Chapter 1
Ben Skywalker knew this would come one day. He had expected it from the day he could think for himself and had feared every moment of it. He hoped no one could sense his fear, because today was the day his life truly ended. Today was the day when he must leave everything behind and be alone. Today was his graduation from the Jedi Academy.
While most would have been thrilled to be a full Jedi Knight, Ben was not. He was being forced the leave the Academy where he had lived for so many years under the watchful eye of his Jedi guardians. He took a deep breath and let out a sigh. There was no turning back now. He had made the decision to take this path long ago, when he first finally accepted to use his Force ability.
His parents were thrilled when he finally reopened himself to the Force. As a young child he had isolated himself from the Force, fearing it. But as he grew older he decided to use the gifts life had given him. Perhaps Ben only did it to please his parents, who he felt, despite wanting nothing but what was right for Ben, always looked down on him because he did not become the Jedi they wanted him to be.
He looked up at his parents, the legendary Masters Skywalker, as they stood on the podium in the Jedi temple on Ossus. He stood in line, dressed in his full Jedi attire, next to his best friend, Sol Branar. He had met Sol, who was actually a year younger than him, when he first entered the Jedi Academy. Ben, joining the academy at age eight, had missed much of the early training but made up for it quickly. However it was still not enough.
Despite being the descendant of the Skywalker line and some of the most powerful Jedi in the galaxy, including his grandfather Anakin Skywalker, he was not the most accomplished Jedi in his class. That honor was reserved for Ben's girlfriend Reya Askar. She stood next to Ben's father on the podium as well and was talking to him, the voices drowned out by all the other voices in the convocation.
Hundreds of beings had come to see the Jedi graduation from the academy. The few people Ben recognized were sitting in the front row, his Aunt Leia and Uncle Han, and his cousins Jacen and Jaina. Ben turned to look at his cousins but quickly looked away. As much as he loved his family he still had some insecurity when dealing with them. All the members of his family fully embraced their Jedi abilities, even his Aunt Leia who was not properly trained in the Force. However Ben knew he was the only one who had rejected his Jedi talents. He still felt that he let down his family for rejecting his lineage and abilities.
Luke Skywalker raised a hand and the entire chamber was silenced. He then signaled to Ben and the other Jedi around him to take their seats. Ben knew his father was making a big speech about the Jedi, the galaxy, and their place in it, but Ben was not really paying attention. His mind was constantly else where, still grappling with the idea of the leaving the academy. He knew he would have to and go on his own in the galaxy. He realized his family would always be there to help him, but he did not want to let himself be a burden.
He had already done that long ago.
Reya then began making a speech about something Ben was not really sure of. He turned to face her and caught her eyes. She smiled at him while she continued to speak, her brown eyes sparkling as she talked. Ben smiled back, a forced smile, and then looked down at the floor. Reya's speech ended and Ben's father spoke again. He started calling the students names and one by one they walked up the podium and graduated.
At last, near the end, Ben was finally called up. He walked solemnly up the stairs and approached where his father and mother stood. As practiced, he shook his father's hand, hugged his mother, and then ignited his lightsaber and decapitated both of them.