19 ABY

Yavin 4

Jedi Praxeum

Thirteen-year-old Sara could sense Ben's frustration, after another full day of training he didn't seem to be improving on his concentration. They had been training on lifting rocks for the past fortnight but Ben's rocks tended to explode after he lifted them — something that angered Ben, made Master Skywalker worry even more about his nephew and also hurt many students who weren't quick or able enough to cast a protective shield around themselves.

"We'll end our training here today." said a frustrated Luke. "Sara, take the students who aren't hurt to the lake to relax. I'll look after those who need stitching."

The students followed Sara, but Ben tried to stay behind. She noticed and went back to get him.

"I want to help. It's my fault they are hurt, again." he said to her, regretfully.

"They don't want your help, Ben." she held his hand. "They're angry at you right now. Let's go to the lake."

Ben sighed and walked hand-in-hand with Sara to the lake, where the others had already undressed to their undergarments and were having fun in the water.

They sat on the grass, away from the others, and Sara took his hand again.

"Do you want to talk?" she asked.

"No. I just wish I weren't broken."

"You're not broken, Ben. I've told you already..."

"I know." he roughly interrupted. "It's all part of me, I was born with this conflict and I must learn how to administer it."

"Yes. One day you will..."

"It'd better be soon. I don't know much longer I'll be able to keep holding on." he whispered, sounding troubled. "And I'm afraid."

"Is there anything you haven't told me?"

"There's a voice... a man's voice. It tells me that I'm all he needs for his plans to restore the order in the Galaxy."

Sara became worried.

"You can't trust such voice, Ben... it's dangerous."

"I know. But it makes me feel special. Not like a lost case or a failure. 'Cause that's all I feel here, during the training: a failure."

She touched his face and looked into his dark eyes.

"There's nothing wrong with you, and you're definitely not a failure." she got closer to him and touched their lips together, in a light, innocent kiss.

"Sara," he whispered when the kiss ended and they opened their eyes.

"I like you, Ben." she whispered, laying her head on his shoulder.

"I like you too." he said with a smile, feeling that, at least for a moment, the day had just got brighter.

Later that same day

Dinner was almost at an end when they heard a ship landing near the Temple. And by the look on Master Skywalker's face, he hadn't been expecting anyone. He got up from the head of the long table where they all had their meals together and walked outside. Not one of the fifteen students got up or said a word; since they had got there in the Temple they had had visits from their families, but never unscheduled.

After a few minutes, Master Luke walked back into the room.

"Sara. There's someone outside to see you." he said, looking somber. Sara stood up, and so did Ben. "Only her, Ben."

Sara left the room and Ben sat back down.

As she opened the door to leave the building, she saw a big transport ship parked right in front – and close to it was Ben's mother, waiting for her.

"Princess Leia." she had always called her Princess. "What...? Is something wrong?" Sara asked, confused by her visit.

"Yes, dear. Let's get inside my ship to talk privately."

They walked up the ramp and sat in a comfortable little sofa inside the ship.

"There's been a problem." Leia began. "With your parents. Did you know they were traveling around the Galaxy?"

"Yes. Dad has retired and mom took some time off from work to accompany him in a long journey around the Galaxy. They have wanted to do that for many years, and never could until now. With the Galactic Concordance signed, they thought it was safe to travel."

"Well, it wasn't as safe as they thought it was." Leia paused and took Sara's hand. "They've been kidnapped by the Second Imperium. It's a new group that still believes in Palpatine's way to do things. Anyway, they recognized your dad and took him and your mother to the Deep Core. Yesterday, we received a voice message from them, where they said that your parents were released... in Sha Qarot."

Sara stared at her wide-eyed.

"Sha Qarot..." she murmured, trying to think. "Isn't that a poisonous planet?"

"Yes. This morning we ran a scan for life forms on the planet but... nothing was found. That's how we know that they didn't survive." Leia looked at the young girl. "I'm sorry to be the carrier of such horrible news, my dear. But I thought it would be somewhat better if I were the one to tell you. Nor that there is anything that could make this easy..."

"I understand." Sara whispered, still in shock. "What am I going to do now?" and tears began to fall.

"You'll continue your training here, of course; and, if you allow me, I can take care of all the other things."

"Yes. That'd be nice. I don't really know what to do..."

"Do you want to keep the house in Chandrila?"

"No." Sara couldn't imagine going back to that house without her parents.

"Ok. That's a start. I'll sell it for you and put the money on your account."

"Okay."

Leia looked at the young girl with empathy.

"I can't imagine how hard this is for you." she hugged Sara. "But you can always count on me, for anything you need."

Sara hugged her tighter and sobbed.

Inside the Temple, Luke approached Ben as soon as Sara left the room.

"It's your mother outside. With bad news for Sara. She'll need our support, and I've noticed you and her have got closer after the last rock incident."

Ben blushed, confirming his uncle's suspicions.

"I'll do anything to help her. But... what happened?"

"It's her story to tell." and Luke left his side.

But Sara didn't return to the refectory, she went straight to her cabin instead.

Ben waited until everyone was asleep and sneaked out of his own cabin to enter hers.

"Sara." he whispered, walking in; only a candle lit the small cabin, allowing him to see her lying on the bed. He kneeled on the floor by her bed and touched her face, it looked like she had cried herself to sleep. He laid his head near hers, just enjoying the feeling of having her close to him. The strange man's voice never came when he was close to her.

After a few minutes Sara stirred on the bed.

"Ben." she whispered, opening her eyes. "What are you doing here?" she sat on the bed. "If Master Skywalker finds you here..."

"He told me my mother came to see you, and she had bad news." he sat on the bed, close to her. "I can see you have been crying. What happened, Sara? Are you leaving the Temple?"

"No. Quite on the contrary. Now the Temple is the only house I have." she took a deep breath. "My parents were murdered." she spoke the words for the first time. "I'm an orphan, Ben." and the tears fell again.

"You're not alone, Sara." he hugged her tight and hesitated before looking at her and asking: "Did my mother tell you how they were murdered?"

"By the Second Imperium. They threw my parents in Sha Qarot – that's in the Deep Core."

"It's a poisonous planet, I know." he murmured and wiped her tears with his thumbs. He got closer and kissed her on the lips. "I will be by your side, always." he whispered.

"Thank you."

And he held her as she cried.

Notes: the Galactic Concordance was really signed in 19 ABY – that's Canon. The Second Imperium is also Canon. And Sha Qarot is a planet with poisonous atmosphere that is part of the Deep Core – Canon as well.