5 Things That Never Happened To Anakin Solo

I

"Master Anakin? Are you ready?" Threepio toddled up to Anakin Solo, who didn't answer.

"Hey, Kid—we're waiting for you." Han Solo looked at his youngest son. "What's up, kiddo?"

What was up was this; Anakin Solo, champion of the Yuuzhan Vong War, savior of the Yuuzhan Vong themselves, the man who stared down the Supreme Overlord Shimrra and defeated him, the galaxy's greatest Jedi Master, the Galactic Alliance's best-known hero...

Was terrified of the prospect of being married. Never mind that this was the love of his life he would be married to, but the idea was just...scary.

"I was my wedding day, too, Anakin," Jacen said, stepping up to his brother's side. "The idea of marrying Tenel terrified me. But y'know somethin'?" he asked as he slung an arm around his sibling. "It'll pass."

"It will?" Anakin looked at his brother.

"Not really; I lied. You just get used to it. I'll give you a little tip; she's always right. No matter what it is, she's right. It makes your life a helluva lot easier."

"Thanks for the confidence-inspiring speech, Jace," Anakin glowered at his older brother and fellow Master.

"Any time, little bro. Now come on; she's waiting."

"Do you, Anakin Solo, take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife, to have and to hold, and to cherish forever in marriage?"

Anakin hesitated a second, and then said confidently, "I do."

"And do you, Tahiri Veila, take this man to be your lawful wedded husband, to have and to hold, and to cherish forever in marriage?"

She hesitated a second less than he did, taking a glance at her eternally bare feet. "I do."

"Then, by the power vested in me by both the Galactic Alliance and the New Jedi Order, I pronounce you husband and wife." Then Jacen Solo turned to him and said, "Well, what are you staring at me for, brother?" He pointed at the Tusken-raised blonde. "The pretty one's over there."

II

Han handed off the toddler and rushed back for the cockpit, knowing the two could never get back to the Falcon against this mounting storm. He brought the Falcon in fast but steady, moving to the spot even as Chewie lifted Anakin in his arms.

Han locked her in place and rushed back to the landing ramp, pushing aside those who had moved into position to help. But the Falcon couldn't hold position now, and she drifted up and to the side—or maybe it was the ground slipping down and to the side—her engines roaring in protest.

"Chewie!" he cried, hanging right off the ramp now. Several others crowded about Han, holding him in place by the legs. He reached desperately for the Wookiee, but the Falcon was up too high.

The ground rolled and bucked, and suddenly, Chewie and Anakin were far, far away.

Han rushed back to the cockpit. He worked furiously over the controls, bringing the Falcon around, swerving about buildings. The communicators crackled with the frantic cries from other ships, some blasting away, others unsure where to go.

Han ignored them all, focused entirely on finding his lost Wookiee friend and his youngest son.

"Where are they?" He spun the ship, trying to spot them. There! He swooped down, trying to get closer. The two turned around and took a few steps towards the Falcon. Then a burst of tremendous, hot wind blasted through, tossing the two to the ground and shoving the Falcon back, up into the sky.

A detached part of Han made the necessary motions with the controls, taking the ship out of the atmosphere. The rest of him, though, screamed with agony as he watched.

He saw the battered and bloodied duo regain their footing, stand high on a pile of rubble, and, arms and weapons brandished, faced the descending moon of Dobido with defiant roars.

And then Dobido and Sernpidal met.

And Han Solo, having lost two of the most important people in the galaxy to him, shattered.

III

"Anakin?"

Anakin did not turn to meet the eyes of the querying Jedi behind him.

"Anakin, how did you escape?"

Oh, she wants to know how I beat my way past the voxyn and their queen. Part of him wanted her to know. She will sooner or later, anyway.

He finally turned, and his and Tahiri's eyes met.

Hers were emerald.

His were yellow.

IV

"Take the shot!" Sal-Solo hissed through his clenched teeth. "Take it!"

"For the Mrlssi," a more plaintive voice added.

"For the sake of the New Republic," the captain said.

"No, my boy, no," Ebrihim and Q9 said.

As many voices vied for prominence in Anakin's mind as in the control room. He heard the heartfelt words of his mother and father, the harsh voice of Jacen and the understanding voice of Jaina, the counsel of Uncle Luke...

Anakin ignored them all; even the quiet voice of his brother saying, "Anakin, don't. You're a Jedi; you can't do this."

Yes, I can. He thought, it's rather like someone pointing a blaster at a friend; I'm going to sever that blaster, rather than just stand there and do nothing. The Vong are aiming a fleet at Fondor and the Hapans. They won't win if I have anything to say about it.

And so he ignored them all, focussed on the point in space, and gently pulled the trigger.

As he expected, he felt nothing from the Vong. However, after a few seconds he felt the surprise and jubilation from the Republic and Hapan forces. He'd succeeded.

V

"Anakin, try to hold on," Tahiri said quietly. Stuck in the cold, airless station of Yag'Dhul, they passed a mask of air between them, trying to hold out for a little while longer. They weren't succeeding well.

"I can't; not for long," he quietly. "I'm not going to let you suffocate so I can live." So he moved the mask away from his mouth, and strapped it onto her protesting face. "I can do a meditation trance; you can't. Besides, Corran will be back soon enough for you."

"But, Anakin," the blonde girl's voice was muffled behind the mask. "With this cold and no air, you'll die."

He smiled mirthlessly. "If I do, well..." he kissed her cheek. "I can't think of a better person to die for."

"But, Anakin, please..." As he entered the trance—and, inevitably, the Force, forever—she said, "please...I love you."

And as he slipped away, he whispered five words; "I know. Me too, you." And then he was gone.

A/N: Bet you'd thought I'd forgotten you!! See everybody soon--just need to do some more background research for my next one...in the meantime, do me a favor and drop a review? Or two...or three...or five...hundred...something...