Trials of the Mind
Starkiller Base has been destroyed. Rey has found Luke Skywalker. For once everything seems to be going the Republic's way. But at what cost? Han Solo is dead. By the hands of his own son. But there are far greater problems. Finn and Poe embark on a new mission, despite the protestations of General Leia Organa. Rey discovers dark secrets and Kylo Ren has been summoned for training...
Kylo Ren was in his quarters, frustrated with no one but himself. But why? He had done his duty, fulfilled his destiny as Snoke's apprentice. He had followed the Dark Side and come out the victor. But at what cost? The life of his father? The life of a washed-up smuggler meant nothing to him, and besides, he had renounced his lineage long ago. The man that he killed on that bridge was not his father, it was his enemy. And yet, he felt… what was it? Cold. Scared. Angry.
He dared not speak of his thoughts to anyone, lest they lose faith with him. He had to complete his training, he had to. He was torn, even after all he had done it was not enough to undo his past and as he sat there, he was split between two sides. The Dark… and the Light. He brought his hands up to his mask and pulled it off with a faint tsch. He tossed it onto the ground, the sound of metal hitting metal filling the room. Then it stopped, and it was silent again. He cupped his face and tried to think. What are you doing? He thought to himself, You are with the dark side now, you are Kylo Ren, apprentice to Supreme Leader Snoke and the opponent of the Republic.
"Ren?"
Kylo heard the voice and looked up. Standing there, in front of the open door was a stormtrooper, a long red pauldron hanging over his right shoulder.
"I told you to leave me in silence!" The Sith roared, standing up. He pulled his lightsaber from his belt and held it in his hand. Suddenly it felt heavy and wrong.
"Yes, I know but Snoke wanted you-" the Stormtrooper began with an uneasy tone, stepping back.
"Why didn't you knock?" Kylo barked, walking forward, stopping only a foot from the soldier.
"I'm sorry, Lord, but…"
The stormtrooper never finished his sentence, as Kylo let loose his rage and decapitated the soldier with one swing of his lightsaber, which crackled and fizzed, fuelled by the fury of its master.
"Rey… I have been expecting you."
As the Jedi let down his hood, the girl could quite easily see the years of weariness and regret present on his face. It was wrinkled, like pages of an old book, but one that had not been told yet. A thick, shaggy beard clutched to his chin, with grey hairs far too common. The hair on his head went down to nigh on his shoulders and worst of all were his eyes. The old, vivid blue had turned into a dull grey, and his brow hung over them like a great plague. His robe was evidently tight on him, and his cloak muddy at the bottom.
Yet Rey did not care, she had finally found him. After years the Republic had found him. Luke Skywalker. A myth, a legend until only a few hours ago when R2-D2 and BB-8 pieced together the map and Chewie made the way.
"Luke?" the girl croaked, her hand still outstretched, the lightsaber hilt in her hand.
Luke walked forwards, clutching his old weapon and taking it out of her grip with a faint smile. "It is so good to see you."
The words struck a chord with the young girl's heart, and Rey's temporary bewilderment turned into confusion. "Have we met?". No, she knew was the answer. Her family had been taken from her when she was barely six and she had been on Jakku ever since. She would know if she met Luke Skywalker, the hero of the war, no matter how long ago it may have been.
"No," Luke stroked her cheek with one hand, wrinkled yet soft and gentle, "but I've seen you. I've wanted to speak to you for years. Ever since… Ever since you were born."
When Rey awoke her legs hurt and the ground was cold. She rubbed her eyes and saw she was lying down on a stone bed, surrounded by rock.
"Where… Where am I?"
"Don't worry," Luke said to her from behind, "you're on the same island. You passed out when I told you about your birth, I dragged you back here and nursed you. You're okay, but your legs are grazed. It'll heal soon."
Rey remembered what the Jedi had said, was he her father? It made no sense; she knew her family, before they were taken from her. The family she had waited for years. And now what, it was all for the wrong people? But then, nonr of her family were Jedi, were they? How could she know the force? It pieced together now, like an enormous jigsaw.
"So is it true? Are you my father?"
It seemed a lifetime before she got an answer, but Luke slowly nodded, "Yes. I am."
Finn took deep breaths, awakening from his long sleep. Around him the tents still flapped in the wind, the hustle and bustle of a control centre ringing in his ears.
"We were wondering when you'd come round!" a familiar voice chuckled next to him. The owner slid into view, and Finn grinned,
"Poe!", he jumped up and the two of them hugged, embracing eachother warmly.
"It's good to see you, man!", Poe said, out of his Pilot jumpsuit.
"Me, too!" Finn smiled.
The two of them exchanged stories about what happened at Starkiller. It had been a success, but they had lost some good friends that day.
"It's a shame about Han, it really is." Said Poe, sat at a table in the Field Cantina.
"Yeah… it is." Finn mourned for the old man, a hero who had done so much, only to be killed by Kylo Ren, his own son? It made no sense, but it only made the resentment for the Sith that much stronger. "We have to find Ren. And kill him."
Poe studied his friend for a moment, before replying with a calm tone, "Don't we all think the same? But we don't know where he is. You said yourself, you fought with him in that forest and then you awoke just now. Rey took off to find Luke and I don't think she knows anyway. But how could he have survived? That planet was torn apart from the explosion. There was no way he could have got out quick enough."
Finn nodded his head solemnly, working out how to say his next words, "Not impossible. There's a chance one of his men could have picked him up in that command shuttle of his. And I think I know who."
Poe seemed surprised, "What? Who?"
"Phasma." Finn said to his friend, "Think about it. That soldier devotes her life to Ren. If she escaped that trash compactor-"
"Trash compactor?" Poe interrupted.
"Long story. But if she did, and found Kylo's ship, she might have had enough time to rescue him. And even if she didn't, I'd bet she knows where the Sith is."
"You really think that?" Poe probed, clearly unsure.
"Of course, look, I know her, okay? She's like second in command to Ren. She'll know. I know she will." Finn stared at the ground, thinking about the events that had transpired over just a month. In that time, he had gone from being in the First Order to helping find Luke Skywalker and destroying the Starkiller Base. Yet still, his quest was not complete until he avenged Solo and stopped Kylo Ren.
The two reached the centre of the control hub; a huge glass wall was set up, maps and lines projected onto it. BB-8 rolled around happily with his new drone friends, R2-D2 and C3-P0, and people came and went, some in uniform, some in normal clothes. And there, in the middle of it all, watching over a series of documents, was General Leia Organa. When Finn rest one hand on her shoulder, she jolted awake.
"Oh, um, I'm sorry, General. I didn't mean to wake you…" the ex-First Order soldier stuttered.
Leia only smiled, "It's okay. I'm just… I loved him, you know.", she peered at the ground once again, a tear forming in her eye.
"Yeah, I'm… I'm sorry about Han, ma'am." Finn began, "If I could have saved him, I would ha-"
"And you know what the worst part is?" the General asked rhetorically, "He was killed by his son. Our son. I thought he could… I thought Ben would listen to him, Han was his father after all. But no, there's no light left in that child. Snoke has poisoned him, well and truly. There's no option but to…" the woman stopped, before she spoke those words she did not want to say. A tear fell, running down her cheek.
"It'll be okay, Leia." Finn patted her back, "But that's what I wanted to talk to you about. I want your permission to take Poe with me on a mission to find Captain Phasma and discover the true location of your son."
Leia looked into Finn's eyes, as if trying to reveal any secrets the soldier had locked away. Eventually, after what seemed like centuries, she spoke,
"He's not my son. Not anymore.
"And in response to your request, permission denied. I need everyone here for the arrival of Luke, and besides, I expect he'll want to see you."
Despite Leia's best smile, Finn couldn't help but feel angry. He knew Kylo was her son, but he had to find the Sith, eventually, whether it was him, or Poe, or Luke or even some unimportant pilot in the Resistance, eventually someone would have to find him… and kill him.
"Look, General, I know he's-" he began, trying to persuade the woman, but she had none of it.
"Look I know, Finn, I know what you're trying to do. But I'm denying your request. We'll find him sometime later."
Finn nodded and walked solemnly back to the cantina, Poe following slowly behind. The pilot seemed sad, even disheartened, but Finn spoke up, "So, you up for coming with me?"
Poe was caught off-guard and stared at his friend with an almost inferior gaze, "What, didn't you hear the General? She said we ca-"
"I know what she said, Poe," Finn broke in, "but I'm going anyway. Besides, we've disobeyed orders before, haven't we?"
Finn let a small smile creep across his face. Poe wanted to say no and stay at base, he wanted to meet the mythical Luke Skywalker, but he couldn't help grin, too, nodding,
"Fine but it's on you!"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever!"
As the pair swaggered back to Poe's X-Wing and boarded it, a group of Resistance ran out from the tents, led by Leia. The woman wore a small smile on her face, too, trying not to let it show,
"He's a stormtrooper, alright."
As Kylo Ren marched through the corridors of his Star Destroyer, accompanied by a pair of stormtroopers, his mind was still in disarray. He tried to force out the Light, but he could not, and even as he made his way to Snoke, he was ever doubtful, the death of his father replaying in his mind like a film. It was too much. What had he done? His father had died, at his son's own hands. But he was not his son! He was Kylo Ren, apprentice of Supreme Leader Snoke, Lord of the Sith and enemy of the Republic. But he could not force out the temptation of the Light Side, and he stumbled to the floor, out of breath. As one of his soldiers crouched to help him up, Kylo pushed him away, before slicing him in two with his saber and throwing the other into a wall with the Force. When he turned back, General Hux stood with his feet together, staring at the dead soldiers.
"Ren! This has to stop. Join me at once. Snoke wishes to complete your training."
Kylo's eyes widened even beneath his mask. He should have loved this; it would be the final step to pushing the Light Side out of his mind, and submitting himself fully to the Dark. But he was still afraid, it would not be easy. Yet he made his way to the great hall, where no light came in except from a hole in the ceiling behind the hologram podium.
After a few minutes, the image projected onto the ground, the grand throne of Supreme Leader Snoke, who sat there with his deformed face, a maniacal smile present.
"Ahh, Lord Ren. I see you have made it here in one piece. The rest of your soldiers can not say the same…"
Kylo stared at Hux resentfully, who was next to him, unable to help but grin.
"This has to stop, Ren." Snoke shouted, smacking a fist on one of the arms of his great chair, "You will come to me to complete your training. Report to the Hangar. Your ship is prepared for you."
"Of course, Supreme Leader." Kylo's words were hollow, he knew. His fear and dread clear in it, standing out like a short stormtrooper. Though the air was silent, his mind was aching with noise, conflicting thoughts. He felt faint again, and wanted to go back to his quarters, to pray to his grandfather's mask and rest. But he could not. He had to stay on his path. For his sake more than any other's.
"How did it happen?" Rey drank from her metal bottle, nearly out of water. She felt much better, but now instead of pain she was filled with questions. It just didn't make sense, yet it did. Who were the family she said goodbye to on Jakku? How long had she waited for people she barely even knew?
"I think you know how it happened." Luke smiled.
Rey blushed, talking quickly, "That's not what I meant."
Luke nodded slowly, "I know. It's a long story, Rey."
"We have time." The girl looked up, studying the facial features of her father. Maybe once they looked alike, but now, now they were so far apart.
"No," the lost Jedi spoke softly, elegant yet firm, "We do not. Your friends at D'Qar are expecting us. It would not do well to leave them waiting." He sighed, "I have been away for too long. Wonder how Han and Leia are doing. Huh, and R2."
A wave of guilt washed over Rey, and she did not know why. She was not the one who killed Han, perhaps it was because it was she who had to tell him. "Father… Luke, Han is dead."
Luke stared at her, before his eyes slowly dropped, his smile contorting into a deep 'n' shape. He wanted to cry, but he let no tears fall. It took a while for him to speak again, and when he did it was obvious he did not want to, almost as if if he did, it would make it all true.
"How? How did he…" he choked audibly, and it broke his daughter's heart to hear, "How did he die?"
"Kylo Ren." Rey had to say nothing else, if she did she feared she would cry also, but it was all Luke needed.
"I suspected so. Even out here I have heard of Kylo Ren. Han's son, correct? Ah well, we must go anyway. I want to see Chewie. Come, you'll be fine to walk."
As Luke walked out of the stone hut slowly, the sea breeze hitting him refreshingly, he began to wonder if letting Rey find him was the best idea after all. If he had stayed away for thirty years and nothing had troubled him out here, why couldn't he wait another thirty? Suddenly it made no sense and he wanted to stay. But he couldn't. Once again he had to save the world.