Chapter Five

"Explain your delay," said Snoke over the communicator.

"I have tracked Skywalker's course. I believe they are headed to Yavin IV. There's an old Rebel base where they'll go to ground. I will capture Skywalker as you ordered."

"He is no longer alone. You must kill all his companions. If you don't have the stomach for it, fire on them from above." Lord Snoke's tone was sneering.

"I will attempt to capture General Organa. She's a valuable military asset." He could feel the voice behind his eyes, the traitorous words in his ears. "You don't want to kill your mother."

"You are not following instructions, Kylo Ren. You cannot let your feelings cloud your judgement at this hour. Kill her now and the Resistance will end. You will bring order to the galaxy in one blow. Destroy her and the rest, and bring me Skywalker. Don't disappoint me again."

The transmission ended. Kylo punched the panel until it broke. He'd had enough of this. Lord Snoke would risk their entire cause just to taunt his apprentice with his own weakness. "He's a fool," agreed his inner voice. "He's playing with you again. If you fail to kill Leia and the rest, he'll use it as proof you're unworthy and make you grovel. If you succeed, Luke will kill you out of vengeance, and he'll become the asset Snoke really wants."

The clarity of the voice shocked him. "That's not his plan."

"That's exactly his plan. He'll already have sent backups to meet you. He is counting on you to fail."

This time he hit the communications console with his lightsaber. He wished the destruction made him feel better.

"Set us down close to the base," said the General, leaning over the command console.

"Ma'am, I planned on taking us towards the colony. There's a spaceport where we won't be as obvious." Poe looked unhappy. Finn had to wonder if that was his Force powers picking up his friend's discomfort, but no. The frown was right there on his face.

"There will be people in the colony."

"Yes. We can blend in."

"We're expecting an attack. Do you really want to bring that kind of damage down on them?" She patted his shoulder. "You can go home after. If this works, we'll stay to celebrate. Your favorite bar, I'll buy the first five rounds. Go towards the old base."

Luke stood with Finn behind the pilot's chair. "I haven't seen this planet in too long. I don't think any of you were born yet the last time we landed here in this ship."

"That was a long time ago," the General said.

Finn left them in the cockpit and made his way into the back, closing the door behind him. Luke had asked Rey to go through more of her lessons. Her eyes were closed and her fingers moved in an intricate pattern. She barely breathed, focusing on some inner landscape he dared not see.

He hadn't been told much of his part in the plan. Another piece of bait, Luke had said, upon hearing the story of Finn's escape and how angry Ren had become at him. Ren knew his mind, knew him enough to see clearly that he was the same defecting Stormtrooper he'd first encountered in the village on Jakku. Give Ren enough targets, and his focus would be lost. Luke could do whatever he planned to do.

Distraction was key.

Rey was distracting. She sat quietly, playing in her mind with powers she'd only just discovered. She hadn't wanted to learn and now she was working as hard as she could. Finn didn't have premonitions, but he had a terrible feeling about the immediate future. The others knew things, or expected things, and none of them were happy.

Finn himself was happy. He'd found a home among these people, when he had no expectation to find even trust. Not a one thought he was a danger because of where he came from. He had friends, and one of them clearly liked him back in a more than friendly fashion. Stormtrooper training had included a rudimentary course in body needs and reminded them that while physical contact for the release of tension was permitted, excessive fraternizing was firmly discouraged. Finn had tried striking up friendships. He hadn't done much else. If he was going to make this a better relationship, he'd need advice. He wondered if Poe would be willing to talk him through how not to mess things up.

"You've got to shield better," said Rey. "You're thinking very loudly."

"Does it help that I was thinking about you?"

"No. You're distracting. I have to focus." Her eyes opened. "We're about to embark on a dangerous mission. We can talk about other things when we've finished."

"You know what the plan is, don't you?"

"I know enough."

"What are we doing here, Rey? Why aren't we taking Luke back to D'Qar? If we're trying to draw out Kylo Ren for an attack, why do I keep getting the feeling he's not the one everyone expects to die?"

"He isn't." She cast a look at the closed cockpit door. "Luke's going to make a sacrifice play to bring Ren back to the Light. General Organa knows what's happening, and I'm sure she's been trying to talk him out of it."

"That's crazy. We need Luke to fight on our side. You're not trained yet. We can't lose him."

"None of that matters to him."

"Then stop him."

Rey got to her feet. "I can't fight them both, Finn. I have to confront Kylo Ren. I can't fight with Luke Skywalker at the same time. I don't know how. I don't have a better plan, other than to run."

"Then we'll run."

"And wherever I run, he'll find me. He's in my head. He can hear my dreams and see through my eyes, and I'm scared." Her voice didn't shake. Not an inch of her trembled. He could feel the fear regardless. Worry about Luke forgotten, Finn immediately took her into a hug.

"We'll stay," he said. "We'll fight him together. I wanted a rematch anyway."

He heard a cough behind him. He let go of Rey and turned. Poe said, "We're landing. Strap in. Luke's taking us in. He's flown here before." He looked at Rey. "He says it's time to drop your shields."

Yavin IV hung before him like a green jewel. He had sent a text-only communication to Lord Snoke informing him of his arrival. The reply was terse: "Stand by for reinforcements." He didn't need reinforcements. He needed to know that his Master trusted him to complete his task.

He landed at a safe distance from the old Rebel base. He'd never visited this moon, knowing it only from stories. His parents had met aboard the first Death Star, and they had fled here together. Here was the great stand of the Rebellion and the destruction of the Emperor's jewel. He knew the tales, although unlike most of the children who'd grown up hearing them, he also knew the humanity and fallibility of the heroes.

Kylo didn't dare touch Rey's mind openly now. She'd dropped the mental barriers between them, distracted by her friends or her teacher. He could follow her across the stars, flying his ship blindfolded.

"You have it bad for her."

He ignored the voice.

His mask gave him readings from around the jungle where he made his way. Lifeforms abounded here, covering the old Rebels from easy scans. The thick, hot air choked him. She'd fled here before him, and Snoke ordered him to strike her down on this verdant soil. Such a waste, when he could convert her, turn her to his cause, mold and shape her into a perfect weapon under his careful education.

"You have it really bad."

He found the clearing, not far from the decrepit old hangar where they'd have stowed the ship. His ship, by right of inheritance, but he'd let that go. He wasn't here for the old freighter. He was here for the people who waited in the clearing. His mother and his uncle stood to one side, speaking quietly to each other. Chewbacca stood at another side, keeping watch. The girl knelt in the middle, striking tinder for a small fire.

The scene was quaint enough to make him vomit.

First, he would take out the Wookiee's bowcaster. His side still ached under the healing skin. He'd have to take out Chewbacca at the same time.

"You don't want to do it. You remember all the times he played with you when you were little. You remember how he'd let you sit on his lap to reach the controls of the ship, even before your father would."

He would kill the Wookiee, and he''d make the chop clean. His Master had ordered the deaths of his mother and the girl, but Kylo knew the order had been given in haste. They were both too valuable to destroy. He would take the three humans prisoner and return to Snoke before the backup troops could arrive.

There had been others back on that moon.

He spread his mind and felt the tingle of two more minds hiding within the foliage. Commander Dameron and the traitorous FN-2187. Of course. R2-D2 was probably here as well, and any minute, Threepio would wander out of the shrubbery whining about his servos. A trap.

Kylo lit his lightsaber as he leapt into the clearing. Before he could swing at Chewbacca, his swing was blocked by a blue lightsaber, another inheritance denied. Rey glared at him from the other side of her glowing blade.

"Hi."

He kicked her back, but she rolled with the blow and landed on her feet. Around them, the two lurkers in the bushes burst through with blasters. His mother had another out. Chewbacca aimed his weapon directly at Kylo's head this time.

Kylo cast out his power, lifting FN-2187 and throwing him into Dameron. He made a second run at Chewbacca, but was held back by a rain of blows from Rey. Worse, he felt his whole body constrict, felt a powerful squeeze from the Force holding him in place. His mother had performed this trick from time to time when he'd been small, but this wasn't her magic.

"Drop your lightsaber." His uncle's voice was mild, conversational, as if they hadn't all those deaths between them, as if Kylo was still a little boy. The lightsaber fell from his hand. "Rey, take his mask."

He felt the strong brush of Rey's mind as she pulled off his helmet, and her thrilled shock at the still-healing injury on his face.

"We need to talk," said his mother.

"You need to listen."

He twitched. The hated voice in his head was as clear as another person standing directly beside him. His eyes darted to emptiness and back. His uncle's grip didn't change, although his gaze followed Kylo's. His face softened. "We've been looking for you."

"You certainly ran away enough," Kylo spat angrily.

Luke said, "Ben, you've never been able to see Force ghosts, have you?"

"Your hallucinations again? I am doing the galaxy a favor by ending you."

"Luke?" His mother's blaster lowered to her side.

"Listen."

"You're afraid they're going to kill you. They won't. They couldn't. But you have to listen to them."

Kylo twisted, trying to break free of the invisible grip. His mother was already distracted. All he must do was release the grip. He could bring his lightsaber to his hand. He could strike down Luke as he should have done fourteen years ago. He could force his mother to see the reason of the First Order. He could….

"I can hear you," Rey's voice said in his mind.

"Free me." He sent the compulsion as strong as he dared. He felt the grip around him strengthen.

Luke said, "Chewie, it's time."

Chewbacca, then. It made sense. He'd been so pleased to fire his bolt before. A quick execution while he was immobile, and the Resistance's problems were solved.

Chewbacca holstered his bowcaster and strode across the clearing. In a moment, he lifted Leia in his strong arms.

"Put me down!"

Dameron pulled his blaster on Chewie. "Drop her!" His gun was tugged from his grip. He glared at Rey.

Luke said, "If this doesn't work, he'll slaughter us all. You have to live, Leia. I'm sorry. Chewie, go."

Mother's outrage slammed them all with the force of a physical blow, but her powers were untrained, as strong as she was. He felt her mind retreating into the jungle, haranguing and entreating Chewbacca to let her free.

"Rey, take him," said Luke. He felt the bonds around him slipping, felt Rey's unsure powers grasp him as Luke let go.

"Release me," he ordered her, slamming the command into her unprotected mind. Instantly, the pressure on him ceased.

Kylo dropped to the ground and rolled for his lightsaber, igniting it and sweeping around. Rey was slow this time, missing the block. Only a fall saved her head. Without Chewbacca there, she and Luke were the dual threats. He could take her, but a blaster shot from the ex-Stormtrooper distracted him. He whirled, casting out his powers to block more bolts. Too many sources, and his uncle was chanting something. An unpleasant tingle shot through Kylo's body, as though he'd touched a live wire.

Another laser shot rang out, this one from above. The reinforcements had arrived, and were firing on their position. In an instant, Luke had lit his lightsaber and deflected the next volley. Kylo's body still quivered, recovering from whatever had happened. He took a moment to breathe, and to note that his uncle's reflexes were thought-fast.

Capture would not be possible. That left only one option. Before Kylo could jump, another barrage of fire spat between them, and he was forced back.

"Scatter!" ordered Dameron. His thoughts were bare: protect Luke and protect the two younger humans under his charge. He piled into Luke and forced him in front of him. "Go!"

"It's too soon! We have to stay!" Another blast from above cut him off, and the rest broke for cover. Above them, the Falcon roared away. His mother would be furious.

"She's never going to forgive either of them."

The voice stood next to him. Kylo couldn't see, but now he knew.

"Stay away from me. Your time is over. I saw to it. Stop whispering your lies into my ears and be gone."

"I will always be here with you, Ben," said his father.

Kylo screamed and brandished his lightsaber, but he only cut through air. He lashed out with his powers. "Be gone!"

This was fruitless. He couldn't kill the man twice. His true quarry was escaping. He'd lost the chance to seize his mother. He wouldn't fail with Luke and Rey. He snatched his mask and headed off in the same direction where they'd run.

From behind him, he heard the voice shout, "And get a haircut!"

"We can't leave now," Luke said, and forced himself to a stop. Rey had no choice but to stay back with him.

"Sir," said Poe, "we have to go. Those ships will be landing any second and the area will be crawling with Stormtroopers. I can get us safely to the colony. I have friends there. We can get you away."

"Then go. Take these two and get them to a ship, and leave. I'm staying."

"You can't." Rey wouldn't let her voice tremble. The plan had failed, she had failed, but given the choice of failing him or watching him die, Rey wouldn't let herself feel bad. Luke was worth a hundred of Kylo Ren. "Go with us. You can try again later."

"He won't let us trap him again a second time. He's close now. I can do this here."

Finn's head turned, marking the position of the landers, and the sounds of pursuit. "Unless you can do whatever you're going to do in about five seconds, we're leaving."

Luke sighed. "Back to the Massassi Temple, then. The old base."

Poe said, "That's exactly where they'll look for us."

"I know. You three can go to the colony."

Rey shook her head. "Poe, which way is the base?"

He stared at her, but the noises were far too close. "This way." They ran. For an old man, Luke ran swiftly and silently. Rey found herself struggling to keep up, and she'd always been fast. They made their way past the ruins of the entrance way, long ago victim to Imperial invasion on the heels of the old Rebel fleet.

"Mom brought me here when I was a child," Poe said in a whisper. "She told me the stories."

Rey cast her senses out, feeling for the tales inside the metal and stone. She saw young troops, always too young, readying ships. She heard the thrum of fear and the soaring joy of hard-won victory.

"It can take you like that," said Luke. "What you won't sense, and what your mother wouldn't have told you, is how scared everyone was. Half the pilots wet their seats flying missions, and none of us really expected to come back alive. If you made it home, you were a hero, and if you didn't, you were a fallen hero and some other kid was ready to take your place."

"You were a hero, though," said Poe. "Everyone knows that. Even he knows that," he said, gesturing to Finn, "and he grew up in the middle of a propaganda machine."

"I told you, I fell asleep during the history lessons."

Luke smiled at him. "I used to, too. On the good days, we all thought we were heroes, cocky and immortal and in love. On the bad days, we just tried to get through without losing too many friends." He rested a hand on a broken wall.

Rey had become aware of another presence. In a very quiet voice, she said, "Ren's close."

"I know."

"We can get to cover through there." She nodded, indicating a corridor off the main passage. "You two, same plan as before. Circle around."

"He'll know we're there," said Finn.

"It will take his attention," Luke said. "Go on." He and Rey made for the corridor. As she reached it, she felt a sharp push from Luke's mind. He said, "Stay here, Rey," with a harmonic that reached her bones. She couldn't move if she tried. She felt Ren searching for her.

Luke walked back into the main passage. He closed his eyes and began to speak. Rey only knew the language from the runes in the early book, knew it as shapes of words, meanings behind words. This planet was rich with life, and she felt the Force flowing through each bird, each rock, each tree, and in the microscopic life that even floated in the air. From somewhere not far away, she became aware of a slow pulse of Force energy, Light and good and thick as sap. Luke drew on the power surrounding him, crafting shapes in a place she couldn't see, only feel. His hands wove the sieve before him. His electrifying presence surmounted anything she'd imagined. The great working had begun.

Kylo Ren stepped into the corridor in front of him, lightsaber at the ready.

"Stop this now."

Luke didn't listen to him. Power surged around him, spinning in like a whirlpool, like a hurricane with himself and Ren at the eye. She could feel the Force swirling, aiming onto the dark figure in the dark mask with the darkened soul.

"Stop it!" He staggered, his confusion screeching inside his head and piercing hers.

The words Luke spoke were in no tongue left in the galaxy. Rey knew them inside herself: recreation, purgation, exchange. Energy, cool and purifying, crackled from Luke towards Ren. The shadows clouding him cringed in fear, gibbering loudly in Rey's mind as the Light stabbed through them.

Three blaster shots rang out. Two hit Luke in the abdomen, the third in the chest.

"No!" she screamed, suddenly free of the compulsion. Stormtroopers burst into the corridor, four of them. Poe took out three, while Finn began blasting at Kylo Ren. Ren deflected the blasts, arm jerking with the movement, backing away from them, fleeing.

Rey felt the blaster bolts sizzle by her as she ran to Luke. He'd fallen. She had her own lightsaber. She couldn't imagine using it now.

Finn caught the fourth Stormtrooper. "There'll be more."

She tried to cover Luke's wounds, but he bled freely. He was dying, and the spell had failed. He was dying for nothing. Another friend lost, another almost-father murdered for this worthless son.

Luke half-coughed, half-laughed.

"Luke?"

"We all lose the same battle once."

It sounded like one of his daft old Jedi sayings, and she went to say so and found he'd stopped breathing.

And then something very strange happened. As the first tears fell, she watched Luke's body vanish, like the morning frost in the first rays of desert sunlight, leaving only his robes behind. Something like a hot breeze passed by her and was lost.

"What the hell was that?" Finn asked, shock and fright in his voice.

Poe grabbed Rey by the shoulder. "We have to run. I'm sorry. There will be more Stormtroopers coming, and Ren's close."

"It didn't work," Rey said, staring at the place where Luke's body had been, terrified of disturbing the fabric and finding a metal hand. "I felt him trying, and it didn't work."

"It doesn't matter now," said Poe. He forced her to move, tugged Finn to follow.

tbc

Reviews welcome.