A/N: (EDIT: Hit the review section and see the reviews before you read this chapter. I've left a note at the top.
I'm sick and tired of debating this issue.)
HELLO! Hope you're all having a good early holiday!
Happy Easter! Or is it April Fools? Easter Fools? Told you I'd update again, didn't I? Eh, that's a holiday in my book regardless, so its an excuse for an update!The Last Jedi may have dampened my enthusiasm somewhat, but now I'm all the more determined to press on. ESPECIALLY after getting a look at those deleted scenes! Cry havoc and loose the dogs of war because I am back BABY!
First off, I want to address something.
An anonymous review, actually:
"Look you're a great writer, but there is seriously a problem when a quarter of the chapter's word count is an author's note."
Seriously? Of all the things you could say, you choose THAT?! Its hardly ever a problem and you're seriously going to poke that dragon there bud?! It irks me to no end when people tell me this. EXCUSE ME for talking to you guys and gals.
I don't mean to come as rude, but I dislike nitpicking. I can take criticism when it makes a valid point, but the remark above makes none. Whereas those below actually DO!
Also, I caught a bit of flak from one or two reviewers for Naruto getting stunned by Han then subsequently sucker punched by Chewbacca. I'll say to you now what I said then to them; he was caught off guard through his own doing, not theirs. Furthermore, I don't care who you are or claim to be, a Wookie punch is going to hurt. Remember, Naruto is by no means god tier in this story. He's got a fair bit of strength to him even after his injury, but by no means is his all-powerful.
Of course, that's not to say that he'll be batted around by the rest of the cast like a ball of yarn; because he won't.
This is one of the few-and perhaps only-times his sympathy and good heart works against him. Seriously, if someone wants to nitpick at something so miniscule as this then that means they weren't enjoying the story. Remember, write this for you guys on MY time. I get paid absolutely nothing and receive nothing in return save word of mouth and reviews. This is not my livelihood by any means though by the Force, I wish it was.
Now lets answer some questions! I think Five will do this time.
Q: To paraphrase a certain smuggler: I have a bad feeling about this...
A: If you mean Naruto then you're right to be worried. As things stand, he's a little unhinged at the moment. Thankfully Rey's around to keep him in check...for the most part.
Q: Say, do you have plans for Starkiller base? Because I hate, hate, HATE seeing the Empire-wannabe's otherwise known as the First Order having their way and all those innocents dying in the blink of an eye. I don't suppose you could find a way for them to survive? Or are you not telling us something? You don't seem the type to let MILLIONS of innocents go out like that, Neon. And yes, this is a blatant appeal to your morality from someone who wants to see the First Order get their teeth kicked in. I regret nothing!
A: Ha.
Haha.
Hahaha!
Keep reading and you'll see...
Q: At last we see Naruto's lightsaber! I take it you have plans for it?
A: I do indeed.
Q: When do we get another chapter from Rey's perspective? Or Han?
A: That would be this one, actually. Of a sort.
Q: Are you going to save Han?
A: That is the key question isn't it? We'll see.
And there we have it.
Ciao~!
"You can't run away from this, ya know. Believe me. I tried."
"Then what do you want me to do?!"
"I want you to trust me."
"I can't just-
"You can."
~?
Nostalgic Chaos
Well.
That happened.
In the ensuing chaos that followed Rey found herself struggling to keep pace with everything; much less follow the flow of conversation. Putting the brief thrill of escape aside, she didn't know where to begin. In the space of a few short minutes they'd gone from helming a ship to stowaways on said ship, from uneasy guests, to something else entirely. Despite all this, or perhaps in spite of it, Naruto had somehow managed to convince their captor-who was apparently bloody Han Solo!-of their intentions and that they weren't ship thieves, worthy of little more than a shot in the back. That was all well and good.
He had not, however, convinced Solo as to the matter of his weaponry.
Presently they were debating that very fact.
Ah, they most certainly were!
Vigorously.
"Come on now." Han drawled, directing a pointed look toward the metal cylinder clutched in the blond's hand, "Be honest. Where'd you get that thing? Diddya lift it from a museum or something?"
Naruto regarded the weathered smuggler with hooded eyes.
"I made it." he insisted, more than a little put out.
"Stole it, more like."
Naruto scowled.
"I. Made. It."
"Riiiiight."
Rey knew that look well; she'd known Naruto long enough to realize when he was being surly. To recognize the anger lurking just beneath the surface. He was all of a minute from saying "to hell with this", clobbering Han-wookie notwithstanding-and tossing both of them out the nearest airlock. As it stood he'd recovered from that stun-bolt remarkably fast. She imagined that such a tactic had only succeeded because he'd lowered his guard in the first place; were one to attempt such a tactic again, they'd pay sorely for their temerity. It certainly didn't help that Syn looked as if she were about to fly into a fit of giggles because of this. Indeed, the little Twi'lek looked all of a moment from bursting out into demented laughter!
"Does it really matter where I got it?"
"It does if I say so! You probably lifted it!"
"Hey! If you try and stun me again so help me-
Right, enough of that. Better stop them before someone started shooting.
"Alright, enough!" she snapped, her voice cracking like a whip. "Both of you! Cool your heads!"
Interposing herself between the two squabblers, the scavenger thrust both arms out and attempted to push them apart. Naruto yielded to her efforts with an annoyed grunt, but the old smuggler proved more recalcitrant on his part and unwilling to let. In the end it took her and Chewie's combined efforts to part them. More than a few invectives were uttered in the process and things finally came to a head when the latter spat something particularly vicious at the other.
"Go ahead, try and stun me again! See what happens!"
"I oughta shoot you instead!"
"GWOARGH!"
Chewbacca's snarl caused shinobi and smuggler alike to flinch. BB-8 took the opportunity to give the blond a hart jolt in the leg. Result achieved. Naruto sprang back like a scalded cat and shot the rotund little synthetic a murderous glower. Rey took the opportunity to come closer and lay a hand on his shoulder. The anger drained out of him like a broken sieve.
"Naruto."
...fine, fine." he groused handing his head. "I'm calm. See? This is me. Being calm."
With a supreme effort the blond mastered himself and shook his head. Confident he wouldn't fly on the handle the moment she turned her back on him, Rey turned her attention to Solo. The smuggler held her gaze for an instant. Then he stormed off in a huff. Once again, it struck her that she'd been looking at a legend. Old or not, she'd heard stories about this man. Legends. And sometimes she'd even wondered if...no, she was no longer a little girl and didn't have time for those flights of fancy. More important matters were at hand. Still, she couldn't help being a little foolish.
"Is this really the ship that made the Kessel Run in Fourteen parsecs?"
"Twelve!" Han admonished from the cockpit.
Naruto arched an eyebrow.
"Is that fast?"
"Aaargh!"
For the first time in years, Han Solo truly felt his age. Like mighty shackles weighing him down, dragging him into the muck. Kids these days. Yet he couldn't help but feel bad for them. Blondie clearly carried a load of old mental baggage with him. His girl-girlfriend?-was another matter entirely. She radiated optimism and a strange, infectious energy he didn't understand. If the boy was an unstoppable force-and he feared he'd pegged his guess right on that account-then she was an immovable object. A calm port in a storm, utterly unflinching in the face of adversity. Then there was that little Twi'lek who kept shying away from him every time he looked at her. What was her story?
More importantly!
How did he get roped into this shit?
No, whatever it was, he wanted no part of it.
Especially when one of those kids wielded a lightsaber.
Those days were long gone and he had no desire to revisit them.
"Damn kids." he groused. "Chewie, toss them in a pod and send 'em back to Jaaku-
"Like hell!"
The ferocity of the young man's statement nearly took him back, as did his sudden proximity. Apparently he'd gotten into the cockpit behind him at some point during his musings. Now, Naruto seized him by the arm and all but spun him around to face him. Blazing blue eyes held his and rooted him, refusing to flinch in spite of the shadow of fury lurking on his visage or nearness of Chewie's presence. Stubborn. He'd give the kid credit for that, if nothing else. It almost reminded him of a certain farm boy. Unfortunately, it also made him all the more eager to part with him. The memory of Luke was an old wound, and all this jedi mumbo-jumbo only served to further aggravate it. And yet...
"This damn droid," the youth thumbed over his shoulder at the "droid" in question, "Has to get to the Resistance. I made a promise, and I keep my promises."
"Well, isn't that touching." Han grunted. "And why should I care about any of that?"
Rey interjected before either of them could come up with an argument.
"Because he's carrying a map to Luke Skywalker!"
Both Hand and Naruto rounded on her for entirely different reasons.
"Who in blazes is that?"
Well.
That was a reason.
Han almost-almost!-found himself smirking as with painstaking patience, the clever little scavenger explained just who in blazes Luke was; while somehow securing his own assistance towards said endeavor. Her friend didn't seem to buy it at first glance, but he went along willingly if only for her sake. Ah. He knew that look. Smitten, that one. He suspected blondie there would follow her into hell and back if she asked him. Judging by the lingering looks she gave him, it seemed said feelings were reciprocated...though neither realized it.
They were comfortable with one another.
Trusted each other.
One could guess what kind of environment must've fostered such trust, or forged such a bond. He might not be able to read that damn droid or the Twi'lek-the latter having taken up an animated conversation with Chewie of all people-but he could read these two at least. Their gentle bickering reminded him of the times he had butted heads with Leia back in his youth.
Another painful reminder.
It would've been downright touching if he wasn't in such a foul mood. As things stood, he-
A harsh from the corridor commanded his attention.
"Shit. Don't tell me a rathtar got loose."
He had time enough to see a startled expression flicker across Naruto's face; then he was gone, bounding down the Falcon's ramp to seek the nearest console. Part of him hoped he might somehow lose the kids in warren of corridors that served as the belly of the larger freighter, but it wasn't to be. Everyone trailed after him in quick procession, with a reluctant BB-8 bringing up the rear. Much to his infinite chagrin, the lightsaber-wielding blond kept pace with him despite his artificial leg. Hell, he almost ran him down!
"You're not hauling rathtars."
Han never broke a stride.
"I'm hauling rathtars."
"Of course ya are."
Rey frowned.
"What are-
"Don't."
By the time Han finally found what he was looking for, his worst fears had been confirmed. A series of flickering images above and within the console informed him that none of the beasts had escaped their cells as of yet; but that would soon prove to be the least of their worries. They were being boarded. He caught the approach of the transport just before it docked, its curved hull jutting angrily against the airlock. Damn. Too late for him to lock them out now. Much too late. Even if he could, they'd just blast their way through. This old tub didn't have weapons, nor was it built to sustain the kind of firepower this lot was packing. They were going to be here any minute now if he did nothing, but that was half the problem-from this console he had no physical way of impeding their progress.
"Tch." he growled. "Guavian Death Gang. Persistent bastards."
Chewbacca groaned a series of strong syllables.
"Hey, its not my fault this time!"
"Who?" A curious Rey tried to peer over his shoulder, only to jerk back as he turned and stormed in the opposite direction.
Han grimaced.
"Long story short, I owe them fifty thousand credits...and then some. They must've tracked me and Chewie from Nantoon."
Naruto crossed both arms before his chest.
"I get the sense that there's more to that story."
...there is. I'd rather not tell, if its all the same to you."
"Fair enough."
He wisely chose not to call the blond's bluff or elaborate upon the rest of that particular tale. The less they knew the better. Bad enough that he was transporting Rathtars for that twit King Prana and been caught in mid-transport, but this was just absurd. He really did have awful luck these days. Last thing he needed was to turn these kids against him with tale of his smuggling days and swindling. He had enough enemies already. If he could find an accessway of some sort or cause a lockdown, he might-a big might!-be able to slow them down and buy himself a few precious minutes...no. Wait. There was an alternative to all this. An angle his foe might not see coming if played properly.
The answer was staring him in the face, fiddling a tattered brown robe he'd filched from a nearby crate.
Yes, yes, yes! This could work! He just had to play his cards right.
"You any good with that sword of yours, kid?"
"Oh, now you want to believe me, eh?!"
"Sithspawn, are you or not?!"
"Somewhat."
"Tell you what." Han sigh at the suspicious glint in his eyes, "You help me with this, and I'll get that droid of yours to the Resistance. No questions asked. Sound like an even trade-
"I still think you should help us regardless...
-kid!-
...but fine, I'll help." the whiskered warrior relented with a shrug. "What do you need me to do?"
"Put that robe on." When the blond blinked the old smuggler-without breaking his stride-reached over and yanked the hood over the young man's head. A startled squawk greeted his efforts, but he paid them no mind in any event. This plan was mad. Absolutely, stark raving mad. And it might just work. If there was one thing people feared these days it was the unknown; and he had a very unknown quantity right here. If this played out as he planned, they'd all walk away with their skins intact and he'd be paid handsomely for delivering those damn rathtars.
If it worked. If something didn't go wrong.
Why did he have a bad feeling about all this, suddenly?
Chewbacca palmed his face and groaned forlornly.
"Hush, you. You any good at acting, kid?"
"Ha?"
"Good."
He came to a dead stop at another unremarkable junction and palmed a hidden switch. At his touch a portion of the grated floor folded back and came away, revealing a hidden compartment beneath. Without so much as an explanation, Han attempted to usher Rey and Syn inside for their own safety. While the Twi'lek might be armed and somewhat armored, the young scavenger certainly wasn't. That staff of hers would do her little good against a blaster. Thus, gentleman that he was-ha!- he attempted to get them to safety for their own good.
Attempted was the key word.
The former immediately protested and the latter eeled out of his grasp, seeking shelter behind Chewie, while the latter dug her heels in until he no longer had any hope of moving her. Stubborn kids. He could let the alien slid, seeing as she'd likely be useful in a fight, but he wasn't willing to budge where Rey was concerned. Certainly not when her injury might set the kid off.
"What in blazes are you doing?! Get down there-
He never finished that sentence.
Because it was at that precise moment that the gang found them.
An access hatch irised opened at the end of the hall to admit six figures. Each humanoid, five of them stood clad in distinctive red armor, their faces sheltered behind scarlet helmets. Han dismissed them without a thought in spite of their pulse rifles. It was their leader that concerned him; the barely contained anger etched into his pale visage that threatened to explode at any given moment. He gave the now-robed Naruto little more than a passing glance before his dark eyes locked back on Han with the intensity of a black hole.
"Han Solo. You're a dead man."
He knew the latter on sight.
And then things went from bad to worse.
An adjacent corridor suddenly and abruptly opened to reveal an additional clutch of armored invaders, though this lot couldn't have been more assimilair. No two men looked alike, and he was somewhat chastened to see the man standing at their head. He knew him. Of course he knew him. Was there no end of bad luck for him today?! Of all the times, all the places...!
Kanjiklub.
No, no, no! This wasn't how it was supposed to go!
"Now, Bala, I can explain. You too, Leech-
"No. You can't. Shoot him."
"Move!"
Someone jerked Han's body aside.
A finger twitched.
Someone fired.
Rey yelped.
Red.
In disbelief he realized the scavenger girl had yanked him aside and gotten shot for her trouble. An ugly red wound marred her right shoulder, leaving her curling in on herself on the deck, hissing softly. A low snarl behind him confirmed his worst suspicions too late. Discarding the ratty brown robe, Naruto stormed past him, flinging the cloak to the floor. An angry thrumming filled the room and he realized too late what was about to happen here, what was transpiring. What he was seeing-
"Hey! Look kid, just calm down...
Naruto heard none of it.
Fear leads to anger.
Anger leads to hate.
Hate leads to suffering.
Naruto's eye twitched.
Something was howling in him, begging to be let out. Anger. Rage. Wrath. Emotions he'd worked so hard to tamp down, to control, to mask, all of it came roaring out at the sight of Rey's wound. Try as he might, he could no longer contain it. They'd hurt her. His life. His light. His love. His everything. The sight of it irked him. No, more than irked. It was the trigger. The excuse. A reason. If they were going to try and kill them regardless of their answer, why should he spare them? Why show any mercy? No, they didn't deserve mercy. They deserved only one thing.
For the first time since he'd found himself in this world.
For the first time since he'd made his blade.
For the first time in an age.
Naruto snapped.
A wordless roar tore out his throat and he reached through time and space toward the shooter, making a claw with his hand. Something in him responded. The unlucky shooter had little time to comprehend this, let alone what was about to transpire; one moment he'd been hefting his rifle for a second shot, the next his neck hung askew. Even as his body crumpled the blond stepped forward and flung his blade, launching it from his hands in a streak of wild light to separate another head from its shoulders. His fingers formed a fist as it flew and a concussive wave of boiling hate flattened a third against the nearest bulkhead.
Literally.
To their credit, Bala-Tik and Tasu Leech recovered quickly after that death, judging by their cries:
"A jedi?!"
"What in blazes?!"
"I thought they were extinct!"
"Who cares! Let's blast the bastard!"
As one, they turned and opened fire on him.
It didn't save them.
Consumed as he was in his anger, Naruto scarcely noticed their return fire. Everything was moving so slowly. As if they were wading through pea soup. Not him. His entire being felt sharpened, his senses heightened. With each passing second his wrath swelled and with it, his power. His speed. His comprehension. Understanding. Ah. A strange clarity settled over him, tempered by murderous intent. Yes, of course, a small voice whispered in the back of his head, one needn't show mercy to scum and villainy. With that in mind, he raised his blade to intercept.
The first shot struck his blade and ricocheted wildly.
When the second came he compensated.
By the third, he was prepared.
Then he was among them.
His blade became a blur of amber and emotion, striking relentlessly, cutting through armor and flesh alike. There was no longer any distinction between master and lightsaber. It was as much an extension of himself as his own limb. They were one. His will commanded both body and blade in equal measure. Nothing could stand against them. And the enemy? He no longer regarded them as human. Anyone with a scrap of humanity wouldn't have fired on Rey. Indeed, they were little more than wheat before the chaff in his eyes and their cries fell on deaf ears. After all, they had been so keen on doing the same to them. Just hunks of meats to cut and cut and cut...!
And so he did.
He cut them down.
Every last one of them.
A/N: Weren't expecting that, were you?
Naruto's first real brush with the Force and he goes absolutely bonkers when someone hurts Rey. Yeah, sounds like him. I DID say there would be changes
Next chapter has more of a lighthearted tone to it, with all the sweet adorable bits you've come to know and love.
Just goes to show what mercy can get you; especially if you're caught off guard.
I can EASILY see Han telling someone that. At his age he's too old to put up with bullshit. And Naruto being too shocked to put up a fight against it. Hope you liked the little turn of scene there rather than sticking the one from the movie. It just seemed more entertaining.
And yeah, Gundam quotes are gundamn quotes.
I thought the line was appropriate, given the situation.
So, now Naruto's got a lightsaber, but he's got a ways to go before he figures out how to use it properly.
SURPRISE! Added a bit of my own spin on things, here. Hope you enjoyed it~!
Poor Naruto. Sorry if this chapter is so terribly, short, but I needed to get this off the ground. Now, before anyone says anything, Naruto is NOT at his max in this. Nowhere near it in fact. In short, he's gotten his arse handed to him, most of his powers reduced/stripped away, flat. Yes, he's stronger than your average human, but don't expecting him to be tossing any Rasenshuriken around just yet...
So, in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...REVIEW! And May the Force be with you! AND ENJOY ZE PREVIEW! Tis an amusing little thing!
SPOILERS AHOY!
(Preview)
Rey hummed softly.
After all, if Jaaku had taught her anything it was how to wait.
And fix broken things.
...may I?"
"Alright."
Deep in her soul, something sang.
Rey's hand ghosted over his and together they moved the blade. Dip. Pivot. Turn. Reluctantly, Naruto allowed her to help him move, to give purpose to his swings. Parry. Riposte. Spin.
She cast him one last furtive glance over her shoulder, then she was gone.
"I know that look."
Naruto groaned and quietly palmed his face.
"What?" Naruto stiffened. "No. No, you don't."
The weathered smuggler merely smirked in the face of his defiance.
"A' course I do. Seen it plenty of times, kid. Even a blind man can see you've been making eyes at her."
"No, no, no."
Han snorted softly.
"Lemme guess, you even-
"Shut the hell up you scruffy nerf-herder!"
"You're a spoiled little brat with daddy issues. Been there. Seen that."
"FIRE!"
A beat of silence passed.
Followed by another. Another still.
"What do you mean it didn't fire? Fix it-
Beneath his feet, the podium trembled just so.
"Oh."
That was all Hux had time to utter before the earth underfoot erupted and a crimson pillar immolated him where he stood. Standing at such close proximity to their general, thousands of elite stormtroopers perished with him before anyone realized what had gone wrong. By the time they did, it was already too late to escape. With a thunderous cry Starkiller base erupted, a great wound opening in the planet's crust as the mighty weapon tore itself apart from within. Fissures formed, great gaping tears in the earth swallowing up men and women alike.
Someone, the base still maintained its basic integrity, but only just.
In the distance, a certain blond howled with laughter.
"The darkness calls to you. Embrace it. Embrace your-
CRUNCH.
"I'm sorry, did I break your concentration?"
R&R! =D