Dawn of a new Force

Chapter 54 - The creation.

She sank into the water, which seemed cold to her. Opening her eyes, she saw Ben sink even deeper beside her among the myriad tiny bubbles that surrounded them. She began to panic when she saw the endless black waters beneath her feet and the surface, slowly but surely, moving away from her. But almost immediately, she felt Ben's powerful grip on her left arm, pulling her to the surface. He moved his legs with ease, and they went up quickly in the air. He passed in front of her and grabbed her arms to pass them around his neck. She found herself on his back, and he pulled her like a child towards the half-submerged cave.

They swam for a few minutes as well, and they were able to get up again soon in the waters while they were on foot. The cave was very dark, barely lit by the sunlight coming from outside. She turned around and saw far away Finn, who was scanning the cave but no longer seemed to see them. They had become invisible.

She went back to the bottom and her foot hit a pebble, causing an echo that they listened attentively. They scanned the rocky vault above them. Ben waved to her. He pointed to a fracture of the rock on the bottom of the cave, which was guessed in the darkness. She approached, and at the moment of entering, she turned to him.

- No, I'm staying here. You have to do the rest alone.

She looked at him for a moment, then nodded, and slipped into the rocky gap. She was not even sure Ben could have entered. She had to hold her breath to move, her back against the wall. At the end of a few yards, in complete darkness, she felt the walls parting.

She groped her way down a wider corridor. Her hands could feel waves of energy circulating in the rock. Yet it was cold and smooth, soft. She felt that the corridor widened at once. She must have been in a cave room. She advanced, her eyes wide open to try to perceive the least light source, the slightest hint.

She walked a long time before finding a wall again, and the anxiety began to overwhelm her. She followed the wall with her hand, and touched the birth of a corridor. Advised, she continued her turn around the room and felt a wall again, and a corridor ... She continued and discovered six corridors. How to choose? She was in danger of getting lost in this maze of rooms and corridors ... She closed her eyes and inhaled slowly, then exhaled even more slowly.

She felt the Force around her, present, dark but also bright. And then, she felt that she was reaching the goal. She let herself be guided by it, and she forgot everything: time and distance. She made her way without hesitation, and the solution came from itself.

When she finally opened her eyes, she was no longer in the dark, but in a room so bright that she had to squint. She was dazzled. She was in a huge room, like a giant geode. The walls, except the floor, were entirely covered with multicolored crystals. It emanated a supernatural light, as if the heart of these crystals radiated itself.

She smiled at such a wonderful show and sighed with satisfaction. She had dreamed that moment, had waited so long. She thought immediately that she would like him to see that, and she tried something. She closed her eyes and threw her mind toward Ben's. She felt him quickly, and she felt he answered. She sent him the vision of this wonderful cave. She felt him smile at the end of the link, and he told her she had to choose now. She heard his voice in her head and opened her eyes.

She wandered around the room, letting her hand run over the cold crystals. They were just cold, full of energy, but nothing happened. Disappointed, she began again. Again and again. But she did not feel anything, and wondered if she should not just ... take the first one that came. It was then that she felt like a tingle in the back of the neck, which turned her head towards the wall. And it was then obvious. She saw a set of crystals, which seemed to her brighter than another.

And that was not all. She grabbed the block and snapped it off her wrist. Then she left.

The way back came in a bubble just like going, and she was not aware of the time that was passing. When she finally rejoined Ben, the sun had turned in the sky. He walked towards her, with impatience in his eyes to see what she had chosen. He extended his hand to her, full of hope.

She held out her right hand back, her fist still closed. She turned her palm up, and opened it. He looked at its contents.

- Two? he says, looking puzzled.

- Two, for a double sword, she replied.

He smiles.

- Pretty color. Uncommon. I have never seen it, so to speak, he said.

She smiled back, proud of her.

- I'm sure of my choice. These are the ones I want.

She slipped the crystals into a leather pouch attached to her belt, and they headed back to Finn from the base and making Rey's new weapon.

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It took another day to complete the making of the new double lightsaber. Rey did it alone, under Ben's direction. The books were of great help, since Ben had never seen a double lightsaber. He had heard of it, but he had never seen one.

At the end of the second day, sweating but happy, they looked at each other. Ben gestured, with a chin nod, to try her weapon.

She drew back, and activated both blades at once. The sound of the lasers made her almost startle but she laughed. And for the first time, she heard Ben laugh too. He never thought he could guide her, but they were there. She had completed her journey, she had completed her training. And he had almost no need to guide her.

At this moment, seeing her try her weapon and twirling in the air with such ease, he was amazed. She was there before him, the gifted Force, that soul so pure and so strong. He remembered every moment they had lived with her. This scavenger, this girl, this rebel, this woman who is looking for herself, his wife.

He felt the tears rise to his eyes, but pushed them back. He loved her so much. They had accomplished so much. He had evolved so much, thanks to her.

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She left the shed where they had worked alone for so long. She ran to Finn who was finishing repairing a little droid and took it by the hand. He had no choice but to follow her to the jungle where they sank.

She stopped, dropped her hand, and turned to him. He looked at her without understanding, looking questioningly.

- What....

- Shhhh, Rey told him. Look! she said, extending the pommel of her sword towards Finn.

He opened his eyes.

- Oh! That's it, did you finish it? he cried.

- Look, she repeated, stepping back.

Suddenly she activated the lightsaber. Finn jumped at the dazzling violet light that sprang from both sides. He watched the weapon, looking surprised and amazed.

- He's really ... beautiful, he said.

- Thank you. I wanted you to see it before the others ... We started together, and we're going to finish together, Finn. It's the end of my path.

She turned off the sword and threw herself into his arms. They hugged each other for a long time, two friends finding themselves alone. They laughed then, then arm-over, arm-down, returned to the base.