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Michael was packing up the few things he owned, eliminating any trace of his existence at the campsite when the ship landed, cracking several of the trees of the area in half.

Obi-Wan stepped out of the ship and yelled, "Get in here." Michael just stood there, staring, "Hurry up, you don't have much time."

Michael ran to the ship and walked in the door. "You're not just going to drop me in the middle of space, are you?"

"No, of course not. You're coming with us."

"To where?"
"Coruscant, the location of the Jedi Council."

"Who are Jedi?"
"I'll explain it later. Anakin, the coordinates are punched in. Get us out of the atmosphere and start the Hyperdrive."

"Yes, Master," Anakin responded. Obi-Wan took Michael to the cockpit and pointed to a chair next to Ahsoka.

Obi-Wan sat in the seat next to Anakin's and turned to Michael and said, "You may feel a little uncomfortable."

Suddenly all Michael could see was blue lights stretching across the windshield. Instantly he felt like he was spinning and fell out of his chair and passed out.

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Michael finally woke up after spending about ten hours unconscious. His ears were ringing and his head was killing him. "Here," Obi-Wan handed Michael a canteen, "drink this. You'll feel better." Michael took a sip. It was water. It tasted bitter, but his head stopped hurting almost instantly.

"Congratulations," Ahsoka said as Michael tried to get to his feet, "you just entered Hyperspace for the first time." Once Michael finally managed to stand up his legs were shaking so much that he nearly fell over, but he managed to balance himself on the arm of one of the seats.

"What happened?"
"You had a little trouble dealing with the effects of Hyperspace."

"Is that normal."

"To some extent."
"What do you mean?"
"Well—"

"Most people don't pass out after five seconds." Anakin said, cutting off his padawan.

"Oh, good to know. How long was I out for."

"About ten hours," Ahsoka answered, "don't worry, only about 40 to go."

"A fifty hour trip at the speed of light?"
"Actually it's almost twice that," Anakin said, not looking back, despite not needing to control the ship.

"Twice the speed of light? For fifty hours? Wow, we haven't even put a man on another planet yet."
"I wonder why." Anakin said sarcastically. Michael didn't miss it either, but before he could say anything Obi-Wan jumped in.

"Ahsoka, why don't you and Michael head back to the living quarters? I'm sure he'll feel better without looking at Hyperspace."

"Yes, Master Kenobi."

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Back at the living quarters Ahsoka was sitting on one of the bunks and Michael was lying on one opposite her. "Michael, I'm curious. Were you really afraid of me?"
"No, not really. Why?"

"Well, you did faint when you saw me."
"I was just a little shocked. It's not every day you meet someone from a different galaxy."

"I guess. But why did you risk your safety to help us? For all you knew we could have tried to kill you."

"For all I know I am still in danger."

"True, I guess."
"But I never felt like you were dangerous."
"What do you mean?"

"I don't know how to explain it, but whenever something bad is about to happen I get this feeling. It tells me to run and hide or it helps protect me."
"You must be Force-sensitive then."
"There it is again, Force-sensitive," he sat up, "You mentioned it earlier; what does it mean?"

"It means that you are able to use the force…to some degree. It's how you pushed us back when you woke up in here when we first met you."

"What are you talking about?"

"What do you mean? You know what the Force is, don't you?"

"No. And what are you talking about. I never pushed you back. All I remember is I turned on that sword…thing—"

"Lightsaber," she corrected.

"Right, the lightsaber, and stabbed myself in the leg. Next thing I know I'm outside trying to run away."

"I don't really know how I could explain it."

"It doesn't really matter." he lied back down. "If I need to know I'll figure out soon enough."

"Are you always like this?"
"Like what?"
"You're just so…relaxed. I mean you're on an space ship with three people you've never met, you don't know where we're going, and you don't know why we're taking you with us. Why aren't you scared?"

"It can't be worse than my life back on Earth."
"How can you know that?"
"I don't. But you guys don't seem like bad people."

"Really?"
"Yeah…. Well, that, um, Anakin guy seems a little on edge, but apart from that I don't think any of you would do anything bad."
"Yeah, Master Skywalker does let his anger take control of him sometimes, but he's generally a good guy."
"Why do you keep calling them Master? They don't own you do they?"

"Like a slave? No. It's a sign of respect for Jedi of a higher rank."

"Sounds complicated."
"You get used to it. I mean, when you grow up in that kind of life it's easy."

"So what about your family? Are they Jedi too?"
"No." Ahsoka said slightly sad.

Michael noticed, "You do still see them, don't you?"
"The truth is," she took a deep breath, "I don't know my parents."
"I'm sorry. I didn't know they had died." He felt bad about bringing the topic up.

"Well, I don't know if they are dead. It's just. I was taken for Jedi training when I was three, so I don't really have any memories of them."
"You mean they just took you away?"
"Well, my parents had to let them, but I'm sure it's because they knew it would be a better life. "
"It just doesn't sound right. Taken away from your parents at that young an age. Everyone needs parents."
"Coming from the guy who lived alone in the woods for a year."
"Point taken. But I at least had parents for most of my life."
"Look, I'm not saying I like everything about the code of the Jedi—"

"If you don't like it why follow it?"

"It helps keep the peace. And that's the most important thing."

"You don't sound to sure about that."
"It's not that. I just think some things could be changed."

"Like what?"
"It would be hard to understand when you don't even know who the Jedi are."

"Try me."

"What?"
"Try to explain it to me. You know: Jedi, the Force, the code, whatever. Just try."

"Okay. Well I don't know how to explain the force very well. No one does. It's a mystery of the Universe. We do know that it flows through everything, to some extent. The Jedi are people who have such a strong connection to the Force that they can harness it and use it to do certain things."
"Like what?"
"Like when my Master stopped you from running away. Also we can sense certain things, especially other force-sensitive individuals. But there are a lot of other things, too. Then there is the code. The Jedi Code is a set of guidelines and rules that Jedi must follow. It's things like protecting the weak from evil, not killing unarmed opponents, the age requirements for taking a Jedi for training, and prohibition of marriage. There's a lot of other stuff too, but—"

"You're not allowed to get married?" He interrupted.

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because attachments can lead to the Dark Side. The Code was made to stop people from falling to the Dark Side."
"The what?"

"The Dark Side. I don't know the best way to explain it, but it's generally used to classify Jedi who use emotions like hate, fear, pain, and love to fuel their power. The Jedi of the Light Side, like Master Kenobi, Skywalker, and me, use the force to aid others. We fight against the Dark Side to try to bring balance to the Force."
"That seems…strange."

"What do you mean."
"What does the Dark Side use the force for?"
"The Sith, users of the Dark Side, are only out for personal gain?"
"And what fuels the Light Side?"
"Well, good things. Like, honesty and mercy."

"But couldn't the Dark Side be used for good? Isn't it hate that makes you want to stop people that are evil? Don't fear and pain make you want to improve so that you can overcome obstacles? Doesn't love give you something to fight for?"

"What are you saying?"
"I'm just saying that it all depends on how you look at good and evil. In a way everything you do may be dictated by hate, fear, pain, or love."

"But there is a huge difference. The Sith see everything in absolutes. Either you side with them or you are their enemy."
"It sounds like the Jedi are the same; maybe not with enemies or friends, but with emotions. The Jedi see raw emotions as aspect of this Dark Side only. Isn't that an absolute? Only seeing them as negative things?"
"How can you say these kind of things after everything the Sith have done? The Sith are evil--"

"I'm not talking about the Sith. After what you said I don't deny that they are evil. Focusing solely on personal gain has caused some of Earth's biggest problems. It's just; the Light Side and the Dark Side are two halves of the same coin. You need both in your life. Without hate or fear your enemies would take you over like that," he snaps his fingers, "without love the universe would be a cold boring place. But also, without honesty there would be chaos and without mercy, petty crimes would have the same punishment as major atrocities. I'm no expert, I don't know about your way of life. I'm just saying maybe there isn't a Dark or Light Side. Maybe the only difference between a Jedi and a Sith is if you use your powers for good. Regardless of what you fuel them with." The two sat in silence for several minutes. Ahsoka was angry at what she heard, but she couldn't deny what he had said, "Just out of curiosity, what kind of powers would you consider Sith?"

"Things like using the Force for lightning and choking."

"Hold on; you're going to tell me that you have powers? That you can do things like summon lightning and choke people with 'The Force?'"

"I can't personally do those, I haven't even tried."
"Sounds completely fake to me."
"Really?" Ahsoka raised her hand as if she were reaching for something. Next thing he knew, Michael was pulled off the bed.

"Holy shit," he scrambled to his feet, "what was that?"

"Still think it's stupid?"
"You really were serious."

"Yup."

"But why would lightning or choking be any more evil than pulling stuff towards you?"

"Because using the Force for lightning or choking people only has the goal of hurting or killing people."

"But they could be used for the greater good. Couldn't they?"
"I guess, but I'm no master. I don't pretend to now everything.

"Hey. I don't know anything about this and I'm already throwing in a viewpoint." The two sat in silence for some time. Michael was just laying on the cot; Ahsoka sat upright. Michael sat up and looked her straight in the eye, "I'm sorry if I said anything…bad. I just have a tendency to question things."

"Like what?"
"To be honest, everything." Ahsoka started laughing, "What's so funny?"

"I don't know. I just had a thought that if you were accepted into the order, despite your age and your beliefs, how funny it would be to see your masters face when you asked these questions."
"What's so funny about that?"

"I don't know. It would just be…different."

"I don't think I would be accepted into your order anyway."
"Apart from age, why?"

"I can't use the force like you can."
"But you can. You did it before, remember?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." He didn't. He had no memory of it.

"Ahsoka, would you mind if I talk to Michael for a second?" Ahsoka and Michael turned towards the door and saw Obi-Wan standing there.

Ahsoka stood up and said, "Yes, Master."

"Wait, may I borrow your lightsaber?" She handed it to him and walked out the door.

"How long have you been standing there?"
"I heard your little speech about the Dark Side and the Light Side."
"I'm sorry about that."
"Why? You're entitled to your opinion. My master was never what you would call orthodox. He broke the code several times because he thought it was the right thing to do. But that's not important right now. Michael, I'm going to try to get you into the Jedi Order, but I am not sure if I will be successful."
"But from what I heard there is no way I ever could be a Jedi."
"What are you talking about? Your age? That's just a guideline. Besides the force is strong in you. I don't think the Jedi Council will overlook that."
"The Force; the Force. What is this 'Force?' Ahsoka tried to explain it, but I still don't get it."

"I can't answer that; that is for you to decide. All we know is that it binds us all together and dictates what we do. It is in all living things…or at least until we found your planet."

"What do you mean?"
"For some reason your planet was completely without the Force. And not just the people; everything; the trees, animals, people, nothing. That's why I think we crashed where we did. We were drawn to the only Force-sensitive thing on your planet."

"What?"
"You." Michael started laughing, "What's funny about this?"
"Let me get this straight. Out of the 6 million and something people on this planet I am the only one who has some connection to the Force and you found me for that reason?"

"Yes."

"So where does this leave me?"
"Hopefully the Council will see this and let you in, but I can't guarantee anything."
"So what should I do?"
"Simple. I'm going to help train you."

"What?"
Obi-Wan clicked something on the hilt and said, "Catch," he tossed the lightsaber to Michael. He wasn't expecting it and it hit him in the chest. He said, "I've got a lot of work to do."

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Obi-Wan and Michael were standing in the living quarters. The bunks had been taken down in order to give them some extra room. "Okay, we have 20 hours until we arrive at Coruscant, so let's make the best of it. First you have to activate it. When you do this you want to make sure that the blade is not pointing towards you. You've already done that once, don't make the mistake again. Most lightsabers have the activation switch in the hilt; that way if it fell out of your hand it would deactivate. So, apply pressure to the hilt." Michael did as he was told and the green blade appeared. "Good, now I need you to strike me."
"What? Are you crazy?"
"Don't worry; I've turned the power down so any injuries won't be serious. So strike me." Obi-Wan activated his blue saber and stood on guard. Michael stepped forward and swung instinctively, only to have the lightsaber pushed away with ease. "Don't hold back. I need you to strike me as if I were an opponent. We'll work on form later." He put his lightsaber up again and Michael stepped and swung as fast as he could, but Obi-Wan still blocked his attack. "Come on, Michael, I know you can do better than this. Don't act like the lightsaber is a weapon. A Jedi's lightsaber is an extension of himself, not a separate thing. It's a part of you, just like the force. Be one with it, don't control it. Let it guide your actions. Michael closed his eyes and took a deep breath and swung at Obi-Wan only to blocked again with just the slightest movement of his blade. The next thing he knew he was using the momentum of Obi-Wan's block to throw the next attack and nearly hit his legs, but Obi-Wan blocked again. The force of the block caused Michael to lose balance.

He fell to his knees and said, "Damn it," and deactivated the lightsaber.

"Do not fret, Michael. This takes practice. Most Jedi go through years of training before even practicing blade-to-blade combat, but we don't have that kind of time, so get up and try again.

After several hours of training Obi-Wan returned to the cockpit and sat next to Anakin. Anakin turned to him and said, "Master, do you really think this is going to work? The Council will never accept him."
"I have a plan, don't worry."
"I'm not. He's your problem."

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Ahsoka walked into the living quarters (the bunks were back in position) and saw Michael exhausted, panting and sweating like crazy on one of the bunks. "Whoa, how was your first training session? Tiring?"

"That would be an understatement," he said between gasps of air, "That was the hardest thing I have ever done, physically. Kenobi really drove me."
"If you're going to be in the order you're going to have to start calling him Master Kenobi."
"What about you?"

"Well, I'm still a padawan, so you'd just call me Ahsoka, but I still outrank you."
"Why's that? Are you older than me?"
"Nope, I'm fourteen, but I've been in the Order longer."

"Fair enough. Any tips for a Jedi hopeful?"

"When in doubt listen to your master."
"Thanks, I guess. What do you think will happen?"
"What do you mean?"
"Do you think I'll be accepted for training or will I be refused?"
"Honestly, I don't know. With what we saw you do I don't think they'd turn you away, but you're too old to be given a master. It's a confusing situation."
"This is definitely not going to go over well with this Council."
"Hey, don't worry. With everything my Master and Obi-Wan have done, the Council is probably used to it by now."

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Michael's training continued only an hour after his last session ended. This time he was against Ahsoka and he was borrowing Obi-Wan's lightsaber. It felt even stranger and heavier in his hands than hers did. "Okay, Michael, now we are going to work on your blocking. Normally we use droids to fire bolts for you to deflect, but we don't have one on hand, so you'll be blocking Ahsoka's attacks, which she will be easy with," He shot her a glance. "She is going to start off slowly and gradually speed up her attacks."

"Master, are you sure I should be the one doing this?"
"Yes, Ahsoka, I told you. I need to watch him to make sure he is doing it correctly. Oh, and please use a standard grip for this. I'm not as picky about it as Anakin, but for the sake of practice."
"Yes, Master." She activated her lightsaber without the reverse grip. Michael noticed that her normal confidence had diminished a little. He then activated Obi-Wan's saber.

"Okay, Michael, just remember: feel the Force running through you and use that to block her attacks.

"Yes, sir."

"Good, begin." Ahsoka attacked once with a basic vertical strike. Michael blocked it easily, but he knew that she had attacked far slower than she could. She continued to do single strikes aimed at different areas of his body then she sped up. Now the strikes were quicker, more random. Michael had a harder time defending himself and he was tiring quickly, but Ahsoka wasn't even breaking a sweat. "Michael, your using to much energy. You're thinking too much. Just try to relax, breath. Try to feel where she's going to attack and then block. You can't just use your sight to defend. You'll never overcome and opponent that way."
"How do I do that, sir?"
Obi-Wan thought for a minute then said, "I got it." He ran out of the room and came back a moment later with a fighter helmet. "I want you to put this on; and keep the blast screen down." He handed the helmet to Michael.

"But I can't see with this thing on. How am I supposed to defend if I can't see?"
"Use the Force. You will learn that you can't do everything with your eyes. You have to learn to close them and let the Force guide you. Don't think; Feel. Okay, Ahsoka, begin."

"Master Kenobi, are you sure this is a good idea?"

"Yes, and now I want you to speed up a little more."

"Yes, Master." Ahsoka moved a little to her left and struck at Michael's right shoulder. He tried to block on the wrong side and when her power-downed blade struck him he dropped the lightsaber. It deactivated and rolled across the floor away from Michael.

Michael was about to take off the helmet to find the lightsaber, but Kenobi grabbed his arm. "No, Michael. Find it without your eyes. You know what it looks like, it's weight, and how it feels in your hand. Now focus on it. Block everything else from your mind. All distractions, emotions, everything expect for the saber. Just let go of everything else and concentrate on your objective. Michael tried to do as he was told, but he couldn't hone in on the hilt. "Just concentrate, picture it in your mind." Anger started to build up in Michael. Not anger at Obi-Wan; anger at himself. Why couldn't he find the stupid thing? No matter how hard he tried he couldn't do it. His anger just built up.

"Why can't I find the damn lightsaber," he thought to himself. The anger kept building up, "Where is it?" Ahsoka was about to move to pick it up, but Obi-Wan stopped her, not making a sound. Then, suddenly, Michael felt something. It was just a short distance away, but he couldn't move his feet toward this feeling. He could feel it just in front of him, just out of reach. He stretched his arm out toward the thing and tried to reach it. He imagined pulling it in and the next thing he knew something heavy flew into his hand. It was the lightsaber. He activated it and swung it at something in front of him. A similar feeling. He could feel it moving and it started coming at him, fast. He raised the lightsaber in his hand over his head and felt it being pushed toward him. When the pressure released he felt the same thing coming at his side and he stopped that as well. This continued, after every few strikes Ahsoka would speed up. Obi-Wan didn't tell her too, it was her own frustration that caused her to do it. He could feel it. Michael continued to block each of her blows, but he was losing energy rapidly. He didn't know how much longer he could keep this up. His arms felt like they were going to fall off, but he kept up his guard; then his arms just gave out and the lightsaber flew out of his hands and he felt Ahsoka's lightsaber strike him on his left ribcage. He fell to the ground.

"That was excellent. You can take off the helmet."

"Excellent? It was only for, like, two minutes." He got to his feet, shaking.
"Two minutes? Michael you were blocking her for almost half an hour. And eventually reached full speed."
"What? Are you serious?" Obi-Wan just nodded his head. "How did I do that?"
"The Force is a mysterious thing, Michael. It can let you do things that you never thought possible. Tell me how did you pick up your lightsaber without walking toward it?"
"You were doing that?"
"Yes. Tell me, how could you block every strike that Ahsoka threw at you, despite never having formal training?"
"Well she did slow it down."
"True, you didn't stop until she sped up enough, but you still managed to defend yourself for some time. Tell me. How did you throw three armed and trained Jedi off of their feet? How are you able to walk without a limp after stabbing yourself in the leg?"

"Okay, I don't know," he said angrily, "I don't know how I did anything. And I don't know what you're talking about with what I did earlier. I don't remember that. All I remember is that I stabbed myself in the leg and then I was outside. I don't remember anything between that."

"You don't? You don't know how you did any of this?"
"No. All I know is that I concentrated on the lightsaber and I could almost see it in front of me and the next thing I know it was in my hand. Then I could just feel where her blade was. And my arms just moved to respond. I didn't exactly do it myself, I just felt what was happening."
"That's what should happen."
"What?"
"Everything in this universe, with very little exception, has the Force running through it. As Jedi we are able to connect with that force and use it. When you pulled the lightsaber to your hand, you concentrated on it so hard that a connection was formed. A connection between the Medichlorians in your blood and those in the saber. Then you did the same thing between you and Ahsoka. That is why you could defend yourself. You were one with the Force in that moment. And that is how you and me, like all Jedi, are able do what we can."

"What are Medichlorians?"
"I'll explain it later, but," Obi-Wan took something out of his pocket and took a small sample of Michael's blood, "this will do."

"What was that?"
"Patience, Michael. Patience." He left the quarters and went into the cockpit.

"Medichlorians?" He asked Ahsoka. Michael sat down on one of the bunks, Ahsoka remained standing.

"You're going to get an answer from Obi-Wan anyway."

"Good point."

"By the way, you did good…For a beginner."

"Thank you, Ahsoka."

"You never did answer my question, you know."

"What question?"

"Why did you help us out so much?"

"I was just sick of everyone only looking after themselves, you know? My parents always told me that it was more important for me to make money than it was for me to help people. They always told me that nothing good could ever come out of it. Always told me that I could never make a change. I wanted to prove them wrong."

"It looks like you did."

"What do you mean?"

"You did prove them wrong. Because you helped us you are getting another chance at life. And you did make a change. Without you we may never had made it off of your planet. This ships engines fuel everything. Without them we had no way of communicating with any other planet. We were in a galaxy that was completely unexplored by any known member of our galactic system. We would have either been stranded there or tracked down by the people we are fighting."

"Thank you."
"Your welcome."
"No, not just for that. For everything. You're the first person who has said something nice to me in years. Even my parents never did that. They just liked to pretend I never existed." A single tear fell down his cheek.

"Hey, you okay?" She sat down next to him, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong."
"Then why are you crying?"
"I'm just so happy. No one's ever treated me this nicely. All my life I've been alone, no one even acknowledged by existence, but for the first time in my life someone cares enough for me to do all of this. Kenobi…Master Kenobi is training me. Even though I probably won't get accepted as a Jedi he is giving me a chance. And I consider you a friend. Am I right?"
"Of course."

"You're really my first friend, ever. I've never been trusted anyone enough to be a friend, but with you…I just trust you and I feel like you'll be there to help me; and I promise that I will always help you whenever I can."
"Thanks Michael." She hugged him. "Now come on. Let's find a way to celebrate this moment…without our masters."

"What do you mean?"
"I'm going to show you some cool things about the force. Now come on, Blue."
"Blue?"
"Yeah, you have blue eyes, really deep blue. Is that a trait of your kind?"
"No, actually. Most are lighter, but…"
"Perfect, then that's your nickname."

"What should I call you then?"

"That's up to you. If you find a good enough nickname." She left and instead of heading to the cockpit she went through another door.

"You know, most people just called me Mike." From the other room he heard, "I like Blue better."
"What about Mikey?"

"Nope," she called back. Michael gave up and followed her into the room.

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