Fate, So Beautifully
A Star Wars Romance
Written by: Nehru_Amidala
Inspirations: the myth of Hades and Persephone, Sailor Moon, Edward Scissorhands, The Nutcracker, The Thrawn Trilogy, Neil Gaiman's Stardust, Downton Abbey
Pairings: Thrawn/Jaina (Main!), Luke/Mara, Han/Leia, Jacen/Tenel Ka, Anakin/Tahiri, Ar'alani/Paelleon, Eli/Vah'nya
Tropes used in this story and trigger warnings: time travel, true love conquers all, earning a happy ending, grey vs gray morality, miscarriage, premature birth, abandonment, redemption, rising to meet your fate, to see with eyes unclouded
Timeline: Mix of Legends and Canon
Voice cast list: Thrawn- Benedict Cumberbatch, Jaina- Anne Hathaway, Mara Jade- Karen Gillam, Paelleon- Joe Spano, Eli- David Tennant, Kira- Lisa Maxwell, Aleksandr Kallus- Sean Bean, Lando Calrissian- Billy Dee Williams, General Bragg- Michelle Yeoh
(It's Hard Work- Joe Hisaishi)
Stave 18: Resistance on Raxus, Part 2
Jaina could sense the Force was strong with Kira, and obviously Gelfling were a secretive race. She didn't blame her at all, goodness only knows what Sidious would do if he discovered a race of Fair Folk residing within the confines of Imperial Space. It would not rewrite history and evolutionary science everyone knew it; this would destroy millennia of Sith and Jedi practice. She weighed these options in her mind as she ignited her lightsaber. Kira bowed to the taller woman and quipped, "Shall we begin?" Jaina nodded, and the sparring began.
Neither woman let up, and it was a friendly match, and at some point, Jaina finally asked about the odd kyber crystal and the strange planet in her vision. Kira considered what to tell the human, and simply replied she and Thrawn were going to have to wait. Jaina inquired about how she had gotten her lightsaber. Kira gave no answer but a friendly wave, and the next thing she knew she was being shaken roughly.
"Lieutenant Antilles, wake up!"
Jaina looked up and was a little disoriented at the sight of 4 or 5 stormtroopers poking around in the underbrush, a thermal blanket hastily thrown over. A woman's voice called out for them to continue the search for the Fae, she wouldn't get far. Bragg walked over and helped Jaina up. "At ease, Lady Thrawn. It's not every day someone goes toe to toe with a Fair Folk with a lightsaber. Odd choice of weapon," the older woman commented as she handed Jaina the lightsaber. She lied through her teeth, saying her fiancée would be interested in studying such a weapon. Bragg nodded, that seemed like something up the Grand Admiral's alley. Taking a speeder, Jaina was given a hot breakfast and updated the governor and Thrawn with what had happened.
When she had bathed and was eating breakfast, the governor made Jaina repeat her story, so he had it on record, and Jaina omitted parts of it, for obvious reasons. Once the report had been filed, Jaina decided to hit the open-air market in Raxulon's main avenue outside the planet's Parliament. That would be the perfect place to go (quasi) incognito and scrounge around for any potential leads.
The market itself was held outside on the broad avenue directly in front of the Parliament building. Considering the early time, it was still cool for that time of year. So, she was glad she wore the cloak, it added a bit of flair to her uniform. Once she had parked, she took the long way round, to make herself blend in. The stalls were all of a uniform balsa wood, bleached by the sun and withered by winter snow and ice. All sorts of things were for sale, homegrown produce and cheese, earthenware crockery and tilework, art of all kinds, old books, and clothes, and more than a few knock offs. Meandering her way around, she thought she saw some drones hovering overhead. Shading her eyes with her hands, she saw a dozen or so circular droids hovering in two-minute increments in between random stalls, than buzzing maybe 20 or 30 feet in the air, and moving onto the next group. These weren't Imperial droids, either local or maybe hacked by the Rebels? Everything seemed to point random movements to the everyday citizen, but Jaina knew Thrawn would be musing, the wheels in his active mind pondering what the pattern, timing, where they were had been programmed- leading to where the Rebels might be hiding.
I really, really hope nobody I know is involved in this, that's going to make things awkward, Jaina thought to herself. She began recording the drones and was going to send the video to Thrawn when she heard her stomach growl. She was a little hungry, so she walked over to where the produce stands were.
(Bittersweet Symphony- The Verve)
It had been a simple enough mission, stir up local resentment on Raxus, at least according Drats Draven, and as far as Aleksandr Kallus was concerned, the man was a dithering idiot. Just swoop in, make friends with the locals, and the rest would fall into place. Skywalker and Organa were busy tracking down Captain Solo, and Vader was following in hot pursuit. So, here he was, wearing faded denim trousers and a borrowed top from Luke. Calrissian was somewhere, flirting with some good-looking person, and looking for some new cape to add his growing collection. He was about to edit Zeb's guide to galactic mythology the Lasat had been compiling over the last 5 years, when he noticed a young woman examining the jogan fruits.
Clearing his throat, he asked, "Good morning, can I help you?" Jaina recognized Kallus at once but hid her recognition. Jaina explained she was doing a security sweep of the area, and pulled out a notebook and inquired about inventory, and requested a sample of his fruit. She said this in a pleasant way, and Kallus found himself studying this young woman as she munched on some fruit, declaring it delicious.
Female Imperial officers never did security checks, that was considered men's work. She was quite young, fresh out of the academy. The way she carried herself indicated she was from the upper echelons of society of the Core Worlds, Corellia perhaps. What he noticed next caused him to shudder. Her uniform bore a maroon cloak, indicating an upcoming marriage to some high-ranking officer, the hint of a chain around her neck suggested some sort of promise ring, and the shoulder patch indicated she was serving in the Seventh Fleet, specifically the Chimaera. Was it possible she was to be married off to Grand Admiral Thrawn? He could imagine it was some sort of arrangement, family connections perhaps. He hoped she didn't find the transmitter he had hidden in his boots.
Jaina paid him for the fruit but fined him seventy two credits for not having the correct paperwork, just fill it out down at the local bursar's office and you'll be fine, is what she had advised. It was about the loud, jolly voice of Calrissian cut through the crowd, "Hey Skander! Just a great deal on some Selonian silk, hello! Where's the fire, Little Red Riding Hood?" Jaina groaned, of course Uncle Lando would have to make a pass at her. He did not yet know who she really was.
Jaina spun around and hissed, "Excuse me?" Lando quickly threw his hands up in self-defense and quickly backpedaled. Jaina produced a notebook and shook her head, "I don't where you got your pickup lines, pal, but they don't work. Let's see, illegal drone flying in a market area without a permit, sexual harassment of an Imperial officer, minor offenses really. I don't want to ruin your day but hitting on random locals will get you run out of town. The woman selling cheese could be an informant," she told him. Noticing him pale considerably at the chance at having been found out, he stammered an apology, but Jaina still gave a 600 credit fine. Lando looked at the piece of paper, and complained she was forcing him to break his budget. Jaina glared at him, "Pray I don't alter the deal any further, Rebel." The last word had been a whisper in his ear, and he was plenty spooked. One of the reasons they had come to Raxus was because he, Kallus and the Spectres were not recognized here. Luke, Leia and Han, yes- them no. What scared him more was that she had used the words Lord Vader had spoken to him less than two days ago.
Lando continued to grumble when he shelled out the credits and was allowed to leave. The drones were still buzzing overhead, and Kallus was shooting daggers at his partner in crime. At this part of the mission, they were supposed to be getting a feel for the local atmosphere, and the hostility towards the Empire, but Lando just had to go and hit on the wrong officer, now didn't he?
"What in the nine hells were you thinking? That girl is engaged to Grand Admiral Thrawn," Kallus bellowed as he unpacked more fruit as some tourists from Tatooine stopped by to examine the produce for export. "Hey, I thought she was cute! So, sue me," Calrissian retorted hotly. Kallus argued he had to go and blow their cover. Of course, they happened to be overheard by a low-ranking officer who was on leave. "You're under arrest," he shouted, a little too eager to prove to his superiors he was competent enough. He jumped over the table and hollering for someone to arrest the Rebels. At the mention of the Rebels, people began screaming and scrambling to get away from the ensuing fire fight. In the melee and crowds pushing and shoving, Jaina commed Bragg and said she was pursuing the escaping Rebels. Bragg, who was in a teleconference with Thrawn, groaned when she heard Jaina went chasing after the fleeing Rebels. "One of them is Aleksandr Kallus," she informed him. Thrawn's anger went through the roof, which meant nothing good.
It was a fire drill trying to escape from the speeder lot, as the place was crawling with stormtroopers, shooting left and right. Civilians were either shooting back, or taking cover when Jaina came barreling out, shooting at them, and destroying Skander's hat Zeb made for his birthday. He loved that hat! Revving the engine, he backed into a row of rental speeder bikes and knocked them all over as he pulled out and made a run for it down the main drag running outside of town. Jaina gave some warning shots!
Lando tried to shoot back, but Jaina dodged the shots. "Damn! She reminds too much of Han," Calrissian remarked in an offhanded manner. "Never mind that, our mission's a wreck," Kallus retorted, "all because you can't keep your hands to yourself!" Lando clobbered Kallus for that crack, and the ensuing fist fight sent the speeder careening over a bridge…and into a creek! Worried, Jaina pulled her speeder bike over, and observed that they were okay, and were limping up into the mountains. Sussing out their general direction, Jaina figured out where the Rebel base could be. Time to head back to report what she had discovered.
When she got back to base, she was very surprised to see Thrawn there, holding her lightsaber. "As you can see, Jaina got this from the Fair Folk, very unusual," Bragg was explaining. Thrawn ignited it and held it as one would hold a sword. "I see what you mean, I will make sure to study this artefact with great scrutiny. Ah Jaina, there you are. Are you all right," he asked quietly. Bragg said she would be in the next room, allowing the young couple a moment alone.
Kissing Jaina, Thrawn wanted to know what had happened, he was going to throttle that traitor Kallus for assaulting his wife. Jaina begged him not to, "I know you and Kallus have bad blood, but please! Don't force anyone's hand." He kissed her on the forehead, and while he promised he would not harm anyone, he would hesitate to rain hell onto those who dared threaten the stability of the Empire. Thrawn stroked her hair softly, "I cannot promise you this, those who threaten you must be dealt with accordingly. It is a tradition among the Chiss aristocracy I must honor. That will extend to our children as well." Jaina sighed, if this had to be done, it had to be done.
Back at the base up in the wooded hillsides, Hera Syndulla had been frantically pacing up and down the ramp of the Ghost. There was no news from either Kallus or Calrissian, and she had no idea how the recon mission went. Leave it to Draven to leave out the details when everyone had Vader breathing down their necks. She was about to radio for back up, when who should stumble into the clearing but a defeated looking Kallus and Calrissian.
Unimpressed, Hera could only guess what had happened. What she was about to hear would both upset and frighten her. Having they come inside to warm up, she gave them some hot tea before lecturing them.
"Don't blame us, Draven gave us bad intel!"
"Can your karking mouth, Calrissian! We all know you were the one who threw Solo and Leia under the speeder to save your precious tibanna gas mine?
Hera shouted at them to knock it off, they were acting like children! Hanging their heads in shame, they managed to apologise and explain what had happened. "What do you mean, Grand Admiral Thrawn is engaged to be married?"
Just like that, everything on the mission changed.