Rey walked briskly towards the landing platform, lugging her belongs over her shoulder. Her arms strained under the bag's weight - she had packed up as much as she could into the large satchel. She had taken her most prized possessions - or really her only possessions. The ancient Jedi texts, her toolkit that she had kept since her scavenging days, and one of Leia's Alderaanian signet rings she had gifted her were inside, as well as some essential provisions like extra ration portions and bacta pads. She had tip-toed to the men's common quarters, sneaking a few XL men's tunics and pants. Selfishly, she knew if she continued to see the hole in Ben's woolen undershirt that it would fill her head with unwanted memories.
The sharp pang of guilt sat low and heavy in her gut. Her conversation with Poe and Finn, admittedly, went better than she anticipated, given the terribly rushed summary of events she gave them - but she had to get back to Ahch-To. It pained her that they did not know the man she knew nor understand the connection she shared with him, but how could they? She was one of the few people in the galaxy still living that knew him as Ben Solo and she was just beginning to understand the workings of their bond herself.
Maybe his story would be better told from the source. Though she was forever weaved through his fate, it was his story to tell and she wanted her friends to see the real Ben.
One day. She thought.
The landing platform was empty this time of night, save for a few resistance starfighters scattered throughout. She smiled to herself as she spotted Poe's replacement starfighter, painted with orange markings to commemorate his lost love, Black One.
She reached the tie and smashed the mechanism to open the hatch door. Suddenly, she felt a presence behind her, followed by a smooth, velvety voice that called out her name.
She spun around, shocked that she wasn't alone.
"Hey, kid." Lando said, flashing his perfect teeth.
"Lando!" She breathed, relieved.
She had only just met this man a few days ago, but she felt drawn to him in the same way she had to Han. He reminded her of Han, in a way, with his cool swagger and warm demeanor. They both exceeded the legends and myths she overheard about them while at the washing tables in Niima Outpost.
His chocolate brown eyes shifted between her belongings and the tie fighter. "It's none of my business where you're goin' or what you're doin'...but you really going to keep flying that thing around the galaxy?" He nodded his head to the tie fighter.
She looked back at the ship, then back at Lando. She shrugged, "What choice do I have?"
Lando laughed,"Oh, you have way better choices sweetheart."
Rey was quiet. She didn't feel right taking one of the resistance ships for her own personal business. Besides, her scavenger instincts told her to make use of what she found.
"The Falcon. Take it. It's yours. You need it more than I do, that's for sure." Lando placed his fingers through his belt loops, shifting his weight and cocking his head towards the opposite side of the landing platform.
Rey looked to where he was motioning, and spotted the Falcon. She blinked, unsure of what to say, "Um...Lando, I can't." She shook her head, "No, it's your ship now. Han told me it was your ship, I-I can't-"
"I hope Han also told you I don't take no for an answer." He interrupted, smiling. "I was just finishing tuning up the new gravimetric compensators that Rose installed - smart girl, that Rose. Also, there should be enough fuel to last you quite a while."
Rey smiled as she surrendered and let herself accept the gift. Lando was right. She couldn't keep flying around the galaxy in a First Order starfighter. Plus, she could fly the Falcon with her eyes closed, and it was fast.
"I don't know how to thank you." Rey shook her head, smiling.
He laughed, his eyes sparkling off of the flood lights above the landing platform. "I know you'll take good care of her." He looked up at the tie fighter, "Besides, I've got some plans for this baby. I could strip her down for parts or just sell the damn thing and make some serious credits, now that it's probably one of the few left after the war."
Rey grinned. Lando had a knack for seeing a business opportunity in everything.
Lando met Rey's eyes and sighed, "Take care of yourself, Rey. And don't be a stranger."
She nodded, then pulled Lando in for a crushing hug. "Thank you." She pulled away and walked towards the Falcon.
"Oh, and Rey!" Lando called out behind her. She spun around to face him.
"3PO and R2 are going with you. It's bad luck to fly around the galaxy without at least one droid. They're already on the ship waiting for you."
Rey looked back to the Falcon, then back at Lando. She shrugged, then threw up a hand to wave a final goodbye.
As she walked up the Falcon's main bay door, she spotted the two droids at the top of the entrance. Rey thought it was funny how, for a creature unable to show emotions, C-3PO was still able to somehow look excited.
"Miss Rey! So good to see you again." Said the ever proper C-3PO.
R2 whirred a greeting and she smiled down at the droid. "Good to see you guys."
Rey turned and hit the hydraulic mechanism to close the bay door. She walked into the common quarters and plopped her belongings down next to the hologram table. She could hear the mechanical footsteps of C-3PO and R2 wheeling in behind her.
"May I ask, Miss Rey, where are we headed?" 3-PO asked.
She sighed and turned to the droid. She placed her hands on her hips and replied, "Ahch-To. Buckle up."
"Oh shut me down, did you hear that R2? I've never been to this planet."
She laughed and shook her head as R2 beeped out a bored expression. Rey liked droids. They never asked too many questions and they were ever loyal. They were programmed to obey and follow orders - far less complicated than humans and other sentient beings.
Rey turned on her heel and walked quickly towards the cockpit module.
An unfamiliar feeling bubbled up inside her. It reminded her of the times as a child on Jakku when she had found an extremely rare piece of scrap from some downed Y-wing or found an electrometer she could strip buried deep in the desert sand. At those discoveries, she knew the reward from Unkar Plutt would be so great that she would eat for days before having to go out and salvage again in the Jakku Graveyards. She had cherished those moments, relishing in the excitement and joy those small victories gave her.
She felt that way now as she walked through the Falcon's corridors - excitement and burning anticipation for something in the future that she knew would bring her happiness
She reached the cockpit and plopped down in the tan leather seat. She flipped the ignition controls and sighed as the familiar sound of the Falcon surrounded her. She gripped the steering and pulled up the throttle. It felt good to feel the power of this ship under her hands again.
Once she was a safe distance from the Ajan Kloss atmosphere, she punched the Falcon's lightspeed controls and watched as the stars morphed into blue and white strings.
"Thank force for lightspeed," she grinned and sat back in her seat.
She reached Ahch-To in under an hour, coming out of lightspeed just before approaching the planet's outer atmosphere. She sighed and smiled to herself at the sight of the floating blue marble.
She felt an incredible rush of peace come over her at the knowledge that she was about to see Ben. There was something about being near him that calmed and balanced her, like he held the key to some part of her soul that only he could access.
She steered the Falcon through the planet's atmosphere, targeting the main island. Suddenly, something jolted into her as if someone had just kicked the breath out of her. She inhaled sharply, eyes blinking rapidly.
What the...?
She focused - breathe, just breathe - and honed her senses. Nothing had physically touched her, but something in the force had.
Because the force was trying to tell her something. Ben was in trouble.