Rey involuntarily sat upright as she coughed, trying to clear her lungs of water that was no longer there. "It's okay, you're safe now," someone said, though she was too occupied trying to catch her breath to notice.
The last thing Rey remembered was floating away from the underwater tunnels. She'd lost consciousness shortly after from over-exertion of using the Force, which would have meant…
Forcing herself to take steady breaths, Rey realized she was sitting in a desert; no, a beach. There was water ahead of her. Had someone saved her from drowning and brought her to an island? If she was still on Aquilaris then the storms had long passed, giving way to a temperate climate.
"Rey?" Suddenly aware that she was not alone, Rey turned to see Ben sitting behind her.
"Ben?" Rey asked incredulously as she reached out and touched his face. He was there, not as a Force ghost but in the flesh. She could feel the warmth of his skin beneath her fingertips and his breath as he pulled her into an embrace.
As Rey clung to Ben she could see a lush forest at the edge of a beach, as well as a mountain range beyond that. It was almost as if every geological environment had been placed in a single setting. "Where are we?" she asked as she sat back to stare at their surroundings.
Ben's expression seemed to falter. "We're…somewhere else,"
The initial euphoria of seeing Ben gave way to reality. The man she had come to love died months ago. The fact that they were suddenly together again in a foreign location meant only one thing: she had never resurfaced from the water.
"I…died?" Rey's voice hitched on the last word.
Ben gently took her arms and rubbed his thumbs in an attempt at a soothing motion. "I was with you the entire time," he said. "So was your friend Finn. He didn't leave the tunnels until you had disappeared,"
"Oh gosh," Rey pulled back. "Finn, Chewbacca, Poe…"
"Are flying back to a base now," Ben said. "Vader is dead, and the other clone is nowhere to be found,"
Rey stood. "I have to see them," she said. "I have to let my friends know I'm okay,"
"Rey, that's…that's not exactly how it works," Ben said. "We can appear to those who are strong in the ways of the Force, but your friends in the Resistance are not of that nature,"
Rey looked at her hands. She felt alive and well. With the exception of the new location and white attire that had replaced the armor she'd worn into battle, it was as if she had merely taken a momentary nap and was transported somewhere else.
"There has to be something we can do. I was able to see Master Luke and Leia after they'd-" Rey cut herself off. "Master Luke and Leia, are they here as well?"
"Knowing you were still out there fighting the good fight? Wouldn't have been anywhere else," Rey turned to find both Luke and Leia standing next to her.
"You're here," Rey said in astonishment. Just like Ben, they appeared exactly as they had while alive.
"We never left," Leia smiled. "No one's ever really gone,"
"I've missed you both," Rey said earnestly. "And the others in the Resistance, they miss you terribly as well,"
"And we look forward to when we'll one day be reunited," Luke said. "But everybody has their time,"
Rey looked at the ocean as it lapped at the shore. "There was so much more I wanted to do," she confessed. "I wanted to see peace in the galaxy, see what life had in store for me, to…" Rey felt a lump grow in her throat. "…to tell Finn I was sorry for not confiding in him sooner. But now I won't be able to do that,"
As Luke and Leia stole a glance at each other, there was a rustle in the forest. A number of beings-both alien and human-began to emerge, many wearing beige tunics, tan pants, and brown cloaks. Among the first that emerged were an aged man with white hair next to another man with brown hair, while a short green alien with pointy ears and a walking stick followed behind.
"Are these Jedi?" Rey asked as they approached.
"That they are," Luke answered. "The ones that can pass from this dimension to the galaxy of the living at least,"
"It's truly an honor to meet you," Rey said to the newcomers. Even if she didn't know who they were individually, these were the men and women who'd fought for the galaxy, whose stories lingered to that very day.
"Likewise," the green one replied, "And yet, more to accomplish have you both,"
"I'm ready to help in any way I can," Rey said. "I can't imagine standing by while a war is fought,"
The alien gave a small chortle. "So eager you are," he commented. "Remind you of someone Master Skywalker?"
To Rey's surprise Luke didn't answer; instead, the one she did not recognize with brown hair did. "Not unlike me in my boyhood," the man agreed.
The alien nodded. "Much to accomplish have you both young Rey and Ben," he said, "But not in this world, not yet,"
"I don't understand," Ben said.
"The Force binds us all, both the living and those who have passed," the Jedi with white hair said. "The Jedi that you see on this plane, yourselves included, left no corporal body in the universe of the living,"
Rey thought about how Ben disappeared when he died, then marveled at the fact that the same had happened to her. When had she proven herself a true Jedi? Had it been because of the final act in her life?
"It rarely happens," Luke continued, "But every once in a while-a millennia, really-those who have passed in such a way can return in the same fashion,"
"Are you saying the dead have been known to come back?" Rey asked incredulously.
"Happened before it did, has it not?" the alien inquired. "Ben traded his life for yours,"
"Yes," Rey admitted, "But now there are no more lives to trade,"
"That there are not," the alien agreed, "Yet connected to the living still, are we not?"
Rey wondered if Ben was following the conversation, but he looked just as lost as she was.
Leia put a hand on her son's shoulder and took one of Rey's hands in hers. "What Yoda is trying to say is that we can bring you both back to the universe of the living. It will require a substantial amount of Force power, so much so that our presence will be diminished in the galaxy for some time to come, but it is a price we are willing to pay,"
Feeling a twinge of guilt, Rey said "I wouldn't ask you to give of yourselves. You can do so much for the galaxy from where you are now,"
"Yes," Leia said, "But upon your return you and Ben can do so much more,"
"Where would we go?" Ben asked. "I mean, Rey will be with the Resistance, but I doubt they would look kindly on me,"
"Not all have forgotten the boy who went to train with Luke," Leia said. "Though before you reveal yourself to the Resistance, may I suggest you search for others who are Force-sensitive? There was an awakening a few years prior, and as a result there are a number of children and adults who could use your teaching. Finn and Rose had an encounter with one such person, a stable boy on Canto Bight,"
With the knowledge that he would now have a second chance at life, Ben hugged his mother. "How can I begin to thank you?"
"Follow your heart," Leia replied as she returned the embrace. "It will guide you where you are meant to be,"
"You best be going soon," Luke said. "Finn, Chewbacca, and R2 are still on the Falcon. Poe and BB-8 are with them as well. I think it would be best you return amongst Rey's friends,"
A part of Rey didn't want to leave. Finally she had found a place not ravaged by war, poverty, or hate. She knew she would come back to this upon her return. And yet, wasn't that a reason to rejoice in this second chance to be alive? To know you still had the power to fight the good fight, to help those in need, and to love where there was hate? To be alive meant you still had the chance to help make things right.
And yet, there was one thing Rey yearned to ask before she left.
"Master Luke," Rey inquired, "I know the Jedi are here, but…" she paused, "…would it be possible to see my parents before we depart?"
"I know you wish to see them," Luke said. "They want nothing more than to see you as well. But there are obstacles to visiting those who have passed that are not Force-sensitive. It is not difficult per se, but it does take time. When it is your time to go…truly, your time to go…I will help you navigate so you can see them again,"
Knowing this was not the response Rey had hoped for, Luke added "If it is of any condolence, I have met them once,"
Rey's eyes widened. "You've met my parents?"
"Yes. And they couldn't be more proud of the women you've become,"
Rey's eyes moistened. It hurt every day that she was not able to see them, but it was comforting to know they had been watching her from afar, and loving her through every minute.
"When you see them again, tell them I love them, that I always have,"
Luke nodded. "I will,"
As the Jedi joined hands and formed a circle around Rey and Ben, Leia said "It may take Poe some convincing to let the two of you temporarily depart the Resistance to search for those who are Force-sensitive, but I know he will make the decision that is best," Leia winked. "If he gives you a hard time, tell him General Organa says it's an order,"
Rey smiled. "I will,"
With the other Jedi now holding hands, they placed their hands on Leia who stood in the interior of the circle, who in turn placed hers on Luke. As Rey and Ben clasped each other, Luke placed a hand on each of their shoulders and said "May the Force be with you,"