Jaina Solo Fel (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
solo_sword) wrote2008-03-20 12:06 pm
solo_sword) wrote2008-03-20 12:06 pm
Chandrila, Thursday Fandom time
Wedge was not happy. Jaina had never been on the receiving end of one of his glares, and seeing it for the first time, she decided she really wanted to keep it that way. "General Antilles-" she began, but then she was on the receiving end of the glare and she'd probably never shut up quicker.
"You should have told us he would be here, Lieutenant Solo," he said. It worked almost like a mind trick; Jaina immediately decided that she should have told him Kyp would be there. "It was less than honest, and far less than i expect of you."
Even if he was right, it still stung, and Jaina really didn't like the idea of doing something that let Wedge be disappointed in her. She felt a sudden comforting presence, and though she appreciated it, that appreciation only lasted for as long as it took her to realize where it was coming from and to shut Kyp out. On the way here, he'd nudged her into telling him about the beacon Luke had put on his ship, and Jaina still wasn't happy to let him in like that at the moment.
'General, I apologize, but I didn't think you would meet with me if you knew Kyp was involved. Neither did Colonel Darklighter."
It was Gavin's turn to get Wedge's glare this time. "You were in on this, too, Gavin?"
"She could have hidden Durron's connection from both of us, Wedge, simply by not bringing him along when she met with me," Colonel Darklighter explained, handling it much better than Jaina had. "She didn't. She was up front with me. I advised her to do things this way because I know you and- more to the point- I thought there was every possibility that my call to you was monitored. There are plenty of people who would love to make a present of Kyp Durron to the Yuuzhan Vong. You want to blame someone, blame me."
When she got back to Fandom, Jaina was hugging Gavin because she couldn't hug this one.
Wedge clearly didn't like it, but he seemed to know that Jaina and the colonel weren't why he was mad. Which meant all his problems got set on Kyp. "Durron, I don't like you," he said bluntly. "The very best thing you are is a murderer. The very worst-"
"Wait a minute, General. You know what I was going through back then," Kyp said, a bit defensive. "Han Solo and Master Skywalker forgave me and brought me back into the fold. I had hoped that you could, too."
"You don't deserve their forgiveness," Wedge snapped. "Look how you've repaid them. Luke you denounce and deride, and as for Han, you've roped his daughter into a politically precarious position, if not something far worse."
Jaina managed not to look over at Kyp, and was still keeping herself very carefully guarded. When he was eighteen, Kyp had barely begun Jedi training before letting himself be twisted. He'd stolen an Imperial superweapon and used it to blow up a planet to get revenge. He'd reformed, and like he'd said, Han and Luke had forgiven him, but he kept pushing limits that made him untrustworthy. And yet Jaina was happily following him along... why?
Because maybe he was a little bit right. At least about this.
"General," Kyp said, "I'm sorry about Qwi Xux. I've told you that before. At the time I thought what I did was for the best. She had information in her head that could have brought the New Republic to its knees."
"You leave her out of this," Wedge snapped, and Jaina suddenly felt uncomfortable watching something more personal than she'd signed up for. "You don't even so much as speak her name, or I'll blast you where you stand."
As good as she was at yelling at people, Jaina hated when other people did it at each other around her. "General," she cut in, "please. Whatever you may think of Kyp, he's discovered something important. Something that threatens us all."
She'd interrupted the rant, but at least she didn't get the glare again. "Fine," Wedge said, waving his hand like he was already done with the whole matter. "You have evidence of this danger? Let me see it. The sooner we get this over with, the sooner I can find some clean air to breathe."
Wedge was the only one who hadn't seen the holo before, depicting the capabilities of what looked like a partially-completed Yuuzhan Vong superweapon that already made what happened to Sernpidal look like kids' play. They'd lost Sernpidal when the Vong managed to change the orbit of the planet's moon, eventually sending it crashing into the surface, and the structure in question was demonstrating the same sort of power at a much earlier stage of construction. This was the third time Jaina was seeing the holo, and it was still as scary as the first time.
The room remained silent for a long moment before Wedge said, "Emperor's black bones."
"That was my reaction," said Gavin. For the record, it had also been Jaina's. "Now you understand why I thought you should see this."
"Yes. I suppose I do." He straightened, looking at Jaina and asked, "You've seen this for yourself?"
"No," Jaina admitted. "I've seen this same holo. But it's pretty clear what it is."
"No," Wedge said, "it's not unambiguous. It could be a fueling device, for instance."
Kyp cleared his throat. "General Antilles, may I speak?"
It was pretty clear Wedge would rather he didn't. "Go ahead."
"It may be a fueling device, of course. That doesn't mean it isn't a weapon. If that ship can manipulate gravity at that scale, only fools wouldn't understand its military implications. Whatever you might say about the Yuuzhan Vong, they aren't fools."
"No. No, they aren't. But until we see it used militarily-"
"It would be too late by then, General," said Kyp, getting to his feet.
"Shut up and sit down," Wedge snapped. "Let me finish what I was saying."
Slowly, Kyp sat down and let Wedge speak.
In the end, Wedge agreed that something had to be done. It just couldn't be official. Politically, they couldn't take any steps until the thing was proved to be a threat, which meant the Rogues would have to operate unofficially. Gavin hadn't had the slightest problem with this, and Jaina even talked Wedge into seeing whether Admiral Kre'fey might be interested in being involved in a completely clandestine operation that could get them all put in the same situation Luke and Mara were in currently.
At least Jaina didn't have to question whether she had any influence.
*****
The meeting had been held at a ranch on Chandrila, property owned by a relative of Colonel Darklighter's wife. Yes, that was weird to Jaina. It was beautiful, though, and remembering being told things like how she needed to relax more, she was happy to get away on her own for a while, if only to forget what she was doing and who she was doing it with. She found a little stone pavilion where she could sit, pondering whether to make yet another call back to Fandom. John was going to be sick of the sound of her voice at this rate.
She didn't get a chance to do anything, because that was when she sensed a certain Jedi Master heading her way. Of course he found her. "Hello, Kyp," she greeted him, sighing and pocketing her comlink.
"You're avoiding me," Kyp returned.
"You noticed."
"Mind telling me why?"
"Because I know you're going to ask me to fly with you, and I can't." And because you're hiding something from me.
Kyp leaned against the nearest tree and asked, "Why not? Not that I was going to ask."
"What's got you so amused?" she asked, frowning at his expression.
"You looked... surprised. It's fetching."
"I fetch nothing. It's just you," she said. "You're all over the grid. One minute you're as touchy and surly as a feral bantha, the next you're the meditative Jedi Master, the dear friend, the sensitive fellow. Who are you, Kyp?"
"Who are you, Jaina?"
That was not a question to be asking any seventeen-year-old. Anyone who thought they knew that at this age was either lying to themselves or an idiot. "Oh, no. Don't start that with me."
"The questions you ask condition the answers you get," he shrugged.
"Okay, okay. So you didn't come to ask me to fly with you."
"No, you were right about that. I intended to ask," said Kyp.
She was going to kill him. "So you've asked and I can't. For a lot of reasons. Not the least of which is that I'm still a member of Rogue Squadron, and they'll be in the same battle."
"As you say, asked and answered. But I have a more important question."
"Get to it, then."
Kyp straightened, looking almost formal, and for a long time he was silent. "I'd like you to be my apprentice," he finally said.
Jaina stared at him in disbelief. That was the last thing she'd been expecting. "You're kidding."
"Not in the slightest," he insisted. "You've interrupted your Jedi training. I think you should take it up again. I think you will bring something very special to the order."
She had to wonder if she should be worried that former Dark Jedi and Sith lords kept being so willing to train her. She couldn't get an offer from Corran? Cilghal? "Yeah? And why wouldn't I go back to Aunt Mara?"
"Because she's unavailable. Besides, you don't agree with her. You have much more in common with me."
"In a Sarlacc's belly."
"Whatever. But you know it's true." He paused. "You're trying too hard, and maybe it was too early for me to ask. I like you, Jaina, and I value what you are and what you could be. Keep it in mind. I'll leave you to the peace you sought."
He started to go, but Jaina found herself calling, "Wait."
Kyp turned back to her to hear her out.
"What are you doing here?"
He raised his eyebrows, stepping closer. "I thought I just told you."
"No, I mean... everything," she said. "Your behavior towards me is because you want me to be your student."
"You expected something else?"
Yes, actually. She'd thought she'd interpreted those signals wrong the first few times, but she'd never seen him act like this towards anyone else, and he had every reason to play it safe with her. She was seventeen, he was thirty-three and a friend of her father's, not to mention the situation between him and her uncle, and her brother... And she certainly wasn't trying to put out any signals of her own. "I'm involved with someone," she said, getting to the point. "For a while now."
"Is he why you're saying no?" Kyp asked.
"I didn't say-" She shook her head. "Of course not."
By the raise of his eyebrows, he knew that wasn't the full truth. "Ah."
"I just want to be sure we're absolutely clear," she warned.
"We're clear," he said.
"I... uh, I'll think about it," Jaina told him, unable to believe she was saying it. "Probably not for long, but yeah, I'll think about it."
"Good," Kyp replied. "That makes me happy."
"Yeah, well, don't get too happy," she responded, and turned herself to be able to look at the view rather than the sight of him leaving.
She wasn't going to seriously consider his offer. She knew the only reason she even agreed to was because he'd called her out on something she wasn't ready to admit to anyone else. When Mara had asked her to come back with her over Parents Weekend, Jaina had said no because she was learning too much that she couldn't anywhere else. Since October, her reasons had changed slightly, and yes, it was completely selfish but there she was.
Kyp did raise a good point. Mara was set to have her baby at any time, and she was going to be more unavailable then, at least for a while. Terrifying as the thought once was, her grandfather did occur to her. The problem was that he'd be married in a couple months, and she suddenly realized that she didn't know if he was planning on sticking around after that. And Fandom's version of Luke was a senior, she was a higher level than Jolee, who'd probably say no anyway and then tell her to get off his lawn... She wasn't sure where she was going to be left. And that kind of made Kyp an option, though he wasn't likely to let her stay in Fandom if she agreed. Unselfishly, she'd be doing more for their side here and this whole setup proved that...
Raking her fingers through her hair in annoyance at herself, she let out a groan of frustration. So much for peace.
[NFI, NFB, you know how it goes. Most of the dialogue from Edge of Victory II: Rebirth by Greg Keyes. Again.]
"You should have told us he would be here, Lieutenant Solo," he said. It worked almost like a mind trick; Jaina immediately decided that she should have told him Kyp would be there. "It was less than honest, and far less than i expect of you."
Even if he was right, it still stung, and Jaina really didn't like the idea of doing something that let Wedge be disappointed in her. She felt a sudden comforting presence, and though she appreciated it, that appreciation only lasted for as long as it took her to realize where it was coming from and to shut Kyp out. On the way here, he'd nudged her into telling him about the beacon Luke had put on his ship, and Jaina still wasn't happy to let him in like that at the moment.
'General, I apologize, but I didn't think you would meet with me if you knew Kyp was involved. Neither did Colonel Darklighter."
It was Gavin's turn to get Wedge's glare this time. "You were in on this, too, Gavin?"
"She could have hidden Durron's connection from both of us, Wedge, simply by not bringing him along when she met with me," Colonel Darklighter explained, handling it much better than Jaina had. "She didn't. She was up front with me. I advised her to do things this way because I know you and- more to the point- I thought there was every possibility that my call to you was monitored. There are plenty of people who would love to make a present of Kyp Durron to the Yuuzhan Vong. You want to blame someone, blame me."
When she got back to Fandom, Jaina was hugging Gavin because she couldn't hug this one.
Wedge clearly didn't like it, but he seemed to know that Jaina and the colonel weren't why he was mad. Which meant all his problems got set on Kyp. "Durron, I don't like you," he said bluntly. "The very best thing you are is a murderer. The very worst-"
"Wait a minute, General. You know what I was going through back then," Kyp said, a bit defensive. "Han Solo and Master Skywalker forgave me and brought me back into the fold. I had hoped that you could, too."
"You don't deserve their forgiveness," Wedge snapped. "Look how you've repaid them. Luke you denounce and deride, and as for Han, you've roped his daughter into a politically precarious position, if not something far worse."
Jaina managed not to look over at Kyp, and was still keeping herself very carefully guarded. When he was eighteen, Kyp had barely begun Jedi training before letting himself be twisted. He'd stolen an Imperial superweapon and used it to blow up a planet to get revenge. He'd reformed, and like he'd said, Han and Luke had forgiven him, but he kept pushing limits that made him untrustworthy. And yet Jaina was happily following him along... why?
Because maybe he was a little bit right. At least about this.
"General," Kyp said, "I'm sorry about Qwi Xux. I've told you that before. At the time I thought what I did was for the best. She had information in her head that could have brought the New Republic to its knees."
"You leave her out of this," Wedge snapped, and Jaina suddenly felt uncomfortable watching something more personal than she'd signed up for. "You don't even so much as speak her name, or I'll blast you where you stand."
As good as she was at yelling at people, Jaina hated when other people did it at each other around her. "General," she cut in, "please. Whatever you may think of Kyp, he's discovered something important. Something that threatens us all."
She'd interrupted the rant, but at least she didn't get the glare again. "Fine," Wedge said, waving his hand like he was already done with the whole matter. "You have evidence of this danger? Let me see it. The sooner we get this over with, the sooner I can find some clean air to breathe."
Wedge was the only one who hadn't seen the holo before, depicting the capabilities of what looked like a partially-completed Yuuzhan Vong superweapon that already made what happened to Sernpidal look like kids' play. They'd lost Sernpidal when the Vong managed to change the orbit of the planet's moon, eventually sending it crashing into the surface, and the structure in question was demonstrating the same sort of power at a much earlier stage of construction. This was the third time Jaina was seeing the holo, and it was still as scary as the first time.
The room remained silent for a long moment before Wedge said, "Emperor's black bones."
"That was my reaction," said Gavin. For the record, it had also been Jaina's. "Now you understand why I thought you should see this."
"Yes. I suppose I do." He straightened, looking at Jaina and asked, "You've seen this for yourself?"
"No," Jaina admitted. "I've seen this same holo. But it's pretty clear what it is."
"No," Wedge said, "it's not unambiguous. It could be a fueling device, for instance."
Kyp cleared his throat. "General Antilles, may I speak?"
It was pretty clear Wedge would rather he didn't. "Go ahead."
"It may be a fueling device, of course. That doesn't mean it isn't a weapon. If that ship can manipulate gravity at that scale, only fools wouldn't understand its military implications. Whatever you might say about the Yuuzhan Vong, they aren't fools."
"No. No, they aren't. But until we see it used militarily-"
"It would be too late by then, General," said Kyp, getting to his feet.
"Shut up and sit down," Wedge snapped. "Let me finish what I was saying."
Slowly, Kyp sat down and let Wedge speak.
In the end, Wedge agreed that something had to be done. It just couldn't be official. Politically, they couldn't take any steps until the thing was proved to be a threat, which meant the Rogues would have to operate unofficially. Gavin hadn't had the slightest problem with this, and Jaina even talked Wedge into seeing whether Admiral Kre'fey might be interested in being involved in a completely clandestine operation that could get them all put in the same situation Luke and Mara were in currently.
At least Jaina didn't have to question whether she had any influence.
*****
The meeting had been held at a ranch on Chandrila, property owned by a relative of Colonel Darklighter's wife. Yes, that was weird to Jaina. It was beautiful, though, and remembering being told things like how she needed to relax more, she was happy to get away on her own for a while, if only to forget what she was doing and who she was doing it with. She found a little stone pavilion where she could sit, pondering whether to make yet another call back to Fandom. John was going to be sick of the sound of her voice at this rate.
She didn't get a chance to do anything, because that was when she sensed a certain Jedi Master heading her way. Of course he found her. "Hello, Kyp," she greeted him, sighing and pocketing her comlink.
"You're avoiding me," Kyp returned.
"You noticed."
"Mind telling me why?"
"Because I know you're going to ask me to fly with you, and I can't." And because you're hiding something from me.
Kyp leaned against the nearest tree and asked, "Why not? Not that I was going to ask."
"What's got you so amused?" she asked, frowning at his expression.
"You looked... surprised. It's fetching."
"I fetch nothing. It's just you," she said. "You're all over the grid. One minute you're as touchy and surly as a feral bantha, the next you're the meditative Jedi Master, the dear friend, the sensitive fellow. Who are you, Kyp?"
"Who are you, Jaina?"
That was not a question to be asking any seventeen-year-old. Anyone who thought they knew that at this age was either lying to themselves or an idiot. "Oh, no. Don't start that with me."
"The questions you ask condition the answers you get," he shrugged.
"Okay, okay. So you didn't come to ask me to fly with you."
"No, you were right about that. I intended to ask," said Kyp.
She was going to kill him. "So you've asked and I can't. For a lot of reasons. Not the least of which is that I'm still a member of Rogue Squadron, and they'll be in the same battle."
"As you say, asked and answered. But I have a more important question."
"Get to it, then."
Kyp straightened, looking almost formal, and for a long time he was silent. "I'd like you to be my apprentice," he finally said.
Jaina stared at him in disbelief. That was the last thing she'd been expecting. "You're kidding."
"Not in the slightest," he insisted. "You've interrupted your Jedi training. I think you should take it up again. I think you will bring something very special to the order."
She had to wonder if she should be worried that former Dark Jedi and Sith lords kept being so willing to train her. She couldn't get an offer from Corran? Cilghal? "Yeah? And why wouldn't I go back to Aunt Mara?"
"Because she's unavailable. Besides, you don't agree with her. You have much more in common with me."
"In a Sarlacc's belly."
"Whatever. But you know it's true." He paused. "You're trying too hard, and maybe it was too early for me to ask. I like you, Jaina, and I value what you are and what you could be. Keep it in mind. I'll leave you to the peace you sought."
He started to go, but Jaina found herself calling, "Wait."
Kyp turned back to her to hear her out.
"What are you doing here?"
He raised his eyebrows, stepping closer. "I thought I just told you."
"No, I mean... everything," she said. "Your behavior towards me is because you want me to be your student."
"You expected something else?"
Yes, actually. She'd thought she'd interpreted those signals wrong the first few times, but she'd never seen him act like this towards anyone else, and he had every reason to play it safe with her. She was seventeen, he was thirty-three and a friend of her father's, not to mention the situation between him and her uncle, and her brother... And she certainly wasn't trying to put out any signals of her own. "I'm involved with someone," she said, getting to the point. "For a while now."
"Is he why you're saying no?" Kyp asked.
"I didn't say-" She shook her head. "Of course not."
By the raise of his eyebrows, he knew that wasn't the full truth. "Ah."
"I just want to be sure we're absolutely clear," she warned.
"We're clear," he said.
"I... uh, I'll think about it," Jaina told him, unable to believe she was saying it. "Probably not for long, but yeah, I'll think about it."
"Good," Kyp replied. "That makes me happy."
"Yeah, well, don't get too happy," she responded, and turned herself to be able to look at the view rather than the sight of him leaving.
She wasn't going to seriously consider his offer. She knew the only reason she even agreed to was because he'd called her out on something she wasn't ready to admit to anyone else. When Mara had asked her to come back with her over Parents Weekend, Jaina had said no because she was learning too much that she couldn't anywhere else. Since October, her reasons had changed slightly, and yes, it was completely selfish but there she was.
Kyp did raise a good point. Mara was set to have her baby at any time, and she was going to be more unavailable then, at least for a while. Terrifying as the thought once was, her grandfather did occur to her. The problem was that he'd be married in a couple months, and she suddenly realized that she didn't know if he was planning on sticking around after that. And Fandom's version of Luke was a senior, she was a higher level than Jolee, who'd probably say no anyway and then tell her to get off his lawn... She wasn't sure where she was going to be left. And that kind of made Kyp an option, though he wasn't likely to let her stay in Fandom if she agreed. Unselfishly, she'd be doing more for their side here and this whole setup proved that...
Raking her fingers through her hair in annoyance at herself, she let out a groan of frustration. So much for peace.
[NFI, NFB, you know how it goes. Most of the dialogue from Edge of Victory II: Rebirth by Greg Keyes. Again.]
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