Chapter 20
Master Corran Horn was pacing again and stroking his grey streaked brown goatee. He did not like not knowing what was happening. He was acting captain of the Marauder-class corvette Sunrise and felt that it was his responsibility to know. Durron and Jaina should have checked in by now and he was beginning to worry that something had happened. He tried to stretch his feelings out into the Force to find them but he couldn't. It was unnerving to say the least. He really had not liked this plan but he could not see any other way to accomplish what needed to be done. He had originally been against the Jedi taking an active roll in the Moorex but after seeing the Intelligence reports along with what Kyp had found out, not to mention seeing for himself the massive build up of firepower around the orbit of Geonosis, he admitted that the pirates needed stopped and soon.
"Here come some more. It's almost like they are preparing for a fight." Master Kyle Katran said from where he was studying the latest data from the long range scanners. Corran stepped over to also examine the data as Kyle looked up and grinned, "Durron may have actually been right about this gang,"
Corran looked at his fellow Jedi Master and friend and snorted, "Yeah, just don't tell him that he may have been right, his ego has been inflated beyond its normal proportions lately."
Kyle laughed, "Do you think having Jaina Solo hanging on his arm may have something to do with that?"
Valin Horn laughed from where he and Jedi Knight Doran Tainer were working at the comm unit with a Bothan technician. Doran, who was the son of former Wraith Kell Tainer and Jedi Tyria Sarkin Tainer, said between chuckles, "Well, that lip lock we saw the old man put on her the other day in the hanger definitely is more than I ever want my master to put on me!"
"Tainer, your mother was your master," Valin reminded his friend. "I really hope she doesn't kiss you like that! Besides, we all know that you want to be locking lips with my little sister." Doran sent his best friend a glare then cautiously looked back at Corran.
Corran in turn gave the twenty-six year old son of his friend a threatening look but did not respond to his son's comment about his eighteen year old daughter and the older Jedi. Instead, he said to a much amused Kyle, "To answer your question, Kyle, I think you're right. I'm actually surprised it took them this long. I saw it coming since the Vong War."
Suddenly, the Mon Calamarian ensign who was the technician working the long range scanners turned and excitedly announced, "Masters, I have several ships coming out of hyperspace at baring 2-0-1."
The Jedi Masters spared a glance at each other then immediately turned their attention to the scanners. Then the Bothan female ensign at the comm station looked up at Valin and Doran and announced, "Captain, they are hailing us."
"Put it through, Ensign Fla'zul," Corran replied as he stepped away from Kyle and the scanners.
Finally, after a brief burst of static a very familiar voice came through the speakers, "This is Captain Han Solo of Millennium Falcon. Do you copy?"
"Han?" Corran let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "What are you doing here? And since when did the Falcon come with company?
"Oh, these are some friends of mine who will help get my daughter and that bantha-brained fiancé of hers off that rock."
"Han!" Leia's voice came over the comm, "That is not to be public knowledge yet."
Corran and Kyle exchanged sly grins and the younger Jedi out-right laughed.
The Mon Cal scanner tech announced that the friend or foe transceiver identified the complement of ships with the Millennium Falcon as Hapen battle dragons including The Warror Queen the flagship of Prince Jacen Solo-D'jo, Errant Venture, Wild Karrde and other ships owned by Talon Karrde, Lando Carlrissian's Lady Luck, and ships owned by Chev Bombassa.
Before Corran could respond, another voice crackled to life and Corran groaned when he realized it was that of his father-in-law. "Well, I see I need to get you out of yet another sticky situation, CorSec. You'd think all that I have time to do is rescue Jedi. I'm glad I still have my Star Destroyer because you'd been dead years ago. Not that I'd be overly disappointed, but Mirax and the kids seem to like keeping you around."
Valin chuckled and before Corran could recover from Booster Terrik's insult, said, "Hello, Granddad. Glad that you could crash the party. It's always fun when you're around."
Corran shot his son a glare because he knew exactly what Valin meant by 'fun'.
Suddenly another voice entered the mix, "This is Jacen Solo, Prince Consort of Hapes. We ask permission to also join the party."
"Jacen! Uh, I guess that should be Your Highness, we'd be glad to have you," Corran responded.
"Oh, please, Corran, don't swell the kid's head any more than it already is," Han Solo cut in before Jacen could answer. The comm crackled with laughter from the other captains who were joining the open comm channel.
Jacen ignored his father's jibe and the laughter and said instead, "Where's Jaina? I can sense that she's in trouble. She is frightened and maybe hurt."
Corran exchanged glances with the other three Jedi and responded, "She and Kyp were due back hours ago and we have not had contact with them."
Han came back somewhat angrily, "Then what are we doing hiding behind the sun. I knew I should have come along on this mission. I had a bad feeling after Kyp told me about Jaina's vision. Let's get down to that worthless piece of rock and get them back."
Kyle answered for the Sunrise, "We were just debating how we were going to do that. There's a lot of firepower out there."
"Why do you think we're here? To look pretty?" Booster Terrik's gruff voice answered for the unlikely battle fleet that looked as ungainly as the pirate vessels they would be attacking.
Corran could only smile; it was just like old times, "No, Booster, I'd never think that you looked pretty—" he let his voice trail off.
Before Booster could respond his son-in-law's insult, Kyle said as another comm came through, "We're getting a call from the surface."
Static gave way to Jaina's tearful voice, " Sunrise, do you copy? Please, Sunrise, come in. Do you copy?"
"Jaina! It's Kyle, we copy."
"Kyle!" the relief in her voice was almost tangible and her words spilled from her in a gush. "Kyle, please, you have to help me. Kyp is hurt and they destroyed our Y-Wing. Marolosa injected him with something and now he is paralyzed and will die if we don't get him medical treatment soon. Please, Kyle, I don't know how long he has to live. He feels so cold and his breathing is becoming labored. I helped put him into a healing trance but I don't know if it is helping…" She finished with a sob.
"Whoa, Jaina," Kyle responded, "Slow down." He looked with purpose to Corran then said, "We're sending some one in to get you. But did you say Marolosa was on the surface?"
"Yes, please, hurry," she sniffed. They could tell she was crying and near breakdown. But she added as she seemed to get some control, "I killed him and the droids shut down."
"Jaina, we're on our way," Corran said, and then the link with Jaina went dead. He looked out the forward view port and scoffed to the others on the bridge, "We almost look as ragtag as the Moorex."
"Yeah, but we have Han Solo, Talon Karrde, Lando Carlrissian and Granddad," Valin pointed out with a wide grin. "We definitely have the advantage."
"Not to mention some very good Jedi," Doran added.
Corran slapped his son on the shoulder and nodded, "Well, then let's go and show them who's boss. You and Doran go get your sister and then get to your X-Wings. Have the techs get mine prepped as well." He took a deep breath and added, "We'll escort the Falcon in."
Kyle quizzically looked at the other Master and inquired, "The Falcon?"
Corran chuckled and nodded towards the other ships, "We may as well help get him and Leia down there because I know we won't be able to keep Han from going in to rescue his little girl."
Corran then said over the open tactical frequency again with the motley array of ships positioned behind the Geonosis primary, "Okay, people, this is temporary captain of the Sunrise and we are here to shut down some pirates and rescue Jedi Knight Jaina Solo and Master Kyp Durron from the planet's surface. Master Durron is wounded and is in need of immediate medical care."
That was all Han needed to hear, "Corran, I'm going in."
Corran shrugged and gave Kyle an I-told-you-so look, "I was hoping you'd volunteer, Han, and your escort will be there momentarily. Now it's up to the rest of us to put these guys out of commission. Jaina has informed us that Marolosa has been killed and the droids have been shut down."
"That's what we are here for, CorSec. If you'd shut up and let us get to it," Booster's exasperated voice brought a chorus of laughter from the battle group of ex-smugglers, onetime pirates, swindlers turned businessmen and a Jedi Hapan Prince.
X
The battle group jumped out from behind the sun in two different vectors. They decided that since surprise was with them, they would use that to their advantage. Jacen's Hapan battle dragons, their contingency of fighters and Chev Bombassa's ships jumped in first. While the larger ships laid cover fire, the fighters attacked.
While discussing the battle plan, Jacen had suggested letting him engage first. Corran voiced concern over what could be perceived as a Hapen attack on GFFA vessels, but Jacen justified it by pointing out that the Moorex were as much trouble to the Hapan Consortium as they were to the Alliance. That seemed to satisfy the Jedi and Jacen was allowed to attack first. As his ships took the pirates off guard, Kyle who now commanded the Sunrise, the Errant Venture, their complement fighters and some of Talon Karrde's ships reverted from hyperspace on the other side effectively catching the pirates in a cross fire.
While they were keeping the bad guys very busy, Lando, Talon and the Jedi X-Wings helped punch a hole for the Falcon. Han moved the Falcon through the opening with Corran, Valin, Doran and Jysella flying escort. Between Leia's blasts from the top gun turret and the four Jedi X-Wings nothing bullied them for long, even while they dodged the planetary ring of asteroids.
The Falcon and its escort went down the gravity well and Leia was able to find Jaina in the Force easily and use her daughter's anguished presence as beacon.
X
Jaina fell down onto her knees beside Kyp and immediately evaluated him. His breathing was labored and his pulse was weak and somewhat erratic. He looked up at her with profound sadness and regret in the green depths; tears gathered in the corners of his eyes. He could not move and Jaina could feel his pain through the Force all of which was not just physical.
"Hang in there, Kyp. We'll get out of here," she said but the words didn't even sound all that convincing even to her ears.
"J—a—y…I…lo," Kyp's speech was drawn, slurred and barely a whisper. He was drooling because he was unable to swallow any longer.
Jaina had to lean very close to him to hear him and laid a finger over his cold lips. "I know," she gave him a faint smile; "I love you too. Save your strength. I'm going to help you into a healing trance. Then get us out of here."
"But…y-you…a—re…hur—t."
"It's nothing," she looked at the saber burned gash on her shoulder and upper arm. It throbbed but she ignored it. "Close your eyes." He tried but when she saw that he didn't have the ability to do so on his own she reached up and helped him. And shuddered, the act too similar to what one did when someone died. She leaned down and kissed his lips as she reached out into the Force and touched his mind, easing him into a trance that hopefully would save his life.
She searched the datapad and found a more direct way out of the factory to the exhaust port where their Y-Wing was sitting.
She picked up the lightsabers she dropped when she fell down beside him and clipped them on her belt side by side. Gathering the Force to her for strength she gently levitated Kyp and headed out.
Several minutes later she emerged from a tunnel opening across from the Y-Wing. And her heart froze. She almost lost her hold on Kyp as she gazed upon the smoking engines of the old bomber.
She nearly panicked. What was she going to do now? She lowered Kyp and checked his vitals. He seemed to be stable. She stood and fought the growing panic that threatened to grip her mind. She ran over to the ship to discover the engines were indeed destroyed but when she saw the cockpit was undamaged her heart sang.
As she jumped up to the cockpit she heard a hissing sound and realized that there was a fuel leak that would cause the engines to explode if it wasn't stopped soon. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes and fell deeply into the Force. Then she reached into the engines to find the leak she used the Force to close it off and extinguish the fires. After all danger was over, she coaxed enough life out of the comm unit to hail the Sunrise.
X
The Falcon sat down near the exhaust port where Leia said she felt Jaina. The four X-Wings followed and put down next to the light freighter. Han and Leia were the first to reach the sandy ground and ran to the edge of the indentation where they skidded to a halt to look down at Jaina.
The Y-Wing was on the opposite side, its engines blackened shells. Jaina was sitting on the rock floor with Kyp's head lying in her lap directly below them.
"Jaina!" Han yelled and she turned to look up.
"Dad! Oh, thank the Force!" She let out a sob and Leia felt her daughter's anguish and her relief.
"How is Kyp?" Leia called as the other Jedi came up beside them.
"He's in a trance, but he is still so cold and his breathing and pulse are weak," Jaina said as she lifted him and stood up. She looked at the other Jedi, "Help me get him up there."
"Emmm…" Corran glanced at Leia and then to Doran.
Doran shook his head as he stepped next to the edge beside Corran and Valin. "I'm sure glad you are marrying a Jedi with telekinesis, Valin, because hopefully your kids won't be so helpless."
"Well, that may be so. But Jy may not marry a Jedi which means her kids may not have the ability either," Valin snorted taken aback by the never ending jibe.
As Doran closed his eyes and began to lift Kyp out of the port, Jysella said, "And who says I won't marry a Jedi."
"I say you aren't marrying anyone for a while, young lady. So, you will have plenty of time to decide," Corran responded, he really wasn't too sure about the growing romance between Doran and his baby girl. Leia could sympathize.
Leia then closed her eyes and drew the Force around her and began to levitate Jaina up. Han immediately directed Doran to take Kyp into the Falcon. As soon as Jaina's feet hit the ground, she headed off to follow Kyp. Han stopped her and pointed to the wound on her shoulder.
"That needs looked at." Then he met her gaze and said, "It looks like a lightsaber burn."
Jaina glanced at the blackened injury and then turned back to Han, "It is. But I'll be okay. It can wait. Kyp can't." Then she said pleadingly as Doran and Kyp disappeared into the hold of the Falcon, "Please, Dad, it's fine. Kyp is going to die if we don't get him to a medic soon."
"Han," Leia met her husband's concerned gaze. "She's right; Kyp can't wait too much longer."
"Okay, let's go," Han turned and headed up the ramp, his arm around Jaina's shoulders.
Threepio was standing at the top of the ramp anxiously waving at them as they came up, "Oh my, Mistress Jaina, that arm needs treatment and Master Durron looks dreadful. I sure hope he survives."
"Stuff it, Goldenrod," Han snapped when Jaina let out a sob and began crying.
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