Jerry B

Jedi Master

By J. B. Tilton

Prologue

Luke Skywalker cautiously entered the ancient cavern. Dust covered everything and the light from his lantern flickered oddly off the walls. It created strange misshapen shadows in every inch of the cavern.

It had been only six months since the defeat of the Emperor and the death of Darth Vadar. Many people still celebrated on a dozen planets across the newly formed republic. Han and Leia were planning their wedding.

But through all the celebration and festivities, Dagobah had called to Luke. It was more than an impulse. Even with the death of Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vadar, Luke still felt his task was not yet finished. It was more than intuition. Somehow, he had instinctively known that he needed to return to Dagobah.

He didn't know why, but something about this cave beckoned to him. The Force was strong on Dagobah. No one knew why. In this cavern the Force was even stronger. As if this one place concentrated it.

Luke looked around the cavern. In one corner he saw what appeared to be several crates carefully stacked. He walked over to the crates. Carefully stacked in the corner, it appeared as if someone was attempting to hide them.

"Luke," came a voice from another corner of the cave.

"Father," said Luke, turning toward the voice.

The shade of Anakin Skywalker was standing in the corner. Next to him stood the shade of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Both were smiling at Luke.

"Ben," said Luke. "I can't explain how or why, but I seem drawn to this place. I can't explain why. I just knew I had to come here."

"It is the power of the Force," said Ben. "It has drawn you here. You have defeated the Emperor and restored balance to the Force."

"But there is more for you to do," continued Anakin. "The Dark Side is ever present. Any Jedi, no matter how strong in the Force, may be seduced by it."

"Why has the Force brought me here?" asked Luke.

"You must restore the Jedi to the galaxy," explained Ben. "The Jedi and the Sith Lords have more experience in the Force than anyone. But there are others who know of the Force. Many of them may be seduced by the Dark Side."

"Yes," said Anakin. "For twenty five thousand years, the Jedi protected the galaxy. It shames me that I was the instrument of their destruction. But the past cannot be changed."

"Luke," said Ben, "you must train a new generation of Jedi. They must once again take their place as the protectors of the galaxy. It will take many years to restore them. This is where you begin.

"In those crates are parts of the knowledge of the Jedi. Books, parchments, histories, everything Yoda and I could salvage from the Jedi Council before Vadar began to hunt us down. There are other such caches on Dagobah. The Force will show you where they are."

"And I have similar materials hidden," said Anakin. "Much of it is information on the Sith Lords and their origins. You will need that information as much as you need this."

"Why?" Luke asked.

"To defeat your enemy," said Ben, "you must first understand him. Darth Sidious sought to rule the entire galaxy. This is not always the desire of those seduced by the Dark Side."

"Obi-Wan speaks the truth," said Anakin. "Those whom the Dark Side seduces each have their own agenda. You must learn to understand the Sith Lords so that you can learn to protect against them."

"Are there any Sith Lords still out there?" asked Luke.

"I cannot answer that," said Ben. "Before Sidious showed himself, we had believed the Sith Lords destroyed a thousand years ago. I don't know of any who still live, but there is always that possibility. And anyone seduced by the Dark Side can become a Sith Lord. Even if there are none still alive, there is always the danger of new Sith Lords rising in the future."

"Gather the information together," said Anakin. "Select a new location where you can restore the Jedi Council. Train a new generation of Jedi Knights so they may once again protect the galaxy from those who would subjugate them."

"You want me to train new Jedi?" questioned Luke. "Father, Ben, I am barely a Jedi. How can I hope to train others in the ways of the force? There is still much I have to learn myself."

"You are the last Jedi, Luke," said Ben. "While there are others who know of the Force and many who can even use it, you are the only trained Jedi Knight. Now, it is time you became a Jedi Master."

"Take care, son," said Anakin, "about whom you choose to train. The selection of a Jedi Padawan is almost as important as the training itself. From the very beginning, you must constantly warn them of the Dark Side. I, of all people, know of the allure of the Dark Side."

"Anakin is right," said Ben. "Make your selection wisely, my young friend. Take the knowledge here and learn from it. The Jedi Council made some mistakes. Don't make those same mistakes. Learn from the past."

"I will do my best, Ben," said Luke. "And, with your help, I know we can train a new generation of Jedi and restore the former glory to the Jedi Knights."

"I'm afraid," said Anakin, "that we will not be with you much longer."

"What do you mean?" asked Luke.

"Anakin is right," said Ben. "We have little time here. Soon, we will have to become one with the Force. The task to train the new Jedi falls to you."

"I'm not sure I can do this," said Luke.

"Try, you must," said a squeaky voice from Luke's left. He looked over to see Yoda standing at the entrance to the cavern.

"Master Yoda", said Luke.

"Come I have to help you," said Yoda. "Limited my time is."

"Thank you, Master Yoda," said Luke.

Luke looked at the three shades. They, more than anyone else, had shaped and molded is life. If not for them, he had no idea where he would be. Now they would be leaving him forever.

"Ben, father, Yoda," began Luke. He didn't know what to say.

"Luke," said Ben, "everything changes. It is the way of nature. All things have a time in this life. Then they must make way for the new."

"One day," continued Anakin, "even you will pass into the Force. There will be those who will be as saddened by it as you are by our passing."

"But remember, you must," said Yoda. "Remember if you do, always will we be with you. Remember, if you do, always will we be with you."

"It is one of the oldest teachings of the Jedi," said Ben. "No life is truly over until all the lives it touches have ended. Even then, they continue. We will live on through you. We will also live on through those you teach. We will always be with you, Luke."

Luke choked back the tears.

"Each of us will pass over in his own time," said Anakin. "We will be with you a bit longer. We will teach you what we can as long as we are here."

"Thank you, father," said Luke. "I will do the best I can to make you proud of me."

"Already are we proud," said Yoda. "Fine Jedi, you have become. Better Master you will be."

"Thank you, Master," said Luke. "I will do my best to restore the Jedi. We will learn from the mistakes of the past."

"That is all we can expect," said Ben. "I am confident you will do well."

Slowly the three shades faded from view. Luke knew they would be back. At least for a time. For now, he needed to collect the information that they had hidden. He also needed to begin searching for his first student. The first in what he knew would be a long line of new Jedi Knights.