WOOOOOOOOOW!
17 pages! Nearly 7000 words! This is officially the longest fanfiction chapter I have ever written! Quite proud about that honestly. I feel I like each chapter more than the previous one. This one was so much fun to write and I hope you enjoyed it.
QUICK POLL: I have an idea for a sort of side adventure involving Grand Moff Thrawn and his mission to bring back the giant kyber crystal for the Death Star II. Please tell me if this interests anybody or if you'd rather just stick to the main storyline. Either way is fine with me.
Without further ado, let's answer all your wonderful reviews:
-Jeda31: Thank you so much for your kind praise! It's certainly a sick sort of pleasure on my part to twist Luke forward and backward with his evolution through the training. My hope is to try to make it feel as "realistic" as possible in that sense that just because you've taken a step forward does not mean you will never take one or more steps back.
I really enjoy writing Sidious' dialogue. I can just hear Ian McDiarmid's voice in my head when I write and the words just come naturally from there.
There's definitely stuff coming up concerning all those characters: Han, Leia, Mara… I won't spoil anything of course, I'll let you enjoy this chapter yourself.
Thank you for your review, and I hope you like the chapter.
-RKF22: Many thanks! May the Force be with you.
- Bountyhunter1977: You raise some very good points on all fronts there… I won't say anything and let you (hopefully) get some answers in this chapter. I agree, I hope Luke is able to pull of Tutaminis when he needs it.
- the8horcrux: I can't tell you how much your wonderful comments have put a huge smile on my face :) Your passion and enthusiasm is really infectious and it's what pushed me to go all-in for this chapter (not that I wasn't going all-in before. But your words gave me a huge boost of energy!)
I apologize for my use of the F word. Ratings are unfortunately not something I pay close enough attention and you're right, it was wrong to do it. At the time I thought it accentuated the strength of Cody's desperation, but in hindsight, it does not add all that much.
Also, yes I did work at Disneyland but only as a summer job. I worked as a waiter and it was an awesome experience. Free park entrances, possibility to skip some lines, and huge discounts on all shops. Pretty epic ;)
I definitely struggle the most with romantic moments, since I feel it's easy to make things sappy and melodramatic, so I'm glad to hear I struck a nice balance.
Oh, and concerning Rahm's actions. I think I could have made it clearer, but the logic was that he knew what would happen to his Padawan if she got captured by the Empire. She would be tortured and brainwashed into an Inquisitor or some other monstrosity. Rahm's rationale was that painlessly killing her now was better than having her suffer at the hands of the Empire. Like a mercy killing of sorts.
The throwback to ep9 was definitely just for the heck of it. I didn't really like the movie that much.
I'm not going to spoil anything, I can see by your comments you're raring to know more so I'll just let you read this chapter. But if you like angst, I think this one has some of that…
AND FINALLY, concerning my update schedule… the simple answer would be that I don't really have one. At least not in the sense of "I post a new chapter on this particular day" type of thing. I try to get out 1 chapter a week, although there rarely ever is exactly 7 days between each chapter, it's generally a bit more than 1 week. A roundabout way of saying, ½ weeks between chapters more or less.
Thank you for all your reviews! May the Force be with you and hope you enjoy the chapter!
Alright! Without further ado, I give you chapter 26 of Never Too Old When You Have the High Ground. Enjoy! Please favorite, follow, and review!
Luke felt he had changed since Yoda lifted his X-Wing out of the swamp. He spent more and more of his free time meditating, deepening his connection to the Force. It was slow, but Luke felt his abilities were improving.
He was a bit worried about not receiving any lightsaber training from Yoda. Whenever Luke had asked him, he had insisted his priority should be to strengthen his bond to the Force. Luke had not pushed further; he just made sure to wake up an hour earlier to practice his different forms. He could not let his skills get rusty.
The day after Yoda rescued the starfighter, Luke had attempted to lift the X-Wing again, only this time it was on dry land. The sensations in his mind and body were the same as when he first tried; only this time, instead of hitting a wall, he was able to slowly climb up it… In the end, he managed to lift his X-Wing about an inch off the ground before letting go of it.
It was only after all these weeks on Dagobah that Luke understood the greatest lesson Master Yoda had taught him: humility. Upon arriving at this planet, his entire attitude towards the training had been to get through it as efficiently as possible so he could return to the Rebel Alliance and help win the war.
It was only now that Luke understood a Jedi's training was not so simple. Not only had Yoda's abilities shown him how much he still needed to learn; but the biggest revelation had come when Luke happened to read one of the old master's writings, which he kept dispersed all around his hut.
This single page contained a list of questions regarding the nature of the Force and the origin of its creation. It was coupled with notes and intricate drawings of plants and creatures from completely different galaxies, as well as Yoda's personal reflections on how he could improve his connection to the Force.
That was when Luke understood. Despite the fact that Yoda was eight-hundred years old, he was neither all-knowing, nor all-powerful. He continued to learn and sharpen his abilities, just like Luke. Yoda was a teacher, but that did not mean he stopped being a student.
This new perspective had allowed Luke to reach a new level of serenity and inner peace; no longer struggling as he had in the past because of his shortsightedness.
Currently, he was performing yet another handstand as he levitated objects around him. Yoda was not perched atop his feet this time. Instead, Luke was lifting much heavier items. Although, to Luke's surprise, the action felt more natural and effortless compared to before. He was able to clear his mind of any distractions and smoothly pick up two large metal cases.
It was an awkward angle for Luke, but he could tell Yoda was smiling approvingly.
"Concentrate," the old Jedi spoke softly. "Feel the Force flow… Yes…"
Luke was careful not to let Yoda's approval get to his head. He gazed at his surroundings, trying to find what to lift next. His gaze settled on a target.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" R2 beeped defensively.
The little astromech quickly pieced it together when his sensors told him he was no longer touching the ground. He helplessly kicked his legs around as he rose several feet in the air.
"Luke, stop! This isn't funny!" the droid chirped nervously. "If you break me, good luck getting off this stupid planet!"
"Good…" Yoda nodded with an amused smirk. "Calm, yes."
"Oh I'm very calm! I'll calmly roll over his face if he doesn't put me back down!"
Luke kept his own smile at bay and slowly tuned out R2's cries of despair. He stared straight ahead; meditating, concentrating solely on the Force. As he did, a familiar sensation began to course through his body. He swore he could see shapes in front of him; they almost looked like… people. As he wondered who they were, an image flashed in his mind. It was gone instantly but he was able to make out a floating city hidden in the clouds…
"Through the Force, things you will see. Other places," Yoda explained. "The future… the past. Old friends long gone."
As he listened to his master and deepened his connection to the Force, the people in front of him became visible. They were two, lying on the ground, close to each other. As Luke's eyes sharpened he could see the pure white robes they were dressed in were stained with dried blood.
Luke focused on their faces; and immediately wished he hadn't. Their eyes were sickly and unnatural; their skin sagged over their bones as they squirmed in pain, clinging to each other's bodies. A stillborn infant lay between them in a pool of darkish liquid.
Luke felt his concentration waver. He tried to keep the rising fear in his heart at bay but it seized his muscles uncontrollably.
"Han! Leia!" Luke called out to them, desperately praying they would look back at him.
As the vision slowly disappeared, he glimpsed a final image of a hooded figure that approached the three bodies and knelt beside them, revealing only a lock of red hair.
Everything vanished from Luke's vision, and everything levitating around him fell noisily to the ground. Noisiest of all was R2 who let out an oil-curdling screech as he crashed onto some dead branches bellow him.
"Why does nobody listen to me?" R2 whined. "Now I know how 3PO feels."
Luke dusted the mud and dried leaves off his arms, silently replaying what he had just seen. Yoda let out a disgruntled sigh.
"Hmmm. Control! Control! You must learn control!" he urged.
"Yeah! Start by controlling the landing!" R2 beeped.
Luke tried not to dwell though much on what he had seen but it wasn't so easy. This vision was different from the one inside the cave. The warning felt much more imminent; much more concrete.
"I saw…" Luke recalled the image that had flashed before his eyes. "I saw a city in the clouds."
"Hmmm. Friends you have there." Yoda stated.
"They were in pain…" Luke recalled, gritting his teeth. "There was a dead baby between them… and a woman with red hair…"
"It is the future you see."
"Future?" Luke got to his feet, desperately trying to see the vision again; to know more. He could see nothing. "Will they die?" he asked slowly.
Yoda closed his eyes in concentration, the Force around him pulsed strongly as he tried to see what Luke had seen.
"Difficult to see," Yoda replied slowly. "Always in motion is the future."
That answer did little to ease Luke's dread. His instincts told him what he needed to do, but the Force remained silent. He concentrated on it, hoping it would give him an answer, but to no avail.
Luke had no choice. He could not let his friends die; that was what he knew. He did not need the Force to show him what to do here.
"I've got to go to them," Luke said resolutely, walking away from Yoda to gather his gear.
The old master thought carefully about his next words. Yoda could sense this was a turning point for so many events that would follow; but even he was not sure what the correct decision was. He just worried that Luke was racing towards something he did not yet ready to face.
"Decide you must how to serve them best," Yoda spoke calmly, locking eyes with his apprentice. "If you leave now, help them you could. But you could destroy all for which they have suffered."
Luke wanted to reply that his friend's lives were more important to him but he could not bring himself to say it. Yoda's words held some truth; but he was able to speak them because he did not know Leia and Han like Luke did. He could afford to be calm and detached; Luke simply could not.
Perhaps this meant he was a failure as a Jedi? This inability to ignore his personal feelings may be his undoing. But if he stayed on Dagobah, whatever happened to Han and Leia would haunt him until the day he died.
If he left now, with his training not fully complete, Luke would likely be unable to defeat whatever or whoever was hurting Han and Leia. He may very well never come back to Dagobah. He would be dishonoring Obi-Wan's sacrifice; the man who made him who he was today…
I'm sorry Obi-Wan… I'm not strong enough. I must go to them…
…
…
The Force will be with you. Always…
Luke was unsure if the voice he heard was a figment of his imagination, but those words gave him the strength necessary to make his final decision.
Mara tried to keep her nerve as she made her way to the detention center. She had just received a message from Vader, ordering her to come down immediately. He had not specified why.
She had made sure to stay far away from the holding cells since Obi-Wan discussed with her his escape plan. Mara had not wanted to look suspicious by showing too much interest in the Jedi prisoner. She had avoided Vader as much as possible and had been careful to keep her emotions under tight wrap so that he would not sense her true motives.
As she exited the elevator at the prison level, Mara heaved a deep breath, strengthening all her mental shields and keeping her Force signature neutral. Even though Vader had not told her where to go, she knew exactly which cell to head towards. There was not a single prisoner onboard the Executor that Vader was interested in besides Obi-Wan Kenobi.
When she approached his cell, Mara found quite the crowd of people waiting at attention along the walls of the corridor, while Vader paced silently in front of them. There were at least two squads of Stormtroopers, four Death Troopers, and two people Mara would never have expected to see all the way out here: Imperial Royal Guards. They wore long crimson robes as well as their instantly recognizable red masks. Each Guard wielded a force pike, which they kept propped up along their arm.
Their presence immediately told Mara something was wrong. It was extremely rare for any member of the Red Guard to stray away from the Emperor's side. Them being here meant they were sent on a mission directly by Palpatine.
Mara kept her questions and worries in check; now was the time for calm, rational thinking. She marched down the narrow corridor towards Vader, not glancing at the rows of soldiers on either side of her.
When she reached him, she morphed her features in a look of disinterest and vague boredom.
"What's wrong?" she asked distractedly.
"Who said anything was wrong?" Vader replied simply. Mara could not quite place his tone; it was different from usual. He almost sounded… conversational?
Mara made sure to hold his gaze, leaving his question unanswered for a moment before answering:
"You call for me so rarely, I assumed you needed my help with something," Mara could obviously not read Vader's expression, but his Force presence spoke volumes. It was strangely subdued, as opposed to dangerously violent, which was the norm.
"I believe you may be able to help us, yes," Vader spoke slowly.
He gave a small wave to the Death Troopers standing near him. In one coordinated movement, they all entered Obi-Wan's cell at once. As the door closed behind them, the Red Guards posted themselves on either side of the entrance.
Mara listened to the sound of scuffling and pushing inside the cell with growing unease. She focused on keeping her heartbeat stable and her breathing even. This was more than likely going to be a test of loyalty. The Emperor had sent two of his guards to watch her gratuitously torment Obi-Wan and prove where her loyalties lied.
There was no need to panic. She had already discussed such a scenario with Obi-Wan. He had asked her, or more like ordered her, not to hold anything back on his account. Palpatine would obviously never let his most prized prisoner die. Obi-Wan had assured her the pain he would endure far outweighed the importance of not blowing her cover.
After a few seconds, the door to the cell reopened. The Death Troopers emerged, carrying Obi-Wan's weak body between them by his shoulders and feet. The old master was terrifyingly gaunt and febrile; the nails on his hand had grown freakishly long. His beard and hair were greasy and unkempt, peeking out from underneath the Sith torture mask. It hurt Mara to see him like this. She did not want to inflict him any more pain; not after all he had endured.
The Imperial Guards took over from the Death Troopers. They forced Obi-Wan down to his knees in front of Vader and Mara, and relentlessly stabbed him with their force pikes. The weapons were set to stun, but Mara knew from experience how agonizing even that setting was. Obi-Wan let out a strangled scream through gritted teeth as his entire body tensed up from the pain coursing through his body.
Mara was unsure, but she thought she felt a subtle shift in Vader's Force signature at that moment; as if he were sharing the old Jedi's pain…
Finally, after several grueling seconds, the Imperial Guards deactivated their force pikes. The air around them was thick with the smell of ozone; Mara could feel static electricity running over her skin. The Guards showed little concern for any of this. They pulled Obi-Wan's head backward so he looked up at Vader and Mara.
She tried not to focus too much on the emptiness of those once stunning blue eyes. Obi-Wan knew, as well as her, he could not afford to let their relationship show, especially with Vader right next to them. Mara simply stared back at him blankly, trusting that he would recognize her and know she was there for him.
"Look at you, Obi-Wan," Vader spoke evenly. "After all these years in exile, this is how you chose to die."
Obi-Wan did not answer immediately. He took the time to carefully wet his lips and clear his throat before replying. When he did, the words were audible, just very breathy and raspy:
"Death… is just another step… in the journey. And… being forced to fly… in a ship you were piloting… was much more terrifying than any of this… Anakin."
Vader stiffened when he spoke that name. Mara looked from one to the other in confusion. What did he call him? Wait… She set her many questions aside to focus on Vader, who's Force presence was now back to normal.
"Your wit and idealism won't save you this time," Vader said menacingly. "The date of your execution on Coruscant has been set."
That sentence hit Mara like a ton of durasteel. She desperately tried to think of ways to somehow sway Vader's decision, but deep down she knew it had not come from him. Such an order could only come from one man. Mara felt completely lost, her mind was blank, she had no idea what to do. Obi-Wan's gaze remained evenly locked on Vader.
"The Emperor has sensed your plans to conspire against him," Vader continued, maliciously taking his time with every single word. "He has decided you are more of a nuisance than an asset."
Mara was paralyzed with fear. He knew. Palpatine knew. Somehow he had sensed everything. He had seen right through her attempts at hiding the truth in her heart. Her carefully crafted façade crumbled away. Mara became pale, her entire body started to shake; only for it to lock up when Vader laid his hand on her shoulder.
"The Emperor will be reclaiming what is rightfully his," Vader's voice no longer sounded human or mechanical; he was like an animal's. "Your influence upon her will soon be wiped away, and only a slave of the Dark Side will remain."
Mara could sense Vader's bloodlust leaching off him as he gripped her shoulder tighter and tighter. Obi-Wan's eyes were no longer indifferent; they welled up with tears; raw, unbridled emotion shone through them. His voice was a desperate plea:
"Anakin… I beg you… don't do this. This isn't you… You are not like Sidious… If you wish to unleash your anger… then aim it at the one responsible… Kill me. If it will grant you peace… do it. But leave her out of it… You can't let Sidious take her…"
Vader kneeled down to be at Obi-Wan's eye level. His Force presence had shifted from animalistic and murderous, back to calm and unreadable. His voice was solemn but unwavering:
"As I said, your idealism will not save you; nor anyone else."
Obi-Wan gazed at his reflection in those dark lenses, searching for something…
"I don't need it to save me."
By the time Mara and Vader registered the instant surge of Force energy that gathered around Obi-Wan, it was too late to stop it.
A powerful pressure wave rippled around Mara, expelling everyone else away from Obi-Wan with frightening velocity. The Death Troopers and Royal Guards were killed instantly due to their proximity to the Force blast. The Stormtroopers were sent flying against the cell doors or several yards down the corridor. Some were killed on impact while others shattered many of their bones. Vader was the only one left conscious. He had managed to shield himself from the blast just in time. He had been flung far down the hallway, leaving Mara standing next to Obi-Wan's kneeling form.
When she looked at him, the Sith Hood was gone. It had been blasted straight off his face. His face, while looking disheveled and worn, was revitalized through his azure eyes which shined with strength and newfound resolve.
"Go Mara! Get to an escape pod!"
"No! I'm not leaving you. We're going together!"
"Don't argue with me, Mara. This is where our paths must separate. Go!"
Out of the corner of her eye, Mara could spot Vader pushing away the dead bodies of Stormtroopers in his path.
"Trust in the Force, Mara. No matter what, trust in the Force. It will be your guide."
Vader's crimson blade ignited; his encroaching footsteps echoed in Mara's ears.
"Run, Mara! RUN!"
So she ran; without looking back. Without thinking twice: she ran. What did she hear? Or see? Or feel? Mara could not remember any of it. It was like holding her breath in near-freezing water. When she came back up for air, she had closed the hatch of her escape pod and launched it into space.
The entire craft shook and rattled dangerously as it sped up towards wherever it was headed. Mara strapped herself into her seat as laser cannon bolts exploded around the pod.
She could not even think. She was losing the energy to deal with all the emotions racing through her mind. Mara surrendered herself to the Force, and simply embraced whatever happened next.
As Mara fell unconscious, she was able to glimpse the name of the planet she was hurtling towards: Bespin.
Leia could not stop pacing. They had only been on Cloud City for a couple of hours but her unease had only grown more intense. Something was not right, she just did not know what it was.
Lando had treated them more than pleasantly since their arrival. He had brought Han and Leia to his private apartments and offered them access to his extensive wardrobe, as well as a chance to shower.
She was apprehensive about his hospitality, but after days of confinement inside the Falcon, she could not say no to a warm shower and a change of clothes.
After washing up, Han and Chewie had left to see how the ship's repairs were coming along. Leia had wondered where C3-PO had disappeared off to but Lando had reassured her that he was just undergoing maintenance at the city's Droid Spa. Leia was not surprised; 3PO could rarely resist the promise of a good oil bath.
As Leia waited alone in her room, she tried to ease her mind and focus on this unsettling feeling that brewed in her gut. She remembered the few pieces of advice she had overheard Obi-Wan tell Luke about how to meditate properly: control your breathing, clear your mind, focus on what is disturbing you, and concentrate on it to find from where it emanates.
Leia had often heard Luke and Obi-Wan talk about the Force when discussing meditation, though she had no idea how to use its power; or if she even could. The Force had always been a hazy notion to her. Her father had explained to her that through the Force the Jedi were able to pull of feats that seemed almost like magic, such as levitating objects or controlling people's minds.
When she had asked Obi-Wan about it, he had described the Force as an energy field that bound the universe together and was made up of the power of all living things. He had explained how the Force allowed his body to remain strong despite his age, and how he could use it to enhance his physical abilities. Leia also recalled the times she'd seen Luke levitate small bolts and washers for practice.
Is that how it's done? You just reach out and…
Leia extended her hand out towards a vase on the other side of the room. She felt completely ridiculous but she preferred to keep her mind busy by amusing herself rather than dwelling in negativity.
"Come to me!" Leia declared dramatically as she flicked her palm towards the vase.
Predictably: it did not move. In any other situation, Leia would have stopped there, but since she had nothing else to do, she felt a child-like fascination for continuing this game of make-believe.
"Vase: I summon thee!"
The vase was not summoned.
"Come hither, vase!"
It remained atop the table.
"One, two, three, bring this vase to me!"
The vase remained where it was.
What am I doing? Leia wondered incredulously. Am I so bored I can't find anything better to do than shout at an innominate object?
Heaving a bored sigh, Leia plopped herself face first on her bed. She wished Han would return from overseeing the repairs. Not only could she use the company, it would also give them some time to spend with each other. The past couple of days had been so hectic and life-threatening, they had barely had time to talk about anything else.
Leia was not sure when she fell asleep. When she opened her eyes, feeling a bit sluggish and drowsy, it was bright outside. Leia had slept through the night without even realizing it.
Guess I was more tired than I thought. I should go find Han and—
The Force will be with you. Always…
"AH!"
Leia let out a sharp shriek. What was that? Who said that? She had heard a voice, but it hadn't come from around her. It was… in her mind? And it had sounded almost like… Obi-Wan?!
Hearing the voice had been surprising, but the sensation that had coursed through her body when she did, was even more so. When Obi-Wan had spoken to her, it was as if she had a sixth sense. Leia had felt this strange warmth emanating from all around her; her fingertips had tingled; her eyes had sharpened, so had her sense of smell and hearing. It was like a sensory overload that disappeared in under two seconds.
Leia racked her brain for what this all meant. Her mind instinctively went to the only answer she could think of: the Force.
Is that what it feels like? Was Obi-Wan trying to show her the way, somehow, from wherever the Empire was holding him? Leia had so many questions running through her mind. She tried to concentrate and somehow try to hear Obi-Wan's voice again, but nothing came.
As she gazed across the room, Leia's eyes once again fell on the vase. What had felt like a foolish game before had now become very serious.
Focusing on the vase, Leia closed her eyes and tried to find that sensation again; to feel everything heat up and pulsate around her. She recalled every detail of what it was like to hear Obi-Wan's voice, and visualized the vase lifting up off the table.
Leia was amazed when she felt a response. That feeling of having a sixth sense had returned, but somehow she could not use it. It was as if the Force was holding back from her, and the stronger she tried to reach towards it, the further away it retreated.
It's just like my father told me when I was younger, running around the royal gardens:
"Remember, Leia: always be patient. Mother Nature, like all things, does not respond well to being threatened or bullied. The true strength of a good politician is the ability to wait and listen to what is around you; to use your abilities to help and protect those less fortunate than you. If we are to prevail over the Empire, we must stand by our ideals and values, no matter how difficult it may be; and in the end, we will ultimately prevail. Now, stay still and listen…"
Her father had knelt beside her and they had both listened to the wind rustling through the trees and the gurgles of a distant stream. After several minutes, a younger, more impatient Leia had asked:
"Is something supposed to happen?"
"I don't know," her father had replied with a smile. "Maybe you weren't listening hard enough?"
Leia remembered that answer well, since at the time it had vexed that she could not grasp what her father meant. Now, she felt she understood. I need to listen to the Force. Not try to push it, and instead let it guide me.
So Leia did just that. She surrendered herself to the Force, and when she opened her eyes, the vase was levitating a few inches off the table. Leia was beside herself with excitement.
"Hey, Leia, I—"
"AH!"
Han's voice scared the life out of her, causing her to jerk back her hand, which sent the vase sailing through the air, straight towards him. Thankfully, he managed to duck down just in time. The vase shattered against the door behind him.
"What was that for?!" Han cried out in disbelief.
"Haven't you heard of knocking?" Leia quickly snapped back. How was it that Han always seemed to enter at the best and worst possible moments.
"Haven't you heard of not throwing things at people?" Han quipped. "Lando won't take kindly to you breaking his property."
"That wasn't aimed at you…" Leia tried to explain, before giving up. It was not the time to hear Han's relentless cynicism and sarcasm by bringing up the Force. "What is it?"
The smuggler paused for several seconds, eyeing Leia suspiciously, before relenting. It seemed to be a pattern between them to break objects for no apparent reason.
"The ship's almost finished," he announced. "Two or three more things and we're in great shape."
"The sooner the better," Leia replied. She crossed the room to stand closer to Han so she could whisper to him. "Something's wrong here. I wasn't able to send any message from the Falcon after we landed. I think someone's blocking all communications off the planet."
Han softly gripped Leia's shoulder, sporting his trademark, debonair smile. He laid a quick kiss on her forehead before replying:
"Relax, I'm sure it's nothing. I'll talk to Lando about it, see what he can do."
"We shouldn't be placing so much trust in that man."
"Look, I trust Lando about as far as I can throw him. But he is my friend, and he did help us with the ship, and give us a place to sleep. Anyways, we'll be gone soon."
"Yeah…" Leia said, pensively. "Maybe we'll be able to take a vacation after this?"
Han chuckled at her sense of humor. When fighting in a galaxy-wide conflict, a vacation was not exactly high on the list of possibilities. Although, it was good to dream.
"I know a nice little place," Han replied. "A quiet little planet in the Outer Rim. Not much life, peaceful, beautiful, calming… just like you."
Leia could not help but laugh at her boyfriend's attempt at praise.
"It's true that the life within me is close to nil," the replied sarcastically. "Let's go there when this is all over. Go away for a few weeks and forget about everything else."
"That sounds nice. Before I met you, taking a vacation was never really in the cards for me. Bounty hunters don't take vacations, unfortunately."
"Let's not worry about any of that. I just learned it's important to be quiet and focus on the present."
"Oh, so you want me to shut u—"
Han was cut off when Leia captured his lips in a slow, tender kiss. They held each other close, each savoring the presence of the other. Even when they broke the kiss, they held each other close; as if letting go would mean losing each other forever.
"We'll make it through this, princess. I promise."
"Wherever we are, the Force will keep us together."
Leia had no idea why she said that. The words just came to her. Before Han could ask what she was talking about, Chewbacca burst into the room, carrying a large box that held the mangled remains of C3-PO's body.
"What happened?!" Leia asked in shock.
She got up off the couch to take a closer look at what was left of the golden protocol droid. It was bad. All his components seemed mostly intact, but it would take a long time to reattach all his pieces and make him fully functional again. Who could have done this to him?
"He was about to be burnt down for scrap metal!" Chewie explained furiously. "Those little Ugnaught devils did this to him!"
"What a mess," Leia said. "Do you think you can repair him, Chewie?"
"It looks pretty bad," the Wookie replied sadly. "I can't say for certain until I can get a closer look at him."
"Lando's got people who can fix him," Han mentioned offhandedly.
"No thanks," Leia snapped back dismissively.
The door behind them buzzed just before Lando entered the room. He stopped in his tracks upon seeing what he had walked in on.
"I'm sorry. Am I interrupting anything?"
"Not really," Leia quickly answered, keeping the accusation out of her voice.
"You look absolutely beautiful," he praised with a wide smile. "You truly belong here with us, among the clouds."
Well, I guess we know who Han got his romantic advice from, Leia reflected.
"And your personality truly makes you at home on this gassy planet," she retorted with an exaggerated curtsy.
Lando let out a loud, enthusiastic laugh, clearly interpreting Leia's comment entirely as a joke.
"You and Han truly make a great pair," he said humorously. "Would you all care to join me for some refreshments?"
Leia looked back towards Han who simply shrugged. It was no use laying any accusations at Lando's feet right now; in their current situation that would not help them.
"Yes, we'd be happy to," Leia replied with a strained smile.
Lando's smile quickly vanished when he laid eyes on the box containing C3-PO's body. A brief flash of guilt seemed to pass over his features before quickly being replaced by a confident grin.
"Having trouble with your droid?" he asked casually.
"No. No problem. Why?" Han said defensively as he got up and offered Leia his arm.
They both walked out the door, followed by Lando and Chewbacca, leaving 3PO's bits behind.
The pure white interiors of Cloud City were quite impressive, if not a bit repetitive and confusing. It was hard to keep track of where they were going since all the hallways looked identical.
They followed Lando closely as he explained how Cloud City operated:
"So you see, since we're a small operation, we don't fall into the jurisdiction of the Empire."
"So you're part of the mining guild then?" Leia asked.
"No, not actually. Our operation is small enough not to be noticed. Which is advantageous for everybody since our customers are anxious to avoid attracting unwanted attention."
"Aren't you afraid the Empire's going to find out about this little operation and shut you down?" Han questioned.
Leia did not miss how Lando's eyes seemed to darken when he said that. His tone was still pleasant when he spoke, but it lost its playful edge:
"That's always been a danger, looming like a shadow over everything we've built here. But things have developed that will ensure security. I've just made a deal with the Empire that will keep them out of here forever."
Lando came to a halt in front of a large, embossed white door. As he pressed a button to open it, Leia felt a warning through the Force; but it was too late.
Vader was inside the dining room, waiting for them with Boba Fett behind him. In one fluid motion, Han drew his blaster and fired several shots at the Sith who simply raised his hand and deflected them away. The weapon flew out of Han's hand and into Vader's who placed it down on the table.
"We would be honored if you would join us," he said calmly.
A squad of Stormtroopers emerged behind Han, Leia, and Chewbacca, cutting off any means of escape. The smuggler shot an accusing glare at Lando.
"I had no choice. They arrived right before you did," he said regretfully. "I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry too," Han snapped.
Leia looked towards Vader who stood at the end of the table, his silhouette painfully highlighted by the entirely white room. She had prayed that she would never again have to come face to face with him again after what he did to her on the Death Star. However, now she could count on the Force to help her stay strong.
Luke kept his attention focused on his work. After clearing off the weeds and branches still clinging to his X-Wing after its dip in the swamp, he began to pack up all of his gear. Luke then put on his orange flight suit and lifted R2 up into his cradle behind the cockpit using the Force.
"You better not drop me again," R2 warned.
Once everything was loaded onto the X-Wing, Luke performed a systems check to make sure everything was functioning properly. Thankfully, nothing appeared to be significantly damaged; he could take off whenever he wanted.
Luke had done his best to not cross Yoda's gaze as he prepared for his departure. The old master had watched him perform all of his tasks without saying a word, not showing any signs of disappointment or frustration. Even though he was not being judged, Luke felt the urge to justify his actions somehow.
When he had told Yoda his decision to go help Han and Leia, a brief sadness had seemed to shine in his eyes before quickly disappearing. He had simply told him that without having completed his training he would not be able to help his friends. When Luke had insisted that he still needed to try regardless, Yoda had fallen silent and had not brought the subject up again.
Luke walked over to the Jedi Master, who was busy tracing aimless patterns in the dirt with his gimmer stick. He did not look up when Luke spoke:
"I will return, master. I will continue my training. I just can't stand idly by and let my friends die."
"You don't know that, kid," a gruff voice spoke behind Yoda.
Luke looked up. The blue Force ghost of Rahm Kota had materialized behind the Grand Master, leaning against the stump of a fallen tree. He looked the same as when Luke last saw him, although his eyes were much more judgmental than Yoda's.
"I've seen it, master Kota," Luke argued. "Those visions in the cave, and the ones after… I can't risk them becoming true."
"Getting unnerved by strange visions isn't what Obi-Wan taught you," Rahm replied sharply. "He's currently risking his life to make sure the light of the Jedi doesn't die out. Don't throw away your life… like he did."
Luke glared hard at Rahm when he said that. Obi-Wan had not thrown away his life! He had faced Vader in order to protect everyone; just as Luke was about to do to protect Han and Leia.
He remembered that voice he had heard; the one that had helped him make his final decision…
"You're wrong," Luke stated calmly. "I trust Ben entirely, and I know he did what he did for good reasons. He's the best Jedi I know, and if he were here, he'd tell me to follow my heart."
Rahm let out an irritated sigh while Yoda remained silent, still drawing figures in the dirt with his gimmer stick.
"This is all part of the Emperor's plan, Luke," Rahm insisted, moving closer to the young man. "It's you that he wants. You and your abilities. That's why he's making your friends suffer."
"And that's why I have to go. I've learned so much since coming to Dagobah, and I will return to finish what I started."
"We can't lose you to Sidious!" Rahm stalked forward until he was almost a foot away from Luke. "This is exactly what claimed Obi-Wan's last apprentice! Vader and the Emperor must be stopped! And only a fully trained Jedi with the Force as his ally can hope to do that. If you end your training now, if you choose the quick and easy path, as Vader did, you'll become an agent of evil. You must be patient."
"And sacrifice Han and Leia?" Luke asked angrily.
Rahm closed his eyes slowly, before gazing evenly back at him and replying:
"If you honor what they fight for… yes."
Luke turned away from Rahm. He was about to climb the ladder into his X-Wing when Yoda's voice halted him:
"If decide to leave you do, be mindful of your training and what you have seen, you must. Against Vader, save you they can."
Luke turned back to face Yoda. He had stopped scraping the ground with his gimmer stick. He now stood a few feet away from Luke, his expression solemn.
"Tried to sense the future I have," Yoda continued. "Clouded everything the Dark Side has, but seen something I have. Perhaps an ally who may help you. Seen this person you have."
Luke recalled his vision. A potential ally? When would he have seen such a person? Actually, now that he thought about it, there had been someone next to Han and Leia's bodies in his last vision. Was that person helping them…?
"Red hair!" Luke said spontaneously. "I saw someone with red hair next to Han and Leia."
"Hmmm… yes. Seen it I have," Yoda nodded. "Be mindful of this person. Without them, failure may be all that awaits you."
Luke smiled lightly at Yoda's bluntness. He could tell the old hermit was still dubious about him leaving, but at least he had given him a clue to follow. Luke climbed up the ladder of his X-Wing and settled into the cockpit. He switched the power on and let R2 take care of the final adjustments for takeoff.
Luke stood up in his seat and turned back towards Rahm and Yoda.
"I will return, master," Luke said resolutely. "I promise."
Yoda nodded but his conviction did not reach his eyes. He watched as Luke closed the canopy and slowly raised the ship off the ground. The X-Wing climbed higher and higher, eventually clearing the thick tree line of Dagobah. With his flight path now clear, Luke activated the thrusters and accelerated towards the upper atmosphere.
Within a minute, Luke had gone from being just feet away from Yoda, to several light-years away… The eight hundred-year-old Jedi felt a sharp pang of sadness and regret. He was suddenly reminded of all the other apprentices he'd mentored who had strayed away from their training: Dooku, Anakin… Now Obi-Wan might also perish because of Sidious' madness, and Yoda was powerless to stop it.
A student should never die before his master… As if that would ever apply to me…
"Why did you say that?" Rahm asked Yoda accusingly. "You gave him an irrational sense of hope based on some vision? I thought we weren't supposed to let them guide our actions?"
"Different the boy is," Yoda answered slowly. "Stronger and clearer are his premonitions. Powerful he is, like his father. If remember his training he does, guide him the Force will; protect him it will. And in the end: save him it will."
"You're beginning to sound like Obi-Wan: a hopeless idealist," Rahm sighed in defeat. "If Luke falls, it's all over. No other Jedi can hope to defeat Vader and Sidious… He was our last hope."
"No…," Yoda paused. He remembered their birth, all those years ago on Polis Massa, when he and Obi-Wan had come up with a plan to keep them both safe…
"There is another."
I am tired… it is currently 3:30 in the morning… I have finished proofreading these 17 pages of SW goodness and I'm just about ready to crash…
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