Luke woke up gradually. So...tired...

He finally made himself sit up in bed, grunting. His thoughts flickered back to last night.

Dagobah, a little voice in the back of his mind supplied. Dagobah, you will go to. Better your journey shall be, along that path. Luke shook his head, willing the almost familiar voice away. But it refused to be swayed.

Luke sighed, feeling ambivalent. He would have to inform Wedge of this sudden change of plans...However, he would try to come back to be with the Rogues if he weren't kept at Dagobah for too long...

A loud warble came from the back of the room, and Luke jumped. He glanced over at Artoo, who gave another beep, this time sounding sheepish that he had startled his master. "Artoo, don't do that!" Luke admonished. "You frightened me!"

Artoo just gave a blunt blat and rolled forward towards the bed.

"Okay, I'm getting ready!" Luke said, shaking his head with a grin.

He stumbled groggily over to his small closet and grabbed one of the normal black outfits he liked to wear. Then he went into the refresher and took a quick shower. Afterwards, he came back out.

Artoo whistled impatiently at him to hurry up; Wedge had just called.

Luke sighed, "Artoo, something else has come up. I—well, just tell him that I have other urgent matters to attend to, but nothing extremely serious." Artoo tootled a query. "I'll tell you on the way there. I'm gonna go say good-bye to Leia so she won't have a nerf, and I still have to pack." Artoo hummed an okay and headed over to the comm station. Luke gathered together what he would need for a hopefully not-too-lengthy trip, and he set the bag over by Artoo to take to his X-wing.

When Luke arrived at Leia's apartment, he rang the door chime. Chewbacca opened the door and roared his hello. Luke chuckled. "Hey, Chewie. Nice to see you, too. Are Han and Leia in?"

Chewie growled an affirmative, and Luke stepped inside. The Wookiee led Luke to the living room.

Han came in, rubbing a towel over his wet head, saying, "Chewie who was at the—" He took the towel off his head, noticing Luke. "Hey, kid!" He exclaimed. "Heard you were gonna be rejoining the Rogues," Han said, grinning. "I always knew you'd be back to piloting."

Luke winced. "Yeah, well, there were some complications, and I have to decline Wedge's invitation. I have to make a little trip..." he trailed off.

"Oh?" Han raised an eyebrow. "Any reason I should know about?"

Luke shook his head quickly. "No biggie...Just something I have to do."

"Now, kid, if this has to do with Callis—"

"No!" Luke quickly put in. "It doesn't." He bit his lip and looked at the floor.

Leia walked in the door saying, "Han where did you put—" She noticed Luke. "Oh, hey, Luke." Leia looked at their faces. "What did I miss?"

"Nothing important, Leia," Luke said. "I was just telling Han that I have to go on a little trip and won't be able to rejoin the Rogues."

"Luke, where are you going?" Leia asked, worried.

"It isn't important," Luke said, trying to dodge her question. He looked at his wrist chrono. "I had better be on my way." He gave a confused Leia a hug and a soft kiss on the cheek. He looked over at Han.

"Luke," Han gave him a hard stare. "Can't you tell us where you are going? What if you get in danger, like you always do when you go off by yourself, and we have to come rescue you? That provides complications you know..."

Luke sighed, giving in. "I'm going to Dagobah to check something out."

"Oh?" Leia raised an eyebrow.

Luke looked at his sister sheepishly. "I'm not quite sure what I will find...But it won't be dangerous." He gave her a pleading stare, and this time she sighed and gave in.

"Good luck, kid," Han said, embracing Luke.

Chewie roared and got his own hug in. Luke made a little gasping noise as Chewie squeezed his ribs a little too hard. Chewie rumbled an apology, his paw mussing Luke's hair up a bit. Luke grinned, and patted the huge Wookie's chest. "It isn't like I am going to be gone for too long. I'll be back soon," Luke told them, running his hand through his ruffled hair.

"Yeah, but every time we let you run off by yourself you manage to get in trouble," Han remarked.

"Han, I am a mature and capable adult. You do not need to worry about me!" Luke exclaimed.

"Yeah. Sure."


It didn't take long for Luke's X-wing to clear the atmosphere and enter hyperspace.

Luke leaned back against his seat wearily.

Artoo inquired once again about their destination, and Luke watched the text flicker across the screen. Why do we have to go back there, of all places?

"I saw Ben...in a vision. He told me it might be better for me to go back, that something was waiting for me there. I can always rejoin the Rogues, but this choice may not present itself again. Looks like we just have to wait and find out what's there..."

Artoo bleeped something derogatory about taking advice from dead Jedi. Luke just smiled and leaned further back, closing his eyes.


Artoo hooted at Luke to wake up. Luke mumbled and wiped the sleep from his eyes. He pulled the hyperspace lever after checking a few dials, and they jumped back into realspace. The swampy world of Dagobah hung before them, almost ominously.

Luke brought the X-wing into the atmosphere, hoping that it didn't crash like it did the first time he came here. His worries turned out to be pointless, since his landing was smooth and on land, or what passed for land on this forsaken planet.

Luke took off his helmet and brushed his hair back. Then he pushed up on the cockpit's roof and hopped out, using the Force to cushion his landing. Artoo warbled at Luke and started to get out of his socket, but he was soon held in place by the Force.

Luke was not quite ready for him to get out. "Stay here, Artoo. I'm going to go look around."

Artoo gave an electronic raspberry but stayed put, though it wasn't as if he had a choice.

The X-wing's lights penetrated the foggy darkness, making the situation even more eerie.

The Force seemed to offer a suggestion to him, so Luke turned on his glowrod and trudged through the swamp towards Yoda's hut. He was expecting it to be utterly destroyed by the vegetation, as it had been when he had found the beckon call during the whole Thrawn incident, but he was surprised to find it intact. He was even more shocked when a living, breathing Yoda came out of his small home, leaning on his gimer stick.

Yoda pointed the stick at him. "Expecting you, I was. Disappointed, I was not."

"Y-Yoda. You were dead...I—I saw you die," Luke stammered out.

"A crutch for you, I was. Needed that, you did not." Yoda sighed. "For the best it was."

"The best? I needed guidance, and were you there? I needed to train more, I wasn't ready to face Vader, and—" Luke was interrupted by the wizened little Jedi Master.

"Strong, you were. Confidence, you needed. A crutch—need you did not. By your side to help was where you wanted me, but your destiny that was not. Had you known I was alive, your all you would not have given. The last hope you were, and needed your full cooperation did I. Debate we can later—for the Jedi it is time to eat as well," Yoda informed him with a croaky laugh. He headed back into his hut, muttering, "Good food, come come."

Luke groaned. He had an odd feeling of deja vu, but he didn't know why it bugged him so. He went and grabbed his bag from his X-wing before he crouch-walked into Yoda's hut.

The green Jedi Master was scurrying around, pots and pans clanging together, and (judging by the smell) something—probably reptilian, Luke thought with disgust—was cooking.

Luke sat down, watching the little green alien bustling around. Just then, a beautiful young woman crouch-walked in, saying, "Yoda have you seen my—" she stopped as she noticed Luke. "Who are you?" She turned to Yoda. "Yoda, what's he doing here?" She had long black hair that was pulled up in a ponytail, and warm brown eyes that one could almost melt into...

If she were happy.

But those eyes were not looking too kindly upon Luke.

"Here for business, he is. Question, you should not," Yoda informed her.

"Oh, that's just wonderful," the girl moaned. "It would be nice if you would tell me when we have company."

Luke gave her an amused look. Then he looked over at Yoda. Who is she? And why is she so bitter? he inserted in Yoda's mind.

Tontay Novablast, came the reply. Another student of mine. Her parents died long ago. Your age, she is.

Luke looked at her, startled. She's older than she looks, Luke thought

Tontay gave him a look full of venom. "So what's your name? How do you know Yoda?"

"I am Jedi Master—" Luke stressed the words, "—Luke Skywalker."

The young lady gave him a dubious look. "You? One of Yoda's students? Hah! I guess you can't judge a datacard by the box it comes in."

Luke was about to shoot off a sarcastic reply, but Yoda, his eyes glittering, stated, "Prepared is the food."

Dinner was eaten in quiet until Yoda chose to break the silence. "Much training, she needs. Help her, you must...Old, am I..."

Luke gave Yoda a look that said 'I don't think so,' and it mirrored the expression on Tontay's face. "Why would I train her?" Luke exclaimed. She was nothing but a selfish brat! How could she be Jedi material?

Yoda gave Luke a serious look. You have taught many...But they were destroyed easily. Here you will have supervision, but a chance to start over as well, Yoda said to Luke through the Force.

Luke gave Yoda a helpless look and sighed. "All right. I'll train her...But I think she's the one to talk to." He looked over at Tontay, who did not seem very happy.

"Does anyone ever ask what I want?" Tontay snarled. "Do I get to voice what I want to do?"

Yoda gave her a stern look. She glared at him but soon weakened under his gaze.

"Early tomorrow morning you will start," Yoda said. "For now, you must sleep."

Hearing someone mention sleep, Tontay's candy-pink pittin jumped out from under a shelf and onto Tontay's lap. She smiled and stroked the creature's fur. "Deedah!"

"Deedah? That's a funny name," Luke chuckled.

Tontay glared at Luke, and the pittin snarled at him. She laughed at the pittin and gave Luke another annoyed look. "Where is he going to sleep?"

Yoda hesitated. "Sleeping in his X-wing would not do. Crowded, it is. Share your cot, you must."

Tontay's eyes grew as wide as a Death Star. "No way. He can sleep on the floor."

Yoda shook his head, "Ache, his back would in the morning. Do, that would not."

"But he can't sleep in the same bed as me!" Tontay Novablast looked appalled. "I wouldn't be able to live with myself..."

"Share the bed, you will, or sleep on the floor, you shall," Yoda declared.

Luke and Tontay looked at each other with disgust while the pittin made a weird noise.

"Well, I'm not sleeping on the floor!" Luke stated, glancing at the animal.

"Don't expect me to! Oh, why can't you sleep in your dumb old X-wing anyway?" a mortified Tontay asked.

"Would you want to sleep in a cramped X-wing?" Luke asked, annoyed.

"Do I have to answer truthfully?"

"In the bed, will you both sleep?" Yoda cut in.

Luke made an exasperated noise, and Tontay bit her lip.

"Fine, Yoda. Have it your way. We'll share the cot," Tontay sighed.

"Good. Rest, you need. Sleep, you will now." Yoda headed off to his own small cot, leaving them alone.

"All right. I want you to get one thing straight: no funny business!" Tontay ordered Luke. After holding his gaze for a moment, she sighed, put Deedah on the floor, then crouch-walked to her room, the pittin following with a flick of her dark fluffy tail. Luke followed and glanced at the cot. It looked awfully small...

Tontay took on a business-like tone. "You will stay on your side of the bed. I get the side opposite the wall—just don't go trying to push me off during the middle of the night. Clear?"

"As crystal," Luke answered. He just wanted some rest.

Tontay gave him a warning look. "I'm going in the other room to change into my nightclothes. You can change in here." She grabbed some clothes and briskly went into the other room.

Luke was about to say something when his bag was thrown in the room. "Thanks," he muttered. He quickly changed into a sleeping shirt and pants.

Tontay came into the room, wrapped in a robe. Luke lifted an eyebrow.

Tontay looked down at the ground. "I—I—" She looked up sharply. "Get in bed, please," she said in a voice that left no room for argument.

Luke rolled his eyes and got on his side of the bed. Tontay studied him for a moment, and he inquired, "Well? What is it?"

"Nothing." She gingerly got into the bed, carefully staying on her half. She shifted uncomfortably.

Luke looked over at her, amused. "I don't bite."

Tontay twisted her head sharply. "I know. But men always seem to take advantage of women," she responded.

Luke gave her a doubtful, exasperated look. "Uh huh. And just how many men have you seen in your lifetime?"

Tontay didn't meet his gaze. "I've read a lot of stories about men. They always talk about it..."

"Life isn't just some big holo-story is it? I bet the only stuff those stories have about Jedi Knights is a lot of blather about tall monstrous creatures without an ounce of mercy in their bones. But here we have little Yoda, a green and wrinkled Jedi Master, quite an opposite of the holo-stories." Luke grinned at her.

"Well, I can't argue with that..."

"Good."

"I hate it when you're right."

"When was I ever wrong?"

Tontay snarled, "Well, you haven't been wrong yet in my presence, but everyone is wrong sometime."

"Not me." Luke tried to conceal his smile from her.

"Yeah, like I am naive enough to believe that obvious lie."

"Who says it's a lie?" Luke asked defensively.

"I am not only saying it's a lie, I know. Yoda didn't raise a fool."

"Yeah, yeah. Now, would you be quiet so I can get some rest?" Luke asked mock-sleepily.

Tontay muttered a Huttese obscenity. "All right."

"Tsk, tsk. Such big language for such a little gir—" Luke was beaten on the head with a pillow before he could finish his sentence. "Hey!"

"Hay is for gundarks, you wampa," came the amused reply.

"Have you ever actually seen a wampa personally?" Luke asked Tontay.

"No," Novablast said sheepishly. "Why?"

"Well, I've met one face to face, and I tell you what, I am much more handsome than one of those monstrous beasts!" Luke declared.

Bonk! he was hit on the head again. He made a noise in the back of his throat and brought his hands upward in a position that a monster might and launched at her.

He backed her up against the wall and prevented her from escaping by placing his hands on opposite sides of her on the wall. The closeness was awkward, but especially so for Tontay. She twitched a little, uneasy at their nearness. Luke hesitated, placing his finger against her mouth.

"Back off, slimeball!" hissed Tontay.

"Make me, you bantha!"

"Don't push me!"

"Trying to get sleep, am I," came a tired voice near the doorway, saving Tontay. The two humans twisted around and hurriedly got out of their entanglement.

Hearing Yoda, the pittin came out from under the bed grumpily and jumped onto Tontay.

"We were, ahem, just fixing to go to sleep, but, uh, Luke got something in his eye and I was, uh, helping him get it out," Tontay informed Yoda.

"Mmhm," Yoda said, not believing a word she was saying. He turned around, the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth not evident to the two young ones in the next room.

Luke cleared his throat and turned away from Tontay, who also turned and faced the wall. They lay down on their backs, the pittin lying down on Tontay's stomach, purring and letting out a purposeful hiss at Luke. Silence ensued after that until Tontay broke it. "Luke, are you asleep?"

Luke rolled his eyes and answered, "Yeah, I'm asleep."

Tontay was quiet for a moment. "All right..."

Luke smiled and turned off the glowrod, whispering, "Good night..."

Tontay grinned into the darkness. "You, too..."

And with that, they really were asleep.


Tontay yawned and nestled deeper into the covers. She opened her eyes groggily, finding herself face-to-face with Luke. She muffled her scream so that it only came out as a squeak. Luke remained undisturbed, snoring lightly. The pittin lay on his chest, and Tontay smiled in spite of herself, moving some stray blondish-brown hairs out of his face. He looked very youthful while sleeping...

I wonder how old he is? When I first saw him, I could've sworn he was in his late 30s, but was that his real age, or just the weight of what he has been through?...It must have been his eyes. They made him seem older. They looked haunted and aged...But right now he looks just like an innocent child...Stroking her hand along his cheek, she fell back asleep, curled up against him.

Yoda came in the room a while later and tapped Luke on the head with his gimer stick. "Luke. Luke...Wake, you must!" He hit Luke harder, "Up, you must get!"

Luke groaned and moved a hand up to block the stick. "I'm up, I'm up..." He closed his eyes and tried to go back to sleep.

Thonk! Luke was hit again.

Luke snarled and swatted at Yoda, who managed to get out of arm's length. The pittin growled at Yoda as well, then she looked at a shocked Luke, hissed, dug her claws into his chest, nipped his nose, then jumped off the bed and stalked into the kitchen.

"Up, you must wake. Now, you will do it," Yoda supplied.

"Uh huh," replied a disgruntled Luke. He looked after Deedah, his brain fogged by sleep. Yoda left the room, and Luke tapped on Tontay's shoulder. When she didn't respond, he hit her harder. Luke thought for a moment, then he placed his hands firmly on her back, shoving her out of the bed. Though still half asleep, she screeched when she hit the floor.

"What the heck was that for? I thought I told you not to shove me on the floor!"

"What? You mean you didn't deserve it?" Luke grinned.

"Me?" Tontay exclaimed indignantly. "You thought I deserved to be dropped on the uncushioned floor?"

"I'm glad we think along the same lines."

Tontay hadn't taken her robe off when she had gone to bed last night, and it had loosened quite a bit. When she realized it, she pulled the sides of her robe tightly together.

Luke grinned at her, "Are we feeling a little uncomfortable this morning?"

"Shouldn't you be getting ready?" Tontay changed the subject. "Yoda is gonna be working us hard."

"Us? Why would he work us hard if you are the student?" Luke queried.

"Because he wants all people to push themselves to the limit; because you are his former pupil; because he wants everyone to do their best; and because he's Yoda," reasoned Tontay.

"Okay. I suppose that's good enough for me. I'll go in the other room to change," Luke offered, digging out some black clothing.

Tontay nodded and went to grab an outfit for herself. Finally, they finished getting ready and ate breakfast. The pink furball seemed anxious to catch a nap, and Yoda seemed eager for them to begin. "Follow me, you must," he ordered, then he headed out in the murky swamp. Tontay gave Luke a weird look, which he returned, and they followed the little green man out into the wilderness.


Yoda finally stopped near a huge fallen tree. He looked about, seeming satisfied, then he sat down on one of the smaller tree branches sticking out from it. He lifted up his chin and looked at Luke. "Her training, you shall begin here. Basics she knows, ask her for details."

Luke sighed then asked, "Have you had the...physical aspects of your training?"

Tontay's eyes opened widely, "Yes, and I ain't going through that again!"

Luke snapped his fingers, "Darn!"

Yoda chuckled, and Luke glanced at him before asking Tontay, "You had any saber practice?"

"No," came the tentative reply.

"Well, let's start on that!"

"What about the mental stuff?"

"We'll do that later," Luke replied. Inwardly, he was stunned at the thought that she'd not had much training. She had been with Yoda for probably quite a while, it seemed. He brushed the stray thoughts away. "Master Yoda, do you have a spare lightsaber by any chance?"

"A saber, have I. Give it to her, I will. Need it, I do not. When nine hundred years old you reach, more mental practice you would use, hm?" Yoda conjured up a lightsaber, miraculously fit for a human hand.

"Is this your lightsaber?" Tontay asked, looking at it skeptically.

"My lightsaber, this is not. Gave me his former Master's saber, Kenobi did. Pass it on to you, I will..." Yoda remained quiet for a moment. "Your heritage, it is."

Tontay looked at Yoda, confused. "I'm related to Obi-Wan's Master?"

Yoda nodded in confirmation. "Your grandfather, Qui-Gon was. A good Jedi was he, but too head-strong. A son he had, Creet-Ath Jinn, he was named. Changed his name, he did, to Clawn Novablast after his father died. Thirteen years before Qui-Gon's death, he was born. Know of him, Qui-Gon did not. Hidden the son was, for Qui-Gon's relationship with Klanad Gratheen was not to be. Called him too reckless, she did. Marry Julaytu did Clawn, soon after turning Sith, and you were their child. Soon, the Jedi Purge broke out, and killed were Julaytu and Clawn. Died of a broken heart did Klanad, after Qui-Gon's death, and much regret did she feel...Took you in, I did."

Tontay looked at the lightsaber in Yoda's small hand. She took it and turned it over, looking at its sleekness and its battle scars. "How did Qui-Gon—my grandfather," she corrected, "—die?"

After a moment of looking at her and Luke (who seemed strangely amused), Yoda told them of how Qui-Gon died and how Anakin Skywalker went from slave to Republic hero. His story made them thirst for more knowledge, but he finally ended with, "Much happened. Told you enough, have I. Train now, you must."

Luke and Tontay were quiet for a moment, still digesting the story. Finally, Luke spoke up, breaking the silence, "Let's start our dueling."

"All right," Tontay responded by igniting her lightsaber.

"First, we'll start with the main stances," Luke said, coming around behind her. He told her where to put her feet, and he tried to instruct her on her hand positions, but she kept doing it wrong. Still behind her, he put his arms around on hers, and his head over her shoulder, placing her hands in the right places.

Tontay tried to concentrate on the saber positions and not the close proximity of his face and hers. His breath was warm against her face; the cool air of the swamp had been making her chilly. But despite her current warmth, she shivered.

Luke turned his head, mere inches from her face, and asked, "Cold?"

"A little."

"There are Force techniques for that," Luke replied with a mischievous grin.

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah, you just concentrate on moving the air molecules."

"How do you have enough concentration to move molecules?"

"The Force is in and around all moving things. Just think of them moving around, and then you just...move them," Luke explained.

Tontay seemed dubious, but she reached out through the Force and attempted to vibrate the molecules and create warm air. At first, she couldn't do it, but she was determined to triumph. She kept at it, and finally the air around them began to heat up slightly. "I did it!" she exclaimed, excited.

Luke grinned, not noticing Yoda rolling his eyes, "That's right. Now, concentrate on these saber positions I am trying, err, doing my best," Luke added, after looking at Yoda, "—to teach you."

"Yessir," Tontay said, saluting in a sloppy military manner.

"Then," Luke sighed, "—we will have to work on that salute of yours."

Tontay gave him an evil look and turned around, feinting a lunge with her ignited lightsaber. "Take that!"

Luke's saber was in his hand in an instant, and he blocked her attempt at a feint, which had gone just a little too far to be an actual feint. "You can't even fake a lunge right!"

That comment made her slash again, more aggressively. "Watch it!" Luke ordered. "I don't want to hurt you. You don't know how to properly fight yet. Now, get over here and let me teach you some more stuff, then you will train with a remote, and then we can duel. Okay?"

Tontay looked disappointed. "Okay..."

Luke then proceeded to explain the finer techniques of lightsaber dueling. They finally stopped for a break and ate some ration bars Luke had brought from his X-wing. Yoda grumbled something and went inside his hut to eat some of his own food.

Luke grinned over at Tontay, "I never thought I would be this glad to eat rations!"

"Well, just be glad you haven't had to eat his food for years!" Tontay said wryly.

"I am. More so than you know." Then, in a passable imitation of Yoda, Luke wrinkled his face and said, "Be glad for what you have, you should."

"Wow, you've got that old wrinkled green man thing down!" Tontay replied with a laugh.

"Hey—" Luke started, offended.

"Heard that, did I. Like it, I did not." Yoda interrupted from behind them. They turned around, startled, and Luke noticed with an amused look that the pittin was on Yoda's shoulder.

"Where'd you come from?" Luke inquired.

Annoyed, Yoda replied, "If the Force you were using, know would you when come up did I."

Luke fell silent at that, and Tontay spoke up. "We were eating and enjoying our meal, you can't expect us to remain alert all the time!"

Yoda looked solemn, "When a servant of the Force you are, remain so you will for all eternity. Turn it on and off, you cannot. Once you start down the path of the Force, forever on that path shall you be. A never-ending road, it is."

Tontay looked hesitant. "So if you become a Jedi, then you must forever serve the Force and people?"

Yoda gave a minute nod, "Yes."

Luke saw the hesitation on Novablast's face and in her manner, "It isn't all that bad. Even Jedi get breaks every now and then. It isn't like the Force orders you to go get it some stim tea and then go run around nude!"

Yoda hmphed, and Tontay laughed. She smacked the side of Luke's head, "Maybe not, but I'm sure you would like me to do that!"

Luke's mouth bobbed open and closed like a stunned fish.

Yoda raised his eyebrows, "About this, need to know do I?"

Luke, astonished, replied, "No! She's just raving!"

Yoda gave him an "Oh please" look, and the pittin hissed and ran off back towards Yoda's hut.


Weeks went by with several similar scenes occurring. Luke Skywalker and Tontay Novablast's tentative relationship grew as Tontay continued her Jedi training...