Leia nodded again.
“He’s my daddy.”
Finally Leia found her voice again. “I know, “she whispered.
She knelt and pulled Allana to her in an embrace. She stood with the little girl in her arms. “I’m your grandmother.”
She turned to face Han. His face was frozen in surprise.
Leia saw his mouth work as he tried to find the perfect quip for the situation. But there was none. His expression softened, and he merely patted the little girl’s arm, a clumsy gesture of affection. “Hi, sweetie. I’m your grandfather.”
SANCTUARY MOON OF ENDOR, DEATH STAR WRECKAGE
Jaina found Jag lying on a blanket near the edge of the wreckage shadow, watching the huge reddish ball of Endor as it began to sink below the horizon of trees. She sat beside him, allowing herself a moment to appreciate the beauty of the view.
“I have to go, “she said.
“Now?”
“No, but soon. A few hours, a few days.”
“Where?”
“I don’t know.”
He grinned. “I recommend you figure that out before you leave.”
“That’s what I’m trying to do.” She shook her head. “Alema’s dead. Jacen’s next.”
“Just about everyone I know plans to be the one to confront Jacen Solo. Grand Master Skywalker, Ben Skywalker, half the Jedi Knights, all the Jedi Masters. … every pilot I know plans to be there in a starfighter the next time he’s in one. So I suggest you get in line.”
“If it is someone else, I won’t complain. But if it has to be me, I want to be ready. You showed me I wasn’t.” She took a moment to consider her words. “I’m his twin. I have as much power as he does. … potentially. But he’s had training I haven’t. I need to counter it with training he hasn’t had. And the sort of ingenuity you showed me.”
He watched her in the deepening shadows. “I’ll give you whatever help I can. But I think Alema was just about my match. Jacen. … he’s far more dangerous.”
“I know. But I wanted you to understand that you have helped me. Helped me get this far. I just have to get farther. And that means going away.”
He nodded. “Just remember who you are. That should mean everything to you. And remember that it means nothing to Jacen anymore. He’s already shown that he cares nothing for the families of those he tortures and kills.”
“Those he tortures and kills.” Jaina froze as something occurred to her. “Those he tortures and kills …”
“What is it?”
“Oh, no.” She shook her head, almost unaware of Jag, as the thought took hold. “I can’t.”
“You can’t what?”
She looked at him, hoping that something in his expression or words might tell her why her idea was wrong, bad.
But it wasn’t. It was the only answer. It was inevitable.
She rose. “I have to go.”
“I know; you said that.”
“But now I know where. I need to make some preparations. Don’t worry: I’ll say good-bye before I leave.”
She turned away from his baffled expression and headed back to the outpost. Toward her mission. Toward an act of last resort.
Toward her teacher.