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.