Chapter 11
Rey carefully docked her X-wing on a landing platform in Mos Eisely, Tatooine. She climbed out of the cramped space and stretched her sore legs. She had been flying from planet to planet for a little over a week gathering supplies, and now she was finally here. The only problem, she had no idea where to find Allana. She slung the bag that held the few items that she had bought over her shoulder, secured the ship, and began searching all the other platforms for the Falcon.
She wandered up and down the platforms searching until someone called out.
"Hey!"
Rey turned around and saw a man in a uniform looking at her.
He walked closer and said, "You looking for something? I can help."
"I'm good, thanks though."
"You sure? I work here. I know every ship that comes in and out of this place."
Rey studied him for a long moment.
"I don't think…" she began.
The man cut her off and said, "You running from something kid? Don't worry, I won't let anyone know what you're looking for."
"Alright. I'm not getting anywhere on my own, so this can't hurt."
"Come with me then."
He lead her to a room on the edge of the spaceport. He grabbed a data pad off a table and handed it to her.
"All the ships docked here are on it. If the ship you're looking for is here, it'll be on this."
"You're just going to let me use this?"
"It has special security measures that prevents it from being copied, and the only information about the ships is the name and where it's docked. The sensitive information is kept elsewhere."
Rey started scrolling through that list of names until one caught her eye.
"You find what you're looking for," the man asked.
"I think so. Thanks…"
"Matt," he said, taking the data pad back from her.
"Thanks Matt."
She left the room and practically ran to platform 96. She peeked inside and say a ship that looked like the Falcon but had parts covered in tarps and parts painted different colors. The ramp was down, so she headed inside.
''Allana? Allana are you in here? It's Rey?''
She turned a corner and ran right into a tall blonde man.
''Who are you,'' she asked backing away.
''I could ask the same to you. What are you doing on my ship?''
''This isn't your ship!''
''Is that so?''
''Look buddy, I've flown on this ship before. I know that this is the Millennium Falcon. Can you please just tell me where I can find Allana.''
"I don't know anyone named Allana, and this isn't the Millennium Falcon. My dad had owned this ship since the Clone Wars."
"I know you're lying. Please, I'm with the Resistance. I really need to speak with her."
"What's your name?"
''Rey."
"Your last name?"
"I don't have one."
"Well Rey," he said crossing his arms, "why do you think this Allana girl is here anyways?"
"Her friend Poe Dameron told me I could find her here."
"He did," he said, his eyebrows rising. "I don't know anyone named Poe Dameron either."
"Fine," said Rey, "if you're not going to tell me where she is then I guess I'll have to find her myself."
Rey stared walking away when he called out.
"Why do you want to see her?"
"It's personal."
He walked up to Rey and said, "I can take you to see her, but I can't guarantee she'll want to see you. Did it ever occur to you that she came her because she didn't want to be found."
"I know that, but this is really important."
He studied her.
"Okay," he said finally, "Come with me."
He strode out of the ship so quickly, Rey could barley keep up.
"Hey," she called, "what's your name?"
"Jack."
"You have a last name?"
"I do, but you don't need to know it."
…
Luke had been staring at the box sitting in front of him for the past hour. He had reached out to open it numerous times, but had pulled his hand back before he could.
''What are you doing," Luke muttered to himself, "you are terrified of a little box. You've faced Darth Vader you can open this silly little box.''
He reached out a flipped the lid off, sending it sliding across the floor and pulled the box closer. His hands trembled slightly as he removed the layer of fabric that protected the contents from the elements. Luke swallowed hard as he reached his hand inside, looking the other direction, and pulled out the first thing he touched. He turned slowly to look at the object that rested in his hand.
It was a book. A book that he and his wife had read every single night to their daughter before she was so cruelly taken from them. They had attempted to read her other books, but she had screamed until they caved and read this one. They both rolled their eyes every time they read it, but both knew that they didn't really mind because it made their daughter happy. Luke ran his hands over the cracked and worn binding and flipped through the torn and stained pages. He set the book aside and pulled out a new item, this time a blanket.
Like the book, the blanket was worn and frayed. It had once displayed a design of sunbeams, but as time had gone by, the blanket had become unrecognizable. Just by holding it, it brought Luke back to when he had bought that blanket, all those years ago. It was mere hours after his daughter's birth, hours from when his little girl had been placed in his wife's arms and named Luminaria. He had dashed off, to buy a gift for his daughter, and had been immediately drawn to this blanket. When he presented it to his wife, he had told her that this little girl was going to be a ray of sunshine in their lives for as long as she lived. He remembered how his wife had cried as she took the blanket from him and wrapped it around their baby.
He remembered how attached to the blanket she had become, how when she had run into his and Mara's room because she was scared of a thunderstorm, she always brought her blanket with her, clutched tightly in her palms. She had even refused to give it up to be washed when she had gotten food all over it, much to Mara's dismay.
His emotions suddenly became too much, and he broke out into heaving sobs, pressing the blanket to his chest.
''My little girl,'' he thought, " I am so sorry. I am so sorry that I failed you. You deserve better than me.''
…
When Jack led Rey into Mos Eisely Cantina, she thought he was playing a joke on her.
''She's here? Are you serious?''
''Completely. Wait here,'' he said grabbing her arm and leading her to a corner booth in the back. ''Don't move. I'll let her know that you are here.''
Before she could even react, Jack was gone. Rey slid into the booth, her hand resting on her light saber. She scanned the room looking for danger. It was crowded, men, women, and aliens, were crammed into this small space. Different languages filled the air as everyone talked and laughed. A band played in the corner, preforming songs that made you want to dance, and waitresses flitted around the room delivering drinks. An older man and a tall blonde woman worked at the bar, pouring drink after drink. Rey followed Jack with her eyes and watched him whisper something into the male bartender's ear, who then barked a command at one of the waitresses. As she was watching that, she missed Jack saying something to the other bartender.
''Can I get you anything?''
Rey jumped and turned to find the waitress that bartender had said something too, standing next to her.
''I don't think so.''
The girl rolled her eyes.
''Look honey, if you want to look less suspicious, order a drink. If you don't people will start asking questions. Now, what do you want?''
''Um,'' she said trying to wrack her brain for the name of the drink Poe had ordered on the mission all those months ago when she first met Allana.
''I'll just pick for you,'' said the waitress as she walked away.
She returned quickly with Rey's drink and set it down on the table with a loud clunk. When she has left, she tentatively took a sip. She began coughing loudly and her eyes began to water as the liquid burned her throat. As soon as she had wiped her eyes clean, someone slid in the booth across from her. She looked up and became face to face with the waitress.
''I'm Carly,'' she said extending her hand to shake, ''you're looking for Allana right?''
''I am.''
''Come with me. I only have a few minuets before my break is over, so we need to get moving.''
She stood up and gestured for Rey to follow her. Carly weaved through the crowded cantina to a nondescript door in the back. She scanned her hand to unlock the door, and the two of them climbed up a steep staircase to a large open room. The walls were lined with mirrors, and tables that were over flowing with makeup, wigs, and hair products. Racks on one side of the room held hundreds of outfits, shoes, and jewelry. A circle of couches and chairs sat in the center of the room. Girls of all ages and species were draped over the couches and chairs. When they noticed Rey, they stopped their conversations and turned to stare.
''She's here to see Allana,'' Carly said before anyone could ask. "Your break is over in two by the way.''
As soon as she said that, the girls began hurriedly touching up their makeup and fixing their hair. Carly led Rey to a couch.
''Sit here. Allana will be here just a few minuets after they all leave. Don't touch anything.''
Carly walked back over to the staircase.
''Time to get back to work girls!''
They hurriedly rushed down the stairs, leaving Rey alone. A few minuets later she heard the door open and the click of heels as someone climbed the stairs. The blonde bartender appeared, gave Rey a once over, and turned to the mirror. Rey watched as she slipped off her heels, took out contacts that had turned her brown eyes back to green, and unclipped a blonde wig. When she turned around, Rey found herself face to face with Allana.
''Hey Rey. I heard you wanted to see me.''
…
''General!''
Leia looked up from the data that she had been reviewing with Poe to see someone running towards her.
''What's the issue Davis,'' she asked as soon as he reached her.
''What piece of bad news do you want to hear first?''
''Do I look like I care what bit of bad news I hear first?''
''No ma'am. We just intercepted a transmission from the First Order's new base. They are planning an attack on our base two days from now.''
''Do we know that this is legitimate?"
''The code matches up to all the others we have intercepted. We have no reason to believe that this is a trap.''
''Alright, the next piece of news?''
''We have received word from one of our spies. There's trouble on Tatooine.''
''What kind of trouble?"
"First Order troops have invaded the city. They haven't caused a big disturbance yet, mainly just scaring the locals."
"Why is this cause for alarm?"
"According to our source, they've been searching all of the homes and shipyards as if they're looking for someone. They've paid particular interest to Platform 96, where a ship that looks identical to the Millennium Falcon is docked. Our source checked the log, and it's docked under a different name and call number. The only person seen leaving the ship was a young man."
"Do we have any idea who or what they are looking for?"
"No, but we think they found it. Any First Order ship that weren't ordered to stay behind to attack us are beginning to congregate around that system. We have reason to believe that Kylo Ren is aboard one of those ships."
"Thank you. Tell General Ackbar to go to evacuation plan 23. He'll know what to do. After that, gather a group of combat fighters to go to Tatooine, and tell them to meet here in three hours for further instructions."
"Of course General."
As soon as he had left, Poe turned to Leia.
"General, with all due respect, we're going to need more than a combat unit to go to Tatooine."
"Correct. I'm sending the Gold Squadron."
"General, you know that my squadron is more qualified then they are to go on a mission like this."
"And that is precisely why I'm not sending you. Your squadron is better, so we need to ensure your safety. You will be evacuating with everyone else."
"But…"
"My decision is final. You won't be able to do anything to protect Allan or Rey from the air anyways."
"I am not just going to sit here and do nothing while Allana is in danger. For all we know, she could be dead right now."
Leia's face visibly softened.
"I'm not changing my mind."
"But General…"
"Be careful Poe," Leia said smirking slightly. "People may begin to think that you think of her as more than just a friend."
With that, Leia spun on her heel and left the room.
…
Allana poured herself and Rey glasses of blue milk and took them over to the couch where Rey was sitting on. After Rey had been convinced that the blonde girl was really Allana with a wig, Allana took Rey to the small apartment where she was staying. She handed the girl her glass and sat down next to her.
"You going to tell me why you're here," Allana asked taking a sip of her drink.
"I needed to get away."
"That's not it."
"Excuse me?"
"Rey I practically invented that excuse. That may be part of your reason, but it's not the whole story."
Rey tightened her grip around her glass and began fiddling with the fraying edges of the couch.
"I did a DNA test to find my parents."
"Wow," Allana said looking a bit taken back, " do you mind if I ask you why?"
"Lando Calrissian and his daughter showed up shortly after you left. Lando is Finn's father, and…"
Allana let out a choking sound and sit out her drink.
"I knew it!"
''How?"
"It doesn't matter. I'll tell you later. Continue."
"It made me want to find out who my parents were, and I found them."
"You gonna tell me who they are?"
Rey looked down at her lap, and Allana reached out to put a comforting hand on her arm.
"Hey Rey, you can tell me. I promise I won't judge. I mean, my grandfather is Darth Vader and my brother is Kylo Ren for forces sake. It can't be as bad as my family."
"But it is."
"Rey, have you told anyone else yet?"
"No," she said in a soft voice, " the only other person who knows is your mother and that's only because she gave me my results."
"Hey," Allana tilted Rey's chin up so that they were making eye contact, "saying it out loud might make you feel better."
Rey stood up from the couch and stood in front of Allana. Allana watched her carefully and suddenly her eyes widened.
"Are…?"
"My real name is Luminaria Amidala Skywalker," said Rey, effectively cutting her off.
Allana's mouth dropped open. She stood up slowly.
"You're Luke's daughter, which makes you my cousin."
"Yes, that's why I came here. I know were not super close, but you know more about family problems than anyone else I know, so…"
Rey was cut off as Allana wrapped her into a tight hug. When she pulled away, both of them had tears glistening in their eyes.
"I'm glad you came to me. I can't tell you how much getting to see you means. There's so many things I can tell you about your parents, and our family, and…"
Allana was cut off by a loud pounding on the door.
"I need to get that."
She flung the door open, and Jack barged in.
''Where's the fire?"
"We have a big problem," Jack said, breathing hard.
"Okay, and it is?"
"You know those storm troopers that I told you about?"
''Hold on," Rey said nervously, "there are storm troopers here?"
"What the hell happened?"
"First Order ships have been flying in over the past hour, and according to my friend that processes all the ships, one of them is Kylo Ren's."
"What does this mean for us exactly," asked Rey.
"It means," Allana said slowly, "that we need to get out of here. Now."
AN: Hi everyone! I hope you all had a great Christmas (if you celebrate it) and happy New Years! What did you all think of the latest chapter? Please, please, please leave a review! It really makes my day. Also, my PM is always open if you have any questions/ comments about the story!
Disclaimer- I still don't own anything
