Return of the Jedi Master

Chapter 2

Ahch-To food was salty and wet. And spongy, like the grass Rey had squashed in when she walked on the island. Rey and R2 had followed the Jedi Master back up the endless stairs and over grass with a squesh squesh, to the very top of the mountain. Here was where Luke Skywalker lived.

It wasn't anything Rey could have imagined a Jedi Master living in. It was small, uncomfortable, and cave-like. The arched ceiling was so low Rey had to stoop at times. Perhaps that's why Chewbacca remained outside, with the Falcon. The Wookiee apparently didn't enjoy cramped spaces.

All three of them--Luke Skywalker, Rey, and R2-D2 gathered around a heat module that was also a source of light, casting shadows all throughout the stone dwelling and against the heavy fabric door. Nets of packed with gear, old equipment, cargo boxes, and other accoutrements, were tied across the arched ceiling like hammocks. Rey spotted an old, battered X-wing helmet nestled among them. The dwelling overall smelled dank and waterlogged.

But notwithstanding, it was warm and bright and mostly dry inside the cave, and Rey couldn't help but feel a little cheery, seeing the optimism of the Jedi Master as the light cast warmth over his face. He listened to R2-D2's boops and beeps, and laughed over what the droid had to say. His laugh echoed to the stone ceiling. Rey smiled, too.

The Jedi Master was different than she had expected. Very different. Rey liked him. Of course she did, he was friendly and kind. He was different that what she'd expected...but what had she expected? An angry hermit? Of course Luke Skywalker wouldn't be that way. Not the Jedi Master in all the stories.

"Really? You do?" said Luke, who had been speaking to the droid. He turned to Rey. "Artoo says he has a transmission for me."

"Oh," said Rey, surprised. She hadn't known that.

"Let's see it, Artoo," Luke urged.

The astromech droid obliged, rolling forward a few feet, and giving a beep. A projection flickered forth from the droid's dome, and in pale white colors, a miniature General Leia Organa appeared, as though standing on top of the the heat module. Rey's throat grew tight, remembering how tightly Leia had hugged her after Han Solo was gone. No one had embraced her like that before.

The flickering miniature of Leia Organa was proud, her chin up and hair coiled on top of her head, her hands clasped together. Rey watched, transfixed, as the hologram spoke.

"Master Skywalker," Leia Organa began. Then, amending with a small smile, "Luke." The General continued: "I'm so grateful we have managed to find you at last. Forgive us for taking so long. Forgive me."

"Oh, Leia," said Luke softly. His eyes were shiny.

"I wish I had better news to bring you," Leia continued. "While the Resistance did destroy the First Order's massive weapon, the Starkiller, we are still hopelessly outnumbered. We won the battle, but they are winning the war, and the First Order, even now, is beating us back. As we speak, the galaxy is falling to their mercy. We are, once again, an Empire and a Rebellion."

Leia's voice broke.

"There is nothing more the Rebellion can do. I've given orders to our Rebellion fighters: Disperse to our own home planets and cities, and find allies to our cause. I dare not ask them to fight. Not yet. Not until we have someone more powerful and wise than I to lead them against these dark forces."

The small hologram of Leia motioned with her hands, as though gesturing to someone out of sight.

"I realize grave circumstances have taken you from us, and have kept you hidden. That's why I've sent Chewbacca, Artoo, the Falcon, and one of our newest members of the Resistance, Rey. I know they will all be a great help to you, as many of them were all those years ago. I pray they can bring you back to lead the Rebellion as the one light among the growing darkness."

The hologram flickered as Leia gave one last plea.

"Please, Master Skywalker. You truly are...our only hope."

The projection ended, and Leia disappeared. Rey closed her eyes and could still see the blue-white light of the image burned in her vision. She ached in the pit of her stomach, and it wasn't the Ahch-To food. General Organa had dissolved the Resistance. The Empire was overtaking the galaxy once more. What would happen to all the people Rey had just met? What about...about Finn? Rey could still feel his hand tucked her in hers, and his reassuring voice. They'd been through a lot together. Rey had to bring Luke Skywalker back to save...everything.

Rey opened her eyes again to see Luke Skywalker stroking his beard and still staring at where the miniature Leia had stood. He seemed deep in thought.

After a moment, Luke shook himself.

"I'm sorry," he said, as though coming to the present and realizing Rey and R2 were watching him. "It's just...memories."

Rey had memories too, vague, thin ones, like watery soup, but she hadn't left Jakku for nothing. She gripped the lightsaber she'd brought with her, and had kept at her side.

"We have the Falcon," she said, in a voice that made her sound braver than she felt. "We can take you back! We could leave right now. We have to leave right now! You've got to stop the First Ord--the Empire!"

She brandished the Jedi weapon at Luke Skywalker.

The Jedi Master, once again, did not take it.

Rey kept the weapon held out to him long enough that her arm began to ache and she felt foolish.

"Lady Rey," Luke Skywalker said, at last.

Rey flushed at being called such a formal title.

"It's just Rey," she said, embarrassed.

"Lady Rey," the Jedi Master said again, with emphasis. "There is nothing I want more than to take that lightsaber, travel back with you and Chewie, and lead the Rebellion against these growing dark forces."

"Great!" said Rey. "Why don't you?"

Luke Skywalker's piercing blue eyes fixed on her.

"Because," he said. "I can't."