White, curved shapes dominate the spacious apartment of the venerable Mon Calamari, who is enjoying his twilight years here, finally in his home forever. Retired Admiral Gial Ackbar is lying in the warm water of his swimming pool with his brown legs comfortably stretched out. His white-haired companion, Winter Chelchu, stands behind him and massages his shoulders.
"I'm so glad this war is finally over," says the woman from Alderaan. "And now that Jaina Solo is expecting twins, I'll definitely be able to step in as a nanny for the Solos again."
"But first you shouldn't forget my guest. I think his shoulders are very tense too," Ackbar gestures to Winter.
Winter lets go of Ackbar's shoulders and walks to the other side of the pool.
"Uh! That feels good," says Czulkang Lah as he enjoys the human woman's shoulder massage. "And this warm bath is really a relief for my weary bones. I actually think it's a shame that your brilliant plan with the battle in the deep core didn't come to fruition. However, he is also far too ambitious to waste it on the tiny Remnant Empire."
"Thank you very much, colleague, at least I still have the planning in place," says Ackbar proudly, his yellow, bulging eyes shining. "It's better to have a plan and not need it than the other way around. But please tell me, retired Warmaster, how did you actually manage to escape the Battle of Borleias? Aaron Allston wrote quite clearly that…"
The old Yuuzhan Vong raises his hand and Ackbar leaves the sentence unfinished. Even Winter stops massaging out of curiosity.
"Fake news – nothing but fake news!" proclaims the old warmaster. "It takes a little more than a modified Star Destroyer to kill Czulkang Lah. But a good strategist and tactician never reveals all of his tricks."
He pauses and Winter continues massaging the thin, almost black shoulders. "In any case, I now hope that I will even live to see my great-grandchildren, even if new grandchildren are now on the way."
The doorbell rings and Winter Chelchu interrupts the massage again to rush to the door. "Tycho!" she exclaims and falls into her husband's outstretched arms. "I missed you so much!"
"Now that the war is over, I want to take more care of my family again," says Wedge Antilles' good friend.
"We have visitors," Winter informs her husband, "in the pool, but I'll set up a table for you."
Tycho Chelchu is startled when he sees the Yuuzhan Vong in Ackbar's pool, then regains his composure.
"I was just able to get over the fact that my wife was the companion of an aging Mon Calamari for months, but I find that Winter here with a Yuuzhan Vong quite dangerous given the busy Lah family."
"Not at all, my young friend," says Czulkang Lah. "Maybe if I were a hundred years younger."
"You've come at just the right time," Winter says to her husband.
Tycho looks at her questioningly, then his gaze goes to the two war veterans in the pool.
"You're going to be treated to some entertainment now," Winter announces, turning on the holonet. "Jagged Fel's wedding on Csilla is now being broadcast live," she explains.
"Are you looking at Imperial Holonet?" Czulkang Lah asks in mock sternness.
Ackbar shakes his big head. "Only the entertainment programs for Winter and I the sports," he assures his colleague.
A colored holoimage appears and you can see the groom, a tall human, and next to him, all in white, a blue Chiss.
"Will you, Colonel Jagged Fel, take Shawnkyr Nuruodo, present here, as your wedded wife, and render her comradely service as long as your affection, loyalty, and sense of duty require?"
"Yes, I do."
"Will you, Shawnkyr Nuruodo, take Jagged Fel, present here, as your wedded husband and render him comradely service as long as your affection, loyalty and sense of duty require?"
"Yes, I do."
"You may kiss the bride now," says the registrar, also a Chiss, to the human colonel and his flight squadmate of his own species.
Jagged Fel leans over to Shawnkyr Nuruodo and gives the blue Chiss a kiss - a kiss with fully closed lips - with both partners.
Winter Chelchu giggles quietly. "How chaste and decent."
A Yuuzhan Vong, who is slightly lighter blue than the Chiss, stands next to the newlywed couple and begins to declaim:
"Attack and evade, provide cover and retreat
A marriage is difficult - especially in a spaceship fleet
There can be a lot of arguments – accusing and denial
And if things get beyond the fence, there is also betrayal.
But these two are - battle-hardened and life-wise '
I hope they will be happy – sometimes hot sometimes cold as ice
They will love each other so hard that they will break out in a sweat
Later fate will uncover whether they do stay in love or will regret."
Ackbar and Lah have to laugh loudly and harshly at these lines, but on the plasma screen everything remains quiet and serious. You can see how some wedding guests briefly twist the corners of their mouths, but that's all the emotion that spills over the screen into the retired admiral's living room in view of these rhymes.
"I know that voice," says Czulkang Lah. "That's Onimi, Overlord Shimrra's intimate. He knows basic?" The old man smiles mildly. "But some things never change."
"You're right, Winter," Tycho agrees with his wife. "Let's better get out of here as quickly as possible. This kiss really makes you want more."
"You two are missing the cake," admiral Ackbar admonishes.
Tycho's gaze falls on the clawcraft in miniature, a masterpiece of imperial baking art, which is doomed to perish in a very mundane food fight. "Thanks, but I still prefer X-Wings," Tycho says, saying goodbye with his wife.
༺༻
A day later
A sea garden in front of the capital has been rented for the double wedding, over whose coral banks protruding from the water light, graceful bridges have been built so that you can clearly see the multi-colored corals below. The platforms, which are connected to each other by the elegant bridges, are also transparent, so that the diversity of the marine world on the home planet of the Mon Calamari is visible beneath them.
Priest Harrar keeps looking down through the transparisteel, studying the virile sea life as he prepares for his wedding speech, which is about to begin. Han and Leia are standing not far from him and he hears Jacen whispering to his twin sister that he also sensed his Uncle Luke and his aunt, who showed up just in time.
"And so everything turned out okay and this war is over," Harrar begins, then he hands the mechanical microphone to the registrar, a Sullustan.
"Do you, Jaina Solo, want to marry Tsavong Lah, who is here?" the yellow man asks one of the brides, "Even if it means that your life will be restless forever? You as the Sword of the Jedi, always at the forefront, to be a withering flame to your enemies but a beacon of hope to your friends?"
Jaina nods seriously. "Yes, I do."
"And do you, Tsavong Lah, want to marry the Jaina Solo who is present here, even if that means tolerating the use of machines for the rest of your life, using machines yourself and no longer destroying them, in order to continue to be your people in this alliance to lead it and lead it in the new galaxy?"
"A small price to pay for Jaina's love indeed. Yes, I do."
"And do you, Khalee Lah, want to take Tenel Ka, who is present here, as your wife, love her and honor her, no matter what intrigues may be woven?"
"Yes, I do."
"And you, Tenel Ka, do you want to take Khalee Lah, who is here, as your husband, even if that means that you will astonish, annoy and even antagonize many people for life, that you …"
Tenel Ka raises her Radank claw. "That's enough, registrar. Yes, I do."
Harrar takes the microphone out of the Sullustan's hand. "I hereby give the blessing of the gods to this double wedding," says Priest Harrar solemnly. "Tsavong Lah and Khalee Lah, you may now kiss your bride."
Tsavong Lah kisses Jaina and Khalee Lah Tenel Ka and everyone present applauds, even if the intense French kisses last a little longer than usual at such weddings. But neither Jaina Solo nor Tenel Ka backs down from the heartfelt wedding kisses.
"I thought so," Han Solo hisses. "He kisses so… so barbarically!"
"It's too late now. And Jaina obviously likes it," his wife counters, then Leia's expression becomes deadly serious. "Plus, Tsavong Lah brought Coruscant back to us. So now we have to give him Jaina – half of a set of twins, after all."
"What kind of bizarre thinking is that?" says Han reproachfully. "You'd think you…"
"I was joking," Leia replies with a mischievous smile, clearly enjoying Hans's priceless face. "Besides, I'm a twin myself. I'm allowed to do that."
Priest Harrar waves an incense burner and yellow smoke covers the two brides and grooms.
"Jaina Solo – the sword of the Jedi!" declaims the priest. "And so it struck straight into the heart of the enemy and conquered it. And Khalee Lah, who would have thought that he would win a heart with his left hand, more precisely with a left arm?"
Tenel Ka and her groom grin at the priest's words.
Harrar smiles mischievously. "Well, it was probably more than just that. May the blessings of the gods rest on these two couples. May your families and our peoples be happy forever!", Harrar ends his wedding sermon with fervor.
Luke Skywalker strolls past the priest, with Mara next to him with little Ben in her arms. Harrar immediately takes advantage of the opportunity and asks the Grand Master of the new Jedi Order the question of all questions. "In a word, Luke Skywalker, where were you while Jaina, Tsavong Lah and I were with Shimrra in the throne room?"
Luke looks at his wife, then his gaze rests lovingly on little Ben. "I accompanied Mara and Ben to the postnatal baby course here on Mon Cala. New parents meet there with their children, play and sing to the newborns and toddlers, creating a nice community atmosphere for the little ones. The course leader also plays an instrument and then we all sing along."
"And you absolutely had to go to this course when your wife was already there?" Tsavong Lah wonders.
"Unfortunately, many fathers don't take enough interest in their children's development," says Luke in a serious voice. "Mostly only mothers come to this course, only very rarely does a father come along, which I think is a shame. Mara and I, however, want to make everything as good as possible for Ben, as he will remain our only child."
"And how did you sense that things were getting serious?" Harrar wants to know.
"Jaina touched me in the Force," Luke says. "Overlord Shimrra took his time before he finally agreed to a duel with me. I had to leave the parent-child group three times while Mara stayed on the course with Ben. This caused quite a bit of whispering among the other course participants. The course instructor wasn't particularly enthusiastic either and asked me the second time what was actually most important to me. When she then added that it was typical of a Jedi to barge in everywhere and cause trouble, I couldn't help but tell her in a friendly but clear manner that this was about nothing less than peace in the entire galaxy. She then replied flippantly: 'People like you always say that.' Mara and I found that very hurtful."
Harrar nods understandingly. "In the end everything worked out."
Luke smiles. "I didn't like these interruptions either, but then it was all over." He looks at Mara. "Ben didn't notice anything, right, darling?"
Mara Jade-Skywalker's green eyes twinkle. "Ben played peacefully and babbled happily the whole time."
"You just gave him exactly the security he needed while I was away," Luke says tenderly to his wife. "I was a bit worried whether he would get restless while I was away or whether he would even cry…", he leaves a pause, during which he notices Jaina's angry look, "...or that our friends might not have it so easy against Lord Shimrra."
Jaina's expression softens just a little and she and Tsavong Lah exchange knowing glances.
"But everything went well," says Mara with a relaxed smile and pushes a strand of strawberry blonde hair out of her face, then the happy nuclear family goes over to other wedding guests.
"What are you doing after the wedding, my friend?" Tsavong Lah asks the priest.
"I will travel back to Hapes with Tenel Ka and your son, Mighty Lord."
"Back?" wonders Tsavong Lah.
"Ever since my priest ship first hung over this planet, I have thought about finding some kind of home there."
"How is that?"
Harrar looks down briefly before looking back at his friend. "This green planet looked very inviting even from orbit. Then Khalee Lah told me that there was a certain Tenel Ka there who he would like to get to know."
"So you both had completely different ulterior motives when you tried to convince me of the importance of this alliance with the Hapans," concludes Tsavong Lah.
The priest half lowers his eyelids. "Over time, other ulterior motives emerged."
After this sentence, Tenel Ka is all ears and Khalee Lah also turns completely to the priest.
"Ta'a Chume will be granted limited parole in a week for good behavior," Harrar tells his listeners. "She contacted me through the prison authorities and … yes … I would like to see her again too."
"Harrar, my good friend, who always helped everyone," says Tsavong Lah solemnly. "It's now high time for you to find your private happiness too."
"Did you just call me good friend?" the priest wonders.
Tsavong Lah grins. "Usually we think such only without confessing it right away."
"We have to toast to that!" shouts Han Solo and everyone raises their glasses.
"There's something else," Harrar speaks up again.
The company becomes quiet at this announcement. The Jedi look as if a single word from the priest could instantly turn the happy and lively mood in the wedding party into its opposite.
"I have something to keep for you," Harrar says to Khalee Lah.
The young warrior thinks hard, then raises his scarred eyebrows in surprise. "What could this possibly be?"
Harrar bobs his head carefully. "Well, if you don't remember it, I guess I'll keep it with me."
Tsavong Lah also thinks about it, then twists the corner of his mouth mockingly. "Well, I still remember."
"Enough of this," says Harrar, pulling a brown ball out of his robe and holding it out to Khalee Lah.
"My commander villip!" says Khalee Lah happily and shows his new wife the new insignia of his warrior honor.
The mood immediately relaxes again and all the wedding guests divide into groups again to engage in casual chatting.
"But you are already a commander," Tenel Ka wonders.
"But so far only from one unit," Khalee Lah explains to his newlywed wife, "but now I have a whole swarm under me – that's six thousand men. Harrar had kept the commander's villip for me all this time - ever since I first cruised with him over your homeworld."
Tenel Ka raises an eyebrow. "So what mission success was this Villip originally intended for?"
Khalee Lah's gravelly voice drops to a whisper. "Do you really want to know now?"
She nods slowly.
"I was supposed to capture your friend Jaina for my father."
Tenel Ka looks at Tsavong Lah and Jaina, who are talking to Leia and Han, then the young woman bursts out laughing. "Well, that's probably done, but Hapes is only my second home, my first is still Dathomir."
"That's exactly why we're going to honeymoon there," says Khalee Lah.
"Nevertheless, I will tell Jaina about the commander's villip. I think she should know that."
He ostentatiously holds out the Villip to her. "Whatever and whenever you want."
Tenel Ka pushes his hands away with the villip. "I think I'll save that for a more appropriate time," she says, relieved to see her new husband's expression relax again.
The wedding guests' eyes are focused on a deep red curtain that surrounds a long rectangle. Leia signals and the curtain parts to reveal an X-Wing and a Coral Skipper, both wedding cakes the likes of which have never been seen before.
"Then I'll take a piece of the coral skipper," says Tycho Chelchu to his wife.
Winter raises a snow-white eyebrow. "But you didn't want anything from the clawcraft, did you?"
The veteran X-wing pilot smiles. "It's better to have a small piece of coral skipper in your hand than a whole, virtual clawcraft in the holonet."
Jaina also munches on some of the coral skipper. "It's not as lively as a real one, but it certainly tastes a lot better."
"That's true," her husband agrees, "but I still prefer the living."
Leia smiles enigmatically. "If that's the case, then you'd better try a piece of the X-Wing."
Tsavong Lah returns Leia's smile. "I wouldn't have thought it possible, but now you have truly lured me into a trap from which there is no escape for me."
With these words, he and Jaina go to the sweet cake X-Wing to try some of it too, while around them blue balloons rise into the even bluer sky of Mon Cala to burst silently at high altitude or to appear as tiny ones losing points in the distance.