What do you know? I got the chapter out on time! And my muse returned! Hot damn! I think it's just the constant flipping between the movie and Open Office (Which is just as good as Word if you're curious) that kills my muse. Sends it straight to Sith Hell!
Anyways, Reading back over this chapter to correct and edit it this morning, I decided I liked it a lot more than I had previously. It's almost 3000 words, so we're getting back up there in Word Count per Chapter. Which is good for you guys.
And to my Darling Sister Max, if you review in Yoda Speak one more time, your laptop is going to be mysteriously lacking copies of Star Wars and Fanboys.
DISCLAIMER: I honestly don't know why I bother with these anymore. Everyone already knows who owns Star Wars.
Chapter Eleven
Luke exited Hyperspace with a slight jolt, and was relieved to see Mara's ship appear on the scanners as her ship exited as well.
"There's Dagobah," Luke said quietly.
"Anyone else have a moment of 'Surprise! There's a planet here!'?" Mara asked over the comm. Luke grinned.
"No, but I'll probably have that reaction when we reach Yoda," he told her and Artoo chuckled electronically. "I'm not picking up any cities or technology. Massive life form readings though."
"Well let's just hope they're the vegetarian kind of life forms," Mara said sarcastically. "After today, the only thing that could make it worse is being eaten alive."
"I hear you there," Luke smiled. Artoo twittered in a worried tone, and Luke laughed. "Yes, I'm sure it's perfectly safe for droids."
Artoo let out an electronic equivalent to a sigh as they began their decent. The turbulence in the clouds shook Luke's ship violently, and Artoo beeped panicking.
"I know, I know," he cried out, trying to get some reading on any of the scanners. "All the scopes are dead, I can't see a thing!"
"Luke, you okay?" Mara asked worriedly, not having much issue with her ship.
"I'm coming in blind," he told her, still trying to get a reading. "I'm going to start the landing cycle."
Luke maneuvered his ship best he could through the thick fog, hitting stray vines and branches on his way down. The ground suddenly appeared out of nowhere, the belly of the X-Wing shrieking as it scraped the ground, sliding into the murky water of a lake. Luke sighed as the ship came to a stop.
"Luke, you okay?" Mara called out over the comm.
"Yeah, I'm fine," he said, popping the top to his X-Wing and wincing as the humidity rushed into the tiny cockpit. He looked over to the shore where Mara was getting out of her own ship, jumping down onto the swampy ground. She looked up at Luke and grinned.
"What's wrong, Farmboy?" she smirked. "Never land a ship before?"
"Hardy, har, Jade," he rolled his eyes. He balanced himself as he walked down the nose of his fighter, and then looked around at the murky planet.
Artoo beeped out a question and Luke glanced back at his trusty Astromech.
"No, Artoo, you stay put. Mara and I will have a look around," Luke said, pulling off his helmet. The ship shifted and Luke almost lost his balance into the water. Artoo let out a small scream as he fell into the water.
"Artoo?" he called out, rushing towards the area the droid fell in. "Artoo!"
"Luke, can you see him?" Mara called out from the shore, and Luke grit his teeth.
"No," he said. "Artoo! Where are you?" He scanned the foggy water for a few more moments before Artoo's optical neck flew up above the water. The droid twittered happily as it looked around the surface of the water. Luke sighed at his droid's antics.
"You be more careful," he said in a disapproving voice. Artoo merely sang out happily, thoroughly enjoying himself. "Artoo," Luke called calmly. The droid turned towards him and Luke pointed towards the shore. "That way."
Artoo beeped and Luke stood up, tossing the discarded helmet into the cockpit of his ship. He walked down the nose of the ship once again and jumped into the water to get to the shore.
"Luke, there's something in the water," Mara called out and Luke looked up.
"Yeah, I know," he nodded. "Pesky droid. I swear-"
"No, I mean something native," she said, and pointed towards where Artoo's optical neck sat above the fog. A large, dark back to a creature crested the murky Lake, headed straight for the droid. Luke clamored up the side of the shore, clinging to roots before glancing at where Mara was pointing. His eyes widened as he saw the creature headed for the droid.
"Artoo!" he called out, as the droid disappeared under the water once more. Luke pulled out his blaster to aim at the creature, but it went under the surface of the water once more. Luke glanced around, scanning the top of the water for any signs of his droid.
Mara bit her lip as they waited for something—anything to show up. It was a quiet few moments, before Luke ran in the direction of where the droid was heading in the first place. He stood there on the edge of the water, blaster ready. A loud growl sounded from below the water, and Artoo was thrown through the air with an electronic scream before landing amongst the roots and vines.
"Artoo!" Mara called out, running towards where the droid had landed. Luke took off running as well, reaching his astromech first and righting it back on it's feet.
"You were lucky to get out of there," Luke grunted as he moved the droid. The swamp and dirt covered droid whimpered sadly. "Anything broken?"
Artoo beeped a negative as Mara arrived and crouched down to the droid's level.
"Maybe coming here was a bad idea," she mused, and Artoo whirled in agreement.
"I'm beginning to agree with you," Luke sighed. "I don't know." He stood up and looked out into the jungle-like swamp. "It's like... Something out of a dream. Maybe I'm just going crazy?"
"You're not crazy, Luke," Mara told him, dodging the oily water Artoo spewed from a flap. "Listen to the Force surrounding this place. It's alive, teeming with life. We were meant to come here."
"I hope you're right," Luke nodded, sitting down on a log next to Artoo.
Mara fiddled with the light on lantern as Luke returned to their camp with the last of the supplies from his X-Wing. Between the two of them, they had enough rations to last a month and a half, as well as enough power to light their lantern for three months. Hopefully they could find Yoda before then.
"That's the last of it," Luke sighed as he sat down on the ground and placed his pack next to him. He turned to Artoo who was sitting next to Desix plugged into the generator.
"You all right?" Mara asked, and he turned back to her and smiled slightly.
"Yeah," he said and nodded, before frowning slightly. "There's just... something about this place. I just feel like-"
"Feel like what?" a rough voice asked from behind and Luke and Mara spun with their blasters out and pointed at the intruder.
"Like I'm being watched," Luke finished, his eyes narrowing slightly at the small green creature. It was cowering behind it's cane and robes, and peeked out slightly to reveal large almond eyes.
"Away put your weapon! I mean you no harm!" he cried out, and Luke and Mara lowered their blasters slightly. "I am wondering, why are you here?"
"We're looking for someone," Mara said, as she eyed the creature.
"Looking? Found someone, I would say you have!" the creature said, and then cackled out a laugh.
"Right," Luke said uneasily, placing his blaster back in its holster.
"Help you I can, yes, hmm," the creature nodded.
"I don't think so," Mara said.
"We're looking for a great warrior," Luke explained. The creature stood up and laughed.
"Oh! Great Warrior," he mused, and began walking towards them with his cane. "Wars not make one great."
Luke stared at the interesting creature, as it hobbled over to their open pack of rations curiously. It picked up a ration stick and eyed it for a second.
"Put that down," Luke scolded, as the creature took a bite. "Hey! That's my dinner!"
The creature looked up at Luke as he snatched the ration stick out of his hands. Luke closed the box where the sticks lied and moved it over to another crate.
"How you get so big, eating food of this kind?" the creature asked, and clamored onto the table the sticks were previously.
"Listen, little friend, I didn't mean to land at that puddle and if I could get my ship out I would," Luke said, glancing at Mara who was smiling amusedly at Luke. "But I can't, so why don't you just-"
"Aw! I get your ship out," the creature said, and Luke glanced up to see him rifling through another box.
"Hey, get out of there!" Luke called and Mara chuckled quietly, thoroughly enjoying the show. "Mara, a little help?"
"You've got it covered, Skywalker," she laughed and Luke shot her and angry look before snatching something out of the little green creature's hand.
"Oh! No," the creature moaned, and returned to rifling through the box.
"Hey, you could have broken this!" Luke complained and the creature merely grunted at him before tossing various items over his shoulder and into the swampy camp.
"Don't do that," Luke sighed, and began picking up the various objects on the ground.
"Aha!" the creature announced and let out another laugh as it began waving a light around, almost playing with it.
"Oh, you're making a mess," Luke said, and Mara laughed.
"Too good to play house keeper, Farmboy?" she smiled.
"As a matter of fact, Jade," he grumbled, standing up again and turning to the creature. "Hey," he sighed and reached to grab the light from the creature.
"Mine!" the creature yelled, holding the light away from Luke. "Or I will help you not!"
"I don't want your help! We," Luke said, gesturing to him and Mara, "don't want your help! I want my light back. I'm gonna need it to get out of this slimy mud hole."
"Mud hole!" The creature asked, offended. Artoo opened the flap on the front of his casing and out stretched a little hand reaching for the light. "Slimy? My home this is!"
Artoo latched onto the light and began pulling the light away from the creature who struggled with the droid for it. He reached onto the table and grabbed his cane before repeatedly beating Artoo with it crying over and over, "Mine!"
"Oh, Artoo, let the little guy have it," Mara smiled, leaning back next to Desix.
"Mine! Mine! Mine!"
"Artoo!" Luke called, and the droid finally released his grip. "Can you move along, little fellow? We've got a lot of work to do."
"No! Ah, no, no," the creature cried out, hobbling closer to Luke before looking up at him. "Stay and help you, I will! Find your friend, hmm?"
"I'm not looking for a friend," Luke explained. "I'm looking for a Jedi Master."
The creature's eyes widened in realization. "Ooohhh, Yoda, you seek Yoda!"
"You know him?" Mara asked, leaning in towards the creature.
"Mm,hmmm," the creature grunted. "Take you to him I will." The creature looked at Luke carefully before laughing once more. "Yes, yes, but now, we must eat! Come!"
Luke and Mara watched as the tiny creature turned and began hobbling out of the camp. "Good food," he laughed, making his way off into the vines. "Come!"
Luke and Mara exchanged a glance before she shrugged and stood up to follow the creature. Luke stood as well, but didn't follow immediately. Mara glanced back and nodded her head in the creature's direction before turning to follow once more. Luke shook his head and followed after them, glancing back briefly at Artoo and Desix, who were chattering amongst themselves.
The thunder rumbled again outside the small, short hovel. Mara flinched slightly when a small drop got through the roof and landed on her shoulder, seeping through and immediately and chilling her. She heard Artoo whimper as he looked into the window and she smiled weakly at the astromech. Desix, having less of a personality than Artoo, had shut down outside the entrance to the hovel, leaving Artoo alone.
"Look, I'm sure it's delicious, but I just don't understand why we can't see Yoda now," Luke argued with the green creature again who was forcing dinner upon them. Mara smiled from her spot up against the wall as Luke was hunched over at the waist, providing her with an excellent view of his backside.
"Patience!" the creature scolded. "For the Jedi it is time to eat as well!"
Luke huffed and threw her a disbelieving glance before heading towards the fire where a small pot rested. Mara was already picking at her own... soup. She'd probably be sneaking rations when the creature wasn't looking later.
Luke spooned the soup into his own bowl, testing some on his tongue for taste and flinching before returning some soup to the pot.
"Good food, hmm?" the creature asked in his rough voice.
"How far away is Yoda? Will it take us long to get there?"
"Not far, Yoda not far," the creature laughed. "Patience. Soon, you will be with him." The creature began spooning his own food into a bowl and Luke scooted closer to Mara to give him room, pushing his soup around the bowl disgustedly. "Why wish you become Jedi, hm,mmm? You both seek the wisdom of Yoda?"
"I was trained in an unconventional way," Mara explained, trying to phrase it without citing the Emperor. "I want to be trained properly in the light side."
"Honorable, that is," the creature nodded, eating his own soup happily. "What about you?" he asked, gesturing to Luke.
"Mostly because of my father, I guess," Luke shrugged.
"Ah! Father!" the creature laughed. "Powerful Jedi was he. Mmm, powerful Jedi."
"Come on," Luke rolled his eyes. "How could you know my father? You don't even know who I am! Oh, I don't even know what I'm doing here! We're wasting our time! Luke tossed his empty bowl off to the side and Mara put a reassuring hand on his knee. Luke glanced up at her and sighed, calming down.
"I cannot teach him," the creature said quietly, and Mara watched him curiously. "The boy has no patience."
Luke glanced at the creature as the people in the hovel all heard an echoey voice.
"He will learn patience." Luke's eyes widened as he recognized the voice, a thrill of excitement at the prospect of his old master being there.
"Much anger in him," the creature turned and looked at Luke. "Like his father."
"Was I any different when you taught me?" the voice asked again.
"No, he is not ready," the creature said gruffly.
"Yoda," Luke breathed, and Mara's eyes widened as she realized this was the Jedi Master they were looking for. The creature nodded once, confirming Luke's thoughts.
"I, I am ready!" Luke announced, looking around and back at the Jedi Master. "Ben! I can be a Jedi! "Ben tell him I'm-" Luke stopped as he hit his head on the roof of the short hovel.
"Ready are you?" Yoda snapped, glancing between the two of them. "What knows you ready? For Eight Hundred years, have I trained Jedi. My own council, will I keep, on who is to be trained. The Jedi must have the deepest commitment. The most serious mind." Yoda paused and looked away before speaking again. "This one, a long time have I watched. Always as he looked away! To the future, to the horizons." Luke looked down almost ashamedly and Yoda poked him with his cane to emphasize his next statement. "Never on where he was! What he was doing. Adventure, heh! Excitement, heh! A Jedi craves not, these things. You are reckless!"
"So was I, if you remember," the voice announced. Mara watched quietly from her spot on the wall, almost forgotten by the others in the hovel. She wondered idly if Luke was going to blow her chance to train as well, before squashing that thought. She shouldn't blame him. He just wanted the only connection to his father he had left.
"He is too old!" Yoda called to the ceiling. "Yes. They are too old to begin the training!"
"But I've learned so much," Luke said and looked up at Mara, gesturing between them. "We've learned so much!"
Yoda looked down in thought and sighed. He glanced to the ceiling again and asked, "Will he finish what he begins?"
"I won't fail you," Luke pleaded.
"I won't either, Master Yoda," Mara agreed and Yoda glanced at her before turning back to Luke.
"I'm not afraid," Luke said firmly.
"You will be," Yoda threatened. "You will be."
So Yoda has been introduced! Yay! Next chapter will take place the day after this. I'm thinking about three or four chapters on Dagobah before Luke gets the vision of Han and Leia. Just to give you a perspective of where this is going. I'm actually loving writing Yoda. Although I think I'm writing him more somber like in the prequels than his cookiness from his first scene. He almost reminds me of a depressed person at times in this movie. Which, he might be. He was in solitude for twenty-two years, and he lost any friends he had with the Jedi. It's no secret that he and Mace Windu were the most respected on the Council, and were pretty much always seen together.
Anyways. That's besides the point.
Look for the next update on Tuesday! Until then, MTFBWY!
And Max, I won't put new copies on your laptop. You will be fanboy-less.