Teaching

Mara looked at the double leaf-canopy overhead. “Could we have picked up an Imperial patrol?”

“No.” Skywalker was positive. “I’d know if there were any other humans nearby.”

“Bet that comes in handy,” Mara muttered.

“It’s just a matter of training.”

She threw him a sideways look. There’d been something odd in his voice. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

He grimaced, a quick tightening of his mouth. “Nothing. Just…I was thinking about Leia’s twins. Thinking about how I’m going to have to train them some day.”

“You worried about when to start?”

He shook his head. “I’m worried about being able to do it at all.”

She shrugged. “What’s to do? You teach them how to hear minds and move objects around and use lightsabers. You did that with your sister, didn’t you?”

“Yes,” he agreed. “But that was when I thought that was all there was to it. It’s really just the beginning. They’re going to be strong in the Force, and with that strength comes responsibility. How do I teach them that? How do I teach them wisdom and compassion and how not to abuse their power?”

Mara studied his profile as he gazed out into the forest. This wasn’t just word games; he was really serious about it. Definitely a side of the heroic, noble, infallible Jedi she hadn’t seen before. “How does anyone teach anyone else that stuff?” she said. “Mostly by example, I suppose.”

He thought about it, nodded reluctantly. “I suppose so.” – Exchange between Mara Jade and Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: The Last Command by Timothy Zahn