Note: I am very much indebted to the inspiring story Red Five by lotusflower85. That story gave me some ideas. Let me know what you think and any constructive criticism. Ideas for where this story should go moving forward are most welcome. Please leave these suggestions and comments in the reviews.
Chapter 3 - Family Ties
The Battle of Jakku had been bloody but decisive affair. The remaining Imperial forces had been almost completely obliterated thanks to the piloting of Han Solo with some timely help by Shara Dameron and Jyn Erso thrown into the mix. The celebrations seemed to go on forever but Luke Skywalker wasn't interested in any of it. He held onto the railing overlooking the emptiness of space far away from his soon-to-be brother-in-law's laughter. Jyn snuck up behind him. Or rather, he let her believe she did.
"It's been a while…I thought of you a lot."
"I am sorry Luke, about everything." She paused before adding, "Especially about Anakin…he was good in the end." He exhaled deeply. She could tell he was deep in thought.
"Yes he was. He saved me." They said nothing for a while. Finally, he turned around to face her. "As soon as the Alliance wraps up matters here—maybe after Han and Leia marry…I am going to leave."
"Where will you go?'
"Yavin IV…maybe try and fine some more Jedi or Sith holocrons." He looked up at her eyes intently. "You could come with me?" She scoffed at that suggestion.
"What for Luke?"
"I'm going to try to rebuild the Jedi Order. And I need all the Force-sensitive people I can find." She rolled her eyes.
"You want to take me as your apprentice? You know my history farm-boy…I don't like working with other people—at least not anymore…not like that." He felt warm inside as if the Force was beckoning him. He moved closer to her. She felt it too. He pushed a strand of her aside.
"It's not just because I want you as an apprentice." She breathed in deeply.
"What else could you possibly want with me…" He silenced her protestations with a gentle kiss on her lips. She closed her eyes and leaned in embracing him. They stayed that way for a while and just held each other. "I knew from the moment we met…I knew how you felt about me and I felt the same way."
"The Force works in strange ways doesn't it?" He smiled at her as they stood there overlooking the empty sea of space. They could hear footsteps coming approaching. Within moments Han Solo entered the room roaring with laughter followed closely by Leia.
"Kid! Kid! Luke…you've got to come out here…" He stopped mid-sentence.
"Where was he?"
"I swear I saw Jyn in here with him."
"Jedi tricks…now that I know this is real…it would have served me much better a smuggler." Leia rolled her eyes letting a slight smile cross her face.
"Well wherever he is, I think he doesn't want to be found."
In another corner of the ship, far from the bridge, the two warriors sat with each other.
"Why did you have us leave so quickly…surely your sister must know who you were with?"
"Yes, but I wanted us not to be interrupted."
"By that boor of a nerfherder Han?" Hearing her call his best friend that name made him laugh. "What is it?"
"Leia is the only one who calls him that."
"I know farm-boy." She paused adjusting her jumpsuit. "Why pick me out?"
"Because you are the only other person besides Han and Leia who know who and what my father was…" He turned away from her. "…who he once was and who he could be." She grabbed his hand squeezing it lightly. She sensed he wanted to know more.
"You mentioned a name once."
"Ahsoka?"
"Yes. Who was she?"
"One of the earliest members of Bail Organa's rebel cells. She helped a band of Force-sensitive people tangle with Vader and the Inquisitors."
"But she was something more than that…"
"She was Anakin Skywalker's apprentice." Luke's eyes bulged.
"My father had an apprentice…he was a rogue Jedi."
"That's precisely why they gave him an apprentice, a younger girl with more spunk than him."
"To teach a sense of responsibility…they worked well together. She was fiercely loyal to him and to Padmé." That last name shook him to his core.
"Padmé?"
"Senator Padmé Amidala of Naboo. A charismatic leader of the Old Republic. In it's waning days she helped forge the first resistance to Palpatine's rule. She also violated every rule in the book by secretly marrying your father."
"How do you know all this Jyn?"
"This was passed down among the rumors of those first rebels. But Ahsoka filled in the gaps for me. It was she who realized who Vader really was."
"They fought." She nodded her head.
"She fought him to a draw so I heard…cut his helmet in half exposing his human face. The rest of her cell tried to intervene to save her, but she refused." She paused for a moment and sighed.
"You were close."
"Yes. She was supposed to be involved in stealing the plans. When she fell at Vader's hands, it was a deadly blow to the Rebel Alliance. One that was only matched when Phoenix Squadron…which was her old unit…was obliterated. That was when the Rebel High Command accelerated the operation you know as Rogue One."
"Of all the old Rebels, you lived…"
"I was the only one…but you knew that already. In that respect, Luke…" She couldn't believe she was actually using his name now. It felt right to do so. "You and I are quite similar. We lost everything we thought we knew…our whole worlds were shattered…"
"But we found a new life."
"Yes."
"Will you help me restore the Jedi Order?" She avoided his eyes.
"If it means so much to you—"
"It does," he added.
"Then I will." She leaned her head against his shoulder.
Rey was transfixed by the story her father told her.
"When do you decide to marry her?"
"I knew it then on that ship after the battle. The Force brought us together again after that time apart."
"Did she know me?"
"Yes."
"And Ben?"
"She loved Ben…she used to say that he was her favorite nephew." That comment made her laugh.
"Tell me about him before he turned. About all of this…how it started."
Ben Solo lunged with the wooden sword in his hand as he clashed with his aunt's mock blade as Luke watched the scene. It had been twelve years since the Battle of Jakku, and the new Jedi Academy was thriving. Jyn spun around and gently Force-pushed her nephew back, but the boy was tenacious and with a quirky smile that reminded them both of Han he lunged back in.
"All right I think that's enough for today."
"Come on Uncle Luke I was ready to beat her." He rubbed the boy's jet black hair a bit as he hugged him.
"I'm sure you were." He winked at Jyn. "Go inside and get ready for lunch. We'll be there shortly." He ran in with a huge smile on his face as he gave his aunt a playful shove.
"He's something else."
"Ben's got a lot of Leia and Han in him, that much is sure."
"You worry about him."
"He's got the Skywalker legacy to shoulder…like we all do."
"It's not a curse Luke."
"But it could be. You should know that better than anyone." She nodded her head as she wiped some sweat off of her brow.
"He'll make a fine Jedi someday." Luke's thoughts drifted far away to the skies above him.
"Our Republic must be careful."
"The Imperial Remnant's on your mind."
"They are calling themselves the First Order now aren't they?" She shook her head in the affirmative.
"Luke we will deal with them in due time. We've certainly got enough Jedi in training to give them a sound thrashing if they ever try anything." He smiled kissing her cheek gently.
"Enough about politics for one day…I am starving and Ben is probably wondering if we got 'lost' along the way."
Four years later, the Jedi were growing more numerous. Equally so were the threats posed by the burgeoning First Order. Luke had sent a group of Jedi to deal with a small detachment of Storm Troopers who were raiding some of the outlying worlds in Republic space. A sixteen-year old Ben Solo stood shoulder to shoulder with a group of twenty Jedi. At the head of the group was his aunt Jyn. They were dressed in an updated version of the old Jedi robes, mirroring more of the black color that was Luke's hallmark. Across from them were a group of riot-armored Storm Troopers with their electronic batons at the ready.
"I know that some of you are afraid. That's normal. But don't let it dominate you." She pushed some of her dark brown hair to one side as she looked at the Jedi. Ben and her exchanged a small smile. "Follow me!" She ignited her dark blue blade and the other's followed suit as the Storm Trooper's charged at their line. The two groups clashed almost in slow motion, as the Jedi swung their blades against the troopers. Ben saw three of them ganging up on his aunt. I have to help her! He ran toward her with his blade at the ready, shoving some troopers aside and stabbing another through the chest. Ben grunted as he leapt up into the air and landed next to his aunt—their back's facing each other.
"You know I could have handled them on my own?"
"Sure…But I can't let you get all the glory can I?" She laughed.
"Ready?"
"We take them together Jyn." She nodded her head as they worked as a team striking at each of the troopers and parrying and striking as one entity. One trooper's baton came to close to Jyn's shoulder and Ben blocked it before it landed.
"Thanks." He smiled.
"Don't mention it."
Rey and Luke were aboard the Millennium Falcon now. She had convinced him to return to the Resistance base immediately. She had wanted to hear more stories. But he had stopped at that highpoint in the relationship between Ben and Jyn. He had decided that she had heard enough for the time being. They rode the rest of the way in silence.
It was an odd family reunion to say the least. Luke had accepted Leia's invitation to meet with her and certain members of the Resistance. He arrived on the Falcon with Rey piloting the vessel. They said very little as they landed. In the distance, she could see Poe Dameron and Finn trading jokes as they left a small shuttle behind them. BB-8 was rolling behind them interjecting his occasional exclamations as the two men caught sight of the Falcon. Finn saw her first and regardless of what anyone else thought about it he ran toward his friend and gave her a hug.
"You're back?" She smiled.
"So are you." He looked away. "How's the back healing up?"
"I wake up with a burning sensation there sometimes, but it's not as bad as before. I owe you my life."
"Don't talk like that. We made it out of there together remember?" He smiled. Luke Skywalker drew his hood back and gazed at the group in front of him.
"Poe Dameron, I knew your parents very well." Poe smiled.
"It's an honor to meet you General, they told me a lot about you growing up on Yavin IV." He waved his hand away as he smiled.
"Please, I haven't been a general for a few decades." He looked at Finn. "You must be the man that my daughter never stops talking about." Poe and Finn exchanged a confused glance.
"Your daughter?" Then Finn's eyes widened as he realized who the venerable Jedi Master was talking about. "Rey…is it true?" The young girl smiled at him. She nodded her head. Finn started to return the smile. Before he could say anything more General Leia Organa stepped out and smiled at Luke.
"I'm glad you made it."
"Me too." He paused again. "We have a lot to talk about Leia."
"We do." She stared at the other three and then spoke up. "I think the three of you need to join us right away."
"You want us to do what?" Finn's voice echoed across the small meeting room as Leia paced back and forth.
"We need to confront Snoke and Kylo Ren." Finn raised his hand up.
"You weren't here the last time Luke but we almost didn't make it out alive and Rey's 'cousin' bloodied her up in their last conflict. Why are you so certain this is the right course of action?" Luke Skywalker sighed.
"Because Snoke won't be expecting it."
"He could kill you father." Rey's voice broke through the argument that had been going on for the last few minutes trying to drive some kind of reason into Luke's mind.
"Perhaps."
"She's right Luke…I've already lost…we already lost Han…must we lose more people?"
"We have to confront them again. All of us."
"I am a pilot not a ground trooper…" Poe was objecting but Luke dismissed him.
"Your parents were pivotal to the Battle of Endor in the skies above and on the forest moon itself. You are more than adept as a warrior Poe. This is precisely the mission you are called too…you must fly us into their base."
"And when we get there? What do you expect me to do? Walk up to Phasma and ask her, 'Gee can you schedule a meeting with Supreme Leader Snoke?' This is really not the smartest idea we've come up with." Luke turned away and finally revealed the secret to his plan.
"Snoke has never revealed his true self to Kylo Ren." They all stood silently, waiting for Luke to fill in the gaps that everyone wanted to know. "Ben doesn't realize who Snoke is. I believe that if he finds out the truth he may well turn against his master." Leia asked a question that Rey had asked on the island before they departed on the Falcon.
"Luke…who is he really?"
"His name was Plagueis once…Darth Plagueis the Wise. He has been a thorn in the side of us all for many years even though we never realized it." He sighed as he continued his story. "My understanding is that Darth Plagueis was so powerful that he was able to manipulate life and death on a whim. He took on apprentice named Sidious…but everyone knew him by another name…Palpatine." Leia's eyes widened finally understanding their predicament.
"By the Force…he was Palpatine's master?"
"Yes. And Palpatine used the promise of Plagueis's power to seduce our father to the Dark Side. But Palpatine was more foolish than anyone else. He thought he killed his master, but the reality was that Plagueis wanted him to think that way." Rey spoke up.
"What possible difference could any of this make to Kylo Ren?"
"He may idolize Darth Vader but he doesn't understand Vader's legacy. Perhaps if realizes how manipulative Snoke has been, if he sees him for who he is. We might have a shot of turning him back. We have to try."