The Sun was setting in the horizon. Rey drew her tunic closer to herself as gusts of wind rustled through the trees. They had been walking for most of the day, stopping only to eat and meditate at sites Luke deemed important. Rey could hardly be bothered- she still marvelled at Takodana's rich greens, a welcome contrast to the dull hues of Jakku. Ah. A soft sigh from Luke caught her attention. The uphill climb had at last levelled at the top of the mountain. Hoisting her supply satchel higher on her shoulders, Rey scrambled up a precariously stacked pile of rocks to catch up to her Master, who was several paces ahead. Finally, the two came to a stop at a clearing. Luke planted his staff in the ground and beckoned for her to take a seat on the ground. Teacher and student sat shoulder to shoulder gazing up at the pink sky. "The sunset," Luke pronounced after a long pause, "is a transition between light and dark- a sort of balance, if you will." He turned his head towards Rey. "But it is fleeting." With that, he resumed his meditation, leaving Rey confused and thirsty. It was typical of Luke to deliver cryptic lessons and leave her to piece them together. But meditation was taxing- Rey was naturally fidgety, and despite the long walk, she could feel the weight of her unspent energy pressing against her, suppressed only by boredom. Beside her, Luke had settled into a pattern of soft breaths. In, out, in, out. Rey willed herself to concentrate- she pressed her eyes shut and tried to feel the Force envelop her. She could sense it- just barely- and it lapped up against her and through her in light waves. Her shoulders began to loosen. Suddenly, Luke exclaimed loudly, a sharp guttural noise. Rey's eyes flew open. "Wha-" she began questioningly, but Luke had already sprung to his feet and seized his staff. Her heartbeat quickened as she followed suit. He reached for her arm and pulled her under the covering of trees. "Run!" he breathed frantically, an uncharacteristic panic flickering in his eyes. Rey opened her mouth to protest, a flurry of questions building in her mind, but Luke had left her. He had planted himself about 25 meters away and unsheathed a saber. Rey opened her mouth to shout his name. And froze. To her horror, the trees were shaking, now violently. Luke's robes billowed in the sudden maelstrom. Rey squinted her eyes against the stinging, airborne particles of dirt. A heavy impact shook the ground and for a brief second, everything was still. Her eyes widened. Slowly, the outline of a dark ship was flickering into sight. Damnit she swore desperately, her eyes seeking out Luke. He was still rooted firmly to the same spot. His cry "run" echoed in her head, but she would not abandon her Master- her teacher. Through the dusky haze, a tall, dark figure was drawing nearer. "Luke Skywalker." The voice was filtered and devoid of emotion. "And Rey." She shuddered involuntarily at her name. Rey braced herself. She would not hide in the trees and watch Luke duel their enemy alone. Blood thumped in her ears but so too did adrenaline. She shrugged her pack of her shoulders, let it drop to the ground at the edge of the forest, and unlatched her saber from her belt. From opposite directions, she and the Sith approached Luke. Rey assumed her position at her teacher's side. "Kylo Ren," Luke said as a way of greeting and in the moment he looked older and sadder than anyone Rey had ever seen. A hideous black mask stared back at the two of them. Every instinct of Rey's was screaming to attack. The filtered voice came again: "I come for the scavenger." Swiftly ,unprecedentedly, Ren arced his saber, a malformed red weapon, and lunged towards the older man. Luke was too slow. Instinctively, he moved to shied himself with his prosthetic hand. But Rey was ready. She deflected, nearly falling backward with the impact of their clash. A low growl escaped the mask. "You defy me." Ren was upon her once more but Luke took a sweep at his chest. The sith ducked with astounding speed and Luke stumbled with momentum. "Enough." The command echoed. Ren outstretched a hand. Rey could feel him manipulating the Force- freezing her and Luke in place. She resisted, but her movements were sluggish and labored. Ren swept past Luke, who was pinned to the ground, and parried Rey's strokes with mechanical ease. Rey gritted her teeth and pushed against the Force with as much strength as she could muster. She was on the defensive- Ren's vicious lashes backed her towards the ship. All the while, she could feel herself slowing at his will. She dodged a strike and aimed for his neck. A mistake. She had left herself open for attack. The hilt of his saber caught her in the ribs and she fell backward. Shadows seeped into her mind, and she resisted the urge to vomit. Luke was still down- even from here, Rey could see that his breaths were painfully slow. Her head began to swim. The scene blurred. Her heart constricted in her chest. Now, hard hands hoisted her up and darkness swept over her.