9 BBY
Executor Kuat Drive Yards
Starkiller awoke with a start in his hiding place in the cargo holds deep within the incomplete Super Star Destroyer Executor, someone had come into the hold he was in. Nobody ever came down here. For as long as he could remember he had been the bowels of the ship. His only visitor was the man he called master, Darth Vader. Nobody else even knew he was down here as far as he knew. Darth Vader had found him when he was four years old, and he had lived on this ship ever since. He didn't remember much of his life before Vader had found him just some vague memories of big hairy beasts who growled instead of speaking and large wooden things covered in green.
"Boy" the mechanical baritone of Darth Vader said.
Starkiller left the cover of his hiding place and hurried to kneel before his master. "Yes Master"
Vader unclipped a newly made lightsaber from his belt and handed it to Starkiller who turned it on. Waving it around admiring the humming the red blade as a Vader watched
"Today we will begin your combat training" Vader informed him
For the next few hours Vader ran the boy through basic lightsaber combat. His muscles grew tired but he drew on the dark side for strength as he had been instructed to do for so many years. After Vader was convinced he grasped the basic concept of lightsaber combat he called an end to the session and brought in a holodroid which Starkiller could only stare at.
"That is all the instructions I will give you on lightsaber techniques" Vader said "There are many forms of lightsaber combat. However, I think it would be best if you developed your own style based on your own strengths. In time you will construct your own lightsaber."
"Yes Master" he said as Vader pointed to the holodroid
"This is PROXY; he is a holodroid I designed to assist you. You will spar with him four hours in the morning and four hours in the afternoon everyday" Vader said "He has an extensive database of various Jedi Masters and Sith Lords to call upon."
"Yes master, thank you" Starkiller said as he looked at the new Droid
"Do not thank me so quickly "Vader admonished his student "In time PROXY is programmed to kill you so that you will remain constantly vigilant."
Vjun
Leia was in her room studying the latest Sith holocron she had found in her father's library. This particular one dealt with Sith assassins, who could sense their prey through the force and feed off their presence. They could also cloak themselves through the force utilizing a technique called force camouflage which Leia found very intriguing. She had attempted this only once to sneak from her room down to the armory and security office. Her father's security forces were to vigilant though and she hadn't made it past the first security officer, greeted her with a "Good morning Lady Vader". Upset at her failure Leia had returned to her room determined that in time she would master the technique.
As she studied the holocron her door opened, turning around she noticed her father enter with his hands behind his back. She hadn't felt his presence in the force and she still couldn't even with him standing right in front of her. This only worried her slightly as he must be shielding himself from her even though she couldn't fathom why that would be necessary as she could plainly see him. This is probably another test she thought. She hadn't even known he was back from visiting the Emperor yet. He had been summoned shortly after she had executed Bail in the sparring room, an act that still bothered her slightly as she had been unaware of the depth of emotions that had driven her that day. In fact, she thought he wasn't due home for another week. She put her guard up as he motioned for her to follow him.
As she rose from the desk to follow him she grabbed her newly constructed lightsaber and clipped it to her belt. It had taken almost a month of intense concentration to construct the weapon but she had finally done it. The holocron her father had given her on constructing a lightsaber had talked about the different lightsaber forms and the advantages and disadvantages of single and double blades. The holographic image had explained how the double blade was sometimes difficult to master as the two blades made certain movements impossible or extremely difficult. On the other hand, it provided an advantage in defense. Leia had liked both and had a hard time deciding which she would build. In the end she had opted for a double blade much like the one Darth Maul had wielded. It could be used as a single or dual bladed lightsaber. She would master the single blade portion before learning how to wield the dual blade.
As she trailed behind her father she didn't speak as he had not spoken to her. She reached out with the force to get a sense of her surroundings. She could feel the presence of all the usual staff and Colonel Redstar but she still could not feel her father right in front of her. Once again this bothered her as they came to the door of the sparring room. As the door opened her father stopped and without saying a word signaled for her to go inside. She eyed him suspiciously as she walked by, something just wasn't right but she still wasn't quite sure what it was. Entering the room, she knew her father was right behind her, he was walking heavily, to heavily. She rested her hand on her lightsaber. No sooner had she had this thought occurred when a tingling sensation at the base of her skull warned of danger. She rolled to her left pulling the lightsaber off her belt and activating it just in time to block her father's crimson blade from striking her as she got back to her feet.
She assumed a fighting stance and blocked another flurry of attacks. She was able to block the attacks utilizing the Masashi form. She hadn't been defending very long before she saw an opening. Defending another strike with a riposte that sent her father's blade to an unexpected angle she counterattacked, sending her violet blade straight through her father's chest. Then the unexpected happened and the image of her father flickered away to reveal a droid underneath.
"Very good young master!" the droid proclaimed
"What?" Leia said looking around confused
"My name is PROXY 2 or P2 if you prefer "the droid continued "I have been sent by Darth Vader for you to train with. I'm a holodroid, one of only two left in existence!"
"He sent you for me to spar with?" Leia asked dubiously
"Correct! I have a large database of Jedi Masters and Sith Lords for to utilize in your training. You also need not worry about damaging me as I can self-repair rather quickly" the droid told her.
"interesting, do you have anything on the Sith Lord Darth Revan?" she asked as she deactivated her lightsaber, curious what the Dark Lord who had provided her lightsaber crystal looked like.
"Of course!" PROXY 2 said as he transformed in a figured dressed in dark robes and what looked like an ancient mandalorian mask.
"Do you know any lightsaber forms?" she asked as she walked around the droid studying him.
"I am familiar with all forms of lightsaber combat "the droid informed her
Leia reached out with the force and flicked on one of the many training droids already in the sparring room. "show me form seven, Juyo" she said.
Imperial Center (Coruscant)
Darth Vader's shuttle descended down towards the city planet. He looked out the viewport at the ruins of the Jedi temple below. It didn't seem like ten years had passed since he had led his now famous 501st in the assault on the temple to end the Jedi Rebellion. Since pledging himself to Darth Sidious that day he had hunted down and killed thirty-four of the traitors. He had only come across but a handful in the last two years, which only proved how effective order sixty-six and he himself had been. He was still unable to locate his former master Obi-Wan Kenobi who was the biggest traitor of them all as far he was concerned. He had lost everything because of the Jedi Master, almost everything that is. He had found his child despite the conspiracy to hide her from him.
As his shuttle approached a large black tower, one of three on the city planet, Vader's thoughts shifted to the Emperor. He knew he had been summoned to partake in the celebrations for the founding of the Empire but to Vader it was only reminder of a painful time. Having him here was his master's way of reminding him of his failures with Obi-Wan on Mustafar. A failure he would correct whenever the opportunity presented itself. Vader looked at the larger of the three towers and wondered if the Emperor was aware his downfall was already being plotted. One thing he had finally learned was patience, it would take years for his plan to come to fruition. The Emperor's rise to power had been a very valuable lesson in long term planning which Vader had immediately taken to heart. He had planned to kill the Emperor after dealing with the separatist leaders on Mustafar but his failure with Obi-Wan had shown him he had much to learn, so he waited and he plotted.
Vader looked to the last tower belonging to the leader of the criminal organization the Black Suns, a Falleen prince named Xizor. Vader despised the prince but the Emperor had used him to help control the criminal underworld. There was nowhere the influence of the throne did not reach. Xizor's time was coming too. Vader knew the crime lord was using the tunnels that connected the three palaces to spy him on him. Vader did not like this but he allowed it because most of those spies worked for him as well, playing both sides of the fence to increase the credits lining their pockets. They too would be dealt with when the time came.
"My Lord, we are approaching the palace hangar" his pilot told him
"Inform the Emperor that I will report to him as soon as we land" Vader commanded.
"Yes, my lord" his captain replied
The Executor, Kuat Drive Yards
Starkiller was dueling PROXY as he had been commanded and was having a rough time of it. The red bladed weapon felt foreign in his hands. PROXY had assumed the form of someone named Darth Maul, a fearsome looking zabrak with red skin and horns on his head covered in tattoos, who wielded a double bladed red lightsaber. He had just parried a strike to his left when another came from the right barely missing the back of his head as he ducked. He quickly struck the left side of the droid and the image of the deceased Sith flickered away.
"Very good master, I was almost able to decapitate you. Maybe next time" PROXY said cheerfully.
"yeah maybe next time" He replied deactivating his blade.
"You're developing your form well" the droid continued "Lord Vader will be very impressed the next time you spar; it is very unique."
Starkiller took a towel to wipe the sweat off his brow and grabbed a drink of water. He didn't understand why Vader wouldn't teach him the traditional forms instead of having him developed his own style. He had been working on his form for two months and the lightsaber still felt awkward in hands.
"I don't know PROXY the lightsaber feels awkward and clumsy in my hands." He confided in the droid.
Suddenly PROXY flickered and took the form of a young togruta female just under two meters tall. She had blue and white mantrails and head tails. She also had white markings around the outside of her orange skinned face.
"Master, may I present Jedi Knight Ahsoka Tano" PROXY said "former apprentice to Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker. She left the order before the end of the Clone Wars, current location unknown. She was recorded on several occasions using a rare reverse grip on her lightsaber. Perhaps a similar style would be comfortable for you master"
"A reverse grip huh? Well I guess it's worth a try." He said flipping the lightsaber over in his hand and reactivating the lightsaber. It definitely felt more comfortable in his hands. He gave it a few more practice swings. He looked at PROXY who had activated the lightsaber he carried as well and attacked.
Two hours later their sparring sessions for the afternoon was over and Starkiller confidence with a lightsaber had multiplied using the reverse grip. Somehow it just felt more natural for him. He was laying on a crate eating a protein bar.
"PROXY, who did you say togruta's master was?" Starkiller asked the holodroid
PROXY Flickered and took on the appearance of a young male about two meters in height with medium length hair and a scar over his right "This is Anakin Skywalker, Jedi Knight and known throughout the Republic as the Hero with No Fear. Trained under the Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Starkiller stared at the man before him. There was something familiar about him but he couldn't quite place it. Then it dawned on him PROXY usually told him the status if he was mimicking someone for the first time. It was part of the droids programming and part Starkiller's education. He sat up and looked at the hologram a little harder.
"PROXY what's the status of Anakin Skywalker and this other Jedi, what his name? Obi-Wan Kenobi?" he asked
"Oh apologies master" the droid said "Obi-Wan Kenobi, status unknown. Anakin Skywalker status Supreme Commander of Imperial Forces, Darth Vader."
9 BBY
Tatooine
Obi-Wan was in the Anchorhead market alone. He had left Luke to help his uncle with the Vaporators. The temperature regulator in their hut wasn't working right and he needed to fix it before they cooked to death. He had just bought the part he need when he felt a familiar presence in the force, one he hadn't felt since before the end of the wars. But one he had spent a lot of time with in various parts of the galaxy. Following his instincts to the cantina he walked inside and waited for his eyes to adjust to the dim lighting. When they finally adjusted he scanned the room until he spotted who he was looking for and walked up to the individual, who was deep in conversation and hadn't even noticed him. He smiled as he stood there for a moment and tapped them on the shoulder.
"Of all the cantinas in all the galaxy I find you in this one" He said with a smile as the togruta turned around startled.
"What do you...oh my galaxies!" was all Ahsoka got out before she jumped up and hugged her old friend.
"it's so good to see you my friend" He said returning her hug "What are you doing here?"
"well" she said turning back to the human male she said been talking to and shooting him a dirty look "At the moment I'm negotiating a berth on a spice freighter and getting nowhere. So I guess I'm about to go find a place to stay for the night and see what the two suns on this dust ball bring tomorrow"
"Look no further, you'll stay with me tonight" Obi-Wan said with a huge smile on his face
Looking once more at human before turning back to Obi-Wan "I accept, that's the best offer I've had since I landed in Mos Eisley three days ago"
Still beaming Obi-Wan said "Excellent! There is someone I want you to meet."
They left the cantina and made their way to Obi-Wan's speeder and started the drive back to the Lars homestead. Along the way she explained how after leaving the order she had bounced around the galaxy for a little while taking odd jobs. Once she heard of order sixty-six she had started going by the name Fulcrum and hoped nobody noticed that she used to be a member of the Jedi Order. For the past three years she had been taking odd jobs on various freighters as a crewmember. Some legal some not so legal, but never settling anyplace for too long. She had left the last crew when they had agreed on taking a job from Jabba the Hutt transporting slaves and wanting no part of it for herself, she left. As they approached the Lars moisture farm she couldn't help but laugh.
"Obi-Wan you are the last person in the galaxy I would imagine being a moisture farmer on Tatooine. "she said between fits of laughter.
Obi-Wan feigned insult "I'll have you know I am the most successful moisture farmer in the hemisphere"
"Really?" she said still laughing
"No, I said I had someone I wanted you to meet" he said with a smile "His aunt and uncle own the farm. We're just going to pick him up. He's lived with me for the last five years.
This caught Ahsoka's attention, she wondered why did Obi-Wan have some boy living with him? But she knew the answer would present itself sooner or later. Since Obi-Wan wanted her to meet him she was sure it was going to be sooner rather than later she thought. As they pulled up a young boy with blonde hair came up the stairs from the courtyard and greeted Obi-Wan.
"Hey Obi-Wan, did you get the parts we need so we don't burn up anymore?" the boy asked before noticing Ahsoka and eyeing her suspiciously.
"Yes Luke I got the part. I'd like you to meet someone" he said pointing to Ahsoka "Luke Skywalker meet Ahsoka Tano, she used to be a Jedi."
This caught Luke's attention as he gave Ahsoka a once over and stuck out his hand "Pleased to meet you"
Ahsoka took the boys hand but was looking at Obi-Wan instead "Did you say Skywalker?"
"Yup that's me!" the boy said not catching Ahsoka's meaning.
"We have a lot to talk about Ahsoka" he said turning to Luke "Go and get your stuff Luke we need to go home if we're going to fix the temperature regulator before the suns go down.
Obi-Wan's hut was a little crowded with the additional guest but neither he nor Luke minded. They avoided discussing Luke's heritage the whole ride home and through the evening meal after they'd fixed the regulator. Ahsoka waited for Obi-Wan to break the silence after Luke had gone to bed not even knowing where to begin. They were sitting outside under the stars when he finally found and sat down beside her.
"He is one of Anakin's children. I'm training him to be a Jedi" he said after a few minutes
"One of his kids? How many did he have? Who is the mother?" she asked not believing what she was hearing.
"Ahsoka, what I am about tell you is known to only a handful in the entire galaxy." He said to her before relaying the events following order sixty-six. How Anakin had been twisted by the Emperor to turn to the dark side. His secret marriage to Padme Amidala and the birth of the twins. How Anakin, now Darth Vader had already found the girl and was missing. How Yoda had battled the emperor and his vicious dual and failure with Vader on Mustafar.
"We're almost gone now Ahsoka, they're only four Jedi that I know of in the galaxy right now." He told her.
"Four? Who else is there?" Ahsoka asked in disbelief.
"Well, there is me and Luke who is still training, Master Yoda and yourself" he said as he folded his arms and looked up at the stars once more. In the distance he heard the cry of the sand people.
"Obi-Wan I'm not a Jedi, I left the order" she said "I was never more than a Padawan, I never even took the trials"
Obi-Wan broke his stargazing and looked her in the eyes "Ahsoka, you were granted the rank of knight. The council considered what happened to you with the bombing and framing to be your great trial, which they all agreed you passed."
"But I didn't accept it" she argued
"It was still recorded in the archives that Padawan Tano passed her trials and was granted the rank of knight at the insistence of her Master, Anakin Skywalker. You can deny who you are all you want Ahsoka, but you are one of the last Jedi and eventually the Empire, and by that I mean Vader, is going to come for you. You will have to accept that sooner or later." He told her before looking back up at the stars.
She thought about it, what Obi-Wan was saying had the ring of the truth to it. She knew if they ever found her the empire would come and even leaving the order before order sixty-six was issued wasn't going to save her. She also knew the battle against the empire was not going to be easy. But she knew she had to help that fight.
"You're right Obi-Wan, the empire isn't going to care when I left the order. Eventually they will come for me" she finally said "I'm just not sure what to do or where to go"
He looked at her a bit confused "Well isn't it obvious? Help me train Luke. I believe doing so will help you remember what it's like to be a Jedi as well as help him learn"
Ahsoka looked at the aging Jedi Master who hair was now grey with flecks of red. She hadn't been a Jedi in over a decade. She remembered her training though she never used it anymore. She didn't have a lightsaber anymore, what was a Jedi without a lightsaber?
Tell me something Master Kenobi, does he know?" Ahsoka asked
"does who know what?" Kenobi asked still looking up
"Does Luke know what happened to Anakin?" she asked
Obi-Wan stopped looking at the stars to look at her. "No he doesn't. I don't know if he's ready for that knowledge yet"
She thought a little bit longer "Alright I'll do it Master Kenobi"
He looked at her with a huge smile on his face "Excellent! Welcome home Knight Tano"
"Thank you master" she said before the returned to looking up at the stars.