Chapter Twenty-Five: Loss of a Hero
Guards came to Nicholas and Crystal and bound their hands with glowing handcuffs, taking their lightsabers from them and pushing them into line in the midst of over fifty droids. Talon was left alone, and he watched, with deep regret, as Nicholas and Crystal were led after Darth Vader to a ship in the distance.
As soon as Nicholas and Crystal were in secure cells aboard the ship, the enemy planes began to move away from Yavin, allowing the people to escape.
"Nicholas, I am frightened. This was all just an attempt to capture us and destroy us," Crystal whispered, leaning against Nicholas in their cell as the ship moved into space.
"The Emperor is no match for us, Crystal."
"Then why did he have us captured?"
"I'm not sure," Nicholas gulped, tightening his hold on her. "He may have also wanted to capture Yavin and use it for his own devices."
"Nicholas, he wants us dead. You know that," Crystal shivered.
"We should be able to escape."
"Not if he cuts off our flow of the force."
"We can still use lightsabers."
"Not if we don't have them and our hands are bound," Crystal whispered.
"That's true. I'll think of something," Nicholas sighed. "He certainly wouldn't mind destroying us while we are helpless. Coward that he is, he wouldn't mind at all. He'd be afraid to fight against us and would like just as much to mow us down without giving us a chance to protect ourselves."
"So long as Mara is safe, I suppose I shall be alright," Crystal said, closing her eyes.
Nicholas didn't answer, but kept holding her, trembling nervously. He was afraid. If they didn't have the force, then the Emperor would surely have them shot down or he would kill them himself. Nicholas tried to remember all of his training at Jabba's, all of his escape tactics. He tried for a long time to think of a plan, and then he also closed his eyes and slept.
Nicholas and Crystal were roughly awakened by a harsh voice a few hours later, and they were ordered to get to their feet. None of the guards spoke to them as they were ushered towards the entrance of the ship. There were four dog-like creatures, which Nicholas had learned were called "Vornsk," accompanying them, as well as over twenty guards.
"These handcuffs are very uncomfortable," Nicholas frowned, wriggling his hands a bit to try and loosen his bonds.
"Nicholas," Crystal choked, and Nicholas looked up from his hands.
They had arrived at the entrance of the ship and had stepped onto the plank leading out of the ship. Stretched before them, as far as they could see, were storm troopers, all heavily armored and with blasters in hand.
"It appears we have arrived at the Emperor's ship," Nicholas growled, beginning to wriggle his hands even more.
"March!" A guard snapped from behind them.
"We will have to walk in between them?" Crystal whispered.
"Looks like it."
"They will kill us!"
"Not unless they were ordered to," Nicholas said, a strange glow beginning to radiate in his eyes.
"What is it?" Crystal asked, studying his face carefully.
"Do you think you can get rid of the Vornsk for a few minutes?"
"Possibly."
"When I say, get rid of them. Kick them into the ship or wherever you want, I don't care so long as it's away from me," Nicholas smiled.
"What about Anakin? He's right behind us."
"Don't worry about him. He won't be able to do anything for a few seconds."
The Jedi stepped off the plank and into the midst of the hundreds of storm troopers. Crystal gazed up at Nicholas expectantly as they took a few steps. Her husband didn't have a sign of concern on his face and everything looked normal except for his glowing eyes.
Nicholas waited until Darth Vader was a good distance behind them before he suddenly turned his head to Crystal. "Now!" he ordered.
Crystal dropped to the floor; her leg outstretched, and sent a Vornsk howling across the room, slamming into guards and ships. As she did so, Nicholas began to strain his muscles, forcing his wrists to rub against the handcuffs. Every nerve in his body was strained as he weakened the handcuffs and finally paid no heed to them as they clattered to the floor.
No one in the hangar, except for Nicholas and Crystal, truly understood what happened in the seconds following. Nicholas clasped his hands together in front of him and a wave of energy suddenly flowed from him, causing all of the storm troopers to fall back, landing hard on the floor with a clatter or armor. Crystal knelt at his feet, prepared for the assault, and she stayed there while the wave suddenly thrust itself into the walls, causing the Star Destroyer to shudder from front to back.
Before Nicholas could do anything more, Darth Vader had grabbed his wrists and had held him tightly, fearfully, as guards placed not one, but four sets of handcuffs on Nicholas' wrists.
"If these didn't work before, Anakin, do you really think they'll work now?" Nicholas asked, a gleam in his eyes as he was shoved forward and Crystal was forced to stand up next to him.
"You must be trying to get yourself killed," Darth Vader sneered, staying directly behind Nicholas and Crystal as they were shoved into another room, the storm troopers only beginning to try and stand up again.
"What I wanted to accomplish I did," Nicholas said, glancing at Crystal as she walked steadfastly next to him. "I suppose the Emperor wants to see us now?"
"Of course. He knew you would be coming," Darth Vader growled and then stepped past them into an adjoining room. "They are here, my master."
"Ah, Nicholas and Crystal Jade, how thoughtful of you to visit us," Emperor Palpatine chuckled as he stood up from his throne and the double doors slid shut behind the Jedi.
"What do you want? If it is Yavin, the whole planet has been evacuated and there is nothing for you to get," Crystal spoke.
"I have what I want right here," Palpatine spoke, walking down the stairs to stand in front of them, gesturing for several of the red guards to move into place around the Jedi. "You hoped you wouldn't see me again, didn't you?" he asked Nicholas.
"I noticed the extra limp in your step, Palpatine. Didn't get burned, did you?" Nicholas asked.
"I suppose you thought I had forgotten about you," Palpatine smiled, moving over to Crystal. "I always had the feeling that you two cared much too much for each other."
"Two Undefeatable Jedi as a team must be quite a fright for you," Crystal replied. "You had the Council convinced for so long that it would be dangerous."
"And they believed me," Palpatine said.
"What did you bring us here for? Surely not so that you can gloat," Nicholas frowned.
"In order to conquer the entire galaxy, I need you both out of my way," Palpatine said. "If you both are dead, there will be no one else to threaten me."
"You are mistaken," Nicholas said threateningly, glaring at the Emperor. "Not only are you mistaken, but you can't kill us. We are too powerful."
"Someone as clever as you are much surely understand the power of the weapons that my guards hold within their hands, Nicholas."
Nicholas glanced at the weapons the guards held and gulped nervously. "I know how much power they have," he said.
"You and Crystal are both without power now, and so you are helpless against my men and myself," Palpatine said.
"I thought you were man enough to kill us yourself," Crystal spoke up.
Palpatine turned his head abruptly to look at her, an unkind smile on his face. "What an excellent suggestion," he said.
"Crystal, what are you doing?" Nicholas whispered nervously as Palpatine took a step towards her.
Crystal didn't answer, but matched Palpatine's gaze with her own. The Emperor raised his hands, but before any energy bolts could be emitted from them, Crystal leaped into action. The glowing objects binding her hands snapped, the two lightsabers that were hidden within the Emperor's robe flew into her hands, and Nicholas, after one smooth thrust of the lightsaber blade, was free.
"The guards, Crystal!" Nicholas shouted, igniting his lightsaber and swinging it wildly as he raced towards the Emperor.
Crystal didn't answer him, but he could hear, as he charged the evil Jedi, guards shouting in terror. They began to fire their weapons, explosive sounds erupting from the barrels as they tried frantically to keep Crystal away. Four of them fell to the ground, and Crystal was about to knock down the others, when a glowing red blade suddenly placed itself atop her teal one. The guards, having been forgotten momentarily, left the room, shouting for reinforcements.
"I believe, if you were trained properly, that you were taught never to use the force as a weapon," Darth Vader hissed as his blade clashed against Crystal's.
"I was trained not to use the force for attack," Crystal corrected, swinging her lightsaber at him, ignoring the storm troopers that were rapidly entering the room.
"You must surrender, Crystal."
Crystal laughed and shook her head. "I think not."
Nicholas, in the meantime, was charging Palpatine, hitting each bolt of energy accurately that was erupting from the Emperor. The evil man had lost all control of himself and was throwing the bolts in a crazed fashion at the Undefeatable Jedi who was approaching him. All dignity and restraint had left the wicked man, and he thought only of killing Nicholas.
"You cannot survive!" Palpatine roared as Nicholas took a step closer, another bolt ricocheting off his lightsaber.
Nicholas didn't answer, but his mouth twitched as one of the bolts struck him in the arm.
"In a matter of moments, you and your precious weakness will both be destroyed!"
Nicholas continued walking and swinging his lightsaber, and two minutes later, he was directly in front of the Emperor.
"Today's not your day, Palpatine!" he shouted, raising his lightsaber to deliver one last blow.
The Emperor's eyes were glittering maliciously as he continued to gaze at Nicholas. "Now," he whispered menacingly, "you shall meet your end, Nicholas Jade!"
A glitter of uncertainty shot through Nicholas' eyes, and a sudden wave of warning washed over him. He turned his head just in time to see a bounty hunter, dressed from head to foot in armor, aiming a blaster at him.
Nicholas was about to remark on the weakness of a blaster bolt when Crystal suddenly let out a shout.
"No!" she screamed, leaping away from Darth Vader and beginning to run towards Nicholas.
The blaster suddenly fired, and Crystal slammed into Nicholas, her lightsaber held in defense in front of her as Nicholas fell to the floor and the fire from the blaster approached at lightning speed.
Less than a second later, the blast had seared, impossibly, through the lightsaber, and Crystal fell to the floor with a groan.
Nicholas was immediately on his knees, overlooking his fallen wife.
"Crystal, what happened?" he shouted, taking her hands in his and glancing at the stain that was slowly growing in Crystal's shoulder.
"It wasn't a regular blaster shot," Crystal choked, squeezing his hands.
"What?" Nicholas gasped, his face turning white and cold sweat dripping down his face.
"It was that chemical you tried to destroy," Crystal said weakly, the color beginning to drain from her face.
"Now we only have one Undefeatable Jedi left to destroy," Palpatine said from behind Nicholas.
Nicholas stood up and turned to face him, but a few seconds later, he was back on the floor, trying to protect Crystal from the energy bolts that were flying towards her. As hard as Nicholas tried, his efforts were not all effective. Crystal was hit several times, and beneath his loving protection, she began to fail.
As the energy bolts grew harsher, Nicholas forgot about them, but lay next to Crystal, holding her tightly, tears streaming down the woman's cheeks.
"I can't lose you," he whispered as the bolts racked his body.
"You must continue to protect the galaxy," Crystal whispered back, rapidly fading. "And Mara, Nicholas. You must protect her."
One of the energy bolts suddenly caught Nicholas' attention, and he glanced up from Crystal and glared at the Emperor, his eyes burning through the man.
"I want a few minutes of privacy left with my wife," he growled, and then stood up slowly, the bolts still flying at him. He ignored them and glanced about the room at his enemies. Then, gathering what little strength he had left, he flung his arms out to his sides, and everyone except for Crystal and himself went flying into the walls and ceiling. They all landed on the floor at almost the same time, and all were unconscious or too weak for the moment to get back up.
Nicholas knelt back on the ground again and gathered Crystal into his arms. Her breathing was greatly labored, and she gazed up at him with tears streaming down her cheeks.
"I have been so happy, Nicholas," she choked, her lips trembling as she gently raised a hand to Nicholas' cheek. "I love you so much."
"I can stop you from dying," Nicholas said, putting his hand atop hers and closing his eyes tightly.
"Anakin thought he could also," Crystal smiled slightly.
"He wasn't the Undefeatable Jedi."
"People aren't meant to be stopped from dying, otherwise they will live forever. Now you will be stronger, Nicholas, for your weakness shall be gone. Don't cry. We shall see each other again," Crystal said sadly.
"You were never my weakness! You were always my strength! Don't leave me, Crystal! I couldn't bear it!" Nicholas wailed.
"You must take care of Mara, Nicholas. Teach her and always tell her that I love her," Crystal pleaded.
"I will! Crystal, don't go!"
"I must, Nicholas."
"I love you so much! Don't leave me!"
"I love you, Nicholas, and I always will. I'll never stop loving you," Crystal said, taking his face in her hands and kissing him. She then let go and slipped gently to the floor, one last, radiant smile on her face. Then, she closed her eyes and disappeared entirely.
The unconscious people in the room began to stir, but Nicholas paid no heed. He gazed at the floor where his wife had just been, hot tears of anger and misery streaming from his eyes. He stood up slowly, just as Darth Vader was beginning to get up.
"Master," Darth Vader said loudly to Palpatine, "we must leave! Hurry! We must!"
He lifted Palpatine up the rest of the way and then began to run out of the room, soldiers following him out hastily.
Nicholas let them run, never taking his eyes off the floor. Only a few seconds later, he suddenly looked up at the ceiling and screamed, "No!"
The sound of the scream echoed throughout the entire ship, and the ship slowly began to disintegrate from the inside out. Ceilings began to cave in, explosives erupted, walls crumbled, power switched on and off, and doors got jammed.
Nicholas collapsed on the floor, wailing loudly, not paying the slightest attention to the chaos that was happening around him.
Deep in one of the corridors, Palpatine and Darth Vader came to a stop.
"We must go back!" Palpatine shouted, flinging Vader's hand off him. "He is angry now and will be susceptible to the dark side."
"He will kill you!" Vader shouted, and a vicious roaring sound suddenly became audible from the far side of the wall.
A few seconds later, a gust of fire roared into the room, and Vader pulled Palpatine into an open doorway.
"Master, I will go to Nicholas first and get him to calm down just a bit. He will kill you if you go in there now. Let me go in first, Master!"
"Go then, and hurry. I will be there shortly with some of the guards and more of the chemicals," Palpatine scowled, and then watched as Vader raced away from him, his black cloak billowing out behind as he raced through the halls.
Nicholas would have been entirely susceptible to the dark side at that moment, for a war was raging in and around him, and he took no notice of it. He lay stretched out on the floor, his tears falling as a waterfall onto the cold ground. As the seconds progressed, however, he became stronger, and his eyes began to glow with menace. He stood up shakily, still gazing at the ground and not noticing Darth Vader entering the room and beginning to run towards him.
"Nicholas!" Vader shouted, coming to a stop directly behind the grieving Jedi.
"You killed her," Nicholas whispered and then violently spun around, taking a tight hold on Vader's neck.
"Nicholas, stop it before you get hurt!" Vader shouted, terrified by the immense amount of strength that was surging through his body from Nicholas.
"Why should I stop?" Nicholas growled, tears streaming from his eyes, which were almost entirely green, leaving no white.
"Because if you don't, you'll become like the Emperor," Vader gasped, falling to his knees.
"Wouldn't that make you happy?" Nicholas choked, his eyes beginning to clear again. "Isn't that what you want?"
"No, I don't," Darth Vader said as Nicholas began to release his hold on him. "The galaxy is faring badly enough with one Emperor. You would be stronger and more deadly. I don't want that. You are the last hope for the good side, Nicholas. Don't let yourself became trapped in the darkness of the force like I have."
A shudder shot through Nicholas' body, and he fell to the floor again, his fists clenched.
"If I had never married her, she would still be alive!" he groaned.
"Nicholas, get up," Darth Vader said, taking hold of one of Nicholas' arms. "Get up!"
Nicholas didn't stop crying, and he was near unconsciousness, due to his misery and the enormous amount of strength that was flowing from his body, destroying the ship that encased him. He didn't feel himself being lifted gently into the air, didn't feel himself being lowered carefully into someone's arms. The moment Darth Vader began to walk, holding Nicholas, Nicholas became unconscious.
Moments later, Nicholas awoke to feel someone shaking his shoulder and calling his name.
"Nicholas, wake up. You are back at your ship."
Nicholas opened his eyes to see Darth Vader leaning over him, his frightening mask illuminated by flames that were surging throughout the hangar.
"Get up and leave, before the Emperor gets you again," Darth Vader said, helping Nicholas to his feet.
"Why are you doing this?" Nicholas mumbled, his eyes glaring into the mask.
"Because, I don't want the dark side to win."
"Come with me, Anakin."
"I cannot. It is too late for me. Here, take this and leave," Darth Vader said, taking something from one of his pockets and handing it to Nicholas.
Nicholas looked at the dainty, beautiful necklace with the green gem and diamonds on it, and tears again began to surge from his eyes, soaking his face.
"Crystal's death will have been in vain if you don't leave," Darth Vader said gently, and Nicholas looked up at him again.
To Vader's surprise, the last Undefeatable Jedi suddenly reached out and wrapped his arms about Vader's damaged, armor-covered body.
"Anakin, I know you think you are lost, but you aren't. There is still good in you. Come back to us," Nicholas said, squeezing him tightly.
It took several seconds for Vader to find something to say, and when he finally spoke, his voice was dark and threatening again.
"There is no longer good in me. Now get out of here!"
Nicholas turned and raced into his X-Wing, which had also been captured, closing the hull over him just as storm troopers began to race into the hangar. Before they had a chance to attack, the X-Wing had shot into the air and had disappeared from sight into the starry galaxy beyond.
Darth Vader stood quietly, watching as the last lights of the X-Wing disappeared, and then he turned and walked hastily back to where the Emperor was waiting.
Nicholas was in a dazed stupor as he flew his X-Wing through space towards the Corellian planets where Obi Wan had told him he would be. The love of his life had just died, the love that he had promised to die for if ever the opportunity arose that he had to. Instead, in what had seemed as though it was hours, Crystal had given her life for him, had died a painful death so that he wouldn't have to.
"I'll destroy them all," Nicholas whispered to himself, hot tears of anger streaming down his cheeks as the dark blue and brown Corellian planets came into view. He let the force guide him to Obi Wan's whereabouts, for he was too bitter to think clearly, and he was too stooped in grief.
Before Nicholas even realized it, he had landed his X-Wing on a small landing pad. He exited his ship and then began to walk towards the doors that led out of the enclosure.
Standing quietly against the door was Obi Wan Kenobi, his arms folded across his chest. He was about to say something, but the look of darkness and malice in Nicholas' eyes caused him to change his mind and say something else.
"Calm yourself, Nicholas."
Nicholas snapped out of his thinking and looked up at Obi Wan
"They killed her, Obi Wan. Mercilessly and wickedly, they killed her."
"Are you sure? I felt your agony, Nicholas, but I didn't feel hers," Obi Wan asked, stopping Nicholas by putting both hands on Nicholas' shoulders.
"I'm sure. She died in my arms and disappeared completely," Nicholas said, his voice beginning to have a high pitch to it as his emotions began to get the better of him again.
"Nicholas…" Obi Wan started, but Nicholas stopped him.
"I'm going to destroy every last one of them! They deserve nothing less than death! The Emperor will be destroyed!" Nicholas shouted, clenching his fists.
"Nicholas, stop it! Listen to yourself!" Obi Wan yelled, giving Nicholas a rough shake. "Wake up! You sound like Anakin!"
"Anakin?" Nicholas whispered, and his whole body suddenly relaxed. "You are right. I do sound like Anakin."
Obi Wan gazed at Nicholas in confusion, trying to understand the many thoughts that were going through the young man's head.
"Anakin doesn't want the Empire to win. If I try to destroy them, it will destroy me. I have to go on for Anakin."
"And Mara," Obi Wan said quietly. "She has been waiting for you."
"Where is she?" Nicholas gasped, a wave of panic rushing through him.
"She is in good hands. I left her with Mike Solo and his family so I could come and get you. She is safe. Come," Obi Wan said, taking Nicholas by the arm and leading him out of the hangar. "Let's go see her."
The bitter anger began to ease away from Nicholas as he and Obi Wan walked through the city. It was apparent that the planet was mostly composed of smugglers and bounty hunters, but strangely, they all seemed to be at peace with one another in the city. Children raced about the streets, laughing and playing. Women stood about, talking together.
"This is the Solo house," Obi Wan said, stopping in front of a circular, dark blue home.
He and Nicholas stepped inside, and Nicholas forgot his pain momentarily when he saw water flowing gently down the dark walls and into gutters in the floor.
"This place is so strange," Nicholas commented as they entered another room, amazed at the vegetation that grew in the house.
"Mike found many of these plants on different planets. He and his wife love plants," Obi Wan explained.
In the adjoining room sat Mike Solo. He was sitting on the floor, playing with Mara and a little boy who looked the spitting image of his father.
"Nicholas, you made it!" he said when he caught sight of the Jedi, and he stood up, a concerned expression on his face. "Where is Crystal?"
Nicholas didn't answer, but knelt down on the floor and opened his arms to Mara, who ran to him and wrapped her small arms around his neck. Nicholas buried his face in her golden red hair and let the tears fall. "Mom will no longer be with us," he whispered to Mara, and she tightened her grip on him.
Mike glanced at Obi Wan, who stood quietly, gazing at Nicholas with great concern on his face.
"Your majesty, come and rest," a soft voice said from the doorway, and Nicholas looked up to see a woman with dark brown eyes and plaited gold hair standing before him.
"This is my wife, Rielle," Mike introduced as Nicholas stood up.
"A pleasure to meet you," Nicholas bowed politely and Rielle smiled.
"You look exhausted. Let me show you your room so you can get some rest," Rielle spoke, beginning to lead him out of the room.
Nicholas turned to look at Mara, who was again playing with Mike's son.
"I'm afraid for her, Obi Wan," he said. "The Emperor will be after her."
"Don't worry about the Emperor now, Nicholas. You need to get some rest. Go to sleep," Obi Wan said, sitting down next to Mara on the floor. "She will be safe for the time being."
After Nicholas was brought to his room and Rielle left, he collapsed onto his bed and immediately fell asleep, tears still on his face.
Several hours later, a kind voice woke Nicholas.
"Nicholas, wake up. It is time to eat."
"I don't want to get up, Obi Wan. I'd rather lay here and die in peace," Nicholas mumbled, rolling over.
"Enough of that kind of talk. You will be fine. Get up, Nicholas. You need to eat," Obi Wan said, and Nicholas rolled over to look at him.
"I'm in the middle of mourning. Why should I eat?"
"Because you need to strengthen yourself. You also need to tend to your wounds. You were hurt too, you know."
Nicholas stood up and gazed at himself. He had numerous rips in his outfit, and blood clots covered his clothes.
"You are right," he said tiredly, limping towards the door. "I forgot about everything except Crystal."
Mike and his family were already seated at the table, Mara sitting next to Mike's son.
"I never asked what your son's name is, Mike," Nicholas yawned, sitting down at the head of the table and then standing back up again. "I shouldn't be sitting here. You are the master of the house, Mike."
"And you are a king. It would do us honor for you to sit at the head," Mike smiled.
Nicholas nodded his head slowly and then sat back down.
"Our son's name is Han," Mike said, taking a bite out of his food. "He hopes to be a great smuggler one day."
"Like his father," Rielle smiled, putting her hand on Mike's.
"What do you intend to do now? Return to Yavin?" Mike asked.
"No. Everyone evacuated Yavin, and the Empire most likely has destroyed everything there. I'll have to go into hiding with Mara," Nicholas sighed.
"You are welcome to leave Mara here while you fight the Empire, if you wish," Mike offered.
"No. Mara is all I have left. I must protect her at all cost. The Empire is most likely searching for her, and I don't want to endanger your family," Nicholas said tiredly. "We shall have to leave later today."
"Where will you go?" Rielle asked.
"I'm not sure yet. Alderaan may have somewhere for us to hide. They have a strong defense system that they would be willing to assist us with," Nicholas said.
"What about Tatooine? It has too many low life forms for the Empire to go there," Mike suggested.
"I don't want Mara growing up the way I did."
"Jabba would be willing to take you back, I'm sure," Mike said.
"Indeed he would, but I don't want Mara being raised in his palace. Imagine a princess growing up with the scum of the universe!" Nicholas chuckled.
"I could take care of her," Han piped up, and Nicholas turned his head to look at the little boy.
"You could, Han?"
"Sure. No Empire could ever catch me!" Han replied.
"Of course not," Nicholas said quietly, another voice suddenly cutting into his thoughts.
"I'm Han Solo, captain of the Millennium Falcon. She's the fastest ship in the fleet!"
"Nicholas?" Mike asked, gazing at the small smile that had formed on the Jedi's face.
"What?"
"Are you okay?"
"I'm just fine. You're right, Han. The Empire probably won't be able to catch you. But wait until you grow up before you try and mess with them," Nicholas smiled. "Mara is going to have to stay with me. Thank you for offering to take care of her."
Han puffed up his chest a bit and then continued eating.
That afternoon, Nicholas placed Mara in his seat in the X-Wing and then climbed back down the ladder and turned to Obi Wan.
"I hope this isn't good-bye for good," Obi Wan said, wrapping Nicholas in a great hug.
"I don't think it is, Obi Wan. May the force be with you," Nicholas said, gently pulling away. "Mike," he said, turning to the smuggler and holding out his hand. "Thank you for everything."
"No problem, Nicholas. Take care," Mike smiled, shaking his hand.
"And Han, no messing with the Empire, okay?" Nicholas grinned holding out his hand to Han.
"If you say so," Han frowned, shaking his hand.
Nicholas climbed back up to his ship and placed Mara in front of him. He waved one last time as the hull began to close over them, and then strapped himself and Mara in.
"Where are we going, Dad?" Mara asked as the X-Wing began to lift into the air.
"I'm not sure yet," Nicholas said.