The Next Generation Time: Immediately following “The Rise of Thrawn.”

Grand Admiral Thrawn has been revived and is now planning an assault on the New Republic world of Bothawui, thus ending a thorn in the Empire’s side. Meanwhile, Jaina nears the birth of her child, while Jacen, Tenel Ka, Raynar, Lowie, Zekk, and Arc and Sorvem fend off assassins and prepare to evacuate to Yavin 4 and safe haven.

But yet another menace arises: Admiral Daala returns to link up with Thrawn and Isis, creating a group of brilliant tacticians which soon find out about a secret Arc and the entire Lycothian Empire have fought valiantly to protect, a secret that could return the Empire to the ruling government of the galaxy...

*****************

Tenel Ka was thrown from her feet as the Trandoshan detonated the bomb, sending a shock wave powerful enough to make a bantha’s teeth rattle. Lowie and Sorvem got caught with the brunt of the blast, while Arc and Zekk took only minimal burns. She thanked the maker when she found that Jacen wasn’t hurt.

Neither was Raynar, she also noticed.

Lowie and Sorvem took burns to their torsos and arms, but managed to protect their faces and chests, using the Force. Sorvem’s speech impediment was heavily damaged and would need repair. The Trandoshan was killed instantly, no doubt.

When the smoke cleared, his carcass littered the floor, with pieces of metal scattered about. But they weren’t from the speech impediment, though...

“A replica droid!” Tenel Ka cried out, acknowledging the droid type.

“Lowie! Sorvem! You guys okay?” Jacen shouted.

Lowie roared back weakly, yet Sorvem did not. The speech impediment had been too heavily damaged, but he waved a hand in the air, showing that he was still alive.

“Look out!” Raynar’s warning came too late, as another Trandoshan lunged at Tenel Ka.

Before she could get to her lightsaber, the Trandoshan wacked her across the face and threw her lightsaber away. He clawed her cheek, a thin line of blood following his index claw. Tenel Ka winced and struggled, trying to punch him with her right hand, but he had her pinned down. She tried her left, then remembered: she had no left. Then he roared in agony.

Jacen’s green blade came threw his upper left back like a stalactite. Black blood squirted all over Tenel Ka’s lizard hide uniform. Jacen used the Force to throw him off her into a wall. Jacen quickly checked her injury.

“You okay?” Tenel Ka wiped the blood off her cheek.

“I will be all right, friend Jacen,” she said, a little dejected.

Jacen was about to ask her, “are you sure”, but held it back. She obviously wouldn’t answer it. Then she looked up and yelled a Dathomirian curse. Jacen looked behind him.

The Trandoshan had leaped into the air, swinging a vibro-axe. Jacen tried to bring up his lightsaber, but it was too close. He braced himself for impact-

-and felt nothing.

He looked back up. Arc had jump-kicked the Trandoshan in mid-air, knocking the axe out of his hands. The Trandoshan roared in anger and lunged at Arc. Arc used the Trandoshan’s jump to send him flying into the wall, HARD. The Trandoshan’s ribs instantly shattered to pieces. He yowled in pain.

Arc shook his head, panting. “You’ve really sunk into vrelt dung this time, Russk.”

The Trandoshan, Russk, clutched at his sides. “Don’t...kill me...please!”

Sorvem attempted to growl, but his impediment affected his normal speech patterns. Lowie growled sympathetically for his fellow Wookiee. Tenel Ka suddenly hissed in pain and clutched her cheek. Arc turned, distracted. Russk used that moment to attack, launching himself as best as he could. He managed to tackle Arc, but Arc sent him flying back into the wall beside Zekk. Russk winced, then opened his eyes and saw Zekk’s leg swing at him. The blow connected and knocked the Trandoshan unconscious.

“Tenel Ka, you all right?” Jacen asked.

“I do not know what happened. It just stung all of a sudden,” Tenel Ka said. Jacen reached out and put a hand over the cut, gingerly. It didn’t feel all that bad. “Maybe the nerve kicked in,” Jacen suggested.

Arc looked down at the cut. “It hit a nerve center, all right. It’ll have spasms of pain every now and then, but it’ll go away in a few hours.”

Tenel Ka nodded silently. Jacen reached out to put a hand on her shoulder, but didn’t. She was obviously feeling troubled by the matter.

“Well, in any case, they know we’re here. We’ve got to get off-planet and get somewhere that’s impenetrable,” Zekk pointed out, swallowing hard from his cuts.

“I thought Lycoth was impenetrable, but I guess the guards have been snippin’ something,” Arc said.

“May I suggest Yavin 4? Luke-uh, Master Skywalker, and the other Jedi trainees would provide an adequate assistance.”

“That sounds good. But what about Coruscant?” Raynar asked.

“Do you think my mom and dad are going to take the fact that Jaina’s pregnant lightly? Blaster bolts! If anything, they’ll blame us for this!” Jacen said.

“Point noted. Luke-Master Skywalker-would understand. It may hit Leia- Councilor Organa Solo and General Solo pretty hard,” Arc said.

“Good point. Well, we better check on Jaina,” Zekk said.

“Yes, but we don’t leave this planet until you and Lowie and Sorvem have been properly treated,” Arc said. “Fine. And what about Anja?” Zekk asked. Arc cocked an eyebrow.

“That andris-addicted goof? It’ll take her months of treatment to get her out of her desire for the spice.”

“Well, in any case, she is still a fellow human being, even if she did try to kill us,” Tenel Ka said.

Arc nodded. “Okay, we’ll take her to a rehab center.”

“Good,” Jacen said. “Now, can we check on my sister?”

“Yeah, let’s go,” Zekk said.

Arc tied a steel rod around the Trandoshan, then they walked back into Jaina’s medic room. “Hey, guys. What was all that crashin-Zekk!” Jaina cried.

“I’m okay. It’s just a few scratches,” Zekk assured her.

“I know, but...ugh,” Jaina said.

“Hey, it may look bad, but Megator does less damage then he thinks,” Arc said. “In fact, the cuts on Zekk are equivalent to bumping your shin.”

“Ouch!” Jaina cried out suddenly. The doctors immediately rushed in behind them, then checked the screen.

“Oh, boy,” one of them said.

“What?” Jacen asked.

“It’s time,” the doctor said. She ran over to the end of Jaina’s bed. “Okay, now it’s time for the baby to come out.”

Jaina groaned. “Oh, it hurts!”

“Yeah, I know. Feels like a gas attack, huh?” the doctor said. She prepped Jaina.

“Okay, you ready?” Jaina forced a smile.

“Sure, what are we waiting for?”

Zekk smiled. She was being braver than he’d ever seen her be before. He instantly took her hand, gave it a squeeze. Jaina squeezed back, a little tight. “Aah!” Jaina cried again, then let out a deep groan. The doctor fumbled.

“Damn, I always hated this part. What do I do first, give her the anesthetic, or have her push?” Arc rolled his eyes.

“Oh, move aside!” He didn’t bother grabbing the painkiller. “Okay, Jaina? I know you don’t need the painkiller. You can use your Force skills, am I right?” Arc asked. Jaina nodded.

“Good,” Arc said. “Okay, and...push!”

“AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!” Jaina yelled. Gradually, her moaning and screaming died down by the minute.

“I got a leg! Keep pushin’!”

“Oooowwwww!!!!” Jaina yelled.

“I’m not even going to say what just came out. Keep goin’!”

Jaina started to laugh, but interrupted herself with a sharp cry.

“Okay, the stomach, head, and arms are all out! One more push should do it!”

With all the power in her, Jaina pushed. Her final groan of agony was cut short by the cry of a baby.

“You did it, sis!” Jacen cried, then gave Jaina a big hug, which she returned, best as she could.

“Uh...I guess...it’s a boy,” Arc said, dumbfounded. Jaina laughed, unbelieving. Zekk gave her hand another tight squeeze, happy that she was all right. Arc handed her her son, whom Jaina cradled in her arms. Jaina gazed into her son’s dark blue eyes, with a red tint to them. ‘Hello, my baby,’ she uttered through the Force to him. ‘You’re safe now.’ A roar came from outside the room.

“Ah, I hate to be a major party pooper, but right now WE’VE GOT A TEN-METER MONSTER OUTSIDE WHO WANTS OUR BLOOD!!!” Raynar cried. Arc cracked his knuckles.

“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that. I predict that minutes from now, he’ll be lying unconscious on the floor again, and this time he’ll be sent on a Lycothian freighter, which course is set to fly into the Tar’wa Black Hole Cluster.”

Jacen nodded. “But still, there could be countless assassins landing on this world.”

“True. We’ll have to get off-planet and go back to-” he stopped.

“What?” asked Tenel Ka. Arc looked at the wall, and his eyes narrowed on the tracer/comm unit just barely visible on the wall. Zekk pulled the blaster he’d borrowed from Arc and blew the thing into atoms.

“Thank you, Zekk. We’ll go to Yavin 4 for the meantime. I’ll take the DragonSnake with us. It’s got a cloaking device, so it’ll go undetected.”

“How did that get there?” Jaina asked.

“I dunno. Damn Bothawui-programmed security,” Arc said. “I’ll increase security in the meantime.”

“Good. But what about him?” Jaina asked, gesturing to the baby.

“We’ll take him with us,” Jacen said. “We can hide him on Coruscant.”

“I don’t know...I don’t think Dad and Mom will be all that excited,” Jaina said.

“We can worry about that later. Luke- er, Master Skywalker- will understand. Let’s just go,” Arc said. “Lowie and Sorvem aren’t hurt that bad. I’ve got a medic droid on WolvenBlaze. I can treat them and fix Sorvem’s speech impediment there, right?” Sorvem and Lowie barked, then nodded.

“Good. Now, let me go take care of something,” Arc said, as another roar came from outside. He went out the door, and they heard his footsteps. As soon as his footsteps disappeared, another roar came forth, but this time a loud SMACK! interrupted it, followed by a thud!, and then Arc came back into the room.

“That was quick,” Zekk noted.

“He was still getting up,” Arc explained.

“I see. But to get to the point, Jaina needs to be cleaned and prepared before we can take off, as well as her baby,” Tenel Ka said.

Arc called the doctors back in. “Clean off her baby and get her some fresh clothes. Run a flight check on WolvenBlaze, Lightning Rod, and Rock Dragon. I want to be ready to leave in less than one hour.”

Empress Isis sat on the bridge of the Super Star Destroyer Black Soul. She watched as the Star Destroyer Chimaera glided gracefully by, preparing to dock. “Well?” a voice came from behind her.

Isis turned in her chair to face an impatient Admiral Daala. “Where is this Thrawn? If this is a hoax, I swear I will-”

“Such a feisty woman, Isis. I think I know what Tarkin saw in her,” another voice said.

Daala turned to see a blue-skinned, red-eyed humaniod in a Grand Admiral’s uniform standing in the doorway. She gasped. Grand Admiral Thrawn. “I told you he wasn’t dead, Daala, but NO, you have to be ever so annoying,” Isis said.

Daala could hardly believe her eyes. Here he was: alive, in the flesh, Grand Admiral Thrawn. She walked straight up to him, still unbelieving. “I know what it is,” she said. “It’s cosmetic surgery. You took a man from the streets, paid for plastic surgery, and-”

“That is ridiculous, Commander. I’m as real as I will get. You should know better,” Thrawn said.

“I DO know better! And it’s “Admiral”, you arrogant son of a-”

“SILENCE!” Isis’ sharp order was enforced by a bolt of lightning, which flew from her fingertips to the ground between the two, causing a small explosion, which separated them. “This bickering is pointless, and I’m sure Tarkin would have agreed, Daala,” Isis said.

“Force lightning,” Daala noted. “I’m surprised.”

“Don’t be. Remember, I mothered Palpatine over 200 years ago,” Isis said.

Daala remembered. “I see where he got his Force powers.”

“I mated with another of my species, Vorueller, a Dark Lord of the Sith, then gave birth to Palpatine,” Isis said.

“And what happened to Vorueller?” Thrawn asked.

Isis chuckled, a laugh that rivaled Palpatine’s. “I slit his throat open with my vibro-blade, then left him to waste in a pool of his own juices. Oh, but it was so beautiful watching the pain, watching him die in such agonizing pain!”

Daala felt her mouth drop. Thrawn was also in shock. To think that this girl- no, creature- had slaughtered her own mate... Isis must have detected their shock.

“Oh, don’t be so shocked. Vorueller was merely my tool, a pawn in my game. And do you ever wonder why Palpatine hated the Jedi so?” Thrawn’s eyes widened. Daala didn’t know what he’d just realized.

“You didn’t!” Thrawn said.

“Oh, but I did. I told Palpatine that the Old Republic and the Jedi Knights had slaughtered him, considering him too dangerous to their weak organization. Palpatine immediately developed a hatred for all Jedi who served the so-called “light” side of the Force,” Isis said. “He only liked those who served the Dark Side.”

“Unfortunately, that’s what got him killed,” Thrawn said. “First Vader, then Skywalker. Ironic, isn’t it? Skywalker really did follow in his father’s footsteps.”

Isis maintained her icy stare. “He had another death...some time before. His own uncle murdered him in cold blood.”

Thrawn was surprised. “Really? Who was it that killed him? His uncle, yes, but who?”

Isis swiveled in her chair to face the stars. “My brother, the high-and-mighty Arc McBride.”

Thrawn grew pale at the name. Daala looked confused. “What?” Daala asked. Thrawn wiped his forehead.

“Arc was the one who taught me everything I know about tactics and strategies. He was a teacher, all through the years. He even taught Mara Jade- well, Skywalker, now- about hand-to-hand techniques.” Isis turned to face them. “You’re wondering how he taught Thrawn and Jade, aren’t you, Daala?” Daala nodded. “Arc was born one year earlier than myself. He’s also Lycothian, so he lives about 400 years, standard lifetime,” Isis said. “He, like all Jedi, is full of tricks. While he was fighting Vader-”

“He fought VADER?!” Thrawn asked, unbelieving. “And he’s still alive?”

“Ever wonder why Vader always seemed to turn his head to his right farther than his left?” Isis asked. Thrawn and Daala nodded. “Well, Vader and Palpatine once went to a Jedi family- with Arc- which owed the Empire a few hundred credits. They were poor- I don’t know why Palpatine even bothered with them- then again, he hated all Jedi- and didn’t have the money to pay them off. Vader became angry. He ignited his lightsaber and swung it to kill the youngest daughter- just as Arc brought his blade up to meet it. He claimed he didn’t want Vader to kill an innocent family- a stupid excuse. They fought, and during the battle Arc cut out his right eye-” (at this Daala and Thrawn winced) “-and then proceeded to cut seven muscles in Vader’s leg apart.

Vader, injured as he was, still cut into Arc’s lung and broke a few of his ribs. He backed Arc up into Palpatine, and as Vader’s blade came down, Arc ducked.” Thrawn and Daala were shocked. “He didn’t...” Isis nodded. “It slashed right through Palpatine’s neck, collarbone, and finally, left breast. It didn’t kill him completely, but while he was recovering, Arc came back up and stabbed him through the stomach, killing him. He kicked Vader in the chest, as Vader slashed his back. Vader made off with Palpatine’s corpse, thinking he could save him. I don’t know what happened with Arc- I presume the family took care of him- and the next day he was sighted on Coruscant, getting his ship. Vader captured him, and he was brought before Palpatine’s new clone, and then another Jedi, whom Vader shared a personal rivalry with, came in, and a fight broke out between the three. Again, Palpatine was killed, once again by Arc, and Arc got away, after Vader had killed the other Knight.”

Thrawn nodded. “So Arc’s had quite a life.”

“Not that I myself haven’t, but yes, he has,” Isis said. “At least, until now.”

Daala raised an eyebrow. “I’m not sure I follow.”

“My brother and I have never got along. He foolishly chose what idiots call “the light side” while I took the much quicker and stronger Dark Side. In the end, I will deal him the death blow,” Isis said.

“That’s all well and good for now, but to get to the point,” Thrawn said, “I have a plan which will eliminate the Bothan Spynet.” Isis leaned forward. “What? How?”

“All in good time, Empress,” Thrawn spat the word. “First, we must round up the entire Imperial fleet. I’d say that’d take about four hours, from our present location.”

Isis leaned back into her chair. “Very well. I will summon the rest of the fleet. Daala, you are now the commander of this fleet.”

Daala growled. “I was made to be an Admiral.”

“Tough rushkit,” Isis said crudely. Her chair swiveled to face the stars. “Do not forget: I’m as strong as Palpatine and twice as cruel. If you get out of line, I can always recruit someone else.” Daala was enraged. She stormed out of the room, steaming.

Thrawn looked after her. “Touchy woman,” he said, but he couldn’t help looking at her buttocks...

“Very,” Isis said, then Kug came up to her. “My Empress, we have it,” Kug said with an arrogant smile. Isis returned the smile.

“Thank you, Kug. It appears, Admiral, that the rounding of the Imperial fleet will have to wait. We have something more important to do.”

*****

Jacen sat in the Rock Dragon, cradling Tenel Ka’s new sister, Iuna Ka. Teneniel and Isolder were sitting across from him, admiring their new child. “She has her dad’s eyes,” Jacen said. “And her mom’s hair.”

“Much like Tenel Ka,” Teneniel said.

Jacen nodded with a smile. He looked over at Tenel Ka in the other room, sitting by herself.

“Excuse me,” Jacen said, handing them their baby. He started to walk over to Tenel Ka when Arc came on board and tapped him on the shoulder. “WolvenBlaze and Lightning Rod check out. The others are ready. How’s the Rock Dragon?” Arc asked.

“Uh-yeah, it checks out,” Jacen said, in a hurry to get to Tenel Ka.

“Eh...you okay?” Arc asked.

“Yeah, it’s just...” Jacen said, gesturing to Tenel Ka.

Arc nodded and mouthed an “oh” and walked back down the ramp.

Jacen walked over to Tenel Ka, then sat down by her. Tenel Ka jumped at his presence. “Hey, take it easy. Just checkin’ up on ya,” Jacen said.

Tenel Ka sighed. “I would prefer to be left alone, friend Jacen.”

“Something is bothering you, Tenel Ka, and you’ve been really mopey lately. Now please, tell me,” Jacen asked gently.

Tenel Ka sighed. “I have not been feeling so vigorous, ever since the Trandoshan’s attack,” she explained.

“Is that all that’s bothering you? Tenel Ka, there’s going to be millions of times where you’re not ready for a fight!”

“But I should have been prepared, Jacen!” Tenel Ka emphasized each word as she spoke. Jacen began to reply, but Tenel Ka cut him off with a wave of her hand. “I should have sensed he was coming before he attacked, Jacen, not at the moment he attacked.” She raised the stump of her left arm. “And to add insult to injury, I could not even punch him with my left hand. If I hadn’t been so foolish- so quick, so hasty- then two years ago, I would not have lost this hand.”

Jacen looked down. “That was my fault too, remember?”

Tenel Ka gave a sound that sounded like a cross between a scoff and a chuckle. “If anything, you were the one thing that corrected my foolishness. You were the discipline I deserved for creating an inferior lightsaber.”

Jacen looked at her. “You didn’t deserve for your arm to be cut off, and you know it.”

Tenel Ka looked at him for the first time. He noticed her eyes were bloodshot. “Why not?”

“Because you’re kind, loving, caring, strong, brave, loyal, honest, you’re everything!” Jacen said, his heart pounding. “The things that made me fall in love with you.” The sudden change in her emotions- love, shock, giddiness- was so strong that when he sensed it, Jacen nearly fell out of the bench.

Tenel Ka looked away, then turned back to him. “Long have I known this, Jacen,” Tenel Ka said. Jacen swallowed. “And long have I felt the exact way towards you. From the moment we met, I instantly felt...attracted to you,” Tenel Ka said. Jacen smiled at her, giving her that Solo grin of his. Tenel Ka returned it with a warm smile. She started to open her mouth, but closed it.

They both started moving closer to each other- closer, closer- -and their lips met in a sweet, tender kiss. Tenel Ka drank him in. Jacen pushed harder. Tenel Ka stroked his cheek, his breast-

Arc started to walk into the room, but one glimpse told him that it could wait. He smiled, turned back around and left the Rock Dragon. He’d give ‘em 25 more minutes.

******

Jaina cradled her infant son. She had never seen anything so beautiful- felt this amazed. He had dark hair- not surprisingly, since she and Arc both had dark hair- and those eyes. Blue with reddish tint. Odd, but beautiful. Arc walked back into the Lightning Rod, where she sat. He smiled, then sat beside her, tickling the baby. “Hey Arc. Where’s Jacen and Tenel Ka?” Jaina asked. Arc looked at her.

“In the Rock Dragon.”

“Doing what?” Arc looked up, sucked in, then answered. “Fi’stan,” he said in Bothan.

“Huh?” Jaina asked.

“Oartafu,” he replied in Rodian.

“Speak Basic!” Jaina said.

“Fine. They’re kissing,” Arc said.

Jaina gaped. “They’re WHAT?!”

Arc placed his hands up. “Don’t look at me! I simply walked in, found them kissing, and went back out. I had nothing to do with it.” Jaina still gaped.

“They’re WHAT?!”

“Don’t worry. They’ll come out of it in, say, about 25 minutes. That is, if Tenel Ka’s parents don’t decide to use the ‘fresher. ”

Jaina stroked her head. “I can’t believe it. I mean, I know she kissed him after our victory over the Diversity Alliance-”

“Yeah, I heard about that. Great job,” Arc cut her off.

“-but that was a moment of celebration. They always had a strong relationship- I never thought it would escalate into this,” Jaina said.

“Do I detect a possible note of jealousy?” Arc asked. Jaina looked at him incredulously.

“Maybe. No one’s acted like that to me, lately.”

Arc shrugged, then looked through the viewport at Zekk, who was cleaning up the Lightning Rod’s landing claw.

“He has.” Jaina looked at Zekk.

“Then why doesn’t he show it?”

“Because you don’t show him that his feelings are welcome that much. Sure, you’re friends- but are you more than that, Jaina? If you are, show it to him,” Arc said.

Jaina nodded, agreeably, then looked up at him. “When did you ever start learning about this stuff?”

“320 years is a long time. I get around a lot,” Arc said, then looked out the viewport, gazing at the stars. Jaina reached into his emotions, caught a twinge of sadness that belonged to a much greater part of grief.

“What happened?”

“Ah, it was a long time ago. She’s not even alive,” Arc said.

Jaina nodded. “So you cared for someone- then they were taken away,” Jaina said.

“Rana Ki was special to me, Jaina- and that son of a diseased bantha I call my nephew annihilated her,” Arc said vehemently.

Jaina grew more curious. “Who?”

Arc started to say something, but instead slammed the wall, then managed to open his mouth. “Palpatine- it was my nephew, Emperor Palpatine.”

Jaina was aghast at this. “I-I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. If my slut sister hadn’t mated with that Dark Lord of the Sith, killed him, and given birth to that monster, then- then not even the Jedi Purge would have happened in the first place,” Arc said.

“How do you mean?” Jaina asked.

Arc told her everything- the lie Isis had created, the time he had spent as the Emperor’s right-hand man, the way he killed the Emperor to stop a Jedi’s brutal murder, everything. But he did not mention to her the part about Lord Vader.

Jaina was in disbelief. “I know you’ve lived long, but all that stuff...”

Arc nodded, then smiled. “Yoda was more believing than you are. He lived 900 years, and in his life, he did things that I couldn’t have done if I’d lived to be a thousand. I was going to ask him how to turn Palpatine away from the Dark Side, but then...” he trailed off.

“What?” Jaina asked.

“The Bpfassh Dark Jedi,” Arc said. “He interrupted me and Yoda.”

Jaina nodded, having heard of the battle between Yoda and the Bpfassh Jedi from her uncle Luke. “You were there when it happened?”

Arc nodded grimly. “The battle between them was horrible. It warped my mind. For over a day, they fought. I pitched in, of course- a Jedi doesn’t let his master fight by himself- but it was terrible. Finally, I lured him to a cave, where Yoda could dispatch him. The Bpfassh’s dark power finally got the best of him, and he died.”

Jaina prepared to answer, but Lowie came in and growled a comment. “Good. I’ll go see to him,” Arc said, and headed off with a tool kit and burn cream for Sorvem. Lowie had already been patched up, but Sorvem required repair for his speech impediment. Lowie growled a question to Jaina.

“Just talking with him. He’s pretty entertaining to listen to,” Jaina said.

Lowie growled another question.

“How so? Well, he’s got a lot of knowledge about Palpatine and even Yoda. He’s served in the Empire as Palpatine’s right-hand man.”

Lowie nodded at this. Zekk suddenly came in, and sat down by Jaina. He smiled at the infant she cradled. “Cute little fella, ain’t he?”

Jaina smiled back. “Mm-hmm.” Zekk looked at her. “Reminds me of his mother.” Lowbacca, sensing what was going to happen, went to aid Arc with Sorvem.

Jaina blushed at Zekk’s comment. “Thanks.”

Zekk sat down where Lowie had been sitting. “So, where are Jacen and Tenel Ka?” Jaina explained quickly what Arc had spotted them doing.

Zekk grinned. “Can’t say I’m surprised. I knew it’d happen one day,” he said. Jaina nodded. “How’s your wound?”

Zekk gestured to his wounds, which were patched up. “They’re doing pretty good. Megator isn’t that tough.”

“I would beg to differ,” Jaina said, cocking an eyebrow and gesturing to the baby.

Zekk nodded. “Sorry. I forgot about that for a minute.”

Jaina patted his hand. “Don’t worry about it. Worry about what we’re going to do when we get out of here.”

Zekk squeezed her hand. “Don’t worry period.” Jaina smiled, then went back to cradling the baby.

******

Arc worked feverishly to get a shard of grenade metal out of Sorvem’s speech impediment. Lowie suddenly walked in. He noticed Arc trying to get the piece out, then walked over and pulled on the object.

“Thanks,” Arc said, as they finally yanked it out. “How’s that, Sorvem?”

Sorvem’s answer was just barely audible. “Much betterrrr.”

Arc grabbed a fusion-cutter and did something Lowie’s eyes couldn’t grasp.

“How’s that?”

Sorvem’s answer was as clear as it had been when Lowie’d first heard him. “Perrrfect.”

“Good,” Arc said, then turned to regard Lowie. “Hey, Lowie. Where are Zekk and Jaina?” Lowie growled, pointing to the cockpit.

“Them too?” Arc asked.

Lowie shook his head. They were just talking. Arc looked at the cockpit, still suspicious. “Sorry, but everyone seems to be kissing today.”

Lowie pointed out not EVERYONE was kissing.

“I stand corrected,” Arc said. “I’m not in love with anyone, but Sorvem...”

“Hey!” Sorvem snarled.

“Don’t give me that. You had your eyes all over Mirrakkik when we left Kashyyyk,” Arc pointed out. Lowie barked in surprise.

“You know of Mirrrakkik?” Sorvem asked. The two Wookiees instantly burst into a discussion of Mirrakkik, a pretty Wookiee on Kashyyyk who had an unusually big...bust. Arc rolled his tongue in distaste.

“Lowie, how many Wookiees are in love with Mirrakkik?”

Lowie growled a short reply.

“Overrrr half the Wookiee teens on Kashyyyk?!” Sorvem exclaimed. Lowie hesitated, then mumbled a few more words.

“A TRANDOSHAN fell in love with her?!” Arc and Sorvem cried out in unison. “Whew! She must be hot stuff,” Arc said, “at least for a Trandoshan to fall in love with her.”

Lowie pointed out that she WAS, to most Wookiees. Then he added that he wasn’t one of those Wookiees.

“So you arrrren’t interrrrested in anyone rrrrright now, eh?” Sorvem asked.

Lowie replied with a short growl.

“You were,” Arc repeated. “What was her name?” Lowie said one word.

“Raabakyysh,” Arc said. “I’ve heard that name before, I think.” Lowie chuffed with laughter. He said that there was no way Raaba was alive now. Then Arc did something that shocked him. “Young Wookiee, arm and leg bracelets, red headband, chocolate-colored fur, about this high?” Arc said, raising his hand to about Lowie’s height. Lowie nodded slowly... “Kinda melodious roar?” Arc asked again. Lowie nodded again... “That’s her. I knew it,” Arc said. “I saw her at a spaceport a few weeks before I came to the Academy. She have a star skimmer?”

Lowie jumped up at this. He started barking in a frenzy, rambling questions: “Where was she? How is she? Where can I find her? Can you take me to her?”

“Whoa, whoa! Hold on for a minute! I can’t take you to her RIGHT now, but as soon as we’ve dropped off Jaina, I’ll take you to Mectra, which is where she is,” Arc said. Lowie desperately wanted to go to her, but he agreed to this.

At that moment, a Lycothian officer, a Mon Calamari, ran up to Arc. “My lord, we have a problem,” the officer said, and shoved a radar printout in front of Arc. Arc took it, looked at it as Jaina and Zekk came in.

“What’s going on?” Jaina asked. “Something wrong?” Zekk added.

Arc’s eyes widened in horror, then rage. He stood and looked down at the officer.

“Alert the Lycothian Fleet, and tell them it’s Emergency Code 666.”

Jaina sucked in. That didn’t sound right... Arc quickly shot a glance at Zekk and Jaina. “Zekk, Jaina, we’re in trouble. Go to Lightning Rod and wait until I say to take off.”

“Why?” Zekk asked.

“No time to explain. Go tell Jacen and Tenel Ka and Raynar to stay in Rock Dragon and follow WolvenBlaze to DragonSnake,” Arc said, then ran into the cockpit.

Lowie and Sorvem followed. Zekk shot a glance at Jaina. “Listen, I want you to stay here.” Jaina was stunned. She’d expected to go with Zekk as his copilot.

“What? Zekk, why?”

“Because, I’ve got a very bad feeling about this, and Lightning Rod’s shields aren’t good enough. WolvenBlaze’s is practically indestructible. If something should happen to Lightning Rod...” Zekk stopped, but his message was very clear. Jaina wanted to argue, but the words died in her throat, and were replaced by a large lump that felt like it could be a rock.

“Zekk....” Zekk gave her a hug, and Jaina let it go. She burst into tears on his shoulder. Zekk let her cry for a minute, then when she regained composure, he backed away. “I’m sorry....” Jaina said. “I-I’ve just been under so much pressure.”

“There’s absolutely no need to apologize. Just stay here, and I’ll see you afterwards,” Zekk said, then went off to Rock Dragon and Lightning Rod.

When all of them were set, Jaina sat in the cockpit of the WolvenBlaze, cradling her son. She strapped herself- and her son- into the seat.

“Ready?” Arc asked. Jaina nodded, shot a glance at Sorvem, who was beside her. “Ready.”

Sorvem put a comforting paw on her shoulder. She smiled at him, then went back to her baby. Sorvem tapped her on the shoulder again. She looked at him, then giggled when he gave her a bottle of milk meant for a baby. She took it and started feeding her son. Arc shot WolvenBlaze into space.

Lightning Rod, carrying Zekk and Raynar, came up beside them, and Rock Dragon blasted off behind them. When they arrived in space, Jaina was stunned to see a monstrous horde of heavy cruisers, frigates, corvettes, and thousands upon thousands of fighters: Z-95, X-wing, Y-wing, A-wing, B-wing, E-wing, Cloakshape, and a weird class of fighter that she didn’t recognize.

“L-wing,” Arc said. “Lycothian design. It can take as much punishment as a Y-wing, can shoot as much firepower as a B-wing, and it’s faster than a TIE Interceptor.”

“Looks like what you’d get from cobbling an X-wing and a B-wing together,” Jaina noted.

“Actually, it is,” Arc said. He opened a comm channel. “Beta Squadron, assume position 3 by the Stormslash,” he said, gesturing to a mammoth Bulwark Battlecruiser.

“Beta Lead to Wolven Lead, I copy. Moving into position,” Beta Leader repsonded, as a Z-95 squadron moved up alongside the battlecruiser.

“All ships, prepare for the jump to hyperspace,” Arc said.

“Where are we going?” Jaina asked.

“Dagobah,” Arc said, then turned the comm back on. “Okay...go!” Arc pulled the switch, and slowly the stars started to become streams of light...then the JERK! of WolvenBlaze exiting into lightspeed threw Jaina back into her seat. Five minutes later, Jaina managed to calm the baby down.

“Finally,” Arc said, exasperated.

“Try calming this guy down,” Jaina said. “Here, try it.” She handed Arc the baby.

Arc at first was reluctant, but Sorvem stomping on his foot was enough to get him to take it. Arc looked at the infant, and couldn’t help but smile. “Blue with red- nice clash of eye color,” Arc said. “Kinda purple.” The newborn stuck its hand up, stroking Arc’s nose. “Must he?” Arc asked.

“What should we name him?” Jaina asked. Arc’s eyebrow cocked at the word “we,” but he shrugged.

“I don’t know....well, to get on your dad’s good side, how ‘bout Han Jr.?”

Jaina chuckled. “I don’t think so. Doesn’t fit him. He’s Force-strong, anyway.”

“Jedi and Jedi- you’re right,” Arc said. “Kile,” Jaina said. “Kile.”

Arc thought about this, then nodded. “Kile Solo. Has a nice ring to it.”

“You mean Kile McBride.”

“No, I mean Kile Solo,” Arc said, and the look on his face told Jaina that he wasn’t going to change his mind.

“All right, Kile Solo,” Jaina said. “You’re right, it does have a nice ring to it.”

“Told ya,” Arc said. Lowie barked from the copilot’s seat. “Good. Open a channel to the fleet,” Arc said. Lowie opened the channel, and gave it to Arc. “Okay, pull out of hyperspace here. All heavy cruisers, arm your turbolasers and get ready to protect the target,” Arc said.

They plunged out of hyperspace, over a swamp world. Dagobah.

“Arc, what are we doing here?” Jaina asked.

“We’re going to protect something from those,” Arc said, and gestured to a large Imperial fleet, led by one Super Star Destroyer. The Black Soul.

“What are we protecting?” Jaina asked.

“Look at the far side of Dagobah,” Arc said, without taking his eyes off the SSD.

Jaina looked out the viewport to see a giant, moon-sized object hanging over Dagobah. She sucked in. There it was- possibly the only thing that could destroy the New Republic, and possibly the entire galaxy.

“Good lord....” Jaina whispered, her throat clenched tight.

“Wrong choice of words, Jaina,” Arc said.

There, above the swampy world, hung a Death Star.

To be continued....

*1998 by Arc McBride