Rebel

Chapter 16

It was early when I woke up the next morning. Ashoka was already waiting for me by the cliff. "What's today?" I questioned, she gave me a smile and pointed out into the ocean, I followed her finger to where she was pointing, the waves were calm. I turned to Ashoka, questions in my eyes clearly showing when Ashoka spoke up.
    "Part of your training is connecting to all living things, through the Force." I looked at her. "Connect to the living things in the ocean." She said, turning, she led a path down the cliff's edge. When we reached the bottom she turned towards me.
    "Swim out, you must learn to open yourself to the Force and let it guide you." She said, I took off my vest, boots, and blaster holder, they would only weigh me down swimming. I pulled out an aquata breather, a small device used for breathing underwater. I had picked some up on Bakura, holding it in my hand, I turned to Ashoka.
    "You're not coming?" I questioned, Ashoka shook her head.
"I cannot teach you how to connect. You must learn on your own." There was no room for argument. I frowned but turned, fitting the aquata breather onto my mouth I dove into the water. It was dark, luckily there wasn't a current. I swam out a little ways so I wasn't going to be smashed against any rocks if the current picked up. I closed my eyes, focusing my breathing like Ashoka taught me and reached out. Life bloomed all around me, like a picture. Fish swam around in shoals, they skittered away when I tried to reach out towards them. The ocean was alive with the Force. I laughed and bubbles sprung from my mouth, it was amazing. A warning blared out at me, as I was knocked aside, my eyes snapped open and I saw a serpentine creature headed towards me again, it was huge, two sets of sharp spike-like ridges trailed down its body, followed by two smaller sets on each side. It raced towards me, my body panicked, I tried to swim away but was knocked aside again, my body flailing as I spun through the water. I tried to right myself only to be struck once again. My aquata breather was knocked out of my mouth, I quickly looked around, but the sea had gone dark. I looked up, or what I thought was up, to try to see the light from the sky. Nothing. I couldn't tell up from down. My lungs started to panic as they ran out of air, I forced myself to calm down, my training kicking in. I slowed my heart beat, panicking would make my body use up oxygen faster. I looked around again. There! The aquata breather was sinking down, I dove after it quickly, my hand closed around it before a force rammed into my stomach, lifting me up, up. The water broke and I felt the air on my back, I gasped before I was pulled back under. The serpentine creature faced me, charging, mouth open filled with sharp teeth. "Stop!" I yelled out, bubbles bursting from my mouth. Somehow, the creature heard me and stopped, it looked at me. I put the aquata breather back in my mouth and let myself breathe for a moment before studying the creature before me. I was still wary, I treaded water, keeping myself facing the creature, ready for it to charge me again. Something told me I was safe, that it wouldn't attack me. Intelligent green eyes looked at me, studying me as I was studying it. Dark scales coated its body, making a shimmering, reflective mosaic pattern. Green was the main color, but blue and grey scales scattered made the perfect camouflage. Spines ran down from its head to its back, more rows ran beside them. Large fins sprouted along its body, I counted four big sets, located where legs would be on a land creature. Three smaller pairs of fins were along the tail.  I reached my hand out towards it, testing it. It looked at me curiously, before swimming closer, and pressing its face to my hand. It looked at me with those intelligent eyes, then almost a light appeared, of mischief. I barely had a second to register before it quickly pushed forward, launching me upwards and onto its back. I spun in the water, grabbing onto the spines behind its head. It swam through the water at an alarming rate before suddenly stopping. The sudden jolt made me lose my grip on the spines, throwing me off its head and in front of it, I quickly spun around in the water, the creature watched me with bright eyes. "You did that on purpose!" I called out, although all that came out was bubbles and garbled noises. The creature seemed to understand what I said as happiness lit up its eyes, and it did a twirl in the water, its serpentine body curling though the water gracefully. I laughed at its antics, it was a beautiful creature. I've been calling it it. Was it male or female? I knew nothing of the species so I had no idea how to tell, Ashoka words ran through my head, 'connect to all living things, though the Force.' I reached out again mentally, I drew back quickly when I brushed across something. Not used to the new presence. It was strange, not warm, but cool. I opened my eyes, and the creature was looking at me, I reached out again and felt something. A connection, a coolness filled me. Images flitted through my mind briefly, and a sense of curiosity. I looked at Aquila, then blinked, how did I know her name? A giddy laugh escaped me when I realized I knew it from the connection I had formed. It was strange, but not unwelcoming. Like having someone else with you in your head, but not quite. I could tell that I could shut my thoughts from her, and she could do the same. Aquila moved forwards towards me, letting out a soft keen that echoed through the water. She frilled the spines around her head, sending a sense of curiosity though the bond. Hi. I whispered mentally, she blinked her eyes slowly. She responded with a hello of her own, it was a clicking sound, but the meaning was not lost. I questioned why she had attacked me. An apology rushed through the bond, she hadn't been trying to hurt me, she thought I was a threat to her home. I sent an apology back, I hadn't realized she was only protecting her home. I swam over to her, looking at her closer. What can you do? I questioned. In response Aquila bent her head towards me, allowing me to grab onto the spines. Conveniently there was a small gap in between two of the spines, allowing me to half sit on her neck. I pulled my legs to the sides of her neck. Aquila shifted a little, and flattened some of her spines to allow me to sit comfortably. Thank you. She chattered in response, the noise really having no meaning. Just a response. She untucked the fins from her side and shot towards the island. She leaped out of the water and I gave a whoop of joy. It was incredible! The island grew closer as we dove back underwater. I sent a feeling of worry though the bond as the rocks grew closer. She ignored me and continued towards the rocks, I moved to jump off, but my legs were stuck. I looked down, a set of spines had clamped over my legs preventing me from moving. I turned back forward, the cliff face was too close. I pulled myself closer to Aquila. A feeling of trust flowed across our bond. Then we were shooting up, the water seemed to part around us. My ears popped and we flew out of the water, and towards the cliff, I looked to the side as I felt Aquila move, a pair of front and back legs that had been tucked close to her body, extended. Each foot had a set of large curved claws that sunk into the cliff face. I then realized that the spines that were trapping my legs in place were really keeping me from falling off. She climbs up the cliff quickly, giving a roar of delight as she crosses the top of the cliff. I see Ashoka take a step back and look at us, surprise clearly shown on her features. Aquila curled her body around the rocks that were scattered around the cliffs edge. I felt the spines release my legs as Aquila settled down, she bent her head towards the ground, allowing me to slide off. As I got off I noticed the fins that had been flared in the water were all tucked against her body, like her legs had been in the water. Thank you. I told her through our bond. She blinked at me, letting out a soft coo. Ashoka walked towards us as I turned around. I felt Aquila's spines flare up as Ashoka neared. I projected comfort across our bond. Friend. I said, she relaxed, but still remained slightly wary.
"When I said connect to the ocean, this wasn't quite what I meant." Ashoka said, she reached a hand out to Aquila's face, letting it hang in the air as Aquila studied her. Slowly Aquila let her face touch Ashoka's palm, but was still wary. "Interesting. She won't accept a bond with me, only you." I ran my hand along Aquila's side, feeling her breath beneath her scales.
"Have you seen anything like her before?" I ask, as Aquila curls her tail around a rock, lifting it she tosses it, catching it again with her tail.
"No, I've seen many things, but nothing like her." Ashoka says, stepping back. "You should be proud that she only allows a bond with you, she will be loyal. Most padawans wouldn't be able to connect with anything of this size on their first try."
"Why couldn't I connect to the Force until I left the First Order?" I asked Ahsoka. It was the question that had plagued my mind and I finally voiced it. Ahsoka turned towards me.
    "It was the Force protecting you. If the First Order found you were Force sensitive, they would have killed or turned you into a Sith. Your body hid the Force from yourself, and it was only unlocked when you had the reason to need it."
    "Huh." Aquila nudged me, having put down the rock, she asked with a series of clicks and chirps if there was anything she could help with, she had to go back into the ocean. No, you're welcome to go back. I told her, I shouldn't keep you here. I felt bad if there were things Aquila had needed to do, but a feeling of reassurance was sent across our bond. Thanks. Aquila gave a chirp and patted me on the head with her finned tail. She then dove off the cliff and into the water below. I turned to Ahsoka, who had a surprised look on her face. "She had to go." I explained, she nodded.
    "Okay." She looked distantly for a moment before focusing back on me, "Actually, I also have to go, Anakin is being a nuisance in the Force ghost place. I should ask Master Yoda what it is called." She said that last part mostly to herself, I nodded, she had other duties to attend to, "Practice mediating, I'll meet you back here tomorrow." She said, and disappeared.
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    It was late when I came back to the village, and a light rain pattered down on the stones. I had spent the day turning over thoughts in my head and meditating on them. It did little to help, but my mind had cleared a bit. I saw someone by Luke's hut, I walked closer, and recognized it was Rey, she was fast asleep with her staff leaning against the rock beside her. She must have been exhausted because fall asleep here. I frowned, concerned. It was raining! She could catch a cold! I knew the rain wasn't too bad but still! She had been following Luke around for the past two days. I suggested just confronting him, but she wanted him to talk to her because he saw he was wrong. I grabbed the staff and slung it onto my back, I picked up Rey gently, her body tucking perfectly into my arms. I slung her bag that she was using as a pillow onto my shoulder. I walked towards the hut the caretakers had shown me. I pushed open the door with my foot and set Rey down on the bed. I set her staff by her and smiled. I frowned at the fact that her vest she was wearing was wet, I carefully took it off, my face turning red. It meant nothing, I just didn't want her to catch a cold! I carefully folded up the vest and set it on the small stone table next to the bed. I laid a blanket over her and turned around as I heard a noise, it was outside. I quietly moved out of the hut, closing the door behind me, I saw a hooded figure walking down the cliff. Skywalker. I followed him silently as he went down the cliffs towards the Falcon. Chewie didn't notice as Skywalker slipped by him and into the Falcon, too busy trying to eat his meal without Porgs interrupting him. The rain obviously didn't bother the Wookie or the small creatures surrounding him. I slipped by him quietly and went into the Falcon, following the sound of Skywalker's soft steps, into the cockpit. I watched as he turned on the ship, lights turned on with a hum. He reached out and grabbed the dice hanging on a hook on the glass. "Something of Han's?" I questioned, Skywalker turned around quickly. I stepped to the side as he went past me.
    "Sabacc dice." He said, almost intelliagle. I followed him, after turning off the ship. He sat on the semi-circle couch, with his head bent down, if it was sadness I couldn't tell. I watched from the doorway again, I turned my head slightly as I heard something powering up. R2-D2 powered up in the corner with a beep. Skywalker's head shot up, he took the hood of his head, "Artoo?" He questioned, R2-D2 beeped in response. "Artoo!" Skywalker's face lit up with joy as I watched. R2 quickly rolled over to the former Jedi, beeping so fast I could hardly keep up with his droid-speech. "Yes." Luke said, answering one of R2's non-stop questions. "Yeah, I know." I suppressed a laugh as R2 beeped angrily at Skywalker, "Hey, sacred island, watch the language." Skywalker scolded, R2 stopped and beeped sadly, "Old friend." Luke lifted his hand to R2, as R2 beeped again, "I wish I could make you understand. But I'm not coming back. Nothing can make me change my mind." Luke said firmly, R2's head turned, and he started to play something. A young woman's hologram appeared, she wore a white dress and a hood covered her hair.
    "Years ago, you served my father in the Clone Wars. Now he begs you to help him in his struggle against the Empire." Luke's gaze flickered towards R2 as the woman continued, "I regret that I am unable to present my father's request to you in person,"
    "That was a cheap move." Luke said to R2, as the woman's message continued, R2 beeped. I finally recognized the woman as a younger version of General Leia.
    "But my ship has fallen under attack, and I'm afraid my mission to bring you to Alderaan has failed." Luke's gaze returned to the hologram, "This is our most desperate hour. Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope." The recording ended and R2 ended the hologram. R2 beeped at Skywalker, I pushed off the wall and finally spoke up.
    "He's right, you know." Luke's gaze darted up to meet my own.
    "You speak droid?" He questioned, I gave a small nod.
    "I was a Special-Ops stormtrooper for the First Order, before I defected, I had to learn it."
    "Project Resurrection." Luke said, I nodded, "I'd heard of it before I left, I never thought it was real."
    "It is. The First Order slaughtered the entire village I was in. I was a baby, and the only one that was taken alive." Luke's gaze fell down to the ground. "We need you. It's not too late to change your mind." I said softly, maybe Rey was right. The way for him to come back was to see his wrongs, and right them. I walked into the hallway, "Rey is in my hut. Third on the left." I called back as I walked out of the ship. I wandered around the village for a few hours, taking in the nightlife of the island, crickets chirped and waves crashed distantly. The rain had slowed now just a light mist. Once sleep tugged at my mind again I finally went back to the hut to sleep.
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