Chapter 2: Ben
December 23.
The Lars and the young Skywalker proved to be very courteous hosts. Perhaps the only awkwardness was that Luke's eyes seemed to wonder on Jaral from time to time, but the guy was about the siblings' age and, living in that place, he probably didn't have the chance to interact with other women aside from his aunt, and the elder sister Bridger was an attractive woman, so she didn't mind.
Ezra and Jaral could enjoy a quiet night of sleep, waking up by sunrise anyway because their bodies needed less sleep than the average human and were given a robust breakfast.
After that, Luke accompanied the siblings into the garage and they reactivated the droids while Owen had to take care of some of the morning chores of the farm. The youngsters were going to clean the machines.
However, when they reactivated R2, the astromech beeped furiously, clattered with his struts and vehemently protesting that they were wasting time.
"Woah, calm down, buddy, what's up?" Luke asked.
3PO intervened with an apology. "I beg your pardon, Sir Luke. His behavioral routines have never been fixed." then he slapped his counterparts' dome. "Will you shut up? You're giving a bad impression to our Masters' hosts!"
Hoping that the astromech wouldn't spill the beans about their actual mission, Ezra intervened.
"Sorry, Luke, he's just very diligent and would like to return to his owner real quick."
Luke approached the astromech carefully. "I understand, boy, but you wouldn't like all of this sand to ruin your circuits before you get back home, right?"
R2 conceded, though he grumbled a bit.
"Meanwhile, you can use that tank to give 3PO an oil bath." Luke said to the siblings, pointing at the machine, pretty much an elevator that would have the droid descend into the liquid.
"Good, thanks." Jaral said, then turned toward the droid. "Come on 3, hop in."
"Oh, gladly, Lady Bridger. This oil bath is really needed." the protocol droid replied as he quickly stepped onto the platform.
While Ezra started the procedure, Jaral went to reassure R2, whispering to him that they were going to reach Mos Eisley very soon.
The young Skywalker grabbed a pointy tool to scratch the more subtle cavities of the astromech. But before he started, he turned toward the siblings.
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Sure thing." Ezra replied eagerly.
"Are you guys...with the Rebellion?"
The siblings looked at each other cautiously.
"What should we do?" Ezra asked.
"I think...we should be sincere." Jaral replied, finding that feeling of safety within the Force, something that she transmitted down the bond to reassure her brother, as well.
"What do you know about the Rebellion?" the woman asked calmly.
"Not much, actually. But I heard that they are led by two incredible warriors who wield some sort of energy swords." Luke replied with a certain enthusiasm lingering under that smile. "And that they brought people from another galaxy."
"Both statements are true." Ezra said. "But if we told you that we, indeed, are with the Rebellion, what would you do?"
Luke seemed hesitant to answer as he scratched some carbon scoring away from R2.
"Well...I don't like the Empire, particularly. But it doesn't matter, because apparently I'm not leaving this planet very soon."
"Why not?" Jaral asked.
Luke sighed. "Uncle Owen. He wants me here for another season. He promised me that he will be able to hire some workers so I can leave this place, but...that's what he promised last year."
The siblings quickly exchanged their common idea: there was no way the would leave this guy here!
His affinity with the Force was even higher than their own. If he was trained in the ways of the Jedi, he could become a very powerful ally against the Sith.
For now, though, they decided it was a good time to use his enthusiasm to find their objective.
"Yes." Ezra said finally. "We are with the Rebellion. The ship we were on was not attacked by chance, and that's why we need to get out of here. However, first, do you know of Obi-Wan Kenobi?"
Luke looked at him only slightly confused. "Obi-Wan…? You sure you don't mean old Ben Kenobi?"
The siblings exchanged another quick gaze. The name might be another one, but it was too similar to the other to be a coincidence.
"Who is he?" Jaral asked.
"He lives out beyond the Dune Sea. He's kinda of a strange old hermit."
"Sounds like him. I met him around a year ago." Ezra said. "I would've died there if Master Kenobi hadn't saved me."
Luke looked stunned. In all honesty, that might have been the most incredible story he had ever heard in all his uneventful life in that farm. "You called him...Master?"
Jaral, though, lifted a hand to stop the conversation. "I'm afraid we don't have time to explain. Let's do the job for your uncle first, then you might help us meet Master Kenobi and we'll tell you everything, I promise."
The young farmer didn't need to think too long about it. "All right. Let's get to work."
Admittedly, the infrastructures of the Death Star were impressive. Since he had been allowed into the Staff room, Iulius had received an entire department of analysts, operators and intelligence officers that helped him to reconnect with the 101st and resume his campaign.
While he would've preferred to be on the front, Iulius had to recognize that this was actually a good opportunity to reassess the strategic situation: from the frontline, his intel from the ISB was sporadic, and now he had found out that the Coalition was reorganizing their forces around the Arcan system, the last bastion before Lianna.
At least the death of Admiral Raddus, which had been confirmed by the imperial forces boarding the rebel flagship above Scarif, had severely hampered the Rebel Fleet, and while it seemed like there was a new leader for it, such fleet was now regrouping around Mon Cala, meaning that the Federation was in charge of the orbital defense of the region for the time being.
It looked like he would have to change his plans for taking back Lianna.
He turned toward Qathora. "Call Admiral Versio and tell him to redeploy Squadrons 3 to 10 for an assault on Rhen Var." he calmly instructed.
"I'll do it." the Togruta replied with a small bow.
She started to walk away, then remembered something and stopped to tell him. "Ah, just a friendly reminder that you have that meeting with the Council in ten minutes."
Iulius made a small nod. "Thanks for the reminder." he said, and let his servant go.
He dismissed the officers in the room, telling them to return to their other duties, then he left the section as well. Only to find out that he didn't remember ever being told where the conference room for the meeting was. Luckily, that wouldn't have been too much of a problem. He turned to one of the many Navy troopers patrolling the corridors, who gave him the right direction and soon enough, the Grand Admiral found the conference room.
His two Death Troopers waited outside while he stepped in. He found that most of the high officers were already there. He honestly found weird that he was the only Grand Admiral summoned for what seemed to be a very important meeting, considering that his other 11 colleagues were aboard the Death Star as well.
On one hand, Iulius saw that the two Chiefs of the Army and the Navy were already inside the room.
The latter was Admiral Conan Antonio Motti, Chief of the Imperial Navy and, technically, Iulius' superior, though Grand Admirals were independent from the usual chain of command, as they were appointed by the Emperor himself.
Motti just gave him a nervous gaze before going back to confabulate with two of his officers. The guy hated the Grand Admirals in general, believing them to be a liability to the efficiency of the Navy.
And just like every other commanding officer in the Empire, Motti resented Iulius' meteoric rise and the fact that he had the favor of the three most powerful men of the Empire: Tarkin, Vader and the Emperor himself.
In turn, Iulius ignored him and focused on the men on his right: one was Colonel Yularen, head of the ISB, and then there was the Chief of the Army, General Cassio Tagge.
When Yularen turned around and spotted Iulius, he stepped toward him.
"Ah, Grand Admiral Tanis. A pleasure to meet you again." he said cordially as he extended a hand.
Iulius returned the gesture. "Likewise, Colonel." then he turned his head. "General Tagge."
The other officer made a respectful nod. "Allow me to congratulate with you about your victory at Columex."
"Thanks, General. But the war is still long." Iulius replied.
Yularen then turned toward the center of the room, and spoke loudly for everyone to see.
"Gentlemen. All those supposed to attend the meeting are here, so please take your seat. Gran Moff Tarkin and Lord Vader will join us shortly."
Everyone started to reach their seats. Yularen showed Iulius his chair, giving his back to the entrance.
As he sat down, Iulius realized just then that the officers in the room were all heads of the various branches of the armed forces. He couldn't also help but notice that Yularen announced Lord Vader's arrival.
From what he heard, Vader had captured the blockade runner that left Scarif with the Death Star's plans, but there was no mention about the Bridgers, and the plans were not recovered, in the end.
Iulius was certain that the two Jedi must have been there, but he would have to save his doubts for when Tarkin and Vader entered the room.
For now, it all came down to a debate between Motti and Tagge about the position the Death Star found itself in.
"Until this battle station is fully operational, we are vulnerable." Tagge said at a point. "The Rebel Alliance and the Imperial Federation are too well equipped. They are far more dangerous that you would like to admit."
"Dangerous to your forces, General, not to this battle station." Motti replied dryly.
"The Rebellion will continue to gain support in the Imperial Senate…" Tagge insisted, but the voice of Tarkin coming from the entrance interrupted him.
"The Imperial Senate will no longer be any concern to us."
Iulius slightly turned to follow the voice that was clearly moving.
Tarkin passed on his left, walking around the table, with Vader following him. The Gran Moff was heading to his chair, on the opposite side of where Iulius was sitting.
"I've just received word that the Emperor has dissolved the council permanently. The last remnants of the Old Republic have been swept away." Tarkin said in the distance separating from his chair.
Iulius was stunned. The Senate...dissolved?
Luckily, Tagge shared his sentiment, since he asked in his place. "That's impossible. How will the Emperor maintain control without the bureaucracy?"
Tarkin, who was now sitting in his place, promptly replied. "The regional governors now have direct control over their territories. Fear will keep the local systems in line." he turned toward Motti. "Fear of this battle station." and the Chief of the Navy made a smirk.
Tagge, however, insisted. "And what about the Coalition? If the rebels have obtained a complete technical readout of this station, it is possible, however unlikely, that they might find a weakness and exploit it."
Iulius couldn't stand that, so he simply commented, loudly. "You may remove the 'unlikely' part, General."
All gazes turned toward him, and not all of them were amused or agreeing, but the Grand Admiral couldn't give two dumps about it.
"Please, speak your mind, Grand Admiral." Tarkin said quite politely.
"Thanks, Governor. So, nobody is going to point out the fact that this station...the most secret, expensive and ultimate project in the Empire's history...has been built mainly by a man who had 'traitor' written all over him from the start? Not only that, a traitor who is now actively cooperating with our enemies?"
A bit of silence followed. Which actually made Iulius nervous.
After a while, Tarkin reassured him. "Your concern is legitimate, Grand Admiral, but rest assured. Galen Erso had always been watched by loyal engineers. If he was trying to sabotage the battle station, we would've noticed."
"And yet, he guided them to Scarif. Clearly, he placed a weakness in this station that the rebels can exploit." Iulius insisted. "And now that the rebels have taken the plans…"
"The plans you refer to will soon be recovered." Vader intervened to cut the discussion.
Iulius honestly would've liked to keep asking. For example: if the plans were in the hands of two Jedi (not to mention that they were arguably the best warriors of the Rebellion), why did Vader come back on the Death Star instead of going down himself on Tatooine?
But still, he wanted to believe that the blockade of the planet would at the very least prevent the Bridgers from leaving that sand ball, so he relented and sat back on the chair.
Now, Motti started bragging. "Any attempt from the Coalition to attack this station would be a useless gesture. No matter what technical data they've obtained. This station is now the ultimate power in the universe. I suggest we use it."
Tarkin considered those words, while Vader spoke up his own mind. "Don't be too proud of this technological terror. The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force."
Motti replied in defiance. "Don't try to frighten us with your sorcerer's ways, Lord Vader. Your sad devotion to that ancient religion has not helped you conjure up the stolen data tapes" he said while Vader started to walk around Tarkin's seat to get closer to Motti. "or given you clairvoyance enough to find the rebels' hidden fortress…"
He stopped as Vader lifted his right hand and had his index and thumb poised closely. The Admiral suddenly started choking. He put a hand on his throat as if he was trying to pull away an invisible hand and his gurgling filled the room.
Even Iulius could suddenly feel a cold that seemed to emanate from Vader and embrace the entire room.
"I find your lack of faith...disturbing." Vader said as Motti was showing almost entirely the white of his eyes.
"Enough of this." Tarkin commanded. "Vader, release him."
The black-armored warrior turned around. "As you wish." he passively said, and suddenly Motti's upper body fell on the rounded table as he gasped for air.
"This bickering his pointless." Tarkin went on. "Lord Vader will provide us with the location of the rebel fortress by the time this station is operational. We will then crush the rebellion with one single stroke." he finally declared.
Iulius still didn't believe that. The approach of Tarkin to this war was that of a politician, not that of a soldier. The Rebellion's existence was the natural response of the galaxy to the unrelenting reign of terror of the Empire. Even if they managed to destroy their main base it wouldn't make any difference. Not just because they were already connected to the territories freed by the Coalition, but sooner or later, another rebellion would pop up elsewhere.
Still, he refrained from commenting after seeing what just happened to Motti, and he stayed silent until the meeting was finally over.
The work with the vaporators was really quick. Sure, with a secret help from Jinx, it was bound to be, but that still allowed the group to be over before lunchtime.
With that settled, it was time to reach the canyons beyond the Dune Sea, without informing Owen and Beru, since this was supposed to be just a small deviation. The siblings loaded the droids on the small speeder of Luke, who then started driving toward the canyon. After around half an hour they reached deep into the canyon.
"Ok, so where do we look now?" Luke asked.
R2 beeped in response.
"He says that he had been given the coordinates of Obi-Wan Kenobi." 3PO reported.
The siblings looked staggered. "And couldn't you tell that before?" Ezra asked a bit frustrated.
R2 said something in his defense, but it didn't sound very convincing.
"Forget that. Tell us where his haven is." Jaral said, not wanting to waste time.
R2 started scanning the area. Then he started chirping alarmed.
"What now?" Luke asked.
"Creatures to the southeast." Ezra replied, since he understood what the astromech said. Both him and his sister looked that way.
"Sandpeople. Or worst." Luke concluded and he went to grab a cycler rifle he had in the speeder. Then he jogged in that direction under the, at first, confused gaze of the siblings. "Come on, let's go take a look." the young farmer exhorted them.
"You better stay here with the droids." Ezra said to Jaral through the bond.
"Agreed. But don't let his reckless get your own back." she quipped.
Ezra mentally chuckled. "Don't worry, I'm a bastion of self-control." he said as he followed Luke. He knew that his sister trusted him just as he trusted her.
The two young men reached a ridge over a small mountain right behind where they left the speeder. From there, Luke took out a binocular and looked downward.
Even without his armor, Ezra could easily spot a small group of banthas at the bottom of the valley.
"I see some banthas down there but I don't see…" Luke was commenting, before saying. "wait, there they are. Sandpeople."
Ezra spotted them too, and recognized the strange guys who had attacked him the moment he had landed on Tatooine last time.
Then the Force sent him a loud signal of danger and his senses brought him to look right beyond the rock they were hiding in.
"Luke, get away!" Ezra yelled, but it was too late.
A Tusken raider jumped in front of Luke with the agility of a Loth-cat. The farmer raised his rifle, but the Tusken used the stock of his own to disarm Luke and push him down with a pretty violent blow.
Then he raised the weapon to try and shoot Luke, but Ezra immediately rushed to help his friend and extended his arm toward the alien.
With a Force push, the Tusken was suddenly sent flying away and he screamed as he rolled down the mountain.
Luke took a few seconds to just slightly realize what had happened, while Ezra got at the edge of the ridge and looked downward. The other two raiders were rushing to help their brethren, who was still able to move.
One of them then waved his baton menacingly at the two humans, so Ezra pulled out his DL-44 pistol and shot at the staff, cracking it in two while the Tusken was keeping it over his head.
Now convinced to let them go, the Sandpeople quickly got on their Banthas and left.
Ezra put the pistol back in the holster and turned around slowly, preparing to hear Luke's confusion.
In fact, the farmer was still looking in amazement. He pointed a finger in the direction were the raider had fell.
"What the...did you…?"
Ezra though had to stop him. "Luke, I promise, it will all make sense when we will find Master Kenobi. For now, though, I think it's time to drop the act and tell you my real name."
"Your...real name?" Luke asked astounded.
"Yes. My name is Ezra Bridger. My sister's real name is Jaral. I'm sorry we lied to you, but we are wanted by the Empire and we couldn't risk that you and your family might have turned us in."
Luke was still puzzled, but he accepted the hand that Ezra extended to help him stand up.
"Come on," said the Jedi. "those guys are probably calling their friends, we need to get back to the speeder."
The young farmer certainly didn't object after such a close encounter with death, so he just nodded two or three times and they quickly walked back toward the speeder.
Only to find out that there was an old man with a strange robe talking with Jaral and the droids.
Both Ezra and Luke easily recognized him and smirked. Luke then exclaimed. "Ben!" and went to greet the old man, who also smiled at him.
"Good to see you in one piece, young man."
The old Jedi then turned toward Ezra. "Look like you found your path, Ezra Bridger."
Ezra smirked and walked to him. "And it still brought me to you, Master Kenobi."
Obi-Wan made a small nod. "Yes. Your sister was telling me that you have a message for me."
"Ben…" Luke had to ask. "why do they call you 'Master'?"
Old Kenobi seemingly made a silent sigh and answered. "That was the old me, Luke. But we shouldn't discuss it here. The Sandpeople are easily startled, but they will get back in greater numbers."
"Hop on, then." Jaral invited, indicating the speeder.
Now they were really crammed, but they still managed to get the speeder to old Ben's hut, on a desolate rock between the mountains.
After consuming a quick lunch, it was time to remake the presentations.
"So, we are Ezra and Jaral Bridger." Jaral said to Luke. "We are part of the Rebellion and we crashed here while running from the Empire. Aside from that, we also happen to be Jedi apprentices."
The young farmer was sitting on the opposite side of the small living room, which was very austere in appearance. It reminded the siblings of Kanan's cabin on the Ghost.
Luke was fascinated. Especially when the siblings ignited their lightsabers "I've heard the stories, but I thought all Jedi were extinct."
"The Order may not exist anymore." Ben explained. "But these younglings have come after it. They are the foundations over which the Force will be balanced." then turned his head toward the young farmer. "Much like you, Luke."
The man was confused. "Me?"
"Because of your father. He was one of the most powerful Jedi of the Order."
"What?!" Luke exclaimed. "No, my father worked on a spice freighter."
"That's what your uncle told you." Ben calmly replied as he brushed his beard. "He didn't share your father's ideals. Thought he should've stayed and not gotten involved."
"Wait...you fought in the Clone Wars?" Luke asked, remembering the stories of his uncle.
"Yes. I was once a Jedi Knight, the same as your father."
The siblings would've liked to comment that, but it wasn't a complete lie: before being a Master, Obi-Wan had to be a Knight.
"I wish I'd known him." Luke mumbled.
Ezra and Jaral had to hold back their urge to speak. They would've liked to tell him what they knew about Anakin Skywalker and the fact that he had become Darth Vader, as Ahsoka had revealed on Malachor.
"He was the best starpilot in the galaxy." Obi-Wan said with a fond memory. "And a cunning warrior. I understand you've become quite a good pilot yourself."
Luke smirked.
"And he was a good friend." Ben concluded, before looking at a small chest standing over a table next to the siblings.
"Which reminds me…" the Master stood up and walked toward the chest. The siblings stepped away to give him space.
Ben opened the chest and spoke as he started to ruffle inside of it. "Your father wanted you to have this when you were old enough, but your uncle wouldn't allow it. He feared you might follow old Obi-Wan on some damn-fool idealistic crusade, like your father did."
The old man reemerged with what was clearly a lightsaber and the siblings couldn't believe their eyes. They spread a little into the room and let Obi-Wan walk toward Luke, who was now standing in the middle of the room.
"What is it?" the farmer asked.
Obi-Wan handed out the hilt. "Your father's lightsaber."
Luke seemed unable to believe what was happening, but took the metallic tube in his hands.
The young farmer quickly realized which was the side he was supposed to point it at and ignited the weapon. A blue plasma ray cane out of it.
"Not as clumsy or random as a blaster." Obi-Wan commented while Luke gently swung the weapon around, careful not to point it at anybody in the room. "An elegant weapon...for a more civilized age."
While Obi-Wan sat down, Luke tilted the sword around for a little bit before deactivating it and sitting back next to Obi-Wan.
"How did my father die?" he asked.
Obi-Wan clearly was in pain at that question, but he kept control and came out with his own version of telling the truth.
"A young Jedi now known as Darth Vader, who was a pupil of mine until he turned to evil, helped the Empire hunt down and destroy the Jedi Knights." he waited a little before making the next statement. "He betrayed and murdered your father."
Luke was visibly shocked at the statement. The siblings judged that it was better to withhold objectivity from him, for the time being.
"Vader was seduced by the Dark Side of the Force." Ben concluded.
Luke was now puzzled. "The Force?"
The old Master chuckled, then turned toward the siblings. "You want to explain, guys?"
They were taken a bit by surprise, but the siblings accepted the task.
"The Force is what binds the universe together." Jaral started.
"It's everywhere." Ezra followed. "It surrounds us and penetrate us. That's how I managed to push that raider off the cliff."
Luke was both amazed and a bit confused.
Then R2 suddenly squealed, reminding everybody that they were there for a whole other reason.
"Oh, right." Ezra said.
"We have a message for you from Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan, Master." Jaral said, then turned toward the astromech. "R2, play the recording."
But even before the hologram appeared, Obi-Wan seemed very concerned when the name of Leia came up and the siblings noticed that very well.
The hologram started, the recording of Leia repeated the words that the Bridgers heard her pronounce aboard the Tantive before they went their separate ways.
When the message was over, and the hologram disappeared, Obi-Wan sat back in his seat, rubbing his beard thoughtfully while Luke was still trying to process what just happened.
The siblings simply waited for a reaction.
Eventually, Obi-Wan turned toward Luke. "You must learn the ways of the Force if you're to come with us to Alderaan."
Luke shook his head for a second. "Alderaan?" then stood up and replied a bit awkwardly. "I can't come to Alderaan. I've gotta get home. It's late…" and walked past Obi-Wan, who still followed him with his head.
"I need your help, Luke." then pointed at the siblings. "They need your help. I'm getting too old for this sort of things."
Luke was still hesitant. He leaned against one of the pillars of the home. "I can't get involved. I've got work to do."
Jaral then stepped forward. "Luke. I understand this is all very confusing. See, Ezra got his abilities way before me. When it turned out that I had the potential to become a Jedi as well...I didn't want to accept it at first."
Luke listened and seemed to connect with those words.
"I thought I had found my place in the universe, then, all of a sudden, I understood that I didn't, and I might still be mistaken. That simply wasn't my destiny, and I believe that yours isn't here anymore. It's not a coincidence that we found you exactly when we were looking for Master Kenobi."
"She's right." Ezra intervened. "We will not force you to come, Luke, but you have a choice to make. You can stay here with your uncle and aunt, or you can come with us and learn how to become a Jedi."
That reminded Luke of another big problem. He sighed and stepped near R2. "Right. My uncle. How am I ever going to explain this to him?"
The three Jedi left the young farmer to think. Luke looked at what was now his lightsaber, then turned toward them again.
"I can't come. Look, let's just stick with the original plan. I take you near Mos Eisley, then you can find a way to leave the planet."
The siblings were a bit disappointed, but then again, they couldn't blame him. If they still had their family when the Ghost crew found them, they would've probably turned down the idea of leaving, too.
"Very well." Ezra concluded. "Then let's prepare."
Obi-Wan nodded and stood up to help them.