Fandom Star Wars: Rays of Hope [Closed]

[Lucyfer]

Luke Skywalker, the legend, the myth, the Jedi, was nothing that Rey had expected, and this fact filled her with a bitter rage as she stormed back to the Millennium Falcon, jaw set, fists clenched, thinking that there could be another way. She had met Leia Organa, a resilient and fierce woman. If this was Leia’s brother, then he had to have that same ferocity, that same sense of justice – right?

If it was there, Chewbacca could bring it out.

Or Leia.

But Rey wasn’t going to manage it here, on Ahch-To, as a stranger. As no one. Leia could, or Chewbacca, or maybe even R2-D2, but it was clear to her that she wouldn’t be able to. Thankfully, she had that sort of back-up, and as the old ship came into sight, she lifted her voice in a shout, “CHEWIE!”

She heard the wookie roar back in response, ambling off the lowered ramp. Again, his call came, the question of where Luke was echoing off the rocks, “He locked himself in a hut. I can’t get him, but you can.” Chewbacca would have the strength to bring the door down, and even the strength to carry Luke and drag him back home, to where he was needed. “I need your help to get Luke to come with us.”

Chewbacca didn’t even question it, but let out an agreeing roar, before following Rey back up the steps, her pace from leisurely. The young woman was determined to get back to Luke before he shifted to another location, or another hut. Her fists remained tight balls at her side, the buns on her head bouncing with each step. It did not take long to return to the hut, and Rey did not bother to look within the window of it.

She went right to it, and knocked.

“Go away!”

Rey looked to Chewbacca after stepping back, and Chewbacca stepped right into her place and immediately kicked the door down. He was also the first to stride in, Rey trailing after him, far less intimidating than the wookie who roared right in Luke’s face, but no less intent on her plans. “Chewie, what are you doing here?”

Luke did seem surprised. He hadn’t seen the Millennium Falcon arrive. He expected Han to stride in after Chewbacca, but there was no sign of Han. Just the girl in the dark blue attire, her green eyes glaring at him as if he’d betrayed her in some fashion.

Chewbacca explained, but Rey translated anyways, “He says you’re coming back with us.” Her tone left no room for arguing.

“How did you find me?”

“Long story, we’ll tell you on the Falcon.”

“Falcon,” Luke repeated the word slowly, again realizing who was missing from this party, and again unable to keep his eyes from looking beyond Rey, to someone who wasn’t there.
Chewbacca’s mournful growl told him what he could guess at, but he had to ask anyway, “Where’s Han?”

It was as that question slipped his lips, that another sound drew the attention of all of them. Rey immediately reached for her staff and pulled it ahead, as Chewbacca tried to growl out a threat. Luke spoke up, “It isn’t – Chewie, it’s Lars!” he supposed Chewbacca and the others may have assumed Lars was dead, too, rather than with Luke. Assumed he was here, wholly alone.

“Who?” Rey asked, glancing back to Luke, before realizing that didn’t matter so much and looking back ahead to see who would be arriving on the scene.

~***~

It happened too quickly for Admiral Cadence Hux to respond. Somehow, the Resistance had seen through her cloaking, and before she could bring the shields up over her cruiser, her ship took a strike from the ground that cut through it entirely. She was unable to send a message back, unable to do anything but feel her breath leave her as the air exited the ship and it went crashing down to the surface of the planet.

Everything went black.

And then, everything was searing pain through her body, and alarms ringing in her ears, and Cadence found herself alive amidst the wreckage of a still-screaming ship. She could smell smoke, and understood the need to pull away from the wreckage and get far from it – find civilization, and try to get back to the First Order.

Hesitantly, she opened her eyes, only to close them as she realized she was mostly buried. She let her gloved hands clench into fists, before she tried to reach out, to pull forward. She tried to bend her knees, afraid the debris atop her might be too heavy. She found to her relief it was not, and she was able to begin to move and pull herself from the wreckage, thankfully not far from an edge, that she was able to use to pull herself up.

The white coat was burned.

The attire was torn to shreds or otherwise charred, the white taking on the hue of blood, but Cadence convinced herself it was all superficial wounds. Never mind the blood that threatened to blind one eye as it dripped down from a head wound. ‘Hells. If I find who—’

“Halt!”

Cadence didn’t, precisely, do that. She turned around to see who gave the order, noticing a young woman with buns on her head, and a blaster pointed right at her, among others who, Cadence could only guess, were other rebels. The thought solidified itself as her eyes found a particular familiar face among them.

“FN-2187.” She let the words slip, that disappointment she’d felt when he left present even then, as she realized she might have crawled from the debris only to face a worse fate. No matter.

One hand reached for her blaster, only to find it missing. The strap was gone. It must have been cut off by debris, left in the wreckage. ‘Damn it.’ Her fist clenched air, uselessly, as she let her blue eyes narrow on the former Stormtrooper, that lump of anger building in her throat and preventing further words from escaping.

Yet, she didn’t act further, or attempt to run. She still valued her life.

 

[kieranjones1878]

“Luke Skywalker is a lie... He lied to us all! He is weak and you don’t need him to be great.” The familiar voice of Ben Solo said staring at Lars Skywalker. The young padawan raised his saber to fight his cousin but soon saw a nothing but a flash of blue light.

Lars woke up breathing heavily. He saw the inside of his damp hut on Ahch-To and pushed his legs out of the cot he lay in. He hadn’t had that dream in a while, the dream that haunted him for years but there it was, as clear as the night it happened.

Lars rubbed his eyes and glanced over at the chest in the corner of the room. With a wave of his hand the chest lifted off the ground and sat on the bed beside him. He opened it and a slight smile came over his face. There sat his Fathers lightsaber on top of the few belongings he brought with him years ago. His father had turned his back on the jedi but Lars refused to.

Lars pulled on a shirt and left the hut, he made for the spot he regularly meditated at. It was the highest point of the island and it was so peaceful. He would sit there for hours sensing those they left behind when choosing a life of exile. Then he heard a noise that sent shivers down his spine. The Millennium Falcon flew over his head. Lars didn’t believe his eyes. “Uncle Han!” He said smiling as he ran at full speed to reach the other side of the island.

He didn’t stop until he reached his Fathers hut where the door was burst open. He approached until out came Chewbacca who ran roaring with excitement into a hug with Lars. He had not seen Lars since he was 10 years old and continuously patted his head. “Chewie! Great to see you pal!” Lars said returning the hug. Chewie roared again this time seeming deep in conversation. “Leia needs us? Then we have to go, Father we need to...” He saw Lukes expression. He sensed his pain and loss. “No... Han...” lars said seeing Chewie bow his head. Lars looked up at the girl next to his Father. “How did it happen?” Some part of him knew but he needed a definitive answer.

~***~

Finn was relieved they had managed to slip through the First Orders grasp. After Starkiller base was destroyed, the First Order threw everything they had at them but they still managed to escape they’re former base.

Finn was unpacking his belongings when Poe ran in. “Finn buddy, I need your help!” Finn turned and nodded putting the pilots former jacket on. “What’s going down?” He responded ready to help the man that had Got him free of the First Order. “A ship has followed us. We believe it’s First Order but we have nothing definitive yet. We shot it down and we’re going to investigate the crash site to see what we can find.” He said patting the former stormtrooper on the shoulder. Finn nodded. Poe seemed to have a way with words and made Finn want to follow him even into certain death.

A while later, Finn, Poe and a small team arrived at the ship. There were many dead stormtroopers as they made their way through the ship. Finn remembered the times he saw a similar site and grieved. Suddenly he heard it. “FN-2187” Finn shuddered as he pointed his blaster at the source. He had to do a double take. There stood Admiral Cadence Hux.

Finn blinked. Poe leaned in. “What is it? Do you know her?” Finn just stuttered and blinked. “Yeah, she’s um, Hux’s sister.” He said casually. Poe gasped. “Grab her, you better not make move lady!” He said in a demanding tone.

 

[Lucyfer]

Rey watched as Chewbacca went roaring out to greet the man who approached, a blonde he must have been quite familiar with. It warmed Rey’s heart, while at the same time striking it with a sorrowful ache. It seemed like something of a family reunion.

‘Did I miss them? Did they return to Jakku while I was….’

Rey did not let the thought complete itself. Chewbacca drew her from such musings as he told Lars the situation, that Leia needed them. Lars addressed Luke then – father. Rey’s eyes widened in surprised, and looked back towards Luke, but he was still caught by the news and the slow realization of what had happened to a friend.

It was clear in his expression, and Rey knew they had to explain. At least that might convince Luke to come along – or his son. Rey hadn’t known he had a son. It wasn’t mentioned by Leia, or even Chewbacca. “We saw it,” Rey said, as Luke moved by her, to go outside.

Well, it was better than staying in the hut.

Rey walked out just as well, and moved to Lars first, extending her hand, “I’m Rey.”

Chewbacca offered another bit, noting that she had stolen the Millennium Falcon.

“Well I didn’t know!” Rey protested, as Luke took a seat on the rocks outside the hut, allowing the introduction, knowing he would soon get the story, but the girl had to make it clear how she knew Han, and why her word should be heeded.

~***~

Cadence did not so much as flinch as FN-2187 added his blaster to the others, all aimed at her, but it seemed they weren’t certain of her identity. No doubt the fact she was wounded wasn’t helping, nor the fact she had never met any of them personally. She recognized Poe, though – as soon as she heard his voice, she knew him.

After all, she had leveraged Terex’s hatred of Poe to find the Resistance. Terex may not be with the First Order any longer, but he was loyal to his hatred.

She’d never met Poe, but she’d seen enough of him all the same – and he seemed to realize the importance of keeping her alive when he ordered her not shot, but grabbed. She scoffed at his command. “It’s Admiral, not Lady.” She corrected, even if he wasn’t using it as a title.

She watched for FN-2187’s approach, keeping still in spite of the desire to react otherwise. She wished her glare could set him aflame. She hardly wanted the traitor to touch her, she would have preferred any of the others, but she’d endure this. There was hope in life. And stars knew what she had the potential to learn while alive in a Resistance base.

So long as she got out of it. “No gloating, FN-2187?” She heard Phasma’s debriefing – lies. She heard Garmuth’s account of how FN-2187 had caught Phasma unaware. She didn’t call the Chrome Captain on it, though – Armitage needed Phasma, even if he wouldn’t admit it. She would be the one thing to stand between him and Kylo Ren, or him and Snoke. The one loyal figure to him. Her lie was necessary not to Hux, but to the rest of the First Order.

 

[kieranjones1878]

Lars nodded and met her hand with his. “Nice to meet you Rey, I’m Lars Skywalker.” As their hands touched he felt something. It was ever so slight but it was almost as if he sensed the raw power and ability within her. He decided to ignore it.

“So, please tell us... What happened?” Lars said, crossing his arms. Before anyone could answer Luke stood up. “It doesn’t matter.” Lars turned and faced his Father. What do you mean it doesn’t matter? Of course it does.” He said taken back by his Fathers lack of remorse. “I meant it doesn’t matter. They’ll tell the story and expect us to run back to the frontlines and face the entire First Order with our lightsabers and win.”

Lars had heard this many times over the years, or at least something similar. He thought the death of a dear friend might sway him but he thought wrong. Luke stood and looked directly at Rey. “The Jedi are no more. Go home.” He walked off down the hill and out of sight.

Lars sighed. “I’m sorry about him. He’s not the same Luke Skywalker that left. I’m beginning to fear that Luke Skywalker is gone...” Lars said closing his eyes and rubbing them. He was clearly frustrated.

~***~

“It’s Finn.” He said shortly. “And no. No gloating.” He said as he grabbed her arms and placed them in restraints. Then two soldiers marched her away. Finn stayed close behind. Poe stayed next to him.

It seemed she was the only survivor and her orders were still unclear. When they arrived at their base they took her to a holding cell were she was tied to a table and under constant guard. Finn stayed outside the room waiting for Poe and Leia to arrive.

Poe soon stormed around the corner and into the room. “Wow what are you doing?” Finn said seeing Poe looking heated. “My job.” He said sitting across from Cadence. Finn entered behind him but stood by the door.

“Alright Lady, I’ll make this easy for you. You tell me how you found us and why you came with a small skeleton crew and I’ll make sure you get some food tonight. I think that’s fair.” Poe said with his usual flair.

 

[Lucyfer]

Rey was not so familiar with the Force yet to sense anything from Lars, just the warmth of his hand and the firm grip. She was able to smile, and as she pulled her hand free, she was about to find a place to tell the story, but Luke rose, startling all of them. Chewbacca roared his own outrage.

“That’s not what—” Rey tried to say, but she wasn’t allowed a word in as Luke argued with his son instead, claiming to know what Rey and Chewbacca, what Leia, expected of him. ‘No. We don’t expect that….’

But he was a hero of the Rebel Alliance. He was the one who took down the Death Star. They expected his presence would embolden people, and his mind would help them with strategies against the First Order. No one was going to be put on the front lines as he thought, there were just too few!

And, well, Luke was old.

She kept that thought to herself, pursing her lips angrily as her eyes followed Luke. Chewbacca was the one to actually move after him, roaring his indignant responses after the former Jedi Master, but Rey imagined it would do no good. He could reminiscence about Han and the times they had all he liked – Luke didn’t care any longer.

He had the world, he had a family, and a sister, all who missed him – his friend was dead – and this was how he reacted? He seemed almost like a child.

Rey’s lips unpursed as she looked to Lars, “Don’t apologize for him,” she said, “His actions aren’t yours. I’ll stay here until he decides to come back with us, and you, too.” Rey noted, gaze softening a bit, “What happened to make him like this? I know he lost his school to Kylo, but….”

Somehow, this seemed extreme.

“Oh.”

She realized Lars had wanted to know what happened. Mentioning Kylo reminded her, and she looked down, “I don’t know if you know Kylo Ren – maybe as Ben Solo,” she lifted her gaze back up, “I’m so sorry. He…he killed Han Solo.” Just thinking of it infuriated her, those angry tears stinging at her eyes, but she held them back from spilling as best she could.

~***~

Finn.

It sounded right, Cadence would give FN-2187 that, but she didn’t want to use it right then. 87 had been the only thing close to a name of his choice he’d had, a nickname, like Nines, or Slip, and others of the FN Corps. How did he feel, she wondered, to know so many of them were dead?

She didn’t ask that. He didn’t gloat, and so, she backed off her own hostility and let herself be restrained and led to the base, eyes always dancing about, taking in all that she could before she was put into a holding cell and tied down further.

All the while, Finn - no, FN-2187 - never strayed far.

Some sense of loyalty? ‘More likely he knows what you’re capable of.’ Once she had her bearings again. She was going to remain confident that she could find a way out. Rest would be needed after all that, though, and she shut her eyes, hoping to acquire some.

Of course, it wasn’t to come so soon. Instead, she was greeted by the heavy steps of others, and her eyes opened, falling again on the pilot. Her look was bored as he made his demand. “Is that all Kylo Ren had to offer you, before you started to tell the First Order all that you knew?” Cadence couldn’t help the mocking lilt in her query. Did they really think that was going to work? Did he think her loyalty to the First Order was so fragile?

It hadn’t even been a day yet. Of course she’d rather starve than say a word. She’d rather die. If the Resistance thought they were the only ones willing to be martyrs, the only ones who believed in their cause, they were wrong. Not that Cadence reveled in the thought of martyrdom…if she did, she would have died out there with her ship.

 

[kieranjones1878]

“Ben... It was Ben...” Of course it was. His cousin truly was gone then. The boy he had always looked up to was dead and had completed his turn to the dark side. He closed his eyes for a second and saw the light from Bens lightsaber slash his face. Lars almost lost his footing.

“Then Ben Solo is gone. Replaced by this Kylo Ren.” Lars shook his head in disbelief. “No matter what my Father says or does I will return to the resistance with you and fight. I promise you Rey.” He was trying to remain calm and level headed, as a Jedi should be, but it was hard.

Just then Luke and Chewbacca came back up the hill. Luke approached Rey with curiousity. “Why did she send you? Leia, why you?” He said getting closer. “Father that’s enough.” Lars said. “You’re telling me you can’t sense it?” He said. Lars made an uneasy face. Of course he could sense it. This girl Rey was powerful with the force. She knew not what she could do however. Luke smiled when he saw his son’s expression. “So, why you?” He said.

~***~

Poe chuckled. “I was trying to be nice Lady.” He stood and left the room. Finn stayed. He looked at her, his former Admiral. This is a woman he once feared, but there was always a hint of respect there. Now, here they were. Opposite ends of an interrogation chamber.

Finn slowly moved towards the chair. He sat down and looked at her. “I know you’ll never understand why I defected but I thought I should tell you anyway.” He gulped. “I was nothing but a number. I was raised to do one thing and when time came, I didn’t want to. I refused and in that moment something clicked. I was fighting for the wrong side. So I did something about it.” He said staring at her. He knew she hated him and everything he stood for but he needed to get this off his chest.

 

[Lucyfer]

Rey managed a few mute nods as Lars repeated it, taking in that his cousin, his family, was truly gone. Rey believed it. She couldn’t say as much to Leia – it was her son – but she would confirm what Lars thought. There was no light left in Kylo Ren. He’d had a good life, and he threw it all away. Slaughtered his uncle’s dream, tried to kill him and his cousin, and then killed his own father – a father who loved him, and tried to take him home.

Rey couldn’t understand it.

“I am sure Leia and everyone else will be happy for your help,” but Rey still wasn’t leaving. Not without Luke.

She might have asked more, for more clarification about why Luke was here, why he thought the Jedi were all gone – but Luke returned then, his tone nearly accusatory, and Rey straightened up, looking a bit bewildered by this change. What had Chewie said to him? At her questioning look, Chewbacca just gave a confused answer.

“I don’t know.” Rey said, “I’m no one,” she said, “I just…I found my way to the Resistance. I suppose because there’s nothing to lose if I don’t come back….” Rey couldn’t help but think that way, even if she suspected otherwise, suspected that Leia sensed that she was unsettled. She’d used the Force on Starkiller.

She didn’t tell Leia that, but Leia had a way of looking at her, where it just seemed she knew everything. A mother’s look, perhaps. “I’m not officially with the Resistance.” She wasn’t a soldier lost. She was nothing. No one.

~***~

‘If he calls me Lady one more time….’ She would what? Well, file it away for later, and make sure he suffered. She couldn’t help but think of that whining sycophant from Arkanis, Lady Carise Sindian.

Leia knocked her off her throne. It had been lovely to behold her fall – same side or not, Carise was an irritant.

FN-2187 didn’t follow Poe out. He didn’t leave her to the silence and the tedium. To plotting escapes and testing the restraints. She was hesitant to do so with anyone present, though she imagined she would eventually have peace. She wished she could have ignored FN-2187, tuned him out, but she couldn’t.

His was the only voice there, and her emotions over his departure were still raw enough that the disappointment nagged at her, and threatened to turn towards sorrow or anger. She wasn’t sure which.

But FN-2187 had never been a coward. Even then, he held her gaze, trying to make it clear it wasn’t just because of what he saw on Jakku – trying to convince her he’d been lucid and sane, that he still was. “You’re wrong.” That much, she remained certain of, “but humor me, Finn. Why do you think the First Order is in the wrong?” Where had they gone wrong? Where had he been lost?

 

[kieranjones1878]

Luke scoffed. “Hm, another jedi hopeful then. What did Leia expect? For me to just train you in a day and go and face the First Order? Ha!” He turned. Lars had heard enough. He was trying to remember his training but his Father would not listen. “Father, we need to go back. It’s time. Show her what you showed me. Let’s bring back the jedi and restore balance to the force.” Lars pulled Lukes lightsaber from his jackets pocket and handed it to him.

“The galaxy needs you.” Lars said. Chewie gave a supportive roar whilst Luke turned the lightsaber in his hand, examining it. Lars could swear he saw him smile for a mere moment before he placed it back in Lars’ hand.

“I can’t, you know I can’t and you know why.” He said, this time with no sarcasm or hostility in his voice nothing but sincerity. Lars saw his Father turn and walk his regular daily path. “Father please.” Lars pleaded. Luke stopped and turned. “I failed them, I failed you.” He shook his head and continued walking away as Chewie let out a growl that indicated he was upset.

Lars turned to Rey. “There is no hope, there are no jedi masters here. Not anymore.” He said shaking his head holding Lukes lightsaber in a tight grip.

~***~

Finn was taken back by the question. She seemed emotionless, he expected nothing less. But for some reason she was asking why he left the First Order. Finn assumed it was just a way to make sure it didn’t happen again like a machine fixing itself.

He stood again. “The First Order is just wrong. You want to control the galaxy and have everything under your banner.” He chuckled. “But you’ll never get it.” He shook his head. “Even if you do it. Even if you take over the galaxy and put up statues of Snoke everywhere there will be those who oppose you.” Finn turned to walk out. He stooped at the threshold and looked into her eyes. “I hoped I could be better. Now I am.” He said standing by the door staring at her.

Poe was on the other side of the one way mirror looking in, sat next to Leia. “Come on buddy, ask her questions, rile her up.” He said. Leia placed a calm hand on his shoulder. “Relax, he knows what he’s doing.” She said.

 

[Lucyfer]

Perhaps Lars was willing to give up on Luke. Perhaps he had done so, in truth, long ago, but Rey was never so easy to deal with. She was ever stubborn. It no longer mattered that the Jedi were gone, or that Luke had given up. A hand went to cover the beacon on her wrist, briefly, and she thought of Leia, of the woman who took her in so eagerly – of that wounded soul.

Leia deserved to hear it from Luke, if nothing else.

Rey didn’t care if Luke helped or not – perhaps he was just as useless, just as lost, as Lars suggested, but Rey didn’t believe that either, and she found herself shaking her head as Lars tried to say it. “No.”

She stalked past Lars, past Chewbacca, and after Luke, “If you would just LISTEN!” Rey shouted after him. There was no reason for subtlety, no reason for trying to behave, with how he just flickered away or dismissed her. She may be no one – but Leia wasn’t, and he was dismissing Leia through her.

She wouldn’t stand it.

“And stop assuming what I’m here for, maybe I can help you!” Help him? Help him with what? She didn’t know. But suddenly it seemed like he needed more help than she did. Yes, she needed a teacher – Kylo Ren said as much, but Kylo Ren wasn’t going to be a teacher to her. Perhaps, Luke wouldn’t be either – but so what?

She figured out how to live on Jakku on her own.

Maybe she could figure this out on her own, too.

All she really knew was that she was growing increasingly angrier with him with each passing second. What she failed to notice was how that was influencing the world around her, how the gust of winds picked up around her, twisting the grass about, disturbing the ground. It threatened to do more, but had not yet done so.

~***~

That disappointment, more than anger, stabbed at Cadence again as Finn tried to explain himself. It did show a flaw in the system, but more than that, it showed that Finn had never truly understood the First Order. Perhaps the teachings were wrong – she’d always suspected as much. It was a modification of what she and Armitage had learned.

She and her brother were far from followers.

Finn was not, either.

And still, she held his gaze, even as his frame near the door threatened departure. “Is that all you took away from your training – that all the First Order cares about is senseless domination? Did you ever stop to wonder why the Empire rose, or why people would protest the Republic – new or old, Finn?”

The use of his name was gentler then, tempered by the understanding that FN-2187 was lost to her, and that she was, truly, more disappointed by this than she wanted to admit.

“There is always someone with a stance opposite. Against the Republic, the Resistance, or the First Order. I do not hear you saying they are wrong, solely because they will also, never, completely win.”

It was a truth. There was always opposition. Could Finn really only see that shallow, Resistance propaganda of iron-fisted control? “You cannot be that shallow, Finn.” An assertion that she thought she knew him better – that she thought he was better, in the sense, he was smarter than he was letting on.

 

[kieranjones1878]

Lars watched as Rey stormed after Luke, as she brushed past him he felt something, a similar feeling as to what he felt when they touched hands, he didn’t know what to make of this feeling but jhe knew his senses were trying to tell him something. He closed his eyes.

Suddenly, there she was, This girl who was so certain she was no one stood in front of somebody on the floor. Lars felt a snowflake land on his face, he looked up and saw the sky was red and the floor seemed unstable. Rey stood there with Anakin Skywalkers lightsaber ignited.

Lars looked down and saw what he was brought there to see.

There, onthe floor was his cousin, Kylo Ren, with a scar across his face. He was bested in battle by this girl. Lars saw the ground begin to separate the two.

Lars opened his eyes to see Chewbacca leaning over him growling. He helped Lars up. “It’s her Chewie... She’s the one who will bring balance and defeat Ben... She already bested him once but she needs training!” He was babbling. He shot up and followed the path to find Luke and Rey.

~***~

Finn took one last look at her and then left. Was she right? Had he just done all of this because it was the easiest thing to do? Finn was questioning himself but then stopped. This is what Cadence wanted.

He entered the room where Leia and Poe sat. “All First Order officers are given special training in case of capture. Hoth will melt before she says anything.” Finn said defeated.

Poe sighed. “We should start getting aggressive. That’s the only way we’re...” Poe was interrupted. “No.” Leia said silencing Poe’s suggestion. “Leia, if we reverse the roles then what happens?” He said. Leia shook her head. “I don’t care, we are better than them. Put her in a cell.” She said as she got up and left.

Poe followed suit as he and Finn escorted Cadence to a small room with a steel slab for a bed. When they pushed her in, a ray shield came down forming a transparent doorway that could not be touched. “Have a good night!” Poesaid walking off. Finn stood for a second before making way for his chambers. It had been a long day.

 

[Lucyfer]

Rey was, of course, oblivious to the reaction of Lars, her single-minded focus on Luke who seemed intent on ignoring her. However, he did come to a pause as she pursued, and she kept marching forward until he turned around to look her in the eyes. Only then did she pause, and defiantly hold his gaze.

She thought – she hoped – she saw a flicker in him.

If she did, it was gone just as soon as his eyes fell on his son and Chewbacca, as if startled away by the sense of an audience, or by whatever he detected in his son’s expression. “I don’t need any help. I am here to be left alone.”

“Then why—” Rey wanted to ask why he’d leave a map then, but Chewbacca’s roar drew her attention and she turned right around, allowing Luke to escape as confusion came across her features. “Chosen one?” Chewie agreed, and she shook her head, almost laughing, “No, I’m not.”

She wasn’t anyone. Where would Chewie get that ridiculous idea?

~***~

For all his declarations, Finn had nothing to say to any of Cadence’s questions. He just left. ‘Coward.’ Perhaps it had gotten to him, then. Most Resistance people she’d had the misfortune of interacting with would have spit out answers and defenses when questioned in such a way, but he didn’t.

She didn’t know what that might mean, given he was still surrounded by Resistance officials, and Resistance influence. She wouldn’t imagine it could end up being of use to her, but it did allow her some small hope that perhaps Finn was, indeed, intelligent.

That he might not be so blind.

Regardless, it was not long before he and the pilot returned, and she was taken to a cell. No bars, just a field, and she was quick to whirl around to examine it. ‘Ray shield.’ There would be no passing through it – the shock would be fatal. Her eyes moved over the edges of it, looking for where it began, looking to see if it might be possible to dismantle it, or strike it and break it.

Sure, it would kill her to pass through it – but that didn’t mean she couldn’t throw inanimate objects. It’s not like they would die.

She ignored Poe’s wishes in favor of being blatant in her examination of her cell, ignored that Finn left just as well. She doubted she would sleep as they did – she had too much to consider, but at least that night, that moment, she wouldn’t yet act on plans to escape, merely assess what opportunities she had.

 

[kieranjones1878]

“Yes, you are!” Lars said taking a step forward. “When we shook hands earlier I had felt something but chose to ignore it. When you brushed past me I saw it.” He blinked a few times as he realised he hadn’t blinked since the vision.

“Rey I saw when you bested Ben. Despite having no training, having never touched a lightsaber before you dualed and beat a very powerful dark force user. That doesn’t just happen. It means something.”

Lars could see his Fathers face. He saw fear. Lars knew why. His Father had lost faith in himself as well as the jedi. He felt it was his fault that Ben turned. Lars disagreed.

“I know you came here to bring Luke Skywalker back to the fight but it’s you Rey. It all depends on you and if he won’t train you then I will!” Lars stopped. He was getting carried away. He was barely a jedi knight himself, he couldn’t train her but he felt that he must. Luke was stood watching, with the same look of fear on his face.

~***~

Finn woke in his bed. He sat up and rubbed his eyes. He washed his face at the sink and looked in the mirror at himself. He thought back to his First Order days and how his life, at the time, didn’t seem bad. Something inside him broke on Jakku and he needed to know.

He walked to the cell block and noticed most people were still waking up or getting ready. They were still a small band of resistance fighters, they were a shadow of what the rebel alliance consisted of.

He arrived at her cell. He stood for a few moments staring at her. “Why are you here?” He said boldly. “Why you? Surely Hux could have sent someone more... expendable?” He said thinking of Phasma.

Why was it her? Why had Hux sent his sister on what seemed like a mission she was certain to lose?

 

[Lucyfer]

The young Skywalker was insistent, and Rey almost took a step back with the force of his presence and his belief, bewildered by it, as much as she didn’t want to acknowledge it. She wasn’t the chosen one – Luke was. Or at least, Luke had the ability to help. Chosen one? She wasn’t sure she believed any of that nonsense, anyways.

Even if she did, it wasn’t her.

“Kylo was injured, and I have combat training!” Rey defended, offended as the other claimed that she had no skill. Maybe not with a lightsaber, but she’d practiced with a staff, and other weapons besides on Jakku. She wasn’t just some random girl who picked up a blade – she knew what she was doing!

She didn’t know what she was doing with the Force, admittedly – but it didn’t change facts that Kylo was wounded, or she had combat training. “I didn’t beat him at full strength,” though she only had a blaster then. “I couldn’t – I’m not unwilling to help, and I…I do need training,” she admitted.

That thing within her, that thing which allowed her to give a command to another – the Force – still frightened her. “When…when the First Order captured me, I felt something within me…change. I don’t understand it. Kylo Ren offered to teach me,” of course he did, “If you will…I suppose you can. It’ll give me something to do while I try to convince your father to leave with us.”

~***~

Sleep had not come to Cadence. Her mind wouldn’t shut up, and the presence of constant threats hardly allowed her to relax. It wasn’t unusual to go a day or two without sleep, not in her career, so while she was tired, she wouldn’t claim exhaustion, or to be much effected by it.

Perhaps she was slower in glancing up when she heard the familiar steps of Finn. She had at least taken a seat on the steel cot while assessing her options.

He demanded to know why Armitage sent her, and she scoffed at that, “Armitage and I bear the same position in the Order,” well, they were on the same level of hierarchy, technically speaking. Everyone knew in truth that Armitage was above her, but technicalities counted for something in any argument. “He cannot simply order me to do anything.”

And no one had said it was him, either.

Cadence simply didn’t like the presumption that she had done this simply at her brother’s demand. He hadn’t even requested it, in truth – was mostly unaware of it. He was likely aware by now, given how long she’d been absent. That he hadn’t showed up yet was some evidence to the fact that her ship’s tracker had been destroyed.

The rest of the question went unanswered. After all - it was basically Poe's question, rephrased.

 

[kieranjones1878]

Lars sighed. “I know I’m not my Father. But convincing him is going to be hard. I should know I’ve been trying to do it for 15 years.” He gave a light chuckle.

“I believe it is you who will bring balance Rey. You may not think it yourself but I’ve seen it.” He knew that she didn’t believe it but that vision was the first bit of hope he had seen in 15 years.

Lars smiled and began walking to his hut. “I’d get some rest, convincing him is going to be tiring.” He said smirking trying to hide the lost hope in his Father.

Lars finally fell asleep after hours of turning over in his bed. He was back at the jedi temple. He felt the pain over his eye from Ben’s blow. He got up from the floor, the temple was in ruins. He searched through the rubble for hours. Finally he saw something, his Fathers robotic hand sticking out from the rubble of what was Ben’s hut.

Lars summoned all of his strength and begin pushing rubble away with the force. Eventually Luke was awake and hugged Lars. “Thank the force.” Luke said as he got up and looked at his temple in ruins. Lars walked overand sat next to where his Father knelt. R2-D2 made a sad beep and Lars began to cry.

He felt his Father hand on his shoulder. “We have to leave son...”

Suddenly Lars was back on Ahch-Tu and he sat on the edge of his bed in a cold sweat.

~***~

Finn was getting angry. He knew his efforts were pointless, she would not talk. “I’m trying to help you.” He said through desperation. “Tell me and maybe...” Finn was stopped in his tracks. The whole base shook.

Finn looked around. It happened again. “What the...” Suddenly Poe ran in. “Finn!” He noticed Cadence there. He signaled for Finn to follow. He did. “We’re under attack.”
“Under attack? From who?”
“Looks like we’re not the only ones on Hoth, theres a local militia. They’ve taken tech from the battle of Hoth and have made weapons of their own.”
Finn was stood in shock. “Right, so whats the plan?” He asked. Poe handed him a blastsr rifle. Finn nodded as the two ran to the front line, leaving Cadence’s cell unguarded.

Finn ran to the main hanger, following Poe he saw the resistance had mounted guns all around ready to take on the militia. Leia came over with her blaster primed.

“This plan of yours better work, we have too few people as it is.” She said to Poe who just nodded. “It’ll work!” He said with complete confidence.

 

[Lucyfer]

Rey would never understand people who didn’t want to go back to their families, like Luke, or Kylo. Leia missed him. Chewbacca. He had a life that was waiting for him out there, and yet, he stood back. He didn’t even need to contribute! But he certainly owed Leia an explanation, and that would keep Rey there.

At least there was Lars, who would be able to assist her with the Force. She didn’t believe him about this destiny thing – but she wanted the ability to do more, and contribute more, so she wouldn’t argue with him on it. She didn’t know what he was talking about, anyways.

It seemed it wasn’t meant to start that day, and Lars left her for his hut. Rey stared at the other houses, and the strange people she saw trekking about. She didn’t move into one, but instead, took to lying on a bench outside of Luke’s hut, making her point in her mere presence alone, that she wasn’t going to budge.

‘Please stay safe, Leia, Finn….’

She hoped Finn would wake up.

Rey slept uncomfortably. The bench was stone, and at some point, a light drizzle started. It didn’t disturb her, initially, but it certainly made her cold – especially coming from such a warm planet as Jakku. She didn’t hear when Luke passed by, but she did notice his return, if only because the heavy fall of a cloak over her form disturbed her, and woke her.

“Wha—”

Luke silently pointed towards one of the huts. “That one is empty.” Before she could ask more, he disappeared into his own hut. Rey didn’t go to it, though. She bundled up in the cloak, but stayed outside Luke’s hut.

Perhaps it would make him feel guilty if she stayed out there and died of the cold.

~***~

‘Let me go if you want to help.’ Didn’t he know Snoke would kill her if she said anything? Didn’t he know she believed in her cause. The only ‘help’ would be release, or a quick execution.

There was no time for such rhetoric, though – the base shook. Cadence remained quiet, as Finn was taken away by Poe, and others of the Resistance began to move. She was left without guards, soon enough, and as the base shook, plenty was knocked loose. Cadence was fortunate enough to have a rock slip into the cell during all the rumbling about, and soon enough she had grabbed it, and thrown it at one of the cell’s powercells.

It all turned off before her, and she simply walked out. She hadn’t forgotten the way in, and in the chaos of the base being under attack, she was able to slip into one of the hangars – noticing the lack of ships – and steal one of those irksome orange jumpsuits. She tied her hair back and hid it beneath the first cap she could find.

She knew she wasn’t going to succeed in taking an X-Wing and flying out of there, but she might succeed in literally walking out if she wasn’t recognized.

She grabbed an abandoned blaster on the way.

Of course, walking out, she saw where all the rebels had gone – surrounding the base, surrounding her way out, pointed towards some enemy that wasn’t the First Order. ‘Well, I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to pretend to help them, and get lost in the chaos.’ Just…had to avoid being too close to Poe or Finn, the ones who would recognize her. She’d listen for instructions though – she could see them out of the corner of her eye, and along with them, Leia.

It’d be so easy to shoot her…and yet, she refrained.

 

[kieranjones1878]

Lars walked outside to see the sun was just rising. He took a deep breath. As he looked around he smiled seeing the falcon grounded at the bottom of the large staircase. As his eyes moved up he saw his Fathers door open and yet Rey was outside on a bench.

He knew he was in way over his head but Rey needed to learn the ways of the force and if Luke Skywalker would not then sure enough Lars Skywalker would.

Lars went back into his hut and opened his crate once more. This time he pulled out his own lightsaber. He smiled as he held it once more. He ignited it and as the blue blade appeared in front of him he felt... Home.

He attached the lightsaber to his belt and made his way over to where Rey lay. His plan was to take her to the place he would meditate and try to have her reach out and sense the force. It was a longshot but she would learn eventually.

“Good morning!” He said loudly on purpose. “Follow me, I want to show you something.” He said signalling for her to follow him.

~***~

Finn woke with a ringing in his ears. Obviously Poe’s plan had backfired somehow, when didn’t they, but he was alive. He got up and saw old imperial tech destroyed and scattered across the hanger. Poe was pushing their defensive line forward which meant the battle was going their way.

Finn picked up his blaster and vaulted the cover he was behind. He saw what looked like savages, dressed in a mix of old imperial and rebel attire. He aimed and took a few down.

Poe saw him and smiled. “Good to have you back buddy!” He said giving him a pat on the back. They continued pushing forward.

“So what happened with the EMP?” Finn asked clearly still unaware of the events. “Umm well, it worked but a missile got through and well...” he turned and pointed at one of their cruisers that was in flames. “The blast took you out the game.” Finn shook his head. “Looks like we’re not going anywhere until that’s fixed.” Finn said as he allowed his blaster to cool down and continued to fire on the militia.