It immediately became evident to Luke that while the Krayt dragon was half of Obi-Wan's level this was no easy battle.
The Krayt dragon wasn't particularly mobile, but it wasn't slow at all, at least compared to Obi-Wan. Its armor was so strong that Luke instantly used Force Speed to zip up to its neck and start trying to hack away at it.
Even with Double Damage and Luke burying shots so hard with his lightsaber he put every ounce of his energy behind them, he didn't really make a dent at all.
The Krayt dragon didn't appreciate the attempts to slice its throat open, so it proceeded to thrash about, attempting to crush Luke underneath its own weight. The beast failed, and while Obi-Wan wasn't too much quicker than the Krayt, rather, extremely strategic with his positioning and timing, Luke was far quicker when moving at full speed.
The Krayt stood back up, and opened its mouth, releasing venom into the air, enough venom that it practically coated a large portion of what passed for sky above the section of the Ancient City where the battle occurred.
Obi-Wan was able to create the equivalent to a Force Shield, focusing his energy into reflecting the venom away from him with a single push of his hand. The venomous sludge the Krayt released all flew away from Obi-Wan in a single reflective motion, like a rock splitting the water in a rushing river.
Luke however, moved so much faster than the Krayt that he merely dodged laterally again with Force Speed, shocked to see the damage potential the beast had. The venom was melting apart solid rock and stone like it was nothing, leaving holes everywhere in the rooftops of the Ancient city the Kumumgah left behind.
When the Krayt dragon closed its mouth, its closed its mouth, and dove forward, attempting to crush where Luke stood and swallow it whole. Luke dodged with ease, leaping over the beast while leaving a few quick swipes with his sword across its armored hide for good measure.
Useless ultimately, but Luke was trying to deal as much damage as he could where he could.
The Krayt swallowed the Kumumgah building where Luke stood, tower and all, and burrowed away under ground.
Luke spoke from atop the other abandoned building to the Jedi Master. "Where did it go?"
"Patience Luke," Obi-Wan was trying to use the Force as well to determine where the dragon would appear again. "Trust in your instincts, let go."
It soon became clear what abilities the Krayt Dragon had, and how it could primarily deal damage.
The Krayt Dragon was less like a dragon at all, and more of a giant half a mile long worm with impenetrable skin and tiny claws in proportion to its size. Luke and Obi-Wan were more than skilled with the Force to defend from the gigantic lunging bites, the burrowing, and the venom launched from its mouth.
When the Krayt appeared again, debris from the tall Kumumgah building it rose up into were sprayed in all directions. Luke redirected all the boulders away with the Force, as Obi-Wan was farther away and only needed to parry away smaller bits of rock and slated stone with his sword.
As the Krayt Dragon roared and hissed, again spraying venom all over wherever it could, Luke took cover by dashing away and hiding in a small alleyway. Venom splattering harmlessly in several directions well away from where Luke stood.
Obi-Wan soon appeared, speaking wisely. "This is a historic monument to all that's left of the Kumumgah. We can't battle it for a whole lot longer, it'll level the entire city."
"It's a good thing we already found everything valuable in this whole place anyway." Luke had to speak over the Krayt Dragon's roar, even though Obi-Wan was right next to him, practically yelling. "We can't cut through its skin with even our lightsabers!"
Ignoring that to him, that wasn't the point, Obi-Wan explained, showing Luke his fist with his lightsaber free hand. "The knuckles in your hand are strong right?" Obi-Wan made a punching motion. "But underneath, its softer." Obi-Wan gestured towards the under part of his fist and arm. "The weakness of the beast lies inside of it."
"Well that's convenient, how can we get there without being?"
"Follow my lead! I'll get its attention."
Luke didn't need to be told twice as they both broke cover.
Obi-Wan stepped into a decently sized courtyard outside of the alleyway and began to lift a giant stone statue and a pair of well sized boulder with the Force. Luke had no time to be in awe of this incredible feat the old man pulled off, trying to close the distance while avoiding being eaten, crushed, bitten, or dissolved by acidic slime.
He was moving so fast that he built up speed running along the cave walls and up the buildings of the Ancient city, blurring.
Luke used the Force to summon a vine to his hand swinging forward to reach another one, quickly reaching a spot just behind the Krayt's line of vision over almost the entire Ancient city.
Luke waited as the Krayt dragon seemed to pause, buckling under the weight of the blows Obi-Wan hurled at it.
An entire statue and boulders the size of Luke's landspeeder burst against the Krayt's armor. This only seemed to anger it, and Luke was well out of its blast range for any debris flying about.
Luke chose the perfect moment to strike, having read that the Krayt intelligently kept its jaws closed unless absolutely necessary with enemies in sight.
The Krayt only opened its mouth if it was about to strike or spit venom.
He had a tiny opening, consisting of about a second, but Luke was skilled fast enough to attack.
Luke swung off the vine where he was waiting patiently, did a double jump, and used a spinning Dash Strike while blurring through the Krayt's mouth. The whole time, his lightsaber shredded any flesh within the dragon's jaws, venom sacs along with them.
As Luke landed without any damage from the Force, he looked up to see the Krayt shrieking in pain.
It waved in the air for a bit, clearly hurt.
According to the Gamer, Luke had cut so cleanly within the Krayt's jaw he had reduced about a fifth of its HP.
The Krayt dragon could see that both Obi-Wan and Luke were out of range, Obi-Wan looking for new rocks to fire at him and Luke unable to slash into its jaw.
It opened its maw, likely wanting to spit more sludge at the Jedi. However, it now had to rely solely on the venom glands within its throat, its firepower severely limited.
Luke split apart rocks into harmless chunks when the Krayt dragon dove back underground again from the rooftop where he stood, trying to see the beast's next move.
Now Obi-Wan and Luke had to rely on trust in the Force, reflexes, and good timing to avoid being eaten.
Obi-Wan felt a rumbling beneath his feet just a split second before it happened, the aging Jedi Master moving more than nimbly enough to avoid the Krayt's maw.
It swallowed the entire courtyard whole, as Luke watched the dragon fly upwards into the air of the cave snapping its jaws shut, failing to eat Obi-Wan. It quickly dove back under as soon as it appeared.
However, the number and size of the rocks split Obi-Wan's expert guard, and he took a sizable blow to the shoulder. Luke sensed he was hurt through the Force, but too far away to do anything.
Learning from his time with the bats, Luke didn't run to protect his mentor, instead knowing it would be best to move around as much as he could so as to avoid meeting the damage Obi-Wan had to take.
The strategy worked, the Krayt missed Luke far and away from where he actually was.
It now stood its ground, roaring at Luke.
Assuming he'd be safe to attack, Luke doubled jumped off the roof of the building and summoned a vine towards him. He used the Force when the Krayt picked up a giant boulder near where it upon several Ancient city buildings and hurled it at Luke with its jaw.
As Luke dodged, he tried to jump directly into the Krayt's mouth.
Despite being a destructive beast, it recognized Luke possessed the ability to damage its own body from inside itself. Not wanting to make the same mistake twice, the Krayt roared at the top of its lungs.
The roar alone produced enough force through the air that Luke went flying backwards like a bug flicked away by a particularly strong gust of wind.
Luke restablized himself mid-air, and summoned a vine to his hand. The momentum from being blown away from the Krayt was enough so that he still smacked against the cave wall behind him, swinging backward in an outward arc from his initial path.
Groaning slightly, Luke didn't feel any broken bones. He then remembered Gamer's Body protected him from severe damage until he was low on HP, quickly checking his Status while standing behind a structure on another Ancient city rooftop.
[HP:4500/7000
FP:6100/7000
SP:5340/7000]
Luke didn't feel winded at all, but he started putting as much effort as he could into harassing the Krayt as much as he could.
Hurling boulders at it whenever it appeared, zipping out of range when it tried to appear from underground, using Force Speed to fly back into it before it could fall back underground and burrow. And slashing downward with his lightsaber across the entirety of the Krayt dragon's side.
"Luke!" Obi-Wan called from a nearby end of the now decently destroyed Ancient City.
"Yes!?"
"Aim for its belly! And strike with everything you have! Everything!"
"Right!"
"And stop moving for a moment, you have to let the beast attack! Then, avoid, and counter!"
Having found his rhythm as the Krayt was now increasingly desperate to eat both of them, Luke heeded Obi-Wan's advice, standing directly on the ground.
The Force warned him, and Luke had about two seconds before the Krayt dragon blasted apart the entire building he was standing upon.
As Luke flew backwards, he summoned another vine hanging from the ceiling of the cavern to his hand. He turned around mid air, and used Force Speed, releasing a Force Blast to build up momentum, and release himself from the vine, Luke spun like a tornado.
He became a blonde haired blur, his blue lightsaber appearing to create a ball of Force energy as Luke used all of his Force and Stamina points into one attack.
Obi-Wan attacked in the opposite direction, using a similar move of striking with Force Speed and dragging his blade as hard as he could.
Two blue lightsabers cut cleanly across the Krayt Dragon's weak spot, splitting its belly completely open.
Fluid, blood, and Krayt organs began to spill out everywhere, when a massive roar of pain, even louder than the last upon Luke's cutting of its venom in its jaws.
Obi-Wan stumbled, unable to recover from releasing the blow and tumbled after landing hard against the wall of a Kumumgah building.
Luke landed easily on both feet, using the last bits of remaining Force energy to disperse his fall.
Again worried, but not breaking his focus from the battle to check on Obi-Wan, Luke turned, and felt the ground shake when the Krayt dragon landed on its back, wailing in pain as it crushed the Ancient City beneath it.
Luke panted, wiping some sweat off his brow. Judging from its state, it was going to bleed out, weakened to the point of rolling around, unable to burrow again.
The battle was over, the beast wasn't going anywhere.
He sheathed his sword, needing a second to recover his energy.
…
Luke ran towards Obi-Wan.
He held the man who gasped. "I'm fine."
"Doesn't look like it."
Luke could sense that a bone in Obi-Wan's shoulder was fractured a little.
He wondered, with all he'd done with the Force so far, he should be able to help right?
Luke focused, trying to transfer his life energy into Obi-Wan's, hovering his hand over Obi-Wan's shoulder. Within seconds, the bone mended, and the man was fine.
"Thank you."
[You've unlocked Force Healing LV 5 (16.01% to LV 6)]
[You've gained +500 EXP from using a new Force ability!]
Luke heard the bits of shock in his voice and the level of gratitude he had.
"What? It's doable through the Force, right? I felt like it was." said Luke.
"No, it is, it's just a decently rare ability." Obi-Wan rolled his shoulder, surprised at how easily Luke fixed his injury.
They could hear the Krayt dragon wailing slightly in the distance.
"Come on, I suppose it's time to put the beast out of its misery."
…
The Krayt dragon was in enough pain to ignore Luke and Obi-Wan as they approached, or rather, too unable to do anything to defend itself.
Its belly was split open, its venom cut from inside its mouth. It still had its jaws, but couldn't use them at all from lack of energy.
Luke began to walk along the length of the Krayt's neck as it laid atop the crushed buildings, wheezing quietly, for its size, in pain for its size. And Luke ignited his lightsaber, and dug it straight through the Krayt Dragon's eye.
[You have gained +20 LVs from defeating a Legendary Beast!]
[You have gained The Beast Hunter perk for defeating an Elder Krayt!]
Luke drove it out and Obi-Wan spoke as he stood nearby. "A fine accomplishment, great job Luke. You did it."
"Thank you Ben, but we did it."
Obi-Wan smiled widely at this.
…
It took about an hour, but Luke and Obi-Wan harvested as much as they could from the Krayt Dragon's body.
Luckily for Luke, Krayt dragon parts were extremely valuable, and because almost the entire beast was still intact, they were still completely usable.
The Gamer estimated Luke had gained about one hundred and fifty thousand credits worth of Krayt bone, venom, meat, organs, and blood when he placed it all into his Inventory.
All that remained of the Krayt was a lifeless husk and a spine half a mile long connected to sixteen stubby arms.
Luke could sense something extremely unique and powerful in the Force within the Krayt's corpse. He walked forward and pulled the stone from the Krayt's stomach, able to hold it within his hands.
"An impressive find, extremely valuable." murmured Obi-Wan with deep approval.
Luke felt a deep amount of Force within the green pearl, incredibly impressed.
[Elder Krayt Dragon Pearl - Legendary item. Far greater potency in lightsaber powering than Common or Great Krayt pearls. Perks: +25% EXP, credit, and damage output. +30 LUK and DEX passive. Average credit value: 160,000]
Luke handled the pearl with both palms, able to see how such an item could power a lightsaber, not only from its size and weight, but also from its intense connection to the Force.
He also found something else buried within the Krayt's stomach he found odd.
It was a very strange gem, less of a gem, but a four pointed star shaped item carved out of some sort of bone.
[? - A strange item made of Sarlacc material. Holding enormous religious and spiritual significance to the Kumumgah.]
Luke then realized that all that remained of the Sarlacc miles large, was this small piece of bone that had stood the test of time, and possibly thousands of years inside the stomach of likely the greatest beast in all of Tatooine.
Obi-Wan spoke quietly seeing what Luke said in his hand. "Let's hope that is not all that remains of this lost civilization," he muttered with a sad look at the state of the Ancient city around them.
Luke agreed. "Yeah."
The two walked away from the Krayt's remains and towards the cave the beast was guarding.
…
Luke instantly could feel the heat in the room rise as they approached the cavern.
Amidst a huge amount of lava in far corners of the cave, lighting up the otherwise completely dark catacomb, Luke and Obi-Wan sheathed their lightsabers.
A huge vault door in the shape of a massive circle stood seated at the end of the cave.
Obi-Wan and Luke soon began to study the vault door.
Luke drew his lightsaber and struck it with absolutely no result.
The Jedi in training passed his hand over the burn mark, surprised that it didn't damage the door in the slightest. There was a tiny keyhole placed near the bottom of the radius of the vault, he spotted it, and recognized the shape.
"Luke, use what you found in the beast's body."
"Right," said Luke quickly, drawing the star shaped key made out of bone and putting it into the key hole.
There was a massive sound, as if the entire cave began to shake, and the entirety of the Force Luke felt in the room responded.
With a gigantic noise as it began to wheel aside, the vault door moved aside, and the room the beast was guarding appeared.
Almost expecting it to be empty, Luke was jaw dropped.
He stepped inside, and the only sources of light in the room were glowing gemstones, all sorts of rare crystals and others strewn around the room. Along with cups, statues, and Kumumgah scriptures, a weapon or two, and coins.
All of them made of gold or the rarest of metals Luke knew existed in the galaxy.
There were several boxes, or chests really, the size of a good table.
Using the Force, Luke flipped the lid off the treasure chest.
It was completely filled with golden coins, the likeness of which included Kumumgah figures and other important society members from tens of thousands of years ago.
Luke was certain this wasn't just enough money to rebuild the Kumumgah civilization back on Tatooine's surface. But if they were planning to strike back against this Infinite Empire, their hopes were here as well.
"There," Luke gasped, laughing in complete surprise. "There has to be millions of credits worth of loot in here."
"Tens of millions." Obi-Wan corrected, with far less awe than the boy. "Maybe even a hundred or two."
He looked around, there were at least a dozen of these treasure chests, and each of them had to contain enough gold and valuables to at least be worth millions.
"What are we-" Luke blinked, standing back from all the gold and gems to think. "What are we going to do with all of it?"
"The idea was to find enough money to save your family's farm from the Hutts. But now, now well."
Obi-Wan smiled, looking at the carpets and metallic carvings the Kumumgah had placed on the ground of the treasure room.
"The choice is completely yours. Do as your feelings guide you, trust yourself. Remember, the Jedi pride themselves not on their abilities. But of what we do with them."
Luke looked around the treasure room, and then began to think.
For years he had always felt there was a destiny for him beyond Tatooine. He never would've guessed that he and this old hermit could reach a treasure of this kind, giving them the ability to go wherever, and do whatever they wanted the entire time.
He owed Owen and Beru for the years they spent raising him.
But the planet of Tatooine? As empty and desolate as it was.
The treasure in the room was proof that Tatooine was not always this poor, it was only a healthy planet far too long ago for anyone to remember. Families like the Hutts couldn't just come along and turn it into their kingdom for lack of a better word, and enslave the planet.
Luke nodded. "I know what I want to do."
"You do?"
"I'm going to free Tatooine from Jabba. There's enough money in here to raise an entire army if we're clever enough about it."
Obi-Wan nodded. "You must do what you think is right of course."
The fact that there was any disapproval from Obi-Wan, any at all, and that Luke could sense he still was holding the full truth about his family. Told Luke that Obi-Wan was right.
The choice was his.
…
As Obi-Wan rested that night back at their campsite underground, Luke began to pile the shiploads of loot all into his inventory. Obi-Wan, again, was right.
The Gamer listed Luke's inventory after his adventure through the caves at 120,013,607 Credits.
He also had gained a substantial amount of ability and experience so much so that his status page was almost unrecognizable to where it was just a few months ago when he first got the Gamer.
[Name: Luke Skywalker
Class: The Gamer
Level: 93 (Next Level: 74.56%)
Title: Jedi Padawan
Age: 15
HP: 9100/9100
FP: 8800/8800
SP: 9200/9200
STR: 113
STA: 95
DEX: 143
INT: 110
WIS: 115
LUK: 154
Status: N/A
Perks: -Force Potential (There are only a few beings ever born with your potential in the force. All Force skills are learned +10% faster and are +10% more effective)
-Excellent Farmer (Years working on your uncle's farm has made you highly skilled in managing moisture vaporators, and bartering and collecting moisture to survive on Tatooine. Farming skills are learned +15% faster.)
-Skilled Adventurer (+15% effectiveness at wall climbing, vine swinging, looting abandoned buildings, chests, and +15% EXP gain from all skill level ups from adventuring and exploring.)
-Beast Hunter (Able to defeat Zillo Beasts, Krayts, and other of the greatest monsters in the Galaxy, you are 1.5x as sensitive to the Force than you would be otherwise. 1.5x Force sensitivity, speed with using Force techniques, and effectiveness and learning speed with Jedi and Force abilities.)
-Inventory Passive: Krayt Pearl (+30 to LUK and DEX)
Flaws: N/A
Skill Points: 0]
Luke also checked the fifty or so attribute points he'd spent, and he felt capable enough on his own now.
But he remembered that he didn't just kill the Krayt on his own. It was a monumental task that he and Obi-Wan accomplished together, the effort had destroyed what remained of the Kumumgah city and all of Luke's Force and Stamina points to defeat the beast.
Even though Luke trusted all that Obi-Wan had taught him, he could feel through the Force how much Obi-Wan was holding back in terms of the truth about him. Maybe the man had his reasons for doing so, Luke, despite being fifteen, and an orphan, understood Obi-Wan should be allowed to keep the truth from him.
But he couldn't expect him to blindly follow him everywhere and do everything he asked of him while doing so.
But Luke felt like he deserved the truth. He wasn't entirely sure yet, but if he had to seach for it on his own, then so be it.
Sighing quietly, Luke gripped his pack, and began to walk back towards the surface.
"Where are you going?" said Obi-Wan, now awake.
He turned, it was still nighttime in the ruins of the Ancient City.
"To Mos Eisley." said Luke, exhaling quietly. "I can get word out to all the towns and cities in Tatooine. Maybe even get the entire Outer Rim involved. Hopefully, with some luck, we can get rid of the Hutts for good."
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Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow. "So, a rebellion of sorts?"
"The money we found can be used to buy tanks, ships, weapons, provisions. Everything we'd need."
"Where is all this treasure?"
"Still in the room we found it in." He decided to explain how he planned to keep so much money safe without revealing the power of the Gamer. "I've locked up the vault with the Sarlacc bone key, it'll be safe while we're gone."
"And this will fund your rebellion?"
"You're experienced in war." pointed out Luke. "You fought in the Clone Wars right? You can help."
"Yes, I'm experienced. But are you?"
"What do you mean?" Luke was caught off guard, standing in the empty street.
"In war, it's smartest to put your resources where they can best be used. I'm not sure the Hutts are the greatest threat right now."
"They aren't? What about Tatooine? All the people who suffered under Jabba during the Great Drought? My uncle told me all about it."
Obi-Wan spoke up calmly. "If you really want to fight, which I suggest you can do. Your efforts can best be put to fighting against the Empire."
"The Empire never did anything to me. Other than Biggs, I've never even seen a glimpse of the Empire."
Obi-Wan seemed to look off, as if to think:
If only you knew.
"Then you're quite lucky I'm afraid. Luke, the man who helped murder your father and mother, who helped destroy the Jedi and plunge the galaxy into darkness, Darth Vader. He's still alive."
Luke froze, staring directly at Obi-Wan.
He leaned off the doorway to the abandoned Kumumgah home, walking towards Luke.
"He's not only still alive, he leads the Empire's forces. Now, as a Jedi, we do not seek revenge. But Darth Vader still helps keep the galaxy subjugated, entirely subjugated. In complete fear and darkness."
Luke was silent for a moment. "But, what about my friends? What about my aunt and uncle?"
"With the amount of money you have, Beru and Owen can be relocated, I suggest on Alderaan. I'm sure their debt to Jabba can be squared away by putting droids in charge of the farm having one of your friends do what little a human would need to run them every now and then."
Luke liked the sound of leaving Tatooine as soon as possible.
"And so we just leave everything behind? The Hutts are slavers, smugglers, some have it worse outside the Empire, all because of them."
Obi-Wan nodded. "When you're a fully realized Jedi, I recommend you return to Tatooine to fully settle that debt."
"Ben, Er-" Luke stopped himself. "Obi-Wan. We have the money to decide the fate of the Outer Rim. That's what the Kumumgah intended right? That's why they left that much treasure here before they went extinct."
"And look what happened. They were all killed by whatever haunted these caves, they focused on revenge against those that destroyed them. On power. And they disappeared from history. That's not you Luke, at least, I don't believe it is."
Luke was about to retort but Obi-Wan interrupted him.
"Is that truly what you want? To become the new power in the Outer Rim territories? Even if you became a better ruler than the Hutts, which admittedly, I'm sure you would be. If you wish to be a Jedi, like your father was, Jedi aren't rulers." Obi-Wan then shrugged. "That, is all I have to say."
Luke looked pensive and Obi-Wan continued to speak.
"Beware the Dark Side. A lust for power, greed, desire, these are natural things. Avoidable, but natural. But the Force is what binds the entire galaxy together, it is the single most truth that gives the meaning behind our very existence. Your path is yours alone Luke, but that is all I wish to remind you of."
Luke was curious. "You really wouldn't help me? I wouldn't know how to figure out a government or an army without you."
Sure Luke could read on how to do that and with the Gamer he'd learn very fast, but Obi-Wan's advice was invaluable.
"I'm sorry Luke. But it's against my better judgment, one day we can return to Tatooine when you're older. I promise."
Luke weighed his options, but he did remember why he started this journey into the caves.
Not only to find whatever treasure laid at the end, but to help learn more in the ways of the Force. What did he want? What was his fear?
The idea behind the journey to Luke, was that he feared nothing. Not even a cave powerful with the Dark Side.
And suddenly, something reminded Luke very strongly. Something as real as the Force to him, or the entire room filled with treasure.
"Yeah well, what does any of it matter? Following in the footsteps of my father? I never knew him, you did, and you still refuse to tell me who he really was. Even though I'm doing all of this to be a Jedi like him." Luke sighed. "I'm not doing any of this to get revenge on the Hutts. I want to make the Outer Rim, everywhere for that matter, a better place, that's all. And you don't even want to help me with that."
Luke waved a hand, turning around and starting to walk off again.
"What about your sister?"
Luke stopped in his tracks.
…
Luke turned around. "My sister?"
"Yes Luke. As I've said, your fami-"
"Where is she?" asked Luke instantly, glancing around slightly at the Ancient City around them.
"Let me allow you to take your family to Alderaan. At least consider your next steps, with more information, and then we can move on."
"More information?" Luke was slightly confused.
"I understand my word alone isn't enough to convince you of the decisions to take next. I believe with the right encouragement, you can see the right path. That said, you will take the final decision in what to do with all the treasure we found, and what you wish to do next."
He was curious, about the offer. "So this wouldn't be a permanent thing?"
Obi-Wan nodded. "No Luke, it wouldn't."
Luke smiled then. "I'm glad at least to see Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru sooner than I would've thought."
Obi-Wan appeared grateful at the boy's acceptance of the offer.
…
Beru ran to Luke the moment she saw him approaching the Lars Homestead.
Owen smiled about.
"Boy, have I got the story for you," said Luke with a bright smile to his aunt.
Obi-Wan showed Owen a small storage crate they brought from Luke's landspeeder around their kitchen table.
Owen opened it, and was absolutely fascinated by the gold he found inside.
"I've never seen a coin like this in my life," he said with wide eyes.
"It's currency possibly even more ancient than the Jedi Order itself," explained Obi-Wan as Owen looked at the value. "We found it in the deepest catacombs beneath the Jundland Wastes."
"How much?"
"Well we-" Luke stopped himself, his leg up on the tables surrounding the table. "Well a lot, actually." he sighed.
"How much?" Owen repeated, firmer this time.
"Enough to change the fate of Tatooine." Obi-Wan scratched his beard. "And with Luke's intention, the entire fate of the Outer Rim territories."
"How would he do that?" asked Beru kindly.
Luke opened his mouth, and then closed it.
It was such a simple question with no easy answer.
How would Luke even shape a unified, free, and prosperous state out of the Outer Rim? Tatooine alone provided a massive deal of planning, research, and resource building.
It wasn't as easy as: Kill Jabba.
Jabba the Hutt wasn't just a crime lord, he offered legitimate avenues of trade and economy all throughout the Outer Rim. His bounty hunters and employees, at least some of them, weren't just rich because of him, they owed him favors based on job opportunities, safe havens from rival crime families or others in the Galaxy, and respect.
Having lived on Tatooine his whole life, Luke wasn't the most knowledgeable on Jabba the Hutt, but ultimately knew enough.
The reason for Jabba's respect was because he wouldn't just solve every problem with money. People respected Jabba's name, they knew he was someone dependable for favors, that would honor a deal so long as it was equitable. As corrupt, greedy, and cruel in some cases as Jabba was, he didn't run a massive smuggling empire through intimidation and bribery alone.
The greatest barterer in the galaxy was Jabba the Hutt. You could get almost anything you wanted from Jabba, so long as you paid the right price. Even perfectly legal things for cheaper than you would otherwise through other methods.
Merely offering to pay double whatever Jabba was paying all of his attendants wouldn't be enough, if it was even do-able, Luke surmised.
"I still don't know," admitted Luke. "But I want to do it."
"Eventually. It will take years however to fully become one, but I assume you still want to be a Jedi?"
Luke nodded, his answer clear when Obi-Wan sounded patiently and honestly. "Beyond a shadow of a doubt."
"These two things are not necessarily conflicting right?" suggested Owen. "Being a Jedi and governing?"
"How so?" Obi-Wan muttered.
"Well Luke wants to be a Jedi. You're a Jedi Ben," said Owen. "But the kid's fifteen, he wasn't raised to be a Jedi. The Jedi Order is all but extinct, is it really his responsibility to revive it? And then maintain it? I for one think this change for the Outer Rim could be a healthy thing."
"I do too." Beru smiled.
Obi-Wan appeared to be in deep thought, and then spoke. "Fine. But again, I ask that you come with me to Alderaan before you decide anything."
Owen's face changed. "Here we go."
"What?" asked Luke.
"The offer." Owen smiled bitterly, looking at the crate full of money brought to him on his kitchen table. "The price of this ancient gold."
"The price is simple," said Obi-Wan. "The Hutts need serfs, they won't be happy when they found out you left this farm."
"Hold on," said Owen. "You're saying we're going to leave this farm? We've been here for generations."
"Would they be angry enough to send bounty hunters?" wondered Luke.
"Oh no," Obi-Wan answered calmly. "I doubt this property means that much to them. But still, precautions would need to be taken"
"And why do we have to leave?" Beru inquired.
"To keep you two safe from the Empire and the Hutts. When Luke is ready, I believe I'll help him make a move against both," said Obi-Wan. "Whichever comes first."
Luke smiled a bit, glad his mentor was at least somewhat on board to help him change the Outer Rim for the better.
"Wouldn't a stronger, or at least, more unified Outer Rim draw more attention from the Empire?" asked Owen logically.
"We'll deal with that when it happens," Obi-Wan said. "But I imagine we'll be working that out as we go along. For now, the money we brought you is for two things."
Beru listened, putting a hand on Owen's forearm to get him to listen. The moisture farmer backed down quickly.
"First, passage to Alderaan. We can use Beru's knowledge of hydroponics to find you two new jobs, if you still plan to work, otherwise we have more than enough money to allow for your complete retirement. And to eventually put you completely out of the ire of the Empire and the Hutt clans. Secondly, to leave this farm in working order run almost completely by droids to leave everyone under the assumption you're still here. Luke can arrange for one of his friends to run what little a human would need to do."
Owen nodded a tiny bit.
"I don't like the idea of leaving one bit," said Owen slowly after a moment. "But are you sure this is what's safest?"
"Jabba will kill you both without a second thought when the Hutts realize Luke plans to oust them from power for good. It might not happen particularly soon, but he's made it clear he wants that eventually for sure." Luke nodded to affirm Obi-Wan's words quickly.
Owen and Beru seemed to make eye contact as they held hands.
"Fine." Owen said.
Beru nodded silently as well.
…
Beru and Obi-Wan were chatting as Owen and Luke helped past the last of the things the Lars family would need before everyone started the journey to Alderaan.
"You're sure Alderaan is safer than here?" he asked.
Luke picked up a large box with relative ease and then put it in the trunk of the landspeeder.
"Obi-Wan seems to think so." replied Luke with a slight grunt of effort. "And he's been fighting the Empire and people for ages, I think his advice would be best."
"Alright," Owen said. "I can't say I'm happy at all about having to leave my farm for some place I've never been to. To start working a job I've never done. But it's a sacrifice I made."
"What sort of sacrifice?"
"We knew who you were Luke, we always did, the day Ben put you in Beru's arms the day you came to our farm. If you were just a regular kid, none of these powers, no past of any sort. Yeah, we'd never leave. And neither would you."
The fact that Owen was able to admit the reality of his situation deeply gladdened Luke. As if he began to see his grumpy uncle in a new light almost.
"You're sure too that a few of your friends can keep this all secret? Make sure things are fine here while we're gone?"
Luke nodded. "I'm sure." he said proudly.
Obi-Wan looked upwards. "We can find a simple commercial transport to Alderaan if we hurry."
"Mf." Owen murmured slightly. "Right." he sniffed, as if it was his cue to never mention to Luke again what he did purely from his tone.
…
The star cruiser Luke chose was an inconspicuous freighter similar to the AA-9 models used to transport large groups from the Core Worlds to farther out in the galaxy.
Luke had gained [+300 EXP] from leveling up Bartering for negotiating a good price for the ferry to Alderaan.
As Obi-Wan and Owen ate in silence nearby using food a multi armed serving droid in the nearby kitchen fed them, Beru and Luke spoke.
"What caused that sudden change? I'd never seen you say something like that before," said Beru.
Luke was confused. "What change?"
"The need to you know." Beru looked around, wondering if anyone was listening. "Change things?"
Luke realized his aunt was referring to his want of a rebellion against the Hutts and unify the Outer Rim.
"Seeing the tombs." Luke could sense through the Force no one on the freighter could hear them or was interested. "It convinced me of something that I never imagined."
Luke sat down in the seat next to his aunt. "Tatooine at one point was rich, or at least. Like a regular planet, I don't see a reason why it couldn't go back to that."
Beru smiled. "The only way to survive there is by farming moisture." she barely chuckled. "Of course it can't go back."
"I want to change that," said Luke. "No one in the Outer Rim should live in fear of subjugation or oppression same as people fear the Empire. The Hutts just do a better job of bothering the right people less. If Tatooine was always as poor as I know it to be, why was there that much gold down there?"
That begged the question to Beru. "And where is all that money now?"
Luke shrugged. "A decent bit of it is still locked up underground. I took out some with Obi-Wan to help pay for the trip."
Mostly untrue, Luke admitted to himself.
Luke made sure Obi-Wan stayed ahead as he went back to the vault and 'emptied a decent bit of money.' He did still have the Sarlacc bone key in his inventory, but it was just keeping an empty vault closed that Obi-Wan presumed was still filled with gold.
If Luke felt guilty at all about lying to the Jedi Master about the Gamer, then he should've felt guilty about hiding so much about his family Luke reasoned. He wasn't angry with the man, just felt it was being fair.
"Having come into that much wealth." Beru put her hands on the small table the transport had onboard as she leaned forward. "I'm proud I raised you right, because I think you made the right choice."
"Thanks Aunt Beru."
Luke admitted that he still intended to grow the over one hundred million credits he got from the caves as much as he could. But he wouldn't mind investing some of it back into the Outer Rim someday if it made Tatooine a better place to govern fairly.
As he thought about that, he turned to the glass window on the transport, seeing hyperspace for the first time.
Luke truly should've been excited to go to Alderaan. Especially to potentially meet a sister he just learned about for the first time.
But he wasn't, being excited meant he was impressed. He wanted to meet his sister, he had no idea he even had one at all until Obi-Wan said so. But why would he be impressed with hyperspace?
He killed a Krayt Dragon, an Elder Krayt. Uncovered a treasure hidden and protected for what he knew at least being twenty thousand years.
Beru looked at him. "What're you thinking about?"
"What Obi-Wan knows," admitted Luke. "He reveals I have a sister, what else does he know that I should?"
"He only wants what's best for you."
"But I never lied to him, or you. Did you know I have a sister too?"
Beru shook her head. Luke sensed that she was telling the truth.
"I grew up as an only child. As I told you before, family is, very very important." said Beru. "Everything Obi-Wan says to you about your family, or does. Is for your own good."
Luke nodded quietly. "Thanks."
Beru smiled lightly, sipping from a small bowl of soup.
…
Alderaan's capital city of Aldera, had a spaceport ran like clockwork. One of the most efficient and safest in the Core Worlds.
Luke looked at the city, its tall snow capped mountains and the lake nearby. Its huge, tall, rounded white structures acting as buildings.
After living in Tatooine his whole life, where the biggest city was the same color of short, dry, brown buildings generally, it was an interesting change of pace.
The spaceport was huge and bustling, Luke hadn't seen so many people in one place in his entire life when he walked off the freighter, bags in tow.
He and his family, followed closely by a silent Obi-Wan with his hood pulled over his head, began to walk out over the runway off the freighter's docking bay where dozens of people were.
"Er, Ben?"
The Jedi Master turned.
"Where exactly are we going?" wondered Luke.
"I let our mutual friend know ahead of time we'd be coming."
"Then where are they?"
Luke peered around at the hundreds of people walking around their docking bay area of the spaceport when they stepped off.
Suddenly, one pair of droids appeared to be very out of place. Almost the entire transport walked past them, and Luke felt a need to walk towards them.
"By any chance," the light gold protocol droid asked. "Would any of you be Ben Kenobi?"
Obi-Wan stepped forward, out of the small group of him, Luke, Beru, and Owen, near one of the pillars in Aldera Port's Dock 13.
"That would be me yes," Obi-Wan pretended he didn't recognize the droid at all.
"I am C-3PO, human cyborg relations. This is my companion R2, we have both come to collect you."
"Who sent you?" Luke was curious.
"His grace does not wish to reveal his identity until we've left the eyes and ears of the public."
"His grace?" Owen looked at Luke, and Luke at his aunt and uncle.
C-3PO merely looked back at Luke without words.
"Very well 3P0, show us the way." Obi-Wan said, the droid quickly nodding.
Between the two of them, Luke instantly began to like R2 a whole lot more, he appeared to have leagues more personality.
…
Owen spoke to 3PO quietly aboard the floating tram to take them around the beautiful and gleaming white city of Aldera. "Is there any labor for moisture farmers on this planet?"
"Certainly sir." the droid gripped a metal pole for balance, explaining to the man. "The University and several other researchers aim to perfect hydroelectric technologies of all sorts. Several industries around Alderaan all require extremely efficient production and management of water, as Alderaan is among the planets most rich in fresh water in the entire galaxy."
Beru and Owen chatted 3PO's electric ears off as Luke approached Obi-Wan, the Jedi in training speaking to his Master.
"Why do I sense this is almost like my first real mission?"
"Oh," Obi-Wan chuckled, the two looking over the massive lake nearby Aldera together from the huge windows of the light train. "I'd say we're not too far, but still far from that. We're mostly here to keep your aunt and uncle here until we find somewhere safer for them to be. And to help you gather some more, um. Intelligence."
"Intelligence?"
"Information to help you on your next decision."
"I already know what my next decision is." said Luke firmly.
"I don't think you think fighting a rebellion against the Hutt clans will be as easy as you believe." Obi-Wan muttered quietly.
Luke shrugged. "I guess we'll have to wait and see."
…
3Po led them all to the gates of a giant palace, one of the biggest buildings in Aldera, a massive white modern, Core World mansion.
Luke guessed whoever had to live here was rich beyond their dreams, stuffy, and distasteful of people from his background in the galaxy.
The front gate seemed to slide open automatically as soon as 3Po approached, and a beautiful and kind woman with dark hair and regal clothing appeared.
"3Po," the woman who answered the door smiled. "Thank you so much for bringing our guests home."
"My pleasure my lady. This is Ben Kenobi, an old friend of your husband's according to my records." 3Po said.
Obi-Wan shook her hand. "You must be Breha."
Even though the droid was her servant and not human at all, Luke was surprised that he appeared to be a member of the family to Breha.
A quick look at the tag the Gamer had floating above her head utterly shocked Luke.
[Breha Organa LV 83 Diplomat - Queen of Alderaan]
Luke was shocked to see that Obi-Wan somehow knew royalty. And not just royalty, it was clear thus far Alderaan was extremely important in the galaxy. So how did this aging Jedi Master tasked with looking after him on Tatooine manage to know them?
"Right this way, Bail's in the living room."
Breha led them into her mansion of a home.
Bail Organa was a tall man in deep blue robes, unsurprisingly to Luke, the King of Alderaan, and only thirty one levels higher than his wife.
"This is Luke, and his aunt Beru, and uncle Owen."
"Pleasure. Wonderful home." said Beru sweetly.
Bail shook both of their hands. "Breha, why don't you show them around? Me and um, Ben, have to a lot to discuss."
Breha smiled, starting to lead the Lars and Luke around their house.
…
"How much does he know?" was the first thing Bail asked the moment the Queen and the droids walked off.
Obi-Wan sighed a bit accepting the cold drink Bail passed him when he sat down. "Thank you, er. Not much, he knows Anakin was a Jedi Knight. He knows I'm named Obi-Wan. And besides having a sister-"
Bail practically choked on his drink. "I'm sorry. His sister? You already told him about Leia?"
"I didn't see the harm in it."
Bail put his glass down on the ornate table. "Why don't you tell me about what's been going on? Why you're here? Why Luke and his family have decided to leave Tatooine? I wasn't aware they could afford a vacation."
"No well." Obi-Wan began to explain. "Luke discovered his abilities, I decided to tutor him."
Bail followed, not disagreeing at all. "Alright."
"He progressed so fast in learning the ways of the Force I decided to test him, to push him. To see if he could at least match the minimum requirements of a Jedi Padawan."
Bail blinked, looking at him blankly.
"He passed. The tomb we were visiting, and also searching for treasure in, contained enough money to convince Luke to leave Tatooine. And he wants to free it from the Hutts, as well as other Hutts potentially."
"Ambitious boy for a simple moisture farmer." admitted Bail with a smile. "Are you proud?"
"Mostly, er, very much so actually. I want him to come here, meet Leia. For you to inform him on the state of the Rebellion. We should help him, I actually admire this goal of his to overthrow the Hutts, it could even help him later become a Jedi and battle the Empire now that I think of it more."
Bail crossed his hands over his lap, turning in his chair a little. "Did you tell him about Anakin?" Obi-Wan was about to speak but Bail interrupted. "The full truth, Obi-Wan."
"He can't learn the truth yet."
"And why not? You've told him this much."
"That assumes Leia should as well." Obi-Wan looked up from the table and at Bail.
He chuckled, biting his lip a little. "I see." he felt the ball settled firmly into his court. "Fifteen years I don't see you, and you ask for a status report on the Rebellion."
"And?"
Bail was in complete silence.
"The last Jedi leading any sort of organized resistance was General Rahm Kota, lost contact with him on Fondor about four months ago. He refused to keep following orders even after I promised him Mon Mothma was out of the picture, we had a complete falling out. We haven't heard from anyone else in around a decade."
Obi-Wan wished he sensed that Bail was lying.
"Mon Mothma has stayed silent since her departure to Bothawui when she left the Imperial Senate two years ago. Everyone else Palpatine suspected of any sort of treason are still in hiding as well."
"So, our only real hope. Is Luke and his sister."
"I can share the database we have with you on lost Jedi. The few our intelligence knows are still alive. Why do you ask?"
Obi-Wan spoke up after a moment of thought. "I want to give Luke a solid glimpse of real combat against the Empire. To help prepare him for this rebellion he wants to plan against the Hutts. At least, one mission or two."
"And then?"
He sighed. "And then. I suspect Luke will have enough skills to be tested by myself as a Jedi Knight after he establishes this new state of sorts he wants in the Outer Rim."
"It doesn't seem like you'd want him to do anything but follow in the steps of the Jedi Order. Why help him?"
"I don't want to make it clear to him I actually think he's on the right path. Just that," Obi-Wan tutted. "If I make the same mistakes I made with Anakin I might lose him as well. Luke doesn't deserve that, especially when I don't sense any desire or connection in the Dark Side at all."
"Wasn't Anakin the same way when he was younger?"
"I already told Owen this. Not at all, not in the slightest. The only things in common he seems to have with his father besides his talents with the Force seems to be his desire to do good."
"Didn't Anakin believe he was doing good too?" countered Bail.
"Not like Luke does. He doesn't relish in pain or revenge. In fact, even after telling him that Vader murdered his parents, he didn't seem angry at all."
Bail was surprised. "Wait, you told him that Vader murdered Anakin?"
"It's technically true. Darth Vader destroyed the person Anakin was by replacing him."
"A part of me wishes you should tell him everything," said Bail. "But he's very young still."
Obi-Wan nodded slightly as Bail finished his drink, thinking quietly.
"Here's what I suggest."
Obi-Wan was all ears, perking up without words.
"We can help Luke's strengths, become well. Greater strengths. If you can improve his leadership, skill in battle, communication, diplomacy, everything he'd need to help lead this uprising in the Outer Rim. Then, we need to put all our resources behind him."
"Meaning?"
"We have to leave things up to chance. Depend on him for our next move, ask if he really would want to help rebuild the Jedi Order, and what he'd want it to look like to defeat the Empire."
"You'd leave the future of the galaxy up to a single teenager?"
"I'd be willing to allow Leia to partake in such an endeavor as well. At least, if and when the time comes. And also, we don't really have a choice. We potentially made a mistake by hoping they'd be in hiding forever, but we shouldn't be using them like tools either."
Now Obi-Wan was in thought.
"You're right. Rebuilding the Order, defeating the Empire. He needs to decide how to do them, with the right preparation of course."
"Now here's the tricky part Obi-Wan. Luke will only be able to make these choices with the greatest amount of agency if we tell him the complete truth."
"It would destroy him," said Obi-Wan instantly, almost offended.
Bail shook his head. "No. It only would destroy him if he began this journey, based on a lie."
Obi-Wan was quiet for a moment as Bail continued. "Imagine how much differently Anakin could've turned out if we always told him the truth. That maybe he wasn't the Chosen One? Or he didn't have to be perfect? You make these same mistakes again my friend, and we'll have the same results. Jedi are about humility, right?"
"It's not a matter of pride. The boy might not be ready for the truth yet, I'm doing it for the sake of the galaxy as well."
"Pride? It sounds mostly like pride to me." said Bail. "Remember, there is a very large reason why we should leave a lot of this up to him and tell him the truth sooner rather than later."
"And why's that?"
"Because we failed, Obi-Wan."
The fact that they were even having the conversation told Obi-Wan that failure would be almost impossible to erase. And again, he fell silent in deep thought.
…
Breha led the Lars and Luke through the gardens of the Royal Palace of Alderaan when they reached a small marble bridge over a small river.
"And this is our daughter, Leia."
"Hello!" she smiled, turning off her holo pad and turned to them.
Luke saw a very beautiful girl with slightly pale skin lean off the bridge, around his age with braided brown hair wearing the same style of clothing as both of her parents. Leia Organa, as Luke suspected was the Princess of Alderaan.
While Luke normally would've been struck by her degree of beauty, something else nagged at him. The connection he felt to her through the Force, it was difficult to describe what the reason for it was, but the moment he met the girl he couldn't help but stare.
Beru and Breha barely laughed as Luke realized this, "Uh- Hi, I'm Luke."
"Leia." she said, introducing herself.
"Leia, why don't you show Luke around the city?" Breha said. "R2, go with them."
The blue and white astromech droid followed them both with a affirmative chirp as they began to leave the garden.
…
"So, what do people here on Alderaan do for fun?" asked for Luke as they walked down the street, flanked by lines of trees and two guards wearing white helmets carrying spears.
"Not much I suppose. Go to the museum, we have a great music hall, there are some nice places to try new foods. What kind of music do you like?"
A pair of small children waved at Leia, she waved back. Luke realized that most on the street nodded and a few even bowed, recognizing her as royalty.
Luke never considered the question until now. "We don't really have music on Tatooine. At least, not the kind I think you'd listen to."
Leia smiled lightly. "Oh, right. What's Tatooine like?"
"Miserable. The only reason I'd ever want to go back is to make it a better place."
"A better place? How would you do that?"
Luke shrugged, watching Leia balance herself on a small stone arch over the street as he followed her, R2 still strolling along behind them. "I'm honestly not sure yet. I'm open to suggestions though."
"Making places better," Leia paused. "Hm. I'm honestly not sure. There's technically a class I'm taking on it now. It's called Resource Management and Public Administration."
"Where do you that class?" wondered Luke.
"I used to have a tutor but dad said she had to go away. I want to be a representative in the Imperial Senate someday, taking over dad's job. So I study at the University here in Aldera now."
Luke wondered something considering the fortune he found that the Krayt dragon was guarding. "Would it be possible to learn about economics here in Alderaan? Investment, finance?"
"Definitely." Leia smiled at the idea. "I only took basic classes on those, but you definitely can. The best scholars from across the Core give lectures on finance. Tough graders, but you could learn a lot for sure."
"Wait, would it be expensive then?"
"Very expensive," admitted Leia. "Father knows the head of education here, he could definitely get you a spot."
Luke kept chatting with Leia as he walked down the street.
He felt weird without his lightsaber on him, stored away safely in his Inventory. While Luke's presumption of Leia and her family was completely wrong, he still couldn't ignore this nagging feeling.
"Have we ever met before?"
"I think I'd remember, you're the only person from Tatooine I've met in my whole life," chuckled Leia. "Why do you ask?"
"Nothing, you just, seem familiar."
"Have you ever been to our art galleries?" asked Leia. "There's a fun boat riding place we could go to."
"I've never been farther than Mos Eisley until yesterday."
Leia's eyes grew wide. "Where's Mos Eisley?"
"The far end of the Dune Sea." Luke inhaled quickly. "Not a pretty place, honestly."
"Is there anything on Tatooine worth visiting? I feel kind of bad for you for having to grow up there the more I hear about it."
"Honestly, no. There isn't," said Luke. "I guess I'm hoping to change that someday."
Leia nodded a bit. "You know I know we just met, but I get the feeling I should help you change Tatooine."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I don't know what it is. But I feel like I can trust you."
"Thanks, Leia." he said, feeling exactly what she meant.
"Most boys I know are decently hard to hold a conversation with, I guess that might be why."
Luke laughed quietly. "I get that. If it makes you feel any differently you might be the third girl I've talked to in my whole life."
Leia laughed loudly at this. "The third?"
"I think one was someone who was looking for her parents a few years ago when I was in Mos Elrey's market, trading moisture. And the other was Camie Marstrap, she's helping keep track of my family's farm when we're gone."
"Sounds like an endeavor you'd need to trust someone a lot with to do."
"Yeah." Luke paused, continuing to walk with her down the street, liking how pretty Alderaan's architecture was. "Yeah I guess so."
"How long do you plan to move to Alderaan?"
"I don't know how long I plan to stay actually, my aunt and uncle still don't know either. It all depends on what Ben says."
"Ben. The older man you came here with?"
Luke nodded. "Yeah."
"Who is he to your family? I was surprised when Father said he was coming, never heard of him before in my life."
"He's." Luke really didn't know how to tell Leia.
A teacher? A mentor? A father figure?
"More like, an extended part of our family if that makes sense." Luke had no other way to put it.
"It does make sense. Here, that's the boat riding place up there."
The paddle boats looked fun, especially because Luke had never been near a body of water large enough to paddle on during his entire life, and Aldera was built next to a massive lake.
…
After they returned home and have the best dinner Luke had ever eaten, he decided to help Obi-Wan help the droids with the dishes, despite Breha's insistence that it was alright.
When they left to help Bail with something, Luke spoke to Obi-Wan.
"Leia."
Obi-Wan turned to Luke near the dish washing machine, seeing the realization upon his face.
"Leia's my sister, isn't she?"
Obi-Wan inhaled slowly. "What told you?" he asked calmly.
"I don't know, I think the Force."
"Does she change any of your plans?"
"A little. I still want to create a better version of the Outer Rim. One free from slavery from the Hutts, and also free from the Empire. And, I still want to be a Jedi." Luke paused, Obi-Wan listening. "But maybe Leia can help."
"She can, potentially."
"But didn't you tell me that ruling, and being a Jedi conflict with each other."
"I did." Obi-Wan affirmed. "But after I spoke to Bail and gave it some thought, I realized something."
"Which is?"
Obi-Wan crossed his arms, sighing. "You're a very capable young man, I don't sense any desire or interest in the Dark Side at all in you. So, even if the next steps forward are, unorthodox. They don't necessarily have to be purely based in the Jedi Order. The Jedi are all but extinct, whatever you wish for the Jedi to be, should be in your hands. I don't think that, strictly speaking, what you build needs to be called Jedi, it can be Jedi in name only really so long as it's yours."
Luke nodded, about so speak as Obi-Wan raised his hands, speaking clearly. "With my guidance of course."
"Right." Luke smiled and said gratefully.
Luke felt that this man was placing a great deal of trust in him. And he understood why.
He'd help him slay an Elder Krayt Dragon, and give himself and his family more financial freedom than they'd ever have, and Luke felt he wanted to make Obi-Wan proud of this decision and build his own path as besides that.
"So, I know my aunt and uncle just got here. But if we're trying to keep them away from the Rebellion, wouldn't it be smartest to keep them away from Alderaan?"
"What tells you that?"
Luke sensed it from the moment he began to speak to Leia and Bail. Neither of them had the slightest inkling they remotely swore allegiance to the Empire. Their philosophy appeared purely based in freedom and self expression, and everything he knew about the Empire was that the Imperial Senate was mostly a symbol according to Leia. Despite being a planet within its jurisdiction, Luke never would've guessed it unless he was told otherwise.
Leia took him to visit lectures at the University of Alderaan where Professors lectured freely, and their curriculum didn't seem to influence students towards supporting the Empire.
This told Luke that the Empire was either a very lenient power in the galaxy, quite unlikely given the stories he'd heard, or Alderaan had no interest in Imperial doctrine or ideals.
"I sensed it." Luke said after a bit of silence. "I sensed Senator Bail Organa was aligned against the Empire from most of what I saw from his family actually."
"There are other places we can find for your aunt and uncle to move to in the meantime yes. For now, here's what I highly suggest for your next move."
Luke nodded, leaning on the kitchen counter of the Organas.
"Come with me to Fondor, it's time to bolster the Rebellion to restore the Republic. According to Bail, there's almost nothing left of it at all. I want to help what remains of the Jedi to lead and train dissidents across the Empire piecemeal, until they can ally with a stronger, and more organized force."
Luke understood. "You mean what I want to plan to create?"
"More or less. I sense that Master Rahm Kota isn't dead, rather in hiding from both the Empire and Bail and his intelligence. He can be a valuable asset once we've helped him, and he can join our cause later on. It would be your first real Jedi mission, the last bit of training I believe you'll need before you battle the Hutts."
"I accept."
The Gamer still was curious as to Luke's intentions.
[New Quest created! Remnants of the Order
Objective 1: Locate Jedi General Rahm Kota in the Fondor System
Objective 2: Help Kota to swear loyalty to your cause by helping him against the Empire
Bonus Objective: Deter any Imperial Retaliation if Objectives 1 and 2 are met.
Time Limit: None
Reward: +40 LVs, +230,000 credits, 15% passive boost to credit reward for all investments
Accept: Y/N]
Luke instantly accepted the quest after Obi-Wan turned around, noting to himself to try to invest the loot he earned from his last quest that he knew Obi-Wan thought was still locked up on Tatooine under the Sarlacc key instead of being in his inventory. He knew he could grow that money substantially into the war chest he'd need when he returned from Fondor.
"I'll tell your aunt and uncle as well as Bail in the morning. Rest Luke, we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow."
"Wait, this is really the last thing I have to do before you'll help me start a rebellion against the Hutts?"
"As much as I think that Jedi shouldn't seek ruling, you technically are what's left of the future of the Jedi Order. The choice of what it should look like should be yours entirely, I really should support you and give you the best advice I should. That is the extent of what I should do as your teacher."
"Really? I'm surprised, that wasn't what you said back in the Ancient City."
"I know, speaking to Bail reminded me. I've been so obsessed with trying to follow the Jedi Order, I didn't realize that it wasn't wholly necessary. There was no need for history to repeat itself, I'm afraid."
Luke felt a bit honored, but he remembered that Obi-Wan wasn't trusting him entirely out of pure necessity. The tone of trust and respect in his voice, the sincerity behind his words. Luke knew that Obi-Wan wasn't letting whatever had happened before Luke was born cloud his judgement anymore.
After Luke bid Obi-Wan goodnight, the sentiment in Luke was clear: Make Obi-Wan proud of his choice.
To gather as much experience and allies as he could from this next quest, and then return to the Outer Rim ready to begin his dream.
…