As had become habit in the past few days, four large men would escort Jag and Jaina to separate freshers, where they were allowed fifteen minutes of shower privileges. They then would be taken to the same room, with all the bright lights, and questioned.
/Well at least if we don't check in Wedge will know something's up…I hope. / Jaina watched as Gallian came in, as usual, but there was something different this time. Instead of his usual bombardment of questions he seemed quit content with just watching them while tossing Jaina's lightsaber from hand to hand.
"What's going on?" Jag whispered to Jaina.
"I have no idea."
They sat there in silence for a few more minutes, while the tension grew, before Jag though of it. "Jaina! Why didn't we think of this before! Just reopen-" But his thoughts were cut short by the lights turning on, illuminating the entire chamber. As their eyes adjusted to the light a blur of motion ran by.
All in the same moment their stun cuffs fell to the floor, and Tsavong Lah had his amphistaff to Jags throat.
"NO!"
"Ah so they all powerful Goddess does have a weakness. I will enjoy killing him, as well as watching you and your brother in a duel to the death."
"My brother is dead! I command you to release him!" Jaina said with more venom then Jag hadn't heard since Hapes.
"You really think so? Now this IS interesting. I had heard that you could feel beings your all-powerful force. Apparently I was misinformed."
/Jaina you twit, the Force! Gods I'm an idiot/
"Say goodbye to your paramour. Tsavong Lah moved his amphistaff closer to Jag's throat as Jag mouthed "I love you" to Jaina.
Jaina hardly noticed however, she reopened herself to the Force and felt the familiar sensation of strength flow through her, bringing with them love and courage from her friends, family and Jag.
She reached out and yanked away her lightsaber from a flustered Gallian and ignited at the same time. She pushed Jag down to the ground as she flipped over Tsavong Lah and turned around to parry his first attack.
Jag stood with Tsavong Lah's amphistaff against his throat. His mind however was not aware of anything going on around him, only Jaina. He saw in her eyes the strong resolve and courage she possessed as well as the love for him. He mouthed the words "I love you" expecting them to be his last. In the blink of an eye he saw Jaina's lightsaber ignite and fly into her hand. He felt himself hit the ground the same moment that Jaina flipped over Tsavong Lah parrying his attacks and throwing her own.
They were both a blur of motion impossible to see to the untrained eye. He stood for a moment just watching the elegant grace Jaina possessed while handling the deadly weapon, and the brutal force that Tsavong Lah was putting into his swings, which Jaina was blocking and dodging easily. While he knew Jaina was one of the best pilots the Republic had to offer, if not the best, Jag knew that she was in her prime here and that she was an amazing swordsman and would play a crucial part in the war as well as the Jedi.
A noise brought him out of his reverie, and he noticed for the first time that fifteen or so Peace Brigadiers were standing around the room watching in awe at the battle that was raging in front of their eyes. He quickly formed a plan, before charging the closest Brigadier, knocking them to the ground. Before the man even knew what was happening, Jag had his blaster in his hand and hit him in the head with the butt of the blaster, rendering him unconscious.
Jag had shot half the group before they had a chance to react. He dived behind the chairs he and Jaina had been bound to moments before, as returning fire rained around him. After a few carefully aimed shots there were only two Brigadiers left as well as Gallian and Aion. He watched as Gallian made a hasty retreat with Aion right in his heals, Jag had only managed to shoot one of the Brigadiers before they too, vanished out of site.
He looked back to Jaina not knowing whether to stay with her or go after Gallian. To Jag it looked as if they were both beginning to tire, while the attacks were no lighter, they were not as fast or agile. /That's odd. Come on Jaina-- we need to get outa here while we still got a chance. /
/I'm working on it flyboy. /
Jag practically jumped as Jaina's voice sang through his head. /Whoa! What was that/
/Got no clue, now shut up, I'm trying to concentrate. /
He stood there reading to spring at the smallest amount of danger, he saw Jaina get that far away look she got when ever she used the Force in a large amount, a moment later he felt the ground shake as peaces of the roof come crashing down.
Jaina landed behind Tsavong Lah and swung around barely in time to deflect a powerful swing directed for her head. Tsavong Lah struck time after time with Jaina deflecting each one more defiantly then the first, until the time that they were both a blur of motion.
Jaina deflected a hit, swinging his amphistaff away from his body. She used the moment to lung into his body, which he sidestepped quickly. While Jaina regained her footing Tsavong Lah kicked high, causing Jaina to roll away from him. She jumped back up, regaining her balance as Tsavong Lah struck again.
Jaina kicked out, making contact right above his hip, and causing him to lose balance. Jaina used that to her advantage and swung her lightsaber at his throat. He blocked her swing but not in time to keep her lightsaber from cutting into his left shoulder. He howled in rage making his attacks stronger and quicker.
Jaina barley missed the attack aimed for her head, and, slightly disoriented, she had no way to block the attack that crumpled her to the ground, slicing into her back. She held back a scream as she pushed with the Force, flipping her backwards into a standing position.
He spun around, swinging low at her legs. She jumped up over it, twisting as she went, to make a connection of her foot to his head. She landed using her momentum to block his swing and delivered her own.
He lunged downward at her, which Jaina deflected, using her momentum to spin her around, slashing at his body. He deflected quickly swiveling his amphistaff to be caught in a battle of strength as her lightsaber and his amphistaff boor down on each other.
"You can not beat me you pathetic infidel!"
"You really think you can beat me? You think you can beat a goddess? I'd like to see you try."
"You do not fool me Jeedi. I shall enjoy beating you. I must remember though not to kill you…yet."
"Your sooo comforting, and a little to overconfident in your abilities."
As they continued to twist, turn, and dodge each other Jaina heard a very familiar voice in her head. /That's odd. Come on Jaina-- we need to get outa here while we still got a chance. /
Jaina momentarily lost her balance receiving a kick in her stomach, causing her to fall backwards, however she used that movement a turned it into a flip landing a few feet away from Tsavong Lah, while responding to Jag. /I'm working on it flyboy. /
/Whoa! What was that/
/Got no clue, now shut up, I'm trying to concentrate. /
After a few minutes Jaina felt herself begin to tier. /I cannot do this much longer. A plan…I need a plan. / She flipped over backward avoiding a hit to the head and caught a glimpse of the ceiling. /That's it/ She reached out with force, she pulled lose the ceiling and as it began to crumble she ran towards Jag. She grabbed him by the hand and led him out the door as the ceiling fell onto Tsavong Lah. As soon as they were out of the door Jaina slammed it shut. A few seconds later they heard a loud crash and felt the floor tremble. They both fell to the floor breathing heavily.
"Are you alright?" Jag asked scooting over to her.
"Oh yea, there's nothing like fighting a Yuuzhan Vong war-master after lack of sleep and food. You should try it sometime, I highly recommend it."
/Well at least her sarcasm it intact. /
"I heard that."
"Wh-,"
"SHH!…We have to go! NOW!" She jumped up with the speed and agility normal people should not have. /Well then again she's anything but normal. /
/Oh shut up and run/ They ran down the corridor, and Jaina seemed to know where she was going.
"Jaina what's wrong? Where are we going?" Jag gasped out between breaths.
"Brigadiers headed towards the chamber…or cave in." Jaina said with a slight smirk. "And Tsavong Lahs not dead."
"Wait how do you know? I thought you couldn't sense them."
"I can't, I just know he's not dead. And to answer you earlier question, we're headed towards the hanger bay."
End Chapter 9