Chapter Twenty-five

Jag rolled up from his back to a crouch. Jaina had succeeded in knocking him over. She and Ani had awoken early that morning sensing something wrong with Jacen. Jaina had finally been able to contact the Errant Venture. They hadn't been able to give her any concrete information about his condition. All she had been told was that he was in stable condition.

Ani giggled from one of the benches against the wall, "Mama beat Daddy."

Jaina grinned, "I sure did."

Jag pushed himself to a standing position. He followed Jaina over to the bench. She sat down between Ani and Davin and asked, "What did you learn?"

Davin's brow furrowed in thought. Jag knew that most people would be against having their children watch their parents spar, but he and Jaina felt they could learn from it. "Always watch your hip."

"Good," Jaina said. "What about you, Ani?"

"Um, watch your feet," she said. "I don't know."

Jaina smiled softly at her, "That's important to remember."

Ani hopped off the bench. She tugged on Jag's hand, staring at him with hopeful eyes. She said sweetly, "Daddy?"

Jag shot Jaina an amused glance as Ani swung his hand back and forth. She was using her "I want something" act. Jag crouched down to her level and asked, "What do you want, Ani?"

"Daddy, can we go to the space room when you get done working? Please?"

The "Space Room" was an observation gallery made up of a clear, rounded dome that made up the ceiling and three of the walls. Viewers could see the reds and oranges in Bespin's atmosphere. Ani liked watching the colors change as the sun set.

"Maybe," he said. Jaina needed to meet with Wedge to inform him she was accepting the position of squadron commander. He had to do a final briefing for the second team going to Barab I.

"Come on, you two. Syal and Myri are waiting," Jaina said as she stood up. She took Davin's hand as they left the room. Jag's mother was assisting Iella with a project. Iella had suggested that Syal and Myri keep an eye on Ani and Davin. Jaina had been apprehensive about it, but Syal and Iella promised they would be nearby.

They arrived at the Antilles quarters. Syal opened the door, her sister standing behind her. "Come on in. Mom and Aunt Syal just left. They said to tell you they'll be back soon."

"Be good," Jaina instructed the children. "Listen to what Syal and Myri say."

"No Force tricks," Jag added.

"We'll be good," Davn promised, Ani nodding alongside him.

"You call if you need anything," Jaina told Syal and Myri.

"We will," Syal responded with slight annoyance. Jaina shot Jag an apprehensive look. He took her hand, "We better get going. My people leave in an hour."

"Be good," Jaina repeated and they left. She turned to Jag once they were out of the apartment. "Do you think they can do this?"

"They'll be fine," Jag said reassuringly. He was just as nervous as she was.

Jaina gave him a grateful glance as they made their way through the base. The rest of the walk carried out in silence. Jag hoped that they would hear from Jacen soon. That had been the reason behind the sparring match earlier. Jaina had needed a distraction.

"I'll see you at home?" Jaina asked as they reached the chamber Jag was holding his meeting in.

"Call me if you need me to pick-up the kids," he told her as he gave her a quick kiss.

At least, that was what he intended. Jaina snaked her arms around his neck to pull him closer. She dropped one hand to his waist and slipped her fingers under the hem of his shirt. He rested his hand on her hip as he deepened the kiss. He broke the kiss and whispered in her ear, "Are you okay?"

"Fine," she responded. She pecked his cheek and walked off. Jag tucked in his shirt and turned to entire the room. The team was already inside. Telma wasn't there yet, but he didn't need her for the first portion. He began by reviewing the situation on Barab I and what the first team had been assigned to do. There was no way to know their progress, or if they had even survived the landing.

"Sorry I'm late," Telma said quickly as she rushed in the door. Jag motioned for her to begin speaking. He listened quietly as she reminded everyone how to use their biological weapons and basic first aid.

Jag studied the faces of each member. D'arial Laike, a female from Chandrilla and long-time member of the NRI, was the leader. She had a four-year-old daughter who was traveling with Laike's parents and sister. Her daughter's father had been killed in a dogfight two years ago. The pilot of the group, Serasana Wran, had been held captive with Jag. She hoped to one-day find her family after the war ended. Vhiran Finwej, from Sullust, was missing an eye. He had no family; he had been captured on Ylesia. The final member, Tyr Drayen, was a demolition specialist. He had retired early from the Empire two years before the war began. He'd reenlisted and when he heard about Jag's operation when visiting the base, he volunteered. They were all determined to succeed in liberating Barab I.

With beings like that, Jag was confident they would succeed.

The medcenter was quiet. Jacen crept out of his bed to the bacta tank room next door. He was grateful that he didn't wake the others in his room. He tugged his borrowed robe tighter over the standard issue hospital smock. It exposed more of him than he would like. He was sore, but felt better than he had earlier in the day. He knew the medics would be upset with him if they found him out of bed. He had strict orders to sleep. Jacen's ability at following orders was only slightly better than his father's. He could see Tahiri's battered body bobbing in the second tank. She was in a healing trance. An empty chair sat next to it, which had most likely occupied by one of his parents of Kam Solusar. Jacen sat down in it.

Leia had told Jacen that Tahiri had suffered from a concussion, broken right femur and several cracked ribs. Her main ailment was, however, the poison that had been injected into her system. The medics treated her with the anti-venom used to treat amphistaff bites. It had helped somewhat, but not enough.

"Come on, Tahiri," Jacen murmured. His logical side knew that it wasn't his fault that Tahiri was in the tank. He still felt guilty. It was enough to quiet his guilt about killing the creature for now. He knew that he could help her. He had to try.

He loved Tahiri as he loved Jaina. She was like a younger sister to him. It comforted Jacen to know that someone other than Anakin's family would remember him well. He had sworn to keep Tahiri safe, as best as he could. He would be there for her, no matter what. She had connected to Jaina, too, but he and Tahiri had a different type of bond. They both knew the Yuuzhan Vong better than anyone else. This made them into a perfect team. They watched each other's backs, both in fighting and personal well being. Tahiri understood Jacen's inner conflicts. Just as Jacen understood hers regarding Riina and the Jedi. Tahiri had jokingly put Jacen on "head watch." Riina's domain did not tolerate physical contact to the head. Jacen had quietly reminded several about it, saving Tahiri from the pity-filled and frightened looks.

Jacen took several deep breaths as he reached out to Tahiri with the Force. He added strength to her healing trance. He focused on the poison in her system. It was a reddish-brown color, like rust on a speeder. It mingled with the bright pink, yellow and blue that was Tahiri. Her life force swirled with an energetic thunder that banished despair. A slight grey tinge followed the blue, but rather than slowing her down, it made her stronger. Her spirit reminded him of flowing water, laughter, adventure and determination. It was easy to sense why Anakin had fallen for her. He drew the poison to the surface of her skin, molecule by molecule. Small flecks of reddish-brown began to litter the bacta tank.

Jacen withdrew after a time; he was having trouble maintaining the strong connection in his weakened state. He had helped cleanse her body, but the poison was still there. He didn't think it would multiply. Now it was up the Tahiri, and the Force.

Angry waves crashed against the grey shores of Kalee. Jagged rocks jutted through the sand. The smell of smoke mixed with saltwater. Craters formed from laser blasts lined the landscape. Jaina stood with her arms wrapped around her, staring at the ocean. Her helmet was on the ground by her feet. She had opened the collar of her flightsuit. Her hair whipped around her. Not thirty minutes ago had she been in the air raining destruction on the planet as she fought the Vong.

Jag appeared from behind a rock formation. He walked up to her slowly; he didn't want to disturb her, but couldn't wait any longer to see that she was okay.

When he finally reached her, he wrapped his arms around her from behind. She turned around to face him. Her eyes were solemn and sad. He caressed her cheek with one hand, "Are you okay?"

Jaina shook her head, "It's just all this."

Jag embraced her tightly. There was nothing he could say to make it disappear. They had fought together, as they usually did. He had flown her wing, the place he wanted to be. She needed to be in front, he knew. He couldn't save her from all the horrors of the universe, but he had promised that he would be at her side. She was stronger than he was. They had flown together for a couple years and knew how each other would react.

That night, one of them would come to the other's room, as they usually did. Military regulations required that they stay in separate rooms. They would find comfort in each other. They both found it pointless to have separate quarters.

She pulled back from him slightly. She was beautiful. Victories were scattered with losses. Their future was uncertain. Somehow, they had managed to be stationed together often. He needed her. They needed a victory.

"Jaina," Jag began, voice thick with emotion, "Will you marry me?"

Her eyes widened with shock. A slow smile spread across her face. She leaned up and kissed him enthusiastically. As she pulled back, she said, "Yes."

The hologram of Kalee hung in the air in front of Jag. The war-torn planet had fallen two months after he had spontaneously proposed to Jaina on the smoking shore. He certainly hadn't planned on asking for her hand. It had been the right decision.

The planet was near Endor. It was full of mercenaries who had signed up with the Peace Brigade. They had struck a deal with the Vong to keep the planet. As with other dealings the Peace Brigade had with the Vong, it had been revoked. The Vong turned the planet into a slaving colony. The ripe rainforests were perfect for growing coralskippers. Kalee was on the list of suggested planets for Jag to send personnel. The heads of the military wanted to sabotage as many of the Vong supply planets as possible.

Jag was currently choosing team members by cross-referencing personal experience with biological necessities. Some species simply could not survive on some planets. Only some of the planets the Yuuzhan Vong had captured had been changed. Their resources were thinning. It was easier and more efficient to use planets already suited to their cultivation needs. Some on the list had expressed desires to go to particular planets in hopes of discovering a missing loved one or to try to free their home world.

The leader of the Kelee team was a native Kaleesh, Qymaen. Jag tabbed through the list. After multiple interactions, he had marked several as leaders. He had selected a member with some medical knowledge. He stopped at Renz, Britna. Telma had informed him that Britna wanted to be sent out into the field. She was capable; he'd always believed that. Her problem was self-confidence; she didn't think she was strong enough. He had observed her interactions with the other refugees. She had a rare empathetic ability that reminded Jag of his brother-in-law. She would relate to the slaves well, he thought. He added her to the team list.

Next Jag began to prepare a list of supply and mission parameters. It would take about three days to gather the supplies, locate a shuttle and have each member visit Telma. She and Danni were testing Jacen and Tahiri's theory about Csilla's destruction. Sometimes Jag wondered how Telma managed to keep up with Danni and help him out.

His comm rang. He picked it up and answered it, "Fel."

"Hey, it's me," Jaina's voice called over the tiny speaker. "Can you pick up Ani and Davin?"

"Trouble?"

Jaina let out an annoyed growl, "I forgot how much paperwork was involved with running a squadron."

"Ah. I'll get them."

"I just called to check on them. They seem okay."

"Good," Jag responded.

"I have to go. I'll see you later," Jaina said as she disconnected. Jag turned off the comlink and set it on the desk. It would be at least another two hours before he could pick up the kids. He turned back to his lists. The next planet on his list was Talor, a planet located in the Mid-Rim along the Rimma Trade Route. He would select a team for that planet after he finished the Kalee sabotage mission.

Soon they would cause enough damage for the Alliance could win this war. That day couldn't come soon enough.