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This fic was originally posted on theforce.net, where I go by the screenname of SaberBlade. If you recognize this, don't worry, it isn't plagiarized; I'm simply reposting it here also.
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General Disclaimer: Star Wars belongs to George Lucas and the characters belong to their respective authors. Anything you don't recognize is mine; please respect my muse. I don't intend any infringement with this fic; it was created because I have an abiding love for Star Wars and a wish to share my interpretation of it with the world.
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Details:
Name: Miracle
Time Frame: Post-NJO
Pairing: Kyp Durron and Jaina Solo
Summary: A crash landing leaves Jaina lucky to be alive, but she can't remember the last ten years of her life. What will this mean for her and the man she was to marry?
Rating: PG to PG-13.
Post: Chapter 5 of ?
Story Status: Work in Progress.
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As always, reviews are appreciated.
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SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1
When Kyp opened the door, the first thing he noticed was the silence. It was unsettling; Han and Leia's apartment was not the place to go for quiet relaxation. It was the place to go laugh and banter with friends, the place for competitive mock-fights and verbal spars, the place where informality and friendship reigned.
It was almost never quiet.
He shut the door behind him and moved into the living room. From there, he caught faint voices, and moved in their direction. They led him to the guest room, where he supposed Jaina was staying.
Jaina sat, legs crossed, in the center of her bed, with holos strewn around her. Han was leaning against the bed, reaching over her shoulder to point at a specific holo.
"That's from a few years ago," he said as Kyp paused, unnoticed, in the doorway. "That's Tahiri and you and Harrar on Sekot."
"And Tahiri and Harrar are still there now," Jaina said firmly.
"That's right. Harrar's that crazy priest of the Trickster Goddess who you actually get along with, for some reason." Han shook his head. "You two went off for a long talk a couple weeks after Shimmra was killed, and the two of you come back best buddies and having long philosophical discussions."
"About what?"
"I don't know," Han said.
"The nature of the gods," Kyp said, and had the satisfaction of watching both father and daughter's heads snap up in surprise. "Just because you have your shields up, Goddess, doesn't mean you should completely cut yourself off. You should have been able to sense me."
Her mouth made a little O and she colored lightly, but he sensed some of her shields lifting. She reached out through the Force and tapped his mind gently in greeting. "You're right; I'm sorry," she said. "Nature of the gods?"
He smiled and moved into the room. He came over to the bed, on the opposite side of Han, and peered at the picture. "He never believed that you were actually Yun-Harla. Well, he never admitted to believing it. But most of the Yuuzhan Vong did, and some still do. What he's settled on is that you're an avatar of his goddess, and you don't think you are since you don't really believe that their gods exist in the first place. So the two of you argue whether or not an avatar needs to be willing in order for a goddess to work through her." He shook his head. "I didn't know you had this holo. Harrar doesn't like holos; none of the Vong do. Technology is bad enough, but they think that a holo steals part of their being."
"Tahiri's working on Harrar," Han informed him. "He's doing much better."
"I guess." Kyp glanced at the other holos. All of them were from after the war ended, mostly pictures of people he recognized. Himself, Jag, Tahiri, Jacen, Tenel Ka, Lowie, General Darklighter, Wedge Antilles, Zekk, even Ta'a Chume, Droma and Shawnkyr. "Where's Leia and Jacen?"
Han shrugged. "Off being diplomatic, I think. With those two, I'm clueless. You," he said to Jaina, "you I understand."
She smiled at him. "Glad to know I can help, Dad." Then she looked up at Kyp. "You're early."
"I've been ordered to bring you up into Starfighter Command," he said, and watched her tense. "Darklighter wants to talk with you. They've found out some things about that ambush that they think could be trouble, and want to go over some things with you. I told him about the memory loss," he added. "And he got all concerned and I'm supposed to pass on that if there's anything he can do to help, just let him know. But then he got all serious again and said that you're to act as though you remember everything."
"Why-" Jaina began, then held up her hand and stopped herself. "No, because that way whoever attacked us doesn't know how badly I'm hurt. Makes sense. But how am I going to pull it off? I assume I've been to Command before and would actually know some of the people there?"
Kyp nodded. "That's why I'm coming with you." We've got a Force-bond. I can prompt you a bit if you need it. You've told me about most of these people.
"Oh. We do? I have?" Jaina looked surprised. "All right."
Han's blank face went from one to the other. "Did I miss something?"
"Probably." Kyp couldn't keep the smile from his face. "You'll need to wear your uniform, Jaina." He tossed the small packet he had been carrying onto the bed; it bounced and scattered a few holos. "And we need to leave soon if we're not going to be late."
He and Han left her alone to change. As soon as the door to her room shut, Kyp turned to Han. "How's she doing?"
"Better," Han said simply. "She asked to see pictures once Leia left; said you'd shown her some yesterday. I'm going to dig out some of those old holomovies Leia used to take while you're gone. She's trying, kid."
"I know." He sighed and leaned against the wall. "I just really hope Darklighter has one of those vaping ambushers in his office so I can beat the hell out of him."
"Good luck," Han said seriously. "If, by any chance, Darklighter does leave you alone with the ambusher for a while, knock him around a bit for me, will you?"
"I'll bring back a piece of him for you, how's that?"
Han was saved the bother of continuing the attempt at humor as Jaina's door swung open. She always dressed quickly; Kyp supposed that it was part of being a pilot during the war. Both of them could be ready to fly from a dead sleep in under five minutes.
She looked decidedly uncomfortable. "Tell me I hated this uniform," she begged, coming over to stand by him.
"You hated it," Kyp agreed.
"This is yours," she said, handing him his cape, which she had attempted to fold and mostly failed.
He set it down on the couch; he was already wearing a flight jacket. "Remind me about it when we get back." He reached out and straightened her tunic. "Ready to go?"
"I guess." She kissed her father on the cheek. "Don't worry, Daddy, Kyp will keep me out of trouble."
"You don't remember much, do you?" Han muttered as the two of them left.
Kyp, overhearing the comment, laughed. "I'll bring her back whole," he promised as the door shut.
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Starfighter Command was an imposing building of black stone and grey floors, filled with hundreds of officers all wearing white uniforms with a black stripe down the left shoulder. Jaina had been understandably reluctant to enter the building, but Kyp had prodded her into it. Now she walked beside him, stiff as durasteel.
Relax, he ordered her. Calm down. We're almost there.
She let out a breath. I'm trying. It's not working. Oh help, who's this?
Lieutenant Eirin, flew with you for two years in Rogue Squadron after the war. Wife and three kids.
"Afternoon, Eirin," Jaina said as they passed the pilot. "How's-" Name? she thought frantically, and in the heartbeat of panic Kyp sent Rena "-Rena and the kids?" she continued with the barest of pauses.
Eirin grinned at her. "They're doing good, Sticks. When are you going to come back to us?"
"Whenever the General decides to give up on you. See you around."
"Later."
Good job. He replaced you as Lieutenant when you left for Twin Suns.
Oh good, that was all bluffs. What's Sticks?
Turn left and we're here. The officer at the desk is Griggs; he likes you, so be friendly. Sticks was your old callsign.
"How are things, Griggs?" Jaina asked, coming to a stop in front of the desk.
"Solo!" Griggs exclaimed, and then his eyes flicked past her to Kyp. "Or is it Durron now?"
"Not quite yet," Jaina said. "I was summoned. Is the General in or is he going to ignore me for a bit longer?"
"Oh, he's in," the Bothan said with a wave of his hand. "And he said that Jedi of yours is allowed in also. So how much longer do I have to persuade you to marry me and not him?"
Panic flooded Jaina's thoughts.
Joke, Kyp said firmly. Definitely a joke. He does this every time you bring me past him.
"Oh, a week or two," Jaina said airily. "But what makes you think I'd leave Kyp for you?"
Griggs's fur flattened and he put a hand over his heart. "Well, I love you with all my soul."
"So do I," Kyp put in.
He deflated. "Oh. Hm, let's see, what do I have to offer... I'm an excellent kisser," he offered hopefully.
Jaina only laughed. "So's he." She glanced at him out of the corner of his eyes. Or so I assume.
He managed to keep a straight face. You never complained before.
Griggs heaved a sigh. "I have two weeks, at least, to think of a reason. The General's waiting for you. Nice to see you again, Solo, Durron."
Jaina reached out and patted Griggs's cheek. "Nice to see you too, Griggs. Keep working on those reasons."
Darklighter rose as the two of them entered. "Jaina, I'm glad you made it in. Durron, thanks for your help." He came around the desk and hugged Jaina. "He told me you don't remember much of anything from the past ten years. Is that right?"
"Yes, sir."
"So you don't remember the ambush at all?"
"No, sir," Jaina said, moving to the seat he had waved her to. Kyp took the one beside it. "Just what Kyp's told me so far."
General Darklighter's hair was nearly all silver, but the rest of his face was still youthful despite having led Rogue Squadron during the war and for some years after it. "All right," he said, and dropped back into his chair. "I think– and Intelligence agrees with me– that the ambush was specifically designed to kill you."
Kyp felt his blood turn to ice.
"What do you mean?" Jaina asked.
Darklighter reached for a datapad on his desk, and handed it across the desk to Kyp. "You and your squadron– which is currently on the disabled list, incidently– were on Reseja acting as an escort for the new cargo shipment. While preparing to leave the planet, you were attacked in the atmosphere by two and a half squadrons of Uglies. Five pilots died and one was injured. But the Uglies specifically targeted Twin Suns."
Kyp was only half-listening to him; most of his attention was on the datapad. He scrolled through the information as the General continued.
"They left everything else alone. And as soon as your fighter was downed, they cleared the atmosphere and jumped to hyperspace. You were their only target."
"They're Vong," Kyp said flatly, passing the datapad over to Jaina.
Jaina stared at him in shock for a minute, then looked back over at General Darklighter. He nodded. "You brought down a few of the fighters. We couldn't find any living survivors, but the casualties we did find were Yuuzhan Vong. We don't know why they're targeting you, Jaina, but it does look like they're specifically after you."
Jaina read through the datapad and looked up, perplexed. "But they flew Uglies," she said. "I thought they didn't like technology."
Darklighter leaned back in his chair. "They've been adapting," he said. "They don't like it, but some of them have been learning how to use it. The fact that they flew Uglies doesn't mean that we can automatically rule out the Vong. We don't know why they're going after you, but you've become a target."
"Ask Harrar or Tahiri," Jaina said. Her gaze again went to Kyp's. "They'd have some idea, wouldn't they?"
It was a good suggestion. Kyp nodded slowly. "That would be my recommendation," he agreed.
"Then I'll talk with them," Darklighter said. He leaned forward. "Jaina, you can't let anyone know that you have memory loss. Until we figure out who is attacking you and why, we don't want anyone to know this was more than an attempt at ambushing cargo on Reseja."
"I know," Jaina said. A hand came up and rubbed at the side of her head. "I might not remember all the military procedures, but I do have common sense left. It makes sense, sir."
"Good." He leaned back in his chair once more. "I'm sorry this happened to you, Jaina. If there's anything I can do..."
"Actually, sir, there is." She took a deep breath. "I lost five pilots. I'd like to have their information so I can write to their families."
"The families have already been notified, Sticks."
Her mouth twisted. "I know. But I'd like to write all the same, sir. I was their commander. The families deserve to have something from the person who sent them to their deaths."
Darklighter stared at her for a long time, then switched his gaze over to Kyp. "Are you sure she doesn't remember anything?" he demanded.
Kyp raised his eyebrows. "She wouldn't remember that."
"Permission granted," General Darklighter said. "I'll send the information over to you. You've always done that, Sticks. Some things haven't changed."
"That's good to know," Jaina said. She met the General's confused eyes. "At least I was a responsible leader before."
"You were." He stood. "I'll contact Sekot and see if anyone there can shed any light on this attack. We're probably dealing with a splinter group of Vong. I'll let you know what I find out. Until this is resolved, Solo, you and your squadron are both inactive, understood?"
Her "Yes, sir," was quiet.
"Good." He seemed to soften. "It'll work out, Jaina. Don't worry."
"Sorry, sir."
He smiled. "Take care of her, Durron. I'll let you know what I find out."
Hee, I do so like writing Han. What did you think?
-Ketharil
