Rey chased Luke up the path, the gravel beneath her shoes shifting as she ran. He turned and Force Pushed her, her feet skidding backwards on the loose earth. Attuned to the Force, she kept her balance and kept her eyes on her quarry. The path led higher along a cliff and to a small courtyard. The skeletons of stone buildings remained, the toll of wind and tempest had dominated here for centuries. Rey surveyed the area with lightsaber ignited, Luke was gone from sight. She heard stones falling in a far building opposite of her, but instead of following, she stopped and listened to the Force. He was nearby... to her right! She kept her saber at the ready and blocked his attack when she entered the maw of a ruin. The lightsabers met several more times, crackling and hissing with their attacks. She Pushed him, hand outstretched. He Pushed her back as she tried to close the distance between them and she ended back to the entrance. She had no time to recover, he already was attacking, looking for an opening. She parried his strikes, and tried to create more distance between them but he wasn't not giving up any ground. Rey breathed heavily, her heart pounded as she tried to fit in a counter to his attacks. Her master, weird to think that is who he was to her, was relentless. He picked up weathered rocks from the ruins and hurled them at her mentally, and she Pushed two of them back and cut the third with her saber. She made a mistake though and it was too late. She realized she should have Pushed Luke back so she would have time to parry his next attack. Luke knew and stopped his saber inches from her arm. They shared a look, and started to laugh. Weeks ago she was nervous around him, the Force, and the idea of her future. She still was apprehensive about her future, but felt more sure about it with Luke training her. She was understanding the Force better, yet at night when she was alone, she thought about how much she enjoyed using it. She was faster, quicker, stronger. The desire sent shivers up her spine.
"You know what you should have done there. I saw it in your eyes. But improving!" Luke beamed turning off his lightsaber. The day was cloudy and the breeze started to chill her perspiration. She turned hers off as well and they started down the path together to the dwelling. Rey and Luke would spend their mornings sparring when it was cooler, and in the afternoon on meditation and mental Jedi exercises. Rey remembered the first time she tried to read Luke's mind - and him wincing in pain. The only time she had ever done it was back to Kylo Ren, and it was not under the best circumstances. She had more practice now, and Luke taught her how to hide her thoughts from other Force users, especially if they were invading her mind.
The path overlooked where the Millinnium Falcon and Luke's x-wing were stationed. There was a shallow cove that had easier access and was closer than the bay, and Chewie moved the Falcon there a few days after their arrival. He spent his days working on the ship and at times Rey would go spend time with him. Rey knew there were a few things that needed fixing on the ship, but none of the parts would be here on this water world. She suspected Chewie was still at a loss for Han. She missed Han. She had liked him and hoped to learn from him, but that could only pale in comparison to the time Chewie and Han spent together. Chewie and her also spent a few days working on Luke's x-wing. Some of the equipment needed replacing, and they had the spare parts for it on the Falcon. Luke and Rey discussed her aptitude for flying, and Chewie pitched in, barking in agreement. Chewie also yelped and showed a toothy smile. "So you're a good mechanic as well?" Rey detailed her life in Jakku, salvaging the ships left behind from the Empire and the Rebellion some thirty years earlier. Luke shared how he was a moisture farmer on Tatooine, wanting nothing more than to leave and explore the galaxy.
They turned into Luke's dwelling and R2-D2 beeped excitedly at them. She felt a little sad for the droid, being cooped up inside as the terrain would be challenging for him. When she brought it up to Luke he laughed and said this would be much better than Dagoba. R2 agreed and emitted a low long whistle. They both sat down, drinking water and reminiscing their sparring session. Chewie returned from the Falcon and joined them.
"Rey, do you prefer combat with the single blade lightsaber? Or your staff better? And I don't mean including the superiority of the lightsaber being able to cut almost anything" Luke asked.
The question kinda caught her off guard "I think I like my staff better, its just what I've been using for a longer time. I'm getting used to the lightsaber though."
"I think you are getting accustomed as well. I wanted to implore your feelings about it. I was thinking what if we had a lightsaber staff? Does that make sense?" Luke curiously looked at Rey, this would obviously be something that she would have to have advise on with her mechanical familiarity.
"Are you able to sketch out a schematic of the lightsaber?" Rey felt excited. She always had taken things apart, and fixed the salvage she needed to sell. But she never created something for herself.
Luke sketched out on the dirt floor the components and how the lightsaber worked. Rey studied the drawing and clarified a few parts with Luke. "I think we probably have most of the pieces or I could improvise some of them with the extra parts we have on the Falcon. We don't have crystals though. We would need two, one for each end. Did you make that lightsaber? Where is the crystal from?" Rey never thought to ask Luke the origins of his green lightsaber.
"Yes, I did build it myself. I needed a new one after the one you now hold was lost at Cloud City on Bespin. And the crystal is synthetic. It took me almost a month, as I had to focus on the Force to infuse it into the crystal before it was ready."
There was no way a machine existed like that here on the island. Rey couldn't even imagine where to start to build something that would synthesize a crystal.
Luke went on "The Empire, when it came to be, started to prohibit the trade and possession of such crystals, as it would become a threat - having the Jedi return. However, synthetic-crystals weren't always the way to obtain them. Jedi of ages past used to send their students to Force attuned locations, some planets, but many more were caves. Crystals growing and infused with the Force. The caves were of course dangerous, any sort of creature would be there but the students would have to overcome the challenges and find the crystal that called to them."
Rey stared intently at Luke. "I think you are almost prepared enough to make that voyage yourself. There are no caves on this planet but I was able to find information about a crystal cave located on Dantooine. Dantooine is a freed planet now, however the First Order's influence is only a few star systems away from it."
Chewie roared in support but it didn't change Luke's serious expression. "The Millennium Falcon will be too noticeable and is definitely on the First Order's radars to capture or destroy. Rey can protect her self now, with the Force. I'm thinking she should take the x-wing, and R2 can help navigate, he has the maps of the planets in his hard drive. Chewie the most we can do is prepare the x-wing and Rey for the trip." Chewie whined but got up, leaving to check over everything in the x-wing.
Luke's blue eyes burrowed into Rey's. "The cave will most likely test you, physically and mentally. Jedi apprentices would go alone when their master deemed that it was the right time for them. I do not know what is in that cave, however I'm confident you can handle yourself using the Force. What you do need to be aware of is the Dark Side. It will always be there, attempting to seduce you. Fear, Anger, Hate, and thirst for Power. The Dark Side has empty promises and lies, and those who who are conflicted within themselves will fall prey to it." Rey felt the fear in the pit of her stomach fighting her desire to use the Force to be strong and quick,...feeling alive. "Rey. You are stronger than you think. And I don't mean in the Force. You are determined. I have faith in you. All of us have faith in you. I wouldn't let you go if I didn't think you could handle yourself" R2 beeped in agreement.
Luke sat back and closed his eyes, exhaling deeply. Rey realized that Luke was anxious of her mission as well, the last time he let a student leave was Ben Solo. He returned later as Kylo Ren. Rey wanted to go, she wanted to build her own lightsaber. And surprisingly she wanted to test herself as a Jedi apprentice.
"I have meditated about Snoke and Kylo Ren through the Force and I have some more thoughts I'd like to share with you." Luke said, sitting back up again.
Rey hadn't grasped true meditation with the Force yet, the only thing she could sense was if Luke was nearby or not, and his well-being. Luke hadn't shared any of his speculations with Rey, she imagined he meditated long into the night after she retired. She leaned forward, interested to hear what her master had to say.
"Ren may very well be thinking to take over, eliminating Snoke with your powers combined with his. However, if he does not crave that aspiration he may bring you to Snoke, which will be just as bad." Rey wondered how that would be worse. "The Dark Side desires cunning, and power above all else. Despite Ren's determination, you are stronger than he is in the Force. I knew since you were very young. Power in the Force cannot be increased with more training, or going to the Dark Side. It is determined at birth. If you refuse the Dark Side, Snoke will most likely destroy you. I do not know how strong Snoke is, however he has been around for a very long time. That is another thing I'm trying to figure out." Rey wrapped her arms around herself. Luke reached over and put his hand on her shoulder. "You are strong. Have courage. "
