Chapter Eight:
In The Dark Ruins of Malachor
'Feel the Force guide you, let it flow through you, it is with you.'
The X-Wing flew through hyperspace, the swirling blue void flowing all around the ship, and its pilot. Luke could hear R2 beeping, and he could feel the thrum of The Force. Only days had passed since Endor, and with the Empire fracturing after the word of Emperor Palpatine's demise, he was eager to learn more of the Jedi way, and track down Vader.
Luke could sense that the Sith, his father, once known as Anakin Skywalker, was still out there. But wherever he was, Luke knew that Vader likely still had plans to turn him to the dark side. No, there was another way. He could turn him back!
But first, following The Force was important, Luke could feel someone, something, calling to him from across the Galaxy.
He'd set the coordinates, and the Force was guiding him. And, he could hear the voice once again, telling him the very instructions that burned in his mind since the night of that victory party in the Endor village.
'Find Malachor. Find her.'
Luke's navi-computer beeped, and he slowly pulled the ship out of hyperspace. Normal space appeared, and a planet came into view; Malachor. From a great distance, Luke could sense the planet was strong in the Force. And yet, he could sense the Dark Side down there. Light and dark, two sides of the same spectrum, one could not exist without the other.
Now, he'd found Malachor, and now, it was time to find her. Whomever she was, she had to be very important.
R2 beeped with worry.
"It's okay, R2." Luke said, "The air is breathable on Malachor, there aren't any nasty surprises waiting to jump at us. We won't be long, we're just going to explore the planet, find someone, and we'll be out of there... before trouble shows up."
He ignored his droid's wary beeps, and steered the ship towards Malachor's surface. The ground was devoid of life, almost nothing was down there. But, as Luke glided his X-Wing towards the surface, he picked up a blip on the nav-computer. The Force spoke to him again, and he looked out the window, seeing a white-green owl flying around.
A convor. According to legend, they had a tendency to appear, serving as omens. He heard a cry come over the com, the convor was talking. And he could hear the voice once more; "She's here."
Just like before the trip, Luke found himself questioning; "Who is she?"
He landed in the field, looking out at the horizon, with nothing else in sight. Luke opened his ship, and exited the fighter. The Jedi in-training looked at his droid, who beeped anxiously, and then said; "Stay here, R2. Guard the ship."
Luke walked across the field of Malachor, his eyes closing lightly, as he held out his hand, and felt the Force guiding him. His current path took him forward. Yes, moving forward was the way to go. Not backwards, always forward. He sensed a presence in the Force, it was a living presence, and it was not far away.
'And I didn't sense Yoda when I first came to Dagobah.' Luke thought.
"Luke!"
He stopped; he recognized the voice. Luke opened his eyes, and the robed, transparent visage of Obi-Wan "Ben" Kenobi's spirit appeared before the young Jedi. He stood still, ready to hear Obi-Wan's advice.
"Malachor, the planet you stand on..." Obi-Wan told him, "...was the site of a great battle between the Jedi and the Sith a millennia ago. The Sith built a temple housing a weapon that could extinguish all life, it was used in the battle, and the temple now lies in ruins. The Force is guiding you to that temple, to meet with someone who once knew your father."
"I understand, Obi-Wan." Luke nodded.
"She will trust you, you are a Jedi, and so was she."
A female Jedi who knew Luke's father, before he became Darth Vader, and had been here for some time? After Obi-Wan and Yoda, Luke was left to wonder if there were other Jedi still out there, even after the Empire's efforts to eliminate the memory of the ancient order.
"May the Force be with you, Luke." Obi-Wan began to vanish, "You will face many challenges ahead; but the Light must and shall remain strong against the Dark. Your greatest trial may be coming soon, and you must be prepared to face it. The Emperor may have fallen; but Vader remains. Soon, you must confront him. Be prepared, and trust her well."
The spirit of the Jedi Master disappeared, and Luke was alone, with only The Force. He pressed on, walking towards the place where he intended to go.
Onward to the ruins, onward to her.
Luke saw a structure ahead, a tall pillar, long since broken. He approached, and stared down into the crater. He grasped his lightsaber, and stared at the pillar again. The Force spoke, telling him that it was safe. All it took was a leap of faith.
He took the leap, and descended into the dark. Luke felt his feet touch solid ground, and he ignited his lightsaber, illuminating the shadows. However, he deactivated his weapon when his eyes adjusted, and he could see; there was light. Luke stared around the ancient ruin, staring up at what remained of the temple in front of him.
Warmth coursed through the young pilot; he could sense that she was close.
'Trust your instincts.'
And without question, he walked forward, walking through the ruins. Luke gripped his weapon, and he looked up to see the convor from earlier. It had followed him, it perched atop a broken pillar, staring at the brave Skywalker, and hooted.
Luke embraced the Light, opening himself to The Force's positive energy, and he followed the tune. He felt warmer with each step, walking towards her.
He soon saw someone close by, kneeling in an open space. She looked like a Torgruta, judging by the shape of the head. Luke walked closer, sensing the Light within her. And the name echoed in his mind, making him recall Obi-Wan's diaries. This was her, the one whom The Force led Luke to, and he had just found her.
'Ahsoka Tano.'
She stood, and turned around, her face orange with white linings, with streaks of blue on her white Torgruta hair. Two lightsabers sat at her side, and she wore a sleeveless, gray Jedi outfit with battle armor plating, and a skirt on it. Her eyes, were calm and blue as the sky.
"How long have you been here?" Luke asked.
"I sensed you coming." Ahsoka replied, "I've been keeping low here, for a very long time. I guess it's time to leave this planet, see the Galaxy. I can sense... change. Are you a Jedi?"
"Yes." Luke held out his hand, "I'm Luke, Luke Skywalker."
"Luke... Skywalker."
Ahsoka studied Luke. "I can sense the Light, you didn't fall, like my master did."
"The Rebellion could use us. And, I want to save Vader from the Dark Side, rebuild the Jedi."
"It isn't easy, turning someone back from the Dark Side. I couldn't save Anakin from the shadow of Vader, from the influence of the Sith. But you, you're his son, do you really think there is a chance that... Anakin Skywalker can be brought back?"
"I believe there is." Luke said calmly.
Ahsoka approached him, and took his hand, their connection in The Force began to grow and the Light cut through the Dark. Two Jedi, one representing a new generation, and another representing the old generation, brought together, to help restore peace to the Galaxy, and bring back the Light within those lost to the Dark...