Alex Rider: Jedi Knight

Jedi Goat

Disclaimer: I don't own Alex Rider or Star Wars.

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Chapter 22: Epilogue

A little while later, the group arrived back at the closet they'd left Darra, Jack and the Younglings in. They let them pour out and Alex, Ferus and Sabina filled them in on what had happened as Obi-Wan led them down the corridor.

"…And then Alex killed the Sith," Sabina finished. She glanced at Alex and smiled, eyes sparkling. What else had happened between them was their secret. Alex grinned back.

Obi-Wan indicated a door. "Here we are." He disappeared inside.

The others followed him. Glancing around, Alex found they were back inside the old Council Chamber. Outside, the sun was just beginning to set.

"Well, I guess this is it." Alex looked out at the sun, falling behind a sea of flaming gold and red clouds.

"I guess so," Ferus sighed, helping Darra into one of the less-broken chairs. "The end of the Jedi."

"The Jedi Order is not gone," an echoing voice replied. "Members are still alive." A blue figure flickered into being beside the window.

Alex gasped. "Ian!"

Ian Rider drifted over to the group. "As long as you remain, hopes for rebuilding the days of the Jedi are strong."

"Who's this?" Obi-Wan asked.

"This is Ian Rider, my uncle," Alex explained. He turned to Obi-Wan. "And your father."

Obi-Wan stared at him for a long time. Finally he gazed at Ian. "You're…my father?" he repeated, almost inaudibly.

Ian answered, eyes clouded with emotion, "Yes, my son."

Obi-Wan closed his eyes and remained silent for a long moment. When he reopened them, he exclaimed, "That means Alex is my cousin!"

For some reason this made Alex and Sabina start laughing hysterically. When they had regained their senses, Alex panted, "So what are we going to do now?"

This brought down the mood. "We will need time to rebuild," Obi-Wan said solemnly. "We've lost almost everything."

"Not hope," Jack commented softly, and the others nodded their agreement.

"There could be other Jedi out there," pointed out Ferus. "People who were away on missions when the Temple was hit."

"I'm sure the Council has that information stored somewhere," Obi-Wan said, nodding. "We can check later."

"The Council is gone now," Ian informed them. "You are your own Council. The Jedi Code could use revising. Because of it, an apprentice was differed to the dark side."

Anakin, Alex thought sadly.

Sabina piped up, "I think Jedi should be allowed to love. Love can make us stronger."

Alex glanced at her in surprise. Would she stay as a Jedi? Would he?

Obi-Wan nodded thoughtfully. "That is a good idea."

"Before we begin too many plans," Alex announced, "I think we should figure out who's staying with the Jedi."

"Do you mean me?" Jack asked guiltily. She shrugged at him. "I figured you'd want to stay, and I'd gladly stay with you. These Younglings need someone to care for them." She smiled down at the young Jedi.

"I will stay, too, for now," Yassen added, to Alex's extreme shock. He glanced at him, and Yassen gazed coolly back.

"As for me," Sabina stated, and Alex turned back to her. He felt suddenly nervous. If Sabina wanted to drop out now, he didn't know how he could let her go.

"I'm staying." She gave him a small smile, and Alex was dizzyingly relieved.

"Me, too," he declared.

The other Jedi were all for the task of revolution.

"We'll need to find a new base," Ferus pointed out. "The Temple is ruined."

"We can go to Naboo," suggested Alex. "They've always been friendly."

Obi-Wan nodded. "Tomorrow, we head to Naboo. Tonight, we scavenge what we can from the Temple and rest."

The next morning, the new Jedi Order loaded a ship with supplies and prepared to leave. They stepped off the ship to get one last look at the Jedi Temple.

It was like home, Alex thought, gazing up at the burned-out shell. He closed his eyes, silently mourning for the lives lost in the battle.

"They are one with the Force now," Obi-Wan murmured, as if sensing his thoughts.

Alex nodded, turning away from the scene for the last time. He glanced instead at his friends and fellow Jedi: the Younglings, the future of the order; Obi-Wan, Jedi Master, his mentor, friend, cousin and now leader of the new Jedi; Ferus, a good student and fiercely loyal; Sabina, his brave friend and possibly girlfriend; Jack, his housekeeper and supporting friend; and Yassen, an assassin and surprisingly loyal friend.

Together, they could bring back the strength and greatness of the Jedi order, Alex knew. He smiled proudly and boarded the ship, followed by the others.

The silver ship flew off into a new dawn.

The End

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Author's Note: And that's the end. It's been a great journey writing this story, and I would like give a big thank-you everyone who read and reviewed Mission Jedi as well as Jedi Knight.