Chapter 39

Jaina twitched. She flicked her fingers in her sleep, trying to shake off the minor discomfort. The pain and numbness only intensified. Irritated, Jaina rubbed at her left hand, unsure of what she was feeling. Nothing changed. Sighing in annoyance, she carefully slid out from under Jag's sleeping form and sat on the edge of the bed. She held her hand up to her face, but in the dark she was unable to discern anything. Already awake anyway, she stood carefully and padded to the 'fresher.

She slipped inside the door, closing it behind her and plunging the small room into total darkness. She flipped on the light switch and the resulting flash nearly blinded her. She spent the next minute or so trying to recover from the change in luminosity, hand still quietly throbbing.

After she had recuperated she slid to the sink, looking at her hand with both her eyes and the mirror.

The first thing that caught her eye was the set of rings on her fourth finger. The first was a plain and undecorated band that she had received that her wedding. It had been meaningless to her for a long time, and still had less sentiment than it should because of the circumstances, but was dearer to her now than it had been then. The second was the one Jag had given her on Coruscant. It was the symbol of their renewed love, each diamond a precious reminder of their commitment.

The second thing she saw was how red and swollen the finger they were on was. Clearly the rings were restricting her blood flow, making her whole arm go numb with the lack of circulation. Jaina sighed. It was the first of many unpleasant side effects of pregnancy since the morning sickness had subsided. She was swelling.

For the first time in her whole life, Jaina felt fat. Like an overblown Hutt, she thought angrily. She looked up into the mirror and pulled the T-shirt of Jag's she used as a nightgown tight around her middle, appraising the slow growth. It was slight, and under all but the tightest of jumpsuits practically invisible. Jaina sighed again; that was just the way it was when you were having a baby.

He hand still ached, so she gave up the self-inspection and started to pull them off. They didn't move. Frowning, she tugged harder. The only result was an even larger red line around the finger. She sighed, pulling until she thought the whole finger would come off. She growled in frustration, looking down at the hand that now ached so bad she thought she could cry.

The kriffing thing had to come off.

Then she did cry, because she knew what that meant. The rings weren't coming off by pulling; they were going to have to be cut.

Jaina turned from the mirror, sliding down the wall with her eyes buried in the heels of her hand. For reasons unknown even to her she began to cry, the wetness seeping through her fingers and covering the front of her shirt. She was so absorbed in her pain and grief she didn't hear the door slide open.

"Jaina?" She looked up into her husband's concerned face. He knelt beside her, worry coloring his features. "Baby, are you okay? What's wrong? Why are you crying?" His work-worn hands wiped the tears from her face as he spoke.

Jaina, lip quivering, held up her hand wordlessly. He took it in his own, turning them around on her finger then pulling gently. When they didn't come off he let out a long breath. "You know I'm going to have to cut these off, right?"

Jaina shook her head vigorously. "No," she sniffled. "No. Every time I look at these it reminds me how much I love you, and that you love me."

Jag tilted her head up slightly so that she was forced to look him in the eye. At that moment Jaina pitied him. On a conscious level she knew she was being irrational and that the progesterone was getting the better of her, but that didn't stop the tears or the influx of emotions. All she could do was pity him. "You don't need these to know that I love you," he smiled. "I'm here to tell you every day." He kissed her forehead softly and pulled her to her feet. "I have to go get the wire cutters."

"No!" she said. "Jag, I love these rings! We can't ruin them."

He pulled her into and embrace. "I love them too. Believe me, after what I paid for that second one, the last thing I want to do is destroy it." His jest elicited a small laugh, but that was all. "Come on Jaina, you may be losing the rings, but look what we're getting? A baby! Isn't Hanna worth that?"

She nodded in silent agreement. "Can we replace them when we get to Coruscant?"

"Of course," he answered immediately, kissing her. "We may not be able to eat for a week or two, but hey, whatever makes you happy."

Jaina did laugh then, and kissed him back. "I love you."

"I love you too. Come on, let's get these off you."

Pellaeon smiled in a way that made Jaina wonder if that's the way her grandfather would smile at her. It was considerate and patronizing, as if directed at a young child. "Jaina, I was so delighted when I heard you and Jagged were expecting!"

Jaina smiled genuinely, self-consciously fingering the small indention around her ring finger that was conspicuously absent of metal. "Thank you. We're both very excited."

"I'm sure," he chuckled deeply. "So when is the due date?"

"Seven months," Jaina said.

"Excellent. The war should be over by then, if our plans come through today. Jagged is coming, correct?"

Jaina nodded. "He was just running an errand for me. He'll be there at the meeting."

"Good, good. So, what is it you wanted to talk to me about?" he asked, sitting back down behind his large wooden desk.

"Did you read the reports on the Yuuzhan Vong prisoner of war Jag and my brother found on Ramella?"

Pellaeon nodded. "Of course, how is her interrogation going?"

"Well, we've convinced her to help cure Aunt Mara's disease."

"That's wonderful!" he exclaimed.

"But there's also a chance she could be trying to doublecross us," she explained quietly. "I just thought you should know the situation in case my mother tries to bring it up in the meeting to throw me off balance."

"How would she know?" he asked, perplexed.

"They may not be very close, but Mother and Uncle Luke are twins. There's not much they can hide from each other. I'm assuming she knows a lot more than we think."

"Hmm," he said. "Well, I'm glad you told me, so I can be on my toes. But really this is more about us coming together. I doubt she will be trying to throw any kinks into our plans."

Jaina sighed heavily. "Then you obviously don't know my mother."

As the metal doors slid aside Jag peered in, not expecting to find anyone. Jacen was at war like everyone else, and it was unlikely he was going to catch him at home. But Jaina had asked him, and after how sensitive she had been lately he didn't even think of denying her. He knew she had an emotional attachment to those rings, but had never dreamed she would crumble like that when she had to get rid of them. When they had been engaged she had been so careful about hiding her emotions from him. He knew that the whole time she must have been despairing, but she never showed it. He never would have guessed. Now she wore her heart on her sleeve, and if you couldn't guess what she was feeling she would certainly tell you.

He stepped inside the Skywalker apartment. "Hello?" he called. For a moment there was nothing, and then a sound from the back of the house. A few seconds later Jacen appeared from the kitchen door, a small, blond woman trailing close behind.

"Jag?" Jacen asked, concern and delight both passing over his face.

Jag smiled slightly. "Jacen. I can't believe I actually caught you here."

"I just came from a mission on Helska," he replied, then gestured to the woman. "This is Danni Quee. She's a Force-sensitive I rescued on Helska. She's a scientist. Danni, this is my brother-in-law, Jagged Fel"

Danni smiled, her pretty round face framed by a mass of blond curls. "Hi."

"Hello," Jag said, then turned his attention back to Jacen. "Jaina's here. She sent me to find you."

"Why didn't I feel her?" he inquired.

Jag shrugged. "She's been shielding since she found out about the baby. Says it makes her feel more secure."

"So is she coming? When can I see her?" Jacen asked eagerly.

"She's with the Grand Admiral right now. There's going to be a big executive meeting this evening, so you might not be able to speak with her till tonight or tomorrow. She tires easily," Jag explained.

"Oh," he said, sounding disappointed. "Well, come in and sit down. Tell me about what's going on at Bastion. The last message I got from Uncle Luke said that they were waiting for this Nen Yim character to tell them if she was switching sides or not."

Jag followed them into the sitting room, wondering why this Danni Quee was in the Skywalker apartment. Jacen had said he had saved her. Maybe they both had not yet recovered. As he sat he asked, "So Danni, how is it you managed to get captured by the Yuuzhan Vong?"

The scientist blushed, looking nervous. "My ship crashed on Helska. I was an astronomer on another planet before that, and spotted their coming. I went to investigate, and, well..."

"I hope you don't mind my asking, but why are you here? In the Skywalker apartment, I mean?"

Both Danni and Jacen's cheeks colored, but it was Jacen who answered. "Like I said, she's Force-sensitive, but never had any training. I offered to train her, at least until the war settled down and she decided if she wanted a formal master."

Jag scowled slightly. "But you aren't even a Jedi yet, right?"

Jacen's mouth worked silently for a few minutes before he managed an answer. "Well, not officially. But Uncle Luke said Jaina and I are both pretty much finished with our training."

Jag had always thought becoming a Jedi involved some big huge personal sacrifice. Even though it was a little embarrassing to think about, he had always supposed that marrying him had been Jaina's. She hadn't loved him or even liked him then, and could have easily ran away or refused. But she hadn't, just so that the galaxy she loved would be a little more secure in their peace. Really, it wasn't his call, but Jag thought if one of them deserved the title of Jedi Knight it was Jaina. Then again, his opinion was considerably biased.

After a small interval of silence Jag stood. "I should go. The meeting will start soon. I think Jaina was planning on staying with my uncle again, so why don't you drop by tomorrow? She'll be thrilled to see you. And bring Danni," he nodded to the woman. She smiled gratefully at the invitation but made no reply.

Jacen stood too, extending his hand. Jag shook it. "We will, thank you. Tell Jaina I love her. I can't wait to meet the baby."

"It's not actually born yet, you know," Jag said as he headed to the door. Jacen just smiled and tapped at his temple. Jag nodded in understanding and left.

As Jag settled into the seat beside her Jaina smiled. "Did you find him?" she whispered.

He nodded but didn't say anything. The meeting was getting ready to begin, if the dimming of the lights and activation of the holoprojectors was any indication. Jag sat to Jaina's right, and the Moff Council to her left. On Jag's right were Jaina's mother's council members, and opposite them on the circular table was Leia and Pellaeon themselves. The Chiss had been invited to send an emissary, but had declined.

Pellaeon stood first, and as he did an image of the Battle of Ithor jumped from the individual projectors in front of them. "For those of you who weren't there, this is the Battle f Ithor. It has so far been the greatest defeat we have suffered so far, and is a primed example of the military might wielded by the Yuuzhan Vong."

A different image, this one a miniature model of their galaxy, leapt over a dozen times from the table. A few seconds later a purple swath was painted across it. A great deal of them were in Imperial Space and the Unknown Regions, but a larger amount than Jaina had expected were also in New Republic space. "These are all the worlds we have lost in this war. But they were won at a high cost. Huge amounts of the warrior caste have been wiped out, and now the enemy are at their most vulnerable. What we need is to draw them away from these worlds, trap them, and destroy them. No mercy, no compromise. When this campaign is over, the only Yuuzhan Vong I want left alive are the Shamed Ones, Shapers, and Intendants."

The individual galaxies continued to rotate in front of them as the Grand Admiral let his statement sink in. Then, "This is what has to happen if we want to win. Our problem, and reason for this meeting, is to decide how. Ideas? Anyone?"

A council member from Rodia raised her hand then rasped, "How are we going to draw them into this trap?"

"Good question, and one I believe Chief of State Organa Solo can answer."

Jaina's mother stood, her signature white robes swirling around her too-slim figure. "This is going to be difficult for everyone to accept, me not least of all, but if it means the destruction of the enemy I think we should all be able to handle it. What we are suggesting is that we retreat." At the outburst of negativity she stopped, waiting till everyone calmed down.

"I think I know where this is going," Jag whispered.

"Me too," Jaina agreed.

"What I am saying is that we abandon our posts and head to wherever it is we decide we want to make our last stand. If the whole galaxy is there for the taking, and if their only opposition is gathered in one place, we can all but guarantee their first move will be to throw all of their power at us in an attempt to crush us indefinitely."

"So your saying we have an all-out slug-fest and whoever wins gets the galaxy?" Jag asked, incredulous.

"Basically," Pellaeon answered. "Do you have any better ideas, General?"

Jag remained silent. Jaina barely noticed. A small idea was tickling the back of her mind, but she couldn't just grasp it. What was it?

"So, does anyone have any ideas or suggestions?" It was quiet for a long moment. Then Jaina had it. Her eyes shot up and her head snapped up, heart racing.

"The Maw," she gasped.

"What?" Pellaeon asked.

"The Maw!" she said, standing. "We retreat to the maw! They can't navigate the routes as well as we can, we could slaughter them there. We corner their whole fleet, and all we have to do is back them into a black hole and whoop!, they're all gone!"

There was complete silence for a few seconds and then Leia said, "You know the same thing could just as easily happen to us?"

"Not if we position our fleet right with their entry vector. All we need is a little planning and a big fleet. We won't even have that many casualties," she explained.

"I think it's brilliant," Pellaeon said.

"Me too," Jag agreed.

The Moff Council sounded their agreement, along with several of the New Republic senators. It was Leia who was conspicuous in her silence. "Chief of State?" Jaina asked.

Leia looked at her appraisingly. "I think it's riskier than we need to be."

Jaina ground her teeth in irritation. "No plan is foolproof."

"I'll consider it," Leia said, standing. "We'll meet again tomorrow."

As the gathering dispersed Jaina turned angrily to Jag. "She wants something."

Jag sighed as he stood. "Whatever it is, if we want this plan to work I suggest we give it to her."