Chapter Ten

Coruscant

"We have a hit," the young human slicer told Turner as he entered the man's apartment. "Actually, we have hits on both Organa and Daysun."

The Holo-Net gossip reporter wasn't wealthy, so his apartment was located in the mid-levels of the apartment building and the view from his transparisteel window showed only a flashing advertising holo-screen, blinking day and night and forcing him to keep his window muted on dim. Turner always resented the rich beings that lived above his head, with their expansive views of the open sky and hover-lane traffic moving above and below. It wasn't fair. He wanted a fancy apartment, with vast amounts of space and top-of-the line appliances in the kitchen, even if he couldn't cook to save his life. Expensive appliances were a status symbol, and one that he desired.

"What did you come up with?" Turner asked eagerly.

"According to the DNA profile, Princess Leia Organa has a maternal relative located on Naboo."

"And?"

The hacker looked down at his datapad. "Her name is Sola Nabierre. Her parents were Ruwee and Jobal Nabierre. Both parents are deceased, but Sola Nabierre is still very much alive. The family is wealthy, and very political. In fact, they had a daughter named Padme Amidala Nabierre who was the elected Queen of Naboo until her untimely death, twenty seven standard years ago."

"Twenty seven years?" Tuner said thoughtfully. "Isn't that the age of Princess Organa?"

"I believe it is. Nothing has turned up on Organa's paternal side as of right now. The computers are still working on it, however."

"Interesting." Turner nodded. "Well done, my friend. Anything on Daysun?"

"Nothing duracrete." He paused, frowning.

"What is it?"

"Daysun's DNA has vague types of partial matches, but it's all very strange. It's like around a thirty percent match of multiple paternal Corellian connections, but only one maternal match, which comes from Alderaanian DNA stored inside old Imperial Medical records."

"That makes no sense," Turner said. "So you're saying his mother was an Alderaanian hooker that preferred Corellian customers? But only one sperm works with an egg to make a baby."

"Exactly," the hacker agreed. "The computer doesn't know what to make of it, either. And all three of the male matches are tentative, anyway. It's like a bizarre mixture of different Corellian human males that could be the father. Like I said, it's weird."

"Can you come up with a name for the Alderaanian woman?" Turner questioned.

"I'm having the computers working on it, but since Alderaan is gone, it's difficult."

"What about the partial matches for the paternal DNA?" Turner asked. "Any names there?"

The hacker shrugged. "That wasn't as difficult, if you can believe it. One of the men, Captain Skerris, was an Imperial TIE fighter pilot. He was considered one of the best, but he was killed in action. Another hit was a Corellian who was very wealthy. Owned major stock in the Santhe Shipyards, the company that builds the YT line of freighters. His name was Chelt Estes and he disappeared shortly after the end of the Clone Wars. He was arrested by Imperial Troops on suspicion of working against Palpatine, and it's assumed he's dead because he was never given a trial or found alive in prison after the Rebellion won the war. And the last partial match was the strangest of all. A Corellian Jedi named Neeja Halycon who died during a mission, right before the Republic became the Empire. Actually, the match on Halycon was about forty percent, a bit higher than the other two men."

Nexx Turner took the datapad with the information from the hacker. "You'll have your next payment deposited in your account today. Good job."

"Thanks."

The hacker left the apartment, and Turner stood holding the datapad, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

Onboard the Wookiee Princess

Han glared at the sparkling rock that had remained stubbornly attached to his chest until the Wookiee Princess made the jump into hyperspace. Only then did it release its hold on the Corellian and it now sat quietly on the old game table, even though Han still regarded it warily. Sitting on the curved acceleration couch, he gave a grimace as Leia finished wrapping his wounded side with gauze.

Leia wiped the extra bacta gel from her fingers as she nodded at her 'repair' work in approval. "That will heal up nicely. The scan on your two broken ribs indicates you won't need to have surgery to repair them. They'll heal on their own, but they will hurt for a while." She picked up a small packet, inspected the expiration date and tore it open, then took out what the package contained - a syringe filled with liquid.

Immediately, Han frowned. "Is that necessary?"

"Yes, it is," Leia said firmly. "I cleaned the cut as best as I could and applied a generous amount of bacta before putting on the medical wrap, but we don't have any idea what kind of bacteria or microbes are lurking in that soil." Without waiting for further objections she jabbed the antibiotic into his upper arm and injected the liquid. "All finished."

"Sometimes I think you enjoy inflicting just a tiny bit of pain on me," Han said, his lips quirking up in amusement, then, seeing Leia's glare, quickly added as he put his shirt on, "At least that rock thing finally let go of me."

"You do have a way with people... and things," Leia said with a smirk.

*Maybe the stone is confused, and thinks it owes you a Life Debt,* Chewie added in amusement. *Or it's attracted to your new, magnetic personality.*

"It should be interesting to see what kind of lightsaber you create with a crystal that insisted that it wanted you instead of the other way around," Luke said, still amazed at the stone's behavior. "I wish there was someone around I could ask about this. It's so frustrating to learn new things all the time by complete accident."

*That's why Han would make a good Jedi in your New Order,* Chewie said. *Everything he does is by accident, anyway. Right, EVIN DAYSUN?*

"Does everyone have to pick on me all the time?" Han said, before belatedly realizing he was sounding a bit whiny.

"We only pick on those we love," Leia responded, kissing the top of his head.

"What do you do to those you hate?"

"We shove them out the airlock," Leia shot back without hesitation.

Corellia, five days later..

"Very good, Leia," Luke said, proud of his sister's workmanship at building her new lightsaber. He looked over toward Han, who was sitting cross-legged on the floor of the Academy building, fumbling around with the small parts used inside the tube. "Maybe in the next month or two, Evin will finally be able to complete his, too."

Although all the students were upstairs in the newly completed apartments, painting and decorating their new rooms, Luke was careful to use Han's new name outside the privacy of his house or inside his ship. Leia had been careful to use it around the students, as well. So far the number of beings that were aware of Evin Daysun's real identity stood at thirteen, which was about eight more than what Han was comfortable with having the knowledge.

"Again with the mocking," Han complained as he dropped yet another bolt and watched in dismay as it rolled across the floor. "These parts are small. It's not a wonder Leia got hers finished first. She's got tiny fingers that can hold these dinky sized parts better."

Luke restrained himself from rolling his eyes, but checked the room before saying in a low voice, "All the years you spent working non-stop on keeping the Falcon in one piece and sort of space-worthy and you can't build a simple lightsaber? That's sad. Truly sad." He looked back at Leia. "Turn yours on, and let's see what color comes out."

Excited to find out, Leia did as Luke requested. Her lightsaber hummed to life, showing itself as a beautiful, pale yellow blade.

"Perfect," Luke said, pleased. "Yellow is diplomacy. Your crystal knows you well." He went and retrieved the errant bolt and handed it back to Han. "Once your lightsaber is finished, I'm not going to push you anymore to train, Evin."

Han looked up in surprise. "What? Why?"

"I've been meditating on this, and I've come to the conclusion that unless you're the one that wants to gain these skills, it's never going to work with you learning to use the Force," Luke said, although not unkindly. "I'd love to teach you, but from now on it's going to be on your terms. It should have been on your terms all along, but I was being just as stubborn about this as you were. If you ever do decide you want to learn, then I'll always be here to show you how to access your abilities. And if you don't, that's okay, too. I will help protect you, along with Corran, Chewie and Leia."

Solo was actually speechless and he watched Leia give Luke a hug before finally muttering, "Um, okay."

He wasn't sure he wanted Leia to put herself in harm's way because of his fans and crazed stalkers. He should be the one protecting her, like things had been when he was Han Solo. Maybe it was sexist and macho, but it was how he felt and he doubted it was an emotion he could change.

"You're doing the right thing, Luke," Leia said in a whisper, feeling more than a bit of relief. It was hard to act as a buffer between Han's reluctance and Luke's insistence in this matter. "Give him his time and space, and he'll come around, eventually."

"That's what I believe now, too." Luke smiled down at his future brother-in-law. "Truce, my long-time friend... and brother. Are we good?"

Han grinned, knowing it was impossible to stay mad at Luke, whose heart was always in the right place. He inserted and tightened the final part, then placed the strange crystal inside the cylinder. "We're good as gold, Kid. And, look... my lightsaber is finished." He rose to his feet with a single, fluid motion. "I hope it works."

"Turn it on," Leia said, eager to see the color of Han's weapon.

Carefully and cautiously, Han turn on the silver tube, holding his breath that it wouldn't explode in his hand. A teal-blue blade emitted from the handle. "It didn't blow up on me," he said in surprise. In fact, as he held the weapon it felt right, like it was an extension of his hand. The same feeling, in fact, that Luke had always claimed he experienced with his lightsaber. Maybe the kid wasn't so crazy after all, Han reflected thoughtfully.

"It's beautiful, too," Leia said in awe.

"Teal. The color of trustworthiness," Luke said, nodding in approval as he placed his hand on top of Han's shoulder. "That's appropriate, too. You've always been a very loyal and trustworthy friend."

Han felt a surge of pride over his accomplishment. His very own lightsaber was complete and functional. Maybe, just maybe, now that he wasn't feeling nagged and pressured, he'd let Luke continue to train him... someday. After his next tour, after his wedding, and after his honeymoon. After all, what was the point in building this really amazing lightsaber if he didn't know how to properly use it?

"Evin?" Luke said, interrupting Han's lightsaber musings as he looked out of one of the Academy building's transparisteel panes. "What is that?" Luke pointed up into the sky.

Solo walked over to the window, frowning up to see what Luke was indicating. "What's what?"

"That white fluffy stuff floating down."

Han nearly laughed. "You're kidding me, right? It's called snow. I'm sure you must remember what it looks like unless you used some type of Jedi mind wipe to forget Hoth."

Luke turned and glared accusingly at Han. "You never told me it snowed here!"

This time Han did give a snort of laughter. "This area of Corellia has four seasons, Luke. Spring, summer, autumn and winter. You didn't notice all the leaves turnin' color and falling off the trees the past few weeks?"

"I noticed, but I've never lived through a season that changes into winter," Luke replied, somewhat defensively. He looked over at his sister. "Did you know this?"

"Yes, Luke," Leia said, biting her lip to keep from laughing along with Han. "I know that trees losing their leaves means that winter is coming."

"It only lasts about twelve or fourteen standard weeks before it gets warm again," Han said, still chortling. "Are you tellin' me you wouldn't have built your Academy here if you knew ahead of time that we have winter?"

"Well," Luke muttered in disgust. "I might have. I'm from Tatooine."

"I hear Jabba's old place is still available for rent," Han said. "Not sure your students would be thrilled with that location, though."

"Sand is better than snow."

"And blasters work better than lightsabers," Han rejoined quickly.

There was really no point in arguing, Luke decided in disgust. He was doomed to spend the rest of his life contending with snow, and it was all Han's fault.