Chapter 10

Aboard the Redemption. Near Sullust. The Present.

"I'm not getting any readings from Hoth. It doesn't make any sense." Sors Bandeam played with the controls of one of the communications arrays but to no avail

"We left there only a few weeks ago Sors. How is that possible?" Asked Anakin.

"I'm not sure."

"Haven't you heard the news?" A bearded Rebel trooper came up to them. He looked oddly familiar to Anakin. Sors spoke up,

"No, why would we? We're in Sullust…this is the rendezvous point in case anything bad happened…" A look of concern appeared on Anakin's face as Sors Bandeam finished speaking.

"Our base in Hoth was overrun Lieutenant." The accent of the man standing before Sors and Anakin was unmistakable as was the look in his eyes. He looked older. "Several fighters escaped, and most of the transports, but our losses were heavy." Padmé Amidala Skywalker moved closer to her husband.

"Ani, Leia and Luke were there…"

"Shh…they are safe…I can feel it." He held his wife in arms closely as she trembled. The bearded Rebel slowly stepped away to give the worried couple some room. Sors Bandeam followed him out, as Anakin and his wife moved closer to one of the exterior windows of the Redemption.

"What is it?" She asked her husband. Padmé stared into her husband's eyes but saw nothing but nervousness. He turned away from her lost in thought.

"Ventress."

"Has she found them?"

"Not yet…" He sighed. "But she's close. I sense Han and Leia are in terrible danger."

Dagobah – The Bog – Dusk.

Luke was being torn apart by his dreams as he twisted and turned. Ahsoka Tano lay curled up next to him. Soon, she too was disrupted by his disruptive slumber. He began yelling out names.

"Han!" Leia!" A pause came. Ahsoka's eyes were cracked open, listening intently as she saw sweat developing on the younger man's forehead. He shouted out another name then, "Vader! VADER!" He shouted it loudly as he sprung up from sleep.

"Luke…relax…I'm here…it was just a dream!" The commotion stirred Yoda from his slumber. He walked with his Gimer stick in toe toward the agitated young man.

"Dreams fearful portents they are…hmm…" He sized up Luke Skywalker. "Much fear you carry with you…like your father did once."

"You knew him?" Luke asked, although he already knew the answer. Yoda sighed and smiled.

"Came to us he did long ago…when he was a boy. Yes…knew your father I did."

"My dreams…they're so real Master Yoda."

"What did you see Luke?" asked Ahsoka.

"I saw…I saw a city in the clouds."

"Mmm. Friends you have there?" Said the older Jedi Master. Luke nodded his head as he spoke.

"My sister…" Luke was out of breath as he spoke. "…my friends…they were in pain."

"It is the future you see," said Yoda. Luke rubbed his head a bit as he turned away.

"The future?" He shook his head to try to clear his mind. Then another thought entered, one more sinister than the previous ones. "Will they die?" Yoda lowered his head down, closing his eyes. He was deep in thought for a few moments. Then he looked at Luke and spoke again.

"Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future." Without missing a beat, Luke answered the older Jedi.

"I have to go to them." Ahsoka trembled a bit as she saw Luke's determination. He was admirable and reckless. Both were traits he shared with her master.

"Decide you must how to serve them best. If you leave now, help them you could. But you would destroy all for which they have fought and suffered."

Luke is stopped by Yoda's words. He nods his head sadly understand his master's words. Nevertheless, he exchanged an uneasy glance with Ahsoka. He knew what he needed to do. She knew he wouldn't let him do it alone.

Luke was helping Ahsoka load a heavy case into the belly of his X-Wing. Artoo sits on top of the X-wing, settling down into his position behind the pilot's seat. Yoda stood nearby on a log pleading with the young man.

"Luke! You must complete your training." Luke sighed.

"I can't keep the vision out of my head. My sister's in danger…. They're my friends. I've got to help them." Yoda's eyes narrowed as he spoke with greater authority and an even greater sense of urgency.

"You must not go!" Luke shouted loudly.

"But Han and Leia will die if I don't." Suddenly, from out of nowhere, another voice responded. It was the voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi.

"You don't know that Luke. Even Yoda cannot see their fate." Luke looks toward the voice in amazement. His Uncle Ben had materialized as a real, slightly shimmering image near Yoda. The power of his presence causes Luke and even the seasoned Ahsoka Tano to stop what they were doing.

"Uncle Ben, I can help them! I feel the Force!"

"But you cannot control it. This is a dangerous time for you, when you will be tempted by the Dark Side of the Force." Yoda leaned forward following up on the ghostly Ben's words.

"Yes, yes. To Obi-Wan you listen. The cave. Remember your failure at the cave!" Luke listened but was adamant.

"But I've learned so much since then. Master Yoda, I promise to return and finish what I've begun. You have my word." Ben spoke up.

"It is you and your abilities the Emperor wants. That is why your friends are made to suffer." Luke nodded his head.

"And that's why I have to go. Can't you see that?"

"Luke, remember the example Ventress. Remember, Darth Vader. I don't want to lose you to the machinations of the Dark Side…to the twisted evil of the Emperor the same way I lost Vader."

"You won't." Yoda leapt off the log and moved closer to Luke.

Stopped they must be. On this all depends. Only a fully trained Jedi Knight with the Force as his ally will conquer Ventress and her Emperor. If you end your training now, if you choose the quick and easy path, as Ventress did, you will become an agent of evil." As if to further emphasize the point, Obi-Wan spoke up.

"Have patience!"

"And sacrifice Han and Leia?" Yoda spoke up once more.

"If you honor what they fight for…yes!" Luke didn't know what the right decision was anymore. He wasn't sure. The battle raged on in his mind as his uncle spoke up.

"Listen to me carefully. If you choose to confront Ventress, you will do it alone. I cannot interfere." Ahsoka had been watching the exchange transpire with a mix of agreement and frustration. There was no doubt that Obi-Wan and Yoda had a point. Equally so, she knew just how perilous avoiding portentous dreams could be. If the past had the young Togruta anything, it was that one ignored dreams like these at their own peril. She bravely stood forward before Kenobi and Yoda.

"Skyguy won't face her alone. I'm going with him. I'll keep watch over him." Luke turned around the shock registering on his face.

"I can't ask you to do that…it's not your fight." She stepped forward closer to him.

"Luke, it's been my fight for a long time. Much longer than you've been alive…you need someone to have your back. I'm the one for the job."

"Ahsoka, are you sure about this?" She sighed.

"No. They're right you know. We're walking straight into a trap…" She paused for a moment, her hands placed firmly on her hips. "But we've got to save your friends."

"Ok." He looked up at R2D2. "Artoo? Fire up the converters." R2 let out of a few bleeps in response. Ben raised his hands up as Luke started the engines with Ahsoka strapping in behind him.

"Luke, don't give in to hate…that leads to the Dark Side." Yoda chirped up.

"Strong is Ventress. Mind what you have learned. Save you it can." Luke shouted loudly down from his cockpit.

"I will. And I'll return. I promise."

Artoo closed the cockpit. Obi-Wan and Yoda stood their ground, watching as the X-Wing's engines came to life and the wind whipped against them.

"Told you I did…" Yoda sighed. "Reckless are they both." Now matters are worse."

"That boy is our last hope," Said Ben Kenobi. Yoda looked up at the sky, his face illuminated by red then blue lights.

"Mmm. No…there is another." He paused again and then added. "Secrets can be very destructive. Especially those of the father."