Mahk looked uncomfortable. Logan knew that Mahk didn't have any children of his own. So he was naturaly uncomfortable. But Logan loved children, een though he didn't have any of his own.

"Well hello. It's very nice to meet you"

As Jai continued her tour of the SSD, Brenna asked to be put down, and when she was, she wandered back to Mahk. She walked beside him, looking up at him with her big, innocent, brown eyes filled with curiousity.
"Why do you walk so far behind everybody else? Why don't you have any fur? Why are you so short? Are you Mr. Logan's friend?"...Kids...ya gotta love 'em.

Jai showed the little group the bridge, the 'nerve center' of the ship. A bustleing crew stopped long enough to salute and then went back to thier duties. Jai shrugged and explained that she had always been the "Grand Admiral's Wife", and had never been given a big 'welcome back'.

"The Bridge isn't exactly the most interesting place on the ship...but the level above us is.", Jai said with a sly smirk. The group rode the turbolift up to the next level and the doors slid open to reveal a true shocker...

It was like steeping from a cold, durasteel elevator to a lush, green, tropical jungle...complete with mugginess, steam, (harmless) wildlife, tall trees, shallow pools, pebbled walkways, and magnificent grassy spots.

"This, boys, is <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> my<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> sanctuary."

Giggleing and roaring could be heard in the distance suddenly and Jai turned and narrowed her eyes to the seemingly endless green wall of trees and called out, "Sirra?!...Beua?!"

"Mama!"

Within seconds a boy, almost identical to Brenna came running out of the 'jungle' to Jai. "Mama Mama!" He latched onto her leg and hugged tightly. Jai smiled and reached down, ruffeling up his hair. The boy was followed by a female Wookie.

"Joren...this is my son, Beaureguard. And my children's nanny, and a old friend of the family, Sirra."

When Mahk first saw the Wookie he slipped in front of Logan and looked ready for anything. When the Wookie didn't atack and Jai explained who she was, Mahk stepped back into his guard position. Logan smiled at Sirra.

"Hello. Very nice to meet you"

The Wookie nodded and stepped next to Jai.

An hour or so later they were back in the quarters he had been given. The children and Sirra had left a few minutes earlier.

Logan sat back as he spoke with Jai.

"You have lovely children, Jai. I am glad you took me here"

She nodded but didn't say anything. He suspected that she was still grieving for her husband. He knew the feeling.

"Jai, I know what you are going through. My wife was killed in a fire."

Jai looked very distant...and very different. For some odd reason she had taken out her contacts, returning her eyes to their natural brandy brown. She had also neutralized the dye in her hair, and restored it back to its natural light brown.

She leaned back on the couch, across from Logan, as she spoke, "Stabbed with a lightsaber. Dieing in a fire. There such horrible deaths. Why couldn't they have gone in their sleep? Old and gray and by our sides?"

Jaina sighed and ran her fingers through her brown hair..."Why does life have to be so complicated?"

As Logan was about to answer, a huge rumble went through the ship. Several pictures and lamps fell over and Logan was knocked off his seat and ended up on the floor.

Jaina was laying a little ways over as well. Logan scrambled to his feet and kneeled by her side. She had a cut on her temple just over her eye. Logan pulled his commlink.

"Mahk!"

"I am on my way, lord"

"Please hurry--"

The door slid open to reveal the grey-skinned Noghri.

"Mahk, help Jai. She is hurt. I am going to the bridge"

The Noghri obeyed and kneeled by Jai's side, who was just starting to come around.

Logan walked onto the bridge a moment later and saw only confusion. The commander of the vessel was dead and only an inexperianced Commander was in charge. Logan went to the side and saw what was happening. Several old battlecruisers and an Interdictor were attacking the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Knight Hammer<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> and the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Keerow<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->. The commander looked over and at Logan. Logan just stared back into those young, frightened eyes.

"Admiral Logan, I would be honored if you take command of the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Knight Hammer<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> and defeat the pirates"


Logan stepped up and took the center chair.

"Port and dorsal Turbolaser batteries, open fire on the centermost battlecruier. Starboard and ventral turbolaser batteries, open fire on the leftmost battlecruiser. Ion cannons..."

Jai awoke to Mahk's concerned gaze..."Mrs. Darklighter, are you well?"

"Y...Yes, I think so." Jai sat up and looked around. Logan was gone and Sirra, Beau, and Brenna were all on the couch, looking quite shaken.

"What's going on, Mahk?"

"I believe we are being attacked. The Admiral has gone to help."

"What?!" Jai went to stand, but slumped back down to a sitting position on the coffee table. She put a hand to her temple and winced. "Okay...maybe I'll just stay here for a moment."

She hoped Logan had everything under control...

"Admiral, one of the battlecruisers has been destroyed. And two others have been immoblized by Ion fire."

"Good job, how many more?"

"Three, and all but one are retreating"

"Destroy the one that isn't backing off"

"Yes sir"

Logan turned to a young ensign.

"Ensign, I want you to find out how Jaina is doiung and report back to me"

"Yes sir"

Jai walked in and the young ensign walked out. The kid did a double-take and then followed her back in, "Admiral, Sir. I found her." Jai raised an eyebrow at the kid, who just shrunk back and slipped off to finish his regular duties.

Jai had changed into a different shirt, but had kept her brown boots and black pants. She also had a white bandage over the cut on her forehead. "I thought you might be able to use some help...but it seems you have it all under control."

Lgan turned around back to the commander.

"Admiral, the battlecruiser has been destroyed. The other two are retreating"

"Good. Keep me informed"

"Yes sir"

Logan walked off the bridge with Jai. And he was vaugely aware of Mahk follwing behind. Logan put a hand on Jai's shoulder.

"I will find out why they attacked us. There has to be a good reason"

Jai nodded. She decided ot let Logan handle it. He was more then qualified and seemed to be enjoying, in an odd way...