Chapter 10
Finn sat on a log over looking the lake lost in thought. After a tearful reunion with his father and sister, he had escaped to the sanctuary the lake offered. He felt like he was in a dream, nothing felt real. Sadness, anger, and happiness whipped through his head like a tornado. He closed his eyes and tried to lose himself in the sound of birds chirping and water lapping at the shore of the lake. The sound of footsteps made him turn around.
''Hey,'' Rey said softly, ''I thought I would find you here.''
She sat down on the log next to him.
''I love coming out here.''
Finn only grunted in response and kept his face impassive.
''What have you been doing? Everyone's been worried about you.''
''Why?''
''Why? Finn… you're our friend, and you were just reunited with your father and sister. We want to make sure that you're processing everything okay.''
''Is there a right way to process this?''
''There's never a right way to process anything like this.''
They sat in silence for a moment.
''Is there anything I can do for you? Anything I can help you with?''
''I'm fine Rey.''
She raised her eyebrows and sat closer.
''You've been avoiding me all afternoon. You're not fine.''
''You wouldn't understand.''
She scoffed.
''Try me.''
''I may have met my family, but how can I even look them in the face. I lived and worked with the same people that killed my mother. They should hate me right now. I don't even understand how they can even look at me.''
''None of that is your fault Finn! You didn't do anything wrong here. You never killed anyone.''
''But I helped them. I thought that if I didn't kill anyone then I wasn't a bad guy, but now I know that aiding them, even just a little bit, makes me just as guilty.''
''Okay, then you made a few mistakes. I've definitely made mistakes in my life, but that doesn't mean I'm a bad person.''
''Easy for you to say, you don't have a family to disappoint.''
Rey flinched as if she had been slapped. As Finn realized what he said he quickly tried to backpedal.
''Shit Rey, I didn't mean it like that.''
''Then what did you mean?''
She stood up, but before she could go anywhere Finn grabbed her hand and pulled her back down.
''I'm really, really sorry. I'm angry, okay! I'm pissed that it's taken me this long to find out I even had a family. I'm stressed and I took it out on you. I am so sorry. Please forgive me.''
Rey stared out at the lake as Finn held his breath, waiting for a response. She took a few deep breaths and closed her eyes.
''I accept your apology, but I can't forgive you that fast. I know you're stressed, but that doesn't mean you can take it out on the people around you,'' she said softly.
''I know Rey.''
Rey placed her hand on his arm.
''Talk to me, vent, get this all out of your system.''
Finn took a deep breath.
''I never knew where I came from, who my parents were, and why I wasn't with them. And now I found out that my dad is alive, and I have a sister. All the answers to the questions that I desperately want answers to are right there, and now I'm too scared to even ask the questions. I have no idea how to process this.''
''No one expects you to adjust right away. I'm sure Lando and Ami are still processing.''
''You know, one of the guys in my group tried to hack into the files and find out who his parents were.''
''What happened?''
''He got caught. The guy who caught him just laughed when he told him what he was doing. He said that they were dead or gave him up willingly. He said that it was the same for everyone. It was always easier to believe that they were dead.''
''Finn…''
They both just stared out over the lake.
''Rey?''
''Hmm?''
''If you found out that your parents were alive, what would you do?''
''I don't know. I probably wouldn't know whether to scream, cry, or jump for joy, but in the end I probably be very happy if it turns out they weren't the ones to dump me on Jakku.''
''Do you ever want to learn who they are?''
''Of course, but its highly unlikely I'll ever know them. I mean, it's not like someone is just going to show up claiming me.''
Finn placed his arm around her and pulled her into his side. Rey leaned against him and nestled her head on his shoulder.
''I'm really happy for you Finn,'' Rey said softly.
''Thank you. I really hope you find your family.''
''I really hope I do too.''
They sat wrapped in each other's arms until the sun disappeared below the horizon.
…
Rey couldn't think straight. It had been a week since Finn had found out that Lando was his father, and she couldn't stop thinking about her parents, whoever they were. She had been so distracted in her lessons with Luke that he had ended lessons early every day because she wasn't paying attention. Now, she was sitting on the X-wing that she and Poe were fixing. Well she was just making it worse, and Poe was fixing her mistakes along with what they were supposed to be fixing to begin with. After Rey had attached the wrong two wires together for the third time, almost lighting the ship on fire, Poe had had enough.
''Okay, that's it. Come on,'' he said standing up and wiping the grease off his hands.
''Where are we going,'' Rey asked at she climbed down.
''To see the General.''
Poe grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the hanger.
''What! Why?''
He stopped dead in his tracks and spun around to look at her.
''You have been lost in some other world this past week. You've done more damage to the ships we've been trying to repair then good, and Luke says that you haven't been concentrating in you lessons either. ''
''You talked to Luke about me?''
''Yes and we're both concerned for you.''
''Fine, I've been distracted lately, but that doesn't mean I need to talk to the General.''
''Rey, I'm your boss, and she's my boss. If you keep making us waste parts when we're trying to repair ships, she's going to kill me. I would like to live, so it's in my best interest to sort out whatever is going to with you.''
''Still not seeing why I have to go talk to the General.''
Poe stared straight into her eyes.
''Before she was a General, she was a mother, and something tells me that's what you need right now. Lets go.''
He took off down the hall, and Rey practically had to run to keep up. When they finally reached the main command room, he motioned for her to stop.
''Wait here. I need to talk with her first.''
Poe walked over to Leia and tapped her arm. They talked quietly for a minuet before they headed back in Rey's direction.
''Hello Rey,'' Leia said softly, ''how about you and I take a walk.''
Rey nodded mutely and followed Leia down the hall.
…
Finn was walking through the hanger when a voice called his name. He looked around and eventually saw Ami waving at him from the doorway of the Winged Calrissian. He walked over to her and stood at the base of the ramp.
''Come here,'' she said with a smile.
He walked up the ramp warily.
''I want to show you something,'' Ami said as she led him through the winding hallways of the ship.
She stopped at what appeared to be the dining room. The table was covered in boxes.
''Sit.''
Finn sat down on the closest chair and Ami sat next to him. She reached out and grabbed the closest box. She opened it to reveal stacks of holos. Ami grabbed the one on top and handed it to Finn.
''What is this?''
The photo was of a young woman cradling a newborn baby.
''That is you and mom. Dad took it a few hours after you were born. And this one,'' she said as she reached back in the box, ''was is from when you came home for the first time''
They went through all the pictures in the box. They're were holos of him walking, laughing, reading with both parents, his first birthday, playing with a young Kylo Ren, a young Allana, and a girl that Ami reluctantly identified as Luke's daughter. When Finn was a year a half, the pictures abruptly stopped.
''That's when you were captured.''
The siblings looked up to see Lando standing in the doorway.
''Dad,'' Ami said quickly, ''how long have you been there?''
''Not long. Don't worry, I'm not mad that you got those out.''
Ami visibly relaxed. Lando picked up the photo of Finn's first birthday. He was sitting in his mom's lap and had cake smeared all over his face and hair.
''I had forgotten this,'' he said chuckling softly. ''It took us an hour to get all the cake off.''
''I bet mom was not too happy,'' Ami said softly. ''She was a stickler for neatness.''
''She wasn't pleased,'' Lando said with a hint of melancholy in his voice, ''but she was laughing harder than anyone.''
''What was she like,'' asked Finn.
Lando sat down across from his children.
''She was very quiet when I met her, but after awhile she started to come out of her shell. She was very kind and had a wonderful sense of humor. I used to say she was only woman who could boss me around. She and General Organa were very close.''
''How did you meet her?''
''The General introduced us. Luna had been a slave for the Empire since her childhood. I had offered to take any freed slaves in and give them jobs and a place to stay. Luna came to stay with me a year or so after the war, and she never left.''
''She was a slave?''
Lando nodded grimly.
''According to her stories, she had a better experience than most, but it still wasn't good. Luna always said that she didn't want pity, that what she went though made her the person she was.''
''She definitely was a force to be reckoned with,'' said Ami. ''I couldn't get away with anything.''
''I wish I remembered her,'' Finn said softly.
''Take the pictures,'' Lando said.
''Are you sure?''
''Ami and I have memorized these pictures. We don't need them anymore.''
''Thank you.''
''She would want you to have them.
…
Rey and Leia walked until they were standing on the hill that over looked the base. Leia walked over the fallen tree trunk and sat down. When she was that Rey was still standing, she patted the spot next to her.
''Come sit. I don't bite I promise.''
She tentatively sat down where Leia gestured.
''It's pretty up her isn't? I always come up here when I need to think,'' Leia said with a small smile.
''It is pretty.''
They were silent for a moment.
''General, can we just talk about what we need to talk about? I know you're busy, and I'm supposed to meet Luke soon.''
Leia chuckled.
''You're not one for small talk, good to know. You want to cut to the chase, fine we'll do that. Poe tells me that you've been in a funk for the past week, that you've been so distracted that you can't do your job, and that even Luke had lost his patience and ended your lessons early. Now Finn was reunited with his family around the same time you entered this funk. Am I correct in assuming that this has something to do with that?''
''Yes.''
Leia studied her for a long moment.
''Rey, I can't help you with anything if you don't tell me what the problem is.''
''I just…''
''You just what?''
''You were adopted right? And you knew that you were adopted.''
''That's true.''
''Did you ever wonder who your real parents were?''
A knowing look settled over Leia's face.
''So this is what is bothering you. You're wondering about who your parents are.''
''I guess I am.''
Leia's face changed from a stern General to a concerned mother.
''What about your parents? What about them is making you so distracted?''
''Just who they are, are they even alive, were they ones to abandon me… things like that.''
''Okay, so what is it going to take for you to stop thinking about them to the point where you can actually do your job and train with Luke?''
''I don't know. I really just want a little information about them. I'll take anything.''
''Okay. When we're done here, I'll take you down to the med bay, and I'll order a DNA test done.''
''Really?''
''Yes really. However, before you get your hopes up, I need to tell you a few things first. We may be able to get the information to you today, but it could take days.''
''I'm okay with waiting.''
''There's also a big chance that we may never find anything. Your parents were most likely born around the rise of the Empire, so they may never have been registered. You also need to be prepared to get results that you don't want.''
"I know I can't pick my family. I just really want to know that I have one.''
''You have a family Rey, and we'll do what we can to find them.''
…
The sound of light sabers clashing echoed off the concrete walls of the training room. Rey was breathing hard as she blocked the strikes from Luke's saber.
''You can do better than this,'' he called. ''I've seen you do better.''
She gritted her teeth in determination and struck out harder.
''Blindly striking out won't help you in a fight. You need to focus on what's happening now, not something else.''
''I'm trying!''
They fought for a few minuets before Rey found herself flat on her back with her light saber on the other side of the room. Luke offered her his hand and pulled her up.
''What's bothering you Rey? Your head has been miles away and has been for days.''
Rey took a few moments to catch her breath.
''I asked the General to do a DNA test.''
Luke froze.
''You did?''
''I'm supposed to meet her after were done here to see the results.''
''I see.''
''I'm sorry I wasn't focused today.''
''It's all right Rey,'' he said putting a comforting hand on her arm.
He summoned her light saber to his hand and handed it to her.
''Go shower and see Leia. We aren't going to get anything done today if you're distracted.''
''Thank you Master Luke.''
''You're welcome. I hope you find the family you're looking for.''
…
Allana was getting dressed to work the evening shift at the Mos Eisley Cantina when Jack burst in.
''We have a problem.''
''Have you ever heard of knocking! You know the thing you do to warn people that your coming in instead of just barging in when they're changing.''
''This is no time for sarcasm. We have a really big problem.''
''What is it this time?''
''Strom troopers have arrived.''
Allana dropped the shoe she was holding.
''You said…''
''I know what I said, but for some reason they decided that they needed to have troops inside the city.''
''I'm dead.''
''No you're not. I have a plan.''
He pulled out a red wig and a pair of grey contacts.
''Put these on.''
Grumbling she put in the contacts and fastened the wig down.
''This won't help me if Kylo Ren decides to pay us a visit.''
''Which is why you can't do anything to draw attention to yourself.''
''I don't do that anyway.''
''Fair enough. Just act normal, and it will be fine.''
''You better hope it is.''
''Oh I do. I'm going downstairs. You look good as a red head by the way.''
Jack walked out the door just in time to avoid the shoe that was thrown at him.
''I'm going to kill you if I have to wear this everyday.''
''Love you too,'' he called back.
…
Leia slid a folder across her desk to Rey who was sitting on the other side.
''Thankfully, your parents showed up on the records without any digging. That's why you are getting to see the results today. Normally it takes longer.''
Rey eyed the folder as if it was a poisonous snake.
''Did you look at the results,'' she asked tentatively.
''I did.''
''Will I like what it says?''
Leia was silent for a long moment.
''I honestly don't know. You have to decide that for yourself.''
Rey grabbed the folder and opened it slowly. It said-
Name: Luminaria (Rey) Amidala Skywalker
Age: 20
Parents: Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade Skywalker
Files for parents are attached.
Rey dropped the folder as if she had been burned.
"Rey? Hey look at me.''
Leia reached out and put a gentle hand on her arm.
''Luke is my father. He's my father. I've known him for a year, and he never said anything!''
She looked at Leia with an expression of complete sorrow.
''Does he know?''
''No. I was going to tell him after we're done here.''
''My father didn't recognize his own daughter.''
''Rey…''
''Please don't make excuses for him. I need to get some air.''
Her chair made a scraping sound against the floor as she pushed it back.
''You can come talk with me if you need someone. Okay?''
Rey nodded before running out of the room. Leia put her head in her hands as the door slammed shut.
''This did not go the way I hoped it would.''
…
Luke and Lando were playing Sabacc when a loud banging on the door stopped them. The banging just got louder until a voice rang out.
''Luke Skywalker if you don't open the door this instant so help me, I will make you regret ever coming back here!''
''Leia what's wrong?''
She stormed in the room and, she slammed the folder down on the table that was now covered in discarded cards.
''Read it.''
Lando got up and said, ''I think I'll just go now.''
''Sit down Calrissian.''
Lando eyed Leia nervously and sat back down. Luke sat down and quickly scanned the information inside the folder. His eyes widened.
''My reaction exactly,'' Leia said.
''To what,'' Lando asked.
''It seems my long lost daughter is still alive. Have you told her?''
''Yes I did, and she promptly bolted from my office.''
Luke buried his head in his hand.
''Who is she,'' asked Lando.
''Rey, the girl your son arrived here with,'' Leia said, ''Luke did you have any idea?''
''No. How could I have not noticed that the girl I was training was my daughter?''
''I don't know Luke.''
''She probably hates me now.''
''Not hate, but I think she's upset that you didn't realize it.''
''I need to find her.''
''Yes, you do!''
Luke didn't move.
''What are you waiting for? Go,'' Lando practically yelled.
Luke rose from his chair and swept out of the room closely followed by Leia. Lando began gathering up all the Sabacc cards.
''Never a boring moment around this family,'' he mumbled under his breath.
…
Rey sprinted down the hall, dodging people as she went, until she found an empty meeting room. She sunk down in one of the chairs. The sun shining in through the windows hit her right in the eyes, and the sounds of people in the hallway seemed magnified. Everything was too loud, too bright. She couldn't seem to bet enough air in. Suddenly a hand was on her back telling her to breathe. It felt like hours, but it probably took only minuets for her breathing to come back to normal. She rested her head on the cool metal of the desk as the hand continued to rub her back and another squeezed her hands. She looked up to see Finn and Poe looking at her concerned.
''What…''
Poe shook his head softly, indicating for her to stop talking.
''You just had a panic attack. Take it slow for a minuet. Finn and I were headed to the General's office to check on you, but we almost got knocked over by you running down the hall.''
''We followed you here,'' said Finn. ''We wanted to make sure you were okay.''
''You want to talk about it,'' asked Poe.
Rey shook her head.
''No, not right now.''
''Okay. What do you need right now?''
''I don't… I don't know.''
''Just tell us what we can do,'' Finn said softly.
''Nothing right now.''
She stood up, but her knees buckled. Poe reached out an arm to steady her.
''Sit down, don't stand up yet. Finn can you go find her some water?''
''On it.''
Finn left the room closing the door tightly behind him.
''How are you so good at dealing with panic attacks,'' Rey asked.
''I know someone who used to have them all the time. When your friend needs you, you learn pretty fast how to care for them.''
''I've never had one before.''
''They have a tendency to sneak up on you. Rey, look at me for a minuet.''
He bent over so that he could look directly into her eyes.
''You don't have to tell me who your parents are, but can you tell me if both or just one of them is on the base?''
''My dad's here,'' she said so softly it was almost inaudible.
Poe nodded.
''Okay, I think what you need right now is space. You're not going to be able to process this while you're here.''
''Finn did.''
''Finn's a different person, and his dad arrived on the base only a few hours before he found out.''
''Where do you suggest I go?''
''I don't know. Have you met anyone over the past year that doesn't live on the base that you feel comfortable telling about this?''
''Maybe Allana because she told me so much about her past, but no one knows where she is.''
''I do.''
Rey looked at him disbelievingly.
''Mos Eisley, Tatooine.''
''And you know this because?''
''Will you please just trust me? Go see Allana. Stay for a few days them come back ready to face your dad.''
''I don't have any way to get there.''
''We've assigned you to a squadron that you were supposed to start working with tomorrow. When you get assigned to a squadron, you get an X-wing. I know which one is yours. You can take it.''
''Where is it?''
''I'll show you.''
He stood up and offered a hand to Rey. She grabbed it and allowed him to lead her down the hall.
…
''Poe!''
He turned around after watching Rey take off to see Finn running towards him.
''I've been looking all over for you man! Why'd you disappear? Where's Rey?''
''Rey left.''
''Excuse me?''
''She needs space Finn. I sent her off to visit Allana. She'll be back when she's ready.''
Before Finn could say another word, Luke and Leia ran up to them.
''Where's Rey,'' Luke asked franticly.
''She fine,'' Poe said.
''That's not what I asked.''
''She's visiting Allana.''
''No one knows where Allana is,'' said Leia.
''He does,'' Luke said jerking a thumb at Poe.
''You do?''
''Yes. Rey needed some space. I'm assuming you're the person she needs space from,'' Poe said looking Luke up and down.
''Don't worry, I'm sure she'll be fine,'' Finn said reassuringly.
Leia raised her eyebrows.
''And you know that because…''
''If she can get to Allana, she'll be fine. Allana will let her vent for a few days, and then she'll send her back here,'' said Poe.
''And how do you know Allana won't convince her to stay away like she did?''
''Allana left angry. Rey left disappointed. You don't leave the people that disappoint you. You come back and hope that this time is different from the last,'' said Poe with a meaningful look at Leia.
''She'll be back Leia,'' Luke said softly. ''He's right. Let's get back inside. We can't do anything but wait now.''
Leia began to follow him when she stopped.
''Wait,'' she said pointing a finger at Poe,'' how do you know where she is?''
AN: Hi all! What did y'all think? Please let me know! Updates will be fairly sporadic because I'm back in school and don't have a ton of free time. Please review, it really makes my day! If any of y'all have any questions about the story please feel free to message me!
