INTERSPACE [4]

🌟CHAPTER IV: THE TRUTH🌟

They eventually all went back to Obi-Wan's home, where it was safe from the Sand People. Meanwhile, Obi-Wan was finding out how much Luke knew as Nakia sat in the corner, trying to calm her anger down.

"No, my father didn't fight in the wars." Luke said. "He was the navigator on a spice freighter."

"That's what your uncle told you." Obi-Wan said. "He didn't hold with your father's ideals. Thought he should have stayed here and not gotten involved."

"You fought in the clone wars?" Luke asked.

"Yes." Obi-Wan said. "I was once a Jedi Knight along with my partner the same as your father."

"I wish I'd known him." Luke said.

"He was the best starpilot in the galaxy...and a cunning warrior." Obi-Wan explained. "I understand you've become quite a good pilot yourself." Luke smiled. "And he was a good friend. Which reminds me..." He stood up. "I have something here for you." He walked over to a chest and opened it. "Your father wanted you to have this when you were old enough, but your uncle wouldn't allow it." He took out an object. "He feared you might follow old Obi-Wan on some damn-fool idealistic crusade like your father did."

"Sir, if you'll not be needing me, I'll close down for a while." C3PO said to Luke.

"Sure." Luke said, nodding. "Go ahead." Obi-Wan walked over to Luke, causing Luke to stand up as C3PO shut down. "What is it?"

"*Bleep Bleep Bleep*" R2 said.

"It's your father's lightsaber." Obi-Wan said, drawing Nakia's attention to them. "This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight." He passed the weapon to Luke. "Not as clumsy or random as a blaster." Luke ignited the saber, revealing the blue laser blade. "An elegant weapon for a more civilized age." Obi-Wan sat down again as Luke played with the saber a bit. "For over a thousand generations, the Jedi Knights were guardians of peace and justice in the old Republic...before the dark times...before the Empire...before my partner..." As Luke put the lightsaber away, Nakia looked up and saw Obi-Wan trying not to talk about it.

"How did my father die?" Luke asked, sitting down next to Obi-Wan.

"A young Jedi named Darth Vader...who was a pupil of mine until he turned evil...helped the Empire hunt down and destroy the Jedi Knights." Obi-Wan explained. "He betrayed and murdered your father. Now all the Jedi are all but extinct. Vader was seduced by the dark side of the Force."

"The Force?" Luke asked.

"The Force is what gives a Jedi his power." Obi-Wan explained. "It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us, it penetrates us, it binds the galaxy together."

"*Beep Blip Blip Beep*" R2 said.

"Now, let's see if we can't figure out what you are, my little friend..." Obi-Wan said, standing up and walking over to R2. He patted R2 on the head. "And where you come from." The hologram started to play. It was blurry at first.

"I saw part of a message he was—"

"I seem to have found it." Obi-Wan cut Luke off as the hologram became clearer.

"General Kenobi, years ago, you and your partner, Jedi Master Tetra, served my father in the Clone Wars." The girl said, drawing Nakia's attention to Obi-Wan. She saw him tense at his partner's name but focus on the hologram. "Now he begs you to help him in his struggle against the Empire. I regret that I am unable to present my father's request to you in person. But my ship has fallen under attack and I am afraid my mission to bring you to Aldreaan has failed. I have placed information vital to the survival of the rebellion into the memory systems of this R2 unit. My father will know how to retrieve it. You must see this droid safely delivered to him on Alderaan. This is our most desperate hour. Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope." The girl looked away and the message ended. The hologram went away. Nakia looked at the two men, who were looking at each other.