Chapter 21
Leia woke Rey as she had promised. She had brought Rey some training clothes, which Rey quickly put on. As they left her temporary quarters, Rey greeted warmly a sleepy Finn and Poe. She followed Leia to the training area.
"For the first few days, we will meditate together. Remember your chant?" Leia asked as she sat down on the ground.
"Yes, Master Leia. 'Be with me.'" Rey said as she sat on the ground across from Leia.
Leia nodded. "Then begin."
Rey's days passed quickly as she began a strict routine of training. Leia watched Rey closely as she trained. Rey's mornings consisted of meditating and running an obstacle course that Leia had expanded. In her afternoons, she poured over the Jedi texts trying to remember what she had seen Ben looking for in the Imperial archives. She just couldn't remember and she didn't dare try to connect with him directly. She didn't want to lose herself again. The day before, she had felt him briefly touching her mind, like a brush of her cheek with his fingers to put a lock of hair behind her ear. A small part of her longed to feel him, but she knew that she had something to do.
She had told Leia about her nightmares. Leia had looked concerned at first but then she had reassured Rey that all would be well. But Rey was not sure. She had her doubts about her abilities. She felt underserving of the name of Jedi. But she kept training, trying to make herself worthy.
She ate as she watched Poe, Finn, Chewbacca, and a small crew working on the Falcon. She had a book in her lap. Klaud, a Trodatome mechanic, was moving up the ramp of the Falcon to work on the systems inside. They would be heading out today for a parts pickup in the Sinta Glacier Colony.
The morning light was filtering through the trees onto the landing area. Poe walked toward her. She closed her book and smiled at him. "Morning, Poe."
He smiled warmly at her as he put hands on his hips. "Wish you were coming with us. It should be a simple mission. We should be back before you know it." He looked back at the activity by the Falcon. He looked awkward when he turned back to her. "Look, about the other night…"
Rey held up her hand. "Poe, it's okay. Your intentions were honorable. We don't need to talk about it anymore."
Poe ran a hand through his hair. He nodded. "Okay then…. Well I better get back to finishing what I was doing." He gestured toward the Falcon.
He began walking away. "Oh, and Poe? Don't forget to bring the Falcon back in one piece." She paused. "And yourself too," Rey said as she headed to Finn and Chewbacca.
Poe chuckled. "Got it." And he walked back with her.
"Finn, you take care of yourself," Rey said as she hugged him.
"You got it," Finn smiled at her. "Almost ready, Chewie?" Chewie roared and grunted an acknowledgement.
"Who are we meeting again, Poe?" Finn asked as he started packing away tools into a box.
"An Ovissian named Boolio," Poe answered as he wiped his hand on a rag. "Good thing too. We could use the parts he is donating." He looked at Rey. "Wish us luck?"
"Good luck and may the Force be with you," she smiled wistfully at them. "And you better take care of the Falcon."
"You better take care of BB-8," Poe said as he nodded at the droid next to Rey. "See you when I get back pal," he said as he gave BB-8 a pat. BB-8 whistled and chirped at him. Poe smiled at him. "You got it."
Rey and BB-8 watched them as they entered the Falcon and the ground crew cleared the area. She watched the Falcon ascend to fly off into the void.
"Come on, BB-8. Time for training." Rey and BB-8 heading for the training area. Rey's thoughts were on Poe and Finn's mission, wishing she could be there. But now she had work to do.