CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

"Soontir?"

A long pause. Her husband was pretending to concentrate on the cockpit consoles in front of him. Unlike Syal, he was not a good actor. He tried, he really did, but she could always see through him. Besides, their family's luxury space yacht, the Starflare, was still in hyperspace. Anything that required so much focus from the pilot during a lightspeed jump would be too big a problem for even someone as skilled as Soontir to hide.

"Hmm?" he finally said, still not looking at her. "Did you say something, dear?"

"I asked," she replied from where she stood leaning in the open doorway to the cockpit, "when you were planning to tell me where we're going?"

"Ah." He spun around his seat, his good eye twinkling mischievously. "I would like to, my darling, but it's a secret."

"A secret?"

"Yes."

Syal affected a quite intimidating scowl. "Likely story, General."

"It is true, my love," he insisted, motioning her to sit in the chair directly behind his. "A very important and dangerous secret."

She sat down, then leaned forward and narrowed her eyes dramatically. "So dangerous and important," she said in a hushed, conspiratorial voice, "you cannot possibly reveal it, even to your wife."

Soontir grinned. "Exactly."

She laughed. "It's not Vikova, then."

"Hardly. Such a dull place, I hear."

"Oh." She used her best acting skills to feign a smile. A little part of her had hoped this secret might have entailed visiting their son. Wishful thinking. "I so do hate dull places."

He chuckled, and turned back to the controls. "So you say."

"So it's not Vikova."

"Correct."

"Kyrrtol?"

"That wouldn't be a surprise."

"Oh." Syal leaned back in her seat. "I thought the surprise was when we get there."

"Well, that too," Soontir said. "But where we're going is not just a secret. It's also a surprise."

"Did you rebuild the base on Nirauan?"

He waved a hand dismissively. "No, no. Have a little faith in me. Much better than that."

She frowned thoughtfully. They had been in hyperspace for an unusually long time, and had made a number of course adjustments. Nevertheless, with all the obstacles and dangers in Chiss space, much less Soontir's eternal precautions against being followed, they could be almost anywhere. "Are we going to the ice caverns on K'noth?"

"Someday, but not today."

"You realize I'm guessing wildly."

"Yes. And very entertainingly so." Soontir tapped buttons on the console with one hand while gripping the yoke in the other. "We're about to drop from hyperspace."

Shifting to her right, Syal tried to eye the navigation display.

"No cheating."

"Oh, all right," she replied, settling back into her seat.

He slid the hyperdrive lever, and the streaks of light outside the wide viewport condensed into a sparkling array of stars.

It had been years since Syal had seen the constellations of the galaxy from anywhere but Chiss space, and even its frontiers were beyond the Outer Rim. Memories of her youth flooded back as she gazed upon the speckled swath of black. They weren't just in the Known Regions.

They were in the Core.

She drew in a breath to regain her composure. "I suppose this rules out my next guess."

"Which was?"

"Gyuel." She still could not believe her eyes. "Are… are we going to Corellia?"

"Oh, excellent guess," he said. "But no. For multiple reasons, in fact."

"Which, I take it, also must remain secret?"

"For now."

"Well, that's an improvement." She gave up trying to determine their location from the arrangement of the stars, and tried to formulate a guess. They wouldn't have come to Coruscant; the former capital planet was still too devastated from its occupation by the Yuuzhan Vong. And as far as she knew, Wedge was still living at the seat of the Galactic Alliance government on Mon Calamari. "I give up."

He swung the nose of the Starflare around. "Does this help?"

Slowly the round orb of a planet began to slide across the starscape. The blue and green hues of its surface were obscured by white expanses of clouds. Syal thought it looked vaguely familiar, but more precise recollections of the Core worlds had faded over the years.

"Sorry," she said breathlessly. "I don't recognize it."

"That's all right," Soontir said. "I wouldn't either."

"So? Where are we?"

"Chandrila, of course," said Wyn.

In unison Syal and Soontir turned to find their daughter leaning precariously into the cockpit from the hallway, practically toppling over as she craned to read the navigation display.

"I thought you were studying your lessons in your room," Syal said.

Wyn shrugged, almost falling in the process. "I got bored."

"You haven't been invited into the cockpit by the pilot, young lady," Soontir scolded.

Waving one arm in the air to keep her balance, Wyn pointed at her feet, which were planted firmly just beyond the threshold. "I'm not in the cockpit."

Soontir scowled at Syal. "Who teaches her such technicalities?"

"Let me know if you figure it out."

They both laughed. Wyn, however, did not seem to find it amusing. "So, Father," their daughter said impatiently, "may I enter the cockpit or not?"

"Yes," he said. "And strap in. We'll be landing soon."

"Why are we going to Chandrila?" Wyn asked.

"Your father won't say," Syal explained.

"We're going to see Jag, aren't we?"

Soontir deliberately continued looking out the viewport. "What would give you that idea?"

"Soontir?" Syal's heart was pounding, and a million fears raced through her mind. "Has something happened? Is something wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong," he said, glancing quickly back over his shoulder to flash her a reassuring smile. "I promise."

"You're certain?"

"Very much so."

Wyn, of course, had picked up on her father's implicit confirmation of her supposition. "Is Jaina with him?"

"I don't know," Soontir said with as much nonchalance as he could muster. It wasn't enough.

"Oh, you never could lie to me, Father," Wyn said, laughing. She might have hopped from her seat if she hadn't been held back by the crash webbing. "She's here too, isn't she?"

Syal leaned forward until her chin hovered a hairsbreadth from her husband's shoulder. "So tell me, beloved," she said softly, bursting her words against the skin of his neck, "is it true?"

Soontir swallowed hard. "I am not prepared to confirm or deny anything at this time."

"Oh, 'Tiiiiiir," Syal purred.

He shuddered, then whispered to her. "That won't work."

Syal ran her fingertips languidly along the back of her husband's neck. "Jag and Jaina, Soontir? Why visit them here now, after all this time?"

"Oh!" Wyn exclaimed. "I bet it's because –"

"Enough, both of you," Soontir hissed.

A wounded expression came over Wyn's face. Syal reached over and put her hand on their daughter's knee. Wyn looked at her expectantly. Syal grinned. "Said too much already, have you, 'Tir?"

"No," he muttered.

Just then a male voice crackled over the com. "Unidentified yacht, this is Chandrila Defense Fleet. Come around to heading one-six-zero and prepare to transmit credentials."

"We should let your father handle this in peace, sweetheart," Syal said. A cranky Soontir was an uncooperative Soontir.

Tightening her crash webbing, Wyn sighed. "All right. If you insist."

A short time later the Starflare settled onto its landing gear in an empty hangar bay in a quiet spaceport on one of Chandrila's southern continents. When he finished the final powerdown sequences, Soontir unbuckled his crash webbing and stood. Syal and Wyn did the same, and together the three of them headed for the boarding ramp.

They emerged into the vacant hangar, and Syal took her husband's hand. "What's going on, 'Tir? When are we going to get to see Jag?"

"Soon enough. I expect the welcoming party –"

"Here comes someone," Wyn said, pointing toward a corridor on the far wall.

Sure enough, a tall man dressed in a simple green flight suit strode into the hangar and headed right for them. Syal thought she actually recognized him. "Is that…?"

"Jacen!" Wyn bounded one step before her Fel sensibilities got the better of her. She stayed put at her father's side.

The Jedi Knight was smiling broadly when he reached them. "Soontir, Syal, Wyn," Jacen Solo said, nodding to each of them in turn. "It's wonderful to see you again. We're all so happy you were able to travel so far to join us."

Which "we all" would that be? Syal wondered. Aloud she said, "It's good to be here."

Soontir squeezed her hand, and tipped his head to Jacen. "Yes. It is."

Jacen smiled at Wyn. "It's not Coruscant, I'm afraid, but I think you'll enjoy it here all the same."

"Oh, I'm sure I will," Wyn replied, grinning broadly.

"Well, I promised I wouldn't hold you up," Jacen said. "Jag is waiting. If you'll follow me?"

Predictably, Wyn went to Jacen's side and began a barrage of questions as they walked. Syal and Soontir stayed a few paces behind. Soontir was silent until they reached the corridor. Once he was sure Wyn was thoroughly distracted, he leaned in and whispered.

"Try to act surprised."

She kissed his cheek. "It won't be a problem."

"Didn't think so," he said, and kissed her forehead.

Jacen led them into a small pilot's lounge. The room was actually quite elegantly appointed, but Syal gave little notice to her surroundings. The sight of Jagged, whole and alive, demanded her undivided attention.

She rushed straight to her son and pulled him into a fierce embrace. "Oh, Jag," she gasped. "Are you all right?"

"Never been better, Mother," he replied, hugging her back with equal enthusiasm.

Syal couldn't keep the tears from streaming down her cheeks. She wouldn't let him go, not yet. "It's so wonderful to see you again. It's been too long."

"I know," Jag said. "I'm sorry."

"I've been so worried."

For once he didn't seem bothered by her fretting. "Everything is fine. More than fine."

"This is just so wonderful." When she saw the small grin forming on Jag's face, she realized she had been so focused on confirming her son's well-being that she hadn't given him the chance to do something very important to him.

Syal gave her son a sheepish smile, then followed his gaze.

Her husband was releasing a petite brunette from a warm embrace. "I'm so relieved you're well."

"I feel better than I look," the young woman said, grinning.

Soontir caught Syal's confused expression. "We've, uh, already met."

Syal arched an eyebrow. "Oh really?"

"Tell you later," Soontir said, backing away as much to get a little distance from Syal as to let the young woman step forward.

Syal gave him a stern glare, then turned to her son and his blushing girlfriend.

"You must be Jaina."

Jag took the petite brunette's hand and led her to them. Jaina barely managed a nod.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Jaina," Syal said, pulling the young woman into a firm embrace.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, too," Jaina replied, returning the hug a bit stiffly.

Holding Jaina, Syal glanced to Jag. Her son beamed, but there was also a hint of concern in his sculptured features. Concern only a mother would recognize. She pulled back and appraised Jaina at arms' length. "My, you are as beautiful as Jag has described in his hololetters."

"Thank you," Jaina said meekly. "That's kind coming from you."

Syal looked quickly at Soontir, but he reflected none of the worry she felt. Something was making Jaina nervous, perhaps –

"Hi! I'm Wyn." The youngest Fel inserted herself between the two women, and practically tackled Jaina in a hug. "You're prettier in person than in the holomags."

Tugging her daughter back, Syal scolded, "Wynssa Fel, when have you gotten hold of those horrible publications? You know how I feel about what they write, always distorting the truth about people."

Wyn simply shrugged. Her daughter had no intention of answering her now.

"We'll discuss it later, young lady," Soontir admonished, then turned to Jag. "I was surprised to receive your urgent summons, Jagged."

"Yes. I am sure you would be. About that…" Jag reached for Jaina's hand, and they shared a dramatic look. "Good news or bad news?"

Jaina winked. "Bad first, I think."

Syal instinctively wanted to grab hold of Soontir's thick arm. Instead she commanded her body to still; she compelled her mouth to smile. Likewise her husband stood like a rock, unmoving and seemingly unfazed. She wondered how he could be so calm and unaffected when their son was about to deliver bad news. And he wasn't even an actor.

"In my communiqué I told you it would be impossible for me to return home," Jag said to his father.

"Yes, you did. You also said it was imperative we meet in person. I trust you had good reason."

Syal faced Soontir, trying to keep her mouth from dropping. Smile. Everyone is watching. This was dreadful; something was horribly wrong. Possible scenarios flickered in her mind like horror scenes in a holodrama. What could it be? Smile. What could it be?

"I did," Jag said with a tip of his head, then passed his father a datacard. "This is my official resignation from the CEDF. Effectively immediately."

"What!" Wyn exclaimed. Smiling suddenly seemed the wrong expression, so Syal simply rubbed her daughter's arm.

Soontir accepted the datacard without flinching. "I will pass this along the proper channels. You will be… missed."

Syal fought the urgent trembling threatening to overcome her, and held her passive face. "Jag, what does this mean?"

"It means, my darling, that Jagged will no longer be able to come home to Csilla," her husband explained calmly. "That is why we had to come to him."

How could he be so calm? Their son was leaving the only life he had ever known! "Oh," was all Syal said, though. Then she reminded herself to not cry.

Jaina spoke up tentatively. "Time for the good news, maybe?"

"Yes," Soontir said. "The good news."

Why was he so interested in moving on? They needed to get to the bottom of this!

"Yes. The good news," Jag chimed in. Despite the stunning announcement of a few moments before, he showed no signs of anxiety or worry, just pure joy. "Mother, Father –"

"I know!" Wyn hopped in place excitedly.

"Hush, child," Soontir snapped before offering a rare smile to Jag – and Jaina. "Let them share their news."

Them? Their? Syal stole a glance at Soontir. He avoided her gaze, tipping his head to the young couple in encouragement. Her husband knew something, and hadn't shared. How could he keep a secret from her like this? It was becoming painfully clear that the secret extended far beyond flying to the Core to visit their son…

Soontir touched her arm. "Syal, dear, did you hear what Jag said?"

Of course she hadn't, but for an actress of any skill fibbing through that would be a snap. She looked from her husband's expectant face to Jag, who looked anxious, to Jaina, who looked sick, and to Wyn, who looked like she had bantha beetles in her pants. And all their emotions appeared to be hanging on Syal's next words.

She smiled sweetly and said, "That is wonderful news."

Jag's face wasn't immediately satisfied. Jaina's expression went from sickly to pure nausea. But all Syal could absorb was Wyn bouncing all over the pair, hugging Jag and then Jaina. "I can't believe you're going to be my sister."

Sister? Sister. That would mean…

"Pretend like you really did hear Jag tell you he asked Jaina to marry him, dear," Soontir whispered in her ear, and then shoved Syal forward.

Jaina looked utterly forlorn. All that worry and awkwardness suddenly made sense. The poor young woman probably had fretted incessantly over this moment – only to have her mother-in-law-to-be simply say, "That is wonderful news."

Syal wanted to cry, and she did. "Oh, my precious Jaina…" There were no words.

Jaina started crying.

Syal felt her husband's fingers intertwine with her own, and magically the right words sprang to mind. "There could be no one better for our son. Welcome to our family."

The dam of emotion broke. Jag smiled; Jaina did too. Wyn continued her happy dance. Soontir nodded his approval. There were hugs, and congratulations, and tears of joy. In the midst of the giddy celebration, it finally hit Syal that her son was all grown up. His service in the war, his years away, his brief holocomms and short letters, his maturity, his dedication to risking his life to fulfill his duties – none of those had touched her the way this moment had. Jag was getting married. He had chosen to leave behind his own family to start a new one. Soon, he might even be a father himself.

Yes, her little boy was definitely all grown up now. Syal wiped away a few bittersweet tears.

"Mother," Jag said. "Would you like a handkerchief?"

She accepted the white folded cloth and dabbed dry her tears.

"This is so exciting," Wyn said. "We'll get to stay and celebrate for a while, right, Father?"

"Absolutely," Soontir said. "We've been invited by Jaina's family to stay for their winter holiday celebration."

So there was some of the secret. Syal narrowed her eyes. "I expect you to behave."

He held out his hands. "That was a long time ago."

"Right. And you never hold a grudge." She looked back at Jag and Jaina, and the simple sight made Syal's heart skip a beat. The too-close distance between them. Her hand on the sleeve of his black uniform, and his hand on the waist of her slim red dress. The tilt of his head, listening to her, and the lift in her stance to whisper up to him. Their smiles. Most of all the pure, intense, unlimited devotion deep within their eyes.

Syal released a contented sigh. "The good news most definitely trumps the bad news."

"I'm glad you think so," Jaina said, smiling broadly. She was finally beginning to let down her guard. "I'm just grateful Jag was patient enough to wait for me to come to my senses."

Jag chuckled happily. "You are more than worth it."

"You'd better hope so," Jaina said, elbowing him playfully.

"True," Jag said, wrapping an arm around her waist. "Fortunately the mission to Vikova provided the perfect opportunity for me to… persuade you to see things my way."

They all laughed. Something about Jag's words struck Syal, though, and she glanced over at her husband. There, hidden on his face where only she knew to look, was a tiny tell-tale smirk of Corellian self-satisfaction. Her eyes widened. She had figured him out. "You didn't," she mouthed.

"What?" he mouthed back, smiling angelically.

"Oh, this is going to be so much fun." Wyn seemed almost as happy as Jag. "And then we'll get to come back for the wedding!"

Inexplicably Jacen, who had remained a passive observer, burst out laughing.

Syal looked at him, then to Jag and Jaina. "What?"

"About the wedding," Jag said. "It's… well… it's tomorrow."