Fic: "Fast As I Can" (5/? J/Z AU)
Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four
Day 32
Zekk started to throw the news-slide at the wall of his apartment, but just held himself back. Losing his temper wouldn’t do any good. Half of it was concern in disguise, and the other a confused mess of many emotions. But he couldn’t help -
It was all over the news.
JEDI TAKE OUT THE GARBAGE - “WE WILL NOT ALLOW CRUXX TO GET AWAY WITH HIS CRIMES,” SAYS HAPAN PRINCESS TENEL KA CHUME TA’ DJO.
The images, alone, took him aback. The Jedi team had been at a press conference to relay the information. Jaina and an older man (Zekk assumed him to be Kyp) looked bored out of their skulls by the questioning. He had no doubt that both of them would rather be anywhere - even on another mission - than dealing with the press.
One of the team members’ head had been bandaged, and Kyp held himself stiffly, as if he wasn’t yet over his blaster wound. Both on the holo-net, and in the news-slide, pictures of Jaina had her looking much more banged up than she had the night before.
MISSION NEARLY TURNED FATAL, BUT NEVER TOO MUCH FOR JEDI.
She hadn’t told him that she’d just missed getting her “brains blown out” when Cruxx’s capture went badly. Apparently, one of Cruxx’s goons had grabbed her and Jacen, and had held blasters to them in hopes of escaping.
It hadn’t worked, of course, and Jaina and her brother had freed themselves. But why did he have to find that out from a news-slide?
ANOTHER HEROIC ACT FROM THE SOLO FAMILY.
She had never told him her last name.
Her real name was Jaina Solo. As in, the galactic heroes. As in, the family that saved the New Republic more times than anyone could count. As in, the family directly related to Luke Skywalker. (Kriff, Luke Skywalker was her uncle.)
My family… It’s more a matter of…I don’t know, influence than money.
Everyone knew about the Solo family. When Zekk started searching for information on them, he could hardly believe he’d missed the connection.
My mom was always so busy when Jasa and I were kids…even when Anakin was born.
Jaina’s mother. Leia Organa Solo, princess of Alderaan, Jedi Knight, and former Chief of State. No kidding, she had been busy.
Her father, on the other hand… Han Solo, former smuggler, mercenary-turned-hero, ace pilot. He’d actually kidnapped Leia and taken her to Dathomir, and came back for their wedding.
It’s how Jacen - my brother - puts it. Considering he’s way too smart and philosophical for his own good, I figure it’s probably the most accurate.
Jacen Solo, Jedi Knight, mediator, hero, and reportedly in love with - and loved by - the heir to the Hapan throne. Jacen wasn’t Jaina’s only brother - but he was her twin. The two were reportedly closer than anything.
…even when Anakin was born.
She hadn’t talked about Anakin, as much, but with a last name Zekk could easily fill in the gaps. Anakin Solo - named for his grandfather, and as a “sign that Leia had forgiven her biological father” - was said to be one of the most powerful Jedi alive.
All the names she had dropped… Kyp was Kyp Durron; her “uncle” was Chewbacca, Han’s famous partner. The Falcon - kriff, the Millennium Falcon! - that was the first ship Jaina had flown, and she’d smashed it into a bunch of houses.
I have one X-wing, which I have for my job as a pilot. It’s not brand new, but I’ve worked for it. You don’t get my squadron position without it. And…I have two jobs: pilot and Jedi…I’ve been training as a Jedi practically since I was born, and I do it because I need to.
But Jaina…she had left out a lot about herself. Like the fact that she was a major in Rogue Squadron. Rogue Squadron! He’d read about them as a kid. Friends of his had enlistment posters on their walls - most could rattle off a two-decade long account of their deeds.
It was just so…unbelievable. All this time, he had been talking to an ace pilot/Jedi/Solo. She was intricately connected to a world he had read about in history books. The things she had seen, let along done, were so beyond -
Shoving the news-slide aside, Zekk threw himself from his chair. Stars, he thought. She must think he was so stupid! There he had been, babbling about drinks, and his pitiful-but-boring life, and her safety. The first two must have bored her nearly out of her mind; the last now seemed ridiculous. What, like she hadn’t been in far worse situations? How many times had she saved the galaxy, anyway?
Her distress had seemed so real the other day - but what if she had just been playing him? Maybe she was just slumming it, while getting a good laugh at her simpleton bartender.
“Well, kriff her,” he told his door. She’d been lying all this time? Having a good laugh?
Well, he’d figured it - her - out.
End game.
Zekk had survived a lot of loss in his life. Realizing a “friendship” was completely false? That was more than survivable.
In fact, with the temper he’d worked himself into, it was damn easy.
x-x-x
Day 36
It was the “regular day.”
Under a week ago, Zekk had been surprised - happy - that she considered the week’s fifth day theirs.
Under a week ago, he hadn’t known that Jaina’s last name was Solo. He hadn’t decided her intentions were not friendly; he had thought she liked him as a human being, at the very least.
“Okay, I’ll see you next week.”
“Yeah. I’ll see you then. Regular day?”
“Uh - yeah. S-see you then.”
She’d be waiting at the Flash - assuming she really meant it, of course.
Zekk called in sick.
x-x-x
Day 40
“Your girl was asking after you.”
Zekk didn’t look at Mique as he discarded his jacket. “Was she?” he said indifferently. His temper boiled, just below the surface.
“Yeah.” The platinum-haired, dark-skinned bartender took Zekk’s measure with golden eyes. “Wanted to know where you were. I told her you were sick. That you’d be back soon enough.”
Zekk grunted.
“You sure got - and recovered from - that virus quick.”
The dark-haired bartender glared at Mique. “Well, I’ve got a great immune system. Thanks for the concern.”
“Man, you’re an idiot.” Mique snorted. “A girl like that - ”
“Shut up.”
Mique was undeterred. “ - does not come to this kinda diner because of the beer.”
“And losers like us don’t leave joints like this for long,” Zekk snapped. “Go mind your own kriffing business.”
“Whatever, man.” Mique rolled his eyes. “But I can only cover for you for so long.”
x-x-x
Day 50
He kept seeing her in his mind.
A girl like that…
She didn’t come in that day.
He wondered why.
Then told himself it was for the best.
Click here for Part 6
-
Oy, Zekk. Silly boy. Not too many more chapters left before new stuff gets posted. I think...four more posts? Three or four. So hopefully there'll be a new chapter posted here (and maybe on the JCF?) by the end of the week. Ta, sanity.
Day 32
Zekk started to throw the news-slide at the wall of his apartment, but just held himself back. Losing his temper wouldn’t do any good. Half of it was concern in disguise, and the other a confused mess of many emotions. But he couldn’t help -
It was all over the news.
JEDI TAKE OUT THE GARBAGE - “WE WILL NOT ALLOW CRUXX TO GET AWAY WITH HIS CRIMES,” SAYS HAPAN PRINCESS TENEL KA CHUME TA’ DJO.
The images, alone, took him aback. The Jedi team had been at a press conference to relay the information. Jaina and an older man (Zekk assumed him to be Kyp) looked bored out of their skulls by the questioning. He had no doubt that both of them would rather be anywhere - even on another mission - than dealing with the press.
One of the team members’ head had been bandaged, and Kyp held himself stiffly, as if he wasn’t yet over his blaster wound. Both on the holo-net, and in the news-slide, pictures of Jaina had her looking much more banged up than she had the night before.
MISSION NEARLY TURNED FATAL, BUT NEVER TOO MUCH FOR JEDI.
She hadn’t told him that she’d just missed getting her “brains blown out” when Cruxx’s capture went badly. Apparently, one of Cruxx’s goons had grabbed her and Jacen, and had held blasters to them in hopes of escaping.
It hadn’t worked, of course, and Jaina and her brother had freed themselves. But why did he have to find that out from a news-slide?
ANOTHER HEROIC ACT FROM THE SOLO FAMILY.
She had never told him her last name.
Her real name was Jaina Solo. As in, the galactic heroes. As in, the family that saved the New Republic more times than anyone could count. As in, the family directly related to Luke Skywalker. (Kriff, Luke Skywalker was her uncle.)
My family… It’s more a matter of…I don’t know, influence than money.
Everyone knew about the Solo family. When Zekk started searching for information on them, he could hardly believe he’d missed the connection.
My mom was always so busy when Jasa and I were kids…even when Anakin was born.
Jaina’s mother. Leia Organa Solo, princess of Alderaan, Jedi Knight, and former Chief of State. No kidding, she had been busy.
Her father, on the other hand… Han Solo, former smuggler, mercenary-turned-hero, ace pilot. He’d actually kidnapped Leia and taken her to Dathomir, and came back for their wedding.
It’s how Jacen - my brother - puts it. Considering he’s way too smart and philosophical for his own good, I figure it’s probably the most accurate.
Jacen Solo, Jedi Knight, mediator, hero, and reportedly in love with - and loved by - the heir to the Hapan throne. Jacen wasn’t Jaina’s only brother - but he was her twin. The two were reportedly closer than anything.
…even when Anakin was born.
She hadn’t talked about Anakin, as much, but with a last name Zekk could easily fill in the gaps. Anakin Solo - named for his grandfather, and as a “sign that Leia had forgiven her biological father” - was said to be one of the most powerful Jedi alive.
All the names she had dropped… Kyp was Kyp Durron; her “uncle” was Chewbacca, Han’s famous partner. The Falcon - kriff, the Millennium Falcon! - that was the first ship Jaina had flown, and she’d smashed it into a bunch of houses.
I have one X-wing, which I have for my job as a pilot. It’s not brand new, but I’ve worked for it. You don’t get my squadron position without it. And…I have two jobs: pilot and Jedi…I’ve been training as a Jedi practically since I was born, and I do it because I need to.
But Jaina…she had left out a lot about herself. Like the fact that she was a major in Rogue Squadron. Rogue Squadron! He’d read about them as a kid. Friends of his had enlistment posters on their walls - most could rattle off a two-decade long account of their deeds.
It was just so…unbelievable. All this time, he had been talking to an ace pilot/Jedi/Solo. She was intricately connected to a world he had read about in history books. The things she had seen, let along done, were so beyond -
Shoving the news-slide aside, Zekk threw himself from his chair. Stars, he thought. She must think he was so stupid! There he had been, babbling about drinks, and his pitiful-but-boring life, and her safety. The first two must have bored her nearly out of her mind; the last now seemed ridiculous. What, like she hadn’t been in far worse situations? How many times had she saved the galaxy, anyway?
Her distress had seemed so real the other day - but what if she had just been playing him? Maybe she was just slumming it, while getting a good laugh at her simpleton bartender.
“Well, kriff her,” he told his door. She’d been lying all this time? Having a good laugh?
Well, he’d figured it - her - out.
End game.
Zekk had survived a lot of loss in his life. Realizing a “friendship” was completely false? That was more than survivable.
In fact, with the temper he’d worked himself into, it was damn easy.
x-x-x
Day 36
It was the “regular day.”
Under a week ago, Zekk had been surprised - happy - that she considered the week’s fifth day theirs.
Under a week ago, he hadn’t known that Jaina’s last name was Solo. He hadn’t decided her intentions were not friendly; he had thought she liked him as a human being, at the very least.
“Okay, I’ll see you next week.”
“Yeah. I’ll see you then. Regular day?”
“Uh - yeah. S-see you then.”
She’d be waiting at the Flash - assuming she really meant it, of course.
Zekk called in sick.
x-x-x
Day 40
“Your girl was asking after you.”
Zekk didn’t look at Mique as he discarded his jacket. “Was she?” he said indifferently. His temper boiled, just below the surface.
“Yeah.” The platinum-haired, dark-skinned bartender took Zekk’s measure with golden eyes. “Wanted to know where you were. I told her you were sick. That you’d be back soon enough.”
Zekk grunted.
“You sure got - and recovered from - that virus quick.”
The dark-haired bartender glared at Mique. “Well, I’ve got a great immune system. Thanks for the concern.”
“Man, you’re an idiot.” Mique snorted. “A girl like that - ”
“Shut up.”
Mique was undeterred. “ - does not come to this kinda diner because of the beer.”
“And losers like us don’t leave joints like this for long,” Zekk snapped. “Go mind your own kriffing business.”
“Whatever, man.” Mique rolled his eyes. “But I can only cover for you for so long.”
x-x-x
Day 50
He kept seeing her in his mind.
A girl like that…
She didn’t come in that day.
He wondered why.
Then told himself it was for the best.
Click here for Part 6
-
Oy, Zekk. Silly boy. Not too many more chapters left before new stuff gets posted. I think...four more posts? Three or four. So hopefully there'll be a new chapter posted here (and maybe on the JCF?) by the end of the week. Ta, sanity.