Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling, George Lucas, Aaron McBride, or A.C. Crispin

18 BBY to 6 BBY

It was only a year after his rise to power that people besides the Jedi Remnant began to realize how evil Emperor Palpatine really was. Barely a year had passed since the end of the Clone Wars, and Palpatine had already nearly destroyed one of the galaxy's planets - Caamas. The Caamasi people were forever devastated by this destruction. Secretly, the Jedi offered the Caamasi a safe haven on their home of Belsavis.

Nearly two years after the Caamasi Massacre, Emperor Palpatine created an alliance of Dark Jedi who would be loyal only to Darth Sidious. He recovered a young girl named Mara Jade. She would serve as one of the Emperor's Hands. Around this same time, Darth Vader uncovered his own secret apprentice, a young boy called Galen Marek. Both Dark Jedi served loyally to the Sith. It was proved during this time that the Emperor's Hands were not loyal to Palpatine's chosen apprentice. Sheyvan undermined the Dark Lord, and was defeated by Vader in a duel.

Eventually, Sullustan reporter Den Dhur and his droid I-5YQ met up with one of the Jedi on Belsavis - a young man named Jax Pavan. Den and I-5 agreed to work with the Jedi Remnant, and any alliance that might later be organized to restore the Republic. I-5 had been an old friend of the Corellian information broker Lorn Pavan, Jax's father.

Shortly after I-5's arrival on Belsavis, two young Force users made their way to the Jedi planet - Shira Brie and Kyle Katarn. The two children would soon grow as Jedi Padawans, trained by the Jedi living on Belsavis.

On Corellia, Sirius was pleased to learn that Rostek's adopted son Hal Horn, and Sirius's partner in CorSec, had his own son, Corran. Sirius was like an uncle to the young Corellian.

On Nar Shaddaa, Booster was now a father of a young girl named Mirax. Mirax's mother had died, and Booster was to raise Mirax alone. James helped him out when he wasn't busy with his own smuggling runs. The Marauder smuggler had bought himself a freighter called the Golden Dragon.

When James was busy, Booster always had the help of his friends, Jagged and Zena Antilles. The Corellian family's son Wedge would grow close to Mirax over the years. The children were about as close as James and Sirius had been. The latter, with his position at CorSec, could also watch after Mirax from afar. Booster wouldn't want a cop around his daughter.

James, Sirius, and Booster began hearing disturbing rumors about his old friend Jorj Car'das. The smuggler chief had become a ruthless and cutthroat businessman. Car'das was now building up a smuggling organization that could rival the Hutts. The cold-hearted smuggler wouldn't let anyone stand in his way; he even began moving against the likes of Booster Terrik. Car'das would grow angry over matters James saw as trivial. It was a hard matter to work with a man so ruthless. James wondered what had happened to his old friend - he used to be so kind-hearted. But alas, it seemed James would never know what happened to Car'das.

On Tatooine, the fate of Darth Maul was resolved. The Sith Lord had broken free of the Emperor's metaphorical chains. He landed on Tatooine to locate his old enemy, Obi-Wan Kenobi. He located the Toydarian junk dealer Watto. Once he received the information he needed from the Toydarian, Maul killed him. Then he made way for the Skywalker homestead to destroy young Luke Skywalker.

Jack Skywalker, the boy's father, immediately jumped in defense of the boy, blue lightsaber in hand. He was assisted by Ben and May Kenobi, an old married couple living out in the wilderness. They held blue and purple lightsabers respectively. Maul discovered that these lightsaber-wielding Tatooinians were the Jedi Generals Anakin Skywalker, Siri Tachi, and the Zabrak's old enemy, Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Darth Maul engaged in a fierce duel against Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Siri. In the end, he was defeated, and killed by Anakin Skywalker. To cover their presence on this world, the three Jedi decided to burn the Zabrak's body. Maul was effectively eliminated as an enemy. Satisfied, Obi-Wan and Siri returned to the Jundland Wastes, and Anakin returned to his homestead with his son.

Four years after their arrival on Alderaan, C-3PO and R2-D2 vanished. Bail and Padme were not quite sure what happened to them during this time. But somehow they fell back into the hands of Raymus Antilles. CorSec agent Sirius Black had helped the Alderaanians recover their droids. A year after this, Sirius doscovered that a Corellian family he had befriended, the Antilles family, had lost their eldest child. Syal Antilles had run away from Corellia, and changed her name to Wynssa Starflare. She became a celebrity. Sirius trusted that she would be all right.

The Jedi Remnant were not pleased to learn of more Imperialized systems. But alas, barely seven years after the end of the Clone Wars, the Renatasia system was conquered after a brutal conflict.

Three years after the departure of Syal Antilles, Soontir Fel left Corellia, blackmailed from the planet. He joined the Imperial forces to Sirius's dismay. Such a promising young man, it pained the CorSec agent to see him become one of the Emperor's soldiers.

The next year, Sirius was contacted by the wealthy Tharen family. They led him to the trail of a teenager named Han Solo. Solo and the Tharens' daughter Bria had run off to the Core Worlds. Sirius and Hal discovered that Solo had been a con man who now chose to enter in the Imperial Army. Hal forwarded this information to Imperial Center. Believing his assets to have been stolen, Sirius ensured that Solo would be investigated by both Imperial and Corellian security. Shortly after, Renn Tharen dropped the charges against Solo.

Nearly a decade after the Clone Wars, the Jedi Remnant were pleased to learn that because of that, the Emperor alienated the Kaminoans. Prime Minister Lama Su gathered a group of clone troopers to strike back at the Empire, convinced that Palpatine would one day see their clones as a threat. Unfortunately, Jango Fett's cloned son, Boba Fett, led Darth Vader's 501st Legion, the troops that had once belonged to General Skywalker, to destroy the rebellious clones. The Jedi on Belsavis resurfaced to rescue the survivors. These clones left military service and retired with the Jedi Remnant on Belsavis.

What could have been the birth of an alliance to restore the Republic ended with such terrible results. Minister Su self-fulfilled his own prophecy. Emperor Palpatine did find the Fett clones to be a threat. He commission of clones through other templates and the enlistment of non-cloned stormtroopers. The GAR had now become known as the Stormtrooper Corps, creating a nearly invincible army. The time to strike back was growing nearer.

About this time, the Jedi Remnant began to notice new weapons for the Imperials - twin ion engine starfighters (also known as TIE fighters) and a new fleet of Star Destroyers - Imperial-class. Most of the old Victory-class Star Destroyers from the Clone Wars had been retired. Gilad Pellaeon had been transferred as an officer on board the Chimaera. Kendal Ozzel was now in command of the Reprisal. Vader now commanded the Devastator. Lorth Needa was transferred on board the Avenger. This, Sirius decided, was officially the start of a new era in the galaxy.

On Tatooine, Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Siri helped treat ten-year-old Luke Skywalker, who had contracted Tatooine dust fever. Obi-Wan and Siri had their own child, eight-year-old Jinn Kenobi. Jinn, as well as Biggs Darklighter, were close friends of Luke. On Belsavis, Harry and Galilea had a young nine-year-old son named Albus Potter, who was raised with the other Jedi children on Belsavis.

Two years after Kamino Uprising, Sirius yet again heard the name Han Solo. This time as an Imperial cadet nicknamed Slick.

In that same year, Emperor Palpatine discovered a power to transfer his spirit into another body. It was essentially an ability to live beyond death. He left his apprentice Darth Vader out of this, valuing his life more than Vader's. He then transferred cloning equipment to facilities on Wayland and Byss. To guard Wayland, he employed a Dark Jedi named Joruus C'Baoth, a clone of the powerful Jedi Master who had mysteriously died before the start of the Clone Wars.

Shortly after, Jedi General Solusar was dueled and killed by Darth Vader. His son, Kam, was orphaned and made his way back to Belsavis. Kam Solusar would continue his career as a Jedi Knight.

Eleven years after the Caamasi Massacre, the Jedi Remnant were again shocked by the Empire's next act of violence. After testing a bioweapon on the planet Falleen, Darth Vader led his forces to bombard the planet, killing thousands of Falleens. James and Sirius, in particular, were stunned that this was the man who used to be one of their greatest friends nearly four decades ago. Black Sun's new leader, a Falleen named Xizor, forever loathed the Sith Lord. The Jedi and Black Sun may have shared a common enemy, but they would never sink so low to ally with a cutthroat criminal like Xizor.

In the same year that Xizor became the leader of Black Sun, Senator Jar Jar Binks retired from Imperial service. The Gungan was replaced in the Senate by Pooja Naberrie. At the same time, Imperial General Jan Dodonna retired from military service, and he returned his home planet of Commenor.

On Tatooine, that same year, thirteen-year-old Luke Skywalker and eleven-year-old Jinn Kenobi got lost in the Tatooinian wilderness, and were nearly killed by a krayt dragon. Luckily, their parents arrived just in time, and the three Jedi saved their lives. They did this without revealing their true identities.

On Nar Shaddaa, James came to befriend a smuggler called Talon Karrde, a student of Car'das and one of his chief lieutenents. James disn't need the Force to see that Karrde would go far one day. Besides Booster, Car'das, and Karrde, James came to know several other smugglers living on Nar Shaddaa, including Salla and Mako Spince.

The next year, James would meet three con men that would affect the course of galactic history.

Skip 1 - Smuggler's Run - 5 BBY

Fourteen years after his first arrival on the Smuggler's Moon, James met with two smugglers - a Human and a Wookiee. They were introduced to him by his friend, Mako Spince.

"Han," said Mako, "this old man is Prongs. He's been here since the end of the Clone Wars at least. He's a smuggling expert."

James smiled. "You flatter me, Spince. Hey, kid," he added to the young man.

Han Solo, as the boy introduced himself as, was a young Corellian with rugged good looks. He looked to be about twenty-four, but James judged that the man lived a hard life for a man twice his age.

However, James recognized the Wookiee. His name was Chewbacca, and he had been a friend of James's Jedi mentor, Yoda. The Wookiee didn't appear to recognize him. James knew why. Chewbacca would be remembering a young dark-haired youth in Jedi robes. He wouldn't not be expecting a middle-aged smuggler with silver hair and old torn robes. James was not going to remind the Wookiee of his identity. If Chewbacca didn't recognize him, James wasn't going to blow his cover.

"What are you going to do with the kid here, Spince?" James asked.

"I thought he'd run spice with me," Mako said. "Until he gets his own ship, that is."

"You should stay with me sometimes, Solo." James smiled. "I can show you around this place. As Spince told you, I've been here since the fall of the Old Republic."

James showed Han and Chewbacca around in the old smuggler's hideout, Smuggler's Run. James introduced Han to some of his friend on the moon - Zeen Afit, Jarril, old Kid DXo'In . . .

Han observed the place, then he and Chewie coughed as they looked at the gooey stuff on the walls of the hideout. James had always wondered what that stuff was. "What the heck is that stuff, Prongs?"

"It's just one of the things we have to be put up with," James replied. "Stinks, eh? We can never quite figure out what the hell is causing it."

Before he could continue, they were interrupted by the arrival of the beautiful Sinewy Ana Blue.

"Blue," James greeted, "meet Han Solo, a new kid I brought for the ride. And this is his mate, Chewbacca."

Blue regarded the two smugglers. "Call me Blue," she said in her sultry voice. "Han Solo, you said? And . . . Chewbacca? Pleased to meet you. Have you met Wynni yet?"

Chewbacca cocked his head. {No,} he replied in Shyriwook. {May I ask who that is?}

Blue smiled. "You'll know her when you meet her."

James grinned, thinking of how Wynni was probably the only other Wookiee here next to Chewbacca. At least, James had never met any others, and he's been here a long time.

"So," Han said, "may I buy you a drink . . . Blue?"

Blue smiled. "No, I don't think so. You're cute, but not my type, Solo. I like them a bit more . . . seasoned."

James laughed, thinking about the times Blue had tried to seduce him. She didn't seem to care that he was a married man with a wife, a son, and a grandson. They just seemed to enhance her interest. "She's particular, Blue is," he explained to Han and Chewbacca. "You young, single types don't offer enough . . . sport. She likes the lure of the chase, especially when the chase involves stealing things that don't belong to you."

Blue regarded James seductively. "You like to live dangerously these days, don't you?" James ignored her, and she turned to Han. "Do you play sabacc, Han Solo."

Before arriving on Nar Shaddaa, James was only familiar with the game. The game was a combination of the Earthian games, poker and blackjack. James had never played them either. But he'd played it a couple of times now, and understood the thrill that Sirius found from the game.

"I've tried it," Han said.

Blue smiled. "Come around, then. I'd love to have some fresh blood in my game."

With a final nod to Chewbacca, she was gone. Han admired her approvingly. "Minions of Xendor . . . that is one fine-looking woman."

"I'm not going to argue with that, mate," James conceded. "But I'll always prefer Lily. My wife," he added, when Han glanced at him. "I haven't seen her in a good fourteen years."

"What happened?" Han asked.

As always when asked that question, James changed the subject. Fortunately, he didn't have to this time. He heard a loud roar as the giant Wookiee female stepped into the room - Wynni. She completely ignored Han and James and regarded Chewbacca with admiration.

{Hello, stranger,} she said in Shyriwook. {How are you doing?}

"Looks like your mate is being offered what you weren't, kid," James said.

"He doesn't look to happy about it, though," Zeen said.

He was right. Chewbacca looked rather uncomfortable as Wynni moved close to him, growling suggestively. The Wookiee shot Han a get-me-out-of-this expression.

"Hey, Chewie," the Corellian said, "we gotta go."

Wynni regarded Han. {Stay out of this, Corellian. Chewbacca here can make up his own mind.}

"Sorry," Han said. "We've got somewhere we have to be. A previous engagement."

Wynni glanced at him doubtfully. {Yeah, and I'm Senator Bel Iblis.}

James decided to bail the kid. Before he could, however, old Kid DXo'In stepped in. "It ain't polite to accuse people of lyin', Wynni," he said. "Han here is tellin' the truth. I just signed him and his Wookiee pal on to ride as copilot and gunner to Kessel aboard the Starfire. Matter of fact, my droids should be finished loadin' our cargo by now, Solo. Let's go."

Han glanced at Wynni, shrugged, and he and Chewbacca followed Kid out of the bar. James, not wanting to stay in the bar with an upset Wookiee, headed back to the Dragon, headed back for Nar Shaddaa.

James kept his ears out for word of the formation of an alliance to restore the Republic. If the rumors about what Palpatine and Vader were planning were true, it would have to be soon. And James suspected that Han Solo could be a great ally.