From: sdt8s@poe.acc.Virginia.EDU (Steve Tilson)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.starwars
Subject: Rise of the Empire
Date: 29 Aug 92 19:11:49 GMT
Organization: University of Virginia

I'm composing a little thing about the relationship between Ben 
and Annakin, their Jedi training, Luke and Leia's mother, etc.
I need to know if there's anything more substantial about the 
rise of the Empire and the place of the Clone Wars in the scheme
of Star Wars history than what's alluded to in the preface to
the Star Wars novelization.

If you're interested in reading a summary of what I've got so
far, go ahead. Otherwise, hit 'n' now.

In the pre-Empire days (ie, during the time of the Old
Republic) Obi Wan Kenobi is a gunner on a small gunship (about
the size of the MF) which is detailed to transport a team of
Jedi Knights to destroy a base on a planet much like the moon
of Endor which is being used by either pirates, or slavers, or
the precursors of the Empire. The Jedi team is led by a very
intense man (played in my imagination by Rutger Hauer) and his
assistant (Donald Pleasence) who is both older and more reserved.
The gunship's pilot falls ill (or injured) at the last moment
before the mission is launched and is replaced by a young man
named Annakin Skywalker. Skywalker and Kenobi have similarly
headstrong personalities; they clash because Kenobi considers
Skywalker to be aloof and egocentric, while Skywalker considers
Kenobi as having a superiority complex because he's senior to
Skywalker in terms of time-in-service and time-on-ship. 

Using its speed and small size to slip past enemy sensors, the
gunship arrives at the target planet and sets down some
distance from the target. Kenobi, Skywalker, and another
gunship crewman (there are five or six altogether) watch with
badly disguised curiosity as the Jedis take to the forest
surrounding them--and disappear. The crew settles in to await
their return.

But the gunship is discovered by an enemy patrol, which
captures the ship after a brief fight. The Jedis sense this,
and are forced to launch their attack before they are
completely ready.

Ready or not, the Jedis are poetry in motion in combat. The
attack and destroy the enemy installation, and in the process
rescue the survivors of the gunship crew--Skywalker, Kenobi,
and the navigator, a young man from Alderaan's ruling family,
Bail Organa. They make hasty repairs to the gunship and escape.

Kenobi and Skywalker, fascinated by the Jedis and amazed at
what they've seen, approach the Jedis' second-in-command (the
Donald Pleasence character) and ask how they can become Jedis.
They are subtly discouraged from doing so--in Kenobi's case
because he has much anger and youthful impetuousness in him,
and in Skywalker's case because the Jedi sense something even
darker in him.

They are, however, heroes. On Alderaan, a banquet is given in
honor of Bail (who will soon succeed to the throne) and his
crewmates and their rescuers. It is here that Kenobi and
Skywalker first meet--and fall in love with--the woman who will
be the downfall of the friendship that is forming between them.
(She will be referred to herein as Arcadia, although if this
isn't canon, I think it should be something that starts with an
L.) Arcadia is not directly related to Bail, although she is
royalty on Alderaan. Also in attendance is Senator Palpatine,
seeking support in his bid to the Presidency of the Republic.
He senses Annakin's strength in the Force and recognizes him as
a potentially useful tool, if he can be molded into one before
Yoda and his ilk get a hold of Skywalker.

Determined to realize what he believes to be his destiny (Jedi
knighthood) Kenobi seeks out Jedis, one of whom refers him to
Yoda. Kenobi goes to Yoda, who at first wants nothing to do
with him, but acquiesces and begins Obi Wan's Jedi training.
Meanwhile, Annakin distinguishes himself as a pilot and a
warrior in the numerous brushfire conflicts that plague certain
sectors of the Republic. He also courts Arcadia whenever the
opportunity arises.

After many months, Obi Wan returns to civilization (so to
speak) because of a new crisis: the king of Alderaan has died,
and a dispute over the succession of Bail Organa has prompted
Bail to call on Obi Wan, who he knows is undergoing training as
a Jedi. He also calls on Annakin to come to his political and
military aid. The dispute, fostered by one of the lesser noble
families of Alderaan, is quickly resolved.

But in the resolution of this crisis arise the seeds of a new
one. Kenobi's jealousy of Annakin comes to a head. Annakin
seems, to Kenobi, to have everything good in life; he is a
brilliant pilot and warrior, and now Kenobi realizes two more
things about Annakin: he is very strong in the Force--stronger
than Obi Wan--and Arcadia is in love with him. These factors
join to cause Obi Wan to encourage Annakin to undergo Jedi
training--under Obi Wan himself. Great warrior he may be, and
loved by one of the most beautiful women in the Republic, but
Annakin Skywalker is still no Jedi, and Obi Wan Kenobi is. This
is the only weapon Kenobi has against Skywalker, and he uses it
(or tries to) by putting himself in a position of authority
over Skywalker. Obi Wan is the master, and Annakin the student.

At first, the training seems to go well. But Annakin's dark
streak of violent hatred begins to emerge, and Kenobi is
unprepared for it. With no guidance from a wise Jedi Master,
Skywalker begins to slip toward the Dark Side.

He is helped in this by Senator Palpatine, who offers Skywalker
more complete training and greater power than that offered by
Kenobi's weakling good side of the Force. The temptation proves
to be more than Skywalker can handle. He violently consummates
his relationship with Arcadia in an effort to sample some of
what will be brought to him by the power Palpatine offers. He
senses that he has impregnated Arcadia, and gives Obi Wan a
lightsaber to be given to his child when that child reaches the
appropriate age. Kenobi accepts the saber but confronts Annakin
about his relationship with Palpatine. Annakin says he
understands the dangers and will not accept Palpatine's offer
of training. Obi Wan asks Annakin to stay with him, to
accompany him to Yoda, who will complete the training of them
both. Annakin says he will accept this, but he is lying; that
very night he accompanies Palpatine to his home planet of
Corruscant to begin his training in the Dark Side.

Despairing, Obi Wan appeals to Yoda for help, but Yoda is
involved in a struggle with another wayward Jedi master. Yoda
tells him there may still be time, if he can put away his pride
and arrogance and help his friend escape from the influence of
Palpatine.

Obi Wan tells Arcadia of his plan to confront both Palpatine
and Annakin on Corruscant. She pleads to go with him, but Obi
Wan refuses to take her. He goes alone.

Corruscant is bustling. Palpatine is laying the groundwork for
a New Order, a return to strong government and law enforcement.
To this end, he is cloning men to serve in his armed forces.
(These will form the foundation of his stormtroopers of later
years.) Obi Wan demands an audience with Palpatine and Annakin,
and surprisingly, receives it.

But Palpatine uses his Force powers to nearly pull Obi Wan into
the Dark Side as well. Obi Wan is shaken out of the near-trance
into which Palpatine has placed him when word comes to the
audience chamber that Arcadia has arrived on Corruscant as
well and has fallen into the hands of Palpatine's soldiers.
Palpatine orders her brought to Annakin so that a proper
marriage may be performed, but Obi Wan escapes after a horrific
battle with Annakin. He rescues Arcadia and they escape.
Palpatine uses this "betrayal" to seal Annakin into his service
as Darth Vader. (The cybernetics come later, some as a result
of the battle between Obi Wan and Annakin, some not.)

Obi Wan takes Arcadia back to Alderaan, where she gives birth
nine months later to twins. The girl is put in Bail Organa's
custody and Bail and Arcadia are married, although their
marriage will be short and its end tragic (Arcadia dies,
murdered by an unkonwn assassin). The boy is taken to Tatooine
and placed in the care of a moisture farmer named Owen Lars.
And Obi Wan Kenobi settles in not far away, where he can keep a
watchful eye on the progress made by the young man whose
destiny is to be the new hope for freedom in the galaxy.

I know it's very patchy (and that may not even be the word for
it) but it's all I've got so far. Please direct flames and
comments to me here at sdt8s@virginia.edu. If you've read this
far, thanks for your patience.

Later,
Steve
--
You are a true believer. Blessings of the state, blessings of the masses.
Thou art a subject of the divine, created in the image of man by the masses,
for the masses. Let us be thankful we have an occupation to fill. Work 
hard...increase production...prevent accidents...and be happy. (THX-1138)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.starwars