Jaina Solo Fel (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
solo_sword) wrote2012-05-06 05:28 am
solo_sword) wrote2012-05-06 05:28 am
Hapes- early Sunday Fandom time
After rendezvousing with Luke and Mara on the Jade Shadow, filling them in on why Ben needed to be grounded forever and giving their injured party more proper temporary medical attention, Tenel Ka agreed to have her surgeons work on Zekk. As they prepped his stretcher for transport, Jaina found herself alone with Mara for the first time in a while. So she took the opportunity to say, without preamble, "Jacen's a rotten influence on Ben."
Mara didn't look up from where she was strapping Zekk's unconscious form in. "Duly noted."
Jaina knew when she was being shut down. Normally with Mara she might back down, but she kind of considered it an important subject. "Aunt Mara-"
"Now's not the time," she said firmly. "Let's get your boyfriend settled first."
"He's not-" Jaina sighed, and gave it up. "Jacen's going dark."
Finally Mara looked up at her. "I've had this talk before. Emotions are running high lately, and there are a lot of explanations for a lot of things that are happening. I wouldn't have thought you were so quick to judge your own brother."
"And I wouldn't have thought Jacen would be so quick to fire on his own parents."
Mara's lips set into a firm line. "Right now, let's just deal with this, and if it is true, I'll deal with it."
Jaina bit her tongue against saying something like Even if it kills you? Mostly because she thought Mara would say yes.
The truth was, she sort of understood the reluctance in giving Jacen the boot. In all these years no one had been able to get Ben to feel comfortable using the Force because of past trauma, and the one person who was able to get through to him was twisting him. And that person was Mara's nephew, who she'd known since he was born, the son of her best friends and someone she'd been close to in her own right. And yes, if you didn't know the way things turned out elsewhere, you could easily believe there was some other reason for Jacen's behavior. There was nothing easy about this.
Jaina shut up, and the two women brought the stretcher down the landing ramp to where Tenel Ka was waiting with her medical team. There was a lot of cheering from people near a GAG shuttle far past them that got annoying after about four seconds. The Queen Mother glanced at Zekk for a long moment but kept her face impassive. She had to keep up appearances in public, after all, even if her friend was on a stretcher right next to her. "Master Skywalker, Jedi Solo, welcome aboard," she said, stepping forward to greet them. "My surgeon is waiting in an operating theater. If you would entrust Zekk to the transport team, they will take him up immediately."
"That's very kind," Mara said. "We appreciate it."
"Yeah, thanks," Jaina added. "It means a lot."
If it was anyone else on Hapes saying this, Jaina would insist on going with him. But she actually trusted Tenel Ka, and so she let the medics take Zekk onto their hoversled and then away. "They'll take good care of him, Jaina," Tenel Ka assured her. "Once they have prepared Zekk for the operation, we can go up to wait in the infirmary."
"That'd be great," Jaina said. "But don't worry. Zekk's as strong as a bantha these days."
Tenel Ka smiled. "I'm glad to hear that, but I am a little confused. My surgeon said he had been told it was a lightsaber injury?"
Jaina glanced at Mara, then said, "It's a long story."
"Ben made a mistake," Mara said.
"Ben?" Tenel Ka gasped.
"It wasn't an attack," Mara said in a pointed tone, like she wanted to get that straight right away. "There was some confusion aboard the Falcon."
That was not how Jaina would put it. It'd been an accident, yes, but no one had seemed very confused at that point.
Tenel Ka frowned at Jaina. "The Falcon? But I thought the Masters Skywalker found you in escape pods?"
"The Falcon's pods," Luke said as he descended the ramp. "We're still trying to figure that out ourselves."
He glanced toward the GAG shuttle, which was now surrounded by jubilant Hapans, and asked, "Is that Jacen everyone is cheering for?"
"Yes, it is," Tenel Ka replied, watching Jacen depart the shuttle. "Jacen has become quite the hero of loyal Hapans."
"A hero?" Jaina repeated, aghast. "You've got to be kidding!"
"Not at all," Tenel Ka said sternly. "Jacen saved my life, and with it, the Hapan monarchy."
Jaina's face hardened as only Jaina's face could. Not that she wasn't grateful for Tenel Ka still being around or anything, but as far as Jaina was concerned, Jacen's bad points far outweighed the good these days. "Does that give him an excuse to fire on his own parents?"
Tenel Ka had not seen that one coming. "I'm not sure I heard you correctly. Did you really say that Jacen had fired on Han and Leia?"
"I'm afraid she did," Luke said grimly as he arrived with Ben in tow. "The Falcon had already jumped by the time we arrived from Roqoo, but it sounds like the Anakin hit her pretty hard."
"You're sure? It doesn't make sense."
"We're having trouble understanding a lot of what Jacen has been doing," Mara admitted. Maybe she didn't need it spelled out for her. It gave Jaina some hope. "Now that matters are settling down in the Consortium, we're hoping to have a chance to work some of those things out."
Tenel Ka turned to Ben. "What do you know about this? I find it difficult to believe Jacen would open fire on his own parents."
"He didn't have a choice," Ben answered. "They're terrorists, and they were trying to escape."
Yeah, let that one settle for a minute.
Tenel Ka looked as stunned as Jaina felt. "Terrorists? Ben, that's just not true."
"I'm afraid it is," Jacen said, emerging from his throng of admirers. Jaina tried to keep her emotions in check, but this was the first time she'd been in the same room with him since her court-martial and now look what was happening. "The suspicions Aunt Mara voiced during our meeting aboard the Anakin were right after all."
Mara scowled, and Jaina wished she'd been privy for that conversation. "They were?"
"Yes. And I apologize for not considering your point more carefully," he said, and his voice turned cold. "But events have certainly proven you correct. The intelligence my parents provided regarding Ducha AlGray did us more harm than good, and they were certainly involved in the attack on Her Majesty."
"Jacen, you can't believe your parents would do such a thing," Tenel Ka told him very calmly. "They risked their lives to provide me with the reversion coordinates of the AlGray fleet."
"They did?" It was annoying that Jacen sounded surprised by that, like them doing that sort of thing was unheard of.
"Yes. Furthermore, the Solos placed themselves at even greater risk to make sure the Royal Navy stood firm until Admiral Bwua'tu attacked."
The fact that Jacen began to look ashamed was further annoying... until Jaina realized that he must have really believed that his parents would do that, that they'd turn traitor and assist on some attempt on Tenel Ka's life. She couldn't imagine how he'd come to think such a thing.
"I am sure your parents will be fine," Tenel Ka said, addressing both twins. "No one is more capable of taking care of themselves under difficult circumstances, and I'll issue orders for all Hapan vessels to aid them in every way possible."
"That can't hurt," Mara said. "But nobody's going to see them until they're a long way from here. They'll go stealth until they find someplace safe to land."
"That's right," Luke agreed. "I'll reach out to Leia in the Force, try to let her know that help is available if they need it." Then he turned to Jacen and said sternly, "But we need to talk. You're very quick to believe the worst about someone you love. That's a problem."
"That's not fair, Master Skywalker," Tenel Ka said, and Jaina could have hit her for standing up for him after all this. "Jacen's suspicions were based on the information available to him at the time."
"The difference is our suspicions haven't harmed anyone. Jacen has put his parents in mortal danger. Perhaps we could talk about this aboard the Shadow?"
"As you wish."
There was nothing Jaina wanted less than to be put in an enclosed space with her brother right now, but the Skywalker-Solos headed aboard the Jade Shadow and into the passenger salon for Tenel Ka to join them once she'd taken care of a few things outside. She probably should have stayed out of this, too, because as soon as they were in the room Jaina bit out, "So you've got Tenel Ka brainwashed, too?"
"I'm not brainwashed!" Ben protested, taking his place next to Jacen.
"Tenel Ka sees reason," Jacen insisted. "She's reacting to the information we already have. You're the ones accusing me of working with Lumiya, and I see no evidence of that."
Jaina bit her lip to keep from speaking. Yes, they were accusing Jacen of working with Lumiya. Lumiya who was definitely a Sith, who her grandfather had said was Jacen's Sith buddy. Maybe if he didn't constantly give them reasons to doubt him...
"What were we supposed to think, Jacen?" Mara asked from her seat between Luke and Jaina and Jacen and Ben, going back to what had happened before she and Luke had picked the rest of the group up. "You sent us there to meet Ben. Instead, Lumiya ambushes us."
"That doesn't mean I sent her," Jacen replied as Tenel Ka rejoined them.
"Then what would explain how Lumiya knew we would be there?" asked Mara. "Or why she's been working with GAG."
"And I wish I had the answer to that," Jacen said. "I'll be looking into it as soon as the Anakin returns to Coruscant. I want the answer more than you do, I can promise that."
"Can you?" Luke asked, keeping his gaze fixed on Jacen.
"Of course he can," Tenel Ka said, stepping to Jacen's side. "A few minutes ago, you rebuked Jacen for being too quick to believe the worst of those he loves. And here you are, doing the same thing."
It wasn't hard to catch the flash of irritation from Luke at that, but Mara stepped in. "She has a point, Luke. We really don't have any more evidence against Jacen than he did against Han and Leia. The battle's over. Maybe it's time we all bolstered our blasters and tried to work things out like family."
"That sounds good to me," Jacen said. "I'll be the first to admit that I've made some mistakes, but I have been working for the good of the Alliance, and I know you have, too."
"What about your parents? They're family, too," Luke countered. Jaina maybe loved Luke a lot right now for saying what she was thinking, and with more weight because it was him saying it.
"I can't cancel the detention warrant, if that's what you're asking."
Once again shock permeated Tenel Ka's calm. "Jacen, if not for your parents, I wouldn't be alive. Neither would Allana."
"I know that," Jacen told her. "They risked their lives to save you, but they still have crimes against the Alliance to answer for." He returned his attention to Luke. "If Han and Leia Solo are having second thoughts about their political loyalties, we can negotiate a safe surrender and suitable confinement."
Finally Jaina exploded. "Surrender? Confinement? They'll never-"
"Don't you think I know that?" Jacen replied, just as hotly. "But if I cancel the warrant on them, it will look like I'm giving my parents special treatment, and I can't do that. There's one law, Jaina, and it applies to everyone- even to Solos."
"I remember being your lesson there," she shot back. "They risked their lives to save Tenel Ka. They're not terrorists."
"I know," Jacen said. "But they're not innocent, either."
Jaina sighed in frustration and looked to Luke as if asking him to do something here.
Luke went silent, not looking at anyone but at the floor instead, and finally looked up at Jacen. "Okay, but I haven't changed my mind about Ben. He's still coming back to Coruscant with us."
"What?" Ben cried. "No way, Jacen is my Master!"
"That's not your decision, Ben," Luke said. "And Jacen isn't a Master."
"He is to me," Ben retorted. "No one's as strong in the Force..."
"It's your father's decision," Jacen interrupted, looking to Luke. "If you believe that Lumiya is still a threat, then I guess I should trust your judgment. After all, I've never even met the woman."
Luke held Jacen's eyes. "I hope that's true, Jacen."
Ben took that moment to step between Luke and Jacen, glaring up at his father. "Of course it's true! Jacen is trying to protect the galaxy. Why doesn't anyone understand that but me?"
"I understand it, Ben," Tenel Ka said. "And I am sure your father does, too."
Mara stood, placing a placating hand on Ben's shoulder. "Ben, we're all trying to save the galaxy. But we don't always agree on how it should be done."
"And that's why I can't stay with Jacen?" Ben demanded. "That's ridiculous!"
"The reason you can't stay with Jacen is because I'm ordering you to return home with us," Luke said sternly. "And the reason I'm doing that is because Lumiya told me you were the one helping her in GAG."
"What?" That came from Ben, Jacen and Tenel Ka at once.
"And you believe her?" Ben demanded.
Of course he didn't. Luke had had that information since Jaina was still in Fandom at graduation. "Somebody has been helping her, and until I know who that is..."
"... you need to stay away from GAG," Jacen finished, understanding. "Your father is right to be cautious, Ben."
"But you're my Master!" Ben cried.
"And I'm asking you to stay with your parents until I've sorted this out." Jacen looked up at Luke, then added, "I'm sure we'll be working together again much sooner than you expect."
[NFB, NFI, OOC okay. Most dialogue and a bit or two taken from Tempest by Troy Denning, though I had to add/adjust some things. I promise Ben gets better.]
Mara didn't look up from where she was strapping Zekk's unconscious form in. "Duly noted."
Jaina knew when she was being shut down. Normally with Mara she might back down, but she kind of considered it an important subject. "Aunt Mara-"
"Now's not the time," she said firmly. "Let's get your boyfriend settled first."
"He's not-" Jaina sighed, and gave it up. "Jacen's going dark."
Finally Mara looked up at her. "I've had this talk before. Emotions are running high lately, and there are a lot of explanations for a lot of things that are happening. I wouldn't have thought you were so quick to judge your own brother."
"And I wouldn't have thought Jacen would be so quick to fire on his own parents."
Mara's lips set into a firm line. "Right now, let's just deal with this, and if it is true, I'll deal with it."
Jaina bit her tongue against saying something like Even if it kills you? Mostly because she thought Mara would say yes.
The truth was, she sort of understood the reluctance in giving Jacen the boot. In all these years no one had been able to get Ben to feel comfortable using the Force because of past trauma, and the one person who was able to get through to him was twisting him. And that person was Mara's nephew, who she'd known since he was born, the son of her best friends and someone she'd been close to in her own right. And yes, if you didn't know the way things turned out elsewhere, you could easily believe there was some other reason for Jacen's behavior. There was nothing easy about this.
Jaina shut up, and the two women brought the stretcher down the landing ramp to where Tenel Ka was waiting with her medical team. There was a lot of cheering from people near a GAG shuttle far past them that got annoying after about four seconds. The Queen Mother glanced at Zekk for a long moment but kept her face impassive. She had to keep up appearances in public, after all, even if her friend was on a stretcher right next to her. "Master Skywalker, Jedi Solo, welcome aboard," she said, stepping forward to greet them. "My surgeon is waiting in an operating theater. If you would entrust Zekk to the transport team, they will take him up immediately."
"That's very kind," Mara said. "We appreciate it."
"Yeah, thanks," Jaina added. "It means a lot."
If it was anyone else on Hapes saying this, Jaina would insist on going with him. But she actually trusted Tenel Ka, and so she let the medics take Zekk onto their hoversled and then away. "They'll take good care of him, Jaina," Tenel Ka assured her. "Once they have prepared Zekk for the operation, we can go up to wait in the infirmary."
"That'd be great," Jaina said. "But don't worry. Zekk's as strong as a bantha these days."
Tenel Ka smiled. "I'm glad to hear that, but I am a little confused. My surgeon said he had been told it was a lightsaber injury?"
Jaina glanced at Mara, then said, "It's a long story."
"Ben made a mistake," Mara said.
"Ben?" Tenel Ka gasped.
"It wasn't an attack," Mara said in a pointed tone, like she wanted to get that straight right away. "There was some confusion aboard the Falcon."
That was not how Jaina would put it. It'd been an accident, yes, but no one had seemed very confused at that point.
Tenel Ka frowned at Jaina. "The Falcon? But I thought the Masters Skywalker found you in escape pods?"
"The Falcon's pods," Luke said as he descended the ramp. "We're still trying to figure that out ourselves."
He glanced toward the GAG shuttle, which was now surrounded by jubilant Hapans, and asked, "Is that Jacen everyone is cheering for?"
"Yes, it is," Tenel Ka replied, watching Jacen depart the shuttle. "Jacen has become quite the hero of loyal Hapans."
"A hero?" Jaina repeated, aghast. "You've got to be kidding!"
"Not at all," Tenel Ka said sternly. "Jacen saved my life, and with it, the Hapan monarchy."
Jaina's face hardened as only Jaina's face could. Not that she wasn't grateful for Tenel Ka still being around or anything, but as far as Jaina was concerned, Jacen's bad points far outweighed the good these days. "Does that give him an excuse to fire on his own parents?"
Tenel Ka had not seen that one coming. "I'm not sure I heard you correctly. Did you really say that Jacen had fired on Han and Leia?"
"I'm afraid she did," Luke said grimly as he arrived with Ben in tow. "The Falcon had already jumped by the time we arrived from Roqoo, but it sounds like the Anakin hit her pretty hard."
"You're sure? It doesn't make sense."
"We're having trouble understanding a lot of what Jacen has been doing," Mara admitted. Maybe she didn't need it spelled out for her. It gave Jaina some hope. "Now that matters are settling down in the Consortium, we're hoping to have a chance to work some of those things out."
Tenel Ka turned to Ben. "What do you know about this? I find it difficult to believe Jacen would open fire on his own parents."
"He didn't have a choice," Ben answered. "They're terrorists, and they were trying to escape."
Yeah, let that one settle for a minute.
Tenel Ka looked as stunned as Jaina felt. "Terrorists? Ben, that's just not true."
"I'm afraid it is," Jacen said, emerging from his throng of admirers. Jaina tried to keep her emotions in check, but this was the first time she'd been in the same room with him since her court-martial and now look what was happening. "The suspicions Aunt Mara voiced during our meeting aboard the Anakin were right after all."
Mara scowled, and Jaina wished she'd been privy for that conversation. "They were?"
"Yes. And I apologize for not considering your point more carefully," he said, and his voice turned cold. "But events have certainly proven you correct. The intelligence my parents provided regarding Ducha AlGray did us more harm than good, and they were certainly involved in the attack on Her Majesty."
"Jacen, you can't believe your parents would do such a thing," Tenel Ka told him very calmly. "They risked their lives to provide me with the reversion coordinates of the AlGray fleet."
"They did?" It was annoying that Jacen sounded surprised by that, like them doing that sort of thing was unheard of.
"Yes. Furthermore, the Solos placed themselves at even greater risk to make sure the Royal Navy stood firm until Admiral Bwua'tu attacked."
The fact that Jacen began to look ashamed was further annoying... until Jaina realized that he must have really believed that his parents would do that, that they'd turn traitor and assist on some attempt on Tenel Ka's life. She couldn't imagine how he'd come to think such a thing.
"I am sure your parents will be fine," Tenel Ka said, addressing both twins. "No one is more capable of taking care of themselves under difficult circumstances, and I'll issue orders for all Hapan vessels to aid them in every way possible."
"That can't hurt," Mara said. "But nobody's going to see them until they're a long way from here. They'll go stealth until they find someplace safe to land."
"That's right," Luke agreed. "I'll reach out to Leia in the Force, try to let her know that help is available if they need it." Then he turned to Jacen and said sternly, "But we need to talk. You're very quick to believe the worst about someone you love. That's a problem."
"That's not fair, Master Skywalker," Tenel Ka said, and Jaina could have hit her for standing up for him after all this. "Jacen's suspicions were based on the information available to him at the time."
"The difference is our suspicions haven't harmed anyone. Jacen has put his parents in mortal danger. Perhaps we could talk about this aboard the Shadow?"
"As you wish."
There was nothing Jaina wanted less than to be put in an enclosed space with her brother right now, but the Skywalker-Solos headed aboard the Jade Shadow and into the passenger salon for Tenel Ka to join them once she'd taken care of a few things outside. She probably should have stayed out of this, too, because as soon as they were in the room Jaina bit out, "So you've got Tenel Ka brainwashed, too?"
"I'm not brainwashed!" Ben protested, taking his place next to Jacen.
"Tenel Ka sees reason," Jacen insisted. "She's reacting to the information we already have. You're the ones accusing me of working with Lumiya, and I see no evidence of that."
Jaina bit her lip to keep from speaking. Yes, they were accusing Jacen of working with Lumiya. Lumiya who was definitely a Sith, who her grandfather had said was Jacen's Sith buddy. Maybe if he didn't constantly give them reasons to doubt him...
"What were we supposed to think, Jacen?" Mara asked from her seat between Luke and Jaina and Jacen and Ben, going back to what had happened before she and Luke had picked the rest of the group up. "You sent us there to meet Ben. Instead, Lumiya ambushes us."
"That doesn't mean I sent her," Jacen replied as Tenel Ka rejoined them.
"Then what would explain how Lumiya knew we would be there?" asked Mara. "Or why she's been working with GAG."
"And I wish I had the answer to that," Jacen said. "I'll be looking into it as soon as the Anakin returns to Coruscant. I want the answer more than you do, I can promise that."
"Can you?" Luke asked, keeping his gaze fixed on Jacen.
"Of course he can," Tenel Ka said, stepping to Jacen's side. "A few minutes ago, you rebuked Jacen for being too quick to believe the worst of those he loves. And here you are, doing the same thing."
It wasn't hard to catch the flash of irritation from Luke at that, but Mara stepped in. "She has a point, Luke. We really don't have any more evidence against Jacen than he did against Han and Leia. The battle's over. Maybe it's time we all bolstered our blasters and tried to work things out like family."
"That sounds good to me," Jacen said. "I'll be the first to admit that I've made some mistakes, but I have been working for the good of the Alliance, and I know you have, too."
"What about your parents? They're family, too," Luke countered. Jaina maybe loved Luke a lot right now for saying what she was thinking, and with more weight because it was him saying it.
"I can't cancel the detention warrant, if that's what you're asking."
Once again shock permeated Tenel Ka's calm. "Jacen, if not for your parents, I wouldn't be alive. Neither would Allana."
"I know that," Jacen told her. "They risked their lives to save you, but they still have crimes against the Alliance to answer for." He returned his attention to Luke. "If Han and Leia Solo are having second thoughts about their political loyalties, we can negotiate a safe surrender and suitable confinement."
Finally Jaina exploded. "Surrender? Confinement? They'll never-"
"Don't you think I know that?" Jacen replied, just as hotly. "But if I cancel the warrant on them, it will look like I'm giving my parents special treatment, and I can't do that. There's one law, Jaina, and it applies to everyone- even to Solos."
"I remember being your lesson there," she shot back. "They risked their lives to save Tenel Ka. They're not terrorists."
"I know," Jacen said. "But they're not innocent, either."
Jaina sighed in frustration and looked to Luke as if asking him to do something here.
Luke went silent, not looking at anyone but at the floor instead, and finally looked up at Jacen. "Okay, but I haven't changed my mind about Ben. He's still coming back to Coruscant with us."
"What?" Ben cried. "No way, Jacen is my Master!"
"That's not your decision, Ben," Luke said. "And Jacen isn't a Master."
"He is to me," Ben retorted. "No one's as strong in the Force..."
"It's your father's decision," Jacen interrupted, looking to Luke. "If you believe that Lumiya is still a threat, then I guess I should trust your judgment. After all, I've never even met the woman."
Luke held Jacen's eyes. "I hope that's true, Jacen."
Ben took that moment to step between Luke and Jacen, glaring up at his father. "Of course it's true! Jacen is trying to protect the galaxy. Why doesn't anyone understand that but me?"
"I understand it, Ben," Tenel Ka said. "And I am sure your father does, too."
Mara stood, placing a placating hand on Ben's shoulder. "Ben, we're all trying to save the galaxy. But we don't always agree on how it should be done."
"And that's why I can't stay with Jacen?" Ben demanded. "That's ridiculous!"
"The reason you can't stay with Jacen is because I'm ordering you to return home with us," Luke said sternly. "And the reason I'm doing that is because Lumiya told me you were the one helping her in GAG."
"What?" That came from Ben, Jacen and Tenel Ka at once.
"And you believe her?" Ben demanded.
Of course he didn't. Luke had had that information since Jaina was still in Fandom at graduation. "Somebody has been helping her, and until I know who that is..."
"... you need to stay away from GAG," Jacen finished, understanding. "Your father is right to be cautious, Ben."
"But you're my Master!" Ben cried.
"And I'm asking you to stay with your parents until I've sorted this out." Jacen looked up at Luke, then added, "I'm sure we'll be working together again much sooner than you expect."
[NFB, NFI, OOC okay. Most dialogue and a bit or two taken from Tempest by Troy Denning, though I had to add/adjust some things. I promise Ben gets better.]