Chapter 4

"There, there. Whatever it is it can't be that bad." Ben handed her a handkerchief. He had that horribly uncomfortable look men usually get when a woman starts crying. "Please don't cry! I want to help you." He sat down on his trunk facing her.

Luna sniffed, wiped her eyes, and tried to pull herself together. She felt terribly foolish for her sudden outburst.

"I'm sorry! You must think I'm loosing my mind."

"Not at all. If you've never experienced telepathy before I'm sure it's quite a shock."

She stared at him open-mouthed. "Telepathy? How did you…?"

So many questions started flying through her head she wasn't sure which to ask first. "How did you know?"

Ben leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. "I'm like you Luna. We're sensitive to the Force. That gives us the ability to sense and do things that others can't. With training I've learned to use and control these powers as you will in time. It's nothing to be afraid of if you learn to use them correctly. It's simply a part of who you are."

She wanted to believe him, but something still bothered her. "If it's simply a part of who you are then why didn't I know about it until now?" She asked.

"I'm not sure. It is true most people become aware of their abilities much earlier. When exactly did you first realize something was…different?" His blue eyes were full of curiosity.

"A few days ago. Everything I told you before was true, but something else did happen with the Inspector."

"Go on." Ben said encouragingly.

Luna picked at some lint on the blanket. This might be an everyday occurrence for Ben, but it was all brand new to her. She continued, her cheeks growing red with embarrassment. "He was yelling at me and shouting about taking my book. I tired to grab it from him, but he held it above his head. Then I reached out and it just sort of…flew through the air into my hand."

"Like this?" Ben stuck out his hand and Luna watched in amazement as a drinking glass that had been siting on the table shot across the room and into his grasp. He smiled at her astonished expression.

"Yes! Just like that!"

"Very interesting! And you say nothing like that has ever happened before? You're sure?"

"Yes. Never."

"Remarkable!"

Remarkable? Sure, if you could do it at will as he seemed to be able to, but she had no way to control it. She couldn't go through life calling things to her left and right without any warning! She suddenly pictured herself at the market with fruit and vegetables wildly flying through the air.

She looked at the floor. "What am I going to do?" she said in a small voice sounding very worried.

Ben reached out and took both her hands in his. He practically radiated sincerity. That unusual tingling sensation came back again, stronger this time. Their eyes met, and her insides melted just a little. "Don't worry. I know it seems overwhelming right now, but you can learn to control this. I'm going to help you."

"You'll show me how to use the Force? You would do that for me?"

He smiled sadly with a far away look in his eyes. "Yes. Believe it or not, I was a once a teacher too."

…

Obi-Wan sat cross-legged on the top step of his hut. Luna was taking a nap. Apparently his attempts at Force healing last night had been more successful than he originally thought. The bruising was almost completely gone from her face and most of the small cuts had closed up and disappeared. The gash on her head was significantly smaller and her arm was a bit less painful. She still had a significant way to go before she was fully recovered, but she was definitely on the mend.

So many things had happened in the last day! He was exhausted and excited and anxious in equal measures. After the disastrous way things ended with Anakin, he never expected to be given the chance to train another. But, there could be no doubt her being here was the will of the Force. She had literally fallen out of the sky almost on top of him!

Still, when mentoring someone there was always the possibility that they might fall to the dark side. Could he take that risk living so close to Luke who had the entire fate of the galaxy resting on his shoulders? This definitely required careful consideration. He relaxed his body and cleared his mind as he prepared to meditate. Peace settled over him.

The small life forms of the desert came into focus as rings of light. A few insects hovered in the air and a lizard lazily flicked his forked tongue as he basked in the last of the days heat. Obi-Wan could feel Luna in the hut behind him, her force signature a bit muted by sleep but still warm and purely radiant as a new star. He began to sense a familiar presence he hadn't felt in many years and his heart leapt with excitement.

"Hello my friend."

"Master!" Obi-Wan was overjoyed to hear the voice of Qui-Gon Jinn. He had missed him terribly since his death at the hands of Darth Maul and often wished he could seek his counsel when he encountered a particularly perplexing situation. With Anakin around, that happened almost daily.

"You have done well my young apprentice."

"But Master, I failed in so many ways. Anakin is lost to the dark side. He did such terrible things! If only I'd been better able to guide him. I was blind to so many of the signs. Maybe I could have stopped this if only I'd…" Bitter sadness and regret squeezed Obi-Wan's heart as he thought of Anakin.

"You are not to blame and could not have stopped anything even if you had known. What has happened was destined to happen. It was the will of the Force. Do not despair for there is still hope. You will ensure that."

He would ensure that? How? "You mean Luke?" Said Obi-Wan. "He seems to be thriving with his Aunt and Uncle and I'm doing everything I can to guarantee his safety."

"In part. All will be revealed in time."

"Master, I've discovered a woman who has just become aware of her connection to the Force. She is eager to learn how to control it, but I am unsure if it is wise to train another. I am also curious about why her abilities have manifested so suddenly."

"You speak of Luna Merris. She is one of many whose midi-chlorian count was considered borderline for acceptance into the Jedi order. When the purge occurred it created a vacuum and individuals like Luna began experiencing an increase their sensitivity to the Force."

"You mean to say there are others like her?" This was unexpected!

"Many. She is very lucky to have found you. Most of the others will not be so fortunate."

"So I should train her then?"

"Yes. She desperately needs your guidance. Just remember Obi-Wan, the Jedi order with all its rules and regulations is gone for a reason. You must find a way to avoid the mistakes that were made by those who came before."

"But what mistakes? How will I know…" He couldn't bear to be responsible for another spectacular failure. So much was at stake!

"Trust in the Force my friend. Search your feelings. You will know in your heart what is right."