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From the moment Leia stepped from the pulsing multicolored cabin of the Sekotan ship and beheld the sight of her son, her brother, her sister-in-law, and so many friends, some of whom she hadn’t seen in almost a year, and all of whom were standing against a backdrop of incredibly tall and wondrous trees, her heart skipped a beat.

She felt like a child again.

Even from the air Zonama Sekot had appeared more fantastical than real; a world of red and green-leafed trees, shimmering aqua lakes, and cryptic mountain ranges. The wounds the planet had sustained through its several hyperspace jumps—its “Crossings”—were obvious and numerous, but they were surface blemishes, and couldn’t impair the planet’s aching beauty. This far from Coruscant’s primary, Zonama Sekot should have been frozen, but Luke had explained that Sekot was keeping the planet warm from within.

Leia didn’t know whom to embrace first. But since Han had captured Jacen in a wampa hug, she went straight to Luke and Mara, throwing an arm around each of them and tugging them to her.

“There were times I thought I’d never see you again,” she said, her eyes closed in joyous relief.

No sooner had Leia let go of them than Jacen was in front of her, smiling enigmatically.

“Mom,” he said.

For a moment Leia was too spellbound to move. She stared at Jacen as if he had manifested from a dream. He stepped into her open arms and allowed himself to be held for much longer than he ever had. Leia finally let him go, but only to arm’s length. She stroked his cheek with her right hand.

“You look changed, Jacen—more than after your time on Coruscant.”

“I am different,” he said. “Zonama Sekot has matured me.”

Leia turned through a slow circle, her gaze falling on Saba Sebatyne, Danni Quee, Tekli, Corran Horn, Tahiri Veila … All of them seemed to be reexperiencing their initial awe of the planet through the eyes of the newcomers.

“You all look so different,” Leia said to her son. “Is it the months we’ve been apart, or is it something about this extraordinary place?”

“Sekot makes a lasting impression,” he said ambiguously.

Leia repeated the name, as if trying it out on her tongue. “I keep hearing about Sekot. Will I get to meet Sekot in person?”

“I hope so.”

“Jacen!”

Leia recognized Jaina’s voice and stepped out of the way just in time to avoid being trampled.

Leia turned another slow circle, trying to commit every scene of reunion to memory. There was bearded Corran, welcoming Mirax, along with his father-in-law, Booster Terrik. Elsewhere Cilghal and Tekli were conversing in the latter’s native Chadra-Fan. Danni—her blond hair elaborately braided—was surrounded by Talon Karrde, Lando, Tendra Risant Calrissian, and several other members of the Smugglers’ Alliance, who were celebrating with sips of Corellian brandy from a shiny flask. Saba and some of the Barabel Wild Knights—including Saba’s son, Tesar—were having an animated conversation, as were C-3PO and R2-D2.

“What adventures you’ve had?” C-3PO was saying. “Let me tell you, Artoo, you haven’t experienced anything until you’ve been inside—”

The astromech droid razzed, tootled, and whistled.

C-3PO straightened. “You did what? You’re exaggerating. The entire planet? That’s impossible. You need to have your circuits serviced.”

R2-D2 chirred.

“I do not need to defrag myself. I am perfectly—”

Again, the diminutive droid beeped and zithered.

C-3PO bent his head to one side. “Did I understand you correctly? Did you actually say that it’s good to see me? Why, Artoo, this world must have done something to you, as well!”

Yet by far the most arresting sight of all was the manner in which Kenth, Kyp, Lowbacca, Alema, Octa Ramis, and more than a dozen other Jedi were clustered around Luke, who now stood in the center of the circle his comrades had formed around him, some of them seated, some of them actually down on one knee, paying close attention to everything he was telling him, his every word about Zonama—the