CHAPTER 29 - Brothers

The battle scene around the Overlord's worldship had become a mass of confusion and alarm among the Galactic Alliance fighters. Jaina weaved and sideslipped around coralskippers as she methodically worked at highlighting enemy skips from friendly skips on the tactical display using her developing sense of the Yuuzhan Vong in the Force while Trick broadcasted the information to all pilots. Before this battle, Jaina merely saw the skips as hunks of rock. Now there was a desperate need to be able to differentiate between friend and foe.

Jag, hanging on her wing like glue, was the first to comment on their differing appearance. "Twin Suns Lead, the friendly skips are all the same colors."

Jaina glanced up from her tactical display to examine a skip she knew to be friendly. She squinted in order to make out a pattern. Then Jaina swung her X-wing in a tight cutback, honing in on an enemy skip. Close examination of several other skips revealed a distinct pattern to the friendly skips.

Now on the tail of yet another enemy fighter that was trailing Valin, Jaina banked and dropped in a tight reversal. Jag's laser fire broke through the coral hull when Jaina's fire met only voids. The pair blasted in and out of the debris from the exploding skip. As Jaina pondered the how's and why's of detailing the differences in enemy fighters to her own pilots, Wedge's voice called over the command frequency.

"Twin Suns Lead, Spike Lead, Rogue Lead, your assistance is requested planetside. Sabers have requested support in their defense of the city against enemy drop forces. Vanguard Lead, coordinates incoming to rendezvous with the Interdictor cruisers Valiant and Shadow Fall. You will receive orders once there…" Orders followed for other squadrons.

Jaina felt panic swell from Jag as he anticipated their impending separation. She dialed her comm to his private frequency, half-listening to the remaining orders. "Jag, I will be fine."

Jag's voice was uncharacteristically tense. "I don't like you flying without a wingman."

"I'll get Valin to fly my wing."

Jaina could tell that response was not sufficient to allay his fears, but time and circumstance offered few satisfactory alternatives. Their conversation was interrupted when it came time to respond on the command frequency.

"Twins Suns Lead copies."
"Vanguard Lead copies."

Jag knew he had no time left. Jaina was already barking orders on her squadron frequency as she banked toward the planet. Before he could say his peace, Jaina was back on the command frequency, relaying insight on identifying the friendly fighters to the remaining commanders. In a split second decision, Jag, still on the command frequency, called to his brother in an old Corellian dialect their mother had insisted the Fel children learn and speak fluently.

"Spike Lead, dome hem puh oh na dovu wym na sopia. Ligu sooge igyp zigh."

There was a quiet pause on the command frequency, probably from Rane's shock coupled with confusion among the other commanders as to what was just said. In true Fel form though, Rane responded after a couple of heartbeats in a composed tone.

"Vanguard Lead, it will be my honor."

Somewhat more reassured than moments before, Jag switched to his squadron frequency, spewing orders in rapid-fire succession. Moments later Vanguard Squadron disappeared in a field of distorted hyperspace jump bands.

From the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon, Leia could make out Kyp running for Jacen's X-wing as Han spun the freighter around in the hangar bay of the Trickster's Sword. The Jedi Master jumped into the cockpit of the borrowed fighter in one leap. Kyp had been frantic to get back to the battle, back to Jaina's wing, despite the multiple injuries he had sustained. Even though she still had some misgivings about the green-eyed Jedi's motives, Leia thanked the Force silently for sending her daughter such a dedicated protector.

Kyp would be heading down to the planet in order to join up with Twin Suns. Leia sensed Han's intentions were to do the same as he guided the freighter out of the belly of the immense ship. The Falcon blasted along the underside of the Super Star Destroyer with the Yun Harla symbol clearly visible. It spanned a section of the hull nearly five times as big as the Corellian freighter. It was only then that the enormity of Jaina's role impacted both parents.

Leia turned at the sound of Threepio's excitable metallic voice coming ever closer to the cockpit. She had told the gold droid to stay in the back and monitor the many frequencies for any important information in an attempt to keep Han from spacing him in the heat of the battle. Bi was leading the protocol droid, tweeting and tooting excitedly in between and over Threepio's mindless banter. If Leia had not known better, she would have believed Kyp's astromech was actually trying to hinder Threepio's progress as the gold droid shuffled past the smaller droid, his rigid arms raised to pass over the smaller droid's domed head.

Threepio slapped the astromech's head as it rolled into him, pinning his body to the wall. "I said get out of my way you outdated pocket rocket."

A barrel roll of the Falcon caused Bi to roll away and bounce into the far wall, screeching as he went. Threepio stumbled forward, caught his balance, then resumed his path to the cockpit before Bi could catch him. Undaunted, the astromech accelerated forward, bumping into the gold droid, whistling shrilly as he did so. An indignant Threepio turned in an awkward three-step pivot, his fixed arms waving wildly.

"I will not wait until after conferring with Master Durron. Now go back where you came from and stop distracting Captain Solo."

Bi blatted emphatically.

Threepio seemed undaunted as he sidestepped into the cockpit. Leia could hear Han muttering a series of curses as she swiveled to greet the unwanted arrival. "Mistress Solo, I was monitoring the communications channels as you requested. I believe I overheard a conversation you and Captain Solo would be quite interested in hearing."

Sneaking up quietly behind Threepio, Bi whistled sharply, then bumped the gold droid, knocking him forward onto the controls. Leia shoved the clumsy protocol droid, who all the while never stopped talking. "Oh my! I apologize, Mistress Solo." Threepio swiveled his torso, almost connecting with Leia's face as his arms swung past, all the while admonishing Bi. "You should be recycled for lack of manners. No doubt they are…"

Bi bumped Threepio again, squeaking as he impacted with the gold skin. Han's curses grew and practically drowned out the golden droid's din. "Well, I never have been so insulted in my entire existence. If Artoo where here-"

Leia interrupted before Threepio went off on a long-winded tirade. She spoke to the astromech first. "Enough!" Leia scolded as she shook an index finger his way. Bi whistled woefully, then fell silent as Leia faced Threepio. "You had some information for us, Threepio?"

Threepio instantly pivoted back to address Leia. "Of course, I would not have abandoned my post otherwise, Mistress Solo. As I was saying, I overheard Colonel Fel send a message to Spike Squadron Leader, who I have determined is now his brother Lieutenant Rane Fel. It appears that Major Nuruodo has met…"

Han piped in, clearly unimpressed. "Breaking news…One Corellian Prince actually talks to the other."

"If I may sir - Colonel Fel is the son of General Soontir Fel, a Corellian Baron, which makes his sons…"

"Threepio! I don't need a family pedigree. It's not like they are getting married."

Threepio started and then faced Han, his arms jumping up before his body reflexively as his head tilted. As usual, the droid was unaffected by Han's derogatory comment. "That's exactly the point I am getting to, Captain Solo, concerning Colonel Fel's message. What I found interesting was that he delivered the message in Dikator – one of eleven ancient Corellian dialects specific to the region known as…"

Han eyed his wife. "I really don't need a lesson on ancient Corellian languages right now."

Threepio proceeded, while Han turned his attention back to the field of skips that would have to be dealt with in order to reach the planet. "Of course not, I merely thought I should clarify for Mistress Solo, who does not have the same knowledge of Corellian history."

Leia interrupted in a polite but somewhat strained tone. "Threepio, your point is?"

No one seemed to notice as Bi discreetly opened a compartment and quietly worked on attaching a suction device to one of Threepio's mismatched legs. "Oh yes. Colonel Fel asked his brother to look out for Mistress Jaina…" Threepio fell silent as he tumbled into Leia's arms again.

Han was banking hard as the ship rocked from incoming plasma fire, knocking the unsecured droid off-balance. Han used Threepio's unexpected silence to hurl another verbal jab at the protocol droid's expense "Thank the Force, you made time to deliver that message, Goldenrod. Imagine that – Jag asked his brother to protect his girlfriend!"

Threepio jerked his head to face Leia as she threw him off, his arms popped out to the side at the same time. "That is what I have been trying to tell you - Mistress Jaina is not Colonel Fel's girlfriend; she iiissss…."

At that moment, the little astromech accelerated away from the cockpit. The line on his suction device grew taut, and Threepio was hurtling forward, crashing into the console as his leg popped out from under him. He bounced once then crashed to the floor as Bi kept right on going, dragging the golden droid by his leg. Threepio screamed frantically as he went.

Han was at his wit's end as he threaded between two skips, fire now blazing from both turrets. He practically snarled at his wife like a rabid Rancor. "That's it, Leia. Shut them both off. Now!"

Leia unstrapped her crash webbing and raced out of the cockpit. A deft flip of her hand silenced Threepio's ranting at the astromech. Bi stopped the second the golden droid powered down. He released the suction device, reeling it in while rolling away from Leia. A laser cutter popped out of another compartment as Leia closed on the astromech. She halted momentarily and sized up the droid. It was her opinion that astromechs, like Artoo, could be daunting opponents when they felt backed into a corner.

She held a finger up to the little droid. "Alright, but not a peep, or I'll get my lightsaber out. Then we'll find out who is tougher."

The droid whistled mournfully. Leia spun and headed back for the cockpit. She stepped around Threepio sprawled on the floor. Once inside the cockpit, Leia glanced back to see Bi roll next to the gold droid, almost as if he were standing guard. She shrugged her shoulders and pulled the crash webbing on, one arm at a time.

Wedge finished conferring with Admiral Duothenwar and made his way back to the tactical holo. Jacen acknowledged his arrival by merely lifting his eyes from the display momentarily. His fingers, however, never stopped inputting data into the touch pad at his station. Every few seconds, skips on the holo would change color as Jaina relayed information concerning the newly allied fighters.

Jacen addressed Wedge as another skip changed from foe red to friendly green. "Jaina has informed Domain Lah to expect instructions from her trusted battle coordinators aboard her flagship." A hint of a Solo grin actually tickled his lips.

Wedge chuckled despite himself. "Her trusted battle coordinators are honored by the privilege of commanding Domain Lah." His tone turned serious again. "Admiral Duothenwar plans to remove all but minimal Alliance forces around the worldship, leaving the Vong to fight it out among themselves. That way we can concentrate on the battle planetside and disrupting the ambush without stretching our fleet too thin. Two interdictors are in route to intercept the incoming strike group. I'll send Vanguards out with them to aid in the surprise."

Jacen frowned momentarily, and Wedge questioned him. "Do you foresee a problem with that?"

"No, do what you think best. That is what the cloaked squadron was designed for."

Wedge eyed the Jedi for a heartbeat, then walked to the nearest comm station. He picked up a headset and keyed the comm. ""Twin Suns Lead, Spike Lead, Rogue Lead, your assistance is requested planetside. Sabers have requested support in their defense of the city against enemy drop forces. Vanguard Lead, coordinates incoming to rendezvous with the Interdictor cruisers Valiant and Shadow Fall. You will receive orders once there. Blackmoon and Dozen prepare to jump to the same location with the Ralroost, once the Vong strike group has been interdicted. Jump orders will be issued from the Valiant. Remaining squadrons are to maintain current status."

Replies poured back, acknowledging the orders. Satisfied with the response, Wedge started to remove the headset when Jag's voice called over the command frequency. Wedge paused to listen.

"Spike Lead, dome hem puh oh na dovu wym na sopia. Ligu sooge igyp zigh."

It took a second for Wedge to realize Jag was speaking in Dikator, a language his mother had drummed into his head for the sake of personal betterment. It only required a second longer for Wedge to translate the words back to Basic. Twin Suns Leader is my wife and carrying my child. Protect her at all costs.

Wedge barely registered Rane's reply. "Vanguard Lead, it will be my honor."

The truth of the words sunk to the pit of the general's stomach as he dropped the headset onto the station's panel. Wedge had commanded many men and women in battle, sent many of them to their deaths. Although he would never get used to that fact, he had learned to accept it. The concept of Jaina, his niece and hold-daughter, flying pregnant was not a reality Wedge was prepared to deal with.

Suddenly, pieces began to fall together like a puzzle finding its form. This last bit of information filled in all the gaps. Jaina's growing intensity level, her drive to finish the fight, had been for good reason – time had become the enemy. The protective nature of Jag and Kyp, both of whom had been covering more and more duties for Jaina, made perfect sense in light of the revelation. The fact that her brother and best friend allowed Jaina to continue was unconscionable. Wedge actually felt the heat of the emotions roll up his body in a wave of nausea.

"Sir? General Antilles?"

Wedge snapped out of his shocked trance, holding a finger up to silence the questioning from a nearby controller. He stormed the few paces over to Jacen, determined to put a stop to the madness. Once Jacen knew the truth, he would be inclined to help.

Surprisingly, the Jedi spun the command chair, facing Wedge directly. The general halted in mid-step, recognizing the error of his thought process. Something in Jacen's eyes revealed that he already knew what Wedge had been prepared to tell him. "Do you know what Jag just said?"

"Not exactly, but I have a good idea."

Wedge's voice was low enough to prevent others from overhearing, but powerful enough to convey his feelings. "What exactly is your sister trying to prove?"

"Nothing. She and Jag both simply want a safe galaxy for their daughter to grow up in." A calming wave washed over Wedge, pounding against his contempt and crushing it into tiny pebbles of sand. Jacen's words were backed by that same power. "I know this was not an ideal way to find out, but Jaina needs your support now more than ever. The same goes for Jag. Don't let your personal feelings cloud your judgment."

Wedge quietly absorbed the younger man's advice. After a moment, he realized no amount of worry or anger would change what had passed. He could, however, do everything in his power to insure that baby did have a safe galaxy in which to be born. As a father, Wedge connected to Jaina and Jag's reasons for concealing the truth. Nothing would ever prevent Wedge or Iella from doing everything in their power, including sacrificing their own lives, for the sake of either Syal or Myri.

Wedge patted Jacen on the shoulder, then walked back to his station with renewed conviction. For the general, the battle had taken on a whole new meaning. Jacen watched Wedge return to his station before swiveling the chair back to face the tactical holo and reconnect with the battle meld. There was much work to be done to achieve his sister's goal.

The ground assault around the City of Theed was well underway as Twin Suns blasted down through the atmosphere. Jaina glanced at the tactical display to assess her squadron, making a quick mental assessment of each pilot at the same time. She was down four pilots, two of them Jedi. Jaina made some hurried decisions and clicked her comm to issue directives.

"Twin Suns, we'll form two new flight groups. Nine, you're my wing with Six on Three's wing. Seven, you have the second flight group with Ten on your wing. Eleven and Twelve as usual."

Seven comm clicks followed as the fighter formation adjusted smoothly to form the two new flight groups.

Jaina queried her astromech. "Trick, do we have the frequency encoded on a channel for the Naboo Defense Force?"

Trick beeped once as a response flashed on the interface.

Jaina found the corresponding channel. "This is Twin Suns Lead calling the Naboo Defense Force. I have Spikes and Rogues in route. Where can we assist?"

The familiar roars and howls of Lowbacca blasted through her headset. Proceed to the eastern side of the city. Blades and Lancers are engaging landing forces to the west.

"We will be there in one minute. I repeat, one minute."

Lowie was obviously busy, only offering a click of his comm in reply. Skimming along the river toward the city, Jaina made out several Yorik-vec assault cruisers pounding the refugee encampment amidst a sea of coral skippers and Defense Force fighters along the western edge, but no forces had made it to the ground as of yet. To the east where the thinly spread squadrons had not been able to defend, a few Yorik-trema transports had already landed beyond the city walls, hastily unloading squads of slave warriors and their Thrall herders while they were free of air strikes. Several ranges were already heading for the unprotected borders of the city.

Jaina began issuing orders. "Rogues and Spikes direct your fire on the cruisers and support skips. Rogue Lead, can you use my Two Flight while I handle the ranges?"

Gavin responded. "I am down one flight. It should not be a problem."

Jaina switched back to her squadron frequency. "One Flight, you're with me. Two Flight, you're under Rogue Lead's command for now. Switch to the appropriate squadron frequency."

Jaina did not wait for acknowledgement as she banked away from their present course to approach the ranges under the cover of the surrounding forest. Unlike Borleias, Jaina did not have the benefit of Jag and Kyp at her side to battle the enormous rakamats, which were difficult kills in the best of situations. Jaina was stronger in the Force now than she was back then. Handling the shadow bombs would be feasible. However, the absence of Jag's more maneuverable clawcraft, to guide them in, would be sorely missed.

A familiar voice answered an unspoken prayer. "Twin Suns Lead, could you use some help going after those ranges? I have performed the maneuver in simulations designed by Vanguard Lead."

"Spike Lead, it would be most helpful. Can your squadron spare you?" Jaina had an uncanny feeling that no sense of duty to his squadron would have altered Rane's plan. It was obvious from Rane's demeanor that Jag had called on his brother to take his place.

"Spike Nine has got it covered."

"Alright then, switch to frequency five-two-seven." Jaina switched back to her squadron frequency. "Nine, you're going with me. Just follow my lead. Three and Six, you'll fly cover. Give us a heads up if anything gets past you. Spike Lead, let's roll. Nice and easy, you are going to have two bombs on your tail."

Jaina floated a pair of shadow bombs behind Rane's clawcraft as it slipped into the foliage. She listened to the whine of her repulsors as her X-wing rotated perpendicular to the ground. Jaina followed Rane's lead, weaving the bombs through the maze of trees. She quickly checked on Valin. Her apprentice had easily figured out how to duplicate the maneuver. The two X-wings pressed into the forest standing between them and their targets.

Rane exhibited skills rivaling his brother, weaving the modified TIE toward the objective, using occasional guidance from Twin Suns Three or Six to alter his course. Jaina and Valin lagged behind. The act of juggling two shadow bombs, guiding them behind Rane's life force, and keeping her X-wing on track took its toll physically. Beads of perspiration formed on Jaina's forehead. She balanced her stick between her knees in order to swipe the sweat from under her visor.

Rane's voice jolted her hands back to the stick. "I have one range in sight…No, make that two."

Jaina reached for Rane, then extended her senses beyond him. In her burgeoning Force abilities, the rakamats were easy to find. Their movements were possible to detect, even predict. "Okay, Spike Lead, roll back. I can take it from here."

Rane's confusion was apparent in his voice. "Don't you need me to guide them in?"

"Negative, I can handle it. I just needed you to get me there."

Rane responded with a comm click. Jaina hurried the shadow bombs toward their respective targets. She was really struggling at that point so Jaina wasted little time. Both detonated simultaneously, blasting the enormous Yuuzhan Vong walkers into chunks of blue-green skin attached to torn hunks of flesh. The three Alliance fighters rocked with the concussion of the explosions as they backed away before being discovered.

The two X-wings and then Rane's clawcraft emerged from the tree line. Kyp's voice rang like joyous music in Jaina's ears. "Twin Suns Lead, are you having all the fun without me?"

Jag sat in the darkness of his cockpit, the only light coming from the dash and the heads up display showing a three-dimensional image of the activity outside the confines of the cloak. The randomizing imager was an ingenious invention necessary for a cloaked fighter to become possible. It provided sufficient detail to allow the pilots to maneuver safely behind the confines of the cloak.

The interdictors had brought their gravity well generators on-line hoping to draw any arriving Yuuzhan Vong strike group out of hyperspace well before it could pin down the Galactic Alliance fleet. The pilots of his squadron had their orders to attack the point vessel and disable it while cloaked. This tactic, combined with the interdiction, would throw the arriving fleet into disarray. Also waiting to jump to their position were the Ralroost, Blackmoon Squadron and the Dozen along with several other support vessels.

Jag kept a close eye on the heads up display. The usual distortion of space that accompanied a drop from hyperspace would not be apparent, so Vanguards would have to wait until any vessel had completed its drop to start an attack. As if a window to his thoughts, a Kor Chokk grand cruiser appeared in the blink of an eye, dwarfing the two interdictors in its mass.

Pressing his stick forward, Jag urged maximum acceleration from his fighter. Vanguards hoped to prevent most of the four wings of coralskippers from disembarking. The interdictors were already pouring fire in the direction of the cruiser, which was slow to respond. The interdiction had caught the ambushing strike group in an unexpected reversal of fortune, leaving the hunter now the prey. From every possible vector, Vanguard fighters descended upon the unsuspecting vessel.

As the first skips emerged from the cruiser, several Vanguards loosed their torpedoes, allowing them to hurtle silently under their own impulsion. As each completed his or her task, the pilots banked their clawcraft away. In the confines of the cloak bubble, the shockwaves of the explosions rocking the grand cruiser were the only indication of success. Based on his readouts, Jag guessed fifty percent of the torpedoes reached their objective without running into a void. Not quite as efficient as the Jedi technique, but successful nonetheless.

Several frigate analogs accompanying the grand cruiser appeared in space, at various points around the ship. At the same time, the Ralroost jumped into the fray, followed by the Dozen and Blackmoon Squadron. Jag switched off his cloak; it suddenly became a hazard with this much traffic. All around Vanguards were emerging from the anonymity of their dark shells.

A quick assessment of the situation revealed the grand cruiser aflame from bow to stern. The cloaked attack had achieved its objective. Most of the coral skippers housed in the cruiser never made it out of their berths. The Ralroost, though not a match in sheer size, was making easy work of the floundering vessel. The skips that did make it to space were greatly outnumbered.

Jag called to his squadron. "Vanguards, let's form up. We'll work on putting an end to some of the larger analogs so we can get back to the real battle."

Jaina laid her X-wing back so it paralleled the ground, floating on its repulsors out of the cover of the forest. Kyp followed behind her, waiting to detonate the shadow bombs under the last range left on the battlefield.

Once Kyp returned, Jaina had sent Valin to join Two Flight down yet another pilot. In the moment of quiet, hovering in relative safety, she reached for her apprentice in the Force. From their connection, she sensed his exhaustion and emotional turmoil. Jaina offered him a brush of support. She started to back away from the connection and reach for the other Jedi in the battle meld when a sudden flash of pain pierced her awareness.

A heartbeat later, a piece of Jaina's heart wept for the loss of a dear friend and fellow Jedi. Lowie had vanished from the Force-meld in a glorious blaze. A chorus of voiceless cries sounded along the battle meld, and the Jedi found solace in each other. As a united front, they sharpened their resolve to not allow Lowbacca's death or the deaths of so many others to be in vain.

In their personal connection, Jaina felt Kyp release the destruction of the shadow bomb on the range. His satisfaction in inflicting justice burned for a brief second until the Jedi Master recognized it and stifled the harmful emotions, realizing full well the error of such thoughts. Kyp and Jaina comforted each other as they waited for Rane to return from the cover of the trees.

Kyp already knew where Jaina intended to go. Jaina figured Rane, with the faster vehicle, would follow her anywhere, so she spun her X-wing as the clawcraft emerged in the clearing. The voxyn adorned snubfighter blasted away flanked by one X-wing and one clawcraft. Twin Suns Three and Six joined the formation, vectoring in from above.

The ground assault had been beaten back at most points except on the southeastern side of the city. Based on a brief conversation overheard on the command frequency, the problem rested in the fact that the slave warriors used at that location were kidnapped refugees controlled by implants and not Chazrach slaves. The members of the Naboo Defense Force were hesitant to fire on possible family members and friends.

Flying toward the south, the advancing mass of slaves was impressive. Jaina sensed the muted life forces of the indentured warriors, who would not stop until they either reached their goal or died trying. Unlike the members of the Naboo Defense Force, the slaves did not possess the freedom of will to choose against fighting. The Thrall herders compelled them to press on, marching north into the city.

Jaina knew at some point the refugees defending Theed would have to choose to either fight back or die. That decision was growing closer with every passing second. Jaina recognized the call of the Thrall herders growing stronger within her, the closer they flew to the advancing columns. She could feel the compulsion to move forward, the command to kill all that lay in their track. It was the will of the Yuuzhan Vong imposed on the masses of innocents, who were helpless to fight it. If only there was a way to overcome that strong compulsion, the senseless slaughter could be avoided. An idea came to Jaina in a burst of revelation a heartbeat later.

Jaina reached forward and dialed an old smuggler's frequency. "Dad?"

"Go ahead, kid."

"Can you get Jacen and bring him to the southeastern side of the city?"

"Anything for you, sweetheart."

Jaina knew Jacen had an important role in the battle meld but the ground assult was quickly becoming a priority. In their connection, she knew the battle was going well. The late arriving strike group was being pummeled, out of the fight before it ever got into it. Another worldship had joined Domain Lah in the battle around Shimmra's worldship. Jacen had no control on the outcome of that battle. However, the outcome of the overall battle could be determined here on Naboo; Jaina was sure of it.

The defense of the City was pivotal in the campaign. Exactly how, Jaina could not say. She had a plan, but Jaina could not accomplish it alone. She would need help from many places. She pointed the nose of her snubfighter toward a large courtyard in advance of the approaching squads of slave warriors, right inside the city walls.

She keyed her comm. "Three and Six, thanks for the cover. Report to Rogue Lead." Two comm clicks followed as the pair of X-wings banked toward the dogfight over Theed. "Nine, I need you to make your way to my location. We have some Jedi business to attend to."

"On my way, Lead."

"Spike Lead, you can't help us down there."

Jaina heard the reluctance in Rane's voice. "Be careful. I made a promise…"

"I won't let you fail the family mantra."

"I'll hold you to that. Clear skies, Jaina."

Rane's clawcraft peeled away as Jaina and Kyp lowered their snubfighters to the brick pavers of the courtyard. Jaina released the canopy and climbed out into the bright sunshine of late afternoon. They had been fighting since early morning, stopping only to refuel. This was her first breath of fresh air in some time.

Her hair was drenched with sweat as it fell from the confines of her helmet. Jaina removed the band that held the long brown braid in place, shaking the wet tendrils free. A light breeze cooled her scalp as Kyp approached. Jaina dropped out of her cockpit as Valin's fighter eased its descent to the ground. Kyp stopped at Jaina's side, his green eyes studying her carefully as Jaina sensed his additional study in the Force.

"I'm fine." She reassured him.

"I'm still worried about you."

Jaina reached up to place her palm on his cheek where a burn marred his skin. She sensed a myriad of other injuries from the grutchin attack. He placed his hand on hers.

"Nothing a healing trance can't fix on both of us after all this is over." She smiled and her face lit up.

Kyp was sure she had never looked more beautiful. The beauty came from within and poured out in the blinding strength of the Force. Her beauty resonated from her quiet confidence. He smiled back. Both turned to greet Valin sprinting over from his X-wing. Jaina drew her hand away from Kyp as she withdrew behind her command face.

"Are you ready for this, Valin? It's time for the big one."

Unlike her earlier assessment of the young man, he now looked eager. There was a flash in his eyes. Jaina figured the opportunity to flex his Jedi skills by her side was buoying high spirits. Later when the day was finally over, he would remember the horror of it all, but right now eager would do.

His question confirmed her suspicions. "Who are we going to fight?"

Jaina grinned. "Sometimes our biggest battles aren't won by fighting alone, Valin. Today is going to be one of those days."

Valin cocked an eyebrow curiously. Kyp laughed and slapped the young Jedi on the back. "Just stick with me, kid. We'll get plenty of playtime with the lightsabers. Leave all the hard stuff and glory to the Goddess over there."

The three Jedi could feel the vibrations of the approaching army before they could hear or see it. The thundering footfalls of the Thrall herder's cilia throbbed above all else. Jaina reached for Jacen. He was near, but she was out of time. She would have to start without him.

Jaina glanced at Kyp, who tipped his head. Satisfied he knew the plan, she headed down the cobbled road in the direction of the slave army passing through the wall defining the city limits. The road ahead had a slight bend, which shielded the mass of bodies so that the sheer numbers were hard to appreciate. One dome-shaped Thrall herder came into view first, then another, looking like an enormous beetle riding a sea of legs. The sheer numbers of bodies following was mind-boggling.

By the time the full company of slaves was in view, Jaina counted ten Thrall herders controlling thousands of slaves. She stopped in the middle of the road, directly in their path. Kyp and Valin flanked her on either side. Jaina studied the opposition as she addressed Valin.

"Keep your guard up and watch your weak side." She looked him in the eye. "Above all else, listen to Kyp. I'll be too busy to help."

The young man lowered his eyes in understanding. Jaina turned back to face the closing mass of beings, mindlessly intent on destruction. She took two steps forward and spread her feet to balance herself. As Jaina turned her focus inward to the awareness of the Yuuzhan Vong, her hands drifted away from her sides, her palms turned up to the sky. The draw on the Force had begun.

Jaina visualized guiding the power in through her hands, directing it to her awareness, to the call of the Thrall herders throbbing within her. As the power built, she began to twist the desire to destroy, the dark intent, and blasted it with the heat of the light, the glowing power of the Force.

Her eyes had shut but Jaina sensed the closeness of the army. There were individual Yuuzhan Vong warriors guiding the controlling beasts from the ground. Jaina heard one, then another lightsaber ignite followed by a cry. "Jeedai!"

She blocked it all out, leaving her faith in Kyp to be her protection. Jaina kept blasting away at the dark compulsion, the will to destroy, beating away at it with the love of life. Jaina sensed a sudden shift. The Thrall herders continued on but the slaves were slowing, faltering. The corner of Jaina's mouth twisted up slightly and fell as quickly when the darkness swelled to engulf everything around it as if the volume had been turned up to maximum. The sheer power of it began to overwhelm her.

Making his way to the cockpit of the Falcon, Jacen passed Meewalh dragging the inanimate Threepio out of the corridor. He reached his destination just as the freighter blasted out of the hangar of the Trickster's Sword. His focus was still on the battle meld so his moves were slow and deliberate.

Leia turned in the co-pilot's seat to acknowledge her son's arrival, but held her tongue as she noted the concentration highlighted by grim lines around his eyes. Jacen finished his communication with the other Jedi, pinching off his connections and ending his role in the battle meld. He grasped the back of his father's chair as the Falcon spiraled among a volley of slag.

Laser fire ripped from the top quad cannons. Jacen offered his mother a reassuring smile, then quickly took a seat behind her. Han shot a grin over his shoulder. "Hey, kid. What trouble has your sister wrangled you into?"

It never failed to amaze Jacen that his father could still find joy in the moment. Jacen curled his mouth up in a semblance of his father's famous grin. "Stopping a whole legion of Yuuzhan Vong slaves."

"That's all?" The levity in Han's voice did not hide the concern in his heart. His children were grown adults, experienced Jedi in their own rights, but that would never stop him from worrying. The hole in his heart left by Anakin's death would make that impossible.

Han guided the Falcon across Theed, heading for the southeastern tip. The massive slave army stretched as far as the eye could see, moving along the road like a river of bodies. Galactic Alliance fighters were diverting from the west to hold coralskippers at bay as it became apparent this particular approach was rapidly becoming critical to the battle. Just inside the city walls, the Defense Force soldiers, a ragtag assortment of refugees banded together for the sake of their survival, were dug into strongholds in an attempt to make a stand.

Between the Defense Force and the Yuuzhan Vong stood three figures, just outside the city walls. Two of them, dressed in orange flightsuits, brandished lightsabers whipping in a wild defense as Yuuzhan Vong warriors charged the trio. In the middle, dressed in her purple flightsuit, stood Jaina, her hands outstretched and her head tilted to the sky. The advancing walls of slaves seemed to have stopped as the Falcon lowered on its repulsors behind the X-wings.

Jacen jumped out of his seat. Leia grabbed his wrist before he could leave. "Take care of her."

"I will."

Leia squeezed his wrist once, then let him go. Jacen raced through the corridor and slapped the ramp controls on using the Force, well before he got to them. Jacen charged along the lowering ramp, leaping off way before the freighter touched down. He used the Force to slow his drop.

Jaina had managed to slow the advance, but Jacen, who had switched between his Force and Vongsense, could feel the Thrall herders fight back. As he ran up behind his sister, Jaina's hands lowered as if in defeat. Then he realized they weren't lowering; she was reaching back to him, asking for his help. Jacen grabbed the nearest hand, adding his strength to her own. Through their twin bond, Jacen was able to use his empathy for the Vong to guide Jaina's Force control. The memory of his communication with the slave seed inside him showed his sister a more effective manner to deliver her message.

The advancing army began to falter again. The Thrall herders slid back and forth in agitation. Jacen's connection to Jaina in the Force grew until he was capable of operating on both levels, his Vongsense combining with his Force skills. Like a light coming on, he found the path to link the two. Suddenly, Jacen was able to double the strength of his twin, not simply guide it.

The power of the Force was indescribable. Jaina's control of it had grown past even Jacen's wildest imaginings for his sister. The call of the Thrall herders pulsed in desperation. At each dip in power, Jaina pushed harder against the ebbing strength, demanding the thousands of slave seeds heed her will, and her will was to release the slaves from their bonds. The flow of the Force into the twins was so intense that the energy whipped the air around them until the flow dried the sweat from Jaina's brow as her hair danced all around.

Jaina finally opened her eyes to see what Jacen already knew. Kyp and Valin stood at the ready, at least a dozen dead warriors at their feet. Some of the slaves were putting down their weapons and wandering around in a state of confusion. The Thrall herders, urged by their masters, were turning into the masses, pushing them aside easily. One Yuuzhan Vong warrior struck down a slave.

Jaina never faltered in her quest; she kept guiding the light of freedom into the slave seeds of every refugee slave. Then, it happened. One slave, then another and another, struck back at the tattooed warriors until they disappeared under a sea of revolt.

The Thrall herders panicked and charged into the columns, but the freed slaves had decided to silence the wretched creatures once and for all. They clawed and jumped and pulled their way onto the beasts. The call of the dying Thrall herders grew in a crescendo and faded away one at a time until they were all silent.

The river of power flowing through the twins slowed to a trickle, dimming to a normal level. Kyp came to Jaina's side. Valin remained motionless, his hands dropping to his sides in disbelief at what had come to pass. Jaina remembered to give him a reassuring brush and comforting smile before turning inward. Jacen gripped her hand tighter as Kyp grasped her other elbow. Without their combined strength she would have crumbled to the ground. Kyp turned to Valin.

"Go to your fighter and check in."

Valin nodded and left at a jog. Kyp turned back to Jaina. "Are you okay?"

Jaina nodded, her eyes were glazed and distant. Jacen placed his hand across her stomach and probed her child gently. "The baby is fine. I think her Mom just needs a recharge…"

Footsteps from behind interrupted the conversation. Jaina was engulfed in an uncharacteristic emotional hug from Leia as the older woman pushed Kyp and Jacen out of the way. Han wrapped an arm around Jacen and knuckled his head. Leia stepped back from her pliable daughter, a flash of concern formed in the mother's eyes. Before she could speak, Han ripped his daughter from Leia's grasp. Kyp and Jacen were grateful when Han picked Jaina up in a crushing embrace. Both were sure she would have collapsed otherwise.

"You did it. Sweet Force, you did it, Jaina!

Jacen and Kyp cast a questioning glance at Leia. She smiled brightly. "The Supreme Overlord just surrendered."

End of Chapter 29
TKL/h94