CHAPTER ONE: THE JAKKU INCIDENT – PART ONE

Ben Solo brought the Nevermore out of hyperspace, watching as the Outer Rim planet of Jakku came into view. This was his first glimpse of it, and he looked over at his older sister Jaina, shaking his head slightly. "Mom thinks we're going to find the maps to the First Order outposts and factories here on this sandbox? I am so sick of sand after that whole… ordeal… on Tatooine."

Jaina let a smile play on her lips as she remarked to her brother, "By ordeal, are you referring to the time when you were almost captured by Tusken Raiders and your older, kind and capable sister had to rescue you? I can see why you would be sick of sand after that, seeing as I recall you picking sand out of various orifices on your body for a few weeks afterwards. It could have been worse, you know. Jacen could have been there instead of me."

Ben rolled his eyes dramatically. "I'd still be tied up in one of their huts if Jacen had been there – but only because he would think it was funny or something." He navigated the ship into Jakku air space, answering the hailing frequency and waiting for them to get clearance to land at the Niima Outpost. Once given, he guided the Corellian light freighter to the appointed dock, waiting for his sister before opening the door and stepping out into the oppressive heat of Jakku. Giving BB-11 instructions to secure and monitor the ship, Ben looked at Jaina before heading into the small market.

"Where is Ebon supposed to be meeting us? There's not much in this sandbucket, is there?" Ben glanced over at his sister, reaching out with the Force to look for any danger. Not expecting to find anyone here who was Force sensitive, Ben was surprised as he sensed someone, someone with fledgling powers that hadn't yet been refined or trained.

People who weren't trained in using the Force could be dangerous once their powers started blossoming. Looking at Jaina, Ben thought to his sister through the Force – "Jai… can you feel it? Someone here is Force sensitive, though I don't think they know it. Uncle Luke will want to talk to them."

"Agreed," Jaina said out loud, sending out her own wave of the Force to search for any other obstacles they might encounter on their mission. Sensing nothing but heat and despair, Jaina shrugged at her brother before starting to make her way through the small market to the makeshift trading post.

As they made their way through the small crowds of scavengers and hired thugs, Ben sensed someone watching him. Turning his head slightly, his eyes met a girl's, her brown eyes curious, yet full of fear as she quickly looked down at the ground, the pitcher in her hand all but forgotten for a moment as she tried to catch her breath. Her face flushed, a lovely pink accenting the skin kissed hues as she spun around, quickly making her way to a table of laughing, jeering men. As Ben watched, one of them reached out, his hand finding the girl's rear before squeezing it roughly.

"Ben?" He heard his sister, his eyes turning to Jaina's for a moment, his voice low and full of anger as he said, "Sorry, Jai. Watching those thugs manhandle that poor girl." Lifting his chin towards where the girl was now pouring from the pitcher into one of the man's glasses, Ben waited for his sister to take in the scene as well. Jaina frowned before remarking , "She's unfortunately probably a slave, Ben. Not much we can do – these Outer Rim savages can get pretty defensive over their slaves. It wouldn't be any help to start a fight, brother." Knowing his sister was right, Ben nodded after another moment of silent observation before following her once more. They had a mission to complete, after all.