FINN, REY, HAN, AND CHEWBACCA
"Been a long time since I've seen Luke. But things changed," Han mused, his eyes reflecting a journey into memories. "He had this Jedi academy, a place where he trained a new generation of Force-sensitive kids."
Rey leaned in, captivated by the revelation. "A Jedi academy? Like the ones in the stories?"
Han nodded. "Exactly. But things went sideways. Luke sensed a... darkness."
The weight of sorrow settled in the cockpit as Han continued, his voice somber. "One day... the location of the Jedi temple, where all the younglings were training... got exposed."
Chewbacca, the Wookiee companion, added a soft growl, a mix of sadness and anger filling the air like an unspoken requiem.
"Luke blamed himself. Said he failed... That's when he vanished." Han's words painted a canvas of loss and self-imposed exile.
Rey's eyes, pools of empathy and determination, locked onto Han. "We need to find Luke. Help him... somehow. Kylo Ren is looking for him."
A shadow passed over Han's weathered features at the mention of Kylo, a profound sadness etching his face.
"Or so the stories go," Han added abruptly.
Finn, undeterred, met Han's gaze with unyielding resolve. "We have the Millennium Falcon. We'll find him."
The Millennium Falcon surged into the brilliance of hyperspace, streaks of light stretching and warping around the ship as it hurtled through the cosmic tunnel. Inside the cockpit, Rey and Han exchanged glances, a silent agreement forged by shared purpose.
Rey, now seated in the co-pilot's chair, felt the hum of the ship resonate through her. The controls responded to her touch, as if the Falcon itself acknowledged the importance of the mission. Han Solo, at the helm, guided the legendary vessel with a familiarity.
Chewbacca, in his towering presence, manned the ship's systems with a steadfast focus.
As Takodana loomed on the navigational display, Han broke the quietude. "We're heading to Maz Kanata's place. Pawning this ship. It's hot."
As the warp of hyperspace surrounded them, Finn leaned against the console. "Why are you helping us? What's in it for you?"
Han's expression turned thoughtful. "Well, kid, Wife's focusing on the war effort, and I've been... well, let's say I've been roaming the galaxy, doing a bit of recruiting. Got nothing better to do, you know?"
Rey, intrigued, chimed in. "Recruiting for what?"
"The Resistance" Han added plainly.
Finn's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of worry crossing his features. He tightened his grip on the edge of the console. "Recruiting for the Resistance, huh? I've, uh, been helping out where I can."
Han glanced at Finn, a knowing glint in his eyes. "Good to hear."
The transition from hyperspace to real space was seamless, the stars snapping back into their familiar patterns. The lush, green hues of Takodana came into view, a haven of mysteries and gatherings.
"I didn't know there was this much green in the whole galaxy," Rey whispered, her voice carrying a quiet wonder that didn't escape Han's keen observation. There, in that vulnerable moment, he glimpsed the depth of her connection to the cosmos.
As the Falcon breached the threshold of Takodana's skies, the landscape unfurled beneath them. An endless expanse of green forest sprawled before them, concealing the secrets held within its leafy embrace. Soon, the sight gave way to a majestic castle nestled near a serene lake, a haven of beauty and tranquility.
The ship touched down on a landing pad near the castle, joining a congregation of worn, smallish freighters that hinted at the diverse stories woven into the fabric of Takodana.
Rey, BB-8 faithfully at her side, descended from the Falcon onto the landing pad. The towering stone castle loomed before her, surrounded by the comforting embrace of a forest on one side and the reflective serenity of a lake on the other. Every detail was new to her.
Inside the Millennium Falcon, in the cozy lounge area, the transition from the awe-inspiring exterior to the practicalities of the present unfolded.
From the darkness of a storage unit, Han Solo emerged, his hands retrieving old blasters with a familiarity that hinted at the ship's storied past. Finn, a hint of concern etched on his face, entered the scene, addressing Han with a mix of respect and trepidation.
"Hey, Solo -- I'm not sure what we're walking into here --"
The interaction took a playful turn as Han interrupted, a characteristic grin playing on his lips. "D'you just call me 'Solo'?"
Apologies followed. Finn, eager to assert his significance, gloated, "You should know, I'm a big deal in the Resistance. Which puts a real target on my back."
Han, undeterred, took the opportunity to impart a timeless piece of wisdom. "Listen, big deal, you've got another problem. Women always figure out the truth," Han hands Finn a blaster, "Always."
The daylight bathed Takodana in a warm glow as the iconic silhouette of Maz's castle loomed before them. Han Solo broke the quiet anticipation by extending a blaster pistol to Rey. She stood, her eyes fixed on the castle.
"You might need this," Han offered, his words carrying the weight of experience.
Rey, resolute and self-assured, met his gaze with determination. "I think I can handle myself."
"I know you do. That's why I'm giving it to you. Take it."
Rey accepted the blaster, its weight symbolizing both responsibility and empowerment.
"You know how to use one of these?" Han inquired, a hint of paternal concern in his voice.
"Yeah, you pull the trigger," Rey replied with a touch of cheekiness.
Han chuckled. "There's a little bit more to it than that. You got a lot to learn, Rey... I've been thinkin' about bringing on some more crew, Rey. A second mate. Someone to help out. Someone who can keep up with Chewie and me, appreciates the Falcon."
Rey's eyes widened at the prospect, and she posed a question that hinted at the possibility of a different life. "Are you offering me a job?"
Han, ever the pragmatist, tempered the offer with a dose of reality. "I wouldn't be nice to you. It doesn't pay much."
The reality of the moment settled on Rey. Han Solo was thinking about it.
"You're offering me a job."
"I'm thinking about it."
In that suspended moment, Rey stood at the crossroads, torn between the allure of adventure and Finn.
"Well?" Han prompted, awaiting her decision.
"If you were, I'd be flattered. But... What about Finn?"
Han, with a knowing gaze, ventured a guess. "Romantic?"
Rey blushed slightly, "No, it's just... I haven't met anyone like him, y'know?"
"All too well." Had remarked.
"We can trust her, right?" Finn's concern was evident in his question
"Relax, kid. She's run this watering hole for a thousand years. Maz is a bit of an acquired taste, so let me do the talking. And whatever you do, don't stare..." Han reassured.
"At what?" the two asked in unison.
The massive door creaked open, the trio stepped into the heart of Maz's castle. The main room unfolded before them in a chaotic symphony of music, madness, and a vibrant mosaic of species engaged in various activities.
Han's cryptic warning lingered, leaving the mysteries of Maz's realm to unfold. The trio navigated through the lively crowd, past rough and odd aliens and humans immersed in their diverse pursuits.
In the midst of the tumult, the attention shifted to a small, thousand-year-old alien wearing adjustable goggles. Maz Kanata, with an aura of ancient wisdom, seemed to sense their arrival.
"Han Solo!" she exclaimed, bringing a momentary hush to the chaos.
Han, caught between nonchalance and subtle tension, greeted her with a wave. "Oh boy," he muttered, aware of the dynamics at play. "Hey, Maz!"
The room returned to its vibrant noise as Maz, a commanding presence, made her way towards them. Han, indicating for Rey and Finn to follow, offered an explanation about Chewbacca's whereabouts.
"Where's my boyfriend?" Maz inquired.
"Chewie's working on the Falcon," Han replied.
"I like that Wookiee," Maz commented. "I assume you need something. Desperately. Let's get to it."
With a gesture, Maz led the trio through the labyrinthine paths of her castle.
As they passed by the towering Grummgar and the watchful Bazine Netal, the suspicious gaze of Maz's inhabitants followed.
THEY SETTLED DOWN AT A TABLE, Finn at the far end of the table, directly beside Rey, deliberate. Han sits next to Maz, who surveys the group as if they've just pledged loyalty to the emperor.
"A map? To Skywalker himself?" Maz questioned, her tone almost demanded an answer. "You are right back where you started, hmm?"
"Please Maz, this droid needs to get to Leia" Han pleaded.
Maz looked at Finn and Rey, then at BB-8, "And you cannot do this yourself?" She asked.
"The falcon's got heat right now, it'd be careless." Han reasoned, "Please."
Maz stops to think, the three tense up, awaiting an answer, "...No. You've been running from this fight for too long, Han. Go home."
Han hesitates, "I can't."
Finn leans in, "Look, we came here for your help."
"What fight?" Rey questioned.
"The only fight: against the dark side. Through the ages, I've seen evil take many forms. The Sith. The Empire. Today, it is the First Order. Their shadow is spreading across the galaxy. We must face them. Fight them. All of us." Maz answered.
"You don't know the First Order like I do. They'll slaughter us. We all need to run," Finn declares.
Rey, caught off guard, sits in stunned silence. Meanwhile, Maz gestures toward a pair of pirates in the corner. "You see those two? They'll trade work for transportation to the Outer Rim. There, you can disappear," she calmly suggests.
Finn, his gaze drawn to the indicated pirates, contemplates. He gets up from his chair, he is ready to leave.
Rey, however, interjects, an unwavering determination in her voice. "Finn!" she pleads. "Just... sit down."
Finn's resolve weakens at her tone, he obliges, sitting back down at the table, Han gives him an approving nod. "Look, no matter how far we run... they will find us." He says to all three of them, mostly Rey. He stands up again, this time ignoring Rey's pleading brown eyes, he hands the blaster Han gave him back to the man himself.
"Keep it kid." Han says.
Finn walks off into the line of colorful aliens and miscreants, he gives one last look back to an upset Rey.
FINN
When Finn reaches the outskirts of the castle, he feels something, a pull. It's addicting. He hasn't felt that feeling since he went on that mission on Jakku, on that fateful day. It churns in his stomach, twitches in his fingers. He feels compelled to turn back around, to hear them all out.
Then something else pulls at him, this time, his heart. He hears distant crying, a boy calling out to his mother, blaster shots cutting through rock, scorching grass and trees. He feels the whirr of starship soaring above, the piercing cry of a TIE Fighter.
He turns back. Finally.
WHEN HE RETURNS BACK into the castle, Rey and the rest are nowhere to be found, except Han who's betting on a podracing circuit 3 tables down, with that scheming glint in his eyes.
But again, he feels that pull, this time, it's everywhere, annoyingly addicting. He follows it, it leafs him to a spiral staircase, bits of moss decorate it like toppings on a cake. He follows the pull downwards, into the dense labyrinth of the castle.
He finds himself in a large crypt, deactivated droids litter the walls and crevices. As he walks down this massive hallway, he finds a door, it hisses open to reveal Rey, she's a shivering mess, she almost seems to be in a trance, he looks at the box in front of her, he feels that pull again.
In a panic, he wraps his arms around her, her eyes are distant, heavy.
REY (Vision)
REY, ABRUPTLY STANDING amidst an unfamiliar environment, grapples with confusion. Through a doorway, a surreal corridor unfolds, tilting and turning, defying the laws of spatial reality. Running down the corridor, Rey experiences a disorienting shift, landing on a ground transformed into dried grass.
RAIN FALLS, AND we're transported to a burning temple at night. R2-D2 watches the flames, and a mysterious figure (LUKE) reaches out with a mechanical right hand. Rey, the witness to this spectral scene, tilts her gaze upward as day morphs into night, rain into sunlight.
HAUNTED BY THE VISION, Rey witnesses a warrior being stabbed by a fiery lightsaber, unveiling a nighttime battlefield where she faces Kylo Ren and the Knights of Ren. The intensity of the rain mirrors Rey's fear as sunlight pierces through, revealing her soaked form.
AMIDST THE SHIFTING SCENES, a little girl—Rey as a child—sobs on Jakku. Unkar Plutt's hand restrains her, and she watches a starship disappear into the sky, abandoning her in the barren desert. The child screams, "No, come back!" as the ship heads toward a strangely eclipsed desert sun, consumed by darkness.
REY, NOW IN A snowy woods, hears the clash of lightsabers. Moving toward the sound, she finds herself in a nighttime, barren, snowy forest, encountering Kylo Ren and the Herself, she watchs as she wields a red lightsaber, fighting an injured Kylo. As she runs, the chilling revelation of her past unfolds — a child, abandoned on Jakku.
SUDDENLY, REY CONFRONTS Kylo Ren in a snowy woods, screams, and falls back, landing in the basement corridor of Maz's castle.
Gasping for breath, alarmed and perplexed, she finds herself back in the hall.
Finn, still by her side, steadies her trembling form.
Maz stands over them with a knowing look on her wrinkled face, she glances at the lightsaber. "That lightsaber, was Luke's, and his father's before him, and now... it calls to you... both of you." She says this with heavy breaths.
Finn looks down at Rey as she looks up st him, still in his arms, he releases her and stands up, distancing himself awkwardly. "What're you talking about? Why doesn't Luke Skywalker have his own lightsaber?"
Rey gets up as well, albeit a little shakily. "I have to get back to Jakku... I can't. I shouldn't have gone in there." She says with tears brimming in her eyes.
Finn takes notice, "Rey, we can't go back to Jakku, we have to... we have to get BB-8 to th--"
"So now you care all of a sudden! What's with the change of heart?" She shouts at Finn while Maz watches in calculation. Even as Rey begins to push Finn back against the mossy walls in sad anger, Maz studies the interaction with amusement.
"I'm not who you think I am," Finn declares in retaliation.
Rey, standing in the half-light, searches his eyes for clarity, her curiosity etched on her face. "What are you talking about?"
"I'm not Resistance. I'm not a hero. I'm a Stormtrooper," he admits, each word laden with the weight of a history he never chose. "Like all of them, I was taken from a family I'll never know. And raised to do one thing..." Finn's voice wavers.
"But during my first battle, I made a choice. I wasn't going to kill for them. So I ran... Ran right into you. And you looked at me like no one ever had. I was ashamed of what I was. But I'm done with the First Order. I'm never going back."
Rey steps back, the tears that were brimming in her eyes finally spill over, decorating her beautiful face.
"I came back here... because I felt something... I don't know what it was, but it led me here, it's been leading me, right to you. So even if I'm not with the Resistance, I wanna do the right thing, with you." Finn pours his entire heart out.
Rey looks at Maz, who's expression changes to a serious one a bit too late, then she looks back at Finn, and his genuine eyes.
"So please, don't run from this, I don't even know what this is... but don't run... let's never run, please."
Maz finally interjects, "The belonging you seek is not behind you. It is ahead," Maz utters. "I am no Jedi, but I know the Force. It moves through and surrounds every living thing."
Finn glances at Rey, a nod passes between them.
"Close your eyes," Maz encourages, addressing both Finn and Rey, "Feel it. The light. It's always been there. It will guide you."
As Rey and Finn shut their eyes, they feel that pull – the lightsaber.
"The saber. Take it... One of you..." Maz says.
HUX
The vast Starkiller Base echoes with a chilling gathering of Stormtroopers, officers, and war machines, all standing on a snowy landscape. General Hux's voice pierces the air, promising a big change in the galaxy.
As Hux talks, the ground shakes under the boots of Stormtroopers, and the sight of TIE Fighters and vehicles creates a fearsome backdrop. Hux raises his arms, and his words add a tense vibe to the snowy scene.
"Today is the end of the Republic!" Hux shouts, making the troops stand tall. The base's control room is abuzz as engineers finalize the firing plans, a bit nervous about the colossal weapon's might.
"The end of a regime that acquiesces to disorder!" Hux's words spread through the crowd. The assembled Stormtroopers look ready for whatever's coming, and the air is thick with anticipation.
"At this very moment, in a system far from here the New Republic LIES to the GALAXY," Hux's accusation hangs in the air, and the troops feel betrayed, tightening their grips on their blasters.
"While secretly supporting the treachery of the loathsome Resistance." Hux's revelation fuels anger among the troopers. The stark white surroundings are on the brink of witnessing a major power shift.
"This fierce machine which you have built, upon
which we stand, will bring an end to the Senate!" Hux's words echo, and the colossal Starkiller Base stands as a symbol of the First Order's power. Troopers, officers, and machines stand together.
"To their cherished fleet!" Hux declares, and in the control room, the ominous hum of Starkiller Base grows louder. It's about to unleash its might.
"All remaining systems will bow to the First Order!" The troopers raise their weapons, showing unity against what they see as enemies of order.
"And will remember this... as the last day of the Republic!" Hux's final words hang heavy over the assembly. The snowy landscape, once peaceful, now prepares for the Starkiller's wrath.
THE STARKILLER BASE ASSEMBLY area bustles with anticipation as General Hux commands, "FIRE!" The Stormtroopers turn towards an expansive snowy landscape, awaiting an unknown event.
Suddenly, an otherworldly burst of fiery light erupts silently from miles away, akin to an unimaginable atomic bomb multiplied by a myriad. A deafening roar ensues, pushing everyone back with its colossal force. Ice and snow melt in the beam's radius, flooding runoff tunnels with a torrent of water. Thousands of airborne creatures soar from trees in a frenzied escape.
Hux, consumed by a wicked fervor, witnesses the devastation. The scene shifts to Kylo Ren on a Star Destroyer bridge, his focus locked on the Starkiller's destructive act.
In the Republic system, distant planets illuminate, only to be obliterated by a colossal fireblast. Republic City's night sky transforms into a blinding spectacle. A distant circle of fire, like a growing sun, engulfs everything, turning night to day. Within seconds, the entire planet of Hosnian Prime is incinerated. The galaxy witnesses the cataclysmic power of the Starkiller Base.
FINN, REY, HAN, CHEWIE, AND MAZ
Finn, Rey, and Maz all rush out of the crypt. They race up the spiral stares, and out of the castle.
Chewie and Han are both standing outside, "--I don't think that's ship's a good thing Chewie." Han says almost calmly.
"It had to he the Republic, I- I- I- I- I- I- I know... what that was I--... shit shit shit shit shit!" Finn paces around in the grass as the four watch him with a bit of confusion, but even more nervousness.
Maz is holding the box with the lightsaber, her frail arms shake helplessly at the situation.
"Finn, what the hell is she holding?" Han questions as 3 first order ships perch atop Maz's castle. "She's too old for this! Get her inside!"
"Inside there!?!?" Just as Finn asks this, the seemingly perched ships actually fly away, leaving a volley of bombs atop the ancient castle. There is a few moments of silence, just the shuffling of the leaves on trees, and the light whistle of the wind... and the BOOM! The entire castle is toppled, a blazing inferno decorates the crumbling ruins.
Maz watches in horror as her precious castle is decimated by the might of the first order, a new resolve, a new strength forms in her eyes as a result.
"We have to get out of here!" Rey urges, her hand on Finn's, tugging subconsciously.
Two first order ships land in a rocky clearing ahead just of them, one of the ships' hagar door hisses open, out steps Kylo Ren, he walks down the ramp, lightsaber at his side.
Finn looks at Maz, then Rey, while Han and Chewie prepare for a firefight.
"Get the girl... Kill the traitor, and leave the rest." Kylo commands audibly, he surveys his surroundings, "Green..." he remarks.
The stormtroopers behind him begin marching towards the 4, an entire mini army, about 43 appear from behind the rest, being birthed by the dense forests that surround the castle ruins. Our group knows they can't fight this, or at least Han knows.
Finn fires a blaster shot at the marching troopers, their pursuit doesn't waver, even at the sight of their comrades getting gunned down, it is almost as if they're willed to do this, willed to fight.
Kylo remains stagnant in his position, at th edge of the ramp, awaiting his prize, Rey.
With what little courage Finn has, he shouts out to Kylo while the stormtroopers continue to march menacingly towards them, "Hey! Idiot! Why don't you get off that ramp!? Huh?"
Kylo does just that. He begins walking towards them, he unsheaths his lightsaber and activates it... brilliant sparks of chaotic plasma shoot out of the hilt, the blade cuts through air with every swing of an arm.
Maz, now eerily calm, looks towards Finn, she opens the box, and takes the lightsaber out of it's coffin, "Take this, young hero, fight."
Rey looks at the lightsaber with a grim expression, she feels repulsed at the sight.
"Wh- What do I do with this?" Finn asks as he takes the lightsaber, it feels right under his palms, it feels at home.
"You swing it." Han and Maz say in unison.
Finn grips the lightsaber, a mixture of fear and determination in his eyes. The stormtroopers draw nearer, their white armor contrasting sharply with the natural surroundings.
Han, standing beside Chewie, barks out orders, "Chewie, cover our backs. Rey, stay close to Finn and shoot. Maz, keep that blaster of yours ready." The group forms a makeshift defensive line, facing the advancing First Order forces.
Kylo Ren continues his relentless approach, the red glow of his lightsaber casting an ominous shadow across the rocky clearing.
And so it begun. The troopers began firing and Kylo now at the side of them, eagerly preparing to decimate Finn.
The lightsabers clashed violently in the rocky clearing. Kylo Ren's red blade cut through the air with brutal precision, an imposing force to be reckoned with. Finn, wielding the blue lightsaber for the first time, struggled to parry Kylo's relentless attacks.
Kylo's calculated strikes pressed Finn into a defensive stance. The red blade danced with a sinister elegance.
Rey watched in horror as her friend was being attacked, this situation was visceral, real.
She fired a blaster shot Kylo's way in sheer desperation, completely ignoring the grueling firefight that is happening to her left.
The blaster shot froze in the air, vibrating, this did not prove futile though, as Finn was given a window to wound Kylo.
Finn slashed his blade across Kylo's mask sloppily, it left an opening, we see the man inside, a glimpse of him, Kylo's eyes were brimming with raw, unadulterated hatred, but it didn't even seem to be directed towards Finn himself.
Han shot aimlessly in the direction of the troopers while he looked at Kylo who was now slowly bobbing his head back and forth, drunk with hatred.
Finn took the opportunity to run out of the stone corner he was in and to Rey. "We have to get the hell out of here, now!" Finn grabbed Rey's hand and led them both to the forest, completely disregarding everything else.
FINN AND REY
"Where are you taking us!? We don't even know where we are! What about Han and Chewie!?!" Rey asked between breaths as she ran through the forest with Finn holding her hand with a tight grip. "And what did I say about holding my hand?"
"Gotta get out... get out..." Finn says this through feverish breaths.
"Finn!" Rey stopped in her tracks, pulling Finn to a stop as well. "...You said we should never run... so let's never run... They need us, they need you."
NOTES:
So this is where the story really changes up.
I knew early on that this point in the story would really diverge away from the original story. I'm going to be taking a lot of notes from the original treatment George had, and some of the original plans for the sequel trilogy.
This feels a lot more personal than I expected it to feel, it feels real, I don't know how to describe it. I can't wait for you guys to see next chapter.
As always please favorite and leave a review, it helps me with my process.
SIDE NOTE:
I also want to point out that I am imagining Finn's character to use John Boyega's native accent, which is British, I think it just suits the character better.
