Chapter 3: Introductions
Jaina's eyes shot open, but she squeezed them tight immediately, trying to block out the bright light around her. Healing trances were wonderful things, but she hated coming out of them. It was always so disorienting, no matter if it had been a couple of hours or a couple of days, it took several minutes to piece together where you were and how long you'd been out.
She blinked her eyes open letting them adjust to the light. "Uh oh," she thought when she didn't recognize her surroundings. "Waking up somewhere you didn't go to sleep is never good."
She reached out with her senses, examining the area and searching for dangers, but the strange thing was, she didn't feel anything threatening at all. Jaina was acutely aware of others around her, and she could feel the power they held, but nothing about them felt dangerous. Pushing herself into a sitting position, she took in her surroundings, trying to orient herself. That's when she saw him. A slightly scruffy looking man, not much taller than her, with dark black hair and broad shoulders slept fitfully sprawled in a chair near her bed. She recognized the man, and her mind flooded with foggy memories with that recognition. The Falcon had crashed, and this was one of the people who came to help her and the others. So, it seemed they had brought her to a medical facility after she induced the trance.
A sound to her left caught her attention and seemed to rouse the man next to her. She almost felt him jerk awake as she caught sight of a large, blue furred humanoid entering the room.
"Ah, so you're awake, Miss Solo," he greeted, a wide smile revealing long incisors.
"Where's Ben?" she asked. Jaina knew she was being rude, but Ben was her responsibility. She'd vowed to keep him safe, and she intended to keep her word.
"Ben's just been fed and is sleeping soundly with a full tummy," he assured her.
"I want to see him," she returned and started to sling her legs over the side of the bed, but was brought up short by the fact both sides had raised rails. A large hand gently gripped her shoulder when she tried to lower the rails, and she turned to meet the dark eyes of the man she'd noticed before.
"Hold on there, darlin,'" he drawled. "You just woke up from a coma. Let the doc look ya over, then you can see the tike."
"Coma?" Jaina asked. "You mean the healing trance?"
"Healing trance?" the blue furred alien asked. "So you did intentionally redirect your metabolism to heal your wounds?"
"Something like that," Jaina answered. Her heart began pounding in her ears as cold realization struck. The group she'd met before weren't Jedi. How could she have been so stupid? But, if she hadn't slipped into a healing trance she would have dropped into a coma for real.
"Why didn't you tell me you were gonna do that?" the scruffy man asked, his voice husky with anger. "You had us worryin' for no good reason!"
"I thought you'd recognize the technique," she admitted. "When I felt the doctor reaching out like she did…" she trailed off before continuing at a whisper. "I thought you were my kind."
The sudden softening of the man's anger and rising guilt startled Jaina. She was confused by the sudden change, but she didn't have long to consider its causes before the blue furred doctor addressed her again.
"We're not so different, I'm sure," he said reassuringly. "Everyone here at the school has…unusual…abilities the same as you." This latest bit of information caused Jaina's eyebrows to rise in surprise, even as the alien offered her its hand. She took it. "I'm Dr. Hank McCoy," he introduced himself and then pointed to the scruffy looking man. "And, this is Logan."
"It's nice to meet you," she returned.
"Now," McCoy continued. "Why don't you let me make sure everything healed properly, and then I'll take you to see little Ben?" The unusual doctor started to say something else, but Logan clearing his throat interrupted.
"Perhaps I should inform the Professor that Jaina's awake?"
"He already knows," Hank answered. "But, would you be kind enough to show Miss Solo to the kitchen and then to Xavior's office?"
"No problem, Blue," Logan agreed and returned to his chair and pointedly turning his attention to a flimsy, glossy looking material with colorful images and unusual symbols on it.
Jaina let Dr. McCoy remove the bacta patch and watched his astonishment at her recovery with great interest. She was able to glean a bit of information from the conversation between Hank and Logan during the doctor's examination. Apparently Logan was possessed of a healing ability beyond those of the Jedi, being the only other being the doctor had seen with the capacity to heal from such a deep wound with no scaring, but having taken longer to do so. She filed that information away in her mind for further use as Hank pulled out a small light and shined it in her eyes, causing her to blink at the pain the sudden change caused.
After what seemed like an eternity, the doctor finally put the light away and proclaimed her fully healed. She managed to get to her feet easily enough once the offending rails were lowered from the sides of her bed, but standing steadily on her feet was another matter entirely. The fact she had to accept the supporting arm Logan snaked around her annoyed her greatly, but she was grateful he wasn't gloating over the fact she needed help like Kyp or her brothers would have done. Instead, she got the distinct impression he felt somehow responsible for her current weakened condition.
All other thoughts dropped aside when Jaina caught sight of little Ben lying in a tiny bed with transparent, raised sides. Not truly trusting her eyes, she reached toward him with her senses, lightly caressing him and checking his condition at the same time. She felt the instinctive touch of his sleeping mind as she reached his bedside. His face was completely relaxed in his slumber, the light red curls on his head still damp from a recent bath. He felt as content and healthy as he looked, and Jaina finally managed to relax a bit. Her mysterious hosts had indeed taken excellent care of her young charge while she was incapacitated.
She reached out and gently stroked Ben's head, unable to keep from smiling. "The force is truly strong with you little one," she whispered before turning her attention back to Dr. McCoy. "Thank you for taking such good care of him."
"It was my pleasure," he answered. "Now, I know you must be hungry," he continued gesturing toward a door off to the side. "You were in that trance for the greater part of a day."
Unable to argue against her stomach's aching protest and her continued weakness, Jaina nodded in response and allowed Logan to lead her to the door. They made their way through the halls in silence, neither feeling the need to speak. Jaina continually probed her surroundings, searching for danger or something…not right…out of habit ingrained not only by her Jedi training but by a life lived under constant threat. As strange as it seemed, being so far from everything familiar, the place felt remarkably like Yavin 4, or Endor, or Dantooine. It was a place steeped in the Force, and the feeling of it around her was overwhelming, exhilarating, and disconcerting all at once. The brush of several consciousnesses against her own startled her, and she raised her defenses, trying to block out the unsought touches. One presence, many times stronger than the others persisted in its attempts to make contact, and she pulled herself further inward as she redoubled her shields.
"You okay?" Logan asked.
Jaina nodded, momentarily unable to answer aloud through a too dry throat. "Just startled by the power of this place," she answered after a moment. "It's almost tangible."
"You can feel them?" he asked, obviously studying her on his visual perimeter even as he led her through a door off to the right and into a huge kitchen and dining area.
"Them?" Jaina asked, confused by the question. "I can sense individuals," she began uncertainly, "but I was referring to the Force power here. It's oppressive."
"I don't know anything about force power," the man said as he motioned for her to take one of the stools pushed under a short bar. "But, I know this mansion is nearly bursting with powerful people."
He turned toward a series of large boxes mounted against the wall and scattered devices she didn't quite recognize. The man seemed to be searching for something, and it didn't take long for him to find two covered containers with a slip of paper sitting on them. He lifted the slip of paper and read its contents with a small smile creeping over his features.
"Jean fixed us up a couple of plates," he explained. "So, all we have ta do is heat 'em up."
Jaina nodded, barely taking notice as he uncovered the food, placed the containers in a boxy appliance, and began punching a data pad on its side, her thoughts too centered on his earlier statements. How could they not know about the Force? This school she'd been brought to seemed to be built on a convergence of its power, and she'd felt some of them wield it. Their skill was raw and untrained, most likely self-taught, but it was impossible to learn control without some knowledge of the origin, wasn't it?
"Its nothin' fancy, but it'll keep ya goin,'" Logan said, pulling Jaina out of her reverie, as he place a plate of food in front of her. She didn't recognize the dish, but the aroma was delightful and drew an appreciative gurgle from her stomach. Logan grinned slightly at her light blush. "Sounds like it's needed too."
"It has been a while since I've had a hot meal," she agreed. "Rations leave a lot to be desired."
"Ain't that the truth," Logan agreed, turning away and opening the door of what appeared to be a refrigeration unit. "What can I get you to drink?" he asked.
"Anything's fine," Jaina answered, uncertain what the locals even had to eat and drink.
Logan's head dipped in acknowledgement before he reached into the unit and pulled out a dark bottle and a brightly colored can. He took a stool near her and handed her the can. She thanked him, and they both sat in silence for a long moment.
"Yer not exactly from around here are ya?" he asked finally.
"You could say that," she agreed, pushing a bit of the unfamiliar food around with a utensil, watching and waiting for him to eat a bit before she tried it herself.
"So, what brings you to our neck of the woods with a kid who's not yours?" he asked, finally taking a bite of his food.
"Family business," she answered shortly before turning her attention to the food before her. She took a tentative taste, slightly surprised to find it quite pleasant.
"So, where's the rest of your family then?" Logan asked. He wasn't pushing, wasn't even looking at her when he asked. All she could feel from him was curiosity and concern.
"Home," Jaina answered quietly, fighting to keep the wistfulness out of her voice. "Trying to make things safe again."
"You in some kind of trouble, kid?" The question shocked Jaina into looking up from her food. Logan was looking at her now, his eyes filled with concern and a slight wariness.
"No more than usual," she deadpanned, stabbing one of the small bits of meat on her plate for emphasis.
"Define usual," Logan drawled.
"I'd rather not talk about this," Jaina returned, hoping she wouldn't have to use any mind tricks on him. He'd been really kind, and she never liked the thought of messing with other people's heads.
"Have it your way then," he sighed. "But, we can't help ya if we don't know what's goin' on."
The two fell into an uneasy silence, both eating their food and giving little heed to the taste. Jaina was tired. Tired of running, tired of secrets, and tired of being alone. She wanted nothing more than to be able to tell these people everything, but there was so little she knew about them. She'd already made a huge mistake by admitting to Jedi powers, even though she was certain at least some of their people had them as well. She couldn't endanger Ben or the others by trusting blindly.
"You finished?" Logan asked after he cleared his plate of food. At her nod, he took both their dishes and dumped them into a basin sunk into the counter with a clank. "Come on then," he said gruffly. "The Professor wants ta see ya."
"Who's the professor?" Jaina asked as she followed Logan out of the room and down the hall again.
"He's the man who owns all this?" Logan answered. "He founded the school, and he decides who stays."
"So, I'd better make a good impression, or I'll be on my way," Jaina said. She'd been wondering when a catch would present itself, and this seemed to be it.
"Most everyone's welcome here," Logan answered quickly, "unless they're not of the friendly sort, of course." A distant look came over Logan's face as they neared a set of heavy double doors. At the same time a presence brushed against Jaina's senses. She followed it, and her eyes grew slightly wider as she realized the presence touched Logan before retreating again. Logan's expression cleared when it left, and he changed course.
"What just happened?" Jaina asked.
"Change in plans," he answered. "Here we are."
He pushed a door open and motioned for her to enter. She obeyed and suddenly found herself at the end of a long table. The couple she recognized as Scott and Jean sat off to the left, a distinguished looking older man with very little hair sat at the head of the table, and a lovely woman with dark skin and startling white hair sat to the right. Logan motioned toward the seat at the end of the table on his way around to take the place next to the white haired woman who reminded her of her mother's aide, Winter.
"Welcome, Miss Solo," the bald man greeted her. "Please, sit down." Jaina obeyed as he continued. "My name is Charles Xavior, the owner of this school. I believe you've already met Scott Summers, Dr. Jean Gray, and Mr. Logan," he introduced, motioning to each in turn. "And this is Ororo Monroe. All are teachers here."
"You have my sympathy for the death of your friend, Miss Solo," he shifted topics smoothly and with true emotion behind the gesture.
"Thank you," Jaina answered. "May I ask what has been done with his body?"
"He's being prepared for burial," Jean answered quietly. "We were planning a service for tomorrow afternoon."
Jaina nodded, silenced by her amazement at the strangers' respect and kindness. She felt the touch of a familiar presence pushing tentatively against her shields, annoyance and even a slight bit of anger flooded up at the intended intrusion, but she pushed them back, determined to show as little of her hand as possible. Judging by Jean's reaction to her acknowledgement of feeling her mental probing, she didn't believe these people were used to others being able to sense their actions. But, it wasn't Jean trying to read her now. The power was precise, controlled, but it promised power much greater than the red headed doctor held. Following the power back to its source would be the easiest way to determine who it belonged to, but she knew it would leave her open to discovery. Instead, she scanned the faces of those around her. Such control took a good deal of concentration, but none of them seemed concerned at the least.
"Your ship is most unusual," Xavior broke the silence. "I've never seen anything like it, or like your metal friend for that matter." Jaina wasn't sure how to react to the man's observations. From what she'd seen, these people weren't exactly primitives, but she didn't think they'd discovered interstellar travel. When she hesitated, Xavior began again. "The ship and android both appear to be…less than new, but both are years ahead of our current technological capabilities."
The presence pushed again, but she blocked it out. When it persisted, she pushed back gently as a warning. Xavior's eyebrows knitted together slightly, but he showed no other outward signs of recognition. A casual observer, ignorant of the subtle influences, would simply think he was thinking intently.
"You have no reason to fear us, Miss Solo," he said finally. "We know neither you nor Ben Skywalker are like other humans, but neither are we. This is a school specifically meant to create a safe haven for those of our kind."
"And, what is our kind?" Jaina asked.
"Mutants," Xavior answered evenly. "Humans gifted with unique abilities due to a mutation in their DNA."
"I am not of your kind," Jaina answered in turn, her tone neutral.
Xavior nodded. "We know you do not posses the mutant gene," he agreed, "but we also know you have abilities beyond those of a normal human despite your normal DNA." Jaina hesitated again, and he pressed on. "I understand your reluctance to speak to us. People fear what they do not understand, and it can become deadly. That's why I built this school, to provide a place where those of us who are…different…can be safe and learn to control our abilities."
This place sounded so much like Uncle Luke's Jedi Academy. Jaina was on the verge of opening up to these people, but she still wasn't sure. They weren't the easiest people to read, and they were apparently self-taught to a point. She understood, there was no one else to teach them, but she knew the dangers. So much was still unknown about the influence of the Force, and power in any form can corrupt so easily. How could she be sure they weren't Sith?
"How do you use your abilities?" she asked finally.
A knowing smile tweaked the corners of Xavior's mouth, and Jaina was rewarded with another touch of his mental presence that bore the imprint of his pleased respect for her question.
"We believe that the gift of these abilities comes with a responsibility," Xavior answered, "to protect those who cannot protect themselves." The smile faded as the professor's demeanor turned somber. "Unfortunately, there are those who believe that their powers give them a right to rule, and still others who believe we are an abomination to be wiped out. We use our abilities to protect, not only our own against those who would harm them, but everyone from mutants who would subjugate or kill them."
"Then, perhaps I believe your Dr. McCoy was correct after all," Jaina answered, finally relaxing though she kept a tight hold on her shields. "Your people aren't so different from the Jedi."
"The Jedi?" Ororo asked.
"My kind," Jaina answered. "We are a subset found in most species throughout the galaxy who have a connection to the life force around us. We have acted as peacekeepers for thousands of years, but we have been hunted nearly to extinction."
"Hunted?" Scott asked.
"Galaxy?" Logan asked at the same time.
"The universe is teaming with life," Jaina decided to answer Logan's question first. "Some less technologically advanced than you, some much more advanced, and a fair portion of that life is human." Many pairs of eyes widened and brows raised in response.
"Like some of your mutants, not all who can influence the Force have the best interest of others at heart," Jaina continued in answer to Scott's question when no one else spoke. "There are those who use it for their personal gain. They're called Sith. When my grandparents were young, a sith lord maneuvered his way into power. It took him decades, but he eventually became an absolute ruler, and he killed all who endangered his power, proclaiming the Jedi enemies of the state even as he subjugated all non-human species."
"How awful!" Jean breathed in horror, and her sentiments where reflected in the expressions of the others.
"How did the Jedi survive?" Xavior asked.
"The Emperor missed a few of us, and they taught a young boy named Luke Skywalker. He eventually defeated the Emperor and began teaching others the Jedi way, even going so far as to establish a Jedi Academy."
"So, why are you here?" Ororo asked finally.
"The Jedi are being hunted again," Jaina began her explanation and fought down her own guilt at the same time. Why did they have to ask? "The Empire wasn't defeated overnight, but we eventually beat them back and rebuilt the Republic. And, we had peace for a while. Then, the Vong came. They're on a crusade to rid the universe of all things non-living, and the Jedi are their greatest threat. We can see through their disguises and have the reflexes to get through their defenses, and it frightens them. So, they've placed a price on the head of every force sensitive in the known galaxy."
"And what about the kid?" Logan asked. "Let me guess, he's the son of this Luke guy?"
"Yes," Jaina agreed. "Ben's the son of Luke and his wife, Mara Jade, who's a Jedi also," she explained.
"Okay, but that still doesn't answer our question?" Scott interjected. "What are you doing here with their child?"
"Ben isn't the first child to be born of two Jedi," Jaina began her explanation, "but most Jedi don't have the raw power either of Ben's parents posses. Many of those who know of Ben's existence see him as either a savior or a weapon in our fight against the Vong. So, they sent our little group into hiding while they fight the good fight."
"But to send you out on your own?" Jean stammered, appalled. "Defenseless!"
"Not exactly defenseless," Jaina answered back, unable to keep the offended inflection out of her voice. "I'll have you know I'm a fully trained Jedi Knight and a major with Rogue Squadron. Not to mention K'rithan's abilities as a warrior. And, the Falcon's not a defenseless garbage scowl!"
"We meant no offence," Xavior said after a moment. "Miss Solo, may I ask? How old are you?"
"Eighteen," Jaina answered flatly.
"And you're a major?" Jean asked skeptically. "Are you saying you're a soldier?"
"Fighter pilot actually," she confirmed.
"How old were you when you joined?" Scott asked, sounding like he really didn't want to know the answer.
"Sixteen," she answered matter-of-factly. "I was one of the youngest pilots to ever join."
"Sixteen?" Jean hissed. Her expression was quickly becoming one of horror. "How could they throw someone so young into battle?"
"I volunteered," Jaina answered. "I am Jedi," she continued tersely. "It's my sworn duty to defend those who cannot defend themselves. Besides I was born to a very well known family. My brothers and I were in danger from the moment we were conceived," she drawled out the last word for emphasis.
"But why you?" Ororo asked. "Surely there were other, more experienced Jedi who could protect the child."
"There are," Jaina conceded. "But they're responsibility is with driving the Vong out of the galaxy. I was wounded badly enough to be grounded a while back," she explained. "By the time I'd healed, the Vong had turned a faction of the Republic against the Jedi. My squadron couldn't take me back for political reasons, making me a pilot without a ship to fly. So, my folks joined up with Luke and Mara, and sent me out here with Ben in Dad's ship to keep him safe and teach him what I can."
"What of your copilot and the android?" Xavior asked finally. Jaina knew he was still ill at ease about her upbringing and mission, but he seemed to want to change the subject. "What are their roles in this?"
"C-3PO, is a protocol droid," she explained. "He has belonged to my family off and on for decades, and mother sent him to serve as our translator. K'rithan volunteered when he heard about the mission. His people have pledged themselves to protect my family after my mother helped save their homeworld from a blight seeded there by the Empire."
"Do you think anyone could have followed you here?" Logan asked finally, and Jaina thanked him silently. The tension in the room was beginning to get to her even more than the unhappy and blank expressions the mutants wore. "No offence, but it looked like you'd gotten your rear handed to ya."
"Wormholes'll do that," Jaina answered. "And, it's very unlikely. We were pretty deep into unknown space when it opened too close for even the Falcon to pull free. Someone'd have to be either really crazy or really stupid to fly into one of those things voluntarily, especially an uncharted one."
"A wormhole?" Jean asked, sounding unconvinced. "That's what caused all the damage?"
"Well, enough to make us crash, and crash hard," Jaina answered. "The barely controlled reentry and hittin' the ground took care of the rest."
Jean blinked at her curt answer, but she didn't argue further. The mutants seemed to consider each other, and Jaina could sense a spike in the Force around them. She knew they were covertly "discussing" what to do with her, and it irked her that they would do so right in front of her like she wouldn't notice. But, she had to admit they had plenty of valid points to discuss, and she sure wouldn't want to have that discussion with the object of scrutiny listening in. She was almost certain they wouldn't go running about telling her secret, but she couldn't blame them if they decided to turn her out. They had their own to protect first after all, and her family did seem to attract trouble.
"You're welcome to stay here, Miss Solo," Xavior addressed her. "Until your ship is repaired, and afterward if you would like."
"Thank you for your kind offer," Jaina answered. Their kindness both awed her and left her waiting for the other shoe to drop. "But, I wouldn't want to impose."
"No imposition at all," Xavior assured her. A sly smile tugged at the corners of his mouth; the expression worried Jaina slightly. "But, we could make it an even trade if it would make you feel better."
"Even trade?" she asked, involuntarily raising one eyebrow in suspicion.
"You need a safe place to stay. I could always use new teachers," he drawled. "I'm sure there's plenty you could teach the students here, or the teachers for that matter."
Relief hit Jaina like a gentle breeze on a hot day on Tatooine. She wasn't sure how good of a teacher she would be, but this was a trade she could agree to.