Smartstar247

this is a really good story and i like it a lot.

I'm really glad to hear it!! This story is pretty small, on just about every site. But I'm glad that the people who do read it like it!! Makes it allll worth it.

Are Han and Luke going to come in later?

You know what? I hadn't planned on it. Well, Han'll show up in the very end and I think Luke might show up earlier but nothing's… set… in stone…

it is interesting that you killed off leia no other story has done that.

Heh, I hate Leia. J Killing her felt really, really good. :-D

oh i also really like your story Darkness Rising. Please keep writing both story.

is shocked You've read my other fic?? I'm honored!! Thank you ever so much!! bows I'm posting one in each right now. ;) I'll see if I can settle into a posting pattern now….

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Talon Karrde was supposedly unreachable; and that was how he had planned it. So when an unfamiliar female voice hailed Wild Karrde over the comsystem, he was surprised. The worry was alleviated somewhat when she gave a clearance code that only a handful of people knew, but that only left him with a whole new set of problems. The voice was unfamiliar, and the ship was of Hapen design. Very few of them could be found outside of the Hapen Cluster and he happened to know who owned them. There were only four beings – and none of them were anywhere near this sector.

He walked smoothly onto the bridge of Wild Karrde and he was left with the faint, unsatisfactory feeling that he was the butt of some prank. "Shada, report?" he asked calmly.

"The ship is landing in cargo bay two right now," Shada D'ukal said, a twinkle in her green eyes at how worried he was.

"Thank you, Shada." He looked down at the floor, then back up at Shada and they communicated silently for a few heartbeats. "Right," Karrde said, turning away from Shada. "I'll go down and greet our guest."

"No need," an airy voice said. "I found the way up on my own."

Jaina walked onto the ships helm, dressed in an orange flightsuit and a helmet under her arm. She wasn't grinning, Karrde noticed, but she didn't seem to be upset.

Karrde's surprise was only momentary as he quickly recovered. "Jaina," he said warmly, extending his arms to her. "So glad to see you."

Jaina smiled a little as she gave the man a hug and a quick peck on the cheek. "How're you doing Karrde?"

"Fair enough; how've you been? I heard that Skywalker actually let Durron out of his sight," Karrde joked.

"Yeah, we were all pretty amazed too," Jaina admitted candidly. "But, it seems to be working out."

"Then why're you here?" Shada asked. "You're one of the main players on that team."

Jaina shuddered, even though she tried not to. "I needed a break."

Shada's green eyes held a flash of pain that she quickly repressed. A small smile quirked at her lips, "I think I know how that goes. So, why're you here?"

Jaina licked her lips, "I – I need some information about – about somebod-thing! Something."

Karrde covered a grin with his hand, It's about a guy, it just has to be. He thought with amusement. "Very well," He looked Jaina in the eye. "May I offer you refreshments?"

Jaina's quick grin made him smile back, "Thank you, Karrde." Jaina said softly.

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Shada turned on Karrde as soon as Jaina left the bridge. "She's here about him, isn't she?"

"Here about who?" Karrde asked, feigning confusion.

Shada narrowed her eyes warningly, "Don't play coy with me, Karrde; I can make your life miserable."

Karrde laughed, and rubbed the back of his neck. "I know, trust me, I know."

"Well??"

"Yes, she's here about 'him', as you put it. Sanar commed me and told me of some… interesting details." Karrde shook his head. "I can't believe I missed the fact about the fighter. She had said that Tenel Ka had been the one to come up with the craft, but, I didn't think!"

Shada tried to hide the grin. "So the almighty Talon Karrde is not omnipotent?"

"Yes, that's what I guess I'm saying," he said wryly.

Shada turned away, walked over to a consol, flipped a couple switches and routed all power to a counterpart of it, and then hopped up onto it and crossed her ankles. "Well, what do we do?"

"Females: bloody one track minds," Karrde murmured. "We'll tell her the truth. Zekk worked for us, but the last time we saw Zekk, was close to nine months ago."

Shada frowned, "I can just see how many different ways that could backfire on us."

"Then we'll just have to make sure that it doesn't," Karrde said firmly. "Now let's go let her tell us what she wants to know."

"Right." Shada slipped from her perch and walked resolutely towards the door.

"Oh, and, Shada?" Karrde reached out and caught her arm before she left. "We're 'very worried'."

"Ri—ight," Shada winked at him, and then exited.

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Jaina was sipping absently at a glass of brandy, listening to Ghent as he tried to explain to her how to alter a ships database without leaving a trail. She tried her hardest to appear interested, but… she groaned. Lowie was the one who enjoyed these types of things! A pang of regret for how life had been before the thrice-accursed 'Vong had destroyed her life. With an effort, she pulled herself out of the dark thoughts that she had fallen into and once again paid attention to… whatever he was saying.

"—And it is very important." Ghent insisted, trying to make her understand.

Jaina smiled gently. "I know, but, it is sometimes so hard to remember…"

Ghent smiled too. "Oh don't worry, I used to mess up too."

Jaina looked impressed. "You did?"

"Well, not very much," he amended.

She smirked and twirled her glass between her fingers. "How old were you?"

Ghent blushed a little and looked down, then mumbled something that sounded like "four" and Jaina's eyes widened.

She gave a short laugh and took a quick gulp of her beverage. "Figures," she teased him gently.

"What?" Ghent asked with a wounded look. Jaina was spared from explaining to him when Shada walked into the room.

"Sorry about the wait," Shada said. "I hope Ghent didn't bore you to tears.

"No," Jaina said with a faint smile. "He didn't."