Disclaimer: I own none of this!
Author's note: Sorry for not having this chapter posted last night, but ff.net wouldn't let me log in.
Jaina Solo Fel- I'm glad you like the plot twist. There are definitely more to come. :)
Nike's Zero- Thanks. I try hard to keep them in character as much as I can.
A Jedi Master, a Yuuzhan Vong Goddess, and a human pilot who had succeeded beyond the expectations of his adopted species, stood in a secluded corner of the loaned Imperial Star Destroyer, Harbinger's bridge. This was where Kyp would remain. Against his protests, it had been decided that he wouldn't be joining the strike team that would be assaulting the planet and attempting to rescue the prisoners held there. Kyp would be in charge of their mobile command base and nominally in charge of the whole mission. As one of the only three people who knew the entire plane, he would be in charge of coordinating the elements of their fleet in orbit around the planet. Jag would also be there, leading his squadron, in case something happened to Kyp or vice versa. Jaina would be the only one of the three totally out of contact with the Insider's fleet.
Jaina glanced slowly back and forth between the two men. They really had nothing else to say to one another. The mission plans had been confirmed for the final time and each were certain and confident of their individual roles in the coming mission. None of them had any need for a prebattle pep talk. At one time, they would have taken the moment to share not-quite- goodbye's. Jaina and Kyp would have sent each other reassuring emotions through their Force bond and centered themselves in their connection to each other and the Force in preparation for the coming fight.
Jaina and Jag would have been locked in a tight embrace or sharing a greedy kiss before they were forced to go their separate ways. Now all three were silent and motionless for what seemed like a small eternity. Jaina was the first to break the impasse with a swift glance at her chrono. She had less than ten standard minutes to get to her entry vessel. She took a deep breath and uttered only two words to the men facing her.
"Thank you." Her expression didn't seem to change, but for a moment, Jaina the Young Woman, was revealed from behind, Jaina the Warrior. It was a rare glimpse, Kyp knew, and her words were heartfelt. It was only a moment and a small gesture on her part, but it gave Kyp hope that the old Jaina, the so alive young Goddess that he had been the slightest bit in love with, wasn't dead yet.
He flashed her a cocky Kyp Durron grin, that he had perfected with years spent around arrogant Corellians, and sketched a mock bow in her direction. "Of course, Great One." A flicker of a smirk graced Jaina's face for an instant before it disappeared and Kyp knew it was time for him to go. Jaina had appreciated his words, but he wasn't the one that she needed to talk to. "May the Force be with you, Goddess." Kyp stepped past her quickly and out of the secluded alcove. His feet carried him around the corner and then abruptly he stopped. Something in the Force was holding him back.
"Thank you, Jaina?" His voice was low and angry, but carefully controlled. "Save your thanks for a man who wasn't coerced into joining you. Good bye, Goddess." He spun and walked sharply away, taking the opposite direction from what Kyp had chosen.
Jaina closed her eyes against the surge of painful emotions that he had brought out in her. When she opened her eyes it was all gone. What Jag had said, what Kyp had said, none of it mattered anymore. She, Jaina Solo, Yuuzhan Vong Goddess, and Sword of the Jedi, had a mission and she would succeed. Nothing, not even painful emotions would stop her.
This time it wasn't Jaina who summoned the dream. Instead she allowed it to steal over her. She had time. Jaina didn't have to search for her grandparents this time, either. They were simply there.
Padme wore a proud if slightly concerned expression as she greeted her granddaughter. Jaina was surprised to see the scar of remembrance painted on Padme's lip. Her grandmother wore it only rare occasions, usually when she was especially sad or thinking of her lost people.
Jaina looked quizzically back and forth between them. "You know I'm going after Jacen."
Anakin nodded, "Yes." He sounded grim and solemn. It was a far cry from the image of the wild, lighthearted and even somewhat mischievous young man that her grandfather often seemed to be.
"Do you have any advice for me?" She asked at last. The solemnity of the moment was oppressive and Jaina had the urge to fidget like the rawest of new apprentice's halfway through one of her Uncle's most boring and interminably long lectures.
Padme was the first to approach her. She smiled at Jaina, but the expression was bittersweet. "The Force is your ally," she said softly, "And your mind is your greatest weapon, but," she emphasized, "Don't forget to lead from here." She laid a hand over Jaina's hear. "Some of the greatest leaders and bravest heroes have been blind to the Force. When all else fails you, trust yourself and your heart, Jaina." She smiled sadly at her granddaughter. "I trust you." Padme's hand was a whisper of touch as it brushed Jaina's cheek and then Padme was gone.
Anakin gazed after his wife for a moment with a distant look in his eyes and then he moved to take her place in front of Jaina. "You're troubled."
"I am," Jaina confirmed needlessly. "I'm worried about Aunt Mara and," she started to continue, but bit the rest of her words back. She wasn't ready to reveal that yet, not even here in this secure place.
Anakin nodded, ignoring what she had started to say, and for once, Jaina was glad that she didn't have to give a full explanation. Through his complete connection to the force, he was aware of everything. "Mara Jade has always been strong in the Force and the years that she has spent with Luke have only strengthened her. You were right about her experiences with the Dark Side, but don't dismiss what Mara has seen. She is far from naïve. I understand your worries for her, but will not fall from the Light." Anakin smiled briefly. "She has known pain, suffering and loneliness in her life, Jaina, but the love of her husband and her child are what Mara treasures the most. She will fight, but she will stand strong- in the Light."
As he spoke, Anakin had started walking, with Jaina automatically falling into step next to him. He glanced over at Jaina, his entire expression serious and Jaina immediately sensed a change of topic coming. "You're the one that I'm worried about." He paused. "You know that the Force called you here for a reason today."
"Yes." Her voice was steady and unflinching.
"It is not a coincidence that your mission has started now. The time for you to make your Choice has come, Jaina. You will know it when it is upon you."
Jaina tried to muster a vague smile. She hated Force prophecies and the messages of cryptic deceased Jedi. Somehow her disgruntlement wasn't very comforting, however. As much as she wished to brush aside the mysteries of the Force, she knew better tan to dismiss anything that Anakin was saying. "Is there anything else that you can tell me?" She questioned him.
Anakin shook his head. "Your future is clouded. The Dark side hangs over the Force, weaving in misdirection and deception. Your future has always been entwined with your twins and that of a few others. Now the threads of your life are coming together again. What will be formed is your doing, Jaina."
She watched as Anakin Skywalker faded from her sight as well. Jaina stretched out to the world around her, feeling the Force in everything. The way its patterns and currents moved and flowed through everything thing here, even more so than the world's she was used to. The Force was in everything, here the Force was everything. This was good bye, Jaina knew, both to her grandparents and this place. Her arms stretched out from her sides and her hands reached outwards. She slowly began gathering the Force to her in a way that she had never done before. Jaina pulled it all towards her from everything around. It poured into her, good, bad and neither. It was time.
Please leave a review. I love getting feedback!
Author's note: Sorry for not having this chapter posted last night, but ff.net wouldn't let me log in.
Jaina Solo Fel- I'm glad you like the plot twist. There are definitely more to come. :)
Nike's Zero- Thanks. I try hard to keep them in character as much as I can.
A Jedi Master, a Yuuzhan Vong Goddess, and a human pilot who had succeeded beyond the expectations of his adopted species, stood in a secluded corner of the loaned Imperial Star Destroyer, Harbinger's bridge. This was where Kyp would remain. Against his protests, it had been decided that he wouldn't be joining the strike team that would be assaulting the planet and attempting to rescue the prisoners held there. Kyp would be in charge of their mobile command base and nominally in charge of the whole mission. As one of the only three people who knew the entire plane, he would be in charge of coordinating the elements of their fleet in orbit around the planet. Jag would also be there, leading his squadron, in case something happened to Kyp or vice versa. Jaina would be the only one of the three totally out of contact with the Insider's fleet.
Jaina glanced slowly back and forth between the two men. They really had nothing else to say to one another. The mission plans had been confirmed for the final time and each were certain and confident of their individual roles in the coming mission. None of them had any need for a prebattle pep talk. At one time, they would have taken the moment to share not-quite- goodbye's. Jaina and Kyp would have sent each other reassuring emotions through their Force bond and centered themselves in their connection to each other and the Force in preparation for the coming fight.
Jaina and Jag would have been locked in a tight embrace or sharing a greedy kiss before they were forced to go their separate ways. Now all three were silent and motionless for what seemed like a small eternity. Jaina was the first to break the impasse with a swift glance at her chrono. She had less than ten standard minutes to get to her entry vessel. She took a deep breath and uttered only two words to the men facing her.
"Thank you." Her expression didn't seem to change, but for a moment, Jaina the Young Woman, was revealed from behind, Jaina the Warrior. It was a rare glimpse, Kyp knew, and her words were heartfelt. It was only a moment and a small gesture on her part, but it gave Kyp hope that the old Jaina, the so alive young Goddess that he had been the slightest bit in love with, wasn't dead yet.
He flashed her a cocky Kyp Durron grin, that he had perfected with years spent around arrogant Corellians, and sketched a mock bow in her direction. "Of course, Great One." A flicker of a smirk graced Jaina's face for an instant before it disappeared and Kyp knew it was time for him to go. Jaina had appreciated his words, but he wasn't the one that she needed to talk to. "May the Force be with you, Goddess." Kyp stepped past her quickly and out of the secluded alcove. His feet carried him around the corner and then abruptly he stopped. Something in the Force was holding him back.
"Thank you, Jaina?" His voice was low and angry, but carefully controlled. "Save your thanks for a man who wasn't coerced into joining you. Good bye, Goddess." He spun and walked sharply away, taking the opposite direction from what Kyp had chosen.
Jaina closed her eyes against the surge of painful emotions that he had brought out in her. When she opened her eyes it was all gone. What Jag had said, what Kyp had said, none of it mattered anymore. She, Jaina Solo, Yuuzhan Vong Goddess, and Sword of the Jedi, had a mission and she would succeed. Nothing, not even painful emotions would stop her.
This time it wasn't Jaina who summoned the dream. Instead she allowed it to steal over her. She had time. Jaina didn't have to search for her grandparents this time, either. They were simply there.
Padme wore a proud if slightly concerned expression as she greeted her granddaughter. Jaina was surprised to see the scar of remembrance painted on Padme's lip. Her grandmother wore it only rare occasions, usually when she was especially sad or thinking of her lost people.
Jaina looked quizzically back and forth between them. "You know I'm going after Jacen."
Anakin nodded, "Yes." He sounded grim and solemn. It was a far cry from the image of the wild, lighthearted and even somewhat mischievous young man that her grandfather often seemed to be.
"Do you have any advice for me?" She asked at last. The solemnity of the moment was oppressive and Jaina had the urge to fidget like the rawest of new apprentice's halfway through one of her Uncle's most boring and interminably long lectures.
Padme was the first to approach her. She smiled at Jaina, but the expression was bittersweet. "The Force is your ally," she said softly, "And your mind is your greatest weapon, but," she emphasized, "Don't forget to lead from here." She laid a hand over Jaina's hear. "Some of the greatest leaders and bravest heroes have been blind to the Force. When all else fails you, trust yourself and your heart, Jaina." She smiled sadly at her granddaughter. "I trust you." Padme's hand was a whisper of touch as it brushed Jaina's cheek and then Padme was gone.
Anakin gazed after his wife for a moment with a distant look in his eyes and then he moved to take her place in front of Jaina. "You're troubled."
"I am," Jaina confirmed needlessly. "I'm worried about Aunt Mara and," she started to continue, but bit the rest of her words back. She wasn't ready to reveal that yet, not even here in this secure place.
Anakin nodded, ignoring what she had started to say, and for once, Jaina was glad that she didn't have to give a full explanation. Through his complete connection to the force, he was aware of everything. "Mara Jade has always been strong in the Force and the years that she has spent with Luke have only strengthened her. You were right about her experiences with the Dark Side, but don't dismiss what Mara has seen. She is far from naïve. I understand your worries for her, but will not fall from the Light." Anakin smiled briefly. "She has known pain, suffering and loneliness in her life, Jaina, but the love of her husband and her child are what Mara treasures the most. She will fight, but she will stand strong- in the Light."
As he spoke, Anakin had started walking, with Jaina automatically falling into step next to him. He glanced over at Jaina, his entire expression serious and Jaina immediately sensed a change of topic coming. "You're the one that I'm worried about." He paused. "You know that the Force called you here for a reason today."
"Yes." Her voice was steady and unflinching.
"It is not a coincidence that your mission has started now. The time for you to make your Choice has come, Jaina. You will know it when it is upon you."
Jaina tried to muster a vague smile. She hated Force prophecies and the messages of cryptic deceased Jedi. Somehow her disgruntlement wasn't very comforting, however. As much as she wished to brush aside the mysteries of the Force, she knew better tan to dismiss anything that Anakin was saying. "Is there anything else that you can tell me?" She questioned him.
Anakin shook his head. "Your future is clouded. The Dark side hangs over the Force, weaving in misdirection and deception. Your future has always been entwined with your twins and that of a few others. Now the threads of your life are coming together again. What will be formed is your doing, Jaina."
She watched as Anakin Skywalker faded from her sight as well. Jaina stretched out to the world around her, feeling the Force in everything. The way its patterns and currents moved and flowed through everything thing here, even more so than the world's she was used to. The Force was in everything, here the Force was everything. This was good bye, Jaina knew, both to her grandparents and this place. Her arms stretched out from her sides and her hands reached outwards. She slowly began gathering the Force to her in a way that she had never done before. Jaina pulled it all towards her from everything around. It poured into her, good, bad and neither. It was time.
Please leave a review. I love getting feedback!