The ironvine whistled through the air and impacted against the aged fungal wall with a dull "whumpf," the low noise of impact accompanied by a cloud of spores shaken loose by the force of the blow. Somewhere in the bright mushroom blooms overhead, a startled bird took wing and was quickly gone.
The tendrils in the shaman's eyepits waved softly with the effort of concentration. The ironvine looped itself slowly around a thin white plant stalk and with a sudden jerk pulled tight, splitting the plant in two. The other tribals watched intently.
"Not bad. A lot of strength in that first hit, but you lost focus too quickly. You might have gotten the second stormtrooper, but the third would have blasted you before you could recover." Stathas Dorn prowled restlessly around the outside of the group, moving in and out of the dark shadows cast by the towering mushrooms. Even the least trained of the Felucian adepts could feel the Force swirling around their master like a stormcloud.
What is it, Stathasdorn-honored? Why do you move so? Is danger close? The shaman growled in the guttural Felucian tongue, but the Force brought the meaning clear to Stathas' mind.
"No. Not close. Halfway across the galaxy." He could feel it, in the secret dark center of his heart. A distant call from a voice long sealed away, startling in clarity and strength. Time and distance and effort had never truly quieted it. "A confrontation... my old friends and students. And my Master."
The Felucians spoke to each other in a quiet buzz of apprehension. More than one long, rough face turned up toward the stars hidden by the jungle's canopy. Will you go to them, Stathasdorn-honored?
Dorn took a deep breath of the moist air. The smell of rot, sweet and musty and so familiar now, was a comfort. "No. I... it would not be wise for me to face my old Master. It would... it would not be wise."
You fear he would turn you back to the Darkness?
"Yes. No. Perhaps he could still turn me. Perhaps I would turn myself in the effort to destroy him utterly. In the end, it would make little difference. I can only hope that they succeed, but prepare for the possibility of their failure." The words had more edge than he had intended. Dorn felt the anger rising in him, a black tide whose power he had once been foolish enough to believe he commanded. He closed his eyes and took another breath. The anger was tinged with... fear? Desperation? But why? Dorn was as safe now as anything on Felucia could ever be, surrounded by his allies and students. What could he be afraid of?
Then he realized. The fear was not his. No more than was the anger.
His Master must truly be desperate, for his feelings to be so powerful and unguarded.
The currents of the Force around him ran thick with worry and confusion as the Felucians also began to sense the struggle taking place. The shaman began to sing to his people, old battle chants and prayers to focus their minds and wills. Dorn tuned it out, focused instead on the whispers of the Force as battle raged so very far away. Time passed in a blur as emotions dark and terrible raged through Dorn, so fast and chaotic that he could not say which were his and which were his Master's.
And then it was over. A short, sudden cry in his heart... a sharp blow that brought him to his knees on the lichen carpet... and then quiet. His Master's voice, gone. Its black place in his spirit filled only with the gentle whispers of Force.
The relief was enough to make him weep.
Stathasdorn-honored? What has happened? Have you been injured? Your eyepits leak fluid.
Dorn couldn't conceal his smile. "Somebody just did me a very big favor. It's one I intend to repay."
The shaman hunched his face down into his torso, a Felucian gesture of confusion. Repay? How?
"By finishing your training. Back to work!" Effortlessly, Dorn reached out with the Force and lifted the ironvine back into the Shaman's hand. The Force sang to him, as crystal clear and strong as it had ever been.
Showing posts with label where are they now. Show all posts
Showing posts with label where are they now. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Zach's letter to Zane
[[2.6.22ABA_transmit.True]]
In this year after the seventh battle of Ruusan One Thousand and Four, on Firstday of Sevenmonth, I your friend Zach Ouichee mark and proclaim this record. I know you read my journals, so I write this in High Galactic for you.
It is wonderful to hear from you again! I know I've been gone longer than I intended. This old Consular cruiser is no Wayfarer, and I've been to the outermost edges of the Rim. I'm on my way home, though, at last. I kept going after Taryn departed, heading straight away from the Core. She journeyed back as she must, and I am glad for that time we had wandering; it did the both of us good. She is in my thoughts, and I am glad that Pel is near her.
Where is Jolee? Has anyone had word? Let us hope she finds peace. Talia and Pel, I am sure, are fulfilling every duty they can lay hands on. Are they well? I confess could not forsee their paths, and I am curious.
It was wearying to be so recognized, so preconceived, so focused upon. We have found some few dozens of Omwati refugees here and there, and you have probably met some of them by now. I spent as long as I could in the more established settlements, but the rim called me outwards.
I wandered into Mina on Dantooine while I was on my way to Muunilist, and she has found secrets and treasures. Most of them treasures are secrets, of course. We spoke long about the Force, amongst other things. I have found a new and potent technique. Go to the space between galactic arms, far away from any space lanes. Stock an exosuit with several hours of air, and maroon yourself with your ship set to come back in a day or two, and enter a trance. If you can do it properly, you can feel the Force more clearly than I had imagined. I have met someone named Qui-Gon in that deep trance. I wish I could introduce him to you.
Joy of joys! We may have a new and honored resident at one of our academies. Bowana has seedlings. Do not tell Rolana, for I would surprise her. Bowana says that groves can become force-sensitive. It is difficult to be patient, and I find myself constructing planters in my mind.
I have attached an account of the Battle of Yavin for your sister’s book. This is for you. Share it if you like, but I trust you will understand it better than most.
It was on that rocky planet in the Core that the Battle of Yavin starts, and it is there that my perspective diverges from the others'. We were all sick then, with the taint of the Dark Side, with the radiation, with the war, and with how close we were on Naboo to losing millions. I'll try to explain now what I couldn't explain then. Perhaps I cannot fully explain it now.
It is worth remembering that the Sith weren't always all monsters. When there were more, when they were a movement instead of a conspiracy, most of them were just confused and scared and hurt. It was only their elite who posed a threat to the galaxy, and it was only ever their titans who could touch the Force directly, as our masters can. What distinguishes those few, what defines a Sith Lord is a rejection of peace, of compromise. Consuming only makes them hunger more - a Sith Lord strives to make his core a pearl of greed or anger or simple want. That is their essence, that is their truest name. To learn their tongue is to have to learn that name. Do not learn it unless you are willing to learn something profane that you can never unlearn.
What we've oft seen from the Sith is a regular sort of evil. Anyone could do as much, perhaps not as well, but the same in kind. Conquest, murder, genocide, these are the crimes that for all their suffering and danger that most sapients could commit were they swept along with a great current. With attempted mastery of the Force and with their dedication, the Sith Lords can commit blasphemies that none others can.
I only realized it in that Alchemical temple in the core. The Emperor was the purest Sith, and he would commit violence against the very Living Force. Remember everything I have said about the Living Force, that joyous union of all things. Realize that the Emperor would have violated that union, not for any goal, but to feed the demon he had become. That temple was a wrought testament to that, and I am not sure the Living Force did not bid us cleanse it with fire.
That is what we walked into. I argued for bringing Anakin because I could not conceive of two such beasts living without killing each other, so he must be in some part a man. Anakin was no beast at all in the end, but had at his core a pearl of another sort. He was a Jedi Master and a loving father like Master Se’ol.
When we landed, I went to the children. That fight was my test that day and the closest I have ever come to the Dark Side. The Force knows what they mean to me and why I reach out to them each day. Peace be in their thoughts and Force be with them.
The fight against the Emperor was easier and harder than I had forseen. He had no cunning words for us or subtle tricks to cloud our minds. He simply had raw power and desperation, but he had those in plenty.
As you will no doubt be shocked to hear, I pressed on, using my saber. If Ataru can be attained when one recognizes the Force as an ally and accepts help and Juyo comes when one recognizes the Force as master and does as it bids, Vapaad is that certainty that we are already one with the Force. Words cannot teach it, but if you still intend to be a Master and a swordsman, you will know that with all your being.
For the rest of it, I played my smaller part. The facts of what happened are laid out, and I fell into a kind of meditation during the battle that makes me a poor witness. I have only one more insight: the Sith will be back. The Force has seen fit to tolerate their perversion for millennia and there is one who still knows their teachings. They rise from the ashes just as the Jedi do, and they will be back. Remember these things, and if you find truth pass it on when I am gone. They will be back.
The Force has seen fit to guide me towards some Miraluka at last. It has been so long and I have changed so much that I do not know if it will be a joy or an empty gesture. We had something, once, to give the Galaxy, and I would that the last of us did not have a life of blood and yearning to offer as a last story. Is that selfish? I do not know.
I do not mind telling you in confidence that it has been rather more thousands of years than I would prefer since I have felt a woman of Miraluk perceive me in my fullness.
At last, I have a small request. Please send a fast ship with several guns to the planet Dreau, just a few dozen parsecs spinward of Bespin. Dreau is a hiveworld where I found a Bothan claiming to know how to find dozens of Miraluka, and I found him enslaved in a pirate’s camp. I am leading many slaves through the undercity, but the pirates will find us soon and I risk terrible losses were I to confront them without air support. I have perhaps three weeks that we can hold out, after which I will have to strike.
Force willing, I will see you on Life Day. I miss you all and look forward to living simply as a friend and teacher. Give my love to those around you, and Force be with you, Zane. I am proud of you.
[[2.6.22ABA_transmit.False]]
In this year after the seventh battle of Ruusan One Thousand and Four, on Firstday of Sevenmonth, I your friend Zach Ouichee mark and proclaim this record. I know you read my journals, so I write this in High Galactic for you.
It is wonderful to hear from you again! I know I've been gone longer than I intended. This old Consular cruiser is no Wayfarer, and I've been to the outermost edges of the Rim. I'm on my way home, though, at last. I kept going after Taryn departed, heading straight away from the Core. She journeyed back as she must, and I am glad for that time we had wandering; it did the both of us good. She is in my thoughts, and I am glad that Pel is near her.
Where is Jolee? Has anyone had word? Let us hope she finds peace. Talia and Pel, I am sure, are fulfilling every duty they can lay hands on. Are they well? I confess could not forsee their paths, and I am curious.
It was wearying to be so recognized, so preconceived, so focused upon. We have found some few dozens of Omwati refugees here and there, and you have probably met some of them by now. I spent as long as I could in the more established settlements, but the rim called me outwards.
I wandered into Mina on Dantooine while I was on my way to Muunilist, and she has found secrets and treasures. Most of them treasures are secrets, of course. We spoke long about the Force, amongst other things. I have found a new and potent technique. Go to the space between galactic arms, far away from any space lanes. Stock an exosuit with several hours of air, and maroon yourself with your ship set to come back in a day or two, and enter a trance. If you can do it properly, you can feel the Force more clearly than I had imagined. I have met someone named Qui-Gon in that deep trance. I wish I could introduce him to you.
Joy of joys! We may have a new and honored resident at one of our academies. Bowana has seedlings. Do not tell Rolana, for I would surprise her. Bowana says that groves can become force-sensitive. It is difficult to be patient, and I find myself constructing planters in my mind.
I have attached an account of the Battle of Yavin for your sister’s book. This is for you. Share it if you like, but I trust you will understand it better than most.
It was on that rocky planet in the Core that the Battle of Yavin starts, and it is there that my perspective diverges from the others'. We were all sick then, with the taint of the Dark Side, with the radiation, with the war, and with how close we were on Naboo to losing millions. I'll try to explain now what I couldn't explain then. Perhaps I cannot fully explain it now.
It is worth remembering that the Sith weren't always all monsters. When there were more, when they were a movement instead of a conspiracy, most of them were just confused and scared and hurt. It was only their elite who posed a threat to the galaxy, and it was only ever their titans who could touch the Force directly, as our masters can. What distinguishes those few, what defines a Sith Lord is a rejection of peace, of compromise. Consuming only makes them hunger more - a Sith Lord strives to make his core a pearl of greed or anger or simple want. That is their essence, that is their truest name. To learn their tongue is to have to learn that name. Do not learn it unless you are willing to learn something profane that you can never unlearn.
What we've oft seen from the Sith is a regular sort of evil. Anyone could do as much, perhaps not as well, but the same in kind. Conquest, murder, genocide, these are the crimes that for all their suffering and danger that most sapients could commit were they swept along with a great current. With attempted mastery of the Force and with their dedication, the Sith Lords can commit blasphemies that none others can.
I only realized it in that Alchemical temple in the core. The Emperor was the purest Sith, and he would commit violence against the very Living Force. Remember everything I have said about the Living Force, that joyous union of all things. Realize that the Emperor would have violated that union, not for any goal, but to feed the demon he had become. That temple was a wrought testament to that, and I am not sure the Living Force did not bid us cleanse it with fire.
That is what we walked into. I argued for bringing Anakin because I could not conceive of two such beasts living without killing each other, so he must be in some part a man. Anakin was no beast at all in the end, but had at his core a pearl of another sort. He was a Jedi Master and a loving father like Master Se’ol.
When we landed, I went to the children. That fight was my test that day and the closest I have ever come to the Dark Side. The Force knows what they mean to me and why I reach out to them each day. Peace be in their thoughts and Force be with them.
The fight against the Emperor was easier and harder than I had forseen. He had no cunning words for us or subtle tricks to cloud our minds. He simply had raw power and desperation, but he had those in plenty.
As you will no doubt be shocked to hear, I pressed on, using my saber. If Ataru can be attained when one recognizes the Force as an ally and accepts help and Juyo comes when one recognizes the Force as master and does as it bids, Vapaad is that certainty that we are already one with the Force. Words cannot teach it, but if you still intend to be a Master and a swordsman, you will know that with all your being.
For the rest of it, I played my smaller part. The facts of what happened are laid out, and I fell into a kind of meditation during the battle that makes me a poor witness. I have only one more insight: the Sith will be back. The Force has seen fit to tolerate their perversion for millennia and there is one who still knows their teachings. They rise from the ashes just as the Jedi do, and they will be back. Remember these things, and if you find truth pass it on when I am gone. They will be back.
The Force has seen fit to guide me towards some Miraluka at last. It has been so long and I have changed so much that I do not know if it will be a joy or an empty gesture. We had something, once, to give the Galaxy, and I would that the last of us did not have a life of blood and yearning to offer as a last story. Is that selfish? I do not know.
I do not mind telling you in confidence that it has been rather more thousands of years than I would prefer since I have felt a woman of Miraluk perceive me in my fullness.
At last, I have a small request. Please send a fast ship with several guns to the planet Dreau, just a few dozen parsecs spinward of Bespin. Dreau is a hiveworld where I found a Bothan claiming to know how to find dozens of Miraluka, and I found him enslaved in a pirate’s camp. I am leading many slaves through the undercity, but the pirates will find us soon and I risk terrible losses were I to confront them without air support. I have perhaps three weeks that we can hold out, after which I will have to strike.
Force willing, I will see you on Life Day. I miss you all and look forward to living simply as a friend and teacher. Give my love to those around you, and Force be with you, Zane. I am proud of you.
[[2.6.22ABA_transmit.False]]
Monday, March 9, 2009
Letters between Dory and Jolee, part one
Dear Jolee,
I found out how to get ahold of you! Quan said that Draco said that Leia told him that you were on the Millennium Falcon and eventually I got them to give me the communication frequencies for the ship. Hope you don't mind. You kinda left us all of a sudden back on Yavin.
Anyway, just in case you really don't want to talk to me, I won't write much. I was just wondering if you could tell me what the Battle of Yavin was like from your perspective and what happened afterwords? We're all really curious where you went off to. We're taking bets on what you've been doing. Zane has this crazy story that you ran off with Odak Aan and have a baby with points on its head. I think he only tells it so much because it makes Quan's eye twitch. Draco thinks its funny though. His guess was that you were living the "high life" on Cloud City. Quan guessed you were on Naboo. I thought you were with Solo, and I was right! I win! Now I get first pick of rooms when the new temple is built. Unless you actually were doing one of the other things and I'm wrong.
Anyway, hope you don't mind that I wrote to you! Please write back.
<3 Dory
2 ABA, 5th month, 6th day.
_________________________________________
Dory-
Of course I don't mind that you wrote me. I know I pretty much fell off of the known galaxy after the Battle of Yavin. I'm glad you found me enough to send me a message though. I should try to see people more often. I honestly don't know why I don't. Maybe trying to pretend the years spent fighting the Empire didn't happen?
Well, you asked for my version of the Battle of Yavin, especially the aftermath, and a run down of what I've been doing since, correct? I don't know what to say about the battle. The entire experience was bizarre. Being on board the Executor, Vader being peacefully aboard the Wayfarer, fighting the Emperor. Actually, you know what the funny thing is? I can't even remember seeing the Emperor. I know he was there, I vaguely recall him speaking, and I especially remember getting hit by his lightning, but I don't remember ever really paying attention to him. I recall tumbling up to right in front of him and hitting his guards with a surge of Force energy, but then the rest of the battle I spent defending myself from Vader and the Stormtroopers. I suppose I'm guilty of not really focusing on the main objective of the mission. What can I say, I'm easily distracted.
I do, however, remember the honestly terrifying leap off of the top of the temple. I think I'd planned on hitting one of the steps on the way down, but I jumped from the top with a bit too much force (hurr hurr) and ended up landing on the ground of Yavin. And by ground I mean a bunch of trees. It took a bit to get unstuck from the tree and to the ground, and by the time I did I realized what Pel was doing. From there, it was mad dash to the Omwati compound, where a lot of energy was exerted to keep the Executor from killing everyone.
The image of the Executor crashed in the jungle of Yavin is one that will stay with me forever, though. In the immediate aftermath of the battle, I remember being a bit stunned. Ships were landing all around us, and more and more people joined the area right around the destroyed temple. Escape pods from the Executor were being picked up everywhere. Everything blurred together until late at night. The Omwati were playing music and everyone was on the ground, mingling, dancing, and having a good time. And then I felt the presence of my father. I walked to the very edge of the cleared area, and saw my father's Force ghost, standing next to Master Kenobi's. It was actually the first confirmation that he was dead, although we all assumed it. A few seconds later another Force ghost appeared, though I didn't realize who it was until I saw Luke and Leia a few yards away and realized it must have been Anakin Skywalker. The ghosts stuck around for only a few minutes, long enough to pass along messages of pride and thanks.
I never rejoined the party after that, I was too exhausted both physically and emotionally. The next day was chaotic. I remember the realization that I was wearing the totality of my possessions. It was overwhelming to realize that everything from my data pad of journal entries to Egon's tool box to all of my Life Day gifts were sitting under the wreckage of the Executor. It sounds so petty and shallow, but the rush of relief I felt when the Millennium Falcon landed and I realized that I had a change of clothes on board bordered on ridiculous. It's strange what seems to important in the aftermath of catastrophic events. I'm sure most people eventually realized that I left the next day, when the Millennium Falcon departed. People were already talking about taking back Alderaan once and for all and building a new academy there, and I confess I just didn't want to deal with it. Han offered me a spot on the Falcon as long as I wanted, and so I left.
If anyone wonders what happened to him, Odak An came with us. We dropped him off on Nar Shaddaa. I've run into him once or twice since then. I'm fairly certain that he hasn't taken up piracy again. Smuggling, yes. Possibly even bounty hunting, but I doubt he's become head of a pirate gang again. In the year since the battle I've been mostly on the Millennium Falcon. I've spent a few weeks with my family on Naboo, and they've highly encouraged me to settle there. I've also spent some time on Cloud City, and Tattooine, and pretty much every disreputable spaceport. Tell Zane he would have loved it. Let me know what you and everyone else has been up to. I still don't know if I have the fortitude to throw myself into the academy life again, let alone the continuing war effort. Life on the Falcon is easy, simple, and fun, and I'm being un-regretfully selfish.
~ Jolee
2 ABA, 5th month, 18th day.
________________________________
Dear Jolee,
Thanks for writing back! I hope you don't mind that I showed your letter to Zane and Quan. I needed to prove that I won the bet. Quan says that he was at least a little right, since you said you spent time on Naboo. He didn't think Draco was a little right though, even though Draco guessed Cloud City. Hold on, Quan said he wants to add something to this.
Jolee: you are running away again. Stop being an emotionally stunted idiot and get back here. -Quan
Er, sorry about that, Jolee. He's been cranky lately. He says its because he's tired of people moping. I'm not moping. Maybe he's talking about Zane. Zane doesn't like being here on Alderaan, and he wants to go help the fight in the Core. I think we should get the Academy set up. A lot of people are Force sensitive now. They think it has something to do with the destruction of the old temple on Yavin. I heard rumors that Yavin IV is dying. Like, all the life is just being sucked out of it. They said that an Ithorian herd ship is there trying to take samples of the life, so nothing dies out.
I've been good. The fight for Alderaan was pretty intense, especially at first. But then the Empire just kind of left the space around Alderaan, and the ones stuck on planet just surrendered. The Alliance high ups think maybe there is a power struggle going on in the Empire, and they're fighting with each other. So, we (me and Zane and Quan) have been here on Alderaan. Leia and Draco have been here too, since this is their planet. The others from the old academy come and go. Thank you for writing about the Battle of Yavin. I'm writing an account of the battle for the archives at the new Jedi temple we're building. It seems important. Anyway, there is a one year celebration of the Battle of Yavin here on Alderaan in two and a half months. You should come.
<3
Dory
2 ABA, 6th month, 2nd day
I found out how to get ahold of you! Quan said that Draco said that Leia told him that you were on the Millennium Falcon and eventually I got them to give me the communication frequencies for the ship. Hope you don't mind. You kinda left us all of a sudden back on Yavin.
Anyway, just in case you really don't want to talk to me, I won't write much. I was just wondering if you could tell me what the Battle of Yavin was like from your perspective and what happened afterwords? We're all really curious where you went off to. We're taking bets on what you've been doing. Zane has this crazy story that you ran off with Odak Aan and have a baby with points on its head. I think he only tells it so much because it makes Quan's eye twitch. Draco thinks its funny though. His guess was that you were living the "high life" on Cloud City. Quan guessed you were on Naboo. I thought you were with Solo, and I was right! I win! Now I get first pick of rooms when the new temple is built. Unless you actually were doing one of the other things and I'm wrong.
Anyway, hope you don't mind that I wrote to you! Please write back.
<3 Dory
2 ABA, 5th month, 6th day.
_________________________________________
Dory-
Of course I don't mind that you wrote me. I know I pretty much fell off of the known galaxy after the Battle of Yavin. I'm glad you found me enough to send me a message though. I should try to see people more often. I honestly don't know why I don't. Maybe trying to pretend the years spent fighting the Empire didn't happen?
Well, you asked for my version of the Battle of Yavin, especially the aftermath, and a run down of what I've been doing since, correct? I don't know what to say about the battle. The entire experience was bizarre. Being on board the Executor, Vader being peacefully aboard the Wayfarer, fighting the Emperor. Actually, you know what the funny thing is? I can't even remember seeing the Emperor. I know he was there, I vaguely recall him speaking, and I especially remember getting hit by his lightning, but I don't remember ever really paying attention to him. I recall tumbling up to right in front of him and hitting his guards with a surge of Force energy, but then the rest of the battle I spent defending myself from Vader and the Stormtroopers. I suppose I'm guilty of not really focusing on the main objective of the mission. What can I say, I'm easily distracted.
I do, however, remember the honestly terrifying leap off of the top of the temple. I think I'd planned on hitting one of the steps on the way down, but I jumped from the top with a bit too much force (hurr hurr) and ended up landing on the ground of Yavin. And by ground I mean a bunch of trees. It took a bit to get unstuck from the tree and to the ground, and by the time I did I realized what Pel was doing. From there, it was mad dash to the Omwati compound, where a lot of energy was exerted to keep the Executor from killing everyone.
The image of the Executor crashed in the jungle of Yavin is one that will stay with me forever, though. In the immediate aftermath of the battle, I remember being a bit stunned. Ships were landing all around us, and more and more people joined the area right around the destroyed temple. Escape pods from the Executor were being picked up everywhere. Everything blurred together until late at night. The Omwati were playing music and everyone was on the ground, mingling, dancing, and having a good time. And then I felt the presence of my father. I walked to the very edge of the cleared area, and saw my father's Force ghost, standing next to Master Kenobi's. It was actually the first confirmation that he was dead, although we all assumed it. A few seconds later another Force ghost appeared, though I didn't realize who it was until I saw Luke and Leia a few yards away and realized it must have been Anakin Skywalker. The ghosts stuck around for only a few minutes, long enough to pass along messages of pride and thanks.
I never rejoined the party after that, I was too exhausted both physically and emotionally. The next day was chaotic. I remember the realization that I was wearing the totality of my possessions. It was overwhelming to realize that everything from my data pad of journal entries to Egon's tool box to all of my Life Day gifts were sitting under the wreckage of the Executor. It sounds so petty and shallow, but the rush of relief I felt when the Millennium Falcon landed and I realized that I had a change of clothes on board bordered on ridiculous. It's strange what seems to important in the aftermath of catastrophic events. I'm sure most people eventually realized that I left the next day, when the Millennium Falcon departed. People were already talking about taking back Alderaan once and for all and building a new academy there, and I confess I just didn't want to deal with it. Han offered me a spot on the Falcon as long as I wanted, and so I left.
If anyone wonders what happened to him, Odak An came with us. We dropped him off on Nar Shaddaa. I've run into him once or twice since then. I'm fairly certain that he hasn't taken up piracy again. Smuggling, yes. Possibly even bounty hunting, but I doubt he's become head of a pirate gang again. In the year since the battle I've been mostly on the Millennium Falcon. I've spent a few weeks with my family on Naboo, and they've highly encouraged me to settle there. I've also spent some time on Cloud City, and Tattooine, and pretty much every disreputable spaceport. Tell Zane he would have loved it. Let me know what you and everyone else has been up to. I still don't know if I have the fortitude to throw myself into the academy life again, let alone the continuing war effort. Life on the Falcon is easy, simple, and fun, and I'm being un-regretfully selfish.
~ Jolee
2 ABA, 5th month, 18th day.
________________________________
Dear Jolee,
Thanks for writing back! I hope you don't mind that I showed your letter to Zane and Quan. I needed to prove that I won the bet. Quan says that he was at least a little right, since you said you spent time on Naboo. He didn't think Draco was a little right though, even though Draco guessed Cloud City. Hold on, Quan said he wants to add something to this.
Jolee: you are running away again. Stop being an emotionally stunted idiot and get back here. -Quan
Er, sorry about that, Jolee. He's been cranky lately. He says its because he's tired of people moping. I'm not moping. Maybe he's talking about Zane. Zane doesn't like being here on Alderaan, and he wants to go help the fight in the Core. I think we should get the Academy set up. A lot of people are Force sensitive now. They think it has something to do with the destruction of the old temple on Yavin. I heard rumors that Yavin IV is dying. Like, all the life is just being sucked out of it. They said that an Ithorian herd ship is there trying to take samples of the life, so nothing dies out.
I've been good. The fight for Alderaan was pretty intense, especially at first. But then the Empire just kind of left the space around Alderaan, and the ones stuck on planet just surrendered. The Alliance high ups think maybe there is a power struggle going on in the Empire, and they're fighting with each other. So, we (me and Zane and Quan) have been here on Alderaan. Leia and Draco have been here too, since this is their planet. The others from the old academy come and go. Thank you for writing about the Battle of Yavin. I'm writing an account of the battle for the archives at the new Jedi temple we're building. It seems important. Anyway, there is a one year celebration of the Battle of Yavin here on Alderaan in two and a half months. You should come.
<3
Dory
2 ABA, 6th month, 2nd day
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