Star Wars: Defying the Morai

[Re-interest]

Authors Note: This my first so please don't judge too harshly.

Did proofreading myself. Would like a Beta Reader but I don't know how.

Don't expect smart tactical battles in space or too much of quality written fight scenes.

Cannot believe no one has written this type of idea.

Prologue: One Step

In Greek mythology, the Moirai (the Fates) were three sisters who controlled human destiny.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 8 Jan. 2025


A long, long time ago, in a galaxy far far away.

Those are the first words of a story that touched untold numbers of people, and riveted entire generations to the screen and to dream of adventure, of romance, of wonder and of greatness. To see singular planets of life coming all colors, mechanical droids speaking in binary, countless different alien races carousing in any marketplace, the braying of unique animals in the fields, deserts, jungles, forest, frozen tundra's and even planets made of refuse, cities, oceans and worlds that defy natural law itself yet still being coherent.

The starships lifting off and entering the blue wormholes of hyperspace, the majestic luminescent aquas that glided over the craft as it went from one end of the galaxy to to the other. Asteroid fields, planetary stations, hyperlanes, blackholes, storms and creatures that exist in the deep dark cold listlessly waiting for the unwary traveler.

Then there are the battles, the ship to ship fight of lasers and cannon fire, torpedoes and starfighters engaging in a storm nexus of ionized fire. The sentient beings with blasters and hulking mechs delivering payloads of blue to orange-red lights belying death. The swords of many colors in the hands of robed persons against one singular crimson blade wreathed in shadow. Conflict.

Then there is the Force. An energy field that binds and surrounds every being. Life, Death, All is the Force.

A jedi would say The Force is My Ally.

A sith would say The Force is My Tool.

I would say The Force is My Obstacle.

And thus mine and Ben Solo's eyes opened.

_

The shuttle carousing through the atmosphere onto the planet's surface emulated the helicopter experience of disembarking troops straight from the movie. The cold area was somehow warm to the touch that I could swear if I had come in naked I wouldn't even need the spare clothes.

Going down into the darkness to deliver ill intent in the buff with mockeries of OG Space Fascist in a ship sounds like the start of a porno. Which honestly sounds more cool and.. Stop it. If I keep making jokes about that I know I'd be truly damned by the aura of this place. Focus on the seriousness of the cold silence inundated with the pumping of the rifles and affirmations of the pilot. Thank you Ben for shared co-existence and bringing out our wordsmithing for a genuine experience. Taking a breath and exhaling softly due to our jedi training I surveyed the situation and made the most poignant observation as the Tie Fighter Escort dispersed to make a sweeping cover upon the planet below.

I couldn't stand the whole red light glass and cursed edgy teens' need for choosing edginess over practicality. A disgruntled snarl echoed in the corners of my mind that I tactfully did not engage in. Ben can take a chillout going through my memories of adolescence and see the wonders of what being a chuunyibou in real life is actually like. Happy days.

Focus. The craft landed and out came in steam and fog were the First Order Stormtroopers followed by yours truly in a magnificent cape and dark attire like that of the Witch King. A Bad Ass appearance that our souls co-aligned and gave a stamp of approval. We love congratulating ourselves for healthy self care.

On to a planet that is Not-Tatooine (But it's distant cousin covered in scrap) my boots treaded the ground amid the horrified yells of civilians and loud yet curt orders of the troops to surround and capture with blue blast of stun rounds. Seeing oncoming red lights I wave my hand and call on the force halting them in mid-air. Sending a message and avoiding needless casualties.

Bad guy appearance giving it a four and a half which Ben in the back of head groused but couldn't deny Megamind's sage advice between a villain and supervillain.

Presentation!

Passing by the one trooper who had found the sage of whoever the fuck because who needs precise names when you can be mysterious. Seeing him stand out in the open putting on a brave front as martyr to the cause. I simply walked up to him as the fire went down as it finally dawned on them there were no casualties and thus confusion, trepidation and calming words from the elder relaying this was not what was expected.

Confusion, relief and a little undercurrent of hope was in the air. The Force tells all.

Jackshit...

So I walked to the man in front of me like it was a regular day in the neighborhood and I was here for brunch.

We stared at him, wondering if like the audience he was wondering what was behind the mask and how it would sound like.

"Would you happen to have Cassius?"

"...What?" He just avoided the slightest sputter.

"I feel like Cassius this time of day."

Pitch black darkness on an unoriginal desert planet.

And wouldn't you know it the man blinked and was getting back a bit of composure with cautious bemusement and curiosity. Kudos to him, no fear at all.

"You are here for something" Straight to the point.

Ohh I could feel like this was a telltale game choice of interaction. The only recourse was to reply.

"Oh yes, I am here to pick daisies, prance and sing lad-di-di-di-da what do you think I am here for" In the driest tone possible.

In a slow blink he just stared as if his whiskers were just pulled. In the distance I could hear a shocked laugh that tried to escape the mouth of a man in the darkness.

"...what has happened to you?" He tried to keep his tone bland with a quivering of emotions.

"Life. But time is short and we must all be merry for it." Laying my hand to the side. "Flyboy with his undersized joystick is certainly vigorous for his inadequacies."

A startled what before my hand pulled and Poe Dameron came flying out of the dune shadow and at my feet. "Oh good. I'm taking you home" Motioning my fingers two stormtroopers took the rebel pilot up front and I walked to the shuttle with them in the trail.

"Be-"

"I made my choice." I stopped. A moment.

"You can't deny the truth of your family."

I laughed.

"My Family is a Shadow of Itself."

I marched.

Captain Phasma was at my side, curious.

"Sir, what shall we do with them?"

"Leave them. Waste of a blaster."

We entered the shuttle. The ships moved and left.

_

Breathing. That is what Ben or rather my new memories were sorting it out as we traveled through space and onto the Star Destroyer. Never bothered with the name as it would be deemed irrelevant in due time. Breathing. Like an echo of a far off cave that was the cortex of our shared existence coming to placate us to focus into the perspective we needed. Walk while breathing. The way of wolves.

We had the beginnings of one as we entered the interrogation chamber, took a seat and interviewed a fighter pilot.

"Comfortable?"

The face of Oscar Isaac had his famous shivered pulled lip slightly to mark his disposition.

"Why am I here?"

"Hot shot starfighter rebel vs masked scary man in a dark room in a mental verbal fight for the fate of the galaxy. The usual drama."

That got a confused shocked chortle of a half chuckle.

"I..hehe, didn't know the First Order had a sense of humor."

"Join us, we have cookies."

That got a laugh. A genuine laugh out of him.

"If this how you interrogate someone it certainly is an improvement over usual methods or am I just special"

I simply raised my head.

"You are her Favorite."

That got him to still. Confusion and…concern hidden in those emotions.

"Excuse me?"

"You are Poe Dameron, hero of the Resistance and the legacy of Rogue Squadron," A brief dramatic pause. "You are a good man fighting against despotism while learning the burdens of command in a mostly uncaring and vapid galaxy that is undeserving of you, your comrades and lineage of valiant honor in a deluge of the vulgarism of contradicting melancholic tomfoolery."

Silence.

Then.

"I have no idea what to say to any of that"

I shrugged.

"Fake it till you make it"

Poe Dameron gave a shocked laugh.

"This has to be the weirdest interrogation I have ever experienced"

"Life has its surprises until it doesn't."

Sensing the mood was taking a more somber note with my expression of feelings into the force making the room slightly colder Poe just looked curiously at me.

"I know about the map, you know about the map and who it leads to. The question is whether that person is who you think it is."

Poe adopted a more defiant look with a bit of curiosity. Props to him he had training in these sorts of things but not against force mind pushes. Thank you Leia.

"The map is beyond your reach, it has come into contact with the Resistance and your plan will fail."

"Good." He did his best to look nonchalant but there was a hint of fear due to my glibness. "Will you ask for the Jedi or the Pilot?"

Poe Dameron blinked. Blinked again. Yeah there were some gaps in the training because thank you JJ for being overindulgent with nostalgic blundering.

"I'm sorry what?"

I immediately clammed down on the obvious response as I inwardly sucked in my breath. Focus. Indulgence for curious plot prodding entanglements will do no good as that way leads to the call.

"Advice for the future, if you have one"

Poe straightened up.

"Such a shame," He drawled as though we were on the starting familiar ground "We were having such a fun conversation." Bravado in the face of torture. Classic Hero.

"Can you act broken?"

Wonderment replaced the defiant gaze.

"Can I do what?"

I stood up and came over to him like it was a day in the park.

"A brief improvisation that I will provide and apologies in advance" My gloved hand went over his head.

"Wait what-"

_

Exiting the Interrogation room while a dazed drained face looking rebel pilot held up by two stormtroopers escorted him to the cell-blocks gave no positive or negative expression to form on the adjutant face as he stood at my attention.

"Report" A command, a polite request and certainty of a weather report.

"Our men have successfully acquired the droid alongside the object and person you requested my lord,"

"Did the plan work?"

The adjutant had a curious look of slight bewilderment that was flecked in the eyes that only a very observant person could see. This man was certainly wasted in this reality.

"Yes"

"You have my permission to give voice to any concern you may have."

The man blinked and the slight impulse to learn his name was crushed by my pragmatism and Ben's leftover darkness of not disdain per say but disinterest in non-force people. I will put off talking to him about fantastic ableism when we get out of this.

"The..unorthodoxy of your approach confounds me with respect sir"

"The fact that I suggested or that against all logical reasons it worked?"

This is the problem when you have competing writers with big egos in the room where it happens. Reality is a zig-zag yo-yo in a triage with a slinky and a broken kaleidoscope torch that people living here cannot decide what is sensible or not sensible and only when said reality bends over backwards to accommodate you then it is sensible.

To explain in layman's terms: Last Jedi Anyone?

To his credit the adjutant continued.

_

Rey expected a normal day, a normal day of hauling scrap out of dead machines of destruction to sell for sustenance of her life here. She hadn't expected a quirky and quite cute ball of a droid to follow her where she went. She had expected the usual dreg of go out, get scrap, sell scrap for food, watch an old lady being downtrodden with the terrible thought that would be her one day, if only someone would come. If only her par..

No, stop it, no point discussing that. Got to get back to work. Maybe someone will pick up the droid and to her inner shame she had wished no-one would come. Then she would be alo– no can't think that now. Got to-

Stormtroopers. The First Order. Alarmed beats that caused concern.

And then..the most curious thing happened to her on the second most strangest out of the ordinary day.

One Stormtrooper went forward, blaster sheathed and gave an open hand signal of peace. He stopped one foot from her, raised his hands and lifted his helmut off his face.

And that was how she met FN-2817 who invited her and her droid with all protections under the law of rights and ownership. Giving insurance and the word that rang in her head.

The Word of Solo

_

I could scarcely believe it myself, I had coached the guy on using certain words and had thought about going myself once again but thinking of time dilation made our head hurt as the plot made a hash of this reality's planet time system and I didn't want to deal with it. I made a plan based on sentimentality and am surprised that it worked.

But I guess the First Order had no need to lie and BB must have certain confidence to get out of any situation. A conversation with him wouldn't trouble either of us at all.

Then again from memories Ben had good rapport with droids growing up.

The ones that were ignored and had remained true.

Still one could hardly be remiss in thinking of maudlin subjects as we stood in the hang way. My command of overseeing in person the deliberation of…what, hope, desire that I pulled every ounce of will to slam it down that shocked the wary part of Ben within us and then placed a hand to soothe the injured voice with compassion and forgiveness.

We will not be tethered.

I directed our eyes to the main attraction.

A squadron of Tie Fighters bringing a YT-1300 into the Star Destroyer.

Tenderness. Longing and Wistfulness filled our heart at the sight of the Millenium Falcon.

_

The thing about being a high level leader in the structure of a quasi Fascist Insurgent Group is that no one asks stupid questions when you give a warning wave and curt yet polite fuck off to whoever is asking except Supreme Leader. General Hux on the other hand..

"What possible use is this…whatever this is?" As we sat at the table of the Command Room where several underlings prepared dishes and meal.

"Theatre. Power Play and Being A Good Host." I shrugged my shoulders which somehow unnerved him slightly. "I believe it was obvious"

"I..can understand that" He said slowly, "I am just trying to ascertain as to whether..?"

"A point to be elucidate my vanity and ego trying to emulate my grandfather?"

The man who bore the face of Domhall Gleeson blinked from About Time blinked stupidly. I waved my hand to head off further words.

"Our guests are about to arrive."

A whoosh and in they came. I rose in greeting.

"We would be honored if you could join us"

The look on Han Solo's face was absolutely priceless.

_

I then took off my helmet. Breathed in and out. Opening our eyes to stare at a stilled yet hopeful smugglers face and the slightly mourn whine of Chewbacca. The frightened but mostly nervous Rey coming beside them with a certain stormtrooper and droid with him.

Honestly the suspense…

"Well, the food is not getting warmer" With a raised hand I motioned to empty seats, "Please sit."

It was surreal as they all sat down slowly, Solo more robotically as if he was relieving a little trauma experience which to be fair due to how the last time he was invited to a surprise meal by a tall dark metal man it didn't end well.

"Don't worry the food won't hurt you. Only poor company."

There, poignant and precise.

There was slight hesitation then Rey was the first to start eating and drinking, her eyes bright in curiosity and wonder like a child trying new things. It warmed our heart to bring such joy..

No, that path only leads to a pathetic ruin. She must've sensed something off as her head swirled lightly at the emotions and I breathed in to Centre ourselves in the force yet again.

"Ben" A question, both hopeful and pleading, longing and regret all tied up into that one word spoken from a father.

I turn towards him. He and Chewbacca were not touching their food.

"I prefer to be called by the name given to me by the Supreme Leader"

"That," the old man grounded his teeth. "Is not the name I gave you"

"The name I failed to live up to"

He recoiled and Chewie grunted.

"Don't patronize me uncle. I am well aware the sins I have accumulated since my inception into the dark side have disqualified me from the nobility of that august of titles," I paused briefly like the greatest of Orators.

"That Is. Hope." I enunciated at the end.

Everyone blinked at this. I took a glass.

"I am working on wordplay" Then I drank and set it down and ate food.

They were still processing the absurdity of the moment but before anyone can continue I turned to Rey.

"How is the food?" I spoke gently. She looked up with just a slight bit of mixture on her cheek and I pointed my finger on my face so that she would know. Blushing she wiped it off.

"It's good..it's wonderful" She nodded. "I never had this before." She stared at it as though it was the wonder of the universe.

"There is a lot more in the galaxy just like it, all waiting for someone who is curious".

"I'm sorry, who is this?" The captain asked. He still had the temerity. Let it never be said that Han Solo when faced with the bizarre didn't stop asking the serious questions.

"She is sitting opposite you Captain, has old age taken your manners this early?"

Chewbacca barked a shocked laugh while Han looked affronted, his face scrunched but before he could retort I said to her.

"Please excuse this scruffy looking nerfherder for his lack of tact," Han had a shocked, reminiscent look at that reminder and Chewie just sniggered slightly. "You think him being the partner of the Great Chewbacca would've given him better homeschooling in manners."

They both spluttered. The girl's face scrunched in confusion before going glazed eyed wonder.

"Your Captain Han Solo!"

The aforementioned man halted his confused, wrangled face of emotion then emoted a tired sigh.

"I was.."

I put down my utensils, the sound echoing in the chamber.

"My father." A statement.

All heads turned towards me, some in confusion, surprise then wonder while one was suddenly overwhelmed by an ocean of hope that swept over me in the force.

I was unmoved.

"When he wanted to be" I said flatly.

The old smuggler wilted. Wilted.

"I never meant to.."

"Life doesn't care what you meant, only what you do with the consequences when it arrives: intended or not."

This he could not stand and slammed his fist on the table. "We only tried to protect you"

"Too much Vader."

He had no words.

"How..?"

"Forceful revelations, curiosity and the path of Enlightenment. Take your pick and just say "The Force," I snarled. "Seems to be the default answer in our family"

Rey fidgeted and I pushed calming emotions over to the Force. She was most receptive. I gave a sad smile at her confusion.

"I apologize for that display and the discourtesy towards your persona," I laid my hand towards her. "Would you accept?"

She nodded, quite quickly at that. Didn't say a word though because I believe rightly that she was just confused to be swept up in a family drama she had no part in.

Slightly.

"Might I ask the name of my guest."

"Rey."

"Rey who?" If there was a sudden pop up I will rage qui-

"Just Rey."

"Well Just Rey," A little giggle from her and the old captain had the most befuddled expression. "I am known as Kylo Ren of the First Order, the name I was given at birth was Ben Solo and now…?" I waved my hands to the side.

"I am just me".

There was a pause in the room, the tables utensils half used and half not lay as silent as the thought process of an impactful moment.

It didn't last three seconds.

General Hux couldn't help but snort uncontrollably which garnered my interest because I wondered what was going through that man's head. He always seemed to be the guy who takes himself too seriously but then this was the first phase of time so what would I know.

It seemed to be the most opportune time for Solo to deflate, chuckle and rubbed his head to alleviate pressure. And opened his mouth.

"Heck of a time to get a sense of humor kid"

I shrugged.

"Too much Solo or Skywalker I wonder?"

That gave the old captain a bit of a pause to digest that statement. I turned towards the curious girl.

"Back to you now, the big question a lot of people throughout the galaxy and beyond have asked in their lives: are we defined by our choices or circumstances?"

She blinked then gave a thoughtful expression.

I prodded. With sound and the calm of the Force.

"You don't have to give me the answer I want, only the one that feels right to you"

"I guess..what a person chooses in those circumstances" She blinked and I felt…relief and disappointment in my thought experiment. In myself and…

She was laying her hand on mine.

I stared at it unblinkingly before with the greatest hesitation softly pulling away. I muted the spark that connects and steepled my hands together. Closing my eyes to the confused and the two hopefuls of the guest I breathed in and out. I opened my eyes to stare directly at her.

"That is an extremely wise euphemism that should be applied to all sentient beings in this plane of existence. Some more than others." I directed a gaze at Solo who looked pained, confused and a little bit angry at many things that I didn't want to delve into. I turned my gaze to Rey.

"Your father was a clone"

Silence…

"What?"

The doors opened and a medical droid came in with a datapad. Taking it I passed the tablet around the table, first to Hux who had gone white as pasty snow, Chewbacca who gawped, Han who was gob smacked as pucker fish and pale as a ghost and then to Rey. Who looked at it worryingly and blinked.

"Who is Palpatine?"

Silence…

Seriously?

_

It was an immediate command for everyone to return to chambers and cells as well as sequestering a girl in my private chambers with lights on that I had to explain to her in detail who Palpatine was.

Shock, denial, anguish, rage. The whole works and then…

"Remember what we discussed about circumstances and the choices we make in them" That cut into her emotional tantrum as she suddenly looked abashed with tints of shame.

"Sorry…Its just a lot to take in."

I waved a hand briefly. "It's not really that important in the long run and you are not in the vicinity of my grandfathers shadow"

She blinked uncertainty.

"Your grandfather..Darth Vader?"
I shrugged.

"People, mainly the common folk don't remember the aged, grandfatherly evil-looking, scarred, scary looking mother-kriffer who we all cannot believe he was allowed to kiss babies for public spectacle, took over the galaxy and then ran as the most evil overlord," I took a breath.

"Rather they believe my grandfather who was dressed as a black leather-bound death tractor action figure in the shape of an oversized mean looking dad joking pepper shaker as the scariest and most evil enforcer of said evil overlord and thus far more memorable to pin all the blame on."

Rey Palp-no she was immediately refusing that name! Cracked her mouth open, bawled over and laughed. Stress and a good joke really did a number on her. Either it was the force or sheer stubborn will she steadily got up. While she was busy I had procured myself water from the waiting droid I had summoned to the chamber.

I held a glass to her and she took it, drank it all in one gulp, coughed a little then stumbled a bit.

"Please sit, it's been a big day for all of us."

Taking my advice she sat on the bed as I took my seating position with a chair. I laid back and stretched my legs outwards and took in her state. I wondered if my actions bended the force or the confused writers behind the tapestry of reality were pulling their hair out at this utter trashfire the script was going through.

Scowling inwardly I put those thoughts away, not important for long..

"Its just…How am I supposed to make sense of this?" She looked up, eyes beseeching at me. "What is my place in the Galaxy"

"Do you need others to tell you what your place is, or do you make your own?" I queried. She blinked at that.

"Home is not where you are from, it is where you belong. Some of us travel the whole Galaxy to find it. Others, to find in a person or people." I said with the greatest gravitas. I held my knees and steepled my hands together. "Remember these words: You are never alone for the Force is with you, always"

She stared at me for a long time. She blinked slowly.

"What is the Force?"

I smiled and spoke words that tutored an entire generation.

"The Force is an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the Galaxy together."

She looked..more calm now and I could feel the emotions were like ice water in a humid day. Bringing life and sustenance to a person dying of thirst.

She was also looking like a drought looking Tantuan.

"Youre tired." I nodded sympathetically.

"I'm..not.." A yawn moved out of her.

"Rest here," I stood up. "It's been a long day for all of us and we both need recovery." I went to the door and it slid open. "Attendants will provide for you when requested as we land."

Rey had seemingly lost all strength in sitting up and just slouched down, tiredness and eagerness to sleep generated from her form.

"Where?"

I stilled just outside the doorway.

"Destiny"

The doors slid shut behind me as I walked to my personal Meditation Room aka the Idol Shrine. There to lament and speak to ruined helmet of a skull.

Might as well as do the Yorick Joke while I am here.

_

Authors Note: Semi Crack with Seriousness.