Author's Notes: Thank you for reading!
Interviewer: So, the base is buzzing about your bet with Master Skywalker.
Poe: Yeah, it's a pretty hot topic [shrugs] and it's good for morale. [turns to look at Finn] Plus, I think my boyfriend thinks it's pretty hot.
Finn: [stares into the camera and smiles awkwardly]
Interviewer: Yes, there's been lots of bets placed. Seems split down the middle. Except for Jessica and Snap. I believe they bet against you.
Poe: [eyebrows shoot up] Me? They bet against me? [mutters] Those [bleep] traitors...
Interviewer: How about you, Finn? Did you place any bets?
Finn: [purses lips] No. Nope. Sure didn't. [shakes his head] I don't gamble.
Poe: [gazes at Finn] Except with his heart.
Finn: You're cheesy. [rolls his eyes but looks pleased]
Interviewer: Any predictions?
Finn: Well, there are so many variables. I mean, as long as they both stay safe—that's the outcome I want.
Poe: Aw... [stares dreamily at Finn]
Interviewer: How about you, Poe?
Poe: [quirks his head] I think I'll do very well.
Interviewer: Do you think you'll win?
Poe: [bites his lip] I don't wanna brag or anything but [grins] a custom-made lightsaber on my Starfighter will be really sweet.
Finn: [closes his eyes and sighs loudly]
[The ship's alarm stops abruptly. Cam is thankful, though the lights are still flashing red. Rey leads the group quickly, or as quickly as she can with a drunk Senator being half-carried through the halls of the ship. There's a loud BANG and ship lurches. Light fixtures shatter above them.]
Digna: [screams and looks like she may throw up again]
C-3PO: What was that?
Connix: We're taking on fire from the Star Destroyer!
C-3PO: [wails] We're all going to die!
Rey: We are not going to die! This ship's shields can sustain several of those hits—
[There's another blast, then a horrible crunching sound. Above them, a huge chunk of ceiling collapses. Rey grabs Cam and leaps out of the way. When the dust clears, Cam and Rey are separated from the rest of the group by a wall of debris. Connix's face comes into view through a hole in the wreckage.]
Connix: Rey! Don't worry! We'll get you out.
[Connix and the others begin frantically clawing at the debris. A loud blast rocks the ship again.]
Rey: No! No, there's no time! [shakes her head and coughs] Get to the shuttle and get the hell out of here!
Connix: But you! The General!
Rey: There are escape pods on this ship. Let the Admiral know we'll make for the planet. [tries to smile] We'll be fine! Now GO!
[Rey's smile slips from her face as she watches them leave.]
Rey: [purses her lips and nods once] We'll be fine, Cam.
[They backtrack quickly and almost reach the door when it slides open and standing there, unmasked is...]
Rey: Kylo! [snatches her lightsaber]
Kylo: Rey! Thank the Force. [glances at the camera] Cam! You guys are okay.
Rey: I...yes. [looks confused] What—
Kylo: You. My mother. I knew you would be here.
Rey: Then why didn't the Finalizer intercept us?
Kylo: [shakes his head] Are you serious? It...Isn't it clear? [runs a hand through his hair] [it looks magnificent.] I had to make sure you and my mother were safe.
Rey: I-I don't understand.
[Another blast strikes the ship. The walls rattle dangerously.]
Kylo: There's no time for explanations. We have to find my mother and get off this ship! Come on.
[They run down the hall, with Rey glancing up at Kylo every few seconds like she can't believe her eyes. They reach the bridge but it's deserted.]
Rey: She—She was right here!
Cam: [panicked beeping] {Maybe she escaped on one of the pods!}
Kylo: [dashes back out into the hallway, eyes searching] No. She's still on the ship. I can feel it.
[Then Kylo spins around and makes a startled choking sound. It's Leia, standing there, her face pale. She's staring at her son.]
Leia: Ben...
[Kylo swallows, his expression pained. She takes a step forward. Kylo's hand shoots out. A door next to a window slides open to one of the escape pods. He swings his arm down and Leia's in the air, sailing toward it. The moment she's inside, the door slams shut. There's a hiss and the pod shoots out into space.]
Rey: What?! [runs to the window] What did you just do?
[Kylo's hand is still raised, trembling. His face is sweating—beads forming around his forehead.]
Kylo: [struggles] Rey, please, I need your help. [blinks sweat from his eyes] My mother...she needs to reach the Falcon.
[Rey's mouth drops even wider. Then she snaps it shut and raises her hand like Kylo's.]
Rey: Where...I don't see it. [begins to panic] I don't know where to guide her.
Kylo: Just follow my lead. I can find the Falcon with my eyes closed.
[For 5.2 seconds, they both stand there, frozen, arms raised, faces in deep concentration. Cam gazes out the window, its lens buzzing as it zooms out. The pod is a tiny dot, sailing through darkness, barely dodging laser fire. Then the Millennium Falcon is there, scooping it up. Kylo groans and slumps against a wall.]
Kylo: She's safe.
[Rey opens her mouth but just then, there's another boom and ship rocks to the side. A loud, metallic groan echoes deep inside the ship.]
Kylo: We have to go! We'll get on my ship and—
Rey: Is that it right there? [points out the window]
[Just outside, a TIE fighter is listing to the side, slowly floating away.]
Kylo: [raises his hand] I can—
[A red plasma beam pierces the side of it. It explodes spectacularly.]
Kylo: [whispers] Son of a bitch!
Rey: [glances at the camera] Okay...escape pod it is.
[They sprint to the end of the hall. A light fixture drops, clipping Cam on the side. The droid spins. When it finally steadies itself, Rey and Kylo are already several meters away. It chases after them. The walls begin to crumple, the metal beams snapping as the ship tears itself apart. Cam can only watch helplessly as Rey and Kylo climb into an escape pod, knowing it's too far for it to make it in time.]
[Kylo looks up, eyes searching until he sees Cam. He raises a hand and suddenly Cam is zipping toward them faster than its ever moved before. It flies inside the pod and Kylo catches it. Rey slaps a button and seals them in. There's a rumbling pop, then they're hurtling into space.]
[Immediately, they're weightless. Rey and Kylo buckle themselves in. Cam struggles to hover properly. Rey clips the droid to the seat. The pod glides smoothly at first, heading toward the bright, tan planet. The moment they hit the atmosphere, the pod jerks violently, red fire licking at the small, round windows.]
Kylo: [grunts] [yells over the roar] Well, this is fun!
Cam: [beeps loudly] {This may be an inopportune time but there's something I need to tell you.}
Kylo: Inopportune time? [the pod shakes even harder] What makes you think that?
Cam: {Rey performed a routine diagnostics on me. Somehow she unknowingly accessed some of your footage.}
Kylo: [stares into the camera for 4.2 seconds] THE [BLEEP]?!
Cam: {I assure you, it was an accident.}
Kylo: [grits out] What did she see?
Rey: [says in a rush] Nothing, really. I saw you flipping off that horrible—what-his-name—General...Lux—Fux—I don't know. There was footage of us facing off in the temple. In any case...it was my fault! I'm so sorry. Please don't blame Cam.
[Rey peers up at Kylo, her signature puppy eyes on full, glorious display. Kylo doesn't stand a chance. He stares at her in a daze. He swallows once and blushes. His hands fidget on the safety harness around his shoulders.]
Kylo: Uhhh... [almost smiles] it's okay.
[Rey smiles shyly in return. Kylo's eyes widen. He fidgets even more—rubbing his knees, double checking his lightsaber, running his hand through his hair. Cam silently praises Rey for saving its ass.]
[The fire recedes from the windows and the pod is filled with beige, golden light. Then there's a heavy yanking sensation as the parachute deploys. Everyone jerks in their seats. Kylo peers out the window.]
Kylo: We'll hit the ground soon. It'll be rough.
Rey: The planet's barren but it does have oxygen.
Kylo: [corner of his mouth quirks] My mother plans for everything.
Rey: [makes a face] Your mother planned for us to crash land on a desolate planet?
Kylo: No. But it's no coincidence that your ship came out of hyperspace next to a habitable planet. [looks out the window again] A back up plan, if you will.
Rey: [shrugs] You're right...your mother does plan for everything. It's really quite...
Kylo: Impressive?
Rey: [smiles] Frightening.
Kylo: [nods and laughs softly] Yeah. I can see that.
[Cam's lens flickers back and forth between them. They're quiet again, the light moment passed. Now it's tense, awkward. Humans really are disasters.]
[The pod hits the ground with a jarring thud. Kylo winces. Rey groans, rubbing her shoulders. They take a moment to catch their breaths, then unbuckle themselves carefully. Kylo presses a button and the hatch pops open. A cloud of dust billows into the pod. Kylo turns to Rey, who's digging through a compartment, stuffing ration bars and water pouches into a small sack attached to her belt.]
Kylo: [raises an eyebrow] A fanny pack?
Rey: [narrows her eyes] Hey, don't judge. They're great. [glares] And you'll be pretty jealous when I have all this stuff and you don't.
Kylo: [bites back a smile] You mean you won't share?
Rey: Hell no.
Kylo: [snorts] Nice.
[He steps out of the pod and squints up at the sky. Rey sidles up next to him.]
Kylo: Actually, it's a good idea to bring all that. I have no idea how long we'll be here.
Rey: [takes in the barren landscape] Who do you think will arrive first? First Order or Resistance?
Kylo: Hard to say. It'll be better for you if it's the Resistance. [glances at her] Obviously.
Rey: But not better for you.
[Kylo shrugs.]
[The terrain is rocky and dusty and there's no shelter from the elements. They decide to make their way toward a range of jagged hills close by.]
[The walk is tedious and about ten minutes in, Rey starts to chat idly like she tends to do when bored or working on something. Cam wonders if she talked to herself when she was growing up, living alone on Jakku. Cam likes to listen to her. But Kylo—Kylo hangs on every word. He's staring at her with such rapt fascination that Cam wants to tell him to ease up. It's intense. Rey catches his eye and blushes.]
Rey: [looks down] Sorry. I sometimes just...talk without even realizing it. Just...habit, I guess.
Kylo: [shakes his head and looks away] No. I...it doesn't bother me. It's, uh, it's a nice distraction.
[Rey glances away, smiling softly. Kylo tears his eyes away from her then promptly stumbles over a rock. Cam wants to power down and skip this entire mess.]
[They reach the hills in 56 minutes, scrabbling over large boulders, searching for a place to rest. They find a spot, tucked away between two massive slabs of rock. Kylo takes a seat on a flat piece of stone. He fidgets as he tries to get comfortable. Rey sits down a few yards across from him and rummages through her fanny pack. She pulls out a ration bar, making a show of unwrapping it and eating it—smacking her lips loudly. Kylo smiles.]
Kylo: So, I guess you're keeping those for yourself.
Rey: Of course. [narrows eyes] You mocked my fanny pack.
Kylo: [leans back] I did, but that was before I saw the arsenal of stuff you can fit into one of those dorky things.
Rey: [chokes] Dorky? I'll have you know, a fanny pack is absolutely essential to a scavenger's lifestyle and, I might add, [points] to a Jedi's as well.
Cam: {It's true. She uses her fanny pack all the time.} [pauses] {Though, I wasn't aware that's what they were called.}
[Rey smiles at the camera, then she shoves the rest of the ration bar in her mouth.]
Kylo: [smirks] Was it tasty?
Rey: [talks around her food] Delicious. [gives Kylo a look] If you want any of this, you're probably going to have to fight me for it.
Kylo: Then I'm definitely going to go hungry...and also be horribly injured.
Rey: [makes a surprised noise, then hides a smile]
Kylo: [looks thoughtful] But maybe we could negotiate a trade?
Rey: [scoffs] Like what? A hair tutorial?
Kylo: [makes an annoyed face] Actually, I don't do anything to my hair.
Rey: [stares at him] That's a lie.
Cam: {No. It's true. He literally just washes it and it ends up like that.}
Rey: [astonished whisper] Really?
Kylo: Yeah, no one ever believes that.
Rey: I can see why. [narrows eyes] So, what kind of trade are you thinking? First Order secrets?
Kylo: [barks a laugh] You're going to have to give me more than a ration bar for that.
Rey: How about TWO ration bars and a water pouch? [smiles at Kylo's unimpressed face] Okay, how about food?
Kylo: [spreads his arms out] Well, as you can see, I have no bottomless fanny pack of my own, so I have no food.
Rey: [rolls her eyes] No. I mean, where's the best places to find really good food. Or...what are your favorite dishes?
Cam: {A warning, Kylo, once Rey starts talking about food, she doesn't stop.}
Rey: Hey! [glares half-heartedly at the camera] On Jakku, food options were rather limited and well... [shrugs] there's a huge galaxy out there and so many cuisines and it's a little overwhelming.
Kylo: [nods thoughtfully] Have you ever tried Halmalii? It's a smallish pastry, filled with sweet cream and drizzled with—
Rey: [eyes round] honey! Yes, [grins] it's my favorite!
Kylo: Well, than look no further because you're never going to find anything better than that. [chews on lip] Actually, I know how to make them.
Rey: [mouth falls open] Are you [bleep] kidding me?
Kylo: [chuckles] I do. Growing up, we had a woman, Rabile, who [eyebrows furrow] cooked for us. And my...parents were often busy, so I spent a lot of time with her in the kitchens. They were my favorite too and Rabile always made them for me. Then one day, she showed me how to make them and I did. [smiles wide] I made them all by myself. And I was so proud. I went to show my parents and... [purses lips and takes a breath] Well, Rabile sat with me and helped me eat the entire plate...even though I didn't have much of an appetite.
[Cam focuses on Kylo's face. His expression is withdrawn, self-conscious. Rey watches him closely.]
Kylo: [huffs an awkward laugh] Well, the point is, I know how to make it.
Rey: [looks thoughtful for 2.3 seconds, then smiles softly] If you tell me exactly how to make it, [pulls a ration bar from her pack and wiggles it] all this could be yours.
Kylo: [voice dry] Wow. I get all that?
Rey: [rolls eyes] Shut up.
Kylo: [mouth quirks] Do you have anything to write on? It's pretty complicated.
Rey: No, you'll have to tell me. Probably more than once.
Kylo: You don't have anything in that ginormous pack of yours?
Rey: [gives him a flat look] Okay, it's pretty clear, at least by how often you're bringing it up, that you're insanely jealous of my fanny pack.
[Kylo laughs at that—a full laugh—deep within his chest, raspy and rich. Rey blinks then chuckles along with him.]
Kylo: [finally settles down] Oh yeah... [grins widely at Rey] super jealous.
[Rey's smile falters, her cheeks reddening.]
Rey: [clears throat] On Jakku, there was no Halmalii, or anything close to it. Just the bland portions we used as currency. Anyone could find cheap liquor and even cheaper hard candy [lowers gaze] but even those I couldn't afford.
Cam: [zooms in on Rey's face] {Probably just as well, those would've rotted your teeth.}
Kylo: [smiles sadly] That is true.
Rey: [nods] So the moment I left Jakku, I was around all this food...I-I just went crazy and pretty much ate anything I could get my hands on. Everything just...had so much flavor! There was actual TASTE!
[Kylo laughs quietly as he watches Rey, his eyes soft.]
Rey: Then I tried Halmalii and [shakes head in amazement] it was just... [closes eyes] the best thing I've ever tasted. The outer pastry is flaky but slightly crunchy and then, I bit into it—and the cream...
[Rey moans loud and low. Kylo's smile fades, his eyes widen. A hot blush spreads over his cheeks and down his neck. He fidgets and looks away—swallowing hard.]
Kylo: W-Well...that's just [scratches temple] very, um, kind of...interesting?
[If Cam had eyes, this would be the point where it would roll them. Watching these two humans navigate clumsily around each other, kind of makes it want to bang itself against a rock.]
[Just then, Cam picks up a faint sound.]
Cam: {There's something approaching.} [focuses intensely] {Two ships coming from the east.}
[Kylo and Rey jump to their feet.]
Rey: Can you tell what kind of ship? Who it is?
Cam: {It's...the First Order. Two shuttles.}
Kylo: [faces the camera] How long?
Cam: {Maybe five minutes.}
[Rey brushes her hair from her face with trembling fingers. Kylo curses under his breath, his hands curled into fists. He turns to Rey, grabbing her by the shoulders. For a moment, she's outraged until she sees the panicked look on his face.]
Kylo: They're sending two shuttles. Which means they'll separate us.
Rey: What? Why?!
Kylo: I no longer have Snoke's trust. They'll take me back to the Finalizer and they'll take you to...to see Snoke himself.
[Rey pales, glancing fearfully up at Kylo.]
Kylo: That can't happen. [shakes her gently] We can't let that happen. Now, the first thing they'll do is put you in shackles. Then they'll take you back to the other Star Destroyer. They'll go through one of the more secure hangar bays. That's your window. You'll have to create a diversion, get free and steal a ship. You'll need access codes and there'll be limited window of opportunity.
Rey: H-How do I do all that?
Kylo: I can show you how...with my mind. I can share it with you, but we have to hurry.
Rey: But—But what about you? Won't Snoke know?
Kylo: [shakes his head sharply] Don't worry about that. Are you ready?
[Rey takes a deep breath and nods. Kylo slides his hands up from her shoulders and cradles her face. Rey rests her hands on his arms. They stare into each others eyes, completely still. Cam watches anxiously. They stay that way for a full minute. Kylo pulls away first, dropping his hands from Rey's face. He blinks back tears. Rey stares up at him, her eyes wide.]
Kylo: [voice cracks] Did you get it?
Rey: I... [licks her lips] Yes. I got it. [unclips her lightsaber and hands it to him] Keep this safe.
Kylo: [tries to smile] It'll be easy for you, Rey. I know you'll be fine. [glances at the camera] You'll stay with me, Cam.
Cam: {But...what if Rey needs assistance? I have an arm now.} [arm pops out of its compartment and waves clumsily] {Rey made it for me.}
Kylo: It's a great arm. But I worry that if you escape with Rey, people will begin to suspect you.
Rey: I want you to stay safe, Cam. You understand?
Cam: {Fine. I understand.} [pauses] {They're almost here.}
Kylo: Rey... [reaches for her but drops his hand] Please be careful.
Rey: You too.
[For a moment, Rey looks lost, then her jaw tightens. She steps closer to him, grasping his hand with her fingertips. He stares down at her in surprise.]
Rey: [whispers] Thank you, Kylo.
[He nods once, his eyes searching hers. The sound of the shuttles screech from the distance. Kylo raises her hand to his mouth, brushing his lips against the back of her fingers, then lets her go. He takes a step back.]
[The shuttles break through the cloud cover. Kylo has his lightsaber drawn in one hand and Rey's in the other. They watch as the two shuttles set down, their faces grave. Captain Phasma, two officers and a dozen stormtroopers pour out of the shuttles. Kylo was right, Rey's hands are immediately bound.]
Phasma: [approaches] So, you've managed to capture her.
Kylo: I said I would.
[He hands Rey's lightsaber to Captain Phasma.]
Kylo: The Supreme Leader will want to see what she can do with that.
Phasma: Of course. It will be transported along with her. [cocks her head] Is that all?
Kylo: [mouth tightens] Yes.
[For once, Kylo's face is unreadable. His lightsaber is still drawn, crackling dangerously in his tight grip. Everyone gives him a wide berth. He and Cam watch Rey—flanked by stormtroopers—escorted onto the shuttle. She turns her head, her eyes catching Kylo's briefly before disappearing inside the ship.]
