CHAPTER 27 - Cloaked

The cobbled street appeared brighter than the last time she had been there. Townhouses on either side were now homes not the neglected structures of weeks past. Some were still in various stages of repair; others appeared to have been transformed into shiny new residences. Looking up, Jaina admired the handiwork on a particular townhouse, the one that Padme Skywalker had called home, and now home to her parents.

With her usual efficiency, Leia Solo had attacked the repairs. On the outside, the structure jumped right out of Jaina's memories passed on from her grandmother. Flowers flowed out of freshly painted boxes lining the stoop. Jaina skipped up the steps, the worries of the impending war left behind on the street as she eagerly anticipated spending a quiet evening with her family.

Stopping at the door, she slipped the glittering ring off her finger and placed it in her tunic pocket before glancing over a shoulder to wave goodbye to Kyp, standing in the street. Jaina spun around as the door opened. Her mother, framed in the doorway, beamed out at Jaina. It had felt like ages since leaving Naboo when it had only been a little over twelve weeks.

At the sight of her mother's open arms, Jaina fell into the embrace. Jaina may not have been able to share her troubles, but she did not hesitate to draw on the quiet strength of her mother's love. Leia held her tight for a moment, then stepped back, a questioning look to her face. "Jaina, you're shielding."

Jaina offered a meek smile, meeting her mother's gaze. "It's all right, Mom. I've got a lot of stuff going on right now. It's for the best. As soon as this battle is over we all need to sit down and talk – you, me, Jacen and Dad."

Leia rubbed her hands up and down her daughter's arms as she studied her tired features. Finally, Leia flashed a kind smile, her eyes still worried. "We'll be here when you are ready."

Jaina's shoulders eased down from their defensive posture. "Thanks, Mom."

Her mother stepped back, gesturing for Jaina to come inside. The interior of the home was no less impressive than the outside. The wood floors were polished to a distinct shine. Although not complete, the furnishings were a mix of old and new adding a distinct charm.

"It looks nice."

Leia tipped her head in gratitude for the compliment as she passed Jaina, leading the way to the back of the house. "It needs some work, but it feels like home. Maybe the first home we have ever really had."

Jaina could hear Threepio's synthesized voice from the kitchen just beyond the dining area. "Master Solo, if I might suggest, this particular Endwa recipe does not require quite that much…"

Her father snapped back. "Goldenrod, you tasteless scrap heap, don't tell me how to prepare…" Han spied Jaina outside the kitchen. "Hey kid. Come here and give this old smuggler a hug."

She stepped into the kitchen and was welcomed into her father's arms as Threepio flitted around offering his own welcome. Han squeezed her so hard Jaina's feet came off the floor. He let her go and stepped back. "That was quite a show today, arriving in a Supe as your personal Goddess flagship. It was all over the holovids."

Jaina blushed as she walked over to the small kitchen table. She fingered the antique wood, following the grain. "Yeah, they are really working the whole Goddess angle a bit hard."

Han went back to stirring the Smuggler's Stew, adding generous helpings of Corellian brandy between taking swigs of his own.

Jaina interrupted his taste testing. "Hey Dad. Take it easy on the brandy. I'm still on duty."

Han curled up one side of his mouth. "No worries. The alcohol cooks off, nothing but taste left. So whose idea was that – I mean the Supe and the name and all. It was pretty clever if you ask me."

Jaina grinned as she parked herself in a chair. "General Fel's."

"You're kidding?"

"No, I am not. He and Jag dreamt it up when Jag was back on Csillia."

Han's face grew serious. "I saw your Corellian prince during the whole Goddess-welcome-to-Naboo-ceremony."

Leia interrupted before her husband could do some fatherly bashing. "It's nice to see Jag made it back. I'm sure you're happy."

"Mmm-huh." Jaina nodded, her mouth occupied with her finger, which she had just dipped in the Drizzle sauce next to her. She removed the finger. "He came back with a nice surprise for the Vong, too." Han and Leia eyed Jaina in unison; sharing an interested expression that Jaina obliged in a whisper to indicate the fact's secrecy. "A whole squadron of cloaked clawcraft."

Han dropped the mixing spoon in the stew and crossed over to the table, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Cloaked fighters, that would require some interesting technological developments…"

Leia grabbed her husband by the elbow to spin him back around from where he came. "Some other time dear. No war talk tonight." Leia addressed her daughter. "Your brother is upstairs exploring with Tahiri. Why don't you go say 'hi.' I know you two haven't seen much of each other lately."

Dinner had gone well. Jaina, now over the worst of her nausea, had actually enjoyed the food, especially since it was shared in the company of family. It had been too long since they had sat down for a Solo family meal. Jaina thought her mother and father were in heaven. Even though Tahiri was there in Anakin's place and Chewie would be forever missed, her family felt whole.

Jacen was the only one who did not seem to be enjoying the gathering completely. Jaina would have reached out to him in their twin bond, but doing so would open her up to Jacen as well – a risk she dare not take. So when Jacen finally decided to join the conversation well into dessert, his news sent Jaina reeling. He opened casually as he swirled his spoon in the fizz pudding.

"I went to see Danni the other day. I thought she and I could go to Mester Reef, but she was caught up in some pretty important work."

Jaina dropped her spoon. She glanced around the table as she muttered an apology. "Sorry."

Leia smiled at Jaina then addressed her son. "What is she working on now? Disrupting some new Yuuzhan Vong weapon?"

Jacen glanced at Jaina, who was fussing over her spoon, before turning to his mother. "It appeared to be some sort of Vong bioweapon, but she couldn't really discuss it."

Han cocked an eyebrow. "Sounds scary. We already saw what they did to Mara. Hopefully they're not cooking up something worse. The Vong have had a while to perfect their previous work." Jaina jumped from the table, grabbing her bowl. Han turned his attention to his daughter. "Getting more fizz pudding?"

"Yes, does anyone else want some?"

Jacen never looked at her. The rest shook their heads as Leia remarked with a grin, "I am glad I picked that fizz pudding up at the market. I don't know why it struck my fancy. Obviously it's a hit with someone."

Tahiri giggled. "I think that's her third bowl."

Jaina turned her back to the table, heading for the food cooler. Leia turned her attention back to Jacen. "I hope Danni figures out whatever she is working on before we lose any more good people. It's too bad you can't help with your Vongsense."

Jaina listened to her brother as she scooped out another serving, even though she had suddenly lost her appetite. Her hand was shaking so badly she could barely manage to complete the task. "That's what I told her. It would be a tragedy if someone suffered needlessly when I might be able to help."

Jaina offered a reply from across the room as she placed the fizz pudding back in the cooler and shut the door. "You can't save everyone Jacen."

Her brother spun in his seat and stared straight into Jaina's eyes. "I would at least like a chance to try."

Upon returning to the Trickster's Sword Jaina was summoned to a late night strategy meeting of key players. The room was smaller than Jaina would have thought, occupied by only a select group: Admiral Kre'fey, Admiral Duothenwar – the Chiss commander in charge of the Trickster's Sword, and General Antilles. Wedge motioned to an available seat, which Jaina took gracefully. She smiled politely at everyone at the table.

As her commanding officer, Wedge spoke first. "Sorry about the late hour. We thought this would be a good opportunity to discuss strategy before the tactical briefing tomorrow." Jaina tipped her head in appreciation of the apology. "We need to go over the specifics of your role in the upcoming days." Wedge faced the Bothan. "Admiral, would you like to start?"

Jaina turned to face him directly. She listened patiently as first Admiral Kre'fey, then Admiral Duothenwar discussed chain of command protocol. Both men appeared wary of submitting ultimate decisions to Jaina or each other. After some wrangling, Wedge convinced all involved it was best, for appearance's sake, that the Goddess was at least figuratively in charge, and all such command actions would come from the flagship.

Everyone in the room believed the Yuuzhan Vong would try to contact Jaina directly at some point, especially since the whole Trickster scheme led the alien invaders to conclude she was a supreme being. Procedures allowing either commander to overrule Jaina's orders were outlined. Jaina was actually relieved to defer to the wisdom of the more experienced officers in all matters except where her bag of tricks was concerned.

"Do you have any tricks specifically designed for this venture, Lieutenant Colonel? So we are not caught unaware." Admiral Kre'fey was pointed about reminding Jaina of her rank behind closed doors where the Goddess ruse was not in play.

Jaina glanced at Wedge, who understood her reluctance to reveal too much. "I have a few. As you have stated, we have no idea how this will play out, so my tricks need to be fluid in their design. We have various options with gravitic transponders and yammosk jammers. Additionally, I may be able to utilize my connection with my twin to manipulate the Yuuzhan Vong technology through his Vongsense."

Admiral Duothenwar exhibited some confusion. Jaina addressed him directly. "Since his captivity with the Yuuzhan Vong, my brother can sense and to a degree control some of their living technology. It is complicated to explain, but General Antilles and Admiral Kre'fey are familiar with his capabilities."

The Chiss officer nodded his appreciation for the clarification. Admiral Kre'fey probed further. "Are there any other specific tricks up your sleeve?"

Jaina decided to throw something out to satisfy their curiosity. "Colonel Fel and I, along with Colonel Celchu, have discussed utilizing the cloaked squadron in several different scenarios, possibly in a targeted assault on the yammosks."

Admiral Duothenwar questioned her. "My intelligence states the jammers take care of those?"

"I don't believe they will work like we hope they will."

"Haven't they to date?"

Jaina sighed. "Yes, but with their repeated unsuccessful attempts to circumnavigate the jammers over the last few engagements, my gut tells me the jammers will be a problem."

Wedge eased forward, his interest piqued by the revelation. "Is this an insight from the Force?"

Jaina thought about the question. Although it did not feel like her usual Force premonitions, more and more Jaina had experienced moments of awareness concerning the enemy. It started with momentary insights like which way a skip was turning and more recently involved feeling whole shifts in strategy seconds before they actually happened. She gave Wedge the answer to the question she had asked herself.

"Yes."

The Chiss drilled her further. "Communicating with the cloaked fighters is problematic without giving away their location."

Jaina, weary of the interrogation and tired of being treated like an unseasoned commander, snapped back. "I am aware of the specific limitations of the cloaked fighters. However, my Force skills allow other options in communication."

Admiral Duothenwar was neither intimidated nor impressed. "I don't believe Colonel Fel is Force sensitive like you."

Wedge interrupted. "I believe what Jaina is trying to say is she and Colonel Fel flew together in Twin Suns for a spell, where they worked on Force assisted squadron techniques. I am confident Colonel Fel and Lieutenant Colonel Solo understand their respective abilities." He glanced over at Jaina, noting the worn lines around her eyes. "Gentlemen, I believe we have resolved your major concerns this evening. It is late. Maybe we can resume this discussion tomorrow."

The Bothan and Chiss admirals nodded in agreement before they stood in unison and headed for the door. The Chiss spoke to someone in the corridor. "You must be as ambitious and driven as they say, to be waiting to work on squadron tactics at this hour."

Jag's voice resonated only consummate professionalism. "Thank you, sir. Lieutenant Colonel Solo is quite a task master."

The Chiss responded. "I wish you success in whatever endeavor you pursue with your new cloaked squadron, Colonel."

With that, the departing footsteps of the two alien officers could be heard. Jaina grinned wearily as Jag stepped into the room. Wedge's expression was not as kind.

"Pretty bold, Jagged."

Jag squared his shoulders to face his uncle's criticism. "I suppose you could say that, but I won't apologize for wanting to make sure my wife gets some rest before the mayhem starts and you expect her to shoulder the weight of this entire war."

Wedge acknowledged the admonishment in his nephew's voice with a tip of the head. A careful study of Jaina slowly pushing out of her chair made him look guiltier than Jag's tone had. Jag held up an arm beckoning Jaina to join him. She willingly followed her husband to the door.

Once in the hall, Wedge headed down the corridor in the opposite direction, leaving the couple alone to wander the quiet corridors. They kept a respective distance. Jag held out a nutrient bar, which Jaina snatched greedily. She mumbled her thanks as she unwrapped the tasteless but enriched ration.

"How was your family dinner?"

"Guhhd."

Jag eyed Jaina. "But?"

"Do you suddenly have Force skills, Jag?"

He cocked an eyebrow. "No, I just know that one word answers usually mean an unspoken but."

Jaina stared straight ahead. "My mouth was full."

Jag did not look at her either, simply walked along silently. After a minute Jaina acquiesced. "Jacen was distant."

"You haven't seen much of each other recently. Give it time."

Jaina was quiet again until Jag turned down a corridor she was not familiar with. "Where are you going? The room is this way." She pointed in the opposite direction.

"Yes, but Cilghal is this way. She's waiting for you."

Jaina turned down the hall to accompany her husband. "I still don't know how you got her on the ship with us."

"I have connections."

"Mmmm."

Jaina fell silent again, only the sounds of their footsteps echoing in the corridor. Jag finally broke the rhythm of the steady beat by coming to a stop. "I thought we had a deal?"

Jaina pivoted to face him. "Sorry. I was replaying it all in my mind. I think he knows."

"Knows what?"

"He knows about my illness."

"Why do you say that?"

"He was in Danni's lab while she was working on the nano-organisms. She didn't tell him anything, but I could see it in his eyes."

"So go talk to him." Jaina's mouth fell open, so Jag continued. "We agreed to end this here. How can it hurt if he knows? It would be worse if you two have unresolved issues going into the next few days."

"Who made you so smart?"

"Probably my mother." Jaina grinned. "Tomorrow morning, go over to the Mon Adapyne and talk to him."

There was a twinkle in Jaina's eye. "If you weren't standing in this hall I would kiss you."

"I know."

Jaina activated the door comm to her twin's room onboard the Mon Adapyne, then waited patiently. Despite the early hour, she felt his awake consciousness moving about inside. Anxious about speaking to Jacen, she reached for the comm again. The door whisked open before she could depress the button.

The Solo twins stood face-to-face silently sizing each other up. After several heartbeats Jacen stepped back to allow her access to his quarters. Jaina strode past him, deliberate in her step. Her brother watched with a wary eye, one that Jaina could feel burning into her. Before turning to face him, Jaina spoke.

"We need to talk."

She pivoted to meet his gaze, having to look up to do so. It was a strange sensation for Jaina to match his stare and yet have her twin be totally unreadable. He was shielding as much as she had been and still was. Jaina cast her gaze down, and Jacen matched her move for move as they both sank to the floor. They ended sitting cross-legged facing each other. Neither seemed to want to start.

Jaina inhaled and broke the eerie silence. "You know."

Jacen blinked his eyes slowly in reply, accompanied by the slightest of nods. Jaina waited a few more breaths. "Nom Anor injected me with a nano-organism on Bimm when we fought. None of the doctors could find anything at first, but I found them in my body when I got back to Mon Cal. When did you figure it out?"

Jacen's face remained a porcelain mask, unreadable and blank. "Danni said something right before I left the lab that day – something about seizing every opportunity you have with loved ones. At the time, I thought she was feeling sad about being alone, having lost everyone. When I saw you yesterday, I realized what she meant. You can shield Jaina, but you can't stop me from using my Vongsense. I took one look at you and knew."

Some hurt finally crept into his voice. "What I can't figure out is why you wouldn't ask for my help. I thought we had gotten past our differences after Anakin's death. I thought we had found our way back to each other. Then you go and do this." The declaration had poured out of Jacen in a painful admission.

Jaina did not feel anger in him though, simply a deep sense of loss. She reached out to him, taking his hand. "Jacen, this wasn't ever about you or us. It was about me."

She paused, trying to find a way to show him, when a thought hit her. She scooted closer and placed his hand on her abdomen. Then Jaina dropped her shields. The presence of a third life arced from Jaina to her twin. He yanked his hand away in shock, his mouth fell open in unspoken awe.

Jaina waited patiently for Jacen to come to terms with the discovery, learning from her experience with Jag. Jacen's eyes began to find their focus after passing several excited breaths. He stared at the spot where his hand had been. Slowly, he stretched out his arm, until his hand returned to where Jaina had placed it.

He touched the precious life, half Jaina, half Jag, wholly his family. The baby touched him back, possibly sensing the part of Jacen he shared with Jaina. The touch was fleeting, like a questioning. Once an answer was found, it was gone.

Jacen ripped his eyes away from Jaina's stomach to peer into her brown eyes, mirrors to his soul. He searched for words, questions raced round his head so he could not catch one to start. Jaina sorted them out and gave them order.

She wrapped her fingers around his, peeling his hand away. At that point he noticed the ring – purple like Jaina's lightsaber, green like Jag's eyes, white like the purity of their love. "Jag and I were married the day before the battle of Bimm. We kept it a secret…"

Jacen began to pull away his hand, his eyes hardened, but Jaina tightened her grip. "Jacen, I want you to listen before you reach any conclusions." Jacen let her take his hand back.

"Jag suggested we keep it a secret because it was too risky for someone to find out. I agreed. I didn't want something to happen to Jag like what happened to Tahiri. What I realize now is Jag knew there was another good reason. I was happy, truly happy. Although I was sad to keep it from my family, I didn't have to lose any of that happiness to the inevitable judgment that would come from revealing the truth, from you, from Dad and Mom, and from Luke and Mara.

"Marrying Jag was something I wanted to do for me and for once in my life I thought about myself before others. Jag is the most amazing person. He's not the person everyone thinks he is. He's so smart it's scary. I know it's hard to believe, but he's funny. He's handsome and strong and so sure of himself. I feel safe in his arms. I needed that more than anything. What we had I didn't feel like sharing. Now we are a family - my family."

Jacen interrupted. "My family, too. Jag is my family now, as is your unborn child." Jaina eyed him suspiciously. Jacen grinned, reminding Jaina of her father. "What? Are you waiting for the what-were-you-thinking-speech or I'll-kill-that-filthy-Imperial-when-I-get-my-hands-on-him?"

"Something like that."

"I'll save it for Dad. It's a done deal. Your husband was right. No one has a right to take away you happiness, especially not now."

Jaina heaved a sigh. "Thank you."

"Danni was right too. I'm seizing my opportunities with you. So how about you tell me what you can about this bioweapon."

In great detail Jaina recalled everything for her brother – the suspicions, the discovery of the baby, the growing awareness in the Force of the Vong. The last part interested him the most. Jacen spent the better part of an hour discussing possibilities to learn from this new awareness, to combine her knowledge with his Vongsense.

"I am going to do whatever it takes so you can beat this…We'll beat this together."

Jaina frowned. "Jacen, I don't want this to stop what you are doing on the Mon Adapyne. The battle meld is too important."

"You're too important."

Jaina placed her hand over her swelling stomach. "No, she's too important. I don't want my daughter born into this war. I want to end this."

Jacen jumped to his feet, tired of sitting. "You mean you're still planning on…" He stopped himself in mid-sentence.

Jaina held up her hands, which he used to tug her upright. "No, I am done after this. That's why it's important that you continue on. Cilghal, Danni, and I will figure this out. If anything, I will need you to look out for my husband." Jacen tipped his head. "I'm going to tell Mom and Dad after this battle. Then I am going to disappear."

"To where?"

"Don't know yet."

Jacen grinned knowingly. "You wouldn't tell me if you did."

Jaina grinned back.

Jaina's head rested on the pillow, her hair draped around the shimmersilk case in a chocolate halo. Beside her, Jag drifted in a light slumber, a slight curl to his mouth. Jaina wondered what happy dream occupied his sleep as his fingers moved reflexively where they laid sprawled across her stomach protectively.

Sleep had eluded her. There was little more to do now except wait. Jaina had taken every opportunity in a rather slow day to draw on the Force in order to bolster her health. With Jacen's aid, she actually felt healthier and stronger than she had been in a long time. The drone of the Super Star Destroyer's engines was a comforting song, while stars danced in the viewport.

Jaina slowed her breathing, intending to venture into her husband's dreams. Instead a strange tingling enveloped her body. Jaina heeded it, seeking out its source. She found it resonating deep within from her strange connection to her expanding vision of the Force. Any drowsiness on her part washed away in a profound moment of awakening. Jaina shot up in bed, the sheet tumbling off her torso.

Ever the light sleeper, Jag started awake, sensing movement. His voice was rough with fatigue as he called out, "Jaina?"

Reaching for her, he rubbed his strong fingers down her spine tenderly and wondered what odd food craving he would have to satisfy tonight. Then something in her intense gaze out the viewport snapped him to a heightened state of alertness. It was almost as if she was seeing the unseen. Finally she spoke.

"They're coming for me."

End of Chapter 27
TKL/h94