The day after Rogue Squadron's return to the Rebel base, Jyn and Luke are outside, walking alone, in a forest some distance from the base. Eventually, they come to a large, open area, which seems to go on for miles. Jyn stops walking, and Luke follows suit, taking his place beside her.
"I think this is a good spot. We're about twenty minutes from the base, and we have four hours before our next meeting, so I think it would be a good opportunity to get in some practice." Jyn says.
"Practice with the force?" Luke asks.
"No. With lightsabers." Jyn answers, as she reaches into her jacket, and takes out her concealed lightsaber, which Luke looks at with great curiosity.
"I see your droid gave you your saber. That's an...interesting design. Why's it so long?" Luke asks, noticing that the lightsaber hilt is twice as long as his.
"I'll show you." Jyn answers. She steps several feet away from Luke, and presses the activator switch. A red blade emerges from each end of the lightsaber.
"Two blades? Wow! Why two blades? Isn't that harder to fight with?" Luke asks. Jyn laughs.
"Yes, it is, but, with a great deal of practice, I have become quite capable of using it." Jyn answers.
"It makes me think of a dual vibroblade. I've only seen one of those in my entire life!" Luke says. Jyn deactivates her saber, but keeps it in her hand.
"I was influenced by the dual vibroblade. I built this when I was seventeen. I used parts from my old saber, which really wasn't too different from yours." Jyn says.
"So, why the red blades? The only other red blade I've seen is Vader's lightsaber." Luke says.
He's not ready for the truth. Not yet. Jyn thinks.
"The different blade colors are determined by the force, and to a certain extent, the personality of the Jedi that bonds with the lightsaber crystal. Red and blue were common blade colors for Jedi." Jyn answers.
"Oh. I thought red blades meant bad guys." Luke says.
Frack. He knows. Jyn thinks.
"Really? Did someone tell you that?" Jyn asks.
"Yeah. General Syndulla. She said that Commander Bridger and his master fought these guys called inquisitors, and they had red sabers like Vader." Luke says.
Inquisitors! Incompetent fools! All of them! Couldn't even eliminate a self proclaimed Jedi knight and a half trained boy! Jyn thinks.
"Do I look like a 'bad guy' to you?" Jyn asks.
"No. Of course not. Sorry." Luke answers.
"Apology accepted. Now, as for why Vader and all of the inquisitors happened to have red blades, my master told me that darksiders don't make their own sabers, they simply steal their sabers from dead Jedi. My master and I only faced one inquisitor, and we didn't do a great deal of talking." Jyn says.
I remember the first time I killed an inquisitor. I was eleven years old. Only an Emperor's Hand at the time. Third Sister failed a mission, and I was ordered to execute her. Five years later, I knelt before the Emperor, as he abolished the archaic 'Rule of Two', and named me...Darth Thana. Jyn thinks, with a smile on her face.
"What's the smile for?" Luke asks.
"Oh, that. I was...thinking about my master. He was...like a father to me." Jyn answers.
"I'm sorry for your loss." Luke says.
"Thank you, Luke. Now, we should get to practicing. We don't have a lot of time." Jyn says.
"Okay." Luke says. Luke steps back, and takes out his lightsaber.
"By the way, make sure you set that to training mode." Jyn says.
"Already done." Luke says.
Good. At least he knows how to do that. He is so far behind with his training, that it's like I'm teaching a four year old! Jyn thinks.
"Since you've never fought against another lightsaber before, I have a few things to go over with you." Jyn says.
"Alright." Luke says.
"Our blades are set to training mode, so they won't cut through anything. That being said, I suggest not letting the blade touch your skin. It'll sting for hours, and leave a small burn." Jyn says.
"Oh. That's good to know." Luke says.
"We'll be doing an old Jedi practice drill. The first to score ten hits on their opponent will win the match. I'm going to go easy on you at first. I'll only use one blade. At some point, I'll switch the second blade on, and start to intensify my attacks. You still need work on your blocking, so this'll be good practice." Jyn says.
"Keeping the saber in my hands would probably be a good idea." Luke says. Jyn laughs.
"Yes, it would. One more rule. If I knock the saber out of your hands, you lose, and we start over. If you knock the saber out of my hands, you win." Jyn says.
"Okay. I think I've got it." Luke says.
"Good. Now, let's begin." Jyn says.
Jyn and Luke step away from each other, and activate their lightsabers, with Jyn only activating one blade.
"Alright, Luke. Attack me!" Jyn says.
Luke advances toward Jyn, and strikes, intending to hit her in the right leg. Jyn easily blocks Luke's intended attack.
So predictable. I'll let him get a few hits to boost his confidence. Then, I'll end this quickly, and for him, painfully. The pain will be a good lesson for him. He will only get better from here. Jyn thinks.
Luke backs off, and strikes again, this time, he scores a hit on Jyn's right leg.
"That's one hit for me." Luke says.
"Good. Keep it up." Jyn says.
Luke strikes, aiming for Jyn's right leg again, only for her to block him.
"Don't get complacent or predictable. Try different attacks." Jyn says. Luke nods.
Luke strikes, aiming for Jyn's left arm, and successfully scores a hit.
"That's two." Luke says.
"Good." Jyn says.
Alright. You've had your two. My turn. Jyn thinks.
Jyn strikes quickly, and hits Luke's left leg.
"That's one hit for me." Jyn says.
"You're right. That does sting." Luke says.
"Then, try not to get hit! Now, more fight, less talk!" Jyn says.
Jyn strikes again, this time, hitting Luke in the left side of his torso.
"That's two for me. Remember, defense, not just attack!" Jyn says.
"Got it." Luke says.
Jyn strikes again, aiming for Luke's right leg. However, Luke blocks Jyn's attack.
"Good block. Now, try a combination." Jyn says.
Jyn backs off, and Luke strikes, aiming for Jyn's left arm. Jyn easily blocks his blade. Luke quickly strikes three times, aiming for Jyn's left leg, her right leg, and her left arm again. Each of Luke's attacks are blocked.
"Not bad, but you need to be faster." Jyn says.
This is going to take a while. His attacks are so slow! I could have beaten him when I was eight years old! That being said, I must be patient with this one. He has had no true masters before me. Kenobi taught him nothing! Jyn thinks.
"Okay. I'll try." Luke says.
Luke attacks Jyn again, making sure to strike more quickly. Luke's five rapid attacks are blocked by Jyn.
Much better. I think it's time to let him hit me again. Jyn thinks.
"Good. Again!" Jyn says.
Luke attacks Jyn once more. This time, one of his strikes hits her in the right side of her torso.
"Good. Three for you. Let's stop for a moment." Jyn says.
"Okay." Luke says.
"You're getting better. You scored what would have been a killing blow if your blade had been at full power." Jyn says.
"I'm pretty sure you dropped your guard on purpose and let me hit you. You're going easy on me because I'm new at this. Don't. I want to see what you can really do." Luke says.
"You're right, Luke. I did say I would go easy on you at first." Jyn says.
"I appreciate it, but I'd like to see what a real fight would be like. I need to know anyway." Luke says.
"You're right. You do need to know. Very well. I'll attack you with everything I've got. You do the same in return. If you're worried about hurting me, don't be." Jyn says.
"Are you sure? I wouldn't want to…" Luke says.
"It's okay, Luke. I can handle a little pain. We are practicing our fighting skills. A few minor burns are simply part of it. Trust me, Luke, I'll live." Jyn says.
"I don't know." Luke says.
"Luke, please. Give it your best. I won't hold it against you if you give me a few small burns." Jyn says. Luke hesitates for a few seconds.
"Okay." Luke says.
"That's the spirit. Now, defend yourself!" Jyn says.
Jyn activates the second blade of her lightsaber, and attacks Luke with full force. Luke is able to block most of her rapid strikes, but two of them hit him in the left leg. Jyn backs off.
"That's four for me. Now, your turn!" Jyn says.
Luke attacks Jyn with everything he has, but Jyn blocks all of his attacks, with her second blade offering additional protection. Luke backs off, and Jyn engages him again. This time, Jyn scores three hits on him.
"That's seven for me. Remember, defense!" Jyn says.
Damn. It's getting hard to focus with all this pain. It's my own fault though. I'm not good enough to block her attacks. Luke thinks.
"You hesitate. Understandable. You've been hit seven times. Remember that pain is only in your mind. Fight through it. Now, attack!" Jyn says.
I'll let him get a couple of hits on me. It'll break him of this hesitation. Jyn thinks.
Luke attacks Jyn full force, and scores two hits on her.
That's five for me." Luke says.
"Good job. Keep it up. You may win this thing yet." Jyn says.
Jyn attacks Luke, and hits him once.
"That's eight for me. Two more and it's over." Jyn says.
Luke attacks Jyn, and scores one hit on her.
Impressive. He's getting better. I didn't even intend for him hit me that time. Jyn thinks.
"That's six for me. Four more and it's over." Luke says.
Jyn nods, then, deactivates one of her lightsaber blades.
One blade? What's she doing? Luke thinks.
Jyn engages Luke, who blocks her initial attacks.
Is she wanting me to win? Luke thinks.
Time to end this. Jyn thinks.
Jyn activates her second blade, and catches Luke by surprise, hitting him twice in the right leg. Jyn then backs off.
"That's it. I win." Jyn says, as she switches off her lightsaber. Luke switches off his weapon as well.
"Congratulations. You're...amazing. The best fighter I've ever seen." Luke says.
"Thank you, Luke. You're not too bad yourself. We may make a swordsman out of you yet." Jyn says.
"Thanks. I'm nowhere near as good as you though." Luke asks.
"Give it time. You will be. That's why I seem a bit tough on you at times. I want you to be the best you can be." Jyn answers.
"Maybe I'll learn how to not get hit so much! I feel like I just went twelve rounds with a wookiee!" Luke says, as he sits on the ground. Jyn sits next to him.
"I think you'd be missing an arm or two if you fought a wookiee." Jyn says. Luke laughs.
"Thanks for being here to teach me. I have no idea what it's like to be a Jedi." Luke says.
"I wouldn't call myself a master, but I would like to think I know a few things." Jyn says.
I already am your master. You just don't know it yet. Jyn thinks.
"You're doing great. You're not going easy on me just because we're friends. You're teaching me things that I need to know, and I appreciate that." Luke says.
Good. He considers me a friend now, which means he trusts me. I can proceed with the next part of my plan. Jyn thinks.
"So, we're...friends?" Jyn asks.
"Well...yeah. I would like to think so." Luke says. Jyn doesn't react for several seconds, then starts laughing.
"I had you going there for a bit, didn't I?" Jyn asks.
"Yeah. You sure did. Didn't realize you could be such a joker." Luke says.
"You didn't think I had a sense of humor?" Jyn asks.
"Uh…" Luke says. Jyn smiles. Luke stares at her.
"What?' Jyn asks.
"Has anyone...ever told you...that you...have a...beautiful smile?" Luke asks.
Really? That's his pickup line? Jyn thinks.
"Luke Skywalker, are you flirting with me?" Jyn asks.
"Uh...yeah. If...you don't like it, I'm sorry." Luke says.
"Never said I didn't like it. Just not used to it." Jyn says.
"That's a shame. You're...very pretty. Anyone that doesn't think so is an idiot." Luke says.
That's very nice of him to say. In another life, maybe we could have been… What? Where the hell did that come from? I think I'm...actually attracted to him! Dammit! Focus,Thana. Remember the plan. You're only doing this to cement his trust in you. You don't actually care about him. Jyn thinks.
Jyn scoots closer to Luke, now only being a few inches from him.
"So, you think I'm pretty?" Jyn asks. Luke hesitates for a few seconds.
"Yeah. I do." Luke says.
This is very strange for me. I know very little about romance, for I have never experienced it myself. I believe that I must simply allow things to proceed naturally. Jyn thinks.
"Thank you. That's...very kind of you to say." Jyn says.
"So, would you...like to...go...for a walk or something?" Luke asks.
"It seems to me like we're already on a date. Of course I've never been on one, so I don't really know." Jyn says.
"Really? Not even one?" Luke asks.
"Afraid so. My master forbade romance. He taught that such attachments were against the Jedi code." Jyn says.
A partial truth. My master does forbid romance, as he sees it as weakness unbecoming of a Sith. Of course, the rules don't apply to him, since he's the master. That's why he gets to have his 'secret' relationship with Iceheart! Any woman attracted to Emperor Palpatine has to be insane, and she most certainly is! Jyn thinks.
"That's a dumb rule." Luke says. Jyn laughs.
"Of course it is. A rule I intend to ignore from now on," Jyn says.
So, it's decided. I'm doing this. We'll overthrow Palpatine, then, I'll be the Sith Master. I'll be the one deciding the rules. So, why not have a relationship with my apprentice? We'll be the new Sith, doing things our own way. Jyn thinks.
Jyn and Luke stare at each other for what seems to be an eternity, with neither seeming to know what to say next. Then, Jyn surprises Luke by abruptly kissing him right on the lips.