Rey was clutching the old Rebel Alliance helmet to her chest, speaking soft words to Finn. He thought perhaps there were tears in her eyes, but he couldn't tell. He was too far away. Poe brought his attention back to Luke, who was reading over the letter, his happy face having dissolved into graveness and worry. Luke's hand shook. He suddenly looked his age. He wasn't a powerhouse who could floor anyone in his way in seconds. He was frail and old, and he had the weight of a world on his shoulders.
"I can't believe this…" he muttered. Poe looked at the older man again, his eyes having strayed to the happy couple in the distance again.
"Can't believe what?" Luke dropped his hand, the note still clenched in his mechanical fingers, and closed his eyes.
"I didn't think I ever spoke of it in front of her. I made sure not to! How does she know about it?" Poe could see the potential that Luke might be building up into a rage, but unexpectedly, he opened his eyes and he appeared to be perfectly calm. He had never seen behaviour like it. He supposed this was the legendary control of the Jedi. "I need to speak with my sister. You know the frequencies, Dameron. I need your help." His voice was calm and measured. He didn't plead, but his request was polite. Of course Poe would help. If Dara hadn't been involved he would have helped, anyway.
"Of course. Lead the way." Poe shot one last fleeting glance at Rey and Finn who were sitting down on a stone plinth holding hands, and talking. He clenched his own hand, the one Finn had grabbed earlier. He could still feel the sensation, even now. He cursed himself and started walking.
As they twisted through the bowels of the old Jedi temple, Poe reflected on his life. Duty always seemed to have gotten in the way of his happiness. He missed out on so much because he had to be dutiful. Every relationship he had suffered for the greater good. His last serious relationship had ended very badly because he had defected to the Resistance. He had had his heart broken. He'd been cheated on, dumped, and his ex had spread rumours about him. Turned out his last boyfriend was petty. Pettier than Poe had ever known. He hadn't spent time with his father in years. He didn't really know how he was doing. If he was sick, or struggling, Poe wouldn't know. His father would never own up to that. He'd never worry his son. And now with Dara. If he hadn't been undercover he could have stopped her leaving. She wouldn't be alone right now, chasing something that seemed unattainable. He could have gone with her at the very least. But she was alone in a big galaxy, with scary people chasing her, and nobody seemed to know where she was. By serving the greater good he was letting everyone that mattered to him down. As he walked through the cratered ruin, he felt he had a lot in common with it. He felt that there were chunks missing from him.
"You'll find her. Don't worry." Luke said. Poe blinked and looked over at the older man. There was kindness in his eyes. Poe thought that teaching suited Luke. It allowed him to be a nurturing person. That kindness was a much better look than the hardness he had seen the first time they had met. "I know where she's gone. I have to tell Leia. But I know where she is bound." Poe's heart quickened. Maybe there was hope yet. He would find her. Help her. Know that she was safe.
"She's a strong woman. She can take care of herself." Poe saw the massive comm room up ahead. Their twisting journey was almost at an end.
"You love her." Poe stopped short, Luke taking a couple more steps, before he turned to look at the pilot. "It's as clear as the sun on a Summer morning, that you're in love with my niece. Now whether she feels the same way or not, I don't know." Poe felt blind panic. Would he react badly to this? Would he tell the General?
"I think she did. At least… The last time I saw her…" Luke waved a hand, smiled mischievously, and walked on. Poe recognised that smile in a heartbeat. Dara would get the very same smile when she was up to something, or poking fun at him. Poe took a breath and followed him into the comm room. He set up the correct frequencies, and after much fiddling with the ancient system, (similar to what the Resistance had actually) he established contact with the Resistance Base.
"General Organa, this is Commander Poe Dameron. I'm here with… uh. Your brother, ma'am." Luke stepped forward, and the life sized hologram of the General looked concerned and surprised.
"Luke. You succeeded then. You set up your temple." She sounded pleased enough, but she was still concerned, her eyes darting to look at Poe repeatedly.
"I need to know if you told Dara about the Temple. The First Temple." The General staggered.
"She hasn't…"
"She has."
"I never mentioned it to anyone. She didn't get it from me." Poe felt an increase of worry.
"Where has she gone? What's the First Temple? I thought you went to find that?" Luke looked over at the pilot, his brow furrowed.
"I did. But I couldn't open it."
"The first Jedi were all like Dara. They were all Tempest, as they came to be known." Poe stared at the flickering image of the General and there was silence. The General twisted her hands in worry.
"The Tempest were greatly powerful, but the Force weakened in the Jedi over time. The last Tempest before Dara would have been around hundreds of years ago. They had died out. They were only spoken of as legend amongst the Jedi order." Luke remained silent as his sister explained all of this to Poe. He looked drawn, and very white all of a sudden. "My father, Anakin Skywalker was a powerful Jedi. He was prophesised to be the one to bring balance to the Force. We all know how that story went, but since my father, the Force has been getting stronger in our family line. Luke and I think… That Jedi were forbidden to have children to stop the existence of the powerful Tempest Jedi. Luke is stronger than his father ever was… and my children… Stronger again. But Dara. She is Tempest. She has forbidden power. Our greatest concern when she was young was that she would be more easily swayed to the dark side… But I failed my son while trying to protect my daughter…"
Poe had never had such a personal conversation with the General. He wondered why he was being given this information. He noticed that he had broken out into a cold sweat. It was probably connected to the claws of dread that sunk into his stomach.
"Leia, it was my fault. I knew Snoke was trying to influence my Padawans. I should have stopped it. I should have taken a gentler hand with Ben. OR a firmer hand. I just… I should have done something difference." There was silence again. It was clear that both of them blamed themselves for Ben Solo becoming the new scourge of the galaxy. But they certainly didn't blame each other. It appeared Leia would say no more, so Luke took up their tale. Poe started to feel quite unwell. He knew something bad was coming. He could sense it.
"After… After I went off the grid, I went in search of the First Jedi Temple. Ancient and obscure. I needed to know how Snoke became so powerful. But when I found it, I couldn't gain access. I wasn't powerful enough. The Force runs strong in my family. I have it. My sister has it. My niece and nephew has it. But my niece is the only Jedi that matters to that Temple. She's the only one who can go inside. She's the only one who can make the sacrifice." Poe was nearly sick at the word sacrifice. The General looked extremely distraught. He had seen her face shortly after Han had been killed. There was a similar grief to her face now. This had to be absolutely terrible.
"The… The sacrifice?" Poe's voice cracked, and he licked his lips. He found that his heart was thundering and his head was pounding. He could hear the sound of blood rushing in his ears. Luke looked very sad and reluctant.
"She must sacrifice emotion. She will never feel again. She will be the true Grey Jedi in exchange for access to all the Force has to offer her." Poe exhaled sharply and felt as though his heart stopped beating.
