Chapter Eight

Legs drawn up to her chest, back nestled into a wall of pillows propped against the headboard, Jaina tried once more to drift into the calm mindset of simple meditation. After several minutes of fruitless effort, she admitted defeat and opened her eyes. Sleep had been a rare companion these last few years, and came only when ensconced safely in Jag's arms. Since she had conveniently eliminated that possibility, Jaina was counting on Jedi meditation techniques, which usually worked well enough, to rejuvenate her through the wee hours of the night. Unfortunately, she had found the necessary peace elusive.

Now, with dawn beckoning on the Maramere horizon, Jaina figured her unrest had to be a sign, her mind still focused in a battle-ready state for a reason. She just hadn't found the cause yet.

Something was amiss on Bolis Island. Yesterday's meeting with Wedge and Iella had left her certain of it. Her partners in investigation agreed, but they hadn't been able to put a finger on exactly what, either. The mysterious man Jaina had dropped in the hotel service alley – Luthor Korde, or so he claimed – held GAG credentials. He claimed to have been making a security sweep prior to the Chief of State's arrival when he had happened upon a body, and the next thing he remembered was being awakened by Wedge. When Wedge had played dumb on the presence of any body, though, Korde had surmised that he must have been jumped by the killer's accomplice.

Iella had been dubious of his authenticity, but despite the combined efforts of herself, Wedge, Tycho and Winter, everything about Korde had checked out. With no suspicions validated, they had decided their only option was to release the man. Yet each of the veterans admitted a gut feeling that there was more to Korde's story than he was letting on. A body and a hunch wasn't much to go on, though, so Wedge and Jaina had agreed to keep the incident under wraps. And Wedge had promised to keep a vigilant watch over the man's next moves. Just in case.

At the same time, Jaina, free of the tempting distractions Jag offered, had kept her own vigil over the safety of her new family. She hadn't planned on sleeping; her Jedi perceptions had been attuned to the activity on the top floor of the hotel. Even now she sensed Jag, not asleep - he too had been restless for most of the night – but safe in a room shared with his brother.

With a little borrowed Solo luck and some divine intervention from the Force, Wedge would have this mystery resolved by tomorrow. He'd better, because Jaina really didn't need this hanging over her head. The prospect of walking down that aisle was terrifying enough.

A vibration from the nightstand snapped Jaina out of her sleep-deprived musings. She had kept her comlink nearby all night. It had been in her hand on multiple occasions when she had almost given in and summoned Jag back to their suite. Her heart pounded. Maybe Jag had caved first.

"Hello?"

"Hey, kiddo. Your mom said you were up."

"Oh. Hi, Dad."

"The Hapan delegation has arrived early. Would you like to go with us to pick up Amelia?" Her parents had left Allana at the Jedi base for a few days when Jaina's hasty summons to Bolis Island had come.

"I'd love to. I'll meet you in the lobby in ten."

Scrambling off the bed, Jaina rushed over to the closet. Thankfully, Tycho had taken that dreadful arm away, but the memory of it propped against the closet wall would be indelibly etched in her mind. She scanned her clothes quickly for something discreet, quickly realizing that none of the dresses Syal had provided counted in that category. Instead she opted for the old standby, her Jedi robes.

By the time Jaina exited the lift downstairs, it was simple enough to disappear into the folds of her hood. Her parents were the only beings to take note of her as she drifted across the lobby. The pair quietly acknowledged her as they converged at the lobby doors, but said little until they were settled in a quiet corner of the hovercraft bound for the berthing station.

Jaina watched her father weave his fingers through her mother's. "You miss her."

Leia nodded. "We do."

Jaina smiled, then turned to stare out across the vast expanse of water. The sun peeked over the horizon, spitting rays of yellows and oranges into a vibrant pink backdrop. A new day was coming, another chance to start over. Allana was Jacen's chance; perhaps, on some different level, her parents felt she was their chance as well. During her recovery at the Fel estate, Jaina had come to terms with her part in Jacen's fall. While she knew the guilt would follow her to the grave, Jaina had been able to forgive herself – and more importantly Jacen. She hoped her parents would find that peace too.

Until then, if Allana carried their hopes and dreams, if she provided them with a positive reminder of the good in Jacen, then Jaina was even more grateful for her twin's final act.

Once they docked at the berthing station, Jaina followed her parents through the hangar. She noted the flurry of activity, mostly delivery vessels and relatively few passenger debarkations, and the enormity of the wedding struck her right in the gut. All these deliveries were in anticipation of and preparation for her impending nuptials to Jag. Maybe they should have eloped…

"Hey, space cadet. This way."

Jaina's feet faltered as her father's voice called from somewhere to her left. She glanced over her shoulder and found him beckoning to her to follow. She made sure she had in fact been walking toward the Falcon, then turned back to her father. Her parents had continued on, leaving Jaina to jog over to catch them.

"We're not taking the Falcon?"

"The forward port repulsor's been acting up again," Han said.

"Luke offered the Shadow," Leia added.

Jaina staggered to a stop, her eyes drifting upward to take in the sight of Mara's ship. Jaina missed her former master dearly. While she had traveled through the many stages of grief in mourning Jacen's fall, Jaina had never had time to make sense of Mara's sudden death. The beautiful yet deadly ship served as a sharp reminder of that loss. As she gazed upon it, vivid memories of Jaina's apprenticeship came racing back. Mara had been a strict taskmaster, but it had been done purely out of love. Jaina owed her life to Mara as much as anybody else. Yet right now Jaina only felt a hollow ache for the woman who would not be standing at her side tomorrow.

A shrill whistle snapped Jaina from her ruminations. Heeding her father's summons, she trotted up the boarding ramp. Her parents waited at the top. Leia offered Jaina a brief brush of support in their bond. With a simple gesture, her father indicated she should lead the way to the cockpit.

"We thought you'd like to fly," he said.

Jaina blinked back tears. "Yes. I would."

Entering the cockpit, Jaina stared at the pilot's seat and recalled the hundreds of times she had hurried ahead of her master to take that seat – only to be unceremoniously dumped into the co-pilot's seat. The corner of Jaina's mouth curled upward as she considered her options now. Knowing Mara, she would find a way to enforce her will from the afterlife. Jaina settled into the co-pilot's seat.

Her parents took the two rear seats, and in short order Jaina had the Shadow screaming toward space. Han handled communications with ground control and then, as they left the atmosphere, the Hapan fleet. As the distance from the planet grew, the pinpoints of light that indicated space traffic expanded to a dizzying array of ships. Just from sight alone, she recognized fleets from the Alliance, the Empire, Mon Cal, Corellia, and a dozen other planetary systems. She eyed the tactical display to locate the whereabouts of the Hapan fleet that had just arrived in system, then guided the Shadow in a slow, banking curve in that direction.

After a few exchanges with the Battle Dragon's comms officer, Han pointed across Jaina's shoulder toward the designated hangar. As the Shadow slipped inside, she noted a gleaming shuttle adorned with the Hapan royal crest and a large contingent of guards.

"The Queen's hangar."

"We're family," Leia noted.

"Not officially." Jaina eased the ship down the last few meters for a textbook landing. At least she hadn't lost her flying chops from a few months off.

Leia had already unbelted. Rising, she placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "It's what Tenel Ka feels that matters."

"I know." Jaina glanced back over her shoulder. "You two, go ahead. I'll finish the shut down."

Alone in the cockpit, Jaina used the extra time to shore up her composure. At home with the Fels, she had been sheltered from all but the most pressing issues. Her return to health had been uneventful; the isolation a blessing. Her emotional healing had been more of a struggle, but even her breakdown following a conversation with Soontir had only been about sorting through her pain over losing Jacen. Now, every minute there seemed to be a new emotional landmine she needed to dodge. She had known intellectually this would happen, but dealing with each one in turn was proving a struggle.

Almost as an answer to her concerns, a warm sensation brushed passed Jaina, a soft rustle in the hair by her shoulder. She had no doubt the source of the encouraging emotions. She turned and smiled at the empty seat next to her. "Wish me luck."

There was no answer; not that Jaina had expected one. Force ghosts were the stuff of legend, and Jaina knew such a powerful draw on the Force would come for a better reason than her silly fear of facing reality. Still, Mara's presence filled the cockpit in that same overpowering way it had when she had lived. "Miss you."

Rising, Jaina focused on the immediate positives of this moment. Walking down the boarding ramp, she reminded herself that she would be blessed with seeing her niece again…

Jaina's heart stopped beating momentarily. The sight of the button-nosed, brown-haired toddler floored her. Oh, Jace, you did this part so right. Allana had already shared her greetings with her adoptive parents and her pensive gaze had been watching the ramp in anticipation. They had been introduced on the Healing Seas, but that had been while Jaina hovered in a bactamist. Shortly thereafter she had been swept off to the Unknown Regions.

Watching Allana trot across the hangar floor, Jaina realized she too was just as eager for a true welcome. She bent down and scooped the little girl into her arms. Her legs almost buckled, not from the weight, but from the overwhelming sense of happiness that fired across every one of Jaina's nerves. She had no idea something as simple as a touch, an embrace, could elicit such an emotional overload. It took a few seconds for her equilibrium to return, and only then did she realize the joy emanated from the spot where she carefully guarded her twin bond.

Allana pushed back in Jaina's arms, her tiny hand pressed to Jaina's heart. "I feel him."

This time the tears could not be blinked away. "I know, sweetheart."

"Don't cry." Allana wiped a tear from Jaina's cheek. "Be happy we're sisters."

"Oh, I am. I promise." She settled the child back to the floor, kneeling before her. "I have an important question for my new sister."

"Yes." Allana's eyes widened in anticipation.

"Will you be in my wedding?"

"Uh…"

"I think Lady Solo has bestowed upon you a great honor." Tenel Ka walked up between the pair.

"Your Majesty." Jaina rose and bowed. Allana did the same beside her, and Jaina's heart nearly broke. This little girl couldn't even acknowledge her own mother. Worse, had to treat her like a stranger.

If Tenel Ka's suffered each time she had to deny her own child, she gave no indication. In fact, she smiled warmly down at Jaina. "Please, my friend, let us dispense with the formalities. It is I who will attend to you these next two days."

"Oh," Jaina beamed. "So you accept?"

"I was humbled by your request to be your attendant in tomorrow's wedding." Finally, Tenel Ka acknowledged her daughter with more than an aloof aside from the Queen of Hapes. "You still have not answered my friend's question, young lady."

Allana's eyes twinkled, so like Jacen had when he shared a secret with Jaina in their youth. Jaina felt a stab of remorse, then a second jolt when she realized her friend must have recognized that twinkle, too. The child appeared oblivious to their shared pain as a gracious smile formed on her lips. "I think that would be very nice."

Jaina bent over so her words could be spoken softly. "Don't worry. My friend Tenel Ka will be with you every step of the way."

"That," the child said, grinning, "would be very, very nice."

"Shall we discuss specifics on the way down to the planet?" Tenel Ka asked.

"Uh…" Jaina hesitated. "I suppose I can take the royal transport back with you."

"I was thinking we would ride down with you in the Shadow."

Only then did Jaina realize the Queen was not surrounded by her usual retinue. The elite Hapan guard stood some distance away, near the royal transport, where Jedi younglings were being herded up its ramp. "What? You don't want to ride with the Woodoos? I trained them well during my time on Ossus, you know."

Tenel Ka frowned. "My ship may never recover from a mere two days of Jedi younglings aboard. Wait until you hear what two Rontos did in the mess hall."

Allana tried to stifle a giggle and ended up laughing out loud.

Jaina smiled at the melodic sound, but something else had already drawn her attention away. "The Shadow it is, then. Why don't you two head up on board? I'll be right behind you."

Tenel Ka extended her hand, and her daughter accepted it eagerly. Together they walked up the boarding ramp. Jaina's feet had another priority altogether. Figuring it was undignified to pounce on a Jedi Master, she opted for a low-key hug.

"It's good to see you," she whispered into the mane of long hair that cascaded over the powerful shoulder where she rested her head.

"You, too."

Released from the embrace, she stepped back to grin up at a pair of green eyes that had watched over her during some of the darkest times of her life. If not for this man, Jaina might have suffered the same fate as her twin. "What's with the hair, Kyp?"

"You don't like it? I think it's dashing. Gives me an air of Jedi-on-the-lam."

"It's even worse than Jag's beard." She slugged him on the upper arm, then sighed. "I'm glad you came."

"Unfortunately, this may be as far as I go. Tenel Ka has been kind enough to shield me from Daala's subpoena. I won't go down if there's going to be trouble for you."

"Funny thing, that." Jaina draped her arm through Kyp's. "Did you know that Maramere is in the process of negotiating their transfer into the Empire?"

"No…" For a Jedi trained in concealing his emotional state, Kyp resonated shock.

"Don't worry, very few do." Jaina started walking; by default of her armlock, Kyp followed. "My future father-in-law – you know, the Grand Moff? – wanted to be sure you knew that you were welcome on Remnant soil. And… he has asked that at the first opportunity, you and I meet with him to discuss some possibilities for your future."

"Really?" Kyp drew to a stop at the base of the Shadow's ramp.

Jaina tugged. "Come on. I promise it'll be fine."

"Oh, I'm not worried about dodging Daala. It's just…"

"What?"

"Old habits." He eyed the Shadow. "Somehow I don't think she would pass up the opportunity to give me another tongue-lashing, even from the great beyond, for setting foot on her ship."

"Yeah, I miss her too."

Together they climbed the ramp, then at the top dodged a scampering toddler squealing in delight. Han followed close behind; he proffered a lop-sided grin at the Jedi pair before hurrying after Allana. "Hey! Come back here!"

"Ghosts seem to run the halls of this ship," Kyp said quietly.

Jaina glanced over, her eyebrow arched. "You know."

He tipped his head in a silent answer, waiting for the ramp to close behind them. "You forget I knew all of you as children. I didn't need the Force to tell me."

"Does –"

"The queen and I have discussed it, yes." Kyp folded his arms into the opposing sleeves of his Jedi robe. "I got the impression Tenel Ka was thankful to have someone to share her burden with. But she's not an easy one to read."

"Kyp Durron," Jaina said with smile, moving toward the cockpit, "you may just be turning into a fine, upstanding citizen."

"Don't say that. You'll ruin my carefully cultivated notoriety."

This time Jaina took the pilot's seat, knowing Mara would have preferred her to Kyp any day of the week. She started the pre-flight procedure. "You'll come to the rehearsal dinner. Hopefully we can catch Soontir for a few there."

"Shouldn't it be Dad to you?"

"Not quite yet." Jaina yawned.

"You sure you're ready for this?"

She slapped the button to release the magclamps. "What? Is everyone really expecting me to bolt?"

Pursing his lips, Kyp fiddled with a button on the co-pilot's yoke.

"People are wagering on it, aren't they?"

"No. Of course not."

"Liar." Jaina rubbed a hand over her face. "Yes, last time I ran, but –"

"Is this lecture going to be for my benefit, Jaina Solo, or yours?"

She exhaled in a huff before easing the ship from the hangar. They travelled in silence until the Shadow cleared the fleet. The intraship comm buzzed overhead.

"Hey, Captain. Do you think we have time to just hang out up here?"

Jaina verified the time on the ship's chrono. Still before 0700. If they spent a half hour or so up here, that would leave plenty of time for her to make breakfast with Jag's family. And she relished the idea of spending more time with her niece.

"Sure."

"I'd say head out that way," Kyp said, pointing. "Looks pretty clear."

It took only a few short minutes to find a suitably quiet area of Maramere space. After setting the autopilot, Jaina and Kyp made their way to the living area. At the table sat her father, scrutinizing the shine on his beloved Deathhammer. Her mother moved about the galley, preparing a snack. Tenel Ka sat on the crashcouch, which lined the far wall, with her daughter sprawled across her lap.

"Pop, can you read me a story?"

Han's attention stayed fixed on the weapon. "Why don't you ask Kyp to read you a story?"

Allana frowned. "I want you to."

Tenel Ka ruffled the girl's brown hair. "I'm sure Master Durron –"

"No, he can't." Allana rolled to a sitting position. "We all fell asleep in his sightless training class."

Jaina stifled a chuckle; Kyp stiffened beside her.

"I am sure that was only because the room was dark for the exercise," Tenel Ka said.

"I wish," Kyp replied. "I'm afraid Allana is right. Another reader would be best. Children's stories aren't really my thing."

"Would you like me to read you the story?" Jaina offered.

Allana shook her head, climbing from the couch. "No, Mommy will. She'll read to both of us."

After rummaging through a satchel on the floor, Allana stood with a children's book in her hand. She climbed back up onto the couch, then summoned Jaina to the seat next to her. Tenel Ka took the book as Jaina nestled into a comfortable position next to her niece. Allana clutched her hand, smiling up at Jaina. "It's my daddy's favorite."

Jaina blinked. "Baby Bantha Builds a Barn?"

"Yes." Allana clapped her hands before wrapping herself around Jaina's arm.

As Tenel Ka began to read, Jaina recalled the happy memory from long ago, when she and Jacen had sat much the same way. It had been Jaina who had been wrapped into her brother's comforting strength as they listened to the familiar tale of Baby Bantha. There was no sadness in the recollection, just a wistful remembrance of happier times shared with family. These were the moments Jaina would cherish forever; this was what she had fought so hard to protect.

Enfolded in the serenity of this beautiful bond with her niece, Jaina lowered her head to rest softly on top of Allana's. In unison, they both sighed. Peace settled into Jaina's soul and she closed her eyes to revel in the wonderful sensation for as long as it lasted.

There was the sound of her dear friend Tenel Ka's voice as it recounted the children's tale. Also, the blossoming sensation in her twin bond. Her mother and her father. The protective auras of two former Masters – one dead, one alive. For a rare moment, Jaina felt safe and sheltered.

And finally Jaina knew sleep.