Chapter 5
A Brawl in the Bazaar
Blue light from the morning sky outside brought Rey out of her deep slumber. Her arm still ached under her blanket, but her back felt less bruised and she finally had some energy in her again. The outline of the cabin grew clearer as her eyes adjusted to the near-darkness. Across from her the dark shape of her unexpected savior made itself visible. During the night he had fallen from his sitting position and curled up on his side in the seat, his back to her and his light snores drifting through the still air. His hair had grown a bit longer since Crait and parts of it hung off the edge of the seats.
Rey breathed through her nose and sat up in her bunk. Yes, the pain from her back had diminished since yesterday. She stretched her arms over her head and stifled a yawn as to not wake Ben. Did most everything heal overnight? It sure felt like it. Her hair hung in ragged strands around her grimy face, so she put it up in a half bun. She was in desperate need of a shower.
A quick wash in the lake would do her more good than sitting around here. Quietly she stepped onto the dark floor of the cabin. Creeping past Ben, she pressed the button by the doors and they slid open with a small hiss. Ben was as still as a corpse despite the noise. Rey nodded to herself and walked out into their clearing, shutting the entryway behind her.
The coolness of the morning breeze filled her lungs. An orange sun peeked over the horizon, a curious visitor to their place of safety. She touched the bark of every tree she passed, reveling in the earthy roughness of each trunk. The lake shimmered and swayed, throwing up sparks of reflected sunlight. Rey found a large rock by the water to sit on. She took a seat and popped off her dirty boots before easing her toes into the cool water. It felt incredible.
The quiet majesty of the surrounding mountains helped Rey's thoughts along as she sat and splashed water into her face and hair with her good hand. If it hadn't been for Ben, she'd be smashed to pieces in the wreckage of the Millennium Falcon. He wrapped up her arm and carried her to bed when she couldn't stand up. Why? They already knew each other more intimately than she thought was possible, but they had left each other in such a bad place on Crait. She had closed her door on him after all that he'd done to her, after he had betrayed her. Anger rose up in her at the very memory of his sad, sad eyes gazing up at her, begging forgiveness for his despicable actions.
Forgiveness never seemed like an option back then, but now things were scarily different.
She ran her fingers through the grooves of her cast, kicking her legs in the water and creating small splashes. It felt strange to have someone else bandage her up. It definitely wasn't an unpleasant change, though.
"Having fun?"
Ben appeared behind her, holding an open ration pack and chewing on a small piece of bread. In the dim light he looked like a massive shadow given life.
"Actually, I am," she replied. She kicked at the water, sending ripples throughout the giant lake. "You should join me. You look like you could use a good splash to the face."
"And have you ruin my carefully crafted grime? I think not," he grunted as he sat on the ground next to Rey's rock. He took out a chunk of jerky and bit into it, staring out into the water. It was a strange sight, seeing the former Supreme Leader cross-legged on the dirt, eating out of a plastic bag like she would have done on Jakku.
"Last night was my first real night of sleep in years," he said out of the blue.
Rey ceased her splashing and looked at him. The bags that usually underlined his eyes were not as pronounced, and the tired lines of his face seemed to have vanished.
"I'm glad. For once you don't look like utter bantha scat."
Ignoring her comment, Ben stood up and took off his gloves, then proceeded to dip his hands in the cold water and splash his face. The suns were almost completely up now, and their light shone on his wet hair. Rey saw her opportunity and took it. She kicked up, dousing Ben's face.
He shot up, coughing and spitting water out of his mouth.
"What was that for?" he choked.
"That's for Crait," she answered snidely.
Before Rey had time to react, Ben lifted his hand and Force-threw water into her face. Now it was Rey's turn to sputter and gag.
"That's for leaving me on the Supremacy," he countered. His tone was joking, but his face looked stony.
Anger rose up in her suddenly, but it quickly subsided. They both had things they needed to talk about, and a water fight was probably not the most mature way to about it.
"I am sorry," she told him, and she meant it. Immediately his expression changed to one of patience. The pair were silent for a moment or two.
"Me, too," he sighed, wiping the water off his face with his hand. His scar stood out to Rey more than it had before. The cut on her arm felt as if someone was pressing a fingertip to it.
His ungloved hands moved to unclip his soaked doublet.
"Do you mind?"
Rey shook her head, praying that the blush that crept up her cheeks wasn't too noticeable. He shrugged off the doublet to reveal a dark sleeveless top underneath. Rey sighed in relief. If she had to relive that session again she'd sooner jump in the lake and swim away.
Drinking in the sunlight pouring over the valley, they both remained still and silent for a number of minutes. The shape of him standing beside her felt natural, like a puzzle piece fitting in precisely the right spot.
Rey's toes had surely shriveled up by now, and she took her feet out of the water. "You said there was a village up there?" she asked, pointed to the mountain in front of them.
He nodded. "We can go, if you're feeling up for it." He gestured to her cast.
"I'm feeling fine," she affirmed. "A million times better, actually."
"Looks like sleeping together did us both some good." Ben brushed the dirt off of his pants. His body was as broad and pale as she remembered.
Then he realized what he had said, and he bit his lip in embarrassment. Rey dipped her head, stifling an unkind laugh. She stood up and pulled on her boots.
They trudged back to the shuttle, Rey wringing out her hair and Ben tucking his doublet under his arm. The tension between them could be cut with a lightsaber.
Ben took the pilot's seat while Rey sat adjacent to him. Soon they were in the air and off to the hidden village. Rey's stomach growled at the thought of fresh food. The steam seemed to swirl right in front of her eyes.
"I think I saw them around here…" Ben thought out loud. Rey peered out the window as the shuttle descended lower and lower towards a clearing underneath them. A shudder told Rey they had landed, and the door lowered to invite them out.
A huge steep wall had been carved into the side of the mountain. Squat huts of timbers and stone sat on wooden pallets drilled into the cliffside, rope bridges and ladders connecting each house with its neighbors. Dozens upon dozens dotted the vertical space. Taller stone buildings lined the ground, torches standing by each entrance. A small dirt path wound around these structures. Smoke rose from some of the roofs and Rey could pick out snatches of chatter somewhere to their left.
"They must be all gathered somewhere," she said, and she marched forward towards the dirt road. Ben followed, a hand on his lightsaber. His eyes shifted around.
Their boots crunched on the gravel and the voices became louder. The path angled downwards, and Rey had to hold her arms out as the not slip and fall. There they came across what they had needed.
A vast marketplace occupied a great clearing of trees. Stalls were lined by the ring of trees surrounding them and more crowded the center. Villagers flowed from one vendor to another like a living river, haggling over prices and shouting about their wares. Smoke and steam rose into the sky and the smells that drifted from those clouds almost drove Rey mad. Red curtains clashed with the lighter wood of the stalls. But most curious of all were the villagers themselves. Rey had never seen creatures such as these. They were tall and slim, with cloven hooves for feet but long hands where hands should be. Long dark horns sprouted from long heads with narrow snouts, and Rey noticed some of them were adorned with small charms carved from pink stone. Each one sported light or dark green scales mostly covered by brown robes or loose-fitting pants and shirts. Families and their bouncing children walked from stall to stall, bleating in a language Rey couldn't understand. Judging by the apprehensive look on Ben's face, he didn't know either.
The two walked slowly toward the crowd. All at once every villager hushed their conversations and stopped in their tracks. A hundred curious eyes landed on Rey and Ben, forcing them to cease as well. Visitors were not common here, it seemed.
Ben's grip on his lightsaber tightened and he gritted his teeth, but Rey placed a hand on his shoulder. "They're not going to attack us," she whispered to him before directing her attention to the market.
"We are travelers from off-world," she announced to the mass of aliens. "We just want supplies and we'll leave when you want us to."
Only a few children stirred in their spots, but the rest of them remained still. A series of rhythmic thumps sounded from Rey's right and a villager, draped with deep red and green robes, approached them.
He looked much older, with a wiry white beard hanging from his chin. His horns were wrapped up in pink charms, and he walked with a long, intricately carved cane. His deep yellow eyes bore into Rey's, then Ben's. Her pulse quickened. Then the strangers wrapped his long, scaled hands around the top of his cane and spoke.
"You two are very powerful in the Force." He spoke Basic, but a thick accent permeated each word.
Rey and Ben looked at one another, reflecting the same confusion.
"Yes," Ben replied, and Rey nodded. Ben's hand returned to the weapon on his belt. "Why do you say that?"
"You must leave. Now. It's for your own good." The stranger turned from them and started walking back the way he came. The villagers still stared at the new arrivals expectantly.
Rey heard Ben scoff beside her "Can you give us a good reason, at least? This woman is hurt, and we need supplies." He gestured to Rey's cast, which she held up helpfully.
Suddenly a massive rumble tore through the air. Rey nearly jumped out of her singed clothes.
The old villager sighed and pointed a gnarled finger up into the sky. Ben's face twisted in anger.
A gray First Order destroyer now dominated the blue of the sky, and as Rey watched a small sleek transport ship launched from one of its sides and began to descend.
"It appears it is too late." The older alien glared at them. "They're here for you. Go and hide."
How had he known? Why was he helping them?
Ben and Rey looked at each other again, now with fear. Before she could say anything, Ben grabbed her hand and lumbered towards into the safety of a nearby building. Rey's heart startled at the sudden contact but ran after him into the arched doorway. His gloves were still gone, and his palm was warm. They crouched behind the doorway, which was thankfully shielded with a curtain of red fabric. She was careful not to touch his bare shoulder with hers.
The transport touched down where they had been standing a minute ago. Its doors opened with a menacing burst of steam and out stepped a dozen or so stormtroopers, blasters at the ready. Behind them strolled a small blonde woman dressed smartly in a black uniform. She walked with her hands tucked behind her back, surveying the scene with a sneer. Her look was almost flawless, with the exception of a large bruise on her left cheek.
Ben exhaled sharply and shifted his weight on his knees. He knew this woman. Not it a good way, judging by his reaction to seeing her.
She approached the old alien, who hit his cane into the dirt and stood his ground. The stormtroopers massed around him. Mothers in the marketplace held crying children, and fathers had unsheathed long spears. The whole sight sickened Rey and she held back from leaping from their cover and sprinting at this woman.
"I assume you already know why am here, Exbi," the First Order officer said sweetly. She wore a painted red smile that looked anything but inviting.
Exbi nodded, the charms on his horns clicking together. "The Force tells me things you wish you could know, Colonel Penma," he grumbled quietly. "Hopefully we can settle this quickly. Your troopers are scaring my people."
"Where are they? We've had theories that Ren may have run here instead of jumping to another quadrant. We think the scavenger girl is with him as well."
"I have seen no such people. Take your business somewhere else, you're wasting your time. I do not care about your Supreme Leader nor his antics." With a final tap of his cane Exbi turned away from the colonel and back towards to marketplace. The eyes of the villagers followed his every hobbling step.
"We're not finished yet," Penma snarled and she signaled to one of stormtroopers. He moved toward Exbi and grabbed him roughly by the collar. A blaster dug into the alien's temple. Some of the villagers shrieked in fear, a collective squeal that tore at Rey's heart.
She felt herself begin to duck out of the doorway, but Ben held her back with his arm.
"Are you insane?," he hissed through gritted teeth.
"I think you should start caring very soon here," Penma called to Exbi, her smile returning in full force. "You know where they are, I can tell. Or will I have to shoot some of your people to confirm my suspicions?"
"We can't just sit here and do nothing!" Rey pushed his arm back and reached her hand out. The nearest stormtrooper was about twenty feet away. Rey wanted his blaster, and she closed her eyes and concentrated.
The weapon soared out of the trooper's grip and to Rey, where she caught it with relative difficulty in one hand. It was pretty heavy, and bulky, but she knew she could manage.
She aimed and fired right into the stormtrooper's chest.
He fell to the ground with a clatter and his comrades spun around, alerted by the noise. It was now or never. Rey burst from the doorway and ran at the troopers, blaster blazing. Her busted arm hung uselessly by her side.
"Blast her!" screamed Penma, forcing Exbi and the stormtrooper holding him back away from the fight.
Shots zipped past, but Rey was undeterred. She landed another bolt into an armored leg, another into a white-clad shoulder. They dropped into the dirt.
The crowd of villagers was moving erratically now, either taking cover or sprinting away from the firefight. The noise was enough to split Rey's ears, but she trudged forward, unleashing a barrage of lasers as fast as she could.
When the returning fire proved to be too thick, she dashed to the market in search of some cover. Ducking behind a stall stacked with roasted meat, she slammed her back into the wood and shot more rounds into the onslaught of troopers running her way. Shout of "She's this way!" and "Blast her!" rang out all around her. Despite her frightening situation, the savory scents of the food above rumbled her stomach.
One soldier appeared over the table of the stall, blaster pointing into her face. The cold, expressionless helmet took up most of her vision. A rush of pure fear for her life took over and her good arm struggled to lift the gun up to defend herself. It couldn't end like this.
Something black and metallic flew through the air and smashed the trooper's helmet with a resounding crunch. He fell straight to the dirt. Rey looked over the table and saw a frying pan lying next to the unconscious body.
"Rey! Are you alright?"
Ben skidded to a halt in front of her, his lightsaber hissing and spitting in time with his heavy breathing. His black hair had turned frizzy with sweat.
"I'm okay," she said quietly, slowly standing up. "You saved me."
"Of course. Why is that such a surprise?" Eyes wild, he turned as more troopers made their way towards them.
Two blaster bolts whizzed by his head and into the stall, incinerating the light wood.
"Here, trade me." He held out his lightsaber over the counter.
Rey tossed him the blaster and grabbed his lightsaber. Ben nodded quickly and sprinted to the next stall over, shooting over his shoulder. Incredibly, one bolt caught a trooper in the head and he collapsed instantly. Rey had to admit she was impressed.
Ben's blade was weightless, and her good arm rejoiced. She vaulted over the table and slashed down, bringing a stormtrooper down with it. One bolt almost caught her in the chest. She noticed just in time and held the saber out, blocking the blow. She almost smiled at her success, but another round of fire from their enemies forced her back.
She managed to stab one in the chest before slashing another through the shoulder. Sweat beaded for forehead and her adrenaline shot up tenfold. Having not held a working lightsaber in weeks, the exhilaration of it came back suddenly. The grace and style and the power.
Another trooper came up behind her suddenly and she turned on her heel to meet him, saber at the ready. Before the man could take another step, however, a red laser hit in square in the chest, knocking him back ward a little. Rey look up to see Ben jogging towards her, blaster smoking.
Now they were back to back, blaster and lightsaber protecting one another. The marketplace seemed to transform into Snoke's throne room before Rey's eyes, the feeling of familiarity was so strong. Instead of eight highly trained guards, though, only two stormtroopers remained. Rey blocked shots while Ben returned them, quickly finishing them off.
They stood still for a number or seconds. His breathing was deep and slow while hers was fast and shallow. His lightsaber buzzed in her hand, full of barely-contained power. Ben tossed the blaster to the ground and held out his hand. She placed the saber there with some care.
"Thank you," she panted, placing her hands on her knees. Her broken arm ached. She could feel the shape of him again, fitting in beside her. Looking up she met his eyes, which had calmed but were still steely. His face became softer.
"You're welcome," he responded, rubbing at his right arm. "It's been a while since I used a blaster."
"Kylo Ren!" a high-pitched voice belted from behind them. The two turned around to find Penma a short distance away with her last stormtrooper, who still held a gun to Exbi's head.
Ben's expression hardened again.
"Surrender to me or your friends die." She drew her small blaster from the folds of her uniform and aimed the barrel at Rey's chest.
He put his fists on his hips and didn't respond.
Rey looked at Ben in horror, but he stared straight ahead, not meeting her eyes. What was his plan? But something in her gut rose us. He had saved her before, he'd do it again now. She'd have to trust him. She didn't move.
Penma took the bait and shot towards Rey, an evil gleam in her icy blue eyes.
The laser stopped in midair for a split second, as if the air around it had frozen. Amazed, Rey's eyes followed the bolt as it bounced back and shot into the stormtrooper's head, knocking both him and Exbi into the ground.
Penma's mouth gaped in shock and she fired another shot towards Rey, which missed. This time Rey was ready.
She extended her hand and poured every ounce of will into one massive push. The colonel was swept off the ground and flew back ten feet, landing on her back in a pile of firewood. Rey cringed at the crunch of the impact.
"Nice job," Ben told her, a bemused tone settling in his voice. She noticed that one of his hands was open to the enemy like hers. He had deflected the bolt with his mind.
"That's the first time I've seen that happen," she said, fascinated.
"I never could get it to go back like that." He stared at his hand, as interested as Rey was. "We must be getting better."
Exbi still lay on the ground next to the dead trooper. Rey ran towards them and offered her hand to the older alien. He took it slowly and she lifted him off the dusty ground with ease. He weighed almost nothing. His cane lay a few feet away and she returned it to him.
"Thank you. Thank you both," he wheezed, brushing dirt off of his robes.
"I'm so sorry this all happened, you told us to leave." Rey looked over her shoulder at the remaining villagers. "Are any of you hurt?"
"They are all safe," answered Exbi. Villagers from all sides started to approach the two victors, eyes wide and snippets of awed chatter swirling through the air with the smoke. Ben turned off his lightsaber and clipped it back on his belt with a confused look to Rey.
A child dashed forward from the crowd and clung to Rey's leg with a small cry. She almost toppled over from the impact but held steady and patted the child on the back as it babbled in clicks and chirps.
"She's thankful you and the man were here to drive the bad men away," Exbi translated. Grinning with gratitude, Rey glanced over to Ben, who stood with his bare arms crossed over his chest. A small smile graced his lips. She found herself staring at him, entranced. Never before had she gotten more than a mean smirk out of him.
The child let go and ran back to its parents in the big crowd. Rey and Ben stood together as the villagers swelled around them, their conversations growing louder and more joyous. A few of them reached their hands out to touch them. Exbi remained a few feet back, his eyes closed and his face content. Rey flushed at the extensive attention while Ben looked as if he wanted nothing more than to fall through the ground.
"I'm afraid there is still a small matter to attend to," Exbi shouted to them over the din of the villagers. He turned to shuffle towards the woodpile where Penma had been thrown into and she and Ben followed.
The colonel lay spread eagle on her back with her sharp eyes closed in unconsciousness. Her previously spotless uniform was now smeared with dirt and dust. As soon as Ben and Rey approached, her eyes snapped open and regarding the them with upmost disgust.
"We will kill you, Ren. Hux and the others in command will make sure of that."
"I don't think you're in any position to make threats," Rey growled. She wished she had her staff, so she could bring it down across the officer's face.
"You think you're safe, scavenger? We'll hunt you down just like the desert beast you are, along with your lunatic boyfriend."
Ben crouched down to look her in the eye. His jaw was set.
"You can say whatever you want about me, but do not speak to her that way." A tremor shook his voice.
He held his hand over her head. "You will leave this planet and return to the Finalizer. There you will tell Hux you found nothing and that your troopers are patrolling the area just in case. You will also tell me what has happened to my guards."
"What?" she blithered. "Why would I do such a –"
"You will listen to him." Rey put out her hand as well and summoned her most commanding tone. He looked back at her, nodding in gratitude. Then both of them focused all of their attention on the mind they were trying to sway.
Penma's eyes glazed over and her mouth gaped.
"The guards escaped on a transport. We couldn't catch them." She said in a blank voice.
Ben sighed in relief and repeated his first order.
Penma stumbled out of the woodpile with some difficulty and walked slowly back to the open transport in a trance. Once inside, Penma closed the doors and the ship lifted into the sky and disappeared into the vast blue. Rey resisted the urge to sarcastically wave goodbye to their adversary.
"Two mind tricks at once? I'm surprised you didn't break her brain," Exbi chortled from behind. The old villager tapped his cane into the dirt in amusement.
"You know the ways of the Force?" Ben asked.
"I have since I was a younger man." Exbi tapped his temple. "Though, I've been more skilled in its precognitive disciplines rather than telekinetic. It helps with the business of leading a village such as this."
He held out his hand. "I've been expecting you two for quite some time. It's a pleasure."
Rey and Ben shook his hand, perplexed by his last words. Both of them have had visions, but apparently not to the extent this alien did.
"Now please, make yourselves at home. I'll have my best healers take care of that arm for you." Exbi stepped aside for a group of robed women, who gently took Rey by the arms and started leading her away. She couldn't understand a word of their friendly-sounding chatter.
She looked back at Ben with a confused smile, who gave her a little wave.
"And you, my friend," she heard Exbi say to Ben, "are in need of new clothes and a wash. I'll see to it that you are well taken care of."
Another group of women steered him in the same direction Rey was headed, back up to the hill towards the cliffside houses and rocky buildings. Seeing the helpless look on his face caused her to bubble with laughter. To her surprise she witnessed yet another smile, an awkward one but a little bigger than the last.
She turned back around, heart fluttering, and tried her best to take her focus away from him. Instead she listened closely to her companions.
First it was their time by the lake, then the rush of fighting together again, and now this. Rey gulped nervously. What else did the universe have in store for the two of them?