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Mara walked briskly toward them, cinching her Jedi robe tighter around her waist. Luke looked at her and thought how different she looked from when he had first met her on the hostile smuggler world of Myrkyr.

Mara stopped in front of him, glanced at the two Jedi trainees waiting to depart on their jungle trek, then ignored them completely. “I can’t deny what I’ve learned here, Luke. But Talon Karrde gave me control of the smugglers’ alliance, and I’ve got too much to do. I can’t just meditate all day long.” Her narrow chiseled face seemed flushed even in the dim light. “I need to send for another transport to get out of here, since your prize student ran off with my ship.”

Luke nodded, partly amused at her predicament but stung by the mention of Kyp Durron’s betrayal. “We’ve got a communications setup in the second-tier war room. You can call Karrde and request a new ship.”

Mara snorted. “Karrde only lets me contact him at prearranged intervals. He keeps moving around—says it’s because he’s afraid someone has a bounty on his head. I suspect he just doesn’t want to be bothered. He claims that he’s retired from the smuggling life and wants to live as a private citizen.”

“You can always contact Coruscant,” Luke said in a congenial voice. “I’m sure they’ll send a shuttle for you. In fact, we’re probably due for another supply run anyway.”

Mara pursed her generous lips. “It would be nice to have the New Republic chauffeur me around for a change.”

Luke searched for any hidden sarcasm in her comment but saw only wry humor instead. He shook his head. “I don’t know who you’d get to volunteer for a brutal job like that.”

When Lando came rushing into Han and Leia’s quarters without knocking, Han Solo was intent on studying a list of interactive entertainment options for the twins. On the floor Jacen and Jaina played impatiently with shiny self-aware toys that kept trying to run away from the children’s grasping hands.

See-Threepio stood nervously next to him. “I am perfectly qualified to make selections, sir. I’m certain I can find something to amuse the twins.”

“I don’t trust your choices, Threepio,” Han said. “Remember how much they enjoyed the Holographic Zoo for Extinct Animals?”

“That was an anomaly, sir,” Threepio said.

Lando rushed into the room, looking around. “Han, old buddy! I need a favor—a big favor.”

With a sigh Han turned the selection process over to Threepio. “Okay, pick something—but if the kids don’t like it, I’ll let them amuse themselves by running a maintenance check on you.”

“I … understand completely, sir,” Threepio said, and bent to the task.

“What kind of favor?” he asked Lando warily.

Lando flung his cape over his shoulder and rubbed his hands together. “I, uh, need to borrow the Falcon—just for a little while.”

“What?” Han said.

Lando answered in a rush. “Mara Jade is stuck on Yavin 4, and she needs a lift. I want to be the gallant gentleman who rescues her. Let me take the Falcon. Please?”

Han shook his head. “My ship isn’t going anywhere without me. Besides, if you’re trying to impress Mara Jade, taking a ship like the Falcon isn’t the way to do it.”

“Come on, Han,” Lando said. “I took you to rescue Leia when Calamari was under attack. You owe me one.”

Han sighed. “I suppose I could use an excuse to go see Luke and Kyp at the Jedi academy.” He turned and smirked at Threepio. “Besides, this time at least Leia’s here to watch out for the children.”

When the Millennium Falcon landed in front of the great Massassi temple, Han emerged to see Luke sprinting toward him wearing an expression of boyish delight. Han grinned and stepped down the entry ramp, his boots clomping on the metal plates. Luke came forward to hug him in an enthusiastic embrace that was distinctly undignified for a Jedi Master.

Han said, “Enjoying your little vacation away from the thick of galactic politics, Luke?”

Luke’s expression became troubled. “I wouldn’t exactly say that.”

Lando Calrissian emerged from the Falcon after taking an extra few moments to groom his hair, straighten his clothes, and