An important revelation in this installment. I am most gratified to see the rising popularity of this tale. The original intent was to provide a better outcome for Ahsoka than simply having her pass unceremoniously. From watching the Clone Wars series, I came to understand how important she was to so many, and it was as I was designing the narrative for this tale that I realized the scope should be far greater. We now have gone far beyond a simple tale of rebirth and vindication and are exploring the very underpinnings of the philosophy of the Force and what it means to everyone in the Galaxy… Sensey.
Thanks to new followers: Gonzandez, FanQuiet1991
Chapter 32: United in the Force
Monsua Nebula, Moddell Sector, SW Outer Rim, 0 ABY 3 months, 27 days
After the successful mission to destroy the Imperial weapons factory on Cymoon 1, Han Solo wanted to celebrate with Princess Leia, who was starting to see him in a more positive light. So she was receptive to his idea and was also happy about the role they had just played in helping the rebellion. Han took Leia to a favorite hideout of his on a planet in the Monsua Nebula, located in the Montell Sector in the SW of the Galaxy, using a stolen Imperial shuttle, as the Millennium Falcon was laid up for repairs and needed some new parts. Solo then made a major miscalculation – thinking that it would be a cool idea to break open a bottle of Corellian wine for the occasion. The gesture left the 19-year-old princess cold, as she felt it was an attempt to seduce her, so she splashed the wine in his face. Solo was equally miffed by her reaction and they argued about it, and while they were arguing, they failed to notice the landing of a spacecraft not far away.
The occupant of the ship – named the Volt Cobra – was none other than Chelli Aphra's former lover Sana Starros. Two days earlier, Sana had dropped in to Mos Eisley on Tatooine, looking for Han Solo and had been advertising a reward to whoever could help her find him. Years earlier, before she and Chelli had "gone legit" and were frequenting Vaynai looking for Corporate Sector clients, she and Han had pretended to be married in order to perpetrate a robbery. But Han made off with her cut of the stolen loot and she had vowed to someday get her revenge. It was after the Battle of Yavin, when she and Chelli and their friend Ahsoka Tano were on Vaynai celebrating the victory, that Han's name had come up. Ahsoka mentioned that he had helped the Alliance in the destruction of the Empire's Death Star, so Solo was now something of a hero. Of course, Sana didn't see him that way, and she was able to learn from Tano that Han had been on Tatooine shortly before the battle. Being rather resourceful, Sana had picked up Solo's location by tracking the shuttle he had stolen and following its signal to the Monsua Nebula.
Imagine Han and Leia's surprise when they turned around to see a mysterious dark-skinned woman holding a blaster pointed straight at them – and the woman claiming she was Solo's wife Sana. Leia was understandably outraged by this but Sana proceeded to hold them both hostage. She soon recognized Leia and decided to turn her over to the Empire and collect the large bounty on her head and then commanded her ship to destroy the stolen shuttle, removing Han and Leia's only means of getting off the planet.
Of course, Sana had no idea that Leia was a friend of Ahsoka's. After Sana and Chelli had broken up, she lost her pipeline to quick cash and returned to what she once was good at: bounty hunting. Sana Starros had a ruthless streak, one that she would probably not like upstanding Galactic citizens such as Ahsoka Tano to know about.
Sana then tried to contact the Imperial Star Destroyer that was in the area, but Leia took advantage of the moment by shoving Han into Sana and in the confusion drawing her own weapon. At that moment, three Imperial TIE fighters landed on the planet, and the pilots attempted to apprehend Leia. But the princess fired on them, killing two of them. Han killed the remaining pilot and they were somehow able to convince Sana not to turn them over to the Empire, as the Imperials would likely execute them all for being part of the Rebel Alliance. All three of them boarded the Volt Cobra and left the sector, making the jump to hyperspace.
Tatooine, 0 ABY 3 months, 28 days
The Corvala Dawn entered Tatooine's atmosphere and after Ahsoka had pinpointed the location of Obi-Wan's former residence, they soon set the ship down. Unbeknownst to the occupants of Corvala Dawn, the renowned bounty hunter Boba Fett had also landed on the planet the day before, and had gone to Mos Eisley looking for clues on the identity of the X-wing pilot that was believed to have blown up the Death Star, as Darth Vader had commissioned him to do. After threatening many patrons at the cantina, he finally learned Luke's name from a young member of another moisture farming family. Vader had told him about Kenobi, so Fett located where he had been living and decided to lay in wait for Luke to show up.
Ahsoka, Luke, and Hedala debarked from their ship and headed toward the house, but Fett, not realizing who they were at first, threw a flash grenade which Ahsoka sensed. She quickly grabbed it and threw it some 100 metres away where it went off harmlessly. Angered, Ahsoka found Fett and Force-lifted him into the air, then started choking him, demanding he tell her who he was and who had hired him. Hedala, recognizing him from their meeting a year earlier, yelled out his name and Ahsoka dropped him roughly to the ground, then stood over him with her sabres drawn and lit. Luke gasped as he saw how quickly his master had moved into action and the extreme measures she used.
"Because my apprentice knows you, I've decided to spare your life, Fett," she snipped in a menacing fashion, spitting out his name as it were some foul-tasting beverage. "But don't presume for an instant that I've forgotten who you are or our past history."
Luke and Hedala drew their sabres and backed up their master as Fett glanced around. Seeing that the jig was up and knowing Tano's temper, he decided to play things in a conciliatory manner. There was something vastly different about the former Jedi that gave him pause. She's not that innocent-looking kid any longer. There's a glow about her.
"Master Tano – please excuse me for my incredible rudeness. I had no idea you were coming here today."
Ahsoka stood over him, glaring. "State your business."
"My client was looking for the pilot he claims blew up the Empire's Death Star. My research gave me the name – Luke Skywalker. My client told me to find him at Kenobi's former home – as Kenobi had been killed … by my client."
Ahsoka then chuckled softly. "I see. Well, then, we wouldn't want to disappoint him, now, would we?"
She exhaled, but kept her sabres in place, just centimetres from slicing through Fett's neck.
"You shall inform Vader that you were unable to fully carry out his assigned mission. And you shall also tell him that Ahsoka Tano sent you. Do you feel you can complete these tasks?"
Fett nodded in the affirmative. She doesn't seem to be the least bit concerned about Darth Vader. Either she's foolish or she's now stronger than even he is. Somehow, I don't think she's foolish…
Hedala, for her part, glanced at Fett and shrugged her shoulders, as if in sympathy. But she wasn't about to say anything. Ahsoka was in a mood she had rarely seen and the apprentice knew better.
Tano then Force-lifted Fett to his feet, telling him. "Be on your way, bounty hunter. Oh, and get that disgusting hunk of junk you call a starship out of my sight. I destroyed it once, I'd be happy to do so again."
Fett took off running, not liking her tone and counting himself fortunate to still be breathing.
Kallidahin Space, Southern Outer Rim, 0 ABY 3 months, 12 days
Upon being helped up to the platform by Darth Vader, Chelli told him that she'd "always been a big fan" of his. He told her he had been impressed by the work she had done on the droidekas for the Crymorah Syndicate pirates. She then told him of her plans.
Doctor Aphra had gained possession of the Triple Zero Personality Matrix and wanted to upload it into her 3PO series protocol droid, but she needed time to "slice" into the programming. Vader saved her much aggravation as he quickly solved the code (she of course had no idea of his prior expertise with droids going back to his childhood). After the droid was loaded, Aphra labeled it Triple Zero and gave it a male personality, whereupon it then activated the BT-1 droid. That droid was about to turn on them when 0-0-0 shut it down, telling BT-1 that Aphra and Vader were his new masters.
"Mister Vader, I am afraid I am way out of my league working with someone like you. What do you really want from me?"
"Aphra … the Emperor has lost confidence in my ability to serve him up to his requirements. I plan to regain his confidence. I wish to build a private army using secret resources, unbeknownst to him."
Chelli realized at this point that she would not be able to turn these droids over to the Droid Gotra and that Vader would be her new employer instead – in her mind, a far worthier one than Droid Gotra would.
"So what else can I do for you?" She asked him.
"I am looking for troops of unquestioned loyalty," he replied. "Battle droids."
"I may have the answer for you."
She then described the mobile droid foundry on Geonosis, and the Geonosian queen that still owned it. The queen had somehow survived the Empire's attempted genocide a few years earlier. Vader liked this idea and they set course for Geonosis, with his TIEx1 docked to her ship Ark Angel.
Geonosis, Arkanis Sector, SE Outer Rim, 0 ABY 3 months, 13 days
As Vader mulled over the possibilities, he reminded her, "Aphra, it would be unwise to disappoint me."
She nodded, then asked, "Lord Vader, have you ever been to Geonosis?"
Vader remembered the first time – a trip that he and Padme Amidala took to meet up with Obi-Wan Kenobi. He then of course recalled losing part of his right arm in a lightsabre duel with Count Dooku on the eve of the Clone War. Later on, as the conflict wore on, he also recalled his Padawan, Ahsoka, seemingly lost forever inside the Geonosian hive, trapped with Barriss Offee. Even though Offee's master, Luminara Unduli, was ready to write off her Padawan, Anakin of course could not follow suit, and he remembered the joy he felt when Ahsoka emerged at last, looking as adorable as ever. Yeah, he'd been there before.
"Cease your probing, Aphra."
They then went inside the catacombs of Queen Karina, encountering her and using Aphra's ship to blow a hole in the roof so they could extract the factory. Vader for this mission was using his other ship, a J-327 type Nubian (similar to the ship used by the monarch of Naboo but with modifications), which he had ordered flown to Geonosis. That ship had a crane platform with which they lifted themselves and the factory off the planet and onto the Ark Angel. The two of them boarded her ship and she activated the factory, telling him he would soon have the droids he needed for his private army.
"Aphra – you have been most resourceful. I may well have further use for you … provided you do not attempt to blackmail me." She realized that this was what passed for praise from the Dark Lord.
About that time, Triple Zero interrupted them to report that he was receiving a signal from Black Krrsantan, the Wookie bounty hunter Vader had hired to learn about Emperor Palpatine's new agent. Krrsantan had not only learned who it was, he was bringing the agent with him.
Tatooine, 0 ABY 3 months, 28 days
Back on Tatooine, Ahsoka, Luke and Hedala looked around Obi-Wan's former residence, which had been ransacked by Tusken raiders, mostly looking for usable parts and devices, of which there few of value. But Luke came across a metal box that had been inscribed "for Luke" and showed it to Ahsoka.
"Open it, Luke – it's addressed to you."
He proceeded to do so and took out a small book that had a title in Basic: "the Journals of Ben Kenobi"; he showed it to Ahsoka, who took it and thumbed through it.
"It seems Obi-Wan had a lot of time on his hands here. I just wish I'd known back then. I would've paid more visits to him," she sighed. "I remember the day I met him, on Christophsis, when I became Anakin's Padawan. It seems so long ago. Good times …"
She handed the book back to Luke, who replaced it in the box. "Take that with you. I don't think there's much else here. Obi-Wan lived very frugally. When we were here almost two years ago, Shaak invited him to stay the night on my ship. It seemed like more luxury than he was used to."
Luke looked at her. "I never knew it – that you were here then."
"He told us that your uncle didn't want him bothering you. We figured the time would eventually come, sooner or later."
Hedala added, "Yeah. Freh and I were here too, I had just started training with Master Ahsoka. We got into a scrape with some Tuskens. I actually killed one."
Luke looked at her with surprise. "You never told me that. How did it feel?"
"Strange, actually. It was the first time I had done that. Later, when we got back to Felucia, Maris took me aside and asked if I wanted to talk about it. I guess she wanted to see if I had a warrior's heart."
Ahsoka smiled. "I think you passed that test. Luke, is there anywhere else we should go?"
He thought for a second, then said "can we go by my old home and see if Owen and Beru are still there?"
Ahsoka nodded her head slowly. "I had recommended that they leave. The Alliance agreed to pay to relocate them. My friends on Almania may have helped them out."
The three of them walked back to the Corvala Dawn and boarded. Ahsoka took the ship about 20 metres up and they skipped over to where the Lars homestead had been and landed next to it. The place seemed to be in good shape but when they went inside, it had been deserted. In the kitchen area, Ahsoka found a small holo projector and activated it. A short message, from Beru Lars, followed.
"Luke – if you are seeing this, we want you to know we made it off of Tatooine. Your friend Ahsoka Tano sent a ship to pick us up about two weeks after you left. They are taking us to a new home on a planet called Almania. It's over a day away from here, in the northeast part of the Galaxy. She also gave us about 50,000 credits so we could start a new life there. We hope that you are doing fine and you receive this message in good health. If you would like to visit us someday, we'd love to see you again. Owen never wanted to stand in the way of your future, so we hope you are doing good things with the rebellion and may the Force be with you …"
Luke's eyes teared up a bit as he watched the holo image of his aunt. "I'm glad they're OK. Ahsoka, what do you think it will be like for them on Almania?"
She chuckled softly. "As you know, it gets very cold in the winter, but the people there are nice, and generally try to help each other. Obviously there are no moisture farms. (She chuckled again.) Frehya is from there. Maybe she could check in and see if they need anything. On behalf of the Rebellion, we are grateful to them for looking after you."
His eyes widened and he looked at her intently. "Really? I never knew I was so important …"
She laughed. "Oh yes. Someday, Master Shaak will explain everything."
The three of them walked out of the house together, and Luke took the holo with him. They watched Tatooine's twin suns as they set.
Aboard ISD, SW Outer Rim, 0 ABY 3 months, 28 days
Soon after Darth Vader learned that Black Krrsantan was coming – with the Emperor's new agent. Triple Zero came to him again with another piece of news: Boba Fett had information for him and wanted to meet. As Krrsantan arrived, Vader confronted the agent, Cylo-IV. Vader demanded that he tell him his name, his commission from the Emperor and the location of his base of operations. The agent refused, so Vader assigned Triple Zero to obtain all relevant information from him. After the interrogation resulted in the agent's death, 0-0-0 reported to Vader that he was Dr. Cylo-IV, that his research base was located in a nebula on the Outer Rim, and that his commission was to create replacements for Vader.
Vader considered going to this base but decided to address Fett first. He directed Triple Zero to contact Fett and tell him Vader would see him on a nearby ISD. Fett relayed his OK and the two soon were meeting in a conference room on the ISD that had a viewport of the outside.
"Well, bounty hunter, where is the pilot? Did you bring me anything of value?" Vader hissed.
"Not much … just a name: Skywalker." Fett replied.
Vader mulled it over, then dismissed the bounty hunter, who returned to his ship Slave I and headed for parts unknown. Fett considered himself fortunate that the name Ahsoka Tano did not come up in the discussion. Despite what she had told him, he wasn't going to be the one to mention the name and have Vader kill him out of anger.
Tatooine, 0 ABY 3 months, 28 days
Ahsoka, Luke and Hedala had now boarded the Corvala Dawn. Vader had returned to his J-Nubian ship and attempted to contact Ahsoka. At first it seemed she was unavailable but then she noticed the attempt and responded.
"Anakin, what is it?"
"Master Tano. I believe we should meet. A bounty hunter has just given me an interesting piece of information."
"Which is?"
"The name of the pilot that helped you and Grand Master Shaak destroy the Death Star. He is a Skywalker."
Ahsoka chuckled for an instant, then responded.
"Anakin, we need to meet now. He is with me. I will explain everything. Come to Tatooine. I am transmitting the landing coordinates. Do not go to Mos Eisley. Tano out."
Vader had wanted to find Cylo-IV's base but knew it would have to wait. The priority would be whatever Shaak and Ahsoka deemed it to be when it concerned him, but inwardly, he was excited. I have a son.
Ahsoka had been resting in her quarters when Vader contacted her. After that, she reached out with the Force to Felucia – a vast distance – and engaged Shaak. The two Masters did a mind meld of sorts. Mother, I have decided to introduce Anakin to his son. He has learned the truth from Boba Fett, whom we encountered earlier today. Shaak's response was in agreement. My child, unfortunate it is that we have reached this juncture so soon. After you have told them, bring them to me. After stating her desires, Shaak ended the transmission as she knew it would be very taxing on her daughter's mind at this time. But Shaak was inwardly pleased that Ahsoka had already started to master this power as well.
She then emerged and took Luke aside.
"Luke – it is now time for me to bring you further into our confidence. We had originally planned to wait on this but it will take place now."
"What is it, Master?"
"Your father will be joining us soon."
Luke gasped. "But … But how? I thought he was dead …"
Ahsoka looked at him solemnly. "He's not dead, after all. He has just assumed a different form. You will see soon."
Luke, of course, was confused, but the look on Ahsoka's face told him he had best not question her further. He would learn all he needed to know shortly. He felt excited on one hand, but a sense of dread on the other. Though Ahsoka said he would be there "soon" he wasn't sure what that meant from her. All he knew was it seemed like forever …
The three people on board Corvala Dawn waited for about one hour and then the sleek shape of Vader's J-type passed overhead and soon landed about 20 metres away. Luke could scarcely believe it – neither could Hedala – when the familiar form of Darth Vader emerged from the ship and was walking toward them. Ahsoka told them to wait on the bridge and she went aft to greet the man in black.
"Anakin … welcome … to the Corvala Dawn." She greeted him in an even tone.
Vader made his way up the gangplank and glanced around, seemingly impressed at the well-appointed and sleek vessel.
"Master Tano. I am honored to be allowed to board your exquisite spacecraft. You have become prosperous as well as powerful."
Ahsoka smiled. "It would seem the two go hand in hand."
She led him into the lounge area and called for Hedala and Luke to join them.
As they entered the room, she gave introductions.
"Lord Vader – or might I say – Anakin Skywalker, I present to you Hedala Fardi, Padawan of the Order."
Hedala half-curtsied to the Dark Lord. "Lord Vader."
"And this – is one of our newer apprentices, Luke Skywalker. Your son."
The room grew silent except for the rhythm of Vader's breathing apparatus.
Luke stepped forward to bow to his father, not knowing exactly what he should do, then Vader spoke.
"Son." Vader quickly recalled the same Force presence he had felt earlier, over the Death Star, and then matched it in his mind with the young man who had dueled him on Cymoon 1. "I am gratified to finally meet you."
Luke responded. "Father. It's really you?"
"Yes. I have gone through many ordeals and trials, but I am here for you now." He could see some hesitation in his son's eyes, so he added: "Search your feelings – you know this to be true."
Ahsoka then spoke up. "Luke, your father will be happy to tell you more about what has happened to him, but I would like to say a few things first." She glanced around to gauge the reaction. Hedala was ashen-faced, not at all sure what to make of things, while Luke was clearly trying to process. My father is Darth Vader?
The Togruta master continued. "Luke and Hedala, we talk a lot about the Force, the light and the dark. Anakin, as you both are aware, was once my master, the one who I served alongside for three years during the Clone War. It was toward the end of the war that I left the Jedi Order, as I've mentioned before. After I left, I had no idea what happened to my master and only years later did I learn the awful truth. He and our late friend, Obi-Wan Kenobi, fought almost to the death and Anakin lost three of his limbs and the use of his lungs. Emperor Palpatine had earlier converted my good friend into an evil Sith lord and he went on a rampage, killing many Jedi – even young children – on Coruscant and elsewhere in the Galaxy, and he would have eventually killed me, too, but I was able to escape on Malachor two years ago. But now we have reached an understanding. Anakin, would you like to tell the rest?"
"Thank you, Master Tano. Yes. It's all true, what she just told you. I became an agent of evil for Darth Sidious, also known as Emperor Palpatine. I have done more damage than anyone can imagine, all in his name. Today I am here to swear, before my son and my former apprentice, my good friend Ahsoka Tano, that I am now a servant of the great and exalted Grand Master of the Order, Shaak Ti. It is too early for me to presume that they are able to forgive me for all I have done, but may I start with you, Padawan Fardi. My sincere apologies for trying to injure you severely during the raid on Cymoon 1. I was already allied with the Order at that time and didn't realize you were Master Tano's apprentice."
Hedala sheepishly replied. "I am fine, Lord Vader. You gave me a good whack, but I am tough enough to come back."
He smiled on her from inside the mask. "I can see that. Your master should be proud of you."
The conversation continued along these lines for a while. Luke started to accept his Father and that he had seemingly changed. But there were still many questions – ones that maybe Anakin could not answer in some cases. But he tried this one:
"Father, why do you think Ben, I mean Obi-Wan, would have told me that you killed my father Anakin?"
"Son – it's because I truly believed I had actually done that. I would tell anyone – including Master Tano – that Anakin was weak and I had to kill him. But it was a lie. I cannot kill him. He is who I really am. I've learned that now."
Luke nodded slowly. "So … can you tell me why you changed? What made you turn back from the Dark Side?"
"It was my old friend Ahsoka. She may have told you this, but to me she was my sister in arms. I told her many years ago that I would never hurt her, and yet I later realized I had lied. So I knew I had to make amends for that. And she, in her great wisdom, has forgiven me – at least I believe she has."
Vader turned his head toward Ahsoka, who returned the gaze and nodded.
Luke then asked, "so what happens next?"
Ahsoka responded. "We will go to Felucia and Master Shaak will decide that. There is still the Empire to defeat, and your father is very much a part of that, but he is helping us behind the scenes. That's all I can divulge at present."
At this point, Vader indicated to Ahsoka via the Force that he wanted to speak privately with her. They walked back to her quarters on the ship for that meeting. In there, he brought her up to speed about his recent activities.
"Master Ahsoka." He addressed her by her first name for the first time in many years and she felt a tingle as a tear came to her eye. "As you know, I have been demoted by the Emperor and asked to serve under General Tagge. We have begun a campaign to eradicate pirate and other criminal activity from the Outer Rim."
Ahsoka nodded to him. "I see. Have you gone anywhere near the Corporate Sector or my friends on Almania?"
"No, master. The Emperor seems to be ignoring that part of the Galaxy at present. But I cannot be sure that will continue."
"Very well, fair enough. What else have you been doing? I learned you had hired Fett when we found him trying to go through Obi-Wan's former home."
Vader paused. "Ahsoka, when you confirmed for me that I had children, I started to wonder about them. Fett came with a recommendation from Jabba the Hutt."
Ahsoka's eyes widened at that. "You do realize that Jabba has become one of our assets?"
"He seemed to indicate that. He referred to Master Ti as someone he considered a good friend."
"Uh huh … Anakin, surely you remember what a problem Boba Fett was for us back during the war? I seriously thought I should have eliminated him when we had the opportunity."
Vader took a breath and regarded Ahsoka with inner pride. Tano has surely changed. Leaving the Jedi gave her some independence. "Interesting, Lady Ahsoka. You are more powerful than ever now. May I presume to ask you one thing?"
"Sure."
"How did you come about the power of electricity? This was strictly forbidden by the Jedi."
"You will have to ask the Grand Master about that. But I can tell you this much. We are the Order now, but not the Jedi Order. Master Shaak makes the rules now."
Vader seemed to nod, apparently pleased with what he was learning from his old apprentice. Shaak seemed to be creating the kind of organization he could respect as well as serve proudly.
Ahsoka nodded back. "So what else has been happening that I should know about?"
"I've set about creating my own forces, with some battle droids. These may be of some use to the Order in the future."
Ahsoka thought for a second. "Seriously? Have you been working with anyone on this project?"
"As a matter of fact … I have. Someone by the name of Aphra."
Ahsoka's eyes widened at that. "Does she have dark hair and a pale complexion, with strange tattoos on her arms?"
"That would be her. May I say that she is quite impressive?"
"That she is, Anakin. We are actually good friends, Chelli and I. But when she left me, she told me she would be finishing her studies in archeology."
Vader took another breath. "That was how she presented herself to me – as a doctor of archeology."
"Well I hope you kept her out of trouble. She has a very active mind and it's best that she not stay idle very long."
"I believe you will approve of her recent activities."
Ahsoka smiled at her old friend. "It's so nice to be working with you again. Almost like old times."
"Except you are the master now, my former apprentice … but you seem to have earned it. Shaak Ti must be very happy with you."
Ahsoka chuckled at that. "You could say that …"
The two of them sat quietly for a few minutes, exchanging their feelings through the Force. Anakin started to feel as though the Ahsoka he'd known and loved was with him again. And it felt right. Ahsoka could almost feel him starting to relax. Are you feeling better now, my friend? She reached out to him. Better than I have in many years, dear Ahsoka.
As their little tête-à-tête came to an end, Ahsoka rose and Anakin followed her out of her stateroom. They returned to the lounge where Luke and Hedala had been exchanging terse words with each other, not quite sure what to make of what had taken place. Luke of course was bowled over by the reality that his father was still alive, while Hedala was almost as surprised as he was. But their conversation ground to a halt as Ahsoka and Vader returned.
The Togruta then told her apprentices to rise and link arms with her and with Vader, making a circle as Anakin held his son's hand for the first time. Luke held Hedala's, and she held Ahsoka's, who in turn completed the circle with Anakin.
They all raised their hands upward as Ahsoka recited an oath of Allegiance to the Order:
"I hereby pledge complete and total faith and allegiance to Novus Ordo Galaxia. My loyalty is first and foremost with my sisters and brothers who are the Order, and to our exalted leader, the Grand Master. If ever I should falter in my allegiance to the Order, may the Force strike me down and leave my wretched soul as an example to all those who would betray the Order. U-Ah! Ka-Bah!"
As she recited it, the others followed her lead. At the end of the recitation, she sent a current of Force energy that coursed its way through Hedala, Luke, and Anakin and back to her.
"Now, my fellow members of the Order … let us return to our home."
(to be continued …)
