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, and OC Force users. 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.

3. Chapter 3

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.