Chapter two - A new beginning

His father pilots the Falcon and Chewie is his co-pilot, just like old times. Ben is glad to be able to see Chewie again, as he hadn't seen him since he returned home to Kashyyyk. The inseparable duo is back together again but Ben feels left out as he isn't allowed to be in the cockpit with them. Instead he was planted at the holochess set and told to behave.

Thankfully Ben wasn't left alone in there as the beautiful woman and the strange man are there to watch over him...or rather watch him, as they stand and stare at him from the other end of the room, like they are afraid they can catch something from him.

In a uncomfortable silence they can't stop staring at him, probably because of his big clothes and Ben can't blame them for it, as himself doesn't understand why he is wearing such a baggy, dark clothes, has weird but cool lightsaber and used to wear a helmet, very similar to Darth Vader.

He hates these big uncomfortable clothes that are like a straight jacket except he can move albeit very slowly. Thankfully the undergarment is the right size as he is or it would be really weird.

Did I throw this clothes on? Was I playing dressup...again?

Ben feels this is somewhat similar to something he did not that long ago, after he had seen a holo of Darth Vader in history lesson. Most of the kid were very afraid but for some reason Ben was fascinated by him and felt a strong connection to him. A connection he had not felt with any of the Jedi legends uncle Luke had shown him except Anakin Skywalker, but that was to be excepted as he was his grandfather and the chosen one. So how come he felt a similar connection to this Darth Vader man or machine?

Ben at first tried to ask his parent how come he felt such a strong connection and their reaction was shock and the same old, you are too young to know anything, stop asking. He even tried to ask his uncle one time he stepped by, who only scolded him for trying to get information about an old darkside user.

"Focus on the lightside users, they are your role models." His uncle has told him. "Like Anakin Skywalker, your grandfather, the chosen one and a war hero."

Ben rolled his eyes, as he knew everything that was to be know about him till his death in the Clone wars and yet he felt there were something his uncle and rest of the family weren't telling him. Was his grandfather really his perfect? How could his mom and uncle even know anything about him when their father had died when they were born?

As none of his family wanted to answer him, even though clearly they knew something about why Ben felt this connection to Darth Vader, Ben decided to a little investigation of his own, by dressing like him maybe the force would give him some answers?

So he made a very crude version of Darth Vader clothes and helmet, out of paper in school. He put it on and and planned on doing his investigation without his parents finding out, the teacher should only think it was innocent play after all. No such luck, as his home room teacher became frightened at his sight and called his parents to a meeting.

The seriousness of the meeting, was like Ben was trying to become Darth Vader in real life, instead of just acting like him.

When they came home his mother cried and his dad yelled at him: "He tortured your mother. He put me in carbonite."

Ben was shocked over that information but reacted in anger. "How was I supposed to know?! You never tell me anything!"

"You're too young." His mom said like that could explain everything.

"Go to your room."

I didn't mean to make mom cry...

Later that day his parents told him they overreacted and apologized to him. They told Ben that he should never imitate Darth Vader again as he was a very bad man and not a role model at all.

Ben promised that but when he wanted to know more about who this Darth Vader was, his parents told him to wait until he got older. They probably hoped he would have forgotten all about him by then.

But that was mostly a play though with a purpose. But this is something else, who owns these clothes and where are my old ones? Nothing makes sense...

Nevertheless despite being only a ten year old, Ben understands that something huge must have happened, judging from the grim face of his father, worried look of Chewie and the shocked look of the strangers.

And what's up with this strange place, why was dad and I in the middle of this cat walk and why did dad blow up the place? And why does dad look so old all of sudden...?

Ben has so many question, but he's too afraid to ask any of them as he can feel the thick tension in the air. His father had also told him to wait til they would meet his mother, although he was very happy to be able to meet her again as he had been devastated to had to leave her, he didn't know if he could wait that long. He had always had trouble waiting and his uncle had often scolded him, told him this was not the Jedi way. Ben wasn't even sure he wanted to be Jedi anymore.

Could it be that I ran away from uncle Luke's training? Or is all this a part of it? What was I doing with a lightsaber in first place, uncle Luke would never allow me to have a one, this young. Who gave it to me then? Why was I forced to go to train with uncle again...?

Ben remembers faintly how a creepy used to voice to talk to him, a voice that haunted him in his nightmares.

He shivers at the reminder. Thank the force that it's gone now! Whatever it was...I'm going home. I don't ever want to leave again...

Ben looks at the strangers that are only interested in what appears to be a staring competion with him except he's not participating. Neither of them dares to take a seat or move in any way.

Very strange people. What are they so afraid of? We have escaped this strange place, there is nothing to worry about any more...

Ben sighs.I wish I remembered what happened, why everything is so strange but I can't remember anything except going away with uncle Luke...

He turns his attention from the freaked out strangers to the holochess before him. He smiles when he remembers how Chewie had taught him to play it and always allowed him to win, only because he was a kid. It annoyed Ben that Chewie underestimated him like that but he would give anything now for Chewie to appear and play at least one game with him.

It's not fair! Why did dad and Chewie leave me alone with strangers that appears to fear me for some reason? But dad must trust these strangers...though they don't seem very friendly. Maybe I should go to dad instead...but I can hardly move in these big clothes...I'm so bored!

Ben kick off his heavy boots which land on the floor with a great bang.

The strange man jumps up as if he had heard gunshot.

"What was that?" He glances around in fright, like a trapped animal.

"I don't know." The woman doesn't appear to be as frightened as the man but nevertheless keeps her guard up.

Ben looks back at the holochess.

Maybe the strangers want to play? It could help them relax. He turns it on.

When the holographic figures appear and start to slam each other, the man yelps and jumps up again.

Is that man afraid of everything?

"What's he doing?" The strange guy whispers in a loud conspiracy like voice to the woman.

"Maybe he want us to play with him?" The woman whispers back, in an equally loud voice.

"Force no, I'm not going to play with him."

Why do they keep talking about me like I'm not here? Like I'm some kind of animal...are they really afraid of me?

"He's just a kid now."

Now? What do they mean? I have always been a kid, too young for this and that. Did I maybe turn into some kind of a monster...nah, how should that even be possible?

"A dangerous kid. Don't underestimate him, this could all be one trick."

Dangerous? Me? Ah, they probably saw the saber. That explains their reaction, everyone is afraid of lightsabers except Jedis...and probably Siths.

Ben turns of the holochess. "You have nothing to fear, dad took my lightsaber away...not that I had planned on using it."

The strange guy just snorts like he doesn't believe Ben.

"Okay, I had planned on using it for fun, not against you...but I'm not allowed to..."

Maybe they are afraid of my forcepowers?

"I won't use the force against you either."

They become even more afraid that he mentioned the force.

Maybe they are so afraid of me because of my powers? But they shouldn't be, it's not like I am Sith! And anyway, I can feel that the woman has powers too, so he really can't judge... Maybe she needs a teacher? Is she going to see Uncle Luke? Ah, I know what happened!

Uncle Luke decided at the last moment that it wouldn't be wise to train me, as I am too young, can't even hold a lightsaber and therefor he is sending me back home and instead for me...uncle Luke plans on teaching this woman, as he saw I was too young and immature…wait isn't it better to teach the force as young as possible? Shouldn't it be the the other way around? I thought the older you got the more prone you are to the darkside or something...

Ugh…nothing makes sense….

I could also have made some major trouble for him and that's why he send me home. Yeah, I must have done something that pissed him so much off...or as pissed off as Jedi is allowed to be, so he was forced to send me back. And this woman and man are part of the Jedi Academy and got exiled too...for some reason. Could be my fault...

Though I don't remember having done anything…but that could explain why dad looks so lost, and has grey hair all of a sudden….as he does not know what to do with my any longer and that's why are going to see mom...to have her deal with me...

Ben grows cold and grips his head in panic. I hope she will believe I don't remember doing anything! It wouldn't be fair to get into trouble for something you don't even remember doing...right?!