Force from the Other Side

Chapter Seven

Rey stepped off of the ship she came on and looked around. "Well this is quite a nice place. I could sunbathe here at the seaside." she mused to the stormtrooper beside her. No reply. "Goodness you're all so untalkative. It's like your lives depend on this mission. Oh wait. It does."

"Rey!" a voice shouted to her.

Mara came running out with Han and the others.

"Who's shouting at me?" Rey asked. "I know I'm popular. Everyone wants an autograph. But come on. I'm doing my job here. A bit of professionalism. Can you all hear me! Can you all see me! I'm from the First Order! I'm looking for a BB8 unit!"

Alistair, Finn and Poe stepped up in front of Mara.

"Oh look it's every handsome guy I've ever come across." Rey commented and walked up close to them. "Hey doc." she winked at Alistair. "Good to see you again."

"Your credits got me to Jakku by the way. Thanks for the help."

"I'm sorry. Prices inflate."

"Rey look at me." Mara said. "It's me."

"I don't know who you are. I'm busy. So shush lady!"

"Have some respect for her! She's a jedi master!" Alistair commented.

"You're right my apologies." Rey said and curtsied. "Here's a conundrum. My master wants the star killer base plans back at star killer base. He is also missing some plans to the jedi training centre that he wants. Apparently they moved it about 19 years ago. For whatever reason. I'm not big on jedi politics. I didn't know they existed until I turned 14. I know I don't look a day over 19. That's because I'm not."

"But..." Alistair began, confused.

She put a hand over his mouth. "Oh.... what's that... you gave the plans to this jedi. She's a walking talking map and BB8 has escaped off the planet. Oh no."

Rey turned to Mara. "You can come with me. We have what we need. Looks like you're going to get an autograph after all!"

Mara passed Luke's lightsaber to Finn. "Look after this. Use it if you need to."

She gave her own lightsabers to Poe. Poe nodded.

"What should we do now with them? Hux's orders were to..." the lead stormtrooper asked. How, Rey missed Phasma sometimes.

"I don't care about Hux. Leave them be. Their own stupidity is going to kill them. We have what we need. Besides, important First Order workers stay here. I'd hate for them to be lost in the crossfire."

"I'm sorry ma'am." uttered the stormtrooper. "But our orders are clear. Fire at will!"

The fire from the stormtrooper backfired, hitting them all and killing them. Not one was left.

"I'm sorry too." Rey uttered and walked on board the ship with Mara. Mara wasn't even resisting. Maybe this was her chance to bring Rey home and that was why no one fought it. For some reason, Rey was up to something. Mara could sense it.

--A Day Later... --

Ben was pissed that Mara went so willingly. Leia could see his anger when he got off the Falcon on D'Qar.

Han looked at Leia sadly.

"What's the matter?" Leia asked.

"Mara is gone. Rey took her!" Ben yelled. He was surprised to see Amethyst. He thought she'd been left on Typhon at the training centre.

"Why is Amethyst here? This is a resistance camp!"

"She's here because she knew this was where you were coming. The girl has every right to go where she chooses." Leia told him. "We've also got injured men and women. She's here to help."

"General Organa. When you have a moment may I seek an audience?" asked Alistair.

"If you have a moment just now can you join Amethyst. The girl is worked off of her feet."

"Yes ma'am." Alistair replied.

Ben let out a growl and followed Alistair and Amethyst. "Amethyst wait." Ben grabbed her.

"I know where to go." Alistair said. "I'll leave you two to it."

Alistair left.

"Amethyst you're not safe here." Ben said desperately.

"I want to be here and help while I can."

"While you can? So you expect to die."

"No. I expect in a few months to be barely able to move for being fat."

"What..."

"I'm pregnant. I was waiting for a better time to tell you..." Amethyst began. "But there isn't one is there?"

"You're? I'm going to be a father?" His eyes lit up. His anger completely leaving his body. He hugged her. He quickly kissed her. "I'm sorry"

"You are forgiven" she kissed him back.

*

It was Mara's turn to be seated in the chair on the Star Killer base. Rey was seated inside the room, just staring at the woman, quietly.

"You want to know where the jedi training centre is and yet you ask me no questions but it's strange. You already know where it is don't you? You knew that BB8 was not off of the planet."

"You know the saying, don't aim to be equal to your master, aim to be better?" Rey grinned. "I'm going to be better. Just between you and I. I appreciate you being one of my pawns in all of this."

"Pawns..." Mara uttered confused.

"The base... will be destroyed by the resistance. Snoke will be pissed. But it'll be worth it. He's going to be delayed in his plans. He's failed at every step. Because I made sure he did. I don't know why I'm telling you this. But I feel like you're... I don't know. I always made friends with the slaves, the broken, the damned. And I watched them all die. I cried and I got beaten. It learned me one thing. What's the point of everything? Attachment for one. It's all going to be lost. You're powerful in the force Mara Jade. I can't read you. But... I've heard stories about who you are."

"Maybe they're true."

"You were meant to kill Luke Skywalker weren't you. But you didn't."

"No. I didn't."

"Because of love."

"More than that. I was brought up from a child in the wrong hands. I was raised to be a weapon. No one cared about me for anything more. But Luke was so compassionate, so kind... so forgiving. People can be forgiven. Compassion is real."

"It's an illusion. It'll destroy you one day."

"You're not one of them. You're cold and selfish right now but you're not one of them."

"You're right I'm not. I'm so much more superior." Rey replied. "This has been an enlightening conversation."

"Rey."

"You knew my name when I got off my ship. How did you know that?"

"Because... I'm the one that..."

The doors opened and Hux stepped inside. "Snoke is not pleased. He wants to see you."

"Tell him I'm busy."

"Rey. He is not pleased."

Rey rolled her tongue in her mouth before turning to Mara. "I'll be back. Then we can talk again. Just us girls." Rey said. Mara sighed and tears escaped from her when she was left there.

*