That evening, while Leia made strategic arrangements, more visitors poured into the Jedi academy—friends, family, dignitaries, and the occasional HoloNet news reporter. During this time, Anja found a moment to draw Han Solo aside and speak with him.
Han looked decidedly uncomfortable as they sat opposite each other on wooden benches in a small alcove. A narrow window slit in the stone wall let in moonlight that splashed on the floor like a dividing line painted between them.
Anja took a deep breath, knowing that there was much she had to say. She hardly knew where to begin. “I—I never thanked you,” she stammered at last.
Obviously surprised, Han Solo sat up straighten. This wasn’t what he had expected at all. “For what?” he asked with a hint of suspicion.
“For taking me in. For going to my planet and helping to stop the civil war there. For keeping Lilmit from supplying more weapons to my people. For putting in a good word with Master Skywalker for me, even though I obviously despised you….”
Anja’s voice caught in her throat, and she swallowed back a sob of emotion. She remembered how Jacen often tried to lighten the mood when things got tense. “And thanks for not throwing me out the Millennium Falcon’s airlock when you had the chance.”
Han Solo seemed to relax a bit. “Hey, no one’s perfect. I’m glad I was able to help.”
“Your children helped me too.”
“They’re great kids, Jacen and Jaina,” Han said with no small amount of fatherly pride.
“Did you know I tried to turn them against you?”
“It worked a little,” Han admitted. “At least with Jacen. But the truth is stronger than hatred.”
“I got close to your kids because I wanted to hurt you, because I believed you murdered my father and ruined my life. But once I got to know Jacen and Jaina, I started to understand that if anyone had ruined my life, it was me. I chose the wrong person to trust. I was always looking for someone to blame. I believed Czethros and his lies about you, because I wanted my problems to be somebody else’s fault.”
“And now?” Han asked.
“I don’t want to hurt you anymore,” Anja said. “My father was responsible for his own life—and probably for his own death—just like I’m responsible for my life and the way I’ve decided to live it so far. I judged you before I ever got to know you. Can you … forgive me?”
Han nodded. “I had my scoundrel days, too, you know. Did plenty of things I’m not proud of. Even though I didn’t kill your father, I have a lot of other things I could feel guilty about. But that’s long in my past now—put it all behind me and made a new life. It’s possible, you know.”
“Yes, I know. Even so, if my friends hadn’t trusted me, I wouldn’t have believed in myself.” Anja felt a sense of relief. But where did she go from here? “I’ll have to find a job, I guess. A legal one, that is. I know I’m not cut out to be a Jedi Knight,” Anja admitted. “I never used to believe in all that Force mumbo jumbo, but I see now that it’s real. It’s just not me. I can’t stay here at the Jedi academy. Know anyone who needs a good pilot?”
Han put a hand to his chin and thought for a moment. “I just might have a few ideas, at that.”
22
Over the next two days, preparations continued for the great ceremony to honor the young Jedi Knights. Arrivals continued on the jungle moon as well, until nearly everyone at the Jedi academy had welcomed some visitor or other.
Zekk spent considerable time with old Peckhum, who had returned in the Thunderbolt. Tenel Ka’s parents—Teneniel Djo and Isolder—came to see her, followed by Ta’a Chume, Tenel Ka’s grandmother from Hapes, and Augwynne Djo, her great-grandmother from Dathomir.
In addition to Chewbacca, Lowie was surprised when his entire family showed up on Yavin 4. His parents, Mahraccor and Kallabow, had taken a brief leave from their jobs at the computer fabrication facility on Kashyyyk. His sister Sirra had also managed to break away from her duties as a New Republic emergency pilot to come see her ginger-furred brother honored in the ceremony. Raynar’s mother, Aryn Dro Thul, and his uncle Tyko—who were assisting the Chief of State in her investigation into Black Sun activities—were also very much in evidence, dressed in formal Alderaan colors as well as the insignias of the Bornaryn trading fleet.
Han and Leia spent as much time with their children as possible between planning sessions for the grand awards ceremony or conducting the Black Sun investigation. Anakin’s best friend and fellow student Tahiri had the full attention of the Jedi historian Tionne whenever the silver-haired instructor was not teaching classes. When they were off-duty, even See-Threepio, Artoo-Detoo, and Em Teedee enjoyed long droid conversations together, discussing the merits of various lubricants or the superiority of one type of motivator over another.
Master Skywalker himself welcomed many of his former students who had returned for the festivities. Looking unruffled and serene, he split his time, sometimes visiting with Leia and her family, sometimes catching up on news with former students, sometimes greeting visiting dignitaries, and sometimes encouraging his students and trainees.
On the day of the actual ceremony, in the midst of all the furor, the companions managed to steal away to the platform on the top of the Great Temple and find some quiet time together. Anakin and Tahiri sat at one side of the platform, dangling their bare feet over the edge, while the fluffy creature Ikrit, their frequent companion, basked in the sun beside them.
At one corner of the platform, Raynar and the cinnamon-maned centaur girl, Lusa, sparred with stunsticks. Lowie, Em Teedee, Jaina, Zekk, and Anja arranged themselves along another side of the platform to watch the busy landing field. Having just finished taking care of his menagerie of animals, Jacen now joined his friends, his fluffy blue pet gort riding on his shoulder. Tenel Ka, just finished with her morning’s calisthenics, dashed up one of the staircases at the four corners of the Great Temple to meet them.
When they were all together, Anja said, “I guess this is about as good a time as any to say good-bye. I’ll be leaving after the ceremony.”
“Why?” Jacen asked, sounding the slightest bit disappointed.
“Because I don’t belong here,” Anja said. “I’ve got to do something with my life, but being trained in the Force just isn’t it.”
“So, where are you going?” Zekk asked.
Anja shrugged. “I’m not sure, but I can’t stay at the Jedi academy. I’m not a Jedi. But you all are—you belong together.”
“We will not always be together, however,” Tenel Ka said. Lowie woofed his agreement.
“Right,” Jaina added. “We all just had that long talk with Uncle Luke. You know, the one that goes, ‘Now that you’re more or less a full Jedi, you have to think about what you want to do in life.’”
Anja gave a wry smile as she threw her silky dark hair behind her shoulder. “That’s not exactly the talk I had with him, but it’s close enough.”
“Well, hello….” A voice from behind startled them all. “Han told me I might be able to find you here.”
“Lando!” Jaina jumped up and greeted their visitor with a hug. Lando Calrissian’s smile was as brilliant as his flowing cape in the morning sun. “I’d like to thank you all personally for what you did to stop Czethros. Cloud City is perfectly normal again.” He gave a slight bow, swirling his colorful cape. “Just like me, there are a lot of lucky business owners in the galaxy whose companies are intact because of what you did. They just don’t know it. But I do, so I wanted to thank you.”