Keep Him There

Come Back

On the other side of the chasm, Rey sped toward the first of the portals on her side. She slowed to a walk upon the first one, breathing heavily.

The portal was still for a moment, its face blank. But with a ripple, it was no longer so.

Rey now saw a desert, much like the one she had lived in on Jakku. A young girl crossed its great dunes with a baby on her back. The two didn't seem to be related at all.

The scene was gut-wrenching, for some odd reason Rey could not bring herself to look away. She wondered if it was her own feelings of isolation that kept her there.

No matter, it was time to go.

She came up to the second portal more hesitantly than she had the first, scared of what it might show her. But the land through the portal was bright and hopeful, the sun shining and plants in bloom. A woman stood on the other side, clad in white dress and leggings. Her blue hair floated behind her in a breeze that Rey didn't see or feel.

"Are you the one?" the being asked. Her voice was sharp and clear, not the dewy voice Rey had been expecting.

Bewildered, Rey stepped forward, "Excuse me?"

"Are you the one?" the daughter said again.

"I'm trying to save you, if that's what you mean."

"Take my hand."

She reached out to take the daughter's extended hand and pulled her out onto the walkway.

"Let's go." Rey instructed. The daughter nodded, following after her in silence. Her skin glowed softly beside Rey, lighting their way.

As they passed the portal where Rey had first stopped, she noticed the warm light starting to wane. She turned back around to see the daughter transfixed by the scene there.

Rey watched her suspiciously. Maybe this was what Anakin had warned her about. But before she could move to stop her, the daughter turned to stare at her. Her eyes were saddened.

"Before I go, there is something I must do."

Rey cocked her head.

"This girl is bound to me because my life saves hers in the future. If I do not grant her some of my life now, she will lose hers later."

Rey watched the girl continue to walk the sand, "Who is she?"

"Ahsoka Tano, Padawan of Anakin Skywalker."

Pieces fell into place in Rey's mind, recalling what Anakin had told them,

"If it wasn't for the daughter, she would have been lost forever."

And then...

"Stay together at all times. Only together will you prevail."

Rey swore beneath her breath. In her haste, she had compromised the whole mission, both herself and Ben.

Ben.

Her jaw dropped. If she was with the daughter, that meant he was with the son. She had left him alone with a being born of the darkside.

"Well, go then." she told the daughter curtly, "We don't have much time."

"Yes. I have felt it too, I will." the being replied and dove into the portal.

Rey watched as she successfully came to Ahsoka, who didn't seem to see her. The daughter pressed two fingers to the girl's forehead, emitting a short beam of light. The Padawan shuddered slightly but then was back on her feet, walking through the desert sand.