"This is it! Evelyn and her crew has finally come to Moraband, but things arnt going to be that simple...lets begin!"
Chapter 33: Planet side
"We are about to leave lightspeed, stand by" Javik said in a serious tone and pulling down the lever on his controls The Tempes finally shot out of light speed and in the distance was a large red planet, the planet of the Sith.
Both Javik and Jessika looked out seeing the planet getting closer and closer and despite all they went through, this moment was unsettling.
"Evelyn come to the bridge, we are approaching Moraband." Jessika radioed as she continued to look at the planet and then she looked to her systems. "Fuel is almost depleted, engines are gonna give out any minute. If we are gonna land we better to it now".
Javik sighed as he ran his hand over the controls of the ship he loved ever since he stole it with Evelyn. "Wish I could bring her back, she's the best ship I ever had...dont think I will get another like her".
"I may have a suggestion" Both Javik and Jessika looked at each other then looked back to see C-3PO standing near a terminal looking at them with R2 working on a few systems. "If we can get Rey back safe and sound I'm sure Leia can task a salvage team to bring this ship back to The Resistance".
Javik frowned "You think she will seriously do that?". Jessika then turned back to Javik "We are bringing back Leia's niece, I'm sure she can do it if you ask...I mean if you love this ship I'm sure she will do it as a way of repayment".
Sitting back in his chair Javik sighed. "I dont think she will work after this...The Tempest has been through alot, dont think she will be able to go on".
"Master Javik I'm sure it wont hurt to try" C-3PO suggested and Javik waved his hand "Thanks 3PO, I'll think about it".
The bridge went silent for a bit and soon Evelyn with BD-1 on her shoulder came into the bridge and she stopped in her tracks look out to the red planet in front of her. She could sense darkness radiating from the planet as they drew closer and soon Evelyn slowly took a few more steps forward and stook between Javik and Jessika still looking at the planet.
"There is it, the planet of the Sith..." Evelyn whispered and then BD-1 beeped alot making Evelyn turn her head to him as he continued.
"Whats the droid saying?" Jessika questioned as she working on the controls. "He's saying there is a hidden path into the Temple, Cal Kestis and his crew found it but didnt make it into the Temple".
Evelyn then went to Javik's side and placed her hand on his chair leaning down looking at the systems. "Can you pick up the Falcon?".
"No theres something blocking our scanners, we are pretty much blind" Javik stated then BD-1 jumped off Evelyn's shoulder and on the controls in front of Javik and quickly presented a hologram of the planet, both Javik, Jessika and Evelyn watched as a icon flashed on the hologram and next popped up coordinates to the Temple.
Jessika chuckled "Looks like the little guys has a few tricks up his sleeves, if the Falcon was heading to the Temple the Falcon should be near it".
"Question is will Rey and Chewie be there..." Javik simply stated and both Evelyn and Jessika turned to Javik just looking at him, feeling their gaze he looked to them and saw them frowning. "No guys I didnt mean it like that, seriously I didnt".
Evelyn didnt respond and just looked at the planet drawing ever closer. "Begin our decent, full power".
"Roger that" Jessika stated. "Beginning to descend but I have a bad feeling about this" Javik spoke right after Jessika and all Evelyn could do was watch the ship begin its course.
"Open all hatches. Extend all flaps and drag fins" Evelyn ordered. "On it" Jessika responded and did what was ordered.
The Tempest shot at highspeed down towards Moraband and soon the ship finally hit the atmosphere and flames engulfed around the kentic barriers of the ship.
Evelyn continued to look at the decent as Javik and Jessika worked away and BD-1 beeped a few times as he looked on at the flames around the ship.
"Now we're really picking speed" Evelyn stated and The Tempest continued to fight against the atmosphere and as it decended, the plating on the ship started flying off unable to withstand the heat and pressure but the ship itself remained on course.
"Eight plus sixty...we're in the atmosphere" Javik stated and Evelyn looked back to the old droids "R2 re-route non critial power, this is gonna hurt".
The Tempest finally broke through the Atmosphere and the flames finally faded and the smoking ship began its course towards the Temple of the Sith, where Rey was possibly at. The Tempest was blind by red clouds but soon they finally broke through and the lifeless planet was finally visible, all that remained was sand and rocks.
Jessika kept focus on the decent making sure they could make a smooth landing "Steady.." As alarms started ringing in the bridge Evelyn's senses triggered and focusing on the sight before her she suddenly spotted what they were looking for and she pointed at it. "There! Temple is right there straight ahead".
"We're coming in to hot" Javik called out trying to keep the Tempest level and soon the ship finally came down and was flying over the mountains and towards the Temple. As they made their way towards the Temple Jessika picked up something on the sensors. "Got something, few clicks away from the Temple off to the left".
"Head to it" Evelyn ordered and both Javik and Jessika turned the ship towards the location of the unknown anomaly. Storms and strong winds made the Tempest rock back and forth but it was nothing to worry about as The Tempest's pilots were some of the best the Resistance had.
Evelyn kept her eyes peeled for anything up ahead and soon the Tempest gained altitude to avoid rocks and as they gained altitude Evelyn quickly saw a familiar ship in the distance on the sands on the planet.
"Falcon's up ahead, get us there!" Evelyn ordered and The Tempest flew right to towards the Falcon. Javik then started pressing a few buttons "Activating landing procedure".
Jessika snapped her head to him "Javik, that landing zone isnt big enough for two ships to land".
"I can do it" Javik said in a determined voice and Evelyn looked down at him in his seat "Javik?".
"I can do it" Javik said once more in a no nonsense attitude.
Turning away Evelyn placed her finger on her earpiece as she walked out of the bridge. "Finn, Poe gear up and head to the ramp we are imbound to the Falcon's landing area".
-Outside The Sith Temple-
Looking up at the massive Temple in front of him Kylo Ren stood at the front of a secret entrance leading into the darkness of the Temple and the raw untamed power that echoed from the Temple engulf his soul, however he did not fear it. Kylo Ren embraced it and all that mattered was the very thing in that Rey was also after.
Taking a few steps into the door way he suddenly turned his head sensing something was coming, a familiar presence he knew very well from his young life. "Evelyn...your finally here" Kylo Ren then slowly turned his head back looking into the darkness and with his lightsaber activated he marched forward into the darkness.
-Few miles from the Sith Temple-
Continuing to fly over the spike rocks of Moraband the Tempest finally flew past the Falcon then circled back around proceeding to land and thanks to Javik's skills he finally managed to land very close to the Falcon and as soon as it touched down the ship began to spark and smoke and after a few seconds the ship's systems shut down and the engines blew out, the Tempest was done and there was no way for it to fly in its damaged state.
Inside the ship the lights were running off a generator and the halls were lightly dimmed as Evelyn marched down the hall towards the ramp with BD-1 on her shoulder and thats when she bumped into Kaiden who was coughing as he approached her.
"Is everything ok?" Kaiden asked as he coughed one more time and Evelyn nodded. "Yeah, but the ship is dead I need you to stay with your daughters until we get back".
Kaiden frowned "Done? I'm sure we can get the ship back up and running".
"We wont have time, besides we landed next to a ship that belongs to us. We will be using that to get home, remember I want you to stay with your kids until further notice" Evelyn stated.
Kaiden nodded "Alright, just becareful out there. If you need help...". Evelyn smiled "I'll call for you, I know".
Evelyn tapped Kaiden's shoulder and walked past him and he rushed off to his daughters. Moments had past and soon Evelyn, Poe and Finn were at the ramp of the ship and began walking out of the ship and onto the sands of Moraband and as soon as they stepped out all they could do was look at the sight of the planet.
All they could feel was the cold air and the sand hitting their face, the entire planet was unsettling and was enough to send tingles down their spins.
"Rey is out there?" Finn said a little worried.
"Yeah..." Evelyn whispered as she looked on to the Temple in the far distance.
Poe came up to Evelyn and placed his hand on her shoulder "Dont worry Little Wing we'll find her" He then turned to the Falcon next to the Tempest. "Lets check the Falcon before we head off".
Both Evelyn and Finn looked at Poe and then then three rushed off to the ramp of the Falcon and thats when Chewie came down and as soon as he spotted them he grunted with joy and rushed to them.
"Chewie!" Evelyn rushed forward and she and the Wookie hugged tightly with Chewie grunted a few times very happy to see them.
The two let go of each other and Evelyn looked up to her close friend "Chewie, has anything happened?".
Chewie shook his head then looked to the Temple far away and he mumbled with worry, confirming Rey was still out there.
Finn came up to Chewie with his rifle in hand "Chewie how long has it been since Rey headed off?". The Wookie turned to Finn and let out a quiet mumble and Finn's eyes widened. "Two days! She's been out there for two days?!"
"Chewie why didnt you go with her?" Poe frowned at the Wookie.
Chewie turned to Poe flaying his arms growling explaining the situation and after a few moments Evelyn put her hand on the Wookie's chest. "Easy Chewie, its ok. You protected the ship".
Finn turned and took a few steps looking at the Temple "We better get moving, the longer we take the more danger she is in".
Evelyn looked at Finn and then looked at BD-1 on her shoulder looking at the Temple, she knelt down on ground and BD-1 jumped off her shoulder and on to the sand then looked up to her.
"Show us the quickest way to the Temple BD" Evelyn asked and the droid beeped and then projected a huge map of the area showing their location and multiple paths to the Temple, Finn came near Evelyn and knelt down by her while Poe and Chewie stood behind Evelyn looking at the map.
The map showed alot of path ways leading to the temple some connecting with others and others with dead ends, there was no signs that one path was easier then others but at with BD on their side they would at least avoid the dead ends.
"Which path do you think Rey took?" Finn questioned looked at the hologram.
Evelyn rubbed her hand on her jaw thinking it over. "Its hard to say...".
"We should check the dead ends, she may have ended up there" Poe suggested then Evelyn looked back to Poe "She didnt take them, I can feel it".
Finn then looked from the hologram to Evelyn "You can feel her location
Evelyn looked to Finn and then to the sand down in front of her, gently placing her hand on the sand she closed her eyes and focused. Everything around her went silent as the group watched. Evelyn then frowned as she could hear voices, the ones that would put fear into the hearts of the innocent but she pushed through the voices and tried to sense Rey.
A few seconds had past and Evelyn opened her eyes and looked to the Temple in the far distance. "She's getting closer to the Temple, but this planet...its making it difficult for me to see things more clearly".
Finn sighed in relief "At least we know she's ok".
Evelyn then looked back down at the hologram of the map and made a choice on what path to take. "We'll take the path thats pretty much straight forward to the Temple, its connected to multiple paths but if we keep to the straight and narrow we should be able to get there".
"What can we expect from this planet?" Poe questioned as he looked around taking a few steps around Finn and Evelyn, looking up at Poe she gave him her answer. "For you guys, its safe...but..".
Finn, Poe and Chewie looked to Evelyn with a questioning looked. "But what?" Finn questioned.
Sighing Evelyn reached her hand out to BD-1 and the droid deactivated the hologram and then jumped on her arm and climbed all the way back up to her shoulder as she stood up looking at Finn.
"This is the planet of the Sith, a great danger to the minds of the Jedi." Evelyn revealed.
Poe still frowning took a step to her "I dont understand".
Evelyn looked to Poe and then to the Temple "Unlike you guys I can hear voices...see things you wont be able too, dark shadows tempting to mock me and bring me down".
"Are you in danger?" Finn questioned and Evelyn looked to him. "Not at this moment in time, but as we make this journey there will be things I will encounter, you wont see them but I will".
"What are we supposed to do?" Poe questioned and Evelyn turned her head to him. "Nothing, you have to let me face them. It may look strange but believe me when I say there is a deep and dark shadow over this planet, it will do everything it can to stop me".
She then looked to the Temple again. "All you can do is help me get to the Temple, carry me if you must if it gets too much for me...but I wont let that happen".
Chewie then mumbled making Evelyn look back at him "No Chewie, I want you to stay here and help Jessika and Javik".
The Wookie shook his head taking a few steps mumbling in disagreement but Evelyn placed her hand on his chest "Chewie please, I need you to get us ready to leave. Jaylah is badly injured and I need you to help her out aswell".
Chewie just looked as her then lowered his head to his side hating the idea of her going to the Temple alone with Finn and Poe. Evelyn could see the sadness in him and it broke her heart, she would love nothing more then for Chewie to come with her but deep down she didnt want to lose him. Placing her other hand on his arm he slowly looked at her again.
"We will be back with Rey, I promise Chewie...I wont fail you" Evelyn whispered and after a few moments Chewie gave a slow nod and embraced her and she returned it. "Take care of the rest of the team big guy".
Chewie gave a small grunt and soon the two let go of each other still looking at each other and Evelyn gave him a small smile. "We'll see you soon". With everything agreed Chewie decided to turn to the Tempest and help out the crew that will stay behind and Evelyn with Finn and Poe turned and began their long journey to the Temple.
Despite there being no danger to Finn and Poe, Evelyn was the one that was gonna be exposed to the darkness of the planet, the only question is will she be able to fight everything that will stand in her way.
-Underground Caves Of Moraband-
Walking alone, deep in the darkness with her Jedi Training Robes completely fifthly and torn, wearing her hood over her head with her lightsaber in hand Rey continued to make her way towards the Temple obsessed to get the Relic that will save her friends, only this time her obsession for what ever was in that Temple outweighed everything else to her now.
Rey was silent and just had a blank expression on her face as she continued into another area, unlike the other areas before this one had more light in it. Rey just continued to walk into the area just going straight across towards another entrance and judging by how much lighter this area was she knew she was close to an exit.
As she slowly continued to walk into the middle of the area she suddenly saw dead bodies of Evelyn, Finn and Poe on the ground in front of her. Slowly coming to a stop she looked down at them for a few seconds, Rey felt nothing.
Rey knew these bodies weren't real as she cut down dozens of these copies earlier but it came at a price, her anger consumed her with every strike and sorrow over flowed her spirit to the point she lost all emotion. She had become a shell no longer caring about what she saw or killed in these damn caves.
After a few seconds looking down at the bodies Rey finally stepped over them and continued towards the entrance leading into the next path, all of a sudden she stopped as she began to hear something new.
Rey could hear something in her mind, a deep and horrific sound of breathing and out of all the visions she saw before this one sent a shiver down her spine, after a few moments Rey then felt a presence standing behind her. Her eyes suddenly widened as she could feel the connection between them, something that really struck fear into her heart. With her heart racing she slowly turned around and right there looking at her was a figure all in black wearing a mask.
She knew deep down the person looking at her was, the connection between them was stronger then anything else, the person she was looking at was her grandfather, Darth Vader.
"No...Grandfather.." Rey whispered as she continued to look at him.
Darth Vader said nothing as he looked at her and the area was covered by silence all except for the intimidating breath from Vader's helmet.
A few more seconds had past and Vader then activated his lightsaber revealing a solid red beam lighting up the area then he took slow steps towards Rey.
Out of instinct Rey shot her hand out and went to use the Force and managed to stop her Grandfather in his tracks, she watched as Vader tried to take another step but once again he was stuck in place and Rey then watched him look to his feet then back up to her.
"Impressive, Rey" Darth Vader spoke for the first time and suddenly began to walk again, shocked that her Grandfather was walking Rey looked at her hand then went to try and stop him again but he just kept coming towards her.
Fear started to build within Rey so out of desperation she reached out for a nearby rock to throw at Vader but her eyes widened as she couldn't lift it, focusing with all her might she attempted it once again but once again nothing happened.
It was at that moment Rey knew that her connection to the Force was severed, she defenceless. Having no choice Rey activated her lightsaber showing an orange glow around her and she raised it up in front of her but deep down fear continued to build with her.
Darth Vader continued to march closer to her and as fear grew in Rey so did her anger, gripping her saber she screamed and charged at Vader and went to hit him only for Vader to easily bloke her attack. Rey continued on the offensive trying to hit anywhere she could but Vader just kept defending himself with his own saber and he was even blocking with one hand holding his saber.
Rey continued the assault until the two entered a saber lock "You died decades ago! Your not real!" Rey then pulled back and continued to attack Vader as fast as she could but Vader still had no problem blocking her attacks and thats when he started stepping forwards attacking with one hand pushing Rey back as he continued to deflect her attacks as she was forced backwards.
Vader continued to deflect as he pushed Rey back and soon she went to attack low but she left herself wide open, with his free hand he delivered a huge backhand to Rey's head sending her off her feet and crashing to the ground a few feet away.
"My blood flows through you, I exist in you" Vader stated as Rey slowly got back up with a look of anger directed right at him.
"Such hatred, you would have made an excellent Sith..." Vader's voice was dark and soon he marched to her only for Rey to grit her teeth and through both her hands out towards Vader.
This time the Force worked and the entire area began to shake and rocks fell from the ceiling and even Vader fell to one knee with his head looking to the ground, Rey had pure hatred in her soul and soon she slowly bent her fingers wanting to crush her grandfather with the Force.
"Yes..." Vader whispered then slowly looked up to Rey "Strong with the Dark Side, I can feel it inside of you..." Vader stated as he slowly got back to his feet looking at his grandfather and slowly began to walk forward fighting against Rey's attempts to stop him.
Rey grunted as she tried to focus on stopping her grandfather but he kept coming towards her, the seconds felt like minutes to Rey but soon Vader came right up to her and raised his saber to strike down but Rey called her lightsaber and activated it just in time to block the attack.
Vader didnt give time for Rey to think as he continued to attack with his saber and the weight of his attacks were knocking Rey back and off balance as she tried to defend herself, Vader kept the brutal attacks going until Rey tried to hit her saber at him but as soon as her grandfather's saber connected with hers the strength of his swing knocked Rey's saber right out of her hand sending it flying then in that instant Vader threw his hand out freezing Rey where she stood.
Standing there wide eyed Rey struggled against her own body but it was no use, she was stuck there and all she could do was watch Vader take a step closer.
"It is pointless to resist, you cannot escape what you are...what you will become." Vader then brought his hand closer to Rey's head and she shut her eyes grunting as she felt pain shoot through her mind.
"Ben accepted his destiny...now so must you Rey, embrace who you are...meet your destiny" Vader spoke in a slow and dark voice as he balled his fist in front of Rey's forehead.
Rey suddenly stumbled back and placed both her hands on her head as fell to one knee, her mind was full of voices and soon she began to see visions.
"No...no stop it!" Rey's voice began to break with emotion of what she was hearing and seeing and all Vader did was look down at her. "Accept your destiny...accept what you will become!".
Rey struggled to her feet keeping one hand on her forehead as she struggled to breath, taking one more look at Vader she was suddenly surrounded by smoke and Vader vanished into the mist as Rey was engulfed by it.
"Dont be afraid of who you are..." Dark Rey's voice echoed in the mist and Rey quickly closed her eyes falling to her knees holding her hands over her ears.
"No...this isnt me...I will not look!" Rey's emotions finally came to the surface as she began to hear screams of pain and torture followed by the sound of lighting.
"WHO ARE YOU!" Finn's voice echoed.
"YOUR A MONSTER!" Poe's voice followed.
"No...no..stop" Rey was now begging as she still refused to open her eyes.
"You are no Skywalker..." Leia mocked.
"YOU BETRAYED ME...I LOVED YOU!" Evelyn's voice echoed and was full of rage and Rey suddenly opened her eyes and in the mist she saw her darker self cutting down everyone she knew and Rey could not look away.
Dark Rey cut down people of all ages from adults to children and Rey's tears broke free but suddenly Dark Rey stopped killing and lowered her lightsaber as she slowly turned to Rey on her knees and once again Rey saw her darker self in black robes and her skin was pale with glowing yellow eyes, smirking at her.
"This is who you are..." Dark Rey mocked in a dark and slow voice and suddenly Rey saw herself cutting down copies of Finn, Poe and Evelyn from earlier and she was just in absolute shock as she saw the look of rage on her, no hesitation and no mercy. All of a sudden Dark Rey dashed to Rey on her knees and gripped the sides of her head grabbing hands full of her hair and Rey gripped her dark side's wrists struggling to get Dark Rey off her but was unable to fight back.
"ACCEPT WHAT YOU ARE!" Dark Rey shouted and made Rey look deep into her eyes and all Rey could do was look right into her shadow's glowing eyes, she couldn't look away.
"ACCEPT THAT YOU ARE THE GRAND DAUGHTER OF DARTH VADER! ACCEPT! YOU! ARE! A SITH!" Dark Rey's voice echoed in Rey's ears and all the young Jedi could do was look deep into the eyes of her opposite self, suddenly Rey yanked Dark Rey's hands off her and she quickly stumbled back as she got up and intense pain filled her mind. Placing both her hands on both sides of her head she screamed trying to block out the voices of the people she knew.
The mist continued to engulf her and all she saw was more visions of herself killing everyone she knew. "No...no..."
Rey suddenly fell to her knees again and she shot her head up screaming at the top of her lungs. "NO!". All of a sudden her entire body failed her and her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she crashed face first into the ground and the mist finally began to vanish.
Darth Vader was no longer there nor was Dark Rey, all that remained was Rey on the ground alone in the darkness.
"The Tempest going down to Moraband pays tribute to that amazing scene in EPISODE III when Anakin and Obi Wan land Grevious's ship on Coruscant and of course the Vader battle is also a tribute to that amazing fan film (Kylo Ren Vs Darth Vader) I want to make Rey struggle a lot cause as much as I love the character I feel like she needed this in the films, thank god for Fanfiction lol anyway we will continue with Evelyn and Kylo Ren in the next chapter! See you soon and I hope you enjoyed the chapter :)
