Let the Light In

Chapter 9: Assurance

Chapter 9: Assurance

Rey had experienced many tense, foreboding interactions before. Beating down handsy slavers, touching the lightsaber- which still hung heavy in her hands-and running away from a Dark Jedi, to name but a few. However, even she had been surprised by the animosity that crackled off of Chewbacca when he and R2 had arrived at the temple Luke had led her to.

"Chewie-"

The first word he had spoken, and Rey had never heard so much remorse fill a single word before.

It seemed to be this family's signature. Regret.

[Don't speak to me,] Chewbacca growled threateningly, [You abandoned your family, you abandoned everything when Ben did what he did. As a result you left your sister, your blood, alone to deal with the desertion of her son, and the death of her husband- my brother- while you sat here on your laurels. You do not speak to me. You are inexcusable. I am only here to ensure the Little One receives everything she came for-] His low growl turned mocking [-May the Force save your miserable soul if she does not.]

Luke regarded the Wookiee carefully before his expression turned sombre, and he nodded once.

Addressing Rey again he spoke quietly, "I gather Leia has instructed you to return me to her?"

Rey coughed a little to clear her throat when her voice would not come at first, "You'd be correct. Only, I would take you back whether she had asked me or not. She deserves at least that."

Luke bowed his head ever so slightly, talking almost to himself, "That she does." He snapped his eyes back up to her, "As far as your own agenda goes..." He trailed off, looking at her with a vague question on his features, but almost as if he were tussling with himself, scared to say what was on the tip of his tongue.

Rey felt a slight disturbance against the now second-nature barriers around her mind, and she narrowed her eyes. Were all Force-Users so insolent and supercilious?

"Rey. My name is Rey, if that's what you were looking for. And I don't care who you are or who you think you are, but you will not dig around in my head without my permission-" Luke watched her testy outburst with infuriating patience, but Rey was satisfied to note the surprise that he thinly concealed. "-Congratulations on the effort though, but I've already had the First Order's lapdog scratch around in there, and blocked him out. He was a tad more persistent than you."

Chewbacca snarled menacingly at Luke, lifting his hackles a little. Rey waved him down.

"I'm sorry, I'm simply confused and was searching for a little clarity-"

Well, Rey thought dryly, aren't we all.

"-Listen, I would have all of you be as comfortable as possible for your time here on Ahch-To, and I suspect Chewbacca will want to stay on the Falcon, but I must insist that if you truly have come here for instruction- as I sensed earlier- you take one of the chambers in the temple."

Rey supposed she would have to resign herself to whatever gimmicks Luke would throw at her, if only to have enough room to rebut him later should she need to. Jedi mysticism and tradition she could handle, for now.

"Then how about we talk over what exactly it is I'm here for."

Luke gestured to the stretch of beach along the side of the temple, dotted with stones of a pathway long since eroded, "Take a walk with me?"

Rey looked to Chewie, who nodded and sat down in the shade cast by the temple, their packs beside him. R2 rolled up next to him.

Luke waited for her to pass before joining her, and when she glanced back, she was cheered to see Chewie take out a small portable holochess board, R2 beeping happily at the revelation.