Conflict And Balance [Star Wars AU]

Chapter 6 (PART I)

Vader was pleased with the news that the officer has brought to him. Naboo has been conquered and the Rebel Alliance had lost considerable troops and reinforcements during the battle. He smiled; every victory he had in the Galactic Civil War was a comeback to his ex-wife, but was he satisfied?

He may hate Padme but he oddly missed her. Her smile, her voice and her behavior, he missed everything about her. He folded his arms while starring out of the cockpit trying to focus that she had betrayed him for that old Jedi. He silently growled to himself at the reminder of Obi Wan Kenobi, he had escaped his grasp a couple of times during these nineteen years.

"Congratulations, on your victory, Vader." The voice of his Emperor spoke behind him. He kept quiet as he turned around to face Sidious' hologram and bowed. "The Rebel Alliance has been taught a lesson, but they have not been tamed." The Emperor said, "Go to Scarrif, I sense that a Rebel force will assault the base. Wait for them there."

"Yes, my master." Vader replied, rising up.

"I am sending your new apprentice to join you. Then, you may jump to Scarrif." His master informed, before disconnecting. Vader blankly stared at the hologram with hope. Finally after all those years, he could finally meet his daughter. Questions aroused in his mind concerning Leia and he wondered what has happened to his other child.

* * * * transition * * * *

"The crystal is the heart of the blade." Obi Wan's voice echoed from the walls of the cave as Luke levitated his green kyber crystal on his palm. He closed his eyes and assembled the parts of the lightsaber, slowly, piece by piece.

"The heart is the crystal of the Jedi. The Jedi is the crystal of the Force. The Force is the blade of the heart. All are intertwined, the crystal, the blade, the Jedi. You are one."

Finally, after completion, Luke opened his eyes, his hands trembling. He had seen something, something that brought questions in his head; the Sith, the Jedi, a woman, it was all too confusing. His mind was going to places, guessing what those things meant. That Sith Lord he saw in his vision, Ben told him he was an evil to be destroyed so why did Luke see him caress a baby and a woman? All he kept on hearing was 'There is no good without evil, but evil must not be allowed to prevail.' What does it mean?

Luke ignored those questions for the mean time and continued the ceremony. He ignited the lightsaber, the glowing green plasma illuminating the surroundings.

"You have taught me well, master." He said, bowing. His master smiled in pride to see his second apprentice's progression, and was quite amused that the Force had chosen them both to be a Jedi Consular. Luke deactivated the weapon and clipped it to his belt.

Obi Wan warned, "Remember Luke, the lightsaber is a Jedi's most prized possession. Do not lose it and do not let anyone see you with it."

The boy nodded in response, understanding that they were in hiding for his entire life, running away from the Sith Lord. It was a difficult life, searching for jobs as they moved from one system to another. Currently, they have settled on Dantooine, a peaceful neutral system inhabited by farmers and settlers.

The hissing of kinrath spiders interrupted his thoughts as he glanced at the various tunnels out of the cave. Those creatures might come out in any minute and pounce on them. Obi Wan, noticing how uptight he was, clasped his shoulder. "Come, time to get out of this place." He spoke, "This cave must be hidden."

"Yes, master." Luke replied and they sealed the entrances to the crystals by forming a blockade of rocks. They kept on walking through the tunnels, sensing their way out and avoiding any type of obstacles. At the end of the cave, came a beam of light, indicating their way out.