New Blood Strikes Back

By Michael Weyer

Stops in a Pit

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Buffy had learned to ignore the pain by now. It wasn't easy, of course, but she learned to do it. She had no idea how long she and Luke had been in training. One of the more annoying things about living in this galaxy was the discovery of how some planets had faster orbits than others, meaning longer or slower days. For all she knew, it could be a week here and it might be only a few days on another world. It nothing else, it made the typical "time of the month" even more hellish than usual.

She was standing upside down doing her best to balance herself on one hand. It sounded simple enough but considering that one hand was balanced on Luke's foot, it was trickier than it seemed. Luke was also upside down, both hands buried in the mud as he maintained his balance.

"Yes..yess…" Yoda said. "Concentrate…ignore the pain." The Jedi Master was on a rock nearby, watching them both.

"Ignore?" Buffy managed to get out. "Or use it?"

"Never use pain," Yoda snapped. "Sith lesson, that is. 'No pain where strength lies' one of their sayings. Ignore the pain you must."

"And…that involves us…auditioning for Cirque de Solei?" Buffy managed to get out.

"Silence!" Yoda snapped. "Feel the Force…let it flow…no matter the condition your body, maintain your Force connection you must. Feel balance within, balance without together."

"Easy for you to say…" Buffy remarked as she shifted her grip. "You're down there."

Yoda's eyes narrowed. "Good point, that is." With a speed that belied his age, he moved forward, scurrying up Luke's body. "Steady," he said to the young man as he went up his leg. He balanced himself on Luke's other foot so he was face to face with Buffy.

Buffy just rolled her eyes. "Show-off."

"Silence, I said!" Yoda snapped. "Feel the Force around you…filling you….the flow…feel it…"

Buffy closed her eyes and concentrated, blocking the pain and annoyance to connect to the Force. Once again, she seemed to be able to "see" the world around her, the energy, the various shades of color around the swamp, some brighter than others. Her focus fell on Artoo, who was standing nearby watching this bizarre sight.

"Forget weight," Yoda whispered. "Forget size. Let the Force do its work."

Buffy concentrated, letting the feelings of strength flow around Artoo. She furrowed her brow as she tugged on those strings. She didn't hear the loud beep Artoo let out as the droid was lifted off the ground, slowly levitating up. Out of the corner of her field of vision, she could "see" several rocks being lifted up by Luke, creating an odd tableau of the swamp.

As neither could see him, Yoda allowed himself a small smile of satisfaction. That good mood was spoiled when Artoo suddenly let out a series of loud beeps and whistles. Luke's eyes snapped open, his concentration broken and he wavered. That caused Buffy to waver as well as Luke fell forward. Buffy managed to roll into a somersault onto the mud. Yoda let out a rather undignified yell before landing onto a nearby rock.

"Artoo, what is it?" Luke asked the droid as he picked himself up. The droid shook as he continued to whistle, his round head turning to the bog at the side. Luke and Buffy looked over to see a loud series of bubbles echoing and Luke's X-Wing sliding deeper into the water. One wing extended outward while the rest was swallowed into the lake. "Oh, crap," Buffy muttered.

"Oh, no!" Luke yelled. "We'll never get it out now!"

"So sure of that, are you?" Yoda asked as he limped forward.

Buffy raised her eyebrows. "Unless you got AAA out here, I think it's pretty safe to write that thing off."

Yoda mournfully shook his head. "Young ones…with you it cannot be done. Hear you nothing, I say? If you wish to lift it out, do so!"

"Master," Luke began. "Raising stones is one thing but this is another."

"No! Only in your mind is it so!" the Jedi Master replied. "Size matters not. Judge me by my size do you?"

"He's got a point there," Buffy had to admit.

Luke sighed. "All right, I'll give it a try."

"No." Luke and Buffy both glanced to the resolute look on Yoda's face. "Try not. Do or do not. There is no try."

The two exchanged a look before turning to the swamp. As one, they took a deep breath and centered themselves in the Force. They raised their hands at the X-Wing and tried to feel that same connection to the Force as before. Buffy narrowed her eyes and drew on the strength within her as Luke tried to match her power. There was the sound of breaking water as the fighter slowly began to rise up from the bog. She tried to concentrate, telling herself it could be done despite the size and the weight and all that. It started to slide up, its wings and engines almost out…

Suddenly, Buffy felt her grip loosen. She reached to grasp it harder, holding as tight as she could but it was no use. The more she grabbed, the more she pulled, the more it slid like a rope unwinding from her hands. The fighter dropped and slid, once more disappearing into the bog.

They both let out loud gasps as they opened their eyes. "Dammit," Buffy whispered. "I couldn't hold it."

"Neither could I," Luke said. He shook his head to Yoda. "I'm sorry, Master. We couldn't do it. You're asking the impossible."

"Not that we didn't try," Buffy quickly said. "Cause we did. But it just can't be done." She moved over to where Luke was standing, the two ready to go back to their exercises.

Yoda stared at them and closed his eyes. He took a long deep breath then let his hand wave outward ever so slightly. Both Luke and Buffy turned at the sound of rushing water and stared out at the wave of bubbles covering an area of the bog. The X-Wing began to rise out of the water, far more quickly than with their own combined efforts. Buffy could feel her jaw unhinging as she watched it rise up, floating as if under its own power. She glanced at Yoda, seeing the small creature showing no strain whatsoever under the massive burden.

The X-Wing floated toward a section of ground near them, weed and mud caking its hull but still intact. The landing struts were already lowered as the fighter set into the ground and Yoda lowered his hand. Buffy and Luke carefully stepped toward the ship, each staring in utter disbelief. "I….that….wow," Buffy whispered. "I tried my hardest but the more I tried, the harder it was."

"I…don't believe it," Luke responded.

"That," Yoda said in a tone laced with disappointment. "Is why you fail."

Buffy stared. "That's it? That's all we get?"

Yoda fixed her with his gaze. "If more you require…than a Jedi you are not." He turned and began to limp back toward his home, leaving the two once more thrown by his teachings.

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The sun over Bespin was beginning to set as the Millennium Falcon raced toward Cloud City. Xander was struck by the umbrella-like design the entire structure had but was more interested in the craft flying next to them. Each was basically a pair of orange pods linked together by a flat engine. The voice of one was coming over the Falcon's loudspeakers. "Give us your landing permit number."

Rolling his eyes, Han spoke. "I don't have a landing permit! Just tell Lando Calrissian that Han Solo is here to see him!" Without warning, the ship was rocked by a laser blast coming nearby. "Whoa, whoa! Take it easy!"

"You will not deviate from your present course," the pilot stated. "We will escort you to a landing pad. There will be no further warning shots!"

"I thought these people were friends of yours," Mara complained.

"Well, it's been a while," Han grumbled.

"I told you he'd still be ticked," Xander said in a warning tone. Chewbacca let out a series of grunts.

Han shook his head. "Aw, come on, I'm sure he's over it by now."

"Over what?" Leia asked, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. "What have you gotten us into now, Solo?"

"Nothing, nothing!" Han protested. "Me and Lando just had a…misunderstanding a few years back, nothing major."

"Yeah, if threatening to kill you if he ever saw you again was nothing major," Xander scoffed.

"Oh, stars," Mara muttered, putting her face in her hands. Han ignored her as he followed the Cloud City patrol ships toward the city itself. They flew past its towers, the city quite beautiful in the orange light of sunset. The pod ships soon broke away as the Falcon came to a large landing pad. The ship landed and within minutes, the group was heading down the rampway into the cool air.

"No one's shooting at us," Xander remarked. "Yet. That's good, right?"

"It may be fine," Threepio intoned. "They did let us land after all."

"Lots of predators work that way, droid," Mara darkly noted. '

"Relax, it'll be fine," Han said. "Trust me."

"Every time you employ that phrase, Captain Solo, my circuits become erratic!"

"It's too quiet," Leia said. "I don't like it."

"Well, what would you like, your highness?" Han complained. "A marching band?" A sound got his attention as a door at the far end of the bay opened and a group of men exited. Several were in the blue uniforms that told them instantly they were with the security forces. Another was a bald man in yellow and grey clothes with a strange metal band around his head.

The leader was a dashingly handsome black man with curly black hair and mustache. He was dressed in black pants, a blue shirt and a long blue cloak, his face stern as he marched forward. "Han Solo!" he called out. "It is you!"

"This…is going to be a congenial reunion, isn't it?" Threepio asked in worry.

"Hugs and kisses," Han smiled. "See, my friend." Turning away from Leia and Mara, he dropped the smile, leaning in toward Chewbacca and Xander. "Hang back and keep an eye on them." Putting the smile back on, he headed down the ramp to meet Lando Calrissian.

"Lando…been a while. Thanks for letting------"

"Why you slimy, double-crossing no-good swindler!" Lando angrily snapped. "You've got a lot of nerve showing up here after what you pulled!"

Han made a show of innocence, pointing to himself and mouthing "me?" Lando made a move as if to punch, Han instinctively holding up his hands. Lando stopped and broke into a grin, laughing as he hugged Han. "You old pirate, how are you!"

Han let out a laugh of relief. "Good to see you too, buddy! How have you been?"

"Ah, here and there. Business as usual."

"He seems friendly," Threepio noted.

"Nothing honest, I hope," Han said.

"Course not," Lando scoffed. "Profit margin's too low."

"Yes," Leia muttered. "Very friendly."

"What brings you by?" Lando asked.

"Ah, repairs," Han said, waving to the Falcon.

Lando's face grew to one of horror. "What have you lunatics done to my ship?!"

"Your ship?" Han hitched a thumb at himself. "Hey, you lost her to me fair and square."

Mara and Leia shared a look of surprise. "Lando owned the Falcon?" Leia asked.

Xander nodded in confirmation. "Yeah, Han beat him in a sabaac game for it. Actually honest, believe it or not."

Lando seemed to notice them, smiling. "How you doing, Chewbacca? Still hanging with this loser?" As Chewie barked, Lando nodded to Xander. "Surprised to see you again, kid. Figured you'd be dead by now."

"Thanks," Xander dryly said. "Still rocking the intergalactic Shaft look, I see."

"Still have no idea what that means but I'll take it as a compliment," Lando said. His eyes fell to the two women and he immediately smiled. "Well, hello there," he said, his voice slipping into a much smoother type of speech. He reached out to take Leia's hand and kissed it. "Lando Calrissian, Baron Administrator of Cloud City. And you are?"

"Ah, Leia," she said, blushing a bit.

"Mara," the redhead replied. "Try kissing my hand and you'll be eating it."

"They're with us, Lando," Xander said in harder tone than usual. "So take it easy, ok?"

Threepio stepped forward. "Greetings, sir. I am See-Threepio, human-cyborg relations-----"

"Fine, fine," Lando said as he moved off. "Come on, I'll get you all set up."

"Hmph…human discourtesy," Threepio mumbled to himself.

"What's wrong with her?" Lando asked.

"Hyperdrive," Han answered.

"I'll get my guys working on it right away." Lando turned to Leia. "You know, Leia, that baby saved my life a dozen times. She's the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy!"

They began walking down the hallways, passing by both humans and aliens as Lando led them around. "So how's things going?" Han asked. "Gas mines still paying off for you?"

Lando sighed. "Ah, not as well as I'd like. We're a small outpost and not very self-sufficient."

"You appear to be prospering, sir," Threepio said as he gazed around from his place in the rear of the group.

"I've had problems of every kind," Lando complained. "I've had labor difficulties, union problems, shipping----" Han let out a long laugh and Lando's frown deepened. "What's so funny?"

"You!" Han laughed. "Listen to you! You sound like a businessman, a responsible leader!"

Lando paused before chuckling himself. "Yeah, I am responsible. It's the price of going legitimate. And guess what, Han? You were right all those years, it's vastly overrated." The two friends shared a laugh as they kept walking.

"Surprised you're so cordial," Xander said. "I mean, considering the last time we saw you…"

Lando waved a hand. "Water under the bridge, kid. Yeah, I was steamed but it's been a few years and I've had time to think about it. If Han had really double-crossed us there, he wouldn't have tried to show up later. He'd have just turned and taken to the Outer Rim."

"Gee, thanks," Han said.

"Come on, I'll get you all set up in some rooms," Lando said. "I assume three will be fine?"

"Only if Solo and the Wookie share," Leia noted dryly.

Lando raised an eyebrow. "Hmm…sounds like you haven't gotten her tied down just yet, Han. Losing your touch?"

"Easy, Lando," Han darkly said. "More cracks like that and it'll cost you."

Lando smirked. "Come on, Han…we both know I always win a fight."

"I didn't mean me, I meant her."

Lando was ready to laugh but the looks on Chewbacca and Xander's faces told him Han wasn't joking. Swallowing, he made a nervous smile as he led the group on, talking of the wonders of the City in such an enthralling manner that none noticed how Threepio was suddenly missing.

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Buffy sat cross-legged on a rock, staring at her own X-Wing. It wasn't buried as deep as Luke's was but it would still require some lifting to get it ready to leave. She wasn't trying, however. She was just studying it carefully as she kept her breathing even. She examined it with her eyes as well as the Force, trying to see the right way to get it out. There had to be one, after all. There always was the right way, she just needed to find it.

"Any luck?" Luke asked. Buffy didn't start, having heard him coming.

"Not tried yet," she admitted. "Sort of figuring the right way to do it."

"You sure there is one?"

"Always is," she answered as she looked to him. "You don't believe that?"

Luke sighed. "I'm learning to change what I believe in lately. The more I think I know…the more I realize I don't know enough."

"Obviously, you missed high school," Buffy dryly said. She brushed her hair back. "But I know what you mean. I've been…well, a bit smug with my skills lately."

"Really?" Luke dryly said. "I would never have guessed."

She shot him a glare but his smile disarmed her annoyance. Sighing, she continued. "Where I came from, the elders of the town weren't exactly known for wisdom and good leadership. So I learned to stand on my own." She rolled her eyes. "But whatever else he may be, Master Yoda is teaching me how much I have to learn still."

Luke stepped forward, rubbing at his neck. "I keep remembering what Ben was telling me when he started training me. That you have to be patient for it all, not reach too far and too fast. It's hard…I want to learn so much so soon. But…I understand that wanting that and getting it are two different things."

Buffy was quiet before speaking. "I'm…not quite known for the virtues of patience, either." She paused. "Then again, I'm not known for most virtues anyway…But I do want to make this work. Like it or not, Luke, when you've been touched with some sort of power, there's a reason for it. The better you learn how to use it, the better things will go."

"You really believe that?"

"Not really," she said. "But it sounded good, didn't it?"

Luke was silent before speaking. "I'm glad you're here. It'd be harder to do this on my own."

"Misery loves company, huh?"

"I would think misery would love a way to not be miserable."

"Ah, experience beyond your years," Buffy smiled. She glanced down at the mud. "You think…I mean…you think about what might happen afterward?"

"After what?"

"After we win. After the Empire falls. I mean…what happens next?"

Luke sighed. "Actually, I'm pretty sure Leia and Mon Mothma have already drafted new rules and laws and a governing body, just like the Republic. Probably more carefully done to make sure no one can pull what Palpatine did. It'll be rough to rebuild but if anyone can make it work, Leia can."

Buffy nodded. "What about us? I mean…what happens to you and me if we become Jedi and afterward."

Luke was thrown. "I wasn't aware you were putting you and me together."

Buffy frowned as she realized her words. "Um…I just…I meant…" She turned to face him. "Look, Luke…I just…I'm not exactly known for good relationships either. And…I don't want to give you the wrong idea. I mean, I like you and all, you're a great guy but…I don't know if there's an 'us' as it were. You know?"

Luke raised an eyebrow. "As soon as I figure out what you just said, I'll come up with a reply."

Buffy sighed and spread her arms out. "Look, I'm just letting you know that…I don't know how I feel about getting involved with another guy. We've already got enough on our plates with this training, I don't see…"

"Buffy…"

"No, let me finish," she interrupted, not seeing the look on his face. "Now I've had my heart broken, I've been burned, it hurts and I don't want to go through that again. But I also don't want to get you hurt either, especially at a time like this…"

"Buffy…" Luke pointed behind over her shoulder. Frowning, Buffy turned to see her X-Wing out of the mud and standing on the ground behind her. She blinked, unable to take what she was seeing. She turned to Luke, then back to her ship, then back to Luke. "Did…I do that?"

Luke nodded and smiled. "Yeah, you did. Granted, it wasn't as deep as mine but still…"

"Damn," Buffy said with a smile. "Chalk one up to me."

"Don't get cocky," Luke smiled back. "We still got lightsaber practice later."

As they shared a laugh, neither was aware of the pair of eyes watching from afar. Yoda bowed his head and sighed deeply. "Closer they become," he whispered. "Their emotions overrun them."

"And is that so bad?" a deep voice asked.

"Know the Code, you do," Yoda chastised. "No attachments, a Jedi must have."

"Master, the Code died with the Order," the voice stated. "They are still open to learning."

"Too distracting, their connection will be," Yoda said.

"Their bond might strengthen them. Buffy was able to gain strength in the Force via this bond to Luke. Love does not lead to disaster."

"With Vader, it did."

"The Sith victory was inevitable, Master. You know that. We were too stagnant while they adapted and evolved. If the Jedi are to be reborn, they must do the same."

Yoda sniffed. "Qui-Qon's defiance grown in you, Obi-Wan."

"He takes that as a massive compliment, Master."

Yoda sighed as he began to limp away. "Their training will continue but these feelings, fade they must."

"Still so stubborn and set in your ways, Master?"

"A compliment, I take that."

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Mara shifted slowly from the bed, glancing briefly at the sleeping Xander. She padded to the balcony overlooking the nightscape of Cloud City, breathing in the cool air. It felt good to actually relax a bit. She knew it wouldn't be long, of course. She was going to have to take advantage of this stop to find a way to signal the Empire and leave a trail. She just hoped this time she wouldn't be in the firing line.

She felt a twinge within her at that thought which confused her. She'd long ago decided that this was all a job. Xander was an idiot after all, and a Rebel to boot and there was no reason to feel guilty over this. It was her job, after all and one that had lasted far longer than she had wanted. She just needed to keep it going a little longer.

So why should she feel guilty? Yeah, Xander was handsome. Yes, the sex was amazing. Yes, he was a brave guy in a fight and had a way of easing tense situations. And true, it did feel good at times to be around him. But it was her job. She couldn't do anything else.

"Hand."

Mara jumped at the voice that echoed in her mind. She could "hear" the echo through it and knew who it was. "Vader," she whispered.

"I hope I am not interrupting, Hand," Vader said, not sounding as he truly cared if he was. "I am informing you that we are here. We shall make our move tomorrow."

"Understood," she whispered. She felt the presence fade as she backed away. She moved back to the bed and slid next to the sleeping Xander. It would end tomorrow, this whole miserable assignment. She could finally be back to doing what she wanted, back to being part of the Empire, serving the man she trusted and believed in more than anyone.

So why did she feel so guilty?

She lay her head next to him and let sleep take her away from that troubling question.

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Sorry about the delay between updates. Keep the comments coming.