Rey Skywalker, Vala's grandmother, and the former leader of the Jedi, has just appeared aboard the Star Forge, seemingly ready to rescue her granddaughter from the Master- the mysterious darksider who apparently orchestrated the entire Sedition War. Who is this old man? It appears that Rey might know…
Having just arrived in the throne room, Rey approaches Vala and the Master alone, while Arvon, Aja, and the droids U5 and BB-8 stay back. Vala spots Rey and immediately runs to her.
"Grandmother!" Vala says, as she embraces Rey. The Master observes in silence.
"Are you alright, Vala?" Rey asks.
"He hasn't done anything. We've just been talking." Vala answers.
"I see. You know who this is, do you not?" Rey asks.
"I think I've just figured it out. It appears that you and I have some things to talk about." Vala answers.
"Later. For now, move away from him. There is no point in further indulging his foolishness." Rey says.
"Finally, you show yourself. I hoped this would get your attention." The Master says. Vala and Rey face the Master as he approaches.
"You… did all of this… to lure me here?" Rey asks.
"It worked, didn't it?" The Master asks.
"So it did. But no matter what degree of control you think you have, do not assume you have the advantage." Rey says.
"Typical Skywalker arrogance! Where did that lead your parents?" The Master asks.
"Did my mother and father fail? Possibly. But, they weren't the cause of that failure. You were. My mother… dead by your hand. My father… sacrificed himself to distract you." Rey answers.
"So that your pathetic little Resistance could escape. I remember. Ancient history. All that matters is the here and now." The Master says.
"Indeed. Sixty years ago, I gave you a chance. I had hoped you would choose a different path. Instead… you have done all of this. You have plunged the galaxy into war once again. Of course, the Sedition was a clever feint." Rey says.
"A feint?" Vala asks.
"Yes. This war you just fought… was an elaborate deception to cover up his true goal." Rey says.
The war… was a trick? All those people died… for nothing? Vala thinks.
"What do you know about my true goal?" The Master asks.
"Everything. Our bond is not as strong as it once was, but you cannot hide anything from me. I know all of your secrets. You will not have her. Not now. Not ever." Rey says.
"We'll see. As for you… you cheated. You should be old… like me. What you did… isn't exactly the Jedi way, is it?" The Master asks.
"I did what had to be done. It was the only way to ensure I could still be here, for… what's to come." Rey says.
"I've always wondered why you look younger than you're supposed to. Vala says she's not allowed to tell me. Shouldn't you be like… eighty years old?" Aja asks.
"That… is a conversation for another time, Aja." Rey says.
"She doesn't know what you did? Vala never told her trusted padawan about what you did to my knights so you could regenerate yourself? It seems like she's learned how to keep secrets just like you." The Master says.
"What's he talking about, Vala? Is this the thing you said you weren't supposed to tell me about?" Aja asks.
"Later, Aja. I'll tell you later." Vala says.
"Are you certain that is wise?" Rey asks.
"I'm tired of lying to her! No more! Tell her, or I will!" Vala answers.
"Very well." Rey says.
"You have held Vala back for long enough. She doesn't need you anymore, Rey. Nobody does. You're a relic." The Master says.
"I'm a relic? What does that make you?" Rey asks.
"At least I'm not a liar!" The Master answers.
"I will account for my actions soon enough. Now, release my grandchild. She will not join you. I know her heart, and I know she has already made her decision." Rey says.
"I don't think so. I'm making the rules here." The Master says.
"Vala, go. I will handle this." Rey says.
"I can help!" Vala says.
"No. You are not ready to face him. I am the only one who can." Rey says.
Vala sighs in frustration, then starts to walk away, only to find herself suddenly unable to move.
"Vala will leave when I say! We're not done here!" The Master says.
"This… is between you and me. Let her go." Rey says.
"I don't think so." The Master says.
"Let... her... go. Now." Rey says.
"Or what? You'll kill me? You couldn't do it sixty years ago. Do you really think you could do it now?" The Master asks.
"Let… her… go, Kylo!" Rey shouts.
"Ah, there you are. There's that old fire! That's the real you! Not the old teacher repeating her father's lies!" Kylo says.
"Kylo? Kylo Ren…" Arvon says. The Mandalorian Jedi activates both of his lightsabers.
"Yes. Kylo Ren, Supreme Leader of the First Order, Master of the Knights of Ren, and son of… nothing." Rey says.
"Son of nothing? I thought he was…" Aja says.
"Kylo Ren has no family. He betrayed it. He destroyed it." Rey says.
"Family is a weakness! You never learned that. Maybe your granddaughter will." Kylo says.
"She will learn nothing from you." Rey says.
"She needs a teacher! Not a lying hypocrite!" Kylo says.
"Oh, I'm the hypocrite? What does that make you?" Rey asks.
"The Jedi worship you as if you were the second coming! If they knew the truth, they'd despise you. You're no saint. You're more like me than you're willing to admit, Master Rey Skywalker." Kylo says.
"I am aware of my flaws. Unlike you, I admit them, and I deal with them." Rey says.
"Deal with them? How? By running away to that island, just like your father?" Kylo asks.
"Says the man who killed his father." Rey says.
"Go back to your island, Rey. I will take care of Vala now. I will complete her training, and she will become… what she is meant to be." Kylo says.
"You will fail. She is strong. Perhaps stronger than both of us." Rey says.
"Is that so? Let's find out." Kylo says.
Kylo releases Vala from stasis, and she turns to face Kylo, with her lightsaber ignited.
"Enough of this! I'm not joining you! Now, or ever! This game's over!" Vala says.
"It's over when I say it is!" Kylo says.
"Frack you!" Vala shouts, as she charges toward Kylo.
"Vala, no!" Rey shouts.
As Vala advances, Kylo suddenly strikes her with force lightning. Vala tries to absorb the attack, but since she has never faced a darksider in battle, this proves to be beyond her ability. Vala's failed counterattack creates a wave of energy that throws her across the room. She impacts the wall with great force, and falls to the floor, unconscious.
"Vala!" Aja shouts. The girl runs to Vala, and kneels at her side.
"You're going to pay for that, you old bastard! You and me, right now!" Arvon says. He seems prepared to charge toward Kylo.
"No, Arvon. Stand down. I will handle this." Rey says.
"Then, handle it. Or I will." Arvon says.
"You are not ready." Rey says.
"And whose fault is that?" Arvon asks.
"So… you blame me." Rey says.
"If you had told us about Kylo, we could have prepared for this! Now, look where we are! Look what he's done to your granddaughter!" Arvon says.
"You cannot fight him. I am the only one who can." Rey says.
"Then, do it. Make this right." Arvon says.
"Very well." Rey says.
Rey stares at Kylo, as if she is waiting for his next move. Eventually, Kylo activates his lightsaber.
"Are you going to fight me, Rey?" Kylo asks.
"That's what you really want, isn't it? Just the two of us… one last time." Rey answers.
"You could say… it's our destiny." Kylo says.
"Perhaps." Rey says.
"Are you actually willing to kill me this time? Maybe, but… you'll have to give in to that side of yourself you've been denying. You're a grandchild of Vader. Just like me. All you have to do is let go of that Jedi weakness." Kylo says.
"I'm weak? What about you? You… are nothing. You come from nothing." Rey says.
"Damn you!" Kylo shouts.
"Soon enough... we will see which of us is damned." Rey says.
Kylo charges toward Rey, and swings his saber aggressively. Instead of activating her own weapon, Rey dodges every attack, calling upon the force to move with great speed and precision. Kylo becomes increasingly frustrated as Rey continues to evade rather than fight back. Eventually, Rey leaps back several feet.
"Same old Kylo. One dimensional. Predictable." Rey says.
"Fight me!" Kylo shouts.
"We are not what we once were, but so be it." Rey says. She takes out her lightsaber, and activates it's yellow blade.
Rey and Kylo advance toward one another, and attack each other with great ferocity. They seem to match each other move for move, with neither having a clear advantage.
"I know all your moves." Rey says.
"And I know all yours." Kylo says.
"Is that so?" Rey asks. She pulls out another lightsaber, and activates its green blade. Kylo seems to recognize the weapon, looking upon it with great hatred.
"That saber…" Kylo says.
"So, you remember. Good. Today… you answer." Rey says.
"Are you going to kill me, Rey?" Kylo asks.
"Kill you? Did I say that? I said you would answer. I did not say in what way. Will you die today? You may. You may not. Whatever happens here will be according to the will of the Force. I will not control the outcome. Neither will you." Rey answers.
"Then, what's the point in this? Why are we here?" Kylo asks.
"We have always been here." Rey answers.
Rey suddenly drops both sabers, and her hands begin to glow. Kylo prepares to strike her down, but is suddenly enveloped in a blinding white light. After a moment, the light fades, and Kylo readies his weapon to strike Rey. However, the saber is suddenly yanked out of his hand, and flies toward Rey. Kylo extends his hand to recall his weapon, but nothing happens. Soon, the lightsaber explodes, shattering into pieces that fall harmlessly to the floor.
"What… have you done?" Kylo asks.
"I have severed your connection to the Force. A technique long forgotten by the Jedi. You are now nothing but a broken old man. You are a relic, of no use to anyone." Rey answers.
"So, kill me then." Kylo says.
"I'm not going to kill you. I'm going to turn you over to my old padawan here. He will decide your fate." Rey says.
"So… this is where it ends." Kylo says.
"Yes. This will be our last meeting. I have foreseen it. Farewell… son of nothing. Arvon, he's all yours." Rey says.
Rey moves aside, and Arvon approaches, with U5 at his side. The droid aims his blaster rifle at Kylo's head, and Arvon holds his lightsaber in his hand, ready to strike.
"I may not have my power anymore, but I've won. It may be Vala. It may be someone else. But, the Sith will rise again. That power is too great to be lost forever. Even you have great potential, Arvon Cade. You are a warrior, and you believe in order. The galaxy is broken. Chaotic. The new order will rise. There will be peace. I have foreseen it. You… could be the one to bring that peace." Kylo says.
"All of your students are dead. If I kill you now, this ends here." Arvon says.
"I've already done everything I needed to do. Go ahead and kill me if you wish. Anyone can still learn from me, and those that came before me. The knowledge is out there. All you have to do… is find it." Kylo says.
Arvon points the purple blade of his lightsaber at Kylo's chest.
"We will find this hidden knowledge, and… we will destroy it. Your game ends here." Arvon says.
"Oh, I think not. My time may be over, but… the Sith will rise again." Kylo says.
"Not on my watch." Arvon says.
Without hesitation, Arvon plunges his saber into Kylo's chest. Kylo looks down at the saber impaling him, and laughs. His laughter continues until he breathes his last breath. Once satisfied that his enemy is dead, Arvon withdraws his weapon, and the body of Kylo Ren falls to the floor. Rey approaches, and looks upon the corpse of the man who had once been her cousin, Ben Solo.
"This… was always his fate. Those who serve evil… are doomed to oblivion. You did… what I could not. Was it the right thing? Only time will answer." Rey says.
NOTE: This is an alternate timeline. Rey is the daughter of Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade. She is not a Palpatine. Kylo Ren survived the Battle of Exegol, only to meet his final fate sixty years later. In this storyline, he is not redeemed. Since Rey and Kylo are cousins, there is no Reylo romance. Rey ultimately marries someone else. The identity of Vala's grandfather will be revealed later.
I started plotting out this story before the Rise of Skywalker came out. Even after seeing that movie, I decided to keep things as I had written them, and do this story my way. In this universe, the sequel trilogy is mostly the same, but Rey's different background changes some things. More of which will be revealed later in this trilogy.
This story will be on hold for a while, as I felt it was time to take a break from this and work on my other projects. This break is probably going to be 3-4 months, but it could be longer. We'll just have to see. Thanks for reading.
