TRANSCENDENCE

The Standard Disclaimer: The characters represented here are not mine. George Lucas owns the sandbox, I'm just playing in it.
This story is AU, dealing with Luke Skywalker discovering the secrets of The Force in a rather unconventional way. It corresponds with the majority of published EU work.
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Luke Skywalker closed his eyes and breathed deeply. He had almost forgotten how it felt to be completely alone with the solitude that only deep space could provide. He was sitting in the cockpit of his old X-Wing fighter that had recently been converted into a newer XJ model that were used exclusively by the Jedi Knights.

Luke smiled as he recalled how Leia and several of his fellow Jedi had argued vehemently against his upgrading the almost-antique X-Wing, instead of allowing himself to be issued a factory-new model. But Luke Skywalker had a history with this particular X-Wing, he was comfortable behind the controls and he had steadfastly insisted that the old fighter be kept and restored to modern standards.

Luke had to admit he was pleased with the results - the ship handled slightly better, was definitely faster and more maneuverable. When Luke had gotten wind of the fact that the New Republic government was hoping to enlist the aid of a Jedi to escort a high ranking political delegation to a peace settlement on the fringe of New Republic territory, Luke had decided to volunteer his services.

His family and closest friends had been wearing him down with not-so-subtle comments about his needing a vacation from the Praxeum, so they were quite happy when Luke took the 'baby-sitting' job, as Han had called it. Luke had just smiled, knowing in his heart that the reason he had volunteered had more to do with testing out his newly remodeled ship than with taking some time off.
Of course, Luke thought to himself, as much as he sometimes missed his flying days in the 20 years since he had given up the life as a pilot for the duties of a Jedi Knight, several days travel in a one-man fighter was enough to leave him anxious to be back on solid ground.

A faint beep interrupted the silence, and Luke made a few adjustments to the controls in preparation for the transition from hyperspace. He casually grasped the control to ease the ship back to normal space, and just as the blur of stars outside began to slow Luke felt a powerful force take hold of his mind and body. He felt a tremendous pressure that seemed to emanate from the core of his being and he instinctively gasped for a breath that would not come. His body felt as though part of it was being torn away but, oddly, he felt no pain. His body began to shake, then his arms and legs became immobilized and ineffective. He used every force skill he could think of - and made up a few new tricks on the spot - to try and stop the barrage of power that had gripped him.

Right before unconsciousness, Luke saw an incredible flash of pure light, more intense than anything he had ever witnessed, but he did not look away. Words without a voice seemed to whisper to his mind that everything was all right, and then the darkness claimed him...

*************************************

Anakin Skywalker sat in the soft grass atop a small rise in the flawless landscape. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, inhaling the scent of blossoming flowers. He had been having an unusually trying day and he felt tremendously grateful to have found some time to meditate and clear his mind. Since the time of his Redemption and acceptance back Home he had immersed himself in his duties. Anakin had tried his hand at many different skills here, excelled in most, but had eventually proved to be quite a skillful and natural Warder- not surprising considering the remarkable nature of his creation.

'Child of The Force', 'Chosen One', 'Vergeance'...he had been called all these things - all these things and more, he thought ruefully -during the time of his existence. He had always been set apart, watched, sometimes even feared. And there was a time he would have thought himself special. Now he was content to be part of the All and that acceptance had given him a satisfying peace. After a few more moments of quiet contemplation, he caught the glimmer of another presence and he opened his eyes just in time to catch sight of a lone figure running towards him. He recognized the distinctive force-signature of the woman even before she was close enough for him to see her face and bright auburn hair. Sensing the urgency in her presence and the way she was moving, Anakin rose and started forward to meet her.
"Nomi!" he called, raising his hand to catch her attention.

"Anakin!"

Nomi Sunrider slowed and came to a halt, breathing heavily, several feet in front of him. Upon seeing the look on her face, a look of excitement mixed with amazement and a touch of disbelief, Anakin knew immediately that something very serious must be happening. Nomi was not an easily excitable person, but she was clearly anxious now.

"What is it?" he demanded, slightly more forcefully than he had intended.
"Anakin," Nomi repeated as she moved to grasp both his hands in hers. She looked directly into his eyes for a long moment, then took a deep breath and allowed a calming smile to touch her lips when she continued.

"Anakin - your son is here."

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THE AWAKENING

Anakin and Nomi walked briskly through the fields of perfect green grass and multi-colored blooming vegetation. After the initial shock of hearing that his son had arrived Home, Anakin had been taken by a whirlwind of emotions. Eagerness, joy, surprise and expectation surged through every fiber of his being. His mind was spinning and he cursed himself for losing control of his focus.

Nomi, trying her best to keep up with Anakin's long strides, noticed the war of emotions that played across her friend's face. It was not common to see a Warder, especially this particular Warder, be so unnaturally preoccupied.

But how can I blame him? This is hardly a common occurrence! She reminded herself silently.
Without any warning, Anakin suddenly stopped and whirled around to face Nomi. Not expecting the sudden stop Nomi overshot him by several steps before halting and giving Anakin a questioning look.
"Tell me again. How did this happen?" Anakin asked.

Nomi sighed inwardly. They had been over this several times already, but she decided to play along once more. Nomi had a soft spot for Anakin Skywalker that she could not deny. So much like him! she thought to herself. She shook her head. What was it about the complicated ones that intrigued her so?
Sensing her exasperation with him, Anakin breathed deeply and bowed his head, trying to regain some composure. When he looked at her again she was pleased to see a genuine smile on his face.
"Humor me. Please."

He asked her nicely and Nomi couldn't help but smile back at him. 'I suppose he thinks he's quite charming,' She placed her hands on her hips and tried very hard to exude a posture of forced patience when she replied.

"I promise, I have told you everything I know..." which isn't much at this point, she added silently.
"...I was sitting in the gardens, working on my scrolls, when I received the Call from the Council to find you immediately. When I asked why, I was told that Luke Skywalker had appeared."

"Appeared" Anakin repeated. Something about that word did not feel right. Something was definitely amiss, but Anakin was at a loss to pinpoint what it was. Luke's presence still burned brightly in his mind, the part of his mind that had Bonded with his son at the moment of his own Transition. Luke's presence felt no different, except perhaps a bit less animated, as though Luke were deeply asleep. Surely - Surely - Anakin would have known if his son had Transitioned! He shook his head. Something was definitely not right.

Nomi's voice interrupted Anakin's thoughts.

"...Of course, I tried to get more information, but it was not allowed. All I was told was that Luke was here and they wanted me to tell you personally."

Anakin mulled this over and once again reached out to receive Knowledge, and once again he was mysteriously kept from it. He frowned.

"I am being Blocked, as well." Anakin said absently. "Apparently all we are to know is that he is here."
As suddenly as he had stopped, he started walking again, forcing Nomi had run a few steps to catch up with him. She almost said something to him about his unnatural behavior and distraction but thought better of it. Anakin and his son had a tumultuous history, this was sure. She wondered how their first meeting here would play out. She caught a glimpse of his profile as they walked, and she almost laughed aloud at the look of near-giddiness that seemed to be fighting its way onto his face.
Yes. Anakin and Luke had an interesting day ahead of them.

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He felt the words in his mind before he actually heard any voices. Words tumbled through his mind, some excited, others soothing. They were all coming at once and he could not decipher what was being said with any certainty. It was as if he were in a huge room filled with hundreds of different people, all speaking at once. But these words had no audible voice; they were in his mind.

Luke Skywalker knew he was conscious but he could not move - could not even open his eyes. He reached out and was relieved to find that The Force was still very much with him. More than with him - it permeated through every part of his being. He sensed another presence nearby - no, several others were there. He stretched out with his mind, to lock onto one of them that was nearby and...

Silence. With an abruptness that startled him, the rush of words in his mind ceased and he felt strangely alone. Luke knew he should probably be concerned with his present predicament but he was not. He felt a warmth and safety that seemed vaguely familiar. He tried to speak, but his body was still paralyzed and he could not form words. He hesitated, then tried a different approach.

"Where am I?" he Sent to no one in particular, not truly expecting a response. But he was answered almost immediately, a single voice speaking directly to his mind.
"Do not be concerned Luke Skywalker. You are Home."

Luke thought about that for a moment. 'Home'. His first thought was Tatooine, but he dismissed that idea immediately. His second thought was that he had been somehow taken back to the Praxeum, but that did not feel right either. He let his mind drift back to his last memory. In his X-Wing, coming out of hyperspace, a powerful force, a blindingly bright light that seemed to engulf him, a voice telling him that everything was all right....then peace.

A realization suddenly struck him and the pieces began to fall into place.
"Am I dead?" he Sent.

Thousands of voices responded in unison:
"There is no death. There is The Force."

THE COUNCIL

The Hall of Wisdom was a remarkably beautiful structure, pyramid shaped, made up almost entirely of blue-tinged crystals. It was within this hallowed place that the most important of issues of the Jedi were discussed and debated. Twelve Council members- those beings who had proven themselves to be worthy- sat in ornate, species-conforming chairs in the highest point in the Hall. The seats were arranged in a circle - there was no head, no foot, no front or back - all were equal here.

At this particular moment a discussion raged, tensions running unusually high for this group. Only one of the Council had remained completely silent during the proceedings. Sitting calmly, seeming to take in everything being said and Sent, Yoda had about him a distinct air of deep contemplation. When at last he spoke, the others in the chamber immediately silenced themselves and gave the Master undivided attention and deep respect.

"Listened, I have, to you all. Agreed with you I am - Luke Skywalker's time here has not yet come."
The other Council members bowed their head, silently thankful that the diminutive Master had agreed with them on one point, at least. Yoda had the dubious honor of having been a very long-lived species during his time on the Other Side. He had a powerful connection and deeper understanding of The Force than most and his pronouncements were taken with the utmost seriousness.

After insuring that Yoda was done speaking for the moment, another member of the Council, Arca Jeth, summarized what everyone was thinking. He shook his head as he spoke, eyes focused on something well beyond the room.

"So we are in agreement that Luke Skywalker has crossed over prematurely. This leaves us then with two important questions that need to be answered: How is it that he is here, and how can we facilitate his journey back to his proper existence?"

Those questions hung in the air for a long time, as each Council member turned their thoughts inward, seeking answers. An elegant chime sounded at that moment, resonating beautifully throughout the room, pulling the Jedi out of their contemplation. All eyes turned toward the unusually large door, an unspoken message was Sent to the individuals who were waiting on the opposite side of that door, and a moment later Anakin Skywalker and Nomi Sunrider entered.

Anakin and Nomi, as was tradition, walked to the very center of the room, faced the oldest Council member and bowed respectfully. Master Yoda acknowledged the bow with a slight nod of his head, then turned his eyes toward the Master seated directly on his left, the ancient signal that the conversation could resume.

That Master on Yoda's left was Vodo-Siosk Baas, who had existed on the Other Side at the same time as both Nomi Sunrider and Arca Jeth. Master Baas' voice had an unusual vibration that was at once both commanding and soothing.

"Anakin Skywalker, we welcome you." Vodo Baas then directed his gaze to Nomi, an unmistakable affection present in his large eyes. "And we welcome you, Nomi Sunrider."

Anakin took in the greeting with an appropriate amount of serene respect, while Nomi allowed a small smile to touch her lips.

"We have been discussing the appearance here of Luke Skywalker..."

Mention of his son's name caused a stir of emotion in Anakin, and he altered his stance somewhat, concentrating fully on what Vodo Baas was saying.

"...we have agreed that Luke's time here has not yet come."

"A Transcendence, this was," Yoda interjected

Anakin released the breath he did not realize he had been holding. His head bowed and he could not prevent a smile from forming on his face. As much as Anakin cherished the thought of having his son with him, he knew that Luke's continued existence on the Other Side was critical. Master Baas noticed Anakin's reaction and continued.

"We are now presented with two important issues that must be resolved. The first is to find out how this Transcendence occurred, the second is to find a way to reverse it."

Anakin shifted uncomfortably and it was seemed as though he was about to speak. Council protocol prevented him from doing so until he was given permission.

"Something to say, have you, Anakin?" Master Yoda questioned.

"With your permission, Masters, I must say that I am uncertain what help I can be in this matter. I have no special knowledge of Transcendence - I have yet to even spend time in the Orientation chambers. It seems to me as though you will need to help of Historians or...."

Master Baas held up a hand, and Anakin immediately fell silent.

"Anakin, we have not asked you here to assist us in the technical aspects of this dilemma. As we speak, the Historians and Teachers are pulling all records that we have on the subject of Transcendence for thorough review. What we require of you is your services as a Warder. And you, Nomi - we will need you as well. The time you have spent in Orientation will be quite useful."

Anakin and Nomi exchanged glances, grateful to paired together. Nomi and Anakin shared a Guide-Bond and they worked well together, even though their temperaments and areas of expertise were quite different.

"Questions, have you?" Yoda prompted.

Anakin had a dozen questions ready to ask, but Nomi spoke first.

"Yes, Masters. You said that Anakin was needed as a Warder. Do you believe that a Dark force could have facilitated Luke's appearance here?"

Anakin smiled inwardly - he had been about to ask the same thing. For Warders were those dedicated spirits who ensured that the Dark Side was kept at bay. The Force had two sides, the line between the two sometimes indistinguishable. On this plane of existence, just as it was on the Other Side, the dark forces would always try to force its way into the light, upset the balance. Warders kept vigil against this. It was a daunting task that only the most powerful beings ever attempted. Anakin was one of only a handful that had the ability to sense where the darkness was lurking and push it back successfully. Some thought it ironic, considering his past, that Anakin had chosen this particular skill in which to dedicate himself. But Anakin knew that his past was a part of himself. To push the Dark Side away was, to him, a natural extension of who he now was. And none would argue that Anakin Skywalker was the most powerful Warder ever to exist. It was for this reason that the Council had chosen him for this assignment.
The Masters did not move, but it was obvious that they were communicating silently. This time it was Master Arca who spoke, and Anakin and Nomi had to turn around to face him.

"We do not know yet how this happened. Until we are able to speak with Luke Skywalker and review the records on Transcendence we cannot rule out any possibilities."

Anakin thought about that for a moment and one phrase resounded in his mind...
'Until we are able to speak with Luke Skywalker...'

Anakin suddenly had a sickening thought and he turned back to Master Yoda. When he spoke, his voice had a trace of fear.

"Was Luke harmed in some way?"

Yoda shook his head, relieving some of Anakin's tension.

"Harmed, no. But this crossing was not natural. Weakened, he was."

Vodo Baas continued where Yoda left off.

"He was conscious for a short while, but he was stricken with immobility to an unusual degree. It was decided that it was best to Cocoon him until the effects of the Transcendence lessened. His Guide is with him."

Anakin shut his eyes and willed himself to relax. He was eternally grateful that his son was not harmed, and he knew that Luke's Guide was one of the best. Cocooning was a simple process of wrapping an individual in a Force blanket for a length of time until the spirit can adjust to its new environment. It was usually reserved for those whose Transitions had been unusually sudden or traumatic. Luke's own Guide had been Cocooned himself, long ago, so Anakin knew that Luke was in good hands.

"Go now to the Orientation Chamber. Luke will soon be awakened and he will require your support. Luke's Guide has been instructed as to what must be done as soon as Luke is released. We will stay in contact with you, and you are to advise us immediately if you gain any insight into this matter."
Voda Bass' voice them turned almost stern.

"Anakin - be mindful of your duties as Warder. In his current state, Luke is not fully one of us. Nor is he fully of the Other Side any longer. If the Dark is present, Luke will be extremely vulnerable to its attacks."

Anakin's face became a mask of seriousness and he bowed to the Council. Nomi did likewise and they turned to leave. Anakin walked with a purposeful stride, full of conviction. To guard his son against the Dark was something he could do, and he would do it well. He vowed silently that nothing would harm Luke as long as it was within his power to prevent it.

Anakin and Nomi did not notice the grave looks that were exchanged between Council members as they departed.

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THE GUIDE

Luke Skywalker was floating in a small chamber that resembled a horizontal bacta-tank. But unlike a bacta tank, there was no fluid surrounding the occupant, only a swirling mass of Force energy. Cocooning was an overall healing experience for the mind, body and soul. Luke Skywalker had been in this suspended state, wrapped in a comforting blanket of power for quite some time. He was responding well to the effects, due largely to his tremendous Force gift.

Beside the chamber, keeping a silent vigil, stood a tall, human Jedi. The situation with Luke had perplexed this man greatly. He knew there were ancient stories of beings who had Transcended between planes of existence, but he had certainly never thought he would be a witness to one. He knew that the Council was deeply concerned with this turn of events - for Luke Skywalker was a crucial and powerful presence on the Other Side. His arriving here prematurely threatened to disrupt the natural progression of history, and it was imperative that a way be found to send him back.

The man shook his head - he knew that Luke would be greatly distressed when he was finally released from the Cocoon. Luke was an individual driven by duty and responsibility - he would not take the news that he was, at least temporarily, stranded in this realm.

But at least he will be well-rested, he thought to himself with a smile.

The man thought back to his own Transition - he had spent quite some time in this room himself. He had not been ready to cross over - his Time had come quickly and without warning. His spirit had not been ready to come Home - he had felt strongly that he had work left to do before he Crossed and he had fought against it, to no avail. Only the healing of the Cocoon had put his soul at ease and allowed him to put his existence into perspective and accept what was meant to be.

But this man had never forgotten about his life before he had come Home - indeed, the events that took place after his untimely Transition had haunted him considerably. His own unyielding desire to flow with the will of The Force had enabled him to accept his current situation, but when the Call came out that Luke Skywalker, son of Anakin Skywalker, was in need of a Guide, the man had volunteered immediately. Others had volunteered, of course - Jedi with much more experience in the ways of a Guide than he himself had possessed. But he had made a heartfelt case for himself before the Council and was finally granted the position.

Sometimes, when he was feeling cynical, he thought that perhaps he had made a bit too good of a case for himself. Luke Skywalker had walked a difficult path, and as his Guide, the man had walked that path alongside him. He had been with Luke every minute of his life, offering encouragement and support, silently communicating to him through The Force. Luke, for his part, thought of these whispers as being subtle nudges from The Force.

'Which', the Guide thought, 'was very close to the truth.'

In the end, Luke Skywalker had proved to be an extraordinary man and Jedi. He had found a connection to The Force that even the oldest and wisest Jedi would envy. He had accomplished things in his relatively short existence that astounded all who knew of him. On the Other Side, the Jedi were once again starting to grow in number thanks to Luke's relentless dedication. Luke himself had proven to be a compassionate and capable teacher, though the man knew that this would not have been Luke's first choice of career if the situation would have been otherwise. On his own, Luke had continued to grow in his Jedi skills, and he was on the threshold of discovering powers that had long been deemed as lost. Under his guidance, there was little doubt that the Jedi of the future would thrive.

Yes, the situation was quite clear - Luke Skywalker must be returned to the Other Side, and allowed to fulfill his destiny.

The man hadn't realized it, but he had been pacing the room while he had pondered the situation with Luke. Only the soft chime of the door roused him from his contemplation. The door slowly opened, and Anakin and Nomi hesitantly entered the room. Nomi grinned at the man standing beside Luke and the man's blue eyes all but sparkled when he returned the smile. As though understanding the sacredness of the moment, Nomi and the Guide moved to stand on the far side of the room, giving Anakin a clear path to his son.

Anakin's eyes were transfixed on the form held suspended in the Cocoon. Anakin had Bonded with Luke, and as such was able to sense Luke even across separate planes of existence. But this was the first time he had been able to see Luke since the time of his journey Home. He walked across the room and stood beside Luke's floating body. Anakin was taken aback momentarily - he realized he had been holding the last image he had of Luke in his mind and heart - an image of Luke as a young man, in his black Jedi garb, standing there in the Ewok village with his beloved sister and closest friends.

But that young man was long gone now, and in his place was an older, wiser version of the same person. Luke's face was still handsome, but aged with the weight of his tremendous responsibilities. His hair was greying slightly at the temples and his body had filled out somewhat - probably an effect of the rigorous training he undoubtedly implemented at his Praxeum. Anakin noticed that Luke did not have any signs of middle-age 'expansion' - in fact, it appeared as though Luke had made a point to keep himself in top physical form. Anakin smiled when he realized that Luke was very nearly the age that he himself had been at the time of his Transition. Amazing.

Anakin could not have said how long he had simply gazed on his son, but eventually he seemed to remember that there were others with him in the room. He turned to see Nomi with a look of quiet joy on her face. The other person - Luke's Guide, Anakin knew - looked equally pleased.

Anakin moved to stand before Nomi and the other Jedi. His gaze traveled to his son's Guide. Few people were capable of standing eye-to-eye with Anakin Skywalker, but this man was of equal height. When at last Anakin spoke, it was with a voice full of adoration and a deep respect.
"The Council told us that you were here with him. Thank you"

Qui-Gon Jinn placed one hand on Anakin's shoulder as he replied.

"Anakin - I have been with him since the moment he was born. I would not leave him now."

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THE MESSENGER

The room was vast and dark, illuminated only by the barest hint of artificial light. The atmosphere was oppressive, cold as death. Fear and anger hung in the air, almost palpable. A lone, high-backed chair sat in the very center of the room, and in that chair sat a sole being, draped entirely in black robes, a hood all but obstructing his face. The man sat silently, in deep thought, but his presence struck fear into the individual who entered the room who kneeled before him. The kneeling man appeared human, but had unnatural yellow eyes. He was younger and somewhat smaller than the seated man, but strongly built. His posture was one of servitude, but the set of his shoulders, and the hard look on his face betrayed the fact that his current position was one that was forced upon him. He had about him the air of an individual who was accustomed to being obeyed, not one at all comfortable with his own obedience. But yet he kneeled now, and he would continue doing so until he given permission to do otherwise, no matter how long that took.

It was not long before the dark-robed man spoke, his voice deep, echoing, full of power.
"Rise and report, my Messenger"

Immediately the figure rose, an inner fire burning within him at the menial designation that had been given.
'My messenger..'

The man knew in his heart that he was far more than a simple courier. But he allowed no hint of his rage to show on his face. He stood very straight, almost regally. After insuring that he stood a respectful distance away from the man in the chair, he answered with a voice that was very clear and direct.
"Master, we have confirmed the accuracy of the reports we received regarding the disturbance. It appears as though a Transcendence has taken place."

The seated man gave no indication that he was surprised by this news. He remained motionless, his breathing regular, his eyes still fixed on a point in front of him. After a few moments he rose, and slowly crossed the floor to stand before a frighteningly realistic gargoyle statue in a far corner. The man stood quietly for a moment, appearing to ponder the statue, knowing that the Messenger would remain waiting as long as was necessary. When at last he spoke, his voice was barely more than a whisper, each word filled with barely contained hatred...and a touch of expectation.

"Was it Skywalker?" he asked finally, never turning away from the statue.

The Messenger cast his eyes downward for a moment, and altered his stance somewhat before replying.
"We assume that it was, but we cannot be certain, Master. The Jedi are not allowing much information to be Transmitted."

The man then paused for a heartbeat, not particularly wanting to divulge the last part of his report. It involved a certain Jedi whose name always brought about fierce reactions from his Master. But, he realized, it would be useless to omit any facts. Deception was not an option when it came to his Master.
"We have verified that ...Anakin Skywalker has left his regular position. It is believed that he was summoned to the Council."

If one could have seen the countenance beneath the dark hood, one may have noticed the flash of pure loathing that crossed the face of the man at the mention of Anakin Skywalker's name. But he betrayed no emotions in his posture or in his voice when he again spoke.

"That means nothing. He would be used as Warder under these circumstances no matter who the person was that Transcended."

But if it was the younger Sywalker that had crossed, he thought to himself, it would most certainly make the events to come that much more satisfying.

The robed man stood quietly for a few more moments, then turned and slowly walked back to his chair and sat down once more. He allowed some time to pass before he continued speaking.
"Send word that the situation has changed. Tell the Legions to be ready to receive a Summons at any time." He once again paused, then looked directly at his Messenger. "You will then report back here to me to await further instructions." With a casual wave of his hand, the robed figure indicated that the conversation was over.

The messenger hesitated, fury raging inside his soul. He was to report back here? Surely there was something more than an individual with his power should be doing at a time such as this! He was, after all, the most powerful Dark Side Force wielder to ever exist. He had personally brought the Sith to glory on the Other Side, had all but eliminated....'

The Messenger realized his carelessness a second before a powerful force hit in fully in the chest, throwing him to the floor. In a movement to fast to see, the Master was upon him, one knee pushing into his servant's chest, his left hand clasped firmly about the prone man's throat. His teeth clenched, his black eyes burned into the man who was struggling for breath beneath his grip.

"You. Will. Mind. Your. Thoughts."

He all but spit the words, and was pleased to see that his Messenger's eyes held a look of terror. He released his hold on the man's throat, but only long enough to switch his grip from his left hand to his right.

"You think yourself more powerful than I? You believe that it was you who brought the Sith to glory, do you? Perhaps you are in need of a reminder that you also brought about their destruction."
The Messenger struggled against his Masters grip, to no avail. Once again the black-robed man temporarily released his hold to switch hands before he continued speaking.

"There are those among us who believe I have been to forgiving with you. I have allowed you to take the form you desired, I have given you the opportunity to be in my direct service. And yet you have not appreciated my generosity."

He tightened his grip on the man's throat until his arm began to shake with the strain. Finally he released his stranglehold and rose, leaving the smaller man on the floor, gasping for breath.

The robed man stood over his servant for a moment, then walked back to his chair and sat. He allowed himself a few moments to relish the image before him, of the once-proud Sith Lord holding his bruised throat, fighting to stand.

"Now, do you have...difficulties...with my orders?" he asked finally, triumph seeping into his voice.
The Messenger struggled to his feet before the Master, and answered immediately, his voice hoarse and shaking.

"No Master. I.... have....no difficulties."

The robed man responded without missing a beat, leaning forward, his black eyes becoming slits.
"I should think not. Your arrogance and shortsightedness - your..." he chose the next word deliberately, "over-confidence..has cost us enough. You are fortunate that the recent incident with the Transcendence has opened up the opportunity for the situation you created to be rectified, else I may have been inclined to soon make...other arrangements...for you."

The smaller man's earlier rage had all but disappeared, fear taking its place. But fear like this heightened his senses, gave him focus and purpose. His yellow eyes were cast down at his boots, his stance submissive. He knew well that to anger the Master further would serve no purpose. But inside, a righteous fire still blazed.

The dark man allowed a few moments for his words to have their desired effect, then he casually waved his hand, dismissing his servant as one would brush an insect from their clothing.
"Go now. My Messenger."

The last words were spoken with a distinct tone of warning, a fact not lost on the man who bowed low before the Master and began walking toward the large door. He would play this role as messenger, he vowed. He would accept his current position for the time being. He would keep his thoughts well shielded and he would wait. He would kneel and grovel if he must, but he knew in his heart who he truly was. He was Palpatine, Emperor of the greatest Empire that had ever existed. He was the true Master of the Dark Side and he would claim his rightful place in this realm as commander of the Legions of Dark. Of this he was certain, because he knew something that the current Master did not.

He knew exactly who it was that had Transcended.

And he knew why.

He departed quickly, leaving his Master alone in the large room. After hearing the door shut behind his servant, the black robed man allowed a small smile to form on the his face, his eyes closed and he fell deep into thought.

He had waited a long time for a Transcendence. There was much to plan.
The sound of wicked laughter was the only thing that could be heard in that large, dark room.

********************************************

ASKING A FAVOR

Anakin Skywalker walked with a quick pace that was not at all customary for him. After talking at some length with Qui-Gon Jinn and Nomi Sunrider, it had been decided between the three of them that it would be easier on Luke if, at first, his Father was not present when he was released from the Cocoon.
Anakin recalled his own Crossing - it was an altogether disorienting and overwhelming experience. For Luke, being that this crossing was not natural, the effects would certainly be more intense. It would not be of any benefit for Luke to have the added emotions of a reunion with his Father. Anakin understood the logic in the decision, but it was more difficult for him than he would have thought to have turned and left his son. But he knew that Luke would be taken care of with both Nomi and Qui-Gon on duty, and besides, Anakin had something he felt strongly that he wanted to do.

No, he amended, something he needed to do.

The Orientation Center was just one in a series of grand structures that were set in a circle around an enormous crystal blue body of water. The walkways were made of a white cobblestone material that complemented the bright light that was always present, creating an overall glowing effect. There were no transportation devices to speak of here, and everywhere one looked there were Jedi of all species walking, chatting and going about daily business. Many of the Jedi noticed Anakin - if was difficult for a man of his stature to lose himself in a crowd - and made a point to nod or wave in his direction. Anakin responded in kind to each gesture, but his mind was clearly elsewhere.

Anakin rounded a corner and walked directly towards a large building that stood directly opposite the Hall of Wisdom. The building was beautiful to look upon, triangular in shape, with a top layer of crystal that reflected the light. At the entrance to the building stood an exceptionally tiny female with short-cropped hair that had whitened with age, and large opaque eyes. She noticed Anakin approaching, smiled and held up a hand in greeting.

"In a bit of hurry, are you?" she teased him as he arrived.

As much as was weighing on his mind, Anakin could not help but give a small chuckle. Despite her age, Yuli had an almost childlike energy and humor that Anakin found especially appealing.

"As a matter of fact I am, my dear Yuli. I have something very important I must get back to as soon as possible."

She raised an eyebrow at his casual tone, knowing that the 'something' was actually a 'someone' and that the situation was anything but casual.

"Ah. So it is true. I heard about the Transcendence."

Anakin looked at her, slightly startled. A situation such as this would surely be Blocked, except to those individuals who needed the Knowledge. He himself at been allowed only the barest of information.
Yuli saw Anakin's expression and smiled warmly before continuing.

"Oh yes, The Council has Blocked most information regarding it, but I am in the position of hearing quite a bit." She cocked her head to one side and raised her chin a fraction as she continued. "And I suspect that you were probably going to tell me anyway."

Anakin sighed. There was not much that could get past Yuli.

"You are correct. As usual," Anakin stated. "And since you seem to know so much, perhaps you also know the identity of the person who Transcended..?" He looked at her expectantly, his eyes dancing, and was not too surprised with her answer.

"Indeed I do. And tell me, how is the Cocooning going with the great Jedi Master Luke Skywalker?" Yuli tried, and failed, to keep the humor from her voice.

Anakin noticed this and smiled. His son was something of a legend, even here. It should not be surprising that news of his arrival would eventually travel.

"Its going remarkably well, from what I have been told. He should be released soon, which is why I am here."

She looked at him questioningly. Anakin reached down and grasped one of Yuli's small, delicate hands, his voice lowering to nothing more than a whisper.

"I need to ask a favor of you, my friend. A very..special favor."

Yuli looked into Anakin's pleading blue eyes for a long moment and then smiled. What he was going to ask would surely be against protocol - there were rules. But still, this was Anakin Skywalker. Far be it that she deny a simple favor for this man, the Force's own progeny!

She reached up and placed one tiny hand on Anakin's cheek, almost having to stand on tip-toes to do so, and nodded.

"I think I understand, Anakin. Lets go inside so we can make the arrangements."

Anakin's relief and gratitude was apparent in his eyes as he planted a light kiss on the back of Yuli's small hand, then together they turned an walked into the magnificent building.

**************************************

Nomi silently wondered how long it would be before Luke finally admitted to himself that he was awake. He had been released from the Cocoon not long ago, and had been moved to a soft, body conforming bed. His consciousness had returned slowly, but it was clear from his presence in The Force that he was now fully cognitive. But he had yet to open to eyes. It was almost as if a part of his mind was not ready to accept the fact of where he was, and in truth, Nomi could not blame him.

Finally, as if sensing her thoughts, Luke's eyes fluttered open. He lay still for a few minutes, then turned his head toward Nomi, who was standing a respectful distance away from the bed. Seeing that she had finally gotten his attention, she smiled broadly and moved to sit in a chair located on the far side of the bed.

Luke did not return the smile immediately. Instead, he simply watched as the red haired woman crossed the room to sit beside him. His mind was spinning - he felt remarkably at ease here, unusually well rested and energized. He felt as though being in that room, lying in that bed was the most natural thing in the worlds. But he had absolutely no idea where it was he may be. He turned his thoughts inward, tracing back all the events he could recall - back to the voices he had heard in his mind. What had they said? What had they told him...? He concentrated, trying to remember...then with a flash, he succeeded.
'Am I dead?' he had asked.

'There is no death, there is the Force' had been the cryptic response.

Oh, no! Luke immediately thought to himself. He raised one hand and rubbed it across his face, a small groan escaping his lips.

Nomi recognized the look of realization that crossed Luke's face. She had seen the same look many times before. Her specialty was in Orientation, assisting those who had recently Crossed become familiar with Home. It looked like it was time for her to get to work.

"Luke," she said again, and this time when he turned his eyes toward her, she reached out and laid a hand on Luke's forearm, trasmitting warmth and comfort through the touch. Luke stared at her hand on his arm, slightly curious as to why he felt so comfortable with this woman whom he had never before met. He thought for a moment that he had recognized her, but try as he might, he could not put a name to the face.

At last his body relaxed, and he offered his host a small smile. After a moment, he pushed himself into a sitting position, and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. He scanned the room, noticing that it was unusually bright. A sudden question burst into his mind and he looked down at himself, frowning slightly as he did so.

In truth, he had almost expected that he would be a glowing apparition, but he was not. He was wearing a thigh-length tan tunic and dark brown pants with brown boots. He was certain that he had not brought those clothes with him, so he must have been outfitted here somehow. Not so surprising, he thought. From what he knew about Jedi ghosts, this seemed to be the uniform of the afterlife.

All in all, Luke decided that he just did not feel dead. Of course, considering that he had no standard of comparison, that in and of itself meant little. But the thing that disturbed him most was the conflicting feelings he was picking up through the Force. Part of his mind was whispering that he belonged here, another part was screaming that he didn't.

Nomi had been watching Luke with great interest as he made his first tentative exploration of himself and his new surroundings. This was always her favorite part of the Orientation process. Everyone reacted differently. The fact that Luke had yet to speak was a bit surprising. Usually at this point, she was being assaulted with a barrage of questions. But Luke seemed content to simply observe and silently ponder his new situation.

Of course he would not act as a typical Jedi, she reminded herself. Nothing about Luke Skywalker or a Transcendence is typical!

She decided that perhaps it would be best if she were the first to speak.

"Luke," she said again, and this time he favored her with a genuine smile, a look of curiosity creeping onto his face.

"My name is Nomi. Do you know where you are?"

Luke answered without thinking. "I'm Home," he said simply, not really knowing where that answer had come from. But it had felt right, and when he saw Nomi brighten and nod, he knew his answer must have been proper.

"Yes," she agreed. "You are Home. But there is something very important that we must discuss."

Luke agreed with that wholeheartedly. He could not fathom why he was not more upset over his situation. Logically, he knew he should probably be at least a little concerned that he was here, that he had died. But his soul felt at ease in this place. It felt familiar, comforting - much the way he had felt as a child when he had returned home after a long vacation.

The way he had felt as a child...

Child!

With a suddenness that made Nomi jump, Luke rose and walked the length of the room, stood facing a far wall. He shook his head - this couldn't be - not now! He didn't want to die yet, not when he had so much to live for! How could this have happened? Surely fate would not be so cruel as to...

"Luke! Listen to me," Nomi's voice interrupted Luke's thoughts, and when he turned around he was surprised to see her standing directly in front of him.

"I'm not supposed to be here," he stated with a certainty that surprised even him.

"No - no, you're not. That is what we need to discuss. Your Crossing was premature." Nomi's eyes held a pleading look, and Luke took a deep calming breath, trying to regain some semblance of Jedi-calm. It had been quite some time since Luke had felt anything but complete control over his emotions and thoughts, but nothing in his training had prepared him for this.

"I am sorry," he said. " I am feeling...a little confused."

Nomi gazed at him with great compassion, sensing the mixture of emotions that were waging war inside Luke's soul. She watched as Luke crossed the floor and sat down on the edge of the bed again. He leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees, holding his head in his hands. Luke struggled to come to grips with what he was feeling.

And what am I feeling? he wondered to himself.

Nomi said he had Crossed into this place prematurely. But, he had Crossed. What did that mean? Could whatever had happened to him be undone, or was he now a permanent - albeit early - resident of the Afterlife? He decided the quickest way to find out was to simply ask.

"I need to know - am I dead or not?" Recognizing how ludicrous the question must have sounded, Luke could not prevent the grin that appeared on his face.

Nomi closed her eyes and shook her head. She walked over and kneeled down before him.
"No. And yes. It's...complicated."

"Complicated?" he repeated. Luke took a deep breath and once again surveyed the room. He thought of his family then, of his friends, the Jedi students at the Praxeum. Many people depended on him, loved him. How would they possibly know what had happened to him?

Nomi, sensing his growing despair, reached out and once again laid her hand on his arm.

"It will be all right." she assured him. " Believe me. And believe me when I tell you this - the wisest Jedi who have ever lived are, at this very moment, trying to figure out how it is that you came here - so that they can find a way to send you back."

Luke felt the truth of that statement, saw the determination on Nomi's face, and his eyes flashed with joy. Was it truly possible? Luke was a Jedi - a Jedi Master - and he had dedicated his life to the Jedi way, to maintaining the tenuous balance of The Force. If it was truly his time - if it was the will of The Force -for him to leave his mortal life behind, then he would accept that. Just as Obi-Wan and Yoda had accepted their destiny. But Luke knew in his heart that whatever had happened to him was not ordained by The Force. One day, certainly, he would be ready to take his place in this realm, but now was not that time. He vowed to find a way to back to his Family, to his work. A way back to his true Destiny.
'Your Crossing was premature.'

'The wisest Jedi who have ever lived'

'..a way to send you back.'

Luke's hopes soared, and for the first time since he had woken his mind felt clear, focused. Something had happened to him, that much was certain, but he had not died. Not really. He felt the truth in that.
And Luke was relatively certain that he still had a least some influence with one of those 'wise Jedi' Nomi had mentioned.

Nomi saw the change in Luke and breathed a sigh of relief. He had taken the initial news much better than she had thought. Truly, he was a remarkable man. She hoped that his optimism would hold up when he heard the rest of the story.

"Come, Luke," she said.with a smile "There are a few people who would like to see you."

KNOWLEDGE

The Hall of Records was arguably one of the most impressive buildings to grace any of the realms of existence. Outwardly it was quite unique- the only structure within sight that was not made of the traditional blue-tinged crystal. It was an enormous domed facility, with grand marble pillars and intricate sculptures gracing its every wall. Inside, a series of large spiraling staircases led to level after level of hand-written scrolls. Here was where all the written knowledge of the Jedi was kept and cared for.
The Hall of Records was generally a peaceful area of quiet study and contemplation, but at this particular time it was awash with activity. Almost all of the Historians and Record Keepers had been Summoned to assist in the gathering and review of all information on the phenomenon known as Transcendence.
The Master of the Hall - a respected Twi'Lek named Addo Kulth - was supervising the search, taking thorough inventory of each and every scroll as it was scanned. Those with even the barest hint on information on Transcendence were being handed over to the Master Historians for their methodical study. As was expected, the amount of information that had thus far been gathered was sparse at best. Transcendence had been all but relegated to myth until the untimely arrival of Luke Skywalker.
Just as Addo was beginning to start on a new row of scrolls, a young Keeper, quite new to the Hall, came sprinting up one of the stairways, calling his name.

"Master Kulth!" she exclaimed, and when he heard the urgency in her voice he ran to meet her as she reached the top of the stairs. In her hands she held an exceptionally old looking scroll, yellowed with age, the edges fraying.

"What is it, Maris? Have you found something?" he asked her, eyeing the scroll.

"Yes - yes. Look here," she said, opening the scroll and holding it in front of her. He took the ancient document from her hands carefully and walked to a nearby table. He laid the scroll flat, leaned over and began scanning it with a practiced eye. It was indeed information about Transcendence, but just a few simple lines of writing on the subject, from what he could tell. He could see nothing to warrant her obvious excitement.

"I''m afraid I do not see..." he started to say, but Maris interrupted, pointing to a specific part on the page.

"Here, Master. This," she prompted. As he looked again, his eyes went wide and he cursed himself for not seeing it before. He stood straight and began rolling up the scroll once more, taking extreme care as hid did so.

"We must deliver this to the Historians at once," he stated, already walking toward the stairs, Maris right on his heels.
"Should we tell Master Jinn?" she asked and he shook his head.

"No. If the Historians think this as important as I believe they will, then they will surely report it to the Council. If Luke Skywalker and his Guide are needed, it will be for the Council to summon them. And Maris..." he added, stopping halfway down the stairs to look at her.

"Yes, Master?"

He smiled at her warmly. "You did well."

*************************************

Qui-Gon Jinn stood quietly at the end of a long, white hallway outside the room in which Luke Skywalker had recently awoke. His Guide-Bond had allowed him to feel the shifting emotions Luke had endured since being released from the Cocoon. With Nomi's gentle effort, Luke had come to a reluctant acceptance of his situation far sooner than Qui-Gon would have thought possible. But beneath that acceptance, the Guide knew that Luke had an unshakable desire to return to his proper place, to his family and work. He smiled to himself, still sometimes amazed by the strength of will Luke Skywalker possessed.

Before long, the door at the opposite end of the hallway opened and Nomi emerged, followed closely by Luke. Qui-Gon took a cleansing breath and stood a little straighter, his eyes fixed on the man walking towards him.

Luke's gaze traveled instinctively to the tall man at the far end of the corridor. Luke knew this man - he was certain of it - but as they came closer, and the man's features became clear, Luke realized that this was no one he had met before. But his heart, his very soul, felt a connection to the other Jedi he couldn't deny.

Nomi slowed a bit, allowing Luke to reach Qui-Gon first. She stood back a little ways, privileged to be witness to this first meeting between Guide-Bonded spirits. For there was no other being in all eternity that would ever know Luke Skywalker better than his Guide. Qui-Gon had been present for Luke's most joyous times, and at his most private, desperate hours. He understood Luke as well as he understood himself. The Bond they shared was sacred, and she knew that they would always remain close -- just as she had remained close to the individual she had been Guide to many years before.
"Its good to see you again, Luke," Qui-Gon stated with a smile, reaching out with one hand to give Luke an affectionate clap on the shoulder. The 'again' portion of the greeting was not lost on Luke, and he was about to respond when he felt a powerful wave of emotion sweep through him as the tall Jedi touched him. Luke felt acceptance, an almost fatherly love and pride sweep into his soul through that touch. His eyes went wide, and took an involuntary step backwards, his mind churning, looking for an answer to the odd sense of attachment he felt for this man.

Sensing his confusion, Qui-Gon glanced at Nomi then focused again on Luke.

"My name is Qui-Gon Jinn," he explained. "And though we have never been...formally introduced...we have been together for quite some time." His blue eyes danced and he mentally sent an image to Luke through their Bond.

He was on Tatooine, long ago. He was small, no more than 3 years old, and he had wandered away from his Aunt Beru during a rare trip to the large shopping areas of Anchorhead. He saw a landspeeder, weaving crazily, going far too fast through the narrow streets in between buildings. He saw himself in the Speeders path, saw people screaming, having to jump out of the way to avoid being struck, his Aunt Beru running towards him, arms outstretched, a look of panic on her face from realizing she could not get to him before the speeder did. The next thing Luke remembered was feeling himself being picked up by strong arms and pulled back to safety an instant before being run down. He had looked up then to thank his rescuer, and a blinding flash of light - probably from one of the twin suns - had obscured his vision. All could see was a large silhouette, a glimpse of dark brown cloth...then his Aunt was holding him, asking him what had happened.

Luke looked up at Qui-Gon, amazement showing on his face. "It was you," he said quietly, and he saw the man nod.

Qui-Gon had, in actuality, been harshly chastised for that intervention. He was reminded that he, as a Guide, was allowed to offer guidance, support and encouragement only - direct interference in events was strictly disallowed. But Qui-Gon had never been one to blindly follow rules when his heart told him to do otherwise.

"Are you...a guardian?" Luke asked him, recalling stories he had heard of mysterious beings that would sometimes appear to lend help during times of great crises or danger.

"Not exactly," Qui-Gon explained. "Everyone on the Other Side - the side you have just come from - do have Protectorates - usually family or friends that have already Crossed."

"But you are not one of those?" Luke asked, crossing his arms over his chest, curiosity creeping into his voice.

"No. Every once in a great while, The Force will manifest itself in an area or an individual to an unusual degree. It's called a Vergeance, and it is quite rare. When it does occur, especially if it involves a person, it has the potential to effect The Force on every level, on every plane of existence. Sometimes for the good - sometimes not."

Luke thought about that for a moment. He recalled having heard of this event before. Tionne, one of the instructors at the Praxeum, had spent countless hours searching for any and all lost data from the Old Republic Jedi Order. She had come across some scant documentation concerning the event known as Vergeance. She had likened the event to a wild card in Sabacc -- where anything could happen.
"It sounds like a very serious situation," Luke stated, curious as to what this had to do with him and his relationship to this man.

"Indeed it is. It is for that reason that everyone who will come into direct interaction with a Vergeance is given a Guide. A person to lend support and guidance."

"And you are my Guide?" Luke asked, already sensing the answer.

Qui-Gon smiled. "Your Father was a Vergeance, Luke. And I have had the honor of being your - lets say 'confidante' - since the day you were born."

Luke's mind was spinning. His Father...a wild card on a Universal scale? In retrospect Luke could see that fact clearly, for surely Anakin Skywalker's life had indeed influenced and altered many lives. And because of this fact Luke had been given this man, Qui-Gon Jinn, to be at his side. He felt fascinated, humbled - almost ashamed at the many times in his life when he had felt very alone, and he had cursed his fate and The Force for abandoning him. Somewhere in his mind he heard Obi-Wan's voice...

"Yoda will always be with you."
And apparently this Jedi who stood before him had been, too, Luke thought to himself with a smile. He briefly wondered exactly how much his Guide knew about him. A thought came to him suddenly, and he looked at Qui-Gon, almost afraid to ask the question that was on his mind.
"Is my Father here?" he asked softly.

Qui-Gon and Nomi exchanged a knowing look, and she moved to stand beside him while Qui-Gon walked to the door and put his hand on a button that would open it.

"If you are ready, we can go to him now. He's waiting for you," Qui-Gon replied, knowing that Luke was probably more than ready for a reunion with Anakin.

Luke looked at Nomi, who favored him with a reassuring smile, then nodded to Qui-Gon. Luke's heart began to pound in his chest. How many times in his life had he wished he could talk with his Father? What had he wanted to say to him - what had he wanted to ask? For a moment Luke was actually thankful for being trapped on this plane of existence, no matter that he was not truly supposed to be here. He was going to see his Father again!

Qui-Gon pressed the button and the door to the outside opened. As Luke walked out of the Orientation building he could not suppress a gasp as he received his first look at the realm he was now in.
The light struck him first - an intense, bright light such as he had never seen. But unlike the harsh glare of a sun, this light was soothing to his eyes, like a cool shower after working outside on a hot day. The buildings were blue-tinged crystal and sparkled like diamond. Even the stone pavement was white, and cast a reflective glow. The colors on the many flowering plants were more vivid than he had ever thought possible. Luke stood and simply stared for a moment, the sheer beauty and magnificence of the area taking his breath. It was as if he had been living with a veil over his eyes, making everything he encountered appear faded and dull. He felt as though he was finally getting the opportunity to glimpse reality the way it was meant to be. He searched his mind for the proper phrase to describe what he was seeing, what he was feeling. One word surfaced in his mind above all others.

"Its..luminous," he said at last, recalling the words of his former teacher.

"Luminous beings are we..."

Nomi and Qui-Gon smiled at one another, understanding Luke's amazement. Though they had existed here for a long time, whenever they saw the reaction of a new arrival, it was as if they were seeing Home again for the first time.

After allowing Luke a few moments to become accustomed to the environment, they began the walk to the place where Anakin had asked them to meet him. Luke's eyes were riveted on the large blue lake in the center of the Plaza - growing up as he had on Tatooine, water such as this still fascinated him. And this water was bluer than he would have deemed possible. Off in the distance Luke could see an enormous glistening bridge that traveled over a section of the lake. A stray thought entered Luke's mind and he thought it would be an incredible feeling to walk across that bridge.

They had not traveled far when Qui-Gon suddenly stopped, bowed his head and seemed to listen to something no one else could hear. Luke looked at him curiously, and Nomi's face became serious. She knew that look.

"I've been summoned to the Council," Qui-Gon said at last, his expression grave.

"Alone?" she asked skeptically, casting a sideways glance at Luke.

"Yes. For now," he replied. It seemed odd to him. He would have guessed that the Council would have requested to speak directly to Luke, now that he was out of the Cocoon. But it was no great concern -- the Council tended to keep their own schedule, a schedule that was rarely clear to anyone else but them. Besides, it was obvious that Luke was looking forward to being reunited with his father. Perhaps that was why the Council was giving Luke some time before sending him a Summons.

"You two go ahead. I'll speak with the Council, tell them what I have learned, find out what new insights they may have discovered. If you are needed, I'm sure they will let you know. Either way, I will see you both soon."

Nomi nodded, as did Luke, then Qui-Gon turned and walked briskly toward the most prominent structure in the plaza - the place where the Council must convene, Luke assumed. He wondered briefly if Master Yoda was a member.

Luke had listened intently while Qui-Gon had relayed the information he had received, and he pondered it as he and Nomi continued walking through the Plaza. It was clear that people communicated through The Force here, at least sometimes. And Luke was intrigued that a Council had been mentioned. He knew that the Old Republic Jedi had maintained a council, and he himself had set up a tentative one as well. He wondered how many other aspects of the old Jedi Order were in place here. He made a mental note to gather as much information on the old Jedi as possible while he was here, so that he could take that knowledge back with him when he returned to his life.

If you are able to return, a small voice reminded him. Luke pushed that thought away quickly, remembering one of Master Yoda's first lessons to him.

'Maintain focus - determine your reality, it will.' Luke vowed silently to keep himself well focused.
"Is that how most communication takes place?" Luke asked finally, referring to the silent exchange he had witnessed between Qui-Gon and the Council.

Nomi shrugged. "Its common with the Council, but most of us choose to talk and interact normally. The Force is generally used only during training and meditation. And when seeking Knowledge."

Luke looked at her for a moment, not quite sure he had understood that last part. Nomi halted suddenly, looked at him. Without a word she reached out and took both Luke's hands in hers and stared into his eyes.

"I want you to think of a question," she said, smiling at the bewildered expression that had appeared on Luke's face. He started to pull away, but she held on tighter, her eyes imploring him to trust her in this.
"Come on - I want to show you something. Think of..anything. Any question at all. "

Luke had no idea where this might be leading, but he decided to play along. He thought for a moment, then nodded his head toward a large building, the only one he could see that was not made of the distinctive blue Crystal. "What is that building over there?" he asked.

Nomi smiled. "Good. Now, think about that question and nothing else. Close your eyes and reach out through The Force, follow my lead..."

Luke's eyes closed and felt The Force flow through him. He could feel Nomi's presence, could feel her reaching out to something....he locked onto her mind, followed her until......

Luke gasped as he was hit with a barrage of information. Sights, sounds, images and words poured into his mind. He saw spiraling staircases, rows upon rows of what appeared to be scrolls, he saw people working, reading. He knew that building he had mentioned, he realized. Knew everything about it - its name, the materials it was made of, what its function was. Luke opened his eyes, utterly astounded.
"How did that happen?" he asked, amazement evident in his voice.

Nomi smiled as she explained. "Its called Knowledge Infusion. Information here is free as air. All you have to do is reach out for it."

"You can find out anything?" Luke asked with a touch of disbelief.

"Anything that is known, and is factual." Nomi paused. "There are times when certain information is Blocked by the Council, but that is generally when there is a disagreement or concern on a certain matter. But that is very rare."

Luke shook his head at the simplicity in that. The concept was utterly foreign to him, but it seemed so right. For it was a sad truth on the Other Side -- that knowledge was a commodity. It was bought and sold, hoarded for nothing more than individual egotism. It was used as leverage, as a means to gain status or wealth. And those who had neither the means nor the ability to acquire knowledge were many times left behind, used and discarded. On the Other Side, knowledge was power.

But Jedi did not seek power for its own sake; thus information here was free to all. Amazing.
Nomi and Luke shared a moment of silence before they both began walking again. Luke felt as though his head may explode with all the new information he had received in such a short time. He was lost in thought, and he could not have said for how long or how far they had traveled before they came to a halt. When he looked up, Luke was rather stunned to see that they were standing directly at the base of the beautiful, glistening bridge that had captured his attention earlier. And standing in the middle of that bridge, looking directly at him and smiling, was a man Luke recognized instantly, though he had not seen him in over twenty years. His heart seemed to stop in his chest, and he had to force himself to remember to breathe.

'Father...' he whispered, barely loud enough to be heard.

Luke looked briefly at Nomi, who smiled, touched his arm. He saw her glance at Anakin then she silently moved away to take a seat underneath a large flowering tree. Luke hesitated for just a moment - the situation felt surreal. He feared he was in the middle of a wonderful dream and would wake at any moment. Without conscious thought Luke began to walk forward, propelled by an unseen power, his eyes never leaving the man who stood at the center of the bridge. When finally the two were close enough to touch, they simply looked at one other for a long moment. They were - in appearance - of similar age now, and Luke was amazed to see that, with the exception of build, they looked very much alike.

"Welcome Home, my son," Anakin said at last. The warmth in those words were reflected as well in his clear blue eyes.

"Father," Luke responded, finally trusting his voice.

Not needing more words, Father and Son moved into a tight embrace, silently communicating to one another through their Bond in The Force. Years of unspoken thoughts and feelings passed between the two, threatening to overwhelm them both.

Nomi had sat silently, watching this emotional reunion. She had felt through her Guide-Bond with Anakin his intense love and joy at having his son finally with him. She had known Anakin a very long time, and knew that even though he rarely spoke of it, he held deep and painful regrets about what had transpired between he and his son before he had Crossed. Tears of happiness welled up inside her and ran down her cheeks as she felt the remaining vestiges of Anakin's lingering guilt and pain slowly being washed away through his son's loving presence.

No matter what it was that had brought Luke Skywalker here, she knew in her heart that The Force alone had allowed this moment between Father and Son. For that, she was eternally grateful.

**************************************

ALLIES

Palpatine stood silently in the shadows, watching as two men engaged in a fierce lightsaber duel in a barren, rock covered area of the Dark Realm. The sabers clashed and hissed, the two combatants leaping between the sharp rocks, their graceful movements in stark contrast to the rough environment in which they fought.

One of the men, a Zabrak, Palpatine knew well, and he was pleased to see that his former apprentice was as deadly and skilled now and he had ever been on the Other Side. Perhaps even more so, judging from the way Darth Maul was now fighting. There was a bit less unnecessary movement in his style now, slightly less arrogance. Palpatine suspected that Maul had learned a valuable lesson after being cut down by that whelp of a Jedi Apprentice so long ago. Maul had all but won that battle, Palpatine knew. Then arrogantly -stupidly - his apprentice had savored the moment of victory too long, pausing before delivering the killing strike and giving that young Jedi time to recover. A pity the ensuing wound had proved to be mortal - but the Other Side's loss had been this one's gain. Darth Maul was cooly confident, attacking and spinning away from his equally skilled opponent with lightening fast speed.
The second man was human, tall, and would probably have been considered unusually handsome if not for the look of rage that seemed to always mar his face. Palpatine smiled grimly, knowing that the second man would undoubtedly still hold a festering hatred of a certain Jedi Master that had recently paid a visit to the Light Realm. For if not for Luke Skywalker and his damnable Jedi students, Exar Kun would never have been forced into the servitude he now endured.

Yes, Palpatine had little doubt that these two would make formidable allies in his quest. If only he could convince them to betray the Dark Master they now served.

Palpatine considered what approach he would take, torn between using an unemotional logic or an argument for conquest and vengeance. After observing the vicious battle for a few more moments, he decided that the latter argument was would be more suited to the occasion.

All at once, an especially aggressive and powerful stroke from Kun's red blade forced Darth Maul to take on an unbalanced defensive posture. He momentarily lost his footing on the rocky terrain and tumbled to his back, his lightsaber torn from his grip. His opponent gave him no chance to recover, leaping down almost on top of him, and holding his sizzling blade an inch above Mauls' throat. At that moment Palpatine emerged from the shadows, slowing clapping his hands together, an evil laugh coming from the depths of his soul.

"Good. Very good, Exar Kun. Not many have the distinction of claiming a victory over my apprentice." he said, casting his yellow eyes on Maul's prone form.

Kun stood straight, extinguished his blade and hooked in to his belt. He pushed his dark hair, damp with sweat, back from his face and glared at the new arrival.

"Yes. I seem to now be in the good company of...who was it again Maul? Obi-Wan Kenobi, I believe?" Kun's mouth twisted into a smirk, seeing the flash of rage that crossed Maul's face at the mention of that name. Kun crossed the area and picked up a black robe that had been laying atop a large stone.
Maul leapt to his feet and called his lightsaber to his hand. He then walked boldly over to stand before Palpatine. The two were of similar height and Maul looked his former Master directly in the eye, his voice smooth and unwavering when he spoke.

"I am no longer your apprentice," he stated firmly, his tone leaving no room for debate on the subject.
Palpatine's eyes narrowed a fraction, but otherwise he showed no reaction to the words. He and Maul's eyes remained locked, neither one willing to look away first, until Kun broke the stand-off.
"Is there something you particularly wanted, Palpatine?" he asked tiredly as he pulled the dark robe around his shoulders."I'm assuming you did not come all this way to simply watch our training session."
"Perhaps he has come to deliver a message," Maul stated, his mouth twisting into a feral grin. Kun seemed amused by the comment, but if the taunt had any effect on the former Emperor he did not show it. Palpatine remained motionless and silent, as if considering his next course of action. When at last he spoke, he did so softly, almost respectfully.

"I am aware of the current status I now hold." he stated, clasping his hands behind his back and walking slowly to stand before a large oddly shaped stone. "And you are quite correct, Darth Maul - the time of apprenticeship has long passed. I am here to speak to you not as a Master, but as an equal - as a person who had tasted defeat, who has endured servitude and humiliation. It is something the three of us have in common, wouldn't you say? I am also here to inform you of a certain event that has transpired that could effect us all." Palpatine let his words hang in the air a moment, then he turned, pleased to see that he had captured the attention of both Maul and Kun.

"We have already heard the rumors about the Transcendence in the Light Realm." Exar Kun stated, crossing his arms over his broad chest.

"Ah - but it is not merely a rumor, I assure you." Palpatine stated. "And you, Exar Kun, might be most interested in the identity of the individual involved..."

Kun looked up sharply, eyes blazing. "Skywalker?" he asked, the hatred of the Jedi Master abundantly clear in his voice. Palpatine laughed aloud, realizing that half his job here was as good as complete.
"Yesss. It was Luke Skywalker." he confirmed, then his tone turned biting, sarcastic. "I have to wonder, though, how it was that the revered Jedi Master managed such a feat. It seems highly unlikely that any Jedi would have knowledge of such an ancient power, let alone dare to use it. Wouldn't you agree, Kun...?" Palpatine favored the taller Sith with a half-grin. Kun remained motionless, pondering the unspoken message in Palpatine's words.

"Why should we believe what you are saying?" Maul asked, suspicion evident in his voice. "And if this is true - why tell us?"

"What reason would I possibly have to deceive you?" Palpatine asked smoothly. "I am here because I believe the time is right for the Sith to press for dominance..." he stated, giving Kun a meaningful look.
"What you are suggesting cannot be done." Kun interrupted, suspecting where this conversation was leading. "Even your mentioning such a thing could bring down The Master's wrath upon us."
"He has support of the Legions." Maul interjected. "Others have tried to push for control. And they have failed." Maul's icy words conveyed the warning of the fate that awaited those who chose to defy the Master.

Palpatine considered this. He had expected some degree of resistance; he mentally altered his stance somewhat, choosing his next words carefully.

"And what of it, I ask you?" he replied, falling easily into a half-remembered role as politician. "Is this to be our fate...? To spend an eternity here, as nothing more than lap animals for a Master who has spent too many years locked away in solitude. He has grown complacent, forgotten that the Sith are destined to rule and conquer the inferiors. He chastised me for bringing the Sith to their rightful glory on the Other Side, while he has sat idle in meditation, waiting. Waiting for what, I ask you? He has had ample opportunity to strike, but he has failed to do so. A Transcendence may never again occur - will his inaction also allow this opportunity to slip away?" Palpatine paused a moment, letting his words be fully absorbed by the two powerful Sith Lords.

"What are you planning?" Darth Maul asked finally, his voice low.

Palpatine smiled, sensing victory. "Luke Skywalker will not be allowed to remain on this plane, of that I am certain. The pitiful Jedi think him too important on the Other Side, and they will certainly attempt to send him back..." he let his voice trail off, and his gaze locked onto Exar Kun, who appeared to ponder his words. After a moment, he saw understanding begin to form on Kun's face. "Together," he continued "we have both the knowledge and the ability to turn this situation with Skywalker into our advantage. We will wait for the proper moment, and we will exact our revenge."

Maul and Kun turned to one another, then back to Palpatine. The three stood silently for a time, each one lost in their own thoughts

"It will take some planning," Kun said at last. "The Jedi will surely be mindful of the hazzards involved in returning Skywalker They will be prepared. And we must pinpoint the location exactly - there will be no room for error."

Palpatine chuckled under his breath. "Do I assume this means that we can be...allies...in this venture?"
Maul nodded his agreement but Kun hesitated, considering the person who had undoubtedly facilitated Skywalker's appearance. There were only a handful of Jedi in the Light Realm who would possess both the knowledge and power to successfully orchestrate a Transcendence. And when he considered that such an action would certainly be against that damnable Jedi Code, it would take a person of enormous self-confidence - or utter recklessness - to have the courage to actually attempt it. And that narrowed the field of likely candidates a whole lot more. Kun wondered what his old adversary was thinking in bringing Skywalker here.

Kun smiled to himself. To beat the Jedi by using their own actions against them would be beautifully satisfying. But Kun knew that chance for failure was high. The Jedi would be wary, using every Warder to guard against an attack - especially where Skywalker was concerned. Failure would certainly mean destruction. But the rewards for success would be great - it would assure him a high position in the Legions, a place of respect he had been thus far denied since he had Crossed into this realm. After his spirit had been defeated by Skywalker's Jedi, Kun had lived with humiliation and servitude. A Sith Master - defeated by a rag-tag group of barely trained Jedi students. He was all but considered a joke now. The thought still made his skin crawl.

"I accept the offer," Kun stated formally, deciding that his own knowledge of the ancient Sith powers would give he and his unlikely allies a distinct advantage. And even destruction seemed preferable to an eternity of begging for the scraps of power his Master occasionally allowed.

Palpatine laughed, his yellow eyes almost glowing with expectation. "Come my friends. We must discuss our future."
**********************************

FATHER AND SON

Nomi Sunrider was only half listening to her Twi'Lek friend, Tott Doneeta, as he told her about the unusual movement that had been taking place in the Dark Realm. Her mind was entranced by the lighthearted feelings she was picking up through her Guide-Bond with Anakin as he walked with his son across the great Lake Bridge. Anakin and Luke had traversed the length of the bridge twice already, clearly lost in conversation. Father and son were fairly radiating happiness and Nomi had to force herself to concentrate on what Tott was saying.

".......and from what we can tell the entire Legion has moved into a battle-ready position. I'm on the way to the Council now to give my report."

Nomi nodded, pondering the situation Doneeta had described.

"They could be just making a show of force again to keep us on guard," She suggested.

Tott considered that, then shook his head. It was a fact that the Legion was prone to using blatant and easily deflected displays of power. They would band together periodically, create a storm of dark power that would push against the Light Realm boundaries. That pressure would in turn cause a momentary weakening between the two realms, upsetting the tenuous balance of The Force. But it was never a very strong attack - just enough to make the Warders take action to push it back. There had not been a serious, concerted Dark Side attack on their realm in over a millennia. It was as though the Dark Ones simply enjoyed flexing their muscles once in a while to make sure that their presence was not forgotten. As though anyone could forget.

"I don't know, Nomi. This time just feels......different. They haven't actually done anything yet in the way of a storm or disturbance, but everything about the way they are distributing their power-base speaks of preparation for a move against us." Tott''s voice lowered somewhat and he leaned closer to Nomi. "I even heard that the Defenders have moved to take up a defensive stance closer to the boundaries."
That revelation gave Nomi pause. The Defenders were comprised of the most experienced and capable warriors from among the ranks of the Jedi. They were the second line of defense behind the Warders in case of a Dark Side attack, but they rarely felt a threat strong enough to warrant abandoning their regular posts.

"I was not aware of that," Nomi stated quietly, glancing toward Anakin and Luke. It seemed like too much of a coincidence that this unusual activity in the Dark Realm was happening now, mere days after Luke had Transcended.

Doneeta followed Nomi's gaze to the two figures standing on the Lake Bridge and nodded in Luke's direction. "How are things going with him?"

Nomi pulled her gaze back to her friend and smiled. "It's going amazing well. He had problems with immobility at first but the Cocoon remedied that. And since he has been awake he has been very quiet - very calm."

"He's a Jedi Master," Tott reminded her.

"I've been assigned to many Jedi Masters," She retorted with a smile. "And I'm telling you - Luke is different. The Force is so strong with him. He notices everything, and his insight is astounding. When he looks at me I feel as though he can read my very heart - but it's not an uncomfortable feeling at all. He has a very soothing presence." Her eyes traveled back to the bridge, back to Luke and Anakin, a wistful look on her face.

Tott was about to reply when he felt a sudden spark of emotion coming from Nomi. His Lekku twitched and he nearly laughed when he realized what it was he had felt.

"You're taken with him, aren't you?" he asked her, an amused grin spreading across his face at Nomi's stunned expression.

"What..? Luke? No, of course not!" Nomi paused, looking for the right words to describe what she felt for Anakin's son. "It's not like that. I respect him and I'm very grateful for what he has done for us -- especially Anakin. And besides that, I'm old enough to be his Great-great-great......" Nomi stopped when Tott interrupted her denials with a burst of laughter.

"Nomi, I know you. And I recognize that look on your face. I've seen it before......"

Nomi looked away, deciding the conversation had continued long enough. "Don't you have somewhere to be?" she asked him tartly, irritated at him for putting her on the defensive, and angry with herself for allowing her natural flickerings of attraction for Luke to bleed out through her shields.
Sensing that Nomi was becoming uncomfortable, Tott decided to let the matter drop for the time being. He took a step backwards, hands turned up in an expression of apology.

"I am truly sorry to have brought up such a personal subject." he said, forcing himself to keep a straight face. "And you are correct - I do need to be getting along to the Council." He reached out to grasp her hand briefly, and he knew that his teasing had been forgiven when she smiled and squeezed his hand.
"Be well, Tott. I will see you soon."

"You too," he replied, walking away. He stopped after a few steps and turned back to her, unable to resist one final comment "Oh, and Nomi - take good care of Skywalker, will you?"
He spun and strode off before he was able to see the look of annoyance that colored Nomi's face.

*****************************************

Luke could not have guessed how long he and Anakin had been walking along the beautiful Lake Bridge. They had been lost in conversation for some time, enjoying one another's company. So far the discussion had been light - talk of family, the Praxeum and the events in the New Republic taking precedence. But both men knew that there were deeper and more pressing issues between them, such as Luke''s remarkable appearance here. But neither Anakin or Luke had yet been inclined to move the conversation in that direction, choosing instead to pretend - for a least a short time - that they weere simply old friends who had been apart too long.

Anakin had asked about Leia of course, and Luke had indulged him - sending mental images of his sister and her family through their Bond. Luke had recounted stories involving his niece and nephews, and Anakin seemed especially intrigued to learn that his namesake, Anakin Solo, had proved to be quite an exceptional mechanic and Jedi apprentice. He had laughed aloud, shaking his head with ironic amusement, as Luke had told him the story of the time his youngest grandson had built he and his siblings their own droid. Anakin had also congratulated his son on his recent marriage and impending fatherhood, enormously grateful that Luke had finally found the happiness he so deserved and had too long been denied. Finally, after they had traveled the length of the bridge several times, Luke and Anakin stopped to share a comfortable silence, gazing out on the beautiful Lake, each one lost in his own thoughts.
Luke had been utterly amazed at the depth of the Bond he shared with his Father. Thoughts and feelings flowed easily between them and Luke wondered how much of it was due to their natural kinship and how much was from the bond Anakin had implemented right before his physical death. A Transition-Bonding, Anakin had called it.

Luke had been slightly surprised to learn that he maintained a Transition-Bond not only with his father, but also Obi-Wan and Yoda. Luke had been present for the death - no, he corrected himself - for the Transition of all three, and each had imprinted Luke with a part of their essence - an act that allowed their spirit to remain in mental contact with Luke even after they Crossed into the next realm. Obi-Wan had gone so far as to suspend his spirit between the two planes in order to assist and keep watch over Luke. Apparently, from what Anakin had told him, it had been quite a difficult task for Obi-Wan to maintain that existence for so long. Luke wished he could see his old teacher now, to thank him for that sacrifice - indeed to thank him for all that he had done. But Anakin said that Master Kenobi was desperately needed elsewhere in the realm and as such was not able to be with Luke at the moment. Perhaps soon, though.

Anakin had been experiencing feelings of contentment and joy such as he could not recall. Luke's presence here had energized his spirit, given him peace. He had tentatively probed Luke's emotions through their Bond, searching for some sign of lingering animosity or pain that Luke may have held for him. Instead, all he had found was a deep sense of love and acceptance, mingled with a touch of sadness for what could have been. Anakin was humbled by the purity of Luke's emotions, realizing that his son had inherited his mother's great sense of compassion. Indeed, Anakin knew, as much as he and Luke were alike in appearance and temperament, it was his beloved Padme' that had no doubt blessed their son with his remarkable inner strength. He felt an intense sadness that Luke had never known her. But he hoped that would soon be rectified - if his dear friend Yuli had been able to successfully complete the favor Anakin had asked of her.

"Do you have any idea how it was the I came to be here?" Luke asked softly, rousing Anakin from his thoughts.

Anakin took a deep breath and paused, leaning heavily against the railing of the bridge. He knew that question was inevitable and he wished desperately that he had an answer to give.

"I wish I knew, Luke. I truly wish I knew." He turned his head to his son, looked apologetically into his blue eyes. "You have been forced into a difficult position, thanks to my weakness." Sensing that Luke was about to give protest, Anakin held up a hand and shook his head. "Please, let me say this." He turned fully to face Luke, a pained expression on his face.

"You are a pivotal individual, my son - both on the Other Side and here. There are those who call me the Chosen One - the one who brought balance to The Force." He shrugged before continuing "And perhaps I did, in the end. But I know- as do you - that I would never have fulfilled that prophecy had it not been for your actions, for your faith in me and in the power of the Light." Anakin's immense pride for his son was clear in both his voice and emotions.

Luke lowered his eyes, looked away. He had never felt comfortable being viewed as a hero, and it made him feel especially uneasy to know that his father thought him extraordinary. For no matter what his father said, Luke knew the reality was that he would have died, screaming on the floor in the second Death Star, if Anakin hadn't intervened. In Luke's mind no one person deserved the credit - or the blame - for what had happened all those years before. He had made his peace long ago, concluding that it was simply the way of The Force.

Sensing Luke's thoughts, Anakin's voice turned soft, a hint of sadness evident.

"Luke - I once told you that you did not yet realize your importance." Anakin looked away from Luke's eyes, old memories threatening to resurface. He pushed them aside and continued. "I knew then that you were meant for greatness - The Force told me so. But, blinded as I was by the darkness, I did not see your true purpose." Anakin's voice conveyed an underlying warning as he continued. "Your existence on the Other Side is vital, my son. The future of the Jedi has been placed your hands. What you do - or do not do - will have an impact on every level of existence, throughout every layer of The Force. I see this clearly now- as do many others here. I'm afraid there is little doubt that the Dark Ones understand your importance as well. There are those who, even now, would seek to prevent you from fulfilling your destiny."

Luke took an involuntary step backwards, stunned. Neither Nomi nor Qui-Gon had mentioned anything to him about such a possibility.

"Who are these Dark Ones?" Luke asked softly, not sure he wanted to know the answer.

"They are the Ones that exist in the Dark Realm. It is opposite of here, but connected - like two halves of the same coin. Those who live and die under the influence of darkness go there when they Transition."
Luke shuddered as the thought of all the evil men and women he had encountered in his lifetime. To think that they still existed in some way sent a cold shiver up his spine. His mind was working furiously, trying to piece together the bits of information he had so far received. After a moment he began to understand the unspoken message in what his father was telling him.

"These Dark Ones - did they bring me here?" he asked, both alarmed and dismayed at the thought of being used as a pawn once again in the battle between Light and Dark.

Anakin shook his head, turned back to gaze at the glorious lake. "It is not known for certain that they are involved - but it is one theory that cannot be discounted. It is one of the reasons the council insisted that I stay with you now."

Luke's brow furrowed slightly in confusion and he looked at his father expectantly.
"Here, I am what is known as a Warder," Anakin explained. "It is my responsibility to keep watch on the Dark Realm. If they attempt to come near you, or try to break through the boundaries that separate our two realms, I will surely sense it. And I will push them back"

"Push them back?" Luke questioned.

"With the power of the Lightside," Anakin said with conviction. Then he reached out, placed both his hands on Luke's strong shoulders and offered a reassuring smile. "But until the Council determines exactly what happened and why you are here, there is no reason to be overly concerned with the Dark Ones. If they try to harm you in any way they will have to get past a great many Jedi to do it. Not the least of which is one overly protective father."

Luke chuckled at the remark, a brief mental image - one of him telling some powerful Sith to leave him alone or else his daddy would beat him up - appeared in his mind. He was about to comment when Anakin suddenly dropped his hands to his side, tilted his head and seemed to listen to something off in the distance. Luke recognized the action immediately, recalling how Qui-Gon had reacted similarly when he received a mental Call from the Council. Luke held his breath, expecting his father to get the same grave expression on his face as Qui-Gon had - but instead Anakin's face lit up in an enormous smile. After a moment he turned back to his son, beaming.

"Luke - there is something I would very much like to do for you, if you would allow me."

"Of course." Luke agreed immediately, wondering what could possibly have turned Anakin's mood around so suddenly.

"While you were Cocooned I asked a dear friend of mine to do me a favor. She just informed me that everything has been arranged. She is ready for us," Anakin explained.

"What is it?"

"I cannot explain it, Luke. It is something that you must experience for yourself. Think of it as a surprise." Anakin said lightly, his eyes dancing. Not waiting for a reply, he began walking rapidly toward the end of the bridge.

Luke hesitated, but only for a moment. He trusted his father completely and could sense this was something very important to him. Luke shrugged; deciding that any attempt to get more information out of his father would be pointless. He pushed himself away from the bridge railing and had to take a few long strides to catch up with father.

"Well, it just so happens that I like surprises." he said with a smile.

I hope you more than like this one, my son, Anakin thought to himself, looking over at Luke's profile as they walked. He felt an increasing sense of joy building inside him, knowing that at least one of the wrongs he had committed against Luke would finally be set right.

************************************

SACRIFICES

The Master walked slowly through the dimly lit corridors of the Great Temple located in the heart of the Dark Realm. Several of the Master's closest and most trusted advisors trailed behind him, and anyone who happened to be in the area as the small group approached made sure to move clear of their path. Only the clicking sound of footsteps on hard flooring disturbed the eerie silence that permeated the large building, so when the heavy sound of a slamming door resounded through the halls, all eyes turned in that direction. Almost immediately a tall, leather clad female appeared, rounding a corner in great haste. She moved toward the small entourage, then dropped to one knee before the Master, her head bowed respectfully.

"Reporting as commanded, my Master," she said reverently.

"Rise, my dear," he ordered, an unaccustomed tone of affection evident in his voice.

The woman stood and instantly adopted a military stance, awaiting permission to make her report. She was granted that permission almost immediately.

"Has he made contact with Kun?" The Master asked.

The woman could not keep the pride out of her voice when she responded. "He did, Master. He took a circuitous route but I was able to follow and remain undetected." The Master was obviously pleased; he began walking once more, motioning for the woman to accompany him.

"There is more, my Master. He has also enlisted the aid of a third party - Darth Maul. The three of them spoke at some length, but I was unable to get close enough to hear the specifics of what was being said."
The Master did not appear at all surprised at this news; instead he looked almost pleased.

"It is not a great matter that you did not hear - it was more important that your presence went unnoticed. So tell me - where is my traitorous messenger now?"

"He is here in the Temple, Master - in his quarters when last I saw him."

One of the advisors stepped forward, fire in his eyes.

"Shall I summon him for you, my Lord?"

The Dark Master hesitated, but only for a moment.

"No, Krullen - let him be." He motioned at the woman, "Lumiya here will continue monitoring his actions and keep me informed. We are, after all, working towards the same goal - though Palpatine and his newfound accomplices may not realize it. I see no reason not to allow them to complete their plan. It will simply make our workload that much easier." He smiled then, his black eyes sparkling with anticipation. "And the rewards will be that much sweeter."

*************************************

Qui-Gon Jinn could not keep the impatience he felt from showing on his face. He had completed his report to the Council on the current status of Luke Skywalker some time ago. Qui-Gon had assured them that he had probed Luke's mind through their Guide-Bond and was absolutely certain that Luke himself had not - either intentionally or inadvertently - brought about his own Transcendence. The Council had taken that news with mixed reactions - they were pleased to have eliminated one possibility on how the Luke had come to be there, but it also served to strengthen the theory that the incident was caused by an outside - and possibly Dark - force.

Qui-Gon was now waiting outside the main chamber while the Council listened to the reports of their other guests. He had been surprised to see that several others were in attendance at this meeting. The Master of the Hall of records, who was accompanied by a young female Keeper Qui-Gon did not recognize, had been seated in the back of the room next to two prominent Master Historians. And just a few moments ago Tott Doneeta, who served the council directly as communications liaison to the Defenders, had entered the chamber. There was little doubt that the situation with Luke was a top priority, and Qui-Gon could not help but feel slightly irritated that he was being kept waiting in the hall instead of being allowed to take part in the current discussion.

However, the time alone had given Qui-Gon the opportunity to check in on his charge via their Bond. Luke's presence was always with him and he was satisfied to feel Luke's happiness at finally being able to speak with his father. But under that happiness there remained an urgency to return to his life that Luke was having an increasingly hard time keeping under control. Qui-Gon sent a delicate stream of supportive thoughts to him through their Bond, hoping that the Council would soon reach a decision.
At that moment the door to the council chamber slid open and one by one the members and guests began to file out and disperse. Master Yoda, Master Arca and one of the Historians formed a small group in the hall, talking quietly. Qui-Gon looked at them curiously and Arca Jeth motioned for him to join their group.

"I'm afraid the situation has become much more involved." Jeth said as Qui-Gon approached.
"In what way?" the tall Jedi asked, his brow furrowing slightly.

"The Legions - moved they have. Closer to the Border," Master Yoda said gravely.
Qui-Gon felt a sense of dread begin to form in his stomach.
"For what purpose?" he asked.

"We must speak with Luke Skywalker at once, Master Jinn." Arca stated, sidestepping the inquiry and exchanging meaningful looks with both the Historian and Yoda. "Please bring he and Anakin to the Council as soon as possible."

Qui-Gon crossed his arms over his chest and took a step back His gaze traveled from Arca, to the Historian and finally came to rest on Yoda. He kneeled down before his old Master and looked into his eyes imploringly.

"Master Yoda - I understand the importance in the secrecy of the Council on certain matters. But Luke will want an explanation. Nomi and I have abided by your wishes - we have told Luke nothing except what was absolutely necessary. He has not pushed for anything more, but I fear his patience is beginning to wear thin."

The tiny Master's eyes closed, his head dropped slightly and he sighed. "Never was Luke endowed with much patience," Yoda replied, a subtle grin on his aged face. "Inform Luke that decided we have, on a course of action."

"I must apologize for our decision to leave you out of the discussions, Master Jinn," Arca stated. "But we felt it was best to not needlessly distract you with debate. It would only serve to splinter your focus and weaken your Bond with Luke. He needs your undivided support at the moment."

Qui-Gon rose and nodded, understanding but not fully agreeing with the Council's reasoning.
"But you have reached a conclusion on how Luke came to be here?" he asked, hoping he would be permitted at least that much information. He noticed that the Historian averted his eyes and that the question hung in the air a moment too long before he received an answer.

"We do have a suspicion," Arca confirmed.

"Was it one of the Dark Ones?" Qui-Gon asked, his voice ominously low.
"No," Mater Yoda replied firmly. "A Jedi, it was."

***********************************

Luke had to admit that his curiosity was staring to get the better of him. He and Anakin were standing in the main foyer of an enormous triangular shaped building - the place where Luke, according to his father, would soon be given the opportunity for a truly unique experience. The building itself was sparsely decorated, with a few small fountains and colorful flowering trees sprinkled throughout the many hallways that trailed off from the main foyer. Luke had reached out through the Force - to receive Knowledge, as Nomi had instructed him - but the images that flooded his mind weere brief and shapeless, filled with colors and forms such as he had never seen. He could not decipher what it was The Force was trying to tell him about this place, and decided the best course of action was to simply wait for the 'surprise'.

They had not been waiting long when an exceptionally tiny female approached, her arms outstretched toward Luke. Before he had a chance to speak, the little woman pulled Luke into an affectionate hug, patting his back and laughing. She pushed him back after a moment, holding him at arm's length and running an eye up and down his compact form.

Luke took in the extraordinarily friendly greeting with a look of bewilderment, while his father stood back, hands on his hips, and laughed.

"Luke - I would like you to meet Master Yuli A'Lien. Yuli - my son, Luke Skywalker."

"Well, I should say so. He looks just like you!" she exclaimed, laughter filling her voice.
"It's a pleasure Master A'Lien," Luke replied formally, tilting his head in a reserved bow.
"Call me Yuli," she said. "I must say that your being here is the most exciting thing that has happened in...Oh, I don't know how long! Things were getting almost boring."

"I appreciate that," Luke replied with a smile, "But in all honesty, I think I would have preferred that this particular excitement be postponed. At least for a while."

Yuli chuckled with delight. "Oh, I wouldn't worry about that, Luke. That Council will figure out something to do with you. Of course it may take them a lifetime to do it." She winked at Anakin, then laced one small hand around Luke's upper arm, leading him toward a long hall.

"So what do you do here, Yuli?" Luke asked, craning his neck around and trying his best to figure out what sort of building he was now in.

Yuli threw an openly shocked look at Anakin. "You haven't told him?" she asked incredulously.
Luke spoke up before Anakin could respond. "I was told I was here for a surprise."

"Oh is that what he called it?" Yuli said, smiling at the almost sheepish look that was forming on Anakin's face.

"I was uncertain how to properly describe..." Anakin began but Yuli cut him short with a dismissive wave of her hand.

"Ah. I see. Well, I can understand that." She then looked up at Luke, delighted at having the opportunity to explain her special task. "To put it simply, this is where all the levels of The Force are monitored. Through that door there.." she pointed to a large white door at the far end of the hall. "Is what we call The Vision Chamber." Luke raised an eyebrow, and Yuli chuckled.

"Yes, yes - I know. Not a very interesting name, is it? But, I can assure you, that what happens in that room is nothing short of miraculous." Yuli's large opaque eyes flashed with a child-like wonderment.
"So this is some sort of..monitoring station?" Luke asked.

"Oh - much more, Master Skywalker. Much more." They had just passed a small fountain set in the center of the hall and Yuli suddenly changed course and pulled Luke over to it. Anakin stepped back, knowing what it was Yuli had in mind.

"I will explain to you the same way it was explained to me." She told him, pushing up one sleeve on her robe and tossing a look over her shoulder to Anakin. "The same way I explained it to your father, as well. Take one of those little rocks there." she instructed, pointing to a mound of decorative colored rocks framing the fountain. Luke did as he was asked, choosing a walnut-sized bluish rock. "Now - pick a point in the fountain and toss it in." Luke smiled, suspecting the lesson he was about to be given. He threw the rock into the very center of the fountain and instantly a little circle of water began to form outward from that spot, sending ripples all the way to the edges.

"See how one little disruption can have an impact," Yuli stated, motioning to the small ripples in he water. "This is what I do here. I keep watch on the other layers of The Force and look for disruptions in the flow. If something happens that upsets the natural balance, no matter how slight, there is the no doubt that we will eventually feel the effects here."

Luke considered that a moment. He remembered something that Yoda had once told him, something he had passed on to his own students. The Force was not simply an intangible object - it had depth, substance and many levels. Mastery of the various layers was a lifetime's work.
A lifetime and more, he thought with a smile.

"It's fascinating," Luke said at last, looking at Yuli with a hint of amazement. "It seems like that would be an enormous undertaking for one person."

Yuli grinned, then reached into the water and retrieved the stone Luke had tossed. She placed it back in its proper position and wiped her wet hand on her robe.

"Oh I have help," she said, once again taking Luke's arm and guiding him down the remainder of the hall. "But I get to be the lone tour guide for new arrivals such as yourself."

The three stopped in front of the large door that led to the Vision Chamber. Yuli put one hand on the mechanism to open the door, then hesitated.

"Luke - I want you to be prepared. The experience you will have will be unique - it is different for everyone. Just relax, clear your mind and let The Force guide you."

Luke was about to ask what exactly was through that door when an unexpected memory from the past surfaced in his mind.

"What's in there...?" he had asked Yoda.

"Only what you take with you."

Luke nodded in understanding, wondering what insights the Force would allow him this time. He felt his Father's hand on his shoulder, warm and supportive.

"If Luke does not mind you may go with him, Anakin," Yuli stated with a small smile.

"No, I couldn't go..." Anakin began to protest but Luke cut him off quickly.

"Come with me, father."

Luke's voice was soft, but held an underlying conviction. Anakin knew that his son would not take no for an answer, and in truth, he did not wish to argue. The Vision Chamber was not a place that was readily accessible. With the exception of those who monitored the levels, it was virtually off-limits. Each Jedi was permitted a single visit after his or her transition, and Anakin remembered his time clearly. He had often longed for the opportunity to experience it again.

Yuli pressed the button and the door began to open slowly - almost painfully slow. When the door had risen completely, father and son entered and Luke was immediately taken aback. The room was not nearly as spacious as he would have guessed - perhaps only the size of a very large closet. It was completely white from top to bottom, high-ceilinged, and it pulsed with a soothing translucent light. In the center of the room was a large, blue spherical crystal that sat atop a white marble pedestal. The crystal itself appeared almost alive with power, glowing softly. It seemed to call to Luke and instinctively, he moved and placed both his hands on the crystal, feeling a wave of energy course through him as he did so. Luke could sense Anakin behind him, could feel his father's anticipation. Luke heard the door shut behind them and he prepared himself for whatever was about to occur.

Remembering Yuli's instructions, Luke closed his eyes and breathed deeply, clearing his mind and feeling the Force move through him. An odd sound, like rushing air, began to fill the room and Luke heard Anakin suck in a quick breath. When he opened his eyes, Luke did likewise.

The once white room was filled with a swirling mass of color, lights and forms. It was all around him, and Luke was immediately disoriented. He looked down and could not see the floor, could not see his own hands on the crystal. Nothing existed save the colors and misty images that filled every inch of the room. It was as though he were in the middle of a colorful cloud and it was beautiful beyond comprehension. From the depths of Luke's mind, another memory arose.

"Through the Force, things you will see. The future, the past...old friends long gone."

"Old friends long gone.." Luke murmured, an understanding beginning to coalesce in his mind. Before, he had witnessed events through the Force. Now, he was experiencing events from within The Force.
Luke heard Anakin speaking silently to him through their Bond, willing him to concentrate on the hazy images. With effort, Luke focused on an area in front of him and was amazed to see one of the shimmering forms begin to take on a recognizable shape. Without warning, the shape suddenly became a clear image of his Aunt Beru, standing directly in front of him. Luke remembered his Aunt as a kind woman, her careworn face aged by the strains of a hard life on a desolate planet. But she looked young and vibrant here, her eyes sparkling as she smiled. A moment later, a second form took shape and Owen Lars was there, looking strong and healthy. He stood by his wife and they gazed at something off in the distance, their eyes filled with a quiet contentment.

"Is this real?" he asked aloud, knowing in his heart that it was but feeling a peculiar need for confirmation.
"It is real, my son," Anakin replied softly, a heavy sadness weighing in his voice. "You are seeing another level in The Force. True reality, unencumbered by the hardships of a purely physical existence"
Luke's mind was spinning with sudden understanding. He had once asked Yoda how it was that Obi-Wan had been able to vanish upon his death, how he had been able to speak and even appear to Luke after he had been struck down. Yoda had explained that the Force was part of every living thing. For Jedi, the Force moved freely through them, like a soft breeze would flow through the finest silk. With others, it was more like wind trying to pass through thick homespun. At the moment of physical death, the spirit within would pass into the layer of The Force that was most easily attainable. Yoda had told Luke that some Jedi, after many years of preparation and training, could alter their body's internal vibration, become one with the rhythm of The Force at will - as Obi-Wan had done. Luke had only nodded then, ingraining Yoda's words to memory without truly understanding. Now, Luke knew he was witnessing the Levels of The Force in all its glory - glimpsing for the first time what had become of those he had loved and lost, those who were not burdened with the gift and responsibility of being a vessel for The Force.

Anakin could sense Luke's emotions, could feel his amazement and his blossoming understanding. He recalled vividly that his own reaction had been much the same, as it was with everyone who experienced the Vision Chamber. Anakin did not know how long Luke would remain on this plane before he was able to return, but he was grateful that he was able to give his son this gift. It was an extraordinary experience, a secret of The Force that Luke could take back with him to the Other Side. Yuli had disobeyed several regulations in allowing Luke to enter this chamber, and Anakin knew he would be would be forever in her debt.

All at once, the images of his Aunt and Uncle faded, and Luke felt a momentary sense of loss that was replaced with joy when he saw his old friend Biggs Darlighter materialize. It appeared as though Biggs was working on something, a look of quiet happiness on his face. Like his Aunt and Uncle, he did not seem to notice Luke's presence, but Luke was pleased to know that his old friend had found a place in eternity, and that he was obviously content. After that, a series of images came rapidly and with more clarity. Luke saw his many Alliance comrades that had died long ago. He saw his students at the Praxeum, gathering for training and he realized he was seeing the Other Side - his side. He saw Leia and Han, his niece and nephews. Luke's heart ached when he glimpsed his beloved wife, sitting on their bed, brushing her beautiful red-gold hair and chattering to her rounded belly.

Slowly, the kaleidoscope of images began to slow, and the colorful mists started to return. Luke felt a curious wave of disappointment come from his father and Luke realized that he felt it, too. The experience had left him stunned, joyously moved - mixed with a deep longing to be back with his family. Luke was just about to release his hold on the crystal sphere when one final image began to form, directly in front of him. He focused every fiber of his being on that image, willing it to not fade away. The shifting colors ebbed slightly, and then with a rush the image took on a familiar form. Luke heard his father take a sharp breath, and then found himself looking at Leia, standing no more than two meters in front of him. Her back was turned to him, and she was dressed in a lovely white gown he did not think he had seen her wear before. Her dark hair was streaming down her back in one of her usual intricate styles and she was looking around, as if trying to locate something. She turned around finally and Luke's eyes grew wide when he realized that this was not his sister at all. Or was it? The room was still filled with softly flowing colors and Luke had to squint to see the woman clearly. She moved forward, her dark eyes focused on Luke. None of the others he had seen here had appeared to notice his presence -but this woman looked directly at him. AAs she came closer, Luke could see why he had mistaken her for Leia. She had the same color hair and eyes, the same small build - and the expression on her face was very familiar. He had seen that same look on his sisters face before - usually when she was having a rare moment of peace with her family, when she would sometimes stop and simply watch her children as they played...

When she would watch her children.

Luke thought his heart might have stopped for a moment, as the realization of who he was looking at became clear to him.

"Mother.." he whispered, and was amazed when she nodded and smiled. A soft voice seemed to whisper in the air - "Luke. My precious son..."

Her brown eyes conveyed a love that he had never before experienced - A mother's love. If not for Anakin's strong hand on his shoulder Luke thought he may have dropped to his knees from the sheer intensity of the moment. One delicate hand came up, reached out for him. Luke mirrored the gesture, lifting one hand up to meet hers. As their palms touched through The Force Luke could not prevent the single tear that welled in his eyes and ran down his face. He saw his Mother move her gaze up, looking slightly behind him, and Luke knew that she and Anakin were sharing a silent moment of communication. Then her eyes once again locked on her son and Luke understood that their time together was coming to an end. He looked deep into her eyes, trying to forever imprint her beautiful image in his memory. They exchanged a lifetime of emotions in a single moment, then she took a step back, her fingers slowly pulling away from Luke's. She smiled once more and then the swirling mists of colors rushed in and enveloped her image. Luke remained locked in position, his arm up and reaching, his eyes still focused on the spot where just moments before his mother had stood. The colors then dispersed and slowly the room returned to normal. But it was a long moment before Luke trusted his voice enough to speak.
"Thank you," he said quietly, knowing that Anakin would understand that those words were a hopeless understatement.

"It was the very least I could do for you," Anakin said softly, a hint of lingering sadness still in his voice.
"Will we ever see her - see any of them - again?" Luke questioned, once again already knowing the answer.

Anakin paused, looking for the right words. "We were chosen by The Force for a purpose. When we start down the path of the Jedi, we dedicate our eternal lives to that commitment. It is a great honor to serve the Force, but with that honor comes great sacrifice."

Luke closed his eyes tightly, understanding the unspoken message in his father's words. He could no more deny his destiny than his mother could deny hers. It was the way of things. The way of The Force.
It was a long while before Luke and Anakin emerged from the Vision Chamber, and when they did they were slightly surprised to be greeted by not only Yuli, but Qui-Gon and Nomi as well. It was clear from the look on Luke's face what had occurred, and Qui-Gon wished he could allow Luke time to meditate and come to terms with his overwhelming emotions. Circumstances, however, did not permit that time.
"Luke, I hate to do this right now, but we must report to the Council immediately."

Qui-Gon's tone was serious, and Nomi looked nearly ready to shake with a barely controlled anger. Luke and Anakin exchanged concerned glances.

"What has happened?" Anakin asked.

"The Council believes they know who it was that brought you here." Nomi stated, looking at Luke almost apologetically, an angry edge in her voice.

Qui-Gon shot Nomi a warning stare, and she immediately fell silent, struggling to calm her inner fire. Then he turned to Luke. "That is not the important issue right now. What is important is that the Legions have started to advance on the borders."

"What?" Anakin exclaimed with a tone of disbelief. "If they had begun an attack I would surely have felt it."

"They haven't attacked. Yet."

"But they intend to," Luke stated. It was not a question.

"It appears so," Qui-Gon stated, reaching under his tunic and pulling out an object that Luke recognized immediately.

"My lightsabre," he said with surprise, taking the weapon somewhat slowly and hooking it to his belt with a small grin."I didn't think that it......came with me."

Qui-Gon nodded. "Generally inanimate objects to not Cross. The fact that you showed up with it was one of the biggest indications that yours was not a normal Transition. I had turned it over to the Council earlier but they instructed me to give it back to you." There was a distinct warning in those words that Luke did not miss. Qui-Gon looked at Anakin, then turned to Luke. His voice conveyed the seriousness of the situation when he spoke.

"I fear you may be needing it very soon."

**************************************

LEGENDS

The walk from the Vision Hall had thus far been a silent one. The small group had paired off - Anakin and Qui-Gon in the lead with Nomi and Luke trailing a bit behind. Anakin seemed to be moving on auto-pilot, his legs taking him where he needed to go, but his mind was clearly elsewhere. His face had an almost blank stare, his eyes glazed. Qui-Gon understood that Anakin was reaching deeply into The Force, using his practiced skills as a Warder to sense any possible Dark advancement on the Light Realm.

Luke and Nomi were walking considerably slower than the two men ahead of them, only partially due to their shorter stature. Nomi knew that Luke's thoughts were undoubtedly focused on his recent visit to the Vision Chamber, as was very typical after such an experience. It had been thousands of years since Nomi had Crossed, but she could still vividly recall the faces of her loved ones as she had seen them in that Chamber. It was a hard realization - the understanding that, for Jedi, The Force would always demand more of them. Nomi remembered spending many days in quiet meditation after her Vision experience, sorting through her myriad of emotions and coming to an acceptance of her eternal position within The Force. She felt an immense sadness that Luke would not be allowed time to do the same. She glance at him as they walked, and was once again surprised by his casual strides and the calm demeanor he displayed despite the serious circumstances that surrounded him. She smiled slightly. He is certainly his father's son!

"I have a confession to make," Luke stated suddenly, and Nomi's eyes widened at the unexpected comment. She looked at him curiously - smiling when she noticing his face had reddened slightly.
"I didn't realize who you were at first," he continued, bowing his head and trying unsuccessfully to suppress a grin. "I had no idea I was in the company of the one-and-only Nomi Sunrider."

Nomi attempted to hide her surprise by laughing softly and reaching up to brush a non-existent stray hair out of her face. She had intentionally only told Luke her first name - as she did with all those whom she was assigned to assist after Transition. She has found that her reputation was intimidating to some, and that made the Orientation process more difficult. She wondered if Anakin had told him who she was. Not that it really mattered - she knew Luke would have figured it out on his own before long anyway. "Don't believe everything you hear," she told him softly.

"Oh, I don't - trust me," Luke replied, thinking of all the exaggerated and even completely false stories that were floating around about him in the New Republic. And his stories were fairly recent, whereas Nomi's exploits had been around for centuries - plenty of time for some thorough embellishment. Luke looked at her with a mix of admiration and awe as he continued. "..but we have located some old Holocrons, and I think the information they contain is probably very accurate."

"I guess so," she said absently, looking away. She was accustomed to being regarded as a historical figure, but not by someone like Luke - who was himself a living legend to all the Jedi. She wondered what stories Luke may have heard about her. She was certain that most would pale in comparison to his.
As if understanding her unspoken thoughts, Luke continued. "We did a great deal of research on the Sith Wars when we found out one of the major battles had taken place Yavin, near the grounds of the Praxeum. One of my students even wrote a ballad about your role in that conflict." Luke grinned at her. "It's very good, actually."

Nomi felt her face flush with embarrassment. Someone wrote a song about her? She knew that her involvement in the Sith War was widely known. She and some of her fellow Jedi had been embroiled in a battle against an ancient Sith faction - a faction that was being led by two fallen Jedi Knights, Ulic Qel-Droma and Exar Kun. The war had been brutal, and the Jedi had suffered terrible losses. Nomi had played a key role during the final battle - managing to block Ulic from touching The Force. That act had enabled Ulic to cast off the dark influences that clouded his mind. He betrayed Kun and the Jedi were eventually victorious.

But Nomi had never considered herself a great warrior. She had simply done what was required of her at the time. Other, she knew, felt differently - elevating her to the level of a legend.

"I've always been fascinated by your life," Luke continued, pulling her out of her musings. "I feel greatly honored to have you as my..." he searched for the right word, ".. mentor while I'm here."

"Well, to be honest - I feel the same about you," she told him with a smile. "I've kept a close watch on your accomplishments, you know." She was thoughtful for a moment. "I think we have a great deal in common."

He looked at her, surprised. "I'm flattered. But I'm afraid I don't see the similarities."

"Well, we both started our training rather late - at nearly the same age..." she began, and Luke nodded in agreement. It was true enough - Nomi was already married and had a young child when she had become apprentice to Master Thon. Though the doctrine surrounding Jedi training was much less rigid during her life than it was in the later days of the Jedi, it was still unusual for an individual to begin Jedi training after reaching adulthood.

"..and we both had an experience with Jedi-turned-Sith."

Luke faltered a moment, and Nomi was about to apologize for bringing up what she understood was probably a painful subject, but then she saw Luke smile.

"I guess you're right," he told her, his blue eyes sparkling. "I had never really thought about it."
She gazed back at him for a long moment, admiring his quiet strength and refreshing candor. So much like Anakin, she thought to herself. Then Nomi turned away, suddenly feeling very exposed. Luke was about to ask a question regarding the old Jedi ability known as battle mediation when he felt something unusual - a brief flux of emotion from Nomi that was subtle yet clear. He recognized it as an intense feeling of attraction - even love. For him? he wondered, stunned at the prospect. But no - he looked deeper and knew that wasn't quite right. Nomi cared for him, certainly - but the attraction she felt was slightly different, stronger - and it was not channeled directly at him somehow. He turned his mind inward, trying to understand what it was he had felt. He called upon his powers of Insight, and after a moment a slow smile spread across his face as the situation became clear.

Nomi was not attracted to him because of who he was individually. Instead, she cared for him because he was Anakin's son.

He stole a glance at Nomi, and almost mentioned something to her. He thought better of it, though - deciding that this was probably something she did not intend to be public knowledge. He wondered if his father had any idea how Nomi felt about him.

"Did your father say anything to you about the Council?" she asked, obviously trying to change the subject. Luke shook his head.

"No - nothing specific anyway. Is there something I should know before we get there?"

Nomi considered a moment. "Well, they are very set in their ways when it comes to protocol."

"Such as..?" Luke prompted.

Nomi shrugged. "The basics. Address them formally, don't speak until given permission... Oh - and we will be expected to face Master Yoda when we enter since he's the oldest member now."

Luke brightened visibly. "I had wondered if Master Yoda was part of the Council."

Nomi laughed. "Definitely. He is very well respected. After all - he managed to put up with you."

I deserved that, he thought, chuckling. Luke thought back on his first encounter with Yoda - an encounter he had mishandled to an embarrassing degree. Being a Master himself now, Luke had a great deal of admiration for the enormous patience Yoda had shown him. Luke doubted he would be so generous if some upstart Jedi-hopeful were to show up at the Praxeum and exhibit the same cocky arrogance way he himself had displayed when he first arrived on Dagobah.

Nomi was about to give Luke a little more information on the Council but then an idea struck her. She turned to Luke, a mischievous grin on her face.

"So - how would you really like to make an impression today..?"

Luke raised an eyebrow, wondering what Nomi had in mind.

*****************************************

Qui-Gon looked back over his shoulder at Nomi and Luke. He had felt a surge of surprise come from Luke a few minutes before and he wondered what the two of them were discussing. Nomi looked slightly flushed, almost embarrassed, and Luke had a knowing smile on his face. Luke had noticed Qui-Gon looking back at him, and he shook his head ever so slightly. Qui-Gon distinctly heard an unspoken request to 'drop it' come through the Guide-Bond.

"My son appears to make quite an impression on red-haired women," Anakin said suddenly, amusement in his voice. Qui-Gon grinned at him.

"It certainly looks that way," he agreed. Then his voice turned serious. "Were you able to sense anything unusual in your meditation?"

Anakin shook his head, frowning. "No. But just because I'm not sensing it doesn't mean it isn't there. I could be missing something."

"I doubt that. You are nothing if not thorough, my friend. When they attack you will know."
Anakin looked at his old mentor with alarm. When they attack. Not if. He quickly glanced behind him, insuring that Luke and Nomi were still a considerable distance away. He moved slightly closer to Qui-Gon as they walked and lowered his voice. "So are you going to tell me what is really happening here?"

Qui-Gon looked upward, scanning the sky. "I was told to allow the Council to explain..." he began but Anakin cut him off, stopping and turning to face him. He reached out and grasped Qui-Gon's forearm, his eyes pleading.

"Please," he said softly, "I need to know."

Qui-Gon looked at his friend a long moment, then nodded and began walking again. He felt a responsibility for Anakin - he had ever since he first encountered the little Force-Strong boy living a slave's life on a desert world. It would not be the first time - or the last - that he would go against the Council on his behalf.

"The Keepers have found some documents on Transcendence. Not much, but enough to determine a possible cause."

Anakin nodded, then cut directly to the heart of the matter. "What did Nomi mean when she said they know who brought Luke here?" His voice had an angry edge, tinged with a trace of fear. He could feel his paternal protective instincts starting to kick in, and he struggled to clear his mind and remain focused.
Qui-Gon shook his head, irritated that Nomi had carelessly let that information slip back at the Vision Hall. "Nothing is certain yet, Anakin - there is only a suspicion. One of the Keepers came across a scroll - one that dates back to the Golden Era. In it, there was a passage that spoke of an ancient Sith ritual...."
Anakin whirled around to face Qui-Gon, the intensity of his gaze and the fire in his eyes effectively stopping any further explanation. Sith rituals! Of course. During the time he had served Palpatine, Anakin had heard his Master speak of a powerful ability - a way for an individual to move between planes of The Force. But Palpatine had insisted it was, sadly, a lost art that died thousands of years before with the first Sith. And in his last years, Palpatine had become obsessed, hiring thousands of archeologists and explorers to scour the galaxy for artifacts relating to the ancient Sith. Anakin had never questioned his Master, but he always suspected that there was much his Master kept from him.

"Who was it?" Anakin demanded, his voice rising. "Was it Palpatine?" He could feel his anger beginning to build, and he endeavored to keep it under control. He had considered the possibility that the Dark Ones had been behind Luke's Transcendence, but he been holding out hope that perhaps it was just an incredible twist of fate - a fluke that could be eventually rectified. But now - to hear that a Sith Ritual was involved...

Anakin turned, his face a mask of conviction. I swear by everything sacred that if Palpatine has dared to.....

"Father," a concerned voice said softly behind him. Anakin turned to see Luke and Nomi looking worriedly at him. He closed his eyes, bringing his emotions under control. He remembered the words of the Council - to be mindful of his duties as Warder. He would be of no use to Luke if his mind were clouded by negativity. And if what he suspected was right - Luke would certainly need his support.
"What's wrong?" Luke asked, his voice tense. He could feel his Father's conflicting emotions, but Anakin only shook his head and averted his eyes from Luke's gaze.

"It's nothing, Luke. The entire situation here is just... very upsetting. I know you wish to return to your wife and family. I want you to have the life you desire."

Luke crossed his arms over his chest, not buying that story for a moment. His voice hardened slightly when he spoke.

"You don't need to protect me, father." His intense gaze moved to Qui-Gon, then Nomi. "I have accepted the fact that I am in an unfamiliar environment. There is much I don't understand and I think I have been fairly patient in waiting for some answers. But if there is something I should know I would appreciate being told. Right now."

Anakin and Qui-Gon exchanged glances, knowing that Luke had every right to demand an explanation. He was a Jedi - capable and strong and certainly not in need of coddling. Anakin in particular was loath to keep anything from his son.

"I apologize, Luke," Qui-Gon stated, his tone regretful. "The Council thought it best to wait until they knew exactly how the Transcendence occurred before informing you of any decisions. It's typical of them and for what it's worth - I disagree with their methods."

"As do I," Anakin interjected.

Any further discussion was halted when Luke suddenly felt an odd buzzing sound in his head. The sound was followed immediately by an unspoken command to report to the Council. Luke looked around and saw the others had apparently also heard the instructions, as they were already starting to move in that direction. Luke felt a soft touch on his arm and he looked over to see Nomi favoring him with a sympathetic smile.

"Don't worry Luke," she told him softy. "We're about to find out what's going on. I promise."

**********************************

ANSWERS

The fact that he was about to face the Council was abundantly clear to Luke as he ascended the crystal stairs that led to the main Council Chamber. Before him, at the top of the stairs, was the most enormous set of doors he had ever seen, intricately carved designs decorating the surfaces from top to bottom. Behind those doors, twelve of the most powerful and wise Jedi Masters that had ever existed were assembled, and their combined energy sent waves of power through the Force. Luke had never experienced anything like it, and the sensation was nearly overwhelming.

As they approached the Council Chamber, Qui-Gon turned his head to Luke and spoke softly.
"There are certain procedures that must be followed once we enter."

Luke nodded. "Yes, I know. Nomi already informed me."

Qui-Gon grunted, and glanced quickly behind him where Nomi was trailing, obviously lost in thought. "The Council is very set in their ways- and more than in just simple etiquette. But they do have their reasons."

"You mentioned that once before," Luke prompted, his voice laced with curiosity.

"I want you to know that sometimes it may seem as though the Council is keeping information from you - from all of us. Many times they do, but it is because the Jedi here are constantly being monitored."
"Monitored?"

"By the Dark Ones," Qui-Gon explained. "Just as the Warders, like your father, keep watch on their realm, so do they keep watch on ours. The difference, of course, is that we watch for defensive purposes. The Dark Ones watch for weakness' in that defense. The Council members are very powerful, and very wise. Together, they are able to shield their thoughts, still the flow of the Force so as not to pique the interest of the Dark Ones. Individually, even the most powerful Jedi are not capable of that level of control. It is for this reason that Knowledge of sensitive information is sometimes Blocked."
Luke considered that a moment, seeing the sense behind the reasoning. "Sometimes knowing too little is more dangerous than knowing too much," he stated quietly, his mind momentarily returning to painful events long past.

Qui-Gon nodded, hearing the subtle sadness that was evident in Luke's voice. "I agree. As I told you - there are times I do not fully agree with the Council's methods, but I do trust them. Implicitly. I know you're growing impatient with the situation, and I understand your desire to come to a resolution. I feel much the same. But you must understand that the Council tends to work slowly, using considerable caution." Qui-Gon smiled. "They are accustomed to having the luxury of time - an eternity of it."

Luke smiled; realizing his Guide knew him well. Almost too well. "I'll keep that in mind - though I don't suppose I need to tell you that patience has never been my strength."

Qui-Gon chuckled, and purposefully raised his voice a notch when he replied. "Like Father, like Son!"
Anakin, who was several steps ahead, turned upon hearing the comment, an obviously false look of hurt surprise on his face that elicited chuckles from Luke and Qui-Gon.

Once at the top of the stairs, the group had to walk briefly down a short hallway before finally coming to a stop in front of the magnificent doors. Luke involuntarily stood a little straighter, and took a deep calming breath, waiting for the signal that they could enter the Chamber.

Almost immediately, without warning, the heavy doors slowly opened and the small group moved forward. Luke was struck by the sheer enormity of the room - it was circular, with a high-domed ceiling and large windows gracing every wall. The power he had felt earlier when approaching the room was magnified now, and he could feel that all eyes were upon him. He quickly scanned the area, taking in everything, and he noticed that two of the twelve council chairs were empty. His gaze passed over each Master in turn, and finally came to rest on Master Yoda, who sat relaxed and quiet in a small, elevated chair.

The group stopped in the center of the room and bowed to Yoda, who acknowledged it with a slight nod. Luke took that moment to break form and move to stand directly before his old Master. He knelt down, placing both his hands on one knee, and bowed his head. Behind him, he could feel both Anakin and Qui-Gon's shock at his actions. Indeed, he seemed to have stunned the entire Council with his apparent disregard for protocol. The room remained in stunned silence for a long moment, and Luke was on the verge of regretting his actions, when he felt the oddly familiar touch of Master Yoda's cool hand come to rest on top of his head. That simple action served to break the tension in the room, and Luke felt a surge of joyous pride emanate from his aged Master.

"A long time, has it been, since I have been honored in such a manner," Yoda stated, his gravely voice filled with a combination of amusement and affection.

Luke raised his head then, and locked eyes with Yoda, a small smile betraying his otherwise intense and serious countenance.

"I can't tell you how happy I am to see you again, Master," Luke stated softly, and he saw Yoda nod in agreement.

"Unfortunate it is, that the time for this reunion has come too soon," the tiny Master replied. He then motioned slightly with his hand. Luke stood and moved to take his original position in the center of the room. He felt his father's eyes on him and he turned his head slightly to return the gaze.

'How in the worlds did you know about that?' Anakin Sent with surprise, already suspecting the answer.
'I had some help,' Luke replied, casting a meaningful glance in Nomi's direction who was clearly trying hard to keep from grinning.

Nomi had indeed taken the opportunity to instruct Luke in the ancient art of Council protocol. She knew that Luke's simple gesture - that of kneeling before his Master before addressing the Council - was an unexpected yet pleasant surprise. It was an ancient form of respect that had long ago been discarded in favor of the more reserved standing bow. But Nomi understood that many of the elder Masters feared that their time-honored customs had been lost with the destruction of the Old republic. Coming from Luke - a member of the new order of Jedi - this act was far more than a simple gesture of reverence. It spoke of a high regard for the old ways and a deep respect for the ancient traditions. Nomi knew the Council had been pleased.

Movement from the Jedi seated directly to Yoda's left caught Luke's attention. Luke's eyes widened slightly when he realized that he was looking at Vodo Siosk Baas - he recognized the Master immediately from the images contained within some of the Holocrons kept at the Praxuem.
"Master Luke Skywalker - we welcome you," Vodo stated, then motioned to the others. "We welcome you all."

"Understand, we do, your concern with the present situation," Yoda began, cutting to the heart of the matter without preamble. "A possible solution we have found."

"We believe we can reverse the Transcendence and return you to your proper existence," Voda added.
Luke released the breath he did not realize he had been holding, and he felt waves of relief travel from both his father and Qui-Gon. He started to speak, but hesitated, remembering Nomi's instructions to only speak after being asked to do so.

"This will not be an easy task," Master Baas continued. "There is much danger involved."

Luke's earlier relief subsided rapidly, and he felt a surge of protective concern flow from his Father.
"Believe we do, that the benefits of returning you outweigh the possible danger," Yoda added.
Luke and Anakin exchanged glances, communicating silently through their Bond. Qui-Gon stood motionless, his expression unreadable.

"Questions you have, Master Skywalker?" Yoda intoned, his large eyes dancing almost playfully.
Luke shifted his stance somewhat and smiled, knowing that despite the years he had spent perfecting his mental shields, his very soul was still an open book to his Master.

"Yes, Master. As grateful as I am that you have found a way to return me - there is something I feel I must know. I still do not understand how it was it that I came to be here." Luke shot a glance at his father, remembering their earlier conversation on this subject. "I know that several theories have been discussed, but my concern is that even if I am able to return to the Other Side - what would prevent this from happening again? Either to me - or to someone else."

Yoda bowed his head, and the other Council members exchanged glances. Clearly, it was a question that was either unexpected or one they were not yet willing to answer.

"I do not think that you will need to concern yourself with this happening again, Master Skywalker," an unfamiliar voice stated from behind Luke. Luke and the others turned to face Master Arca Jeth.
"So you do in fact know what happened?" Luke prompted, his voice soft but firm.

"We believe we know," Arca admitted. He took a deep breath, and his eyes met those of Nomi's for a moment before he continued. "We are taking steps to locate and confront the responsible party."
That statement brought sharp looks from both Anakin and Luke.

Locate and confront?

Luke's brow furrowed in confusion, and he Sent his father a mental inquiry. He was surprised to learn that Anakin was apparently as surprised by this news as his son. Surely the Council was not planning to enter the Dark Realm! Luke shook his head, then his face went pale as another thought surfaced in his mind.

Unless the Dark Ones had already managed to infiltrate the Light Realm!

That idea added another disturbing element to the already confusing situation, and Luke had to struggle to keep his attention focused on what Master Arca was saying.

"...Many years ago, it was believed that there was a way for Jedi to travel between planes of existence within The Force. Of course, The Jedi code would forbid such an act - it is an unnatural disruption, not conducive to maintaining the Balance."

Luke took an involuntary step forward, listening intently. Anakin and Nomi did likewise, while Qui-Gon simply stared ahead, his face an odd mixture of emotions.

"However," Arca continued, "The Sith had no such code, and thus they began to actively experiment with the idea of what we now call Transcendence."

Master Jeth paused, and another Master, an Ithorian, took over. "Records we have uncovered state that the Sith used their stolen knowledge of Jedi Transition and Transition Bonding to formulate a theory."
Luke's brow furrowed, and he felt a wave of barely contained anger resonate from his Father at mention of the Sith. Nomi radiated a brief, muted shock, followed closely by a flash of understanding. Luke felt increasingly uneasy, wondering where the conversation was leading.

"The Sith knew that Transition Bonds allowed Jedi who had Crossed to this plain to remain in mental contact with a Jedi on the Other Side, even to project an image of themselves at times and communicate directly with those they had Bonded with. But the Sith, fueled by their lust for power over the Force, endeavored to find a way to go beyond mental contact between realms - they sought to attempt actual physical contact."

Luke shook his head, amazed and saddened at what he was hearing. Such a blatant misuse and corruption of the Force - it was sickening to him. To think that he himself had been somehow manipulated by such a dark technique sent a chill through his entire being. He strove to maintain calm, his mind working frantically. There was something here - some missing piece of this puzzle that was eluding him, just out of reach. Transcendence was clearly an ability used only by the Sith - but the Sith existed in another area, a separate plane of The Force. What dark purpose did they hope to achieve by bringing Luke here? And why now? If they had the ability to tear him away from his natural plane - surely there were other times they would have done so - times when it would have made more of an impact. Forcing a Transcendence twenty years ago - when he was the only remaining Jedi - would have been much more devastating than doing so now, when the Jedi Order was finally beginning to flourish. Luke's mind was screaming, the questions mounting far faster than answers.

At that moment, the heavy doors to the Council Chamber swung open wide, the sound reverberating loudly, causing all eyes to turn in that direction. Two Jedi - clearly the missing Council Members by their demeanor and strong Force presence - entered the room, escorting a third person. The third individual was a strongly built human male, dressed in Jedi attire - but the material of his tunic appeared more leather than cloth. He had shoulder length dark hair and a strikingly handsome face. He moved gracefully, a distinct air of arrogance - almost amusement - set into his every feature. He scanned the room quietly, and his piercing gaze came to rest on Luke. One corner of the man's mouth turned up in a smug grin, and he crossed his arms over his chest, looking supremely satisfied.

At the sight of the newcomers, Nomi's eyes went wide, and she took a few purposeful steps forward. Luke glanced in her direction, noting her intense reaction, then looked to Qui-Gon, who was standing calmly, seemingly not surprised by the turn of events.

Luke felt a hand on his shoulder, and sensed his father had moved up close behind him. He turned his head slightly, speaking softly, his eyes never leaving the dark haired man who continued to stare in his direction.

"Who is he?" Luke asked, and Anakin remained silent a long moment before answering. When at last he spoke, his voice wavered, hinting of intense emotions that were being kept tightly controlled.
"He is the person responsible for your Transcendence," Anakin stated quietly. He paused, taking a calming breath before continuing.
"That is Ulic Qel-Droma."

****************************************

DESTINY

The Dark Realm Master sat quietly in meditation, his robed arms draped loosely on the high-backed chair in the center of his meditation room. It had been quite some time since he had Sent the summons to his errant messenger, and as yet, Palpatine had failed to heed that summons.

The Master almost smiled. Palpatine was most certainly preoccupied with his traitorous cohorts. No doubt the three of them were, at this very moment, formulating the best method to advance their own personal power in the wake of the Transcendence.

The Transcendence......

The Master considered the situation a moment, luxuriating in the knowledge that it was a Jedi - a Jedi! - who had created such a glorious opportunity for the Dark Side. Such a beautiful, perfect irony in that. True - Ulic Quel-Droma had once embraced the Dark Side - but he had turned his back on Sith teachings at the end, and died in the Light he had first revered.

The Master had to wonder why it was that Qel-Droma had resorted to such a grievous act against the Jedi Code - he would undoubtedly face harsh chastisement from the Jedi Council for his actions.
But it was no great matter to the Master, the reasons behind the Transcendence. Let the Council deal with their renegade Knight as they wished - for Ulic had already served his purpose. The Master did smile fully then, thinking of how Ulic - though he did not yet realize it - had given the Sith he betrayed one final, wonderful opportunity to even the Balance.

Such arrogance you have, Qel-Droma. I thank you for that.

The distinct feel of an approaching presence, followed closely by the sound of footsteps, roused the Master from his meditation. He opened his eyes, but otherwise did not move, listening as the steps got steadily louder, closer and finally came to a halt just a meter behind his chair.

He considered allowing Palpatine to simply wait there for a while, knowing that despite his messenger's covert actions against him, he would still feign obedience for the time being. He opted not to play that game, though. In truth, the Master was very curious as to what lies Palpatine would spew at this meeting.
"Come forward, my Messenger."

Palaptine bridled but did his Master's bidding, moving to stand in front of the chair, then dropping to one knee as usual, head bowed.

"Reporting as ordered, My Master," he said smoothly, realizing that saying the words came a little easier today. Pain was always more tolerable if you knew exactly when it would be ending, and Palpatine knew that his pain - that of his slavery to this man - was nearly at an end

"Rise and report."

Palpatine did so, adopting a military stance with hands behind his back, his eyes looking straight ahead, like twin yellow suns blazing through the darkness in the room.

"I have contacted The Legions, Lord. They are moving into position."

The Master leaned heavily into the chair, appearing satisfied.

"Excellent. And you Palpatine - what is your opinion of the situation."

Palpatine's eyes widened slightly at the question. The Master had never asked his opinion before - indeed, it had been made quite clear that he should not even be allowed to have an opinion. He hesitated a moment, bolstering his mental shields so as to not betray his surprise. He thought that perhaps he was being bated- perhaps tested. His mind worked quickly to formulate an appropriate response.

"It is not the position of a messenger to analyze or question the actions of those he serves," he replied finally, deference filling his voice.

The Master chuckled, then rose and slowly crossed the room.

Always the politician, Palpatine.

"Well spoken." He paused, then turned slowly, looking the former Emperor directly in the eye. "But why do I not believe you?"

Palpatine's heart froze in his chest, and for just a moment he felt very exposed. What did the Master know? What did he suspect? He checked his shields - they were fully intact, and he sensed no probe from the Dark Lord. He struggled to maintain control, while an unmistakable sense of dread began to form in his soul. The Master had a legendary network of spies at his disposal - could one of them possibly managed to follow him to his stealth meetings with Kun and Maul? Or perhaps, had one of his alleged allies betrayed him to the Master for their own ends? Any of that was possible, of course - but Palpatine had been in the business of subterfuge and deception for a long time, and he knew the game well. It seemed clear that the Master knew something was amiss - that was clear. Perhaps he even suspected that Palpatine would make a move for control of the Realm - but he could not possibly know the specifics. Those dark secrets were hidden - locked deeply away in the cold recesses of Palaptine's soul. Palaptine sometimes mused that even he could not see himself clearly, as deeply hidden as were his desires.

The Master, for his part, watched as muted emotions played across Palaptine's face. He saw surprise there, most of all - and fear. A slight curiosity and suspicion mingling together to form a quiet panic. He knew that his Messenger was waging an internal struggle - apparently not certain how - or even if - he should reply to his Master's accusation. He let the moment play out a bit longer, enjoying watching his servant squirm under his stare.

"You need not reply, Palaptine. I know your mind. Indeed, I know your very soul. And I know that the opportunities inherent in this transcended have not escaped your notice."

The former Emperor almost reeled from shock, but he hid his involuntary reaction well. He steadied himself, altered his stance, and his eyes turned to slits. He was not sure of the Dark Lord's plan - or of the reasons behind this unusual questioning. But he was certain the Master did not know as much as he was implying. For if he truly suspected Palpatine's plan - if he knew of the plans to press for dominance - he would act swiftly. True, the Master had grown complacent in his position - too comfortable with his power and the deference of those who served the Dark. But he was no fool. And a traitor would certainly not be given leave to make idle conversation.

A traitor to the Dark Master would be destroyed.

But yet Palptaine still stood, unmolested in the Master's private chamber. He vowed to speed up his plans, as much as was possible, before the Dark Lord figured out what was truly happening. He would continue on course and it would not be long before he had gained authority over this Realm. It would be a simple task to thwart the Master's reign once he had shown his power. And his power was vast. It had lain dormant far too long and ached to be released. And it would be - soon. Palpatine was certain of that noww, and it filled him with an unusual sense of almost-peace. It made him brave enough to take the bait - if, in fact, his Master was bating him.

"I will not attempt to deceive you, My Master. I have considered the implications of the Transcendence, as I am sure you have. There is much that could be accomplished. For the Dark Side." He added the last part quickly, almost as afterthought.

"Such as......?" The Master asked with deceptive casualness.

"I would not presume to tell the Master of the Dark Realm how best to proceed, but I believe that a window of opportunity will soon exist that could give us - give the Dark Side - another chance to thrive."

 Palaptine considered a moment, then decided that perhaps a small sign of honesty would further his show of servitude. Besides, he was certain that the Master did not possess the knowledge necessary to act on any suggestion he may offer. "It has been revealed that it was indeed Skywalker that Transcended. He will certainly be sent back. Such an opportunity may never again present itself."

The Master nearly smiled, greatly enjoying his messenger's use of carefully constructed language. Palpatine was brilliantly intelligent, that much was clear. Such a pity that he did not hold respect for the Force. He could easily have been one of the great ones - one of the Dark Side's honored servants. Instead, he sought to impose his will on others - he strove for power, for personal gain. Palaptine never truly understood the Dark Side and it's necessary position within the Force. It was a weakness of many - both Jedi and Sith alike. It was a difficult task, like walking a tightrope, trying to understand the inner working of the Force and to maintain the tenuous balance within.

The Dark Master had hoped that Palaptine would eventually come to accept his position - that serving as a messenger would humble him, allow him to see the error of his thinking in trying to control the Dark Side instead of serving it. But that was not the case. Palpatine had become quite a fine charlatan; bowing and feigning his obedience - but inside he had not changed. For even now he still sought to achieve personal power. Such a pity that there were some who refused to learn from past mistakes. When next he spoke, The Master chose his words carefully, a hint of warning evident in his voice.
"If you continue upon this path, it will surely be your undoing."

Palaptine's eyes flashed with anger, but he held his tongue, allowing his Master to believe he was heeding the words.

"You will report to the Southern border and inform our Legions there that I will be contacting them shortly. You will remain there until I summon you again." He paused before continuing. "You were partially correct, Palaptine. This Transcendence will indeed benefit the Dark Side. But rest assured, it will not benefit you." He paused, letting his words hang in the air for maximum effect. "Go now. Await my instructions."

"It will be as you command, Master," Palpatine stated solemnly, then tuned sharply on his heel and walked quickly out of the room, the door slamming loudly behind him.

Moments later, a lithe figure emerged from the shadow, and moved to stand beside her Master.
"Why did you bother to warm him?" Lumiya asked, obviously disapproving.
The Master took a deep breath, and looked in the direction his messenger had just taken.
"He is powerful, my dear. Very powerful. And yet he is void of any understanding of The Force." He sighed, looking for the proper words. "Such a sad waste of assets. It would be negligent to not allow him every opportunity to redeem himself."

The woman snorted. "You have been trying to tame him for years. Too many years, in my estimation. He should have been eliminated long ago."

The Master smiled, appreciating the woman's candidness. Not many would be so bold as to chide the Great Dark Master.

"Perhaps you are correct. But let us not forget that he is, in a fashion, working toward the same goals as we. "

"He's dangerous, Master. If he manages to succeed......"

The Master held up a hand, silencing the woman. "Let us not concern ourselves with speculation of what could happen. There is enough to occupy our minds as it is. Continue to follow him and report back to me. I suspect after our conversation today he may well decide to expedite his plans."

"Yes, Master. As you wish." The woman bowed low and departed, disappearing into the shadows.
The Master watched her go, then moved to sit in his chair once more. He closed his eyes, and fell into a deep meditation, reaching out to The Force. The Dark Side swirled around him, through him; it's cold touch filling his being. He concentrated and was rewarded with brief glimpses of the future, each one ripe with possibilities. He smiled, sensing that a great victory for the Dark Realm would soon be realized.

****************************************

Palpatine's yellow eyes were nearly sparking with excitement. The Master obviously knew nothing - nothing! of the nature of Darkness. Followers of the Dark were never intended to be slaves - they were meant to rule! He would prove this, beyond a doubt. The Master's apparent disregard for action would make the task even easier than he had anticipated.

Palpatine smiled as he considered his next move. He would wait until the proper moment and he would infect the precious Light Realm with Darkness. He would then return to the Other Side, using the Jedi's own portal of Transcendence they would create to return Skywalker. Once there, he would finish what he started long ago. He would destroy Skywalker's laughable New Jedi Order one by one.

And he would start with his traitorous former Hand, and the damnable spawn she carried within her.
The wheels were in motion, and he knew his plan would succeed. The Jedi would see to that, with their shortsightedness and their misplaced loyalty to Skywalker. In trying to return him to the Other Side, they would unknowingly also return the true Master of the Dark Side.

And The Force - on every level of existence - would tremble when at last his vengeance was unleashed.
Palaptine walked slightly faster, lost in thought, comfortable in the knowledge that his destiny was at hand
.
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