Chapter Seven

NJO, Imperial City, Coruscant

Anakin Skywalker thoroughly enjoyed flying the X-wings with Kyp Durron's squadron. It took him a few minutes to adjust to the different controls of the ship, but he was soon flying nose to nose with Kyp. At the last minute, Kyp barely managed to vape him. Anakin strode over to Kyp as they exited the simulators. Now that he was familiar with the ship, he was certain he could beat Kyp. "Another run?"

Amazed, Kyp shook his head. "You've never flown an X-wing before?"

"Obviously," Anakin said, trying not to sound cocky. He rubbed his hands together. "Let's go again."

"Wait a minute," Kyp held up his hand. He glanced to his left and swore under his breath. "Sithspit."

"What's wrong?" Anakin asked before following Kyp's gaze.

Two men were walking toward them, but while both were brown-haired, one was a few centimeters taller than the other. The shorter one reminded Anakin of someone. He sensed through the Force that the man was a Jedi.

"That was some impressive flying," the taller one complimented to Anakin. "Are you Durron's newest recruit?"

"No," Anakin said, pleased with the praise. "I was just flying for fun."

"For fun?" the man looked slightly incredulous. "What's your name?"

"Cliegg Lars, sir."

"Wedge Antilles," said the taller man, offering Anakin his hand. "Have you considered trying out for Rogue Squadron, Cliegg?"

"Are you planning on telling him that he's good, but he's no Luke Skywalker?" asked the shorter man.

"That's an honor reserved for you alone, Corran," Wedge smirked. "Besides, I think he compares."

Anakin smiled. Not only did he have a son to carry his name, he was also an excellent pilot. At least some things would go right in the future. "What's Rogue Squadron?"

Wedge blinked. "Pardon me?"

Kyp cleared his throat. "You'll have to excuse Cliegg. He wasn't a good history student."

"History?" Wedge was outraged.

"Wedge Antilles and Corran Horn are famous Rogue Squadron pilots, Cliegg," Kyp gave Anakin a hard look. "Surely you remember them?"

"Yeah," said Anakin, glaring at Kyp's implication that he was a poor history student. "You'll have to forgive my momentary memory lapse." He glanced over at Corran, who was looking at him steadily. So this was Valin Horn's father. Did that mean that Valin's parents were both Jedi?

Corran turned to his companion. "Wedge, can you excuse us for a moment?"

"Jedi business?" Wedge asked, already stepping away. "I'll talk with you later, Corran."

"Of course." Corran kept his eyes on Anakin. "I have a small office here." He gestured for Kyp and Anakin to follow him.

Kyp rolled his eyes and seemed to drag his feet to follow the older Jedi. Anakin secretly smiled to himself as he sensed Kyp's dislike of Corran. They soon reached Corran's office, and the moment the door was closed, Corran began interrogating Kyp.

"So. Who is this?"

"Cliegg Lars," Anakin said, offering his hand.

Corran shook it. "You are a Jedi Knight, Cliegg?"

"Yes."

"I see," Corran turned his attention to Kyp. "Don't you think it would be a better idea to introduce a new Jedi to Luke? Instead of running sims with your squad?"

"Luke's in a Senate meeting," said Kyp evenly, obviously struggling to keep his voice level. "And I didn't think it was a good idea to leave Cliegg by himself."

"You could have called a Council meeting."

"I wouldn't dream of it without having Luke Skywalker attend." Kyp's green eyes flashed. "Or your honored self."

"Thanks for your consideration," Corran's tone was dry. "Where do you come from, Cliegg?"

"I was born on Tattooine, but I trained on Coruscant."

Corran blinked. "You trained on Coruscant?"

Kyp cleared his throat. "There's something I need to tell you, Corran. Do you remember how Luke sent Jacen and Anakin to retrieve the Crystal of Transportation?"

"Yes."

"Well they found it," Kyp held Corran's gaze. "Your son Valin followed them."

"And?"

"He and Anakin Solo decided to use it. And the way the Crystal works is by sending someone to take their place." Kyp gestured to Anakin. "Cliegg is a Jedi of the Old Republic."

"I don't believe you."

"Corran, you know it's true," Kyp stood in front of him. "Can you sense Valin?"

"You're telling me that my son is trapped in the Old Republic? And here I thought he was practicing shielding…" Corran leaned against the desk, suddenly looking haggard. "This must be why Luke messaged me. Dear Force! What if he runs into Darth Vader? What time period are we talking about?"

Anakin stiffened. He wondered who this Darth Vader was. There were already two Sith around, and Corran was mentioning a third?

Kyp looked slightly uncomfortable. He raised his hand, as if attempting to comfort Corran, before thinking better of it. "According to Cliegg, during the Clone Wars. Listen, Corran, we thought it best that Cliegg and Garm – he's the other Jedi that accompanied Cliegg – learn as little about the future as possible. Please," he added when Corran looked rebellious.

Corran let out a long breath before turning to Anakin. "What kind of treatment can I expect for my son?"

"The Council will want to keep his presence a secret. They're likely to assign him a Master for escort until the Crystal's power wears off. They aren't going to want to change the future any more than you do."

"Good for them." Corran folded his arms. "How do know if I can trust this Master they assign to my son?"

"He would be a Jedi, sir."

Corran frowned. "Not all Jedi can be trusted. Especially not in the Old Republic."

Anakin was tired of all the vague references to the Jedi being untrustworthy. There was something he was missing, and he wanted to know what it was. He studied Corran and recognized the fear in the older man's eyes. He'd seen that same fear in his mother every time he entered the pod races. "Your son, Valin. He's a Halcyon, isn't he?"

"Why do you assume that?"

"I happen to know a Valin Halcyon," Anakin said with a shrug. "And considering that at the moment, Nejaa Halcyon is visiting the temple, I don't think you have anything to worry about."

"Nejaa is at the temple?" Corran was intrigued. "He's helping with the war, isn't he?"

Anakin nodded. "War is about the only thing that could persuade a Corellian Jedi to leave his system. If Master Halcyon was aware of a relative of his at the Temple, he would certainly take him in."

"What about Valin Halcyon? Is he also at the temple?"

"As far as I am aware, he's not," Anakin said carefully. He knew that Valin wouldn't thank him for revealing his presence to Corran. He would want to meet his son-in-law on his own terms.

Corran's shoulders slumped. "I see. And I suppose Valin Halcyon looks quite a bit like me?"

"Sir, he does not," Anakin said, surprised. "He's quite a bit taller than you are, and broader too." He eyed Corran carefully. "Why would you look like him anyway? You're his son-in-law."

"No." Corran frowned. "I am his son."

"Then why aren't you Corran Halcyon?" Anakin demanded. "Does Valin die young?" he asked in concern. After all, Valin might be annoyingly cautious, but he and Nejaa were Anakin's friends. They were Jedi who managed to have a family and still serve the Order. Anakin hoped to do the same one day.

Obviously struggling with his answer, Corran hesitated. "I don't think I should answer that."

Anakin wanted to pursue the question further, but he remembered what Valin had said earlier. "He wouldn't want to know how he died anyway."

"I imagine not," Corran said softly. "And if I thought that there was a way you could stop it, I'd tell you how."

"If there was anyway I could stop it, I would," Anakin promised. "He's a good friend of mine."

Corran smiled. "Then I think I'd like to get to know you better, Cliegg."

***

Since Jacen was called away to check on patients, Valin Halcyon waited for him in his small office. It was agreed that his status as a rogue Jedi might cause some unwanted questions around the infirmary, and Valin didn't feel like explaining his situation to every Jedi he met. So he sat in Jacen's chair, bored. He supposed he could explore the Jedi buildings on his own, but he wanted to avoid awkward questions.

He sensed someone outside the door before recognizing Jaina's Force signature. She entered the room, Jysella trailing behind her. "Is Jacen sick of you already?"

Valin got to his feet. "I'm afraid so. He made up some excuse about attending patients, but I know the truth."

Jaina smirked. "I figured."

"So, you've still got the kid?" Valin asked, just as Jysella latched onto his leg. He mussed her hair. "Miss me much?"

"Hi," Jysella beamed up at him. "Sit down?"

"Sure," Valin said, sitting down on the floor.

"Her mother just came back." Jaina sat across from him. "Uncle Luke wanted to talk to her about Valin, so she's staying with me."

"Why would he want to talk to her about Valin?" he asked.

"Because he's mean," Jysella said casually as she stood behind Valin. She gathered his hair into her first and pulled out a hair tie. "I'll make you pretty."

"Jysella!" Jaina said sternly as she attempted to catch hold of her. "Sorry, Garm."

"It's alright. Let her make me pretty."

Jaina sat back down. "Valin is her older brother. He's not mean, he just teases her."

Valin stiffened. "I see." He hadn't realized before that Jysella was his granddaughter. Assuming, of course, that Valin Horn was his grandson. He was just guessing by the name, but he already felt attached to the young girl standing behind him. He wondered if this would be the only time he ever got to meet her.

"Are you alright?" Jaina asked in concern.

"I'm fine." He offered her a small smile. "Just thinking too much."

"Must be hard, coming here." Jaina's brown eyes were far away. "Not knowing anyone and seeing how few Jedi we have left."

"It's not my first choice for an adventure," Valin admitted. "But it's not that bad," he said as he watched Jysella. Was it possible to love someone he'd just met this much? He envied her surviving grandfather, if she had one.

"I'm worried about my brother, Garm," Jaina searched his eyes. "You're sure the Jedi will be good to him? Keep him from doing anything stupid?"

"My father will treat him well," Valin assured her. "And the Council isn't likely to let him out of their sight. The grandson of Anakin Skywalker is going to cause quite a stir in the Temple."

Jaina looked at him sharply. "Why?"

Valin held up his hand. "For a few reasons. One being that the Jedi of the Republic are forbidden romantic love, which means that your grandfather has broken the Jedi Code. Second, he's the Chosen One. Anything concerning him causes a stir in the Temple."

"What do mean, the Chosen One?"

"You haven't heard of the prophecy?" Valin was surprised. "That a child born of the midichlorians will bring balance to the Force. Anakin Skywalker had no mortal father, Jaina. At least, that's what Shmi Skywalker told Master Qui-Gon Jinn."

"My grandfather had no father?" Jaina demanded. "That's crazy. What are midichlorians?"

Valin offered a brief explanation, and at the end of it, Jaina got to her feet and started to pace.

"That kind of implies that he was born of the Force."

"That is one way of looking at it, yes."

"Then the Force is my great-grandfather."

Valin laughed. "I haven't thought about it that way, but sure."

Jaina stopped her pacing. "I knew my family was weird, but not that weird. What do you think it means to 'balance the Force'?"

"I don't know," Valin said, spreading his hands. "And I suspect that Anakin doesn't know either. There's a lot of pressure on him, but he bears it well."

"He does?" Jaina seemed taken aback.

"Yes, he's an excellent Knight," Valin winced when Jysella pulled his hair a little too roughly. "A good friend, too."

Jaina gave him a considering look. "You were friends with him?"

"I am, Jaina."

"Right." She looked away for a moment, then attempted a grin. "You should see how pretty you look."

Valin wondered at her sudden change of subject but chose not to push her. Instead, he looked up at his granddaughter. "Have you finished?"

"Almost," Jysella said as she tied one last tail in his hair. "All finished. You're pretty now!"

"Just what I've always wanted." Valin patted her back. "Can I have a mirror?"

***

Note: Since it was Anakin's POV up above, it was difficult to work in that though retired, Wedge and Corran are just helping Gavin with the Rogues. (Will be explained when we get to Corran again. ;))