We know that Yoda’s exile on Dagobah was so secret that none of the Empire, not even Darth Vader, could find him.
However, this comic series, part of the Star Wars Infinities Epic Collection, explores a “what if” scenario where Darth Vader actually discovers Yoda on Dagobah.
In this alternate storyline, not only is Yoda found on Dagobah, but there are other intriguing twists like someone else being trained as a Jedi instead of Luke.
Without giving too much away, you can dive into the story to see how Vader finds Yoda and why Luke isn’t the one who becomes a Jedi.
Without further ado…
Table of Contents
Luke’s Last Message to Han Before
The story starts off much like the original film, just like what we’ve seen in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, with the Rebel Alliance setting up a new base on the icy planet of Hoth.
But then, things take a drastic turn. Han Solo’s Tauntaun dies before he can find the missing Luke Skywalker.
With no time left, Han is forced to return to Echo Base without Luke, who sadly succumbs to the harsh elements.
Before he dies, Luke manages to relay Obi-Wan Kenobi’s message to Han, telling him to seek out Yoda on Dagobah.
During Luke’s funeral, Han shares this message with Leia, which sets off a new mission to find the legendary Jedi Master.
Leia’s Journey to Dagobah and Her Path to Becoming a Jedi
With Luke gone, Han Solo feels a sense of responsibility to fulfill his friend’s final request.
Believing he might be the one to train as a Jedi, Han, along with Leia, Chewbacca, and C-3PO, sets a course for Dagobah.
When they arrive, they are surprised to find that Yoda has been expecting them, but not for Han’s training.
Instead, Yoda reveals that Leia is the one destined to become a Jedi, as she is Luke Skywalker’s sister and Darth Vader’s daughter.
Darth Vader Discovers Yoda’s Exile Location
Leia starts her tough training with Yoda, while Darth Vader doesn’t know Luke is dead and keeps searching for him.
Meanwhile, Han and Chewbacca go on a mission to get the money to pay off Han’s debt to Jabba the Hutt.
They head back to Tatooine and face many challenges, including getting captured by Jabba’s thugs and having the Millennium Falcon stolen.
Vader’s search takes him to Jabba’s palace on Tatooine, where he questions Jabba about Han.
When he sees C-3PO, Vader takes apart the droid and finds out about Dagobah from its memory, finally discovering where the hidden Jedi Master is.
Yoda’s Confrontation with Darth Vader on Dagobah
Back on Dagobah, Leia progresses in her Jedi training, showing great promise under Yoda’s tutelage. Her final task involves finding a crystal for her lightsaber in a nearby cave.
As she undertakes this mission, Darth Vader arrives on Dagobah, leading to a dramatic confrontation with Yoda.
Yoda engages Vader in a mental and physical battle, delving deep into Vader’s psyche to confront Anakin Skywalker buried beneath layers of dark side corruption.
This intense struggle brings forth visions of past Jedi, including Obi-Wan Kenobi, Mace Windu, and Qui-Gon Jinn, who battle against the shadows of the dark side enveloping Anakin.
During the mental confrontation, Vader learns of Luke’s death, which adds a layer of complexity to his internal conflict.
Despite the profound connection and the attempts to reach Anakin, Vader ultimately delivers a fatal blow to Yoda, severing the Jedi’s hold on his mind.
Leia’s Duel with Darth Vader and the Fall of the Dark Lord
Returning from her mission, Leia encounters Vader and engages him in a lightsaber duel.
Vader offers Leia the chance to join him and rule the galaxy together, but she refuses, firmly committed to the light side of the Force.
Just as Vader is about to strike her down, Han and Chewbacca arrive in the Millennium Falcon, rescuing her in the nick of time.
In a climactic moment, Han fires on Vader, fatally wounding him. Before passing away, Yoda imparts his final wisdom to Leia, instructing her to pass on what she has learned to future generations of Jedi.
This alternate narrative concludes with Leia assuming the mantle of Jedi Knight, carrying forward the legacy of the Jedi Order in a galaxy changed by the loss of Luke Skywalker and the redemption that never came for Anakin Skywalker.