Year 22 ABY
In some worlds, mythology claims that the desert was created as punishment by the gods. That these omniscient beings once ruled over lands of lush, vibrant green enveloped by soothing waves in which man and nature lived side by side. Their Utopian ambience shattered when man's unbridled druthers compelled them to lay waste upon the earth. Irate by the human's spoliation the gods took all animals of amicable temperament unto heaven, leaving naught save monsters. They did so in hopes the experience would teach them the value of empathy after it was lost. Humanity responded by skinning these beasts alive and using the heads as trophies. Vexed at the effete violence, it was decided that we were unworthy of the gifts bestowed upon them. The mighty rivers turned beige, trees turned to ash and clouds faded from the sky, till only the desert remained. Which God cast the eternal drought is of little consequence. It could have been Ashla, Shiraya, Am-Shak or Galeer.* What's important is that the humans caused it. As a result humans are easy pickings in Jakku.

If you ask the child working inside Unkar Plutt's shop she'll say it seems foolish to hate an entire species over something that happened millions of years ago. But no one ever asks for a kid's opinion. Most of his customers look at her and see a blight. They make her trip, step over her parts, talk behind her back. They don't care about her age. This isn't Chandrilla or Coruscant where democratic governments enforce civil rights. The desert spares not on account of youth and neither should they. Rey hasn't been on Jakku that long but she knows how it works. It's nothing personal really, just survival of the fittest. Some days that's hard to recall. A Dathomir lady claiming to be a witch bowed and called her sister once, scaring everyone present. All who witnessed the event treated her better afterwards, for reasons unexplained to her. Sadly Unkar Plutt wasn't among them. Probably for the best though, theirs is a respect tinged in fear. If given the choice, she'd prefer their love. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering. (Not again, please be quiet talking froggy). Whenever she's angry the funny green frog shows up. He's not mean but he's extremely annoying. He starts yapping about emotions being dangerous, pride before the fall, blah blah blah. Doesn't he have anything else to do besides space psychology? Or is she so pathetic the only imaginary friend willing to keep her company is a pedantic blatherskite? He's been more absent since she started praying before going to sleep. Good riddance then.

A middle-rim family came to the shop today for parts to fix their ship. They were sweaty, anxious and unaccustomed to the land but Rey could feel how happy they were just by being together. She can't clarify it to others, furthermore she doesn't want to. Nobody will ever help her again if they think she's crazy. Unkar had shoved her under the table when they appeared, muttering "legal affairs", whatever that means. He told her to be silent cause if they saw her, they would take her away. That was all he had to say: if she's carried off Jakku, she'll never see her family again! All throughout the day she stayed still with deathlike quiet. She did so well, Unkar checked if she was alive. Yet despite her success, no prideful joy fills her when they're gone. Having a taste of her heart's desire increased her anguish. The little boy in the family had spoken about the rebel pilots who vanquished a supposably unbeatable villain. That's it, that's what she needs: a rebel! She spends the next week scourging for the necessary supplies. The hardest thing to find is the orange cloth for the jumpsuit but by the end of the week an old x-wing fighter provides the elusive material. She stays awake all night shaping her solution. Her fingers hurt and there's bags under her eyes when she's finished.

" Your name is mister Rebel dolly. You're the hero and I'm the damsel in distress. A great evil separated me from what I love. Bring back my family please. You can do anything: that's why you're a rebel isn't it?"

Her project stays motionless on the ground. Stupid girl, what was I thinking? There's no such thing as magic & even if it was real, Miracles don't happen on Jakku. Still, it'd be nice to have an imaginary friend who's well-mannered. After all, its not rebel dolly's fault that he's inanimate. Then she could have somebody to talk to and play with & go on hunting parties (where'd the last one come from?) She snuggles her new friend and marvels at the fact that she's not sleeping alone anymore. Rey closes her eyes and enters the island.

At least my angel will never leave me.

Notes:

Ashla: another name for the Daughter.
Am-Shak: Weequay deity known as the God of thunder.
Shiraya: Naboo goddess of the moon.
Galeer: Ewok deity of the wind.
Hands out tin cup:please and review, I need proof folks like this story