Chapter Fourteen—Part 1

Gird your sword upon your thigh, O mighty one,

With your glory and your majesty.

And in your majesty ride prosperously

Because of truth, humility, and righteousness;

And your right hand shall teach you awesome things.

Psalm 45:3-4 (New King James Version)

Luke stands in the center of the Lars' garage, a look of determination on his face. Obi-Wan has cleared a large section of the room of parts and tools to use for sparring. The boy holds his lightsaber vertically in a two handed grip, guarding his right side. It is the opening stance of Ataru, the Form IV of lightsaber combat. Without warning, Luke begins to attack in earnest attempting a deep thrusting strike at Obi-Wan's chest.

He deflects it easily and Luke spins, slashing at his left leg. Obi-Wan back steps to avoid it and the boy presses the advantage with swift swipes with his saber. From across the room, Obi-Wan summons a broken servo buried in a small pile of droid parts and throws it at the boy's head. Luke ducks, undeterred by the distraction. Drawing on the Force, Luke launches himself several meters in the air, striking at Obi-Wan from above.

Obi-Wan lifts his blade to block when Luke twists in midair, striking at Obi-Wan's upraised arm rather than the left shoulder he appeared to have been aiming for. Smiling at the boy's audacity, Obi-Wan flicks his wrist, telekinetically shoving Luke backwards. The boy lands awkwardly and cannot get to his feet in time to avoid Obi-Wan's blade at his throat. Luke groans and slides to the floor, panting. Chuckling, Obi-Wan offers him a hand and pulls him to his feet.

"That wasn't fair. I knew you were going to push me away but I couldn't move fast enough to stop it," the boy says, scowling.

"There no such thing as fair in battle, young one," Obi-Wan replies, laughing.

"That's what you always say," Luke grumbles.

Obi-Wan briefly wonders if he complained this much when he was nearly fourteen; he would have to ask Qui-Gon—and apologize, if necessary.

"That is because it is true, young one. Why don't we try again? You ought to practice Form III, the space in here is too limited for Ataru's acrobatics to be as effective."

"But I'm not as good at Soresu," the boy mutters but nonetheless reignites his blade and inclines forward in the one handed opening stance of the third form.

Obi-Wan knows that if Luke is to ever challenge Vader and the Emperor he will benefit from mastering the fourth Form of lightsaber combat. Ataru is the most aggressive style and arguably the best to use against other swordsmen in single combat. Yet Obi-Wan is also instructing Luke in his preferred style of lightsaber combat because mastering the third Form would help make up for the weaknesses of Ataru.

Soresu is not hampered by tight spaces and it deflected blaster fire better than the other Forms. Most importantly, because of its reliance on economy of motion, Form III users did not suffer from the potentially deadly fatigue that the pronged used of Form IV induced. It was this that had caused his master to lose his duel with Maul all those year ago. Obi-Wan slowly circles Luke and the boy crouches slightly before springing forward, face contorted with concentration.

Their sabers meet with a familiar crackle of energy.

Using their locked blades for leverage, Obi-Wan uses his superior strength to push back, leveling a sweeping kick at Luke's legs. Luke sidesteps the kick and slashes at his father's midsection, which Obi-Wan deftly deflects with his own blade. The duel continues for serval minutes until Luke is a split second too late countering one of Obi-Wan's counterstrikes and is pushed off balance. The boy once more falls to the ground, his saber skittering across the floor.

"Let's rest for a bit," Obi-Wan suggests because Luke is broadcasting his frustration and weariness through their bond.

The boy nods and closes his eyes. His breathing become deep and even as he centers himself and when Luke opens his eyes again, Obi-Wan is pleased that he can sense nothing but calm emanating from him. Obi-Wan smiles; Luke's self-control has greatly improved these last few months. The boy is far less impulsive and undisciplined as Obi-Wan had been at his age. Luke is also more accomplished in both bladework and Force manipulation, though Obi-Wan is careful not to mention this so the boy will not become overconfident.

"What are you studying in school?" he asks, sitting down beside Luke on the oil stained pourstone floor. "I have not heard you talk about your classes for a few weeks."

Luke hesitates and Obi-Wan, catching a thread of resentment from the bond, frowns.

"I everything alright?"

"We've been learning about the Clone Wars," Luke says, suddenly scowling. "And about how evil the Jedi were to trick everyone into fighting so they could take over the Republic."

"I see," Obi-Wan replies evenly. "That explains why you have been so agitated when you get home."

There is silence between for a long moment.

"What do you wish to ask me, young one?" he asks quietly.

Luke fidgets, casting uncertain eyes on him.

"I don't want to bother you," he answers, finally. "I know you don't like talking about things like this."

"Perhaps young one. But that does not mean that you do not need to talk about it."

Luke nods and tentatively speaks "Dad, what really happened in the Clone Wars?"