Star Wars: Apprentice of the Jedi

The Silent Departure

The distant glow of the burning temple cast an ominous hue across the wreckage that surrounded Luke Skywalker. An hour had passed since the betrayal of his nephew, and the subsequent destruction of the Jedi temple that Luke had built many years before. Awakened from his unconscious state by a sudden jerk, Luke found himself buried under wooden boards and debris from Ben's crumbled hut.

Groaning, Luke slowly moved the heavy wreckage away, revealing himself amidst the carnage. The air was thick with smoke, making it difficult to breathe. As he emerged from the debris, his eyes widened in horror at the sight before him. The temple, once a beacon of hope, was now a blazing inferno, its spires reduced to silhouettes against the backdrop of flames.

Struggling to take in the devastation, Luke's gaze fell upon the droid companion that had stood by him through countless trials and triumphs—R2-D2. The astromech droid whirred and beeped, emitting a series of concerned sounds. Relief washed over Luke as he crawled towards the faithful companion.

With a heavy heart and a weary spirit, Luke sank to his knees beside R2-D2. He reached out, placing his metallic hand on the droid's dome, a connection to the past and a reminder of enduring friendship. Together, they bore witness to the destruction of the legacy Luke had built and loved.

Tears welled in Luke's eyes as the flames danced in the reflection of his tear-streaked visage. The once-mighty Jedi Master lowered his head, feeling a profound sense of loss and guilt. The weight of the temple's destruction, the lives lost, and the fall of his nephew bore down on him like a crushing weight.

One hour passed.

As Luke raised his tired head, the grief etched on his expression deepened. The temple was now nothing but a smoldering ruin. The air hung heavy with the acrid scent of burnt wood, and a solemn hush enveloped the destroyed landscape. The haunting crackle of lingering flames and the occasional creak of collapsing debris echoed in the stillness.

As Luke and R2 approached the remnants, the astromech droid stopped just before the threshold of the temple's remains. The ambiance was suffused with an eerie quiet, the aftermath of destruction leaving behind a profound sense of emptiness. The walls of the temple now lay flattened, only a few charred bricks scattered amidst the desolation.

Luke, undeterred by the devastation, walked into the heart of the ruin. The main room, once filled with the hum of lightsabers and the echoes of Jedi training, was now reduced to a scorched expanse. Amidst the remnants of what used to be a small library, Luke spotted a collection of burnt rubble.

Kneeling, he gingerly began to sift through the ashes. Piece by piece, he uncovered remnants of the Jedi texts he had carefully collected and preserved. Some were reduced to ashes, but miraculously, a few books and scrolls survived, bearing the scars of the destructive flames.

With a mixture of reverence and sorrow, Luke picked up each surviving text, dusting off the soot-covered covers. As he slowly turned the pages, memories flooded back—lessons taught, wisdom shared, and the dreams of a new generation of Jedi now turned to ash.

A minute passed. Luke took the books and slowly got to his feet. Without saying a word, he made his way past R2 and towards his hut.

Artoo followed in silent loyalty as the once-mighty Jedi Master made his way past the charred ruins of the temple and toward the hardly untouched shelter that was his hut. Entering the modest abode, Luke carefully placed the surviving Jedi books and a handful of belongings and artifacts into a worn leather bag.

His gaze shifted to a small data device, which he secured in a pouch on his belt. Luke seemed to acknowledge the importance of this piece.

Exiting the hut, Luke addressed R2 with a heavy heart, "We are leaving, Artoo." Without waiting for a response, he began a slow, deliberate walk toward the bodies of his fallen students. Each step was heavy, burdened by the weight of responsibility and sorrow.

Kneeling beside the lifeless forms, tears gently streamed down his cheeks. The Jedi Master decided to honor his fallen students with the sacred Jedi burial. With meticulous care, he laid each body to rest in the cold earth, a solemn procession of grief and remembrance.

Once the last body was carefully placed, Luke ignited a small flame with the Force. It danced and flickered, casting a soft glow that reflected in his tear-filled eyes. In a ritual of deep significance, he cremated the bodies, the fires consuming the remnants of lives extinguished too soon.

As the flames burned bright, it was as if dozens of lightsabers had been transformed into ethereal candles, their glow illuminating the somber scene. The burial site became a spectral tableau.

In the silence that followed, Luke, the last of the Jedi, and R2 boarded the famous Red Five X-wing, the unmistakable hum of the engines resonating through the air.

Inside the cockpit, the familiar surroundings of the X-wing were a stark reminder of the adventures that once fueled the galaxy's hope. Luke's hands moved with practiced precision over the controls, his gaze fixed on the dark expanse beyond the cockpit windows. The memories of countless missions, battles, and friends' laughter reverberated in the confined space.

R2, nestled securely within the astromech socket, emitted a soft whir as if offering a comforting presence to the grieving Jedi Master. The droid's dome rotated slightly, a gesture that, in its way, conveyed understanding and support.

As the X-wing lifted off the surface of Ossus, the remaining embers of the temple's destruction became a distant glow beneath them. The planet, scarred by betrayal and loss, faded into the obsidian canvas of space.

No words passed between Luke and R2 as the X-wing entered hyperspace, streaks of light enveloping the ship as it traversed the cosmic corridors.

Luke's X-wing emerged from the swirling lights of hyperspace, gracefully navigating its way to Ilthoria, bathed in the soft hues of twilight. Verdant landscapes stretched out beneath, untouched by the tumult that had unfolded on Ossus. A place where the whisper of the wind and the rustle of leaves seemed to carry the weight of serenity.

Luke guided the X-wing to a gentle landing in a serene clearing surrounded by towering trees. The hatch hissed open, and as Luke descended, the atmosphere seemed to change. The air was filled with an aura of tranquility, offering a stark contrast to the grief that still clung to the Jedi Master's weary soul.

Amid the peaceful surroundings, a figure emerged from the shadows—the weathered and wise Lor San Tekka, who had briefly visited the temple several days prior.

Lor approached with a warm yet knowing expression. His eyes, wise and understanding, met Luke's gaze, and the silence between them spoke volumes.

Lor studied Luke's grieved appearance and the burden etched on his face. "Luke," he began with a compassionate tone, "what happened? Your pain echoes through the Force."

Luke's response carried the weight of sorrow and regret. "Betrayal, Lor. Darkness. My own failure." His voice held a raw edge, an anger directed inward.

"Snoke's whispers poisoned Ben's mind. He turned against me. Against everything I built. I saw his intentions. The temple is in ruins. All of my students are gone. The legacy of the Jedi is reduced to ashes."

Lor listened with a heavy heart, realizing the immense burden Luke now carried. "The choices others make are not solely your responsibility. You cannot shoulder the burdens of the galaxy alone. Without you, there is no balance."

An angry and depressed tone resonated in Luke's words. "I should have seen it. I should have stopped it. It's my legacy, Lor, and I allowed it to crumble. And you're right. There is no balance."

His unease grew with each word of comfort, Skywalker then withdrew the small data device from the pouch on his belt.

"I no longer require this," Luke said, handing the small device to Lor. The weight of the past, the landmarks and locations etched into the device, bore witness to the knowledge they had sought together many years before.

Lor recognized the significance of the offering, but Luke turned away. "Artoo is yours now. He will accompany you on your journeys," he said as he began walking back to the X-wing.

R2 beeped softly with a saddened tone.

Lor followed after Skywalker, his voice tinged with concern. "Luke, why are you doing this? Where are you going?"

Luke climbed into the X-wing with a heavy heart. He turned briefly to Lor. "I must go," he said, the hatch sealing shut. The X-wing lifted off, leaving Lor and R2 behind.