Young Jedi Knights: Heirs of the Force

During an exploration of the jungle surrounding the academy, the twin protagonists stumble upon a remarkable find: the wreckage of a TIE fighter, a relic from the battle against the original Death Star, which crashed many years prior. Jaina, possessing a talent for mechanics, believes she can restore the fighter to working condition, provided they can discreetly acquire the necessary components from the academy.

However, their endeavors are under close observation, though not by the academy's staff. The TIE fighter's original pilot, an Imperial soldier, has been living in the jungle since the crash. He has been awaiting an opportunity to rejoin the Imperial forces. Now, that moment has arrived…

After a month spent in training to become Jedi Knights at Luke Skywalker's Jedi Praxeum, Han Solo, the father of Jacen and Jaina, arrives on Yavin 4 bearing gifts for his children and a new Jedi trainee: Lowbacca, who is Chewbacca's nephew. Alongside Tenel Ka Djo, a seemingly serious warrior girl who became their friend during the previous month, the twins and "Lowie" quickly form a close bond. To facilitate communication between Lowie and the other students, Chewbacca and Han provide him with a translator droid named Em Teedee, whose personality is strikingly similar to that of the droid C-3PO.

Following the assembly of the T-23 skyhopper that his uncle gifted him as a farewell present, Lowie takes it for a test flight. He notices a reflective object sparkling among the branches of a Massassi tree and returns to the Praxeum, determined to revisit the location soon. After missing the evening meal, Lowie shares his discovery with Jacen, Jaina, and Tenel Ka. The following day, the four Jedi trainees embark on an expedition in the skyhopper to investigate Lowie's find.

Upon reaching the location, Jacen, Jaina, Lowie, and Tenel Ka discover not only a TIE fighter's solar panel (the reflective object) but also the remainder of the TIE fighter. Feeling somewhat envious of Lowie's skyhopper and eager for a challenge, Jaina believes that the wrecked TIE fighter can be repaired. By scavenging parts from the remnants of the old Rebel base and the area surrounding the crash site, the Jedi trainees undertake the task of repairing the damaged fighter. In addition to the repairs, Jaina decides to install an old hyperdrive unit (which she received from her father) onto the fighter.

Without the Jedi trainees knowing, their efforts are being closely monitored by Qorl, the pilot who crashed the fighter during the Battle of Yavin. For the past 23 years, he has been waiting for an opportunity to return to the Empire and aid in the destruction of the Rebellion.

One day, while searching for additional parts for the TIE fighter, Jacen discovers an Imperial insignia that had fallen off Qorl's uniform. He continues his search, eventually finding what has been Qorl's residence for the past 23 years. He rushes back to the crash site and warns Jaina, Tenel Ka, and Lowbacca about the pilot's survival. Shortly thereafter, Qorl appears, wielding a blaster and informing the Jedi trainees that they are now his prisoners.

Lowbacca escapes in his skyhopper and attempts to use its size to intimidate Qorl. However, Qorl remains unfazed and uses his blaster to inflict critical damage on the skyhopper. Lowie flies away and lands the skyhopper. Relieved that it doesn't explode, he begins to make his way to the Praxeum. During this journey, Em Teedee becomes detached from Lowbacca's belt and experiences an adventure with a group of woolamanders.

Lowbacca arrives at the Praxeum, but no one can understand him because he has lost Em Teedee. Frustrated, he remembers that Han and Chewbacca are still nearby, inspecting Lando Calrissian's new GemDiver Station. He goes to the Praxeum's communications center and informs Han about the situation. Han tells Lowie that he will return as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Tenel Ka flees into the jungle. She is then attacked by a number of battle hydras. She eventually comes across a group of woolamanders, who provide an effective distraction to the battle hydras. Amidst the commotion, she hears Em Teedee's cries for help. She rescues him and uses his directional sensors to find her way back to the Praxeum.

At the crash site, Qorl leads Jacen and Jaina back to his home at gunpoint. Once there, he restrains them and provides them with food. Jaina and Jacen realize that Qorl has had no contact with the outside world and inform him of the current political situation in the galaxy. The next day, Qorl leads the twins back to the crash site at gunpoint, ordering them to complete the repairs on the TIE fighter so that he can return to the Empire. The twins comply, and he blasts off, vowing to destroy the Praxeum before reporting back to the Empire.

Han Solo and Chewbacca arrive at the Praxeum in the Millennium Falcon. Shortly before taking off with Lowbacca to save the twins, Han allows Tenel Ka and Em Teedee to board the Falcon. Once they are airborne, they notice a TIE fighter heading straight for the Praxeum. Qorl attempts to fire his laser cannons, but it turns out that the twins did not restore them to proper working order. The Falcon pursues him as he flies out of the atmosphere and escapes, using the hyperdrive that Jaina installed on the TIE fighter.

Once the TIE fighter has jumped to hyperspace, Han, Chewbacca, Lowie, and Tenel Ka head for the crash site, where they find Jacen and Jaina seemingly unharmed, though somewhat worse for wear. A few days later, the Falcon transports the damaged skyhopper back to the Praxeum. Lowie and Jaina immediately begin working on the airspeeder. The four Jedi trainees wonder whether Qorl successfully returned to the Empire.

Young Jedi Knights: Heirs of the Force marked Lucasfilm's inaugural young adult novel to achieve placement on the New York Times Best Seller list.

• ISBN 9781572970663 ; June 1995 ; Berkley Boulevard ; US paperback [1]
• ISBN 9780425169490 ; March 15 , 1999 ; Berkley Jam ; US paperback [4]