33 ABY

Every day was the same, and Rey found comfort in the predictable pattern of the schedule. She and Master Luke woke, dressed, and meditated for a peaceful hour at the ocean's edge. Then they shared a morning meal and discussed what the day's practice would entail. Each Jedi training session began with the same physical workout, the climbing of the steps.

Rey hated those steps. Especially in the rain. She figured Master Luke liked that particular exercise because it thoroughly taught her the trick of levitation. She'd slipped on the steps enough times to realize that she'd either learn to levitate herself, or die trying. That was the only explanation for the dangerous construction of the thing—either the ancient masters were trying to teach self-control, or the Order had some ridiculous restriction on banisters and guard rails.

Master Luke had smiled when she'd suggested that. "A banister ban," he'd commented.

After the steps, there was a variety of physical and metal challenges, most of which Rey enjoyed. Climbing, running, scaling walls, combat training…it was all so much easier and more fun on a planet more temperate than Jakku. Here on Ahch-To, her skin was cool, never hot. And the grass was sweet, soft and moist, not at all like sand. Master Luke had had to teach her words like dew and humidity. (He never made fun of her. He'd grown up on a desert planet himself, and Han Solo had taught him the meaning of dew when he was Rey's age. That comforted her.)

She was wary of only one aspect of the Force: manipulating other minds. Since her experiences with Kylo Ren, she recoiled from the very idea of invading another's thoughts. It seemed…un-Jedi-like. Impolite at best, torturous at worst. "You're right," Luke agreed readily. "It violates an individual's free will. But sometimes mind tricks are the least violent way of settling a dispute or escaping danger. Only use these methods when it will serve the greater good, never just for your personal interests."

"I did use a mind trick once," Rey confessed. "On a stormtrooper, when I was held prisoner on Starkiller Base. I told him to remove my restraints and leave me his weapon. Only took me three tries."

Luke smiled gently. "Well, what was the result? Did you hurt him?"

She shook her head. "No, I don't think so. He just walked away. And it allowed me to escape. But that's not really serving the 'greater good,' was it? I mean, it only helped me."

"If you'd remained a prisoner, what would have happened to you?"

Rey shuddered lightly. "I suppose Kylo Ren would have come back to interrogate me some more. He might have learned something about Finn, or Han, or the Resistance…." She trailed off, since he no longer seemed to be listening.

Luke looked away for a long moment, watching the calm waves lap the island. She immediately regretted mentioning Ren; it always upset Master Luke. But not for long. Rebounding, Luke concluded, "Well, then, your escape served the greater good. It prevented the First Order from learning anything, and it facilitated Han's rescue of you."

Rey noticed the smile playing on Luke's lips. "What's so funny?"

"Oh, I was just thinking about Han rescuing women. He's somewhat of an expert at it. Sometimes. Although…sometimes she ends up rescuing him instead."

Rey chose not to correct her Master's use of the present tense rather than the past when referring to Han. He made the mistake often, as if he couldn't quite believe in his friend's death. Instead, she suggested, "Could you tell me that story tonight?"

All her life, Rey had been starved for stories, for knowledge. She had mostly contented herself with the gossip she heard at Niima Outpost. More than that, she loved reading the logs and datapads occasionally left behind on ships she scavenged. They hinted at adventures and excitement that she doubted would ever come her way. But Luke's stories! They were her absolute favorite part of life on Ahch-To. Every evening, after dinner, they lit a fire and had story time. She soaked up every detail of his life and the exploits of his friends. It was as if Luke saw that hole in her, that longing for a family, and was trying to give her a surrogate.

That was just fine with her. She had felt immediately at ease with Master Luke, as well as with Han Solo, Chewbacca, even General Organa. If they had been her real family, she would have…well. They weren't. But Maz Kanata had told Rey that the belonging she longed for was ahead of her, and she fervently hoped this was the circle of friends that Maz had meant.

Luke answered her question. "I've already told you how Han and I met Leia. On the Death Star, remember?"

"Of course, of course," she answered quickly. "It's one of my favorite stories, actually." She liked the parts where Han and Leia argued over everything. Rey found it a little hard to imagine the even-tempered, placid Resistance general being that feisty, but Luke assured her that his sister had once been an absolute spitfire, especially when it came to Han Solo. "I'd just like to hear more Han-rescuing-people stories."

Luke again stared off into the distance, at the ever-present ocean. Thinking of Han? "Rey," he began solemnly, "You've trained here for four months now, and you've made excellent progress. The Jedi practice is just that—we practice, we never perfect—but I think you've got the fundamentals down. You're strong enough to leave here and rejoin society, either with the Resistance or someplace else. But I have one last story to tell you, a hard story to hear, and then you have a choice to make."

"I want to go back to the Resistance."

Luke fixed her with a stare and raised his eyebrows.

"I want to listen to your story and then make a decision," Rey amended.

Luke smiled affectionately at her. "It's a very long story. We're not going to train anymore today. Let's make tea, build our fire early, and then I'll start."