Yoda: Dark Rendezvous, a Star Wars Legends tale, was penned by Sean Stewart. As a component of the Clone Wars multimedia project, it saw its initial publication by Del Rey on November 23, 2004, together with an abridged version. The unabridged audiobook edition was then launched on January 23, 2024, as a part of The Essential Legends Collection.
The Republic is nearing its breaking point due to the brutal Clone Wars. Amidst the chaos of a major battle, a Jedi Knight manages to escape and bring Yoda a vital message on Coruscant. Count Dooku, it seems, desires peace talks and requests a meeting. While the treacherous Count's sincerity is questionable, Yoda is compelled to act, given the millions of lives hanging in the balance.
The rendezvous is set for Vjun, a world saturated in darkness. The challenge is immense. Can Yoda redeem his once-promising apprentice from the clutches of the dark side, or will Count Dooku unleash his sinister powers against his former teacher? Regardless, Yoda knows one thing for sure: the coming battle will be among the most challenging he has ever faced.
Across the galaxy, the Clone Wars are in full swing. Grand Master Yoda receives communication from Count Dooku, his former Padawan. Dooku admits in this message that the conflict has spiraled out of control and expresses his willingness to negotiate a truce. He invites Yoda to Vjun to arrange a cease-fire. Yoda, after consulting with his fellow Jedi Masters on the Council, decides that the potential to end the war outweighs the risks of a possible trap.
To maintain secrecy around the meeting, the Jedi hire Palleus Chuff, a renowned actor famous for his Yoda impersonations, to serve as a decoy while Yoda secretly travels to Vjun. Chuff, disguised as Yoda, embarks on a publicized mission to Ithor. However, upon arrival, Chuff's ship is ambushed and destroyed by Asajj Ventress, who intended to assassinate the Jedi Master. The apparent death of Yoda deals a significant blow to the Republic's morale. Meanwhile, Yoda journeys to Vjun, accompanied by Jedi Masters Jai Maruk and Maks Leem, as well as their Padawans, "Scout" and Whie.
During a stopover at a spaceport, Ventress, along with the brave but clumsy Chuff, manages to intercept the group of five and unleashes a dangerous, new type of battle droid. While the other Jedi confront the droids and Ventress, Yoda attempts to rescue Chuff. Maruk and Leem both fall victim to the droids and Ventress. Yoda, however, manages to distract Ventress, allowing the three Jedi and Chuff to escape.
On Vjun, Count Dooku awaits Yoda at Château Malreaux, the ancestral home of the once-powerful aristocratic House Malreaux. Upon landing, the Jedi are forced to split up. Yoda proceeds to meet with Dooku, while the Padawans investigate a mysterious disturbance in the Force. Ventress captures the Padawans, revealing to Whie that he is a member of House Malreaux and that the insane Lady Whirry Malreaux is his mother. Ventress uses the Force to restrain Scout and attempts to lure Whie to the dark side, but he resists.
Meanwhile, Yoda and Dooku meet and engage in a discussion about the Force, reminiscing about Dooku's early life at the Jedi Temple. Yoda urges his former apprentice to abandon the dark side and Darth Sidious permanently. Dooku experiences emotional conflict, but Whirry arrives with the news that Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi have arrived at the mansion, dispatched by the Jedi Council.
Believing they are replacements for him, Dooku, consumed by jealousy, throws Whirry out of a window. Yoda saves her and then engages Dooku in a duel. Dooku activates an orbital missile targeting the house and flees with Ventress. Yoda manages to stop the missile. Yoda, along with Kenobi, Skywalker, and the Padawans, returns to Coruscant. Elsewhere, Dooku mourns the fact that everyone he has ever loved, including Yoda, has abandoned him.
Yoda: Dark Rendezvous is an installment within the Clone Wars multimedia project. According to the timeline presented within Dark Rendezvous, the novel's events occur thirty months after the Battle of Geonosis, following the events of Jedi Trial and preceding Boba Fett: A New Threat. However, the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars retconned this timeline, and a clear, consistent timeline has not been established.
- ISBN 9780345463098 ; November 23 , 2004 ; Del Rey ; US paperback [1]
- ISBN 9780739450024 ; 2004; Del Rey; Science Fiction Book Club edition [3]
- ISBN 9780345492692 ; December 6 , 2005 ; Del Rey; US eBook [4]
- ISBN 9780593599488 ; April 25 , 2023 ; Random House Worlds ; US trade paperback, The Essential Legends Collection edition [5]