Last On: The Force Ghosts are using the Equinox to appear as living beings in this relm. But they have only one day to do it.
Chapter 10
The next morning Ben woke with dawn and left his tent. He saw that Rey had sealed herself into the broken shuttle, and he debated trying to open it to wake her. In the end, though, he packed up their belongings, and prepared a quick meal out of the leftovers from last night's meal. He used the force to relight the ashes from the fire, and mixed water with the container of Patok flour to make some flat cakes, into which he folded in some Reenole Berries.
Rey woke up to the smell of food cooking, and timidly joined him. Neither of them spoke for what seemed like forever. Then out of nowhere there came a voice. Both Ben and Rey turned immediately to see a Tholothian woman, wearing a long white dress, walking through the woods towards their camp.
"Greetings travelers, if you are looking for food and lodgings, I recommend our village. It's south of here, past where your other ship landed," she spoke.
Ben squinted to study her. Rey pulled out her makeshift staff before the woman finished speaking. "Who are you?" Ben questioned.
"My name is Adi, I am a survivor of the First Order's invasion of Calabria," she said.
"There were no survivors," Ben said without pause.
"B…," Rey started to speak, but Ben held out his hand and seemed to stop her voice in her mouth.
"I am Kylo Ren, Supreme Leader of the First Order. Every citizen on Calabria was moved to one of our forced labor camps over three years ago. But I don't care if or how you've escaped the First Order's eye. If you want to keep your settlement, and your life, I'd suggest you give us back the stolen parts to our shuttles.
Ben and Rey both expected Adi to respond with some level of anxiety. She hardly blinked, even when Ben pulled out his lightsaber and whacked a branch near her head with it.
"I will inquire about your missing part to my community. Though I won't tell anyone who you are. Go to the village. I will find you there when I have news." She turned to walk away. Then just before she left their eyesight, she turned back and said, "But perhaps your friend should wear something more traditional, if you wish to blend in. A dress, perhaps." She continued walking and soon was out of view.
"What was that about. She was only greeting us, and you threatened her and her village." Rey turned to Ben and complained.
"You were the first to pull out a weapon," Ben said calmly.
"In defense! I didn't throw it around attempting to scare her!" Rey shouted.
"And what would you have done. I showed her power, so she wouldn't go back and tell her friends that we're weak!" Ben yelled back.
"I would have asked her for her help. If she is part of a group looking to attack us, they're gonna do it, regardless of how you threaten one woman," Rey's eyes filled with tears as she angrily yelled at Ben. When she was finished, Ben didn't speak back. She sat down and attempted to clear her eyes, when Ben looked down at her with a beaten puppy dog expression. It only lasted a few seconds, and his face was restored to a cool facade when Rey looked up again. "What do we do now, then."
"We will go check out this village. If it's a trap, it's probably the quickest way to find those who robbed us, and if it's not, It'll have food and lodgings."
"Alright, but what about what she said, about my clothes. I don't own a dress, and I certainly wouldn't have brought one here."
Ben went to his bags and pulled out the dress that was in the ship's hold. He threw it at Rey and she caught it and held it up to her. "I'd ask why, but I'm afraid to know."
"It was in the ship, as I said, someone's date night got ruined by the General's plans for me." Ben summarized.
"Yes, but if I were going on a date. I'd wear the dress to the date."
"You've gone on so many dates. I thought you didn't even own a dress." Ben didn't know why, but this thought made him mad.
"Hey, don't get snappy. I'm only guessing." Rey disappeared into the shuttle to try on the dress.
When she emerged, Ben was so stunned he dropped what he was holding. The long blue dress had a silky texture and it glinted in the sunlight. It had a long cut up the side to make walking easier. She had somehow placed her belt over the dress waistline, and it held her two weapons still.
"You won't need that," Ben said, pointing to the belt.
"And where else do you suggest I put my lightsaber or my staff."
"You won't need weapons. If there is anyone in this village, you can try your nonthreatening approach." Ben raised a hand, and the belt unclicked and flew to his hands.
"Hey! And what if it is a trap."
"Then I will be armed enough for the both of us." He removed the lightsaber and placed it on his own belt. Rey also noticed then that he had somehow acquired a blaster, as it was also on his belt.
Rey reached and out flew her staff. She glared at Ben, as she leaned her weight on it as a walking stick.
"As you wish." Ben said, as he motioned for Rey to step first into the forest.
"You were right about switching Mace Windu and Adi Gallia's roles. She did well, and they are on their way." said Luke. "Though I don't know why you insisted she suggest the dress."
"Are you kidding me. Did you see his face when she came out wearing it." Anakin said.
"He looked surprised."
"He looked aroused. Leia was wise to send it."
"This might work better than we hoped," said Luke.
"Don't get too excited, son. The next step is getting him to know what he wants," said Anakin.
"And convincing that boy of anything will be hard. He has his mother's stubborn side, and his father's emotive intelligence," Luke agreed.
"We better get to work then," said Anakin.
I know by now this seems like begging, but PLEEEAAAASE leave a review. I am practicing some new skills with my writing. I can take criticism, but I need feedback to know what is working and what's not. Thank you all who've already left a review.
