The Road to Kinship (A Single-Post Jedi Academy/NJO Story. . . very, very slight DW spoilers)

After months away from the boards, I have returned with a story that sort of jumped up and bit me when I least expected it. It's sort of a vignette that focuses on a character I hadn't given much thought to until the NJO (about which I still have mixed feelings).

On a side note, I did some research on said character, and discovered that although a particular NJO author described his eyes as green, the actual creator of the character described them as brown. So to avoid controversy, no description of eye color will be found in this story. Green or brown, you decide.

And now,

"The Road To Kinship"


As the door to the Solo apartment opened, peals of mischievous laughter drifted outward, escaping on the midmorning breeze. The twins, the visitor thought with a wry grin. Four year-old, Force-sensitive menaces. He shook his head sympathetically as he brushed past the ever-present and perpetually irritating protocol droid that greeted him in the foyer.

"Greetings, master?" the droid began in his prissy voice before the visitor interrupted him unceremoniously.

"Is Han here?"

If possible, the droid seemed somewhat miffed, but replied, "I'm afraid not, sir. He and Mistress Leia have gone to meet Master Luke this morning. The children are in the care of Chewbacca and myself, although I am beginning to wonder about the wisdom of such a decision. I fear that Master Jacen and Mistress Jaina are rather?"

Again the fretful droid was cut off as the two topics of discussion came barreling into him at an inhuman speed, laughing uproariously as his shiny metal body toppled headlong onto the polished floor. The combination of childish laughter, clanging metal, and the droid's mechanical wails of "Oh my!" was deafening, and the visitor staggered under the acoustic barrage.

"Merciful Force," he groaned, his hands pressed against his ears as he watched the two children pick themselves up from on top of their fallen "nanny."

Two pairs of brown eyes looked up to meet his own, and a smile spread across both of their faces. They were almost identical, but for the long tangled braids that drooped from behind the ears of the one child who stood quickly and eagerly, clapping her tiny hands together.

"Did you see that?" she exclaimed, breathless from laughing, but apparently not at all winded from their dash into the foyer. "Did you see how fast we went?"

Before he could reply, a mountain of fur emerged behind them. The youngest Solo child sat giggling in the furry arms as Chewbacca growled what was apparently a reprimand directed at the two children.

"We used the Force," the second twin explained, ignoring the Wookiee and helping the droid to its feet. "Uncle Luke told us a story about how the Force made this guy run really fast without getting tired, and we wanted to try it! It worked!"

"Jacen," the visitor said, bending over and resting his hands on his black-clad knees so that he was eye-level with the boy, "I think Chewie is trying to tell you something."

"But you saw us," the other continued, his brown eyes suddenly pleading. "Didn't you, Uncle Kyp?"

Kyp Durron sighed and looked toward the other twin who was sucking in her bottom lip pensively even as her eyes regarded him as eagerly as her brother?s had. "Yes, I saw you," he said gently. As the twins relaxed and exchanged pleased glances with each other, he added, "And I'm impressed, but you shouldn't be using the Force when there's no one here to guide you, remember?" For a moment, his eyes darted to the Wookiee, who stood shaking his head in exasperation. "I mean, look what you did to Threepio. Look how upset you made Chewie."

The twins' pleased looks abruptly evaporated as they turned to look at the Wookiee behind them. Through the Force, Kyp could tell that they had not been truly deflated, but they appeared convincingly contrite as they said in unison, "We're sorry."

In response, little Anakin blew his siblings a rather wet raspberry before giggling and waving his tiny hand toward K

 

Awww...Uncle Kyp? That's a new one...but approprite if you ask me.
-The Queen

 

Well, I am happy that you approve.

I know I'm going to run into some opposition from all of the J/K fans out there, but I was really intrigued by the platonic relationship that emerged between Jaina and Kyp in the novels. Granted, the triangle was a lot of fun while it lasted, and I still think there are a lot of emotions still left to be sorted out between them, but I just don't see a twenty year-old female jumping into a romantic affair with the thirty-four year-old family friend that she's known since she was two.

Not that I'm saying that it couldn't happen, but it certainly wouldn't be an overnight development, in my opinion.

And just so you all know, I've really come to like Kyp's character in recent novels. I didn't care for him in the KJA books, and I absolutely detested him at the beginning of the NJO (self-serving pig that he was), but I've enjoyed his transformation. . . and I thought that his rant in DW was one of the best moments in the book!

 

**Shamelessly rescuing this from an early demise (page 8? )**


Here's hoping that more than one person will read this. . . . .

 

I completely agree about every thing you said about Jaina and Kyp's relationship...romantic or otherwise...
-The Queen

 

Wonderful! Wonderful!

I absolutely agree with everything you said about Kyp. I loved how you portrayed him as a real person, not just a cardboard cut-out, likes he's been of late in the novels.

"Have you forgotten, oh Senile One, who beat your record at the Belt?"

Classic Jaina all the way.

Once again, wonderful job!!

 

Thank u so very much Knightmara, I was feeling a littler bit down in the dumps today and your story is just what i needed. Thank you so much for a great story and even thou i belive that kyp and jaina belong together; i really do love your idea of him as "Uncle Kyp" it does fit in a way. thanks again.
Jaya_Jade.

 

i'm a big k/j shipper (obviously), but i'm getting used to the platonic relationship, and if it's written well, i like it. and this was written very, very well! I loved it! You wrote Kyp so well...

anyways, that was great and I loved it!

 

Yay! Readers! Thank you for your replies, truly!

JainaJediQueen -- It's good to know that I'm not totally way off base here.

Leah-Beth -- Yeah, he's seemed sort of carboardish to me lately, too. Hence, my desire to really delve into his character. And as I wrote, he really started to grow on me.

Jaya_Jade_Durron -- I'm glad you enjoyed the story and that it helped you out, even if it showed a flip-side of their relationship. Like I said, I'm not opposed to possible romantic involvement. I just think it would have to overcome a lot of hurdles in order to happen.

Jedi_Jaina_Durron -- Yay, I met with the approval of the J/K-ers!!! And thank you! I have to admit that I was totally opposed to anything but a platonic relationship when I first began reading the boards, but I too have become a little more open to the possibilities.


Now here's a question: Having posted this one-poster, I now find my brain filling with still more J/K vignettes. Do I continue this, and turn it into a series of short J/K stories, do I post a separate sequel, or do I leave them alone?

Your response determines my next course of action, so please be honest.

 

I would love to see more K/J vignettes, but a longer story would be nice too. I guess it all depends on how much you want to write. Whatever you decide will be fine with me.

 

Thanks for the FB Leah-Beth.

I just worry about overkill. . . .and if I write more, should it be a continuation of this, or a separate story all together?

Any suggestions?

 

My goodness don't leave your ideas alone. Please post them!

Jez

 

Awww. I liked this. This is a whole diffrent way of looking at it! Very good and well written!