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Mara Jade Skywalker shifted her son to rest on her other hip. With one hand she gently brushed a piece of strawberry blonde hair away from his face and dropped a kiss on the top of his head. She held him a little bit tighter as she looked towards the two ships that were sitting down in the docking bay. She was nervous. Even Mara Jade Skywalker didn't want to have to face Han and Leia Solo to tell them that Jaina had almost died from amphistaff poisoning that she had received on a mission with her.
The occupant of the x-wing, on the other hand, Mara couldn't wait to see. The terror of having Ben kidnapped again, was still impossibly fresh. She wanted Luke's reassuring presence there with them and to be wrapped tight in his arms with Ben sandwiched safely in between them. Luke was out of his x-wing before Han even had the boarding ramp on the 'Falcon lowered. Nothing of the calm, stoic Jedi Master was evident as Luke vaulted out of his x-wing and sprinted towards them. He stopped his mad dash a foot away from them, and reached out hesitantly towards Ben.
The little boy surprised them both by saying, or rather shrieking, "Daddy!" as he reached out to Luke.
Luke quickly pulled Ben to his chest, holding his son tightly. Mara could feel the connection between father and son in the Force and Luke's overwhelming relief that his son was fine. It was only a second later before he looked searchingly up at her, "Mara," he asked with immediate concern, "Are you okay?"
She nodded wearily and stepped towards him. He wrapped his free arm around her and she let herself relax in his arms for a moment before she murmured softly in his ear, "I was so scared, Luke."
She could feel Luke's agreement through their connection in the Force, "I just kept wondering if it was too late to get to you and Ben. I can't imagine a life without either of you." He pulled back slightly and whispered softly, "I love you so much, Mara." Their lips met for a brief kiss. They slowly separated after a moment, but they didn't move away from one another. Mara rested her head against his shoulder for a moment, her eyes shut in an attempt to hold onto the wonderful feeling of being back in Luke's arms and knowing that Ben was safe.
She had seen Han and Leia hanging back discreetly a moment before. Now she could hear them walking over. Their agitation and concern for Jaina was almost palpable through the Force. The hand that Luke had wrapped protectively, or at least as protectively as she would allow, around her waist tightened slightly to bring her attention back to the situation. She opened her eyes and found Han and Leia watching her as she had expected. "Jaina's fine," she said before either of them could ask.
Han relaxed somewhat, but Leia said not convinced, "What happened to her? I felt..something in the Force. At first it was just the usual sense that Jaina was hurt, but then," she shook her head, "I don't know. I've never felt anything like that."
Mara nodded slowly, remembering as she opened her mouth to explain that Han and Leia didn't know anything about what had happened and for that matter, Luke didn't know that much either. She gestured towards the corridor that led out of the docking bay, "I'll explain as we go," she said quickly, "I'm sure you want to check on Jaina."
"I didn't know that she was hurt," Mara said tiredly, after she had already explained most of the situation with Callista.
Leia could here the self-reproach in the other woman's voice. It didn't surprise her that Mara felt responsible for what had happened to her former apprentice. Mara had always felt very responsible for everything that happened to her niece since Jaina had become apprentice. "She was fine on the way back to the 'Shadow."
"You didn't see her get hurt during the fight," Han asked surprised. Mara was usually aware of almost everything that was going on around her in a fight.
"No," Mara said in a clipped tone of voice, "I was dealing with Callista, Ben was between Jaina and I, and we were trying to keep him protected in between us. Jaina was fighting about a dozen Vong warriors off of our flank."
"What happened to her," Han asked with typical parental impatience.
"Jaina collapsed once we got into hyperspace. Ben was crying and she was trying to comfort him through the Force. As soon as I found the amphistaff wound, I put her into a healing trance. There wasn't anything else I could do until we got back to Shelter. Cilghal and the other healers have been working to counteract the poison since we landed."
As they turned the corner, Leia staggered back as someone slammed into her and unapologetically shoved past her without an explanation or even a mumbled apology.
"Hey watch it, Kid!" Han snapped at the man's retreating as he steadied Leia.
It was Mara who recognized the retreating figure first. "Fel?" She called out, but her voice didn't contain Han's angry accusation. "Has Jaina's condition changed?" She was surprised that he was heading in the opposite direction of the med bay. She remembered her brief conversation with Jaina about Jag and she had honestly expected Jag to refuse to leave Jaina's side until she was better.
The young Chiss-trained Colonel froze when he heard Jaina's name. He turned around slowly, "I don't know, Master Jade," he said acidly, "Perhaps you should ask Zekk," he added icily.
Before Mara could ask him another question, he turned around quickly and walked away without any further explanation.
"What was that all about," Han asked bewildered.
"I have no idea," Mara replied quietly. She resisted the temptation to add that whatever was going on there, she most definitely didn't have a good feeling about it.
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Leia, Luke and Mara sensed Jaina's emotions even before they reached her. The emotions that were pouring off of her were impossible to miss. Pain filled the air, but it was emotional pain, not physical. Mara quickened her pace abruptly. She was the first to enter the room where Jaina was being treated. She stopped almost immediately, realizing abruptly that they had walked into the middle of an argument between Kyp, Jaina and Zekk.
Kyp was facing Jaina, while Zekk hung back in the corner, looking stunned and confused as if he wasn't entirely sure what was going on. Mara felt pretty much the same way. When she had left this room less than half an hour ago, Jaina had been lying quietly on the bunk resting and Zekk had been watching over her from the corner. The only reason that he hadn't been out helping with the repair efforts was the fact that he was still recovering from his own injuries.
"Get out of my way, Kyp," Jaina snapped.
"No," the Jedi Master said calmly, but firmly. Mara decided that he was most likely suicidal at the moment. He would have to be to challenge Jaina the way he did, especially when she was that furious with him. "Don't do this just because Fel is leaving."
For a moment Mara thought that what Kyp had said might actually reach Jaina. It didn't. "This has nothing to do with J-Fel," the slight hesitation over the man in question's name was the only indication that what Jaina was saying might not be entirely true.
Still Mara couldn't quite believe that Jag was leaving. She had seen how furious he was, yes, but Jag didn't seem to be the type to run away over a disagreement. Mara wondered what had happened between the time she had last seen Jaina and Jag had run into Leia in the corridor.
"If you remember, Master Durron," Jaina drawled his name out with cool, mocking sarcasm, "There is much more to the galaxy, than Colonel Fel, such as the Yuuzhan Vong invasion." The slightest quiver in her hand as she reached for the blaster and holster sitting on the table next to her, and the bead of sweat trickling down her forehead were the only indications that Jaina had received treatment for severe poisoning a few hours earlier. "As Twin Suns leader, I've been gone too long. I need to get back to Mon Calamari and back into the fighting." Her voice became a little grimmer and she stated harshly, "I lost two more of my pilots and Fel's absence will mean that I'll have three new holes to fill in my squadron. I'll need to bring their replacements up to speed." She glanced over towards her family, acknowledging them for the first time.
The hollowness in her niece's eyes caught Mara by surprise. There was none of the fire in Jaina's eyes that she had expected to see. It was disconcerting. Some people would blame it on Jaina's recent illness, somehow Mara thought she knew better.
Jaina's gaze settled on Ben's clear blue eyes, but her reassurances were directed at her parents. "I'll spend the time in hyperspace in a healing trance. By the time I get to Mon Cal, I'll be fine. Wedge won't let me fly if I'm not fit." Luke was the only person who's eyes she met even briefly as she spoke and she directed her last sentence at him. "I'll try to contact Lando and Karrde discreetly about the repairs that will be needed here."
Luke nodded, but a worried frown was etched into his features. Han started to launch into a series of parental protests, but broke off abruptly as Leia squeezed his arm sharply. With nothing more than a nod, Jaina was slipping out of the room.
Please delurk and leave a review for this chapter to let me know what you think.
Mara Jade Skywalker shifted her son to rest on her other hip. With one hand she gently brushed a piece of strawberry blonde hair away from his face and dropped a kiss on the top of his head. She held him a little bit tighter as she looked towards the two ships that were sitting down in the docking bay. She was nervous. Even Mara Jade Skywalker didn't want to have to face Han and Leia Solo to tell them that Jaina had almost died from amphistaff poisoning that she had received on a mission with her.
The occupant of the x-wing, on the other hand, Mara couldn't wait to see. The terror of having Ben kidnapped again, was still impossibly fresh. She wanted Luke's reassuring presence there with them and to be wrapped tight in his arms with Ben sandwiched safely in between them. Luke was out of his x-wing before Han even had the boarding ramp on the 'Falcon lowered. Nothing of the calm, stoic Jedi Master was evident as Luke vaulted out of his x-wing and sprinted towards them. He stopped his mad dash a foot away from them, and reached out hesitantly towards Ben.
The little boy surprised them both by saying, or rather shrieking, "Daddy!" as he reached out to Luke.
Luke quickly pulled Ben to his chest, holding his son tightly. Mara could feel the connection between father and son in the Force and Luke's overwhelming relief that his son was fine. It was only a second later before he looked searchingly up at her, "Mara," he asked with immediate concern, "Are you okay?"
She nodded wearily and stepped towards him. He wrapped his free arm around her and she let herself relax in his arms for a moment before she murmured softly in his ear, "I was so scared, Luke."
She could feel Luke's agreement through their connection in the Force, "I just kept wondering if it was too late to get to you and Ben. I can't imagine a life without either of you." He pulled back slightly and whispered softly, "I love you so much, Mara." Their lips met for a brief kiss. They slowly separated after a moment, but they didn't move away from one another. Mara rested her head against his shoulder for a moment, her eyes shut in an attempt to hold onto the wonderful feeling of being back in Luke's arms and knowing that Ben was safe.
She had seen Han and Leia hanging back discreetly a moment before. Now she could hear them walking over. Their agitation and concern for Jaina was almost palpable through the Force. The hand that Luke had wrapped protectively, or at least as protectively as she would allow, around her waist tightened slightly to bring her attention back to the situation. She opened her eyes and found Han and Leia watching her as she had expected. "Jaina's fine," she said before either of them could ask.
Han relaxed somewhat, but Leia said not convinced, "What happened to her? I felt..something in the Force. At first it was just the usual sense that Jaina was hurt, but then," she shook her head, "I don't know. I've never felt anything like that."
Mara nodded slowly, remembering as she opened her mouth to explain that Han and Leia didn't know anything about what had happened and for that matter, Luke didn't know that much either. She gestured towards the corridor that led out of the docking bay, "I'll explain as we go," she said quickly, "I'm sure you want to check on Jaina."
"I didn't know that she was hurt," Mara said tiredly, after she had already explained most of the situation with Callista.
Leia could here the self-reproach in the other woman's voice. It didn't surprise her that Mara felt responsible for what had happened to her former apprentice. Mara had always felt very responsible for everything that happened to her niece since Jaina had become apprentice. "She was fine on the way back to the 'Shadow."
"You didn't see her get hurt during the fight," Han asked surprised. Mara was usually aware of almost everything that was going on around her in a fight.
"No," Mara said in a clipped tone of voice, "I was dealing with Callista, Ben was between Jaina and I, and we were trying to keep him protected in between us. Jaina was fighting about a dozen Vong warriors off of our flank."
"What happened to her," Han asked with typical parental impatience.
"Jaina collapsed once we got into hyperspace. Ben was crying and she was trying to comfort him through the Force. As soon as I found the amphistaff wound, I put her into a healing trance. There wasn't anything else I could do until we got back to Shelter. Cilghal and the other healers have been working to counteract the poison since we landed."
As they turned the corner, Leia staggered back as someone slammed into her and unapologetically shoved past her without an explanation or even a mumbled apology.
"Hey watch it, Kid!" Han snapped at the man's retreating as he steadied Leia.
It was Mara who recognized the retreating figure first. "Fel?" She called out, but her voice didn't contain Han's angry accusation. "Has Jaina's condition changed?" She was surprised that he was heading in the opposite direction of the med bay. She remembered her brief conversation with Jaina about Jag and she had honestly expected Jag to refuse to leave Jaina's side until she was better.
The young Chiss-trained Colonel froze when he heard Jaina's name. He turned around slowly, "I don't know, Master Jade," he said acidly, "Perhaps you should ask Zekk," he added icily.
Before Mara could ask him another question, he turned around quickly and walked away without any further explanation.
"What was that all about," Han asked bewildered.
"I have no idea," Mara replied quietly. She resisted the temptation to add that whatever was going on there, she most definitely didn't have a good feeling about it.
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Leia, Luke and Mara sensed Jaina's emotions even before they reached her. The emotions that were pouring off of her were impossible to miss. Pain filled the air, but it was emotional pain, not physical. Mara quickened her pace abruptly. She was the first to enter the room where Jaina was being treated. She stopped almost immediately, realizing abruptly that they had walked into the middle of an argument between Kyp, Jaina and Zekk.
Kyp was facing Jaina, while Zekk hung back in the corner, looking stunned and confused as if he wasn't entirely sure what was going on. Mara felt pretty much the same way. When she had left this room less than half an hour ago, Jaina had been lying quietly on the bunk resting and Zekk had been watching over her from the corner. The only reason that he hadn't been out helping with the repair efforts was the fact that he was still recovering from his own injuries.
"Get out of my way, Kyp," Jaina snapped.
"No," the Jedi Master said calmly, but firmly. Mara decided that he was most likely suicidal at the moment. He would have to be to challenge Jaina the way he did, especially when she was that furious with him. "Don't do this just because Fel is leaving."
For a moment Mara thought that what Kyp had said might actually reach Jaina. It didn't. "This has nothing to do with J-Fel," the slight hesitation over the man in question's name was the only indication that what Jaina was saying might not be entirely true.
Still Mara couldn't quite believe that Jag was leaving. She had seen how furious he was, yes, but Jag didn't seem to be the type to run away over a disagreement. Mara wondered what had happened between the time she had last seen Jaina and Jag had run into Leia in the corridor.
"If you remember, Master Durron," Jaina drawled his name out with cool, mocking sarcasm, "There is much more to the galaxy, than Colonel Fel, such as the Yuuzhan Vong invasion." The slightest quiver in her hand as she reached for the blaster and holster sitting on the table next to her, and the bead of sweat trickling down her forehead were the only indications that Jaina had received treatment for severe poisoning a few hours earlier. "As Twin Suns leader, I've been gone too long. I need to get back to Mon Calamari and back into the fighting." Her voice became a little grimmer and she stated harshly, "I lost two more of my pilots and Fel's absence will mean that I'll have three new holes to fill in my squadron. I'll need to bring their replacements up to speed." She glanced over towards her family, acknowledging them for the first time.
The hollowness in her niece's eyes caught Mara by surprise. There was none of the fire in Jaina's eyes that she had expected to see. It was disconcerting. Some people would blame it on Jaina's recent illness, somehow Mara thought she knew better.
Jaina's gaze settled on Ben's clear blue eyes, but her reassurances were directed at her parents. "I'll spend the time in hyperspace in a healing trance. By the time I get to Mon Cal, I'll be fine. Wedge won't let me fly if I'm not fit." Luke was the only person who's eyes she met even briefly as she spoke and she directed her last sentence at him. "I'll try to contact Lando and Karrde discreetly about the repairs that will be needed here."
Luke nodded, but a worried frown was etched into his features. Han started to launch into a series of parental protests, but broke off abruptly as Leia squeezed his arm sharply. With nothing more than a nod, Jaina was slipping out of the room.
Please delurk and leave a review for this chapter to let me know what you think.