Short Summary:
This story takes place directly after The New Rebellion. Luke is about to recover from the
incident on Almania when a civil war on the planet of Lor Areo requires the assistance of
the Jedi as well as from the Chief-of-State. But nothing is as it seems and Luke doesn’t know
that there is someone waiting for him, ready to launch his evil plans.....

Author’s note:
Mara Jade is in this story, too, but it is NOT a Mara/Luke romance.....well, at least not really.
Perhaps there’s a little tension between them, but certainly nothing more. I’m already working
on a romance, so be patient if you like Mara/Luke stories as much as I like them.
I’d like to hear your opinions about this story.
I am a German author.
Please mail me (english or german doesn’t matter at all) and put the name of the story in front,
for I will know what the mail is about. I will answer it sooner then, I think.

Disclaimer: All characters, planets, creatures etc. I have used so far in this fanfic belong to
George Lucas and his wonderful STAR WARS Universe or to the novel’s authors, except for
the planet of Lor Areo and all it's natives, towns, continents etc.
I receive no money for this (and I doubt anyone would give me money for it). It’s just for fun!
 

Prologue

    The sunset on the Golden Seas of Lor Areo shone so brightly, one almost wasn’t able to
watch. But she forced her eyes to stay on the water, forced herself not to wince. She wanted to
feel the pain it caused. Pain fed anger. And anger fed hatred. And the more hatred she had
in her heart the more she would be able to fulfill her task. She smiled and whirled around,
her wide, black coat covering the huge window for an instant. This planet would soon be
under her control and then the whole system would follow. For her, it didn’t matter how many
beings would die to bring about her rise to power. She didn’t think of anyone other than herself. Fools and idiots. Needless for her cause. Well, she smirked, not entirely needless. Many people would die and someone in the New Republic would have to do something about it. And then the galaxy would learn about the huge injustice that happened on Lor Areo, the plea for help would reach the Senate of Coruscant. They would ask some Jedi to mediate. And, since there weren’t many Jedi able to handle such a thing, the Senate or, more probably, the Chief-of-State Princess Leia Organa Soloherself, would sent the strongest Jedi existing - her brother, Jedi Master Luke Skywalker. Exactly the man she wanted to be here. Of course she had heard the rumors about the struggle in the Almania system, about Organa Solo and Skywalker being somehow involved in it.
No one could tell her for sure what was true and what not. But this too, didn’t really matter.
If Skywalker was really was weaker than usual....well, it would do her and her tasks
nothing but good. If not....she would be able to handle him anyway, so why worry? He would help
her to gain control over this system. It had been complicated to gather all the things she would
need to....persuade him to cooperate with her. But now, everything was prepared for him.
    She took the stairs down to the cave of her stronghold. There were many stairs and it was cold,
dark and damp, but she enjoyed it. She liked the darkness and the cold. Despite this, it
was just practical to build her little facility in the cave where no one could accidentally
stagger onto it. Not that any citizen of this planet would attempt to spy on her. She was
a member of the high society and beyond any doubts of treason. What did they know! She
reached a huge durasteel door and punched her accesscode in the keypad. The doors swung
open and she entered a cavern almost as large as her entire compound...only in the deep caves under the earth. She had discovered these caverns as a little child and had always loved to play
in them. Her little sister had gotten lost a few times in these dark tunnels. Those had always been
very amusing days for her. She had never understood why her sister had been so afraid of the
darkness. Childich, darkness was her life!
    "Kumo!" she cried. "Kumo, come here!" A tall, thin human appeared, his grey hair whirled in
dirty curls around his pale face. He looked like he was already dead. Well, she must admit, he hadn’t seen the sun for quite some time. She knew that any other person woud have had pity for this man. Something else that she could barely understand. She wished she could stay forever in these dark caves. Unfortunately, that was impossible. Perhaps later, if her plans succeeded, she would be able to stay longer. Hopefully.
    "What can I do for you, madam?" The man asked, bowing his head.
    "How are my little babies doing? I hope they are getting stronger. Soon, I will need them, you know."
    He smiled weakly. Kumo was all but a happy servant to his 'Madam'. He was a
scientist, the best in this sector, and that was the only reason he was here. Here, imprisoned
in this dark, stinking and damp cave, forced to work for this devil witch. "They’re as ready as they can ever be. You already know that. Why do you keep asking me?" He mumbled darkly.
    She only grinned and looked around: "What about the throne for my beloved guest? Is it ready?"
    "As I said to you yesterday and the day before and the day before that .... yes, madam, it’s ready. But I don’t understand what you’re up to. What guest? And what do you want with...."
    "Ah, Kumo. A little bit curious, are we? You needn’t to know. Just keep it working. Soon you will realize how happy you will be here, after you see what I make of this planet."
    Kumo’s head snapped higher and he glared at her, fear in his eyes. "What do you mean by that? You promised me that my family would be..."
    "Your family will be fine. As long as you do what I want you to do. I thought I had made myself clear, didn’t I?"
    "Of course, my lady."
     "Good. Indeed, very good. I have to leave you now, Kumo. It’s time for me to begin my work. Ah....the animals I’ve sent for....are they already here?"
    "If you mean this funny, long...."
    "Yes. Are they here?"
    "Twenty of them, as you wanted." She smiled, turned around and began the walk upstairs. Soon. Very soon, indeed.

 

The Dark Side Is Everywhere
by Sienn'rha

Chapter I

     Luke watched 2-1B nervously as the droid prepared an infusion.
     "Do you have to do that, 2-1B? I mean, I’m feeling really good. I don’t think I need another..."
     "Master Skywalker, you may feel fine at the moment, but you aren’t fully recovered yet and you know that. Please lay down!"
     Luke sighed and did as he was told. He hated it. There shouldn’t be hatred in a Jedi Master’s mind, but he did hate bacta. He could do nothing about it. But he could also do nothing against it this time. His back wasn’t healed yet and needed the liquid. At least he could take care of his clothes this time. If one was unconscious before being put into the tank, it was possible that he/she would be stripped of all of his/her clothes. Medic-droids didn’t mind if the patient was naked or not and if any visitor were to see him like that....Well, Luke really didn’t want this to happen. A sharp pain made him gasp in shock as 2-1B pushed the needle through his skin.
    He mused that he would like to cut 2-1B’s needle-arm with his lightsaber, which lay only a few meters beside him on a nightstand, but sleep took him.

    When Luke woke up again, he was staring right into his sister’s lovely face. "Hi," she said softly, taking his left hand. "How are you feeling?"
     "Tired," he answered, trying to sit up. He didn’t succeed and gave up.
     "Slow, Luke. That was your last treatment but you still have to rest. 2-1B said you are in a really bad shape, considering minerals and that stuff. You didn’t eat anything down there on Almania, did you?" She pushed a few hairs out of his face.
     "I have eaten the ration bars on the Falcon, you know," he mumbled.
     Leia smiled weakly: "Oh yeah. Perfect food for someone badly wounded like you. How could I forget!" She waved a hand and a servant droid came into view. The droid helped Luke to sit up as it put some steaming dishes in his lap.
     "Uh, Leia, I...well, I’m not hungry. I will eat something later."
     "You will eat now. Jedi Master or not, you need some food."
     Luke sighed.  "Leia, I’m a big boy. Trust me, I know..."
    "Oh, come on, Luke. Stop it, will you? You are not healed. Why don’t you understand that? You’re as pale as a ghost and thinner than I ever remember. Stay here, rest and eat." Luke watched his sister closely. She was right, he knew it. But he didn’t like sitting around and doing nothing. That just wasn’t him. And that was something she knew. Leia took his hand again and caressed it softly. "Luke, please, I’m worried about you. You have to recover fully. I want you to. Can’t you understand that? I don’t know why you always do this to yourself." He leaned back and closed his eyes, enjoying the feeling of  Leia’s soft fingers against his hand. Perhaps she was right. Perhaps he should really do as she said. He concentrated on her and her fingers and gave in to his weakness. His mind wandered away, his body relaxed......

    The Force came to him, it was all around him and he reached to the far ends of the galaxy to find his strength back in the calm of the stars and suns there, of the life of every planet. The Force guided him, as it usually did in this state of mind, to a certain place. It was a little planet. The most beautiful planet Luke had ever seen. Instead of the deep blue of large oceans, there were areas of pure gold there, wonderful to look at, glittering in the light of a sun not much larger than the planet. Luke lost himself in the sight of this wonderful ball of life and beauty. But slowly, the planet changed. No.... something materialized from the deep golden seas and the rich green continents. A shape.... A shape of a being.... A human being. The being opened its mouth and laughed, an evil laughter that made Luke shudder. And then it murmured something, back in his head. "Luke...Come to me....You will help me....Come to me...." Luke fell into the  being’s mouth, into the deep, cold darkness there. He tried to use the Force to stop his body from falling deeper into the pit of evil but it didn’t work. "No, Luke...Come to me....I won’t harm you....Come to me..." The voice was different now, almost like a siren. His dream body turned around and stood at the same moment in a huge cavern. Only one light shone, mirroring in some kind of glass cylinders. "I’m here, Luke. Come. You will help me now." He whirled around to face a shadow. It wasn’t big. He tried to figure out who it was, tried to see the face of this person, but there was nothing but black darkness. "Why should I help you? And how?" Luke’s dream ego asked. "Don’t worry. Everything’s all ready. Ready for you. Come to me, Luke. Come." The voice was so beautiful. Luke took one step toward the being, then another. In the next moment, Luke found himself lying on some kind of hard surface, underground. Something was around his ankles, his waist, and his wrists.... He knew this feeling. But from when? Or from where? He wanted to go away. He didn’t want to help this being. His left arm ached terribly. The being laughed again, almost hysterically. And then Luke had the horrible feeling of his soul leaving his body. His entire body ached and he cried in agony as he fell deeper and deeper into the darkness which appeared around him....

    Leia smiled as she took the dishes from Luke’s lap and put them on the nightstand. At least he was resting now. He could eat later, when he awoke again. Anything was better than a Luke who nervously paced through his quarters and had to be tranquilized. She watched his face as he drifted off to sleep. His mouth fell open a little bit and Leia grinned.  He seemed to sleep very deeply. Well, she didn’t mind. She could do her paperwork here today as well as she could have in her office. Besides, she wanted to take care of Luke. She wanted to make sure he ate something when he woke up.
    She didn’t know how long she had concentrated on her work when Luke started to groan. Her head snapped up. When she saw he was moving, she approached his bed. He moved and tossed his body in the covers and continued to groan and murmur. Leia bent down, concerned, and laid a hand on his forehead. Cold sweat covered his skin and his face was a mask of fear, horror and pain.
    "Luke? Luke, wake up. Come on wake up! Luke!" When he began to scream she almost screamed too. "Luke, please! Wake up!"  She took his head in both her hands and caressed his damp cheeks with her thumbs. Luke’s eyes blinked. He stared at her for a moment. Not recognizing who she was, he pulled anxiously away. "Luke, what’s the matter?  What’s wrong with you?" Leia asked as she reached again for his cheek. He breathed heavily, his eyes wide with panic. He was obviously scared to death. The life sensor beside his bed started to beep and after a few seconds 2-1B stormed into the room, to the side of his frightened patient.
    "What happened, your Excellency?" He asked with his cold, mechanical voice while he reached for Luke with an instrument arm. Luke whined in fear and it seemed as if he would faint at any moment.
     "I don’t know. Probably he had a nightmare or something," she stammered, trying to hold her brother’s shaking body close to her in order to calm him down as much as possible.
     "One of the many visions Jedi Knights are used to having?" The droid asked casually while controlling Luke’s life signs. Leia’s mouth fell open with shock. If this really had been a vision.... a vision which could frighten Luke Skywalker half out of his mind....she didn’t want to think about the
possibilities, of the problems that could mean.
     "Help me.....please...help me..." Luke stammered, staring at the ceiling.
2-1B prepared to stun Luke in order to prevent him from fainting, but Leia shook her head firmly.
    "No, 2-1B. I will take him back."
     "But, your Highness, this is...."
     "Quiet, 2-1B!" She hissed. Leia closed her eyes, concentrated and searched for the Force in her mind. It came to her and she used it to enter Luke’s mind. It was a very strange sensation. He seemed to be far away, focused on something hidden deep in the future. Leia knew she had to find out what had scared Luke so much as to bring him back into consciousness. All she could see was a dark shadow, leaning over Luke, who lay somehow paralyzed on a table of some sorts. It seemed vaguely familiar to her, but she knew she had no time to think about it. She had to free Luke from this nightmare or vision or whatever it was. If not, he would at the very least, need another treatment in the bacta-tank; that was for sure. In theory, it wasn’t very complicated. All she had to do was build a wall of protection around her brother and send him calm thoughts. To her relief, it worked. Suddenly, the nightmare vanished, and Luke’s mind blinked  confused. Leia opened her eyes again, to look straight in those of her brother. He had stopped shaking and was breathing normally. His eyes flew from one side of the room, to the other. But they finally focused on Leia.
     "Leia! Why....What happened?" He asked in a surprised tone as he sat up carefully.
     "You tell me. You groaned and screamed in your sleep and almost fainted. I had to intrude in your mind to wake you up. Otherwise you would have found yourself waking up in a bacta tank again. Was that a simple nightmare or....?" Leia didn’t finish her sentence. The look on Luke’s face told her all that she wanted to know. He laid back down and closed his eyes. He was probably still somewhat frightened.
     "It’s all right, 2-1B. You can leave us now. Luke will be all right in a few minutes," Leia said, smiling nicely to the droid.
     "I don’t know, your Excellency. Are you sure your brother doesn’t need any further treatment? Perhaps some pills to help calm him?"
     "Yes, 2-1B, I am sure. He won’t need any pills, so you may leave us now, please. You may check on him later"
     "As you wish, Madam Chief-of-State." the droid said, al tad annoyed, as he left the room.
     Leia sat down beside her brother. "What was it about?" She asked softly.
     Luke sat up again. "The vision?" He asked sheepishly. Leia nodded as she took the edge of the bedcovers and wiped the sweat from his face. "I can’t remember that much. There was a small planet and a being....a dark being... evil. It asked me to help him and then... I don’t know. It was as if my soul was trying to leave my body." He shook his head, trying to remember, but there wasn’t anymore.
    "Like back on Yavin IV, when Exar Kun and Kyp attacked you?" Leia asked. Her voice was very serious, yet very soft. Luke felt as if it would caress his soul as it calmed him.
      "No. Like.... like someone who was trying to control my soul. I know what is happening, and I don’t want to obey, but I have to. I can’t defend myself. It was.... horrible." he added slowly.
     Leia kissed his forehead and stood up. "I suggest you take a shower, then we can go get you some dinner. In the meantime, I’ll look for Han. I think we should all talk about this." Luke nodded.
     After Leia had left, he pulled himself up and went slowly to the small bathroom he could use. He certainly hoped that it wasn’t a vision. Perhaps it was only something that had to do with his imprisonment on Almania and the death of millions of beings he that had felt in the last couple of weeks. Yes, that was probably what it was. He had felt so helpless at the time, when the pain of these beings had reached him through the Force. He had wanted to help them, to prevent the extinction of a whole race, but he couldn’t. Kueller had been too strong at this time and Luke hadn’t known it was him who had done all this terrible, cruel things. Leia was right. He needed to just take a shower, eat something and discuss the dream with her and Han. That would help him. After all that had happened to him, surely, it was not very strange to have frightening nightmares of helplessness and pain.
 
 

Chapter II

     The sunset of Coruscant was something Luke loved a lot. All the buildings shone like great, big volcanoes. Everything was deep red or orange and it just was a wonderful experience seeing an almost fully technological world, a world without many natural places, turn into a kaleidoscope of rich colors. Suddenly, the huge Imperial City looked like a warm, little town. He sighed and leaned back in his bodyform chair on the terrace of the Ambassador's Inn. The inn was a little, but exclusive café only two floors beyond the council chambers. Usually, Luke avoided places like this, where senators, ambassadors and aides whirled around, crying, debating, or discussing. He could barely maintain calm and it usually cost him all of his concentration to keep himself from eavesdropping on the conversations of senators he knew were against Leia's politics of freedom and integration of the galaxy's many, many alien species. The former Imperials stood for this opinion, particularly. But this evening, Luke only watched Coruscant's sunset and enjoyed himself. He had indeed taken the shower Leia had suggested. And after that he had meditated. Now, he felt comfortably tired and content. This night, he would surely sleep deeply.
     "Hey, kid! That's certainly the wrong place for an afternoon nap." Han Solo sat himself down across from Luke and grinned.
     Luke smiled and sipped from his hot cocoa."I was just thinking about how much I like the view from up here."
     Han gazed around and nodded. "Yeah. It's because of these sunsets that I still live here."
     Luke laughed. "It's because Leia would kill you if you would moved away that you still live here."
     Han looked somewhat hurt, but his eyes showed a grin. "Well, that's part of it." For quite a time neither of them said a word, until Han finally spoke. "So, boy, Leia told me that you had a really bad nightmare back there in the hospital. Want to talk about it?"
      "I Dunno. I rather want to forget it," mumbled Luke.
      "Leia said it was a vision. If I remember the past...well, I think we should take it very seriously."
Luke snorted, disgusted. "Hey, it had nothing to do with you, Leia or the kids. It was just about me. And if I don't want to take it serious, then you shouldn't either, okay?"
     Han watched him closely, a concerned look on his face. "Luke, why are you so closed all of a sudden? I thought you wanted to talk about it. Andjudging by the looks of you, I would say that would be really good for you."
     Luke stared at him, aware of his uncharacteristic rudeness towards his best friend. "I'm sorry, Han, really. It's just that...I'm afraid of this vision becoming true. It was so...so terrible and it hurt so much." His voice trembled slightly. Han felt a lot of pity for him. Luke's abilities in the Force made him a great man with a big heart, but they were also a heavy burden.
     "It's okay, kid. I think this vision only means that I have to keep an eye on you. Usually, you attract chaos and trouble like a negative pole attracts a positive one."
 
 

     "I'm afraid I don't agree with you. My brother, Jedi Master Skywalker, is in no condition to accompany the delegation and myself in this case. After the incident on Almania, he needs rest and calm."
    "Your Exellency, the government of Lor Areo asked for at least one Jedi to support the negotiations with this terror organization. And it's more than obvious that only Master Skywalker has the abilities and the experience to handle this situation. His Jedi rainees might be powerful, too, but I doubt they would have any success in this case. I'm sure, the Chief-of-State knows and understands this and is only worried about the well being of her brother. But I suggest you come back to professional discussing."
    Leia's eyes narrowed, but she remained calm. Anger was the only thing Senator Fey'lya wanted from her right now. And she would never give Fey'lya anything he wanted.
    "Senator Fey'lya, it is also obvious that you are not thinking carefully enough in this case. What good can Master Skywalker do if he is sick and weak? I doubt it would be that impressive if he ends up having to conduct negotiations from a bacta-tank in the Lor Areo medic-center, now would it?" A few senators laughed lowly and Fey'lya muttered something inaudible to Leia. Certainly, it wasn't an agreement.
     "Your Exellency, I have to agree with Senator Fey'lya. I mean, I understand the condition Master Skywalker is in, but whom can we ask instead of him? Who else could hope for success in a case as delicate as this one?" Bro'rin, a Senator from Ryloth, asked with concern, and with a little too much pity in his voice. Leia knew that Bro'rin and Fey'lya were close friends and it was surprising that Bro'rin had waited that long to voice his opposition against her proposals. But she was used to the both of them and had learned to ignore everything but the core of their words.
     "I was going to propose Jedi Knight Kyp Durron. He has proven himself a very capable Jedi."
     "You can't be serious! He has stolen the Sun Crusher and destroyed the Cauldron Nebula and the Carida System! The people of Lor Areo will be furious if we send HIM to these negotiations!" Fey'lya exclaimed, enraged.
    The entire council had began muttering and mumbling and Leia knew that, for the time being, Fey'lya had won. The votes were clear. Only one against sending Luke with her to Lor Areo. "Well, so it  shall be," Leia sighed resigned. "I will ask my brother immediately. But I hope you all are aware that we can do nothing if he doesn't want to go," she added hopefully. But then, she knew full well that Luke never would avoid his duties and would follow her to Lor Areo to do all that he could.
     Fey'lya grinned, knowing what she was thinking. "Surely, we are all aware of this, Madam Chief-of-State. If Master Skywalker wishes to stay on Coruscant and rest, we will accept this, of course. We are not the Empire, as you say so often and say so well." Leia wanted to punch him in his grinning face. Instead, she smiled sweetly, nodded and left the council chamber.
    She didn't like this, not one bit. But at least she would be able to take her husband, her brother and her friends from Rogue Squadron with her. It wouldn't be that bad. The kids would stay with Winter and Cilghal on Yavin IV. And perhaps Luke would agree to take Tionne or Kam Solusar with him to Lor Areo. Leia would feel much more comfortable if someone that was capable of fighting who was loyal to Luke would accompany her brother. He was weak, that was a fact. And he needed support. Leia herself would need all her negotiation skills to persuade him but she would succeed. If she mentioned this vision, Han would help her and then Luke would resign. At least, that was what Leia hoped.
 

     Leia found her brother sitting with Han on a balcony in the Ambassador's Inn. The small café was not her favorite place, but she knew Luke loved the hot cocoa they made there. Without a doubt, it was the best you could get in the whole palace. For all she knew, Lando was somehow involved in making this new drink common and very loved. As she sat beside her husband she was satisfied to see the empty dishes that lay before Luke.   "Hey, what are you talking about? Some men stuff?" She asked, also noticing their words had stopped when she came near.
     "Not really," Han replied.
      "So, have you two discussed Luke's vision?" She asked, typing her orders for a drink in the table terminal.
    Luke was about to say yes, when Han interrupted him. "Your brother was a little bit shy. He thinks that it is nothing to worry about."
     Leia raised an eyebrow. It seemed that Luke was eager to clarify. "See, Leia, I think it's just something caused by the mass-murders Kueller committed. I don't think anyone should worry about it, myself included. So, let's forget this darn dream, okay?"
     "I don't know, Luke. It looked very serious. I really feared for you, for a few seconds at least. Are you sure it was just a dream?"
      Luke sighed. "No, I'm not sure, but I don't want to have this thought in my head all the time. It isn't fun to just sit and wait for a horrible vision to become true, you know," he replied with a snarl. Leia backed unconsciously away at this reply and stared at her brother. He was really loosing his temper over this. And that didn't make her feel any more sure about his opinion. Luke caught her thoughts and grew slightly pale. "I'm sorry, Leia. I'm really sorry....but, well...it's just so unnerving. Every dream could be a vision. But it could also be just what it seems...a simple dream. Sometimes it drives me nuts. I mean, I'm not able to say what actually is a dream and what is a vision. I can't take every dream that serious. I would have heavy paranoia, I think. I read something about some Jedi becoming paranoid over her dreams. It can happen! And I don't want it happen to me."  Leia just continued to stare at her brother, shocked about this little outburst of emotions.
     To their surprise, Han seemed almost happy about it. "Well, well, you CAN actually be a human. Boy, am I ever glad you can. And it's just what I've always said, isn't it? Don't let this Jedi-stuff get too deep into your life! It'll do you no good. And if I think back over the past few years, I would say that I'm right." He nodded affirmatively and emptied his glass. Luke said nothing, he just wasn't able to. Was Han right? But that couldn't be! He had to be a Jedi Master. He had to! The galaxy and his trainees on Yavin IV needed him. Suddenly, he didn't feel able to continue talking with Han or Leia, nor with anyone else. He just wanted to be alone, to be able to think. He was barely aware that he had left the café. He knew the way to his apartment full well and so he didn't need to concentrate on it. He had to consider many things.
 

     "Luke!" Leia said, standing up, ready to go after him. Han laid a hand on her fine-boned shoulders and forced her back in her seat. She stared at him, sorrow and fear for her brother in her big, brown eyes. "But Han, I've to talk to him!"
     "No, Leia. He has to think about what I've just said. Sweetheart, don't you understand what happens to Luke?"
    Leia freed herself from his grasp and looked at him furiously. "I understand that he needs someone to talk to. And I understand, that you hurt him."
    Han sighed. "Perhaps I did. But Leia, I had to. You know as well as I do that this whole Jedi Master-stuff is eating him up. He makes himself responsible for nearly everything thar goes wrong in the galaxy. And it's mainly because everyone expects HIM to make things well again. They make the mistakes but he has to put everything in order again. That'snot right. And it doesn't do Luke good."
     "He IS a Jedi Master, Han," Leia objected, but only mechanically.
     "Oh, yeah, sure he is. Everyone sees him as a Jedi Master, for her sake. But I see him as my friend, Luke Skywalker. And I see Luke Skywalker fading away in face of the burden we all lay on his shoulders. He can't smile anymore, make jokes or do anything a normal man his age does. He's alone, but how can he find someone if he always grounded on that darn jungle moon. He isn't the same anymore. Don't you see that?"
     Leia said nothing. She knew Han was right. But she was shocked, for it wasn't only everyone else who wanted Luke to do all these things. It was she herself, as well. If there was some crisis, some problem with her kids, something she couldn't handle...she relied on Luke's abilities, on the fact that he would be there if she needed him. Who or what gave her the right to expect this from him? Certainly not her position as Chief-of-State. In fact, her faith was, nothing could ever give a being the right to expect this from another being. She had fought for this faith over and over in the last ten years and yet, she hadn't even thought that she did it herself to her own brother.
     Han noticed the path her thoughts took. He knew her face well enough to read in her expression. "No, Leia, you certainly are not guilty. No one is guilty. The way things have gone is fully natural. Luke allowed himself be put into this situation and only now he sees that he wants other things in his life, too. He has to decide what's important to him. But, what solution he will find for this question I can't imagine. But I know I will help him. I will go to him this evening and talk to him, I promise. But you'll do nothing. Perhaps it's the first time in your life, but this time, you won't be any help to Luke. Got it?"
     Leia didn't seem very happy about this, but she nodded. "All right, I won't go after him. But I hope you're right, Han." He hoped so, too.
 

     It was already night when Han stood before Luke's apartment-door and triggered the door-announcer. The door slid open and Han was greeted by a fast series of beeps and thrills as R2 rolled over to him.
    "Calm down, little one. Where's Luke?"
    The little astromech made a sad sound and turned around to give him the direction.
    Han nodded. "Don't worry, R2, I'll talk to him." He followed the direction R2 had given him and found Luke sitting on his balcony, staring down on Imperial City.
    "Hey, kid! How are you doing?" Luke didn't answer and so Han sat down beside his friend. He was still a little bit angry. Leia had just told Luke that the Senate would expect Luke to accompany her to a small planet named Lor Areo. Some civil war had arisen there and the enemy-parties had pleaded for a Jedi negotiator, along with the Chief-of-State.
     To Han it seemed that that was the last thing Luke needed right now. A vacation would be good. A nice vacation, perhaps with the kids, without any problems or struggles. Han knew how much Luke loved his niece and nephews. Suddenly, Luke spoke. "Han, do you think I shouldn't be a Jedi anymore?" he asked in a lowly voice.
     Han was caught slightly off guard with this question but chose his words carefully. "I wouldn't say that, Luke. But it's obvious that you can't live this way anymore."
     Luke turned his head and looked at Han. His blue eyes were wide and sad. 'I really got him to think.' Han thought.
     "I know. But I have to. They need me." the young man said.
     "Oh, come on, Luke. You know that's wrong."
     "But my trainees..."
     "You already have some Jedi who could train the others...and who would WANT to train the others," Han replied.
     "But I also want to."
     "Luke, that's not true and you know it," Han said calmly.
     "What are you talking about?" Luke asked, confused and obviously more than a little bit unsure.
      "Well, I admit, in the first couple of years you seemed to have fun teaching your trainees. But now....Luke, you aren't happy back there on Yavin IV. Perhaps you can't see it yourself or you don't want to see it. But I SEE it. What is there for you to do anymore?"
     "Well, I give lessons in the way..."
     "Oh, yeah. Out of everything you could be doing with your life, you just want to sit in that jungle and teach Jedi trainees how to meditate, levitate and who knows what else? Is this really what you want?"
     "Well, I AM the only Jedi Master left and none of my pupils is ready to be one," Luke stated, sounding stubborn.
     "I know you are. But I also know that there's no need for a Jedi MASTER to train other Jedi. Kyp, Tionne, Streen, Kam Solusar...choose one. They're all able to teach your trainees and they would all do it for you and would be happy. But you....I'm sorry, Luke, but I think that you are not one who would be happy grounded on a moon far away from the galaxy's pulse, with nothing else to do other than to than waste your abilities on little pupils, without your close friends and family."
Luke's head snapped higher: "But I have friends at the academy, too."
     "Sure you have. Just like me, they all call you Master, right?" Han snarled sarcastically.
      Luke was very stubborn. He said nothing for a long time, than murmured shyly. "You think I waste my abilities? But the Republic needs new Jedi."
     "Yeah, it does. But what it doesn't need the strongest ones isolated on a little moon in a system as far away as Yavin. I have studied a little bit of the Jedi history by myself..." Luke stared at Han in surprise. Han muttered. "Just to know what the rest of my family is dealing with." He continued. "And it seems the Jedi have traveled throughout the galaxy to help with their abilities. And the Jedi had many friends and were not grounded."
     "There was a Jedi Temple," Luke mentioned weakly.
     "Yes, but they left it as soon as they were ready. And boy, you're more than ready."
     Luke sighed. "So, what do you propose I should do? Just say goodbye and have all the fun I didn't have in the last ten years?" he growled.
Han was loosing his temper. "You're so ridiculous, Luke! I don't recognize you anymore. Where's the Luke Skywalker who used to laugh with me, make jokes and just enjoy company and his life?"
     Luke backed away, a shocked expression on his youthful face. Right now, he looked as boyish as when Han first met him on Tatooine.
     "I...I.." he stammered, not knowing what to say.
     "You aren't Luke anymore. You are just Master Skywalker. And, kid, I speak openly when I say - I don't like Master Skywalker."
     Luke backed away more, a sort of horror replacing the shock on his face. Han was determined to use this moment. Someone had to say this to Luke.
     "Shall I tell you what Master Skywalker is like? Oh, I can tell you: no emotions, cold and serious, with a one-track mind: Jedi, Jedi, Jedi. You just have to look in Master Skywalker's room. It looks like a monk's cell. I doubt he knows even how to spell the word fun; or happiness. He forbids himself all the things he loves: flying, fighting, joking or doing things with his friends. Visiting his family and going on excursions with them is a thing of the past. He never becomes angry about something or makes even small mistakes. He doesn't allow himself to be human." Han stopped suddenly. Perhaps he had been too hard, but it was all true and Luke had to come out of this stupor he lived in. Good gods, the boy was just over thirty! He couldn't keep acting like an old hermit who had already lived his life.
     "Leia... does she...also think so?" Luke's voice trembled and Han again felt pity for him.
     "I don't know. But she is a lot like you. But she has her family to bring her back to real life if she is about to become something like you are.  You could have this, too....but not on Yavin."
     Luke was totally shocked. Han could see that. His hands trembled and his eyes didn't dare to look at Han. "Wha...what are you saying, that you don not want to be a friend to me anymore?" He asked, almost inaudible.
     Han sighed again. "No, I'm saying that I don't want to be a friend to Master Skywalker anymore." He tried to sound smooth.
     Finally Luke looked at him, eyes wide with helplessness and a little fear. "But....but I am Master Skywalker," he whispered. Han watched him hardly. He stood up. Han really didn't know whether he had done the right thing or not. He had done it instinctively and he hoped that his luck didn't leave him just now. Han felt that he had to drag Luke out of this life that he thought was right for him.
     "If you think so...then you're right." Han said calmly and left. He didn't turn, knowing he had to be hard now. Perhaps Luke would finally see his errors. Yes, he would have to see them...and change his life. It took all of Han's determination to just walk away without turning around. But he had been determined to ignore Luke's anger and all of his arguments. However, Han wasn't ready for what happened next. Behind him, all was calm; there was no sound, just nothing. Han grew more nervous as he walked slowly in the door's direction. Maybe he had been too hard. He stopped then and turned slowly around. Luke had pulled his legs up, embracing them with his arms, as he hid his head down between his knees. Slowly, he moved back and forth, back and forth. R2 rolled over to his Master, whistling softly at him, but Luke didn't react.
     "Sith." Han murmured, pacing back to the balcony. "Luke?" he said tentatively. Luke jumped to his feet, disoriented as he looked around him. Was it really possible? Didn't he feel Han's presence? He stared at Han.
     "I thought you were already gone," he said. His eyes were distant and empty. He thoughts were his own and Han wasn't sure at all whether that was good or not.
     "I wanted to...but I felt like we needed to talk more."
     "You don't need  to say anymore, Han. I've done everything the wrong way and now I have to live with the consequences."
     "Luke, that's Sith spawn and you know it; just be your self. Don't you understand what I'm saying?!"
     Luke turned his back to Han to hide his trembling hands for he was very near to tears. He didn't know why he couldn't get a hold of himself. His head hurt and together with the pain, Han's words, and the torment the vision had caused in his soul, it was almost to much to bear. But why? He had seldom felt that helpless and weak...yes, it seemed the words had made him weak, one by one, each a little bit more.
     "But I always thought that WAS me. I tought, I AM this way," he whispered. He didn't want to whisper and he didn't want his voice to tremble, but he felt weaker every moment he stood there. His hands closed around the railing of his balcony, his arms searching for something to lean on.
     "I know, Luke. But I also know that YOU know, like everyone else, that you only have done the things the galaxy expected from you. In the beginning, you had to do this. But now....now there's no need for this sacrifices anymore. Do you understand me?"
     Luke nodded. "Yes...yes, I understand. I just have to be Luke, right?" Luke almost laughed out loud. It seemed all so clear! He had spent so much time wondering why he had felt so empty all these years, despite all of his success in bringing the Jedi back. And now, with Han's help Luke saw where his problems lay. Han was truly his very best friend. He turned around, opened his mouth to thank Han. It was so dark all of a sudden. He heard laughter. Was that Han? No, Han stood there and stared at Luke. The darkness grew all over Han's face and Luke's head swam. The darkness turned like a living being and came to Luke. He tried to back away, but it caught him and his world went entirely black. In the force, laughter could be heard, a satisfied, evil laughter.
 

     She had succeeded. She had shown it to him.
     "Now, you will take me serious, Luke Skywalker. You WILL take me serious." She laughed, and the dark side of the Force took her laughter through the depths of the galaxy. It even reached Coruscant.