Star Wars- In another Life.

Chapter 2- Ahch-To

Ben sat in the crew quarters of the Millennium Falcon. Before him stood the chequered table on which his Uncle Chewie played Dejarik with him. He was angry; everything he'd been grateful for, his comfortable home, his loving family were being taken from him. His parents were sending him to his Uncle to be amongst his first students at the Jedi school on Ahch-To he was creating.

His parents, his family were afraid of him, afraid of what he could do, and for some reason, he couldn't fathom, they felt unable to deal with his Force abilities, and so they were flying to the Unknown Regions and leaving him there like some unwanted, untrained pet who'd become too unruly for its masters. He didn't mean to lash out but couldn't help it. So often, he felt angry and frustrated, and he had noticed it getting worse, and when it did, a feeling in him heightened, a feeling he knew was the Force, and he could do things he couldn't normally do. It wasn't the Force as his mother understood it; it felt wild and raging, and when these occasions happened, he could see the fear in his parent's eyes. Try as they might to shield these emotions from him; he could see it, and he could feel it. That look, those feelings they felt hurt him but sending him to live with his Uncle, who to Ben seemed like a religious, pious monk always speaking in riddles and giving what Ben perceived to be patronising looks, was far worse.

Ben felt the change in pressure as the Falcon jumped out of hyperspeed; they were here. He gritted his teeth, and beneath the table, his hands clenched into fists as he wallowed in self-pity and childish anger. He didn't care that his parents thought they were doing what was best for him; they hadn't listened to what he wanted. It wasn't fair, and they didn't care. Ben could feel that seething raw emotion within him, and it fed that new power within him that he couldn't explain. He screwed up his face allowing his anger to overflow; he was furious at his parents. He yelled out angrily, and the built-up tension unleashed itself. Crates and items in the quarters not strapped down securely flew, ricocheting with the Falcon's interior's curved walls and the seat upon which he sat cracked and split right down the centre. His anger immediately subsided as he stared aghast at the damage he'd done.

"Chewie, land us safely," he heard his father's voice from the cockpit, and presently his parents walked into the quarters to survey the damage he'd done.

Ben looked at them, mortified and despairing, "I didn't mean," he started before stopping. Again, those fretful, worried glances, those fearful expressions and anxious thoughts came off them in waves. Shame smothered him like a shroud, and he hung his head guiltily. They were right to fear him. He wasn't able to control these emotions and the power that came with them; he deserved to be sent away. Tears welled in his eyes, and he angrily swiped them away with his fist.

He felt his mother take a seat at his side, her hands lifting his face to hers, stroking his hair from his eyes in a soothing gesture.

"Ben, I wish I had the skills to help you, but I don't. I know you think this is some sort of punishment, but it's not. We're worried about you, and only Luke can help you. He'll protect you."

"I don't want to go there, I don't want to leave," Ben complained through red, bleary eyes.

"I know, and if we had any other option, we would take it, but we don't. The Force is strong in our family, and Luke is the Last Jedi. Everything will be better soon, I promise."

Ben wanted to believe her, that things would be better, but he didn't have as much faith in his Uncle as she did. He did believe she felt inadequate and lost to help him; she didn't see that her love, regardless of his uncontrollable outbursts, meant everything to him, and he wrapped his arms around his mother, unsure when he'd feel her loving embrace again.

-X-

Luke Skywalker had begun to set up his school after the need for war following the Empire's fall had ended. He'd set up home on this sacred island, a mecca for the Force and the site of the original Jedi temple. There were the island natives, Lanais, caretakers of the island with whom he was attempting to find balance and learn their ways and their language. A simple life of daily chores and contemplation. He would begin to find Force-sensitive children across the Galaxy to come and train at this new training academy. Long ago, he'd found another, but fearful of Thrawn, he'd given his charge to a gatherer friend to care for. Soon, he would call them to return.