Chapter 3 – His Dark Past

Dinner that night was awkward. In fact, awkward didn't seem to cover it. Usually, Ben would take food to his room to eat away from his parents but Leia had insisted that as they were in a new house, there would be new rules. Her first was that they would eat together as a family.

Ben prodded his piece of fish rather than eating it. The noise of his Father obnoxiously munching irritated him and he found it difficult to focus on his own food.

"I was hoping tomorrow that you would pay a visit to your Uncle and talk about your training routine," Leia began. Ben looked at her with annoyed eyes.

"I don't see why I have to learn force fighting with him," Ben protested. "There are plenty of classes around which would probably offer better teaching anyway," He twirled his fork before placing it on the plate.

"It's a family tradition, he learnt it from his Father and now he wants to teach you," Leia frowned. "I can't teach you and Han never learned besides, Luke was one of the top force fighters in his region. He probably still is,"

Han cleared his throat awkwardly and took a sip of juice.

"No offence Leia but I don't see why he should even learn it. You saw what it did to your Dad. As far as I can see, it's only caused problems," Han added to the conversation, much to Ben's displeasure.

"Those days are over now… My Father is a good man and so is Luke," She then turned to Ben. "Luke will teach you force fighting but he'll also teach you how to control your anger. It'll calm you," She smiled and finished eating. "Aren't you eating?" She asked Ben, concerned.

"Not hungry," He replied and stood up to put his plate by the sink.

At that moment, a knock at the door pierced through the family's tension. As Ben was the only one standing, he was the one to answer the door.

Behind the front door stood Hux, Ben remembered him from the party. He had his hands clasped behind his back and stood with good posture. He still didn't meet slouching Ben's height.

"Hello Hux," Ben said suspiciously, wondering why on earth he was paying him a visit after their encounter at the party.

"Hello Ben," Hux smiled but his expression didn't seem friendly. "I was wondering, seeming as we're neighbours now, if you would like to come out for a quick walk with me? To get to know each other of course,"

"Uh actually we were just having dinner," Ben lied; he didn't exactly want to go on a 'walk' with Hux. Han overheard their conversation and paced over to the door after placing his plate on the counter.

"You can go with Hux, Ben. We're finished with dinner anyway," Han pushed Ben towards Hux slightly. Words could not describe the fury building inside Ben at his Father's interference.

"Great," Hux smiled again. "We won't be long," He added and waited for Ben to slip his shoes on.

Before leaving Ben shot Han a death glare and Han returned it with a grin. They walked down the path together and Hux didn't begin speaking until they were a good few metres away from the house. When he did speak, his tone had changed from friendly to threatening.

"I understand you and Rey decided to 'meet up' today?" Hux sneered. Ben glanced at him, shocked at this sudden change in attitude.

"She was just showing me the way to the store," Ben replied, not wanted to explain the part where Rey saved him from the old man.

"Just showing you to the store hmm? How do I know that next week it won't be 'just showing you to her bed'?" Hux face turned red as his voice became increasingly angry. Ben stopped walking and turned to him, raising his hands in an almost surrender.

"Woah I'm sorry if you and Rey are together ok? But really she was just showing me to the store," Why was he even explaining himself to Hux?

"Rey and I aren't together… Yet" Hux pauses. "I was here first so I suggest you back off and find someone else to flirt with," He stepped forward and jabbed a finger at him. "Stay away from Rey,"

Due to their height difference, the image of Hux squaring up to Ben was almost comical. At this point Ben had heard enough. If this kid wanted a fight, he was going to give it to him.

"Look, Hux, you can't tell me who I can and can't talk to. If Rey wants to talk to me I'm not going to tell her to leave because her 'stalker' was here first," Ben stood to his full height.

"I am not her stalker!" Hux's face had reached a shade of purple.

"How was it you knew she was talking to me then? You just happened to be watching out of your window when we met?" Ben's voice grew louder until a door was heard opening. The pair stopped glaring at each other and looked towards the sound. Snoke, the old man from the party, had emerged from his house and was proceeding down his path.

"What's all this commotion?" Snoke called out. "All I can hear is you two arguing," He folds his arms.

"Sorry to disturb you sir, I was just… making some things clear," Hux explained and glanced once more at Ben. "I think we're done here anyway. I'll be on my way then," With that, Hux left Ben and Snoke and returned to his home. Ben swallowed and was about to make his leave also when Snoke caught him with his voice.

"Say Ben, has anyone ever told you about your Grandfather?" Snoke questioned casually but the words sparked his curiosity so much that he looked back over to Snoke.

"My Grandfather… My parents won't tell me about him," Ben answered and looked down at the floor. Snoke smiled in a twisted way and gestured for Ben to come over.

"Why don't you come in? I can tell you many things you'd be interested in knowing," Snoke's offer sounded tempting but Ben thought back to his parents. There must've been a reason for their refusal to speak about his Grandfather's past. He remembered how Han had practically forced him to walk with Hux and how he had ruined his first meeting with Rey and Finn. Out of spite, he decided that perhaps Snoke could offer some valuable information and his parents had no right to hide him from their family's secrets. Besides, he was sure to find out sooner or later.

"Alright," Ben said quietly as he followed Snoke inside his house.

Inside, Snoke's house was unkempt. It appeared he made little effort to keep it clean and the most decorating he'd done was paint the walls but it was obvious that he hadn't done that in a while. Snoke gestured for Ben to sit down so he obeyed and sat down on the least dirty part of the sofa. Snoke sat the other side and at that moment Ben felt uncomfortable. Perhaps he shouldn't have followed Snoke. Maybe, if he made an excuse, it wouldn't be too awkward if he left now. Before his mind could imagine any more possible outcomes Snoke began his story.

"I knew your Grandfather when I was your age… He was in his twenties and I was not much younger than you. He was kind, forgiving and very much in love with Padme," Snoke spoke in a croaky voice. Ben placed his hands in his lap. "But you probably knew that. Tell me Ben, just what do you know about your Grandfather?" Snoke asked and eyed him curiously.

"I know he made some mistakes and went to jail. I don't know what he did though, my parents won't tell me," He explained and Snoke chuckled.

"They're scared you'll turn out like him I bet," Snoke continued to laugh making Ben feel even more uncomfortable.

"Anakin, or should I say… Vader," Snoke continued but was interrupted.

"Who's Vader?" Ben stopped Snoke's story.

"Vader was Anakin's undercover name," The old man explained and Ben nodded. "Vader was part of a major crime gang. They called themselves: 'The Empire'," Snoke emphasised the last to words and sighed in admiration. "They were so big; they practically ran the entire state. Even the police were too scared to try and interfere with their business. They would've grown even further if it weren't for Vader,"

"Did he stop them?" Ben asked. Snoke shook his head and smirked.

"He tried to overthrow the person in command… Sidious. Who, you'll find, lives on the corner of our street in a cardboard box," Snoke laughed deviously. Ben's mouth fell open.

"You mean Palpatine? That crazy old guy… He ran the entire state," Snoke laughed at Ben's disbelief and nodded his head.

"Indeed… Anyway, back to the story, Sidious ordered Vader to kill Luke when he refused to join 'The Empire'. However," Snoke's voice darkened. "Vader was too weak… He couldn't do it and when Sidious tried to kill Luke himself, Vader attacked Sidious. Both of them were so weak after the fight they ended up in hospital which allowed the authorities to bring down the gang once and for all. Both Vader and Sidious were imprisoned along with many others. When Vader came out he was desperate to redeem himself and become a new man. Which he did, of course, while Palpatine was left mentally scarred. He's not himself anymore…" Snoke finished his story and took a sip of some tea he had next to him.

Ben's thoughts were racing after hearing the tale. He couldn't believe his parents had never told him.

"That's why they want you to learn force fighting with Luke," Snoke added and Ben glanced up at Snoke. "Luke has never wronged in his life. They hope by training you in the fighting style with him, you'll turn out like him and not Vader. It seems a waste though… To not allow you your true destiny," Snoke's words toyed with his mind. Was he suggesting that Ben should be like Vader?

"Are you trying to say that I should start my own crime organisation and be like Vader," Ben stood up from the sofa.

"All I'm saying is you're destined for greatness. It would be so easy for you to take control of the city. People are still terrified of Vader even if he is a 'changed' man. All you would have to do is mention you're his grandson and you'll have people wrapped around your finger," Snoke stood up and placed a wrinkled hand on Ben's shoulder. He leant over to his ear and whispered. "You could have whatever you wanted… Take whoever you wanted…"

Ben pulled away and stood tall.

"You're crazy," He protested and marched to the door.

"If you ever change your mind… You know where to find me," Snoke called as Ben ran outside. He slammed the door and proceeded straight to his house. He needed time to think this over. Finding out about his Grandfather was hard enough but the fact that Snoke suggested he should be like him made him feel sick.

As he reached his home he pushed the door open and pushed past his parents.

"Ben?" Han called.

"What's wrong?" Leia called also.

He ignored both of them and headed straight up to his room and shut the door. He collapsed onto his bed and stared into the covers. Snoke was just a crazy old man… He probably wasn't even telling him the truth.

(Thanks for all the reviews ^-^ I love reading them :3 )