Disclaimer: The characters in this story belong to George Lucas and/or their creators. Influenced heavily by the song "Believe in You" by Amanda Marshall. No infringement is intended in either case.
Spoilers: Star By Star
The Reset Button Chapter Two: RewindDespite the fact that the galaxy was falling to pieces around him, Luke Skywalker was taking a break. If anyone had seen him in the Falcon and asked what he was doing, he would have told them that he was planning a counterstrike. The statement was partially true; he was talking to the leader of a civilian contingent of fighters, but they weren't spending much time talking about the war. They both needed a break from the conflict.
"It's happening slowly," she said in between sips of tea. They'd both taken up the habit somewhere around their fifth conversation; it made it feel like they were sitting on a couch together, not separated by light years in separate space craft. "Or maybe my instincts are just getting better. But I'm more…aware of everything than I have been in a long time, and I'm beginning to sense emotions more than I could a year ago."
He sipped his own tea, pensive. "Are you happy about this?"
She seemed to think about. "Yes, I am. It's not that I didn't feel complete before, but now I'm beginning to feel more like myself."
He nodded. "I could use another pair of skilled hands out here." Luke put his cup down and leaned in closer to the screen. His voice dropped to a whisper, as if he feared someone would find out whom he was talking to, what he was talking about. "They're all so young, Callista; some of these kids I've never even trained with. And now they want to help save the galaxy. They hear stories from Kyp, or Jaina, and then my teachings seem antiquated and ineffective." He paused, but she knew not to interrupt him. She knew he wasn't done yet. "And of course, I can't get any support from anywhere. Everybody wants the Jedi to save them, but no body wants the government to know about it. Even the government doesn't want the government to know about it." He sighed and went back to his tea.
Her voice was low, soothing. He remembered hearing it one night in the temple after he'd had a nightmare, before Mara was sharing his bed. The memory had helped him get back to sleep. But now the voice was real:
"Luke you have to remember who you are—the first of the new Jedi Masters. You've seen things and done things that some of these kids, even Kyp, can't imagine doing. You have to make them hear you, make them understand that you know what you're talking about." She rubbed her grey eyes, clearly searching to bolster is fading esteem. "Your battles against the Empire, this battle against the Vong…how different are they really? You've got to save the galaxy from a threat that outnumbers you a million to one, and you have to do it while killing as few of your own people as possible. Some of the galaxy is with you, but most of them are afraid of the Vong, and afraid of the Jedi. Doesn't this all sound familiar?"
He smiled a little, vaguely aware that his tea was getting cold. "Yes."
She shrugged. "Then make the younger Jedi see it; show them how you need to work together to destroy evil. Splintering within the group won't do anybody any good."
Callista's brows furrowed. "You act like I'm the first person to tell you this."
He nodded, leaning back in his chair. "Everyone just assumes I can handle it; war hero must equal unshakeable."
She bit her bottom lip a little, concentrating on which words to use with him. "I believe in you, Luke. I've always known that you could right the wrongs of my Jedi Order. And if you ever need someone to talk to about it, to remind you of what you're doing…" She let her voice trail off.
The comforting words sunk into his sponge-like heart; he had been thirsting to hear them. He wondered why she had decided to grow her hair out, but decided he wouldn't ask. "You really think we can beat them? We just keep losing so many, and I'm…afraid. I don't want to leave Ben without a father; I know what that's like…"
She shook her head. "You can't think about that. If you want to think about your family, remember that your sacrifice will help them stay free of the Vong. Don't let fear paralyze you into inaction. You're old enough now not to do anything reckless, Luke; your death won't be because you flew into a scout ship." She reached out toward the screen, trying to touch him and reassure him of it all. "We can beat this, Luke. I didn't come back after thirty years in a hard drive to watch the galaxy fall apart like this."
He grinned. It felt good to hear optimism; he'd been surrounded by sorrow and uncertainty for far too long. He wanted to give her a hug, to thank her for all the support she didn't have to give him. He wanted to tell her all the things they'd avoided talking about, because it might become too painful for them both.
Abruptly, she turned to face off screen. "Luke, something's happening outside. I have to go."
He felt his heart race with fear. "Vong?"
She was already turning off the screen. "I hope not."