Legacy 2 is set over 100 years after Return of the Jedi and the last of the stories of Luke, Han and Leia. it’s right on the heels of Legacy, containing it’s wrap up. I’ll start here as that is a much longer arc. Legacy 2 stars Ania Solo with new friends and it’s a bit of a change as Ania has no famed position in spite of her name, nor any force powers! It’s authors were Corinna Bechko and Gabriel Hardman.
The Story:
It does help to know a bit of the previous arc. No details are given just a broad overview, and a generalized ending. I highly recommend reading the original Legacy.
Spoiler for the Original Legacy Arc with Cade Skywalker Ending
The Sith resurged under the leadership of Darth Krayt, not using the Rule of Two but with a whole new philosophy. Using trickery and deceit, they tore apart the truce between Empire and Galactic Alliance and outright attacked the Jedi, forcing the survivors to scatter. After the defeat of the leadership, the three groups form a triumvirate to try and restore a government to the galaxy.
Legacy 2 consists of:
Legacy 2 Prisoner of the Floating World
The wrap up to the last war is at hand, but little does it seem to have to do with Ania Solo, junk dealer in the outer rim. She may be related to the famous Solo clan, but she is no member of royalty, nor a force sensitive able to become a Jedi. But then she finds a hot commodity, an unusual droid with a lightsaber. What starts as a hot prospect to share with her friend Sauk, leads to mystery and danger when the Imperial Knights, servants of the Fel Empire, take an interest. Fleeing, Ania with Sauk and her friend AG-37 the assassin droid find they have the key to the mystery that can save or doom the Triumvirates efforts.
Legacy 2 Outcasts of the Broken Ring
Ania, AG, Sauk and now the Imperial Knight Jao Assam are hot on the trail of Darth Wredd before he causes more mischief. The trail leads to Dac/Mon Calamari where lies, slavery and deception are afoot, courtesy of the recently ended war. The groups goals are split, with Jao wanting to pursue the Sith and the others just wanting to stop the whole mess in its tracks. Meanwhile, the Empress isn’t keen on sending help, given it’s only one of many worlds that needs restoration.
Legacy 2 Wanted: Ania Solo
Ania’s past comes back to haunt her in the form of bounty hunters, some of whom are former allies and others former enemies! Even Jao Assam has doubts about her guilt or innocence. But if she’s to be rescued not only from the hunter but from the Empire’s justice, the doubt must be cleared up and a sacrifice has to be made. Jao disobeyed orders to pursue the Sith and for him to save her, he may have to sacrifice himself.
Legacy 2 Empire of One
Jao has vanished along with Darth Wredd, leaving a mystery. The Empress wants Ania’s help. But Ania will only give it on her terms. The ultimate showdown is at hand.
REVIEW
I really enjoyed how the Legacy 2 story arc took us full circle, back to a non force sensitive Solo who gets into endless trouble. It reminds me of Han’s earlier adventures where he had to worry about both the law and the scoundrels being out for his head. It’s an interesting twist having a girl and a skittish Mon Calamari as a reluctant partner.
Being shorter than the main Legacy arc I kind of enjoyed Legacy 2 more. It was a tighter, more focused story. It felt a bit more upbeat. But that does come at a price: where the first arc with Cad Skywalker gave you much more background on the history and side characters, this one was forced to wrap up before giving us all that was hinted.
Ania has all the earmarks of a Solo, brash, reckless, with big dreams as well as some piloting skills and mechanical talent! The other introduced characters are interesting too. Her only downside is we don’t get as much of her background as we know must be there (possibly due to the shut down of the EU.)
Sauk is a down on his luck Mon Calamari refugee that is stuck working in mines in spite of his engineering skills. We get more on his tragic history in the second one. He’s a bit nervous but not without cause, given Ania’s recklessness.
AG-37 is a very interesting and mysterious character, we only really know he’s an assassin droid with a long history. That history includes meeting Han Solo, owing some kind of debt, and meeting Ania long before this story begins. I’d have liked to know more.
Jao Assam, the final who would be regular, is an Imperial Knight who will protect the Empress Marasiah Fel at all costs – even disobeying, deserting, or whatever it takes to stop Darth Wredd assassinating her. He is a really good character, skilled, loyal and a smart thinker.
My only regret is we didn’t get more on all of these characters. They did get an excellent ending, an indication that their lives would go on to further adventure whether we saw it or not. I just would’ve liked the hints to be explored: as in, what was Ania’s lineage and what was AG’s relationship with the Solo’s? Also, what was Jao’s history like? But at least they got a good ending. Not all stories got that.
Legacy 2 Continuity
This is the last of the post Return of the Jedi storyline. There were none after. The events in this story however were the long slow culmination of things shown in Fate of the Jedi that led down to Legacy.
