Yoda's Younglings Chapter 2


A/N: Alright, Laura. I've posted a new chapter, because you asked so nicely. Cough, cough. You owe me a review!


Yoda's ship, a non-descript cargo-carrier, passed Coruscant security quite easily.

Yoda, Solaris, Mahli and Leyana were met by Wedge Antilles. He escorted them deep 'underground', to the Rebel headquarters. Here, he briefed them.

"We need to attack the Palace. We've managed to secure plans to the Empire's 'Secret Weapon', but we need a distraction to get them away. We're hoping that a diversionary attack on the Imperial Palace will stop the Emperor from realising that our operatives are leaving the system."

"Why are Jedi for this needed?" Yoda asked.

"To make sure the Emperor focuses on the diversion," Leyana guessed. "Anything with a Jedi involved is sure to draw his attention." She looked at Wedge. "Am I right?"

Wedge nodded. "That's the basics, anyway."

Leyana didn't nod. She inclined her head in a type of seated bow.

Wedge stood. "I'll leave you to discuss it; I'll be outside when you need me."

The second Wedge had left the room, Leyana spun to face Yoda. "Let me go, Master!" she asked.

Yoda appeared surprised by her request. "Safe, it is not. Ready, you are not."

Solaris and Mahli shared a glance. They could sense Leyana's intense disappointment. To Jedi, who could sense emotions, it was the equivalent of 'puppy-dog eyes'. Leyana was doing those, too.

"Please, Master," she said. "It makes sense for me to go. There is a high risk that whoever goes will be captured, unless it's you, Master."

"Yoda can't go," Mahli said. "The younglings need to be trained, and you're the only one with the experience, Master."

Yoda was forced to agree with Mahli's evaluation.

"That only leaves the three of us," observed Solaris.

Leyana and Mahli shared a thought. 'Your grasp of the blatantly obvious is ever astonishing.' Neither was sure who the thought had come from, but they both suppressed it. There was no need to get Solaris off-side.

It seemed Solaris at least suspected what they thought. "I mean, any of us could go. Not just you, Leyana. In fact, it would make more sense for Mahli or myself to go."

Leyana shook her head vigorously. Her plaited hair flicked around with her movement. "No, it doesn't! You two have been knights for longer than I have –"

Solaris raised his eyebrows.

"- but you've also been part of the Rebellion for longer. For that alone, you're of more value than I am."

Yoda suppressed a sigh. He had no doubt Leyana would have gone into politics if he hadn't found her.

"There's also the fact that I might be – will probably be – captured. If that happens, I know less information than either of you about the Rebellion."

Leyana's family despaired that her arguments made sense. Mahli appealed to Yoda through the Force. 'Master, you get final say. She's too young.'

Leyana suppressed a grin. She was getting stronger in the Force. She had overheard Mahli's plea. 'She's very motherly,' she thought to herself.

Yoda was regarding Leyana carefully. "Any more reasons have you?" he asked.

Leyana nodded solemnly. "Yes." She paused. "My instincts are telling me I should go. Which normally means the Force, also."

Solaris and Mahli closed their eyes, reaching into the Force. The Force was surrounding this decision, they sensed. But they couldn't make out if it was for good or ill.

They spoke silently, then finally opened their eyes and turned to Yoda.

Without a Council, Yoda listened to their opinions, and more often then not, took them into account when making decisions.

Leyana reached out with her mind. Both Solaris and Mahli had raised shields around their thoughts. Leyana smiled. She knew her brother and sister. That meant she would get her way.

With a sigh, Mahli spoke. "We think Leyana's right – at least about the Force being with her on this."

Yoda nodded. 'Too old for this, I am.' He banished the thought, and turned to the task at hand. He studied Leyana – so young, so eager – and nodded once more. "Lead this mission, you may."