Star Wars_ The New Rebellion - Kristine Kathryn Rusch [167]
Mon Mothma nodded. She understood, perhaps better than most. “Han,” she said. “Leia perceives this threat from Almania as a personal one.”
“I gathered that. Thanks, Mon Mothma.”
“I’m sending the download,” she said, and signed off.
Han glanced at Chewie. Chewbacca’s mouth formed a thin line, as thin as a Wookiee mouth could get. They were nearing Wrea. It had shown up in their cockpit transparisteel, a big blue-and-white ball about the size of Han’s fist.
Chewie mumbled that he would handle the landing. Han thanked him, glad that the two of them had an understanding.
Then he contacted Anoth, hoping to get Anakin. Instead Winter appeared.
Han didn’t want to get his very creative young son in trouble with his nanny, so he grinned as widely as he could. “Winter,” he said, “you’re looking good.”
“No sense charming me, General Solo,” she said. “I’ve already let Anakin know that no unauthorized communication leaves Anoth.”
Han suppressed a shudder. Winter’s discipline, while firm, was never harsh. Still, even he jumped when Winter issued her ultimatums.
“But between us,” she said, “the children have been quite distraught. I gave them permission to reach their mother, but she has left on some mission. Their uncle Luke is also unavailable.”
“This is Force-related, then?”
Winter nodded. “They’ve all had the same experience, like the one they had before the bombing in the Senate Hall. And Anakin claims he has seen a dead man, over and over again.”
“Let me speak to him,” Han said.
“As you wish, sir.” Her voice didn’t have the disapproval her words implied. She was a wise woman, and probably a better parent to his children than either he or Leia was. She was with them all the time. Han had no qualms about the arrangement. Only a few stabs of guilt daily that he wasn’t with his children as much as he should be.
Anakin’s small face appeared on the screen. His resemblance to Luke always startled Han. That, and his son’s blue eyes, which had more intelligence in them than Han had seen in any being, human or otherwise.
“Winter already said I shouldn’ta called you.”
Han smiled, hoping that the smile was reassuring. “No, Anakin. You can always contact me. Just let Winter know first.”
His son nodded. He looked very subdued. Even the worst of Winter’s scoldings never brought this.
“What’s happening?” Han asked. “What scared you so?”
“Can’t find Mama,” Anakin said. “Jacen and Jaina say she’s all right, though. We’d know.”
“She is all right,” Han said. “She’s on a trip right now. She’ll be back soon.”
Anakin rubbed his left eye with his fist. He clearly hadn’t been getting much sleep. “I know,” Anakin said. “She’s going to see the dead man.”
Han glanced at Chewie, who shrugged.
“He comes in my dreams. He says he will get us. He can’t get us, can he, Papa?”
“No,” Han said, feeling an anger so deep that he could barely hold it in. “You’re safe on Anoth.”
“They got here once,” Anakin said.
Han remembered. Winter and a nanny droid had saved his infant son’s life. He was surprised that Anakin remembered. But then, nothing Anakin did should surprise him. “Winter saved you. That’s what she’s there for.”
“I wish you were here.”
“I do too, son,” Han said. Then Jacen and Jaina crowded into the picture and demanded some of his time. He gave them what he could. Chewie growled a warning. Han looked up. Wrea filled the cockpit transparisteel.
“Put Winter back on, would you, guys?” he said. They protested but drifted off, all except Anakin, who watched from the side, looking more serious than Han had ever seen him.
“Winter,” Han asked. “Have you any droids there?”
“We shut them off, per Master Skywalker’s instruction.”
Luke was way ahead of him. Thank every lucky piece Han had ever owned.
“Keep them off,” Han said. “And Anakin, no fooling with the droids at all. Okay, son?”
Anakin nodded. No protest, no nothing. That wasn’t like his youngest son. Then Anakin said, “Papa?”
Winter stepped aside. Apparently she was as worried about Anakin as Han was.
“What, little Jedi?”
“The dead man says he