THE NEW REPUBLIC has formed. Peace is restored to the galaxy. In its complacency, the sinister FIRST ORDER has risen from the ashes of the Empire and will not rest until its former glory is restored.

With the support of The New Republic, General Leia Organa leads a brave RESISTANCE. She wishes to stop The First Order before they become a viable threat to the galaxy.

Leia gains intel and has sent her most daring pilot on a secret, reconnaissance mission to find out what The First Order is trying to accomplish….

It was the middle of the night. It was a jungle planet none for having the most beautiful and sturdiest of trees meant for building ships. It housed several villages, but it wasn't one of the wealthier planets in the galaxy. Resources are what it's known for. So, why would the First Order come here?

That's what Poe Dameron was looking to find out. He hid himself in one of the tall trees outside of a ruined, abandoned village. It looked as if it hadn't been touched in thousands of years. He had a perfect sight on it with his x-wing hidden in a different set of trees. He just hoped that he wasn't given garbage information.

In the distance, he could see several star destroyers coming into orbit. Immediately, he grasped his binoculars and followed the ship in front. It seemed to hold the leader.

When it landed, several stormtroopers robed men, he'd never seen before, exited. Who were these guys? The First Order modeled themselves after The Empire not just in style but politics. These robed monks praying amongst each other were new. Who were they?

He looked over and saw the man in charge standing there: Kylo Ren. He walked quickly forward, clearly looking for something in his menacing, controlled steps. Poe just wished he could hear from this distance. Perhaps, if he got a little closer.

Snap .

Kylo Ren's head looked over to him, and he almost shit his pants. He lifted his blaster, but he was yanked forward, out of the tree, into the air, and his neck landed into Ren's grip.

"Hmm, a resistance fighter," he said.

He threw Poe to the ground and two stormtroopers stepped up, and bound him. He was still out of breath and shocked by how he was thrown around like a doll.

"Have you found it?" Kylo Ren asked as he turned to the robed men inside the ruins.

"Of course, we've found a map to the cure."

"A map. You… you told me that—"

He stopped mid sentence and everyone followed his helmet's turn to a fragile slip of a young woman stepping out of the ship quietly. His entire demeanor softened. His shoulders relaxed, and his visor lowered to meet her gaze. His attention was hers.

She was standing at the end of the hanger bay. Despite being lithe and small, her features are striking. Her cheekbones are high and prominent, lips full, and her jawline is sharp. But, the most defining traits are her deep, cherry red hair and large blue eyes. She's instantly recognizable.

Kylo Ren walked forward, holding out his hand for her to take. She did, and he helped her down the large step. She wobbled softly, briefly before straightening and regaining her focus.

"Kalista, I told you to stay on the ship. It's not safe for you out here," he said.

Her eyes left him and focused on the pilot bound, and surrounded by the stuffy generals. She walked forward with measured, slow steps like a viper preparing to strike its prey. The generals murmured amongst themselves, curious and confused given the tones used.

"I remember you. I could feel your presence from the inside," she said softly, quietly words commanding attention nonetheless. She grasped his chin gently to make him look her in the eye. "He fancies himself a flower, but he's a snake hidden underneath." She cleared her throat in a soft and crackly hum as her eyes grew wider with each following word, focusing in on him. "If you fancy yourself a flower, should I plant you? Hmm? But if I do, you'll die. By my command, everything that goes in the ground shall wither and die."

She trembled softly, and her eyes looked as if they were going to pop out of her head, contrasting to Poe, who was completely still and had his eyes closed in avoidance and fear. She could feel it.

She stood. She towered over his kneeling form. There wasn't a single sound. A pen could drop and everyone would jump like startled cats. Even though the fire was burning behind them and chaos erupted from the battle previously held, the attention was solely on Kalista. The tension couldn't be cut with a steak knife.

"Is he the one who led that mob against you?"

"But of course."

Suddenly, his hand extended towards Poe who was thrown backwards in front of a fleet of stormtroopers. It caused a wicked smile to grow on Kalista's face.

"Put him on board. I'm not finished with him."

Immediately, they complied.

A soft, airy giggle came from his companion next to him. Her eyes followed Poe with merry.

"La, la, the calf is caught in poison ivy," she sang softly, tauntingly, managing without too shaky of a voice.

He held out his hand to her, and she took it. His fingers completely closed around her delicate, smaller hand as he led her to the ship.

X

The reflection staring back at her frowned at what was standing there. The look was all wrong. She was never satisfied no matter what she did with her hair, makeup, or clothes. She always felt judged. She couldn't satisfy anyone or everyone, including herself. She's shorter and chubbier than she liked, and her hair color is odd. She tried to minimize it all with three space buns and two pieces of hair beside her widows peak to frame her face. She shook her head. Everything was cuter in her head.

When she passed by her window she paused. She looked closer, wondering what was out there causing her confusion. It felt as if someone was watching her. But what was outside of her window was a brick wall. She peered down at the street, looking for the source. People were continuously walking. No one was trying to look in her window, yet….

"Rey, hurry up," she heard her dad call.

She left the window after a moment's pause, drawing the curtains closed. When she stepped out of her bedroom, her dad was waiting for her outside. She stopped trying to meet his eye years ago. He just wouldn't meet her halfway. He was probably disappointed in her; she wasn't what he wanted her to be. After all, how could you follow up someone like him? All her life, she's heard stories about his great accomplishments and his talents by the time he was her age. Not to mention what happened almost ten years ago. Just the thought of it reopened wounds. So, of course, he was distant.

"We're going to be late," he said, already walking away.

She didn't see anything as she readjusted her bag on her shoulder and followed. It was back to the academy after a long summer hiatus. She loved learning; it was the only reason she attended. The people there were… well.

He opened the door, and it seemed the rest of the world was getting on with their day. Hover cars, speeders, and supersonic trains on elevated tracks were all moving about the city. It used to fascinate her as a child, but now it's just background noise. It may be buzzing with people, but they were still and untouchable in reality.

The door to their hover car was opened, and she entered. She sat down and placed her stuff on the floor beside her feet. She placed her face against the glass as she looked down at the people walking down the streets below them. It was cool to the touch and perfect for her warm, oily face. She'd been fighting acne with all her might, but it just wouldn't yield to all the creams and washes she's tried.

"Maybe you'll like this semester," he said, trying to make conversation.

"Doubtful," she said simply.

Why put yourself out there when nobody wants you? The other kids simultaneously hated and feared her. She was like this untouchable, infallible thing all because of her blood relations. They took one look at her and thought she was too good for them. Her dad understood. He was so used to people treating him as a god that he didn't understand what normal was. He had friends before he became the myth and the legend that he is. There's his connection to reality.

They arrived at the deck for hover cars. She picked up her things from the floor and was about to head out.

"Your mom will pick you up at 6:00, Rey," he said.

She nodded once and then headed out quickly. Not to mention, she was treated like glass as if she'd break or be injured by herself or another at any second. She hasn't gotten in trouble in a long time, and just because….

She sighed, putting those thoughts away. She walked along the hallways. She hid her face through her long, oily hair. She heard whispers turn into silence. She walked faster to get to class. And when she sat down, she immediately pulled out a book and practically buried her face in it. She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths.

"Okay, class," she heard. "Let's get started. We're not getting any younger."

She peeked over the top of her book before setting it down slowly in defeat. He was one of those large creatures with eight arms and a sour face. She had an inclination as to what kind of professor he would be like.

Rarely, if ever did she participate in class. She didn't like putting herself out there. Whenever she did, people didn't see her for her. They saw her for her father. She could see it in their eyes and judgemental expressions.

"A long time ago, we had a war you may or may not have heard of…" he droned on.

She could barely pay attention. It wasn't as if she wasn't a fan of the material. She read the chapter before the lecture to better understand. It's how he delivered. Some people just shouldn't teach.

That feeling creeped backup from earlier this morning. It was like a prickling sensation in the back of her head. Someone was watching her again, and they weren't in the classroom. Her eyes peered over and out the window. She didn't see anyone there as far as she could see. But she trusted her instincts, and she knew someone or something was watching her.

"Rey!"

She jumped in her seat and looked forward. The expression on her professor's face was expectant. People began to giggle quietly at her as she tried to recover her embarrassment. Her face felt hot anyway.

"Yes?" she asked quietly after clearing her throat.

"Would you care to answer the question?" he asked incredulously.

No .

"What was the question?" she asked sheepishly.

"When was the New Republic formed?"

Everyone knew. It was a fairly new, but it seemed they were doing this. She felt targeted by this question given who her dad is. He could have asked anyone else.

"After the empire fell," she answered simply, looking back out the window.

"I was asking for a year, Rey."

"4 ABY," she answered quietly.

She didn't see anything except for hover cars, other buildings, and people walking along the streets. No one was spying on her, but she could swear someone was. Besides, what was going on outside is far more interesting than a rehash history course.

She wondered vaguely what life would be like off this planet, in a new city, or perhaps the wilderness. She just felt isolated and suffocated in her own city, her own house , she's lived in since she could remember. She was horribly unfulfilled.

"… class dismissed."

She snapped from her daze and began to quickly put her things away. Then, she stood and headed out. She felt eyes on her. And no, she wasn't being paranoid like her mom and childhood friend told her she was being. She could feel them staring, and it was killing her. She quickly went to the bathroom.

She stood in front of the mirror still as displeased and unhappy with herself. The harsh fluorescents didn't do anything to help. She started the faucet and splashed cold water on her face to try and calm the redness.

"Hey, it's going to be okay," she suddenly heard a stranger say behind a stall, startling her.

"Um, thank you," she said softly, trying to compose herself.

She took several deep breaths before she headed towards her next classroom.

The day dragged on with her taking notes and listening to boring lectures by people who shouldn't be lecturers given how boring they are. The day ends with her sitting outside of the academy on one of the decorative stonewalls, kicking her feet back and forth, enjoying a novel, and waiting for her mother. That nagging feeling she's had all day of being watched was tenfold now. But she's looked all day and hasn't found anyone staring and stalking. It must be in her head. Her mother shouldn't be too long now.

"Hey."

She startled and looked over. She was someone Rey didn't recognize, but she's heard her voice before.

"Hi… are you the—"

"—girl from the bathroom, yeah."

She was a lively person: oozing charisma and confidence. Why was she talking to her? Rey isn't popular or interesting. Was she being used for her name? She didn't sense nefarious intentions from her. Maybe, she was confused and didn't know Rey's family. Maybe, she didn't care. The stranger had that carefree vibe that she wished she had.

"Please, don't be offended by this question, but why are you talking to me?" she asked softly.

"I don't know. You seem like you're having a rough day. Me and my friends are going downtown to see if someone will buy us some booze and then we're going to the club."

She had never been allowed the opportunity to misbehave due to her parents and her own pathology. The thought of acting out, breaking out of her own shell in hopes of making friends sounded both terrifying and thrilling. She didn't have many friends outside of her family's circle. None really. Her mom or dad always picked her up right after school. Life was very structured and suffocating.

"Um, I don't know. I—"

"Opheius! Hurry up! We'll leave without you!"

"Come with us. It'll be fun."

It was now or never. She wouldn't get another opportunity to rebel. She wanted to. She just had to break out of her fear.

"Okay."

She got up off the wall and put her book up. She followed Opheus to the speeder filled with two cute boys. She blushed and looked away quickly, not used to male attention whatsoever.

"Hey guys, this is my new friend…"

"Rey."

"… Rey, she's riding with us."

"Hi," she said softly. Unable to look them in the eyes she was so nervous.

She hopped in the front seat next to Opheus and kept close to herself. She tried to get comfortable, smile soft in the company she was with.

"I'm Icaron. He's Yario."

Rey nodded and could only supply a small smile to them. She didn't understand why they would want to be around her. She felt out of place, but she pushed down her doubts. She wanted friends, and their energy wasn't sinister.

"Which club are we going to?" Rey managed to ask them.

"It's called Darcen. It just opened like last month," Opheus said, smiling.

"We're almost there," Icaron smirked, leaning in close to her ear playfully.

She couldn't help the small bit of envy. She's never had an affectionate relationship like that. She wished for one. She doubted it would happen. She wasn't pretty enough, and she was too shy to attract someone with her personality.

They parallel parked on some street near a building. They all hopped out, so she joined them. They started walking quickly towards the liquor store through the massive crowd. She kept up right behind them, but that feeling she's been having all day came back. She stopped, looking in that direction. People shoved past her, and she couldn't see up above the crowd very well. That's what she gets for being short.

She looked back towards the liquor store, and her potential friends were nowhere to be seen.

"Hey, where did you guys—"

She gasped, jumping back from the metal plating that her face smacked into. She looked up curiously. She was even more startled now since she instantaneously recognized the helmet and armor. What was he doing here? She thought their kind was extinct or near extinct. She lived in a large city in the center of the galaxy; she's seen all kinds of creatures, and yet she's never seen a Mandalorian in reality.

"E-excuse me," she said, gaze averted as she brushed her hair behind her ear.

She shuffled past him quickly, head down. But his hand grasped her arms, and she stiffened considerably. She looked over her shoulder, terrified.

"U-um, c-can I help you?" she said, trying to take her arm back to no avail.

"Either come willingly or…," his modulated voice said, and then his other hand grasped his blaster in its holster.

"Um, I think you have the wrong… per—" She stopped short when he took his blaster out. She nodded in resignation and fought to keep her tears down.

They walked out of the busy cobbled street. She noticed she was being dragged towards his land speeder parallel parked in front of one of the massive buildings. There were a couple of stares. No one said or did anything even though she knew she was crying. Even if she screamed, she doubted they'd lift a finger. They'd just stare. No one cares. She could feel that.

"Get in."

One last time, she looked around for any support or means of escape but none presented itself. She was trapped. He's done his job well in picking a spot and time where there would be little resistance. And, she climbed in, trying not to vomit as much as possible.

When they took off towards maker knows where, she stole glances at him curiously. Normally, she could get a read on people through their expressions, but he's helmeted. She's read they never remove it in front of anyone, so she'll never understand the motivation through body language or expression. It was not an available avenue. But she had to get out of this somehow. She wasn't a fighter. Her options were appealing to his humanity (not likely), manipulation (more likely), or tricky of some sort (no opportunity). She had to try.

"Do you have a name?" she asked softly.

Silence.

"Surely, you go by something."

Silence.

"Don't Mandalorians usually kill their bounties or put them in carbonite?"

Silence.

"I couldn't possibly have a bounty on me. I'm nobody," she said simply. "Perhaps, you've mistaken me for someone else. The worst thing I've done is accidentally steal some lipstick when I was thirteen. I don't know how it ended up in my bag."

Silence.

They were heading out of the city into the green forest in between cities and towns. She remembered camping in these trees with her mom; her father never seemed interested as always. Where she and the Mandalorian were going specifically she didn't know, but she knew this area somewhat well. But she didn't see anything in sight.

"Where are we going?"

Silence of course.

"Are you ever going to answer a single question I ask you?"

Nothing.

Tears slipped down her face. It was like talking to a brick. She couldn't get through to him, and he was unresponsive. This was impossible. She held her legs to her chest and buried her face into her knees in misery. How was she going to get out of this? Who wanted her alive and captured? What is their intention? Did it have to do with her father once more? She's always been under his stupid foot. Now, he was probably the cause for this.

A starship was parked on the ground, and they were heading there. She stiffened in terror and startled when they parked. It's now or never. She immediately scrambled out of the speeder, planning to ditch him in the woods. But arms wrapped around her torso as she kicked, screamed, and cried.

"Please, please let me go!" she sobbed. "I haven't done anything. You're mistaken!"

"Silence, or I'll silence you."

He wrestled her hands together and bound her wrists with cuffs. She shuddered. She was terrified and caged in this man's arms. All she could do was shake and cry as he spun her around and set her on her feet outside of his land speeder.

He was standing behind her, looming over her. She felt his blaster press against the center of her back. She knew what he wanted, so she walked forward towards the ship. When she entered she moved away from him as far as she could as he sat in the cockpit. Her back pressed against the wall softly, and she sunk to the floor.

X

"Has anyone seen her yet?"

Mara turned around worry and anger coloring her features. She didn't appreciate the tone he was using. He's speaking as if it's her fault that no one seemed to know where their daughter was. She showed up on time, and Rey wasn't there. She didn't wait to search for her. This wasn't Mara's fault.

"I told you no. Everyone's still looking, Luke," she said irritably.

"Don't get mad at me. I left her to be picked up after school by you," he said.

"It's her responsibility to meet me there. She's a smart girl. You should give her more credit than you do."

"She could be dead for all we know!"

The panic in his eyes was obvious. She somewhat understood why he was so bent on having her watched every second. Mara actually spent time with her daughter and knew what she's capable of. What happened was years ago. The doctors checked her, and she's fine. It was one episode.

"It's only been an hour. It doesn't mean anything."

"Why are you brushing this off as if our other—"

"Mom? Dad?"

They turned, and it was their young son. He looked worried and tired. It was well past his bedtime. Immediately, Mara rushed over to Jacen and picked him up. Luke put his face in his hand, pinching the bridge of his nose. They forget about him in all this mess. At least he wasn't missing as well.

"I'm sorry, sweetie," Mara said softly. "Let's get you to bed."

As she headed upstairs, Luke said, "I'm going out to look for her. Take care of Jacen while I'm gone."

She frowned but nodded in agreement before going all the way upstairs.

He was going to find Rey. He was hoping this would never happen. It seemed he couldn't leave his daughter alone for ten seconds without her getting into some trouble. She was already heavily monitored. Whoever took her must have been highly skilled and planned for it. He just hoped she didn't reveal her last name. It held power and might make her situation worse.

X

"We're here," he said, startling her from her stupor.

"Where's here?" she questioned softly to herself knowing he wouldn't answer.

He stood from his cockpit, heading towards her, and she flinched away from him. He didn't approach her. He went to the hanger, pressed a button, and it opened. Then, he walked over to her, and she shrunk back.

"Let's go."

"No."

He grasped her cuffs and pulled her to her feet easily. She stumbled, nearly smashing her face into his plated chest again. She looked up and his intimidating stature and helmet was just above her face. He tilted his head down towards her, and she tried to see something beyond the helmet like his eyes. But she couldn't. He was a complete void to her. It was startling. Normally, she could gauge something from anyone. The Mandalorian? No.

"We're going."

She shook her head. She squealed in fright and protest when he picked her up and put over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. She was taken out of the ship. She couldn't see where she was going, only what she was leaving. Her nerves were alight, and she thought that she might vomit she was so nauseated.

"Is this her?"

She was placed on the ground, and she started back up, but her back smacked into the Mandalorian's chest. Large, gloved hands grasped her shoulders and held her still. She looked at the man surrounded by several guards. He was wearing an insignia she couldn't remember. It looked familiar. Perhaps the Resistance? No, it couldn't be, but she was so afraid she couldn't recall.

But her speculations were cut short when their leader walked forward and grasped her jaw. She glared up at him as best she could through the tears. His gaze was intense, analyzing her face. The look in his eyes reminded her of a predator looking at its prey. It disgusted her.

"Quite a decoy you have here, but this isn't Kalista, you idiot," he growled. Then, he let go of her jaw harshly. "Are you trying to pull one over on me? Is that it?"

Blasters were drawn, and she flinched. Wait, did he say Kalista? No, surely, this a coincidence. It can't be. No one's seen or heard of her in—

"She looks like the description on the bounty," he said simply. The hologram appeared on his wrist. "They look exactly alike."

"My sister…," Rey breathed in shock at the image before her.

She thought Kalista was dead ever since the night she just disappeared and that happened years ago. But the image on his bounty puck wasn't a lie. That wasn't Rey, of course. She never went through a dark, heavily made up phase, but that is the face they both share. It couldn't be anyone but Kalista. Cloning technology had been forbidden long ago after the clone wars.

"Sister?" The Mandalorian voiced aloud in confusion.

"I told you I wasn't wanted," she said indignantly, whimpering.

"Enough!" the leader shouted. "Boys, finish him off, but keep the girl alive. She'll be worth a pretty credit in other markets after I'm finished with her. It'll more than make up for the fuel I burned getting here."

Weapons were drawn.

Her eyes widened in fear. She tried to run, but the Mandalorian grasped her around her torso, and pulled her behind him. Blasters fired and bounced off his armor. He drew his blaster as well, firing back. She stood and ran, tripping onto the floorboard without the balance of her arms to aid her. But she kicked the close button for the hatch of his ship and crawled behind something.

The Mandalorian unfortunately rushed in without any visible damage as blasters continued to fire outside the ship.

"Let's get out of here."