Star Wars One-Shots

I'm Here

"He's here, Ben." Snoke growls. Ben's blood runs cold. Though he has never seen Snoke, his voice has been taunting him in his nightmares for as long as he can remember. No matter how hard he tries, he can't get rid of him.

"Who's here?" He asks, his voice slightly shaking. Most days, Ben forces himself to ignore Snoke's calls and commands. But, on rare occasions, he'll talk with him. Tonight, he takes a chance. There's so much he needs to know.

"The Jedi." Snoke snarls, making Ben shiver. Ben knows exactly who he's talking about.

"How did you find me here?" He asks. When he arrived on Ahch-To, they were promised that they were hidden from the rest of the galaxy. They were brought here to train without the fear of someone killing them to end the new generation of Jedi. They didn't think that someone was brought with them to kill them.

"You and I are connected, Ben." He says. Ben is tempted to open his eyes and end the nightmare, but he knows Snoke has more to say and he wants to hear the end. "We've been together longer than might seem possible. I know you better than anyone else. Now is your time to join me."

Ben shakes his head. "No. I won't."

"I've seen your future, Ben!" Snoke shouts, making Ben jump. "The Jedi has come to kill you tonight. He knows of our meetings and what you are to become."

Ben takes a deep breath, his hands shaking at his side. "What am I going to become?" He asks, his voice trembling.

"Someone with great power. You will have thousands bending down to you. Your mother will look up at you with pride. Your father will speak of you with honor. You will become the best son that the galaxy has ever seen if you join me."

Ben pauses for a few seconds. He knows Snoke is waiting for him to reply. Ben always turns him down, but this time his offer is different. Snoke has never told him that his parents would be proud of him.

When he was being sent away to train on Ahch-To, he could sense the disappointment in his parents. He knew that they were aware of the voice in his head. He knew they were sending him here in hopes of it getting removed. They wanted a normal son.

If he doesn't leave Ahch-To without Snoke gone from his head, he knows they'll be ashamed of him. Since Snoke seems to follow him everywhere, even to the most hidden planet in the galaxy, maybe this is his best option. Maybe this is the only way to secure their praise and make them proud. "How do I do that?" He asks.

"By killing the Jedi." Snoke sneers. Although Ben can't see him, he knows Snoke is smiling. "End this new generation of Jedi, starting with your uncle. He's come here to kill you."

"Kill me?"

"Yes. He's afraid of the power you hold. He knows of our conversations and wants to put an end to it. He wants to be the greatest Skywalker. If you join me, you'll take his rein." Snoke says. Ben tries to slow his breathing, but he can't. He feels like he's having a panic attack. His uncle is here to kill him? "Take your lightsaber and kill him before he kills you."

Ben can tell that Snoke has left his head for the time being. He freezes, keeping his eyes closed though. He can feel his uncle's presence above him. Is it possible that he knows about the nightmare he just had? Can he sense that he is being drawn to the dark side by someone named Snoke?

Ben knows he has a choice to make. He can either follow Snoke's commands and attack his uncle or he can turn over and see if what Snoke was is true. If he does the first option, he could be in the wrong and only scare everyone else, including himself. But, Snoke could be telling the truth. If he does the latter, he could prevent his uncle from killing him and finally believe everything Snoke has told him. If he's right about his uncle coming to kill him, then everything else he promised will be true.

Taking a deep breath, he rolls over to his side and opens his eyes. He decides to take his second option and not strike first. Sure enough, his uncle is standing above him, fear in his eyes. His green saber is humming and casting a green light around the room.

Snoke is right. His uncle has come to kill him.

Before he can grab his lightsaber to defend himself, his uncle reaches his hand out him. "Take my hand, Ben." He says, his voice shaking.

Ben stays still, unsure of what to do. Snoke said he was here to kill him. Why does he want his hand? Why does he look so afraid? Ben should be the one terrified out of his mind. He's had Snoke saying these things in his head for his entire life.

"Please, don't fall for his lies. Take my hand and stay with me." Luke says. Ben can see the tears running down his face. He looks at his uncle's hand, which is trembling like crazy.

"I was told you were to kill me." He says, backing away from Luke. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do."

"I only want to help you, Ben," Luke answers, watching Ben. Luke had been warned in his dreams that Ben was being tempted by the dark side. He was told to come here and stop him from following down a path that only ends in suffering.

"How can you?" Ben shouts, rising from his bed. He grabs his lightsaber, turning it on. "No one can help me at this point."

"Don't go down this path, Ben. Please, let me help you." Luke insists, slowly following Ben. He won't leave Ben's side until he agrees to let him help him. He refuses to let another Skywalker fall for the lies of the dark side.

"You don't have his voice in your head every night." Ben cries, rubbing the tears out of his eyes. "Every night, I'm told that I need to kill you. I'm supposed to kill all of my friends here."

"But you haven't. You have shown a great restraint to the dark side and I'm so proud of you for that. What you're handling every night is nothing that I can imagine." Luke says, keeping his eyes locked on Ben's. "But if you don't take my hand, I can't help you."

"What are you going to do? Are you somehow going to make Snoke leave my head?" Ben shouts, taking his lightsaber in both of his hands. "I've been trying for years. What will you do differently?"

"I have the help of many Jedi," Luke says, closing in on Ben. "I know that sounds hopeless to you, but it's true. They told me Snoke was in your dreams tonight. They told me that I needed to come to your side and show you that you are not alone in this fight."

"But I am alone. I've been fighting him alone for my entire life!"

"Not anymore," Luke says, shaking his head. He needs to show him that following him will aid him in his fight against the dark side. "You have a choice to make, Ben. You can either listen to Snoke or take a chance with me."

Ben is quiet. He knows which side he's supposed to pick. He should pick the light side, but what if Snoke never leaves? Will he be taunted by him for the rest of his life? Every night, will Snoke whisper in his head and make him question his choices?

"I can sense the conflict in you, Ben," Luke says, inches away from Ben now. "Take my hand and I can put your mind at ease. I'll help you the same way I helped my father all those years ago."

"And what if you can't help me? What if I turn to the dark side?" Ben asks, his grip loosening on his lightsaber.

"No matter what happens, I will always be here for you. If you were to turn, I wouldn't leave you alone. I'd follow you around the galaxy, waiting for you to come back to the light." Luke says. Ben watches as his green lightsaber slowly disappears. "Please, Ben."

Ben stares at his uncle's hand. It was no longer shaking in fear. Instead, it was strong and confident. Ben turns off his lightsaber and takes his uncle's hand. He looks up into his eyes, which no longer shows the fear he was feeling. They bring him comfort and safety, something he's been longing to see for years.

"I'll stay here with you. I trust you." He whispers.

"I trust you, too. You've had a difficult journey since you've been on Ahch-To. I hope to lessen your load and make you a great Jedi." Luke smiles. Ben lets out a soft cry as he rushes into his arms. "You are no longer alone, Ben. I'm here." Luke whispers into his ear as he holds him close.

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