raising an eyebrow at Adra as she rubbed her elbow against her side, trying to rid it of the sharp pain that was coursing through it, while maintaining her hold on the support beam. "Adra, that didn't hurt at all," Face remarked as he worked at dragging her from the point in the hall she seemed to have cemented herself to.
Debating heavily as to the use of her lightsaber, she finally sighed and released the support beam as Jaina and Nicola came into her line of vision. "Why is it that you always ruin my fun?" Her question was asked as she used her now-free hand to rub the offending elbow.
Nicola came up beside her, Jaina and Jag standing just behind her. "Because you're 'little fun' ends up into either myself or someone else dragging you to safety. You're getting as bad as Kell or Cloud or Face."
Adra looked at her friend's face for a moment before a grin came to her own. "I take that as a compliment."
Nicola rolled her eyes as she responded. "I wouldn't if I were you. If you do, that means I'll have to treat you like Kell."
Knowing full well what her friend meant, a scowl creased her features. Nicola laughed slightly as she answered the unspoken annoyance. "That's what I thought."
Adra continued as if she hadn't heard, muttering random things. Face had released his hold on her once she appeared to have calmed down enough and Adra took that to her advantage. With Jedi speed she darted down the hall again, her destination the hanger bay.
Using the Force to enhance her hearing, she heard Jaina's remarks. "You think she's trying to commit suicide?"
Jag's voice was the one to reply. "Probably."
Again through the Force, Adra felt Nicola shrug as she heard her friend speak. "She'd better not be. If she is, I'll have to go Targeter."
Adra bolted past Baron Fel, Iella and Wedge as she dived into the docking bay that held the Interceptor. Fel was right on her heals, blaster in hand. Wedge drew his own blaster just as Iella pulled him off.
"I'm supposed to defend my pilots, Iella!" Wedge said, as if trying to persuade her. Which, Adra reminded herself, he probably was.
Adra glanced around in time to see Face, Nicola, Jaina and Jag enter the docking bay. Iella didn't attempt to stop them, she just replied to her husband. "But you're not supposed to do it through blasters."
Adra was five paces from the Interceptor when Face and Jag appeared in front of her. Adra, having been walking at that point, stopped and glared at the two of them, arms crossed over her chest. Behind her, she felt the glare of General Fel as he watched from the entrance of the docking bay.
Jag spoke first, though it took all of Adra's patience to listen. "Tallon, trust me. You don't want to mess with his TIE." Jaina was nodding in agreement, having come to stand beside Jag.
Face, however was trying the more direct route of bodily moving her. Adra quickly shrugged him off as Wedge came up to stand next to his nephew and hold-daughter, now free of Iella.
"And besides, I get first shot at Fel. Oops, sorry Jag, but your father and I hate each other."
Nicola rolled her eyes, replying very sarcastically. "Like we wouldn't guess, Antilles."
Adra scowled darkly then walked over to Wedge. Next instant, she had the blaster from his hand and was giving it over to Iella, who was walking up. "If I can't have fun, General," her voice dripped sarcasm at the title, "then neither may you."
Behind Wedge, she saw Han tighten his hold on his blasters. It took all of her control to keep from laughing. Leia was glaring at her husband, but making no attempt to de-arm him. Wedge glared at his wife for a minute before taking a spare blaster from a nearby mechanic. Iella grabbed that one as well before exploding on her husband.
"Enough! All of you!"
Still behind Wedge, Han was muttering something that sounded like a muffled assent and then was dragged off by Leia. Wedge, however, wasn't so readily listening. He grabbed the blaster his wife had just taken and glared at her. Iella seemed to be quickly losing whatever patience she had left.
"Wedge, don't make me get your sister out here." That got the response of mumbles from Wedge. Something like 'not fair' was distinguishable. And it was those two words that set Iella off the edge, her temper rising.
"I don't really care, Wedge! You're being completely and totally unreasonable! Whether you want to blow Fel up or not is your own personal affair, but you might consider what you're sister will do to you, not to mention the attachment you have to your nephew and the rest of your family. Just because you may not like Baron Fel doesn't mean that the rest of your family holds grudges against him. Do I make myself 100% clear?"
Adra blinked, rather impressed. If she had been a casual passer-by, she would've thought Iella was a general dressing down a Flight Officer just out of the training lines. It took all of three seconds for Wedge to hand over the blaster and nod to his wife. Then he was running towards his X-Wing. Jaina raised an eyebrow after the general, but then shrugged it off. Behind her, Adra felt the presence of Baron Fel leaving, no doubt to break some more simulator records. A sudden flashing on the computers alerted her to what Wedge was up to as she went over to it.
Wedge had just put all Rogues on active status. Adra quickly flicked on the comm, turning it to the Rogue squadron's frequency. She was just in time to hear Wedge telling the squadron to get to their crafts so they could blow things up. Iella seemed to be making a note to yell at Wedge the moment he returned, but then she walked out of the hanger. Adra left the computer console, standing by the wall. Face had pulled out his comm and was now speaking into it.
"Poster Boy to Rogue Leader. You got room for some Wraiths?"
Adra smiled inside. If Face wanted to take the Wraiths, all the power to him. Nicola would be flying without a wingmate. It was then that she noticed Ari Solo standing a few paces away from her, seeming to be debating getting into her X-Wing or not. If she didn't, the girl would receive a court martial over disobeying direct orders from the general. Mirax Halcyon came up behind the girl, a grin on her face.
"Come on, Ari, you need to keep your reputation as an insane Rogue," the other pilot urged. Silently Adra thanked the Force for the insanity of Mirax Halcyon. She wasn't so pleased with Ari's reply.
Ari was grinning as she spoke. "Oh, but I was. I was going to keep it up by maintaining a nonexistent barrier between Adra and that TIE fighter, considering she probably won't fly out with the rest of the Wraiths. If you think logically for a minute, if two squads are gone, there are less people around to stop her from committing an act of unofficial suicide."
In that moment, Adra really hated that kid. It was a shame she was Wedge's mini pet-project, receiving move training in the area of investigation than the rest of the Rogues. Mirax looked thoughtful for a minute and then she grinned at her young friend.
"Good point," she said sharply. Then she turned around in a circle, looking for someone. Adra got the distinct impression she knew who that 'someone' was. "Loran!" And she was right.
Face looked up from a last minute engine check he was performing before he got in his X-Wing. "What now, Halcyon?"
Mirax glanced at Adra before answering, a smile evident in her voice. "Make sure that insane fiancé of yours goes with ya!"
Adra promptly turned on her heal and walked out of the hanger bay, well aware that she wasn't going to be given the chance to steal Fel's TIE today. She quickly keyed in the code to a spare conference room and locked it behind her. Settling in a chair, she stretched out her senses in the Force, easily finding those on the hanger bay. Ari was consulting Sola Gallia. After a minute, both of their presences went over to the X-Wing that held Wedge. Adra sighed as she realized just why they were talking to Wedge. Yes, she was in no way going to get Fel's TIE today.