• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

"Thank you. I'll be fine now," Raynat said. Glancing at the airlock, he saw his mother, Aryn Dro Thul, hurrying toward him, accompanied by his uncle Tyko.

Tyko Thul wore the voluminous yellow, purple, orange, and scarlet robes of the family house. His moon-round face beamed as brightly as an emergency glow beacon.

"My dear boy, how comforting it is to see you safely arrived!

Here with us, you have nothing to fear."

Raynat's surprise at seeing his uncle again was compounded by his mother's next action. She stepped forward and awkwardly-for their family had never been physically demonstrative--gave Raynar a hug.

Recovering quickly from his shock, he hugged her back, then stepped away and cleared his throat. "M-m-mother, Uncle Tyko, I have some friends I'd like you to meet. This is Master Skywalker of the Jedi academy."

His mother stretched out both of her hands to clasp Luke's in a traditional greeting.

"Luke Skywalker, hero of the Rebellion," she said with a warm smile,

"it's good to see you again. And how kind of you to bring my son to me."

"I promised my sister Leia that I would see you personally, Aryn Dro Thul, and make. sure that you're all safe here," he replied.

"Please thank Chief of State Leia Organa Solo for us," Aryn said, obviously much pleased.

Next, Tyko reached his hands out to grip Luke's. "Master Skywalker, it is an honor.

Alas, it would have been an even greater honor to meet you on Mechis III, so that I could extend my personal hospitality at the droid works there.

I think you would be most impressed."

Master Skywalker's smile looked as if he were trying to repress some secret amusement.

"Thank you. I've heard a great deal about your successes on Mechis III.

Your droid works are the most... productive in the New Republic."

Uncle Tyko beamed even more brightly than before. "It's nothing really,"

he said, with a vain attempt at a modest shrug.

"Success seems to come naturally to my family. To me, to my brother--I daresay you've noticed it even in Raynar. I'm certain he quite surpasses most of your other students in sheer Jedi ability."

Raynar felt his cheeks warm with discomfiture.

How could Master Skywalker respond to such a display of pompous self-importance?

To his credit, however, the Jedi Master answered smoothly and without hesitation.

"Raynar is a unique and earnest student who has more Jedi potential than even he is aware of."

Before his uncle could push Master Sky-walker further, Raynar broke in.

"And I'd like you to meet some of my fellow students: Jaina and Jacen Solo, Lowbacca from Kashyyyk, and Tenel Ka, a princess of Hapes and Dathomir."

Uncle Tyko pursed his lips in surprise.

"Very distinguished guests," he observed.

"They certainly are," Raynar's mother said. "You are all welcome to stay as long as you like. I think this calls for a celebration."

Her midnight-blue gown, shot with silver thread and belted with a sash in the colors of the House of Thul, glittered like the star-studded wedges of space visible through the viewports.

"I'm afraid I must return to the Jedi academy as soon as possible,"

Master Sky-walker said with a regretful shake of his head.

"Artoo and I need to get back. We have many other students and much work to do."

"But we'd like to stay," Jacen hurried to assure Aryn Dro Thul.

"Just for a few days, of course, to make sure that Raynar's okay and settling in here."

Lowie urffed his support of the plan.

"Why, what a splendid ideal" Em Teedee said. "Civilization, at last."

The details and arrangements were soon settled. Jacen, Jaina, Lowie and Tenel Ka would stay for five days, then return to the Jedi academy in the Rock Dragon.

In less than half an hour, Luke Sky-walker and Artoo-Detoo departed in the Shadow Chaser. Raynar's mother sighed as she watched their sleek ship vanish. "Well, I suppose we'll have to make another hyperspace jump now, just to keep moving."

Uncle Tyko nodded. "To be sure no one can follow us by picking up on the Shadow Chaser's log of recent stops."