Chapter 32 - Only one left

Poe and the rest of the group stood in tense silence, their anticipation palpable, while Rey set down the Jedi texts.

"So, Palpatine has been lurking in the shadows all this time, orchestrating everything," Poe says, his voice carrying a mix of disbelief and determination as he acknowledged her attention with a grave nod.

Rey regained focus, her eyes narrowing in concentration as she opened the worn book. She flipped through the pages with urgency, her fingers racing over the text, searching for the vital information.

"We need to find him," Connix urged, her expression resolute as she glanced around the group.

"What are you looking for?" Finn asks, concern etched on his face as he stepped closer to Rey, hoping to understand her frantic search.

"A way to get to Exegol. I know I saw something in here," Rey responded with a mix of desperation and determination, her gaze still locked on the pages, hoping to uncover the key to their next move.

"Well, that was easy," Finn said with a hint of satisfaction, leaning back onto his heels.

Rey frowned, her brow furrowing in concentration as she flipped through the thick, ancient book filled with faded pages and cryptic symbols. "Not as easy as you think," she muttered, her voice trailing off as she sighed in frustration, wishing she could find what she was searching for.

Poe tilted his head, curiosity sparking in his eyes. "What do you mean?" he asked, leaning closer to her, eager to understand.

Rey paused, her gaze lifting from the book to meet Poe's. "Luke searched for Exegol for a long time," she said, her voice tinged with a mix of admiration and concern, "and he nearly found it."

She returned her focus to the book, her finger gliding along the delicate text, searching for any clue that might lead them to the elusive location.

"I'm still trying to translate some of these ciphers that I can't read," Rey voiced aloud, an edge of determination in her tone. With a deep breath, she closed her eyes, reaching out to connect with Kylo through their bond. Ben, I need your help, she called silently, hoping he would sense her urgency.

Rose, sitting nearby, raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. "If you can't read it, then how is that book going to help us get to Exegol?" she challenged, a note of skepticism lacing her words.

Rey opened her eyes, a deep sigh escaping her lips as frustration bubbled within her. "I didn't say I couldn't read it completely; there are just sections I still need to translate," she replied, her voice tinged with exasperation.

Finn leaned closer, curiosity shining in his eyes. "What does the book tell us, then?" he asked earnestly.

Rey shot him a pointed look. "If everyone stops pestering me with questions, maybe I can find the section I want to show you," she said, her tone softening but still firm.

"Sorry," Finn muttered, a hint of embarrassment creeping into his voice.

Poe chimed in, "We're a little pressed for time, you know."

"I know," Rey responded, her brow furrowing in concentration again. "But distracting me right now isn't going to help." She closed her eyes once again, her mind shifting focus. Ben! she shouted through their bond.

Rey slowly opened her eyes, frustrated that Ben hadn't replied yet. She continued to scan the words of the ancient text spread before her. Page after page blurred into a sea of forgotten knowledge, her frustration mounting as she struggled to find what she desperately sought.

Perhaps it wasn't the right book after all. With a sigh, she picked up another one, its weathered cover crackling slightly as she opened it.

Her heart raced, the tension in the room palpable as her friends watched with bated breath, each of them hoping for a breakthrough.

Suddenly, Rey's voice broke through the silence. "I found it!" she exclaimed, her excitement causing several of them to jump in surprise. She swiftly turned the page, revealing an intricate illustration of a pyramid-shaped artifact, its sharp angles and mysterious markings capturing everyone's attention.

"To reach Exegol, Luke wrote down that we need one of these," Rey declared, her finger tapping emphatically on the page. "It's a Sith wayfinder—a compass that leads to Exegol. To thwart the darkness that looms ahead… I need to finish what Luke started."

Poe leaned forward, his brow furrowed with determination. "Where do we start?" he asked.

"Where his trail went cold," Rey explained, "in the harsh, forbidden desert of Pasaana."

"Good! Then we're going with you," Poe responded, a determined gleam in his eye as he clapped Rey on the back.

Poe turned to Chewbacca, who stood towering beside them. "Did you manage to fix the compressor?"

Chewbacca let out a low, rumbling growl, a sound filled with both frustration and resolve.

"What do you mean, 'not yet'?" Poe sighed, exasperation creeping into his voice.

Rey glanced at the jedi text, still filled with complex symbols, and said, "I need to finish this translation. That should give you enough time to fix the Millennium Falcon and get her ready for the journey ahead."

"How are you going to translate it?" Rose asked, her brow furrowed with concern as she glanced at the pile of ancient texts spread out before them.

"I'll figure it out," Rey replied confidently.

"In only a few hours?" Rose questioned, crossing her arms and tilting her head slightly, assessing the daunting task ahead.

"I'll do as much as I can," Rey assured her, her determination growing. She turned her attention to Poe and Chewbacca, who were huddled together, their heads bent in deep discussion about the repairs needed on the ship.

"I'm going to the peace and quiet of my room while I figure this out," Rey announced, hoping to find some solitude to focus on the texts and consult Kylo.

Poe waved her off with a casual gesture. "Do what you need to do," he said, a supportive smile on his face.

Rey nodded thoughtfully, her fingers brushing against the worn pages of the Jedi texts as she gathered them up. With purpose, she began to march out of the room, the weight of the texts heavy in her arms.

Rose watched her leave, curiosity etched on her face.

When Rey was alone, she concentrated and found herself standing beside Kylo. Before them unfolded a breathtaking view of a lush clearing on Naboo, where vibrant greenery kissed the soft blue sky. In the center, Captain Parlux gently cradled Leia in her arms. Beside them, JK stood with a few bags in hand, a stony expression on his face, ready to journey to Varykino Villa.

"I was just saying goodbye to Leia," Kylo explained, his voice soft yet heavy with emotion as he hovered his finger over the button to raise the ramp.

Rey instinctively reached for Kylo's arm. She glanced over at JK, who nodded encouragingly. Captain Parlux and Leia waved, their expressions a mix of joy and sadness, and Rey couldn't help but blow a kiss to Leia, sending her love across the distance.

"We love you," Rey called out, her voice ringing with sincerity. "We'll see you soon," Kylo echoed, his tone filled with reassurance. With a resigned sigh, he pressed the button, and the ramp began to lift, sealing them off from the scene behind them as he made his way back to the pilot's chair.

"Sorry," Rey murmured, her brow furrowed with concern. "The Resistance was bombarding me with so many questions; it was so overwhelming. I should have been more patient."

"I didn't realise how difficult that would be," Kylo muttered, his fingers deftly tapping in the coordinates for the Finalizer. The starship rumbled as it broke free from the planet's atmosphere, and he engaged the autopilot, letting the ship soar through the vastness of space.

"What did you need my help with?" he asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.

Rey held up the ancient Jedi text, her brow furrowed in concentration as she pointed to a page filled with intricate, inscriptions about the elusive Sith Wayfinder.

"I can't make sense of this inscription," she said, frustration creeping into her voice.

Kylo leaned closer to the text, scanning the symbols. "It says only two were made," he remarked thoughtfully. He turned to Rey, concern etched on his face. "Do you think she'll be okay?"

Rey clasped Kylo's hand reassuringly, the warmth of her touch grounding him amidst the uncertainty.

"She'll be fine. JK and Sam will keep her safe," she replied with conviction. "What we need to do now is stay focused on finding Exegol and defeating the Emperor."

Kylo nodded thoughtfully, his brow furrowed as he contemplated the knowledge of his ancestor. "I know that Darth Vader had one," he said, a spark of determination in his eyes. "It's probably still hidden away in his castle on Mustafar."

Rey leaned closer to the ancient text, her finger tracing the faded script. "What does this part say?" she asked, curiosity lighting up her face.

Kylo scanned the words. "It says, 'Embrace fear to gain knowledge,'" he read aloud.

Rey repeated the phrase softly, "Embrace fear to gain knowledge," as she absorbed its significance, her mind raced with possibilities.

After a brief moment of silence, Kylo looked at Rey with resolve. "I'll head to Mustafar, and you should head to Pasaana," he suggested, determination in his voice. He leaned in, brushing his lips against hers in a swift, tender kiss. "Call me if you need me, or if you discover the wayfinder."

"Okay, love," Rey murmured, closing her eyes momentarily.

When she opened them again, she was startled to see Rose suddenly flinging the door to her bedroom wide open.

"What are you doing?" Rey asked, her voice laced with concern as she wondered if Rose had overheard or caught sight of anything.

"Do you need any help?" Rose inquired, her gaze sweeping suspiciously across Rey's room, taking in the dishevelled pile of books and no one else in the room.

"No, I actually finished the translation," Rey said, relief washing over her as she realised Rose probably didn't see anything.

"That was quick," Rose replied, her eyebrow raising in surprise.

Rey shifted, attempting to slip past Rose, who stood firmly in the doorway as if guarding it.

"I need you to step aside so I can tell Poe," Rey urged, her tone more insistent.

With a reluctant sigh, Rose stepped to the side, allowing Rey to move forward.

As Rey turned back, a hint of frustration crept into her voice. "Next time, I would really appreciate it if you could knock first. It is my room, after all," she said, emphasising the last part.

"Of course," Rose responded as she fell in step behind Rey.

Rey walked into the dimly lit hangar, where the familiar sounds of machinery and the scent of oil filled the air. She spotted Poe standing beside Chewbacca, who was busy tinkering with the Millenium Falcon.

Her gaze drifted to Rose, who had walked over to Finn. Rey watched intently as Rose leaned in close, whispering something to him, the corners of her mouth turning up slightly as if sharing a secret.

Curious, Rey reached out with her thoughts, and she caught a fleeting impression of Rose's mind: I wonder who she was talking to. I may have only heard her say 'okay, love,' but I don't trust her. After all, she is Kylo Ren's wife.

A twinge of unease ripples through Rey as she narrowed her eyes, skepticism brewing within her.

Poe suddenly turned his attention to her, his brow furrowing in concern. "You okay?" he asked, breaking the spell of her thoughts as he noticed her lingering gaze on Rose and Finn.

Rey shakes her head slightly, regaining her focus. "Yeah, I just wanted to let you know that the rest of the translation doesn't provide any useful information about its location."

Poe raises an eyebrow, intrigued. "What did it say?" he prompts, leaning in closer, eager for answers.

"It mentioned something about embracing fear to gain knowledge," Rey said, her brow furrowing in thought.

"Sounds like a load of mumbo jumbo to me," Poe replied with a skeptical smirk, leaning back against the wall of the falcon.

Rey chuckled softly, a light grin spreading across her face. "Yeah, it does," she agreed, the tension of the moment easing a bit.

Poe sighed, running a hand through his tousled hair. "The repairs are going to take a little while," he explained, his tone shifting to a more serious note. "So, make sure to rest up. We'll leave at first light."

Rey nodded in agreement, her mind wandering as she vividly envisioned the training grounds just outside. She could almost hear the whisper of the Force urging her to improve her skills.

With a sense of purpose, Rey began navigating the corridors to get outside and train, determined to sharpen her abilities and prepare for the challenges ahead.

Kylo Ren swiftly arrived on the desolate world of Mustafar, a place steeped in dark history and marked by fiery lava. He made his way to the Corvax Fen, a murky bog where twisted, gnarly irontrees loomed like sentinels against the oppressive sky.

The fen was eerily quiet, broken only by the distant sounds of bubbling muck and the occasional gust of sulfurous wind, all while lying close to the crumbling remnants of Darth Vader's imposing castle.

The moment Kylo set foot on the crusty, blackened ground, a sudden barrage erupted from the shadows. A group of fervent cultists, fiercely loyal to Vader, emerged from their hiding places among the gnarled trees, their faces twisted with fanaticism. They opened fire on Kylo and his stormtroopers, the air crackling with blaster fire as chaos erupted in the brooding bog.

Kylo activated his crimson lightsaber, its blade humming to life with a fierce glow. He expertly deflected the incoming blaster bolts, then he froze the energy projectiles in mid-air for a brief moment, before he sent them hurtling back toward their origin.

The skirmish raged on, but it didn't take long for Kylo's skill to turn the tide. One by one, his opponents fell, their frantic attempts to evade futile against his precise strikes. In a matter of moments, the battlefield fell silent, leaving Kylo as the lone figure standing.

Kylo Ren strode toward a cracked podium, the faded symbols of the Wayfinder barely visible against its weathered surface. With a determined push, he lifted the lid, revealing the device nestled within.

But as he extracted it, the fragile components gave way, crumbling in his grip. A frustrated groan escaped his lips as he slammed his fist down onto the remnants of the stand, his red lightsaber casting an eerie glow that flickered in the dim light.

For a moment, he stood there, the weight of his frustration heavy in the air, contemplating the long journey ahead. The shadows danced around him, echoing his inner turmoil.

But in that instant, clarity struck. With firm resolve, he turned on his heel and made his way back to his ship.

There was only one Wayfinder left, and he knew Rey would need his help to locate it.