Ben Skywalker

Ben Skywalker was the son of Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade Skywalker. Ben was named for his father's first mentor, Obi-Wan "Ben" Kenobi. For most of his early life, Ben was sequestered in safeworlds so that his parents could fight the Yuuzhan Vong and keep him safe. Because of this, he grew to resent his parents and insisted on dealing life in his own way. He wielded a blue-bladed lightsaber following the Swarm War and became the apprentice of his cousin, Jacen Solo.

Like his late cousin, Anakin Solo, he was confident, brave, curious, intelligent and quick-witted. As he grew up, his ability to use the Force became stronger, which enabled him to read emotions. Since he is under the tuteluge of Jacen, Ben might develop powers similar to his. No doubt, Ben, whose traits he shares with his cousin and grandfather makes him a true Skywalker, shows great force potential and may even become more powerful than his father.

Pre-birth
As Mara Jade was infected by Yuuzhan Vong coomb spores, she and Luke decided against having children. However, despite their efforts, Mara found, while attempting to heal her body with the Force, that she was pregnant. Vergere's healing tears had sent the disease into remission, but once they ran out, it started to return and threatened Mara's health, due to her efforts to keep the spores from attacking the child. Because of this, Mara almost died giving birth, but the disease was driven out of her body permanently with the help of the spirit of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke, and baby Ben.

Early life
Ben was born aboard the Star Destroyer Errant Venture, shortly after the Skywalkers were forced to flee Coruscant during heightened troubles between the Jedi and the New Republic Senate. As a baby, Ben was sent along the Great River to the Maw for protection from the Yuuzhan Vong. He was then in the custody of his aunt and uncle. Ben had little contact with his parents, though became embroiled in a kidnap attempt by Viqi Shesh during the Fall of Coruscant. Lando Calrissian and C-3PO were able to save Ben high above the galactic capital.

The Yuuzhan Vong War
During the Yuuzhan Vong War, Luke and Mara sent him to Shelter, in the Maw Cluster. After that Mara hired a defender droid to protect him. He later found them annoying and would admit that he wanted to be more like his uncle, Han. At some point, Ben got to spend some time with his parents. Even though he spent time with his parents, Ben really never understood them especially his mother. For some reason he never liked how she was.

Though Ben survived the Yuuzhan Vong war, the pain and suffering he had sensed through the Force during that dark time caused the infant to cut himself off from the Force. During this time, Ben developed the ability to hide himself in the Force. Because of this, Mara found it difficult to locate him through the Force. Even five years on, Ben refused to use the Force, a disturbing development his parents did not know how to overcome.

Dark Nest Crisis
Ben went with his parents to the Unknown Regions during the war.When Ben was eight years old, during the buildup to the Swarm War, he befriended a Killik named Gorog, thinking of the creature as his pet. Secretly, Gorog attempted to brainwash the child to join the Dark Nest, but the plot was uncovered by Ben's mother, who was forced to kill the Killik.

A year later, his cousin Jacen Solo had taken him on as an informal apprentice. Ben felt comfortable around Solo, and even began to open himself up to the Force. During that time he spent with Jacen, his raw force power sometimes boiled to the surface. However, the time and distance away from Gorog had done nothing to weaken his connection to the Dark Nest. He was with Jacen when Tenel Ka presented her child to him, and was able to figure out the Gorog were planning to kill Jacen and Tenel Ka's baby. He tried to convince them not to, but his connection proved overwhelming, and he instinctively applied a Force push against Tenel Ka. Jacen decided that he could not trust Ben with the knowledge he had, and erased Ben's memory of the visit. When his parents found out they confronted Jacen.

After the Swarm War, it is presumed that Ben attended his father's Jedi Praxeum.

Legacy of the Force
In 40 ABY, Ben and Jacen Solo were sent on a mission to uncover an illegal missile factory on the planet Adumar. The mission ended in a violent ambush, from which the Jedi narrowly escaped with their lives. The incident sparked political unrest that threatened to ignite into total rebellion that could shatter the young Galactic Alliance.

As the civil war went on, Mara and Luke feared for Ben when his Jedi Master, Jacen, made a decision that shocked both families and the galaxy.

Behind the scenes

 * The above image is from a Star Wars Tales (and thus, non-canon) story, and predates the establishment of Ben's hair as being red. The image has thus been altered to give a more accurate representation of Ben's appearance in the Legacy era.
 * He was presumably the ancestor of Cade Skywalker.

Appearances

 * Edge of Victory II: Rebirth
 * Star by Star
 * Dark Journey
 * Rebel Dream
 * The Unifying Force
 * The Joiner King
 * The Unseen Queen
 * The Swarm War
 * Betrayal
 * Bloodlines
 * The Lost Lightsaber

External link

 * Ben Skywalker on Wikipedia