Chapter two

Luke reached out behind the sparring droid's head and flipped the switch. The droid's singular eye lit up, indicating it's activation. " Greetings Padawan Skywalker. Shall we continue practicing the techniques of countering Djem So? "

" Yeah, Thank you TeeEx "

TX-1 was a Jedi training droid used to instruct padawans in the forms of lightsaber combat. Sana Starros, Their smuggler friend, had given it to Luke as a gift after his return from Bespin to help him cope with Han's status. He couldn't recall exactly how she got it, but she apparently bought it from someone who bought it from a collector who bought it from someone who was part of a raid on some imperial warehouse.

" May I suggest practicing against Ataru? You seem to focus excessively on countering Djem So. Your Opponents can and most probably will use more than just one form . "

" Afraid that'll have to wait TeeEx. Djem So please... Level five " Ataru relied on acrobatics which weren't his opponents greatest strength anyway. Djem So on the other hand...

" Level five? But you're hardly past level three! I don't recommend such a leap. It'd be better if you took your time in order not to exert yourself. "

" Unfortunately, That's not something we can afford... Level five, TeeEx " Luke said grimly as he activated his lightsaber in training mode and took the opening stance of Djem So. ' Talk about fighting fire with fire ' he thought wryly.

The sparring droid activated it's built in training saber and quickly landed a heavy blow that Luke blocked with relative ease. Luke then proceeded to engage the droid in a flurry of blocks, parries and counter attacks, sinking into the force and allowing it to partially guide his movements the way it did when he was flying his X-Wing.

The training was going well, but even after all these sessions, something felt off. The lightsaber in his hand felt awkward and unfamiliar...like a constant reminder that it wasn't his own. For the past few years, his father's lightsaber was his most prized possession, his only link to the mysterious hero who inspired him to become a jedi in the first place. Now, he didn't really want to know what sort of lives it once took.

The blue-bladed lightsaber he was currently using was one of the lightsabers they'd obtained from Grakkus the Hutt's collection on Nar Shadda. Luke'd chosen to keep one in his X-Wing in case of emergencies, which proved useful after Hoth as Master Yoda didn't have a lightsaber to use for training him.

' Size matters not ' . Indeed, Yoda's size managed to hide how incredibly powerful he was from the untrained force-sensitive. Luke remembered how Yoda'd felt halfway into his training; instead of just another living presence, Yoda was like a beacon, a blazing sun in the force. He'd amazed Luke when he lifted the X-Wing from the swamp, but Yoda's strength was more than matched by his skill, he could wield Luke's spare saber with his mind better than Luke could wield his own with his hands. During their combat sessions, He would levitate the spare saber a little higher than Luke would hold his own - probably because he realized Luke'd mostly be facing opponents taller than himself - and engage his padawan in combat with dazzling speed and skill. Luke'd already been taught the basics of combat by Kreel and the late Thane Markona, but Yoda had shown him how little he knew when he walked him through the jedi forms.

One particular training session stood out among all others. It was one of the early ones after Yoda'd finished showing him the basics of each form and began to focus on Djem So, both the applying and the countering of it.

" hmm...Suits you Djem So does, for a strong form it is. Of converting defense into offence it is capable. Help you against Vader it will. "

" Was Djem So my father's form ? "

Yoda seemed to hesitate but only for a few moments. " Strong your father was with Djem So. One of the best to ever wield it he was. A powerful Jedi he became, brave as well, but much anger was in him and follow the path strictly he never did. Put him in many dangers this often did. "

What sort of danger? The danger of the dark side? He recalled sensing the tiniest spark of fear when Yoda had said those words, was he afraid he might turn out like his father?

His uncle had often said he was much like his father, and he'd never seemed particularly happy about it. Did he know what his father became? What did old Ben tell his aunt and uncle? He had little doubt that Ben Kenobi was a good man, but if what Vader had told him was true, Ben had no problem telling lies if it served his ends or if he couldn't bring himself to tell the truth.

Was Vader really his father? Could he ever turn into that ? But he was so different, and everything he learned about his father so far told him he was different as well. His father had saved the Jedi Huulik's life during the clone wars, he was a war hero, the best star pilot in the galaxy, a good friend and a good man.

' But it's easy to stop being a good man ' he thought as he recalled his words to Ubin on Jedha. What was it that had caused Vader to stop being a good man? the dark side? The dark side locus may have affected chulco's mind, but it couldn't do anything to a force-sensitive like Luke. Surely the dark side alone couldn't have been enough to corrupt someone as strong as Vader. There had to be more to it than that.

His train of thoughts, however, managed to distract him enough for TX-1 to disarm him with a complicated maneuver, sending his lightsaber flying to the corner of the spacious storing room Luke used for training sessions.

" well, considering the sudden leap in difficulty, I would say that was quite exceptional. However, you will obviously need to improve your techniques before moving to the next level. I have detected several errors that must be brought to your attention, as usual. "

Before the droid could begin replaying the duel, however, The session was interrupted by the sound of the door being opened. A man dressed in a soldier's armor walked in. " Er, excuse me, sir. I am looking for a commander Skywalker. "

The man was robust and well-built, with tanned skin, brown eyes and a white full beard. He seemed to be in his sixties but healthy for his age. The badge on his breastplate marked him as a corporeal and he seemed to be eyeing Luke with well-hidden astonishment and curiosity.

" Yeah, that would be me. You can deactivate now TeeEx, we will get back to it later. Is someone looking for me corporeal? "

" No, sir. I just wanted...to meet you personally. You see, I was recently transferred here from General Syndulla's ship to train General Madine's commandos and when I heard about you, I had to come see you myself. I, er, heared you were related to General Anakin Skywalker of the clone wars. "

That managed to grab Luke's attention, so did the way the man's eyes lingered for the briefest moment on the lightsaber lying in the corner. " I am...he was my father. Yo-you knew him? "

" Why, of course I did, sir! I was second-in-command of General Skywalker's battalion. Captain CT-7567 of the 501st, but you can call me Rex. " The man said cheerfully as he extended his arm for a handshake.

Luke's eyes narrowed as he shook his hand, until something clicked in his mind " You're a clone... "

" Yes, Sir. One of the original ones from Kamino. I have to say, sir, it's quite an honor to meet you "

" Please, the honor is all mine! " Luke said with barely controlled excitement. A real clone wars veteran, and his father's second-in-command no less! " So, you knew my father well? "

" We all did, sir, He was our general. I have to say, your relationship came across as a surprise to me given the fact that Generals had a policy regarding such relationships. "

" Yeah, I've heard. " Luke said with a small frown " Unfortunately, I never really knew my father, I was...raised by his relatives, so I don't really know more than you do. "

" I'm...sorry to hear that sir. Your father was an incredible man. I owe more than my life to him. "

" He was? "

" Why, of course, sir! He was a brilliantly creative strategist. His...unorthodox tactics would often cause poor Admiral Yularen to have a fit, but I'll be damned if they didn't work. More so, He cared about his soliders. He was one of the few people who treated each one of us like a real, independent being rather than a property of the Republic. Why, he'd often risk his life just to save one of us. We were willing to follow him to the end of the line. "

" Vader is worshipped by the stormtrooper corps " A voice said in the back of his head. It sounded a lot like General Cracken during one of Luke's earlier briefings with the Rebellion.

" He taught me that a true leader leads from the front. He never sat back and let his soliders do the dirty work. "

" Whether by himself or in his TIE fighter, Vader is at the front of every battle. Rumor has it he doesn't even have an office. He isn't the sort of man to sit behind a desk. "

The voice continued as Luke's expression began to show distress.

" Er, something wrong, sir? "

" No, I just...remembered something. " Luke said as he composed himself and put a small smile on his face. " So...how many stories about my father can you tell me, Captain? "

Rex's mouth broke into a grin. " Well, sir, how many do you have the time to hear? "