A/N: Well, hello! I've survived my first week of classes, and as a celebration... here's chapter eight! There's not as much as I had originally planned, but still, quite a bit happens. I hope you enjoy! As usual I do not own Star Wars.
Chapter Eight
It was peaceful. She can almost imagine that nothing had changed, that she was just out on a morning stroll waiting for Master Skywalker to come out and begin their next lesson, until she hears the name in her head: Rey Orrere-Skywalker. It jostles and bumps like a pinball machine, and leaves her with a massive migraine, one that this backwater planet's lack of sun, even at high noon, does nothing to alleviate. Her steps quicken, slapping the ground with the sheer force of her anger. The rational part, the part that sounded an awful lot like Master Skywalker, Finn, or Han on a good day, was telling her to stop, breathe, and for kriff's sake just think things through kid, but the other part, the part that wraps around her squeezing her fists shut and making the thwamp in her head grow, pushes her forward through the unknown territory and further and further from her master's, her father's hovel.
Did you really think he would tell you anything? That it would be hugs and kisses and warm fuzzies?
She stops as she hears the voice in her head, it's wrapping around her squeezing and constricting. Now that she isn't moving, it feels like a heart attack or a snake attack… the words cutting off her air supply as she tries to place who the hell is in her head.
Shame you don't remember isn't it? Well you should! But, then again… you think I'm dead don't you? I really should be offended by that, but it's quite funny that you think you could kill me.
Then she remembers. It hits her. "Get out of my head you slug!" She shouts, knowing she probably would come across as a head case, but as far as she knows this planet's a ghost town besides Luke Skywalker of course.
Oh you are tormented. Kylo Ren savors the word. Rey swears she can almost hear him lick his lips. You would make quite the Knight of Ren wouldn't you Rey? It's a mess in here. But of course there is this wall… how did that get there I wonder?
Rey growls There's going to be more than a wall if you don't get out now!
She hears the laughter, ringing through her mind. It drops her to her knees. This is more than a migraine, Rey realizes. This is an attack.
Silly girl. You really think pure will is enough this time? You are still untrained. Luck won't save you. I will go, for now. But before I do, I wanted to ask how is your dear old Dad? I haven't seen him in so long. I miss the old man.
"Get… out…" Rey hisses.
Very well. Until next time.
And then, she can breathe, barely gasping in enough air as Kylo Ren finally leaves her. But she feels tired… so tired. The grass is so soft, and she doesn't think she can gather the strength to go back. How far had she gone anyway? As she squints she can't see the house, she can't see the ruins. She can't make herself care as her eyes grow heavy. And she dreams.
She's sitting in the copilot's chair of a ship. Her feet dangle. She can't touch the floor. She's fighting it, the seatbelt like it's something she has to kill.
"Take it easy there kiddo." Laughter. She can't make out the face of the man beside her, but she stops. Somehow, this man, whoever he is calms her. "We'll be there soon."
"I'm tired." She says. "The belt's uncomfortable!"
"The seat's not built for pipsqueaks right Daddy?" A boy's voice. She struggles, turning trying to see who it is, but the boy keeps ducking out of view.
"You stop that right now." The man says. "Apologize to Rey."
"Sorry Rey-Rey."
Something about the nickname jogs her memory, but she still doesn't know who the boy is, even as he looks right at her. His hair is short, spiky and dark, but his eyes. There's something about his eyes. They remind her of someone, someone she's met before. But before she can look at the man seated in the pilot's chair to confirm her suspicions, the scene fades and changes.
She's older now, no longer a child, and this time she's at base back at D'Qar. The base is under attack, a full battalion of First Order Troopers are firing. Finn is beside her in full stormtrooper regalia. "Skywalker! What are your orders?" She turns expecting to find Luke behind them, but he's behind another barrier, losing air, choking. She sees a boy, no older than fourteen or fifteen, holding a lightsaber, but his hand is clenched as though he is choking someone. It's then she makes the connection. He's choking Luke! "Skywalker!" Finn shouts. His eyes find hers. "What's our next move?"
"I'm not…" Her voice is soft. "You should be asking him!"
Finn turns to where the boy and Luke are locked in a battle, a battle the old master is quickly losing. Rey follows his gaze and sees the boy's eyes. They are the same as the boy in the ship, but there is so much anger, so much pain. She doesn't see a child. She sees someone else. The boy sees her too as he turns away from Luke just long enough for him to break away.
"Rey, don't be afraid." Luke says. "Don't run." And then he falls as a blade cuts his back, the same blade, blood red. Cut down, just like Finn.
The boy finds her gaze, at the same moment a black masked figure crouches next to Luke, pulling the blade from his back. Kylo Ren. The boy speaks. "Sorry Rey-Rey."
Darkness swirls, biding its time. It is a dangerous game they play trying to keep the darkness at bay. Luke knows this. He's experienced it first hand. It waits for any small crack, and then plants doubt in the same way someone would plant crops on Tatooine. It hides in plain sight striking before it is detected. It takes a special and finely attuned sense to even know it is near. It is a sense that Luke has been sharpening. It is a sense that he is grateful for. He feels it now, taunting and embroiling itself in the very landscape, light and dark interlocking hands, interlocking souls. He realizes now how connected his two Padawans are, past and present. It is a connection much like his and Leia's. Family knows no one path, and one way or another they would meet again. He feels her turmoil, knows that he's caused the chasm. He has to find her. He has to prepare her for what's coming, and undo the damage he has caused.
He watched her sleep, turning over and over in his mind the last hour. Luke knew Ben couldn't have gone far, but going after him would mean leaving Rey. He couldn't. He couldn't. He knew something serious had happened. He'd felt the evil presence writhing, but he had been too late. The damage had been done. Ben had held his own. Luke smiled. The boy was bright. He was able to subdue two stormtroopers. This quickness to learn, his eagerness was a blessing as a teacher, but as the boy's uncle, it worried him. What damage had been done? He didn't know. He still wasn't sure what the Stormtroopers had been doing in this area, who they were working for, but it couldn't be good. Ben's curiosity would only get him into trouble. There was only one thing that Luke could do. He would have to deal with this himself.
Luke feels Rey's presence, tapping into an instinct long thought buried as he walks. He remembers a similar episode. The déjà vu of this moment is not lost on him. He doesn't know what he expects to find when he steps into the clearing, but it is certainly nothing like what he does see. Rey lies on the ground, her brow creased as she shakes. As he kneels beside her, he feels the darkness and the light swirling around her, can almost see it manifest around himself. A series of images swim before him and he knows, she is trapped. He remembers his father's words. You'll know what to do. And he does.
A/N: Well, the funny thing about this chapter is, it all kind of veered out of my control. I find those are the best kinds though. I had a blast writing this one, and I'd love to know what you think. Also, in case you are interested, I'm trying my hand at an original trilogy AU, that's really the simplest way I can describe it, my own take on a Dark!Luke story. It is called Albatross. I will be working on that in conjunction with this story, kind of an interesting experiment since the two are so different. Anyway, self-promotion over. Tell me what you thought about this! I'd really love to know. Tidbits for next chapter, Luke relives his worst moments as he tries to help Rey, more taunting between Rey and Kylo Ren, and it is revealed whether the wall will be broken down between the two Skywalkers. Meanwhile at the Resistance base, Finn goes against doctor's orders as he and Poe try to find out more about the
Resistance and the First Order's next moves.
