Chapter Three
The trip to Dagobah was noneventful, getting there wasn't the problem. Once they actually got there, that's when it got dicey. None of Jim's sensors worked, guidance was useless, and all he could do was hang on and steer, hoping he wouldn't crash-land in a swamp. Jim didn't crash in a swamp, but Luke did. Jim sighed and stood on the shoreline, watching him come to dry land, "That was graceful."
"How did you get the dry landing?"
"Dumb luck? I kept my fingers crossed I wouldn't land in a swamp. Sorry you did." Jim put an arm around Luke's shoulders, "Let's find this Yoda and get out of here, this place gives me the creeps."
"Yeah, I hear ya. What are we looking for?"
"I just know we're supposed to be looking for some guy named Yoda. Some powerful Jedi Master or somethin'."
"Oh, that's great." Luke rolled his eyes. Their co-pilot droids whistled pitifully.
"Man, if they're saying that coming here was a bad idea, I'm starting to agree with them." Jim looked around. Something about this swamp-world had him on edge. They found a decently dry place to pitch camp and tried to map out plans for finding Yoda. They shouldn't have bothered, Yoda found them about an hour later. Jim got one good look at the bizarre little alien who had a habit of speaking backwards, and put one hand on Luke's wrist, looking at his only friend in this reality.
Luke, I think this is Yoda.
But…Yoda's a great Jedi Master, a warrior!
Would you just trust me on this one? Jim squeezed. Luke relented and backed off.
"Hmm." Yoda's ears twitched, "Stronger than I expected."
"Are you Yoda?"
"Yes, I am. Who are you?"
"I'm James Kirk, this is Luke Skywalker. We were sent to find you by Obi-Wan Kenobi." Who had only once visited Jim in a bizarre dream that night in the tent. Jim swore the alien smiled.
"So it is true! Come, we must talk!" Yoda chuckled and vanished into the mist, leaving Luke and Jim to stare at each other.
"Okay, then. That was certifiably bizarre." Jim shrugged, "Well, follow the crazy little alien."
"What was he talking about?"
"No idea. Boy, if I ever have a minute to breathe, I'll be happy." Jim took the lead and they followed Yoda to a tiny mud hut where he fed them swamp stew that, to someone who hadn't eaten in forty-eight hours, actually tasted pretty good. Jim set down his empty bowl and leaned his elbows on his knees.
"Master Yoda?"
"Hmm?"
"Am I…am I a Skywalker?" he had to know, they both deserved to know. Yoda sighed sadly and looked at him, then at Luke.
"Yes, a Skywalker…you are one. You share the same father, but a clone of Anakin Skywalker was your father." Yoda looked sadly at Jim, which made him feel bad for something he hadn't done, "Does he live?"
"No, he died when I was a few years old. I never knew my father."
"Neither did I. We're twins?" Luke asked that question.
"No, you are not twins. But you are a twin."
"So much for being an only child." Luke made a face, "I knew it."
"I have to get home before Nero destroys everything else." Jim shook his head, "I can't stay here, Master, can you get me home?"
"You can get home without my help."
"But…"
"No! Get home without my help!" Yoda frowned at him, "Faith, Skywalker! Faith!" After dinner, Jim and Luke went back to the fighters and Jim headed for home. He found Delta Vega on a star-chart, set course, and headed for home. It took mere hours, but Jim soon entered orbit around Delta Vega. The emptiness of space only made the echoes of the voices in his head louder. No one on the Enterprise knew what the destruction of Vulcan had done to him, how he had heard hundreds, thousands of voices, crying out as one voice, in terror, in fear, in pain, then…absolute nothingness. Silence and emptiness. Jim set up to land, touching down near an ice-cave that looked faintly promising. Finding shelter in the cave, he looked for somewhere to lay down. It was cold, but he was exhausted. Jim curled up on the ice and fell asleep. With any luck, he wouldn't have to deal with nightmares.