VI.
Rey scrunched her eyebrows as she looked between Maz Kanata and Shwaz. They approached a more desolute area of the castle and sat at an old wooden table. Maz was elderly but full of energy and loud laughs. She wasn't sure what to think about the words she had spoken to Shwaz. How could she have been anticipating the young man's arrival for weeks?
"What are your names?" Maz said, leaning forward slightly.
"Shwaz Ekilib." He replied.
Maz turned her large goggled eyes to Rey.
"I'm Rey." She said, fulling expecting the woman to turn her attention back to Shwaz. But she didn't. Instead, Maz leaned in closer to Rey.
"I was only anticipating one," she said. "I must say this is quite the surprise."
"One what?" Rey's frustration was building a bit.
"One Force-sensitive, my dear." Maz smiled. Rey only stared at her. She didn't know what that meant. A moment passed and the woman's smile dropped. "Oh. You were not aware of it, were you?"
"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I don't understand what you're talking about."
Maz's eyes widened and her voice lowered. "The Force. Can't you feel it?"
Rey opened her mouth, ready to respond, when she froze. Something changed. She couldn't quite describe it. It felt like she was being touched, like something bright was reaching out to her.
"I... I can." Rey frowned. Her heart was racing and she felt her hand tremble. Things were changing. Her world was changing.
The woman broke into a smile. "I knew you would be able to." She then turned her attention back to Shwaz. "And you," Maz adjusted her goggles and leaned in close to his face. This time he seemed to be expecting it. If Rey didn't feel so disturbed by everything going on, she would have laughed at the look on his face.
"Your eyes are old for one so young." Maz commented. "Tell me, what brings you to my castle?"
Shwaz looked around before leaning forward slightly. "We are searching for the rebel base. However, we're nearly out of fuel. I -" He glanced at Rey briefly before looking back at Maz. "This planet wasn't my first choice when deciding where to stop for fuel. But I could feel it... something calling out to me." His eyelids closed and Shwaz breathed in deep.
"I can still feel it now." When his eyes opened once more they stared at Maz with a fierce intensity. "There's something here for me."
"There is." Maz replied. Then abruptly she stood. "If it is fuel you need, fuel you will get. Come."
"You're just going to give us fuel?" Rey hadn't moved from her seat. "No questions asked?"
Maz spun around. "I don't have any questions to ask, my dear. Your motives are clear and your words are true. I will help anyone willing to fight against the First Order. Now come along."
Rey stood and followed after them. The busy and loud area of the castle was left behind as the three walked down a long hall. Rey eyed the high brick walls. In some places she could see sprigs of plant life growing out of the cracks.
They entered a room with a single light hanging from the ceiling. The air was musty. She could see dust motes pass through the ray of light. It appeared to be a storage room. Maz stepped forward ahead of them and stood next to what looked like a large crate. She pulled the tarp off. Inside were fuel containers.
"Perfect," Shwaz said as he marched to the crate. "These will do nicely." He picked a container up and turned to Maz. "How much do we owe you?"
"Owe me?" Maz shook her head. "Nothing, my child. This is on the house."
"Surely there's something we can give you in return." Rey couldn't help but say. She simply couldn't believe that anyone would give anything away for free. It was abnormal. No one in Jakku would do such a thing.
"You already have." Maz replied, stepping toward Rey. "My dear, can't you see? You've given me hope. And that is worth more than a bit of starship fuel."
"If you're certain."
Shwaz walked over to Rey with the container in hand. He passed it to her. "Go ahead and fuel up the ship. I need to speak with Maz for a moment."
Rey looked at him questioning and watched as he turned away from her to speak with the elderly woman. It was almost funny seeing Shwaz lumbering before her. He was a giant in comparison. As curious as she was, it really wasn't any of Rey's business what he wanted to discuss with Maz. It was more important that she prepared the ship for flight. That way the moment Shwaz rejoined her, they would be ready to continue their mission to D'Qar.
It didn't take much time for Rey to find her way out of the castle and back into open air. She glanced around, taking in the sights and sounds of Takodana. The planet truly was beautiful. If it weren't for the fact that the First Order was searching for any sign of them and the droid, Rey would allow herself a moment to simply enjoy her surroundings.
She marched inside the ship. Her fist clenched around the quarterstaff and she stood in the threshold of the ship. Rey glanced about. There wasn't any sign of stow-aways. She closed the ramp behind her and went straight for the area of the ship where BB-8 was hidden. Crouched down, Rey pulled away the grate. The droid's head whirred up and he beeped a greeting at her. An intense relief overcame her and she sighed heavily.
"Hello to you, too, BB-8." She smiled. "We've got the fuel. As soon as the tank is filled and Shwaz gets back, we'll be on our way."
BB-8 made a happy sound.
"Sorry, but I think its best we keep you covered up for a bit. At least until we're off planet."
Right after filling the ship's tank with fuel, Rey felt something. She gasped in surprise and leaned against the cool metal panels of the ship. Shwaz! Her gut said he was in trouble. She grabbed her quarterstaff and sprinted out of the ship and back to the castle, heart pumping furiously.
She opened the doors to the castle, surprising herself when they slammed behind her. Her legs carried her swiftly through the crowd of lifeforms. She could feel many of their eyes following her, but most didn't give her another glance. Rey looked around the crowd for any sign of Shwaz. But he wasn't there. A droid bumped into her and apologized as he walked by.
Rey frowned at the droid then froze. She stared at the spiraling staircase merely footsteps away from her. Her ears twitched. The air was whispering for her to go. Slowly she made her way over and stood at the top step looking down.
A distant scream made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. "Shwaz!" Fear coursed through her.
Running down the steps, Rey mentally prepared herself to fight if she needed to. She knew the sign on Maz's castle said no fighting, but that wouldn't stop her from defending herself and her companion. Voices grew louder the further she went.
Then she stopped. The corridor was dimly lit by hanging lanterns. To her left were what appeared to be storage compartments. But that was of no importance. Her eyes were drawn instead to the end of the hall. Maz Kanata stood before a kneeling and trembling figure. Low whispers danced in the air. She laid a small hand on his shoulder, and in her other hand was a metal cylinder.
Rey watched as it flew out of Maz's hand and clattered to the ground.
"I won't take it!" The figure snarled.
"Shwaz?"
His head sharply lifted up and turned to her. Rey hurried toward him, thoughts racing. What happened? Was he okay? She briefly saw what looked like tears on his face before he stood and turned away from her.
Maz continued speaking to Shwaz as if she were unaware of Rey's presence.
"It is calling out to you. Not Rey, not anyone else." She followed after Shwaz, who had begun to pace around the room. He reminded Rey of a vicious predator as he walked around the fallen metal rod. What was its significance, she wondered.
"I don't want it." He scowled down at Maz. "Get it out of my sight!"
"Shwaz, what's going on? What don't you want?" Rey couldn't let this continue. They had to leave! BB-8 was in danger. The three of them were at risk of getting caught, and this needed to end.
"That!" He whirled around and pointed at the object with a look of disgust. "I'm not touching that thing ever again." His red rimmed eyes were wide. And suddenly Rey understood. Past the intense anger and melodrama, there was an immense fear in those ocean blue eyes. "It never was and never will be mine."
Without another word, Shwaz stormed off. Rey was about to go after him when she felt a gentle touch on her hand. She looked down. Maz held out the object to Rey.
She had so many questions, but the first one that came out was, "What is it?"
"It is a weapon that the Jedi Knights of the old republic called a lightsaber." Maz said, pressing it into Rey's open hand. The metal was frigid against her skin. "It calls out for a Master."
"And that Master is Shwaz?" Rey turned the cylinder in her hand and met the woman's eyes.
"Only if he can accept what being its Master entails."
"I'm sorry, but I don't understand." Rey's brows furrowed.
"You will learn in time, my dear. Trust in the Force. It will guide you." Maz patted her hand. "Now I'm afraid it is time for you to be on your way."
Rey made to give the lightsaber back but Maz pushed her hand away.
"But-"
"Take it, Rey." Maz pressed Rey's fingers so that they closed over the metal. "Keep it safe. When Shwaz is ready, he will accept ownership of it."