I do not own Star Wars. If I did, different people would be doing the scripts for the films.
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Beta read by the wonderful lincoln time, Jeda31, and BlantonM. Could not have done it without you guys!
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Guest Review answers :-D
Guest 2.0
Sorry, I have other stories I am working on besides this one, which impacts how often new chapters come out. Plus how the flow of my mood and inspiration goes.
Guessing "OG Luke" stands for "Only Good Luke," but I am going to keep calling him Legends!Luke because I am trying to keep things balanced here.
Here is the latest chapter, and I hope it was worth it! Looking forward to hearing your newest thoughts! :-D
Thank you for your Review and Support! :-D
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Guest (please choose a name/nickname next time)
I suspect that Illium's defenses had already been badly worn down during the time of the Empire. Palpatine definitely knew where it was, and even ignoring the value of such a place, he would have desecrated it on principle. Which of course does indeed make his current confusion all the sweeter :-)
Mara has not had a reason for a long time to hide just what sort of person she is, and not to start now!
Oh, I have plans for the reveal of Rey's heritage! As for her parents, will see how I can work them into the story.
Here is the latest chapter, and I hope it was worth it! Looking forward to hearing your newest thoughts! :-D
Thank you for your Review and Support! :-D
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Joys
Nice to hear you found this so enjoyable! Here is the latest chapter, and I hope it was worth it! Looking forward to hearing your newest thoughts! :-D
Thank you for your Review and Support! :-D
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Doraemax
Sorry, I really did not get that sense from Movie!Luke in his teaching.
We saw in The Rise of Skywalker that Movie!Leia's training was nearly complete, so yes she is ahead of Legends!Leia at that point in the novels. However Legends!Leia was still considered a Jedi in her own right.
Here is the latest chapter, and I hope it was worth it! Looking forward to hearing your newest thoughts! :-D
Thank you for your Review and Support! :-D
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TommydragonYT
Here is the latest chapter, and I hope it was worth it! Looking forward to hearing your newest thoughts! :-D
Thank you for your Review and Support! :-D
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Guest (please choose a name/nickname next time)
Ah, Palpatine will not be someone that Legends!Luke and Mara can casually take care of. They are in for the fight of their lives here!
Here is the latest chapter, and I hope it was worth it! Looking forward to hearing your newest thoughts! :-D
Thank you for your Review and Support! :-D
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Star Wars: Legends Never Die
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Chapter 4: Takodana
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Previously:
Rey begins her training as a Jedi. Both Luke and Mara are stunned by her talent with a lightsaber, and a little suspicious. Regardless, Luke showed her how to use her staff and lightsaber together, and began teaching her the philosophies and lore of being a Jedi. In turn, Rey swore to become the best Jedi she could be.
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Pleased with Rey's answer and conviction, Luke patted her on the shoulder. "You should take a break now though. You shouldn't overstrain yourself. Especially on your first day."
"Alright," she brightly smiled. She gave a bow, only to abort it as he raised a hand.
"You don't need to be so formal," he said not unkindly. It was actually a bit uncomfortable, given how insecure he knew she was deep down. While he knew it was only meant as a sign of her respect, he wanted to first boost up her self-confidence before she made any submissive gestures.
"Okay," she said, her happiness thankfully only a little dimmed, and compromised with a bob of her head.
"Now as for me," he said with an easy grin, "Mara and I really need some private time to talk."
With that, he slipped aside with his fiancé, who led him deeper into the Eravana.
As they left the cargo bay where they had been doing their drills, and the Millennium Falcon still rested, they heard Finn telling Rey he needed to talk to her too.
Luke raised an eyebrow at Mara, only for her to shake her head. "Yes, she's been through a lot already, but the sooner he tells her the truth the better."
/ * * \
* * * Legends Never Die * * *
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With the Jedi out of the way, and the kids heading over to a corner to talk, and finally no more immediate issues to deal with, Han and Chewie turned their attention back to the Millennium Falcon. Their recovered home.
Neither of them had an iota of Force Sensitivity, yet they could not deny the sensation of being drawn into it.
Unfortunately Chewie grunted out an unwanted observation.
"Yeah," muttered Han irritably. "Someone's got to keep an eye on the hunk of junk carrying us." Especially given their cargo. "Except somebody's got to make sure the Falcon's in tip-top shape. It wasn't working right when we picked them up, and we might need to make a getaway from Maz's place." Throwing a stink-eye at his co-pilot, "Which you knew before you left the controls to come down here."
The Wookie made a knowing comment at that, and Han waved his hand exasperatedly. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. Tell you what, we flip a coin, your coin, because I'm a fair and generous guy—"
A chuff of laughter at that.
"—Fair and generous guy, and the winner gets to work on the Falcon. Alright?"
In answer, his best friend pulled out a coin.
A minute later, a grinning Han with a tool box walked back up the ramp to this time properly appreciate his old home without any Force Nonsense to distract him.
Unfortunately his giddiness quickly fell flat when it became clear how badly abused his old girl had been. Getting her back in shape would be a tall order. Probably best to get Other Luke and his girlfriend to look after the Eravana when they were done with their talk, or whatever they were doing, so they could free Chewie up.
"Well, best get to it," the smuggler said aloud.
With practiced ease despite the years it had been, he fell into the familiar rhythm of doing maintenance on his and Chewie's ship, and trying to figure out where all the problems were this time.
Ah, it was good to be back.
After a while, he heard someone else come aboard, and pulled himself out of the machinery pit in the deck to see it was the girl. She was rubbing her hands together nervously, and he could tell she was feeling emotionally overwhelmed. No surprise given the sort of day she had had, but hopefully she was not going to make it his problem.
"Uhm, can I . . . help?" she asked. "It's just, I need to do something right now."
He gave her an assessing look for a heartbeat, before nodding. "Rey, right? Sure, make yourself useful."
"Thanks. Uhm," she repeated herself, looking around until she saw the box of tools, and pulled some out. From her selection, he could tell she meant to get right into the guts of his ship.
"You know how to use those?"
A touch of defiance back, she sharply said, "Watch me."
And he did. After about thirty seconds he could tell she knew what she was doing as she threw herself into the job. Well it looked like Mara was right that Rey was a skilled mechanic.
Since he was still a scoundrel, he could not help prying. "So what has you so down all of a sudden? You were riding a bigger high than spice less than an hour ago."
"It's, uh, Finn," she said, not sure what to say next.
"Ah," he said with understanding. "He told you he was a Stormtrooper from the First Order, who defected."
There was a bang, and Rey quickly came over. "You knew!?" she gasped.
"Not just a pretty face," he deflected. True, Mara had told him, yet once he had started looking, the clues had been obvious to him. "So, what? You're mad at him for being from the First Order? Or that he lied to you?"
"No! I-!" She bit her lip to think. "I get why he lied, I guess. It's more Finn I'm worried about. Once he made himself tell me, how he had been ashamed to tell me the truth at first, of what he was, he just . . . ran off. Like he expected me to hate him, and didn't know what to do."
"Breaking away from that kind of life can be pretty hard on a guy," offered Han. "If you're okay with it, then give him space. While making it clear to him you're not upset."
"How do I let him know that if I'm not around him?" she asked quizzically.
Oh, Force. This kid really was out of her depths. He sighed, and rubbed his face. On the one hand it was dangerous to let someone that naïve run around with the Force. On the other hand Luke had done alright. With a little friendly advice from him of course. Ah, what the Corellian Hells, he could at least give out the odd piece of advice.
"It's nothing you've done wrong," he gruffly told her. "Let him breathe, don't try and avoid him. Throw him a smile or something to show you're not angry. That you're not pushing him away. Now keep it up, you're doing a good job here, but it's not over yet."
That brought a smile back to her face, and she threw herself back into her work, only now giving him a running commentary on what she was doing. And her work was . . . okay, yeah, it really was good. Original too. He had to double-check her work a few times, like when she claimed she had by-passed the hyperdrive compressor to get around some other faults, yet did not correct her on the results.
She took it for the silent compliment it was.
"So what are you smuggling?" she asked, breaking out of her fixation on her work. "I mean, you're Han Solo, the man who made the Kessel Run in fourteen parsecs!"
"Twelve!" he cut in. He also resisted the urge to say he used to be 'Han Solo.' That was who he was before what Ben—he cut off that line of thought. Besides, now there might be another chance for his boy.
Undaunted, Rey continued, "So you must be smuggling something big!"
"Some rathtars," he said offhand.
"What's a rathtar?"
"They're big and they're dangerous," was all he said. Hmm, should he warn the others? Nah, they would not be a bother, and not worth the effort.
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* * * Legends Never Die * * *
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Fortunately the Eravana was a veritable maze of corridors, and it did not take Luke and Mara long to find somewhere private. Once she had found and covered up the security camera Han had in the room of course. Seems this version was a little more paranoid than the one they knew. Or perhaps more properly cautious? No matter, they had bigger concerns right now.
Now that they were alone and did not have to put on a brave face for the others, Luke gave Mara a gentle, concerned look. "How are you feeling?"
"As well as can be expected," she bit out with a touch of frustration.
"That bad?"
"I didn't ask to be pulled into a war against some neo-Empire, Skywalker." She stopped, and let out those emotions with a deep breath. "Except I am a Jedi now, and I don't want another Palpatine ruining people's lives. Won't allow it. I'm sorry, Luke, it's just . . ." she trailed off, only for him to wait patiently until she admitted, "overwhelming."
"I know what you mean. We'll get through it though."
"Oh?" she smirked. "Because you'll just walk out with a lightsaber and face down the whole First Order by yourself?"
"Of course not!" he grinned. "I'll have Artoo with me!"
Despite herself, she could not fight the humour she leaked out at that.
"And while they're distracted, they won't see you coming!"
"Yes," she softly agreed. "No they won't."
The Droid chose to interrupt with a few beeps, snapping them out of staring into each other's eyes.
Sobered up, Luke put on his 'Jedi Master' face. "Although speaking of Palpatine, whatever's going on here, there are some very powerful Force Users involved."
Immediately understanding, her eyes widened. "You could feel them reaching for you even in hyperspace?" she asked a little incredulously. Such a range was highly unusual after all, and only a bare handful had ever achieved it to her knowledge. The Emperor being the main one who came to mind for her.
"Leia and I can do it across the galaxy sometimes," Luke pointed out, remembering when she had desperately if unintentionally called for him from Bespin. "But nothing ever really specific, and only in moments of serious distress. I think what I felt was something similar to that though. She felt her brother, or someone like her, and is trying to make a connection. So that accounts for one of them."
"You didn't reach back, of course," she glowered. She was a little more defensive, as she was wondering now from how far away she and Luke could 'talk' with their minds.
"Of course not, I'm not that reckless," he defended. Her unimpressed look was telling, so he moved on. "I've no idea about the others though. One is likely Snoke though, even if I couldn't sense anything specific."
"With our luck, he's definitely a Dark Side user too," she grimaced. Going by what she knew of her Luke's niece and nephews, this Ben Solo was likely a powerful Force Sensitive as well. As he was a Dark Sider, she very much doubted he would follow anyone but someone even more powerful than himself. Thrawn was the only non-Force Sensitive who had managed to keep a powerful Dark Sider in line, and even then he had 'cheated' with Ysalamiri. So logically, the odds favoured Snoke to be another Force User.
"If there was another Light Sider with the Resistance or Republic, Solo and Chewbacca wouldn't be so desperate to see you. I warned them about that by the way."
"Thanks," he winced. One of the great things about there being more Jedi available back home, was how nobody was laying all their hopes and expectations solely on him. Well, not as much anyways.
"What's the plan for where we're going with BeeBee-Ate and meeting her by the way? General Leia I mean." Thinking of her with that military title made it a little easier to distinguish them in his head.
"A smuggler's hangout. Do you know any major Fringer named Maz? Me neither. Anyways, Solo wants to take us and the Droid to meet her. He's not in the mood to hear about the risk exposing it either."
"Except it's something you don't want to push him on," he said with a raised eyebrow, following her thought process. "Well, he is rather anxious to find the other me, and we still need his help. If Chewie can't convince him otherwise, or won't, we'll just have to risk it."
"Alright," she nodded.
Without anything else immediate, they just stared at each other for a few long heartbeats, trying to figure out what they should say next, and who should go first. They had a whole mountain of issues to discuss after all.
"Us being a couple is going to raise some friction with the Resistance," she warned. "They don't know me like back home. And even then there'll be people raising a ruckus."
"Let them," he shrugged. "It's not their business. If anything, it'll help emphasize I'm not the Luke they're expecting."
"Sure. On that note though, how are you going to handle someone who's technically your nephew?"
Ah. Yes. Ben Solo.
Taking in a deep breath, Luke said, "If possible, I'll save and redeem him. However, either way, we cannot allow a Dark Sider to run around free."
Mara raised a knowing eyebrow. "It makes it easier that it's not actually Jacen or Anakin."
"Yes," he sighed. "Although Han really seems to think it was Father's blood which made him that way."
"They didn't seem to be as supportive of him as your actual sister and brother-in-law are to their kids," she said. "It's no excuse for him Falling, the people he's already killed, just something to keep in mind."
"True," grinned Luke, "there is that."
Although . . .
The redhead stopped to think back on all the attempted and actual assassination attempts the three Solo brats had gone through. Including what they had all experienced with the Corellian Rebellion. The kids had gotten therapy for all that, right?
. . . Something to bring up later.
"If he's with the First Order, we're certain to encounter him sooner than later. So keep that in mind, and don't get too soft on him," she sharply warned him.
"Going by what Finn told me, he's going by the name 'Kylo Ren' now. That said, be careful of engaging him yourself," he gently warned her. "He was able to kill a bunch of students, and destroy the Academy without my counterpart being able to stop him. This Snoke character has likely been training him further since then."
She grimaced at that, yet held her tongue. As irritating as it was, he was right that she was rusty at fighting other Force Users, or others with lightsabers. Better let Luke try first. Not that she would risk this 'Kylo Ren' escaping to ruin more lives.
Anything further was cut off as Han's voice came over the intercom. "Attention passengers. Chewie says we're only a few minutes out from Takodana. So finish whatever you're doing and get ready to depart."
"That's . . . surprising," Luke noted with a faint frown.
"You mean it's complete nonsense," Mara sharply corrected. "We haven't travelled nearly long enough for this bucket of bolts, even the Falcon, to have travelled far enough to reach another system already. Even if Solo was stupid enough to take the Droids someplace right next door."
"You're right, he wouldn't, so what—?"
"Oh," she frowned in annoyance that it had taken her so long. "We're in the future. They must've made some developments with hyperdrives. Maybe even entirely different designs are made here. We can look at what it is capable of later. And get a copy of the schematics." She made a dismissive sniff. "Who knows, maybe if they're good enough, it'll make this trip worth it when we get home."
For his part, Luke appreciated her forward thinking and optimism in this. And yes, he was pretty intrigued by what such a hyperdrive could accomplish too.
She gave him a critical once-over, and warned, "You can't go as you are though. You're too noticeable here as well."
He looked down at his black jumpsuit, and nodded. "I'll need to borrow something to cover my face. It'll be suspicious, but not too much if we're going to a smuggler stronghold. Want to come while I go looking?"
She briefly considered it, before shaking her head. "I'll go see how they're doing with the Falcon. There's a good chance we'll be needing her for a fast getaway."
Luke turned to go back into the freighter to find something of Han's to help the disguise, yet at the doorway he paused to give Mara a long, lingering look.
After all this, we need to find a chance to talk some more, he sent to her through their own personal connection.
Count on it, she replied with a softness which surprised even her.
/ * * \
* * * Legends Never Die * * *
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Han brought Rey to the cockpit of the Eravana so she could see them approaching Takodana. Letting her drink in the sight of all the greens and blues. As they entered the atmosphere, she marveled at 'trees' and 'lakes,' things and concepts she had only ever read and heard about; never having seen even a picture before.
"I didn't know there was this much green in the whole galaxy," she whispered with reverence.
The old smuggler glanced at her, and could not help but be touched by the look on her face.
Chewbacca kept mercifully quiet as he brought them in to park in a clearing in the trees by Maz's place. It was an old stone fortress or palace, sculpted and crafted to have two large main compounds, and a pair of towers stretching even higher.
As soon as they landed, Rey ran out of the ship to gaze at the neighbouring lake. A moist breeze blew across her face, strange animal noises in the air, and while much cooler than Jakku, it was warmer than the ship had been, and in a pleasant way.
After a few minutes, Han came up beside her, and handed her something. "You might need this."
She raised her eyebrows at the sight of the blaster, and confidently said, "I think I can handle myself."
"I know you do," he firmly replied. "That's why I'm giving it to you. Take it."
"But, do Jedi . . .?"
"Luke used one when he first started out. You haven't learnt how to use a lightsaber against blasters yet. You don't even have a lightsaber. So you need something."
After a moment, Rey took the gift —her first one!— and held it up in a practice firing stance.
"You know how to use one of those?"
"Yeah. You pull the trigger."
"Little bit more to it than that," he said as he pushed her arm down. "You've got a lot to learn." Somehow his words still conveyed the confidence she would learn what she needed to know.
"Make sure she starts with how the safety works," said Mara as she came up, with a small, sharp grin.
Luke was behind her, wearing a crude if serviceable disguise of a pair of welder goggles, and black cloth wrapped around his face which matched his outfit. It basically screamed "Fugitive!" if not for the fact they were heading for a place crammed full of people like that. So he would stand out, yet no one would be able to recognize him from the rather long list of possible suspects. Crudely effective for the short time available.
Rey took heart in how neither of them spoke against her having the blaster.
"Chewie," called out Han, "check out the Falcon the best you can. Rey and I handled a lot, but she's still not right." Plus his best pal deserved his own chance to look over their home.
"Artoo can help out," offered Luke. "And Finn? You should stay back too. The First Order might have a bounty out for you, so better be safe than sorry." By the look on Finn's face, he was now definitely concerned by that, and appreciated the thought.
Privately, Luke also figured it was kinder not to throw the man used to only being a stormtrooper into a smuggler's den. Might overwhelm him when already under a lot of stress. "Just do what Chewie says."
"But I can't understand this thing," said Finn in surprise, jerking a thumb at the Wookie.
Han snapped his head up from where he was showing Rey how to properly hold a blaster (and where the safety was). "'That thing' can understand you just fine," he sternly said, "so watch it."
"The First Order probably teaches about Human supremacy as well, don't they?" Mara said. "If you're smart, you'll forget about it. We're just as capable of being idiots, and unlike Wookies we can't easily rip people's arms out of their sockets."
Finn shot Chewie a nervous look, and took a prudent if futile step away.
With a huff of exasperation, and bark which needed no translation, Chewie waved Finn to follow. He could at least put the ex-trooper to sweeping up sand, debris, etcetera.
Rey whispered to Han as they started to walk off, "Can you teach me some of his language?"
"Sure, but Jedi can learn their own trick to understand languages as I recall. Still, guess it wouldn't hurt to teach you the important ones in the meantime. Starting with 'run away now,' which is—"
Following them, Luke and Mara exchanged feelings of enjoyment as they got some peace and quiet on a very nice planet. It would not last, yet they would take what they could get now. "We should look this place up back in our galaxy," he grinned behind his disguise, taking in the scenery.
"Agreed. Especially since the palace design reminds me a bit of the Hand of Thrawn, and the fortress on Hijarna."
"Different colour stones though."
"True, there's that. And—Solo!"
"What?"
Imperiously Mara pointed at BeeBee-Ate rolling up beside the smuggler and scavenger. "You're really going through with bringing him along in public."
Grumpily, the man said, "I know what I'm doing, and this is my contact, so we'll play it my way."
Knowing Luke would be of no help, and may even be acting on prompting from the Force, she just rolled her eyes. Well, she had tried, and they could not afford a fight with their one real ally here. Of course, this was not going to end well. Her and Luke's Solo better not get this senile, or she would put him out of their misery.
To divert her ire, Luke commented, "An unusual place for a smuggler's haven though. Every other one is on some miserable planet no one else wants to go to, and hardly as tidy as here. So definite points for being the nicest one I've visited so far."
"Loss of points for no defenses to be seen," Mara said, still a bit irritable. "Being on a space station is still easier to get away from in a hurry."
"Or have the air blown out," he cheerfully parried. "No one would think to look for them here."
"No signs of traffic control, sensors, or watchtowers to warn people if anyone unfriendly looking is coming," she said back, and despite her best efforts, she found herself relaxing into the banter. "No guards either."
"More inviting atmosphere to get people in, and enjoy an environment usually reserved only for 'respectable' people. Like the rich and famous. Plus the customers are more likely to relax their guard and let something slip, or even just pay for more expensive drinks."
"Everyone knows not to mess around with Maz Kanata's place," Solo butted in. "She's run this watering hole for a thousand years."
"Impressive," said Luke, having dealt with a Jedi Master nearly that old, not to mention the Hutts. Mara was more skeptical, if willing to accept the person in charge here had a firm rep.
"That her statue up there?" Mara gestured with her chin to the top of the roof of the building as they approached the main door.
"Yeah. Maz is a bit of an acquired taste," and he was amused at that, "so let me do the talking. And whatever you do, don't stare."
"At what?" asked Rey.
A brief pause before Han firmly if a bit exasperatedly said, "Any of it."
The doors slid open to reveal a large, motley group of aliens drinking, talking, playing various games (unusually, none electronic based), eating, and having fun. Nothing to surprise Luke and Mara.
A loud voice cut through the air, "Han Solo!"
Silence fell except for the sound of a few glasses dropping and breaking as everyone stopped to turn and stare at the scoundrel in question.
"Oh boy," Han softly said, before calling back all friendly, "Hey, Maz."
A diminutive, aged, and orange alien came up to them, with big glass lenses over her eyes. "Where's my boyfriend?"
Han glanced at his companions while answering, "He's working on the Falcon."
"I like that Wookie."
Personally Luke was very surprised at this, knowing how happily and loyally married his Chewbacca back home was. He rarely saw his family, except since it was due to him serving a Life Debt, his absence despite his burning love was seen as a major mark towards his integrity and character. Han had told a story of how years ago, he had assumed after the wedding Chewie would be staying behind on Kashyyyk with his new bride, only for Mallatobuck to tear verbal strips off of him for the insult to her new-husband's honour, until Han's amused co-pilot came to the rescue.
"I assume you need something," Maz sternly said, her eyes lingering on Luke's. "Desperately. Let's get to it." She waved for them to follow.
Rey was enjoying herself, trying not to stare at all the fascinating new sights and alien species. Unfortunately Luke and Mara felt a spike of greed and malice fixated on BeeBee-Ate. They also knew if they caused a scene dealing with the spy, they would only draw further attention to themselves. Maybe even a firefight.
"The words already spreading about the Droid," Mara whispered in Han's ear in a 'I told you so' way. "We can't stay here for long."
He stiffened and nodded.
At a private table, he quickly filled Maz in about what BeeBee-Ate was carrying. The others grabbed a quick snack to eat from the table to refresh themselves, with Rey savouring having actual food for once.
"A map," she repeated. "To Skywalker himself?" She chuckled knowingly. "You are right back in the mess!"
"Maz, I need you to get this Droid to Leia."
"Hmm . . . No. You've been running away from this fight for too long. Han," and she slipped into an alien dialect Luke and Mara did not recognize, and were not ready for, before finishing with, "Go home!"
"Leia doesn't want to see me," Han said, looking down at the table.
In the silence which followed, and after a glance at her unresponsive teacher, Rey asked, "What fight?"
"The only fight," said Maz with conviction. "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." She turned now to look at the rest of them. "All of us."
She stopped on Luke, eyes narrowed a bit. "Including you. So what is this nonsense about needing a map?"
Carefully Luke adjusted his goggles and face-wrap so Maz saw his eyes, and she nodded in recognition, yet he could see she was also a bit confused. "I'm not who you think I am," he softly said. "I'm who that man could have been, or vice versa." He dared not say anything more when there could be surveillance pointed at them, so he stretched out with the Force, and felt her do the same.
Mara's gaze sharpened as she realized they were in the presence of another Light Force Sensitive, if not a Jedi.
Maz's eyes shot open in shock and wonder, but said nothing as she grasped to understand. "Well, well." She looked at Han. "You have been busy."
The older man said nothing, so Mara said, "We really do need to talk to Leia. The First Order will have word about the Droid soon."
"There are Resistance spies here who will have already let her know," admitted Maz, which made Han roll his eyes and throw his hands up in the air.
Disguise back in place, Luke glanced at Rey to see how she was handling all of this, only to straighten up at the blank expression on her face as she stood up from her seat. "Rey?" he asked.
She did not answer, walking slowly yet surely to a door to the side.
"What's happening?" Han gruffly said, trying to hide the concern he was feeling.
"The Force is drawing her," answered Luke, with a mix of wonder and concern. "We should follow."
She paused at the top of a stairwell down under Maz's place, only to continue after a few heartbeats.
"What's down there?" Mara asked Maz.
"Many things," was the cryptic answer.
Luke was walking beside Rey, noting her expression. "She's not in a trance exactly. But she's reacting to some stimuli, maybe something she hears, and it's drowning out everything else."
They were led down the steps which led to a single corridor, with Rey heading to the end.
"Hmm," murmured Luke.
"Wha—Sithspit!" gasped Mara.
"Mmhmm," nodded Luke, frowning in concentration.
"What!?" barked Han.
"There's a sudden concentration of the Force," said Luke. "A very strong one. Which was not there a few moments ago. I sensed it before Mara."
As if to punctuate his words, the metal door before Rey lifted up as if on its own.
"Maz," Han grimly said, "what's in there?"
"I'm as surprised about this as you are," was her answer, the diminutive alien clearly awestruck.
The room was a storehouse for all sorts of stuff of various origins, most of which looked like antiques. Rey looked around as if confused for a moment, before fixating on a chest made of wroshyr wood with metal bracing.
Cautiously Luke leaned over Rey's shoulder as she opened it, senses peeled, only to stiffen in shock. "What!?"
"Luke!?"
"It's your lightsaber, Mara!" He stepped back to let her see, and sure enough it was an exact duplicate of her lightsaber. Which had once been Anakin Skywalker's before Kenobi had given it to Luke, and then he had later given it to her.
They were so surprised Rey grabbed it before they could decide if they should intervene or not, and she jumped up as if shocked.
She threw herself back from the lightsaber with such desperate strength she knocked down both Luke and Mara beneath her, scrambling to get away.
Their bodies entangled and slipped against each other, yet Luke and Mara quickly regained themselves, and stood up, giving her space.
Panting, Rey turned to look with horror and sorrow etched in her face. "What was that?" she begged from the ground.
"A Force vision," he answered shortly. He held her eyes for a long moment, before turning to focus on the weapon in the chest once more. "They are one of the most powerful, if potentially misleading, gifts the Force grants to Jedi. Until you let go of the lightsaber, it was a dense concentration of it."
"What does that mean!?" she demanded.
"Well," he slowly said. "First of all you may have used psychometry, which is when you are able to read the history of an object you touch." He raised an eyebrow. "Is that what happened? Did you see this lightsaber, and events surrounding it?"
Confused, she gave a weak shake of her head.
"Then you had a true Force Vision. Seeing the past, the present, and possible futures. All of it tangled together in a mess, right?" He gave a sheepish grin. "It's never easy to make sense of. At least not for me." He knelt down beside her, "You don't have to tell us what you saw if you don't want to. It may even be best to take a break to rest, and meditate over it."
Feeling overwhelmed, she nodded and accepted his hand up.
Turning around, she saw Maz and froze up. "I shouldn't have gone in there," she gushed out.
Maz was caught looking between her and Luke, before turning to Mara. "Yours?"
Mara unclipped her own lightsaber, and walked to pick up the other, holding them up side-by-side, showing how they were identical. "Mine. By conquest, and a gift," giving her own cryptic answer.
"I see," nodded Maz, a knowing look in her eyes as she put together more pieces of the puzzle. "Here, it was Luke's, and his father's before him." Looking at Rey with excitement, she said, "And now it calls to you."
"I have to get back to Jakku," Rey blurted out.
Deftly Mara clipped her lightsaber back in place, and placed a slender hand on Rey's shoulder. "Easy. No one's making you do anything."
Luke touched the young woman's other shoulder. "She's right. You don't have to take that lightsaber if you don't want to."
For an instant it looked as if Maz was about to say something, however Rey steeled herself, and set back her shoulders. "No. No. No, I said I would be a Jedi Knight. This is just a, a, a test! Right!?"
"Yes," smiled Luke. "Although you will find many tests throughout your life."
"Thank you," she whispered, fighting to hold back tears.
/ * * \
* * * Legends Never Die * * *
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Aboard the flagship he shared with Hux, Kylo Ren seethed at the coup his rival had seized.
The general's precious Starkiller Base would strike a decisive blow, while Kylo still had no clue where to find the Resistance Droid with the map to Skywalker! As a further blow, because he still had his part to play in that, he was not even a part of the First Order's follow-up campaigns against the reeling Republic!
"Sir!"
His helmet snapped around to face an officer coming up to him. "You found the Droid!"
"Yes sir! On Takodana!"
"Set a course for hyperspace immediately! Prepare my troops! We depart after this."
"Yes sir!" It was safer to address commanders like Kylo Ren as briefly as possible.
As if on cue, throughout Finalizer's corridors, Hux's speech was broadcasted.
"Today is the end of the Republic. The end of a regime that acquiesces to disorder. At this very moment, in a system far from here, the New Republic lies to the galaxy while secretly supporting the treachery of the loathsome Resistance. This fierce machine which you have built, upon which we stand, will bring an end to the Senate; to their cherished fleet! All remaining systems will bow to the First Order, and will remember this as the last day of the Republic!"
Despite himself, Kylo could not help smile at those words. Yes, yes it will be. The mindless, fearful, weak, masses will finally receive the order and protection they so deeply desire above all else. No matter how much they may try to deny it, deluded by the words Organa and her ilk.
From the planet below, Starkiller Base fired its weaponry. Enormous projectiles of phantom energy, a state of dark energy, which would not only ignite a planet's core, but create temporary rips in sub-hyperspace, ensuring the ensuing destruction would be visible from across the galaxy. A sheer sign of the proof of the First Order's might.
In mere moments he felt the destruction of the Republic's capital, the Dark Side thriving with the feeling of fear and pain, only to be snuffed out in a glorious climax of power and greatness. Only to be the opening sequence to a groundswell of terror which permeated the galaxy as people saw the strange lights and shivered, with their petty concerns heightened when they realized what happened.
Glorious!
His resolve strengthened even further, brimming with the Dark Side, the leader of the Knights of Ren strode down to the cargo bay to find his Stormtroopers assembled before the drop ships.
Elite soldiers one and all, nothing like the ones the traitor FN-2187 had been a part of.
On a related note, these were among the few briefed on how one of their own had betrayed them all, so they would recognize and dispatch him without mercy. It was only a kindness to the rest of Corps to not let them know what one of them had done, since if any others thought they could get away with seditious thoughts or even action, then it would only lead them to the same suffering FN-2187 was destined for.
Nothing would be allowed to imperil the First Order, and its mission to save the galaxy from itself!
/ * * \
* * * Legends Never Die * * *
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Mara Jade stumbled in disorientation as her legs shook when the disturbance in the Force hit her.
When the Carida system had been destroyed, over 25 million people were consumed in a supernova, she had not felt it. Nor Kueller's own mass-bombings now. Now though, she was far more sensitive to the Force.
A concussion of coldness stealing the strength from her bones. Her very essence. A loss in the Force as a great many of the beings who made it up were killed.
Luke Skywalker screamed.
Millions, no billions of lives were snuffed out and the Jedi Master's enormous power was turned against him as he felt every one.
He had endured this before, yet never so many at once. Not at the peak of his abilities like this, with his connection to the Force restored to what it had once been before his disastrous gamble with the reborn Palpatine. Mental shields he had in place, including for just this very possibility, were shredded aside.
Lives flashed before his eyes as he saw their hopes, dreams, trials, sorrows, and joys.
The joy of a mother holding her newborn, only to see a red light flashing towards the window, a moment of certainty and denial of what it meant.
Someone his sister —no, not his— sent to warn the Senate of the threat of the First Order, only to realize it was all for naught.
A couple nestled together asleep, breathing in each other's scents, lulled by the feel of their heartbeats.
Students whose last moments were frustration as they tried to struggle through a bitter teacher's pop quiz. The man taking out his anger at how his wife had left him for a younger man.
All this and more assaulted his mind as Death fell upon multiple worlds.
Hope melted into fear, wonder into terror, and innocence into nothingness. Bright futures all consumed as they were reduced to dust and energy.
He collapsed when he could take no more.
/ * * \
* * * Legends Never Die * * *
\ * * /
Back at the Eravana, Chewie had the bay doors open to let in some sunlight and fresh air as he worked on his and Han's ship.
It would surprise people to know Finn actually enjoyed the drudge work he was doing to help out. Sweeping up dust and debris from the Millennium Falcon, moving junk wherever the Wookie pointed to within the larger freighter, it was all very familiar, letting him run on automatic when he tried to think about what his life had become.
He had defected from the First Order and survived so far, which honestly exceeded his expectations right there.
Made a friend, and lost him. Met another friend —she said she did not hate him for what he had been— and a Droid, and then a parade of legends and impossible figures.
Seen Rey training to become someone like Kylo Ren. Except, you know, not evil.
'Evil.' Such a strange word; and how did he know it applied to someone like Ren? That he could question the First Order like that? The trainers had always said how what they were doing was for the greater good. How they would be liberating the world of the Republic from their own weakness and degeneracy, into a new, brighter future. Unfortunately there were the corrupt and misguided who would try to oppose that, so it was up to the likes of the Stormtroopers to stop them.
Or something like that.
Well, it did not matter. Luke Skywalker's offer was something he would obviously accept, and then he could go on for a new life. The Resistance would hide him somewhere the First Order would never find him. They were good at that. Or at least they would buy him a few years of peace, which was still better than he had expected . . . yesterday?
Finn groaned as it continued to dawn on him just how much, how abruptly his life had been turned upside down.
He hardly even knew where to start with Rey, and all the other people he was now meeting.
A part of him wished he had someone to talk to, except —and he could not help a conflicted smile as he glanced over at his 'co-workers' in this clean-up —of course he could not understand them.
Chewie stiffened mid-step, cocked his head, and then ran off down the corridors.
Following behind, Finn started to hear the sounds of screams, and cries of confusion.
/ * * \
* * * Legends Never Die * * *
\ * * /
The New Republic reeled as their capital, the head, was destroyed.
Denial, confusion, accusations, and panic ruled. However the sharper members, the ones channeling their anger, knew who to direct themselves against.
Too little, too late.
The next phase of General Hux's grand stratagem came into play, as fleets of the First Order struck deep into the near-defenseless nation. Driving the body to its death.
Shipyards were seized, as were critical fuel depots. The surviving Republic task forces were hunted. Tightly disciplined and merciless Stormtroopers rained down upon worlds anticipated to be 'unruly.'
The First Order was unstoppable as it swept over their demoralized prey, swelled with pride over what they had accomplished so quickly and efficiency. Soon, all too soon, all their sacrifices will be proved worth the cost of bringing peace and stability once more to the galaxy.
Nothing could stop that destiny.
/ * * \
* * * Legends Never Die * * *
\ * * /
They carried a still disorientated Luke up to the main room of Maz's place, which was now deserted of customers.
Mara and Han's blasters were drawn and pointed at the door as they heard a noise, with Rey's a little shakily right behind them.
Thankfully it was Chewie and Finn barreling in at top speed. Even more thankfully, they were not shot, although for a startled Rey it was because the safety was on.
"It was the Republic," gasped Finn. "The First Order, they've done it."
"Done what!?" snapped Mara. Never had she seen Luke like this. As far as she knew, no one had seen him this bad since Bespin.
"It's a First Order weapon," he rushed out. "Starkiller Base. To destroy the Republic capital in one blow."
Han cursed. "Along with most of the Republic Fleet, and all the leadership!"
An alarmingly familiar whine filled the air as the situation worsened further, and the palace shook with laser blasts.
"Those beasts," hissed Maz in horror. "They're here."
/ * * \
* * * Legends Never Die * * *
\ * * /
Omake:
Luke Skywalker faced off against the corrupted, Dark Side version of his nephew.
Or an alternative version of his nephew at any rate. He certainly could not see Jacen falling to the Dark Side.
"Are you back to say you forgive me?" bit out Kylo Ren, behind him glistening and proud, one hundred Stormtroopers of the First Order with their blasters aimed at the Jedi. "To save my soul!?"
"We could talk this out," Luke calmly offered.
Helmet hiding any expression, Kylo Ren scoffed and shrugged off his cloak. His crackling red lightsaber ignited, and he made a show of taking one stance, before he shifted to another.
The moment stretched out until finally he gave into his aggression and charged at his 'uncle.'
With a gesture and the Force, Luke sent Kylo Ren flying into a tree.
A twitch of his fingers and it was another tree. A third. Then he just kept lifting him up and slamming the ragdoll back down into the ground again and again until there was a small crater. Pause. Once more to be sure.
"Puny Sith," remarked Mara, sitting atop of a small mountain of Stormtrooper corpses.
A painful whimper escaped the broken man.
"How am I going to explain this to Han?" sighed Luke.
Briefly Mara considered offering to do it, before acknowledging her fiancé's sense of duty. "I think telling him while standing in a graveyard of people Ren killed will help," was all she could offer, to which he had no reply.
Despite the awkwardness of having to explain this to the father, both Luke and Mara had to acknowledge this was an important victory. Without their chief enforcer, tearing down the First Order would now be far more straightforward, and this whole adventure would be over much faster.
With the Force granting, wrapping this all up might even be boring.
/ * * \
* * * Legends Never Die * * *
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Author Notes:
One of the problems for doing an AU for The Force Awakens is how Starkiller Base is such a MacGuffin that there is no getting around how it defines the plot. With it having gone off, and being inevitable it would be used, it does define the next few chapters a bunch.
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One thing I was disturbed to realize with my work on Kylo's character, is how we really never get a clear idea what his motivations are. Oh he does try and sway Rey with promises of a "new order" for the galaxy, but it was never made clear why he feels it is necessary. For Anakin, sure, he had just come out of a messy civil war, and Palpatine had 'proven' it was better to rule with a dictator than the corrupt senate. His motivation was pretty clearly established without issue. Kylo's motivation with the First Order, his purpose, all of that was never made really explicit.
And on a related note I should emphasize that Kylo's ultimate fate is still undecided. Although Mara's little speech at the end should make clear that any redemption would be an uphill battle.
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"Hope melted into fear, wonder into terror, innocence into nothingness. Bright futures, all planned," is a direct quote from I, Jedi by Michael A. Stackpole, which was from the protagonist's perspective when Carida was destroyed. Obviously that scene greatly inspired what I wrote for Luke here.
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The Omake scene was inspired by JumpingToaster's suggestion of doing it like Hulk with Loki in the first The Avengers film.
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Next Chapter: "Battle of Takodana"
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Please Review, and I will get back to you!