The New Jedi Order

Chapter 1: Welcome to Ahch-to

Rey fastened her three messy buns tighter as a resistance transport landed upon the southern shore. Today was the day she'd been preparing for months. Today, she took on her very first students, the Ex troopers of Kef Bir, the force-sensitive troopers that rose up to tear down their oppressors, the First Order. 

"Welcome to Ahch-to." Rey greeted a dozen warriors. 

"There sure is a lot of water here," Jannah, the leader of the tribe, began. "It's gonna feel just like home. " She was right. Ahch-to shared a similar topography to that of the Ocean moon of Endor.

"This water is a lot more at peace, as we all will be soon," Rey teased as she and Jannah shook hands. She turned to the rest of the tribe. "I'm Rey. You can refer to me as such in recreational hours, but while we learn the ways of the force, you can refer to me as Master Skywalker."

"Yes, Master Skywalker," the chorus of warriors barked while raising their hands to their foreheads in a salute.

"Lesson one, Jedi don't salute like soldiers. Respect is displayed through a simple bow," Rey stepped forward and slowly bent her torso down. "Such as the way I have just shown you respect. Respect is given to your superiors sure, but make sure they earn it by giving you the respect you deserve. It isn't always easy being Naive about the galaxy. Trust me, no one knows that one more than me."

The tribe collectively laughed and bowed in unison to their new wise master. 

"Now, my new padawans, up these cobbled steps are our humble quarters. Two people to a hut. First come first serve. Think of it as your first lessons in agility and diplomacy. Try not to kill each other over who lives where okay?" Rey stepped out of the way and Jannah's team paused. "Go ahead," Rey signaled the release of the beasts. 

They raced ahead to claim their new domain as Rey stayed back waiting for the last two passengers to exit the Transport. She couldn't help but smile as Finn and Poe exited the cockpit. 

"Rey Skywalker!" Shouted Finn who ran out to give her a hug. 

"Finn!" She returned the embrace. Believe it or not, they had only been separated a few weeks. 

"Oh, Poe! Welcome," Shouted the disgruntled pilot carrying all of Finn's belongings in a backpack. "They always forget about Poe."

"I didn't forget about you. You just never come running out of the ship to greet me," Rey returned. 

"I guess I just don't get the hype," Poe teased. He gave the bag to Finn. 

A moment later a wild series of beeps and whistles resounded from the Transport. Then, an orange ball came whizzing out of the ship. BB-8 sped his wait straight into Rey's crouching arms. 

"But he gets it apparently," The droid's father quipped. 

"I missed you too, BB-8. I wish D-O was down here to say hello but he's busy helping the new students get situated."

"Well, I'm sure they could stick around to say hi." Finn proposed. 

"That's a no-go, bud. Sorry, but I gotta meet up with Rose and Connix. We have a huge conference to address the Collaborative Galactic Communities this weekend. If we don't finish our presentation by then the fate of the galaxy may not be as sweet as we hoped." 

"Oh wow," Rey widened her eyes. "Politics have really changed you. Never in a million years would I have expected Poe Dameron to stick to a rigid schedule.

"The galaxy is changing and we all have to change with it. Some of us are trying to progress rather than rely on tradition," Poe bit back. 

He was right. A change was needed. After the failure of two centralized galactic republics, a new form of governance would be required. The fragments of the Republic would be reworked into separate collaborative communities which would work for the best interest of its own people before any sort of centralized power which lead to the fascist evil of the Sith rising so easily on more than one occasion. 

Rey, however, still saw the strengths in the old ways. The way of the Jedi. A way that preceded their involvement with the republic. A religion that began on this very island to preserve the light and bring balance to all living things. It just needed to be changed to fit the ever-evolving galaxy. 

"We're all trying to progress, Poe."

"Alright alright," Finn interjected. "You ought to be on your way then. Rose was already mad enough the last time I made you late to a meeting." 

"Okay, C'mon BB-8." Poe and his beloved droid boarded his pastel blue and orange X-wing parked next to the transport he arrived in and Red Five, the X-wing Rey inherited from her mentor. 

"I'm sorry." Finn resigned. 

"For what?" Rey returned. 

"I know,  you don't like Poe."

"What? I adore Poe."

"Don't play coy with me."

"No, Finn, I mean it. Sure he and I don't agree often, but our ideals are the same. He and I have the same amount of passion and it clashes a lot. That's okay. Plus, I see how happy he makes you. And If my best friend is happy, then I'm happy."

"You mean it?"

"Of course." Silence lingered for a minute as they watched Poe's X-wing flash into lightspeed. "Are you going to be okay?" Rey turned to Finn. 

"Yeah? Of course. Why wouldn't I be?" Finn looked around frantically as if he were missing some sort of grand danger. 

"This will be the longest you've been away from Poe since he flew you out of that Star Destroyer two years ago."

"I don't need Poe to 'be okay, Rey. I'm my own person."

"I know. I just wanted to check in on you that's all."

"Thank you," Finn calmed his pointed tone. "Besides he said he's going to come to visit me a bunch."

"Oh is he?"

"Yeah! Like every week."

"Oh good, I'll be seeing a lot more of Mr. Dameron, then."

"Shouldn't be a problem since you adore him so much."

"Right," Rey sighed. 

The two Jedi began walking the trail up to the island's rocky huts. Ahch-to was quite beautiful this time of its rotation. The sun sparkled off the deep blue waters and the grass was greener than ever. Dressed in the elegance of her white Jedi robes with a friend at her side, Rey reflected on all the good that has come to her since the days on the desolate ball known as Jakku.