Jacen could only stare, almost petulantly at the two women. He ignored the almost pleading glance Rayne gave him. The head guard had almost begged Tenel Ka not to spar with the 18 year old JedI with Lightsabers. Her knowledge of their telepathic ability had given her the idea of thinking at him to stop it. Unfortunately she didn't know he could just squelch her thoughts.
"Just so you know Rayne, I don't have to listen to your thoughts, I can completely block them." he told her tersely.
"This is still an extremely dangerous activity." Rayne told him. Jacen gave her a bored look.
"Rayne we have been raised since early or middle childhood, we cannot fail to prevent injury from light sabers." he told her. Rayne raised an eyebrow. Jacen blinked.
"Bad example." he said and sighed.
"Look, we've been cooped on this ship for a week. If Tenel Ka would have let me, I would be down there." Jacen said. Rayne huffed angrily. Jacen snorted and watched Tenel Ka and Tahiri
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Tahiri asked igniting her light saber. "Its been quite a while since you've used that."
Tenel Ka lifted her hand and pulled the light saber into her hand with the Force. She ignited her blade and saluted with flourish.
"Arrogance is a virtue that belongs to those who can defend it, Tahiri." Tenel Ka told her.
"You were good once Tenel Ka, but you've been stagnant." Tahiri goaded.
"Careful Tahiri, Tenel Ka is not someone you want to challenge so seriously." Jacen told her. "Annoy her too much and she might give you a serious lesson in pride." he chided. Both women glared at him.
"If you think I'm being arrogant, why don't you give me that lesson then?" Tahiri said in annoyance. Jacen glanced at Tenel Ka in a plaintative manor.
"No. Not until my doctor says you are functional. And not until you've proven functional." Tenel Ka said with a mild leer.
Jacen's eyes seemed to glaze over for a moment.
Tahiri sighed, she could accept them as a couple, and intellectually as a sexually active pair, but she didn't want to see even this little bit of foreplay.
"Are we going to fight or are you going to work on an heir?" she asked Tenel Ka.
Tenel Ka gave her an arched look.
"My male is living and virile, I am in no hurry. You on the other hand . . ." Tenel Ka said.
Tahiri's expression darkened and launched herself across the room. Tenel Ka raised her blade, batting Tahiri's aside and jumped, kicking Tahiri in the stomach, launching Tahiri back to her original position. Jacen got to his feet.
Tahiri gaped and gasped like a fish until recovering enough to stand. She glared at
Tenel Ka and set herself into her stance. Tenel Ka stood balanced evenly on her feet, with her left shoulder facing Tahiri.
"Let us continue." Tenel Ka told her. Tahiri visibly calmed herself and slowly advanced.
Tenel Ka had other ideas and swiftly circled around to Tahiri's right. Tahiri shifted to meet the threat, but Tenel Ka pivoted and reversed direction, allowing her to attack before Tahiri could reset.
Tahiri uttered a grunt as she tried to hold her blade. Tenel Ka continued to press in, exerting more force with her single arm than Tahiri could with two. Tahiri broke contact and dropped to the floor in an attempt to kick Tenel Ka's legs out from under her.
Tenel Ka leapt over the sweep and brought her blade down, but found that Tahiri had rolled away. Tenel Ka slowly turned to face Tahiri.
"You're stronger than me. I can't meet you blow to blow." Tahiri admitted. Her opponent smiled.
"Not only stronger . . ." Tenel Ka said and then swarmed Tahiri in high speed, rapid attacks. Tahiri was able to parry and block, but Tenel Ka was too fast and too strong for Tahiri to go on the offensive. Tahiri used telekinesis out of desperation.
Her moved worked, striking Tenel Ka unexpectedly and launching her hard enough that Tenel Ka dropped her Light saber, Tahiri stood. Tenel Ka sprang to her feet, mildly incensed and yanked Tahiri's light saber from her hands with the Force.
Tahiri stared first at her blade and then Tenel Ka's as they lay on the deck of the hanger bay. The Light sabers abruptly hurtled toward Jacen who caught them. Both women glared. Jacen smiled back. Tahiri faced Tenel Ka again.
"Guess I'll have to fight dirty." She said, closing her fists. Tenel Ka bent her knees to lower her gravity and give her better positioning for kicks. She was at a disadvantage in hand to hand, being with only one hand. She could not allow Tahiri to get her to ground, Tahiri was a grown woman now, the severe reach, weight and leverage advantage Tenel Ka held over the girl before the war was gone, though Tahiri was still much lighter, being 175 cm and barely 50 kilos to Tenel Ka's 185 cm and 70 kilos.
"You always have Tahiri, though before it was because you were but a child the last time we sparred." Tenel Ka said. Tahiri blinked.
"I thought I was learning from you." she returned. Tenel Ka tilted her head.
"Perhaps you did, but we Dathomiri believe in harsh lessons and training. I am pleased that I no longer have to hold back." Tenel Ka said. Tahiri's eyes had a slightly wild glint that matched Tenel Ka's feral expression.
"Lets do this." Tahiri said with a grin and then charged. She had to stop and roll under a kick and then again when Tenel Ka tried to drive her heal into her. Tahiri stopped her momentum by planting a foot and then pushed off to sweep Tenel Ka's legs.
Tenel Ka hopped but the sweep caught her. She scrambled, hooking a leg around Tahiri's waist and used the shin of her other leg to push Tahiri flat on the deck. Tenel Ka grimaced, this was exactly what she did not want to have happen, Tahiri was as flexible or possibly more so than herself and had two arms.
The same thought had occurred to Tahiri who lifted the leg on her upper chest and forced it behind her head. Tenel Ka tried to free herself, but Tahiri was fast enough to pile onto her back and wedge her arms under Tenel Ka's armpits, taking attention to lock the stump arm tightly. Tenel Ka managed to roll them but it only left her face up and still locked in Tahiri's hold. Tahiri's leg were not long enough for her to lock Tenel Ka's effectively. For a long moment the stayed there, neither could advance beyond their current positions. Or not. Tahiri shifted her arms, locking her hands behind Tenel Ka's neck. Tenel Ka took a minute to try to break the lock. Finally she sighed and stopped.
"I yield." She said in a resigned voice. Tahiri released her immediately. Tenel Ka rolled off her and got to her knees. Tahiri stayed there. They were both flushed and sweating from exertion. Jacen cautiously approached.
"You two alright?" he asked. Tahiri managed to nod.
"I am unharmed. Merely tired." Tenel Ka said. Tahiri nodded emphatically at her comment.
"I'm sore but not hurt." Tahiri added. Tenel Ka gave Jacen a glance.
"Help us up." Jacen stepped to Tenel Ka pulling her up while bending over and grabbing Tahiri's hand. She took it and found herself hanging nearly aloft as she tried to find her feet.
"There." Jacen said, only to find he had to grab Tahiri before she fell again. He glanced at Tenel Ka to find she was unsteadily still on her feet. He sighed.
"Did you two really have to wear yourselves out that much?" He asked pulling Tahiri's arm over his shoulder and helped Tenel Ka support herself with his arm around her waist.
"Yes."
"Yes."
Jacen sighed again.
"Alright." he said. Tenel Ka spoke.
"I am hungry Jacen, help me to my room so I can shower and then eat." Tenel Ka said imperiously.
"Ditto."
"What am I your pack nerf?" Jacen gripped. Tenel Ka glared.
"No, you are not property, I do not want a possession." she said. Jacen gave her a grin.
"If you say so dear." he told her. Tenel Ka blinked and allowed a soft smile. Tahiri, still half hanging off Jacen's shoulder griped.
"Could you two get me to my bunk before you flirt too far. Please?" Tahiri implored. Jacen chuckled.
"Alright." he said poorly imitating Threepios prissy voice. "We shall deliver mistress Tahiri to her bed."
"Watch it Jacen." Tahiri said, aggravated. Jacen smiled at her.
"C'mon, I can't tease my little sister?" he asked. Tahiri had to fight back tears.
"Whoa, I didn't mean to-"
"Its okay! I'm happy Jacen, women do cry when their happy. You know that right?" Tahiri said. Jacen chuckled.
"He does not know women that well, a good thing I think. I can train him to my preferences." Tenel Ka said. Jacen frowned.
"Thought I wasn't property." he said pulling them into the turbo lift.
"Only when it suits me." Tenel Ka said, immediately regretting her words. Jacen frowned at her.
"Only if I can make the same claim." he returned. Tenel Ka, relieved that she hadn't greatly offended him tilted her head and nodded.
"Agreed."
Tahiri rolled her eyes and stepped away from them, having recovered her legs.
"I'll leave you two alone, I don't want to get caught in that crossfire." she said. Tenel Ka smiled broadly.
"No you do not." She murmured, her eyes locked with Jacen's.
Tahiri was very glad to be out of the lift when they reached the Queen's personal deck.
"This was not a good idea." Jacen groaned. Tenel Ka, concerned, ignored the spray of the shower as she knelt over him. Jacen groaned again and tried to right himself, only to fall back on his back again. Tenel Ka felt the guilt mount as she knelt over him. Though in a considerable amount of pain, there was no amount of pain that would prevent Jacen from enjoying the sight of water dripping from her well formed curves.
"I'm sorry, I should have waited to-" Tenel Ka started to say. Jacen groaned and shook his head.
"No, this was a good idea, in the shower, not a great idea." Jacen said. Tenel Ka managed a small smile.
"I will get my doctor here . . ."
"Hell no, get me up and to the bed, and then you can grab your doctor." he said. "This is embarrassing enough." he said.
"No, embarrassing would have been to have fallen before you finished your task."
Tenel Ka said a little impishly, Placing her closed fist on statuesque hip.. Jacen managed a grin.
"Glad you like it."
"Greatly." Tenel Ka said with a smirk that was far from innocent.
"Good, but we shouldn't do that in the shower again." Jacen said and rested his head against the tile deck. Tenel Ka nodded and turned off the water and pressed the comm button.
"Rayne, bring my doctor to my quarters." she said. Jacen gave her a mildly betrayed look.
"As you will my lady, are you injured?" Rayne asked.
"I am not, but my companion had a slight accident in the shower." she said.
"Understood." Rayne said and clicked off the comm. Tenel Ka sighed and put her hand her neck, a position she used to compensate for the inability to cross her arms. While not pleased by the reason for it, Jacen not going to complain about the pose. Tenel Ka was a spectacular woman. That her body was equally spectacular was a bonus.
"Sorry Jacen, but your health is more important than your pride." she told him. He glared and then relented.
"Fine, but your guard doesn't come in." he said. She nodded. He glanced around, and abruptly realized he was still naked..
"Could you please hand me a towel?" he asked. Tenel Ka nodded, knowing he didn't want anyone see his scars, as it was he had managed to avoid exposing his scars to her doctor before.
"Why didn't hide yourself when Rayne interrupted us last night?" Tenel Ka asked. Jacen blinked.
"Didn't think about it then, I had just woken up with a beautiful women sleeping on me." he pointed out. Tenel Ka nodded and spread the towel over Jacen. There was only a small twitch at her lips that Jacen knew to be a smile, a nearly prideful one at that.
"As I was saying Your Highness, you male managed to complete the break in his eighth rib. I have taped his ribs and I require that he does not raise his arms over his head." Myrna, the Royal doctor told Tenel Ka and Jacen as they entered the Queen's private galley. Tahiri was finishing her meal as they entered. She rose, more out of surprise from the obviously injured Jacen. Jacen managed a grin in her direction. Tahiri was on just out of girlhood, being surrounded by several thousand Hapan was fairly hard for the ego if you weren't one of them, especially at her age. The doctor continue.
"I also strongly recommend that you refrain from coitus until his ribs have healed, especially in a shower that has no hand holds." she finished, bowing and then leaving. Jacen gave her an annoyed glare before stiffly shuffling to the table and sitting across from Tahiri.
"How's the breakfast?" he asked. Tahiri stared at him for a moment.
"Did she just say you fell in the shower? While having sex?" Tahiri asked incredulously.
"Why in the shower?" Jacen gave her a perturbed look. Considering the quasi brother sister relationship Jaina and himself had decided to afford her, it was a strange question, at least from a Corellian or Coruscanti perspective.
"Not what we originally intended." Jacen said brusquely. Tahiri looked at him for a moment and nodded, even Jacen had obvious limits of tolerance.
"Alright then. The breakfast is okay, but way more plant matter than I would ever want in a breakfast." she told him. Jacen snorted.
"That's because you ate like you were on Tattoine, even on Yavin 4." Jacen said. Tahiri shrugged.
"Tuskens don't do well with fibrous foods." Tahiri said. Jacen snorted as Tenel Ka sat down with them with a data pad in hand. Jacen glanced at her, sensing a change in her mood, which had been fairly light and, well, amorous since their shower, despite Jacen's accident.
"Something wrong?" he asked. Tenel Ka frowned as she read.
"Casualty reports." she said succinctly.
"I thought no one was fighting, and we've been in hyperspace for seven days." Tahiri said, confused. Tenel Ka glanced at her.
"I have no doubt that a significant fraction of the Yuuzhan Vong will hold out, and there are fifteen systems in our post war mop-up zone. . ." she told Tahiri. " . . . But these are our total war casualties." she said. Tahiri blinked.
"How bad is it? Was it as bad as Coruscant?" Tahiri asked. Jacen winced. Sometimes he forgets that Tahiri only just turned 18. The scale of an intergalactic war is usually beyond most people's imagination or ability to process. Tenel Ka seemed to realize this. She wordlessly slid the data pad to Tahiri. Tahiri picked it up and read. Both Tenel Ka and Jacen watched her closely. Tahiri's eyes widened, her skin paled, and she then openly blanched and dropped the data pad as though burned by it.
"Is this accurate?" she gasped, pale and unable to contain tears. Tenel Ka nodded and gently patted Tahiri's hand. They could both feel the bile Tahiri felt rising in her throat.
"It is Tahiri. This is the reason I considered Coruscant's casualties to be light." she said. Jacen sighed.
"I'm sorry to say this Tahiri, but you're going to hear much worse from the New Republic or the Remnant. And that's to say nothing about the civilian casualties." Jacen said. Tahiri nodded.
"And the Vong." Tahiri said.
"I am not concerned with the Yuuzhan Vong's war casualties." Tenel Ka said in a harsh tone. She softened it. "Though your compassion does you credit. That you care, even with what they have done to you." Tenel Ka said. Tahiri nodded. "Had Jacen not returned from the dead, I would have pressed for total annihilation." she added capturing Jacen's left with her arm and holding it tightly and possessively against her breast. Tahiri gave her a mildly horrified expression. Jacen merely seemed disappointed, if not surprised. There was much in the way of repressed pain in Tenel Ka from the year she believed him dead.
"Tenel Ka . . ." He started to say. She held up her hand.
"It is selfish, I know, and most certainly of the Dark Side, but fortunately, I did not have to make that choice." she said. Tahiri turned to Jacen who still held his gaze with Tenel Ka. For a long time they continued to stare at each other until Jacen nodded and let the issue drop. Tahiri seemed to sense the change in mood.
"So what does this report mean for your people?" Tahiri asked. Tenel Ka grimaced.
"If you saw the breakdown . . ." she started, Tahiri shook her head, the number 65 million dead was as far as she got.
"I thought so, 55 million were male, and that fact is more troubling than our total casualties." she said. Tahiri frowned. Tenel Ka watched her for a moment and relented.
"When we started this war, we had access to the Republic casualty figures. We had prepared ourselves for a much longer war, and far harsher casualties." Tenel Ka said.
"But intellectual possibilities are much less painful than actuality." Tenel Ka said. "My advisors were prepared to accept a war lasting twenty years and six hundred million killed." she said, frowning. "But somewhere it was forgotten that the vast majority of our Forces are male. So the effect of losing so many men is unstudied. For once my advisors are completely unprepared to find solutions or to even calculate what this does to our people."
"But there are billions of people in the Cluster." Tahiri protested.
"35 billion, but it has been that way for generations, our population has not significantly changed until the war began." Tenel Ka said. "As I said, we don't know yet what this could do to use, especially when this entire side of Galaxy more likely than not has the same problem. Thank the gods we did not lose as many as Gunvor was expecting. Losing half a billion men would have been a complete disaster."
"This is the reason the Masters had us . . . Provide." Jacen said. "Uncle Luke knew that we would lose people." he said. "We lost 46 Jedi in the war, there was roughly ninety when it started. And 20 or so of us were elevated early because of the War. Us basically." Jacen said. Tahiri nodded somberly.
"What's different about this?" he asked Tenel Ka, gesturing to the data pad. She sighed.
"It has more precise figures, losses per world, per city, per unit, etc." Tenel Ka.
"Unfortunately we allowed cities or worlds to field their 'own' units." She said. Jacen leaned back and closed his eyes. Tahiri blinked.
"So if a battle went really bad . . ." she started to say.
"there are a number of cities or continents on our worlds that had their 'able' male population decimated." Tenel Ka finished for her.
"Or worse." one of the guards said, unable to contain, the obvious sadness in her voice. The woman realized she said it out loud, and her shame flared brilliantly to the three Jedi. Tenel Ka stood and approached the guard and placed her hand on the guard's shoulder.
"Indeed Talia." she said, in a rare instance using the force to let the guard feel her compasion, and then let the guard recover her professional reserve. She turned to Ingrid who had been hiding, or thought she was, the whole time.
"Ingrid, tell Gunvor to fix this practice. Immediately." she said harshly. Ingrid nodded and left to hunt down the General. Tenel Ka sighed.
"As bad as our problems are, the Republic has verifiable nightmares to deal with. Jaina and the others will be busy."
"You know I would appreciate it, Major, if you could bring back your X-Wings in better shape." Senior Chief Strafighter mechanic's mate Dowd said. Jaina gave him a reproving glance.
"Next time I'm shot down I'll try to keep it in one piece. And don't call me Major, they haven't given me the paperwork yet." she said. SMMCS Dowd shrugged.
"You earned it ma'am . . ." he said visibly enjoying the annoyed glare when he said 'ma'am'.
"You should listen to Senior Chief Dowd." Jag told her. Senior Chief Dowd turned, and starred down at the CEDF Colonel.
"You would have been much easier to work for, if you didn't use that obsolete junker." he said. Jag frowned.
"The Claw Craft Mark 6 C is a revolutionary design-"
"Just an outgrowth of a TIE Advanced. Thirty years old and no major improvements." Chief Dowd said dismissively.
"How long?" Jaina said a little impatiently. The Senior Chief shrugged.
"Its not the worst wreck I've seen, your uncle brought one back, when I was just a 3rd class, that the S-Foils actually fell off right after he landed, well skidded actually. Now that was a wreck!" he said. "The only one worse than that was the X -wing Face Loran brought back to Tedivium, serving your father in fact. He had to be cut out of it. I'm still amazed he managed to survive, much less land it, and forget the fact the Wraiths managed to repair it!" The younger crewmen listened to the Senior Chief, easily old enough to be their father, or even Grandfather for some of them.
"At least the Empire had the decency to use photon based weapons." one of the techs grumbled. "And not some acid based insect." he said as he used a hammer to make sure said insects, impacted into the hull of Jaina's X-Wing, were dead. The youngest crewman chuckled.
"Hammer goes moo, right Senior?" the younger crewmen tittered.
"I'm going to kill whichever moron made up that saying." Dowd said. Jag had long stopped trying to decipher Republic crewman's lingo. It was different in every Navy and every department.
"How much damage to the frame?" Jaina asked finally. Dowd frowned.
"It doesn't look good, this girl survived the crash mostly intact, but got bent and torqued pretty badly. Most likely I'll be ordered to Scrap her." he said regretfully. Jaina sighed.
"I thought so. Anything salvageable?" she asked. Dowd brightened.
"Well, they managed to recover your astromech." he said. Jaina looked relieved.
"Cappie's too tough to go down." she said. "Where is she?" she asked. Dowd shrugged.
"They've got your astromech on surface . . . Priority right now is finding and evacuating the wounded, and our other casualties." he said.
"Hold outs?" she asked. He nodded grimly.
"Perhaps Jacen or Tahiri should have stayed." Jag said. "They are able to locate Vong far more easily than anyone else." he added. Jaina shook her head.
"No, Tenel Ka might have diverted her Forces and had them capture him if we tried to force him to stay, and its impossible to hold a Jedi against their will anyway." Jaina said.
"Your brother did his part Major, and more than he could have been asked to do." Dowd said. Jaina snorted.
"He didn't do anything for the Navy's benefit, it took Admiral Kre'Fey six tries before he realized Jacen wouldn't take the commission he offered." this was news to Jag.
"What rank did they offer?" he asked. Jaina chuckled.
"He started at Lt. Commander, and ended up offering him Commodore before we killed Tsavong Lah." she said. Jag blinked.
"Seriously?" he asked. Jaina shrugged.
"Jacen's an empath, even when he wasn't coordinating with other Jedi, he was listening to the surface thoughts of the Admiral and his captains on the other ships. That made him extremely effective when we were doing our simulated battles, its child's play if you can listen to the opposite commander's thoughts." she said. She shrugged. "He was doing the job of a Commodore anyway." Jag looked like he had bitten foil.
"Are all Jedi capable of-"
"No, Uncle Luke, Kyp, Master Horn and Anakin were able to do this, but Jacen's better at it than they are. I've tried a couple of times, but I don't do well with male minds, it gives me a headache." She said.
"And yet he wants nothing to do with it." he said. Jaina snorted and dismissively waved her hand.
"I doubt Jacen knows what he wants to do. He'll probably stay with Tenel Ka just because she has clear goals and duties." she said. Jag nodded and looked around. Chief Dowd had ducked away when it became clear that they were not talking to him.
"Jaina . . . I've been told to return to Csillia for a few weeks. I'm told its administrative." he told her. Jaina's expression dimmed.
"Oh." she managed to say. She frowned. "My Orders will keep me in system for a while." she said. He nodded.
"I know. I have to leave tomorrow." he said.
"Unless you take Wedge's offer." she said. Jag blinked.
"Are you saying I should?" he asked. Jaina looked crestfallen.
"No, I want you too, but I should not and cannot ask you to do that. You'd be throwing away everything you've ever worked for." she said. Jag's shoulders sagged.
"I would be lying if I said the offer was not attractive." he said. Jaina smiled.
"It would definitely piss off Dad." she said. Jag was able to manage an impish smirk.
"So would a lot of things we did last night." he said. Jaina gave him a smirk.
"You know it stud." she said in a sultry voice. A low groan sounded behind her.
"I didn't hear that, and you better not rat me out to Han." Corran Horn said. The two blinked in surprise.
"Master Horn, I was not aware that you were aboard." Jag said. Corran gave him a rueful grin.
"Well its General Horn now. The Alliance decided they owed me one." he said mildly. Jag nodded earnestly while Jaina scowled.
"They used you as a scape goat, and you're going along with this?" she asked. Corran shrugged.
"When the Corellian system demands that the Alliance return me to them so I can restore CorSec, I'm all to happy to take whatever apologetic promotions they'll give me." Corran said. "Besides, my Grandfather's managed to survive this war too, I don't mind being in the same system. Despite whatever nightmare I'll have on my hands when I get there." Corran said.
"So they're going to become part of the Republic?" Jaina asked. Corran chuckled and shook his head.
"No, they'll remain 'Strategic Allies' just the same way they were with the Old Republic." Corran said. He glanced at Jag.
"Which is part of the reason why I'm here." He said, looking at Jaina. Jag leaned back.
"I see, I'll see you in a bit then Jaina-"
"The hell you will." Corran said sharply. Jag and Jaina blinked. "I'm here for you too." he said. He started to walk away.
"Come with me." he said. Jaina and Jag exchanged wary glances before following him.
"You want us to join CorSec?" Jaina said incredulously. She continued to pace, more than a little agitated.
"Did you seriously think you weren't going to get offers from hyperspace?" he asked her.
"Just your name alone is enough for thousands of companies to just drool of the thought of hiring you." Corran pointed out. He gave Jag a shrewd look.
"Ditto for you, though only with Corellian and Remnant companies. And that's just for your surname." He glanced at them.
"Look, this is your fathers' homeland. You have a chance to restore it to the glory your Fathers' remember. The way I remember it." Corran said bitterly. Jaina was more than a little wary of the idea.
"A Solo? Part of CorSec?" she demanded. Jag coughed suspiciously. "Maybe he's a round peg in a round hole, but a Solo isn't in this case." she said. Corran fixed her with a stare.
"Maybe not Han Solo, definitely not Jacen he doesn't have the temperament or attitude for it. But Jaina Solo? Maybe you might want to try something your parents and uncle never offered as a choice." he said. Jaina blinked before scowling.
"Like you are one to judge, you joined CorSec because your family had been in CorSec for generations." she said.
"Or Jedi." Corran half corrected. Jaina nodded. Corran looked at Jag. Jag frowned.
"I am with the CEDF." he said. Corran frowned.
"That is all well and good, but how many human women are in Chiss space? How many children will there be for your kids to play with, or even marry when the time comes?" Corran asked. Jag frowned again.
"There are few Humans, and fewer women. My commitment will not be shaken by lack of women." Jag said.
"Jag, you've never experienced life outside of the Chiss. Just try it. You might like being human more than you would believe. How often do you think you'll see Jaina if you stay with the Chiss?" Corran said bluntly. Jag's jaw tightened. Jaina found that she didn't really want to be here for this conversation. It was about her in part, but it was so much a male to male conversation, she felt like an interloper.
"My concerns are my own." Jag said tightly. Corran glanced at Jaina pointedly.
"Is it really?" he asked. Jaina glared.
"Hey, don't use me as a bargaining chip!" she said. Corran matched her glare unflinchingly.
"I'm not, I'm only pointing out something you two are hiding from." He said.
"We're not hiding! And I'm only 21!" Jaina said. Corran frowned at her.
"Age doesn't really matter if you love someone." he said. Jag seemed deep in thought.
"Well I'm not going to quit being a Jedi!" Jaina said. Corran raised an eyebrow.
"Didn't say you had to. In fact that's the main reason Selonia and Drall wanted me." Corran said. "Neither worlds really trust Corellia, but both the Drall and Selonians hold Jedi in high regard. Believe me the Corellian System justifies more than one Jedi" he told her. He glanced at them.
"Look, like I've told you both, you're going to get head-hunted heavily. Your contractual obligations to your governments will be over or are over in the next couple months. You two are not going to get an offer where both of you work together. You aren't going to find another situation where you are going to see each other every day." Corran said. He stood.
"You two should discuss this." he said and left the room. Jag and Jaina exchanged strained glances.
"What do you think?" Jaina asked. Jag frowned.
"What he said is true, but it does not mean he is right either." he said. Jaina looked at him.
"So basically its about how serious we are about each other." she said. Jag stood and stared out of the viewport.
"Not entirely. I have been entirely serious the whole time we've been together. However, I have known that we are at different stages." Jag said turning to face her. Jaina nodded.
"You're thinking that settling down might be a good idea." she said. He nodded somberly. She sighed.
"I like the idea, but I'm not ready for kids or marriage. I haven't even lived my life!" she said. Jag shrugged.
"Neither have I." he said. "Master Horn was right, I have only lived the life the Chiss would tolerate for me." he said. Jaina looked away.
"When I go back to the Jedi, I'll be bounced around the Galaxy, like we were with the War." she said pensively. "I don't want to do that." she said. Jag glanced at her.
"You don't have to be a Jedi." he stated.
"You don't have to stay with the Chiss." she returned. Jag nodded and they fell into silence at an impasse.