Chapter 2: A galaxy far far away
Amon was returning to the HQ and kept thinking about what had happened earlier, that supernatural boy, a human no less protecting a Ghoul, he had never seen someone like him before, but he knew that if he was on the side of Ghouls then it would be a threat to all field agents. He noticed that Mado was silent too, quite thoughtful thinking the same as him. And Amon knew that when Kureo Mado was thoughtful it was no use trying to start a conversation, but he needed it anyway.
Amon: "Sir, why did you left that boy go away?" he asked.
Mado continued in silence, and Amon insisted.
Amon: "SIR," he shouted, bringing Mado back to reality.
Mado: "Do you want to give me a heart attack? That isn't the way to treat a partner." he said in a joking tone.
Amon: "You were not listening to me, but I can imagine why."
Mado: "And I know what you're going to ask me and NO, I have no idea what that kid is," he said.
Amon stopped walking and simply stared at Mado who looked back at him.
Amon: "Are you sure that kid was not a Ghoul?"
Mado: "My little bird, I've been hunting these things since your parents used diapers, and he does not act or behave like any Ghoul I've encountered so far." he said.
Amon was thoughtful for a moment and an idea came to his mind.
Amon: "Ippei and Nakajima can help us solve this puzzle." he suggested.
Amon could see a grim forming in Mado's face.
Mado: "That my young and eager pupil is what i was thinking. Now can we continue?" he said with a smile on his face.
The two set off for CCG headquarters in search of answers to their unsettling questions. Mado kept thinking about that boy's powers, not to mention the things he said.
'Well, looks like the game is changing. And right when it was getting good.' He thought.
Luke was walking down the street following Kaneki toward Anteiku, he explained Luke that Anteiku is a café shop and he started working there a few days ago. Mrs. Fueguchi was by his side and Young Hinami was still shaking his hand.
Luke: "Your daughter is a very lively girl, Mrs. Fueguchi." He said.
Ryouko: "Thanks Luke she's also very curious and studious," she said with a smile.
Luke: "Really? Do you like to study Hinami? "
Hinami looked at Luke and nodded enthusiastically.
Hinami: "Kaneki is helping me learn new words." she said.
Luke: "You're a good person Kaneki. What do you do when you're not working? "
Kaneki: "I am Freshman by Kamii unversity, i am a student of literature."
Luke: "University? That is incredible." Luke said, surprised and delighted. He had not had many opportunities before Ben Kenobi came into his life. He was just a moisture farmer stuck to a tedious life on one of the less hospitable and uninteresting planets of the galaxy.
Luke realized that Kaneki was thoughtful, he might ask something to Luke, but asking would only confirm what he already suspected.
'How am I going to explain to them who I am, and would it be wise to reveal everything now?' He thought.
Kaneki was in his own thoughts, he had never seen anything like that before, it was almost surreal, he was tempted to ask question after question to Luke. The curiosity was eating him alive to the point he couldn't resist any longer.
Kaneki: "Luke?" He said, catching the attention of Luke and the others.
Luke: "Yes Kaneki something wrong?" He asked.
Kaneki: "No, nothing wrong. It's just that can I ask you a question, "he asked.
Luke was a bit hesitant, but he nodded. Regardless trust needed truth, and Luke would need him to trust him.
Luke: "Ken, you are my friend and friends don't need to ask permission to ask a question, just shoot."
Kaneki was taken back by what Luke said, he always wanted a friend, Hide was cool and Kaneki was very fond of him, but Luke was just like him. Kaneki was now a bit shy, but eventually overcame enough of his shyness to ask the question once and for all.
Kaneki: "Luke, how did you know we were hiding in the alley?"
Before Luke could answer the question, Hinami spoke.
Hinami: "It's true, you knew we were hiding there, can you smell people too?" She asked.
Before Luke replied he closed his eyes and felt in the force if someone was following them or spying on them, when he did not feel anything suspicious he opened his eyes.
Luke: "No, I did not feel your ... scent. But one of my abilities allow me to sense the vital energy of people, that's how I knew you were hiding there. "
Kaneki: "Vital Energy?" He asked confused and interested.
Luke: "Every living being generates a distinct and unique energy field, it's like a fingerprint, beings like me can feel the vital energy of all beings around them from a simple insect to the largest of animals."
Hinami and his mother were impressed, not to mention Kaneki, he did not know why, but he already knew that Luke would be a very interesting person in his life and also in the lives of everyone he knew.
Hinami: "Wow that is so cool." she said slowly in admiration.
Ryouko: "Luke I have to say I've never heard anything like it in my life it is almost hard to believe."
Luke: "It's alright even where I came from people don't understand the force. In fact nothing is impossible with the force." he said.
And it was the truth, a life among force sensitives proved that nothing was impossible he could even expand his senses through the force to seeing farther, hearing beyond the frequency that humans could hear and why not widen his nose to sniff individuals and animals.
Kaneki: "I have ... I have to say it's incredible, the others will be very impressed with you," he said.
Luke: "Speaking of which, are we far from this place you said?"
Kaneki: "No, actually we've already arrived," he said showing him the Café shop.
Anteiku Café was a small two-story building with the exterior painted White and two huge windows on the ground floor and an upstairs balcony decorated with plants on the parapet.
Luke was astounded by the beauty of the place, even simple it was as beautiful as the kilometer high buildings of Coruscant and far better than his former residence in Tatooine.
Luke: "It's beautiful!" He said.
Kaneki: "Glad you liked it." He said happily with the jedi's comment.
'And certainly no sand. A pleasant Bonus.' Luke thought with a side smile in his face.
Ryouko: "Well, I don't know about the two of you, but I need a good break. Come on, honey." She said to Hinami who took her mother's hand.
Kaneki: "Let's go inside." He motioned the group to follow him.
Luke: "Right Behind you." he said following the group.
The interior of the cafeteria was small but beautiful like the exterior, the windows created a lighted atmosphere in the interior that made the wooden floor sparkle. Inside the building was a small bar with benches, tables and chairs near the windows and walls, coffee pots plus a cash register.
Kaneki: "Hello, we're back." The part-time waiter shouted.
And a few seconds later a door behind the counter opened to reveal a brown haired man in a pompadour and a bulbous nose. He was wearing a typical waiter's uniform.
"Sorry Kaneki I was helping-"
He did not finished the sentence because behind Kaneki, Ryouko and Hinami was a young boy with blond hair and blue eyes in a black robe and clothes.
"Good afternoon, and welcome to the Anteiku cafeteria, I am Enji." He introduced himself to Luke.
Kaneki: "Enji, I 'd like you to meet Luke Skywalker. Enji here helped me when I started working a few days ago, he's pretty cool. "
Luke: "Nice to meet you Enji." he said with a smile and shook Enji's hand.
Kaneki: "Enji is the manager here? If he is here, he needs to hear what we have to tell." He said to Enji who was blinking uncomprehendingly without understand what has happening While look was there watching the whole scene.
'Well here goes nothing.' He thought.
Mado: "What do you mean, you don't remember anything?!" He shouted.
Mado was annoyed and angry with Yasutomo and Ippei for not remembering the mission to kill the ghoul's mother and daughter.
Ippei: "Sir forgive us, but I am telling you I just don't remember the mission, I know that we are in the building, but more than that I don't know." He explained Mado in the defensive about his apparently "amnesia".
Yasutomo, "He's telling the truth sir, I do not remember anything of what happened out there. Perhaps you can explain what exactly happened back there."
Mado could not get angry with them, it was not their decision to abandon the mission , it was that boy that noisy little brat who dared to interfere, but still something was not right. He could have killed them all, he knew after seeing what he is capable of, but he didn't instead it looked like he was trying to protect the Ghouls, He, his partner and the two agents. The question is why?
Amon: "What shall we do now, shall we report to the investigator Marude?"
Mado widened his eyes, the last thing he needed was to face Itsuki Marude, at least until he had a better idea of what he had faced. If Marude knew what happened, he would ruin the whole thing to Mado. And he couldn't let that happen.
Mado: "No." He said, shocking the three investigators.
Amon: "Do you believe that boy... that Jedi is a threat?"
Ippei and Nakajima looked at each other, clearly confused by what Amon had said.
Nakajima: "What is a Jedi?" He asked.
Amon: "That's what the boy called himself."
Mado was struggling to control his anger, it was the first time in a long time that he was in doubt, for decades he had studied and trained so much that he thought he knew everything about what existed, but that teen, that ... Jedi simply threw the rulebook out the window and humiliated him, he had to do something, he had to stop him from interrupting again. The boy protected a ghoul a crime indeed, he must be punished, arrested and questioned, but before he needed to know what the boy was capable of. Only then act.
The other investigators just stared at Mado with a incredulous face they had never seen Kureo Mado like this, usually he was scornful and confident. But Amon could see that something was changed and that boy was responsible, he "broke" Kureo Mado. Finally Mado broke the silence and looked earnestly at the three men in front of him.
Mado: "Until we know more about that boy we will not tell anyone, let's keep this between us, and not even Marude shall know what has happened." he ordered.
The three men were shocked and almost jaw-dropped.
Mado: "Let's observe his steps, hear rumors from the streets, sooner or later a journalist will comment, a newspaper will write articles and even photos will be taken by people, if someone has videos we will confiscate them. Let's call him Jedi, after all that's what he called himself isn't."
Ippei: "Mado, are you really suggesting an unofficial investigation, under the nose of Itsuku Marude and expect us to keep quiet ?" he asked incredulously to his superior.
Kureo Mado simply walked slowly and stood face-to-face with Ippei Kusaba, and stared at him for seconds that seemed like a lifetime to the young investigator who was sweating.
Mado: "You got it fast. And yes, that's exactly what I expect you to do," he said with a more intimidating look than usual.
Ippei began to babble and finally found the strength to get the words out of his mouth.
Ippei: "Yes... yes sir."
Mado: "That is all for now. Dismissed."
Mado walked away from Ippei and walked towards his office, leaving the investigators with their doubts.
Nakajima: "Do you think he's taking the personal side more than the professional side? I'm thinking it's now personal for investigator Mado."
Amon was sure Mado was taking this personally, he prided himself on never having failed on a mission, failing was unthinkable and he became accustomed to saying that an agent failing a mission does not have time to mourn because he would be dead. But Mado was alive and failure had tarnished his reputation, and he would not let it stay that way.
Amon: "Yes, he's taking it personally but he's right we know nothing of the boy nor his face, and you two don't remember a thing. Isn't?"
Nakajima simply nodded.
Amon: "We have no idea who we're dealing with until we know more, we wait for our chance." he said as he looked down the corridor Mado had picked up.
At the door of the cafeteria a slender teenager known for being very attractive was standing there watching a closed sign on the blackboard of the door. She enters the cafeteria only to find the place in the dark and without anyone. She keeps looking and when she opens the door to the Anteiku meeting room on the second floor he sees the cafeteria employees sitting in the armchairs around the table and Renji Yomo standing.
Touka: "Err ..." She said clearly surprised at the amount of people present in the meeting room.
Yoshimura: "Oh, Touka it's good you're here. How are you feeling?"
Touka: "Sorry, I lost so much work."
Youshimura: "It's okay." He said in a reassuring tone.
Touka: "Err, did something happened?"
Mr. Yoshimura just smiled and got up from the sofa.
Yoshimura: "Yes, something very interesting happened." he said drawing everyone's attention in the room, except for Kaneki who seemed to be simply smiling and expecting something to happen.
Yoshimura: "First I want to thank everyone for being here, and I'm sorry for making you wait for too long, but we had to be all together so we did not have to repeat what is going to be said in this room."
Yoshimura's words only made the people in the room more anxious about what was going to be said, because whatever it is was important.
Touka leaned against the wall and was aware of what was to be said.
Yoshimura: "Earlier today Mrs. Ryouko and her daughter were ambushed by investigators."
Most of the room grew tense and apprehensive at Yoshimura's words. Touka held her breath in fear and anxiety and asked.
Touka: "What happened to them? Is Hinami safe?" She asked almost desperately.
Yoshimura: "The two are safe and sound. Mrs. Ryouko and Hinami are now sleeping peacefully in their room," he said.
Most of the group except Kaneki and Enji were relieved after a moment of tension that had seemed to last for an eternity.
Yoshimura: "Thanks to the action of a brave young man." he added.
The group was intrigued and Nishiki was the first to speak.
Nishiki: "A brave young man? Kaneki did you save Miss Ryoko and Hinami from two investigators?" He asked impressed the co-worker.
Kaneki: "No Nishiki, it was not me, though I kept Hinami safe." he said.
Yoshimura: "Indeed he not only defended Mrs. Ryouko from four investigators but convinced them to leave her be without bloodshed."
Yomo: "Do not leave us in anticipation Master Yoshimura, who is this person after all?"
Touka: "Yes tell us who this Ghoul is, and why would he argue with a group of doves?"
Yoshimura: "Well this person agreed to talk not just that, but he also agreed to answer everything we want, but only if we were in a safe place and we would promise not to reveal anything to anyone. I think it's a very reasonable request." he said with a smile.
The group became very interested and Yomo continued with his typical serious face, but he was just as interested as the others.
Yoshimura: "Can I trust you to never reveal what you hear here?" He asked in a louder and authoritative voice.
The people in the room, including Kaneki, nodded in agreement with Yoshimura's condition.
Yoshimura smiled, turned his head to his right, and waved.
The Anteiku's employees and Yomo didn't understood why the gesture, Touka heard Kaneki struggling to not laugh and before he could call his attention until a figure from nowhere began to take shape near the plant pot, the figure turned out to be a teenager with blonde hair and blue eyes in black cloths and brown robe.
"Honestly Master Yoshimura, are you sure all this was necessary?" The boy asked Yoshimura who gave a slight smile.
Yoshimura: "I am pleased to introduce you all to Luke Skywalker. This young, unattached human risked himself to save Miss Ryouko from certain death. And even knowing that she was a Ghoul! He didn't hesitated in helping her." he explained to the gaping group that stared at Luke with wide eyes.
Yomo watched the boy with interest.
'He was there all the time, and I could not smell him.' He then looked at the others who were silent just staring at the boy.
'And apparently I wasn't the only one. What is he?' He thought.
Luke was seeing the situation in front of him and he did not feel comfortable with everyone staring at him. He decided to break the ice.
Luke: "Greetings everyone, I am Luke Skywalker, it is a huge pleasure to meet you all," he said with a bow.
Nishiki: "How long are you there? I've been here for a long time and I didn't sensed your scent or hearing you!" He said out loud.
Yoshimura: "You're going to find out that Luke has abilities that are unusual for both Ghouls and Humans." He said and turned to Luke.
Yoshimura: "Luke my boy you've been standing for a long time please sit down you must be exhausted." he said offering his place in the chair for Luke to sit down.
Luke did not refuse and sat down in the armchair beside Kaya Irimi.
Luke: "Thank you Mr. Yoshimura. I told Mr. Yoshimura that I would answer any question you asked me and I intend to fulfill my promise." He told the audience.
Kaya was the first to ask.
Kaya: "Curious, I couldn't smell you. What exactly are you? And how did you become invisible?"
Luke was embarrassed but he had the composure to respond.
Luke: "Yes I am human and I used the force to neutralize my odor particles in the air."
Touka: "What is the force?"
Luke closed his eyes, breathed before opening his eyes and staring at Touka and the rest.
Luke: "I see that you are very interested in my abilities, if you want to understand them, I have to start from the beginning, and just a warning that its going to be a long story. So I advise you to feel comfortable."
He could only hear a grunt of the blue-haired girl sitting on the floor and leaned against the wall with her arms folded.
Touka: "I'm comfortable, now answer the question right away." She said clearly annoyed.
Luke: "Right to the point I see, very well the force is a metaphysical, spiritual, binding and omnipresent power. It penetrates and envelops us it holds the galaxy together. It is the source of my powers. Where I came from I am known as a force sensitive."
Kaneki: "What is a force Sensitive?" He asked.
Luke: "Force sensitive is an individual of any species highly attuned to the flow of the force. Allowing them to feel and manipulate the force. And with training do so much more." He explained.
Yomo: "Other species? What do you mean?"
The others were curious about the question as well, what Luke was saying was strange and confusing at the same time."
Luke: "Well, it may be hard for you to believe but I'm not from this world."
Touka: "Bullshit!" She said.
What she said caught the attention of everyone in the room.
Yoshimura: "Touka." He caught her attention, who looked at him and saw the look of disapproval he was giving her. That made her bow her head.
Yoshimura: "Forgive her Luke-san, it is way she is."
Luke: "No, sir it's okay." he said.
Kaneki got up from the chair and intervened.
Kaneki: "Luke is not lying. I saw what he did in the alley and heard what he said. No one had ever said words like the ones I heard." He said so everyone could hear.
Kaneki: "Luke, where were you born?" He asked.
Luke: "I was born on a planetoid called Polis Massa, but I grew up on Tatooine."
The people in the room were in absolute silence, they were looking for some sign of lies, madness, or insanity in Luke. They found none.
Enji: "Are you saying your from another planet? An alien? But you look human to me."
Luke: "You know Enji alien is an offensive pejorative term where I came from. And a term used especially for Humans to describe sentient members of other species, another term is nonhuman."
Nishiki: "How many humans are out there?"
Luke: "Humans are one of the dominant species in the galaxy, most think it is the most populous as well. Human populations spread from the deep core to the outer rim of the galaxy."
Nishiki looked disappointed with the answer.
'Damn.' He thought.
Kaneki: "Is there any species like us where you came from?" he asked with curiosity, if there were humans living among the stars, so why not Ghouls, but Kaneki enthusiasm started to fade when he saw Luke shaking his head in a negative thought.
Luke: "Unfortunally no Kaneki. What I can say is that you are unique in the galaxy, but of course alongside humans there are Rodians, Zabraks, Twi'leks, Chiss, Hutts, Yuuzhan Vongs, Niktos , Sullustans, Duros and millions of other species, living side by side on countless worlds. The universe is full of life."
Yoshimura: "Is it true, Luke? They all live together." He asked fascinated by what Luke said.
Luke: "Yes sir. They not only live together as they have built civilizations and governments together. Beyond this world there are many other worlds, other people, other intelligent beings, each with its own particularity that make them unique. The universe is full of life ... and you are not alone."
The room was quiet with the jedi's words, imagining different species living together is an idea that gave hope to Yoshimura, a future where humans and Ghouls could live side by side.
Kaneki: "Luke, in the alley you said you were a Jedi, but you also said you are a force sensitive. Can you explain? "He asked.
Yomo: "Jedi? What is a jedi." he asked.
Luke: "Remember what I said about force sensitives receive training to use the force as a whole? The force shouldn't be used lightly or for selfish purposes. It is up to you to ensure that the gift you have doesn't become a curse to you and the people around you. And that's the role of the order of the Jedi."
Luke sighed and moved his mind away to remember what he learned from Obi-Wan, master Yoda and his life reading archives of the old order had taught him.
Luke: "For over a thousand generations, the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic. We are committed to using our gifts for the good of the people around us, knowledge and self-defense. Twenty-five thousand years ago the jedi order spread to Ossus, where millennia later scouts of the Galactic Republic came in contact with the Jedi, after one of its members visited the capital of the republic, the capital world of Coruscant, this jedi a duros called Haune Tiar had a vision given by the force. This jedi communicated his vision to the jedi council, which for weeks meditated in seclusion on the jedi's vision. When they came out of his seclusion the teachers had decided that the Republic should represent cooperation between species and freedom should be defended by the Jedi Knights, and then the Jedi were the guardians of freedom and justice and for millennia defended the old republic against the thousands of enemies who wanted it destroyed."
Yomo: "Luke, can you give us some proof for what you're saying?" He asked Luke if he challenged him.
Luke could not help but smile. He was thinking about this encounter for hours and knew he had to be convincing to gain their trust. and knew what to do.
Luke: "I can, and I will." he said.
The people were surprised to see a metal cylinder floating from Luke's robes and stopping in his right hand, he lifted the metal cylinder and a green light emitted from the tip of the cylinder.
The others were in shock, their eyes wided as they saw Luke softly waving the green light saber making a "Voom " noise.
Touka: "Wha ... what the hell is that?" she asked in awe by the object in Luke's hand.
Luke: "This is a lightsaber, it is the symbol of my order, an instrument of meditation, a tool of self-defense and a weapon against the servants of the dark side. This weapon is the life of a Jedi, it is a link between him and the force. Fueled by a special crystal it becomes the extension of the user's will." He said while they continued to stare the lightsaber vooming and cutting the air while in motion.
Luke then deactivated his lightsaber and put it back in his robe. The viewers of the show that luke gave to them recovered from their shock and Yoshimura asked.
Yoshimura: "What is the dark side?"
Luke: "I told you about the Force, but not its nature. The force has two sides, the light side and the dark side." he said.
Luke: "The light side is the way of the Jedi, aligned with harmony, calm, compassion, mercy, defense, knowledge, justice, selflessness, Love. The Jedi see the force as a companion, which must be respected."
Luke: "But the dark side ..." he said in a low, serious tone.
Luke: "It is aligned with chaos, anger, abuse, hatred, malevolence and selfishness; usually morally negative traits along with an embrace of extreme emotional passion. Individuals under the influence of the dark side are obsessed with a desire ... The accumulation of power. The dark side is about quick and raw power gain. It's like a drug, the more you have the more you desire and this becomes a cycle of obsession fed by evil and violence. And it consumes their minds."
Kaneki: "So it's like the hunger." he commented.
Kaneki: "Ghouls need to feed, and when we get hungry we need to..." he couldn't finish the sentence he closed his eyes and clenched his fist.
Luke was curious and remembering what the investigators had told him he deduced that Ghouls were driven to feed on human flesh. But that didn't matter in that moment, he just put his hand on Kaneki's shoulder, he looked at luke and saw a him with a friendly face.
Luke: "I understand, you are not a bad person, it doesn't matter if you are a Ghoul or a Human, you Ken Kaneki are a person with good heart and a strong soul, yes the struggle can be painful, but enduring it will make you strong because you will learn to accept yourself and finding peace."
Kaneki was speechless nobody ever talked to him like that, he could feel himself better and he calmed himself.
Kaneki: "Thank you Luke."
Luke: "My friend what happened to your eye, and why are you using your eyepatch?"
Kaneki hesitated but Luke was saying so much about him and his world that wouldn't be right to hide from him the truth. He looked to Mr. Yoshimura that made a head gesture to proceed.
Kaneki: "Is my Kakugan, all the ghouls have two but I have only one and I can't control it making me use this eyepatch." He explained.
Luke: "Really it's fascinating I mean the Kakugan part but why use it here, you are not in the street."
Kaneki nodded agreeing with Luke and took off his eyepatch.
Luke: "See now you can see in double." He joked.
Yoshimura, Enji and Kaya laughed to Luke's joke but Touka, Yomo and Nishiki stayed in silence.
Luke: "I have to admit that since I arrived here, I didn't had a good explanation about the Ghouls. Well an explanation given without prejudice I mean."
Yoshimura: "I assure you we'll tell you about ghouls later, but now the focus is you."
Luke: "Right, the most well-known group of followers on the dark side are the Sith."
Luke: "Sith believe that conflict is the only true test of their ability, and emphasized its importance. It is their belief that conflict challenged individuals and civilizations, and thus forced them to grow and evolve. Another purpose served by the conflict was the rise of the strong flourishing and the weak sentenced to death. By encouraging contentions, the strong were able to wield their power while the weak were eliminated from the ranks of the Sith. A fundamental principle for Sith philosophy was self-sufficiency and the idea that an individual only deserved what they were strong enough to take. In the same way, morality was treated as an obstacle to be overcome as it hindered a Sith's ability to recognize and seize opportunities for advancement and self-empowerment."
Kaneki: "So they used their powers to oppress others? That's cruel." he commented.
Luke: "To Sith there is no evil, according to them this word is used by the weak to demonize the strong. They believe the force is not a shield to protect the unworthy but a weapon to be wielded by the strong."
Luke: "For seven millennium the Jedi and Sith faced each other in wars that led to devastation across the galaxy. Worlds were raised, star systems devastated, species gone extinct and civilizations fell before the Sith conquerors."
Yomo: "What happened?" He asked.
Luke: "A thousand years ago the Jedi and Sith forces faced each other in a final campaign on the planet Ruusan the Jedi led by Lord Hoth and Valenthyne Farfalla faced the forces of the brotherhood of darkness led by Lord Kaan. It was a bitter campaign whose level of sith violence was boundless, battles covered the surface and orbit of the planet, and the jedi and sith duels changed the landscape. But eventually the Sith were being pushed back by the Jedi forces. The sith saw that they wouldn't prevail, his forces had been defeated in orbit and a blockade was in effect. So when they were surrounded by the jedi, the forces of the remaining Sith prepared an obscure suicidal ritual, before the Jedi could stop them Kaan maddened by the influence of the dark side, was waiting for the Jedi and in a clapping all forces in ray kilometers were destroyed along with the landscape."
Luke lowered his head to a solemn silence.
Luke: "And the war with the Sith had come to an end, but there was no celebration, the death toll was too high to be counted. Ruusan was once a life flourishing world had turned into a desert landscape. And the galaxy was almost ruined, Worlds were in terrible shape, a plague had killed entire populations, civilization had almost come to an end."
Yoshimura: "And what happened after the Sith were defeated?"
Luke: "The galactic republic underwent a series of reforms known as the Ruusan Reforms. The supreme chancellor of the republic Tarsus Vallorum elaborated the reforms to begin the long reconstruction of the republic, its member worlds were rebuilt, the republic was demilitarized, and the Jedi began to serve along with the judicial forces to maintain order. It was the beginning of the Republic's golden age, in which peace and prosperity reigned in much of the galaxy. "
Nishiki: "And all without the interference of these sith. Some groups are better dead."
Luke: "Unfortunately, two Sith survived."
Luke: "Evil does not die, it just evolves. Darth Bane and his apprentice Darth Zannah initiated a dynasty of Sith lords known as the rule of two, which focused on the total eradication of the Jedi and the destruction of the republic. In the dark, the Sith would use subterfuge and secrecy to undermine the influence of the republic, stimulating corruption and throwing groups of people against each other seeding chaos."
Kaneki: "How did they do that?"
Luke: "These Sith lived double lives. They would seem to be influential and successful people, for example: Darth Tenebrous was Rugess Nome a renowned engineer of starships and Darth Plagueis was Hego Damask a powerful Muun and trillionaire owner of Damask Holdings. But they never forgot their goals and for a thousand years the Sith accumulated power waiting for the one who would have the power to carry out their revenge against the Jedi. They waited for HIM." He said in a more serious tone that he already demonstrated and frowned.
The people in the room were curious. And after a while Yoshimura dared to ask.
Yoshimura: "Him?"
Luke: "Understand that this person was as evil as it is possible to be. In fact he saw himself as the living incarnation of the dark side. He was called Palpatine but he became known as Darth Sidious."
Kaneki: "Darth Sidious," he murmured.
Luke: "The sith waited millennium for the birth of the one powerful enough to fulfill their vengeance. Darth Sidious was this one, he proved to be the grim culmination of thousands of years of Sith philosophy and teachings."
Luke: "Palpatine was born on Naboo, a beautiful and peaceful planet where people are in touch with nature, not the place where the most powerful Lord Sith in history would be expected to emerge. He was the born in the house of Palpatine a noble family of Naboo, and from a young age he felt different, he thought that his destiny was to lead. When he was eight years old he killed two pedestrians in a speeder accident, his father using his influence covered everything, and Palpatine felt no remorse. That was a preview of what was to come. Years later Hego Damask during a business visit in Naboo, felt the aura of Palpatine and saw potential in the young aristocrat of 16 years. The two met and spent a lot of time discussing politics, Palpatine even served as a Damask spy, reporting to the later about his father's business. His father eventually wary of Damask's influence on his son tried to separate Palpatine from Damask. Palpatine's response was to kill the whole family, the parents, the two brothers and sisters, and the personal guard. Palpatine contacted Hego Damask and told him what had happened, Damask used his influence to cover up the whole thing. For the galaxy Palpatine was the only survivor of a tragic accident."
Luke: "Hego Damask revealed his true identity to Palpatine and the young man joined the order of the Sith Lords over a new name known as Darth Sidious. For decades Sidious served as an apprentice to Darth Plagueis, a master of arcane and supernatural knowledge in the force. He learned Diligently, the lessons of his master, and as his powers increased his hunger also became stronger, he began to acquire more knowledge, more power and no matter how much he learned he was never satisfied. And Sidious also had a double life, he was a politician, the person of Palpatine was very popular and appeared to be a humble representative of a world in the middle rim."
Yoshimura: "How do you know so many details, Luke?" He said impressed by Luke details.
Luke: "I traveled across the galaxy for answers about that being, it was not easy, Sidious covered his tracks pretty well, but i discovered a secret fortress on the moon orbiting the planet of Sojourn during my travels and after defeating the security systems and creatures I found documents belonging to Darth Plagueis including notes, records of their experiences and a diary." He explained and continued.
Luke: "Palpatine was eventually chosen as supreme chancellor, the same day he killed his master after owning all his secrets. He was the sole Dark Lord of the Sith and the Republic was under his command, he initiated his plan to ascend to Absolute power. He created a great galactic war. "
Luke looked at the people in the room, who were looking at him intently.
Luke: "I'm sorry if this story is too long, but it's just like that," he said.
Yoshimura: "It's okay, my boy, I personally find your story very interesting. And I'm sure others do too, "he said.
Luke looked at the others and saw them nodding their heads.
Enji: "I must say if this is made up it is very creative."
Luke: "I assure you this unfortunately happened."
Nishiki: "Come on, tell me how this Sidious created this war."
Luke: "As the dark Lord of the Sith, Palpatine had an apprentice Darth Maul, but he was defeated by my future mentor Obi-Wan Kenobi who at the time was only a Jedi knight, after Maul's defeat, Sidious recruited a new apprentice , the former jedi master Dooku born in Serenno. Dooku left the Order after a disagreement with the council, Dooku reneged on his Jedi past and embraced his new persona as Darth Tyrannus. And he started using his influence and assets to create a separatist movement in the Republic. It was the beginning of the separatist crisis and the prelude to the clone wars."
Luke: "When the war broke out, the Jedi found themselves on the front lines leading the clone army against the droid army of the Separatists."
Kaneki : "Sorry to interrupt you, but did you just say clones and droids?" He asked curiously.
Luke: "No need to apologize Ken, during the break-up crisis a Jedi master named Zyfo-Dias foresaw a war approaching and the Republic was unprepared to face the army of droids. Droids are machines created for a myriad of tasks including warfare and they were mortal. Then with the influence of Dooku, he contacted an advanced race of cloners known as Kaminoans and financed by Dooku to build an army of clones from a Mandalorian bounty hunter named Jango Fett, and began to be create clones from his DNA to defend the Republic.
Kaneki: "But Dooku did not want to overthrow the republic? why did he financed the creation of the Clone Army?"
Luke: "Because it was part of Palpatine's grand plan."
Luke: "The clone wars covered the galaxy with billions of clones facing off quadrillions of droids in battles that swallowed whole planets, billions died. The war had two purposes: to extend Palpatine's position of power through emergency measures that would broaden his independence from the Senate and ruin the image of the Jedi because every time a Jedi led an invasion force into an occupied world, either died or deserted to Dooku's side, it was a moral defeat to the order and a victory to Palpatine."
Touka: "Wait, how could he manipulate a war without nobody noticing him?"
Luke: "He was patient, his power was so great that he blinded the whole galaxy. Using his powers he clouded the jedi council's perception to the force and allowing him to pull the strings. Everyone who got involved in the war the clones, the separatists, the Senate, the Jedi were manipulated by count Dooku. The clone wars were a puppet show and Palpatine was the puppeteer, for the Republic he was Chancellor Palpatine a gentle, elderly, and charismatic man and to the separatists he was the enigmatic Sith Lord Darth Sidious, who ruled in darkness while Dooku was his voice."
Luke: "After three years of war a powerful Jedi knight knew as Anakin managed to kill Count Dooku and hastening the end of the War, Sidious knew the Jedi were suspicious of him and felt the urge to speed up his plans, and to he needed an asset, Anakin."
Kaneki: "Why does Sidious need Anakin?"
Luke: "Anakin was one of the most powerful Jedi in history, he was the chosen one who would bring balance to the force. During the war he destroyed entire armies and liberated worlds from the separatist, people called him "the hero without fear". His potential in the force made him a target of Sidious's Greed, he saw Anakin as a potential successor to Dooku, and became a close figure, the father he never had. Anakin was born as a slave and was freed by the Jedi master Qui-Gon Jinn, who was later killed by Darth Maul. Years later Anakin returned to Tatooine only to know that his mother had been kidnapped, he tried to save her but was too late, she had been brutally tortured by tusken raiders and died in the arms of Anakin, this experience scarred Anakin and throughout his life he feared losing those he loved. And Palpatine exploited his fear."
Kaneki: "How can someone so cruel ever existed."
Luke: "At the end of the war Anakin's wife was pregnant, Anakin had visions of the future, visions of his wife dying along with the children. Anakin was shaken by the sight and Palpatine knew it. He offered a chance to save his family, if he embraced the dark side and become his new apprentice. Anakin feared of losing the person he loved most, accepted and in that fateful moment Anakin died and became Darth Vader one of the most infamous Sith Lords in history was born. The hero had become a villain."
Luke: "And you know what is most tragic?" Luke asked the room full of people, before continuing.
"Without Anakin's suspicion Palpatine had been lying. He had no intention of saving Padmé , yes he had the power to save her, but he did not want to because he knew that for Anakin to completely embrace the Dark Side he should lose everything he had and loved only so he would fall into despair and plunge in the hatred necessary for Vader to be born."
Touka: "Heartless bastard." she said with venom in her voice.
Yomo: "And the Jedi?"
Luke: "Eventually the Jedi discovered the terrible truth that the Republican chancellor was the Sith Lord they were looking for, a four-member strike team of the Jedi Council led by Mace Windu, one of the most powerful Jedi in the Order faced the Sith Lord . But then Sidious's powers surprised them and were defeated and killed. Sidious's revenge was swift and brutal, he then commenced to execute order 66."
Kaneki cocked his head in confusion.
"Order 66?"
Luke: "The command for the total extermination of the Jedi."
Everyone in the room was in deadly silence.
Luke: "Darth Vader accompanied by the 501st Legion of Clones went to the Jedi Temple and massacred all the Jedi they encountered and left the temple in ruins. Across the galaxy, clone troopers who fought side by side with the Jedi for three years turned on their commanders and generals, thousands of Jedi were killed and those who survived were forced into hiding. Palpatine in the Senate denounced what he called the coup attempt by the Jedi to take over the republic and announced the creation of the Galactic Empire with Palpatine as the emperor, the senators reacted with a loud applause, and that was how the Republic that lasted 25,000 years died. And the dark age began."
The silence of the room became mourning, and all of them grew low. Luke knew what they were feeling and answered before they had a chance to ask.
Luke: "People fear what they do not know, there were only thousands of jedi to protect millions of worlds. Billions of people had never even heard of what a jedi was. And many did not understand our powers and feared us and at times this fear turned to hate."
Yoshimura understood very well how to live this, people do not understand what it is to be a Ghoul, what the Ghouls are forced to pass, and for not understanding we are hunted.
Luke: "But hope existed. The Grand Master of the Jedi order Yoda and the Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi survived and with Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan help managed to get off Coruscant. Yoda faced Emperor Palpatine at the Senate in a powerful and fierce duel while Obi-Wan aided by Padmé went to Mustafar to save Anakin from the path he was treading. Padmé tried to beg Anakin to leave the dark side, Anakin almost killed her if it were not for Obi-Wan who faced his former apprentice and friend in the volcanic landscape of Mustafar. Yoda and the emperor were in a stalemate, the two were very powerful, but as the Duel progressed it became clear to Yoda that he could not win. He realized that the Sith had evolved, and was defeated by the Emperor and Yoda was forced into Exile in Dagobah. Obi-Wan after a long and brutal duel had mortally wounded Vader and left him to die in Mustafar. Obi-Wan rescued Padmé and took her to Polis Massa where she passed away after giving birth to two children, one of them was Leia and the other... was me."
The people in the room were shocked.
Enji: "Hold on, your Anakin's son!"
Yomo: "Your father was Anakin Skywalker and you are the son of the man who helped destroy the Jedi." he exclaimed.
Luke: "I know, I had to live with the scourge of having the name of the person who ruined countless lives, entire planets to hate the name as a 'Skywalker'. It was not easy and it still isn't." he said.
Luke: "Vader survived, his hatred kept him alive, when the emperor found Vader he was in terrible condition, he had been burned by volcanic lava and had lost both legs and an arm. Palpatine took Vader back to Coruscant where he underwent a cybernetic reconstruction. The emperor said that Padmé was dead. Vader was devastated and plunged into the darkness and Palpatine in sastifaction saw that Vader's transformation was complete, for all intents and purposes Anakin was dead ... well, that was what the emperor thought. And for 20 years Palpatine reigned supreme as emperor of the Galaxy, millions of worlds were upon his command, his control over the banking Clan guaranteed that the empire could build an endless number of war machines without ever going into recession and his army was almost unlimited. Palpatine arrested and killed all the supporters of the jedi both political and military, he revoked laws against slavery, he used fear to keep order in the Galaxy, rebel worlds were razed, and its populations were enslaved to feed Palpatine's war machine. Darth Vader overcame his limitations of his armor and became incredibly powerful, he hunted all the surviving Jedi he encountered and became the symbol of the strength and fear of the empire."
Kaneki: "And you were born in the middle of it all Luke?"
Luke: "I grew up on Tatooine and was raised by my Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru, as Tatooine was not so important, the imperial presence was small. I was a moisture farmer, in other words I collected water from the air and I did it for 10 years."
If the people in the room were already confused before, now they were practically not understanding anything.
Nishiki: "Whooaa, wait a minute. You said you were a farmer for 10 years, but you don't even look 16?"
Luke: "I do not know how to tell you but I should be dead."
Yoshimura: "And why should you be dead?"
Luke: "I was 95 years old by the time I died." He said scratching the back of his head.
Now people were in a state of utter pallor and bulging eyes.
Kaneki: "Well, considering everything you said and what you did down the alley, I ... I do not doubt it. "
Luke thought for a second and a cocky smiled formed in his face.
Luke: "Why continue to tell if I can show you," he said with a mysterious smile.
Yomo: "Show us?"
Luke: "With force I can show you my past. if you're interested of course." He said as if he challenged them.
Kaya: "Can you do this, Luke?" she asked a little skeptically but anxiously.
Luke: "Yes, I promise it's safe nothing will hurt you."
Kaneki: "This is almost too impossible to be real, I mean you showing us your past is like traveling back in time."
Luke: "No, of course not. I am talking, while showing you my memories." He explained.
The people were speechless, some were whispering to each other like Enji and Kaya, Yoshimura was thinking but as Yomo said it.
Yomo: "I am willing to try." he said taking a step forward.
Everyone in the room looked at Yomo in surprise, and then a female voice was heard.
Kaya: "It sounds fun and I'm bored anyway."
And the other members of the room volunteered even Touka, when Luke saw them all standing with enthusiasm he couldn't hold back the smile.
Luke: "Very well then it is decided. Please Kaneki and Mr. Yoshimura hold my hands and the others to take each other's hands in a circle."
The others followed the instructions and formed a circle giving the hands and forming a circle around the table.
'I have a bad feeling about this.' Touka thought. But she did it anyway and held the hands of Enji and Nishiki.
Luke: "Now close your eyes and empty your minds. Do not think about anything. "He added.
Nishiki: "like what?"
Luke: "Trust me."
The others closed their eyes and did as Luke instructed and a strong tingling sensation passed through their bodies. And before they could react or form a thought their minds detached themselves from their physical bodies. Their minds were being flooded with memories of the past, the past of Luke Skywalker. They could see the worlds that people knew, his life in Tatooine, the wars he fought and the enemies he had to face. They saw the final defeat of Palpatine, the creation of the new Jedi Order and the first 12 of many of Luke's students who would make the order grow. They witnessed the violence of the wars with the Yuuzhan Vong and the fall of friends and relatives and to the darkness and beyond of his life until the death of the person they thought was only a boy.
The tingling diminished until it disappeared, and people's senses began to normalize, and after a few seconds they could see that they were back in the Anteiku meeting room. And now they were looking at Luke who looked exhausted.
Yomo: "Are you alright Luke, you look tired."
Luke: "I am fine just need to take a breath. So what did you think?"
Yomo: "Honestly Luke I am speechless. It was true everything you said was true."
Kaneki: "That ... that was wow, I mean you're definitely not an ordinary person." He said amazed by the trip.
Yoshimura: "I must say young man, if I had not seen it with my own eyes I would never believe it. You're not from Earth!"
Luke: "Yes, I'm not. In fact I am a stranger in an unknown world." He said sitting in the couch.
Luke turned to see Touka she was frowning at him with a stare he could feel she analyzing him but before he could ask. She was faster.
Touka: "What is your purpose here?"
The others looked at Touka and watched her gaze, it was an inquisitive question as if it was the only one that mattered at that moment.
Luke: "To make a difference, your conflict with the humans will destroy each other. I can't allow this." He said raising from the couch and standing with an air of duty.
Nishiki: "And how do you intend to do this starboy?"
Luke: "We will show that it is possible for Ghouls and Humans to coexist peacefully, it will not be an easy task but it won't stop me and I won't give up."
Suddenly he fell back on the couch very exhausted and breathing heavily. The others came to aiding him.
Kaneki: "Luke are you okay?" He asked worriedly. He saw Luke noticed that he was almost pale. Kaneki wasn't liking what he was seeing.
Luke: "Since I came to this world, I didn't ate anything, and when I saw Mrs. Faeguchi I spent much of my energy running...and I just realized now that I didn't even drink water."
Yoshimura: "Well let's correct that. I'm going to the kitchen to get some cream cake left over and would you like some coffee to go with it we also got hot chocolate too if you wish." He said with a gentle smile on his face.
'Chocolate? Did he just said chocolate?' Luke thought.
Luke: "I would like a hot chocolate with cake." He said
Luke nodded as the others helped Luke to lie down on the couch . Yoshimura opened the door and to his surprise Hinami fell forward on the floor with a thud, which caught the attention of the people in the room.
Touka saw what happened and went to help Mr. Yoshimura raise the little girl.
Touka: "Hinami, Hinami are you okay?" She asked worried.
Hinami: "I…I am fine."
Touka: "What were you doing out there?"
Nishiki: "Dibs on spying," he said nonchalantly.
Touka replied with a scowl that clearly told Nishiki to shut up before he could even regret.
Hinami: "I was just looking for Luke. I woke and I didn't find him so I looked for him, and I heard his voice and waited, but you took too long and waited." she said.
Touka: "Ow." It was the only thing Touka was able to say. Hinami notice people gathered in the couch and saw Luke lying on the couch.
Hinami: "What happened to Luke?" She asked worriedly.
Yoshimura: "Do not worry little ma'am, Luke is just exhausted and hungry I am going downstairs to prepare something for him." He said to Hinami before heading to the corridor.
Yoshimura: "And by the way, I'll be right back with the food for Luke." He said and saw Hinami standing next to Luke before closing the door.
Mr. Yoshimura went down the stairs and entered in the kitchen to prepare Luke's dinner. He got half of a cream cake and was preparing the hot chocolate. While he was preparing Luke`s dinner he was reflecting on everything he heard and saw. He stopped what he was doing and breathed deeply.
'Luke Skywalker, will you be a bless or a curse to us all?' He thought, looking at a cup of hot chocolate before him.
So here it is! Chapter 2.
I thank you guys for reading our story. If you liked please select the favorite button. And if you have ideas just PM me or vitork. And reviews are welcome too.
See you next time!
