Chapter III

    "But that’s not the right way to solve our planet’s problems!" Karaya almost shouted to her sister.
    "And what IS the right way? How would you know? You’re just a girl, Karaya. You have to trust ME! I know what’s right for us."
     "I’m not sure about this. I only know that a civil war is no solution, Aleesha."
     "Shut up now, you stupid, little baby. Two months ago, you said my plans were good. And now you suddenly don’t want to support me? Spare it, little sister. You are involved in it as deep as I am, and you know that full well."
    Karaya breathed deeply, then said calmly. "What is this curious chair in the cavern for? And these creatures, what do you want with them? And why, if you want this civil war, have you asked for a Jedi negotiator and the Chief-of-State?"
     Her sister’s deep black eyes narrowed. "You were in the cavern? I haven’t allowed you to go there. How can you dare...!"
     "Aleesha, that’s my house, too. And I want to know what that chair is for. And why you are keeping Kumo prisoner. I thought he was at home for weeks now!"
     Aleesha stayed silent for some while. Finally, she sighed. "Okay, I will tell you this because you are my sister. I have great plans for this planet, Karaya. It will belong to me, as well as this entire system. And then I will change everything. Everything will be...better. Everything will be just fine."
     Karaya’s eyes grew wider. "How will you do that? The entire system?! How?"
     "I will say only one name: Luke Skywalker."
     "The Jedi Master? You can’t really believe he would help you with such a plan! With a civil war! You’re crazy." Karaya whispered.
     "Oh, I don’t expect him to help me...us. It’s what the chair is for."
     "I don’t understand."
     "Karaya, with this chair and the drug Kumo has made for me, Luke Skywalker will do everything I want him to. I’ve studied the Alliance history to find a weak point and discovered some data about a reptilian race named Ssi-ruuk. They have used these chairs to drag a being’s life energy out of his body. I stole the design plans from the computer center I was in and gave them to Kumo. He created a new chair for me, and a new drug. It will force Luke Skywalker to obey my wishes. With his Force abilities, he will steer my clone army. They will be perfect soldiers with a will and a force as great as his."
     Karaya was shocked. This plan was....was evil, horrible. She couldn’t even find a word for what she wanted to say. "You can’t do this to him!” She shouted.
     "Oh, I can, little sister. Believe me. He is arrogant and not interested in anything concerning our world. He only wants more glory than he already has. He deserves it and he will be doing us some good."
     Karaya remained silent. Of course, she didn’t know Luke Skywalker, had never seen him. Perhaps her sister was right? "Have you ever met him? Do you know him well enough to judge him like this?" she asked seriously.
     Aleesha barely covered her grin. Now, her sister was in her hands. "Sure. He is exactly like I said. You’ll see it when he comes here. But he will help us and do something good in his life. Now go back into  the senate again and prepare everything for the following week. Lor Areo  will soon have freedom and liberty without aristocracy."
    "True democracy," Karaya said with shining eyes.
     "Sure." Aleesha smiled. Karaya would be surprised. And Luke Skywalker would be surprised, too.
 

    Leia ran into her brother’s chambers just in time to see Chewbacca lifting him. Han had called the Wookiee right after he had called wife and the medic-droid. Chewie took Luke’s limp body into his strong arms and carried him back into the living room, laying him down on the couch. Luke was pale and didn’t move when Leia sat down beside him and took his hand. "What happened, Han?" She asked.
     Han looked pale as well as he stared at the unconscious form of his friend. "We talked for a while and he was finally understanding what I was trying to say when suddenly he turned around to face me, said no, and then backed away and fainted."
     "By the dark moon of Onderon, what did you say to him?!" Leia stared at him questioningly, putting a smooth pillow behind her brother’s head.
    "Nothing. Well, I just talked about how I don’t like that he always thinks he has to play the part of the Jedi Master and we had a little discussion about our friendship."
     Leia’s eyes narrowed. She could imagine very well what the discussion had been like. Han lifted his hands defensively: "Hey, it wasn’t my fault, Leia. When he fainted, everything was clear between us. He agreed with me and he even laughed. I’m sure he didn’t faint because of this friend-to-friend thing."
    "You sound so sure of yourself.  Why then, my dear Captain Solo,did he faint? Just for fun?" she hissed.
     Han snorted and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Think what you want to think, Princess. I know what happened. And Luke will say the same."
     "When he awakes." Leia added darkly. Han snorted again. He knew he wasn’t responsible for this breakdown. No. He didn’t know. He only hoped that he wasn’t. To speak the truth, Han didn’t want to think that his talk had caused Luke that much pain and suffering. R2 rolled into the room, followed by the medic-droid 2-1B and a very nervous 3PO.
     "Oh dear! R2 just informed me about Master Luke’s breakdown. I hope it isn’t something serious. Poor Master Luke."
    Leia said nothing. It was best to ignore 3PO if he was in this mood. She stood up to make room for 2-1B and took her husband’s arm. "Hey, don’t be angry with me. He’s my brother. I’m allowed to worry about him."
     Han’s tensed face exploded into a smile. "Sure you are. It’s just that I really don’t know why he’s fainted. And I feel really unconfortable with the thought that I might be responsible for it."
     Leia squeezed his biceps. "I’m sure you aren’t. But I don’t know if I might feel better if you HAD been the cause."
     Han swallowed. "Yeah, I know what you mean," he murmured, then asked aloud. "So, what’s wrong with him, 2-1B?"
     "It seems to be a rather simple breakdown, Master Solo, not a disease. Probably, he just was too weak to be up that long. I’ll give him something to wake him up first and then something to calm him down...if you will allow, that is. Your Excellency, I heard rumors that Master Skywalker is expected to go to a planet named Lor Areo in a diplomatic mission tomorrow evening. Is that correct?"
     "Yes, it is. Do you think he can make it?"
     "He should be able to, if he rests now. Am I allowed to tranquilize him?"
    Leia shifted uncomfortably and looked uncertainly at her husband. "What do you think? I mean, he hates to be tranquilized," she murmured.
     "Well...2-1B,does this drug come as a pill too? We can try to put him into bed first and if he decides to be stubborn we can give him the pill."
    Leia grinned. "That’s your first good idea for today, Han Solo."
     "I’ll do as you wish, Madam.
    Now I’ll give him something to wake up." 2-1B pushed his needle arm in Luke’s forearm and only
seconds later, Luke began to stir. He groaned and his eyes opened slowly. He saw the medi-droid
and groaned again.
    "Oh no. Don’t say I’m in the clinic again."
    "No, you are in your apartment." Leia said.
    Luke sat up carefully, leaning heavily in the couch and trying to adjust his vision. He registered Leia for the first time, then looked baffled at Han and at himself sitting on the couch.
    "What am I doing here? And what are YOU doing here? I’m sure you weren’t here when I..."
he stopped, his eyes widened. "What happened here?" he asked.
    "Well, kid, you really scared me this time. At one moment, you’re laughing and saying you understand me, and in the next moment, you faint before my eyes. I hope you won’t do this more often the next time," Han said as sat down next to Luke.
    "I fainted? Really? Strange." Luke murmured.
    "Depends on your point of view I’d say." Leia said sharply.
Luke lifted his head and looked at her: "Huh?"
    "What huh?" Leia asked back.
    Luke stared at her, then looked at Han. "What is she talking about?"
    "I said it depends on your point of view." Leia repeated sourly. "Oh...you’ve asked me something. Sorry."
    Luke mumbled, scratching his head.
    Han laughed. "Kid, I think you’re ready for a good, long nap!" Luke looked at him again, his eyes tired, but somehow...strange. No, not strange, but...and then, it hit Han. There was no Jedi Master expression in his eyes. Luke grinned as he saw the expression on his friend’s face.
    "Well, I didn’t forget our discussion, Han. And I think you said a lot really true things."
    Han grinned back. "I hoped so, kid. So you’re not angry with me?"
    "Why should I be? Because you were speaking the truth? I considered proposing a truce as a show of true frienship. You agree, don’t you?"
    "Uh, yeah, I think." Han smiled.
    "Good. Then I can say that if you ever scare ME again the way you did this evening, I’ll kill you. Got it?"
    Han smiled more broadely. He knew what Luke meant and he knew Luke wouldn’t want to say it loud before his sister. As well as Han didn’t want to say it loud before his wife.
    "Got it, little one."
    "And don’t call me little one," Luke added.
    Han laughed. Just now he realized how much he had missed this part of Luke.
    "Really funny. But now we have to stop this chit-chat so Luke can get to bed. He needs his sleep before we’re leaving for Lor Areo," Leia said.
    Luke, who already was on the way to his bathroom to get ready for bed, stopped and
turned to his sister. "Lor Areo? Leaving? Obviously I missed something here."
    "Yeah. The great republican Senate is worried about a civil war on this small thing of a planet. They have asked for mediators and the Senate has suggested Leia and you. I’ll come along as a babysitter for you, Junior, just to ensure you don’t break our deal.
    "I can’t remember any deal and I don’t need a babysitter. I’ve never needed one."
    "Sure. Believe whatever makes you happy." Han chided.
"Ah, eat my lightsaber, Solo!" Luke growled, a happy edge in his voice. He vanished in his
bathroom. Leia stared at Han: "Was that....that was...he has chided you! He has react like...
like..." "Like Luke Skywalker, farmboy, pilot and beside this a Jedi Master. Hey Leia, I said I
would succeed, didn’t I?" "Yeah. But you say  lots of things if you have much time, you nerf
herder. I’m used in not believing a quarter of it." she replied and left the apartment. "Hey, I
feel like we have to work on this lack of trust between the two of us." Han shouted, following
her fastly. "And I feel like you have to work on your brain. It doesn’t work well enough." Han
grinned mischievously: "Well, about this time of the night, other things of me are working."
Leia grinned back: "So? Well, I am tired. You think they’ll work tomorrow evening again?"
"Tomorrow evening we are on  the Falcon...along with Luke." "Ah, yeah, I forgot. What a pity."
she chuckled and ran down the stairs to avoid his angry pull.

Luke watched himself in the mirror above the sink in his bathroom. How long had it been since he
had chided Han? How long had it been since he had felt like this, so free and light? He didn’t
know it. But he know he had lived totally false. And it had to change now. What Han had said
about the Jedis back there on the balcony.... Luke had never seen it that way. But Han was
right, he could understand this now. The shock was still somewhere inside him. The shock of
Han saying he didn’t want to be Master Skywalker’s friend. In the first moment, Luke had felt
like dying. The thought of loosing Han’s friendship, and along with this his other friends too,
his sister, because of being a Jedi, the very core of his life, was horrible. If he hadn’t come
to himself moments after that, if Han hadn’t come back...Luke didn’t know what he would’ve done.
He had felt totally empty after Han had turned away from him. Empty and alone. But all was good
now, he said to himself, making himself comfortable in his bed. Yes, all was good.... Someone
dragged the cover over him, but Luke was already half asleep.

R2 whisteld softly and was relieved when his Master sighed contently in his sleep. When Han
Solo had turned away and gone to the door, R2 had thought his Master would totally break down.
Not his body, but the thing humans called soul. R2 imagined it like an failure in his inner
systems or something like that. But Master Luke was all right, now.

Luke awoke by a soft sound beside his bed. Sleepily, he opened his eyes and stared right into
R2’s red optical sensor. "Why, good morning, R2." he said, pulling himself up on his elbows,
scratching his head. The little droid beeped some question and Luke smiled. "Don’t worry, I’m
fine." R2 watched him closely with his sensor, then thrilled another question. Luke shrugged:
"Well, I think I’m just breeding about this talk I had with Han, yesterday night. You think he’s
right?" R2 beeped and whistled quite a time, then bowed himself back and forth. Luke laughed:
"So, we’ve decided to make blood brother with my best friend and to spring in my back, he?" R2
shrieked indignantly at this comment and Luke laughed a little bit louder. "I know, I know. I
think I agree with you two. And that means, I have to think for some way to change my live and
to solve this problems. Hu....somehow I’d like it better to fight against a clone emperor
again. You think there is one somewhere in the palace?" R2 chittered, his way to laugh and
Luke grinned: "Well, yeah...that actually was funny, wasn’t it? Perhaps it’s not that difficult
to become myself again." Luke looked out the window. Coruscant’s sun was about to rise, a
really beautiful sight. Not as beautiful as the sunset, but beautiful. "I think I go for a
little bit morning practice, R2. Could you call Leia and ask her if I might come to breakfast?
I have to make some anunciations." The astromech beeped affirmatively and Luke left the
apartment. The Imperial Palace provided many room for him to make his morning round and the
corridors that high up in the private levels of the highest politicians were deserted that
early in the morning. The movement helped Luke to think clear. Yes, there were quite a few
things he would change. Without abandoning any of his duties. He would show it to Han: Luke
Skywalker still was there.

"Well, I really don’t know, Wedge. It’s just a bad feeling about this mission. I mean, there
are lots of civil wars in the Outer Rim Territories. And no planet has ever called for a Jedi
to play mediator. In fact, I didn’t think any planet there would want to have a Jedi near his
diverse "organizations". And then Luke. I mean, it’s quite obvious what he can do to people
like that. You just have to think on the Black Sun. And back then, he still wasn’t fully
trained." Corran Horn mused, changing the energy pack of his balster. He and his formally
commander and present friend, Wedge Antilles, stood in a little terrace garden in the Imperial
Palace, challenging in the art of shooting. Not that Wedge had any chance against Corran, who
had worked years for the Corellian Security Police and therefore was much better in aiming than
he. "Is that some of this Jedi things or do you just not want to leave Mirax that soon?" Wedge
asked amused. Corran looked at him a little bit furiously, then smiled mischievously: "Well, at
least Mirax lives in my apartment and I can see her every day. But don’t worry, Wedge. To see
Qwi, you just have to walk something around 2000 stairs and go through only thirty or so
security clearance procedures. That’s nothing if you love someone." "Yeah.... Corran, you do
know that I’m the commander of this mission, don’t you? I mean, I could send you as scout into
enemy territory. So I wouldn’t have to kill you by myself. And it would be fully legal." Wedge
mumbled darkly. The red-haired, corellian pilot laughed: "Oh, your moral wouldn’t let this
happen. But, serious now, don’t you find this whole thing curious?" Wedge shrugged: "I’m not
force sensitive, Corran. For me, it’s just a mission. And a simple one, too. I mean, just
flying as escort for Lei...er, the ship of her excellency, the Chief of State, isn’t that
thrilling, you know." "Oh yeah, I know." Corran snorted. "Ok, ok. But I think, if there is
really something, Luke would feel it quite in time to make preparations." "Luke would feel
what quite in time?" a voice asked. Corran and Wedge turned, just to see Luke Skywalker leaning
against the doorframe of the terrace. "Oh, hi Luke. How ya doing?" Wedge asked, surprised to
see Luke this early in the morning in the palace corridors. "Oh, I’m fine. You’ve talked about
me. May I ask what the conversation was about?" He came to the both of them, and just then it
was that they realized his perspiration soaked shirt...and his shirt, that was. Usually, Luke
showed himself only in his Jedi robes if he was in the Palace. For quite a moment, Wedge found
himself thrashed into the past, when Luke and he had first been trained as warriors in the
hangars of Echo Base. Despite the cold of this world, the training had always led to 20 men or
so being wet like after a shower and cursing about their trainer. "What do you do here, at this
time of day?" Wedge asked curiously. "Oh, isn’t it obvious? I’m jogging." Luke answered,
seeming amused. Wedge suddenly realized his jaw having dropped open and fastly closed his mouth.
"Oh...er...sure you are." he mumbled somewhat sheepishly. "So, what were you two talking about?
In fact, I heard hardly more than my name." he continued, swinging himself on the railing of
the terrace. "We talked about me feeling bad about this mission to Lor Areo, Master Skywalker."
he answered the Jedi Master’s question. Luke made a grimace and seemed somewhat disgusted.
"Probably it’s just imagination." Corran added hastily, surprised about this reaction. Luke
stared at him, blinked, then laughed: "Oh, no, Corran. I didn’t mean your feeling." Wedge raised
an eyebrow and took a close look on his friend. Luke seemed to have changed. "You really feel
good, Luke?" he asked carefully. Luke turned his head, looking Wedge straight into the eyes: "Oh
yeah, very good, indeed. Say, Corran, would you mind to call me Luke, too? I mean, you’re not
my pupil and we know each other quite a time now. There’s no cause for you to call me Master or
something like that." Corran stared at Skywalker baffled. He had taken it for granted to call
this man Master. He just was a Master, a Master of the Force and a great war hero. Perhaps the
greatest one. It just was to show his respect for this man who had sacrificed that much for
his faith and for the Republic. "Ah...sure, if YOU don’t mind." he answered. Luke shook his haid
affirmatively: "Not at all. I wish you to do so. I’m not your Master, so don’t treat me that
way. OK? Just treat me like Luke." Corran nodded: "Key...Luke. So, what’s about my feelings?"
Luke frowned: "That’s the question, isn’t it? You’re quite force sensitive, Corran. We should
talk about your feelings. But not now. I have to go - take a shower.... Wedge, would you come to
Leia, in half an hour or so? I want to make some anunciations to all of my friends. I’d invite
you, too, Corran, but I’m afraid Leia’ll be surprised enough about Lando and Wedge. I’ll come
to Rogue Squadron Base this afternoon. Then we can talk. See you." he turned and sprinted down
the corridor. For a while, the two men left on the terrace stood still. Then Corran piped up:
"So, who was that? And where’s Skywalker?" Wedge looked at him, smiling: "Oh, Corran, that WAS
Luke Skywalker. It was just not the Jedi Master. Well, I never realized how much differencies
the both of them have. Perhaps this anunciations will be very interesting."

When Leia opened the door to her brother, she only could stare at him, totally surprised ...
against her will, that was. "Hi, Leia. Am I to early?" he asked happily, storming into the
apartment."No...no you aren’t. Luke...what’s the matter with you?" Leia practically exploded.
Luke turned to her, looking questioningly. "What do you mean?" "Well, you look...you look.."
Leia searched for the right word, inspecting Luke’s clothings. He wore a simple brown jeans and
a khaki shirt, looking like part of his old flight uniform. The odd thing was the blaster
hanging on his belt beside his lightsaber. "...just not like a Jedi Master." she finished her
sentence. Luke grinned: "Good. I chose my clothings exactly to get this reaction." he said,
satistfaction in his voice. "But why?" Leia led him into the kitchen where breakfast was
waiting. "Because I’ve decided to let the Jedi Master stay on Yavin. Han was right, Leia. I
have to change things. I wasn’t myself anymore." Leia just looked at him, an odd expression on
her face. Luke shifted his feet unsure, wondering if Leia wanted him more being the Jedi Master
and less being himself. For him, it was totally unexpected when Leia throw herself into his
arms and embraced him closely. "I’ve hoped that much you would take Han’s words to your heart,
Luke. I’m so glad you are here again." she whispered, sobbing quietly. Luke smoothly pulled her
away and looked shocked at her tears. "Why do you cry? I can’t have been that bad all the time."
Leia laughed, caressing his cheek softly with the back of her hand. "No, not bad. But always
serious, always sad. That wasn’t the brother I wanted to have beside me, you know. I was very
worried about you. In fact, since the encounter with the Clone Emperor. Since then, you’ve been
so...so odd. You seemed to be always depressed or something and I didn’t know how to help you.
Han was worried, too, but we thought it would be periodically and so we left you alone with it.
But then happened the thing with Callista and it became even worse. We just didn’t know how to
talk to you because you obviously just wasn’t aware of the way you lived. Yesterday,
Han thought the possibility were as ideal as it could become, because you’ve said these things
about visions and dreams yourself. He thought you would perhaps listen to him now and even
understand what he wants to say. And now...oh Luke, I’m so happy." she practically flew into
his arms again, hugging him. Luke hugged her back. He really hadn’t been aware of his sister’s
feelings concerning him. Of Han’s feelings concerning him. He had really been totally blind in
face to the change he had undergone after this incidents. "I don’t know what happened, Leia.
Really. I wasn’t aware of it. I didn’t even want it, I think. It just happened to me." Luke
said lowly. Leia lifted her head and smiled: "I know. Perhaps it just was to much. I mean, your
fall to the Dark Side, then Jem’s death, then Callista leaving you...and the responsibility
after Kyp’s turning to Exar Kun. You’ve never talked to me about your personal things since
you’ve lost Kyp for a time. You still let me in your mind, I know, but I felt fears you didn’t
talk about with me." Luke closed his eyes: "I’m sorry, Leia. Perhaps I should have talked to
you. Perhaps I hadn’t changed that much then -- I still can’t believe it. I’ve just met Wedge
down there on the terrace. He stared at me as if I were a  rancor or something." Luke sounded
somewhat lost, shocked and really irritated. Leia pulled him close to her again. "He probably
just was surprised. I mean, usually you wear just your Jedi robes if you’re here." she
explained. "And Corran’s behaviour was odd, too. No, for him, MY behaviour was odd. I don’t
know, somehow, I can’t hear him address me with Master Skywalker anymore. So, I said to him he
shall call me Luke. Just Luke. He was so, so..." Luke shook his head. "Surprised. Like Wedge.
Hey, your friends have tried to deal with you in the past few years and we have succeeded. We
have taken you as you wanted to be taken. But we didn’t want you to be so. We just sort of
waited until you would come out of your cocoon again." "A cocoon, hu? Yeah, if I think about
it....the Academy was quite an excellent cocoon, wasn’t it?" Leia chuckled: "Oh yeah, it was.
But now, you’re out of it. And I’m glad about it." she repeated and, standing on her tiptoes,
kissed him on his chin. "Glad about what, mommie? Hi, Uncle Luke." six year old Jacen went into
the kitchen, sat himself down at the table and watched his mother with curiosity. "Nothing,
deary." Leia answered. "Uncle Luke? Uncle Luke!!" with shouts of joy, Jaina Solo rushed into
the kitchen, prepared to jump into the arms of her uncle, but stopped cold and stared at him,
mouth opened wide. "Unlce Luke....you look like on the old holotapes 3PO has shown us." Luke
sighed. Even his niece! It was really unnerving. "And what exactly does this mean, little lady?"
he asked casually, kneeling down in front of her. Jaina grinned, patching her little hand into
his face and ruffling his hair: "You look younger." she mumbled, finally jumping into his
embrace and letting herself being lifted up from him. "Oh, really?" Luke grinned now, too. "I’m
flattered, little princess." he chuckled. "Flattered? That was a compliment I made, right?"
Jaina stated, biting her lower lip. "Right." Luke affirmated, sitting down on a chair, letting
his niece made herself comfortable in his lap. "Hm....well, uncle Luke, in these holovid
soaps.." Luke rose an eyebrow: "I thought you would disgust holovid soaps, Jaina." Jaina blushed
slightly, leaned over to his ear and whispered: "But I have to look them. To learn about
really important things." Luke smiled: "And what could these things possibly be?" he wanted to
know. Jaina looked over to her brother, but Jacen was eager to eat his breakfast. He didn’t
matter about his twin sister right now. "Well, to learn about boys." Jaina finally said. Leia’s
eyes widened and she choked desperately on the clor eggs she was eating. Luke tried to cover
his amused grin: "Oh yeah, really an important thing for a young lady as beautiful as you are."
he said seriously. Jaina’s little, sweet face exploded into a smile as shining as Tatooine’s
twin suns: "You think I’m beautiful, uncle Luke?" she asked eagerly. Luke nodded: "Sure you
are." "As beautiful as mommie?" Jaina continued. Her uncle laughed: "Well, I’m certain you’ll
be if you are in her age." Jaina seemed to grow a whole bunch of ten centimeters or so and
crawled on the chair beside Luke. She began to eat her breakfast while Luke silently laughed
about his sister who was trying her best to ignore this little dialogue. After a few moments,
Han, Lando and Wedge joined the siblings and the kids, followed by a very sleepy four year old
Anakin Solo. Usually, Anakin woke up an hour or so later, but he knew his uncle would come to
breakfast. So he had to be up as early as possible. Anakin looked around through half closed,
icy-blue eyes, then groaned something like "Mornin." He spied Luke, whined an happy: "Lukie!"
and tapped over to his beloved uncle. "Hi, little Jedi. How ya doing?" Luke asked, lifting his
little nephew up. "Tired. You have coming this early morning?" he asked, roling himself
together in Luke’s lap. Luke caressed the cheek of his youngest nephew and whispered: "Yeah.
Want to have a nap, little one? I can bring you back to bed." "No. Wanna stay with uncle."
Anakin grumbled, closed his eyes and was fast asleep only seconds later. Luke smiled happily,
shifting slightly to make Anakin more comfortable in his lap. "He’s a lot like you." Han said
suddenly, sipping on his cup of coffee. Luke looked at him suspiciously: "Positive or negative?"
he asked. Han grinned: "Both. But I think the positive side is more present." "So, Luke, what
about these ominous anunciations you wanted to make?" Wedge finally blurted out, open curiosity
in his look. "Well, I just wanted you to know, that I’m going to move to Coruscant and..." Luke
couldn’t finish his sentence. Anakin, always curious and never really deep sleeping if in one
room with interesting adults, jumped to the floor and shouted: "Lukie gonna stay here?" Luke
smiled: "Yeah. That’s the point, Anakin." The twins joined her brother in a wild dance of joy,
forgetting about her breakfast. "Uncle gonna stay, uncle gonna stay!" Anakin sang happily,
suddenly all but tired. Leia smiled broadely, like Wedge, Lando and Han. "I wondered when you
eventually would come up with this idea." Lando said slyly. Luke made a face in his direction,
but decided to continue as long as everyone was listening to him...well, except the kids. "And
I’ve also decided to make a few changes in my Academy." "Now the interesting part." Han
muttered, fixing eyes on Luke. Luke didn’t let himself become irritated: "I’ve decided to go
only to the Academy to greet new pupils or to test older ones to give them the title of Knight.
And perhaps all three months or so, to look whether everything’s alright. I’ve already talked
to Tionne, Kyp, Kam Solusar, Kirana Ti and Streen. They’ve agreed to train the others. As I
know until now, Kam Solusar and Streen will stay permanently at the Academy. Tionne will go on
some excursions to find ancient Jedi treasures and the like from time to time, Kyp will train
the best of the trainees and Kirana Ti will go regularly to Dathomir to select potential Jedis
from her people. If there should be a very skilled trainee, I’ll train him or her by myself, as
well as I want to know anytime everything about the trainees there. In order to maintain this
stand of information, I have talked to General Rieekan this morning. He has given me and my
academy a secret channel to talk without anyone being able to eavesdrop on us. Well, at least
he is very sure noone will be able to. From time to time, I’ll give some lessons, too. Every
pupil shall have some lessons with me and shall know me. For they know they can ask me anything
anytime and can trust me." he paused in order to let the words sink in. Finally, Leia spoke:
"That’s quite a good order you have given." "Oh, no Leia. I’ ve noone ordered anything. They
are all deliberately there." Luke said, somewhat shocked. Leia nodded, slightly surprised. "So,
and what will you do with your free time?" Lando asked curiously. Now, Luke seemed somewhat
unsure: "Well...actually, I don’t know. I’ll let it come to me, you know. I think there’ll
always be enough to do." "Exactly. Someone that skilled and versatile like you, Luke, will
always have lot of work if he stays here on Coruscant." Leia stated, chewing on her marmelade
bread. "That’s what I want." Luke nodded. "OK. That explains a lot. Will you still search for
Jedi candidates throughout the galaxy?" Wedge asked. Luke shrugged: "Sure. We still haven’t
enough Jedi. There aren’t enough to cover at least three or four planets well, at the moment.
It has to continue." Everyone nodded and Luke relaxed. They agreed with this change. That was
good. "Except of this, I wanted to spend lot more time with my family, if they agree." he said
smiling. Han grinned, still listening quietly. Three light voices shouted a: "Yeaaaaah." and
the kids threw themselves on him, hugging him. "Well, that was really time, old buddy. You
seemed like an old eremit to me, in the last few years." Lando said, lifting his glass of
juice slightly. Luke blushed and looked down on his dishes: "Yeah." he said lowly. "So, and
there’s still something, isn’t it? I know you, Luke." Wedge threatened jokingly. "Yeah...well,
I...I wondered if you would mind if....if I, from time to time, ... would fly with Rogue
Squadron. Or perhaps Wraith Squadron. It doesn’t matter. I just want to fly." Now, Wedge
grinned. "It would be a great honor to me and my fellows, Luke. You’re a fantastic pilot,
perhaps the best we have in the whole Republic." Luke blushed again: "I’m certain, there are
better ones than me." he murmured. "Well, if there are, I’ve never met one." Wedge replied
dryly. Luke grinned, then said: "So, that’s it. Any complains?" Noone said a word and Luke
laughed happily: "That’s it then. Here’s it, my new I. You’re content now, Han?" "It was never
because of myself that I wanted this changes, Luke. They are only for your sake. And I’m really
glad you finally made them."