-Chapter 1-
Luke suddenly broke from his meditation, unable to bear the images flowing through his mind. A series of future events haunted his thoughts; visions of the First Order rising and the New Republic fading from existence. Though these premonitions brought great dismay, nothing tore at his gut more than foreseeing Ben Solo slay his own father. In taking on the gifted pupil, did he just unleash the next terror upon the entire galaxy? How did he fail?
He pondered on the past, thinking of the events that led up to the destruction of the temple he built for reestablishing the Jedi. He felt the conflict in young Ben, knew he fought against the light and dark, and sensed an outside presence interfering, though he brushed it off as paranoia. And because he ignored his own instincts, he now found himself alone on an island and reflecting upon his failures.
"In a dark place you find yourself again," a familiar voice said behind him.
"Yes," Luke said, regarding the ghostly image of Yoda. "I thought I could pass on my wisdom to a new generation of Jedi. I not only failed, but I have foreseen a dark future in which the New Republic will be no more and everyone I love is dead..."
Yoda viewed him with troubling eyes. "Skywalker, when you interpret these visions, careful you must be. Remember your teachings. Always in motion is the future. Nothing is certain."
"If I stay here and do nothing, I believe these events will unfold," Luke said. He suddenly felt another presence, a malicious entity breathing over his shoulder, a sensation he had felt many times since he arrived on this island. "There is something on this island, a being filled with darkness, do you not feel it? It has drawn me here, though I know not why."
"Yes," Yoda responded. "Ancient, strong, these creatures are; feed on the force, they do."
"What are you talking about?" Luke furrowed his brow in agitation at having information withheld from him as usual. "Come on, Master Yoda. You're aware of these creatures and are now just telling me about it?"
"It is a power too strong for you to handle alone, and stubborn you are in not listening," Yoda said with a chuckle, and then his tone became serious. "Patience you must have, understanding, discover their weakness you must before confronting them."
"Confronting who?"
"The Whills, they call themselves," Yoda explained. "Be wary of..."
Yoda's ghostly form abruptly disappeared. Luke felt the mysterious presence grow stronger, colder, and the hairs on the back of his neck rose. Luke instinctively ignited his lightsaber; the green-glow of the blade hummed with each motion he made searching for this elusive antagonizer. "Show yourself," he said, searching every corner of his hut. "I know you are here, I can sense you."
No answer came.
The sudden coldness vanished. Luke, however, knew where he would find this being. At the heart of the island was a great black hole, the very place he felt a tremendous power calling to him. But for what reason? To test his power, to destroy him, to enslave him here and turn him into a grumpy, old hermit? If he refused the challenge, then the later was inevitable. However, Luke refused this destiny, the life of a recluse, the life of someone who would abandon his friends - he would face this dark evil.
Slipping on his loose-fitting black attire, Luke glanced at himself in front of a mirror. How old he had become, he thought, with a long grayish beard and wrinkles on every crevice of his face. It reminded him so much of Obi-Wan, how he missed the old man now. But he was not Obi Wan, he was Luke Skywalker. He stood motionless in front of the mirror, studying every inch of his face, and then he felt an inclination to pick up a razor. Moments later, the beard was gone and he felt like his old self again.
"Whoever you are," he whispered to his unseen antagonist, "I think it is about time we met."