Disclaimer: I own nothing that belongs to Lucasfilm or Disney.
Okay, fair warning with this chapter, I'm coming down with an illness so the next one might be delayed a bit. Sorry if that's problematic, but I promise to get back on it when I'm back to being well, so it might be saturday after next when I update. Again, my apologies, joys of living with kids.
elenastarkiller: Yaay! Lando is one of those people I miss in this new trilogy, so I knew he had to come in. As for your question: Yes, Rey does exist in this story, and I totally plan on her and Jaina interacting quite a bit. Just how is still under wraps, but it's gonna be fun when we get there :) I hope you enjoy this chapter. And thank you so much for the review, it made my night yesterday.
Alright, here we are. A few more additions to our roster of characters ;) Plus, some actual things start moving.
Three months passed since Anakin and Poe had been given the position in the Mirrin Sector, Anakin's more cheerful attempts not enough to build morale how he would like. Their job was a simple one: protect any and all trade ships from piracy; and while he and Poe were mildly frustrated by the menial work, they followed orders to the best of their abilities.
"They pulled out two of their strongest squadrons, for the sake of protecting ships from piracy." Anakin mused aloud as he tinkered with one of the droids, his more vulnerable thoughts something only Poe was allowed to hear. "Call me paranoid, but the timing is the worst, if you ask me." The R9 droid beeped and whirred at him, and he chuckled in response. "Thank you, Rowdy."
Poe sighed, shaking his head more to himself than anyone else. "There's something odd about it, for sure. If I didn't know what you've been telling me about, I'd blame it on the Peace. But now..." He trailed off staring at Anakin's work in distraction. "I don't know what to think. Something is happening, that's for sure. It seems that the Republic is content with leaving everything untouched regarding this... First Order, and insists that we be complacent too." He paused, head tilting as he looked at Anakin. "What does your mom say?"
Anakin's hands froze in their work, and he looked over to Poe for a moment before glancing around to make sure the hangar was indeed empty. "To be honest, I'm trying not to think too much about what she said. The ramifications of what my mother believes about everything is... unsettling."
"...what does she believe?" Poe pushed a little, watching as Anakin sighed, picking up the wrench before he locked gazes with him.
"She thinks that the First Order might just have some of the senators on their side—or even the chancellor himself. She even has some evidence of it, but she can't bring it up really. More or less... it could mean that even if something big does happen, nothing will be done about it until it's too late. Think Empire, but a little worse because there's more of the senate on its side." his voice was low even though they seemed alone, the recognition in his mind of just how dangerous it would be if he was heard being very strong.
There was silence from Poe for a few moments, and Anakin returned his focus to Rowdy, soft conversations had between the pilot and the droid for that space of time while Poe's thoughts stayed in his head. Anakin was almost about to say something when Poe beat him to it—
"Is that offer still open?"
Wrench tossed to the side, Anakin nodded in response, mouth opening before it snapped closed and his head turned toward the entrance, alerted to another presence. Patting Rowdy on its side affectionately, he stood. "All done, buddy. You're all ready to corrupt BB-8 with your bad humor." Blue eyes slid in their sockets to look at Poe, the subject of the teasing's head snapping up with clear alarm.
"Don't you dare! My boy has enough of your bad Imperial jokes in his programming, he doesn't need another one." Poe said, pointing at the astrodroid in accusation, Anakin's laughter unable to be held in at the sight. "It's all your fault too." Poe continued, pointing at the younger commander. "If it wasn't your droid BB-8 wouldn't even be around Rowdy."
"Hey!" Anakin protested. "It's hardly my fault he's got a bad sense of humor. My sister was the one who programmed him, she just ended up programming him with Jacen's sense of humor on accident." Rowdy beeped in indignation. "It's true. That's why Rowdy ended up mine instead of hers. She didn't appreciate the Yuuzhan Vong jokes."
Before Poe could say another word, R9 raced up to him and slammed into his legs before speeding away with a screech, Anakin's chastising of the droid ignored as it rolled out of the hangar and out onto the field. "You okay, Poe?"
"I'm fine." Poe replied, hands rubbing at his legs. "Did your sister also program him with a default 'hit whomever I don't like' feature?"
Anakin chuckled. "Who knows what she programmed him with. It was a pretty dark time when she altered his programming—the humor was probably a throwback to Jacen himself, but it was too soon for her to deal with it." he replied, sobering a little as he cleaned up his hands.
The presence of Major Lonno Deso was something Anakin was not overly comfortable with. It wasn't that he suspected the Major of anything amiss, in fact he was sure that the Major was quite loyal to the Republic—but it was the caution which the Major gave Anakin himself that made him untrustworthy. He'd taken the time to pull him aside when he arrived, the first impression not going well as the Major made it clear that he didn't believe in the First Order being a threat, and would not appreciate Anakin saying anything about it. 'It's just a group of stragglers, Solo. No different than the others who have come up before it—it won't survive a year.'
If only Anakin had his surety in the peace that existed.
"Dameron, Solo." The Major greeted. "Sorry to interrupt your down time, boys, but your droid picked up a signal near Suraz 4. Your squadron better get out there before the pirates take it down." He said, his focus completely on Poe.
Anakin's brow furrowed and he exchanged a look with Poe before he spoke up. "Do they need us as well? What ship is it?"
"The Yissira Zyde. It shouldn't take more than Rapier Squadron though, Rogue will stay here, I don't need both of you out there." The Major answered Anakin curtly before speaking again to Poe. "You better get your pilots together. Who knows how much time you have to get there."
"Yes sir." Poe responded, giving a quick salute and a nod to Anakin before he darted off to get his squadron together, the four outgoing fighter pilots soon appearing for takeoff. A flurry of movement and loading happening, Anakin ran up to Poe's ship as the commander was about to jump aboard.
"Be careful Poe!" he warned, a sense of urgency making him nervous. "I don't know what you'll find out there, but I have a bad feeling about this."
An understanding passed between them and Poe nodded and smiled, patting Anakin on the shoulder before he hopped into his fighter, the hatch sliding closed as Anakin backed up allowing the ship to get to the sky as quickly as possible. The ships disappearing into the atmosphere, Anakin watched in trepidation, hoping that whatever his friend found, he'd be alright.
If there was one man in the galaxy who was difficult to hold onto, Han Solo had to be that man. Though keen to his ways, and very aware of just what kinds of things he could do, Jaina was finding it difficult to track her father down to a point of actually having a conversation. Canto Bight had been her first stop, the retracing of steps to Kaddak serving a few different purposes before she found out through one of his many creditors a more precise location. There was one difficulty: Said creditors wanted more than just money from Han Solo now—something about 'debts being in arrears', her source said.
Although she was one who liked to travel alone, Jaina soon found the best way to find someone was to use someone who knew more than she was; and so, she'd managed to get herself information on the Guavian Death Gang. How Han Solo had managed to get himself fifty-thousand credits in debt to them, Jaina was still shaking her head at, but now she focused merely on getting to him and making sure he had all of his limbs.
It was all between which gang leader to approach. Tasu Leech was, as she had found out, not really one for talking—on the other hand, Bala-Tik seemed just the type of man who Jaina both preferred, and was annoyed with. Preferred because he was more to the point, annoyed with because that always made things more difficult to smooth talk. One thing she hoped would be in her favor was his dislike of her father. Her cards had to be played just right.
Bala-Tik was at the bar of the 45th level cantina when she approached him—or rather, the bar at which he sat within earshot. "Arboite Twister." she ordered, ignoring the wide eyed look of disbelief from the bartender. It was always amusing to Jaina how she got stared at for such things, her small stature mixed with the potent drinks earning a mixture of shock and later, respect. Lost in a moment of nostalgia, she recalled drinking a great number of her squadron 'under the table' during the war.
The drink set in front of her broke her thoughts back to the loud cantina, and she took it with a hum of thanks and setting the credits on the counter required for the drink. Turning around, she made to survey the room, a habitual examination of the layout of the room taking her focus for a few moments before she turned around to address the bartender again as he passed by. "I'm looking for a Corellian smuggler by the name of Solo... would you happen to know him?" She said, her voice loud enough to reach the party of the Guavian Gang.
"Who's asking?" the bartender.
"An interested inquirer." She answered.
"Uh-huh. You got a name?"
A brow raised. "Vera Jade."
The bartender gave her a scrutinizing glance. "You a friend of Solo?"
Jaina smirked in reply, her head tilting as she looked down at her drink nonchalantly. "In a manner of speaking. We're certainly acquainted. My... boss is more the one who wants to see him."
"Oh?" the bartender asked, the tone clearly indicating that he wanted more information. "Which boss is that?"
Her mind had to work quickly, knowing that naming the wrong name would raise red flags. "Zann." she finally said. "ever heard of him?"
The Bartender shrugged. "Maybe. I thought the Consortium wasn't exactly in the business of doing anything with smugglers anymore. Something about taking a huge loss back in '11."
She could've kicked herself at forgetting that detail. He was right, but Jaina was hardly going to let him think it, or else she'd end up not only backtracking but possibly in the negative category of where she wanted to go. Leaning forward, she lowered her voice a little. "Operations like Zanns don't let that bring them down completely. They just wait a little while in the wings of time and allow things to play out until they're ready to come back. We don't die out, we just... build quietly." If the bartender had known who she really was, he might have been on his guard as she waved her drink casually, the Jedi using one of the oldest tricks in the book to help persuade him. "If you catch my meaning."
Nothing too big, just enough to make an influence.
It took a few moments before he grinned and chuckled, leaning on the bar to respond. "I catch it." he replied. "What is it Zann wants with Solo?"
Jaina smiled and gave a hiss through her teeth. "I'm afraid he broke a few promises. See, Tyber gave him a friendly little loan... and Solo... well..." She trailed off, her mental train of thought going somewhere along the lines of 'got himself into a heap of trouble with too many people', though she said instead. "We understand the loan was a little misused, and a shipment never came in. You understand, I'm sure, why Zann would find it important to find Solo. I've been looking all over the Galaxy for him, he's a slippery one."
"You're not the only one." the bartender replied. "There's a few bosses around here that aren't happy with him either. Maybe they can help you out?"
"Might be helpful." She said, pretending to ponder his suggestion. "Where can I find these bosses?"
Pulling back, the bartender gave her a knowing smile. "You don't. But I'm pretty sure they'll find you."
It took everything in her not to roll her eyes at that statement. It was so overused. Nevertheless, she snickered in response and raised her glass as he walked away, hoping that either he'd be the one to pass on the message to who she wanted or that the conversation didn't go unnoticed. Otherwise this was going to be of little use.
A few seconds later a tap on her shoulder caused her to turn, a brow raised as if in annoyance as she took in the sight of the bartender. "Hello again."
With an incline of his head, he motioned for her to follow him, but instead of the Guavian Death Gang's table being her destination, she was lead straight to another room which was quieter, an in which was the boss she was trying to avoid at first. Tasu Leech.
"These guys will introduce you, Jade. Good luck." The bartender said, and she nodded with a 'thanks' in his direction, turning to the large looking men that stood in front of her with a curious glance. A moment passed of their scrutiny before she was brought before the table of Tasu himself. It wasn't surprising to her that when he spoke it was in Huttese, the man beside him about to translate his greeting when Jaina interrupted with a string of her own sentence in the Hutt language explaining her business. The translator blinked, but Tasu watched her carefully, the third time being examined so closely being a bit tiring at this point for the Jedi.
After a few moments she was offered to sit down, and at last headway was being made in her favor.
"Commander Verlaine!"
The blonde's name called out caused her to stop in her tracks toward the main hangar, a well formed brow arching high above amber eyes which peered in inquiry at the one who called her. Years of war and age had been surprisingly kind to Evaan Verlaine, who had by some miracle managed to look a good five to ten years younger than she truly was. For all her service, and years of loyal bearing of any and all stressers along the way, she was still just as full of life as she'd ever been. One of the remaining of her Alderaanian kind, and likely to remain just as fierce about it, her loyalty knew no bounds it seemed.
So, when Leia had begun gathering groups for her resistance, Evaan had been one of the first to volunteer to help train and lead whatever men and women came to join them; and so, she had been given the responsibility of the base on D'Qar, awaiting the arrival of Leia herself, or any news that might come concerning movement from the few locations they knew.
"Commander Verlaine!" The young pilot called again, out of breath as she finally reached the Alderaanian.
"Yes, Lema?" Smooth tones replied, patience for the youth that Lema carried, a relaxed air surrounding Evaan.
Lema breathed deeply, trying to calm herself enough to be able to speak. "Senator Organa is on the comms. She said she wishes to speak with you immediately." she relayed, watching as Evaan nodded slowly and began heading in the direction of headquarters.
"What's the status of the shipments from Incom? You said you were going to look into when they'll arrive." The Commander spoke conversationally to Lema as they walked back, the girl slowly returning to her normal reasonability.
"Sergeant Ko Connix said that the T-70s that were ordered should be ready within the week. Additionally, there's a shipment of recruits that are being brought in tomorrow by Kessix." Lema replied quickly, remembering something else. "Oh, and the weapons from Tenderando Arms follows it by a few days. The first attempt was halted by some customs, so they had to find a way to smuggle them in."
Evaan nodded, having only been interested in one set of assets being brought it, but rather pleased at the information of everything else coming shortly behind. It was a slow-going process to build a resistance, but piece by piece it was coming together. Granted, there was still one major flaw: the fact that they were oh so few, and had minimal leadership personnel. But, Evaan was convinced it was only a matter of time and events, for once the First Order made its move things would be easier when it came to numbers.
"Thank you Lema." She finally replied as she crossed the threshold of the holo-room. "That'll be all. Give my compliments to Sergeant Connix for getting all that information. She'll be moving to something more interesting as soon as I get those T-70s and the pilots to run them. You better head back to your post."
Lema gave a curt nod and left, leaving Evaan to shut the door and speak to Leia in private.
"How are things going?" Leia's blue figure inquired the moment Evaan was capable of answering questions.
"Slow but steady. I'm still low on numbers that count. I could have every pilot in the galaxy, but if there's no one to train them, then we might as well be dead in the water. I can only do so much around here." Evaan answered honestly, careful of the respect in her tone. "Any chance of some more help on that score, your highness?"
"I have some friends from Wraith Squadron already in contact, and the Antilles should be headed your way as soon as Wedge can get mobile. Being as high profile as he is, it's a bit hard to get to places unnoticed. The girls might show up first." The answer was a little hope for Evaan, who was acquainted enough with the former General Antilles to know that his very presence would be a great help on the base. "He won't be the only one, and Caluan will be joining you as soon as he and I are finished recruiting." Leia went on. "You'd be surprised with how many men are willing to come out of retirement for this."
Evaan's expression was not shocked in the least, and a small smile crept up on her lips. "I'm not really. These men would have died for the Republic on numerous occasions. To see that same republic turn a blind eye to this new threat doubtless has all of them ready to fight if need be, even if that republic won't fight for itself."
Leia nodded and smiled. "That's what Lando said."
"Great minds think alike." Evaan said under her breath, though Leia heard it loud and clear. "When may we expect your presence, may I ask?"
"I'm not sure yet. I'm still awaiting word on Winter's latest appeal to the Senate. I've sent Korr Sella to Hosnian Prime to help her if it can happen. If not, I'm pretty sure that we'll know what side we're on once and for all, and who our friends are in the senate."
"If we have any." Evaan interjected. "Things aren't like before. I'm pretty sure the complacency on behalf of the Republic has something to do with loyalties being bought. This isn't the Senate we began with under Mon Mothma."
"You never know, Evaan. Friends might be found in unlikely places."
The Commander nodded, sighing softly before clearing her throat. "Of course. Is there anything else before I go?"
Leia paused as if there was one more thing before shaking her head with a sigh, whatever was in her mind remaining there. "No, there isn't. I'll stay in contact. I'm headed to Mirrin Prime presently, we may have a new commander on the way." Evaan raised a brow.
"Oh?"
"You'll like him. He's just the type of military man you approve of." Leia assured, offering her old friend a smile which Evaan returned before the connection was broken, and Evaan returned to her duties.
Despite everything he was told, and everything he might have believed in the past, Poe was finding it harder and harder to hold onto the idea that the Republic was doing what was best. He was as loyal as any other creature in the military to the people of the Republic, but the prohibitive silence which was imposed, the complete and utter disregard that was given for any action to be taken against the First Order was getting to be too much. The idealist that he was, to watch this happen was frustrating.
But his recent findings had to be brought up all the same, the position of the Yissira Zyde within a group of TIE Fighters, being used by this phantom group to carry weapons—he had to say something, even though he knew that the Major had made his position clear: the First Order was not considered a threat by the Republic.
Completely expected, Anakin was waiting for him at the hangar, tension evident in the young Commander's very posture as he leaned against his fighter with his head tilted back. Eyes closed, one might mistake Anakin for being off his guard, but Poe knew him better than that. Arms crossed over his chest, his brow furrowed, his youthful features looking oddly screwed into an expression which spelled that he was anything but peaceful. Poe was so used to Anakin's behavior commonly seeming older than his years, that too often he forgot that his friend was much younger than himself—twenty-four was somewhat of a child still, if he thought about it.
"I was beginning to get worried about you." Anakin declared the moment he was close enough to hear. "The Squadron came back without you in a panic, the Major isn't happy."
"I know." Poe replied with a tone of no regrets. "I found myself in a hornet's nest near OR-Kappa-2722—"
"Hornets nest? First Order?" Poe nodded. "What were they doing out there?"
"I don't know really. I just know that the Yissira Zyde was in a destroyer with a couple dozen TIEs as escorts." Anakin's eyes opened and he turned to his friend with evident surprise. "It was a close call. Me and BB-8, against a dozen TIEs... but we were pretty even I think. Pulled a few maneuvers and skedaddled over here."
Anakin cracked a smile, shaking his head as he relaxed ever so slightly. "Skedaddled?" Poe nodded in all seriousness. "Is 'skedaddle-ing' what makes you one of the best pilots in the galaxy?"
"Perhaps. Though I think now I get the title of 'best' don't you think?" How they'd gotten on this subject was something Poe couldn't answer, though he suspected it was Anakin's presence which helped in that.
The Solo snorted. "I'm sorry, but my father has that title." He replied, though he sobered a moment later. "What do you plan on telling the Major?"
"The truth." Poe answered clearly. "I went out there to find out what the Yissira Zyde was up to, and I found it."
"You think he'll listen now?" Anakin asked, and Poe stared back. There was no guarantee of anyone listening to him, no guarantee of anyone acting on what he knew. But there was nothing in the galaxy that could convince him that what he saw was something that could just be overlooked...
"I have to try. At the least I'l—Anakin?" Blue eyes became suddenly distant, as if Anakin was looking through Poe instead of at him, his brow furrowed once again as he mouthed something and looked toward the hangar doors, blinking. "Anakin?!"
His focus returned, and he blinked, shaking his head with a nervous laugh. "Sorry, I just... uh... Jedi thing."
"You okay?" Poe inquired in concern, a hand on the taller man's shoulders, earning only a nod from Anakin.
"Yeah, I'm fine. It was nothing." He tried to assure Poe of that through his look, though to Poe he still seemed off. "Though I think we have a visitor." His gaze was over Poe's shoulder, the older pilot turning around to see a white-haired man watching them both with interest, a smile playing at his face before he approached. "Caluan Ematt." Anakin greeted. "You guys got here fast."
Caluan shrugged. "Your mother is a prompt woman I've found. The moment she got your comms, she was quick to have us headed here. As it turns out, we were going to be in the area soon anyway, so she just moved things up a little."
"What's going on? Who is this?" Poe asked Anakin who merely chuckled and cleared his throat.
"Poe, allow me to introduce Major Caluan Ematt... a friend of my mother's."
His inflection told Poe everything he needed to know. "A pleasure to meet you, Major Ematt." He replied, earning a similar greeting from the man himself, who seemed pleasant enough.
"Would you two gentlemen be willing to step outside with me a moment? There's... someone who wishes to see you both." Caluan replied. "That is if you're not previously occupied."
It was only a few moments before both Commanders followed him out of the hangar, a small bunker which was far enough so as not to be disturbed being the very place where they were led. The door opened just as they approached, Major Deso coming out of the bunker with a look of conflict on his face. He stopped, staring at both Anakin and Poe with something akin to defeat in his shoulders, a nod given to Major Ematt. His mouth opened as something came into his mind to say to the young commanders, but it quickly shut, replaced by a rueful smile before his hands swung behind his back and he walked away, leaving the three men outside to watch him go.
Caluan didn't waste much time after that, knocking on the door and popping his head in long enough to have a quick exchange before he motioned for the two pilots to come in.
Though neither Anakin nor Poe were surprised to see Leia there, there was no mistaking the sudden boyish nervousness which took Poe when he was in her presence once more. But the warmth of their last meeting was not as strong, and Poe was abruptly reminded of what Anakin had told him back on Hosnian Prime. The Former Senator was looking to recruit him, and after the most recent events, he wasn't sure he would be able to refuse such an invitation if it was extended.
"It's good to see you again, Commander Dameron." Leia greeted from her chair, with a hand extended to the place beside her. "Do have a seat."
To such an invitation, Poe hardly needed to be asked twice, taking the offered seat as Anakin moved to stand behind his mother against the wall, the distance returning to his eyes, though Poe was forced to ignore it and pay attention to Leia Organa.
Unknown to Poe, the reason of Anakin's distraction was a certain sibling en-route to Nantoon. Left to her own devices by Bala-Tik, Jaina had decided to rest a little, unknowing of what they'd find when they came across her father. Besides that, she was concerned with how she'd be able to get him out of the grasp of her companions with the least amount of trouble—which would probably prove to be trouble in and of itself.
In her rest, she'd reached out to her brother for the first time in years. His shock had been obvious, and somewhat of a slap in the face (though unintended) with the realization that maybe five years of silence was a bad decision. Though he'd initially greeted her with an instant query of whether it was actually her, she'd been left back in silence when he became distracted.
An image of where he was came to mind, the sight of her mother in a more personal atmosphere than she'd seen her in years, though the vision was too vague for her to be able to hold onto it substantially. She just wished that Anakin wasn't facing the man opposite of Leia, as it made the view the back of her mother's head...
'I could move if you'd like.' Anakin's thoughts interrupted.
'No need.' Jaina replied casually. 'I'll see her soon enough. Who's the pilot? Friend of yours?'
A chuckle rippled through her brother's thoughts. 'Yeah, he is. Actually I think he used to be in your squadron.'
Jaina studied the face of the pilot with only a tiny bit of recognition. In some vast depth of memory, his face was familiar, the bright eyes speaking volumes as to whatever excited passion with which he spoke with her mother. Whatever his name was, it eluded her. 'Hmm... must have been the latter time of the war that he joined Twin Suns.' she replied. 'What is mom talking to him about? He seems pretty happy and eager to please.'
'...She's recruiting him.'
'Of course she is.'
Another chuckle followed, but silence took the bond from both sides, a certain level of awkwardness existing between them.
'It's been a long time, Jai. I hardly thought this would be your avenue of conversation when we spoke again.'
'I know... I would have preferred it in perseon, but as of right now I'm hardly in a position to get to Hosnian Prime. I'm chasing—' her mind quickly diverted from the real object, not wishing to give any false hope that she'd be bringing back their father when she returned. 'Rathtar. Turns out they're pretty valuable to some people.'
'Rathtars? Who in all the systems wants Rathtars? And why are you tangled with them?" There was a tone in his voice which was something she wasn't used to hearing. As the youngest, everyone had been protective of Anakin, not very much of the other way around. But now it seemed came his time. Jaina chalked it up to him being the last man in the family who was still involved.
'If I told you, you wouldn't like it.' came her answer. 'Let's just leave it at the fact that I know what I'm doing.'
A scoff. 'Part of me wonders if you do.'
'Knock it off. I'm more capable than you may think. I've learned a lot the last five years.'
'...what have you been up to?'
Jaina smiled though Anakin could only feel her smugness through their bond. 'I'll have you tell you some other time. When we're in person, and this kind of communication doesn't exhaust me as much as it is now.'
'Jaina, are you sure you're okay?'
There were many ways to answer that, and not all of them would be satisfactory answers. She hadn't been 'okay' in years, though she tried her hardest to be so. 'Yeah I'm fine. It's just been a long time since I did something like this.' Came her answer as cheerfully as it could be.
On D'Qar, Anakin sighed, a concerned look thrown his way from his mother which he shook his head at, she stared in suspicion but returned to her conversation and left him to whatever it was which bothered him.
'...she looks tired.' Jaina commented softly. 'I'd be more worried about her than me.'
'She's not as young as she used to be, Jai. One of these days you're going to realize that.'
Silence came from his sister, and he half worried she'd cut the connection when he heard her reply of: 'I know. How is she taking the lack of position in the Senate?'
'As best as she can. You can imagine how they're treating her.'
'I don't want to. If it's anything like how I can imagine, someone will get force-choked.'
'Jaina...'
'Exactly why you don't want me imagining.'
Anakin pinched the bridge of his nose, the hot-blooded emotions which he could feel coming through their bond creating something which never set well with him. He was never the type to deal so passionately... Jaina and Jacen always had that part of the family settled well enough between them.
'when are you coming home?'
'As soon as I get a chance. This Rathtar I'm after is a hard one to catch.'
'Why do I get the feeling you mean something else by 'this Rathtar'?'
Jaina chuckled in amusement, and for the first time in a long time he felt the familiarity of her happier side filter through. 'Because I do. Give my love to mom, I have to go.'
'Jaina.'
'What?'
'...may the Force be with you.'
'Ditto. Though I think I'll need it more.'
The bond went silent once again, the coldness Anakin had grown used to over the years in her direction being a little less. The wall which separated them had been taken down a bit, and to him, that was something of great importance.
*offers cookies* How was it guys? Again, I'll probably see y'all Saturday after next. Any questions, feel free to ask them, i'm more than happy to explain stuff. Have a good weekend!