Ben’s brow rose, but he undid the side closures. The breast-and back plates fell away in his hands, and he placed them on the floor beside him.
Next, Luke motioned at the arm and leg guards. “All of it.”
Ben lost enough of his composure to let his feelings show, and Mara began to sense through the Force how nervous their son really was to be formally summoned to a private sparring match with his father-and how disturbing he found it to be ordered to remove his armor. But she could also feel his courage. Despite his confusion, Ben was determined to present himself well, to set aside his anxiety and prove himself worthy of the trust that was being placed in him.
And that made Mara remember why her nephew was good for Ben. It had been Jacen who had drawn her son out of his shell and helped him embrace the Force, who had taught him to face his fears and look beyond himself. Jacen was teaching Ben responsibility, giving him a sense of himself as someone other than the son of Luke Skywalker, Grand Master of the Jedi order.
Ben removed his last shin guard and placed it on the floor beside him. Then, as he straightened up again, Mara experienced a profound sense of certainty. It was as powerful as a Force-vision, except that its source was standing ten meters below her, in the form of her own son. The Force had drawn him to Jacen for a reason, and if she and Luke dared interfere, it would be at Ben’s peril.
Luke snapped the Hghtsaber off his utility belt and looked up toward the control booth.
“Start with basic obstacles,” Luke ordered. “Then work up to a class-five environment.”
“Full hazard?” Mara asked in astonishment. Even Masters found class-five environments trying. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure,” Luke answered in his best are-you-really-questioning-the-Grand-Master voice. He looked back to Ben, “How else can I test what Jacen has been teaching him?”
“Don’t worry, Mom.” Ben met his father’s gaze evenly, but the crack in his voice betrayed his apprehension. “I can handle it.”
Not likely, Mara thought. But Luke would be in there, too, and he wasn’t going to let anything terrible happen to their son-at least nothing physical.
“If you say so.” Mara had to let Ben make his own mistakes and learn his own lessons … Luke, too. Wasn’t that what the Force was telling her? “We’ll start with variable gravity, and I’ll add something every ninety seconds. Ready?”
Ben’s face paled, but he snapped the lightsaber off his belt. “Ready.”
Mara reached for the gravity-control glide-switch. They had to trust Ben to find his own way, to learn from his own experiences. If they didn’t, he would become resentful and angry and withdrawn, and all he would ever be in life was the son of the great Luke Skywalker.
That’s what the Force was telling her-wasn’t it?
Luke felt his knees tense as Mara pushed the gravity to two g’s. He could sense through the Force that she doubted he was doing the right thing, that she believed he should just talk with Ben and help him see how Jacen was slipping toward darkness. But Luke had tried talking, had been patient, and their son was still going on raids with the Galactic Alliance Guard. Ben had even killed a man in self-defense-and the fact that he had been in so much danger only made it more disturbing. Luke did not want his son to grow up believing that such things were common necessities for Jedi. The time had come to show Ben that there was another way, a bet-ter way for someone strong in the Force to use his power. “All right, son,” Luke said. “Let’s see how well Jacen has been training you.”
Ben brought the hilt of his lightsaber into the salute position, but did not ignite the blade. “You know I don’t want to do this, right?”
“It’s hard to miss.” Luke remained where he was, holding his own weapon at his side. With round eyes and pudgy cheeks, Ben still looked like a little boy to him, like a child playing Jedi apprentice. “Why not?”
Ben shrugged and refused to meet Luke’s eyes. “I just don’t.”
“Are you afraid I’ll hurt you?”
“Yeah, right.” Ben’s voice was sarcastic. “The greatest sword handler in the galaxy accidentally cuts up his own son. Like that’s going to happen.”
Luke had to force himself to keep a serious expression. “Then you’re afraid you’ll hurt me. Is that it?”
“Maybe.” Ben nodded uncomfortably. “By accident.”
Luke waited for Ben’s gaze to return, then said, “You won’t. Have some faith, okay?”
Ben’s cheeks reddened. “I do,” he said. “But I’m still afraid. Something feels wrong about this.”