Chapter 1: The Gathering

Location: Coruscant

38 ABY...

The slightest rays of sunlight edged it's way over the horizon, reflecting off the durasteel buildings that made up the Galactic City. Jacen Solo watched the sunrise from his bed, having been awake for the better part of an hour. Giving up on being able to get back to sleep, the young man rose from his bed and walked around to the foot of it. Taking a seat on the floor, he crossed his legs and began meditating, transforming himself into a conduit so that the Force could flow through him.

There is no emotion, there is peace.

There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.

There is no passion, there is serenity.

There is no death, there is the Force.

He wasn't far into his meditation when a series of chirps began emanating from his communicator. Sighing, Jacen climbed back to his feet and approached his dresser, grabbing the device and activating it. The bedroom was immediately bathed in a ghostly-blue light, which coalesced into the form of his uncle; Luke Skywalker.

"Uncle Luke, what can I do for you?" Jacen asked.

"Jacen, I need you to bring Ben to the temple," he stated, "There's something important we need to discuss."

"Understood, Uncle Luke," Jacen said, "We'll be along as soon as we can."

"Meet me in the Situation Room when you get here."

Jacen promptly switched off the communicator, plunging the room once more into darkness. Due to the unorthodox views he had developed during his five year journey, his uncle had begun harbouring misgivings about his continued training of Ben. Due to the suffering brought on by the Yuuzhan Vong War, the boy had kept himself withdrawn from the Force, only opening himself up once convinced that it was safe. Not wanting to waste any more time, Jacen headed over to his closet and quickly got dressed. Emerging from his bedroom, he strolled across the hall to the room where his cousin slept and banged on the door.

"M'wake," murmured a voice from the other side.

"C'mon, Ben, we've got orders to report to the temple building," Jacen explained.

Several seconds passed before the door slid open and a groggy-looking preteen emerged. He stood dressed in a powder blue night tunic and matching pants, his red hair was pillow-mussed, while an awkwardly small braid dangled from the right side of the head.

"But it's so early," Ben whined.

"Can't be helped," Jacen said to his young cousin.

Ben grumbled to himself and stalked back into his room to get dressed, allowing Jacen to grab a quick caf before they left. He had nearly finished his first cup when Ben finally reappeared wearing a black muscle shirt with a pair baggy olive-coloured pants, and black boots.

"C'mon, let's get this over with," Ben mumbled.

Location: Jedi Temple

One hour later...

A roofless airspeeder passed through the doors of one of the temple's hanger, landing on the duracrete floor. Jacen hadn't even had the chance to power down the systems before Ben had vaulted from the vehicle, making his way across the hanger.

"Ben, hold your horses," he warned.

The boy's movements came to an abruptly halt, his foot beginning to tap with growing impatience. His eagerness was understandable; as he would've rather been back in bed, not having to take a trip to the Jedi Temple at the crack of dawn. Jacen soon caught up with the boy, and the pair continued onward, catching the turbolift that would take them to the main floor of the temple. The hallways were largely vacant, with only those on assigned duties being the ones who were up. They reached a second turbolift, this one designed to take them directly up to the High Council Tower. Their destination, however, was the Situation Room located beneath the High Council Chamber.

"Do you know what dad wanted to talk about?" Ben asked.

"He only said that it was important," Jacen replied, "Guess we'll find out soon enough."

The lift slowed to a stop and the doors slid apart, permitting the cousins to disembark. The Situation Room was located directly ahead, illuminated by the chamber's active holo-projector. As they stepped though the doorway, they found the Grand Master studying the planet that was on display.

"Thank you for coming. Sorry for the early wake up call," Luke apologized, turning to greet his nephew and son.

"Don't worry about it, Uncle Luke. What's the situation?" Jacen inquired.

"This is Ilum," he said gesturing to the planet on display, "For thousands of years, members of the Jedi Order would go on pilgrimage to this world."

"Yeah, I remember. Wasn't Jaina sent there a while back?" he questioned.

"That's correct. She was assigned to chaperone a group of students who were undertaking the Gathering."

Jacen nodded his head in understanding, though Ben had been oblivious to the entire exchange, his attention solely fixated on the planet. Following discovery of the Crucible's crash site on Florrum by Jedi Master Zuma, his uncle had reinstituted the Gathering as part of Jedi Training.

"Ben," Luke said, attempting to get his son's attention.

"Huh?" he asked, looking at his father.

"It's been decided; it is time for you to harvest your lightsaber crystal."

"Astral!" the boy said, his eyes lighting up with excitement.

"Ilum is an arctic world, so you'd better dress warm," Luke suggested.

Nodding, Ben took off like a blaster bolt, intending to head down to his parent's apartment to get prepared.

"Jacen," his uncle said, "There are some things that we need to go over in order for you to access the temple on Ilum."