"You made it back," Rosh congratulated as we stumbled out of the jungle to the rendezvous point. "And in record time too, I might add."
"Record time?" I queried. "It took us six hours."
"Indeed," Jaden beamed. "That would be two hours faster than the next closest team. Well done students."
Through the Force I could feel their pride washing off them like a shower. Clearly they were pleased with us, which was the first time they had shown real approval of us. Around me I could sense some of the weariness leave my companions; even I felt a little better by their praise.
"Get some rest," Rosh advised. "In two days you will begin your second and final test to become apprentices."
"What is it?" I couldn't resist asking.
"We will tell you this evening," Jaden replied as we boarded the transport. "For now clean up and get some rest."
Just as we were getting ourselves settled in the transport, Rosh and Jaden called me up to the front with them.
"Do you know why you were chosen as the leader?" Jaden asked me seriously.
"Atris mentioned something about how everyone seems to look up to me," I answered. "I guess it's true."
"But do you know why they do?" Rosh pressed.
"Because I understand people or something like that?" I replied, not entirely sure of the answer.
"It is because you are different than the rest," Jaden answered. Seeing my confused expression, she explained. "Satori, Reeko, Atris, and Saltanna all grew up in loving families, albeit a bit odd at times, but good families nonetheless."
"Whereas I grew up on the streets," I finished, following her logic.
"Exactly," she nodded. "You've been on your own your entire life, fighting for survival against those older, stronger, and bigger. It has made you tougher, wiser, and more mature than most your age. Your life has forced you to grow up faster than is normal; indeed it is unlikely that you ever had a childhood."
"You are a man among boys and that is why your peers look up to you," Rosh picked up for Jaden. "This will become even more apparent when you guys are out on missions in the real world."
"But there is a drawback," Jaden added.
"Isn't there always?" I sighed, leaning back.
"For much of your life, you have only had to look out for yourself," Jaden explained. "Now, for the first time, you have to look out for others in addition to yourself. That is a heavy responsibility that you are not used to. Remember that."
"I got everyone back in one piece, didn't I?" I pointed out.
"Only because we made it a requirement," Rosh countered. "If we hadn't, what would you have done?"
"Probably gone off on my own," I admitted.
"Which brings us to the next point," Jaden continued. "You've got to learn to trust your teammates."
"I let Reeko guide us through the Maladuern field, a nasty trick by the way," I defended myself.
"Only because you had no choice," Rosh countered. "What about the droid? How long did you spend fighting it by yourself before you were forced to let your teammates help? Who led the way through the trench? Out of the trench? Whose ideas did you follow? Yours or your teammates?"
Admittedly that analysis caught me off guard. I thought I had done rather well leading our band. Now I wasn't so sure.
"Well my ideas were the best," I defended. "And I am the most skilled person in our group so naturally I should take the lead."
"You might be the most skilled," Jaden cautioned, "but not always the best person for the job. Do not underestimate your teammates' abilities. Remember Atris at the canyon?"
My mind flashed back to the image of tiny Atris calmly stopping the crashing speeder and how once again I had underestimated her power.
"The task of a leader is not doing everything for everyone," Rosh explained. "It is protecting your charges and, more importantly, putting each member of your team in the best position to succeed. That means being aware of more than just yourself, but of your teammates as well."
"A good life lesson to add to your collection," Jaden put in with a small smile.
"Duly noted," I flatly replied. "I'll file it as Life Lesson 108: leadership is putting your teammates in the best position for them to succeed."
"And Life Lesson 109," Rosh suggested, "Trust your teammates."
"Sorry," I shook my head, leaning back against the seat, "but that would violate the most important life lesson."
"Which is?" Jaden cocked an eyebrow.
I felt the fatigue begin to wash over me and I closed my eyes.
"Life Lesson number 7," I answered sleepily. "Never trust anyone."
After a hearty supper and a good washing, Jaden and Rosh gathered us in our quarters.
"Congratulations again on passing your first test so excellently," Rosh grinned. "Now you are ready for your final test: constructing a lightsaber."
"(SWEET)!" Reeko exclaimed, jumping off his bunk.
Though not nearly as vocal, the rest of the group looked quite pleased with this. Even Satori grinned.
"Uh," I piped up, "what about me? I already have a lightsaber."
"True point," Jaden nodded. "That reminds me that you need to talk to Master Skywalker about your lightsaber training."
That made me feel awkward, especially when everyone stared at me.
"(Ohhh, you're in trouble)" Reeko chortled. I flicked a pillow at him with the Force.
"Before you get too excited," Rosh cautioned with an upraised hand, "this will be more difficult than the last test."
"How?" I questioned warily.
"You must find your own focusing crystal," Rosh explained. "Force crystals are grown in caves that have a strong connection to the Force. There are many such caves scattered across the galaxy, one particular one on Dantooine to which we are sending you."
"Dantooine?" I asked, getting a strange feeling of familiarity. "Why does it feel like I should know that place?"
"I don't know," Rosh shrugged. "There was Rebel base there during the Galactic Civil War, but other than that it is a fairly unimportant system. Farms, mostly."
"Strange," I shook my head. "I just have this feeling of déjà vu."
Rosh shrugged, though Jaden gave me a curious look.
"(Dantooine? Awesome)!" I could feel Reeko's excitement virtually sparking off of him.
"Calm down, son," I chided. "We're just going to another planet to pick up a few rocks."
"(No, you don't understand)" Reeko beamed. "(My parents' farm is on Dantooine. It's where I grew up.)"
"We know," Jaden cut in. "In fact we sent a message to them this afternoon informing them of your arrival. They are most excited to meet you."
"So why is this test harder?" I asked, bringing us back to the subject at hand.
"Because unlike the last one," Rosh answered, "there is no safety net."
"In this last test, we set everything up," Jaden expounded. "We designed and prepared all of the challenges you would face so that, barring sheer stupidity on your part, you would survive. In addition we were watching you the whole way so that if something went wrong, we could jump in and help you guys.
"That will not be the case this time," Jaden continued. "We will have no involvement. In fact we will not even accompany you on this assignment. All we will give you is the location of the cave. As for the rest, you will be on your own."
"We don't know what awaits you on Dantooine," Rosh added. "It very well could be that you walk in, pick up your crystal, and come home. Or you may have to fight through a legion of enemies. We don't know. But know this, whatever you do face will be real, legitimate threats. They will kill you if they can."
"Comforting," I grumbled.
"This is the life of a Jedi," Jaden replied. "And each of you knew this going in. Being a Jedi engenders great respect and carries great power, but it also means having a target on your back. There are many that hate the Jedi, even after all that they have done for the galaxy and they will take a shot at you if the get it."
"Remember that being a Jedi means being a peacekeeper, warrior, and humanitarian," Rosh put in. "We go to where the need, and thereby the danger, is the greatest. Ours is not a life of luxury and ease."
That description made bailing at Dantooine and moving on with my life an attractive idea, but I decided more or less against it. I'd stick it out until it was absolutely necessary to leave.
"Skippy," I muttered. "So we leave in two days?"
"Correct," Rosh nodded. "There will be no training until then. We want you guys to take the next two days to mediate and rest from your test."
We nodded our understanding.
"Revan, if you'll come with us," Jaden called to me. "Master Skywalker wishes to speak to you."
"Enter," a gentle voice called from inside the office.
Even before the doors slide open, I could feel his presence in the Force. It was rippling nexus of energy full of peace and light. It was almost overwhelming, the pure power this man had at his disposal. This could be none other than Jedi Master Luke Skywalker, galactic hero several times over.
The man himself was unimposing. He was of average height with sandy colored hair flecked with gray strands. His face was lined with the stress of have fought and won two massive and cataclysmic wars in his lifetime. He was wearing his typical black robes and studying a datapad carefully. Looking up, he inclined his head at.
"Greetings," he gave me a polite smile. "You must be Revan, the boy wonder with a lightsaber."
"I hold my own," I downplayed. "I was told you wanted to see me."
"Yes," the Jedi Master nodded. "First, may I see your weapon?"
With a shrug I unclipped my lightsaber and handed the weapon to Skywalker. He examined the hilt carefully before standing up and igniting the blade. Rotating it in his hand, he studied the construction and consistency.
"This is one of, if not the finest lightsaber I have ever seen," he marveled. "The hilt is of a design I've never come across before. Where did you get it?"
"I don't know," I replied. "My parents, at least I think my parents, left it for me when I was a small child. I've had it as long as I can remember."
"Remarkable," Skywalker deactivated the blade but continued to gaze at the hilt. "This weapon is ancient, the oldest lightsaber I've ever come across. I would guess well over 3000 years old."
"How in the galaxy do you know that?" I gaped.
"The craftsmanship is of a higher quality than anything I've seen from the Old Republic dating back a thousand years. The design of the hilt is unique too," Luke handed it back. "But more than that, it has a presence in the Force. Its history and age have been imprinted upon it. This blade has a story, a very special story."
"Got my curiosity aroused," I looked expectantly.
"Oh I can't see what the story is," Skywalker shook his head. "Just that this blade has one. A powerful, very powerful Jedi crafted this long ago. It has seen many incredible things. A remarkable weapon, to be sure."
I looked at the lightsaber in my hand. It looked just the same as ever, a simple cylinder with four ridges running its length. Yet I could sense the aura of memory this blade stored. I felt a little uncomfortable holding such a piece of history in my hands.
"What else did you want to see me about?" I asked, returning the blade to my belt.
"Your lightsaber training has been unique because you already were versed in the old Order's styles. As such learning our styles would be counterproductive," Skywalker told me. "And it has come to my attention that you know the Juyo style."
"Know would be an overstatement," I replied. "More accurately, I know about it and know some of the moves, but I can't actually do it. The one time I tried nearly ended very badly."
"Jaden thinks it would be a good idea for you to pursue mastering it," the Jedi Master continued.
"I sense a 'but' coming," I sighed.
"But," Skywalker emphasized, "I disagree. Juyo is just too aggressive and leads too perilously close to the dark side to be learned, especially by one so young."
"You don't trust me," I surmised.
"When it comes to Juyo and the dark side, I don't trust any student," Skywalker clarified. "Frankly I don't know if I trust myself with this. The pull of the dark side is very strong and very seductive. A student with your lack of experience is very susceptible to that pull. It would be unwise to expose you to that."
"I think I could handle it," I shrugged.
"Possibly, though unlikely," Skywalker shook his head. "Even if you could, the risk is too great. And what would you use it for anyway? We are peacekeepers, not soldiers. Besides from what I hear, your skill is good enough to handle whatever is thrown at you anyway."
"I suppose," I sighed. I was kind of looking forward to trying Juyo.
"That said," Skywalker gave me a hint of a smile, "there is a special form of lightsaber combat I would like you to try. Have you ever heard of Jar'kai?"
"Nope," I shook my head, drawing a blank.
"It's the art of wielding two blades instead of one," Skywalker explained. "It is very difficult to master without killing yourself, but if you do, you will be nearly invincible."
"The staff is a variant of Jar'kai," Jaden cut in. I had forgotten that she and Rosh were there. "Since I use one, I can help teach you."
"We bring this up to you know because if you decide to become a Jar'kai user, you would need to construct an additional lightsaber," Skywalker continued. "Which means going on this trip would mean more than just sightseeing and babysitting."
I thought about it for a moment. "Jar'kai sounds like a fun challenge," I said, "let's do it."
"Excellent," Master Skywalker stood and shook my hand. "A pleasure to meet you Revan. A curious name, that. It sounds familiar."
"So I've been told," I rolled my eyes. "It was an honor to meet you."
"I see you becoming a great Force-wielder," Skywalker gave me a curious look. "Congratulations on passing the first test. I'm certain you need your rest."
"You could say that," I agreed. "Have a good evening, Master Skywalker."
"To you as well," he gave a short bow and we exited the office. Thus went my first meeting with the famed Jedi Master Luke Skywalker.