“Oh, who is this handsome young man? Another of your apprentices?”
“You could say that. He is my nephew actually. The son of Leia Organa and Han Solo.”
“The famous smuggler? That’s a background story.” The man laughed, but Ben did not and neither did Luke. It was a sensitive matter, for others to talk like that about his father.
“Apologies, did not want to say anything wrong. I’m Revan, boy. And you?” The man continued.
“Ben. But is your name really Revan? Like, the Revan?” Luke told him before the legend of the former Jedi Master, Revan and his fall to the Dark side, only in the end to be redeemed and be honoured by the Republic as a war hero that stopped the Sith under Malak’s control.
“Clever, you know history. I didn’t expect any less from my comrade and best friend, Luke. Supposedly my parents really liked the story that they thought of honouring him this way. But I assure you, I do not intend to follow his footsteps.” The man laughed again and this time, Luke joined him, patting him on the back, but Ben only gave a polite smile.
When he agreed on being the apprentice of his uncle, he knew that others would ask him of his origins and once he was to mention the name of his father, everyone would go “the famous smuggler”. He hated him for it, he never was a good father, he was all the time gone in his “galactic adventures” as Han called them and left him and his mother at home, alone. Leia’s tears didn’t matter much to her husband and their son felt helpless because of it. Becoming a Jedi meant he would have no family, he would be free to follow his own path without depending on anybody else and Ben loved the thought of it.
“Revan, Ben, let’s go inside. We will give you a tour of the temple and then let you rest. Tomorrow you start your training.”
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In the middle of the night, by the time everyone was asleep, Ben was in the main study room. From the moment he first laid his eyes on them, he felt they had to become his. They were so beautiful, emanated so much power and soon became the source of his strength. He began visiting them every night, but unlike the previous times, tonight would be a special one, he would make them his property. He knew it was wrong, he knew he was breaking the rules, but he had to do it. He was going to steal both of the codes, that of the Jedi and the Sith, from the Grand Library and replace them with exact copies, carefully made by Revan.
He read the boy’s mind since he first began thinking about them and approached him in an elegant manner, away from the other students that could hear their conversation so he doesn’t get scared away:
“Good evening, apprentice. May we have a talk? I feel something is bothering you.”
“It’s nothing.” Ben rushed to answer, he did not want any lecture from this man. “Especially that everything we would talk would arrive at my uncle’s ears” he thought but of course the man heard him.
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“I assure you that nothing you would ever tell me would be your uncle’s matter. I know how controlling he can be sometimes, he’s been my friend for so many years, but my job here is to temper him.”
“I will pass the offer, unfortunately. But thank you.”
“You’re thinking about them, don’t you? About the Codes.” There was the elegant approach that Revan hoped for but lost his patience trying to play along so he went straight for the subject. Ben froze and his heart began racing, unable to say anything else. He knew and he didn’t trust him. There was no point in trying to lie to the old man, but he wasn’t going to admit anything either. So he remained silent.
“Wise boy. I admit, I underestimated you but now I am glad I did. They call for you for a reason and you want to find out why but let me spare you the waiting time. It is because of your grandfather, the mighty Darth Vader, ruler of the Darkness and the Empire’s strongest leader that he left this raw power that you have as a legacy. Luke has it too, but he chose to ignore it and to close this door, not knowing that he actually opened a new one. For you.”
“You are talking nonsense. I don’t understand anything.” It was all too new and too much for Ben to process. He felt like in a dream.
“Join me in my room and I will show you what I mean.” Revan’s piercing eyes had a controlling effect on Ben every time he looked at him. He didn’t hesitate so he followed the old man. They chose to go by a hidden corridor so they don’t draw too much attention to the other pupils.
Revan’s room was unlikely Luke’s. Ben didn’t find the call for Light like he did when he visited his uncle’s. Here he felt different, he felt powerful, he felt passionate, he felt alive. Revan watched carefully the young man’s face expression and smirked. It was going to be as easy as he predicted it.
“You have fire in your eyes, Ben. That is the real you, you have a dream, you want to become the Master of the Light and Dark, don’t you? Rule the Galaxy, surpass Luke Skywalker’s fame. You want to prove him that you’re better, more powerful, worthier than he is. Or am I wrong?” Revan’s words were carefully calculated and hit every weak spot that he had. Ben took in a deep breath and then spoke.
“Who are you? And why are you torturing me this way?” His voice trembled and he tried to hide it but failed.
“Patience, my child. Patience.”
Ben was brought back to reality by a distant noise that made him jump backwards, afraid not to get caught. He checked with the help of the Force if there was anybody around, but no. The room was empty. He then carefully replaced both of the ancient parchments with the fake ones made by Revan and left, walking down the same hidden corridor that he knew now by heart. He felt like betraying his own uncle and Master in a way, hiding from him and lying but he was just following his heart. All he had to prove to him is that he can be trusted and he can bring an end to the idea that the Sith and the Jedi were enemies. No, The Force was one, used by both sides and like the day that was always followed by the night, so was the Light that could not exist without the Dark.
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“You seem disturbed, Ben. I am worried.” Luke’s words were betrayed by his voice tone as well.
“I am fine, uncle, don’t worry.” He tried to hide it, but his mind was elsewhere, he felt so guilty for going behind Master Luke’s back, betraying his trust like that.
“Remember, there is no passion, there is serenity. The key in order to achieve your goals is to not let yourself influenced by your emotions. Feelings can be our worst enemy or our greatest help. We need to look beyond what lies ahead in front of ourselves.”
Ben looked at his uncle and took him almost his whole power to fight back the urge to confess everything he did. He was now torn between two Masters, and he did not know whom to choose to follow.