Chapter Six: The Force

chapter Six: The Force

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Rey's POV

Han and I flicked switches and pressed buttons on the cockpit. I turned to hear Finn yelp as Chewie and Bini Filters argued with him on what to do.

"Electrical overload!" Han yelled as the ship continued to shake.

"I can fix that!" I replied.

"The coolant's leaking!"

"Try transferring auxiliary power to the secondary tank-"

"Secondary tank, I got it!" Han replied.

"Chewie, come on! I need help with this giant hairy thing! Stop moving! Chewie!" Finn yelled from the back. Han slightly turned to look towards the lounge.

"You hurt Chewie, you're gonna deal with me!" Han yelled at Finn.

"Hurt him?! He almost killed me six times!" Finn yelled back. Chewie roared in response.

"This hyperdrive blows there's gonna be pieces of us in three different systems," Han yelled over the chaos. I reached up and yanked the compressor, the alarms and Chaos abruptly stopped. I sat back down with a grin.

"What'd you do?"

"I bypassed the compressor," I said with triumph. He gave me an appreciative laugh and exited the cockpit. I quickly followed him.

We walked into the lounge and saw Chewie, who was lying awake but recovering on the sofa. Bini was arguing with Finn and BB-3 and BB-8 quietly watched it. Han went over and checked his friend wound with care. Chewie moan talked and nodded.

"Nah, don't say that, you did great. Just rest." He insisted before turning to Finn with a smile. "Good job, kid. And thanks."

"You're welcome." Finn replied.

"So, fugitives, huh?" Han asked as he sat down.

"The First Order wants the map." I explained.

"Finn is with the Resistance..." I said, gesturing to Finn "I'm just a scavenger."

Han gave Finn a suspicious look and then turned to BB-8.

"Let's see whatcha got." Han said to BB-8.

"Go ahead." I said to BB-8.

A holographic map filled the room with stars and systems and planets. We all stumbled back in surprise as Chewie sat to look up and Han looked across the room.

"This map's not complete. It's just a piece. Ever since Luke disappeared, people have been looking for him." Han explained as they stopped at a point where the map piece was clearly missing.

"Why'd he leave?"

"He was training a new generation of Jedi. One boy, an apprentice turned against him, destroyed it all. Luke felt responsible... He walked away from everything." Han explained again.

"Do you know what happened to him?" Finn asked.

"There're a lot of rumors. Stories. The people who knew him the best think he went looking for the first Jedi temple."

"The Jedi were real?" I asked in surprise and amazement.

"I used to wonder that myself. Thought it was a bunch of mumbo-jumbo, magical power holding together good, evil, the dark side and the light. Crazy thing is, it's true. The Force, the Jedi, all of it. It's all true."

An alarm ringed at the control station, prompting Han to toggle some switches. BB-8 turned off a hologram. Chewie moved to get up but Han gestured him to stay down.

"No, you rest." Han ordered before he turned to the three of us. "You want my help? You're getting it. Gonna see an old friend. She'll get your droid and friends home. This is our stop."

We all went to the cockpit to see a beautiful green planet ahead. Han sat down to pilot seat as I sat beside him as I watched the most beautiful planet I have ever seen. My eyes became moist as overwhelming feels hit me.

"I didn't know there was this much green in the whole galaxy..." I said softly.

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Bini Filters's POV

We all walked off the ship into a lush forest. We looked over a cliff to reveal a castle and picturesque lake. We were landed near the castle among dozens of worn, smallest freighters. Han grabbed some blasters as Finn walked up behind him nervously.

"Hey, Solo, I'm not sure what we're walking into here-" Finn exclaimed.

"D'you just call me "Solo"?"

Good going, Finn.

"Sorry. Han-- Mr. Solo. You should know, I'm a big deal in the Resistance. Which puts a real target on my back. Are there any conspirators here? First Order sympathizers?"

"Listen big deal, you've got another problem. Women always figure out the truth." Han snapped and handed him a blaster. "Always."

Finn watched him walk away, wracked with guilt and fear. Han stood next to Rey and handed her a blaster.

"You might need this." Han said. She scoffed and smiled at him.

"I think I can handle myself."

"I know you do. That's why I'm giving it to you. Take it." He insisted. Rey grabbed it and nodded. "You know how to use one of these?"

"Yeah, you pull the trigger."

"There's a little bit more to it than that. You got a lot to learn. You got a name?"

"Rey."

"Rey. I've been thinkin' about bringing on some more crew, Rey. A second mate. Someone to help out. Someone who can keep up with Chewie and me, appreciates the Falcon." He suggested.

"Are you offering me a job?" Rey asked in shock.

"I wouldn't be nice to you. It doesn't pay much." Han replied.

"You're offering me a job."

"I'm thinking about it." Han replied. Rey opened her mouth, it looked like she was going to say yes. But she shook her head, no. "Well?"

"If you were, I'd be flattered. But I have to get home." She replied sadly. Han looks at her, questioningly.

"Jakku?" He asked. She turned away and looked at the castle.

"I've already been away too long." She replied. He nodded in understanding and head off to talk with Chewie. After a short talk we started towards the castle.

"Solo, why are we here again?" Finn asked.

"To get your droid and Filters on a clean ship."

"Clean?" Rey repeated.

"Do you think it was luck that Chewie and I found the Falcon? If we can find it on our scanners, the First Order's not far behind. Want to get BB-8 to the Resistance? Maz Kanata is our best bet." He insisted as we reached the castle main entrance.

"We can trust her, right?" Finn asked.

"Relax, kid. She's run this watering hole for a thousand years. Maz is a bit of an acquired taste, so let me do the talking. And whatever you do, don't stare..."

"At what?" Finn and Rey asked.

"Any of it."

We entered the main hall, we pushed past a room full of rough and odd aliens and humans, who gambled, drank, scheme, negotiate and argued until we ended up on the back of a tiny, thousand-year-old, four-foot-tall alien, who suddenly starts, as if sensing something, the Alien turned to us. She was a female, wearing large adjustable googles.

"Han Solo!" Everyone turns to look. It suddenly got very quiet.

"Oh boy." He muttered. Then started waving to the small alien with a smile. "Hey, Maz!"

The noise returned to the room and Maz walked towards us.

"Where's my boyfriend?" She asked.

"Chewie's working on the Falcon."

"I like that Wookiee. I assume you need something. Desperately. Let's get to it."

Maz walks off, gesturing for them to follow. Finn and Rey are confused. Han indicates for us to follow. We walked past the customers.

"Alert the Resistance. Their missing droid and girl are here!"

"Inform the First Order... I've found the droid and Bini Filters."

I came to an abrupt spot and looked around. I must be just paranoid. Yeah...paranoid. I rushed forward and followed the group.

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Kylo Ren's POV

I sat down in front of the deformed mask of the dark lord Darth Vader. My grandfather, in my chambers on Starkiller base.

"Forgive me. I feel it again. The pull to the light. Supreme Leader senses it. Show me again, the power of the darkness, and I will let nothing stand in our way. Show me, Grandfather, and I will finish what you started." I admitted. After a moment of silence. Feeling the true power of the dark side. Power. I pushed my conflicted feeling down and headed off.

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Bini Filter's POV

Maz is putting some food together as we separated as a group. Finn heads off to explore as Rey heads down a stairwell.

"A map to Skywalker himself? You're right back in the mess." She snapped at Han as she looked at BB-8.

"Maz, I need you to get this droid to Leia."

"Hmm. No. You've been running away from this fight for too long. Han, nyakee nago wadda. Go home!" She barked at him.

"Leia doesn't want to see me."

"Please, we came here for your help." Finn injected as he rejoined the group and Rey quickly shook off her interest and rejoined.

"What fight?" Rey asked.

"The only fight: against the dark side. Through the ages, I've seen evil take many forms. The Sith. The Empire. Today, it is the First Order. Their shadow is spreading across the galaxy. We must face them. Fight them. All of us." Maz explained.

"There is no fight against the First Order! Not one we can win. Look around. There's no chance we haven't been recognized already. I bet you the First Order is on their way right-" Finn suddenly stopped as Maz adjusted her glasses and looked at him with wide eyes. "What's this? What are you doing?"

Maz adjusted her goggles again to make her eyes even wider. She jumps on the table, knocking over food and plates and started crawling towards Finn. Finn looked towards Solo an explanation.

"Solo, what is she doing?"

"I don't know, but it ain't good." Han replied.

"If you live long enough you see the same eyes in different people. I'm looking at the eyes of a man who wants to run." She growled.

"You don't know a thing about me. Where I'm from. What I've seen." He barked back. "You don't know the First Order like I do. They'll slaughter us. We all need to run."

Rey is stunned. Maz, not so much. She crawls back to her chair. She points to some pirates in the corner.

"You see those two? They'll trade work for transportation to the Outer Rim. There, you can disappear." Maz barks. Finn nods and heads off.

"Finn!" Rey yelled and ran after him. Finn grabbed her arm and pointed to the pirates.

"Come with me."

"What about BB-8 and Bini? We're not done yet. We have to get him back to your base." She argued.

"I can't." He replied softly. He gestured for Han to take the blaster but Han shook his head. Insisting he keep it. Rey growls in anger and runs off to catch up to Finn. I stayed silent as Han and Maz started to talk.

"Who's the girl?"

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Rey's POV

Finn arrived at the pirates.

"I was told you could get me to the Outer Rim." I made a split decision and barged into the conversation.

"What are you doing?" I demanded. Finn removed himself from the table, clearly embarrassed and moved away.

"Don't leave without me." He ordered the pirates, then turned to me.

"You can't just go. I won't let you." I argued.

"I'm not who you think I am." Finn admitted.

"Finn, what are you talking about?"

"I'm not Resistance. I'm not a hero. I'm a Stormtrooper. Like all of them, I was taken from a family I'll never know. And raised to do one thing...But my first battle, I made a choice. I wasn't going to kill for them. So I ran. Right into you. And you looked at me like no one ever had. I was ashamed of what I was. But I'm done with the First Order. I'm never going back. Rey, come with me." He insisted.

"Don't go." I pleaded on last time.

"Take care of yourself. Please." Finn said. I looked back at him, crushed that my f-friend was leaving me. But I have to accept it. He needs to leave. I nodded. He gave me a small smile and turned back to the pirates. They soon left. I sucked in a deep breathe and started back towards the group, suddenly I heard the sounds of a young girl crying in anguish. I followed the sound into the castle. I stepped down a basement corridor. BB-8 and BB-3 followed me carefully. I continued to hear the sounds of a girl crying.

I headed down the wall to the very end, a soulful vibration pushed me forward. The last door opened. Hesitant, I opened the door and saw a storage room. Where old treasure line the floors and walls. But I was drawn to an old wooden box. It was calling me. The droids followed after me closely.

I opened the box and sees...Is that...Is that a lightsaber? With hesitation, I reached towards it. My hand makes contact with it and suddenly I heard a lightsaber igniting. I yanked my hand away and stumbled away, the room changed to deep inside an unrecognizable place. I hear mechanical breathing and disembodied voices fill the air.

The scene changed to a burning temple. A young attractive man with black hair looked in horror at the burning temple. There was a young girl laying on the ground, unconscious. The man had tears running down his face as he reached down and placed his hand on the girl's head.

"I am sorry, Bi-"

The scene changed again to see a mechanical right hand reach out through debris. The girl and man were long gone. The man, whose face was covered by a hood, fell to his knees and reached out to a droid beside him.

The scene changed to sunlight. I was on Jakku! I saw Unkar Plutt holding my arm. Dragging the little girl version of me away from a ship flying away in the distance. Abandoning me.

The scene changed to a dark raining sky, a warrior was stabbed by a firey red lightsabre. I stumbled back in fear as a masked man and 6 other men who flanked him. I cried in fear and back away as he started charging towards me.

"No, come back!"

"Quiet, girl!"

The ship flies towards the desert sun, which is strangely eclipsed as if being eaten by darkness. I looked around to see the scene change to nighttime in barren snowy woods. I heard clashing lightsabers and turned around to see the same masked, dark figure from before emerge from behind a tree. I started running, heart-pounding, then I was dropped back into reality. I stumbled away from the box and fell to the floor. Breathing very hard. Alarmed and perplexed. I heard a rustling sound and turned to see Max standing next to me in the hallway.

"What was that?" I asked, looking back towards the lightsabre. "I shouldn't have gone in there."

"That lightsaber was Luke's. And his father's before him and now, it calls to you!" I stood up fast, overwlemed by the events that just occurered.

"I have to get back to Jakku." I insisted.

"Han told me." She replied, holding out and holding my hand. "Dear child. I see your eyes. You already know the truth. Whomever you're waiting for on Jakku, they're never coming back. But... there's someone who still could."

"Luke." I concluded.

"The belonging you seek is not behind you. It is ahead. I am no Jedi, but I know the Force. It moves through and surrounds every living thing. Close your eyes. Feel it. The light. It's always been there. It will guide you. The sabre. Take it."

"I'm never touching that again. I don't want any part of this." I snapped. I, then, ran off with BB-8 following me and BB-3 leaving to find it's owner. I, soon, exited the castle. Needing to run. I don't know where. Woods! into the woods.

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Bini Filters's POV

I sat at the bar with my hood up, hiding my face as Chewie and Han handled their own business beside me and Rey was off who know where. Finn, of course, abandoned us all but I can't blame him really. He is a former stormtrooper.

"BEEP!" The franticay beep of my droid sounded beside me. I looked down to see BB-3, my loyal droid and friend acting frantic.

"What? What about Rey?" I whispered so that Han and Chewie wouldn't hear us.

"Beep, boo-oop, be-ep, boop."

"What?! Come on," I said. Gesturing my droid to follow me. I secretly left the castle and ran into the open. I, suddenly heard rumbling. I looked up to see massive path of fire, split into five separate weapons, slamming into five planets...The republic.

In less than a second, they are gone. Five planets destroyed. The republic destroyed. Oh no...No. No. No. Ben, what the hell have you done?

Then I saw it. First Order ships entering the orbit.

"We need to find Rey right now!" I ordered. I outstretched my hand, using the force to find Rey...Hold on. Forest. She is in the forest with BB-8.

"Beep?"

"I know, I know. We will deal with the consequences later. MOVE!" I barked, leading BB-3 into the forest.

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Rey's POV

I raced through the forest, finally stopping and leaning against a log to catch my breath. Confused and scared. Suddenly, I heard a beep. I spun around to see BB-8 behind me. Beeping at me in concern.

"What are you doing?" I asked,

"BB-8. No, you can't -- you have to go back, you're too important. They'll help you." I insisted. We heard a roar and looked up to see a fleet of first order ships roaring overhead, towards the castle. My heart sinks.

---End of Chapter Six---