AN: So here is chapter 2! I hope some questions have been answered, but you are left with more as well. I recommend listening to the songs "I Hate Everything About You" by Three Days Grace, "The Call" by Regina Spektor,"Lost Without You" by Freya Ridings, and "I'll Be Good" by Jaymes Young.
POV: Padmé Skywalker
The regal silhouette of Amidala proceeded with fluidity and grace. The cadence of her approach reminded Padmé of a cascading turquoise waterfall tumbling upon the stones that dared to brave the light of day. Amidala was resplendent in her shockingly white tunic, akin to an Angel of Iego that Anakin once compared her to. Padmé's gaze couldn't help but be drawn to her grandmother. Amidala was like a beacon, alerting the dreary atmosphere that it was safe to once again express the blush and flourish of life. The nearer that Amidala drew, the more colors swirled around her and projected outward to rejuvenate the grey decay. Her own dress grew more vibrant and varied in hue, boasting a chaotic garden of bright blooms.
Once the pigment reached Padmé, vitality surged through her, and all around was clear. No longer did the ghoulish billows of slate dominate this peculiar place. She dropped her head to locate the stabilizing ground beneath her, in preparation to rise and greet her grandmother. A gasp of shock got caught in her throat as she recognized the long forgotten sight in front of her: two hands comprised entirely of organic flesh. With the slightest whim the tendons would contract into a rigid design, the skin dancing a duet of tangibility with her mind. Padmé's mind raced with questions as she pushed herself from the ground.
Once she was upright, Padmé reached her arms out before her and marveled at how wonderful the simple flex of a finger or tremble of the knuckle could be. Sputters of disbelief tumbled from her mouth, open in awe, and poignant tears of mourning fluttered from down her cheeks. It had been over a decade since she had ownership of her own natural hand, and only a few days ago had she lost the other one.
This inexplicable regeneration should have shaken her to the core, but Padmé was inundated with happiness. Nothing could dissuade her from expressing the joy she now felt, not even the suspect character of this confounding locale. All cynicism had drained from her along with the lack of color. Caught up in her celebration, she was torn from her reverie by the sensation of another finger wiping away her rebellious tears. The finger was not her own.
The owner withdrew their digit and stepped back to give Padmé some space. Padmé left the miraculous image of her own two hands and registered that her deceased grandmother was standing before her. All makeup had vanished from Amidala's face, and only a gentle smile. remained. Youth softened all edges and reversed any aging displayed on Amidala's profile.
"Grandmother, is it really you?"
Amidala nodded her head emphatically.
"It is really me, my gorgeous Padmé."
"But how? Where are we?" Padmé responded in a rush.
A chuckle as soothing as a spring breeze was issued by Amidala. She pulled Padmé into a brief, but meaningful embrace and released her.
"Let me look at you, child. You are so beautiful. You have so much of your father and grandfather in you, right down to the sandy sweeps of hair and your cobalt blues. Just like your grandfather there is a look about you, like you are always mentally tinkering on a starship. You exude focus."
Padmé withdrew back sharply, she collapsed in on herself like someone had placed a black hole where her lungs used to be. Hurt scraped away the happiness that marked her features. But she recovered quick, and looked Amidala square in the eye.
"I am nothing like them. I am my own person. Please never say that again." Her tone at first was biting dwindled down to a soft plea. Her pain was quite evident.
Amidala paused to allow her granddaughter to collect herself. Then satisfied with the time she remained silent, she broke the quiet.
"I did not mean to hurt you. Never. This is the first time I have been close to you. I do not want to spoil it with upsetting talk. Just please know one thing, despite the mistakes Anakin and Luke made, their intentions were always the product of love. I do not seek to absolve them of blame, for I too was collateral damage in your grandfather's attempt to conquer his demons. I did not choose to orphan your father. I only want to help you understand that their flaws do not outweigh their virtues. Remember that."
In an abandoned compartment of Padmé's scarred and dormant heart did the sweet ringing of truth sing out, but she quickly squashed the melody with her immense bitterness. Bitterness for all the damage her family caused in the name of love. It was an exhausted and empty excuse that she had heard so many times. Those justifications just ended up proving as duplicitous as her selfish relatives. Pretty at the surface, but rotten inside.
Now Padmé very much wanted to lash out and attack her grandmother with venomous accusations, but she didn't want to waste this miraculous experience haranguing one who had not earned her wrath.
Drawing in a heavy breath, Padmé smothered any instinct to spite her grandmother, and instead replied calmly.
"Grandmother, I have heard that same line more times than there are stars in the sky. It no longer moves me the way it once did. I do not want to sully our time together either. So please just talk to me about anything else. Perhaps you could tell me where we are."
Her statement was punctuated with a tone of genuine curiosity.
A subtle smile quirked on her grandmother's lips.
"I am glad you asked. This place is called "The Beyond" it is a plane that lies after life, but before death. An in between space if you will. You can think of it as a plane. A plane where those who sustained mortal wounds or ailments go, but they remain here until they cut the cord that is tethering them to the world. I have been here for 50 years now, its been a lonely experience, but it hasn't been completely empty, as it has given me the opportunity to watch my children and grandchildren grow up. I must admit, I never expected you would come here so soon. I know of the danger that you faced, and how abused your body has been, that is why you are here. You are clinging to the precipice of oblivion; your inner fire is keeping you alive. And, now I believe that we can help each other. We could be the key that the other needs to move on to much deserved, and coveted peace. Rest if you will."
Padmé was dumbstruck, and rendered speechless. Following the night that Kylo Ren ambushed her father's temple, and her father forsook her, she had submitted herself to torment. Never before did she think that there might be a shaft of luminescence, like the shine of the sun, would penetrate the pitch chasm in which she dwelled. Padmé hadn't dared to let hope further add to her miseries, but with her grandmother before her, all of those steadfast convictions seemed a little less probable. Peace did sound nice after the years she spent fighting to flee from and vanquish her past. Maybe her future could be one of contentment instead of anguish.
"You make a very convincing argument grandmother. I want what you propose to become reality, tell me what we must do."
"I need to explain a little more before I can advise you. The Beyond isn't only inhabited by myself, but by other creatures, both fair and malicious. With your arrival the stagnant world around them has stirred once more. They know you've come, and will be roused to pursue their own ends. You will be able to return to life because you have vessel that remains intact and viable. I cannot leave, so your journey will primarily be completed on your own. I will see you only when you close your eyes and surrender to the thrall of sleep. I will do my best to guide you, Padmé, but I do not think this task will prove easy. There is much that yet neither of us understand. Now, my time is up! Your family wants you back!:
Immediately, Padmé's eyes snapped open.
POV: Ben Solo
"Chewbacca, bank left!" Ben shouted.
Adrenaline coursed through Ben's veins, and he snapped and crackled live a livewire. Never before had he been in a position that he was running from the insurmountable odds, fleeing to regroup and counter with all of his might. Circumstances had most definitely changed. This perilous flying was absolutely thrilling and he drank it all in, like a parched wanderer gasping for water. The future was now full of uncertainty. It was impossible to divine for how long he would be with his family, or if he would even live long enough the see the foul Snoke defeated.
Grief threatened to consume his at every moment. Ben had developed a prodigious talent for setting aside his emotions, recognizing them for the weakness that they were, and subsequently rejecting them. His training mandated that he purge himself of any distractions, especially the most dangerous ones: those that came from within. He was now of the mind that emotions were indeed not open slashes in his psychological armor, but instead added layers of protection. Despite this revelation, Ben knew that falling prey to self-reproach would only jeopardize everyone onboard the Falcon.
There would be a time to make amends, but that wouldn't happen if they were all space dust. Therefore, Ben had to focus on the task at hand. The current task was convincing Chewbacca that he knew how to fly a spaceship.
"Chewbacca, I said bank left. If we continue on this course, we will be sitting ducks!"
The Wookie barely acknowledged Ben's declaration, as he was content to fly as he saw fit.
Stop pestering me child, I have piloted this ship since before you were born. I know what I am doing.
In that moment a wayward laser beam struck just below the cockpit, momentarily raising the temperature to scorching heights, and heavily jostling the helm.
Ben grew exasperated, "Chewbacca, I am not contesting that you know the ship much better than I do, but I have an idea that could work, and giving it a chance is better than getting blown out of the sky!"
Chewbacca failed to respond to Ben's supplication and fastened his eyes to the multitude of Star Destroyers and Tie Fighters that were intent on vaporizing them.
"Fine, if you insist on ignoring me, I will save our skins our skins myself." Ben shouted.
He removed one hand from the steering apparatus he was futilely trying to manipulate and made to telekinetically move Chewbacca's own device when Chewbacca sent an irate roar.
Do not use your Force tricks again! I do not trust what you will do with them, and they're the one thing here that I cannot control! Your father flew this ship fine without any fantastic powers, and you will honor his memory, by piloting in the same fashion. Listen to me, or leave the cockpit!
Ben lowered his hand immediately in order to not further tempt the capricious wrath of the worried Wookie beside him.
Chewbacca did have a valid point, and the last thing I want to do is give any more reason for my family to distrust me. I must atone for my sins, and the one I hurt the most isn't even alive. If this could possible make things right, I need to try it.
"Alright Chewbacca, I won't interfere with anymore Force Tricks. This ship is now yours to captain so I will defer to your judgment."
The corner of Chewbacca's whiskered lip tilted upward. The contour of a smile ghosting the Wookie's face.
Wise choice young one. Now let's test your theory about banking left.
Unexpectedly Chewbacca pulled the controls to the direction opposite of what he had been directing it toward and the ship moved in accordance. Rays of green emitted photons flew through space with tremendous speed, and lethal precision. The margins of survival were slim, but Ben prayed that with Chewbacca at the controls they might be able to pass through the glowing lattice work before them.
POV: Rey, Two weeks later
Rey dropped to a tuck with tremendous speed, but the blade of the charging praetorian skimmed the middle of Rey's right shoulder and traced a furrow of scalded skin, already puckering and hissing at the steaming edges. She fell to the floor paralyzed by the burning. She had never been struck by a light saber, and it was excruciating.
The praetorian capitalized on her halted defense and took the extra step of jabbing the blade once again into the smoldering crease.
Rey cried out in renewed suffering and crumpled to her knees. Her kneejerk response was to return the painful favor in the form of a concentrated discharge of fire, but Snoke instinctively blocked her offense with the closing of his gnarled claws.
"Boga, enough with the petulant outbursts! Raw power is nothing without fine tuned skill. What will you do if your adversary momentarily overwhelms you and strikes before you detonate. You are not a clumsy grenade, but a refined scythe. You must learn to become more resourceful in combat! That pathetic performance of yours with Skywalker's lightsaber is no longer acceptable. Fight well, fight better, or you will die."
Snoke's words were chilling like gelid razors hungry to freeze, but they were true. Sole reliance on brute force would get her killed.
She bowed her head in subservience, "Yes my master. I will heed your counsel."
Snoke nodded, and feigned a return to his perch on his imposing throne, but suddenly through a bolt of lightning at Rey, causing her to seize and sparks to leap from her convulsing body.
"Another lesson; never let your guard down. It would be a shame if you were cut down due to your own sloppiness. Begin again."
Hatred pulsated through Rey and constructed a crimson shell of light clinging to the contours of her body. The air near here became unbearably febrile, and the skin underneath the assailing guard began to blister and pop with heat. The flesh becoming a gruesome mosaic of charred swells.
He too fell to his knees.
A wicked smirk sprouted on Rey's seething visage. Laughter threatened to spill from her clenched mouth.
Snoke sighed in what seemed like apprehensive conquest when he raised his arm and protruded his gnarled digits outward to mirror the vice grip one would have around the throat of another.
Rey lifted from the ground and remained suspended in midair. All oxygen fled from her lungs, and desperate breaths clawing to break through the hold on her neck fought passionately. Snoke held her in a stout Force Choke, beyond her abilities to fragment from the inside.
Not until Rey's face was devoid of all pigment, and was of a distressing pallor did he release her. Roughly he tossed her several meters away from where she previously stood. Skidding across the floor, she was dazed and the training room spun before her eyes in nauseating circles.
"My praetorians are not play things for you to discard or abuse when you grow frustrated, they are loyal followers tasked with teaching you how to be self-sufficient. You are not to attack them in retaliation for your own failures. Now get up, and prove that you are of superior stock. Focus on the form of Soresu right now, for you have sufficiently proved, your defense is sorely lacking. Proceed to the opening stance. Hold the blade parallel to your other hand which is raised as well. Prepare yourself to quickly assemble a fortification against a ferocious enemy. Nobody will play nice."
Rey rose from the heap she had landed in on the durasteel floor and tensed her body to react at a moment's notice to an incoming onslaught. The scalded praetorian was exchanged for a new one, bereft of any injuries and began his assault. This one favored the Ataru style and nimbly flipped to land behind Rey to exploit her unprotected back. Rey was ready this time to respond and twirled around to block the blade intended to strike between her vulnerable shoulder blades. Her parry was successful at she had ample time to regroup before her opponent attempted a diagonal somersault created to create optimal rotational damage.
The daughter of Palpatine drew her blade in and stepped backwards to create a buffer between her and the acrobatic praetorian. Realizing that execution had fallen short, her opponent offered a powerful pick to her jaw that she narrowly dodged. Her own lightsaber scuffed the reinforced boot of the combatant and he wheeled away rapidly to avoid any permanent damage to his armor.
Rey then delivered her own blow to his chin and he stumbled back stunned. Deftly she swept her leg underneath the stupefied praetorian and he crashed down unceremoniously. She thrust the saber downward to strike him in the chest, but he rolled out of the way and back onto his feet before her attack hit its mark.
Snoke's servant then advanced forward to offer his own attack by slamming the butt of his lightsaber hilt to Rey's forehead. She lost her footing and intersected with the hard floor once more, but she wasn't going to be victimized again, her lightsaber was ready to block the blade descending to hit her in the chest and they clashed with a resounding crackle. She wound up and shifted her weight to lean back onto her shoulder blades and delivered a debilitating kick to the praetorian's forehead. He crumpled in unconsciously.
She risked a glance at Snoke, and saw him grinning in pleasure. Seeing her master's approval fueled her resolve to become as much of a threat as she could to exact vengeance on those who had wronged her.
POV: Unkown
A man long thought deceased exited the rotund shelter he once called home on the barren stretches of the Junland Wastes. The wind carried grains of mischievous grains of sand. Some of the gravel chafed against his strawberry blond beard, but did no harm. The specks of sand simply tickled his nose and cheeks, reminding him that he was once again alive.
AN: Well lets see if you can guess who the mystery character is. I am sure you will all figure it out right away, but the intetino was to create suspense. Regarding the Beyond, I hope that isnt too cliché, but it was the best formula for me to connect all of these deceased and lost characters to the story. "Bogna" I also another name for Dark Side, so that is her name from Palpatine's side. Padmé, Luke and possible Leia's points of view will be expanded on. And Poe, Finn and BB-8 will make some appearances. Thanks and please review! :)
