The resounding clacks of two wooden rods bounced off the rocks and reverberated around the open space of the courtyard.
Master Skywalker was silent as he leaned back against the warm stone, his arms folded comfortably over his chest. Ahch-To's sun was lowering in the sky, casting the planet in a series of warm pinks and oranges yet some of the heat hung in the air, making for rather pleasant weather.
"You're starting to slow down!"
There was a growl of exertion, "No, I'm not!"
There was a shadow that crossed before the sun as a rod was swung through the air, only to be brought down so that it connected with its twin as it was raised to block the blow. The two staffs connected and criss-crossed before the massive orb of the setting star, the two women's bodies darkened and silhouetted against the sun in the distance until they were near indiscernible to the untrained eye.
But, Luke... Luke could tell which was which. Even without the use of the Force.
For it was simply the fact that it was sheer familiarity and ten years spent alone together that he could recognize his eldest padawan, her forms as she moved, how she so easily twisted and spun her weapon through the air. But, Rey... she was also becoming familiar to him; how she herself fought, her voiced exertions during their fights. How easy she was to smile and laugh... More so than Sage herself.
Just then, he felt a presence form into existence at his side and he turned to the left to gaze calmly at the glimmering form beside him and how it slowly took a more familiar shape.
"Master Yoda." He greeted the smaller creature. It had been some time since they had convened.
"Greetings, young one." He hummed, his head turning slightly in the Jedi's direction. "Spoken together recently we have not." However, he moved his gaze to the two forms in the distance. "Busy you have been."
Luke smiled, "Indeed, Master."
Yoda hummed lowly again, one hand clasped over the other on his cane as he observed them. "Mmm, Rey... Strong she will become."
He gave a single nod, "I know."
"But, strong your eldest padawan already is."
The smile upon his face widened further and he bowed his head slightly, "Yes... She is."
For a long moment, the two Force-users were quiet as they watched the two females in the distance as they danced and struck at each other, sounds of struggle filling the air every once in awhile. In the stretch of silence, a thought suddenly struck the man, his eyes turning to search the surrounding area for their typical, missing companion.
"Where is Obi-Wan?" Luke asked, his voice soft.
Yoda hummed softly again, "Watching over Sage he is... Watching over Sage both of them are." He tapped his cane on the ground and bowed his head slightly before he looked up at his old student. "Changing the galaxy is. Shifting."
This caused Skywalker to frown softly, "What do you mean?"
"Ready your padawan is. Strong she must always be. Unwavering." He nodded slowly. "Coming the Darkness is."
It took a moment for the man to process what the smaller creature had said but nonetheless, when he understood, he frowned more deeply and shifted where he stood, "Sage will not fail."
"Much faith in your padawan you have. Good that it..." He turned to look at the man who was once his student. "Trust her abilities you must." He hummed lowly, a sadness lingering in his eyes as they fell away from Luke's face. "Much pain, I fear, she will endure."
He felt his heart clench tightly at his old Master's words and he grimaced for a brief moment. "Is there anything I can do to help her? To keep her safe?" He asked, his voice soft. Luke raised his gaze and looked back up across the courtyard to watch his two students. "Can I at least tell her to be on her guard?"
"Tell her you may not. Let the Force work its will, you must."
The man bowed his head in sorrow, his eyes sliding shut for a beat.
For a brief moment, behind his eyelids, he saw a tiny blonde girl beaming up at him, her eyes sparkling in the sunlight as he preached his lessons of the Force. Then, he saw her as she was now, her eyes kind but concealing a quiet power beneath the surface; full-grown and undoubtedly strong. And then, he saw everything in between. All the good days, as well as the bad ones. The struggles as well as the joys. Heard the laughter as well as the sobs.
"Will she be strong enough?" He whispered, his eyes now glassy as the ghosts of their pasts played through his mind.
"Doubt her abilities now, do you?" Yoda asked.
"No..." He shook his head slightly, eyes still trained up the two distant figures while the image of dark haired boy with a toothy grin suddenly appeared beside the younger version of his padawan. The two children turned and smiled at each other. "But, then again, Sage was never the problem to begin with."
With a growl of exertion, Rey swiped downward with the staff in her hands, teeth clenched and jaw locked. Her arm muscles burned with overuse but she was able to push those thoughts to the side for a moment and ignore the twinges in her limbs.
Despite the strength she had expended to perform such a feat, her swing went wide, her master ducking beneath it and off to the side so that she could spin away to safety, the wooden staff nearly grazing her shoulder. At the same time, she was bringing up her own weapon, using the momentum from the turn to uppercut with her blade, knocking her student's staff up.
With Rey's arms now in the air and from the force behind the swing, she stumbled back a few feet and struggled to maintain her footing.
However, Sage allowed her a brief reprieve, taking mercy on the scavenger girl so that she could right herself and allow the battle to continue. She did, however, keep her eyes on her student, some stray hairs having fallen into her face. Patient as ever, she waited, her wrist rotating as she casually twirled her staff like she would have with her saber.
For a moment, Rey herself stepped back, her chest heaving from their constant sparring for what felt like the last hour. Sweat was clinging to her brow and the collar of her shirt had also darkened with perspiration. Needless to say, Rey was at least a little proud upon coming to the realization that her master was also mildly sweaty, the baby hairs framing her face darkening as they clumped together on her brow.
Taking a deep breath in an effort to allow her body some relief, she then twirled her own staff and grit her teeth once more, her nose scrunching as she raised her staff and struck out at the knight.
However, the Jedi was prepared and easily deflected the blows aimed towards her, her weapon angled so that most of the attacks simply glanced off the wood.
Sage could feel how tired her student was but was proud nonetheless when she still persisted with her advances. However, in the same instance, she was also getting progressively sloppier but, to be fair, they hadn't taken a proper break and had been going at it for awhile now. Her strikes were also slowing down but were somehow becoming stronger with each hit.
The blonde gripped her rod tightly at her side and was readying herself to dodge the next strike when suddenly, there was a tremor in the air around the; a ripple that fractured throughout the galaxy.
It was so strong, so potent, that it physically shook Sage.
Before she could stop herself, her chest was seizing up and her eyes were becoming blank as she registered this new disruption of sorts. Her fingers were unconsciously uncurling and the staff was falling uselessly out of her hand to the grassy ground beneath them, entirely forgotten for the moment.
Time seemed to slow for a brief moment and all the knight could hear was her shaky breathing as well as the pounding of her heart as her own Force-signature flared and reached back out to the source of the break, her mind traveling with it.
However, Rey realized too late that her master had paused, her arms already swinging through the motion, her staff nearly whistling as she whipped it through the air. She didn't have time to stop herself when she came to notice the absence of the staff in the woman's hand and her own weapon slammed hard into the top of Sage's shoulder and then raked down the front of her body.
The scavenger girl held her breath then, despite the ache for her chest to heave for oxygen. All else seemed to grow quiet on the planet as well as if, in its entirety, it was too startled to continue moving.
Oh, no.
"Master...?" Rey breathed, her eyes wide with complete horror. When the woman failed to move even after she was struck, the girl's panic only increased further. Their was an emptiness in her eyes as the knight's body stood there, simply unmoving. "Sage...?" She asked, softly, as she took a small step forward. It's like she wasn't even there. "What's wrong?"
Reaching out, she gently touched the woman's shoulder—the one that had not been struck—with her hand.
Their physical connection caused the Jedi to turn her head ever so slightly in the girl's direction, her eyes still distant as she stared blankly at the grassy ground before her. Her brow furrowed softly shortly after and she cocked her head to the side as if she were listening to a sound that Rey could not hear.
Then, all at once, she was inhaling deeply as if she were returning to her own body. Her eyes focused as well and she blinked a few times to rid her system of the sudden shock from the new disturbance.
The knight's mind was slow to register that her student was standing in front of her, eyes wide with worry. She then felt her shoulder prickle sharply with pain and she reached up to grasp at the fabric over where she'd been hit, her features morphing into a slight grimace.
"Are you alright?"
Sage hesitated to respond, her mind racing a million miles an hour. She nodded slowly.
Still concerned with the strange air hanging around her master, Rey continued to press for information, taking a step closer to the other female. "What's wrong?"
Raising her eyes, she ignored the pain in her arm and looked directly at her padawan.
"I can feel it..." She breathed, the cool winds kissing at their sweaty skin as it rose up off the sea and raced up the cliffs, howling the entire way. It gently tossed their hair about and more baby hairs stuck to the knight's face. "There's been another awakening."
The growling and snarling sounds of struggle echoed throughout the large room and up to the dark observation deck. The bright, florescent lights bore down harshly on the training mats far below and reflected back on the slick skin of those who currently inhabited the area.
The two boys struggled against one another down below, their shoulders locked as they battled to physically overpower the other, neither of them wearing shirts out of fear that one article of clothing, from their already limited wardrobe, would quite possibly be ripped.
One of the boys had a shock of red hair upon his head—not the gentle orange of Hux's hair, no—but a sharp, bright red like the color of his saber's blade. It was also an immensely strange coincidence but this male was from Arkanis and had been one of the few youths who had not been enrolled in the Academy. Once his Force-sensitivity was discovered, however, he had instead been drafted to benefit the First Order in an entirely other way. He was of average height and build, a formidable foe given that he was well versed in the use of the Force to make himself unnaturally strong and quick.
The other boy had shaggy, dark brown hair and was bigger than his opponent. He too was fast but was also naturally strong due to the years of laboring he had underwent, outdoors, no doubt, judging by the richness of his gently tanned skin.
Both of them were already bloodied and were no doubt going to be heavily bruised the following days; his initiates were never taught to pull their punches or hold back in any sort of skirmish or sparring session. It was not what the Knights did.
Neither of them seemed to have the upper hand over the other but, without a doubt, the Knight could already tell that the darker haired male would win. He could feel it in the Force. Somehow, he would win.
In a way, it almost favorited him over the the redhead.
Unsurprising.
He had his arms folded behind his back as he stood encased by the shadows, the inkiness of his robes helping him to become one with the gloom around him. Dark eyes watched from behind his visor, silently observing the two initiates, his mind continually assessing their form; their progress.
He didn't realize he wasn't alone until there was the faintest whisper of cloth brushing against itself.
He turned sharply then, hands falling into fists at his sides, his fingers inching towards his lightsaber. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the darkness around him in contrast to the bright lights of the training room. However, the mild racing of his heart began to slow as he recognized the dark form as one of his knights.
"Did I startle you, Master?" Came her soft voice through the vocoder on her own helm.
Ren took a moment to observe the female and how she leaned against the door with such casualness; her arms crossed over her chest and one ankle tucked behind the other.
It was not often that he saw her.
"No." He faced forward once more, his hands replacing themselves behind his back. "I have not asked for your presence on board." The leather of his gloves squealed as he clenched his fists slightly. "Why are you we so graced with your presence, Oappress?"
"It's been three months, my lord." She spoke, her voice level despite his questioning of her. "It was time to submit my quarterly report and I returned, as was commanded of me."
He was quiet for a moment, contemplating her answer, "We only just saw you a few short weeks ago." He observed, his helmet turning back slightly so that he could look at her out of the corner of his eye.
"A coincidence caused by the bounty hunter." She shrugged off the doorframe and slowly approached him. "Nonetheless, I couldn't help but be intrigued by the idea of the Hound." She came to stand beside him near the railing. "Any new reports from our little Mandalorian?"
"One very brief transmission last week where the Hound claimed that they were currently following a strong lead after questioning a captured Resistance member. Other than that, there has been nothing," He sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. Again, he was silent for a moment, the two knights taking a brief moment to observe the fight below. "What do you think of the Hound?"
She turned to look up and over at him through the visor on her own helmet, regarding him for a moment.
"From what I've observed in the short time we were watching them, I can tell they're strong but they do not display it in their Force-signature. It was almost like they were keeping their signature muted on purpose, like they knew about us... Like they knew we were a possible threat." She turned back to face forward once more, "Wraith Hound Vl should not be underestimated."
"No, they shouldn't be." He murmured, his hands clenching into fists at the thought. "And yet, I will take much pleasure in destroying them." He straightened out his back and squared his shoulder. "In making them submit to me."
With the female knight having no further comment on the situation other than the silent agreement that hummed in the Force between them, it was quiet then for a moment, both of them watching the skirmish down below.
The dark haired boy reeled back from his opponent for a beat, gripping his bare side as it ached from a recent blow. However, he only let it faze him for a few brief seconds before he was gritting his teeth and then returning the barrage of punches at his opponent.
"How much progress has he made in his training?" She asked, her head slowly swiveling back so that she could look at the other knight.
"The boy... he is strong." Ren spoke slowly. "Strong... but foolish. Just like his sister was." She could physically see him tense, how his shoulders locked and he straightened his back once more. "It's in his blood to go against the Dark side. To resist. Still... he cannot entirely shake the pull."
"There is no one who can." She hummed, crossing her arms over her chest. And, again, just like before, there was a brief moment of silence that settled between the two knights before the female decided to break it once more. "When will you break him?"
Just then, there was a shout of exertion and both of the Force-users watched as the dark haired boy surged forward and punched his opponent hard in the face. Before the other boy could hardly react, he was spinning around and then landing a solid kick to his gut, causing the redheaded male to stumble back and slam down hard onto the ground.
All was silent in the room for a moment, save for the heavy breathing coming from the winner of the competition. His bare chest rose and fell rapidly, his eyes carefully watching his contender for a moment before he was moving forward.
The other boy began to sputter for air, having had the wind knocked out of him, his mouth agape as he struggled.
The dark haired male stood over him for a moment before he was offering a hand down to his opponent. Red regarded him for a long moment before he was grasping a hold of the offered appendage and allowed himself to be helped off the floor.
He winced when the other boy then threw his arm over his shoulder and wrapped his arm around his side so that he could help the other boy along, both of their bodies silently aching. However, there was a sharp bark from off to the side and a darkly clothed figure was stomping across the mat, "KNOCK IT OFF!"
The knight reached out and fisted a hand in the boy's dark hair. He then retched him away from the redhead, a snarl escaping from the boy's mouth as his roots were yanked harshly.
Stumbling away, the boy eyed his superior for a long moment and then looked back at his opponent to find that the boy was only standing there, his face screwed up slightly as he hugged an arm around his midsection.
Deciding to avoid further confrontation, the dark haired boy huffed and scowled at his superior before he was turning away, one hand raising to his face so he could wipe at the steady stream of blood dribbling from his lip. He also inhaled and spat sharply, his bloodied saliva landing on the mat before his eyes rose up to look into the darkness among the rafters where he knew the observation deck was. Where he knew the Master of the Knights of Ren was.
So much hate, so much defiance could be seen in his eyes... His hauntingly, blue-gray eyes.
Just like his sister.
Kylo's gloves squeaked softly as he clenched his fists once more, his jaw clenching beneath the confines of his helmet. "Soon."
Gritting her teeth, Rey slammed the heavy compartment door shut, the sudden shock of the impact causing long-settled dust to fly everywhere. Coughing for a moment, she waved her hand to clear her breathing air before she picked up the heavy tool belt and slung it up onto her shoulder. Walking around the side of the Falcon, she also picked up her small bag of her belongings where it lay near the boarding ramp.
However, as she bent down, the wind blew into the cavern and caused her hair to toss out of place where it had been resting, pushing it right into her eyes. Nose wrinkling, she brushed the obnoxious strands back where they belonged for what felt like the fiftieth time that day.
Now she knew why she had always worn her hair tied back.
Despite this minor annoyance, she hefted her bag up onto her shoulder and began to ascended the ramp, only to catch movement out of the corner of her eye. Turning her head, she caught sight of her master as she came out of the darkened stairwell that led down from the upper dwelling. She too had supplies with her, her shoulders weighed down with a number of heavy bags.
She wasn't wearing her normal, heavy robes but wore more relaxed, loose-fitting items like a navy blue shirt and a pair of light gray tights. Her typical boots were covering her feet and her hair was tied back in its typical bun.
She looked so... normal. It was exceptionally strange.
When she lifted her head and caught sight of her padawan across the small hanger's bay, she allowed her lips to twitch upwards slightly.
"Everything packed?" She nodded towards the small bag at her side.
For a moment, Rey simply looked down at it but then glanced behind her where her staff lay propped against the hull of the ship a few feet away. Extending her hand, her brow furrowed as she focused in an effort to control the Force. It took a brief moment and a much deeper frown before the weapon began to shudder slightly. A few beats later, the staff was suddenly lurching away from the ship and into her waiting palm.
In her moment of success, she allowed a bright smile to light her face and she raised her eyes back up to the Jedi who had a rather peculiar gleam in her eyes. Was it perhaps one of... pride?
"I think so." She sighed, glancing between her things, her eyes lingering on the blaster strapped to her thigh for a moment. "I didn't have much before... so... Yeah."
She noticed the pride in Sage's eyes died down a bit into a more somber look after she spoke. The blonde dropped her gaze slightly and took in a deep breath. When Rey opened her mind, she could feel the sadness radiating off of the other female.
Rey cleared her throat, "We should be off then, yeah?"
Grateful for the change in subject, the blonde nodded, "I think there's one more bag left upstairs with some extra rations but I think I have everything else." She walked forward and allowed the straps from the bags to slip from her shoulders so that she could ease them to the ground. "If you could take these aboard, I'll go grab it."
"Yes, Master."
Sage turned to leave then but paused suddenly at the last moment, as if remembering something. Facing her student once more, she tilted her head slightly to the side.
"You wore your hair down...?" One corner of her mouth tilted upwards slightly. Only a few days ago, after the occurrence on the island with her vision of Kylo Ren and the swimming lesson, Sage had taught Rey how to use the shower in her 'fresher attached to her room. The water shower.
She'd learned easily enough and when she was able to properly adjust the heat settings by way of the silver handle on the wall, the hot water—the gentle, warm spray—she loved it. No longer afraid of water, she was cursing both herself and Plutt because she never realized she had been missing something so... heavenly. And, stars, she'd never felt so clean in her entire life.
Needless to say, she adored showers.
She'd even taken a quick one after their training session while the older two Jedi were gathering supplies for the trip. Her hair had been saturated for the longest time and she'd left it down to naturally dry. It had only just finished a couple minutes ago and was now fluffy and soft once more, billowing freely in the cool sea breezes.
"I took a shower while you were packing... 'Cause I was sweaty after training." She explained, shifting slightly in place. She allowed the end of her staff to rest on the rocky ground beneath their feet. "I guess I just forgot to put it up before checking the Falcon over." That was a lie. She hadn't forgot.
"No..." Sage smiled slightly, "I like it down."
Rey felt her cheeks flush with blood and she ducked her head slightly in hopes that her master wouldn't notice. She scrambled to find her words and break the awkward void that threatened to fill the air between them.
"T-To be honest-I mean-It's really a bit annoying when I'm trying to work. I mean, it just gets everywhere-and the wind doesn't help the situation-"
The blonde chuckled softly, "I understand entirely." She turned back and began walking back towards the entranceway. "I'll also need to shower on the Falcon. I didn't have time for one before we left." She threw her words back over her shoulder.
Rey remained silent and simply watched her disappear into the dark hall once more, her footsteps echoing off the walls as she began to race up the steep steps.
Once she was gone, the scavenger climbed the ramp behind her, cursing herself for her awkwardness the entire way, and stowed her own things away after greeting her furry co-pilot who warmly replied in return.
When she returned back outside, she bent down to retrieve the rest of their supplies. Lifting them onto her shoulders, she stood once more, only to slowly freeze in place.
She had to strain her eyes for a bit but nonetheless, she could faintly make out the forms of the two Jedi in the shadowed archway over the stairwell. They were standing close to each other, nearly eye to eye in height and it appeared as though Luke was speaking yet she could hear no evidence of his voice at such a distance. He must be speaking softly, she decided. He also had a concerned look contorting his weathered features.
What were they speaking about?
However, Rey had little time to ponder the situation when suddenly, Master Luke was stepping forward and pulling Sage into his arms. The female was frozen for a moment before she accepted his sudden embrace and raised her own hands so that she could wrap her own arms around his midsection, her hands fisting into the thick fabric of his cloak.
The two remained like that for a moment and female's eyes closed as she held onto her master and nodded softly a few times, the older man evidently speaking to her despite their closeness.
They soon released each other, however, but still remained close, Luke carefully holding her upper arms in his hands.
Rey's mouth fell open slightly as she watched as the older man raised his hand and carefully curled it around the back of Sage's head and tilted her face downward due to their slight height difference. Rey had never actually realized how tall the woman truly was.
He then placed a lingering kiss on her forehead. Pulling away slightly, he adjusted his grip on her so that he could then rest their foreheads together.
Both their eyes drifted closed for a moment and all seemed to calm. The winds blowing into the cavern off the sea ceased; the roar of the waves briefly quieted. It was like the entire galaxy was at peace.
For the longest time, before Rey learned about Sage's family and her ambiguous connection with Kylo Ren, she had immediately assumed that Sage was Luke's own daughter; both of them so strong in the Force, blue-eyed, and fair haired. The connection they had with one another was immense and entirely tangible. No doubt, though, that strong, familial relationships between a master and a padawan could grow stronger when they lived alone together for at least a decade. Also, the embrace and affection that Luke had just bestowed upon the younger woman further reinforced the idea that they were a father and a daughter to one another.
However, she had evidently been mistaken. For she now knew that Sage had a separate father and siblings outside of the Skywalker line. Not to mention that she had a dream where she had kissed Kylo Ren—Ben Solo—and if Rey had assumed correctly, then, they would have been cousins.
So, her original thoughts on Sage's lineage had been proven entirely wrong.
When she briefly blinked back to reality, the two Jedi were pulling away from one another. The universe exhaled and resumed its existence once more.
Master Skywalker once more said something to her and the female nodded, that same solemness from before returning to her own eyes. She herself then asked him a question and he smiled before murmuring his response while nodding.
He then turned his head out towards the rest of the hanger while still speaking, nodding in Rey's direction. Both of them began to walk forward again while the man continued to speak. Rey couldn't quite make out what he was saying and just when he was in earshot, his conversation with his eldest padawan was evidently over.
However, just then, there was a loud trill to her right and the younger girl jumped, the blue and white astrodroid having rolled up beside her while she was observing her two companions.
The noise echoed throughout the cavern and drew their attention towards the Falcon. The older man caught the young girl's eyes and he gave her a kind smile, "You are no doubt eager to be back out in the galaxy, aren't you, Rey?"
She returned his smile with one of her own, "Yes, Master Luke."
"You'll keep Sage in line for me while you two are gone, won't you?" He teased lightly, causing the older female to roll her eyes. Nonetheless, her lips twitched in amusement.
"I can only try, Master." She nodded and her own eyes twinkled.
The older man then turned towards his older student, "You best get going, then." Sage nodded in answer, her eyes briefly drifting to her own student before they returned to her master. "You don't have much time."
"Yes, Master." She nodded once more and stepped from his side to instead stand beside Rey.
"Be careful. Trust yourselves." He told the two of them and once more, they nodded, this time in unison. "May the Force be with you."
Rey opened her mouth to speak but out of the corner of her eye, she saw the woman beside her bend forward slightly in a small bow. She remained bent over like that for a few moments, allowing for Rey to hastily copy her actions before the Jedi Master.
They both straightened a half a moment later.
Sage turned towards her student then and nodded, "Let's go."
Rey turned to go then and began ascending the ramp with R2-D2 rolling up it at her heels, while the knight remained a few steps behind.
"Take care of them, R2!" The Jedi Master called after the droid who whistled his response as he went.
While the younger girl disappeared inside the Falcon and began to head towards the cockpit, Sage stopped at the top of the ramp for one last reassuring glance at Luke before she too entered into the bowels of the ship.
Trust in the Force, my padawan.
The air in the hanger around him filled with the whir of the engines as the thrusters on the ship began to glow softly, the gentle blue color reflecting off the sea-polished stone walls around him. The landing gear and ramp retreated up into the undercarriage as the Falcon hovered a few feet above the ground for a very brief moment, the ship then rotating and easing out of the open maw of the sea cave.
Despite the fact that he knew they would not see him, the Jedi still raised his hand in a small wave, the thrusters kicking up a gust of warm wind as it propelled the old freighter back into the sky.
I hope we see each other again one day.
For a long while, the three inhabitants of the cockpit were silent. With both Rey and Chewie at the reins, Sage sat quietly on the floor behind them between the two other seats in the ship, one leg crossed over the other as she meditated.
Every once in awhile, Rey would glance back at her teacher and would always find the same thing awaiting her; a softly furrowed brow and closed eyes as the older woman concentrated on the Force and the humming of the new signature out in the galaxy.
They had left Ahch-To behind about an hour ago according to the Falcon's chronometer and had been simply sailing through space at a reasonable speed. Currently, they didn't want to enter hyperspace for fear that Sage would perhaps lose track of the signature.
Which way, Master?
Rey gently pushed the question towards the blonde and she glanced back over her shoulder to find that the woman was frowning even deeper.
"Just…" She hummed softly and shook her head slightly. "Just keep going... forward. We're along ways away from it… Too far on the edge of the galaxy."
Without even replying Rey simply eased the throttle forward and decided to leave it for awhile. Chewie just exchanged a look with her and nodded in understanding before she was standing from her seat.
"There are comfier places to sit if you would prefer them to the floor?"
Raising her head, Sage opened her eyes to find her Padawan standing before her, a hand and an offering simultaneously extended towards the older woman. Considering her student for a moment and the offer she presented, the blonde raised her arm and took hold of Rey's hand, allowing the girl to help her to her feet.
Once back to her full height, Rey released her hold on her hand and led the way back out of the cockpit.
"The booth is fairly comfortable…" She gestured at the aforementioned seat and table as they walked through. "But, personally, I think the bunks in the back are pretty-"
Sage waved her student away and slid into the booth so that she could take a seat. For a moment, she gazed at the checkered tabletop before her. "This will more than suffice."
Rey silently watched as she settled herself on the cushioned seat, her legs crossing once more. She took a deep breath in and her eyes slowly grew distant and blank as if she were seeing something much, much farther away.
The young pilot was just about to turn away and resume her post when a thought suddenly occurred to her.
Master? She touched gently at the other female's mind. There wasn't a actual response but instead, it felt like there was a subconscious awareness that she had spoken. Why can't I feel this new signature like you can?
There was a moment of absolute silence then between the two of them.
Come here.
Rey paused but eventually did as she was told, sliding into the booth next to the knight so that she may take a seat beside her.
May I touch you?
There was still that blank look in her blue eyes and, for some reason, it unnerved the scavenger a bit. How she was physically present but almost wasn't entirely there mentally.
Of course.
Sage suddenly turned towards her, her entire body physically changing direction before she was raising her hands. Gently, as she had done the first time they visited the island, the blonde held her jaw with both hands. She then brought their foreheads together. Their eyes slid shut in unison.
For a moment, she felt nothing. Nothing in the Force; simply the physical plane of existence around her. And then, she slowly began to feel the submersion, the feeling that she was being pulled beneath the surface of… something.
Sage's signature was there just then, strong and ever unyieldingly warm, filling her with the calm that she always sought out.
Then… there was something else.
It was just a flicker at first but there was that same warmth; that same familiarity. With every moment that passed, it grew brighter in nature until it was now a recognizable entity on its own. And… there was just something about it…
How do we find it? She pressed gently. How do we find them, whoever they are?
We just keep going. We keep going until we get close. Then, the Force will reveal them to us. Until then… we can only wait.
Rey sighed. Yes, Master.
Sage allowed her hands to fall from the younger girl's face so that they rested once more in her lap. Rey opened her eyes and was about to pull away but hesitated a moment.
She could feel the warmth from her master as it radiated off her person. She also registered the fact that they were close enough that Rey could feel the gentle puffs that escaped her nose as she breathed, only for them to gently cascade over her own lips which parted softly in response. She could see every single one of Sage's lashes and was suddenly tempted to spend much more time closer so that she may count them all.
Eventually, though, she knew that her master would open her eyes and that a moment of awkwardness was very likely to ensue. So, with burning cheeks, she regretfully drew back and shifted herself so that she could lean back against the booth's cushions. To hide her flush, she rubbed a hand over her face and raked it back through her hair, hesitating for a moment when she remembered that it was still free.
"Where should we go then?" She asked softly after she took a deep breath to help soothe both her mind and her racing heart.
Sage herself opened her eyes and glowered down at her hands where they rested in her lap, "Head for the Inner Rim territories, I suppose. Starting from the center of the galaxy would be easier." She looked up at her student. "Go ahead and jump to light-speed. Get us into hyperspace." She herself sighed and pursed her lips. "It's all we can really do now besides wait—wait—and hope that the Force reveals its new child in time."
Rey nodded in understand before she patted her knees, only to rise from her seat a moment later to go do her master's biding when a thought suddenly struck her. Bracing her arm on the archway of the corridor, she turned back to face the other female, "Is... Is that what you did the last time you left?" She turned back around to look at her more fully. "Master Luke said something about you going to investigate another awakening... But, this is what you do? You just... gamble? Hope for the best and that the Force takes you to this new..." She huffed softly as she tried to find the right word to use, her hand flitting about as she searched for it, "...apprentice?"
"Yes." The blonde frowned softly, "Machinery cannot fathom the Force, let alone read it. There is no other way of doing so."
The scavenger felt her features soften slightly, "So... you just... hope?"
"That's all we can do..." She hung her head slightly, her eyes growing more and more distant with every second that passed. "That's all we can ever do."
Unsure of how to respond, Rey nodded softly and remained in the doorway a moment, her hazel eyes watching the Jedi for a brief moment, "I'll leave you to meditate then, Master." She turned and left then, her footsteps quiet on the floor of the ship as she returned to the cockpit to inform her co-pilot of their new destination.
Sage remained unmoving for a long beat before she ever so slightly raised her head, her eyes considering the patterned Dejarik board printed onto the table before her. Feeling one of the corners of her mouth tug upwards, she raised one of her hands and gently skimmed her fingertips over the checkered surface.
Finding that the Force was calm for a moment, she allowed her eyes to slip closed, her hand still resting on the cool tabletop.
"Alright, kid. Your turn. And remember..." Han's voice was hushed but was still loud enough for his other companions to hear him. "Don't piss off the, Wookie." The little boy beamed up at his father from his lap, his dark eyes sparkling with amusement. He quickly turned to look at his friend and both him and the little blonde girl let out loud peals of laughter, both of them utterly amused with the situation.
Their laughter faded back into the recesses of her mind, leaving the young knight with that barely there, soft smile of remembrance on her features.
One final time, she ran her hand over the smooth surface of the board before she resumed her meditative position and fell back into the Force, allowing for it to curl and writhe around her while bathing her in its warmth.
It was in too great of detail to be anything but real.
Below the soles of her boots, there was the slick, dark surface of a slab of cement. There was very little wind and the preoccupied area was actually quite tranquil. However, there was the feeling for potential chaos that lingered around the landing strip. There was an earthy crispness that hung in the thick, foggy air, one far different than the bitting scent of the salt water of the oceans on Ahch-To.
Raising her head, she could see that in the distance, there were mountains and hills dotting the landscape and jutting up from the ground. However, a blanket of heavy fog had settled over the valley, seemingly dampening all her senses.
Examining the scene further, she found that behind her, their lay the maw of an opening to what appeared to be an underground base. There was also a few massive towers that loomed in the haze as well as large dishes that were no doubt for tracking and radar stationed on top of the buildings. There were also a few anti-aircraft gunnery turrets pointed up towards the sky, dotting the distant hillsides.
Down to her right, a a number of ships were stationed and docked. She recognized the forms instantly.
X-Wings.
She frowned softly and lightly reached outwards with the Force and winced slightly when the reverberation bounced back sharply at her. The new signature... It was close. Extremely close.
This is where they would be coming.
Her eyes narrowed as they strained to identify the emblem painted onto the side of one of the blue and white ships. However, when she was able to make it out, there was definitely no mistaking it for another. The pronged half moon tilted on its side.
They would come... here?
Where was here?
However, just as she was further pondering the location, the letters were gently manifesting in her mind and the deep timbre of a softly accented, male voice spoke to her mind.
She was immediately shooting up in bed, her body sitting rigidly in her bunk. For a moment, she remained seated, lost in a daze as her senses tried to comprehend that she was once more back aboard the old freighter and no longer on the mountainous planet. She shook her head slightly to clear the haze further, her eyes blinking themselves once and they burned slightly.
Immediately, she was throwing the covers off of herself and she was sliding out of the bottom bunk, being careful to duck her head as she exited. Just as she was about to walk out the now opened door to the crew's cabin, she paused and turned back. The low light spilling into the room cast itself upon Rey's sleep form for a moment, the ray of light cutting through the darkness over her stomach and gently highlighting her peaceful features.
Sage debated on waking the girl but decided against doing so.
Chewie had eventually sent them both to bed as the hours crept late into the night and early hours on the chronometer. They were currently cruising through the galaxy at light-speed and the Wookie had claimed that they were still in the Mid-Rim and it wouldn't be until hours later that they entered into the Inner territories. He had warned the two of them that, perhaps, they should get as much rest as they could before what ever insanity awaited them ensued.
So, she left, her hand waving behind her to quietly slide the door shut with help from the Force.
Her feet padded softly against the metal grating and carried her through the near silent hallways of the ship until she once more reached the cockpit. She wasn't surprised to find Chewie at the control wheel and stepped inside.
He had heard her approach and yodeled softly at her.
What is it?
"We need to change our coordinates. Drop out of light-speed." She told him as she was striding forward to slip into the co-pilot's seat to his right and spun in the chair until she faced the control panel. "I know where we need to go." When the Wookie looked at her questioningly, she could only offer him a somber look. "We need to go to D'Qar." She murmured, her head turning away from him to gaze out into the the vastness of the black space before them. "We're going to the Resistance."
Rey wasn't sure what caused her to wake but she did so slowly, content so simply relish in the heavy warmth of the blankets on top of her. She debated for a long while about sleeping once more but it was then that she noticed that the quiet humming of the ship wasn't the only sound filling the silence around her. Across the room, behind the closed door of the 'fresher, the soft pattering of tumbling water could be heard.
For a long while, she just lay there and listened to its rhythmic drumming and just as it was about to lull her back to sleep, it cut off. There was the shuffling of fabric to be heard inside and a few minutes later, the door hissed softly as it slid open and a clouds of steam immediately began rolling upwards and outwards. A moment later, her master emerged from the confines of the small room, a towel in her hands as she aggressively scratched at her damp hair.
Even in the low lighting of the room from the soft ring of lighting that rang along the baseboard of the room, Rey could see the glow of the dewiness of her skin as she continued to ruffle her hair in an attempt to dry it.
She was dressed in a loose cream colored undershirt and a pair of loose, light gray pants that bunched up and fell to her calves. Of course, her feet were bare.
For a moment, her face contorted into a yawn as she continued to scratch at her head, only to toss her towel onto the bed where she'd slept hours before. Her hair was now left as a stringy, tangled mess but once she ran her fingers through it, it was no longer as messy and fell into its natural part off to the side.
Evidently feeling eyes upon her, Sage turned and when she found that her student was watching at her, she held her gaze for a moment. Rey returned the eye contact as she settled further into her blanket, pulling it up and under her nose.
"What's going on?" She asked softly despite that her voice was slightly muffled.
"We're supposed to land planet-side in about an hour." She turned back to her bed and picked up one of her bags where it had rested by the foot of her bunk. She set it on the mattress among the blankets and began to go through it. She pulled out a few articles of clothing and laid them on her bed.
She frowned softly, "Landing?" She eased herself into a sitting position, her limbs still heavy with sleep. "What do you mean landing?"
"Last night, I had a dream..."
This caused the girl's ears to perk slightly, "You... You had a Force-vision?"
She nodded, "Yes."
Rey's eyes widened, "Where are we going, then?"
Her master was silent as she continued to riffle through her bag but paused suddenly as she slowly withdrew a brown package from its depth. She remained still as she considered it for a long moment before she set it down. A moment later, she withdrew another long box from the bag's contents and placed it beside the first package.
"Sage?" The girl frowned softly.
She briefly glanced back at the other female over her shoulder, their eyes briefly meeting before she turned away once more, "D'Qar."
"D… D'Qar?" The younger girl breathed, her features lighting with an excited grin. "You mean like the Resistance on D'Qar?"
"Yes," she said, turning back to face her student once more. The knight regarded the packages further for a moment before she was extending her arm. "Here. Put those on."
Rey carefully accepted both items but when she looked back up at Sage, the woman was leaving the room and disappearing down the hall with her own boots in hand.
Frowning softly, she set the box down on the covers beside her. Looking back down at the package still in her hands, she slowly pulled at the twine string keeping it closed. With hardly any effort, it fell away and she pulled back the stiff paper to reveal a carefully folded pile of cream and light gray clothing. Atop the pile of clothes was a fine brown belt with a silver fastener attached to it, one similar in design to the one Sage wore.
She also pulled the lid off the box to reveal a set of knee-high brown boots that looked to be brand new. Never once worn.
Again, she looked up from both packages to gaze at the empty doorway where her master had disappeared.
Following orders and setting the packages aside, Rey rose from her bed and washed her face in the sink, the cool water helping to further pull her mind from its sleepy state. Standing before the small mirror, she dried her face with the towel and then began to run her fingers through her wild hair. She pulled the unruly strands back into her typical three buns and fastened them with hair ties before she exited to dress.
The clothing was very comfortable and light, soft to the touch. There were a lot of layers to deal with, first a long sleeved gray undershirt, then the creme tunic over the top of that. And then, there was a strange set of strips of more gray cloth that she had no idea where to put.
After sliding the pants on, she took the boots from the box and pulled them on as well. She found them to be just a little big but they didn't fit horribly.
Leaving the bunk room, she made her way through the ship and found that it was empty, save for the blue and white form of R2 who was stationed near one side of the hallway, sparks snapping quietly as he made a few repairs in a panel box.
He trilled at her and she just smiled and stroked the dome on his head before she was moving passed, the extra fabric and belt held in her hands as she went in search of her master.
When she entered the cockpit, she found that Chewie was at the helm. Sage was sitting in the co-pilot's chair and was pulling her own boots onto her feet. She looked up when her student appeared in the doorway and it may have been a shifting in the light but Rey swore her eyes seemed to light up slightly when she appeared; how they rooved over her form.
"Uhm…" She paused in the entrance way. Her cheeks burned hotly under the woman's scrutinization and ducked her head slightly, her fingers ringing nervously through the cloth in her hands. "I… uh…"
"How do they fit?" Sage asked as she rose from her seat so that she could circle around the younger girl. She began to pull at the fabric, adjusting it further around her small frame.
The blonde raised her hands and brushed them across her shoulders to smooth the small wrinkles present, "Pretty-uh-pretty good, actually. I think. Perhaps a bit big but-"
"The robes are supposed to be a little big. To keep us humble, hide our physiques." The female huffed a laugh and tilted her head slightly as she reached around and took the remaining articles from Rey's hands. "Impressive as they are." She added lowly as an after-thought, chuckling softly once more.
A shadow passed over head then and fabric was settling on her shoulders. "The tabards go over the top." Arms were then reaching around her waist, securing the final bit of cloth in place, "The obi goes over your stomach. The belt goes over that." She felt a tug that lightly rocked her backwards as the cloth was clipped into place. Next, the belt was circling around and clicking shut, "There."
Rey looked up and found that the Wookie had been watching them and when he caught her gaze, he yodeled softly and nodded his head in approval. She smiled.
"How do you feel?" Her master asked.
"I feel…" She looked down at herself and smoothed her palms over the new material. She took a moment to search herself and her feelings. What she found was the warmth that she so longed after, "… important."
At her answer, the corners of Sage's mouth curled and her eyes shone in the blinking lights of the cockpit, "I'm glad you feel that way." She allowed her hand to rest on the girl's shoulder for a moment before she was brushing by her to finish dressing herself.
Rey turned to watch her go, the female raising her arms above her head so she could gather her hair into once fist, her other hand reaching for the elastic around her wrist.
"Master, wait!"
The blonde froze where she was and turned back to her pupil, her eyes widened slightly with confusion.
Rey took a few steps closer to her down the short hall, her lips pursing slightly while her cheeks burned warmly once more. "You're just going to put your hair in a tail?"
Sage's eyes darted to the side for a moment, "Yes...?"
"Well... I mean, you've been gone for so long... and I'm sure you want to make a good impression... so... Mmm... What I'm trying to say is that... Would you let me do something with your hair? I mean, not that it isn't absolutely fine as it is when it's in a tail or down-I just mean, I know that Jedi aren't supposed to be so conscientious of our looks but-"
The woman allowed both her arms and hair to drop and she huffed out a soft laugh once more, cutting off the younger girl who stared at her in horror. When Sage became aware of Rey's anxiety she offered her another small smile to ease her fears.
"You're right..." She sighed in resignation. "Outward looks don't matter in our world. However, the rest of the galaxy is another enigma entirely." She raised a hand once more to ruffle her hair and sighed again. "Do as you wish."
Rey hesitated a moment when she received her permission but then nervously gestured to the stationary seat that lay before the technical station in the open lounge.
Spinning the chair, the knight sat down and it took a moment before her padawan tentatively began to brush gentle fingers through the dark golden strands. Brushing it back from the roots, Rey gently picked up a few sections of the strands and began to twist them together in a weave. She repeated this process down the rest of the side of her head and stole the tie from Sage to secured the braid, only to repeat the weave on the other side as well before securing both braids together at the back of her head. She then began to fix a few things here and there, gently tugging on a few strands to loosen them until she deemed them acceptable.
Once more, Rey ran her fingers through the loose strands to tame them one final time, relishing in the silky tresses that wove between her fingers, "There. Done."
Sage herself reached up and lightly touched at her hair, only to turn to her student a moment later, her lips curling upwards slightly. "How does it look?"
The girl offered her a wide smile, "It looks good. Different but... good." She assured her.
The knight raised her eyes and held her student's gaze for a long moment before she was turning her head away, her own cheeks heating up as she rose to her full height once more. Again, she held Rey's eyes for a brief second before she was clearing her throat.
"I'm going to finish dressing. We should be landing in a few minutes."
The dark haired girl nodded slowly in understanding and stepped back to allow her room to move. Sage herself pressed her lips together and ducked her head slightly as she wordlessly moved by her padawan, only to disappear down the hallway towards the crew's cabin.
When she was gone, Rey heaved a heavy breath and slumped down in the console's chair, her mind racing to calm the frayed nerves of her system after such an encounter with her master. She herself felt flushed and her face suddenly felt hot so she remained seated there for a moment longer, her hand over her face as she continued to breathe deeply in an effort to calm her racing heart as well as maintain the carefully constructed barrier around her mind.
The scavenger was vaguely aware of the shuddering of the Falcon as it dropped out of hyperspace and a moment later, there was a second tremor that rattled through the ship as it entered into an atmosphere. D'Qar's atmosphere.
However, she lifted her head and open her eyes when she heard the soft click of boots on the metal grating. The footsteps drew nearer and she straightened in her seat.
It was then that Sage came striding around the corner of the hallway and into the lounge. And just as she had said, she was now dressed.
She now donned a gray tunic, as well as tabards and an obi of matching color. A rich brown belt was clipped tight around her waist, the metallic canister of her lightsaber swinging at her left hip. And, last, there was a heavy, chocolate brown robe that adorned her strong shoulders, her hair sitting like a golden hallow against the dark fabric.
For a moment, Rey was entirely awestruck.
Sage was... Stars.
Her mind was assaulted with a multitude of wondrous attributions that gushed forth at the sight of her master.
She was... She was...
Striking and noble; impressive, regal...
Magnificent.
A wide smile bloomed across her face and her own eyes lit up. She slowly rose from her seat, her eyes never leaving the knight. "Wow."
A new warmth bloomed inside her, in her heart. Perhaps... perhaps, all hope in the galaxy was not lost. The Resistance would not fall to the First Order. Light could prevail over the Darkness.
For a true Jedi Knight stood before her.
Hey, guys! I'm back!
I'm so sorry that it has taken so long to get out an update. I've been busy getting settled into my school routine and have only been able to get a few words in here and there.
Anyway, I'm done with excuses.
Not much happened in this chapter but... there are perhaps some... hints about what is going to happen. And I'm sooooo fuckin' stoked. The next chapter is really going to be a change up because THE RESISTANCE. YAS.
And, again, I'm sorry that these chapters are only Rey/Sage interaction but, again, this is important. A bond between a master and a padawan is supposed to be special and unlike newby writers, I understand what development is. I don't just jump parts of a relationship.
I've literally been messaged to "Hurry up and get to Kylo". Excuse me, Child?
Writing, at least, good writing, doesn't happen like that. Relationships have to be shown, not simply told about. Now, hold your goddamn horses.
Anyway, beyond that, I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed and favorited/followed. You guys seriously light up my life. When I get emails for a review or another notification, I literally scream with joy.
Anyway, thanks again, guys.
So... YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO, READ AND REVIEW!
Love,
Blue
P.S. Also, a quick side note, I'm going to be going back and updating/fixing errors that I missed when I was first writing them. Also, there might be slight plot altercations as well so if you want the whole experience, you might want to re-read things but I probably won't have all the errors fixed until at least the next week or two. Thanks again, guys :)