Past Meets Future

Chapter Four

The sky was turned red, thick dust made it hard to see around. If one had a strong sense of smell, he could truly smell hints of blood that were spread all over the planet.
Distinct shooting sounds could be heard from afar.
"Oh, Maker!" Threepio exclaimed once it walked down the bridge.
"There's nothing left here and it's quite unsafe. Perhaps it's better if we'll be off, Masters"
Han put his hand on the protocol droid's mouth "you shut it" he hissed at him and grabbed his blaster from his belt and took a step forward and stood in front of Luke and Leia.
The princess already had her blaster in her hand, her left hand on her right wrist supporting it for an accurate aim.
Luke stood there and looked around.
The planet was in its shambles. Not the first one caused by the empire and certainly won't be the last one as long as they ruled.
At least in Jedha, partisans fought, however insignificant it might've been. but this planet felt like it had already surrendered to its unfortunate fate. he closed his eyes. There was only sadness.
Luke reached for his blaster.
Leia stepped forward "let's go everyone"
There was a city in their view.
white stone buildings made of quartzite. On average it seemed they had 7 floors.
They were designed with carvings of creatures, which they had never seen before.
In front of the city, there was this huge arch-like gate with two statue figures guarding it.
Both the statues and the gate were at least 400 feet tall.
Luke looked up to see the statues better.
They were two men in the hood. Face completely hidden by their hoods. Both wore long robes. The one on the left had a sword with carvings on its handle, the tip of it rested on the ground while both its hands rested on its handle. On the other hand, the right one had a book in its right hand designed with different types of flowers and an orb in his left.
There on top of the gate's arch, something was written.
"Threepio, what does it say?" Luke asked.
"Everyone shall pass but only those who can pass shall leave"
Luke cocked his head.
"C'mon, let's marvel another time at old riddles " Han said. Chewbacca grabbed Luke's arm gently and started walking.
Luke unconsciously turned back and saw golden writing appear at the back of the arch.
"Wait," he shouted, jostling everyone a little.
"What?" Han shouted, surprised.
He pointed to the writing that appeared "what's that?" They frowned
"It wasn't there a second ago" Leia stated.
"Mistress, may I?" Threepio interjected. Leia nodded at him.
"It says, May the force be with you"
Han took a deep shaky breath "great" he mumbled under his breath. he turned and looked at the younger male." be on alert kid" Luke reached for his light saber. Good, it was still there and nodded in response.
They were in the middle of a city with a connection to the force, which was under a raid from the empire that wanted their head, and they had no knowledge whatsoever that could help them.
The air was still. The only sounds were their breathing and the little pitter patter of their steps.
"I have a bad feeling about this " Luke mumbled and turned back to double-check whether they've been followed or not.
"I know kid, I know" Han mumbled.
Leia fidget in her place a little "it's not that bad" she tried to install a feeling of safety.
"we'll be fine. we were in way worse situations!" she continued but couldn't help the bad feeling in her stomach.
Luke closed his eyes and reached for the force.
It was still.no chirping like it usually had.
The streets were made of stone tiles. The whole city had a thing for stones. It felt old. like this city stood for many centuries until the empire happened.
"So where do you think this thing that they're looking for is?" Han asked as he observed the vast number of buildings.
Not far from where they were, stood a palace, made of black granite stone. It was a four-story building with hundreds of windows but all the glass seemed to be shattered. in front of it, tens of columns with carvings supporting it. It seemed there was no door. At the end of the columns, it led to a dark hall.
"Let's take a look around before entering that pit of darkness," Leia said.
They walked around the palace." There" she pointed.
It stood a building, yet again with many columns in front of it.
"Is that an office building?"
"It seems so Captain Solo" Threepio answered. "It says governing house of Vehra"
"I'll check out that creepy palace, you guys try to find out if there's anything in their archives"
Artoo chirped. "Well, what got you so sentimental now?"Threepio asked annoyed. Artoo kept chirping.
"What is it saying, Threepio?"
"Trust in the force master Luke"
He looked at the little droid and nodded "alright. Thanks, Artoo. Good luck"
"Yeah. you too kid. And if you're not here in 45 minutes I'll be coming and dragging your ass back to falcon"
He chuckled "alright alright"
"Keep in touch Luke," Leia said.
They watched as the young pilot turned and walked back toward the palace.

Luke walked back, once he reached the corner he turned and looked back. Han & Leia & chewie were in. He continued walking.
There was something about this place. about the whole city. The force was strong but rather muted.
He reached the front. and looked over the structure. It was weird, somehow terrifying too. for all the city, statues and payments were made of white stones but this place alone was made of black ones.
He activated his lightsaber. and entered the labyrinth of the columns.
The place had a chill in it. The force felt like someone who had held their breath in anticipation and fear.
"We watched you enter Luke Skywalker" a cold voice said, voice free of any sort of emotions.
The icy voice made his hair rise. He turned toward the sort. There was a hooded figure on the far left, hidden in the shadows.
"How do you know my name?" he asked.
"Your name is sung by the force, like another name which it sang many years ago"
a voice from his right said. He turned and saw another hooded figure.
The figure on his left came forward. He unsheathed his sword, it was a metal sword, the exact same design as the one from the gate's left statue.
He shook it and it illuminated a bright blue colour. It was a metal sword but it was as if it was a lightsaber.
"What business brings you here young one?" the left one growled and pointed his sword toward him.
The one on the right came forward. He held a book with flower carvings in his right hand.
Both faces were hidden under their hood and they both were wearing long robes.
Oh God!
They were the same as the statues.
They Were The Statues!
"No need for any threats brother" he told his counterpart. The left one lowered his sword.
"Tell us young Luke, what brings you here to this dying place?" the right one asked.
"Force told me so"
"Is that so? " the left one said.
"What else Luke?" the right one pressured him
"No lies Skywalker. The lies die here as do their sire" the left one said and came forward toward him.
he sighed and lowered his lightsaber "it felt like there was some sort of power here which the empire's trying to harvest it. it felt like pain and death"
the two figures started circling him.
"Well, young Luke. The force was right" the right one said.
he looked over his shoulder. The statue/person(?) was at his back "there was a power which was protected in this land. Our people would rather die over giving it up. and they did" he came face to face with him and slowly raised his left hand. it was slashed from the wrist above.
"The darkness and regret were here"
Luke raised his eyebrow in confusion. who?
"Darth Vader was here" the left said.
Suddenly he could feel another force presence. He could hear a pair of boots striking toward them.
The tall Jedi in black robes from a few days ago was standing in front of him. Lightsaber activated, with on-guard posture and ready to attack. He had a penetrating look in his blue eyes.
"How curious " the right said. The left moved forward in front of Luke shielding him from the newcomer. Sword pointing at the new presence.
"Let him go" The Jedi roared
Left inched closer to the tall Jedi. "he'll be safer with me than he'll ever be with you"
Luke stared toward the Jedi. He couldn't really tell it last time, but that Jedi felt powerful.
He felt almost as powerful as Darth Vader.
"Brother please" the right one begged. the left pointed his sword down
"Force works in mysterious ways" he continued. "We mean no harm. Luke came to us to help but unfortunately, the darkness fell on us sooner"
the left moved away from the front of him.
He could register fighting sounds from outside. oh god, Leia & Han!
"I have to go. I'm sorry I wasn't here earlier" he stepped forward and the tall Jedi looked him up and down.
"The force is strong with you young Skywalker" the right stated "as it was with your father" he continued and faced the tall Jedi.
Luke turned back "what do you know of my father?" he asked, eyes wide open.
Right kept quiet. He felt the Jedi's hand on his left arm. He looked at them for another second but they stayed stubbornly quiet. "My friends need me" he stated and turned on his heels.
The Jedi let go of his arm.
"He became a man of many regrets" suddenly the left said loudly.
Luke and the Jedi turned sharply. He could see the Jedi's mouth open a little in surprise.
"The dark path leads to nothing. Be the light of this darkness, Luke. there's still a chance. Now run and get your friends out of here" the left continued.
He swallowed hardly and nodded. He felt the Jedi's hand grabbing his wrist.
"May the force be with you, Luke Skywalker" the right finally spoke.
with one last glance, the two-man ran out of the palace.

Leia and Han were shooting at stormtroopers with the breaded Jedi in front of them. Chewie was in the back and had opened fire like crazy upon the imps. The droids were by the ship.
He could see two fighters next to their own. The Jedis'.
The Jedi pulled him behind himself. Luke raised his eyebrow in confusion. the taller man started deflecting the shots with his lightsaber with an elegance he has never seen before. He quickly shook himself out of the state of awe he fell and sheathed his lightsaber and grabbed his blaster and started aiming at the stormtroopers.
"Let's go kid" Han shouted and they started running toward the ships.
The bearded Jedi stood by until they reached him. As the three of them kept running, Luke shot those stormtroopers aiming at them without looking back twice.
"Nice aim, Luke!" he stated.
It seemed everyone knew his name now! Luke studied his features. Ben?
he was about to say something when Chewie hugged him from behind and roared, making the two Jedis jump a little. "Good to see you well too Chewie"
He could hear, Threepio and Artoo arguing. the small droid was beeping like crazy.
"Oh maker, you have lost your circuits! what's with you?"
Artoo kept beeping.
"What do you mean you know him? how could you know him you silly droid!"
Artoo circled furiously "well don't talk to me with this attitude! And you're not going near him unless master Luke lets you!"
"Shut him down, Threepio, and carry him back inside" Leia shouted as she followed Han on the Falcon's bridge.
"well, Mistr..." Threepio was about to whine. "NOW, Threepio!" Leia shouted again.
"Artoo? Threepio?" the tall Jedi whispered. Luke stared at him and frowned.
"How come you know them?"
The tall Jedi looked him in his eyes and opened his mouth to say something but closed it.
"what's your name?" Luke asked, his frown now deepened.
The Jedi in black stood there and kept his silence stubbornly.
Suddenly they could hear steps of iron walking down toward them, shaking the ground beneath them. They turned. The Jedis were shocked. There an army of imperial walkers was marching toward them. Not a second after TIE fighters appeared in the sky above them. Spotting them and unleashing their rain of laser.
Chewie roared and ran toward the Falcon.
"Tell us where you're going. we can help you!" the tall Jedi shouted toward them.
Luke reached for his pocket and grabbed his comm and threw it at him as the Wookie carried him inside their ship.
The tall Jedi caught it and looked at it for a second before the two Jedis ran to their ships.
The falcon started flying and the bridge closed.
Chewbacca put him down gently and ran toward the cockpit.
Laser shots were shot at them from both sky above and the earth beneath. He ran toward the gun room. "I've got it" he shouted, letting them know he's by the gun.
he grabbed the control and started shooting down the imperial bastards.
He looked at the city.
Beneath the ashes of once a beautiful civilization and dust of destruction, the statues stood, guarding a city, long massacred. The walkers were nearing them.
The gate's writing glowed and he watched in absolute disbelief as the two statues guarding the city moved. The left shook his sword and it beamed blue and swashed its sword and slashed a walker. The right turned toward their direction and pointed its now glowing blue orb at the TIE fighters on their tail.
"yohoo, go crazy statues" he heard Han cheer and Chewbacca roaring cheerfully after him.
he looked down. the right was facing their direction.
'The force is with you Luke Skywalker. Remember us.'
He blinked in shock; he heard right in his head! like how he heard Ben! Force!
He looked at the two statues as they fought the empire's army and as they were rained on by shots and explosives.
'Thanks' he thought and hoped the force would let them hear him.
Left looked up and roared as he launched himself toward the attacking army.
Luke hissed and edged near the window and watched as the statues fought and roared their battle roars and in pain.
Falcon had finally reached Outerspace.
He grabbed control and started aiming at the TIE fighters coming from the many star destroyers surrounding Vehra.
In a matter of seconds, Han jumped them into hyperspace.
He let go of control and sat back.

"He became a man of many regrets"


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Well, well, here's the new chapter!
A chapter or two and we'll have the Skywalkers officially introducing themselves to each other!
(if I don't change my mind, fingers crossed!)
anyways as always kudos and comments are appreciated.
See y'all in the next chap!
thanks for reading!