Han couldn't understand why I wasn't coming back to the Fleet with them. 
I considered trying Yoda's name out on him, just to see what
happened, but 
decided against it. Things were complicated enough already.

   "I made a promise," I explained, "and I'm running out of time to keep it."

   Leia understood, gave me a kiss 'for luck'. "Be careful."

   "Always." I assured her.


   Dagobah's no garden planet, a slimey mudhole I'd called it once, and full 
of voracious life forms. Dangerous, but not to me. At least not
this area. 
I knew where the quicksand pools were and the trapfalls and predators' lairs 
and other hazards. Threaded my way easily among them. Yoda's house looked 
like any other mudheap except for the yellow light streaming from window and 
open door.

   My Master was standing on  the sill waiting for me. He'd changed in the 
scant year since I'd left him. He'd shrunk, become more withered
and frail.  
I tried to hide my shock as I knelt to greet him.

   "Expecting you I have been." he announced. "Hungry are you?"

   "Uh - no, thanks, Master." I'd have to be starving three days before I'd 
eat rootleaf stew!

   "Come in, come in. Darkness falls, chilly it grows."

   I crawled through the little round door and tucked myself into my usual corner. 
Master Yoda took the kettle off the fire then turned and made his slow, effortful 
way towards his bedplace.

   Suddenly he directed a sharp glance at me. "That face you make, look I 
so old to young eyes?"

   I hurriedly rearranged my expression. "No...of course not." Not much point 
in lying to a Jedi Master. He saw right through me of course.

    "I do," he corrected, almost gleefully, "yes I do. Sick have I become. Old and 
weak." stopped to shake a finger at me. "When nine hundred years old you reach, 
look as good you will not! Hmmm?" he chuckled at his little joke and I tried 
to smile dutifully as he settled himself on his bed, near me.

   "Soon I will rest. Yes, forever sleep. Earned it I have." He sounded as if 
he welcomed the prospect.

   "Master Yoda, you can't die." I pleaded.

   "Strong am I with the Force." he replied. "But not that strong! Twilight is 
upon me and soon night must fall."  He was having trouble with his blanket, 
I reached over to help him. "That is the way of things....the way of the Force."

   I knew he was right - "But I need your help. I've come back to complete the 
training." It had taken me long enough.

   He shook his head. "No more training do you require. Already know you that 
which you need."

   'Follow your feelings and trust in the Force.' I'd learned to do both. Yoda was 
right, there was nothing more to teach. "Then I am a Jedi." I
whispered. I'd 
thought It would feel different somehow. I'd be stronger, surere of myself.

   Yoda made a snorting noise, a laugh? "Not yet. One thing remains." He opened 
his eyes to peer up at me. "Vader, you must confront Vader. Only then a Jedi 
will you be."

   Yes, of course, the Trial. Vader was my final test. But who was he? Now was 
the time to ask but it took me a few moments to screw up the nerve. 

   "Master Yoda....is Darth Vader my father?" There! it was said.

   To my astonishment he tried to evade answering. Turned away from me muttering 
as if to himself, "Mmmmm....rest I need. Yes...rest."

   I pressed him. "Yoda, I must know."

   A long pause. Then, wearily, "Your father he is."

   I knew it...I knew it. Oh, Ben how could you?

   "Told you he did?"

   "Yes." I whispered, still coming to terms with it. My long lost father, 
my worst enemy...

   "Unexpected this is." said Yoda. "and unfortunate."

   "Unfortunate that I know the truth?" I flared. They'd lied to me both of them, 
Ben and Yoda too.

   He turned laboriously back to face me. "No...Unfortunate that you rushed to 
face him....that incomplete was your training. That not ready for
the burden 
were you."

   He was right. I hadn't been ready for such a devastating truth. I could 
understand them not telling me Darth Vader was my father. But why
had Ben lied 
and told me Vader had killed my father?

   Going to Bespin had been a mistake. Not only had I failed to be any help at 
all to Han and Leia. I'd very nearly been lost myself. If Leia
hadn't rescued 
me...."I'm sorry."

   Yoda's eyes were fixed on me, wide and intent. "Remember a Jedi's strength 
flows from the Force. But beware. Anger, fear, aggression. The
Dark Side are 
they. Once you start down that path forever will it dominate your destiny."

   I saw now I'd been flirting with the Dark Side on Tatooine. I'd *wanted* to 
destroy Jabba, enjoyed doing it. Anger, vengeance had colored my actions. 

   "Luke...Luke..." My Master's voice was very weak. I'd pushed him beyond the 
little strength he had left. He struggled to get out what he must say. I leaned 
in closer to hear it.  

   "Do not...do not underestimate the power of the Emperor or suffer your father's
fate you will." 

   Where had Father gone wrong, what was his mistake? Too late now to ask.

   "When I am gone the last of the Jedi will you be." 

   The shock went through me like a blaster charge. Followed by a wave of grief. 
Dai-Men... Chani... Jayce...all gone? 

   "Luke," Yoda's voice was little more than a thread of breath now. "the Force runs 
strong in your family. Pass on what you have learned."

   Pass it on to who - Han? Somehow I couldn't see him accepting me as his Master.

   "Luke....There is another Sky...walker."

   What? His eyes sank closed, he seemed to crumple into the pillow. I felt
him go leaving an empty husk that faded away seconds later.  I was alone. 
All alone.

   Eventually I made myself move. Damped down the fire and crawled out of 
the little house for the last time. There was no reason to come
back here. 
Not ever.


   Artoo had elected to pass the time by making some minor adjustments to the 
sensor systems. He's always tinkering, a real perfectionist my little droid. 
I looked back in time to see the fire flicker out in Yoda's empty house. Then 
crouched down to inspect Atroo's work. But I had no heart for it - or anything 
else.

   "I can't do it, Artoo, I can't go on alone."

   And a familiar voice, one I hadn't heard for over a year, said; "Yoda will 
always be with you."

   I looked up and there he was, a shimmery blue apparition working his way 
towards me through the undergrowth. 

   "Obi-Wan!" his real name. But it didn't fit. I'd never known Obi-Wan Kenobi, 
Jedi Master and General of the Republic. He'd always been 'Old
Ben' to me, the 
crazy desert hermit who told strange and wonderful stories. But now I felt as 
if I'd never really known him at all. He'd lied to me. I could hardly believe 
he'd do such a thing but he had.  
      
   "Why didn't you tell me?" I demanded, ducking under my ship's wing and going to 
meet him. "You told me Vader betrayed and murdered my father."

   He met the accusation squarely, luminous eyes steady on mine. "Your father was 
seduced by the Dark Side of the Force. He ceased to be Anakin Skywalker and 
became Darth Vader. When that happened the good man who was your father was 
destroyed. So what I told you was true - from a certain point of view."

   He had to be kidding. "A certain point of view!" I repeated incredulous.

   "Luke, you're going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly 
on our own point of view."

   A man's either dead or he isn't. It's not a matter of opinion! I watched Ben seat 
himself on a fallen trunk. I didn't want to fight with him. He
was all I had left... 
But he'd lied, betrayed me....

   "Anakin was a good friend." the sadness underlying the words disarmed me. I let 
go of my anger and sat down beside him.

   "When I first knew him your father was already a great pilot. But I was amazed at how 
strongly the Force was with him. I took it upon myself to train him as a Jedi. 
I thought I could instruct him just as well as Yoda." a defeated sigh. "I was 
wrong."

   That wasn't quite the way Dai-Men had told it. According to him Yoda'd wanted no 
part of training my father and Ben had taken him on in obedience to his own Master's 
dying wish. Ben made it sound like it had all been his own idea. More 'point 
of view'?
      
   "There is still good in him." I knew there was, I'd felt it on Bespin.
    
   Ben disagreed. "He's more machine now than man, twisted and evil." How bitter 
he sounded. Father had betrayed the Jedi. Killed them...killed him....

   I knew what he and Yoda wanted me to do. "I can't do it, Ben."

   "You cannot escape your destiny." He told me. "You must face Darth Vader 
again."
      
   "I can't kill my own father!" How could that be right? How could the Force want it?

   "Then the Emperor has already won." Ben's shoulders slumped in defeat. "You were 
our last hope."

   That wasn't true, it couldn't be. "Yoda spoke of another."

   Then he stunned me. "The other he spoke of was your twin sister."

   Sister??!! "But I have no sister."

   He almost smiled. "To protect you both from the Emperor, you were hidden from 
your father when you were born."

   It was crazy, like something out of a fairy tale, and yet...Growing up I'd 
had this strange feeling part of me was missing. Somebody who
should have been
in my life but wasn't, like my parents... 

   "The Emperor knew, as did I, if Anakin were to have any offspring they would 
be a threat to him." Ben explained. "That is the reason why your sister remains 
safely anonymous.

   The feeling of loss had stayed with me for years, until I met....."Leia! 
Leia's my sister!"

   Ben nodded. "Your insight serves you well." warned. "Bury your feelings deep down, 
Luke. They do you credit but they could be made to serve the Emperor."

   I didn't feel very insightful. My own twin sister and I'd never guessed. Had 
in fact mistaken my feelings for something quite different....or
had I? I hadn't
been a very insistant suitor. Maybe I had known, deep down, all along.

   "When your father left he didn't know your mother was pregnant." Ben continued. 
"Amidala and I knew he would find out eventually but we wanted to keep you both safely 
hidden for as long as possible. So I took you to Tatooine to live with my brother 
Owen."

   Uncle Owen. All he'd ever wanted was to keep me safe and I hadn't understood, 
had resented him for it.

   "And your mother took Leia to live as the daughter of Bail Organa, Prince-Viceroy 
of Alderaan."

   Great. I get stuck out on Tatooine, she gets to grow up a princess.

   Ben picked up the thought, smiled. "We planned for the son to follow in his father's 
footsteps and the daughter to walk her mother's path."

   I understood. Mother had opposed the Empire too, on the political level as a Queen. 
It was only fair one of her children should carry on her fight.

   "So Leia became a princess, an Imperial Senator and a Leader of the Alliance. 
Your mother would be proud of her, of both of you."

   I wished I could remember her. Maybe Leia did.

   "The Force is strong in your sister, as it is with all your family." Ben went 
on. "Soon she must learn to use it as you have."

    Of course, the other Skywalker, the one I must teach. But - "We can't let her get 
involved now, Ben, Vader would destroy her."

   "There is no avoiding the battle." He warned. "You must face and destroy Darth Vader. 
If you fail your destiny becomes hers."

   He was right. I couldn't pass this burden on to Leia, to my little sister. She'd 
already done so much, lost so much, it wouldn't be fair. I'd have to try, for her sake. 
"I understand."

   Ben leaned foreward to lay a hand on my shoulder. To my surprise I felt an actual, 
physical touch, cool and tingling. "The Force will be with you." he promised, as he 
had all those years ago. "Always."

       
   It was a long jump back to the Fleet. I had to stop over on Panna to recharge 
my life support systems.

   Returning to my ship I heard Artoo happily bleeping away. To another droid I assumed, 
then a familiar human laugh stopped me in my tracks.

   Dai-Men. Yoda'd been wrong, he was alive. I could feel his presence, warm, vibrant 
and untroubled - so the others had to be all right too. Relief overwhelmed me. 
I wasn't alone after all.

   It took me a few moments to get myself back under control. Then I wiped my eyes 
and ducked under my X-Wing's nose and there he was in his brown Jedi robe, sitting 
on a crate listening intently to Artoo's electronic monolog.

   "You can understand him without a translator?"

   He looked up with a smile. "Not every bleep and whistle but I get the gist. You 
two have been having adventures."

   "You could say that." I agreed ruefully, finding myself a seat on another crate. "We 
finally got Han back at least." I didn't want to talk about that, there were more 
important things I needed to say.

   "Master, Master Yoda's dead." *still winning prizes for tact, Skwalker!*

   He nodded, unsuprised. "I know. He will always be with us."

   "That's what Ben said." 

   My Master spread his hands, eyes glinting amusement. "There you are then, 
who should know better than Obi-Wan?"

   I managed a weak smile in response. "I thought you were dead too." Dai-Men raised his 
brows in mild suprise, I explained. "Yoda told me I was the last of the Jedi, I thought 
that meant -" I couldn't finish, didn't have to.

   "I see." Master said pensively. "Perhaps he just meant you were the newest or youngest 
Jedi. Or...there are other possibilities." smiled at me. "It's a mistake to take a Master 
too literally, Luke, their words don't always mean what they seem."

   "Tell me about it!" I snorted, remembering Ben. "You knew about my father." it 
wasn't a question. But he nodded confirmation.

   "And didn't tell me." an accusation.

   "You didn't ask."

   I opened my mouth to erupt. First 'point of view' now this! He stopped me with 
an upraised hand.

   "It wasn't my place to second guess Yoda and Obi-Wan. But if you had asked I 
would have told you the truth."

   I let out a breath, there was no point in being angry with Dai-Men. "I knew that. 
Maybe that's why I didn't ask." I hadn't been ready for the truth.

   "I have never lied to one of my Padawans." he continued seriously. "Withheld or 
evaded truths when necessary, but never lied."

   A fine line, but I understood. Sometimes it was necessary or wise to withhold 
information. I'd done it myself, another thing I'd learned from
him. But Ben had 
lied outright!

   "Ben lied to me." I said bluntly, still aggrieved. And I'd believed in him, 
loved him...I still did of course, but I was finding it difficult to forgive that 
deception.

   "Yes. But with a kind of truth." Master pointed out.

   "'From a certain point of view.'" I quoted scornfully.

   "Don't judge him too harshly, Luke." Dai-Men chided. "You've never had a student, 
you don't know the pain of losing one." his eyes went out of focus, remembering.

   "I nearly lost Jayce to the Dark Side. He was able to turn back before it was 
to late but - I know how Obi-Wan feels."

   Jayce? But Yoda'd said there was no turning back...

   "He really does think of Anakin as dead and Vader as a completely different being." 
Master sighed. "I feel that's a fallacy but it may be all that's kept him sane." a 
wry smile. "And and an Obi-Wan Kenobi running amuck with grief and guilt doesn't 
bear thinking about."

   I remembered the pain, the self blame I'd sensed from Ben. "He said it was his 
fault."

   Dai-Men shook his head. "A teacher always feels responsible for his student's 
failures." he explained. "But if you're thinking Obi-Wan somehow pushed your father to 
the Dark Side, no, that's not true. The choice - and the blame - are Anakin's 
alone."

   I'd never really believed Ben's self accusation anyway.

   "Master, I can't do what Ben and Yoda want me to do. I can't kill my own 
father."

   He gave me a steady, measuring look.  Calm and unjudgemental. "Then what will 
you do?"

   He would ask that. "I'm not sure." I faltered. "If I could talk to him - there's 
still good in him, if I could reach it -"

   "Obi-Wan tried that twenty-four years ago," Dai-Men pointed out, "and failed." 

   "I know but -"

   "Your father has given you little reason to love him." Master continued dispassionately. 
"He tortured your sister and your friend. used them as bait to trap you and then 
cut off your hand."

   He'd done all that, and more. I should hate him - or since a Jedi doesn't hate - at 
least accept the necessity of his destruction. Why couldn't I? 

   "He governs the Imperial Fleet by force of terror. Kills officers who fail 
or even displease him -"

   I interupted. "There is good in him! I felt it when I touched his mind on Bespin. 
I feel it now."

   Dai-Men smiled. "Then follow your feelings and trust in the Force." 

   I knew he'd say that sooner or later. And he was right - but it was hard, especially 
since all my Masters said I was wrong. All but one.

   "For what it's worth, I agree with you. I too felt Anakin Skywalker still alive 
within that black armour." He shook his head sadly. "We couldn't
reach him through all 
the layers of guilt and anger but perhaps you -"

   I interupted again. "You felt! You've seen him?"

   "A few weeks ago."

   "I thought you promised Jayce you wouldn't challenge Vader!" In fact I distinctly 
remembered Jayce telling me so - and warning me Master could wiggle his way 
out of any promise.

   "I didn't challenge him. We talked to him."

   Talk about your fine lines! I felt a familiar mental touch and images poured into 
my mind: A volcanic planet and a black castle moated with lava. Vader, my father, what 
he'd said, what he'd done and what Dai-Men had done. 

   "And the sabre fighting?" I sputtered as my Master released me.

   He shrugged. "We had to get his attention." 

   "Jayce is right, you are nuts!" Fine way to talk to a Jedi Master. But nobody 
could call walking into Darth Vader's private stronghold a prudent move. 
"And what's this 'we'?" I demanded. "I didn't see anybody with you."

   "My father was with me." he replied serenely.

   I was confused. "You said your father was dead."

   "So is Obi-Wan."

   Oh, right. "Good point." Death was not necessarily the end. Not for a 
Jedi. 

   Master changed the subject. "You're going to join the fleet?" 

   I nodded. "Something's brewing, I'm not sure what." Leia hadn't explained.

   "The Alliance's final throw I think. Win or lose." Master rose, so did I. "The 
Emperor is building a new Death Star. They say he's going
himself to inspect the 
work. My guess is the Alliance plans an ambush."

   "That would make sense." I looked up at him. "Can they succeed?"

   He smiled. "The future is always uncertain Luke." 

   I rolled my eyes. "I know, concentrate on the moment. Feel the Living Force." Master just 
smiled, eyes twinkling, not at all offended. And right, as usual. 

   "I've got to get back." I told him. "I'm still an Alliance officer, maybe I 
can help."

   "I don't doubt it." 

   "But - what about my father?"

   This time I got a straight answer. "He will come to you." It was a chilling thought. 
"He wants you badly." Dai-Men warned. "And so does the Emperor."

   An even scarier thought. "I'll be careful." I promised.

   "Be mindful." He corrected, Master isn't much for being careful. He put a 
hand on my shoulder, like Ben had. "And trust your instincts. May
the Force be with you." 
Turned to go in a swirl of brown robes.
      
   I called after him. "Master!" And he turned back in the shadow of my  X-wing's nose. 
"Where are you going?"

   I couldn't see his smile, but I sensed it. "To Coruscant."

   "What!" To the central system of the Empire, the Emperor's own stronghold?

   "Don't worry," Master sounded amused. "Palpatine won't be there. Or Vader. 
They will be waiting for you at Endor."

   Yes they would. Endor was a trap deliberately set for me. One I had no choice but to 
walk into. Oh well, at least I could be a diversion for the Rebel Attack.

   "But why?" I pleaded. Why must Dai-Men risk his life on Coruscant when the 
real confrontation would be at Endor?

   "To see to something that needs doing." was the cryptic reply. He added reassuringly, 
"I won't be alone."

   "Jayce?" 

   "And the others."

   That made me feel a little better. Okay, a man who can walk in and out of Darth Vader's 
fortress unscathed can definitely take care of himself. I'd seen Dai-Men in action, 
I knew how formidable he was but - 

   "I don't want to lose you too, Master."

   "I'll do my best to see you don't." was the gentle reply.

   "May the Force be with you." I said with real fervor, and resignation.

   Master bowed slightly, accepting the blessing, turned and was gone.

   Time for me to go too. "Come on Artoo, let's get back to the Fleet."