Lady Obscura: Vader's Shadow [Star Wars | Luke Skywalker]

Chapter 15

Never was Athara more relieved than when Luke took his failure and resolved to overcome it. She had feared that being confronted by his inability to embrace the Force as he should would hurt his training. Thankfully, it made him even more determined than ever. The following morning he returned to his training with renewed vigor, set on letting go of the doubts that had been holding him back. Once again, his training progressed by leaps and bounds.

But it would seem it was not to last, that the events out in the rest of the Galaxy would invade their secluded training grounds. Luke still had so much to learn, and so she was still hesitant to actually take the next steps she needed to make herself. Athara was coming to realize more frequently that her time on the swampy planet was drawing to a close. There was still a great deal for her to face, but it could not be done on Dagobah. She knew that soon she would have to leave.

That moment came far too quickly.

As usual, Athara's lessons were far more stationary and internally focused than Luke's, so she was once again sitting just outside the clearing where Yoda was working with Luke. The young rebel, meanwhile, was again standing on his hands, using the Force to balance himself while stretching his mental control. Having learned his lesson, though, Yoda was standing a short distance away, thoroughly tired of being flung around when the limits to Luke's growing control were exceeded.

"Concentrate... feel the Force flow." Slowly, but steadily, the objects strewn around the clearing were lifting into the air as Yoda spoke gently to Luke, encouraging him as he began to lift one more object, "Yes." and then another. Artoo warbled with what could only be described as exasperation as he was lifted, while N3 whistled in commiseration as he too began to rise. After all, the little droids were used to being used like this. "Good, calm, yes." Athara was pulled from her own musings when the Force began to gather around Luke in a very particular way. Yoda obviously recognized it too, amending his quiet comments.

"Through the Force, things you will see. Other places. The future . . . the past. Old friends long gone." Luke's eyes abruptly focused, and Athara tensed as anxiety suddenly coursed through him.

"Han? Leia!" The calm was shattered as his hold on the crates failed and both droids squealed in shock and outrage as they too crashed to the ground. His arms collapsing under him, Luke quickly joined them on the soggy ground. Athara was on her feet in an instant, reaching out to glean what she could from the quickly retreating vision, forcing away the stab of jealousy at the way Luke had reacted to Leia's part in the vision. Unable to get much, her gaze immediately shifted to Luke. Her breath hitched as worry coursed through her at the sight of him, pale and shaking on the ground where he had fallen. He had barely even propped himself up. Yoda just shook his head, sighing heavily while Artoo spluttered in indignation in the background.

"Control, control. You must learn control." Luke didn't even seem to hear him. Instead, he still seemed far away.

"I saw...I saw a city in the clouds." Despite the fear and shock that was still evident on his face, a faint wonder suffused his voice. Athara couldn't help but inch forward, eager to hear what had shaken him so. Yoda nodded once again, the exasperation not quite gone from his voice though understanding had joined it.

"Mmm. Friends you have there."

"They were in pain." The wonder was gone. Dread now began to replace worry in Athara. Beside her, she could feel Qui-gon's presence materialize, something that, for once, did not give her any comfort.

"It is the future you see." The aged Jedi was speaking far too gently. Luke was now looking intently at the diminutive Master.

"Future?" Yoda nodded. Though the wonder was back, Athara knew it was only a matter of moments before the fear set in again. He abruptly got to his feet, obviously having some difficulty processing the information. In an instant, she was at his side, laying a gentle hand on his arm. He looked over at her. Her expression must have been very bleak, for he blanched again. Taking her hand in his, he swung around to meet Yoda's gaze again.