'My Apprentice'

Jasmine Larson

Title: My Apprentice
Author: Jasmine Larson
Genre: Romance, humor, maybe a little angst
Rating: PG
Time Frame: A year after ROTJ

Summary: Luke takes on his first padawan, Cascade, and does his very best to teach her all he can. He stresses an amazing amount to make sure she follows all the rules, but breaks the most important one himself.

(I slap the normal big fat disclaimer on this little number)

Luke Skywalker watched on in silence as his padawan concentrated hard on the beam of her lightsaber, channeling the power of the Force to avoid the blows of the hurling rocks. He slowed the speed of the flying debris, realizing he was making it a little too difficult. He wanted her to be a strong Jedi, like Yoda and Obi-Wan. He feared for her future, clouded with the Dark Side it was, unsure and twisted the path before her lay.

It had been near a month ago he had met her, in that scrabble with the bounty hunter on Naboo. She had a price on her head and was about to meet her end. He had come to her rescue, and taken her as his padawan. As he spun the rocks around her lithe form, he allowed his mind to travel back to that day...

Luke helped the young girl up and brushed her off, thankful she was not hurt too badly. He sat her down on a nearby bench and wondered what he had done with that medicine kit. She had gone down during the struggle with the older man, and hadn't risen until Luke had been forced to cut him down. He snapped his lightsaber back in place and looked her over. She was still a little dazed, he noted she seemed to have no combat skills whatsoever. Either that, or she wasn't even trying.

From the look of her, he guessed her age to be younger than his own, perhaps about the age he was when he left home, and he couldn't help noticing what a nice figure she had. Her long and extremely curled black hair had bright streaks of light blue in it, as was the latest fashion on Naboo, and fell to the back of her knees. She wore a tight, black body suit, with knee-high boots that matched the streaks in her hair. She seemed a mystery, even standing right next to her he could not touch her with the Force. Her eyes were the most intriguing thing about her, how light and blue, almost crystal. They would shift from one emotion to another in a few second, whereas it would take most humans an hour to change so immensely. She could seem a different person at times. Suddenly he realized he had been staring and shifted his eyes.

"Who are you?" the girl asked, staring back.
Luke cleared his throat and began to check her wounds, making sure nothing was vitally important, and noting he was going to have to put her in a healing trance. "I'm Luke Skywalker, I'm here to rescue you." he smiled, realizing how much that line reminded him of something...inside joke.
"Rescue me? What for?" she asked, watching as his skilled hands moved over her arm, thankful he was not the type to take liberties.
"You needed help, and you still do." Luke winked and pointed to a large cut on her arm. The girl grimaced at the sight and smell of her own blood and quickly adverted her eyes. Luke smiled up at her from tending to her wound.
"Well, I told you my name. What's yours?" he asked, looking back down at arm.
"Cascade. Cascade Mistra. I usually make everyone call me by my full name, but you can call me Cas, or Cassy. Courtesy of saving my life." she smiled, watching as he quickly ripped off some of his shirt and tied it around her arm.
"Cas. That's pretty." Luke said, wondering just how long she had been on her own.
"Ten years." she said. Luke started and looked back up at her quickly. She grinned. "You were wondering how long I had been on my own, everyone does. Don't worry, I'm no mind-reader." she said, still amused at how surprised he had looked. "I take it you're a Jedi." she said as he finished tying her wound.
"Yup." Luke answered simply.
"I always wanted to be one...I guess I just never the patience." she sighed, looking slightly enviously at his lightsaber.
Luke stopped and considered. Maybe it was about time he took on a padawan, he had been a Master for a while now, it just would be natural to begin training. He grinned at. "I've never had a padawan, how would you like to give it a try?" he asked her.
It was Cas's turn to start. "ME! But, but, aren't I too old?" she asked him, unbelieving.
"Hey, I was about your age when I began my training." Luke replied, taking both her hands and helping her up. "It will be a challenge for you, one that I'm sure will bring good results."
Cas seemed to consider for a moment, then a shadow of worry darkened her face. "But, how will I pay you? I don't have anything."
Luke chuckled a little. "Cas, you don't have to pay your Master, all I ask of you is that you do what I say, and obey me. And you will be a Jedi, I promise."

Luke's mind floated back to the present as he became suddenly aware of his surroundings. It was becoming slightly dusk, and Cas was almost finished with her lesson. Sometimes he regreted having decided to train her on Dagobah, it was so slimy here. But, there was something magical about this place...something that somehow managed to be the perfect training atmosphere. He waved for Cas to stop and approached her.
"That's enough for tonight, let's go in, I'm getting cold." he shivered.
Cas's beautiful laugh ran out and echoed among the trees. "You? Jedi Master Luke? Cold?" she teased, but none the less followed him back to their hut. It was a little chilly out, and she offered no argument as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and enveloped her in his cloak. She would never understand what it was about this planet, it was so dank and musty, slimy and muddy. Why train HERE! She had given up trying to get that out of him, he could be so secretive sometimes.

She sighed with relief when they entered the small hut, thankful for the already built fire. The hut was much like Yoda's, only the roof was much higher up. Luke's arm left her shoulder as he walked over to hang his cloak up in it's usual place. Luke was a wonderful Master, he had a powerful intellect, amazing skills, a wonderful singing voice...and sadly he thought he was a cook. She quickly made her way to the kitchen before he got the notion to whip up another 'master piece'.

"Oh, that's ok Cas, I'll make dinner." Luke said from the living area.
"Oh, no you won't." Cas said firmly, lighting a small fire on the stove and setting some water to boil. "No more 'Skywalker delights'."
"Hey, I thought it was pretty good." Luke insisted, leaning on the doorframe of the kitchen.
"That's because YOU made it, you think everything you cook is good." Cas rolled her eyes.
"Right." Luke said matter-of-factly.

Cas flipped her hair out of her eyes and caught a glimpse of him. Lately she was so ashamed at finding her Master handsome, but it was so hard not to notice those wonderful eyes, that soft, calm voice, that light singing voice, the witty sense of humor, the sandy blonde hair...the nice ass. She mentally kicked herself and hoped he hadn't been screening her thoughts at that moment. She busied herself with cooking and tried to pretend he wasn't standing there, just watching her.
She tried to make herself think he was testing her temper, seeing just how long she would let him just stare at her and say nothing. Must be some Jedi training, tolerance test. Or maybe he was just being a pain.

Luke yawned a stretched, revealing well-toned muscles. "Well, I think I'll let you cook for tonight, I'm beat." he said, returning to the living area to sit in front of the fire and ponder whatever it was Jedi pondered about. She shrugged and went back to chopping this and that, stirring here and there, anything to keep her mind off him and on her training.

After dinner Cas bid Luke goodnight and went to her side of the hut to retire. Luke smiled at her retreating form and looked back at the crackling and diminishing fire. She was a good padawan, and learning well. There was something about her, something different. He had met many women in his travels, and had stayed away from attachment, such a thing was forbidden to the Jedi.

To tell the truth, he had never been drawn to a woman, excluding Leia. He had thought he was in love with her, but his hopes were shattered when he discovered the truth. But that was a long time ago. Luke told himself, shifting to a more comfortable position in his chair.
He felt differently for Cas, it was as though he was drawn to her like he was to none other.
He had some very close friends that he cared very much, Han, Leia, Chewie, even Ben...but none of them did he feel for like he did her. He didn't know what it was, maybe it was a protective reflex, maybe all Master's felt this way for their apprentices', perhaps it was natural. He did feel protective of her, he didn't want her to turn, he wanted her to become a Jedi, and a strong one.

But he worried more than he thought he should about her, he feared somehow she would get hurt, and he couldn't bear the thought of her ever being it pain. Why was it so important that she be safe? Why did he have nightmares of her suffering? Time would tell. Luke sighed and got up from his chair. It was time he got to bed, tomorrow was another day, another day with Cas.

End Of Chapter One