Anakin's pyre rose high into the Endor night sky as the Ewok's pranced and the music swelled to a crescendo. Luke watched the black carapace armor twisting and melting in on itself within the flames, a look of sadness and relief on his face.

"I wish I'd had more time to know him. But I'm glad that he found redemption before the end," he smiled sadly.

Leia hugged her brother tight, as the two stood within the pyre's glow. "I'm sure he's where he belongs now," she said warmly. "Would you excuse me for a moment?"

Her shuttle was moored in a forest clearing. Winter Celchu met her on the entry ramp.

"Thank you for making the exchange, Winter." Leia ascended into the shuttle.

"It was my pleasure. I was worried young Skywalker was never going to take his eyes off the body." Winter wrinkled her nose. "You're lucky you didn't have to smell it when we cracked him open. We had to scrape him out like burnt bacon. It was ghastly."

"But you got him, yes?" Leia pressed.

"He's in there alright. His brain is perfectly intact. His life support won't let him die," Winter laughed.

Leia sighed with relief. "I thought I felt him fading."

"Maybe that was when we passed the graft threshold. His midi-chlorian count has dropped to almost nothing."

"He's only human now?"

"Not even that."

They entered the engineering bay. The two women looked down in disgust at the thing on the workbench. Its new canine limbs twitched pathetically. From its black plasteel muzzle came a rasping whimper. It seemed absurd now to think how much the ventilator had haunted her nightmares. It would never intimidate anyone ever again. The nightmare had become the most delightful dream. She caressed the molded plasteel of the canine head with relish, stroking along its back to where the glossy, black nylon tail jutted from the base of its spine.

"I almost felt sorry for it. Then I remembered Alderaan," Winter said. "How was the ceremony?"

"Oh, it was wonderful. Very moving. Luke said such beautiful things about our father. As if one old man down a ventilation shaft can be measured against the lives of billions. But then, of course, Luke never really knew him like I did, did he?" she said to the animal.

"Your brother is naive," Winter said gruffly.

"I can't fault him for seeing the good in everyone," Leia said. She gripped the dog's head firmly to force a muzzle into place around its snout. The rhymic whimper accelerated as she slowly tightened a collar around its neck. "But it's not a trait I share."