Bloodline of the Ancestors-book 1 of 3-a Star Wars Story(unofficial)

by MasteroftheForce0121

My own alternative version of the Star Wars universe. Earth meet the Star Wars universe, elements of both Legends and Canon. Book 2 currently in progress. Multiple chapters, please enjoy and review. Don't be a jerk is all I ask, it's my first go at this. Rated M just to be safe. Some mild swearing, drug, alcohol, and sexual elements are within this ancient tome.

1. Chapter 1

Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own Star Wars, the characters, locations, and aliens created by George Lucas, or any of the countless writers who further expanded the universe created by George Lucas, nor the franchise currently owned by Disney. All I own are my original characters, and this is my original story. If this is published, I won't make a cent. I'm lawsuit proof now, lol.

Star Wars: Bloodline of the Ancestors

Book I

Revival

Robin Stace

Hello, Readers, I, the Narrator, welcome you to my domain. I'll be breaking the fourth wall with you from time to time, existing in brackets like so ( ) just like your inner monologue exists only in your head.

Like all good stories, this one must start with the right ambience. Without further ado, here we go.

Prologue

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…

The Skywalkers and Solos gathered together with friends and allies. Those who couldn't physically be there attended via secure Holo-comm frequencies to discuss the recent events surrounding the discovery of a hitherto unknown world called Kesh. Home to an entire civilization of Sith from the very early days of the Old Republic, they had survived the Jedi Civil War thousands of years ago by fleeing and subsequently crash-landing, mingling with the Force-Sensitive natives of Kesh for generations. This was only known because they had convinced a now-former Sith, Vestera Khai, to desert. Luke promised the informant help to rescue her mother and a compromise for the Sith people as a whole so they might keep their non-violent ways.

As things stood, the Sith lacked the resources and numbers to pose a military threat, but being the cunning types, it was only a matter of time before those in power would take steps to even the field. The Jedi were numerous but not invincible; they couldn't afford to collapse from spreading themselves too thin.

This was akin to a cold war: The Sith leaders didn't want to show their true nature so early, at least not before manipulating the masses and government officials more to their side, and the Jedi would not be so foolish as to begin hostilities, especially considering the political climate and public opinion on the Jedi were split. This was something their enemies would not waste time exploiting; even now, plans were no doubt in motion from the Sith to try to become a part of the Galactic Alliance. Leia, who only just found out of the Sith's plans to join the GA that evening during their meeting from old friends that she had made during her tenure as Senator. Because of politics and a divide in public opinion on Jedi, Leia's politically connected allies were limited in how they could help, and how much; this politically charged atmosphere had even stopped some of Lando's and Han's old friends from the shadier side of things; allies made back when they were smugglers and con-men.

They spent many more hours in discussion, all reaching the same conclusion: fortify and consolidate power, seek out allies, and convince those on the fence to stay neutral. The last thing that the Grandmaster of the Jedi Order wanted was to fight those whom he viewed as peers, if not friends. It was agreed upon that Luke and his son Ben would seek out the other schools of thought regarding the Force, as they'd made the most impact on the often private organizations and cultures.

After reaching out to the Aing-Ti, Witches of Dathomire, and Bo-Ran monks, Luke and Ben also decided to seek out possible allies in the Unknown Sectors, since Luke felt that a solution may be found beyond the borders of known space in The Great Beyond.

Telling only family members of this decision, mainly to forestall protests and reduce worries for friends, the duo loaded up the Jade Shadow with everything they might need and left for the Unknown Sectors, both filled with a sense of purpose. They knew The Force was a powerful ally and a guiding light that had never steered the two Skywalkers wrong. Ben had surmised that the worst-case scenario was that they would find nothing to aid them and return home with interesting, albeit useless, findings. His father merely smiled at his 17-year-old son and said what had become a type of creed or mantra: "Easy is not the way of the Jedi." The young man scowled in thought, then said "I hate that saying, Dad." Luke asked, "Why?" amusement lacing his voice and dancing in his eyes. Ben scoffed, then said, "Because it's true," eliciting a chuckle from his father. Though neither knew what to expect, they were not worried, for the Force was always with them.

CHAPTER 1

An Uneventful Life/An Unknown Destiny

Earth, The Sunshine Coast, January 2017.

1800 hrs

A young man with blue eyes and brown hair wearing a blue and black hoodie was standing in the cabin he shared with his mum and dog. He was cooking. Cutting up the ingredients with precision and speed, he stuck the tip of his tongue out the corner of his mouth in concentration, a little tick he'd developed at some point. The man took pride in his skills with a knife since he wasn't good at growing fruits and vegetables, unlike his mother, who had a green thumb. He had a knack for Kendo and other swordplay, and he had practiced and read about every weapon and fighting style he could. Therefore, he always won at Renaissance fairs or with his live-action role-playing buddies, yet such skills were obsolete in any other environment. But his mum said if he was interested in that kind of stuff, she'd support him wholeheartedly. She had always taken care of him; even now, at almost 28, he still lived at home. Cooking was his way of saying thank you, and it was fun, especially the slicing up of stuff.

Today had been like any other day: good but uneventful, kinda boring. As he waited for a large roast loin to brown, he took some time to enjoy the sunset. Sunsets made him think of something to which he couldn't attach a word: Adventure, the future, something that was missing. Robin was musing silently when the phone rang. The caller ID was his mum, Cindy, so he picked up with a smile.

"Hey mum, what's up? Everything ok?"

"Hey sweetie, I'm calling to let you know I'll be a day late. Traffic was murder, and I missed the ferry. Unfortunately, there are no more until tomorrow, really bad weather is apparently on the way." Cindy paused briefly before continuing.

"But luckily I ran into some friends, so we're getting dinner soon."

Robin heard voices in the background call out but only understood a couple well enough to make out, "Hey, Robin!" Robin smiled at the familiar voices in the background. "Oh, okay mum. See you tomorrow, say hi to everyone for me. Love you, bye". He looked over at their dog, Einstein, and said, "Don't worry, Einy, you'll get a few hot slices. There's too much, even for me. Luckily, we can make the leftovers into sandwiches."

An hour later, Robin was eating dinner while watching Einstein wait patiently for his share, not begging. He knew he'd get some. He started making a plate for his best buddy. He smiled at the beautiful white-gold Labrador, laughing at his dog's knowing expression. Einstein was the brother he'd always wanted. Still chuckling, he said, "I wish I could understand you better. Like Dr. DoLittle or something."

As he was washing the dishes and wiping off the table, he heard a loud noise. "Great, firecrackers," he thought, slightly annoyed. He had no problem with people making a racket, but not on their property. Dealing with punks was not the kind of excitement he wanted.

Robin stepped outside with Einstein on his heels in time to see what could only be a spaceship whooshing overhead, landing in a nearby field. Curiosity won out over caution as he dashed over to see if help was needed. He knew calling the authorities was not a good idea. He'd seen E.T. a few times and knew that actual aliens would most likely be treated horribly.

Robin's hunches tended to be right, and he believed in following his instincts as his mother had taught him. He sprinted toward the ship, desperately hoping nobody on board was injured. Coming upon the site where the ship ought to have landed, Robin watched two cloaked figures in robes climb away from the site, apparently unscathed. They appeared to be human, he learned when they lowered their hoods.

He found it strange that instead of the ship he'd seen in the sky not five minutes earlier, Robin saw little more than indentations in the soil. He had hunted from time to time, so spotting details was something he was reasonably good at, though he knew that he was not on par with a master tracker. "There must be a security feature, maybe some cloaking technology," he thought. It made sense that the otherworldly visitors would not want anybody finding the ship.

The two strangers had to be related; they shared too many features not to be. 'Why are they here?' he wondered. He asked, "Can I help in any way?" The two strangers smiled, and Robin felt their surprise at his offer of assistance. The older man introduced himself as Luke and the young man as his son, Ben. The strangers asked where they could find temporary lodgings. They looked wary, he thought. Thinking of a way to allay any fear or anxiety they had, he said, "I'm not an enemy or anyone to be feared." He also held himself non-threateningly, with open body language. The strangers looked at Robin appraisingly, and he appraised them in turn. Einy licked both of them on the hand, and any tensions melted away. "Dogs are the best judges of character," he thought with a smile. If they passed the Einstein test, he had no reason to fear the pair.

Inspiration struck, and Robin asked the strangers if they wanted to stay with him and his mum and avoid the authorities should they come looking. Robin also offered dinner since he and Einstein had barely made a dent in the food he had made earlier. Robin was a follower of the Old-World Unwritten Laws of Hospitality, even though most of the world believed such ways were antiquated and obsolete. He wasn't stupid; he knew that they were strangers and most strangers were potentially dangerous, but it instinctively felt like the right thing to do. Besides, Einstein was fierce when necessary, and Robin was not without his own somewhat formidable skills in self-defence.

The two accepted his offer gratefully. Robin messaged his mum with the gist of things; however, he was intentionally vague. He didn't exactly know how to explain the situation and also wanted to avoid raising any red flags for the authorities. Robin invited them in, and while the two men ate dinner, he learned the two strangers' full names: Luke and Ben Skywalker. His instincts told him it would be better to ask the big questions the next day, as he was not as skilled as his mum at reading people, though he had been improving over the last few years. He trusted Einstein's judgement and his own instincts but was prepared to use his skills in self-defence, though he doubted they would be necessary. When they were done eating dinner, he showed them the guest room and facilities, telling them that he would be up early, and then he too went to bed. His last thought before the warm embrace of sleep caused him to chuckle: Finally, some excitement. Robin wasn't bored now.

Meanwhile, as the young man slept, his two guests were talking, as sleep would no doubt elude them. Moreover, they discussed the very kind young host and his four-legged companion. "Did you feel it, Ben? Those two are powerful in the Force, more powerful than anyone I've sensed in years," Luke said to Ben. Luke had initially thought to try a Jedi mind trick but felt like it would have been a waste of time on the young man, not to mention that the young man didn't deserve such disrespect. "The boy was not weak-minded," he thought. Earlier, Luke used the Force to try to take a peek at the young host's intentions, only to be met with a great deal of mental fortitude, on par with a mid-level Knight. His son replied, "How could I not? When we were in orbit I could sense him. He's like you, Dad. His presence in the Force is like a star: large, bright, and warm. I also sensed two others in close proximity that had similarly strong vibes, the canine being one of them." His father replied, "Yes, Einstein is not like most animals; his energy is too vast to be an ordinary dog. Perhaps the third presence we felt was his mother?" Luke mused aloud, "He did mention she would be home tomorrow while we were eating." Luke reminded Ben. "She is most likely the third presence we felt. In either case, I can't wait to meet the woman who raised such a compassionate son; it should be interesting, to say the least." Ben nodded in agreement. "Good thing we didn't greet his arrival with any weapons drawn…something tells me he's better to have as an ally instead of an enemy. Even untrained, his power could have caused trouble." Ben chuckled briefly, then frowned in thought.

"On a different topic, Dad, how will we fix The Shadow? Our initial scans indicated this world is pretty underdeveloped, technologically speaking, and we have a damaged engine, again." Ben made an annoyed sound, still unable to believe they'd already used the spare parts they'd brought. He also knew that if his mother were still alive, she'd be pissed at them for allowing her ship to be so damaged, especially from something like an asteroid shower. "Stupid asteroids," he grumbled, acting his age, which was a rarity these days.

The young man was older than his years, a trait common among Jedi children, especially those of Anakin Skywalker's bloodline. His father simply smiled and positioned himself with his legs crossed in a meditative position and said, "Perhaps some meditation will allow us to gain some sort of greater insight into this world, with help from the Force, of course." As Ben followed suit, Luke added, "She would be proud of your piloting skills Ben, especially in uncharted space. I know I'm proud of you." Ben smiled at his father with gratitude, simply replying, "Thanks, Dad." With that, the Skywalker duo meditated into the early hours of the morning.

CHAPTER 2

Introductions and Insights

Robin woke up the following morning from what he knew had been a terrible nightmare. Mere fragments were all that remained, a recurring theme in his dreams these days. Sights, sounds and pain; physical, mental, and emotional. He checked his clock and groaned at the time. 4 AM. He knew he wouldn't be able to get back to sleep; he was pumped with too much adrenaline. Since he rarely dreamed, he felt that when he did, they had to have significance. "Pity that I can't remember anything cohesive," he thought, annoyed. He considered that maybe he wasn't quite ready for whatever the dream had entailed, so his subconscious spared him something he might not be able to comprehend. "Guess I'll train and work it out of my system", he thought as he got up from his bed and changed into his custom-designed navy blue gi; noticing Einstein's worried expression, Robin smiled and muttered groggily. "Don't worry, baby brother, I'm ok. Just another strange nightmare." He then proceeded with Einstein to his training area set up in the backyard. "It'll be nice to see the sunrise," he thought, as he began stretching his arms and legs, occasionally sighing contentedly when a joint or knuckle popped.

As he approached his training area, Robin began working on his martial arts on his training dummy. Slowly hitting its wooden arms and legs, causing them to spin back towards him, blocking some but mostly dodging the slow counters. After 30 minutes of taking it slow and getting into the rhythm, he upped his speed, and consequently, so did the dummy; its strikes became faster and harder. After an hour or so of mock sparring at high speed with his wooden opponent, Robin went to his equipment rack and chose a wooden practice sword, a cold bottle of water from the mini-fridge, and a towel to wipe away the sweat on his hands, since he wanted as firm a grip as he could get. He had a second dummy, almost the same but for the four wooden blades it held.

He felt eyes on him but felt confident that if the watching guests knew of his skills, they'd be even less likely to try anything. Robin had taken to combat as a fish to water since an early age, and while he wasn't a "perfect" warrior, he still could hold his own against most people. His old martial arts Sensei, Mr. Tzu, had not been big on compliments but had made an exception when he told Robin, "I have no more to teach you. That doesn't mean you don't have room to grow and learn". Smiling at the memory of the kind but tough man, Robin thought to himself, "Was that really a decade ago?"

Not wanting to lose his momentum, Robin began training his sword skills, something that he was naturally gifted at. Though he was self-taught through books and videos, (there are not many places that teach the way of the sword these days,) in other words, Robin was kind of nerdy. After an hour of slow movements to get into the swing of things; (blocking, dodging, parrying, riposte and so on), his body and mind remembered how to do it all as quickly as lightning. When he felt ready, he went stronger and faster. The yard was silent, but for the clack of wood meeting wood. He loved training, it made his mind sharper and he certainly didn't mind that it made meditating easier, not that he struggled with it, another thing that had always been relatively easy for him.

When his alarm went off, Robin dropped to the ground, exhausted. He was sweating buckets, and his long hair had come out of its ponytail. He knew that he had gone a little too far, (by several hours,) especially while lacking sleep, but training sent him to his own little world, hence his "Stop Now" alarm. He returned his practice blades to the equipment rack, grabbing a sports drink at the same time. After drinking most of it, he felt better, with the sugar and electrolytes doing their thing.

Instead of meditating then and there as he normally would, he thought it best to make breakfast and prepare for his mum's return. He had been very vague in his text to her last night and was looking forward to having her home again. Plus, they needed the two strangers to explain themselves in full; his mum was the people reader and human lie detector in the family, and he wasn't confident enough to question Luke and Ben on his own. From what he could sense, neither man was nervous, excited maybe, curious too, but not nervous. That was a good thing because nervous people sometimes do dumb, violent things.

Breaking out bacon, eggs, and homemade bread for toast, Robin began to cook. The smells made him acutely aware of how much energy he needed to compensate for his training regimen. "Breakfast is ready, get it while it's hot!" he called out to the two guests in the hall perusing the books on display; they both looked impressed at the books on quantum physics, philosophy, and forensics. Einstein, having been with him the whole time he was cooking, was struggling to keep the floor dry of his drool, and failing miserably, which made Robin smile. Without thinking about it, he had set aside a couple of slices of bacon for the pooch, giving them time to cool. The "visitors", for lack of a better term, arrived just as Robin set the table, unconsciously setting down his mother's plate and hot coffee, knowing, on some level, it would be at the perfect temperature when his mum arrived. He didn't know how, and he didn't really care, but he could always sense those close to his heart, as well as others, though it was intermittent when it came to strangers. Luke noticed the fourth spot and sensed a powerful presence approaching.

The next moment, Cindy Stace, Robin's mother, came in through the front door wearing a huge smile. She quickly received a bear hug from her boy, while Einstein barked joyously. It was obvious to the two new arrivals that they were as closely bonded as Luke and Ben, perhaps more so, Luke silently mused. Cindy proceeded to sit down for breakfast, admiring the food. Upon sitting, Cindy gestured for the others to sit and eat as well. For a little while, the only sound was the scrape of utensils on plates and the appreciative sounds born from a fantastic meal. "Wow, that was fantastic! Well done, sweetie, thank you!" Cindy said when she had finished. "Yes, that was wonderful. Thank you for the food," Luke said, genuinely having enjoyed the scrumptious meal. Ben said, "Yeah, it was really good! Do you mind if I have a second helping?" 'Teenagers and their appetites,' Robin thought as he chuckled, "Yeah, go ahead, help yourselves." "Want me to get 'em to save you a little, mum?: he asked. Cindy smiled and replied, "No thanks, I'm stuffed."

After a few minutes, Cindy said, "Okay. Let's get down to business. My son says you are from outer space. So let's start with introductions and then proceed to letting us see the ship, yeah? We can ask each other questions after." Her voice was very polite, yet strong and authoritative. The Force laced her voice with even more strength. 'Must be subconscious,' Luke thought. She raised an eyebrow as if to ask, 'Well?' prompting Luke and Ben. As the two men introduced themselves, Robin couldn't help but ponder how he loved that his mum was very badass; a quiet, subtle badass. Luke and Ben knew that going against them would be a bad idea, Robin thought, not that they had shown any indication of ill-intent, but that's where he and Einstein would handle things if necessary. The duo felt like peaceful people; that was at least the vibe he got from them. Robin was pretty sure his mom agreed; they tended to think along similar wavelengths.

When the introductions were done, Luke and Ben proceeded to show their hosts, The Jade Shadow. They agreed that, as they had such good hosts who had not been afraid to help them, they owed nothing less than an equal show of appreciation and respect. The Shadow was also the ideal place to ask and answer sensitive, possibly dangerous questions, Luke thought. This was, after all, the first contact with people from elsewhere in space. The Stace family gasped at the ship when it was decloaked to allow them entry, but beyond that, they were, strangely enough, perfectly composed. In addition, it was also shielded from satellites, reducing the likelihood that any of Earth's authorities would get involved, as Ben explained with a smug look that only teenagers can get away with.

"Please get comfortable," Luke said with a smile, as he indicated the couch in The Shadow's lounge. "Why are you here?" Cindy asked, as she sat, cutting straight to business. Luke grinned and said, "Straight to it, huh? I can appreciate that."Either of you want a drink?" Luke asked, since he was closest to the modest collection of wines and spirits; He even spotted a couple of Rodian Ales, (think ginger ale or sarsaparilla, so no booze,) so that Ben could be included, feeling that this day would be a momentous occasion warranting a little something. Luke poured himself a brandy, as he waited for a reply. Cindy politely declined the offer, and then Robin said, "I'll take a whiskey, neat. Please." "Coming up," Luke said. "Me too, dad? Oh! C'mon, I'm gonna be 18 soon; seems kinda arbitrary." Luke chuckled at his son, as he handed Robin a golden drink saying, "No way kiddo! Besides, you wouldn't like it". Robin chimed in at that point, "Don't worry Ben, you'll have plenty of time to be a grown-up ruining your liver. Enjoy being a kid; it only happens once". Ben was handed the alcohol-free drink, shooting his father an annoyed look. "A wise young man", Luke thought once again, as he and Ben took seats on the couch opposite Cindy. Robin stood beside her, with his back resting against the wall, with Einstein in the middle of the lounge area, who seemed relaxed but ready for anything.

"So… questions?" Luke asked with a smile. "Why are you here?" Cindy asked again. Luke was anticipating the question and was ready with a reply: "There will be things we can't tell you… yet. But we shall answer to the best of our ability. As for your first question, the answer is simple: Damaged our ship in an asteroid shower. Your world was the only one supporting life. We have problems back home and thought to seek possible solutions out here in the Unknown Sectors." Luke said this with a small smile. "Do you mean our world is part of some unexplored frontier for you guys? Should we expect more visitors?" Robin asked, proceeding to take a sip of his whiskey. As it burned pleasantly going down his throat, he made an appreciative noise that Luke had heard Han make on more than one occasion. "I'm glad you are enjoying your drink, Robin," Luke said, addressing the young man by name for the first time. "We stock Whiskey for family and friends; my brother-in-law loves it." Luke smiled at the young man. "To address your question, yes, it's unexplored territory for us out here, and nobody followed us. This was my wife's ship. It's one of the fastest ships in the galaxy. So even if we were followed, we would've lost them." "I'm assuming you have a way to repair the ship but can't due to unforeseen circumstances?" Robin asked before proceeding with a slightly bigger sip of his drink.

He thought that Robin knew the answer, but confirmation is always appreciated. Ben replied with a grimace, "Yeah, but we ran out of parts." "Maybe we can find similar enough parts elsewhere?" Cindy suggested. "Perhaps, but where would we find the best technology on your planet?" Luke asked. Ben added, "Because that's what we'll need to have any chance at fixing our ship." "I think I might know a few places," murmured Robin. Luke and Ben had matching looks of surprise that flashed away as quickly as thought, while Cindy wore a small smile. "That's my boy, always surprising people," she thought.

Cindy had not batted an eye at having space people in the kitchen because she implicitly trusted her sons, (Robin and Einstein), a sentiment mirrored by Robin and Einstein. "Why don't you invite Ben to spar with you?" Cindy asked. "He looks capable. I've seen enough martial artists to spot talent since we've been to so many tournaments." Cindy added with a smile. Robin recognized a dismissal; he trusted she would be fine without him but left Einstein in case. His mother grinned at his protectiveness.

"That's a good idea, mum. You up for a friendly spar, Ben?" Robin asked with a wolfish grin, finishing his drink in one gulp. "You bet I am!" Ben grinned back. 'It'll feel good to spar with a new friend,' Ben thought, though he doubted he'd lose. He was a Jedi, after all, even if he wasn't knighted yet. "Don't go too hard on each other," Luke said, speaking more to Ben than Robin. Luke knew that Cindy had questions and concerns that she didn't want to ask around Robin, and so did he. Parents protect their children from anything and everything they can, after all. Ben led Robin to the sparring chamber on The Shadow, the door sealing behind him with a whoosh and a slight hiss. "Don't worry, it's not locked; it's just soundproofing so we don't disturb our parents," Ben said after Robin turned in reaction to the noise. Robin was visibly relaxed, walking over to stand opposite Ben.

"Conditions of combat?" asked Robin. "Weapons are allowed, set to non-lethal settings, of course. Let's just start now and see how things-" Ben was interrupted when he had to dodge a sharp jab. Robin followed it up with a sweeping kick. Ben jumped the sweeping arc of Robin's leg but was forced to block a roundhouse kick. In mid-air, he was momentarily helpless as the force of the block sent him flying 10 feet to Robin's left; most of the energy was evenly dispersed upon landing due to perfect footwork by Ben.

Ben was impressed, knowing he'd start bruising on that arm in a few hours; however, Jedi training and discipline allowed him to move the pain aside. "Sorry if I hurt you, but you said 'start' ", Robin said with a little mirth lacing his voice. He was impressed by Ben's skill, admitting to himself that he had been underestimating Ben a little because of his age. "Age means very little in true combat; take whatever edge you can get or make. Your life may depend on it someday," his sensei had said years ago.

Robin proceeded to close his eyes, straining his senses just as he noticed Ben taking advantage of the available shadows, effectively becoming invisible. "Neat trick" Robin thought. Suddenly feeling the air flow shift from movement, Robin ducked and rolled, barely dodging Ben's ludicrously fast flying kick, and ran towards a weapons rack labelled "non-lethal," grabbing what appeared to be a Bo-staff with a button; the button opened the ends into rotating blades that flowed with electricity. 'Alright!' Robin thought with elation as he considered how best to utilize his new armament.

Flourishing his staff with a grin, Robin didn't rush Ben, instead choosing to let Ben arm himself unmolested, spending the time growing accustomed to his armament's weight. Robin always harboured his code of honour and had yet to stray from his path. He was armed; it was friendly sparring, and therefore he would only fight if he and Ben were on (relatively) equal footing. Ben armed himself with a Rapier-looking weapon and tested the waters, no doubt attempting to provoke Robin into attacking. Robin sussed out Ben in turn. "Ahh, now you're starting to take this seriously; take me seriously," Robin thought, not that he could cast any stones.

Robin responded with a kind smile, "Confidence tempered by caution and reason produces the footholds of triumph, whereas arrogance destroys them." Ben realized that he had been arrogant before, believing his Jedi training would give him the necessary edge and be all he required. Normally he would be right, but in this match, he was forced to fight on pure skill, no Force abilities or augmentations; a very important detail he'd overlooked. Now he would take it slow, analyze his opponent, and respond accordingly. "No more underestimating you; my apologies; it was rude of me," Ben said, smiling back.

They resumed sparring, resting long enough to hydrate and switch weapons. They were on match 11, the agreed-upon last match, not that either would say no to more sparring, but the body gets tired well before the spirit does. Robin bent to pick up a cylindrical item, presumably a weapon, based on the vibe he got when Ben intercepted his hand and took the cylindrical item. "Yeah, sorry, but no. You aren't trained for it." "Ok." Robin shrugged easily. "What is it?" Ben activated the device, and with a snap-hiss noise, it began projecting a blade of the purest blue light.

Robin gasped at the simple beauty; the noise it made moving was comfortable and strangely familiar. Ben smiled at Robin's reaction and continued, "It's called a lightsaber." 'I have to ask Luke about lightsabers sometime.' Robin thought. Ben deactivated the lightsaber and put it away.

Then he brought Robin a cool high-tech poleaxe instead, having equipped himself with a whip-like weapon. 'Yes, I found a rival!' the two had unknowingly both thought. Robin was joyous since nobody he'd known had pushed him this far since Sensei Tzu, who had taught him rudimentary weapons skills that he had expanded upon over the years. The only weapon techniques he hadn't learned from Sensei Tzu were sword skills. Robin won the last match, but it was only because Ben had been holding something back; as such, Robin treated it as a tie (5-5).

They both sprawled on the cool metal floor, stretching soon-to-be-sore muscles and wincing at split lips, yet both young men were smiling. Ben found himself thinking perhaps he had found a brother figure in Robin, appreciating that he hadn't gone easy on him. Robin treated Ben as just Ben, not Ben Skywalker. Ben loved his dad but was often in his shadow, and that's not even mentioning the shadow cast by Anakin Skywalker, his grandfather. Ben had incredible expectations to live up to and exceed.

Always treated differently, Ben Skywalker, heir apparent to the Skywalker legacy, had been groomed by friends and instructors alike over the years, (unconscionably, he presumed,) to one day be as great as his father, or greater still, ultimately surpassing him and taking over as Grandmaster, an idea that made him pale from pressure.

"Want to come in and relax in my study? Robin asked. "It's in the cabin, so we can discuss finding stuff to fix your ship or whatever in relative peace and quiet. If you need a friendly ear besides your dad, I'll listen. It's one of my many talents". Robin said, smiling as he got up and offered Ben a hand, getting to his feet. Ben took it gratefully; as he chuckled, he said, "It sure was fun to cut loose. I could tell you enjoyed it too". "Yes, I did." Robin said. Robin felt that mentioning how it felt like Ben had held something back wouldn't yield anything of value, only ruining this moment of simultaneous rivalry and camaraderie.

"Let's go this way so we don't interrupt our parents," Ben said, indicating a different door from the one they used to enter the sparring chamber. "Wonder what they're talking about?" Robin asked, still smiling at having a sparring partner and friend in Ben. Ben shook his head before replying, "Nah, probably about us to a degree; otherwise, we wouldn't have been dismissed. But I trust my dad, and I'm pretty certain you trust your mother in a similar fashion. As for that offer, relaxing in that study you mentioned sounds great."

They walked off the ship into the cabin to a broom closet. Robin placed his hand on one of the walls, and then, a whir and click later, the wall split open. "Here we are," Robin gestured in, smiling. "Wow! A secret door in your broom closet, accessible only to you?! Sweet!" Ben exclaimed. "Checks fingerprints, blood, and facial recognition, right?" Ben asked. "I'm surprised that you noticed that on your first time here. But you're from space, so maybe I should raise my standards a bit more," Robin murmured. "My mom has access too, of course, but she rarely comes in here. Too masculine for her tastes… apparently." He chuckled, remembering how she had helped pick out the leather for the chairs and had helped choose the best wood for the bookcases and tables too. Almost all of his leather-bound books were original prints or journals from generals and other great strategists, (one or two were Stace family heirlooms found by chance and obtained via inheritance,) and bought by her when she happened to go to the little bookstores in town.

"An old family friend helped with the security measures. Home-made tech." Robin told Ben as he put on his smoking jacket and plopped down into a very comfortable leather-upholstered chair with a sigh. He took a hand-rolled smoke and lighter inscribed with his initials from the box on the table. No, it wasn't tobacco, but rather cannabis. He figured a spliff might help alleviate pain for them both, not to mention that Ben was way too energetic despite sparring, which he thought indicated stress and/or excitement. Either way, a spliff would definitely help.

"Please sit," Robin said politely but firmly. Ben quickly proceeded to sit. "Do you mind if I smoke?" he asked Ben. Ben shook his head, waving away any doubts about his smoking being an issue. Ben was cool. Ben, now calmer from the cushioning goodness of one of the best chairs he'd sat in, was looking at the study in further detail.

Two-thirds of the private sanctums books were on energy manipulation and spiritualism, and the remainder was devoted to past-life theory and regression with the odd leather-bound book here and there, (the Art of War, first edition by Sun Tzu, among other very notable authors such as Nicoli Machavelli, to name but two, for those inquiring minds out there,) as well as a dozen or so first-place martial arts trophies tastefully displayed throughout the room. The remaining third of the room was covered in weapons from various cultures and regions.

Robin offered the now-lit joint to Ben, figuring that the young man needed to loosen up, with the warning. "If you want to try it, take one puff; this shit's strong stuff." He chuckled as Ben took a drag. "It's homegrown. It's the only thing I can grow without help." He said taking the joint back from Ben and pouring them both a drink, (sparring with Ben earlier had sent his earlier drink through his system and he figured Ben deserved a little taste,) winking at Ben as the younger man exhaled and coughed from the first of what would be many puffs of ganja. "If your dad asks, you never had a drop," the silent thought was understood by Ben as Robin passed a glass over, roughly half as full as Robin's own. He wanted Ben relaxed, not shit-faced after all.

Noticing that Ben was taking his time with the cognac and not having asked for more smoke, he offered the young man another puff of the joint. "Stop at two, see how you do," he advised. "Anything you wanna talk about? I do have some ideas for tips and materials to fix your ship, but I thought you might want to talk about other stuff. Consider this room a vault of secrets; anything you say is safe with me, within reason, of course. I'm not covering you if you want to kill someone or something like that," he laughed, the infectious nature of laughter causing Ben's high to grow higher as words, secrets, and the pressures of life flowed; almost like the spirit and smoke.

Ben spoke of his love and respect for his father, as well as his fears of failing to meet the expectations of others and his high standards. "So your dad is a big wig back home, like… a celebrity? I have advice if you want it." Robin offered. Ben was dubious as to how helpful the other man's advice could be, but he accepted it all the same. "It can't hurt things," Ben thought.

"Be Ben, not your father; stop measuring yourself against your dad, or you'll drive yourself mad. Be the best version of yourself you can be, and you'll never let anyone down. Nobody can complain if you give everything 100%, and to those who try to compare you to your father, just remind yourself of this one absolute truth: you are Ben, not Luke, and you'll exceed everyone's expectations, including your own and your father's, by carving your own path. As long as you walk your own path and give everything your all, you'll never let anyone down. Especially yourself."

"How do you know that?" asked a slightly flabbergasted Ben, feeling more understood by a virtual stranger than he felt was normal; insight like Robin's was the kind most Jedi needed decades of experience to cultivate and attain, and Robin was only 27, but Ben masked his feeling of shock well. "I know a bit of what it's like to have a super parent," Robin said with a smile. "I aspire to be like my mother, just as you aspire to follow in your father's footsteps. What we need occasional reminders of is the fact that we aren't them, and never will be… and that's ok. There's nothing wrong with emulating your hero, as long as you don't forget yourself in the process." Robin said as he finished the joint and left the roach in the ashtray. He stripped off his smoking jacket, and as he was putting it away, he fished out a baggie of fresh weed with a nice lighter as well as a couple of smoking jackets that no longer fit him but might fit Ben. "Here, Ben, a gift for you; be good and share with your dad, the weed should help you both open up." He said, with a smile, genuinely hoping that the two would communicate better.

"Let's get back; they might be getting worried," Robin said. "You mean my dad, right?" Ben asked, rolling his eyes slightly. Robin replied, "No comment," withholding his laughter for a subjective eternity, (it probably was only a minute,) and then the dam broke and he laughed, Ben quickly joining in. The laughter and good vibrations reverberated throughout the cabin as the two headed outside into the brisk evening air and back to the ship.

With a whoosh, the hatch opened up on the Shadow, and Cindy, Luke, and Einstein came out. "It's been established by Luke and I that we're helping to fix the ship; in exchange, Luke offered his and Ben's help with various things we'll never have time for, mostly upkeep, so kiddo, let's hear those ideas you mentioned before. You're too damn smart to not think of some more useful ideas since then as well." Cindy said to Robin with pride that only a parent can know.

"On the ship," he said, sounding and looking a little wary, his eyes cast to the heavens, presumably to the various government spy satellites. "Damn Big Brother," he thought. Cindy understood and appreciated Robin's caution and nodded for them to go back on the ship; secure as his study was, it didn't measure up to the Jade Shadow's impressive otherworldly security measures.

Once back aboard the Jade Shadow, Robin and the others went back to the lounge area on the ship. "What did you two talk about when we were sparring, mum?" Robin asked. "Oh… parent stuff mostly; nothing you both don't already know. Like how far we'll go for our kids' safety. Like I said, parent stuff. Also, we talked about his and Ben's cover story and printed out birth certificates and passports. This ship can hack certain government programs, so it's legit, at least as far as cops or border security will be able to tell. I'm talking globally too." Cindy replied. "You said you had some ideas on possible information or materials we could use?" Cindy asked Robin. "Yes, I have a few ideas; global access is absolutely going to help." Robin said and then asked, "Luke, can you bring up a 3D model of the planet? I'm assuming you gave a cursory scan before landing." Luke just raised an eyebrow, and smiled at the young man's sharp mind, and proceeded to bring up a 3D holographic representation of Earth. "He might be good Knight material." Luke mused silently.

Robin continued, "I was thinking that NASA probably has information on space-related phenomena and perhaps crash sites where we might find materials or information on anyone who came before. I doubt you guys are the absolute first to find this world; perhaps we'll even find a fabrication device we can program with the new metals and stuff you need for repairs. We also have Area 51, known as a hotspot for spacecraft crash landing in the area; we can check it out after NASA, if necessary." Robin continued. "Perhaps we can find a way to temporarily borrow the James Webb telescope to better understand where we are in conjunction with wherever you came from; it's one of the world's strongest telescopes after all. Maybe we'll be able to modify your star charts at the same time." Robin concluded.

The 3D map lit up gold on each spot as he mentioned it and tapped the general location on the holographic Earth. Robin snapped his fingers and turned to Luke. "I almost forgot to ask, but how good are you at fighting, Luke, armed or unarmed? Hopefully, it won't come to that, but I need to know how capable you are." Robin said with a curious gleam in his eye. "I taught Ben and most of his teachers as well," Luke said with no small amount of pride while wearing a smile. Robin's eyebrows shot up high before returning to his more regular face. "Knew it, he's capable as fuck," he thought. "Impressive Luke, say no more. Your son is amazingly talented and it stands to reason you are too if you taught his teachers." Robin said with a smile of his own. "For the purposes of discretion, we should make it look like a road trip, and a vacation if we end up needing to travel overseas," Robin said. "Any questions?" he asked the others. "No? Ok, but if you think of anything, ask whenever. I'm out of ideas at the moment, but that'll change quickly I'm sure." he said. "I think we should go in the cabin now," Cindy said as she rose from her seat and headed out back home.

Robin made homemade pizza pies that were, of course, delicious. When everybody had had their fill, the father and son went to their shared room, probably to talk, just as Cindy and Robin would in the living room. "It's only been a little over 24 hours and they're already starting to feel like very good friends." Robin thought aloud. "So what did you and Luke talk about while Ben and I sparred?" He asked his mum. "He told me more about himself and Ben. About the mission they're on, and the organization they're with; as well as those who stand against them. He and Ben are members of a group of people capable of harnessing the power of the Force, the energy generated by all living things. Probably inorganic things too. They call themselves the Jedi Order. Luke is apparently a Jedi Master of some renown, while Ben is a Knight-in-training. Luke wanted to test my blood; he said it would determine if I could also use the Force, and I consented. The results will be available tomorrow. He will probably want to test you as well." Cindy told Robin. "That was pretty much it, oh, but we watched you and Ben sparring. Luke said your skill is in the top 3 percent in Advanced Combat classes at the Jedi Academy. He was comparing you to others in his Order." Cindy explained.

"Wow," Robin said, in slight awe at the revelations and compliment on his skills, though Cindy had to admit that her son's voice was a touch lacklustre. Robin's too tired for much more enthusiasm, not that I blame him, considering everything that happened (not taking into account what she didn't know about in the study, it was a powerful Indica weed Robin and Ben had smoked) that day and the previous evening, it was a wonder he was awake; let alone able to speak.

As if on cue from her thoughts, Robin was conked out, snoring. "Just sleep on the couch, sweetie." She said, smiling down at Robin. Draping a blanket over him, Cindy then went to her bed upstairs, hoping sleep would aid with her mental digestion. Her last thoughts for the night were: "Is this the hand of Fate at work? It felt like it just might be the case. Only time will tell, and there's still plenty of time left," she reassured herself, remembering the sheer amount of work in Robin's proposed ideas. And with these thoughts swirling through her mind, the sweet succour of sleep enveloped her in its comforting embrace.

Meanwhile, as the Skywalkers prepared to go to bed, Luke turned to his son to ask about his sparring with Robin. Watching a live feed versus hearing it firsthand was totally different. He was amazed when Ben described the matches they had as "intense" and "fast-paced." At one point, Ben had even admitted to "a little awe" at the prodigious level of skill and proficiency Robin had displayed. "If he were to join the Order, he'd be a very advanced, perhaps even expert initiate. Actually, that's probably underestimating him. Robin would probably be named Child of the Force like Grandpa, you, me, and Jaina." Ben said, as though he had been thinking along similar routes as Luke. Luke treated the two young men sparring as more than just a few friendly bouts; it had been a test of sorts. "I would definitely pass the fighting aspects of the admittance test back at the Jedi Academy, back home. Hell, I can see him making Knight in maybe three years tops, and probably Master in five!" Ben said, which surprised Luke. Clearly, Robin had left Ben with as good and powerful an impression as he had of Luke.

"I told Cindy about the Jedi, us, and our positions in the Order, though not ranks, and summarized the Force. No doubt she told Robin. I administered the blood test on her to see how much potential power she has. The results will be in by morning, though I think it's safe to assume she's strong. No doubt her son is just as strong, perhaps stronger." Luke said, smiling. "I plan to ask him if I can test his blood tomorrow as well, though I'm betting his results will be fine, definitely Force-sensitive. Also, based on your fight, he has good intellect and strangely advanced insights; and most importantly, his character. I think you're right, and Robin would make a fine new member of the Jedi family." Luke said as he and Ben went to bed. Ben agreed wholeheartedly with his father; they'd both make fantastic Jedi. But Ben just hoped their two hosts wouldn't feel pressured to join the Order; it was a calling, a lifestyle too, in a way, and not to be entered lightly. "I just hope they don't feel pressured," Ben murmured as he fell asleep. Luke looked at his son and thought, 'Perhaps they are why we are here. They should be trained in how to use the Force, for themselves, if nothing else. This must be the divine will of the Force at play; I don't believe in coincidence's. With that last thought Luke too, nodded off.

CHAPTER 3

Indoctrination/ The Nexus

The next morning found Robin waking to the sounds of various birds outside, his face partially glued to what felt like the leather of the couch. He swore lightly when he opened his eyes to a very bright blast of morning sunlight. The next sense he got was the smell of coffee and toasting crumpets. "I must have crashed on the couch," he thought. "Oh good, you're awake, hon. I was going to wake you in 5 more minutes. It's 10:30, you slept extra big-time. I could tell you were bushed beyond belief. So was I," she chuckled as she brought a plate with crumpets with strawberry jam and peanut butter, plus the elixir of the gods: coffee.

"It was a very exciting and draining day. Enjoy your breakfast," Cindy said with a smile. "Thanks, Mum, you're the best!" Robin exclaimed as he sat up to dig in with gusto. He idly wondered if the Skywalkers were up yet. As though reading his thoughts, Cindy said, "They're awake on the ship, learning about Earth culture." "Ouch, I don't envy them," Robin said, mock shuddering before a grin flashed on his face. Then he proceeded to sip his coffee; god, he loved coffee. "Did Luke give you your blood test results yet?" He asked as he perked up from food and coffee. "Yesterday had been exhausting," he thought as he yawned and stretched. "Not yet," Cindy said with a shrug, doing her best to not get impatient. "Well, I'm damn curious. Do you mind if I go ask for you? I can tell you're curious too, despite your apparent nonchalance." Robin said with a grin as he finished his coffee. "You know me well. Go get 'em." Cindy told her son, a beautiful, proud smile gracing her features. She was curious about her test results but even more curious if her son would be tested as well and what that could mean, though she kept this to herself.

Robin stood up with a stretch and said, "I think I'll check on your blood test and see how they're coping with our 'oh-so-great-bloody culture'." The sarcasm was heavily lacing his words; he was not a fan of humanity as a whole, though he knew individuals could be wonderful and do amazing things. He was still reeling a year later from Donald Trump's election asPresident of the United States. "Donald Freaking Trump?!" He thought each time, though admittedly, his contempt for the electoral system of the United States and his indignation had lessened over the past year. He just prayed for a new President in the U.S. before Trump starts WWIII. The weather was too nice to stay grumpy, and once he was outside in the sunlight with birdsong in the background, Robin was thinking less dark thoughts and far more about the Force and what it would mean if his mother and he were able to use it. A hundred or so ideas were in his head when he reminded himself to not get too far ahead of himself. "I've gotta talk to the Skywalkers first," he thought. 'We have to plan a road trip to NASA and the other places that were mentioned the previous evening," he reminded himself. Robin was not the best at planning; though he had been improving, it was by far not his forte.

Ending his reverie as he walked to the door of the ship, Robin was prepared to request a blood test for himself as well; he had always been curious, and he had learned much with his curious nature driving him. He had also learned to temper it over the years. He wondered what the Force could be used for. "Maybe telepathy!" he thought with excitement.

The door whooshed open at Robin's approach, and he found himself in the lounge, with the two men drinking something that smelled like coffee. "Maybe it's universally liked," he thought. "Good morning, guys! I heard you're studying Earth culture. You'll need more of that," he said, indicating their cups. "Caffeine always goes well with studying," he said, smiling briefly. "Luke, my mom and I are wondering about her test." He said, politely. "She'll be more than capable with the Force; she's strong with the Force," Luke said with a grin. "Anything else on your mind?" "Yes, I have one question: Would you test me? I'm curious," he said shrugging. "Of course, happy to. Just let me finish my Caf." Luke replied briefly, wondering how detailed Cindy's explanation of the Order was. "It's called coffee here; it's funny how close they are." Robin thought aloud, which he found to be very interesting.. "We used our computer to print out passes for entry into any government building or military facility, for that matter." Ben chimed in. "Good thing we've been studying up!" Ben thought, grinning. "Awesome!" Robin replied.

Ben further explained that they could only make so many passes, so it would be the two of them entering any places that required any such high-level security access. Having finished drinking his caf, Luke stood and approached Robin as he drew a small device from a pocket in his black robes. "Give me a finger, please. And not the middle one." Luke said, chuckling. "Wow, you two learn stuff fast!" Robin said, genuinely impressed and amused; he then proffered his index finger. Luke touched the device to Robin's finger, pricking it and taking a blood sample with it. "One of us will let you know when your results are in. You can tell your mom she can learn to harness the Force if she so desires." Luke said, with a smile. "What's it like?" Robin asked. "Connecting to the Force the first time is an experience unique to everyone, but one thing remains the same; it's described as an experience beyond words," Luke said. "You used similar analogies to describe sex for the first time," Ben said this with a laugh, which earned him a half-hearted frown from Luke, who was trying not to look amused. In the end, despite attempting to act the part of a strict father, he laughed too. Boys will be boys, Luke thought, and I'm no exception.

"Thank you for the news and the blood test, Master Skywalker," Robin said with a quick but respectful bow. His mom and family friends had always said he carried himself with the grace of old. "Just Luke, please." Luke insisted politely, remembering a similar talk with Three-Pee-Oh many years ago when he'd first met the droid, along with Artoo. "Ok," Robin said, mildly surprised and very impressed. Most people who possess titles feel compelled to be addressed according to their station in society. Robin's opinion of Luke rose quite a bit with the display of modesty and humility.

Robin had been thinking about the mission a great deal as he talked with the Skywalkers; his demeanour changed slightly, growing more serious before he began reviewing his thoughts aloud to the Skywalkers. It was a mission to help them, after all:."NASA's in another country not far from here. All they do is study space and make attempts at new rockets that usually contain information-gathering robots, telescopes, and specimen collectors. The onboard computer sends information back to NASA HQ in Washington, D.C. the capital of the country below us. They can't NOT have something useful. Pack whatever you think you'll need; bring a portable computer, Hacking will be unavoidable; the passes get us into any building, but all information is still stored on encrypted hard drives." Robin explained in what some people jokingly called leader mode. "Can you make security guards surrender peacefully to avoid bloodshed using the Force, in the event that something goes wrong?" he asked, looking to Luke and Ben for the answer. "Yes, unless they have strong willpower. The Force is especially effective on the weak-minded." Luke explained. "Phew, then we're golden!" Robin chuckled. "I'm gonna pack my stuff, do a few things. I'll meet you guys in our living room in twenty minutes or so for a little talk. I suggest you both get some clothes from this world; my mom can help. No offence; personally, I like it, but the monkish look is sure to draw attention." He said, dismissing himself politely from the Skywalkers to go have a much-needed shower.

Robin also needed to pack a few things. Most of what he would need was already out and neatly arranged, just waiting to be packed into a large bag designed for long treks; his mom was packing right now as well. Robin and Cindy liked being ready for almost any eventuality. He was still sore from sparring with Ben, so the hot water in his shower was very welcoming.

Once Robin had cleaned himself up, he dressed in a shirt, slacks, comfortable semi-formal shoes, and a Bomber jacket lined with velvet hung from his available shoulder. His bag was slung on his other shoulder, his dullest swords wrapped in cloth (lined with a thin lead-like substance that makes x-rays useless by absorbing and using the energy to produce a false normal result, bypassing security; it was a gift from a family friend who shall remain nameless in case you were curious about security) tightly bound to the bag. Gun control was tight in Canada, so swords were his only available weapons. They were heavy, so while dull, they could still break bones and put someone in the hospital.

He was born to wield a blade, that much he knew. Robin considered guns so uncivilized and far too random. It is way too easy for a stray round to hit an innocent bystander. Plus, in his opinion, not that he had been forced to yet, thankfully, the taking of a life should be intimate and not detached. It shouldn't be easy, and if it's easy, then something's wrong. He figured they could pack up most stuff tonight, and whatever remained would be for tomorrow; then a few days to modify the car with some of the stuff on the ship (computers, etc.), if anyone asked, they could lie and pretend to be cliché comic nerds. Robin admired his reflection momentarily, not out of vanity; his reflection let him centre himself, instantly calming his nerves, before proceeding downstairs for a chat about the upcoming road trip and mission, among other things.

He felt that helping the Skywalkers was of paramount importance, not just for them but also for him, Einy and mum. It was as though they were connected, though he couldn't see how. The Force perhaps? Robin mused silently. Robin intended to have a one-on-one conversation with Luke. This meeting would allow everyone the time to ask one another questions they might not have voiced yet, time to clear the air on certain things and to establish open and honest communication. He wanted to discuss the plan as established in his mind over the last day and a half, and while not complete, it was better than nothing; besides, he had always done his best work under pressure.

When he arrived downstairs a moment later, he went straight to the living room and was greeted by the scene of everybody chilling and chatting. Robin was happy that everybody was getting along. "Luke has been convinced to try some of the weed I'd given Ben earlier!" He mentally exclaimed as Luke took a long drag from a perfectly rolled joint, (Robin's mum's handiwork). Ben and now Luke were still learning the ways of the joint.

Robin cleared his throat while doing an amazing job of not grinning like a fool. "Good to see everybody getting along." He said. He was met with a fist bump from mum, a nod and a smile from the Skywalkers, and Einy, who licked his hand. He indicated to his mum that he needed a quick word in the hall, and she acquiesced to his request. "Mum, I forgot to mention before that you're able to learn to use the Force as well." Robin smiled at her, then turned back to the living room with his mum following suit. He said without a preamble, his voice directed at the room at large, "Let's begin our little meeting." He brought up a projector that was showing a list; he explained each point both before and individually when they reached each point; he had been succinct, so they only had three points.

OBJECTIVES:

1. Gather solid information/ call people who might be in the know.

2. Gather tech and/or materials to sneak into NASA and/or Area 51.

3. Find a way to make the necessary stuff/engineer and create a theoretical matter replicator, if possible.

"These are our objectives as things stand. If you have ideas, please speak up." Robin said, mostly to Luke and Ben. "We can help build things'', Ben said, looking thoughtful. "Gathering info isn't really gonna work for us; we're too new to your world's history and cultures." Robin nodded, and Ben continued "We might be able to use the Force somehow to help us; perhaps an unorthodox approach will yield different results, as we've obviously not been successful through conventional applications of the Force. Dad and I will keep thinking about the matter." Ben said, finishing his thought; Luke was nodding at Ben's analytical skills with pride.

"Okay, I'll help with gathering info from family friends with access to the military, since NASA is a military-funded and controlled facility. I'll also read up on the theory behind matter replication. With your ship, who knows? Maybe it won't just be theoretical." Robin said.

"I'll help with research too," Cindy said. Looking at her son, she continued, "You should concentrate on the completion of a matter replication device; it's beyond me but not you; I bet you and Ben can figure it out. Besides, I'm better at research anyway." Cindy said, smiling. "Alright, but you're not doing it alone. Luke sir? You figured out how the internet works?" he asked politely. Luke began to form a reply, but Cindy said, "I'll teach him what he'll need to know. It's not like they don't have computers. Any hacking we can use the ship from here for, right? Plus, we'll bring tablets that we can upgrade to be almost as powerful as the ship's computers if we need to hack on the go." She said, with confidence. "All right, progress! I figure to properly look into these goals will take maybe a month or a month and a half; those were all my thoughts." Robin said, happy to be making headway and happy he had done his bit.

Luke coughed after taking another toke, which naturally drew everyone's attention. Luke was buzzed, but not out of it; his thoughts were clear. "I just got your test results back, Robin. You are Force-sensitive like us and your mum as well," Luke said, not surprised because he had felt them through the Force, but was surprised by how high their respective Midichlorian counts were, (a higher count usually means greater raw energy and is a very rough guideline for scientists to study the Force and gauge power levels; Midichlorians are microorganisms that are found in everything living, though Force-users have higher numbers.)

Luke broke from his reverie and continued, "Since it'll take a while to get everything in order and get to NASA HQ, we have time to train you both in the fundamentals and beginner Force abilities. If you're interested, or even if only to make our break-in less dangerous, let me know if you want to learn." He smiled when he was finished. Ben knew a few months of relatively intensive training under Luke Skywalker would be like absorbing decades of information and wisdom, in other words, lots of headaches and inescapable pains that come from learning certain truths; not that it isn't worth it; pain, after all, teaches us all many things.

"Can I learn to harness the Force later? I feel like you should concentrate on just one pupil." Cindy said. Luke smiled warmly. "Of course, you can learn later, Cindy." Luke answered, continuing "You're also correct that teaching and training with fewer students will usually yield better results." Luke shifted his gaze to Robin. "I'll draw up a schedule for you; it'll be ready by tomorrow morning," Luke said.

Luke proceeded to look at Robin with the full gravity and seriousness possessed by a Master of the Force. "Once you fully connect with and touch the Force, you can't return to your current mental state. People have tried to pretend to be disconnected from the Force, and it usually ends in insanity or death after a few years. You will be a champion for knowledge, not ignorance. Know that the Force has much to teach, most of which are terribly hard truths. I don't doubt that you think you're ready, but you can only be truly willing with your eyes completely open to what you are about to do." Luke finished, his disposition reverting to his usual lighthearted self. He wasn't worried that would be the case with Robin; the young man was very eager indeed; Luke had seen the look enough times to recognize it. His resolve is like Beskaar Steel, he thought. It is an apt description of the man's resolve: rare and lightsaber-proof. Ben's wrong; this guy would probably only need a year to be knighted rather than 3; so great was his confidence and determination.

Glancing over at his son, Luke considered Ben's progress in his training for Knighthood. Ben had shown many admirable qualities for a Jedi; his trial for knighthood was fast approaching, though its form was still clouded by the shroud of the future. "Perhaps training with Robin would open up unexplored areas for Ben to improve in," Luke thought as he awaited Robin's reaction to the warning; he didn't have to wait long. "There is no need to worry about me chickening out or any of that. I don't quit, and I'm friends with hard truths. Life's full of 'em. I'm ready to start now." Robin said, with total conviction. "I'm sure you are," Luke chuckled, "but I still need to make a schedule to fit everything in."

"Would training as we travel to DC make things less hectic? We could fit in more training that way, right, dad?" Ben asked his father. Luke smiled and exclaimed, "Great idea Ben! Plus, maybe having a training partner other than myself will help you in some way; it's been a long time since you trained with another person." "Sounds good to me. Maybe we could just spend today helping Robin here connect to the Force, dad?" Ben said, while Robin simply nodded his assent at the proposal. Luke wore a thoughtful expression before nodding at his son's proposition.

"Well then, let's go outside to start," Robin said, enthusiasm bleeding into his voice. In an instant, he whipped outside, briefly forgetting his new teacher and sibling/pupil, who quickly caught up with him with aid from the Force. They arrived at a hill with a single bonsai tree and a small fountain. This was one of Robin's favourite places outside; he felt peace and harmony. "Perhaps this place will help me tune into the Force easier," Robin silently mused. Luke had immediately sensed the small Force Nexus when they had drawn near enough; he had also sensed, beyond a doubt, Robin's presence responding to the energy of the Nexus, and momentarily, he flared brighter, his presence in the Force magnified.

"Can we train here until we are on the road?" Robin asked politely; Ben nodded, smiling; his father was doing likewise before sitting cross-legged and giving an obvious indication for Robin and Ben to sit as well. "Do you know what this place is, Robin?" Luke asked politely. "Besides one of my meditation spots? I can only assume that it's related to you guys or the Force. Would such an assumption be correct, sir?" Robin replied politely. "First of all, I can see why you'd pick this place. The Force is stronger here than it will be elsewhere because it's a Nexus of the Force, so yes, it pertains to us Jedi… but other Force users can utilize the ambient energy too. Think of a Nexus as a deep vein of power; the energy of the Force meets here. Imagine lines that go everywhere; Nexus build-up where the lines meet and intersect. They can also be created through various ritualistic methods, like repetitive blood sacrifice, for example, though that's not the way Jedi make them or the kind we even use."

Luke explained the theory to Robin as best he could, though of course, a Holocron is the only true way to do justice to understanding the rarity and beauty of these phenomena, he mused. (Holocrons are a method used to store and teach various subjects, depending upon its creator. More on these later.) Robin wore a pensive, though not confused, expression as he took in the information. He understood; it was a similar thing to how Ley lines worked. After a moment or two, Robin grinned and simply said, "I think I get it. The Force collects here and can be used by those blessed with access. Wow, that makes this spot even cooler. I'm eager to begin learning to harness the Force!" Luke hadn't seen such enthusiasm to learn in a while; it was refreshing. "Please enter a meditative state. We will feed you Force energy so you can recognize how it feels and draw it to yourself on your own. The Force is the ocean… and every Force user has a well of personal Force energy."

Luke's voice faded as Robin slipped into what can only be described as a combo meditative trance and Virtual Reality scenario, finding himself in what looked like a glade with a stone well. He noticed some flowers and a dried-up riverbed; his clothes were different as well, having been replaced by a tan and brown cloak and robe over a cream tunic with matching brown pants with cream accents. "Weird," Robin thought idly as he turned to see Luke smiling at him, and without words, Robin knew that he had succeeded at the objective.

"Nice place, peaceful. The landscape of your soul is beautiful. It's my first time truly seeing another's soul like this, so thank you for this opportunity." Luke said, appreciatively. Luke turned his gaze to the end of the near-dried riverbed while still addressing his new student. "See that dam, around 100 feet away? We're going to undam the flow of the Force and allow the power to flow through you properly. I'll answer your questions as we run; time is unfortunately limited. Luckily, time here seems slower than out there. You could alter this world for your own purposes, with training, of course. I'm connected to you via your mind, so I know what you're thinking, to a degree, and I know what questions you want to ask most, though 'why' is not something I'm able to see. If you weren't in a relaxed, open mind frame, I don't know if I could get past your formidable mental defences; it's a damn fortress in here." Luke said, genuinely impressed by Robin, who had such mental fortitude; despite not having formal training, he was sure to be on par with most high-calibre-class Jedi knights given time.

"All you need to do is bring down the dam. Restore the flow, and you'll gain full access to the Force. The way things are, you have roughly three days before your connection becomes too weak to do more than live day to day. Being alive and living are two different things. So figure it out fast; it's your trial. I can help no more." Luke said. Robin was mildly surprised when Luke faded away, though the warm flow of energy was still present.

It was only a moment later that Robin saw his shadow quiver, split free, and rise, resolving into a perfect copy of himself. Though his eyes were still blue, they were a darker shade of blue, and he wore a mildly arrogant smirk; his doppelganger spoke with a notably gentle voice. "We meet at last. I thought I'd never get to do my job. I'm the Guardian of the Well. I'm your instinctive, territorial, kill-or-be-killed parts. I am the obstacle to your accessing the Waters of Eternity, commonly referred to as The Force. I'm also you, so know that I'm only looking out for our best interests, and before you ask, no, I'm not evil. I'm just looking out for myself and my interests before anything else. I'm going to help you get strong enough to handle enough power to destroy the dam. And then you can grow even more powerful. It serves me to help you. Because, as I am you, I know you… and your deep desire is the power to stop good people from suffering. You seek to build a perfect place for all; you know it's impossible, but you'll keep chasing perfection because that's who we are. We share the same wants and needs, you and I." His smirk had warmed into a slight smile as he talked. Robin was aware that his double was speaking only the truth because he recognized something that made everything ring true. He had no reason to doubt his sincerity.

"What's first?" Robin asked with a mildly predatory grin, imagining all kinds of scenarios, from battle tactics to diplomatic social graces. "First up is an obstacle course to build endurance and stamina." With a shrug, Robin's double placed his hand on the ground. Robin followed suit, figuring maybe he'd be able to access his dormant sealed powers or even just feel the Force easier. The earth pulsed, and the next second, an intricate obstacle course erupted, fully erected with swinging axes, flamethrowers, explosions, etc. He had to give it to his shadow-self; it was badass and looked agonizing, but he would be careful and succeed. "It's not a timed event, but please don't take too long either. Start over there." Shadow-Robin said as he rested against a tree and pointed towards the start. "One last thing. Your objective is simple: survive the course. Only by doing so will you be ready for step two. Begin!" The doppelganger said, looking forward to the show and idly wondering when the kid would pick up on the secret answer.

Robin spent several hours, (inner world time, roughly a few minutes in the outer world,) watching the course and getting the timing perfect before he took his first go. He got three-quarters done, but a flamethrower that hadn't been there before startled him into losing his footing as he dodged. A pattern emerged for Robin, getting most of the way just for the course to change on him. Robin didn't complain to his double once and doubted he would get any sympathy anyway; they both knew he could take it.

On his thirteenth attempt, Robin reviewed the words his doppelganger said before beginning verbatim. "Survive the course? How, when it keeps changing?! Pity I have to run the course at all. I can't beat the obstacles… but maybe I don't have to. His double had said he had to survive the course, not beat it. The best thing I can do is avoid the obstacles." Robin thought, and then he had an epiphany. "Maybe it is just that simple," Robin thought.

Robin's double had been enjoying the show, but his enjoyment was eclipsed when he saw his pseudo-twin's look of dawning comprehension and victory. Robin hopped off the starting spot and walked around all the traps in the obstacle course, making a beeline for the finish. He arrived just as his other self appeared, wearing the biggest shit-eating grin he'd ever seen. "Note to self; never smile like that," Robin thought with a slight shudder. His doppelganger spoke with a smile. "You understand! To survive, we must avoid traps in life, both the literal and metaphorical varieties. Also, some things are unwinnable, and recognizing the difference between a lost battle versus a lost campaign is paramount. You can lose the battle but win the war. Most people treat them the same, the dumbasses. I'm guessing that you feel better than usual? That's The Force recognizing your hard work. It's preparing you to handle the energy of the Force in full; everything here is. You probably even feel the Skywalkers more clearly through the Force; after all, I do. You are ready for the next phase of your training. Step two: Drink from the Well and run to the end of the dried-up river. The key is at the end." And with these parting words, Robin's shadow self began dissipating like a mirage in the desert. Robin noticed that the dam had not appeared to have emptied at all, despite his well having filled to surprisingly high levels from his newly acquired access to his reservoir of personal energy. (The well draws from the energy behind the dam, so the amount behind the dam should go down accordingly, in case you were confused.) Dipping the bucket in the well water, he brought it to his lips. The first drop was like water after years of being in a desert without knowing it. As if he were dying from a thirst he hadn't even noticed before. Robin drank the bucket dry, and so, with his newly found thirst quenched he ran from the dam to the end of the river.

For such a long distance, it didn't take as long as it should've. Robin reasoned that since he had drunk, if only a fraction, of the full power of his Force reservoir, he probably had boosted his speed instinctively using his new energy. As fast as he was to reach the end, he had the feeling he had one day left, maybe one and a half in this world.

When Robin arrived, he observed two things of note: one was the fact that he was on the other side of the Force dam, and the liquid light was as entrancing as the stars, with greater depth and vastness than the oceans. The other thing he found at his destination was, surprisingly, what appeared to be a sword embedded into a boulder, inscribed with text in the middle of a clearing as though waiting for him. (Just roll with it, dear Reader.)

Robin approached it and inspected the text inscribed on the blade. It read: 'Only the worthy may draw me, for only the worthy may be Master of the Realm. I am the Blade of Justice, Hope and Balance. I've held many forms, and many names, and just as many what is a blade without a wielder? Power with no direction, impotent by nature, like me. Draw me so that I may once again spread compassion and mete out justice as the King I once was and shall always remain. Draw me, be my compass, and show me the way in this new time as my guide and ally. And know the true power of the King.' The stone bore many names, and his jaw dropped when he read a familiar name: "Excalibur?! No freaking way!" Robin exclaimed. He had a hunch it was symbolic, but he was still thrown through a loop. (Who wouldn't be, right?)

"It can't be that simple, can it?" Robin muttered to himself. "It can most certainly be that simple… and it is, but don't mistake simple for easy. That could be your doom." His double said, who appeared before Robin during Robin's blink. 'So fast!' Robin thought, stepping back. "Part 3: Draw the sword before your opponent. That's me, see?" Robin's double whispered as he materialized a broad sword that he flourished with apparent ease despite its size. "Your turn. Visualize the energy as a weapon, as detailed as possible. Just to be clear, I may be trying to stop you from drawing the sword, but make no mistake, I don't want to be in charge. Are we clear? I'd gladly just be your Inner-world advisor. However, you're the type of person who wants his opponent to fight seriously, and it's an important ritual; you must fight for the Force to connect with you. You needed steps one and two to be ready for our duel. Defeat me, draw the obvious metaphor of power, gain full access to the Force and restore your flow to the proper, healthy way it should be." Robin's double-blinked, and the next thing that he saw, Robin was garbed in power, shaped like a cloak of light, with a matching sword in his hands. "I knew this would be fun," Robin said with an almost predatory gleam in his eye, and as if on cue, the two warriors did clash.

"Dad, it's taking a while longer than it should… right? Is he okay? Should we go get Cindy?" Ben asked in quick succession, worried for Robin. Luke smiled before answering, "I sense nothing wrong with him, and this is uncharted territory for even me. He's got a dam as large as the Millenium Falcon blocking him from the Force; this is far from a standard case of reconnecting someone to the Force." Luke explained to Ben, glossing over his sudden rejection from Robin's inner world, attributing it to his mind acting instinctively against his foreign presence. Luke was, after all, trying to assuage his son's worries as well as his own. "So we can't expect anything to act in a standard fashion," Ben said, following his father's logic and reminding himself that everything was ok; Robin's health hadn't declined at all. "Worry not, you two," Cindy said, having come out to check on everyone else with zero traces of fear, worry, or doubt in her voice; just a calm power that the two Skywalkers recognized as Force-like. She had absolute faith in her son, and the Force was responding to her faith, lending power to her desire to calm everyone.

"He's wonderfully hard-headed, an all-or-nothing person. He's yet to meet an obstacle he can't overcome. I'm getting the sense that he's… debating? Fighting? Both? Some sort of inner conflict is occurring. Ben, the best thing you can do is have faith. He considers you both friends; I do too, and a Stace doesn't let down their friends. He'll attain victory." Cindy flashed her most calming smile. "Iced tea while we wait?" she asked them. "Yes please," Ben said, Luke following with a nod a moment after. "Alright, the iced tea is in the fridge; go get it please, Ben." Ben gaped for a half-second, then nodded and ran off to retrieve their drinks, thankful for the distraction. "Bring back a glass for me too, please!" Cindy called after him, and he waved to indicate that he heard her.

"Thank you, he needed a distraction," Luke said with a note of admiration. He finally felt like he saw her true self a little more and understood a little more of her character. Mara Jade, his late wife, had a similarly powerful character. He could practically hear her tease him that he had a character-type preference for powerful, strong women. While he would never argue with Mara, (she'd just win anyway), he knew that, while she would not hold it against him to get back on the market, he wasn't ready; the loss was still too fresh. To change the direction he had been thinking, Luke said, "You're a great mom. I can tell that you're a big reason for Robin's strength. He's a natural protector, isn't he?" Cindy smiled at Luke's compliment. "Thank you; you're doing a pretty good job as a single father. Ben's a great kid. As I said before, we don't let down our own, naturally, that includes you guys. Blood does not necessarily equal family for us. It's how my parents raised me, and I'm glad I was successful in instilling in him a similar mindset, though make no mistakes: Robin believes what he believes and does what he feels he needs to do, no matter what others say, including, to a degree, me. He has never conformed or changed to suit others' ideas of how he should be or their agendas, though he will always welcome advice." Cindy said, smiling as she heard Ben return with three iced teas that frankly looked way more appealing than any iced tea she'd made, (not easily done), her smile widening with approval and appreciation.

While Cindy had faith in her son, she missed him and hoped he wouldn't be in this trance for too much longer. 'Lots of work left', she thought as she sipped her drink in contemplation, despite having already done a considerable amount of research.

Cindy was considered the most mindful person in the Stace family tree not just because she understood people or because she could spot a lie instantly, but also because she was a genuine genius with an IQ above 160, (not that anyone should put too much stock in standardized IQ tests; they're surprisingly profile-based and inaccurate). Her mad brain power allowed her to reduce weeks of research to something more manageable (think 3 days instead of 3 weeks). Despite her genius, she had yet to figure out how to control time; as such, there are only so many hours in which to get work done. "Come back soon, sweetie", she thought as she looked upon the young man who would always be her baby boy.

INNER WORLD

"Damn!" Robin cursed as his sword once again shattered to pieces; he lost count by now of how many had broken, but luckily another blade was within reach. After the battle began, the ground, previously bare of anything but grass and dirt, erupted with countless melee weaponry of every description and from every culture. Even weapons that only existed in books he had read were up for grabs.

When the first blade broke, his twin smiled a sad smile and explained. "Each weapon that breaks is a weakness, and only one weapon is the weapon that will grant you power and victory, for it represents your essence and combative spirit. If you lose, you lose your instincts and end up like every other sheep out there. I'm your instinctive side.. so win!" As the two soul brothers duked it out, Robin had been bobbing and weaving around his doppelganger's strikes until he grabbed a new weapon to even the scales. From what he surmised from his twin's words prior, Robin's victory was his bizarro-self's only means to survive, yet he couldn't just surrender.

In other words, Robin's instincts would dull to practically nothing, as he could feel the ring of truth from his opponent, and he knew he would win; he had no choice in the matter. "That was weapon number 176? Wow!" Robin's opposite smirked as he grabbed a new weapon of his own, for they both had access to the same weapons, as they were in part the same person, while simultaneously being separate entities, sharing similar weaknesses. The more weakness Robin destroyed, the closer he was to his goal, not that the doppelganger could tell Robin. Confidence and power are not given; they are earned.

Neither of them noticed an arena had been erected at some point during the fight until now. Their blades and eyes locked, each pushing against the other, neither weapon cracking nor becoming damaged, which Robin took as a good sign and was mildly curious what it represented since it was the core that he was searching for. Was this it? Had he found it?

Robin drew on the power from his reserves, and his blade inched closer and closer to his soul twin, who was smiling. "Well done! That's a fairly advanced Force technique to increase your strength; it can also augment speed or even perception and awareness. It's simple, but…" he stopped, and Robin picked up where he left off ."Not easy, yeah, I know." Robin said, increasing his strength along with his speed. They broke apart, leaving space between them. Robin noticed his soul twin's weapon was damaged now and cracked, while his own was not.

Their next go, Robin knew would be their last. Robin and his other self were almost out of time. Closing his eyes, Robin visualized power flowing first into him, then his weapon. Upon opening his eyes, he found, to his amazement, that it had indeed happened. His body was feeling lighter and had been growing increasingly easy to move as they fought; his weapon now glowed with navy blue light. "Last charge! Quit gawking." And with those words from his dark twin, they did charge, each infusing themselves with energy, though Robin's twin seemed limited to just his weapons. "He must be trying to reinforce it to compensate for the damage the blade took," Robin reasoned. Robin knew, without words, that, even as they locked once more in this epic battle, cheers from the audience added to the ambiance, (boy, was Robin a sucker for theatrics, eh? Thank goodness for no Gladiator quotes), he knew his double was proud of him. He was proud of himself after all.

With a mighty crack, the dark twin's blade shattered, and what looked like blood spurted from his now-wounded shoulder. Robin dropped his still-wet blade as he dashed for the true goal of the whole duel, his heart pumping with exhilaration and joy as he ran to the Excalibur-like weapon, (hopefully no more painfully obvious metaphors, right Reader?), and pulled. The blade slid out as easily as a hot knife through butter, and when it was completely free, with a loud crack like thunder, its former prison imploded, creating an earthquake and a small crater.

The blade itself now showed gleaming text that had been hidden before by the stone it had been embedded in: 'I am free, and so you are free. For I am you, and together We are the Blade of Truth, of Redemption and Resolution! Now accept the Mantle of Ruler. May the weight of your power aid you in becoming who you were always meant to be.'

When Robin spotted his duplicate approaching, he saw that he seemed completely at ease and that his wound might even have been healed by this point. As though he had been reading his thoughts, Robin's twin said, "The wound served its purpose, so don't worry about it, Mr. Awesome! Use the weapon now; you drew it, you use it!" he said happily.

Robin, without fully knowing why, recited the words on the Blade; his voice ringing with a strange, clear ethereal chord, not loud but commanding; everything on Earth connected to the Force would stop and take notice, if only for a moment, though he knew it only applied to animals since most humans on earth had a tenuous connection at best, as he had. But this was the time to rectify that. To unmake something he, on some level, had erected as an infant, perhaps for defensive purposes. He was grown up now, and the dangers of not just Earth, but the whole galaxy couldn't be kept at bay forever. The dam had served whatever purpose it had, which explained why it was easy for him to tear it down.

When the final words he had recited from the Blade finished ringing in the air, the blade glowed, getting brighter and brighter. When it was blindingly bright, Robin squinted hard as his twin slid on sunglasses, offering him a pair that he gladly accepted. The shades allowed him to see the Blade liquefy and seep into his skin and further still. But from the hilt erupted a new blade; its colour was indistinguishable because of the supremely blinding light, but he knew the new blade was there, one that hummed with power, (literally humming). Robin felt it bond with him: skin, muscle, bone, brain, heart, everything the liquified Blade touched felt enhanced; he had access to information from past generations, (though it was too much information to sift through and understand right now, that, Robin knew instantly. Please don't ask how I know; I only narrate the story. I assume instinct was helping). It also felt like finding a lost puzzle piece and completing the puzzle, a sense of rightness and wholeness. Robin was, however, too stubborn to be overwhelmed completely, and despite the influx of power and information, all he got was a migraine.

With the bonding phase completed, Robin knew what to do. He drew ultimately on his Force reserves, knowing that his power had quadrupled at minimum. 'Power to burn, baby!' he thought as he projected an energy blast that tore the dam down. Robin allowed himself only a brief moment of pure elation as the current of power ran over and through him, so he got out of the formerly dry riverbed; had he stayed in longer, he would have run the risk of losing himself to the power. The stadium, weapons, and other debris from his inner world rejoined the liquid light of the Force, melting and disintegrating into liquid light and simply allowing itself to be swept away and home. He felt amazing and knew he'd been in time to stop himself from losing oh so much, not just the Force, but something more.

"You did it, man!" Robin's twin exclaimed beside him joyfully; no arrogance, or creepy smiles, or annoying smirks, (somehow he'd even obtained slushies for them both, root beer if you're curious about the flavour), it was just Robin's very own happy face. It was like looking in a mirror, and suddenly Robin had a revelation: at that moment, his light and darker sides were synchronized and one hundred percent on the same page. It felt interesting, to say the least. "Not bad, just strangely familiar. Something to look into sometime", he thought. "The doppelganger in this inner world said he wants to just be my advisor", Robin thought, "so maybe he could do just that". "You're my advisor now, and you need a name," Robin said, his eyes glinting with happiness. "Do you have a name, or do I name you? I may be your boss, but you're my boss too since you're partially an embodiment of the Force." His twin smiled a genuine if cocky smile and bowed, and they were suddenly in a castle, Robin on a throne while his advisor bowed before him. "Oh King of This Realm, Most Worthy of Power, I, your humble advisor, give you my name. I am Shadow; for I am a creation of Light and Darkness working in harmony. I serve the Light side, though naturally, my allegiance shifts with your own. However, knowing you as well as I do, you'll remain true to yourself and stay with the Light. As you are the source of my very existence, your Light and Darkness, both, it is only right that I must aid in your development." Robin's twin broke out a smirk, glinting with impish mirth as he continued. "My methods of teaching shall, however, remain within my discretion. Unlike Luke, I am not your Master; as such, it will, mostly, remain up to you to train here. I will only force you to come here in a life-or-death situation where my raw instincts would increase the chances of survival. Does that sound good to you, Robin?" Shadow asked, holding out a hand for Robin to shake. Shadow rolled his eyes. "I'm you too, remember? If I hurt you, I hurt myself. I'm not out to get you. Now let's shake; the others are getting antsy. Except for mum of course. She's a rock." His twin Shadow chuckled, and so did Robin. The two twins shook hands, and something clicked in place for Robin. As the two became one once more, Shadow merging with his namesake, Robin sat cross-legged, visualizing his original plane of existence, and within a heartbeat, he had returned to the physical plane.

As he opened his eyes, Robin knew that the Skywalkers would see him differently; he had changed; his eyes were different, still blue but lit from within by a maelstrom of power; even as the Force waned from his body, he knew they could all see that he was different. Knowing that his mother would see it as confidence and strength, Robin would hate to see fear in the faces of their new friends. Luckily, Ben's face conveyed awe, while his father did too, though it also showed that Luke was wary of young Robin's power. Ben's expression didn't show fear, just healthy caution.

Robin sensed that Luke had a history of people losing themselves to power, though Luke threw up a vigorous mental defence, locking such thoughts away in the vaults of his mind. "You sense the beginning of the bond between Master and Apprentice; it is through training that not only do techniques with the Force improve but also your understanding of your Master and vice-versa" Shadow whispered to Robin after he saw his shadow separate from him, literally. "I'll just have to get used to that", he supposed. Shadow continued, "Don't worry; only you and those you allow may hear or see me. You're remarkably calm for someone who just witnessed what you saw and who has done what you've done. It must be your slash-our open-mindedness." Shadow finished with a chuckle.

Robin tried to move and mentally groaned as a huge wave of fatigue hit him like a tsunami. Shadow spoke, "sorry! I forgot to mention that training in your mindscape transfers the fatigue to your physical self. The silver lining is that the wounds don't carry over to the physical plane, and you can, given time, train for what is perceived as years in your Inner World, while it's only a few days of meditation sessions on the physical plane. That's everything I have to tell you for now. Again, sorry that I forgot before. I'm going now; call me if you require help. Our talks happen at the speed of thought, which, amazingly enough, is faster than the speed of light. As your advisor, I urge you to train tomorrow… and rest today. Ok, I'm done, later, dude. Listen to Luke; that dude knows what he's talking about." (If you caught the reference, congrats on having good taste in movies. If not, that's ok; it was not important; just funny.) Shadow, true to his name, melted back into Robin's actual shadow once more, not that anyone else noticed.

Robin drew very lightly on the Force; giving him a much-needed energy boost. Soundlessly, Robin began to rise from the ground, taking his mom's hand for a minute when his legs cramped up at level ten on the pain chart. His martial arts training taught him to conquer pain and to put it aside until it could be addressed. As he walked back to the house, he managed to croak out through his remarkably dry throat, "I'll be ready to train by tomorrow, Master Luke." He called back to the Jedi Master. "I'm sleeping until tomorrow morning… ugh." He groused to himself as he headed back inside for a much-needed shower and nap.

After his long, hot shower, (thank God for hot water,) Robin collapsed on his bed with a groan. "Why am I exhausted, Shadow? The Force is flowing through me, the energy produced by all living things, but I'm exhausted." Shadow replied instantaneously, sans theatrics. "Simple: the flow of energy is too fast, like too much electricity through a cable. Slow the flow; it's not like the Force will be gone; it is, after all, everything. Visualize the river slowing and the water level decreasing. Sleep off the exhaustion, and you'll be good by tomorrow." Robin did as instructed, immediately feeling better. "It's helping, thanks Shadow."

The Skywalkers, who were still outside, exchanged looks of mild concern for Robin; they sensed his pain briefly before it was walled away. Cindy said with a small, glowing, and proud smile, "I think it was a success! He'll be fine by tomorrow; trust him." With those parting words, she followed Robin's lead back inside, glad for his growth in confidence, (not that he was lacking,) and ready to tackle more research, all the while musing on what she'd do if she too awoke her Force powers.

Luke and Ben looked on as Cindy walked back. Luke was pretty sure he and his son were thinking along similar lines: Robin had been powerful in the Force before, when he was only passively using it. Robin now dwarfed his old self by an order of magnitude, having grown in power and most likely awareness. They sensed that he had, indeed, succeeded in whatever endeavour was required to fix his energy flow. Both men thought of the sheer potential Robin would no doubt possess, aided by such vast power and synergistic attunement to the Force.

Luke would train Robin eagerly while protecting him from the agents of the Dark Side of The Force. Luke, however, wasn't feeling any true darkness in the young man, the closest being that he kept secrets, and who doesn't? But it was obvious to Luke that Robin was a good man, and with such Light, one could only speculate on how great his Darkness would be were he ever to fall to the Dark Side. Luke would not allow a repeat of his greatest failure, not again. He wouldn't make the same mistakes as he had with his former student and now-deceased nephew, Jacen Solo. He vowed to nurture Robin's skills and abilities and do his best to steer him correctly. To teach him all he knew of the trappings and evils of the Dark Side; of the many machinations of those who wielded the darkness, and of the power of redemption. However, it would ultimately come down to Robin's choices in life; Luke could only prepare him.

Luke smiled slightly because he had an instinctive feeling that drawing Robin to the Dark Side would be painfully difficult if anyone were to try. "If we were back at the Jedi Academy, he'd probably be in incredibly high-level classes," Luke thought to himself. Luckily, Luke enjoyed training others in the Force and looked forward to figuring out a training regime for Robin. He could probably teach Ben and Robin simultaneously, due to Robin's considerable power and high-calibre skills. He felt that Robin knew most of the fundamentals already, from whatever occurred in the Mindscape. They could cover what he didn't know over time. But first, Luke had to test his new student on what he could or couldn't do. "This is going to be fun!" Luke thought as he began to form his plan.

Robin awoke and was considerably surprised at how energetic he felt; it was as if he'd drank three espresso shots minus the crash. "It has to be the Force," he thought. "Wow! Do Luke and Ben feel like this too?" "You're special… stronger than most and more knowledgeable too," Shadow's disembodied voice said. "The Force uploaded the fundamentals straight to your mind; this feeling is a perk. But don't allow yourself to grow arrogant; it ill becomes you, (that means it doesn't suit him in case you don't know the phrase, very old-school), which, as you now know, can lead to the Dark Side." Shadow yawned before continuing. "When your body grows tired, we can continue training in here, but not for too long; it's bad for your health at your current level of experience. Now, I'm bushed, it's my turn to nap. Call only in life-or-death situations, please. Listen to Luke, but be ever mindful." Shadow's voice faded into oblivion, and Robin found himself thinking about what he should do now.

Through a combination of intuition and the practice he obtained via his inner world, Robin could sense everybody and where they were located. Mum was sleeping, and Luke was downstairs at the computer, probably researching. Einy was, of course, next to Robin's bed, kicking and making funny, cute noises in his sleep, ever the permanent puppy.

Ben was nowhere in the house, so Robin visualized extending his newly acquired senses outward in a spherical shape, his awareness of everything expanding as the sphere grew in size. Sensing that Ben was on the ship and all right, Robin wondered briefly what his new friend was doing. "Oh yeah, tinkering with tech to make a matter replication device," Robin reminded himself. Then he remembered that he started his training in using the Force today, and all remaining fatigue was gone as he psyched himself up for whatever Master Luke might throw his way now that he was his student.

An hour later, the Skywalkers were both headed for what Robin assumed was the same place he had entered his trance-like state yesterday, the Nexus. "This must be where we'll be training," Robin thought. Quickly getting dressed, he dashed downstairs and outside, following quickly on their heels. He was curious about what kind of teacher Luke would turn out to be.

When he arrived, the two appeared to be in the midst of finishing morning meditations, while Robin inwardly winced at the possibility of having arrived late on his first day of training. But the two Skywalkers did not seem upset. "They probably meditate every morning," he reasoned, hoping he was correct. "You didn't miss anything; we reach a meditative state every morning," Luke said as though he had read Robin's thoughts. "This is probably a side-effect of a Force bond between Master and student," Robin surmised, remembering Shadow's words.

"Good morning Master. I'm glad I haven't made a bad impression," Robin said with a smile. "What's the plan?" he asked with a healthy amount of enthusiasm. "I love your positive and eager attitude!" Luke said, with a quick grin before his face became a little less mellow. "It must be his teacher's face," Robin thought. Luke replied, "I'm aware of your combat proficiency through Ben, who spoke highly of your skills, and the video footage I received from the Shadow's onboard cameras. So I'll concentrate on teaching you Force abilities for now, along with a few other things. If you feel the need to spar, Ben is usually available." Ben nodded, and Robin knew Ben also wanted a rematch. Robin would, of course, happily oblige, as now they could really cut loose.

Robin's attention quickly returned to Luke, who was speaking again: "Here, put this on." Luke said, while holding out a helmet and what looked like a lightsaber's hilt. Robin took the helmet and, hesitating no longer than one second, took the weapon. All the while reminding himself that he was already a sword wielder and that all would be fine as long as he practiced with caution.

"You look worried, Robin; don't be." Luke continued. "This is a Stunsaber, which is a very, very low-power lightsaber. You'll be using it to deflect stun blasts away from you, the number of attacking practice droids will keep increasing as time wears on, 12 max, I promise, no more than you can handle. Now, hurry up and put the helmet on." Robin clipped the stunsaber to his belt and then put on the helmet. When he put on the helmet, a visor slid down, obscuring his view completely. "I think I know where this is going," Robin thought to himself. "It's like when Sensei taught me to fight blind."

Luke had let fly the first spherical drone just as the young man had put his helmet on, with no fussing at the blast shield. Luke was exuding mild surprise and amusement in the Force. Luke chuckled and said, "Most people complain about the visor and not being able to see. Interesting that you don't. I'm turning on the first remote. The shots sting but leave no lasting damage. Now use the Force and stretch out with your feelings. Let go of your conscious self, and act on instinct."

This was a test of how strong the young man's ability to sense through the Force was. It had been Luke's first test from Obi-Wan decades prior as well, so he knew it started easy and grew more difficult the longer the exercise lasted. Luke noticed a slight grin on the young man's face as he snapped the weapon from his belt, igniting it the instant it was in his hand. Based on his form, Robin looked like he had been born to wield a lightsaber.

Training began slowly, and while Robin was glad to have a minute to acclimate to the power of the Force and how it felt different and strange without the use of sight, he was mildly bored and hoped the drone started shooting soon. "Be careful what you wish for", he thought wryly as he felt a very sharp sting in his back. Robin cursed at the discomfort but put it aside easily enough; a trick Luke was very impressed and surprised to see in such an inexperienced Force-user, though Robin might just be tough like some non-Force users he knew.

"I'm not getting hit again!" Robin thought with determination as he extended his senses as far out as he could. "Time to kick drone butt, bring 'em!" He thought as he deflected and dodged, so far having kept his promise to himself not to get hit again.

Luke pondered on the best way to move forward with the boy's training, considering his remarkable skill level, as he watched the young man deflect the shots sent his way. Luke released all of the remaining drones; he knew Robin would sense them all with ease. To be accurate, he trusted the Force to see Robin through. His faith was rewarded as he watched Robin dance and weave, deflecting and dodging rounds at incredible speed and with a great, albeit slightly savage, elegance. As strong and fast as Robin was, he found himself struggling against the machines. Robin was this skilled, and with room to grow? Luke found that thought a little scary. He would have to be careful with Robin.

Ben, who had been silently watching Robin train, decided to suggest a new approach to his father's training regime, as it was obvious Robin had mastered the fundamentals, especially his Force-sense, (popularly referred to as Danger-sense,) by most. "Dad, may I suggest something? Maybe you should teach him the advanced stuff, he comprehends the basics. I even saw him briefly levitate a rock as a makeshift shield for a moment. Why not teach him things like the Jedi mind trick and illusions? And philosophy and diplomacy? He's almost mastered the more action-oriented abilities, but the mind and will-based abilities would be good to teach him, as I don't think he's had much cause in life for such things. Tricks and subterfuge would also round out his skills better than learning what he already knows."

Ben saw it; as fast as his father masked his expression, he had seen the fear in his father's eyes. Ben added, "He's a natural, a prodigy… and that scares you. You can't hold back, or he'll try to expand his knowledge and abilities without your counsel and guidance, and it's more likely he'll fall to darkness if he feels held back. He's not Jacen, and I don't think he'll make the same mistakes Jacen did. I'll help steer him away from the pitfalls of power." Ben smiled reassuringly at his father.

Luke sighed, knowing that his son was right; he was teaching Robin as though he were some time bomb waiting to go off. Luke deactivated the drones after a minute or so, having seen enough to know Robin was indeed a rarity as prodigies go, though he still had room to grow. Robin was gifted at augmenting his body to maximize speed and strength, in addition to having already achieved a very high level of proficiency at sensing through the Force. "Maybe we could go to a nearby farm or to the city to teach and eventually test his abilities at illusions and subterfuge, which would involve the use of the Jedi mind trick a few times," Luke mused silently. "Robin, we're done with that exercise now; ditch the helmet. By the way, you were quite impressive. I hope you don't mind, but I recorded you for your training log," Luke said proudly to his new apprentice. Robin removed his helmet.

"Today, I'm going to teach you Telepathy, as I can't offer much more in the physically-oriented department just yet. Seeing as your connection to the Force was only just reestablished after essentially your whole life, which could hurt you terribly if you learn too much too early." Luke paused briefly before continuing. "You've also used telekinesis, and your Danger-sense is top-notch. By no means are you a Master, but you do hold incredible talent and innate skill. I will eventually teach you more in this department when I feel you are ready." Luke said, with a warm smile. Robin smiled back at Luke as he sat down on the grass.

"My sensei taught many similar things, though it centred more on strengthening the other five senses to compensate for a lack of sight. The Force does help immensely though; I normally wouldn't have lasted half of that time." Robin chuckled as he composed his thoughts. "When it flows through me, I feel comfort… warmth. I get the feeling it doesn't always feel that way with others though." Robin said, with a mildly serious face. "You'd be right, especially when agents of the Dark Side wield The Force, such as the Sith: the ancient enemy of the Jedi Order, but we'll cover them another time," Luke said. "Now… extend your senses, find my presence, and project yourself through the Force. It's fairly simple. Close your eyes and visualize." Luke said, curious as to how the young man would approach the challenge.

Robin was incredibly keen to learn telepathy, and so did Master Luke's bidding. When his thought form reached Luke's mind, he went with a subtle approach. Luke had mental defences designed to withstand a siege, but it wasn't designed for a less overt approach, so he first checked out all the defences from every angle, noting any and all small cracks or weaknesses he could exploit. Luke's mind was a fortress; there was no denying that, but time wears everything down and weakens it. Luke's mind was no different; and as with all erosion, new secrets are discovered, weaknesses, and entrances that were previously hidden. When he eventually found one large enough to slip in, he squeezed through and sent Luke a message, hoping that he had been successful while feeling confident that he had.

After a half-minute, Luke smiled at Robin in approval. "Well done!" He stated, again, impressed with how astute his new student was, especially considering that he had no prior training in Force-arts. "Nice subtle approach… but there are far more subtle, less draining methods," Luke said, communicating the second half of his sentence in Robin's head. Robin realized that Luke reverse-tracked Robin's probe. "You can't probe a mind without opening your own," he thought, adding the technique to a vast and still growing repertoire; most of it was in Ancestral DNA which still needed to be examined in full to be used, a job Shadow could do for him as advisor and assistant. (Robin had information downloaded, for lack of a better term, straight into his mind. So while Robin had countless generations of experiences and abilities, he still needed to fully comprehend them before utilizing them would be possible. Shadow is essentially making it easier for Robin to eventually use these abilities and experiences. Research ancestral memories; it's delightfully interesting. Back to the story.)

It felt strange that the Force came to him as easily as it did; Robin thought that it would be incredibly difficult at first. "I told you that you're special.. and thanks so much for the tiring job of sorting through uncounted ancestral memories. I'm going to continue to do it later; I'm gonna nap some more." Shadow muttered in a tired, irritated tone, breaking Robin from his reverie. "How do you feel? A little drained, maybe?" Luke asked Robin. "Not very much. I feel like I've got a few more good hours in me." Robin replied with a shrug. Luke was shocked at the young man's impressive energy reserves, though he masked it well enough so that only Ben recognized it. "Okay then, how about you and Ben have a rematch? He won't hold back this time either, since you're now connected to the Force. I'd like to watch you two with my own eyes; they pick up on the things cameras miss." Luke said.

Luke knew full well how the two had craved a rematch; now that they were both connected to the Force, and both were curious about how that might change the outcome. Would Ben's greater experience as a student of the Jedi arts trump Robin's prodigious skills? Even Luke Skywalker, Grandmaster of the Jedi Order, was unsure who would win and what forces would be unleashed by his students. "Where to?" Luke asked Robin. "We can't have your rematch here, and the sparring chamber on the ship isn't meant for this scope of power you two will undoubtedly unleash," Luke explained. "Hmmm… There's a ravine nearby, 20 minutes walking distance, 10 if we sprint." Robin replied. "Would that be a good place, Master?" "I'll know when I see it," Luke responded as he stood, his students following suit. "I'll just let your mother know, and then we're off," Luke said, turning to his new disciple with a smile, which the young man easily returned. "The next few days should prove most interesting," Luke muttered to himself as he walked back to the cabin to inform Cindy of developments and of the plan to help the boys get some of the competitive spirit out of their systems.

"Robin and Ben will probably be sparring partners for a while yet; they can't be like this all the time, though. I better nip this rivalry in the bud." Not that a friendly rivalry was bad per se, but he didn't need the added headaches that came when students competed with each other. Luke wasn't worried that this would happen, but, as the Master, it was his responsibility to keep such things in check. As long as it stays friendly and on a relatively even keel, it was fine by him.

When he got back to where he'd left Ben and Robin, they were already amicably establishing rules for the rematch, which now consisted of a quick race coming back from the ravine, so the loser had a chance at redemption and a little bit of bragging rights. Or getting "skunked," as Robin had said, as Luke understood it from his Earth cultural studies, meant being embarrassed at being beaten twice in a row; a loss Luke knew his son would take with dignity were it to happen.

Robin seemed very sure of himself, though he wasn't arrogant. Luke could tell that he knew he could lose just as easily as Ben. Modesty and humility, qualities that made the core of many fine Jedi Knights throughout history, Luke pondered as he considered his new student. He knew that Robin was charismatic and charming. Luke idly wondered what a proper Jedi Academy education would yield for the young man. He would no doubt be among the more influential and powerful members of the Order in no time. Robin's natural charm and charisma would grow immensely, though he didn't seem the type to abuse such gifts if he even noticed them at all. How else would he grow? Luke could only wonder.

"This way, Master Luke… Ben." Robin said, breaking Luke from his musings and indicating what direction to go before sprinting away at a safe trot. "Watch out for roots!" He called back quickly. Followed shortly by Ben, Luke smiled and headed in the same direction with a duffel bag of equipment for various training methods and a first-aid kit, though he walked at a slower pace to better appreciate the lovely scenery.

Luke arrived approximately ten minutes later to find a deep ravine lined with sharp outcroppings. There was a modestly sized, sandy beach at the bottom. "Perfect," Luke muttered to himself, while Robin smiled at the compliment, unintended though it may have been. The three men took a moment to appreciate the beautiful view. "Now Robin, to evaluate how well you can take a fall," Luke said with a mischievous glint in his eyes that Robin wasn't able to catch, for if he had, he might have guessed at his Master's next challenge. "How do you mean to do that, Master?" Robin asked, drawing on the Force to augment and reinforce his body as much as he could because he sensed that caution was called for big-time. It turned out to be a good thing that Robin had strengthened everything, as the answer he got from Luke was being shoved off from behind and into the ravine. Luke shouted in reply to Robin's question, "That's how!" (Luke was in total control of the situation, not that our friend could know that, hehe,) Robin screamed initially from fright before he started to enjoy the adrenaline, the air whistling past him, and the ground approaching him. "Oh no!" Robin thought, just before impact.

"Fuck that hurts!" Robin cried out in pain as every nerve jockeyed to the fore of his senses, realizing that he knew he had to be alive; pain is proof of being alive. Robin stood up, brushed himself off, and did a scan for the injuries such a fall should have impacted him. As best as his shocked mind would allow, Robin discovered that, while it hurt a lot everywhere, he had no real damage from the impact; not even a scratch. "I should be a puddle! Cool, I literally just defied death. If not for the Force I'd surely be dead!" Robin thought, then he gasped and moved out of the way when he saw Luke jump down and land with ludicrous ease, while Ben jumped down using the outcroppings as giant steps leaping from one to the next, toting the duffel Luke had packed.

When both Skywalkers had reached the bottom, Luke checked Robin for injuries. He could sense Robin's indignant anger, though it was already clearing from the young man. "Good to know he's not perfect. Perfect students would be virtually impossible to really teach and dreadfully boring", Luke thought, mentally sighing. Robin also apparently didn't or couldn't feel his fractured rib; the Force was most likely numbing the pain and had likely enhanced his bones, thereby reducing the severity of the fracture. "You're injured, though not critically, so let's use this as an opportunity to learn something. Go inward to your rib and mend the break. It's like what you did before I pushed you off the cliff, only inside, now focus your attention and energy, but consciously this time. Okay?" Luke said.

Robin felt the break, set it, and pulled energy towards it. It started to heal, but it was draining Robin too quickly. Luke sensed this and stopped his student. The young man had ceased mending the break but was resolute in his silent vow to improve his self-healing. "Perhaps Shadow has a tip for me?" Robin briefly hoped.

It appeared that while Robin could drastically augment speed, strength, and endurance, he couldn't self-heal very efficiently. Luke's reverie broke as an interesting thought occurred to him. "Robin, come here," Luke called the young man over, injecting him with healing nanites that would help Luke mend his student's broken rib. Healing others wasn't exactly easy for Luke either, strangely enough. "Meditate to restore yourself," Luke suggested. Ben smiled at Robin. "Our rematch can wait twenty minutes for you to challenge me at a hundred percent," Ben said, as though reading Robin's thoughts.

As Robin meditated, Shadow finally awoke from his nap; Robin, the King, (Robin drew the Blade in his mindscape. It was a metaphor for power and authority Robin has yet to fully discover or understand this. To explain further would make it difficult to tell the story. More on the young king and the mindscape and the Blade later. Trust me, I'm the Narrator) of Shadow's home, preparing for combat; and as his advisor, Shadow was honour-bound to help, be it by answering questions or providing support, (morale and energy boosts, for example). In his inner world, his sanctum, a weakened Robin drew power to himself, summoning Shadow so that he might question his dark twin regarding his incredibly fast energy depletion and botched attempt at healing himself through the Force.

Upon entry, Shadow bowed to the man who would be king, not that he fully was, (again, more on Robin becoming king and Shadow's roles, plural. Expect metaphors galore and the occasional straight answer. If you were confused, Reader, I apologize,) to Robin, who sat upon his throne in his mindscape. "My liege, how might I aid you? I can sense that you will soon combat the young Skywalker boy again; no handicaps for either of you!" Shadow exclaimed. Robin merely raised a brow at his twin's enthusiasm at the prospect of the upcoming battle, and while some might be concerned, Robin wasn't worried, as the feeling wasn't bloodlust but rather friendly competition. "My apologies; I'm just very excited. This match will allow Master Luke to better understand your strengths and weaknesses. But I digress, my bad. You have a question, correct?" Shadow asked. Robin's energy reserves were almost refilled, so he asked Shadow the only question that he had; "Shadow, thanks for your prompt arrival. I do indeed have a question. Why is healing myself so draining?" Robin asked.

Since Shadow was an extension of him and the Force itself, Robin knew that Shadow would have an answer. Shadow thought for a moment, composing his answer for his comrade and soul brother. "We all have strengths and weaknesses. No matter your strength or power, there's always a weakness or two because the Force demands it to be so. The reason for this is balance. You can't be super great at everything, and you shouldn't worry. Instead of self-healing, you have the ability to enhance and strengthen your whole body; in other words, you'll be harder to hurt, making this a little moot. That fall is proof of this, especially since you should look like a big-ass strawberry jam smear on the ground. Yet here you are. Not only are you alive,but you barely got injured, and didn't notice the relatively light injury to boot. In addition, as time goes on, your abilities will grow, as will all the other skills you've utilized and demonstrated. You'll never be invincible, a truth you know very well, but who knows how strong you'll get? Not even Luke is a master of everything, mighty as he is." Shadow finished, taking a big breath of air, as he'd had to explain quickly since Robin would only be able to stay until his reserves refilled, as staying longer would worry the Skywalker father-son duo and was unnecessary. Shadow counted down in his head, three, two, one; Robin faded away, reserves refilled, and Shadow was once again on standby should his King require him.

Robin opened his eyes; he was done meditating and recharging. He noted his rib was mended flawlessly, and it had Luke's energy signature lingering on the area. Robin smiled at Master Luke and thanked him as Luke gave him a hand up. "That was a fast recharge," Luke commented to Robin. Ben, who hadn't left the spot he was leaning against, cleared his throat, attracting his father's attention and the attention of his sibling disciple. "Yeah… I'm ready," Robin said, answering Ben's unasked question. Robin smiled at Ben's teenage impatience, not that he could cast stones; Robin was also looking forward to the rematch.

The two agreed on certain basic rules for combat. They were permitted to use Force abilities for enhancement or defensive purposes, such as using the Force to cushion an otherwise very painful landing. The only weapons the two were allowed were the stunt-sabers, and their creativity in using their environment and respective skills. The champion would be decided by making the other yield, by points, (best of three in this case), or if Luke thought things were going too far (not that Luke was particularly worried). The terrain would make things interesting, Luke noted as he appraised the soon-to-be mini-battleground while the two boys did last-minute stretches and checked their gear for an accurate score count, (vests with sensors, courtesy of the duffel bag that Luke had packed). Sand and stone would favour neither of his students; footwork alone would be difficult. Luke was completely objective; he had no horse in this race, for lack of a better Earth expression, something Ben knew without being told. His father didn't subscribe to nepotism.

The two warriors stood in battle-ready positions. Luke snapped his fingers, and the two were off like a shot, blades igniting with a hungry snap-hiss, their feet leaving tiny craters in the sand. Robin took full advantage of his height and weight; his style was aggressive though not lacking finesse, while Ben fought back with a flurry of feints and fast blows designed to wear down his opponents' defences until he could locate a flaw he could exploit.

Luke watched, fascinated as each of them countered and re-countered the other; sand turned to glass only to shatter and revert from the sheer Force energy flying around; while stones crumbled to dust as shields and weaponized diversions, (they never aimed to hit). The acrobatic skills were superb as well. Luke stood in amazement as he watched his students, the beauty and savagery of the duel was entrancing; like a lightning storm, they were both showing the other a savagery and ethereal quality that both warriors rarely saw outside natural phenomena. To say it was beautiful didn't do it justice; perhaps the words didn't exist. "This is the product of two high-level Knight-class Force users cutting loose," Luke mused silently as he watched.

Luke was not above wondering or fearing, even if only a little, how much the two would grow, both as individuals as well as rivals and comrades. Even now, he had the sense that they were both holding back a little, there was more untapped potential hidden within. After 5 minutes, it became apparent to Luke's well-trained eyes that, as skilled as they were, neither man had the advantage. Both were tied in points, and both were running on fumes and covered in countless abrasions and small cuts. If a victor were to be decided, it would be with this next final clash. "Last round you two!" Luke called over the howling storm that had arrived seemingly just for added ambience, tremendously strong waves breaking not too far away and drenching both warriors. The two leapt at each other and had Luke not known otherwise, he'd think they'd lost themselves to the frenzy of battle. In the blink of an eye, both young men found their opponents' blades pointed at each other, though Robin was standing while Ben was on his back.

If a victor was declared by his father, it would have to be Robin. It only made sense as Robin was standing on the high ground while Ben was not, giving him the distinct advantage tactically speaking. Ben assumed this but wasn't angry about losing. Disappointed, yes, but not angry. If anything, he looked almost pleased, a sentiment he knew was shared by Robin as he smiled down at Ben while offering him a hand up and a near-identical look of joy at finally having a peer, an equal. Luke called the match a tie, surprising Ben, who thought himself the clear loser, and the two exhausted fighters glanced at each other, supporting one another's weight and relishing in the news that they'd both won. Luke examined them both, dealing with their minor wounds with the Force, which inspired Luke with an interesting idea, if proven right.

Having finished healing the two, Luke cut himself with his Vibroblade, (Think spy knives, small, compact short things, or the type used in knife fights. Longer, bigger-bladed knives. Luke used the small variant in this instance. Vibroswords are swords made in a similar fashion. Vibro weapons are sharper because they vibrate on a molecular level, reducing the overall integrity of targets.) "Dad, what are you doing?!" Ben cried out in surprise, lifting a hand to heal his father's wound. Luke held up his prosthetic hand to gesture for silence and calm from his son, as well as to stop Ben from healing him. "No, son. I want Robin to do it. I'll heal it if he doesn't." Luke smiled at his son reassuringly. "Have a little faith in your old man. It's not a deep cut." Ben chuckled and nodded to his father. "Sorry, I was just surprised. Let me know beforehand next time you do something like this." Luke nodded in acquiescence. "Ok, I'll do my best, Master Luke," Robin said, ready to give it his all.

Robin extended his senses, feeling through the Force, the cut that Luke wanted him to heal. He sent energy outward as he visualized the flesh knitting back together. To Robin's astonishment, it worked, which was bewildering since he was not able to heal himself worth shit. "It's your character that stops you from healing yourself, but not others," Luke said, explaining his theory that because Robin was the type to give more of himself to others and was the type of person who would rather not get hurt at all than worry others, (I understand that this tidbit may possibly be confusing or even seem unnecessary, but I assure you, it will become relevant later on.) "Well, that was Day One of training. I'm glad I have a general idea of what you can do now. Next lesson… illusions, and what many refer to as the Jedi mind trick." Luke said, smiling.

"Only one month left to train before the heist," Shadow whispered with glee, mirroring Robin's silent enthusiasm. The last thing Shadow whispered to him before Robin went to his beckoning bed that night was, "Things are going to get interesting, and unlike when you joined the Air Force boot camp, this won't be Hell. It might come close sometimes though. But you're you; it's nothing to fret about." Robin just groaned silently. "One month of this won't be too bad. Was it going to be exhausting? Probably. Was it interesting and cool? Yeah! Nothing I can't handle," Robin thought to himself groggily before going to sleep.

Chapter 4

The Heist/The Voice of the Loyal

NASA Headquarters, D.C. One month later

Robin and Ben were chatting energetically yet quietly as they approached the military-controlled facility, each dressed in a suit. The plan was very simple: pose as theFBI on a routine inspection while toting very well-made fake IDs to gain entrance without relying on other means. The two young men finished their quick review of the plan as they approached from the front of the building. Once they were close enough for the guards to notice them, the pair got in the 'zone', having practiced numerous times over the past month, amidst training and travel.

The guards at the entrance commanded them to halt, and they complied. "Who are you? Why are you here?" asked one of the guards. "There is no entry without an appointment." The other guard added, laughing and just enjoying his authority. "Obnoxious little bastard," Robin thought as he fought to keep his face perfectly neutral. Robin smiled disarmingly at the first guard. "I think we have clearance to enter," Robin said, quickly flashing his badge with Ben following suit. "I'm Special Agent Marley. The young man with me is Trainee Dylan, my protégé." The guard didn't notice the aliases they used, a good thing, but a little disappointing, Robin thought to himself. The first guard paled a little; nobody liked Feds visiting unannounced. When that happened, 90% of the odds said somebody would be fired. "Shit, sorry sirs. What's the problem?" Robin smiled a warm, winning, reassuring smile before replying, relaxing the guard. "No problem, just a routine inspection for POTUS and our pencil-pushing bastard of a boss," Robin said, earning a chuckle from the first guard. "Isn't your partner a little young to be a Fed?" The obnoxious guard asked, earning a quick, subtle death glare from Ben, who answered, "It's called in-field training. Had you been listening, you'd have known I'm still a trainee. Stow the attitude and work better or you might not keep your job." Ben growled, and the guard muttered an apology, and on that parting note, they were escorted in.

The poor guard who had been unfortunate enough to get on Ben's bad side looked like he wanted to crawl into a hole. Robin almost felt bad for him, but he knew that Ben was just sticking to his character. The lobby and reception area were what you'd expect from a military installation. Everything they saw was on the website, (All hail Google). "We need to inspect the hard drives for malware and virus traps. Where are they? Robin asked politely. "Sub-Level C-3" the polite guard replied. "Do you know where the elevator is that leads to that level?" Ben asked. The guard Ben had embarrassed was more than willing to redeem himself, so he told them where to go and printed passes for security purposes, then they parted ways. But not before Robin had nudged some light-side energy at the guard; the darkness over the guard had dissipated and would be gone very soon. "That'll help his attitude and hopefully his career," Robin thought.

As the duo walked to the secure server room's elevator, they discussed the mission in a code that sounded like bureaucratic jargon. Once they arrived downstairs, they would obtain the hard drives that held the collective knowledge of everything space related. Upon arriving, Ben had begun to set the EMP charges to take out security so they could leave with relative ease.

Ben gave Robin a new toy to play with; now seemed like a good time to wear it, as he had to stand guard for Ben. Robin put on the gadget called a distortion mask, which worked by bending light around the face and head of the wearer, now even if he were recorded, it wouldn't show any facial features. Unfortunately, it was far less effective at close range, and they only had the one. In addition to the EMPs, Ben had also programmed a virus to wipe the hard drives after they stole all the information they needed if anyone tried to restore things before a countdown reached a specific time, allowing them ample time to get out of Dodge.

"Ben's a scary smart kid", Robin thought as he kept watch. Good thing Robin was wearing his new toy. "We have incoming hostiles." Ben told Robin after having hacked the NASA CC-TV (closed circuit security feed, on and recording 24/7, providing the two with a view of the whole complex simultaneously.) "How many? Armed?" Robin asked. "Three people, armed with batons drawn and guns holstered. Remember the mask doesn't work at close range, so they'll see you." Robin grinned. Finally, he had a good excuse to use that awesome technique.

It didn't take long for the three soldiers Ben had warned him of to arrive. One stepped forward, the senior officer, based on his garb and medals. "Hello, I'm Commander Reinard; these two are my subordinates. I've been told your IDs had an error in the coding, so you have to leave immediately." Reinard said, scowling. "Gentlemen, take him into custody," Renaird commanded his subordinates. Robin drew on the Force and poured the energy out with his will, creating a very powerful hypnotic suggestion. "We aren't here; you will forget this entire interaction. Go to the cantina with your men and have a few drinks. Then go home to your loved ones." He added a second later, "Take cabs. Don't drink and drive." The men left in a dazed stupor after repeating and rationalizing the suggestions left in their minds. "I love that!" Robin said wistfully, silently thankful that so many Earthlings were weak-minded since it made the Jedi mind trick stronger. Ben grinned at him over his shoulder as he finished up. "It's useful, for sure. Remember how you used to have so little control and you'd whammy whole groups instead of just the target? You've improved on your skill without a doubt." Ben grinned while Robin chuckled at the memory of his formerly dismal control.

"Ok, we're done. Now to get the hell out of here." Ben said, after he had stolen the information and uploaded his virus. Once in the elevator back to the surface, Ben gave Robin a flash drive. "A copy in case I get caught, unlikely as it is. Better safe than sorry." Ben explained upon seeing Robin's puzzled expression. Ben checked the security system's closed-circuit live feed again. "Damn, a half dozen soldiers with a shoot-first-ask-questions-later type of demeanour. No time for a mind trick." Ben said. Robin grinned and replied, "Then I'll spin illusions to scare them so we can get out." With that, Robin opened the door and put words to action, creating very powerful illusions that would look and feel very real, as in real pain, though there was no actual damage. Luke had warned him that his illusion conjuring technique should only be used as a last resort; if they were outnumbered and outgunned, Robin surmised that this situation qualified.

What Robin did was very simple but difficult; he sent raw fear at his targets. That drew out people's individual and specific nightmares, which meant the target was essentially building the illusions themselves. He reasoned that illusions were a better choice than combat and violence; this was supposed to be low profile after all.

Once they had reached the parking lot, Robin and Ben got in their '67 Chevy Impala and sped away to the temporary base. "So what info did we steal?" Robin asked Ben as he drove down the highway. "It'll take some time to sift through everything; we stole so many files. I'll know more once we get back to base." Ben replied. Over the past month, Robin had learned much under the guidance of Master Skywalker, though Luke had taken his sweet time to teach him the advanced techniques, demanding that Robin hone his existing abilities until he was satisfied.

For a while, Robin had been annoyed by the snails-pace they were using in his training. But after the first week, he understood why Luke had him practice fundamental abilities so much. Luke beat Ben in a spar/demo with only the fundamentals, while Ben had no need to hold back, demonstrating how simple abilities could outperform the more complex ones with enough control and skill. Now Robin had incredibly fine control of the energy of the Force unlike before. Even if his repertoire of Force abilities was minimal, he could still hold his own with Ben, who had far more training and knew advanced techniques, sometimes doing even better than his fellow disciple.

Robin turned on the stereo, which was currently set to classic rock; (his choice.) The only rule Robin had was that the driver picks the music, occasionally taking requests, while shotgun shuts his cakehole. This rule was for Ben to learn more about music and culture from Earth, and Robin was a bit of a control freak from time to time, a flaw that he had been getting better at understanding and therefore trying to work on. "Too bad weed isn't legal in all states; luckily it is here", Robin mused silently. Ben was a step ahead; having lit the spliff, they rolled to reward themselves on a job well done. Ben took a toke and then offered it to Robin, who relaxed immediately after taking a puff. They passed it back and forth until just before entering the state of Nevada, stopping only to switch seats with Ben. (Robin taught Ben and Luke how to drive a car), Robin put out and ditched the world's-smallest roach in the desert.

"Back to the grind," Robin thought, though he did love how his lessons constantly pushed him to seek ever greater heights; he once literally jumped the grand-canyon, "jumped" as in using his legs and the Force only, nothing else. That was fun, terrifying, but fun. Once they had returned to the hotel, they swapped out the current license plates on Robin's car with new ones.

He and Ben were running on fumes, and as much as they both wanted to get their work finished, they were both too exhausted and crashed on the floor, too fatigued to reach the hotel beds. Luke had sensed the two young men and alerted Cindy of their status; both parents happily supported their respective kids' weight, while aided by the semi-asleep boys wobbling steps, they managed to get them to bed.

That night, everyone seemed to be in a very deep, peaceful sleep, especially Robin. In light of appearances, Robin was having a strange dream, strange in that those connected to the Force rarely dream, making the ones they do have all the more meaningful. The young man had been having a recurring dream, though vision might be a more accurate term. Each time it happened, the visuals and audio got clearer and sharper. The first time was just a smudge that he knew had been trying to reach out. That night, however, there was a huge difference, as this time he found himself in a place that felt similar to his inner world, where Shadow stood vigil.

Robin knew that, however similar this place felt, it wasn't his inner world. It was a forest clearing, beautiful and tranquil. Birdsong came from everywhere, and you could hear a stream nearby. As far as Robin could see, he was alone. How had he been summoned here? "Hello, Robin." Spoke a deep, warm, disembodied voice, (think James Earl Jones as Mufasa), causing Robin to look for the source of the voice. The voice chuckled with mirth and said, "Down here." Robin looked down and was greeted by the sight of a four-legged creature covered seemingly everywhere with what looked like seamless obsidian, shot through everywhere with silvery-white strips, and a strange symbol on its chest. "It looked a little like a crown," Robin thought. Its only uncovered parts were its eyes and mouth.

Even before meeting the Skywalkers and connecting to the Force, Robin was always open-minded and easygoing. Under Luke's tutelage, his open-minded nature had grown and was growing still. The vision he was experiencing, or whatever it was, was pretty tame compared with some of Luke's told experiences. (Luke occasionally told stories of his adventures when he'd been younger). "You summoned me here?" He politely asked the being before him. "Yes Robin, I apologize for the abruptness, but might I say how joyous I am that we can finally talk! It's been so long; I've dreamt of this moment where I can finally reach out to you." Robin was shocked by this revelation.

"But this is only my first dream with you in it; clearly anyway, it was always blurry before. So why have I only heard from you recently if you've been trying to contact me for such a long time?" Robin asked, slightly confused. The quadruped sighed before attempting to answer the young man before him: "Robin, you live on a planet that harbours people who are as good as disconnected from the Force. Your connection was blocked since infancy for reasons unknown, and you've only just reestablished a connection. I could only call on you like this because of your newfound connection to the Force, but it's tenuous, so my time to talk with you is limited. My energy is great, though I'm bound to only use it under certain circumstances, such as contacting you tonight, and I thought it disrespectful to you, my king, (FYI this is a recurring title used to address Robin mostly in mindscapes. Why? Keep reading to find out! I know, evil, right? hehe,) to break into your greatest sanctum (the mind and soul). Not that I would have even if I could, except in emergencies, as I am loyal to you. Regretfully, I can't tell you everything you want to know. However, at least now you understand me, just like Dr. Dolittle." The canine-like creature said with merriment dancing in his eyes, an expression Robin's seen many times on… "Einstein! Is that you?!" Robin asked incredulously.

"Yes, it's me. This form is but one of three I can take. You know Einstein, the dog, Einstein, your brother. This is my Guardian form. My job is much like Shadow's; you could even call us colleagues of a sort. While Shadow guards you against spiritual attack, I'm tasked with protecting your body, and of course, we can both feed you power should yours ever become inaccessible or inadequate. We're going to run out of time, so let me tell you something you must remember: Your destiny, and the answers you will invariably seek lie with Luke Skywalker and the Jedi Order. I'll use the Force to help you convince Mom too, though she's perceptive, so I doubt you or I need to do much to convince her; she knows on some level that we must go with them." With these parting words, Einstein barked, and Robin awoke, his resolve greater than ever, and certain unanswered questions had been clarified.

Now Robin had an objective after they fixed up the Jade Shadow. "Things keep getting weird," Robin thought, hearing Shadow snicker lightly at the same moment Einstein sneezed, which caused Robin to smile despite his sleep deprivation. "I'm enjoying the weird," he thought with a final light chuckle as he drifted back to sleep; this time it was blissfully dreamless.

It took Ben a mere three days to sort through the millions of terabytes from the NASA heist. A couple of days later, Ben found what they'd been looking for: the schematics for a working Matter Fabricator; capable of making the material they'd need for repairing the Shadow. Ben also found what appeared to be a very old journal he'd snagged when at NASA while Robin had dealt with the officers; his Jedi reflexes were faster than the camera. (Ben was using the digital copy to preserve the integrity of the original, which was now where it belonged). The journal belonged to what appeared to be a Jedi. The owner of the journal had exhibited strange and amazing powers, and the man had been armed with a lightsaber. Out of idle curiosity, Ben compared the genetics in the file to both Robin and Cindy. Enough markers indicated that the crash victim was indeed a forebearer of the Stace bloodline. Once they got back to the Academy, he would look up how far back the Stace family tree went and how connected they were to the Order.

Ben had watched Robin closely over the last five days. He had sensed conflict in Robin, so he broached the subject and asked him if he could help somehow. Robin simply smiled a quick but genuine smile, telling Ben he appreciated the offer of help, but just needed to think a little about whatever it was that was bothering him. The next day after training, Ben saw Robin speaking with his mom, who looked pensive before nodding at Robin with a smile. He'd also seen Robin look at Einstein with a funny look, like the dog would talk or provide some unknown wisdom, (if only Ben knew).

Ben wondered what was going on. Even Luke was curious about the young man's new, more thoughtful side. While nobody could call Robin loud, he was never quite this quiet. He'd been thinking deeply, borderline brooding over weighty thoughts and feelings. When Ben realized how close he and his father were to having the Shadow repaired, he understood, at least in part, why Robin and Cindy had been acting differently; they were considering whether to come on this journey and leave Earth behind. "That's some heavy thinking," Ben thought. "They'll be ok though," he smiled; he wondered if he could get his father to procrastinate a little more and buy some time for the Staces.

The next day found Robin and Cindy back to their usual selves. Robin's usual training fervour had returned, and both he and his mother smiled more, and Robin had stopped acting like he was bipolar. This was the Robin Ben and his father had come to know. "Have they come to a decision?" Ben wondered with a little anxiety. When Ben and his father returned to continue repairing the ship, Robin tagged along. As though sensing the silent question, Robin said, "I want to learn about all this stuff if you don't mind teaching. Ships, repairs, modifications, it is so amazing!" After a few hours of learning the basics of alien technology with Ben's help. (Ben helped make the Impala electric without reducing performance; it could even hover. Ben called it a 'retro-fitted speeder', a gift to the man who helped him and his father).

A few days later, while helping the Skywalkers apply the final touches to the now-repaired Shadow, Robin surprised Luke during a comfortable silence that had engulfed the three. "My mum and I talked it over, and we could make arrangements so that we could leave with you, and not worry about anything back here. So what do you think? Can we come with you? I feel the pull of destiny… and feel that I would do well in the Jedi Order. No rush; think and talk it over." Robin finished nervously, choosing to leave as he suddenly felt strangely awkward.

Robin had barely turned to face the hatch when he heard Luke speak in a low, serious tone. "Are you sure? Joining the Jedi Order isn't a job or a hobby. It's a calling. It's a lifestyle." Luke met the young man's eyes and saw great resolve burning within; then Robin replied, his tone resolute with conviction. " As I said, destiny calls me to you and the Order. Perhaps the two are one." Kneeling before Luke in respect with his head bowed, there was no denying as an objective observer that he looked good; knightly, humble, and yet more charismatic and intelligent than most, (not that Robin saw himself as such. Oblivious dummy).

Such qualities reminded Ben of his genealogical project on the Stace family and its interesting history; he had previously been lamenting that it would be incomplete as he and Luke had only partial access to the Jedi Archives information, but if the mother and son were coming, it changed the circumstances considerably for the better, for it was no longer going to be a parting. Ben also wanted to present a complete workup of Cindy and Robin's family tree, with just a little emphasis on those who were Force-sensitive. "Such answers must surely reside in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant; the capital of the Galactic Alliance." Ben thought excitedly.

After a brief moment, Luke spoke: "Rise, as my equal, as we are all equal in the eyes of the Force. Were we at the Academy back home, you would most likely be granted the title Child of the Force, a title bestowed on those with incredibly great potential and raw power. Know this: If such a title were conferred upon you, you should know about the title and its checkered past. My father was the last to bear that particular title, he was a great man and did many good things for many people. A hero, and champion for justice." Luke smiled sadly. "Then he fell and became a shell of his true self, bearing the moniker Darth Vader destroyer of the old Jedi Order. If you join the Order many will see you as we do, natural Jedi material. Many may also see you as a potential threat, like my father. Still, others might see you as a tool for their selfish designs. You joining the Order would, to a lesser extent, affect your mother as well. You will be seen and watched by many, with many different motivations to look your way. My father was subject to great scrutiny, and this was a part of his fall to the Dark Side. I will only take you if you swear to never let others' opinions, good or bad, lure you down the wrong path".

Luke's face held a serious expression Robin hadn't seen before, though it had a touch more gentleness as he continued, "I will protect you as much as I can; nevertheless, my reach only goes so far. I can't overrule the Jedi Council, for example, though I can vouch for you or argue a case for you until you better understand Jedi politics. I'll sponsor you both until you get strong and savvy enough to stand on your own. Understood?" Luke held out his hand. "Only shake my hand if you and your mum are sure you want to come with us, and if you swear to stay true to yourself." Robin turned to smile at his mother, followed by Einstein, who'd just boarded. The woman and dog had been approaching the Jade Shadow at a comfortable pace for the last twenty minutes. Robin turned back to Luke and said, with a smile, "I swear to stay true to myself and the Will of the Force.'' Shaking Luke's hand while simultaneously using the Force to help load their luggage. "Welcome to the Order, my now-official Apprentice. You'll be a Padawan in no time!" Luke said, grinning happily. Shadow and Einstein both whooped and cheered for him. The duo went on to explain the ranking system of the Jedi. To be a Padawan was the rank given to students under the personal guidance of a Master, and was the equivalent of being a Journeyman, which is higher than an Apprentice. They strapped in and, a moment later, blasted off with now-updated star charts and a newly fixed engine. The ship was bound for Coruscant, and for the Skywalkers, that meant home. (Coruscant is the Capital of the majority of the galaxy, nestled at the centre of the Core Worlds. It was home to the Jedi Order's main Temple and the Galactic Senate. More to come!)

Meanwhile… somewhere among the Core Worlds, (the planetary systems that were generally protected from crime. Think similarly to gated communities.) Grand Lord Vol of the Sith awoke slick with sweat, momentarily terror-stricken to his core. He had thought himself cured of such weaknesses long ago. The Force trembled, and he could tell the game of power had changed drastically. Whatever the cause was, it made Vol remember fear. The last time he felt fear was when he fought and ran from a Jedi Paladin, a rank created especially for those blessed both physically and with high Force Power levels and great intelligence. Little concrete information had existed when it came to Paladins; mostly rumours and speculation, the odd story if you were lucky. They were said to be related to The Founders of the Order itself, before the ideological shift that caused the split between Jedi and Sith. Still, others whispered that they had the full power of the Force, light and dark sides, both; and true or not, they were terrors on the battlefield.

That had been several lifetimes ago. Now it felt as fresh as the first and only time Grand Lord Vol had engaged such a foe. Vol had survived by running and hiding from the Paladins that day, and it seemed his terror did too. For a long time, he fueled his growth with fear at the core, with his hatred of his fear spurring him on. He had vowed to become more powerful than his Master, stronger than them all, and to destroy anything that hindered him in his quest for ever greater power. It was the Sith way.

Then one day the Paladins were gone, vanished; said to have gone to the edge of the galaxy into uncharted space. On that day, hearing that news, he thought his terror had died. He had thought himself the strongest for thousands of years, staying alive through ancient and forbidden Sith teachings. Until tonight, when he felt the Force itself tremble, and his fear returned greater than he had felt it before. After thousands of years, were the Paladins making a resurgence? Vol hoped not, and once again, his fear became fuel for his hate and strength. Whatever this new power was, he would have it as his own, turn it to his self-interested ends, or destroy it. Vol found himself smiling as he returned to his chambers, confident once again that no matter what, he'd always come out on top.

"One way or another, I will not be denied!" Vol thought with a dark chuckle and an evil smirk. Skywalker was gone to places unknown; the Jedi were without their vaunted Grandmaster. Soon he would make his move, and the Sith would rule once more, with him leading the way.

Chapter 5

Cabin Fever

Twelve weeks, that's not very long, right? Only three months, roughly. But three months of training, studying, and meditating is a different story, especially with Luke as your Master. Robin was amazed and exhausted at how much Luke had changed his approach. He was far more intense than he'd been back on Earth. Ben quickly swore he would never complain about his study sessions again; after all, he had it easy compared with his sibling disciple. This perspective was a side effect that Luke was in no hurry to discontinue.

Robin was an exemplary apprentice, often spending his "off" days working with Ben or on his own in an effort to understand his very high-level lessons. While Luke hadn't been directly teaching Robin much, he had helped him fine-tune his control of the Force; no wasted energy meant more energy was available for later, when demanded, and that's always ideal.

When Robin meditated, he sparred with Shadow or spent time perfecting techniques. He used his imagination and understanding of the Force to find greater secrets that were normally reserved for more experienced members of the Jedi Order. (Robin's Inner World was a great boon in his endeavour to learn and grow, as time flows differently there, allowing him to study more). Luke wasn't aware of Robin's inner realm and found himself having to adjust to the young man's rapid growth and development, and it was more than just learning incredible powers. It was also the great and vast comprehension of philosophies and beliefs he'd yet to even teach Robin. Luke knew his student had not told him everything when it came to his meteoric rise, but he'd let Robin come to him rather than pry. Luke had faith that the young man would tell him his secrets in his own time.

This often left Luke little choice other than to provide "free time" to Robin, who initially didn't like it as he had nothing new to learn. He'd grow restless, and it made Robin's cabin fever even worse for everybody else around him. (Imagine three months aboard a luxury RV; as nice as it sounds, you'd grow tired of it.) Robin's saving grace, (as well as everyone else's,) came in the form of an asteroid capable of sustaining an atmosphere, with a little help from the Skywalker duo's many interesting devices.

They finally had a place to stretch their muscles and get a different view than the Jade Shadow's walls, (bulkheads? I don't know, google it,) the view mostly being the incredible show of stars streaking by when going at lightspeed. Robin's claustrophobia didn't hit often, but when it did, it hit Robin hard. They had to travel in little jumps since it was uncharted space, and the Hyperdrive was functional but still a little wonky. The other thing that stopped Robin from going crazy was the simulation room, which could not be used while travelling for safety concerns. The sims were diverse and ranged in topics from etiquette and political protocols to grand military battles where you played the role of general, but the sim he loved most was the piloting sims. He'd forgotten how it felt to fly; it had been so long since his stint in the Air-force that piloting an X-Wing or Tie fighter wasn't that different from an Earth fighter plane. They were a welcome means of destressing. He had survived the confinement of the ship; his claustrophobia wasn't likely to rear its ugly head again. Once he had his freak out pass and reminded himself he wasn't trapped, it rarely recurred unless he was in a place with a negative history for him.

It took some time, but Robin had attained the tenth spot in the high score. The initials for the top were SOJ. Robin wondered who they were and how they got such a score, given the difficulty of the simulation. "If I ever figure it out, I'll have to find them to ask for some tips." He thought as he headed to another training session, only to learn Luke had decided they all needed to unwind and had since cancelled any scheduled training for the remainder of the day and the next twenty-four hours. Robin decided to go nap and hang out with Einstein, his mind still on the mystery person with the godly score. "Maybe they're at the Jedi Academy?" Robin thought groggily as he crashed fully clothed into his bed.

Ben was sleeping very soundly and deeply, as exhausted as he'd ever been. Jedi rarely dream, so it wouldn't take too much effort for Luke to gently wake his slumbering son. He knew everyone was tired beyond the pale; cabin fever could have that effect on people. He was conflicted; he knew that his son well enough to know he'd want in on the most recent development, but as a parent, he had to protect his son from himself sometimes. "Don't hold this against me too much," Luke thought as he tucked Ben in and left him to much-needed sleep while he headed back to the ship's holo-comm (communication devices that allow holographic video calls).

Eventually, after approximately three months in space, the team were in communication range with the Jedi Academy on Coruscant. More to the point, they could finally talk with their family and friends. It was Luke's sister Leia who had picked up their encrypted comm signal. She was currently waiting for her brother and nephew, though it had been so long she didn't mind the wait as it gave her time to compose herself; they'd been missed by everyone, and Luke had much he needed to catch up on, especially given his position as Grandmaster of the Order.

Those in the know about Luke and Ben's absence would no doubt be glad to know of their upcoming return. The question on most people's minds would likely be along the lines of "what happened?" or "were you successful out in the Unknown Sectors?" Leia didn't envy her brother's responsibilities. As much as Leia and their friends wanted to know what Luke and Ben had been through, she knew most subjects would be better discussed in-person, seeing as even the most secure transmission frequencies could be broken into and Luke's foray into the unknown was a dangerous and sensitive topic.

"The council would just have to wait a little longer", Leia thought as a hologram of Luke appeared on her end of the holo call, (it had been audio only when she'd picked it up earlier, in case you were wondering). "Right now I just want to catch up with my brother," she thought. "Sorry Leia, Ben's exhausted, so I didn't wake him," Luke said with a smile and a tired shrug. "That's ok, let him sleep. You must be damn tired too." Leia replied, matching her twin brother's smile with one of her own. "So how are things going?" She asked, knowing Luke would understand the question was of a personal nature rather than just the mission her brother and nephew were currently on, only now just reaching the end of their long journey. "We had ship trouble, but some very kind, extraordinary people helped us repair it," Luke said with an even brighter smile. "As for the other thing, let's just say we found potential game-changers. Suffice it to say, I can't go into details on such an important, sensitive subject. We'll be home soon; you can tell the Council, it should placate the more anxious members. I take it that Corran is currently interim-Grandmaster?" Luke asked with a knowing look. Leia just rolled her eyes at her seemingly omniscient brother's antics. She knew that her brother was very skilled at planning several moves ahead, giving the illusion of being all-knowing.

Luke knew the entire Jedi Council, and Jedi Master Corran Horn was best suited to the position. This was a fact that Corran, one of Luke's first students, hated. Luke had made arrangements to reduce internal conflicts just prior to him and Ben's departure, but Luke suspected it hadn't been as successful as he had hoped. "Sorry Leia, I gotta go. I'm exhausted beyond belief. See you and everyone else in a few more days." Luke said while he covered a yawn with his hand. "Sure thing, Luke. Han and Jaina (pronounced Jhey-Na) send their love," she replied before switching off the communicator. Leah briefly pondered what her brother had found before heading back to sleep; she'd need it to deal with the more difficult people on the Jedi Council, so she needed her rest more than ever.

The night skies of Coruscant were almost empty, a rarity given the traffic volume in this sector. In point of fact, the skies had been near-empty until a lone ship arrived. Now, the skies of Coruscant wouldn't normally be so tranquil and quiet, if not for the lateness of the hour. The spell was broken by the night-imperceptible hum of a single ship. The name of the ship, a ship known throughout the galaxy almost as well as the Millennium Falcon, was The Jade Shadow. Luke and Ben Skywalker were at the controls. Luke Skywalker, Grandmaster of the Jedi Order, had finally returned to his home.

The Shadow was expertly piloted around sensors designed to read traffic and ship specifications. Luke was not so jaded as to believe the Council was harbouring enemies, but it had happened before. "Learn from the past, or be destroyed by it," he thought to himself as he descended. He wanted a little control over how Cindy and Robin would be introduced to the Council, plus the fewer who knew of their arrival, the better. Luke would say his piece and explain the situation; he hoped that the Council would agree with allowing the visitors asylum as members of the Order should they desire it. (Robin did; Cindy was still a little overwhelmed to say at the moment, in case you were curious). Luke piloted the Shadow to his personal hangar just below the tallest tower of the main Jedi Academy.

Only a select few knew of this hangar, and therefore only the members of Luke's inner circle would know to meet there. He knew most on the council would likely see the same things he did. He had taught quite a few members when they had joined the Jedi, or they were close friends who supported Luke's views, while others would either stay neutral or oppose his recommendations. He had to schmooze the neutral party to his cause; this couldn't be left to chance. Luke knew that, on some fundamental level, the Stace family would prove as assets to the Force. He wasn't a fan of pulling rank, but he would if the situation turned against him; as Grandmaster, he could technically overrule a council decision if he felt it would benefit the Order and/or the Will of the Force, (barring other things like a vote of no confidence or an issue with a conflict of interests, but that's boring).

The passenger doors opened with a hiss, followed by unfolding landing ramps. Luke nodded to his son and new friends, indicating that they should follow. He smiled, "so, that's who came to greet us," he thought happily. "The Force is with us," he thought, glancing at Robin, his new apprentice. "Then again, maybe The Force is with the boy and his family," he silently mused. Once he saw the assembled group of family and friends, he stopped thinking so deeply and just allowed himself to feel at home; he could sense that Ben was already doing just that.

After quick introductions, hugs, and other niceties, Luke cleared his throat to get the attention of the assembled welcoming committee. "It's wonderful to be back, but for now, let's dispense with the pleasantries and get to business. I'm calling a meeting with the council.'' There were many sighs of relief, Corran's being the loudest and most tired. "That's good since most of the council want answers." Master Corran Horn replied with a quick grin. He was relieved that his friend, ally, and former Master had returned and was ready to take back the reins, as were his other former students and friends: Masters Sabba Sabatyne, Kyp Durron, and of course Leia, Han and their daughter Jaina Solo. Luke and Ben were in the limelight, while Robin and Cindy were happy to be on the sidelines so they could compose themselves. Naturally, the rank-and-file Jedi loved Luke; it could sometimes even be classified as reverence, something Luke never wanted or liked; he wasn't a god after all. Smiling with the confidence only gained from unconditional support, Luke marched to the Grand Council chambers, the others following suit.

Jedi Council, Grand Council chamber

Two hours following Luke's report to the council detailing the events on Earth (Luke was asked many questions by the Council; all were along similar lines of thought, so we're skipping ahead as it wasn't central to the story and is boring as hell) and request for a vote on whether to grant the Stace's asylum and citizenship under the aegis of the Jedi Order, Luke would endorse the guests and act as patron for them, citing that as the only truly Force-sensitive beings from their homeworld, it was the responsibility of the Jedi to teach of the Force, and champion knowledge not ignorance. This was why he taught Robin and took him as his Apprentice; as well as offering to teach Cindy should she wish to learn.

Now the council members were discussing and debating quite thoroughly among each other on the matter, the council returned with words of their own, carrying significant weight. You could feel it in the air, amazingly; the atmosphere was thick with anticipation, though not fear, from the Staces. A voice called down to them; its source, unknown, as the council members had their features shrouded. The council had such an unfortunate love for theatrics, Luke and Ben both mused trying hard not to chuckle or roll their eyes.

The Voice from Nowhere, which was leading the council (Luke had Corran Horn as the technical interim-Grandmaster but left the stuff Corran hated doing as Grandmaster to others.) until Luke could return to his usual position as Grandmaster, said but one thing: "Before a decision may be made, we agreed we should speak with the Stace's first, ask questions, possibly test you if either of you might seek to join our ranks. Speak only truths to us, even if they're ugly. Especially if they're ugly." Another voice called out, "Activate the Rune of Truth and Honesty if anyone senses deception from our guests, especially from the boy. He's strong in the Force for an apprentice of a few months. It will force any liar to speak only with honesty." "Seems fair!" Called another disembodied voice. The first voice returned: "Why did you choose to leave everything behind? To join the Order? We're strangers, yet you helped return Luke and Ben to us, and at great personal risk, including potential injury or death."

Robin sensed Luke's friends who he met earlier, (Masters Horn, Sabatyne, and Durron, for those who need a reminder.) They felt happy or approving; the vote had started with three people out of a total of eleven, (Luke was not included as it presented a conflict), now it felt like six of the council members were supporting Luke's request to be the patron for the Stace family, as well as endorsing either or both if they joined the Jedi Order. Luke knew that the majority rules and felt happily secure in the knowledge that as long as Robin and Cindy didn't bungle things incredibly horribly, he wouldn't be forced to pull rank. He was the Grandmaster, but disliked waving that particular stick around. Additionally, he didn't want positive or negative influences to meddle in Robin's schooling, as it had for Ben.

"We, the Stace's, swear to speak only truth, oh, venerable Council," Robin said, stepping forward into the spotlight, Cindy appeared to want Robin to speak for the both of them. "He's got most of what it takes for the leadership of others; all that he lacks is experience; perhaps Cindy is grooming him, just as I groom Ben," Luke mused silently as he watched his newest student stand confidently before the Council.

"With the utmost respect, I can answer all of your questions with a few of my own: Why shouldn't I help others, even unto the point of injury or even death? I realize many out there might view me as crazy; after all, many strangers can be dangerous. But isn't that what instincts and faith are for, be it faith in yourself and your skills or faith in another? Who said we left everything behind? We can and will return home one day; of that, I'm certain. As for why we left? Destiny perhaps? Something I believe you refer to as "The Will of The Force", correct? It all boils down to us being big on family, whether related by blood or by spirit, it doesn't matter; Master Luke and Ben became our family. We always look out for our family. If you let us, you could be our family too; the choice is yours, oh great and wise, Jedi council."

The young man had stirred many hearts and minds in his time back on Earth, even if he hadn't known his impact. Though the council was where the important minds currently needed swaying, and judging by the irritated and slightly angry murmuring among those in opposition to the Stace's, many council members had become swayed by the young man's idealism and eloquence. It was refreshing, after so many years of loss and pain, to be reminded of the original mission of the Jedi, and a touch humbling too. "I must apologize for overusing the word "family." Normally I'm proud of and quite good with my diction, but I was rather nervous." Robin smiled when his little joke provided a much-needed break in tension between the council members; he even got a chuckle or two.

The Force provided Robin with a chance to help the council avoid conflict by reminding them of what they stood for, rewarding him with more supporters, including, to his surprise, a former opposing member. He played those five minutes beautifully, Luke observed while marvelling at the young man's skill at turning enemies into allies, and he clearly wasn't the only one interested in his new student's wide array of talents. "Thank you, Mr. Stace. We shall now vote on granting citizenship to the Stace's under the Aegis of the Jedi Order, and their endorsement by Luke Skywalker should either seek to join us." said a new disembodied voice, one with undercurrents of approval and kindness directed towards the Skywalkers and the Staces.

"What about testing me?" Robin asked, mildly curious. Someone among the Council responded. "We already have tested you, though it might be more accurate to say we tested your character and the character of your family. As far as practical aspects, combat proficiency, Force-use, and the like, we have faith that Master Luke would not train someone who lacked or was found wanting in the necessary areas, and we trust his judgement." Robin smiled, hoping he wouldn't have to put on a demo, at least not right away; he wanted to rest so he could impress the council with his abilities, such as they were. He suspected holding back a little would be smart; however, it's always good to have an ace or two up your sleeve, and the last thing he needed was to intimidate people who, in all likelihood, would be his superiors. The council took a quick vote, returning with their verdict.

"You are dismissed from the stand, let us welcome you to the Galactic Alliance, Stace family, and welcome to the Jedi Order. Apprentice Robin Stace, you'll be living alongside your fellow sibling-disciple Ben Skywalker with Master Skywalker.. behave you two. Ms. Stace, you'll be staying with Luke's sister Leia, she insisted..." The voice continued, though for Robin, it was as though reality had been muted. He had lived with his mum forever; his rational side knew they'd eventually part company; after all, every bird must leave the nest; eventually, he'd even talked with her about it before they'd left Earth. But knowing things and experiencing them are different beasts, and Robin's emotional side was shocked by their new situation.

Robin felt better as he reminded himself that he could contact her and they could visit each other whenever they wanted. He also thought his mum deserved some autonomy from him and the freedom to do things for herself. She had given so much of herself to being "mum" that she'd yet to figure out who she was as "Cindy". It also explained her inability to commit to the Order at the moment and how readily she'd allowed him to speak for them both. After a moment or two, things were no longer muted, his shock replaced by a slightly resigned acceptance. One of the council members spoke two words: "Meeting adjourned".

As he saw the Skywalkers' approach wearing bright smiles, Robin started to try to look forward to the experience; he'd never had a roommate, so he was glad it would be Ben. As the troupe exited the council chambers, exuberant at their win, Luke suggested getting settled in their new homes and a quick tour of the Jedi Academy and grounds the next day, which sounded good to the newcomers. Luke mentioned they were at the Main branch, where prospective Force-users from across the Galaxy join the Order and come for testing to determine what they knew about The Force and about being Jedi. What they understood (knowledge and wisdom are considered separate branches of study), and what they were capable of doing (Physical skills and Force Combat, Diplomacy, and hostage negotiations, to name a few). Luke told Robin he'd likely be up for Jedi placement tests in a day or two; Robin just smiled at the prospect and hugged his mum goodnight.

The next morning, after a deep sleep from all the exhaustion from the day before, Robin awoke to a golden droid and a cute-sounding domed droid. "Oh my! Good morning, Mr. Stace. I am C3-PO and this is my stubbornly over-zealous adventure-seeking counterpart, R2-D2. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." The gold droid C3PO said with what sounded like excitement mixed with politeness and a touch of stuffiness. R2-D2 whistled and chirped excitedly. Robin just groaned. "I'm not a morning person, and these guys are not making things easier," Robin thought.

"Do not worry; we're here simply to remind you that you're at Mistress Leia's home. She's Master Luke's younger twin sister. There was a welcome home celebration for Masters Luke and Ben last night. You met Mistress Leia, remember? Unfortunately, neither Captain Solo nor their daughter were in attendance." the droid explained.

Robin sat up, now awake enough to be aware of his surroundings. The room was furnished with a bed, a lamp, and a small side table. Based on the minimal possessions and lack of unnecessary furnishings, it had to be a guest room.

Robin got up and dressed in the first clothes that he saw, which seemed to have been laid out for him: a robe and cloak. "Jedi garb looks pretty good on me," Robin thought as he glanced at his reflection. "Thank you both for ensuring I didn't panic in an unfamiliar place," Robin said to the two friendly droids. R2-D2 chirped and whistled happily. "What do you mean he's a natural? A natural what?!" Threepio replied. Artoo made a sound that felt like the message: "Really? Wow.". C3-PO sounded like he would have had a headache if it were possible. "Forgive him, sir; he speaks in riddles from time to time. Personally, I think he's seen too much action, taken a few too many shots to his stupid domed head." Artoo made angry sounds, but Threepio kept going, ignoring Artoo's indignation and powered on through. "Master Luke wanted to see you once you awoke. At your convenience, of course. He's waiting in the living room. Since your mother shall be staying here, I took the liberty of starting the unpacking process. Your luggage is at Master Luke's residence. It is close, just ten minutes away by speeder. Twenty if you're walking. Master Luke will fill you in on the rest."

C3-PO politely guided Robin to the living room, where Luke sat with something that smelled suspiciously like coffee. Luke noticed Robin's entrance and poured the young man a cup, smiling all the while. The two men enjoyed their Caf, (it's the same thing as coffee, it just has a different name here than on earth.) The two had grown closer as Master and Apprentice over the months aboard the Jade Shadow. Their Force connection grew stronger as a result; it took awhile, but they'd grown to enjoy time together, such moments of quiet tranquillity and peace.

Eventually, Luke broke the silence. "We have to go for your Physical with Jedi Healer, Jedi Master Cighal, a Mon Calamari. She's what you might think of as a 'fish-person' and the best doctor the Order has." Robin understood Luke's intention and had long since had Shadow and Einstein teach him the various races that populated The Galaxy. As such, he felt that informing Luke that he knew about the 'fish-people' was a good idea. "I already know and I'm prepared; I doubt I'll be too shocked," Robin told Luke with a small smile. Luke was shocked for a moment before continuing. "And then, afterwards, the council will test you. Don't worry, though; even non-Force-sensitives can tell you're meant for this. Each test is unique, and its form is up to the respective Master, who also acts as a proctor, as well as the individual being tested. We must go now." Luke said as he calmly placed his and Robin's empty mugs in the sink, then walked out to the speeder, Robin following in his wake.

After meeting the kind and patient Mon Cal Jedi Master and healer, (who gave him a clean bill of health), it wasn't far for Luke and Robin to walk to the Council chambers where the Jedi trials for initiates would take place. Luke had already briefed the council on Robin's staggeringly fast growth in skill, power, knowledge, and wisdom, requesting that they treat it as a hybrid initiate trial and placement test as well as warning them not to take it easy on his new Apprentice; Naturally many council members were taken aback, shocked and inquisitive of the young man who'd earned such a lofty compliment from The Grandmaster of the whole Order, and the Jedi Council attempted to adjust accordingly.

As far as the Trial of Loyalty went, Luke knew Robin was loyal; he'd long since passed that trial. Luke also knew Robin would pass the other trials as well. Luke explained that his position in the order was important, (though he never said that he was the Grandmaster,) and how these trials were mostly a courtesy to the council. He also explained that Robin would likely be placed in very advanced classes, perhaps even an expert class. "Don't let your guard down," Luke had said in the direction of his student, though the recommendation was more for the sake of the council members.

Luke took a seat as the combat portion began, joined by Ben at three quarters into the physical combat part. Robin, who was armed only with a stunsaber, utterly destroyed the combat droids in what had to be one of the shortest times on record. He didn't use the Force except to enhance his speed and strength, (he destroyed the droids by overloading their circuitry by moving and striking faster than the droids could handle); despite that, they had been programmed to fight like some of the strongest Jedi and Sith in the Jedi databases. (Luke had tweaked them himself; originally, he found that they'd been too easy to defeat). To say that Master Sabatyne, the Order's Battlemaster was flabbergasted was putting it lightly, but in the end, everyone knew that Robin had won the respect of not only Master Sabatyne but other council members too.

When in the second combat portion, (Force combat), Robin used the Force to defeat more droids while armed only with the Force. Robin conjured fires and caused explosions by manipulating the flow of oxygen and hydrogen, (it pays to study, especially physics). Somehow the young man knew, understood, and could use a Jedi-variant for some abilities that were considered impossible without the Dark Side.

Robin continued to impress everyone when he broke Master Horn's illusion. This was no easy feat, as illusions were Master Horn's specialty, but Robin had replaced the powerful illusion with one of his own. He later remarked that the image projected onto Master Horn was not Robin's to divulge. Master Horn wouldn't tell anyone what it had been that he'd seen; it had been too intense and personal, though Luke surmised that it had to do with his family in some capacity. "Corran doesn't break very easily, after all." Luke mused as he and Ben watched Robin's performance.

While Robin may have made the combat look easy, it was far from it. Luke knew that Robin had taken hits, and struggled, and suffered physically while fighting the droids. His explosive use of the Force had to be draining both physically as well as mentally. (Master Horn's skill and power in illusions were so great that he'd always make very strong, intricate illusions that were incredibly difficult to break for even some Masters). Robin had come to fully understand and thereby master a fundamental truth all Jedi know but don't always remember: it doesn't have to be easy to be simple. Keep it simple, and it becomes easier to do the seemingly impossible, like lifting an X-wing. Luke smiled at the thought that carried him to the memories of his own fledgling days under the tutelage of Yoda and Obi-Wan.

Luke composed himself. Now comes the trial of wisdom, the hardest trial and the most important, no matter who you are. Robin would be no exception. This was a trial by fire few faced without coming out… changed, and not always for the better. Wisdom usually elevates, but sometimes wisdom acts like an anchor pulling towards the dark unknown. During the other trials, Luke had an idea of what to expect, but not with this trial; it would be unique to Robin as it was to all who underwent it. Luke saw Robin meditating and could feel his fear spike from way up in the stands. Luke glimpsed Ben's expression and felt that he could sense it too. Luke was glad that his new student had a hold on his fear, at least. Luke had a feeling that he knew why his new student was suffering such fear; he could hazard a guess as these trials held a common theme, but he knew that there was nothing he could do to help Robin at this moment; this was on him. Luke could no more interfere with Robin than Obi-Wan could for Luke back in the day.

Without any warning, the lights went out, and at that moment, a figure stepped out from the shadows, lithe, agile, and masked. Intimidation radiated off of the figure in waves, but most concerning was the blood-red lightsaber it held at a relaxed guard, seeming to wait for its prey to acknowledge its presence.

Finally, Robin stood calmly and without haste, as he drew a Lightsaber which was standard for the trial of wisdom. The dark figure spoke, and Robin was surprised that the voice was feminine, though he should have guessed based on her build and body language. "Get this now, youngling; if you aren't serious, I'll cut you down. Don't bother calling for help either, because to the proctor, Luke, and the entire council, you appear to simply be meditating. Even if someone knew what was going on, this is a solo act, kid." "If not for the "I-want-to-kill you" vibe, the voice was quite lovely", Robin thought idly as he and his opposite sized each other up.

"Don't doubt yourself; remember, the Force is with you!" Einstein said telepathically, reminding Robin that he wasn't alone. Robin replied with a telepathic smile of gratitude; his fear was less turbulent now and easier to control. Moments before,when he'd been meditating with his eyes closed, Robin had been aware of his surroundings; the council chambers had been bright. When he reopened his eyes, darkness emerged, and the darkness resolved into what looked like a Library of some considerable size; however, one thing remained the same. The woman shrouded in darkness and malice, with the crimson saber pointing at his heart, had not moved a step, electing to change her guard to a more offensive stance. The Force told Robin that he was in a place not unlike his mindscape, but his danger-sense was also firmly telling him to be careful.

"And so your final trial begins… initiate," the woman almost purred, seemingly aroused by the prospect of whatever fresh hell Robin would no doubt have visited upon him at any moment; and with that, she charged him, easily forcing him on the defensive. "Damn, easy really isn't the way of the Jedi," he thought, blocking, dodging, or parrying ludicrously strong blows. "Why are you only playing defence, kid? You gotta attack to win! I sense your fear, little one!" she shrieked as she continued her assault; Robin kept pace, though barely.

"If you really sense my fear, you know it's under control and won't rule my head this day. As for why I won't attack, it's simple: I have no quarrel with you, nor you with me… I'm too new to have an enemy yet!" Robin back-flipped to gain distance while simultaneously deactivating his borrowed cyan lightsaber and trying to hide his presence in the Force, (Shadow taught him many things; others were instinctive); using the shelves as cover and for a better vantage point.

"I can tell, you like to fight, with body and mind at least. I thought your spirit did too, but you appear to be a coward unworthy of the Dark Side… the true Force," she called out. His anger bubbled very briefly from the attack against his warrior pride before he brought it to heel, reminding himself that letting himself be provoked would give up his advantage and play into her hands.

A defeated, broken Robin would be useless in protecting the others, especially his mother, though Einstein would die first before letting their mother be hurt. "Your thoughts betray you. If you will not fight to prove me otherwise, prove yourself worthy of the power of the Dark Side; I shall simply kill you then, Luke, and in turn your… mother. So your mother is also Force-sensitive? While lacking your raw power, a distraught mother is far easier to turn; just think of how much she'll hate me! She'll turn to the darkness for power, if only to destroy lil' old me!" The mystery psychotic woman laughed maniacally, then something happened, perhaps he was pushed too far? Why matters not, just that it happened. Robin's mysterious assailant felt him lose it; his controlled fear and simmering fury splashed against her Force presence, and she screamed; a strange combination of elation and pain.

But then the metaphysical storm abated, and Robin was in perfect control of both his light and dark sides. A heartbeat later, he laughed while fighting someone who was much more skilled and experienced, yet he held his own and made steady progress against her defences. "Clearly, you don't know my mother, or what motivates me," he said with a touch of contempt. She tried to escape only to find his lightsaber a hair's breadth from her heart, with Robin somehow having covered the distance in the blink of an eye, disarming his shocked foe once he was inside her guard and much harder to hit. Shortly after disarming her, he destroyed her lightsaber by crushing it with the Force, and deactivated his own. His opponent was no longer a threat that warranted it; darkness would not rule him, but he would accept the extra strength if necessitated; it was his darkness after all.

The mystery woman chuckled, her dark form melting away and dissipating to nothing; her parting words were surprisingly kind, holding tones of approval, and previously hidden warmth: "Now that you have made peace with your darkness, the only real way to conquer it is to accept it and control it, as it is a piece of you as much as the Light. Too much of either light or darkness is equally blinding. To see requires both. You have done very well and begun your journey to prove your worth, oh King; but remember… you must have constant vigilance. The temptations of the Dark Side are many and varied; this is but your first step to your true self. Now you're one step closer to your birthright and destiny. I have served my purpose; now, here is yours: Rebuild the Jedi Clan." Her request, strange as it was, resonated with Robin, though he'd seen nothing of the Jedi Clans while studying onboard the Jade Shadow.

Moments later, Robin blinked, and found himself back in the council chambers, sitting in a meditative position. "Looks like she was telling the truth… I haven't moved a muscle". He thought while he decided his legs needed a stretch. "How long have I been like this?" He asked Einstein, who'd been linked through the Force to him since the beginning of the last initiation trial, providing near silent, powerful moral support, (though no answers), claiming he couldn't help with Robin's practices. "An hour and fifteen minutes… I was starting to worry," Einstein replied. "Your presence feels different; what happened?" "I'll tell you later; honestly, I'm not entirely sure what happened," Robin responded to Einstein via Force-link.

Both Einstein and Shadow knew that Robin had taken another step closer to his destiny, a destiny the Galaxy needed fulfilled; the Galaxy just didn't know it yet. Einstein and Shadow wanted to explain everything to Robin but were bound into silence by rules as ancient as time itself, and they succeeded in keeping their emotions masked and in check. It was the unfortunate ugly side to being Robin's Guardian Familiars, (familiar is going to be a recurring term; more information on this later). One day they would speak freely, just not today.

Luke and Ben rushed down the steps of the stands, leaping over their Jedi brethren to Robin; such sights were not uncommon when living the Jedi life. Luke landed first, and Ben landed a moment behind him. Luke gave Robin an appraising and approving look. Robin was definitely different, yet so very much the same, as though whatever changes had been wrought in Robin had been buried or changed back. He had felt the echo of the Dark Side from Robin, but it had disappeared as fast as it had arrived. Instead of prying, Luke and Ben both decided to give Robin a hand. "You're exhausted…the trials are over. I felt you change through the Force. Whatever you went through was for you, and you alone. Let's quickly go get a copy of today's events, for posterity and sentimentality. Then I'll take you to the infirmary and get you looked at. They usually have open beds these days. I'm not taking you back to your mother in this condition." Luke paled as the thought occurred to him." Sithspawn! (Sithspawn is an expletive equivalent to shit or the F-word, depending on context.) I'm not sure who'd kill me first, your mum or my sister." Robin gave Luke a confused look. "Leia likes you; apparently you made a positive impression last night; she said that you are very polite and you got bonus points for helping in the kitchen," Luke explained, waving away Robin's worries. Luke wondered how many allies Robin would acquire when his career as a Jedi officially began. Luke suspected that some individuals at the main branch of the Order would resent Robin for his high placement in lessons and the like, even well deserved as it was.

Luke could intervene, and would; but only to a point and at the right point in time. He had many allies among the Jedi, as well as a fair share of Jedi Masters who thought he was doing things incorrectly, such as letting the Sith deserter stay at the Main Jedi Temple, a sentiment Luke wasn't unsympathetic to as it was home to many Jedi and their family members, but it was also the most secure place they could hold her and keep an eye on her. (The main temple doubled as both dorms and an academy). In addition, because of the political climate the way it was, Luke had to make minimum waves, and as such, his hands were tied by two powers: his own Masters, well intentioned as most were, and the divide in public opinion on the necessity of the Jedi Order.

Luke knew that moving too soon could cause more headaches for Robin than it might cure. "Sometimes, the cure is worse than the poison. There are some things we have to experience and contend with on our own, without help." Luke mused silently. Luke and Ben helped Robin to the infirmary and onto a cot, Robin's legs had grown numb from staying in a meditative pose for as long as he had. "What's next after I get some rest? Will the council be deliberating on my performance?" he asked Luke. "They've most likely already done that. Currently, I suspect that they are drawing up a timetable, deciding who teaches you what and when, in addition to class-level placement, though I think you'll be in advanced or expert-level classes." Luke took a breath before continuing: "You will be a great Jedi, I promise you." Luke said, looking to his son to indicate the praise and promise were intended for both of them. The pair of young men were lost for words, so Luke saved them both the trouble. "You're welcome; you've earned it," he said, smiling warmly.

Robin fell into a deep sleep the moment that his head hit the pillow. His schedule arrived while he slept. Luke took a look at it and grinned. "Hmmm… I wonder what she will think of him, and vice versa. This should prove to be both interesting and entertaining, especially given how close we are to the beginning of the semester." Luke thought with a smile as he placed the flimsi (flimsi means anything paper-thin, or thinner depending on what it was made with; an example would be the physical schematics for a building, blueprints, designs, art, etc.) containing his newly minted Padawan's schedule on the bedside table. "Boy, are they going to be in for a surprise," he chuckled quietly as he left the unconscious Robin.

Two months had passed since the Stace family had moved in with the Skywalkers and Solos and during Cindy's visit to the Temple, Lando Calrissien had offered her a job. She was considering accepting it; she had enough rudimentary knowledge of the Force to handle security detail on a merchant ship. Soon Cindy accepted the job readily enough after a brief chat to clarify the job details; she wasn't ready to commit to anything like the Jedi Order yet. But she could help reduce violence and crime as a security officer while figuring out who she was as an individual. She missed her son, but "absence makes the heart grow fonder," as the saying goes. Robin had adjusted well enough as well, considering his mother was out travelling the galaxy; they were only a Holo call away after all, (unless the comm signal was weak or blocked).

Robin did remarkably well settling into his schedule in quick order. It hadn't been easy, though, which was fitting, as easy is not the Jedi way. He'd had run-ins with resentful peers as well as the odd beating, claiming he was only there because Luke Skywalker was his Master. Robin took some good advice he got from one of his classmates who didn't treat him like a teacher's pet or worse: "Just offer to prove yourself; odds are that they'll back off." Her name was Jaina Solo. She was roughly his age; she bore the Title Sword of the Jedi, and she was Ben's cousin. Robin had seen her briefly when he and his mother arrived with Luke and Ben. The information bomb regarding Jaina's background was initially staggering, but he recovered quickly; he wasn't one to be starstruck for long, no matter her ethereal beauty and noble bearing.

Robin was an exemplary student in most lessons. Being highly blessed by the Force, he had a good, healthy body, a deep Force reservoir, and a keen mind. He was a little bit competitive, very ambitious, and a charismatic individual. Now some instructors liked to point these attributes out, which, (as you can imagine,) didn't help matters with his image as a teacher's pet and prodigy. He was on par with Jaina on most topics and subjects, to the amazement of all, (himself included,) given the vast difference in experience between them; the two shared all of the same classes and so were fast friends, (she even tutored once or twice early on to help him catch up on history, and his habit of sticking his tongue out the corner of his mouth when concentrating had been a subject of amusement and light teasing on Jaina's part).

One day in the spring, Robin and Ben were meeting Jaina for lunch in the Cantina, (the name that Luke and the New Jedi Order had long since given the mess hall.) Robin was cooking dinner for everyone at Luke's that night and was waiting for confirmation if Jaina would be coming or not. His mum was visiting between security gigs too, which he looked forward to immensely. One of the most interesting qualities that Robin enjoyed about Jaina was that she liked libraries. He felt that most people prefer screens for reading over books. It was refreshing. When he asked her why, she claimed that it helped her relax. He understood that, especially given her various troubles, having learned from Ben that she lost both of her brothers in the past few wars. Libraries were places of peace, where the only horrors were written on the pages of books.

Robin had decided pretty quickly that he wanted to sign up for the piloting club since he'd been a pilot back on earth and enjoyed simulations. The duelling club would surely be very handy if he was going to truly live the Jedi way, plus he'd learn new styles and forms from the others and loved growing his repertoire. He'd also grown tired of the beatings from "peers" and figured he had to make up for lost time.

He loved the archives; it was his favourite place at the academy. Packed with more knowledge and wisdom than everything Earth had combined; rows and columns with both books and tablets as well as computers for research, it was tied with the sparring arenas. Robin figured he'd face someone far more experienced than him. Unfortunately, (or fortunately, depending on your point of view,) most, if not everyone, had more experience as Jedi students, like An-Dru, a frankly freaky robotic-like classmate who hated Robin since minute one. Robin didn't understand but suspected it was based on the fact that he was progressing in leaps and bounds, not just in his apprenticeship to Luke. Robin surmised that An-Dru's ego hurt, so he tried to hurt Robin, he couldn't find any other reason. The feeling of animosity quickly became mutual, and they competed in class from time to time, though An-Dru was always the instigator of conflicts.

The archives were where Robin went to compose himself before a class or just get away from everything for a while. The archives were broken up into sections, access granted by rank and position in the order, with the odd exception of those like Jaina, who, while not a Master, had similar access from time to time. It was essentially a futuristic library in the section Robin had access to. Luke had explained how security worked in the Temple and that he knew Robin had perused the available works and was hungry for more, swearing once again that Robin would be a great Jedi and learn much but had to improve his patience. "It's just another Jedi lesson." Luke had explained to his student at the end of the fourth week of classes, (Robin was voracious in his pursuit of knowledge. Pursuing information on the Force awoke his ancestral memories, most of which were not of practical use but still integrated with his mind. This allowed him to know things that he couldn't have otherwise known, via the Force, such as how to best deal with diplomatic situations. By no means did he have the answers, but he had the occasional edge in understanding more archaic, obscure subjects.)

Once Robin's reverie was broken, (Robin was a deep thinker who zoned out from time to time,) he and Ben approached Jaina in the Cantina. As he approached her table,Robin cleared his throat to discreetly indicate his presence without surprising her. Ben had claimed she was normally very good at sensing others through the Force; for some reason, she rarely sensed Robin's presence except when actively looking for his presence, (as opposed to passive, where you just know with little to no effort involved, given practice,) or if he was projecting himself through the Force.

Luke had offered to look into the strange anomaly wherein Jaina struggled in sensing Robin for them, as the three were close and they all wanted to better understand the Force's many facets and secrets, not to mention it was of paramount importance to know where your allies are; they could easily get teamed up for a mission; a right, responsibility, and privilege Robin had yet to experience.

Robin and his friends made small talk, mostly about how insufferable An-Dru and his cronies were, a topic that eventually ran dry, though it lasted long enough for the three of them to get the complaining out of their systems. "Are we still on for tonight?" Robin asked Jaina, who sighed and rolled her eyes, secretly finding his quirks endearing and cute. "You already asked me… yes I'm coming to dinner. I can't wait to see your mum again, the security officer who is already making a name for herself. Don't worry, I won't fish for too many embarrassing stories," she smiled impishly. "Who's worried? No embarrassing stories to fish for," he replied with an easy grin. "We will see," Jaina said with a small chuckle. "Dress casually or business casual at most. It's pretty informal." he told her and Ben in case the younger man forgot again. Robin suspected that Ben had been "borrowing" some of his weed crop even though he only needed to ask; it would explain his poor memory of late.

"Remember to try and steer away from conversations involving An-Dru and his little gang. I took your advice, Jaina. I've challenged him this time, one week from today. He's agreed to leave me alone until then. Problem solved. You both know how parents react; I'm sure I'm not the first person who's made enemies through sheer existence." Robin said, a touch angry; it must have shown in him more than usual, since several passersby flinched from his tone.

Ever since his Trials, Robin was different, yet the same. He had been described as both easier to read, yet more unexpected as well. Some even said he was more often short-tempered, though never without reason. He'd spoken with Einstein and Shadow, who thought it best not to speak with others of his strange moment of Force-harmony while combating the mystery woman during his last trial, at least not until HE understood it. "They're jealous because they're not as skilled, so it takes them longer to learn and truly comprehend some things that come easy to you." Jaina reminded him, "However, I'm all for you taking the initiative with these jerks. Anyone with integrity would call this challenge self-defence instead of picking a fight. An-Dru has had it out for you since the beginning.'" she continued. Ben added his two cents; "Yeah, she's right. Most would vouch for you." Ben stood up and said, "I've got stuff to do, see you guys later." They bade him goodbye and continued to chat.

"How ready are you for An-Dru? Be honest; no bravado. You only have a week for practice." Jaina said, with a touch of worry. Robin was touched by his friend's concern; he couldn't help but smile as he replied, "I've been watching him practice his form since I felt him project a little darkness toward me. He only uses one form of combat, relying on brute strength to make his bouts short; I don't think he's able to fight for an extended period. I'm very adaptable, and I have more stamina than average. I'm going to win, Jaina; and show everyone why I belong here!" He finished with a confident air about him. "It's been fun, Jaina, but I've got a fabulous dinner to make. See you tonight, and thank your mom for lending me Threepio, he'll make a great sous chef," and with that, he waved goodbye to his friend and set off for home, and the Galaxy's most stuck-up droid.

Thank the Force for Threepio isn't what most people say, or hear, or probably even think. Robin Stace was anything but average and was a fabulous chef, but Threepio was a lifesaver, helping find the equivalent of everything he had back on earth: spices, oils, meats, vegetables, etc. Everything he needed was accounted for; he still had to finish learning what animals, veggies, and fruit taste like in comparison to the food from earth. His continued use of Threepio was a band-aid solution at best, but he was well on his way. Dewbacks were similar to cows, for example, taste-wise.

"Master Robin, I must thank you for including me in the cooking process! You have no idea the stress I've been through. There are far too many battlefields and too few civilized dinners. If you need my help again, I'm happy to oblige!" Threepioh said, in his happiest voice yet. "Threepioh, you sure sound happy. The last time that happened was when Artoo suggested staying aboard the Falcon." Luke said, after returning home to his new student, who was cooking up a storm with the droid assisting him. "I'm frankly offended Master Luke! I may not be as brash or bold as Artoo, but I am no coward. Remember when I was shot by Stormtroopers? I've been to battle. So there." Luke grinned at Threepio's antics. "I do remember the many times when you got shot by Stormtroopers. Which instance were you thinking of?" Luke replied with a little cheek. "Robin's behaviour must be rubbing off on me; I feel younger, like when I first joined the Rebellion,'' he mused as Threepioh sputtered indignantly before returning to Robin's side, (this is not easy for a droid to sputter even if it has a voice, because it has no lips).

"You take a break, Master Robin; I've got this under control. You've been busy; don't argue. I know your timetable." Threepioh shooed the young man off to the lounge; humming could be heard as he kept the various courses at optimal temperatures. "What are you making?" Luke asked from his chair. Robin smiled at his Master. "It's a secret… but you'll like it," Robin replied as he tried to cover a yawn, praying Threepioh hadn't heard. Luke poured himself and Robin a pre-dinner relaxation drink; Correllian Whiskey, (Robin's new favourite drink alongside Coruscant-style Old-Fashioned,) and sat back down after handing Robin his drink.

It was a ritual that they'd developed: one drink if either had a particularly gruelling, tiring, or overly hectic day; they were never surprised by the other due to the Master-Student link. Sometimes Ben was allowed Rodian Ale if he'd had a bad day too. Luke had been growing more lenient with Ben since accepting Robin as his student; either that or he'd accepted his son was almost grown up and deserved a beer now and again. It was a hot topic of debate for the people who knew Luke as both a strict but fair Master and a good friend and father. The two enjoyed the calm that came with the quiet, though it wouldn't last. It never did.

"So… the whole family?" Luke asked, already aware of the answer. "Yes Master. Should I not have? I thought you approved." Robin replied, a touch confused. Luke had said it was a good idea a week ago. Had he misinterpreted? Luke smiled warmly and said "No, no. I just wanted to make sure this endeavour doesn't burn you out, that's all. I see you've enlisted Threepio, a very good idea. In all fairness, this is what he was made to do for my grandmother, Shmi Skywalker, and my parents as well. My father built him when he was just nine years old on Tattooine. My sister takes after our mother more, Padmé Amidala, she was a Queen of Naboo which is an elected position, not an inherited one. And she was a prominent, beloved Senator who fought for diplomatic solutions during, and even before, the Clone Wars. We studied our parents growing up, and we never knew it. I loved when Obi-Wan came around and told stories about the great Jedi; he even told me stories about our father, the great Anakin Skywalker. Boy, did that piss off Uncle Owen. This was before I knew who old "Ben" Kenobi really was, having not revealed himself yet as the legendary Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, while my sister studied up on our mom. Don't ever forget how lucky you are to have and know your mom."

Luke paused as a thought occurred: "Maybe we'll tell you kids some stories of our younger years, after dinner." Luke said, with a small, slightly sad smile. Sharing family history was far from easy, though with time and practice, it grew easier. The door chimed. "I can't speak for everyone, but I'd love to hear of your exploits and adventures. Let me get the door; it's just about time for our guests." Robin replied, getting up to answer the door with his untouched drink in his hand.

He heard a male voice: "They better still have some Corellian Whiskey left. Luke and the kid know it's my favourite drink." That was without a doubt the famous, and infamous Captain Han Solo. Robin only sensed two presences; he couldn't sense Leia or Jaina. Threepioh referred to them as "Mistress" Leia and "Lady" Jaina; and being the polite type, Robin had done similarly at one formal gathering but was quickly stopped. "We've already got Goldenrod for that, so just address us normally." Captain Solo had said, referring to Threepioh's nickname. "Were the women coming as a group? Has Han pissed off his wife again?" Robin briefly wondered, It was then that he heard growling from the other side of the door.

"Ah… Chewbacca had probably taken it upon himself to run interference on a pissy Captain Solo", Robin mused silently. He knew that Han would complain about the big lovable hairball babysitting him, but would be thankful later when Leia had spent her ire on something else. Somebody presumably messed with a preset on the Falcon again. Ben usually did it just to watch the fireworks, the little bugger. To be fair, sometimes Jaina did it because she knew she could get away with it since it would probably be hers one day.

"Showtime." Robin thought as he opened the door to greet half the Solo household, not including his mum, who was most likely still at the spaceport getting checked through security and customs. She'd told him earlier to serve everyone without her and not to stand on ceremony. "The girls are running a little late, but I see that hasn't stopped you guys from having a mini-party of your own. Thanks, kid; you know, Luke, you need to stock more of this with the kid around. Right, new blood?" Han said as he stole Robin's drink with the infamous cocky grin and a wink. He was known the Galaxy over to be a lover of Corellian Whiskey, (to be fair, it was stocked mostly for Han anyway).

Robin smiled at the Solo patriarch and his antics. He took his vacated seat on the couch while making small talk with Luke. Robin poured another drink for himself, taking a liberal sip before simply nursing it. "You said it, Han. Party on." Luke chuckled.

"We should do guy time more often!" Han suggested, a gleam in his eye suggesting he was thinking mischievous thoughts, such as inviting Lando for Saabaac night, (the equivalent of Texas Hold 'em). "Good idea, Han," Luke said. "Hey, contrary to what your sister says, I have plenty of good ideas," Han retorted in mock offence. "You sounded like Threepioh from a few minutes ago," Robin chimed in with a light chuckle. "Now, from that, I take great offence. I'm nothing like Goldenrod." Han said slightly less jokingly, but in a blink, he looked less serious as his gaze lightened up. "Kid… I'm messing with you! You make it too easy. Where's the furball? Chewie was looking forward to saying hi again." Han relayed that for the famous Wookie, the "furball" was Einstein, who, amazingly enough, was still asleep despite the noise and Chewbacca's scent, (Wookie culture called the smell a "musk"). "Einstein's asleep; he helped me with some stuff, and now he's tuckered out… Sorry Chewbacca. He'll probably be up and about later." Robin said, patting the great hairy Wookie on the arm consolingly.

Wookies are a strong, proud, empathetic people native to Kashyyyk and its sprawling forest cities, built from nature itself; not a tree fell unless necessary in its long glorious development, and if Wookies had their way, none ever would, if avoidable. Wookies are very green. Robin had long since decided that was where he wanted to be posted, once he was knighted. The fourth moon of Yavin was another option he'd been considering for the future, given its historical significance. Pieces of the first Death Star are still occasionally found buried there today.

Chewbacca roared and howled. Han was about to translate when Robin held up his hand, forestalling help. Han gave Robin a quizzical look. "I've been studying Wookie culture and language. I can understand Chewbacca perfectly." Robin explained to Han and Luke, who looked surprised and impressed, respectively. Chewbacca masked his thoughts. Not through the Force, but sheer discipline.

"Prove it. What'd he say?" Han asked, slight disbelief edged the tone of his voice as Luke watched and listened. "Certainly. While the question was for Master Luke, I'll field it. He was wondering why I'm not wearing a lightsaber yet. He's seen me in mock battles against droids and thinks I should be armed; it's a pity I'm not. "Wasted warrior" was what he said, to be precise. Right, Chewie?" Robin finished.

Chewbacca, for his part, looked shocked as he nodded and howled something to Han, who looked every bit as amazed and shocked as his first mate. "What do you mean? Every word, right? Even I stumble a bit at understanding your language, and we've known each other for decades." Han finished with a quiet grumble, slightly flustered, failing to notice that Robin had taken his spot back on the couch, which caused Chewie to roar with laughter. "Well… not bad, kid. Not bad at all. You understand the language of the Wookies, no easy feat. But why aren't you wearing your lightsaber? You never actually answered the question." Han reminded Robin.

Robin took a small sip of his drink before answering the duo: "Simple, Master Luke says I'm not ready." Robin shrugged with a barely perceptible air of resignation, as though having had the same conversation over and over while the answer remained unchanging. Probably because he'd had this same conversation already with Ben, Jaina, and even Threepio, who had grown curious at one point.

Han took a different seat, facing Luke, with a dumbfounded expression on his face. "Geez, Luke I think he's earned a little something; he's been your apprentice over, what six… seven months? Why the hold-out? Even that little stain on the Galaxy, An-Dru, has his own practice lightsaber. Ben's younger, and he's got one. Shouldn't Robin be able to defend himself if he's alone? Yes, he's armed with the Force, but he's earned it, and he's limited with the Force." Han stopped when he saw Luke's serious expression.

"Here comes the 'why' in Luke's argument against arming myself", Robin thought bitterly. The hardest part of the ordeal was that Robin understood Luke's thoughts on the subject, even agreeing more or less. "Robin, while an excellent warrior in his own right, has no field experience; in addition, he's resented by at least half his classmates. Giving him a lightsaber, even if it's like Ben's practice lightsaber, would compound the already existing resentment." Luke paused for a moment to compose his thoughts before continuing. "I'd hoped letting An-Dru have one of his own might soothe his ego enough to have him leave you in peace." Luke finished, giving his apprentice a glance.

"That was new," Robin thought. He must have looked as surprised as he felt because Luke laughed lightly. "You thought I didn't know? I'm in regular contact with most of your instructors, and I'm the Grandmaster, a secret I never meant to keep secret. It's just that I didn't want my status to impact you negatively. It looks like it's happening anyway." Luke smiled a slightly bitter smile, understandable given the situation. "I have something to give you since my attempts at distancing you from me haven't yielded the desired results." Luke stood up and unhooked his lightsaber, activating the emerald-bladed weapon briefly before deactivating it. Then, to everyone's surprise, he handed it to Robin. "They're right. You do deserve this. Wear it proudly. Never draw in attack; only in defence."

Robin was lost for words and barely managed to hook the lightsaber to his belt. "Wouldn't constructing a new one take time Luke didn't have?" Robin pondered silently. Luke chuckled, as though reading Robin's mind, and said, "I have spares; I'm ok. But that's not all that I have for you. Just wait for the second one; you'll get it the same day you're due to fight An-Dru. It's Friday a week from now, right?" Robin was still blown away, but reassembling himself, he managed a nod. "Good. That will be enough time to prepare you and help you learn or even master Lightsaber combat Form four and maybe even five. You've somehow already mastered Lightsaber Forms one through three, (hello, inner world perk. Lightsaber Forms refers to seven styles of lightsaber combat, which we'll get more into later. Or use the internet if you need to know right now), but don't grow complacent." The door chimed, and Han opened it for the remaining dinner guests, his mother in tow. Luke gave him a look that said without words, "We'll continue this later."

Everyone exchanged pleasantries and came in. "It smells delicious!" Cindy said as she gave her son a bear hug. Holo-calls are well and good, but being physically with her son made her feel warmer than any Holo-call ever could. The Solo women also commented on the amazing smells. "Thank you, it's almost done… please relax as I put on the final touches," Robin said, smiling at everyone. "Serve the others drinks, please, Threepio," Robin asked the golden droid.

"Right away, sir. I shall leave the final preparations to you." C3-PO replied, bringing out two platters of refreshments. "Just a few things to double-check, then we can eat." Robin thought as he hummed, allowing his senses, both mundane and mystic, to tell him the perfect moment to finish up what should probably be considered a three-star meal. A three-star minimum, because he set himself high standards and adhered to them; he'd cooked for everyone before and never once did anyone complain. It had been nothing but compliments, even from Ben, a teenager. "It's ready! Everyone to the dining room!" Robin called to the assembled group, using the Force to set the table flawlessly. The first few dozen times he'd tried it, he'd been working with less food and made a spectacular mess, the likes of which Luke claimed hadn't happened since Ben was in diapers.

Robin grinned as he waited to see their reactions. Artoo was even filming it for him because he adored the cute little domed guy. Everyone gawked at the spread; it was a feast, not a dinner. Robin made everybody's individual favourites, with enough for all present to try everything at least once, even a Wookie of Chewbacca's size. Everyone tucked in and began eating. The near silence was a good sign, broken only by the scrape of utensils; people were too busy eating for chit-chat, which Robin knew meant that it was good. After they were full and everyone was in a merry mood, they moved to the lounge to relax; some sat while others stood as they made small talk. (Robin got his kudos for the exquisite food, averaging a five-star approval.)

Cindy led Luke to Robin, who was relaxing in a lounge chair with Han sitting opposite him, each holding a liberal amount of Han's favourite Correllian whiskey. Luke sat on the couch and nodded in thanks for his drink, (Cindy politely declined). "So Luke tells me that you're making great strides. Good job, sweetheart," she'd said to Robin, who nodded back before answering. "Yeah, I think I'm doing reasonably well, given my lack of experience. The instructors are wonderful, always taking the time to help bring out our hidden potential. The work is challenging but very rewarding. Sometimes I get called on for demonstrations of proper Force techniques or stance. I like it here… it's peaceful," he replied, trying to dodge the subject of classmates.

"What about your classmates?" she asked. Robin took a sip of his drink to compose himself. "Oh, you know… most of them are okay. There are a couple of bad seeds, but nothing I can't handle," he responded confidently. Cindy saw the new weapon on her son's hip. "It suits you well," she said, indicating his gift, Luke's former lightsaber, now his, at least until he was ready to forge his own. "Thank you, mum. I'm feeling warm… I'm going to go outside for some air. Please excuse me," he said as he headed to the terrace.

Robin cooled off by the breeze outside; he'd overheated from cooking and then the collective body heat. He was glad that the dinner went as planned. "Hey, Robin. Dinner was perfect. I'm surprised you knew everyone's favourite dish! You're amazing in the kitchen." Jaina said from the neighbouring side of the terrace, since Luke had a few balconies, each was only large enough for one person. "Oh, hey Jaina. Thanks… I'm glad that it went as well as it did. It's just my way of thanking you and your family for all that you've done. My mother and I owe you all a great deal… this dinner was a drop in the bucket by comparison." Robin replied with a small smile.

"Nonsense. If anything, we owe you for helping Uncle Luke and Ben." Jaina replied. "I see you finally got a lightsaber, though I can tell it's not your personal blade. It will serve you well until you're ready to forge your own; after all, it was my uncle's… so it might even be lucky. You're making ridiculous progress in your studies; what's your secret?" Jaina asked. "I have good help." Robin replied cryptically, thinking of Shadow, Einstein, and the uncounted experiences of bygone days from his ancestors' memories. (Shadow was still sorting through them all; most memories weren't likely to be useful, but they didn't want to lose any that were.) Sometimes a memory is "activated", allowing Robin to do things that he might not otherwise know how to do. (Think the Matrix, uploading skills and abilities, except Robin can't do it on command instead relying on instinct.)

Jaina just nodded, accepting that Robin, like anyone else, had secrets. A comfortable silence fell as the two enjoyed the breeze; eventually, Jaina broke the silence. "I'm getting cold; let's go back in before people start assuming things," she said, suiting action to words and going back inside. Robin just thought to himself, "What things?" Causing Shadow and Einstein to telepathically snicker. "It seems that you have much to learn yet, young one," Einstein said telepathically. "Now they're teasing me." Robin thought, mildly irritated but mostly amused.

Robin followed Jaina's lead back inside as he puzzled and pondered the reactions and words from his guardian-familiars. The party was winding down; amazing food and alcohol were making most of the guests drowsy, and it was likely that they'd either go home or stay the night. The Solos opted to stay the night since they still wanted to chat and catch up. Jedi life usually means less of a social life on account of the workload and time required for proper training, study, and focus.

Robin spotted his mum in the corner chatting with Han and Luke, likely regaling them with her recent security work. "So there I was… five pirates against myself and three wounded officers. We were briefly pinned down. They had numbers; we had experience and skill. I managed to shoot three in succession but had to take cover from returning fire. The pirates wore what looked suspiciously like lightsabers on their belts, though they didn't draw them; something I thought strange and something the Order ought to know about. The pirates fled when they realized they were outmatched. Luckily, there were no severe casualties." She finished her story. Han and Luke looked mildly worried, though they masked it well.

"Mum, Luke, Han, sorry I left so abruptly before; I just got way too warm. Mind if I join you guys?" "Of course not, sweetheart," Cindy replied happily; she'd missed her family and was curious about recent developments in Robin's life as a member of the Jedi Order. After he got filled in on his mother's pirate story, Robin gave her an update on his life. "I've joined a Piloting Club and a Duelling Club. I figured I was decent at piloting back home, so why fix what ain't broke? As for duelling, I decided that the more that I know, the better prepared I will be in the future." His tone was pitched so his mum wouldn't worry.

"Your son is a remarkable student. He knows when pragmatism is required. The pilots in the club tend to go either to the auxiliary Rogue Squadron; they're all ace pilots, or they go directly to the Jedi Forces, again, very elite pilots only. In a reserve, or auxiliary capacity, he's unlikely to be called upon except for routine patrols or dire emergencies. As for the Dueling Club, he's correct that Jedi rely on fighting skills as much as diplomacy or a nudge with the Force. I do hope you join eventually, Cindy… you'd do amazing in the Order." Cindy just blushed so mildly; only Robin noticed, (you need to know her to notice). "Nonsense Luke. I'm too old… and set in my ways," she replied politely. "Too old? Now who's speaking nonsense?" Luke replied with a smile. The two continued chatting amicably; Robin and Han exchanged similar looks and discreetly left the two in private.

"So, were they flirting?" Han asked Robin, who looked intrigued. "I'm not entirely sure… I've never seen her flirt with anybody before. But it sure felt like it." Robin replied easily enough. "Luke is a good man and would treat mum right," he mused. "Does that make you uncomfortable or anything? I'm not bad at listening, despite what my wife says." Han offered, fervently hoping his young friend would say no. "Thank you, Han, but I'm alright. They'd be good together, don't you think?" Robin asked, curious about what the great and famous captain thought. Han smiled lightly. "I can see them very happy together. It'll happen, or it won't. There's no point thinking too hard about it," replied the slightly scruffy, slightly drunk captain. The party continued for another hour or so before everyone found quarters arranged for them by Threepioh and retired for the night.

Robin had been exhausted and fell asleep instantly. While his body rested, he had business in his mindscape. "Shadow, what do you know about Jedi Clans? I can't find anything in the Archives." "All due respect, but you have baby-level clearance. I know much, as does Einstein, but we can't tell you. It's something you've got to learn on your own. Stay true to your path, and you shall find that which you seek." Shadow explained calmly and cryptically.

Einstein materialized, and once again Robin's sleep was filled with training in wrestling and unarmed combat with Einstein in Guardian Mode. Einstein took on three forms; the third was that of a humanoid warrior's disembodied armour. Given a few years, Robin would be able to merge their powers together, which would augment Robin's physical abilities and reflexes. As it stood, he just wasn't ready, so he trained to become ready.

Chapter 6

The Honour Duel/ Precursor to Fate

The week went by rather quickly, and Robin and An-Dru would cross blades very soon, (t-minus one hour to be precise,) but Robin had arrived early to the Arena. The Arena was where all Jedi settled personal disputes when words failed. It was fortunate that Robin had come to the Jedi already capable of martial skills, so his week of practice was actually more rewarding than anticipated, or so he'd been told by Luke during training. Robin had been accosted by An-Dru and his cronies since his arrival months ago and had been saved by many a timely intervention from friends, and Luke once or twice. He'd tried to reason with An-Dru, but An-Dru just wouldn't listen; instead, the lunkhead just acted tough, likely trying to rattle Robin's nerves since he couldn't do anything to Robin with witnesses. Robin still held out hope that An-Dru could change for the better, but that it had gotten to this point where combat was called for was a telling sign for An-Dru's future, and perhaps for Robin's own.

Everyone had noticed Robin's new gift from his Master, the weapon known to pretty much everyone, both in and out of the Order. He felt more confident despite having not mastered Form IV, (Ataru, an aggressive combat style combining strength, speed, and agility; his new preferred style also relied heavily upon acrobatics). Despite this, he was still very capable, having mastered Lightsaber forms one through three. Form I: Shii-Cho, a mirror of most rudimentary sword skills like blocks and parries. Form II: Makashi, excellent for those who fancied duelling; it was a counter to form one in design; both Forms I and II were centred around lightsaber combat. Form III: Soresu is a very defensive technique that is best utilized against blaster fire or anything long-range; it requires minimal movement to preserve energy while providing solid defence until the enemy shows a weakness that could be exploited.

Today he would show the ignorant, the arrogant, and the foolish why he belonged here and that he deserved their respect. An-Dru arrived with half an hour to spare; his own practice lightsaber was hooked to his belt. He gave Robin a look of hatred when he saw him already stretching out and preparing, as though it were his fault that An-Dru arrived later. Robin just scoffed at the arrogant attitude An-Dru had.

The referee arrived promptly; it was Master Sabaa Sabatyne, one of Luke's former students who was also one of the Council members who had been in favour of aiding and teaching Robin and his mother. While known for being an ally of Luke's, she was also known as an impartial judge; she cared enough to stop someone from playing dirty if she thought it necessary and wouldn't take sides unless compelled by honour or duty. Honour and respect were huge cornerstones of Barabell culture. (The Barabell people were lizard-like humanoids that relied on their tails for balance or combat purposes. A very warrior or honour-based species, they were well equipped by nature for battle with sharp teeth and talons, yet just as able to compose poetry or a speech). She held out her hands, and they each surrendered their lightsabers; after a little tweaking, they were returned to them. The energy blade would only temporarily paralyse limbs and other areas struck, so neither could lose a limb or an eye.

By this time, a crowd was rapidly gathering. Apparently, news of the fight had spread like wildfire. Even some Masters were in attendance: Corran Horn and Kyp Durron, both stalwart supporters of Luke. As Master Sabatyne directed the two combatants to their assigned positions, Robin couldn't help but notice the various-sized stones brought out for use in the duel, though only as defensive measures, not offensive ones.

"This match is a challenge issued by Padawan Robin Stace, student of Grandmaster Luke Skywalker, to Padawan An-Dru, student of the late Master Hoth, over the matters of respect, honour, and belonging, core tenets of the Order's creed. If the challenger loses, he will leave for another academy, and vice versa, as previously agreed." Master Sabaa Sabatyne made sure that she had everyone's attention before continuing. "Now the rules: no adjusting the output on your lightsaber; no use of spare or hidden weapons; stones are to act as shields or diversions, not for offensive purposes. No lasting damage; that means no squishing each other, and, I can't believe I have to say this, no biting." She said this to both of them, but it seemed to those who knew her that it was directed at An-Dru, because she knew that Robin was a good man with a strong warrior's pride, and An-Dru had been causing more and more trouble, with each complaint increasing in escalation. But it was only hearsay, or had been until Robin officially challenged him. Now the truth would be forever known; even if Robin lost, An-Dru would be under such scrutiny that he'd be sent packing before you could say "podrace". A change that Master Sabatyne welcomed. Either way, Robin won…

"Gentlemen… begin!" Master Sabatyne proclaimed before jumping out of the way as the two took fighting stances. Both opened with Form I Shii-Cho to test the waters. This was where it would begin and end. An-Dru had perfected his fighting style, which was not a standard Shii-Cho; as it was far more aggressive, relying on brute strength with the goal of breaking enemy defences early and providing a quick opening. So as they clashed, Robin seamlessly transitioned to the elegant fluid Makashi (Form II) to counter the overly aggressive Shii-Cho, allowing him to weather the storm of blows with dodges, blocks, parries, and riposte, though desperation lent An-Dru greater speed and strength; the damn fool was drawing on the Dark Side.

Yet nobody interfered, as this was Robin's battle; they'd intervene if they considered it necessary, just as Luke agreed when he first found out about the fight. Robin needed this, one way or another. No more coddling.

The two young men clashed with blades and energy; stones broke from shockwaves, and while An-Dru was putting pressure on his opponent, it was clear to most in the audience that Robin would have the upper hand if he could outlast the barrage or create an opening.

Robin grew tired of defending. An-Dru had weakened himself enough by attacking that Robin felt confident in breaking out his incomplete but still very dangerous and near-mastered Ataru style; his natural affinity to augment his speed, strength, and agility with the Force matched his new fighting style perfectly, and he'd completely master it soon, just as he had Forms I-III.

In only an instant, Robin had gained breathing room and flung himself at An-Dru. The sudden shift to offence tripped his foe up. Robin landed a strike to his opponent on his left hand and right foot before he got outside An-Dru's range with a backflip made from the momentum of a kick delivered from An-Dru. Robin's guard was up yet relaxed when he landed; An-Dru was panting and sweating from his failed attempt to win fast with his beautiful, if limited, Shii-Cho. (Robin appreciated his foe's skills like one warrior to another, even if they were enemies; skill recognizes skill).

"An-Dru, surrender and apologize. You're beaten; you can't win. We both want to serve the Jedi Order as well as possible; we don't have to be enemies." Robin spoke kindly and compassionately, though, for all of his compassion, An-Dru just grew angrier and angrier. "You think you're better than me?! Think again, scum… you're NOTHING!" An-Dru screamed, drawing heavily on his inner darkness; his rage at being upstaged by a new guy with a tenth of his experience getting the better of him. "The man needs to meditate more", Robin thought sadly, then his danger sense activated, and a split second later, several boulders slammed at him, too fast to dodge. Still, the Masters didn't intervene, not even Master Sabatyne, which suggested they had few worries regarding An-Dru's blatant disregard for the rules of true honourable combat or the victim of his cheating.

The audience gasped and then collectively held its breath as the dust cloud cleared, revealing Robin in his torn and tattered Jedi garb, a slightly bloodied cloak in a slight depression, surrounded by crushed and cut stones. This was confirmation of his handiwork with both the blade and the Force; and while incomplete, his skill in Form IV Ataru was great, as evidenced by a few stones with still-hot edges. Robin's blade locked with An-Dru's once more, who looked not just shocked, but scared too.

An-Dru saw the crushed and cut stones, baffled at how his foe was relatively unharmed except for a few dozen small cuts from chipped stone and a broken arm, (don't worry. It was only a hairline fracture). He was even more dumbfounded by the fact Robin's blade was somehow now pointed right at his throat, their blades no longer locked, his right arm having been rendered useless by a lightspeed fast strike that he hadn't even felt in his rage-induced state or seen his foe enter a striking range. Robin's blade was so close that any movement would result in an electrical scar, and had the lightsaber been set to max output, An-Dru knew that he'd have probably died. To cut stone with a low-output lightsaber wasn't impossible per se, but it was beyond most people's capabilities at Robin's level of experience, that much An-Dru knew for certain. "I blinked, and suddenly Robin was no longer blade locked with me, but in a position of undeniable victory. How?" An-Dru wondered furiously, but no answer came to him. He did know that he hated Robin all the more for his mercy; he'd not even bothered incapacitating or hurting him.

"As Padawan An-Dru has broken the rules of today's bout, he loses by default, though I'd say it's obvious Padawan Robin required no such handicap. Your late Master Hoth would be so disappointed in you, An-Dru. Not only did you break the rules of honourable combat, but you were also drawing heavily on The Dark Side, and you sought to seriously injure, possibly kill, a fellow Padawan and classmate. Your punishment for losing and transferring to another academy is too light a sentence for such terrible abuse of the skills and abilities bestowed on you. You're to make your way to Grandmaster Skywalker for a more fitting punishment." Master Sabatyne declared, her voice cold and contemptuous.

An-Dru went to retrieve his weapon when Master Sabatyne spoke again. "Leave the lightsaber. I don't think you'll need it, and I know you don't deserve it." Master Sabatyne said, with cold fury. That was that; she'd all but said it, and everyone knew that the Grandmaster would no doubt agree: "Leave and get out; you're not Jedi material." Luke and most Jedi are a forgiving lot, but today's open display of dishonourable behaviour, coupled with his harassment of Younglings, (little kids,) and Initiates, would be reason enough for An-Dru's expulsion from the Jedi Order. An-Dru's cronies were still academy students, though they would hopefully have a better appreciation of where they stood now that An-Dru served as an example against bullying and intolerance. One wrong move, and they'd be gone as well.

"I'll have my revenge, Robin Stace, if it's the last thing I do. I'll make you suffer and feel just as powerless as I do right now!" An-Dru cried at Robin in fury, knowing full well what to expect. Robin turned his back on him and realized that he almost felt sorry for him, tempted to the darkness by his weak ego. An-Dru could've been great. But he was happy his daily tormentor would be gone; even if it came with a vow of revenge, he'd be wary but ready.

Master Sabatyne Force pushed An-Dru to a nearby Sentry Jedi to "escort" him to Luke's office at the top of the academy's tallest tower. Thereupon, she flashed Robin a smile and set his broken arm and broken rib, which he'd missed with the force. She had to raise her voice to advise him to see a proper Jedi Healer; and though admittedly very loud, Robin couldn't help but rejoice in the approval and cheers from the audience. Whatever came next for him, his future seemed brighter.

Chapter 7

The Beginning of Fate/ Destiny stirs

Robin sighed tiredly, both from the physical battle and the injuries sustained in his battle with Andru, As minimal as they were, Robin was feeling low on energy. After the fight, he had a thorough inspection from the Jedi Healer Master Cighal, a clean bill of health, and wearing a brace for his arm, (his ribs were wrapped; not much more could be done for that, even with the Force it would take time), Robin went to The Cantina for a snack and perhaps a Jawa Juice. (It tastes like orange juice, but it's blue!). He'd barely managed to sit down when the normally quite quiet place of nutrition and relaxation turned to bedlam as he was barraged by questions and requests for details about his fight with An-Dru.

Robin initially liked the attention, but it quickly became an annoyance. Thankfully, he'd been summoned by Master Luke, and a passing sentry had alerted him to his Master's call, even going as far as escorting him to Luke's office. Robin thanked the Jedi sentry before walking in. "Might I assume that wasn't a coincidence? A sentry to my rescue at just the right moment?" Robin asked with a wry tone. "You and I both know that there's no such thing as a coincidence," Luke replied with a smile. Luke indicated for Robin to take a seat, which he did.

"First of all… congratulations are in order; your go with An-Dru is one for the history books. He had something like 10 years of experience on you, but you showed him what happens to bullies when a stand is taken." Luke said, his expression still bright despite his change to a more serious mood. "Plus, others who share that kind of destructive mindset know what happens if they don't change," Ben added from behind as he and Jaina walked in, taking seats of their own. "Yes, a beautiful teachable moment. But that's not why you summoned us, is it Uncle Luke?" Jaina said, clearly possessing information or a hunch on why the three of them were summoned. "Jaina, you're right. I have secondary reasons beyond congratulating Robin."

"To begin, Robin, I'm going to confer upon you a title, that of Child of the Force. My father and I both hold this title, as does Ben. Jaina holds the title of Sword of the Jedi, an equal title to Child of the Force in terms of status." Ben and Jaina, while surprised, were incredibly composed, the product of years of discipline, (Robin had learned quickly to guard one's true thoughts and feelings, a necessity for all Force-users). "Secondly, I'm knighting you… on a probationary basis. Full knighthood is yours after you complete your first mission. It's the compromise I made with the council that lets you get your foot in the door… so you'll possess full Jedi Knight status, and the archives are more open to you now." Robin was relieved to learn that he'd have equal security access as standard Knights if only for more reading material regarding the Force. He'd grown bored reading the same material over and over again, even if it had gained him better insights. Archive level two access had the more advanced practical and philosophical works, as well as Holocrons. (These are mini libraries written by the Masters of old. Jedi Holocrons are cube shaped, while the Sith used a pyramid design. They are always programmed with a guardian, usually in the form of the author's likeness to stop unworthy individuals accessing dangerous knowledge).

"Who's writing his performance review? Some instructors do dislike him, no matter what you hear from Master Horn." Jaina asked her uncle. "Yeah, it has to be fair," Ben added with suspicion about who his father has chosen as his probation officer. "Jaina, I know you've done similar reviews for your old team, Darkmeld. You're as unbiased as anyone I can find among the Order. I know that regardless of your friendship with Robin, you'll give a fair, honest review. Ben will be partnered with Robin on his first mission; you'll watch and report as needed. Help only in dire situations." Luke commanded in "Grandmaster" mode, knowing his niece wouldn't fight his edict if he did.

"But people who are opposed to Robin or Jaina, or even you, Dad, would say he had a biased reviewer and field partner," Ben added. "I'll worry about those with a grudge against any of us. Besides, Artoo is going along to record from an unbiased, mechanical perspective. If they argue a droid is biased, they'll be off the council like a flea from a Kathhound. (Research it for yourself if you desire, Reader. I'm busy narrating an adventure. But it's not integral to the story, so you don't need to worry.) We only have one or two on the council opposing us anyway." Luke shrugged. "That's it… you're dismissed; continue what you were doing. Mission briefing tomorrow." Luke said this with finality and politeness, and the three rose to leave.

"Not just yet, Robin. I know you are eager to start digging into the various books on philosophy and more practical lore in the archives, but we aren't quite done." Robin sat back down; his friends were already gone. "What now, Master Luke, my own ship?" Robin joked lightly. "I told you that I have something for you, didn't I?" Luke asked rhetorically as he locked the doors with a gesture and dimmed the lights to near the darkness of night before rummaging around in a locked box on his desk that he'd brought out of its hiding place. (Earlier, he had recovered it from where it was hidden under his desk.)

Luke removed several objects from the box, from clothes to a sphere with engravings not unlike those on both Jedi and Sith Holocrons. "First these robes and a cloak, for ceremonies, but also combat should the need arise; they're yours. Then we have this." Luke indicated the sphere before tossing it to Robin, who caught the bauble, whereupon it glowed with a colour-shifting light once it made contact with him. "As I thought… it must be you." Luke considered it silently. "You've used Holocrons in classes, right? Activate it, please. It's been dormant since before Yoda's time as an Apprentice; in fact, it's been dormant long enough that many Grandmasters over the ages assumed that it was broken or a dud. This glowing is proof that it is neither broken nor a dud." Luke nodded at the spherical Holocron.

Robin was a little lost, though Luke had never steered him wrong. So he activated the spherical device, its hieroglyphic-like engravings lighting up with the same colour-shifting light as it spread across the surface of the Holocron, (picture, if you will, a metal ball with a light that spreads, the coloured light moving outward, covering the surface of the hieroglyphics engraved in the metal ball). The moment it finished activating, it flew and hovered before Robin, then scanned him, a blue light passing over him briefly. "Identity Confirmed. Hello, Jedi Paladin Initiate. Welcome back to the Galaxy Paladin clan. Scans indicate that, while a Paladin, you're not ready to take the mantle of King or Queen of the Paladin clan. Do not worry; only you can hear me. Return for subsequent scans when you've found all of yourself and your Sword. Only a full Paladin Knight can unlock the Guardian of the Holocron. You may share any of this message with those you deem fit." The spherical device spoke in a feminine robotic voice, (the kind generally used in most science-fiction movies as the voice of the computer, or Siri, or Alexa. For example: shields are at 85% power) before the sphere floated gently back to Robin's hand.

"It mentioned the Paladin Clan, Master Luke. What's that?" Robin asked with some obvious confusion and a sense that he was on the path of learning about one of the Jedi Clans the mystery woman had told him to find and rebuild during his final initiation trial; he'd consult Shadow and Einstein later to see what they knew, feeling like information had been withheld for good reason or had yet to be seen. Luke waved off Robin's ignorance. "Nobody living knows. Grandmasters of old might know something. But many recordings from that long ago were destroyed, degraded, or are only partial scraps of information. They were thought to be, well, gone from the Galaxy. For you, or anyone not around thousands of years ago, knowing anything about the Jedi clans would be impossible except if shown a vision by the Force. I have sensed no such energy that accompanies such events from you." Luke said this in an effort to calm his student.

"We'll speak more on this later. Now we must go over the fine details of the Jedi knighting ceremonies. To start, your hair needs a trim; it's a bit… scruffy. Don't tell Han I used that word; he's not a fan. Shave too, please? Wearing those robes will help…they shift colours depending on the wearer's thoughts and moods, a Paladin perk as they were designed for a Paladin. So does the Holocron, which, oddly, didn't activate for your mom. You're the natural heir as the last of the Paladins; maybe your mom just isn't ready. Who knows? Soon, we will move to the etiquette and protocol of knighting ceremonies…" Luke continued while Robin listened and pondered what the strange Holocron meant. He needed to speak with them, Einstein and Shadow, his familiars. He would have the truth.

Chapter 8

Ancient History and Truth

Robin's Mindscape

Einstein and Shadow were in the keep's tallest tower, which granted them the greatest view of their King's domain. "He's coming for answers and will not accept half-truths anymore. We obviously can't tell him everything, but we must be honest with him or it will all be for naught, and that is something we cannot allow to happen. He's growing too smart and strong for him to accept anything but pure honesty. The Paladin King must return and rebuild his clan; as things stand, he isn't up to snuff… at least according to the Master Holocron." Einstein warned his colleague.

Shadow groaned at the situation. Robin had learned of the Paladins, which was to be expected; however, his knowledge of a Paladin leader was not. Robin was too in the know to accept half-truths but was not worthy of the full story by the standards of the Galaxy. They'd felt the Force energy shift in Robin after activating the Master Holocron, even when the Grandmaster of the Jedi could not, (it's implied that Robin didn't either). This meeting of theirs was more of a formality, the steps to a ritual, if you will.

They knew what Robin required, and it was coming. There were three things to make him worthy: firstly, he needed to be properly knighted, and secondly, he needed experience wielding the dichotomy of both the Light and Dark Sides of The Force simultaneously. The only times he had were when he defeated Shadow to claim his long dormant power and during his Wisdom Trial against one of the previous Paladin leaders, (the woman, if you need a reminder), both of which he'd done without conscious thought or effort, which didn't count to the Force. Finally, Robin also needed his Sword; each Paladin leader had one, and each was as unique and incredible as the next.

In this realm, Robin's mindscape mirrored the future King's emotional and mental states: rain for sorrow, sunshine for happiness, and earthquakes meant that the King was royally pissed off, (pun unintended, just a happy accident). Right now, there was an earthquake larger and stronger than Shadow or Einstein had felt so far. The two familiars made their way to the Throne Room, a representation of control over body and mind. Shadow had previously stated that if the King were knocked out or paralyzed by fear, for example, he could temporarily claim the Throne, though as a Paladin, it was highly unlikely, but not impossible.

It wasn't a moment after they arrived in the throne room and kneeled in supplication that Robin materialized on the Throne of Power in full Paladin regalia; the cloak and robes of his future office suited him well, (they were designed to, after all). Robin spoke, "It's clear that you two have conspired to keep me and everyone I know in the dark. Explain, please, and yes, I know that you can't answer every question I have; explain it to me as best you can.'' The soon-to-be host and leader of the Paladin clan was remarkably composed, considering how angry he was. "Einstein, I know you, my brother. You're not in trouble, but don't expect homemade cookies anytime soon. Such is your punishment."

"Now… Shadow, as for you, explain what you can as succinctly as possible; my patience wanes already. Try starting at the beginning." Robin said, his voice pitched as though Shadow were a petulant child caught sneaking a cookie from the jar. "As you command." Shadow replied before standing and clearing his throat.

"In the beginning, a very long time ago, life was balanced, everywhere and in everything; but imbalance sought a foothold in this reality. The founding members of the Jedi Order birthed from both debate and practice, the Great Schism: a small but incredibly powerful tool of imbalance, which had influenced the founding Order into conflicts of increasing magnitude. The Jedi Order was split in two from then on. The beginnings of The Sith and Jedi were seen not only by The Force, but also by the third faction, independent of both Jedi and Sith philosophy and teachings, but not abilities; Paladins could and did use both sides of that same coin. They were agents of balance, and they always had a leader for tough calls, the King or Queen, a gender-neutral leader if you want to get all PC. The leader was said to be Balance personified and to possess ultimate authority over weighty decisions in the affairs of Paladins. Paladins serve all of the Force, not just the light or dark sides… because they serve the Balance of reality itself."

"When the leader died, as all things must, the accumulated memories and experiences were transferred to the next leader, usually genetically linked, though not always. This depended on what genetic markers were "active"; whoever possessed the right markers was next in line. It's been thousands of years since Paladins were active in the Galaxy, though they were never really gone. They fled in the middle of one of many Jedi/Sith Wars believing that they were only giving the dark side power and worsening the existing imbalance, so the at-the-time leader chose to abstain from any further conflict. Thanks in part to Sith Lord Bane's manipulations the balance was restored for a time by a technique called the 'Thought-Bomb' which was basically a Force ability equal to a nuclear blast that killed and trapped the souls in its blast range. The Sith were believed extinct, though as we now know, Darth Bane had implemented the Rule of Two: a Master to possess the power of the Dark Side and an Apprentice who sought the power, only becoming the Sith Master upon killing their former Master and the taking of an Apprentice of their own, one strong in the Dark Side. Rinse and repeat. The Sith simply bided their time until the Galaxy was blinded by war and the Jedi were stretched too thin. Through Order 66 and the subsequent near-total destruction of the old Jedi Order, Balance was inadvertently restored once more, as the Jedi Order had grown stagnant and arrogant, but only for a time. A corrupted balance could not last." Shadow paced as he told the king what he could.

"Then, more recently, Luke Skywalker reformed the Jedi Order with a broader acceptance regarding love and personal attachment, and a new true Balance was fabricated from the New Jedi Order as well as the death of Emperor Sidious and his Sith followers." Shadow paused to let Robin absorb all of this information.

Shadow continued. "Kesh and its Sith citizens, however, were unknown to the whole Galaxy, and The Balance created by Luke's New Jedi Order is on the verge of collapsing into imbalance again. You and those who came before were all responsible for the Dark Side helping to correct these imbalances. The Dark Side isn't inherently evil, just as long as it isn't utilised for selfish, evil, or dangerous things. It's a part of Balance and worth respecting, if only because of that… The paladins of old, and you even today, countless generations later, are still agents of Supreme Balance. The leader of the Paladins always had two familiars, while standard Paladins had but one. The reason for this is that the Paladin leader must maintain as much balance as possible, never succumbing to the darkness while also being willing to question and interpret the ways of the light differently. Non-conformists every single one, especially the leader."

"You lack important aspects that every Paladin King or Queen had: A proper Knighting, and the self-control to consciously use the light and dark in harmony despite the conflicting natures." Shadow finished. "You forgot that he needs his Sword," Einstein muttered. "You're his physical guardian, familiar, and advisor; it's your field, not mine. I'm the spiritual guardian and familiar, remember?" Shadow argued back, both he and Einstein having briefly forgotten that Robin was there. The argument died down, and the two returned their attention to Robin once more.

"Sword? But I have a lightsaber, and the Sword of the King from my first time here. Not the right Sword?" Einstein looked to Robin apologetically, knowing that he was confused. "We've pushed the Galactic envelope on what we can openly tell you. All I can say is that I'm in charge of the Physical plane, and not all swords are Swords. Cryptic, I know. Sorry, it's the best hint I can give you." Robin just smiled, and the mindscape earthquake died as quickly as it came, replaced with birdsong, cicadas, and a babbling brook. He understood now; they literally can't tell him everything because of Balance. To do so would likely strengthen the imbalance.

They could confirm for him what he already suspected or knew, and occasionally the Force gave them some leeway, like today. "One last question: how were Paladins made Paladin? What separates them from regular Force-users such as Jedi or Sith? Are they born different? And no, I'm not asking where babies come from." Shadow pouted when Robin beat him to the punchline of his joke: "there's always the future." Shadow reminded himself in silence. "To be Paladin is to have a very different mindset than most of society. But knowing you, you already suspected another cryptic response, which means you just sought confirmation on some idea or thought. You'll make a fine Paladin indeed with such keen intellect!" Einstein said, smiling at Robin. Robin nodded in thanks before leaving his mindscape.

When Robin blinked next, he found himself back in his physical form, back in Luke's office at the Jedi Temple. "Got all that?" Luke asked Robin as though he'd been following along one hundred percent; (he had, but it's still jarring to return from the mindscape to a conversation already in progress. Go on, try to imagine it, Reader. Yeah, it's not easy, is it?) Robin replied by nodding, unsure if he trusted his mouth to keep yet more secrets; if asked, he'd blame his silence on shock. This would hardly be a lie since he was being Knighted incredibly early compared with most, and with a shocking lack of experience. "Take this. The cloak, robe, the whole ensemble. The Holocron as well; it's yours by right. Practice hard for your Knighting ceremony tonight, Knight Stace." With Luke's dismissal, he collected his new possessions and headed home to practice for his Knighting ceremony.

Chapter 9

The Knighting/ Something More than Words

That evening, as Robin triple-checked his lines and parts for the Knighting ceremony, it really hit him that he would be Jedi Knight Robin James Stace from this day forth. His spirits were high. The whole shebang would include food, drink, singing, dancing, and general merriment abound. Skywalker, Solo, and the Staces were going together as one group, meeting and leaving from Luke's place.

Robin was glad that his knighting would warrant a party for the whole Order, not just for those at the Coruscant Main Temple and Academy. The new Sith-related problems had stressed the members of the Order a great deal, especially the higher-ups who shouldered greater responsibility, so this was a good excuse to cut loose. People knew not all Sith were bad or maniacally inclined, but those who were were causing or had caused major problems that unfortunately painted most, if not all, of the Kesh Sith in a negative light. A handful of bad seeds had tried to ruin the whole bag of apples. Robin hoped to have a chance to prove that the Jedi and the Sith could coexist; the two were once one, and they could be that again.

The young man's reverie was broken when someone knocked at his door. "Come in; I'm just trying to get my cloak to sit right." Jaina walked into the smallish changing room and had to admit the new robes suited him perfectly, even if his cloak wasn't quite right. "Let me help you with that," she offered, taking pity on him, and Robin flashed a thousand-watt smile, glad to see a friend and very thankful she'd help him get his new cloak fastened correctly.

"Custom job on these? Midnight blue suits you," Jaina observed, silently and subtly appraising her friend as only a woman with a healthy appreciation for the opposite sex can; she was very discreet about it though, as it was not the first time that she was attracted to a colleague or the first time that she had checked out Robin's physique without him knowing; she was only human, afterall. "Thanks! Yeah, Luke had them made for me well in advance." Robin said, trying not to get frazzled by their very close proximity. From his point of view, Robin had been honest; that was custom for him as the only current paladin. Luke deemed Robin's Paladin status "Top-Secret" until the time was right or Robin himself felt comfortable sharing such sensitive information with the public. Without his training, he'd be blushing redder than Jaina's own ceremonial garb, (the deep, vibrant red of autumn leaves, in case you were curious). "That's a lovely shade of red; it suits you brilliantly," Robin said, deciding that one compliment deserves another. At that moment, Jaina was extremely grateful for her Jedi teachings on controlling outward emotional cues. She hadn't received such an open compliment from someone other than her family in a very long time.

Finally, after what felt like an hour of twisting, turning, and some light swearing on both of their parts, Robin's cloak sat correctly over one shoulder as the ceremony dictated, his Master's former lightsaber clipped to his belt. Somehow Jaina had, amazingly enough, caught her sleeve in one of the fastenings, so when Ben came to check on them, being the young, puberty-riddled person that he was, assumed that romance was in the air; he left with a smirk and muttered, "I'll buy you two five more minutes." Chuckling was heard following his departure. Luckily, it didn't take long to extricate Jaina's sleeve, and the two friends awkwardly and silently agreed to do their best not to speak of the moment again, at the very least not tonight, as it was a serious night despite the festive atmosphere.

They didn't know that Ben was completely aware that nothing had happened between Robin and Jaina, at least not yet. Though Ben did hope that something would happen between the two. It was widely, silently, considered a match made by the Force. (There were naysayers, naturally). Both Cindy and Ben's Aunt Leia wanted their kids together so badly that they'd conspired to put the two in more intimate situations, enlisting their friends and family to help. (That's why Jaina had been sent to check on Robin in the first place, rather than Luke, Ben, or his mother.)

Ben was hit with a surge of inspiration for helping his cousin and Robin have more one-on-one time. Ben could be just as unbiased as his cousin, (or more, depending on who reads his review). The truths we cling to often depend on one's point of view. Everything would be recorded for posterity and on the record by Artoo. He would have to run the idea by his dad; he already had a gift for Robin's knighting and wanted to double-check that it was… appropriate given the significance of the occasion. Rare was the individual that his father had personally knighted who didn't go on to achieve great things.

Ben had worked hard and finally completed his friend's family tree, incorporating the archives' full information and thus filling in previously blank spots with individuals of particular note in Galactic history. But Ben knew some might paint Robin's lineage, or even the man himself, in a less than flattering light. "Hey dad? Can I run this idea by you?" Ben asked his father as he was preparing. "If it's about the Stace family tree, I recommend caution. Besides, it's better as a personal gift anyway. Hurry up and ready the full ceremonial kit. We're supposed to be there in an hour." Luke said, causing Ben to groan. Luke just laughed at his son's obvious distaste for the pomp and ceremony; if he was honest, it wasn't his favourite aspect of Jedi culture, but special care was required as Robin was being knighted early and by Luke himself.

"It's a semi-private affair, then a party, and probably an unofficial after-party for the die-hards. Don't complain… you should have seen it the first time I knighted someone. That was very groan-worthy. Just be happy that you don't have to knight anyone yourself yet. It is even more work and responsibility." Luke said, grinning at his son. "I also want to talk to you about tomorrow," Ben told his dad as they prepared for the evening. "Oh? Go on, shoot, son." Luke replied, interested in his son's perspective. Ben began explaining: "Well, I was thinking..."

Robin and Cindy had left ten minutes early to give his nerves time to relax and smoke a spliff with his mother on their way over, which always helped Robin calm down. He was dressed correctly and knew his parts. Cindy had also grown close with the Skywalkers and Solos, for which Robin was grateful. Cindy had also told him in confidence that she would probably join the ranks of the Jedi Order within the year; working security for Lando's company had only been a temporary thing anyway, a chance for her to "find herself," which she hated saying or even thinking; it was so damn cliché while she was anything but. Cindy was wearing one of many dresses she'd received as a gift from Lando when she had performed particularly admirably on the job. Most of them were so out there that she never pictured herself wearing them, but this one was tolerable. Cindy had never really liked fancy dresses to begin with, and Lando's taste, while incredibly expensive, was also incredibly gaudy. Now that she had a small fortune in dresses and gowns she'd likely never wear, she figured she would sell them.

Cindy briefly toyed with simply telling her son about how everyone saw him growing closer to Jaina and vice versa, as well as mentioning the romantic tension between the two, but decided that his nerves could use the break and that he probably didn't need to be thinking about girls right now. (That overt role was Ben's joyous honour.) Everyone else arrived promptly ten minutes later, and Robin was ready.

It wasn't long before the other attendees arrived, and Holo-calls were made to every Jedi school in range, which would in turn web outwards again to even more academies, all the way out to the Outer-Rim territories. When everyone was seated and quiet, Luke stepped out and stood at the podium on stage. "Thank you all for coming tonight to witness the ascendance of Padawan Stace to Knight Stace, but I have one thing I must first do. Robin Stace, rise and join me up here, please." Robin did as Luke told him and decided to take the initiative, kneeling before Luke with his head bowed. Luke smiled before continuing. "Robin Stace, I confer on you, by the powers vested in me by the Force and the approval of the Grand Council of the Jedi Order, the Title of Child Of the Force; a title given to those Jedi with the most potential for greatness. You exemplify the true spirit of Order and the Will of the Force, in ways that we should all strive for." The audience let out a quiet collective gasp of surprise at Luke's ringing endorsement.

There were whispers about how the title had been largely unused except by the Skywalkers. Anakin Skywalker and his well-known fall and eventual redemption were the stuff of legends. Luke drew out a small box and opened it, revealing a biometric lock with a midichlorian count as well, (picture an iPhone with a needle and incredibly advanced technology; it's not that different). "This will register your new title in the annals of Galactic history," Luke explained. Robin stood and placed his thumb on the device; it took a sample of everything from blood and flesh to bone marrow, which Luke quickly healed for Robin. Luke drew out another box, which was smaller, and opened it. Luke withdrew a beautiful medal of white gold on blued Durasteel, depicting a white lightsaber, and pinned it to Robin's chest. "Wear it proudly," Luke said. (White is purity and/or healing among Force-users, especially Jedi and Sith. The medal is suggestive of purity in the Force, reflecting its wearer.)

The Knighting itself was a pretty brief affair, despite the extra ceremonial details. Robin had kneeled once more, then Luke asked The Question: "Who do you serve?" Robin replied honestly, "I serve the Force, Master Skywalker. Unto my last breath. I shall not lose myself, I swear it." Then Luke drew his spare lightsaber and hovered the blade over each shoulder. "I dub thee, in the name of the Force, The Order, and myself as your proud Master, Knight Stace. The Shadow's Bane is your current moniker for fieldwork and your reputation. Your records can be changed or added to in the future according to your deeds. Titles hold surprising psychological power… each one." Luke divulged to Robin.

"Now stand and take a bow," Luke said happily. Robin did just that, first seeing his mum smiling ear to ear while trying not to cry; then his friends and supporters, as well as some of the rank-and-file Jedi he passed in hallways. It was a fantastic knighting ceremony, or so people said. The Force also seemed to agree that today had been good. Robin was congratulated by many, as was Luke, for his wisdom in choosing to teach Robin. The future felt bright for all.

That night in Grand Lord Darish Vol's chambers on Coruscant

Grand Lord Vol felt it; a fundamental change somewhere had occurred or was still occurring. This sense had lasted less than a moment, yet it left Vol feeling incredibly vulnerable, a feeling he detested with all his being. He decided to contact his mole within the Jedi. "What is thy bidding, Master Vol?" An-Dru answered with a slight tremor in his voice. Vol frowned at his naive young pawn's holographic image.

"Something's wrong." It wasn't a question but a statement of fact, and An-Dru knew this, grimacing slightly before launching into explaining and defending himself. "The Grandmaster expelled me from the Order. It wasn't my fault! If not for…" An-Dru's tangent was interrupted before it could truly gain momentum by a seethingly furious Darish Vol. "Enough! No excuses… just take responsibility. The odds are that you deserve it. What about before your expulsion? Did you glean anything?" Vol asked An-Dru, who gulped in fear.

"Padawans don't have much security access, so I'll send what I can find. The only thing that stood out was a new student named Robin Stace; he started in expert-level classes, but he doesn't even have a full year of experience. We duelled, and somehow he won, even though I did not fight clean." An-Dru tried to explain what had happened. For an instant, his foe had disappeared completely; his movements were so fast that An-Dru couldn't keep up. "Hmm, interesting. It usually takes years to master one lightsaber form, but he mastered the first three and almost the fourth. Has or is anything significant happening tonight?" Vol demanded answers; he would find the source of his increasing unease, and he would either corrupt it or destroy it. "Just the bastard's Knighting Ceremony!" An-Dru couldn't help but spit in rage.

Vol was silent as he thought about the situation, something that always bugged the speck of a man that was An-Dru. Young An-Dru was a useful pawn, but… limited. He would be dispatched eventually, but for now, Vol pretended to be his teacher. It was very entertaining to play mentor after a long and boring day schmoozing people of influence and power.

This knighting must have been important for The Force to stir as it had; stirring was putting it lightly; calling it a momentary quake would be more accurate. "Study and record his movements, but do not engage. He's beaten you in a practice fight where you cheated and still came out practically unscathed. He'd probably kill you. I know I would if I were him, and if you were honest with yourself, so would you. If you're captured, then you're as good as dead, disavowed. If you accept and follow my commands, great power shall be yours, and if you're willful enough, eventually your vengeance as well." Vol had long since learned how to manipulate those like An-Dru who were driven by personal vendettas. An-Dru gasped at the mere mention of vengeance. "All too easy", Vol silently mused before severing the connection.

Meanwhile, the post-knighting party was a blast; people talked, laughed, and drank, and there were two areas reserved for dancing; one played elegant music for ballroom style, while the other had more modern nightclub-type music and dancing. Robin nearly gasped upon learning about the karaoke scheduled for later, towards the end of the festivities. (He's truly horrible; trust me, you're lucky it's not included in the story).

Robin watched everything from a corner, sipping champagne out of a champagne flute. He smiled at the revelry in the air. "It's your party, yet all you're doing is people-watching," his mother said, having sidled up to his position. "You know me, I'm hardly a party man." Cindy smiled at his response. "He's engaged in the conversation; that's good," she thought before continuing. "I know. But it's rude for the man of the hour to waste a good party like this." Cindy said knowing Robin was practically OCD with politeness. (There are worse character flaws; it's true. But Robin is one of the protagonists, so it's expected that he'll have more good qualities than bad or strange ones. But he has his share, I assure you!) Robin gave his mum an amused look and finished his drink. "You know me too well, mum. Or maybe I've become predictable?" he said with a shudder at the mere thought. "You're never predictable. I'm your mother; I'm supposed to know you as well as you know yourself… sometimes better." Cindy replied with a chuckle.

"You should ask Jaina to dance! She's over there just doing nothing, looking bored as hell. Unless maybe you're too rusty? I'm definitely dancing, and it's been longer for me than you." Cindy chuckled and left to mingle with some other party-goers.

Robin glanced over at Jaina and noticed her tapping her foot and swaying a bit; it would be imperceptible to most but not to those who knew her. Robin took a big breath and walked up to her smiling as he offered her his hand. "Care to dance? I'm not sure why nobody has asked you yet. Are people blind?'' She took his hand, and they linked elbows while they meandered to the dance areas, speaking all the while. "You're a flatterer," she said with mock accusation and amusement in her voice while sporting a smile. "No… never. Flattery implies a degree of falsehood or lies. Compliments, on the other hand, are my specialty. They only require the truth," he replied, grinning. They had a good rapport, and the banter was fun. It was easy enough with all the time they spent together training and studying; even some harmless flirting had occurred between the two in the time since Robin enrolled at the Jedi Academy. (By then, it had been eight months.)

"Ballroom or nightclub?" he asked. "Ballroom." Jaina answered, which surprised him a little; she didn't seem the type. "Alright, cool," he replied as they went to the ballroom dance floor. There they danced a simple waltz, which was a little awkward at first with the physical contact and very close proximity. Robin had one hand on her hip, while the other held her hand.

As they both got into the groove of it, their dance skills grew with confidence. They noticed a small crowd gathering, more dancers likely, yet at the same time it felt like they had both forgotten that anything else was there, as though reality had ceased. They danced to a tune only they knew. one born from so many practice bouts and training sessions; dancing was essentially simple footwork, just like with a friendly duel or training. It was a beautiful, hypnotic dance. It looked like a lovely and reasonably reserved affair, (nothing fancy,) but the beauty was in its simplicity. Cindy, who had been watching, later swore that it felt like a very energetic dance; via the Force, it was likened to energy resonance, two energies feeding each other, each growing because of the other.

After their dance was done, they took a breather. Warmed and flushed by the dancing, they sought fresh air on one of the many balconies. "I'm glad that you picked ballroom dancing. It's the only kind that I can do." Robin said quietly with a light chuckle, which surprised Jaina; she didn't see him as the type for ballroom dancing; practically nobody was in her social circles. "I'm glad I picked it then. You're a very talented dancer, Robin." Robin smiled at the compliment. "Thank you. You're very good too, Jaina. That dance sure was something. Did you feel it too? The energy? I've danced, but I've never felt that energetic or invigorated afterwards." Robin spoke with a little excitement in his voice at the mystery of the dance and its energizing effects. Jaina knew he liked mysteries, especially those potentially linked with the Force, and she couldn't help but chuckle at his enthusiasm. Then she noticed something new, but welcome.

She could sense Robin passively now, which was fantastic news for fieldwork. His presence was strangely large, yet it was comforting rather than oppressive or imposing, as a few peers had described how his presence had made them feel. Jaina pondered on how her uncle and cousin, and even her parents, had all changed in subtle ways since meeting and returning with the Stace family. Maybe they somehow innately helped people change for the better; it had been nothing but improvements as far as she could tell. Jaina knew that her dad liked Robin since their initial meeting, which was rare in itself, let alone to instantly win his approval. "I can sense you now! Finally!" Jaina said, whooping while doing a tiny victory dance, and as she finished dancing, she found herself kissing Robin in celebration right on the lips.

They were both a little wide-eyed with surprise and shock until Jaina took the initiative, deepening the kiss just a little to tease the young man. It was obviously his first real kiss based on his reaction, so she figured she'd make it extra memorable for them both. Robin was hardly a statue for long, though, and he returned the kiss with equal vigour, even snaking an arm around her swan-like neck to pull her closer. (Please finish already, right? Yeah, I'm with you, Reader, it's almost painful. Blame the Author, I only narrate).

Up until this point, neither had made a move on the other, not out of obliviousness, (despite what many thought,) but out of a willingness to sacrifice for the beautiful friendship that they shared. They were both incredibly stubborn, sometimes even dense people. Neither realized that their friendship would always be, so they both held back or made lame-ass excuses to themselves about why it could never be romantic. The dance was step one toward freedom. Step two was the quiet, private, romantic, yet not overwhelmingly so, balcony; intimacy without expectations. Step three had definitely been an act of the Force in some capacity pushing them together; their moms and others like Ben had helped, without either of them being the wiser.

The pair pulled apart quickly. As passionate as the moment had been, it was also short, but all the sweeter for it. "Wow. I've wanted to do that for, well, a long time." Jaina said, her glassy eyes reflecting his own as well as his astonishment at her confession. "That was amazing." Despite being dazed by the kiss, Robin was able to communicate. She went back inside, surprising him. Robin thought there would be a talk or something along those lines. She was already across the room, obstructed by the crowd, when he followed her inside a moment or so later. "She'll talk to you when she's ready. She's like her mom; you can't push her or she'll push back, if only to be contrary," a voice said from behind, mildly amused. Robin knew that voice and felt a little nervous, but he turned to face Jaina's dad, and despite his slight feeling of nervousness, he managed to smile.

Robin was surprised by his own calmness; he was at a two on the nervousness scale. "Captain Solo, it's…" "Exactly what I think, and I told you to call me Han. I don't care how formal the environment is. But no worries, kid." Han grinned his famous grin at the young man who may have helped lower Jaina's walls. She'd needed them to cope with losing her baby brother, and later killing her twin brother Jacen after his fall to the Dark Side, but now... things appeared to be changing for the better, (don't worry, you'll get a full explanation in time; you have not missed anything. This is just how the story must go.)

Han remembered how hollow his daughter had been, her spirit nearly broken. The mind can only take so much trauma, and as a result, Jaina had withdrawn into herself. Pain and loss couldn't reach her, which was a good thing for a time, but she was numb to happiness, joy, and life in general. Jaina had spent so long just going through the motions, and Han and Leia had convinced Jaina to try therapy, but it wasn't helpful enough, though they had explained Jaina's mindset and situation. But like both her parents, she was stubborn and turned a blind eye to the issue out of fear. Jaina essentially had a form of PTSD but chose to ignore it, believing the cost was worth it to protect herself from pain. Until she acknowledged her fear and loss, she would forever be stuck with the agony of losing her younger brother and killing her twin brother. She'd since been forbidden from field work by Luke until only recently, limited to the Academy and streets of Coruscant out of concern for her wellbeing.

"Come with me somewhere quiet to talk. Enough blaster fire over the years does a number on the hearing." Han explained as he led the slightly apprehensive young man to a quiet corner with leather chairs. Han poured them both a beautiful Correllian whisky, then took a sip with Robin following suit. The drink helped Robin relax. "Let the record show that you and my daughter have finally acted on your mutual affection. I approve, by the way, and not just because I won a bet." Han chortled quietly while writing something down on his comm-link, then sending the message.

A part of Robin wondered why Jaina had run; he supposed he'd gone too far, which he found confusing since she kissed him first and he'd only reciprocated. "Of course, now you probably feel like she ran from you. She didn't; she just needs space and time to think and process. I was on board with you from day one, and my opinion of you has only grown better. You kids are good for each other. You're good for each other as friends, and maybe even better once you are more than friends. Even if you had no romantic feelings of any kind, you're a good person, and you'd have given her much-needed closure, and helped her move forward. Thank you, Robin." Han said. It was rare that he didn't call Robin "kid" so he knew that it was a genuine, serious thank you.

Han took a liberal sip. This wasn't an easy topic to broach, but Robin needed some context to truly understand Jaina's situation. "She's been in a bad place ever since her younger brother, Anakin, died in war just a few years ago. Anakin was named for their grandfather, Leia's father… My son was a hero to everyone… and he rests as One with the Force. Jacen, Jaina's twin brother, fell to the Dark Side out of despair and desperation at the loss of their brother Anakin. Jacen, in a desperate attempt to improve the galaxy by any means, became the secret mastermind behind starting the last big war in a twisted bid to unite the galaxy and stop the conflict. He believed that his brother's sacrifice to bring peace was going unappreciated and unanswered. He would have forced the galaxy to its knees and called it peace if he could. Jaina… she was forced to kill her brother. Luke could have killed Jacen, but he was afraid it would result in him going to the Dark Side, and his fears were not without merit. Jacen also killed Luke's wife, Mara Jade-Skywalker… and furthermore, attempted to convert Ben to the Dark Side as his Sith Apprentice, or, barring that, kill him. The duty of killing her brother fell to Jaina, as she is the Sword of the Jedi and the one least likely to fall to the Dark Side. She also broke off her engagement last year. His name was Jagged Fell, and they seemed to love each other, but it was a one-sided love… when the public eye wasn't on them. Jaina needed support, but instead, she was pressured to recover from her loss and pain as well as to look good for his precious public image. The bastard put his career as a politician first, above even her well-being. Because of him, we almost lost her too, just in a different way." Han said, his voice breaking ever so slightly.

Han took a calming breath and gave Robin a look. "Since you have no knowledge regarding Fell, I can tell you now that I never approved of him... Jaina withdrew even more because of him. For a while, the walls around her heart and mind were good, strong, and protective, but after some time passed, they were deemed detrimental to her overall well-being and state of mind. Jaina was in a prison of the mind, you might say. Doctors, healers, and even those with the Force all agreed she needed time and a catalyst of some kind. Something that could change her perspective and move her mind forward, past her losses and trauma. I'd say you're a damn good catalyst." Han said, winking in approval. Robin was furious and lamented that Jaina had to go through any of that. He was amazed by not just her strength, but her parents' strength as well. They really had a lot in common, him and Jaina. (Super parents away!)

Han paused in his speech so they might both have a sip or two of the whisky, thinking about how best to phrase what he wanted to say. "As long as you keep her happy, you have my blessing to date her. Leia's too, I'm sure. Just no grandkids for a while, okay?" Han said, chuckling in an attempt at lightening the mood a little.

Han leaned forward, motioning for Robin to do the same, and whispered in his ear. "Don't ever hurt her, and if you do, do everything to make up for it, ok? Own your mistakes." Robin nodded and replied, "Yeah Han, I got it. Thanks for the explanation. I'll let her take the lead; she'll let me know when she's ready to talk, and I won't push." Robin finally addressed the captain by his first name in public, though it had an even clearer note of respect than when Robin called Han Captain Solo. The two talked and drank, exchanging stories of piloting adventures. Han had a great deal more to draw upon, though they also talked about the piloting club, Rogue Squadron, and the Jedi forces, all of which Han worked with now and again; they were all subjects Robin had a vested interest in, which made conversation far less one-sided, (thank god.)

After an hour or so, Han dismissed himself to find his wife, just as Luke and two persons unknown approached. One was a humanoid dressed like a priestess, and the other was dressed as a monk of the Bo-Ran school of thought and Force-study. "Knight Robin Stace, congratulations on your fast promotion. I've heard that you're a prodigy; just don't let it go to your head," the woman chuckled. Robin stood and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Sister of Dathomir, Lady Harmony; it took me a moment to place a name to your face. It's an honour to meet one of the high echelons of the Witches of Dathomir." Her smile became a little predatory as she appraised Robin like a piece of meat. Such was the way of the Witches of Dathomire's culture; even with all the progress they'd made, it was still primarily a woman-dominated school of Force study and thought. Their culture was changing towards equality for all genders, just incredibly slowly. Robin could not show fear or push back too hard against the Witch; her high status made her either a terrible foe or a fantastic ally.

"Perceptive of you to recognize one of a higher station, a useful and often underappreciated gift. Most impressive. You project neither fear nor disrespect, simply acceptance. Luke did well finding and teaching you. Oh, the many great things I could teach you…" purred the witch. Robin shivered in fear briefly, (Most old-school Witches view men as instruments or tools first, and people second, if at all. You can probably imagine such a scenario and understand his fear better,) though he controlled his reaction enough for it to not be noticed.

Robin smiled politely, grateful for a reason not to be the total centre of attention. He turned to the monk, bowing in their direction. "You must be a member of the Bo-Ran Monks. Forgive me; I don't recognize you from my readings and studies." Robin said apologetically. "You wouldn't recognize him… yet. He's the newly elected Grandmaster of the Bo-Ran Monks. Bo-Ran monks are humble to the point where they only make public appearances for the big things, such as crowning a new leader of a public Force organization, or a knighting by me. His name is Drex Tate, and his promotion is in effect in three days, at which point everyone will know his name." Luke explained. The monk nodded at Luke's explanation after returning Robin's bow with one of his own, though the returned bow was no less deep than Robin's had been despite Drex possessing a higher social status and rank.

"Congratulations, young man. You know, we may be pacifists, but we Bo-Ran enjoy a martial challenge too. You and my apprentice should duel; I bet you could teach each other a little something in the ring. Assuming work and missions place you near our main school, or we visit Coruscant again," Drex said with a smile. "Thank you, Grandmaster Drex. It would be my pleasure to someday duel your student." Robin replied politely as he realized that Luke was networking him, building a support system, and securing him potential allies for his career as a Jedi Knight. The night continued like this, with Robin meeting various people of note for a few more hours before the party was done.

By the time the final hour of the night rolled around, Robin was exhausted and knew that he'd have a hangover the next day, but the Force could stop his headaches and allow him to function, which was good since he'd be assigned his first mission the next day. Robin bid goodbye to the die-hard partiers, finding Ben and Luke along the way, and they supported Ben's weight together before dumping him in the speeder cab and going home. They were reasonably sure Ben was not totally drunk but exhausted. They would return the following day, when sober, to retrieve Robin's '67 Impala-Speeder. Robin didn't drive as much as on earth, but he still drove it around for both Jedi business and personal pleasure at the freedom driving gave him.

"I'm assigning your first mission the day after tomorrow; I figured we'd both need the recovery time," Luke said to Robin with a light laugh, while the excitement caught up with Robin and his eyes began to droop. "Han won the bet. I thought that you would've made the first move, not Jaina. The man knows his daughter well." Luke mused quietly as both Ben and now Robin were asleep in the cab. Einstein came out to greet them, jumping in the cab and back out with Robin draped on his back before proceeding to dump his charge, gently dragging him by the collar and back inside, as if saying, "I got him; Ben's yours." Luke couldn't help but chuckle at the thought; he must have had a lot more to drink than he realized.

Meanwhile, at the Sith temporary headquarters on Coruscant

Vol continued his games, moving the politicians, influencers, and authority figures to his tune. Promises of power for some, immunity from crimes for others, and so on. At the moment, he was in a meeting with one of the leaders of the Imperial Remnant, (the faction of Imperials who neither stood with the Emperor during his reign nor with the Rebellion, kind of like Germany after WW2 except the Imperial Remnant still had military allies with the New Republic and were members of the Galactic Alliance with the same voting rights on Galactic issues as the others, like NATO but way better), and the favourite for the upcoming political battle to determine the next representative for the Imperial Remnant in the Galactic Alliance. "So what can I do for you, Sith Grand Lord Vol?" the young up-and-comer asked politely, albeit guardedly. Vol couldn't help but smile; his pieces were falling into place everywhere, just as he had foreseen. "Why, Mr. Fell, it's not what you can do for me but rather, what I can do for you. I know that you're a winner, and so am I. I can guarantee your political victory. Work with me and my people, and you'll never lose."

Jagged Fell was wary but open to the Grand Lord of the Sith, listening with rapt attention. "Now, I know that you understand that nothing is free, but what we're asking for is no more than the same courtesy that's delivered to the Jedi Order. I understand the Sith and the galaxy, in general, have had a rocky history." Vol said demurely. "The Sith have tried to conquer the Galaxy many times, and even succeeded for a time. What makes you different?" Fell asked skeptically. Vol's smile grew imperceptibly. "Good, he's thinking about the deal; that's steps one through five right there. It's too easy, especially when they do most of my work for me." Vol thought with an imperceptible smirk, it helped that everything was being recorded for blackmail purposes. Even if Fell rejected the Sith as personal allies, he could still be controlled for their ends.

Soon, the political arena would be championed by the Sith. The first target Coruscant, the heart of the galaxy, would become theirs, and then the rest would follow or be destroyed in their wake. "What makes us different is that we don't want to destroy the Jedi. Besides, is it fair that we should suffer for the sins of our ancestors?" The Jedi were important to the plans Vol had already set in motion; one might even say… necessary. It was an unpopular opinion with many of the other High Lords, a sentiment he shared, but they still deferred to his authority. He needed to keep it that way; failure wasn't an option for the Grand Lord of the Sith.

Chapter 10

The Morning/Give Me Death

The following morning, after Robin's knighting and subsequent party, many of our heroes found themselves with terrible hangovers and splitting headaches. None more so than the one and only Sword of the Jedi, Jaina Solo. The moment she awoke and opened her eyes, she wished for a mercifully quick death. She groaned, thinking, "How much did I drink?"

Instead of a swift death, her mom brought her breakfast in bed. "How is she functioning, especially after last night? I know she drank more than me." Jaina marvelled at her mom's ability to handle pretty much anything. Then she realized she was late for the mission briefing; even if she was only going to observe, it wasn't professional. As she tried to raise herself up, her mother gently pushed her back to bed, (not that it took much effort in Jaina's current state). "Luke rescheduled the meeting, foreseeing something like this happening; it's tomorrow instead. Now eat and come down for morning Caf when you're feeling better. Your dad and I have some things to talk to you about," her mother said gently and quietly before retreating downstairs. Jaina ate her breakfast of eggs and bacon slowly. (Fact-greasy food helps with hangovers across the galaxy.)

Now, Jaina rarely procrastinates, but this particular morning she felt that she knew what her parents wanted to talk with her about. Robin Stace, prodigy of a Padawan, and now a full Knight in the eyes of the Order. Oh yeah, she also stole, not a kiss, but the first kiss from the roguish man of the hour last night, and after he returned it, she'd done what? Talk about it? Apologize? Act like an adult? No, she'd run without a word of explanation right after admitting she'd wanted to kiss him for quite a long time. She assumed that he was obviously going to be confused and possibly angry if he felt toyed with; she'd be confused and likely angry in his shoes. However much her dishonourable actions made her want to crawl into a hole, she knew that she couldn't escape her parents or the consequences of her actions.

Besides, Jaina was done running, from her duties as the Sword of the Jedi, from her botched engagement to Jagged Fell, which had really just been her way of burying her grief in any other feeling, but no longer. Jaina was a warrior and would comport herself accordingly, for fuck's sake. (A swear word that she'd picked up from Robin after he broke a toe the first time that they sparred). She was Jaina Solo, and if she ever felt compelled to run again, she'd punch her fear in the face. Feeling better, in a sense, and more like herself than she had in years, Jaina dressed, steeled herself, and headed downstairs for the inevitable talk with Mom and Dad.

Jaina went downstairs, acting like it was any other day, and she was just getting to her morning Caf, albeit with a terrible hangover. She sat down and flicked around holo-station frequencies for anything interesting or newsworthy when she felt it; the combined stares of both her mom and dad. Jaina simply turned in their direction after turning the holo display off. It was the polite and right thing to do.

Jaina began speaking with them with nonchalance. "Good morning, mom and dad. Thanks for the food, mom; it definitely helped," she said with a smile. "Good morning, sweetheart," her dad replied before taking a sip of his drink. "I'm glad you're feeling better. Want more?" her mother asked. Jaina shook her head a little, "no, I'm okay. Thanks though. So what do you want to talk about?" Jaina asked. "A few things centred around you mostly," her dad said, vague and cryptic. "My dad spends too much time with my uncle", she thought. Luckily her mom came to her rescue. "Han, she gets enough cryptic answers at work and from her instructors," she said to Han, who, while deflated a little, was in a strangely good mood; his bet with Luke was a secret among his family, and Robin hadn't really registered it the previous night based on their conversation. Even if Robin did remember that tidbit, Han knew that Robin was pretty chill and easygoing.

Her mom turned back to her. "It's not a bad thing, I swear. Honestly, what we want to say is that you seem happy. Happier anyway. At first, you were struggling, and we were worried, but you've been improving by leaps and bounds. We're happy for you, and frankly curious what you think it's from?" her mom asked, smiling brightly, while her dad did everything he could to avoid smiling for fear of laughter. He revelled in the fact that he knew something his Jedi wife and daughter didn't… finally! It only took two and a half decades. He wanted to savour the moment for as long as possible, and he wanted to avoid the embarrassment for Jaina's sake.

Jaina was taken aback. Had she really spiralled that badly? Yeah, she definitely had baggage, and it had overwhelmed her. It still did from time to time, but she had to admit she'd been in really bad shape for a while. The obvious thing that had changed in her life was Robin and Cindy, two very good, kind, and special people who she enjoyed being around. While it was true that she had stirring feelings for the younger Stace, she found it too convenient that the first guy that she liked in a more than friends kind of way was also the key out of her several-year-long funk. Then again, even if easy isn't the Jedi way, good things can still happen to good people, and she could simply be over-analyzing things.

Could one person have such power as to thaw her heart from its carbonite state and free her mind from its cage built of the regrets of her past? No, of course not, but it could show her that the door was already open and that her heart had thawed long ago. All he had done was give it a little reminder. Jaina smiled as she remembered the dance they'd shared and how everything else had been stripped away, leaving them as two luminous beings, momentarily transcending crude matter. It was cheesy, but it felt so very special. No words could really do it justice.

Her smile felt a touch forced because of her hangover, but it was genuine, warm, and, best of all, happy. "I haven't the foggiest idea," Jaina lied, something she rarely did. She felt like saying such things aloud might unmake the feeling, and she wanted to ride the wave a while longer. Once she had a word for this feeling, she'd tell them if they didn't already know. It was like love, only greater, deeper, and different, yet so similar. She had no doubt that it would be awkward, even difficult, but she would talk with Robin, and they'd work things out. She wasn't afraid to hope he reciprocated, even after her less-than-sterling moment last night, running from him without a word of explanation or even an apology.

She suddenly smiled more; she remembered that Robin was a bigger person than that, much bigger. A man like him wasn't so petty as to hold her actions from last night against her; he was understanding, compassionate, and forgiving by nature. That's one of the reasons why they became great friends so quickly, sharing similar qualities.

She realized that for such a feeling to exist, to begin with, it was without a doubt felt by the other party in some manner. She presumed that it was a Force-link of some kind, though nothing she'd studied or felt before. Jaina's usually talkative father spoke for only the second time that day. "Whatever you're going through is great; if it's a guy, just don't toy with him too much. I'm sure he's a good one if he caught your eye," her dad said knowingly. He used no names, merely glancing at her mom, yet she understood the silent message: "Don't make the man wait for too long. I know what it's like from personal experience." She replied with her own message-laced look, a simple: "Understood, and thanks." Jaina finished her Caf and went for a jog to chase away her remaining headache.

"She's okay," Han said before Leia could speak. "She kissed Robin last night, freaked herself out, and he seemed a little rattled. I smoothed things over; he's a good person who is very understanding. Living with a former princess, war leader, and senator, along with a Jedi, has turned me into a different kind of diplomat. You honestly thought that I would never learn… didn't you, Leia?" he asked playfully as he grabbed her and pulled her towards him. "Anything that you did learn was from me," she replied with a smirk, curious as to what Han would say in response. "No arguments here, Your Worshipfulness," he said in a serious tone, but with mischief in his eyes and a smile. "Love you too, you scruffy Nerf herder," she said, chuckling. "Who's scruffy looking?" Han replied before kissing his wife and basking in the knowledge that his daughter had recovered better than he'd initially thought; life was good.

But that very same morning, at the Skywalker home, life was not good. Not at this moment anyway, for it was the moment that Robin awoke in his bed to the worst hangover ever. His tongue felt like it was made of cotton, and it was a size too large for his mouth. He noticed a glass of water on his nightstand with a note: 'Drink upon waking. Come down when you're hungry. Luke'. Like Luke, it was simple and direct.

He guzzled down the glass of water, which made him feel a little better. Then he smelled it; breakfast. Robin showered and dressed quickly before making his way to the kitchen downstairs. He felt like living now, instead of wanting to eat a blaster bolt as he had when he initially woke up. When he arrived at the kitchen, he noticed that the Skywalkers looked haggard and a little strung out. He felt a little bit better knowing that he wasn't the only one. Misery loves company.

Robin sat down at the dining table. The last thing that he remembered was Luke rescheduling the mission briefing for tomorrow instead of today, "thank God," he thought to himself. He dug in, ravenously eating his breakfast like a starving man. By the time he started his second helping, he started to slow down. "Ben, you weren't drinking. Why do you look like crap?" Robin asked between bites. Ben tried to give Robin a look but winced halfway through. "Ben snuck off and convinced someone to give him a couple of drinks. Says one of the bartenders was very unprofessional and easy to manipulate. Now I know what to do for any future parties involving underage drinking and incompetent bartenders. Ben learned not to overindulge when drinking. You couldn't just wait a few more months, Ben, really?" Luke said, smirking at his son's obvious hangover headache. As a Jedi, Luke was very merciful, but as a parent, not so much. He knew when teachable moments occurred and used them brutally well.

"By the way, Einstein dragged your drunk body in, so you might be sore in weird places," Luke told Robin. "Nonsense, I was supremely gentle with you," Einstein telepathically said. "Thanks, buddy!" Robin replied as Einstein approached as any normal dog would in search of petting and food, enthusiastically grinning like a fool.

"So what's planned for today, Master Luke?" Robin asked as he scratched Einstein's ears. "One, I'm not your Master anymore now that you're a Knight, and two, today is R&R day. Do what you want." Luke told his former Apprentice and Padawan. "In that case, I'll go to the temple and get some piloting sims in. I've been meaning to go to the piloting club more. Maybe I'll spar after at the duelling club. In a few hours, when it's a little less bright," he decided, squinting in discomfort as light from outside struck his eyes.

Robin knew that he could use The Force as a hangover cure, certainly, but felt like that was cheating and an abuse of powers that were greater than himself. The Force wasn't his to wield for such trivialities; he was its conduit just like everyone else, nothing more, even if he was a Paladin King in the making.

He then remembered Jaina and him having a fairly intimate moment the previous night, including her running away right after. Han had filled in enough gaps to help him understand the situation a little better, and Robin was very patient. He'd wait as long as Jaina needed him to, and he wouldn't push.

Robin pondered how she was precious to him in a way he found nigh impossible to understand or explain, at least in words. Many who he'd met on this adventure had by all means been important to him, (An-Dru nonwithstanding,) and none were people who he could do without; but it was greater, or maybe vaster, than what he felt for the others. It was more than love; it was like The Force had a role in augmenting his feeling of love. Akin to ice cream dipped in chocolate, love, but greater. Robin knew a Force link of some kind was without a doubt forged between himself and Jaina though its nature remained unclear.

He'd always wondered why he'd been so easily connected to her; his longest relationship on Earth had been a week-long at max. A connection of such magnitude as this one was unheard of for Robin; he'd just seen it as having suitably high standards. His mum had always said, "Never settle for less than what you want and deserve." He knew that this was good advice and applicable to most things, not just romantic relationships.

"Master Luke, can you tell me what you felt when you fell for your wife? I'm sorry if it's a painful subject, but I need to know: when Force-users fall in love, is a Force-link born?" Robin tried describing his feelings from the previous night, how only they existed during their dance and the subsequent kiss on the balcony. The two men discussed matters of the heart. (Ben had left the room quickly after Luke got all wistful, recalling the day he fell for Mara Jade, Ben's mom. Your average teen, even Jedi teens, didn't want to hear mushy stories about their parents getting together, even if it was a really interesting story. At the time, the Empire was still going strong, and Mara had been tasked with killing Luke, the only real threat to the Empire by the Emperor himself, as she was the Emperor's Hand at the time. Long story short, she failed and retreated, and they met on opposite sides more than once, and slowly they fell deeper in love each time they crossed paths. Mara eventually defected from the Dark Side and the Empire, the rest is, as they say, history.)

"Sometimes a link is generated by the love of two strong Force-users, like Revan (pronounced reh-vn) and his wife Bastilla Shan (pronounced buh-sti-luh shaan.) Or myself and Mara (Mar-uh), though such connections are rare. I can't recall any that sound like yours and Jaina's. Han told me about last night in confidence; it's in the vault, so don't worry. You cost me a bet, you know." Luke said, with a chuckle and a wink. "You were the other person betting on me?" Robin asked, incredulous but too hungover for any anger or even indignation. "Only on who made the first move," Luke replied innocently before continuing on a more serious note. "Jaina can never know of this bet. A word of advice? Don't get her mad, and if you do, face it like an adult. It's faster and less painful that way." Luke cautioned, then slid a cup of caf to Robin; he'd need it to enjoy his R&R. Jedi aren't known to have many days off, and Robin would be no exception to this rule.

After a long day of R&R filled with club activities like simulation runs to improve as a pilot or improving his Form IV style of combat and learning about new ones, Robin was hellbent on one day mastering all seven classical lightsaber forms. He'd already almost mastered four, though if you include Vaapad, Jedi Master Mace Windu's specialty, you had eight total. "Almost halfway there," he thought as he finished up for the day, his form IV Ataru getting better each time he used it, as did his skill at form VII Juyo, though it was slow going.

The showers were empty, and nobody was expected to use the area for a few hours. Robin reached into his pocket and pulled out his spherical Holocron, The Master Holocron. He activated it the same way as before, yet it was different this time. This time, a holographic guardian was summoned after his scan had been completed, rather than a cliche female robotic voice. The guardian appeared to be a human male, though he wore a Mandalorian face mask. (pronounced man-duh-law-ree-uhn). They, the Mandalorians, could be seen as warriors who possessed lightsaber-proof metal and their own creed and culture, shrouded in mystery. (Jango Fett and Boba Fett wear Mandalorian armour for reference regarding appearance, and Boba Fett is the current leader of the Mandalorians.) The figure was, other than his mask, dressed as a Jedi. He was garbed in robes and a cloak similar to Robin's own, indicating his status as a Paladin leader. This new image had a voice, the charismatic voice of a leader, strong and confident. It was deep, but not too deep. A powerful voice that inspires allies with hope while instilling fear in enemies.

This great voice spoke to Robin: "You have started your journey to the final steps to be worthy of the Mantle of the Ruler of Paladins. I both commend you and weep for you. To wield the Power of the King, (which is an alternative way of saying to be a Paladin leader, with the implied greater power than most. To those who care to know, the reason this wasn't explained at the beginning when it was first introduced was that it would have been a huge spoiler,) is both a blessing and a curse. I was known as Revan, a name that resonated with me far more than my now-forgotten birth name. I was placed under a Sith Lord's spell that made me and my friends enemies of the Old Republic. My friend and I went to war to protect and liberate, but we returned as destroyers, as conquerors." Revan's recording took a moment to compose his thoughts, which allowed Robin time to digest the information before Revan continued.

"I found my way back to my true self, though it was not just me, but all of my friends standing with me that gave me the strength to continue. I fought my own love and returned her to herself, as she and my other allies had done for me, and then I did what I had to do, what only I could do. My friend Alec had long since died, though I'd hoped for so long that he was just buried under the shell of Darth Malek, former Apprentice to my Sith self and, at one point, my best friend and brother. In the end, I had to kill him. I considered it a mercy killing and still do, though it is no longer palatable for me. Alec was long gone, and in his place was a dangerous beast, beyond control and my responsibility to stop. My wife Bastilla and I were later with child, and expecting soon when I was... lost to time at the hands of the very Sith who initially turned me to the Dark Side, waking in the far-flung future, countless generations later. The Mantle of the Paladin King shed itself from me, for I had been forced off the mortal coil. For a time, I could not die, and agents of Balance cannot be immortal. I tell you this because Paladins must make difficult, sometimes painful decisions with far-reaching consequences. I killed my best friend out of necessity, and as a consequence of my actions, I was stripped from my life and made miserable in my limbo-like undying state, wherein my soul and body were existing independently; one was my darkness and the other, my light. But you're here to see what's next; my exploits are in the Archives, no doubt. Back to it."

"As far as worthiness goes... you're on the right track, provided that it's for the right reason. You and your Sword could do irreparable damage to more than you know if your bond were to become tainted. Not that it has happened before, but I must follow the rules and warn you all the same, as it's technically possible. I can see your potential future outcomes… even as I record this, which is why I know as much as I do about you. You have great resolve and a powerful foundation to have unlocked my message; you will not fall or fail in your duties. I don't look like it, but I'm very, very old, at least I was when I found out about the Paladins. I'm likely little more than dust in the wind, as it should be. Paladins were a myth, a legend… a whisper in the dark that made Sith children behave. I found this Holocron the same night I learned of the Paladins and my role." The Revan guardian paused before continuing. "I was flooded by memories and experiences that weren't my own; afterwards, I recorded myself. I can tell you that many generations of Paladins came and went in obscurity while this Holocron remained dormant," the guardian-Revan uttered with a little regret.

"Pity; it's harder to start from one. But it's not impossible; proximity alone will change those around you, altering them and helping them achieve balance both within and without. They will simply become what they were always meant to be. Paladins are free thinkers… nonconformists who strive for balance in all things, walking the line separating light and darkness. We represent… so very much. You're close. You'll succeed in reviving an ancient dynasty, one that is greatly needed. Even as I record this, I can see your many possible futures, and you're great in all of them, leading new Paladins in the war for Balance. Consult your Familiars, and while you are not pressed for time at this point in the Flow of Time, it would be wise to not stand idle either. I can advise you no more." The ancient Jedi Master turned Sith Lord, and eventually Paladin King told Robin before the hologram winked out of existence, the Holocron returning to Robin's outstretched hand.

Robin decided to consult his now-former Master, Luke, since he knew about some of Robin's lineage and dynasty. Though it was highly unlikely that he understood the role of Paladins, given the scarce amount of information available. Jedi clans were the things of ancient history, only now beginning to return to the galaxy, even if they numbered but one at the moment. Luke would be in his office at the Jedi Temple. Robin showered, dressed, and was on his way in twenty minutes.

Robin knocked at the door to Luke's office. "Do you have a moment, Master Luke?" Robin asked, ever the picture of politeness. "Please, come in. How can I help you, Robin?" Luke sounded desperate for a quick distraction from the current duties of his office. (What duties, you ask? The greatest evil of all: paperwork.)

"Well, sir, I came here to ask if you've discovered more about Paladins. Specifically, the rulers, though any information would help me." Luke looked at Robin apologetically. "Well, it's not much so far. Just an incomplete note reading that 'Paladins are self-made,' which could mean any number of things. However, I found mention of powerful force links similar to what you were inquiring about. It's a story, so it's not concrete, but it's something to start with."

"A Force link of the magnitude that you described is incredibly rare, and some were so powerful that they were said to have been forcibly weaponized, though how is still a mystery. The story claimed these links could form between any two individuals who 'completed the other.' Not unlike your world's Yin-Yang concept, it doesn't have to be related to love, just connection. Though it sounds like love is what you've got going on with Jaina," Luke said, smiling in contentment. He observed how they were well suited for one another, complementary..."Your niece is a wonderful friend and a lovely young woman… and I do feel love for her, but I'm not pressuring her. We're still friends. We'll talk when we talk." Robin said, affably.

Luke studied Robin briefly as he pondered the young man, and after a moment, he secured the room from outsiders and listening devices before speaking. Now was the time for absolute honesty on both sides. Luke looked at Robin and said, "You're going to bring the Paladans back, starting with Jaina." It wasn't a question, despite being phrased to sound like one. Robin nodded, though he hadn't given it conscious thought. Was Jaina meant to be a Paladin? "How's Paladin status gained? I admit I took you as a student because I thought you were prime Jedi material and would be an asset to the Jedi Order. Now it turns out that you're a link to a dynasty and legacy as old as the Jedi Order itself." Luke continued and was genuinely surprised at Robin's mellow, forthcoming attitude and he was incredibly curious about what he knew and was able to share. Jedi clans were a near-myth for him and pretty much anyone else unless they were thousands of years old.

"To be a Jedi Paladin is a mindset… one that most only achieve near death, when the trappings that we thought were important are stripped away, leaving only the truth. The Paladins had the perfect mindset to wield the Dark Side simultaneously with the Light Side without fear of corruption or madness. They were all nonconformists who served the whole Force rather than the government or ambitions of conquest, and they were incredibly rare and powerful individuals. I have… spiritual advisors, each representing an aspect of my being. Every Paladin had one. I have every Paladin leader's memories and experiences, from the beginning to now, though they still need sorting before access is actually viable as an option. The Holocron showed that the last to record themselves was a man named Revan, whom I've studied. He's labelled as a hero and a villain, a conqueror and liberator, a Jedi, and a Sith. Seems like the perfect nonconformist." Robin chuckled at Luke's statement. He doubted that a specific mindset was everything you needed to be a Paladin, but it felt like a good foundation.

"Ben has a gift you might find very illuminating if you have an interest in Revan and the many great influencers of the Force and Galactic history. Study this Paladin affair in your spare time, between missions, training, and classes." Luke suggested this pragmatically as he fished out a file for Robin. "Your mission for tomorrow… and your cover; it's all here. Your partner has been changed; Jaina will be your in-field backup with you instead of Ben. She'll know her part, and you can focus on yours. Professionalism will help you two get past the awkward silences." Luke finished, handing over the file.

Robin took the file, flipped through it, and turned back to Luke. "What about the opposition in the Jedi Council?" he asked Luke. "Oh, you don't want the mission?" Luke asked with a raised eyebrow. Robin mimed mock pain, holding his chest. "Please, Luke, you wound me. Of course, I'm taking the job. But the last thing I want is to cause you trouble; I can wait." Robin said. "If someone claims that you were treated with bias, I'm resigning from the Order. That's what I told the council, and whoever was stirring the pot shut up fast. Let me worry about the council. Half are in our corner anyway, and most of the others can be persuaded to at least not oppose you, even if they have some beef with me." Luke responded, making use of Earth vernacular, a new quirk courtesy of the Staces.

"I'm expecting someone soon; sorry, you seem to be helping me understand more than I am helping you... It's a real dynamic role reversal." Robin took the hint as a very polite dismissal. He'd review the dossier and prepare for it tonight. Robin took the file back with him to the Skywalker residence. It's better to err on the side of caution, he had reasoned, opening the file. "Hmm… very interesting," Robin muttered as he paced in his quarters, thinking of tomorrow's mission as he read. "This is definitely in my wheelhouse," he decided with a grin at the prospect of his first mission for the Jedi.

Chapter 11

The Mission Briefing/ Day 1 of the Tournament

The next day began, and it dawned bright on Coruscant, illuminating the skyscrapers above and the slums below. Today was a big day: Robin's first mission for the Order. He intended to take Luke's advice and be professional with Jaina. If the events of two nights ago were brought up, it wouldn't be by him. Ben was instructed to write a performance review on how well Robin handled his mission.

Robin had been outside Luke's office since sunrise, wearing normal robes and a cloak instead of Paladin attire. He wasn't ready to broadcast the return of the Paladins, and it wasn't an issue of Balance or Imbalance, so Paladins weren't needed anyway. Jedi business meant Jedi solutions, not Paladin ones, something Robin knew bone-deep. The Jedi temple provided a beautiful view of the sunrise, though it was currently wasted on Robin as he was meditating; his consciousness in his mindscape was getting in some last-minute practice with Shadow and Einstein. He'd need all of his training and skills to be successful on this mission. Once the sun peeked over the tallest building on the horizon, Robin was alert and ready. Robin turned his focus to the gift he received from Ben the previous day after returning to cook dinner and relax.

Ben's work on the Stace family tree was impressively extensive and made a strange amount of sense to Robin; one name, in particular, stood out, and it was without a doubt not a coincidence: Revan. Ben had been very happy that Robin liked the gift. "Luke was right… It is illuminating," Robin muttered as he perused the gift of his and his mum's genetic history while he waited for Ben, Jaina, and Luke, who would summarize the main mission as well as explain any additional objectives. Ben was the first to arrive, and he struck up a conversation with Robin to pass the time. They weren't left waiting long, as Jaina appeared with her uncle Luke.

When Robin met Jaina''s gaze, it was awkward for a second, but Luke had been wise in his advice; professionalism saved the day. Robin simply greeted her like it was any other day with an easygoing smile, which seemed to pleasantly surprise her before she could fully mask her emotions in the Force, the brief shock breaking the awkward vibe before it gained momentum. The three followed Luke into his office, where he proceeded to take security measures to stop anyone from listening in while locking the door for good measure.

"Good morning, you three. Everything regarding the mission is mostly the same, barring some minor tweaks. Jaina, you'll be in the field with Robin while Ben shadows you both and gets his report done. Artoo will join you as well." Jaina looked very briefly surprised. "I'm back in the field? Why? I thought I was on forced leave. Not that I'm complaining." Luke gestured to his son by way of an answer. "Me. I suggested that you two work together to hone your teamwork, and seeing that you've known Robin for less time than me, the council will see no conflict of interest, were you to intervene. Because we live together, it could be seen as favouritism; there are those on the Council who want others to see Robin, and by extension, dad, fail. This change helps cover our asses politically." Ben explained; Jaina accepted the explanation easily enough. Luke had kept her from missions; he could just as easily lift the ban. Jaina was just happy to be out in the field again; being benched didn't sit well with her.

"Your mission is to enter a tournament held by a rogue Hutt named Wabba in a resort he built on an asteroid in the Outer Rims called the Amber Room. You are going to represent The Jedi Order; that is entirely true, and the prize for succeeding is a Force-related object, though we aren't sure what it actually is, Wabba likes his surprises. Don't lose. Robin, you're championing the Jedi; there will be competitors from many schools of thought on the Force; including the Sith, so be wary. If possible, make it long-lasting, and stretch out your matches. This is a marathon… not a sprint. Jaina's great at stamina training and will be acting as your coach, manager, and moral and medical support. We will have another separate team trying to access Wabba's information cache, so the longer the tournament lasts, the better. Don't go getting killed, mind you. It's not all combat, but it is all dangerous… potentially even fatal." He warned semi-seriously; he knew that such a task wouldn't be the end of his former student.

Luke turned to look at both Robin and Jaina and asked, "Do you understand your mission objectives as they have been provided?" "Yes, Master Luke," Robin replied. "Understood Uncle Luke," Jaina replied before checking the time their shuttle left. "Time to go. We haven't got much time," she muttered before leaving with Robin. Ben followed suit, his mother's espionage skills going to work, (an explanation is coming up, not to worry). "May the Force be with you." Luke proclaimed after them.

For things to go as planned, Ben had to look like he was spying on Robin and Jaina, and they had to sell it that they didn't know, which afforded Ben the chance to keep and hone his spy skills. He hoped Robin's acting skills were up to the task. He knew that he was getting his own speeder after this, based on the brownie points he was sure to earn. He suspected something had happened between the two, but he wouldn't pry; despite his curious and mischievous nature, he was still respectful. If Robin or Jaina talked to him, Ben knew that he'd keep both of their secrets; he'd always prided himself on being a good confidante.

Coruscant's Main Spaceport, same day

Jaina and Robin took their seats on a public shuttle, the first of three, as they'd need to switch twice before reaching the target location. Jaina felt reasonably good, not just about the mission. She'd been surprised when Robin had acted like today was any other day, as if they hadn't shared a kiss two nights ago. She'd appreciated his professionalism and how he was giving her space and control over if and when things happened, like talking about that night. It was a gift she would not take for granted; she knew that they would have to talk during the mission at some point. Robin was studying his file, more to avoid putting his foot in his mouth than anything else; he'd already memorized it. Not bringing up the kiss was far from easy; his focus on not saying anything ill-advised was so great that he was sticking his tongue out of the corner of his mouth in concentration. But he wasn't going to push Jaina for answers to his questions. So he'd reread his file over and over… and over.

Robin would be going as himself, if only in name, surprisingly; Jaina was too. He would be wearing a mask provided with his file. A note in Luke's handwriting said that it was Revan's and that it would protect him since it was made of Beskar. They'd agreed that his identity needed some protection as the last known Paladin, so his face would be covered while in public. The spectators, staff, and opposition would know his name but not his face. "So… I hear that you've almost finished mastering the Ataru combat style. That's not easy. Maybe we can get in a spar sometime? I'd like to see and experience your skills firsthand." Jaina said, breaking the silence and grinning a little bit. Robin looked at her and replied with good cheer, "That sounds great; I'm always up for a friendly match." Robin paused in thought and added, "After the tournament would be ideal. That way, I'll be at my best." They shook hands, agreeing. "Do you see any rules? I haven't seen any." Robin asked. Jaina frowned, looking through her file. As the senior Jedi of the two, she had more responsibilities and more information than Robin. "Bad news. The only rule is that there are no rules. Expect cheaters… and saboteurs." Robin nodded his thanks, and silence fell again.

Two shuttles later, a hiss was heard as the landing ramp was lowered. "Last stop: the Amber Room." Two cloaked figures got off, their robes and cloaks moving in the high-velocity winds of the asteroid Wabba chose to use as his base. They marched towards the expensive, gaudy palace, both ready for anything.

After a dozen or so assassination attempts just while travelling, one grows a little wary of everything, and Robin and Jaina were on their guard. Wabba didn't allow violence outside the arena on his turf after all, providing some security since assassins could only try killing people before reaching their destination, and Wabba's protection. The Force was with them, and that was what mattered. It would be the difference between life and death.

Upon entry, both were scanned for security purposes. They were being compared to the files that Wabba had on them, which were sparse, especially for Robin. The droid asked for their weapons and cloaks; their hands needed to be visible, and their weapons needed registration. "I'll lose the cloak, and you can have my weapons, but I am not taking off my mask, and I am going to get my weapon back. Understood?" Robin growled irritably at the droid before walking through the scanners again to the other side, where he collected his things while ensuring that everything was there.

Robin was tired and hangry, but he drew on the Force for energy and for help in composing himself. "Ready?" Jaina asked from behind. Robin turned around, flashed a smile, (not that it could be seen,) and answered, "Yeah, I'm ready. Sorry that I'm a little grumpy." "I understand. I'm not feeling great either. Hangry and tired…it's a bad combo. We'll register after we drop off our bags in our room. Tomorrow we'll work on mastering Ataru and working on your stamina as well. Uncle Luke mentioned that you're a beginner student of Form VII Joyu too; that's impressive… we can build that up too." They dropped off their belongings. Credits, (money), jewellery, and the like went in their room's lockbox, leaving quickly right after to eat and register.

The pair grabbed a quick bite at a place specializing in food on the go. Whatever Robin was eating tasted like chicken, despite looking like fish. As a cook, he felt embarrassed that he couldn't recognize the food, so Robin followed Jaina's lead. Jaina found the dynamic switch amusing; more than he thought warranted. Rolling his eyes good-naturedly and grinning despite himself, Robin followed Jaina to the tournament registration desk. "Next!" A bored-looking receptionist called, and they stepped forward. "Name? Weapon of choice? You only get one. Wear the mask if you like, but if you do, keep doing so because it builds your character's persona, and switching things up will cause you unnecessary headaches." Jaina cleared her throat. "My colleague Robin Stace's preferred weapon is his lightsaber, but he can make do with any lightsaber if it breaks on him. He's representing the Jedi Order. I'm his Coach and manager; he's shy, so I'll speak for him unless told otherwise." Robin just grinned behind his mask, his blue eyes dancing merrily at how he'd get her back for that light teasing. Yes, he was not the most social person, but he wasn't shy. The receptionist filled out the required documents and sent them to be filed.

Soon, Robin understood what Jaina had been doing. Jaina was very well known throughout the galaxy; even out here, Robin Stace, not nearly as much. She'd been a tournament fighter before, but Robin was unknown in the circuit, and he surmised that she probably figured he'd appreciate it staying that way. She was protecting his identity; without a face or a voice, he could be anyone. "Got it, Jedi… all done. So you're his coach! A former champion yourself, and also a Jedi war hero. Wow! I'm pro-Jedi, and so are many others, so don't worry too much… but know that not everyone carries that predisposition. Some here hate Jedi. Be careful… you're outnumbered. Use the lift at the end of the hall. Here's your keys," she said, giving them their key cards and a strained but genuine smile. As they walked away, the receptionist thought, "I'm not bored now", and sped up her work so she could catch at least one fight with the Jedi and Sith.

The Sith had more fighters, but the feeling the receptionist got from both Jedi matched the half-dozen Sith in raw power, and while Jedi Stace felt inexperienced, the young man also felt potentially dangerous as well. It was like a powerful storm trapped in a bottle, waiting to be unleashed. A feeling every incredibly gifted warrior seemed to exude.

The receptionist had been to many tournaments, but none had boasted both Jedi and Sith, in addition to many other schools of thought regarding the Force and its innumerable applications. Whoever won would win many allies if they played on the influence that winning this tournament would bring.

Ben had shadowed his friend and cousin perfectly, taking note of how everything was done. Then he ran into Artoo, and the duo followed Robin and Jaina, bypassing security and following down the shaft of the turbo-lift Robin and Jaina took. That hadn't been as easy, but it was worth it; the grill for airflow was just open enough to see, or in Artoo's case, record, the two of them talking about the tournament setup. Jaina mentioned how Robin's first match would set the tone and that not all of the challenges would involve combat, though half likely would. Then Robin and Jaina fended off an assassin, leaving him alive but bound; they were uninjured. When the older pair got out, Ben opened the lift hatch, and he and Artoo followed them out of the turbo-lift, all the while silent and unseen as they returned to the ductwork and shadows. Robin and Jaina heard a blowgun, looked back at their would-be assailant, and regretted it instantly. (Character POV will shift more often between the duos; Robin and Jaina, and Ben with R2-D2, please roll with it.)

Stepping out of the turbo-lift, Robin and Jaina made their way through the throng to their assigned location; it was pretty much everything proof. Wabba heavily discouraged killing outside of the arena. One Sith assassin had broken the rule, and now he was… unmade. The Sith's whole body turned first to liquid, then gas, after he was shot by a dart filled with an incredibly illegal poison. It was a contagion composed of nanobots that ate everything until nothing was left. The duo didn't feel too bad, as they were the aforementioned Sith's intended targets earlier on the second floor. He'd been alive then, out cold but alive. The dart was only fired after the pair had left the lift; they weren't the targets as they hadn't been playing dirty. "Cheaters really don't prosper," Robin whispered quietly enough to not be heard by anyone other than Jaina.

She could tell that part of Robin was enjoying knowing that the assailant was dead. She knew this because part of her felt the same way. It was also why she knew that he regretted such feelings and the death itself, but not the end result, being their continued survival. That was just how Robin was. Awareness of one's self is a powerful, underrated ability. It is rare to achieve such a feat with so little experience. Jaina was looking forward to her friend's victory for the Jedi. She had few qualms with destroying agents of evil, even if she would prefer their redemption.

The lights dimmed, and a spotlight appeared on the fattest living Hutt in known history: Wabba. He had a slave with him, a young man dressed plainly who quickly gathered up a giant plate of very disgusting foodstuff. "Good thing we already ate", Robin thought. Wabba began his opening speech, such as it was, translated into various languages from his native Huttese. "I see many familiar faces, and just as many new ones. New blood is always refreshing, isn't it everyone?'' The crowd cheered and applauded. Wabba smiled; he had them now. "In the interest of the spirit of new blood, I open the tournament and welcome to our first match, former Sith Lord Darth Mangler. He is representing the newly elected Governor Willibe of Tattooine. Come up here, please. I also introduce Robin Stace, who is representing the Jedi Order. A big round of applause. It's his first time here! Come on up here, young man." Once both Mangler and Robin were on stage, everyone other than coaches and the like, found a seat. "This first match is trivia. Get a question right… You're safe. Get a question wrong, and, well…" Wabba let their imaginations do the work for him, which was far more effective. "First to 5 points or last standing wins! Sounds fun, right?" The competitors nodded; neither sought to irk the Hutt host.

Trivia. Of course. "Fuck me." Robin thought bitterly; he liked games just fine, but he was mildly worried about the penalty for a wrong answer. "Question one: What creatures are native to Hoth? Two-part answer, two points, and two potential penalties. Talk about an interesting beginning! Write down your answers, now.'' The two challengers wrote on flimsis, (a very thin writing material,) and placed them face down on the table in front of them. Wabba pressed a button and showed the various creatures native to Hoth. "These are acceptable answers. Let's see yours. Jedi, you first." Robin revealed "Wampa, Tauntaun" on his answer sheet, both of which were right. Mangler showed two creatures that, while living on Hoth, actually originated elsewhere in the galaxy, a common mistake. "I'm afraid you're incorrect on both counts, Mangler. Now the Wheel of Pain shall determine your penalties." A wheel was spun twice, and the penalties began to play out.

Mangler was first set on fire before being shot in the hand by a powerful blaster once the fire had subsided. It was the equivalent of beating a dead horse. Overkill much? Once the smoke cleared, Mangler was left without his dominant hand; all that was left of it was a painful, bloody stump, and 90% of his flesh had been scorched black by the flames. "Would you like a medic, Mangler?" Wabba asked, and Mangler actually managed a wheezy, "Yes, please," amazingly, in spite of his condition. Wabba had him shot in the head for his troubles. "There's your medical aid. You were already dead, Mangler; you just hadn't recognized it yet. I don't waste resources or time on those who can't be saved… or who plainly just aren't worth it." Silence followed, and then cheers so loud that the building might've shook, but nobody was paying attention to the building. "Step down, Jedi; you won the first round," Wabba said before leaving the arena so that it could be cleaned and prepped for the next match.

Robin hurried over to Jaina, who looked horrified. "I'm sorry you had to see this side of the Jedi life so quickly," she said. Robin managed to gasp out a reply. "Better early in my career than late. I'd have seen something similar eventually. Why not now?" He rinsed his mouth out with water, (you see, our hero had vomited into his mouth a little,) and while it was 'gone', the taste was only now fading. "Only a few more matches. Are you sure you're okay?" Jaina asked, genuinely worried for her friend; she knew that his first time dealing with such a horrific death couldn't have left him untouched. She was right, just in a surprising way.

Robin looked at her, and she glimpsed his resolve, which was greater than before. He felt not imposing but intense, and while many sought to give him a wide berth, Jaina felt drawn to his intensity, his words breaking the spell. "I shall win. I'm fine now. Pity the first round didn't last very long, though." Robin remembered what Luke had said about stretching things out. "Don't worry about that…most of the tournament is combat, which is far easier to manipulate than a macabre game of trivia with a wheel of pain." All tournament participants were dismissed and told to be ready for combat the next day.

Ben, high up in the rafters with Artoo, had a perfect view of the whole spectacle. He witnessed everything, celebrating Robin's victory and understanding what it was like to witness such a brutal death for the first time. Ben grieved for Robin, that he had seen such a terrible thing. Amazingly, Ben also felt more inspired and more confident in his friend's resilience. If Robin won the tournament, he could potentially eventually achieve enough clout to stop these barbaric events while also putting a huge dent in the Hutt criminal syndicate.

Robin had become a threat to many in a remarkably short period of time and probably only scratched the surface of his potential. Ben surmised that Robin probably barely recognized what he represented. Then again, he was also a very smart person, so maybe he knew more than he let on, allowing potential threats to see him as weak or dull, which could give them a false sense of security. Only one person really knew Robin to the core, his mom; he was an enigma to all others. Robin's mother, however, merely told people who asked her for insights to "Wait and see; it's not my place to tell you of such things… if you want to know him truly, then put in the time, but let's just say that he's always found ways to surprise people, myself included. You'll never get bored with him around, that's guaranteed," she'd say, wearing a bright smile.

Robin and Jaina returned to the room that they were sharing. The two were exhausted from the journey and the emotional overload from witnessing such a gruesome death. It was only after looking around properly that they noticed the one small bed in the corner. "I was expecting a two-bedroom or two separate beds. Guess they stuck us with whatever was available. The Order entered fairly last-minute, so we're lucky to have anything." Jaina said, seemingly okay with the situation. Robin, (not so much,) then spotted a couch. "Now I'll be comfortable too," he thought. Asking her to make room on the small bed would've been a little weird, and Robin was doing his best to avoid making things awkward or uncomfortable.

After an hour and twenty minutes of listening to Robin tossing and turning on the couch, Jaina had suffered enough. She used telekinesis to dump him off the rock-hard couch and gave him a frustrated look. "Get in here and sleep, or you will get yourself killed tomorrow. You're not the first guy I've shared a bed with on a mission… there's no need for weirdness. Okay? Okay." She said this with a frustrated, verging-on angry voice, answering for him before finally going to sleep. The damn couch had made so much noise, and he'd been too stubborn to join her. Robin followed suit shortly after her and fell blessedly quiet, asleep at last.

Chapter 12

Day 2 of The Tournament

The morning dawned painfully for Robin and Jaina, who suffered from an incredibly loud wake-up call from the tournament; it was both complementary and mandatory for tournament participants.

They both saw the receptionist from last night, grinning larger than the Cheshire cat and looking madder than a Hatter at the ungodly hour. "So you made it to round two! Yay for you!" Luckily, she indicated no obvious hostile intentions; regardless, Robin and Jaina both stood up quickly, without rushing and clipped their weapons to their belts. The receptionist continued to grin at them, and the implied message from their first reaction of grabbing their weapons which said that they were ready for potential threats outside of the tournament even when caught by surprise. "Beautiful teamwork; you two are totally in sync. The next round is coming up; grab a quick bite and let's be off. Combat can take a while, so we give as much of a show as we can for everyone by opening early," she added, as though she were reading Robin's mind about the early hour. In reality, Nancy, the receptionist, just knew the nature of people and how most of them generally reacted. The duo fixed their clothes, having slept in them, and got food and caf on the go. Neither tasted good, but at least it was hot and caffeinated.

After our heroes choked down their breakfast, tension was building in the arena waiting area until it was interrupted by the announcer: "The second round will begin soon, after a word from your host and sponsor, Wabba the Hutt!'' A robotic voice proclaimed before switching to the Hutt's frequency. "I see many so-called champions have left us out of fear. Good, that leaves only the best, and by the day's end, you'll be only the best of the best, and the day after that, only our winner shall remain. I need not remind anyone of the influence a tournament win here could garner. Whoever wins will be on the path to changing the fate of the galaxy, in addition to winning powerful Force-imbued items."

"Some of you fight not for your master or even yourselves, but for their ambitions, mostly the allegedly "Former" Sith representing politicians and captains of, shall we say, disreputable industries. Still, some of you are legitimate, honest competitors like our friends: former Nightsister turned Witch of Dathomire Disciple Salyl Sahib, representing the Witches of Dathomire! The only Sith representing an actual Master is Lord Kay, representing The Grand Lord of the Sith, Darish Vol! And of course, it wouldn't be complete without a Jedi, now would it? Jedi Knight Robin Stace, representing the Grandmaster of the Jedi Order, Luke Skywalker, and the Order itself!" Thunderous applause broke out before Wabba continued.

"Those representing the interests of only your masters and their ambitions rather than your own pride or honour, please stand. You should die with some dignity. It's probably more than you deserve, but I'm feeling… gracious." Wabba gestured with his hand, and three hidden blaster turrets mowed down the Sith numbers from twelve to two before anyone knew what was happening. However it was unknown if it was luck or Wabba's own designs that spared a lone Sith representing an organization under false pretences. You can't kill all the participants and still host a tournament, but you can speed it along, which is exactly what Wabba had done. Everyone was shocked into silence.

Wabba sighed tiredly before explaining, "Grand Lord Vol stacked the deck. Well, he tried anyway. But now I've corrected things, so let's continue." Wabba said, indicating to a monitor with the four competitors' names, followed by a shuffling of the participant's names, and then the names were dealt out in pairs, seeming that it was to be a fight. The one-on-one setup meant Robin could win and spare his opponent, an option he was glad for. The names were revealed: Jedi Stace versus The Witch of Dathomire, Disciple Salyl Sabin, and Lord Kay versus "The scum Sith Wannabee lacking honour or pride". "At least the Hutt has a sense of humour and cares about honour, even if he is a gangster," Robin silently mused. "You all have five minutes to prepare," Wabba announced.

Robin looked less than thrilled about the prospect of participating in a battle for sport, but he was resolute because he knew that he had to win; it was a far cry from the day before, to be sure. Jaina understood his frustration. As negligible as it likely would be, saving the opposition was only going to hurt their chances at victory, despite it being the right thing, both ethically and morally. Robin would not kill if he could avoid it, even though he was making it all harder for himself. He was looking at the big picture today. Yesterday, he'd only seen a lone tree cut down and hadn't thought about the forest until afterwards. To save life, sometimes you must cut out the rot. Yesterday the rot had been Mangler, whose death now allowed Robin the chance to fight the Witch today with mercy in his heart, a trait Mangler wouldn't have fought with. "Remember, she's a Witch who was a Nightsister; she'll fight as she learned. Nightsisters are not afraid of using the Dark Side. You should expect freaky magic, like necromancy or energy balls. Lightsabers are best for reanimated corpses. Try to dodge her projectiles… they won't deflect. Win, and we'll talk," Jaina said, alluding to the intimate moment the two shared a few nights ago. "I owe you that much, I think," Jaina told Robin just as she heard the buzzer. She felt a rush of emotions as Robin was drawn back to the Arena and his second real fight. She knew that Robin was hoping that he could spare the Witch, that she would yield without fuss, and that he could claim victory without her death.

Walls sprung up and divided the arena in two for the simultaneous fights, with the two Sith each out for one another's blood. "So, Jedi, you seem very inexperienced, yet I sense that underestimating you would be most unwise. Interesting," the Witch Salyl Sahib said from behind him. He turned, drawing his lightsaber fast enough to absorb a green orb of energy, though it still pushed him back, and just as Jaina said, it didn't deflect off his lightsaber. "Well done, boy. That one was weak, though. Try this; it's much more powerful,", she said, drawing an item out and infusing it with energy before breaking it. All the while chanting something that Robin couldn't understand. Just as the energy was unleashed, Robin force jumped into a tree to avoid it, unsure what the energy would do. The arena ground was completely different, like the top layer had been swept away.

Then he saw them. Countless corpses, both skeletal and rotting, were likely victims of Wabba and similar tournaments of bygone days. They began stirring, their bones clattering. The Witch sneered at Robin, who had landed back on the ground looking reasonably impressed. "You like this one? They'll tire you out, and then I'll incapacitate you, so don't worry too much about getting killed. Instead, worry about the pain. Fallen warriors, rise and fight once more!" Salyl cackled, her voice a touch smug.

Now that he was surrounded by the dead, Robin switched to Ataru, granting him greater speed, strength, and agility. He'd mastered the Ataru signature acrobatics, thanks to Jaina's tips on their journey here and the previous day's training. As such, it took a remarkably short period of time to annihilate the corpses enough that they couldn't reform or combine; tricks that he'd read were mostly used by Nightsisters. (Nightsisters are essentially dark-side Witches.) When he was done, he faced a shocked and terrified foe who was waving and crying out, "I surrender!"

Robin gestured with a whisper of Force power, and the terrified poor girl, a one-trick wonder of a witch, was asleep, her mental defences already overwhelmed by a level of skill that she couldn't understand. Helping the girl this way was the least that he could do, as he was the likely subject of her fears. It was to be expected given the freakishly amazing things Ataru specialists, especially masters of the style, could do. The relatively unarmed style of ranged fighting preferred by both Nightsisters and Witches wasn't suited in combat with an Ataru practitioner. He'd fought in a unique style; he decimated a zombie hoard to splinters and won with neither he nor his foe suffering a scratch. It was no wonder that the audience was practically silent; even the Sith had taken a moment to look, their fight having paused mid-battle briefly before resuming. (The whole point of simultaneous fights is to distract the combatants while learning their strengths and weaknesses.)

Ben witnessed everything, as had Artoo, and both recorded it dutifully. Such a display of skill made Ben respect Robin all the more; his report would be objective while still reflecting the merits that Robin displayed. Robin and Jaina would be done soon, and Ben hoped that they would clear the air back at the inn. Ben had lucked out in getting his room above them, and the Inn was far from soundproofed, so eavesdropping was fairly easy. They'd been weirder than usual. Robin was all work, and there was not as much friendly chatter as was normal. Jaina usually bantered with Robin when he was overly thoughtful or brooding if only to provide a distraction or break his thoughts out of a loop, which he thought Robin definitely needed help with if the quiet was anything to go by. Ben silently mused, listening from his bed above Robin and Jaina's shared room. Whatever was bothering those dear to him, Ben prayed it would leave his family be.

Wabba saved credits by being his own announcer as he broke the silence. "Jedi Stace, The Shadow's Bane has WON! Moreover, he shows what being prepared looks like, and he spares his enemy! The perfect example of a Jedi Knight, a Pure Knight!" This was followed by thunderous applause and cheers from the stands.

"What's this?! Lord Kay has vanquished his foe. No mercy from this one! Can you even call that a corpse? Whatever… my Rancors will eat it gladly. I present… Jedi Knight Robin Stace and Sith Lord Kay, your Finalists!" Wabba exclaimed, hyping up the crowd. Robin was glad for his mask, but even more glad that no Sith had noticed it or caused a fuss about it yet. Revan was a sore point for many Sith for various reasons, betrayal being among them. Naturally, given their close proximity, Lord Kay noticed the Mask of Revan. Grinning cruelly, he was likely thinking of prying such a prize from Robin's still-warm corpse. Meanwhile, Robin tried and failed to avoid looking at his foe's last "corpse," if it could really be called such a thing.

"Such a relic of power and historical significance. I admit, I'm surprised Jedi scum like you can wear it, let alone have it. When you're dead, I'll relieve you of your burdensome mask. It would make an excellent gift for my Master, or perhaps my father. Either way, it will serve to further my ambitions." The Lord said this to Robin while glancing in Jaina's direction. "I'm in need of a skilled coach; my last one… broke… on me. Perhaps I'll take yours as a replacement." Kay said with a sneer as he leered at Jaina, his meaning very clear through his eyes, body language, and vocal tone.

Shadow was raving mad in the Mindscape, just as Robin was, his influence through the Paladin bond with one's Familiar affecting Robin, his darker emotions gaining further steam. Both holding back his rage, paired with his extreme discipline in not killing Kay on the spot had the effect of making Robin's fury sound as cold as the void of space and just as empty of life. The true fires of his rage were only reflected in his eyes and visible only to those with the knowledge of what to look for. If you knew Robin as both Jaina and Ben did, you knew something else: Tomorrow he would be merciful to Lord Kay, though his mercy would be different from today's with the Witch. He'd debated in classes that sometimes killing the enemy that can't or won't be redeemed was the greatest, and only true mercy you could dole out, likened to putting down a feral animal incapable of knowing joy or peace. Tomorrow, a death match is guaranteed to happen. The reaper would have a life to claim. Who's, was a matter for the unknown future.

Robin calmly and respectfully requested a microphone and a moment to address the audience, including the former patrons, whose representatives had been almost all supposedly "former" Sith, (the ones Wabba slaughtered, in case you forgot.) Vol, Kay's former Master, and patron for the tournament. The message, however, was almost exclusively for the bastard who dared to threaten one of his friends, one of Robin's closest companions. (Though the message applied to all who heard it).

"I entered this tournament to represent my former Master, Luke Skywalker, Grandmaster of the Jedi, as well as the Order itself. I did come here with the intention of winning, but for different motives than I do now. Now I'm even more motivated to win." Robin paused, taking a breath. His eyes briefly settled on Jaina's gaze before he continued his impromptu speech. "Today I vow to win not just for my original reasons… but also to show this stain on the Galaxy what a real warrior with honour and righteousness on his side can do! Lord Kay, I recommend you set your affairs in order. Tomorrow I'll be showing you mercy.. the Greatest Mercy. Tomorrow, you will meet with death." Everyone was shocked into silence at the death threat, which, coming from Robin, was a promise and proclamation. The young Knight always kept his word, even before joining the Jedi Order.

With those parting words and a still-shocked crowd, he dropped the mic, stepped down from the arena, and made a beeline for Jaina and the relative safety of their hotel room. Robin made sure to move silently and keep himself close to Jaina, more to reassure himself of her safety and shield her should Kay or someone else nefarious pop-up. He knew it was illogical and stupid, but thankfully Jaina let him; she probably understood his current mindset to some degree, such as it was. At that moment, he was running on more animalistic instincts while remaining in control. Jaina was the Sword of the Jedi, his partner in the battles of life in this place of hellish blood sport. And yes, his love, if he was honest with himself. He briefly wondered if he would be this poetic when they were alone or freeze up. Jaina had promised that they'd talk after his fight, and she didn't break promises, just like him, but he no longer felt like it was as necessary, if indeed it was ever necessary at all. Facing one's mortality tends to put life in a different perspective.

Ben, unseen as he was, saw, heard, and felt everyone's reactions through the Force just after Robin and Jaina left. Surprisingly, and strangely enough, Grand Lord Vol looked keenly interested in Robin and felt contemplative when Ben sensed him through the Force. Little more information could be gleaned without risking discovery, though. Ben and Artoo followed his cousin and Robin, whom Ben saw as a brotherly figure, back to the safety of the Inn.

"Well, we're back. Home sweet home." Jaina said sarcastically, hoping for a reaction of some kind from her companion. "We're safe and sound when the doors are closed," Robin responded. Jaina was closing the door and windows, locking whatever would lock, and drawing the curtains closed. Robin seemed to breathe easier after they'd secured the room as best they could.

The next minute, she briefly glimpsed his face. His expression was that of a cornered wild animal, both aggressive and afraid. He had been covered by the mask up until this point, so she hadn't seen his face since the tournament started. It was a jarring sight, and she fervently hoped he never wore that expression again. He looked strange; terror and excitement warred for supremacy. It was to be expected given his darker, more aggressive actions. She knew what Robin was probably thinking; he was worried about people he cared for suffering as repercussions for his words and deeds should he lose to Kay. She'd been there before herself, a few times if she cared to think hard enough about it, but she'd had her brothers and her other family to help her out of her pit of darkness. She'd just have to do the same and be there for him; he was owed a conversation anyway, and Jaina hated breaking promises.

Robin was deep in thought. Why did he let his darker nature have a say in his words and actions? He just delivered a death threat, no, a promise to a Sith Lord twenty years his senior and three times that in experience who had been more than willing to butcher his Sith brethren. He remembered that look Lord Kay had in his eyes and body language, Kay's promise to kill him, take a priceless heirloom, the Mask of Revan, which was Robin's by right of inheritance, and implied certain atrocities against his friend even if it wasn't spoken openly. Robin didn't like how Kay leered at Jaina while talking about her. "Oh yeah, that's why," Robin thought with dawning comprehension and a wave of sickness at both his actions and motives. He'd grown possessive of Jaina, in a way. He hated that he'd become that way; he'd just grown tired of the Bantha Fodder from Kay, (translation: BS,) and part of him snapped, but he had no real excuses. Intentionally or not, he had claimed her as his, which wasn't much better than what Kay had done, at least not in Robin's mind.

Robin decided that he'd have to apologize to Jaina, feelings or not, reciprocated or not, (not a topic that he was one hundred percent sure of either way, despite suspicions,) because he had no right to treat her that way. She was not his, not an object to be owned or won. He turned to apologize and was met with a frowning, slightly angry Jaina. "Don't apologize. Lord Kay has it coming, and the tournament rules do allow killing in the arena. Besides, you will have to kill someone eventually. It's better that it's on your terms than some random moment against someone who might not entirely have it coming. I know that you're scared, and I think I know why. You want to kill him, and that scares you. Here's a little reminder of the painfully obvious: You're not like Kay. If you were anything like him, you wouldn't fret like this for anyone… or feel fear from liking the idea of killing him and enjoying it. Besides, I think it's okay to be possessive of those you love." Jaina said, managing not to blush with the last word. "I'm an adult, not a teenager with raging hormones, for goodness sake", she thought, slightly embarrassed. In all honesty, she appreciated his protectiveness; it made her feel special and important in his eyes. In spite of her extreme skills, Robin still wanted to protect her however he could; it was good to know she was appreciated so deeply.

"I need to check you for wounds. You know what to do. Strip. You're not dying because we overlooked something and assumed you were fine." Jaina said. Robin did as he was told, treating it like a standard physical examination as best as possible. Not so easy when you're only wearing your underwear. Jaina looked everywhere she could: minor cuts that had already scabbed over; his bones were okay; he was sore, but with Ataru use, that's a given. When practicing Ataru, the body does things it normally can't; movement is extremely fast and strong, and the body's normal inhibitors are disengaged temporarily. When she was done with her inspection, Robin dressed quickly. Jaina was deep in thought as she composed herself to talk with Robin about the night at the party almost a week prior. Before she could start explaining her erratic behaviour that night, he spoke.

"Jaina, you owe me nothing. No explanation is required. You gave me your time and, more importantly, your friendship. You gave it freely, without being asked. You showed me kindness in a strange new life." He smiled at her with the warmth of a thousand suns.

"I say you owe me nothing because no matter what you say, it can't change this feeling. Even if it should prove that you don't reciprocate, I'd regret not telling you how I feel." Robin took a moment to compose his thoughts. "I enjoy your company, on a more than platonic level, obviously. I also know you have things to work through before you're ready to even consider anything more, and I'm here if I can help. After I win this thing, let me know if you're ready, and we'll go for dinner or take in a concert. If you're never ready, I'll always be your friend. My friendship is unconditional." Robin finished, amazed that he'd been able to get it all out without passing out from nerves.

"Thank you for understanding and for not pushing the subject. You're a wonderful person and an excellent friend, and when I'm ready, not if, but when, we'll paint Coruscant red." Jaina stood as tall as she could, chin up and eyes shining with determination and purpose. "Now let's go to the training area and work on your stamina some more. Maybe we can increase your skill with Juyo (form seven, one of the hardest to learn). You're making good progress. You have a tournament to win and an enemy to kill, and they saw your skill in Ataru, so you need an edge they haven't seen. Ergo, Juyo combat style training." Jaina paused for a minute before continuing. "Remember to stretch out the fight. Play him like the tool that he is. Grand Lord Vol's champion cannot win. Grand Lord Darish Vol has already acquired a fair bit of power with friends and pawns in the Senate," she added with a familiar glint in her eye. Jaina would work Robin to the bone; that's what that glint was: the resolve to train Robin as hard as she possibly could in the time that they had. Jaina was five feet of ferocity, small but fierce; she took after her mother that way. Suffice it to say that the minimal training went well, if a bit rough on them both.

Later that night, the two exhausted Jedi slept like babies or bricks; either way, neither had any energy to speak. They just slept. No more discomfort or awkwardness; they even spooned for warmth; the walls of the Inn were paper thin, and the insulation was a joke. Jaina pondered how lucky she was that her friend and love interest was so compassionate and patient; she decided that she'd figure out a way to repay his kindness. She was looking forward to her Robin bisecting (cutting in half) that bastard Sith Lord Kay. "It's okay to be a little possessive of those we love after all," Jaina reminded herself mentally as she adjusted her grip on Robin, pulling herself closer as she went back to sleep. (She was the big spoon; not exactly important, but I know that some people might be curious).

Sith Residence, Wabbas asteroid, approximately 11:00 that night.

Vol and Kay were awake, and the former Master listened, amused that a whelp had rattled his old Apprentice's cage. The Jedi sure was powerful, surprisingly so. He glanced Kay over. "I could use an upgraded subordinate", Vol thought. Kay was only recently made a Lord among the lower echelons of the Circle of Lords, (the ruling body of the Sith, akin to the Jedi Council,) and hadn't completely stopped calling Vol Master yet. Kay has many uses, but like An-Dru and so many others before him, he would be tossed aside like trash when his usefulness ran its course. Vol ignored his former student's ranting, his mind on the Jedi Robin Stace. "He makes me feel uneasy", Vol brooded silently. "But if he could be turned, what an asset he'd be." Vol was inspired to turn the young man to the Dark Side, tried to determine the best approach, and soon settled on a plan. Kay would be pivotal for this job.

Vol gestured, and Kay kneeled. He then began giving his old Apprentice his instructions. "Kay, tomorrow, toy with the boy… push him to bring out his darkness. Make the fight long and painful. Win, but remember: I want him alive!" Vol commanded, stressing the point. He wanted to see the potential new recruit at his best with the darkness, not dead, so Lord Kay would push him, harassing him until young Robin drew on the Dark Side. Kay, who had remained kneeling, spoke, looking up at his former Master on bended knee. "You seek to measure his darkness, Master? It will be done. I shall not kill him." "Don't get complacent or arrogant. The Jedi meant what he said: He'll kill you." Vol didn't really care much about Kay but had to play the part, if only for his father's allegiance and support. If the galaxy saw the true Darish Vol, Sith Lord, and master manipulator, all his work would be undone. "He will try… and should he succeed, you'll have found a perfect replacement for me. I live and die for you." Kay replied calmly.

This was why Kay had been made Vol's apprentice years ago. Unwavering loyalty, possibly to a fault; not that Vol minded. Kay would die to serve Vol's ambitions. Perhaps he ought to ensure Kay's survival? No, he was Sith; if Kay won, it would be by his own strength. It would be the same deal if he lost. Vol would not intervene for his former Apprentice. Kay would win, or he would die.

Coruscant, Skywalker residence. The same night, 11:00 PM

Luke watched an anxious Cindy pace his home, the same place her son lived alongside his own. "I miss Ben too, but worrying won't help," he said, trying to appeal to her parent-to-parent. "I'm not worried, not for his physical safety. I feel like he's going to irrevocably change, and I'm not sure if it will be a good change," she replied. She was a little bit worried for her son's safety, but ultimately, his spirit was what caused her the most worry. He felt, not darker, but heavier, as though he bore a great weight. His presence in the Force had altered, or maybe her perception of his presence; it wasn't easy to tell as she was a beginner with the ways of the Force. "I'm worried for Ben, but all we can do is wait and have faith. Your son and mine are both incredibly strong, and Jaina is too. Try not to worry. Here.'' He poured her a hot cocoa, and the two talked, distracting themselves from their worries. TV and a joint helped too. (Cindy and Robin had "borrowed" Earth TV frequencies among other Earth-based amenities).

Chapter 13

Freedom!

Robin and Jaina woke early to eke out a couple more hours of training before the Final Match, working on the small, possibly lethal, if exploited imperfections in Robin's Juyo fighting style. His Inner World helped a great deal, but even it has its limits. He wasn't a master of Juyo by any means, but he knew enough to be fatal if underestimated.

Robin felt like maybe killing Kay would allow him easier access to the state of existence all Paladin leaders achieve: Balance. He had plenty of light, but not as much ease accessing his darkness. He was trying to conclude how to harmonize the opposing natures of dark and light. He'd technically already achieved such a state twice, but that had been instinctive, not intentional, and so it didn't count in the eyes of the Force.

"Are you ready?" Jaina asked from beside him, interrupting his reverie; it was almost time. Robin looked at her, then to the arena grounds and back from behind Revan's Mask. "I'm ready. Then again.. I thought that I was ready back home too. I was a pilot in the auxiliary division running patrols, but never actually entered aerial battle, so I never actually did the deed simply because I never had to. So admittedly, saying "I'm ready", and actually being ready to kill are two different beasts, but with Kay… I think I might let myself not feel horrible. People like him need to be rubbed out of existence!" Robin had grown angry as he'd talked, subconsciously drawing on the Force. He knew that he had to relax, or he'd exhaust himself before his fight even began.

If Robin had a big flaw, it was that he got too personally invested in things. He knew that he had a temper and tended to overcompensate to the other extreme, (can someone say "character flaw"?), making him seem dispassionate when he was anything but. His passions didn't rule him, but it was never easy for him to reign in control either.

When Jaina took his hand, her touch soothed him. The Force flowed at its normal passive levels, and he felt less and less like he had fire for blood, a side effect from his drawing heavily on the Force. The energy that had been flowing through him had been so immense that it was a painful hindrance. All it took was her touch to remind him that he wasn't alone, and the storm calmed and abated. "Thank you, Jaina. Now, I am calm and therefore truly ready," he declared with calmness and resoluteness. She sensed his power settle like a cloak over him, no longer a tempest; she could see it in his posture and bearing. He really was ready now, tranquil and in full control. With that, they continued to the arena. Robin had a death match to win.

"Thank you all for attending my final tournament! I've made quite a bit of money off all of your bets." The crowd applauded, even if they didn't think that it was a good joke, (which it wasn't, in my opinion). After a moment or two of basking in the glory of his respect and fear, Wabba continued. "There are many reasons to fight, and this one here has shown them all. The full spectrum of emotions and motives. It's my honour to introduce the man who claims to wield righteous fury on this day! Will he prove his words true… or fall short? Will he keep his vow and guarantee us all a death match? I present… representing both Luke Skywalker and the Jedi Order, as well as himself. The Shadow's Bane, the Pure Knight. Jedi Knight Robin Stace!" Wabba indicated to Robin, and a white spotlight activated, illuminating the Jedi Knight to Wabba's right.

This time the audience broke out in genuine applause for the one they'd dubbed the "Pure Knight.'' Everyone had kept their eyes on the Dark Horse of the tournament, now posed to potentially win the whole thing. Wabba even liked the young Jedi; he was making him a fortune in bets, after all, enough for him to retire somewhere comfortably. But Wabba was a pro and so wouldn't take sides, even as he admitted to himself, if nobody else, that he wanted Robin to win. Without much fanfare, Wabba introduced Kay. "Oh yeah, here's our resident Sith representative, fighting for Grand Lord Vol, Lord Kay!" Kay was lit up by a purple and black light and met with a very light amount of polite, lame clapping and a single person coughing. "The guy has no interesting character or mysterious backstory, so it wasn't my fault he got a lacklustre introduction," Wabba silently reasoned, secretly favouring the Jedi in the only way he could. Wabba pressed a button, and the arena morphed, with hard light technology projecting interactive holograms: trees, rocks, and mountainsides. As the two moved, the landscape would alter randomly, assuming that the holographic projections worked right.

"Warriors, enter this arena for the final time." The Jedi Knight and Sith Lord each took their assigned positions, stripping their heavy cloaks off, brown and black, respectively. "I'm taking your mask after I beat you, Jedi scum." Kay taunted, sneering. Robin didn't take the bait; he was harder to provoke than that.

"Idle threats and name-calling? That's all that you've got, and you're a Lord of the Sith? Tsk tsk… your old Master expects better than that, I'm sure. Now me, well… let's just say that I'm more of a man of action. For example, when you try to provoke me, I choose to make you suffer more before ultimately killing you. It's your choice: quick? Or brutally slow?" Robin was lying; his foe would not be tortured before being permitted to expire, but it had the desired effect of both rattling and pissing Kay off; the Mask of Revan was helping as well since Kay seemed to covet it as a gift for Vol or his father, and Robin was more than willing to exploit this.

"Be careful. Rage can make a warrior forget to use good sense, but it also bestows immense strength to those who harness it correctly, so don't push him too hard or too fast." Einstein warned telepathically, though from this far away it was more emotion than words that he received, such as caution or wariness, but he understood the message all the same. "I love you too, buddy," he projected back, severing the tenuous link. He focused on the screen that counted down the last ten seconds until the beginning of the battle before turning his attention back to Kay. The last few seconds counted down: three, two, one...FIGHT!

The two fighters were off like greased lightning; their blades ignited. Robin would stretch things out as much as possible before he started to fight at 100%. As most were hoping, Robin opened with his perfected Ataru; his speed, strength, and agility were augmented. Kay's style was his own, however, not classic form. It would have tripped Robin up more had he been only skilled in Forms I through III but the speed granted by Ataru was allowing him to dodge his opponent's attacks, though barely. "Something isn't right here.. I should be more capable than this. I know that I can move faster!" Robin thought, though he was too busy to properly analyze the situation, at the moment.

Suddenly Robin felt it through the Force, the cause of his slowed movements; his unease and the instinctive fear of death, which were normally under control, were being augmented, magnified, compounded, and fed back to him by Kay's fighting style, (which Robin had dubbed the "Dance of Fear".) Robin made a mental note to review it with Shadow later so that he could learn it as well, with some of his own tweaks. "He's toying with you. My bet is that his Master, Vol, wants a chance to see your dark side, so Kay is trying to make you draw upon the Dark Side by manipulating your fear. Show him which of you should really be afraid," Shadow said just before Robin and Kay locked blades again, the weapons crackling and hissing angrily as each repelled the other. The two warriors turned, ducked, or jumped out of the path of flying knives and high-power blasters, lightsabers flicking out to strike at each other or defend against the high-velocity projectiles, which stopped firing after a minute or so. "Surprises from Wabba… or his staff". Robin reasoned, once again locked in mortal combat with Kay.

They were both sporting an impressive collection of very minor injuries and soon they had re-engaged, each seeking to win while also prolonging the fight for their respective ulterior agendas. "So you think that you can hide your darkness? Pretend that it doesn't exist? Coward! Weakling! So much power, but no strength to use it." Kay taunted as he grazed Robin's arm with his blade, burning him and causing a semi-shallow wound that would hurt with every micromovement until Robin got patched up. "Agh!" Robin cried, not only in pain but also in anger. Powerful anger, pregnant with potential untapped power. He realized that he could use his fury, and had to use it if he wanted to break the effects of Kay's Dance of Fear. He just had to remain in control of his higher faculties.

Robin believed that he could walk the line well enough to avoid corrupting himself, so he drew on the Force, both Dark and Light. It wasn't harmonized yet, but it was more powerful than either energy source could be on its own. Suddenly Kay looked just a little scared, sensing his foe growing in strength with the Force, his presence expanding proportionally to the power increase.

Robin darted through the interactive holographic trees and whatnot for cover. Robin was using Ataru for hit-and-run attacks designed to be fast, strong, and overwhelm enemy defences enough for Kay's fatigue to cause him to slip up, which would help Robin find an opening. Robin was stronger without a doubt, but it taxed him to draw so heavily on both sides of the Force, probably because the sides weren't equal. Kay, meanwhile, tried to win with swordplay alone, but it seemed like defence wasn't his forte as much as psychological manipulation was. Robin felt that it was time to break out his incomplete but still lethal Form VII Juyo, as they broke the lock and re-engaged once more, Robin hoping for the final time. Juyo is one of the most difficult and dangerous of the seven classic combat styles; it is incredibly offensive-oriented. It is a fighting style designed for killing enemies, never sparing them.

The two Force-using warriors began to project massive quantities of energy at one another, creating a dust storm in the process. Only the flash of the green and red blades indicated where each warrior was located within the storm. Someone in the crowd had suddenly and unfortunately caught a hand; the onlookers' screams of terror mingled with the screams of pain from whoever the unlucky victim was.

The storm died down. Kay was revealed to be missing his whole right arm. It was carved into pieces, most of which were scattered on the ground; his dominant arm was still perfectly fine. Lightsabers cauterize wounds instantly, so no blood is lost, (unlike wounds caused by normal bladed weapons,) but it still gave Robin the edge in their fight. Robin didn't need Kay suffering from severe blood loss to win. "Now that's what I wanted to see!" Kay called out loudly, his voice pained yet ecstatic and his yellow eyes gleaming hungrily. "Show me more of your darkness and strange hidden power!" Kay cried manically even as he struggled to stand.

Kay knew that he was going to die today and wanted to prove that it wasn't blind luck and that he was, in fact, beaten by a real warrior of greater power and skill. "You swore to give me the Greatest Mercy! Where's that, huh? Show me that!" Kay sent purple Sith lightning at his foe through his stump, amazingly, the energy of such an attack kicking up debris and dust, obscuring Robin from view for only a second. When Kay blinked and the dust settled, the Jedi had disappeared. "Where did you go, coward?!" he bellowed into the seemingly empty arena, hoping to provoke the young Knight.

"Where's the man who swore to kill you? I'm right here, Kay." Robin said this from inside Kay's guard; his body literally flickered with electricity, though it was white rather than the sickly purple of Sith lightning. In the next moment, before he could do anything, Kay found himself with a bolt of white lightning, shot, no, redirected, through his remaining shoulder, obliterating a hole, (about the size of a toonie,) and inducing incredibly horrible nerve pain and potentially nerve death. In any other situation, Kay would be worried, but he wasn't because, firstly, he didn't have the luxury of time for worrying, as his foe managed an impressive feint and lopped off his remaining arm, which was rendered useless from his shoulder wound. He wasn't worried at all despite his grievous condition because, secondly, (and most importantly to Kay,) he gave his best and lost. He would die as he lived, a proud Sith warrior without regrets.

The last thing that Kay heard was a very quiet whisper, just for him. "This is what you get for threatening those close to me or even just thinking about it. I told you that it could be quick, or slow. You chose slow. So I played with you, my new toy, but it seems like I… broke you. I guess now you can understand a little bit of just how helpless your last coach felt, huh? Good. Now I'm done playing with you. It's time to get serious… and bring down the curtain on this whole thing. What say you, hmm, Kay? Playtime is over, and I did promise you would meet death this day…" Robin spoke up so that the microphones caught his final public words to Kay. "You said that you wanted to see the man who'd grant you the Greatest Mercy. Here it is. The coup de grâce, (this means the final blow/ killing stroke, etc.), may you be reborn as a better person." Then Kay lost his head, quite literally.

As Robin left the arena, heading to the winner's podium, he deactivated his weapon, clipping it to his belt. He also took the spare red lightsaber from Kay's dismembered, still very tightly clenched hand. Robin dropped the offending appendage on the ground while setting it and the rest of Kay's corpse ablaze with the Force. He left only Kay's head whole, a silent but definite middle finger to his new enemies, both among the Sith and anyone else who was either brave or stupid enough to fuck with him in the future. He knew that killing Kay would make him as many enemies as friends, if not more. The hilt could be useful in developing his own personal lightsaber in the future. He'd see if Luke could heal or purify the poor crystal; maybe it could serve the Jedi again, free of pain. Lightsaber crystals, (aka Kyber crystals,) were not only alive but partially sentient, enough to feel pain via the Force. "though synthetic ones might be different in that regard." Robin wondered to himself. He'd have to ask Jaina since her lightsaber used an unorthodox crystal growth created with special Alchemy, formerly used by the Sith sorcerers of old. She had also looked at synthetic, machine-made options, or so Ben had claimed. Red crystals were any lightsaber crystal after having been forced to bleed by the pain from the Dark Side; like anything living, they could be healed.

Jaina had watched slightly slack jawed while Robin played with his foe, like a Nexu, (a large cat-like animal with claws, fangs, and huge porcupine-like fur,) with its food. Taking Kay apart, and making it look easy. Robin felt like the same person, even if his Force presence was a touch heavier. It was going to happen one day: Robin would end up in a life-or-death situation. It would be better for it to happen in an environment that was controlled by someone who deserved it rather than randomly on the streets with innocent bystanders.

When the fight had finally ended, Jaina rushed to Robin's side to ensure that he wasn't too badly hurt. "One small but horribly painful cut? That's it? How strange. The ferocity should have resulted in more wounds of greater severity," she thought, incredibly glad and amazed that he wasn't further injured. Given Kay's skill level, she couldn't help but wonder why Robin had so few injuries. It took a few moments before she figured out that Kay had been hurting Robin, toying with him to draw out his dark side, even while Robin had been toying with the late Sith Lord in turn, a thought that briefly chilled her. If the Sith would go that far to test the waters of Robin's Dark Side… what wouldn't they do to turn him? Jaina wondered. She could never truly see Robin as the type to fall, but she understood the appeal such an idea would hold for the Sith or any champions of the Dark Side. Her brother had fallen, so this brought back some nasty fears that Jaina thought she'd put to bed long ago. She tried not to stare in bafflement, instead triple-checking that no major injuries had been missed. She put her arm around his chest to support some of his weight; he had to be exhausted both physically and emotionally.

"I present the champion!" Wabba cried. Thunderous applause, (might I suggest you play 'We are the Champions' now for ambience, either mentally or with your smartphone). "Now it's true that winning this tournament is a reward in itself, as victory comes with no small amount of influence, but I feel you deserve a little personal reward. I present to you not one but two Jade Pearls, Force-imbued Krayt Dragon Pearls, from an ancient Krayt Dragon. (These pearls are made from the minerals that collect and form deposits inside the belly of Krayt Dragons, creatures that are native to the deserts of Tatooine. Krayt pearls can be collected from a dragon's corpse; the older the dragon, the bigger the pearl. A small one harvested from a young adult dragon, after being cut and polished by both the literal belly of the beast and sentient hands, could set the average person up for retirement if sold. They were also used in the forging of lightsabers, enhancing the cutting power beyond standard levels, and no, I'm sorry to report that I don't know the specifics of why or how. Krayt dragons have been on the galactic endangered species list, but nowadays they're thriving due, in part, to the heavy legal consequences of poaching them). Spot, the dragon donor, was my friend. He died of natural causes and left behind these incredibly rare, once-in-a-lifetime gems. They've only found two others throughout galactic history. Initially, the winner was to receive something far less rare, exotic, and powerful. But I like you, kid, and so would Spot. Congratulations!"

Wabba gestured, and two very large jade pearls with what looked like marble in one and gold in the other were brought out, and Robin realized that Spot had to have been truly ancient given the size of the raw, uncut stones, which was all the more impressive given how many Krayts were poached before being declared a protected species. "You could sell them, break them down into smaller pieces for lightsabers, whatever. They're my gift to you. Because of you, kid, I can retire and leave this whole underworld behind. Frankly, I hated most of what I did. Still do. But now I can stop and enjoy peace. Call me if you ever need... help from a questionable source. I can hook you up with the right kind of shady individuals. I'll have that receptionist, the pro-Jedi one that woke you two up the other day, send these beauties to the address of your choosing as well as my emergency contact frequency. Any words for the cheering crowd?" Wabba asked Robin, having spoken quietly enough that nobody heard his offer of help except Jaina.

Robin took a mic and looked out at the audience. "Thanks for the support. I'm too tired for grand speeches, but I'll say this much: My foe, while complete scum on a personal level, died a warrior's death. I'm glad that he didn't beg for his life, instead embracing the inevitable." Robin bowed and began to leave the arena. He looked at Jaina and said, "Let's get the first, no, second shuttle home tomorrow. We'll give Wabba time to retire and get outta the sector before burning the entire Hutt operations out here down. No more fight pits, no more slavers, no more spice, (spice is an illegal drug, not the kind used for cooking,) trade; nothing destructive or corrupt shall remain," he proclaimed as they left to retrieve their things at the inn and to rest for one last night. Jaina stopped briefly on the way to the inn to provide the Jedi Temple on Coruscant as the address for the delivery of the prizes.

The two were quiet that night, enjoying the tournament's end and the option to sleep in if they chose to. Jaina broke the silence rather randomly, but Robin rolled with it. Both parties felt that predictability and normalcy were boring traits. Jaina was neither in all of the best ways, and she knew it. "Pure Knight isn't a bad moniker, considering it's your first." Jaina quipped, and Robin rolled his eyes while grinning. "I'm also the Shadow's Bane, remember?" he muttered in a mock-offended manner, as though he disliked the new title, (which he did not, if you were wondering.) "Doesn't count in the same way. This one is your first on-mission title," she countered in a sing-song voice. Lack of sleep combined with the small celebratory alcoholic shots they drank from the mini-fridge likely aided in her lowering her inhibitions to the degree where she was looser and more relaxed. That was how Robin felt anyway. That night, they talked about everything and nothing at the same time. Bantering like this helped Robin distract himself from his fear. He'd had a close moment, (or three,) where the Force-infused Beskaar mask belonging to his forefather Revan was all that saved his life. He counted himself fortunate to only have a minor cut, which he'd numbed with the Force, seeing as he wanted the use of both arms. Letting the less grievous wounds heal naturally with time.

Robin was reminded of a quote by Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn: "There's always a bigger fish." A thought that he'd keep in mind to prepare as much as possible for the future; he knew that his foes would get stronger. Then he had a truly inspired idea, one that would take a fair amount of time to implement but, if successful, would be worth it. He would make himself armour. Reasonably light, flexible, but also incredibly effective. "Tomorrow. I'll start working on the concepts for this tomorrow," he thought as fatigue caught up with him. Jaina had already fallen asleep; drained, Robin joined her in slumber.

Robin was inspired with ideas galore as they returned by shuttle the next day. (Yes, three shuttle transfers again for security purposes). He'd sleep when he got home; right now, he had armour to design. The seats on the shuttles were too damn tiny for sleep anyway.

Ben had seen the battle and everything both overt and subtle that had led up to it, and so had Artoo, though he was elsewhere, to avoid the appearance of colluding. While it was true that his report had to be unbiased, and it would be, the report would still reflect his interpretations of events. As far as the camera footage, Artoo would have a copy, but the droid had always seemed to understand abstract concepts like emotions and loyalty better than some people did. No doubt Artoo had ways to ensure that Robin didn't start off his career as a Jedi on the wrong foot. Killing was allowed, but some in the Order would have frowned on a few of Robin's darker attributes, understandable as they were. Jedi aren't supposed to enjoy the kill, no matter how evil or vile the individual might be.

In Ben's opinion, the Sith Lord had more than earned his death, threatening both Robin and Jaina, and his report would reflect upon the dead Sith Lord's conduct and behaviour. It would show the extremely great merits Robin had going for him. Ben honestly felt that Robin was owed a commendation for his conduct, skill in combat, and good decision-making in regards to sparing the former Nightsister. She'd really been a one-trick wonder who was completely out of her depth while acting like she wasn't.

Ben looked at his communicator; the other team had finished a while ago and gotten away with the information clean. He and Artoo met at their rendezvous and headed to the spaceport and then home. It had been a weird feeling, only watching the battle. Given how terrible it is for anyone to be struck by the corrupt energy, he had been shocked when Robin purified and then redirected the Sith Lightning turning it into the ability Electric Judgment, the light side equivalent. "How strong would his friend grow?" Ben wondered as he and Artoo boarded their shuttle home, all the while staying hidden from view.

Chapter 14

Politics and Power/A Night at the Opera

Time off. For the majority of people, these are two beautiful words. For some, it's quite the opposite, while others might have mixed feelings. Robin was of the latter group. He could appreciate time to rest and heal, (both physically, mentally, and emotionally), but he found himself disliking it when he had time left to kill and nothing to do, like at that very moment. It had been a full week since debriefing Luke on the tournament, and while the subsequent dismantling of the Hutt crime organization in that sector of the Outer Rim would take time, Luke had still congratulated Robin, Jaina, and Ben all the same. While suggesting the possibility of a commendation for services rendered for Robin as well as inferring that Ben's knighthood was drawing close. Jaina had been happy to just get back in the field again, more than happy to let both her cousin and colleague bask in Luke's approval and appreciation.

Sure, Robin could try chilling with his friends, except most of them were busy. Ben was busy with his own studies in an effort to get closer to Knighthood, and Luke had Grandmaster stuff to do along with personal errands. Han, Leia, and Master Sabatyne were off-world on a mission, and Master Horn was enjoying time with his family and had his Jedi duties to tend to. Maybe Robin would do something with Jaina one-on-one; he'd yet to properly ask her out officially. They'd just been hanging out as friends, which he was happy with. Robin had an easygoing approach to most things in life. What would be would be, and in its own time. Still, he was not perfect, and even his patience was getting a little thin. He decided that he'd ask her later that day, and if she said "not yet" or something similar, he'd at least know to wait longer and not have as much self-inflicted pressure.

Time off from field work was mandatory after any Jedi took a life, be it the first or tenth time. Masters and High Knights, (which is the rank just below Master rank,) were considered psychologically ready for such things, while low-level knights were not. At the moment, Robin was sitting in a sim chair, bored, having completed each of his favourite sims at least ten times over; the first Death Star attack run was the best, in his opinion. He groaned and considered hitting up the duelling club, but it wasn't holding much appeal right now; hardly anyone was there because most were busy with missions of one kind or another.

Robin hadn't been idle with his forced time off; oh no, he'd put it to good use, designing armour and learning all that he could of metallurgy and Force abilities that might help from the Jedi Archives with his knight-level access. He considered wearing Beskar chainmail under his standard Jedi attire. Strike plates to stop daggers, talons, claws, and possibly even teeth would eventually be woven into the liner. He only had ideas though, concepts, but no materials to create or experiment with, and given that his ideas were very ambitious. His armour wouldn't be made anytime soon, as advanced as his designs were, and the cost of the materials being as high as he'd been that morning after getting baked. "It's a start, at least," he thought as he reviewed his schematics and designs.

He'd stripped Kay's former weapon for spare parts; its crystal was a gift from Luke after it had been healed and purified, causing it to turn sapphire, a very rare colour compared with standard blue. Robin, in turn, gave it to Ben for when he eventually made his own personal lightsaber.

Robin had also unlocked a unique ability not every Paladin leader could say they possessed, a byproduct of getting closer to harmonic synchronization. It was called the Kings Double; it allowed the user to "temporarily break the Laws of Space and Time," as Shadow had phrased it, which Robin found to be annoyingly cryptic, and while Robin knew that he had the ability, he had not yet learned to use it. Hell, he didn't even know what it did, though he had suspicions. Like most things, he knew that answers would come in due time.

Robin logged out of the sim room and decided to take Einy, who was happily by his side, for a nice little jaunt. Robin would take the path less travelled, literally in this case, as he'd taken to changing his standard routes through and around the temple grounds. His "Admirers'' were a hodgepodge of slightly insane but useful fanatics mixed with people who held him in genuinely high regard for one reason or another, as opposed to just the flavour of the month. With the damn psycho fans regrettably in the majority, this had led Robin to look for increasingly different and difficult methods of avoiding the more zealous of his followers; he'd luckily managed to get in touch with the more… level-headed of his fans while making friends and allies both high and low. Robin was essentially pen pals with people across the galaxy; his influence was rising steadily, and whether he knew or not, (Robin does understand to an extent his pull on the galaxy at large, but he still has room to grow in terms of political awareness), so too was his status and power in the eyes of the common folk. His positive image even began helping build up more pro-Jedi sentiment, which the Order needed these days.

Robin suspected that Ben had done something to try and boost his confidence or some such foolish, albeit well-intentioned scheme, and it went awry. Ben was a funny, kind, and, of course, mischievous young man, not always a good combination, though usually relatively harmless. "Mind some company?" Ben asked from behind. Robin gave a "let's go, I'm pissed off" look, which he was, though more with the situation than Ben himself. Ben winced at the look because it didn't suit his friend. Robin looked tired, haggard, and strung out, especially in his eyes, which were not as bright as they usually were. "I'll try to fix…" Ben gestured at the bedlam not far away, "...this." Ben finished, looking like he was really sorry for the disturbance. Robin let it go. He imagined that Ben would feel guilty enough on his own; he wasn't going to make it worse. "How about just not creating the problem to begin with?" Robin muttered, still a little bit grouchy.

"What did you even do?" Robin asked, his curiosity piqued. Ben grinned, despite himself. "I leaked my report to the Council, anonymously. Nobody saw your face because of that mask. Which I now understand was half the point, to begin with. It's surprising that so many went and figured out the mystery fighter was you, though; the leaked version had been altered for this express reason. Your name wasn't supposed to come up at all. I edited it out, and your voice should have been altered. I broke into the programming of the clip, and I can prove that it wasn't my doing. I mean, yes, I leaked a clip, but it was altered somehow. But there's no way of knowing who though… Maybe a council member recognized you and thought that they'd be doing you a favour? Then again, not everyone likes you by association with my dad, so it might also be an enemy. Like I said, your privacy should still be solid. Most curious…" Ben trailed off, deep in thought regarding how his stunt had been so horribly corrupted. "At least Robin's using the negative as a positive, even if his life is more inconvenienced these days," Ben contemplated. Robin was also deep in thought, digesting Ben's words.

If this was Ben's handiwork gone wrong, it sure was strangely out of character since he was honest when he screwed up and Robin had sensed no deception in Ben's words. "I'm not sure how or who, but maybe an outside source is involved? It seems like someone's trying to sow seeds of discord by elevating me to higher levels than are warranted. Psychological warfare. You tried protecting my identity… An-Dru's gone, and his old cronies are too cowardly and stupid to do anything like this. An outside source is what makes the most sense. Kay's dead. Perhaps it was his father? Then again, Grand Kord Vol would not want people to know of his late former pupil's defeat and loss in the tournament. Hmmm. plenty of suspects…" Einstein interrupted Robin's train of thought, "Stop or you'll drive yourself crazy. We lack the necessary data, and there are too many unknown variables. Shadow and I can think about it for you." Einy said this telepathically. Einstein was right, of course. "Let's put it on the back burner for now, eh, Ben?" Robin said, smiling at his friend as they paused in their walk.

Robin looked up to where he knew Luke's office was, hidden for security purposes to look like the exterior of the Jedi Temple. He sensed that Luke was with Master Corran Horn and General Wedge Antilles (an-ti-leez). Luke had introduced his old friend to Robin, as he had with many other high-ranking officials at his post-knighting party a few weeks prior. The three ace pilots were all formerly, or in Wedge's case, still with and running, the elite Rogue Squadron, as well as being three of the founding members of the elite piloting squadron-turned-military program. "Hmm, maybe we have war games or joint training exercises ahead." Robin silently mused as he and his companions went back to the academy. Ben went his own way, but not before saying, "You really should ask Jaina out already, man; I think she's done waiting," wearing a grin as large as the second Death Star before heading to class. "That's the idea. I'm done waiting too." Robin thought resolutely, reminding himself of the business he had to do before he could ask out Jaina. (You all saw this coming, or should have anyway.)

"So that's the guy busting pilot simulation records, huh?" Wedge asked from behind the one-way window afforded to Luke's office, feeling a trifle annoyed with his old friend. He'd had plans for an up-and-coming pilot for half a year now, and Luke wanted his former apprentice on the roster instead." Wedge had learned to listen to his old friend over the years. He was rarely wrong. "Not just any Sims, Wedge. Our Sims, our battles, from the Rebellion all the way until now. Robin isn't just beating them.. he's destroying them." Corran remarked while a silent Luke nodded in agreement and produced a folder clearly labelled Jedi Knight, S. Robin. Inside were records that were normally locked up for review only by members of the Jedi Council and those the Grandmaster deemed fit with sensitive information. Wedge was one such outsider Luke trusted with not only his life but that of his former student.

Wedge took the proffered file. It was thick and heavy, but this kid's scores couldn't be that high, Wedge silently reasoned. His old friends had to be exaggerating; they couldn't all be that good. One glance later, Wedge's eyes widened comically as he read, causing Corran to chuckle and Luke to outright laugh; the first sound he'd made during their entire meeting so far. "These scores. They're all at the top three percent minimum, oftentimes tied for first or second. But how? You said in your messages that Robin's never flown any starships or starfighters before."

Wedge was beside himself, unable to comprehend the information before him. Corran grinned and said, "Keep reading, Wedge. Robin's not only an amazing pilot but also a strategist and tactician. As far as how he's that good… Luke, do you mind taking over?" Corran gestured to Luke, who finally decided to speak. "Robin was a pilot back on his homeworld, and while it was only in the auxiliary forces, he still understood enough of piloting and was skilled enough that he could've easily had a great career as a pilot high on the chain of command. He reads books on strategy and tactics for fun, and his brain is like a sponge. However, he recently had a mission involving his first kill. As things stand, he's going crazy on mandatory leave, and he'll grow worse as time goes by. Corran and I think that he'd do well in Rogue Squadron's auxiliary forces. Patrol will keep him busy, and we'll find out if he's right for a position on the active roster. Win-Win. If you don't think he belongs for any reason, you can boot him out yourself, Wedge." Luke said, which was quite the endorsement. "Personally, I wanted him with our Jedi Forces reserves, and I still do, but Luke talked me around. I'll supplement whatever I can on the topics you don't have time to cover. This lets you both focus on missions and flying patrols rather than lessons. Robin learns better with on-the-job training, it seems." Corran said with a grin, knowing that he was the same when it came to learning, even now as a Jedi Master.

Wedge just sighed and nodded his head. "Ok, but his more practical pilot training regime is up to my discretion as well as his position should he qualify. If he's really as good as these simulation results suggest, he'll be able to handle me putting him through his paces. One last thing: while he's with me, he prioritizes Squadron work over Jedi business, barring emergencies or overlapping agendas. He will take the classes required of all cadets after I test him out and he returns. Corran, you'll be handling those classes. He can take them here alongside his Jedi training, agreed?" Wedge asked. "Can't ask for anything more fair," Corran said, nodding. Luke grinned "That's perfect, Wedge. Thank you." Wedge smiled back as he rose to leave. "If these records are any indication, I'll be the one thanking you. Be careful; you two, the Sith are playing the long game, capitalizing on the split in public opinion on Jedi. Politically savvy Sith are never a good thing… for anyone." With that, Wedge gave Robin's personal file back to Luke and left. He had a pilot to let down and a new wingmate to train and teach. He prayed that Luke was right again. He didn't want to have another death haunt him; he had plenty of ghosts already.

Kesh/Sith Embassy, Coruscant

The Circle of Lords, presided over by Grand Lord Vol, had assembled on Coruscant in the newly acquired Keshirian Embassy. This granted total immunity from prosecution while on the premises, as the Sith and their practices were protected under religious rights, just as the Jedi were; it was one of Vol's best-acquired perks from playing the system. The Circle had much to discuss, or so Vol had said in his summons.

While the Jedi were scrutinized more and more by the public and government alike, negative sentiments were secretly stirred up by the Sith manipulations and openly from the Abeloth incidents of only a few years ago, wherein many powerful, high-ranking Knights and Masters had been driven to a temporary state of madness. Abeloth, once known as the Mother, was a celestial being of immense strength and power; she had made the victims think that everyone had been replaced with replicas. The sickness that struck mostly Jedi and some Sith abated once Abeloth had been destroyed in a Jedi-Sith joint venture by the Skywalkers and Khais, Sith natives of Kesh. They had gone with Luke and Ben with the intention of stopping Abeloth, while at the time pretending to seek a peaceful way to keep their culture from dying while secretly looking to betray and kill the Skywalkers once Abeloth was no longer a threat; and the Skywalkers were too fatigued after destroying Abeloth.

Now, not all Sith are like the long-dead Emperor Sidious after all, and while the Dark Side is known to corrupt, nobody has truly studied the effects of the Dark Side enough when used in good ways and created from a good source. Anyone who had died long ago, and took their secrets with them. Even the Sith Saber Vestara Khai, (the Sith equal to Padawan rank,) and Ben's former secret girlfriend, were branching into the light, living in the grey middle ground. Having been forced to choose between her father and a chance at peace, Vestera killed her father Gaver and helped the Skywalkers escape the Sith trap, seeking sanctuary with the Jedi, though she remained a proud Kesh Sith. Luke had promised that Kesh would retain its Sith culture, as most were not megalomaniacal psychos, barring the members of the Circle of Lords and their Apprentices.

The Circle of Lords had unofficially labelled the Khai family traitors, while officially they were still considered part of the Sith tribe, in the hopes that Vestera would return to save her mother, Lahka, who was being held prisoner under the pretence of protecting her. This was, (of course,) a trap for Vestera and her new Jedi friends, one that had unfortunately not yet borne fruit but would remain in place until it did. Vol was the last to arrive at the meeting of the Circle, despite his calling them together, a standard control move. Now the fateful meeting of The Circle of Lords would begin.

"Hail, brothers and sisters of the Dark Side, and thank you for attending." Vol began. "There are many points to address during this meeting, so let's crack on. Item number one-" Vol was interrupted by a cough and a raised hand. "Yes, newly appointed Minister of Resources and Logistics, High Lord Malekyth?" Vol asked, irked but masking it well.

"Thank you, Grand Lord Vol. I'm going to cut to the chase: Most of our best were killed by the demon Abeloth; even if they were alive and here, we would still lack everything a good military campaign needs. I'm sorry to say this, but as things stand, we must live with the Jedi under government scrutiny. Respectfully, if this meeting is about our campaign to retake the galaxy, we should stop here. We need time to recoup our losses… people are a precious resource." There were murmurs of agreement from the Circle.

"In addition, following your lead, Grand Lord, we tried to stack the odds in our favour at Wabba's tournament to gain more sway over the galaxy and instead lost a big chunk of our best up-and-comers, Lord Kay included. Such losses could have been mitigated, had we won at least. But you told Lord Kay to play with the boy, and he died a loser despite being one of our best." Malekyth finished to more murmurs of agreement.

Vol wasn't pleased with the current direction of the conversation. "Are you suggesting it's in some way my fault Kay and the others were killed?" Vol asked with ice in his voice. "No, Grand Lord. I believe High Lord Malyketh is outright saying it's your fault. I'm inclined to agree." High Lord Kaiser spoke from his position at the table.

"We are at war! Losses are expected-" Vol was interrupted again by a loud bang from Kaiser, who had punched the solid metal table hard enough to dent it deeply. "My son Kay is dead because of you and your growing obsession with Luke Skywalker's newest pet project! He died so that you could see the Prodigy's darkness, except he didn't truly show it. Your own report indicated that the Jedi held back his Dark Side. Now.. the Pure Knight, the Shadow's Bane, is champion and has a large, ever-growing following because of it, he's already set the dismantling of Hutt activity in motion. Now the Jedi have more power and influence, not less, and their public image is getting better. Now I only have my son's head left as a reminder that he ever existed because Wabba had his body incinerated and sent back. His head, it's all that remains of my son. Old man, if you can't explain what you're doing and why, in a satisfactory manner, I'll be calling a vote of no confidence against you. I'm sure many of us here would second it; we've all lost family because of you. Best make sure it doesn't come to that, Darish." Kaiser said, no honorific title or respect, no fear, just Vol's first name, spoken with pure venom in his voice.

A vote of no confidence among the Sith generally led to the death of the person who'd lost his or her subordinates' trust and confidence. The Sith philosophy dictates that the strong take the initiative while the weak follow, or are left by the wayside. Nothing was weaker than a leader with no confidence from their subordinates. Vol took a moment to compose himself and his defence, both mundane and mystic. "I believe that the man who killed your son, High Lord Kaiser, is a Paladin named Robin Stace, and I'm learning everything about him to turn him to the Dark Side before he can cement himself as an ally of the light. The last thing that we need is for that accursed clan to return to the galaxy working against us. You're right… We've lost much of our strength and power, which is why turning the boy is, in my opinion, of paramount importance. With him, we wouldn't need the numbers for any kind of campaign, and he would more than make up for our losses."

Vol continued, "I know it sounds insane, but when that boy turned up out of seemingly nowhere, the Force shook in a way I haven't felt since Paladins were active. The Force trembled when he was Knighted. He may even be the Paladin King for all we know, as, according to my research into the lore surrounding Paladins, he's stronger than even fully trained Paladin initiates were said to be. I'd know… my Master was a former Paladin initiate. I've been moving the pieces on the galactic board, positioning them so that when the time comes, the Republic's new incarnation, the Galactic Alliance, will destroy the Jedi for us and even provide us with resources. We're capitalizing on negative public images set by us and aided by Abeloth, the only good thing that came from her existence. I set the pirates in motion so we could swoop in as the Galactic Alliance's new "heroes." Their volunteers are aware that if captured, they will be disavowed. I even have a spy tailing Skywalker's pet. Don't worry, Kaiser. Stace will join us or die. Satisfied?" Vol finished his explanation, his left hand hovering over his lightsaber and Sith sorcery at the ready. High Lord Kaiser looked furious beyond imagining, barely restraining himself, and Malyketh was wearing a stupefied look that transformed into a calm, cold one. That wasn't a good omen for the Grand Lord. The other High Lords looked murderous, or as though they thought him mad.

"I call for a vote of no confidence in Darish Vol's capability as Grand Lord," Kaiser said with a malicious smile. "Seconded," the entire circle chorused. Vol stood and drew his weapon, simultaneously casting incredibly powerful Dark Side spells with hand gestures. The first spell killed three in moments, but they were still junior lords compared with the rest. Vol's second spell was more difficult to shrug off for the stronger Lords, as he conjured tendrils of darkness that destroyed flesh on contact, but he'd been injured while casting and was favouring his left side. Weakness, just a little, like blood in shark-infested waters, emboldened the High Lords to redouble their efforts against Vol, dispelling or countering his dark tendrils with the tendrils of his opponents. Vol was going to die, but he'd be damned if he didn't try to take them down with him. "Bring it, you ingrates!" Vol yelled in defiance and rage. It didn't take long for him to be overwhelmed, but he took satisfaction in killing half of the Circle first.

The last thing that Vol heard before he died was Kaiser: "You're right, Vol. Turning the Paladin, if he is indeed one, is of paramount importance, or his death. Either way, your work will be continued by myself and Malekyth. You just won't be around to see it come to fruition. The boy shall become mine and take my son's place as our champion, or die. Goodbye, Vol… and thanks for the promotion.'' Darish Vol's last sight was a half dozen crimson blades as they all took a pound of flesh, piercing, tearing, and rending Vol until he was a pile of mincemeat and clothes. (Not unlike when Cesar was assassinated by multiple people simultaneously, including Brutus and Cassius; yes, I know Shakespeare. Who doesn't?) Vol was dead. All of the Junior level High Lords were as well. "The loss was worth it though, to cut out the cancer that is, or rather had been, Vol." Malaketh thought. He watched as the newly minted Grand Lord Kaiser took Vol's position at the table. They would continue with the machinations already in place and carefully rebuild their glorious empire, starting with the Circle of Lords.

The Scarlet Blade Opera House, Artisan sector, Coruscant

It took an extra month because of Rogue Squadron training and patrols before Robin asked Jaina on a formal date, (with witnesses and everything!) She said yes and chose to go to the opera. They met outside of the Blade Opera House, each decked out in their best civilian formal wear, him in a tux and her in a gown, respectively. The opera being performed was a historical play, a long but good one, and a tragedy at that, at least up until this moment in time. Robin and Jaina were only about halfway through the performance, which was a beautiful, amazing, and tragically true story of galactic war, politics, espionage, lies, betrayals, and lost love. It was currently the climactic ending of The Revenge of the Sith and Rise of the Imperial Empire, act three of the six-act play.

Robin hadn't truly appreciated the events that Luke and his family were connected to until that night. He hadn't grown up with Luke Skywalker or his father Anakin as legends in everybody's minds. They'd reached the point in the tale where Anakin Skywalker fell to the Dark Side, not from hate, anger, or vengeance, but from love and desperation born from his inability to suffer more loss; the need to keep his wife Padme alive was eating him up. The manipulations by the Emperor didn't help matters either, playing on his emotions from when he lost his mother at the beginning of the Clone Wars or when his saviour, Master Qui-Gonn Jinn, died fighting Darth Maul during the Battle for Naboo in Part One of The Phantom Menace.

In this act, Anakin's love, Padme, wanted nothing to do with him if he wouldn't turn from the darkness. She begs Anakin to turn away from the Dark Side, but his rage clouds his otherwise sound judgement, and he lashes out, choking her with the Force. Now Anakin, the newly dubbed Sith Lord Darth Vader, fought with his old Master, and brother, as well as somewhat of a father figure, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Robin was entrapped by the music, story, and skills of the duelists; obviously, they were all experts at their craft.

When intermission occurred at the end of the third act, the curtains closed and people stood to stretch their legs; it had been a long time to stay sitting. He and Jaina stood, fortunate that they'd kept the feeling in their legs, unlike some who stumbled about first. "Let's go get a couple of drinks from the bar and some air," Jaina suggested, with Robin silently agreeing and following.

"So what's new? How's time off treating you?" Jaina asked. Robin smiled. "When I'm with you, it's fantastic, though when I'm on my own, it's not so great. Mum is joining the Order soon, and that's good, but she's been crazy busy these days with extra pirate activity. I've been going stir-crazy, but you keep me from losing it." Robin said, taking up his whiskey and toasting Jaina. (Naturally, others helped Robin not go crazy from boredom, but he's on a date and trying to impress.)

"How did you like life with Rogue Squadron?" she asked. Robin thought about his time with the Rogues, running patrols, scaring away pirates and old-world Imperial officers who wanted to return to the Empire's "glory days", making more friends, and swapping stories. He'd enjoyed it.

Robin smiled while composing his thoughts. This was supposed to be a night out for fun, not for brooding on delusional xenophobes or power-hungry fools. "It's been busy, interesting, and enjoyable. I've even made some friends. They helped me shake a tail I didn't even know I had. Believe it or not, An-Dru was spying on me for someone, though he wouldn't say who. He only said he'd been following me for awhile, hiding his presence. He didn't tell me willingly, but a powerful mind-trick combined with his weaker will got him to spill that tidbit before he regained enough focus to fend me off. He seemed terrified of his boss when pressed, which might be part of how he escaped. Luke and the Council wanted him in custody given his history with the Order, but he escaped, luckily without injuring anyone. So yeah, that's a run-down on my training with the Rogues. I've heard they want me as a full member one day, even if only as an auxiliary pilot. I'll probably start taking formal classes soon, Luke and General Antilles both told me it's my choice. I wouldn't mind getting back to Jedi business soon though." A comfortable silence came over them.

Robin sipped his whiskey while he composed his thoughts, word by word. He had to ask her his question, but he had to do it right, and tactfully, or he could come off sounding like a total dick. "Why choose this particular show, Jaina? It's fantastic, but I get the sense you chose it for another reason." he asked casually as she thoughtfully took a sip of her whiskey.

"I wanted you to see. To see and understand what you'll be getting into if we evolve our relationship beyond friendship. My family has a powerful connection to both the light and the dark. Tonight is a peek behind the curtain of the Skywalker bloodline. My grandfather fell, my uncle fell, and both were redeemed, but not my brother. He chose to die in the darkness, unredeemed. He was my twin brother, and I'm scared I'll end up falling and hurting those I care about like he did. I suppose I'm also offering you an out. I'd hate it if something happened to you or your mom because of my family's curse."

Robin sipped his whiskey before replying, slightly angry at Jaina's outlook, even though he understood it to a degree. His feelings bled into his voice. "Wow. Jaina, no offence, but you're a genius, a prodigy, and you seriously think that? You're not cursed, and neither is your family. You're all amazing people! But even if you were cursed, I'd say, "Who cares?" My mother and I aren't so weak as to fall because of your family's checkered past. I don't want an out. I want to get whatever part of you that's still scared… to die. I want you free from your mental prison."

Robin's voice grew less heated and a touch gentler, and his expression softened as he continued. "I get it. Your family has a past that scares you… Mine does too! We should exchange family trees someday. You might feel better knowing where my family comes from." Robin said, in an attempt to help her understand, that he would stand firm and resolute. He understood why some might feel such fears, despite not feeling them himself. He wouldn't push it, but he wouldn't budge on the matter either. (Unstoppable force, meet an immovable object.) "I do appreciate that you care as much as you do, but I think you overdo it sometimes, Jaina." He chuckled at the irony of his own words; he knew that they were two of the same.

"Let's grab our drinks and enjoy the rest of the show… intermission is about to end." Robin put his arm around Jaina's shoulder in a gesture of intimacy, affection, and solidarity. "What's this part called?" he asked. "A New Hope, then The Empire Strikes Back, and finishing up is The Return of the Jedi," she replied readily enough. "Bet they'll write epics about you soon," Robin said with a chuckle. "I hope not. I like my privacy. I'll gladly let you have the accolades and attention," she responded, smiling.

The remainder of the show was amazing; by the end, Robin and Jaina found that they were holding hands, a new development but certainly not an unwelcome one. Most times, it's the little things that hold the most significance, at least in Robin's admittedly minimal experience. When the show was over, the young pair decided to walk home together and just enjoy each other's company as long as they could. Robin would drop her off first and then go to Luke's, which was not far away.

"Remember to kiss her goodnight. Aim for her cheek or her hand. Yes, it's cheesy as hell on earth, but we're not on earth anymore, and that way, if she wants something more, it's in her court, and she won't feel pressured." Shadow advised, ready to help out with guiding Robin's instinctive side if things went that far. "Down Shadow. Nothing's going to happen past a goodnight kiss. It's our first date," Robin reasoned. Shadow just made a pfft noise. "Right. She essentially said that you're it for her, and you reciprocated… strongly. She's got it bad, my man, and so do you. One plus one equals..." Shadow didn't finish because he didn't need to; the huge smile he wore while wiggling his eyebrows suggestively was more than enough of a hint. "Yeah, I get it. Yes, it's a nontraditional and unconventional first date, but still, shut up. At least until I've actually kissed her. Then you can yammer all you want." Shadow was still prepared to help out or crack wise, depending on how things went, though he was at least quiet now. (Shadow is instinctive by nature; in this example, we're talking lust, Reader. Now back to the story).

The duo arrived at the front entrance of the Solo residence. "So here we are, and I can't believe I haven't told you how amazing that gown looks on you, Jaina. I'm an idiot," Robin said with a mildly nervous chuckle. She didn't blush like a dumb teen, but she seemed flattered by the compliment. They were still holding hands, so he lifted her hand and gave it a chaste kiss. She was confused by the gesture. "What the hell was that? Call that a kiss? Honestly, why so tame? Jeez-" she was cut off by a kiss on the lips, still tastefully chaste, though with far more energy and passion than a simple peck. She looked dazed and surprised, and frankly, he was too. "Nice job!" Shadow whispered in his head. "Better?" he asked, feeling a little bold, and Jaina, now only slightly glassy-eyed, (and a tiny bit weak-kneed, not that she'd let him or anyone else see the effect he'd had,) replied, "I can work with that. And we'll improve on it too. Goodnight, my Pure Knight," she teased, chuckling, knowing full well that he didn't like that moniker as much as he should, no matter how complimentary it was. His romantic side was pure in nature too; he hadn't put her in any situation she didn't want. He was a gentleman and true to his word, letting her set the pace, and knowing him as well as she had come to, he'd continue the trend.

Jaina closed the door after stepping in, thinking something that not long ago would have been very out of character for her. "Why not invite him in?" Her inner monologue asked. She attributed the thought to the high of a successful, wonderful first date. (After which she realized in horror how long it had, in fact, been since she went on a date). Add in the booze, plus the lateness of the hour probably didn't help stop such thoughts. She went upstairs to sleep, feeling energetic yet exhausted at the same time. Joy and desire, oh how she'd missed those feelings. It was a warmth she thought that she'd forgotten, spreading from her core outward and suffusing every cell as she drifted off to sleep.

Chapter 15

Connections

Robin's Inner World

Shadow was at the highest point of the castle and appeared to be deep in thought; he knew that Einstein would join him soon. Robin was getting closer to the point where he would be worthy of the mantle of leadership and therefore ready, able, and fully capable of rebuilding The Paladin Clan from almost scratch. Shadow was deep in thought when a door that hadn't been there before that night suddenly appeared smack dab in the middle of the otherwise blank wall. It wouldn't open, at least not for Shadow. He hoped that Einstein could force it open if necessary. "Hmm, it doesn't feel dangerous, dark, or malevolent. No door-knob? Maybe it's not we who must open it. I sense a presence… not unlike our own, Shadow. A being born from both mind and soul. I know not their Name, so we can't call out to them." Einstein responded upon materialization. Together, the two decided that they would leave it be unless it became a threat, at which point they'd summon Robin, for he was tantamount to God in his mindscape; it was his personal realm of power; all Paladins had and always would have their own mindscapes.

Robin shimmered into existence in his mindscape, having sensed a significant change, not born of his will, yet in his sanctum of sanctums. He thought that he'd feel upset or violated, but instead, he accepted the situation calmly. His body was resting and full of happy drugs like oxytocin and dopamine from his night out with Jaina, though his mind was slightly restless. "What's happening? Something in here changed, and I felt pulled here." "I can't say, just a door that doesn't open," Shadow remarked, scratching his head in confusion and embarrassment. "At least not from our end, but I sense a presence similar to ours. A Familiar, I'd wager,'' Einstein added.

"They might have a theory or even the answer to what the hell was going on but be unable to share it because of the rules imposed by Balance. In addition, since every theory they can confirm is based around my thoughts and hunches, we'd just be going around in circles without more concrete information or a clear sign, so I'll just play it by ear," Robin had silently reasoned. "Well, I can't seem to will the door away or even open it... Hmmm, strange. I'm essentially god here in my mindscape, so it should yield to my command. I want to meet this mysterious presence. I'm going to scan myself with the Master Holocron when I wake up in the morning; it feels like the right thing to do. Until then, rest, you two. Don't worry." Robin said, fading from his mindscape to Dreamland.

At the Solo residence, everyone was asleep. Everyone was having a peaceful, dreamless slumber. Everyone except Jaina, who found herself in a strange, foreign, yet achingly familiar place. After a few moments, she realized that she was on a giant version of the Millennium Falcon, her home away from home. She came here for years when she needed to think, and she still does sometimes. Outside appeared to be an entire hangar… but filled with her favourite ships, mostly X-wings or Stealth-X's, (Stealth-X's are Next-gen X-wings, essentially). "Good, you're finally here. Get up and take the ramp out. It's about time that we met, Sword of the Jedi. Do not be surprised, I know; you're not the first Sword, and you won't be the last. Now hop to it," the female voice said, voice projected by an intercom aboard the giant Millennium Falcon, followed by the hissing of a ramp opening up. Jaina sensed no malice or danger anywhere, and so she bid as the voice instructed.

Out in the hanger, Jaina saw a door unlock and open. "Well, guess I'm going this way…" Jaina muttered. "This is all so weird", Jaina thought as she entered a new room. It looked like the Archives at the Temple, except for the stranger who stood before her, a woman with brown hair that looked midnight black in the shadows, dressed in a white and black robe and cloak. The mystery woman had her back to Jaina. "Hello Jaina, It's great to finally meet you," the woman said. Her voice was beautiful and melodic, but also laced with power. She turned to face Jaina and smiled with an all-encompassing expression. "Welcome to Yourself, Jaina Solo. This place is the foundation of your character, born of both mind and soul; everything here in some way reflects you. Take a seat," she gestured, and everything changed. Jaina found herself in her home on Coruscant, sitting on the couch with the strangely dressed, familiar woman.

"Unlike the Royal Familiars, I'm not bound by nearly as many rules, so I can and am currently answering your questions in order, as you think of them. It saves time. How? My, that's a silly question. I'm you, or at least part of you. I took the form of the last Sword of the Jedi, Bastilla Shan, a woman from the Old Republic who garnered your interest and respect. I admit I'm not really her, though I know everything she did, thought, or felt while she was alive. You're essentially in a dimension all of your own. Time flows differently here. A year could go by here, and you would spend maybe a week in a meditative state, something you've done many times before. It's not unlike a self-induced coma, except that you're in control of when it starts and stops."

The woman, taking the form of Bastilla, looked thoughtfully at Jaina, who seemed very lost; then she snapped her fingers as though inspired by some great epiphany or idea. "First, I need to explain. I'm a combination of you with the Living Force, AKA the Cosmic Force, which transcends normal mortal comprehension since most only use one or the other side of the Force rather than the whole thing. I look like this because I needed a form, preferably one you were comfortable with. I chose an individual you thought highly of, though if you want, I can change forms. Robin knows of such things, for he bears two of my kind, the Royal Familiars. Every Paladin has one of us. Don't be surprised if the same thing happens to your mom, uncle, and cousin. Possibly others as well, though I won't know who until they Awaken to their own Familiars." Jaina still looked confused, but she was starting to understand.

Bastilla stopped and then chortled. "I think I should start at the very beginning, for context. A very, very long time ago..." (and we're skipping the lecture, Reader, it's stuffy and was already covered earlier). Bastilla explained the Paladins and their purpose, how the Sword of the Jedi cuts away at the King's weakness and helps recruit and rebuild the Clan, both a part of and apart from the Jedi Order. She also naturally warned Jaina that with greater power came greater temptations, but as long as she stayed the course and remained true to herself, all would be okay.

Finally, after the painfully long lecture, Jaina spoke. "Let me get this straight: I'm Robin's partner in rebuilding an ancient dynasty of super Jedi that don't have a problem wielding the Dark Side in any capacity as long as it is in service of a grander picture, one known only by the Force with Paladins as its representatives. You say that sheer proximity can turn someone into a Paladin because Robin's the leader, bleeding Paladin power into those he's granted subconscious approval to?" Jaina asked. "Yes," Bastilla replied simply. It sounded insane, ridiculous, and impossible, but she felt the ring of truth; there was no deception.

All reality existed in a precarious state of balance and imbalance on cosmic scales, and the Paladins helped to keep Balance in power. "It made sense in a strange way," Jaina thought moments before her Familiar continued. "Before this ritual is complete and you can become a Paladin, you must do something only you can do. There is a very important door you must open. Once it's opened, the ritual will be two-thirds complete. The final piece is up to Robin. It's something he must do on his own, for only he knows what is required. I'm not allowed to say anything more."

Bastilla looked like she was composing her next words very carefully. "Robin has only just begun his tutelage in the Paladin ways, in the True Force. He knows much, yet he does not lack ignorance. He does not keep such things secret to hurt anyone, but rather because he has no choice. Such is a part of Paladin life. Paladins are subtle with their power, do not suffer fools, and can be quick to anger. A long time ago, they were called Wizards among many old cultures. But I digress. You have a job to do, and I can tell you more later. Go, you will find the Gate easily enough." Jaina stood and began walking, her intuition guiding her. There it was, a fairly ordinary-looking door, if not for the symbol of yin and yang; Balance. Inscribed atop the archway was writing in a foreign language that Jaina was amazed that she could understand despite not having learned it.

She began to read. Whoever is the Sword is both Gatekeeper and Keymaster; the Sword that defends the King cuts away his weaknesses and doubts. The Sword is the key to the true power of Paladins. Ye who bears the Title Sword of the Jedi-Paladin shall give the King the power needed to revive the oldest, greatest, and most secretive order of philosophers, warriors, nonconformists, assassins, saviours, heroes, and villains. In return, the Sword will be purged of destructive elements such as unnecessary fear and even spiritual baggage. "My full Title is Sword of the Jedi-Paladin? Uncle Luke, did he know, or had the Force exerted its Will denying Luke and therefore the Order knowledge of my true full Title? Another mystery for another day." she mused before turning back to the writing. There sure is quite a bit written up there, and that last line about emotional baggage hit home hard," Jaina mused as she continued to read.

The King is a contradiction given form, a possible paradox living on the knife's edge between darkness and light, and he will ally with many from both the light and darkness, for he must; otherwise his power is made imbalanced. The bond forged by the opening of this Gate will be everlasting and must never be tainted by either party for any reason, or the Galaxy itself will come undone. Not even darkness would remain, only constant imbalance and chaos. A waking Hell for all. If a Paladin falls into darkness, it is decreed that it is the responsibility of the Paladin King and his Sword to mete out punishment. If you have enough resolve, then accept this power and responsibility so that you might both find your Destinies and, with it, peace. Where there is one Destiny, the other is never far behind, for they, like the King and his Sword, are inexplicably linked." (The writing kept changing as Jaina read; only I, the Narrator, and of course the Author know this level of detail. Jaina overlooked it, she was too busy reading to notice that small thing. Unexplained things bug me too, and I had the green light from the Author to explain that to you. Now back to the story).

Jaina reached out to open the door and found herself hesitant, unsure of whether to open the Gate or not. She was afraid. Change is scary, and with Jaina still suffering from the remains of her PTSD, she was even more susceptible to growing comfortable in her misery. (One can grow to encompass pain and misery in their personal comfort zone. It's misery, but it's familiar misery; therein lies the temptation). She remembered Robin's words regarding her cage of fear, made by her power and experiences. It still held enough sway over her, still influencing her to react instead of commit to a course of action. Bastilla approached Jaina, smiling. "I know you're scared, but it's necessary… and you'll be stronger for the trials and tribulations you'll go through. Fret not; you're never alone, and you can take your time. But you knew that. You just needed a reminder.'' With those words, Jaina felt warmth suffuse her whole body, like a hot bath with homemade cocoa or a whiskey nightcap, and of course, caf in the morning. "I am Jaina Solo. I've never quit or run before, and sure as shit, I'm not starting now!" Jaina reminded herself, steeling her resolve, and with a mighty push, she flung open the Gate! She almost went blind from an instantaneous explosion of light.

When the light cleared, Robin laid eyes on her. Jaina was here in his mindscape, in his sanctum. He felt something so fundamentally right about the entire strange situation that it couldn't be properly conveyed with words. "How did you get here, Jaina? Where were you before, on the other side?" Robin was flummoxed; he didn't understand how she was in his mindscape. He then realized what the gate was; it was a connecting tunnel. He was beginning to comprehend what was going on.

Jaina began to explain what she thought was going on. "Apparently we're partners in reviving and rebuilding the Paladins. I was probably in my version of this place. Part of it is that I'm the Sword of the Jedi-Paladin, and I'm supposed to help you. But don't expect me to call you Your Majesty. Maaaybe Highness… but only because you're high every other day." Jaina joked, trying to diffuse the situation and make herself feel less awkward. Their most intimate parts were connected, (soul, mind, spirit etc). Suddenly, and to both of their surprise, light poured from Jaina into Robin's now self-materialized Kings Sword, (aka Sword of the Ruler,) which absorbed it, growing brighter by the second until a large orb of black and white appeared on the tip.

The Orb floated gently to the ground, where it grew and then exploded with a popping sound followed by a thump of suddenly displaced air. In its place was a man with a very long white beard wearing a grey cloak and robe with a yin-yang symbol on his chest and back. The man grabbed them both by their shoulders. Shadow and Einstein sent positive vibes, apparently unable to speak. Robin understood that this entity had a purpose and wasn't to be feared, and with a grunt, the mysterious figure teleported them to someplace foggy and strangely undefined. "Welcome, young ones, to the Precipice World. The world between all worlds, times, and realities, where both potential and realized possibilities connect and intersect. We must be cautious. I shall guide the way. Walk this way," said the figure with his back turned to them, before he started walking into the fog and the unknown, his "guests" following close on his heel.

Chapter 16

An Audience with the Sage

Robin had many questions, but before he could ask anything, the man spoke. "I am called The Sage of Light and Dark, among other names and titles. I was the first Paladin and the first generation leader by the Will of the Force. My father was the celestial being known as 'The Father', and my brother was 'The Son'. He represented the dark side. My sister was known as 'The Daughter', and she represented the pure light side. I was the third child born from The Father and Abeloth, who at the time was known as The Mother, and at that time she was mortal. I was the only one who was born biologically. My siblings were simply created from Father's will, so each only got half of the power he possessed. I eventually learned that I could use both Darkness and Light, which I attributed, in part, to my mortality," he told Robin and Jaina.

The father of the Paladins looked at them both closely while walking; his face was serious but not overly so. He continued talking. "I know that you both have questions, and I will answer them all in good time, but first I need to tell you that you both are about to receive the harshest training you've ever experienced. Robin, you're struggling with the harmony of two naturally opposing forces, true, but you also need a bit more than just that. I'll help you with that balancing of polar opposites and more, the details of which cannot be shared with anyone, save your heir, should you ever have a child, and those whom you trust implicitly. I'll also eventually teach you to do some truly epic and amazing things with the Force, as well as prepare you for politics. The Sith high echelon needs to be stopped. Preferably with law and politics before lightsabers get whipped out," he chuckled at his use of innuendo briefly before turning to Jaina.

"Jaina, you'll learn some neat badass skills from my Sword, including the handling and treatmemt of PTSD, which, unfortunately, happens to befall every Sword. You're strong; not everyone makes it here. Part of why Paladin's weren't active for so long was due to weakness and the desire for instant gratification. In metallurgy, making a truly excellent, glorious sword takes time, and it requires fire and a real beating before a beautiful, deadly weapon is forged. Chin up. Don't worry about it too much… you've already begun healing yourself, which is not surprising considering that women tend to be faster at maturing, growing, and adapting. She's very eager to meet you both, but especially you, Jaina. It's been far too long without company, and a few centuries with me would drive anyone nuts. Listen, I know that you're both ready for this. Don't worry, tonight's just orientation. You'll wake up in time for breakfast." With that, the two followed the man into the fog, into the unknown. The parallel was not lost on Robin; "fog of the unknown is supposed to be an expression", he mused.

The fog soon cleared, revealing a collection of buildings. "My estate, if you will, along with all of the other Paladin estates. This is a peek at a Paladin's full-service reward for a life well suffered. A Paladin who is not suffering isn't doing a proper job, especially the leader. When we die, we become One with The Force, the true Living Force, a purer form of what standard Jedi experience when they die. We come here… to this Paladin pocket dimension. You'll both have constant access to train in this place as well as my estate, in both your dreams and waking hours. I'm so glad that you two soul-bonded… it took me and my Sword a long time. This way, please," he beckoned, holding open the door to his home.

They went inside and met a person garbed much like the Sage standing there. "Based on their build, it's likely a woman," Robin thought. She turned around and faced the newcomers. "Hello to you both, and welcome. My name is Mary, the First Sword of the Paladin Jedi-clan, aka First Sword of the Jedi-Paladin. Wonderful meeting you both," she said happily, smiling before turning to Jaina. "Jaina, what I'm going to teach you may cause you to fear me or even hate me. That would be more than understandable; it's happened before. But know this: Everything I do is with your best interests at heart. If you're afraid…" Jaina stepped up to the woman. "I'm not afraid. I've been through too much to be afraid." Jaina said, interrupting her. "I like you. You've got such spirit, young Jaina! But don't discount fear; it's an instinctive survival mechanism. Fear is good, just as most things are when taken in moderation." Mary said, smiling warmly.

The First King of the Paladins, aka The Sage of Dark and Light, knew what came next. He put his hand on Robin's shoulder and led him out and away from the women. "We're each doing our own thing, teaching you separately. King to King, Sword to Sword," the Great Sage of Balance explained. Robin nodded in understanding and acceptance as he was led to another door of a similar design. "Here is where I shall teach you… to adapt for as long as you live, because with life comes change, and we must always adapt to changes. Failure to adapt is essentially failing at life. Stagnation equals death; stop moving, and you will die."

The Sage of Balance took a seat at a table, pointing to the chair across from him. "Come here, please," he said, and Robin sat across from him. "Excellent. First, a gift, then my first lesson for you. Relax… it's more of a lecture.'' The man unhooked a metal bracelet bearing a five-pointed star, a symbol, representing anarchy to some and order to others. Robin knew that the star was also a symbol of Balance. It was a symbol of power, which Robin knew well as it matched his mindset, manifesting one's will. (The four elements and the soul; it was a pentacle, which is often mistaken for its opposite, the pentagram, which represents chaos and disorder, the negative stuff in life.) The king of old clasped it on Robin's left wrist, and it flashed with a bluish light. "It will help you in the years to come. Darkness and chaos shall assault you in many ways, and this will help you defend yourself."

"As for your problem doing this..." The Sage continued until he erupted in power of such great density that it took form as a spectral fire of white and black, always shifting but retaining a fifty-fifty ratio. In other words, true balance in the Force. After a moment, the power surge died down. "Your problem is simple: you fear your own power. Regardless of how honourable, sincere, and true you are, you will err. When you fought and killed Kay, you were the closest to Force harmony as you'd ever been. But as close as you got, you understood that you were much stronger than most, and your own great power scared you because you are all of those good things you…withdrew more into the Light, fearing your Darkness. Remember, those that fear power and don't overly covet it are the people most suited to possessing power." The man took a moment before continuing his lecture. "Light, or life, should always be of greater importance, for without life, you have no Balance to maintain or Imbalance to correct. Only Nothingness. Balance is up to your interpretation, and it will involve Jaina's counsel. You know theoretically that you could abuse your power. But your main obstacle to finding Force-harmony is that you aren't allowing your darkness as much strength or leeway as your light."

The great King of old suddenly looked sad. "I'm sorry to say that you're likely going to have a terrible choice ahead of you, and it will be your final catalyst to balance. You're going to one day let your inner darkness grow and thrive, for it must, but no more or less than your light. You've known one extreme but haven't allowed yourself to truly revel in the power of the darkness in you. Do not allow the light to blind you to the uses of the dark; where there's one, there will always be the other. How can you truly access all of your power… without understanding it? Think about my warning; maybe I'll be proven wrong, and a lot of suffering and death can be avoided. The future is ever-shifting and changing. I can only show you the door. You have to walk through it. Manifest the Sword of the Ruler, please," Robin did so. The First King cut himself on the blade, his blood running down the edge as he muttered words that Robin couldn't understand.

"Now you can manifest this blade for divine judgement, and should the sinner in question, for you judge those who sin against balance, have committed a great enough crime, you will cast Final Judgement, the greatest punishment. This responsibility will come instinctively. I'll teach you to use the King's Double and more when you have faced your true darkness and gained the required equilibrium, thereby being truly ready." They left the room for the now-empty courtyard of the first Paladin's estate. Mary and Jaina were waiting for them. "They must've had less to discuss," Robin idly thought. He noticed Jaina now wore a beautiful sword, though it didn't feel like just a weapon but rather a part of her. "Time for you two to be getting home to your dreams. You may have a late breakfast if you wake in time," Mary said. "Told you, in time for breakfast," the King chimed, receiving a gentle elbow to the gut from Mary. "Wait your turn to talk. You've had them all the way here. I get them for the return trip," she said, entirely too sweetly for it to be genuine. Robin and Jaina couldn't help but chuckle at their antics; it seemed almost rehearsed. With the number of times the Paladins of old made this journey, Mary and The Sage's banter was probably automatic.

The three were quiet on the return trip, each lost in thought. "I'll see you two when I see you. Remember, Ms. Solo, you can come back alone whenever. Just draw that sword and cut a hole in reality; it'll stitch itself right back up." She turned to Robin. "You know how to move forward," she joked cryptically, grinning when he rolled his eyes a little. She liked teasing the young man, who obviously preferred speaking plainly over ambiguity. "Now that it's time to wake up, don't forget that you can explore each other's mindscapes. Interact with your Familiars, and learn about each other. Now goodbye, young ones, and good morning. We'll see you again." With that, the two were engulfed in light.

Darkness. That's what Robin awoke to. His room was pitch black. "It must be late, or really early," he thought as he got up and dressed, fastening the new gifted bracelet he received from the First King, which had materialized in the physical plane on his bedside table. His Chrono, (which is a watch or a clock depending on the context,) on his wrist, read six in the morning. Robin went downstairs and headed to the kitchen. The fridge had a note:

'Robin, Ben and I are out for father/son bonding activities and we had to leave early. Enjoy having the place to yourself. P.S. Your mother said to put a sock on your doorknob if you and Jaina are, and I quote "Getting it on". I think it was an Earth joke, but a little warning would be appreciated if you plan on getting, uh, intimate. (Can you imagine writing something like that? As her uncle, it had to be weird, that's just my opinion though). The day's yours, do as you please. -Luke.'

Robin chuckled at the note and his mum's antics. As amazing as it would be, he didn't think that Jaina felt close enough just yet for such physical intimacy. "You've been soul-bonded. Such intimacy doesn't get higher or purer than that." Einstein telepathically said with a deep, warm chuckle. "This is true, though sex is still different," replied Robin. "It has to be right for us both, or it won't be right at all. I was thinking of having the Master Holocron scan her. I want her recognized officially as my Sword." Robin said to his familiars and changed the subject as he ate a simple breakfast with caf before going to the Temple. Robin knew Jaina would head there after last night. Einstein came with him; he was Robin's bodyguard after all.

Robin arrived at the Jedi temple after a short jog to clear his mind and give Einstein some exercise. He could sense Jaina without trying now, a marked improvement that he knew instinctively she would likely mirror. After a little less than a year, his ability to sense people through the Force was almost on par with most Masters on the Jedi Council, though that was Luke's assessment and Robin suspected that he could be exaggerating.

Robin found Jaina in the Archives looking for references to the Paladins. She couldn't find anything, but the Holocron he kept in his pocket would probably have answers, or at least help draw out the right questions. "Good morning, Jaina. Last night sure was something special." Robin said hopeful that anyone who might be eavesdropping would assume he meant their date, which had been very special, though he was referring to the shared experiences and newfound knowledge they experienced with the Sages. Jaina picked up on his trick. "Yes, it was a wonderful, illuminating night. You're quite the gentleman," he smiled and took her hand. "I offered to let you see my family tree. It wasn't an empty gesture; come with me and I'll show it to you," he said in a quiet, slightly husky voice, meant to suggest that following them was a bad idea.

A pissed-off Jaina or Robin on their own would be bad under normal circumstances. Interrupting a potentially private moment between the two of them would be twice as intimidating. Jaina understood the game that they were playing, even giggling at one point, though Robin thought that it sounded genuine, and maybe it was. Connected, they were, but a mind reader, Robin was not. They went to Luke's, currently empty, office as it had the greatest security measures.

Once they were inside and the room was secured against spies or just nosy people, the two burst out laughing, Jaina started and then Robin followed. It was ridiculous, the song and dance, but it was fun too. "I can't believe we did that! You should be more like that for our next date." Jaina gasped when she couldn't laugh anymore. Robin smiled one of his rarer smiles, the warmth obvious to those who knew how to spot it in his eyes. "Maybe I will. Be careful what you ask for. It's honestly very flattering that you'd ask me out for date number two," he replied playfully.

Robin made room at Luke's desk for Jaina to sit in her chair next to him before he called up his Family tree, rendered in one-way holographic form, so you couldn't see it unless you were looking at the correct side. Jaina initially saw no real names as dark, intimidating, or controversial as Anakin Skywalker or Darth Vader, until she looked much farther back.

Every family has a black sheep or two, but Robin's had several people of historical note. Darth Gravid (gra-vihd), Darth Revan/ Master Revan, Bastilla Shan, and Master Qui-Gon Jinn, (Obi-Wan's Master). Half of Robin's family tree had Sith Lords that went to the Light, or Jedi who lived like Revan, as had Qui-Gon; believing in a state of balance. Some were able to use the dark to serve the light; and just as many who had fallen from the light who still believed in it's worth, it's necessity.

So many people, outcasts and misfits belonging to no camp of light or dark lived in the far more realistic grey. Jaina turned to Robin and saw those who came before him in his actions, words, and deeds. "I'm sorry for the disrespect that I showed you last night. You always seemed so bright and warm. I didn't feel worthy," she whispered, unable to think of anything else to say. She'd started her pity party, and he'd been kind enough to tear it down for her.

Sure, Jaina's grandfather had been Darth Vader, and her family had a history with the Dark Side, but it paled in comparison to Robin's bloodline. Robin just smiled; the smile of one who knows a bittersweet truth. "If I seemed bright, it was in the hopes of drowning out my darkness. The greater the light, the deeper the darkness; everything has its opposite." Robin took a moment before turning to Jaina, the Master Holocron in his hand. He activated the Holocron, and it scanned Jaina as it had him. "Welcome to the Paladin clan, Jaina Solo, Sword of the Jedi-Paladin, and Companion of the Ruler. Your registration is complete," it articulated before deactivating and returning to Robin's hand.

"Let's compare notes. What did Mary tell you in your meeting?" Robin asked. "She said that fear is powerful… and that I can use fear as a tool when other, more polite methods fail. That I shouldn't run from my fear, but use it against the enemies of true balance. I can control it without it controlling me, and that, despite my similarities to my late twin brother, I'm not him nor will I suffer from the same shortcomings." Jaina replied. "What of your time with the First King?" she asked. Robin sighed, trying to compose his thoughts. "He said that I'm afraid to use my full power, because, for all of my positive qualities, I'm not infallible, which scares me into disturbing my balance by denying my darkness."

"He said that if things don't change, I'll likely need a horrible catalyst, and many people, soldiers and mercenaries likely, could die at my hands in a quest for the guilty party, whoever they might be. Basically, I must fully integrate once, briefly, with the Dark Side. I'd rather not become a killer to keep the balance." Robin relayed, though both knew he could and would if necessary. "We need a Nexus of Dark Side energy." Jaina thought about it and gasped, inspired. "I know where to go. I've been before, but it's been years. I've been meaning to return. A good place for understanding darkness." "Where?" Robin asked, growing excited. Jaina smiled and said one word, one very powerful and important word: "Dagobah."

Meanwhile, elsewhere on Coruscant An-Dru was in for a hell of a shock. His Sith Master, Darish Vol, the former Grand Lord of the Sith, was dead. Now An-Dru had a new Master, Grand Lord Kaiser. At that moment, An-Dru knew that his life was hanging by a thread: the thread of usefulness. So he had resolved to become indispensable, one way or another. The Jedi might take him back, true, but he had many enemies in their ranks, and he'd even laid out a death threat against the former Padawan-turned Jedi Knight, Robin Stace, a man even the late Vol had been wary of. The same man he'd been tailing and reporting on to the Sith through Vol since his expulsion and subsequent defection to the Sith.

He hoped that he still had his chance at vengeance and so continued to work for the Sith, whom he was now going to have to convince of his worth if he wanted to remain alive. Currently, this was not an easy objective. "You've been discovered as a tail. Do you have any usefulness left?" the holographic form of Kaiser asked rhetorically. An-Dru finally had his moment. "Yes, Grand Lord, I may not be a good spy anymore, but I've been the one supporting your "rogue" Sith pirates for months now, providing coordinates for attacks so you and your people can eventually swoop in and "save the day". It's been smooth work except..." An-Dru hesitated. Kaiser frowned "Except what, Apprentice?"

An-Dru recovered quickly. "The only problem is Calrissian Shipping, (Lando's shipping company). They don't have many security agents able to stand against your people, but Stace is causing trouble." An-Dru finished. "Stace? Our intelligence suggests that he isn't in any of our pirate-controlled areas." Kaiser said, masking his confusion.

An-Dru sighed at the single-mindedness of true old-school Sith doctrine and mentality. "Not that Stace, Master. I speak of another, his mother. She's skilled and powerful in the Force, and she's repelled several boarding parties. Rumour has it that she will join the Jedi Order soon, once her current contract is up. Her power is untrained and unrefined, but it's still greater than average. Given time and training, she'd make for a greater threat than she already is. I recommend terminating her before then." An-Dru stated.

Kaiser smiled, pleased by his unofficial apprentice's work. "Keep an eye on her, observe, and report back to me. She may prove to be the key to my plans for the boy and to facilitating your vengeance. Remind the "Pirate forces" to keep her alive and whole should she be captured." An-Dru was confused but was smart enough not to argue. "Yes, Master." An-Dru replied before the call was cut. An-Dru had dug himself a deep hole, he hoped that he could eventually get out of it, and knew that if he failed it would become his grave.

Chapter 17

Darkness/Undeniable Truths

Dagobah System, 0930 hours

Robin and Jaina's X-wings came out of lightspeed, just outside Dagobah's gravity well. They entered the atmosphere, scanning for the best places to land. Hopefully, they could find a place large and solid enough for both fighters to land. After about twenty minutes, fortune smiled on them, and they found a large enough landmass to land both ships. Robin exited the cockpit, and his feet were instantly covered in mud, among other mysterious and gross substances. "Well, that didn't take long," Robin commented with a small sigh of annoyance. His new boots were now wrecked. Jaina just laughed, replying, "You get used to muck of various kinds as a Jedi." She turned to him, "come with me." Jaina said leading the way, Robin following after.

Dagobah was a dark, dank, desolate, and otherwise woeful world. The Dark Side was indeed very strong here, perfect for their needs. Naturally, the two weren't fans of the swamp world; nobody was. "It's like the Swamps of Sadness from the NeverEnding Story, back when I first imagined it as a young boy." Robin thought as he followed Jaina. (Remember to read, to dream, and to promote the fantastical. Keep your inner kid alive and strong).

They were seeking out the former home of Grandmaster Yoda, who'd used the world's darkness to hide his light from the Emperor. It was also where young Luke had trained, and where after nine hundred years, Yoda died in peace and contentment.

Jaina didn't need to explain Dagobah's significance, historical or otherwise; Luke had already told Robin of his failure when facing his Dark Side during his tutelage under Yoda. The plan was simple: Jaina was going to meditate and face her fears here, and conquer them. While this was happening, Robin would accept all of his darkness. Not just the useful parts that essentially made up Shadow's core, but everything, warts and all, in the very same cave in Luke's story. Only by truly knowing both sides of himself could Robin attain Balance.

Robin knew that they'd made the right move by coming here. The darkness here would smother his Light Side's instincts to recoil from his Dark Side, thereby preventing him from knowing his full, truest self. Darkness had its uses, its place and time as all things do; an undeniable truth of life. "Know thyself and know truly unlimited power, for limits are placed by only our own power," he thought silently.

First, he had to temporarily subdue his light, which Dagobah was helping him to do, in order to meet his darkness and, somehow, not fall to it. He wasn't above temptations of power; he was flesh and blood with normal mortal wants and desires.

"Robin? You okay?" Jaina asked, looking concerned with his silence. "I'm okay, I just got lost in my own thoughts. I'm also scared. When I killed Kay, I terrified myself… because of how right it felt. Not the taking of just any life, but his life in particular. The Paladin in me knew that he was bad for Balance and recognized a threat, as did my inner Jedi, but I'm the one who enjoyed it. Me. Robin Stace. I feel tainted, stained, and ashamed," he replied, trying not to sound too forlorn.

Amazingly, she smiled, though it was shot through with sadness and pain. "Good. Use that feeling in your trials, just as I will use my fear… to call it, manifest it, and give it life. I know Shadow is part of your Darkness, but not all of it. he's only the useful positive instinctive need to live, fight, and win." Jaina said, continuing to Yoda's old, tiny ramshackle cabin. Robin was surprised at her words, to say the least. "What?" She asked, returning his gaze. "I actually talk with your Familiars, you should try it with mine sometime. Remember, I'm supposed to cut away at your weakness; that includes doubt, especially self-doubt."

They had finally reached the little hovel and got a fire going for warmth. "What now?" Robin asked. It was his first time using a Dark Side Nexus. Jaina laid out a mattress near the cabin's small fire. "Sleep… you need to recoup your lost energy, as do I. Don't think too much either; it strengthens the syphoning process of this place. I know it's hard, but do your best not to worry or think. If you can't, I'll do what I must to force you. A concussion should do the trick," she warned, only half-joking. Robin wisely stayed silent and stilled his thoughts as he got in bed with Jaina, before sleep took them both.

Jaina had been here before. She knew Dagobah well, so it was no surprise that she could resist its effects more easily. As such, she was the first to wake up and start planning the day as she cooked breakfast; she hadn't slept well, though, and was a little grouchy. Robin woke when he'd grown cold, which meant Jaina was up and at 'em. She ladled some soup into a bowl for him. "Don't complain about the taste; nobody can make anything taste good here, not even you, the great Chef Stace. Yoda was nine hundred, and he couldn't make food taste any better than 'barely edible,' as my uncle said." Jaina sounded annoyed, and she was annoyed, but not by Robin, who remarkably didn't once complain about her jumping down his throat. It was the dark side's influence, and her resistance was waning a little, which, given her upcoming task, was probably a good thing. She'd grown accustomed to the light to the point that a little difficulty would only help her develop control over her darkness by helping her draw out her fears.

After they finished eating, Robin had a second helping, which, as a mere idea, made Jaina queasy. They went outside to find the Cave of Darkness and a good spot close by to meditate. They found the cave, marked the area, and marked a nearby naturally flat platform perfect for meditation. They would do it that night, having agreed that three days was the most time that they could afford to spend AWOL, (away without leave,) from the Temple.

Because they had time to kill, with the Dark Side growing stronger by the hour, the optimal time for their tasks was midnight. The duo decided to practice their respective fighting techniques by sparring lightly, with no weapons other than their lightsabers on low output. After an hour, they took a break, collapsing on the ground. Jaina broke the silence. "When are you going to Ilum? The mine was once thought to be permanently empty, but after a few decades, the crystals regrew. You really should go soon. No offence, but you aren't really a true Knight until you forge your own lightsaber. You look like you have a design already in mind," she said. Robin agreed. "I'm thinking that after we're done here, I'll go to Ilum. I'm picturing a cross-guard lightsaber option, but also with a single-blade option. That way, I can surprise people."

Robin checked the time on his chrono. "It's time to get started on our tasks. Let's do this!" Robin said, trying to psych them both up. Jaina just smiled as she got to her feet with him, and they headed for their destinations and respective missions. For Jaina, it was her own fear; for Robin, it was his own pure Dark Side.

Robin felt cold as he approached the cave of darkness, a naturally occurring Nexus of Dark energy. He knew that the cold was a warning from the Force, as well as his instincts. He watched Jaina settle comfortably in a meditative position as he passed her on his way to the cave. He went to enter but paused momentarily. He wasn't sure if bringing his weapon was necessary.

As he resumed entering the cave, he heard a voice, wizened with age and experience. "Your weapons.. you will not need them." Robin instantly recognized the voice of Grandmaster Yoda, one of Luke's teachers. Heeding Yoda's advice and hanging his weapon belt on a nearby tree branch, Robin couldn't help but wonder what awaited him inside, and again he heard Yoda's Force echo as though in answer: "Only that which you take with you."

Once inside, his eyes soon adjusted to the dark. He turned around to confirm his suspicions and saw that the entrance was no more. There was only one way out: forward. He steeled himself for whatever his own personal darkness had ready for him. He knew one thing right away: this was it. The final steps before his true journey began. Everything up until this point had been a prelude to this moment in time. The prologue of his story was reaching its end, but the journey was just starting. A part of him was indescribably excited.

As Robin progressed, he warmed and felt as though he had been walking long and far, yet the temperature never altered and the air quality was the same. "A Force-induced vision, perhaps?" he wondered as he walked on. The cave was damp; creatures unseen skittered and scuttled. At one point, he thought that he heard the hiss of a snake striking its prey; its sound exponentially louder than it ought to have been, that is, until the sounds just stopped.

Dead silence is a very strange, rare thing born from the dark unknown, from fear, from death. Robin continued, the silence weighing heavily on him like a cold hand pushing down on his shoulders. As he continued, he found his way blocked by what appeared at first glance to be a gate, (the gothic kind with arches).

Upon closer inspection, he found writing on the archway. It was written in Latin, or a close derivative. Loosely translated, it read, "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here." Reading this caused Robin to shiver a touch in fear. While he was looking down for a moment, lost in thoughts of fire and brimstone, the archway had become a mirror, which rippled like still water after a stone was thrown in. Robin looked back up and witnessed an inky black silhouette separate itself from the centre of the rippling mirror. He felt like perhaps Dante Alighieri hadn't just been tripping balls from mushrooms when he wrote his Divine Comedy. (This book is a good read. Look it up, start with Inferno). If his hunch was right, then just as Dante had Virgil for his trek through Hell and Purgatory, Robin had a companion and guide as well. "Yo, Mr. Ink, are you my Virgil? Would you mind growing a face, please?"

The inky entity just smiled a pure tooth smile, lacking anything else in terms of facial features. No eyes, no cheekbones, absolutely nothing. It was creepy looking, but its voice was even creepier, distorted and synthetic yet simultaneously organic and smooth. "You're the new boss, Paladin. I'm pleased to finally meet you. My apologies; let me put on my face," the thing said with an even bigger all-tooth grin. The figure turned around, made some frankly disturbing squelching sounds, and then turned back to Robin, wearing his own face and garbed in a black robe and cloak made of shifting darkness. (Similar to Voldemort's clothes when he returned in Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire. I'm in your head, of course, I know pop culture). "Let's go," the lookalike said before walking through the archway-turned portal, Robin following after.

"Welcome to your darkness, your personal Hell. Here you'll find every dark truth that you repress, deny, or otherwise pretend doesn't influence you. You can't integrate with your darkness without fully knowing or accepting it. My job is to guide you to various aspects of yourself that you really don't like or appreciate as much as you should. I'm only the messenger, so save your wrath for the deserving. Those who seek to destabilize or destroy Balance, to set the scales in their favour, are… our truest foes. You've probably already figured out that I'm you, your dark self. Unlike Shadow, I'm unfiltered, pure darkness. No, I'm not playing Sympathy for the Devil in the background; it's overplayed and cliche." Dark Robin said with a chuckle that sounded normal but felt dark, heavy, and even sinister.

As they moved, a green glow that resembled bioluminescent moss and mushrooms illuminated the cave's pitch-black interior. The light grew until they reached a plinth; on it was another portal, labelled 'Power', though it was not active. "This is door one. I'm going to ask you questions, and you must answer with brutal honesty, or the way forward will forever remain barred. The absolute truth is the only way forward. That is the standard procedure in this place."

Robin looked at his personal dark half, skeptical of the simplicity. "I am part of you, but unlike you, I won't lie to you, even while you lie to yourself. So… question time. Why did you join the Jedi Order instead of staying on Earth and spreading the ways of the Force yourself? Earth could have been yours, though it's a bit of a low bar as far as prizes go. There are too many sheep, and you know I don't mean the animals. The point is that you didn't have to leave, and while you did feel destiny at work, there was another reason. Sensei Tzu said to set a goal, to best utilize your power. That power, of any kind, without direction or purpose, is empty, a void, and ultimately denies you the very gratification many believe is found in power, status, influence, and the like. Remember the vow that you made that day, so long ago?" Dark Robin reminded Robin off-handedly, knowing the answer.

Robin looked down at his feet; he did have a goal, and while helping the innocent and oppressed as a Jedi was well and good, his personal greater goal ultimately superseded his work as a Jedi. It was such a large goal that it demanded more attention and was a priority. Robin gathered his courage, remembering how much he had hated and scorned the world on Earth and life itself for the constant injustices, scoffing at the broken system. That had been before Sensei taught him to direct his energy to something constructive; the energy from dark thoughts could be turned to good purposes if he chose. Robin chose fixing or reforming the system, all of it so that life could maybe, one day, actually be fair; such was his ultimate goal and one of his reasons for being. To do that required great power, something he'd get with the Order, and he'd quickly realized that Luke was an authority figure and a good man worth befriending. Luke was already opening doors for him.

Robin saw his darkness smile though, it was laced with sorrow and pain, aspects of the dark side, and of himself. "That's right. At least you're being honest with yourself right now. You wanted power, and you still do. Not for the sake of power, but to fix everything you could. To make life genuinely fair and fix the broken system. Bad guys get punished, while good people are rewarded for doing what's right instead of getting taken advantage of. Yet that is also ambition, hubris, and greed, albeit for noble lofty ideals and goals. Well done for finding the strength to carry forward. Come on, we're not done. Next time, try answering aloud, for your sake." Dark Robin said, walking through the mirror-like portal with Robin following suit.

Once more, they were somewhere that looked completely different; this mirror read 'Fear', and Robin suddenly felt painfully cold. "What do you fear? I'm not talking about standard fears like arachnophobia or heights. But you suspected as much. While we aren't on a schedule, I'd rather not take forever," his darkness said, tapping an imaginary Chrono, and earning a glare from Robin.

Robin mused on the matter silently, pacing a circle around his dark doppelganger, his tongue sticking out as he focused. What did he fear? There were plenty of things, but it ultimately boiled down to failure. Failure as a person, a Jedi, a friend, and a Paladin. Yet Robin knew that failure is one of our greatest teachers. We learn about so many things through trial and error, pain and frustration, and especially secrets about ourselves. Robin had his answer, tough as it was to admit. He took a moment to compose his thoughts.

"I fear becoming something I'd hate. Failing others, but especially failing myself. I fear that without my Paladin power, which wasn't mine originally as it was inherited, I'd be nothing, and that I only got this strength through a genetic lottery. I'm afraid that I'm the wrong person for the job and that I'll fail everyone and everything because of it." The mirror lit up, and then a doorway appeared in its place. "Now you're at least saying it aloud, that's good, solid, and marked progress. Now is the time to warn you: this will be your final challenge here, but not your final trial. You are a good man, and it's the nature of good people to fight… well, me. The Dark Side, parts of me anyway, while using my better aspects to serve the light. Come, we must continue." Dark Robin beckoned, stepping through the archway.

Robin had noticed that despite the increasing darkness around him, broken only by sickly luminescent plants and glowing minerals on the cave walls, his eyesight hadn't worsened; it actually improved, and he wasn't as cold feeling as he was moments before. "I was born of pure darkness; as such, the more in tune with me that you become, the better your night vision gets and the cold won't bother you; after all, I see perfectly in the dark and enjoy the cold as I am your darkness personified, so you can draw on my qualities the further you progress, and it doesn't hurt that we're in a dark-side nexus. It's a sign of progress, we'll be finished soon." Robin just grunted affirmation, little more was required.

Eventually, the path opened up to what looked like an arena in the distance. "This one's a two-parter. First, how did you feel about killing that Sith Lord at the tournament? Remember now, brutal honesty. You probably don't fully believe me, a wise course of action, but I do want you to succeed and champion Balance. In addition to the fact that I'm you, so know now that I take no pleasure in putting you through this. It's necessary, unfortunately." Robin listened and nodded while they walked; his dark side's words rang true. "Back to the question: How did you feel when killing Kay? Part two; would you do anything different? We both know the answer, but you must do more than know it. You must face it, accept it, and own it. This is how you'll gain Balance in the Force."

Robin looked around, to see the memory of his fight with the Sith Lord which was superimposed on the darkened, empty arena. "I felt many things when killing him. Fury, wrath, indignation, relief, shame, terror, and a touch of pity. But if I'm being honest with myself, I never regretted or felt sorrow at his death by my hands. He invaded my space, and marked me not just as his opponent but as his enemy He said that I was inadequate in numerous ways, and sought to hurt, use, and abandon Jaina when he was done with her; though I would have deemed him too great a threat, no matter who among my loved ones he targeted. He was the antithesis of everything I stand for. I did feel that had things been different, he could have been a much better person, and I truly hope that he's reborn as a better person. His death at my hands felt… just. I felt pride in removing that stain from the galaxy. I actually feel better having said that out loud, even if only to myself. I wouldn't do anything differently." Robin said, chuckling lightly at literally talking with himself. It felt like he'd accepted a part of himself that had, until that point, simply weighed him down. His chains were broken; the truth of his darkness had helped set him free of his unnecessary guilt and fear.

"Good. Now comes the final step. This is a duty that you must be able to perform. You've come far and accepted yourself, the good, the bad, and the ugly. (Great movie). You've killed both in anger and in the hopes that your enemy will come back as a better individual. Kay's death was a mercy killing. Your demon danced with his devil in the pale moonlight and won, but he died happily as a proud warrior. This last test here will require you to draw on my power, on pure Darkness, and it will influence, but not control you. Any control that I have is, on some level, freely given by you. Come with me, please."

Together, they trudged over the mucky, dark, rust-coloured ground. Then Robin smelled it, faint at first, growing stronger as they neared the centre. It was the coppery scent of blood. This wasn't an arena for combat; it was an execution ground soaked in blood. He was in Hell, or at least, close to it. Robin figured it was metaphorical of something, perhaps the destructive power of pure darkness when left unchecked. A tall, decrepit man materialized, limbs and mouth bound by ropes of pure energy. "This is the ancient soul of Vitiate (Vi-shee-ayt), born with the name Tenebrae (teh-nuh-bray). His name isn't really important and hasn't been for a long time. He was once great and terribly powerful, but he cared too much for immortality. An overrated ambition, if you ask me. Your duty, your privilege, and your responsibility is to render and carry out a verdict for the Force. He destabilized balance more than once and siphoned the Force from whole worlds, worlds that are still recovering from such atrocities. He turned one of your ancestors into an undying Force battery. Revan was lost to the galaxy for countless generations because of this… thing. Justice, according to the Will of the Force, is yours to carry out." Dark Robin gestured, and the Blade of the Ruler, (Aka King's Blade among other names), normally only seen in Robin's mindscape, was suddenly in his hand. Dark Robin then passed it to the true Robin. The time had come, for judgment was nigh.

Robin looked upon the feeble creature, who was once a great scourge on the very galaxy itself. Now he was a mere worm at his mercy. How would he judge the prisoner? He would trust his instincts and follow the Will of the Force. "How do you plead? Bear in mind that I know some of your terrible deeds and the power that you have accumulated. Remember, you cannot lie here." Dark Robin said this to the guilty Force-user before gesturing and dispelling the rope. The former would-be immortal threw himself at Robin's feet, begging for mercy and making promises of power, influence, and whatever Robin wanted most if he could just be spared his punishment. Robin became furious, and wrathful, (yet not in an unfair way, more like a cop or judge who refuses a bribe, indignant and disrespected by the very idea.) "You think that you can bribe your way out of accountability? Not with me! Maybe before, when the Paladins had been missing, but we're back!" The heat in Robin's voice quickly faded, and he was completely without warmth. Save for his eyes, the window to the soul. They shined with a mercilessly cold dark fire.

Robin's eyes showed regret as well. Not because the upcoming punishment was too harsh, but because of regret at having to do it at all. "Why can't people just live in peace and harmony, in balance with everything? Conflict already exists without us seeking it out or making more." Robin couldn't help but wonder. "Had you held yourself accountable this could have been, if not avoided, at least mitigated."

Dark Robin was disappearing, being absorbed into the true Robin, as was part of the ritual. It was agonizing for Robin, yet it was a pure pain like burning yourself with hot water; it cleansed his doubt, gave him focus, and gave him power. This was a new flavour of the Force, one he honestly couldn't say that he totally disliked. It was a hell of a rush, but he kept himself grounded. Robin pointed his King's Blade at the guilty soul, embracing his role and the darkness he had made, and now accepted and wielded along with his light, both equal extensions of himself.. He was harmonized in the Force, it was indescribable.

"You have been judged by the Force itself and found wanting, greatly. I hereby sentence you, in the name of Balance, to exist in a pocket dimension overlooking those who become One with the Force, knowing you can only gain such peace and rest through penance, as well as the afterlife known as The Realm of Screams and Chaos, or Hell. Take your pick of what to call it; they're the same place. This would serve as a constant reminder of the cost if you attempt to defy the edict meted out by the Force. Your soul shall be bound in death, passing to the next ruler after me. We shall use your power to serve the Balance you fought so strongly against while alive until the Force deems you truly repentant, or your consciousness breaks from attempting the impossible, or Soul Death.'' With a swing of the Blade of the Ruler, the verdict was set, and the soul of Vitiate was severed from this realm, with his powers to be absorbed, just as Dark Robin had known would happen if he tried to avoid accountability. He couldn't say that he was surprised; "Many people tend to think that they're above the consequences of evil actions. Those people are wrong." (Dark Robin's thoughts are essentially Robin's only jaded, angry, and cynical.)

This time, however, Robin didn't suffer from the absorption because accepting your own pure dark side is not meant to be pleasant. Though Robin's prisoner did suffer as his power was taken over by the would-be King of Paladins, Vitiate knew that he had no recourse, no way to fight it. His soul was separated from his power and pulled through a tear in reality. He was suddenly in a pocket dimension with a view of a beautiful realm of peace, love, and life, a place of pure Light Side power, as well as a view of The Realm of Screams and Chaos, (aka Hell.) A place so horrible that it was beyond words, filled with the screams of the forever damned.

Neither was a place Vitiate thought he'd see, ever. He had been seeking immortality while alive for a reason, though true immortality had, alas, eluded him. He would be immortal in death only, it would seem. Doubtless Revan would appreciate the irony of Vitiate turning into a power boost for his descendant, just as he'd done to Revan so long ago. This was Vitiate's last thought as he felt himself become bound to the realm of maddening in-between.

Robin knew everything that Vitiate was thinking and feeling during his last moments; Revan would without a doubt appreciate the irony. Robin felt his power with the Force grow as Vitiate's presence had diminished, sucked into the pocket dimension, leaving behind only the raw power that Robin had quickly subsumed and made his own.

Robin felt stronger, but he also felt exhausted; absorbing that much power was surprisingly draining. Suddenly, the cave opened, allowing warm, bright light to stream in. "Has to be my way out," Robin thought as he went through the gate.

Jaina had been meditating on her fears for some time now, and she grew impatient, so she was taking a break, reasoning that they had three days to do their respective tasks. Her body was sore from staying in one position for too long. She shook it off and tried to sense Robin through the Force, she couldn't feel him, probably from the Dark Nexus interfering. She went to the cave and found him sprawled on the ground, ashen and exhausted. She checked his pulse and breathing; everything was normal, physically anyway.

Jaina had heard of people collapsing from powerful Force visions; she'd even witnessed her uncle stagger and collapse when the Force proclaimed her Sword of the Jedi. The Force hid the Paladin part, likely because no ruler existed at the time, at least according to her reasoning. She used the Force to carry Robin back to the cottage; today had been enough for both of them, and she, with Robin, crashed on the bed, though he'd bounced off the mattress and landed half on top of her, but she didn't care; she was too tired for minor discomfort to have much impact. Instantly, sleep took her.

Jaina's Mindscape

Jaina found herself in her mindscape, not knowing why or how; she hadn't called the world forth by her own will, as was the usual practice since learning about her role and Paladins. The normally bright, well-lit hanger of her mindscape was dark, with only the occasional light flickering overhead as she explored her inner world, trying to figure out what was happening.

She gasped as the image of her dead baby brother, Anakin, became visible. That brought back memories that she had locked away, along with her pain and fear. She'd been able to persevere because of her family. As she walked, parts of her inner world were lighting up, it felt foreboding and fear laced rather than reassuring. She couldn't help but wonder what fresh horror was awaiting her, As if on cue, she saw her family, all dead or dying, frozen in time. First was her twin, Jacen, who'd fallen to the Dark Side, and she'd been the only one who could stop him, so he died by her hands. Her mother, she saw in horror, had a blaster wound to the heart courtesy of Han, while her father had fallen on his wife's lightsaber, which was dyed crimson. A similar scene with Luke and Ben wasn't far behind; both wielded scarlet-bladed lightsabers, each piercing the other through fatal points. Then she saw Robin frozen like everyone else, alive. Except he was garbed as a Sith, red lightsaber and dark aura of power included, his normally kind face twisted in some depraved pleasure only he could see or understand. Jaina wanted to scream; she was slowly drowning in an ocean of anxiety and pain.

The remainder of her family disappeared in the following scene, to be replaced by images spawned from long-buried dark fears. "Kid, just scream, let it out, then we'll talk," called the voice of her familiar, who materialized before her, still looking a great deal like Bastilla Shan, though she looked like she'd been through the wringer. Jaina took the advice and screamed in pain, rage, and especially fear. It was a cathartic release, and with her scream, the dark images shattered like glass. "Feel better now? Yes? Good, we need to talk." Bastilla started walking, gesturing for Jaina to follow.

"This whole place reflects you, good and bad. You focused on your fear so much that you altered your mindscape. You know fear is a natural fight-or-flight response. The problem is what you fear, not that you fear. Everything you saw reflected your fears. You fear losing people you care for to death or the Dark Side. Use that fear and turn it into power so that what you fear never comes to pass. You can act or react. It's your choice. You must embrace your fear and the possibility that such things could happen. It's how you own your fear; it's how things should be. It's going to hurt since dread is born from pain. I'll leave you to it; you know what to do." She said, walking away to practice swordplay with a dummy.

Jaina opened herself up and let her emotional shields down. Then she felt her fear assault her full force, and the power of her fear was indeed great. She weathered the storm of fears and worries, reminding herself that they were what-if's and nothing more. Her doubt ate at her, and the pain redoubled its efforts, as though it were running out of time or energy. When her pain peaked and she thought she could no longer stand it, it stopped as well, providing her with a much-needed chance to catch her second wind. "You've accepted your fears as valid and useful, yet only if you don't lose control of yourself to them. Try keeping a journal or log of your fears with reasons both for and against their credibility to help you determine if something's worth fearing in the moment or if it's a fear based in the subconscious and something to explore later. Maybe conquer your fear of rejection soon too. I think that you and Robin should explore and learn more about one another. By the way, he rolled off you while you were having your vision, so get some sleep, or wake him up, and… you know." The Familiar said with a grin, chuckling before disappearing back to wherever Familiars go when they aren't conversing and giving Jaina the sleep she only just realized that she desperately needed. Vision sleep doesn't count as rest because your mind remains active. Jaina's last conscious thought before true sleep was, "What did she mean...? Oh, ok! I gotta put the moves on him and stop fearing rejection that probably won't come. I definitely will, later, when we're both awake. I'll go with Robin to Ilum, and we can pool our body heat." With that little fantasy playing on loop in her head, Jaina drifted off into a beautiful, blissful sleep void of terrors.

Skywalker residence, Coruscant

Luke was not happy… oh no, not at all. Why wasn't he happy? Because his niece was out there doing who knows what with his former apprentice in tow, his charge and responsibility. Sure, they were both adults and doubtlessly fine at defending themselves, as skilled as they were. Not telling him where they went was brash which was less than he'd expect of either of them. All that they left was a hastily written note saying, 'Don't worry'. Luke paled. Cindy would kill him for losing her son, he thought with dread.

He remembered his late wife Mara when she was in mom mode, and it was beautiful and just a little bit terrifying. He understood completely, of course: Hurt my kid, and I'll hunt you down. He'd almost completely given in to the Dark Side fighting his nephew Jacen after his fall to the Dark Side. Jacen had tortured Ben and tried to turn him to the Dark Side as his Apprentice. Luke responded with his rage and his wrath, stopping only when Ben claimed his fallen cousin's death for himself, which had brought Luke back from his fury. He would be honest; Cindy wasn't unreasonable.

When he returned to the Temple lobby, Luke told Cindy, who was just returning to his sister's place, that Robin and Jaina had gone somewhere, though they didn't say, but would return soon. Wherever they'd gone was in range of a hyperdrive-modified X-Wing, which reduced the possible destinations a great deal, along with possessing enough fuel for three to four trips at lightspeed. They could be tracked over time.

Cindy started to tremble, and Luke initially thought she was perhaps crying. It turned out she was laughing but trying to hold it back. She roared with laughter; she couldn't hold it anymore, and she put a hand on Luke's shoulder. "They're fine, Luke. As they said, don't worry," she chuckled at her boy's new boldness, running off with his girl. "He used to be so shy; Jaina was really good for him," she thought, smiling as she returned to the Solo residence.

"Why are all the great women a little crazy?" Luke silently wondered, realizing a moment later that he did indeed have a type preference, as his sister had told him, and that he might be a slight masochist, as Han often joked. (Talk about the pot calling the kettle black). He followed Cindy; he felt a presence briefly that disappeared before he got a fix on their location. It had felt like an incredibly unfriendly person, not a great Sith presence. But still, it is better to be cautious, and he enjoyed Cindy's company. Besides, Cindy might have tips that she might share on raising her son alone from when Robin was Ben's age. Give Luke war, Sith Lords, Force-immune invaders from other galaxies, his dad, and he'd handle it, usually easily. Give Luke teenager issues and you have one stressed Grand Master, if not for his friends with older kids of their own he would have fallen to pieces.

Dagobah, morning

"We still have two days left. Should we head for Ilum? I never took the traditional pilgrimage, but I've always wanted to. My crystal was made with the Sith technique. No rule says you can't have company on this journey for your Kyber crystal." Jaina said cheerfully that morning, likely because they were ahead of schedule, and frankly, her cheerful disposition was infectious enough that not even the darkness of Dagobah could impact either Jedi beyond a minor headache upon waking up. After they shared their experiences and insights from the previous day, the conversation shifted to lightsabers, configurations, and hilts, which transitioned easily to Kyber crystals, and voila, Ilum.

As they packed up, Robin resolved to do something unrelated to Jedi or work with Jaina. So far, they'd had one night of romance; everything else was about work, saving all reality, or was a "friend" date. He was starting to regret waiting so long in regards to romance, and it felt like maybe Jaina was too, though he was polite enough to leave her the privacy of her mind. Sometimes one of them would accidentally bleed a little of their Force presence into the other's mind, gleaning mostly surface thoughts, likely a temporary side effect of soul-bonding so recently.

As they neared their ships, one of the X-wings sank into the muck. As much as he'd like to have Jaina on his lap the whole ride, he wanted to live more. Robin reasoned that Jaina probably felt similarly, so he used telekinesis to bring the ship back up from the swampy depths. "Thanks. As fun as sitting on your lap would be, I'd rather not risk a simple two-hour flight turning into a crash. Trust me when I say that without a doubt, I'd have made you crash, not intentionally but still... Besides, Ilum's a frozen world; we'll have plenty of time for pooling our heat," she said in a teasing and seductive voice, causing Robin to blush slightly. Jaina was giggling at his reaction and took control of the clean ship while he recomposed himself as best he could. "This isn't going to be a fun flight," he thought as he started awkwardly climbing up his X-wing ladder to the cockpit. Both his Familiar's presences returned to him outside Dagobah's atmosphere; they hadn't left, but they'd been muted for lack of a better word. While both were sympathetic to Robin's… problem, Shadow found it quite amusing, laughing merrily. "She-she gave you-hahaha-blue balls-oomph!"

Einstein had struck Shadow in the mindscape to shut him up. While he too found Jaina's forward approach funny and refreshing, as his brother, (don't forget that Robin and Einstein consider each other brothers,) rarely had girlfriends for long, Einstein had to support Robin. Robin was the type who fell hard, or not at all. This often led to prospective mates losing interest; so far, nobody could handle all of him. Einstein still followed etiquette and found those who didn't rather irksome, so he struck Shadow for his insolence toward Robin. Enjoying it was an added perk for Einstein. "At least some good can come from Ilum's climate. Now you won't need a cold shower." Einstein said in genuine consolation at the abysmal cold while joking to try to lighten the mood.

Einstein could tell that Jaina was staking her claim on Robin, and he enjoyed witnessing Robin's mostly funny reactions to her advances. She'd changed a great deal since Robin first met her. She'd been nice and strong but also anxious; now the anxiety is mostly gone. Robin had, of course, changed as well in subtle ways, becoming more brazen and brash. Such is the nature of life.

Chapter 18

Forging the Future/ A True Knight

Ilum's orbit, same day, two hours later

Two X-wings came out of lightspeed, and the view of Ilum was breathtaking. It was horribly cold, but hauntingly beautiful despite the many scars left by the old Imperial Empire led by Emperor Palpatine, or the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, Mastermind of the Clone Wars and Jedi Purge. Robin could feel the strength of the planet through the Force, and he understood why this world grew Kyber crystals and was considered sacred. Books could never do Ilum justice. Truly, this world was blessed by the Force.

The two Jedi pilots marked the temple location, giving themselves a very rough map of the area and their goal, the Kyber Chamber in the temple, where Kyber crystals are born and grow to eventually find a worthy partner. They had shelter, medical supplies, and food; they were on a pilgrimage, so they resolved to only use the bare minimum of technology. A pilgrimage isn't usually easy, especially for Jedi, they consented that this was a fair compromise as opposed to purely roughing it. The trek, even through snow and ice, would be about half a day each way from where they landed. As they were walking through the hellish cold, bundled in high-quality thermal clothes, they were silent. Not an awkward silence, but companionable silence, when words aren't necessary.

They set up a shelter midway through for respite during their quest both there and back. They shared a bed since the shelter was tiny. Jaina had been right; they did need to pool their warmth. The fact that the best way was via cuddling was a perk that they both enjoyed; she'd insisted they be naked for skin-to-skin contact, maximizing body heat. Suffice it to say, some physical and visual exploration of one another occurred, and they were far from cold despite Ilum's best attempts. (Use your imagination.)

Ilum wasn't exactly conducive to heavy-duty romance, however, so little happened between the two, but they took what intimacy they could get through simple things like snuggling and chatting. "The Kyber cave is said to be beautiful beyond words," Jaina murmured in Robin's ear as they cuddled in each other's arms. He looked into her eyes, smiling. "Nothing can compare to your beauty, intelligence, strength, or compassion. I'm lucky beyond words to have you in my life." This caused Jaina to smile brilliantly, replying, "There's no such thing as luck.," a lesson she learned years ago as every Jedi does.

As they had departed Dagobah, Jaina had resolved to herself that she would claim Robin as hers; she'd always been territorial, especially with those whom she was romantically involved with. For some reason, he made her twice as bad as she'd been in her past relationships. Maybe it was because he'd helped her with her baggage; maybe it was a desire to start settling down; and maybe something else entirely. Alas, it mattered not why, because they only had a few hours of night, which for Jaina's plans wasn't remotely close to enough time, if they were to get any sleep, which was necessary on their quest. The days were much longer on Ilum than on Coruscant or Corellia, her dad's homeworld. "Anticipation will make it better", Bastilla said from Jaina's mind, her disembodied voice a gentle reminder to enjoy the moment for what it was instead of lamenting what it wasn't. They were alone, unobserved, cuddling, and, best of all, naked as the day they were born, both literally and figuratively. "Time to power nap," she said, getting more comfortable while maintaining physical contact.

They really would freeze otherwise; it wasn't just an excuse for Jaina to see her eye candy fully unwrapped while showing off her own very well-toned physique. That had just been an added perk. Falling asleep in his arms with a smile, Jaina couldn't help but mirror Robin's thoughts; she was lucky as well. It was her first time considering herself lucky to be in a frozen, cold, icy world.

As Jaina slept easily, Robin lay awake. He knew they'd have their night, or day, soon. He'd explode from anticipation (snicker) or die if they didn't, a thought that both his familiars found amusing. "Thank goodness for the cold," he thought, remembering what Einstein had said and reminding himself that this was a sacred pilgrimage, and not an excuse to act like a horny teenager. "She wants it too; you just don't have enough time yet. Worry not. Have patience." Einy advised via their link.

The next day had the two Jedi Paladins climbing a sheer cliff, possessing hunks of ice, that looked dubious at best but would have to serve as footholds and handholds to reach the ledge of the entrance to the temple. It was little more than a ruin that was half buried in snow and ice, and the Kyber Cave was within. Robin marked the location of their shelter's premium location for the return stop. As the duo climbed with full rock climbing kits, Robin's line suffered from a faulty anchor, and he would have fallen had Jaina not caught him. Robin managed to fix the situation with a new, secured anchor, returning to the climb. Jaina sensed his thanks, and that was enough. At this altitude, voices got stolen by the wind.

When they reached the cave mouth after an epic day, the duo fell to the ground, each sore and tired, relatively shielded from the elements by the mouth of the cave. A moment to rest, aided by the rich Force-imbued atmosphere, would recharge their batteries in short order. They were Jedi Paladins in training, not invincible or invulnerable, and still required a modicum of rest. Jaina had dislocated her shoulder when catching Robin, and so, using the Force, he set it for her. It was far less painful than ramming it back in with brute physical force, but not fun all the same. Jaina nodded her thanks, too tired to speak. After resting, they continued into the cave.

Ilum, an old mine leading to Kyber Cave

Robin and Jaina walked through the cave, which was more like a system of tunnels. Emperor Palpatine, the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, had it mined out for both Death Star's construction; there were still telltale signs of the excavation, though thankfully nature was taking it back with a vengeance. They were met by obstacles and old traps specifically designed to stop Force-sensitive individuals; the worst were Void bubbles, where the flow of the Force ceased. It was a good thing Robin hadn't been used to the Force like many were when born into a Force-user family and lifestyle. He hadn't grown up with it, so he was less affected, unlike Jaina, who'd lived with the Force's connection since she was young. As such, the Void bubbles hit her hard, like an illness or a piece of herself having gone missing temporarily. Luckily, they were generated by fairly degraded machines, and so the bubbles were small and weak. Suffice it to say, Jaina felt very grateful and less green when Robin dispelled them after passing through them all, an easier task than overcoming natural ones.

After getting to the tunnel's end, our heroes found a grand door of what looked like gold, though it bore signs of people who tried to force their way in and failed. It was all that remained of the great Jedi temple above. The door would only open to the worthy; somehow Robin knew this and also knew that they were worthy. Where others had tried and failed, they would succeed. They approached the door and were scanned. "Midiclorian count: very high. Welcome to the Kyber Cave, young ones; this system only lets in Jedi. And you're both in the Jedi registry," a recording said with Master Luke's voice. He must have established more advanced security since it was said to be remarkably simple when Yoda was Grandmaster. The door opened, and the two walked to the threshold.

They saw countless translucent crystals everywhere, of varying shapes and sizes, inside the Kyber Cave. "I just came for the journey. I have a crystal; you go on in, and I'll wait here," Jaina said with a smile. "Right," Robin said. He felt nervous for some reason. Maybe because Kyber crystals were sentient, each crystal was unique, and the colour reflected the individual. Blue for warriors, the more physically minded. Green usually meant powerful in the Force and more likely to utilize it for diplomatic purposes and to avoid confrontations. Yellow for those who are the jack of all trades but masters of none, and that's only the three basic colours. There were more, but thinking about it too much, wouldn't help with his anxiety. Robin knew that he had to just go and step into the cave.

Once inside, he found it strange that nothing had happened yet, as in, at all. Then the Master Holocron flew out of his pack and shot a beam into a crystal at the far end of the cave, which caused the light to reflect and refract over and over. It was almost blinding as crystals lit up, each bearing a different colour. "What the hell?" Robin thought. As the colours grew in intensity, they shot towards the only crystal he could see without any colour, and it exploded with a riot of light and every colour you can imagine, including a few that might lack names. When the light show died down, a multi-coloured Kyber crystal slowly approached him before gently placing itself in his hand. It was indescribable; some colours were obvious, others subtle, with lines more delicate than a vein. The colours shifted and changed everywhere, in every facet cut by nature.

Robin would've lost himself to its beauty and power if not for Master Holocron breaking the trance-like state. It turned and projected another light; through this light, an image was formed, made larger than life because of how the light was bounced and broken by all the crystals, ultimately converging to create a familiar, albeit giant, holographic image. Revan, Jedi Master and Sith Lord, turned Paladin, transcending both the limits of the light and dark sides. "You have done well, young one. This crystal you now possess is truly one of a kind. It's only ever wielded by the Ruler of the Paladins. Some called it the Shifting Stone, others called it the Prime Stone, and to some, the Omni-stone. My personal favourite was Balance-Breaker, as it was used to break those foolish or arrogant enough to mess with the Balance, with reality itself. Use it well, Paladin Ruler. You have more work before you are truly ready, of course, but you are otherwise only a couple of steps from being the officially recognized Ruler of the Paladin Clan. " The image faded, and the crystals that had projected so many colours were translucent once more.

Balance-Breaker, as Robin would call the crystal, (for now anyway,) rested in his hand while projecting power; it was warm with its energy and heavy with the burden of the office it signified. When he showed Jaina, she gasped, speechless, before entering a similar trance-like state that he broke her out of. Now to go home and construct his lightsaber, since he couldn't progress on his Juyo form VII without another practitioner, and his instructor for that form was on a mission, Robin thought he might learn the dual-wield Jar'Kai style, in addition to form V, both the Shien and Djem So styles, given time. Shien focused on protection from blaster fire and counters, while the Djem So variation was designed for lightsaber combat and less for protection from blaster fire. Robin smiled at Jaina, just enjoying the new high this pilgrimage brought him. "We should get going," she said, knowing he'd want to craft his personal weapon and because she had plans for them that didn't involve ice or snow.

Chapter 19

Homecoming/ You don't know the Power of the Dark Side

Two X-wings came in for what was possibly the smoothest and most quiet landing in the jedi hanger in a very long time. It wasn't that the two Jedi were trying to sneak around; they were just avoiding the crowds; Jaina was famous, and Robin was gaining a reputation and some notoriety as well. It had grown to the point that just for his own peace of mind, Robin wore the Mask of Revan, summoning it from the Paladin pocket dimension whenever he met someone who looked like a crazy fan. Thankfully, Luke had allowed him to keep the mask as well as Revan's other possessions, should any turn up in the Archives Master Vault, after all, they would be his and his mum's by right of inheritance. They disembarked from their fighters and used the Force to jump down and cushion their fall rather than use the droid-controlled stairs. They had returned to the Jedi Temple with a few hours to spare before dawn.

The plan was to first see Luke, who no doubt sensed their approach regardless of how stealthy they were, and explain everything in a succinct manner. Then Robin would go to the Forge to create and breathe life into his personal weapon. He had the idea in his mind; now it just needed form.

The Forge is a very interesting place in the Jedi Temple, designed to facilitate the right meditative state required for lightsaber construction. It was more than simply putting the pieces together; it was a sacred ritual for both Jedi and Sith in their respective ways, (We're not going into that right now, maybe later), and when Robin was finished his weapon, the Paladins would be that much closer to a full return to the Galaxy.

Robin and Jaina made their way directly to Luke's office, both to explain and apologize for the sudden departure. They knocked to politely request entrance. "Come in you two," Luke said, and the door opened. Luke stood with his back to them, enjoying the view or perhaps lost in thought. "Please, sit. No need to wait for me," he said with surprising calm. Robin and Jaina had both feared he would be upset.

He turned to them, looking notably normal, and clearly glad to know that his niece and former Apprentice were okay. They explained and recounted the relevant things that they experienced on Dagobah and Ilum. "Wow! You've been busy." Luke said, smiling.

"May I see the crystal, please Robin?" "Yes, certainly, Luke. Here." Robin responded as he held out his Kyber crystal. Luke took it and withdrew a piece of parchment. He looked from the crystal to the parchment, comparing the gem in his hand to the drawing on the parchment. "This parchment I found while you were gone mentions Paladins, though only the Ruler. Each Ruler creates a truly unique crystal; each time it's different, the old one dies with its master, and it can only be used by the Ruler." Luke explained, showing them the parchment. He looked like a kid on Life Day, (This is a Christmas-type holiday, roll with it). Luke gave Balance-Breaker back before preparing to ask one last question.

The two looked exhausted, rightfully so, especially with the Ilum pilgrimage and braving the darkness of their own souls in addition to Dagobah's dark atmosphere. They also felt closer than before. Had Cindy been right after all? The young couple's possible physical activities aside, or lack thereof; whatever happened happened. Luke figured his sister and Robin's mom would compare notes reasonably soon so he wouldn't partake in gossip, though he couldn't say the same of Ben. Ben was a huge advocate of the idea of Robin and Cindy being family in more than an honorary position. Luke looked Robin right in the eyes, gazed unwaveringly, and composed his last question. "You said that you needed to harmonize. Now that you have, are you King of the Paladins?" Luke asked with baited breath.

Robin closed his eyes and looked inward at his mindscape. Both his throne and castle had changed to a defensive design. The throne had grown more elaborate and beautiful, and it radiated power. "Shadow, Einstein. Am I King yet?" Robin silently asked his ever-present advisors. "If you need to ask, probably not, but you're very close. That much, we can tell you. Maybe it's about more than harmonizing opposing forces. Maybe you have a challenge you still need to face." Shadow said. "Maybe you need to be enticed by the dark side, but it needs to be someone else's, not yours. Like when Luke duelled his father and Vader, prior to his redemption, tried to take Luke as his Apprentice, tempting him with power. You haven't really been tempted by the lures of the Dark Side; you accept its role and that it's a part of you. Perhaps you just need to grow into it. Time will tell." Einstein suggested attempting to lift Robin's spirit by suggesting he had yet more to do. The Accords forbade it from being explained in full; it was the leash on his familiars, restricting what could or couldn't be discussed. (We'll get into that at a later point, but it's basically a UN conference on aspects of the Force. Robin will one day be able to attend, but not yet, and he doesn't know about it at all at this point in time).

Robin, with his eyes now open, looked at Luke, the mindscape gone. "No, I'm not King… not yet. But if you could, please release the information about my ancestry. I think that you'll know when. I have one last trial before I'm ready for Kingship."

Robin took a breath to compose his thoughts. "My Trial by darkness isn't over; I need to face the temptations of the entire Dark Side. I looked into Lord Kay shortly after killing him. His father, High Lord Kaiser, is here on Coruscant; he's also the newly "elected" Grand Lord of the Sith." He scoffed before continuing. "I'm going to bait him into a confrontation, one that he can't ignore without looking weak. Besides, the word is he wants to convert me or kill me; he sees both outcomes as a win. If I were to turn, I would likely be forced to take his son's place at his side, championing the dark side; if not, he gets carte blanche to do to me what he wants before killing me and stopping the return of Paladins to the Galaxy." Robin said to both Luke and Jaina.

Luke looked thoughtfully at his former apprentice. He didn't like the idea but understood Robin's reasoning. "I see what you mean about true temptation. Master Horn was in a similar situation when he first joined the Order. He thought that he knew the Dark Side and did, just not its full scope or depth. He learned the hard way, though luckily he kept his hand unlike yours truly. Sure, I'll release your status and intent to reform the Paladin Jedi-clan, as a bonus it'll give you a fair amount of pull you can use, in addition to being a liaison for your own world, extending to your relatives and any future spouse or children you might have." Luke said, chuckling slightly while trying to rile both Robin and Jaina up a little.

Luke turned his attention to his niece; she was shielding her thoughts well, though not perfectly. "You okay, Jaina?" Luke asked. "I'm honestly beat, Uncle Luke. Do you guys mind if I head home? I miss mom and dad, and they might be worried, and I can catch Cindy up on our little adventure." she said.

Luke agreed that Jaina should take a cab home, given her exhaustion. Robin would stay to talk more with his former Master about the Forge and the construction of his own Lightsaber before they too left for home. But first Robin walked Jaina to the cab, and she smooched him, not giving a damn who saw, she wasn't ashamed, quite the opposite; she was proud. It was far and above a simple kiss on the cheek. (It was agreed on Ilum between Robin and Jaina that seeing one another naked put them past that stage of "sickeningly cute fluffy crap", though Jaina phrased it more eloquently than Robin had).

Robin wasn't entirely sure where in their relationship they were. They didn't know each other for very long, but they also had a special connection that couldn't be ignored or pushed aside and was beyond platonic. It was like they'd known each other forever and had only recently met. Then again, maybe they only needed a year to have a meaningful relationship; time would tell. The kiss suggested that they had maybe advanced to being a couple; luckily, most people were smart enough to not gossip about them openly anyway. Gossip would always abound, regrettably.

The same night, Skywalker's residence

Robin crashed face first on his bed; it was super late now, and while he was a night owl, he did actually need to sleep. Between Luke, Ben, and his mum, Robin had been so busy answering as many questions as possible that he ended up accidentally staying up and retiring much later than he'd anticipated or desired. He felt as though the offer to turn to the Dark Side from Kaizer would come tonight, maybe in his dreams. Too bad the Sith didn't know that he was a master at Lucid dreaming from his experience in manipulating his mindscape, (lucid dreaming is essentially controlling one's dreams at will), and thus was far from defenceless. This was a gamble, to be sure, but one he knew in his guts that he'd win, The Force was with him through all of it. It wouldn't be easy to fight the temptations of the Dark Side; Robin knew this, but he would do it all the same. Robin closed his eyes, and sleep instantly took him.

Robin's mindscape

Robin naturally knew where he was, his place of power, his mindscape. However strong he was, he couldn't keep the Sith Lord from invading his most sacred place. Kaizer had come quickly; he'd been impatient. Robin had resisted at first but knew that it was a ruse to appear weaker than he was. Robin saw the new Grand Lord materialize as sludge that poured through a hole in his defences; his dark presence created lightning storms and heavy, angry clouds that were pregnant with rain. Robin didn't want to allow this to happen, but he let it play out to sell his gambit. Kaiser would see what the soon-to-be King wanted him to; this was his kingdom, his realm. By no means was Robin invincible, but he ought to have the edge in his own base of power. Now the show would start, and Robin got into character.

Sith Embassy, Grand Lord Kaiser's chambers

Grand Lord Kaiser grunted and groaned from within his meditation sphere, previously the late Darish Vol's. The boy's, (Robin's,) mental defences and fortitude were something to be admired, Kaiser had to admit. Not even his son had been this gifted at mind-to-mind combat; it was enough to give Kaiser temporary headaches and even a nosebleed.

This would be worth it; the boy hadn't achieved the legendary so-called incorruptible mindset, one of the names of the final phase of a Jedi Paladin's training. After all, Paladin were said to be the closest beings to being incorruptible. Legends are usually embellished, of course, but Kaiser couldn't take that risk. Right now, the young man was still in the initiate phase; even if he was stronger than anticipated and almost a Paladin Knight, Robin wasn't beyond the tempting call of the Dark Side. Vol had been right to take an interest in Robin Stace. Kaiser finally saw it; a pinprick-sized hole in his opponent's defences. And through this hole, Kaiser forced his spirit and consciousness.

Upon materializing in the young man's greatest sanctum, Kaiser beheld a grand castle with jutting spires and wrought iron defences. Turrets jutted out, tracking him. Kaiser smiled at the young man's ingenuity in defending himself; he was highly skilled, and he wanted him converted to the Dark Side even more. Robin would prove to be a powerful ally.

Kaiser took the cobbled road to the castle entrance. He wasn't there to lay siege to the place, not yet. No, Kaiser instead sought to appeal to the young man's desires, wrapping his presence in the form of one he knew and cared for. He could also appeal to the boy's hate and wrath; he knew a couple of tactics he could take in his approach to the challenge of converting Robin.

The grand castle's many turrets were tracking the Grand Lord as defensive constructs, but they weren't firing. "The boy must realize that he poses no chance of winning, against my greater experience. His power, mighty as it is, is meaningless and impotent before mine." Kaiser thought with a smirk, confident in his superiority.

Kaiser's footsteps echoed in the vaunted building. Through corridors and hallways, Kaiser sent his oily, dark presence. The only point he couldn't reach was the throne room, where his ultimate goal was blocked by an invisible barrier. "The boy was strong enough to weather a mental assault of such magnitude and still have reserve power?" He knew that he had to turn him; losing such a powerful individual to the Jedi clan, the Paladins, would be a truly terrible loss to the champions of the Dark Side. The Dark Lord mused as he analyzed the barrier before him.

Kaiser found himself gazing at the young man seated on the throne, who appeared unfazed by the presence of the Sith Lords. For all his self-confidence, Kaiser sensed his opponent was on par with himself in raw power. There was more, but the boy hid his true thoughts beautifully. The Grand Lord of the Sith would have to be cautious.

"You don't seem very surprised by my presence. Interesting. I thought that you might appreciate this form, that of your former Master, Luke Skywalker." The young man cocked an eyebrow. "What I appreciate is honesty, and on that note..." Robin snapped his fingers, and Kaiser's presence in the castle, along with his whispered promises of power, was silenced, banished as though they never had been. Kaiser was further shocked to feel his form revert to its true appearance, that of a red-skinned pure-blood Sith. (Sith were originally a species that the original Dark Jedi converted to their cause after they were expelled from the Jedi Order as a result of the Great Schism thousands of years ago; they're red-skinned and usually left-handed).

"I have stripped you of all your falsehoods, and while you can technically lie here, I don't recommend it." Robin grinned. "It was a grin befitting the man who killed his son," Kaiser thought while keeping his rage in check. "I'm glad that you think it suits me," Robin replied, as though having read the Grand Lord's thoughts. "In this place, nothing is hidden. I killed your son; you invaded my mind, yet you spare it from the numerous abuses you want to inflict upon it. That tells me that you want something from me, putting me in a position of strength." The young man shifted in his seat but never looked away from Kaiser.

"I say this once, and only once. Tell me what you want." Robin demanded. Kaiser cleared his throat before beginning. "It is not what I want, but what I can give you. Yes, you killed my son, and yes, I hate you for that, but the Sith people thank you. He was weak, and we don't look upon weakness well. You gave him a warrior's death and allowed him to retain his dignity and pride. You would have done far worse by sparing his life. I would like to offer you all the resources of the Sith." Kaiser said, hating the man before him more with every word. "Oh, resources? Like what? Do you know what I am? What I'm becoming? What power can you possibly offer me that I don't already have? I've never cared for wealth and I already possess a great following that grows with every accolade and every story. Power, wealth, and political pull are not going to do you any good with me. I already have those." Robin smirked. "By all means, keep trying to incentivize me. Your paltry efforts amuse me, Sith Lord."

Robin had Shadow hide his true self, projecting only what Kaiser would want or expect to see in one with power: confrontation, aggression and arrogance. In other words, his Dark Side. So Robin showed his enemy what he wanted to see; to learn what the Sith planned for the Jedi and the Galaxy at large. The endgame was his goal, but he was fishing for anything useful.

Kaiser smirked before speaking again, his confidence fully restored. "You are indeed powerful, as Vol; my predecessor, foresaw. I would have offered you the head seat on the Sith version of the Jedi Council, but ultimately you're right. I have little to offer, as you say, but not nothing." Kaiser gestured, and an image appeared: a man kneeling in servitude, bound, his spirit broken.

"I offer you this, the first gift of many, should you join me and champion the Dark Side. I, Grand Lord Kaiser, offer you Jagged Fel, politician, political activist, and the leader of the Imperial Remnant. He's the favourite to be the next representative for the Imperial Remnant in the Galactic Alliance senate. But to you, none of that matters; to you, he's simply the man who caused your lady love so much pain and hardship. If you want him, he's yours to do… as you deem fit. It's a good offer; you should consider it, and this would only be the start." Kaiser smirked at the first real signs of the man's temptations. Body language speaks volumes, as does silence, both of which were available in spades.

Robin equated an attack on his people as an attack against himself; it was easy enough to exploit this characteristic. It was all in the eyes. Fury and wrath flooded the air in the castle; most would have found it oppressive, but Kaiser likened it to a very hot bath. Initially shocking and painful, but not debilitating.

Robin had many qualities, but luckily, perfection was not one he was afflicted by. He was genuinely tempted now. This was a true test of his ability to fight his more basic desires. He wanted to do terrible things to Fell. He was the champion of Balance, and it sure as hell felt like Balance to him. "Jagged Fel should suffer as Jaina did!" Robin thought, his mind filled with rage and hate.

Then he remembered that Jaina wasn't destroyed, and was going to be, if not already, fully recovered. She'd said her quick healing was partly because of him on the return trip from Ilum, which warmed his heart immensely and stirred in him a sense of pride. Then Robin felt it; the cool, tranquil waters of forgiveness and mercy, his own personal code, his mother, and his extended family, both in and out of the Jedi Order, all gave him the strength he needed to resist such a powerful temptation.

Nobody would want him to change for anything. He sure as hell wouldn't change into a monster just for a moment of gratification born from Fell's suffering, even if it appealed to him to punch Fel in the face, and he intended to if they met, but he would not do anything more. Jagged Fell would suffer by watching his former fiance live a happy life without him; it was enough for Robin to feel satisfied for the time being. Balance was in control at this moment. Had Robin taken such a deal, Imbalance would have held more power, though probably not enough for reality to come undone.

Robin smiled at the Sith, his eyes reflecting sympathy and pity, no longer filled with obvious thoughts of anger and vengeance. Jagged Fel would have his comeuppance, but not this way, not from a Faustian bargain, (a deal with a devil essentially). The warmth in Robin's sad smile and obvious feelings of regret and pity were big indicators to Kaiser of one thing: the carrot had failed, and now it was time for him to use the stick. Pain might work better; if not, he'd just have to get a better carrot and a bigger stick, retreat, and try again. Though it would mark the worst first day for a Grand Lord of the Sith in a very long time. Record-breaking failure was not on his agenda though; he would just have to adapt.

Kaiser began drawing on the Force when he suddenly felt his power wane and disappear. "Don't bother. Here you have practically no connection to the Force, only enough to exist, and only because I allow it. Here, I am the master of all, so know your place! Now go, while my mercy still exceeds my wrath." Robin grinned. "Enjoy telling your new lackeys that you failed. Heavy is the head that wears the crown, eh? I hope that you outlast your predecessor. You're an interesting plaything. Your son must have taken after you." Robin said, getting the Sith Lord riled up even more.

Kaiser could only growl impotently as he realized that the young man had willingly let him in and appeared weaker than he was just to draw Kaiser into his trap. "He had gambled his soul for information and ultimately won. Damn, the prodigy has balls of Beskar," Kaiser thought with hate-filled grudging respect.

Still, Kaiser was intrigued that the young man had been that bold and brash. He'd felt the stirrings of the Dark Side in Robin like barely contained flames, if only briefly. He would retreat and regroup for now, though he wasn't giving up by any means.

Kaiser knew that there were other veins of temptation he could find and exploit; he would turn the Paladin before he was out of reach or kill him if he would not be turned. He would not fall like Vol had, in failure and disgrace. "Very well. Perhaps my next gift will be more to your liking. I look forward to the day you call me Master and take my son's place at my side as our champion. It's only fitting, as you're the one who bested my son, our former best. That or we can cross blades over and over until one of us ends up dead, preferably you. Your choice, Paladin." Kaiser's form dissipated, his last words echoing in the air. Robin just steeled himself; he would be strong no matter what inner demons were set against him or what temptations were brought before him.

The day following Robin's psychic confrontation with a high echelon of the Sith tribe would be a day long remembered, for this was the day he made his Paladin weapon and truly stepped into his role as the Paladin King. He'd drawn up his lightsaber designs and modifications on his way back from Ilum while waiting to reenter sub-light engine speeds. His hands had stayed on the control yoke while he drew a few rough ideas out on paper via telekinesis. He would be using some of those designs today. Robin read many versions of how to make a lightsaber both practical and beautiful, at least in concept. Luke had walked him through the basics last night as they walked back from the Temple, but it came down to individuality in terms of how to construct your first personal lightsaber.

The paper drawing depicted a lightsaber with three emitters, (the part the blade comes out from), two of which are designed to be hidden. A hilt would be moulded to his hands with biometric locks so only he could access his lightsaber and the crystals he would install. It would be finished with Beskar plating for protection against energy-based weapons and attacks.

Robin knew that he might have to wait on some of the security features, though it depended on the Skywalker funds, at least until he had a paying job and could afford it himself. Beskar was incredibly expensive, along with bio-locks. Jedi do get paid, but not very much, as they are public servants, and peacekeepers who answer a calling. Luckily, Luke was pretty chill regarding money, but this didn't feel like something Luke should help him with. (The son of Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader inherited a great deal from his late father, and so did Leia.) Another drawing Robin had made also depicted a lightsaber able to curve in the hilt at the push of a button, a trick he thought would be very useful since different angles made certain styles easier to use and counter. Robin had decided that he would devote the day to the forging of his lightsaber and the modifications to Luke's old weapon. So he gathered the required material, sans Beskaar, and headed to the Temple, forgoing a "proper" breakfast for a quick Caf and bagel since it would likely take a long time and he wanted to get started as soon as possible.

Upon entry to the Jedi Temple, Robin headed to see Luke first and confirm the plans regarding his status as a Paladin being released. He only wanted the information released after he'd finished his lightsaber; it felt like one of the last pieces of a puzzle, one only he could understand. It was also the symbol of his office and authority. After a quick check-in with the Jedi Grand Master to confirm things for later that day, Robin headed to the Forge.

This place too was one of Master Sabatyne's domains, along with the arena; her job was to ensure nothing untoward was done to the Forge. She would help where she could if he asked, and having allies in positions of authority was always a plus. Jaina had offered to meet him when he was ready, as well as provide the Beskar he'd wanted to use. She'd obtained it from some Mandalorians that she knew. It was more than enough, which Robin was floored by since pure Beskar metal is very rare. "Who's your contact? I'm just curious." Robin asked. "Boba Fett," Jaina replied, smirking at Robin's shocked expression. Robin didn't push for information; he was still wrapping his head around the fact that Jaina was in touch with Boba Fett, the current Mandalore, (head Mandalorian,) and notorious former bounty hunter who hated her father and uncle, even if he was said to respect them.

Robin had everything he required minus the bio-locks, including two crystals from the incredibly large gems that were gifted to him and the Order by Wabba the Hutt; the effects would prove interesting as each Jade Pearl possessed multiple properties. Each lightsaber could potentially house three crystals, one for colouring the basic blade and two for often interesting, volatile reactions.

Some lightsabers could freeze targets with a single strike; while others could cause fire or enrage enemies, or so he'd heard. It just depended on what you used and wanted from the weapon. Enhancing Luke's old lightsaber would be relatively easy; it just needed the new crystal installed and a light plating of Beskar if they had enough for both weapons. One of the crystals radiated power reminiscent of high-pressure water; the other felt like fire through the Force, one for his weapon and the other for Luke's former blade.

Seeing as Jaina knew what adjustments Robin wanted to add to Luke's old lightsaber, (the water gem, a piece of the multi-elemental Jade Pearls Robin won from Wabba's tournament), she offered to do that one for him, though she knew that his weapon needed to be made by his own will and by his own hands. The working theory was that the Force took forever to change, or that no matter the era, you had to prove yourself worthy in the eyes of the Force and play by old-school rules.

The Jedi Forge was a very warm place; all the Force energy from every Jedi who had forged their lightsaber left some ambient energy behind. It added up to a very warm area, and as such, Robin had stripped off his thick robe and cloak, leaving on his civilian/off-duty attire, which was lighter, thinner, and more breathable. He knew that meditating was easy enough on its own, but meditating while imbuing his lightsaber components with the Force and putting them together simultaneously would be much more difficult.

Robin sat down and began the important task. Jaina was watching, curious about how he'd proceed. Everyone had their approaches to forging lightsabers. Ben joined them a few minutes later. "Did I miss anything?" Ben asked, hoping that he hadn't missed anything. Jaina pointed to Robin, "He's been just meditating, as far as I can tell. I've already finished modifying this one." She wiggled Luke's old lightsaber, now lightly plated in Beskar, having taken the initiative since she had been given a little extra of the precious metal. All it cost was the promise that the warrior the metal would serve would meet Bobba Fett's expectations for a warrior, and eventually, Bobba would spar with Robin, who would be forbidden by the Force for such a bout. She'd tell him another day; such information was not exactly calming. Boba Fett wasn't a bounty hunter anymore; his duties and position as Mandalore were more important, especially to his people, the Mandalorians. (The Mandalorians are a people born from many species after almost being wiped out; they were a very battle-oriented lot, yet strangely peaceful in a way, once you earned their respect, that is. Not an easy task, earning a Mandalorian's trust. which usually led to a slightly negative, often exaggerated reputation.) Mandos was the slang term they were referred to by most people; these days, they worked as mercenaries, but Boba Fett as Mandalore was the one to ultimately decide what contracts they took.

Robin had not been as idle as he'd looked; he'd been spreading his mind and Force energy through each component, giving each more power than it would have on its own and a greater connection to himself as well. Then, after his consciousness was encompassing every piece, he opened his eyes, and each piece gently floated to his hand, the hilt building around Balance-Breaker while allowing two more spots for various gems and crystals, one of which held the fire gem. No piece was out of place when he'd finally finished screwing in the energy cell and attaching the pommel to the hilt, screwing over a cover for the energy cell with a slot to charge it in the future. He'd already done the first charge with the Force, both his energy and that of the entire galaxy. He'd attached the Beskar plating with heat created by magnetic-induced pressure, (pressure creates heat,) fusing the pieces. Afterwards, Robin moulded the hilt to his hands with the Force protecting him from severe burns courtesy of the pressure-born heat created by his use of magnetics. Ben and Jaina were amazed because his process was either very new or very old and incredibly artisanal.

"It's done; now to test it," Robin thought, grinning like it was his birthday despite being very drained. Robin would recharge quickly enough. He stood and motioned for a little space for safety's sake. He had one button to ignite the main blade and another button for his crossguard emitters underneath it, but right now a single blade would work well enough. The crossguard configuration and bending hilt were meant to be aces up his sleeves, designed to merely look cosmetic; a nasty surprise for his no doubt numerous future enemies. As a Paladin and a Jedi Knight, he imagined it was in the job description to have numerous foes. Ben and Jaina stepped back outside the lightsaber's range, (3 feet, or 91.44 cm), and then he pressed the activation switch. At that moment, history was made after generations of inactivity. Balance-Breaker and the Paladin King had returned to the Galaxy, which heralded the return of the Paladins as a whole.

With a snap-hiss and a strange pulse in the Force lasting for exactly one millisecond, it seemed that perhaps the Force was celebrating with Robin. His lightsaber activated, a beautiful riot of colours that resolved into a half-blue, half-green blade with a little white bar separating the blue and green, and barely perceptible red veins shot throughout. It was breathtaking and impossible to ignore; luckily, Ben and Jaina were the only audience. He swung it around and probed it through the Force, double-checking his handiwork for minor flaws once more, and found none. His work was exemplary, in his own humble opinion. Robin tested the weight of the hilt, which was very important. Unlike a sword, lightsaber blades are made of pure energy, so the force of a blow is heavily based on the weight of the hilt. Heavier hilts are a little harder to swing, but the weapon's protection from delivering stronger blows or surviving them was worth it. "This weapon is your life." Obi-Wan Kenobi once said, and he was right; it reflected Robin perfectly. It would be a formidable weapon even just as a club; it was far from light because of the Beskar plate, but Robin was strong. He wouldn't be much of a man if he couldn't handle his own lightsaber, a thought that Einstein felt amused about, while Shadow outright chuckled at the unintentional double entendre. Robin just grinned lightly admiring his work. His instrument of life and death.

The aesthetics of the weapon were not unlike something from a museum or the Archives; the beauty carried an Old Republic, if not older, charm and grace while also being badass-looking enough to make foes think twice about doing something stupid. The crossguard covering the side emitters depicted a lion and a dragon charging in opposite directions, each roaring in defiance. This detail was an homage to his mother, whom he had emulated his whole life, (and let's face it, lions and dragons are badass animals). He tested its cutting ability, just to be sure. It cut everything perfectly. The blade colours shifted from his thoughts and feelings; he and the crystal were one. "Let's go. I want to show your uncle so he knows to expect an onslaught of questions about it, (Unique lightsabers, like this one and the one and only Darksaber, are highly regarded, even treated as sacred, and often asked about since the blade mirrors it's creator,) and my Paladin status. Since I'm his former apprentice, people will likely hound him for information," Robin said as he deactivated his new weapon and redressed, clipping Balance-Breaker on his left hip and Luke's now modified lightsaber on his right before proceeding up the stairs. Ben and Jaina had been entranced by the intricacies and beauty of the weapon, though Jaina's reaction to the blade had been dulled a little by having seen the crystal. Ben gaped in awe, but the spell broke once the weapon had been deactivated. The trio then left for Luke's office.

Sith HQ within the Kesh Embassy

"I still can't fully believe that he got one over you, that's all. You're older and far more experienced." The High Lord Malyketh said calmly, trying to cool an irate Grand Lord Kaiser the day after his first confrontation with the man who killed Kaiser's only son. The new Grand Lord was, shall we say, still sore on the subject, and rightfully so. It was a less than-auspicious beginning to his reign, losing to someone who was a young child by comparison. "I underestimated him, and he played on my ego. A mistake that will not happen again. He's far from a normal Jedi Knight; his power, his skills… definitely someone that we want with us or at least not against us." Kaiser said.

In Kaiser's defence, nobody knew much about Paladins except not to mess with one. Darish Vol had been a great Master to Kaiser; he had taught him everything that Kaiser knew. However, Vol had grown weak, and the younger generation had long been hungry for power. Kaiser had thought it fitting that he take his old Master's place, especially as he blamed him for his son's death. He claimed the right to rule as Grand Lord since he was the most worthy to succeed the old man his Master had become, having no heirs or living relatives. The little knowledge Darish had possessed of the Paladins died with him. "The wily old man died with critical information, and he left no trace of it in any way. Perhaps I was premature in killing my old Master. The Circle of Lords, and more importantly tradition, had demanded Darish Vol's immediate execution. Damn." Kaiser thought angrily.

The Paladin wasn't out of his reach; he just needed a different tact. He would learn what he could about those whom the young man called allies and friends; they were the young Paladin's strength and weakness. The ones that he knew of were incredibly influential; he'd have to tie their hands somehow. "He knows who to befriend, it seems," Kaiser thought as he reviewed the lists of Robin's friends, allies, and acquaintances. He would study every scrap he could find on Paladins, reaching outside Sith culture and teachings if necessary. He would get the necessary edge against the Paladin, be it from an ancient tome or a dark whisper in an alley. Kaiser took a walk to cool his head and think.

Meanwhile, Malyketh had been relaxing in the lounge the Circle of Lords used when it happened. Somebody had left the Holo on and a news alert opened up. It woke Malyketh up instantly, banishing his drowsiness and replacing it with fear, horror, and the knowledge that he had to tell Grand Lord Kaiser of this recent development if he didn't already know. Malyketh could only imagine Kaiser's reaction, and no reaction would be good with circumstances as they were. Malyketh would have to be cautious, Kaiser had killed his own former Master, and it would be easy enough for Kaiser to kill his friend. Malyketh knew something that his old friend didn't, however. Kaiser needed Malyketh, if only to keep him in check. An unchecked Grand Lord of the Sith was very bad, for allies and enemies alike.

BREAKING NEWS CONFERENCE WITH GRANDMASTER LUKE SKYWALKER

Chapter 20

The Attack!/ It Begins anew

Coruscant. Outside the Jedi Temple, early morning

When someone of the grandeur of Luke Skywalker organizes a news conference, as he had done for Robin the day before, everyone goes, listens, or watches from home. It's not something to miss, ever. This was true for civilians and private citizens alike. It was doubly so for newscasters and bounty hunters, who had to have a finger on the pulse of the Galaxy to keep their edge. Tahiri Veila, the former Sith apprentice to Jedi Jacen Solo, (later known to all as Darth Caedus, which is pronounced Kie-dus,) Dark Lord of the Sith, and the perpetrator of the recent Galactic Civil War, knew this rule well. She spent a brief stint as a bounty hunter before temporarily rejoining the Jedi Order to help destroy Abeloth the Mother, a former mortal being that had fallen to the darkness of her fears, becoming Abeloth the Devourer; a quasi-immortal entity that had to die numerous times for it to actually stick.

A year after the Abeloth incident, she still knew and followed the rules of bounty hunting, except now she was a part-time journalist and photographer with a mostly pro-Jedi outlook while not ostracizing those who were neutral or anti-Jedi. She still helped the Jedi as a reporter and journalist, but she wasn't entirely sure if she was really rejoining the Order or just looking for an excuse to quit her current job. Abeloth had been in an all-hands-on-deck situation, and she wanted to be sure of things before committing to anything again, let alone the Jedi Order. It was do or do not. There is no try.

One reason that Tahiri wanted to rejoin the Jedi was because of her parents, who were Force-sensitive people themselves. She felt like she was dishonouring them by not using the gifts that they had blessed her with. Another reason that she wanted to join was the oppressive solitude she lived in. She was rejected pretty much everywhere because of the war crimes that she committed while under her former Sith Master's command. She'd been exonerated and aided by friends inside and outside of the Order. The Skywalkers and Solos had supported her pretty much the entire way, and she knew that even if they said otherwise, she owed her life to them, and she missed her friends. She had a reputation to change; otherwise, she would go mad from isolation.

The final big reason? She was drawn to the newest Jedi that Luke brought out of seemingly nowhere, with no background and sealed or redacted files, a true mystery that she was compelled to solve, though she'd learned to not be as aggressive in her pursuit of the truths out there. She had heard nothing but good things about him, and she was thus curious about his negative side, knowing full well everyone had one. He'd fought bullying and intolerance and was widely considered a prodigy, with an apprenticeship shorter than any in available recorded history, personally Knighted by Luke himself. He was inspiring, and not just to Force-users. Robin knew what it was like to live without the Force, just like the average person, which made him relatable to most people. In addition, word was that he and Jaina, Tahiri's best friend, were in or about to start a pretty serious relationship. Maybe it was time to organize a get-together and catch up over drinks. But first, she had to pay attention to the conference. Luke rarely called conferences, which meant this was big, important news. Nothing was going to be the same; Tahiri knew this in the core of her being.

BREAKING NEWS CONFERENCE WITH GRANDMASTER LUKE SKYWALKER

The Witches of Dathomir and the Nightsisters all listened closely on various platforms, as did the Bo-Ran monks and everyone from every school of thought regarding the Force. The whole Galaxy, regardless of faction or allegiance, was tuned in. Something big was going down; they all felt it. An ancient power was waking up. But was it for good or ill? Only time could tell.

BREAKING NEWS CONFERENCE WITH GRANDMASTER LUKE SKYWALKER

At the conference, the crowd parted like the Red Sea when Luke took to the podium. Robin watched as his former Master claimed the attention of all. He was a classic hero from humble beginnings, and everyone loved him. Naturally, he kept his humility, even as he knew how well he could draw a crowd. He didn't command silence; it was freely given since nobody wanted to miss anything that he said. Rare was the occasion when Luke called for a news conference. He despised public speaking despite being good at it.

Luke cleared his throat before beginning. He smiled at the assembled crowd, camera drones were buzzing above as they relayed everything through a live feed. "Thank you all for coming to this news conference I called. Yes, I know… It's me. Shocking, right? There are bigger things in play than my very out-of-character request." The crowd chuckled at the joke before Luke continued. "I did not call you here today to talk about me. We're here to talk about my former apprentice, Robin Stace. Many of you have likely seen his fight with An-Dru, who has since been expelled from the Order. More of you are no doubt aware of his meteoric rise. I don't play favourites; you know that about me… I am nothing if not fair. So you should know that despite his comparatively short tenure as my apprentice, his ascension to the rank of Jedi Knight is not born of favouritism. It is born of merit, and with the upcoming collapse of specific classified Hutt and Outer Rim crime rackets, which will lead to the eventual collapse of Hutt crime in the Outer Rim, he's earned the rank. Soon, the Outer Rim Territories will be at least a quarter free of organized crime." There were shocked faces everywhere; everyone knew that the Hutts were in complete disarray as their hold over entire star systems became looser and looser, and for one person to have such an effect on a damaged part of the rule of law was astounding. Without a doubt, Stace had power and promise.

"I'm here to reveal something to the whole Galaxy, so everyone at home… listen well. I proudly present to you Jedi Knight, and Jedi Paladin Knight Robin Stace, the restorer and heir of the Paladin Clan of the Jedi Order! This is an era for secrets to be revealed and ancient powers to come back into play. First Abeloth, then the Lost Tribe of Sith on Kesh, and now the Paladins have returned. The Force and the galaxy are changing everyone, and we must change with it. But I digress… Here he is, folks. Be gentle… It's his first conference." The audience chuckled in appreciation of the joke. Robin stepped forward, then there was a flash that only Luke had seen; he knew that it was not from a camera but a projectile of some sort, and a second later Luke was in front of Robin's mother, holding what appeared to be a bloodied glass knife embedded in his body. He had sensed through the Force that it was intended for the Stace matriarch and so intervened without conscious thought. It had a perfect edge, if the depth it went into the grandmaster's abdomen was anything to go by.

Then the screaming and shooting started; the conference was under assault by forces unknown. Just before Luke passed out from his injury, he had a vision. A vision of pirates with scarlet lightsabers, An-Dru, and the final confrontation between Robin and An-Dru, whom he'd finally been able to boot from the Jedi Order. He saw the outcome but lacked the strength to continue or speak of it. He hoped that Robin could forge ahead because if what Luke saw came to pass, Robin would need even more power, influence, skill, and allies. His last thought was that he would accept dying, but not yet. Not without getting Ben Knighted, maybe becoming a grandfather or grand-uncle. "Hell, both would be awesome," Luke thought with a weak smile. He felt himself as he was gently lifted, and taken to the emergency triage station they'd have set up in the designated area. Just as Luke arrived, he passed out from pain and blood loss. To save his life, the medical staff placed Luke in a chemically-induced coma to reduce stress on his body.

PIRATES ATTACK CONFERENCE, GM SKYWALKER INJURED AWAITING UPDATE

The enemy forces had vanished when the dust and debris had settled, leaving only death, ruin, and misery as evidence of their existence. The Dark Side had been in motion, as had other, different parts of the Force, rogue Force-users from other schools of thought. "They must have used a Force technique to leave," Robin mused as he observed the area. Perhaps the timing was just a good opportunity, but Robin decided that that wasn't likely. Jedi track Kyber crystals, especially the ones from Sith lightsabers; each was blood red. None had been reported missing, and besides Mandalorians of the highest calibre, only those gifted in Jedi or Sith teachings could use lightsabers safely. Yet he'd spotted a couple of active scarlet lightsabers, deactivated as fast as the enemy could. Robin had a theory about the pirates and Sith being linked but would need backup from the council if he were to take action or launch any kind of investigation; it could wait for Luke to recover. Robin knew that he was too inexperienced to be taken seriously by the majority of the Jedi Council, so he would build the case while he gained support from the council members.

Everyone had gone to help the injured, Jaina included. Robin had lagged, observing his surroundings closely. He sensed something, something familiar... Then he felt it, less controlled and more excited this time, an unmistakable tremor in the Force and a presence that he barely recognized, shrouded in the Dark Side. Robin turned, drawing Balance Breaker as he did, his new lightsaber clashing brilliantly with a crimson lightsaber; it was An-Dru wielding a double-bladed lightsaber. "We meet again, at last. Now our true battle can begin. You'll find me a different man than before." An-Dru said by way of greeting as their blades continued to crackle and spit, locked together as their respective wielders sought to push each other back.

The camera drones recorded every moment of the beginning of the battle, while the operators were smart enough to stay far away from the titanic duel. Robin and An-Dru had locked blades three times now, each taking a moment to study the other; they'd both improved. "I'm surprised that you are willing to fight back, Stace. You've always been such a goodie-goodie; it's shocking and refreshing. Don't worry about the bystanders; they aren't my target. I only want you, and I want you at your best. That requires that no potential casualties are holding you back. The cameras shall stay to capture this day for posterity. You destroyed my life, but if you hadn't, I would probably not have improved or grown as a warrior. I should thank you… My new Master promised me vengeance by hurting those close to you. I thought it would be enough to hurt you by hurting your loved ones… which is why I just tried to kill your mother. It's just not the same, however, especially with Skywalker intervening, so now I'll take my vengeance instead. Nice lightsaber, Paladin boy. I'll make sure it's not wasted on you. Your friends and comrades, if any are still here, should leave and take the injured with them. They can come back later for your corpse." An-Dru thundered; his focus was not on his mission from Kaiser but on his very personal vengeance. Kaiser's methods had failed. Robin felt his wrath grow upon hearing that An-Dru had targeted his mum, but he kept it under his control.

Robin got some breathing space, drawing heavily on the Force as he summoned the Mask of Revan from his personal pocket dimension. This not only gave his face protection by being made of Beskar, it also augmented his Force power. It was only a temporary boost, lasting a grand total of three minutes. The power from true Harmonization was reserved for the Big Bads, the Vitiates, Vols, and Kaisers, the planet-killers, and the Abeloths. All were agents of imbalance and disharmony and thus would qualify as fair game to the Paladins. An-Dru was not fair game, limiting Robin's options a bit. The Mask created a much weaker version of Harmonization on a passive level, allowing Robin an easier time using Dark Side and Light Side abilities in tandem as long as he wore it; it was like suddenly being perfectly ambidextrous for three minutes once every day.

He'd started lessons with the First King on the King's Double and other Harmonization abilities, like extending how long the power of the Mask remained before needing a recharge, but his Paladin training was incomplete; he could sense that it lacked something. Robin could use King's Double because it wasn't offensive, by nature, but it was incomplete and dangerous if he were to mess it up in a live-fire situation like this. He prayed that the situation wouldn't get that desperate. The two traded blows, each using Ataru, which was heavy in acrobatics and pushed the body to new heights. The cameras caught only brief glimpses at the speed the two warriors were moving, occasionally something concrete if they were still for long enough. Once Robin and An-Dru locked their blades again, they both realized that they were equally skilled in Ataru. "Truly, An-Dru has grown as a warrior, just not as a person," Robin mused silently. He was regretful that An-Dru chose to miss out on a chance for actual self-improvement.

Since both had been pushing themselves beyond their normal physical limits with Ataru, both combatants knew that they had to use something else, not only because of the impasse. Although Ataru offers incredible skills, prolonged usage was never healthy for the user, and both combatants were aware of this. Some have compared Robin's Form VII Juyo, the most attack-based lightsaber technique, to controlled chaos mixed with dirty combat. He hadn't had time to completely learn Shien or its more offensively inclined advanced twin, Djem. So, though he was still capable, he would master it, assuming that he won and lived, as he promised himself.

He wanted to avoid killing An-Dru, so Robin had been holding back, keeping Juyo up his sleeve while reserving his more powerful Force abilities. He would try using reason, hoping to avoid any further deaths. An-Dru had spared the audience further harm, though if that was mercy or practicality, Robin wasn't sure. He hoped that a little good remained inside his opponent, but if not, he would do his duty as a Jedi Knight, not as a Paladin. This was not a Paladin-worthy affair. "Time to break out the big guns," Robin thought, determined to get it done quickly.

Robin and An-Dru clashed once more. This time, each focused on using Force abilities, from telekinesis to cryokinesis, (this is the manipulation and conjuring of anything cold; water, ice, fog, etc. and using them as weapons. Ice spears or swords for example, fog was good for smokescreens) and pyrokinesis, (the conjuration and manipulation of fire or other forms of thermokinetic energies.) The battlefield looked like the element's playground; all that anyone could do was watch in anticipation, the fated duel being relayed by the news drones.

Robin dipped into his personal technique, a combination of Ataru's speed with Juyo's viciousness and ferocity, hoping that he could disarm An-Dru. He wanted to give him a chance to reconsider his current path. "Stop this An-Dru. If you surrender and share the enemy's plans, I'm sure that you could rejoin the Order." Robin advised. An-Dru looked angry until he heard a second lightsaber activate behind him. That distinctive snap-hiss sound that only a lightsaber can make made him pause, and then he looked cautious, even wary. "He's not wrong. I've done some horrible things, but the Order, especially the Skywalker's and Solo's, helped and supported me. "The first step is knowing when you've lost." Tahiri Veila spoke firmly and comfortingly from behind him. She'd been one of the few to not run or seek shelter. She was still very skilled in the Jedi arts.

An-Dru saw Tahiri Veila; he had sensed her approach, but he'd been too focused on the object of his fury. Though not officially recognized by the Order as a current member, she was nonetheless a well-known ally and friend to the Jedi.

Maybe An-Dru could beg for forgiveness and throw himself at the mercy of the Jedi Council. "No, remember, the Order kicked you out for bullying and cheating… even attempted murder. You've only been upping the ante since. Training under the Sith, adopting their philosophy of the strong leading and trampling everything else underfoot. Spying and sedition against the GA, (Galactic Alliance,) organizing the Sith pirates. You don't deserve forgiveness, not that they would forgive you," he thought to himself. It was too late to go back. He wasn't able to be saved, so he would have his vengeance instead, even if he had to die to get it. "I'm not here for you, Tahiri. Begone." An-Dru said this, grabbing her with the Force and sending her flying too far to intervene in the duel this time. The duel-bladed lightsaber separated into two single-bladed lightsabers that An-Dru held in a reverse grip, one of which was damaged and more dangerous than a stable blade as it was easier to manipulate with the Force, an observation and weakness that Robin might be able to exploit if he played his cards right. Robin anticipated An-Dru's upcoming use of either Shien or Djem. So, it was fortunate that An-Dru wasn't using the dual-wield Jar'Kai combat style, which would best suit his decision to use two lightsabers. Taking the initiative, he rushed An-Dru, forcing him to defend with Shien. Robin was trying to control the flow of the battle as best as he could by keeping An-Dru on the defensive.

Robin had come up with a plan. He would either overwhelm An-Dru physically or use an illusion, the only technique that he hadn't yet tried on the miserable bastard. The last thing that he wanted to do was invade An-Dru's mind if possible; who knows of the horrors in his noggin, but he would if he had to. An-Dru fired a Bolt of Hatred, a projectile composed of pure dark side energy born from fairly advanced Sith sorcery that moved at incredible speeds, and used the time it took for Robin to dodge the bolt to close the distance between them, reengaging him blade to blade. As skilled as Robin was at defending, An-Dru got through his guard, and one of the blades aimed to pierce his heart. Robin and An-Dru were both thinking the same thing but for different reasons: "All too easy." An-Dru thought that he'd gained the upper hand, while Robin, inspired by his studies, borrowed a move that was notoriously difficult and, in his current situation, stupidly dangerous. Naturally, it was the best move that he had to end the fight quickly.

Robin grabbed the unstable lightsaber by the emitter; the blade cooked a hole through his palm, and he redirected it immediately away, forcing it to the side with just his agonized hand and willpower alone. He would contend with the torturous pain of his injury later; for now, it was an unwanted distraction. (Ouch! Understatement much?! I bet you're wondering if his hand smelled like cooked bacon? I'm not telling, haha.) Robin syphoned all the power from the weapon skewered through his palm; the scarlet light of the blade shone through his hand, flickered, and died. A moment later, An-Dru's other undamaged lightsaber was crushed with the Force, making him back off, unarmed as he was. While Robin still bore Balance-Breaker in his uninjured right hand, his left arm hung uselessly, and the Force numbed his hand for the time being by the Cold of the Dark Side, (a useful Dark Side Force ability that he'd cobbled together himself, though it was a band-aid solution at best.) "You are defeated, An-Dru! Surrender. Don't make me destroy you." Robin advised with his lightsaber pointed at An-Dru's chest. His voice was deep, imposing, and laced with a little bit of the Dark Side of the Force for added emphasis. Reason had failed to resolve the conflict, so Robin figured that intimidation might work.

Robin was still filled with excess Force energy from the drained lightsaber, but An-Dru didn't care. Blinded by hatred as he was at not only losing, but losing again after improving as much as he had, he rushed Robin with a hidden short-hilted lightsaber that he'd drawn from his sleeve. Robin used the extra energy from the remainder of the boost to move faster despite his fatigue; he couldn't outright avoid further injuries, but he would finish the fight and survive. Robin sighed regretfully as An-Dru rushed him. The dust cleared, and the two fighters both looked like samurai after a one-on-one clash. The next moment, An-Dru gasped as he was bisected at the waist, the two halves toppling in opposite directions. Robin wasn't unscathed; his other arm with the undamaged hand now sported an injured shoulder; right in the nerve bundle and bone, it would be agony without the Force bolstering him and acting as a sling for his arm. That it mirrored the wound Kay had received from Robin's purified lightning at the tournament not that long ago was not missed by Robin, but he'd cope with life's little ironies later.

The King's Double, while incomplete for the moment, was still able to save his life. Switching Robin with a Force illusion of himself, a solid temporary clone that took his place absorbing the strength from the blow, turning an otherwise fatal injury into something he could survive. This was only possible with the aid of the Mask, which had reverted to just a regular protective mask as the time limit was up and it needed a recharge. Robin's wounded shoulder was evidence of his need for further training from the First King and as a Jedi Knight. He couldn't always rely on the mask for protection and power; that would just make it a crutch. Robin sent Revan's mask back to his pocket dimension for its recharge. The scarlet mask would only raise difficult, unwanted questions later anyway. According to theory, Robin could eventually dodge certain strikes without a scratch using the King's Double, but not yet, and injury was still better than death.

An-Dru had, however, successfully hurt his foe, and while it was a far cry from the revenge he'd sought, he'd take it as a win all the same. He'd proven that Robin Stace, the prodigy, was flawed, normal, and mortal. If you can injure someone, you can kill them with enough skill and luck. An-Dru died, smirking at his victory. He died well, while Robin barely held on to consciousness, hoping that someone would come and bring him medical aid. He'd long since burned through the power boost and adrenaline, leaving his body tired and hurt to an extent that he hadn't known before.

Jaina had been working on triage since the smoke from the mysterious attack had cleared and the necessary equipment was up and running. She also found a passed-out, mildly injured Tahiri just outside of the established safety perimeter of the triage station. Tahiri's eyes shot open when Jaina brought her into the medical station. It was a good thing that Jaina had the foresight to disarm her friend; her reaction upon waking was one of fear and violence. Before the blow that gave her the concussion, she'd been fighting, or had been ready to fight; that much was evident. "You're alright, Tahiri. It's just me, just Jaina. Relax. Breathe," she said in a soothing, gentle, almost big-sisterly voice, hoping to comfort and calm her friend. Tahiri relaxed after a few moments. Jedi discipline kicked in, coupled with the presence of her closest friend.

"We can deal with my crappy emotional state later. Your boyfriend, on the other hand, was fighting An-Dru. He's much stronger than I remember, and he was drawing heavily on the Dark Side. I can't sense An-Dru now, but Jedi Stace is likely injured… you might want someone to cover for you and go save his ass." Tahiri advised, after reigning in her emotions, she was in control of herself once again. "Thank you; I owe you one," Jaina said this to her friend before going out to take her advice and look for Robin. She sensed that he felt weaker through the Force than usual, and pained. After arriving at the scene of the battle, Jaina found Robin passed out. An-Dru lay dead on the ground, a pitiable creature born of a damaged ego and fear.

She checked Robin's vitals; everything was good, and he was stable enough to be moved despite his injuries, so Jaina brought him back to the triage station. A couple of weeks of Bacta baths, (these are slightly gooey healing fluids,) and some nerve regeneration therapy later, assuming that everything went right; he'd be as good as new. Jaina had never really thought that scars were attractive, until now. Robin's scars would be minimal, but all the more evocative for their minimalism. Jaina had utilized a Dark Side ability called Flow Walking to witness his healing progression before it happened; his shoulder scar eventually would look like a wing. Stem cells combined with Bacta would be used to regrow his palm; good as new. He'd obviously borrowed a move from Master Corran Horn's playbook, syphoning the energy from the lightsaber for his own use, and it was not remotely easy or safe. That kind of resolve was mind-blowing and a hell of a turn-on for her. "Oh, we're going to have such a good time after you heal," she thought happily as she watched him sleep a moment before returning to tend to the remaining injured.

Chapter 21

The Prologue's End/Beginning the True Introduction

A news story broke on every frequency, and everyone tuned in, hoping it was relevant to recent events on Coruscant. So far, no information had been provided, and everyone waited with baited breath. "It has been two weeks since the abrupt, unprovoked attack at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, where Grandmaster Skywalker was injured along with many civilians and members of the press. As of this moment, his status remains unknown. The casualty list is to be released as soon as it becomes available, but so far no deaths have been reported, though many were scarred both physically and mentally. This is also where an epic showdown between Dark Side Force-user An-Dru, formerly of the Jedi Order, and junior-rank Jedi Knight Robin Stace, recently declared heir to an ancient Jedi Clan, the Paladins, took place."

"An-Dru was killed in battle, while High Knight Stace was severely wounded. Stace was awarded a double battlefield promotion to High Knight for his swift decisive action, and offers of mercy and redemption to his enemy. Sources repute that he is likely to be discharged reasonably soon and reinstated on the active Jedi roster once more. Stay tuned for footage of this amazing duel… when we return shortly. This is Coruscant News Network, your most accurate, unbiased news network." Tahiri waited an extra minute before letting down her reporter mask.

Having been at the event at the time of the attack, Tahiri found it really difficult to be unbiased. She wouldn't add much, maybe less focus on Luke and more on the other injured. Knowing Luke, he'd agree on a shift in focus. Unfortunately, she thought to herself, her boss wasn't Luke Skywalker. So she'd followed instructions to keep the focus on the Jedi, the attack, and whatever a Jedi Clan was. (The question that every news outlet was trying to figure out.) "By the Force, why do I continue with this job? I am rejoining the Jedi, and that is it. I ought to just quit, and end this particular misery in my life." Tahiri thought with frustration." She didn't care if they docked her pay; she was done.

Tahiri was better off helping the Jedi directly instead of working for the news. Then she might be in the story, able to change the focus to other areas and the like. As things stood, she felt like she had no control; a truth that she hated. Tahiri marched in and quit that evening, prompting her early return to the ranks of the Jedi, though she would be returning at junior-knight level, a more than fair demotion given her history. She was tired of not doing anything. She would do, for there is no try.

It didn't take long to get back into the swing of things for Tahiri, and she made a new friend, an older woman close to Leia's age. The woman was just starting with the Order; an initiate. Her name was Cindy Stace, and she was very open about her son, Robin, although she had things that she couldn't share, which Tahiri could appreciate. Everybody has a secret or three, and she wouldn't pry into Cindy's family, despite how curious she was. The two worked well together. Tahiri helped Cindy with areas like combat and mental manipulation, while Cindy helped Tahiri feel less put off about her chequered past. Cindy told her, "I don't know your past, and those worthwhile people will, like me, base their opinions on who you are now, not who you were. Let go of the past and of regrets. Just don't let your mistakes forge greater ones down the road." Truly, Cindy was something else. Tahiri had made a dear friend.

Secure Jedi Medical Wing. Jedi Temple

Robin awoke to a white room; he couldn't help but briefly wonder if he'd died and gone to the Netherrealm or the Paladin afterlife. The reasons being his lack of pain and injury; though he did bear a scar, he'd figured death mirrored life, and a scar felt natural even if he were dead. He remembered the agony as An-Dru's lightsaber pierced his hand and again as An-Dru cut his shoulder to the marrow. The other reason he briefly thought he had died? He had Jaina all to himself, initially believing her an illusion created by the Force.

The first and only time that he expressed this thought aloud, he was promptly rewarded with a smack on the hand, followed shortly by a lecture on dangerously stupid moves and a quick explanation regarding his time spent in recovery. After which far more pleasant sensations came to be. (I, the Narrator, will not go into graphic detail; use your imagination. I will admit it was intimate and say nothing more). It turns out that Robin definitely was alive; no illusion could evoke that kind of reaction from him or possess the same depth, not even in his greatest fantasy or dream, (I imagine a seventy-five to ninety percent chance that you've got your mind in the gutter, Reader. No judgement or shame if so, it just means that I'm doing my job well.)

He'd had seven whole days of relaxing, recovery, and very intense exercise with Jaina after waking up, all reminders that he was alive. (Yes, Reader, that was innuendo, but he also had to maintain and build muscle strength after his time getting patched up. Unconscious and immobile; his muscles had grown a little weaker; it was not just extra fun physio and massage therapy with his girlfriend.)

Today, however, was the end of his and Jaina's time off together. His mother had visited between his treatments and her lessons, but given how many had been injured, Robin's case, simple as it was and non-fatal, was moved to the bottom of the list. This caused a normally fast and easy-to-fix problem to take forever, thereby weakening his muscles enough to cause him to be a touch late rejoining the active duty roster in the Order. What should have taken two weeks took four, not that he didn't enjoy his time off or the frequent visits from loved ones and well-wishers. His mum had been there whenever possible, but she'd also begun studying for the Jedi initiation tests, which she naturally passed with flying colours.

He'd had many visitors, The Skywalkers and Solos, of course, but also delegates representing the leaders of the Witches of Dathomir and Bo-Ran Monks. Robin appreciated the gesture but couldn't wait to be cleared to continue both his Jedi and Paladin duties. Now that day had finally arrived. Robin dressed, grabbed a caf to go, and went for a jog with Einstein before arriving at the Temple doors.

Robin cloaked his presence in the Force; he wanted to avoid the flocking mobs for a little while. He'd had bad experiences after the leaked fight with Kay, and he had no desire for a repeat. Luke had promised to do his best to mitigate the excitement for Robin's return to the public eye and among the rank-and-file Jedi. So far, it was much quieter than he'd anticipated. "Thank goodness Luke had kept his word; even from a hospital bed, people listened to him." Robin thought, appreciatively. The effort put in to reconstruct the damaged temple and outdoor conference area also helped by creating obstacles, thereby reducing foot traffic.

"Walk uncloaked in the Force and be proud of your accomplishments; you needn't worry. Your admirers know that you appreciate the sentiments, but are not a fan of crowds. You're the returning hero, injured in battle. You've won even more respect, and with that respect comes influence and power. Everyone, even the Sith, want you… or at least your power and skills. Luke warned that you would be scrutinized by many and for varied reasons. You can't say that it was a surprise," Einstein telepathically reminded him. "Thank you, my brother. You're right, of course." Robin replied, patting Einstein as they walked.

The first item for the day was a welcome-back assembly, nothing too fancy, though it was still a little dressed up, as a hero's welcome ought to be. This was followed by an assembly for Robin's public promotion to High-Knight; until that moment, the promotion to first Mid-Knight and High-Knight hadn't yet taken effect. The assembly, essentially a mixer, was a show of unity within the divisions of the Order, which was Luke's idea. Everyone loves a hero, even the people who don't actually like or appreciate them. Heroes are symbols (true heroes, anyway) that can unify people who would normally never consider breathing the same air. Robin was becoming a symbol, an idol, and just as he had bluffed to Kaiser not long before, his following was growing. There was a feeling of comradery in the air. Public opinion on Jedi was still split, but it was more positive than it had been in years.

Luke was still recovering from his injury, with Master Horn and Master Sabatyne acting as proxies until he could safely walk under his own power. (Luke had grown weaker from his coma but was quickly on the mend.) They represented his views when necessary, though the Jedi Council knew Luke well enough that most knew what his responses would be to many issues. The use of proxies was more of a formality than a necessity, but Luke was dotting his i's and crossing his t's. He didn't want anybody to have any ammunition to levy complaints to or about him. He, and by extension, his friends and family, would need to minimize opposition to help Robin revive the Paladins, with as much support from the Order as possible.

Cindy had, in a matter of months, been apprenticed to a council member. This was one of Luke's old students, Master Sabatyne, and Luke hoped that the two opposing natures and views would balance each other out: the warrior and the scholar. Cindy could fight, but she didn't want to rely on the force for every problem and was a natural at the art of diplomacy. She'd picked things up from Leia unintentionally, and Leia had noticed this and tutored her friend when possible; they were practically sisters.

Robin was meditating in the main courtyard of the Jedi Temple; he had a little bit of free time between his classes. Due in part to his promotion to High Knight, he was essentially a TA ( TA means teaching assistant) for half of his classes, which was something of a surprise. He assumed that he was being groomed to become someone's Master when the time was right. The other classes where he was just a student were about the various Force deities and ancient Force relics said to exist, along with even more esoteric subjects. He had some military classes as well, covering strategy, tactics, and leadership. He was also a reserve pilot for Rogue Squadron, occasionally patrolling Coruscant's orbit, but it was also more class-oriented since reserve pilots are called on for emergencies only. As skilled as Robin was, (and he was told he was very skilled,) he was still a cadet with room to improve. This moment was a well-earned break from a full plate of classes, both as a learner and now a teacher.

Robin was a personification of Balance in the Force, but he wasn't the only one. He'd figured out, from both his familiars, classes, and meditations, that there were levels to existence, and he was the personification of Balance for mortals on this level.

He could sense his mother through the Force which wasn't a new skill; he'd always sensed her the easiest, but she felt similar to how Paladins felt in the Force. He ended his meditation so that he could pay better attention to his environment through the Force.

Had his mum awakened, as he and Jaina had, he'd have sensed it. What especially grabbed his attention was that both Ben and Luke felt like Paladins as well. "Ah, proximity to me and my power as King of the Paladins." Robin remembered that those he accepted could become Paladins if they had the right mindset.

Though they'd yet to awaken to their respective familiars, it appeared recruitment for the Paladin Clan's revival was already underway. Robin smiled in the sunlight as he felt those close to him through the Force. Leia, who'd arrived at the courtyard with Jaina, the two deep in a private conversation, had the signature as well. He reigned himself in before he could brush Leia or Jaina's minds. The two wanted privacy; he'd respect that. As tempting as it was sometimes to read Jaina's thoughts, it wasn't right. In addition to the usual gang, there were Masters Horn and Sabatyne, Robin's favourite instructors. Though the signature was lessened, it was still there: the Paladin Force signature. It appeared as though things were progressing well on the Paladin recruitment front. Robin knew that he had more to do but had no clue what it was. The answers would come in time; he knew this on a bone-deep level.

"To be a Paladin is a mindset, to be willing to walk against the rules from time to time if necessary, and to balance themselves against the ever-shifting knife's edge of light and darkness. Things are indeed well on their way, it seems," Einstein thought with a goofy dog grin, his thoughts hidden from Robin. Robin was far from even truly beginning his journey, (not that he knew this, of course,) and as things stood, Einstein knew that his brother didn't need more on his plate for the time being. "Our young, fledgling King has much more to do. There are problems to fix and lessons to learn, but he's earned a respite for a while. So long as he lives, Balance, and reality will not collapse or anything else horribly catastrophic. He needs this to stay balanced. Everyone needs a break," a thought both familiars shared. Einstein looked on at Robin and his family, both born of the same blood and those born of spirit. He stood next to a (for once) silent Shadow, currently only visible to Einstein. They needed moments like this. Moments of light and hope, peace and quiet, to battle the coming darkness and anarchy. Light must balance out Darkness; otherwise, all is lost. The two Familiars were of one mind that day, simultaneously reflecting on what had come and what had yet to be.

Soon, Robin's true training would begin, whether he felt ready or not, as that of his comrades upon awakening. Though if you knew Robin as they did, you'd know that even if he doubted himself, the others had faith that he would succeed, and so it would be. He didn't fail those close to him. For Robin, there was no try, only do. To try, was a concept left behind on Earth, purged. Robin had work to do and a future to forge. The Paladin clan wouldn't rebuild itself, not totally anyway.

Elsewhere in the Galaxy, a wizened pair of Twi'lek eyes opened, and a woman woke. Her leku, (this is the word used for Twi'lek head tentacles,) were draped over her shoulders as she rose from her sacred resting place. She'd been asleep so long. Eons this time. The fact that she was awake was telling in itself. The Paladins had returned, and that meant that they would need her assistance. If she was awake, odds were so were the other ancient powers and their respective representatives.

She reached out through the Force to the new Paladin leader with a message he'd receive via a dream; This was the best that she could do until she'd fully recharged her Force reservoir. "Majesty, you must go to Tatooine, and bring the others with the signature. Your journeys as Paladins have just started; some have yet to awaken, but I can help. Whilst you do technically lead, you are still only an initiate in the Paladin ways, and your position can be contested by others with the right genetics, unlikely as it is. I shall await you all on the Plains of Glass in the Dune Sea. May the Force be with you." She had much to do if she was to train Paladins again. Much to do and so little time.

Epilogue

The End and The Beginning

Robin sat up in bed, awoken from the strangest of dreams, and that's saying something. He wrote everything that he could remember down in his dream journal. As a Force user, his dreams generally had more importance, and as the Paladin King, doubly so. He looked over at Jaina's peaceful sleeping form beside him, glad that he hadn't woken her.

It had been a couple of months since Robin returned to active duty, and so after a good talk with Jaina, the two decided to get their own place. With his commendation and accompanying reward in credits (money) from his promotion, as well as Jaina, pitching in at her insistence, they'd bought themselves a modest house with two guestrooms. It was outfitted with a big kitchen for him to play food god and a sparring room that doubled as a playroom for younger guests, (younglings,) which he found odd but quickly came to accept. Jaina had said that it was an investment in the future, as yes, they currently don't have any friends with younglings, but you never know how it could all change. He was not blind to the prospect of them having children of their own one day.

Jaina groaned and turned a little to look at him. "I can sense that you're awake and thinking heavily. Anything that I need to know?" Jaina asked sleepily. Jaina needed to know if her boyfriend was okay or if the Galaxy was in imminent peril. They needed a break. Classes, clubs, other obligations, and moving had drained them more than expected.

Robin waved the worry away. "Worry not, just a weird dream. It'll still be there for interpretation in the morning. Shadow has a perfect memory, and I wrote it down in case I forget to ask him to recall it. What about you? Something's weighing on your mind, and has been since the day I was released. I visited your mindscape and it's slightly messy. Should I be worried? Is something wrong?"

Jaina knew that this was her chance to explain. He knew that something was up but wasn't pushing the issue. She turned to fully face him. She knew that she wanted to be with him forever, but wanted Robin to commit to her by choice and desire, not guilt or anything else, and she wasn't entirely sure where he stood. Marriage, or any kind of commitment for that matter, should come from love, and not some sense of obligation or guilt; that was Jaina's opinion anyway. She still wasn't sure if she should wait or ask him outright if moving in together was a sign of things to come. (Soul-bonding has a way of accelerating and strengthening relationships of any kind.)

Jaina chuckled slightly nervously, trying not to give away too much of her thoughts lest it impact his decisions. She didn't want to even accidentally manipulate Robin. "Firstly, I'm in perfect health, so no worrying… you do it enough. Secondly, I'm just thinking about the future… our future. I suppose they are a little on the heavy side where thoughts are concerned."

Robin looked at what he had written down about his dream. Plains of Glass, Dune Sea, Tatooine. Now he was more awake, plus he'd digested her words and the hidden meaning behind them. Robin's eyes drifted to the drawer in his bedside table under his dream journal; their future was in there. The ring was a simple band of gold with a modest-sized rock crafted from the gifts Wabba had given him. The gemstone was cut, polished, and set by his own hands; as such, it could theoretically unleash a torrent of water via the Force. An engagement ring and potential weapon. For the safety of the future and the present, he had to speed up his Paladin training and help those around him awaken to their Paladin selves. He had to find the Plains of Glass as well, somewhere on Tatooine in the Dune Sea, where he would find an ally; he just knew it. He would ensure a bright, just, and fair future for all under the aegis of the Paladins. But not at the moment; he was too busy thinking of a good way to pop the question to Jaina when he realized that it didn't really matter when or how he asked, just that he did. Rushing rarely helps, especially in regard to affairs of the heart. "The future's always good to consider, I've been thinking about the future as well. It's a subject we can discuss later, with our minds alert. Does that sound good to you?" Jaina nodded, too sleepy to answer properly. The two of them went back to sleep, content and happy with their current lot in life. They could worry about everything another day. Robin's last thought rang through his mind as he thought of all that he'd learned about balance, a silent but recurring question. "I wonder… if everything has its opposite, what's the opposite of a Paladin?" This wasn't his first time asking the question while receiving no answer; it was unlikely that he'd stop asking anytime soon. He filed it away for future consideration. They could worry later, as far as Robin was concerned. He cuddled up to the girl of his dreams. The present was theirs to enjoy; tomorrow's problems could wait.

To be continued.

Dearest Reader(s), it's been a blast for me, your Narrator. I'm the source of those bracketed nuggets, the jokes, trivia, etc. It is a bittersweet thing: endings. They are often considered harder than starting, but I digress. The book is done, yes. The story, however, is only just beginning, at least as long as even just one soul out there reads these words. It's not science fiction, at least not in this dimension. This is part of a greater picture, a grand story, and hopefully helped guide you to seek a balanced path in life. Now, of course, this story is written to be entertaining and insightful, despite also being based on galactic history. May the Force be with you, and thank you for reading. If you want more, tell the author, and he'll continue to relay this grand epic as best as he can. As for me, I'm always with you, even if you don't realize it.

Your friend in all things,

The Narrator