FLYING SOLO ➳ luke skywalker

EIGHTEEN! MASTER YODA

IT was hard, almost impossible, for Analia to believe that this eccentric little swamp monster was a powerful Jedi Master. What seemed more likely to her was that Luke's vision of Ben had been an infection-induced hallucination, and when he crashed onto Dagobah and told the critter he was looking for Master Yoda, the critter in question played along, probably just pleased to have some company.

As Luke completed his daily drills, Analia rested back on gnarled roots, indulging in as much of Yoda's Rootleaf Stew as he offered.

"How can you honestly enjoy that sludge?" Luke had asked her a few nights before, voice low so Yoda would not hear, face twisted into a grimace.

"I've had far worse where I come from, Blondie," Analia had replied as she gulped back another mouthful.

Yoda had Luke completing the most bizarre exercises. He had to climb trees, swing from vines, leap over sloughs, all with the tiny creature perched on his shoulder. Analia had to admit, if the supposed Jedi Master was actually a con artist, she admired that he truly made the most out of it. 

Today, Yoda had instructed Luke to balance on one hand. Perched atop Luke's foot, he urged him to reach out, connect with the Force, and lift a series of rocks with his mind. Across the water, R2 and R5 chattered to one another, keeping themselves entertained. Analia sipped on her third helping of stew, channeling all her strength into not laughing at the sight that was Luke holding Yoda up on his foot.

"Use the Force," Yoda was saying, his croaking voice quiet and slow. "Yes. Now, the stone."

Luke's free hand twitched. Analia heard him grunt in discomfort. She was about to stand up and retreat to the hut to retrieve some more stew when she saw it happen. She was stunned into silence and stillness as she watched, flabbergasted, the moss-covered stone rise steadily into the air. She blinked. Rubbed her eyes. Blinked again. But her mind was not playing tricks on her this time. It was there, clear as day. The stone was floating several inches above the ground.

"Feel it," Yoda instructed.

Luke carefully placed the stone atop of another. His eyes peeled open, searching for Analia at once, and his balance began to waver.

"Concentrate!" Yoda cried, but the demand came too late. Luke's arm buckled beneath him, sending himself and the creature tumbling to the dirt, while the stone clattered to the ground.

Instead of rushing to help, Analia said, "I'm sorry, did you actually just move that rock with your mind?"

Yoda gathered himself, pulling himself to his feet with his cane, while Luke sat up straight on the ground. Instead of chastising his apprentice, Yoda's eyeline instead fell on Analia, face scrunching as he generated a solemn expression.

"A distraction she is," he hummed shrewdly.

Analia threw her arms in their air, affronted. The final dregs of her helping of stew sloshed over the rim of the bowl.

"I was literally just standing here!"

Yoda waddled over to Luke and jabbed him in the leg with his cane.

"Up, Skywalker, up," he demanded. He then rounded on Analia.  "Young Solo, come here." 

Analia raised her eyebrows, pointing to herself in question, as though there was anyone else in the swamp named Solo. Or anyone else in the swamp at all, for that matter. Yoda positioned Analia and Luke several feet away from each other. He instructed Luke to put his pilot's helmet on backwards, obscuring his vision. He then requested that Analia raise her blaster. Her stomach gave a great lurch.

"I—I don't know about that," she stammered. "I mean, I wouldn't even trust him to dodge my shots when he can see."

"Hey!" Luke's voice was muffled by the helmet.