Well, here we are. The final chapter of maybe one of my favorite fanfics I ever wrote. Though, I may not be happy with a few of the past chapters, I had quite fun with writing the whole thing. And, I just wanted to thank everyone that, at of all the fanfictions, favorited this one. Truly, I appreciate it. Jeez, I`m so cheesy.
"Come on, come on." I mumble, as I clenched my hand into a fist on his back, in comfort. "Why am I even doing this? It`s not like he can feel it! Or anything for that matter."
My inner monologuing catches me off guard and my mind wandered to the worst case scenarios. I shake almost all of them out and focus on helping Finn as best as I could.
"How long is it?" I shout to Chewie and Rey, up in the cockpit.
"Half an hour, if I`m right."
I sigh and mumble "Damnit"
I hear Rey sight this time, and whispers something to Chewie, and walks out of the cockpit. "Rachel, you`re doing all that you can; like we are." I stared down at nothing. She sighs again. "He was only playing with your head Rachel," I look up to her eyes. "What?" I ask. "Kylo Ren, back there, when he-." She paused and recounted what had happened just now. She shook her head and continued.
"He was only trying to mess with your mind, and it didn't work." A small smile tugs on her lips. I scoff "I charged at him and almost sliced him into pieces, how did it not work?" There was just a slight pause "You almost did, it doesn't mean you did. It just means you need to control your anger more." She grins again. I can`t help but to too. "Yeah, I guess." And that was that. She patted my head and got up to get back to the cokpit.
I felt my eyes begging for sleep. I can only remember the last time I had sleep was when he took me away from everything. The only time I can remember peaceful sleep was the night before everything changed. "A few minutes shouldn't be bad, he`ll be here when I-."
Already asleep
"-achel, Rachel! Get up!" Rey`s shouts rang in my ear.
I spring up, off my head "I`m up! I`m up!" She places a hand on my back "We`re here." She told in the calmest voice possible, at this moment.
Just as she finished, I hear the ramp open and a hoard of people climbing in. They carry frightening things. Why do they need knives to help him?! Wait, what if-!?
"Ellis, I need you to take his arms." One of the people say and the other walk towards Finn!
"No!" I say firmly and swatted her arm away when she reached for him. "Rachel, let her." Rey hissed, biting herself not to yell at me again.
"Why?" I snapped. "Sure, she can take him, by my cold, dead hands."
"She`s going to help," She moves towards me and pull on my arms and lifts me onto my feet.
The girl and other paramedics (I learn later) lift Finn off the cot and carry him out. "Easy, easy. He's hurt. We've got a heartbeat." One of them called out to the others as they took him away and Rey gripped my hand the whole time as we follow.
A woman with grey hair worn in a tight bun was embracing Chewie outside, mourning over Han. I silently sigh to myself. They break away and Chewie follows the paramedics taking Finn somewhere, safe I hope.
The woman walks towards the both of us and look at our expressions, obviously making an effort to figure out our state of minds.
Rey was taking it the worst out of the both of us. She must have thought as Han as a father. Figures, he did seem to relate to her. I can`t hide the fact that I was jealous for a few split seconds from the short time we knew him; but, she deserved it. She was a mother more than she was a sister to me when we were on Jakuu.
I of course, was taking it tough, but for a different reason. I could maybe have done something. I say maybe, but, I have no idea. The hell am I saying, it`s no one`s fault but the monster that did it. But, if I`d just stayed with Rey… Damnit Rachel, shut up!
The woman continues to stare at us for a few moments; then, with one arm wrapped around Rey`s neck, and the other around my shoulders, she hugs us. I have no idea who this woman was, but I let the tears fall, not because I was miserable about Han dying, or because Rey and I almost died today, or even that we could lose Finn in ten seconds and counting. It was because, for the first time, it felt like what a hug from a mother would feel like.
Chewbacca sits quietly, as do many in the base, mourning their losses.
As BB-8 approaches R2-D2, the long dormant droid suddenly stirs. The droids beep at each other.
"R2-D2! You've come back!" C-3PO cheered, R2-D2 beeped at his old friend "You found what? "How dare you call me that!" He swats R2-D2, who continues beeping.
"Find Master Luke how? Come, R2! We must go tell the others at once!"
RESISTANCE BASE
Leia stands alone and in silence, heartbroken. 3PO treads up next to her "General? Excuse me, General?" Leia turns to see droids.
"R2-D2 may contain some much needed good news."
"Tell me." Leia simply says.
"Isn`t that an R2 unit?" I question myself. Soon, Rey pulls on my hand and follows the woman that we were with, all I know is that she`s the general.
Then, I`m standing with Rey, the general, the two droids, handful of Resistance Officers, and-. Wait a minute, is- isn't that-. It was. It was the man from my dream that I had when I was-!
Suddenly the R2 unit projects a hologram above our heads. It looks to be the map we had seen on the Millennium Falcon at the very beginning of all this, but there was a missing piece.
BB-8 beeps and turns to the man I saw in the dream.
"Yeah, all right, buddy, hold on-." The man removes the something from a base computer. He inserts it back inside BB-8, who then projects the map, which he shrinks down to size, and the two droids move slightly together. The two holograms combine, BB-8`s filling in the R2 unit`s perfectly!
Everyone in the entire room gasps. "Oh! The map! It is complete!" The golden droid cheered.
The general places her hand on her heart "Luke. Cerise." The smallest of smiles appear on her face.
There are cheers and embraces as far as the eye can see. What now?
FOUR WEEKS LATER
It`s been 40, 256 minutes, at least I think, I`m dreadful at math, and Finn isn't waking up. There are signs that he`s recovering, little by little of course, but still getting better.
I remember the first time they let us get to see him; Rey was the first to run in. I decided to let her be alone with him, and fifteen minutes of waiting, I peeked into the room. She was covering her mouth so a sob wouldn't escape as she clenched his hand in her hand, clearly hoping for him to hold hers. I let her stay in there for twenty-five more minutes, until a nurse walked her out.
A few days in, already sick of only running into the woods and "exploring", I volunteered to help a few of the nurses and doctors to help the sick and injured; or, anything really.
It was then I really met the man in my dream. Poe. Poe Dameron. It was just a simple "Hi," and "Hello," of course me being shy and stupid while whispering "Hi," Hey, I couldn't just go up to him and say "Hello, my name`s Rachel, and I saw you in a dream I had when I was tortured."
It was when Malisa, the best mechanic you could ever meet, told me to go and bring a few parts to him. Somehow, it turned into me failing multiple times to help him repair an X-wing, and him lying that I was doing great. Well, partially lied. Rey teased me multiple times that we were like 'two peas in a pod' when I spent some time with him. He`s a bit like a second brother to me, first being Finn. But, there`s something in my heart where… it`s different.
I "confronted" Rey about that she lied to me about how she named me, but it was more an amusing pester than an argument. Of course, both of the stories ended up with Rey`s ego big as the Falcon.
Today was when everyone, including Rey, planned for me to go and seek out Luke. I really have no idea how I honestly feel. I`m excited that I get to meet someone new, but mostly terrified. It`s the first time Rey and I`ve been away from each other, willingly; I`m going to crash the Falcon in less than a minute. What if Finn wakes up when I`m gone? And I`m leaving everyone I trust, well, Chewie and R2 would come along.
After saying goodbye to the people I volunteered for, I made my way to the medical center to see Finn; I asked Rey to come with me. My excuse was because I had to leave right after that, but, I just wanted to see what exactly would happen.
When we were in there, we only stared at him for maybe 10 minutes at the least, expecting him to wake up at the last minute, as usual. It was when I finally reached out and took his hand in mine and squeezed it ever so gently.
"We`ll see each other again," I looked up to Rey "someday." A small smile appeared on her lips and she embraced me. I let go of his hand, pulled away from Rey`s hug, and stood up with my gear intact. "Coming?" I asked.
She looked back at Finn, then to me "Just, one more minute." I couldn't help the grin that appeared on my face and nodded, then left the room.
Her eyes wandered over his face, it wasn't sweaty or in pain like it was all those weeks ago, yet, she remembered as if it was yesterday. She almost lost her sister and her… only friend on the same day, that wretched day.
She hesitantly tilted down, inches away from his face, and no action was moved for a few seconds. Then, she leaned in closer and placed a gentle, tender kiss on his cheek.
A smirk slowly pulled onto my lips as I saw their exchange; I knew it. Hey, I said I left the room, not the building. "And what are you smiling at?" I heard her voice ask.
I shook out of my thoughts and stared at her. Her head turned around to face me and her hand rested on Finn`s forehead. Instead of stuttering like I did when I met Poe, and other people, I just shrugged my shoulders "Nothing." She rolled her eyes but kept a grin.
"Alright, remember what I told you?" Rey asked as we walked towards the Falcon.
"Yeah, the switch on the right is hyperspace, and the midnight blue button, near the emergency light, is the emergency break." "Emergency break?" She had a hint of a smartass in her voice. Oh come on, I could have sworn-, oh wait! "Landing gear," "That`s my girl," She smirks at me.
I heard something heavy being dropped and a stream of familiar cursing following behind. Oh, Poe. I turned around and saw him picking shattered pieces of a hyperdrive off the ground. I felt Rey lean down to my ear "Go to him," she tried to sound dramatic like she was when she read me stories when we were younger. Even at 16, I`m still giggling like the little girl I once was.
I casually walked to him, and bent down to help him pick up the part. He looked up at me when he saw two hands pick up the sharp pieces. "Ah, sweetheart." He smirked at my face when I shot my head up at his new name for me. "I thought you weren't going to say goodbye to me, but lo and behold!" I rolled my eyes and tried not to crack a smile like I did; most of the time.
"No, I just wanted to clean up your mess so you won`t get in trouble, you big baby." "Aww, so you do care about me!" I paused slightly "Maybe a little," He smirked again. Then we stood there. Just, stood there. He soon focused his eyes on something behind me. "That`s a weird place to put a fridge," he muttered. Wait, fridge what-? I turned around to see what he was talking about. Nothing. Why was he-? I felt my French-braid being undone quickly.
"What?!" I yelled as I whipped around and saw Poe`s hands promptly fly back to him. What the hell?! "That took me an hour to do!" I tried to keep my voice down. He gave his most famous smirk again "Good, then you`ll have something useful to do." My mouth held open and I turned around and scoffed, but, I wasn't out of the woods yet.
"Here, let me help you." He took my hanging hair. "No-!" I spun around and shouted, only to have all of my hair covering my mouth, eyes, and my entire face. He laughed as I angrily pushed clumps of hair out of my face, red with pure anger. "You`re face! Let me get a better look at it," He reached a hand to push a few strands out of my eyes. "No," I finally kept calm and swatted his hand away. He snickered like an idiot. "Aw, you look so cute when you get angry, you little baby." My face flushed at this; please, please, please let my anger still show so that he won`t know.
I clenched my hands into fists, than took a light breath. I immediately held my hand out for him to shake it. His eyes stared down at it for a second, then to my face. "What?" He asked with that stupid smile. I nodded down to it "Goodbye," His grin fell just a tiny bit, but pulled it back up and reached his hand forward and shook it. I felt his thumb lightly trace my knuckles. We each let go and dropped our hands. We gave each other one last nod and I turned to walk away.
"Hey," I heard him call from behind me as I marched to Rey. I turned around to him for the final time. "Stay small, my girl." He finished with a smile. I turned a faded shade of pink and pulled my lips to form a little kid`s smile. I turned my back to him and fought each time I wanted to look back at him.
We, finally, made it to the Falcon. If you couldn't see already, this was the time when I wasn't that confident of leaving on my own. I looked up at her with unintentional baby eyes. "Why can`t you come with me?" I asked. She looked back down at me, as if she was taken aback by the question. "Rachel, this is for you, not for me. You`re the one that saved me back there. Besides, do you really want me to be nagging on you for hours and hours on end?"
I cracked a smile at that. "Well, there`s nothing I can`t handle with you, and, it`s just that we`ve never been without each other for long." "Ah, that`s it." "Yeah, what did you think it was?" She paused. "Loneliness?" I shook my head and grinned at her over-worried nature.
She gave me an obvious sad smile, and enveloped me into her arms, gently rubbing my back. I wrapped my arms around her too and relaxed into her touch and closed my eyes as she held me softly. This could be the last hug I could have from her, anyone, for years. I wanted to stay like that for almost forever if I could; but, we both pulled away. And for the first time in years, she leaned down and laid a small kiss on my forehead.
"Rachel," I heard a now familiar voice call. I turned and saw General Leia staring kindly at Rey and me. She nodded towards both of us "May the force be with you," A small smile appeared on both of our faces, mostly mine.
With one last look at each other, and Rey kneeling down to my height to push a few extra strands of hair out my face to get a better look, and mouthing "Are you gonna be okay?" with me nodding back, I turned my back to them and slowly made my way up the ramp to the ship.
I sit in the pilot`s seat, with Chewie right next to me. I look over to him and give a shy grin. Alright, hopefully I won`t crash in 10 seconds or less; let`s make it at least 20! I flick a few switches, and it rises! Yes! I hear and see everyone form the corner of the windows gather around and cheer as I fly.
Chewie and I rise out of the atmosphere and are in space. I remember the switch for hyperspace, and pull it. And, we`re off!
3 DAYS LATER
I can see it! It`s the ocean! Endless blue, dotted with random, beautiful, mountainous black rock islands, dotted with countless green trees. I search the islands. Alright, I think THAT`S the one. I mentally point to the largest island I see.
When we do land, the three of us pile out. The night before I had to go, Rey put her trusty staff into my hands. Of course, I told her I didn't need to take it, but she absolutely could not take 'no' for my answer. So, I had no choice, but to make it a makeshift weapon, a walking stick, or both.
I tilt my head up and see a fairly tall mountain, can`t say I`m sure if I`m that confident to climb again; I mean, I fell from a tree twice. But, I begin my hike up the considerable mountain, glancing back at Chewie and R2-D2, who watch me from the bottom of the ramp. A deep breath, and I continue my journey.
Built within the rock and foliage of this idyllic island are seemingly endless ancient, stone steps. I continue to climb them, determined. Despite how damn fatigued I am!
I arrive at a clearing. Small, modest, primitive stone structures. But no one around. I walk past them, sees, senses no one. Wait, why do I feels something?
I turn. Standing forty feet away from me with his back towards me, is a man in a cloak and robe. I only stare, knowing exactly who it is. But, I it like I just stare for what seems like forever. Until he finally turns, slowly, to me. He pulls back his hood.
It is Luke Skywalker. Older now, white hair, bearded. He looks straight at me. A strange kindness in his eyes, but there's something tortured, too. He`s silent the whole time.
In response, I drop Rey`s staff to the ground, I search for something from the pack. Luke`s lightsaber.
When I finally found it, I dragged my eyes to look up. My eye catches another figure, just a bit smaller than Luke, struggle a little to climb up the hill to where Luke is. He reaches down and puts a gentle hand on her shoulder as they pull themselves up. I finally get have a look at their face.
It was a woman`s. Her eyes seemed kinder and gentler than Luke`s is, and her brown, slightly grey, hair just about goes past her shoulders and drapes. She carries a small bucket full of fresh water in her left, and in her right, a baby; maybe a few months old, wrapped tightly in a light green blanket. She sets the pail down and wraps her free arm around her baby and stares at me warily. Luke raises his hand and places it on her back to settle her worry down.
I remember the saber in my hand, and hold it out to them. An offer. A plea. The galaxy's only hope.
It looks as if Luke and Cerise, I assume, stare at me for almost several eternities, when their eyes widen at the exact time in either amazement or being conflicted. Why are they looking at me as if they`ve known me my whole life? And why do I feel the same?
