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"Maybe.

But now I've learned and grown and adapted instead of wallowing in bitterness about my past. Sure, things went wrong with my life, but I think I've finally learned how to make something better."

"Or you've finally convinced yourself to let the people who hurt you get away without punishment."

The dark-haired young man could tell that Han was listening to this exchange with great interest. Zekk gave a wry smile. "If punishing other people is the most important thing in your life, then perhaps you need to look for another hobby."

Anja turned away. "Other things are important to me." Somewhat subdued, she moved to the back of the cockpit.

Ynos staggered forward and looked at the approaching mountain city.

"No one from our village has gone openly into that place since the beginning of the war."

I'd say it's about time for a change, then," Han said. He arrowed toward the widest opening in the cliffside, where lights and a landing pad were visible. Zekk guessed these must be facilities for smuggler ships, supply runners, and weapons merchants like Lilmit, who came to take advantage of the desperate plight of the people of Anobis.

Han turned to Anja. "Do we need to contact them or request permission to land?"

She shook her head. "The only ships that come in are unauthorized smugglers." She raised an eyebrow. "You know the type, Solo."

Han and Zekk landed the Falcon in the middle of a broad rocky floor.

Tunnels riddled the walls between buildings built from blastedstone blocks mortared together, chips of rock cemented into multiunit structures. People came from the buildings and tunnels to study the ship suspiciously.

Anja recognized the man in front, who had a black beard, thick eyebrows, and hair with a long streak of gray down the left side.

"He's the one to talk to," she said. "His name is Elis."

The miners held stone-cutting implements, pickaxes, vibrohammers, and other excavating devices. To Zekk the tools looked like potential deadly weapons.

Han extended the boarding ramp. "Let me go first. Anja, you can come with me if you like."

She looked over at him, gave a curt nod. "As long as you don't make it seem as if we're allies."

Zekk looked at the young woman, wondering what he could do to reach her and whether he could somehow dislodge the large chip on her shoulder.

Anja Gallandro could have been strikingly beautiful if she hadn't had such a sour demeanor.

"Just give him a chance, Anja," Zekk said. "Nobody planned that knaar stampede, but for now we're all in this together." She shot him a resentful glare.

Han, Anja, and Zekk emerged from the ship together as the miners pressed forward. Dark-haired Elis took the lead, scrutinizing them curiously. He recognized Anja. "It's been a long time since we've seen you," he said.

"And who is this you've brought with you? Another trader?"

"Han Solo," she said. "And aboard this ship are Ynos and many survivors from a knaar attack on the farming village below."

At this, Ynos hobbled forward on his droid leg. Though broad and burly, he still held the boarding ramp piston for support. The miners set up a gruff cheer.

Elis smiled, showing his teeth from within the dark nest of his beard.

"Excellent work, Anja. With such important hostages, we can end this war once and for all."

"Now wait a minute!" Han cried.

Elis gestured and the miners rushed toward the Falcon, their stonecutting implements raised like weapons.

????? if it hadn't been for the minefield and the ferocious knaars behind them, the dense dark forest would not have been an acceptable option at all.

In the dim but colorful light of sunrise, Jacen could see the dense branches adorned with blue-silver leaves. Some of the trunks were smooth and metallic, others blistered with scaly orange-red bark.

Lichens and mosses dangled down, clustered with lemon-yellow flowers that opened and closed in snow plant reflexes.

Tenel Ka stood next to Jacen, ready to use her lightsaber as a machete.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Jaina asked. "Let's get hiking."

One of the young