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Author	Topic: "Like The Deserts Miss The Rain" (DN AU, dark K/J) -- Chapter 15 up 07/02/09!!
Daughterofflame Registered: Sep '03	Date Posted: 12/16/05 2:17pm Subject: RE: "Like The Deserts Miss The Rain" (post-NJO AU) Chapter 6 up 15 Dec!
	Yay! I'm all caught up again, and now I'm ready for more. grins ~*~Austyn -----signature----- Master to BigFatty!:D Acts 5:41 http://boards.theforce.net/message.asp?topic=18095891 My Light, My Darkness http://boards.theforce.net/message.asp?topic=18473316 After Forever Pt 2 I'm going to say, "Merry Christmas!", thank you very much.
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DantanaSkywalker Title: Manager Emeritus Registered: Apr '02	Date Posted: 12/16/05 2:56pm Subject: RE: "Like The Deserts Miss The Rain" (post-NJO AU) Chapter 6 up 15 Dec! - Date Edited: 12/19/05 4:02pm (3 edits total) Edited By: DantanaSkywalker
	princess_of_naboo posted: He did, with a sense of impending doom, which was completely ridiculous. Wasn't it? Is it..? Still loving this story. Dark Kyp is SO much fun. Hee, glad you're liking him. He's been fun to write even if he's EVIL! princess_melissa posted: I love this story. Dark Kyp fics are my favorite to read. He did, with a sense of impending doom, which was completely ridiculous. Wasn't it? Heh heh . . . You worried for Kyp, or someone else? Lola64 posted: Welcome back Dantana. I love this response to the challenge. Having everything this AU is very cool. Of course to me it was no surprise that Rache was Kyp, coming from a fellow Kyp lover. And I love Kyp any which way he comes. The situation about submitting to him is interesting. You know I'm not really a J/K fan but read them if they make sense to me. And like others you've written that I've enjoyed, that's exactly why I'll be hanging around this one. Although Jaina is so her father I can see her mother here. She gives the impression that she's not really interested in this rebel Jedi however she secretly wants a dangerous man. I'll take a PM if you're getting a list going. Hey, thanks for reading. Glad you're enjoying the AU weirdness. There's a large part of her mother in her, yes. I tried to get across something in . . . chapter three, I think, when she's looking at the holocube. She's looking at a holo of herself, Jacen, Han, and Kyp. She has the holo for various reasons, but something I was trying to convey and probably didn't do too well, through her conversation with Anakin later, as well, is that she's kind of . . . fixated on this. She hates Rache, but the boy in the holo fascinates her, and she's having trouble separating the two, which is the one of the reasons she can't bring herself to kill Rache. She despises the Sith Lord, but through all of her mental pondering on Kyp himself, she's sort of . . . infatuated with him. She probably doesn't even realise this herself, which is why she's struggling with her attraction to him. She begins to realise this in the next chapter, which I'm half finished with. Although she's probably attracted to Rache just for the dangerous part, as well. Daughterofflame posted: Yay! I'm all caught up again, and now I'm ready for more. grins ~*~Austyn Good, 'cause I'm almost ready to post more. You want an update PM, too? I'm sorry I didn't send out the PMs for chapter 6, I had a massive headache and didn't think about it. But I promise I'll get them out for the rest of the story. Dana -----signature----- http://www.kypandjaina.net "I always liked Kyp Durron better, anyway." -- Han Solo H.A.L. 1979-2008. An saol seo, gui duit an saol eile. Congrats, babe. Hope you're still laughing, wherever you are.
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DantanaSkywalker Title: Manager Emeritus Registered: Apr '02	Date Posted: 12/16/05 3:52pm Subject: RE: "Like The Deserts Miss The Rain" (post-NJO AU) Chapter 6 up 15 Dec!
	Still more tension . . . --Chapter Seven-- Jaina found herself knocking on Anakin's door not long after she left Rache in the audience chamber. Her brother answered almost immediately, and he was still dressed. "Jay?" he asked, as he stepped aside to let her in. "I just fought off Rache again," she said. Anakin sighed. "Well, you did agree to his terms. That's likely to give him ideas." She narrowed her eyes at him. "I'm perfectly aware of that, little brother." "So what's the problem? I thought you were going to keep leading him on and then kill him when the Empire's taken care of." Anakin gestured for her to sit down on the only available surface, which was the foot of his sleeping palette. Every other surface was covered with droid parts. Pretty much like Jaina's quarters. Jaina ran her fingers through her hair. Then she picked up a droid motivator off the table near her arm and started playing with it. "I just . . . I don't understand why I even let him kiss me. I never think to stop him until he's already doing it. It blindsides me every time, even when I know it's coming." Anakin sat down beside her. "Don't ask me. My experience with this kind of thing is pretty limited. I mean, there hasn't been anyone since- since Tahiri." Jaina wrapped her arm around her brother's shoulder, though it was hard to do given how much taller he was. "I know. And this isn't something I can go to Mom with. I can just see it. 'Mom, I've got the hots for the guy who killed Uncle Luke and who should have died instead of Dad. Do you have any advice?' She'd probably send me to Hapes and have Teneniel lock me up." Her brother shrugged, unintentionally dislodging her arm. "Maybe he's using mind powers on you? He's an incredibly powerful telekinetic." "He did the first time. The second I'm not so sure about. But tonight he didn't. And I don't know why." She shivered. "Anakin, you said something about redeeming him. Where did you get that idea?" "Uh . . ." Jaina looked up at him. "C'mon, Anakin, you wouldn't have said anything about it before unless you had reason. You didn't want me anywhere near him the night before." Anakin stood up and paced across the room to one of the work stations on the far wall. He turned to face her, started to say something, and then stopped. Finally, he sighed heavily and said, "I had a dream. After you went to bed. In it . . . I saw you and Rache- you and Kyp fighting side by side against a woman with red hair. He had his red lightsaber, but he wasn't dressed as he dresses now. And something about him just looked different. I don't know, maybe it was just a dream." He shook his head, the dark locks flopping. For a moment he looked lost in thought, and then he smiled at her. "Things will work out fine. Just . . . be careful, Jaina." ---------- Jaina had a surprise the next morning. Her best friends, Tenel Ka and Zekk, had arrived from Hapes, so she spent the day out in the jungle with them. They'd noticed the wicked-looking warship in orbit, so she told them as much as she was able to. She'd tell Tenel Ka about the kisses later, but not in front of Zekk. Her friend might do something rash and stupid. Zekk was especially concerned when she told him of the deal with Rache, and what he wanted in exchange for his cooperation. Tenel Ka was more interested in what else he was attempting to bargain for during the negotiation that was going on even now. "Why do we have to negotiate twice?" Zekk asked, as they lounged around their favourite pool. "Why are we even negotiating with him in the first place?" "Because," Jaina said, "he has a very large fleet. And he apparently knows a great deal about the workings of the Empire." "How do you know that?" Zekk sounded suspicious of this news. It was Tenel Ka who responded. "My grandmother, who supports the Empire for some reason, says that Empress Jade wants Rache as her consort. She is the one who gave him the Super Star Destroyer he turned into that monstrosity." She gestured up to the sky, where the spiny shape was barely visible as it passed in front of the gas giant. Naturally, she would feel that way, since Rache's confiscation of one of the Hapan battle dragons destroyed at Fondor by the Peace Brigade. Jaina decided it was time to change the subject. "Are you looking forward to being the future consort?" she teased Zekk. Tenel Ka gave her betrothed one of her rare smiles. "He does not look forward to being my consort if I should become Queen Mother-" "-But I'm looking forward to having her as my wife," Zekk said. "Even if it means being decorative, but not functional." The two gazed fondly at each other. Jaina made gagging sounds and flopped back on the sand. After a few minutes, Zekk went to cool off in the water. Jaina stared up at the tiny shape of the Eradicator and sighed. "This Rache," Tenel Ka said. Jaina almost groaned. "Yeah?" "There is more than you have told us." Brown eyes rolled heavenward as Jaina sat up. "Yup. Of course there is. Let's see, what should I start with, the fact that he made me wear a completely sleezy dress for dinner, or the fact that he keeps kissing me and I can't figure out why I keep letting him?" Tenel Ka's grey eyes looked on her with a solemnity that was surprisingly hard to find since the other woman had become engaged. Jaina tried not to flinch under the scrutinizing gaze. "I am surprised, Jaina, that you have not figured it out yourself. You have said he is an attractive man. And it is natural to be attracted to dangerous men." Jaina shook her head. "I think it's . . . I hate him, Tenel Ka! I hate him more than I've hated anyone in my life, including the Vong. I can even hate him as long as we're arguing, but as soon as he turns that look on me, it's like I have no will power of my own." "Could he be forcing his will on you?" She shrugged uncomfortably. "Maybe. Anakin already suggested that. Rache said last night that he wasn't, but he's a Sith, lying is part of who he is." "This Rache, from what you have told me, sounds like a remarkably honest Sith," her best friend observed. "Yeah, he's real honourable," Jaina snorted. She drew her knees up and wrapped her arms around them, suddenly cold despite the hot jungle air and sunlight. She shivered. "What's happening to me?" Tenel Ka looked over at Zekk, who was doing laps around the pool. "I do not know, friend Jaina. But I hope that you are not in danger." "I'm the Sword of the Jedi, of course I'm in-" Jaina froze. One of her friend's red brows lifted. "What is it?" "He called me the Sword of the Jedi. I didn't think about it before, but something . . ." She shook her head almost violently. "Force, I'm so stupid!" Tenel Ka watched with bemusement as Jaina jumped up, shoved her feet into her boots, and gathered her outer garments. "Where are you going?" "To find a certain Sith lord and smack him for messing around in my head." ---------- Something was troubling her daughter. Leia knew this, but couldn't really find a way to broach the subject with her independent offspring. She hadn't been able to really communicate with Jaina since Duro. That had partially been her fault, Leia knew. She'd let her injury widen the gulf that had come between them since the beginning of the war. But even if they didn't talk as much as they used to, Leia could still see that something was keeping Jaina on edge. Rache, probably, she reflected. The Sith wanted Jaina as his continuing liaison. Leia had the feeling that he wanted Jaina for more than that, however, and that was likely the trouble. He wanted something, something that he wasn't putting forth in the negotiations. Of course, it was natural that he'd have an ulterior motive. He was a Sith, and it was to be expected. Her hand curled in her lap as she thought of everything he'd stolen from her. Rache had taken her brother, and then his rampage had led to the death of her husband, the father of her children. And his betrayal had cost her the life of her son. She still remembered that night clearly. Exar Kun's spirit had sent horrible, terrifying beasts, evil things created through the dark side of the Force. He'd sent them to kill Luke. Jacen, amazingly, had taken up his uncle's lightsaber and fought them off . . . until one of them had snatched the little boy and carried him away, far away though the very window Leia now watched the galaxy through. Nearly twenty-four years later, Leia still carried the grief of those horrifying days. She was afraid she had let it weigh on her children. Besides losing their father and uncle, Jaina had lost her twin. Leia knew the young woman had felt that missing piece of her every day of her life since. Anakin had the burden of his grandfather's name, and the loss of his first love, Tahiri, during the war. And now the man who had caused them so much pain was here on Yavin, for the first time since he'd struck Luke down and stolen the Sun Crusher from the heart of the gas giant where he had helped bury it. Leia supposed that he still had the thing. It was too useful a weapon for a Sith to relinquish, even if his methods had changed from rash and passionate to cool and calculating. Leia closed her eyes against the light and let herself fall back in memory, to a time when her family was whole, and the man who stalked the dark spaces of the galaxy had been nothing more than a boy, experiencing the good things of life for what must have felt like the first time. Han had found Kyp in Kessel, an unfortunate victim of Palpatine's regime. The boy had been in the prison since he was eight years old. Leia knew Palpatine would have used the boy if he could, which was ironic considering what Kyp later turned out as. But for all his bluster and rough edges then, there had been something innocent about the teenager. He had loved playing with the children, helping Han with the Falcon, even if he didn't have many mechanical skills. Jaina in particular had followed him around for the month that Kyp had stayed with them in their old apartment on Coruscant, not long before Leia had had a short term as Chief of State. She'd worshipped the young man, and every third word had been "Kyppie". She wondered if Jaina remembered any of this, or if it was one of the painful memories her child shoved into the recesses of her mind, only to be pulled out in nightmares. Maybe it was better that Jaina not remember that Kyp had been good once. It was too dangerous for her otherwise. The women of their family, after all, had a history of falling in love with dangerous men. ---------- Jaina slammed the door to her quarters and threw herself down on her bed. She'd hunted all over the academy for the kriffing man, and in an ironic twist, the one time she'd wanted his presence, it was as if he'd vanished. He had to have been in her head at some point, to pull out the sword reference. When she was twenty and her mother had finally agreed she should be knighted, Leia had imparted a few words to her after the knighting, had told her that even though Jaina was devoted to the Jedi, she wanted her daughter to be happy and to be more than just a sword for the Jedi. Her mother had known her well. Jaina had spent the five years since then being nothing but. And in the years before, since the beginning of the war, she hadn't been anything else but a weapon then, either. But maybe . . . maybe it wasn't something he'd pulled from her head. Maybe she was nothing but the Sword of the Jedi. Perhaps it was something that even a Sith Lord could see, that she had no other calling than this. Jaina closed her eyes against the tears that suddenly threatened to fall. She didn't want to just be a weapon. She wanted more than that. She wanted what Zekk and Tenel Ka were looking forward to. She wanted what her mother and father had had, before her father had died. She sighed and retrieved the holocube Anakin had caught her looking at. It held all the images of her father and uncle she had been able to find over the years. There were even a few of Jacen locked within, such as the one she studied the most, the single holo she had of Kyp Durron. Jaina let out a shuddering breath as she stopped cycling through the holos, the happy smiling faces looking up at her. Funny how he could look so similar, and be so very different. It was wrong that those eyes, which in her memory and her imagination were so full of peace and happiness, were full of darker things when she saw them now. He'd betrayed more than her family, she thought, as she looked into the faces of three people who no longer existed. He'd betrayed this young man, as well, killing him as effectively as Darth Vader had destroyed Anakin Skywalker. She turned off the holocube and glanced at the projection panel on her wall, the one that gave the illusion that she could see outside, even though she was deep within the temple. She hadn't bothered with the overhead lights in her room, and the only light came from the pretend window. He's not Kyp Durron anymore. "I know," she whispered into the falling darkness. "Force help me, I know he isn't." Dana -----signature----- http://www.kypandjaina.net "I always liked Kyp Durron better, anyway." -- Han Solo H.A.L. 1979-2008. An saol seo, gui duit an saol eile. Congrats, babe. Hope you're still laughing, wherever you are.
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princess_of_naboo Registered: Nov '00	Date Posted: 12/16/05 4:43pm Subject: RE: "Like The Deserts Miss The Rain" (post-NJO AU) Chapter 7 up 16 Dec!
	Great update! I'm kinda disappointed Rache didn't drop in. Thanks for the PM! -----signature----- Reports from the Corellian Conflict - updated 11/22 http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/24309725 Princess of Naboo's Drabbles - Wk 7: Han; Wk 8: Tenel Ka http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/244319
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Grand Admiral Wettengel Registered: Jan '00	Date Posted: 12/16/05 5:39pm Subject: RE: "Like The Deserts Miss The Rain" (post-NJO AU) Chapter 7 up 16 Dec!
	This is such a beautiful fic. Kyp makes such a great dark-sider due to that chivalrous streak in him. He's so much like Jaina's grandpa. Dashing good looks, strength of will and character, and utterly ruthless, but always with firm goals in mind to keep him relatively tame. And he would never be anyone's consort. Anything less or more than a 50/50 arrangement in a relationship wouldn't be to his liking. Could he realistically be thought of to be Callista's type anymore than Mara's? He has no need to dominate, only to bring about relative galactic stability. If he wanted to diminate, he would have taken the Sun Crusher to Coruscant and demanded the surrender of the NR. -----signature----- http://boards.theforce.net/Beyond_the_Saga/b10477/18526131 -- Seed of Darkness -- NJO AU Updated 12/22/05 http://boards.theforce.net/message.asp?topic=20836886 -- Star Wars Destinies NJO AU - NO Vong, stupid living planets and stupidity in general
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Lola64 Registered: Mar '05	Date Posted: 12/16/05 6:54pm Subject: RE: "Like The Deserts Miss The Rain" (post-NJO AU) Chapter 7 up 16 Dec!
	Great update. Jaina's sure gotten herself into a pickle. Jaina slammed the door to her quarters and threw herself down on her bed. She'd hunted all over the academy for the kriffing man, and in an ironic twist, the one time she'd wanted his presence, it was as if he'd vanished. He did. Just to make you mad. He probably knew you figured he was messing with you. He's toying with you Jaina. Wish I was you.... -----signature----- Kyp/Nurse Lola: the new ship I stalk people. It's a Lola thing. Been gone and is now back. Did you miss me?
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DantanaSkywalker Title: Manager Emeritus Registered: Apr '02	Date Posted: 12/16/05 7:25pm Subject: RE: "Like The Deserts Miss The Rain" (post-NJO AU) Chapter 7 up 16 Dec!
	princess_of_naboo posted: Great update! I'm kinda disappointed Rache didn't drop in. Thanks for the PM! LOL, drop in where? The pool? gets ideas Grand Admiral Wettengel posted: This is such a beautiful fic. Kyp makes such a great dark-sider due to that chivalrous streak in him. He's so much like Jaina's grandpa. Dashing good looks, strength of will and character, and utterly ruthless, but always with firm goals in mind to keep him relatively tame. And he would never be anyone's consort. Anything less or more than a 50/50 arrangement in a relationship wouldn't be to his liking. Could he realistically be thought of to be Callista's type anymore than Mara's? He has no need to dominate, only to bring about relative galactic stability. If he wanted to diminate, he would have taken the Sun Crusher to Coruscant and demanded the surrender of the NR. Right. I've attempted to show that here. I mean, he's been a Sith, with the Sun Crusher in his possession, for nearly a quarter of a century. And he's still just off doing his thing, hasn't made a bid for Emperor or anything. I don't think he'd be interested. I think he just wants the freedom to be his own man, so to speak. Thanks for reading. I love it when I can get into discussions like this with readers. Really makes my day. Lola64 posted: Great update. Jaina's sure gotten herself into a pickle. Jaina slammed the door to her quarters and threw herself down on her bed. She'd hunted all over the academy for the kriffing man, and in an ironic twist, the one time she'd wanted his presence, it was as if he'd vanished. He did. Just to make you mad. He probably knew you figured he was messing with you. He's toying with you Jaina. Wish I was you.... Heh, he probably did do it just to aggravate her, though part of him would naturally be curious as to what she wanted. Dana -----signature----- http://www.kypandjaina.net "I always liked Kyp Durron better, anyway." -- Han Solo H.A.L. 1979-2008. An saol seo, gui duit an saol eile. Congrats, babe. Hope you're still laughing, wherever you are.
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Jade_Max Registered: Jun '02	Date Posted: 12/18/05 3:59am Subject: RE: "Like The Deserts Miss The Rain" (post-NJO AU) Chapter 7 up 16 Dec!
	Yikes, Dana, you're an update fiend with this! I adore the Darkside Kyp and how he's toying with Jaina... I also like the way you've added a new depth to Leia's character, and the direction you've taken this... A little er.. shocking that Luke and Han aren't going to pop out of the woodwork, but it's making for some great angst with Jaina and Kup And who else would the Dark Sith Lord be but Kyp! sighs I'm eagerly looking forward to more... I too, would also like to be placed on your PM list - seeing as how I'm only on every other day or after every other 2nd day... Thanks! -----signature----- You'll Like me when I'm Dead - V/P Dark Drama - http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/29236355 Don't think, write. And have faith that your subconscious mind is smarter than you.- lazy RIP my babies; Nibbler, Boo & Mister Magoo
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DantanaSkywalker Title: Manager Emeritus Registered: Apr '02	Date Posted: 12/18/05 4:09pm Subject: RE: "Like The Deserts Miss The Rain" (post-NJO AU) Chapter 7 up 16 Dec!
	Jade_Max posted: Yikes, Dana, you're an update fiend with this! I adore the Darkside Kyp and how he's toying with Jaina... I also like the way you've added a new depth to Leia's character, and the direction you've taken this... A little er.. shocking that Luke and Han aren't going to pop out of the woodwork, but it's making for some great angst with Jaina and Kup And who else would the Dark Sith Lord be but Kyp! sighs I'm eagerly looking forward to more... I too, would also like to be placed on your PM list - seeing as how I'm only on every other day or after every other 2nd day... Thanks! Sure, I'll add you to the list. I need to write chapter 8, but Kyp is being difficult again. It'll be up in the next couple days, though. I've been sick and haven't had much time to listen to his demands. He wants certain things now, and Jaina is like, "It'll snow on Tatooine first", so I'm like . . . dang, why can't these two act like a normal K/J? And Han won't be popping out of the woodwork, but Luke may have a mind of his own, can't say for sure yet. Dana -----signature----- http://www.kypandjaina.net "I always liked Kyp Durron better, anyway." -- Han Solo H.A.L. 1979-2008. An saol seo, gui duit an saol eile. Congrats, babe. Hope you're still laughing, wherever you are.
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princess_melissa Registered: Mar '05	Date Posted: 12/18/05 6:48pm Subject: RE: "Like The Deserts Miss The Rain" (post-NJO AU) Chapter 7 up 16 Dec! - Date Edited: 12/18/05 6:51pm (1 edits total) Edited By: princess_melissa
	Great Update! I was a little dissapointed there was no Kyp in it but I'm sure he'll be around soon, especially if he learns Jaina's looking for him Can't wait for next post EDIT: Oh, can I be added to the PM list too, please? -----signature----- Knighted by Zonoma Twich's Twisted Sisters! My FanArt - Updated 12/14 http://boards.theforce.net/message.asp?topic=21750870 My Drabbles - http://boards.theforce.net/Message.aspx?topic=24379801&brd=10477&start=24379808 Twins Suns 5
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ccp Registered: Apr '05	Date Posted: 12/18/05 7:13pm Subject: RE: "Like The Deserts Miss The Rain" (post-NJO AU) Chapter 7 up 16 Dec!
	This is great. Can I get on the PM list please. -----signature----- Padwan to Big Fatty If someone says, "Have a nice weekend," I never say, "You too." Because I never know if, perhaps, by the time the weekend rolls around, I will have other plans for that person. Come Friday, I may wish to have them slain. - George Carli
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DantanaSkywalker Title: Manager Emeritus Registered: Apr '02	Date Posted: 12/18/05 9:45pm Subject: RE: "Like The Deserts Miss The Rain" (post-NJO AU) Chapter 7 up 16 Dec!
	princess_melissa posted: Great Update! I was a little dissapointed there was no Kyp in it but I'm sure he'll be around soon, especially if he learns Jaina's looking for him Can't wait for next post EDIT: Oh, can I be added to the PM list too, please? Thanks. He'll be in the next few, I can assure you. He's very demanding of his screen time, and one chapter was all he'd give me away from him. I'll get you added right away. ccp posted: This is great. Can I get on the PM list please. Sure can. Thanks for reading. Dana -----signature----- http://www.kypandjaina.net "I always liked Kyp Durron better, anyway." -- Han Solo H.A.L. 1979-2008. An saol seo, gui duit an saol eile. Congrats, babe. Hope you're still laughing, wherever you are.
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DantanaSkywalker Title: Manager Emeritus Registered: Apr '02	Date Posted: 12/18/05 9:47pm Subject: RE: "Like The Deserts Miss The Rain" (post-NJO AU) Chapter 7 up 16 Dec!
	--Chapter Eight-- On the third day, truce was agreed upon. Leia came to Jaina after the negotiations were declared finished and told her that the Council wanted her to go alnog with Rache and be their eyes and ears. Being Jaina's mother, Leia added exortations to be very careful, which Jaina naturally said that she would be. She didn't say a word one way or the other about her new assignment. She'd known that Rache would get her to come with him when he left. It was just the way things were. She'd even already packed a travel case already and had it waiting at the foot of her bed. Reiniger came for her in the middle of the afternoon. She was still talking to her mother when the Sith entered without knocking. "Lord Rache requests your presence now, Knight Solo," the Sith said. "Tell him I'll be there when I'm ready," Jaina snapped. Reiniger pushed back his hood and glared at her. "Now, Jaina." Beside Jaina, Leia stiffened in shock. Her hand reached out and clutched Jaina's arm, her grip tight and painful. Jaina managed not to react and just pointed towards the door. Reiniger sneered at her and left, not even bothering to bow. Jaina didn't breathe easily until the door had closed behind him. "Mom?" She dropped to her knees beside her mother's hover chair. "Mom, what is it?" "That . . . That man," Leia whispered. "He looked very much like your father, only . . . much younger. I- I think . . . Oh, Force, don't let it be." "Don't let it be what?" Even as Jaina asked, she dreaded the answer. The fear and anguish on her mother's face spoke almost better than anything Leia could possibly say. Leia's face looked pale and drawn. She licked suddenly parched lips and breathed, "I think that was Jacen." For several long moments, Jaina felt as if time had stopped. Jacen. Her brother. Her twin. ---------- Rache was waiting for her on the summit of the temple, his hands folded at the small of his back as he looked out over the verdant jungle. Jaina walked right up to him and grabbed his sleeve, yanking on it to turn him around. "Can I assist you, Jaina?" he asked, looking amused in the face of her anger. "You stole my brother!" she said, the volume of her voice slightly lower than shouting, but not by a lot. "You took him and raised him and now he's your apprentice!" The dark green depths of his eyes seemed to go on forever. No expression on his chiseled face whatsoever, and that seemed scarier than anything she'd seen from him yet. "I wasn't sure you were ever going to figure it out," he said in reply. "Who was it? Your mother?" "Who else? What did you expect, to bring her son here? Of course she would know him!" He shrugged, a graceful lift of one shoulder. "I didn't expect anything. I don't go anywhere important without my apprentice at my side. I told him to keep his hood up, but he apparently disobeyed me. He'll be punished for that." Jaina's hands shook at her sides. She took a step back from him. "Why? Why did you take him?" Rache just looked at her, movement and life finally coming into his face. He loooked disgusted. "I didn't do anything except come back to retrieve the boy on Kun's ordered. Kun took him, and through me, Kun raised him. I think he was planning to use his body to restore himself to life. The boy is, after all, very powerful as I've no doubt you and Anakin noticed. My assumption is that Exar Kun was going to possess the boy's body once he reached adulthood." The Sith let his hands drop to his sides and looked out towards the ruin of the temple Exar Kun had built for himself, the molten obsidian slag on a lonely island in the middle of a dark lake. Jaina had seen it herself, and she'd even been there yesterday, trying to sort out what was going on in her head. "I couldn't let Kun do that, even if he was my master. So I carefully prepared, and I destroyed him. I couldn't destroy the boy, of course, so I have worked to train him as my apprentice, rather than my master. Naturally, one day he will kill me and take my place, as it always is. Or at least he will try." He reached for Jaina, and she dodged his hand. "Why are you telling me this?" "Because I want you, Jaina. Surely you know that I do not keep mistresses. I want you for my . . . mate, I suppose. My consort." "I'll never turn." Another shrug. "We shall see." Rache moved around her, careful not to touch her. He tossed back over his shoulder, as he stepped to the edge of the rooftop platform, "I think it is time we should be going." He stepped off the edge. Jaina ran to the edge, not believing her eyes, believing them less when she saw him land safely on the ground, his knees bent to lessen the impact. Of course, he'd most likely used the Force to cushion his landing. "Nice trick, Rache. But trickery won't save you. They didn't call me Yun-Harla during the war for nothing." ---------- She went back to her quarters to retrieve her luggage. The whole way, she debated whether or not to tell Anakin who Reiniger really was. Part of her was afraid of what Anakin would try to do, and the other part of her was afraid of what he'd ask her to do. There was no way she could redeem both of the Sith. She wasn't even sure she wanted to try with Rache. But Reiniger was her twin, the other half she'd shared everything of the first two and a half years of her life with, including their trip into the underworld of Coruscant as toddlers. Jacen, she thought, and sat down on her bed. I'm going to save you, Jacen. It's not your fault you've turned into this. He[/i] did this to you, and I swear, I'm going to get you back.[/i] ---------- Rache was in the pilot's seat of the remarkable ship when Jaina boarded it. She would not be taking her X-wing. She was going to play his game, pretend to do as he wished, perhaps even get one of the sleek fighters he had offered her. He would not know what hit him. "This is a beautiful ship," Jaina said. She looked around the cockpit. There was no co-pilot, and the guards were elsewhere on the ship. "Thank you. She's the Shadow Chaser," he said, not looking up from his pre-flight controls. "The Shadow Academy had her, and I appropriated her when I . . . assumed control of them. That wasn't long after you were a . . . guest of the very, very stupid Brakiss." "What is the hull made of? I've never seen anything like it." Rache gestured for her to sit down. "It's quantum armor, phase-shifted. I fed the information I got from Qwi Xux's head to another scientist and he made this for the Shadow Academy. Naturally, I killed him and then the rest of the academy's 'teachers'." She sank into the co-pilot's seat and tried not to audibly gulp. "Why did you do that?" "I didn't have quite the resources then as I do now. It was Empress Jade who set up the Shadow Academy, and she thought the Shadow Chaser was all her idea." Rache snorted in derision and glanced at her. "Are you ready, Jaina?" No, she most certainly was not. But she nodded anyway and braced herself as he took the ship up. Get close to him, learn his secrets. Use him to bring down Mara Jade, and then kill him. Somehow, during that, redeem Jacen. A tall order for a single Jedi Knight. But she was a Solo and a Skywalker. Surely she could do it. She had to, because the very galaxy was at stake. ---------- The ship was small, and there were only two real cabins. Rache's guards were staying in the cargo hold, and Reiniger--Jacen--had the other cabin. Jaina had no choice, unless she wanted to sleep on the floor of the cockpit, other than to stay with Rache. She'd thought they were going back to the Eradicator, but Rache had informed her that they would, eventually, but there was something he needed to do first. Fortunately, he had, as usual, seen to creature comforts and had a large bed in the cabin. Unfortunately, she was going to have to sleep in it with him. She stared in dismay and let her case fall to the floor at her feet with a thump. "Aw, stang." "Worried, Jaina?" Rache's voice purred in her ear. Jaina barely managed not to shriek. She shied away from him, but the cabin was pretty small and with the bed in here, there was precious little room. That was probably the intent, come to think of it. "No," she lied. "Not worried. Just hoping you'll remember our deal and keep your hands to yourself." He smirked. "I don't go back on my word, Jaina. I said that you could choose the time. I didn't say, however, that I wouldn't try to . . . persuade you as to when it would be." "Well, it's not today," she snapped. "So you just . . . stay on your side and I'll stay on mine!" Rache feigned an expression of disgruntled resignation and sighed. "Fine. Have it your way, little Jedi. Besides, you've obviously got your scales up over your brother. I don't want you unwilling." She glared at him, eyes spitting brown fire. "Keep that in mind, Rache, and I might not have to kill you before you do your job." He took two steps forward and shoved her against the wall. "I'll do my . . . job . . . Jaina. Just remember that if you break our bargain, I'll have no choice but to bring down your Republic. And that will include the Jedi. So eventually, you're either going to have to give in, or everyone you know is going to die." Tears welled in her eyes and she blinked them away, refusing to let him see weakness. "I hate you," she whispered vehemently. "I know," he said, in a soothing voice, his manner suddenly seeming to soften. He brought his lips close to her ear as he stroked her hair. His breath was hot on her skin. "But, Jaina . . ." Jaina closed her eyes, tried to fight the feeling that rose within her. No, she thought. He's playing with your mind, don't listen! "You don't have to love me to want me." And then he was gone, and she sucked in lungfuls of air as she sank to the floor, sliding down the wall to collapse in a confused heap. Force help me. Dana -----signature----- http://www.kypandjaina.net "I always liked Kyp Durron better, anyway." -- Han Solo H.A.L. 1979-2008. An saol seo, gui duit an saol eile. Congrats, babe. Hope you're still laughing, wherever you are.
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ccp Registered: Apr '05	Date Posted: 12/19/05 3:39am Subject: RE: "Like The Deserts Miss The Rain" (post-NJO AU) Chapter 8 up 18 Dec!
	Thanks for the PM. I Figured it would be Leia that recognised Jacen. Good stuff. -----signature----- Padwan to Big Fatty If someone says, "Have a nice weekend," I never say, "You too." Because I never know if, perhaps, by the time the weekend rolls around, I will have other plans for that person. Come Friday, I may wish to have them slain. - George Carli
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Golden_Jedi Registered: Jun '05	Date Posted: 12/19/05 4:05am Subject: RE: "Like The Deserts Miss The Rain" (post-NJO AU) Chapter 8 up 18 Dec!
	Oh, Jacen is back! Cool. -----signature----- New Bespin Café - come visit THE place for H/L fans http://boards.theforce.net/fan_fiction_resource/b10304/29538471 Diving (a H/L intertrilogy AU) http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/27836852
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