Beyond - Legends "The Force is Strong in My Family" - Rey, Luke (The Force Awakens)

Title: "The Force is Strong in My Family"
Fandom: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Rating: G
Characters: Rey, Luke
Summary: Well, it's not the Poe Dameron fic I've been promising (that'll be coming soon enough, no doubt), but after seeing the second teaser trailer and discussing it ad nauseum, I had to get this fic out of my system. I do not follow rumors or spoilers so it is all wishful thinking on my part. If only...
Note: The frynocks can be seen in the Star Wars Rebels episodes "Out of Darkness" and "Gathering Forces."

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Rey grunted and sprinted as fast as she could back towards her ship. She knew coming to this place alone was a horrible idea. She didn't care about Luke Skywalker or his crazy Jedi delusions. Yet here she was, running away from a pack of crazed animals in an attempt to deliver something to him. All because a Princess, an old friend of her mother's, had asked nicely.

Nothing she did made the creatures leave her alone. She tried fighting them with her staff, then shooting them with her blaster. The blaster seemed more effective, but it didn't scare them off completely. If she didn't run faster it wouldn't be long until they ran her down. She'd survived scavenging the desert wastelands of Jakku and her first trip offworld in years was going to be the death of her. She shouldn't have been surprised.

She turned back around, jabbing her staff at one of the creatures nipping at her heels. It snarled at her and reared on its hind legs to pounce--

A stranger swooped in from above, landing in front of Rey and swinging a green blade back and forth in front of him. Rey's eyes widened, recognizing the weapon as a lightsaber.

The creatures sprang away from the blade's arc, hissing violently.

"I don't want to hurt you." The stranger spoke firmly. "Leave us, and you'll be unharmed."

The creature in front took no heed of the warning and pounced. Sighing, the stranger flicked his blade and sliced the creature in half.

The stranger stared the rest of the creatures down and put more strength behind his voice. "Leave us. Now."

Rey brandished her staff, waiting for the next attack. But to her shock the creatures actually began to slink away.

When they were gone, the stranger finally extinguished his blade and turned to her.

Rey wasn't surprised to see the stranger was, in fact, the person she'd been looking for.

He removed his hood and smiled. "Hello there."

For a moment all Rey could do was stare at the man in front of her. She'd heard so many stories and legends about Luke Skywalker, she'd almost forgotten that he was actually real. He was older now, with a thick beard and graying hair, and he wore simple clothes that reminded her of the moisture farmer he'd once been. It was hard to imagine that two people who'd grown up on desert worlds would find themselves in a hellscape like this.

Belatedly she realized he was waiting for a response. "Um, hello. Thank you."

She flung her staff over her back and picked up her pack, embarrassed to have been caught staring at him. "What were those things?"

“Those were frynocks.” Luke spoke as if he was talking about something as commonplace as the weather. “They're found all over this world. Luckily light repels them, and the Force can have a strong influence on the weak-minded.”

The Force. “Too bad I don’t know how to use a lightsaber, then.”

"Here, let me get that." Luke took the pack from her and flung it over his shoulder. “I can teach you, if you’d like.”

Rey lifted her eyebrows at him, waiting for the punchline to the joke. None came.

“Right,” she drawled. So Luke Skywalker really was as insane as everyone claimed. "I'm Rey. Princess Leia sent me to find you."

"I know." Luke lifted his hood and gestured for her to follow him. “Come on, I’ll take you to my camp.”

“My ship is that way.” Rey pointed in the other direction, trying not to wonder what he meant by I know.

“My camp is closer, and the frynocks won’t stay gone for long. I'll take you to your ship in the morning.”

Rey rolled her eyes, knowing this was a lost battle. At least if she went with him she might get some answers as to why Princess Leia sent her to this awful place alone. She still had no idea what she was doing here. “Fine. Lead the way.”

It took less than five minutes to reach his camp. It was inside what looked like the remnants of an old village, and he led her to a small cave in the side of a rocky hillside. A fire burned outside, and Luke quickly stoked the flames.

As the fire grew bigger an old astromech droid rolled out of the cave, beeping incessantly.

“Calm down, Artoo. It's just me. Everything’s fine.”

As soon as the droid saw Rey its beeping grew even louder. She glanced back and forth between it and Luke, unsure what to do.

Luke ran a hand over the blue and white droid and smiled at Rey. “Sorry. He’s been starved for company. I think he misses Threepio.”

The droid blurted what sounded like a protest, and Luke laughed. “If you say so, Artoo.”

Rey settled down next to the campfire, sliding her pack off her shoulder and onto the ground. The astromech’s dome whirled back and forth, and its eye settled on her.

It whistled.

“He says hello,” Luke said.

Rey lifted her hand at the droid. “Hi.”

The droid looked at Luke and beeped mournfully.

“Yes, Artoo.” Luke ran his hand over the dome. “I know.”

Rey watched the two of them for a moment. She hoped BB-8 was doing okay with Finn and General Solo and Chewbacca.

“What’s he saying?”

Luke waved a hand. “Nothing important.” He rummaged around the camp, then handed Rey a cup of some sort of steaming beverage. “Here, drink this. You’ll need your strength in case the frynocks come back.”

Rey shivered and took a sip. The drink was warm and sweet, like a hot version of the tea she used to drink on Jakku. “They aren’t native to this world, are they?”

“I’m not sure which world they’re native to. Once I find out, I’ll be sure to never visit.”

Rey chuckled, then hugged her chest and rubbed her hands over her arms. Even without the predatory frynocks, this place gave her the creeps. “You live here?”

“I’ve been here for a few days, but it’s time to move on.”

“Why’d you come here in the first place? This isn't the nicest tourist destination."

“There was a massacre here. I came to investigate what happened.”

Rey’s heart beat faster, remembering what Finn had told her. “You’re looking for Kylo Ren, aren’t you?”

Luke didn’t answer. He sat down across from her and took a long sip from his cup, like they were old friends sharing tea in some fancy shop. She had no idea what else to say to him, the man who had blown up a Death Star and been present at the death of the Empire, so she said the first thing that came to mind.

"How did you know who I was?"

Luke set aside his drink and placed his hands on his lap. “Han told me you were coming.”

Rey lowered her cup. “You’ve spoken to General Solo?”

“I speak to him often. He is my brother-in-law.”

“Then why did Princess Leia send me out here to find you?”

"I believe she wanted you to give that to me." Luke looked at the lightsaber, still clipped to Rey’s belt.

“Oh. Right.” She unhooked the weapon and placed it in Luke’s outstretched hand. “This was yours, wasn’t it?”

“It was my father’s. Then it was mine.” He ran a finger over the shiny silver handle before giving it back at her. “Now it’s yours--if you want it.”

She stared it for a long moment. The metal felt cold and heavy in her hand. “Why would I want it?”

“You’ll need a lightsaber if you want to become a Jedi.”

Her shoulders squared, going into a defensive stance. “Who says I want to become a Jedi?”

“You’re here, aren’t you?”

Rey rolled her eyes and tried to shove the lightsaber back at him. “Not on my own volition.”

Luke raised one hand and ran the other over his mouth, stifling a laugh. “I’ve heard that before.”

Rey’s hand clutched the ligthsaber tighter. It was time to change the subject. “What’s Kylo Ren looking for?”

This time Luke didn’t avoid the Kylo subject. He pointed at the lightsaber.

Rey dropped it. Her cheeks warmed, immediately regretting such a superstitious reaction. “What does he want with it?”

Luke shrugged and picked up the lightsaber, turning it over and over in his hand. “That part, I haven’t been able to figure out yet.”

“So why do you want to find him?”

“He was my student once.” Luke turned the lightsaber over one more time, thumbing the activation switch. The blade sprang to life, illuminating the camp with a bright blue hue. His face looked even more weathered in the low light, his eyes full of regret and sorrow, but also hope. “I never got the chance to finish teaching him.”

Rey gave him an incredulous look. “And you think you can turn him good again?”

“It wouldn’t be the first time.” He met her gaze. “Although with Kylo I might need some help.”

She pointed at herself. “Me?”

He nodded, causing her to laugh in disbelief. She’d heard the stories about Kylo Ren and didn’t want to get within a parsec of the man.

“First you want me to use a lightsaber, now you want me to help you convert an evil megalomaniac? You really are crazy.”

Luke closed the blade and smiled. “Your mother used to say the same thing. Of course even she eventually admitted I was right.”

Even with the crackling fire less than a meter away, the silence that fell over the camp turned deafening. “You knew my mother?”

Luke placed the hilt at his feet. “She was my first student. She used this weapon until she learned enough to build her own.”

Rey’s jaw clenched and she fought to hide the anger that welled inside her. “Then you should know why my first instinct is to run away from you.”

“I don’t blame you for that.” Luke swallowed a lump in his throat but didn’t break eye contact. “It’s taken me a long time to accept, but what happened to your mother wasn’t my fault. Nor was it hers. It was the Empire’s.”

“You mean the First Order,” Rey snapped.

“I don’t care what they’re calling themselves nowadays. They’re always the same.” He paused. “I made a lot of mistakes after she died, and now it’s time to stop. She wouldn’t want me jumping around the galaxy anymore, hiding from my responsibilities.”

“So you’re just going to reappear, and make everything all better again?”

“I’m not naïve. Just like I know everything wasn't my fault, I know I can’t fix everything myself. But I know people who can help, and I intend to call in all those favors I’ve earned over the years.”

She glared at him. “And what favor have you earned from me?”

“Nothing.” Luke placed a hand on her shoulder, his blue eyes peering straight into her soul, imploring her to listen. “I know the galaxy has painted me as some lucky hero who ran away when things started going bad again. I know they said I couldn’t handle the reality of happily ever after. But that's not the truth, Rey. That's not who I am. None of the stories people tell about me can change that.”

“Who are you, then?”

“I’m Luke Skywalker. I’m a Jedi.” Luke spread his hands, palms up. “I’m just a man trying to make things right again.”

Rey shook her head, exasperated. “What does any of this have to do with me? Why should I join you?”

“Because you have the same power I do.” Luke’s eyes twinkled, like he was remembering something from long ago. “And if you’ll let me, I want to train you.”

“You don’t know anything about me, much less if I can become a Jedi!” She snatched her bag from the ground and flung it over her shoulder. “Thanks for everything, but we’re both wasting our time here.”

“I do know you, Rey.”

Luke’s voice, so calm and assured, stopped her from stalking away from the camp. She turned back to him, and he smiled like someone catching his first glimpse of a sunrise after a cold winter’s night.

“I’ve been watching you your whole life.”

Rey searched his face for answers that had been eluding her for a long, long time. “Why?”

Slowly, Luke rose and closed the distance between them. Tears sprang to his eyes and his hand reached up to brush her cheek. Unlike before, she did not flinch away.

“Because you’re my daughter.”

 

Wow, I'm impressed by the way that you've extrapolated this from those very image-heavy and nonspecific (though cool) trailers. Fantastic!

I very much like the personality that Rey shows even within the short space here -- her grudging but steadfast willingness to go haring off into the wilderness after a "crazy old hermit" (2.0), her dropping the lightsaber at the very suggestion that Kylo Ren is after it, and her wariness of the very idea of Jedi training. And somehow she knows Leia, which is very interesting. Not to mention the little surprise dropped in at the end there. (ESB echoes, much? )

Then we have the hints of whatever horrible things happened -- to the Alliance and to Rey's mother... Would really like to see more of this if the bunnies strike!

 

I have wondered to if perhaps Rey is Luke's daughter. I would like it better if she was a Skywalker but I won't mind if she turns out to be a Soli I just want her to be a Skywalker more.

Anyway a great piece.

 

Interesting piece and interpretation of the trailers' info. I do feel it is a female hand that Luke hands his old saber to. However - I got the vibe that Rey was a Solo since the powers of Disney/Lucasfilm - dyed Carrie's and Daisy's hair the same color - just a hunch. But, please keep on writing.

 

Spectacular take on the possibilities from just the bit of trailer info. I've got a gut feeling that Rey may be Luke's child rather than Leia's. I guess we'll see. Great work.

 

Good chapter. Continue!

 

Wow. It's been awhile since I've read anything from you. Nice to see you back!

HA! I don't know who I love more, hermit Luke or hermit Artoo. Though I get the sense they are more travelers than hermits

I wonder what happened to Rey's mother. But that reveal at then end! Oh I do hope there is Skydaughters in this new canon! But I should just be hoping for ANY Skycrawlers.

 

I am so here for Rey Skywalker!

Loved this and the nods to previous material - Luke channeling Obi-Wan and then LSatSoM. And to know that Luke had Artoo with him in his self-imposed exile warms my heart.

I hope we'll see something like this in TFA!

 

Well this was fun!! I am also here for Rey Skywalker. I wish more people thought beyond the "obvious"...and realized that genetics is a helluva thing.

(be careful about where else you post this - you'll likely get some 15 year olds on Tumblr offering to fight you over Rey Skywalker vs. Rey Solo )

 

Thank you! Obviously we know nothing about the new characters' personalities (other than Poe Dameron being a little bit roguish and Finn being in a constant state of distress), but I tried to write Rey as a combination of Luke, Leia, and Han. The vague teasers and little bits and pieces of info inspire me to write fanfic the most, because I find it so easy (and fun!) to speculate that way. Spoilers are bad, mmmkay? Not sure if there will be more of this specifically, but I'm sure I'll write more fic as TFA gets closer (and a lot more after it comes out!).

Thank you! I would give anything (including Mara Jade, gasp!) for a Skywalker daughter. We will see...

Thank you! Wasn't Carrie's hair dyed blond? Whichever it was, it's impossible to look at Daisy Ridley and not think she's somehow a descendant of Shmi Skywalker.

Thank you! I hope your gut feeling is right. It would definitely be not what people are expecting.

Thank you! I don't think I'll continue this, but I'll definitely be writing more TFA fic eventually.

Thanks! I'm still working on an original novel, but the TFA stuff is bringing me out of the woodwork. And yes, I greatly dislike the "Luke is a hermit" rumors, so I subverted that trope. What happened to Rey's mother? I wonder that too.

Rey Skywalker would be my everything. My husband was the one responsible for the Obi-Wan line. He keeps teasing me, asking what I'd do if Luke said that line. And a friend of mine is reading Mindor for the first time so I had the idea to use that line, which is one of my favorites. And I had to have Artoo with Luke! That was my favorite part of the trailer.

I think we're ALL here for Rey Skywalker. Seriously, I will have to be carried out of the theatre if that happens. I was just talking about the genetics thing while recording a podcast last night. Shmi and Anakin Skywalker look nothing alike, so why couldn't Rey be Luke's kid? Why couldn't Finn be Luke's kid? I mean, wouldn't that be amazing, huh? I did post a link on Tumblr; let the 15 year olds come at me. I survived the Luke Skywalker ship wars.

 

One shot? How can you end it there? I want to see Rey's reaction!

 

Superb! Rey Skywalker - has a nice, nice ring! I love the interplay of wariness with honesty/warmth, easing some of Rey's thorniness a bit. Then wham! The last line! Eagerly awaiting any more in the Ep#7 speculation fics you feel like posting.

 

You know I love, love, love this!!!!!!! I need Rey to be a Skywalker like yesterday. I love Artoo's little asides. I'm glad he and Luke are still a great team. And I'd love to know Rey's reaction, too.... *hides*

 

Thank you! I want Rey Skywalker so much, but I have to tell myself it's not going to happen. I'd rather be pleasantly surprised than utterly disappointed. At least we'll always have fic!

You can imagine Rey's reaction, Missy. Although in my book, he trains her and they become awesome Jedi Wonder Father/Daughter Team. He also trains Finn and Rey and Finn fall in love. And then Poe Dameron shows up and looks dashing.

 

Here comes your newest reader...pointing that thing where she never pointed it before.

Awesome fic! The only thing that would've made it better would be including the exact same lines from the second trailer before the very last line, but that's probably because I was rewinding the trailer in my head while reading it.

All of this makes sense and I would be surprised if 75-80% of this wasn't true in December. Say, if Luke had an one-night-stand and then went back to the celibate ways of the Jedi, or if his lifemate was kidnapped in the past, I can totally see this happening. Given the visual imagery, ST scenes paralleling the OT ones, Rey has got to be a Skywalker. Daisy Riddley and young Mark Hammil have a lot in common, in terms of their facial features and expressions.

Or, as your fic may be implying, Mara could be the dead and/or lost one. Correct me if I am seeing things, but the "first student" thing and "before she constructed her own lightsaber" ring a bell even to somebody who didn't read most of the old EU.

Either way, a perfect read!

 

So Luke Skywalker really was as insane as everyone claimed.

I do love refreshing fanfic ideas! They always enchant me and then I have to react. Even though I find it hard at 2:00 am to come up with something clever.



So let me just quote Ewok Poet and state that this was indeed a good read and that Luke is only as half as mad as his old dad. And way cuter and able.

 

YAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSS. TBH, I'll love Rey whether she's a Skycrawler or a Solo - or neither, bwah - I wouldn't fight anybody who wants her for their team, lol, either would be satisfying to me kumbayah y'all. But that aside, you gave her a great mix of grit and sass to play off of the sweet-old-buttkicking-Jedi Luke who's been there, done that, got the t-shirt roboclaw in terms of angst. I'm glad to see you writing more TFA stuff!

 

keep it up. I wish for you to tag me when u have a chapter posted.

 

Thank you! I thought about using the trailer lines verbatim, but thought that would be too on the nose--especially since Luke once said those to Leia. I really hope your percentages are correct, but again, not getting my hopes up. And you are correct, I was heavily implying Mara as the mother although I didn't want to specify.

Yes, Luke is crazy, but not in a bad way. Thank you for reading!

Haha, thank you! I'm definitely invested in Rey as a Skywalker, although I'll accept her as a Solo, too. Either way, I just hope she's awesome.

Thank you! Unfortunately this will be the only installment of this fic unless I get some more inspiration.

 

What about who Rey's mother is/was?

 

Read my comment and the author's reply to me. I have figured it out and judging by your preference in stories, I think you're going to like it.

 

Yeah, I didn't want to specify because I wanted the reader to be able to draw their own conclusions, and I think it's better storytelling not to spell out all the backstory. But I have two wishes for the identity of Rey's mother (if she's a Skywalker): Mara or whoever Felicity Jones is playing in Rogue One.

 

Ahhhh, this fic is like all my wildest hopes and dreams for TFA written down. It probably won't end up this way, but we can hope, can't we?

I particularly like the echoes of Luke's first meeting with Ben, whilst still making him sound very much like Luke, not Obi- Wan. And the oblique reference to Mara/The Last Command. Perfect!

 

Whoop! Love it.

I like your use of the Shadows of Mindor quote with Luke talking about who he really was. Very nice!

 

Thank you! I'm pretty much going to write fic of all the things I want to happen in TFA that don't come true.

I'm really excited to see Jedi Master Luke, but I still want him to be his own character.

Thank you! That's my favorite quote about Luke (other than "Because unlike the knights of old, Jedi Luke Skywalker, you are not afraid of the dark"), so I had to include it, especially considering all the rumors about his role in TFA.