I've been looking on information on possible illnesses and/or health issue Rey would be dealing with, from living on Jakku.
...Turns out, from some of the signs she shown and the likelihood on how she could get it from inhaling dust and sand, especially from scavenging for over fourteen years (Very likely, she didn't learn how to scavage and wasn't taught to, before her parents abandoned her.)... She can possibly have Silicosis (A form of occupational lung disease caused by inhalation of crystalline silica dust [Found in dirt, sand, rock, soil or mineral ores.]. It's like, but can be misdiagnosed, as pulmonary edema, pneumonia, or tuberculosis.).
She knew she can't keep this up.
All around her, everything is breaking and crumbling, just as much as her hold on keeping her emotions bundle up and not give in to the pressure to let it out.
She can't allow anybody to see her break. She can't afford anyone to see the pressure and stress having its effect on her.
Rey is a Jedi... Or, to everybody in the galaxy, the Last Jedi. And Jedis are suppose to reject their emotions. To not allow fear, anger, aggression or even hatred to lure her away from the Light.
This title, this burden that's been placed on her, is so very heavy. And she knows, deep down, she isn't strong enough to carry.
Rey finds herself to her training spot: A grassy-hill, next to a forest seven miles from the closest city of Sarvchi, with a couple boulders sitting off to her west. It's barely five minutes from the ships, yet, already, she's gasping for air. As if she ran a marathon, and not a simple walk.
The wind, blowing a slightly-chilly, but refreshing breeze, helped her cool down her feverish body. She's been burning up since Daxam IV, and had been dealing with an uncontrollable fever that keeps coming back every few hours.
The irritation in her lungs came back, making the breathing much more difficult and forcing her to her knees.
'No!' She thought to herself, trying to will herself to fight the ache in her lungs and to stop coughing. 'Stop coughing! Fight it, and stop coughing!'
A Jedi can't be weak. A Jedi mustn't allow themselves to allow any form of weakness to render them worthless to others.
...She can't allow herself, a nothing, to be unable to serve her task... What she was destined to do.
Her stomach growled, both in hunger and distress.
Rey, finally gaining control of her cough, pushed herself back to her feet and, with her quarterstaff now held in both grip, began her training.
She imagines herself surrounded by Snoke's Elite Praetorian Guards, all of their weapons out and aimed to kill her. Taking shallow breath, she charges.
She imagines having her lightsaber out, but as a lightstaff, and readies herself to fight the guards... Without Ben at her side.
Eight versus one, two of each wielding the same weapon: Vibro-voulges, electro-bisentos, Bilari electro-chain whips and heavy double-bladed vibro-arbir blades.
To her left, a guard with the double-bladed vibro-arbir blade charged and swiped his weapon to her face. She blocked it with one end of her lightstaff and, pushing his weapon aside, turned to block a guard with a Bilari electro-chain whip with the other-end, kicking him in the midsection to force him back.
A second vibro-arbir blade user, weaving out of the way, and went to strike her across the face, while behind her, a guard with a electro-bisento went to attack her back.
Rey dropped to her knees, blocking both attacks with both ends... Then, her lungs felt scratches.
Both her arms fell, grasping her quarterstaff with her right, as she coughed into her left-hand. She felt something wet and sticky coming up, making her coughing sound wet. When she pulled her hand away and coughed at the open air, she sees what she knew was phlegm that left her mouth.
...It was brown... Dark-brown.
Kalonia told her that dark-brown phlegm is tenacious phlegm, which is seen in people who have cystic fibrosis or bronchiectasis... A chronic lung disease.
She doesn't know much about diseases, but Rey know that it's something very bad, a worse kind of sickness to gain.
Back on Jakku, many scavengers are prone to getting sick. Without proper medication to keep them healthy, with only gaining a shot to prevent infection from a 'certified' physician that only shows up when its convenient. Of course, they have to give up either the scraps they found or all their portions they receive from Plutt if they want to get the shot. Even when they can be chocking in sand, bleed from their eyes and nose, or is seconds from dying, the doctor wouldn't treat them and would turn a blind-eye to let them die.
Rey knew he works for Unkar Plutt; witnessing how he would offer Plutt medical kits for him to use for himself in exchange for twenty-eight portions. She never bother to get the shots; anyone who works with and/or for Plutt, is somebody who isn't worth handing over their lives to. Besides, most would choose food over medication, even if it means waking up the next day in pain, suffering through aches and suffocation.
Again, her stomach growled from the thought of food, craving to digest after four days without anything put in it.
She groaned, slamming her right-fist and quarterstaff into the grass.
'I'm not hungry,' she thought to herself. 'I went a whole week without food, and can keep going, after that, before I drop dead.'
Her left-hand fisted into the ground, pulling a few strands of grass. She stared down at the green in her hand, swallowing a lump in her throat when her stomach grumbled and ached for food.
...Then, having her moment of weakness, she shoved the grass into her mouth, eating them.
The taste wasn't anywhere near satisfying. The smell made her nose feel a bit stuffed up.
Yet, she's willing to get her stomach to stop growling, by any means necessary. And, in order to ensure that the Resistance can have rations for an extra few days or longer, she's more than willing to eat grass.
...It's what she deserved. It's what should be her punishment for being weak. Being so gullible.
...For even believing, when she and Ben touched hands, that she could bring him back to the Light.
"Young fool. It was I who bridged your minds. I stoked Ren's conflicted soul. I knew he was not strong enough to hide it from you, and you were not wise enough to resist the bait."
Snoke's words, revealing that he was the one to force them to link, back when she was on Ahch-To and trying to get Luke to help Leia and the Resistance, mocked her. As if reminding her that she's at fault in all of this.
Even in death, he still has a way to hurt her, much worse than when forcing her to show him where Luke Skywalker was hiding.
She coughed, slightly choking when a few blades of grass rubbed against her throat and wouldn't go down, but continued to pull at the grass and eat a few more fist full of them to get her stomach to stop growling.
When she couldn't bring herself to eat any more, she leaned back, panting for air.
She immediately regretted her choice to eating grass, but in her head, she knew this is her punishment. That she deserves the discomfort. The ache that came with the body's struggle on digesting grass. And soon, she'll be puking it out and her stomach will cramp from being empty, again.
'A Jedi doesn't let anything get to them,' she stated in her mind. 'A Jedi takes what is given to them and must accept it, without complaint.'
She was so focused on her thoughts, she didn't hear the calling of the Force contacting her.
...Then, a shiver of dread ran down her back.
Four and a Half Hours Later, on the Resistance Transport...
The three suns of Sarvchi sank over the hills, allowing the dusk to come in and the night to take place of the day.
And, with the dark, a curtain of safety and conceals the two ships from any First Order ships to find them at night.
Within the ship, twenty-three of the twenty-six Resistance Members all sat in the bridge, each having their food of ration, a nutrition bar and a small-loaf of crusty bread, along with a small-canteen of water. It isn't much, but for them on having to not eat for many days, their meals was as joyous as having a grand feast. Leia, being the third member not accounted, was with See-Threepio and Artoo-Deetoo at the Falcon, needing a private conversation before joining the others.
The only one not accounted and not eating with them Rose, who volunteered to go get Rey from her solo training, and Kalonia, wanting to check on their medical supplies before joining the others.
Finn would've went with her to get their sister, but Rose threatened to taze him if he tries to leave with her and doesn't finish his meal. And after the first and (so far) last time that she tazed him, he made sure to always stay on his girlfriend's good side.
Yes, after their escape from Crait and Rose saved him from sacrificing himself to destroy the First Order's cannon, Finn got himself a girlfriend.
And like an embarrassing big brother, Poe congratulated his friend and teased him to not chicken out when he gets her pregnant. Of course, Jessika elbowed him of his teasing, before pulling him by his collar and reminding him that he, too, is on the same boat as Finn by kissing him on the lips.
As they continued to eat, Gial, Geno, Wedge, Urcos and Saile all seem to be unhappy and not as joyous with their meal.
Then, when the doors opened-... No, hearing the strain coughing coming their way before the doors open, showing Rose aiding an exhausted, gasping Rey to take a seat with her and Finn, who kept Rose's ration and another set of ration for Rey safe, did it seem to make the five men's anger rise even more.
Rey felt their heated glare, the instant she walked in. She kept her head down, not wanting to see their hatred towards her... Even though, she deserves their hate.
Korr Sella, sitting across from the five males, nudged her elbow against Poe's left-side, getting his attention from stuffing his face with crusty bread and silently signaling him of their comrades glaring at their friend.
Urcos saw Poe glare at them, then glared back at the pilot.
Finn, feeling eyes towards them, glared at the five men warning ready to defend his friend/sister.
The tension in the air grew, making everyone in the room uncomfortable and all no longer feeling hungry. Awkward glances went around the room, even as Leia, See-Threepio and Artoo-Deetoo came in.
The general looked around the room, feeling the tension the instant she and her companions came on the ship. Then, she looked over to Rey, who was coughing into her hand and hadn't eaten her ration, as Rose patted her on the back.
Leia let out a tiring sigh, before she walked over to the center of the bridge. She needed everyone's attention to what she just learned.
Once everyone's attention is focused on her, she started the briefing.
"As you are all aware, we were only given enough rations to last us for two weeks."
Gial and his group sneered, groaned or snorted in disgust at the reminder, all glaring back towards Rey, Rose and a glaring Finn.
Leia continued.
"Are allies have, also, left us with a message... And, I'm afraid it's anything but good news."
She gestured for Artoo to come to her and, when the droid rolled beside her, he put up a hologram that shows an blue-static imagery of a Sullustan.
Before them, is the Resistance Leader of Akiva: Ruus Snaju.
His arms folded behind his back. His expression appear calm, but very solemn and deep remorse.
"General Organa," the message started. "I have to send you this important message, as soon as your group arrived on Akiva, to give you unfortunate news: First, you weren't aware, but a squad of First Order arrived on Akiva, four days before your group came. They found and captured fifteen of our members, taking them to the Finalizer as slaves, and murdered twenty-two members when they didn't surrender... There are only eight of us that remains on Akiva, now."
Murmurs of concern, disbelief, fear and anger went through the air amongst the Resistance.
Rey hunched over, having to already hear the news since leaving Daxam IV... As if having something to remind herself that it's all her fault.
The recording continues.
"As you are aware, the agreement on how much rations you and your group would be getting is supposed to be worth a whole month, which is to be just enough to reach Takodana without traveling through lightspeed. I'm sorry to report that we were only able to get you barely two weeks worth of rations, before the First Order found our hidden base and attacked us. We were forced to abandon our own rations and resources when they came, in order to try and gather as much of the resources we had ready for you and your group."
Leia, having to already hear the message for herself, still felt awful to learn that their allies had been attacked and lost so many for helping them out.
Everyone within the ship felt extremely guilty and a hundred percent responsible for what their allies had to deal with on their account. Rey, feeling the most responsible of all, despite it not being anywhere near to being her doing.
Gial and his group all agreed that it was, in fact, her fault in its entirely.
Then, the message bright up the most damming news of all.
"...General Organa, you know that we believe in your cause and we still hold on to whatever hope left in our hearts that the Resistance will bring down Kylo Ren and the First Order... However, given certain events that the enemy is gaining more power within the galaxy and how few there are left in the Resistance... I'm reluctant to report that, for our safety and the safety of your own, that we can no longer assist you nor give you aid of any kind."
That set everybody off.
"WHAT?!"
They should've seen that coming from a mile away, given the circumstance and the trouble they dealt with. Still, it was very startling to hear one of their own is going to stop helping them.
"Coward!" Poe yelled, standing to his feet, ignoring his rations that fell to the floor.
Beebee-Ate, who stayed beside Rey's feet, lowered his head and made a few mournful beeping sounds.
Artoo-Deetoo paused the message, knowing they needed to pay attention to the rest.
"They're just going to abandon us, for what we stand for, without saying it to our kriffing faces?!" Connix yelled, throwing her meal to the ground.
Jessika, with her arms folded over her stomach, turned to Leia. She appeared to be just as mournful from the news, but is keeping it together.
"General, how can they just abandon us like that, after all we done for them?"
Leia let out a tiring sigh.
"They weighed in their option on what would be the best choice to make, to ensure their survival is guaranteed to happen, and followed their baser instincts to not challenge a threat. So, they see no other option, but to pull back and be less of a target, in exchange to be spared from the First Order taking them in as prisoners or being executed for treason."
Wedge sneered at their general's words, disgusted that one of their own was willing to turn their backs on them to save themselves.
"Snakeweed backstabbers," he muttered.
When Artoo resumed the recording, they heard a banging sound in the background, prompting the Sullustan to jump and turn to the sound.
"Open up, by orders of the First Order!"
No doubt, it was Stormtroopers.
Ruus became frantic, hunching over.
"Good luck, General Organa. and remember, so long as you have the Jedi with you, there's still hope that we'll turn the tides on Kylo Ren and bring down the First Order, once and for all. She is our last hope, just as much as you and your group are. Take care, and may the Force be with you."
The hologram ended with the Sullustan reached out and stopping the message, which Artoo turned off the projection and rolled towards Leia.
They all went quiet, processing what they just heard the message. Though, with the few sniffling coming from a few members and Rey's harsh coughing being the only sound to go on around them.
...Then, Geno broke the silence. Chuckling, before he said anything.
"...That's it then?" He said, staring down at his half-eaten meal. "They turn their backs on us, give us some bantha-shit on believing in us that means nothing when they won't help us and we continue to struggle on how to get to Takodana, without any assistance to sneak pass the First Order?!"
Rose spoke up, keeping an arm around Rey's shoulders.
"What else could they do?" She argued. "And quite frankly, I'm not even surprised that they decided to go this route. We should be glad that they aren't going to reveal our location to the First Order, in exchange for their safety."
Snap you seem to share the same relief as Rose.
"At least, not yet, anyways. Though, I wouldn't be surprised if they did, should the First Order tortures the information out of them."
Gial grumbled underneath his breath.
"Which means, we're no longer safe on Sarvchi and have to leave, immediately, before they learn of our location."
Nobody within the room seemed thrilled by the thought of the truth, specially since their ship took heavy damage and their blasters aren't strong enough to bring down the TIE Fighters in one shot and have a limit supply of power cell ammo. even with the power cells Chewie and his group brought back, they only have enough power to do two lightspeed jumps.
And since learning that the First Order can detect lightspeed, it was decided that they don't use lightspeed unless it was absolutely necessary. Even if it were to take them weeks, months even, to get from one side of the galaxy to the next, they have to avoid drawing any form of attention in order to get past their enemy.
Rey, who didn't make any attempt to eat her food but was able to drink a few sips of water, coughed into both hands. It was harsher and hoarse, sounding like an off hum of a speeder with a damage engine from having too much sand in its carburetor, making her sound as if she's choking and in pain.
Which she was.
Many eyes turned to her, making her feel very uncomfortable, but can't do anything but get the phlegm out of her lungs.
Beebee-Ate made worried beeping sound, teetering where he stood in a panic.
Finn and Rose each held her shoulders, keeping her head up so she doesn't slip out her seat.
Barely thirty seconds later, and her coughing finally settled. Though, it did took a lot out from her and left her panting. In both her hands, the dark-brown coloring of the phlegm sat in her clenched hands.
Leia, sensing Rey's discomfort and seeing the sign of pain on her face, immediately took action.
"Rose, can you help Rey to see Dr. Kalonia? She wanted to see the progress of her condition, before she turns in for the night."
Rose didn't need a second to do what was asked of her, as she and Finn gently helped the nineteen year-old to her feet and started guiding her towards their small med bay.
Most gave her looks of concern... The others, like Gial and his group, sneered at her.
Then Geno, purposely, spoke out the reason why this was happening.
"That's what we're left with?" He grunted, glaring at the two women, as they walked out of the room. "We're supposed to put our faith to that?"
Finn, Poe and their group snapped their heads to their comrade, glaring at the jerk.
"Geno." Connix growled, knowing he's going to start up the argument from earlier because of the message of their allies no longer going to help them.
"No, Connix!" He yelled, standing out of his seat. "We've been holding this off, for far too long! We need to discuss this, right now!"
See-Threepio, a bit taken back by the outburst, jostled a bit where he stood.
"Oh, dear!" He gasped.
Leia wasn't going to give him the right to speak his mind on what he and some of the other Resistance believe to be true.
"Stand down, Captain Namit." She ordered, giving him her serious glare.
Yet, much to her surprise and most of the Resistance's surprise, he didn't back down.
"General, this has gone on long enough! It's about time somebody says it! -He pointed a finger at the door, where Rey and Rose walked out of.- It's been months, seven months, since Luke Skywalker gave his life to help us escape on Crait. Then, two months later, the First Order found us on Ajan Kloss and killed many of our members. We've been in hiding for three months, barely getting by and relying only a few handful of our allies to get us from one planet to the next. -His hands clenched into fists.- You told us, on Ajan Kloss, that she will be strong enough to take down the First Order. That she'd be ready to perform her task, the instant they show themselves! And yet, here we are, barely capable to get pass their radar in our pathetic attempt to get to Takodana and she's done nothing but endanger our tasks on gathering resources and information from the few allies we have left and wasting time with 'training'!"
Finn was quick to stomp towards Geno, only for Poe to hold him back. Though, on the pilot's face, he, too, wanted to shut the captain up.
"You dare try and put the blame on Rey?!" He yelled, struggling a bit to break free. "She isn't responsible for any of this! It's Kylo Ren's fault! Not hers!"
Urcos rolled his eyes at the ex-stormtrooper.
"Of course, you would quickly defend her." He sneered. "Even though you two became friends, even you must admit to have witnessed the flaws she caused to happen, ever since you two first met."
"And let's not forget, we were able to stay hidden on D'Qar, before she came along and ended up being captured by Kylo Ren." Wedge reminded, giving Poe and Finn a smug expression. "Whose to say that she's the reason how our base was found and targeted, after torturing the information out of her?"
Jessika gave him a look that tells how stupid she thinks they are.
"Uh, morons, she never came to our base, before Kylo Ren captured her. She was on Takodana. Remember?"
Gial, instead of seeing the issue to his friend's claim, brought up another important reminder.
"And, since her arrival on Takodana, she had the First Order find their location, an attack on Takodana and nearly had Beebee-Ate taken and retrieve the map to Luke Skywalker!" He hissed.
Finn glared at the Mon Calamari.
"Rey, Han, Chewie and I didn't bother to hide Beebee-Ate, when getting Maz to help get Beebee-Ate to the Resistance." He admitted, knowing they should've stayed on guard for anybody suspicious to working for these First Order. "And don't forget, it was because of Beebee-Ate's appearance that someone within Maz's Castle was able to contact you guys to come to Takodana. And if we hadn't been spotted, the First Order would've taken us all prisoners and would've attacked your guys' on D'Qar, long before you were to know where Beebee-Ate was. Let alone, gain the missing piece of the map on finding Luke Skywalker's location. and also, it wasn't Rey's job to hide him, in the first place."
"And before you guys try and say that Rey should've taken better care of him, when finding him on Jakku, I was the one who left him there and didn't try to contact anybody to get to Jakku, before I ended up being captured." Poe reminded, glaring at the five. "Also, since I told Finn about Beebee-Ate, in some form a technicality, bringing BB back to the resistance was more his job than Rey's."
Then, rolling towards Gial, Beebee-Ate made stern, fast beeping sounds, as if scolding them for being mean to his friend. He told them how Rey saved him and kept him safe on Jakku, and if not for her, he would've been scrapped for parts and the map to Luke would've been lost, forever.
Saile simply scoffed at the droid's words.
"Perhaps, she only saved you, so that she could sell you, herself, or scrapped you for parts, in exchange for rations. You should never trust anybody, especially a scavenger, from Jakku, Beebee-Ate."
In response, Beebee-Ate brought out his electrical taser and shocked the guard.
"OW!" He yelled, jumping before standing up and went to kick the droid. "Stupid ball!"
"Hey!" Poe yelled, releasing Finn and going up to the guard to punch him. "Don't you dare hurt Beebee!"
"Your droid must be defected by that Scavenger!" Urcos accused, grabbing at the pilot and holding him back from Saile. "She probably used that mind trick of hers to turn you all against us! To turn us in, and sell us out to the First Order!"
"ENOUGH!"
To Leia's yelling, she held both her hands out, palms towards opposite sides. Poe and Finn were pushed back towards their spot by the Force, while Gial, Urcos, Saile and Wedge remained still, all being frozen and immobilized.
The rest of the group remained where they were, not wanting to be in their places on being immobilized by the Force.
Beebee-Ate, having to roll towards Jessika and Connix, beeped out a few sounds of concern, though knowing they were all right and was glad Gial and his group are being restrained.
Leia walked over in the middle, keeping her hands out to the group, glaring at them.
"Are you finished?" She questioned. "While I'm willing to let you all speak your minds, I won't stand by and let any of you make false accusation towards one of our own. Especially towards Rey, who has done nothing but helped us in our fight with the First Order and doing all that she can to help us get by in our time of struggle. -She looked over at Gial and his group, her eyes stern.- And if you can't see that and intend to view her as the enemy, then I'll withhold you of rations for two days."
The five men gawked at their general in disbelief.
"General, you can't be serious!" Wedge yelled, trying but failing to move.
"That isn't fair!" Urcos argued. "We just got food, after going for days without it! You can't do this to us, your loyal soldiers!"
Leia raised an eyebrow to their argument.
"Yet, you five dare to put the blame on one of our own."
Gial hissed at her words.
"That scavenger isn't one of us, General!" He exclaimed. "She isn't a Resistance! She's a nobody, from Jakku! Literally, a junkyard! From nowhere! She isn't somebody we would ever consider being an ally to us! Let alone, a friend!"
Saile, being the next to speak up, would be the one to tell what they and some of the others truly see Rey as... That his words would be the one to fully make such an impact on Rey's fate, not knowing she and Rose had been listening in the entire time behind the door.
"She's not just a nobody! She's nothing...! A Troq*!"
Neither Rey or Rose said a word, after what they heard Saile just said, and went to see their doctor to check up on Rey's health.
Kalonia, seeing the looks on their faces, didn't bother to ask what was wrong and asked Rey to lay on the stretcher to scan her. Dragging over the girl's body, from her head down to her feet a couple of time, the doctor held a scanner to detect three statues of her health.
She even took a few blood, skin and hair samples to be analyzed, before the scanner and analyzer made a few beeping sounds and flashed a few colors of orange, yellow and red.
Just from seeing the concern, concentrating look on the doctor's face, Rose and Rey can tell that it wasn't good news.
Kalonia stared at the screen, seeing different imagery posted on the hologram, scrolling and reading as fast as she could.
...Then, when she turned to the two women, the look of dread and sadness appeared on her face.
Rey felt nervous to ask the doctor what was wrong, but forced the words out to know the extent of her ailment.
"Dr. Kalonia?" She slightly panted, coughing into her hand. "How bad has it gotten?"
The doctor looked back to the screen, double checking at her findings, before sighing deeply and transferring all the information on her datapad. She walked towards the two.
Small-beads of tears sat in the corner of her eyes.
"...Rey." She started, her voice cracking a bit and cleared her throat before she continues. "...It's getting worse... Just as I thought."
Rose held Rey's left-hand, wanting to anchor herself from the news that her friend's health has gotten worse. Rey, while feeling the irritation in her throat causing her to cough, again, could only stare at the doctor.
"...How serious is it?" She asked, hoping to not hear what Kalonia's mournful expression was telling her.
Kalonia stared down at the datapad in hand, seeing the large, red-letters that showed on the hologram just moments ago, before she looked back at the girl.
"Rey... You're at stage three... You have Accelerated Silicosis."
TBC
*: If you guys remember Teen Titans (NOT TEEN TITANS GO!), Troq means "Nothing". Val-Yor, from Season 4 Episode 6: Troq, called Starfire "Troq" or "Troqie", calling her Nothing. According to Starfire, she reveals to Cyborg that there are those from other planets who believe Tamaraneans are inferior and how they call them Troq.
While a part of me want to add Troq to the story, so we can all remember the good old shows that held important messages to teach us and children some interesting lessons, I feel that this would be just as useful to those who wanna call others they believe to being insignificant and worthless... Plus, most alien words of Star Wars aren't being translated in writing for us to be able to use and Troq sounds like an alien word that we could hear be use in Star Wars.
And, just for the heck of it, Troq will have an added meaning for the story.
R&R