Chapter 6
Jaina's meditation was broken by the sound of a knock on her door. No, not her door. Her head. She only thought she heard the knock. Curious, she reached out with the Force and found her brother at the door.
How did I know? She got up and opened the door. Jacen stood there in a nice, clean outfit with an expensive-looking bottle of wine.
"Most people use the comm.," She said irritably, pointing to the white duraplastic unit on the doorframe.
"Yeah, but most people aren't your little brother who thoroughly enjoys annoying you from time to time," Jacen said with a smile. "Could you give me a hand with something?"
"That depends," She said evenly. "Is the wine for me?"
"Well, Uncle Luke invited me over for dinner…"
"And you want me to tag along?"
"If you want to, I suppose," Jacen responded. "I was just going to ask for directions to his place, but if you come you'll get some wine."
"Jacen, any droid could have told you where he lives," Jaina rolled her eyes. It was obvious he did not want to face their aunt and uncle alone his first time back. "Give me a minute."
She closed the door in his face, reappeared a few moments later with a fresh change of clothes, and led him off to their uncle's place. Two doors down the hallway she stopped and turned to face him.
"Here we are."
"Did you arrange these quarters or did he?"
"Rooms are given out aurebeshically," Jaina explained. "Or, at least they were when we moved in. I think they just wanted me close by to keep an eye on Ben, but they'll never admit it."
"Ah," Jacen knocked on the door.
"What's with you and knocking?" Jaina asked.
His response was cut off by the door sliding open to reveal a meter-high smiling kid.
"Jaina!" The three-foot smile looked at Jaina, then at Jacen, turned into a scream, and the door whisked itself shut.
"There goes my chance at winning the Skywalker family popularity competition," Jacen remarked.
"Ben's just a little leery around strangers," Jaina grinned. "He's still not using the Force."
"Interesting," Jacen commented. "I wonder…"
His thoughts were interrupted by Mara Jade opening the door.
"Jacen! Welcome back!" Mara stepped forward to hug her nephew and invited the siblings in. "Sorry about Ben, he's just not used to you. He does this to everyone at first." Jacen could see Ben hiding behind the arm of the couch. He took his first good look around his Aunt and Uncle's place and found himself surprised at how elaborate it was. The door opened up into a decent sized hallway, which branched to the right into another hallway and to the left it opened into a sitting area. There was a fireplace, a full entertainment system, hover-furniture, and even a sliding door opening to a balcony overlooking a vast field stretching out to the horizon. More rooms appeared to the left of the sitting area, but all were behind closed doors. The open one appeared to be the food prep area.
"Not a problem," Jacen said. "I hope you don't mind me dragging Jaina along. I wasn't sure how to get here."
"That's ok," Mara said thoughtfully. "I'll just have to make up something else for her."
"On second thought," Jaina said frantically, "I hear the mess is making bantha burgers. My favourite. I think I'll go grab something there."
"Nonsense, Jaina," Luke chose that moment to appear from the food prep area carrying a platter full of food. "Mara's just teasing you. I made more than enough. Ben, come meet your cousin Jacen."
Ben ran from the couch to his room without a peep.
"Or not," Luke said dejectedly.
"It's ok, Uncle Luke," Jacen smiled. "He'll come out when he's hungry. I hope you like Ithorian Starflower wine." He presented the bottle to Mara, who examined the label with a mixture of disbelief and interest. Ithorian wines were exceptionally rare given that the planet was all but destroyed nine years before and none had been made since.
"Jacen, this bottle is twenty years old," Mara said in shock. "It must be worth a small fortune!"
"Yeah, I have a couple crates of them I found floating in space a year or two ago," Jacen said absently, examining some holoimages on a shelf behind him that he did not notice in his initial survey of the room. Most had Ben and many of the members and friends of the Solo/Skywalker clan. None included him, which was not all that surprising. The vast majority of the family's images were lost during the war, and he did not exactly stick around for a photo shoot after the war. Seeing an image of his brother, Anakin, on the shelf brought a smile to his face. "I keep them for special occasions. It's quite amazing that the bottles didn't break, being exposed to vacuum and all."
"Yes, amazing," Mara said, still examining the bottle in shock. A part of her wanted to take the bottle and run off to see what Mirax could get for it, and another part of her wanted to try it. She had never had Ithorian Starflower wine, and was likely never to again.
"Thank you, Jacen," Luke said, plucking the bottle from Mara's grip and glaring at her. His platter had been deposited on the dining table. "Please, have a seat in the den. I'll flash-chill this and grab some glasses."
Artoo-Deetoo rolled in from the food prep area with a tray affixed to his domed top, trilling with delight at seeing Jacen.
"Hi Artoo!" Jacen said upon seeing the little droid. "I've heard a few stories about you."
Artoo twiddled an inquiry as Jacen selected a little green chunk of meat on a wafer.
"Something about being in the starfighter that broke the Trade Federation's blockade over Naboo about ten years before the Clone Wars began, and escorting the former queen of Naboo around, among other things," Jacen chewed his appetizer, seemingly oblivious to the stunned silence around the room and the lights flickering in a panic on the droid. "Aunt Mara, what kind of meat is this? It has a spice in it I can't quite place. Is this Bantha?"
"Uhhh, no," Mara replied. "Dewback."
"Ah, I figured it was Tattooian," Jacen said with a wink, as his uncle came back and handed out glasses of wine. "It tasted a bit sandy."
Luke chuckled and raised his glass. "To our lost Knight: Welcome home, Jacen."
"Welcome home," Mara and Jaina repeated. Everyone took a sip of the exceptionally sweet, but not offensive, wine. Jacen closed his eyes and held the liquid in his mouth, fully enjoying the range of flavours that played along his taste buds before finally allowing it to slip down his throat. The beauty of Ithorian Starflower wine was the fruity concoction of flavours from all over the Ithorian home world that emerged as the temperature of it increased, with each flavour as pleasant and intense as the first.
"Wow!" Jaina exclaimed, taking another sip and experiencing the bouquet of flavours all over again. "What a rush!"
"Easy there, young one," Luke said with a smile. "There's only so much to go around." He took a seat beside Mara, and Artoo wheeled over for him to relieve the tray of some appetizers. Jacen got the distinct impression Artoo was avoiding him.
"So, Jacen, tell us about your trip," Luke began.
"Where do I start?" Jacen asked with a laugh. "It's been five years, and I've visited over twenty different Force using groups, not to mention over a hundred different cultures or species. I could write a holonovel series on the first year alone!
"I suppose I could start with the Jensaarai, where I was arrested for beating up a guy who pulled a lightsaber on me. That's where I met Eriana…"
Jacen rambled on about details of his trip, glossing over the parts about his training and mostly talking about the humorous and exciting parts. When he got to the story about the lost Tholian primate who thought he was its mother that had Jaina fall out of her chair from laughing and Mara hyperventilating, Ben snuck out of his room and hid behind the sofa his parents were sitting on. Jacen ignored him, and continued with the story. Two very entertaining hours later, and half way through his stories, they migrated to the dinner table and Mara forced Ben to sit with them. After a short battle of wills, Ben finally succumbed to his mother's demands, but sat as far away from Jacen as he could between his father and Jaina.
After dinner Luke and Mara took turns telling him about what had happened in their galaxy while he was away. They spoke about the galaxy's resource problems, how the planets that were destroyed by the Vong were now begging from the planets that retained all the surviving technology and means to extract building materials, and the resulting tensions. They continued on about how the Jedi had immediately taken over Ossus and established the Academy, gained their autonomy from the Republic through a crafty financing idea of Talon Karrde's, and the efforts to rebuild the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, not to mention the efforts to rebuild the count of Jedi.
"What will happen to the Academy here?" Jacen asked. "You seem to have put a lot of effort into this to just abandon it, and without the Council here it will be largely unprotected from the Sith if you keep it as an academy."
"The Sith?" Mara asked dismissively. "Jacen, the Sith have been gone for years. Decades, if you exclude the impostors. What are you talking about?"
Jacen exchanged a glance with his sabbacc-faced uncle and decided on the diplomatic route. "Ask me again tomorrow." Jacen decided it was time to talk to Ben to head off the silence he knew would follow such a comment. "So, Ben, have you decided if I'm dangerous yet?"
Ben's eyes widened and Jaina put her hand on his shoulder.
"Jacen, it's not nice to read kids' minds!" She chided her brother.
"I can't help if he was shouting," Jacen responded, finishing his wine. "Well, Benny?"
Ben took a moment to respond, gathering his courage. "My mom's more dangerous than you!"
"Ben!" Mara and Jaina exclaimed together, but Jacen and Luke laughed.
"That, she is, Ben," He tossed a wink at his aunt. "That, she is." Jacen hoped agreeing with Ben would break the ice between them.
"Is that the time?" Jaina asked with surprise, spotting the wall chronometer. "Uncle Luke, we have the meeting early tomorrow, and it's getting late. I should probably get some rest. It is my first Masters meeting."
"I think I should too," Jacen agreed. "Thank you for the wonderful meal, I'll have to come back to this restaurant some time."
"Any time, Jacen," Luke laughed softly. "Our door is always open to you."
The four Jedi got up and made their way to the door. Jacen hugged his aunt again, and shook hands with his uncle. Ben hid behind his dad's leg. Jaina hugged all three, and the two siblings bid their final good-byes for the night. Two doors down, Jacen gave his sister a hug and thanked her for joining them before heading back to the Solo Quest. After she closed the door Jacen pressed the buzzer on the comm unit and sprinted down the hall before she could come after him. He could feel her mock anger and amusement through their twin-bond, which made him smile that much more broadly.
It's good to be back with family. Jacen thought as he left the dormitory area. Nothing quite like free food, and good cooking.
-! #$%^&*()
From the Private Journal of Jedi Master Jacen Solo
=With comments by B. Wrarm, Jedi Librarian=
=Approximately 33 years after the Battle of Yavin, Three Years into Master Solo's Journey=
I met up with an Aing-Tii warship after almost a month of searching for them. They certainly have not disappointed! Highly powerful technologically speaking, but very peaceful. Unless you're a slaver. They hate slavers, and their ship would put a Super Star Destroyer to shame. Their ships are organic in nature, not unlike the Yuuzhan Vong's ships. However, their technology is not why I sought them out. They have a grasp of the Force unlike any I have met to date. Their warriors use the Force it in a truly unique way by bending space and time around thought and matter. I know it sounds confusing, and Eriana seemed entirely flabbergasted when I told her about it, but it is very interesting stuff. They have powers of precognition more substantial than any Jedi I have ever met, and they even seem to be able to warp time around them. That is what makes them such powerful warriors – they know what the enemy is doing before the enemy does, and they can slow time around them to react much faster. It isn't unlike a Jedi's ability, but it is more pronounced.
But that's hardly the most interesting thing of all. They can make objects disappear from one place, and appear somewhere else. They don't use hyperdrives on their ships; they just concentrate and move their ship across the stars! That is an ability that would be especially handy, especially if I lost my lightsaber! =Laughing=
I have to admit, when I first met them, it was a very tense situation! They don't exactly speak, seeing as they can't make any sound, so we had to communicate through the Force. I'm so glad I visited the Theran Listeners before coming here! When I finally told them why I sought them out, they were very reluctant to speak to me. They believe the Force is not to be used frivolously; that it is a gift from their gods. I think they see the Jedi as too interfering in the galaxy's affairs with using the Force, and were therefore quite cautious to tell me anything. It took me about two hours of communicating with them before they would even tell me about their abilities, and even then they didn't want to teach me anything. I think it was their way to scare me off; to show me how powerful they are and that I can't beat them. Let's see, a YT-2400 on one side, and a Super Star Destroyer killer on the other side. I don't think I would argue with them.
Eventually Yoda showed up and spoke to them. I have a feeling Yoda's claims to have never actually met them weren't entirely true based on how well accepted his presence was. Yoda told me he promised them that he would stop me from abusing anything they taught me, and they finally agreed to teach me their secrets. Tomorrow I start my training with the Aing-Tii. I wish Eriana would join me, but she's been busy trying to fix a flutter the port engine picked up. She's been doing a great job keeping the ship running the last few years, but she's no Jaina. I sometimes wonder if she's learning to fix things so we're not dependant on Womprat, or so that she has something useful to learn when she's not interested in the "Species of the Month" I come across. She did say she'll let me teach her some of the easier stuff when I'm done my training, so there is hope for her yet.
=End=
-! #$%^&*()
Leaving Leia and Tresina occupied with the post-dinner formalities, Han escaped to their room complaining of a store stomach. However, Han's plan was different. His earlier scans had not detected any observation devices within the room they were given, so his only obstacle was the guards. Gathering the equipment he would need, he nodded to Cakhmaim and hid behind the door. Cakhmaim sighed and walked out to the guard.
"My good sir," Cakhmaim hissed in his raspy feline voice. "Master Solo requires a glass of blue milk to calm his stomach."
The guard looked down at the Noghri and nodded.
"Ok, I'll be right back." The guard responded, pulling out a comlink. "Let me call for backup."
"My mate can watch him." Cakhmaim said angrily. "Master Solo wants his milk now!"
Scared of the Noghri's reaction, he set off down the hall at a brisk pace. Cakhmaim followed, insisting on preparing the milk himself.
Han could not help himself from grinning his famous lopsided smile as he slipped out of the room as their voices faded down the hall. He opened the window opposite to his door and looked down. A five-storey drop looked back up at him. Grimacing, he tightened the straps on his repulsor pack and adjusted the controls so he would hover a half-metre off the ground. He eased himself forward using the controls until he was outside and gently closed the window, careful to rig the latch so it would not leave him locked out. He tweaked the controls slightly so he was hovering at eye level with the windowsill and deactivated the repulsor pack. At the last second before impact he reactivated the repulsor and turned it off again. The end result was a somewhat graceful landing on the ground and a horrible stomach ache.
I'm getting too old for this. Han thought as he forced his dinner to stay down and picked himself off the ground. He disconnected the repulsorlift backpack and he stashed it behind a large blue bush against the palace wall where nobody would see it. He crept along the building, careful to avoid stepping on any branches or making too much noise and came to the service door where two palace workers were unloading a hoversled while talking about the latest grav-ball game. When the hoversled was empty, Han waited for the workers to go inside, then jumped into the cab and hacked into the security lock. The hoversled hummed to life and he sped off toward the town.
Ten minutes later Han left the stolen hoversled hidden behind a burned out building full of small trees trying to reclaim the land and walked towards a rather dismal looking cantina with a small crowd of people milling around outside. Two miserable-looking Trandoshans guarded the door, keeping the crowd out. Han walked up to a rather jittery looking old man shuffling around the outskirts of the crowd.
"Hey there," Han said. "What's going on here?"
"Got credits?" The man said defensively, shifting away slightly and shaking his head. "Won't tell ya nothin' till I get credits."
Han tossed him a twenty credit chip which the man almost dropped from surprise. Several other people were looking over at Han and the old man now.
"Got more of that?" The man asked tentatively, shifting towards Han.
"That depends," Han said, gesturing with his chin at the crowd while tightening his hand on the small holdout blaster in his jacket pocket. "What's going on?"
"S'like this," The man moved closer to Han, far too close for the liking of Han's nose. "We all want da booze, but we ain't got da credits. Won' let us in. And we can' work, so we can't get da credits, so we can't get da booze. An' without da booze we...we..." The man's voice trailed off, but the blank look on his face spoke volumes about his self-inflicted confusion even in the moonlight.
"How 'bout I buy you a round?" Han said, grabbing the man and moving him towards the cantina door before he could answer.
"Where do you think you're going, grampsess?" The Trandoshan bouncer glared at Han menacingly.
"Wherever I want," Han flipped a pair of fifty-credit chips into the air and walked into the bar even before they disappeared in the Trandoshans' hands.
The inside of the cantina was as attractive as the clientele waiting outside. One corner appeared to have been set on fire years ago and had been avoided since. Long destroyed holoscreens were scattered around the place strategically, and the only part that looked well maintained was the bar counter itself. Highly polished, likely out of boredom, and made of real wood, the counter looked abnormally classy amid its abysmal surroundings. The bartender looked like he was once the size of a small Hutt, but had lost a lot of weight in a very short period of time. He glared at Han and the old man as if they carried a disease.
"Whadda want?" the bartended sneered.
"Whadda have?" Han said evenly.
"Home brew."
"What's that?"
"Something I make in the basement to kill rodents."
"Two, please," Han said, dropping a few coins on the counter. He accepted the drink a moment later and turned to the old man. Before he could say anything, the old man picked up his glass and drank half of it, stopping only when he gagged and started coughing.
"Easy there," Han plucked the drink from him as the harsh coughs subsided, then handed it back when he straightened up. "Try sipping it this time."
"Thanks." The man took a sip and Han attempted to imitate him, but could not get past the smell of the vile liquid. Instead he let it brush against his lips and pretended to take a sip. It was enough to make him want to vomit. "So what were you saying about the government?"
The old man leaned in close to Han, forcing him to discover yet another smell he could barely tolerate.
"The government has ears everywhere," He said conspiratorially. "They don't like us talking to outsiders. Might hurt us."
"Do they give you drinks?" Han asked, thankful for a reason to slide his drink towards the man. The man eyed it for a moment suspiciously before continuing.
"They're stopping us from work," He said. "Don't like it when we fix things up, cuz then the R'public doesn't give us anythin' for rebuildin' the stuff. Want to milk it all for what they can. Big beatin's for anyone tryin' to patch a roof or make a house. Anyone who does, da police burns it down at night. Mines collapse, railcars derail…"
At that moment a pair of armed guards wearing riot gear burst into the bar and threw Han and his new friend to the ground.
"Down! Everyone down! You, hands on the bar!"
The bartender put his hands on the bar, as ordered, and the few remaining people climbed to the ground and knelt down.
"Ow," Han finally realized his head had hit the ground. He shifted himself so he could work his holdout blaster out of his pocket and kept it hidden in his hand.
"Who are you?" A blaster barrel appeared in front of Han's nose, and at the end was a large black-armoured human.
"Jenos Idanian," Han supplied the first name he could think of, then twisted his body away from the blaster and fired a shot at the unprotected policeman's chin. Before he could fire at the second guard the Trandoshans both blasted the second officer.
"Thanks!" Han said to the giant lizard looming over him.
"We protect our patronssss," The Trandoshan replied, offering him a hand. "But one mussst asssk…Why are you assssking these questionsss?"
"Trying to do my part for you guys," Han said. "How 'bout I buy you a round? Or, one for everyone?"
He pulled out a handful of hundred-credit coins and handed them to the wide-eyed Trandoshan.
"Split the change with your buddy."