Fractured Silence [Star Wars: The Force Awakens Fanfiction]

Reunion

"Father?"

The whisper echoed throughout the flat terrain, filled with longing, questions...and hope. My eyes flit from father to daughter, awaiting a response.

Clenched in Rey's hand, the lightsaber hung unclaimed in the air.

I watched as Luke's facial expression changed rapidly, and I couldn't process the many emotions crossing it.

In a split second, the lightsaber flew from Rey's hand into Luke's. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up as it buzzed to life. Luke's eyes were reflected in the blue light, and they were gazing straight at Rey.

Rey's face lit up, and she took a step toward him, about to speak. Suddenly, he threw a hand out, and we were thrown to the ground. We let out a cry of surprise, landing on our knees.

"Who are you?" his voice boomed throughout the clearing.

Rey and I looked at him hard. "What?" I gasped.

He took a step towards us, lightsaber raised. "I asked: who are you?"

Eyes glassy, Rey whispered, "Do you not recognize me?"

"Why would I recognize you?" I could tell he wasn't lying. There was no recognition in his hard eyes.

"I -- I'm your daughter," Rey's voice broke.

Luke's face hardened, and a sneer rippled across his face. "I don't have a daughter."

I thought quickly, trying to understand. "But -- can't you feel it? The Force is in her and me. We're Jedi."

He stopped moving for a moment, staring hard. His face shifted, and the pressure holding us down was released. We stood up, staring warily at him.

Luke stood still, lightsaber still raised. "Who are you?" he repeated softly.

"My name is Lora," I explained. "And this --" I motioned to Rey, but she was shocked into silence, so I answered for her, "-- is Rey. She's your daughter."

Upon the last sentence, Luke practically shouted. "I do not have a wife anymore, let alone a daughter."

"I don't understand," Rey murmured, her eyes desperately searching Luke's. "What happened? Why don't you remember me?"

"If you are my daughter," Luke stated in monotone, "then you'll know what happened to your mother."

Rey shook her head in exasperation. "I don't remember anything." She moved toward him, begging. "Please -- I want to know."

Licking his lips, Luke took a breath. "I cannot tell you," he replied, and Rey's shoulders dropped. "But," he continued, "I can show you." He motioned for Rey and me to come closer, strapping the lightsaber to his belt.

Rey looked at me, and I gave a slight nod. We walked forward, unsure of what to expect. Luke raised his hands toward us, placing one on my forehead, one on Rey's. His mechanical hand was cool and hard against my skin.

"Close your eyes," he murmured. We obliged, and then we were swept somewhere else.

There was a red sunset painting the sky, two figures silhouetted in it. One was a slightly younger Luke, the other a woman around the same age. They kissed, and Luke walked to a ship nearby. They waved as the ship rocketed into the air. Turning away, the woman brushed a tear from her eye.

We were with Luke in a forest. A man ran up to him, whispering something in his ear. When the message was complete, Luke paled. Turning, he sprinted off into the trees.