The Tides of the Force

8 ABY, 

Yavin IV - Academy of the New Jedi Order

Featuring: Luke Skywalker

Written by: Freddy

There was nowhere in the galaxy quite like the Academy. Sitting at the heart of the massive stone structure he had erected over many long and meticulous hours, Luke Skywalker immersed himself in the ebb and flow of the force. Yavin was a wellspring of power and foreboding dread. The moon held many ancient secrets, of both the Light and the Dark.

At times he found it difficult to decipher, to fully comprehend the immensity of the place was impossible. Once, long before the Empire a Sith lord had made a home of the world. Eventually, by the hand of a Jedi it also served as his tomb.

There was a terrible duality in that. It was the duty of a Jedi to preserve life, to foster growth and redemption. Yet also it was they who were given the task of ending those who threatened the innocent. The Jedi of the old Republic had all too often shirked in one responsibility or the other, the lines between blurring and overlapping. In that time, there had been a council of Masters whom had convened to make such decisions. Now it was Luke alone left to decide such things.

Though there were now a few dozen Jedi knighted by Luke himself, none had yet laid claim to the title of Master. Not true, Luke realized, -but he is not as he was. Luke thought, a pang of sadness emerging, long buried. Luke had lost a friend and comrade, Master Senesca, Par, had lost much more than that. And so Luke was left alone, with so many difficult decisions.

"Not alone." a kindly, distinguished voice said, startling him. Luke opened his eyes, turning to see the spectral form of his old master. "Ben!" he exclaimed, standing quickly. It had been many years since he had spoken to the old man, too many. The ghostly figure smiled, though Luke noted a tinge of sorrow in his master's expression. "What are you doing here?" Luke asked, moving closer.

"I have always been here, Luke. Though my attentions have often turned toward your students as of late." Ben said, sitting on a bench overlooking the mountains in the distance. "You have accomplished so much, progressed so far in your understanding of the living force." Ben added, nodding for Luke to sit. "These Jedi you have fostered, they will go on to teach untold thousands more." Ben said gleefully. "Things shall be again as they once were."

Luke looked away from the old man, grimacing. "Maybe." He said, his tone conveying an abiding uncertainty. Ben looked to his student, the smile receding. "Ah, in this you have not changed much it seems." Ben said, chuckling softly. "Even having surpassed me you retain your humility."

Surpassed, Luke realized the weight of that admission. It was true, he had become strong in the force. More than that, it had been Luke, not Ben whom had redeemed Vader. In so doing, Vader had brought an end to the Emperor. Luke shook his head, "I have done what I could." he said, sighing. "To tell the truth, I sometimes miss the war." He added, eyes turning toward the horizon, "Things were so much simpler then."

Ben nodded, "We have been at war so long that we have lost sight of our true purpose." He laid a spectral hand on Luke's shoulder, which startled Luke with its warmth. "In truth, I think that may be for the better." Ben shook his head, "The Republic may have been far preferable to the Empire, but darkness abides in the heart of all creatures." The old master removed his hand from Luke's shoulder, looking out over the horizon. "So too does the light of the force reside in all things."

Luke nodded at that, smiling again, only Ben could elicit such feelings in Luke. It was, in some ways, like going home. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his legs and looking up at the old man. "I miss you." He said, eyes becoming heavy, "This is so much harder than I could have imagined." 

Then, Luke beheld something he had never seen. Looking up from the floor, he saw a glistening in Ben's eye. Tears?, the old man reached up, brushing a hand across his face. "And I will miss you, Luke."

Luke shot up, turning to face the man. Will miss, he held out his hands, "You- you just got here-" he began, a sudden dread returning, "You can't leave again so soon, there are so many things I need to ask."

Ben shook his head, "No, you do not." He said, smiling sadly, "I have nothing else to teach you." Then the old man considered, putting a hand to his chin. "Well-" he started, smiling slyly, "-perhaps one final lesson, the most important for someone in your position."

The spectral figure stood, then extended a hand, which Luke took hesitantly. "What's that?" Luke asked, confused. Ben's smile turned again, though his look conveyed calm confidence. "Defeating a Dark Lord is trivial in comparison." The old man said, clasping Luke's hand between his own, shaking it as he spoke. "Letting go of that which you are afraid to lose-" Ben said firmly, though Luke could see the glistening in his eyes again, "-that is the most harrowing trial one could face."

With that, Ben let go of Luke's hand, beginning to fade. Luke, despite the carefully maintained appearance he had fostered as the implacable Jedi Master, felt his own eyes filling with tears. There was finality in Ben's statement, the old man was not to return. "Will we meet again?" Luke asked reflexively, eyes fixed on the fading image of his master. The old man smiled reassuringly, his form growing impossibly faint. "Yes, but that is a lifetime away, for the force is with you."

Then, he was gone. Luke was left in solitary silence. Yet, as he turned, with some difficulty back to the horizon, the wind carried the sounds of his students far below. He looked down, seeing Sazi leading them through their evening exercises. In the distance he spotted Kyle with his own student walking along the outer wall, deep in discussion. Finally, he turned to see Leia standing on the balcony of her own dwelling. She had taken a leave of absence from the New Republic. The stresses of politics were not conducive to health of a mother. Han moved out to join his wife, noticing Luke with a wave.

Luke smiled again, wiping away the tears from his face as he waved back to the couple. Ben was gone, that would forever elicit a sadness in him, but there would always be the memory of his master. So too would he remember and cherish his time with Yoda, Dami and so many others now given over to the force. Even so, as he watched Leia and Han turn back into their small piece of the home they had fought so hard for, Luke assured himself with a single thought. 

I am not alone. The force is with us all.