do some scouting for her. Says I need to keep busy or I'll get old too
fast. And ever since he started this Jedi academy, your uncle's made it
a practice to spend some time away from Yavin 4, just to make sure his
skills stay at their peak performance. Still, we figured it might be a
good'idea to keep a low profile, though, so 'You disguised yourself and
the Millennium Falcon," Jacen finished for him. Jaina continued to stare
at all the lumpy, patchwork modifications to the light freighter.
"And Luke, too." Han Solo nodded behind them to where their uncle, clad
in a rumpled brown flight suit, emerged from the base of the temple.
"Hey, Han, did you bring the last components for those new shield
generators?" Luke called. He brushed a greasy hand down the front of his
stained outfit. He looked very much like a down-and-out pilot who had
deserted his post.
"You bet, Luke," Han said. 'Leia's worried about your Jedi academy with
the Second Imperium on the loose, so we've got to install those new
shield generators and get them running with enough power to stop an
attack."
'I still think my Jedi Knights would do a good enough job defending
themselves if it came to that," Luke said, smiling at the trainees
standing around the temple. "The Shadow Academy would be foolish to
underestimate us."
Han shrugged. "Doesn't matter what you say, Luke-indulge me, or Leia
will never sleep a wink."
Laughing, Luke called for Jedi students to unload the heavy components
from the Falcon's storage bay. "I'll have some of my students install
the systems while you and I are away."
The disguised Jedi Master strode over to the pair of Wookiees, who stood
in earnest conversation. He seemed to be bidding Chewbacca farewell.
Jaina thought she heard Luke say something about the time being near,
but before she could ask about it, her brother spoke up.
"But what about Chewie?" Jacen asked.
"Isn't he going to be your copilot this time?"
Their father looked a bit uncomfortable.
"I manage without him somehow. Back home on Kashyyyk, he and Lowie have
kind of a family emergency, you might say."
'Emergency'?" Jaina said. 'Is anyone hurt?"
"Naw, nothing that simple. You've never met Lowie's sister Sirra, have
you?" Han lifted his chin to point in the direction of his Wookiee
copilot, who was deep in conversation with Lowbacca. "Anyway, give the
two of 7em a chance to talk first. Afterwards I have a feeling Lowie'll
tell you all about it. Meanwhile, I've brought messages from -your mom
and Anakin-and I've got a couple of surprises for you on the Falcon."
"@-oh," Jaina said. "More surprises on the Falcon?" Han chuckled and put
an arm around each of the twins' shoulders. 'Yeah, presents for you
two."
"Hey, that reminds me," Jacen said, 'I've got a new joke. Wanna hear
it?" Before either of them could talk him out of it, he forged ahead.
"What do Jawas have that no other creature in the galaxy has? Give up?"
He raised his eyebrows. "Baby Jawas!"
Even their father had difficulty feigning amusement. Jaina studied her
brother in silence for a moment, then turned to Han, getting back to the
subject at hand. "So, what were you saying about those gifts you brought
us?"
"Well, I brought a mate for Jacen's stump lizard, along with some of
those starflower blossoms they like to eat so much, and a refurbished
micromotivator that still needs some tinkering. 'Course, you two'll have
to fight over who gets which gift," he added, ruffling the twins'hair as
they walked up the boarding ramp together.
Jaina snorted indelicately. "That shouldn't take long."
In her quarters, Tenel Ka sat fascinated by the tiny holographic image
of dark-haired Anakin Skywalker holding a cluster of brightly colored
twine. She couldn't figure out why the twins' little brother would have
sent her a message. She had only met the boy once, on Coruscant not long
ago.
'I know how independent you are, Tenel Ka, so I hope you don't mind my
doing this," Anakin's recorded voice said. "But when Jacen and Jaina
told me how hard it is for you to braid your hair since the accident, I
took it as a problem to solve. You may have figured out a bunch of this
stuff for yourself already"Anakin's holographic face smiled faintly
"but even if you have, it was still a challenging puzzle, and I enjoyed
it."
The Solo twins, who had delivered the holographic message to Tenel Ka
after a long visit with their father, sat nearby on the floor of her
chambers. Jaina rolled her eyes and chuckled. "That's my little
brother."
"This is a fact," Tenel Ka said, shifting her concentration back to the
glowing hologram.
The boy's image held the multicolored twine in one hand and threaded the
fingers of the other hand through it, neatly separating the colors into
individual clumps. Tenel Ya unconsciously lifted her hand to her head
and threaded her fingers through some unbraided strands of her red-gold
hair.
Moving with deliberate precision, Anakin slid his hands down the
brightly colored strands, twining them together with the fingers of one
hand as he went. "See, it can be done, if you approach the task from a
different perspective." The sequence cycled through again in slow motion
while Anakin said, "I tried adding decorations several ways, but it
worked best for me if I put the bead or feather in my mouth first. That
way I didn't have to let go of the braid to pick it up."
"Ah." Tenel Ka nodded her approval of the logic. "Aha." Experimentally,
her fingers began to twine a few strands of hair, following the
single-handed technique Anakin had concocted.
The hologram shifted to a different scene, Anakin standing beside a fall
of long glossy brown hair, caught up in a dozen Dathomiran warrior
braids decorated with feathers and beads. The view pulled back, and
Anakin gestured to his handiwork, looking both pleased and a bit
embarrassed. "As you can see, Mom let me practice on her." The tiny
holographic image of Chief of State Leia Organa Solo turned with a warm
smile and then spun in a graceful pirouette to give a better view of the
braids.
As the holorecording ended, Tenel Ka nodded seriously, considering the
new technique.
With practice, she thought she could manage it herself.
A loud questioning growl sounded from the doorway of Tenel Ka's
quarters. She looked up to see Lowbacca standing at the arched entrance.
"Enter, friend," Tenel Ka said, indicating a spot on the floor beside
her. "Sit with us if you wish."
"Lowie, is everything all right?" Jaina asked with a look of concern.
The lanky ginger-furred Wookiee ambled over and sat between Tenel Ka and
Jaina on the floor. For a long time none of the companions spoke. Then
Lowbacca reached toward his belt and flicked a small switch on Em
Teedee's back. "Ali, thank you, Master Lowbacca," Em Teedee said. "That
was indeed a refreshing shutdown cycle, although considerably longer
tha
n I had anticipated. Oh, look-we have company."
Lowbacca interrupted the little droid with a rumble and a short bark.
'@y, most assuredly, Master Lowbacca. I'd be delighted to provide a
translation. That is my primary function, you know. I am fluent in over
six forms of communication." Preoccupied, Lowbacca didn't even scold the
translating droid. Slowly, haltingly at first, the Wookiee began to
speak, and Em Teedee translated. "Master Lowbacca knows that his recent
. . . distress has been apparent to all of you, causing you no small
measure of concern-a concern shared by myself, I might add."
Jaina put a hand on Lowbacca's shoulder.
"Well, you did have us worried. We wanted you to be able to talk to us."
'We're your friends," Jacen added.
Tenel Ka merely nodded and waited for Lowbacca to continue.
He squared his shoulders and went on with his explanation. "In recent
months a family matter has arisen that has caused Master Lowbacca no end
of worry over his sister Sirrakuk's safety.
'As you may recall, young Wookiees occasionally take it upon themselves
to perform a feat of great danger and difficulty, either alone or
accompanied by friends. This gains them much respect, especially at a
time when they are choosing their life path.
"Master Lowbacca decided to prove himself with such an act of bravery,
since he knew that it would be difficult for many Wookiees to accept his
decision to train at the Jedi academy rather than follow a more
traditional calling. He was so proud of his intellectual skills that he
chose to rely only on his wits; he descended to the deep forest levels
on Kashyyyk without telling a single friend.
Alone, he harvested these fibers from the dangerous syren plant. Though
Master Lowbacca emerged unharmed with the trophy he had sought, he now
admits that his solo expedition was foolhardy and ill-advised. And he
fears that Sirrakuk is considerably more impulsive, more impetuous than
he."
Here Lowbacca paused to finger the glossy fiber of his webbed belt. Its
intricate braiding reminded Tenel Ka of Anakin's message to her, his
technique of one-handed braiding.
Jaina gave Lowie a measuring look. 'Ali, so now you're afraid that your
sister might try to go it alone just because you did?" Lowbacca looked
down at the floor and gave a series of low rumbles and growls.
Resting both elbows on his furry knees, he held his head in his hands as
he spoke.
"I'm afraid the situation is rather more serious than that, and Lowbacca
believes that the responsibility is largely his," Em Teedee said. "You
see, since childhood Sirra's best friend was Raabakyysh-or Raaba, as
Master Lowbacca's family referred to herintelligent, strong-willed,
beautiful, and adventurous. In fact, Master Lowbacca had always felt
that . . . Well, go on," the little droid prompted. "You thought that
what? You can't simply stop in the middle of a sentence."
Lowie gave a low groan and began to speak again. The dark streak of fur
over his eyebrow fluffed up, slowing his agitation.
"Approximately one month ago, Raaba prepared to show her own skills in
the face of danger, since she wanted to join a difficult and exclusive
pilots'school, hoping one day to become the captain of her own ship.
Sirra and Raaba had agreed to accompany one another-but the night before
they had planned to go, Raaba impulsively decided to go alone.
'In secret, she descended to the lower jungles at night, leaving behind
nothing but a brief message to explain to Sirra what she had done and
why. According to her note, Raaba had hoped that by duplicating
Lowbacca's feat of bravery she might impress him enough that he would
someday consider her a worthy mate for a Jedi-when they were old enough.
However . . ."
Lowbacca paused and heaved a deep sigh before continuing. "However-oh
dear!-I'm afraid Raaba never returned from her ordeal," Em Teedee
continued. "When her family searched for her they found only her
bloodstained toolpack. Nothing more. Raaba was gone."
'Oh, Lowie." Jaina leaned her head against the Wookiee's shoulder.
Tenel Ka looked at her friend, sensing his pain. "Ali. This is why you
feel responsible." Lowie spoke again, this time in strangled tones.
'Since Raaba's . . . loss, Sirra has become increasingly reckless, as if
she hardly cares whether she lives or dies. Sirra has refused all offers
from other friends to accompany her on her rite of passage, insisting
that Raaba was the only one she trusted enough to take along. A while
ago, in desperation, Master Lowbacca sent Sirra a message asking if she
would accept him as a suitable substitute. Chewbacca has Just brought
word of her answer." Em Teedee paused for a moment. "Oh, thank
goodness-she's accepted!"
"Oh, indeed," Em Teedee chirped.
Lowbacca didn't respond immediately. He seemed to be intently studying a
chip in the flagstoned floor.
"Something's still bothering you, Lowie," Jaina said.
Tenel Ka glanced down at the stump of her severed left arm, then gave
Lowie an understanding look. 'You fear to face your loss. The loss of
Raaba."
"That's it, isn't it?" Jaina said. 'It's going to hurt to go back to
Kashyyyk, because your friend Raaba won't be there. And you feel
responsible that she died trying to copy something you did."
After Lowie's response, Em Teedee said, "Master Lowbacca is also
concerned that his grief over the loss of Raabakyysh will render him
less capable of supporting his sister at this critical time. He realizes
that it may not be feasible, but he was hoping to impose on one of you
to accompany him to his homeworld."
Tenel Ka answered immediately. "You came when I needed you, after my
accident. I can do no less, my friend." She reached out her hand to
touch Lowbacca's.
"Hey, I'll come too," Jacen said, placing his hand over both of theirs.
"We're stronger together. All of us."
Jaina placed her hand over the others. "I guess we all go then," she
said. "Stronger together."
Lowbacca hung back, standing near the disguised Millennium Falcon while
the Solo twins said goodbye to their father.
Han Solo gave his kids a lopsided grin.
'Yeah, I kinda had a hunch that all of you were gonna volunteer to go
with Lowbacca," he said. "As soon as Chewie told me the situation, I
cleared it with your mom. Should be a good opportunity for you kids to
brush up on Wookiee language comprehension, too."
Just then Luke Skywalker, wearing his tattered jumpsuit, emerged from
the hangar bay with Chewbacca. Lowie could smell the grease stains and
solvents on the old fabric.
"Everything ready?" Master Skywalker asked.
"Ready as it'll ever be," Han Solo replied with another grin. "You and
Chewie finished prepping the Shadow Chaser?"
Luke turned to Chewbacca, who had come up beside him, and said, The
Chaser's a good ship; don't let anything happen to her." The big Wookiee
shrugged and gave a bark of agree
ment.
Han Solo thumped Chewie on the back.
"Take care of yourself. I'm trusting you with my kids, you know. Keep
'em all in one piece, okay? We'll see you in a couple of weeks."
With that, Han gave the twins one last hug and went aboard the
Millennium Falcon.
Before walking up the ramp, Master Skywalker looked around at the young
Jedi Knights with calm confidence. "Don't forget that yoifre stronger
together," he said. "May the Force be with you." When the departing
Falcon was just a speck in the distance, its bank of sublight engines
glowing white, Lowbacca heaved a sigh and growled questioningly at
Jaina.
She chuckled. "Right. What are we waiting for?" -----------------THE
SLEEK SILADOW CILASER, with its Imperial design and oily-looking quantum
armor, glistened in the early-morning sun as Chewbacca piloted it slowly
out of the sheltered hangar bay beneath the Great Temple.
jacen stood next to his sister and Tenel Ka, watching the vessel move
under silent power. Considering Lowie's recent distress, Jacen was glad
his uncle Luke had let them take the Shadow Chaser-just the kind of
fast, stealthy ship needed for an urgent mission. He was proud that
Lowie wanted them along, that he and his sister and Tenel Ka could be of
some help to their Wookiee friend.
Lowie stood at the far end of the clearing, motioning with his shaggy