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“I’ve already found several candidates I wish to investigate. All I ask right now is that you agree this is something we should pursue, that the search for Jedi be conducted by others and not just myself.”

Mon Mothma sat up straighter in her central seat. “I think we can agree to that without further discussion.” She looked around to the other senators, seeing them nod agreement. “Tell us your second request.”

Luke stood taller. This was most important to him. He saw Leia stiffen.

“If sufficient candidates are found who have potential for using the Force, I wish to be allowed—with the New Republic’s blessing—to establish in some appropriate place an intensive training center, a Jedi academy, if you will. Under my direction we can help these students discover their abilities, to focus and strengthen their power. Ultimately, this academy would provide a core group that could allow us to restore the Jedi Knights as protectors of the New Republic.”

He drew in a deep breath and waited.

Senator Bel Iblis raised himself slowly to his feet. “A comment, if I may? I’m sorry, Luke, but I have to raise the question—we’ve already seen the terrible damage a Jedi can cause if he allows himself to be swayed by the dark side. We just recently fought against Joruus C’baoth, and of course Darth Vader nearly caused the death of us all. If a teacher as great as Obi-Wan Kenobi could fail and let his student fall to evil, how can we take the risk of training an entire new order of Jedi Knights? How many will turn to the dark side? How many new enemies will we make for ourselves?”

Luke nodded somberly. The question had been working at the back of his own mind, and he had pondered it deeply. “I can only say that we have seen these terrible examples, and we must learn from them. I myself have touched the dark side and come through stronger and more wary of its powers than ever before. I agree there is a risk, but I cannot believe the New Republic will be safer without a new force of Jedi.”

A murmur rippled through the chamber. Bel Iblis stood a moment longer, as if he meant to say something else, but instead he sat down, looking satisfied.

Admiral Ackbar got to his feet and applauded with his flipperlike hands. “I agree that the Jedi’s request is in the best interests of the New Republic,” he said.

Jan Dodonna also stood. After narrowly surviving the Battle of Yavin, Dodonna had treated Luke with complete trust. “I agree as well!”

Soon all the senators were standing. Luke saw a broad grin on Leia’s face as she too stood. He felt the rainbows around him from the crystal ceiling, seemingly full of power, and he felt warm inside.

Mon Mothma sat, nodding gravely. She was the last to stand up, and she raised her hand for silence. “I give you my hopes for the rebirth of the Jedi Knights. We will offer whatever help we can. May the Force be with you.”

Before Luke could turn, applause from the audience rolled like a storm through the chamber.

3

Leia’s quarters were among the most spacious and accommodating in the Emperor’s abandoned palace—and the room echoed with emptiness. Leia Organa Solo, formerly a princess, currently the New Republic’s Minister of State—felt tired and worn as she returned to her rooms at the end of a long day.

The high point had been Luke’s triumphant address before the assembly, but that was merely one detail in a day filled with problems. Confusing contradictions in multilingual treaties that even Threepio couldn’t fathom, alien cultural restrictions that made diplomacy nearly impossible—it made her head spin!

As Leia looked around her quarters, a frown etched her face. “Illumination up two points,” she said, and the room grew brighter, driving some of the quiet shadows farther away.

Han and Chewbacca were gone, ostensibly to reestablish contact with the planet Kessel, although she believed it was more of a vacation for him, a way to relive the “good old days” of gallivanting across the galaxy.

Sometimes she wondered if Han ever regretted marrying someone so different from himself, settling down with diplomatic