They were nobodies. That's what Ben had called them. Nobody was nobody, everyone had a purpose. Everyone had a reason for existing. Rey had no idea what her parents purpose was. They were drunks, buried in pauper's graves on Jakku. Ben sounded so sure of himself when he told her, but hadn't she already exhausted all those possibilities? There were records, albeit poorly kept records, of pauper's burials on the desert planet. If her parents were there, buried deep within the desert sands—or otherwise—Rey would know. She would sense it.
"You're wrong." Rey finally responded. "They weren't nobodies." She argued. She glared at Ben, in that moment he was Krlo Ren. He was set on hurting her, manipulating her.
"Who, then, would leave their child stranded in a desert junk yard?" Kylo pulled at her emotions. He cupped his gloved hand around her ckeek, masking his powers of manipulation as affection.
"My parents fought with the most important people in the rebellion." Rey mused. "They were brave. They were so much more than you will ever be." Rey started. The story of her parents that she told herself was of Rebellion heroes. They fought for what they believed in. She didn't know if the story even had a shred of the truth, but it helped her cope with the abandonment she felt. She saw the corner of Ben's mouth twitch, fighting the urge to smile. Kylo wanted her to tell him more, and that was precisely why she didn't say another word. She had already said too much.
The planet was dissolving around them as they knelt on the beach, helpless and alone. They were sure to die. There was no escaping once the planet killer began its attack. Jyn looked longingly at Cassian. They hardly knew each other, and yet there was an odd connection between them. Jyn could feel it. The air trembled between them, drawing them together. Chirrut would have called it the Force. Chirrut also would have been able to find a way out of this mess. Jyn close her eyes tightly against the bright light filling the planet. As the radition from the planet killer warmed her face, it occurred to her—they could escape.
She grabbed Cassian's hand and began to chant, "I am one with the force the force is with me." She repeated herself, believing the words she said more and more. She felt her body leave solid ground. The heat on her face intensified to the point htat it was barely tolerable and then everything got cold. The light on her eyelids changed, tempting her to open them and look around.
If this is death, it is pleasant. She thought. She felt Cassian squeeze her hand. She carefully opened her eyes. Cassian was kneeling beside her, just as he was on the beach. He looked confused.
"We escaped." He whispered in disbelief. Jyn nodded. "You used the force and we escaped." Cassian was ecstatic. Jyn was confused. Elated that her attempt worked, she realized instantly what survival meant for her and Cassian. They weren't meant to survive. It was supposed to be a suicide mission. She knew that. Cassian knew it, too. That's why a group of nobodies rallied and went to Scarif without approval. They were meant to be sacrificed. They were not part of the Princess' plan, just willing pawns in the bigger picture.
"We weren't supposed to survive." She started. "We're nobodies. Nobodies don't survive." Jyn pointed out. Cassian laughed, a hearty almost manic sound. She joined in because they had beat the odds and prevailed. But now what? Where were they?