Leia was over-worked, and Han could see it in the little amount of time he saw her. She was supposed to be organizing the new Senate and its functions. She spent a lot of time trying to figure out which of the worlds nearby were supported by the Empire and which of the Outer Rim planets were willing to be a part of the New Republic.
When she first saw him, she thought she was hallucinating. But it turned out that he was really there, studying her as if she was another sentient being.
"Can I help you?" she said after a while.
"Are you or are you not Leia Organa?" the vision said. It was unclear, and somehow recognizable. Almost as if it was something from her past before her adopted father…
"I am," she answered, standing up. "Who are you?"
"At this time, it only matters that you know what I am."
"Which is who-what?"
"An old Jedi. I must ask something of you."
"Are you Obi-wan Kenobi?"
"I am. Back to the matter at hand. I need to ask a desperate favor of you."
"If I can ask you some questions first."
"Such time wasted, but it is necessary."
"How did you know my father?"
"He was a good friend, but an even better pilot and Jedi. I was instructed by my mentor, Qui-Gon Jinn, to instruct him. I thought I could do it, but my false hopes resulted in the destruction of tens of thousands of years' worth of republics and Jedi. I fought to protect it, and I ended up destroying it. Not by teaching, by neglecting to inform the ignorant."
"You certainly have a way with words. And what about the Death Star, your death."
"A necessary sacrifice to let you three get away. I always knew that he would be the one that would help him bring balance to the Force. I felt that in my hermitage on Tatooine. My job was to keep Luke hidden and safe and make sure that he made his way in the world. Well, and if and when you send word, I would respond and aid you. Protection was my priority."
"Why were you sent to do this?"
"I was sent because Yoda, Bail, and I knew that he would need your help to turn your father to the Light Side, but you would both have to be strong enough before letting him know about you. Otherwise you would have been turned to the Dark Side."
"What did you want to ask me?"
"I must ask you, as a matter of urgency, to do anything you must to create a new generation of Jedi. Even if you don't get permission from the Senate, don't stop. You have to do it someway."
"Are you talking about recreating myself?"
"If necessary. But there are many children, and even adults, out there who are Force-sensitive. If you can find them, you must create a school for them. Let Anakin and Luke teach them and eventually be the protectors of the New Republic. You must also learn yourself."
"Why?"
"A question you must learn to never ask. But, this world cannot thrive without protection, and the Force is our ally, proving us to be even better than the Alliance's fleet. Leia, there are many more enemies out there that are worse than the Emperor. Much more dangerous. The only way they can be defeated is by means of a true Jedi, and the Force at that."
"A reserve army?"
"In your point of view." The apparition disappeared at that, leaving Leia shaken and worried.
"Luke!" exclaimed Leia, running down the halls of the Senate Annex.
Luke turned around, sensing that Leia needed to talk privately. He found an empty office on his right, and let her in. "Calm down." He waited for her hysteria to qualm. "What is it?"
"I saw Obi-wan," she said.
"As an apparition? Did he have a faint, silvery lining around him?"
"Yes. He told me to build a Jedi army. And he said that there are many more dangerous foes than the Emperor, and I'm guessing they are Force-sensitive ones. We have to build this army, whether we have the Senate's permission for funding or not."
"That's what Anakin knew as well. He told me after the Senate meeting. Leia, Obi-wan is right. We have to be prepared for what is ahead. But we will need a Jedi in the Senate." Luke stared at Leia intently. "There wasn't one before, but sometimes the Jedi can change the course of the galaxy. Leia, there are some votes that need a unanimous vote. If you don't think it's right, then you have to vote against it. Anakin will fall asleep if you try to make him do political stuff, and everyone knows that I'm better in battle. You have diplomatic skills already, and I can teach you to be a Jedi. You're the only one who can do it."
Leia stared at him, almost willing him to take away the words. "Luke, I won't have enough time."
"Leia, we can convince Mon Mothma to give you less work. Leia, you haven't even been assigned to a world yet, so if we can convince Mon Mothma to give you less work, we'd have plenty of time."
"Fine," Leia said. She stared at her brother for help.
"We'll need Han. He knows a lot of people, and he might be able to get in contact with someone who is Force-sensitive. He might also run across someone on his little adventures. Can you ask him for me?"
"After the Senate meeting. He might not do it if it doesn't go through."
"Fine. We'll also need a private meeting with Mon Mothma and Admiral Ackbar. If we want the maximum amount of Jedi, we'll need every planet we can get. Which includes the Outer Rim."
"I can talk to her about that. But, it's dangerous there, so they might not agree to it, especially if this doesn't go."
"Then let's pray that it goes."
Leia checked her chronometer, and decided that it was time for them to leave for the meeting. Automatically, Luke walked to the door and opened it for her. She floated out and walked down the halls, Luke walking next to her. Leia broke off to go to the center while Luke headed for the Coruscanti Senate seat. Once again, Han was already there.
Within minutes, Mon Mothma began the meeting. Taking a deep breath in synch with his father, Luke waited for the other seats to cast their votes. His breath caught in his throat when Mon Mothma cleared hers.