PERFECT STRANGERS: PART XIII

Tristan lie bruised, burned and bleeding against one of the larger trees in Yavin's forest. Identical to her dreams, Luke Skywalker's green lightning was frozen three inches from her face and tears were beginning to burn her eyes. She felt like a lost child, alone in a nightmare she could not awaken from. She was through being brave for the moment. Perhaps an innocent act would strike sympathy in Skywalker's heart. Maybe even sympathy enough to get her off of Yavin IV alive.

Luke stood over Tristan, breathing heavily.

"I should kill you," he said quietly over the rumble of the storm. "I should destroy you, so that you can never threaten me or my family again." Tristan made eye contact with her conqueror and then for the first time in years, her fear got the best of her.

"Perhaps you should, Master Jedi." she cowered. "Perhaps you should, for I have done some great evil in coming here. Evil I will live to regret-- should I live past this moment."

Luke eyed her, slightly bewildered. He touched her mind, surprised to find that she was genuinely terrified. He couldn't imagine what had left her in such a state, but he felt pity for her. Not quite enough to let her go, but enough not to kill her.

He didn't respond to her statement, but he called Mara to his side. Tristan watched as he handed her the burgundy saber. "Take the crystal out," he said, his eyes never leaving Tristan. Mara took the saber and ejected the crystal. Tristan couldn't bear to watch. Luke then took the piece of metal and used the Force stretch the saber out—and then wrapped it around Tristan's wrists. He stood her up and then beckoned his wife to follow them into the forest.

Only about seventy five meters from Callista's ship, the trio marched in the rain, with the Admiral in front. Luke held her at lightsaberpoint until they reached the door of the ship. There, he bound her feet and her mouth and levitated her inside the tri-fighter. Mara slipped a tracking device onto the back of the ship and then watched from the ground as her husband locked the ship's controls on autopilot, and fried the weapon/defense systems with his lightsaber. Finally, Luke put his blade to Tristan's throat.

"You will never find such mercy here again, Callista." Luke growled into her tired eyes. "You have been warned. Now leave this place-- with the understanding that if I ever see you alive again, you can be sure it will be the last time."

With that, Luke locked the canopy and launched the ship, feeling a slight sense of dread as he did so. He watched until the spacecraft disappeared from view, realizing that he might have to make good on his promise sooner than he wished. Finally, he deactivated his saber and soon after, felt Mara's arm slide around his waist. He turned to meet her concerned emerald eyes and fell into her embrace, pulling back at last with a weary smile.

"You've still got it, Skywalker." she grinned.

Luke rolled his eyes, still concerned. "I wish I didn't have to use it."

"I'm not talking about your combat technique," she teased. "I meant your-- 'social' skills." Luke ran his fingers through his damp hair and looked at her questioningly.

"I don't know what it is," she continued. "But for some reason, vengeful Jedi-slayer women are wildly attracted to you."

Luke smiled wryly and kissed her. "One is plenty for me." he answered. "C'mon let's get everyone inside and cleaned up. We need to watch where that ship is headed."

Jacen raced toward the infirmary to find his sister who had missed the whole ordeal. He couldn't believe what had just happened or what was about to happen. He could hardly keep an excited smile from his face as he burst into the infirmary.

"Jaina! You're not going to believe-- whoa, geez."

Jaina nearly bit through Brock's lip at the sound of her brother's voice. Jacen froze, mortified, at the door of the clinic as he watched Brock and his sister sit up from the couch. Jaina quickly smoothed her hair down and if looks could kill, Brock would have been found guilty of murder.

"Dude, I am so sorry. I had no idea you were--"

"Well, since you're here and we're no longer busy, what do you need?" Jaina interrupted angrily.

Jacen eyes were glued to the clinic floor. "Well uh-- I wouldn't have come unless it was really important," he began awkwardly. "And I'm eternally sorry, because I didn't want to see that any more than you wanted me to-- but I just thought you should know that we're about be attacked by Brock's evil twin's master, who just happens to be Uncle Luke's ex girlfriend."

"What?" Jaina gasped. "You mean--"

"Callista. Exactly. She almost killed Anakin and she and Uncle Luke just had this huge fight right in the middle of the-- you know, we don't really have time for this. I'll tell you on the way to the comm post. We should really go now. I think they're ready to attack us from the sky."

Brock shook his head. "You're so lucky this is important."

Jacen stepped outside to wait. As Brock stood up from pulling his boots on, Jaina pulled his lips against hers for a short moment. As she released him, Brock opened his eyes with a disappointed smile. Jaina smiled sadly back. "Can you believe this?" she whispered.

"I'm going to kill your brother," he growled back, resting his forehead against hers.

"I know," she smiled. "I'm going to help you. But I guess-- we've waited this long. What's a few more hours?"

"Eternity." he mumbled.

"I'm trying to be positive!" she giggled. He kissed her again, and upon release, she answered, "Hopefully eternity will pass quickly, but no matter what-- you aren't leaving until I'm finished with you."

Brock grinned happily and claimed her lips again.

Moments later, the couple met Jacen outside the infirmary and the trio raced through the drizzling rain to meet the others. They reached the comm post soaking wet and Jacen blew through the door first. "Look what I found." he announced.

Brock and Jaina emerged just behind him, hand in hand. Brock was suddenly very intimidated without his shirt, facing several bewildered Jedi students and Jaina's entire extended family, including her father.

"Brock?" Luke exclaimed, surprised that the shadow surrounding the young pilot's life force had vanished. "What are doing here? Shouldn't you be--"

"It's okay, Uncle Luke, everything's fine." Jaina interrupted, taking Brock's arm. "He's alright, I promise."

There was no time to question her judgment, but Han Solo did not look the least bit happy to see Brock Mitchell. Brock quickly picked up on his attitude and steered clear of Jaina's father. He walked over to where Luke and Mara were monitoring Tristan's location. The couple moved aside as he peered between them to look at the ship.

Studying the screen, Brock realized that since he had never exactly landed on Yavin, there had been no confirmation of his arrival. Echo squad and Captain Antilles must have realized he was missing, and if it had only been three days-- somebody was still out looking for him. Brock pointed to Tristan's location on the screen. "She's heading back to her ship?" Luke nodded.

Brock paused. "Then we're going to need a little help from above, right?"

Luke nodded again. "Any ideas?"

"Maybe." Brock answered. "Did you radio Coruscant after I arrived here?"

Luke thought for a moment. "No. They have no idea you're here."

Brock's eyes brightened. "Can I use your transmitter?"

Luke brought the pilot over to the holovid and watched his fingers fly over various keys, searching for the right frequency.

"Echo squad, this is Echo leader. Do you copy? Repeat, this is Echo leader. Anybody still out there lookin' for me?" he paused.

Silence.

"Echo two, echo three, echo five, this is echo leader, do you read me? Sal? Zane? Lucky? Anybody there?" Brock paused to listen. More silence. He continued his efforts for several more minutes, only to be disappointed. The others in the room continued to mill around the room and monitor the heavens. Jaina made her way to Brock's side and slipped her arm around his waist. He jumped slightly at her touch and then turned his head to meet her eyes. She met his surprised smile with a grin.

"Any luck?"

"Not yet."

Slightly distracted by her fingertips tickling his bare stomach, he continued searching space for some trace of the Echoes. He finally locked into a garbled frequency.

"Elka fog-- these rascen forenschnipe." the transmitter crackled.

"Hello? Echo five, echo two, echo three, this is echo leader do you read me? Repeat, this is echo leader! Do you copy?"

Static crackled, but through the sizzle, Brock heard, "Roger. This is Echo five of the New Republic. Do you copy?"

"Sweet!" Brock cried. "He's still out there! Sali? Sal, it's me, Brock!"

"Mitchie!" the surprised voice answered. "Stars, where the hell are you? We thought you were dead! Snatched by pirates or something."

"I'm on Yavin IV, finally."

"What? How long have you been there? Why didn't you call us! Man, Captain A's gonna kill you!"

"I know, I know! But listen, Sal, I don't have time to explain this now." Brock paused. A crowd began to form around him as he spoke to Jeremy. "The Academy is in trouble."

"What's up?"

"Those TIE's from a few days ago, they're from a Star Destroyer. A whole fleet of them is ready to attack us."

Jeremy cursed under his breath. "Okay, what do you want, Mitch?"

"You have to get the whole squad to Yavin now." he stated gravely. "Get the guys ready for a fight-- I'll meet you in the air."

Jeremy gave a low whistle. "Okay, Mitchell. We'll be there in a second."

FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER...

Jaina stood beside Brock's x-wing as he readied it for take off. She paced back and forth, looking up at him on the ladder. He turned around and caught her eye. She smiled at him, but her concern for his well-being was obvious on her face. Brock descended the ladder and walked over to Jaina, taking her hands in his own.

"Brock, don't go." she pleaded. "You're not completely sober yet. Going up there is suicide, and there are plenty of other--"

For the third time in her life, Jaina was interrupted by Brock's lips. He pulled away and smiled.

"Babe, this is something I have to do. It's the only way I can redeem myself." He let his fingers brush her cheek. "I'll be fine, I promise. You know I do this every day. It'll be just like practice."

"Except that they want you dead!"

Brock slid his arm around her waist. "They can't kill me now, I have too much to live for." He grinned and tickled her chin with his finger. "I promise I'll be right back."

"Yeah, you better come back." Jaina grabbed Brock by his coveralls and pulled him closer. "I won't lose you again."

"That's right. You won't." he whispered. "The moment the last fighter blows, I'm coming straight back home to you."

Jaina grew quiet. She wanted to believe him, but her eyes reflected her anxious skepticism. She had seen too many boastful, pre-battle promises go awry.

Brock couldn't take his eyes from her face. In the next moment, something inside of him started to ache. He too had heard numerous stories of pilots making and breaking promises to return home from battle. He couldn't bear to imagine what would happen if he didn't make it back down. Jaina slid her arms around him again and he held her, unsure of what to say to reassure her. But when the words came to him, they seemed the most natural speech he had ever uttered.

Pulling her as close as possible, he gently kissed her forehead.

"I love you, Jaina."

Jaina's first instinct was to freak out, but she fought it successfully.

Her second instinct was disbelief. She succumbed to it until she raised her head, saw his eyes and realized there was no need to ask whether he'd truly meant what he'd said. Jaina's eyes misted as she pulled his lips down against hers. When they finally parted, she brushed her hand over his strong jawline.

"I love you too."

Brock's eyes widened briefly and a smile played with his lips.

"Really?"

Jaina grinned. "Yeah, really. Definitely."

She smiled and he grinned back, his heart and insides screaming with excited disbelief. He felt invincible.

"But I'd love you best in one piece." She added, grabbing his helmet off of the ground and handing it to him. "Please be careful—come home to me."

Brock grinned. "I will. I promise." He pulled Jaina close again and sealed his vow with one last generous kiss. After a moment, Jaina pulled away from him. She took Brock's helmet from his hands and placed it on his head.

"To be continued." She said smiling. "Now hurry up and get out of here-- so you can come back."

END PART THIRTEEN