[A/N]:

Yup, this is the new chapter that I alluded to. Is your excitement ticking? I know it must be so thrilling to read my exceptional writing once again (hair waves dramatically), but I kicked myself in the ass enough the past few days to dish out this chapter for ya'll to enjoy. The past few months were filled with me starting other stories and not getting far into them because I wouldn't allow it before this is finished. I. Will. Not. Abandon. My. Story. At least to start a different one, hopefully I don't actually abandon this. I really don't plan to. After forming this chapter, there are all sorts of ideas playing in my head what I can do with this little world, so I will continue to surge on and bring you more. Preferably in a timelier fashion.

You know I love you all, but I say it anyway -Axvo

More and more I've been reading about this 'First Order' as they're called. They take children from their homes and force them into their ranks, brainwash them from infancy to create soldiers entirely subservient first and only to the Order. Rumors of this 'Snoke' figure running it all makes my skin crawl. He manipulated and took advantage of Ben Solo to destroy the Jedi Order, preying on the boy's naive desires. And then, because of these machinations, the newly formed Republic collapsed. It was only just beginning to come into its own after freeing the galaxy from the Empire… What should I do? When I think of Ben Solo, his story reminds me of Sasuke in so many ways: manipulated by those he believed possessed the power he sought to achieve, the power he felt his home was withholding him from obtaining. The idea of sparing someone who shares any similarities in character to him makes me… sick… but that's not what she would have wanted. No, it's not.

Fox Paw System Log 648

30 ABY

SW:AHR

Heels met the cold, metallic floor, rebounding off the walls in an annoying pattern that synchronized to Kylo Ren's movements perfectly. The soldiers lining the walls on his sides unconsciously tightened their shoulders when he passed by. The aura coming off of the stalking figure made each one stop and hope the ire would not be turned in their direction. Kylo was most displeased with his situation. Not only had he failed in retrieving that blasted droid unit, but he had been humiliated, left in the desert, and forced to send out an emergency beacon. Unacceptable. When he found that man, he would send him to his grave. Hopefully alongside his sickeningly idealistic uncle.

The crew of the Supremacy, the Mega-Class Star Dreadnought that Snoke used as his mobile base of operations, were still apprehensively looking at Kylo, but he ignored them and entered the chambers where he knew his Master was. Entering the wide room, the back wall bled a dark crimson and the members of Snoke's Elite Praetorian Guards, vibrostaves clung in their hands, stood shoulder-to-shoulder at each side of the massive black throne where the aforementioned, disfigured man sat.

The Sith apprentice strode with what he hoped exuded a facade of confidence—long steps carried him directly in front of the stone slab propping up Snoke's thin, gangly, corpselike figure, where he got down on one knee with his head directed at the far more aesthetically appealing floor. Misery ensued as he sat there underneath the sunken gaze of his Master, waiting to be allowed relief from his obsequious position, his frustration escalating with each ticking second.

Finally, freeing Kylo from his wait, Snoke cleared his throat and began, "You have failed me, my apprentice. Such a surprise... truly," Snoke's voice was raspy, yet still managed to bite with a hate filled venom. He continued, "It must be hereditary, the Skywalker line is marred with failures from one generation to the next... mockeries of your potential."

The insulted party's fist began to curl and his face started to spasm and twitch. Let it be known that Kylo cared not for his family's name, it meant nothing to him, he wanted to throw it away and solely embrace the Dark Side, but around every corner the name Ben Solo haunted him. Even that bastard had mocked him with his birth name. I am Kylo Ren, not Ben Solo, seethed the young Sith.

"Good, very good. Your rage, your jealousy, your hate—I can feel them in the Force—use them to make you stronger. You failed me, my apprentice, but what will you do to remedy your mistakes?"

A question demanded an answer, "Anything you ask of me, Master," Kylo parroted with ease, his voice masked with apathy.

"Tell me of what happened on Jakku, my apprentice," Snoke spoke softly, though there was no gentleness in his voice, it was the softness one would expect before a knife was sheaved between your entrails.

"When my forces arrived with me to Jakku, it was discovered that the man searching for the coordinates to Luke Skywalker was there to retrieve them in the village of Tuanul, so I went personally and apprehended said man. He managed to place the map inside of his astromech and let it escape, meaning I was unable to withdraw anything… useful from my… sessions with him. His will was strong for someone with no potential in the Force."

"And what happened after this?" there was in an impatient note to Snoke's voice, Kylo decided to continue hurriedly.

"I returned to the surface of Jakku after I felt a powerful surge in the Force, worried the droid had been apprehended by an unknown enemy. When I found this anomaly, it was a man I have never met or heard description of before, his ship was old, probably an Old Republic ship, but his skills in both lightsaber combat and manipulation of the Force were nothing to scoff at. He treated me as a mere triviality… I haven't felt so outmatched since my… initiation into your training." Kylo's voice held a reluctance to admit the last bit, but he knew it to be the truth, and he relished in the hatred the truth brought him.

"Fascinating. This man… intrigues me… The destruction of Starkiller Base has set our plans back years… It leaves me to wonder if he has some connection with it, there seems to be a shroud around what branches his actions will create, the same shroud that was covering the base for months," Snoke would need to meditate on the matter, this man was dangerous, more dangerous than he could have anticipated. His plans would need to be molded to fit this wrench that had been thrown. "You will search for this man. Bring him to me alive preferably, but if you must… end him. Do not fail me again, my forgiving nature can only stretch so thin."

"With pleasure, Master. At your leave," Kylo said, bowing his head low.

"You may go, my Apprentice… And may the Force serve you well."

"And you, Master."

This was a task Kylo would complete with fervor. The man was ignoring all caution and shined like a beacon through the Force, tracing his location would be child's play for one of this enraged Sith's talents; and his journey could potentially be even more fortuitous by giving him a way to extinguish Luke Skywalker. Oh, he was positively ecstatic.

SW:AHR

The smell of freshly cooked ramen met the nose of Naruto Uzumaki as he entered the mess, rested on the table sat the glorious bowl of his favorite cuisine. Most individuals would question why a still steaming bowl of food was left alone, but Naruto's mind would not allow such foolish questions to hinder the path to his prize. Within moments, Naruto was sat in front of the bowl, gorging it down with delight and haste.

Little did the ex-ninja know, he was being watched from the door. Rey, Finn, and Poe watched with breaths held tightly, waiting to see if Cs had been telling the truth. Several endless seconds went by, until Naruto finally collapsed face first into his food, broth sloshing everywhere. The group let out a collective burst of laughter at his position. For someone so freakishly strong, he was so simple-minded in certain aspects of life that abusing said aspects was nearly criminal… nearly.

"We don't have long, Cs said the dosage will only last about 10 minutes. The box should be ready."

Ten minutes later, Naruto awoke groggily, trying to figure out what the hell happened. He felt crammed and a touch of a chill. Cracking open his eyes, he immediately tried to sit up, but his head met the ceiling of the contraption he found himself nestled within.

"Fuck me sideways."

Cs had finished it without him knowing. A coffin of transparisteel… Why did Naruto have to suggest things to the maniac after a few drinks? Did the droid have to take him seriously? Not only was he stuffed inside this coffin, but the asshole hooked it up to an oxygen cable and he was being dragged behind the ship. And… yep, there's Ahch-To, and… yeah, Cs is going for the free-fall landing. This is something even I have to tip my hat off to. Is this perhaps how a father feels when their child impresses them? God, I hope not, Naruto's ponderings went in such ludicrous directions for a moment.

The ship's thrusters began to shut off, letting the inertial velocity carry them toward the planet's surface. The gravity well kicked in, dragging them down even faster. Once they broached the planet's atmosphere, the pressure from their speed compressed the air molecules around their masses to such a degree that the building kinetic energy (surrounding both ship and coffin) turned them into miniature fireballs, descending like hellish rain from the sky.

Sweat began to build up on Naruto's forehead, the insides of his uncomfortable 'vehicle' were rising to dangerous temperatures.

"Fuck this."

His fist slammed into the super heated transparisteel, sending cracks through it. Another punch, and it shattered. His body was pulled through the flames as he used his arms to cover his face, adjusting his body to dive headfirst through shards of molten material.

When he broke free, he allowed himself several seconds of free-fall, enjoying the sight of the massive watery planet beneath him. He glanced to his side and noticed Cs had reactivated the ship's power and was maneuvering so it did not actually crash. Directing his body toward the ship, Naruto fell on top of its roof, clutching onto the surface with the ever handy use of chakra. While they continued to descend, Naruto noticed the small island they were headed towards, he could feel the place was a fulcrum in the Force: light atop the island, while darkness lurked in its depths. Ain't that something, I've never felt balance like this; they aren't fighting one another, simply existing in a harmonious cohesion.

The Jedi Order began on this planet, risen from the ashes of the Je'daii, he could feel the Force calling out to him, whispering wonders about the secrets that dwell on this strange world. Why Luke decided to isolate himself here made sense, everything was lost after the Order he helped build collapsed, and, seeking answers and respite from the torture the past dragged, he was led to the place the Force could aid him most.

Naruto was dragged out of his thoughts when the ship began to land on one of the islands where it sensed lifeforms—specifically a humanoid life form. Leaning over the edge of the ship, he noticed several small huts on the island, but what dominated his attention was the figure standing in the middle, staring right back at him with an eyebrow raised at his current position.

One leap later, and Naruto was on the ground approaching Luke. He wanted to speak to him alone, and the others had been made aware of this several hours earlier. When they were a dozen paces or so apart, they both stared at each other with arms folded over their chests, sizing one another up both physically and spiritually through the Force. Luke was strong, exceptionally so, probably the strongest person in the Force Naruto had ever met other than himself, far more powerful than Ben. No, they were similar in latent talents, but Luke was so refined that their skills were light years apart. If Naruto was a super massive star in the force, then Luke would be a red dwarf, perhaps less impressive upon visual inspection, but no less potent in its destructive potentiality.

"Quite an entrance you chose," humor laced the words of the old Jedi.

"Well, it wasn't quite by choice, mind you. My droid… has attitude issues, and managed to pull one over on me."

"Ah, yes, droids do tend to have rather strange personalities. I know of an astromech that may get along with your droid swimmingly."

"Hopefully that is never confirmed," a nagging feeling told Naruto that those words would haunt him. "Naruto Uzumaki," he closed the gap and held out his hand with a smile playing on his lips.

"Luke Skywalker, but I imagine you wouldn't be here unless you knew that," came the amiable reply; he returned the hand shake, but studied Naruto closely.

"Something like that. So, you don't seem surprised to see me."

"You weren't exactly hiding your arrival, nor your approach. You interest me. One so young and well-trained in the Force, who taught you?"

"A Force ghost."

"Oh? Whose?"

"Satele Shan."

"Truly?"

"Do you sense deception?"

He did not.

"How incredible, her life was a fascinating study for me when I was younger, so many accomplishments both before and over her long tenure as Grand Master of the Order. Quite the example to try living up to when I gained the title."

"I would imagine. She had countless regrets even after death, but she remained strong and waited for me. Apparently, she knew I would come… eventually."

"The longer one exists, the more they love to embellish their clairvoyance," Luke added with a chortle.

"Undoubtedly. So, tell me, Luke, why are you spending your time here while the galaxy gets put under the First Order's boot? You have actions to take responsibility for, are you running away like a coward?" Naruto whispered the last part, letting it sink into the time-worn man, but his voice was acerbic, displeasure evident at Luke's choice.

Luke was not one to be tested, he easily shrugged off the hostility. A heavy sigh released from his chest, the sigh held years of tension and pain he was attempting to unwind, his gaze turned toward the sky above, examining the shifting clouds. War pervailed inside the man, peace evaded him at every turn, sucking him back into the depths of his horrid choices.

"Do you know what failing those you care for most feels like?" the question was intentionally rhetorical, he imagined one so young had yet to experience the horrors he had been unlucky enough to have been the recipient.

"I do. I failed every person I cared about. My people are no more, and I watched as they faded into the Force in front of my eyes."

Luke stopped and examined the man across from him under a new perspective, he had seen the demise of his people. I guess we both share in regrets, but what have I done but sulk? Here's someone who looked forward instead of being stuck in his regrets. What an odd person you are, Naruto Uzumaki.

"Who did you lose?"

Luke was surprised at the question. The faces of all the Jedis he had trained came to his mind, but then they were halted when a beautiful red-headed woman's face came to the forefront, along with the children they had created. The image slowly began to tremble and fade, replaced with their dismembered bodies, Kylo standing over them, eyes glazed a burning yellow, laughing at his uncle's crying figure. Inadvertently, Luke was beginning to lose control of his emotions, the past tried to overwhelm his psyche, but, before he could disappear into the hole of his anguish, Naruto placed his hand on his shoulder, and the debilitating feelings began to dissipate from his mind and body.

"A part of you is broken, Master Skywalker," part of Luke cringed at the moniker, but it was said with such respect that he let him continue, "and it will forever remain so. You and I share in this pain—the shattered self. But these feelings lead to the road of the Dark Side, you know this as well as I. We must embrace the balance of the Force, rejoice that our pieces are still in play, and we must let the Force use us as it sees fit, don't you agree?"

Luke felt the first genuine smile in years begin to form on his lips, "I do. Maybe I've been waiting for you—like Master Shan. The Force enjoys relieving my uncertainties in… strange ways."

"That seems to be the case for most. The mysteries are endless, though, so at least boredom isn't something we ever find ourselves concerned with."

They shared a knowing look, and then Luke turned his attention back to the endless ocean crashing into the island.

"Help a man growing in his senility with a quandary that has ate at him over the years?"

"I can try."

"Why did I fail? An outside perspective would be humbling, my own opinions are… encumbered with bias."

"I'll answer your question by asserting one of my own first: why did the Jedi fall to Palpatine?"

"Because he had plans, contingencies ready for all possibilities: the clones were on his side, key parts of the senate were in his pocket—the real question is: what didn't he have to bring about their end?"

"Those are all portions of the whole, but the truth resides in how he was able to bring about those manipulations. His Master, Darth Plagueis, was exceptionally cunning, and he discovered—along with those that preceded him—discovered a fatal flaw in the Order…"

"And that was?"

The young Force User floated in the air and crossed his legs to get comfortable, he stared off into space for a moment, and then continued, "The Jedi Temple on Coruscant was built upon what was left of a Sith Shrine when they ruled the planet before the Galactic Republic rose. This was over five millennia ago, but I'm sure you know of this?"

"I do, I've been to the shrine myself."

"Good, then you know how sinister it is to this day?" Luke nodded. "The Sith were aware of this, and they took advantage of the shrine by using it as the nexus for their shroud—the shroud that prevented the Jedi from perceiving the future, blind to what had once been so transparent. An ingenious creation, but praise them I will not, for through blinding the Jedi, it allowed them to pursue a plan they had developed for over a thousand years."

A confused expression crossed Luke's face, so he inquired, "What does this have to do with my question?"

"It's very important, because it shows the impact the Dark Side can have, even when you think it is being kept at bay."

"What do you mean?"

"Don't act the fool, you know the past of Yavin 4. The screams of the damned Massassi can still be felt through the Force to this day, forever imbibed with the pain brought to them from their slavers—the Sith. Their temples will be tainted until the moon is but dust. The night you attacked Ben… what did you feel?"

Sorrow etched every inch of Luke's aged visage, the answer not being one he wanted to give, but he reluctantly did so, "I felt it was the right thing to do, it felt as if the Force whispered to me… he needed to be stopped before he turned into a monster."

"And there it is. Look inside, do you truly believe your own nephew was falling? Was he arrogant and quick-tempered? That goes without saying. It could easily hereditary, from what I've read about his parents they both seem rather hot-headed."

"They certainly are that… but… no… he wasn't falling, it was something else. You're saying it was the Massassi?"

A resolute nod was given, and then he surged on, "I believe their taint corrupted you, they examined you, searched for a weakness they could extort, and, in consequence for your own actions, brought about the Order's demise. Anyone on Yavin 4 for extended periods would be seen as an enemy, and their vengeful spirits wanted absolute solace, you were the vessel they used to achieve this."

"Why do you believe this? You seem so certain."

"I've visited Yavin 4, spent numerous days meditating in their temples, communing with the Massassi. Reason cannot reach them anymore, they simply desire damnation for all who step in their hallowed halls," the bitterness and honesty in Naruto's voice sent a shiver through Luke, he had sent his wife and children to their doom… what had he done?

"Luke," said man stopped, his thoughts starting to defeat him, "you must accept what happened to Mara Jade and your children. Do you think they would want to see you like this? Would they respect and love the man you've become? What would your self that saved your father tell you? Stop being an unpleasant shade of the man you are, help me bring peace to this galaxy. Do you not owe it that much?"

This boy was crushing Luke, tears began to slip into his scraggly beard, wetting his grizzled face with a myriad of emotions, all clashing irreverently within him, but… he knew him to be right. Luke Skywalker would never have turned his back on the family he had left or the galaxy that cried for freedom, so, then, who was he? His eyes darted around. A small puddle by his foot showed the reflection he hated seeing, but now it was marred with doubt, doubt that he would never be the man he once was again. Was this how Old Ben felt after Anakin fell, spending those years in isolation? At least Obi-wan had watched over him… what would his old Master think of him now?

"Tell me what to do, Naruto. Please," his voice was so raspy, when was the last time it had sounded so abused?

"That isn't for me to do. But I will say this: if you let me stay here, you will get an opportunity to face Kylo Ren."

"W-What?"

"He was looking for the map with your location the Resistance had managed to track down, he thought I had them… joke's on him, I kicked his ass and nabbed it before he could. He's… not okay."

Luke understood he meant through the Force, not that he had permanently harmed Ben in any significant way.

"No… he wouldn't be, his heart thrives in the black now."

"You found the Light in your own father, do you doubt it can be found in your nephew?"

"I-I don't know. That's difficult for me to answer, how does one forgive for the murder of your own family? Perhaps this was why Jedi moved to forbid relationships… this endless hatred bred by loss is… stifling."

"I disagree," a perplexed look crossed Luke's face, having expected agreement. "Those bonds are what make you stronger, they drive you to your highest peaks… to protect them. Can they be taken advantage of, used against you in the worst ways imaginable, all to send you to the Dark? Of course, but the Force wants us to live, it thrives on life, why would every living being be connected with it, down to even the smallest organisms, unless this was the case? If we detach ourselves from living, the Force will reject you all the more. The Force only seeks balance, it matters not what we feel, it is simply that we feel. Jedi did a great disservice to the Force when they eviscerated their feelings.

"Do you want to know what my dream was on my home world?"

"I do."

"Peace. My world was akin to the Mandalorians of old. Once clans dominated in various warring states, until powerful leaders of the clans began to formulate villages, which lead to countries being founded and borders drawn. Power and war were constants in our lands, peace never lasted longer than a generation, and tension was always on a knife's edge. But me, a foolish boy of thirteen, made a promise to his teacher that he would make his dream come true: to bring peace. And I failed him. The woman who held my heart bled in my arms, killed by the man I thought understood me more than anyone in the world, someone who I had sworn to save. And through my anger and rage, I ended him, and… ended my people.

"Now, through the Force, I've found what I believe to be the truth. Peace isn't what the Force desires, no, it doesn't perceive peace to be balance, that is a misconception and invention of the Jedi. The Force doesn't truly care about anything, it simply is. What the Force seeks is equilibrium. Conflict must happen for the Light to shine, and the Dark must thrive to show off its counterparts luminescence."

"You don't speak of using the Dark side to create this balance, yet most of what you say sounds like the rhetoric of a Gray Jedi."

"True, because I disagree with the Gray Jedi. A true Jedi thrives on positive emotions and positive emotions alone, we do not deny that darkness lurks in our heart, for it dwells in all metaphysical beings, we embrace our inner Light and let it bind us from the Dark."

"I… think I quite like that, actually. In many ways, you remind me of who I once was… perhaps he rests within, hidden away in some room hoping to escape. I thank you for this conversation, Master Uzumaki."

Naruto beamed at Luke, he was a man Naruto truly respected, someone whose story was still sung across the galaxy, even if done privately in present times. The future was murky, but he now had another ally (a powerful one at that) to aid in his quest.

SW:AHR

While Naruto was having his conversation with Luke, Poe had gone to the secure holoterminal in the tail end of the Fox Paw to make contact with Leia… how he dreaded this conversation. He had been more than happy to agree to Rey's prank on Naruto, anything to prevent him from… this. Alas, even the most undesirable of tasks must be completed.

Few women frightened the hardened ex-smuggler, but one well-placed glare from the Alderaanian was enough to tighten the back of any mans breeches. Time for him to bite the blaster.

He inputted his personal identification codes into the terminal, waiting to receive confirmation for his transmission to go through. When he was greenlit to go, he prepared himself. Breeches and all.

The perturbed holo-body of Leia Organa appeared in the center of the holoterminal, full-sized and in all her semi-transparently bluish glory. Great, just great, Poe frustratedly let out in his mind.

"Tell me, Commander Dameron, do you consider my orders a… suggestion, or do you receive… pleasure from persistently committing yourself to direct insubordination?"

"That was never my intention, General Organa."

"Then, tell me, what was your… 'intention'?" the frostiness chilling her voice would flash-freeze the blood of weaker men, luckily Poe had been lead by Zori Bliss, and Leia was scary… but no woman he had met could hold a candle to the fear-inducing she-devil who was Zori Fucking Bliss.

"I had every intention of returning to base when I got my hands on the map to General Skywalker's location, but I was intercepted and captured by Kylo Ren," Poe watched his General's jaw clench minutely. "He spent hours trying to extract information from me, but I managed to escape with the help of a now defected stormtrooper. We crashed back onto Jakku, where I awoke and was saved by… a man."

"And who is this man?"

"I can't say."

"Can't… or won't?

"Can't, I gave him my word that I wouldn't reveal his identity. Not only did he save my life, but he had my astromech in his possession, and then decided to take us to General Skywalker's location."

"You let an unknown make his way to Luke? What are you thinking, Commander? No, you're not thinking, I have half a mind to sign your discharge forms right here and now. Try and convince me otherwise, I… beg you."

Yeah, you certainly sound so desperate to hear my reasoning.

"What I will say is that this man is not one to be underestimated… I have witnessed unbelievable things in the two days I've been around him, something I'm sure you can relate to with who your brother is, General," the not so subtly dropped hint was understood easily. "He has shown no hostility to the Resistance and seems entirely set on bringing down the First Order. There's something else."

"What is it?"

"I believe he had something to do with the destruction of Starkiller Base."

"And why would that be?"

"I'm not sure, call it my gut instinct… when I read about it on the holonet, he seemed disinterested—almost too disinterested. And there was a look in his eyes, like a long and well-thought-out plan had bore fruit after tireless hours of labor. Also… I imagine you extrapolated it from my what I said before, but he is definitely Force-sensitive, and extraordinarily powerful."

"Would he be willing to join the Resistance?"

"That-that I'm not sure about. I brought up the idea to him. He shot it down, not wanting to be used for his powers. I have a feeling he will help, but he wants no part in being a cog in the system, he will be a system unto himself and outside of our own."

"I'll think about what you've told me. Consider yourself lucky, I seem to no longer find myself filling out my holopad, Commander."

"Thank you, General."

"Keep an eye on this man, and, when you can, try and convince him to speak with me. Also, tell my twin to contact me or I'll have to make my way over there and show him personally how skilled I still am with a blaster in hand."

The feed cut out, and Poe let out a breath of relief that the ordeal was over. Now he can enjoy his day.

"I can say with absolute certainty that she is far more pleasant than the higher ups of the First Order," Finn's amused voice came from the side, where he sat watching the conversation but remained out of the camera's shot.

"There's a plus: at least my boss isn't a psychotic dick. What a life I live."

"You're alive and free at least."

"Fair point."

Poe watched Finn, the soldier may imagine he was putting up a good show, that his new friend would fail to notice how his shoulders slumped or the air of defeat endlessly hanging overhead. He sat across from Finn, setting his feet up on the terminal.

"What's on your mind, Finn?"

A hesitant look was sent his way, but Poe sent him a reassuring smile, so Finn decided to unleash his troubles, "When we were escaping… everything happened so fast, but now… I killed men that I spent my whole life with… I knew them from birth, quite a few were actually friends of mine, or as close to friends as one can have in the First Order. What does that make me?"

"A survivor."

Finn glanced at Poe confused, so the latter elaborated further, "The second you made the decision to help me escape, the situation shifted. Moments before you were one of them—another drone for them to order to kill whomsoever they saw fit—but with only a single choice, you were enemy number one. Should you be proud of killing the men you knew best? No, you should resent and hate having done it, but don't let it eat away at you. Know that you fought to live another day, and survival is key in this galaxy. It will chew you up and spit you out like a starved Rancor."

"He's right," they both turned to see Naruto standing there with the man they both assumed to be Luke Skywalker, "you can sit in defeat, hating yourself for what happened, or join us. We're going to take this galaxy back from the First Order, and we will need men like you, Finn, to do so. Will you fight with us or wither at your own hands?"

This was a pivotal moment for Finn's life, equal only to the one days before with Poe, but he was sure now like he was then, that he would jump into this future and embrace it for the innumerable paths it opened for exploration. This was why he had gone with Poe to begin with, for a chance to shape his own future, and Force help him would he do just that.

"I'm with you."

SW:AHR

Naruto wandered through his ship, thoughts polluted with the potentialities he would need to consider, people he could find to help them, and all sorts of madness that constantly troubled his mind these days. He was tugged from his obsessive thoughts when he realized he had not seen Rey since prior to their arrival.

She was close, but her spirit was in turmoil, so he followed the invisible cord formed from the Force that connected the two together, not even remotely worried about losing his way. When he exited the ship, he noticed the rain was pouring down. The overabundance of water on the planet's surface seemed to coalesce harsher storms, but it hardly bothered Naruto.

'You needn't worry about her so. She's a strong one.'

'I'm not worried, just… okay, I'm slightly worried, but…'

'I know, Naruto… I know. Just make sure to keep her safe.'

'I'll do everything I can, and then more.'

'You always do,' Kurama responded with raucous laughter following close behind.

Cutting through the island, he made his way to the craggy rocks on the edge. There he found Rey sitting, arms clung to her legs as she stared vacantly out at the water, an imperceptible expression touched her face, but Naruto could feel what she did, and it was disarray. He set himself down next to her, not saying anything as they both let the rain soak into their core.

Rey finally broke the silence, unable to stand it any longer, "I've read about all sorts of planets and species, but I've never imagined actually seeing so much water. This is the first time I've ever enjoyed a rainstorm. Can you imagine?"

"In a manner of speaking, but my home world was far more diverse in ecology and environment than both this world and Jakku. What really ails you, Rey?"

Hesitance rose to paramount levels. Rey truly hated this dyad going on between them. Her privacy felt invaded, but for some reason the anger never stayed long, and she would actually feel calmed by how assured Naruto felt through the connection.

"What am I to you?"

A light laugh left his mouth as he wiped his dripping hair from sticking into his eyes, "Avoiding my question with your own, but we'll get back to mine, yours first. What are you to me? I'm not sure. At first I thought you were a figment of my imagination, a distinct impression that would vanish whenever I thought you were within my vision—forever out of reach but always fleetingly visible. You know by now that you share… many similarities with Haku in your appearance… But you should know, you are not a replacement for her. Hell, I don't even know if anything will happen between us, just because there's a dyad doesn't mean we have to feel something romantic for one another. If it leads us down such a path, that is the way it will be. But, to answer your question directly: you are hope. A hope that the Force gave me to repair my brokenness, someone I am utterly incapable of being dishonest with, and who would be able to look at me without judgment, resentment, or hostility impairing your gaze to what lies in my past. You, Rey, are beyond special to me, and I know you will help save not only me, but this entire galaxy.

"So, I ask again: what ails you?"

Tears streamed down Rey's face, obscured by the rainfall, but his words had touched her. She had never felt such a responsibility for another person, to help not only be their anchor in life's perpetually tumultuous storm, but to also feel as if she had someone else in return. She would try her best to help him, just as he had helped her throughout the years, always there to encourage during her lonely journeys on Jakku. But how does she expose her deepest fear? The insecurity that ate away at her since memories formed. Then it clicked. He had made it clear, he would not judge her, she knew he would never do so.

"Is… is there something wrong with me? My parents, they left me on Jakku—sold me when I was just a little girl. Why would they do that? Was I too much trouble? Were they addicts looking for credits to get their next fix? No matter how much time goes by, I can't accept being kept in the dark to the answers."

"Sometimes the truth is hard to swallow, and it often is kept hidden to protect us. Let me tell you about the birth of another child in the galaxy at large. His story begins with his parents. His father was the leader of the village he lived in, respected and feared throughout the land for his deadly abilities when he stepped on the field of battle, capable of decimating entire battalions on his own—this man was… Minato Namikaze. His mother was one of the last remaining of her clan, a beautiful woman with a fiery personality, someone tasked with housing a potential calamity—this woman was… Kushina Uzumaki," both names were said as if they were sacred to his tongue.

"My planet had many strange things, but one of the strangest of all were the tailed beasts. Massive monsters constructed of the energy natural to my planet: chakra. And, this child's mother, had the deadliest of said beasts residing in her—sealed away with the techniques of her own clan—Kyuubi: the nine-tailed fox. These hosts had another name… jinchuriki, the power of human sacrifice."

Recognition dawned in Rey's eyes as morbid uncertainty slowly replaced it.

"Their happiness was incomprehensible when they found out they were going to be parents, none of their friends had ever seen either so jubilant, but it was all for naught. When a woman gives birth, the seal keeping the beast in place weakens to a near breaking point, and there was a man that took advantage of this brief window. A man whose goal was to enslave my entire world… That night he succeeded in capturing her, he used the life of their newly born child to coerce the father into a horrible choice, one which left the mother vulnerable in order to protect their baby.

"When he returned to his wife after making sure the babe was safe, the fox had already been extracted and was wreaking havoc on the village he was sworn to protect. And protect it he did. With nothing but a single technique, he stopped the fox from obliterating the village, and, then, moved the mountain-sized fox to a location outside the city. He was famous for using a kunai inscribed with a seal that allowed him to travel between dimensions wherever one of his seals were placed."

Rey's eyes widened.

"Yeah, you could say he created his own form of hyperspace travel. Incredible, no? Imagine what one could do if one of those seals was on a different planet," he reached into his pocket and pulled out a strangely shaped knife, fiddling with it between his fingers aimlessly. She noticed the strange wrapping and letters designed on the handle and her breathing rapidly grew in intensity.

His hand touched her shoulder, and it felt as if her body had lost all mass, hurtling freely at unbreakable speeds. When the sickening feeling stopped, she opened her eyes and noticed they were sat atop large trees on a planet covered in gargantuan trees.

"Kashyyyk. I find it reminds me of my homeland…" the wistful expression caught Rey's attention, but her brain was still trying to compute what the hell had just happened, but Naruto, seemingly ignoring her dilemma, continued on as usual, "Normally, when a tailed beast is extracted from a person, they die the moment it finishes. The toll it takes on the networks our bodies produce to use chakra gets shredded apart, leaving the host a husk. However, this woman's family was not only famous for their seals, but their immense vitality, often granting longer lives, faster recovery time when injured, and other useful biological crap that goes over my head, so, miraculously, she managed to survive the extraction. Her husband brought her to their child and left her alone to face the man responsible. Once he had made sure the assailant was no longer a threat to his village and family, he turned his attention to the fox.

"Minato Namikaze was a man willing to sacrifice anything if it meant protecting his village, it was the dream he had as a child; he would do whatever it took to keep the citizens safe. He retrieved his wife and newborn, bringing them to where he brought the Kyuubi, and, with the help of his wife, managed to bring the raging beast to a standstill. The issue was what to do with it. His wife was too weak to have it resealed, if she were to die with it inside her, it simply would reform over the next months or maybe years, but it would return. Sadly, knowing there were no other options, Minato chose the only option he had: place his hopes in his son."

"Naruto Uzumaki…" Rey whispered, her voice began to quiver as she realized what she had seen the night before.

"Yep, yours truly. Both of them gave their lives for me that night. Do you know when I found out who my parents were?"

"No, but I imagine you'll tell me," she tried to joke, but it was clearly a poor attempt when her voice sounded so pitiful from the story digging into her, and the fact that she found herself in a tree thousands of feet above a planet's surface that had dangerous indigenous creatures that would love to feast on their flesh did not help either..

"Too true. I was sixteen… It was only a little more than four years ago… strange, right? Such a famous father, not only that, but I look like his damned twin, and no one noticed? Well, those who knew kept it to themselves. My father was infamous in other countries. I imagine it was a means to keep me protected.

"Why did I tell you this story?"

Rey nodded, her head tilted slightly, still damp hair clung to the sides of her face.

"Because, sometimes, the answers are horrible. If I was a little boy and then was told my father put a monster in me, how would I react? I would hate the man, resent him for the rest of my life. I actually thank whomever decided to not tell me, it allowed me to be more… mature when I was told the truth, so I could understand why my father chose me."

"That makes sense…"

"But it doesn't calm your worries…"

"No, it doesn't."

"Say I could use the Force to try looking into your past, would you want that?" there was doubt in his voice that he would succeed, but he remained steadfast and willing to discover the answers she needed.

A part of her wanted to say no, that knowing the truth would be so much worse, that Naruto was entirely right. Why was she such a coward? What did she spend all of that time acquiring skills for? Skills that others on Jakku ignored. She wanted adventure and a life of visiting the endless stars dotting the sky that teased her every night while resting amongst those sandy dunes.

"Please, I must know."

Her companion nodded. He turned her towards him, stretched his palm out and placed it on her forehead, and, then, he lowered his head into a meditative state. In response, she imitated his final action.

"Empty your heart, collapse your mind, suture yourself into the Force, allow it to reconnect yourself anew, follow its whispers, let it lead you into what you hide from even yourself," his voice was velvety, calming the rapidly beating heart that threatened to bruise her sternum, and guided her through the Force.

After flowing through the demands over and over, she felt the repetition would never end, but, without recognizing it was beginning to happen, her eyelids became overwhelmed with light. Cracking open her eyes, she found herself in an empty white space that stretched endlessly. When she stood and turned around, she found Naruto on the floor in a lotus position, but what truly caught her attention was the massive fox looming behind that mirrored him in perfect unison.

"Do not lose focus, Rey," Naruto's voice echoed around her, "Kurama and I are acting as the bridge to your memories. Search inside yourself, and you will find what you desire."

Following his words again, she started to wander through the infinite space, but no matter how far she walked, Naruto and Kurama always remained the same size… there was no doubt she was moving. Were her insecurities clouding her ability to cross the distance? She trudged on and on, against this invisible wall that would allow for no further movement, until the ground beneath her began to expand into an endless black; it began to exert a gravitational force that dragged her against her will. Desperately trying to stop it, she turned to call for Naruto, yet he was gone.

"Follow."

This word calmed her turmoil; so, she listened.

The void felt no different than the space she was in before, except now she felt weightless, though a strange pressure was being applied, she could feel it surrounding her entirely. When she opened her eyes, she was back on the surface of Jakku, in a tent placed between outposts for faster trade transactions. In front of her was a man nearing his middle years, his once red hair had the starting of gray streaking through it, and his weathered face had a well-trimmed beard to match. On his hip, which was only slightly exposed, she could make out the handle of a lightsaber. Next to the man stood a woman with such pale skin it was almost silver, her hair matched the tone well, and strange markings were tattooed onto her face. She held in her arms a small bundle, and nestled within her eyes was a fierce self-hate, a hate so impure that it made it difficult to look at her long. Her attention returned to the man, whose face was a reflection of sorrow, one who desired to withdraw from the decision being made.

"Do we really have to do this? There has to be another way!" the woman said frustratedly, there was a strange accent to her voice that made Rey's heart thrum.

His words were distorted, but she made out, "Danger… looking for us… mission must be finished… we'll return…"

The tears forming in his eyes told her of the insurmountable regret he felt at this decision. It was evident neither parent wanted to part from their child, but there were responsibilities they had to uphold before they could care for her. They would only be putting her in greater danger, at least here they knew where she was…

The scene began to fade, she found herself in the cockpit of a starship she had never been in before. Alarms were blaring and she could hear hysterical voices going off, one word that came truly grabbed her attention was "purrgils". The little heathens that are infamous for feeding on the hyperspace fuel Clouzon-36… No, this isn't what happened.

Directly in front of her sat what she now knew were her parents… they were pressing their foreheads together, whispering to one another, and this she heard, the words clamored through her head like a resonating gong.

"Merrin, I'm sorry… we should have stayed with Rey… you were right… Forgive me, I failed you both," the man's voice was shattered, freely accepting that he was responsible for the fate they faced.

"Shut up… I followed you as well, the fault is as much mine as yours… I just hope… our little girl is okay, Cal. Tell me she'll be okay?" it did not matter to her if he meant it, the simple reassurance would be enough in these climactic moments.

"She's going to be just fine. No one will be able to stop her, she'll be the sum of our best parts, and we will watch over her through the Force. We won't leave our dear Rey alone, right?"

"Never… Cal, I-I love you… I'll never regret the day I left Dathomir with you, thank you for saving me…"

"But you saved me, Merrin. Come, let's embrace our final moments together."

As the tentacles from the disgusting purrgils began to breech through the hull of the ship, Rey cried out, her voice pulsating with the Force, enhanced by Naruto and Kurama's help, it rippled space-time, distorted it to such a degree that her words pushed through the boundaries.

"Mom, dad!"

Cal and Merrin froze, the voice sounded so oddly familiar to them, and, in the final moment before their end, they saw the ghostly apparition of a young woman they both knew was their child, and they were granted satisfaction in that brief but priceless moment in time, smiles of pure joy tugging on their lips.

White.

Rey took a ragged breath, natural air filling her lungs as she was pulled from the swirling memories. Her body was convulsing in spikes of pain, the intense overuse of the Force was not something her body was accustomed to as of yet, so a backlash was ensuing. A price to pay for goods received.

Before she could slip from the branch, Naruto wrapped his arm around her back and held her close. Uncontrollable torrents of tears poured out of her eyes, not from the severe pain wracking her body, but from the emotional torment knowing brought. Yet, even if it was pain, it was the truth, and that was more precious to her than any material life could offer.

Her aches and pains began to slowly diminish, it quickly became apparent that Naruto was responsible, as his assuaging words and gentle ministrations brought her the comfort necessary to alleviate her despair. How long they sat in that tree, she would never know, but the event deepened the dyad, tying them closer, until the lines where one begins and the other ends were starting their slow descent into nonexistence.

SW:AHR

The subtle tones of jazz hummed around the sleazy bar filled with the lowest of lows in society. Card games were being played in various corners, death sticks protruded from many a mouth, and the noise… well, the noise was actually quite agreeable, not too much, not too little, enough to have a pleasant enough time. That is, if you can refrain from insulting the wrong patron.

In the darkest corner of this unnamed bar that resided in the seediest part of Coruscant's underbelly, were two men sat at a table across from each other. Both were cloaked and heavily armored, hoods pulled tightly to shadow their faces. A death stick could be seen protruding out of the bottom of the hood of the man on the right side while he leaned back casually in his chair, allowing the front legs to lift from the floor and tap back down in rhythm to the jazz, done in such a way that infuriated his 'friend' unendingly. The left man was hunched over, clutching a glass of liquor tightly in his palm, trying his best to stop himself from shoving that smoking stick down the other's throat.

"This is the life, ain't it?"

"How did I let you convince me this was a good idea? Did you drug me, you waste-of-space?"

"Mah, mah. I was just trying to let us have some fun, we spent so many months in that place, of course we deserve a vacation!"

"First, you are not Kakashi-sensei, so never use that phrase again, or I will fucking end you," the finality dwelling within the statement made the other party swallow heavily, "Honestly, do you understand what orders are? And you are aware that our existences are mere extensions of the Origin, why do you have to play this game?"

"Game? You know perfectly well that we are more than extensions," his counterpart's tone had taken a complete reversal, no longer possessing its jocular nature. "We are everything he is. Yes, we may not bleed, but do I not feel the same as him? Get the Gamabunta-sized stick out of your ass and live a little. Our lives are typically shorter than real clones, and, from what the Clone Wars showed us, clones are much more than tools to be commanded and allowed to die without remorse. Do you think Origin, who not only split part of his chakra, but the very Force that makes up his cells, to allow us life, for the sole purpose of death? No, he was aware that by sacrificing the Force, he wouldn't get it back. Imagine this: did he want to see if we would follow or if we could be individuals?"

Silence prevailed between the two, one taking a long drag from his toxic smoke, and the other mulling over what he had been told.

"Perhaps you're right."

"Damn straight I am. So, should we think of some names? I can be Minato and you Kushina."

"Ha-Ha-Ha. Your humor is… never mind. Names aren't a bad idea, though."

A smile grew on the man's face, "Oscar," (pointing to himself), "Maverick," (indicating to the other).

Amusement colored 'Maverick's' face, "Oscar? Where did you get that from?" Hashirama let light chuckle, before waving a waitress over to bring him a drink of his own.

"Because I felt like it, do I need another reason?"

"No, but now you sound so plain… and 'Maverick', what are you trying to say?

"The connotation should be rather apparent, my foolish friend."

When his drink arrived, he raised it in the air, "To the future!"

"The future!" Maverick concurred, both drowning the alcoholic beverages in a single gulp.

The door of the establishment opened and a hooded figure entered. Said figure noticed the two in the darkened corner and they lithely made their way to the pair. Tapping Oscar on the shoulder got the man's attention, which quickly lit up in recognition.

"Did you retrieve the information?"

"I did."

"And how much will it cost this time?"

"Triple," she set a datapad on the table.

"You're fucking with us, right?" Maverick interrupted, not being one to get swindled by some info broker.

"I assure you, I am being perfectly serious. This information cost me the lives of my best informants. Does that make the severity clear enough?"

"Fine," Oscar relented, though it was done with plain-to-see irritation.

"I'm waiting," she while while her finger tapped the datapad on the center of the table.

Maverick let out a grunt of frustration, picked up the pad and sent her the agreed upon funds. When he finished, it was yanked from his hands, the greedy woman making sure the credits were exact.

"Great," came the now cheery voice, no longer holding any of its previous unfriendliness. A new person is always invented when money is involved. She dragged a chair over and sat down with them, ordering a drink of her own before she settled down to regale them with what she had unearthed.

"You asked me to explore the Outer Rim worlds, that there was some unknown you felt could put lives in danger. It seems you were right. From what my informants gathered, some of the worlds at the farthest edges of the rim had been detecting… anomalies for years."

"Anomalies?" Oscar asked curiously.

"Yes, anomalies. What were they? Well, according to denizens of the planets, they had been picking up signals… outside the galaxy."

Both men froze.

"What?" they both whispered.

"And not just that, but the readings were absurd. They suggested that there were massive biological signatures residing several parsecs outside the edge of the galaxy. Most ignored the readings, assuming them to either be failing instruments or a misreading of something inorganic as organic. Obviously both of these assumptions were not the wisest of choices, perhaps the concept of an intergalactic species was too much to consider… but, the last information I received, was… of a ship arriving, full of… abominations."

[A/N]: Before anyone here gets upset at me for having Cal Cestis and Merrin as Rey's parents, I know, I know: she doesn't have any Dathomirian features, no red hair. Blah, blah. I'm not a galactic geneticist, but I can say: I don't care. Let me ask you, my audience, something: would you rather have her father be Cal or some failed clone of Palpatine?