STAR WARS: DESTINY'S REDEMPTION - CHAPTER 3
INT. - RESISTANCE BASE - DAY
Rey and Luke enter the main command center area, of the Resistance Base on D'Qar. Upon seeing him, the younger pilots and other workers remain silent. General Leia Organa however, is facing a control panel away from the door. She stops working, turns around, walks directly up to her brother...and promptly punches him in the gut! He immediately reacts, with a mix of genuine pain, confusion, and some anger...the last of which is evident on her face.
LUKE
"Ow! What was that for?"
LEIA
"Don't you feign ignorance with me! I know you're strong with the Force, but so am I now! You helped train me, until Ben became a monster...and instead of trying to save him, you abandoned both of us! You betrayed us all! You're a coward, brother - how dare you show your face here?!"
In spite of her anger, Leia then starts to cry. The look on Luke's face is one of deep pain and sorrow; he knew very well he'd be getting this reaction. He just wasn't sure it would be right away. He does not attempt to touch his sister, even though he wants to. Instead, he speaks both calmly and lovingly.
LUKE
"You're right, Leia. I was a coward, and I did fail. I allowed Ben's actions to convince me I wasn't a good enough teacher, that I couldn't save him the way I saved our father. I sensed the darkness in him, but I approached it overzealously, through intellect and reasoning instead of love. I am sorry, Leia...and I know I was away too long. But I am here now to help, if you will let me."
Tears still in her eyes, and unable to look at him, she simply nods. Luke takes this as a good sign, and simply pulls her into a hug.
LEIA
"I despise what you did, but you are still my brother, the closest and only family I have left. Thanks for not overreacting; I love you."
LUKE
"And I you, sister. You have always been the best part of me. Now, why don't you introduce me to your allies?"
Breaking the embrace and chuckling nervously, Leia nods again and breaks into a slight smile. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she turns to face everyone else in the room.
LEIA
"My apologies, everyone. I have spent the past several years trying to be constantly brave for the rest of you, yet feeling unable to be truly vulnerable myself. As our resident Jedi once told me, failure is often the greatest teacher...and now, we have another, myself included. You all know his name and reputation, but I will introduce him anyway - ladies and gentlemen, a brave hero but more importantly my brother, Luke Skywalker."
Everyone in the room applauds, and Luke can't help but smile. For the first time in years, he feels accepted as a person, not just a myth or symbol. Rey comes up behind him, and he looks at her, as if asking a silent permission. She nods, and he speaks.
LUKE
"You have worked with this selfless and courageous woman recently, but now I will tell you the whole truth. I present to you the current generation of my blood, and the rightful heir to the New Jedi Order, Reyna Kenobi Amidala Skywalker."
This news takes the whole room by surprise...all except Leia. She smiles at them both, hugs Rey, and then asks her brother the obvious question.
LEIA
"I sensed her potential right away. Why didn't you tell me?"
Luke simply sighs, resigned to the honest answer he must now confess.
LUKE
"When Mara died, and Ben fell, it was too dangerous. She needed protection. Neither of us could do it at the time - you know that. Blocking her memory and hiding her was my only option. Speaking of which..."
He then turns to Rey, places his human hand on her forehead, and closes his eyes. His voice now carries an echo effect, almost like a ghost retrieving something from the distance of time. For her part, Rey is frozen still, as if her body's in some kind of trance.
LUKE
"The Force is strong in our family, Reyna. It lives in you now, as it always has. Remember, dear dughter. Embrace your past. Live in pain and shadow no more."
He removes his hand, and she crumples to the floor. For a moment, everyone is shocked, including Leia. She moves to help Rey, but moments later the former scavenger rises again to her feet. The expression on her young face has changed, and now it is her turn to speak.
REY
"I...I can see her...in my mind. She had red hair, long and wavy. Her eyes were green, and her voice was so comforting. It was she who chose my first name, and encouraged you to include Grandmother's as well."
Luke nods, solemnly but joyfully. They hug, and then she turns to Leia.
REY
"Does that mean I get to call you Aunt Leia now?"
The Resistance general laughs, in spite of herself. This causes both Luke and Rey to follow suit.
LEIA
"Only in private. At the base and while fighting the enemy, it remains our secret. The First Order can never learn of your heritage, especially Snoke and Ben. You already resisted him once, but you'll need more training to hone your Force abilities. Your father will take care of that."
Luke begins to object, but Leia raises her hand.
LEIA
"No, brother - I mean it. You hid for years while the rest of us fought back - this is your penance. You know you won't be able to handle Ben and Snoke by yourself. Plus, Rey and you need each other, now more than ever. So snap out of it, find somewhere safe to train, and begin the process. Mold her into a proper Jedi...now."
Suddenly, the sound of a roaring engine is heard, and the younger Skywalker twin's expression changes. Luke can tell its not very positive.
LUKE
"What's wrong?"
She sighs, putting one hand to her head.
LEIA
"He's back from a test run, our current hotshot. Poe Dameron...he reminds me so much of Han it makes me sick."
The mention of Han makes Luke frown. He starts to speak, but Leia beats him to it.
LEIA
"I know you felt it, when our son killed him. I felt it too. I want to believe he can still be saved, but I don't know if that's possible now. Either way, he and Snoke must be stopped."
She looks Luke directly in the eye, her own almost pleading with him for a very honest truth.
LEIA
"I must ask you, brother...if he won't turn back...do you have what it will take to..."
Her own voice cracks now, barely able to contain the obvious mix of love and fear that's in her heart.
LUKE
"I will do all I can to save him this time, Leia - I owe that to both you and Han. But if he refuses and embraces the darkness, the fate he suffers will be his own more than mine. The Force must remain in balance, for the galaxy to be safe...even at the cost of our family."
She cries again, as if her son is already dead. Luke draws her close, and holds her for a moment.
LUKE
"I know, Leia...I know. I miss them both too. But as you've said yourself, our grief will have to wait. This evil must be stopped, at all costs. We don't know Snoke's master plan, but if Ben completes his Sith training he will become worse than our father ever was."
Leia nods, trying her best to regain her composure.
LEIA
"You're right. Starkiller Base was over five times the size of the Death Star. The First Order destroyed the entire Hosnian system in a single shot. Alderaan was nothing by comparison...and I don't want to envision what a person with that kind of evil inside of them would be like."
Suddenly, the back door of the room opens, and Poe Dameron enters. He looks battle-worn, but also energized. Luke sees something in him, which reminds him very much of himself as a younger man. He approaches Leia, to offer an update.
POE
"The X-Wing refit performed better than expected General. Flight modes, weapon systems, everything. Top of the line, at least by our abilities. How they'll perform against Hux and his loons is another matter entirely."
LEIA
"The pilot matters more than the ship Poe, and I trust you with my life. But remember, Hux is a pawn to Snoke, just like my son and his grandfather before him. This war is about beating far more than just a single man or fleet."
POE
"I understand, General."
LEIA
"Good. Now, run that test another time to make sure its perfect. When we battle the First Order again, they need to feel the intensity of our resolve completely."
Poe nods, and leaves. Luke can't help but smile.
LUKE
"So much like both of us, Han and myself all those years ago. I see why you keep him around."
LEIA
"His help has been a helpful constant for me, in many ways. He routinely embodies both the best and the worst of who you both were as younger men. I admire his drive and loyalty, but his ego must be kept in check. Now, enough of all this. I believe you and Rey have more important matters right now. We're on a ticking clock; she'll have to learn even faster than you did on Dagobah. Time is a luxury we no longer have."
LUKE
"I can't rush her too fast, Leia. That's one reason Ben fell; I tried pushing him right away. I didn't know any better."
LEIA
"Well, now you do...so learn from your mistakes. Yoda once said, "Truly wonderful, the mind of a child is." Embrace that, and teach her to do the same. I trust you, Luke...the two of you are ready for this."
Luke sighs, looks down for a moment, then raises his head again.
LUKE
"You have become very wise sister, and I am grateful you are willing to trust me. I will not let you or this Resistance down. Snoke will face justice; we all will make sure of that. Farewell for now; Rey and I will return when her training is done. I will attempt to make it soon."
He and Rey walk out of the base, and Leia speaks softly, to herself more than anyone else.
LEIA
"Good luck. I love you both...and may the Force be with you always."
EXT. - D'QAR - DAY
Approaching the Falcon, walking almost in tandem, Rey looks excited to begin her training, but also anxious. Her first question sounds urgent.
REY
"Where are we going, father...I mean, Master?"
LUKE
"Our destination is Cloud City, above the planet Bespin. Its time to revisit an old friend."