Mimi

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The watchmen found me
as they made their rounds in the city
Have you seen the one
My heart loves?
– "Song of Solomon" from the Bible

Jaina sat down calmly – or at least she hoped it was calmly. Placing the cup carefully down on the table within reach, she folded her hands in front of her and waited for Shada to sit down too. The raven haired smuggler lounged back in her chair, her sage green eyes sparkling wickedly in sharp contrast to her cool and collected appearence. Clearing her throat, Shada caught Jaina's eyes.

"So," she started brightly. "What can I do for you?"

Jaina looked around, then leaned forward conspiratorially. Shada would've been amused if it hadn't been for the fact that she looked dead serious.

"Shada—" Jaina paused, "do—how much do you know about Karrde's people?"

Shada stretched her legs out in front of her and steepled her hands, resting her forehead against her two index fingers. "It depends on the person. Karrde doesn't tell me everything – it's his right as first-in-command. I do know enough that I should probably help you out though."

Jaina flicked her eyes at the door, wishing irrationally that she could just jump up and run away from the situation but she forced herself to continue. "Do—do you know where Zekk is?"

"Zekk?" Shada wrinkled her forehead, looking for all the world like she couldn't fully understand.

Jaina licked her lips. Oh Force, how did I ever – ever – get myself into this mess? Damn you, Sanar! Damn you every which way 'til – 'til – 'til the day Aunt Mara finds out what you've been doing with Kyp!! she thought furiously. "Yeah… Zekk. I know it's kind of unusual, but, it fits him. I mean, I guess it does, I can't really imagine him as a 'Han Calrissian-" Ew! That's Dad's and Uncle Lando's na… EW!!! - "He's just a Zekk. He doesn't need to have a last name. Kind of odd…" she trailed off, pleading with herself to not babble any more.

Shada tried to hide the smirk that she felt growing on her lips but she soon gave up. Jaina looked like she wanted to die – it was too perfect. "Actually," she drawled. "I do know Zekk. Six-foot-something, shaggy black hair that's to die for, melting green eyes-"

"Yes-" Jaina interrupted hurriedly. "That's him."

"Don't know where he is," Shada shrugged. "I haven't heard anything from Zekk in, well, close to ten standard months. I know Karrde hasn't either."
Jaina's eyes were the only points of color in her pale face. "You…haven't?"

"Nope."

"Oh." Jaina looked hopeless, Shada noted cynically.

Shada reached into a pocket, pulled a small datachip out, and tossed it onto the table in front of Jaina. "I'll be honest: Sanar Klis commed us a few days ago, and asked us for some stuff on Zekk. She explained the bet and asked us to pull all our files on Zekk and send them to her. Said you would probably call her once you realized you didn't know where he was. Seeing as how you came to us… Well, I hope you find him."

Jaina stared at the chip, entranced, as Shada got up and left the lounge, leaving Jaina alone with her thoughts.

Jaina was crouched on the wing of her Miy'til fighter, watching as information scrolled down the small screen. Her eyes were drooping, the amount of data staggering. Zekk had worked as an intelligence officer for Karrde for almost seven years – starting right after the attack he had led on the Jedi Temple. Her tired eyes didn't react until they found a section titled "Solo".

Her jaw dropped in shock as she scanned the list of incidents under "Solo". They all had simple names – Brink, Wander, Descent. Jaina's eyes caught the final one on the list, and she called the name to her droid.

"Stalker? Open file 'Thrown'."

The droid beeped a response and immediately, the words splashed across the screen, and Jaina's world became centered on one single point. The file contained statistics from the battle at Nirauan, the place where Jaina's world had fallen. Her heart felt like it was trying to escape, but her curiosity pushed her forward, and the memories she had tried so hard to avoid flooded over her.

Flashback

They were on the edge of a rift, a twenty meter drop at their backs. There were only four of the Jedi, and there were over twenty Vong. In the sky, hundreds of angry Qom Qae flew about, chirping furiously as they dove at the attackers. Jaina's lightsaber cast a lavender light over her enemies as she turned each and every attack back on them. She had been fighting for hours, her feet slipping occasionally in blood. Her brown hair was falling all over the place, and her eyes were wide with adrenalin. She was losing the fight. The screams of the Qom Qae as they fell to the ground dead only furthered her resolve to destroy the Yuuzhan Vong that were attacking them. It also froze her to the yelling of her companions as she was effectively separated from them. Something was screaming at her to not inhale, but she did, and the poison seeped into her muscles, slipping her into oblivion.

The heavy scent of smoking metal brought her to a choking awareness some time later. She was propped up in a corner, her legs and arms asleep and there was a kink in her neck. Jaina's hazel eyes only barely managed to open, her entire body in stasis. Unfortunately, she thought angrily. A shadow fell across her sight, and a heel rocked onto her hand, only to be instantly retracted with a muttered, yet heartfelt, "Kriffit!".

A sudden, brilliant explosion from a thermal detonator sent Jaina swirling back into unconsciousness, and the last thing she registered was a pair of hands grabbing and holding her tightly.

"…so sorry…" were the first words that Jaina heard as she slowly came to again. "I didn't plan for my feelings to change… I swear it… I told you I loved you like a sister… I meant it… after I kissed her, it just… just…" the voice faded away, sobbing too hard to continue.

Jaina pried her eyes open with every ounce of willpower she possessed. Her efforts were rewarded with the sight of dark hair that fell in front of a face that she knew would have glimmering emerald eyes and a casual smile that broke hearts right and left.

Zekk.

It's Zekk!! her heart screamed at her. It's Zekk – he's come back – he's here – I love you – Zekk – Oh Force… no… Her mind caught the words he had said.

"I told you I loved you like a sister… I meant it… after I kissed her…"

After I kissed her. Jaina felt frozen, her emotions ricocheting off of each other. Who is "Her"?? her heart demanded, something telling her that the name meant everything.

Her. All the thoughts in Jaina's mind were numb, focused on one word.

Her.

Zekk raised his tear-streaked face to look at Jaina's lax one. Her eyes were open only a tiny slit, and her thick lashes made it look like they were still shut. Zekk raised a trembling hand to brush Jaina's hair back from a gash on her forehead.

"I… I put some bacta on your cut, it should be well soon." Zekk tried to talk to her like he had when they had when they were children, but he couldn't quite manage it. "I… Sithit Jaya, I'm so sorry…"

"Zekk?" a clear, bubbly voice yelled. "Where are you?"

Jaina felt like sobbing when Zekk jerked his head up, suddenly grinning. "Rana! Rana, I'm in here!"

A loud explosion swallowed the last bit of his sentence as a tall, very well-stacked blonde woman ran into the room. Jaina's eyes widened a bit as a – there was no denying it, dammit! – beautiful woman slid to her knees, bumping into Zekk. Zekk was smiling at her. No, not at Jaina. At Rana.

Did I ever mention I hated blondes?? Jaina thought desperately as Zekk leaned in and kissed the other woman.

For Force's sake, man!! Jaina fumed, Would it kill you to kiss her on the cheek?? Okay so it was sort of on the cheek… Just really close to the mouth…

"Missed you, baby," Zekk said, his brilliant eyes twinkling with happiness.

"Oh you," Rana boxed him on the shoulder playfully, then gave him a quick hug. "I tossed a thermex at them – I estimate we have about fifteen minutes."

Zekk sighed. "We shouldn't waste it then."

"No." Rana's voice was soft too.

Zekk leaned in and kissed Jaina's forehead gently. "Take care, Jaya. I'm – I'm sorry."

Wait! Don't go! Zekk! Jaina yelled silently, desperate to stop him. Desperate to talk to him. Desperate to take him away from Rana.

Zekk stood and pulled Rana up, and hugged her tightly, burying his face in her shoulder. Rana tangled her fingers in his hair and whispered something in his ear. Zekk straightened up and let her go, his face smiling down at her.

"C'mon, Dark Lord," Rana said teasingly. "Let's blow this joint."

"As my lady wishes," Zekk said mockingly as he hooked one arm under her knees and the other behind her shoulders, lifting her into his arms. Rana struggled briefly as he carried her out of the room without a backward glance, their laughter breaking Jaina's heart, and an excellent accompaniment to the tears that were slowly tracing down her face.

"Zekk…" she whispered, her lips barely cracked open. "Zekk, wait…"

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