Ben’s eyes widened as he sensed danger through the Force, and he flattened himself atop the beam. In the next moment he used a Force shove to accelerate the heavy wobble ball into Luke’s chest and send him tumbling toward the floor.
On the way down, Luke caught the support cable of a nearby swing and hooked a leg over the seat-then saw Ben descending toward him in a series of somersaults, his lightsaber weaving a wild snarl of light. This time Luke sensed no hesitation. Ben intended to make him activate his lightsaber-even at the risk of cutting something off.
Luke released the swing and dropped toward the floor, barely bringing his legs around in time to land on his feet-sinking so deep into a crouch that his knees hit his chest.
Ben used the Force to adjust his own trajectory, descending headfirst with his lightsaber held out in front of him. Luke rolled into a backward somersault, an eerie tingle erupting over his entire body as the safety field reacted to Ben’s uncontrolled plunge.
But the safety field did not prevent Ben’s lightsaber from puncturing the floor. A loud electrical pop echoed through the arena, and suddenly the air was filled with the acrid stench of melted circuitry. A terrible thump sounded, and when Luke completed his somersault he found his son lying in a heap, facing the opposite direction and groaning.
The roaring wind died, and Mara’s voice came over the loudspeaker. “Ben!”
Luke rushed up behind Ben. “Ben! Say something.”
When there was no answer, Luke started to kneel… then heard the familiar snap-hiss of an igniting lightsaber.
Ben whirled into a shoulder roll, and Luke sprang up, launching himself into a full Force flip to buy some distance. When he came down five meters away, Ben was still kneeling where he had landed, staring at Luke in astonished frustration.
Luke smiled. “Nice move.”
Ben pursed his lips skeptically. “Still didn’t make you ignite your lightsaber.”
“Almost, though,” Luke said. “Did Jacen teach you that?”
Ben rolled his eyes. “Come on, Dad. Playing dead is pretty basic stuff.”
Luke raised his brow. “Nearly got me.”
“Just using your fatherly love against you.” Ben shut down his lightsaber and rose to his feet. “I’m not sure that’s fair.”
“Me, either.” Luke chuckled, then pointed to the hole in the floor. “And that’s not good, either. You probably put a gap in the safety field.”
Ben studied the hole for a moment, then looked back to Luke. “You can’t blame me for that,” he said. “You’re the one who didn’t block.”
“I will next time, I promise.” Luke assumed a fighting stance and motioned him forward. “Come on.”
Ben’s face sagged with discouragement. “What for? We already know I can’t touch you-and I’m not learning anything.”
“You’re sure of that?” Luke started to slip slowly forward. “Ben, I’m not doing this to be mean. If your sparring is anX example, it’s clear that you need to devote more time to your Jedi studies and less to helping GAG.”
“Sparring isn’t fighting,” Ben said. “When my life is on the line, I can take care of myself.”
“Against most people, yes.” Luke reached striking distance and stopped advancing. “But do you remember the woman I told you about? Lumiya?”
Ben’s eyes widened. “The crazy Sith woman?”
“That one,” Luke confirmed. “I still don’t know when she returned or why, but I have learned a little about her-and I’ve been meditating on it. I’m convinced that if she can, she’ll strike at me through you.”
“Me?” For the first time, Ben began to look frightened-and Luke began to hope he might actually get through to his son. “How?”
Luke could only shake his head. “I wish I knew. But you need to be ready-and that means you need to be properly trained.”
“I am being trained.”
“Not by a Master, and not well.” Luke paused, trying to choose his next words carefully, to make Ben do what thirteen-year-old boys never did: think about the future. Finally, he said, “You’re right about one thing, Ben. Jacen and the Alliance do need you. You’re helping them save lives, and that’s a good thing.”
Ben eyed him warily. “Dad, it’d be really nice if you just stopped there.”
“Sorry, I can’t,” Luke said. “What you’re not seeing is that the Jedi need you, too. We need you to prepare yourself now, because Jacen and the Alliance and the rest of the galaxy are going to need you tomorrow even more than they need you today. Ben, you need to take a Master.”