Chapter One: A Glimpse

It had been eons. Eons since he'd last seen Yoda, since the Empire began. Yet now Yoda called to Obi-Wan, calling him to come. Not to Dagobah. No, Yoda wasn't there. He was on another planet, Ekaphan. Equaly desolate, but inhabited, settled by a few pathetic beings who couldn't live anywhere else. Obi-Wan didn't know why Yoda was there. He didn't much care.

There were few things he cared about, now. Yoda was on the list. Planets, locations, were not.

He did wonder why Yoda had summoned him. Last time they spoke, they agreed it would be too dangerous to ever speak again, especially face-to-face. Something must have changed. He'd find out soon enough.

Now, he stood above the Lars house. The suns were setting in the west, but he could hear the family moving around below him. He found the steps and walked down them quietly.

Luke noticed him first. He had been sitting at the kitchen table, playing with droid parts with all the concentration a five-year-old could muster, but before Obi-Wan was halfway down the stairs, Luke turned around and looked straight at him.

"Aunt Beru! It's Ben."

Beru came out of another room, holding a bowl and a dishcloth in her hands, and smiled brightly when she saw Obi-Wan. "Ben! It's been a while, hasn't it? Do you want some tea?" She must have been thinking about her husband, how he'd banned Obi-Wan from the property, but it didn't show at all.

Obi-Wan shook his head. "I'm not here for a social call. I just needed to ask a favor."

"Oh! What's that?"

"I won't be here for the next week. Would you mind watching my droids, retrieving them if any break down? They shouldn't, but just in case..."

"Of course! Do you need a ride somewhere?"

"Oh, no. Thank you, I really appreciate this. Here's the receiver, it'll alert you if any break down, and hone in on which one it is. Simple enough to use."

Beru nodded. "We'll watch out. You aren't walking, are you?"

"No. I borrowed a speeder from the Jawas."

"The Jawas? Oh, I wouldn't trust them, if I were you."

"No, not many would, but they're honorable enough, in their own way. I'll come get that in a week or so." He nodded towards his receiver, then looked over at the boy. "Goodbye, Luke."

The child just looked up and grinned before looking back down at his parts.

"Next week, then," Beru told him.

He nodded again. "Next week."

He stood in front of a simple house in the capital of Ekaphan. He could feel Yoda inside, and another, unknown, presence. The latter was somewhat puzzling. He should have known anyone Yoda trusted enough to speak to, but he had certainly never met her. It was tempting to stay outside and try to discern more information about the second presence, but he thought better of it and entered the house.

Yoda was waiting for him in the hall, and spoke as soon as he entered. "Obi-Wan. Good to see you, it is. Something for you to do, I have."

"It's good to see you, too, Master Yoda. What's this about?"

"Come, come! Time for talk this is not. Show you, I will."

Obi-Wan followed Yoda through the dilapidated house, until the Jedi Master stopped in front of a curtained doorway, held one finger to his lips, and pulled the curtain halfway open.

It was a dusty old bedroom, with a girl on the bed, asleep. Probably four or five. Luke's age. He watched her for a moment, wondering why Yoda was showing him this, before Yoda answered his unspoken question.

"Take her with you, you will."

"Hm? Why?" he asked quietly.

"Train her, you must."

"What?!"

That came out much more loudly. Yoda shushed him and turned away from the curtain.

Obi-Wan managed to keep silent until they got to the kitchen, far enough away to let the girl sleep. Then it all came out. "I can't train her! I'm supposed to watch Luke! I couldn't possibly- Why can't you train her?"

Yoda regarded him impassively. "Good for her, you will be."

"Good for her- Hah! I'm not a teacher, look what happened to-" He stopped short of mentioning Anakin. He hadn't, not for five years. "I can't teach. Please don't do that to me. Or to her."

"Afraid, you are."

"No! I just... Even if I am, that doesn't change anything. I can't fail her. This is no joking matter, no foolish test. This is her life. If she must be trained, it should be you."

"A place to raise children, Dagobah is not." Yoda paused, and the flash of humor vanished. "Too old, am I. Too set in my ways. Adapt to the times, I cannot. All on my own, a Padewan to train... Do that, I cannot. Not strong enough, am I."

"Master Yoda, you can do anything."

"No. Believe that, do not."

Obi-Wan turned to stare out a window. "I thought you said that we couldn't risk training anyone. That it would attract the Emperor's attention."

"Mmm. Spoken with Qui-Gon, have you?"

He hesitated. "Not yet."

"Try harder, you should. Answer your questions, he will."

Obi-Wan didn't respond to that. There wasn't any point.

"Fine. I'll take her. I don't like it, but I'll take her."