As they arrived at Luke's distant planet, Ben was in awe of its beauty. It was unlike anything he had ever seen before. The air was crisp and clean, and there was a serene sense of peace surrounding them.
Luke led Ben through winding paths until they reached a large temple-like building. Inside, there were other children around Ben's age, some even younger. They all seemed happy and content, their training mats scattered around a large room.
"Welcome to your new home," Luke said with a smile as he gestured around them. "This is where you will stay while you train to become a Jedi."
Ben looked up at him with uncertain eyes before following him inside.
Ossus, a remote planet far from the bustling civilization of the core worlds. This planet had been specifically chosen by Luke for the upbringing and training of Force-sensitive children, as well as for the construction of the future Jedi temple. As Ben stepped onto the unfamiliar terrain, he was greeted by an aged astromech droid summoned by Luke to escort him to his quarters within the temple. The droid, known as R2-D2, whirred over to Ben and introduced itself in a series of beeps and whistles. Having spent much of his childhood under the care of droids, Ben was fluent in binary and expressed his gratitude to R2-D2 for guiding him. Inquisitively, R2-D2 inquired about C-3PO's well-being, teasingly questioning if the protocol droid was still as "useless" as ever. With a knowing smile, Ben assured R2-D2 that C-3PO was indeed doing just fine.
Ben stepped into his quarters, gently sliding the door closed behind him. Placing his most cherished possession on the table - a calligraphy set from home, a gift from his mother - he surveyed the compact room. The solitary bed, spacious enough for an adult to rest in, dominated the space. A small drawer revealed a mix of white, gray, and brown robes that now belonged to him. Sitting on the bed, Ben absorbed the reality of his new life as a Jedi initiate under his uncle's guidance.
Leaving the temple, Ben found himself in a vast training area filled with students. Wooden practice sabers caught his eye in a nearby box. Observing other initiates engaged in friendly sparring matches, he felt a mix of excitement and apprehension about the journey ahead.
"Those are for training," Luke says as he approaches Ben from behind. His voice is firm yet gentle, and his eyes hold a glimmer of pride. "And when you're skilled enough, you can earn yourself a real saber." He gestures towards Ben's clothes with a small frown. "You should change out of those and start wearing the robes I have waiting for you in your room."
Ben nods obediently, his gaze never leaving Luke's face. "Yes, Uncle."
Luke interrupts with a stern tone. "Master. From now on, you will call me Master Skywalker. We don't want other students to think I am showing favoritism towards you. You will address me as master, just like everyone else."
A whispering voice resounds in Ben's mind, mocking him for not being acknowledged by his own family.
'He wont even claim you as his own flesh and blood'
Hesitating for a moment, Ben lowers his head and speaks again. "Yes...Master." The word feels heavy on his tongue, but he knows he must comply with Luke's wishes.
Over the next few weeks, Ben learned more about the ways of the Jedi. He discovered that his connection to the Force was strong, and he could do things that other children struggled with. But as much as he enjoyed his training, there was always a voice in his head telling him that this wasn't where he belonged. It reminded him of his mother and father who were probably worried sick about him right now.
One day during training, Ben sat on a rock, watching the other students spar with wooden sabers. They were all so focused and in control, their movements precise and fluid. Ben envied them, wishing he could have that same level of control over his emotions.
He had been at the temple for a few months now, and he still struggled with controlling his feelings. He had always been a passionate person, but after what happened to his parents, those emotions had only intensified. And now, being told to suppress them and maintain inner peace was a constant battle for him.
Suddenly, one of the students let out a cry of pain as they accidentally cut themselves with their saber. The other students quickly rushed to help, but Ben felt himself freeze. Without thinking, he stood up and ran towards the injured student. His mind was clouded with fear and anger, and before he knew it, he had pushed everyone away from the injured student.
"What are you doing?!" Master Skywalker's voice boomed behind him.
Ben turned around to see Master Skywalker looking at him with disappointment and concern in his eyes. His fellow students were staring at him as well, some with fear and others with confusion.
"I...I didn't mean to...I just wanted to help," Ben stammered out.
"You can't act on your impulses like this," Master Skywalker said firmly. "You could have seriously hurt someone."
Tears welled up in Ben's eyes as he realized what he had done. He had caused even more chaos instead of helping.
"I'm sorry," he whispered before running back to his quarters.
Once inside his room, Ben collapsed onto his bed and let out sobs of frustration and guilt. He couldn't handle being a jedi anymore. He wasn't cut out for this life.
But then he heard a knock on his door. He quickly wiped away his tears and stood up, facing the door.
"Come in"
The door slid open, revealing Master Skywalker. Ben tensed, expecting another lecture or punishment. Instead, his uncle's face softened as he stepped into the small room.
"Ben," Luke said gently, "I think we need to talk."
Ben nodded silently, his eyes fixed on the floor. Luke sat on the edge of the bed, motioning for Ben to join him. After a moment's hesitation, the boy complied.
"What you did out there," Luke began, "it came from a place of concern. You wanted to help. That's admirable, Ben. But as Jedi, we must learn to channel our emotions, to act with purpose rather than impulse."
Ben's shoulders slumped. "I don't know if I can do that, Master. I feel... everything... so strongly."
Luke placed a hand on Ben's shoulder. "That's not necessarily a bad thing Ben, perhaps we can continue your training privately and away from others so you aren't stimulated as much"
Ben looked up at his uncle with a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "You would do that for me?"
Luke smiled kindly. "Of course, Ben. I believe in you and I know you have potential to be a great Jedi."
Tears pricked at the corners of Ben's eyes again, but this time they were tears of relief and gratitude. He couldn't believe that his uncle was willing to go through all this trouble just for him.
"Thank you, Master," he whispered.
Luke's voice was firm as he gestured towards the necklace hanging around Ben's neck. It was a pair of dice, a gift from his mother. "Before we can move forward, we need to let go of attachments," Luke said.
Ben hesitated, fingering the dice nervously. He wanted to learn, but the thought of giving up this sentimental piece made him uneasy. Finally, with a determined look in his eye, he took off the necklace and handed it to Luke. "Okay," he said quietly.
Luke patted his shoulder before standing up. "We'll start tomorrow. For now, get some rest." he said tucking the dice inside his robe.
As Luke left the room, Ben felt a weight lift off his shoulders. Maybe he could still make it as a Jedi after all.
The next day, Luke took Ben to a secluded area on the planet where they could train in peace without any distractions or triggers for Ben's heightened emotions.
They started with basic meditation exercises, focusing on controlling their breathing and calming their minds. It was difficult for Ben at first, but with Luke's patient guidance, he slowly began to feel more at ease.
"Good," Luke said with a smile as they finished their session. "You're making progress, Ben."
Ben couldn't help but smile back proudly. For once, he felt like he was succeeding in something.
Over the next few weeks, Luke and Ben continued their private training sessions every day. They worked on deepening Ben's connection to the Force and honing his saber skills.
With each passing day, Ben became more confident and in control of his emotions. He even started to form friendship with another student in the academy, a boy named Tai.
Ben and Tai had become close friends over the past few months. They often spent their free time together, discussing their training and sharing stories from their lives before coming to the academy. Tai was patient and kind, never judging Ben for his emotional outbursts or struggles with control.
One day, as they sat beneath a large tree during their break, Tai turned to Ben with a curious expression.
"Hey Ben, I've always wondered... what's it like having General Organa and Han Solo as your parents? Are they different when you're alone?"
Ben hesitated, unsure of how to answer. He didn't want to betray his parents' trust, but he also didn't want to lie to his friend.
"They're... still my teachers in their own way," Ben said carefully. "Mom understands the Force side of things, while Dad... well, he understands the other stuff. That's why they train me differently sometimes."
Tai nodded, seemingly satisfied with the answer.
As Ben and Tai continued their conversation, the tranquil atmosphere was suddenly disrupted by the arrival of two other padawans. Voe, a tall girl with piercing intense eyes and an air of confidence, strode towards them with purpose, her friend Hennix trailing close behind. Hennix was a Quarren, his tentacled face betraying a hint of discomfort as he followed close behind, his webbed hands clasped behind his back.
"Tai!" Voe called out, her voice carrying a note of impatience. "We've been looking all over for you. Master Luke's about to start a special saber technique training session, and we thought you'd want to join us."
Tai looked up, surprised by the interruption. "Oh, I didn't know about that. Thanks for letting me know, Voe."
Voe's gaze flickered to Ben, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You should come with us" Voe's lips curled into a smirk "Unless of course, you dont think you can control yourself Solo"
Ben's jaw clenched, his eyes flashing with anger at Voe's taunt. He rose to his feet, fists balled at his sides. "What's that supposed to mean?" he growled, taking a step towards her.
Voe stood her ground, her smirk widening. "Oh, come on, Solo. Everyone knows about your little... incidents. The way you lose control, lashing out with the Force. It's a wonder Master Luke even lets you stay here."
"Voe, please," Hennix interjected, his tentacles twitching nervously. "This isn't necessary. We should just go to the training session." He placed a webbed hand on Voe's shoulder, trying to guide her away, but she shrugged it off.
"I can control myself just fine," Ben retorted, his voice tight with suppressed frustration.
Voe's smirk widened. "Oh really? That's not what I heard. Word is, you nearly hurt someone during training because you couldn't keep your emotions in check. Isn't that right, Solo?"
The air around them seemed to crackle with tension. Ben's face flushed red, his eyes flashing with barely contained rage. He stood up abruptly, towering over Voe. "You don't know anything about me or what happened that day," he growled.
Tai quickly rose to his feet, stepping between Ben and Voe. He placed a gentle hand on Ben's trembling shoulder, his voice soft but firm. "Ben, remember what Master Luke taught us. Breathe. Center yourself."
Hennix sensing the escalating situation, stepped forward "Come on, Voe. Let's not start anything"
"Focus on my voice," Tai continued, his words barely above a whisper. As if on cue, a cool breeze rustled through the branches above them, sending a shower of golden leaves spiraling down around the group. The sunlight filtering through the canopy cast dappled patterns on the ground, creating a mesmerizing dance of light and shadow. Ben closed his eyes, allowing Tai's calming presence and the soothing energy of the Force to wash over him.
Tai's eyes widened in wonder as he felt the Force flowing through him, connecting him to Ben and the nature around them. The anger that had been radiating from Ben moments ago began to dissipate, replaced by a sense of calm and unity with the living Force.
Voe stood transfixed, her earlier bravado fading as she witnessed the transformation before her. She felt a twinge of guilt for her harsh words, realizing the impact they had nearly caused. The Force seemed to whisper to her, urging her to make amends.
Voe shrugged "Whatever, let's go already" she muttered to Hennix as they both walk away.
Months had flown by since Ben's initiation into the praxeum under his uncle Luke's guidance. Surprisingly, he found solace in the daily meditation sessions, despite their tendency to become monotonous after hours of practice. Ben diligently followed his mother's teachings, striving to embody goodness in all his actions. Alongside his training, Luke entrusted him with temple upkeep tasks – sweeping floors, dusting cabinets, and organizing wooden sabers.
Accompanied by R2, Ben meticulously completed his chores, even assisting in polishing Luke's impressive X-Wing fighter in the hangar. As he worked, a sense of pride swelled within him at the proximity to such a renowned starship. After finishing his duties for the day, R2 escorted Ben back to his quarters where he gratefully collapsed onto his bed.
As the newest Jedi recruit at the academy, Ben willingly embraced the additional responsibilities assigned to him as a means of honing his discipline.
After tenderly polishing R2's metallic dome until it gleamed like a mirror, Ben stretched wearily before discarding the cleaning supplies. When questioned by R2 about socializing with fellow students, Ben simply shrugged and confessed, "I find more comfort in droid companionship than human interaction."
R2 responds that he enjoys spending time with Ben, as the only other person who understands binary is Luke. However, Luke is not much of a talker and has been busy teaching and recruiting. R2 then powers down for the day while Ben collects and launders the dirty rags for the next day. After finishing this task, Ben heads to his quarters and flops onto his bed. As he looks at his calloused hands from months of chores, he sighs and wonders when he will be able to do more than just meditate and perform menial tasks.
The next morning, Ben is awoken by a knock on his door. He gets up groggily and calls out for the person to come in.
To his surprise, it's his uncle entering his quarters. Luke looks around at the neat organization of the room before turning back to Ben, who is now fully awake and standing.
"You've done well with your duties, Ben. It shows me how disciplined you are, and I'm glad," Luke begins.
Ben feels a sense of pride warming his chest. It's been a long time since anyone has been proud of something he has done. He nods curtly in response to Luke.
"I'm going on a trip to visit an old friend. I'd like you to accompany me because you have proven yourself responsible. Shower up and get dressed, then meet me at the hangar," Luke instructs before leaving the quarters.
Excited for a change of scenery, Ben quickly showers and dresses in his Jedi white robes before rushing off to the hangar to meet Luke. He arrives early and sits down patiently while tapping his knees.
About five minutes later, Luke arrives with R2 rolling by his side. He signals for Ben to follow him towards the ramp of their ship as they prepare for takeoff. As they enter hyperspace, Ben relaxes and asks his uncle, "Where are we headed, Master?"
"We're going to visit an old friend of mine on Jakku. He is part of the Church of The Force and has been helping me search for Force-sensitive individuals. They are dedicated to reviving the Jedi Order and restoring balance to the Force," Luke answers with his eyes focused ahead.
As the ship hurtled through hyperspace, Ben settled into a cross-legged position on the floor of the main hold. He closed his eyes, focusing on his breath as Luke had taught him. The hum of the ship's engines provided a soothing backdrop for his meditation.
Ben felt his consciousness expand, reaching out into the vast expanse of space around them. He sensed the ebb and flow of cosmic energy, the distant pinpricks of life scattered across the galaxy. For a moment, he felt at peace, connected to something greater than himself. But as the minutes ticked by, Ben found his mind wandering. The initial tranquility gave way to restlessness. He fidgeted, adjusting his position and trying to regain his focus. But thoughts of his parents, his training, and the mysterious friend they were going to visit kept intruding.
As Ben struggled to maintain his focus, a familiar voice whispered in the recesses of his mind. It was deep and resonant, like the rumble of distant thunder.
'Why do you resist, young Solo?' the voice purred. 'Your power is wasted on these futile exercises.'
Ben's brow furrowed, but he kept his eyes closed, trying to ignore the intrusion. The voice had been with him for as long as he could remember, always lurking at the edges of his consciousness. Sometimes it offered comfort, other times it sowed doubt and confusion.
'You could be so much more,' it continued, its tone silky and seductive. 'Don't constrain yourself with outdated Jedi dogma.'
Ben's eyes snapped open, his breathing slightly ragged. He couldn't bear to listen to that voice any longer. Seeking a distraction, he rose to his feet and made his way to where R2-D2 was stationed near the ship's computer terminal.
"Hey R2," Ben called out, forcing a smile. "Want to play a game?"
The astromech droid swiveled its dome towards Ben, emitting a series of cheerful beeps and whistles. Ben's smile became more genuine as he deciphered R2's enthusiastic agreement.
"Great! How about a round of Dejarik?" Ben suggested, gesturing towards the holochess table in the corner of the hold.
R2 chirped affirmatively and rolled over to the table. Ben took a seat, activating the game with a flick of a switch. The circular board illuminated, and miniature holographic monsters materializing in their starting positions. Ben and R2 stayed occupied playing the game together as he explained the rules to him he learned from playing with his uncle Chewie.