Hello all, I finally got some .ore inspiration for this story. I hope you like it. Comments and suggestions are always welcome. I'm trying to merge Legends and canon, and it's a difficult thing to attempt, so if I miss anything please tell me.

Chapter 3

Thea Shan sat in quiet contemplation in the cockpit of the Ebon Hawk, seeking guidance in the force about what to do next. The force was silent in this. It had been two days since they had met up with Han Solo, since then they had went their separate ways. BB-8 and Finn had tagged along with him on the Millennium Falcon. Rey and Thea had decided to stay together on board the Ebon Hawk. They would head for the Resistance base, the location of which was stored on BB-8 memory drives. Thea hadn't bothered asking where, she had no desire to go there after all. Rey was her main priority at the moment. Though she had felt Finn was a force sensitive as well and the force was indeed strong with him, Rey was the more interesting of the two to her, for more then a few reasons.

Rey stepped into the cockpit and slid into the unoccupied seat beside her. "Where are we off to?" She asked, her curiosity nearly palpable.

"I haven't decided yet," Thea responded. "Anywhere in particular you'd like to go?"

"Well, I've never seen water, or any green ever.." Rey trailed off.

Thea nodded and smiled. "Plenty of places we can go then."

They fell into a comfortable silence as Thea took her time looking at the astronav charts. She hadn't returned to Coruscant since reawakening, and while she was curious about the state of the planet sized city, that might be overwhelming for Rey, having just come from a desolate desert. Yet, she'd have to quickly become used to the greater galaxy if she was to be of any use to her. She had plans, she would reignite the Sith Empire.

She had read the history of Sidious, and the failed Rule of Two. It nearly rid the galaxy of the Sith forever because of his foolishness. The Sith would become legion again, as they were always meant to be. And the fact that the last Jedi Master, Luke Skywalker had already taken himself out of the equation made things that much simpler.

First things first, she needed ships, and servants to man them. That wouldn't be difficult. She had heard rumor in her small but growing spy network of a group of Imperials that had purposefully not became part of the First Order, and had instead stationed themselves on a world called Bastion. They were lead by a Moff Council, and it was they who she'd need to dominate. It would be a small matter. And before that, she'd have to return to the Star Forge. She'd need a substantial force of her own, if she wanted to strongarm the imperials.

Rey spoke up then. "What about going to Jakku?" She asked, uncertainly.

"Why? Your time there is over." Thea said simply, looking at her directly. "You're far too important to be wasting away on a dust ball."

"Important?" Rey wondered. "But if whoever left me there comes back, my family.."

Thea sighed aloud and poked her in the chest with a finger. "You need to begin to rely on yourself, Rey. You can't be weak and wait for someone else to solve your problems. You must be strong and take what you need."

Rey looked away, unsure at that. "You think I'm capable of that?"

"I know you are. You simply need to believe in that too. You need to put yourself first, everything else is secondary." Rey seemed to nod at that, thinking it over.

Thea let her think quietly to herself as she entered the coordinates for the Star Forge, and then returned her attention to Rey. Who asked another question. "Are we going to help the Resistance? I liked Finn and Han, and they could use our help."

Thea thought that over for a few moments and shrugged. "In time, yes. They'll survive for awhile longer, before that there's many things I require."

"Things like what?"

"Well, you're something of a pilot and mechanic yourself, so you'll enjoy this. We're going to an ancient forge where large fleets used to be made, among other things. With it the entire galaxy can be aided. Although I'll need time to get it running again."

"But don't you need workers and material for that?"

"Not with this one, it runs off the sun, giving it everything it could ever need. You'll like it. Unfortunately, I'm no engineer, and I don't want to use outdated models for droids and ships. We'll need help with that part."

Rey nodded in excitement. "That sounds good to me!"

Finn, Han, and Chewbacca had since returned to the Resistance base on D'Qar, upon their arrival they quickly gave the portion of the map that BB-8 held to Leia and the other resistance leaders, and R2-D2 aided them with his own holomap. It wasn't difficult for them to find the location of Luke's hiding place. The forgotten homeworks of the Jedi Order, Tython. Finn also informed them in short order of Starkiller Base. The new planet killing superweapon owned by the First Order. So they had a few decisions to make.

Leia sighed. "So we're going to need to attack that base before they launch a blast at the New Republic. We'll most likely only have a few days to accomplish it. We don't need to destroy it. We at least need to distract them while we Inform the Senate of their peril, or better yet, disable the weapon itself."

Admiral Ackbar was the first to speak up. "We have a decent amount of ships that we can send. We don't have the firepower however to bomb the superlaser from orbit however. We'd need a Star Destroyer for that. But a few squadrons of X and Y wings should do the trick at least. The more of it that we wreck, the better."

Leia nodded and looked at Poe Dameron, who was positively giddy at that. "Can you get this done?"

Poe nodded sharply. "Consider it done, commander. What about the shield generator around the planet? We won't even be able to get groundside without taking that out first."

Han raised a hand. "I can do it."

Leia gave him an in cred u lous look. "By yourself? You'll never get inside with only you and Chewy."

Finn shrugged. "I can go too."

Leia nodded but added, "I'll be sending a small group to accompany you three as well. Can't be too sure. While everyone is off doing that, I have a mission of my own. I'll personally go out and get Luke. No longer can he hide himself away when the galaxy needs him most."

She said and looked around the room at everyone. Then she pulled out her lightsaber and held the unlit blade aloft for everyone to see. "I made a mistake not continuing my role as a Jedi Knight after finishing my training years ago. No longer." Then she lit the glowing lavender blade. "Starting today. The light of the Jedi will never again by extinguished from the galaxy. I swear that to you all." The room erupted in a responding cheer.

Everyone headed off on their own tasks then. Finn didn't know what to do with himself, so he kept closely to Hang as they got ready. He felt hesitant at felt to get involved in this group, but Leia's words had lit a fire in him. He'd stick around. He was wondering how Rey was doing, he had expected the two ladies to show up here at some point, but he had an odd sensation that they were moving further and further away from him. That was alright, he'd seek him out one day if he had to. He just knew he had to stick around here first.

Han and Chewy made quick preparations and loaded the ship up with gear for the additional two rebels that would be going along with them. Two human males. Kyle Katarn, a handsome man who carried a blaster and a confident smile, and a former CSF member and former Rogue Squadron pilot. Why he had decided to come along was beyond Finn. But these two men seemed incredibly skilled and they had both volunteered, so he'd accept it. They had also appeared to be friends of Han and Leia. Within an hour the Millennium Falcon had taken off and was heading for Starkiller Base with a variety of support ships, such as older corvettes and crushers. There was even an ancient Venator Star Destroyer tagging along, who would wait a hyperspace jump away until the confirmation from Han arrived for them to jump into the battle.

Leia waited until everyone was gone and left in a small ship of her own. It was a YT-2400 ship, she and Han had been working on it together for some time before their split, as she had wanted a ship of her own that was similar to the Falcon, and she had kept ever since. It was still in good working order. R2 and Threepio had come with her, as she didn't want to take this journey alone and the more familiar faces Luke saw, the better.

She knew he was going to be impossibly stubborn and she was more then willing to drag him home. The galaxy needed their Jedi back, and neither of them were too old to form a proper order again. She would've done it herself in the years since, she had the knowledge and skills for it, but had decided not to. The vision that had made her choose to give up being a Jedi had been a poor choice on her part. Ben wouldn't be returned to the light while she stood by and waited. She'd do it herself. The First Order would fall if she had to personally cut down Surpreme Leader Snoke.

After a few hours of lightspeed travel, Thea and Rey had finally arrived at the Start Forge. Thea hadn't expected to see so many ships exactly where she'd left them, but there was still far less then she knew used to be here. After Darth Revan had left for unknown space, someone needed to keep running the Sith Empire he has created, and Thea had stepped up. Things had been going well until she had left and the Sith began infighting, as they always did without a strong leader. It was good that they hadn't been many people actually living on the Star Forge at that point. No one had stolen the bulk of her automated ships, but she could feel that the Forge had gone into a form of stasis without any powerful Sith running it. In her mind, she could feel it notice her presence and reacting to her. It wasn't a fully sentient entity, but it was still run using the Dark Side

She looked at all the stationary ships as she flew past them. And a communication notification from the station itself appeared on her console. She accepted it and a robotic voice spoke to her. "Lady Shan, you have finally returned." It said simply.

"Indeed I have," She replied. It wasn't the Station itself speaking, but the droids running the communications tower. "You may open my personal hanger bay and await further instructions." Then clicked off.

"What is this place? It feels..cold." Rey said, her eyes wide as she felt the strength of the force nexus that was this place.

Thea only smiled and set a hand on her shoulder. "Fear not, it is only the dark side of the force in all it's beauty that, you're are feeling. One day, you will full mastery over it."

"The force is real?" She asked, with a hint of fear in her voice.

"More real then you could ever imagine. And it's very strong with you."

Rey nodded again and smiled. "Strong with me, I like that."

Thea only smirked at that. "This is where we will begin to strike back at the First Order."

Kylo Ren, leader of the Knights of Ren, was on one knee before the glimmering holo-image of Snoke. Who was most displeased about the events that had taken place on the dusty world of Jakku. Kylo involuntarily flexed the fingers of his new proestetic arm. "I felt the disturbance in the force when she first arrived on Jakku. This Sith Lord. She is a hareld of change. And she made short work of you."

Kylo didn't respond right away, struggling to rein in his anger. "Yes, master. I tried to recruit her, of course. As a Sith of her esteem would've greatly helped us gain control over the galaxy. She decided to go her own way."

"Of course, as any proper Sith Lord would, she will bend the knee to no one. She is a rival. And if she's allowed freedom to run around the galaxy, making alliances and fulfilling whatever plans she has. The Resistance and the New Republic will be the least of our worries. I haven't been able to gleam anything in the dark side about her plans or how she found herself in our era however."

Kylo looked up at his master and spoke his thoughts. "Allow me to take a number of ships and wipe her out before she can gather her strength!"

Snoke only shook his head. "If I have been unable to determine her location, even with our vast spy network. I doubt you will be able to. The daughter of Revan will be a terrifying foe, indeed. It is unfortunate we couldn't recuit the Sith hiding on Korriban Either. All we can do now is continue with our own plans. Have you found the map to Skywalker?"

Kylo shook his head. "No. And they droid that was carrying it escaped. They could already be on their way to retrieve Skywalker. What should we do? We'll be fighting a war on two sides very soon."

Snoke sat thoughtfully for a moment. "We still have a great fleet, as well as Starkiller Base. No one knows about either at the moment. It'd be best to wipe out the Republic at least. It'd be a simple matter and would remove them from the playing board."

They both felt another disturbance in the force at that moment. "There has been another awakening. I can feel both the powers of light and dark begin to swell, everything will soon come to a point. Leave Hux to play on Starkiller. Come alone to me on the Supremecy. Together, we will find a solution to this."

Leia landed on the world of Tython, hidden in the Deep Core. It had been slow going coming here with how frantic and difficult it was to fly here. But Leia had managed, she had fully immersed herself in the force in a way she hasn't for years. She had forgotten what it felt like. And now that she had reached Tython, she felt how deep in the dark side this planet was. According to legend, a Sith Lord from ages ago had made resistance here. It was unfortunate. She couldn't guess why Luke would come here of all places.

She had felt his presence in the great ancient temple that she had seen from the dark and stormy sky, and landed on one of it's many landing pads. R2 and C3-P0 had offered to come alone but she has refused. Insisting that she'd need to face her brother alone. It wouldn't be an easy confrontation. She took a calming breath and made her way inside the ancient building. It was indeed a beautiful place, despite the danger of the place. She made no effort at masking her presence, hoping Luke would make himself known. He did. Before she had even taken her first step on the great staircase, Luke was already waiting for her. Hair slicked back, with his traditional black robes on, lightsaber on his belt. His expression has hard to place as they locked eyes. "Luke." Leia said simply.

"Why are you here?" Luke asked her, his voice being projected loudly with the all the strength of the force.

"The galaxy needs you to return, Luke. I was willing to be patient after you left. Knowing what a toll Bens betrayal took on you. I knew you just needed some time to travel and clear your mind. But that time is over. Ben is worse then he's ever been, posturing around as an echo of Vader. And Snoke is set to begin taking over the galaxy. You know how this goes, ships and blasters alone aren't enough to push back the dark. The pepe need to see the light, and know we're out there fighting for them again." Leia said, gaining confidence with every work.

"The same people that cast you out as soon as you were found out to be the daughter of Vader? You'd continue to protect them, after they ignored endless reports about the First Order amassing a fleet and taking over worlds?"

"I'd protect them with my dying breath, Luke. You know that better then anyone. We don't do this to be liked or appreciated. The Jedi has always had a difficult place with the public since the dawn of the order. We don't choose the light because we want to win - We choose it because it is the light." Leia finished the line with a smile.

Luke echoed her smile then. "Quoting Qui-Gon now? Obi-Wan would be proud of you."

"You know, a few times I've spoken with Obi-Wan and the others. You've closed yourself off to the force and to your fellows teachers. I never fully closed myself off like that."

Luke shrugged, "I can't just come back, Leia. I failed Ben by breaking his trust in me. I failed the Yoda, by not bringing the Jedi back."

Leia extended her hand out to him, though he was too far to take it. "You're going to let a little something like screwing up slow you down? You couldn't save us at Cloud City, there's many times you couldn't save someone or do something. But the brother I know wouldn't simply roll over and be defeated. Come on, Luke. Together, we can save the galaxy as family."

Luke looked at her for a moment and was oddly reminded of his father's similar offer once upon a time. He wasn't sure if it was intentional or not, but It was a strange reflection of that other pivotal moment in his life. Time was funny like that. He'd take the offer this time. " Then he quickly walked down the stairs and took her hand in his and he drew the force back into himself once again for the first time in years. "You won me over, let's go."

Thea and Rey had made quick work of taking over the powered down fleet over Lehon, and reigniting the Forge itself. Thea had forgotten how powerful she felt while on board. It made her weary, as she didn't want to become overconfident because of that. Like Malak had. Rey had been asking more and more questions about the force and she was only too happy to answer them. Thea had tried to begin her instruction as best she could given the time constraints. Rey had on the other hand been incredibly useful with giving her new designs for various ships and battle droids she thought would be helpful.

It would take time for the forge to churn out anything in great number, but now that she had returned to it, it would continue on its own, and she had set up many droid overseers to watch over the works progress. It would take a week at least for the first batch to be finished. Time she didn't have to stay here and wait. She'd be forced to take the ancient battleships she already had and go straight to Bastion. As long as she won them over, they could begin their crusade. She didn't mind using droids as her servants for now, but she didn't want an entire droid army forever. She enjoyed other people.

But she had probes into the force and knew Snokes mind. She knew he would use the Superweapon soon. She had a few days still, at least. But it would need to be destroyed before it destroyed the New Republic. It was foolish to destroy so many planets like that. It meant less subjects to rule over. She simply couldn't have that. She would wrap up here and take her droid run fleet and go.

"Rey, come along. I have something for you." Thea said as the young woman was busy fussing with a droid about a starfighter design. Rey perked up and followed. Thea let her into one of the many fabrication rooms where weapons, armor, or clothes could easily be made for whoever at moment's notice. And she pointed at the console. "Here we are. You're going to need a new look, my dear. Those clothes you have are are meant for a scavenger. You're something more now."

Rey looked at the console in consideration, before looking back up at Thea. "What am I?"

"A leader of greatest empire to ever exist. All of this." Thea said, waving her hand around. "I know I've been taking the lead so far, but you're an equal part of it. Your name will echo throughout all of time as we bring a true peace to the galaxy.."

Rey thought about her words again for a moment. She has never really known who she was, here was an opportunity to become whoever she wanted, with her own two hands. Rey smiled. "Yes, let's do that. No more wars, or people starving, hoping they can make enough that day to have something to eat. I want things to be just and fair for all. You've been teaching me a bit about the force, and with it, I'll make sure no one is left wanting because of the greedy lording things over them." Rey said, a fire in her eyes.

Thea nodded at that, she could work with this. A woman driven to fix the galaxy, and make it fair for all? Of course, it wasn't entirely possible. But if that wasn't a perfect motivation.."You will be very just. Meditate on the force as I've taught you. Then go ahead and make a suitable look for yourself." Thea left her to her own devices.

HK-47 was waiting for her outside the chambers. "Observation: Master, this woman reminds me of your mother Bastila. Am I to assume she'll be staying with us?"

"She will, she's a natural with the force, and all too willing to learn. Listen HK, I have need of your talents."

"Excited query: Will you finally send me to a mission of mayhem and death?"

"Death, yes. Absolutely no mayhem, I need you to be discreet. You're too take a fast ship and arrive ahead of us at Bastion. I'll need you to kill a few of the Moffs. I want the to be distraught and angry. They'll be more willing to work with me as I will present a solution to the possible First Order assassin in their midst. I really only need a few of them for now anyway, while I steal away all their ships and manpower. I won't have sexist schemers trying to undermine me at every turn. Use your best judgment on who to target."

"Answer: Good logical reasoning as always master. I will make quick work of these imperial meatbags." HK then turned on his heels and headed off. Thea had a quiet moment to herself then. It was nice to build her own empire. One step at a time.