Part Four:
'She's fast enough for you, Old Man."
Hmph. Old Man.
I can remember when I was at least considered 'somewhat attractive.'. I was even handsome once. Nothing compared to Anakin, of course, at least according to the HoloNet, but still good looking.
I admit to being slower than I used to be, and I may have been on the sidelines for a couple of years, but that doesn't mean I've quit the game! I've a few tricks left in me yet, I'm still a Jedi Master, after all!
This boy, Solo, he's brash and arrogant, self-important and opportunistic, and yet I couldn't think of a better person to guide Luke in the ways of the galaxy. I know this will be my last mission – I can feel the ripples in the force telling me I will die soon. I knew it when I saw the recording of Leia, felt it when I saw the not-a-moon-it's-a-space-station.
Confirmed it when I felt Vader's presence within its armored shell.
'Why do I get the feeling you're going to be the death of me?'
Oh, how little I knew what I was saying.
"Tractor beam," Han shouted, "they're pulling us in!" Both he and Chewbacca began punching controls, struggling from the Death Star's invisible grip. I stilled his hand with one of my own.
"You can't win," I said reasonably, "but there are alternatives to fighting." I saw Luke look at me in through the corner of my eye. Was that…excitement? I turn to see almost the same mixture of fear and anticipation I saw on Anakin's face the very first time we went into battle together.
They are so alike, Father and Son. So wonderfully, dangerously alike.
So many mistakes we made. This time will be different – the Son will succeed where the Father had failed.
The Son will re-create what the Father destroyed.
I see all this in an instant, but soon we're sneaking off into the station, myself in search of my nemesis, Luke in search of a Princess, Han and Chewbacca…in search of reward. Little do they know that all they will find is their destiny.
"I don't think you can help me with this," I said, referring to the tractor beam we need to disable, but meaning so much more. "I must go alone."
"I want to go with you," Luke stops me. For a moment I see a flash of Anakin's face when he said the same thing as he watched me leave for Utapau. My heart wrenches in my chest.
"No," I command, perhaps a bit too harshly. "Stay and watch over the droids," I soften my voice. He tries to protest again, but I cut him off. "They must be delivered safely, or other Star Systems will suffer the same fate as Alderaan." Without waiting for another argument I turned to the doors. Just as I was about to leave, I remember my last words to Anakin all those years ago. I feel I owe his son nothing less.
"Luke," my hand on his shoulder, I bestow upon him the only blessing that is mine to give, "the Force will be with you, always."