13

Jedi Steps

The Falcon landed among the remaining Resistance ships on the deck of the base on D'Qar. Major Bree Dane was there, pushing through the congratulating crowd of personnel with Poe Dameron, desperately looking for a man she believed to be on the Falcon. Giving an apologetic look to the last congratulating pilot she pushed away, she caught a glimpse of the Wookie, Chewbacca's, furry head ducking out of the Falcon's body, walking briskly down the ramp. He was holding a limp body of a man.

Finn.

Poe moved from her side as medical personnel and officers rushed with a gurney to help. Chewie gently set down the wounded man as Poe looked on in concern.

The tall Wookiee's eyes fell upon Leia as he grunted weakly and she nodded, outstreching her arms to her old friend as they embraced, mourning Han together.

"Easy, easy, he's hurt," a medic scanned Finn's body. "We've got a pulse."

They rushed off as Bree's gaze slid away from them, back to the Falcon, back to the man. Leia had said he was with them. She believed he would come back, and Bree did too.

A girl younger than herself was next down the ramp after Chewbacca. Tall and slim, she was actually quite pretty. With a set of darting hazel eyes and a dark, three bun hairstyle, the girl was awestruck, amazed, and intimidated. Bree studied her curiously, and blinked in recognition. She couldn't be-?!

The girl turned and stretched out a hand to whomever was behind her. Bree's train of thought trickled off as she saw who it was.

It was Kento. He was alive. He was actually alive. He was wounded badly, holding an injured shoulder while his hands were raw pink. He was leaning on the girl heavily, but he was alive. She made her way out of the crowd of cheering people as she sprinted towards him, seeing Leia in the corner of her eye.

Giving him a quick peck on the cheek, she wrapped her arms around Kento Marek's neck, fighting off tears as she buried her face in his shoulder, not wanting the entire Resistance to see her weep. Kento was stunned as he pushed Bree away from his body, taking her face in.

"Bree?" He said through cracked lips. "Bree Dane?"

"Yes," she tearfully smiled. "Kento, it's me."

"Bree." He pulled her to himself again, each grasping the other like they would never see each other again.

Rey scuffed her boot against the ground. It was awkward for her, to say the least. Here she was, in an unknown place, fighting for really, an unknown cause for unknown people. It hit her how hard she really did not know Kento. How could she have been so foolish as to think that she could've gotten close to him -he already had friends. And by the looks of it, they were very close indeed. Just as she was about to walk away, an older woman, Leia, gently touched her arm. Rey knew, somehow, that this woman was very closely connected with Han, she could feel it. Leia took Rey's face in her hands. Despite her heartbreak, she was grateful. She knew the girl had played a large part in the survival of the Resistance. Leia quickly embraced Rey.

Although they had just met, Rey hugged her back just as tightly, feeling a motherly warmth from Leia she had never felt before from anyone else.

"Leia, Kento needs to get looked at, now," Bree interrupted the two.

Leia turned, but her reprimand to the Major about calling Leia by her respected title stuck in her throat as she saw the pallor on the young Marek boy's cheeks. She nodded.

"Get him in quickly to Doctor Kalonia," she turned to Rey. "You too."

Bree gave Rey a quick glance and averted her eyes. "Come with me."

XXX

Chewbacca sat quietly, watching as Doctor Kalonia did the best she could on Kento's shiim wounds. She was the best doctor in the Resistance, however, with their limited technology and the level of the cut that Kylo had inflicted, the tissue was not able to be fully regrown into healthy skin, the shiim scar still glowing brightly on his bare shoulder.

Many in the base sat still, mourning the losses of good soldiers, and the great pilot, Han Solo. Rey watched as Kento sat up, gratefully thanking the old doctor, and turned to his R9 unit, who was gleefully chirping at his return. She smiled softly and turned to look at Bree, who was sitting quietly, suppressing her feelings after finding about the death of Han. It was quiet here, instilling in Rey a feeling of solemness.

BB-8 approached R2-D2, giving him a long stare, hoping, that maybe he would wake up and somehow save the day with the good news.

With a series of whirrs and clicks, the long dormant droid suddenly stirred, whirring to life. The droids beeped excitedly at each other as R9 rushed from Kento's side to greet the awakened droid.

"Artoo Deetoo!" C-3PO hobbled over, alerted by the droid's commotion. "You've come back!"

He paused momentarily as R2 bleated something back. "You found what?"

"Wee ooo," R2 replied.

"How dare you call me that!" C-3PO swatted R2-D2, who continued beeping.

"Find Master Luke how?" He listened for a moment, and then waved the R2 unit over. "Come, R2! We must go tell the others at once!"

Leia stood alone in the silence, heartbroken.

3PO cautiously entered the room, his message urgent, yet he did not want to disturb Leia's grieving. "General? Excuse me, General?"

Leia turned to see the droids.

"Artoo Deetoo may contain some much needed good news."

"Tell me," Leia said, a look of hope dawning on her face.

R2-D2 projected a hologram depicting a large, navigational map with a specific missing chunk. BB-8 whirred and stared at this map for a beat, the blue hologram reflecting in his lenses. He beeped and rolled into Bree's legs, the one who was authorized ownership over what he wanted. She turned and looked at him, her brow furrowing. Poe stood beside her, understanding immediately what his droid wanted.

"Yeah, alright buddy, hold on-"

Poe ran over and removed the ancient data device that Lor San Tekka had given him from a base computer. He inserted it back inside BB-8, who then projected his map, which he shrunk down to size. The two droids then moved slightly together. The two holograms united, BB-8's piece filling in R2-D2's perfectly.

"Oh! The map! It is complete!" C-3PO exclaimed.

"Luke," Leia whispered, hand on her heart.

The Resistance burst into life, cheering echoed the base as people embraced. Bree glanced at Kento, but he had eyes only for the map, searching it's every star, every system, to it's mark at where Luke Skywalker supposedly was.

She knew that look. He was leaving her again.

C-3PO leaned down suddenly to R2-D2, saying sweetly, "Oh my dear friend. How I've missed you."

It was decided immediately that Rey would go to meet Luke. As much as Leia wished to go, she had the Resistance to lead. Kento volunteered himself to go as well. They would leave the next day.

He was immediately cornered by Bree once he was shown to the room where he would stay for the night.

"Why'd you volunteer." she demanded as he stripped off his shirt.

"Because I need to go," he said. "I need to go with her."

Bree rolled her eyes. "Of course you have to go with her! It's not like you spent the last seven years with her!"

Rey, headed on her way to give Kento medical supplies she had received from Doctor Kalonia, quickly hid behind the doorway, listening to their conversation. Bree paced the room like a tiger while Kento plainly stood, watching her.

"Why didn't you opt to come then?" he asked.

She waved her arms. "I have all this to cover, I can't leave them behind."

"Then why are you so furious?"

Bree opened her mouth and then closed it. He'd trapped her. She slumped, all the fury and anger gone out of her. Green eyes slowly met blue and she smiled softly, sadly, reaching out a hand and touching his scar.

"I just thought I'd get to spend more time with you than just a day."

"Is that really something to get upset at me for?"

Bree sudden flinched, stepping back as if he'd burned her. Tears sparkled in her eyes as she stepped back, walking away from him.

"You know nothing!" She whispered and rushed out of the room, giving a sharp look in Rey's direction as she walked past.

Rey took a deep breath as she realized she had just heard something she wasn't supposed to hear. A sharp bang from the room shook her out of her thoughts and she ran in. Kento was leaning with his hand against the wall, a large dent imprinted in the side. His hand was bleeding. Rey sighed and ripped off a strip from the new bandages she'd brought.

"Try not to hurt yourself," she advised as she placed the other medicines on the table.

"When did you get here?" He asked as he walked towards her.

"A couple minutes ago. I ran into Bree storming out," she said casually.

"I don't understand her," he muttered as he held out his hand for her to wrap. "She expects me to read her mind, know what she's thinking."

Rey said nothing as she silently wrapped his hand. She knew what Bree was getting at. It was obvious that Kento did not. Not realizing she was putting her feelings into her actions, she pulled the bandage tight as she tied the knot.

"Ouch!" Kento hissed.

"Sorry," Rey made her way to the door.

"Are you upset at me too now?" Kento called after her.

"No," Rey mumbled. She didn't know what to feel, after seeing Bree with Kento. It had stirred something in her that she had never felt before, something primal, and possessive that came from deep within her heart. It was like a monster in her heart that preyed on her and made her cold whenever she saw the beautiful Bree Dane with Kento Marek.

XXX

It was a new day. Finn lay unconscious in an I.C.U. pod, his fate uncertain. Rey sat with him, deeply worried. Kento gave her a troubled glance and squeezed her shoulder comfortingly as he stood up to prep the Falcon.

"He'll be alright," he murmured.

She nodded quietly and he left to give her some time with Finn. She gave the former Stormtrooper one last look, and finally leaned in close to him. She kissed his cheek gently and said, quietly, despite her fear, "We'll see each other again. I believe that. Thank you, my friend."

She strode out into the hallway, down the way to exit towards the flight pad when she heard her voice echo down the hall.

"Rey!"

She turned, and was startled to see that the voice's owner was the Major herself, Bree Dane.

"Major," Rey replied, respectfully.

The other woman waved her hand as if blowing the title out of the way. "Call me Bree."

The two stood in awkward silence, studying each other until Bree spoke suddenly.

"Take care of him for me, will you?"

At this, Rey furrowed her brow, confused. "Why are you giving up on him?" She knew what Bree felt for Kento.

The young Major laughed softly. "That's not it. He's not my type."

"Sorry," Rey said but Bree shook her head.

"I would've asked that too if I was in your position. I'm just like his overprotective older sister." She ran a hand through her hair and sighed. "Just promise me this," Bree gave the younger girl a piercing gaze. "Promise me you'll take care of him."

"I-"

Bree placed a firm hand on her shoulder. "Swear to me."

Rey swallowed. "I swear."

Bree features softened. "Good." She turned to leave, and then hesitated. She looked at Rey one last time, and spoke. "May the Force be with you, Rey."

Rey returned Bree's gentle smile and watched her go. The view of her long legs striding away and her black hair thrown over her shoulder would be the last of what Rey would see of Bree Dane for quite some time.

Stepping out into the landing pad, Rey watched as Chewie and Kento did last minute checks of the Falcon. She stood with Leia for a moment, and then turned to head to the Falcon. As Rey walked off, she heard Leia call out her name.

"May the Force be with you," Leia said.

This filled Rey up as these words reminded her of her promise to Bree. Smiling gratefully, she crossed to the Falcon.

Rey sat in the pilot seat, Chewie as co-pilot, and Kento sat in the back. Rey looked at both her companions compassionately, nervous but ready for the journey.

"You ready, princess?" Kento grinned, calling her by his nickname.

She grinned back and shook her head yes as she flicked the switches and the Millennium Falcon rose.

"Time to fly," the young man said.

Leia, with Poe, Bree, BB-8, R9-A4, and C-3PO (with his proper arm replaced), watched the next generation of Jedi begin her journey with the rest of the Resistance behind them cheering them off.

The Falcon flew through space and blasted to lightspeed. The blue illuminated on their faces as Rey checked the coordinates of the planet, and then pressed a button. The blue lightspeed faded to day as a pristine and mighty ocean appeared. It was endless blue, dotted with random, beautiful, mountainous black rock islands, dotted with countless green trees.

The Millennium Falconflew into view, banking down toward one of the islands.

Rey, her staff strapped to her back, and Kento, with the lightsaber that Rey still needed to ask about hung at his belt, began their hike up the considerable mountain. Rey glanced back at the waving Chewie and the giddy R2-D2 rocking back and forth on his legs, both watching her from the bottom of the ramp. She took a deep breath and continued her journey.

Built within the rock and foliage of the idyllic island were seemingly endless ancient stone steps. They continued to climb them, determined, despite their fatigue. They then arrived at a clearing with small, modest, primitive stone structures. No one was near. Rey walked past them, searching, and sensed no one.

She stopped, feeling something. Kento watched as she slowly turned.

Standing forty feet away from them, his back to them, was man, in a cloak and robe. They both stared, knowing exactly who he was. Rey just watched for what seemed like eternity. Finally, he turned, slowly, to them, pulling back his hood.

It was Luke Skywalker.

Older now, he had a full head of white hair, and was bearded. He glanced at Kento, and then at Rey. There was a kindness in his eyes, but something tortured too. He didn't need to ask who they were, or what they were doing there. His look said it all.

In response, Rey pulled something from her pack. Luke's lightsaber. She held it out to him. An offer. A plea. The galaxy's only hope.

Luke looked amazed and conflicted at what he saw. Kento watched steadily as Luke regarded the two of them and the saber. Rey stretched the saber further, in hopes that he would take it. The promise of an adventure stirred the air.

It was just the beginning.

A/N: Hello everyone! Thank you so much to the guest who has seemingly followed my story with great gusto -I appreciate you, and even you! The silent reader who always shows up but never reviews, I appreciate any kind of support you lovely fans give! I'm pleased to say this rewrite is finally over and done with -now, onto the Last Jedi! I do have to warn you, it will vary much between the movie. I had mixed feelings about what I saw and since I've got a few OCs and some new plans, it will be a mix of the original movie and my own ideas. thank you all for hanging on this far and may the Force be with you! I hope to see you all join me for the next installment.