Chapter 4. Family Retreat
The Jedi Temple-Council Chambers:
The Jedi Council gathered together to discuss many topics like Gavar Kai, Darth Lumiya, and Darth Veger. The trio had been not been seen since they tried to kidnap Jacen Solo. Luke had wounded the two women horribly. Gavar Kai's daughter was a student at the academy on Ossus.
They also discussed the exploration mission and who to send. It was Kyle who suggested Master Jara Sen. Anakin's name came up since Leia and Tahiri altered time by going back and destroying the voxyn nest. Anakin had become a mind slave and lead many battles for the Yuuzhan Vong, but he had not been seen in many months.
"Mara and I have decided to take a leave of absence from the order to spend time with our children…"
"Is that wise?" Kyle asked, "Especially with everything that is going on…"
"Not to mention Daala…" Kenth said.
"Daala is here…So we can watch her better…As for my timing I don't think anything major will happen while we are away…"
After the meeting the entire council saw Luke, Mara, and Ben off, Master Sabatyne was left in charge as acting Grandmaster. They first travelled to Ossus to pick up Vestera and Callen. Then they traveled through hyperspace to Tattooine.
"I thought you said that you were never coming to this planet again…" Mara said teasing as they flew to Anchorhead.
He smiled, "I guess I will have to stop saying that…"
When they landed they took a speeder out to the old Leers farm. It was owned now by a family named Lavar. Abron Lavar was all to happy to have a family of Jedi stay on his farm. The twins Owen and Amidala seemed all to happy to play in the sand. Amildala had to be punished after she took apart one of the moisture vaporators.
"Grandmaster may I speak with you?" Callen asked.
"Of course…what is it…"
He hesitated, "I have been having dreams or visions…" Luke listened with great interest as he told him about Darth Vader, the Emperor, Bail Organa. He also mentioned General Kota and an a Rebel Alliance assault on Kamino against the Empire. "Master what does it all mean?"
"I am not sure…" Luke said, "Give me your thoughts…" Luke touched his head and entered his mind. Luke saw images of Callen as a another man, an adult serving Darth Vader as his apprentice. He saw Leia and many other familiar faces, including Yoda. Luke withdrew his hand and turned away from Callen.
"Grandmaster…What did you see…"
"Nothing…for the time being I will block these images from your mind until I can decipher them…"
"What aren't you telling me…"
"Patient…I will hide nothing from you…"
Luke was onboard the Jade Shadow, he went into the COM room and locked the door. He sent a message to Leia and waited for her reply. It was an hour before her hologram appeared on the projector.
"Luke…Master Sabatyne said you were on leave from the order…"
"I am…Where are you?"
"Athros…Anakin's last known position before he vanished…"
Luke sighed, "Leia I have a question and I need you to be honest with me…"
"Of course why wouldn't I be?"
How did the Alliance get stared…The Rebel Alliance…Officially Mon Mothma, Bel Garm Iblis, and Admiral Ackbar are accredited for starting the Alliance, but that isn't the truth…"
Leia bit her lip, "Why do ask?"
"Starkiller!"
Leia gasped, "Where did you hear that name?"
"Never mind that…tell me…"
Leia looked left and said something to someone off to the side, "Luke go to a secure channel…"
"Okay…line secure…"
"This isn't common knowledge, but Darth Vader…" She sighed, "…had an apprentice."
Luke made a face, "But the rule of two…"
"I know…Anyway He used Starkiller to hunt down Jedi Masters General Kota, Casten Peratus, and Shaak Ti…Then Vader betrayed him only to medically repair him and use him to bring the Emperor's enemies together…He rescued me from an Imperial strong hold on Kashyyyk and he single handedly destroyed an Imperial shipyard…but once again Vader betrayed him when Mon Mothma, Garm, my father Senator Organa and Kota met together in the open…He survived Vader's betrayal and rescued them all from the Death Star which was still under construction…He sacrificed his life fighting the Emperor…"
"Is that all?" Luke asked when Leia paused.
"No that is when it gets weird…A few months later he shows up and leads the alliance in a battle against the Empire at Kamino…A clone…apparently Vader had Starkiller cloned…"
"What happened to the clone?"
"He died at the hands of Vader and Boba Fett…but only after the clone defeated and imprisoned him…"
Luke turned his thoughts inward and as he did Leia waited for explanation as to how he knew about Starkiller. "Well are you going to tell me how know about Starkiller…He is one of the most closely guarded secrets of the Alliance…"
Luke sighed, "Would you believe me if I said that his clone was the child left on the doorsteps of the Jedi Academy…"
Leia gasped in disbelief, "Are you sure…" Luke responded by nodding. "Luke be careful…Starkiller was almost as powerful as Vader and my father witnessed him take on the Emperor single handedly…As for his clone…he isn't the real Starkiller, but he is just as powerful and capable…Where did he come from…"
"That is another mystery that may lead to the people who altered time itself…At any rate be careful and tell no one of this. I need time to process all the implications…"
"As you say…Give my love to Ben, the twins, and tell Mara I said hello…"
Luke agreed then he shut off the transponder and leaned back in the chair in deep thought on all he had just learned. He had more questions than answers and should he tell Callen, that was another problem.
Her name was Amidala Jade Skywalker, the younger twin of Owen Skywalker. The twins were now four years old and of the two Amidala was the most mischievous. Mara stood over her as she made the little redhead put Ben's lightsabers back together.
"And if you do that again young lady I will punish for a month…"
"I was only playing…" she said in an innocent voice Mara wasn't falling for.
"Its time for your math lessons…" Mara said when she was finished, but Amidala stood watching Ben who was eight now test his lightsabers out. "Jade…go with the tutor droid…"
Luke had just walked in to see her storm off in a huff, "What did I miss…"
"Oh nothing much…"
"Ha!" Ben said, "She took my lightsabers apart…" Luke smiled shaking his head. "Its not funny dad!"
Luke raised his hands, "I'm sorry she reminds me of Anakin at that age…taking things apart and putting them back together…"
"What have you been up to?" Mara asked.
"I called Leia to get an update on Gavar Kai and Anakin…" Luke winked at her, meaning he would tell her later.
"I saw that…" Ben said.
"Where are Vestara and Callen…"
"Outside dueling…"
They spent the next month on Tatooine, then they left for Degobah where Luke gave the twins the basics of the force and an education in the Jedi history. While on Degobah Amidala built herself a lightsaber, but Luke took it away from her until she learned basic swordsmanship. On the side Amidala hounded Ben until he agreed to teach her more advanced moves.
Owen was named after Uncle Owen Lars and was the complete opposite of Amidala. He was quiet and he loved to read and use the force to be in-tune with his surroundings and nature. In the evenings after the family had eaten Owen would read to the entire family.
During this time Ben perfected his force abilities and added on to what he already knew from the other timeline. He also loosened up and got closer to Vestera. They learned many things about each other, but always Vestera's mind was on her father, who was searching the galaxy for the Sith Lord who destroyed their home world.
"One day I am going to have to leave and look for my father…" She whispered to Ben as they sat away from the fire looking up at the sky.
Ben could sense his mother when she turned towards them, he sighed. "I know…" Was all he could manage to say. What did anyone expect her to do, sit idly by while her father faced the person or persons who destroyed Abeloth and her planet.
For Ben he was worried that his mother and many other Jedi would see this as an opportunity for Vestera to turn him to the Dark Side of the Force. Which wasn't the case at all, she only said something because it is a daughter's natural instinct to help her father.
Callen wondered away from the camp to a tree turned on it's side. The tree formed the mouth of a cave and as he drew closer many memories flooded his mind. As he entered the cave Luke stood afar off watching him unseen and unnoticed, because Luke had hidden his presence in the force.
When Callen entered the cave Darth Vader was standing before him with his arms folded. Then he saw General Kota and after him he saw a woman with short Blonde hair and an athletic build. She smiled at him and after he passed her Callen gasped. Two men stood before him fighting, one was Ben and he was the other. They were fighting over Vestera who was on the ground, her hand had been severed. Then there was a red flash and when the light faded an Alien with no face dressed in black Sith robes stood before him.
"Despite all my efforts you retain the memories of the original host…"
"Who are you? What do you mean by that?"
"You know who I am and you know what I mean…Don't be a fool seek me out…Only I can show you the way…"
"The way to what?"
"So naïve…I wonder how will you ever survive…Perhaps I made a mistake…"
For a few seconds Callen lost control and caused an earthquake. "WHO ARE YOU!"
By now the Alien had completely faded away, "I am Darth Khaun…"
When Callen emerged from the cave Luke was waiting for him, "Don't you want to know what I saw?"
Luke smiled, "Perhaps I already know…The question is…what are you going to do…"
"More Master talk…Why did you bring me along…What is happening to me…"
I swear before this trip is over we will seek the answers together…"