Chapter 25

It was late afternoon on Coruscant, and the Jedi Council was gathered for the second time that week. Luke Skywalker wished that he could skip this meeting to be with his son. That was not possible, unfortunately, given that he was the Grand Master. With everything that had happened recently regarding Dromund Kaas, the Masters had not yet had a chance to discuss other things. Besides, he had important business to discuss with the other Masters.

The meeting began with Luke explaining what had happened in his meeting with Don Dain, in which he had blackmailed the chancellor into ending his anti-Jedi activities. Several of the Masters were wary of this action, fearing that Dain would somehow find a way to retaliate. Luke reassured them of the chancellor's cooperation after he described their conversation following the attack on the temple.

On that subject, the Masters discussed the battle with the Sith droids and the resurrected Emperor Palpatine. The latter concerned everyone deeply. Based on Luke and Ahsoka Tano's testimonies, it was clear that this had not been an imposter, an illusion, or any other trick. Somehow, Demood Elppirc, or "Darth Hatus," had found a way to restore the lives, bodies, and even memories of those who were dead. This, of course, led to speculation that he would bring back more villains to join his cause, or even re-resurrect Palpatine.

"How are we expected to defend not only ourselves, but the entire galaxy against such power?" asked Cilghal.

Kyle Katarn surmised, "No one is all-powerful. Surely, the orb must have its limits. If we can learn what they are, perhaps we'll stand a better chance."

Ahsoka shook her head sorrowfully. "Unfortunately, what little information we had about the Sith Orb was lost when the Empire attacked the temple."

"Then we'll look for new information," said Corran Horn. "We'll scour the galaxy for ancient Sith texts until we find the answer."

Saba Sebatyne hissed, "We have no time for that! There is a hunt to be had! We may have won at Dromund Kaaz, but the Sith are hiding somewhere, preparing to pounce. Now is the time to attack while they are licking their woundz."

Leia Organa Solo pointed out, "Ben said that the Sith have other bases where they use slaves. We need to find them quickly."

"I agree with Master Organa-Solo," said Kenth Hamner. "Our first priority should be rescuing the people who have been enslaved. Furthermore, we must also prevent the Sith from taking more slaves."

Kyp Durron scoffed. "How do you plan on pulling that off? Just hang a ship over every single planet and wait for the Sith to show up?"

Kenth frowned at Kyp. "Ideally not. Do you have a better idea, Master Durron?"

"As a matter of fact, I'd like to point out that the Sith have armor, weapons, starfighters, bases, battlecruisers. All of that is coming from somewhere. We know that the three assassins were working with Lumiya and Caedus long before Elppirc came along. Who knows who else has been helping them? We need to find out where their resources are coming from so we can cut them off."

"Master Durron is right," said the normally quiet Octa Ramis. "If we investigate deeply enough, there should be a trail that will lead to whomever is funding the Sith. They can't fight a war if we've cut off their resources."

Saba hissed in disbelief. "Did no one just hear this one say there is no time for research or investigationz?"

"Would you rather charge blindly into a battle we cannot win?" asked Corran.

Luke put in, "You all make excellent points. We will discuss how best to balance all of your strategies. In the meantime, I would like to bring up an item that we can resolve right now." Everyone looked at Luke curiously. He said, "I would like for the council to promote my son, Ben, to the rank of Jedi Knight."

A wave of surprise radiated throughout the room. No one had been expecting Luke to make such a request. The Masters all glanced at each other, gauging their reactions based on the expressions on their faces. After a moment, Kenth turned to Luke and asked, "With all due respect, Master, are you sure that is wise?"

Luke shrugged. "Why not? He's certainly proven his abilities as a Jedi. The council has discussed this before."

Cilghal rocked back and forth, a motion that was the Mon Calamari equivalent to nodding one's head. "Yes, and we decided that he was not emotionally mature enough. I do believe it was Master Tano who sensed that his great trial was yet to come."

"I know, and I believe that Dromund Kaas was that trial. He survived in slavery for two months, he singlehandedly fought and defeated several Sith, and, on top of that, he found a way to get a message to us. If it weren't for Ben, we may never have learned where the Sith were, or even rescued the people who were enslaved there." Several of the Masters nodded in agreement.

Kyp said, "I agree with Master Skywalker. Ben deserves to be a Jedi Knight. Besides, we owe him for abandoning him on that planet."

"No one abandoned anyone," stressed Kyle. "There was no way we could have known that Ben was alive. Still, I think he's earned a promotion, based solely on his heroism."

"This one agreez!" exclaimed Saba.

"I am not arguing that he does not deserve it," said Kenth, "but I do not think we should overlook his psychological state. He has refused to give us a report about his experiences in the Sith base."

Leia argued, "Ben just went through a huge trauma. We can't expect him to come out of it without emotional scars. He'll give his report when he's ready."

"What if he never is ready? What if he decides to carry those scars with him for the rest of his life? It could affect his performance as a Jedi. You saw the way he reacted when that Star Destroyer started to land. What if that happens in the middle of a battle? That kind of hesitation could cost him his life. Or the lives of others." This was met by murmurs of agreement. Even Luke had to concede, it was a fair point.

Cilghal cleared her throat and spoke hesitantly. "I feel I must also point out that… Jacen Solo was imprisoned by the Yuuzhan Vong for an extended period of time. I recommended that he seek psychological help, but he declined. We cannot allow Ben to make the same mistake."

Luke wanted to argue with Cilghal. He wanted to say that his son would not turn to the dark side. But, he was not so sure of that. He had made that mistake with his nephew, and it had led to disastrous results. "I'll admit, Ben needs help. And I'll make sure he gets it. But that should not prevent him from doing his duty as a Jedi. He has a good, strong heart, and I know he will make a great Jedi Knight. Whatever he experienced on Dromund Kaas, I believe that any person in this room would be similarly affected. But we would give each other the benefit of a doubt, so why not Ben?"

The other Masters were silent for a moment while they considered Luke's words. Finally, Kenth asked, "Are you sure you're willing to take that risk with your own son?"

Luke responded, "Every Jedi we train is a risk. Very rarely does that risk fail. I believe in my son, and I'm asking all of you to believe in him, too." He looked around the room, studying the Force auras of each Jedi present. Some of them were resolute in their support. Others had misgivings, but they would go along with whatever decision was made. The only person whom Luke could not read was Ahsoka. She seemed to be on the fence, giving no indication of which side she would take. If she denied Luke's request, other Masters would side with her, and the motion would fail. He prompted, "Master Tano? What do you think?"

Everyone looked at Ahsoka expectantly, awaiting her decision. It was not an easy one. Her own master, Anakin Skywalker, had exhibited multiple warning signs, yet the Jedi Council had ignored them, against their better judgment. In the end, he turned to the dark side, betrayed and murdered his fellow Jedi, and became Darth Vader. Ahsoka could not bear to see the same thing happen to his grandson.

On the other hand, perhaps the Jedi would be able to help Ben. Maybe they had learned from their mistakes with Jacen. But they had to act quickly and diligently. And, with the Sith threat looming, that would be extra difficult. Ultimately, her decision came down to whether or not she believed Ben would become one of the greatest Jedi ever to exist. After a very long moment, she finally opened her mouth and spoke a single word – one that would determine Ben Skywalker's fate.

Upon returning to the Jedi Temple, Ben went straight to the quarters he and Luke shared. To his surprise, everything had been left exactly as it was. He supposed his dad had never gotten around to cleaning out his things – or else had never been ready to let him go. Ben lay down on his old bed and stared at the ceiling, thinking about Nysilla. He now understood why she was so reluctant to reconcile with him, although he wished that she had at least given him a chance to earn her trust back. Perhaps if she had even tried, she could have found it in her heart to forgive him.

It did not matter now. Nysilla was gone. All Ben had left of her were his memories of the time they had spent together.

His thoughts were interrupted by the chiming of his new comlink. Without even sitting up, he reached for his bedside table, grabbed the device, and held it up to his mouth. After pressing the answer button, he asked, "Yes?"

Luke's voice came from the comlink. "Ben, could you come to the council chamber, please?"

Ben sighed, "I told you, I'm not ready to talk yet."

"That's not what this is about. Just come, please."

"Fine, I'm on my way." He switched off the comlink and got out of bed. As much as he did not want to talk about Dromund Kaas, he was even less willing to get into an argument with his dad. As he walked to the Jedi Council Chamber, he took the hallways that were least used. He wanted to avoid being stopped by Jedi who wanted to welcome him back or strike up conversation. He succeeded, for the most part, but he still passed a few people who could not keep their eyes off of him.

When Ben arrived at the council chamber, he was surprised by what he saw. The window shades had been pulled, but the room was brighter than ever. All of the Jedi Masters were standing in front of their seats, holding their ignited lightsabers vertically in front of them. Luke, standing directly across from the door, smiled at his son and beckoned him forward.

Ben was stunned speechless. He had heard some of his fellow Jedi describe their knighting ceremonies, and they had all started the same way. Was this his knighting ceremony? Was he about to become a Jedi Knight? Had the day he had dreamt of for years finally arrived? As he walked across the room, he tried his best to appear calm, even though his mind was racing with excitement. Despite his best efforts, he succumbed to his emotions and let a smile spread across his face. Luke's own smile grew in response.

Once he was right in front of Luke, Ben knelt and bowed his head. The Grand Master lowered his lightsaber to hover just above the now-former Padawan's right shoulder. "By the right of the Council," – he transferred his saber to the other shoulder – "by the will of the Force," – he returned his saber to the vertical position – "I dub thee, Ben Skywalker, Jedi Knight."

Ben stood up, feeling taller than ever. Ben Skywalker, Jedi Knight. Those words rang in his head over and over, like a slow-ringing bell. With his lightsaber still ignited, Luke bowed to his son, and the other Masters followed suit. In the darkened room, their glowing, multi-colored lightsaber blades pointed to the new Jedi Knight.

That evening, the Skywalker-Solo clan gathered at the Solos' apartment for a celebratory dinner. While Leia and Allana cooked (with C-3PO constantly asking how he might serve them), Luke, Ben, Han, Jaina, and R2-D2 sat in the living room, watching the holonews, much like they had only a few long days ago.

The newscaster began, "It has been an eventful week for the galaxy. First, a group of senators declare war against the Imperial Remnant. Then, Chancellor Dain threatens to bar the Jedi Order from the Alliance. Then, the military comes to the Jedi's aid during a mysterious attack on their temple. Now, questions are circulating about the recent allegations that the Sith have returned. While information is difficult to come by, Chancellor Dain gave a speech today to address the galaxy's concerns."

The holodisplay showed footage from Don Dain's speech. "After consulting the finest geneticists in the galaxy, we have determined that the creatures on Dromund Kaas were, in fact, ancient Sith."

The newscaster continued, "While the chancellor did not give any details about where these Sith came from, he did say that they are responsible for the Outer Rim disappearances and the recent incident on Zygerria. Senator Zom Shorell of Zygerria released this statement in response:"

The newscaster's hologram was replaced by that of the same feline alien senator who had been on the news just days prior. He said, "I have reviewed the results of the investigation into the attack on my homeworld. It appears that the Sith were indeed responsible, and not the Imperial Remnant, as the preliminary findings indicated. Several Zygerrians were among the people rescued from Dromund Kaas, as were beings from multiple other Outer Rim worlds. I have conferred with my fellow senators, and, in light of this new information, we have agreed to withdraw our previous allegations against the Imperial Remnant."

Luke turned to Jaina and said, "That should make Jag happy." She merely nodded her head in reply. Luke surmised that she was still upset with him for confronting her about her affair in front of the entire Jedi Council. He added softly, "I'm very sorry about what I said the other day. I should never have put you on the spot like that."

Jaina turned to him and responded, "But you were right. I nearly caused a diplomatic incident by asking for Jag's help. We were lucky that everything worked out this time. Which is why I broke up with him." There was no mistaking the sadness in her voice.

Luke felt a pang of guilt upon hearing this news. "I'm sorry, Jaina. I didn't want that to happen. How did he take it?"

"He wasn't happy about it, but he understood. We'll need his help in fighting the Sith, and it will be a lot less messy if we aren't in a relationship."

Han interrupted, "Hey, this is all well and good, but can we discuss this later? I'm trying to watch this."

Everyone returned their attention to the news. The newscaster was saying, "In his speech, the chancellor also decreed that anyone who is found to be in collusion with the Sith will be marked as traitors to the Alliance, and will be prosecuted accordingly. In addition, he issued a warning to the galaxy:"

The holodisplay once again shifted to Dain's speech, in which he said, "I now ask that you, citizens of the galaxy, to be ever vigilant. The Sith may approach you looking for support. If that happens, do not accept whatever deal they offer you. Many of those who have aided the Sith in the past later found themselves enslaved by them. Also, if you notice anything that may be connected to the Sith, be sure to contact your local law enforcement immediately."

The newscaster continued, "Finally, in response to his previous stance on the Jedi Order, the chancellor said this:"

"With this new threat having emerged, the Jedi and I have come to an understanding. We have been so focused on our previous disagreements, that no one noticed a threat that was right under our noses. Now, we must put our differences aside and work together to defeat the Sith. It is not solely up to one or the other to protect the galaxy; it is up to everyone. But, rest assured, we will defeat the Sith, once and for all, and we will bring peace to the galaxy."

Han groaned, "Seriously? He's not even going to admit that we were right?"

"That's just how politics works," sighed Luke. "The important thing is, now, we're all working together. We know that the Sith are out there, and we can fight them with a real army."

"Yeah, but will that be enough?" asked Ben. "Not once did Dain mention how powerful the Sith are. How are we supposed to fight them if no one knows what they can do?"

"We know what they can do, and that's good enough," explained Luke. "We need the people to believe that we have a plan to win. If they knew about the Sith Orb, they would lose faith, not only in us, but in the Alliance itself."

Ben was not entirely convinced, which was understandable, given his circumstances. Jaina pointed out, "Not many leaders would have even told them about the Sith. We should be grateful for that, at least."

Leia came into the room from the kitchen and said, "Dinner's ready." As everyone stood up and began to walk to the dining room, she pointed to the holodisplay and said, "Turn that off. We're not here to talk about politics." Han did as his wife commanded and switched off the holoprojector.

As the family members sat around the dinner table, Ben asked, "What exactly are we celebrating?"

Everyone looked at him incredulously, as though he had just asked a stupid question. Han prodded, "Your homecoming, your promotion, our beating the Sith droids, the victory on Dromund Kaas, Dain finally off our case. Take your pick."

Soon, everyone was seated at the table. Well, almost everyone. "Where's Allana?" asked Ben.

Leia smiled and answered, "She volunteered to bring everyone's food to the table."

Ben raised an eyebrow suspiciously. "By herself? Isn't that going to take a long time?"

Before anyone could answer, six plates, each one loaded with food, slowly floated out of the kitchen and gently landed on the table. Then, six glasses of blue milk followed. Allana bounced out of the kitchen grinning from ear to ear. Ben's eyes widened in surprise. "You did that?"

The young girl sat down at the last remaining place and nodded her head. "I've been practicing. Master Tano says I'm a fast learner."

Ahsoka was usually the Master who worked with the Jedi Order's younglings before they were assigned to their own teachers. Ben surmised, "I guess that means you've started your Jedi training."

"Yep! And one day, I'm going to be a Jedi Knight, just like you!"

Ben Skywalker, Jedi Knight. Ben still was not used to hearing that. He wondered if he ever would be. He was not even sure he deserved that title, after what he did to Darth Volatis. But, it made him feel better to know that the Jedi Council believed in him. He did not say any of this aloud. Instead, he thanked his cousin for her kind words.

"All right," said Leia, "let's eat!" With her permission, everyone immediately dug into their plates. Everyone commented on how good the food was. Leia added, "When you're all finished, Allana made cocoa cake with jogan fruit icing!"

Han paused mid-bite and asked, "Isn't that the same cake you made for your birthday? Don't you know how to make anything else?"

"Grandpa!"

"I'm just kidding, sweetheart! I could eat that every night!" This elicited laughter from everyone at the table.

To Ben, it was the best meal he had ever had. He was eating delicious food in a warm home with a loving family. Everything was exactly the way it should always be.

That's the end of Part 2! Soon, I will begin work on Part 3! For more information, check out the latest update on my profile page! If you have any comments or questions, please leave them in your reviews or private messages!