Returning Home
Chapter 3: The Message
Ezra prodded Chopper's dome, trying to remove the sand from the holes.
"This is why I don't drag you across the Dune Sea, Chop, you get sand everywhere." Said Ezra, scraping sand out of a gap in Chopper's helm.
The door opened and Obi-Wan walked in, followed by a Gold plated Protocol Droid and an R2 Astromech, both of which are frighteningly familiar. They are followed by Luke, who was rubbing the back of his head.
"Master, what's going on?" Asked Ezra, getting to his feet.
Obi-Wan looked at Ezra, "It's time." Said Obi-Wan, quietly.
Ezra nodded and walked to the side of the room, Ezra saw that the Protocol droid was missing its arm.
"Luke, what do you know about your father?" Asked Obi-Wan, looking at Luke.
"Aside from the fact he fought in the Clone war." Said Ezra, making Luke look at him.
"My father didn't fight in the war, he was a navigator on a spice freighter." Said Luke, looking at them.
"That's what your uncle told you." Said Obi-Wan, stroking his beard, "He didn't hold with your father's ideals, thought that he should've stayed here and not gotten involved."
"And for the record, he did own a Spice freighter, it was called the Twilight." Said Ezra, looking at Luke with a deadpan expression.
"You fought in the Clone Wars?" asked Luke, looking at Obi-Wan.
"Yes," Said Obi-Wan, looking back at Luke, "I was once a Jedi Knight, the same as your father."
Luke looked down, "I wish I knew him." Said Luke.
"Well, Master Kenobi knew him quite well, train him before he was knighted and took an apprentice of his own." Said Ezra, remembering Ahsoka.
"What about you Ezra, did you fight in the Clone Wars?" Asked Luke, looking at the Blue haired humanoid.
"Luke, we are the same age and same species, work it out." Said Ezra, looking at Luke with irritation clearly written across his face.
"He was the best star pilot in the Galaxy and a cunning warrior." Said Obi-Wan, "I understand you've become quite a good pilot yourself."
Luke smiled. Ezra rolled his eyes.
"And he was a good friend." Said Obi-Wan, looking older, "Which reminds me," Obi-Wan got up and walked over to a box, "I have something here for you," Obi-Wan opened the box, "Your father wanted you to have this, when you were old enough but your Uncle wouldn't allow it, he feared that you'd follow old Obi-Wan on some damned fool idealistic crusade, like your father did."
The Protocol droid turned to Luke, "Sir if you'll not be needing me, I'll close down for a while." Said the Droid.
"Yeah, go ahead." Said Luke, distractedly.
Luke got up and walked over to Obi-Wan, Ezra mimicked his movements and stood behind the Jedi Master.
"What is it?" Asked Luke, looking at the object in Obi-Wan's hands.
"It is your father's lightsaber, this is the weapon of a Jedi Knight, not as clumsy or random as a blaster." Said Obi-Wan, making Ezra feel his lightsabers and Kanan's old lightsaber.
"I'll try not to be insulted." Said Ezra, crossing his arms.
Luke ignited the weapon, the blue plasma blade springing from the hilt of the saber.
"An elegant weapon," Continued Obi-Wan, ignoring Ezra, "For a more civilised age."
Luke swung the lightsaber a couple of times, watching in awe as the blade cut through the air.
"Normally, you'd construct your own lightsaber, like I did or Obi-Wan or Ahsoka." Said Ezra, making Luke look at him.
"Who's Ahsoka?" Asked Luke, making Obi-Wan look at Ezra.
"She was your father's Padawan, the title of a Jedi learner, such as myself." Said Ezra, gesturing to himself, "Some, like my master, were Knighted after the Empire had risen and others, like Obi-Wan and your father were knighted long before hand."
"Yes, for over a thousand generations The Jedi Knights were the guardians of Peace and Justice in the Old Republic, before the dark times." Said Obi-Wan, looking forlorn.
"Before the Empire." Finished Ezra, glaring at the ground.
Luke deactivated the Lightsaber and looked at Obi-Wan.
"How did my father die?" Asked Luke, sitting next to Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan looked hesitant, "A young Jedi named Darth Vader, who was a pupil of mine until he turned to evil, he helped the empire hunt down and destroy the Jedi Knights. He betrayed and murdered your father." Said Obi-Wan, looking at Luke, "And now the Jedi are all but extinct."
"And those who survived he hunted, he also murdered hundreds of Younglings and Padawans, far younger than we are now, he also murdered my Master before my eyes." Said Ezra, accidentally making a cup shatter with the force.
"Ezra, calm down." Said Obi-Wan, making Ezra jump.
"Forgive me, Master Kenobi." Said Ezra, using the force to clean up the mess.
"If you keep allowing your emotions to rule you, you will end up being seduced by the Dark Side of the force, like Vader." Said Obi-Wan, shaking his head, "Honestly, you much like Anakin and so much like Mace."
"What's the Force?" Asked Luke, getting the attention of both Jedi.
"The Force is what give a Jedi their power, as you saw when I cleared up the mess I made, for the lack of a better term, it's an energy field that is created by all living things. It surrounds us, it penetrates us and it binds the Galaxy." Said Ezra, making Obi-Wan raise his eyebrows.
"What, you were going to be dramatic, so why can't I?" Said Ezra, grinning.
The R2 Unit whistled, getting their attention.
"Now, let's see if we can figure out what you are my little friend." Said Obi-Wan patting the Astromech on the head, "and where you come from."
"He's an R2 Astromech Unit and he's most likely from the Rebellion Ship that was passing over and attacked." Said Ezra, as the droid started playing a message.
"I saw part of the message he was-" Luke was cut off by Obi-Wan.
"I seem to have found it." Said Obi-Wan, as Ezra stiffened at the sight of Leia Organa.
"General Kenobi, years ago, you served my father during the Clone Wars." Said the message, "Now he begs you to help him in his struggle against the Empire, I regret that I am unable to present my father's request to you in person but my ship has fallen under attack and I'm afraid that my mission to bring you to Alderaan has failed. I have placed information vital to the survival of the rebellion into the memory systems of this R2 Unit, my father will know how to retrieve it. You must see this droid safely delivered to him on Alderaan, this is our most desperate hour, Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope." The hologram finished.
Obi-Wan leaned back and tugged on his beard, Ezra stared at the place the Hologram of Leia had once stood.
Obi-Wan looked at Luke, as did Ezra, "You must learn the ways of the Force, if you wish to accompany Ezra and I to Alderaan." Said Obi-Wan, looking at Luke.
"Alderaan, I'm not going to Alderaan. I've got to home, it's late. I'm in for it as it is." Said Luke, walking towards the exit.
"We need your help Luke, Leia needs your help, Obi-Wan is getting to old for this sort of thing, in the days of the Order younger Jedi Knight would go but we're all that's left, that we know of." Said Ezra, looking at Luke.
Luke looked torn between going with them and staying on Tatooine.
"I can't get involved, I've got work to do." Said Luke, "It's not like I like the Empire, I hate it but there's nothing I can do about it right now." Luke slumped against the wall, "It's such a long way from here."
"That's your Uncle talking." Said Obi-Wan, looking at Luke, making him sigh.
"Oh, my Uncle, how am I going to explain this?" Asked Luke, placing his hand on top of the R2 Unit.
"Learn about the force, Luke." Said Obi-Wan, silently appealing to Luke.
Luke shook his head and headed for the door, before stopping, "I can take you as far as Anchorhead, you can get a transport there to Mos Eisley or wherever you're going." Said Luke.
"You must do what you feel is right, of course." Said Obi-Wan, getting to his feet and walking out the door, Ezra behind him.
A/N: Chapter 3, hope you like it. Obi-Wan had Ezra construct another Lightsaber, as he didn't agree with the Blaster Saber, if anyone can guess the blade colour of Ezra's new saber I'll dedicate a chapter to you.
