Under A Black Sun Trilogy Read online

  trainees made their way to their seats, Jacen played with a small

  bluishgreen frill lizard he had found making a nest out of a mound of

  dry leaves in a crevice between the Great Temple's stone blocks.

  The lizard appeared content to sit on Jacen's left fist, but seemed

  much less comfortable with Jacen's opposite hand. Every time he

  brought his right forefinger close to the lizard's nose, the creature

  flared out an intimidating scarlet frill around its neck and flapped

  its scales in self-defense. When Jacen pulled his finger away, the

  frill went back down. He moved his finger close again; the frill

  reappeared, and the lizard's eyes opened wide.

  Tenel Ka watched with interest. The lizard-skin armor she wore clung

  to her body and glittered in the firelight. Though the night would be

  cool, the warrior girl never seemed to require any more warmth than the

  supple armor provided.

  As a hush fell over the crowd gathered by the ancient pyramid, Master

  Skywalker stepped in front of the bonfire. The flames blazed higher

  behind him. He stood silhouetted in warm light, just a normalsized

  man, despite the fact that he had changed the fate of the entire

  galaxy.

  "We're all here because we are-or want to be-Jedi Knights," Luke

  said.

  "Except for me, of course," Em Teedee said primly, and Lowie shushed

  him with a growl.

  "Jedi Knights protected the Republic ... but it is important for us to

  think about whether being protected is always, good." He paused to let

  that sink in. Tenel Ka frowned, and Jacen tried to think of a

  circumstance where protection might not be desired.

  "We learn from our mistakes," Luke continued. "And sometimes, if we

  shelter people from all the bad things that can happen, they don't

  learn to protect themselves ... and even greater tragedies may

  occur."

  During this speech, Zekk quietly joined his friends on the ledge.

  One arm was bandaged. Lowie rumbled a question, but Zekk just gave a

  secretive smile and focused on Master Skywalker.

  "I grew up on Tatooine," Luke said. "A desert planet with two suns. I

  was the foster son of my uncle Owen, a poor moisture farmer who had

  little happiness in a life filled only with hard work. Aunt Beru spent

  days at home watching the farm while my uncle and I checked our

  moisture vaporators, or went into Anchorhead or Mos Eisley to get

  supplies we couldn't buy from Jawa traders.

  "Uncle Owen knew who I was: the son of Anakin Skywalker, whom most of

  you remember as Darth Vader. My uncle knew I had the potential to be a

  great Jedi, but he wanted to protect me. He tried to keep me from my

  dreams because of the risks I might encounter along the way. He was

  doing what he thought was best for me.

  "My uncle was a sad man, with great guilt on his shoulders. He knew

  what Darth Vader had done, and-because he was afraid for me-he spent

  his life protecting me on that desert planet. His heart was in the

  right place ... but if he had succeeded, think of the outcome: I would

  still be a moisture farmer on Tatooine, the Empire might still be in

  power, and there would be no Jedi Knights."

  Luke looked up. His eyes glittered in the firelight, though most of

  his body was cast in shadow. Perched on the stone blocks beside Jacen,

  Tenel Ka nodded. He sat closer to her as his uncle's point became

  clear to him.

  "Challenges and diversity make us strong. Too much protection can

  prevent us from learning, from reaching our potential. We can learn

  from others, but we must also learn from our own experiences ... and

  our own mistakes," Luke said. He smiled. "Just try not to make too

  many of them before you learn."

  Another figure emerged from the base of the temple, a young man with

  dark hair and squared shoulders dressed in a black jumpsuit and a

  cape.

  The sleek Jedi outfit looked comfortable, serviceable, and wellworn.

  "Master Skywalker is right. And some of us certainly made huge

  blunders before we managed to come back to the right course," the young

  man said.

  "This is Kyp Durron," Luke announced with a broad grin, "one of my

  first students here at the Jedi academy, many years ago. Han Solo

  rescued him from the spice mines of Kessel, and he came here to learn

  the ways of the Force."

  Kyp nodded at the audience with a grim smile. Firelight splashed

  across his face. "I came here to learn, but I was impatient. I

  listened too closely to the spirit of an old Dark Lord of the Sith,

  Exar Kun, and I'm sorry to say I caused quite a bit of trouble for the

  new Jedi Knights."

  "Like me," Zekk murmured.

  "So did I," another voice said as a second man emerged from the

  temple.

  A nimbus of wild white hair floated around his head and fluttered above

  his thin beard. He wore a vest and breeches with so many pockets that

  Jacen thought he probably could have carried all the components for his

  own starship engine inside them.

  "That's Streen," Jaina whispered, and Jacen immediately recognized the

  man. Once a cloud prospector on Bespin, the old hermit had developed

  an affinity for controlling the weather and the winds.

  Luke said, "These two have been Jedi Knights for well over ten years

  now. They learned from their mistakes and their successes, and they've

  served the New Republic admirably." Kyp Dutton and Streen looked both

  powerful and exhausted, as if they had come through some terrible

  ordeal that had made them stronger-though neither seemed ready to tell

  the story.

  "Looks like they've had some interesting adventures," Jaina observed.

  Lowie rumbled thoughtfully. Zekk nodded.

  "I, for one, do not wish to hear about them," Em Teedee said. "I've

  heard quite enough horrifying stories about Jedi adventures in Mistress

  Tionne's legends." The silvery-haired instructor was a Jedi scholar

  and minstrel, and had also been among Luke's first trainees.

  "Then I guess Tionne'll just have to make up some songs about the new

  Jedi Knights," Jacen said.

  Tenel Ka nodded. "Soon there will be many Jedi Knights; we must

  remember our heroes."

  Jacen brought his finger close to the lizard again. It flashed its

  scarlet frill and raised up on its forelegs. The frill spread about

  the creature like a tiny cape. A sudden thought occurred to Jacen. He

  glanced over at his sister and knew she was thinking the same thing:

  Kyp Durron had been a very close companion of Han Solo's.

  "Think Dad knows Kyp is on Yavin 4?" Jaina said.

  Jacen gave his sister a sly grin. "Well, there's no reason we can't

  send him a message. Hey, you never know -Dad might even come for a

  visit." As it turned out, Han Solo was already en route to Yavin 4 to

  visit his children when he got word of Kyp Dutton's arrival on the

  jungle moon.

  Since he had just finished his business on Kashyyyk, he calculated the

  fastest possible route for the Millennium Falcon and, with a bit of

  fancy piloting, got there in record time.

  With a ths cerning eye,
Jaina watched the battered light freighter

  descend. She had spent plenty of time honing her own engineering

  skills and studying the mechanics of how starships worked. By now, the

  Falcon was one mass of repairs and replacement parts. Sections of new

  hull plating had replaced old blaster-scarred shields. She wondered

  how many-or how few-of the ship's original components remained. Many

  fancier ships were available to Han Solo, but the Falcon held such a

  special place in his heart that Jaina knew her father would never get

  rid of it.

  Jaina noted that the repulsorjets seemed stronger on the starboard side

  than on the port side, causing the Falcon to sway as it landed.

  Fortunately her father was a superb pilot and knew full well how to

  compensate for any eccentricities of his beloved craft.

  A flock of stubby-winged avians swept above the overgrown temple ruins

  toward the deep jungles. They flew in a triangular formation, emitting

  deep hooting sounds, like a broken Kloo horn. Jacen watched them

  pass.

  Jaina could tell that he was trying to identify the species of birdand

  probably wondering if he had ever caught one for his menagerie.

  When the boarding ramp extended, Jacen and Jaina rushed across the

  weedy clearing, and Han Solo emerged from his ship wearing a big

  grin.

  Jaina expected to see Chewbacca standing behind him, the tall, hairy

  form that her mother had once reportedly called a "walking car pet."

  Instead of the huge Wookiee, though, only her little brother came

  out.

  Anakin was slight of build, quiet, and dark-haired, a year and a half

  younger than the twins. Their brother did not usually attend training

  sessions at the Jedi academy at the same times Jacen and Jaina did.

  "Anakin!" Jacen said, and their younger brother beamed.

  Jacen and Jaina hugged their father. At sixteen they both felt a bit

  old for such displays of affection, but Jaina got little enough time to

  see her father, and she enjoyed every moment of it.

  "Hey, kids," Han Solo said. "I was on my way here when I got your

  message. Your mom couldn't break away from the Senate, but I got an

  interesting assignment and figured it was a good excuse for a Solo

  family outing."

  "Aw, and I thought you came just to see me," Kyp Durron called, walking

  from the temple to the landing field and waving. The darkhaired Jedi

  Knight looked thoroughly refreshed now after a night's rest and a

  change of clothes.

  Streen had gone off by himself to enjoy the solitude of the jungle.

  Jaina remembered that the old cloud prospector liked peace and quiet

  more than anything else.

  Upon seeing his friend, with whom he'd gone through so many adventures

  back when the twins were just small children, Han Solo's face lit up.

  He came forward to clasp Kyp Dutton in an enthusiastic embrace. "How

  you doin', kid?" He pounded Kyp on the back.

  Kyp smiled. "Not so much a kid anymore, Han."

  "Yeah, Dad-you've got kids of your own," Jacen pointed out.

  "And we're hardly kids anymore either," Jaina said.

  Han gave a dismissive wave of his hand. "You'll always be kids to

  me.

  All of you. Even your uncle Luke." He seemed barely able to contain

  his excitement at seeing Kyp as they walked from the Falcon back toward

  the Great Temple. "What've you been up to? I haven't seen you in

  ...

  since, ah . . ."

  "It's been a long time, Han," Kyp said. "I've been off saving

  colonies, slaying monsters, rescuing the universe ... you know, the

  usual. Master Skywalker sends most of the Jedi he's trained out on

  missions, while our friend Tionne stays here and helps him handle the

  youngsters." He jerked an elbow toward Jaina. "Like these."

  Jaina flushed, and her brothers both laughed.

  "Heard about your fight with the Leviathan of Corbos," Han said.

  "That was a tough one," Kyp answered. "Kirana Ti, Dorsk 82, Streen,

  and I really had our hands full on that mission. But Jedi Knights

  expect to face challenges like that."

  Han smiled. "I know some younger Jedi Knights who've run into quite a

  few challenges of their own." He tousled Jacen's hair, and the young

  man flinched.

  "Dad, I'm not a little boy anymore."

  "Uh-oh. That mean you're too old to go with me to the Blockade Runners

  Derby on Ord Mantell?" Han raised his eyebrows at his twin children.

  " You mean the race?" Jaina said. She had heard of the annual

  spectacle, one of the grandest, most daring races a pilot could

  enter.

  It was an honor just to compete in the Derby.

  Han nodded. "The Falcon won it three times already during my smuggling

  days. But this time I'll be going as a representative of the New

  Republic. Folks running the Derby sent in an official request, asking

  for me as their Grand Marshal." He gave his wry grin. "How could I

  refuse?"

  Jaina laughed. "I doubt they could've kept you from that race if they

  put a few Imperial Star Destroyers in the way."

  Han Solo squared his shoulders. "Hey, my wife and kids aren't the only

  ones who enjoy facing some challenges every now and then."

  "I wish I could go with you, Han," Kyp said, stopping at the base of

  the looming stone temple. "But Streen and I may have to leave again in

  a few days. Even though Master Skywalker trains more Jedi every year,

  the New Republic is a big place. There are lots of missions to send

  Jedi Knights on and not enough of us to handle all the situations that

  need our attention."

  Han turned to his three children with mock sternness in his

  expression.

  "Well, I'm not letting you kids go on any missions for the time

  being.

  You're coming with me in the Falcon, and your assignment is to have

  some fun. Some ... quality time together, a family vacation.

  You're gonna love the Blockade Runners Derby."

  Lowbacca, walking down one of the Great Temple's exterior stairways,

  let out a loud Wookiee bellow of greeting. Perplexed, Jaina bit her

  lower lip and turned back to the Falcon.

  "I know Mom couldn't make it, Dad, but where's Chewie?"

  "Ah. Chewie'd been talking about visiting his family, you know.

  And I'd been talking about spending some time alone with you kids.

  So when this Derby thing came up, I suggested now might be a good time

  for Chewie to take that vacation back to Kashyyyk. Dropped him off on

  my way here," Han answered, then lowered his voice and gave her a

  conspiratorial wink. "Besides, that means I need a good copilot for a

  while. Know anybody I might be able to use?"

  Jaina perked up. "Me? You'd let me help fly the Falcon at the

  Derby?"

  Han gave her an appraising look. "You've certainly got plenty of

  experience. I'm awfully proud of you, you know. If it's not too much

  of an imposition. . ."

  "What are we waiting for?" Jaina asked.

  "It's a deal then?"

  "Does that mean we're entering the race?" Jacen said.

  "Naw, I'm not a contestant this time," Han said. "I'm strictly at the

  Derby in an official c
apacity. My hotshot days are well behind me,

  since I'm, well ... respectable now. Anyhow, your mother sure wouldn't

  want me taking any chances with you kids."

  "No. Of course not," Jacen said with mock seriousness.

  Kyp gave Han a curious glance. "You've got that look in your eye

  again."

  "I think he's got a plan," Anakin said quietly.

  Han gestured toward himself, his face the picture of innocence.

  "Me? How can you think such a thing of your father?"

  "He's got a plan," Jacen and Jaina said in unison.

  Han shrugged. "Least I've got a good copilot. We'll stay here for a

  few hours while you kids pack. Kyp and I have a lot to catch up on.

  Did we ever tell you about the time he stole the Sun Crusher and went

  after the Imperials, as if he could take on the whole Empire with his

  bare hands?"

  "Yes," Jacen answered quickly.

  "You told us," Anakin said.

  "Plenty of times," Jaina added.

  " Well, it's a good story-about what not to do," Kyp said hurriedly,

  his cheeks turning red. "I've learned a lot since then."

  "That's a relief," Han joked. "I'd rather not have to chase you again