Kira Bridger has just made one of the hardest choices of her life- leaving behind her parents and friends to certain death. She didn't want to, but she knew that she had no other choice, or everything that she believed in and fought for would be destroyed. Kira, and her love, Ben Solo, have just escaped from a disastrous encounter with the immortal Sith Lord, Darth Umbra, and thanks to the ancient staff given to them by Kira's father, find themselves teleported to the World Between Worlds, a vast, mysterious realm that exists outside of normal time and space.
"So… this is the World Between Worlds." Ben says.
"Yeah. It's just like my father described. Weird as hell. I have no idea what we're supposed to do now." Kira says.
"I believe I can help with that." A female voice says from behind. Kira and Ben turn around, only to see the force ghost of Ahsoka Tano, appearing to be in her thirties.
"Ahsoka! You look…" Kira says.
"Young? I know. This is how I prefer to present myself. I'm not an old woman anymore, so no reason to look the part." Ahsoka says. She walks to Kira, and embraces her.
"Oh, Ahsoka! They're all gone!" Kira says.
"I know, Kira. I know. What you just went through… I'm sorry you had to go through that, but your father knew what he was doing. This plan… is our only chance of winning. That's why the four of you are here now." Ahsoka says.
"Four of us? Who else is here?" Ben asks.
"Come with me. I'll take you to them." Ahsoka answers.
Ahsoka leads Kira and Ben through the World Between Worlds. The two young people are fascinated by the place, as they have never been there before. Eventually, they come to a large, transparent platform, where Jyn Erso and Finn are waiting.
"Finn! Jyn!" Kira says. She runs to Finn, and embraces him.
"Kira! You made it!" Finn says.
"The two separate, then Kira embraces Jyn.
"How long have you two been here?" Kira asks.
"About five minutes." Finn answers.
"What are we doing here? Did anyone else make it?" Jyn asks.
"It's just us. Everyone else we left behind… is dead. My father… sacrificed himself so Ben and I could escape." Kira answers.
"Why just the four of us? Why couldn't the others be saved?" Jyn asks.
The four of you… have been… chosen." Ahsoka answers.
"Chosen? For what? I'm all for sticking it to the Empire, even if I have to die to do it! But, we haven't got a chance in hell, have we? It's just the four of us! What can we possibly do against an apparently all powerful enemy?" Jyn asks.
"Have faith, Jyn. No one is all powerful. Not even Umbra. As for everyone you left behind... What happened on Coruscant could be undone, if you're successful." Ahsoka answers.
"We can undo it? We can go back and save them?" Kira asks.
"You could go back now, but you would fail. You're not ready yet." Ahsoka answers.
"Then, what do we have to do to get ready?" Jyn asks.
"Follow me." Ahsoka answers.
Ahsoka leads the four to another large, transparent platform. On this platform are several force ghosts, dressed in Jedi attire of various styles. One of the ghosts steps forward, and lowers her hood, revealing a face that Kira is very familiar with.
"Bastila!" Kira says.
"I saw what just happened. I'm so sorry." Bastila says.
"Almost everyone I know…. Gone… just like that." Kira says.
"I know that was very painful for you to go through, but… have faith that things will work out in the end." Bastila says.
"I'll try. It's hard, but I'll try." Kira says.
"I know you will." Bastila says.
"So, you're Bastila Shan." Jyn says.
"That's right. Jyn Erso and… Finn. Pleased to meet you both. I have been observing you for some time." Bastila says.
"You've been watching us? Yet… you only appear to Kira and Ben. There are others who could use your wisdom too." Jyn says.
"Neither of you have needed my guidance before now. In fact, appearing to the living is not something I am used to. Prior to my first encounter with Ezra Bridger over thirty years ago, I had not appeared to a living soul in over three thousand years." Bastila says.
"Why?" Jyn asks.
"I was not needed. It was in fact Revan who first initiated contact with Master Bridger. My husband can be very… persuasive, and finally convinced me to help him guide Kira's father during his time in the Unknown Regions." Bastila answers.
"Which is where my father found a lot of that lost, ancient knowledge." Kira says.
"That's right. My descendant going to the dark side also led me to appear to her. I thought that I might intervene, so that I could… save her. I ultimately failed." Bastila says.
"I'm sorry you weren't able to save her, but… Vastia made her choice." Kira says. Bastila nods in agreement.
"So… you appeared to Ezra, then to Kira and Ben. As well as your descendant, who from what I've heard, had pretty much lost her mind. What about the rest of us? Do we mean nothing to you?" Jyn asks. Kira puts a hand on her shoulder.
"Easy, Jyn." Kira says.
"It's alright. Her question is a valid one. As for your answer, Jyn Erso, I care about everyone. But… on a much larger scale than you realize. There's not just your time. There's everyone… in every other time as well. I care about what happens to all of them. My duty as the Guardian of Time... is to watch over all of them." Bastila says.
"Guardian of Time?" Finn asks.
"I observe the timeline. I make sure that things go as they are supposed to. I am also able to foresee all possible outcomes. Actually knowing the future is quite difficult, even for me, but my predictions have been correct, on occasion." Bastila says.
"That sounds like a lot of responsibility." Finn says.
"It is. Which is why I will not do it forever. Another will take over, and I will rest… at the proper time." Bastila says.
"The proper time? When's that?" Jyn asks.
"That… is not yet certain." Bastila answers.
"What are the others doing here?" Kira asks.
"They are those who have appeared to the living at one point or another throughout history. We've unofficially taken to calling ourselves "the Council". I believe you've met a few of us already. As for the rest, you might recognize some of them from the Jedi records." Bastila answers.
"Are they here to… meet us?" Finn asks.
"Indeed. Come. They are ready for you." Bastila answers.
Bastila leads the group to "the Council", a group of force users who have appeared to the living as Force Ghosts. Present are- Anakin Skywalker; Obi-Wan Kenobi; Yoda; Qui-Gon Jinn; Revan; Kanan Jarrus; Shaak Ti; a gray skinned, hairless being; a red haired woman dressed in green robes; and a woman in a dark robe, whose face is concealed by her hood. Anakin is the first to step forward, as he approaches Ben.
"Grandfather?" Ben asks.
"Hello, Ben. I see you found your way back, just like I did. Eventually." Anakin says.
"I thought I could be like you. I was wrong." Ben says.
"You were trying to be like Darth Vader. Not me. Snoke manipulated you, and pushed you down the dark path." Anakin says.
"That was really Palpatine though, since Snoke was just his servant." Ben says.
"That's right. Palpatine tried to destroy my family again." Anakin says.
"He failed." Ben says.
"Yes, he did." Anakin says.
"But Umbra was really behind all of it, wasn't she?" Ben asks.
"She's apparently been behind every major galactic conflict of the last five thousand years." Anakin answers.
"Then, we need to stop her, once and for all." Ben says.
"That's the plan. We'll talk again later, Ben. For now, I think the others want to have a chat with you." Anakin says.
"Later, grandfather." Ben says. Anakin turns to face Kira.
"Kira Bridger, I want to thank you for helping my grandson back to the light." Anakin says.
"Everyone else was ready to write him off. They said Kylo Ren couldn't be saved. I never believed that." Kira says.
"You believed in Ben when no one else did. Even his mother had lost faith. After all the evil I did, I came back. If I can come back from the dark side, anyone can. Except for Umbra. She basically is the dark side. She can't be turned. She can't be reasoned with. You'll have to destroy her." Anakin says.
"I don't see how we can." Kira says.
"That's why you're here." Anakin says. He bows to Kira and Ben, then backs away, and rejoins the group of force ghosts.
"The others will want to evaluate you now. Go ahead to the center of the platform. Ahsoka and I will take our places among the council." Bastila says.
Bastila and Ahsoka take their places with the other force ghosts, who assemble in a circle, surrounding our four heroes.
"Now that all of you are here, we can begin." Bastila says.
"You said something about evaluating us." Ben says.
"We must be certain of your intentions before we proceed any further." Qui-Gon Jinn says.
"Don't be nervous. Think of this as something like an interview. The others want to get to know you better." Ahsoka says.
"Alright. We're ready." Kira says.
"Ready are you? Difficult this is, when understand, you do not." Yoda says.
"The four of us are here for a reason. I'd like to think it's because we're the best hope of defeating Umbra, once and for all. If there's something we don't know, or we don't understand, then help us. We'll learn." Jyn says.
"If we're not ready, we'll get ready. Whatever it takes." Kira says.
"Difficult your path has been. Jedi are you?" Yoda asks.
"I suppose… that yes and no is the correct answer. I follow the basic principles of the Jedi Order, but I don't follow the code, and I don't limit myself to only learning traditional Jedi teachings." Kira answers.
"The rest of us are the same way. We're willing to learn anything. Knowledge is knowledge. It's how we use that knowledge that determines whether we are good or evil." Ben says.
"You've learned well, Ben Solo. Both the dark and the light are within all of us. It's up to us to find that balance. It's not easy. In fact, it can seem impossible at times. But that's how life works. We can only do our best." Revan says.
"I'm working on it every day." Ben says.
"Then, continue on your current path. There will be many challenges, but there will also be many rewards. The same goes for the rest of you." Revan says.
"The four of them walk a very fine line between the light and the dark. Perhaps abandoning the Jedi Code is not the wisest course of action." The gray alien says.
"Agree with Master Urr, I do. Dangerous and uncertain, their path is." Yoda says.
"There is no certainty where the future is concerned. Is the path ahead a dangerous one? Possibly. But… it's our only hope. I for one, believe in these four." Ahsoka says.
"They should remain here for further education. We are considered the wisest of those who have become one with the force. We should use our wisdom to help these young ones rediscover the Jedi way." Odan Urr says.
"We would be fools to push them into following the old ways! The time of the Jedi has passed! This is a new age. It's time for new ideas. New ways. Our role is not to command these people! We may advise, but the choices must be made by them!" The cloaked woman says.
"I agree with the Exile. These four… are the leaders of this fight. Not us. We must support and encourage them." Bastila says.
"Attached to the Bridger girl you have become. Warned you of the dangers of this, I did." Yoda says.
"I ignored you because you were wrong. Kira Bridger is my student. She has also become my friend. So, yes, I am attached to her, and I do not regret that for one second! As I have told you many times before, I am no longer a blind follower of the Jedi Code! will not conform to your outdated, narrow vision!" Bastila says.
"Bastila… How about a more… diplomatic approach?" Revan asks.
"Perhaps I was a little harsh. I will admit that, for the most part, the Jedi Order was a good thing for the galaxy. However, the order failed, thanks to the leadership of masters too blind to see that change was needed. In this fight, there are two choices… adapt or die. The Jedi Order didn't adapt, so it died." Bastila says.
"While I do not entirely support Master Shan's bluntness, I believe she is correct." The redhead woman says.
"I recognize you. You're… Nomi Sunrider." Jyn says.
"That's right, Jyn Erso. You have carried on my family line with honor and courage." Nomi says.
"I've tried my best, but… I think the family ends with me." Jyn says.
"Will it? You seem so certain of that, yet… you do not know what the future holds." Nomi says.
"I suppose I don't. In fact, I feel like I don't know much of anything right now." Jyn says.
"Have faith, Jyn." Nomi says.
"That's the trick, isn't it?" Jyn asks.
"There are still many things yet to be learned. For all four of you. The events that are now upon us were foreseen centuries ago, and you are to be the instruments that fulfill that prophecy." Odan Urr says.
"The prophecy of the Apocalypse? I've seen the original text. It says there will be a final battle between the Sith and the Jedi. There aren't any Jedi left. We're Jedi-Bendu. We're not exactly the same order." Kira says.
"There are still Jedi, and there will be Jedi at that final battle. Not all of the pieces are yet in place, and there is still much to be done." Qui Gon says.
"Then, we'll do whatever we have to do." Kira says.
"We have to stop Umbra, or she'll destroy everything!" Jyn says.
"Agreed. I think we are ready." Bastila says.
"I think we should learn more about these young ones before we allow them to proceed any further." Odan Urr says.
"What more is there to do? Their hearts are in the right place, and they know what's at stake. Ask your questions if you wish, but I think they are ready to go now." Bastila says.
"Agree with Master Urr, I do. Ready they are not. Further training they require." Yoda says.
"Perhaps some restraint is warranted here. I don't think these four are quite ready for what they are about to face. Perhaps they should remain here so that we can better prepare them." Obi Wan Kenobi says.
"No. Let them go now." The Exile says.
"It seems that we are not in agreement." Qui Gon says.
"Indeed. It looks like we will have to discuss this further, then vote on it." Bastila says.
"Really? Everything that just happened… everything that's going on now, and you people can't make a decision?" Kira asks.
"It's a council. It makes decisions just about as well as any other. In order to discuss this further, we will commune with each other using the force. This could take a while. Please, be patient." Bastila says.
"Okay. I'll try." Kira says. Bastila nods, then returns to the circle of masters. The twelve masters begin to glow brightly as they rise into the air. A conduit of light seems to pass through them in a perfect circle.
Okay… that's new. Of course, I have very little idea of what a force ghost can actually do. Ahsoka has said that they could do just about anything, but most don't, because they don't think they should interfere in the affairs of the living. With Umbra doing what she's done, maybe it's time for some interference! I hope these masters make a decision soon. After what we just went through, I need to be doing something! Not just standing around! Kira thinks.