CHAPTER 32 - Runaway
Jaina sat high in one of the trees of the Yavin 4 jungle. She liked to go there to get away from the activity of the Jedi Academy. Being the niece of Luke Skywalker was sometimes a tough burden to bear. Up in the trees, there were no expectations, simply freedom and peace. Everything seemed so simple high above the ground.
The branch began to shake beneath her, so Jaina glanced over to greet the new arrival. Anakin placed one foot in front of the other, his hands held out for balance as he glided across the tree's arm. Jaina grinned at her younger brother. A moment later she realized he was not the boy from Yavin 4 and she was not a teenage girl hiding from lessons.
Anakin looked just as she remembered him, handsome and strong and carefree. Jacen may have been her twin, but sometimes Jaina wondered if Anakin was not her kindred spirit. He jumped off the branch and landed in a sitting position next to her, his legs dangling over the edge.
"Tough day, sis?"
Jaina swung her legs back and forth. "You could say that." Her eyes were riveted to him, soaking in the sight.
Anakin draped his arm over Jaina's shoulder and pulled her to him. Jaina melted into the warmth of his presence. The familiar smell of her youngest brother filled her nose. On an impulse, Jaina flung her arms around his waist and buried her face into his shoulder.
"Oh Anakin, I missed you."
"I don't know why. I'm with you everyday."
Jaina picked her head up to look in his eyes. "Blaster bolts, Anakin. It's not the same, and you know it."
"I know. It's not the same for me either."
They sat quietly for a few minutes, each enjoying the feel of the other. Jaina rested her head on his shoulder while Anakin balanced his chin on top of her head in turn. Finally, Anakin sighed. "We can't stay too long."
"There's so much I want to tell you. I defeated Shimrra today. The war is over."
"I saw. Nice move between you and Jacen at the end."
She picked her head up to stare at her brother. "Thanks. Do you know I'm married to a wonderful man named Jag Fel? I'm going to have his baby."
"I do. Your baby was a gift from the Force."
"I figured as much." Jaina thought about her husband and baby girl. Jag would be sick with worry, but it felt so right here in this place. "I guess I should think about going back to them, but I am so tired. Maybe we can hang here for a little while longer while I rest up."
Anakin's eyes reflected his sorrow as he leaned forward and placed a kiss on Jaina's forehead. "It's not a good idea for you to stay here any longer."
"But I feel so safe and loved. The Force is strong here. You are here. I miss you so much."
Anakin smiled ruefully. A single tear rolled down his cheek. "I miss you, too. I would love to be together again, just like old times, but you have a husband and daughter that need you now more than ever. Jag is concerned as is Mom and Dad and Jace."
Jaina's mouth turned down; it was all the prodding she needed. "I don't want them to worry on my account. I had better go back."
"Then go, Jaina, while you still can."
Jaina started to rise. She stopped suddenly and embraced her brother one last time. "I love you, Anakin."
"I love you, too, Jaina."
Luke entered the waiting room and found himself in the middle of an impromptu meeting involving Han, Wedge and Kyp. The number of occupants in the room at any one time had dwindled over the last day and a half as it became apparent some degree of normalcy had to be maintained in order to keep Jaina's collapse under wraps.
Luke had just returned from a meeting of the Jedi Council on the planet below. His sister Leia had been included in several key meetings concerning the preparation of the treaty between the Galactic Alliance and the Yuuzhan Vong. Luke assumed that was where she was still, for little else would have kept her from Jaina's side.
Luke imagined her dealings were somewhat easier than his own. Tahiri Veila had agreed to pose as Jaina, making an appearance for the sake of the holovids, but avoiding speaking or interacting with others. The Council summoned the young Jedi for a debriefing, which Kyp had managed to avoid. After that, there were questions from the Council concerning Jaina's secretive actions including the marriage, illness and the baby.
Luke understood full well why Kyp had chosen not to attend. He would have been subject to the same scrutiny that had fallen on Cilghal for her part in the cover-up. It was not that Jaina had to subject her life to the whim of the Council, but the prospect of a bioweapon aimed specifically at the Jedi had caused some alarm.
The blue-eyed Jedi Master smiled politely at the trio then slipped past to head for the private medward where Jaina had been hidden away since collapsing on the planet below. Propped up in a chair by the door, Jaina's apprentice had fallen asleep. The young man's loyalty to Jaina spoke volumes of the Jedi he was destined to become. Since learning of Jaina's predicament, Valin had taken up a protective position outside her door and refused to leave. Luke insisted, even to his concerned parents, that it was his right as Jaina's apprentice.
Jag looked up to acknowledge Luke's arrival; his face reflected the obvious lack of improvement in Jaina's condition. At some point, the young man had showered and changed after Rane brought him fresh clothes, but other than that brief span, Jag had yet to leave Jaina's side. Luke understood all too well the pain weighing down on the young man; he also understood that his emotions were inconsolable.
Tahiri, free from the demands of the Council earlier than Luke had managed, sat on the end of the bed, a hand resting on Jaina's leg. For the first hours, Jacen had been parked in that very position. Other Jedi had rotated through, lending Jaina their strength to bolster her flagging health. Jacen, although reluctant to leave his sister, had realized he might be more helpful aiding Danni and Cilghal.
Luke could easily visualize the healing lines of energy radiating from the young blonde female to her best friend. On the far side of the medbunk, Mara was settled cross-legged in a chair as she held Jaina's hand, adding to the healing flow. His wife was deep in a trance, all her strength and then some, being funneled into protecting Jaina's unborn child since her niece was unable.
His niece. Since the day of the knighting ceremony, Luke had regretted the flourish of words that had poured forth and left a tremendous burden on the teenage girl. At the same time, he recognized the designs of the Force in them. Luke had been ignorant of all that had passed – the marriage, the disease, the baby. If he had known, Luke wondered if he would have interfered. Possibly.
The Force had spoken to him in its own way. This war was Jaina's fight. At nearly the same age, years before, Luke had defeated the Death Star, guided there by some strange workings of the Force no doubt. Every event leading up to now had been necessary to facilitate the victory. If no part had come to pass, the outcome of the war would surely have been different.
Now at his wife's side, Luke wiped the red bangs out of her eyes. Bloodstains from the battle still marred her complexion. The Galactic Alliance uniform still showed signs of the previous day's violent fight. His wife, however, showed no sign of the exhaustion everyone else was feeling. As of yet, no one had been able to pull Mara from her niece's side.
Luke turned to face the medbunk, reaching over to rest a hand on Jaina's forehead. He questioned the Force, searching for the consciousness of Jaina lost in the depths of her body's suffering. Amazingly, a soft whisper answered.
Luke's blue eyes, half-closed, shot open to gaze on her young face. Jaina still looked as unresponsive as before. He grabbed hold of the tiny bud of awakening, summoning it to the surface. Jaina's eyelids fluttered, ever so imperceptibly.
Next to him, Mara was straightening in her chair, an eye popped open to watch the unfolding events. His wife joined in the silent call. Then Tahiri, sensing the change as well, joined in. Jag must have been aware of the change in the Jedi. His face brightened as he folded Jaina's hand in both of his.
"Jaina?"
The sound of her husband's voice seemed to have provided the extra incentive for Jaina to cross into the plane of consciousness. Her eyes opened slowly, revealing a pair of brandy brown orbs. They drifted in the direction of Jag's beckoning voice.
"Welcome back, Mrs. Fel."
Jaina might have smiled if her body would have responded. Jag was happy simply with the sparkle in her eye as a response to their ongoing joke. His choice of words was also a clear sign to her that the tuskcat was out of the bag. Jaina's eyes drifted to the other side of the bed upon feeling a squeeze of her other hand. Mara's warm smile accompanied the beaming blue eyes of her uncle.
Mara spoke first. "Nice of you to join us, young lady. You gave us quite a scare."
Jaina's eyes bore into Luke's. She opened her mouth to speak, little more than a squeak came out. "AAAA – NA…"
Luke glanced over at Mara questioningly. Jaina tried to speak again but this time her words were unintelligible. Her throat was parched as a desert dune. Frustration shone in her eyes. Mara offered a suggestion.
"I think she is trying to say Anakin. Did you see Anakin, Jaina?"
Jaina's grip tightened ever so slightly on Mara's hand as a single tear rolled out of her eye. Luke leaned over to brush the tear away with a finger.
"He sent you back, didn't he?"
Jaina struggled to voice her thoughts, fighting the raw burn of her throat by swallowing several times. "Force beautiful."
Luke smiled at the simplicity of the statement.
Jaina's eyes floated back to Jag. "Baby?"
Jag's eyes were warm and reassuring. "She's fine. Everyone is more concerned about you."
Jaina tried to respond; nothing came out this time.
Jag released her hand to retrieve a glass of water beside the medbunk. "Here try a drink of water." One hand eased her head off the pillow; the other hand raised the glass to her lips. The simple effort of swallowing was practically more than Jaina could manage. She took two sips and signaled enough.
As Jag lowered Jaina back to the pillow she caught sight of a familiar face at the foot of the bed. Silently enjoying Jaina's awakening and possibly a little apprehensive about his reception, her father was standing behind Tahiri. As if an answer to Jaina's disappointment in not seeing both parents, Leia flew in the room, coming to rest next to Han.
Jaina glanced back to Jag for a moment. His eyes told her enough. The revelation had not gone smoothly. She tried to find the appropriate words to offer her parents. Her mind unfortunately was a distorted garble of emotions and exhaustion. The frustration boiled over as tears brimmed her lower lids until they overflowed, unhindered. Jag slid over making room for her parents, making way for a much needed reconciliation.
Leia remained frozen in place, rooted where she stood. Han was the first to move. Any reservations he held about forgiving his daughter flew out the nearest viewport at the sight of her tears. His feet moved of their own accord until he found himself scooping his only daughter into his arms, crushing her in his embrace. Han buried his face in Jaina's shoulder, moistening her gown with his own tears.
"I'm sorry, Daddy."
He pulled away at the sound of her muffled voice. Han gently lowered Jaina back to the medbunk. Leia was beside him now. She brushed past, leaning over to lay a kiss on her daughter's forehead. Leia's soft fingertips banished the tracks of the tears. Han brought one arm around his wife, the other hand he placed on Jaina's forehead, still wet with the kiss.
"Jaina, your mother and I are proud of you. Don't ever apologize for being who we raised you to be."
The swirling wind whipped snow flurries all around Jag, sometimes blinding him in a sheet of white. Other times he could just discern the outline of a figure in the distance. The figure was moving across the glacier, through the blizzard at a slow run, as fast as the elements would allow. A violet light illuminated the hooded form from behind. The light moved back and forth in rhythm with the figure's gait.
He called out, fearing for the person on the glacier. The figure stopped for a moment at the sound of his voice, but never turned to face him. Then the form resumed its trek through the storm. The pace was more urgent than before.
Jag left the relative protection provided by the proximity to the main estate building to follow the misplaced traveler. His hunt was made all the more difficult from fighting through the drifts of snow, but he trudged forward, undaunted by the task. Some force was pulling him like a magnet, driving his feet faster and faster.
He thought he would never catch up, but then the figure stumbled and fell. That was when he saw the second figure, tall and powerful, approaching the tiny shape of a blue robe, cloaking a petite figure kneeling in the snow. He called again, driven by a gnawing desire to protect this being's life.
The robed figure rose and turned at the sound. Instead of a stranger under the hood, there was the delicate face of his wife. The features that usually held him captivated were marred by the tracks of tears. Her eyes told of terrible fear and sadness. He had known those eyes his whole life, and yet he had never seen them truly afraid. Her eyes reflected the brilliant violet rays emanating from the lightsaber grasped in her hand as they drowned in a watery pool.
More tears fell, like a dam breaking. Her hand came up; her fingers outstretched, beckoning for assistance as she moved in his direction. She stumbled again. The second figure was going to beat him to her. Jag pressed on, willing his feet to move faster.
In a cruel twist, the wind swirled heavier gusts. An electric edge came to life in a swirl of lightning pulsing amidst the flurries. As he blinked away the piercing snow buffeting his eyes, Jag realized another person was emerging from the streaks of energy. Bolts of white-hot light radiated out in every direction from this being, striking anything in its path.
The original pursuer, still closing on Jaina, was struck first, the light of the energy illuminating his face. Before Jag could register the identity, he fell paralyzed by the pain of pure energy racing through his nerves. He was powerless as he watched strike after strike pulse by and hit Jaina. She uttered a cry with every hit, light running amuck through her body. Each strike diminished her presence until she was just a ghost. The lightsaber dropped through her hand, which was no longer corporeal.
Jag fell immobile in the snow as the tall figure trudged on, undaunted by the attack of the electric being until both figures towered over Jaina's dying form. Another blast seared through Jag, sending him to a terrible void of pure black, just as a cry pierced his fading consciousness.
"Jag, please save me!"
Jag woke with a start, his muscles convulsing involuntarily as his mind drifted from the horror of the dreamscape to the harsh reality of the medward. Instinctively, he reached for Jaina. She was blissfully immersed in the dreamless state of a healing trance, unaware of the hammering of his heart.
If someone had asked Jag in the past if he held any stock in dreams he would have laughed at the preposterous nature of such a notion. After the strange turns of his life, Jag was not so sure. He stroked Jaina's hand with his thumb as her fingers draped over his palm.
In the state Jaina was in, she was as helpless as the baby growing in her womb. He was her only source of constant protection. Until now, Jag had drifted through the two days since the Battle of Naboo in a mindless blur. People had come and gone, lives had continued outside the walls of the medward. Jag desperately needed to connect back into the flow of information. He sensed an important decision looming on the horizon.
Jag gently placed Jaina's hand back on the bed. His legs protested as Jag slowly pushed out of the chair. Mara rustled in her seat across the bed. Her eyes opened from her Jedi trance to study the young colonel. Jag offered a polite smile that Mara reciprocated before retreating once again to some far away place not in this plane of reality.
Jag pondered how lucky Jaina was to have so many people willing to sacrifice everything for her. Then again it should not have surprised him, Jaina had almost sacrificed her life for those people in return, numerous times over.
Jag walked stiffly to the door and keyed it open. Stepping into the waiting room, he practically tripped over Valin parked outside the door. Jag's smile was genuine in respect for the young man's perseverance. He rested a hand on Valin's shoulder.
"Why don't you go sit with Jaina for me?"
Valin practically knocked his chair over as he blasted through the door, faster than Jag would have imagined possible. Jag faced the room's occupants, who had all turned to greet his arrival. Some had looks of concern; others showed genuine warmth; others still – well there was hope time would heal all wounds. Before him stood all the people Jag owed so much to, but most importantly an apology.
Jag glanced from Wedge and Iella to Han and Leia and finally Tycho. Leia beckoned for Jag to take an open seat at the unofficial conference table that had been added to one side of the room for the benefit of such working meetings that seemed to take place more and more frequently.
"Please join us, Jag. We were just listening to some information Iella's people have turned up."
Jag tipped his head, then moved across the room to join the discussion.
Iella smiled warmly at her nephew. "Hello, Jag. I was telling the others how forthcoming the two original defecting domains have been. It seems there still is a movement within the Yuuzhan Vong that will resist this treaty at all costs, mostly members of the warrior caste. It was expected, but we now have proof provided by their shared intelligence.
"These faithful followers of Shimrra are the same ones that fabricated the divine nature of the original infiltration into our galaxy. Apparently, the Overlord tricked the Vong, especially the lower castes, into believing the gods preordained the conquest of our galaxy. That makes how we handle Jaina's role as the Trickster goddess even more delicate."
Jag's response was not entirely helpful. "I am sure you will think of an acceptable solution."
Wedge continued in his wife's place. "Jag, the Yuuzhan Vong are already asking to see Jaina. I don't know how long we can hide her condition."
Jag met his uncle's gaze. "Then give her to them."
Han interrupted. "Well, that is kind of difficult with her lying in this medward in unstable condition."
Jag met Han's piercing stare. "You misunderstand. Give them someone passing as her. You did it once with Tahiri right after Jaina collapsed. Do it again."
Faces lit up in realization around the table. Tycho responded first. "You mean have someone pose as Jaina indefinitely."
"Correct."
Several heads bobbed in agreement, except Han who regarded Jag coolly. A sudden thought, a reminder from the earlier dream, distracted Jag from this train of thought and spurred a question.
"Aunt Iella, has there been any word of Nom Anor?"
Iella swung her head side-to-side. Her eyes reflected her disappointment over the lack of an answer. Jag regarded his aunt for a moment, then rose abruptly.
Han snapped at him in disgust. "Where are you going? You can't just throw an idea out and leave. This concerns your wife. Decisions have to be made…"
"I am sure you are more than capable of devising a satisfactory plan. I'll check back later. There are things I need to check on."
His back was a sign to the others of the end of any further discussion on the matter. Jag stepped back into Jaina's room and retrieved the comlink from his pants pocket. It took him a second to find the right channel and key it. A response was quick to follow.
"Durron, here."
"Kyp, are you busy?"
"I was heading for a meeting with the Jedi Council members planetside. Is everything alright with Jaina?"
"Yes, I mean she is the same."
There was a pregnant pause. "Jag, do you need me to come to the medward?"
"I don't want to interrupt your plans. I'll make other arrangements."
"I'll be right there."
The connection ended abruptly, signifying the Jedi Master had no intention of discussing it further. The door sliding open behind him caught Jag's attention. He spun to greet the new arrival. His uncle stood in the doorway. Wedge glanced past Jag to eye Valin sitting by Jaina.
"Do you mind if I speak to Jag alone, son?"
Valin nodded once, than scurried from the room. Wedge followed Jag over to the far side of the medbunk. He eyed Mara warily but realized the Jedi Master had separated her mind behind some Force wall, locking her in a plane of consciousness with Jaina. They could have well had a party in the room and Mara would never have even batted an eye. Both men took a seat in the chairs situated by the medbunk. Wedge jump-started the conversation.
"Are you okay, Jag?"
"As well as can be expected given the circumstances."
Wedge furrowed his brow, not satisfied with the answer. "You seem particularly troubled out there, especially for a man so adept at hiding his emotions."
Jag kept his eyes locked on his uncle's searching brown eyes. The hidden meaning did not go unnoticed. Jag chose the moment to broach the subject hanging over their heads. "Uncle, I feel I owe you an apology."
Wedge wrinkled his mouth and inhaled deeply through his nose. "Jag, if I held a grudge for the secrets you and Jaina kept from me, I would be considered a hypocrite of the worst kind." Jag's shoulders eased down in relief. "However, I won't deny I had hoped you two could have included me in the truth." Wedge glanced over at Jaina, lying motionless in the bed except for the steady rise and fall of her chest. "I harbor a lot of guilt about the state she is in. I keep thinking there could have been some other way…"
Jag interrupted. "Please don't. Jaina and I accept full responsibility for our actions. It would break her heart if she knew you felt that way."
"My feelings should not be of concern to either of you. All your energy should be directed at keeping Jaina safe and getting her healthy. There are still too many open variables to be distracted. There's still the question of Zekk and Nom Anor's whereabouts and the unanswered questions about this disease…"
"I know that. It's just hard to know where to begin. Look at her; she is completely vulnerable. I am terrified to leave her. The simple act of walking out that door earlier made my palms sweat."
"There are others you can trust."
"Don't get me wrong, Uncle. It's not that I don't trust you or anyone else for that matter, but Zekk and Nom Anor are serious threats. I believe anyone in my family or hers would lay down their life to protect her. Will it be enough though?"
"There are no guarantees in life, Jag. All we can do is our best, the same goes for you."
"That's not good enough. You're a father; you should understand. I feel there is more I can do, but people may not like what I propose."
Wedge chuckled. "Since when have you cared about what people think?"
"I guess never."
"Then do what you must and to the Corellian hells with what everyone else thinks. If it were Iella and the girls, I would do whatever it took to keep them safe." Wedge formed a grin. "And let me say, Jag, Iella and I are truly happy for your new addition. I am sure Syal will be overjoyed as well."
Jag's eyes sparkled with the thought of telling his mother. The obstacles confronting Jag at the moment quickly stifled his excitement. Kyp's brisk entry into the room halted any further conversation. Both Jag and Wedge rose to greet him. Jag moved from the chair beside the medbunk, making way for Kyp.
Jag spoke to Wedge first. "I guess I better make those plans." Wedge tipped his head in encouragement. Jag turned to Kyp next. "If you don't mind staying here with Jaina, I have some things to take care of."
Kyp eyed Jag warily. His friend exuded his usual steely composure on the exterior, but on the inside his friend was a bundle of raw nerves. Something had Jag's mind working overtime. Kyp decided to not press the matter, but rather help as best he could.
"Certainly."
"You'll stay until I get back?"
Kyp nodded. Jag dipped his head respectively to both Wedge and Kyp in turn before marching out of the room with a purpose in his stride.
Jacen, Cilghal and Danni were huddled around a microholoimager studying the scan of Jaina's blood. All three of them were fighting off frustration and exhaustion, determined to beat this tiny foe. Danni finally broke the gloomy silence, switching off the imager in disgust.
"All this fancy Chiss technology, but what I wouldn't give for a couple days with those touted Chiss scientists studying this pesky nano-organisms."
"That could be arranged."
Danni pivoted in place, her short blonde curls wrapping around her head, to greet the new arrival. Jacen and Cilghal glanced over to see Jag standing at the door to the private lab he had secured for their use. Danni strode forward, an excited glint to her eye.
"Could it really be arranged?"
"Yes."
"How soon could you get them here?"
Jag paused for a moment before he proceeded. "Actually, I was thinking of going to them."
Jacen stiffened at the suggestion. "What are you saying, Jag?"
Jag broached the subject carefully. "I am simply trying to find the best way to protect my wife and child as well as pursue a cure. I think I may have found a solution."
Jacen studied his brother-in-law for a heartbeat. A fierce resolve had wrapped around the man's heart. If Jag was half the man Jaina swore he was, then there would be no stopping him once he set his mind to something. Jacen and Jag finished their wordless discussion, when the latter queried Cilghal.
"Would it be detrimental to Jaina or the baby to move her?"
Cilghal's bulbous eyes fluttered as she realized what Jag was proposing. She pondered the question carefully before answering. "As long as Jaina can maintain a healing trance, she should not lose too much ground. I am afraid there is little we can do for her short of finding a cure, neither bacta nor every Jedi in the galaxy lending their strength will help heal her completely at this point. It would be beneficial to a degree to let the Jedi help for a while longer until we can help stabilize her."
Jag frowned. "I am afraid there is no time for that."
Danni posed the question on everyone else's mind. "Why the sudden need to leave?"
Jag shuffled his weight from heel to toe, in an unusual display of unease. He addressed his answer directly to Jacen. "I know the Jedi put faith in the Force, taking direction where you see signs."
Jacen's interest was piqued, a tingling raced up his spine. "Yes, we do."
Jag moved closer, all the time locked to Jacen's gaze. "Would you, as a Jedi, think it possible that the Force could give signs to a Force-blind person like myself?"
Jacen reflected on the question. He had no basis to answer truthfully. Although he imagined the Force did not forsake some simply because they were blind to it. A quick glance over to the Jedi Master revealed she had no guidance to offer. Jacen shrugged, unable to answer.
Jag pressed on. "I never told Jaina this, but I think it is very relevant now. I dreamt of Jaina for as long as I can remember. When I first met her on Ithor, I simply chalked it up to Jaina fitting some ideal I had imagined. When I returned to Csilla following the battle of Ithor, I had another dream, for lack of a better word, where Jaina was being consumed by Force lightning. The next day I convinced my father to let me return to the New Republic. That was the same time she was struggling with your disappearance and the death of Anakin."
Jacen finished for Jag. "You just had another dream."
"Yes."
Danni spoke next. "Well, I may not be a Jedi, but my hair is standing on end."
Jacen stepped up so he was toe-to-toe with Jag, brown eyes to green. "Do you mind?"
Jag tipped his forehead in agreement. Although Jaina had probed Jag's mind before, the idea of letting someone less familiar run around in his brain was unsettling. He swallowed hard, biting back his own reservations, determined to prove his point to Jacen. With Jaina's brother backing him up, Jag was confident the others would come around.
Unlike Jaina, Jacen never touched Jag. As a matter of fact, the invasion was barely detectible, not at all the naked intimacy he had experienced with his wife. Jag supposed that was for the best. Jacen backed away a step, signaling an end to the probe. The younger man stood like a statue, lost behind a mask of reflection.
Unusually impatient, Jag spoke up. "Did you find anything?"
Jacen's eyes came back into focus. "Although my first impression was that you were manifesting your own fears in a dream; it is obvious now that was definitely more than a dream."
Jag let out his breath, grateful for the confirmation. Now, he had no reason to hesitate in putting his plan into action. In fact, it made everything seem that much more urgent. Jag started outlining his thoughts for the other three.
"Obviously, we still have Zekk as an unknown factor and the Yuuzhan Vong are not all going to take this surrender lying down, especially Nom Anor. That makes Jaina a target. While she is sick, there is still the possibility her Goddess charade will be exposed, blowing the treaty out of the water. If I took Jaina away, I could effectively eliminate many of these variables. I feel like there is a sense of urgency, like maybe Zekk or Nom Anor is closing in." Jag eyed Jacen. "Is that what you felt?"
"I sensed the same thing."
"So you agree?"
Jacen hesitated. "I am afraid that taking Jaina away from Cilghal will worsen her condition…"
Cilghal interrupted. "There is little more I can do than bolster her own healing powers. Finding a cure is the key."
Danni excitedly jumped into the conversation. "We have made little progress on the nano-organisms, would the Chiss make this a priority?"
"They would if my father asked. You could give me all you have come up with so far, and I would relay it to the appropriate channels. I hope you realize it is not that I lack confidence in you or Cilghal, but the Chiss have scientists dedicated to this type of research."
Cilghal tipped her bulbous head in gratitude. Jacen surprised everyone by the idea he threw out. "Then you should take one of them with you. At least to ensure a complete transfer of information."
Cilghal responded first. "I would love to, but I have many others who need me in addition to my obligations to the Council."
Excitement practically boiled off Danni. "I could go. It would be a fabulous opportunity."
Everyone looked to Jag, who had a rare incredulous expression. The possibility had obviously never crossed his mind. After a few heartbeats, the young colonel regained his composure.
"It is an unusual proposition. The Chiss can be touchy about who they accept. As a matter of fact, I am really pushing the bounds of what is deemed acceptable by bringing Jaina home. My only saving grace is that she is my wife; the Chiss are honor-bound to accept her for that reason alone. The scientists, however, tend to be more open-minded than the military types I am used to dealing with. I am not promising it would be easy at first; at least not until they can learn to accept you."
Danni rose up on her toes in anticipation. "I'll do it. I want to stop this bio-weapon more than anyone." She blushed awkwardly. "Well, you know what I mean. It's become personal."
"I may come to regret this, but I will brave the scorn of the Chiss High Command a thousand times for Jaina's sake. All right then, you better start getting organized."
"When are we leaving?" Danni was already thumbing through a stack of datacards.
"As soon as possible."
Jacen turned to Danni with a wicked grin. "That means in an hour or less in Chiss talk. We better get hopping."
"We?" The word tumbled out of Jag, along with his surprise.
Jacen turned back to face his brother-in-law. Danni and Cilghal, sensing a personal battle of wills about to occur, stepped away to begin compiling their data. "You're not taking my sister anywhere without me. She needs my strength…"
"I can protect her."
"No, you misunderstand. Together, Jaina and I are stronger. With my help, she can get better faster."
Jag regarded the Jedi for a moment. He may not have possessed the fiery temperament of his twin, but he appeared to have the same degree of determination. "You better pack while I go tell everyone else, including your parents."
Jacen ushered Jag to the door. "I'll pack later. You're going to need me, if you want to stay in one piece. On second thought, maybe you better let me do the talking."
Kyp lounged back in the chair by the medbunk, his feet kicked out and chin dropped to his chest. One arm rested on the sheets, his fingers intertwined with Jaina's. Luke had stopped by minutes before and finally convinced Mara to take a break, leaving Kyp alone in the room. It was the first time since Jaina's collapse he had been presented with such an opportunity.
Until now, Jag and Mara had never left her side. Kyp did not dispute their right to be there. Other than being her protector and guardian, he had no more rights than the next friend, but it still hurt to be left on the outside looking in.
Besides, there had been demands made on everyone to keep the appearance of normalcy. Kyp barely had time to recover from his own battle wounds before he had been called upon to take Twin Suns out on patrol. Life since the ceasefire was even faster paced than ever. This quiet moment with Jaina was a special gift.
Kyp glanced up when movement on the other side of the observation window caught his attention. Jag and Jacen had entered the waiting room. Jag stepped to the window to check on Jaina. Kyp gave him the thumbs up, then Jag turned to face Han and Leia, the only two people left. Kyp was suddenly more grateful than before for his time alone. He could not fathom why either parent had not rushed in as soon as Jag had left.
A squeeze on Kyp's hand drew his eyes back. Kyp twisted in his seat. Two brown eyes glistened up from Jaina's pale face. They blinked slowly as a slight smile curved her lips.
"It's nice to see those eyes, partner."
Jaina squeaked a reply. "Thanks." Jaina frowned at the sound of her voice, then resorted to non-verbal communications when her throat revolted against further effort at speaking.
Kyp saw an image of a baby. He smiled warmly. "The baby is doing well."
He paused to await her next thought. A mental picture of Jag popped into his head. Kyp was about to answer when loud voices reverberated through the window. Han was now standing, his arms waving emphatically. Jaina rolled her head on the pillow to focus on the sound of the voices. Kyp answered her question finally.
"You husband is out there getting raked over the coals by your father." Kyp should not have been surprised when Jaina pushed up to her elbows. "Whoa, take it easy."
Jaina gritted out some words. "Help me up, Kyp."
"No way are you taking my daughter away, especially not into the Unknown Regions." Han was towering over Jag, who maintained his cool restraint still sitting in the chair.
"Sir, I can appreciate your concerns, but I assure you Jaina will be safer among the Chiss."
"Are you implying we Rebels are not capable of taking care of Jaina?"
"No, not at all, but you cannot deny the advantages of hiding Jaina in a closed society, unreachable by those who do not know the specific hyperspace route in and out."
Jacen and Leia eyed each other, wondering how long it would take Jag to give up on trying to rationalize with Han and simply tell him the way it was going to be. Leia appreciated the effort; she also knew it was no longer her or her husband's call as far as Jaina was concerned.
Han would not be swayed. "That is exactly what I am afraid of. First you steal her right out from under our noses, then you take her back to your blue-skinned friends, never to be heard from again. I don't suppose you will give us the route to Csilla so my wife can come visit her grandchild?"
"That would be impossible, sir."
Han erupted, bouncing his fingers off Jag's shoulder. "I will not stand by and allow this…"
Jag finally stood. "I am not asking…"
Han's voice crescendoed to new heights, drowning out the first faint call of his name. "Who are you…"
"Dad!"
The second call caught everyone's attention. Jag looked past Han, who spun at the sound of Jaina's voice. Jaina, waving off Kyp's help as she stood on shaky legs, answered her father's unfinished question.
"He's my husband, that's who he is, and you will treat him with respect."
Determination and sheer will were the only things keeping her upright. Leia moved towards her daughter, shooting her husband a piercing glare as she went. "Sweetheart, I think your father is just concerned, as we all are, for your health and safety."
"That's all well and good, Mom, but having my father imply that my husband is not looking out for my best interest is not best for my health." Jaina faced her father. "Now you can support this marriage or not, but don't think for a second you can stand on some middle ground, loving me and despising my husband. You have to chose."
Han walked to Jaina, who seemed to sway ever so slightly. Before he could reach his daughter, Jaina's body overrode her will, and she began a perilous fall to the ground. Kyp was ready. His hands shot out with Jedi speed, catching her easily. Jag rushed over, pushing through the others. Without a word, he scooped Jaina out of Kyp's arms. When Jag spun around to address Han, there was a fiery sparkle in his green eyes suggesting a burning rage hidden behind his reserved mask.
"I am taking your daughter with me by the end of the day. If this is how you want to leave it, so be it, but I cannot imagine you want to part on these terms. There seems to be no way to assure you of my love for your daughter, except to say this - I would lay down my life a million times over before letting harm come to her."
Jag started to turn to take Jaina back to the medward when Han laid a hand on his arm. "Wait."
Jag stopped, waiting for Jaina's father to come to grips with his emotions. Han brushed his knuckles along Jaina's cheek. She half-opened her eyes, but Jaina was far from lucid. Han's eyes clouded over with unshed tears as he lifted them to meet Jag's stare.
"She never needed me, none of them ever really did. I used to pretend I was there to protect them, keeping them safe, but these kids were always one step ahead of me."
Leia wrapped a comforting arm around her husband; Jag was the one who offered the words Han needed to hear.
"You are wrong. She has always needed you. You are her idol. Everything she has ever pursued, Jaina did to be like you. She is the best part of you."
Han stifled a sob, the power of the truth breaking down his resolve. "Will you bring her back to us as soon as it's safe?"
"I don't think anyone, not even me, could keep her away."
In an auxiliary hangar bay on the Trickster's Sword, Jag finished issuing last minute orders to his second-in-command. Jaina's astromech waited quietly behind him. After dismissing the other officer, Jag pivoted and knelt to address the droid, holding a small datachip up to one of the receivers. The chip disappeared seconds later. Trick swiveled his dome and whistled inquisitively. Jag checked the interface.
"Yes, Jaina is leaving for awhile, but this datachip will tell you how to find her."
A voice behind him startled Jag. "Are you actually leaving that information in a droid?"
Jag patted Trick, then sent him off with a flick of the hand. "Go on, Trick. We'll see you soon." Jag rose to greet his brother, who was casting a wary eye his way. "The data is encrypted and is only retrievable when Trick is seated in the socket of Jaina's X-wing. Only Tahiri can activate the sequence to make the jump."
Rane's eyes lit up. "Tahiri is coming to Csilla?"
"That's the plan. She'll pose as Jaina during the peace talks then slip off to Csilla as Jaina, so her leaving does not seem too suspicious. An official press release will follow announcing our marriage. Hopefully, by then, Jaina will be well enough so that Tahiri, Danni and Jacen can return home, but we will jump that hurdle when it comes."
Jag motioned for Rane to walk in the direction of the shuttle being readied for the flight. A handful of Vanguard pilots were making the preparations. "Thanks for coming with us, Rane."
The younger Fel brushed a piece of lint off his black flightsuit as he talked. "Only a fool would pass up an opportunity to fly your new clawcraft."
Jag playfully reached around to Rane's furthest shoulder. A simple tug placed the younger brother in a playful headlock. "You better take care of it."
Rane twisted his shoulders until he was free. "I will try." His mood dampened momentarily.
Jag noticed the change. "I am sorry you have to leave the Spikes."
Rane forced a smile and waved off the apology. "It can't be helped. Besides, one of the squadrons was going to have to be disbanded after the battle to fill in the gaps of all the others."
Jag finished his thought. "It just doesn't seem right that it be Shawnkyr's squadron."
"Exactly. I figure when I get back I can start over, rebuild Spikes back to what they once were."
Jag patted Rane on the shoulder. He sighed. Neither he nor Rane had allowed themselves the time to properly mourn Shawnkyr's passing. "She would have liked that." Jag pushed the thought from his mind, saving it for later.
A few more steps brought the brothers to the base of the shuttle's ramp. Rane shrugged off the depressing mood. "Enough feeling sorry for myself, your concerns are far greater. So when are we getting out of here? I can't wait to see Mom."
"Danni checked in; she will be here in ten minutes. Jacen should be here shortly thereafter. That will give me time to double check those new jump coordinates."
Rane frowned. "You aren't taking any chances."
"Not with my wife and child. I would rather go the long way around the galaxy than risk running into Zekk."
"Understandable."
Both men turned their heads, as they caught sight of Kyp carrying Jaina across the hangar out of the corners of their eyes.
Jag spoke. "It looks like everyone said their goodbye's."
Rane questioned his brother. "I suppose you didn't want a parade of people in the hangar."
"No, I am keeping a tight lid on the comings and goings in the hangar. I do not want to arouse suspicions. Kyp can scramble anyone's brain he ran into on the way here."
Kyp continued across the hangar, not stopping until he arrived at the two brothers. He dipped his head in greeting. Jag acknowledged with a nod of his own before he led the way up the ramp, leaving Rane to fend for himself. Jag turned left at the top. Kyp followed him until they ended at a medstation, deep in the shuttle. The medbunk had already been prepared.
Kyp lowered Jaina onto the white sheets and stepped back as Jag pulled the blanket up to cover her body. Jag stroked Jaina's clammy forehead, finding no signs of recognition. Her face still showed the tracks of earlier tears. Kyp offered an explanation.
"The farewells were pretty tough on her. She tried to stay awake on the way, but she faded about half-way here."
Jag never took his eyes away from his wife. "I know you have stood by us through all of this. I did not intend to offend you or seem ungrateful by excluding you in these plans." Jag faced Kyp, meeting his green eyes.
Kyp flashed an appreciative smile. "Jaina needs her family most. You shouldn't apologize for making them your priority. Besides, I need to get on with my own life."
"Yes, you have given up much for Jaina." Jag paused. "Well, I have preparations to make. I will give you time alone to say goodbye." Jag stepped past Kyp then stopped. He pivoted back to face his friend. "Kyp?"
The silver-maned Jedi glanced over his shoulder. "Yes."
"I want you to know Jaina and I will always consider you part of our family."
Kyp turned away quickly. He choked out some words in reply. "Thanks, Jag."
The room was silent for a few seconds, then Jag's fading footsteps filled the room. Kyp had turned his head so Jag could not see the tears threatening to form in his eyes. The sight of Jaina lying eerily still on the medbunk wrung the tears out of his heart until they flowed down his cheeks. Kyp grasped her limp hand, bringing it up to his heart.
"My heart is breaking apart more with every strained beat, Jaina. It hurts more than I could ever have imagined, not knowing when I will see you again. Sometimes I wish you had let the grutchin take me. I would have died happy knowing my life had been given for yours."
Kyp inhaled deeply, then let the breath out with a shudder. Without thinking, he leaned over and placed a tender kiss on her lips. He drew back and placed her hand on the swell of her abdomen.
"Until we meet again, my love."
Kyp spun on his heel in a flurry of Jedi robes. His exit from the shuttle was silent and swift as if time and distance would ease the breaking of his heart.
End of Chapter 32
TKL/h94