Chapter Text
Fifty Years Later
Jedi Knight Ben Skywalker shivered as he followed his cousin Jacen Solo into the building. “Where are we?” he asked. “It feels so Dark here.”
Jacen smiled as he glanced at his twin, Jaina. “We’re in the Rivan’s Temple,” he said.
Ben’s eyes widened. “We’re where?” he squeaked. “But I thought…”
“Everyone agreed that you’re ready,” Jaina said. “If you want it.”
Ben bit his lip. Did he want it? His other cousin, Anakin, hadn’t, and neither had his mother. No one ever said anything about it, or treated them any differently.
And while it was a (mostly) Skywalker only thing, the family wouldn’t be upset if he didn’t want it.
And yet… his family did so much good. His aunt Leia was one of the foremost experts on Sith Artifacts in the Jedi Order. His uncle Han, though not Force strong in any way, was almost always right by her side. His cousins were starting to follow in their parents footsteps, though Anakin actually seemed to prefer to follow their grandmother into politics.
Ben nodded. “I’ll do it,” he said.
Jaina smiled happily. “Oh good,” she said.
He followed his cousins into the depths of the temple. “So… I know I have to beat someone in a duel,” Ben said. “But… what sort of duel? And how serious does it have to be?”
“We’ll use lightsabers, Ben,” Jacen said. “And we do have to keep the ‘sabers at full strength or it won’t count. But otherwise, think of it like an open spar.”
Ben nodded and followed. As he did, he couldn’t help but think of what had happened since his grandparents and Uncle Obi-Wan had become Sith. The Jedi Order had begun to make changes almost as soon as Anakin Skywalker had left the order, and then he and Padmé Skywalker had refused to allow the Order to take their twin children. It had been slow, but by the time Luke and Leia were four, the Code had been revised- or rather, rewound. Master Fisto had discovered the Old Code, the one used until just after the Revan war.
It had been a revelation, and a lot of the younger Knights had started demanding change. They’d found a staunch ally in Master Kenobi.
And now, Ben was in the second generation of Jedi who had been brought up by their parents, and trained later in life.
The Order hadn’t experienced a Fall in nearly thirty-five years.
And within the Jedi Order, a small number of “Sith” also sat. It wasn’t widely known who were technically Sith- though most every Jedi thought the Skywalkers and Solos were up to their eyeballs in it- but all Jedi knew that the “Sith Order” was charged with containing the relics of the Dark Side. The Sith Order numbered nearly two hundred strong and their leader was still going strong, even in her seventies. Padmé had never been formally trained, but every Sith agreed that she was the best to lead them.
They arrived at a large room. Ben looked around while his cousins played a quick game of three hands to decide who he would face. Jaina won.
“Is this where…?”
“Yes it is,” an unfamiliar voice said. “Where Tyranus and Sidious both died- and with them the Banite Sith. Though I am still waiting for the current Sith to take over the galaxy.” The last part sounded extremely peeved.
Jaina grinned. “Lord Rivan,” she said. “May I introduce our cousin, Ben Skywalker.”
“Young Skywalker,” Rivan said, inclining his head. “You would be young Luke’s son, then. Welcome.”
“Uh… yeah, I am. Thank you,” Ben mumbled.
“And I’m sure we’ll get to taking over the galaxy eventually,” Jacen added. “But we’re a bit more subtle than the last Sith. After all, we’ve got a Sith as head of the Jedi Order right now.”
“Ah, so Lady Tano was appointed to that position. Lord Kenobi mentioned it when he was here last year.”
“She was,” Jaina said, justifiably proud of her Jedi Master.
“And has young Anakin finally seen sense?”
“Ah… no, Anakin still doesn’t want to be a Sith Lord,” Jacen replied. “He says he’s having too much fun in the Senate.”
“Hmph,” Rivan grunted out. “I suppose not everyone is cut out for the Sith Order.” he studied Ben. “This one, though, looks like he’ll do well.”
“Thank you?” Ben didn’t mean to make it a question, but it ended out coming out that way.
Jacen and Jaina both chuckled. “Come on, squirt,” Jaina said.
They both drew their lightsabers as they moved to the center of the room. Ben saluted her with his unlit blade. Jaina returned the gesture.
“Alright,” Jacen said from off to the side. Jaina and Ben lit their sabers. The green light from his blade mingled with the light from her silver blade. “Begin.”