SPECULATION The Great Mystery Revealed

UPDATED THEORY:


I think that Snoke has access to an ancient Sith weapon (and maybe other teachings secrets). One of which is this "force draining" technique which was in the original ANH script and has later resurfaced in Aftermath. Many years ago, likely in between the events of TPM and AOTC, Palpatine excavated a site on Jakku (that itself was once a fertile planet until it seems the Sith did something there that destroyed it) of great significance. I believe that he discovered this force drain power and a way he could militarise this draining technique (thus reversing the canon effect of force trees that strengthen peoples connection to the Force). Well, either he discovered it or he used the site (Bane's first Sith temple) to build it. Whatever, he's got this force drain weapon thing.

Anyway, I believe that Rey's parents served the Empire and were stationed at the imperial research facility that was built on top of this excavation site. Her parents knew what was at the site. Then some years later, the Battle of Jakku takes places. The facility is destroyed by the Imperials themselves. Rey's parents are betrayed by the Empire and are left on Jakku. And whatever was on Jakku is taken away by the Imperials who later become the FO of course under Snoke. So Snoke has this weapon.

11 years later and Rey is born on Jakku - a planet that has a strong Force presence (canon - hence why Church of the Force are there). Now either Rey's parents were affected by this Force weapon (which had been actively draining Force power from the planet as the Sith had done under Bane 1000 years ago hence why the planet is "dead) and the release of Force power has an impact on Rey during conception/in the womb OR it simply made those who came in contact with it powerful in the Force thus her parents handed their power down to her. Whatever, something has made Rey very powerful. Dangerously so. (Also note how the flower grows inside Rey's AT-AT - signifying the return of the Force or her own incredible connection to it)

Rey's parents, now unaligned with the Empire they once served and concerned about their daughters (immense power) seek out answers - they need the help of Luke Skywalker, the only known Jedi. So they send a signal to Luke and he goes to Jakku to meet them. They provide Luke with the information about the weapon and also tell him about Ahch-To. They learned about this place from their time in the imperial facility and that it holds the key to defeating this force weapon. Luke meets Rey and realises her power. He realises how dangerous she is and so puts a mental block on her powers. He then leaves and tells her parents not to awaken the Force in her (hence Luke is a myth). Luke then goes off and spends the next decade or so searching for Snoke/The weapon and Ahch-To and enlists the help of Lor San Tekka. A few years after Luke met Rey though, and her parents have been discovered by the FO. They have to flee the planet and so they leave Rey with Unkar Plutt (a nasty guy but someone they know has the run of Jakku and will protect the girl in some way).

The FO capture or kill Rey's parents.

Then Ben Solo turns to the Dark Side and destroys Luke's Jedi students. But during this time, Luke is away from the temple, as orchestrated by Ben and Snoke. Luke is lead into a trap and during his last communication with Leia (which is cut short by radiation interference according to Bloodline) he is attacked by Snoke and the Force drain weapon. Now what this exactly does I am not sure, but it basically severely weakens Luke. He manages to get away and then discovers what Ben Solo has done. He has to act fast and so goes searching for Ahch-To - where he believes an ancient Force tree can return his strength and/or there is knowledge in the first Jedi temple in how to defeat this ancient Sith weapon (Snoke knows this hence why he truly fears Luke's return). But when Luke gets there the tree is dead. He finds nothing and is lost. Lost that is until the Force brings Rey to Luke - a new hope for the Jedi...

This theory explains:

-Rey's power.
-Why Luke is away and didn't return.
-Why San Tekka is on Jakku (he knew this is where Rey's parents found out about Ahch-To and is seeking it out himself).
-Why the map to Ahch-To could be found on Jakku.
-Why Rey's parents disappeared and their connection to Luke.
-Why Snoke fears Luke.

This will also lead to conflict between Rey and Luke because of what he did to her but also because he failed her parents. She will also feel hatred towards the FO for killing her family or perhaps they are alive and Ren can help her out? It will also mean that Rey's power is dangerous. It's beyond anything we have seen before because of its unnatural origins. This will cause conflict for her but also make her skirt dangerously close to the Dark Side.

EDIT: Toying with the idea that Luke went to Jakku again after the jedi massacre but couldn't find Rey or her parents. This is where he leaves a fraction of the map for Lor San Tekka to discover later on.

 

It wasn't ready. It was still being constructed.

In Aftermath it describes how force draining could provide Sith with extended lives. My view is that Palpatine knew of this technique but sought the ultimate power of dominance over the force itself. We also know he sought out the source of the dark side. My view is that he was attempting to weaponise this force power to he could contain and harness the force as well as taking it from any planets or people that threatened him. The Death Star was his weapon that would keep systems in line but the real desire was for a force weapon that could make him
A God.

I believe Snoke was once a good guy who made a deal with the devil to keep himself alive. This in some way ties in with this force draining idea. I wonder if Snoke really is the walking dead and requires to constantly drain force power from places and people to remain alive. Once Luke is dead and the dark side reigns, Snoke will face no opposition and wield the entirety of the dark side of the force. He won't just crush Ren, he'll take his power first.

 

Don't be absurd. We all know Snoke is Plagueis.

 

#SnokeIsPlagueisIsPalpatineIsVoldermortConfirmed.

 

But it says in the opening crawl that LST discovered the map on Jakku. It also words this more strongly in the novel if my memory serves me right.
So therefore we have LST on Jakku and the map to his old friend being there etc...

 

Interesting - so it is making a clear connection to Rey...

Now let's consider what Aftermath has primarily been about - the building of the FO with Gallius Rax as the main player in that.
It is of course building up to the Battle of Jakku which will involve the retreat of the Imperials with this secret weapon/whatever Palpatine discovered there.
And so if it ties all that in with Rey, I think there is a point to be made about the direct connection between her origins and this super secret thingy on Jakku.