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| - Padmé and Anakin had already been pulled aboard the Jade Sabre by the time they got around to rescuing Jaina. At first she wondered why everyone was in such a terrible state, until she rounded the corner into the medical suite and saw Padmé laid out on the medbunk. Her skin was a sickly gray color, and a bright red wound was opened in her abdomen. Anakin sat beside her, hunkered over, pouring energy into her still form. “Force, what happened?” she exclaimed, heart dropping down around her ankles. A quick scan with the Force showed that Padmé still lived, but she was hanging on by a thread. “She was shot,” he muttered, bleary eyed. Jaina felt tears brim in her own. She stepped forward, then dropped to her knees next to the bed. “Oh no. Oh Padmé, oh no…” She felt the deck shudder as Mara powered up the engines and swung the ship back around. “We have to get to her to the Pillory,” Jaina hiccupped. “I know,” he whispered. “But what can they do? And what about Mom and Uncle Luke? They’re waiting for you guys to come save them.” Jaina felt her chest constrict even tighter. “But she’ll die.” He turned to look at Padmé’s face, ashen and unmoving. “I don’t think we can help that. And it’s my fault.” “No, Anakin,” Jaina wrapped an arm around his waist. Despair clutched at them both, and neither knew exactly what to say. “Hold tight back there,” Mara’s voice came over the internal comm. “We’re getting ready to enter some heavy fire.” Jaina felt the shadow over her darken even more. Vornskr Squadron hadn’t fared well, and neither had Spike Squadron. By the time she had been picked up, the two had been forced to combine to save themselves. The thought of losing Padmé and then Jag too was unbearable. Then, out of nowhere, a thought struck her like a lightning bolt. “Jacen,” she cried out. “Jacen has that healing crystal in his lightsaber!” Anakin turned to face her, eyes wide as he understood what she was saying. “Do you think it could—” “I think it might,” she nodded. At that point, she was willing to latch on to any hope. Jaina scrambled to her feet and ran to the door, yelling at Mara, “Get us to the Pillory as fast as you can! I know how we can help her.”
* * * The short trip back to the command ship was one of the longest in Jaina’s life. She and Anakin sat in silence, concentrating on holding fast to what life Padmé had left. When they drew near enough to establish a strong connection, Jaina reached out in her twin bond and urged Jacen to be waiting for them, with a medical team. Thankfully he understood the sentiment, and was. They quickly unloaded their grandmother from the freighter, laying her on a transport sled. Jacen’s eyes went broad as saucers when he saw what the emergency had been. “Oh gods. What happened to her? Is she alive?” The medics began to buzz around her wounded frame like flitnats. “Yes,” Jaina panted, still fighting tears. “Jacen, you’re the only one that can help her.” “Me?” he screeched, too stunned and grieved to understand. His eyes were locked on Padmé, unable to tear his gaze away. “The Ankarres sapphire,” Anakin explained. “You have to help her.” He stared down at the motionless body, and a sense of determination came over him. “I’ll try.” “You’re her only hope,” Jaina leaped forward, kissing his cheek. “We have to go. Take care of her.” “You’re leaving?” his incredulous eyes turned to the Sabre, where Mara and the other Jedi still waited. The trip back had put them terribly off the timetable, which meant anything could be happening with Luke and Leia. “We have to go get Mom and Uncle Luke,” she explained shortly. He would understand the urgency. “Right,” his eyes returned to Padmé. He took her hand, and the medical team slowly eased the sled towards the turbolifts, Jacen in tow. Jaina could already feel the waves of healing energy pouring off her brother. She prayed everything would be all right. Anakin had already bounded back up the ramp when Jaina turned to follow. She made it two steps when a voice stopped her in her tracks. “Jaina!” She spun around to see Jag approaching at a fast jog. The squadrons had boarded to regroup with the rest of them, she supposed. And, happy as she was to see him in one piece, Jaina couldn’t take the time to talk. “Not now, Jag,” she shook her head. “I have to go.” He came to a stop in front of her, pure elation in his eyes. “I thought you were dead,” he panted. “Your ship exploded and I thought you were dead. Whole minutes…” She saw the ultimate relief in him and suddenly couldn’t bear to stay out of his arms any longer. Forgetting time constraints and propriety, she threw herself at him, and he welcomed her willingly into his embrace. Neither one cared who was watching. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. His strong arms held her close. “It’s all right. You’re here, and that’s all I care about.” Reluctantly, Jaina pulled back. “We’ll talk later. I have to go.” His gaze turned to the waiting ship, packed with Jedi. “You’re still going to the Dintellion?” he asked, disbelieving. “I have no choice,” she shook her head. He looked back down at her, appearing almost frightened. “No, you can’t go! The shields are still up, the fight to get there will be terrible. You have no covering fighters. Once you get there it’ll be full of Baci—Jaina, it’s crazy. It’s too dangerous.” A spark of anger formed in her. “I have to go, Jag! That’s my mother in there!” “I couldn’t take it if something happened to you,” he whispered, his green eyes in pain. “Jaina, I love—” “No!” she leaped forwards, covering his mouth with her hand. She couldn’t bear to hear him say those three little words. If he said them the illusion of being able to let go would be completely broken. If he said them, she would have to acknowledge how horrible her life was going to be when he left. If he said those words, everything would change, forever. Slowly she eased her hand off his mouth and said, “Don’t. Don’t say it. Not now. I can’t take it, Jag.” His eyes were sad. “But I do.” She smiled at him. “I know. Me too.” Then she stepped forward and placed a quick kiss on his lips. “I have to go.”
* * * Head bent, Zeya said, “Premier.” In a strange ripple effect, each of the silent Baci in the stadium came out of their seats onto their knees as well, echoing her words in veneration to their new leader. Leia swallowed, eyes lifting to meet Luke’s. He stood still in the entranceway, looking as astounded as she was. Carefully, she shifted her attention back to Zeya. “What?” The Baci woman raised her eyes. “You are the mother of our heir, and so must be Premier in his stead until he comes of age.” Leia blinked once, twice. That, she hadn’t expected. Inexorably, she glanced at the broken body of Cale. There was a strange sort of justice in it. “But my son—” Zeya lifted her head with a violent flick, her face warning Leia to say no more. Slowly she came to her feet. “Will one day be our leader,” she finished. Leia swallowed again. Zeya knew very well the baby Leia had carried was gone. But for some reason, she didn’t want anyone else to know. “Come,” she motioned Leia out of the arena. “We must go make our plans.” Numbly, Leia followed her. Zeya began barking orders at the soldiers around them, and they proceeded to herd the numb spectators out of the coliseum. Her feet carried her back towards Luke, which Leia was supremely grateful for. He came out halfway to meet her, and she practically fell into his arms, drained. “You did it,” he whispered into her hair, and she heard pride there. “You did it, Leia.” Zeya cleared her throat, begging for attention. The Skywalker twins turned to look at her. “Hurry,” she said, waving. “Follow me.” They did as told, trailing her back into the tunnel towards the turbolifts. The first thing she said when they were alone was, “Tell no one your child is dead.” “What’s going on here?” Luke asked, and Leia was thankful he was just as confused as she. “I realized several months ago that Cale Wilos was a bumbling egomaniac who would be the end of my House and my people,” she answered, coming to a halt. The dark corridors gave the air of a clandestine meeting. “So I engineered his death. I was expecting it would be at the hands of Master Skywalker and therefore a little more profitable for myself, but I will work with what I have. I have a proposition for you.” “What?” Leia asked, truly interested. “Cale recently sired a child with a girl I brought him. She is due very soon. We will claim the child is his by you. Then, we will have a viable excuse for my people for ending the war, considering you would technically be the head of our Nation.” “What do you get out of this, Zeya?” Luke demanded. “The child will be left in my care, and my House will stay in power, without any challengers,” she explained gently. “I will raise it for you, in the fashion a Baci Premier should be.” “What about when the child comes of age?” Luke crossed his arms over his chest, checking the plan for holes. “That’s right,” Leia nodded. “And he’ll grow up thinking I’m his mother, a mother who hasn’t been there for him.” Zeya shrugged. “That is quite common for a Premier. Neither Cale nor I was raised by our biological parents. And when he becomes old enough to lead, things will be quite settled and this war a distant memory. Why would he choose to come against you?” “How do we know you won’t double-cross us?” Leia inquired, rightly suspicious. It was all too good to be true. “How can I?” she shrugged. “You are our leader. Although I’m assuming you’ll want me to govern as steward in your stead for most of the time. And I am willing to submit to any reasonable terms you require.” Luke and Leia exchanged a glance. Then Leia said, “It needs a little smoothing around the edges, but I think we have a deal.”
* * * When the Jade Sabre and the Millennium Falcon arrived at the Baci flagship they were admitted without hesitation. Very soon after, the entire Baci fleet was given its orders of surrender and stood down. The last battle was over. The Jedi on the two freighters were met by a happy-looking Luke and Leia, both of whom were in good health as well as good spirits. The forgiving reunion between Han and Leia was instantaneous, and enough to make their children blush and turn away. Luke and Mara’s public reunion was no less intense, but a little less embarrassing for those in witness Stories were spread between all involved, everyone dismayed by the twists and turns of events that had still managed to bring a happy ending. The only dark spot on the moment was when Luke and Leia were informed of Padmé’s state. Arrangements were promptly made for a return to the Pillory. By the following day, a peace treaty had been drawn and signed between Admiral Ackbar, General Wedge Antilles, and Premier Leia Organa Solo. Eighteen hours after that, Padmé Amidala Skywalker woke from her comatose state, tired and a little hungry but no worse for wear. Mere hours later, a deal was made with the Chiss to house the Baci on a nondescript planet in the Unknown Regions. The Chiss spent days trying to analyze what had went wrong with their superweapon, and finally came to the conclusion that the energy needed for the device was too great to sustain for any period of time. They were also unable to come up with a suitable remedy, which meant their hopes of conquering the Known galaxy became void. Negotiations were opened with Borsk Fey’lya and Coruscant. Considering the combined forces of Chiss, rebels, Hapans, and Baci were more than enough to take the world, the Senate decided to peaceably settle their differences, along with submitting to several suggestions of reform. Chief of State Fey’lya stepped down soon thereafter, and an Alderaanian named Cal Omas won the election to take his place. And, for a while, the galaxy was at complete peace.
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