CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

Piloting the Falcon into the Vikova system, Han let out a low whistle. Her husband's simple response reflected the sentiment Leia was also feeling. Ahead, a pair of Chiss battlecruisers hung in geosynchronous orbit over the capital city of the system's eponymous planet. All around the two warships, clawcraft and shuttlecraft swarmed in an intricate dance. The Chiss might not believe in striking first, but Leia was convinced they used their precise and sophisticated military displays as overwhelming acts of intimidation.

"Quite a little fleet," Han noted, as if he could read her thoughts.

Leia's eyes never left the viewport. She was too busy studying a cluster of clawcraft guarding an Imperial-era shuttle dipping toward the planet below. "Considering the insignificance of this system, I'm inclined to agree."

"Insignificant to the Alliance, but obviously not to the Chiss." He nudged the aging freighter into a slow, winding dive right at the nearest Chiss cruiser.

"Han…" She clutched the console. "What are you doing?"

"Having a look."

"You can't just fly up to a Chiss battlecruiser."

"Sure I can." He waggled his hand at their intended destination. "They don't own Vikovan space."

Leia glanced from her husband – who still never ceased to confound and bewilder her – to the looming warship. "What exactly are you planning to do?"

"I don't know." He shrugged. "Fly casual."

An exasperated huff of air was the best she could manage in rejoinder, especially in light of their impending collision with the burnished durasteel of the Chiss vessel's command tower. "Han…"

He grunted a reply in time with a sharp roll to starboard. Leia could see the red of the watch commander's eyes as the Falcon shaved within meters of the Chiss ship. Han continued a slow roll along the length of the cruiser, skimming the smooth surface with the practiced ease of a veteran pilot who knew exactly how close he could get.

"You couldn't help yourself, could you?" she asked, shaking her head.

"Nope. I really couldn't."

Whizzing past the stern, Leia peered at the ship's name emblazoned in both Chiss and Basic across the side. "Ordained…Guardian."

"Never heard of it."

Leia didn't think she had either. There were only a handful of Chiss ships in Galactic Alliance territory. Even though the CEDF had taken a small role in the Alliance following the war, they had been hesitant to commit much more than a token ambassadorial fleet…

A sudden thought struck her. "Fated Protector is the lead ambassadorial ship in Alliance space."

"Formbi's ship?"

"Yes. He gave me a tour when we were negotiating the trade dispute on Fondor. I recall him saying the Protector had a sister ship." Leia inspected the second cruiser as they approached and confirmed that the first ship was a newer, much improved version of the classic Imperial design. "I'd say that it would be a fair assumption that Ordained Guardian is it."

Han whistled long and low again. "So not only do we have a sizeable Chiss fleet orbiting a planet of minimal consequence, but also probably one of Csilla's biggest diplomatic guns in the mix. I'd say we've got something more than a small sector dispute on our hands."

Leia arched an eyebrow and cast her gaze across the cockpit at her husband's half-cocked grin. "Not bad for a scruffy Rebel."

Han feigned indignation. "Hey! Who's scruffy?"

Chuckling, Leia proceeded to initiate landing protocols. Her fingers moved deftly across the command console. "Why is it that our children always seem to end up in the middle of these unimportant important events?"

"You still worried?"

Her brow furrowed in a moment of reflection. No, she wasn't worried. Not anymore. There had been a time, not more than a couple standard days ago as the Falcon rushed through hyperspace, that Leia was sure fate had decided to play a cruel trick on one of her twins. No, not on one. On Jaina. Leia had felt that truth. Something had been horribly wrong in her daughter's life.

Then the feeling had dissipated, only to be replaced by a disconcerting but not disturbing emptiness. For some reason Jaina had withdrawn from her mother. She was out there, alive and well, but she was distant and hidden. Leia didn't like it, not one bit. But she wasn't worried.

"They're fine," she said with a practiced smile. Han turned his head and scowled. Worse, she couldn't even lie and spare him the worry. "Okay, maybe a little concerned."

"Well, based on the comm Karrde left at our hyperspace drop point, it seems Jacen and Jaina are both in one piece."

"I suppose," she mumbled.

"What?"

"I don't know." Karrde. Vikova. "What do you suppose he was doing all the way out here?"

He chuckled. "Like our children, Karrde has a way of landing smack in the middle of events."

"But it wasn't coincidence he commed."

"No, it wasn't. He was telling us without telling us to check on the kids, dear."

"That's what I thought." Just then, Vikovan Space Command crackled in her headset. Leia confirmed their identity and mission, choosing to reveal their true names instead of using one of their many covers. She still felt a sense of urgency that demanded she make haste for the planet's surface. Not surprisingly, the Millennium Falcon was granted priority landing privileges at the Palace spaceport.

"Not too bad," Han said once she finished.

"There are times…"

"When abusing your reputation has its definite advantage."

"Using, not abusing," she countered.

Then Han swung them into a dive for the green, blue, and white sphere below. "Let's see those kids of ours," he proclaimed.

The minutes it took to reach planetside and then the Palace spaceport seemed like an eternity. When they arrived, Han and Leia discovered the planet was a veritable hotbed of activity. They had received a datastream from the Alliance diplomatic network with a brief update on the current political state of Vikova. The former leader Iliana, apparently had been deposed, and in her place a new head of state was being seated on this very day. From the looks and general feel of surrounding area, Leia suspected this was exciting and promising news. Workers walked at a happy clip, and Vikovans and non-Vikovans alike all wore hopeful expressions.

"Brings back memories of the Rebellion days," Han said while the Falcon settled on its landing struts.

"That is does," Leia answered with a smile. Not about the fond memory of those sweet victories against the Empire, but rather at the sight of a tall, handsome young man who reminded her of the swashbuckling pirate who had stolen her heart during those precious years. "Jacen!"

Springing from her seat, Leia fled the cockpit with wings on her feet. The patter of her soles echoed off the round walls of the Falcon's corridor until she stutter-stepped at the ramp controls. Before she could hit the controls, though, she heard the whine of servomotors and gave her husband an absent hug for dropping the ramp from the cockpit. Seven strides down the ramp, then only a couple more delivered Leia into her son's arms.

He engulfed her in a bold hug that lifted her off her feet. "Hey, Mom."

The only reply Leia could muster was a satisfied grin hidden in the folds of his Jedi tunic.

"What? No hello for the old man?" Han said with a chuckle from somewhere behind her.

Jacen settled Leia to the ground and released her. Father and son reunited with some obligatory backslapping and male bonding grunts. Crossing her arms, Leia basked in the fleeting sensation of completion at the sight.

"It seems you've taken over the Solo-Skywalker destiny of righting all the wrongs of galaxy," Han said as the two men separated.

"One system at a time." Jacen waved to someone behind him. "Shawnkyr, don't be a stranger."

A tall, lithe Chiss female strode over, snapped to attention, and executed a dramatic bow. "General. Princess."

Leia scrutinized Shawnkyr's uniform. "Major Nuruodo. It is always a pleasure."

Shawnkyr dipped her head respectfully. "No, I assure you the pleasure is all –"

Jacen elbowed her. "Cut it out. They're just my parents."

Her red eyes widened, one a little more than the other, in the closest assimilation of playfulness Leia had ever seen on the Chiss' face. "They are far more than your parents, Jacen Solo."

"Well, a couple hours in the cantina with my dad will cure you of that," Jacen replied with a mischievous curl at the corner of his mouth. Then he leaned a little closer to Shawnkyr and spoke not nearly quiet enough. "And he's going to need it."

Leia fought down a surge of dread. "Where is your sister?"

Tipping his head in the general direction of a Chiss shuttle, Jacen answered, "Over there."

Both Han's and Leia's gazes darted across the hangar, ending on the sight of Jaina and Jag walking hand in hand. For a second, Leia's heart sank; she hadn't even felt her daughter. Then Jaina smiled, and a flood of raw, vibrant emotion overwhelmed Leia. Her daughter practically glowed.

"What happened to you?" Han called out to Jaina, his voice resonating alarm as he strutted across the distance to meet the pair.

Only then did Leia notice the cuts and bruises across her daughter's face. Still, she didn't worry. While Han enveloped their daughter in a loving embrace, Jacen whispered in Leia's ear, "We'll catch up later, Mom."

Her gaze remained fixed upon the sight of Jaina – and Jag. Together. She nodded mutely. After Jacen kissed her on the cheek and tiptoed away, Jaina tore herself from Han's arms. She looked at Leia and said, "Just a little action, Dad."

"I hope the other guy looks worse." Han pushed back Jaina's wayward bangs to inspect a particularly nasty gash over her left eye.

"She does," Jag said dryly.

"Anyone we know?" Han asked.

Jaina grinned at Jag, who looked a little worse for wear as well in Leia's estimation. "What was her name? Ill…"

"Um." Jag stroked his chin. "Illy something."

The truth dawned on Leia. The deposed former leader, her name was Iliana. "Oh Jaina. You didn't."

"Hey, I only beat her up." Jaina thumbed over at Jag. "He shot her."

Clearly fighting a blossoming desire to laugh at Jaina's amazing ability to wind up in the middle of high profile political incidents at every turn, Han stuck out his hand. "Hello, Jag. Good to see you –" he glanced to Jaina "– two fighting for the same side again."

Jag shook firmly. "Thank you, sir."

Jaina touched Jag on the arm before stepping away. She crossed to Leia, and the two women hugged. "Mom, I'm so glad you're here."

Leia felt something different and new in her daughter as she drew away. "Is everything –"

"It's perfect," Jaina said, grinning. She backed away, and tugged Jag to her side. "Mom, Dad, there is something Jag would like to ask you."

For a moment Han blanched, but to his credit he recovered quickly. Leia and Han gravitated toward each other, and in a couple heartbeats their hands were intertwined. His fingers practically cut into her skin, but it didn't matter. All that mattered was the awkward young man building up the courage to ask the parents of his lover –

"Sir, Princess, as honorary diplomatic dignitaries of the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances," Jag started, then swallowed hard.

A bit formal, but a good start, Leia thought.

Jag adjusted his grip on Jaina's hand. "I would like to formally request your blessing and support in my petition for asylum to the –"

"Asylum!" Han blurted out.

"Han," Leia hissed.

Her husband waved his free hand at Jag. "Is that all? With the pomp and excitement I thought for sure you were going to ask for Jaina's hand in marriage or –"

"Dad!"
"Han!"

The exclamations of mother and daughter brought a thick pause to the din of the bustling hangar.

Jag seemed unfazed, and offered Han a slight bow. "I was getting to that, sir."

The sound of Han's palm smacking his forehead mirrored the blow Leia felt herself, even though she had been somewhat prepared. The sensation was one of breathlessness, like the air had been sucked out of her lungs. It only lasted a second, until the warmth of unadulterated joy and happiness flowed into her. For too long, Leia had worried that Jaina would forsake the wonderful blessing of true love. But here, in this moment, it was all coming true.

A squeal of glee fled Leia's lips. It was undignified, but so was the barrage of kisses and hugs she bestowed on the young couple. Somewhere in there, Han managed to get in a word or two of congratulations, but Leia couldn't contain herself, or the tears.

"Leia," Jag said softly, holding out a handkerchief.

She accepted it with an appreciative nod, then daubed her eyes. "Thank you. For everything."

"Then may I assume the answer is yes?" Jag asked tentatively.

"Can you marry Jaina?" Han asked incredulously. "Of course!"

But Jag was still watching Leia; his eyes were plaintive and concerned. At some point, he had made a choice. He wanted a life with their daughter so much that he had chosen to give up everything just to be with her. Leia understood and reached out for his hands. "Yes, Jag. I will personally see to your acceptance into the Alliance."

"Thank you," he mouthed, the usually emotionless man actually unable to speak.

Jaina placed a hand on either cheek and kissed her fiancé. "See? Nothing to worry about."

The sparkle of brilliant ice crystals glimmering off Jaina's hand caught Han's and Leia's attention simultaneously. "Woo-eee!" he exclaimed "They must be paying you too much, son."

"Oh, Jaina," Leia gasped as her daughter held the ring out for closer inspection. An orichale band with sizeable ice crystals set all around, the ring was quite impressive. "It's beautiful."

"Yeah, well, don't forget – I gave you a planet, sweetheart," Han said.

Jag stifled a chuckle. "I tried that, sir, but I fell short on the endeavor."

Han puffed his chest. "It's all right. We'll forgive you those Fel inadequacies. You're a Solo now."

Jaina grinned at her father. "I'm going to be a Fel, Daddy."

Han groaned playfully and snagged Jaina into what they affectionately called a Chewie-love-lock. Then with one arm wrapped around her tiny shoulders, Han dragged her along. To an outsider, it would have looked like Han was the happiest man alive, but Leia saw that momentary flash in her husband's eyes. He was the happiest man alive for Jaina's sake, but for the father in him, his heart was breaking. Today, he had lost his daughter.

And gained a son, Leia reminded herself.

In true Han Solo fashion, though, still wrestling with his little girl as they crossed toward the Falcon, he said, "So, your Aunt Mara wanted to know how the Shadow was doing…"