The Dune Sea stretched out before Aaron like an ocean of sand, its vast emptiness mirroring the uncertainty that gnawed at him.
Luke Skywalker, the boy destined to bring balance to the Force, was so close yet so far. He had found him—an ordinary child, living under the protection of his uncle, Owen Lars.
Luke had no idea what his legacy would be, no knowledge of the force within him or the galaxy-changing destiny that awaited him.
The Force had led Aaron here, to Tatooine, to Luke. But he could not yet interfere.
The air was scorching, and Aaron's cloak clung to his skin. He had spent the better part of the past few days moving between settlements and moisture farms, collecting fragments of information, waiting for the right moment to approach Luke. But the boy was not yet ready for the responsibility that the Force demanded. No one on Tatooine, least of all Luke himself, knew the significance of his birth. It was a delicate thing, the balance of the Force, and Aaron was wary of disrupting it prematurely.
The Force, however, seemed to be pulling him toward something else.
The Meeting
It was dusk when Aaron first saw him. He had been meditating near a rock formation just outside the Lars homestead, deep in thought, when a figure appeared on the horizon. A cloaked figure, moving with purpose through the desert sands. As the figure drew nearer, Aaron felt a sudden, unexpected shift in the Force—a ripple that carried a sense of both familiarity and danger.
It was then that he recognized the figure. The old Jedi, Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Aaron had heard whispers of Obi-Wan's survival. The last of the Jedi, living in exile on Tatooine, far removed from the chaos of the galaxy. It made sense, he thought, that Obi-Wan would be here, watching over Luke Skywalker from afar, ensuring that the boy remained hidden from the Empire.
Aaron rose from his position, the weight of his decision settling over him. He had never met Obi-Wan before, though the old Jedi had been one of the most revered figures of the Clone Wars. His actions had shaped the galaxy, but his survival, and his choice to remain in hiding, was as much a part of the galaxy's story as anything else. Now, fate had brought Aaron and Obi-Wan together.
The older man's eyes locked onto Aaron's as he drew closer, his hand instinctively reaching for the lightsaber at his side.
"I knew someone would come," Obi-Wan said, his voice low and gravelly, his tone wise but tinged with a hint of caution. He had lived through a galaxy in turmoil, and his instincts were as sharp as ever.
"I'm not here to fight," Aaron replied, stepping forward carefully. His hand rested lightly on his own lightsaber. He was cautious, but he could feel the same wariness emanating from Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan studied him closely, his eyes narrowing as if reading something deeper in Aaron's presence. The Force surrounded him, but it was different from the way it surrounded others. More intense, more focused, as though Aaron was a unique disturbance in the Force itself.
"You're not a local," Obi-Wan remarked. "Who are you?"
Aaron hesitated for a moment before replying, the weight of his decision heavy on his mind. "My name is Aaron. I've been... away for a long time. I came here to find Luke Skywalker."
At the mention of Luke's name, Obi-Wan stiffened slightly, the muscles in his jaw tightening. His eyes flickered with something that could have been fear—or perhaps hope.
"Luke Skywalker?" Obi-Wan repeated, his voice low, as though testing the name. His gaze was sharp now, studying Aaron with even more intensity.
"Yes," Aaron replied. "He's here, on Tatooine. He's important, Obi-Wan. You've been watching over him, haven't you?"
Obi-Wan didn't answer immediately, but his posture softened. He seemed to weigh Aaron's words carefully, calculating whether this stranger was someone who could be trusted. The weight of history pressed on his shoulders—the destruction of the Jedi Order, the rise of the Empire, and the eventual fate of Anakin Skywalker's son. But he hadn't been alone in the galaxy all this time, he realized. There was someone else. Someone who had come to help.
Obi-Wan gave a slow, almost imperceptible nod. "I've kept my distance. Hidden him from the Empire... and from himself. His life, his future, is his own. He doesn't know who he truly is. And I can't let anyone interfere with that. Not yet."
Aaron watched Obi-Wan closely. He understood the old Jedi's concerns. Luke was still a child, far too young to shoulder the burden of the galaxy's hopes. But Aaron had seen what Luke could become. The boy was destined to be the key to defeating the Empire. The question was how to guide him without disrupting the balance.
"I'm not here to interfere with his life," Aaron said. "I came because I need to know how best to help him when the time comes."
Obi-Wan's brow furrowed. "And who are you to say when that time is? Who are you to decide the fate of this boy?"
Aaron met Obi-Wan's gaze with calm determination. "I am someone who has seen the future. I know what will happen, Obi-Wan. And I know that Luke will be the one to lead the galaxy to its salvation. But he needs guidance. He can't do it alone. The Empire is closing in. And we need to be ready."
Obi-Wan's eyes narrowed. He seemed to be evaluating Aaron, searching for any hint of deception. But Aaron's presence in the Force was unwavering, and Obi-Wan could feel that this was not a man who was looking for power or glory. He was looking to protect the future of the galaxy, just as Obi-Wan was.
After a long pause, Obi-Wan finally spoke. "Perhaps... perhaps you are right. But we cannot rush this. Luke is not ready yet. He must remain hidden for as long as possible. And you—whoever you are—must not interfere with his life. The time for action will come when the Force calls for it. Until then, we wait."
Aaron nodded, understanding the delicate balance Obi-Wan was trying to maintain. The old Jedi had witnessed the fall of the Republic and the rise of the Empire. He had seen firsthand how the dark side of the Force could corrupt even the best of intentions. He was right to be cautious.
"I understand," Aaron said. "But I will be ready when the time comes. I will help when the time comes."
Obi-Wan studied him for a moment longer, then slowly nodded. "Very well. But know this, Aaron: the Force does not bend easily. It will show us the way, but we must be patient. And careful."
A Shared Purpose
As the two men stood in the shadow of the Tatooine night, the first stars began to twinkle in the sky above. The Force had brought them together—two survivors of a galaxy torn apart by war and darkness. But they shared a common purpose now: to protect Luke Skywalker and ensure that the galaxy's hope for a future was not lost.
"I will watch over him," Obi-Wan said quietly. "But you must remain patient. We all have a role to play in the coming war."
Aaron felt the weight of those words, but he also felt a sense of solidarity with the old Jedi. Together, they would keep watch over Luke Skywalker. Together, they would ensure the boy was ready when the time came to face the Empire.
"I won't let you down," Aaron promised.
Obi-Wan gave him a small nod, and then, without another word, turned and began walking back toward the Lars homestead. Aaron watched him go, knowing that the journey ahead was still uncertain—but that, for the first time in years, he wasn't alone.