Order

He watched sullenly from the wings of the giant hangar bay as his father, in absolutely no condition to fly into combat, rejected all advice and all protestations to the contrary, and prepared to strap himself into his fighter. He never listened to his concerns! And at times like these, it made Ben genuinely angry. What could he possibly have left to prove?! Didn't he realize how much he was needed, alive and well?! Didn't he care about those who put their hearts on the line every time he flew out into battle?!

It didn't seem like he did.

And every time Ben would be forced to confront his worst fear. That this time, he wouldn't make it back, that this time he would again be forced to experience that terrible wrench he'd felt once before, signifying that half of his heart was being torn away.
This this was why he'd never had the luxury of being able to take his parents for granted, like other kids.

He reached a decision. If he couldn't stop his father from flying into battle, then he'd atleast make sure he came back.

Ben strode across the permacrete, his boot-heels clacking in tune to his march. He walked up and stood stiffly at attention in front of his father's StealthX fighter craft.

"Grand Master Skywalker," he called.

His father turned from the cockpit, and seeing the grave expression on his face, shimmied down the ladder.

"Ben? What is it?" he asked, perplexed.

"Grand Master, it appears that I have failed to dissuade you from undertaking combat duty today. And since you insist on going up against my concerns, it has now become my duty to inform you that you are hereby being commanded expressly to return from this mission unscathed."

Ben's father blinked in confusion.
"What-? What're you talking about? I don't understand..."

Ben moved a step closer to the aging Jedi Grand Master, a fire blazing behind his eyes and amply reflected in his furiously whispered tone.

"Then let me make this clear for you, Grand Master. You will come back. You will live. I don't care how you do it, but you will return alive from this. Because someday you will be there to pronounce me Jedi Master. You will be there at my wedding, whenever that might be. You will see and hold your grandchildren, all of them, however many there might be. You will play with them and read them bedtime stories and teach them about the Force, just as you taught me."

There were furious tears in the young man's eyes, but he refused to let them fall.
Luke Skywalker simply stood, stunned and rooted to the spot.

Ben brought a finger up before his nose, continuing in that same heated undertone.
"You will live for the future. My future. And that is an order, Grand Master Skywalker."

He held his father's gaze for a second more, then spun on his heel and marched back.

The Grand Master watched his upright and rigid bearing as he walked away, tears stabbing his own eyes, then he nodded to himself.
Yes. This was an order he would simply have to obey.

A/N: Parents never listen, right?! ;P