Coruscant
Morning
The next day, Willow and Luke were in his apartment, sitting down in crossed legged positions. In between them sat a small box.
"Just sort of imagine it lifting into the air. It's not about physical strength, it's about the strength of your mind and will," Luke explained before gesturing to the box between them. "Just try and relax. You've connected to The Force before; now see if you can do it again. Don't think about it; just try to feel The Force."
Willow glanced back at the box before nodding, trying to do as Luke said. She closed her eyes and concentrated. She could feel that vague sense of The Force she had gotten on the Falcon. In the same way she could almost see the blaster bolts, she could almost picture the box starting to rise when her thoughts were broken by a buzzing sound.
Willow's eyes snapped open as Luke got to his feet, walking over to a panel on the wall.
"It's Leia and Han," Luke said as he glanced back at Willow.
"I guess a break wouldn't hurt," Willow said, although she was slightly annoyed at the interruption.
Luke nodded before opening the door to reveal Han and Leia. Neither were smiling, Luke noted, feeling the waves of unease coming off Leia.
"How's the lesson going?" Han asked as they walked in.
"Not bad. What's wrong?" Luke asked, eying them both in concern.
"The Imperials," Leia said grimly.
"They just put a three prong hit and fade on three systems in the Sluis sector. Some place called Bpfassh and two unpronounceable ones," Han explained, to the shock of Willow and Luke.
"Three planets at once?" Willow asked for confirmation.
"Trust me, not any easier to hear twice," Han grumbled.
"They're getting bolder," Luke said with a frown.
"They're up to something. Something big, something dangerous. I can feel it, I just can't figure out what is," Leia said with a frown covering her face.
"Well it probably has to do with the Slayers, given that they tried to capture you and Luke on Bimmisaari," Willow pointed out and Leia nodded.
"Ackbar's been saying the same thing," Han added. "Problem is he's got nothing to back it up. Except for the style and tactics, this is all pretty much the same rear guard harassment the Empire's been pulling for probably the last year and a half."
"Don't sell Ackbar short," Leia frowned at Han, who held up his hands defensively.
"Hey sweetheart, I'm on your side," Han reminded Leia and she smiled apologetically.
"Sorry."
"How bad was the damage?" Luke broke in.
"Not nearly as bad as it could have been. Especially considering they hit each place with four Star Destroyers. But all three places are pretty shook up," Han explained.
"I can imagine," Willow said, remembering how shaken the Scoobies had been while on the run from Glory and after the First's attack that resulted in Spike's capture.
"Mon wants me to head to each system and assure them that the New Republic is able and willing to protect them. Chewie's prepping the Falcon now," Leia told Luke and Willow.
"Are you sure it's a good idea to go on another mission so soon after what happened after Bimmisaari?" Willow asked uncertainly.
"No, but Mon Mothma isn't giving us a choice. But we won't be sitting ducks this time, there's a twenty ship cargo going out to assess the damage, plus Wedge and Rogue Squadron. It'll be safe this time," Han assured them.
"That's what we said about Bimmisaari to," Luke pointed out. "Maybe I should come along."
"Well…you can't actually," Han said uncomfortably, looking at Leia as if to say 'you wanna break it to him?'
"Luke…the Bpfassi don't like Jedi," Leia said gently, taking Luke aback.
"Why not?" Willow asked, as surprised as Luke.
She's gotten the impression that Jedi were highly respected. But, then again, she hadn't been in this dimension that long.
"The story is that some of their Jedi went bad during the Clone War and really mangled things before they were stopped. Or so Mon Mothma says," Han explained.
"Clone War?" Willow echoed, feeling like she was missing something important.
"Long story, I'll tell you later," Luke promised.
"Mon is right though," Leia said and they turned back to her. "We were still getting echoes of the whole fiasco back when I was serving in the Imperial Senate. It wasn't just Bpfassh either; some of those Dark Jedi escaped and made trouble all throughout the Sluis sector. One of them even made it as far as Dagobah before he was caught."
At this, Luke noticeably started, to Willow's confusion.
"When was this?" Luke demanded.
"Thirty five years ago," Leia said, eying brother oddly. "Why?"
"No reason," Luke said, quickly searching his memory and found he had no recollection of Yoda mentioning a Dark Jedi.
"Well, Mon won't let us take you, but we can take the next best thing," Han said, confusing Luke and Willow.
At a military base, Buffy was in what seemed to be the cockpit of an X-Wing, dressed in an orange flight suit, her hair tied back as she wore a helmet.
"Okay, Buffy," Wedge's voice said over the intercom. "Slowly take off."
"Remember B, it's just like driving a car," Faith's voice added.
"Just like driving a car," Buffy echoed.
Slowly, Buffy gripped the controls and lifted the X-Wing into the air like Wedge had told her. It was a nerve wracking experience. Yet it was also exciting and exhilarating. For a moment, everything else fell away and Buffy felt completely and utterly free.
"Okay Buffy, now I'm gonna send in a few Tie-Fighters You remember which controls are the trigger?" Wedge asked, breaking Buffy out of her thoughts.
"Yeah, I remember. I got this Wedge," Buffy promised.
"I hope so. Here we go," Wedge warned.
Buffy's hands tightened around the controls and she waited. Then, she saw three Tie-Fighters fly in. They opened fire on her and Buffy did her best to avoid the shots, although the top of her X-Wing got graved. The cockpit shuttered a bit and Buffy returned fire. To her irritation, her shots missed, the Tie-Fighters were moving too fast for her to get a lock on them.
It felt like minutes for Buffy, but it was actually a few seconds of her trying to shoot at the Tie-Fighters only for her shots to be dodged. The three Tie-Fighters then converged, blocking her in on all sides before opening fire. The cockpit shuttered before the images of the Tie-Fighters faded and the simulation ended.
"Sorry Buffy, you're dead," Wedge said as he and Faith walked into view, both dressed in Flight Suits of their own.
"I couldn't hit any of them. I prefer dusting Vamps," Buffy muttered as she got out of the simulator.
"Don't feel too bad, everyone gets killed their first time out," Wedge assured her. "Unfortunately, we'll have to continue this lesson another time. I just got a call; I'm to head out to act as guard for Leia and Han on their next mission."
"Well I guess we'll pick this up when you get back," Faith said, pouting a little at not getting to go into the simulator.
"You didn't let me finish Faith. You two are coming," Wedge said, surprising them all. "Due to political reasons, Luke and Willow aren't allowed to come. But Han convinced Mon Mothma that since the Empire is sending Slayers after Leia, it would be a good idea to bring two of our own."
"Well that makes sense," Faith noted before smiling at Buffy. "Well B, looks like we're heading to an alien planet."
"When did this become my life?" Buffy wondered, convinced she had finally gone insane. "Maybe I really am in that asylum."
"Huh?" Wedge asked, looking at Buffy oddly.
"Oh she gets like this sometimes," Faith assured him before throwing an arm over Buffy's shoulder. "Come on B, let's change and pack a bag. I doubt we'll know when we'll be back."
Back at Luke's apartment, Willow was continuing to try and lift the box with The Force, with minimal success. She stared at it silently when she saw the box move slightly. Unfortunately, this left her drained.
"Why was magic so much easier?" Willow wondered.
Not receiving an answer, Willow looked up, seeing Luke stare into space, appearing to be deep in thought.
"Luke? Are you alright?" Willow called out, breaking him out of his thoughts.
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine. Just…thinking," Luke muttered.
"About what Han and Leia said?" Willow said knowingly.
"That…and you," Luke said, surprising her. "Willow, I'm not a teacher."
"You're doing great though. This is something pretty difficult," Willow assured him and Luke smiled weakly.
"Thanks, but if I get this wrong, there are consequences," Luke said, thinking of his father. "If you fall, it's extremely difficult to find your way back. I know of only one person who has ever turned away from the Dark Side, and it was only at the last moment."
"I've already gone the darkest I can go. I killed a man, tried to destroy the world, nearly killed my friends," Willow said, surprising Luke. "I won't ever turn. I've seen the cost."
"I thought the same thing after the cave. Then…" Luke trailed off, remembering his first duel with his father.
"Cave?" Willow asked confused.
"A place on Dagobah. It's where I was trained, mostly," Luke explained before pausing. "Dagobah…"
"Luke? What is it?" Willow asked as she eyed him oddly.
Rather than answering, Luke pulled out his Comm Link.
"This is Skywalker. I'd like my X-Wing prepped for launch in one hour, the two seated one," Luke ordered, glancing back at Willow.
"Yes, Sir. We'll need you to send your astromech unit first."
"Right. I'll have him by in few minutes," Luke promised.
"Yes, Sir."
As Luke cut the call, Willow was looking at him like he had lost his mind. Maybe he had, Luke mused.
"Luke, what is going on?" Willow asked.
"Dagobah. It's where I was trained, and I can't help this feeling that it's not a coincidence that this Dark Jedi was caught there. Willow, you're about to see where I was trained," Luke promised her.
Willow and Luke are going to be going their own way for a bit, but they'll meet back up with the others around when they did in canon.
