Lydia: Thanks for reading!
Elorinna Evenstarre: No problem – thanks for reading/reviewing this time :) Zekk does appear to be leaving… And it goes without saying that Jaina will not be a happy camper. :P
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Chapter Ten: Threats and Bad Food
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Jaina suspected that her parents spread the word of her return (and her willingness to reunite with people), just so they could separate her from Zekk. With the image of her mother taking a lightsaber to Zekk's chest, Jaina made sure to keep a close watch on him in "his" room.
None of the friends she missed the most came. Lowie was on a mission, bringing the last group of Jedi children to Hapes. The others – Tiran, Aarie and even Kip among them – stayed away. Kip's absence she could excuse – he probably didn't know, since half the base kept a wide berth from him. The others, she forced herself to understand.
She had, after all, expected this.
Who are you? Sanar, Zekk, Jaina or…?
By the time the last squadron comrade and once-met Jedi had left, it was late. Leia had surveyed her daughter, eyes still cold with anger and pain, and said that dinner would be ready in a few moments. As her mother floated into the kitchen, Jaina smiled, despite herself. She had never thought she would look forward to her mother's horrible, burnt food.
The Jedi let her eyes close momentarily. I'm home, I'm home!
She'd never let that go again.
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Zekk had been trying to make a very quick sandwich when Leia Organa Solo burst in. He jumped and hid the nut-butter jar guiltily.
Shavit, he thought when Leia realized he was there. He almost melted under her glare. I am going to die. Sorry, Jaina.
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Jaina's eyes jerked open as she sensed Zekk's fear. Standing, she walked lightly to the kitchen door and pressed her ear against it.
Mother, she thought angrily, if you kill him, you would not believe how sorry you'll be.
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Leia continued to glare at Zekk, literally trembling with rage. He wondered why she didn't attack him with everything including the kitchen sink. Maybe, he thought vaguely, Jaina employed one of Sanar's desperate measures.
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Hearing nothing, Jaina pushed the door open just a little. Zekk and Leia were standing two metres apart, locked in a stare-down. Leia's beautiful face was contorted with hatred, while Zekk's expression was resigned.
With a sudden movement, Leia grabbed a vial from the counter. "I could put this in your food, you know," she hissed, and Jaina recognized it as poison. In-her-head Sanar wondered what Leia was doing, keeping poison in the kitchen. "You'd take forever to die – just like my family and friends." Leia's voice broke.
Jaina considered leaping in right then, but hesitated. Maybe it would be best to gather information before acting.
Well, that wasn't a very Jaina Solo thought, was it? I told you you were…different.
Of course I'm different. I died. I came back to life. Now shut up.
Zekk's expression was inscrutable, but Jaina could see him swallow. "Why don't you?" he asked.
Leia glared and slammed the poison back onto the counter, still holding it tightly. "Well, it always comes back to Jaina, doesn't it? I barely know her anymore, but she's still my daughter. Apparently, she's ignoring the fact that you killed her brothers, because she's ecstatic that you're back. Han is ready to offer Jaina the Millennium Falcon, he's so happy. But I want you gone, Onyx, or I might just…"
"Don't worry," he muttered, his back to her, eyes dark as he began to attack pieces of bread with a blunt knife. Jaina wasn't sure if he was trying to spread nut-butter on the bread, or hack it to pieces.
"I'm leaving tomorrow morning, before Jaina wakes up." The eavesdropper froze; Zekk hesitated, as did the knife in his hand. "She doesn't know. I plan to keep it that way."
Jaina blinked, stunned, but somehow not.
He was leaving?
He's leaving – and he wasn't even going to warn me.
Leia's voice was a chorus of staccatos, but the vial of poison was released.
Jaina stumbled backwards, barely able to join two thoughts.
Shavit, Zekk, I didn't die just so you could run again!
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Sanar was surprised when Falat shoved a dinner tray into her arms. Considering Devnos' anger, she had expected to starve.
That did not, however, mean she trusted Devnos' partner one whit. His eyes were too close together, and eerily blank. Shivering at the memory of them, Sanar eyed her food for only a moment before eating it quickly.
It was disgusting – in fact, it tasted like rotten bleegdon eggs, and Sanar had to keep reminding herself that it was food.
Food – bullies were fond of taking it away.
She threw the tray onto the kitchen counter, then headed back to her room and grabbed her book. Almost reflexively, she opened it to the story of the Kavishka and blankly stared at the words.
Sanar knew this one off by heart; before he had changed, Devnos had joked that he wrote it just for her. When he'd first written the story, it had been simple: a warrior rebelled against the villainous government and came out victorious. But then Sanar had fallen in love with the main character, and Devnos had written her in as the warrior's "true love". She'd believed in things like that, then.
She snorted. What a bunch of… The woman's stomach lurched, and she staggered to the 'fresher. She arrived too late, and everything she had eaten came up, over and over again. Acid ripped her stomach lining and throat, and she was barely aware of the tears streaming down her face.
Sha…vit… She'd forgotten how much it hurt!
When the spell ended, Sanar curled against the wall, gasping for air. The stench was unbearable, but her body had turned into rubber, and she couldn't move to wash her face. Besides, the world was spinning around…and around…and…
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Devnos looked up, frowning.
Something was wrong.
Putting his reports to the side, he stood and cast out in the Force, searching for the origin of the disturbance. He was unsuccessful, but a foul odour bit at his nose, and he reluctantly approached the 'fresher. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw no one, and he palmed the door open.
His heart stopped.
Sanar was caught limply between the wall and the counter, and the source of the stench covered the floor. For the first time in a very long time, Devnos was at a loss. By the stars, he thought numbly, Sanar can't be…?
Then his sister moaned, and Devnos nearly collapsed in relief. She was still alive – that was something, at least. Keeping his thoughts carefully blank, he stepped into the room as cautiously as if the floor was covered in broken glass.
Stay away from her.
Who cares about her? Why get your shoes dirty pulling her out of another mess?
Two voices. Both powerful.
Devnos paused, then found an acceptable reply: The odour is…disturbing. She is unable to clean this place up herself – of course – and someone has to clean it up.
There was no more from the voices – either of them. Devnos continued on and gently picked Sanar up. Careful to avoid slipping (he suppressed a grimace of distaste), he left the 'fresher and carried Sanar into her room, then deposited her on the narrow bed.
She groaned, and he moved her slightly to see a book poking into her back. He pulled it out and started to put it to the side before he recognized it.
Soul: A Collection of Triumph and more specifically…that story. His jaw tightened, and he dropped the book.
Pivoting on his heel, Devnos marched out of the room.
By the time he had finished cleaning the 'fresher, he'd already forgotten about it.
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Please R&R!
.Tjz