Chapter 2

Leia was tinkering with the hilt of her incomplete lightsaber when she looked up suddenly, a weak smile illuminating her previously grim countenance. Standing up and exiting the Temple, she saw the unmistakable shape of the Millennium Falcon emerge overhead as it entered Ilum's atmosphere. Watching the ship descend elegantly and land in a nearby airstrip, Leia began to laugh feebly as she felt the stress of the past few hours fade at the sight of her beloved.

Descending from the ramp holding a crate on his hip, Han looked up to see the Princess awaiting him. He sauntered up to her with a bemused expression as he noticed she was giggling. Dropping the crate, he placed his hands on her shoulders.

"Something funny to you, your worship?" Han asked quizzically.

Leia flashed him a radiant smile. "I just realized how much I missed you," she said and leaned forward to give him a gentle kiss.

Pulling away, Han grinned. "I like that answer," he responded, reciprocating her kiss. "I like that answer very much."

As Leia helped Han unload the supplies they needed to survive on the lifeless planet off of the Millennium Falcon, Luke was seated cross-legged in the meditation chamber, sitting atop the crack hid sister had unwittingly created that morning. Frowning, Luke recounted that disturbing meditation session with Leia.

"Power. Unlimited Power."

"What else?"

"Pain, unspeakable pain. Anger, rage, violence."

"And between it all? A balance, do you sense it?"

The walls had begun to shake, dust cascading down from the high ceilings. Luke had opened his eyes, shocked to see Leia hovering a few inches above the floor, her eyes shut tightly, screaming silently.

"Leia! Leia stop!"

Luke was not a prideful man. He knew that although he was the only Jedi left in the galaxy, he by no means had the experience or wisdom of a true Jedi Master. As a consequence, he was unsure of how to interpret his sister's troubling episode. He would surely need to consult far more experienced minds.

Even so, he knew his sister well. He could sense her frustration with how slowly her training was progressing. Yet he knew that this was just a superficial vexation, superfluous to the real source of her anguish. After all, she was forced to witness her whole planet be annihilated, Luke reasoned, no doubt she is still suffering from that traumatic event. Resolving to ask her about this later, Luke stood up and left the chamber to go greet Han.

Entering the main chamber of the temple, Luke found Han attempting to carry three stacked crates as he and Leia finished unloading the Millennium Falcon. The top crate wobbled precariously, taunting Han as it began to tip over.

"Don't do that you son of a – "

Ignoring Han's profanity, the crate tumbled to the ground.

"Whoa there!" Luke called out, catching the crate with the Force before it could hit the floor. "Need some help?"

Han looked up to see Luke across the chamber dressed in his black Jedi robes. "I had everything under control until you came along," Han retorted with a cheeky grin.

"I'm sure you did, but I think I might be able to speed things along," Luke replied, pulling all three crates into the air, gliding them gracefully across the chamber until he softly let them down neatly next to the pile of supplies.

Striding across the chamber, Han reached out to grasp Luke's hand. "Man, that never gets old," he said. Han was used to his friend's incredible powers by now, but that didn't mean they never failed to impress him.

"I live to serve," Luke replied with a smirk, pulling his friend in for a quick hug. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Leia at the entrance of the chamber, her hands on her hips.

"You done with the magic shows? We still have work to do." Leia called out sassily.

Turning around, Han held his hands up in mock-surrender. "Sorry, your highness. Be right there." Giving Luke a wink, the two walked over to Leia to help her unload the rest of the ship.

Satisfied, Leia turned around and exited the chamber. His smile fading, Han turned to Luke. "A bit grouchy that one," he whispered so that Leia couldn't hear.

Luke pursed his lips, looking down the hall from which Leia had left. "She's had a rough time while you were gone, Han" Luke said quietly. "Hopefully she'll brighten up now that you're back."

Han nodded and cleared his throat, unsure of what to say. "Well, I've brought enough stuff to last the rest of the month," he said, changing the subject. "We've brought most of it in, got a few more trips left. You gonna help us?"

"Sure thing, let me just get my coat."

"Great, see you there." As Luke turned around and rushed off to get his coat, Han left the chamber to join his irritable girlfriend in the Falcon.