CHAPTER SEVENTY-FIVE
Luke sat in the pilot's seat, missing his old friend Han who should be here, missing Leia, missing Rey. His heart ached for them all, and a darkness grew inside of him, a hatred for Snoke—the creature that had caused so much pain and hurt to his family. Only through Force meditation was Luke able to bring himself back to his sense of calm, the peace that a Jedi Master was known for.
His nephew Ben was sedated, but restless. Luke could feel the visions he was having—visions of things Ben had done in the past, visions of Rey, visions of the Purge. At times it battered against Luke's well-structured shields, eating in at him. He was not sure if sedating Ben was such a good idea, but he was unsure how to control him otherwise. As much as the boy was his nephew, his only family left him, he was also a violent criminal who needed to stand trial for his atrocities. The Resistance would not let him off scot-free, and neither would Luke. It was not revenge but justice that must be served. And then he would still need Ben's help if the galaxy would ever be rid of Snoke—he would need both Ben and Rey's help. He only wished Rey had resisted and had not done anything truly awful yet.
Luke returned his attention to the exit from hyperspace. He was barely functioning himself, but Ben was not allowed to know the location of this new base. In fact, none of the team had been told the location. Only Luke knew it and Artoo. He figured Chewbacca would figure out where they were eventually, but this was a proscribed planet. No one else should be able to figure it out.
As the Falcon exited hyperspace into the Wild Space region, Luke pulled the ship around the blue and green planet below him. The freighter skimmed the top of the tcholoowaer trees and ran through the canyon. He passed over the remains of a building, which he had blasted to bits long ago, pulling the freighter to the other side of the planet, the side he knew Ben had never seen. The snow was thick in the upper elevations, but in the foothills it was just a light dusting. The Falcon disturbed the light powder as Luke landed it in a snowy field surrounded by hundreds of other ships.
Temporary shelters were already being built. The High Command was operating from a deep cavern in the mountain, not too far from the landing field. The deciduous tsiein trees were sprinkled all throughout the rolling hills, leafless in the bitter chill wind. As Finn lowered the Falcon's ramp, he asked Luke, "What is this place?"
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Luke had made his way from the cockpit to the ramp as Chewbacca shut down the engines. "That's on a need-to-know basis, and right not—"
"I don't need to know," mentioned Finn. "Got it."
"Send out some of your men to go cut down two of three tsieein trees into logs about a half meter in length. I'll be out in a few to assist with the pyre," indicated Luke, sounding more relaxed and stronger than he had in the last few hours.
"What are you going to do?"
"It's time to wake-up Lord Ren back there," indicated Luke.
"What about the General?" asked Finn.
"I'll take care of her myself. Leave her where she is for now until the pyre is built," mentioned Luke.
"The High Command is not going to like it," mentioned Finn.
"They don't have to. I'm her next-of-kin. We will do it my way," stated Luke more fiercely than he had intended.
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Luke headed back to the med bay. Ben struggled under the restraints and the drugs. Luke briefly touched his mind and saw the Purge yet again. Luke could not take it anymore. He had put those memories into his past, and if he dwelt on them any longer, he knew he would slip past all sanity himself. The goal is Plagueis. Nothing else, he reminded himself.
Luke moved his hand to Ben's head and brought him out of the sedation quickly. He was not as gentle as he could have been, but he did not want Ben to mistake Luke as an ally. Ben struggled and screamed as he opened his eyes.
Luke let him work him through it, as Ben released his restraints with the Force and sat up. "Why did you do that?" asked Ben angrily.
"Because I can't trust you. You will answer for your crimes, Ben. I made a mistake to trust you years ago. I will never trust you again," stated Luke. Ben stared back at his uncle in anger and then in resignation.
"I need you now. As long as you cooperate, I will allow you to be present at your mother's funeral. The least sign of interference, and I will kill you. Is that understood?" stated Luke firmly sending a chill through the Force to Ben.
"Yes, Uncle Luke," agreed Ben with tears in his eyes as he saw the still form of his mother, knowing that his actions had caused that.
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Luke led Ben out to the field where Finn's men were quickly cutting down the trees. Luke waved his hand toward the logs and brought them over to his planned location. "Do you remember how to build a pyre?" asked Luke. Ben shook his head negatively, as Luke suspected. Ben hardly paid any attention to the lessons he found boring. "Then you bring the logs over and watch me as I start the base. When you get to a corner, wait for me to show you the next step." Ben stood there watching his uncle lay his logs down. "Get moving," Luke urged as Grand Admiral Ackbar and two security officers headed down the slope from the headquarters caves.
"Master Skywalker," he greeted.
"Admiral," nodded Luke as he continued his work.
Luke turned as the security officers took Ben into custody. "No, Admiral, I will control him. Your men can't anyway. He will stand trial, but I need him here right now."
"Very well. I must object to this funeral. General Organa deserves more. The galaxy feels her loss," objected the admiral.
"She's my sister. She had Jedi training earlier in her life. She deserves a Jedi funeral. And it is vital for the Resistance that we send her spirit off as soon as possible," explained Luke.
"I don't understand," indicated the official.
"You don't have to. Just get out of my way, Admiral," Luke looked at him with hard eyes. Luke could feel the frustration building in him again, about to overwhelm him. He felt like sending the admiral against the nearest tree, even though he was a good friend.
Anakin appeared before Luke, "Son, no. Don't let your grief make you do something you will regret. Remember the goal. Rey needs her. She needs her now, if we're going to save her."
Luke turned back to his work. Ben looked toward his grandfather, hoping for a word with him, but not daring to even speak. Anakin disappeared before he spoke another word.
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By nightfall the snow was lightly falling. The entire Resistance had assembled around the pyre as Luke spoke, "Princess Leia Organa, Senator of Alderaan, Leader of the Resistance, General, Beloved Wife of Han Solo, Beloved Mother of Ben and Rey Solo." A few gasps were heard in the audience. A few had known Rey from her brief stay, but none had known her connection to Leia. Luke looked around as he continued, noticing the Force-ghosts of Anakin, Naluma, Obi-Wan, and Yoda gathered around. "Daughter of Queen Padmé Naberrie Amidala of Naboo and Jedi Master Anakin Skywalker of Tatooine. Reared in loving care by her adoptive parents, Queen Breha Organa of Alderaan and Viceroy Bail Organa, Senator of Alderaan and Leader of the Alliance to Restore the Republic. She held many titles, many positions, many hearts. As my twin, I knew her better than any. I miss her deeply, but I know that through this ceremony her spirit will live on, continuing to serve the Force and bring order to the galaxy," Luke solemnly spoke.
Luke stepped forward with a burning torch and lit the pyre the white-draped body of his sister lay upon. The logs caught fire immediately, as the Force aided the combustion. All hung their heads low, mourning this small woman who had done so much for each and every one of them, even giving her life for her daughter.
Luke and Ben raised their heads first as the felt her spirit move through the Force. Luke could see it rise into the few stars that peeked through the clouds above. The snow had stopped, and the wind had picked up, causing the flames of the pyre to move violently south, but also moving the clouds out of position. Luke nodded with a smile of relief and anticipation
Ben reached out his hand toward the spirit and cried, "Mother, forgive me! Please! I love you!"
Luke felt Leia's response of love and warmth sent back to Ben. Anakin and Naluma had promised Luke they would train Leia in apparition and Force-barriers, but it would take time. Luke watched as the Force-ghosts disappeared, racing to find Leia in the darkness beyond.