The Location of the Signal

202 20 36
                                    

"You have got to be joking me!" Finn screamed. He took a step toward Luke as if to confront, then took one back, reconsidering. As an alternative, he began pacing rapidly back and forth, continuously glaring at Luke. "There is no way in the galaxy  I'm staying here. Again!"

"I want you to stay behind with Arthet, Kerr and Sewart," Luke said patiently. "They will need someone to watch over them."

"I won't be able to concentrate on watching the kids if I'm worried sick about them!" Finn shot back, pointing a finger at Rey and me.

"We aren't kids!" yelled Arthet, placing her hands on her hips. We ignored her. 

"I don't see any other option." Luke shook his head, dropping his eyes. "Someone needs to stay back to watch them."

"Actually," Rey said softly, "there is one other way."

"Please enlighten us." Finn stopped pacing to stare at Rey, slightly winded from the shouting and constant movement. 

"Luke could stay back to watch them and train them."

There was barely a moment's pause before Luke responded with a definitive "That is out of the question."

"You're not going to be there to watch over us forever," I added, understanding where Rey was going with this. "It's good for us to get experience on our own. Plus, while you stay here, you could continue to search for more Jedi."

"You have no idea what could be out there! I don't even know what planet you are heading to! You are untrained.  And the last time you were all together, you almost got yourselves killed!"

"The last time we were together, Lora used her Force abilities to defy Kylo Ren! We know about as much of this mission as we did for the other missions." Rey walked over to Luke, looking deep into his eyes. "Finn will be there. He has solid fighting skills. We can do this. Trust in us." 

Finn walked up behind Rey, placing a hand on the small of her back. "I will protect them with my life."

"We can do this," I added, moving to stand on the other side of Rey.  "Give us a chance to prove it to you."

Luke stared stiffly at all of us, and finally sighed. "Fine. But if I don't hear from you after one day, I am coming to get you." 

I nodded. "It's understood."

We continued to stare at each other, until Luke walked over to Rey and me. He paused a moment, seeming to rethink something, but then wrapped us in an embrace. 

Rey and I tensed, but relaxed after a moment. A few seconds later, he released us and became fascinated with his shoes. "Be safe," he muttered, red faced, and walked away.

Grinning, I snuck a glance at Rey. "I think he's warming up."

She returned my smile. "I think so, too."

Finn released a sigh, shoulders rising and falling. "It's a good thing he agreed to that. Otherwise, I'm not sure what I would've done.  I would've slapped the Jedi out of him or something."

Rey playfully swatted his shoulder, and I laughed. "Come on, let's get ready."

We had become pretty adept at packing up our ship, and were reading to go in only a number of minutes. It was agreed that the sooner we were on our way, the better.  Plus, we didn't want to give Luke any time to reconsider his decision.

Seeming as I had no experience flying a ship, Rey and Finn took the positions of pilot and co-pilot. They started the flight procedures, and I snuck a glance back at the island. 

Fractured Silence [Star Wars: The Force Awakens Fanfiction]Where stories live. Discover now