(Author's Note: The next two chapters are going to be bonus filler which you can choose to read or not read. For the sake of those who want to skip these and move right on to the MandoxOC stuff, nothing here in these will flow over to future chapters. So no worries if you want to skip.
That being said, I'm on the fence about writing a squeal to "Mando's Quest". I don't know where the show is going and with Grogu now gone, that would greatly alter my own retelling. And of course, as you've probably already figured out, Saoirse does not get a happy ending (but that's a long way off; none of that will appear in this story- don't worry).
These chapters are for those, like me, who have a soft spot for Luke Skywalker and want to see Saoirse spend more time with him before she goes back- just in case there isn't a squeal. This all takes place before Rey comes back. Enjoy!)
Luke led me to these little huts overlooking the coast. I guess this is where he lived. To my surprise, I discovered that we weren't by ourselves on the island either. Lots of little alien women wear habits worked and carried on around the place. Luke walked on while I glanced at them startled and confused. Some noticed me; most ignored me.
I watched them work curiously, never having seen anything like them before. A pair of nuns were bringing down a basket of laundry. As we conveniently arrived, one tripped over her foot and the basket started to fall from her grip. Her friend freaked out as it was evidently going to fall. My body moved without my first thinking. "Whoa, watch out!" Using the Force, I was able to catch the basket, gently floating it back up to her hands. Both nuns looked at me in amazement and I simply flashed a smile at them. The friend waved as to say "thank you" before they got on with their chores. When I turned my head back forward, I found Luke watching me. He had the twinkle in his eye I was getting used to seeing- especially when he looked at me. I began ascending the staircase again. "Who are these ladies?" I asked. "Caretakers," he replied. "Huh. I think they like me," I noted. "Can imagine why."
The Jedi- at least I think he was still a Jedi; he hadn't said otherwise to me- brought us to a familiar cave. After lighting a torch, he took me inside where we went deeper than I'd ever been before. He eventually came to a halt, as I did a few feet behind him. Luke spun around to face me straight on.
I blinked everywhere puzzled. "What are we doing in here?" "Training," he curtly stated. "Training?" This caught me off guard. Luke's eyes sharpened. "I don't know how much time we have together but since you're still alive, you can learn to do more with the Force. I'm going to teach you to sense my personal energy." "Really?! I can do that?!" I gasped astonished. Was there no limit to what you could do with the Force? "Course you can do that. I sensed your energy long ago- it's how I found you in the galaxy. I want you to always be able to sense me." "Why?" My head tilted slightly. "In case you ever need me- which you will. Now, focus. Get in tune with the Force." "Ok… Uh, how do I do that?"
Luke huffed. "Come on, you've been training since birth. You know what to do. Just trust yourself, Saoirse- trust yourself and the Force. Listen to its will and let it guide you." I hesitated. "Erm, but I've never…. "sensed" anyone before. And I don't know how to communicate with the Force on my own. Usually the Force speaks to me when it wants to. It's just this…. ringing in my head; it's never anything direct or comprehensible, if that makes sense."
Luke watched me for a minute, mulling over the situation to himself. Eventually he took in a deep breath and shut his eyes. "Ok, let's try this. Close your eyes." I did as I was told. That's when I heard him blow out the torch. I have no idea why but him doing that set me into a bit of a panic. My feet stumbled a little, though I didn't move from where I was currently standing. "Stick out your arm," he went on to instruct. I did so, shaking a bit. The sound of his feet moving away from me echoed through the cave walls, not helping my panicked state. "Luke?!" My voice was breathless. "I'm still here. Now use the Force to find me. Pick up on the energy I'm admitting.
I stood there, still as a stone statue. I couldn't sense anything, and it was freaking me out. Everything was dark, cold, and scary. I didn't have much confidence in myself just then, particularly when my fingers shook harder. "Luke? Luke! I can't sense anything!" "Trust in the Force, Saoirse; you need to trust in the Force again." "I-I can't… I can't! I'm scared!" "You never have to be scared; not while I'm here."
"Yeah, I know you're afraid. But you don't have to be. Mando and I are here."
My heart skipped a beat. What… What did he just say? My forefinger twitched, suddenly feeling something. It was like a tiny sweet little tingle. Ooooooh, that was something! Maybe I could go somewhere with that. If only he would….
"Luke?" "I told you, Saoirse- use the Force," he lightly scolded from wherever he was standing. "Yeah, but first….. Can you… Can you say something else?" "Doesn't that defeat the purpose of the exercise?" "I won't move from here. I just…. want to hear your voice again first. I think…. that may help."
There was a moment of quiet. "What do you want me to say?" He finally conceded. My spirits immediately lifted as I suddenly felt a lot more confident in the task. "Anything! Say something… about me. What did you think when you first met me? Did you like me? Did you know you were going to be my master?" "When I first met you?" He uttered, sounding taken aback. Another pregnant pause proceeded. "I'm not the sentimental type, kid." "It doesn't have to be sentimental….. Just tell me something about us," so it doesn't feel like I'm looking for a stranger so much.
Luke exhaled. "When I first met you….. To be honest, you reminded me of my sister. She was always so soft- you looked just like her. Well, you don't look like Leia, but you had the same sort of aura. At least for the first few seconds you did. But the longer I looked at you… the more I saw…. How to describe it?" Another pause ensued; I waited patiently for him to continue since I sensed he had more to say. A lot more.
"Truth is I'd never met anyone like you before. You were radiant with the light side; glowing almost like a candle, even in a brightly lit room. I was a little afraid of you…. I was afraid I might do anything to extinguish that glow. But you… You approached me without fear. I was expecting you to be a fear-stricken, blithering mess… after everything you'd been through. But you came straight up to me without reservation…. I came through the door suddenly and caught you standing there…. And you were smiling then. And I felt…. it's almost impossible to describe." Another pause. "I felt as if I'd just been given an enormous, beautiful present."
By the time Luke was done speaking, my cheeks were burning a scarlet red. Luke….. We hadn't met in our time and I had no idea as to when we would, but by the sounds of it, it was a good experience- and that's for both of us. It must have been good…. for me to smile at him in such a way. Picturing it like that, my cheeks only burned brighter. But it had the desired effect.
Luke stopped talking and I focused on all my senses. I drew in a deep cleansing breath. This man out in front of you… He'll mean something to you one day, just like how you mean something to him now. Just focus; concentrate on detecting his energy. My foot slid a tad bit forward; my right arm still extended out ahead of me. The air around me got zingier. I began to feel tingles all over me.
My lips parted a sliver. Come on, Saoirse; you can do it. Focus on Luke and his words- his kind words to you. He will be your master one day… My brain paused. Hey, wait; that's true, he will be my master. And if I go off my previous relationships with my other masters… Then the time will come when I… I'll grow to…. There'll be a time when I love….
I didn't do anything but follow the tingling sensation at my fingertips. In reality, I had no clue if this was leading me to Luke or not, but the more I walked, the stronger the tingles got. I reached a point where the tingles were super powerful, but I wanted some confirmation that I was on the right path. I relaxed my closed eyelids a little. "I came through the door suddenly and caught you standing there…. And you were smiling then. And I felt…. it's almost impossible to describe." Those words… those kind, tender words he said to me. "I felt as if I'd just been given an enormous, beautiful present." A small, unconscious blossomed across my lips.
For as long as I live, I don't think I'll be able to forget those words.
My flat, horizontal hand turned veridical as I touched something. Or it would have if my hand had physical substance to it. But I knew something was right in front of me; I could- if it doesn't sound too ironic- sense it. My eyes opened to find Luke standing there. He was beaming down at me with quiet pride. He grinned, and I mirrored his pleased expression. "Hi." "Hello." "I think I sensed you." "I think you did too."
