Chapter 3: Son of Darkness

Five-year-old John Solo had to nearly sprint to maintain pace with Temiri and two other older boys - newer acquaintances just moved to Chandrila.

"I can ride those reeks same as you!" John hollered back to something one of Temiri's friends had said. "And besides, Temiri said I could come along if I could keep up!"

"Temiri, what is this, some kind of joke?

"Tell me we don't have to babysit the Jedi Wonder!"

The group of boys reached the grazing Meadow on the outskirts of the city. Wanting to prove himself, John tried using the Force to tame one of the red scaly beasts so he could ride on its back before any of the other boys. Invading the creature's mind with ease, John was startled when one of the reeks reared and charged the group, initiating a stampede.

"RUN!" The quartet turned tail and ran for the meadow fence, John ducking and weaving to avoid being trampled underfoot. A tremoring shockwave of hoofbeats dazed him for a parsec and he curled into the fetal position.

All at once, he felt a surge through the Force, and the herd of reek - affected by the reactive disturbance - lowed as their warpath abruptly veered off towards the forest to the west.

John soon felt Temiri shaking him, gently smacking him. "Johnny, buddy, don't die on me! You weren't supposed to do that!"

A still dazed John slowly sat up, vision clearing to see a striking woman in white Jedi robes holding up her skirts as she sprinted across the meadow, heart in her mouth and terror in her eyes.

One of Temiri's friends peered. "Who is that?"

John winced sheepishly. "My mom."

Throwing herself to her knees, Rey Skywalker hugged her son close and gave him a little shake. "Oh, John-John," she cried, employing her pet name from when he was a baby, "you scared me! What happened?"

"Well, you see, Master, it's involved," Temiri stammered. "Because what happened was -"

"What. Happened?" Poe Dameron demanded jerkily, stone-faced as he came over the crest of the grassy hill.

John glanced to his friends, then (although he could feel Poe's swirling aura of anger in the Force) he stepped forward. "It was my fault, Uncle Poe." Mommy always said it was best to tell the truth.

Glancing to her son, Rey gasped. "John-John..."

"We were playing, and... I'm sorry, Uncle Poe."

Poe's expression dangerously twitched with rage. "You could have killed someone!"

"But it was an accident!" John whimpered. Drawing her son close to her side, Rey moved between them.

"He's only a child!"

"That's no excuse, Rey; you can't keep defending him!"

"But he'll learn!"

"He will never learn!" Poe bit back vehemently. "He will never learn to be one of us!"

"Because you never give him a chance!" Rey hissed fiercely back, her teeth tight.

"Give him a chance? For kriff's sake, Rey - look at him! He will never be one of us!"

Whimpering, John wriggled out of his mother's embrace and pelted for the trees.

"John-John..."

Evening came, down by a small pond. Staring at his reflection in the water, as he had for hours, John finally let out a frustrated growl. Plunging his hands in the muck, he didn't stop until he had covered himself with brown goop.

He wasn't a baby... he heard the whispers from some of Mommy's friends. Askance looks and whispering of names... Kylo... Sidious... Vader... Only Auntie Rosie ever treated him like the innocent little one he was, along with his mother, of course.

Peering closer at the creature staring back at him, the pool rippled to show an image of his mother, regarding him with a concerned frown. "John-John?" He turned. "What are you doing?"

He drew to her side. "Why am I so different?"

"Because you're covered with mud - that's why," Rey laughed, drawing him into her lap so she could wipe the grime away. "Here -"

"No! Uncle Poe said I -"

"Close your mouth," his mother gently prompted, wiping at his lips.

"Mmm... Uncle Poe said I don't belong in the family!"

"Never mind what Uncle Poe said," Rey chided with a smile. "Now, hold still..."

"But... look at me!" John twisted away, eyes sparking in anger.

There it was - like the clap of a lightning bolt. His father's eyes stared back at her, flashing with pain beyond compare. The ghost of the labored breathing of a masked figure echoed on the wind. Rey batted it away, though her expression was solemn.

"I am, John." He started at the use of his given name. "And do you know what I see? I see... two eyes. And... a nose... somewhere - ah, here!" She tweaked it, tickling his earlobes. "Two ears! Now let's see... what else...?"

"Two hands?"

"That's right," Rey chuckled.

Mother and son touched hands, and Rey was transported back to a similar tableau, of two hands reaching over a fire. Drawing their joined hands to his chest, she whispered, "Close your eyes. Breathe, just... breathe. Now forget what you see. What do you feel, in the Force?"

"... my heart," John observed simply.

"Come here." Rey drew her son close to her breast, remembering how she used to nurse him (when had he gotten so big?) and he giggled.

"Your heart!"

"See?" Rey cooed. "We're exactly the same." She sighed. "Poe... just can't see that."

Hearing the sadness in her voice, John glanced up to his mother. "I'll make him see it!" he promised, his voice light. "I'll be the best Jedi ever!"

"Oh, I bet you will..." Rey laughed, tickling him.