Chapter 2

"You feel that the care I have given Jaina Solo is inadequate?" Jagged Fel asked to attend the academy, asked to make the move to adulthood, he could learn to be accountable for his own decisions, including the decision to challenge a superior officer.

"No, sir. I trust that her education has been superior, and she is in excellent health. However, family is important. She doesn't have a family. Who is there to offer emotional support?" Loyalty to family ran strong in humans, and Soontir had been no exception. Jagged was the same as his father. Despite spending his life among the Chiss, close emotional bonds were important to him.

"Do you think you should be the one who supports Miss Solo?" Thrawn made note of the way Soontir stopped breathing momentarily, clearly he'd recognized the trap that had been set for his son.

The child and the man in Jagged warred for dominance, and Thrawn was willing to let this battle play out. Humans were different, and their art clearly indicated a period of emotional turbulence about this age. Best to let the boy have the time to think through his response.

Soontir's comlink chirped, and with a last look at Jagged, he left to attend to the business of ensuring Mara Jade landed and was escorted to Thrawn.

When several breaths passed without response from the young cadet, Thrawn continued, "Cadet Fel, please note that in Chiss society, sentiments such as you have expressed are at best a foolishly sentimental proposal for marriage, and at worst, highly inappropriate. Your concerns are noted; however they are a function of human society. You will find, and do well to remember, that Chiss society is radically different. Marriages are not based on emotional attachment; they are based on a mutual exchange of power. Emotion is a weakness."

Jagged's face flushed a brilliant crimson, but he showed no other break in composure. "My apologies, Grand Admiral." Before the cadet could continue, Thrawn turned to face the door that Mara Jade was currently stepping through.

"Welcome, Mara Jade. I am pleased you arrived safely."

"It's not like I had much of a choice, now, is it?" The redhead was furious. "I don't care what project you want me for, the answer is no."

"Perhaps, Hand, you should wait for me to explain before you rush to a decision. You can stay here, doing what I've asked, or you can stay here a prisoner. Skywalker was detained on Coruscant, and does not know that you are here, so don't plan on a rescue."

"I wouldn't underestimate him, Thrawn." As Mara studied the room, she made note of Baron Fel now standing next to a young man who looked like his son, and Voss Parck entering the room behind him. Her heart stopped when she caught sight of the child walking in behind Parck. She knew those brandy eyes. That face had haunted her dreams for the last ten years, and memories of her failure that night had driven her to obsessively pursue the Jedi path, desperate to never fail again. The agony pouring off Han and Leia had been indescribable, and Mara had to atone for her mistake. They'd never given up hope they'd find her again, but there'd never been as much as a shred of evidence indicating where she was. Now she was standing face to face with Jaina.

Mara Jade's rage was a powerful thing, and the occupants of the room braced for her fury. She hesitated, though, when she noticed the younger Fel had moved so he was shielding Jaina with his body. From the look on his face, he was determined to let nothing touch her. The curious look in Jaina's eyes as she leaned around Jag, no matter how he tried to block her, took the fight right out of the former Emperor's Hand. Rage was not the Jedi way. Rage had distracted her that night, allowing Jaina to disappear for ten long years.

"You see now, Jade, why you can not be allowed to leave." Thrawn's voice was cold, calculating. The ice in his voice fanned the flames of her fury, despite her determination to remain calm.

"She has a family that's been tearing themselves to shreds trying to find her for ten years, Thrawn! Ten years! Does she know she has a twin brother who still asks where she is every night before bed? Does she know that she has a younger brother named Anakin? Does she know they set an extra setting at the table for her every year on her lifeday? Every holiday, they leave a candle burning for her."

"Cadet Fel, please escort Miss Solo to her music practice." Thrawn watched carefully as he led her out of the room, waiting until the door slid shut to face Mara Jade and ask her to take on Jaina's Jedi training.

The door had barely shut when Jaina collapsed in tears. Jagged had barely brought his arms up in time to catch her. He held her the way he'd hold his younger sister, letting her cry it out as he carried her to a quieter spot in the Hand of Thrawn. He didn't know where her music practice was, and she was in no shape to tell him. She'd welcomed having someone to talk to earlier, and he'd been happy to listen. Her desolation had left him determined to ease her suffering any way possible. Mara Jade's arrival, and the little she'd said about Jaina's real family, had been enough to break through the girl's control.

The thought of his father kidnapping a baby was repulsive in the extreme. But Thrawn had ordered it, and if the legendary Grand Admiral had ordered it, it must have been necessary. As much as he'd have happily sacrificed his right arm to have the education she'd received at Thrawn's hands, he didn't know if it was worth leaving his family. She hadn't had a choice. But he did. She may not have her family, but he was determined she'd have a friend.

His thoughts were racing, and not knowing what else to do, he held her and rocked her until her tears were spent.

"And you think Jaina is the key to military success?" Mara Jade was emotionally spent. Thrawn had laid out his carefully orchestrated plan over the last hour, and Mara was more dazed than she could recall being in some time.

"Force abilities can greatly alter the course of a battle. I have been personally overseeing her education, including in military matters. If these invaders wait to strike, she will be very well prepared to lead the galaxy against them. If they move now, we must keep her safe until she can lead. The signs of impending war are growing clearer, Mara Jade. I will do what I can to ensure victory."

"I'd like to talk to her about this before making my decision." It was a way to stall, and Thrawn knew it. However, it was a fair request.

He led her through a maze of hallways, finally arriving at the door. Jaina sat at the instrument, tongue sticking out as she worked her way through a particularly difficult passage. Mara smiled as Jaina's finger slipped and a harsh curse punctuated the beautiful passage. Soontir Fel tried to cover his laugh with a cough, causing Jaina to look up quickly and Jag startled enough to drop the pages he'd been turning for Jaina.

"Carry on, Miss Solo. Our guests have not yet been delighted with your skills at the piano. Perhaps you can demonstrate the Alderaanian flute as well."

Jaina resumed her efforts to get through the passage, this time succeeding admirably. Her fingers moved with a speed that was almost inhuman, however her tongue stayed firmly out through the piece. Mara took a moment to catalog the various instruments along the wall, neatly stored and ready to be used. She recognized multiple instruments of Corellian and Alderaanian origin scattered amongst instruments she'd never seen before. Her eyes turned back to the determined ten-year-old, and it was almost painful how much she resembled her parents. The look of absolute concentration that she'd so often seen on Han's face, the tilt of the head that was so like Leia. Through the Force, she could see that Jaina was determined, strong-minded, a fierce fighter, and rebellious.

She had failed Jaina once before. Mara Jade was not about to let herself fail again.