Disclaimer: The Star Wars movies and any related material don't belong to me. They belong to LucasFilm, Disney, and any authors, writer, creators, and anyone involved in writing and legally distributing the stories.
It was only half. Rey thought that as she looked down at the lightsaber hilt in her hand. Her fingers traced around the pommel, careful not to reach the exposed middle. The bits of the outer shell had been removed, revealing the wires and the blue crystal that once powered the weapon. At one time, it belonged the famed Jedi Luke Skywalker and his father before him.
Now, it was only half.
Rey stared at the saber until someone else spoke. "You probably should relax a little more."
Rey whirled her gaze to the woman entering the chamber. The newcomer wore a simple outfit, not too similar to Rey's own Jedi uniform. Not to mention the silver lightsaber hilt jostling on the belt as the stranger strode across a familiar floor to a familiar lounge.
The woman, who looked a lot like a young General Organa up close, held up a steaming cup. "I brought you something."
"Thank you," Rey said as she took the cup in her other hand. She glanced down at it, then at the woman. "How did you…?"
"A little secret," smiled the Organa look-alike, sipping her own cup. "We Jedi have a way of listening to other people's emotions."
Taking in the words, Rey put her cup atop the table. She had seen it many times aboard the Millennium Falcon. In fact, it was the same table, but it wasn't at the same time.
"Sorry," the woman apologized. "It probably isn't easy for you."
"No, it's okay," Rey assured. "It just takes some time getting used to…"
That was quite the understatement. If someone was to ask Rey about other universes, she would have scoffed at the mere idea. However, she could not deny it. Here, there was no First Order or Snoke, and the Jedi were thriving as the New Jedi Order. This was certainly not her galaxy. She was not even on her Falcon. This Falcon definitely had some upgrades, unlike the 'garbage' she tinkered with on Jakku. She didn't know the thing could fly until she and Finn were escaping the First Order days ago.
Rey stopped for another thought. Days. It had been days since she left Jakku. Days since she began went to find and learn from Luke Skywalker. Days since she even learned the Force was even real. Days since…
The red flash roared as it pierced through his chest, the blade sparking like a wild flame…
Rey threw away the image. "Jaina," she asked, "do you know when they will finish?"
Jaina Solo, daughter of this universe's Han Solo, put down her mug. "Hard to tell. Uncle Luke and the other masters have been talking for a while now."
"It's a bit weird you call him uncle. I've only known mine as 'Master Skywalker.' No offense."
"None taken. To be honest, it's always been a bit weird calling him 'master.' He's always Uncle Luke to me, even when he was training me and Jacen." Jaina took another sip. "From what I heard, I guess you didn't really receive much training from your Luke."
Rey hesitated to answer that. "My Master Skywalker was…"
Unwilling.
"... not able to fully train me."
"It couldn't have been that bad."
"He only gave me three lessons… I'm not sure if the third counted as a lesson…"
Jaina blinked. "When you put it like that, it doesn't sound like Uncle Luke."
"I guess not," Rey admitted, finally taking a sip of her cup. Her eyebrows perked up before parting her lips from the mug. "Hmmm, what is this?"
"Hot chocolate."
"Really? Never heard of it."
"I guess you wouldn't. Uncle Luke, on the other hand, can't seem to get enough of it… and it looks like you can't either," Jaina said with a wink.
"It certainly beats the portions I had on Jakuu," Rey murmured.
With both hands, she eagerly downed whatever she could of the beverage and enjoy its creamy, smooth taste. She only stopped when a new and masculine voice spoke again, "Easy. Drink like that, and you'll be staying up all night. Trust me, I know from experience."
That voice. It sounded too familiar, yet too different at the same time.
Rey looked to the new figure entering the hold. His Jedi robe followed behind, and he stood calmly before the Rey with a smile on his face. It was a face Rey had seen a few days ago, when she left the watery world to pursue Kylo Ren.
"Luke?" she repeated, not knowingly she said it aloud.
The man smiled and waved his gloved hand. "Grandmaster Luke Skywalker, at your service, but I guess you're already familiar with me…"
Rey did not respond. She could not. There was no way this was Luke Skywalker. He should have been gray and old. Instead, he was blond and young, like she had seen in the old holoimages General Organa had shown her.
Only Jaina's voice snapped Rey out. "Hey, Uncle Luke. Is the council ready for her?"
"They are. I just came by to personally see Rey," said 'Luke' to Jaina, then to Rey, "I understand if you're not able to speak. All of this must be a lot for you."
"Believe me, it's the same for us," Jaina playfully interjected, and her uncle smiled at her.
"I…" Rey tried to speak, but the words were jammed in her throat.
"Take your time to think," Luke-no, Master Skywalker answered after a moment of silence. "You'll need to save your answers for when you speak with the whole council."
At last, Rey was able to force her voice out. "How much do they know?"
There was no snappy comeback or comment from him. "Only everything you told my niece. Some are surprised. Others are… bewildered."
Blinking her eyes, Rey thought back to what she told Jaina beforehand. Not about coming from another universe-their reactions were understandable. She explained about the First Order rising and the Resistance fighting to stop it, about Finn deserting the First Order, about fighting against and later alongside Kylo, and about finding Luke. She did omit certain details-she did not have the heart to tell them-but she explained the general situation of the galaxy. What about any of it did not make sense?
Before Master Skywalker could answer, a small form popped its red head from behind. Jaina noticed the boy before Rey did and said, "Ben? What are you doing here?"
"Just curious," answered the redhead boy, no older than ten. "I wanted to see what's the fuss is about. Everyone's been talking at the academy."
Rey again was dumbfounded. Another change that was too different, yet similar, and it took her by surprise. She was not sure if she was broadcasting her thoughts, like she had been earlier, but Master Skywalker gave the introductions with that ever-kind smile. "Meet Ben Skywalker, my son. Say hi Ben."
"Hi," waved Ben Skywalker.
"Um, hello," Rey returned awkwardly before she looked at Master Skywalker. "If he's here, where is his mother?"
"Aunt Mara is with my brother," Jaina spoke up. "They're looking for that guy that came with you, Kylo..."
"Ben," Rey said before she realized she had not told them that bit of information. "I mean, Ren. Kylo Ren."
As she hoped, no one asked or seemed to notice a thing. Master Skywalker, unfazed as ever, looked to Jaina again. "Jaina, you should meet with your father. He's down by the memorial again."
"I'll be there," and Jaina stood up to leave. She stopped momentarily to look at Rey. "You want to meet him after meeting the Council, Rey? I think he would like to hear about his other self."
"I…" The image of the red saber burned Rey's words to ash. Forcing a small smile, she said, "... maybe another time. Sorry."
Jaina gave a smile and a light shrug before she went off, leaving Rey with the grandmaster and his son. "We probably should get going, too," said Master Skywalker. "They want to meet you. I think some might take an interest."
"You probably should watch out for mom, though," blurted Ben-Ben Skywalker, not Solo.
Getting up, Rey glanced down to the redhead. "I should?"
"A-hum," the grandmaster coughed awkwardly. "Compared to the others on the council, my wife is… a bit critical of your situation."
"About what?"
"I'd rather let them say."
Rey frowned a little. "And… what do you think?" she asked quietly.
Master Skywalker did not reply. He smiled and glanced at the half-empty mug. "You should finish that. It might be strange if you take that in during a meeting with the council."
"You do it every time, dad," retorted the master's son. "You know mom says you can't drink too much."
"Privileges of being a grandmaster, Ben. Besides, it only happens once in a while. And it's not that much."
Rey held in a giggle and downed the drink again, but not so fast. Soon, the empty mug clanked on the tabletop, and Rey followed behind Master Skywalker and his son out of the Falcon.
AN: Just yet another of several ideas swarming in my head, one that came especially in the aftermath of The Last Jedi. I don't like this film a lot, but I also don't like a lot of the Expanded Universe material from the 2000s, specifically which follows the adventures of the OT cast and their kids as I feel the stories went WAY too dark then needed and ended up repeating a lot of things when they were trying to be new (a lot like the Star Wars sequels). Thus, I ended writing this, and hopefully I can write a short story out of it. If I don't, maybe someone else can.
Raika out.