The Last Jedi
Part 1
Rey's mouth began to gently tremble with her eyes watering. With a growing feeling of something stuck in her throat as she gazed upon Luke holding his saber outreached to him to take. All of her trials and tribulations from Jakku to Starkiller base topped with loss of Han who in the short time she had known him had been the only father figure she had known. Luke's eyes were not what she imagined at first gazing upon her sizing her up but with a second take he now looked at her with a sight of both fear and acknowledgement. She could tell he knew who she was. Both of their faces giving off a flurry of emotions that neither could conceal all leading to the point Luke reached out taking the saber from her. His mind beginning to drift as old memories came back to the surface.
"My name is Rey, your sister Leia sent me to find you. She needs your help defeating the First Order and Kylo Ren." With that last name Luke flinches bringing back his mind on focus to her. Looking out past her he could see the "Millennium falcon". Instinctively he walk past Rey handing her back the saber with great haste.
"Han!" Luke calls out to his old Friend.
"Luke?!" Rey shouts to him. "Luke Skywalker!" She tries to get his attention. Then before Luke could enter the Falcon Chewie exited.
"Chewie where's Han?" With a simble growl from his mouth Luke's heart ached as he stepped back turning to Rey.
"Please...you're our only hope." She begs of him. The words piercing Luke causing him pain he hasn't felt in many years as he gave his quiet yet powerful answer that stunned Rey to her core.
"No."
Nearly three days had past since Starkiller base's destruction Kylo on his flag ship "The Finalizer" stood before his meditation room's doors silent and still. He could feel the muscles in his hand tense as he balled a fist. His mind retracing the last week of his encounters with Rey, FN-2817, and Han...Han. The thought of his father's look in his eye's stained Kylo's mind. The pull of the light he often felt but since killing Han he now felt an emptiness in it's place. A void...a loss of self. To him he was taught to embrace the dark side and cut his ties for they were chains that kept him shackled yet when cutting this tie he felt nothing. Why; was it him? Does he simply not command the dark side so masterfully as he thought?
What could have caused him such confusion and loss of power that while even toying with the traitor FN-2817 he would be struck in the arm. Making a mockery of him, surely the traitor is no longer laughing now most likely dead from his wounds. This slight thought gave Kylo some comfort as he finally began to take a step when suddenly he's stopped. Looking forward he see's the scar across his face in his reflection. The fight against Rey should've easily been his yet he lost. To girl who had never even wielded a light saber let alone know of the force defeated him. This embarrassment was now fully on his mind. No longer could he go into his room, no longer could he face...him. Fear; Kylo felt fear. The feint sound of a respirator began to grow louder and louder. Making his whole body tense up.
"Sir are you ok?" Kylo snapped out of his trance to see a stormtrooper to his left. It was then he felt the sweat slide down his forehead. Kylo quickly drew his saber cutting down the trooper dispatching the witness with haste. No one would ever see him in that state again. He was Kylo Ren heir to the First Order and nobody escapes his wrath. Not this trooper and definitely not the Resistance.
Beep. Beep. Activating his holo-ccommunicator Kylo answer to see General Hux.
"Kylo Ren; Supreme Leader Snoke has summoned you to his command ship. It involves matters with the resistance."
"Inform him I'm on my way." He answers walking away towards the ships hangar only as he walks he can hear it. The chill echo of a respirator once more causing the hair on his body to stand all the way until he leaves the ship.
Blood Red; this was the first thing that always stood out to Kylo as he entered the massive throne room. Exiting the lift he could see in the corners of his helmet two of Snoke's guards follow closely behind. This caused Kylo to smirk under the protection of his mask. Could it be that perhaps his Master was nervous of his growing power?
"Don't flatter yourself." The deep voice protruded the room. "Hehehe, you think I'm really worried about a boy who lost to girl whose never even held a light saber hahaha." His master mockery of him began to fuel Kylo's rage as he finished walking up to the throne. "Ah yes there's the power rising. I can feel that hatred, tell me where was it on Starkiller Base?" Kylo's head twitches up to his master. "You let a girl wound you many times with out even putting a scratch on her, tell me doe's any of it even hurt?"
"It's only a scratch." He attempts to down play as if showing his strength.
"Fool!" Snoke Stands firmly tall towering over Kylo even causing him to step back. "Don't play tough for me boy; those wounds should echo into you for the rest of your life fueling your anger, hatred and power not shrugged off to show off some bravado!" Snoke could easily tell Kylo's expression on his face behind the mask. "Kneel my apprentice." For a moment Kylo stands defiantly. Snoke flicks his right index finger up and with power never seen by Kylo He forced to the ground. "I said kneel!" This act amuses Snoke greatly. "Now take off that stupid helmet." Reluctantly his apprentice removes his helmet from his face showing his master the scar across his face. staring from his bottom right cheek moving all the way to in between his eyes. "What a shame; perhaps I was wrong to put my faith in you. Obviously you weren't ready for the task. Now look at you just a farce to the name Kylo Ren. you're no Vader just a pretender in a mask." instinctively Kylo reched for his saber only to be frozen instantaneously with Snoke's hand fully out reached. "Remember who it is that let's you even breath in this room boy." Snoke calmingly returns to his seat releasing Kylo. "Now go; get out of my sight and don't come back until you've proven you're worthy by killing the Resistance and bringing me the girl." The Supreme leader commands his apprentice.
Picking up his helmet Kylo enters the turbo lift with two guards following close behind. With all three entering Kylo's anger and patience began to boil. To him the mask didn't mean being Vader; no. No one understood. He wasn't going to become Vader he was going to be better. The guards began to feel a tension within the small confined space. Their armor flaps lightly trembling. the two glance at each other then back at Kylo who opens his eyes at the two. With in an instant the crimson red blade pierced the guard's back to his left and out his chest. Before the other could act Kylo took his helmet and smashed it against his face and into the wall. With a roar Kylo began slamming the helmet into the guards head with sparks and shards of metal shooting out. The lift opens showing on guard on the floor dead with Kylo walking over his body putting back on his helmet which now fashioned a crack along the side reminiscent to his own scar. Behind him as the door shuts the other guard's headless body slumps down to the ground.
Bang! Bang! Bang! "Luke I know you're in there; please open up!" Rey pleaded. "The Resistance needs you!" The door finally opens with Luke no longer in his robes but now in normal clothing and rags.
"You don't think I know that." He states bypassing her.
"Where are you going?" She questions unable to get an answer from him. Following him all around the island as he goes through his daily routines.
With the day dragging out Rey's patience began to tire as Luke never spoke a word to her. So much so that as when the next day came she didn't even try to talk to him instead she chose to wander about the island and learn about the temple she was on. Coming across an oddly shaped tree. From its base that was the size of Luke's own hut were three pronged tips like trident making up the rest of tree. Seeing an opening on the side she slowly crept in. The sides and floors of the tunnel was covered in roots all leading her inward. Following she came to the center of the tree open with nothing inside except a single shelf. On it were a handful of books nine in total. Picking one up she couldn't really tell how old they being written on paper a form yet they seemed burnt, torn and filthy with dirt; yet at the same time so preserved. On the cover of the book she held was the symbol of the seemed to be a saber held up.
"Careful with that, please be." She heard a croaky like voice behind her speak. Whipping around she is met with Luke behind her entering.
"Please be careful with those." He states walking over to her.
"What are these?" She questions handing over the book she held.
"The first texts of the Jedi order. They're ancient and very old yet as you can see still very resilient aren't they?" He explains to her. Looking up once at Rey, Luke could feel some sort familiarity with her. It was as if he had already met her once before many years before.
"Please Master Skywalker I can't leave here with out you're the only who can defeat Kylo Ren." Rey once more attempted to recruit him. "We need the Jedi to come back."
*scoff
Luke turns away from heading out of the temple. "Foolish girl the Galaxy doesn't need the Jedi it's better off with out them." He tells her to her discomfort.
"What do you mean better off?" Rey demands storming after him. "The First Order's armies far out match what little the Resistance has. Especially after taking out all of the New Republic's leaderships. The Hutt's and other Gangs still control most of the outer core worlds. Now more than ever is the time of the Jedi to return!" She screams out to him. Her rage boiling up inside her.
"Leave me alone I have important matters to attend too." Luke simply responded shrugging her off once more.
Now Rey had enough Han was dead, who knows if Finn will wake up from his wounds. She was on the verge of losing everything at the hands of Kylo and First Order and this Legendary hero she was sent to bring back to help them was just being a stubborn old fool. Important matters? "What important matters?!" She called out to him.
All she had seen Luke do was fish, and spends all day in his hut for that past two days. Rocks slowly began to rise as the ground began to subtly shake. Luke could feel the force around and turned to Rey who was just as amazed as he was. This was the first time in nearly a week she actually attempted to reach out in the force that she was not used to the power she possessed that it still scared her a little bit. The two of them crossed eyes unsure of what to do next when Luke finally smirks.
"Who are you?"
Confused Rey once more began to tell him. "My name is Rey i'm with the Resistance your sisters-"
"No. I mean who are you; where are you from?" He asks walking over to her."
"I'm from Jaku."
"Jaku?" Luke turned and pondered before facing her once more. This time with small chuckle.
"What's so funny?"
"There's no coincidence only the Force." Luke answers with Rey still befuddled. "It's an honor to finally and formally meet you Rey."
"Y-you...you know who I am?" Rey questions with the two of them now in Luke's hut gathered by around by his small fire that lit up the room.
"More like I know of you." Luke replies leaning to his side picking up a small journal. "Many years ago when I was running my order there was probably around two dozen or so of us. all under my tutelage ranging from children to adolescents all eager to learn the ways of the force and I eager to teach them. We had so much room to grow the only other Masters at the time were two very close friends of mine. One who once my enemy during the War against the Empire his name was Kreel he was not force sensitive in any way but had become very proficient lightsaber. After many duels we had come to respect one another greatly and after the empire fell I was able to convince him to join me. The other was Mira..." Luke fell silent as his mind began to drift with memories of his past. Rey could tell that whomever this Mira was she very important to Luke as a whole.
"Please continue." Rey encouraged.
"After sometime we three felt comfortable enough to expand once more we discovered a number of children with a connection to the force, but unlike my predecessors of the past we only kept in contact with the families checking in waiting for the day they would be inducted if they so chose. You were one of those children Rey."
"So you kept in contact with my parents; please could you tell me who they were?"
"While I didn't know there true names as they using aliases they did present me with this." He tells handing over the journal.
"What is it."
"That my dear is the Journal of the Whills." He answers. "The Guardians of the Whills have always walked the path of the middle line of the Force guarding and protecting the knowledge and intentions of the Whill's." He goes on to explain.
"Who are the whills?"
"Possibly the oldest beings in the galaxy itself, they're manifestations of the Force. While many do not believe in such stories, I've become a believer in such things."
"Do you know where I could find my parents?" All of Rey's questions so far had been met with straight forward answers but this last one caused Luke to stop entirely. "What is it?"
"Rey, you're parents are dead." Luke tells her his voice colder and filled with sadness before looking down in shame.
"How?" She begins tearing up.
"My nephew, when he killed the other Jedi. Ben."
Nearly 15 years ago it happened...
With the heavy rain washing over. Blaster bolts ricocheted away as they slammed in to the sparking crimson red saber. A number of men and women continued to open fire as they held a perimeter in front of ship still being loaded by one hooded man leading a group of children into the ship assisted by another young woman bearing a resemblance to Rey.
"Take off!" The man commanded seeing Kylo and the Knights of Ren approaching.
"Not everyone is on board!" The women shouted back.
"If you don't leave now then your daughter will die!" He stated whipping his head back around to the sound of a scream. A knight of Ren known as The Heavy had slammed his massive cleaver into one the female fighters. Flipping over him the Armory whipped out his pistols blasting away three more. Pressing forward one fighter tries to jump him from the side only to be countered with The Armory hitting him with his own gun flipping over his shoulder and blasting into his chest before twirling around and shooting another attempting another sneak attack. While three more fighters attempted to retreat to the ship The Rogue leaps out from their right flank. Taking the lead by the neck kicking the second back into the third. With a quick pull from his hands the Rogue snaps his captive's neck. quickly taking his gun and opening fire on the other two. The Monk came right to the ship with his staff swiping what seemed to be two children before charging at the last two on the ships ramp.
"We have to go!" The pilot screamed.
"No wait!" The woman shouted. One last woman came over the hill rushing over with young girl in her arms.
The hooded man whips out a green saber taking off his hood to reveal it is Kreel who had lost an eye. Leaping into the fray he began his duel with the Monk clashing their weapons together. As the women got closer to the ship a sudden shock of pain hits her as a blaster bolt rips right through her chest narrowly missing the child. One fighter looks over to see the woman drop to the ground the child crying out.
"Mama! Mama!"
Slowly moving up to her was the Sniper. As he raised his weapon to the young girl he's quickly tackled by the fighter who shouts for the child to run to the ship. Raising his weapon he's suddenly stabbed in the back by Kylo's saber. "Papa!" She screams frozen still only to be picked up by the women and carried off to the ship which was finally taking off. With Kreel kicking back the Monk he suddenly finds him self frozen when suddenly Kylo walks by slicing off his head.
"Is the tracker placed?" He questions the Sniper.
"It is no matter where they go we'll find them." He responds. With the others gathering around watching the ship flee.
Present day...
"It was nearly four days before I arrived on the planet to see what had become of everyone. I thought you were all dead." Luke tells the now weeping Rey. "I'm sorry."
"You have to stop him." She speaks up. "Kylo you have to stop him. Stop him from doing it again. you have to stop him form killing your sister and everyone else in the galaxy."
"Rey."
"No! You have to confront him and beat him!" She yelled.
"I can't!"
"Why?"
"Cause I've already tried!" He shouts. "I lost every thing back then; my students, my friends, and even the woman I loved who carried my child still in her belly!" He begins to open up. "I had walked the line of the dark side before yes, but this time I was devastated, destroyed for small span of time I only wanted revenge so in my foolishness I set out after Ben. I knew his growing power in the force was monstrous but I could take him." Luke goes on. "I was foolish I had felt the growing darkness in him before and never knew what it was; that was until i faced him and his fellow knights of Ren on Mustafar. I was the legendary Luke Skywalker a man on a mission and in that brief time, in my hubris I blind myself to the obvious trap that awaited for me."
"What happened?" Luke reached his non mechanical hand out and with a use of the force he opened up his memories to her.
"I came face to face to Ben's so called new master, Supreme Leader Snoke."
"Snoke?"
"I could not tell by his scared body who he was only that he was the apex panicle of the dark side. His power massive so much it so I began to think this man was darker than the Emperor himself."
"What did you do? What happened next?"
"I was stupid; I stood my ground and for a time I matched Snoke in the force, but soon I found myself attacked on all fronts by the Knights of Ren. Forced into a corner I battled taking my saber into flurry of hand to hand combat. On that day I killed five of the most skilled warriors I had ever faced. But by the time I turned my sights to Ben and Snoke it was to late. Everything up until than was all apart of Snoke's plan. The men I killed were actually sacrifices to a ritual and I offered every single one of them up. I felt the force ripped out of my very body. Using what little power I still felt in my body before it was sucked away I was able to collapse the cave narrowly escaping with my life. My power was gone and I knew my mistakes had now left the Galaxy open for the taking to Snoke." Luke finished explaining bring Rey back out of his mind.
"But wait you just used the force? I thought you said it was ripped out of you?"
"It was but one thing that it always true with the force and it is that it is in all living things." He responded. "My power was stripped away yes, but the force was still in me I could feel it like a wound that hurts when it rains. For years I searched for a way to regain my power that is what brought me here. For a decade my power has slowly returned to me but I've come to learn that this planet a powerful source of the force is the only thing still keeping me alive. If I were to leave and set out with you now I would die and there would be no one left to take one Snoke." Luke finishes.
"Then there's nothing you can do to help then; it's hopeless?" Rey states getting up feeling her world just crumble under her feet.
"I'm sorry." Luke responds as Rey leaves the hut.
Making her way through the old temple Rey suddenly found herself seeing a familiar figure. Kylo looked out into the Hangar of his ship when he oddly felt a presence behind him he turned to see her.
"What is this?" Kylo questioned.
"How are you here?" Rey fired back.
"Where are you I only see black around you?" Kylo continued when suddenly he noticed Rey's face growing with anger. She quickly draws her pistol with Kylo raising his hand hoping to stop the shot with force but unable to feel her as she fires single shot. The shock snaps Kylo out who for a brief moment felt fear again sending him into a rage. Back with Rey she lowers her weapon seeing she only shot a pillar of rocks and heads to the Falcon to sleep.
With the following day arriving Luke looked out over the hill to see Rey working on her staff exercises. Finishing her sequences she opened up the Journal Luke had given her and began to read along. Luke continued to watch as Rey then took out Luke's old light saber attempting to practice the light saber techniques and sequences of form 1 Shii-cho. If Luke wasn't going to be able to help her or the Resistance then she would have to learn the ways of the Jedi and take his place. Seeing the determination in her gave look a small warm feeling he would often get seeing his old students practicing. Turning away Luke made his way to the Falcon. Chewie was out hunting some porg leaving the ship open to him.
Entering he felt a calm sadness rush into him as he remembered back to his old friend and their adventures together. As he entered the cock pit flicking on the lights he sat himself into one of the seat placing his hand over his face. "Han I'm sorry."
"Beep. Boop."
"R2?" Luke looks up to see his old partner rolling over to him. "I've missed you my old friend." He smiles.
"Booop. Beep. Boop." R2 responds.
"I'm sorry buddy but I cant come with you." Luke tells the droid. R2 then spins his head and projects the old message he came across so many decades ago. It was of Leia still young girl during the galactic civil war.
"Many years ago you served my father in the Clone Wars. Now he begs you to help him in his struggle against the empire. I regret I'm unable to present my father's request to you in person, but my ship has fallen under attack and my mission to bring you to Alderaan has failed." Luke sat up listening more intently as a spark that had not been lit in many years began to flicker once more. "Help me Obi-wan Kenobi you're my only hope." With message ended and Luke glances over at R2. "That was a dirty trick." He smirks. Some time later he exits the Falcon to see Rey and Chewie heading over to the ship to see Luke coming out.
"Does this mean you're going with us?" She asks him.
"I'm not leaving." He responds to her annoyance. "And neither are you." He catches her off guard. "If you mean to fight my nephew then you'll need to be trained right."
"You're going to train me?" Rey smiles.
"Don't get to happy about it. If what you say is true and that time is of the essence then I have no choice but to train you harder than any other of my students have ever trained. By this time one week from now I promise you that you wont be the girl that stands before me now."