Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and
owned by Lucasfilm, Ltd. No money is being made and no infringement is
intended
Author's note: Sith Sora Jade: Yikes! Although that's kinda my reaction to Callista, too, you might have to fight Mara for the first couple of hacks.
John Chris: Oh yeah, Luke totally is. Thanks for reading.
JediPrincess825: Yeah it seemed odd to me that no one had brought her back either, but then again that's why I had to write this fic. Happy reading!
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"I'm Callista."
The words echoed through Jaina's mind and she took a closer look at the woman in front of her. Tall and blonde, she certainly fit the description and Jaina's own blurry memory of the woman she was claiming to be, but if she recalled correctly Callista hadn't been able to call on the force, except for the darkside. That would mean that something unusual was definitely going on here.
Reaching into the force swiftly, Jaina sent a probing tendril towards Callista. As she had half-expected, she felt nothing, not a hole in the force like Ysalimiri produced, but simply nothing. Deciding to be honest with the her, Jaina spoke up again.
"We were sent her not only to help the people of Chad, but to investigate rumors of impossible victories against the Vong and secret weapons. Do you know anything about it," she asked bluntly.
"Jaina," Kyp said sharply, "I don't trust this. Before she left, she was known to have ties to the dark side."
"Jaina," Callista questioned, interrupting before they could continue, "You're Jaina Solo?" She stared at the girl in shock, as if seeing her in a whole new light.
Jaina smirked slightly, "Yes, I am, but getting back to the point.."
Callista couldn't seem to let it go, though. "You've grown since the last time I saw you," was all she could come up with.
Jaina sighed, trying to keep a check on her indignation. She didn't remember much of this woman. She had only been a small child the last time she had seen her, but the she heard about her hadn't always been good. She certainly remembered how devastated her Uncle had been after Callista had left him and her Aunt had definitely never said anything good about her.
There had been Callista's brief selfish brush with the dark side and while she was glad they had broken up, Mara had always been angry that Callista had hurt Luke the way she did. All of this combined with Callista's continued reluctance to get down to business wasn't putting Jaina in a good mood.
"Well, obviously. It's been quite a while."
Callista looked slightly taken a back by her sarcasm, and paused. She bit her lip and started to say something, then changed her mind. "The strange rumors you've been hearing are about me," she said confidently. She turned and gestured for them to walk with her.
Jaina felt a surge of anger flow through her at the woman's presumptuous summons, but bit it back. It really wouldn't matter if she disliked Callista, which she was growing to more and more, if Callista could provide the answers she wanted or possible a way to end the war.
"I though Luke would send someone to explore them sooner or later. He was always so interested in rumors about the Jedi."
The familiar way she spoke of Jaina's Uncle did nothing for Jaina's growing bad mood, but fortunately Kyp came up with a reply before she did.
"Actually, Lady Callista, we are her as representatives of the Jedi only secondarily," Kyp said with polite charm, although Jaina could feel a distaste matching her own in him, towards Callista.
"We were sent her first and foremost as a representative of the Galactic Alliance to free Chad."
Callista looked slightly surprised at his statement, but continued undaunted. "Well it doesn't matter really. Jedi are here and that's all that matters. You see," she said as she led them deeper into the city, her troops now moving around them, in front and behind, "I've finally discovered how to use the force again."
"Congratulations," Jaina said with sympathy leaking back into her voice. While she might not really like Callista; she couldn't imagine life without the force and she sympathized with the woman's loss.
"Thank you, it's been hard."
This time Jaina saw even Kyp roll his eyes. Fortunately Callista returned quickly to the subject at hand.
"I've heard rumors that the Jedi haven't been able to sense the Vong, through the force, is that true?" Callista questioned.
Slightly puzzled, Jaina nonetheless answered her, "Yes, it is. We've been learning to compensate though, the force is still very helpful."
"Of course," said Callista, "but you see I can sense the Vong. Just as if I were using the force to sense a normal person."
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"Can you sense non-Vong," was the first question Jaina asked after she regained the ability to speak. Callista's revelation was a shock to say the least and a possibility Jaina hadn't considered in the least.
"No," Callista said sadly, "but I can sense the Vong and the world around me. I can only sense other beings through the dark side."
"Can you prove this," asked Kyp.
"Of course," said Callista. Then she looked back at her young companions. "Are you two capable of a short run? I was planning a small ambush farther along. I think between the three of us we can handle it by ourselves."
Kyp looking very upset that she didn't think they could handle it said sarcastically, "I believe we can."
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Callista was actually in quite good shape, they found as they ran through the streets, sometimes jumping from building to building top to avoid the Vong until they had prepared their ambush. They crept into place waiting for the Vong patrol.
Kyp and Jaina were hiding around the corner of a building, while Callista waited across the street to attack from the other side.
As they waited, Jaina whispered to Kyp, "What do you think we should do?"
"Blast her now and save Luke a headache," he suggested sarcastically.
"I think that would be of the dark side," remarked Jaina dryly, "but we really should get a medal for it."
Kyp laughed, but he had grown serious. "If she's telling the truth about what she can do, she could be vital to winning this war."
"If she is, we should bring her back to the Jedi to see if she can teach the technique or at least it can be studied."
"On the other hand," said Kyp, playing the Sith's advocate, "if she's not telling the truth she could have another agenda, entirely."
"It's not like we can use the force to tell," Jaina added with sarcasm.
"I don't want to bring her back any more than you do, Goddess," Kyp said, "but if she can do what she says then I think we have to."
"Oh fine," Jaina said as she rose, igniting her lightsaber and beheading one of the Vong that were suddenly coming around the corner.
Kyp was immediately at her side and working together they effectively cut throught the Vong.
"I wonder when we get the show portion of Show-and-Tell," Jaina gritted out, keeping an eye on Callista as they fought.
"Hopefully, sooner rather than later," Kyp added, seconding Jaina's thoughts. But he stopped before he could say anything else, watching in amazement as a Vong began to float upwards, obviously under Callista's control.
They took advantage of the rest of the Vong's temporary distraction and quickly finished off the small patrol.
"Looks like she's telling the truth," pointed out Kyp, still somewhat stunned.
"I'm inclined to believe her," Jaina admitted, "for now, though," she added darkly. She sighed looking around, "Let's get back to our x-wings," she said. "We can get a status report from Jag and then we'll see about how we're going to get Callista back to the Jedi."
Jag Fel slowly climbed out of his clawcraft. After almost eight consecutive hours of flying, he had pulled and the rest of the squadron had been pulled off of patrol duty and brought back in to Freedom's Defender. To his surprise, he was immediately met by a small group of people. Some of the most influential people for parsecs, in fact.
Jaina stood in front, flanked on the left by Kyp and Wes Janson. On her right, he saw the man he recognized as Captain Elisim, the Captain of Freedom's Defender and a tall, blonde woman whom he had never seen before. Jaina didn't look happy, he noted, as he looked around questioningly.
"Right this way, right this way," said with was in an annoying stepping forward. Grabbing Jag's arm he pulled the slightly surprised Colonel down the corridor. Grinning merrily Wes's pace didn't slacken as he began talking rapidly. "The Insiders and the Jedi Council need to be made aware of certain things. It's decisive to the war. Our most adored Goddess and her manservant," he shot a look at Kyp, "must return to the Insiders with Callista. Elisim can't know what exactly is going on here, help the Goddess out where you can."
Fortunately, in what Jag suspected was a well choreographed maneuver, Jaina rescued him from Janson. "Were there any more skirmishes," she asked, checking on her squadron's status.
"No, we patrolled the system and kept an eye on the planet. We provided some high altitude back up for the Yellow Aces, when Janson sent them down to take out targets of opportunity. That's about it."
"Good," she said, punching information into her datacard. "Will any of our fighters need repairs?"
"Four, but only one will be out longer than a day."
"Excellent," she said briskly, "make sure our pilots hit the simulators later. I want them to do better than they did today," she remarked. As they walked into the conference room, she casually handed Jag the datacard she had been carrying and took her seat.
Jag glanced casually down at the datacard and was surprised at its content. Jaina's message was short and to the point, but it nevertheless forced him to hide a smile. It read simply: Jag, dinner, tonight, cargo bay nine.
He wondered what it was about. He hoped it wasn't just to discuss the squadron or the war. All of that was important, yes, but the feelings he had for Jaina Solo..Well he wasn't sure what they were, but he definitely wanted to have a chance to explore them. Just the memory of their kiss could keep him awake for hours at night. She_
"Colonel Fel," a sharp voice cut into his thoughts and he realized that he had been daydreaming. Daydreaming! Look what he had been_
"Yes?" He bit out before he could start again. It wouldn't do to tarnish his Chiss like image, after all.
"I just wanted to complete the introductions," said Kyp. He gestured at the woman Jag didn't know and said, "This is Lady Callista."
Jag nodded at her curtly in acknowledgement and refused to look at Jaina sitting beside her and smirking as if she knew why he had been distracted.
"She's the leader of the local resistance," Kyp continued, "She was also a Jedi Knight."
Kyp sat down, apparently satisfied with his introduction. Captain Elisim took the floor next. "Lady Callista, can you tell us about the Vong position down on the planet."
"Yes, as you know, Chad has several thousand floating cities. Right now we've sent sixty percent of our cities, the ones that are mobile down to the Southern Sea. The severe environmental conditions in that region have kept the Vong out of there so far."
"What about the other forty percent," questioned Jaina. So far it wasn't good, but not as bad as she had expected.
"The Vong have occupied about half of those, but we are resisting them. The other half of our remaining cities are using the time to prepare."
Captain Elisim nodded thoughtfully, flicking on his comm. link to a certain frequency, he waited only a second for a reply.
"Commander Slendar Fleet Special opps."
"Commander, this is the Captain, I need you and some of you people to go down to the planet and assist the citizens in defending their cities. Some of them aren't occupied and we want them to stay that way."
"Aye, sir, I'll get right on that, Slendar out."
"Thank you, Captain," Callista said genuinely as the brief exchange ended.
"I'm just trying to make our job easier, Ma'am," he said as he turned to Jaina. "I know that you and Master Durron have experience in ground assaults. Do you have any suggestions, Goddess?"
"Use Colonel Janson's," Wes snapped of a mocking salute as Jaina said his name, "Yellow aces to provide air support. Strafe the troops and take out larger targets at will. Send down weapons for the civilians and then let the troops use guerilla tactics to fight them. One other thing. Use all the resources you have available, including," she said pointedly, "the tactical knowledge of others, such as Colonel Fel. He has at least as much experience as I do." She looked over at Kyp, "anything else?"
Ignoring her outburst he nodded, "Yes, we have a few Jedi with the task force. They can detect disguised Vong."
The Captain looked around, with a slightly chagrined look on his face from Jaina's reprimand and said, "I think that's all is there anything else we need to discuss, Goddess, Lady Callista?"
"Yes Captain," said Jaina. Her eyes met Jag's for an apologetic split second before she said, "Master Durron, Lady Callista and myself have to return to Mon Calamari."
Jag was bewildered. Something was going on, Janson had told him that much and now he wanted to know what it really was.
This is a Jedi matter," Jaina said defiantly. "Twin Suns will be left in Colonel Fel's capable hands and we will rejoin your task force as soon as possible."
Elisim looked both puzzled and troubled by this. "Great One, I can't stop you, of course, but you should reconsider. This defense is important. It could be the first time we took back a planet, from them."
"I understand, Captain, and I have confidence in leaving this in your hands. We have to do this. There is no other option."
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Jaina sat casually on the ledge, looking out past the transparent shield and into the vacuum of space. The ledge would have been impossible for a normal human to reach without assistance, but for Jaina it hadn't been a problem. The force might not let her sense the Yuuzhan Vong or their creatures, but it did allow her to do things others could not. Right at that moment, though, Jaina didn't want to think about the force. That would lead to thoughts of Callisat and why she had to leave the task force, leave Jag.
Jag was actually what was bothering her at that moment. Her feelings for him were not confused and not nonexistent, they were simply indefinable. Whatever it was she felt for him, it was more important than she had realized and to some extent that had bothered her and maybe even scared her, although she would never admit that.
She was scared of becoming too attached to him- although she suspected it was already too late- in case she lost him. She was scared because nothing with Jag would be superficial or skin deep. Joy, pain, love, hate, whatever she was feeling she would feel with her whole heart and she didn't know if she could handle that. Right now though, she had to deal with the fact that she was going to be away from Jag; something that he had promised her wouldn't happen and that wouldn't allow her to be their to watch his back.
That was what scared her most of all: the thought of loosing Jag before they had a chance to see what would happen, to explore their relationship. The thought of Anakin and Tahiri haunted her; she couldn't begin to imagine how the young Jedi felt. This was what had to be done though, despite the fact that Callista wasn't her favorite person, she would work with her if it meant winning the war, sooner rather than later or not at all.
She heard the click of standard issue foot wear against the decking and looked towards the entrance. As she had expected Jag was standing there glancing around the room. As he did, she took a moment to study him. She had always thought he was incredibly handsome. He was tall, at least for a pilot. Most tended to be shorter, to fit in the small cockpits. His angular features set him apart and his intelligent green eyes were often an object of many women's fascination, herself included.
Jerking herself out of her thoughts, hating to be distracted even if it was by the gorgeous guy she was dating, Jain cleared her throat loudly. Jag looked around abruptly and find her after a second.
"Hello, Goddess," he said with a smile, or at least what passed for a smile with Jag Fel. It didn't matter thought, as long as Jaina knew it was reserved only for her.
"Come on up," she invited him. Almost every ship she had ever been on had a place like this. The view, caused by looking out at space through the shield, looked like some form of intergalactic art, and Jaina had always retreated to places like this one, when things were troubling her and she wanted to be alone. Now for the first time, she wanted to share it with someone, more specifically Jag.
Jag glanced around for a moment and then back at Jaina. "How am I supposed to accomplish this, Great One?"
When most people called her things like that or Goddess, Jaina hated it. It was all apart of the Yun Harla charade. When Jag said it though, it was different. It was a term of endearment. The only on he would actually use in public because no one would think anything of it.
"Trust me," Jaina said with a grin, after surveying the problem. It was as much a statement as a question.
Jag nodded, thought, without hesitations. "Of course," he said.
Jaina's eyes seemed to focus intently and he suddenly couldn't feel the durasteel beneath his feet. Looking down, he realized he was floating in the air. Slowly, steadily, he was drifting upwards towards Jaina. For a moment he felt a shiver of fear. He was used to much greater heights, but in his clawcraft, not his girlfriends force grip.
He felt himself being gently brought up to the ledge. When he was even with it, Jaina extended a hand. Taking it, not looking down as he stepped on to the platform but instead looking into her eyes, he was transfixed by her gaze.
"Thank you for trusting me," Jaina said quietly.
"You're leaving," was all Jag said. It was meant to come out in his usual calm, even voice, but it had more accusation in it than he would have liked.
Jaina nodded, her face blank. "Callista could be very important to the war."
Putting aside their personal issues for the moment, Jag carefully took a step away from Jaina on the ledge. "Who is she? Janson didn't tell me."
Jaina sighed and sat down in a cross legged position. "She was a Jedi Knight of the Old Republic."
"Good complexion," Jag said, sounding for a moment more like her father or brother than his usual self.
"Yeah, well," Jaina explained, "the fact that she spent decades with her mind suspended in a computer could also have something to do with it."
Jag looked at her in surprise. Growing up with the Chiss had left him with little knowledge of the extent of Jedi powers. Lowering himself to sit beside her, he asked, "Is that even possible?"
She shrugged, "Sure, it's not recommended, but it's just a matter of transferring your consciousness into something that can sustain it. Anyway," she continued, after telling that sink in a moment, "She met Uncle Luke somewhere around twenty years ago-I'm not really sure when. The ship where she was residing was destroyed and she changed places with a Jedi student who didn't want to live. However, in the transfer she lost her Jedi powers."
"What happened the," Jag asked sensing there was something else she wasn't saying. "For a while she was at Yavin Four and she was engaged to my uncle until she left."
"Why did she leave," he asked, curious in away.
Jaina sighed again, but answered. "Callista regained contact with the force but only through the dark side. She doesn't use that aspect of her powers, but it was too tempting for her to remain around the Jedi at the Praexeum.
Jag sat for a moment and considered what she had said, "Why is it so urgent to bring her back to the Jedi then?"
"The Jedi were never able to determine what happened or how to restore her powers, but she can feel the Vong through the force."
Jag nodded, assimilating the information. The touch of Jaina's hand on his arm startled him. It wasn't often that they demonstrated their affection for one another, they simply didn't have the time or opportunity.
"Jag," she said softly, "I don't want to leave."
Softening at the expression on Jaina's face, Jag leaned forward and kissed her gently in an attempt to cheer her up. "It's okay," he said allowing himself a quick smile for Jaina's sake, "Twin Suns will be returning to Mon Calamari as soon as this mission's over."
"I know," she said, "but."
Jaina almost growled in irritation as her comm. link buzzed, interrupting them. "Goddess," she hissed into it.
"Jaina," said Kyp hastily, "We need to leave. Callista's getting anxious."
Jaina rolled her eyes and Jag could see and feel the tension in her body as she grew more and more angry. "Kyp I don't care about what Callista wants. Is there a reason we have to leave now?" She emphasized the last word and as much as she didn't like to share her emotions, she opened the shields around her mind and allowed him to see what she was feeling for a moment. She let him see how much she needed to be there and how much she didn't want to leave. It was a true measure of her exhaustion and her feelings for Jag, because under normal conditions, Jaina wouldn't have allowed Kyp even that glimpse. Duty and the fight against the Vong came first, though, no matter how much she disliked Callista.
Unfortunately Kyp didn't have good news. "A new wave of Vong are approaching, Great One. Nothing they can't handle," he added hastily, sensing her worry for the rest of the task force and Jag especially, "but we do need to be gone before they get here. We don't want them having any chance to find out about this or harm Callista."
Jaina sighed and shot Jag an apologetic look, sorry that she had to leave, but knowing, hoping that he of all people would understand. It was about duty. I was always about duty, duty above desire and she hated it. "Five minutes, Kyp. Goddess, out," was all she said.
She clicked it off before he could say anything else and turned back to Jag. Looking at her with an unreadable look on his face, Jag stood up on the ledge and being the polite Chiss raised Colonel that he was, he offered her a hand up.
She rose to her feet with an ease born not of the force, but of years of strenuous Jedi training, not really needing his hand, but taking it anyway. To her surprise once she was on her feet, he pulled her closer, not saying anything. He brought their hands up and linked them together, meanwhile using his other hand to brush back a lock of her dark brown hair from her face.
"Don't get hurt, Jaina Solo," he said with the intensity he showed only the things he was most interested in. "Come back to me safe."
She nodded unable to speak for a second, caught in the emotion of the moment. Instead she leaned forward to kiss him, hoping her actions could show more than words. "I.." she started to say, when they drew apart, "I'll miss you," she said before he drew her back for another kiss.
Wrapping her arms around his neck and despite her jumbled emotions, Jaina used the force to lower them back to the deck. "I have to go," she said, her voice full of regret as she stepped back from him.
"I know," he said carefully.
Turning and walking out, exerting some effort not to look back, Jaina walked out of the cargo bay and broke into a run when she got into the corridor.
As she ran, she didn't see Jag staring at the door where she had left or hear him say, "Don't die, Jaina Solo. I love you too much."
Thanks for reading, everyone, please review. I really appreciate all of ya'lls encouragement.
Author's note: Sith Sora Jade: Yikes! Although that's kinda my reaction to Callista, too, you might have to fight Mara for the first couple of hacks.
John Chris: Oh yeah, Luke totally is. Thanks for reading.
JediPrincess825: Yeah it seemed odd to me that no one had brought her back either, but then again that's why I had to write this fic. Happy reading!
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"I'm Callista."
The words echoed through Jaina's mind and she took a closer look at the woman in front of her. Tall and blonde, she certainly fit the description and Jaina's own blurry memory of the woman she was claiming to be, but if she recalled correctly Callista hadn't been able to call on the force, except for the darkside. That would mean that something unusual was definitely going on here.
Reaching into the force swiftly, Jaina sent a probing tendril towards Callista. As she had half-expected, she felt nothing, not a hole in the force like Ysalimiri produced, but simply nothing. Deciding to be honest with the her, Jaina spoke up again.
"We were sent her not only to help the people of Chad, but to investigate rumors of impossible victories against the Vong and secret weapons. Do you know anything about it," she asked bluntly.
"Jaina," Kyp said sharply, "I don't trust this. Before she left, she was known to have ties to the dark side."
"Jaina," Callista questioned, interrupting before they could continue, "You're Jaina Solo?" She stared at the girl in shock, as if seeing her in a whole new light.
Jaina smirked slightly, "Yes, I am, but getting back to the point.."
Callista couldn't seem to let it go, though. "You've grown since the last time I saw you," was all she could come up with.
Jaina sighed, trying to keep a check on her indignation. She didn't remember much of this woman. She had only been a small child the last time she had seen her, but the she heard about her hadn't always been good. She certainly remembered how devastated her Uncle had been after Callista had left him and her Aunt had definitely never said anything good about her.
There had been Callista's brief selfish brush with the dark side and while she was glad they had broken up, Mara had always been angry that Callista had hurt Luke the way she did. All of this combined with Callista's continued reluctance to get down to business wasn't putting Jaina in a good mood.
"Well, obviously. It's been quite a while."
Callista looked slightly taken a back by her sarcasm, and paused. She bit her lip and started to say something, then changed her mind. "The strange rumors you've been hearing are about me," she said confidently. She turned and gestured for them to walk with her.
Jaina felt a surge of anger flow through her at the woman's presumptuous summons, but bit it back. It really wouldn't matter if she disliked Callista, which she was growing to more and more, if Callista could provide the answers she wanted or possible a way to end the war.
"I though Luke would send someone to explore them sooner or later. He was always so interested in rumors about the Jedi."
The familiar way she spoke of Jaina's Uncle did nothing for Jaina's growing bad mood, but fortunately Kyp came up with a reply before she did.
"Actually, Lady Callista, we are her as representatives of the Jedi only secondarily," Kyp said with polite charm, although Jaina could feel a distaste matching her own in him, towards Callista.
"We were sent her first and foremost as a representative of the Galactic Alliance to free Chad."
Callista looked slightly surprised at his statement, but continued undaunted. "Well it doesn't matter really. Jedi are here and that's all that matters. You see," she said as she led them deeper into the city, her troops now moving around them, in front and behind, "I've finally discovered how to use the force again."
"Congratulations," Jaina said with sympathy leaking back into her voice. While she might not really like Callista; she couldn't imagine life without the force and she sympathized with the woman's loss.
"Thank you, it's been hard."
This time Jaina saw even Kyp roll his eyes. Fortunately Callista returned quickly to the subject at hand.
"I've heard rumors that the Jedi haven't been able to sense the Vong, through the force, is that true?" Callista questioned.
Slightly puzzled, Jaina nonetheless answered her, "Yes, it is. We've been learning to compensate though, the force is still very helpful."
"Of course," said Callista, "but you see I can sense the Vong. Just as if I were using the force to sense a normal person."
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"Can you sense non-Vong," was the first question Jaina asked after she regained the ability to speak. Callista's revelation was a shock to say the least and a possibility Jaina hadn't considered in the least.
"No," Callista said sadly, "but I can sense the Vong and the world around me. I can only sense other beings through the dark side."
"Can you prove this," asked Kyp.
"Of course," said Callista. Then she looked back at her young companions. "Are you two capable of a short run? I was planning a small ambush farther along. I think between the three of us we can handle it by ourselves."
Kyp looking very upset that she didn't think they could handle it said sarcastically, "I believe we can."
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Callista was actually in quite good shape, they found as they ran through the streets, sometimes jumping from building to building top to avoid the Vong until they had prepared their ambush. They crept into place waiting for the Vong patrol.
Kyp and Jaina were hiding around the corner of a building, while Callista waited across the street to attack from the other side.
As they waited, Jaina whispered to Kyp, "What do you think we should do?"
"Blast her now and save Luke a headache," he suggested sarcastically.
"I think that would be of the dark side," remarked Jaina dryly, "but we really should get a medal for it."
Kyp laughed, but he had grown serious. "If she's telling the truth about what she can do, she could be vital to winning this war."
"If she is, we should bring her back to the Jedi to see if she can teach the technique or at least it can be studied."
"On the other hand," said Kyp, playing the Sith's advocate, "if she's not telling the truth she could have another agenda, entirely."
"It's not like we can use the force to tell," Jaina added with sarcasm.
"I don't want to bring her back any more than you do, Goddess," Kyp said, "but if she can do what she says then I think we have to."
"Oh fine," Jaina said as she rose, igniting her lightsaber and beheading one of the Vong that were suddenly coming around the corner.
Kyp was immediately at her side and working together they effectively cut throught the Vong.
"I wonder when we get the show portion of Show-and-Tell," Jaina gritted out, keeping an eye on Callista as they fought.
"Hopefully, sooner rather than later," Kyp added, seconding Jaina's thoughts. But he stopped before he could say anything else, watching in amazement as a Vong began to float upwards, obviously under Callista's control.
They took advantage of the rest of the Vong's temporary distraction and quickly finished off the small patrol.
"Looks like she's telling the truth," pointed out Kyp, still somewhat stunned.
"I'm inclined to believe her," Jaina admitted, "for now, though," she added darkly. She sighed looking around, "Let's get back to our x-wings," she said. "We can get a status report from Jag and then we'll see about how we're going to get Callista back to the Jedi."
Jag Fel slowly climbed out of his clawcraft. After almost eight consecutive hours of flying, he had pulled and the rest of the squadron had been pulled off of patrol duty and brought back in to Freedom's Defender. To his surprise, he was immediately met by a small group of people. Some of the most influential people for parsecs, in fact.
Jaina stood in front, flanked on the left by Kyp and Wes Janson. On her right, he saw the man he recognized as Captain Elisim, the Captain of Freedom's Defender and a tall, blonde woman whom he had never seen before. Jaina didn't look happy, he noted, as he looked around questioningly.
"Right this way, right this way," said with was in an annoying stepping forward. Grabbing Jag's arm he pulled the slightly surprised Colonel down the corridor. Grinning merrily Wes's pace didn't slacken as he began talking rapidly. "The Insiders and the Jedi Council need to be made aware of certain things. It's decisive to the war. Our most adored Goddess and her manservant," he shot a look at Kyp, "must return to the Insiders with Callista. Elisim can't know what exactly is going on here, help the Goddess out where you can."
Fortunately, in what Jag suspected was a well choreographed maneuver, Jaina rescued him from Janson. "Were there any more skirmishes," she asked, checking on her squadron's status.
"No, we patrolled the system and kept an eye on the planet. We provided some high altitude back up for the Yellow Aces, when Janson sent them down to take out targets of opportunity. That's about it."
"Good," she said, punching information into her datacard. "Will any of our fighters need repairs?"
"Four, but only one will be out longer than a day."
"Excellent," she said briskly, "make sure our pilots hit the simulators later. I want them to do better than they did today," she remarked. As they walked into the conference room, she casually handed Jag the datacard she had been carrying and took her seat.
Jag glanced casually down at the datacard and was surprised at its content. Jaina's message was short and to the point, but it nevertheless forced him to hide a smile. It read simply: Jag, dinner, tonight, cargo bay nine.
He wondered what it was about. He hoped it wasn't just to discuss the squadron or the war. All of that was important, yes, but the feelings he had for Jaina Solo..Well he wasn't sure what they were, but he definitely wanted to have a chance to explore them. Just the memory of their kiss could keep him awake for hours at night. She_
"Colonel Fel," a sharp voice cut into his thoughts and he realized that he had been daydreaming. Daydreaming! Look what he had been_
"Yes?" He bit out before he could start again. It wouldn't do to tarnish his Chiss like image, after all.
"I just wanted to complete the introductions," said Kyp. He gestured at the woman Jag didn't know and said, "This is Lady Callista."
Jag nodded at her curtly in acknowledgement and refused to look at Jaina sitting beside her and smirking as if she knew why he had been distracted.
"She's the leader of the local resistance," Kyp continued, "She was also a Jedi Knight."
Kyp sat down, apparently satisfied with his introduction. Captain Elisim took the floor next. "Lady Callista, can you tell us about the Vong position down on the planet."
"Yes, as you know, Chad has several thousand floating cities. Right now we've sent sixty percent of our cities, the ones that are mobile down to the Southern Sea. The severe environmental conditions in that region have kept the Vong out of there so far."
"What about the other forty percent," questioned Jaina. So far it wasn't good, but not as bad as she had expected.
"The Vong have occupied about half of those, but we are resisting them. The other half of our remaining cities are using the time to prepare."
Captain Elisim nodded thoughtfully, flicking on his comm. link to a certain frequency, he waited only a second for a reply.
"Commander Slendar Fleet Special opps."
"Commander, this is the Captain, I need you and some of you people to go down to the planet and assist the citizens in defending their cities. Some of them aren't occupied and we want them to stay that way."
"Aye, sir, I'll get right on that, Slendar out."
"Thank you, Captain," Callista said genuinely as the brief exchange ended.
"I'm just trying to make our job easier, Ma'am," he said as he turned to Jaina. "I know that you and Master Durron have experience in ground assaults. Do you have any suggestions, Goddess?"
"Use Colonel Janson's," Wes snapped of a mocking salute as Jaina said his name, "Yellow aces to provide air support. Strafe the troops and take out larger targets at will. Send down weapons for the civilians and then let the troops use guerilla tactics to fight them. One other thing. Use all the resources you have available, including," she said pointedly, "the tactical knowledge of others, such as Colonel Fel. He has at least as much experience as I do." She looked over at Kyp, "anything else?"
Ignoring her outburst he nodded, "Yes, we have a few Jedi with the task force. They can detect disguised Vong."
The Captain looked around, with a slightly chagrined look on his face from Jaina's reprimand and said, "I think that's all is there anything else we need to discuss, Goddess, Lady Callista?"
"Yes Captain," said Jaina. Her eyes met Jag's for an apologetic split second before she said, "Master Durron, Lady Callista and myself have to return to Mon Calamari."
Jag was bewildered. Something was going on, Janson had told him that much and now he wanted to know what it really was.
This is a Jedi matter," Jaina said defiantly. "Twin Suns will be left in Colonel Fel's capable hands and we will rejoin your task force as soon as possible."
Elisim looked both puzzled and troubled by this. "Great One, I can't stop you, of course, but you should reconsider. This defense is important. It could be the first time we took back a planet, from them."
"I understand, Captain, and I have confidence in leaving this in your hands. We have to do this. There is no other option."
________________________________________________________________________
Jaina sat casually on the ledge, looking out past the transparent shield and into the vacuum of space. The ledge would have been impossible for a normal human to reach without assistance, but for Jaina it hadn't been a problem. The force might not let her sense the Yuuzhan Vong or their creatures, but it did allow her to do things others could not. Right at that moment, though, Jaina didn't want to think about the force. That would lead to thoughts of Callisat and why she had to leave the task force, leave Jag.
Jag was actually what was bothering her at that moment. Her feelings for him were not confused and not nonexistent, they were simply indefinable. Whatever it was she felt for him, it was more important than she had realized and to some extent that had bothered her and maybe even scared her, although she would never admit that.
She was scared of becoming too attached to him- although she suspected it was already too late- in case she lost him. She was scared because nothing with Jag would be superficial or skin deep. Joy, pain, love, hate, whatever she was feeling she would feel with her whole heart and she didn't know if she could handle that. Right now though, she had to deal with the fact that she was going to be away from Jag; something that he had promised her wouldn't happen and that wouldn't allow her to be their to watch his back.
That was what scared her most of all: the thought of loosing Jag before they had a chance to see what would happen, to explore their relationship. The thought of Anakin and Tahiri haunted her; she couldn't begin to imagine how the young Jedi felt. This was what had to be done though, despite the fact that Callista wasn't her favorite person, she would work with her if it meant winning the war, sooner rather than later or not at all.
She heard the click of standard issue foot wear against the decking and looked towards the entrance. As she had expected Jag was standing there glancing around the room. As he did, she took a moment to study him. She had always thought he was incredibly handsome. He was tall, at least for a pilot. Most tended to be shorter, to fit in the small cockpits. His angular features set him apart and his intelligent green eyes were often an object of many women's fascination, herself included.
Jerking herself out of her thoughts, hating to be distracted even if it was by the gorgeous guy she was dating, Jain cleared her throat loudly. Jag looked around abruptly and find her after a second.
"Hello, Goddess," he said with a smile, or at least what passed for a smile with Jag Fel. It didn't matter thought, as long as Jaina knew it was reserved only for her.
"Come on up," she invited him. Almost every ship she had ever been on had a place like this. The view, caused by looking out at space through the shield, looked like some form of intergalactic art, and Jaina had always retreated to places like this one, when things were troubling her and she wanted to be alone. Now for the first time, she wanted to share it with someone, more specifically Jag.
Jag glanced around for a moment and then back at Jaina. "How am I supposed to accomplish this, Great One?"
When most people called her things like that or Goddess, Jaina hated it. It was all apart of the Yun Harla charade. When Jag said it though, it was different. It was a term of endearment. The only on he would actually use in public because no one would think anything of it.
"Trust me," Jaina said with a grin, after surveying the problem. It was as much a statement as a question.
Jag nodded, thought, without hesitations. "Of course," he said.
Jaina's eyes seemed to focus intently and he suddenly couldn't feel the durasteel beneath his feet. Looking down, he realized he was floating in the air. Slowly, steadily, he was drifting upwards towards Jaina. For a moment he felt a shiver of fear. He was used to much greater heights, but in his clawcraft, not his girlfriends force grip.
He felt himself being gently brought up to the ledge. When he was even with it, Jaina extended a hand. Taking it, not looking down as he stepped on to the platform but instead looking into her eyes, he was transfixed by her gaze.
"Thank you for trusting me," Jaina said quietly.
"You're leaving," was all Jag said. It was meant to come out in his usual calm, even voice, but it had more accusation in it than he would have liked.
Jaina nodded, her face blank. "Callista could be very important to the war."
Putting aside their personal issues for the moment, Jag carefully took a step away from Jaina on the ledge. "Who is she? Janson didn't tell me."
Jaina sighed and sat down in a cross legged position. "She was a Jedi Knight of the Old Republic."
"Good complexion," Jag said, sounding for a moment more like her father or brother than his usual self.
"Yeah, well," Jaina explained, "the fact that she spent decades with her mind suspended in a computer could also have something to do with it."
Jag looked at her in surprise. Growing up with the Chiss had left him with little knowledge of the extent of Jedi powers. Lowering himself to sit beside her, he asked, "Is that even possible?"
She shrugged, "Sure, it's not recommended, but it's just a matter of transferring your consciousness into something that can sustain it. Anyway," she continued, after telling that sink in a moment, "She met Uncle Luke somewhere around twenty years ago-I'm not really sure when. The ship where she was residing was destroyed and she changed places with a Jedi student who didn't want to live. However, in the transfer she lost her Jedi powers."
"What happened the," Jag asked sensing there was something else she wasn't saying. "For a while she was at Yavin Four and she was engaged to my uncle until she left."
"Why did she leave," he asked, curious in away.
Jaina sighed again, but answered. "Callista regained contact with the force but only through the dark side. She doesn't use that aspect of her powers, but it was too tempting for her to remain around the Jedi at the Praexeum.
Jag sat for a moment and considered what she had said, "Why is it so urgent to bring her back to the Jedi then?"
"The Jedi were never able to determine what happened or how to restore her powers, but she can feel the Vong through the force."
Jag nodded, assimilating the information. The touch of Jaina's hand on his arm startled him. It wasn't often that they demonstrated their affection for one another, they simply didn't have the time or opportunity.
"Jag," she said softly, "I don't want to leave."
Softening at the expression on Jaina's face, Jag leaned forward and kissed her gently in an attempt to cheer her up. "It's okay," he said allowing himself a quick smile for Jaina's sake, "Twin Suns will be returning to Mon Calamari as soon as this mission's over."
"I know," she said, "but."
Jaina almost growled in irritation as her comm. link buzzed, interrupting them. "Goddess," she hissed into it.
"Jaina," said Kyp hastily, "We need to leave. Callista's getting anxious."
Jaina rolled her eyes and Jag could see and feel the tension in her body as she grew more and more angry. "Kyp I don't care about what Callista wants. Is there a reason we have to leave now?" She emphasized the last word and as much as she didn't like to share her emotions, she opened the shields around her mind and allowed him to see what she was feeling for a moment. She let him see how much she needed to be there and how much she didn't want to leave. It was a true measure of her exhaustion and her feelings for Jag, because under normal conditions, Jaina wouldn't have allowed Kyp even that glimpse. Duty and the fight against the Vong came first, though, no matter how much she disliked Callista.
Unfortunately Kyp didn't have good news. "A new wave of Vong are approaching, Great One. Nothing they can't handle," he added hastily, sensing her worry for the rest of the task force and Jag especially, "but we do need to be gone before they get here. We don't want them having any chance to find out about this or harm Callista."
Jaina sighed and shot Jag an apologetic look, sorry that she had to leave, but knowing, hoping that he of all people would understand. It was about duty. I was always about duty, duty above desire and she hated it. "Five minutes, Kyp. Goddess, out," was all she said.
She clicked it off before he could say anything else and turned back to Jag. Looking at her with an unreadable look on his face, Jag stood up on the ledge and being the polite Chiss raised Colonel that he was, he offered her a hand up.
She rose to her feet with an ease born not of the force, but of years of strenuous Jedi training, not really needing his hand, but taking it anyway. To her surprise once she was on her feet, he pulled her closer, not saying anything. He brought their hands up and linked them together, meanwhile using his other hand to brush back a lock of her dark brown hair from her face.
"Don't get hurt, Jaina Solo," he said with the intensity he showed only the things he was most interested in. "Come back to me safe."
She nodded unable to speak for a second, caught in the emotion of the moment. Instead she leaned forward to kiss him, hoping her actions could show more than words. "I.." she started to say, when they drew apart, "I'll miss you," she said before he drew her back for another kiss.
Wrapping her arms around his neck and despite her jumbled emotions, Jaina used the force to lower them back to the deck. "I have to go," she said, her voice full of regret as she stepped back from him.
"I know," he said carefully.
Turning and walking out, exerting some effort not to look back, Jaina walked out of the cargo bay and broke into a run when she got into the corridor.
As she ran, she didn't see Jag staring at the door where she had left or hear him say, "Don't die, Jaina Solo. I love you too much."
Thanks for reading, everyone, please review. I really appreciate all of ya'lls encouragement.