Chapter Thirteen
Three months later

Dirt flew through the air as explosions rocked the ground. Valin rolled beneath a low alcove as chunks of earth landed around him. Luke slid in next to him. They shifted so their backs pressed against each other. Valin took a few cleansing breaths as Luke used the Force to move the boulder blocking their escape route.

"On three," Luke ordered. Valin moved to a crouch and balanced on the balls of his feet.

"Three," Luke said. They vaulted out of the alcove. Valin ignited his lightsaber and swung it to the left to knock a rock out of the way. He and Luke ran to the cleared doorway. Luke stepped through it; Valin dropped and rolled over the threshold. Thud bugs flew overhead. Luke's green blade slashed through the creatures, their smoking parts landing on the ground. Valin remained kneeling, pulling out a blaster and shooting the bugs. Once the barrage stopped, they turned back to run through the broken, outdoor hallway.

Luke unclipped his comlink from his belt and thumbed it on, "Are you ready, Jacen?"

"Everyone's aboard."

Luke switched off the comlink and attached it to his belt as they ran. They wound their way through the stone corridors. As they turned a corner, Luke froze. He whirled around and began running his hand over the wall.

"Someone's behind here," he said. His hand paused over the lower portion of the wall. He pointed to Valin's lightsaber. "You cut; I'll move it."

Valin stretched out with the Force. He could feel a diminishing presence behind the wall. He ignited his blade, inserting it into the stone. He began to carefully cut into the wall, working from the top down. He was grateful that the rock was weak.

Luke moved the final piece of stone away to reveal a small female Togruta. Luke scooped the child in his arms, and motioned for Valin to follow him. Valin ran after his master, concentrating on their escape. The shuttle wasn't much farther.

Another explosion ripped through the air, knocking Valin and Luke sideways. They were able to regain their bearings quickly and ran out of the corridor. They arrived in a field where a large SoroSuub shuttle sat. The ramp was lowered and Jacen stood outside, waving them forward.

"Come on! Hurry!" Jacen shouted. Valin and Luke sprinted the short distance. The ramp began to close as they climbed aboard.

"Valin, take her," Luke said, passing him the child. He then followed Jacen to the cockpit.

The girl looked at Valin with wide, frightened blue eyes, "Where am I? Where's my parents?"

"We're taking you somewhere safe," Valin assured her, avoiding her questions. He walked into the crowded hold. It was full of disheveled beings. He found a spot on a bench to put her down and sent a comforting wave through the Force. He then ran into the cockpit. Luke glanced back at him from the pilot's seat.

"Is she okay?" he asked as he pulled back on the yoke. The shuttle rose from the ground.

"She's fine," Valin stated as he strapped into the seat behind Luke's. Captain Ava Black of the Galactic Alliance sat in the co-pilot's chair. Jacen was calculating a hyperspace route at the navigator's station.

"Once we jump, go to her," Luke instructed.

Valin didn't respond. He knew better than to question Luke's orders these days. He listened quietly as Kyp's voice came over the comm.

"Flight Two is going to escort you out, Jedi One. 'Skips are pretty heavy out here."

"Acknowledged," Black stated into the comm. Luke pushed the shuttle forward through the atmosphere. The Dozen and Blackmoon were covering their escape. It looked like, to Valin, that the rest of the Alliance was busy with a large frigate.

"Jedi One, turn starboard 45 degrees," Jag called.

"Thanks, Dozen Two," Luke responded. He maneuvered the shuttle. Valin could see a somewhat clear path in front of them. Luke expertly avoided plasma bolts as they raced forward. Valin could hear the pounding of the side gun turret.

"Coordinates are set," Jacen stated. "Jump as soon as we are out of the planet's gravity well."

Valin gripped the seat of his chair in apprehension. He hated not being able to do anything. He winced as a plasma bolt arced around the cockpit. Luke threw the shuttle through a series of twists and turns as he put more distance between them and the planet.

Jacen flipped the hyperspace level the second they were past the planet's gravity well. Luke sank back in his chair, and then turned to Valin. Valin knew that look. He unhooked his restraints and walked to the back of the ship to deal with the child. What he was supposed to do with her, he didn't know.

He chalked it up to another Skywalker learning experience.

Jag walked briskly from his quarters aboard the Mon Calamari cruiser Red Sky. Two hours ago, Luke's shuttle had rendezvoused with the rest of the attack group over Ithor's barren wasteland. They were in hyperspace once again, heading to Bespin. Jag was on his way to meet with Luke and Jacen.

They had achieved moderate success with a raid on Gaftikar in the Outer Rim. It was near the Hydian Way. The world was sparsely populated with under one billion inhabitants, both human and Marits. The fertile world was ideal for the Yuuzhan Vong to cultivate war machinery.

Three months ago, Jag had proposed that the Galactic Alliance infiltrate slave worlds with trained operatives. The operatives would work with the captives to increase their morale and teach them subtle ways to fight the Vong. Telma and Danni had developed a type of toxin that would slow the growth of the slave seeds. Unfortunately, hiding the toxin from the Vong was an obstacle. This was the first operation.

Seven operatives had been dropped on the planet. Five of them were from the Intelligence division, while the other two were former captives. Nhla Blanc and Dirk Levenger had been in the refugee camp on Bespin. Nhla was a captive on Borelais for six months before escaping. Levenger had been on Myrkr for two years. He had been working on a Shaper transport that was ambushed. Both had volunteered for the operation immediately.

All the operatives were trained in psychological methods, survival techniques and other skills before being deployed. They had undergone extreme psychological tests, some probably against ethical codes. The tests were necessary, however, for the beings to survive.

Jag entered the small meeting room. Jacen was seated at the table, looking over a datapad. He placed it face down on the table when Jag sat across from him.

"Luke is on his way," Jacen told him. His expression was unreadable. He hadn't been a large supporter of Jag's plan, but he had pledged his support. Jag suspected it was Jacen's way of monitoring the situation.

Luke entered the room, brown cloak billowing behind him. He sat down one seat away from Jacen. He placed a datacard on the table and slid it to Jag. "Here's the list of refugees."

"Thank you," Jag said as he took the card and placed it into his datapad. He skimmed the list. All of the rescued captives had been asked their name and basic information on their ships. Jag planned to organize that information to locate beings who would be best for the operation. "Any problems?"

Luke shook his head as he leaned back in his chair, "No more than usual."

"And the operatives are in the camps?" Jag asked.

"Yes."

"I wanted to thank you for permitting us to accompany you on your mission," Jag said.

"Happy to help," Luke responded. He then leaned forward and then began discussing the ground assault. Jacen contributed with a few small comments, but offered little opinion or observations. Jag then discussed the space combat.

After the meeting concluded, Luke walked out of the room. Jacen followed him and paused at the door, "I hope you know what you are doing, Jag."

He slipped through the door. Jag paused; he had been gathering datacards. What Jacen meant by that comment was a mystery. He didn't have time to dwell on it, though. They were reverting to realspace in less than an hour and he had preparations to make.

Two muscular, scarred arms wrapped around her. A smile spread across Jaina's face. She had sensed him approaching before he entered their quarters, but waited for him to make the first move. She was sitting at the table in the main room of their apartment, working on a training exercise analysis. She tilted her head back, "Welcome back."

"I missed you," Jag said, his voice hoarse.

"I missed you, too. You were gone too long," she said. Two weeks apart from each other felt like an eternity these days. She pulled his arms tighter around her. He placed a slow, lingering kiss at the pulse point on her neck, eliciting a gasp from her.

Jaina pulled away from him and stood. Jag reached out to her and drew her back to him. His lips caught hers in a slow, sensual kiss. One arm wrapped around her waist while the other hand held the back of her head. Jag pulled away long enough for only a moment's breath. Her mouth opened, letting him in. She moaned in protest as he moved away from her mouth and kissed along her jaw. He stopped briefly behind her ear and the moved slowly down her neck to her collarbone.

The comlink in Jag's pocket blared. Her head hit his collarbone with a groan. "You better answer that."

Jag snatched it out of his pocket. He turned it off and tossed it onto the table. Jaina was shocked, "That could be important."

"I doubt it," he growled. He pulled her to him again. He slipped his fingers into the waistband of her pants. "This is much more important."

"Is it?" she murmured as he tugged her forward.

He nodded, "Mhm."

She reached up and quickly opened the buttons on his top of his shirt. She brushed her fingers over his lips. He kissed her fingertips, and moved his lips down to her palm. She bit her lip as she smiled. He stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. She stared at him through her thick lashes.

"You're beautiful," he whispered and pulled her into their bedroom.

Jag toyed with several strands of Jaina's hair. Her head was pillowed against his shoulder. She shifted in her sleep, nuzzling his shoulder. The sheet slipped down her arm; he tugged it back up.

Dark circles were under her eyes. Her hair was slightly duller than he'd remembered. She was exhausted; that much was obvious. Before he had left on his mission, they had been working non-stop. They're only reprieve had been a month ago when they traveled to Phelope for Ani's birthday. Jag and Jaina had been adamant about being able to leave for the event.

Jag smiled softly. He and Jaina had spent four days with Davin and Ani. He'd enlisted the help of his in-laws in obtaining gifts for Ani. He hadn't been able to say no to her the entire trip.

On the first night of his return, once they were alone, he asked Jaina about Ani's birth. She had recounted the events for him.

Jaina sat on the floor in the living area of her quarters at Shelter. Davin sat next to her, pushing toy YT-1600 light stock freighter around the floor. Her lower back had ached all day. She closed her eyes, exhausted. She hadn't slept well since Jag's disappearance. Between her own worry and anxiety and Davin's confusion and questions, she had reached an unhealthy level of stress. She'd been warned that it was important for her to relax, for the baby's sake.

Her stomach tightened. She rested her hand against her stomach. She clenched her teeth, trying to will the pain away. It dissipated slowly. She reached out to try to relax her clenched muscles when realization hit her. She was in labor.

Leia, who had refused to leave Shelter because of Jaina, flew into the room upon sensing her daughter's distress. Davin looked confused and scared. Leia took them to small med ward. Jaina had demanded that Leia stay with Davin to shield him. She didn't want him to sense the pain. She had also decided that she would give birth with only the medic present. She argued that if her husband couldn't be there, no one would.

Hours later, Ani entered the world with a mere whimper. Jaina collapsed on the bed. Her face was drenched with sweat and tears. The medic placed Ani in her arms. The baby didn't cry. She merely stared at Jaina with wide eyes. Jaina ran her fingers over the baby's soft skin.

"Your father would love you so much."

After Jaina had told him the tale, he had tried to apologize, but she wouldn't have it. Jag knew he would never stop feeling guilty. He'd missed everything with Ani. At least Davin had been able to have early memories of his father.

Jaina sighed in her sleep. Jag smiled softly. Their relationship had improved considerably over the past couple months. It wasn't perfect, but they were getting better each day. Granted, they had spent a decent amount of that time apart.

He stopped playing with her hair and stared at her. He still found her complete breath-taking. The worry lines and tension had disappeared from her face as she slept. Her full lips were slightly parted. He shifted closer to her, and then she opened her eyes.

"Hey," she said quietly.

"Hey, go back to sleep," he said gently.

"In a minute," she said. Her eyes fell half-closed. She opened them a few moments later, smiling softly.

"How are they?"

"Good. Ani's still asleep. Davin is awake, though," she said. "It's insanely early on Phelope. He gets that from you, you know. Your mother said you were always an early riser."

Jag chuckled. He pulled her so she lay on top of him. Her hair fell into his face. She tucked some of it behind her ear. She kissed him quickly, and then dropped her chin to his chest, "Who called earlier?"

"No idea."

"Why Jag, that's quite rebellious of you," Jaina said with a chuckle.

"Not rebellious, just prioritizing."

"Prioritizing?"

"Yes, spending time with my wife is much more important," Jag responded quietly. Jaina smiled, and then moved to kiss him.

"Thank the Force you have your priorities straight."