Chapter 51

Ben Grimm and Johnny Storm arrive at the Solo apartment. Johnny presses the door chime. Leia Organa Solo answers the door.

Leia: "Hello. Come in."

Han, Chewbacca, and Jaina are in the living area. Leia introduces Ben and Johnny to Han, Chewie, and Jaina. Then Ben explains the purpose of his and Johnny's visit there. Reed asked them to deliver a communicator that can be used to contact them. Johnny hands Leia the device.

Jaina(to Ben & Johnny): "Well, it was nice meeting you guys. (to her parents): "I'm going to go get something to eat."

As she walks out the door, Johnny steps in beside her and puts an arm around her shoulders.

Johnny: "I'll join you. I'm starved."

Jaina looks at the young blonde man in mild surprise. Leia can sense Han's concern. She puts a hand on his arm.

Leia(whispering): "Your daughter can take care of herself."

Han(whispering): "She's 16."

Leia(whispering): "She's a jedi."

Jaina: "Okay. You can come with me."

Johnny smiles. Then Jaina latches onto his wrist and removes his arm from around her shoulders.

Jaina: "But keep your hands to yourself."

Johnny: "Yes, ma'am."

Ben laughs and mutters to himself, "Girl has spunk. I like her".

Leia(to Han): "See, I told you."

Chapter 52

When Aayla Secura arrives at the Skywalker's apartment, Mace Windu is already there. Mara answers the door and invites her in. Luke is seated on the couch and Master Windu is seated in a chair across from him. Mara sits on the couch beside Luke and Aayla sits in a chair next to Master Windu.

Luke(to Windu): "So these Yuuzhan Vong are like a void in the force and we can use that to uncover their disguises?"

Mace: "That is correct."

Aayla is staring at Luke. When he turns to look at her, their eyes meet and she realizes that she has been caught staring.

Aayla: "I'm sorry."

Luke: "That's alright. Is there something wrong? Do I have a piece of flatbread stuck in my teeth?"

Aayla laughs.

Aayla: "No. It's just that you look so much like Anakin. I hope that doesn't offend you."

Luke: "Not at all. He was your friend. And I've forgiven him for the things that he did as Darth Vader."

Aayla: "I'm glad. I made the mistake of mentioning the same thing to your sister earlier. She was quite visibly upset by it."

Luke: "Well, forgiveness of our father comes much harder for Leia. She remembers him as a grim visage in black armor and a flowing black cape. I remember him that way also, but since I was with him when he died, I remember him the way he was just before he died. And shortly after that, I saw his ghost so I also remember him as he was before he fell to the darkside. Leia knows that our father was redeemed before he died. She knows that he saved my life and killed Palpatine, but since she wasn't present, that reality isn't as concrete for her as when he had her tortured and stood by while her home planet was destroyed."

Windu: "Her home planet was destroyed? Which planet was that?"

Luke: "Alderaan. She had been adopted by Bail Organa."

Aayla: "Bail perished when the planet was destroyed?"

Luke: "Yes."

Windu: "It must be tough for her knowing that her father was involved in the death of her adopted father and her adopted homeworld."

Aayla: "I still have difficulty believing that the Anakin that I know will do all of those things."

Windu: "Perhaps he won't."

Mara: "What do you mean? He already did."

Windu: "From your perspective, that's true. But from my perspective, all those events are still in the future."

Luke: "Our past is still your future."

Windu: "Yes. Perhaps, when Aayla and I return to the past, we may be able to use the knowledge of the future we now possess to alter those events."

"Perhaps. Per chance. It is to dream."

The voice comes from the kitchen. Luke and the other jedi turn their heads and see a man standing there chomping on a pilfered piece of fruit. None of them recognize the man, but Luka and Mara instantly recognize his attire. He is wearing Darth Vader's black armor and cape sans the helmet. The jedi stand and ignite their lightsabers nearly simultaneously.

Q: "Please don't get up on my account."

Luke: "Who are you?"

Q: "I am Q of the Q Continuum. And you are Luke Skywalker. May I have your autograph?"

Luke: "You broke into my apartment to get my autograph?"

Q: "No. First, I didn't break in. I popped in. I'm an omnipotent being. I don't have to break and enter. I simply enter.

And no I didn't come here for your autograph. But since I'm here, I thought--"

Windu: "Why are you here?"

Q: "I intend to prevent you from changing history. And I won't be tricked this time. Damn Spock."

Mara: "Did you say damn spot?"

Q: "No, I said Spock. Are you deaf?"

Mara: "No, but my hearing is slightly impaired right now."

Q: "Oh yeah. You have that awful Yuuzhan Vong disease. My bad."

Windu: "But isn't your mere presence here at this moment potentially changing history?"

Q(puzzled expression): "I don't follow."

Windu: "If you are truly omnipotent then you are also omnipresent. Existing in all places and at all times at once. From your perspective this very moment would also be the past. So although you say that you have come here to prevent us(gestures towards Aayla and himself) from changing their(gestures to Luke and Mara) past, by appearing here you may change their future."

Q: "Well that may be true Mr. Smartypants, but I am I and you are you."

Windu: "Meaning what?"

Q: "The rules don't apply to me."

Windu: "According to who?"

Q: "According to me. That's who. You're as bad as Spock."

Q snaps his fingers. Mace Windu and Aayla Secura vanish.

Luke: "What happened to them?"

Q: "I sent them back."

Mara: "How will sending them back prevent them from trying to change history?"

Q: "I also edited their memories. They won't remember any of their illicit knowledge of the future."

Luke: "What about Master Yoda? According to Windu, the Fantastic Four told Master Yoda about the future also."

Q: "You mean Kermit? I edited his memories seconds after Windu left him."

Q snaps his fingers again and disappears.