DathomiranAuthorRoamer: Hah! It's one of my favorite parts to write, as well. We're so evil...muahaha

ElorinnaEvenstarre: giggles Watch out for Jag though...things havea way of popping up unexpectedly... evil grin

Chapter Eight
"Make up your mind

Voice your choice

Tell me who do you love..." -Radiants

The chronometer beeped suddenly, sounding sharply within the dim room. Tahiri slowly lifted her head from her arms, blinking her bleary eyes rapidly as Han's head jerked up in mid-snore, startled.

The two had been struggling to devise the next stage of their plan for hours now; they'd been at it ever since Tahiri had returned from running sims with Jaina, but to no avail. Perhaps it was too late into the night to think, or perhaps the correct solution hadn't presented itself yet, but they had to admit it…they were running out of ideas.

"I guess…" Tahiri began, glancing at the chronometer, "the best thing to do is just get them together as often as possible in the next few weeks, and hope they realize it themselves."

Han nodded, slowly rising from his chair. Following Tahiri's gaze to the chronometer, he noted that there was still a substantial amount of time before dawn…at least four hours or so.

Stifling a yawn with his hand, he mumbled a response. "Agreed. Anyway, like you said earlier, we've still got about two weeks to come up with something better..."

"Yeah, besides…I think we both could use some sleep before we try to think anymore." Tahiri murmured, running a hand through her blonde curls before leaning her head onto the table again.

"Sounds good to me, my brains' pretty fried..." Han responded over his shoulder, already halfway to the quarters he and Leia shared.

Tahiri might have smirked at him, but her eyelids had long since fluttered closed in sleep.

Thud thud…thud thud thud…

Jaina Solo frowned, forcing her face further into the pillow as she turned over, trying to block out the disturbing sound.

Thud thud!

Groaning, she opened her eyes, reaching over to flick on a glowlamp as she sat up. It took her a few more thuds before she realized someone was knocking at her door. Her eyes flicked over to the chronometer, noting the early hour. Who the Force could it be?

Quickly, she jumped up from the bed and stumbled over to the door, but not before she had hurried into a handy flightsuit. She had no idea if it was an emergency or not, but she never liked having visitors while in sleep-clothes, it always made her feel slightly vulnerable, somehow. Even Jag hadn't often seen her in sleep-clothes.

Sliding a hand back through her dark hair to get it out of her way, Jaina's other hand found the door controls. Rubbing the last bit of sleep from her eyes, she glanced up as the door slid open.

"Jag?"

Jag nodded, the door sliding shut behind him as he stepped further into the room. "Sorry for the disruption so early. I felt we needed to talk, and since I leave within the day, I figured there was no better time."

Her brandy eyes were wide as she turned into the room to face him, her lips parted slightly in surprise…and confusion. "We had our talk already tonight, unless by some strange incident that was your clone down in the mess hall instead of you."

"I understand how you must have felt after I informed you of my being called back into Chiss Space…and so I've come to resolve the matter. I know the incident in the mess hall was simply a result of high tempers and my lack of explanation." He explained, his forest gaze settled firmly on Jaina.

"Jag-"

"And so I've come over to fix things." The young pilot continued in a plain manner, his gaze still focused on Jaina. "I expect that you must have been rather hurt at the news, and therefore, acting out of hurt at being left behind. And I've come up with a solution."

"But, Jag-"

Any protest or response Jaina might have had prepared fled her mind as Jag dropped down to the floor, resting on one knee. Surprise flooded her, her brandy eyes widening as her gaze followed him down. Speech failed her.

He fumbled in one of his flightsuit pockets for a moment, and then held out a large gem, sparkling magnificently as the light reflected from its many angles. Staring at it, Jaina noticed a much smaller circle attached to the huge gem…a ring! Jag's eyes looked up at Jaina as he took her hand in his, still holding out the ring with his other and murmured. "Jaina Solo, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

Not good…this was not good…The thought ran through Lowie's mind numerous times as he stalked down the hallway. He groaned as he ran a hairy paw over the dark streak on his forehead in an agitated motion.

He'd just left the hangar bay, and his conversation with Zekk was the current cause of his distress. Why did he always have to be so stubborn?

"Master Lowbacca, wait!" EmTedee called impatiently after him, doing his best to keep up with the young Wookiee's long, rushed strides. "Whatever do you think you can do to stop Master Zekk from leaving on his own? You seemed most unsuccessful at persuading him to stay…he seems rather adamant."

Growling a quick response over his shoulder, Lowie continued down the hallway, not noticing the various techs, soldiers or pilots that jumped out of his way in surprise.

"Master Lowbacca, I can't keep up with you at this pace!" EmTeedee continued in an indignant tone. "Do you even know where you're going?"

Even as the words left the small droid's speaking grille, Lowie had come to an abrupt halt. EmTeedee had to make quick use of his directional controls to avoid a collision with the back of the young Wookiee's hairy head.

Where was he going? He hadn't exactly thought about how to prevent, or at least delay, Zekk from leaving… He only hoped there was time left to figure out a way to stop Zekk from taking off…

Lowie's golden eyes flicked about the corridor he had stopped in, his mind working at impressive speeds. He cocked his head suddenly, a thoughtful sound grumbling deep within his throat. Strangely enough, the corridor he had come to was a crossroads.

Behind him was the hangar bay, where he had left the sullen, not to mention very stubborn, Zekk only moments before. Going left would lead him to the Solo's quarters where he could share this new dilemma with Tahiri and Han… Taking a right would lead him to Fel's personal quarters in some extremely roundabout route, but Lowie could only imagine how that would work…he'd probably steal Zekk's idea and end up shoving the young man into a escape pod and shipping him far, far away before the night ended.

He let out a frustrated roar as the possibilities seemed to worsen. His best option so far was to head for the Solo apartment…but then again…There was still another corridor left that he hadn't yet taken into consideration.

The young Wookiee's teeth bared into a smile as his golden eyes studied the corridor that continued straight before him. Without warning, he began his way down the corridor, his strides becoming more urgent with each step.

"Master Lowbacca….where are you going?" The little droid continued to wail after him for a good long time, but Lowbacca ignored him. He was focused on finding the right room, relying on the Force to help him find it…

At last, after passing many disappointing side corridors and doorways, they arrived. A hurried glance at a chronometer hung on a nearby wall proved that time was running short, there was a little less than three hours before Zekk planned to leave and Lowie knew that if the young pilot's urge to depart grew any stronger, he could leave at any moment.

When his heavy knocks went unanswered, Lowie grew more desperate and frustrated. Despite EmTedee's astonished protests, the Jedi's hairy paws flew to the small plate next to the door. Peeling the metal back easily, the Wookiee found manipulating the wiring an enjoyable task- despite the circumstances however.

When the door slid open, he could have shouted with relief. But stepping into the room, he froze.

"Master Lowbacca, was breaking into Mistress Jaina's room really that necessary?" EmTedee questioned haughtily, tailing after Lowie. "I mean, it is an invasion of privacy after all and I don't- oh…oh my. I believe we may have interrupted something."

As Lowbacca's golden eyes stared down at the human couple, Fel down on one knee before a very-surprised looking Jaina, the young Jedi couldn't help but agree.