This is a sequel to my story Alive If We Bruise, so before you read this one you may want to read that one so that things that happen later will make sense to you. For those who have read it, as you are about to read, there has been a bit of a time jump since the end of the last story and this one ;) While that won't be explained in this prologue, it will in due time, possibly the next chapter or the chapter after it will make it clear what has happened during that missing time. Enjoy!
Luke looked across the spacescape, always drawn to it whenever he was in space. So much had happened since the battle of Endor, and yet not enough. The Empire still had a strong grip on several systems, surprising for he thought that for sure they would have lost faith in their cause after the Emperor died. But another had stepped up to assume that mantle, though thankfully not as dangerous or deadly as the Sith Lord. He sighed softly, though not soft enough to escape his sister's ears.
"What is it Luke?" Leia asked. He took a moment before answering her, and even then it was in a whisper, one she had to listen hard to catch. "Do you ever feel like no matter how much you do, it's never enough?" As he said the last part, he turned to her with eyes that were filled with exhaustion. Leia nodded and said, "All the time, but unlike you, I don't make it my mission to do everything that needs to be done. I know my limits, I know you know yours too, so I don't know why you push yourself to do more than you can literally take. I'm worried about you, Luke."
He sighed, turning back to look at the empty space around them as he said, "I know you do Leia, but I can't help myself. I don't want to turn down those that need help and being the only Jedi, a lot of the task people need for me to do, are ones that others can't handle." Leia joined him by the window, as she said, "Maybe you need to take a break Luke, get back to where you started as a Jedi, and just relearn things like mediation. Then you could train others like you, so that you won't have to worry about trying to do all those things alone."
Luke was thoughtful for several minutes, the silence stretching between them easily as he considered what she said and she waited patiently to see what his thoughts on the matter were. Finally he turned to her with a small smile, that was almost a smirk, on his face and said "You're right Leia. There need to be more Jedi in the galaxy again, I can't handle all the demands of a Jedi on my own. I think I will take a vacation and just see where the Force leads me." He kissed her on the cheek and said "Thank you Leia."
Already he looked more rejuvenated as he left the room. She smiled and said to the empty room "You're welcome Luke."