A/N: I managed to find time to post another chapter today! The safari drive-through was so fun so if you have a Six Flags near you, go for it! This was the first time in months I've been able to take the kids out of the house. Of course, they all feel asleep by the end. Enjoy reading and I am really enjoying all your great comments!
Chapter Sixteen – Rey
The room the attendant droid led them into contained more food than Rey had ever seen before. Trays and trays of every imaginable delicacy lined so many tables. The enticing aromas mingled in the air, making her mouth water.
Numerous people in fancy outfits milled around. They chatted and drank from long glasses but none of them ate the food. It boggled Rey's mind. This amount of food would have caused a riot on Jakku.
"Oh, yeah, they brought in the good stuff!" Han rubbed his hands together and grabbed a glass of champagne off one of trays carried by droids around the room. He guzzled it down in two gulps.
Leia rolled her eyes.
Poe followed the droid to chase down his own drink.
"Why is no one eating?" Rey whispered to Ben.
Before Ben could answer, Han spoke up. "None of the hoity-toites want to be seen going first. That gives us first dibs. Come on, Rey."
With a smile on her face and a not-yet full tummy, Rey followed him. As Han showed her what item was what and how much it cost and what tasted the best, Rey couldn't help but listen in to the argument Ben and Leia had in aggressive whispers behind her. Luke stood by silently, but Rey noticed he stood by Ben.
"What was that between you and Rey in there? Even I could feel it through the Force. Where did she come from? And I don't mean Jakku."
"Mother, this is sensitive information. I'm not going to discuss it in a room full of strangers!" Ben shot back under his breath.
"He's right. This is not the right place. We'll tell you everything when we get back to the house," Luke added.
Rey sighed. She hated all the secrecy.
Han glanced at her as he added a skewer of tender meat to her plate. "Don't let it worry you. Leia just can't stand not knowing exactly what's going on around her. But if it makes you feel better, I think she really likes you. And I like you too. And Ben...oh, boy! You've hit him hard!"
Rey's face grew hot as her heart fluttered with happiness.
"Here, you've got to try one of these too." Han shoved a round bun on her plate, which had to displace some of the other food to make room.
Rey gawked at the weight of food she carried back to Ben. He'd claimed a small table for them to stand at, which answered Rey's unvoiced question on how she would eat the food and have a drink. She discovered with happiness that Ben already had a drink waiting for her.
Clapping erupted from the other side of the room as Mirabella strolled into the room. She'd changed out of the form-fitting sparkling dress into a more comfortable, flowing blue dress. She greeted everyone she passed by with hugs, kisses and smiles.
Leia stepped into her path.
Mirabella threw her arms around Leia. "Mommy!" She hugged her mother tightly.
When they parted, Leia smoothed Mirabella's hair away from her face. "You were splendid! I loved the new songs, especially that last one. But I thought we were getting you all to ourselves when you said a private dinner?"
Mirabella laughed. "I meant a private dinner with my family and fifty of my closest supporters! I promise this won't take all night, I just have to say hi to everyone. And you must eat the food. This caterer is incredible, especially the fringi spice cake. I know how you love spice cake!"
"I'm looking forward to such a treat!" Leia chuckled. "But perhaps some real food first. Are you eating? Have you eaten at all today?"
Mirabella rolled her eyes. "Yes, mother. But first, I want to meet this mysterious woman Ben brought with him."
Rey's stomach clenched as they walked over. She didn't quite understand why, but she desperately wanted Ben's sister to approve of her. Rey just wasn't sure what Mirabella would think of Rey when she finally learned the whole truth.
Ben intercepted Mirabella before she got to Rey. "Mirie, you were absolutely incredible!"
"Thank you, big brother. Now introduce me to this beautiful woman I caught you kissing during my show," Mirabella demanded.
Rey and Ben blushed simultaneously.
"Rey, this is my very talented baby sister, Mirabella. Mirie, this is Rey," Ben formally introduced them.
The two women gripped hands.
"I'm so excited to meet you! Ben told me how amazing of a singer you are, but I never could have imagined," Rey gushed to her, meaning every word.
Mirabella touched Rey's shoulder. "I really appreciate that." She glanced at Ben, narrowing her eyes. "And he's told me absolutely nothing about you."
"Rey and I…knew each other a long time ago. We only just recently became reacquainted." Ben struggled to explain.
Mirabella turned back to Rey, a generous smile on her lovely face. "However it happened, I'm really looking forward to hearing the whole story about you and my brother after we get home. You are gorgeous, by the way."
"Oh! I'm sorry! I didn't have a gown, and Leia said it would be okay to borrow one of yours. She picked this one for me. I didn't pick it out myself." Rey bit down on her tongue to stop herself from rambling. Her cheeks grew hot, embarrassed to be wearing this famous woman's dress.
"Don't fret! I think it looks better on you than it ever did on me. You should keep it. Consider it a gift."
Rey's jaw dropped. Never had she owned such a fine piece of clothing. For Mirabella to gift it to her really touched her. "Thank you," Rey whispered, trying to hold back tears of gratitude.
Mirabella smiled. Then she fell into the arms of her father before continuing her journey of greetings around the room.
Rey devoured everything on her plate, including stealing another of those savory buns off Ben's plate. He'd laughed at her, reminding her she could take as much as she wanted from the ever-filled trays. The desserts fascinated her and she had to try at least one of everything. By the time Mirabella finished mingling and they headed back to the shuttle, Rey's stomach protested loudly. She decided she definitely preferred being uncomfortably full than starving.
The shuttle flew away from the city and out into the darkness of the countryside. Rey dozed off and on, her head leaning on Ben's shoulder. What an incredible night she'd had!
A loud boom suddenly echoed through the cabin and the shuttle lurched to the side. Loud sirens blared.
Rey woke up immediately, adrenaline flooding her body.
"Somebody's shooting at us!" Poe yelled back at them. He shoved the propulsion drive into high gear, attempting to outrun them.
Another hit landed and the shuttle dropped for a moment before Poe could correct it. "I can't shake him! Everybody buckle up because I'm going to try something that probably shouldn't be done in a transport shuttle."
Everyone scrambled to tighten their belts.
"Here we go!" Poe yelled.
The shuttle swung up and around. Everyone gasped as they flipped over and hung upside down.
"Are you crazy?" Han roared.
The shuttle flipped again and they all bumped hard against their seats. Ben grabbed her hand.
Han unbuckled himself and climbed over his wife, who protested loudly. He ran to the front, buckling into the co-pilot's seat. It had sat empty, unneeded for such a routine flight. Han looked out the front window. "Actually, that was brilliant! You're right behind him! Blast him out of the sky!"
"Target his weapons!" Ben shouted. He leapt out of his seat and ran to the front. "Then see if you can get next to him."
"What?!" Poe and Han hollered at the same time.
"We need information! Maybe we can take the guy alive!"
They all lurched to the side as Poe kept on the tail of the other shuttle as it tried to escape. "Fine!" Poe shouted back. He lined up then blasted their weapon's array. It sent sparks and smoke out into the night.
"Now get next to him!" Ben instructed and turned back around. Rey and Luke were both out of their seats by now, and Ben said to them. "Keep it steady for me until I signal I've got control."
Rey frowned, realizing exactly what he intended to do.
His sister spoke before Rey could. "You better not be thinking what I think you're thinking."
Ben ignored her. "Blast this suit!" He ripped off the jacket and yanked the shirt out of the pants, stretching out his arms. Then he hit the button to open the side door.
"What are you doing?" Leia screamed at him.
Wind rushed in, even stronger than the storm at the Jedi Temple. Luke instantly put his hands up, holding the shuttle in place with the Force.
Ben looked at Rey.
Love
Determination
As much as she wanted to stop him, she knew she couldn't. Instead, she nodded back, sending him all the love in her heart.
"Rey," Luke urged in a strained voice.
The shuttle swayed as it fought against Luke's hold. Rey reached out with the Force and added her strength to Luke's. The shuttle steadied.
Ben grasped onto the door frame and tensed. Then he leapt out into the air.
"Ben!" Mirabella screamed.
He landed on the roof of the offending shuttle in a roll. Rey's stomach dropped as he almost fell off the other side. His hand whipped out, catching the tiniest ledge between the roof and the front window. Using the force, he slid back into the middle. She saw him take a deep breath.
Ben slowly drew his legs underneath his body. With one hand, he used the Force to keep from getting dragged off. His other hand reached to his hip and drew out his lightsaber.
The shuttle bucked under him. He almost dropped the lightsaber.
Rey put everything she had into keeping that shuttle still, but it wasn't enough as it continued to tremble.
Then another power added to her's and Luke's.
She glanced back and saw Leia's hand up. The older woman concentrated fully on the shuttle her son kneeled upon. The shuttle stilled as it flew onward.
Ben ignited the lightsaber and thrust the purple blade through the roof. He drove it back and forth until he created a hole big enough for him to jump inside.
Not seeing him or knowing what he'd just dropped into spiked her anxiety. There could be plenty of enemies in there. Part of her waited with dread at the idea of him being hurt, or worse. She gritted her teeth and focused on keeping the shuttle even with them.
An eternity passed for her before Ben's voice sounded over the comm. "The bastard poisoned himself and set this thing to blow. Poe, as soon as I'm off, get as far away from it as you can."
A moment later, Ben pulled himself back onto the shuttle roof and leapt for their shuttle. Before he completed the arc, the shuttle exploded into a fireball behind him. The force slammed into Ben, knocking him too low to get back through the doorway.
"No!" screamed Rey. She changed her focus all to him, catching his body with the Force. She felt Luke and Leia's power on him as well. Together, they hauled him back inside.
As they lowered him on the floor, he groaned and rolled onto his front arms.
Rey winced when she saw the back of his dress shirt had been burned away. The skin underneath glowed red, like he'd been badly sunburned.
Without another thought, Luke knelt down next to his nephew and placed his hand over Ben's burned back.
Ben cringed at first, but as Luke healed him, Ben's features relaxed. In seconds, his back returned to normal color. "Thanks," he breathed out.
"Anytime. That's the most excitement I've had in a while." Luke reached down and helped Ben get up.
Rey flew into Ben's arms. "That was stupid," she admonished him. "But also really impressive," she added.
Poe landed the shuttle on the ground, and everyone rushed to get out. They could see the burning wreckage of the other shuttle nearby. "This is Commander Poe Dameron. I need a full investigation crew to my coordinates now! I also need a double security detail to the Organa lake house." Poe spoke forcefully into his comm unit.
Leia marched over to Ben and jabbed a finger into his chest. "Ben Kenobi Solo, you tell me exactly what's going on right now or so help me!"
"I wouldn't recommend that, ma'am." Poe answered instead. "It'll be much safer to talk back at the lake house where my security team will have the place locked down."
Leia blew out a frustrated breath, but nodded. She glared at Ben.
Rey knew it was definitely time to lay out the truth.