Summary: ESB-AU. All Luke has ever wanted is to know his father. When he, as a more powerful Jedi, arrives on Bespin at the same time Lando delivers his friends to Darth Vader, will he be able to save them? And when he finds out about his parentage, will he accept it, deny it, or...embrace it?
A/N: I had to write this after a dream left this summary in my head. (Yay for Star Wars dreams!) I know this is one of the most overwritten plotlines out there, if you look at the C2...but everyone's is different. I hope you'll give mine a chance. If this is in any way very close to another fic out there, I apologize...but I as much as I'd like to, I can't exactly check it against every other story.
I was hesitant to publish this because I'm still just getting started on Whispers of Darkness...but I'll do my best to update both somewhat regularly. Reviews keep me motivated!
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars.
Chapter 1
"Powerful in the Force you have become, Luke. Yes, yes."
Yoda sat perched atop Luke, who was practicing levitating and telekinesis. He was currently balancing on only one hand, and had numerous large objects off the ground, grasped proficiently in the Force. Breathing deeply, he felt the tingle of the Force flowing through him. He reveled in it, gathering strength.
"Thank you, Master," Luke replied, not breaking his focus. Yoda's words caused a feeling of gratification to upwell inside, but he did his best to push it back and stay focused on the task at hand.
"One you are...body, mind, and spirit. Impatient like your father you may be, but I believe you stronger than he. But learn forbearance, you must."
The green Jedi Master suddenly pushed Luke with the Force, silencing any reply that had been on the young man's lips. Yoda fell toward the ground and Luke caught him before following the direction of the shove and somersaulting across the wet, muddy ground of the Dagobah swamp. He deposited his diminutive master safely on the ground and stood. Yoda looked around, obviously pleased, at all the objects still floating in his apprentice's invisible grip. Luke allowed himself a smile.
"Very good. Enough training we have had today. Rest, I must, and then we will meditate."
Luke nodded and carefully set down the objects as Yoda started back toward the hut. As soon as his wheels hit the ground, Luke's small astromech droid, R2-D2, started warbling angrily.
"Sorry, Artoo," Luke said with a laugh, "but you were needed up there."
Artoo gave a small electronic sigh and turned in the direction Yoda had gone. Luke gathered up his jacket and followed the two miniature beings.
Outside the hut, Yoda sat crossed-legged opposite from his young protégé, and as the sky darkened around them, guided Luke to a deeper connection with the Force.
"See things, do you? When at peace with the Force, visions...dreams, you will have. The past and the future, you can glimpse."
Luke's forehead creased in concentration. He had completely lost himself in the flow of the Force, and as he drifted in its grip, he began to see images. Nothing was clear; there were just swirling spots of light and dark, both clamoring for attention. A tendril of light reached out to him, beckoning him, and he followed it cautiously as it grew brighter. His senses were suddenly and completely overwhelmed as images cleared and emotions pulled him in many directions.
Pure white, puffy clouds were streaked with pink and orange light as a bright, burning sun set in the distance. Peering through the breathtaking vista, Luke realized there was a city nestled in the center of the clouds. Before he could look further, the view changed, and he saw Han standing in a dim room, looking very run-down and drained. He then felt - through Han, it seemed - a chill creeping up his spine. Searing heat and pain burst through, though his skin felt like ice. Then the sensation was over, and the face of his friend disappeared.
Leia's face quickly swirled into view. Her lovely face was wet with tears, and intense sadness and despair washed over him. He wanted to reach out and brush away the tears, but then, her eyes grew large as absolute terror gripped at Luke, squeezing him. Leia opened her mouth, but no sound came out until -
Breathing. Steady, mechanical breathing.
Luke's eyes snapped open and he gasped for breath. Leaning forward, he rested his head in his hands and felt the cold sweat on his forehead. Swallowing with an effort, he looked up to Yoda.
"What was that?" He felt exhausted and spent.
"Hmm. What did you see?" Yoda asked, inclining his head.
"A city, in the clouds. And - my friends."
"Ah. In this city, they must be."
"They were in pain." Luke's voice broke on the last word. He leaned heavily on his hands, deflated.
Yoda calculated his next words carefully.
"It is...the future that you see."
Luke's head snapped up.
"I - I have to go help them."
Luke jumped up and took a moment to steady himself as his stomach lurched in protest.
"No!" Yoda exclaimed. "You cannot go yet. Leave now, and risk destroying yourself, you will."
Luke whirled on the Jedi Master.
"And sacrifice Han and Leia?"
Yoda simply shook his head, and Luke looked at him in disbelief.
"You just admitted to me how much I've learned, how powerful I am. You don't think I can help them? I can feel the Force guiding me. I must go to them!"
Yoda stood. "Think you weak, I do not. However...ready, you are not, to face the challenges that await you."
Luke looked over his shoulder at Yoda.
"I wish I could believe you."
Staring at Yoda for a moment more, he then turned and hurried back to the hut.
In one short hour, Luke had his X-wing recovered from the swamp, cleaned off, and prepped for takeoff. Loading a heavy case into the belly of the ship, he called for Artoo to get settled into his compartment. Yoda stood nearby.
"Luke, listen you must! Please, rethink your actions. Consider the consequences. You are not prepared for what is ahead!"
Luke shook his head in exasperation, not taking his eyes off the last adjustments he was making to the starfighter.
"I can't just stand by while they suffer. You have taught me a great deal, Master Yoda, and I won't forget it."
"Always in motion is the Force," Yoda responded. "Know that this is their destiny, you do not! Recklessness will only cause evil to overcome you."
Luke's anger towards Yoda became palpable in the Force.
"I will not succumb to my anger or my feelings," Luke said, his voice just above a whisper. "I know that it is the path to the dark side. I have the Force to guide my decisions. If anything happens to Han and Leia, the Rebellion could fall to pieces. I'm not taking this lightly. It's not just for me - it's for the ultimate goal of destroying Vader and the Emperor."
Yoda have a resigned sigh, implicitly admitting that his pupil was stuck in his ways.
"Know how much you are like your father, you never will," he said quietly. "Please. Be wary of your actions and decisions. Do not give into hate. Strong is Vader. Mind what you have learned - save you it can."
"I will." Luke looked at Yoda one last time, and with silent thanks, boarded his X-wing.
"All right, Artoo, let's go."
The droid whistled a response, and as Yoda watched Luke's fighter shoot into the sky, the ghostly, shimmering image of Obi-Wan materialized next to him.
"I cannot help him his time."
"Know, I do," Yoda replied to his friend. "Only hope he heeds what he has learned, we can."
"The Force be with you, Luke," Obi-Wan said softly.