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Who: Jaina
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: There's a new engineer joining the Bishop.
When: She might manage to wait five minutes after the latest shuffling.

The layout of these controls don't make any kind of sense. Not by any scheme I've seen on a ship, anyway.

[Yep, there is a teenager with her device propped on a nearby console, leaning elbows on another while she peers at it, intent. As she goes, she nearly taps buttons and levers, behaving enough not to actually muck with anything.]

It's not like snubfighter controls. Believe me, I know. But if this were anything like a Corellian YT-series I'd expect this to handle pitch, and...that should be yaw. Are the thrusters strictly forward? Maybe there's a z-axis control.

[These are all incorrect, and she seems to understand that. She chews her bottom lip, distracted with thought, before she finally turns her head to look directly into the camera again.]

How universal are the designs on these ships? I'm on Bishop, and there's a few things I can peg as customizations, but not too much. I've got a feeling I should try to learn as much as I can. Especially if I'm going to have to open a few of these panels up after a while to make sure it keeps working correctly.

[Admittedly, part of that feeling is the simple fact that regardless of the circumstances surrounding her presence in this fleet, she is stoked about learning the intricacies of a new style of ship.]

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It sounds like you know your way around a ship.

[There's something vaguely familiar about the girl's bright brown eyes and sharp brows, but it's not a feeling she pays much attention to--it's the mention of Corellian ships that really catches her attention. Someone else from their galaxy, clearly--and young, which is all the more reason to offer an answer.]

The Bishop probably isn't much like what you're used to, but you should have some knowledge of whatever you need to do. [A pause.] Has anyone told you about your augment yet?

[She makes a face, and her hand comes up. Stopping short of actually touching it, though. For the moment, she's too scattered to latch onto the fact that Leia doesn't entirely recognize her.]

I noticed. There was an odd feeling. But I can't get a good sense of it like I can most machines.

[She shrugs, and gives the camera a wry smile.]

Sorry -- it's not my fault. I didn't even think I'd be seeing you here. We're a long way from the Core worlds, right?

Whatever the augments are, the technology behind them outstrips most of what we have at home. They're capable of some pretty impressive stunts.

[Her brow furrows slightly. I didn't even think I'd be seeing you here says the girl knows her, but Leia's never seen her before in her life.]

We're in another galaxy, as far as anyone can tell. A long way from the Core.

[Okay, that stops Jaina. Galaxies are big, and she was ready to accept she was in some isolated region that hadn't been properly explored yet. But another galaxy? That was supposed to be impossible. Eyebrows go up.]

Bringing people in from another galaxy. Stunt is one word for it.

Is it verified? I didn't recognize any star clusters when I looked, but I haven't seen proper charts yet.

It's hard to verify anything with the information we have available to us. The last planet we stopped at didn't have any star charts to speak of. But wherever we are, it's a long way from home.

[Even as she speaks, the girl's identity is niggling at her mind. She could use an introduction right about now.]

My name is Leia--but it sounds like you might already know that. What's yours?

We can keep looking. Fleet charts might not be entirely reliable either.

[Jaina has it easy, in terms of identity. Brow knits when Leia introduces herself regardless and asks for her name. It's confusing, and it isn't the sort of oddity she can just rationalize away.]

Mom, are you okay? You sound a little out of it.

[WHOA WHOA WHOA WHOA WHOA]

[Mom. Mom.

It feels unthinkable, and yet here they are. Leia clears her throat, willing nonchalance into her voice.]

...What year was it, where you came from?

[Asking for the year is not helping the notion that something is wrong. Jaina is now actively inspecting the video feed for signs of whether Leia is hurt or...or something. Unfortunately age is a wonky thing in the EU and it's really difficult for her to pick up on Leia being much younger.

She may also attempt to reach out with her senses, but this is not going to be terribly helpful; it's not like checking up on her twin. She knows he's okay.]

It's about twenty-four years since the battle of Yavin. Did you --

[Oh, wait, hang on, she has just been talking to people about the augments. That's plugged into the brain.]

Did something happen? An electrical surge could probably interfere with the implants.

Twenty-four years?

[It's hard enough to picture what the galaxy's going to look like in a few months, let alone a two decades past where they are now.]

How old are you?

[Sure, she should probably answer the girl's--her daughter's--questions as well, but knowing just what she's looking forward to might make that a little easier in the long run.]

Fourteen.

[Said with a slight indignation. She's waiting for an age-related invalidation. And, well, it was only slightly rounding up.]

I feel like there's a lot more going on here than I've been told.

You're not wrong.

[Leia sighs. She's explained this before, to multiple people, but this time, it matters. If this girl really is her daughter, she needs to have a better answer than usual. She ought to be reassuring, and probably half a dozen other things while she's at it.]

When the Atroma kidnap people, they're capable of more than just taking them from different places. They can take them from different times as well.

Which means that you can show up and tell me you're my daughter, even though it's only been four years since Yavin for me.

[Jaina frowns, and is quiet for a bit. She has to turn this information over in her head and see how it holds up. Thing is, this is still her mother, and she's certain no matter how far-fetched it sounds, she would feel it if it weren't true.]

But that would mean the New Republic is just getting organized. Everyone's mostly still rebels.

It was a weird time to be, as she understands it.]

You're not wrong. We were celebrating a victory on Endor when they kidnapped me.

[The New Republic isn't anything at all, really--they've only just managed to chop off the head of the serpent. Time is ticking away with every day Leia's here, and meeting a child half her age really isn't doing wonders for that sense of urgency.

But the frown on her daughter's face is enough to remind her that her own feelings on the matter aren't the most important concern here. This girl is fourteen, and she expected to speak with someone who recognizes her. Who loves her, takes care of her--someone, Leia hopes, who can be relied on. She speaks as gently as she can.]

What's your name?

Jaina.

[Her tone is a touch down, because it's not fun needing to reintroduce herself to her own mother. But...what's she going to do about it? She can't make Leia jump into the future or anything. She's going to have to make the best of the situation.]

Jacen would probably have loved to be there. Plenty of animals for him to round up.

It's a nice name.

[The same thing, essentially, that Padme had said to her. There really isn't a good answer to how to do this, she's realizing--and though she feels bad for how awkward that first talk must have been for her own mother, she's not sure there was a better option.

Who's Jacen? is her next question, naturally. Just how many kids do Han and I have? But she can't just sit here and grill Jaina for information--it's not fair for the girl, and it's not likely to be a satisfying conversation.

What would I want? If she were fourteen, if her mother didn't recognize her--admittedly, that wouldn't have been surprising, in her case, but Jaina seems to have expected her to know her face. Reassurance is what she'd need, she guesses, that even if things weren't right, her mother would still be willing to be...well, something. Some kind of mother.

It's probably a long, awkward pause--by Leia's standards, anyway--as she sorts this out. Poor Jaina.]

You said you're on the Bishop, right? Why don't you meet me on the Starlight? That's the station we're docked at.

[Jaina should probably offer the same consideration that Leia is attempting. It can't be easy to have someone pop out of nowhere and change your life. But...that's not really on her mind. Shes mostly just glad Leia is stepping up and taking charge -- as Leia would.]

We should. Are there any procedures we need to go through before we'll be able to head over?

[Jaina's fourteen years old. She shouldn't have to do anything except trust in her parents and put her best effort into her education. And that means that the next steps are all on Leia's plate--but considering that Leia's her mother and has almost ten years on her anyway, she's pretty sure that's how it should be.

Besides, she can hold it together for a few hours before she gets hold of Han and asks the inevitable what are we going to do? A teenage girl can't be harder to handle than fighting the Empire...right?]

We went through that rigmarole before you arrived. [And Leia's made some credits since that point, so they should be fine for cash. This entire mess will certainly bring in plenty more, once their accounts are unfrozen.] If you wait near where your ship is docked, I'll come and find you.

[Jaina alone is easier to handle than both twins...but the Yuuzhan Vong will come to worship her as a trickster goddess. That says something. Jaina smiles for Leia's offer, and nods.]

I can do that. Sorry I don't have any reunion gifts for you.

[Cash doesn't even occur to her yet. Jaina's used to not needing to worry about a budget, a blind spot born from the privilege of being the Chief of State's daughter.]

Don't worry about it. I'll be there in about ten minutes.

[It's a good thing Jaina's one of the latest descendants of the Skywalker lineage. With the way things have been going, she won't have to worry about money in the Fleet, either.

As promised, Leia shows up near the Bishop's docking port a few minutes later. The station is busy, as it usually is, but there aren't that many people loitering over here--and of them, most aren't chestnut-haired teenagers. Summoning every ounce of grit she has, Leia goes over to the girl as though this is completely normal and expected and not one of the strangest things that's happened to her since she was kidnapped here in the first place.]

Jaina?

[Jaina does her best not to pace. It's hard not to, when she doesn't have anything to divert her attention. There's just waiting and feeling for her mother in the Force. It's one familiar presence in an altogether strange place.

When she sees Leia, her face brightens and she practically rushes over to her, stopping short of bulling into her for a hug. There's a gap between them that needs to be bridged before she can do that.]

Mom! Blaster bolts, it's good to see you in person. Thanks for making time for me.

It's good to see you, too.

[Seeing Jaina dash over to her and then stop is a strange mix of uncanny and guilt-inducing. In person, Leia can appreciate the hints of her and Han in Jaina's features--the pointed nose, that sharp chin, those full cheeks. It's a little eerie, a sort of concrete proof that Jaina Solo is exactly who she says she is...and that makes her Leia's.

At least she doesn't have to lie. If her daughter from the future has to be here in the Fleet, Leia's grateful that she seems to be all right.]

Are you hungry? The food out here is better than what you'll find on the ship. [Some of it isn't even protein blocks.]

I hadn't tried prepping anything. Got a little distracted with the ship itself.

[Priorities. But now that Leia mentions it, food seems like an excellent idea. Probably best not to get into any Force-assisted food fights when mom's around, but lunch at the academy was always a great time for connect with the other students.]

What are we waiting for? Let's see what we can get.

I wonder if they make the same sort of dishes around here. Obviously they're not going to call it Corellian or that sort of thing, but any culture's going to discover spices and the like.

You're not missing much. [Unless you're a fan of food-flavored gel, anyway. And Leia would like to believe she raises her children better than that.]

There's a decent restaurant nearby. [C'mon, future-daughter, let's go get something to eat.] The flavours aren't quite what you'd expect, but it's edible. A lot of noodle dishes.

[Depends on the flavor. She's not about to turn the offer down, though, giving an enthusiastic nod before gesturing for her mother to lead the way.]

'It's edible.' High praise, Mom.

Sounds like you've been eating out a few times. It's got to be good.

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