What it Means to go Solo

Chapter 1: The First Feeling is Usually Right

The air is cold, and everyone walks with a gait that seems all so kindly retarded. The movement is not due to actual stupidity, but rather the truth of mortality. The mortality of Jedi appears before us all now, and it is due to one of the most loved Jedi for the Galactic Alliance and the Jedi Order itself. How terrible it must be for more than just us. A Jedi is the symbol of the government that it is utilized by, and to lose a Skywalker nonetheless…

She lays beyond us in a central pit ready to be burned. The only thing that stands out to us all is her fiery hair. It finally burns as the details one can describe her hair as in such literal fashion. To feel such absence in the force from her, to feel a complete emptiness may only be like looking at her when she might have been an Emperor's Hand. However, to even think such is preposterous, well at least now anyway.

"Mara Jade Skywalker was a friend to many, but also an enemy to many as well. However, her importance in the galaxy and to what she has done for this galaxy – good or bad – no one can say that she has not earned her respect in this world. A woman of many talents, and more than just that…" The man giving the speech before us all now really should not be giving this speech. Not that it would be wrong as a Jedi Master, nevertheless even as a Grand Master. However, there is too much pain and loss here that this speech can easily become the speech of a husband's speech of loss.

A pat on my shoulder takes me away from my thoughts, coming from my left side. No doubt it would be my old master. I wouldn't suspect it to be Rosh, because I would imagine him saying something to me after he would pat me on the back. No, this has to be Kyle. The tap is too silent. I turn over to my left and with the brown beard in my face turning to a tinted gray confirm my speculation. He just gives me a nod, and I nod back to him.

Too much pain.

Without a doubt I can tell my master sent that to me. With that I stare forward and continue to watch the funeral as it continues. I had heard Kyle had helped trained Mara, and today's speech by him will confirm what I have heard. I am sure Kyle had turned his head forward to watch the funeral as well. Hopefully Luke has not heard any messages being sent between Kyle and me. There is no doubt though that he has been picking up the feelings coming from everyone.

Agreed.

"To all the Jedi, and non Jedi, that could come here and help send Jedi Master Mara Jade Skywalker's body to the force…" His voice is dead now, and his head is lowered. His golden hair, the only human part of his body seen in this vulnerable state, seems to be graying now. People would often tell the fable of how Luke became a war hero, and a Jedi in holovids and holofilms. However, I think people never can see what they pretend to understand until it hits them square in the face, as it is now for us all.

Too much pain.

Agreed.

"I shouldn't say this, not as a Jedi," with that came a snort, a sigh, and tears through which he continued, "or even as the Grand Master of the order."

Agreed.

"Ben and I thank you for your condolences."

Too much pain.

"If it would be alright, I would like to call up Master Katarn to speak as Master Skywalker's former Jedi Master today." With that, I feel another tap on my shoulder, and through my blond beard, I give the best approval I can as he heads up without making it look mocking to him or the deceased within the force.

He's picked it up, and so has everyone else. All anyone can feel is admiration, which is all I am truly feeling. My old master does the same thing and he walks up to the podium to speak.

A few hours later and some Jedi have gone off to continue on their Jedi errands, or are within the temple still. For me I'm still on Coruscant, and the best part is that I'm waiting for a special assignment. Considering the occasion, that's not the best thing in the world. At least in the Jedi World that is. Considering Mara was killed by a Sith whom wasn't Lumiya, the most current deceased Sith. And I thought fighting off a possessed Tavion was hard, too bad it only got better. An ancient Sith Lord over 5000 years old makes the battle so much easier. I guess Luke might see me as a Sith Lord Remover being my major if you would look at the Jedi having a university. Unfortunately, Kyle and I are the only ones besides Luke who fit that bill.

Waiting for the special assignment, I sit in my room accommodations within the Temple on my homeworld. It's not bad, just a desk and chair across from the bed in here. There's a comlink at the wall closest to the bed, and the room isn't too far from the repulsorlifts. The room is not too bad when you get used to the fact that they never allow you to watch holodramas, just the news on the holovids. I always like the good old Jedi fables to watch. Sometimes it's better than reading them in the history datapads of the archives here. Considering there's not much left of them anyway.

"Master Korr?" The sound comes from the comlink near the nightstand where I usually leave my food. I look over to it and nod my head. The kid can see my face, I don't think responding to him will be that big of a deal. After all, the entire place has cameras, it's not like he won't be seeing me answer. I think the kid's new at the post. You can tell usually by the quiver in his voice. "Sorry to interrupt…. Your…"

"Save it, you know I've been doing nothing. Don't always go by protocol kid." I really should be a bit nicer to the kid. Not because of my tone, but because he is scared. I can feel it within the force. I need to make him feel better. To bring peace is what I must do, not just to him, but all the people I come across. Remembering that, I say with a less aggressive tone, "Does Master Skywalker wish to speak with me now?"

"Yes… How did you know?"

"Call it a tremor." I get up from my seat and head through the halls. Walking through, I notice the vibrant patterns within the halls. This is much nicer than the Jedi Academy that was stationed on Yavin 4. The designs have an intricacy that is truly unmatched by some of the other architecture I have seen before. As a Jedi, the serenity it brings is unfounded. Like when an Ithorian goes to a dead planet to bring it some measure of peace.

A few corridors down I can see children with helmets on studying lightsaber practices with a small training remote. An older Jedi told Luke many years ago that a small Jedi, no higher than the children, used to teach these children this training exercise. Funny, I never would have imagined a Jedi being small, outside of being a child of course. I stop there for a minute wondering what it might have been like to see. To see a Jedi Master no higher than a child, teaching children what it means to only have a part of a Jedi's skills.

"Hey, Jaden, how's it going?" I can feel my right shoulder being gripped by a mechanical, yet organic feeling hand. The voice is somewhat higher in tone and the inclination changes in intervals. There have only been two people to ever continuously call me Jaden, and I've never heard Kyle say my name without a deep voice. As I turn around, my old Master's other apprentice continues with his friendly tone, "I mean, y'know, with your special assignment."

"I wouldn't know, haven't made it to Master Skywalker's room yet." He nods his head and decides to continue. Rosh really loves to talk, too bad. If he wasn't such a talker, maybe he could have become a Jedi Master by now. However, maybe it's because he touches the dark side too much. I don't know, and I don't think that it will be much of a problem to never know.

"Always with the titles outside of Kyle and me." For once, this is when Rosh's voice after so much annoyance can actually be quite soothing. When he is trying to be serious. His voice lowers, but not too much, just enough to be bearable, "Y'know, Kyle never calls anyone by their title, unless they're in front of a camera. Besides, Luke knows he trained us, why don't you just follow suit?"

"Because Rosh, someone has to be the Jedi Master here." With that, I head out, not wanting to get stuck talking with Rosh for too long. Luke just lost more than a Jedi Master, and right now, doing what he asks is the best way to bring peace. I expect his mission for me is to find his wife's murderer. Considering I am the one with the least amount of contact with Mara and the most mutual friendly ties to her to be unbiased in this matter. Jedi, what are we now? Have the Jedi become a club that only the few can come into, or are we defenders of the peace like in the older days. Like the days Master Streen used to describe.

The Jedi used to have nothing but their lightsaber and the robes on their backs to their names. Now, Master Skywalker has a huge apartment for just him and his son within Courscant. He has more furniture and floors combined in that apartment than the entire Jedi Order does in the amount of Jedi. Such hypocrisy might destroy the foundations of the Jedi soon. Luke has already felt the first blow of his hypocrisy, maybe the Jedi Order will change to be what it once was one day. However, that will not be for a long time…

Continuing through the halls, I come across the door to the Grand Master's office. As soon as I get there, I knock on the door. I hear a feint question that is typically asked of a person when they knock on a door. Funny, basic and other languages have over millions of words, and yet we choose to only use a few select words repeatedly to talk to one another.

"Master Skywalker, it's Master Korr." The door slides open and I see a desk in front of me. Probably made from one of the trees on some Outer Rim world that many people forget. However, they find that the trees there create such strong wood and such beautiful tables that they use them anyway. It might very well be the most terrible way the Core World inhabitants act. Every core world is practically made up as a city, and they never have the time to notice anything but their own lives.

Behind all of that is a chair completely turned around. I have no doubt Luke sits there. As he turns around, I can see the dark sullen spots below his eyes, and the red veins in his eyes standing out like a white dress at a funeral. His head hangs like if he were captured in his youth against the Sith, like everything has been lost. I am curious as to where Ben is, considering at this moment I would imagine him wanting to be with his father.

"Do you know why I've called you here, Master Korr?" His voice is hard to understand, only due to his pain. However it can be easily discernable if one chooses to listen. I choose to listen.

"I believed you asked me to do my specialty?" With that his eyebrow raises and to that I notice he is curious to whether I find satisfaction in killing my enemies, or in having to fight. Considering Kyle is the battlemaster of the Jedi Order, and he was my teacher, it is a strange answer to even give. One answer can very well relieve me of my right to be a Jedi. To that I finish with, "Finding the route of Sith Cultists, and doing my best to stop them without force… or in this case, the Sith and still trying to stop them." He only nods his head.

"Then you will be surprised, this time at least." My eyebrows were the ones now being raised. In that regard, yes, he was correct. A murder could have occurred not too long ago. Not only that, but the murder of the Jedi Grand Master's wife and one of the few Jedi Masters around now. Considering the death of Jedi Master Tresina Lobi, to not want someone who runs into the Sith much to find that which has killed a prominent Jedi Master in the Order seems… thoroughly confusing.

"You intrigue me, Master Skywalker."

"Well, your "intrigue" will soon be a serene understanding. I do not want you to look for the Sith at this time. That time will come eventually, but not now." I see where he is going now. He has someone that can lead me to them he believes. Someone he believes that is tied to Mara's death. However, Lumiya is dead. The council has been told so, and Kyle had told me so before he let me know about my mission. From what I understand as well, Alema is not a Sith either. Just a delusional Dark Jedi who took a lobotomy one too many times, or so I've heard from Kyle.

"Who do you think is tied to Mara?"

"You have a new apprentice." From that moment I knew. Reports said that Ben was the last person, besides Knight Leia Organa Solo and of course: her murderer to be seen by her. Leia has already finished her trials and Ben is still training to become a Jedi. That only leaves one option left. Unless of course that Sith decides he wants to turn back to the light. That'll happen right after Luke brings back Mara from death and Darth Vader becomes the cheeriest person in the galactic histories. Then I'd be his master. Until then, I guess I'll train Ben or drink some Jawa Juice.

"Then I'll have to find Ben then." I turn around to head out the door, but I stop because I know Luke wants to say something. Luke always says something when it could very well be unnecessary.

"Very well, but I could tell you just as easily."

I turn my head and reply with a smile on my face, "Finding him in the force is better as a Jedi, is it not?" He nods his head, but his head is sullen, and before I leave I release my smile and allow my smile to become hostage to my dark side emotions for a few seconds. Letting him know what I should not say, not as a Jedi Master. With a sullen voice, I let out, "Master Skywalker, I mean to address you outside of the Jedi Code now. Luke, I'm sorry for your loss."

A smile, that is new for the past few days from him. He gives way and allows his head to bob down for a few seconds. He accepts it, and with that, I walk out. Hearing the full embodiments of every being within the temple, I begin searching for a key signature; not as strong as Luke's, and more powerful than Mara's signature was. Luke and Leia's force potentials are similar in the fact that they were straight from their Father's force potential. However, when two force sensitives have a child: the force potential can be any number of levels. One force sensitive parent makes the children just as strong as the parent apparently. At least from what Luke stated.

Korr.

Who is that?

Your room.

Let me guess, Ben's in my room.

The Heart's son.

Yes, it is without a doubt Ben. People have stated that looking at Luke is like looking at the heart of the force. There has only been three other Jedi where people have described such a sensation. Two are in the Jedi Archives and two are in the living world. Before the force's extension and the nexus point between both worlds. I doubt Jacen would be there, considering he has not stepped in a Jedi Temple since he became a member of GAG.

Interesting. A Jedi who has not stepped into a Jedi Sanctuary since the creation of GAG; a… Jedi. A Jedi: who is supposed to protect someone without having to take out a lightsaber. Yet, he destroys doors just to take people in who are innocent. The last time he was with Nelani on the planet Lorrd: she died. He left his family for dead. The only person he has treated well has been Ben since the creation of GAG. I cannot rule him out, I cannot rule out Ben's old master. Alema is just as likely a possible suspect as Jacen, but so far: I need more information.

Luckily, for the information no one usually gets outside of the council doors within session, Kyle has no love for formalities with his old students. He tells me the information that is necessary, to be weary of for myself. Especially due to Tresina and Mara's deaths: they are looking for two new masters to be on the council.

I see the room and open walk close enough to the door to see it slide open. I see a young man sitting on my chair. His red hair isn't there anymore. Not like it was when he was younger. The wild fiery hair has become a more calming glow of a yellow star. It still spreads out like it was in a wild fire going every which way. His freckles, almost impossible to remove stay around his cheeks. There is nothing but a thousand worlds lost within his blue eyes right now.

I go over to grab his shoulders and look at him straight in the thousand dead worlds. I breathe slowly, just to hold myself. The kid just lost his mother at 15 galactic years old. That is more damaging than your entire world being destroyed by the Yuuzhan Vong. A planet is just that, a place to live on: but the true homeworld is within the people one cares most for. After all, what's the point of a homeworld if nothing good has come from it? A homeworld is the place of a love one. A homeworld is that because the memories of that person can never be destroyed unless you cannot hold onto anything yourself.

"I'm not going to lie to you. I never knew your mother, but I did know that she was one of the best Jedi around. I'm sure the Sith who killed her did not give her a fair fight." I look down to collect the right words. It's not that it's difficult to find them, but it's truly hard to say it when it comes to the moment. I take a few seconds just to collect myself and finish the empathy speech with, "And I'm sure your mother was a good person."

"That's not what I'm feeling bad about." This day is full of surprises. He looks up at me with tears in his eyes and for the first time in my life, I truly feel connected to someone I do not need to be. At that moment, I can start feeling surface thoughts from Ben.

Kiara. Alone.

Did he run into her before? She's not from the Jedi Academy, at least the last time I was looking for an apprentice. However, that could have changed. However, Kyle had told me Ben had been away from the temple much due to GAG work. Something tells me she is from someplace elsewhere. It's possible that she could be from the academy, but right now: that seems unlikely.

Jacen. Hidden.

Jacen, so I'm not the only one to have Jacen on my mind. Even the informal apprentice is thinking about him. Reports said that Ben was the first one to Mara's last place alive. Eventually he was met by… Jacen.

I stand up from the position I was in earlier and say to Ben softly, "Get up. We need to leave the planet."

"Why?"

"Because I'm your master now, and I said so." With that, I head towards the door and look around to see if anyone is around. Luckily, there is no one and the first thought that comes to mind is…

"Kyle, who's Kyle?" I turn around and notice Ben is the one who says this. I pull out a smile from him being able to read my surface thoughts as well. The fact that he can read my below the surface thoughts is good. It shows that the bond is working for him as well as me. That will definitely be beneficial, if I have to fight who I believe is the Sith that killed Mara. He'll be able to feel me and read my thoughts from a great distance if something goes wrong.

If.

I don't like the sound of that, but I must accept it. As I continue down the hall, I head towards the saber training room. Currently Kyle is the battlemaster for the temple. There is no doubt I'll run into him there.

"Look, where is Kiara?"

"Drewwa, why?"

"When I'm done talking with Kyle, we're leaving."