Chapter 20-
Hux curled his lip in disgust at the group assembled in the room with him. He did not care much for these Knights of Ren. They were too feral and unpredictable for his taste, too difficult to control. And Armitage Hux liked control. They were dressed entirely in black from head to toe, much like their traitorous leader, Kylo Ren, and currently making themselves comfortable. A few were leaning on consoles, one had his legs slung casually over the side of a chair, while two others were nosing around the command room at monitors they had no business examining. Their overall grunginess and malodorous presence was something he usually tried to avoid.
But not today.
"So, where is Ren?" their de facto leader asked from the chair. Ap'lek was his name, if Hux's memory served him correctly. He was the one with the giant ax, which was presently lying at the ready across his lap. He could only tell them apart by remembering which weapon they used. Not that there was much difference between them all past that anyway. They all enjoyed causing death, destruction and mayhem wherever they went. Violent chaos was their trademark. And while Hux preferred more order in his fighting and conquests, their style was exactly what was needed for this particular mission.
"Kylo Ren has betrayed the First Order," he announced triumphantly, expecting them to be outraged. Instead, nothing. No reaction. Hux cleared his throat and continued. "I long suspected he had a hand in the death of our beloved Supreme Leader, Snoke, and I now have absolute, undeniable proof of his treachery."
The knights now seemed moderately interested in what he had to say, and focused their attention on him. "He joined with the scavenger girl from the Resistance and killed Snoke. A very different story than the one he told, blaming her alone for Snoke's death. It was, in fact, Ren who dealt the fatal blow. And now that he has been found out, he has fled like the coward he is."
Hux finished with much vigor. He had rehearsed this conversation back in his quarters to get it just right. Unfortunately, his own attempt to get rid of Ren had failed, no thanks to some traitors within their own First Order ranks. He needed the Knights to take care of Kylo Ren. Then there would be no more obstacles to the realization of his long-held dream of becoming the Supreme Leader of the most fearsome, powerful force the galaxy had ever seen.
"Let's see it," said Ap'lek, rising from the chair and walking toward Hux, his giant ax now slung over his shoulder. Hux furrowed his brow in confusion. "The proof," Ap'lek explained. "We want to see it."
"Ah, yes," Hux replied. "Come right over here," he said, going over to a nearby viewing monitor and punching in his personal code. He had kept this footage highly guarded, not taking any chances that it could fall into the wrong hands. His face broke into an evil grin. "Let me show you."
The incriminating footage popped up on the screen. All six of the large and rather smelly men gathered in closely to see, and Hux was trapped in between them. He tried to hold his breath while they watched the evidence play out right before their eyes. First up was the footage from Snoke's throne room. When that scene ended, he could feel the knights begin to tense up. Next, was the footage from the spy droid on Bonterra of Ren and the girl meeting secretly on the street and then her leaving without being challenged by their so-called leader. When it came to the end and the screen went black, Hux waited expectantly for their reaction. Even though they, like him, were loyal to Snoke, they had never seemed completely devoted to the First Order as Hux was. And with Kylo Ren being their so-called master, Hux had even less reason to like them. However, the old adage 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend' was what he was banking on.
"So, where is he now?" Ap'lek finally asked.
Hux straightened in smug satisfaction. "He ran… fled in an escape pod. I believe the girl rescued him and has taken him into hiding. We managed to do a reverse trace on the pod and have discovered two places where it stopped for a period of time. I'm assuming he is at one of those two places. I would like for you to help track him down and bring him back, if possible, or don't bring him back...if I make myself clear. He needs to be put out of commission and has likely been working behind the scenes against the Order this whole time. Will you do it?"
The group looked at one another, somehow communicating even though their helmets never came off. At the end of their unspoken discussion, Ap'lek turned to Hux.
"We're in."
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The first rays of morning light shone through the hut's small window and landed gently on Ben's face. He wrinkled his brow, not wanting to open his eyes just yet. He was in the middle of a very good dream, the best one he'd had in a long, long time. As he came fully awake, the details dissipated more quickly than he could force them into his consciousness. All he knew was it left him with a feeling of lightness and hope for the future...and an undeniable desire to see Rey.
He jumped up and found his own black tunic. When he held it up to examine it, he realized it was a little worse for wear and decided to just keep the tunic given to him by the generous Caretakers. Quickly, he tucked the bottom into his own black pants and slipped on his boots. He ran a hand through his hair to get rid of a few tangles, and then smoothed the same hand over his chin. A shave was long overdue by the feel of his scruffy stubble. He sighed and shrugged. There was nothing for it now. He rolled his shoulders and stretched his arms, noticing how loose and comfortable the shirt was. His usual attire kept him feeling tightly contained and restricted. He actually kind of liked the change.
He was ready to start this new day, Well, almost ready. He looked around the room searching for his saber out of habit. Then he realized in near disbelief that he had not even thought about his saber once since being ambushed back on his ship. A frustrated growl came from deep in his throat as he comprehended that it was now very likely in Hux's possession. That would not do. It would need to be remedied. Such a fool had no business with a weapon like his saber.
He paused for just a moment to question why he had not missed having it around for days now. Was he, in fact, truly ready to leave his entire life behind and start anew?
His stomach grumbled, diverting his attention from such a loaded question so early in the morning. He headed outside to start a fire for breakfast. For some reason, he wanted to have it ready before she awoke, but when he stepped outside the door, he was surprised to find her already stoking the flames. She looked over to see him coming toward her. He noted she was back in her own clothes, but her hair was not pulled up into her usual style. Now it was more like when she had shown up on Snoke's ship in the escape pod- half pulled back and half left hanging loose down her back.
"Good morning," she said with a smile. "Did you sleep well?"
"I did, actually," he answered, stepping close to her side. "You?"
"Yes."
"Good...good," he replied awkwardly. He'd never been much for small talk. It made him feel a little foolish. "Did you stay warm enough?" he finally asked, to break the silent pause.
"I did. Thank you," she said. "And thank you for building up the fire for me. I guess I was more tired than I realized."
He nodded. "Yeah, me too. Except I'm usually too hot when I sleep. I kick off the covers and…" he drifted off and didn't answer, realizing how inane he probably sounded.
Rey chuckled, causing him to do the same. "Want some breakfast? After we eat, I've got something I want to show you."
"Sure," he said, taking the plate of food she offered. They both sat and ate quickly. He was curious to see what she had to show him. And honestly, he admitted to himself, he was just looking forward to being with her. It didn't really matter what they did or where they went.
Soon enough they finished eating and were on their way toward a part of the island he had yet to go. She led the way, and he caught himself enjoying watching her from behind. His face heated at the realization and he hoped she couldn't read his mind. Instead he tried to focus his attention on his other surroundings. Once he did, he noticed the sky seemed a bit more blue today, the air smelled even fresher, and the song of the island's Porgs wasn't quite as grating to listen to.
Interesting.
In a while, they came upon what looked like a very large tree of some kind, massive enough to walk inside. However, it appeared to have burned to nothing more than a blackened hull. Rey paused to stop in front of it. Even though it was clearly deadwood now, he could still sense the Force strongly in this place, life penetrating the very air around them.
"What is this?" he asked, coming to stand next to her, studying the sight before them.
"It was a Jedi library," Rey explained. "It housed the ancient Jedi texts for a thousand generations."
"Not anymore, I'm guessing," Ben added sarcastically.
She gave him a sideways glare. "No, not anymore. Luckily, however, I… borrowed them before I left the island," she confessed, avoiding his gaze.
"Borrowed, huh?" he teased with a grin.
She blushed in embarrassment. "Well, it's a good thing I did. I mean, look what would have happened if I hadn't . I actually saved them," she argued.
Ben laughed. "Keep telling yourself that, sweetheart."
His last word caught her by surprise and she stared at him. He noticed and instantly apologized. "I was just kidding," he said, thinking she was offended by his teasing, not knowing the true cause of her surprise.
She had been called 'sweetheart' before-in a dream. 'I'll come back for you, sweetheart,' the voice had promised. It had given her hope all those long, lonely years on Jakku. Now, here was Ben, and she didn't feel alone anymore.
He tried changing the subject. "Is this what you wanted to show me?"
"No," she replied, snapping out of her reminiscing. "No, this isn't it. Where we're going is all the way up there," she explained and pointed up at the massive steep hill off in the distance.
Ben's eyes widened at the sight of it. The climb would be tough, he could already tell, but the end destination must be worth it. He took a deep breath and said, "Alright then. Let's get going."
A while later, Rey paused to yell back over her shoulder, "We're almost there!" She was trying to be heard over the sound of the strong winds whipping around them at this altitude. They were extremely high up, far higher even than the Jedi village. In front of them stretched the remainder of a seemingly never-ending stone staircase that crept up the rocky mountainside. By the time they reached the top, Ben was slightly out of breath. It took a few moments for his lungs to adjust to the thinner atmosphere.
In front of them was a tall arched doorway, columns on each side guarding the entrance. Peering inside, he saw a series of vaulted chambers, sunlight streaming in through high windows, dappling the floor.
"It's a temple," he said, looking at Rey standing next to him. She nodded and motioned for him to go inside. Slowly, he entered, hoping the Force wouldn't kick him out for all of the things he had done in the past. He felt a sudden urge to confess. He looked around the simple, yet hallowed hall, feeling suddenly very small and insignificant in the scheme of things. This place was old and had likely been utilized by many Jedi over the centuries. Luke had obviously found this place on his continued quest for ancient Jedi relics and sites, started even before Ben was born. He recalled accompanying his uncle many times on some of these journeys. Part of him was surprisingly grateful Luke had finally found what he was looking for.
When they eventually reached the final chamber, the largest by far, Ben's attention went directly to the shallow, circular pool in the middle of the room. The bottom was a mosaic, crafted from many rocks and fashioned into the image of a seated figure holding a lightsaber- half created with black rocks and half with white ones. He walked slowly around one side and Rey the other until they met up on the other end. It was humbling to be in a place like this. Funny how just days ago he would have felt very differently. And a year ago he might have even been tempted to destroy it, thinking it would prove his commitment to Snoke.
Rey's hand slipped into his, drawing his gaze to hers. "Come on. There's more," she said, pulling him gently out an opening that led to a narrow rocky ledge, overlooking the waves far, far below. A flat-topped boulder sat at the edge, big enough to sit on. She guided him all the way out and watched for his reaction as he took in the amazing view. After a moment of quiet contemplation, he looked back at her, a small smile of wonder tugging up the corner of his mouth.
"What do you think?" she asked.
"It's amazing," he replied.
She smiled in satisfaction, happy that he appreciated its wonder like she did. "You can feel how sacred it is here. I wanted you to see it...to share it with you," she added with a look in her eyes that quickened his pulse. He watched as she stepped closer to face him and he grabbed her other hand.
"I'm glad you did," he replied, soft and low. Her gaze dropped to his lips and back up to his eyes. He did the same. It was an unspoken acknowledgement of what they both wanted, so he leaned his head down, angling it just so in order to meet her upturned mouth. The instant their lips touched, it was as if the Force was singing and pulsing all around them. They kissed again and again, slowly, tenderly, enjoying each and every press of their mouths together. Everything else around them seemed to disappear.
"Ahem."
The sound of someone clearing his throat jolted them apart. Simultaneously, they turned to the entrance of the temple room, and there was Luke, a sly, knowing smile on his face. "I know, I know," he said, somewhat remorsefully, "my timing could use some work."
Rey and Ben both felt themselves start to blush and stepped away from one another. "Luke," Ben said in a somewhat stilted greeting.
"Ben," he acknowledged. "Rey," he added, glancing at her. "Now that we've dispensed with the pleasantries, we can get down to business." He turned and moved inside the temple room, while Rey and Ben looked at each other in confusion. Finally, Ben shrugged his shoulders and followed Luke, Rey right behind him.
Luke sat on the edge of the pool and slapped his knee. "Well, here we are," he began, staring right at his nephew. "It seems as though there have been some changes recently, am I right, Ben?"
Ben just stared right back. There was still a lot that was left unsaid between them...years of mistrust and misunderstanding. Ben was trying to start over, but his relationship with Luke would take more time for examination.
Luke continued on. "You know, Rey here has been fighting for you for a long time. She refused to give up hope that you could turn back to the Light. She even fought me over you."
Ben's gaze shot right to hers and he saw the truth of it in her eyes.
"But I think you know how she feels by now. Looks like you two have definitely moved past the hand-holding stage," he teased, satisfied with the burst of red on their faces. "Aw, it's nothing to be ashamed of. Although, you know, according to the Jedi code, your 'attachment' to each other would have been forbidden. They thought being involved with someone in a romantic way somehow made you a little weaker in the Force...more vulnerable to the Dark Side. But from what I've seen, caring for someone, loving them, actually strengthens the Light Side. Love is pure and unconditional when it's for real. I'm not talking about the obsessive, controlling kind of relationship. Those are the things that stir up fear and doubt and lead to the Dark Side.
"No, I think that was one of the mistakes that led to the Jedi's downfall...discouraging love and connection to others. In fact, I happen to believe that those are the very things that keep us in sync with the Light Side. But it looks like you two have already figured that out."
Luke watched as their eyes met and expressions softened, revealing the depth of their newfound feelings for one another.
"Ben," he said, reclaiming his nephew's attention. "I was wrong in so many ways and I apologize." He could feel his nephew start to tense and put up his wall." Now, just hear me out. These things need to be said. When I first saw how much it upset you to be sent away from Han and Leia, I should have sent you back home. You needed them, and they needed you. That was another mistake made by the Jedi. They used to take children from their families when they were too young, assuming, wrongfully so, that the Jedi knew better how to raise a Force sensitive youngling than the parents did. But they were wrong. Children need their parents, that unconditional love. They shouldn't be forced apart." He paused his speech and glanced up at them with a sly grin. "That's for future reference, by the way."
Before they had too long to think about the implications of his words, he switched gears. They noticed him studying the mosaic inside the pool.
"I spent a lot of time contemplating what this mosaic means. It's not like my schedule was too busy, right, Rey?" She blushed again, remembering some of her first interactions with him. "I wondered why the ancient Jedi created it in just this way, and I think I finally have it figured out. Notice how it's black and white? Dark and light? But there is only one figure?" He checked to see if they were both paying close attention before continuing. "It's because the Force isn't Dark or Light. It just IS. Within each of us, though, is some of both, and everyday, every moment we are choosing which way we are going to use the Force. For good? For evil? Even when we try to stay on the Light, we sometimes fail and slip to the Dark Side. None of us is perfect, after all. We all have that possibility of being tempted by the Dark Side. But the trick is in making a conscious effort everyday to choose the Light Side. We may not always succeed, but we have to keep trying."
Rey listened intently. This was the Luke Skywalker she had expected to find when she first showed up on Ahch-to all those months ago… legendary hero of the Republic...experienced sage dispensing profound wisdom upon his pupils. And it hit her. He was trying to teach them a lesson.
"Thinking outside yourself is the first step. It keeps you from focusing on yourself, which is a tool of the Dark Side. When you strive to help others, you open yourself to the Light Side. Ben, your mother is an expert at that. She's lived most of her life putting others' needs first. Maybe she went a little too far in some instances, but her intentions were always good."
The mention of his mother affected him, Rey could sense it. She took his hand again and squeezed it reassuringly. He looked down at her and squeezed back.
"Now," Luke declared, standing up, "the question is what are you two going to do next? Hide out here like I did? Remove yourselves from everyone else and what's going on out there? True, the views are great, but the night life leaves a little left to be desired." He chuckled at his own attempt at levity, but quickly turned serious. "You know, the galaxy could use a hero...or two," he added with a wink. "The two of you have a special connection, unlike anything I've ever seen before. The Force has special plans for you. It's brought you both here...to this very place and at this very point in time for a reason. There's no telling what you might accomplish together, but you've got to make that choice. So what will it be?"
With a look of pride at the two younger people in front of him, Luke offered one last smile and then disappeared, leaving them all alone.
