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Jaina Solo watched the holo from Anni’s mom again. It tore her further every time. She couldn’t help but hit the repeat button. She sighed as the image faded once again. Now I know how Anakin felt.
A knock at her door jolted her from her misery. "Who is it?"
"Airen Cracken. Can I come in?"
Jaina used the Force to unlock and open the door. Airen was a new member to Rogue Squadron, the son of Kelly and Pash Cracken. He was a year younger than Anakin, but flew almost as well as his uncle, Wedge Antilles.
The young man in the doorway looked much like his father, yet had his uncle’s dark hair color. "I’m sorry to bother you, Jaina. But, there was just something I wanted to talk to you about."
She slid the holo projector under her pillow and jumped off the bunk. "It’s not a problem. Please, have a seat." She grinned as she realized how much like her mother she had sounded.
"Thanks." He pulled a chair from the small table, spun it, and sat down leaning over the back. "I wanted to thank you for helping me get used to how things run around here."
"Sure. I do what I can to help." She sat down in the other chair at the table.
The corner of his mouth curled up into the familiar grin of Corellia. "Guess it helps to have a Jedi around, huh?"
She blushed slightly. "It can be a blessing," she said with a smile. "And a curse," she added under her breath.
He pushed back away from the back of the chair and slid his hands down to the seat. "I’ve been around Jedi all my life. My mom, Shaana and Wynssa, and even Marcus. I know a lot about them and their moods."
Jaina looked at the boy curiously. Where was he going with this conversation?
He continued. "You see, I can tell you’re hurting. But you’re trying to hide it from everyone. Loosing a wingmate is never easy. My uncle and my dad have never gotten over each pilot that was lost under their command. For mom it’s worse. She feels the pain of her friends deaths."
He paused to take a breath and lean against the back of the chair again, arms crossed and his chin resting on them. "Mom said Anni died bravely. She took out a Vong when she did. I really didn’t understand what she meant at first, until she told me this.
"When you join Rogue Squadron, you join tradition. You also join death. She told me when I made the decision to come help that I should always remember that when you fly with Rogue Squadron, you put your life on the line. That’s the only way wars get won. People have to die. It never gets any easier. Just ask Uncle Wedge. I’m sure he felt Anni’s death as much as you did. And Colonel Darklighter too. He not only has the Rogue Squadron legacy, but he has the legacy of his cousin Biggs to carry on."
He spread his arms before him. "I know you have a big legacy too. Heck, so do I. Even my cousin Jagged has a legacy. I’ve heard the stories about Baron Soontir Fel. He was the greatest pilot to fly for the Imperials. You can’t judge Jagged by that, though. He’s been living with the Chiss his entire life."
Jaina cocked her head at Airen. "How did you get so smart?"
He blushed. "Ah, well, I guess because I listen to my mom and dad. And my uncle. I’d really like to talk to Aunt Syal and Uncle Soontir too. I could learn a lot from them."
She smiled. "You’re right. Tradition of legacy can be a burden at times. Being born into that legacy can be worse."
"But you have to remember," he continued. "Legacy is the past. You must think of the present and the future more than the past. I hear Mom tell Shaana nearly every day that her Master always told her to be mindful of the future. It’s in motion all the time, but glimpses may help you make the right decisions when you get to them. She said she was an influence on Master Aulduin as much as he was on her. You need to do that too."
"I’m not a great example."
"But you can be."
She looked at him. For being only fifteen, he had the poise and dignity of someone so older. Yet, he still was a kid. That was something she wished her brothers would do. Let loose sometimes. She should do that too. "Thanks Airen. You’ve given me something to think about."
He stood up and placed the chair back where it belonged. "Glad to do it. Hey, if you ever need to talk to someone, I’m right down the hall."
She smiled. "You got it."
