Chapter 15 - Two Years Later
Luke has learned much in the last two years. Now, he has the force as his ally. Leia have grown even more powerful, but she has changed up her lightsabers skills and has a new connection to the force. She would use two swords now and have practice Ahsoka's forms, since clearly two blades didn't suit her. With Master Kenobi, both have learned the form of Soresu and Ahsoka taught them both Shien and Djem So.
Now, Leia and Luke must picked out their lightsabers crystals. After two long years of training endlessly, the two knew they must choose their lightsabers crystal and truly aid the Rebellion against the Empire. The Empire have grown even stronger and ruthless, so it was really up to Luke and Leia to one day destroyed the Empire. Obi-Wan and Ahsoka was concerned about Luke more then Leia. Leia have prove to be stronger in combat with all fighting sorts and have been doing this for years but Luke is strong with the force but not as strong as Leia. Since Luke never was trained in the ways of the force as Leia was since birth, Luke would never likely meet her potential and she will hold greater power over him.
Ahsoka and Obi-Wan were wearing robes that managed to secured them from this planet, although both was slightly worried since imperial agents are likely guarding this planet. It was just that Obi-Wan was hiding it better then the Togruta who continues to bite her lip endlessly and paced the ship. She turned to Obi-Wan who was sitting on the chair with his eyes close.
"Are you even worried about those two, Obi-Wan?!" She demanded, crossing her arms across her chest as the Jedi Master just sat there. "Those two may carry Anakin's force sensitively, but they are also reckless and the dark side is strong here. We should have at least lead them in."
Obi-Wan haven't move from his position despite her tone. The fact that he isn't doing anything tempered her hate. "Ahsoka, you must not allow your feelings to blind your judgement," Obi-Wan warned. "This is important for them to take their lessons of their live. This galaxy is dangerous and they need to defend themselves from the Empire. Many of the Jedi who survived have faded away and we need to aid them in the galaxy. But we have hope after news of Darth Vader disappearing and the Emperor still wounded from his lost, but Sidious always has plans and likely has a new apprentice now. Once we manage to way to defeat the Empire, we can likely rebuild the Jedi Order."
"Are you even certain both of them can defeat Sidious?" Ahsoka snapped. "After all, Luke and Leia isn't as powerful as their father was. I feel like Anakin could have defeated him, but Leia and Luke is only half of their father and half what Anakin could have been."
There was quiet following that. Ahsoka have always acted hastily around Obi-Wan because of their past together and with him not aiding Anakin in proving her innocence. Obi-Wan had told her when she was brought to the Council Chambers that he have tried to convince the Jedi of not handing her over to the Republic, but she felt like he could have done more. She have her theory of why Anakin had turned away from the Jedi. Likely, her leaving him and the Jedi Order force him to the dark and brought him to Sidious. Had she been there to help him, perhaps this entire galaxy would have been different and Luke and Leia's destiny would have been different.
Obi-Wan's face seemed to fall and his eyes lowered. "I have failed him, Ahsoka," Obi-Wan said disappointingly. "I have failed both Qui-Gon, Anakin, you, and the Jedi Order. I should have confronted him as soon as I felt his connection towards Padme."
Obi-Wan and Ahsoka exchanged sad looks as both remembered their friend. Both could have prevented his fall to darkness. He was a caring man and had cared about his friends. But now, Anakin Skywalker had been consumed by Darth Vader. He have became darker and darker throughout the war and they were many hints with it. If Ahsoka stayed and had helped him, and if Obi-Wan had talk to him about his feelings, then Anakin probably wouldn't have fallen to the Dark Side. In realty, the two have been hunted by his fall the past two decades while he continues to serve that monster. Obi-Wan and Ahsoka both closed their eyes, both hoping to the force that Luke or Leia won't go down the same path as Anakin had.
Padme frowned as she went into another conference meeting. For the past two years, she have risen above the ranks and is now the leader of the Rebellion due to her voice influencing many of the outer rim planets which have been ignored and brutalized by the Empire and strike back. Sidious always have his schemes and managed to push the Rebellion and the little planet they are on back. But when Ahsoka and Obi-Wan return, they will fully fight against the Empire and finally confront him perhaps to put an end to his rule once and for all.
She sat in the main chair and looked between the group of the Senators. Some of the Senators have been around before Padme herself; others are new, and some are Padme's friends and have been beside her when she was Queen of Naboo. Some are very old but they are wise and aided in the Rebellion well. As soon as Darth Vader disappeared, it did a massive blow to the Empire which they took. But of course Sidious has to send new apprentices to carry out Vader's roles like inquisitors which are very dangerous. But they never managed to find the important Senators, due to them always being a head infront of them. Ahsoka and Obi-Wan both fought relentlessly against the inquisitors, and usually the ones who are suppose to be hunter gets hunted by the Jedi, but the Jedi have been gone for nearly a month with her children, and it's only a matter of time before the Empire found out and send inquisitors after them and they will truly be in trouble.
"Now, has their been any late attack towards us?" She asked inquisitively.
"No, milady," Mon responded.
Padme felt a slight cringe at being called that title by her old friend. She was her friend and not a mentor of some sort, she even assisted her into building this Rebellion twenty years ago once they had seen what the Republic have became. If it wasn't for Padme, likely most of the systems wouldn't have joined her, but she has a strong power voice with dominance and is a type of woman who doesn't back down.
"A slight problem is that the Empire's forces have grown more bold into their attacks lately." Bail Organa states after a minute of silence, running an hand over his hair. "The Empire nearly crumbled when their Death Star blew up and after Darth Vader have disappeared, but they are slowly recovering and picking up the shambles."
Padme frowned at Bail for the mention of Vader since he and her had a past together, but she hoped that she will see him again, despite each of his crimes will regard into a death sentence or life in prison or something even worst. Most have seen Vader as a brute who would stop at nothing but to destroy. But they don't Vader's past like she does. She knows his past and knew why he have committed it even though it is no excuse of costing the lives of so many innocent beings across the galaxy. She hope Anakin Skywalker can return one day and stop this. If he still cared about her, he would leave his Master behind and come to her and try to stop the Empire.
"Darth Vader may be gone at least at the moment," a Senator says firmly. "But he can return. Or the Empire may have hidden him and locked him away so he can catch us off balanced."
"If that was the case," Bail countered, "he would have done it already. I believe Lord Vader is gone. But I am not sure where he could have gone to."
"Currently, Lord Vader is irrelevant," a Senator piped up. "We need to worry about other issues like the Empire itself. It is in its weaken state but we need to start pressing it back and eventually wipe it out."
Suddenly, Admiral Ackbar ran in with plans. Upon seeing him, all of them were surprise that he would intrude in a manner like this. "There has been reports!" Ackbar yelled, almost out of breath. "And it has been confirmed that the Empire is building a second Death Star!"
Earning sharp gasps from everybody there, including Padme herself. A second Death Star? So the Empire has been plotting this entire time. Just when they thought they were going to finally push the Empire back they have came up with another Death Star. Now Sidious shall rule over in fear again. This entire galaxy is in danger without somebody able to stop Darth Sidious. Once the news reached all of the Rebels in this Rebellion, likely most would lose hope into thinking they can defeat the Empire.
"A second Death Star?" Bail repeated, his hand over his mouth.
"They can't do this!" A Senator cried.
"They can," Padme spoke up with sadness, allowing a huge sigh from her lips. "We should have never thought we can knock them back, but we need General Tano and General Kenobi. That Death Star must be destroyed and we must start fighting back. Is anybody objecting?"
No one dared to object. Most of them, if not all of them, knew what the Empire can do with such a weapon like that. They can obliterated anybody with just a single flick of their hand. They needed Jedi who can aid them greatly into stopping the Empire. Sidious is going to continue until the Rebellion finally dies just like he did in the Clone Wars.
Leia walked in the crystal cave on llum, alone and silently. For the past two years, she have grown considerably and have became much more powerful than two years ago. Being trained by Kenobi helped her improved in the manner of the force and lightsaber combat. She had never thought that her Master would actually be weaker in terms of power or strength of a blade. Obi-Wan makes her look like a Jedi Knight who just passed the trials whenever he practice against her. But Leia and Luke would both be send on their knees with one blink of her eyes The brown hair girl was wearing a dark black fluffy coat and her hair was pulled into a pony tail even though she mostly prefer her hair being pulled behind her.
"Leia," Ahsoka said over her communication device. "You will be tested with the dark side."
Leia kept a laugh from coming - still though she smiled since Ahsoka at least still seems to care about her despite reaching past her twenties two years ago. Since learning the truth of her father, Leia hoped to one day track him down and redeem him. The moment he heard she was his daughter, he refuse to do the killing blow despite how easy it would have been. "I know, but I would not turn into somebody else," she promised. She walked with her blaster, only to come to a stop when something suddenly appeared in front of her, startling her and sending her to the ground, the blaster flying out of her hand. Leia use the force and called it towards her hand and shot it dead and walked up to it. Leia rolled her eyes in annoyance, clearly not pleased about running into a droid like that. "Ugh, stupid droid," she muttered, kicking the droid parts that were sparking with wires. "And I thought Han was bad."
She smiled at the mention of Han. He now aids the Rebellion in several cargo missions, but Leia haven't seen him for a bit due to her being focus with her Jedi training and Han being focus with the Rebellion. The more he gets paid, the more he and Chewie decides to stick around and Leia believed she will see him again after a year. He was always a handsome pilot, has those gorgeous eyes, and the way he looks at her just makes Leia's bone comes to stop. Feeling her cheeks darkened, Leia continued her journey down, currently wanting to forget about him, or Luke may tease her again about how Leia grows flustered around him each time, which only adds onto her embarrassment.
"Hmm, I wonder did Ahsoka and Obi-Wan came here when they were young," Leia whispered. "After all, this is where the Jedi do be getting their crystals. But the force is very strong here."
Leia then felt the force getting even stronger and more powerful. Her eyes landed on a particular crystal and as much as she tried to look away, she just couldn't and begin to walk up towards it. The crystal grew even stronger as she gotten closer and eventually came to a stop in front of it. In her wake, it was a purple crystal, one used by Jedi Master Mace Windu and Revan and a few other Jedi thousands of years ago. So this was a honor. But something was odd about this crystal. It seem wider but bigger then most.
Leia pulled her communication device out and attempted to reach out for Ahsoka, but she received no response. "Force!" She cursed, knowing she was out of signal and punched her hand against the wall, causing a light tremble of rocks to fall. Nervous that she had done something, she examined the other crystals but none did called out on her and picked up the crystal and ran out of the cave, hoping Luke was having any luck.
Luke walked through the cave. He can easily feel light and dark around him. Although Leia knew more abilities then him, he always prefer using the force and Leia use lightsaber combat more so Leia is a master when it comes to combat. Luke always knew how to calmed his thoughts and focus and can sense his surroundings. It may take years for him to get into the state of the force Leia currently is in, but he's strong with the force. The boy was wearing a white coat and his hair being in his normal state.
His com went off and Luke snarled lowly but pulled it up. "Luke, you will be tested," Ahsoka said.
Luke frowned, "I know." He responded. When the com went off, Luke muttered with a smug smile. "You already told us this a million times." He chuckled.
Ahsoka was overprotective of both Leia and Luke - but the bond between her and Leia was closer. Well, he wasn't trained by her like Leia was. A little bit jealous, he continues walking down. Suddenly, he saw a green crystal that immediately earned his attention. Luke reached out his hand and the green crystal came to his hand.
"Green?" Luke remarked. "Master Yoda and Master Jinn had that color."
Immediately, Luke's attention was broken when a blaster shot came at him, but narrowly missed him luckily. He saw Stormtroopers charging up, their blasters drawn on him, ready to bring him in or kill him. Remembering the stories of Ahsoka telling them both about what the Empire does to victims and turned them into inquisitors or worst, Luke was about to reach for his blaster but decided to test his abilities in the real world reached up his hand and surge of power left his hand that forced them back.
Few of the Stormtroopers gotten back up and were about to kill him, but Luke easily disarmed them with a single motion for his hand. Raising both hands, the troopers hit the ground with loud thuds then he grabbed them all send them to the cave wall. He heard cracks and knew they were dead. He never liked killing them, considering real people are behind those helmets, but they have gave him no choice whatsoever. The Empire would kill without mercy, it's time for good people to fight back. Luke begin running out of the cave, knowing reinforcements would arrive sooner or later, and if they stun him and bring him to the Empire, he may end up like his real father.
