Jacen Solo (AU Legacy of the Force)

"I renounce the need to know, now, what I will become later. In looking to my future, I have ignored the present and my role in it. The present is too critical for me to do that anymore."

- Jacen Solo

Jacen Solo is the eldest son of Han and Leia Organa Solo, twin brother to Jaina Solo, and older brother of Anakin Solo. He spent much of his youth training alongside his sister, receiving lessons from their uncle, Jedi Master Luke Skywalker, at the praxeum on Yavin 4. There, he developed his skills as a Jedi Consular, seeking to use the Force for the benefit of others and striving to better understand its mysterious nature.

With the outbreak of war against the Yuuzhan Vong, Jacen became more concerned about the aggression of the Jedi mandate than the actual invaders, though he was disabused of such concerns after his capture by the enemy during a Jedi strike at Myrkyr. There, he found a companion and enigmatic mentor in the form of Vergere, a Jedi Knight of the Old Republic who helped him realize his true potential while his understanding of the Yuuzhan Vong grew. Using his natural empathy, Jacen was able to link himself to the dhuryam that governed the reshaping of Coruscant and sabotage the master plan of the alien invaders before making his escape back to the New Republic.

Jacen became a great hero of the war, helping the Jedi and the New Republic drive back the Yuuzhan Vong offensive and retake Coruscant. After the war, he committed himself to strengthening the Jedi Order from within, improving its curriculum and establishing a series of safe houses and hidden temples throughout the galaxy in the event of another Purge. These proved essential to the survival of the Jedi Knights when the Sith reemerged decades later under Darth Krayt. Jacen also went on to deepen his relationship with Tenel Ka Djo and father a child with her, whom they named Allana.

The Yuuzhan Vong War
"I tell you this: though neither he nor they yet know it, he is the greatest of all the Jedi. Jacen Solo is the living Jedi dream. Even without the Force, he is more dangerous than you can possibly imagine."

- Vergere

The Shield of the Jedi
"I name you the Shield of the Jedi, a bastion of peace and justice to friend and foe alike. You shall be quick to defend and slow to attack, taking blows but dealing none in return. No answers will you find for yourself, yet you will be an answer for those who question the certainty of the light and the promise of redemption."

- Luke Skywalker

The Throne of Balance
"Upon a white throne sat a young queen, surrounded by joyous beings of all species. Upon a dark throne sat a man in black, surrounded by attendants in hooded black robes."

- Jacen Solo, describing his vision to his uncle

Behind the Scenes
Jacen’s post-Traitor characterization is based on another creation of Matthew Woodring Stover—Deliann, the Earth-born primal mage from the Acts of Caine series, whose gifts at empathy and pulling Flow allow him to become a major figure in the fight to save Overworld. Jacen is another character whose empathy matches the kind used by Deliann, and like the primal mage, the young Jedi also struggles to do the right thing, even though it may have disastrous consequences (e.g., Deliann tries to stop the outbreak of HRVP, only to end up spreading it further, and Jacen tries to stop the release of the Alpha Red pathogen, though lacking the military authority to do so and inadvertently exposing Zonama Sekot to it).

While Deliann uses his empathy to rally the peoples of Overworld in defense of Home against the Blind God, Jacen here uses the same ability to challenge the fanaticism of the Yuuzhan Vong, who were manipulated by Supreme Overlord Shimrra, who is himself the puppet of Onimi, and both of whom could be viewed as “blind gods” of a sort. In later years, he mirrors Deliann as a leader; while Deliann becomes the Ankhanan Emperor with the blessing of the new god Ma’elkoth, Jacen becomes the founder and guardian of all Jedi refuges with his Uncle Luke’s favor.

He also carries a few marks of character similar to those in Stover’s protagonist Caine (from the same series as Deliann). Whereas Caine is struggling to rediscover his strength and sense of purpose in life, Jacen struggles to break through to the deeper meaning of serving the Force and being a Jedi. Jacen also follows Caine later on in his commitment to a young girl—first to his apprentice Seha and later to his own daughter, Allana.