Chapter Six—Part 2
Between the dark and the daylight,
When the night is beginning to lower,
Comes a pause in the day's occupations,
That is known as the Children's Hour.
Do you think, O blue-eyed banditti,
Because you have scaled the wall,
Such an old mustache as I am
Is not a match for you all!
I have you fast in my fortress,
And will not let you depart,
But put you down into the dungeon
In the round-tower of my heart.
And there will I keep you forever,
Yes, forever and a day,
Till the walls shall crumble to ruin,
And moulder in dust away!
The Children's Hour (stanzas 1, 8, 9 & 10) by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
After several hours of talking, Luke slides out of his dad's lap feeling faintly embarrassed. He goes and gets in the shower, enjoying the ticking feeling that the sonic shower head gives him. He takes a little longer than usual, thinking about all the things his dad had told him about using Jedi mind of it had been hard to understand and some of it had scared him. Luke wonders why the Jedi didn't just ban people from doing those kinds of things. When he asked his dad he said that, like most Force techniques, it wasn't the technique itself that was bad but the intent behind it.
His dad had said, "If you want to know if you are right in using a mind trick, young one, first think about why you wish to use it. Ask yourself 'am I doing this for personal gain or for selfish reasons?' You might still misuse the technique but you are less likely to do so if you always consider your intent."
Luke supposes this means he cannot uses it on Laze again, which makes him feel disappointed but also relived at the same time.
Finishing his shower, he goes to his room to put on his sleep tunic and grabs his datapad so he can do his homework while Dad gets diner ready. He skips down the hallway back to the kitchen when he stops by the door to the dining room, hearing raised voices inside. He contemplates running to his room and fetching his lightsaber but reminds himself that his dad would have warned him through their bond if anyone dangerous was here.
Cautiously, he peers through the doorway and gasps. Sitting at the table is the same man he had seen when he rescued his dad from the hydroponic station. Dressed in the same tunic he looks the same as before, transparent like a hologram except that Luke can feel his Force presence. His dad is standing with his arms crossed; he looks annoyed and a little funny because he is wearing the pink apron the militia girls made for him as a joke gift.
"Dad?"
Both his dad and the strange man turn to look at him.
"Ah, Luke. This is…" he trials off as if he doesn't know what to say.
"Qui-Gon Jinn. I am Obi-Wan's Master. I believe we have met before."
"You have?" his dad says sharply. "When was this?"
"When you were in the hydroponic station… I couldn't move you and," Luke stops, unsure how to explain.
"Why does he call you Obi-Wan? And why is he… see-through?"
"I call him Obi-Wan because that is his name. And I am see-through because I am dead. I am a ghost."
"There's no such things as ghosts," Luke said.
"Oh? Who told you that?" the man replies, looking amused.
"Biggs said that—" Luke stops and turns to his dad, who sighs.
"He is a ghost, youngling. I should know, I saw him die." There is such sadness in his dad's voice that Luke goes and hugs him.
"Does everyone become a ghost when they die?" he asks, trying not to sound too hopeful.
"No, child. Only those who have learned the way of the Whils can manifest themselves after death. That is one of the reasons I am here to instruct Obi-Wan in this technique. You should be seeing me around more often."
"Can I learn it too?" Luke asks.
"Yes," the man says at the same time his dad says "No."
"Master!" his dad says, sounding exasperated. "I don't want him learning—" he is interrupted by loud beeping coming from the kitchen that Luke recognizes as the fire alarm. His dad mutters something under his breath and runs into the kitchen.
"Do I call you Master Jinn?" he asks, awkwardly.
"If you want to." The ghost man stares at him long enough to make Luke feel uncomfortable.
"You look like your father when he was you age," he says quietly.
"I hear that a lot," Luke shrugs.
"Do you?" This seems to amuse the man, although wasn't sure why.
"Master Jinn?" Luke needs to ask his question before his dad got back.
"Yes, child?"
"Did my mom learn how to become a ghost before… before she died?"
He knows the answer by the pitying look on Master Jinn's face.
"I am sorry but your mother was not a Jedi. She would not have been able to learn such things, even if she had access to the training," the man says gently.
Luke nods, heart falling.
"What was her name?" he asks.
Master Jinn frowns. "You haven't asked Obi-Wan about her?"
"Dad gets really sad whenever he talks about Mom. I don't like to remind him."
"I see," Master Jinn's voice is so even that he sounds just like Dad.
The only sounds are banging noises from the kitchen for several long moments, then Master Jinn spoke suddenly.
"Padmé. Your mother's name was Padmé Amidala."
"Did you know her?"
"Yes, I did. She was very brave and very kind."
Luke has a dozen questions he wants to ask but before he gets the chance his dad comes back into the dining room, looking frustrated.
"Go to your room and finish your homework. I have to find something else to make for dinner."
"But dad."
"Go, I have things I need to discuss."
Luke picks up his datapad and does as he is told, thinking my mother's name was Padmé.