Chapter 3: Half-Truths and Revelations

While collecting the stars, I connected the dots.

I don't know who I am, but now I know who I'm not.

I'm just a curious speck that got caught up in orbit,

Like a magnet it beckoned my metals toward it.

-Jupiter, Sleeping at Last

23 ABY

When Rey's eyes flickered open, she was in a dark space. Cracked, dry earth pressed up against her feet, and an inky black ceiling loomed over her. In the distance a line of dim light traced an invisible horizon.

Without warning, a bolt of molten blue lightning rent the air before her, illuminating for a moment a deep chasm in the ground. Blinded by the light she staggered back, left with the vague impression of a massive face carved in slick, icy stone. The earth began to shake and rubble rained down from above. Everything tilted sideways—

—and suddenly Rey was spread-eagled on the ground, rain battering down around her. She used her hands to push herself upright, staggering and sloshing through puddles illuminated in the flickering orange glow of flames—flames that were engulfing a great burning citadel. Ribbons of fire had spread into the magnificent trees adjacent to the structure, lighting their crowns like so many deadly candelabra. Feet away, a robed figure hunched over the earth, moaning in anguish. He lifted a hand to the metal carapace of a silver astromech droid, revealing fingers that were formed of durasteel and appeared grossly macabre in the flickering light. The figure's head began to turn towards Rey, but just as she was about to view his face—

—her vision shifted and she was staring at a slightly younger version of herself whose frightfully delicate arm was caught in the grasp of Unkar Plutt's meaty fist.

"No!" screamed the younger Rey, her voice cracking as she struggled to escape Plutt. "Come back! Please, come back!"

Rey followed her younger counterpart's gaze, taking in the sandy dunes of Jakku and the shape of a boxy ship lifting away from the planet, its engines roaring as it fought gravity in pursuit of one of the system's two suns. Although the ship grew smaller, young-Rey's cries only grew louder, thrumming painfully through the air in a discordant song of pain.

The air was darkening as the sun drew down to a flickering point of light. Rey turned back to comfort the screaming girl beside her, but she was gone, and Rey was alone in a dark forest. Before her stood a strangely familiar young man with haunted eyes, a raw but healing wound splitting his face into halves.

"I am nothing," he whispered softly, his dark eyes meeting hers in a silent plea. "But not when I am with you."

The mans' voice called to Rey, echoing off the empty spaces in her chest like the clear music of water flowing through a dry desert canyon. And his pain—his pain rattled her to her very marrow. It was her pain; she raised her hand to her cheek, half expecting it to come away sticky with blood.

Instead, she felt only the dampness of saltwater.

With a sob Rey stepped forward, reaching out to touch, but just as her fingers contacted the man's arm, he disappeared in a swirl of smoke. In his place towered the shape of a dark and unnatural edifice, its jagged architecture sending a shock of hopelessness into her chest. Images flashed before her—a long corridor, a throne room, and a hammer and anvil. Atop the anvil rested a black mask—half constructed and rimmed with silver tracery that shimmered in the dusky light. It had dark pits for eyes that rose up to swallow. She tried to run, tripped, and—

—landed on her backside in the empty corridor of Maz's castle.

Pulse hammering in her ears and throat, Rey scrambled to her feet and backed away from the door frame. She could still see the innocuous table with its simple wooden chest. The lid had slipped shut and she could no longer see the weapon within, but she could still feel it calling to her, the echo of its touch still lingering on her fingertips.

"Rey?"

Her head snapped to the side, taking in Maz's slight figure moving hesitantly towards her down the long hall.

"W-what is that?" Rey stammered, pointing through the open door. "That thing, in the chest?"

Maz let out a heavy sigh, pushing her lenses back and drawing near to Rey. Her eyes were much smaller without their magnification, two shrunken points in a wide, wrinkled face. "It calls to you, doesn't it, child?" she said, taking one of Rey's hands between both of hers. "The lightsaber."

An electric current shot down Rey's spine at the word. Lightsaber.

"That saber was once the weapon of a great Jedi," Maz continued, in response to Rey's unspoken question. "One of the very greatest. But you must know child, that the higher you stand, the further you have to fall. You may know him by the name he took later, after he was claimed by the dark side: Darth Vader."

Rey shivered. She knew the name—everyone knew the name. She had heard legends of Vader's fall from the light, of his reign of terror as the right hand of the Emperor, Lord of the Sith.

"That weapon…" she whispered. "It's killed people. Many people. It showed me things…visions. Why did it call to me?" Her bottom lip trembled slightly despite her attempts to control it.

Maz squeezed Rey's hand gently. "Yes, it has," she admitted. "But it has also been used for good. It belonged to another, before it came into my possession: Luke Skywalker, he who restored balance to the Force. So, you see, its calling to you is not so very frightening. The blade was forged by a creature of the light, and although he fell, it still carries the memory of that goodness in it."

Rey used her free hand to dash away a rogue tear that had slipped free from her lashes. "But the things it showed me…they were awful. They weren't real, were they?"

"There, there, child," Maz said comfortingly, stroking Rey's hair once. "Only time can tell us the answer to that question. Be wary not to place too much stock in visions—that way lies madness. A partial truth revealed can be a dangerous thing without context."

Rey nodded, withdrawing her hand to scrub at her other cheek briskly. "Does it speak to everyone like that?" she asked.

Maz had been serious before, but now her countenance grew almost grim. "No," she said. "It does not. You, my child, are very special indeed. That lightsaber is yours, if you want it."

"What would I do with it?" Rey asked. "I'm no Jedi."

A fraction of the strain in Maz's eyes seemed to dissipate. "Indeed, you are not. And yet…perhaps you will allow me to keep it here, for you. Should you find yourself in need of a weapon, with nowhere else to turn, it may call to you again."

Rey shrugged uncertainly, just as Han's voice echoed down the corridor, calling her name. She glanced up abruptly and caught sight of the former smuggler and his Wookie friend striding towards them.

Maz stepped closer and squeezed Rey's wrist tightly. "Perhaps it is best that you do not share what you have seen here," she whispered lowly. "Han is not Force-sensitive as we are. He may not understand. Besides, it can be dangerous to share visions with those they concern."

Rey blinked in confusion. "Force-sensitive? But I'm not—"

And then Han was upon them. "What are you two doing all the way down here?" he asked grumpily. "Giving her a tour of the dungeons, are we Maz?"

"Just showing her all that Takodana has to offer," their host replied breezily, releasing Rey's arm and patting her gently on the shoulder. "Let's be off now—luncheon awaits. Oh, Chewie, it is good to see you."

For the second time in as many days, Rey was treated to a meal the likes of which she had never before witnessed. The table was covered in bowls practically overflowing with fruits at the peak of ripeness, platters of savory meats and loaves of warm, fresh bread.

"Eat up girl," Maz demanded, eyeing Rey's skinny frame critically. "And have seconds."

The pirate queen of Takodana was quick to engage in a rapid-fire conversation—spoken entirely in Wookie—with Chewbacca. This left Han and Rey free to partake of the hearty fare, a task that Han set to almost religiously.

Rey perked up when Maz switched back to their own language to address Han. "Really, the number of smuggler ships passing through this watering hole has dropped precipitously in the past year. Something is out there—something dark enough that even smugglers are wary of space travel. I got a crew in from the Unknown Regions just last week—said they lost their captain, but wouldn't say how. Told me they'd never go back." Her eyes, magnified once more behind thick lenses, scrutinized Han's face.

If she was expecting a reaction, she didn't get one. Han deliberately washed down a bite of bread with drink before responding. "Maz, you know I don't put stock in superstitious smuggler-talk. Those crews are afraid of everything—including each other. Under the New Republic it's harder to make a living as a smuggler—I know that better than anyone." Here he grinned wryly over at Chewie, as if sharing a private joke. "It doesn't mean the bogeyman is gathering his forces in the far reaches of the galaxy."

Maz clicked her tongue in annoyance. "You would do well to listen to stirrings." She made eye contact with Rey. "Men. Half the time they can't see what's standing right in front of them."

Rey hid a smile behind her hand. She liked Maz's dry sense of humor, but she was also indebted to Han and felt guilty for appreciating that humor at his expense.

Han didn't seem irritated however, and only rolled his eyes good-naturedly before returning to his meal. Chewie picked up his conversation with Maz and Rey thought she caught a few words that sounded like "family" and "home." It made her wonder if Chewbacca, like Han, had a family of his own, separate from his role as a rebellion hero.

Rey had just cleaned her plate for the second time when Maz's head jerked up suddenly from its position resting against her closed fist. "Ah," she said. "They're here."

Seconds later the main doors to the tavern opened with a woosh, letting in a corona of bright light that backlit the two figures standing at its threshold. The first figure stepped forward smoothly, the other bobbed robotically behind. Han stood abruptly.

"Leia?"

As the doors swished shut behind them, cutting out the light, Rey was able to make out the features of the newcomers. One was a middle-aged woman with streaks of gray in her long, braided hair. Her face was older than it had appeared in Han's photograph, but it was still clear to Rey that she was Senator Leia Organa, princess of the rebellion.

Near her shoulder stood a tall golden protocol droid, its casings polished until they shone. "Why, Master Solo," the droid exclaimed, stepping forward between Senator Organa and Han. "How lovely it is to see you!"

"Good to see you, Threepio," said Han, in a tone that Rey guessed might have been less mild had he not looked slightly worried, as if he had been caught in an incriminating position. He moved across the room towards his wife, dodging the droid and reaching out to sweep her into a hug. She returned the gesture smoothly and then drew back to swat his arm.

"What did I tell you about that cruiser?" she demanded. "You can't just leave things willy-nilly whenever the fancy takes you."

"Yes, dear," Han said apologetically, taking a step back. "But you see—"

"Don't give me excuses," the senator said. "You go through ships like a bantha goes through fodder. It's a miracle you kept the Falcon in one piece all these years."

"Yes, but—"

"Chewie, it really is lovely to see you." She stepped past Han resolutely to embrace the Wookie, who had left his seat and ambled over to the pair quietly. Chewie murmured a few words in Wookie and Leia drew back in surprise.

"A girl? On Jakku?"

"That's what I was trying to tell you," Han grumbled. "We ran into some trouble on Jakku. Someone had set an ignition lock on the Falcon so we had to enlist help from a local. The local law enforcement caught wind of the situation and we had to make a quick getaway."

Senator Organa's face softened as she looked towards the table where Rey and Maz were still seated. "Oh dear," she said.

Rey, who had initially been struck dumb by the presence of another one of her greatest heroes, quickly scrambled to her feet and cut what she hoped was a passable bow.

"Oh dear," the senator said again, but in a rather different tone of voice. "No need for that, young lady. Come, let's sit. Maz, would you mind if we drew up some extra chairs?"

Maz gestured to the two chairs that had already arrived at the hands of a waiting service droid. "Please, sit." Rey was struck again by the thought that nothing seemed to faze their host. "It has been many a year since I have seen you, princess," Maz continued. "What brings you to Takodana?"

Senator Organa sank into the offered chair, looking rather uncomfortable, as if she had news that would be better shared in private. At Maz's pointed look, she sighed. "I was looking for Han," she admitted. "There's been…news, from Luke."

Han, who had just seated himself to his wife's right, glanced up sharply. "What do you mean, news?" he asked, looking as though the only kind of news he expected from his old friend was of the unpleasant variety.

"Later," the senator said briskly. "Please, introduce me to your young friend."

Rey blushed a brilliant shade of red and stared at her lap, pleased at the idea of being anything more than a hired hand aboard Han's ship.

"Leia, this is Rey. Rey, this is my wife, Leia. Ben's mother."

Senator Organa's brow furrowed, as though she was completely unaccustomed to being introduced as anyone's mother.

"A pleasure to meet you," she said, extending a hand bearing a single ring. "You must be very brave to have gotten involved in my husband's mischief."

Rey smiled shyly, and placed her hand in the senator's. "Not so very brave, my lady."

The senator's face froze for an instant, her mask slipping to reveal an expression of shock similar to the look one might assume after turning over a harmless rock to reveal a poisonous adder. It lasted only a half a second before she covered it with a warm smile, holding onto Rey's hand a heartbeat longer than strictly necessary.

"Who are your parents, young Rey? Surely they must be missing you back on Jakku."

Rey's eyes clouded and she looked down into her lap briefly before making eye contact with Maz across the table. The old alien was watching her intently. "They left me," she whispered. "I was waiting for them to come back, but after I helped steal the Falcon my master was very angry, so I had to leave with Mr. Solo and Chewbacca. I was hoping—well Han said—that maybe you could help me find them."

Maz let out a quiet sigh full of emotion and looked away. A stone of guilt settled in Rey's chest.

Senator Organa swallowed once, glancing over at Han. "Well…yes, I suppose I could contact a few people," she conceded, reaching out to touch Rey's arm gently, as if she thought the girl might break. "Is there anything you can tell me about them? Anything that might be useful in our search?"

Rey screwed her eyes shut and thought very hard. Memories of her father were all but absent—she guessed that he hadn't been around as much as her mother, who she remembered only as a tall figure with soft skin and warm arms. She opened her eyes, feeling defeated. These details would not be enough for the senator to begin her search. Then—

"I know the ship that they left in," Rey said, excitement creeping into her voice. "I can draw it for you!"

Han fished into one of the front pockets of his jacket and removed a beat-up ink pen and tattered notebook, from which he tore a page. "Here you go, kid," he said, offering them to Rey. "Have at it."

Rey positioned the paper carefully in front of her and held the pen in her clumsy grip. Painstakingly, she traced out the shape of the ship from her vision, paying careful attention to its oval cross-section and sharp tail fins. As the drawing unfolded, the golden protocol droid leaned forward, surveying her work.

"My," he said finally. "That looks just like a Sublight Products Corporation design. I haven't seen one of that sort in nearly three decades."

"Subpro?" Han asked. "Are you sure, Threepio?"

"Assuming that this replication is reliable, I would classify the ship as Subpro with eighty-eight point three-six-eight percent certainty," the droid reeled off. "Given the unpracticed nature of the rendition, my final certainty comes to—"

"Alright, that's enough," Han cut in. "Subpro. Very interesting. Anything else, kid?"

Rey shook her head. "Only what I already told you. That they left me there three years ago."

General Organa seemed vaguely interested by this admission. "Three years ago, you're certain?"

Rey nodded solemnly. "Yes. One thousand, one hundred, and seventeen days ago to be exact."

"You sound like the droid, kid," Han teased, jerking his head at Threepio, who somehow managed to look offended despite his utterly expressionless face.

"That's a long time to wait for someone who may never return," Maz said, finally breaking the silence.

"I'm good at waiting," Rey said defensively. "I have lots of practice."

Maz didn't respond at first, but fixed Rey with a look that contained both anxiety and sadness. "Well," she said finally. "It seems my business here is done. I am sure we will meet again, Rey of Jakku. Han, lunch is on me. Feel free to stop by when next you need something, or whenever dear Chewie is feeling lonely."

Tossing a flirtatious wink at the Wookie, the pirate queen stood to her full height of just over four feet and departed into the crowded room.

Senator Organa's eyes were sad as they hovered on Rey's face. She opened her mouth as if to say something, then closed it again and turned to Han. "What are you doing on Takodana?" she inquired. "A bit out of the way, isn't it?"

Han grumbled in a way that to Rey indicated his supreme discomfort with the direction of the conversation. "Picked up a shipment for Luke," he finally admitted. "I was hoping Maz could get it on a freighter out to Yavin 4."

The senator blinked at Han incredulously. "Were you avoiding visiting our son?"

"It's not as if you ever visit him," Han snapped defensively.

"Well, I don't have any reason to," Senator Organa responded, equally defensively. "I can't believe you would pay a stranger to deliver a shipment too our son and my brother when you could do it yourself."

"Ben doesn't want to see me!" Han snapped, clearly forgetting that he and his wife had an audience. "He made that quite clear after I allowed you to send him off to Luke."

"Oh, so it's my fault, is it?" the senator responded, voice rising in volume. "Why you half-witted, scruffy looking—"

Chewie cleared his throat in a fashion that suggested this sort of bickering was a common occurrence between the two.

"I'm very sorry," Senator Organa said apologetically, smoothing her already immaculate hair. Rey was uncertain whether the apology was for Han, or her onlookers. "I don't know what came over me. Regardless, this is why I needed to find you. I received word from Luke just yesterday. He said Ben has been acting strangely, and that his Force signature has changed."

"Strangely, how?" Han asked suspiciously. "And what does that mean, about his Force signature?"

"Luke said Ben seems…lighter than before. As if a weight has been lifted from him. And his Force signature is less conflicted, less unpredictable. It's good news—and Luke suggested that we might want to visit him now, while it lasts. Just think Han—maybe he's his old self again, like he was before the—before."

Rey's stomach flipped slightly at the turn of the conversation. She was curious to hear more about Ben, but the senator's words sent a chill down her spine. What had happened to the serious young boy from Han's picture, the one who had carved his letters into the Falcon?

The senator's hopeful countenance wasn't quite mirrored in her husband's eyes, although Han looked rather less grim than he had when the conversation had begun. "Leia, our son has never been filled with light," he reminded her gently. "Even as a child he had a quietness, a loneliness in him." He glanced down at Rey, as if recalling suddenly that she was still present.

"I know Han, but there was a time—a time when he was happy, and complete. Don't you remember? Can't we just hope for that again?"

Han rested his hand on his wife's shoulder. "Of course we can, princess."

The senator's face twisted with a strange emotion and she looked to the side, blinking rapidly in the way one does to fend off unwelcome tears. "Well then," she said. "We'll go. And even if Ben doesn't want to see us—well—we would need to go for Rey, anyways."

At this, all four of Senator Organa's companions looked askance at her.

Chewie finally broke the silence with a deep rumble. Why does little quicksilver need to visit master brightsword?

"Wha—you mean you don't know?" the senator asked, glancing between Han and Rey. "Why, it's practically pouring off of her! But then, how could you know? I'm only surprised that Maz didn't say anything."

Her dark eyes captured Rey's, their depths filled with a mixture of warmth and trepidation. "Dear, this may come as a bit of a shock to you, but you have the right to know. You are very strong in the Force. I could sense your presence before I entered the room. Even now it's pressing up from inside you—untapped, untrained—but powerful. With the guidance of my brother…who knows what you could become."

Rey sat frozen, staring at Senator Organa.

"What?" Han snapped in exasperation, severing the mounting tension. "This is my new mechanic; you can't just whisk her off to go train as a Jedi based on some feeling."

The senator's eyes flashed. "It's not just some feeling, Han," she responded. "I've explained this to you before. The Force is as real to she and I as your right arm is to you. It's like another limb—just because you can't see it doesn't mean it isn't there."

"But I can't see it either," Rey broke in, finally finding her voice. "I've never used the Force—or whatever you call it. I'm just a scavenger."

Senator Organa placed her hand over Rey's gently. "The Force isn't something you see with your eyes," she explained. "It is something within you—or better yet, you are within it. It flows through each and every one of us. Force-sensitives are people who can feel the force, and channel it, like a wire channels electricity. It is not uncommon for young Force-users to be unaware of their abilities; it is not a talent that is spoken of often. Great superstition surrounds its use, and those who do not know the ways of the Force often fear it. Others may even seek to exploit its power for themselves."

"Well isn't that what you're doing?" Han fumed. "Have you ever considered that every Force-sensitive kid in the galaxy doesn't want to put her life on the line to join a mysterious cult of men in robes?"

"I think you know that I've considered that at length," his wife sniffed, "considering that I never became a full Jedi."

"You can use the Force?" Rey exclaimed, wide-eyed.

The senator's face softened again as she looked down at Rey. "Yes, dear. My brother, Luke, and I have always been in touch with the Force. I believe it played a role in our reunion after so many years of separation. I trained with him shortly after his defeat of Emperor Palpatine, but in the end I surrendered that path to become a senator. It was my true calling."

Rey looked up at the older woman in awe. "Does that mean—did you have a lightsaber? Could you move things without touching them? Did you travel the galaxy?"

Senator Organa smiled gently. "Yes," she answered. "But being a Jedi isn't all about glory and adventure. It is a hard way of life, and one that shouldn't be chosen lightly. Which is why," she said, looking pointedly at Han, "I'm not suggesting that you become a Jedi. There are plenty of Force-sensitives who live their entire lives without considering that route. Take Maz for example. She is highly attuned to the Force, but has never lifted a Jedi weapon in all of her many years. The reason I mentioned taking you to see Luke is a matter control. You are so young, and that kind of power can be difficult for a child—especially an untrained child—to handle. As a Jedi, my brother is one of the only Force-sensitives to have developed a form of discipline that keeps his abilities in check. Meeting with him would be a huge benefit to you—both in terms of your own safety, and the safety of those around you."

Rey looked over at Han and Chewie, suddenly nervous. Was the senator right? Was there some sort of untapped potential within her, waiting to spill out and harm anyone she came in contact with? What if she had already hurt her new friends?

"I'll go," she said quickly. "If it's alright with Mr. Solo. I think you're wrong about me, my lady, but if what you say is true, I don't want to cause any trouble. And I would—I would love to meet Master Skywalker." She gave voice to this last part quietly, as if worried that her secret wish would change the senator's mind.

"It's settled then," Senator Organa said warmly. "We'll leave in the morning for Yavin 4. We can take the Falcon—I'll have my guard return my own shuttle to Naboo."

Han didn't look altogether pleased with this arrangement, and as his wife hurried off to finalize plans, he took Rey aside gently, kneeling in front of her so that they could speak eye to eye.

"Listen, kid," he told her seriously. "I know this is a lot for you. A couple of days ago you were living in some Force-forsaken wasteland in the desert, and now Leia wants to drag you off to Yavin 4 to meet what's left of the Jedi. But listen here—you just say the word, and Chewie and I will have you out of there faster than you can say bantha spit, got it?"

Rey's heart swelled with gratitude and she felt her lower lip tremble. Without warning she launched herself at him, throwing both arms around his neck in a fierce hug that caught him off guard. Han rocked back on his heels, returning the gesture with an awkward pat on the back.

"Okay, kid," he said. "Okay. Just remember, you hear me? Any time you want to leave, we will. Now pull it together, enough of this sappy shit."

Rey leaned back, a huge grin splitting her face. "Yes sir, Mr. Solo," she said.

"Enough with the titles," Han said, pushing himself to his feet, knees clicking in protest. "My name is Han."

"Yes sir, Mr. Han."

From the moment that the Falcon broke into Yavin 4's atmosphere, Rey's skin began to buzz.

It was similar to the feeling she had experienced on Takodana as she ran her fingers through the soft grass and smiled up at the swaying trees, and yet so very different. As the Falcon lost altitude, she began to understand why. The trees on Yavin 4 were ancient—mighty behemoths that had withstood the test of centuries.

But there was more to it than that. Rey felt as though she drifted on the edge of a mighty whirlpool whose swirling was drawing her inexorably closer to its center. The thought of turning away or drawing back never occurred to her. Whatever lay at the center of that whirlpool called to her more strongly than Darth Vader's lightsaber ever could have.

"You okay, kid?" Han said, his head craned over his shoulder. He sat in the pilot's chair once more, Chewie in the copilot seat, while Rey and Senator Organa were strapped in behind the pair. Threepio was in low power mode in the belly of the ship, having claimed that space travel made him dizzy.

I could rewire your circuits for you, Rey had suggested kindly, drawing a look of sheer horror from the protocol droid. She hadn't offered again.

Blinking herself back to the present, Rey gave Han what she hoped was a convincing smile. "Of course," she said, trying not to fidget in her seat.

Han lowered the Falcon in a gentle spiral towards an opening in the mighty trees. There—towering in its own right, but still dwarfed beneath the forest's canopy, was a magnificent temple. Rey was immediately transfixed by its sweeping dome and many spires. The structure seemed to vibrate with hidden power. Whatever was calling to Rey, it was here.

On Takodana, Rey had flung herself from her seat and raced out into the sunlight. Here, she forced herself to rise slowly and steadily, taking her place a step behind Han and Leia as they prepared to disembark. A worm of anxiety squeezed its way into the back of her mind. All of her life she had been searching for something, waiting for someone. What if the thing she was looking for wasn't here? Equally terrifying, what if it was?

Taking a deep breath, Rey slipped her hand into Chewbacca's offered paw and descended onto the waiting earth.

The temple itself, when they entered, was surprisingly silent. No Jedi drilling in saber forms, no shouting or Force-wielding warriors as Rey had expected. The quiet was so intense that it seemed to absorb sound, muffling their footsteps and casting their voices into uneasy whispers. Something about the quality of the silence was peaceful. It begged Rey to close her eyes and simply listen.

A series of beeps and whirs broke the stillness as a silver and blue droid rolled into sight. Rey started. It was the astromech droid from her vision.

"Why, R2D2!" Threepio exclaimed happily, shuffling forward from his position behind Rey and Chewie. "How delightful it is to see you! We are looking for Master Luke."

The astromech let out another series of whistles.

Threepio turned to Senator Organa. "R2D2 tells me that we have arrived during the meditation hour," he translated. "Master Luke is in the eastern courtyard. R2 has offered to take us there."

Han gestured for the droids to lead the way, and they trundled away down an empty corridor, Threepio keeping up a constant stream of chatter that only cut off when they reached a large set of blast doors.

"R2D2 says that Master Luke is through here," Threepio explained. "He requests that you enter silently, as Master Luke is likely very focused and should not be startled."

The doors slid open soundlessly and Han and Leia stepped through, followed closely by Rey and Chewie.

Rey's first recollection of the courtyard was that it was beautiful. A circular pool of flowing water dominated its center—like a whirlpool, she thought—and its edges were decorated with vining plants, creeping effortlessly up the stone walls and disguising their mortar-work in a mass of foliage.

Sitting cross-legged on the edge of the pool, with his back to them, was a figure in a sand-colored tunic. His hands rested lightly on his knees, fingers uncurled so that his palms faced upwards.

Rey shifted slightly to the side, trying to see more around Han's leg, and caught sight of a second figure, across the water from the first. His head was bowed, revealing a head of dark, wavy hair that shielded the rest of his face. His shoulders were far broader than those of the first man, and he wore a dark blue tunic, sleeves rolled up to bare his forearms. Rey's heart made a frantic attempt to throw itself out of her chest. She could feel it flopping inside of her like a fish without water. Look up, she begged silently. Please look up.

As if she had spoken aloud, the second man lifted his head, and his eyes met hers across the space between them. They were dark, almost as dark as his mother's, but the shape belonged to Han. Rey's ears roared, and she swore she felt something shift in the region of her sternum. The whirlpool had become a hurricane, and it battered at her, willing her forward. She took a single step, passing between Han and Leia.

Ben Solo's gaze didn't waver. His expression was a mixture of anguish and something else. Surprise, perhaps?

She could feel it again—the presence brushing against hers. Not suffocating, not smothering, but gentle, with a touch so indescribably delicate that she could barely feel it, despite the way is surrounded her. The world was spinning, and she realized with a start that Ben—Ben—was on his feet. Something about his height drew forth a memory. Even without the scar bisecting his face, she would know the young man from her vision anywhere.

The rushing in Rey's ears was growing louder. Her vision constricted to a point and she felt everything tipping…tipping…tipping.

She landed on something soft, and her last memory before her consciousness winked out was the sound of a heartbeat thumping in time with her own.

A/N: Sorry for the wait, folks! And sorry as well for my second cliff-hanger in a row! I'm truly awful. Someone asked for shorter chapters, but a lot of people asked for Ben, so I did the worst thing possible: wrote a chapter just long enough to be too long, while also including just a tiny snippet of our favorite edgelord. Whoops. More to come soon, though!

Huge shout out to kittystargen3 for helping to beta this chapter! She caught many of my wacky typos (do hmu if you find more) and helped smooth out my characterization of Leia. On the topic of Leia-I assigned her the wrong title in Chapter 2 (General, rather than Senator). That mistake has been corrected and chapter 3 reflects the change. Sorry if that threw anyone off!

As always, let me know if you have questions or comments. I very much appreciate your readership and reviews so far. You truly are such a kind group of people, so thank you!

-A