It is happening again. I don’t know how to explain it but it is here, the Call of the Force, a feeling I haven’t felt in a long time, and it has been a long time after all, and I am to be blamed of what is happening.
I wish I have never come to this naïve and innocent planet. If I had known my arrival would trigger the sudden disappearance of some children, eventually leading to a pirate invasion with the New Republic intervention, I probably would have never, ever, followed my master’s advice to leave Coruscant.
It is difficult to explain, but my story began when I was very young, younger than I am now. To say I lived in a time of peace, before the Empire and after the invasion of Naboo, then I would consider myself lucky to have grown up when the Galactic Republic was still capable of maintaining the peace on all the systems.
“We are all the Republic”. Yes, I was obsessed with all the mythology surrounding the High Republic, and I remembered just wanting to play Jedi or Nihil all the time. Obviously, my friends wanted to be Jedi, but I thought it was cooler to be a pirate, because of the gadgets, weaponry and treasure hunting. For a young kid like me, it never crossed my mind all the damage that was done until I heard the stories.
It is hard to recognize how certain things from our past becomes famous tales, or worse, pure entertainment instead of knowledge and awareness. If I have learned anything from the past, it is that no matter who we are, where we come from, or what we believe, we seem destined to make the same mistakes because we never actually learn. Instead, we forget. It is easier to ignore and just move on. Never mind that one day it will come back to haunt us, not only ourselves, but everyone.
The true of the matter is that no one is truly is exempt, not even me.
And after so many years of staying hidden and safe, the past has found me again through my dreams, visions, premonitions or whatever you want to call them. It all started before the children disappeared, I was somehow aware of it. Very aware that something had suddenly gone wrong, because that very night I was back at the Jedi Temple when Anakin Skywalker executed Order 66 with his 501st Legion.
Since the murder of the Jedi younglings, I didn’t dare look at the children's faces, not a single one of them, because Sors Bandeam’s last words immediately sounded in my head. Words like: "Master Skywalker, there are too many of them! What are we going to do? And just like that, Anakin ignited his blue lightsaber and slaughtered them all without mercy, without hesitation, because that man was not longer the good person that I knew when I was five years old and he was nine.
I was not chosen by the Jedi order, but rather by someone independent of even the Galactic Republic. As a child, I was very strange, that I had no choice but to withdraw from people. Said that, I had a hard time socializing with my peers, and having speech impediment made it worse because I couldn’t truly connect. I was constantly bullied. So, when I meet this slave boy from Tatooine, something inside me woke up and in the blink of an eye, I was personally chosen to be part of an important and secretive group of historians whose origins, I am forbidden to reveal.
I can share the purpose of our existence, which was to preserve all the story from beginning to end. My master chose me because of that feeling that I displayed upon meeting young Anakin Skywalker, as he was perceived as someone who would bring balance to the Force, a well-studied prophecy within the group. My master believed I had been chosen to witness it, and so it was decided that only I would remain very close to Anakin to record all of his steps until fulfillment of the prophecy that only Qui-Gon treasured, unlike the rest of the Jedi Council.
Imagine the horror I felt when I saw the Chosen One enter the Jedi Temple and begin wreaking hell on every Jedi and non-Jedi present. It was horrible, and being alive was a curse, because I should have died in that massacre, but he spared my life, not because of our “friendship”, but because the Emperor asked him to because he knew of my existence, not thanks to my master.
Don’t get me wrong, before the fall of the Jedi, all elected chancellors were informed of our existence as an additional means to a dignified future. What better way to govern or aid in a difficult situation than by drawing on the past? Problems often had their origins in certain forgotten events, therefore, it was more appropriate to study the roots in order to find a proper solution. But with this new Empire on the rise, the past was merely a means to revenge and, eventually, galactic dominance.
I was aware of this when I did not recognize young Skywalker: now twisted by the dark side he had become, the boy that Obi-Wan Kenobi trained, gone he was, consumed by Darth Vader. And you are probably wondering how I know all of this. As Master Kenobi said long ago, we have indeed different points of view; for me, these so call different points of view are provided by the Force. Let’s call them gifts that I receive mainly when I am sleep or in complete trance.
Before he died, my Master gave me the gift of seeing the past, he did so because he was formally part of the Jedi Order and could have fled, but he had sworn an oath even before I was born. To preserve our Legacy, we need it to pass on everything we know by transferring our knowledge. Think of it as a personal library in a corner of our mind. A repository to access whenever we meditate or are at peace. Not just for reading, but also for viewing records dating back to the early days of the Old Republic.
Now, you would imagine that this source of knowledge was very important to the Emperor, especially if he was a Sith Lord, said for the endless possibilities it offered not only in studying the origins of the Jedi or the Sith, but also in tracking down Holocrons or mainly the two Way finders created to lead to Exegol, the homeworld of the Sith. I must confess I have blood on my hands and I am not proud of what I have become, and all of this due to a traditional oath I made to remain the last of the Historians.
I promised my Master that I would keep the past intact by surviving until the time came to pass this legacy, but I feared that under Palpatine’s dictatorship, there would be nothing left of our way of life. The past would eventually cease to exist without a future now that a fully operational battle station was created to destroy what I swore to protect. The only way to avoid breaking my oath, was to escape and remain hidden until the Empire was defeated, or better yet, the Emperor somehow ended up dying and a new, wiser leader were to be chosen so a new oath could be taken.
Escaping was easy, but staying hidden was hell. What better way than to take advantage of the attack on Scarif. The Emperor and Darth Vader were too distracted to even notice my change of feelings as I planned my escape. And then, the destruction of the Death Star awakened in my mind a legendary planet among the Jewels of the Old Republic. I remember my Master telling me that, if things got tough, there was an old planet with an impenetrable barrier I could go to, to remain hidden and safe.
Only one of the eight planets had endured. Well, I hope it still existed but getting there was not going to be easy because it had to be done with the correct transport, since it had to be as a Republic Emissary to cross the nebula and so gain access to At Attin, the last of the Old Republic Jewels. It was not easy because, somehow, a rebel intelligence officer discovered my identity and was sent to kill me, as well as the Emperor, because neither of them could afford for me to fall into the wrong hands. Imagine the knowledge of the Past at their disposal. Even thought I had sworn allegiance to the Emperor, he distrusted everyone, so I was not immune of thwarting his plans, just as the rebels had done with the destruction of the first Death Star.
It was hard, and somehow, I ended up reliving the same anxiety when some children flew off aboard the Onyx Cinder. And it was my fault, because a few months ago, I started digging that place for historical reasons. It never occurred to me that some naïve kids would discover the hidden starship and, as a consequence, trigger a pirate invasion that would end with the New Republic taking over, right where I was. What were the odds?
I was afraid to face Darth Vader once again, I did not know what really happened after I disappeared, the last thing I remembered was the invasion on Hoth, then I went to At Attin and got myself cut from the Force because of the planet’s barrier, but once the barrier faded, somehow my ability to connect with the Force returned and I immediately felt a presence I had never felt in so many, many years but I was no longer afraid, instead, I felt quite safe and at peace. Then, when I looked at the now star-filled sky, that is when I recognize the Tantive IV spacecraft.
Only one name came to mind, and she was aware of my presence, as once Anakin Skywalker was before turning to the dark side. I did not need to go find her, she was on her way, because it was inevitable, and like her, I had questions and now was the time to face the past to look towards a brighter future, or at least that is what I wished when I looked into her eyes as she looked into my soul.
The destruction around us became more and more visible as the sun emerged from the burning forests. The streets were a mess, chaos and uncertainty were everywhere as also death and suffering due to the ones that perished during this awful invasion. At least the missing kids and their parents were reunited, but at what cost?
Was this part of the Force? My arrival here to put into motion these events to get me back on track to fulfill my purpose. Only one way to know, and for that I waited for her to say the first word.
—How come I feel like I know you from somewhere, even though I have never seen you in my entire life?
I just laughed, probably because I was both nervous and happy to have been able to experience her journey, especially everything that came after the Battle of Endor and Jakku. That is when I realized the Prophecy had been fulfilled.
—Yes —I revealed in a state of peace and satisfaction that I fear sounded sarcastic although that was not my intention—, I understand the feeling, as he did when I first encounter him as I am encountering you.
Leia looked confused, which was to be expected.
—To whom you are referring to —Leia remained expectant, although deep down she knew what I meant.
—I am speaking of you father, of course —I said confidently and with a mocking laugh—. I am aware that you’re Princess Leia of Alderaan, the daughter of Anakin Skywalker, The Chosen One,
—You knew my father —the question sounded awkward, which was understandable considering the shadow cast over her shoulders due to the terrible tragedy.
—I'd be lying if I said yes —I tried to be understanding and, above all, not to be too clever. — After what happened so long ago, I'm not sure if I ever knew him, but I can feel that all the good he represented is still present in you, and for now, that will be enough.
—How is it, that you know about me when I have never heard of you?
This was a good question, and luckily, I had the perfect answer. Although she probably wouldn't like it.
—My mere existence put the future of both the rebels and the Empire at risk. That's why I'm not surprised they kept me a secret, until now.
—What exactly does this mean?
Leia waited in suspense as the citizens of At Attin received medical assistance in the surrounding area.
—Let’s say the Force works in mysterious ways.
—Speaking in riddles… —Leia smiled— You are going to enjoy talking to my brother.
—Most likely —I said with a touch of uncertainty—, I hope.
—Yes —agreed with a beautiful smile—, hope.
Somehow, Leia understood as I eventually did, that she was destined to shape the New Republic in through the reestablished Senate just as Luke would do the same through the New Jedi Order. The real question was whether they would both truly listened. Obviously, my loyalty was to the new Chancellor, a woman called Mom Mothma.
It was great to know that she truly cared about people, but will she be able to really act accordingly? The least I can do is give my best and hope that others follow my example. But first, I think the people of At Attin need me more than anyone, after all, someone has to teach them about the Rise and Fall of the Empire, and what better way than to start with the Clone Wars and why not, some old-fashioned young Jedi adventures.
Happy Star Wars Day and May the 4th be with you!
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