Okay, a few creepy things happen in this chapie . . . . And the memories
begin . . . . a person is revealed . . . .
**************************************************************************** **********
The Past Returns
Chapter Thirteen
-A Narrow Escape -
The next two years passed swiftly for Ben. He visited Obi-Wan everyday and often spent the day with him, tinkering with old parts and helping Obi-Wan around his home.
One day, he was out hunting for womp rats when a strange thing happened. He had been walking over a ridge when a pack, startled by his presence, attacked him. He had closed his eyes, curling into a ball. He heard them screech and then everything was quiet. Ben had opened his eyes to see all the womp rats lying around him reduced to smoking heaps. Ben had run all the way home and he hadn't spoken about it ever.
Ben lay on his bed, looking up at the sand ceiling. He thought about the day before, when he had had the run in with the womp rats. What had happened? Was it me? Did I do that? Ben thought about the smoking heaps and shuddered. That was awful but it's so confusing. Nothing I can do about it right now though.
* * *
Seven years passed and soon Ben was sixteen and growing stronger in the Force, thanks to Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan had begun showing Ben the ways of the Force the past nine years and Ben had learned that the chained box had contained his father's lightsaber; at least, that was what Obi-Wan had told him. Ben often spent time with Luke, one of his good friends. In town, all they talked about was the Rebellion. That would be so cool if he could go up there and help. He vowed that one day he would do just that.
Ben and Luke sat outside Ben's home, looking at the stars. A cool wind was blowing and the stars shone bright that night. They laid back, not saying anything. Finally Ben spoke. "I wish we could be up there, fighting space battles."
"I know what you mean," Luke said. "Biggs has already gone."
"Really? He's so lucky."
"My uncle keeps saying 'just wait another year', but I really don't want to wait. But I need to help out at the farm, so I guess I'm stuck here for awhile."
"Who do you think you would fight for? The Rebellion or the Empire?"
"I really don't know. I want to go to the Imperial Academy, but that's only if I get accepted."
"I think I want to go there too, but I hear it's really tough."
"I believe it." Suddenly a scene flashed before Ben's eyes. . . .
Ben sat outside on a grassy lawn, lying back, and looking at the stars. I wish I could be up there and see Coruscant and the Jedi Council. If only the Jedi were real and I could become one. That would be awesome. . . .
Ben blinked. "You okay? You got really quiet there," Luke said.
"It's nothing. Just thinking." Ben closed his eyes. That was really weird. Where did that come from? That hasn't happened to me before.
"Have you looked in that journal anymore?"
Ben opened his eyes. "Not really. Most of the pages are so faded I can barely read them but Old Ben thinks that it was my father's."
"I never knew my father," Luke said softly.
"Me either."
"I wonder what he was like. My uncle says that he fought in space a long time ago but he won't tell me much else."
"At least you know some things about him. When we get off of this planet, maybe we can find our fathers."
"Maybe."
They both looked up at the stars, each making their separate wishes.
* * *
Tahiri stood at the window, watching the two boys. This boy is strong in the Force, just like his father. Tahiri closed her eyes, remembering back when she had first met Ben Kenobi. He had seemed so innocent then. I shouldn't have brought him to Coruscant. That was his downfall. I won't make the same mistake with his son. The Imperial Academy will be good for him if he ever chooses to leave. Though the Rebellion would be a better choice, the Imperial Academy will give him stability. That's what he needs, what his father didn't get. Obi-Wan had told her what his suspicions were about the boy and she had a feeling that they were true.
Tahiri opened her eyes. She had barely escaped the massacre of the Jedi Knights during the Clone Wars. She didn't know of any others that had survived besides Obi-Wan and herself and possibly Yoda. Tahiri looked out at Luke and Ben again. They reminded her so much of Damon and Ben. They had been best friends for the longest time and then they had separated. She wondered when Ben would find the necklace in his journal that she had placed there. Damon had given it to her to give to his son, since Damon could not contact him during his training with Qui-Gon Jinn. She just hoped that Ben would not take the same path as his father had.
* * *
Two years later, Ben lay on his back in front of his home, on the cool sand, staring at the stars in the night sky. He closed his eyes, breathing in the cool, refreshing air that often came with the night on Tatooine, thinking. His father had died a year ago from a fatal illness. His mother was all he had, except for Obi-Wan of course. He opened his eyes again and wished. He wished that he could become a hero in the Rebellion or the Empire. He and Luke both shared that dream and the dream of going to the Imperial Academy.
Ben took the journal from its resting place on his utility belt. He opened it and a necklace fell out. Ben sat up and put the journal onto the sand. He was sure that hadn't been there before. Where had it come from? He picked up the necklace, holding it in the palm of his hand. It was a half of a sapphire and in it was inscribed: friends forever. It was a friendship necklace. He turned it over and on the back was inscribed a name: Damon Lars. Damon Lars. He had the same last name as Luke's uncle and aunt had! He jumped up, tucked the journal into his utility belt and ran inside. He knew he couldn't go ask Obi-Wan now because it was so late so Ben went to sleep.
* * *
In the morning, almost mid-day, Ben ran to Obi-Wan's hut. "Ben! Obi-Wan?" Ben called, running into the hut. He called out Obi-Wan's name but no one answered. Ben walked around the hut and noticed that Obi-Wan's most prized possessions were gone. Then Ben saw the piece of paper on the table. He picked up the paper and read it. Ben, Don't forget your training. I was called away on urgent business and I had to take Luke with me. I hope to see you again when you are a Jedi Knight. Keep the lightsaber as your link to the past. The necklace that you should have found in the journal was your uncle's. He was best friends with your father a long time ago. Damon gave it to Tahiri, your foster mother for safe keeping and she, in turn, gave it to me. I know Damon would want you to have it. Wear it and it will bring you good fortune. The Force will be with you. Always.
Something flickered in Ben's mind. Anger. Loneliness. Betrayal. A wave of bitterness washed over him. Why had Obi-Wan left like that? Didn't he care? He took Luke, why couldn't he have taken Ben too? He remembered a time where he had felt that feeling of abandonment before. Someone had left him, betrayed him and that had caused his downfall. Ben shook his head, blinking. Where had that come from?
Then a wave of anger passed over him and he ripped the note to shreds. His chest heaved with anger and he ran home and flopped on his bed, tears streaming down his cheeks. It wasn't fair. Why did Obi-Wan have to leave him?
He heard footsteps and jumped to his feet, wiping his tears away as his mother walked into his room. "Ben? Are you okay?" she asked. He didn't say anything. Then she saw how mad he was. "You went to Obi-Wan's home, didn't you." she said softly. Ben looked down and she walked over, putting her arm on his shoulders. "He didn't want to leave you Ben. But he had to. When the Force summons someone, you don't resist. You go. Luke had to go because he lost his aunt and uncle. He had no one left."
"Doesn't he care about me?" Ben asked, looking at his hands.
His mother sat him down on his bed. "Of course he does, Ben. He cares about you a lot. He's going to try to come back to retrieve you but if he doesn't, if he can't, then he wants you to follow your heart, wherever it may lead and find a way to finish your training."
"Then I want to leave."
Ben heard his mother pull in a short gasp. "Why?"
"Because that's what my heart wants to do and it's my destiny to get off Tatooine and make something of myself. I want to go to the Imperial Academy."
His mother didn't say anything for a long time. Then she took a deep breath and put her hand under Ben's chin, lifting it so that he looked her straight in the eyes.
"Then you go. Go to Coruscant where you can apply to the Imperial Academy. Do your best. Try your hardest and most of all, do what your heart feels is right. I know you will make the right decisions when the time comes. And I love you, never forget that. The Force will be your guide, to help you along the hardships that may come along. And I trust, when those obstacles cross your path, you'll know what to do. I trust in you, in your decisions." She drew him in a hug.
* * *
The next day, he stood by a speeder, his few belongings in it already. He stood in front of his mother. She hugged him and whispered, "Good luck. I love you and may the Force be with you. Always." She drew back and smiled.
He smiled back. "Bye. I'll come back, I promise."
She nodded. She handed him a bag. He took it, surprised at its weight. "It's credits, enough to get you to Coruscant and to wherever you plan on going next."
"Thank you. I'll try to come see you again."
"I know you'll try."
He climbed into the speeder and with one last glance at the person that had been taking care of him all of his childhood, he sped towards Mos Eisley. He went to the cantina and within minutes had himself a pilot that would take him to Coruscant.
* * *
They headed to Coruscant but halfway there, they had to stop at Bespin to refuel. Ben wandered around the palace there, exploring. He heard voices and backed up against one wall. He watched as Lando Calrissian and Darth Vader walked by, followed by Lando's assistant Lobot and a squad of storm troopers. What was Darth Vader doing here? Ben crept down the corridor, following them. He hid in the shadows as Darth Vader and the others went into a room. He tried to figure out what they were saying once the door had shut, but all he could hear was muffled words. He finally gave up and snuck back to the place where he was going to meet the pilot.
About ten minutes later, he heard voices again and watched as a man, a woman and a wookie were escorted by Lando towards the room where Darth Vader was. The man was dressed in smuggler's clothing, with a blaster strapped to his side. The wookie had a bow caster around his shoulders and chest. The woman had an elaborate white dress on and her hair was done up in two large braids, that were formed into buns, on the sides of her head. The man was Han Solo and the woman was Leia Organa, the princess of Alderran. The wookie was Chewbacca, Han Solo's best friend. Chewie had a life debt with Han because Han had rescued him from slavery. Where had that come from? How could he know their names and all that when he had never even seen them before?
Ben leaned against the wall, thinking. He had had flashbacks of memories, growing stronger and more frequent as he headed towards Coruscant. He closed his eyes and didn't realize he had fallen asleep until he heard blaster shots and he leaped up, his lightsaber ready, his father's really. He saw a man, about eighteen, with short blond hair run down the corridor. It was Luke!
Ben started to call out his name when someone tapped him on the shoulder. Ben turned to see his pilot. "It's refueled. Something's going on and I want to get out of here."
Ben nodded and followed the pilot to his ship where they made a quick take- off.
* * *
Journal Entry 20: "I'm starting up again, writing I mean. I figured since this was my fathers, I should keep writing so that my son can have it. Today was really weird. We had to refuel on the way to Coruscant. My memory is slowly coming back but it's weird because the memories I'm remembering are from over thirty years ago. Like today for instance. I saw people at Bespin that I have never heard of, let alone ever seen, yet I knew their names and everything about them. I saw Luke, who I did recognize but he seemed different. The only person I knew was Darth Vader because I'd heard of him back on Tatooine. I haven't heard anything from Obi-Wan but I have this feeling in my gut that he's dead. The thing was, and this came to me in a dream, I knew Darth Vader from a long time ago. His name was Anakin Skywalker and he was Luke's father. Yet I don't know how I came to know this. That's the weird part. But I'm on Coruscant now and I'm going to enlist in the Imperial Academy. Since my loyalty lies within the Empire, then that is what I am going to serve."
"Systems up and running, sir," a lieutenant reported from his seat at the computer terminal.
They were aboard a Victory Class Star Destroyer, heading for the Death Star that had been constructed by Yavin. It had been over four years and Ben had become a commander in the Imperial forces. Ben was only twenty-two, very young for a commander. One Death Star had already been destroyed and, they had just found out that the Emperor himself was going to arrive at the Death Star about the time they would arrive.
Ben turned to look out one of the large windows as they went into hyperspace. He fingered the lightsaber at his side. He kept it hidden and he knew of no one that knew that he was a Jedi. Their mission was to bring aid to help the Death Star's construction and then he was to report down to the jungle moon to help secure the force field generator from the Rebels. Ben shifted in his boots to make himself more comfortable as he oversaw the bridge. He left the bridge and headed to the engine room to check the systems. A man in uniform walked up to the captain that now stood in Ben's place, bowing his head.
"Sir, Lord Vader has arrived."
The captain nodded. "Thank you, Sergeant." The door opened at the back of the bridge and Darth Vader himself appeared. The captain stood straight. "Lord Vader, what a pleasant surprise."
"The news I bring isn't, Captain. The Emperor is displeased with your pathetic attempts at reconstructing his Death Star. He will be arriving there in three days and the progress so far is pitiful."
"Yes, Lord Vader, but we have been working very hard and we cannot get it done in three days, it's physically impossible."
"You dare defy the Emperor's orders?" Darth Vader asked, his voice darkening and full of menace.
"No - no, Lord Vader."
"You will get it done."
"Yes, sir." Vader turned and left. The captain let out a sigh of relief. He turned around to the rest of his crew. "You heard Lord Vader, get to work!"
They stumbled left and right, getting to their consoles and continuing their work at a much faster pace.
* * *
Ben stood in the engine room, not moving as he listened to the lieutenants report of Lord Vader's arrival. "You say he looked distracted," Ben said.
"Slightly, sir. As if he were thinking about something that was troubling him, but he didn't say anything. All he said was that we have three days."
"Well then, we'd better get to work."
"Yes, sir."
The lieutenant left. Ben looked down at the floor, thinking. He had felt a cold chill when Lord Vader had arrived and he remembered in the far reaches of his memory, seeing some sort of show that had Lord Vader in it and he had had a similar experience whenever he was around Jedi. Ben knew he was becoming the Jedi he wished to become, but he still couldn't control the spurts of the Force.
Ben looked upward. He had to learn how to conceal his power if he was going to be in the Imperial forces. Sooner or later he would have to confront Lord Vader. But for now he would have to stay as far away from Darth Vader as possible because if he was any where near Darth Vader, Vader would sense the Force in him and that would be very dangerous for him. He'd be dead before he blinked.
* * *
Three days later they arrived at the Death Star. Ben was informed that the Emperor himself wanted to see him.
Ben walked through the door, his boots clicking on the hard metal floor. The large window at the back showed the small jungle moon and the large gas giant Yavin. The Emperor sat in a large, cup shaped chair. He was facing the window. Ben swallowed and walked up to the base of the stairs that led to the Emperor.
"Commander, I sense that you have been hiding something." Ben gulped. The chair turned so that the Emperor now faced Ben. Ben took in the hollow face, the deterioration of the dark side, the yellow eyes, the black flowing clothes. "Commander, you know there was once a man that looked like you. His named was Ben and he was a powerful dark side ally. Of course, he held back and I had to . . . discard him." His face grew angry, his mouth turned up in scowl. "As I will do with you if you do not tell me what you are hiding!"
"I - I'm not hiding anything," Ben managed.
"Commander, what am I going to do with you?" the Emperor said, standing. "You simply won't listen. Maybe I need some persuasion." The Emperor lifted his hand and Ben felt his throat tighten. He tried to swallow but he couldn't. He grabbed at his throat as an invisible vise-like grip clutched his throat. "If you do not tell me, you will die." The invisible grip tightened. Ben dropped to his knees, veins in his head rising because of the pressure. His eyes bulged. Suddenly he went limp. The grip disappeared as Ben suddenly sat up, an invisible force bubble around him. "So, you have Force potential. This is good. This is very good. With training, I suspect you could become very powerful. Will you accept the training?"
Ben looked at him through glassy eyes. He blinked a few times and his eyesight returned. Go to the dark side? Like his father? He was serving the Empire but that didn't mean he had to go to the dark side. He would have no choice if he went over. Though, if he just got a little training . . . A picture flashed in front of his eyes. A boy, Luke Skywalker, was fighting the Emperor. Another picture. The Death Star blowing up. He blinked, looking up at the Emperor. The Emperor would die in a couple of days. Those days wouldn't be enough to turn Ben to the dark side. He would play the Emperor's little game.
"I accept," Ben said.
"Good, very good."
* * *
The next two days consisted of training endlessly. Ben had to practice with his lightsaber against remotes. Then he had to go through a phase where he sat in a dark, freezing room for an entire day. The entire time seemed familiar, somehow, like he had experienced it before, but that would have been impossible. During that day, unexpected attacks would come. Snakes, wolves, and poisonous creatures whose venom killed in an instant.
When Ben came out of that room, his clothes were torn, and his eyes were tired but he had survived. Now it was time to go down to the jungle moon to secure the generator. An unregistered ship had arrived and it had gone down to the moon. Ben was to investigate.
* * *
Journal Entry 21: "I know, it's been a few days, but a lot has happened. I trained with Darth Sidious for a few days, but unknownst to him, it didn't corrupt me. Also, yet unknown to him, today would be the day of his death. I'm down on Endor, watching for the Rebels. If they showed up, I would defeat them, as I was sworn to do. Luke Skywalker would be there, I knew, and I would enjoy seeing him get beaten. He deserved it for leaving me on Tatooine. I'm ready for anything. I shall wait to see what is in store for today. Another strange thing happened though. Last night, in a dream, I discovered my last name. I know it sounds weird, but it's true. My last name is Kenobi."
A lieutenant walked up to Ben, where he stood by a tree outside the shield generator. "Sir, the Emperor wants you to come back."
Ben turned to him. "Tell him I will come as soon as possible."
"Yes, sir."
The man nodded and went back inside the enclosure. He had only been on the moon for a half a day. What could the Emperor want? Ben shrugged and hopped onto a speeder. He took it to the landing platform and boarded a waiting ship.
Ben reached the Death Star soon after. He walked toward the Emperor's chambers. Stopping just outside the door, he heard the sounds of crashing lightsabers. Ben walked to one window and saw explosions outside. A space battle had begun. Ben walked down the corridor, took two lefts and approached a slightly worn door. He punched in a code and the door opened with a swish. He walked up a small flight of stairs to a hidden platform that overlooked the Emperor's chambers. He watched as Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, Luke's father, fought. Then as Luke took the advantage, Darth Vader backed up against a railing that overlooked the generator far below.
Ben could sense that Luke was using his anger as he fought and it showed as Luke swung down too fast for Vader to block and the lightsaber blade went through Vader's right wrist. The hand fell off, smoking. Luke backed up, staring at what he had done. The Emperor said something to Luke. Ben didn't know what since sound didn't penetrate the thick glass that separated him from them. Luke shook his head and the Emperor raised his hands as Vader stood. Blue Sith lightning flashed from the Emperor's fingertips, hitting Luke.
The Emperor grinned as Luke fell to his knees. The lightning stopped as the Emperor said something again. Luke didn't respond and the lightning began again. Luke fell to the floor. He was dying. Unless he gave in to whatever the Emperor wanted, Luke would die. Ben smiled, crossing his arms across his chest. Then his arms dropped to his sides. What was he thinking? Why did he want Luke to get hurt? Luke had been his best friend. There's something wrong with me.
Something caught his eye and Ben went to the window, his arms uncrossed. He watched as Vader looked towards the Emperor. What was he thinking? Then, as Ben watched open-mouthed, Vader lifted the Emperor up and threw him down into the generator pit.
Then a sudden heavy feeling filled Ben. He closed his eyes. The Death Star. It was going to explode in a few minutes! Ben opened his eyes and ran out of the room. He ran for the docking bay. There was only one ship left. He punched in a code and the door opened to the docking bay.
Ben heard a noise and looked to see Luke dragging his father towards the ship. Oh, no you don't, Ben thought. He ran for the ship, making it on just before Luke. Then a wave of blackness came over him. He stumbled towards a dark, shadowed area in the ship and collapsed.
**************************************************************************** **********
The Past Returns
Chapter Thirteen
-A Narrow Escape -
The next two years passed swiftly for Ben. He visited Obi-Wan everyday and often spent the day with him, tinkering with old parts and helping Obi-Wan around his home.
One day, he was out hunting for womp rats when a strange thing happened. He had been walking over a ridge when a pack, startled by his presence, attacked him. He had closed his eyes, curling into a ball. He heard them screech and then everything was quiet. Ben had opened his eyes to see all the womp rats lying around him reduced to smoking heaps. Ben had run all the way home and he hadn't spoken about it ever.
Ben lay on his bed, looking up at the sand ceiling. He thought about the day before, when he had had the run in with the womp rats. What had happened? Was it me? Did I do that? Ben thought about the smoking heaps and shuddered. That was awful but it's so confusing. Nothing I can do about it right now though.
* * *
Seven years passed and soon Ben was sixteen and growing stronger in the Force, thanks to Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan had begun showing Ben the ways of the Force the past nine years and Ben had learned that the chained box had contained his father's lightsaber; at least, that was what Obi-Wan had told him. Ben often spent time with Luke, one of his good friends. In town, all they talked about was the Rebellion. That would be so cool if he could go up there and help. He vowed that one day he would do just that.
Ben and Luke sat outside Ben's home, looking at the stars. A cool wind was blowing and the stars shone bright that night. They laid back, not saying anything. Finally Ben spoke. "I wish we could be up there, fighting space battles."
"I know what you mean," Luke said. "Biggs has already gone."
"Really? He's so lucky."
"My uncle keeps saying 'just wait another year', but I really don't want to wait. But I need to help out at the farm, so I guess I'm stuck here for awhile."
"Who do you think you would fight for? The Rebellion or the Empire?"
"I really don't know. I want to go to the Imperial Academy, but that's only if I get accepted."
"I think I want to go there too, but I hear it's really tough."
"I believe it." Suddenly a scene flashed before Ben's eyes. . . .
Ben sat outside on a grassy lawn, lying back, and looking at the stars. I wish I could be up there and see Coruscant and the Jedi Council. If only the Jedi were real and I could become one. That would be awesome. . . .
Ben blinked. "You okay? You got really quiet there," Luke said.
"It's nothing. Just thinking." Ben closed his eyes. That was really weird. Where did that come from? That hasn't happened to me before.
"Have you looked in that journal anymore?"
Ben opened his eyes. "Not really. Most of the pages are so faded I can barely read them but Old Ben thinks that it was my father's."
"I never knew my father," Luke said softly.
"Me either."
"I wonder what he was like. My uncle says that he fought in space a long time ago but he won't tell me much else."
"At least you know some things about him. When we get off of this planet, maybe we can find our fathers."
"Maybe."
They both looked up at the stars, each making their separate wishes.
* * *
Tahiri stood at the window, watching the two boys. This boy is strong in the Force, just like his father. Tahiri closed her eyes, remembering back when she had first met Ben Kenobi. He had seemed so innocent then. I shouldn't have brought him to Coruscant. That was his downfall. I won't make the same mistake with his son. The Imperial Academy will be good for him if he ever chooses to leave. Though the Rebellion would be a better choice, the Imperial Academy will give him stability. That's what he needs, what his father didn't get. Obi-Wan had told her what his suspicions were about the boy and she had a feeling that they were true.
Tahiri opened her eyes. She had barely escaped the massacre of the Jedi Knights during the Clone Wars. She didn't know of any others that had survived besides Obi-Wan and herself and possibly Yoda. Tahiri looked out at Luke and Ben again. They reminded her so much of Damon and Ben. They had been best friends for the longest time and then they had separated. She wondered when Ben would find the necklace in his journal that she had placed there. Damon had given it to her to give to his son, since Damon could not contact him during his training with Qui-Gon Jinn. She just hoped that Ben would not take the same path as his father had.
* * *
Two years later, Ben lay on his back in front of his home, on the cool sand, staring at the stars in the night sky. He closed his eyes, breathing in the cool, refreshing air that often came with the night on Tatooine, thinking. His father had died a year ago from a fatal illness. His mother was all he had, except for Obi-Wan of course. He opened his eyes again and wished. He wished that he could become a hero in the Rebellion or the Empire. He and Luke both shared that dream and the dream of going to the Imperial Academy.
Ben took the journal from its resting place on his utility belt. He opened it and a necklace fell out. Ben sat up and put the journal onto the sand. He was sure that hadn't been there before. Where had it come from? He picked up the necklace, holding it in the palm of his hand. It was a half of a sapphire and in it was inscribed: friends forever. It was a friendship necklace. He turned it over and on the back was inscribed a name: Damon Lars. Damon Lars. He had the same last name as Luke's uncle and aunt had! He jumped up, tucked the journal into his utility belt and ran inside. He knew he couldn't go ask Obi-Wan now because it was so late so Ben went to sleep.
* * *
In the morning, almost mid-day, Ben ran to Obi-Wan's hut. "Ben! Obi-Wan?" Ben called, running into the hut. He called out Obi-Wan's name but no one answered. Ben walked around the hut and noticed that Obi-Wan's most prized possessions were gone. Then Ben saw the piece of paper on the table. He picked up the paper and read it. Ben, Don't forget your training. I was called away on urgent business and I had to take Luke with me. I hope to see you again when you are a Jedi Knight. Keep the lightsaber as your link to the past. The necklace that you should have found in the journal was your uncle's. He was best friends with your father a long time ago. Damon gave it to Tahiri, your foster mother for safe keeping and she, in turn, gave it to me. I know Damon would want you to have it. Wear it and it will bring you good fortune. The Force will be with you. Always.
Something flickered in Ben's mind. Anger. Loneliness. Betrayal. A wave of bitterness washed over him. Why had Obi-Wan left like that? Didn't he care? He took Luke, why couldn't he have taken Ben too? He remembered a time where he had felt that feeling of abandonment before. Someone had left him, betrayed him and that had caused his downfall. Ben shook his head, blinking. Where had that come from?
Then a wave of anger passed over him and he ripped the note to shreds. His chest heaved with anger and he ran home and flopped on his bed, tears streaming down his cheeks. It wasn't fair. Why did Obi-Wan have to leave him?
He heard footsteps and jumped to his feet, wiping his tears away as his mother walked into his room. "Ben? Are you okay?" she asked. He didn't say anything. Then she saw how mad he was. "You went to Obi-Wan's home, didn't you." she said softly. Ben looked down and she walked over, putting her arm on his shoulders. "He didn't want to leave you Ben. But he had to. When the Force summons someone, you don't resist. You go. Luke had to go because he lost his aunt and uncle. He had no one left."
"Doesn't he care about me?" Ben asked, looking at his hands.
His mother sat him down on his bed. "Of course he does, Ben. He cares about you a lot. He's going to try to come back to retrieve you but if he doesn't, if he can't, then he wants you to follow your heart, wherever it may lead and find a way to finish your training."
"Then I want to leave."
Ben heard his mother pull in a short gasp. "Why?"
"Because that's what my heart wants to do and it's my destiny to get off Tatooine and make something of myself. I want to go to the Imperial Academy."
His mother didn't say anything for a long time. Then she took a deep breath and put her hand under Ben's chin, lifting it so that he looked her straight in the eyes.
"Then you go. Go to Coruscant where you can apply to the Imperial Academy. Do your best. Try your hardest and most of all, do what your heart feels is right. I know you will make the right decisions when the time comes. And I love you, never forget that. The Force will be your guide, to help you along the hardships that may come along. And I trust, when those obstacles cross your path, you'll know what to do. I trust in you, in your decisions." She drew him in a hug.
* * *
The next day, he stood by a speeder, his few belongings in it already. He stood in front of his mother. She hugged him and whispered, "Good luck. I love you and may the Force be with you. Always." She drew back and smiled.
He smiled back. "Bye. I'll come back, I promise."
She nodded. She handed him a bag. He took it, surprised at its weight. "It's credits, enough to get you to Coruscant and to wherever you plan on going next."
"Thank you. I'll try to come see you again."
"I know you'll try."
He climbed into the speeder and with one last glance at the person that had been taking care of him all of his childhood, he sped towards Mos Eisley. He went to the cantina and within minutes had himself a pilot that would take him to Coruscant.
* * *
They headed to Coruscant but halfway there, they had to stop at Bespin to refuel. Ben wandered around the palace there, exploring. He heard voices and backed up against one wall. He watched as Lando Calrissian and Darth Vader walked by, followed by Lando's assistant Lobot and a squad of storm troopers. What was Darth Vader doing here? Ben crept down the corridor, following them. He hid in the shadows as Darth Vader and the others went into a room. He tried to figure out what they were saying once the door had shut, but all he could hear was muffled words. He finally gave up and snuck back to the place where he was going to meet the pilot.
About ten minutes later, he heard voices again and watched as a man, a woman and a wookie were escorted by Lando towards the room where Darth Vader was. The man was dressed in smuggler's clothing, with a blaster strapped to his side. The wookie had a bow caster around his shoulders and chest. The woman had an elaborate white dress on and her hair was done up in two large braids, that were formed into buns, on the sides of her head. The man was Han Solo and the woman was Leia Organa, the princess of Alderran. The wookie was Chewbacca, Han Solo's best friend. Chewie had a life debt with Han because Han had rescued him from slavery. Where had that come from? How could he know their names and all that when he had never even seen them before?
Ben leaned against the wall, thinking. He had had flashbacks of memories, growing stronger and more frequent as he headed towards Coruscant. He closed his eyes and didn't realize he had fallen asleep until he heard blaster shots and he leaped up, his lightsaber ready, his father's really. He saw a man, about eighteen, with short blond hair run down the corridor. It was Luke!
Ben started to call out his name when someone tapped him on the shoulder. Ben turned to see his pilot. "It's refueled. Something's going on and I want to get out of here."
Ben nodded and followed the pilot to his ship where they made a quick take- off.
* * *
Journal Entry 20: "I'm starting up again, writing I mean. I figured since this was my fathers, I should keep writing so that my son can have it. Today was really weird. We had to refuel on the way to Coruscant. My memory is slowly coming back but it's weird because the memories I'm remembering are from over thirty years ago. Like today for instance. I saw people at Bespin that I have never heard of, let alone ever seen, yet I knew their names and everything about them. I saw Luke, who I did recognize but he seemed different. The only person I knew was Darth Vader because I'd heard of him back on Tatooine. I haven't heard anything from Obi-Wan but I have this feeling in my gut that he's dead. The thing was, and this came to me in a dream, I knew Darth Vader from a long time ago. His name was Anakin Skywalker and he was Luke's father. Yet I don't know how I came to know this. That's the weird part. But I'm on Coruscant now and I'm going to enlist in the Imperial Academy. Since my loyalty lies within the Empire, then that is what I am going to serve."
"Systems up and running, sir," a lieutenant reported from his seat at the computer terminal.
They were aboard a Victory Class Star Destroyer, heading for the Death Star that had been constructed by Yavin. It had been over four years and Ben had become a commander in the Imperial forces. Ben was only twenty-two, very young for a commander. One Death Star had already been destroyed and, they had just found out that the Emperor himself was going to arrive at the Death Star about the time they would arrive.
Ben turned to look out one of the large windows as they went into hyperspace. He fingered the lightsaber at his side. He kept it hidden and he knew of no one that knew that he was a Jedi. Their mission was to bring aid to help the Death Star's construction and then he was to report down to the jungle moon to help secure the force field generator from the Rebels. Ben shifted in his boots to make himself more comfortable as he oversaw the bridge. He left the bridge and headed to the engine room to check the systems. A man in uniform walked up to the captain that now stood in Ben's place, bowing his head.
"Sir, Lord Vader has arrived."
The captain nodded. "Thank you, Sergeant." The door opened at the back of the bridge and Darth Vader himself appeared. The captain stood straight. "Lord Vader, what a pleasant surprise."
"The news I bring isn't, Captain. The Emperor is displeased with your pathetic attempts at reconstructing his Death Star. He will be arriving there in three days and the progress so far is pitiful."
"Yes, Lord Vader, but we have been working very hard and we cannot get it done in three days, it's physically impossible."
"You dare defy the Emperor's orders?" Darth Vader asked, his voice darkening and full of menace.
"No - no, Lord Vader."
"You will get it done."
"Yes, sir." Vader turned and left. The captain let out a sigh of relief. He turned around to the rest of his crew. "You heard Lord Vader, get to work!"
They stumbled left and right, getting to their consoles and continuing their work at a much faster pace.
* * *
Ben stood in the engine room, not moving as he listened to the lieutenants report of Lord Vader's arrival. "You say he looked distracted," Ben said.
"Slightly, sir. As if he were thinking about something that was troubling him, but he didn't say anything. All he said was that we have three days."
"Well then, we'd better get to work."
"Yes, sir."
The lieutenant left. Ben looked down at the floor, thinking. He had felt a cold chill when Lord Vader had arrived and he remembered in the far reaches of his memory, seeing some sort of show that had Lord Vader in it and he had had a similar experience whenever he was around Jedi. Ben knew he was becoming the Jedi he wished to become, but he still couldn't control the spurts of the Force.
Ben looked upward. He had to learn how to conceal his power if he was going to be in the Imperial forces. Sooner or later he would have to confront Lord Vader. But for now he would have to stay as far away from Darth Vader as possible because if he was any where near Darth Vader, Vader would sense the Force in him and that would be very dangerous for him. He'd be dead before he blinked.
* * *
Three days later they arrived at the Death Star. Ben was informed that the Emperor himself wanted to see him.
Ben walked through the door, his boots clicking on the hard metal floor. The large window at the back showed the small jungle moon and the large gas giant Yavin. The Emperor sat in a large, cup shaped chair. He was facing the window. Ben swallowed and walked up to the base of the stairs that led to the Emperor.
"Commander, I sense that you have been hiding something." Ben gulped. The chair turned so that the Emperor now faced Ben. Ben took in the hollow face, the deterioration of the dark side, the yellow eyes, the black flowing clothes. "Commander, you know there was once a man that looked like you. His named was Ben and he was a powerful dark side ally. Of course, he held back and I had to . . . discard him." His face grew angry, his mouth turned up in scowl. "As I will do with you if you do not tell me what you are hiding!"
"I - I'm not hiding anything," Ben managed.
"Commander, what am I going to do with you?" the Emperor said, standing. "You simply won't listen. Maybe I need some persuasion." The Emperor lifted his hand and Ben felt his throat tighten. He tried to swallow but he couldn't. He grabbed at his throat as an invisible vise-like grip clutched his throat. "If you do not tell me, you will die." The invisible grip tightened. Ben dropped to his knees, veins in his head rising because of the pressure. His eyes bulged. Suddenly he went limp. The grip disappeared as Ben suddenly sat up, an invisible force bubble around him. "So, you have Force potential. This is good. This is very good. With training, I suspect you could become very powerful. Will you accept the training?"
Ben looked at him through glassy eyes. He blinked a few times and his eyesight returned. Go to the dark side? Like his father? He was serving the Empire but that didn't mean he had to go to the dark side. He would have no choice if he went over. Though, if he just got a little training . . . A picture flashed in front of his eyes. A boy, Luke Skywalker, was fighting the Emperor. Another picture. The Death Star blowing up. He blinked, looking up at the Emperor. The Emperor would die in a couple of days. Those days wouldn't be enough to turn Ben to the dark side. He would play the Emperor's little game.
"I accept," Ben said.
"Good, very good."
* * *
The next two days consisted of training endlessly. Ben had to practice with his lightsaber against remotes. Then he had to go through a phase where he sat in a dark, freezing room for an entire day. The entire time seemed familiar, somehow, like he had experienced it before, but that would have been impossible. During that day, unexpected attacks would come. Snakes, wolves, and poisonous creatures whose venom killed in an instant.
When Ben came out of that room, his clothes were torn, and his eyes were tired but he had survived. Now it was time to go down to the jungle moon to secure the generator. An unregistered ship had arrived and it had gone down to the moon. Ben was to investigate.
* * *
Journal Entry 21: "I know, it's been a few days, but a lot has happened. I trained with Darth Sidious for a few days, but unknownst to him, it didn't corrupt me. Also, yet unknown to him, today would be the day of his death. I'm down on Endor, watching for the Rebels. If they showed up, I would defeat them, as I was sworn to do. Luke Skywalker would be there, I knew, and I would enjoy seeing him get beaten. He deserved it for leaving me on Tatooine. I'm ready for anything. I shall wait to see what is in store for today. Another strange thing happened though. Last night, in a dream, I discovered my last name. I know it sounds weird, but it's true. My last name is Kenobi."
A lieutenant walked up to Ben, where he stood by a tree outside the shield generator. "Sir, the Emperor wants you to come back."
Ben turned to him. "Tell him I will come as soon as possible."
"Yes, sir."
The man nodded and went back inside the enclosure. He had only been on the moon for a half a day. What could the Emperor want? Ben shrugged and hopped onto a speeder. He took it to the landing platform and boarded a waiting ship.
Ben reached the Death Star soon after. He walked toward the Emperor's chambers. Stopping just outside the door, he heard the sounds of crashing lightsabers. Ben walked to one window and saw explosions outside. A space battle had begun. Ben walked down the corridor, took two lefts and approached a slightly worn door. He punched in a code and the door opened with a swish. He walked up a small flight of stairs to a hidden platform that overlooked the Emperor's chambers. He watched as Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, Luke's father, fought. Then as Luke took the advantage, Darth Vader backed up against a railing that overlooked the generator far below.
Ben could sense that Luke was using his anger as he fought and it showed as Luke swung down too fast for Vader to block and the lightsaber blade went through Vader's right wrist. The hand fell off, smoking. Luke backed up, staring at what he had done. The Emperor said something to Luke. Ben didn't know what since sound didn't penetrate the thick glass that separated him from them. Luke shook his head and the Emperor raised his hands as Vader stood. Blue Sith lightning flashed from the Emperor's fingertips, hitting Luke.
The Emperor grinned as Luke fell to his knees. The lightning stopped as the Emperor said something again. Luke didn't respond and the lightning began again. Luke fell to the floor. He was dying. Unless he gave in to whatever the Emperor wanted, Luke would die. Ben smiled, crossing his arms across his chest. Then his arms dropped to his sides. What was he thinking? Why did he want Luke to get hurt? Luke had been his best friend. There's something wrong with me.
Something caught his eye and Ben went to the window, his arms uncrossed. He watched as Vader looked towards the Emperor. What was he thinking? Then, as Ben watched open-mouthed, Vader lifted the Emperor up and threw him down into the generator pit.
Then a sudden heavy feeling filled Ben. He closed his eyes. The Death Star. It was going to explode in a few minutes! Ben opened his eyes and ran out of the room. He ran for the docking bay. There was only one ship left. He punched in a code and the door opened to the docking bay.
Ben heard a noise and looked to see Luke dragging his father towards the ship. Oh, no you don't, Ben thought. He ran for the ship, making it on just before Luke. Then a wave of blackness came over him. He stumbled towards a dark, shadowed area in the ship and collapsed.