The Grey Area

Part Three : Canto Bight

CANTO BIGHT - CASINO : BEDROOM - NIGHT

Somewhere under the bed... Under the bed, it's under here somewhere...

The unfinished wood was going to give me a splinter before I even reached the- Here!

I lifted the ragged wood plank that wasn't flush with the others. I stuck my arm in, it felt as though I was going to fall in.

The talisman was covered in both dust and cloth. It wasn't until a yesteryear dream that I remembered I had it, and hid it. It was a gift from Mother, one she said had powers... passed down from her Mother, who served on Queen Amidala's Court.

"Please, Master Skywalker." The cloth was falling apart, there were tiny holes from where the bugs had eaten. I unwrapped it completely there was a flash- I see my hand and the gem fly from it. Back to black, I search on my hands and knees for the gem again. I find it and my sight returns. It burns my palm, I watch as the skin goes from a light pink, to deep red. I look around the bright room, everything is so colorful. It's more beautiful than I could have ever dreamed of. "Please Master Luke, it's me, Dvimidha."

My palm turned to a blistering white. I switched hands. But I need one good hand. I let the gem drop, but didn't hear it land. Tears streamed down my face and my hands throbbed, I wiped the tears away with my wrists.

Bright particles shone where my bed is. I placed my raw palms on the floor, I see the layout of my room, but nothing on my bed. Am I under attack?

I stood up and backed away as fast and as far as I could, nearly knocking over a chair in the process. Do something, something! The shield, make a bubble!

"Rainbow eyes?" A sob I didn't know I was holding in came out. "You're alive?!"

I rushed over to him, but only found air. "I don't understand-"

"We never got to that lesson," he said sadly, "what have they done to you?"

"You have to get me out of here, I'm losing my powers."

"They aren't your powers, it's The Force."

"Can I come home?" His light was still there, but I couldn't hear his breathing.

I was at the Temple with him, little eight year old me. Kids ran off in the distance as the Falcon lay on the ground, ready to drop Ben off. The first day I met him. The tall green grass, the roaring waves, steep Cliffside... I saw everything vividly, it was a peaceful sight.

"You don't belong here anymore." It was me and him, caught in a storm. As far as I could see where hills barren of life. A tree stood, nearly out of place. There was talking coming from the tree, I took a step closer, Master Skywalker stopped me.

"What is this place?" Before I could take any more of it in, he shook his head and everything faded to black. Except for his light across from me.

"You're eclipsed, Vim. I'll send you help, be patient. Give them time."

"Is it Han, General Organa and Ben?"

"Ben and his mother are at odds. I need you to focus on the past. Remember what you've learned."

"What about Han?" I miss him. His cynical zest for life. When he'd drop off Ben, he and Chewie would chase the kids around and bring sweets. Whenever the older kids would pick on me, Ben and Han would round the corners and tell me they wanted to show me a secret on the Falcon. This made the other kids jealous, and also isolated Ben and I from the other students. Even though I was six years his junior, he never joined in on the mockery and horseplay of the others. I feel like his attitude and patience towards me was a trait he learned from Han.

The light was gone. I was alone, again.

I need to remember, fully remember. I sat cross legged on my bed and inhaled. Exhaled. Inhaled. Exhaled...

Zap!

These things have to come out of my neck.