Disclaimer: I don't own Obi-Wan, Siri, Luke, Mara, Han or Leia. I'm just borrowing them from Lucas for awhile.
Echoes Of The Past
Chapter 7
Luke was looking for any clue as he searched the trashed apartment. He wanted to discover anything he could possible about Zora. The lack of knowledge distracted him. He plugged her name and description into the list of wanted galactic criminals, but nothing showed up that matched her description. Luke did find the mention of a Zora who worked for the slaver/pirate Krayn some thirty years ago, but it was confirmed that she was dead.
Luke discovered that she somehow gained the codes to not only Leia's suite, but to enter 500 Republica itself. Zora was not just a skilled warrior, but she was cunning and used her intuition. And in the past he found that those enemies were often times the worst.
As for her Jedi skills it taught him another piece of knowledge. Zora had to have been trained by an agent of the Empire (as his wife had been) or was a remaining Knight from the Old Republic. Practically all the Jedi were wiped out, Ben Kenobi and Yoda were very rare exceptions to the rule. Emperor Palpatine ruled with an iron fist, and Darth Vader was his tool.
Luke hated thinking like this. He never wanted to think of the dark deeds that his father once committed. His father would always be Anakin Skywalker to Luke, not Darth Vader. In Luke's eyes, his father redeemed himself. And there was no way to change the past.
"What is troubling you?" asked a calmly accented voice that seemed to be coming from thin air.
Luke recognized the voice instantly and he smiled. "Ben, it's so good to hear from you again," he said relieved. If anyone could give a different perspective on his problems, then it would be Ben Kenobi.
The elderly Jedi Master appeared right before him seconds later, looking totally calm and at peace. Luke felt some of his earlier tension melt away, it always did when he was in Ben's presence. It didn't matter that Ben was a Force ghost and not really physically there.
"It's always good to speak with you, Luke. But I must know, what is troubling you," Ben asked gently.
"It all started a few days ago when Mon Mothma was killed by an unknown assassin," Luke started to explain.
Ben's brow furrowed in concern, yet he didn't speak. Luke continued his story.
"She was killed using a lightsaber. So I thought it would be best if Mara and I stood watch for Leia in case the attacker came after her," he said.
"And I take it this person came back," Ben stated shrewdly.
"It happened tonight. The intruder was a woman, and she was very skilled in the Jedi Arts," Luke answered. "Not to mention that she bypassed all of 500 Republica's security systems without batting an eye."
Ben looked troubled and thoughtful and didn't speak for a moment. "Do you know her identity?" he asked finally.
"I only have her first name, but I could find no records on it. It must be an alias," Luke replied.
"What is the name? Perhaps I've heard of her," Ben asked curiously.
"Her name is Zora."
It appeared to Luke that Ben instantly recognized the name. The Jedi Master's eyes went wide for a moment and his face looked grim. Luke was sure that if Ben wasn't a ghost then his face would be deathly pail.
"Are you sure," Obi-Wan said in a quiet voice. "The name was Zora. Not Nora or Lora?"
Luke nodded. "She spoke quite clearly."
Ben didn't make eye contact and was muttering to himself. Luke could've sworn he heard "It can't be."
"You know her," Luke accused.
Ben swallowed and he faced Luke. "Yes," he stated. "I knew her."
"You did?" Luke asked surprised.
"She went through training at the Jedi Temple with me. She was my best friend," Ben said softly, a bittersweet smile crossing his face.
"What happened to her?" Luke asked.
Here Ben frowned; it was obvious this troubled him greatly.
"One day she got in a fight with her Master, and left the Order. It was said that she was working with a slaver name Krayn, but later it was reveal that she was only working undercover to destroy his reign of terror. She then returned to the Jedi and even took on an apprentice. She was one of the most loyal friends I've ever known." Ben said quietly.
"How did she turn to the Dark Side?" Luke asked.
"I don't know," Ben answered. The Jedi Master frowned and looked melancholy. And a moment later his Force presence disappeared entirely.
Luke sensed that there was more to this story, but he knew there was no use pleading with him. He knew that something happened in the past and it seemed like something that really bothered Ben. Luke now knew Zora's true identity and now he finally begin his investigation.
