Darth Vader waited in the docking bay of the incomplete Death Star. The Emperor was arriving, which meant that everyone was on standby. Hundreds of stormtroopers and officers stood at the ready, waiting for their esteemed leader to emerge. The ship quickly landed as the royal guards established a perimeter around the former chancellor.

Along with Commander Jerjerrod, Vader kneeled at the sight of his master as he walked down the ramp. The Emperor went to Vader before urging him to rise to his feet and accompany him while they walk along the troops. They had walked a few paces before Vader realized that the Emperor was waiting for him to give his report.

"The Death Star will be completed on schedule," Vader informed, leaving out the parts where he had threatened and removed several officers to get the job done. The Emperor nodded, not turning to his apprentice.

"You have done well, Lord Vader. And now I sense you wish to continue your search for the young Jedi," the Emperor mentioned before Vader nodded. He wanted to continue his search for Padme as well but that could wait until after he found his son. There was a possibility that they would be found together.

"Yes, my master."

"Patience, my friend. In time he will seek you out. And when he does, you must bring him before me. He has grown strong," the Emperor instructed. Vader hid his hesitation, knowing that if the Emperor had access to Luke, there would be no need for him. Luke was meant to replace Vader, as he had replaced the others before him. "Only together can we turn him to the dark side of the Force."

"As you wish," Vader conceded with a bow of his head. He could see a devious smile form on the Emperor's lips. Impatience overtook him as he started to plan on how he wanted to find his son and his former wife. The sooner, the better for them.

"Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen," the Emperor cackled before they continued through the bay.

~~F~~

Once they were safe in space, Luke broke off from the Falcon as both ships plotted their courses. Padme watched Luke through the window, wishing that her son didn't have to leave so soon. She sat with Leia in the cockpit while Chewie and Han prepped the hyperdrive. Lando tried to help, but Han insisted that his vision was much better.

"I'll meet you back at the fleet," Luke promised over the intercom.

"Hurry, the Alliance should be assembled by now," Padme reminded.

"I will," Luke vowed with a smile in his voice.

"Hey, Luke, thanks. Thanks for comin' after me. Now I owe you one," Han teased making Padme and Leia smirk. Padme kept her eyes on her son's ship before it shot off into space. Luke had a promise to keep, and she wasn't going to be the one to stop him.

"It's nice to be back," Han sighed as Padme smiled. She was glad to have everyone there back in one piece. Chewie barked before fluffing Han's hair.

"So, back to the fleet then?" Lando asked as Han turned to him.

"You a part of the Alliance now?" Han scoffed.

"I am now. It's not like I can go back to the Cloud City now," Lando reminded. Han glanced at his old friend before smiling. "The quicker the Empire is defeated, the faster I can get back to building a new life for myself."

"A respectable life?" Han teased before Lando shrugged.

"Maybe," Lando answered as Chewie pulled the ship into hyperdrive.

"What about you?" Leia asked with her arms crossed. "Are you sticking around this time?"

"I don't have a bounty out for my head anymore," Han mentioned, pretending to think it over. Padme rolled her eyes before she left to the main area. Leia watched him carefully before he grinned. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

~~F~~

Luke quickly found himself back on Dagobah and landed closer to Yoda's home. He sensed something was wrong and ran towards the hut as Yoda waited for him at the door. Luke bowed before his old master let him in. Luke found the small corner where he sat last time as Yoda finished his cleaning.

"That face you make," Yoda started as Luke stared at him. "Look I so old to young eyes?"

"No, of course not," Luke answered, trying to seem more upbeat. Yoda shook his head and laughed under his breath.

"I do. Yes, I do. Sick have I become. Old and weak," Yoda informed as Luke went to argue. "When nine hundred years old you reach, look as good you will not, hmm?"

Luke gave a weak smile and nodded. Yoda started coughing as he hobbled towards his bed, trying his best to cover the cough with a laugh. Luke crawled over to him.

"Soon, I will rest. Yes, forever sleep. Earned it, I have," Yoda whispered as he laid down.

"Master Yoda, you can't die," Luke answered, shaking his head.

"Strong I am with the Force, but not that strong. Twilight is upon me and soon night must fall. That is the way of things… the way of the Force," Yoda reminded, looking up at his newest apprentice.

"But I need your help. I've come back to complete the training."

"No more training do you require. Already know you that which you need."

"Then I am a Jedi?" Luke wondered before Yoda sighed.

"Not yet. One thing remains: Vader. You must confront Vader. Then, only then, a Jedi will you be. And confront him you will."

"Master Yoda," Luke added as his master turned to him. "I know that he is my father."

Yoda watched Luke as the truth came through, his eyes full of compassion and sorrow. Luke waited a moment while Yoda sat up slightly against his pillows.

"Told you, did he?"

"Yes."

"Unexpected this is, and unfortunate," Yoda lamented as Luke sat forward.

"Unfortunate that I know the truth?" Luke asked, more confused than angry as he debated whether or not to mention that his mother also confirmed the truth. Yoda stared at him again for a while before speaking.

"No. Unfortunate that you rushed to face him. That incomplete was your training. Not ready for the burden were you," Yoda informed. Luke nodded. "Remember a Jedi's strength flows from the Force. But beware anger, fear, aggression. The dark side are they. Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny."

Luke waited as Yoda's strength began to fail. He could feel the Force ebb in a different way around the old Jedi, and he knew the moment was at hand. Both of them knew.

"Luke do not… do not underestimate the powers of the Emperor, or suffer your father's fate you will. Luke, when I am gone, the last of the Jedi will you be. The Force runs strong in your family. Pass on what you have learned, Luke," Yoda pleaded as Luke drew closer to hear him. "Teach your sister what you have learned."

Luke's breath caught as Yoda exhaled. His life force had left him, and Luke watched before his old master had disappeared, just like Ben had on the old Death Star. As the lights dimmed in the hut, Luke left and walked back to his x wing. He had hoped that he would have gotten to spend more time learning and mastering the Jedi ways before Yoda was gone. He leaned on the stilts keeping the x wing upright when he heard something behind him.

"Yoda will always be with you," Ben informed as Luke turned to see his first master. Only, Ben was transparent and had a silvery glow about him.

"Obi-Wan!" Luke exclaimed in shock. As he approached, Ben sat on a log, waiting for Luke. "Why didn't tell me?"

"It wasn't my truth to tell. Your mother was worried that you and your sister would be found if any mention of your true parentage were revealed. She made me and Master Yoda promise that we would never tell anyone, including you. The lie was meant to protect you and your sister," Ben answered as Luke sighed. They sat in silence before Ben exhaled. "Anakin was a good friend of mine, and what happened to your father was my fault. When I first knew him, he was a great pilot, but I was amazed how strongly the Force was with him. I took it upon myself to train him as a Jedi. I thought I could instruct him just as well as Yoda taught me. I was wrong. My pride has had terrible consequences for all the galaxy."

"There's still good in him," Luke informed. Ben gaped for a moment, surprised by the young Jedi's demeanor.

"I also thought he could be turned back to the good side. It couldn't be done. He is more machine now than man. Twisted and evil," Ben warned before Luke turned toward the ground. He had hoped that Vader would have seen the light by now, but Ben had lost hope when he faced Vader a few years prior.

"I can't do it, Ben," Luke whispered.

"You cannot escape your destiny."

"I tried to stop him once, I couldn't do it."

"Vader humbled you when you first met him, Luke, but that experience was a part of your training. It taught you, among other things, the value of patience. Had you not been so impatient to defeat Vader then, you could have finished your training here with Yoda. You would have been prepared," Ben informed, turning to Luke.

"But I had to help them," Luke answered firmly.

"And did you help them? It was they who had to save you. You achieved little by rushing back prematurely," Ben remarked. Another moment of silence between them before Luke gave an indignant smirk.

"I found out Darth Vader was my father," Luke reminded. Ben's face hardened.

"To be a Jedi, Luke, you must confront and then go beyond the dark side, the side your father couldn't get past. Impatience is the easiest door for both you and your father. Only, your father was seduced by what he found on the other side of the door, and you have held firm. You are no longer so reckless now, Luke. You are strong and patient. And now you must face Darth Vader again."

"I can't kill my own father," Luke insisted before Ben sighed, defeated.

"Then the Emperor has already won. You were our only hope."

"Yoda spoke of another. My sister."

"Yes but Leia while the Force is strong within in her, she has had no training. She will not be prepared to face Vader as you are," Ben replied sternly. Luke nodded, knowing that he was telling the truth. "Bury your feelings, Luke. They could be made to serve the Emperor."

"I will," Luke promised before Ben stood.

"Now you better get going," Ben insisted, watching Luke stand as well. "Your friends are in need of your help right now."

Luke nodded as the Jedi Master started to walk away before he vanished. Luke turned back to his x wing where Artoo had prepped for takeoff. He jumped into the pilot seat with a final look at the hut that Yoda had lived in. In a strange way, he was going to miss this place. Determined, he turned on the engines and flew off the planet toward the Rebel fleet.