Chapter Three

Beru instantly recognized the voice of Ben Kenobi, standing up to greet the latest newcomer. "Ben? Why are you here?" She waved at the older man wearing a brown robe to enter her home.

"Hey, you're the old wizard the guys are always talking about," Luke stated. "I've always wanted to meet you."

"I've watched you grow up from afar, Luke," Ben said as he pushed back his cowl, revealing a kindly face. He turned to face Padmé. "You haven't aged a day, Padmé."

Padmé stood, and moved to embrace the older man. "You always were a flatterer. It's wonderful to see you again, Obi-Wan." Inside, she was more than a little shocked at Obi-Wan's appearance. Time had not been kind to the Jedi, and he had aged far more than she could have imagined.

"I'm surprised Owen didn't try to stop you," Beru said.

"I'm sure he would have," Ben replied. "Fortunately for me, he was rather busy negotiating with a spacer for a fair price for those two droids, and neither one noticed me as I walked past."

Leia leapt to her feet. "What? Solo's trying to sell my droids? How dare he!" She cleared her throat, embarrassed at her lack of decorum. It was all that Corellian's fault for making her forget her upbringing. "Uh, it's nice meeting you, General Kenobi. My father has told me many wonderful stories about your exploits."

"How did you know I was here?" Padmé asked the Jedi.

"The Force told me there was a change coming sometime ago," Obi-Wan said. "When I sensed your presence, it all made sense."

"What did Ben mean about killing our father?" Luke asked intently, staring at Padmé. "Is that why you're here?"

"Yes."

Obi-Wan shook his head in dismay. "Your children are untrained in the ways of the Force. If Yoda couldn't defeat Palpatine and I could not defeat their father, what makes you think they can?"

"The Force?" Luke questioned. "What's the Force?"

"The Force is a power that surrounds all living things," Obi-Wan explained. "Some of us can access this power and use it to enhance our abilities, such as reflexes and speed."

"The Emperor killed all the Jedi," Leia informed Luke. "There isn't anyone left that can use this power, except for General Kenobi."

"That's not exactly true," Obi-Wan said gently. "Vader and Palpatine both are able to access the power of the Force, although they use it for evil."

The group remained silent for a long moment, taking in this information. Then when Leia finally spoke, her voice was slightly shaky. "Who is our father?"

It was Obi-Wan that replied, after noting that Padmé dropped her head. "Anakin Skywalker was my apprentice. He was the most powerful Force-user the galaxy had ever known. Senator Palpatine knew this, and unfortunately, the Jedi Order was too blind to see that Palpatine was a Sith until it was too late."

"Palpatine used Anakin's love for me to twist him and use him," Padmé whispered. "We never should have defied the Jedi Order and fallen in love, much less married in secret."

"Anakin Skywalker is Darth Vader," Leia stated, knowing the answer before anyone could bring it to reality by vocal confirmation.

"Anakin Skywalker no longer exists," Obi-Wan tried to explain. "After he turned to the Dark Side, he tried killing your mother, and I fought him on Mustafar. I won, and I thought he died on that awful planet. But Palpatine came to retrieve what remained of his still breathing body, and put him into that suit to keep him alive."

"It was the Sith that your father became that killed many of the Jedi, during the purges," Padmé said. "It's why he needs to die, along with Palpatine. Only together can we destroy this evil, and bring peace and justice back to the galaxy."

Beru had remained silent, listening in shock to this story. "How can these children defeat the Emperor and Darth Vader? It's not possible!"

"I would have to agree with Beru," Obi-Wan said. "This will only lead to their deaths, Padmé."

"Do you really think I'm doing this without considering the consequences?" Padmé cried out. "You've remained hidden, doing nothing, while the galaxy falls ever deeper into despair! I know the risks! I don't want to put my children in such a terrible danger, but something has to be done. If you won't do it, then I will." She turned her brown eyes toward Luke and Leia. "This is the decision you must make. I will not take one of you into danger without the other as backup. It's either both of you, or neither of you."

"Don't do it, Luke," Beru said, sniffing. "Stay here, where it's safe."

Luke turned to gaze at his newfound sister. "You're willing to do this, aren't you?"

"Somehow, I've known all my life that there was a task I had to undertake to save the beings of the galaxy," Leia replied, still reeling from the revelation that the monster known as Darth Vader was her biological father. "I'll admit I never thought it would be something as dramatic as taking on Palpatine and Vader personally, but someone will eventually have to do it."

"Maybe it's the reason we were born," Luke added thoughtfully. "To right what our father wronged."

"No," Beru said, breaking into a sob. "Please don't go, Luke."

Luke put his arm around the woman who raised him, and loved him like he was her own child. "You know I have to, Aunt Beru."

"But I don't want you to!"

He kissed the top of her head. "I'll be back someday, I promise."

"I'll pack a bag for you, then," Beru said, wiping a tear from her eye. "You should never take a trip without a change of clothing."

Padmé swallowed the lump in her throat, bursting with pride, and shaking with fear at the same time. "We'd better hurry, before it gets too dark to head back to town."

"And before Solo sells our transportation to Uncle Owen," Luke said with a laugh.

"I'm coming with you," Obi-Wan spoke up firmly. "At least I can give them some training before meeting up with the two most powerful Force-users in the galaxy."

Padmé smiled, and gave Obi-Wan a warm hug. "Thank you. Hopefully, if my plan works, the Force won't be able to affect the outcome."

"That's not possible."

"Do you think?" Padmé asked coyly. "We'll see."

Outside in the dry heat, Han took a step back from the Princess's wrath. "So what if I was trying to make some extra cash?" he said defensively. "I've yet to get into a situation where a droid comes in handy."

"I tried to inform you that we weren't for sale," Threepio moaned to a sullen Uncle Owen. "Why do humans always ignore me?"

Waving a fist under the Corellian's nose, Leia could barely contain herself. "They're my droids, not yours! If you ever try to sell them again, I won't care if you ARE Padmé's boy toy, I'll break your big nose myself!"

"My nose isn't big!"

"So is that why Solo called her 'sweetheart?'" Luke questioned as he shifted the weight of the satchel Aunt Beru had quickly packed for him to take along on his trip. "He's our mother's boyfriend?"

"Padmé is your mother?" Han spluttered out in shock.

"Yes, as revolting as that scenario is, apparently it's true," Leia replied to Luke. "Now watch as the Nerf of Corellia runs screaming toward the nearest bar."

The Naboo woman gave a groan. "Why did you have to say that?"

Both younger men spoke up at the same time, thinking Padmé was speaking to them. "He doesn't know about us?" Luke said in surprise. "I don't know," Han mumbled, assuming that Padmé was referring to the really dumb lie about them being involved.

Everyone stood around in a semi-circle, looking confused. It was Owen that finally stated, "It doesn't surprise me a single atom that the high and mighty Queen of Naboo has a new, young consort."

"Queen?" Han repeated, his confusion growing by the moment. "I thought you were a senator."

"That was after I'd been Queen of Naboo," Padmé said, feeling her resentment toward Owen spike another notch.

"Queens can quit?" Luke questioned. "I never knew that."

"Me, either," Han admitted. "And I don't think I like being called a 'consort', either."

"What you don't know could fill up an asteroid field, flyboy," Leia stated firmly.

"Well," Obi-Wan said loudly as he gave a cough. "Now that everything seems to be out in the open, more or less, we should get moving."

"Mark my words, Luke. This is going to come to a disastrous end," Owen warned. "If you have an ounce of sense, you'll stay here, where it's safe."

"How long have you known Vader had been Anakin Skywalker?" Luke questioned his uncle. "When were you going to get around to telling me the truth about my father?"

"Never." Owen crossed his arms in defiance. "I never even burdened your poor aunt with that information."

"I thought as much," Luke said sadly.

Han waved his hand, calling attention to himself. "Wait a space-vaped parsec. Am I hearing this right? Darth Vader… THE Darth Vader… is Luke and Leia's father?"

"Yes," Padmé said.

"Maybe that's what will cause Solo to run screaming," Leia commented, biting her lip.

"I ain't leaving, Princess," Han said stubbornly. "Me and your mom have got a long history together, and Darth Vader doesn't scare me."

"Proof, once again, that you're a moron," Leia responded.

"Okay, then," Obi-Wan said, clapping his hands together. "NOW is everything out in the open?"

"More or less," Padmé said dryly.

Back in the Mos Eisley spaceport, Han punched in the code to enter his ship. "All aboard that's coming aboard," he called out cheerfully as Padmé and Obi-Wan started to head up the ramp, with the droids following closely behind them.

"Come along, Artoo," Obi-Wan said, looking down at the little droid fondly. "It's been a long time since we've had an adventure together."

Threepio tilted his head in puzzlement, as the little droid gave the older man a positive-sounding response. "I do not recall we were ever owned by a Jedi."

"You would not," Obi-Wan answered. "I'm afraid after the twins were born, you had a complete memory wipe for the safety of Padmé, and the children, Threepio."

"I see," Threepio said, sounding miffed. "You could trust Artoo, but not me."

At the top of the ramp, Padmé gave a brief smile. "Sorry, Threepio." She disappeared inside, and Obi-Wan followed.

Artoo gave a raspberry noise at the tall droid, which sounded suspiciously like gloating.

"No one likes a know-it-all, Artoo," Threepio said loftily, hurrying to enter the ship before the little droid.

Luke stood at the bottom of the ramp, craning his neck to gaze at the dilapidated freighter. "What a piece of junk," he commented, not caring if the captain of the piece of junk heard him.

"I'm getting really annoyed at all these nasty comments about my ship," Han snarled. "The Millennium Falcon is the best ship in the galaxy, and I'm the best pilot."

"If you say so," Luke said, sounding dubious.

"I say so." Han turned his body toward Leia, blocking her way. "Part two of this trip is complete. Have you transferred your father's payment into my account?"

Leia's eyes narrowed at the Corellian. "If you let me get onboard, I'll use your long range transponder and send the proper code. If your transponder works, that is."

"It's working."

"Then move aside, Vapor-breath," Leia said, giving the Corellian a hard shove before stomping loudly up the ramp. She paused for a second at the top, calling down, "You should be ashamed of your obsession with money."

"Money happens to be the most important thing in the galaxy!" Han yelled back. She disappeared into the ship, and Han turned to Luke. "She's gotta lot of spunk, even if she does have a hot temper and a deadly tongue." When Luke just shrugged his shoulders, Han asked, "What do you think?"

"About what?"

Han leaned against a landing strut, and pointed at his chest. "Could a guy like me and a real life Princess get together?"

Luke's expression turned to total disbelief. "You're asking me if you should have an affair… with my SISTER?"

"'Affair' is such a crass term," Han said. "I prefer 'smoking hot romance,' myself."

"You're already involved with our MOTHER!"

"Oh. Yeah." Han stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I forgot about that."

"You FORGOT?!"

"Well, you can't blame me," Han said defensively. "Padmé's been sorta neglectful of my physical needs lately, if you get my drift."

Luke felt his face flush with rage and embarrassment. "I can't believe what I'm hearing. You've got to be the slimiest slug in the entire galaxy!" Luke headed up the ramp before he did something rash – like pound the scoundrel into a pulp.

"You shouldn't talk to your future stepfather like that," Han shouted after the young man. "Or maybe your future brother-in-law." Han grinned as the kid stomped away in an indignant huff. Darth Vader notwithstanding, this trip might turn out to be a lot of fun after all.

As Han angled his ship up toward space, he felt a warm hand on his shoulder. He glanced sideways at the older man's fingers, resisting the urge to push him away. "Next stop - Myrkr."

"I would like you to take a small side trip, son," Obi-Wan told the pilot.

Padmé, sitting in the co-pilot's seat, appeared surprised at this request. "Where do you want to go, Obi-Wan?"

"Dagobah."

"Never heard of it," Han said. "Side trips aren't in my contract."

"It won't take long," Obi-Wan said calmly. "There is a friend living on that system that I believe can assist us in this mission."

"Who would that be?" Padmé questioned.

"Yoda."

Padmé's jaw dropped. "Yoda? He's still alive, too?"

"Who's this Yoda character?" Han asked with a weary sigh.

"A Jedi Master," Padmé replied. "But he must be so old by now."

"So is Palpatine," Obi-Wan pointed out. "Do not underestimate Master Yoda's abilities with the Force, even at his advanced age."

"Jedi. The Force. Hocus-pocus religions and mystical wizards." Han shook his head. "What did I get myself mixed up in? Oh, wait. It wasn't my fault. Someone pointed a blaster in my back and left me with no choice in the matter."

"It would be best to have one Master and one Padawan," Obi-Wan told Padmé. "I could apprentice Luke, while Master Yoda trains Leia."

"But I told you I hope to eliminate the influence of the Force during this confrontation," Padmé argued. "That's why we're going to Myrkr. There are… things on that system that will help us a great deal when Vader and Palpatine arrive."

"Things often don't go as planned," Obi-Wan pointed out. "Do you honestly believe that it will be only Vader and Palpatine that show up? Don't forget, the Emperor hardly ever leaves Coruscant. Luring him to Myrkr might be a great deal more difficult that you think it will be. It is far more likely he will send someone he trusts instead."

"That's a possibility," Padmé mused. "Still, if all of his strongest and most valuable agents simply disappear, Palpatine's hand will be forced. He will come, eventually."

"We still need Master Yoda."

Although Padmé wasn't happy about the delay, she nevertheless nodded her agreement. "Han, set a course for Dagobah."

"Kriff," Han muttered. "I'm charging Organa extra for this."

"What was it like growing up as a Princess?" Luke questioned his newfound sister as he sat across from her at the Falcon's game table.

Leia smiled. "I'm not sure how to answer that. I have nothing else to compare my life to. I can imagine it was a great deal easier than growing up as a moisture farmer, if that's what you're asking."

Luke flushed. "No… I didn't mean it to sound like I was bitter or anything. Sorry."

"It's understandable that you would be envious at our different stations in life," Leia insisted. "You don't have to apologize. If it were the other way around…"

"My life hasn't been bad," Luke stated firmly. "Aunt Beru and Uncle Owen have always been kind and fair to me. I'm not envious."

"Okay, then" Leia acquiesced, dropping into an uncomfortable silence with her twin.

After long moments, Luke asked, "What do you think of Padmé?"

"She seems to be nice," Leia replied. "I'm not certain what the details of her grand plan to eliminate the Emperor are, though. Hopefully, she has a grip on reality."

"Speaking of her grip on reality, what do you think of Solo?"

It was Leia's turn to flush. "He's crass and rude, and obviously loves material things above all else. I don't understand what Padmé sees in him." Liar, Leia's mind screamed as she recalled watching him drive the landspeeder, how his tousled hair looked so sexy…

"He asked me what I thought his chances with you would be," Luke told Leia, feeling only a tiny bit guilty for betraying the Corellian's confidence.

"He did what?"

"Yeah. He said Padmé was neglecting his needs lately."

"That's outrageous!"

"I thought so, too," Luke said smugly, gleeful at having derailed Han's future with Leia.

Solo's interested in me? Leia thought in shock. As if he stands a chance! Still, deep down, the idea pleased her far more than she would ever care to admit.

The Jedi Master escorted the former Queen of Naboo into the ship's hold, where Luke and Leia waited with the droids.

"We are taking a short side trip," Padmé informed her children.

"Where are we going?" Luke asked.

"Dagobah," Obi-Wan replied. "There is a great Jedi Master living there, and we've decided that Leia should train under him, while I train you." Obi-Wan pulled out a silver tube from under his robe. "This was Anakin's old lightsaber. Which one of you would like to use it?"

"I'm not touching anything that belonged to Vader," Leia said firmly. Her eyes flicked over at Solo as he entered the hold. "It's suddenly become hard to breath in this area."

Han grinned. "I always did leave women breathless."

"I meant the air became polluted."

"Just wait until we get to Dagobah," Han continued, unfazed at the Princess's jibes. "I checked out the specifications, and Dagobah's a jungle system. All that rotten vegetation cooking in hot swamp water makes for a lot of smelly gas."

"No more smelly than you."

Padmé was appalled at her daughter's rudeness. "Leia! I would have thought your aunts taught you better manners."

"Aw, sweetheart," Han said to Padmé. "It's just that my gorgeous looks overwhelm her common sense, so she can't think straight when I'm around."

Disgusted, Leia jumped up. "Tell me, Solo, are you going to introduce us to all your kinfolk when we get to Dagobah?"

"Huh?"

"I'm guessing there will be a big family reunion with you and all the other slimy snakes living there," Leia snapped. Pushing past the astonished Corellian, she hurried away to the privacy of her cabin.

"Is she really still so upset I tried selling her droids?" Han asked after a moment's contemplation. "I had no idea she was that attached to them."

"I tried telling you it was a bad idea, Sir," Threepio said, managing to sound smug. "Perhaps next time, you will listen to my suggestions when I offer them."

"Not likely." Han noticed that Luke was staring studiously at the floor, and he felt a spike of suspicion toward the younger man. "What did you say to her, kid?"

Luke looked up, his cheeks spotted with a red flush. "Nothing. Leia just doesn't like you, that's all." He turned his attention quickly to Obi-Wan, and changed the subject. "Can you teach me to use that lightsaber? I'll need it to become a Jedi, and defeat the Empire."

"I'll teach you," Obi-Wan responded, pleased that Luke wanted to learn the skill, but worried about Luke's overconfidence. "Becoming a Jedi takes a long time and much training, Luke. You must learn patience." He glanced over at Han. "And tolerance, as well."

Padmé put her hand on Han's arm. "I'll go talk to Leia and find out what's upsetting her."

"You probably shouldn't do that," Luke said hurriedly. "Whatever it is, I'm sure she just needs time alone."

"Yes," Threepio added. "The Princess frequently is alone in her apartment. Although it may be that she is merely powered down during that time. Now that I consider it more thoroughly, it is late at night that she is most often by herself."

"I bet I could fix that problem," Han said.

"Han!" Padmé chastised. "Are you making suggestive comments about my daughter?"

"Yes, he is!" Luke piped up. "He said he wanted to have a smoking hot romance with Leia!"

"You told her!" Han yelled at Luke in outrage. "That's why she's so mad at me!"

"Of course I told her," Luke shouted back. "You're involved with my mother, and you want to cheat on her with my sister!"

Han decided it was time to rectify the situation, even if it made him look like an idiot. Besides, how could things look worse than they did now, anyway? "I'm NOT involved with Padmé. I just made that up!"

"Why would you do that?" Luke questioned hotly.

"I wanted to make Leia jealous," Han admitted, embarrassed.

Padmé swallowed, trying to ignore Obi-Wan's shocked expression. It was more important to derail Solo's interest in Leia than salvage her reputation. "How can you say that, Han? We are involved!" She buried her face in her hands and pretended to burst into tears. "You don't love me anymore!"

"I never did!" Han protested, baffled that Padmé wanted to keep up the charade.

"What?!" Padmé gasped in shock. She reached up and slapped Han across the face. Hard. "How dare you." Then she rushed out of the hold, and away from Obi-Wan's incriminating gaze.

"Ow," Han muttered, pressing his palm against his burning cheek. "She packs a wallop."

"Not as much as my wallop," Luke said, right before he hauled off and belted Han in the nose.

A while later, Threepio meekly offered the Corellian an ice-pack, as Han sat at the game table nursing his pride and his nose.

Obi-Wan had prevented the incident from disintegrating even further, separating the two younger men, and forcefully pushing them apart. Now Luke was sitting in the chair across the room, still glaring at Han while rubbing his sore knuckles.

"Never in my all my long life have I ever witnessed such a brouhaha," Obi-Wan stated. "I want you two to apologize to each other, and then we shall move on from this incident."

"Why should I apologize?" Han grumbled. "I didn't do anything wrong."

Luke leapt up from his seat, pointing his forefinger in Han's direction. "You're trying to cheat on my mother with my sister. I can't begin to count the ways that's wrong."

"And I told you I made up being involved with Padmé," Han argued wearily. "Why won't you believe me?"

"Are you calling my mother a liar?"

"Yes!" Seeing the expression of fury on Luke's face, Han quickly backed off from the accusation. "No. I don't know why your mother went along with me saying we're lovers," Han returned through clenched teeth. He stood up, as well, placing a safer distance between himself and the young farmboy. "I'm going to check on the Falcon's engines. I hear a funny clunking sound."

"If I throw him into the hyperdrive unit, I'm positive it'll make a funny clunking sound," Luke muttered darkly as he watched the Corellian disappear down the corridor.

Obi-Wan shook his head in dismay. "I have no idea what's going on with Padmé and Solo. Maybe I've been living in the desert so long the ways of the galaxy have passed me by." The Jedi picked up a shielded helmet, and handed it to Luke. "Shall we start the lightsaber lessons?"

"Sure," Luke mumbled, still looking down the empty corridor. "I may need to use that lightsaber sooner than I thought."

Dagobah

"There's the lovely swamp-hole," Han said pointlessly to Obi-Wan, Luke and Padmé as they exited hyperspace several tense days later. Leia adamantly refused to be in the same room as the Corellian, therefore had declined to enter the cockpit. "Where should I land?"

Obi-Wan shut his eyes briefly, then nodded to the right. "That way. Perhaps you should allow me to take over the landing at this juncture."

"No one flies this baby but me," Han said firmly, turning the yoke. Obi-Wan sighed, but did not argue. Han angled the ship down, and the Falcon dove steeply through the thick clouds covering the planet. Long minutes later, they were still in heavy fog, unable to make out the surface. "Usually, there's some break in the cloud-cover by now," Han grumbled, carefully watching the computer to inform him where to head.

"Set the course landing for two-two-four-nine," Obi-Wan ordered.

Han moved his fingers toward the computer when the lights – and the computer terminal – blinked out. The ship bucked wildly, and started spinning toward the unseen surface as Han fought for control.

"We're going to crash!" Padmé gasped, gripping the arm rests with her fingers.

"It certainly appears that's a distinct possibility," Obi-Wan agreed calmly.

Han was almost convinced he was about to die, as well. Then, at the last second, he could see the planet's surface, covered in heavy foliage and patches of murky swampland. Desperately he pulled hard on the yoke, and to his utter surprise, the nose of the ship pulled up, then the Falcon leveled off. He blinked in confusion as the ship slowly and evenly lowered itself, coming to a gentle rest next to a large pond of water. The Corellian looked over at the surprisingly calm Obi-Wan Kenobi, and with a forced grin said, "See? Not a problem!" Unfortunately, his voice betrayed him and the words came out as a strangled squeak.

Obi-Wan gave an enigmatic smile. "Not a problem, indeed, son."

"What in the stars happened?" Luke demanded to know as he came rushing into the cockpit.

"Turbulence," Han explained succinctly.

"Leia said that was the worse landing she'd ever experienced." He glared accusingly at the pilot. "I could fly better than you."

Han spun around in his seat, annoyed. "Then buy yourself a ship and fly it. I'm getting tired of playing taxi service to this crazy family, anyway."

"Look," Padmé said, pointing out the conical window, and trying to diffuse the situation. "We've landed all safe and sound."

Luke turned his gaze out the viewport. "Why do you suppose a Jedi Master would pick here to live?"

"'Cuz no one would think he would," Han answered shortly, hoisting himself out of the seat. He glanced down at Obi-Wan. "For an extinct group, there sure seems to be a lot of you still hanging around … and hiding."

Obi-Wan fought back irritation. "We have not been hiding. We have been biding our time."

"For what?" Luke asked, ignoring Han's snort of derision.

"For the right opportunity to reestablish the Jedi." Obi-Wan gracefully rose from the chair. "I'm not certain Master Yoda is going to agree that this is the right time, but since your mother has taken matters into her own hand, without consulting me first, the wheels have been set in motion."

The humid air was oppressive, and condensation dripped from the branches overhead, creating the impression of constant rainfall. "I can imagine that this is what breathing under water would seem like," Luke commented as the group stood around trying to decide which direction they should head. Involuntarily, he ducked slightly as a large, dark bird swooped low over his head.

Han waved toward the algae-covered pond near which the Falcon was resting uncomfortably close to the edge. "If we'd have landed any closer, you could've tested your theory out a lot better." The murky water rippled, as though something below the surface knew it had lost out on a tasty meal.

"Where do you suppose Yoda lives?" Padmé asked, looking in concern at a very large snake dangling from a nearby tree limb. "This place doesn't seem to be very hospitable."

Obi-Wan shut his eyes, his face taking on a look of concentration. "Master Yoda is very close by. I can sense his presence through the Force."

"If you can sense him, can't he sense us, too?" Leia questioned.

"Yes, I'm quite certain Yoda sensed our arrival. It's undoubtedly the reason the ship was placed down in this exact spot."

Han frowned, and jerked his thumb at his chest. "I'm the one that landed the Falcon. No mystical power takes over my ship, unless it's over my dead body."

"Dead, appears you are not," a gnarly voice chuckled in amusement from behind a tree. The group turned around in time to watch as the small, green Jedi hobbled into view.

"Master Yoda!" Obi-Wan said, his voice cracking with emotion. "It's been so very long."

"That's a Yoda?" Han asked in surprise. "Sorta short, isn't he?"

"Judge me by my size, you should not," Yoda said, sounding annoyed.

"Han, please don't make him mad," Padmé said as she hurried over to Yoda, and knelt down in front of the Jedi. "It's wonderful to see you again, Master Yoda."

Yoda nodded, his large eyes moving past the woman toward the younger humans. He pointed his stick at the two wide-eyed young people. "Told them, have you?"

"It was time," Padmé said, knowing Yoda was certain to disapprove. She looked back over her shoulder at Luke and Leia, then stood. "I should tell you the rest of my plan."

"That would probably be a good idea," Leia agreed.

Padmé glanced back down to the frowning Yoda. "My rebel companions have received word that the Empire is creating a space station that is powerful enough to destroy entire planets with one blast. If we don't act now to bring Palpatine down, before that station is complete, worlds will be destroyed. Billions will die. I know that everyone disapproves of my rushing back, and bringing Luke and Leia into such danger, but I felt I had no choice."

"Padmé intends to lure Vader and Palpatine to Myrkr, and kill them," Obi-Wan explained to Yoda.

"Difficult this will be," Yoda stated flatly. "Foolish the Sith are not."

"Vader will not hesitate," Padmé insisted. "Once he's aware that I'm alive, and our children are alive, he'll come for us."

"Danger will you put your younglings in," Yoda replied. "Untrained they are in the ways of the Force."

"That's why we are here, Master Yoda," Obi-Wan continued. "I am hoping you will apprentice Leia, while I train Luke."

"Too old they are," Yoda said stubbornly. "Train them now we cannot."

"That's the first time I've ever been described as 'too old,'" Luke said, grinning. "It's always been the other way around."

"They're too old?" Han put in, unable to remain out of the conversation. "A few minutes ago, back in the cockpit, Kenobi said the Jedi were biding their time until they could make a grand and glorious comeback. Now you're telling us that you Jedi bided your precious time so long that you ran out of time?"

Leia arched her eyebrow at the Corellian, then looked down at Yoda. "As much as I hate to admit this, the flyboy makes a decent point."

"The time for adhering to the old rules of the Order is past," Padmé told Yoda. "We must take drastic and innovative measures if we have any hope of succeeding."

"Strong their father was. Too late was he trained, as I said years ago," Yoda stated.

"The fact is, Luke and Leia are here now, and they are not like their father," Padmé responded.

"They are both very strong in the Force," Obi-Wan pointed out to his old mentor.

"Same that happened with Anakin could happened to these two," Yoda argued.

"No!" Padmé said firmly. "That won't happen." She knelt once again in front of Yoda to plead her case. "Please understand how important this has become." Yoda's ears flattened, and Padmé continued to implore, "Master Yoda, I beg of you! I understand your concerns, truly I do. But once we arrive on Myrkr, I believe the playing field can be leveled."

"You keep bringing up Myrkr like it's some paradise, where the dark side can't reside," Leia said.

"No, not the dark side," Padmé said. "The Force. There are creatures on Myrkr called ysalamiri - "

"Heard of these creatures, have I," Yoda interrupted. "A place I wish not to go."

"The Jedi have always avoided Myrkr," Obi-Wan added. "If you are hoping to defeat Vader and Palpatine on Myrkr because they can't access the Force, you need to realize that we won't be able to access it, either."

"The ysalamiri have a limited range," Padmé told them. "We can use them to our advantage."

"How?" Luke asked.

"Palpatine is very old," Padmé said. "It's the dark side that has kept him alive. Cut off his Force access, and he won't be able to defend himself. He might even die without us doing anything besides placing him into a Force-bubble."

"Vader isn't old," Leia pointed out.

"No, but without the Force he can only do so much to defend himself." Padmé stood and walked over to Obi-Wan. "Do you think Vader could wield his lightsaber and protect himself against a small army of rebels if he has no Force as his ally? We could set up the ysalamiri in certain sections. We would know where they are, but Vader and Palpatine would not, and we could trap them."

"Easy to fool Palpatine it is not," Yoda commented.

Padmé blew out a hiss of frustration. "At least it's a plan. I'm willing to listen if you have a better one."

"Strong is the dark side," Yoda warned. "Tempt your children it most certainly will."

"My father - Prince Organa – raised me to understand evil and avoid it at all costs," Leia said.

"I can avoid temptation," Luke declared. "Let me prove myself."

Yoda shook his head sadly. "Too much of their father in them do I sense."

"I believe that Luke and Leia are the last hope for the galaxy," Obi-Wan said with firm conviction.

Yoda's body sagged and he gave a weary sigh. "Train them, then, we must." Yoda pointed past the Falcon. "Condition I place is this – remain on Dagobah until they have grasped the basic ways of the Force."

"What?" Han said loudly. "I don't want to stay on this swamp any longer than I have to!"

"You did promise Bail that you'd take care of me and Leia," Padmé told Han firmly. "This is part of that promise."

"I gave that promise before I knew all these tiny, unimportant details," Han argued. "Like tangling with Vader and the Emperor. Or living in a mudhole."

"So what you're saying now is that you're too afraid to see this through," Luke taunted.

"I ain't afraid," Han shot back. "But this is worth more than the money I agreed on."

Leia clenched her jaw in frustration. "My father will pay you extra."

The Corellian considered Leia's promise. "In that case, I suppose I can tolerate it for a little while," Han said, placated. "Prince Organa is ringing up quite the debt."

"Mercenary your friend seems to be," Yoda mused thoughtfully.

"Seems to be?" Luke repeated, shaking his head in disgust.

Yoda hobbled over to Han, and gave Han's kneecap a hard poke with his gimer stick.

"OW!" Han yelled, backing up and grabbing his injured leg. Unfortunately, he took one step backwards too many, and ended up falling into the slimy pond with a loud splash. "Whaddya do that for?" he spluttered as he came flaying up to the surface.

"Mudhole my home is not," Yoda stated.

Han gasped and struggled to pull himself back to relatively dry land while the others chortled in amusement. "I should've blasted you!"

"Blast me you did not," Yoda replied. "Therefore, passed the test you did." Yoda turned to look up at the others. "Mercenary this one only pretends to be. Trust him we can."

Still on his hands and knees, Han wiped the strands of algae from his face. "No reward is worth this," he grumbled.