CHAPTER 22 – Gut Feelings

Luke and Mara sat comfortably next to each other, so close their legs were touching, going over some rebuilding plans for the City of Theed. The major point of contention was where specifically the Jedi Council headquarters would be located. On one occasion, when the argument got too heated and neither could agree to the other's pointed arguments, Mara gently ran her finger down the length of her husband's thigh.

Luke glanced up from the plan he was gesturing to and his face softened at the vision of Mara's green eyes dancing seductively amidst a sea of red-gold hair. No words were spoken; Luke simply leaned into the siren call of his wife's beautiful face. She met him halfway. Their lips joined in a tender kiss, still a momentous event in Luke's mind after all these years.

Before they could truly enjoy the moment, Mara backed away, and both Jedi turned to the door of the tent they used as a temporary base of operation in the refugee camp on the outskirts of the destroyed city. A heartbeat later, Kyp Durron stormed through the opening, his green eyes ablaze. Luke was not sure the last time he had seen the silver-maned Jedi Master that angry, but Mara could recall in great detail a recent encounter where Kyp had harbored such intense emotions.

Kyp dispensed with the formalities as he stared Luke down. "I need to talk to you."

Luke projected his usual confident but collected air. His face gave no indication that he registered Kyp's raging emotions or that he took offense to the interruption. Luke gestured with an open palm to a vacant seat at the table. "Have a seat Kyp."

Kyp bypassed the seat, pacing past the table. Luke and Mara followed his predatory stroll until he came to a halt and spun back to address Luke. "Zekk came to Jaina yesterday and asked to transfer into Twin Suns now that Lowie and Tesar are leaving to join the Naboo Defense Force."

Unable to comprehend the reason this would upset Kyp, Luke furrowed his brow in confusion. "Jaina wants to replace them with Jedi. I assume Zekk is simply responding to the call for applicants."

"He can't fly with Twin Suns. You can't allow it."

"I think that is Jaina's call. I would hate to have to replace him in Blackmoon, but she has been given free rein when it comes to acquiring new recruits."

Kyp walked to the table and leaned his weight on his hands so he was towering over the couple as if to emphasize a point. "I don't trust him."

Luke hid the shock at the proclamation behind his Jedi mask. What surprised Luke more was that he registered no shock from his wife. He decided to pursue the issue carefully. "Is there a specific reason you don't trust Zekk?"

Kyp eyed Mara for a second. Truth be told he had no solid proof - a strange suspicion on Bimmisaari, a fleeting hint of darkness on the Jade Shadow, and several other odd instances that suggested Zekk was far from safe as far as Jaina was concerned. He knew better than to come forward with uncorroborated accusations against a Jedi to Master Skywalker, so he stifled his reply.

"No."

"Well, I don't see any reason I can interfere."

Mara broke in. "I don't trust him either."

The startled appearance to Luke's features as he faced his wife was impossible to hide. "Do you have specific reasons for your suspicions?"

Mara's face was drawn as she tried to find the words to express the suspicions, which had burned like an ember in her gut over the last couple of weeks. "Like Kyp, I have been witness to several occasions where Zekk has forced me to question his motives. I think Kyp, like myself, has been reticent to come forward without anything more than hints and innuendos."

Luke looked from Mara to Kyp and back. "But if you combine both your gut feelings, we may be onto something."

Mara raised an eyebrow to Luke. "You hit it on the nose, Farmboy."

Luke faced Kyp. "I assume you want me to talk to Jaina."

Kyp nodded.

Luke frowned. "I suspect I'll be the recipient of Jaina's wrath for doing this, but I'll make sure Zekk stays put in Blackmoon where I can keep an eye on him myself. I assume neither of you are going to enlighten me further at this time."

Both Kyp and Mara matched his blue-eyed gaze in turn, neither offered any more than they had said. Luke huffed. "Very well, but if you turn up anything solid I want to hear about it immediately."

Cheers erupted from the revelers surrounding the members of the newly christened Blade Squadron. Jaina looked up from the datapad she was studying to see what all the commotion was about. She smiled, not because she was happy, but because her friend, Lowbacca, was finally achieving the recognition he deserved as a pilot, now that he was charged with leading Blade Squadron for the Naboo Defense Force.

Jaina turned her attention to Drue and Kyp, who sat at the same table with her, immersed in a quiet conversation. Jaina was glad Kyp was spending time with the attractive pilot, but she never quite got the impression he was truly happy in the relationship, more like he was comfortable with it.

"Why don't you two go over and join them?"

Drue's eyes lit up with the suggestion, obviously hoping Kyp would take his friend's advice, afraid to suggest it on her own. Kyp did not appear as eager to heed Jaina's suggestion.

"Sure, if you'll come, too."

Jaina held up her datapad. "I've got plenty to keep me busy here. Go on, I'll be fine."

Kyp spoke to Drue. "Will you give us a minute? I'll be right over."

Drue obliged him, probably eager to be free of Jaina's dull company. Kyp leaned over in his seat so he was closer to Jaina and lowered his voice. "Come on, Jaina. It's been a couple of days since Jag left. You deserve a little fun."

Jaina placed a hand on Kyp's knee. "I know you want to help, but it just doesn't feel right. Can you understand? That doesn't mean you and Drue have to suffer right along with me."

Kyp slid back his chair. "I'll leave you, but I wish you'd reconsider."

Jaina shooed him away with a flip of her hand. Kyp rose and pushed his chair in before departing for the crowd of partiers. Jaina watched him go, and when he was far enough away, she flipped over to a message on her datapad from Master Cilghal.

RE: LT COL JAINA SOLO MEDICAL TESTS

BIOPSY LEFT NECK WOUND SITE: NO APPARENT ABNORMALITIES

BLOOD TESTS: NO APPARENT ABNORMALITIES

IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, PLEASE FOLLOW-UP ON YOUR RETURN TO MON CALAMARI.

It was the fourth time Jaina had read it. She should have been relieved but somehow the message did not ring true. Jaina still sensed little bits of wrongness everyday, and everyday she would drop into a healing trance after sparring with Kyp, or whoever else was available, on the pretense of practicing on her various bumps and bruises. She always came out of the healing trance feeling whole again, but by the next day another series of woes would surface.

A knot in her gut was waiting for the hammer to fall and smash her reality into a thousand pieces. To make matters worse, Jag was not there to share any of this with, and Jaina had no idea when he would return. So she was determined to focus all her resolve on staying ahead of this unseen enemy, ahead of the Vong, and ahead of whatever else would threaten her new happiness. Nothing would take that away from her now.

Zekk hugged a wall at the edge of the party for the new Jedi Squadron, keeping to himself and only sparing an occasional glance around the room. His attention was on a table across the room, surrounded by Jaina, Kyp and a blonde woman, who had been seen frequently with the Jedi Master recently. Zekk chose not to intrude on the gathering while Kyp remained, but now, as Zekk looked on, first the blonde pilot and shortly thereafter the silver-maned Jedi departed, leaving Jaina alone.

Zekk observed the serious nature of Jaina's face as she studied the datapad in her hand. Zekk had not failed to notice the absence of Colonel Jagged Fel over the last week. Vanguard Squadron had shipped out suddenly, and as best as Zekk could determine, they were on their way back to Csillia.

Based on Zekk's observations of Jaina, her sullen mood confirmed his suspicions that the Chiss Squadron commander had gotten his fill and returned to where he belonged. Or better yet, his obligations to his people outweighed his obligations to Jaina, and now, she knew where she stood in the scheme of things. Jagged Fel was just the type to put duty before all else, even vows of love. Besides being sullen, Jaina possessed a fierce drive in everything she did, like a woman fighting back demons threatening to devour her. To Zekk, who had known Jaina for a long time, this meant only one thing. Jaina was heartbroken, choosing to loose herself in her work in order to banish all memories of her failed relationship.

Perhaps now she would see him in a different light, a fellow Jedi able to understand her needs, her desires – a kindred spirit. Zekk had carefully chosen select moments to reintroduce himself into her life without imposing too quickly. Now all he had to do was wait for a sign. Seeing her sitting there alone, Zekk could not pass up the opportunity presented to him. He pushed away from the wall and made his way through the clusters of partiers to her table.

"Hey, Jaina."

She dropped her datapad face down quickly into her lap, glancing over her shoulder at the speaker as she did. Jaina smiled. "Hello, Zekk."

Zekk pointed at the chair next to her. "Do you mind a little company?"

"No, be my guest."

Zekk pulled out the chair, turning it to face her as he took the seat. "You look too serious for a party."

"I know. I really don't feel like being here, but if I didn't come Kyp would have not come down from the Ralroost." She shrugged her shoulders. "So, here I am."

"Any reason in particular you seem so serious?"

"Just trying to go over the candidates for the new slots in Twin Suns."

Zekk looked down at his hands folded in his lap. "Oh."

Jaina reached over and touched his hands. "I know you offered, and I appreciate it Zekk. It just wasn't in the cards."

Zekk brought his eyes up to meet her face, which held a sincere smile of apology. He moved a hand to cover hers. It was not hard to figure out Kyp had put his foot down about letting Zekk join the squadron, even though Luke was the one who delivered the mandate. Zekk refused to let his anger over that fact surface in front of Jaina. It could only hurt his standing with her.

"I understand."

Jaina's smile grew bigger as she dropped her shoulders in relief. "Thanks, Zekk."

Despite his desire to stay all night, Zekk decided to not overstay his welcome and leave on a good note. "Well, I'll leave you to your work them."

Zekk rose. "Do you need a drink or something to eat?"

"No, I am fine. Thanks anyway."

Zekk turned to go when Jaina's voice stopped him. "Hey Zekk."

"Yes."

"Thanks for helping out at the orphanage the other day when we did the inoculation drive." Jaina's face lit up with a genuine twinkle in her eye, the first he had seen from her in a week.

Zekk smiled. "No problem."

Zekk pivoted on his heel. As he strode away, he determined the last five minutes were an undisputed success.

Jaina picked her datapad back up after Zekk left and retrieved the files on the pilot candidates. Jaina had hoped for two Jedi to replace Lowie and Tesar, but it appeared most of the Jedi were choosing to stay on Naboo with the new squadrons.

Jaina was of the opinion she was going to have to settle for just the one Jedi she had accepted today and take on a second pilot without Force skills. It would require revising some of her current squadron tactics utilizing their Force skills. Before that could be done, she would have to find a suitable pilot from the list of candidates. Jaina was scrolling through the list when she felt a familiar presence approach the table. Without looking up she greeted her visitor.

"Hello, Corran. How are those ribs this evening?" Jaina raised her head to see the expression on Corran's face as he replied.

He was rubbing his ribs with his right hand as he recalled the beating he had received at Jaina's hands sparring earlier in the day. "Not good, Jaina."

Jaina turned to address Corran's wife who stood at his side. "Hello Mirax. I hope I didn't put your husband out of commission for too long."

Mirax chuckled. "It's nothing worse than he's received at my hands. You saved me the trouble."

Corran grimaced. "If I didn't know you two better, I would think you were cut from the same mold." He was glad when Jaina's eyes brightened a bit. Corran sympathized with the young woman, being separated from the man she loved. He had an idea of the strain she was under, trying to act as if all was right in her world, even when it was far from the truth.

"Jaina, I understand you are looking for two Jedi pilots to replace Lowie and Tesar."

Jaina nodded. "One now. Octa is taking the first slot, but I don't think I am going to find a second. I was just running through the list of non-Jedi candidates."

The surprise in Corran's voice mirrored the shocked look on his face. "Octa, really? I thought she and Kyp weren't on speaking terms."

"So did I. That's why I didn't consider her initially, but she came to me personally and asked for the position. I suppose she feels Kyp is a different person than he was a couple of years ago. I guess I am not the only one learning to forgive him."

"I'm afraid this war will change us all by its end, not necessarily all for the good like Kyp."

Jaina's eyes grew cold again at the thought. "I'm afraid you are right."

Mirax nudged Corran in the arm. He glanced at her briefly before turning his attention back to Jaina. "The reason we stopped by was I thought I might present you with another possible candidate for the position in Twin Suns. He's a Jedi and flying is in his blood, like you."

Mirax added quickly. "From both parents."

Jaina's interest was piqued; she thought she had been given every eligible candidate's file. Corran waved a hand to an unseen person behind Jaina. She spun in her seat to see the potential pilot and reversed just as quickly to address Mirax and Corran.

"Valin?"

Valin walked to his mother's side. Mirax rested a hand on her son's shoulder; her eyes were both proud and sad. Corran answered. "Valin's just a bit younger than you were when you started with the Rogues. I've worked with him myself. I think he's more than ready."

Jaina stared into Corran's eyes and a heavy weight sunk on her shoulders. She had thought nothing about how it must have been for her parents to send her off at that age, but the look in the eyes of Valin's parents brought the truth home. Jaina truly understood at that moment how horrible it was to be a parent in times of war.

Now these people, who she had respected for as long as she could remember, had come to Jaina to help their son embark on what possibly could be a very short career. The burden to Jaina was almost unbearable, but the truth of the matter was Valin had every right, just like she had been given, to choose his path. Jaina was honored that Corran and Mirax trusted her with their son's life.

Valin held out a file to Jaina. She accepted it, taking the datachip out of its slot and inserted it into her datapad. The Horn family waited patiently for Jaina to study it. Her eyes never left the screen as she pointed to the chair beside her. "Sit Valin."

Valin lowered into the chair, remaining on the edge of the seat. Jaina assumed an air of authority as she glanced up to meet his stare. "Your father is right. Your performance indices are all better than average." He started to smile. "There is still room for improvement though."

Valin swallowed hard. "Yes."

Jaina looked up at Mirax for a moment, wondering how proud and terrible she must feel at the same time. She returned her focus to Valin as she spoke again. "You realize Twin Suns is the first one into the toughest situations and the last ones out. On top of that, the Vong are gunning for us every time. We are like the Slingball team everyone wants to beat because they rarely lose, but there is always that potential for even the best teams to fall.

"I had hoped to get a pilot with Force skills and enough experience to lead a flight, but that would not be you right now. Would you be willing to work toward that end, gaining enough experience to eventually lead a flight of your own?"

Valin looked her straight in the eye, never flinching from the harsh truth of her words. "Yes, I would."

"Everything in your record looks good, but there's only one way to know if you'll hack it." Jaina pushed her seat away from the table. "Let's go sim Valin. Show me what you can do."

Jag walked through the stark hallways of the Chiss Expansionary Defense Force headquarters and everything around him, which was once all he knew, felt for the first time so foreign. He had remembered the beauty of the glaciers and snowfields of Csillia, but had forgotten how terribly cold and unforgiving it could be too. None of its beauty held a candle to Jaina. Perhaps, he thought, my blood has thinned living on too many temperate worlds in the last two years.

Jag finally halted in front of a doorway he knew all too well and pulled himself up tall, forcing his muscles, aching from two days in a cockpit to obey his will. He stepped through the opening door into an anteroom and strode past the administrative assistant, seated at a desk, with only a nod. He stopped before the door to the interior office and waited. A few moments later, the door slid open and exposed the expansive office of General Soontir Fel.

His father's voice resonated from inside. "Come in, Colonel Fel."

Jag marched in, stood up square and snapped a formal bow. "Vanguard Squadron reporting as ordered, sir."

Soontir dipped his head in acknowledgement. "Welcome home, Jag. You look well. I trust your flight to Csillia was uneventful."

Jag remained ramrod stiff. "Yes, sir. Nothing unusual to report." Jag caught himself, just as he finished. A mere four weeks ago, he would have been peeling off a list of minor and insignificant deviations from the norm. Much about him had changed in that time. He quickly added, "I could provide a list of more specific…"

Soontir held his hand up to silence his son. "That will not be necessary."

Jag braced himself for what he had to say next and then got on with it. "I would like to be transferred back to the Alliance task force as soon as possible."

Soontir did not react outwardly, merely offered a curt reply. "Not possible at this time."

"Then I would like to tender my resignation."

"You would denounce your oath to the Chiss?"

Jag never hesitated. "If I must."

To Jag's surprise, even this did not faze his father. "I suspected you would, and I suppose you have a good reason, too. I'd like for you to hear me out first." Soontir came around the desk to one of the two seats near the front of the office. "Have a seat."

Jag complied, waiting silently.

"Jagged, I don't blame you for wanting to go back to Jaina. She's a special woman, and I wouldn't have dreamt of recalling you except an extraordinary opportunity has presented itself. You know the Chiss have been working on a cloaking device suitable for fighters."

Soontir finally had Jag's undivided attention, softened by the kind words about Jaina. "Yes."

"Well, they have succeeded, and we are prepared to establish a complete squadron of cloaked clawcraft to send back to the task force. Vanguards were chosen for the assignment. They specifically asked for you."

Jag's eyes widened. "This could be a tremendous asset to the fight."

Soontir grinned. "Yes, it could. I did not feel you would want to pass on this opportunity."

Jag's demeanor seemed to lighten. "You mean Vanguards would go back as soon as they're retrofitted."

"Not exactly." The light in Jag's eye vanished as quick as it arrived. "These clawcraft are brand new and experimental. Your squadron would have to train in them and work out the bugs before returning."

"How long?"

"Ten to twelve weeks."

Jag sat deep in thought. Soontir watched as his son weighed all the options. "We will do it in eight."

Soontir chuckled. "If you can convince the design team you are ready, Vanguards can return in eight weeks. I'm glad you chose to stick this one out, Jag."

Jag rose with his father. "Where do I report?" I will get started immediately."

Soontir shook his head. "Not today, Son. I am ordering you to go home and spend a day with your mother. You can start fresh tomorrow."

Jag started to protest, then thought better of it. Time with his mother would become a precious commodity in the future. "Alright."

"That's it then, not even a fight. You disappoint me Jag."

"I am sorry."

Soontir regretted the words the second he said them, because it was farthest from the truth. He put a hand on Jag's shoulder. "No, you don't. It is a sign of a real man to let some battles go. So tell me, how's your brother holding up?"

Jag's shoulders stiffened under his father's grip, and the older man pulled away his hand. "Rane crashed his ship at Bimmisaari."

Soontir's face blanched, the fear of losing another child looming before his eyes. "Is he alright?"

"He is now. An ion cannon hit his ship. Jaina cut him out of the cockpit before his ship exploded from the fire. She made his heart start beating again; she saved his life." Jag decided to omit the rest of the sordid details about Nom Anor for now.

Soontir's good eye expressed the concern that tinged his voice. "And his neural functions, were they affected by the blast?"

Jag nodded. "He underwent two weeks of neural therapy on the 'Roost. He was looking forward to being discharged the day I left."

A sigh escaped his father's lips. "I'm glad it turned out well." He left out the rest of his thought. I am glad I didn't lose another child. "Please tell Jaina thank you from the bottom of my heart when you see her next."

Jag smiled wistfully. "I think I can manage that."

The walls of the long ago abandoned villas and townhomes stretched up creating a cool canyon shadowing the cobbled street. For some reason, this section of the city was unscathed by the orbital bombardment. Foot in front of foot, Jaina hiked up the lonely thoroughfare, listening to the echoes of the various modes of transportation that once had traveled this very path.

It was her last day on Naboo, and Jaina had spent the afternoon wandering the unexplored parts of Theed City, hoping to find a certain place from her memories. Somewhere behind, Kyp shadowed her quietly, trying to stay out of the way. Jaina was thankful for the comforting touch of his presence.

Her thoughts drifted to Jag for a moment. He had been gone for two weeks, and there had been no word as of yet. Rane had shipped back to Mon Calamari in order to be with the Chiss fleet again. Jaina hoped she could connect with him once there, and he would be able to offer her some good news.

Jaina stopped in the middle of the road as it topped a rise, and her gaze slowly drifted to the right. The townhome looming before her was not as vivid and well kept as in her memories but she was sure this was the place all the same. Jaina reached for her comlink and dialed her mother's personal frequency.

Her mother's weary voice responded to the hail. "Yes, Jaina."

"Mom, I found it."

Leia's voice was brighter coming back. "I'll get Luke, and we'll meet you there."

Jaina put away the comlink and slowly made her way up the front steps. It took some wrangling in the Force, but she finally managed to pry open the front door. A hiss of stale air escaped to a long lost freedom. Jaina paused at the threshold and then stepped inside. Some part of her felt like it had come home.

Instead of exploring the downstairs, Jaina's feet carried her up the flight of stairs. At the top, she glanced in both directions, looking for something familiar. The second direction proved fruitful as she recognized a pair of double doors at the end of a hallway lined with tall windows. Sunlight flowing in cast strange forms of light on the floor. A line of waterfalls was visible outside.

Jaina reached the end of the hallway and pushed on the hinged double doors. She stepped into a large room and gasped as she recognized the place. Everything was a little duller than her memories, yet still the same. There was the bed, covered in the finest linens, and the ornate wood furniture along the walls. The curtains hung limp from their standards. Jaina walked over slowly and unlatched the window. It swung open allowing a breeze to filter in and tease the curtains back to life.

Jaina backed away until her legs met the bed. She reached back, dusting off the bedspread before sitting down. Waiting for her mother to arrive, she sat silently in the room for what could have been an eternity. A wave of exhaustion washed over Jaina. The days had been full of sparring and Force-training, wedged between patrols with Twin Suns in the mornings and aiding the refugees late into the evening.

Jaina slid her body along the bed until she was nestled on her side, her head resting on the pillow. It was not long before her eyes were succumbing to the fatigue, drifting shut slowly. Moments later, Jaina was fast asleep.

Syal held the cravat lettuce under the running water, scrubbing the leaves between her fingers. Behind her, Jag sat at the kitchen table breaking the already washed cravat leaves into bite-size pieces and transferring them to a serving bowl. Syal finished washing the last of the cravat, then brought them over to the table in a large bowl, sitting next to Jag.

"So, how is the shake down of the new fighters going?"

Jag grinned as he reached across to her bowl to take some more leaves. "We are ahead of schedule. We will make the eight weeks Father agreed to."

Syal never looked up from her work as she remarked. "I figured as much or you would not have taken time to be here when Briaun arrives from the Academy. You probably could have gotten six weeks if you had pressed harder, but eight is what your father was shooting for." Syal spared a glance to see Jag's face harden for a second.

"I did not realize the length of time was negotiable."

Syal raised an eyebrow. "Yet you immediately demanded a shorter time frame than prescribed."

The look on his face reminded Syal of when she would catch Jag and Cherith in some misadventure inspired by the younger sister and for which Jag would always accept full blame. "Point taken."

"I suppose you have a good reason to want to get back to the fight."

"Yes, I suppose." Jag fought the blush that his mother's mischievous grin inspired.

"And a certain young squadron commander."

"That, too."

Syal nodded as she finished the last leaf and wiped her hands on her apron. "I was so upset about Rane last time I forgot to ask how Jaina is doing?"

"She's keeping me one my toes. We…" Jag caught himself; suddenly aware of how difficult it had to be for Jaina to keep their marriage a secret from those closest to her. It took all of his self-control to keep from blurting out the truth. "…are very happy."

Syal had studied her son in the moment he redirected his confession and noted the thousands of things her son wished to say but stifled with his immeasurable control. Syal pushed away her chair, grabbing the serving bowl full of prepared cravat leaves as she did. "I'll be right back."

Syal dropped the bowl on the counter as she exited the kitchen. Jag rose and went to the cupboard housing the drinking glasses. He took one out, intending to get a drink. Syal returned as Jag finished filling up the glass with purified water from a dispenser. She motioned with an open palm for Jag to return to his seat at the table. She took the seat next to Jag. He noted her other hand was closed tight around something. Syal noticed his attention on her hand before she spoke.

"I have something I wanted to give you."

His mother reached across with her free hand and pried away his hand holding the glass. She dropped a small object into his palm and pulled both hands away. Syal waited patiently as Jag studied her gift. One hand she rested on her heart, the other fell to her lap.

It was a ring made of orichale, a rare yellow metal of unknown origin, and fashioned into a narrow band with an intricate pattern of vines wrapping around it. Each vine ended at a gem, alternating in three distinct types – Emeraudes, a vibrant green stone, Amethyst power crystals, the same stone that powered Jaina's lightsaber, and Ice-jewels, a clear gem of immense value.

Jag recognized the ring from his mother's expansive personal collection. "This is the ring Chett gave your character Rubia in Secret Horizons."

Syal smiled as memories of a long ago era danced around in her head. "Yes, it is."

Jag shoved his hand back toward Syal. "I can't take this. It should be Briaun's."

Syal gripped his fingers and gently curled them around the ring. "Briaun has plenty of other pieces. Cherith asked for this ring years ago. I think she would have wanted you to have it in her stead." Syal fondly recalled Jag and Cherith, inseparable growing up less than a year apart in age. There was never a question that the two were closer than any of the other siblings, especially after the toll her death had taken on Jag.

Jag stared at his mother's hand curled around his own. "I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything; just put it to good use."

He met his mother's gaze, her blue-green eyes glistening with emotion. Somehow, she understood more than he was able to verbalize. Somehow she knew. "Thank you, I will."

Leia knew she was at the right place when she saw Kyp perched on the front stoop. He brought his gaze up to greet the Skywalker twins. Luke and Leia stopped before him, staring at the front of the home from Padmé's memories.

"She's upstairs."

Luke addressed Kyp. "Did you go in?"

Kyp shook his head. "Didn't seem right."

He stepped aside to make way for the pair. Leia stepped past first, then Luke. A thought came to Kyp. "She's asleep." Luke turned back with a questioning look, to which Kyp responded. "I just didn't want you to scare her."

Luke dipped his head and continued through the threshold. Leia was waiting for him inside. He knew his sister meant to say something, but was holding her tongue. Luke suggested they proceed upstairs with an open palm. At the top, Leia turned to her brother, concern etched in her face.

"He seems a little too attuned to her."

Luke's Jedi mask did not reflect the same concern. "They are together constantly. It's to be expected."

Leia frowned. "There's something more to it. I can tell."

Luke put his hand on her shoulder. "I think you are reading into it. It's not unheard of for two Jedi to form strong bonds."

"Like you and Mara?"

"Yes."

"And the bond is formed out of what?"

"Point taken." Luke frowned as he considered her words. "I'll keep an eye on the situation."

Leia tipped her head. "Thank you."

Luke peered down the hall in the direction of Jaina's life force. His sister took the point. She paused at the ajar doors to peek inside. It was just as she had remembered from Jaina's vision. She ignored the sleeping form of her daughter on the bed, drawn to the open window.

Leia stopped right where she recalled her mother falling down, mortally wounded. Kneeling down, she ran her hand along the floor. The presence of Padmé was alive in the intricacies of the wood floor. Leia followed the grain with her delicate fingers, soaking the feeling in.

Luke came up behind his sister and was instantly overwhelmed by a memory in the Force. His sister grabbed his hand as he started to speak.

"Is this where she died?"

Leia nodded while squeezing his hand. She did not even shed any tears. The fact was Padmé was gone. Everything now was a gift. Luke, on the other hand, had not been fortunate enough to know their mother. The only time he had ever spent with Padmé was in her womb. He had been stripped from her arms at birth and whisked away to safety.

For Luke, this feeling was the closest he had come since that time. Leia straightened her legs and wrapped her arms around her brother. Together they were drenched in the essence of Padmé. There was an overabundance of love residing in the spot, the place of the final sacrifice for her children.

Leia was reminded of her own child and turned her attention to Jaina. She went to the bed, settling down next to her daughter. Leia noted the tired lines on her face, not even sleep spared her child from the tortures of the war anymore. Leia suspected the absence of Jag Fel was harder on her daughter than the young woman was letting on. Leia begged the Force to bring him back quickly, so Jaina could share some of her burden; he was the only person Jaina would hand it to.

Leia gently stroked Jaina's hair, sending a nudge through their connection, first learned while Jaina grew in her womb. As Jaina roused from her slumber, Leia mused over how Jaina was exactly who she portended to be at birth, the first one out, kicking and screaming the whole way, then later, the aggressive one at feedings, and finally the child with all the initiative at every turn.

Jacen had always participated in Jaina's schemes, tagging along trying to protect his sister from her own machinations. Now Jaina was part of the biggest scheme of her life. Leia prayed Jacen would be able to protect his sister from this selfless endeavor.

Jaina sat up, knuckling her eyes. She yawned, quickly covering her mouth with her hand, then glanced over at her uncle who was immersed in the Force by the window. She looked back to her mother and smiled, not wanting to break her uncle's moment with words. Jaina was briefly filled with joy, being able to provide this happiness to Luke and her mother before she left for Mon Calamari.

End of Chapter 22
TKL/zr/h94