The Force Prodigy : Chapter 1
Author's Note : Hey everyone ! Glad to see you're all onboard with this idea of fiction of mine. Your reviews have been much appreciated and push me even more to pursue this writing. Let's roll !
A deadly silent had now filled the little wooden shack of the Padawan as time seemed to slow exponentially. The river of time, through the Force, had been reduced to mere droplets, stretching as long as it could. It felt like the entire Universe had stopped breathing, bracing itself to this final moment as the green dangerous blade hummed in the air. But nothing came, no movements were made. The two humans have frozen in their place and dared not to speak a word. The tool of fate laid too heavily on their shoulders.
Luke Skywalker realised it all too well : what a terrible mistake he just committed. Had he just raised his own lightsaber at his defenceless Padawan ? His own nephew, Leia and Han's son ? What a Jedi Master he made. Shame washed over his soul as he immediately deactivated his weapon, daring to cast a dishonourable look at Ben Solo, lying in his bed, his eyes closed … almost serene … at peace.
"Ben ?" Luke asked finally, taking one step away from the boy, hoping to ease the terrible tension that had passed between them.
The twenty-five year old boy with raven hair slowly opened his eyes, staring at his uncle but remained silent. Curiosity beamed in his eyes but not on the reason why Luke Skywalker had decided to attack. But why had he stopped ? What would happen now ?
"Who are you ?" Luke whispered, lost at the realisation that the boy in front of him had never been this calm before. Ben Solo was known for his short temper, his frustration, and his tantrum. Flaws Luke never managed to lessen, or even correct.
"There's too much Vader in him" Han had one night confessed over a drink. His father had always been terribly against the idea of Ben becoming a Jedi. He thought he could have a better, simpler life with his old man on the Falcon, as a smuggler. Training Ben was a gamble against the Darkside that Leia and Luke had been willing to face.
A gamble Luke was losing, terribly. How many times the Jedi Master felt the darkness in the boy's mind : he would bring destruction and death to everything he held dear. To everything that mattered. Ben Solo was as dangerous as Darth Vader, wild, and untamed. A raw strength that had set him appart from the other Jedi students of the Academy, isolated him to the whispers of darkness. The more Ben grew, the more opaque he became to his Jedi teachings, to compassion, to friendship. How many times Luke had even heard the very breathing of Darth Vader in the Force each time Ben tried to hide his rage from the other. A poor attempt that Luke once hoped to be due to his young age.
But when Luke poured into Ben's mind minutes ago, he felt himself crushed by the dark pools of the darkness swelling in the heart of his nephew. Like his grandfather, Ben had too much anger in him.
And for the briefest moment of pure instinct, Luke thought he could stop it. It passed like a fleeting shadow. And then, the tempest of the darkside emanating from Leia's son had calmed instantly, flattened by one of the greatest disturbance Luke ever felt in his life.
"Luke ?" Ben said, his voice perfectly hiding the obvious fear he probably felt. The boy appeared completely composed, balanced, Luke dared think. Powerful and invincible.
Luke was unable to comprehend what had transpired. Losing his balance, the Jedi Master felt on his back, crashing outside the little hut, the rich grass softening his fall.
Ben was already above him, offering a strong hand to support his uncle back on his feet, but soon gazed in the sky darkening above the Jedi Temple. The boy immediately ran madly toward the academy, all his senses on alert. Before the young Solo could even reach the pathway to the building, Luke noticed the formation of red, threatening clouds all above their heads.
"I told you he would try to kill you, my boy" a deep, raucous voice echoed from the depth of the Force in Ben's mind.
"Noooo !" Ben yelled stretching his hands in the air, pouring his all powers into his limbs to scatter the unnatural storm.
But it was too late. The darkside of the Force reached the peak of its cruelty as it exploded in terrible lightnings on the ground. The Academy stood no chance, reduced in ashes in an instant. The wooden beams and ceiling collapsed on themselves, casting dark clouds of smoke. Ben Solo had not stopped running as he lifted whatever rubble he came upon.
Luke's world crashed as violently as his Temple burned away from his eyes. Unable to take the tool of the death the fire took, the Jedi Master fell on his knees, tears streaming down his cheeks, in his greying beard. It was all too late, he knew it. He wanted to yell at Ben to stop. The bodies Ben tried to free from the wildifre were already dead, victims once more of the machinations of the darkside.
Minutes passed, Ben managed to bring at least nine small corpses away, gently laying them on the ground, surrounded by the rare unburnt white magnolia flowers. He seemed as much in shock as his uncle, but the boy did try to intervene, to save the others. What Luke had done ? Was it the price for his betrayal to Ben ? His entire work, his purpose reduced to nothing, in the briefest moment.
A questioning electronic bip came behind the Jedi Master, bringing him back to reality. Turning, Luke saw his faithful droid Artoo Deetoo rolled next time him, sounding as defeated as the two other humans. Caressing the round silver dome, Luke managed to put himself on his feet and motioned the droid to follow him. He approached cautiously his nephew, whose head was buried against the torso of a Padawan Luke recognised as Stella Bemaron. A young girl with silver hair and a dark skin always smiling, always trying to help. She was eight …
"Ben …" Luke spoke gently. "Ben, look at me."
"Why ?" Ben choked, still holding the little girl in his arms. "Why didn't you do anything ?"
"I thought …, " Luke stammered. "I felt darkness."
"There you have it !" Ben suddenly stood up, pointing the burning Temple behind them. "The surge of the darkside roared all around us ! But no, you came to me."
There it was, the untamed rage Luke knew so much. Though Ben was perfectly concealing it, there was no mistake.
"I did not cause this, I never wanted any of this !" Solo took one step forward, menacing despite his plea.
"Then who did, Ben ?" a younger male voice suddenly asked behind him.
Turning, Ben Solo realised he failed to notice the return of the three senior Padawans from their off-world mission : Voe, Hennix and Tai. It was the latter who had spoken. Tai was a bald young human, caring and patient and perhaps the only friend Ben Solo had ever made during his apprenticeship.
"Who did this, Ben ?" He asked again.
Voe and Hennix took some steps away from the human, clearing their path to Ben. They stared at the bodies at his feet and in pure instinct, they drew their weapons : a blue and green lightsaber came into life.
"He did !" Voe yelled in anger as she jumped at Solo. Her long time jealousy of his power and her aggressive nature took the best of her : a terrible mistake, considering her own Master was standing still, totally in shock before her.
Clenching her lightsaber hilt hardly, she braced herself as she aimed to incapacitate Solo before he could cause any more damage. Yet, she never landed. She felt herself hold immobile, hovering in the air, trapped in the claws of Ben Solo's overwhelming powers.
"Stop this at once !" Luke yelled, igniting his green lightsaber and pointed it at the young Quarren, Hennix, trembling in fear. "There's been enough death tonight !"
Luke slowly turned his head to his nephew and pleaded gently : "Ben, let her go, please. I am not letting anyone of you getting hurt".
Ben's dark eyes narrowed slowly, but obeyed his Master. "A little too late for that, Uncle …"
"You see ? None of them trust you," the dark voice said again in Ben's mind. "At their most desperate hour, they would all kill you in a blink. Luke, Voe, even Tai would fight you."
Shaking his head to chase the dark thoughts he now knew belonged to Darth Sidious himself, Ben stared once more at the wildfire. Soon enough the flammes would fade away, letting the darkness take hold on this place, as it did once with his own heart. Never again he had sworn. A part of him wanted to lash out at the Force to have send him back here just to witness these deaths once more. Wasn't he supposed to save everyone ?
"What are we going to do now, Master ?" Tai decided to intervene, hoping it would remind all of them which side they were on.
What would Ben do indeed ? He came back five years before the destruction of Hosnian Prime : there was so much he could do. But what first ?
"We must complete your training," Ben caught up with Luke's words to the students. "I've been too foolish to think we'll be safe here. The Darkside is at our doors. We must retreat, to regroup, to grow even stronger for the wars to come."
"We'll hide ?" Voe asked, undignified. "We must avenge our brothers and sisters. Find whoever did this to us, and destroy him."
"Revenge is not the Jedi way," Luke reminded. "If our enemy is strong enough to attack us from the shadow, then we have no choice but to hide. Until the time comes."
"Where will we go ?" Hennix replied. "How does moving to another world will change things ?"
"Ach-To," Ben said firmly.
Luke's eyes widened. "Ach-To is a myth, Ben."
"You're lying," Solo smirked. "You've been studying it. You have clues about its location, haven't you ?"
"What's on Ach-To ?" Voe sighed.
"The First Jedi Temple," Luke replied. "A place of ancient knowledge, a powerful anchor of the Light. I always assumed it could protect us, in dire times. Finding this planet is a challenge none of you have actually passed."
"Would we find a way to fight this …. darkness ?" Hennix pointed the burning grounds. "I'm not hiding like a coward, abandoning the galaxy to its fate".
"Power itself is not the solution to … this," Luke shook his head. "By surviving, we will give the galaxy its best chance. Alone, we are most vulnerable."
"You always have been alone, my boy," the Sith voice spoke once more. "But you were never weak. You are what every master wishes to see. Only Skywalker is too foolish to realise your infinite potential."
Ben wondered for a brief if he could go directly to Snoke or Sidious right now. Taking a ship and fly to the forest-like fortress where Snoke was currently hiding would be quite an easy task. Defeating him, without the element of surprise was another. And without the Sith wayfinder, going to Exogol was almost impossible. No, such feats would have to wait. He knew exactly what he had to do.
Taking a few steps away, Ben heard his Uncle called him : "Ben where are you going ?"
"Let's drop the charade, Uncle," Solo spitted. "We both know why you came into my hut tonight. I'm done. I'm going back to my family. They'll need me."
Ben casted one last look at the Jedi Master as he unclipped his weapon from his belt, holding it in the air, waiting for Luke to call it into his hand.
Yet Luke simply shook his head. "Your training is not complete, Ben. This is a dangerous time. You'll be tempted by the darkside of the Force."
Ben simply laughed. If only Luke knew, or tried to understand what he was really feeling. A simple glimpse on his head would have sufficed but no. Luke remained the stoic, cold Jedi Master even now.
"There's nothing left I can learn from you. Not after … this," Ben pointed the space between them.
Luke paused, longly. The silence weights heavily on their hearts, but Skywalker finally admitted defeat. "Your weapon is your life, Ben. You'll need it for the challenges to come."
Closing his fingers on the familiar yet so different hilt, Ben simply nodded and started to walk toward the landing area of the Temple. His ship, the Grimtaash, would be still waiting with Gee-Gee, the droid offered by his mother, inside.
"Ben !" Luke called, suddenly running at his level, grabbing his left upper arm. "I failed you," he admitted. "I am so sorry."
Solo poured his gaze into his Master's blue eyes, relaxing under the calm influence of the Jedi before him. "I was never meant to be a Jedi, Uncle. There is other path to the Light, isn't it ?" Luke nodded with a saddened smile. "Besides, I have forgiven you long ago."
Ben found the courage to take his uncle into a hug, squeezing gently as he relinquished to feel him perfectly unharmed, alive and strong.
"I failed you too," he finally said. "I am sorry for what I did to you."
Luke stared strangely at his nephew, not understanding that Ben was actually talking to the Luke of another lifetime, a time of war, of darkness and loneliness. But Luke said nothing, accepting humbly the apologies, and let Leia's son walking away.
"His destiny lies away from the Jedi Order, my friend," an ominous echoing voice called behind the Jedi Master.
Luke's head tilted toward, a small smile on his lips. "It's been a while, Obi-wan."
Kenobi's Ghost chuckled gently, his head following Solo's ship fading away into the stars. "I am sorry for your younglings, Luke," he finally said.
Skywalker nodded, finally accepting the grief taking place in his heart. Such pain, such sadness he couldn't even dare to compare to what Obi-wan must have felt during Order 66 and the rise of the Empire.
"Come now," the so-called Negotiator bespoke. "Your journey is far from finished, Master Skywalker."
Six months had only passed since the cosmopolitan ecumenopolis planet Hosnian Prime, located along the Corellian Trade Spine in the Core Worlds, had been selected to act as the New Republic's capital. Since then, the Senate had been plagued with conspiracy, doubts and corruption as terrible as in the last day of the Old Republic during the Clone Wars.
Two political parties had been bickering over constitutional rights and governing strategies for months, clouding the visions and the efficiency of the senators. Even the bombing in the Senate's building that had occurred in the first month of the years, failed to assemble the people of the Republic.
The Populist, one of the two powerful yet unofficial party, believed that individual member planets should retain their full sovereignty, while the opposing political faction, the Centrists, favoured a stronger galactic government and a larger military.
In order to bring order to the divided assembly, the Centrist had called for the election of a "First Senator" : a charismatic individual able to unite the senators and maintain peace in the galaxy.
Leia Organa-Solo, a well known Populist, and her most loyal friends had learned the lesson of Palpatine's rule, and grew wary of the price that they might have to pay for such order. It was then decided, that Leia had to become the Populist candidate for First Senator.
But if there's one thing Leia knew from the teaching of her late father Bail Organa, was that one had to be strong enough to bear every ill intent of their opponent in an election's campaign. And she was not. Two months ago, one of her Centrist friend, a brilliant intellectual she had loved to debate with during long working nights had found a secret she thought would never come out. Senator Casterfo had publicly announced, during one of her speech in the Senate that she was the offspring of no other than the Dark Lord of the Sith and Empire Enforcer, Darth Vader.
Naturally, Leia had been kindly asked to resign her nomination to the "First Senator" and had worked with every cell of her body to support her replacing friend, Senator Tan-Lin Garr, a well known Rebel hero respected by many, even within the ranks of the Centrist.
And according to rumours and late surveys, Tan-Lin was going to win, finally turning the voice of the Senate toward worlds' autonomy and true democracy.
"Alas," Leia announced during the Senate session, "our beloved collegue, Senator Tan-Lin Garr, has been assassinated, yesterday, during his rally in Mothma's park. According to the New Republic's Security repport, he was shot in the heart by Arliz Hadrassian, the leader of the Amaxines."
Leia paused, before pursuing, grabbing the metallic bar with her trembling hand to support her grieving heart.
A Republic officer decided to back Organa's terrible news : "It is our belief that Lady Hadrassian had come to exact revenge for the events on Sibensko. Unfortunately, Lady Hadrassian then killed herself before she could be taken into custody. However, her ressources and informations outweighed greatly the capacity of her business and income on Daxam IV."
"What are you implying, Colonel Rekcuz?" a young bald human senator Erudo Ro-Kiintor of Hevurian asked as if he was personally insulted.
"Lady Hadrassian was a former TIE pilot during the day of the Empire, and the leader of the secret organisation called "the Amaxine Warriors", the Colonel paused and added gravely. "A well known supporter of the First Order."
"This is outrageous !" The senator of Kuat, Ormes Apolin, dressed with a dignity rivalled only by Palpatine former staff and courtisans. "The First Order doesn't have the ressource to assassinate the prime candidate of the First Senator Election. You and your Populist friends had been wavering this threat for too long."
"The First Order is violating the Galactic Concordance treaty every day, every moment as we speak !" Leia intervened. "We need to wake up ! If they indeed had ties with Senator Garr assassination, we must confront them."
"Let us elect Senator Apolin as First Senator then," Senator Ro-Kiintor suggested. "Let us unite in order, to assure peace and security."
"Will Senator Apolin declare war to the First Order, then ?" the female Loneran Senator Varish Vicly pushed, as her podium stepped forward. Lonerans were a sentient species from the Expansion Region planet Lonera that had long, silky fur the color of gold and four thin, extended limbs that allowed them to walk on two feet or all fours with equal ease. And Varish Vacly, a well known friend of Senator Organa-Solo, had been of the few to push the remilitarisation of the New Republic.
"You and your little band had voice your intent to bring chaos and destruction in this galaxy far too many times," the older and wise, yet coward, Senator Lanever Villecham, finally stepped in. "We will not let you use Senator Garr's death for your own agenda. The First Order is thoroughly monitored as we speak. They're just a petty group, not a threat to the galaxy."
Leia decided she couldn't bare to hear such nonsense all over again. All of her actions had been reduced to nothing : the Senate no longer trusted her. If the New Republic failed to take strong measure against the rising menace in the dark led by the 'Supreme Leader Snoke', then she'll have to mimic her father and act behind the galaxy's back.
Leaving the Senate session, the Princess of Alderaan headed to her official quarters only to be greeted by the ever-talkative C3PO. Of course he would ask how she felt, how delighted he was to finally be of any use. But Leia didn't hear him, lost in her thoughts as she let herself fall on the leather seat behind her white desk. Sighing heavily, she brought her head in her palms, massaging her temple to evacuate the frustration ageing her heart.
Suddenly, she felt a powerful surge from the Force, a disturbance within the darkside and the Light so tangible that in reflex, she grabbed her hidden silver blaster hidden under the desk. Someone was coming for her.
"Senator Organa?" a man repeated, standing at the front door of the office. Wearing the traditional deep blue uniform of the New Republic Defense Fleet, the young human with short black hair and matching eyes seemed to be waiting since a good moment. "Are you alright ?"
"Commander Dameron, of the Rapier Squadron," C3PO announced. "The Commander had no appointment with you, Princess, but requires an urgent meeting with you."
"Thank you Goldrod," Poe smirked with a dashing smile.
"You may come in, Dameron," Leia motioned him to another chair. "C3PO ? Will you be so kind to bring us some tea ?"
"Oh …," the droid froze for a moment, his only head moving to the human to the other. "Of course, Princess."
Once the protocol droid left, Poe seemed to relax a bit in his chair. "Thanks, it's best if we discuss this privately."
Leia raised an eyebrow, mischief in her eyes. "You believe my droid to be a master spy or a assassin perhaps ?". A comical question : C3PO was indeed in charge of a network of spying droids all over the galaxy. Unsuspected, and too often underestimate, droids were actually the best at such job.
The Commander laughed gently. "I've heard your pleas during your campaign, Senator. I'm sorry you were kicked out because of your family. Children shouldn't be judged by their biological ancestors."
"Thank you, Commander," Leia smiled politely.
"Besides, you're widely know as the Princess of Alderaan, daughter of Bail and Breha Organa. Their speeches about Vader …" Poe raised a thumb pointing behind him, toward the door. "It's just bantha poodoo."
"But I am, Commander," Leia dreaded the people would actually think the revelation to be a lie. Delusions … "I am the daughter of Anakin Skywalker turned Darth Vader and Queen Padmé Amidala. Using the truth was dirty … but effective. Many senators feared I was running to rule with the same iron fist than the Sith did."
"And yet, you are actively trying to protect the galaxy from the true dark enemy," Poe stared at her, with focused and enraged dark eyes. "The First Order is trespassing more and more borders, reclaiming old Empire facilities. The High Command refuses to report it to the Senate, fearing the repercussion on their position."
"Fear often opens your heart to bribery and blindness to the reality," Leia acquiesced.
"I know what you are doing, recruiting people, building an organisation," Poe pursued. "I want in."
"Really ?" Leia sank deeper in her seat. "But you must be mistaken, Commander." Her head tilted to one side. "I've been dealing with my campaign all this time, and recently trying to unsolve the mystery of my friend's assassination."
"But Admiral Ackbar did-"
"Admiral Ackbar is an old time friend of my family," the Senator interrupted. "But his actions in the Defense Fleet are secret to me. As you know, I am only the mere Senator of the Alderaan sector. Please do tell him I am sending my best friendship."
Poe stared longly at the former Princess, but understood he would not gain any knowledge from her today. Clapping his hands on his legs, he simply stood up and went for the door when the golden droid came back with a Stewjon wood-like smelling tea.
"Commander," Leia called before he vanished. "You are patrolling the galaxy searching for the First Order are you not ?"
Poe nodded slowly.
"Then make sure to scour the D'Qar system," she counselled. "You may find what you are looking for."
The New Republic pilot guffawed, then strode away from the office, his head on the floor, processing the productive talk with the Senator. He almost didn't see the man walking toward him. Avoiding him, Poe turned to stare at a young human with raven hair and dark tormented eyes.
"Sorry Pal !" Poe called, apologising.
"No harm done, Commander Dameron," the other replied, concealing his body back into his shredded dark brown cloak. Soon the man disappeared from his sight as he stepped into Organa's office and Poe went on to regroup with his squadron : much was awaiting them.
Back in the office, Leia Organa-Solo allowed herself to take a simple sip of the brewage C3PO provided. Ackbar had indeed talked about this Poe Dameron, an intrepid and daring young pilot. He was too much like Luke when he had climbed into a X-Wing to destroy the first Death Star. She could use such youth, but it would require control. Poe Dameron had the material to become a Resistance hero, just like his parents had been for the Rebellion.
"Oh my …" the droid voiced, deeply concerned. "Young Master Ben is that really you ?"
"Hi there Threepio," a deep masculine and intimidating voice replied.
Leia had frozen, her eyes slowly rising to meet the boy she left with Luke all this years ago for his Jedi training. A decision she had quickly regretted but felt was the best for her son. But a boy he was no more. Stood before her a tall, muscular man with long raven hair reaching his collarbone, and dark powerful and focused eyes.
"Ben ?" Leia whispered as she stood and stopped before her grown up son.
His brown eyes studied her thoroughly, capturing every detail of her figure as if she could disappear in an instant. Then he took one timid step toward her to hug her strongly yet caringly. Strong arms came around her small body as Leia let her head rest on his torso, warping her own arms around Ben.
"I missed you," the Jedi simply said as he part away. "Too much."
The Princess' hand came to caress his angled face, "I missed you too. When did you get so big ?"
Ben grinned gently, something he rarely did before he was sent away. Leia felt herself relieved that his Jedi teaching had tremendous effect on his soul.
"Why didn't you say you'd come, Ben ?" She asked lovingly. "I would have called Han …"
The son decided to take a seat, allowing the mother to finally rest her neck. "Where is Dad ?"
Leia sighed heavily as she returned behind her desk. "There's much we haven't told you. We didn't want you to worry or compromise your training," she paused. "Han lost the Falcon two years ago."
"What ?" Ben frowned. It would indeed explained why, in his other life, the Falcon had been found on Jakku. He was unfortunately unaware of what had really transpired.
"He was double crossed by a Nikto named Ducain, after a mission of Christophsis. Since then, he and Chewie had been scouring the galaxy in hope to find it."
"Back to smuggling then ?" the former Supreme Leader brought fingers on his chin. "Perhaps I can help ?"
"Don't you have a training to finish ?" Leia raised an eyebrow.
"Things are more important, here," he replied very seriously. An aura of crushing power passed through her bones. The same raw, untamed strength she had always felt in his heart. If he wanted to, he could destroy her in an instant. A power she had felt with only two humans …. Darth Vader and Palpatine himself. Yet today, for the first time, Leia felt the Light and the Darkness in a perfect symbiosis, a balance never seen before in her son.
"What happened ?" Leia pushed, her eyes pouring into his. "Don't lie to your mother. You have changed."
"The Temple ….," Ben shifted in the chair. "It's gone. Destroyed, reduced to ashes by …," he paused again. "By Snoke." But Ben now knew Snoke didn't have the power to create such tempest. The author was none other than the owner of the dark voice trying to penetrate his shield since he had landed on Hosnian Prime : Darth Sidious.
"Snoke ?" she repeated. "How do you know ?"
"Snoke has been talking to me, in here," Solo showed his temple. "I've been hearing him forever. It took me … a lot to realise what he really was. What he wanted and planned to do."
"Which is ?"
"He wanted a new Vader," Ben looked deeply at her.
After long seconds, Leia finally admitted in shame : "We should have told you sooner. I thought I was protecting you from the terrible truth. And … I was afraid of the darkness I felt, and still feel around you."
"I don't blame you," Ben assured. "I understand why you kept it a secret. When I learned the truth… my world crashed and Snoke used it to further his influence over me, away from those I love. But it all makes sense. It took me a while, and trust me, I've been through a lot."
Leia grimaced as she felt the intense pain of her son through the Force : such amount was unbearable. She almost wondered how could her 25 year old son could have survived all of this. The aching in his heart, his quest for belonging, his terrible loneliness. But there was such Light, such power against these dark feelings.
"But so did you," Ben continued. "I know what you have lost this past months."
"You think I care for my reputation ?"
"You cared for your career, Mom, " he replied, reproaching.
"I care for the state of the galaxy," she said. "Perhaps at the expense of my own family, and for that I am truly sorry. But I've been raised to care, I've been raised to fight for freedom."
"And you really think your Resistance will be enough against the might of the First Order ?"
The Senator felt herself jumped from her seat : "What do you know of it ? Did Luke say anything about it ?"
"I know, everything," Ben insisted.
"How ?"
The Jedi smiled proudly. Of cours he couldn't tell her he had joined the First Order back then, that he even became the Supreme Leader, embodying the very threat she had chosen to fight.
"Snoke has been in my head as long as I can remember," he recalled. "Do you really think I am not able to see his shattered mind too ?"
"Does Luke know this ?" she finally said, realising her son could actually be the last key to victory.
"Luke refuses to know. He refuses to fight, even now," Ben spitted. "The Temple is completely gone, dozens of Padawans were killed last night. But he believes he must finish the training of the survivors. He will seek the First Jedi Temple."
"What will he find there ?" Leia wondered. If Luke was indeed in danger, he should have come here. The New Republic would have protected the last Jedi. But she also understood why it was totally adamant to complete the last Padawans' path. Ben and Luke alone were not enough : they needed more fully competent Jedi Knights.
"Ancient knowledge about the Force," Ben shrugged. "Mostly a hidden and safe place. We cannot count on him, for the moment."
"You said my Resistance won't be enough," the mother heard the frustration in his voice. "But you're confident we can win with you ?"
"No," Ben shook his head. "We must involve the New Republic. It is crucial the Fleet is developed once more, the army must be rehabilitated immediately."
"I've been searching for tangible proofs for months Ben," Leia sighed. "The Senate won't listen. And they won't listen to the grandson of Darth Vader, I'm afraid."
"I'll bring the truth out," Ben promised.
"As a Jedi ?" she asked.
"As your son."
The resolve in his voice could shake the stars if he wanted to but pride beamed in Leia's heart. She was confident with his help, as long as they stay together, that hope could rise again.
"Well, my son better changes his clothes then," Leia decided to lighten up the all too serious mood. "You look like a monk."
Ben grinned a bit as he stared at his white Jedi tunic with wide burning spots. He almost forgot he was still wearing the aftermaths of the previous night.
"Lucky for you," Leia rose and went to the other room, located to Ben's right. "I think I still have some of Bail's garb. A simple reminder of duty," she explained as she searcher in her dresser.
She returned with a loving smile as she extended some grey clothes : "You're probably his size now. Try it, please."
Ben felt awkward, understanding he would now pose as a dignitary , and no longer a humble Jedi Padawan. The only clothes he had dared to wear was the black bure the First Order made for him. Perhaps it was time for a change indeed : new clothes, new man, they said ? Nodded, he went back into the room to change, only to come back few minutes later.
The former Supreme Leader, sent back into his past, stood tall before his mother who studied him with stars in her eyes. He was wearing a medium gray tailored hip-length tunic, with a mandarin collar tightly closed around his neck, black tailored pants completed with rich leather black boots. His attire was completed with a dark grey flocked velvet long and sleeveless vest falling to his ankles. The vest had a slight opening on his chest, revealing the tunic underneath, and fell to an A-shape bellow the leather belt.
Leia found it fitting that Ben was wearing the same outfit Bail had worn the day he had secretly evoked the creation of the Rebellion with Mon Mothma to few senators, including her biological mother, Padme Admidala.
"So ? How do I look ?" Ben asked gently as he hid his lightsaber in the secret inside pocket of the vest.
"Like the Prince of Alderaan," Leia replied, tears forming in her eyes.
Ben tiled his head slowly, a grin forming on his lips. "Bail would be very proud of you, you know ? As proud as I am."
"Oh Ben," the tears couldn't be stopped from rolling on her cheeks as she buried herself into his son's arms. "I am so glad you came."
"I love you," he replied, resting his chin on her head.
"And I love you too, my little Prince. I love you too."
Author Note : There we have it. I do hope the emotion is as palpable as I wanted it to be. A shame we never got to see Ben's reunion with Leia in TROS, so there you have it !
This is still a slow pace chapter, but I think it'll set the tone for the upcoming ones. Don't worry, this is a Reylo fic, we will soon hear about our little scavenger (for obvious and legal reason, I'll reduce the age gape between Ben and Rey in this story).
Read, like and review as always !