Disclaimer, blah blah blah. You know what I'm trying to say... Don't sue me.
Ask me if you want to put this on your own site or something, PLEASE!
Read Chapter 1 and 2 if you want this to make ANY sense.
3
Anakin Solo woke up with a splitting headache. He sluggishly tried to open his eyes, and it took a good three or four tries before he managed it. He looked around at his room and sat up, trying to find out why he felt so...sleepy. A woman walked in and smiled at him. Very pretty, she wore her straight chestnut hair in a bun in the back that was tight up top, but moved like a wild thing freed at the bottom where it was loose. Anakin blinked, confused, as memories of the last few moments of consciousness flooded him.
"That bad man, where's he?" Anakin looked around worriedly.
The woman smiled gently and, Anakin thought, looked very like his mother. " Don't worry. He's gone now, and won't hurt you." She sighed "You were lucky you showed up where you did, otherwise we might not have found you until it was too late."
Anakin frowned "We? Who saved us? Are my brother and sister okay? Are my mama and uncle Luke okay, why do I feel so sleepy?" Anakin poured all his questions out, feeling that this woman would be able to answer all of them.
She laughed. "One at a time, one at a time! Okay, let's try this. We are a couple of close friends and myself. Those friends, who are Jedi, saved you. Your brother and sister are fine, and are sleeping in the next two rooms on the right. Your mama and Uncle Luke are fine too, and are in the two next rooms on your left. And you feel sleepy because you've had a long day." She took a deep breath. " Did I miss any?" Anakin laughed and lay back, relaxing into the soft pillows. " Why don't you sleep, and if you need anything, call me." She began to leave.
" Wait," Anakin cried, " what's your name?"
The woman smiled. " My name is Padme." She said.
" Padme." Anakin said, tasting the word. "My name's Anakin."
He fell asleep right after that last word, or else he might have heard her say, " I know.".
Anakin woke twice that night, feeling feverish and calling out for his mama and his new friend, Padme. He woke a third time to see a man standing over him.
The man saw Anakin's eyes open and said soothingly, "Padme had to go out for a few moments, I'm just standing in for her." The stranger's eyes, the same blue as uncle Luke's, Anakin realised, were wide and concerned.
Anakin groaned a little and tossed. "Feel sick." Anakin complained. The stranger nodded thoughtfully, and then reached out a hand and laid it on Anakin's forehead. Anakin cooled, and he took a deep breath.
The stranger murmured " Why don't you get some rest. You'll feel better in the morning."
"Morning." Anakin repeated sleepily, already beginning to drift off.
Padme Skywalker walked into the room as the little one drifted off. The tall man standing by his bed laid a cool cloth on the little one's forehead, and the boy tossed again.
"Gentle, gentle." She scolded softly.
The man turned, "You know I'm not good at this sort of thing." He cocked an eyebrow at her "Why didn't you bring in Jar Jar or someone else to watch over him?"
She smiled and chuckled wryly. "I wouldn't trust Jar Jar Binks to watch a kettle boil, he'd probably manage to blow up the house trying to see how the wiring worked in the wall. Besides," She raised her brows back at him. "he's your grandson."
Anakin Skywalker rubbed his brown hair and grinned. " Before I have my caf he's your grandson. I'm going to find some so I don't fall asleep on my feet."
She put an arm around his broad shoulders and chuckled again. "Now it's your turn for those two o'clock feedings."
4
Anakin Skywalker crept into Jaina's room soundlessly. The child had cried out, and Anakin had woken up first, so he had gone to see what was wrong. Padme was bushed, in any case, and probably wouldn't benefit from another nocturnal journey. Looking down at his oldest grandchild, Anakin smiled and sighed. She looked so peaceful and carefree, and he did not want to wake her, not for all the spice on Kessel. He began to creep out of the small room when she tossed again and yelled something that sounded like gibberish. She woke suddenly and gasped, and Anakin felt her fresh fear. He walked slowly towards her, and her head spun towards him.
She squinted, not awake enough to see him clearly "Who are you? You're too tall to be Uncle Luke or Dad. What do you want?"
"It's okay," Anakin murmured softly, to calm her fear "I'm a friend. I heard you yell, and I thought I'd see what was bothering you. I promise I won't hurt you."
"Oh, okay." Jaina rubbed her eyes and frowned up at him "You look a lot like Uncle Luke, though."
"Do I?" Anakin smiled "No one's ever said that." Actually, he reflected, they did it all the time.
"Except you're taller, and have darker hair, and he isn't all blue." She shuddered
"What's wrong, little one?" Anakin squatted down by her side.
"I had a bad dream."
"You know," Anakin said thoughtfully, trying to sound like his wife. "sometimes it helps to talk about dreams, even if they scare you. Do you want to talk about it?"
"Okay," Jaina said, obviously reluctant to tell of her nightmare "but it wasn't really a dream, not all of it, anyway. Uncle Luke says sometimes we can see the future or the past if we try hard."
Anakin nodded, and smiled ruefully "I never really mastered that talent."
"You're a Jedi?" Jaina exclaimed, surprised.
Anakin nodded, and gestured for her to continue.
"Well, I think I saw the past, but I didn't try at all. I saw...well, I think I saw a city in the clouds." Jaina trailed off as she stared at his face. Anakin felt a cold fist close around his heart, but willed the emotions to leave his face, and his voice. He obviously was out of practice.
"What's wrong?" Jaina asked, confusion and worry penetrated her tone.
"Nothing, I...keep going. You saw a 'city in the clouds'?"
"Yeah," Jaina nodded "I saw my mom, Chewie, Lando, and part of Threepio, I think. They were running, and they looked sort of different. And then I saw stormtroopers, and they were firing at my mom! I tried to yell, but I couldn't, so I ran after them. But all of a sudden, I was in this weird room. It was all black and red, and I heard something going on below it, so I ran again. I heard something like breaking traparasteel, and then...I know this will sound weird, but I saw Darth Vader!"
Anakin went cold, and tried hard to keep from shuddering. He had relived those moments more times then he could remember in the nightmares that taunted him through his sleep.
Jaina continued, "He looked so scary! He was all black, like in the pictures of him I saw. And he was looking down, through the broken window; I could hear him breathing. Then he turned and looked at me, right at me. I turned and tried to run away, but I couldn't move! He came up to me, and sort of turned me around so he could see me."
I had to look way up to see his face, or mask, or whatever." She shivered "He just looked down at me, and his breathing sounded so loud! I tried to back up, 'cause I could move again, but he put his hands on my shoulders and stopped me. He grabbed my chin and made me look up at him, but he didn't hurt me. He just made me look at him. He said, 'Luke will save me, some say, but when the day comes that you decide if I'm saved, will you remember me as this, or as what I will appear to be?' His voice was so deep, it sounded weird. Then he turned on his lightsaber, and let me go. I ran, but I tripped and fell. I heard him coming, so I turned over. He aimed his lightsaber at me, right at my neck, and he said 'It is your choice.'. And then I woke up."
"That's quite a dream." Anakin said, his mouth as dry as Tatooine in the summer.
"I know." She looked down at the floor "Uncle Luke told me that Darth Vader was my grandfather, but that he was trapped in the dark side 'till he killed the Emperor. He said that my grandfather was good. I don't know."
Anakin nodded "I would be uncertain too, if I'd had that dream. What do you think, though; was he saved?"
"I don't know, but I can't decide now. Mama always says to be fair, so I can't say if he was saved, because I haven't even met him yet."
"But," Anakin pressed "if you met him, and he was, say...like me. Would you think he was saved?"
"Sure. You're nice, so if he was like you, he'd be nice too."
"Well, I'm glad to hear that." Anakin felt a warm glow lift his fallen spirits, and he smiled. Perhaps there was hope after all. Jaina yawned, and Anakin got to his feet. "Why don't you go back to sleep?"
"But what if I have another bad dream?" Jaina looked up at him, sleepy but too scared to allow herself to sleep.
"I think I know something that will help." Anakin closed his eyes, and laid a hand on her forehead, like he had on her brother's. He closed his eyes and concentrated, willing the most soothing memory he could think of into her subconscious. A memory of stargazing on Tatooine, of being outside with his mother. While she wouldn't have the memory itself, she would feel the emotion. Her fear faded, and she slowly lay back on the bed and fell asleep.
5
"Luke! Luke! Wake up!" Leia's voice whispered insistently by Luke's ear. Luke blinked, his eyes drifting in and out of focus. Leia slapped him lightly on the cheek. " Wake up!"
Luke groaned at her and sat up. " I feel like someone left a rabid bantha in my skull and it's trying to get out. Why do I have to get up?" He looked over at his sister and yawned mightily in her face.
" You aren't going to believe this, but I..."
"You..." Luke looked at her expectantly.
She frowned worriedly and sighed. "I don't know. Everything's so weird. We were at dinner, and now we're here. Were we kidnapped? Then where's Han, Lando, and Chewie?"
Luke grinned tiredly. " Aren't you missing 'Where are we?' "
"No," she whispered "I think I just figured out what happened." She was looking out the door. " Luke, I think we're dead."
Luke frowned. "What gave you that idea?" She was still looking out the door.
She sat back and sighed. "Luke, I got that idea because Obi-Wan Kenobi is at your door." Luke's head whipped around so fast that he was sure it was going to fall off. He stared at the man who stood at his door. Young, he had his hair cropped short, and had an intense but concerned look on his face. At Luke's stunned expression, a grin lit up his features.
With that grin, Luke recognised him. "Ben?" He whispered, still unbelieving. "Is it really you?"
Obi-Wan smiled. "I didn't know if you'd recognise me. We all return to our prime after we make the journey from life."
Luke gaped, and felt sure as he was doing so that his chin was hitting the floor. "Am I...well that is to say...you know...yeah." Luke said, finally giving up putting together a sentence that made any sense. "Dead?" Obi-Wan supplied the word. "No, don't worry. You're not dead yet."
Luke frowned, finally regaining his composure. " What do you mean, Ben? If we're here we must be. How else could we have gotten here?"
Obi-Wan sighed. " I really don't know Luke. Two days ago there was a pouring in of new souls, but instead of just coming here or to the Sith dimension, they ended up in the borderlands. The borderlands is the place between dimensions, where Jedi and Sith can go; however, since the Sith or others in the Sith dimension frequent the place, it is not a place many go willingly. In life, you bodies are still alive, believe me, we checked as soon as you got here. We were quite surprised you came so early." Again that concerned and boyish smile.
Luke smiled back. "You got there just in time, Ben. The whatever it was had just recognised us." At the small chuckle from Obi-Wan Luke stopped short.
"What's so funny?" Luke asked.
Obi-Wan laughed again. "No Luke, he didn't recognise you. And the 'whatever it was' was a Sith, a rather nasty one named Darth Maul."
Luke frowned again, mouthing the name. "What do you mean he didn't recognise us? He had just screamed my name and shot Force Lightning bolts at us."
"Really?" Ben smiled mysteriously. "I could have sworn he screamed Skywalker, and thrown that Force Lightning over your shoulders at the person he was screaming at. But," he added. " his aim is probably very bad."
Luke frowned again, deeper this time. "That's what I said, he screamed my name..." Luke stopped in mid-sentence, eyes going wide.
Obi-Wan saw this and nodded. "Yes, Luke, you're right." Luke shook his head in disbelief and blinked. Then he looked up at Obi-Wan. "Is he here? Can I see him, or is he on some sort of probation?"
Obi-Wan shook his head. " No, Luke, he has been forgiven, there would be no point to a probation, even if any felt it necessary." Leia's sharp intake of breath reminded Luke that she was still sitting beside him, and that she had just figured out who had saved them.
She shot up. "I need to see my children. Where are they?" her voice was sharp with fear.
"They're fine, Leia. They're in the next three rooms on your right." Obi-Wan's voice appeared to soothe her.
"He didn't do anything to them?" she asked, slowly sitting back down.
Obi-Wan raised his eyebrows. "He cured your son Anakin of a fever he developed from the quick transit, and I believe that he comforted Jaina after a nightmare, although I couldn't get the full details from him. "Leia," His voice became very serious. " He is no longer Darth Vader, merely a concerned grandparent. As a matter of fact," there was that smile again. "I believe he was up until four in the morning with your mother, keeping them comfy." He laughed. " That's a real leap for him. That man wouldn't wake up if a Krayt dragon started tap dancing on his chest, and he woke up before your mother whenever one of the children needed something. I think he's afraid of doing something wrong."
Leia snorted. "I'll believe that when I see it."
Obi-Wan raised his brows again. "You might get that chance soon. Meanwhile, I have to go to a meeting with the Council."
Luke gasped. "The Jedi Council?"
Obi-Wan nodded, another smile touching his lips. "Why Luke, would you like to come?"
Luke fairly leapt out of bed. "Try to stop me!"
6
Obi-Wan led Luke through crowds of people; some that looked normal, and some that glowed like Obi-Wan. " If a person glows," Luke asked, breaking the silence as they walked. " Is that a sign that they're a Jedi?"
Obi-Wan nodded. " It shows if we have harnessed the light side of the Force; because if inside us, in our minds, our intentions are good and we use the Force for the benefits of others, we glow. If one glows, they are given a great deal of respect. Sith don't glow, but become a black cloud that can take on shape if the spirit wills it. However, none can reach this dimension. At least, not yet. "
"Then why don't I glow? Does that mean I'm not a Jedi?"
"No." Obi-Wan laughed. "It just means you're not dead yet." He paused. " Luke, do you want to see your father?"
Luke turned towards him. "Of course. He saved my life, and I've wanted to speak with him for a long time." Obi-Wan nodded and led the way into the Council room. Hearing Luke's gasp, Obi-Wan glanced around, newly appreciative of the huge room. It was ten times the size of the old senate building, and always growing. Knights and Masters, healers, pilots, and farmers, everyone who'd studied the way of the Jedi, all filed into the enormous amphitheatre. He led Luke to the seats, and nodded to the others who were sitting there. Anakin Skywalker stood, and grinned, looking youthful. Obi-Wan felt relieved, his old friend and former student was finally returning to his prime. For a while he had been so guilt racked he had been not able to do so. Then Luke moved out from behind Obi-Wan and the two caught sight of each other. Luke frowned, as if knowing the face from somewhere, but not being able to put a name to it. Anakin did look a little different then when Luke last saw him. He looked younger, and less pained. Luke's eyes suddenly widened, and he opened his mouth only to shut it again.
"Hello, Luke." Anakin said softly. In response, Obi-Wan felt Luke's probe, his tentative touch of his father's spirit. Anakin didn't pull away from this probe; rather he opened himself up, so that Luke would have a better feel of him. Luke lifted his head and stared at Anakin, emotions running quickly across his face. He looked like he wanted to say something, then decided against it, and seated himself contentedly beside his father. Anakin sat as well.
Obi-Wan smiled at this exchange, then spoke up. "Luke, I want you to meet the master I was apprenticed to after Yoda." Beside Anakin, a tall man rose. Obi-Wan looked up into the broad, leonine features, and felt his smile broaden. "Luke Skywalker, meet Qui-Gon Jinn." Qui-Gon and Luke shook hands and smiled at each other, but that was all they could exchange before the call went out in the Force for silence.
Ask me if you want to put this on your own site or something, PLEASE!
Read Chapter 1 and 2 if you want this to make ANY sense.
3
Anakin Solo woke up with a splitting headache. He sluggishly tried to open his eyes, and it took a good three or four tries before he managed it. He looked around at his room and sat up, trying to find out why he felt so...sleepy. A woman walked in and smiled at him. Very pretty, she wore her straight chestnut hair in a bun in the back that was tight up top, but moved like a wild thing freed at the bottom where it was loose. Anakin blinked, confused, as memories of the last few moments of consciousness flooded him.
"That bad man, where's he?" Anakin looked around worriedly.
The woman smiled gently and, Anakin thought, looked very like his mother. " Don't worry. He's gone now, and won't hurt you." She sighed "You were lucky you showed up where you did, otherwise we might not have found you until it was too late."
Anakin frowned "We? Who saved us? Are my brother and sister okay? Are my mama and uncle Luke okay, why do I feel so sleepy?" Anakin poured all his questions out, feeling that this woman would be able to answer all of them.
She laughed. "One at a time, one at a time! Okay, let's try this. We are a couple of close friends and myself. Those friends, who are Jedi, saved you. Your brother and sister are fine, and are sleeping in the next two rooms on the right. Your mama and Uncle Luke are fine too, and are in the two next rooms on your left. And you feel sleepy because you've had a long day." She took a deep breath. " Did I miss any?" Anakin laughed and lay back, relaxing into the soft pillows. " Why don't you sleep, and if you need anything, call me." She began to leave.
" Wait," Anakin cried, " what's your name?"
The woman smiled. " My name is Padme." She said.
" Padme." Anakin said, tasting the word. "My name's Anakin."
He fell asleep right after that last word, or else he might have heard her say, " I know.".
Anakin woke twice that night, feeling feverish and calling out for his mama and his new friend, Padme. He woke a third time to see a man standing over him.
The man saw Anakin's eyes open and said soothingly, "Padme had to go out for a few moments, I'm just standing in for her." The stranger's eyes, the same blue as uncle Luke's, Anakin realised, were wide and concerned.
Anakin groaned a little and tossed. "Feel sick." Anakin complained. The stranger nodded thoughtfully, and then reached out a hand and laid it on Anakin's forehead. Anakin cooled, and he took a deep breath.
The stranger murmured " Why don't you get some rest. You'll feel better in the morning."
"Morning." Anakin repeated sleepily, already beginning to drift off.
Padme Skywalker walked into the room as the little one drifted off. The tall man standing by his bed laid a cool cloth on the little one's forehead, and the boy tossed again.
"Gentle, gentle." She scolded softly.
The man turned, "You know I'm not good at this sort of thing." He cocked an eyebrow at her "Why didn't you bring in Jar Jar or someone else to watch over him?"
She smiled and chuckled wryly. "I wouldn't trust Jar Jar Binks to watch a kettle boil, he'd probably manage to blow up the house trying to see how the wiring worked in the wall. Besides," She raised her brows back at him. "he's your grandson."
Anakin Skywalker rubbed his brown hair and grinned. " Before I have my caf he's your grandson. I'm going to find some so I don't fall asleep on my feet."
She put an arm around his broad shoulders and chuckled again. "Now it's your turn for those two o'clock feedings."
4
Anakin Skywalker crept into Jaina's room soundlessly. The child had cried out, and Anakin had woken up first, so he had gone to see what was wrong. Padme was bushed, in any case, and probably wouldn't benefit from another nocturnal journey. Looking down at his oldest grandchild, Anakin smiled and sighed. She looked so peaceful and carefree, and he did not want to wake her, not for all the spice on Kessel. He began to creep out of the small room when she tossed again and yelled something that sounded like gibberish. She woke suddenly and gasped, and Anakin felt her fresh fear. He walked slowly towards her, and her head spun towards him.
She squinted, not awake enough to see him clearly "Who are you? You're too tall to be Uncle Luke or Dad. What do you want?"
"It's okay," Anakin murmured softly, to calm her fear "I'm a friend. I heard you yell, and I thought I'd see what was bothering you. I promise I won't hurt you."
"Oh, okay." Jaina rubbed her eyes and frowned up at him "You look a lot like Uncle Luke, though."
"Do I?" Anakin smiled "No one's ever said that." Actually, he reflected, they did it all the time.
"Except you're taller, and have darker hair, and he isn't all blue." She shuddered
"What's wrong, little one?" Anakin squatted down by her side.
"I had a bad dream."
"You know," Anakin said thoughtfully, trying to sound like his wife. "sometimes it helps to talk about dreams, even if they scare you. Do you want to talk about it?"
"Okay," Jaina said, obviously reluctant to tell of her nightmare "but it wasn't really a dream, not all of it, anyway. Uncle Luke says sometimes we can see the future or the past if we try hard."
Anakin nodded, and smiled ruefully "I never really mastered that talent."
"You're a Jedi?" Jaina exclaimed, surprised.
Anakin nodded, and gestured for her to continue.
"Well, I think I saw the past, but I didn't try at all. I saw...well, I think I saw a city in the clouds." Jaina trailed off as she stared at his face. Anakin felt a cold fist close around his heart, but willed the emotions to leave his face, and his voice. He obviously was out of practice.
"What's wrong?" Jaina asked, confusion and worry penetrated her tone.
"Nothing, I...keep going. You saw a 'city in the clouds'?"
"Yeah," Jaina nodded "I saw my mom, Chewie, Lando, and part of Threepio, I think. They were running, and they looked sort of different. And then I saw stormtroopers, and they were firing at my mom! I tried to yell, but I couldn't, so I ran after them. But all of a sudden, I was in this weird room. It was all black and red, and I heard something going on below it, so I ran again. I heard something like breaking traparasteel, and then...I know this will sound weird, but I saw Darth Vader!"
Anakin went cold, and tried hard to keep from shuddering. He had relived those moments more times then he could remember in the nightmares that taunted him through his sleep.
Jaina continued, "He looked so scary! He was all black, like in the pictures of him I saw. And he was looking down, through the broken window; I could hear him breathing. Then he turned and looked at me, right at me. I turned and tried to run away, but I couldn't move! He came up to me, and sort of turned me around so he could see me."
I had to look way up to see his face, or mask, or whatever." She shivered "He just looked down at me, and his breathing sounded so loud! I tried to back up, 'cause I could move again, but he put his hands on my shoulders and stopped me. He grabbed my chin and made me look up at him, but he didn't hurt me. He just made me look at him. He said, 'Luke will save me, some say, but when the day comes that you decide if I'm saved, will you remember me as this, or as what I will appear to be?' His voice was so deep, it sounded weird. Then he turned on his lightsaber, and let me go. I ran, but I tripped and fell. I heard him coming, so I turned over. He aimed his lightsaber at me, right at my neck, and he said 'It is your choice.'. And then I woke up."
"That's quite a dream." Anakin said, his mouth as dry as Tatooine in the summer.
"I know." She looked down at the floor "Uncle Luke told me that Darth Vader was my grandfather, but that he was trapped in the dark side 'till he killed the Emperor. He said that my grandfather was good. I don't know."
Anakin nodded "I would be uncertain too, if I'd had that dream. What do you think, though; was he saved?"
"I don't know, but I can't decide now. Mama always says to be fair, so I can't say if he was saved, because I haven't even met him yet."
"But," Anakin pressed "if you met him, and he was, say...like me. Would you think he was saved?"
"Sure. You're nice, so if he was like you, he'd be nice too."
"Well, I'm glad to hear that." Anakin felt a warm glow lift his fallen spirits, and he smiled. Perhaps there was hope after all. Jaina yawned, and Anakin got to his feet. "Why don't you go back to sleep?"
"But what if I have another bad dream?" Jaina looked up at him, sleepy but too scared to allow herself to sleep.
"I think I know something that will help." Anakin closed his eyes, and laid a hand on her forehead, like he had on her brother's. He closed his eyes and concentrated, willing the most soothing memory he could think of into her subconscious. A memory of stargazing on Tatooine, of being outside with his mother. While she wouldn't have the memory itself, she would feel the emotion. Her fear faded, and she slowly lay back on the bed and fell asleep.
5
"Luke! Luke! Wake up!" Leia's voice whispered insistently by Luke's ear. Luke blinked, his eyes drifting in and out of focus. Leia slapped him lightly on the cheek. " Wake up!"
Luke groaned at her and sat up. " I feel like someone left a rabid bantha in my skull and it's trying to get out. Why do I have to get up?" He looked over at his sister and yawned mightily in her face.
" You aren't going to believe this, but I..."
"You..." Luke looked at her expectantly.
She frowned worriedly and sighed. "I don't know. Everything's so weird. We were at dinner, and now we're here. Were we kidnapped? Then where's Han, Lando, and Chewie?"
Luke grinned tiredly. " Aren't you missing 'Where are we?' "
"No," she whispered "I think I just figured out what happened." She was looking out the door. " Luke, I think we're dead."
Luke frowned. "What gave you that idea?" She was still looking out the door.
She sat back and sighed. "Luke, I got that idea because Obi-Wan Kenobi is at your door." Luke's head whipped around so fast that he was sure it was going to fall off. He stared at the man who stood at his door. Young, he had his hair cropped short, and had an intense but concerned look on his face. At Luke's stunned expression, a grin lit up his features.
With that grin, Luke recognised him. "Ben?" He whispered, still unbelieving. "Is it really you?"
Obi-Wan smiled. "I didn't know if you'd recognise me. We all return to our prime after we make the journey from life."
Luke gaped, and felt sure as he was doing so that his chin was hitting the floor. "Am I...well that is to say...you know...yeah." Luke said, finally giving up putting together a sentence that made any sense. "Dead?" Obi-Wan supplied the word. "No, don't worry. You're not dead yet."
Luke frowned, finally regaining his composure. " What do you mean, Ben? If we're here we must be. How else could we have gotten here?"
Obi-Wan sighed. " I really don't know Luke. Two days ago there was a pouring in of new souls, but instead of just coming here or to the Sith dimension, they ended up in the borderlands. The borderlands is the place between dimensions, where Jedi and Sith can go; however, since the Sith or others in the Sith dimension frequent the place, it is not a place many go willingly. In life, you bodies are still alive, believe me, we checked as soon as you got here. We were quite surprised you came so early." Again that concerned and boyish smile.
Luke smiled back. "You got there just in time, Ben. The whatever it was had just recognised us." At the small chuckle from Obi-Wan Luke stopped short.
"What's so funny?" Luke asked.
Obi-Wan laughed again. "No Luke, he didn't recognise you. And the 'whatever it was' was a Sith, a rather nasty one named Darth Maul."
Luke frowned again, mouthing the name. "What do you mean he didn't recognise us? He had just screamed my name and shot Force Lightning bolts at us."
"Really?" Ben smiled mysteriously. "I could have sworn he screamed Skywalker, and thrown that Force Lightning over your shoulders at the person he was screaming at. But," he added. " his aim is probably very bad."
Luke frowned again, deeper this time. "That's what I said, he screamed my name..." Luke stopped in mid-sentence, eyes going wide.
Obi-Wan saw this and nodded. "Yes, Luke, you're right." Luke shook his head in disbelief and blinked. Then he looked up at Obi-Wan. "Is he here? Can I see him, or is he on some sort of probation?"
Obi-Wan shook his head. " No, Luke, he has been forgiven, there would be no point to a probation, even if any felt it necessary." Leia's sharp intake of breath reminded Luke that she was still sitting beside him, and that she had just figured out who had saved them.
She shot up. "I need to see my children. Where are they?" her voice was sharp with fear.
"They're fine, Leia. They're in the next three rooms on your right." Obi-Wan's voice appeared to soothe her.
"He didn't do anything to them?" she asked, slowly sitting back down.
Obi-Wan raised his eyebrows. "He cured your son Anakin of a fever he developed from the quick transit, and I believe that he comforted Jaina after a nightmare, although I couldn't get the full details from him. "Leia," His voice became very serious. " He is no longer Darth Vader, merely a concerned grandparent. As a matter of fact," there was that smile again. "I believe he was up until four in the morning with your mother, keeping them comfy." He laughed. " That's a real leap for him. That man wouldn't wake up if a Krayt dragon started tap dancing on his chest, and he woke up before your mother whenever one of the children needed something. I think he's afraid of doing something wrong."
Leia snorted. "I'll believe that when I see it."
Obi-Wan raised his brows again. "You might get that chance soon. Meanwhile, I have to go to a meeting with the Council."
Luke gasped. "The Jedi Council?"
Obi-Wan nodded, another smile touching his lips. "Why Luke, would you like to come?"
Luke fairly leapt out of bed. "Try to stop me!"
6
Obi-Wan led Luke through crowds of people; some that looked normal, and some that glowed like Obi-Wan. " If a person glows," Luke asked, breaking the silence as they walked. " Is that a sign that they're a Jedi?"
Obi-Wan nodded. " It shows if we have harnessed the light side of the Force; because if inside us, in our minds, our intentions are good and we use the Force for the benefits of others, we glow. If one glows, they are given a great deal of respect. Sith don't glow, but become a black cloud that can take on shape if the spirit wills it. However, none can reach this dimension. At least, not yet. "
"Then why don't I glow? Does that mean I'm not a Jedi?"
"No." Obi-Wan laughed. "It just means you're not dead yet." He paused. " Luke, do you want to see your father?"
Luke turned towards him. "Of course. He saved my life, and I've wanted to speak with him for a long time." Obi-Wan nodded and led the way into the Council room. Hearing Luke's gasp, Obi-Wan glanced around, newly appreciative of the huge room. It was ten times the size of the old senate building, and always growing. Knights and Masters, healers, pilots, and farmers, everyone who'd studied the way of the Jedi, all filed into the enormous amphitheatre. He led Luke to the seats, and nodded to the others who were sitting there. Anakin Skywalker stood, and grinned, looking youthful. Obi-Wan felt relieved, his old friend and former student was finally returning to his prime. For a while he had been so guilt racked he had been not able to do so. Then Luke moved out from behind Obi-Wan and the two caught sight of each other. Luke frowned, as if knowing the face from somewhere, but not being able to put a name to it. Anakin did look a little different then when Luke last saw him. He looked younger, and less pained. Luke's eyes suddenly widened, and he opened his mouth only to shut it again.
"Hello, Luke." Anakin said softly. In response, Obi-Wan felt Luke's probe, his tentative touch of his father's spirit. Anakin didn't pull away from this probe; rather he opened himself up, so that Luke would have a better feel of him. Luke lifted his head and stared at Anakin, emotions running quickly across his face. He looked like he wanted to say something, then decided against it, and seated himself contentedly beside his father. Anakin sat as well.
Obi-Wan smiled at this exchange, then spoke up. "Luke, I want you to meet the master I was apprenticed to after Yoda." Beside Anakin, a tall man rose. Obi-Wan looked up into the broad, leonine features, and felt his smile broaden. "Luke Skywalker, meet Qui-Gon Jinn." Qui-Gon and Luke shook hands and smiled at each other, but that was all they could exchange before the call went out in the Force for silence.