Chapter Two

JediBubbles: Hey! I didn't know you were on too! Do I mind? 'Course not! The more reviews the better! By the way, there's a new chapter I don't think you've read yet over on JC.

DathomiranAuthorRoamer: Hey! So many familiar faces...thanks, by the way:-)

"She was like nothing I'd ever known

Her eyes shine like diamonds in a field of snow"

-Boyz II Men

Zekk had thrown himself into the pilot's chair about ten standard minutes ago and he hadn't moved since. His emerald eyes stared out in front of him, as though he were trying to seek hidden answers from a place they would most certainly not be given.

He didn't even notice Lowbacca staring at him until the Wookiee bellowed at him, the shout coupled with a gentle thump to the back of his head.

Zekk jolted forward, shocked at first, but then a grin overtook his expression and he settled back into his chair. A mischievous glint lurked within his eyes.

"I see you managed to get all that stuff out of your fur, huh?"

Lowbacca growled in response, rolling his eyes at the younger Jedi as he dropped into the co-pilots seat. It was too small for him really, but his thin frame had allowed him to get by with it for the past month or so he'd been partnered with Zekk. The Wookiee had the feeling the chair had always been intended for someone much smaller than he…perhaps human, as well….and female…

"Master Lowbacca has asked me to assure you, though he seems rather sullen about it, Master Zekk, that without your assistance it would not have been possible." EmTedee spoke up, hovering near the viewport, in front of Lowbacca. "But he is more curious as to what occurred with you and Master Solo in his absence."

Zekk was silent for a long moment, and Lowie fidgeted- from both discomfort in the awkward silence, and discomfort with the too-small chair. When Zekk finally spoke, Lowie's golden eyes studied him intently.

"Well, we only talked for a minute or two, really. He was pretty shocked at how long it'd been since we saw each other last, and then he got a call from Jaina and had to go meet her or something."

The words left Zekk's mouth bit slower than normal speech, and Lowbacca knew that Zekk was taking great care in the emphasis of his words. The young Wookiee could see right through Zekk's attempt to sound nonchalant.

"Mistress Jaina is here?" EmTeedee spoke up brightly, his photoreceptors glowing. "Oh, how delightful! I should very much like to see her again. She is the one, of course, who has made the most use of me- aside from you, Master Lowbacca. Oh it could be just like old ti-" Zekk looked over as the little droid's voice died, and saw that he lay in Lowbacca's big hands, switched off.

There was a small pause, not a minute long, and a question rumbled forth from the young Wookiee. To Zekk's understanding, his Wookiee friend had said "She's here?"

Zekk nodded, and he picked up a datapad that had lain on the console before him moments before, beginning to fiddle with it. "According to Han, she is. And you can probably trust him to know one of his kids when he sees them."

Lowbacca agreed, and tentatively suggested that Zekk go see her. For old time's sake, at least. Of course, he'd been down this particular road with Zekk countless times before, and could easily predict the young Jedi's response by now.

Zekk's emerald eyes swung up to meet the golden ones of the young Wookiee. "Oh yeah, and what if Fel happens to be around, huh? What would I do then? Just march on in and start a conversation?"

Zekk shook his head and turned his gaze to the datapad again. "Besides, if I showed up I'd probably get a door slammed in my face. And that's not really something to look forward to."

Lowbacca growled, wondering how Zekk knew Jaina would turn him away. After all, you never know…

Zekk just shrugged. "Well, maybe she wouldn't. But even if she didn't, there's still the whole thing with Fel…Sithspawn, I can't even look at the guy without this sudden urge to shove him into an escape pod and ship him into the Unknown Regions."

Lowbacca rumbled, adding his own, milder sentiment in regards to Jag. Switching EmTedee on once more, the young Wookiee rose slowly from the chair, stretching out his cramped limbs.

"Master Lowbacca, what are you- oh…oh, you want me to translate! Yes, of course!" Lowbacca rolled his eyes at the droid and let out a long series of rumbles, barks and growls. "Master Lowbacca suggests that you do what you feel will make you happy. If that means going to see Mistress Jaina, he also wants to remind you that you're leaving for the Outer Rim in approximately a month, and that it could very well be your last chance."

And then, just like that, he was gone, and Zekk could sense him heading for the mess hall for evening meal.

Tossing the datapad back onto the navigation console, Zekk propped his arm up under his chin, supporting his head as his emerald eyes once more gazed out into nothingness.

"Well, it'd be a lot easier if Jaina's happiness wasn't what made me happy."