"There are no private lives. This a most important aspect of modern life. One of the biggest transformations we have seen in our society is the diminution of the sphere of the private. We must reasonably now all regard the fact that there are no secrets and nothing is private. Everything is public."br /
- Philip K. Dick
The biggest threat to oneself is the threat they pose to their own security through hidden secrets.
"There's an 85% chance for snow."
Hearing that piece of information made her gulped.
The only time Rey watched any form of television by herself was late in the night. After work in the junkyard and scavenging for something of substance, she always checked the weather forecast.
The weather didn't seem like it would be entirely pleasant. And it didn't seem like today was ever really in Rey's favor when the phone rang.
Rey picked the landline up, half expecting it to be Finn gushing about Poe and vice versa or Plutt getting on her case.
"Hello," Rey spoke with a gentle voice.
Nobody responded.
Now, Rey knew it was most likely not Finn, Poe or Plutt. Finn would right out of the gate be the first one to speak, excitement clear in his voice. Poe would chuckle while saying a flirty joke and ask how she was. And Plutt was just an arsehole who liked to yell.
"Hello?"
Her voice became more quiet as her eyes looked over at her window.
No response came, so she hung up the phone. Walking over to the couch again to grab some shuteye, to her annoyance, the phone rang again.
"Hello," she said curtly.
She didn't receive any greeting of any kind. The only thing she could hear on the other line was distinct exhales and inhales. They sounded rushed and breathless.
"I think you've got the wrong number."
She hung up the phone again, closing her eyes. Rey pressed her free hand to her temples, trying to calm down. It had to have been a prank call or one of the weird telemarketers.
The universe was out to get her again with this random bullshit.
Rey's eyes flickered over to the cat perched on the couch. BB8 curled up in a ball, sleeping peacefully. She couldn't help but smile at the kitten. However, that didn't stop the sinking feeling in her stomach.
If a snow storm hit her area, she was certain that the Bahamas trip would go on for longer. Her right hand clenched her left arm, anger boiling within her. It wasn't because of jealousy. Rather, it was because of her ineptitude.
Maybe if she had pulled some strings or told Plutt to sock it, she could live it up on a beach. She could have snagged a hot date and had some drinks. That would help her take her mind off things.
But you didn't. What a shame.
Rey's lips frown as she licks them. Her hazel eyes rolled as she grumbles. She put herself in this situation, she would just have to deal with it.
She could deal with the muggy weather and ugly grey skies. She could handle one more day seeing Plutt's face without punching it. And she could sure as hell forget about the Bahamas.
There's nothing special about the place, anyway. She didn't care about those pristine waters, warm weather, sandy beaches, and beautiful skyline. Oh! Who was she kidding? She desperately wanted to go.
Rey groans, slightly shivering. Slowly, she got up, looking at her heater. A sharp exhale escaped her lips as she squeezed her face and hands.
"You have got to be kidding me! I could have sworn I paid that bill!"
The thought of kicking the heater seemed appealing, but Rey preferred keeping her toes safe. Especially after last time, Rey was more cautious with protecting her feet.
She flung curses from under her breath as she looked at her bedroom.
There was nothing particularly interesting inside of it. The only things in the room were a bed and a closet that could only hold up to 10 outfits.
Rey clawed through the closet, pulling out a light wool sweater and a gray beanie. She pulled the items on, deciding it was good enough for tonight.
She walked through the living room to the front door. Out of the corner of her eye, she examined the marks etched into the wall.
A stool was near the wall with a sharp rock. Rey picked up the rock, her fingers running through the specks and minerals.
The same motion day after day came natural to her. She made a new fresh mark on the wall with no name.
"Another day comes to a close."
What was she even counting the days for? Someone always asked that question. It never bothered her entirely, but that didn't mean she was happy to answer.
For the rest of the night, Rey hoped to have some needed relaxation for her aching feet and tired back. However, it seemed the universe really had it out for Rey.
The phone rang again. She answered it again, trying to remain as calm as she could.
"Rey?"
A smile slowly appeared on Rey's face as she heard the voice of Maz Kanata.
Maz was the owner of a tavern on the corner of the Takodana district of the city. The woman often gave Rey important pieces of advice, albeit very weird advice.
It had been some time since she'd had a proper conversation with Maz.
5 months ago
"Ow!"
Rey hissed, rubbing her head from under the sink. She climbed out of the compartment, wiping the layers of sweat off her face. She had put her hair up into three messy buns to make the job easier.
"Maz, are you sure you don't want to replace the pipes?"
The old woman pulled her goggles down, looking at Rey.
"Are they functional?"
"Yeah, but-"
"Nonsense," Maz crooned, writing numbers onto a sheet of paper.
Rey looked off to the side, grabbing another wrench, tightening the bolts in place. After that, she went over to wipe the glasses down and water the plants. Maz smiled at her, placing down a ticket.
Rey blinked, trying to process what she did.
"Maz! How did you get this?"
Rey picked up the ticket, her eyes shining. How was Maz able to get a ticket to this?
"Never go to a doctor whose office plants have died," Maz said sentimentally.
The look of puzzlement overshadowed her features as her mouth was wide open. Thoughts raced through her mind as she shook her head.
This must have been Maz's weird daily piece of advice. Most people thought Maz was senile, but to Rey, Maz was a well-rounded person with years of experience and knowledge.
She didn't know exactly what the advice meant. Hell, she didn't even know if it would ever be a factor.
It didn't matter because all Rey could think about in that moment was the bold letters on the ticket.
'LF presents: Skywalker's Haven on Ahch-To'
The smile on her face grew as she saw the nodding approval of Maz.
Rey never quite understood why she didn't ask more about the doctor and the plants. In that moment, the allure of seeing the legend of Skywalker himself caught her attention more. That made sense, but she had seen Maz in passing from countless nights in the tavern. So, why didn't she question it?
Why had Maz told her this information?
Thinking to herself, Rey brushed the thought from her head.
"Maz. Did you need something?"
"The tavern has been busy. Do you have time to spare?"
Rey's skin started to prickle slightly, her eyes despondent. Something wasn't right. The way Maz sounded didn't feel right.
"Maz, what's wrong?"
"First, I realized slicing the onions resulted in disaster, especially raw ones."
Rey raised an eyebrow.
"Huh?"
"Snow's not only a killer but also an executioner."
This only made Rey worry more about Maz. Had she gone senile?
"Maz. I'll be right there."
"Keenness yields lots of resentment, envy, and obsession."
Rey focused on grabbing a first aid kit and other medical supplies, putting it inside her scavenging bag. In her rush, she hadn't even notice how weird Maz was being.
Suddenly, she felt a sting. Rey looked down at her hand.
"Shit," she muttered under her breath.
The cut was deep, deeper than she had originally thought.
You'll deal with this later, I assume?
She ignores the voice.
—
"The girl?"
The red haired pale man sneered at the man in black.
"She should be on her way."
"I'll hold you to your word just this once, Armitage."
Armitage rolls his eyes.
"When do you ever do?"
The man doesn't speak, looking at the glass. His gloved hand grabbed it, downing the shot. He slams it down against the table, cracks slightly forming at the bottom.
Armitage doesn't flinch, uninterested and unaffected by the temper tantrums of an enraged man. He crosses his arms, sighing as the cold air numbed his face.
"How is she of any use?"
Armitage asks, his tone flat. The mysterious man who hid in the shadows reached out with his hand, depositing a series of photos on the table.
The subject of the photos was a young woman. Brown hair cascaded down her back, long eyelashes framed her bright hazel eyes, and high cheekbones helped compliment her beauty.
"Is she some supermodel? Is that's why you've demanded extensive measures? What a waste of resources," Armitage snorts, trying not to laugh.
The man stares at him blankly as Armitage looks back at him.
"How do I know your fascination and peculiar tastes won't interfere with the mission?"
"You don't," The man calmly says, his gloved hand raised.
The man stands up, his hands behind his back.
"Examine the photos thoroughly."
Armitage looks at the photos, his face stone. He thumbs through them, his lips pursed.
His eyes look up at the man.
"A princess."
The man starts to descend down the stairs before turning to Armitage.
"Ensure that we implement search parties before he gets to her."