Salvation To My Stars • Kylo Ren [2]

XXXIV

Jude's Pov

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It takes a second or two for the new information to sink it, even though it is right before my eyes, larger than life. Then I feel my lips stretch wider into gaping grin and my eyebrows arch for the sky. She's made it. She's here. And in the seconds that follow I can feel her arms around me and my arms hold onto her. No longer is she a fragment of my imagination and an old memory, she is here, warm, fragranced and soft.

My mother wasn't beautiful in the classical way, no flowing golden curls or ivory skin, no piercing green eyes. She was shorter than average but in her ordinariness she was stunning. Something radiated from within her soul that made her so perfect, maybe it was her kindness or just her overall ability to make the darkest days light.

Against her pale skin her hair was a deep brown, cascading down her back exactly how she used to wear it when she was alive. She was outlined with light, glowing like any other Force Ghost. She didn't let go of me until I pulled away, facing her with my own eyes that mirrored hers.

"You're here."

"I am." Her voice sounded so strange but oddly comforting. I haven't heard it since the last time I ever saw her, and that was when she fell to her death. I shake that memory from my head, paying attention to her now, right in front of me.

"I've missed you so much," I utter out, still bursting with happiness and relief. "I can't believe you are actually here."

"I never left," She tells me, placing her soft hands on either sides of my head. "It just took me awhile to get to you Jude, in the flesh."

I ran through a list of ideas in my mind, checking off the ones I had already searched. As I gazed at her, it then occurred to me that she wasn't here for a visit, something was wrong. "Why are you here mom?"

She smiled a sad, hopeless smile before tucking her hands behind her back. "It's Bellamy."

My dry face must of came across as an insult to her because her eyes became glossy with tears. It seemed as if she was too sad to cry out or wail, she just stood there, desperate to explain. "Mom?"

"You know what's going on Jude," She pointed out, her eyes catching a glimpse of my lightsaber. "I'm afraid that you only see half of the problem and this darkness has been going on for far too long, I'm here to help," She stopped to take my hand in hers. "I'm here to help both of you."

"How can you help me?" I question, trying not to sound harsh. "It's Bellamy you need to be visiting, it's Bellamy and Kylo Ren who need to see you."

The name of my father caused her to drop my hand. Behind the masked smile she wears on her face, there is sadness and shock. She anxiously looks at the ground, seeming ashamed. "It isn't that I don't want to see them Jude, it's that I can't. I can't reach out to two people who are so revolved around the darkness. Your great grandfather is doing something, I just need to explain it to you."

"What's happening on the other side?"

"Anakin or, your great grandfather, has brought the fallen Jedi together. They have energized enough power so that when Bellamy sleeps, they will be able to reach out to her," She thinks for a second more. "Bellamy's mind has been muted-"

"I know," I interrupt her. "Uncle Luke was able to figure that out."

"Bellamy's mind has been muted by Kylo Ren, because Snoke told your father that she will become a strong, heartless Sith Lord if all good memories are blocked out, including one's of us," She takes a seat in the co-pilot chair of the Falcon, reaching out to flick a switch but it does nothing since she's a ghost. "Her memories are coming back Jude. Both sides of the Force can mute a memory but there is only one way to undo it."

I look up, curious.

"The Light," She tells me. "It is our belief and my own personal hope that you father has started to let the Light take over him once more, therefore allowing Bellamy's memories to return."

"That's absurd," I shut down that idea immediately. "He's vicious, he could never change!"

"Aren't we all though?" She comments, watching the stars. "Everything in life is transitory, my love, it's just that somethings last longer than others. Every emotion is fleeting, every thought gives way to a new one. It isn't a reason to despair, but one to rejoice. If you were to make a necklace of beads you'd choose the prettiest for your string, and such is life also. Make your moments happy so that they come together to form something wonderful and unique that is your time under the sun."

I can't help but smile, leaning my head against her, so my head is resting on my mother's shoulder. I feel her shoulders tense slightly but they eventually relax once more. "I'm so proud of you Jude. I look at you and I see Ben Solo, not Kylo Ren. You have become so strong and put others before yourself, you are still fighting for your sister even after all this time. The Light calls to you and you answer, you haven't been tempted by the Dark. Every part of me believes we can save Bellamy and that is why I understand why you want to take Luke's last name."

"Really?"

"I know you want to my son, it runs through your veins almost as strong as Solo does," She laughs slightly. "You've wanted to be a Skywalker since the first time I ever told you stories about Luke when you were just a toddler."

"Jude Solo-Skywalker," I say aloud, turning to face her. "Has a nice ring to it."

She reaches out to embrace me once more and I suddenly know that this is our parting moment. "This information is vital so you must tell Luke immediately. I promise you Jude, this won't be the last time we see each other."

I don't let go, I don't want to, I can't. "Please don't leave me again mom."

"I told you, I never left," She promises, reaching down to tap the left side of my chest. "I am right there."

"I love you so much," I mumble, afraid to let her go again.

"And I love you Jude, let that empower you."

"It will," But she's already gone, back to wherever she is watching over us. I tilt my head to the ceiling, closing my eyes, trying to feel her presence one more time. "I'll tell Poe, Rey and Finn you say hi."

The frustration builds up again and I think I might explode. I take a deep breath and I want to shout, I want to vent, let it out, but I don't. The damage is done and I wish I could take it back, everything I did earlier. I'm learning how to deal with it, but slowly. I can't let this anger towards the Dark Side lead me down a dangerous and ugly path. Like my mother, I have hope.

We can do this, we can save Bellamy.

I can do this.

END OF PART TWO