Leaving Leia and Han was hard, but leaving Ben felt terrible. He just had to hope that he did this right so the child would be safe until his return – or, if he did not return, until Leia was able to lift the barrier and learn to train him with the Force.

Luke knew that his road ahead would be hard, but after the last vision he had he knew that it was necessary. He made his way back to his home, avoiding the heavy marketplaces and large areas of traffic as much as he could. The sun was setting, which meant that he had been right about the amount of time it would take to complete the process with Ben.

Obi-Wan and his father were waiting for him as he stepped inside his small hut.

'Well done, Luke. I can see the Sever Force worked.' Obi-Wan smiled in approval.

'Your sister did well also, son. She is strong with the Force and will be able to keep Ben safe until you return. You must ensure that she is trained as well, as together you will be able to accomplish much.'

Luke nodded and set about packing a few things for his journey. Mostly maps and clothing, and as many food ration packs as he could find. "Leia is stronger than I anticipated. I am not as spent as I thought I would be; I was not expecting her to provide me so much of herself in the process."

Anakin beamed with pride and placed his hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder. 'I knew she would be strong. Obi-Wan did as well; the two of you together will be able to meet an even greater strength.'

'It is unfortunate that we do not have time to complete her training before you leave. She would be a great asset.'

Luke smiled at them, thinking he was grateful that she wasn't trained. He did not want her to come with him in what was certain to be a life-altering mission. However, hearing what they said also made him more confident that she would be able to protect and train Ben.

Luke finished compiling all his supplies and sat down, staring at the two Jedi. "We need a plan of attack. The last month has been spent getting me ready for Ben, but now we need to discuss the Emperor."

They both nodded, and others began to appear. His small hut was full in short order.

'See, I cannot, where is he today. You must look, Luke.' Yoda said, closing his eyes.

Closing his eyes as well, Luke reached out and began to search through the Force.

'There will be a ripple, a dark presence. Search for that and you will find the Emperor.' Obi-Wan instructed.

'Snoke shrouded in evil, is he. Find him if you must, but he should fall when the Emperor is defeated.'

He ignored the chatter among the Jedi, as he was used to it by now. He continued to probe the galaxy searching. Several dark voids were on the horizon, but many he could wave off as sects of the fallen Empire. However, a strong urge was pulling him in one direction.

"The Mandalore system. I can feel an evil pull to a small moon in that system, Zanbar."

'Relics, I would think. Zanbar has been vacant since the Clone Wars.' Obi-Wan 'sat' down on Luke's bed. 'May not be of note any longer.'

"All the more reason it could be inhabited now. It's in the outer rim, and no one likes to go too close to Mandalore, even if there aren't many of them left."

'It's as good a place to start as any,' Anakin commented.

Luke opened his eyes and looked out at the Jedi. "What chance have I against him?"

The murmuring stopped, as all eyes turned to him. Several of the Jedi began discussion with each other, while the core group that he could see clearly looked stoic.

'Trust, you must, in the Force. It will guide you.'

Laying on his bed in the hut by the sea, Luke wondered and worried about what he would find. How long it would take him, and if he would be successful. His thoughts were consumed with worry as he knew he was not fully trained as a Jedi Knight.

'You worry too much, my son.'

Luke sighed, almost smiling. "Han asked me if you all just watched us and appeared whenever you chose. I told him you only appeared when I needed you. Perhaps, we were both right."

Anakin chuckled. 'I missed so much of your youth, I tend to stand by more than others. I want to help you if I can. I sensed your distress and came.'

"I worry that I am not good enough to do this, Father."

'In my youth, I thought I could do anything – be anything I wanted to be. I harnessed the Force easily and felt nothing could stop me. I'm afraid it was my undoing.' He leaned closer to Luke, sitting on the chair by the bed. 'The Jedi would tell you to put your faith in the Force and you will achieve what you should. Which is true; what the Jedi have always failed to really see is that we are all just human. We have fears, and this is normal. What you must do, Luke, is not let it overwhelm you.'

"But what if I cannot beat him? What if I'm not strong enough?"

'When Yoda fought him, he did not win.'

Luke's shock must have been evident on his face, because his father chuckled.

'Just before your birth he fought the Emperor, but he was too powerful even for Yoda. That is why Yoda went into exile. I was just coming into my dark side powers and…well, it's a long story. My point is that one on his own may not be able to defeat such a powerful person with the Dark side of the Force. But, as in all things that are hard but essential, it is worth it to try.'

"If Yoda couldn't beat him, what chance have I?" Luke was really panicking now. Yoda, the one that he felt was the strongest with the Force…if he couldn't defeat the Emperor then there was no chance that Luke could.

'I didn't tell you that to cause more worry, son. I tell you so that you understand that when you fight someone that powerful you cannot do it alone. We will be there to help protect you, guide you, anything we CAN do, we will.'

"The situation seems even more grave now, Father. But I will try to remember what you said. When I left to fight you, I was told that I had to do it alone. That was scary, but I was so determined to not let my family suffer that I had to go. I had to fight."

'Yes, son, think on that. Remember your vision and how much you want to avoid that future. Focus on your love for them and your need to see them safe. When I was young, I focused on these things as well, but I let anger and fear consume me. Don't go down that path, Luke, and you will prevail. I know it.'

"Father, I cannot do this! If even Yoda cannot battle him, there is no way that I can do it! You ask the impossible!" Luke stood up from his bed and began pacing. Anakin's face contained worry and concern, and he looked to his left as Yoda and Obi-Wan appeared.

'Luke, don't focus on the negative. The Force will be with you.'

"Obi-Wan, I cannot defeat him. Even Yoda couldn't!"

"Told you, did he, of my loss? The Emperor was younger, and in more control of his power. Legions of troops, a galaxy in his grasp, had he. Stronger.'

"Master Yoda, I am one man. I am tired from training, consumed with worry over my nephew and the future of the galaxy. This is a battle I simply cannot win on my own. You are all just ghosts; people formed by the Force to guide me. What can you do to help me in the middle of battle?"

The three Jedi paused and looked at each other. Anakin's face was easier to read, but Obi-Wan and Yoda faded briefly, before coming back and sitting on Luke's bed.

'Seek him out, you must, but to learn only. Determine his strength, his power. See, we cannot, what his status is.'

'You can find him, Luke, we know you can. Find him and learn. Do what you must to determine if he is damaged from our fight at Endor. If he is weak, try to eliminate him as we have discussed. If his power is as strong or stronger, which is doubtful, come back and begin training.' Anakin looked faintly worried as well, but looked like he was trying not to let it show.

"More training? Why shouldn't I just do that now?"

'No, not your training,' Obi-Wan said. 'You train others. Leia is strong, just as strong as you are. There are others – many others – that are Force-sensitive. You should seek them out and begin training them. Then, when they are ready, you return to the Emperor with an army.'

"A mission of reconnaissance only?" Luke was starting to calm down at this point. Traveling to learn was the best thing he'd heard all day. Rather than walking into what he knew would be fatal, learning what he could and making a decision at that time was of great comfort.

Anakin nodded. 'I think that's best, at least for now. We go under that heading and review when you find him.' He glanced at Yoda and Obi-Wan, who faded out of vision. 'I have a request of you, son.'

Luke looked at his father, curious, while Anakin looked uncomfortable.

'Your sister is strong with the Force and will need to be trained someday.'

"Yeah, I assumed."

If a ghost could squirm, Anakin did. 'And she will need to help you train others, so as to lessen your burden.'

"Ok…" Luke walked a couple of steps closer to him. "What is it, Father?"

"I…would like to meet her." Anakin turned away from Luke, hiding his face. 'I've only ever seen her as Vader, not as her father. I want to officially meet her.'

Luke was stunned silent. For some reason, he never really thought about the fact that Leia didn't know him as her father, not really. "Father-"

'Hear me out before you reply. I know that she may have a hard time looking on me without seeing him, but while you are searching for the Emperor, I would like to remain with Leia and begin her training. Obi-Wan and Yoda, and all the others, will be with you should you need them.'

Again, Luke was stunned. "You want to start training Leia? Now?"

'To begin, yes. You will finish when you return.'

Luke thought about this for a few moments. "I cannot force her to do this, Father. But I will speak to her."

'Thank you, son.'

"I appreciate this, Han."

"No problem, kid. I was going to stop by and check on the Falcon anyway. Chewy was doing a rehaul of the hyperdrive. Plus, I know all the tricks with ships; let's find one that will be the safest to take out." Han walked through the hanger bay near a medium sized freighter.

"This is a little big, isn't?" Luke asked, wondering if this was really the right choice. If his intent is to fly through the galaxy unnoticed, a freighter may not be the way to do it.

"Nah, listen. It's only a little bigger than the Falcon, and I got around the galaxy in her for years. What you gain with this is she's a little faster, so they say. You have two taser turrets, just like the Falcon, and you have sleeping quarters right next to the bridge. This way, since you'll be the only one onboard, you can just pop back there and rest while she's flying you somewhere."

"I don't know…"

"The Corellians know what they are doing with ship building. Lando and I have both piloted this baby in the past, and if I didn't have the Falcon, I'd fly her."

"Well, I guess that will work. At least it's not as obvious as my X-wing."

"That's the spirit, kid.

"Well, now that that's done, I'm going to go talk to Chewy for a bit. I also gotta get back to the command center. We found another Empire sect last night, so I need to stop by to get the latest info for Leia. You heading up to see her and Ben?" Han slapped him on the shoulder and smiled. Like all the smiles from Han and Leia lately, it felt a little forced.

"Yeah, I'll stop by before I head back home to ready everything. Thanks, Han."

"Anytime, kid."

Luke wandered around the hanger until he found a deck hand. He informed the man that he would be back to pick up the ship in a little bit and asked him to ready it.

"The VCX-100 is a good ship, sir. I think you'll enjoy it. I'll have her ready when you return."

Luke made his way to Leia and Han's place; Leia let him in and waved for him to sit. She was holding Ben while he slept. Affectionately, Luke placed his hand on Ben's head.

"Now that I have the ship, I'll be leaving in the morning, Leia."

She studied him for a moment. "You have something you want to ask me."

Luke smiled. "I need to remember to guard myself around you, unless I want you to discover all of my secrets." He shifted a little. "I have a request. From…our father."

Leia's face remained stoic, but he could feel something akin to hurt raise within her. She leaned down and kissed Ben softly, then stood up and walked him into the back room to place him on his bed. When she walked out, she looked up at Luke.

"What is the request?"

"He wants to meet you."

"Why? And, is that even possible?"

"I can teach you how to see and speak with him. It's very similar to what I showed you with Ben, how to search him with your feelings." Luke stood up and took a step closer to her. "When I'm gone, Father wants to start training you. That way, you can still learn the ways of the Force. I will complete your training when I return."

"I don't know. Truthfully, I am not sure that I can. I've watched him kill too many of my friends. He stood by while my entire home planet with my family was blown up!"

"I know you don't need me to say this, Leia, but it wasn't him. That was the Emperor's influence. You understand?"

Leia paused. Luke knew she was comparing that situation to what he had seen of the fate of her son. "Let me think about it, please?"

"I understand. I don't want to pressure you, but I really must leave in the morning. I'm going to head back to the hanger and get the ship and take it back home. I hate to do this, but you just have through today. Otherwise, if you decide you want to meet him you will have to do so without me there."

"I understand." Leia put her arms around him in a fierce hug. "I'm scared for you in this journey. But, Luke, thank you for doing this for my son."

"For all of us, Leia, including your son."

"Please take care of yourself. And, remember, you promised to train me to be a Jedi also. You cannot go and get yourself killed."

Luke laughed as he hugged her a little tighter. "I promise."

A/N: Just a quick reminder, this is a story of my own creation. I have taken aspects from the movies, books, and other areas of the EU, but I tried to make it my own. Hope everyone likes it regardless :)

Just a little more into the details. Starting on Friday with Chapter 4 should get into some good travel fun for Luke. Once again, thanks go to my beta Zombiefied419 for all of her help!

Chapter Sources:

wiki/VCX-100_light_freighter
Movies:
Star Wars A New Hope
Star Wars Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars Return of the Jedi