Rey still felt unerved after her dream, she couldn't get back to sleep. Chills ran down her spine and the words of her heros still echoed in her mind. For some reason, her hand still tingled, as if still feeling the cloth of Ben's cloak as an afterthought. As she clenched and unclenched her fist, it stung, as if she had recently punched something hard but she couldn't see any form of injury.
The young woman contemplated if a small walk along the ship's halls might settle her nerves, in the weeks since Han's death there was still much of the Millenium Falcon that she had yet to uncover. However, she resigned to sitting in the copilot's seat besides Chewbacca. A casual stroll through the ship would have caused chaos with the large number of people currently inhabiting the old ship.
Although Leia's crew has suffered many casualties, over 50 people had survived making for rather cramped living quarters. Not only that, it had been a week since they had escaped the First Order's assault and since then the Millennium Falcon had yet to lend. Fuel and food were both a problem and the reek of 50-odd bodies in that time had accumulated in the confined space. Fear and anguish also left an underlying aroma making for a rather unpleasant perfume. The residences' spirits had been quelled in their last retreat, when not a single Resistance ship had headed their call for help. Their flame had dwindled to almost extinction. They needed the spark, but that couldn't be from Leia and Rey alone.
"We need to find a place to land," whispered Rey to Chewbacca, as she swiped across the holographic map before her.
Chewbacca roared, "Yes, I am aware we don't have enough fuel to reach hyperspace." Rey scolded as her eyes scanned the list of planets- most she didn't recognise and the few she did were most likely under First Order rule. This realisation left a sour taste in her mouth.
It was then that her eyes fell on a familiar name.
"Rattatak…" she whispered as her finger hovered over the planet, according to the navigation system they had just flown past it's atmosphere.
Chewbacca gave a discouraging howl.
"I'd have to agree with the wookiee on this one." Rey almost jumped, as General Organa's whispered voice reached her.
"General!" she exclaimed.
"Couldn't sleep?" asked Leia, as she slowly made her way to Chewbacca's side, even in her tired and old state, in a thorn and dirty uniform, Leia still emitted an aura that deserved respect and authority.
"Dreams." Rey vaguely answered, she didn't think the woman would take kindly of her having dreams about her estranged son.
"Yes," Leia took the seat behind Chewbacca, as if she had claimed it as her own long ago. "Those can be both a burden and a gift."
A sadness filled the woman's voice and Rey couldn't help wonder, this woman had been in this situation so long and had lost everything in the progress, from her planet to her love to her brother and yet, even through all that, she never lost a single ounce of her hope and determination. How?
"My dear, if you are suggesting Rattatak as our landing destinatination I would severely discourage the idea." Leia said, changing the subject. "That place has a long history with the Sith from before my father's time."
Her father, Darth Vader. The thought lingered in Rey's mind for a moment before she spoke.
"Growing up I had been told the stories of Asajj Ventress and Count Dooku," Rey began to scroll slowly upwards on the map as she continued. "It was such a popular story because Rattatak wasn't too far from Jakku, the planet I was raised."
"Jakku," Leia said the word slowly, as if weighing its possible uses. "Neither side has claimed that planet since the battle of Jakku."
"Yes, since then is has been considered a near useless planet so neither side need it, so it might be the ideal spot for the Resistance to get back on its feet."
Leia pondered Rey's words for some time. "Ben is aware that this planet is your home, is he not? Would he not think to search for you there?"
Rey shook her head, "I may have lived on the planet most of my life but I never considered it my home. Ben knows I would never return to it, given the choice."
"And we aren't given any, it seems." Leia gave a small smile.
"Chewie, do we have enough fuel to get to Jakku?"
Chewbacca growled and raised his hairy paws.
"So stop complaining and set a course, " she winked at Rey. "This place is really starting to smell, if you ask me."
Jakku was a full day's travel and Chewie's landing of the vessel was a pure feat of wonder, having pulled it off with the barest amount of fuel remaining.
"I never thought I'd return to this place." Finn said from the cockpit, where he stood between Poe and Rey, looking out over the vast mass of red sand before them.
"Not the pleasantest memories, if you ask me." said Poe, bitterly. "No offence, Rey."
"None taken," She replied, her eyes still wondering over the unchanging desert.
BB-8 twirled into the room, beeping gleefully.
"He's right though, this is where I met Finn and BB." Rey gave both a small smile.
"Sure is!" though Fin gave her a somewhat awkward smile, his eyes momentarily wondered to the med bunk, where Rose was still lying unconscious. Rey didn't have to look into the Force to realise something had changed within her friend, but hopefully for the better.
"Rey, where did you have us land?" Asked Leia, scanning the nothingness before them, "I don't see any cities or towns."
Rey gave a bitter smile, "No, those are some distance off,."
When the doors of the Millenium Falcon creaked open, all the Resistance fighters capable of moving ran out, enjoying their first breath of fresh air in over a week. The sand radiated heat after a long day but the sun was near the horizon, casting large shadows of the Fallen Teeth range over the land.
While the rest of the crew stretched their weary feet and enjoyed the warmth, Rey walked away from the setting sun where, a few meters away, a single structure obscured the vast desert land- an AT-AT Walker toppled on its side. It was hard to believe that barely three weeks had passed since the last time she had set foot within it. Everything seemed to be how she left it, the Teedo hadn't dared raid it until they were certain she wouldn't return.
Three weeks… that how long she could stay away from this cursed planet.
A series of beeps pulled her out of her thoughts. "You're right BB-8, it hasn't changed a bit since we left."
"Wait, you lived in an AT-AT?" Poe's accented voice came from behind Rey.
She didn't turn around as she answered, walking towards the foot of the machine, that loomed a good head taller than her, "Jakku was the sight of a great war many decades ago, the leftover machines of both sides litter this place."
"You should really see the Starship Graveyard, it's totally epic!" chirped in Finn, excitedly, "you should have seen the three of us escape the First Order through it!"
Rey knelt on the warm sand as she dug into the base of the machine and pushed a hidden button. A door fell to the ground with a thump, revealing an entrance.
"I get the impression your time here wasn't the easiest." Leia's soft voice came from right beside her as she felt a reassuring hand on Rey's shoulder.
"I did what I had to to survive," said Rey, as I waited for the parents that never came. She didn't say that last part out loud.
Brushing the sand from her knees she turned to face the survivors, those that had dismounted the Falcon were slowly wondering towards the AT-AT Walker as if afraid it might rise and shoot at them.
"It isn't much." She yelled to the crowd, "but we can rest here, tomorrow, before dawn, we can head to the Niima Outpost, stock up on supplies."
The crowd wearily cheered and slowly the sun began to vanish. The AT-AT walker probably never had so many lanterns lit at once, in all the years Rey had lived within it alone, she had never used more than one at a time but, that evening, all were lit.
Rey wouldn't describe the Resistance as jubilant, they were battered and tired and worn-out but she could now see that spark in their eyes, the joy of being alive another night and able to see the stars above them. They divided what remained of the food and water amongst themselves. From within her home, Rey pulled out a medium sized barrel of water, one she had been saving in case a sand storm prevented her from heading to the Outpost. So relieved were the Resistance fighters with it none even bothered mention it's stale aftertaste.
From the walker and the Falcon blankets were distributed amongst the weary men and women, although the desert night was bitterly chilly, most prefered to sleep outside in the fresh air that evening. Most were already asleep as Rey sat in her makeshift nest within the AT-AT, in her hand she held her little doll made of scraps of material. How often had she pretended that doll was a Jedi sent to save her? How strange it now felt to her, now that she possessed such astounding powers herself.
"I remember Luke once had one of these when he was younger." Rey looked up, unsurprised to see the old general looming over her. For a second Rey thought she was referring to the doll, until she realized Leia was holding her rebel helmet. It's white and orange paint was scraped and peeling and its protective glass was cracked beyond use.
"I used to pretend I was a pilot when I was young, " Rey gave Leia a whimsical look, "and that I'd someday fly away from this planet."
With her free hand, Leia traced the white lines that had been scraped into the wall, thousands upon thousands of lines, each one representing a day spent on Jakku, would Rey have to add another scrape in the morning?
"It took much courage for you to suggest we take refuge her." Leia commented.
Rey shrugged, " it was the best option."
"In more ways than one."
"What do you mean?"
"If my memory serves, the Galactic Empire had a base on this planet, as well as an imperial weapons facility, right?"
"Yes, that's right." said Rey, absentmindedly. "They're found beyond the Graveyard, but very few scavengers go there because they say some of the weapons might still be armed."
"That's some of the best news I've heard in awhile." Leia said, causing Rey to raise an eyebrow. "Think about it Rey... what if we could make the base operational once again? Scavenge this old battlefield for weapons and machines…?"
"You're thinking of turning Jakku into a base for the Resistance?" Rey finished, understanding the general's trail of thought.
"Do you have any objections?" countered Leia, putting the helmet down on the floor.
"No," Rey finally answered, "it's good to see this planet come to some use."
So that's the second chapter done :D hope you're liking the story so far and feel free to leave a review about the good, the bad and the meh ;) I'll try update ASAP but until then, may the Force be with you all! - LunaPendragon