Author's Note
Just something small I wanted to do to celebrate The Rise of Skywalker. Hope you enjoy it! Also, if you like this story, check this out.
Dreadnought
Story
The space warped, the stars beyond shifting and deforming as the very fabric of the universe stretched in on itself. In an instant space snapped back as a small craft exited hyperspace. The ship slowly banked to the starboard. Beyond lay a mysterious, forbidden world forgotten to the galaxy.
The pilot peered at the blueish-green planet ahead. “It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen,” he said in awe. “Artoo, are you sure that is Dagobah? ... I know that your star charts say it is, but could they be wrong? ... You took a bad hit when we attacked the Death Star, perhaps parts of it have been corrupted. ... I know you’ve never been wrong before. Maybe I’m just nervous. ... No, I’m not going to change my mind about this.” He pushed the stick down and the X-wing entered the atmosphere, the drag heating up the S-foils until they began to glow. “There’s an unknown radiation affecting the sensors.” Thick clouds filled his field of view from the windows of his cockpit as the atmosphere buffeted the ship. “I can’t see anything.” He reached up and flipped a switch. “I’m starting the landing sequence.” The clouds parted to reveal a swamp. Before he could react, he crashed into the dark water. The ship settled, half-submerged in the dismal swamp. The canopy raised and Luke Skywalker surveyed the situation, disgusted and angry at himself.
In short order base camp was set up, though it wasn’t much. There were a few cases with supplies from the ship’s storage locker, a power module, and a tarp to provide a semblance of shelter from the elements. Turning to the astrometric droid, he asked, “You ready for some power?”
Wah whirrr.
Luke turned on the generator and plugged in R2. Looking around, he muttered, “Now all we have to do is find this Yoda, if they even exist.” He sat down and ate his Alliance-issued MRE. The foul-tasting inedible artifical food couldn’t further dampen his already gloomy mood. He lamented, “This place gives me the creeps.” He reflected further, “though there is something familiar about this place....” He took a sip of water. “Almost... friendly.” He sighed, “I don’t know, I almost feel –” he drew his pistol “– like we’re being watched.”
The blaster drew no fear from the strange black and white creature staring back at him. It stood on four legs at a height that only came up to his waist. Its face was dominated by two huge eyes and its two-tone hair stood on end. Adding to this eccentric creature were the golden rings wrapped around its neck and single foreleg along with the big looped earings it wore.
“I did not mean to cause a fright,” it said, “But I do hope you are alright.”
Luke returned the pistol to his holster. “That is okay, I was just startled.”
She motioned to his half-submered fighter. “I saw your ship streak across our sky, You’re purpose here I want to know why.”
“I’m here to find someone.”
The creature chuckled, “Indeed someone you have found I would say, Perhaps I can help you during your stay?”
“Thanks, but I don’t need your help,” scoffed Luke. “I here looking for a master to study under.”
“My kind offer you should not spurn, From me many things you can learn. A few tricks from this master you may borrow –”
Luke’s eyes widened.
“– Thorough training for you will start tomorrow.”
A few weeks later....
The creature sat on a log, sipping a cup of herbal tea. She watched as Luke stood on the surface of the pond with one leg. Around him swirled a several rocks and small boulders. “Master, I thought the Force was more than just about moving rocks,” he commented.
The zebra chuckled, “My dear apprentice you show great wisdom and are not wrong, But you must master each level before moving along.” She continued, “Your quick learning I must commend, Took a long time did my close friend.”
Upon hearing “friend,” Luke’s face became grave. Plunk! He sank into the pond and the rocks splashed down around him. Luke poked his head out of the water and swam over.
“Something bothers you I can see, Luke come over here and tell me.” She patted the log.
Luke climbed out of the pond and sat down next to her. Visibly shaken, he absently dumped the water out of his boots as he collected his thoughts. He forced the words, “I – I saw a vision of my friends. They were – they were in terrible pain.”
She nodded. “I understand why you are so sad, A vision of the future you had.”
“The future...,” he whispered, half to himself. Turning to the zebra, he asked, “Master, what should I do?”
“Great loyalty you show, To your friends you must go.”
“What about my training?”
She shook her head. “Do not hesitate, your training can wait.”
“I can’t go.” He gazed off deeper into the distance, “My ship is sunk in the swamp.”
“Luke go and pack your gear, A friend will bring it here.”
Luke stowed his gear into the cargo compartment of his fighter. “I still can’t believe someone can levitate such a heavy ship.”
The zebra nodded. “You are not wrong, she is quite strong.”
“Yeah, but to move a whole starship.”
“Luke I hear your wail, That is why you fail.” She shook her head, “You should not count yourself out, By filling your heart with doubt.” She finished, “If you have courage in the face of fear, You will find everything becomes quite clear.”
He pondered her words as he conducted his pre-launch check.
Luke.
Skywalker paused as he thought he heard something.
Luke.
He turned and stood in shock. “Obiwan?”
Luke, why have you not been training with Yoda?
Shaking himself out of his surprise, he said, “But I have.” He motioned to the zebra standing there.
She is not Yoda.
“What?” He turned to the creature. “I thought you were Yoda.”
She chuckled, “It is quite the shame, You did not ask my name.”
Luke grew angry. “Why... how could you?”
“Under me you have trained, And truly much you have gained.”
“I thought you were a Jedi master,” he protested.
“True a master am I, But not of this Jedi.”
How could you think her a Jedi master?
He turned to the ghost. “She lives as a hermit, talks weird, and has strange habits. She... kind of reminds me of you.”
The ghost looked to the zebra in disgust. You decieved this young man and deprived him of valuable training time.
She responded to the ghost, “Everything I said was true, From a certain point of view.”
The ghost looked uneasy at her choice of words.
Luke climbed into his fighter.
Where are you going?
“I’m going to help my friends.”
But you do not have the training you need. You will not be strong enough to face Vader.
“I will head to Dagobah after saving my friends,” he insisted. He began flipping switches.
“I understand your ill, Much to teach I have still.” She looked him deep in the eyes. “Luke when your anger subsides you will hear the call, And I will teach you the greatest power of all.”
He pondered her words briefly before the X-wing lifted off.
You have no idea what you have done.
“Our young Luke Skywalker is his own man, He follows his own path and not your plan.”
