A strong smell of smoke entered Sofie's lungs, noises of distress also seeped into her recently reunited family's house.
She felt her heart almost stop.
Numerous scenarios ran through her mind. Was Hux going to burn down the village with her in it?
What about her recently found family?
Either way, she knew that she had to act quickly.
"Leti," Sofie started, having barely stepped inside the house. "Leti, we need to leave."
Leti looked back at her with wide eyes and glanced back into the house where her mother and their other sibling was. Sofie gulped. Was she hesitant?
"I don't think we're going to leave." Leti told Sofie, fear in her eyes.
Concerned, Sofie tried to step past Leti into the house, but was stopped by someone grabbing her arm behind her.
She looked back and was greeted by a concerned Hux. It stopped Sofie in her tracks, she had never seen him so anxious.
"I'll make sure they get out of here safe Sofie," Hux motioned towards the inside of the house and then pulled her outside.
"Ren just contacted me and instructed me to burn down this village. He also told me that he's beginning what we have been calling the 'beginning of the end'." Hux said in a hushed voice. Sofie looked at him in disbelief.
"You're obeying his orders? And what do you mean 'beginning of the end'?" Sofie asked.
" Mortis ," Hux said quietly. "Ren must have found the Sith holocron. He wants to use it to harness the power of Mortis." Sofie saw a wave of rage go across Hux's face.
"It's an unfair advantage," Hux stated. He looked at Sofie intensely but she avoided his eyes.
"I don't understand why you're telling me this. We're enemies," Sofie rubbed her arms anxiously. A small part of her gut warned that despite his words, Hux still couldn't be trusted.
"I've been watching and working with Ren for years. He slips constantly, you've seen this too," Hux said seriously, "He slips because he cares about family too much."
Sofie eyed Hux curiously. She reflected on the times she had seen Ren slip. When combined with Hux's experiences, maybe his words had some truth.
"You need to catch him in a weak moment and finish him off," Hux said bluntly, "it's the best thing for both of us, Sofie."
Sofie gulped, her heart aching at the thought of taking advantage of someone like that.
"What if he turns completely to the light?" Sofie asked Hux.
Hux laughed.
"He wouldn't be able to live with himself after a failure like that," he said seriously. Sofie frowned.
"Please, go stop him," Hux put his arm out.
"I need to help my family first," Sofie said, beginning to walk back into the house that Hux had pulled her out of.
"I said I would take care of it," Hux said, grabbing her once again.
"Hux, I appreciate your tip on Ren but this—" Sofie began to explain her reasoning but was cut off by Hux.
"I've. Got. It," Hux said slowly. Sofie felt a chill run through her body and she froze.
She felt tears bubbling on her eyelids.
The metaphorical scale holding her own interests and the Resistance's wobbled as she gazed fondly into the house.
She shot Hux a disappointed look and then began to run back to her ship, resisting the urge to look back.
Chaos was increasing in the village by the second. The stormtroopers had already begun to set flames to the buildings and round up residents.
Sofie tried to keep her head down and focus on herself. Hearing the distress of the residents hurt her and she felt powerless.
Once Sofie was back at her ship, she slumped into the seat from mental exhaustion. She wanted to go back and help everyone, but she knew it wasn't possible by herself.
Her eyes caught an unread message received while she was gone. She started it and gasped. It was from Leia, and Sofie had never seen her so distressed.
"Sofie, don't come back. They've uncovered the base and we're evacuating as quickly as possible—-but it is not looking good," Leia emphasized.
Sofie zoned out as Leia described the dilemma.
She debated giving into the pull telling her to go back to her family, but she also knew that the Resistance needed all the help it could get.
If she didn't try to help her family now, could she trust Hux with them? Should she be proactive to potentially help Lana, Leia and the Resistance?
Sofie bowed her head and rubbed her temples. She felt the tears that she had suppressed earlier reappear in her eyes.
Suddenly, a breeze moved behind her and a chill ran down her spine. She glanced over her shoulder and nearly fell out of her seat at the sight.
"Master Luke?" Sofie managed to breathe out. It was him, but apparition-like. "Is it really you?" Sofie asked.
The Force ghost nodded.
"It's finally time," Luke said solemnly. "As Leia said, they're in trouble. If they don't get help now, everything you've been working for will have been for nothing."
"But can they be stopped? We've barely been surviving, and now with the First Order knowing our only base, they'll be able to finish us off for good." Sofie replied, a sense of dread consuming her. She sighed.
"To make it worse, this 'random' mission ended up being the place my family retreated to all those years ago." Sofie explained to Luke, "I'm an idiot, I just left them with Hux. And…" Emotion overtook her at the thought of anything happening to them.
"Go help them," Luke said, "I'll be helping Leia. It'll be fine."
Sofie shot him a concerned look. Even if he could handle things, she felt bad not being there.
But one more knowing look from Luke was all it took for her.
Sofie started the ship and began to execute her brash plan. She landed the ship as closely as possible to her family's house. Amidst the chaos Hux was nowhere to be found. Sofie saw only her family and their half-burnt down house when she approached.
Finally, she got a good look at her mother and other younger sister, Elydia. They exchanged a surprised look upon Sofie's approach.
" Sofie? Sofiela?" Her mother gasped out. She walked towards Sofie and reached out to her, trying to determine that she was real.
Sofie's heart melted, the interaction was much different than the last one in Sofie's memory. Her mother had only been cold to her after Sofie decided to attend the Jedi Academy.
"It's me, I've come to take you with me. To a safe place- with the Resistance." Sofie talked quickly, knowing that the stormtroopers could do crowd-control at any moment.
"Wait—- Sofie. The Resistance? That's just the other side of this dreadful war. We'll be no better off." Her mother stated.
Sofie felt antsy and not wanting to get into the politics of the war at such a pressing time.
"Don't worry, they've treated me well, they'll treat you well," Sofie replied, looking down at the items they had pulled out of the house. She began to pick up items in an attempt to get them to hurry.
"Wait— Sofie, stop." Her mother looked at her seriously. Sofie froze. Why was she hesitant to leave?
"This is our home," her mother started, "and I've never lived anywhere but Nexa."
Sofie was speechless. Did they not see what was happening around them?
"But you… you could die here," Sofie squeaked, "I've been working for the Resistance and I've seen firsthand what they will do to villages. They'll burn down everything and then take you and... " Sofie hesitated towards the end of her sentence, taking a lighter approach.
"They aren't afraid of committing war crimes," Sofie finished, ready to get down on her knees to beg them to go with her.
It was only silence from her mother as she looked around the village. Stormtroopers were headed their way.
Sofie bit her lip. She didn't understand.
"I'm sorry," her mother said, a shakiness in her voice.
Sofie shuddered. What had they told her?
Maybe they had told her the unfortunate truth, that the Resistance was limited in numbers and that the First Order was winning, therefore it was easier to surrender now.
But they were right. It was the truth.
Sofie cried. She would give anything to stop time for a brief moment.
"There's just... so much I need to tell you," Sofie said through tears of frustration.
It was no use. She pulled all three members of her family into an embrace.
She wanted to stay longer, but could sense the urgency growing. She thought about telling them more, but didn't want them to hold regrets if they never met again.
Sofie lifted off in her ship again. She didn't like the outcome of her decision, but cherished the fact that she wouldn't have any regrets.
" They'll come around again," a voice echoed in her head. Sofie breathed deeply. If there was anyone she had to trust right now, it was definitely Master Luke.
Sofie flew back to the recently discovered base. As she approached, she could tell that whatever had happened, it had happened quickly and recently.
The base was deserted and without any clues on the whereabouts of the rest of the Resistance. Sofie tried to get in contact with Leia, then sighed in relief when her call was answered.
"Sofie, we're all okay and mobile, but I don't think it's a good idea for you to come and find us. We need to be on our highest defenses. We can't risk anyone following you." Leia stated.
Sofie gulped. She wasn't going to argue with Leia.
"I understand." Sofie said quietly. They sat in silence for a moment with Sofie eventually speaking.
"I got intel from Chancellor Hux, of all people. He says Ren is going to be travelling to Mortis. He told me because he thinks I can stop him," Sofie stated.
"I'm going to go stop him, I think it's the only way for us to have a chance of winning," Sofie continued. Leia's face was thoughtful, but quickly turned to pain.
"Do you think you'll come back?" Leia asked her after thinking for some time.
"...I think we have the same opinion," Sofie replied, a feeling of anxiety creeping into her.
Sofie wanted to tell Leia that she would come back alive, but she knew that she couldn't be certain of it. She would have to hope that Hux was right, that Ren's bonds were still his weakness.
Sofie guessed that Leia knew it too.
"We will be doing whatever we can to help, we will be with you," Leia told her. Sofie nodded.
Unsure of what should happen next, Sofie hesitated ending the call with Leia.
"I know we're running short on time, but I want to at least talk to Lana," Sofie told Leia.
Leia nodded in understanding and brought Lana into view. Despite her being only a hologram, Sofie was happy to see her.
"Lana! Are you doing ok? Was it chaotic leaving the base?" Sofie asked her in an enthusiastic tone. Lana shook her head.
"We left but I wasn't scared, I helped Nana." Lana said. Sofie smiled, trying to stay serious.
"That's good, I'm proud of you." Sofie said, and then bit her lip, not wanting to continue. "You're going to stay brave, right?"
Lana smiled, breaking from her serious demeanor.
"Of course! I'll keep helping," Lana said confidently.
"Ok, you'll have to keep helping since, Lana," Sofie took a deep breath, "I'm going somewhere important, but I might not come back."
Lana's face conveyed confusion. "Somewhere far?" she asked.
"It is far, but it's also dangerous," Sofie replied.
"Then why are you going?" Lana asked again.
The question made Sofie reflect as well. She had the choice of not confronting Ren. She could pretend to know nothing of Ren's plan.
But she also knew that the resulting future that they would be living in could potentially be worse than death.
"It's important. And I know you're not scared now but if I don't go you might become scared. Nana and everyone at the base might too," Sofie told her daughter.
It was hard to gauge Lana's reaction, and Sofie began feeling nervous that she had said the wrong things. Should she have been more honest?
"Lana, I know it might seem confusing. But no matter what, remember that I love you and remember that you're my favorite Jedi."
Lana was quiet, but eventually replied.
"I love you too."
After talking with Lana and Leia Sofie spent a few moments alone in her ship. She mainly felt numb, but could sense a sadness below it.
She walked the ruins of the old base to clear her head before going to Mortis, but eventually sat outside. There, she finally let herself feel everything that had come to her in the ship.
Should she have fought harder to see Lana before walking into what could potentially be her death? The thought of the last interaction with her being via hologram didn't sit well.
She thought about the things she still wanted to do. There were so many people she still needed to talk to.
Sofie sat and brought her knees to her chest, digging her feet into the moss. She closed her eyes for a brief moment and placed her mind into the past.
She imagined herself at the Jedi Academy. Surrounded by the lush hills she had gotten to know well. Times when her only concerns were impressing and tiptoeing simultaneously around Master Luke.
She pictured her and Ben spending countless nights enjoying each other's company. Talking about Master Luke and the other students. Sharing their grievances about an unlimited number of things.
She kept that version of Ben in her mind.
While daydreaming, an unsolicited conversation entered Sofie's mind.
" I wish you could be saved, Ben." Sofie opened her eyes quickly at the sound of Luke's voice. She looked around the base but saw nothing.
" Leave me alone, get out of my head." A voice replied. Ben's.
He must be getting closer, Sofie thought. She stood up and began to walk back to her ship.
She had initially left the ship with concern, but now it was replaced with trust.
Sofie sat in her ship and relaxed. She realized she was missing an essential piece. How was she going to get to Mortis?
She closed her eyes and reached out to Luke with the Force, hoping to intercept him again.
"Luke, I need to know how to get to Mortis to see Ren." Sofie said out loud.
" You're going to listen to Hux then? " Luke's voice replied.
Sofie opened her eyes, slightly in confusion.
"Of course, we can't let Ren get its power- we'd have no way to defeat the First Order," she replied.
"Assuming you can stop him—and want to," Luke said. Sofie frowned.
"I know. I understand what could happen, but I think it's worth it," Sofie said, reflecting on her conversation with Leia.
"In that case, you'll find that it's pretty easy to get here," Luke told her.
He described Mortis, and reminded her that it was connected to the Force, so as long as she relied on her senses, she could find it easily. She would need to go to the Chrelythiumn System, where the planet would be enclosed.
Luke also warned her that the planet would test her. Immense power isn't given away easily.
Sophie wondered what the planet could throw at her that was unfamiliar.
Ren was tired, finding an untapped power was no easy task.
He had initially travelled to find the Sith wayfinder, and eventually made his way to Remnicore to train under a Dark Lord. Remnicore was dreary and a swath of endless flat land. One of its many strange inhabitants was a dark lord, an alien creature made up of many arms and eyes.
The Dark Lord, Tor Valum was hesitant to train Ren when he arrived, but made an exception. He believed that Ren could be different, that he had the potential to finally gain the power of Mortis. Maybe he was worthy.
Ren gladly accepted, fueled by the thought of gaining a power not achieved by any Sith or Jedi before him.
"There were many before you who were supposed to gain Mortis' power," Tor Valum told him, sensing the conflict inside Ren as well.
"I'm not them. Train me, and I will be the one to release the power of Mortis," Ren snapped at Tor Valum.
"That conflict inside you— you don't think it will hold you back?" Tor Valum replied.
"That conflict is motivation and anger. I have plenty of it to finish you off, too. I've destroyed countless planets and executed plenty of deserters," Ren described the ruthlessness he had developed during the war. Genocide was easy for him— executing Tor Valum would be easier.
"No need for threats, I'll teach you. My question was from curiosity," Tor Valum replied.
Ren reflected on his conflict but quickly turned it into anger. Anger at himself and all involved.
"I made mistakes. But they can be erased. The people I was supposed to love ended up never understanding me," Ren said.
Tor Valum began his training without any further questions.
Time moved differently on the planet, and what felt like weeks were days on the outside. Ren learned from Tor Valum exceptionally quickly.
He taught him Sith history and instructed him on forbidden technqiues.
Finally, he taught him the skill needed to harness the power of Mortis: life-force draining.
As Ren trained, the conflict in him grew. He had expected more Sith training to result in a defeat of himself to the dark, but it only resulted in more torment.
He had caused an unimaginable amount of destruction and loss of life. A fact that was on his mind while he trained. He suspected the Jedi brainwashing.
But a simpler emotion also gnawed at him. Acceptance.
He truly had no one but himself.
He thought back to the times he had almost convinced Sofie of his position and her brief flirt with working on a First Order ship.
Her understanding of his conflict was seen by others as a fault.
But by her: human.
"You're weaker," Tor Valum told Ren towards the end of the training.
Ren scowled. In a fit of anger, he demonstrated his new Force-draining skills on a tree barely surviving on the planet.
"Someone who is weak couldn't do that," Ren stated. "Now tell me where Mortis is. I'm ready to drain it's power."
Tor Valum initially rejected him.
"There's one more place you need to go," he said.
He led Ren to a cave, telling him that he had to go in blind. Whatever was inside the cave was not for Tor Valum to know.
Ren walked carefully into the cave, unable to see anything. The cave was pitch-black.
He eventually got to a section where his footsteps echoed off the walls. His eyes strained in the dark and his blood pressure rose, what was waiting for him?
A breeze hit him. Someone, or something was there. Ren ignited his lightsaber, ready to attack.
The light of Ren's lightsaber danced around the cavern, slightly reflecting off the figure he had sensed.
Suddenly, more light filled into the cavern. Ren watched as the figure ignited a red lightsaber.
The figure was barely visible, but Ren felt his breath catch in his chest. His body froze with fear.
His eyes barely made out the outline of a mask he had gazed upon closely for years.
" Grandfather," Ren said under his breath. Mechanical breathing filled the chamber around them. In half a second their lightsabers were moving.
Ren fought methodically, dazed by the lights moving around them. Still, he felt a sense of pride. Secretly proud that he had managed to finally make civilization dread the name Kylo Ren more than Darth Vader.
The intense lightsaber battle continued, but Ren noticed himself slipping as the fight dragged on. Reputation couldn't replace pure skill.
Then, the fight ended abruptly with Ren trapped. His grandfather's saber ended up directly in front of his face and threatened to singe him.
Ren's breathing hitched. He tried to remind himself that he was an illusion. That he couldn't actually kill him.
" You…" Darth Vader bellowed, " you are not a Skywalker."
Ren felt his anger rising. He had already won, he didn't need to taunt him further.
"... And you are not a Sith," Vader continued, moving his lightsaber away from Ren.
"You're right, I'm not a Sith or a Jedi. I'm about to gain power that will make me something more powerful than either of those pathetic titles," Ren spat, "I'll do more than finish what you started. I'm beyond that now."
Vader said nothing, his mechanical breathing filled the cavern. He stepped backwards from Ren slowly and deactivated his lightsaber. Darkness filled the cavern again.
" You came to me for our shared vengeance at your best."
Vader's voice boomed in the chamber. The darkness began to envelope him.
" But Ben… do not come back to me with our shared regrets when you're at your worst ."
Ren lunged his lightsaber towards the darkness. There was nothing.
He had lost.
"That— that was a load of bullshit." Ren cursed at Tor Valum.
"That was your equal vengeance." Tor Valum replied to him, unfazed. Ren grasped Tor Valum with the Force, gripping his entire being and extending beyond the physical.
" I don't want to hear about FUCKING vengeance. Tell me where Mortis is before I kill you!" Ren boomed, Tor Valum barely holding onto his life.
"No— you're weak. You lost against Darth Vader. You're unworthy!" Tor Valum exclaimed.
Unsatisfied, Ren took the matters into his own hands. He concentrated his energy and probed into Tor Valum's mind for the answer. Tor Valum yelled in agony, begging Ren to let him go.
Ren, uncaring, found the information and let Tor Valum go.
"What else do I need to know before I go?" Ren asked.
"Nothing," Tor Valum stated.
"Good," Ren replied.
Without a second thought, Ren drained his life from him. He watched as he shriveled up, becoming completely lifeless.
Ren pressed on, adrenaline and anger fueling him. He didn't stop for a single moment of rest while traveling to Mortis.
It was right there, within his grasp. He could literally feel it and sense Mortis' power.
Ren entered the monolith and was greeted by the planet. He felt the planet drawing him in. The Force tugged on him.
He wasted no time getting to the temple. He couldn't resist the pull now.
Ren stumbled hastily out of his ship. His eyes focused towards the back of the temple. His legs told him to run.
Then, his mind told him to wait.
Initially, he assumed his ears were broken as he heard another ship landing behind him.
He retraced his steps and ignited his lightsaber. His eyes were eagerly fixed on the ship.
Before the figure emerged, he knew. If there was anyone they assumed could stop him, it was her.
He cursed Hux under his breath. He should have gotten rid of him, that snake. Why did he promote him?
Sofie emerged from the ship. She looked towards Ren and they shared a silent look.
"Hux sent you, didn't he?" Ren yelled towards her, deactivating his lightsaber momentarily.
"Actually, the entire galaxy sent me," Sofie yelled back. Her body tensed as Ren began to close the distance between them.
"You're too late. I've already gotten the training I need to strip Mortis of its power for good." Ren told her, "If you leave now and yield, I'll consider sparing you."
Sofie scowled. "How kind of you." She said back sarcastically.
"But all jokes aside, I won't be yielding," Sofie said while igniting her own lightsaber. Ren reacted quickly and reignited his as well.
"I refuse to let our daughter grow up in your dictatorship," Sofie fumed. The constant genocide and hurt had to stop.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure neither of you have to live to see it," Ren replied.
Sofie gladly swung first.