Chapter 5

The planet of Teth was worse than Luke feared. He approached the planet carefully, heeding what Yoda had advised, but the fleet of ships was not what he was expecting. There were 20 to 30 ships in orbit on one side, so Luke gave the planet a wide birth and flew to the far side in order to land. Unfortunately, as he was making his ascent, he realized that he had been spotted.

A loud warning alarm rang out, startling Luke. Looking at the alert panel, he saw the signal of a blaster shot about to hit him. Taking evasive action, he veered the ship to the right. He was not quite fast enough as the shot took out his left side of his ship. Acting quickly, he cut the conference room off from the rest of the ship, which stabilized the interior airflow. Multiple alarms began to flash as he plummeted toward the planet surface. As he entered the atmosphere, Luke tried to slow his descent by easing off the left engine, attempting to use the right to push back.

The right engine began to overheat, causing Luke to spiral. Closing his eyes, he focused on containing the fire on the left-side of the ship using the Force. The ship soon began to stop twisting in mid-air as the fire died out. Frantically back to the controls, he tried to slow his descent again, but with the left engine almost out of commission, he was unable to slow as much as he needed to. The planet surface was getting too close, too fast, as he hastened a distress signal to Leia. Given the current state of his ship, he wasn't sure that it would even make it to her, but it was worth a try.

Concentrating again, Luke was able to slow the ship's descent using the Force, but only enough to ensure that he would land without blowing up. The ship was in bad shape by the time it thudded to the ground. Easing a sigh of relief that he was no longer falling, Luke managed to unsteadily make it out of the cockpit and walked back toward the left side of the ship to survey the damage. The blaster shot had taken out most of the room in that quarter of the ship, and it was exposed to the planet at this point. He could see remnants of what used to be a table and console, but that room was most assuredly unusable for the foreseeable future.

He walked back to the cockpit to do a sweep of the immediate area. He had landed on the far side of a small clearing, right next to the start of jungle trees and plants. He was relatively out in the open, which did not bode well with Luke. His preference would be to hide the ship more, but he hesitated to attempt to move it.

'Use the Force, Luke. Hide your ship from view.'

"I guess I still have a lot to learn, eh, Obi-Wan? It's never my first thought." Luke almost smiled as he made his way down to the cargo hold of the ship. He lowered the ramp and walked outside. The air was humid, but cool considering it was the dead of night.

Walking as quickly as he could, Luke used the Force to close the ramp. He closed his eyes and focused his energy on the ship and was able to sort of push it into the jungle trees, before he used dead logs, leaves and pieces of the broken ship to seal the hole. This should eliminate the concern of any indigenous life from making their way inside. Satisfied with his work, he used the Force again to reopen the ramp, and made his way back inside.

Since he was exhausted from the traveling already, he decided a meal and an attempt to sleep was the best course of action for the moment. He didn't really know where he was supposed to head, nor if whoever shot him had seen where he fell. He placed the sensors on high alert with air proximity being most important, and then walked back to the mess room.

'Tired, are you. Rest you must if you are to face the Emperor tomorrow.'

"I thought I was just doing reconnaissance?" Luke almost spit out his ration.

'Fight, you must, if you are to win the war.'

"Master Yoda…"

'He's right, Luke. Trust in the Force and you will prevail. But you need to make sure you get some sleep. Your body needs to be as energized as possible.'

"Did you agree to reconnaissance just to get me out here?"

'Necessary, it was, to ensure victory.'

"You take too much for granted. And you ask too much of me." Luke continued to eat his rations and considered the situation. "You know how this is going to end!" The ghosts said nothing, which was enough for Luke. "I knew it. I am being herded toward my 'destiny.'"

'That's a broad word, Luke. We are simply here to aide you. We cannot tell you what to do, but we can guide.'

"Push, more like it," Luke muttered as he cleared away the remnants of his dinner. Making his way to the crew quarters, he found a room that was toward the center of the ship that had a control pad. Keying in the alert code to wake him up at first light, he went to the cot and tried to get comfortable. He knew his thoughts were going to keep him up, but he tried to clear his mind and finally began to drift off.

Pain and anger. Red smudges and falling debris were all around the fighting, causing fear to the inhabitants of the war. Then, out of nowhere, an overwhelming feeling of pure love and acceptance began seeping into him, filling him and healing. The red began to recede as the Force shone almost from the inside out.

Luke woke with a start. The alarm was raging on the console, causing him to rouse out of his murky dream. Racing to the panel, he reviewed it to determine what set off the alarm. It was only the alarm to wake him up, for which he was grateful. He headed into the lav to cleanup and prepare to leave the ship.

"Father."

A moment passed.

'Yes, Luke?'

"I have a vague feeling of which direction I should go, but I cannot get any kind of clear idea on coordinates. How can I make that clearer, so I know where to go?"

The silence from the ghost made Luke turn around. Anakin was sitting on the cot in the quarters and was staring silently at him. Slowly the ghost rose and 'walked' over toward Luke.

'I'm sorry, son, but I cannot help you with that. You must find this on your own.'

"You can't just tell me how to find it? Isn't that like training or something?"

'I'm sorry that I cannot help.'

Luke took a deep breath. "I don't understand what's happening. You guys lied to get me here and now you can't even train me on how to determine the way to go?"

'You are tired, son. You know the answers already.'

"I don't know any answers, Father! I am out in the middle of nowhere heading into a fight that I cannot possibly win, because all of you pushed me into it, and now you won't help?"

Anakin said nothing, and Luke realized fighting with a Force ghost was futile. "I guess you'll do whatever you must. And, I supposed that I must as well. Maybe it's my time to join you."

He was being melodramatic, and he knew it, but his frustration and anger were starting to overcome him. Sensing disapproval from the other ghosts that began appearing next to Anakin, Luke sat down and began to meditate. Gradually the anger faded and peace along with understanding came to him. He calmed his mind, as he had been taught to do so long ago and felt around him.

Reaching past the ship, he ventured out into the forest. There was a lot of wildlife all around him, mostly small creatures, nothing too big or dangerous. Pushing past the forest and searching with his feelings the area around it, focusing on things dark and evil.

"There's a stronghold, on the other side of the jungle I'm in currently. It's a few hours away, but there is a concentration of evil and I can sense…Leia! They have Leia!"

'Luke, rest your mind and search again.'

"I thought you couldn't help me," he muttered to himself. Calming even more, he searched the place again. "That's not Leia, but there is something. Something that I cannot see, but I can feel that there is more…"

Luke opened his eyes and studied the Jedi standing around him. "You knew he would trick me."

'Evil, the Dark side is. Using the Force against nature. Be wary of it; the compassionate side of the Force can be used for the Dark side's agenda. Be cautious.'

Luke stood up and went back to gathering up everything he needed into a bag. He took provisions, a com for the ship, and any type of gear that would help him in the jungle. After securing his light saber on his belt, he surveyed the ghosts again.

"I will be cautious, as I always am. But know this: I am frustrated with all of you that I cannot get help on this trek."

'Luke, we will-'

"I will do this because I need to, not because you have forced me into it. I will do everything within my power to save my nephew and my sister, Han…and anyone else marred in the vision. I will not allow that to take place. If I end up joining you, but still correcting this horrible misfortune, then so be it." And with that, he left the ship, taking care to close the ramp and move branches to cover it even more.

The humid, hot air congealed around him, making him feel drenched almost immediately. Unfortunately, there was little that he had that would help. He had several canisters of water to ensure he didn't get dehydrated, several days' worth of rations, camping necessities and two blasters in addition to his light saber. The heavy pack did nothing to dispel the burden he was already carrying, and he felt like he was going to suffocate underneath the responsibility.

'This is not the first time you have felt this way, child.'

A female voice said from behind the shadows of a large tree. Luke stopped short and stared at the Force ghost materializing in front of him. She was a little shorter than he was, but not much, with a kind and smiling face.

"Who are you?"

'I think we are supposed to be mysterious, in this form. That has never suited me well,' she said, flippantly. 'I am Depa Billaba, Jedi…well, I was going to say Jedi Knight and Master, but that seems sort of silly. Of course, I'm a Jedi if I am visiting you in this fashion.'

"Uh, nice to meet you," Luke stammered, having no idea what to make of this strange creature.

'Ah, I have startled you, I see. My apologies, young one. But I wanted to speak with you. Let us continue to move, as we really shouldn't stay in one place for too long. I have many things to say.'

Without comment, Luke continued his journey with Depa at his side. She was silent for a moment, perhaps gathering her thoughts, and Luke did not question her. She would speak when ready.

'When I was young, as you are, I was enthralled by children who questioned what others thought to be normal. The padawans that I had were only such children, ensuring that we were both always learning.' She laughed suddenly. 'I believe that most of the Council did not care for me, my ways, or my padawans, but I paid them no mind. I was always more sensitive than most to the Force, and I knew my purpose here.

'I wanted to speak to you regarding your speech back at the ship. I wanted to commend your attitude, actually.'

"You do not think that I was harsh?"

'No, child. Some forget what it's like to be a young one and have this kind of pressure put on them. Or, perhaps, they have never known this kind of pressure. I, myself, never had to deal with what you are, but I can imagine, and I see your point.'

"Do you know what I should do?"

Depa was silent for a moment before stopping and facing Luke. 'I cannot tell you something that I am forbidden to say, but I will say this: trust your instincts. Your internal guide will not be wrong on this occasion. Trust in the Force, yourself, and your abilities – in that order.

'I do not envy your road ahead, child, but I will tell you that what they have told you is true. We will be here when you need us.'

"Everyone keeps saying that, but it sure doesn't feel like it. I am scared, tired and feeling every bit as alone as I felt going to the Emperor the first time. I don't know what I'm doing."

Depa laughed again. 'Nor would any of us in your place. You are smart and capable, which puts you above others in your path. Just remember to trust yourself as you step forward.'

Depa's voice grew faint as she completed her thought. Luke took a step from behind another tree and came face to face with a battalion of guards.

"Stop!"

"Drop your weapon!"

Luke immediately went into a defensive post, pulling his lightsabre from his belt. As he ignited it, the guards came closer aiming their blasters at him.

'Just let them take you, child. Don't fight them. Now is not the time.' He could hear Depa as if she was standing next to him. Trusting in her judgement, he turned off the lightsabre and dropped it, holding his hands in the air.

A/N: I hope you are all enjoying! Much Love to my beta, Zombiefied419 for everything!

Chapter Sources:

wiki/VCX-100_light_freighter

/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1617904174

wiki/Teth

wiki/Depa_Billaba#Early_life