Chapter Four: Dagobah
The Doctor could remember that his tenth incarnation had always loved to stare into the vortex of hyperspace. On the way to Dagobah, he quickly realized that his eleventh incarnation loved it even more. The swirling blue around the white center always mesmerized the Doctor, and his eleventh body was no less prone to its calming effects than his other incarnations.
"It's so beautiful," said Jennara from beside him.
"I agree," said the Doctor, realizing that hyperspace reminded him more of his former Padawan and less of Stass. "Even at the ripe old age of nine hundred thirty-five, the universe can still amaze me."
"You're not seriously that old, are you?" asked Jennara with an unbelieving smile on her face.
"Oh, I most certainly am," said the Doctor jokingly.
"Well, if you're that old, certainly you need some rest," said Jennara. "Master Kenobi's already gone off while you were stargazing over there."
"Really?" asked the Doctor. "I hadn't noticed."
"So, are you going to sleep or not?" asked Jennara.
"No, I don't think so," answered the Doctor.
"Why not?" Jennara fake-pouted, which the Doctor found absolutely adorable.
"I don't really need it," said the Doctor. "I can go for days without sleep. You know that."
"Yeah," said Jennara, and the disappointment he heard in her voice and felt in her heart was genuine. "Okay, well, I'm going to get some rest until we hit Dagobah."
The Doctor didn't quite understand her disappointment, but he quickly put it out of his mind as he stared into the vortex and the Tardis moved faster than the speed of light through the galaxy toward Dagobah.
The Doctor hadn't been to Dagobah in twenty-three years, not since his fateful encounter with Qui-Gon Jinn when he learned about the events that would come to pass approximately one year later. He had never taken Jennara there, as he felt that he had nothing to teach her there. Even still, his tenth incarnation had always gotten the strange suspicion that he would return there at some point to teach. He realized that it would not be Jennara whom he would teach, but Luke Skywalker.
It was at Dagobah that Luke would receive the greatest leap in his Jedi training thus far. In the privacy of the swamps of Dagobah, they could train him almost non-stop, instead of the sporadic bursts of lessons that Obi-Wan was forced to give him in the last three years due to Luke's commitment as a commander in the Rebel Alliance. Not that Luke's duties were a bad thing, the Doctor rationalized, but if they were to defeat the Emperor in the way the Force had planned, the Doctor got the feeling that give him more formal lessons, instead of the sporadicity with which he was taught in the ways of the Jedi. That way, he would learn faster and the galaxy could return to a peaceful state once more.
The navicomputer told the Doctor that they were about to enter the Dagobah system, and he placed his hand on the hyperdrive controls, taking the Tardis out of hyperspace and back into normal space. He skillfully guided the ship into Dagobah's atmosphere, sticking the landing in the exact spot where his tenth incarnation had landed his old Eta-2 starfighter during the Clone War. The Doctor spun his chair around and quickly stood, making his way to the quarters of the ship, where Jennara and Obi-Wan had gotten up and were waiting for the Doctor.
"Welcome to Dagobah!" cried the Doctor joyously.
"I can feel the Force all around here," said Jennara wistfully. "It's amazing."
"I feel it also," said Obi-Wan. "This planet is a conduit of the Force."
"A great place for us to hide while we train Luke," said the Doctor. "Come on, then. Let's explore!"
As the Jedi exited the Tardis, the Doctor looked around the quarters and noticed that there were only two bunks. Jennara's disappointment became a bit clearer to him.
The three Jedi looked around their environment, noting all of the life that sprouted up from the swampy terrain as though it grew right from the swamp itself. The Doctor found the swamp perfect for training Luke. Its trees with their vines were perfect for endurance exercises, while the rocks provided a good way to test Luke in his concentration and some Force techniques.
"I'm sure we could improvise a course for him to run on," suggested Jennara.
"Agreed," said the Doctor. "This place is awesome!"
"If you can get past the smell," joked Jennara, waving at her nose in mock disgust.
"Where's Luke, then?" asked the Doctor.
"His X-Wing is not equipped with a hyperdrive," explained Obi-Wan. "He should be here soon, however."
"Good," said the Doctor. "In the meantime, let's get ready."
So, for the next few hours, the Doctor, Jennara, and Obi-Wan set up a small camp while they waited for Luke to arrive. They set up several small crates of food that would last them for months as well as rechargeable lights, which they hooked up to the Tardis for power. Lastly, they set up the Tardis so that they could bunk in the ship itself. There was, of course, the issue of two bunks and four people, but the Doctor and Obi-Wan graciously gave Jennara and, when he arrived, Luke the bunks. Jennara looked a bit disappointed when the Doctor said that he wouldn't sleep in the bunks with her and Luke, but the Doctor paid little mind to it. He had just heard something that caused all distractions to cease.
There had been a crashing noise coming just a kilometer south of where the Jedi had made their camp. The Doctor concluded that it must have been Luke, so he, Jennara, and Obi-Wan ran to where the Doctor heard the crash to indeed find Luke Skywalker pulling R2-D2 out of the swamp. R2 looked grimy and muddy, and so did the legs of Luke's pilot trousers.
"Are you alright, Luke?" asked Jennara anxiously.
"I'm fine," said Luke as he set R2 upright again and breathed out a tired sigh. "Thanks for the concern."
"What happened?" asked the Doctor.
"I flew into a fog as I was coming down into the atmosphere," explained Luke, irritated that events had played out in this way. "I couldn't see a thing, and then I crashed into this swamp."
"We'll get your fighter out, Luke," said Obi-Wan, noticing Luke's irritated tone as the Doctor had. "Do not worry. In the meantime, the three of us have set up a camp that we can use while you train."
"Well, let's not waste any time, then," said Luke. "Let's get started."
"As you wish, Luke," said Obi-Wan. "Shall we, Doctor?"
"We shall, yes," said the Doctor, an idea popping into his head. "But first, we need to eat."
"Eat?" asked Luke, perplexed. "I thought we were going to start training me to be a Jedi."
"True," said the Doctor. "We will train you together, and the first lesson of your Jedi training is that a Jedi must keep up his strength or her strength-" he nodded to Jennara graciously, "-before the exercises can begin."
"Um, okay," said Luke.
The Doctor, Jennara, and Obi-Wan led Luke and R2 back to the camp, where the Doctor began to cook a small meal for the four of them to eat. All the while, he sensed Luke fidgeting about, as though he wanted to get his training done as soon as possible. Jennara and Obi-Wan could sense it, too. Luke's leg would shake almost uncontrollably, or he would wring his hands together, or he would do something to indicate his impatience.
The Doctor smiled to himself as he finished cooking the meal, giving out a healthy dose to himself and his three companions. R2 didn't need sustenance of the kind that the Doctor was providing, so he shut down for the time being.
"Eat up!" the Doctor said joyously. "Eat up!"
The Doctor began vigorously eating his portion, which looked like a sort of smooth, yet thick yellow mush with brown bits and white bits mixed in, and Jennara and Obi-Wan tentatively took a bite of their meal as well. The Doctor had to smile when the expressions of both Jedi lit up as they tasted the Doctor's meal.
"Doctor, this is amazing!" cried Jennara.
"I'm glad you think so," said the Doctor, his hearts warming at Jennara's approval. "I learned to make it on one of my few trips to Gallifrey. The Gallifreyan word for it is much too long and far too difficult to pronounce, but it translates to Basic as fish fingers and custard. The fingers bit could be a tiny mistranslation, though, but I'm not entirely sure."
"This is truly delicious!" exclaimed Obi-Wan after a mouthful of fish fingers and custard. "Luke, are you not hungry?"
The Doctor looked at Luke, noticing that he hadn't eaten any of his meal. He was just fidgeting some of the brown bits with his spoon impatiently.
"I don't mean any offense, Doctor," said Luke apologetically. "I'm sure it's delicious, but I just don't see why we can't just start my training now."
"It's like the Doctor said," explained Jennara. "A Jedi has to keep up strength."
Luke took one bite of the fish fingers and custard, threw his bowl down, and shouted, "What am I even doing?! We're wasting our time! Why can't we just start?!"
Jennara and Obi-Wan gazed at Luke, shocked at his outburst. The Doctor, however, gently set down his bowl and stood, looking hard at Luke.
"There's your problem," he said softly.
"What do you mean?" asked Luke.
"This was an exercise in patience," explained the Doctor. "Which you seem to lack."
"He will learn patience," said Obi-Wan, catching onto the Doctor's lesson plan.
"Yeah, I can do it," said Luke. "I'm ready to learn."
"And we will teach you, but you need to know that you are reckless," said the Doctor.
"What about you, Doctor?" challenged Luke. "Aren't you a bit reckless at times?"
"Yes," the Doctor admitted fondly. "But I always have a plan. Of the many things you will learn here on Dagobah, one of the most important is to think before you act. Make a plan, a strategy. If you know what to do, the Force will guide you the rest of the way."
"But you must also make sure to trust your instincts," put in Jennara. "Sometimes, your plans don't work, and you have to improvise. Trust in the Force when you come to these points."
"I will," said Luke, standing up with the other Jedi. "I am ready."
"Good," said the Doctor, pleased with Luke's willingness to learn, if not his recklessness. "Let's begin."
For the next two weeks, Luke spent six hours a day training with the Doctor, Obi-Wan, and Jennara. Most of what Luke did was endurance exercises and meditation techniques. Jennara and the Doctor would run with Luke through the swamp to increase his endurance, and they would offer him pointers as well as words of encouragement. After running for a good while, Luke would transfer to Obi-Wan, who would work with him on lifting objects during meditation, wherein Luke would be in some ridiculous position, such as doing a handstand.
"It improves concentration," Obi-Wan had explained after Luke had questioned his mentor's methods.
On the first day of the third week of training, Luke and the Doctor were running through the swamp, the Doctor giving Luke pointers all the way.
"Good, Luke!" encouraged the Doctor as Luke flipped over a large rock with ease. "Feel the Force inside you. Let it flow through you like a river." The Doctor momentarily flashed back to a certain group of Younglings whom he had taught once at the Jedi Temple. Jemba, Liam, and all the other Younglings of Bear Clan. He had told them to feel the river's song.
Then the flash was gone, and the Doctor's mind returned to his new student, Luke.
"But don't let your anger or fear get the better of you," said the Doctor as they ran. "That leads to the Dark Side. It's the quick and easy path, and if you choose it, it will dominate your destiny. And it will consume you as it consumed Obi-Wan's former apprentice."
Luke stopped for a moment to catch his breath.
"Vader," he said. "Is the Dark Side stronger?" he asked as a bit of an afterthought.
"No," said the Doctor quickly. "It's quicker, easier, and more seductive, but it isn't stronger."
"But how will I know the difference?" asked Luke.
"You'll know when you are calm, at peace," answered the Doctor. "Do you know what a Jedi uses the Force for, Luke?"
"Knowledge?" answered Luke.
"Yes, good," said the Doctor. "And what else?"
"To defend himself."
"Very good," congratulated the Doctor. Luke was learning already. "Never use the Force for attack. If you must use the Force in battle, use it for defense. Otherwise, use it for gaining knowledge and wisdom."
"Thank you, Doctor," said Luke. "Shall we run some more?"
"No, I think we're good on running for now," answered the Doctor. "Let's go find Obi-Wan and do some meditation exercises, shall we?"
"Alright," said Luke absently. The Doctor could sense that his mind was filled with questions that he felt needed answering.
"Clear your mind of any questions," he said to young Luke. "The answers may come slowly, but they will come to you with time."
"Yes, Doctor," said Luke.
Both men were silent as they walked back to the camp, where Obi-Wan, Jennara, and R2 were waiting for them. They were both meditating, and while Obi-Wan's mind was clear, Jennara's was just a bit distracted, especially after the Doctor came within her range of senses. R2 was watching the X-Wing almost tentatively. If droids could exude emotion, the Doctor would have said that the little astromech was worried about the fighter.
Brushing thoughts about the X-Wing aside, the Doctor turned his attention to Luke and Obi-Wan as they began the exercise in meditation.
"Now, Luke, I want you to stand on your hands as you concentrate," said Obi-Wan.
The Doctor watched as Luke did what Obi-Wan told of him, standing on his hands with perfect balance.
"He's good," Jennara muttered to the Doctor.
"I agree," said the Doctor. "Not many Padawans could do that barely three weeks into their formal training."
"Now, Luke," continued Obi-Wan, "Spread out one of your legs and lift one of your arms."
Luke wordlessly did as Obi-Wan instructed, moving his right leg and his left arm.
"The stones," said Obi-Wan. Luke used his telekinetic powers to lift a small stone into the air and gently place it on top of another small stone. Luke was about to grab another one when R2 suddenly chirped alarmingly, indicating the X-Wing.
The Doctor looked and, to his horror, saw the X-Wing slowly start to sink deeper into the swamp. Luke noticed it, too, for he was suddenly losing concentration on the stone. He was panicking about his X-Wing, and he forgot all about what he was doing.
"Concentrate!" called Obi-Wan.
"Luke!" cried Jennara and the Doctor as Luke collapsed to the ground, his exercises abandoned.
Luke stood slowly and gazed out at his X-Wing.
"Oh, great," he sighed exasperatedly. "Now we'll never get it out."
"Are you so sure?" asked the Doctor.
"Why don't you try to lift it like the stone?" suggested Obi-Wan.
"Ben, moving stones around is one thing, but this is totally different," said Luke.
"It's not that different," said Jennara. "It's only different in your mind."
"She's right," said the Doctor. "You've got to unlearn what you've learned. Put aside your doubt and your fear, and you can do just about anything. Even lift that X-Wing out of the swamp."
"Alright," said Luke half-heartedly. "I'll give it a try."
"You can't just try, Luke," said Jennara. "There are a lot of things that the Doctor has taught me. One of them is that I must do or do not. I can't simply try. Trying doesn't exist. You've just gotta do it or don't."
The Doctor beamed at her, surprised and happy that she had taken his teachings to heart like that. His affection for her increased tenfold because of that. Jennara smiled at him as well, and they shared a single, tender moment.
Luke reached out his hand and used the Force to grab at the X-Wing. Slowly, but surely, it began to rise out of the swampy waters.
"You can do it, Luke," said Obi-Wan quietly, encouraging his student and friend. The Doctor silently cheered him on as the X-Wing rose higher and higher...
...then sank back down into the swamps.
R2-D2 gave a sad little whimper as the X-Wing slowly descended back into the swamp. Evidently, Luke's fear and doubt about the size of the craft got into his head. He could have easily lifted the ship out of the swamp if he had cleared his mind beforehand.
Luke sat down, panting for breath, on a log next to R2.
"I can't do it," said Luke. "It's too big."
"The size of the ship does not matter," said Obi-Wan.
"Master Kenobi is right," said Jennara. "I mean, look at me. I'm the smallest Jedi here. Do you judge me because you're bigger than I am?"
Luke cast his glance down on the ground, then shook his head. He didn't judge her at all.
"Good, because I've got the Force on my side," said Jennara, sitting down next to Luke and placing a hand on his shoulder. "And that's the most powerful ally in the galaxy. We create it, and we make it grow. With the Force, we're not just a body. We are a glowing beacon of life. Its energy is all around us. It binds us together. If you want to lift that ship, you've got to feel the Force around you. Feel it between you, me, Master Kenobi, the Doctor, that rock, that tree, even R2 and your X-Wing."
"But Jennara, it's just so difficult," said Luke. "I don't know if I can do it. It seems like you just want the impossible."
"It's not impossible, Luke," said Jennara consolingly. "Watch this."
Jennara stood up and lifted her arm. The Doctor watched, smiling to himself, as Jennara began to pull the X-Wing right out of the swamp. Slowly, it rose up again, moving ever closer to the land. Soon, the Doctor could see the entire ship moving towards them. Jennara gently placed the X-Wing down on the ground in front of Luke, who looked absolutely astonished that such a feat could have been performed at all.
"Jennara, that...that was amazing!" he cried. "I don't believe it!"
"There's your problem," said the Doctor, who was very, very proud of what Jennara had just done. "In order to succeed, you need to believe that you can. Only then can you defeat your enemies."
The Doctor silently wished that Luke would be ready to believe in himself when the time came for him to face Vader and Sidious.
The man who was called Vader was terrified. The Doctor was back. The male Jedi whom Vader had encountered on Hoth bore the Force signature of the Doctor. It felt just slightly different, but it was unmistakably the old Gallifreyan Grand Master from his days as a Jedi, reborn in a new body. On top of that, he carried the old Doctor's clawed lightsaber. Vader certainly wasn't clamboring to see the blue-bladed shoto that the Doctor used to carry; he had destroyed that weapon when he faced and killed the Doctor on the Death Star-or so he thought.
He would have told his Master, Sidious, about this new development, but Vader's fleet was currently preoccupied with finding the Millenium Falcon. Vader himself had ordered his ships to go after the Falcon after the brash Captain Solo had flown it into an asteroid field. He had sensed several key members of the Rebellion, including Solo himself, aboard that ship, and there was no way that they were slipping through his grasp. Not again.
Still, the fact that the Doctor had resurfaced once again disturbed Vader. He wondered how his Master would take to the news, for Vader would tell him eventually. Vader imagined not well, but one could never truly be sure about Sidious. If anything, the man was good at hiding himself and his intentions. As far as Vader knew, Sidious had masqueraded as the Chancellor of the Republic for well over a decade before anyone outside of the Order of the Sith Lords figured out his true identity as the Dark Lord of the Sith.
"And that, Lord Vader, was the last time the Millenium Falcon appeared on our scopes," said the hologram of Captain Lorth Needa, drawing Vader out of his musings. "Considering the damage we've sustained, they must have been destroyed."
Vader quickly realized that they were still talking about the chase. Captain Needa was suggesting that they abandon the search, but Vader thought otherwise. Han Solo was crafty, and he would find a way to navigate through the asteroids.
"No, Captain," said Vader. "They are alive. I want every ship available to sweep the asteroid field until they are found."
"Yes, Lord Vader," said Captain Needa, bowing just before his hologram faded away into nothing.
Vader strolled away from the communications center he had used to contact Captain Needa. Some of his officers were completely inept. He was considering hiring bounty hunters to find the Millenium Falcon if his officers couldn't find the elusive ship. The Mandalorian Boba Fett was far more reliable than many of the men onboard the ship on which he was standing.
Vader sensed the presence of Admiral Firmus Piett moving toward him. Piett was certainly one of his more reliable officers. Vader actually excused him when he failed, which was rare for the Sith Lord. The urgency with which Piett sped to Vader indicating that what he had to say was important.
"Lord Vader," he called, getting Vader's full attention.
"Yes, Admiral," acknowledged Vader. "What is it?"
"Emperor Palpatine commands you to make contact with him," reported Piett.
"Very well," said Vader. "I shall answer. Move the Executor out of the asteroid field so that we may send a clear transmission."
"Yes, my Lord," said Piett.
While Piett was issuing Vader's orders, Vader himself walked down to his meditation chamber that also served as a private communications center, serviceable only between himself and his Master. As soon as Admiral Piett reported that Vader's ship, the Executor, had cleared the asteroid field, Vader moved to a small platform that he would use to contact his Master. Vader knelt low, and a huge hologram of only his Master's head and shoulders appeared before him.
"What is thy bidding, my Master?" he asked as a greeting.
"There is a great disturbance in the Force," said Sidious.
"I have felt it," replied Vader. It was true. Ever since Hoth, he had felt a disturbance in the Force alongside the one caused by the Doctor.
"We have a new enemy," said Sidious. "The young Rebel who destroyed the Death Star. He is strong in the Force, very strong indeed. I have no doubt in my mind that this boy is the offspring of Anakin Skywalker."
Luke, Vader thought to himself. Ever since the incident with the Death Star, Vader had done everything in his power to find out the identity of the lone pilot who had ensured its destruction. Several sources pointed to a boy named Luke. Vader was very suspicious of Luke when he sensed the power of the Force coursing within his veins. Anakin Skywalker had been like that, powerful and strong, before he became Vader.
During his search for Luke's identity, Vader came across one or two people who said that the boy's surname was Skywalker. Vader did not believe them, thinking that, even though he did not go by the name Anakin Skywalker anymore, he was still, by blood, the last living descendant of the Skywalker line. Sidious had just proven him wrong.
"How is that possible?" asked Vader. Padme died in childbirth. Our child died with her.
Padme Amidala. Vader had not thought about her in years. His one true love, taken from him when he should have been able to save her and their unborn child. Vader hated himself for that. He would never forgive himself for that failure.
"Search your feelings, Lord Vader," commanded Sidious. "You will know it to be true."
Sidious was right. There was no other explanation. Padme must have lived long enough for their child-Luke, he corrected himself-to be born. The Jedi must have hidden Luke from Vader and Sidious's sight as soon as he was born in an effort to shield him from their power.
I suppose it wasn't meant to last, Jedi fools, Vader thought to himself as Sidious continued.
"He could destroy us," he said.
"He is only a boy," said Vader. "Even with Kenobi and Oswin helping him, he cannot hope to destroy us both, my Master. Certainly, we are safe."
"The Force is strong with him," said Sidious. "The Jedi will certainly try to teach him their ways. Lord Vader, the son of Anakin Skywalker must not become a Jedi."
But what if he were a Sith? Vader thought to himself. Yes. It was perfect. Vader could turn his son to the Dark Side, then kill Sidious and take over the galaxy himself. Vader and Luke would rule side-by-side as father and son. It would be as he had dreamed so long ago. If only Padme were there to rule with Vader and their son, it would have been even more perfect.
Vader kept his thoughts neutral from his Master. He would present it as a boon to Sidious, not to Vader himself.
"If he could be turned, he would become a very powerful ally for you," suggested Vader.
"Yes," mused Sidious in agreement. "He would be a great asset." Clearly, the Dark Lord was taking the bait. Vader tried to push his joyous thoughts underneath the surface of his mind so that Sidious would not see them if he were to probe the mind of his apprentice.
"Can it be done?" asked Sidious. Vader internally leapt for joy. His plan to betray his Master was being given a blessing from his Master himself.
"He will join us or die, Master," said Vader. In truth, Vader would never kill his son. He would hurt him, of course, but never would he kill Luke.
"Good," said Sidious. "Very good. And now I sense that you wish to report a disturbing event from the Hoth campaign. Am I correct?"
Vader had almost completely forgotten about the Doctor. The fear he felt for that man returned, and Vader did his best to appear unaffected by it in the presence of his Master.
"Yes, Master," replied Vader. "I encountered three Jedi toward the end of the Battle of Hoth. Two of them, I recognized. One was Obi-Wan Kenobi, and the other was the Doctor's Padawan, Jennara Oswin."
"And the third?" asked Sidious curiously.
"I did not recognize him at first," admitted Vader, "until he said something to me. He asked me if I could be sure that the Doctor was truly dead."
"But the Doctor is dead, is he not?" asked Sidious, sounding like he knew the answer already.
"I do not believe so, Master," said Vader. "I believe that this man I encountered was the Doctor. He looked and acted very different from the Doctor I knew. But his lightsaber matched the clawed lightsaber used by the Doctor exactly, and, though he looked different, his Force signature was unmistakably that of the Doctor."
"Are you certain, Lord Vader?" asked Sidious.
"Without a doubt, my Master," replied Vader.
"Interesting," said Sidious. "Very interesting."
"What are you thinking, Master?" asked Vader curiously.
"It would appear that the Doctor really has regenerated," said Sidious. "The stories are true."
"Stories?" asked Vader, wanting more clarification.
"There were whisperings throughout the Galactic Republic that a Gallifreyan such as the Doctor has not one life, but thirteen."
"Thirteen?"
"Yes, it is most curious. As I told you before, it was known to only a few select Jedi Masters and those who work closely with them. The Archives at the Jedi Temple were the only known location of any record of the Doctor's home planet of Gallifrey and their species, the Gallifreyans. Only Jedi Masters were allowed to access the file. I could not, so I dismissed the whisperings as rumors only. Your discovery on Hoth proves that these whisperings were not rumor, but truth."
No wonder Vader had never heard of these stories. Anakin Skywalker was not made a Jedi Master, and he never was around such company that had heard them.
"I wonder which life the Doctor is on now," mused Sidious. "Lord Vader, I have another assignment for you."
"Yes, Master?" asked Vader, already knowing what was coming next.
"Bring me the Doctor. Dead or alive."
Uh oh! Things are happening! Looks like the Sith have a plan to crush the Jedi Order once and for all!
Friends, I don't know how a week can feel like five, but this week...oh, my goodness, it certainly came close to feeling like five. Good thing is it's Friday, which means new chapter! Yay! Hope you enjoyed this one! I really enjoyed putting the fish fingers and custard thing in there!
Also, I wanted to have Jennara do the X-Wing thing because I wanted to show that she is, in fact, a capable and strong Jedi, just like the Doctor and Obi-Wan. Plus, she's the smallest one there, so it makes sense that she would be a tiny bit like Yoda was in the original scene.
Let me know what you thought of this chapter in a review! They are, as always, very much appreciated!
I can't wait for next week's chapter! I had a blast writing it, and I hope you'll see why when I post it!
In Star Wars news: Some stuff about Episode VIII has already been released. Like, holy crap, guys! Episode VII is still (sadly) over half a year away! Even still, it was just an announcement of who's directing (not J. J. Abrams, but I can't recall who it is right now, and I don't feel like Googling it to find out), which is alright, I suppose. Didn't expect any plot to come about. We probably won't get anything plot-related for any of the new trilogy until the first official trailer for VII hits. Let me tell you that when that first official trailer comes out, I will most likely be salivating all over my computer, because Star Wars.
Also: I don't know if I've said this before but just in case; no, I will not be doing an SW(SD) for Episodes VII, VIII, or IX. It wasn't even really my intention to do Adventures of the Doctor when I first started this series. That being said, I'm glad I did it, but I want to move on to other projects. I have one in the works right now, actually, so that's cool.
Next Friday: The Doctor ventures into the Cave of the Dark Side and confronts his fears, alongside his past!
And that about does it for this author's note. Until the next chapter, my friends!