CHAPTER 31 - Seeing is Believing
Jaina watched Jacen and Kyp disappear and much of her strength left with them. She thought her knees would buckle when a firm hand grasped her elbow. Jaina turned to see the face of Iella's blonde-haired aide, but the Force aura beamed with the power of her former Master. Jaina gratefully accepted Mara's strength as it flowed into her, filling her rapidly depleting stores.
Jaina drew herself up tall, not wanting the remaining Yuuzhan Vong to see any sign of weakness. Suddenly, a cold terror seized her body. The Force flowed back into her with a renewed surge of adrenaline. Jaina's eyes blackened over as her head snapped upward.
She whispered the first time. "Run."
The second time it was a command. "Run!"
Sprinting toward the four Yuuzhan Vong delegates, Jaina waved her hands, trying to get their attention. The other Jedi were hurrying along at her side, sensing the urgency. They were all faster. Luke and Mara grabbed the Yuuzhan Vong, shoving them in a desperate manner toward the entrance of the Great Hall, which appeared miles away.
Valin quickly realized his Master was falling behind. All the other Jedi were near the exit, escorting the remaining Galactic Alliance delegates out. The apprentice turned back just as Jaina stumbled. He grasped her arm, hoisting Jaina back to her feet. Together, they ran and stumbled to the exit. A sonic boom erupted as they passed through the front doors, followed by an enormous explosion.
The Jedi took cover wherever possible as burning coral rained down from the sky. Valin ended up on top of Jaina, shielding her body. She was almost positive she heard the familiar roar of the Falcon's engines. Jaina assured herself she was delirious as her world dimmed to darkness. The protective cover around her disappeared, but the serenity of the quiet in her mind still beckoned her to remain where she was.
"Master?" Valin whispered while he shook Jaina's shoulder when she was slow to rise. "Lieutenant Colonel Solo?"
A sharp voice, equally as hushed, pierced her dark haven. "Jaina, get to your feet." It was an order not to be ignored.
Mara's hand grasped Jaina's upper arm and pulled as she struggled to rise. A new jolt of energy passed into Jaina as she met Mara's unmistakable eyes hidden behind an odd face. Jaina nodded, and Mara released her hold.
The Jedi milled around checking everyone's status. A pair of Jedi escorted the remaining Yuuzhan Vong to the safety of their ships as the growing crowd made its presence known.
Mara left Jaina's side to seek out her husband. She approached from behind and tapped him on the shoulder. It startled Mara to see Tycho's face turn to greet her. His budding smile disappeared when he caught the concern flowing in their bond.
"Mara?"
"Luke, go get the Shadow fired up."
She started to turn away as he called after her, halting her retreat. "Is something wrong?"
The flash in her eye warned him that she meant business. Trusting her judgment, Luke tipped his head and trotted off for the old Palace hangar without further prompting. Mara walked back to Jaina, who was hugging Valin in a combination of relief and gratitude. Mara interrupted the Master-apprentice bonding.
"Valin, get your father and Tahiri – they are the two who look like Wedge and Iella Antilles. Tell them I am taking Jaina back to the Shadow. We should all meet at the Trickster's Sword. I'll need an escort from Twin Suns as well. Your father will know who to contact."
The young Jedi knew better than to question Mara Jade Skywalker. He bolted in the direction of the man who looked like Wedge. Mara put a hand on Jaina's arm, sending her more strength as she sensed her niece fading.
"We need to get you out of here."
Jaina nodded as her eyes appeared to glass over. The two women headed for the steps and halted at the sight of the amassing crowd below. Beneath her hand, Mara felt her niece's body straighten as the gathering revelers fell silent at the sight of Jaina. Mara glanced over at the young woman. The fire in her eye had returned, shining brighter than ever, and a small smile cracked her lips.
Jag circled his X-wing around the open square before the steps to the Great Hall. Snubfighters lowered on repulsors all around as beings of every possible origin raced to the base of the steps leading to the Great Hall. Jag ripped off his helmet well before the canopy had a chance to open completely.
People were funneling past in greater and greater numbers. When Jag dropped to the ground, he looked up at the Great Hall, where the soldiers of the Naboo Defense Force were holding back the general masses from racing up the steps.
Other Twin Suns pilots were pushing through the crowd already. Jag sprinted to catch them. There was plenty of backslapping to go around as the pilots eased to the front. The crowd seemed to part and make way for the heroes. Once past the crush and free of the confines of the masses, Jag came upon Wedge and Tycho in a fierce embrace. Wedge pulled back, shaking Tycho by the shoulders.
"That was one brave, crazy stunt you tried to pull."
Jag slapped a hand down on Tycho's shoulders. The three men exchanged beaming grins. Before more could be said, a hush fell over the crowd, catching their attention. Jag followed the lead of everyone around him, staring up the length of the stairs.
At the top was the most wondrous sight he had ever seen. Jaina had walked to the edge of the stairs, a blonde woman at her side. The effects of the day were fully evident in the lackluster look of her sweat-dampened hair, the grime on her flightsuit and the pallor of her skin. None of that mattered because she was alive.
Jaina was peering down into the crowd. It only took a heartbeat for her eyes to make contact with his. The hint of a smile breached her lips, meant for him alone. Jag did not remember moving his feet, but he found himself closer and closer, jumping three steps with every stride. Seconds later, he was standing before her; two steps down, so they were eye to eye. He wanted to remember her face at this moment; he tried to savor every second.
For some reason his hands lacked patience. They cupped her face, desperate for a touch. Jag realized he still had on his gloves. He ripped off one and then the other, using his teeth to aid the process. The gloves fell away forgotten, and Jag's palms found the silky skin of Jaina's face. His lips, jealous of his hands, rushed forward of their own accord.
Jaina, expecting a feathering of a kiss at best, met his mouth with the gentleness she predicted. Jag was not going to be bound by his own inhibitions on this day though. His kiss demanded a response. There was no question of their love before all these witnesses. Jaina's lips parted, and he plunged into her mouth wantonly. The force of his passion caused Jaina to fade away, but Jag wrapped a hand around her tiny body until they touched from top to bottom.
Jaina's arms snaked around his neck, and Jag felt free at last as he hugged his wife so hard her feet came off the steps. The noise of the hoots and whistles from below finally broke through their intimate reunion. Jaina pulled her head away first. Jag followed with his hungry lips until the kiss broke.
A grin from ear to ear stretched across Jaina's face. Jag flashed a smile back as he let her slide down his body until her feet hit the same step he was on. Jaina's cheek ended up resting on his chest. She was obviously not willing to share the moment with anyone else. Her hands skimmed his chest then dug into his flightsuit. He barely heard her speak over the swelling roar of the gathering crowd.
"Let's get out of here."
Jag wrapped one of his hands firmly around hers before spinning around to face the crowd, hand in hand. The whistles and cheers mounted with renewed intensity as he started down the steps. Jaina matched his pace, her hand clutching to his fiercely. The cluster of Twin Suns and Vanguard pilots sprinted up to meet them, each offering congratulations with a pat on the shoulder or a ruffle of the hair. Some were even brazen enough to plant a kiss or two on an unsuspecting Jaina.
As Gavin offered his best wishes to the couple, Jag queried him with a chuckle. "So which Rogue won the bet?"
Gavin had the appearance of a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar, but recovered gracefully. "I think Yril Grof."
"Send him our regards."
Jag was not initially aware of the blonde Galactic Alliance delegate who had followed them down the steps, but that changed as she prodded him forward before he could exchange any more jibes. As they entered the crowd, he realized it parted before them, opening a path as the female delegate forged out ahead. Jag presumed the woman was one of the disguised Jedi by the ease at which she moved people aside.
A sense of urgency tainted her effort despite her outwardly calm demeanor. The sea of well-wishers followed the couple through the courtyard like a swelling tide. The blonde woman indicated a passage between two buildings. Jag led Jaina by the hand into the dark alleyway, and the woman turned back to confront the crowd, which broke against an unseen barrier like a crashing wave. Jag heard the woman speak, but he could not make out what she said as the distance between them grew.
He hurried down the dark alley, dragging Jaina behind him. He was anxious to have her all to himself, but he was more concerned with putting sufficient distance between them and the crowd. The alley wound around to the right. Turning the corner, Jag felt Jaina slow behind him. He turned to check on her progress with a smile.
His smile disappeared as Jag watched Jaina collapse to the ground, her eyes rolled back in her head. The joy in his heart fled, to be replaced by a feeling of dread. It had been too much to think everything would turn out like the ending to one of his mother's holodramas. He fell to his knees, pulling Jaina's lifeless body into his arms. His voice sounded distant and weak as he cried out her name.
"Jaina?"
There was not even the slightest of stirring. Jag clutched her body, then dropped his ear to her heart. A heartbeat sounded as her chest rose and fell softly. Jag picked his head up and used his palm to ease her head into the crook of his arm. He caressed her cheek as tears dripped off his own cheek, falling on her eyelids.
"Jaina, please…"
Not even a hint of life could be found except the shallow fall of her chest. Jag felt something wet against his arm. He found the wound in her shoulder, now pouring freely because Jaina's Force control was no longer stifling the blood flow to the injury site. He shook her gently, taking care to not unsettle the wound further.
"Sweet Force, don't take her from me now!"
Mara's voice startled him. "Pick her up, Jag. We have to hurry."
Jag glanced up to see the blond woman who had been leading them through the crowd. There was no hesitation on his part once he recognized the urgency in her voice. Jag rose swiftly with Jaina cradled against his chest. Mara was already leading the way through a maze of alleys. Jag followed, practically at a run. He had to stop once to adjust Jaina when her head flopped over his arm.
Mara turned back, now free of her ooglith masquer. "Hurry!" Her tone was forceful, but not harsh.
Jag resumed his trek along the hidden corridors of the Palace ruins. Mara stopped ahead and activated a door. Jag found himself stepping into a hangar. The Jade Shadow sat in the middle with its engines humming. Mara, then Jag, skimmed up the ramp, Mara stopping at the top to slap the ramp controls.
She shouted toward the cockpit. "Make like your brother-in-law in the Kessel Run. Head straight for that Supe."
The ship lifted on its repulsors as Mara indicated for Jag to head away from the cockpit down a corridor. The hall ended in a large common area. Jag placed Jaina on a bench that could serve as seats for the retracted table. The redheaded Jedi knelt down beside Jag, splaying her hand across Jaina's brow.
Jag watched intently as Mara's face washed over with concentration. He did not realize he was holding his breath until he tried to speak after Mara finally met his green-eyed stare. He had to suck in air to form the words.
"How bad is it?"
"The baby is fine. I am not sure what exactly is causing her collapse. Other than her wound, she shows no other major injuries, but she is very weak in the Force."
Jag glanced at Jaina, brushing a tendril of hair off her forehead tenderly with one finger as he spoke. "She was infected by a Vong bioweapon on Bimmisaari. She has been fighting it ever since. Today may have been too much. We had to try to stop it here for our daughter's sake."
When Jag turned back to Mara, he saw a flash of unadulterated hatred in her eyes. She hissed a question. "Nom Anor - was it Nom Anor?"
Jag nodded. She stood abruptly, her fists clenched. Not once, but twice, Nom Anor had come after her family. It was personal now. Even for a Jedi, it was hard to avoid the trappings of hate in this circumstance. He had put Mara through her own hell, and now the same terrible pain had fallen on Jaina. Her niece had willingly risked everything, including her very life, to end the war. It was an act of desperation that she might still pay dearly for.
Items around the room actually vibrated for a moment. Then after a few deep breaths, Mara's stance softened, and her hands relaxed. The Jedi Master knelt back down on one knee, in full control of her faculties again. There were a thousand unasked questions spinning in her mind.
Instead of fulfilling her own curiosity, Mara turned to Jaina and grasped her hand. She glanced down as her fingers met the sensation of cool metal. Mara spied the golden band on Jaina's ring finger. She raised an eyebrow as she turned to Jag.
"I guess the baby is one of many secrets she has been keeping."
Jag never flinched from the remark. He faced the truth with the same fierce determination that had become his trademark. "We did what we had to do."
Mara turned her gaze to Jaina. "I believe that, Jag. Now it's time to let everyone around you help. I, for one, will do whatever necessary to ensure you have your family – safe and whole. It is the least I can do in return for the happiness you have given her."
Kyp trailed after Jacen through the twist and turns of the Palace ruins. He used the Force to regulate his breathing and buoy his strength as the ceaseless exertions of the day wore at his body. For a minute, Kyp envied the youthful energy of the younger Jedi ahead of him. Then, he forced the thoughts from his mind to focus on the task before him.
Catching Nom Anor could prove crucial to finding a cure for Jaina's infection. The slippery agent would not cooperate freely, but something told Kyp that the former executor was purely interested in saving his own hide. If it took making a deal with evil personified, he would do it to save Jaina.
Jacen pulled up at the end of a corridor. Kyp caught up seconds later, stopping by the younger man. Jacen was standing stock-still, his eyes closed in concentration. His breathing was regular and effortless for the energy he had just expelled. A frown crept across his lips as his eyes opened.
"I lost him. I can't feel him anymore; it's like he disappeared into thin air."
Kyp wrought with frustration kicked the ground as he cursed vehemently. "Son of a Sith!"
Jacen waited patiently for the Jedi Master to rein in his emotions, storming to and fro along the empty hallway. It took a dozen heartbeats for calm to return to Kyp. He walked back to Jacen, and the two men exchanged looks of disappointment.
"Any ideas?"
Jacen shook his head, the pain of his own shortcomings evident. "I guess head back. I am worried about Jaina; she was not doing well when we left. I wouldn't have left except Mara had everything covered."
Kyp's voice betrayed his surprise. "Mara knows?"
Jacen started to retrace their steps with Kyp in tow. "Jaina needed help during the fight with Shimmra."
"Why didn't she ask one of us?"
Jacen grinned. "I think it was a woman thing." Kyp's brows furrowed in obvious confusion. "No man will ever be able to measure up when it comes to motherly instincts. I guess Jaina would rather risk Mara's wrath than ask a man to protect her child."
Suddenly, Jacen's step quickened. Kyp picked up on the anxiety flowing off Jacen. He stretched out his senses in the Force. He might be attuned to Jaina, but Jacen was still her twin. Kyp would never be able to match Jaina's twin in reading her in the Force. Kyp instantly realized what was the cause of his concern. Jaina was fading and fading fast. Seconds later she was gone. Without a word both men took off at a run.
Leia and Han knew they could not get through the throngs of celebrants filling the square before the Great Hall. By the time they found a place to park the Falcon, the crowd was too thick so Han dragged Leia up to one of the balconies overlooking the square. Both parents caught sight of Jaina and another woman cresting the steps leading to the Great Hall of Naboo.
Leia knew in her heart both Jaina and Jacen were alive, but being able to see her daughter was a moment to treasure nonetheless. She grabbed Han's hand instinctively. Her husband beamed down at her, his eyes happy yet not fulfilled.
"Where's Jacen?"
Leia seemed to focus inward for a moment before she spoke. "He left a while ago. He's fine."
Han flashed her a patented grin. "Of course, he is. Those two seem to have stolen all the Solo luck." Han's grin faded slightly, and Leia glanced back at Jaina to see a dark-haired man in a black flightsuit sprint up the steps. "The Prince arrives."
Leia used her free hand to box Han's shoulder playfully; her eyes, however, never left Jaina. Watching her daughter visibly declare her love with a kiss that would make any parent blush paled to the emotions blaring in the Force. For one second her daughter's shields fell away, and Leia experienced, albeit vicariously, pure bliss. Then the moment was gone; Jaina hidden again in her self imposed prison.
Leia's hand went to her mouth to stifle a sob. Han wrestled his wife into his arms, squeezing for all he was worth as they watched the joyous reunion
Han jested, his voice filled with a light tone. "He better let her up for air, or she'll faint from lack of oxygen. That kiss gives new meaning to the expression weak in the knees."
Leia giggled against her husband's chest. He may have been acting the part of the overprotective parent, but the scene unfolding on the steps of the Great Hall genuinely thrilled him. As Jaina pulled away first, Han commented.
"That a girl! Do your father proud and play hard to get."
Leia lifted her head where it had found comfort against the solid warmth of her husband and watched Jag grab Jaina's hand. The young couple started down the steps. "Where are they going?"
"Probably trying to run off. They're not getting away that easy though." Han grabbed his wife's hand, pulling her away from the balcony. "Come on. We're going to catch them."
The Solo couple ran down the flight of stairs, back to ground level. At the bottom, Han stopped to address his wife. "Leia, where did she go?"
Leia balked for a second. Except for that brief moment earlier, Jaina had remained behind a firm shield, rendering her all but invisible in the Force. "I am not sure I can tell."
She stared into Han's eyes, which seemed to demand she try at least with an arched brow. Leia nodded, then closed her eyes, reaching for Jaina through the tendrils and pathways of knowledge flowing in the Force. Leia gasped with surprise when she found her easily, not even a hint of a shield.
Suddenly, Leia found her husband's arms around her, supporting her weight. Leia's eyes flew open when she realized her legs had given out beneath her momentarily. A hint of concern tainted Han's voice. "Leia?"
She pushed away from her husband, locking her knees, but her hand remained clutching his arm. She had to strain her neck to meet his concerned stare. "Something is wrong. She was there, just for a second, and then she was gone."
A beeping comlink disrupted any further discussion. Han patted his pockets hurriedly, trying to find the device. Leia calmly fished it out. "Jacen?"
"Mom, no time to explain. Take the Falcon to the Trickster's Sword. I'll meet you there."
Jacen was waiting at the bottom of the Falcon's ramp as Han and Leia disembarked. He did not talk, rather simply waved his arm for them to hurry. The Falcon had been routed to a smaller auxiliary hangar, now packed wall to wall with the Jade Shadow and craft from Twin Suns and Vanguard Squadrons. Other than the sounds of shifting durasteel, cooling from spaceflight, the hangar was eerily quiet as the trio ran across the bay.
Jacen led his parents down a maze of corridors, slowing on several occasions to allow them to catch up, but never close enough to allow either of them to question him. Finally, he disappeared through a door. Han, then Leia, entered the room and found themselves greeted by the concerned stares of a somber gathering. At that moment, both parents realized they were in a medward waiting area.
The crowd stepped aside of its own accord, revealing an observation window. Leia and Han moved toward the window, at first returning the glances of the people in passing. Leia recognized Wedge and Iella, Tycho and a number of Twin Suns and Vanguard pilots on one side. To the other side stood Tahiri, Valin, Corran, and a handful of Jedi. Finally she saw her brother; one look in his eyes turned Leia's blood cold as ice water. She had only seen that look once before, when Anakin had died.
Leia averted her eyes, fixing them on the window and the events unfolding in the next room. Laying on the medbunk, Jaina could have been mistaken for a doll, she was so still. Her skin was the color of the finest Alderaanian porcelain. Leia stopped at the window, placing a palm against the cool surface.
Cilghal walked past with a medscanner in hand. Mara was parked in a chair, immersed deep in a trance; her hands wrapped around one of Jaina's tiny hands. Leia hardly noticed Han's fingers digging into her shoulder; she was so intent on watching Cilghal's progress.
The Jedi healer ran the scanner over Jaina, stopping it several times, once at her shoulder, another time near her heart and finally near her stomach. Cilghal turned to address the medical droid, pointing to the obvious wound on the left shoulder. Leia caught the Mon Calamari native's face in full view for a heartbeat, and the grim expression was telling. All was not well concerning her daughter.
Cilghal pulled a screen across to hide Jaina from view and allow the droids to work on her battered body free from prying eyes. Leia could not even sense her daughter when she reached for her in the Force. Someone was shielding her. Cilghal, meanwhile, crossed the room, heading for the door.
As the healer entered the waiting room, everyone turned to await some news. Leia, fully expecting the Mon Cal to stop in front of Han and herself as she crossed the room, was stunned when she continued right past. Dumbfounded, both parents, watched as Cilghal wound her way to Jag, who was hidden in a corner, seated in a chair with his head in his hands. Kyp stood beside him, offering support to a man that appeared inconsolable.
Cilghal spoke, and Leia strained to hear. "Colonel Fel, I need to have a word with you in private."
Jag glanced up, his eyes red-rimmed. He noticed the others in the room as if he was unaware of their presence until that very moment. A mask fell across his face before he stood, revealing bloodstains smattered across the darkness of his flightsuit, and tipped his head in agreement.
Han had followed Cilghal over to the corner. When she pivoted to lead Jag to some much-desired privacy, the healer ended face-to-face with Jaina's father.
"How's my daughter?"
Cilghal's words were kind but forceful as she blinked her bulbous eyes. "As soon as I speak to Colonel Fel, I will come back out and address your questions."
Cilghal dismissed him as she started past when Han gripped her slender arm. Before Han could speak, Kyp came between the healer and the father, pushing Han back with a palm placed squarely on his chest.
"You'll get your turn, Han."
Cilghal and Jag sped away as Han puffed up at the Jedi Master, flashing him a look of betrayal. Han bounced a finger off Kyp's chest as he spoke. "That's my daughter. No boyfriend is going to take precedence over…" Leia's hand grabbed Han's arm to stop his assault. He shot his wife an equally icy glare. "What!"
"Han, please stop. This is not…"
"Not the time! The hell it is. My daughter is lying in there, and I have every right – no, we have every right to know what is happening."
"Han, be quiet!" The snap in Leia's voice would have silenced a Gamorrean chorus. Han's mouth flapped open, then shut again after a silent pause. The room was utterly devoid of sound, the tension palpable.
Unable to do anything else, both parents turned to watch Jag cross the next room. The screen was opened as the medical droids bustled away, their work complete. Jaina's shoulder was wrapped in a bacta bandage, her flightsuit gone, replaced by a plain white hospital gown. Jag leaned over the bed, then smoothed his palm across her forehead tenderly before placing a kiss there.
The young colonel left the back of his hand against her cheek as he straightened to talk to Cilghal. The conversation was brief, once his eyes diverted from the healer to gaze at Leia and Han. His look brought a sudden knot to the pit of Leia's stomach. Jag had news of his own, and Leia imagined she was not going to like it one bit.
"This was not how we planned on telling her parents, but I suppose there is no way around it now." Jag left his hand on Jaina's cheek as he spoke. "I appreciate the opportunity to hear the news first. I know we put you in an awkward situation."
Cilghal dipped her amphibious head slowly. "That does not concern me. I would do it all again."
"I will tell Han and Leia about the baby." His eyes drifted to glance at Jaina's parents. "Then I will leave the rest to you."
"As you wish."
"Can I have a minute alone with Jaina?"
"Take your time; I will wait by the door." Cilghal stepped away.
Jag knelt by the medbunk. He eyed Mara for a second, slightly uncomfortable with her presence during such an intimate moment. She might as well have been invisible, so utterly lost in her trance. One hand went to Jaina's stomach, the other picked up her limp hand.
"Jaina, I am going to tell your parents about us now. I know you had big plans, but it has become unavoidable with you lying here in a coma. Cilghal says the baby is fine, that you did a wonderful job of protecting her. Mara is helping now. It seems you used your body up today. I didn't even get to tell you how very proud I am of what you did. You won the battle Jaina, but your fight is not over. Keep fighting. I need you; our daughter needs you."
Jag rose enough to place a kiss on her lips before standing completely. He settled her hand down on her abdomen, allowing his fingers to linger. Jag sucked in a breath and straightened his shoulders before marching to the door. He tipped his head to Cilghal. Together, they passed into the waiting room where all eyes were trained on them instantly.
Jag mustered his voice. "I need to speak to Jaina's family privately."
There were murmurs throughout the room. Reluctantly, the crowd began to trickle out. Iella started to follow when Wedge's hand stopped her. A question forming on her lips quickly disappeared at the sight of Rane firmly planted at his uncle's side.
Jag approached Han and Leia; Cilghal stayed respectively behind. As Jag drew up before Jaina's parents, Kyp and Jacen, both behind the couple, held up a blaster a piece for Jag to see. Their comforting smiles as well as their actions offered the support he desired.
Han broke the awkward silence. "So are you going to explain what's going on, Colonel Fel?" His hands went to his hips.
"I will." Jag paused, gathering his scattered wits.
Han was not even going to give him that. "Well?"
Jag swallowed. "Jaina wanted to tell you herself. We wanted to tell you." Jag looked to Leia, staring up with those same soft brown eyes Jaina possessed. It was easier than facing the cold glare of Han Solo. "Jaina and I are married."
"You're what!" Han reached for his blaster, discovering one and then the other conspicuously missing. Further enraged, he threw a finger in Jag's face. "We'll deal with this in a minute."
As Han spun, he caught sight of Leia, one hand at her throat, but his malicious intent did not lessen. On the contrary, the sight of his speechless wife fueled the fire in his belly. Jacen and Kyp remained shielded by an innocent air, their hands conveniently hidden behind their backs.
"Are you two part of this conspiracy?"
Jacen answered "We just don't think Jaina should lose her husband when she needs him the most."
"Give me my blasters, and she won't have a husband to lose. When I am through with him, there will be nothing but atoms left."
Kyp replied this time. "You need to calm down, Han, and let Jag finish. You aren't getting your blasters back anytime soon, so you might as well listen."
"You're a fine one to talk about keeping calm. You're as hot-headed as the next." Han harrumphed, then faced Jag. "As for you, I don't know what kind of stunt you pulled with my daughter. She's just a kid…"
Leia placed a hand on her husband's shoulder. "Let him finish." Then she glanced at Jag, her eyes beseeched him to continue.
"You are mistaken, sir. She is not a child. Jaina defeated the most grievous enemy this galaxy has seen since the Emperor. You must believe me when I say we never intentionally intended to deceive anyone, rather grabbed a chance at happiness amid the insanity of the war."
Han flushed red to the tips of his ears. "That's exactly what you did though – deceive all of us. Isn't it? I guess the chip off the old block couldn't help himself. You're just like the old man, Jag, stealing someone's family right out from under their nose…"
Jag stepped forward suddenly, so he was nose-to-nose with the intimidating Han Solo. A lesser man would have crumbled, but not Jag. He had his father to thank for that. "I'll forgive your slander of my father this once, considering the circumstances, but try it a second time, and you will have to answer for it."
"How dare you threaten me, you pompous Imperial cradle robber!'
Han swung at Jag, who easily deflected the blow. Before Han realized what had happened, all thoughts as to why he was so mad deserted his mind to be replaced by the searing knowledge of the pain emanating from somewhere in his right hand. Jag was behind him now, inflicting the pain with an expertly applied Neroban handhold. Han's right arm, which Jag had wrestled behind his back in the two-second scuffle, was wrenched at an unbelievable angle, rendering Han immobile.
Han groaned as Jag hissed in his ear. "I don't want to hurt you, sir, but if Jaina is any indication, once your temper gets the best of you there is no talking sensibly. So if I must, I will finish what I have to say like this."
Leia spoke up. "That will not be necessary Jag. My husband will respectfully listen to whatever you have to say. We only have Jaina's best interest at heart." Leia eyed Han as she finished. Her final words to her husband were said with the power of the Force to back them. "Won't you, Han?"
Han tipped his head, and Jag released his hold. Han stepped away rubbing his wrist and hand. Jag turned away to stare at Jaina for a moment and gather a new sense of inner peace. He had lost his cool, a mistake he deeply regretted. He shut his eyes for a heartbeat, wishing she could have been the one to tell her parents. So far, the revelation had been a bonafide disaster.
A small hand gripped his; Jag glanced down to see Leia staring up at him. Her eyes held no admonishment or anger, only a shared concern for the one they held dearest in their hearts. Jag gripped her hand back.
"I wish it could be under better circumstances that I tell you this. Jaina was so excited about the news. We had agreed to tell you after this battle." Jag inhaled sharply. "Jaina is pregnant with my child."
Thankfully for all concerned, Han was too dumbstruck to respond because Jag was sure he would have never honored his promise to Leia otherwise. Leia, on the other hand, squeezed Jag's hand like it was keeping her upright. Jag was not sure that might not be the truth when she wavered, and then her free hand came to her mouth to stifle a gasp.
Jag decided the news was absorbed enough to continue. "The pregnancy was not planned, but a blessing nonetheless. Without it, we would never have discovered the Vong bioweapon she was infected with on Bimmisaari."
Jag may have forgotten the room still contained more than he and Jaina's parents until that moment, but the murmurs and nervous shuffling of feet brought all the others into focus. More hushed whisperings followed. Jag glanced from face-to-face, some reflecting the horror of the truth, others filled with unending sadness. Only Luke was an unreadable mask.
Leia's voice brought him back to the moment. "Has the baby been harmed?"
Jag tried to affect a smile; he was sure he failed miserably. "The baby is safe so far. Jaina has managed to protect the baby at a cost to her own health. Today was more than her body could take, even with the help of others." Jag looked to Cilghal. "I really should let Cilghal explain the specifics. If you'll excuse me, I would like to be with my wife."
Jag squeezed Leia's hand once more, then turned to face Kyp. "Can you please be sure to inform the others who need to know outside the family? Take care that this news does not go further than those we can trust." Kyp nodded in understanding before Jag made a hasty exit, his only concern to be at Jaina's side.
Leia tried to focus on Cilghal's words, but they seemed to echo in a strange hollow in her mind. The only thought Leia could hold onto was her daughter – and grandchild – were in a fight for their lives. Grandchild – Leia was barely prepared to give up her own children, let alone see them having babies of their own.
She glanced to the observation window. Jag had settled in a chair next to the medbunk. Still in his flightsuit, he perched on the edge of the seat, one hand holding Jaina's limp hand, the other hand washing her brow with a damp cloth. There was no doubt in Leia's mind that this man loved her daughter.
What Leia could not fathom was why Jaina had refused to share that love. Love – that was the answer. If not hidden, how else could she have loved Jag and perform her duty. Cilghal just stated it was an undeniable fact that without the baby Jaina would be dead. Was Jaina not preordained to be the Sword of the Jedi?
Padmé knew these events would come to pass; she had foretold it. Padmé had begged Leia to understand when the time came. Jaina's life had become nothing but an echo of the past, a ripple in the reflection of her grandmother's life as if it shown in a pool of still water. Jaina had willingly followed the crest of this wave of destiny to its completion. The Force had guided and nurtured Jaina, instilling her with the strength to complete her task and rewarded her sacrifice with the greatest gifts of all: the love of a husband and child.
Cilghal was still speaking as Leia drifted past. No one moved to stop her; they were so absorbed in the healer's explanations. None of that seemed important to Leia right now. She moved to the door, waiting quietly as it slid open, then slipped into the room. Mara sat on one side; Leia sensed the protective cocoon the Jedi Master had erected around Jaina. She was weaving the healing threads of the living Force, concentrating on Jaina's womb, comforting the unborn child in Jaina's place. Mara must have sensed Leia's arrival for the shields lowered around the baby, revealing the developing life.
Leia hurried forward, her hand reaching out. She feathered a touch on Jaina's abdomen. Her fingers flexed of their own accord when the baby touched her in the Force – a blazing presence next to Jaina's muted essence. Jag, who had halted his ministrations momentarily to watch, spoke.
"It's a girl."
Leia looked across the medbunk into Jag's green eyes. In them, she found strength and determination. Leia could not help but smile knowing they would be there for her daughter. "How far along is she?"
"Fifteen weeks, sixteen at the most." He paused. "Jaina says she is our blessing."
Leia stared down at her own hand resting on the slight bulge of Jaina's expanding stomach. "I suppose she is."
"Now if you will excuse me, I need to check on my patient, then get to work on finding a way to defeat this bioweapon. I know everyone will want to visit with Jaina. Please confine your visits to under five minutes."
Cilghal dipped her large head respectfully, then headed for the door leading into the medward. Han was right on her heels when Kyp stepped between Han and his intended destination. A hand on the elder Solo's chest brought his progress to a grinding halt.
"You're not going in there yet."
The glare Han shot Kyp could have frozen the twin suns over Tatooine. "I'm in no mood to talk, kid. Now let me go by so I can see my daughter."
Han started to push past when Kyp applied a barring arm. "That's exactly why we need to talk. You need to check your attitude at the door, or at least do something about that mood."
"What do you propose I do, Kyp? I just found out my daughter is married to an Imperial fighter pilot who got her knocked up after a scarhead tried to kill her with some as of yet incurable disease."
Kyp frowned. "Did you listen to anything that was said or are you working on perpetuating the myth of the dumb scruffy smuggler?"
Han threw a finger at Kyp. "Listen here, no one calls me scruffy and gets away with it. Besides, I would think you of all people would be as mad as me about…" Han paused. "Wait, you were in on this all along." Han turned a shade of red that bloomed brightest around his collar. "After all I did for you, you let my baby girl run off and get married behind my back!"
Han wrapped his fist around Kyp's flightsuit. "Why I ought to…"
Han's tirade weakened at the sound of Kyp's laughter. Not one person in the room expected that reaction. The resulting shock calmed the mounting tensions. "You know better than anyone that it is impossible to stop Jaina when she sets her mind to something. The way you're acting, I'm glad she didn't tell you about the wedding. You would have made her miserable."
Han released Kyp's flightsuit with an accompanying shove and moved a respectful distance away. He measured the Jedi Master for a moment before turning away and pacing the room. His hands gestured in odd movements like he was having a silent conversation with himself. At first, Kyp thought he sensed a softening in the former smuggler's demeanor, but as he strutted over to Kyp, it was apparent Han had worked himself back into a frenzy.
"Who is the fool I need to kill for marrying my daughter?"
A voice from behind Kyp startled the silent observers. "That would be this fool."
Han stepped to his right to eye Wedge standing in the corner next to Rane and Iella, who was staring at her husband, her mouth agape. Han threw his hands up in disgust. "I suppose you were looking out for that uptight nephew of yours; friendship means nothing."
Wedge stepped forward. "You and I have been through thick and thin, Han. I don't know if I would feel differently in your shoes, but you need to understand this was never about you. This was about two people in love - my sister's son and my hold-daughter. It was an honor to be part of their union. If not me, then who better?"
"Preferably no one."
"Han, are you mad at me for marrying them, or are you mad you missed it?"
Han opened his mouth to snap a reply, then shut it as quickly. His eyes softened before he rubbed a hand down his face. Han turned to his left to address Jacen. "Did you know about this?"
Jacen shook his head. "Not until a couple days ago."
Han's gaze swept past the others until he met the ice blue eyes of his best friend. "I suppose you think I am overreacting as well."
The wrinkles around Luke's eyes deepened as a smile brushed his lips. "No, I think you are a father afraid to give up his little girl and rightfully so. May I remind you though, that same little girl managed to defeat the Supreme Overlord and accomplish something no one else has been able to. The whole galaxy rested its faith in her; maybe you could do the same."
End of Chapter 31
TKL/h94