Chapter Fourteen—Part 2

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)

His dad sighs, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"The Clone Wars were a setup," he began. "It was an elaborate plan of Darth Sidious to gain control of the Republic and reform it into a new Sith Empire."

"Why didn't the Jedi stop him?" Luke asks, biting his lip. It is a question he has thought about for a long time.

"We did not know he was behind it until it was too late, young one. We knew there was a darkness that was gathering—but we had sensed that for years before the war started," his dad shakes his head. "The Jedi were unprepared. We did not believe that the Republic would ever turn against us."

Luke breathes deeply, inhaling the scent of machine oil and rust, thinking hard.

"Why did you become generals of the clone troops?" he asks. "My teacher said it was because you planned all along to use the clones to take over the Republic once you defeated the Separatists."

His dada snorts. "We did not want to become generals. But you have to understand, young one, in those days the Republic did not have an army. The Jedi were the only real military the Republic had. They used us to settle disputes but systems were expected to be able to defend themselves from outside threats. The Separatists army was too large and powerful for most systems to handle. The Senate wanted us to be the leader of their new clone forces because they trusted us."

"If they trusted us, why were all the Jedi killed?"

"That was Palpatine's doing. He never would have managed to kill so many of us without programing the clones to execute all Jedi when given the order. Yet I think even if that had not occurred the Republic would have lost faith in us. As the Clone Wars dragged on, respect for Jedi waned. Many started to fear or at least, resent us. Perhaps that was the Emperor's plan all along."

"I have to write an essay," Luke says. "About what they should have to prevent the Jedi from trying to take over the Republic."

His dad raises an eyebrow. "That is a unusual assignment."

Luke shrugs. "It's supposed to help with our critical thinking, or something. Camie is writing about how they shouldn't have made Jedi the generals of the army and Windy thinks they should have made the Jedi leave Coruscant."

"What do you think, young one?"

"I haven't been able to think of anything," he sighs. "I hate history."

His dad laughs. "I think both your friends are right in their own way."

Luke frowns. "What'd you mean?"

"We never should have let ourselves become the Republic's military force. There were only ten thousand of us—it was foolish and arrogant to think we could police the galaxy. If the Republic had been prepared, if they had possessed their own army, then they would not have need the clones. We let the Senate dictate to the Order because we believed we served them, even when it became increasingly obvious that they mostly served themselves. Perhaps Windom is right, if the Jedi Order ever reestablishes itself, I would be the first to insist that it not be in the capital of the Republic."

Luke hesitated for a moment. "Dad, do you think the Jedi Order will ever return?"

"The Jedi will always endure," his dad says quietly. "As long as there is at least one being who carries on its percepts. I have taught you much of the history of the Order. You know we have recovered from near extinction before."

"Yeah, but this time we're going to be the ones to help bring it back," he says, grinning fiercely.

His dad laughs and rubs his hand through Luke's hair. "I certainly hope so, padawan. But you need to work on your Form III kata and I need to get dinner started."

Luke groans but dutifully grabs his saber, and as he slowly performs the movements of Soresu, he promises to himself that after he kills the Emperor and Vader he and his dad will make a new Jedi Order even better and stronger than the last one.